The Hollywood Second Act Club Podcast

Where do you go to reconnect with yourself when the world as you know it feels unrecognizable? For my guest, Noelle Bonhomme, the answer was out in nature. After two decades in Hollywood as a commercial actress, model, and a successful children’s party planner, Noelle’s world unraveled — a heartbreaking series of events including the loss of her mother, a divorce, and a miscarriage sent her into a...

It’s just me today, friends! I'm sliding in at the 11th hour from San Diego with my new laptop ( Yay! Finally), Waffle on the bed, and a whole lot of thoughts about what it means to not be done, but also not be the same. After a few days back on set last week on a fantastic job, I felt something I had forgotten: The Joy. Belonging. And Distraction from "real life" a show bubble prov...

Today’s episode is a deep dive into something that comes up frequently in my work with Hollywood creatives, entrepreneurs, and career-pivoters: ADHD. If you've ever wondered what the distinction is between having ADHD and being a creative thinker, you don't want to miss this episode. My guest is Jorie Houlihan, your Guide for the Dopamine Deprived™ . Jorie is an ADHD educator, coach, and...

Feeling overstimulated, scattered, and overwhelmed?  You’re probably not “just bad at focusing” — you might be digitally burnt out. Today’s episode is packed with real-life strategies to help clear the clutter and reset. We’re talking attention spans, tech boundaries, and how to outsmart digital chaos. And let’s be honest: this isn’t just for your kids. Your adult brain needs this too. I’m joined...

Staying up late worrying about your finances and wondering how to make the numbers work? You're not alone, friend! This episode is Exactly what you need to hear to start feeling less overwhelmed and more empowered. Today, I’m talking with Miata Edoga, Actor, CEO, and founder of Abundance Bound , a financial education company dedicated to giving artists, entrepreneurs, and non-traditional earn...

Welcome back to Season 2 of The Hollywood Second Act Club Podcast. I can’t wait for you to meet my fabulous lineup of guests this season, starting today! As always, my mission is to empower entertainment industry professionals (and beyond!) with the inspiration, resources, and strategies to make life's bold pivots less overwhelming...and way more fun! We're kicking off the Season by layi...

Hello, my beautiful friends! Welcome to the final episode of The Hollywood Second Act Club Podcast for this year. Can you believe we’re wrapping up 2024?  Today, I’m settling in for a little heart-to-heart to close out the year. I'll be sharing three big lessons that carried over from my life in production that really stood out to me this year ( I bet you can relate to a few!) Plus, a sneak p...

Ready to hit the reset button and reboot? My guest today did just that! And the results were transformative. I'm thrilled to welcome financial adviser Kristin Wollam to the show this week. Kristin began her career as a music supervisor in Los Angeles, working on films such as “The Blind Side,” “Sex and The City 2”, and Tom Ford’s “A Single Man.” She eventually took her talents to the boutique...

Happy Thanksgiving Sweet Friends! In honor of this special day, we’ve got an episode that’s equal parts heartwarming and mouthwatering. Foodies and pizza lovers, this one's for you! Joining us is the one and only Michael "Kriky" Krikorian—a sound mixer with credits like This Is Us , The Jungle Book , and American Horror Story .  During the industry strikes, Michael took a leap and w...

Happy Sunday, friends! Welcome to Part 2 of my conversation with Sari Rose Barron, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and certified EMDR therapist. If you haven’t listened to last week’s episode, start there to get context on Sari's journey in the industry before diving in! Sari specializes in trauma, PTSD, parenting, and adolescent therapy. She brings over 15 years of experience in pri...

I’m thrilled to welcome my dear friend Sari Rose Barron, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and certified EMDR therapist, to the podcast this week! We dive into the theme of evolving dreams and discuss Sari's own Hollywood Pivot. Originally pursuing a career as an actor in New York and Los Angeles, she found her true passion in a field that brings her deep fulfillment—helping others hea...

My guest today is the incredibly lovely and inspiring Jane Carroll, founder of Jane Foodie. Growing up, Jane defied traditional roles for women, paving her own path and embracing the unconventional. She shares her journey from a single mom in the Bronx to a pioneer in the floral event design and movie catering industry. Despite facing numerous personal and professional setbacks, Jane shares how sh...

Today's guest is author, speaker, comedian, and mental health advocate Kristina Kuzmic. Kristina is a cheerleader for her fellow humans. After immigrating to America from Croatia during the war in her homeland and later facing more challenges (divorce, single parenting, poverty, mental health challenges), Kristina’s goal became clear: to be for others what she needed when she was at her lowes...

If you're anything like me, it's been much more Hustle than Flow lately. Well, time to switch that up. The Hollywood Second Act Club is teaming up with Neon Soul Yoga on Sat. Nov 16th for a Special Yoga Pop-Up Event inviting you to press pause, realign, and take a moment to reflect on what might be next.   For many of us, it's been a Big year with many changes and transitions. This...

My guest today is Akilah Chopfield. Akilah is a former Production Manager of Health and Safety for Disney Corporate, Writer, and Yoga instructor. Akilah shares her journey of self-discovery and healing after a high-pressure role managing COVID protocols led to severe stress and health issues. Following massive industry-wide layoffs and historic dual strikes, she took the opportunity to pursue beco...

In this Business Builder episode, we deep dive into the transformative potential of LinkedIn—an often-overlooked gem for entertainment industry professionals! If you've spent more time updating your IMDb profile than your LinkedIn page, this episode is for you. Tune in to discover how it can be a powerful game-changing platform for freelancers and creatives looking to forge new paths. My deli...

Today's episode is a fun one! It will likely spark some wanderlust and encourage you to think outside the box—two of my favorite things:) We'll travel from Hollywood to Nashville and explore the transition from life on set to Tik Tok success. I'm thrilled to introduce you to my guest, Michelle Spieler. Michelle is a Makeup Artist, Course Creator, and Mature Beauty Educator with 30 y...

Friends! I’m thrilled to welcome my new pal and native New Yorker, Beth Kushnick, to the show. Beth is a Set Decorator and Interior Designer with over 35 years of experience in the industry. She is known for her work on "The Good Wife," "The Good Fight," and films like "Rare Objects" and "Insidious 5”. Kushnick is a Hall of Fame Inductee of The Set Decorators Soc...

This week's episode with Under Water Portrait Photographer Jennifer Tanksley-Coss is nothing short of magic! Get ready to discover a whole new world and perspective with this extraordinary woman as your guide. Jennifer grew up eating, drinking, and breathing film in an industry family in Germany. She began working as a high-speed camera technician right after high school on films and commerci...

Whether you're exhausted from trying to get a new side hustle off the ground, overwhelmed, or simply done with figuring it out alone- hang in there friend, today's shorty episode is for you! I'll let you in on a little secret...this episode was supposed to come out three days ago, but life had other plans. So I pivoted! Today we get Meta about what it really takes to switch things u...

If you've ever found yourself making a career pivot on a dime, despite having a good thing going- this episode is for you!  My guest is  Film Development Executive turned Author and Advocate for parents , caregivers, and individuals with disabilities, Kelley Coleman. Her writing is an extension of her Before Times career developing talking animal movies, and also a few fun disaster movies! Ke...

Ladies- and gentlemen- start your engines !!! This week's episode is about the incredible things that show up in our lives when we allow ourselves to pivot- and embrace the unknown. My guest this week shows us how !  With 200+ credits as a Makeup Artist and over 50,000 production hours to her name, Brenda Rippee is making a career "pivot" into the petrol world, Porsche in particular...

If you're looking to diversifying your income outside of the Entertainment Industry, this Business Builder episode is for you! We've all lived through this season in Hollywood- and it feels like the punchline is this: Now more than ever, cultivating that side-hustle isn't just smart, it's essential.  If you're short on ideas for *what* that could be -or not feeling confide...

This episode is for anyone who has found themselves somewhere in the middle- between what life used to be, and what it's becoming. Navigating without a roadmap, but trusting ( and following ) the "yeses" along the way! My guest today is Erinn Eichinger. Erinn is a producer, writer and professor with more than 25  years of experience in the television industry. She shares her journey...

Ready for a Pivot, but not sure how all those years doing "X" job will translate to whatever's next? This week's episode of The Hollywood Second Act Club, with special guest, Chef Laurent Correa is a game -changer !  Most of us feel unprepared when it comes to starting something new, but the truth is you already come fully loaded with some pretty bad-ass qualities. All of which...