On the Come Up with Kimberly Sanchez

Elizabeth, a Fort Worth content creator and newsletter editor at FTW Today, joins the podcast for a behind-the-scenes look at turning local happenings into engaging content. She shares her journey into lifestyle journalism, blogging, and community storytelling, along with what she has learned about consistency, creativity, and putting yourself out there. We talk Fort Worth news, food, arts, local...

Pranshu joins us to share his experience moving from Dallas to New York City to pursue acting and the mindset behind taking that leap: if not now, when? He discusses navigating networking and city life, auditioning through Backstage, shifting from commercial work toward narrative film, and understanding the differences between agents and managers. Pranshu also shares his “create vs. consume” minds...

Meet the Host: Kimberly For the first time, Kimberly steps out from behind the microphone and into the guest chair on her own podcast. She opens up about turning a simple podcast idea into a real studio business, the lessons that came with becoming a stronger host, and the challenges of balancing a full-time job with building something of her own. From finding her voice and becoming comfortable on...

We’re joined by Kelsey Tuck, an actor and model who’s been building momentum in TV and film while balancing a career as a nurse. She shares how modeling after college unexpectedly led her into acting, what it’s like working with agents and managers, how she self-submits for roles, and the casting websites that helped her find opportunities. Kelsey also talks about her first on-set experience, the...

Fort Worth, Texas music artist LilyannaMarie returns to the podcast to share her journey as an independent artist. She opens up about the isolation, late-night struggles, and emotional highs and lows that come with pursuing a music career while staying true to yourself. We also dive into the reality of today's music industry. LilyannaMarie talks about navigating not only life as a singer, son...

🎙️ We’re back with an all-new season! Welcome to Season 6 of On The Come Up Podcast. Devon has been rocking with us since Season 1, and three years later, he’s back to share what it really takes to build a full-time career in photography and videography. We discuss the leap from a steady paycheck to full-time freelancing, including finding clients, pricing your work, networking, and growing a sust...

In this episode, we sit down with Alicia Azahar, an actor, commercial lifestyle model, and poet, to talk about her journey from theater to on-screen work. She shares what she learned from her first shoots, the realities of auditions and callbacks, and talks through the mindset shift that helped her stop taking every no as a verdict. Alicia also shares self-tape habits that can help actors stand ou...

You can be talented and still lose roles for reasons you'll never hear out loud, so we decided to talk about the parts of acting nobody puts on their highlight reel. Livi Bee is back, and after some fun conversation, we dive into the realities of being a working actor. We discuss self-tape auditions, slating, positioning yourself as a local hire, and the small details that can influence casti...

In today’s episode, we are rejoined by Gianina, who we last saw in Season 3. We dive into all things dance, including her experience joining the Texas Lone Stars at Texas Live in Arlington and stepping into professional dance.  We also explore what she has been building in modeling and acting, as well as the launch of her new competitive cheer team. And we also get personal about control, anxiety,...

In today’s episode, Anastasia Tucker shares her journey into building a working career in commercial modeling and acting, proving it’s never too late to start. She opens up about overcoming fear, navigating a major life transition, and staying consistent through self-submissions and auditions, all while raising her kids. We also get into confidence, vulnerability, and the reality that growth often...

*A quick elevator situation before recording, and by situation, I mean emergency* We sit down with Lauren, an aesthetic injector who’s built her business around natural-looking results and helping women feel like themselves again. She breaks down what’s real versus myths in the industry and why customization is the whole point. We also get honest about what it looks like to work a full-time job wh...

In this episode, actor Stephanie McReynolds shares how her background in competitive gymnastics prepared her for the realities of building an acting career, from performing under pressure to staying camera-ready on set. We dive into practical acting career tips, including how she started in modeling and transitioned into TV, film, and commercial work. She also breaks down the importance of strong...

Recording a podcast can feel like the big scary part, but I’ve learned it’s usually the easiest part. The real work happens after you stop recording: editing, pulling clips, writing captions, picking thumbnails, posting, and promoting while life still expects you to show up at your nine-to-five. In this solo episode, I share what podcasting looks like when you’re building something from scratch an...

Filmmaker Jaylon Monroe shares his journey from a former college athlete at Tulane University to the NFL, before pivoting into filmmaking. In this episode, he talks about redefining his path, building his personal brand, and launching his short film The Other Side of the Street. Jaylon breaks down practical filmmaking advice and how he learned the craft through self-education while continuing to g...

In today’s episode, we sit down with Rae’Shun to discuss growing a career in modeling from the ground up. We get into self-submissions, intentional networking, runway, building real confidence on set, and navigating different types of photoshoots from editorial to commercial. Rae'Shun shares insight on handling casting call rejection, strengthening your mindset, and protecting your privacy wh...

We sit down with Starling Thomas to talk about how a childhood love of writing and an unexpected wrongful incarceration shaped her path as a filmmaker committed to healing and justice through story. She reflects on early creative sparks, learning on sets in Atlanta, and rebuilding her voice after prison, choosing to create survivor-centered work that prioritizes consent, care, and agency. We discu...

In this episode of On the Come Up, host Kimberly sits down with actor Aleshah Brown to discuss her path from starting in acting at a young age to booking commercials and a nationwide Cinemark spot. Aleshah shares how simplifying her self-tape setup, trusting her first instincts, and treating auditions as a place to play have transformed her confidence and results on camera. They get into a mindset...

In this episode, we sit down with Jared, a filmmaker and the owner of an award-winning production company called Film Club Productions, to talk about his journey as a video producer and storyteller. Jared shares how he balances creative risk with consistency, building strong stories through honesty. We also delve into his next personal film, which centers on community, and explore how YouTube has...

In this podcast episode, multidisciplinary creative and creative director Mbazi shares insights from his 11-year journey working across photography, video, and creative direction, unpacking what it truly means to chase the vision and not the money. The conversation explores creative career growth, visual storytelling, the importance of structure, workflows, and navigating burnout, financial instab...

In this episode, we sit down with filmmaker, photographer, and storyteller Alana Marie as she shares the making of her Kinloch documentary, a 54-minute film about the rise and new hope for Missouri’s first Black city. We also dive into her latest film project, her all-women production team, and how she balances burnout, momentum, and multiple creative paths. This conversation is a grounded look at...

We sit with makeup artist Jess to unpack her transition into a polished studio suite, her signature dewy, camera-ready glow, and the real behind-the-scenes of building a beauty brand fueled by early alarms, long days, and nonstop business demands. Jess discusses leaving the corporate world behind to own her own space and fully trust her vision as an artist. She breaks down marketing moves that hel...

Today, we’re sitting down with Camilos Garden, who flew in from New York to Texas just to lock in for this episode. He discusses growing up in Queens, his Colombian heritage, early piano days, and how he developed a sound that seamlessly blends pop, hip-hop, and Latin influences in a way that’s entirely his own. We delve into the moments that propelled him forward, the mindset that drives him to c...

We’re hanging out with actor Michael J. Scott II to discuss his journey from college theatre to becoming a working actor. Michael keeps it real about his early challenges, the lessons that shaped him, and the purpose that keeps him grounded through it all. He shares his audition mindset, the story behind landing a Tiffany & Co. spot, and how staying consistent beats chasing perfection. We also...

Step into the room with us... literally. We've just moved into Room to Speak Studios, and to kick things off, I sat down with music artist Gervatti, who turned early ideas into a steadily growing hip-hop journey. From his first uploads on SoundCloud, we discuss how he shaped his sound, developing a style that feels both introspective and energetic. Gervatti shares his creative process, from “...

Step into History Undressed, the creative world of writer and founder Haley Chow, where fashion meets the golden age of cinema. What began as a private diary of poems and costume sketches has evolved into a passionate community celebrating Old Hollywood style, film costume design, and the artistry of storytelling through clothes. In this intimate conversation, Haley opens up about finding poetry i...