Michelle’s first act before acting was also on stage, but as a professional ballet dancer. On this episode of the Second Act Actors podcast, we get into the details on what it really means to have a creative career.

Michelle starts out by telling me how she became a ballet dancer and what her family thought of her career aspirations. We compare and contrast acting and dancing, with Michelle noting how her dance background helped her to learn how to act and gave her the discipline to work on her skills. 

We also discuss why it’s important to really, really love acting if you’ve decided to make it your career, as there’s so much more work involved than just auditioning and showing up on set. Michelle tells me about some of her memorable on stage moments as a dancer and an actor, which goes to show why you need to be dedicated if you want to act!

Michelle’s story is such a great example of what it means to be a Second Act Actor and I’m so glad that she shared it with me on this episode! If you liked it then please subscribe to the podcast.

Links

Second Act Actors website

Second Act Actors on Instagram

Second Act Actors on Facebook

Second Act Actors on YouTube

Janet McMordie website

Janet McMordie on Instagram

Janet McMordie on LinkedIn

Janet McMordie on Twitter

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A wee bonus episode for you all! This is the live recording of my workshop at the AACE (Association of Acting Coaches & Educators) conference!

Get ready to dive into the fascinating world of podcasting alongside Chelsea and I!

In this lively session, we explore our captivating journey in the podcasting realm, uncovering secrets to becoming a stellar podcast guest or host. We'll also discuss the countless reasons why we adore this remarkable medium. 

Tune in now and bask in the joy of podcasting goodness!

AACE website

Second Act Actors

Cue To Cue Podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“I’ve added it up and I’m probably a seventh act actor”, Stephen told me on this episode of the Second Act Actors podcast. Regardless of when or how you discovered acting, join me for this amazing conversation that traces Stephen’s journey from reporter to policeman to police cameraman to HR employee to career coach to actor.

Stephen and I compare notes on our experiences of starting a new career later in life, with Stephen sharing some great advice on how to define success when you’re an actor. He tells me how he stays motivated between jobs and breaks down his “holistic” approach to being an actor, where he puts himself out there but still takes care of the needs of his mind and body. 

We also have a really interesting discussion about handling stress as an actor and Stephen shares some of his learnings on resilience from his time as a career coach. If you’re struggling with the lack of control that comes with acting, you’ll want to listen out for this bit!

This episode of the Second Act Actors podcast is a fantastic listen that you won’t want to miss. You can catch a load more episodes featuring other gifted actors pursuing their dreams when you subscribe to the podcast. 

Links

Stephen Walker website

Stephen Walker on IMDb

Second Act Actors website

Second Act Actors on Instagram

Second Act Actors on Facebook

Second Act Actors on YouTube

Janet McMordie website

Janet McMordie on Instagram

Janet McMordie on LinkedIn

Janet McMordie on Twitter

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From humble beginnings, Lewis Baumander followed his instincts and embraced the unknown to create an unexpected and inspiring acting community, changing the course of his life and the lives of his students forever. Who knew that one man's dream could have such a powerful impact?

Lewis is an accomplished acting coach and the driving force behind the successful LB Acting Studio. With years of experience in the world of theater and directing, Lewis has honed his skills in nurturing and guiding actors to unleash their full potential. His commitment to building a supportive acting community and providing personalized mentorship has garnered him a reputation as a trusted and valued resource. By fostering an atmosphere of collaboration and growth, Lewis has helped countless actors achieve their dreams and make lasting connections in the industry.

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Discover the essential nature of empathy in creating realistic and compelling acting performances.

• Tackle the unique obstacles faced by second act actors with confidence and grace.

• Learn how a supportive network and mentorship can propel your acting career to new heights.

• Recognize and address harmful behavior in the acting world, standing up against abuse and entitlement.

• Embrace the impact of personal growth and moral responsibility on achieving long-lasting acting success.

Links:

• www.lbactingstudio.com

• www.secondactactors.com

• https://www.youtube.com/youtube.com/@secondactactors

• https://www.instagram.com/secondactactors

• https://www.facebook.com/secondactactors

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jennifer’s relationship with acting is a long story, which is a testament to her passion and creativity. She came from a creative, artistic family and grew up acting, then left the profession only to come back to it later in life. Tune in to this episode of the Second Act Actors podcast to learn more!

Jennifer shares her perspective on living creatively and tells me why she thinks that all actors need both a community and another outlet for their creativity, to combat the loneliness that can come with being an actor. We also discuss how you can mark your progress as an actor and why you shouldn’t dwell on whether or not you have talent. 

Later in the episode, Jennifer tells me about her activism through AACE (Association of Acting Coaches and Educators) and why she’s campaigning to create consent based practices and standards for students and teachers to provide safe working environments for classrooms and coaching studios. . Listen out for our interesting discussion about what oversight you should have as an acting teacher and for Jennifer’s words of wisdom for acting teachers!

If Jennifer’s words inspired you to develop your own craft, then please show your love for the Second Act Actors podcast by subscribing and leaving a review.

Links

Association of Acting Coaches and Educators

Second Act Actors website

Second Act Actors on Instagram

Second Act Actors on Facebook

Second Act Actors on YouTube

Janet McMordie website

Janet McMordie on Instagram

Janet McMordie on LinkedIn

Janet McMordie on Twitter

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Although he loved acting, Nick Sowma chose to become a lawyer because it was a ‘safe choice’ that provided a stable career path. However, after he caught and recovered from Covid, he decided it was time for a change so he became an actor. He tells me the full story on this great episode of the Second Act Actors podcast. 

Nick and I compare being a doctor and a lawyer and talk about how those career choices have shaped us. Nick tells me what he brought from law into acting and scriptwriting and he shares how his experience of speaking for his clients in court prepared him to take on new characters and their stories in front of the camera. We also talk about dealing with nerves and chaos when on set, which is great advice that any new actor should know!

We also have an interesting chat about specificity in casting and Nick shares his thoughts on whether actors can, or should, play characters of a different sexual orientation or race to their own. 

If you’d like to hear more stories from other talented second act actors then subscribe to the podcast so that you don’t miss an episode. You can also help the community to grow by sharing this episode online. 

Links

Second Act Actors website

Second Act Actors on Instagram

Second Act Actors on Facebook

Second Act Actors on YouTube

Janet McMordie website

Janet McMordie on Instagram

Janet McMordie on LinkedIn

Janet McMordie on Twitter

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael Mau originally went to university to study theatre before switching into an English major, but as he tells me in this episode of the Second Act Actors podcast, the desire to act never left him. He found a way to make acting part of his life, alongside being a teacher and father, before becoming a full-time actor. Listen to his story in this fun, interesting episode. 

Michael tells me what it was like to quit his job and become an actor in March 2020 as the entire world was shutting down. We talk about how he found his initial acting roles and managed the transition from teaching to acting. Michael shares his thoughts on building a schedule and dealing with guilt around ‘not working’. Listen out for Michael’s ‘spite auditioning’ tip and how he copes with rejection in a healthy way!

Later on, we compare the difference between acting in theatre and acting for a camera, with Michael telling me his experiences of staying in character in between takes and  interacting with cast members in character even when the cameras aren’t rolling. 

This was a great episode to record and I hope you’ll love hearing it. If you’d like to show that you’re a fan of the Second Act Actors podcast, you can share this episode online or with an actor friend.

Links

MauHaus Productions

Second Act Actors website

Second Act Actors on Instagram

Second Act Actors on Facebook

Second Act Actors on YouTube

Janet McMordie website

Janet McMordie on Instagram

Janet McMordie on LinkedIn

Janet McMordie on Twitter

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“If you zoom out and look at your life…what is already working in your life that will lend itself to transitioning into an acting career?” Cole Aansen, the special guest in this episode of the Second Act Actors podcast, asks this interesting question as a way of describing her route from online teaching, language learning and bar work into acting. Tune in to hear her positive attitude, her thoughtful message and her journey into acting.  

Cole tells me about the serendipitous path into acting and the chance meeting that encouraged her to go for her goals. She describes what her life is like now and explains the advantages of having a fully remote job if you’re also looking to pursue a career in acting. We also bond over our experiences as second act actors and Cole gives some excellent advice about how to bring lessons from your first act into your second. Listen out for Cole’s acting coach’s ‘essence descriptors’ technique to get the most out of your performances in auditions!

This episode of the Second Act Actors podcast is the shot of positivity and motivation that you need to hear today. If Cole’s words inspired you, then please share the episode on your social media accounts.

Links

Cole Aansen on Instagram

Cole Aansen on YouTube

Second Act Actors website

Second Act Actors on Instagram

Second Act Actors on Facebook

Second Act Actors on YouTube

Janet McMordie website

Janet McMordie on Instagram

Janet McMordie on LinkedIn

Janet McMordie on Twitter

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My interview with Scott Erwin was very memorable for a number of reasons, one of which was his inspiring message: “Anything’s possible with enough education and enough desire to do it…it’s just going to be a question of ‘at what level do I get to do it?’”. On this episode of the Second Act Actors podcast, Scott shares his story of being an accountant and business owner who lost it all and then discovered acting.

In the episode, we discuss everything from how Scott got into dancing to learning acting techniques later in life. Scott shares what surprised him about working in the entertainment industry and tells me a great story about how his accounting and acting careers overlapped in an unexpected way. 

This episode is packed with practical advice for new actors, with insights from myself and Scott on how to overcome rejection and deal with feelings of being behind in your acting career. Listen out for Scott’s thoughts on method acting, which might help you if you also don’t enjoy staying in character in between takes!

What did you think about this episode? Was your journey into acting like Scott’s? Share your thoughts by posting about this episode of the Second Act Actors podcast online, and you can tag me with the links below. 

Links

Scott Erwin website

Life is Like Us website

Second Act Actors website

Second Act Actors on Instagram

Second Act Actors on Facebook

Second Act Actors on YouTube

Janet McMordie website

Janet McMordie on Instagram

Janet McMordie on LinkedIn

Janet McMordie on Twitter

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode of the Second Act Actors podcast features filmmaker Jordan, who spent 4 weeks documenting the daily lives and struggles of the people of Ukraine at the beginning of the Russian invasion. He tells me about his experiences there and his lasting memories in this interesting interview. 

Jordan and I also talk about acting and he tells me about how he got into acting through community theatre plays with his daughter. We discuss how Jordan fits acting around his day job and what he brings from his role as a project manager into acting. It turns out that being very organised helps a lot! Listen out for how he combines his acting skills and business knowledge to move his acting career forward and for his advice on how to balance acting with another career, particularly if you’re relying on your other job to earn money. 

Our conversation also covers type casting and acting unions, with Jordan explaining why he joined an actors’ union and whether it’s been worth it so far. 

If you enjoyed listening to Jordan and I talk about auditions, acting with beards and more, then subscribe to the Second Act Actors podcast to hear more interviews with talented, funny actors.

Links

Second Act Actors website

Second Act Actors on Instagram

Second Act Actors on Facebook

Second Act Actors on YouTube

Janet McMordie website

Janet McMordie on Instagram

Janet McMordie on LinkedIn

Janet McMordie on Twitter

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.