Episodes

  • years without a job: christina ochoa’s unfiltered acting journey *it hits different episode*
    Apr 24 2025

    In this throwback convo from Sept 2018, I sat down with the unstoppable Christina Ochoa (Animal Kingdom, A Million Little Things) for a seriously honest, occasionally hilarious, and refreshingly unfiltered look at what it actually takes to survive and thrive in this industry.


    • Moving to LA with zero connections (and zero chill about the rent)

    • Not working for 2.5 years after a major show… and how she survived it (Uber, eBay, and a underprepared tutoring gig)

    • Auditioning while broke AF… and still booking the role

    • The shift from “pretty but doesn’t know it” casting to owning your own vibe

    • Saying no to mediocre TV (even when you really need the check)

      • Body image, being naked on set, and why she threw the damn breakdowns in the trash
      • Her trick for manifestation that doesn’t involve “morning pages” but does involve drawing yourself with dollar signs and scripts


    • Mentioned in This Episode


      • Sarah Mornell

      • Book: The Power of Full Engagement by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz

      • Book/Workbook: The Artist’s Way Workbook by Julia Cameron

      • Christina’s orgs: Oceana and Earth’s Oceans

      • Show Mentioned: Animal Kingdom

      • Series Mentioned: A Million Little Things




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    1 hr and 18 mins
  • making your own work + using new tech to your advantage, and surviving the pivot with Brendan Bradley
    Apr 10 2025

    our favorite multi-hyphenate chaos king Brendan Bradley is back (you might remember him from episode 208, aka “the stake captain saga”), and he’s bringing a lot in a short amount of time:

    • actor thoughts on vertical shorts
    • building a creative career from scratch
    • surviving pivot after pivot
    • embracing new tech without losing your soul


    also… the audio cuts off at the end (rude), so we will be having him back. don’t worry.


    things we mention:

    brendan’s IG

    brendan’s projects:

    • the devil and the daylong brothers
    • succubus
    • VR work (ferryman collective)
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    35 mins
  • REAL TALK: relationships with creatives- our husbands share what it’s really like
    Mar 21 2025

    You’ve heard about them so much, now they’re finally here by popular demand!Gabrielle is back! And we brought our husbands Caleb and Cory for a candid conversation about what it’s really like being in a relationship with someone in the entertainment industry. If you’ve been wondering how they handle the unpredictable schedules, self-tapes, and financial ups and downs of being with a Creative- this one’s for you. Buckle up for some laughs and a realistic look at what it really takes to make our relationships work!


    TIMESTAMPS:

    00:00 — Introducing the Husbands

    02:26 — Dealing with a Partner Online

    10:36 — The Importance of Communication

    12:50 — Helping Your Partner Self-Tape

    26:11 — What “Normies” Need from Creative Partners

    28:28 — Challenges of a Creative Partner

    33:47 — Why Sam & Caleb Stopped Drinking

    38:03 — Advice for Normies Dating Creatives

    43:00 — Finances & Relationships


    📚 EPISODE RESOURCES:

    ★ Follow Gabrielle on IG!

    ★ Sign up for Side Hustle Academy


    ♡Even More Sam♡

    Instagram

    Patreon

    Website

    My IMDb

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    54 mins
  • moving OUT of los angeles but staying in the hollywood game - how actress lauren sweetser premiered at sundance while living in arkansas
    Mar 10 2025

    From meeting with Ben Affleck, to reading for Aaron Sorkin, working with intimacy coordinators in hardcore covid times, self-taping in Cabo, and cringing at past headshots— Lauren has done it all, and on her own terms. If you’ve ever wondered if there’s more than one way to make it in the industry, Lauren’s story is proof that success doesn’t have to follow a single path:

    You may know her from ‘Winter’s Bone’ alongside Jennifer Lawrence, ‘True Detective’ on HBO, or Apple TV’s ‘For All Mankind.’ And today she opens up about her decision to leave Los Angeles for Arkansas, where she balances motherhood with her acting & producing career, and how she landed a role in her new film, ‘Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake),’ which just premiered at Sundance!


    TIMESTAMPS:

    00:00 — Meet Lauren Sweetser

    03:50— Early L.A. Memories with Lauren

    06:50 — Leaving Hollywood for Fayetteville, AR

    14:07 — The Business of Living Outside Hollywood

    23:00 — BTS Scoop of “For All Mankind”

    28:05 — Landing “Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake)”

    34:00 — Finding Your Path as an Actor

    40:43 — Past Headshot Reflections

    41:56 — Where to find Lauren & Her Work


    📚 EPISODE RESOURCES:

    ★ Listen to Lauren’s first visit to OBA!

    ★ Follow Lauren on Instagram!

    ★ Check out Lauren’s IMDb

    ★ Follow ‘Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake)’ on IG

    ★ Read about the Baby Scoop Era


    ♡Even More Sam♡

    Instagram

    Patreon

    Website

    My IMDb


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    56 mins
  • the actor spiral: change + comparison + denial
    Feb 21 2025

    Change. Is. Inevitable. We’re talking all about that weird in-between actor life- when the gig ends and you’re left waiting for the next one. It can feel like this never-ending spiral of doubt and comparison, but here’s the thing: that in-between time is actually a gift. When we accept this process instead of resisting it, we become better actors *and* people. ..or at least I do.


    ★ Watch our Free Webinar


    TIMESTAMPS:

    00:00 — The One Broke Actress Evolution

    03:37 — Side Hustle Academy Update

    04:41 — The Inevitability of Change

    07:49 — The Cycle of Acting

    13:20 — Acceptance Mindset

    15:34 — The Different Paths of Actors

    19:40 — Dealing with Comparison

    23:33 — The Gift of Free Time


    📚 EPISODE RESOURCES:

    ★ The Hedonic Treadmill

    ★ Learn more about Side Hustle Academy



    Want more?Check out Patreon + Apple Subscription for bonus episodes!


    ►► JOIN THE EMAIL LIST


    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samvalentine

    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/onebrokeactress

    Website: https://onebrokeactress.com

    My IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3921523/

    Disclaimer: Some links included in this descriptions may be affiliate links, meaning that I will receive a small commission if you buy from that link.


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    27 mins
  • Working Actor Life: the reality of six-figure side jobs
    Feb 13 2025

    Side Hustle Academy is officially back and we made you aFREE Side Hustle Class!

    Ok back to the episode…

    Gone are the days when actors could just rely on one source of income but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. So we are not sugar coating this for you…we made six-figures but we also struggle with our sh*t.

    Gabrielle and I are having an honest conversation about how we ‘balance’ (lol) our work + actor + personal lives…with some solid do’s and don’ts. Bonus points if you know your human design!


    TIMESTAMPS:

    00:00 — Inside View of Side Hustling

    02:25 — Managing Multiple Businesses

    07:33 — Balancing Side Hustles & Acting Careers

    11:15 — Making Your Life Full

    14:28 — How to Sit in the Win

    20:16 — Building a Business Off Your Personality & Interests

    24:20 — Energy Management & Hygiene

    31:54 — Current State of the Entertainment Industry

    42:25 — Starting Our Business

    48:00 — Membership Success Story

    51:11 — The Return of Side Hustle Academy!


    📚 EPISODE RESOURCES:

    ★Netflix’s “Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy”

    ★ Human design

    ★Sign up for Side Hustle Academy


    Want more? Check out Patreon + Apple Subscription for bonus episodes!



    ♡Even More Sam♡

    Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/samvalentine

    Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/onebrokeactress

    Website:https://onebrokeactress.com

    My IMDb:https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3921523/


    Disclaimer: Some links included in this descriptions may be affiliate links, meaning that I will receive a small commission if you buy from that link.


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    55 mins
  • Overwhelm + Prioritizing for Actors in 2025
    Feb 7 2025

    The world feels heavy right now, and as an actor, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed: this is the struggle of balancing your art and why it still matters. This episode isn’t for the faint of heart, though! I’m talking priorities, excuses, wellbeing, and your life’s purpose- all the things required to move the needle forward. Times might be crazy, but your art is always worth pursuing… and dare I say… necessary. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 — New Year Updates 02:36 — Creating in a Heavy World 05:32 — Urgent vs. Important Tasks 07:46 — Your Actor Craft 08:29 — Career Growth 11:45 — Your Life’s Purpose 13:13 — Excuses vs. Distractions 18:53 — Industry Struggles 20:30 — Reclaiming Your Purpose 23:38 — Why Your Art Still Matters Podcast Produced by - Fast Forward Productions 📚 EPISODE RESOURCES: ★ Actor Busy Work vs. Deep Work ★ Ikigai ★ Big Magic

    ►► JOIN THE EMAIL LIST ♡Even More Sam♡ Instagram Patreon My IMDb

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    28 mins
  • how to build an acting career | ACTOR TIPS ON NOT GIVING UP, BUILDING A CAREER, AND THE ARTIST LIFE
    Nov 14 2024

    What. A. Year. We have been through it, and I am so honored to have you all tuning along every step of the way. This is the season finale for the One Broke Actress Podcast in 2024, and I am walking you through the three main things that I think everyone needs to keep in mind as they start to build ‘an acting career for themselves. I tell you why I think we all need to maintain our passion for the work, to have perseverance, and to accept the long journey ahead. As artists, we need to constantly be seeking inspiration, and keeping a beginner's mindset, and planning for financial stability, and adjusting our expectations. It’s a lot, but it will be so worth it because it will help you stay in the game for a lifetime. If you’ve been waiting for a sign not to give up, this is it. During the weeks where I am processing what to do in 2025 for all of you, I’m also leaving you with my 'teaspoon of hope' theory that I hope helps you as much as it has me. Let me know in the comments down below or on the @samvalentine Instagram what you want to see more of. Until then, happy holidays, and this is Sam, signing off (not for patreon or apple podcast subscribers though - you’ll be hearing from me very soon)


    Watch the Full Video Podcast Here!


    00:00 — Season Finale

    00:17 — Reflecting on the Past Year

    00:52 — Plans for the Future

    01:37 — Supporting the Podcast

    03:02 — The Importance of Positivity

    04:20 — The Long Game of an Acting Career

    07:23 — Maintaining the Love for Acting

    15:14 — Pursuing Acting Continuously

    21:18 — Acceptance and Releasing Expectations

    26:05 — Teaspoon of Hope Theory

    28:36 — The Biggest Takeaways


    Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

    ★ Join the Patreon to keep this pod in your feed!

    ★ Watch One Broke Actress “REALITY CHECK: HOW MUCH ACTORS MAKE VS. SPEND”

    ★ Watch One Broke Actress “how much does it cost to be an actor | ACTING IN DIFFERENT MARKETS: LA vs. NYC vs. ATL vs. Chicago”

    ★ Listen to One Broke Actress Episode 140 “Actress Michelle Meredith on the Hollywood Body Idea” and Booking The Morning Show”

    ★ Listen to One Broke Actress Episode 152 “What I am learning about the Long Game of the Acting Business + My ‘Teaspoon of Hope’ Theory”

    ★ Join the Side Hustle Academy Waitlist


    ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

    Want more? Join The Membership & Check out Patreon for bonus episodes!

    And don’t miss all the content on IG and as always at One Broke Actress

    And if you're needing some personalized help from Sam, click here.

    Don't forget to join the mailing list here!

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    30 mins
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