Learn More About the SAG-AFTRA Strike Here!

*any references made to the SAG-AFTRA Strike are not on behalf of any SAG-AFTRA officials, please use the official site for all up-to-date information*

Today I am joined by an incredible filmmaker who I met through Fast Forward Production, my podcast production company, Izzy Stevens from OCCUPATION and PUBERTY BLUES. She is one of the most dynamic women in the film industry today and I just knew that she would have tons of great information to share with you all. Izzy is an LA based Australian-American Actor, Writer, Producer, Award-Winning Director, and Founder/CEO of Indie Spunk where she is a coach and mentor for fellow creatives. She shares her journey in the industry after getting early success right out of school, the honest answer to whether actors should make their own work, the steps you should take when you have an idea or script, and the importance of pitching yourself. As a multi-hyphenate with tons going on, I also ask Izzy about her self-care routine and how she takes care of herself through it all.

Watch the Full Video Podcast Here!

00:00 — Intro

03:42 — Running a Podcast & Creating "Indie Spunk"

08:40 — Becoming a Multi-Hyphenate Filmmaker

12:14 — Booking a Series Regular Young

14:00 — Life After Being a Series Regular

21:48 — Coaching & Mentoring Creatives

24:55 — Don't Make Work Out of Obligation

33:24 — Checking Your Ego at the Door

38:20— First Steps to Making Your Short Film

43:41 — Pitching Your Project

46:42 — Self-Care & Day-to-Day Routine

1:00:44 — Wrap-Up

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

The Official Website of Izzy Stevens

Izzy's Micro-Budget Filmmaking Boot Camp

Follow Izzy on Instagram @izzystevens

Follow Indie Spunk on Instagram @indiespunk

Get Started with Indie Spunk

Listen to the Indie Spunk Podcast

"Izzy Stevens | Mental Health, Lead Role In ‘Occupation’ & Love For Film" by Shirley Ju

Indie Spunk Podcast Episode: Why You Shouldn't Just Make Your Own Work

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Want more? Check out Patreon for bonus episodes, IG Close Friends content, and so much more.

And don’t miss all the content on IG and as always at, OneBrokeActress.com

And if you're needing some personalized help from Sam, you can schedule a chat with her right here.

Don't forget to join the mailing list here!

In this episode, I sit down with actor DaJuan Johnson (BOSCH, Grey's Anatomy) about his experiences in the entertainment industry. DaJuan opens up about the importance of community and building tools to trust oneself in the face of uncertainty. He also discusses the challenges of managing time as a parent, partner, and actor, and emphasizes the value of prioritization and a strong support team. DaJuan also shares his experiences as a Black gay man in the industry, and how he navigated years of rejection until finally booking his series regular role. DaJuan gives us practical tips for actors on set, advice for a lifelong career, and motivation for anyone who may be struggling right now to keep going in these uncertain times.

Watch the Full Video Podcast Here!

00:00 — Intro

02:14 — Maintaining Positivity

03:33 — DaJuan's Acting Journey

07:40 — Going to College for Acting

12:20 — The "Big Break"

17:30 — Exploitation & Feeling Lost

21:10 — Booking BOSCH

26:16 — Being a Delight on Set

32:26 — Becoming an Acting Coach

35:00 — The World We Live In vs. The World On Set

44:01 — Actor Mindset

46:17 — A Day in DaJuan's Life

51:34 — Being Black & Gay

56:37 — Wrap-Up

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

One Broke Actress Mini Ep: BOSCH Star DaJuan Johnson on the Writer's Strike, Residuals, and the Long Game

DaJuan Johnson's IMDb

DaJuan Johnson Official Website

Follow DaJuan on IG @dajuanjohnson

Think Bigger Coaching

Think Bigger Actors Podcast

The Actor's Mindset: Acting as a Craft, Discipline and Business by Craig Archibald

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Want more? Check out Patreon for bonus episodes, IG Close Friends content, and so much more.

And don’t miss all the content on IG and as always at, OneBrokeActress.com

And if you're needing some personalized help from Sam, you can schedule a chat with her right here.

Don't forget to join the mailing list here!

Join The Membership while the doors are still open!

I am excited to share what my co-CEO, Gabrielle Byndloss, and I have been working on for the past few months: our brand new adventure called "The Membership". Our business supports actors by providing them with the resources they need to advance their careers. The Membership is a more than just a program - it’s a community of like-minded individuals working towards the same goal, offering on-camera coaching calls for personalized feedback, supportive study halls, and an actor's workout that combines exercise with affirmations and visualization techniques.

Our mission is to have this community be the one we wished we had when we were starting out as actors. We go over the program's pricing and structure, and also what this means for both of our followings. If you're an actor looking for support and resources to advance your career, The Membership may be just what you need!

Watch the Full Video Podcast Here!

00:12 — Welcoming My Co-CEO Gabrielle Byndloss

03:30 — The Patreon & The Membership

05:00 — Acting Training, Career Building, and Who This is For

08:25 — What The Membership Is

09:08 — Office Hours

12:05 — Study Halls

15:25 — Actor Workout

17:33 — Creativity Club

19:10 — Library

21:19 — Building Our Community

24:40 — Availability & Pricing

27:44 — Working with Gabrielle

Email [email protected] for any and all questions!

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Follow The Membership on Instagram @themembership.co

Visit The Membership Website

Join The Membership

Follow Gabrielle Byndloss on Instagram @gabriellebyndloss

Gabrielle's Links

Gabrielle's IMDb

OBA Season 9, Episode 5 - Gabrielle Byndloss: Marvel Actress Based in ATL

Want more? Check out Patreon for bonus episodes, IG Close Friends content, and so much more.

And don’t miss all the content on IG and as always at, OneBrokeActress.com

And if you're needing some personalized help from Sam, you can schedule a chat with her right here.

Don't forget to join the mailing list here!

In this mini-episode, DaJuan Johnson and I discuss the WGA Writer's Strike and the possibility of a SAG-AFTRA strike as SAG heads into negotiations in June. We have a full sit-down talk coming, but we wanted to share this segment early because we believe it could help energize the acting community ahead of the SAG Strike vote. We get really transparent about our paychecks, the importance of actors receiving residuals, and why we believe the strike is necessary to continue doing what we love while also being able to pay our bills. We believe that when we stand united as a group, there is nothing we cannot accomplish.

Vote YES to the 2023 SAG Strike Authorization Vote for TV/Theatrical/Streaming contract negotiations!

Watch the Full Video Podcast Here!

00:12 — Intro

03:00 — The WGA Writer's Strike

05:15 — Residuals

09:01 — Nonunion Actors

13:05 — Staying in the Line Union Strong

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

DaJuan Johnson's IMDb

DaJuan Johnson Official Website

Follow DaJuan on IG @dajuanjohnson

Think Bigger Coaching

Think Bigger Actors Podcast

Learn More About the SAG Strike Authorization Vote!

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Want more? Check out Patreon for bonus episodes, IG Close Friends content, and so much more.

And don’t miss all the content on IG and as always at, OneBrokeActress.com

And if you're needing some personalized help from Sam, you can schedule a chat with her right here.

Don't forget to join the mailing list here!

Happy Mother's Day! To the mothers out there, to those who have chosen not to have children, for those who can't, for those who have lost a mother, for those who may not be close with their mother, for those whose mother is their best friend.

Being in this business is hard enough without having to worry about dependents, and families, and schedules, and pregnancy. For all the moms out there that are also actors, they have to juggle a million and one things all at once. Today I wanted to speak with some women who have made the choice to have children, and what that has looked like for them in their day-to-day life and in their career.

We are joined by Christine Lin, a stage and screen actress born in Indiana with a biomedical and electrical engineering degree from Duke. She originated the role of Miss Zhao in "Chinglish" on Broadway. She is known for Surfside Girls, The Blacklist, and Abominable. Then we have the wonderful Linara Washington, who graduated from the University of Chicago, and who moved to Los Angeles after booking the role of Keisha in Barbershop 2. Since moving here, she has been on several of your favorite shows; Grey’s Anatomy, NCIS, Madame Secretary, and more. She is the co-owner of Picture Palace Films and has produced two feature films. Last but not least, we have Wendy Wynne who you can see on Who is Killing the Cheerleaders and Jesus Revolution. Wendy is a wife, mother, actor, advocate, hope dealer, cheeleader/sister/friend on a mission to remind you of your greatness!

Watch the Full Video Podcast Here!

00:12 — Intro

02:45 — Welcoming Christina, Wendy, and Linara

06:25 — Time Management with Dependents

11:47 — Staying Creative

21:39 — Deciding to Have Kids

40:35 — Women Supporting Women On Set

44:04 — Having Kids On Set

52:40 — The Financial Impact of Having Kids

1:09:54 — Social Media & Kids

1:13:17 — Showing Up

1:17:40 — Wrap-Up

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Follow Christine Lin on IG @Christine2Lin

Follow Linara Washington on IG @LinaraWashington

Follow Wendy Wynne on IG @wendywynne

Christine's IMDb

Linara's IMDb

Wendy's IMDb

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Want more? Check out Patreon for bonus episodes, IG Close Friends content, and so much more.

And don’t miss all the content on IG and as always at, OneBrokeActress.com

And if you're needing some personalized help from Sam, you can schedule a chat with her right here.

Don't forget to join the mailing list here! 

--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/one-broke-actress-podcast/message

Welcome to One Broke Actress' first international episode! 🇨🇦🇺🇸

I am joined by Emilio Salituro, a talent agent at LUCAS TALENT. With over 30 years of experience and a background as a working actor, Emilio prides himself on being his actors' advocate. He shares with us what he looks for in talent, how to best network with agents, and the key to a longterm successful acting career. He takes us through his journey towards becoming an agent in 2008 — from young theatre student, to director, to producer, to acting coach, to Shanghai Business Consultant, to manager of a restaurant, back to acting, and then to finally becoming an agent. Today, Emilio's journey has landed on him being one of Canada's most popular talent agents, and his clients have worked across Canada, Europe, and the US.

Watch the Full Video Podcast Here!

00:12 — Intro

02:50 — Working in Canada as a Local Hire

05:55 — Role Credits in Canada

10:05 — Dual Citizenship

16:00 — From Actor to Agent

28:07 — What Makes a Good Client

34:11 — Acting Class

36:38 — The Writer's Strike in the US

40:55 — Finding The Right Agent

46:08 — A Lifelong Pursuit

49:25 — Networking

53:23 — The Writer's Strike's Effect on Canada

56:28 — What Emilio is Watching

59:30 — Where to Find Emilio

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Follow Emilio on Instagram @lucasagentes

Follow Emilio on Twitter @lucasagente

Lucas Talent

OBA 10.13 "ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK" Showrunner JT Billings on What it Takes to Write + Run a Hit TV show

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Want more? Check out Patreon for bonus episodes, IG Close Friends content, and so much more.

And don’t miss all the content on IG and as always at, OneBrokeActress.com

And if you're needing some personalized help from Sam, you can schedule a chat with her right here.

Don't forget to join the mailing list here! 

--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/one-broke-actress-podcast/message

TW: Body Dysmorphia + Disordered Eating

My relationship to my body has been a lifelong uphill battle. There are so many moments in my life where I have just felt absolutely disconnected to what my body really looks like. After years and years and years of eating disorders and body dysmorphia, I have finally gotten to a place where I am happy with where I am. I fuel my body, I take care of it, and I have learned how to engage in the pursuit of acting without the toxic Hollywood ideal of becoming ever-thinner. This episode was immensely personal and vulnerable for me to share, especially as I look back on an article that dove into what 2017 Sam believed to be a healthy relationship with food. Let me know if this helped you in some way, and how you have learned to take care of yourselves and your body as an actor in this business.

Watch the Full Video Podcast Here!

00:12 — Intro

00:56 — Trigger Warning + Our Bodies in this Business

04:06 — My Eating Habits Blog

12:55 — My Relationship with Fitness

15:30 — The "Definitive Answer"

20:41 — Actor Tip #1

21:45 — Actor Tip #2

25:03 — Actor Tip #3

27:52 — Where I'm At In 2023

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

One Broke Actress Blog → "Why My Eating Habits no Longer Have a Label"

One Broke Actress Blog → "Why I started CrossFit. Why I Quit. And Why it Was One of the Best Things I Have Ever Done." One Broke Actress Blog

One Broke Actress Blog → "The time I was Kicked Off a Set for Being 'Fat'."

One Broke Actress Blog → "I lost 12 pounds in 3 weeks for a movie..."

One Broke Actress Season 4, Episode 1, "Dana Powell"

Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia by Sabrina Strings

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Want more? Check out Patreon for bonus episodes, IG Close Friends content, and so much more.

And don’t miss all the content on IG and as always at, OneBrokeActress.com

And if you're needing some personalized help from Sam, you can schedule a chat with her right here.

Don't forget to join the mailing list here! 

--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/one-broke-actress-podcast/message

Jen Ponton is an actor, writer, and creator who seeks to make others laugh while also remaining true to her values as a queer fat activist. You may have seen her work on AMC's Dietland, The Unbreakable Jimmy Schmidt, Orange is the New Black, Love on the Run, or her new highly anticipated recurring role on Three Women opposite Shailene Woodley and Betty Gilpin. Recently, she wrote and produced a TikTok social media horror event called Caretaker. In this episode, I sit down with Jen to talk about her experience creating that film, what inspired her to make content specifically for social media, her transition from theater to film, and how loving herself completely changed her acting career for the better.

Watch the Full Video Podcast Here!

00:12 — Intro

04:30 — Jen's TED Talk, MG, and the Spoon Theory

08:32 — Fatphobia in Theater vs. Film/TV

15:11 — Film/TV Casting Type Change

19:45 — What Could We Do Better

22:11 — Eating Disorders + Social Media

24:52 — Stopping the Pursuit of Thinness

28:03 — Body Positivity and Acting

32:22 — "Love on the Run", "Dietland", & "Deadbeat"

36:37 — Acting Classes

40:46 — Caretaker Film

59:10 — Making Your Own Content for Social Media

1:06:13 — Where to Find Jen

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Jen's Instagram

Jen's IMDb

Jen's Professional Website

Follow @caretakerfilm on Instagram

Follow @capemaycaretaker a #HorrorTok on TikTok

Listen to Jen's TED Talk: "Hollywood's Fatphobia Problem"

Learn More about MG - Myasthenia Gravis

Learn More about the Spoon Theory

"Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia" by Sabrina Strings

Hollywood’s Secret New Weight Loss Drug, Revealed: The Hype and Hazards of Ozempic by Matt Donnelly

The BGB Studio

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Want more? Check out Patreon for bonus episodes, IG Close Friends content, and so much more.

And don’t miss all the content on IG and as always at, OneBrokeActress.com

And if you're needing some personalized help from Sam, you can schedule a chat with her right here.

Don't forget to join the mailing list here! 

--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/one-broke-actress-podcast/message

Melanie A. Ragone started her career in Atlanta, Georgia, as a Production Assistant before moving into the Grip department. Throughout her career, she has worked in a variety of feature films and television productions, including The Walking Dead, Love Simon, Captain America, Sleepy Hollow, The Hate U Give, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. She moved from Atlanta to Los Angeles in 2018, to pursue producing and directing. She has since launched a Kickstarter for her new book, "Below the Line", giving women on film crews a survival guide filled with all of the information Melanie wishes she had when she was first starting out. Melanie breaks down being a female crew member, what her day-to-day life is like, and how to work up the crew ladder in the below the line set hierarchy.

Melanie's kickstarter ends April 8th and it is almost 50% funded. Let's give our crew some love and help publish this survival guide that we could all learn something from!

00:12 — Episode Intro and "Below the Line" Kickstarter

03:30 — Living in a Man's World & Putting Herself Out There

05:52 — What a Grip is & What They Do

08:47 — The Best Boy Grip and Below the Line Set Hierarchy

11:13 — Working Up the Crew Ladder

15:31 — Day Player for Crew

17:07 — Being a Female on Crew

20:12 — Breaking Down a Typical Day

24:18 — Union (IATSE) Sets vs. Nonunion Sets

28:42 — What Actors Need to Know About Crew

31:05 — Melanie's Volvo Oscars Commercial

37:30 — Tips for Working Crew

43:25 — Scheduling Time for Ourselves

48:15 — What Keeps Melanie Going

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Melanie's IMDb

Contribute to "Below the Line" by Melanie A. Ragone Kickstarter

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Want more? Check out Patreon for bonus episodes, IG Close Friends content, and so much more.

And don’t miss all the content on IG and as always at, OneBrokeActress.com

And if you're needing some personalized help from Sam, you can schedule a chat with her right here.

Don't forget to join the mailing list here! 

--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/one-broke-actress-podcast/message

Back in December 2022, I was asked to join The Financial Diet YouTube channel to talk about my experience as a working actor in Los Angeles. I am a long time fan of theirs, and jumped at the chance to be real about living paycheck to paycheck in a city with an incredibly high cost of living. We sat down and got honest about it all: rejection in the industry, nepo babies, and the financial realities of the Hollywood dream. Today's ⏮️REWIND⏮️ is just a small snippet of the whole collaboration, so be sure to check out the full video with The Financial Diet to hear all Chelsea Fagan and I had to say!

— Financial Realities of the Working Class Actor

— Agents, Managers, and The 10% Cut

— SAG-AFTRA Dues

— Auditions & Money: Coaching, Wardrobe, Hair, Makeup, Nails

— Accepting Rejection & Criticism

— Nepo Babies & Socioeconomic Privilege

— What Being On TV + Film Actually Pays

— Why Actors Leave

— Being an Entrepreneur

— Motherhood and Women in Hollywood

— Social Media and Actors

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Watch the Full Video on The Financial Diet's YouTube!

Listen to the Financial Confessions Podcast Episode

Sydney Sweeney Shares She Doesn’t Have Enough Money to Take a Break from Acting, Talks Salary

Jennifer Aniston Has Spoken Out About The "Hurtful" Assumptions That She "Chose Career Over Kids"

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Want more? Check out Patreon for bonus episodes, IG Close Friends content, and so much more.

And don’t miss all the content on IG and as always at, OneBrokeActress.com

And if you're needing some personalized help from Sam, you can schedule a chat with her right here.

Don't forget to join the mailing list here! 

--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/one-broke-actress-podcast/message