this is incredibly validating for anyone who’s felt like they’re falling behind or not “getting it right” in their creative career. lynn’s career path and healing process reminds us that success doesn’t always look like we imagined.... originally aired july 8th 2021, this in-depth conversation with actor Lynn Chen is an episode that closed out season 4 of the podcast and hit hard for a reason. Lynn walks us through the emotional highs and lows of “making it” as an actor: from child opera perform...
Jun 05, 2025•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 1
originally aired april 13 2021, brian unger has been on your screen more times than you probably realize but this episode isn’t a flex. it’s a real convo about the weird limbo between being talented and being bookable. what it actually feels like to get hired. and the emotional whiplash of the audition hustle we talk about • how pilot season used to work and what’s changed • why bookings don’t mean you’ve made it • the quiet grind behind working actor life • the surprising advice brian got that ...
May 22, 2025•1 hr 4 min
ever feel like your to-do list has morphed into a crisis of identity? same. this replay (from oct 30th 2023) is here to pull you out of that “should I cut my hair or get a manager?” spiral and help you simplify the actual next steps in your acting career. we talk about why your brain is overloaded (it’s not just you), how to dump your mental tabs into one place, and why taking out the trash (metaphorically) might be your best productivity tool. oh, and we break down how to decide what the hell t...
May 08, 2025•30 min
i do not care how you identify, this episode is for you. Rain + Jase are here to educate me on how actors can advocate for their trans (and all LGBTQIA) community, what they wish writers were focusing on, and how a safe place is created. so get your pronouns on and listen up: mentioned in this ep: @actnowLA @rainvaldez @livelaughjase Rainbow Rated...
May 02, 2025•47 min
In this throwback convo from Sept 2018, I sat down with the unstoppable Christina Ochoa (Animal Kingdom, A Million Little Things) for a seriously honest, occasionally hilarious, and refreshingly unfiltered look at what it actually takes to survive and thrive in this industry. Moving to LA with zero connections (and zero chill about the rent) Not working for 2.5 years after a major show… and how she survived it (Uber, eBay, and a underprepared tutoring gig) Auditioning while broke AF… and still b...
Apr 24, 2025•1 hr 18 min•Season 2025Ep. 7
our favorite multi-hyphenate chaos king Brendan Bradley is back (you might remember him from episode 208, aka “the stake captain saga”), and he’s bringing a lot in a short amount of time: actor thoughts on vertical shorts building a creative career from scratch surviving pivot after pivot embracing new tech without losing your soul also… the audio cuts off at the end (rude), so we will be having him back. don’t worry. things we mention: brendan’s IG brendan’s projects: the devil and the daylong ...
Apr 10, 2025•35 min•Season 2025Ep. 6
You’ve heard about them so much, now they’re finally here by popular demand!Gabrielle is back! And we brought our husbands Caleb and Cory for a candid conversation about what it’s really like being in a relationship with someone in the entertainment industry. If you’ve been wondering how they handle the unpredictable schedules, self-tapes, and financial ups and downs of being with a Creative- this one’s for you. Buckle up for some laughs and a realistic look at what it really takes to make our r...
Mar 21, 2025•54 min•Season 2025Ep. 5
From meeting with Ben Affleck, to reading for Aaron Sorkin, working with intimacy coordinators in hardcore covid times, self-taping in Cabo, and cringing at past headshots— Lauren has done it all, and on her own terms. If you’ve ever wondered if there’s more than one way to make it in the industry, Lauren’s story is proof that success doesn’t have to follow a single path: You may know her from ‘Winter’s Bone’ alongside Jennifer Lawrence, ‘True Detective’ on HBO, or Apple TV’s ‘For All Mankind.’ ...
Mar 10, 2025•56 min•Season 2025Ep. 4
Change. Is. Inevitable. We’re talking all about that weird in-between actor life- when the gig ends and you’re left waiting for the next one. It can feel like this never-ending spiral of doubt and comparison, but here’s the thing: that in-between time is actually a gift. When we accept this process instead of resisting it, we become better actors *and* people. ..or at least I do. ★ Watch our Free Webinar TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 — The One Broke Actress Evolution 03:37 — Side Hustle Academy Update 04:41...
Feb 21, 2025•27 min•Season 2025Ep. 1
Side Hustle Academy is officially back and we made you a FREE Side Hustle Class! Ok back to the episode… Gone are the days when actors could just rely on one source of income but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. So we are not sugar coating this for you…we made six-figures but we also struggle with our sh*t. Gabrielle and I are having an honest conversation about how we ‘balance’ (lol) our work + actor + personal lives…with some solid do’s and don’ts. Bonus points if you know your human design! TIMES...
Feb 13, 2025•55 min
The world feels heavy right now, and as an actor, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed: this is the struggle of balancing your art and why it still matters. This episode isn’t for the faint of heart, though! I’m talking priorities, excuses, wellbeing, and your life’s purpose- all the things required to move the needle forward. Times might be crazy, but your art is always worth pursuing… and dare I say… necessary. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 — New Year Updates 02:36 — Creating in a Heavy World 05:32 — Urgent vs. ...
Feb 07, 2025•28 min
What. A. Year. We have been through it, and I am so honored to have you all tuning along every step of the way. This is the season finale for the One Broke Actress Podcast in 2024, and I am walking you through the three main things that I think everyone needs to keep in mind as they start to build ‘an acting career for themselves. I tell you why I think we all need to maintain our passion for the work, to have perseverance, and to accept the long journey ahead. As artists, we need to constantly ...
Nov 14, 2024•30 min•Ep. 235
We’ve talked about the cost of living in Los Angeles before, but how does it compare to the different acting markets in the United States? I did some research on the cost of living for actors in Atlanta, Chicago, and New York City and compared them to Los Angeles. Bringing my bestie and Atlanta native Gabrielle Byndloss on board, I share my findings as Gabrielle reacts to numbers. We’re getting honest about the financial realities of living as an actor in all the major US markets — including ren...
Oct 31, 2024•42 min•Ep. 234
We’re back with No Stupid Questions! This time we’re getting into a 10-2 on set, nudity as an actor, out-of-state callbacks, local hires, succeeding without connections or money, and if actors can have tattoos. We’re also getting into the challenges of dealing with your agency closing, how your past work effects you, and how our online presence gets back to casting. If you’ve got more questions, comment them down below and check out Side Hustle Academy if you’ve been wanting to achieve financial...
Oct 24, 2024•22 min•Ep. 233
Last week we heard from Jazelle Foster, a CEO of her own business with multiple employees and clients. But, I know some of you don’t want to deal with the hassle of marketing, selling, and creating. Some of you just want to have a side hustle that gives you enjoy to be happy while pursuing acting. Is it possible? Adrianna Licitra’s story will have you knowing that it is. Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Adrianna shares her journey of managing a professional organizing business alongside her new acting...
Oct 17, 2024•42 min•Ep. 232
So how do you actually make money as an actor? Is it possible to start a side hustle while being a full time actor? You know that I’ve built up One Broke Actress to be my main source of income while being an actor. But have others done it? YES. And today I’m bringing you Jazelle Foster to talk about her journey in her acting career. Jazelle shares her journey from acting to founding a creative marketing company, Creatives Meet Marketing, offering social media strategies and insights for actors. ...
Oct 10, 2024•32 min•Ep. 231
Being an actor is tough and there’s so many questions about what it takes to be an actor. How do you have a successful acting career? Do you need botox? How do you conquer imposter syndrome as an actor? I answer all these questions and more in our new No Stupid Questions series. Ask me anything and everything and I will answer to the best of my ability. In this episode, I share honest, practical advice on topics such as asking for referrals, using AI or ChatGPT for cover letters, managing credit...
Oct 03, 2024•22 min•Ep. 230
Acting is EXPENSIVE. Some people aren’t aware of just how expensive it can be. I’m here to give you an LA actor reality check: making and spending money as an actor is hard. There are so many things we have to invest a lot into without any certainty of a return like demo reels, headshots, and classes. So how much money do you need to be an actor in LA? The financial cost of an acting career can vary from one person to another, but I’m taking you through the average costs in LA and what an actor ...
Sep 19, 2024•15 min•Ep. 229
Gabrielle and I are on a ROADTRIPPP!!!! We were speakers at the Southwestern Actors Conference, and along the 5 hour trip, we decided to talk about the industry and ask each other questions. We cover topics such as fear in the acting industry, actor mindset, money and financials, handling self-tapes, on-set etiquette, working relationships with agents, and navigating auditions. We both feel like one of the most important aspects of it is having a supportive actor community to share our individua...
Sep 12, 2024•39 min•Ep. 228
I’m talking about Los Angeles Actor Life and what I’ve learned as an actor after 13 years in this industry. Life as a Los Angeles actor is tough, and it changes all of the time. Being an actor in 2024 is so much different than it was when I started out 13 years ago, and right now I’m sharing what I wish I knew when I first started out. So I’m diving into the changes and constants in the acting industry over the past 13 years since moving to Los Angeles. We’re going over the importance of being a...
Sep 05, 2024•16 min•Ep. 227
I hate “survive ‘till 2025” with a burning passion and no, you can’t change my mind. Listen, we’ve still got 4 months left in this year and there is a LOT that we can do. So I’m talking about why the phrase 'survive till 2025' is detrimental to actors and offering actionable advice we can all do instead. Don’t wait for this unpredictable, unreliable industry and do what you can within your own power. Join my free five-day 'Back to School' challenge, designed to help actors focus on immediate, pr...
Aug 29, 2024•8 min•Ep. 226
Another strike? Whattt?? That’s right. Video game actors are standing up to big corporations and taking a stand for all of us. In an industry that makes more than sports and TV profits COMBINED, video game artists are continuously being neglected by one of the most lucrative industries in the country. As key figures in SAG-AFTRA negotiations, actors Zeke Alton and Sarah Elmaleh provide insights into the urgent need for AI protections including the unions main three concerns: consent, compensatio...
Aug 22, 2024•30 min•Ep. 225
We’re shaking things up today with me being the guest on Brittany Rizzo’s “My Only Friends” podcast! This is a small segment of our full hour long conversation, but it was one that really resonated with me. I openly share my mental health journey, and the way that I’ve grown to approach finances as an actor. Success is what we make it and how we define it, and there is no one way to be an actor. I get into the challenges of actor life, the pressure of constant productivity, and the impact the pu...
Aug 01, 2024•24 min•Ep. 224
I’m releasing one of my Patreon podcasts for free here to share the journey of my booking on Bosch Legacy! On the Patreon, I share my real, unfiltered, unedited thoughts on the most pivotal moments in my career and my life. My Bosch booking was everything to me, not only because they called me back for multiple episodes, but because it happened right around the time of my wedding. I’m taking you through the audition process, the challenges, valuable lessons learned, and the importance of self-ca...
Jul 25, 2024•37 min
Back for Part 2 of our conversation with bestselling author Jamie Varon, we take a dive deep into the emotional rollercoaster of achieving creative milestones. Jamie shares her candid thoughts on comparison, jealousy, and the often unspoken realities of success in the creative world. From discussing the pressure of social media portrayals to the dichotomy between public celebration and personal letdowns, Jamie offers a raw, unfiltered view on the importance of authenticity and self-worth. If you...
Jul 12, 2024•36 min•Ep. 223
What happens when all your dreams come true? You book the job. You publish the book. You become rich and successful. Do you start to treat yourself better because of those accomplishments? Often, the answer is no. Bestselling author of “Radically Content” and “Main Character Energy” Jamie Varon is here to share her journey with self-worth as a creative. Jamie highlights the hurdles creatives face in seeking validation and fulfillment. We touche on the intrinsic value of self-worth, the impact of...
Jul 11, 2024•37 min•Ep. 222
Gabrielle and I are BACK! We are discussing the current state of the acting industry, dealing with silence, managing expectations during uncertainty with the IATSE strike talks looming, and the evolving nature of actors and influencers. No matter how you feel about social media, we share our experiences on how it has helped us as SAG influencers, and why you may want to consider growing your own platform too. We get into the complexities of maintaining creativity, the impact of social media on o...
Jun 27, 2024•31 min•Ep. 221
I’ve done the impossible. I convinced my mom and dad to be on the podcast. I know, we thought it would never happen and yet here we are! I am so proud to bring on Rich and Debbie Valentine, and interview them on what it was like to raise an actor and support me in my dreams. You may not know this, but I didn’t come from a creative family. It’s really all on me, and my parents took a big leap of faith that I am forever grateful for. I share my experiences and challenges as an actor with my parent...
Jun 13, 2024•36 min•Ep. 220
Have you always wondered about making your podcast union? Or using your content to pay into your pension and health? Today, I’m bringing on two SAG staff members in charge of these contracts to talk ALL about the Influencer and Podcast Agreements. Sue-Anne Morrow and Shaine Griffin get into a comprehensive discussion about SAG AFTRA, and the conversation covers the distinct contracts available for podcasters and influencers, the benefits of each, and the importance of union coverage in these evo...
May 30, 2024•42 min•Ep. 219
Waiting in line since 5am. Spending 8+ hour days for an audition you may never get. Having to find the best audition material to match the tone of the show you want. These are the realities of theatre actors, and I’m bringing on the one and only Maggie Bera to take us through the current state of theatre in New York City. This one is for all of the stage actors out there, and for every on camera actor wondering what it’s like on the other side. Maggie shares her personal journey from moving to N...
May 16, 2024•48 min•Ep. 218
