In episode 15, we mosey down south to Austin, Texas to check in with writer, producer and director, Suzanne Weinert. She shares her adventures from around the world including but not limited to her early days in NYC and LA, being a judge at Mammoth Film Festival, and even attending writing retreats in New Zealand as of late. Her first job in the industry was as an assistant to Ron Howard and then went on to work with Julia Roberts for 7 years - which set the bar for her career pretty high straight out of the gate. She eventually made her way to Texas and after serving on the board of The Austin Film Society for many years, she also sits on the board of SXSW and has now made the jump to directing her own material. With heaps of skill and a knack for knowing how to make people laugh and/or cry, she has a huge heart for helping others or "paying it backwards" as she refers to it. Her motto in 2020 is to see things exactly as they are and with the knowledge she imparts, we'd say our listeners are in for a healthy dose of crystal vision.

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We're settling into social distancing together in our 14th episode with producer Carolina Groppa. Born in Sao Paolo, Brazil and now taking LA by storm, this former actress/dancer expresses the importance of continuing to honor her inner artist as she blazes her own unique trail as a producer. Her first step was to produce a play and since then she's gone on to produce Whitney Cummings directorial feature debut The Female Brain and the 2017 Emmy nominated documentary Autism in Love which explores how adults with autism find and navigate romantic relationships, to name a few! We listen in as Groppa expounds on her mindful approach in regard to problem solving in real time and the value she places on creating a safe space and a sense of unity on her sets. We delve into the messy parts of life as well and how the natural lulls and challenges that arise can be utilized as a catalysts for expanded spirituality, cultivating one's own tribe of collaborators, and the creation of Groppa's very own podcast Life With Caca. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-with-c-a/id1469447192

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Episode 13 pushes us past some Coronavirus technical challenges and further into the realm of connecting and podcasting from the safety of our own homes. Fellow podcaster, entertainment reporter, ally, and sportscaster (just to name a few of his endeavors) Ben Lyons, sits down with us to share his wisdom, perspective, and driving force both in front of and behind the camera. His podcast, The Festival Rules, is the result of one of many longstanding and fruitful partnerships he has cultivated. We talk about what distinguishes a great interview from a mediocre one, the kind of discipline it requires to most effectively consume and create content, and why being present wherever you are is the real key to both success and happiness. We get to hear stories about the legendary men in his family that paved the way for so many in the industry and learn the unique ways in which their legacy lives on and continues to inspire him on a daily basis. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-festival-rules/id1495437003

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In episode 12, Alexandra and Blair check in with each other amidst the global pandemic and talk about Alex's own experience after testing positive for Coronavirus (Covid-19). They flip the script on one another and discuss their own career paths, answer some quick fire questions, and share their own anxieties. But most importantly, they look for the silver lining in this chapter of life and remain hopeful for what's next.

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During this trying time with COVID-19, episode 11 delivers us an emboldening conversation with writer, director, producer extraordinaire Sabrina Jaglom. We delve into her intuitively creative nature fostered from an early age, her less than conventional parents, and the unique path that continues to foster her voice and vision. She hales from Los Angeles, has studied in New York, London and Prague to name a few, and is now working full time in pursuit of her dreams. We listen in on her experiences working with Nancy Meyers, her time in the tv/film development world, and when she finally felt confident enough to fully claim and take credit for her accomplishments to date. We go on to discuss the complementary juxtaposition of directing film/music videos vs. theatre, how one finds the right representation, and the importance of working with people you're naturally drawn to. One of the projects we're most excited to see from Jaglom is the short form documentary series 'Girl Problems' which will shine a light on women's issues around the world. She also wraps up by describing restrictions as something to be utilized, which is exactly the message we needed to hear right about now.

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Episode 10 fades in with former actress turned director Kimberly McCullough. After being on General Hospital since the tender age of 7, McCullough found herself directing her first film at just 16 years old. Although she claimed many accolades as an actress, this film lit a fire that would lead her into a career as a highly versatile and accomplished director in her own right. She attributes this sensibility to being surrounded by intense and powerful female roles models. McCullough has had the moxie to learn how to direct many different genres of television and was able to discover what she loved along the way. She touches on the importance of women in positions of power being the rule and not the exception, and the next steps that need to be taken in order to continue on this trend. Aside from fighting for and empowering women from the director's chair, McCullough has a two year old with whom she is also exploring uncharted territory in regards to basic women's rights in the workplace. She makes it abundantly clear that we are stronger together, there's room enough for everyone at the table, and that it's our job as adults to listen to the younger generation. https://www.equalrightsamendment.org/https://www.dga.org/https://freethework.com/

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Episode 9 is a special edition conversation with four very special guests recorded at Mammoth Film Festival. Joining us at the round table are two incredible actresses Lesley-Ann Brandt (Lucifer, Gotham) and Anne Heche (Hung, Hour of Lead), documentary director/producer Tara Wood (QT8: The First Eight), and producer/director Steven Garcia (Chasing the Cure, Josie). We open with expressing the desire to move past the conversation of equality between men and women and towards pinpointing where our voices are making the most impact now. We take a closer look at our relationship to ego as it relates to being in the film industry, how to most successfully be an advocate for women, and how to best take responsibility for ourselves amidst 'the Harvey (Weinstein) of it all' and in light of his recent indictment. The discussion touches on the differing ways in which we battle with feeling less than, the power that is derived from sitting in uncomfortable situations, and the reverberations we continue to feel as a result of this heavy swinging of the pendulum - one which will hopefully bring forth a more enlightened state of collective consciousness.https://www.mammothfilmfestival.org/

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In our 8th episode, actress Sarah Carter (Falling Skies, Rogue) describes how her Canadian roots instilled a deep reverence for oneness and community from an early age while simultaneously pushing her to seek new environments (Los Angeles) that encouraged her to further define her own individuality and unique voice. As time has progressed, her practice and perspectives continue to deepen and we listen as she reminiscences about self-matrimony and the gift that is self-love. We explore her outlet as a musician and hear how putting melodies to her poetry allowed her to more anonymously revel in the purity of expressing herself. She sheds light on shadow work, the power of letting go as an artist, and expresses her thoughts around how to include men in the conversation around gender parity. We also delve into what it looks like to be in the director's chair as a woman who leads and holds space in a purely feminine way. You just might come away from this conversation with a deeper faith in the divine order of things and a warm assurance that life's got your back.https://www.cheshiremoonproductions.com/wake#

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In episode 7, we listen as Rain Valdez describes how island fever lit the inner fire and curiosity she needed to transition from her childhood playground that was Guam to the ongoing adventure that is now Los Angeles. She expresses the joy she's cultivating by living in a way that leaves space for the unknown, and the importance of getting quiet enough to hear what your inner voice has to say. She shares what it was like working on the wildly popular show "Transparent", the importance of being fully seen, and how they supported her own dreams of becoming a filmmaker. We also discuss the different ways in which Hollywood is making an effort to change the narrative around transgender artists and how starting an LGBTQ acting class has moved the needle even further within her own community. Lastly, Rain muses about what her dream acting role would be, why Rom-Coms and Disney films are way more powerful than than you might think, and why identifying, promoting, and uplifting transgender stories is both a universally beneficial and crucial cause.https://www.noweverartists.com/

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In our 6th episode, Carolina Garcia, Director of Original Series at Netflix, shares her story about how growing up in a large Argentinian family full of artists instilled an unwavering confidence and work ethic into her life. We hear what it was like to work for Fox's Chairwoman and CEO, Dana Walden and how she set the bar for exceptionalism. Carolina shares what it means to have grit when all the chips are stacked against you and how to literally sing and dance your way through any challenge. We dive into the corporate culture at Netflix, explain why sharing how you feel is a superpower, and what happens when you trust people enough to design their own schedules. Last but not least, Carolina reveals why throwing away cake is nothing less than sacrilege. www.educationaltheatrefoundation.org

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