Performers & Creators Lab

It’s a neat little paradox we live in as artists, isn’t it? Our job is to stay focused on creating solely from our vision, and yet, we can’t help it . . . sometimes we have to look up to see if anyone else is paying attention. Srini Rao, the host and founder of The Unmistakable Creative Podcast , has a lot of great wisdom on this topic as someone who has interviewed over 700 highly creative people...

In this interview taken live at Digital Hollywood, Holly is in the hot seat for once, being interviewed by VoiceAmerica's own Lori H. Schwartz, host of the Techcat Radio Show, as we get a look at the woman behind The Women In Hollywood: Warriors from Within Series, Holly Shaw.  In this cheeky fun interview, they chat about hypnosis, mind altering substances, and hatred for certain specific fo...

Isn't it great when you find those people you truly love working with? Join us as we talk with veteran actor and founder of Casting About , Blair Hickey , as we discuss what casting directors really want, how to find your actor's type, what it means to be a unique storyteller and more! If you are feeling a little dis-empowered, like you're just waiting to be "picked" then...

Heidi-Marie Ferren is a singer/actress, writer/spokesperson who has played Wonder Woman on HBO’s hit T.V. show “Bored to Death” and also served our Armed Forces across the globe as Miss USO. I caught up with her at Digital Hollywood where we talked about her latest project involving female driven content called, “Woman Enough,” and stories from her service as Miss USO. Heidi models how to show up...

Not sure if your social media posting and promoting is actually doing you any good?  Listen to this episode where Holly is joined by digital marketing expert and independent artist, Suzanne Yada also known as Little Spiral as she explains what you might be doing wrong, effective methods for attracting your audience with social media, email lists and more. You’ll get the down low on effective FB st...

Tania Z, actress, filmmaker and self-proclaimed "glamazon," talks about her work advocating for legalization of medical marijuana for military veterans, her film that’s part of the LACMA archive, and how she loves presenting stories with an alternate viewpoint in this episode of the Women In Hollywood: Warriors from Within series. Look for a new episode every Sunday as the Performers &am...

Taking criticism isn’t always easy and people don’t always have your best intentions in mind when they give it. In this episode, we dish about this with guest and feedback veteran, Jade Raybin. Listen and learn about the best ways to give critiques and how to receive them, how to discern the note within the note, the importance of guarding your creative fire from unsolicited comments, creative suf...

Jerri Lynn Hogg, Director of the Media Psychology PhD program at Fielding University joins Holly for a conversation about virtual reality and where it’s taking us. From educational environments that we can now create, to augmented and virtual spaces, we ask the questions of how are we changing as we become more connected this way and how is technology influencing us? What are the ethical implicati...

As an artist, it isn’t uncommon to feel at a loss when asked about what you do. In this episode, you’ll hear about a two-step process for answering that question in a way that feels genuine and makes people interested to hear more. Joined by the lead singer/rapper of Unlikely Heroes, Enon Gaines , Holly coaches him through the process and more as Enon shares about the burnout experience of being a...

Jackie Loeb, Comedian, Actor and Writer was the winner of the 2016 MO Award for Best-Stand Up Comedian and after I caught her hanging out in the speakers' lounge at Digital Hollywood I convinced her to come on live radio and riff with me about the phenomenon of TEDtalks, big tummies, and a behind-the-scenes look at the culture of Hollywood. Don’t let the non-stop laughter fool you. One of the...

You'll learn so much about revealing what’s hidden in this riveting conversation with showgirl shaman, Kellita Maloof . I loved hearing this award winning burlesque dancer talk about audience participation, consent, the medicine of certain movements, immanence v. transcendence, what is “de-animation,” of the body and how dance has healed her and brought her back into hers. Listen to her journ...

Catherine Clinch, T.V. writer, producer and pioneer in the field of technology where she’s won prizes at 5 hackathons, and she's been awarded three US Patents for inventing a revolutionary new form of mobile entertainment.  In this conversation she shares her unique view on "gatekeepers," the benefits of getting older, and what she wishes she had known when she was younger. After li...

What is the “it” factor, anyway? That charisma or magnetism that we can’t quite explain that makes a certain artist seem to crackle with attractive energy? We act like it’s something that you either have or you don’t. But what if you could cultivate it? This episode, with neuroscientist and founder of Sparkmesh, John Morgan , explores the science and psychology behind the “it” factor. We’ll also t...

Eileen Grubba, Actor/Activist known for her memorable, edgy characters in shows like Sons of Anarchy (2008), NBC's Game of Silence (2016), and HBO's Hung (2009) have gained her a reputation for courageous character work. In this interview, originally recorded live at Digital Hollywood in L.A. this year, she  dishes with us about her work as a disability activist and about how she alchemi...

Do you need to write a new Artist’s Biography but you’re not sure if you’re doing it right? You’re in the right place! In this episode I give you 10 Tips and Best Practices for writing effective great bios for programs, websites, grant proposals, and for any occasion so that you can stand out from the crowd and let people know from just the first sentence why they should care about you and keep re...

Being honest and vulnerable in your performances is hot . . . because it’s captivating! But it can be hard because if you put it all out there then what if people don’t like it? Does it mean they don’t like you? But what if. .  .vulnerability, isn’t as hard as you think it is? What if it’s easy? In this episode, Holly interviews comedian and host of The Manwhore podcast, Billy Procida about how he...

Special Episode! Experience the wisdom of Holly’s creative formula in action as Holly coaches critically acclaimed flutist and composer, Rebecca Kleinmann through this three-step process in this musically rich episode invigorated by the sounds, improvisations, and stories of this intriguing rising artist. Rebecca also shares her biggest regret when it comes to missed opportunities, insider secrets...

When it comes to finding time for your creative work, do you make a lot of excuses?  Are you blocked on how to make more time for it , or make better use of the time you do have?  You’ll love this episode where I’m joined with the kick assery of screenwriter, writing coach and author of “No Excuses, Just Write” Tracee Bebee .  Hear how Tracee made it through a life changing illness to become a wri...

How would you like to have people not only appreciate your work, but also stick around, become followers and eventually devoted fans? This is the power of having a well-developed Artistic Voice. And in this episode, Holly explains exactly what it is, why it’s important and how you can begin clarifying yours. We’ll cover the 5 Components of Artistic Voice, examples of artists who’ve developed it an...

Being both a mother and an artist is challenging because you want to give 100% to both of those things. . . and that’s impossible.  Listen to this very special Mother’s Day episode where Holly interviews four mothers who are also professional artists about how they do it, what they feel like they’ve sacrificed, when they feel guilty, and how they feel it benefits their kids.  You’ll hear from a da...

Are you feeling burned out from trying to balance the business side of being a professional artist with the creative side? Listen as Holly talks once again with guests, singer/songwriter, Ayden Graham, and entertainment lawyer, Mark Pearson .  Find out why it’s important to work on pieces that are “hot” for you, as we talk about selling your art, using failure as a springboard for success, and ove...

Ever worried someone might steal your work? And what would you do if someone accused YOU of copying theirs? We cover these questions with guests, singer/songwriter, Ayden Graham and entertainment lawyer, Mark Pearson as we explore topics like art ownership and stealing like an artist, as we discuss the famous copyright battles of Prince and Pharrell Williams. Holly also shares 7 Mistakes that Caus...

How do you show up for your audience?  Performing art is a co-creation between you and your audience. . . which can be invigorating when you feel connected, but can be hard if you’re not.  In this episode with guest composer, vocalist and cultural instigator, Meklit Hadero, you’ll learn from her extensive touring experience on how to connect with your audience, how to pick your collaborators, main...

Have you ever been accused of being “too sensitive”?  Find out how your sensitivity is actually a superpower, not a hindrance, when it comes to being an artist in this episode with psychotherapist, Brett Rhodes , who specializes in HSP, or Highly Sensitive People.  You’ll learn about the D.O.E.S. characteristics of this trait, how to know if you are HSP or not, and how you can use it to benefit yo...

What if you could change the world with just one piece? When Lin-Manuel Miranda got the idea for writing “Hamilton,” he didn’t set out to make a social activist piece. And yet, the result was a hugely successful game-changing musical whose cast reflected America’s diversity today - activism at its best. Sometimes you may set out to be an activist and sometimes you simply set out to work on somethi...