How have our definitions of success have shifted over time? Trust in our reps. Financial breathing room. Free time. Staying in the work when things are quiet. And learning how to measure wins that no one else can see.

Let's get into:

• why success isn’t a single moment or milestone

• the different “buckets” that can make us feel successful at different times

• why auditions, trust, and consistency matter more than bookings

• how financial flexibility impacts creative freedom

• redefining success in an industry that no longer creates overnight stars

• the danger of waiting for one role to change everything

• the difference between being content, settling, and staying curious

• why free time used to feel lazy and now feels rich

• how to create our own victories when the industry won’t hand us any

• staying in the work without external validation

  
  

We’re talking about the acting advice we used to give, fully believed, and would absolutely change or nuance now.

We break down why blanket advice ignores actor markets, how self-tapes and demo reels have shifted, what actually works when reaching out to agents and managers, and why productivity systems can become performative instead of helpful.

Plus our real-real: audition timing strategy, lighting choices, callbacks and avails that don’t book, booking the room, and redefining success when momentum looks different than expected.

Links:

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⁠⁠Sam on Instagram⁠⁠

⁠⁠Gab on Instagram⁠⁠

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Intro and why this episode is about being wrong

00:01:10 Why the internet struggles with nuance and growth

00:04:30 Blanket acting advice and why actor markets matter

00:08:20 The problem with one-size-fits-all career paths

00:10:00 Self-tapes vs real footage for demo reels

00:12:00 Reaching out to agents and managers in 2026

00:15:45 Productivity, scheduling, and acting career burnout

00:17:30 Performative productivity vs real progress

00:20:00 What an “ideal” actor schedule actually looks like

00:22:50 Why auditions shouldn’t define your identity as an actor

00:24:30 Letting go of systems that no longer serve you

00:28:10 Finding community and not doing this alone

00:33:00 Audition timing, lighting, and working with your real life

00:37:40 Callbacks, avails, and what booking the room means

00:41:10 Final thoughts and what’s coming next

We're back to break down the current state of the acting industry after sitting in on a closed-door TM only “state of the union” style call with casting.

We share what we expected to hear going into the call, + what actually surprised us.

Then our real-life working actor moments, including callbacks, Zoom auditions, eating on camera, voiceover marathons, and the absolute chaos of trying to plan anything in this business and/or life.

⁠Join The Membership⁠⁠

⁠⁠Sam on Instagram⁠⁠

⁠⁠Gab on Instagram⁠

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Intro and why we’re calling this a “state of the union”

00:02:10 What we expected to hear vs what casting actually said

00:04:45 The 400 scripted shows number and why that messed with our heads

00:08:30 Why optimism doesn’t automatically mean fast momentum

00:11:50 Feeling closer to the work even when you’re not booking

00:14:30 Callback stories and what “on first refusal” actually feels like

00:18:20 Eating on camera, SAG rules, and why some auditions have to be in person

00:22:10 Zoom auditions, casting notes, and how to keep it conversational

00:27:40 Why none of our calendars make sense and never will

00:33:15 Voiceover runs, commercial callbacks, and overlapping timelines

00:40:10 What this year requires emotionally from working actors

00:47:30 Final thoughts and what we’ll report back on next episode

starting the year in person and doing something radical: caring less. we talk about why giving fewer f*cks is not laziness but can help you get further (technically also faster).

we are building a working actor system that works with your brain, setting real time boundaries, choosing habits that support it, and letting the rest go. and cause WHY NOT: backyard digging, hobbies that stay hobbies, and a brief but passionate ode to Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.

Timestamps:

00:04:45 the pressure to monetize everything

00:08:20 creative focus vs checking boxes

00:13:45 trusting your process and redefining progress

00:18:30 time and energy management that actually works

00:23:00 setting boundaries around workdays and days off

00:27:00 hobbies that are not allowed to make money

00:30:45 digging in the yard as a metaphor (and a lifestyle)

00:34:45 reality tv, boundaries, and knowing when to log off

00:36:00 final thoughts on systems, creativity, and the year ahead

⁠Join The Membership⁠

⁠Sam on Instagram⁠

⁠Gab on Instagram⁠

Rest in an industry that rewards blurred boundaries and convinces actors they can control outcomes they absolutely cannot....is it possible? Let's discuss how to use end-of-year downtime without spiraling or trying to fix your entire career in two weeks.

We also break down why acting income alone is no longer reliable and what SAG national commercials actually pay in 2025.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 why taking time off feels so hard for actors

00:02:30 how to actually plan rest instead of accidentally working through it

00:07:15 setting boundaries without feeling like you owe everyone access to you

00:11:45 why “getting an agent” and “booking” are not real goals

00:16:00 redefining success in an industry you can’t control

00:18:10 money, stability, and why acting income alone isn’t realistic anymore

00:26:30 real SAG national commercial pay breakdown in 2025

00:34:00 why the old version of actor success is officially dead

00:36:45 final reminder before the new year

Join The Membership

Sam on Instagram

Gab on Instagram

We brought Vas back from The Online Actor, nobody breaks down auditions, industry waves, and self tape strategy like he does. And we hit on the standard of jealousy, comparison...with an email template for you. Most importantly: authenticity is actually booking more than “perfect” ever did.

what we cover:

● the truth about end of year auditions and why the landscape is shifting

● how to hear “there’s auditions” without immediately assuming you’re doing something wrong

● jealousy, comparison, and why literally all of us still go through it

● how Vas emailed his reps about roles he didn’t read for and what actors can learn from that

● the real way to do multiple takes (and why 10 percent different doesn’t cut it)

● authentic vs character-y acting in 2025 and what’s actually booking

● the Goldilocks method for self tapes

● why TM actors are suddenly taping wild, killer choices that stand out

● how to balance dynamic choices with your real essence

links:

vas's ig

the membership

sam’s ig

gab’s ig

actors panic over AI and cookies: post-holiday talk through the latest AI freakout and finally answer the question everyone DM’d us about (should you be buying your reps gifts this year or nah?)

we cover:

● the new AI update everyone spiraled about and why it’s not worth losing sleep

● real talk about rep relationships and how to know if you should even be gifting

● the gifts reps actually appreciate versus the ones they quietly donate

● why sometimes a handwritten note is more powerful than a pricey basket

● how to make your gift personal even if you barely know your rep

● the rep dinner email we drafted live and why it worked *(cause they already all responded)*

time codes:

00:00 catching up and the great nano banana AI panic

07:15 why actors reach for fear when auditions are slow

13:45 the CGI fire rant that accidentally proves our point

19:10 do reps really want holiday gifts or is this all a myth

23:30 real examples of gifts that actually landed

30:00 how to approach your reps with generosity without being weird

links:

The Membership

sam’s IG

gab’s IG

Holidays as a working actor hit different. No one is looking forward to Thanksgiving dinner with a side of getting-grilled-about “what you’ve been in.” This episode is your play book to protect your peace and navigate them regardless of what your holidays look like.

Wanna skip the chat? Fast forward the first 8 minutes.

Sam and Gab break down what it actually looks like to go home for the holidays (or not), how to handle weird family questions, setting boundaries, teachable (and not teachable) moments, and redefining non-actor moments ftw.

what we cover:

● what it’s like juggling auditions, puppies, and podcasting in November

● the freedom to not go home and why it doesn’t make you a bad person

● how actors can answer family questions without spiraling

● the difference between teaching someone about the biz vs just surviving the convo

● using your actual life wins when people ask “so what are you doing with acting”

● making your own traditions when travel is expensive or your mental health says no

● Sam’s squirrel rescue era and Gab’s “why don’t people understand child-free life” commentary

● boundaries, expectations, and showing up as the adult you actually are

links:

Join The Membership

Sam’s IG

Gab’s IG

if you’ve ever wondered why certain shows hit your actor soul and others feel like emotional sandpaper, this one is for you.

what started as a polite conversation about twilight vs harry potter turned into a full deep dive on color grading, moodiness, emotional tolerance, childhood pets, and how all of that somehow ties back to being actors.

we cover:

● why some actors love moody, gray, rainy tv and others only want sunshine and color

● whether you actually need to watch everything to stay “in the know” as an actor

● how your first pet dying weirdly explains your adult emotional patterns

● sam holding a dying hamster like an oscar-bait monologue

● gab leaving a bunny half inside and half outside a sliding glass door

● tv vs movies, binging vs one-episode-a-night culture

● why grainy older films make sam feel nostalgic and gab feel personally attacked

● the way actors pick shows based on what might shoot next and where representation is happening

● voice notes, cleaning apps, and the real reason sam deletes her texts every 30 days

Links:

⁠Take the free Actor Type Quiz⁠

⁠Join the waitlist for The Membership⁠

Sam’s IG: ⁠@samvalentine⁠

Gab’s IG: ⁠@gabriellebyndloss

want to tell us how your first pet died and what it says about you? please put it in the spotify comments so sam doesn’t cry in her dms.

⁠Take the free Actor Type Quiz⁠ (like super 100% free)

We made our Actor Types: Dreamer, Drifter, Doubter, Developer, and Disruptor and today we're talking about how knowing where you are right now can actually move your career forward and save you time...unlike Sam who thought she was god's gift to LA or Gab who through sheer focus and will would get her a seris regular.

And Sam created a Canva Presentation to save Gab 45 min in a commercial self tape, why Gab is bummed at JenLaw, and why she wasn't on Degrassi (thank god).

We cover:

● The genius audition trick Sam made up using Canva slides

● How to figure out your Actor Type (and why it changes weekly)

● Why “waiting to be booked” isn’t a career strategy

● What each type needs to focus on next

● How Gab almost ended up on Degrassi with Drake

● Jennifer Lawrence, Charlie Sheen, and why fame before readiness can wreck you

● Why not being political is still political

Links:

Take the free Actor Type Quiz

Join the waitlist for The Membership

Clue card hack for self tapes

Sam’s IG: @samvalentine

Gab’s IG: @gabriellebyndloss