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

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.

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.

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

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

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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!

We’ve talked about the cost of living in Los Angeles before, but how does it compare to the different acting markets in the United States? I did some research on the cost of living for actors in Atlanta, Chicago, and New York City and compared them to Los Angeles. Bringing my bestie and Atlanta native Gabrielle Byndloss on board, I share my findings as Gabrielle reacts to numbers. We’re getting honest about the financial realities of living as an actor in all the major US markets — including rent, transportation, groceries, and acting-related costs. We talk about what some of your deciding factors may be such as quality of life, production numbers, and where to plant your roots. So if you’ve been struggling to figure out where to go due to finances, we got you. Remember, there’s no universal “right” market, but there is a market that is right for YOU!

Watch the Full Video Podcast Here!

00:00 — Let’s Talk Markets

00:20 — Nobody Wants This

03:06 — Actor Life in Different Markets

03:41 — Comparing Living Costs: LA vs. Atlanta

08:21 — Atlanta's Acting Market and Opportunities

12:10 — Detailed Cost Breakdown for Actors in LA and Atlanta

18:14 — Comparing Food and Lifestyle Costs

22:07— Exploring Chicago's Market

22:13 — Comparing Chicago and New York Living Costs

23:19 — The Reality of Living in Chicago

24:31 — Challenges of Moving to Chicago

26:07 — Exploring New York's Living Expenses

27:36 — The True Cost of Living in New York

32:30 — Production Listings in Major Cities

38:31 — The Importance of Choosing Where to Live

40:00 — Why the Numbers are Lying

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

★ Listen to Ladygang “Nobody Wants This Creator ERIN FOSTER”

★ Housing Anywhere

★ SAG-AFTRA Production Center

★ Join the One Broke Actress Patreon for the Bonus Pod

★ Watch REALITY CHECK: HOW MUCH ACTORS MAKE VS. SPEND https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzosA2ZhyTA

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

And don’t miss all the content on IG and get all the sam valentine links here!

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

Don't forget to join the mailing list here!

We’re back with No Stupid Questions! This time we’re getting into a 10-2 on set, nudity as an actor, out-of-state callbacks, local hires, succeeding without connections or money, and if actors can have tattoos. We’re also getting into the challenges of dealing with your agency closing, how your past work effects you, and how our online presence gets back to casting. If you’ve got more questions, comment them down below and check out Side Hustle Academy if you’ve been wanting to achieve financial stability while in pursuit of an acting career.

Watch the Full Video Podcast Here!

00:00 — answering your questions 01:35 — mic'd up when nature calls 05:17 — navigating the KMR agency collapse 10:25 – does nudity affect casting? 11:12 — impact of onlyfans on casting 12:40 — travel expenses for out-of-state callbacks 15:33 — can you succeed as an actor without money or connections? 18:05 — tattoos & casting 20:22 — investing in you

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

★ Watch One Broke Actress “actor tell all: agents, referrals, the hollywood cult, botox and so much more | NO STUPID QUESTIONS 1”

★ Watch HBO Documentary “The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst”

★ Read Deadline “KMR Agency Suspends Franchise With SAG-AFTRA Amid Major Client Payment Delays”

★ Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken”

★ Watch One Broke Actress “so i went to atlanta for a callback... | ACTOR VLOG: Flying from LA to ATL to Audition”

★ Listen to One Broke Actress “Ciera Payton: Biracial Casting, Hollywood Diversity, Envisioning Your Future”

★ Side Hustle Academy

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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!

Last week we heard from Jazelle Foster, a CEO of her own business with multiple employees and clients. But, I know some of you don’t want to deal with the hassle of marketing, selling, and creating. Some of you just want to have a side hustle that gives you enjoy to be happy while pursuing acting. Is it possible? Adrianna Licitra’s story will have you knowing that it is. Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Adrianna shares her journey of managing a professional organizing business alongside her new acting career. She gets into freelancing versus working for a company, and how she keeps acting a priority while juggling her side hustles, family, and life obligations. This discussion is perfection for those who are looking to diversity their income streams without sacrificing their craft. Want more? Sign up for Side Hustle Academy from October 21st to 25th! https://themembership.co/sha

★ Sign Up for Side Hustle Academy now: https://themembership.co/sha

Watch the Full Video Podcast Here!

00:00 — understanding the overwhelm

00:27 — meet adrianna licitra

01:59 — balancing business and acting

04:37 — keeping it simple

11:56 — freelancing vs. running your own business

15:34 — AD: side hustle academy: https://themembership.co/sha

23:39 — overcoming the fear of diversifying focus

24:23 — balancing multiple careers for stability

26:33 — the benefits of life experiences in acting

27:13 — the value of online courses for side hustles

30:05 — organizing tips for actors

35:09 — creating a homey space in small apartments

38:30 — connecting with adrianna for organizing help

41:04 — wrap-up

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

★ Follow Adriana on IG @adrianna_licitra

★ Follow Adriana’s Organizing and Styling on Facebook

★ Sign Up for Side Hustle Academy now

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

And don’t miss all the content on IG and get all the sam valentine links here!

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

Don't forget to join the mailing list here!