the 'hollywood body standard' no one prepares you for with Lynn Chen* it hits different*

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 performances and Law & Order bookings to struggling with food, being dropped by reps, and ultimately finding her voice through blogging, vulnerability, and directing her own feature film.

We cover:

• Growing up performing at The Met (like, age four-level early)

• The moment acting felt more like obligation than love

• Booking Law & Order and getting her SAG card

• The weight of the industry’s standards...literally

• Binge eating, emotional triggers, and recovery

• When a Sundance debut doesn’t equal steady work

• Why she started “The Actor’s Diet” and what it gave her back

• Her “holding deal” era + writing her first pilot

• Getting dropped by reps… and getting back up

• Resilience, reinvention, and reclaiming acting on her own terms

Referenced in the episode:

• The Actor’s Diet Blog (redirects to her main site)