German Chocolate - Life of a Mixed Girl

Josh and I cover everything from his time on America’s Got Talent, how his breakdance background got him into stunts, the importance of being prepared when the “right time and place” come together, the ugly truth about loneliness and true connecting in this business, living in two markets (TX & NY), and sooo much more.

Fellow mixed girl and stuntwoman, Selene Hara Shankle, is on the mic with me today. Selene is half-white and half-Japanese, lives and trains in Los Angeles, and is breaking down her routine, habits, and how she uses a no-pressure, go-with-the-flow mentality while navigating her career.

Today I have Paul Varacchi, stunt performer and co-host of the Film Fights wth Friends Podcast and co-owner of Breakfall Studio in NYC. We're talking about the importance of having a full life outside of stunts, our shared love for film, and how we connect with it through the people we love.

I get to chat it up with Anthony Nanakornpanom, stunt performer and founder of Battlecat Stunts in Los Angeles, CA. We talk about his humble beginnings, the hustle of getting into stunts, and the importance of getting the basics right.

What I've achieved this year, how I measure it, why 2026 will be an important year for my 5-year plan, and some more insights into my life and processes. Keep niching in this industry and preparing for what comes next.

Kicking off the special series "Stunt Talk" with Frank Alfano from FJA Fire Stunts. Stunt performer and Fire Rigger out of New York City. We discuss current productions, fire burns, his workshop, AI and stunts, and some nerdy movie talk! Open for discussions in the comments.

In this episode, I strip down my walls and share the hard and the health side of doing what I do. Going through the VA disability process and realizing "I might not be ok". Dealing with depression, anxiety, adult diagnosis of ADHD, peri-menopause, while being a mom, in a relationship, working a 9-5, hustling, and training to live out my dreams. Thanks for inspiring me to finally come bac...

On this final episode of the mini-series "The Experts I Know" on my podcast "German Chocolate - Life of a Mixed Girl", I have German Voiceover Talent Alex Kratzenstein with me. He lives and works as a full-time VO in Germany, so I had to pick his brain about it. This episode is recorded in German with English subtitles. You can find Alex on IG @alexspricht.

Guest on this episode, Lina aka The Wellness Amazon, certified Holistic Health Coach and very good friend of mine. We talk about what a holistic health coach is, does, crystals, planets, the universe, and what's meant to be and not meant to be, and some personal stories of our own manifestations. You can find her on IG @thewellnessamazon

Guest on this episode, Dr. Jared Warren, licensed clinical psychologist in the State of Florida. We talk about what therapy looks like, how one can benefit from it, the effects of the pandemic on our social interactions and well-being, as well as mindfulness.

Guest on this episode, John Watkis, voice actor and professional speaker. We talk about how to capture attention, sustain attention, being more confident and kind to ourselves. You can find him on IG, Facebook, and LinkedIn @johnwatkis or look up his website johnwatkis.com

Guest on this episode, Marie-Luise Huber, a nutritionist, health coach, women's health expert, and very good friend of mine. You can find her on IG @marieluise.huber, her website marieluisehuber.com, and LinkedIn.

Guest on this episode, award-winning writer, director, actor, and voice actor Austin Kase. He currently jet-sets around the globe with his short film "Hide Your Crazy". You can find him on IG @austinkasefilms.

Guest on this episode, Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) and voice actor Megan Urbano. She gives insight into what a SLP does, when to best see one, and tips and tricks for vocal health. You can find her on IG @meganthesingingslp or on X/Twitter @meganurbanovo.

Before I dive into and introduce my new series on this podcast: The Experts I Know (aka TEIK), I'm giving a bit of an update and behind the scenes of my life from what you don't see on my social media.

It's been 5 years since I've been back to the US and what a rollercoaster ride it's been! I've never been able to answer the dreaded interview question "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?" in a simple way. I get into why by showing you what the last 5 years of my life have been like. Intro Sound Effect by Aleksandr Karabanov on Pixabay.com Background by Huseyn Kamaladdin on Pexels.com

Fellow actress Nina Vu-Matlock, also with Level Talent, joins me on this episode. We talk about what it's like being an actor in multiple markets while being a mom, and wife, and having time to learn new skills. I coined her the Booking Queen because she is continuously booking amazing commercial jobs. Check her out on Instagram @nina.vuuu

Did it catch your attention? This is an update on the rollercoaster ride of being an on-camera commercial actor and voice actor. This episode is about current wins, ups and downs, and something nobody prepared me to be aware of. Hope you enjoy! Connect with me on Instagram or Twitter @realgermanchoc

This episode is really about confidence and a reminder that overnight success doesn't actually happen "overnight" and how I've been working towards being an entertainer all of my life. I'm sharing my path, obstacles, and how adulting created a 10+ year break in the career I've always wanted.

Award-winning Voice Actress and IG Friend Yasmeen Ansari-Roberts joins me on this extended episode for some much-needed Girl Talk. I've shared my stories on living the life of a mixed girl, and even though Yasmeen is not mixed, we share some similar experiences. Plug in your headphones, and here we go... Sound Effect by Muzaproduction from Pixabay

On this episode, Geddes Gibbs Jr., voice actor and puppeteer, joins me for a fun episode introducing his puppet troupe called the ‘Brooklyn Puppet Squad’. Geddes is known for lip-syncs with his puppets to some of the scenes from movies and TV shows, and doing voice over challenges on TikTok and Instagram and voice, so be sure to follow and check them out.

This is the winner topic from the "You Pick" Episode contest on my IG @realgermanchoc. I get into detail on how I juggle my family, day job, acting, business, podcast, and some. It isn't easy and a lot of trial and error goes into trying to find just the right balance for any given life period. I share some of my tips and tricks and give insight into my goals and action plans for the year.

Get comfy because this is a long one. Listen or watch as the creator of the animated series Laundromax, Pedro Melendez, and I chat about how we connected, how he came up with Laundromax, some cultural talk about our backgrounds, and more! Lots of love and laughter in this episode.  Shout-out to the entire Laundromax crew: Christian Rosado (Animator/Producer), Kevin Del Valle (Animator/Producer), B...

The first episode of the new year, 2023. Update on voice acting and... on-camera acting, the newest of news (life update, and what's to come this year. Also, announcing the next guest for the next episode.

Let's talk marketing, branding, accountability, goal setting, taking risks, dreaming big, and working hard in this episode. All of that mixed together with an update on this mixed girl's life from the last 4 months. What have I been up to? What's Vibe Check Apparel, and on-camera acting now? I hope my journey inspires you too to follow your passion and dreams.