Second Act Actors

            Tune in and settle down to listen to this soothing and inspiring episode of the Second Act Actors podcast with the truly wonderful Dr Becky Van Iersel, who is a grounded, lovely doctor who also made a change in her career to align it more with her life and her feelings about health and wellness.

Becky has worked several different roles within medicine but struggled to balance the demands of her career with her family life and eventually experienced severe burnout. She now has a mental health practice that supports people with burnout as well as trauma and addiction. Becky and I discuss burnout and Becky gives an interesting theory as to why burnout is like PTSD, which could provide a better framework for treatment than is currently available. Listen out for what Becky learnt from her burnout and her words of wisdom on coping with change in your life.

You’ll also hear what Becky’s life is like now and how her farmstead provides a sanctuary for people to relax, get in touch with nature and hang out with alpacas.

If Dr Becky’s words of wisdom resonated with you, please subscribe or follow the Second Act Actors podcast and share what you learnt from her with a friend.

Timestamps

[0:35] Becky’s childhood, her career in medicine and her turning point

[9:00] A new job and a move to a homestead

[11:18] Becky’s training with Brené Brown

[13:11] Why does Brené’s work resonate with so many people?

[17:37] Becky’s experience of burnout

[21:17] How do you coach someone through burnout?

[25:18] “You’re stronger at the broken points”: True or false?

[27:55] How self-compassion allowed Becky to change

[31:10] Why do so many people feel trapped in their careers and make a switch to something more creative?

[34:48] Are we all creative and heading for crisis?

[39:35] Becky’s theory on why the pandemic pushed so many of us to make a big life change

[41:45] Life on Becky’s farm

[44:10] Outdoor yoga in the sheep pen

[45:53] The benefits of spending time in nature

[48:07] “It’s ok to struggle”: Becky’s final words of wisdom

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.

On this episode of Second Act Actors, I talk with Compassionate Inquiry coach and end of life doula Claudia about midlife transitions and how to honour your life’s purpose in a healthy, meaningful way.

Claudia tells me her life story and about how her own experience of burnout as a photographer shaped her and gave her an interest in helping others through the same process. She talks about what she does with her clients as an end-of-life doula and how she brings this deepened perspective to her clients facing a midlife crisis.

We move on to discuss the mechanics of a transition period and Claudia gives advice to people who feel as if they’re stuck or dissatisfied with their lives at the moment and the steps that they could take to make a change. Claudia recounts her experiences of studying under her hero Dr Gabor Maté and how his trauma-focused approach has influenced her work.

This is a moving conversation about meaningful topics that come up too rarely in our society. You’ll hear advice from Claudia on how to navigate challenging questions about life, death and being human, which you can come back to along your journey. If this episode of Second Act Actors made you stop and think, please share it with someone you know that needs to hear this important message.

Timestamps

[0:10] Claudia’s path to becoming a death doula

[2:58] How Claudia’s experience of burnout as a photographer gave her the chance to help others through their midlife struggles

[6:40] Is having a midlife crisis a sign of privilege?

[9:50] Claudia walks me through her coaching process

[12:30] Balancing out passion and logic

[15:25] What is an end-of-life doula?

[17:38] My experience of working with death as a doctor

[18:40] How Claudia’s bringing her experience of being a death doula to her midlife coaching services

[22:07] What advice would Claudia give to someone who feels like they’re stuck in a rut?

[25:00] The mini-death that comes with a transition period

[29:25] “It all comes together at the midlife”: Claudia’s work with Dr Maté

[31:50] What advice would Claudia give to people who want to get in touch with their earlier selves?

[34:52] We should talk about this more!!

[37:50] Where to go to find out more about Dr Maté and your life journey

[39:35] Where to go to find out more about Claudia

[40:04] “Trust and truth”: Claudio’s advice to people who are on the edge of a big life change

Links

Permission to Bloom website

Permission to Bloom on Instagram

The Wisdom of Trauma documentary

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.

On this episode of the Second Act Actors podcast, I’m sitting down with fellow Janet and actor Janet Walmsley, who was a dental hygienist for 27 years before her son persuaded her to audition for a play in a local theatre. Since then, Janet hasn’t looked back and has acted on stage and screen, been nominated for awards and has started her own acting class for people arriving into acting later in life.

Janet tells me about some of the acting and life lessons that she teaches in her acting class and how she encourages wannabe actors to keep the fun at the heart of what they do. We swap notes on working in a medical background and how our skills of listening and teamwork translate really well into the acting industry. 

In the episode, you’ll also hear Janet discuss some of her best on-set moments with some really talented actors and the advice that she gives to people who want to follow her example and make their acting dreams come true.

This is such a lovely, fun discussion that’s sure to put a spring in your step. If you enjoyed listening to two actors talking about their love of acting, subscribe or follow the Second Act Actors podcast to hear more content like this.

Timestamps

[0:45] “It was kind of a surprise how I came back into acting”: Janet’s journey from being a dental hygienist to an actor

[6:26] What Janet really loves about acting and acting classes

[9:03] The four Ps of acting to help you through the struggles of working in acting

[10:10] What Janet brought from her dental hygienist role to the stage and screen

[14:28] Janet’s Shifting Lanes acting class

[17:30] What advice would Janet give for older would-be actors?

[21:56] How to present yourself to a casting director

[24:50] Let’s get rid of “standard” accents!

[27:45] What surprised Janet about getting back into the acting industry

[32:27] You have to be patient and persevere to make it

[34:56] Janet’s favourite on-set moments

[38:47] Getting nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the ISA Awards and more: some of Janet’s career highs

[41:38] It’s never too late to get into acting!

[42:22] You have to be in acting for you

[45:10] What Covid-19 has done for Canadian actors

[46:30] “I have a movie coming out!”: What Janet’s looking forward to this year

[50:03] Getting back into the habit of doing physical auditions

[51:49] Janet’s words of wisdom for people who want to get into acting

Links

Janet Walmsley on Instagram

Janet Walmsley on Facebook

Janet Walmsley on Twitter

Shifting Lanes Acting Coaching with Janet Walmsley

Janet’s book

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.

On this episode of Second Act Actors, I talk with Lara, an Toronto-based actress who’s passionate about acting training and building communities of skilled actors. Lara felt pressured by her parents to pursue a ‘traditional’ career and had a job in social work but couldn’t let go of her dream to act and sing. She eventually switched into acting and is excited about the possibilities of developing her career in the industry.

Lara breaks down the many reasons that acting training is so important and why she’ll never stop developing herself. She tells me why “How do I get in the room?” is the wrong question to ask, and why continuously learning and growing your skills is a healthier approach to furthering your acting career. She then talks about drilling down on the reasons why you want to be an actor and how that’ll show up in your performance. You’ll also hear us discussing how having a first act outside of acting gives you a much more solid foundation than starting out acting without having any real life experience.

If you learnt something from this interview or if it inspired you to develop your own acting skills, please subscribe or follow the Second Act Actors podcast.

Timestamps

[1:38] How the Care Bears inspired Lara to get into acting

[3:00] “The arts kept on finding me”: Lara’s first act in college and beyond

[7:23] Lara’s passion for music

[9:45] Being a person of colour in the industry

[11:03] “I don’t believe in being a starving artist unless I have to be”: Lara on the creativity and resourcefulness of actors

[14:20] How Lara’s social work background has helped her to become a better actor

[16:25] You need to know why you want to act

[18:25] The advantage of coming to acting from a totally different career

[21:25] Why “How do I get in the room?” isn’t the right question to ask

[23:15] It’s all about the clan!

[24:50] Lara’s advice on how to make the most out of your time on set

[26:20] What second act actors bring to a film set

[28:54] The online improv community

[32:50] Building up a supportive, talented community

[34:07] Lara’s experience dancing on a music video set with Nelly Furtado

[37:12] Why acting training is important for more reasons than you think

[40:20] Relationships build certainty in an uncertain industry

[42:05] Paddle boarding and training: What Lara’s looking forward to this year

[43:17] A first act career is a foundation

[45:40] Not everybody in the industry is intimidating

[47:17] “You’ve got to be worthy to get paid that amount”

[49:49] Lara talks about auditioning from the casting director’s point of view

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.

On this episode of Second Act Actors, I sit down with Will, who’s a lovely, stable, positive person who’s also an actor and a teacher. Will’s a first act actor, having attended theatre school in Toronto, and today he acts and teaches other actors to have a positive mindset and to value themselves so they can truly put themselves into the character they’re playing.

Will tells me what he did and didn’t learn at theatre school and how he eventually made up for his lack of knowledge by taking on a mentor and shifting his mindset. He reveals the low point that he went through after leaving theatre school and the work that he had to do to overcome it. Will also dives into the fallacy of the ‘starving artist’ mentality and how it can be dangerous to young actors in the industry, and he paints his alternative vision of being a ‘thriving artist’.

This episode of Second Act Actors is an uplifting listen that’s full of great advice about what it actually takes to become an actor. If you enjoyed it, share it with a friend or online to spread the message about valuing yourself, even in a famously tough industry.

Timestamps

[0:15] How struggling in music class made Will want to be an actor

[2:38] What did Will’s parents think of him becoming an actor?

[4:00] Will on making his own back-up plan and teaching acting to others

[5:24] Will’s experience of theatre school

[8:00] “There’s a lot missing from the educational world”: What you don’t learn at theatre school

[10:00] Camera experience, mentors, mindset shifts: How Will made up for his knowledge deficit

[13:46] Will’s post-theatre school low point 

[17:40] Gaining a breakthrough by working on your mindset

[18:55] What a truly great teacher can do for your confidence and your acting career

[24:33] What’s the difference between a first act actor and a second act actor?

[25:53] The danger of the ‘starving artist’ mentality

[28:40] How to stop being a starving artist and to start being a thriving artist

[30:23] Will’s crazy on-stage story from a production of Hamlet

[35:55] How Will’s family and friends would describe his job

[37:03] The new business: What Will’s excited about for this year

[38:23] “You are enough”: Will’s final words of wisdom

Links

Karrie and Will Coaching

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.

            Today’s guest on the Second Act Actors podcast is the funny, quirky and lovely Robyn Deverett, the self-styled ‘Acting Physiotherapist’. Robyn acted in a lot of school plays but eventually decided to pursue a career in physiotherapy. However, being Robyn, she found a way to combine the two and uses her acting and comedy skills to provide education on physiotherapy and particularly on the importance of exercising your pelvic floor. She regularly shares videos about pelvic floor and other essential physio-recommended exercises.

We discuss the problems of working in the healthcare system today and how acting can be an escape from your first act career burnout. Robyn shares some great tips with me on how to access your emotions and tells me how she learnt to cry on command in auditions. We also talk about why actors need to keep supporting other actors, despite the competitive nature of the industry.

To hear other fun, entertaining interviews with passionate actors, make sure that you subscribe or follow the Second Act Actors podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

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

Kristin Duffy is my guest on this episode of the Second Act Actors podcast and she’s here to tell me about switching from fashion to acting, how triathlons were formative for her and her experiences of being an American in London.

Kristin was the oldest of six children and was interested in acting from a young age, but decided to study fashion and landed a design role for a major chain based in New York. However, she became unsatisfied with her career and made the switch to studying acting in London. Together we discuss whether we put too much pressure on ourselves to make our first career work out. As the host of The Second Chapter Podcast, Kristin interviews women over 35 who made huge career changes so she has plenty to say about this!

We also compare notes on how society treats women, especially women over the age of 40, and how aging in the UK compares to ageing in the US. Kristin tells me about her thoughts on living in London and how triathlons can be like having a baby.

If this episode struck a chord with you and encouraged you to go for a big life change, please share it on your go-to social media channel and subscribe to The Second Act Actors podcast.

Timestamps

[2:20] Kristin talks about her childhood and her career in fashion

[5:43] Kristin on the roots of her creativity

[7:30] How science-y is fashion design?

[9:22] Getting inspired to become a triathlete

[13:57] Kristin and I talk building a community around your hobbies

[15:37] “It’s kind of like having a baby”: Kristin tells me about her first triathlon

[17:00] How Kristin became a triathlon coach

[19:07] Kristin’s second act as an actor

[21:02] What Kristin’s brought from fashion and triathlons to acting

[22:52] How The Second Chapter Podcast helps Kristin to overcome the struggle of acting

[26:00] Do we put too much pressure on ourselves to make our first job work out?

[29:05] Busting the myth about acting being only about acting

[33:22] What’s surprised Kristin about working as an actor

[35:20] Ageing in the UK vs. in the US, and how British accents can give you more authority

[42:42] “Something really interesting is going to happen’: What Kristin’s looking forward to this year

[43:45] The power of manifestation

[44:58] Advice from Kristin about making a career change

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

Banker, reggae musician, MC and actor Tony Cauch is my guest on this episode of Second Act Actors. Tony’s embraced many careers in his life and has now retired from banking to pursue his creative passions full time, as he tells me in our interview.

Tony and I discuss why he chose banking over music earlier in his life and whether the millennial generation felt obligated to choose ‘traditional’ careers because they grew up seeing their parents hate their jobs. Tony tells me what surprised him about starting to work as an actor and the ‘culture shock’ that he experienced when he realised that he was no longer the decision-maker in the room. 

We then talk about the importance of creativity and how uniquely human it is to be driven by the desire to create and enjoy art, music, and theatre, and Tony shares his words of wisdom to anyone who feels stuck in their day job.

To find out what other Second Act Actors are up to and how they’re breaking into the acting world, subscribe or follow the Second Act Actors podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Timestamps

[0:37] Tony’s career in acting, MC’ing, and banking

[3:30] The ‘look at me!’ bug and why Tony went into banking

[5:20] What Tony’s brought from banking to acting

[6:40] How Tony made a gradual switch from banking into acting

[8:30] What made Tony feel comfortable enough to pursue acting in the ‘second stage’ of his life?

[9:30] Tony describes the ‘culture shock’ of starting to work as an actor

[10:45] “I wasn’t really all that serious about it”: Tony’s formal acting training and the difficulty of acting in an accent

[13:56] How hard can it be to act with a parrot?!

[16:15] Where Tony’s at with his music career

[18:50] The story of how Tony discovered reggae

[20:18] Tony explains why creativity is so important

[24:15] What Tony’s looking forward to this year

[26:15] How would Tony’s wife and family describe his career?

[27:08] Tony’s final words of wisdom

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.

Today I’m lifting the veil of secrecy off one of the most misunderstood jobs in the acting industry: the talent agent. I chat with my talent agent and lovely human Maya Ritter, from Ritter Talent Agency. Maya tells me about how she became an agent after having worked as a child actor and busts some of the biggest myths about agents, actors and what they’re supposed to do for each other.

This episode is a great listen for anyone who’s been signed by a talent agency or who’s starting to look for an agent. You’ll hear Maya and I discuss how you can get an acting career off the ground, what Maya would have done differently as an actor and how you can make your agent’s life easier. Maya also runs through a day in the life of a talent agent and gives advice on how to navigate difficult conversations with your agent such as asking to take a career break and what to say if you think your agent is letting you down.

If you learnt something from this episode of Second Act Actors, please share it in your community and subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts.

Timestamps

[0:05] Maya tells me how she became a child actor

[3:22] Maya’s existential crisis, backpacking through Asia and her revelation of wanting to start her own talent agency

[6:18] What difference does it make if your agent has also acted professionally?

[9:16] Maya’s advice on how to get started as an actor

[11:00] What would Maya have done differently in her acting career?

[15:04] “So-and-so isn’t doing enough for me”: The misconception that some actors have about the role of their agent

[18:42] Had a challenging time with a previous agent? Here’s how Maya would handle it

[21:24] “It’s a relationship”: Maya on the bond between an actor and an agent

[23:55] The two things that actors can do to make their agent’s job easier

[27:25] Navigating a temporary break from your acting career

[29:45] That crazy career myth about making it as an actor

[33:47] Maya’s favourite on-set moments

[35:22] Deadlines, character breakdowns, submissions: A Day in the life of a talent agent

[39:33] Pulling back the veil of secrecy that covers the industry

[43:20] Why you should keep pushing the envelope in your acting career

Links

Ritter Talent Agency website

Ritter Talent Agency on Instagram

Ritter Talent Agency on Facebook

Ritter Talent Agency on IMDb

Second Act Actors website

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.

On this episode of Second Act Actors, I’m interviewing an actor with a life story like no other. Diane grew up in South Africa, sailed to the United States on a boat with her family, landed in San Diego and helped her parents to set up an ostrich farm. She was passionate about acting from a young age but then became a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Diane and I talk about how she rediscovered acting and what her life has been like since.

Diane talks about going up against the statistics of how many actors really ‘make it’ and how she keeps herself motivated in the face of such a challenge. She explains why it’s important to her that she calls acting her “vocation” and gives advice to other people who are considering starting out in the industry. We also dive into the financial burden of acting and our feelings around being financially independent. Listen to the end of the episode to find out why Diane’s amazing new headshot didn’t book her any roles and how that changed when she opted for a different photo!

To hear more words of wisdom from second act actors in the industry, subscribe to the Second Act Actors podcast. You can also give the show a boost by leaving a rating and review.

Timestamps

[1:35] Diane’s life story of growing up on a South African gold mine, sailing to the United States and then living on an ostrich farm

[3:10] Why Diane decided not to become an actor

[5:17] Taking an acting class and getting signed by an agent

[6:57] What were Diane’s parents like?

[8:30] The overlaps between acupuncture and acting

[11:27] “The challenge is real”: Diane breaks down the statistics about how much a typical actor earns and roles available for women and men

[15:02] What Diane does to keep herself motivated

[17:45] My personal struggles in acting

[21:20] Diane’s #1 book recommendation

[22:40] “I can’t quit”: What surprised Diane about starting acting

[26:02] How Diane keeps her love of acting alive

[27:57] The best bit about acting

[30:10] A crazy on-set story shooting a movie in Hawaii

[31:52] What Diane’s kids and husband say about her acting

[35:15] You need a support network around you

[36:26] Taking care of yourself financially

[38:28] Where does the pressure to provide come from?

[40:00] Acting can be about ego

[41:45] Diane’s advice for other second act actors

[44:15] Beautiful words of wisdom from Diane

[48:03] Your 30’s are a weird time in Hollywood

[50:33] How Diane figured out her branding

Links

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert

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.