Motherhood In Hollywood

Finding a good child care provider is one of the most challenging things I face as a working mom. I work from home most of the time so I feel weird about having someone come to my house to sit with my daughter while I'm in the other room. And there are many times when I have to go to an audition, or over a story for work and need someone last-minute. What's a mom to do? I invited the CEO and Co-Founder of UrbanSitter to share her thoughts with me. Lynn Perkins created UrbanSitter as a quick, effective tool for parents to search for child care online. As a mom herself, she tells me friends were always asking her for recommendations on a sitter and that sparked the idea to start her own website. Cut to several years later and UrbanSitter is one of the most used child care websites out there. Lynn says that's because they offer 3 critical components to child care: recommendations from people you trust, performance data and quality care providers. She also talks about she created a new UrbanSitter app and

My podcast episodes aren't usually very newsworthy or timely but this week is an exception. Just days after I recorded my interview with Mindy Cohn, news broke about the very thing we discussed-a Facts of Life reboot or reunion.  It wasn't the main reason why I wanted to interview her but it came up in our conversation and what she told me was surprising. Apparently Leonardo DiCaprio and Jessica Biel's production companies have bought the rights to The Facts of Life. Mindy tells us exactly what happened when she and a prominent producer had the idea to reboot the show and took it to Sony. Days later, the rights to TFOL were no longer available and had been snatched up by Leo and Jessica.  She explains it fully in this episode so it's definitely worth a listen to hear for yourself. People say I look a lot like Mindy. What do you think? Mindy and I met at the BGG Acting Studio several years ago and I was immediately drawn to her. Not just because people have compared me to her, several times, but because s

I hate to admit it but I'm getting a little burned out on animation. It feels like we watch it constantly from movies to shows at home and sometimes I crave real faces and realistic story lines. But the reality is, it's hard to find something to watch as a family that doesn't involve animation. 'Our Wedding Story' airs Fridays on UP TV. Check your local listings for times. UP TV is hoping to change that. My guest this week is the Executive Vice President and General Manager of UP TV, Amy Winter. She says she's rebranded the network to gear programming toward families without sacrificing quality. I met her recently at a premiere party for UP TV's newest show, Our Wedding Story. Grab the tissue when you watch because it's a very moving show where couples share their love story. No explosions. No swears. No sex. Just beautiful story telling. Producers Nick and Colin from Blue Kite Cinema say their goal is to create a cinematic documentary rather than a reality show, and I think they've done exactly that. Every

You've probably been listening to Tara Strong for years and never knew it. This mama is a powerhouse in the voice over world, voicing characters like Twilight Sparkle in My Little Pony, Harley Quinn in DC Super Hero Girls and Raven in Teen Titans Go! To The Movies. I've been wanting to interview her for years and it finally happened! Tara says she knew she wanted to be an actress and create funny voices when she was just 4-years-old.  Before I had Channing I used to think people who knew what they wanted to do when they were that young were just making it up for a good story. But Channing most definitely talks about being an artist all the time and I have no doubt she will do something in the arts.  What a wonderful gift to know your calling at a young age! Chan is also a huge fan of My Little Pony, and honestly, all of the shows Tara voices. So to get a chance to hear her story and talk to her about her career was a treat. She also tells me about being a mom of 2 boys and what kinds of animation they'r

Heather and Heather at SDCC 2016 at the SyFy Magicians party. The last week or so in Southern California, the heat has been scorching, over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, high humidity and relatively uncomfortable outdoors. Which means, it is a great time to catch up on some great television. It used to be that summer was all “guilty pleasure” tv. In the past, summer had been referred to as the “dumping ground” for television.  It was a time when networks would either air re-runs, or “dump” a show that they felt was something that was a “hard sell” to both audiences and advertisers. However, in the last 5 years or so, with the rise of premium cable and streaming services, and a push by all mediums to produce original content, summer is no longer the barren desert wasteland it once was. As we head into the week of San Diego Comic Con (July 19-22nd) I have been watching and re-watching some of my favorite shows, here’s a little “tv primer”: Claws on TNT-  I love this show, Niecy Nash is the brilliant (and wonderful

The acting profession isn't an easy career choice. You are basically deciding to be vulnerable, rejected, and available for work at all times with no guarantee of payment. And yet thousands of people flock to LA each year to be an actor. Millions more try their hand at it from around the world. So what draws us in? Shannon Sturges from Speiser/Sturges Acting Studio My guest this week is actress and acting coach Shannon Sturges from Speiser/Sturges Acting Studio. Shannon has appeared on several soap operas like Passions and Port Charles as well as shows like The Mentalist. She's left the day-to-day hustle of auditioning behind and now focuses her talents on helping other actors. We share some real talk about shaking the audition jitters, what George Clooney means when he says "Just deliver the pizza!", and how actors can have more realistic expectations in this business. We also talk about her legacy. She’s a member of Hollywood royalty, as the granddaughter of legendary Oscar-winning writer/director Pres

Have you ever watched a game show and thought, I could be on that show! Or seen Little Big Shots and wondered where they found such incredible kids? My guest this week is Raphael Dorval who works in casting for reality shows, game shows and some of the hottest talent shows on TV. And he has some advice for parents who want to get their kids noticed. Raphael says parents who think their kids are talented and want to catch the eye of a show like Ellen or America's Got Talent need to just start filming their kids doing the cool thing they do. It's that simple. He says too many parents think they need to have perfect lighting or big production value before they get their kids on tape but realistically you don't need much. Just start filming your tiny dancer, brilliant gymnast or terrific tap dancer and you're already ahead of the game. He also suggests parents get involved in Facebook groups for child actors or talented kids. Casting directors are always looking in those groups and places like YouTube and I

I recently caught up with Academy Award-winning writer Diablo Cody and Academy Award-nominated director Jason Reitman to talk about their new film Tully. They shared with me everything from the inspiration for the film, to what they think about the trend of Hollywood remakes and re-imaginings happening right now. Interviewing Diablo Cody at the premiere of Tully Plus as a bonus I interviewed legendary director Ivan Reitman about what he thinks of his sons' success and following in his footsteps. You'll love what he says about the difference in his films and Jason's films. Director Jason Reitman Don't forget to subscribe to my show on iTunes and leave a review!

You've no doubt seen Sasha Alexander on your TV screen sometime in the last few decades. She's been a working actress for many years on shows like Dawson's Creek, Rizzoli and Isles, and Shameless.  But she's also a big supporter of independent film and tells me her latest project is a great example of what a true independent film looks like in today's fast-paced super-sized movie world.   Bernard and Huey was written by legendary, Pulitzer Prize and Oscar® winner Jules Feiffer (Carnal Knowledge, Popeye) and stars Bernard (Jim Rash) and Huey (David Koechner). As teens, Bernard is the more introverted, less socially successful of the two, and Huey is the outgoing ladies’ man. Years later, the two reconnect, to find that the tables have turned and they become entwined in one-another’s lives in bizarre ways. Alexander, along with Mae Whitman, Nancy Travis and Bellamy Young add a much-needed female presence to the film. Alexander tells me the women stepped into what felt like a very masculine story and added

Lisa Henson is no stranger to creating shows kids love. But despite her father's huge name and company, she didn't start out in children's programming. She started making movies at Columbia and Warner Brothers and after decades of working in mainstream adult content, found herself back home at The Henson Company. Lisa is the CEO and President of The Henson Company and works alongside her brother Brian who is the Chairman. They produce new shows like Dot,Splash and Bubbles, Sid The Science Kid and a new show Fraggle Rock fans will love called Doozers. Remember those loveable green guys that were always working hard to build things, right as the Fraggles destroyed them. Well the Doozers are back and building up a storm. The new CG animated series for preschoolers incorporates  STEAM lessons - Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics - while also having fun. The animated preschool series Doozers focuses on four Doozers kids, a team of best friends who live in Doozer Creek, a community that

We've all experienced a form of mom guilt in one way or another. For example, I feel guilty right now for writing this blog post instead of making donuts with Chan or cleaning the house. But I quickly check myself because I realize, I am more than just a mom. I've created something I'm proud of that has grown into a business and you never hear Bill Gates or Elon Musk talk about feeling guilty for working on their business so why do moms in business do this? That's just one of the things we're talking about this week with Crystalee Beck, Co-Founder of The Mama Ladder - a company that empowers mom entrepreneurs to take bold action with BIG heart. Create your own ladder™.  They help moms climb after business dreams that fit your family. Crystalee tells me how The Mama Ladder was built with her partner Lynette Evans as a way to help women around the world thrive at the intersection of mamahood and entrepreneurship. They offer one-on-one business mentoring as well as a plan of action to help women ditch the cor

Make sure you listen to my red carpet interviews with Ron Livingston and Nia Vardalos! Just click the player above or subscribe on iTunes. As an actress I can't tell you how many times I've seen or played moms on screen who are almost caricatures of motherhood. The frantic mom who can't seem to get her kids out the door and off to school without yelling or stubbing a toe are some of the worst offenders. Or the mom who just needs to let loose and party with friends because life is so stressful. We always seem to need a boozy night out because we can't handle the motherhood, amiright ladies? But seriously most moms, at least in my experience, aren't anything like what we see on the big screen. Until Tully. Diablo Cody has masterfully created a full 3 dimensional view of motherhood that's hard to look at and heartbreakingly realistic. It's hard because it feels so real. Tully tells the story of a mom of three, Marlo, played by Charlize Theron. She is gifted a night nurse named Tully by her brother played

Ashley Eckstein says she was born with Disney in her DNA. So it's only fitting that she's spent her life working with Disney in some way or another. She saw a need in the pop culture community for fangirl clothing that represents how much women enjoy sci-fi. So in 2009, she created a line of clothing and accessories called Her Universe and her life was forever changed. Of course nothing is that simple. Her success didn't happen overnight and she's the first to admit she made some mistakes and learned from them. But the fact is, she didn't give up. She had a dream and went after it. Now Her Universe is a very successful clothing line and was recently sold to Hot Topic. Female sci-fi fans can now get a dress with their favorite Star Wars character on it or a t-shirt that comes in more than one color and is made for a woman. During our conversation she explains why giving women options to express their fandom was so important to her. Her Universe has also carved out a place in pop culture at places like Co

It's a story similar to David and Goliath. A small budget movie about faith and forgiveness goes up against the big bad Hollywood to prove it's worth. Nobody imagined I Can Only Imagine would beat out big budget box office films and open in the number 3 spot in the country. But the films' producers say they not only imagined it, they prayed for it too. I sat down with Kevin Downes, an actor-turned-producer, who told me he and his collaborators had a plan from the beginning. They wanted to tell the story of Bart Millard, the lead singer of a Christian band called Mercy Me. Growing up in Greenville, Texas, Bart Millard suffered physical and emotional abuse at the hands of his father, Arthur. When Arthur becomes terminally ill, he finds redemption by embracing his faith and rediscovering his love for his son. Years later, Bart's troubled childhood and mended relationship with his dad inspires him to write the hit song "I Can Only Imagine" as singer of the Christian band Mercy Me. The movie was directed

I had so much fun chatting with Colin Ferguson (Eureka, You're The Worst, The Vampire Diaries) about what it means to be a working actor in Hollywood today and how much the industry has changed. We met at the grand opening for The Museum of Selfies (Yes this is a real thing!) and immediately bonded over the fact that we have kids the same age and loving going to events close to our house. Driving in LA is no joke ya'll. Colin tells me he's recognized most for his work on the SyFy show Eureka (he's also the Maytag Man!) where he played Sheriff Jack Carter. My husband Chris was a fan of the show so as a result, I watched a lot of Eureka. But Colin has actually been a working actor since he landed in LA from Canada in the 90's. We talked about how different the industry is now for actors meaning, no more headshot drop offs and going to your agents office to pick up sides. Every thing is done online which means anyone in the world can be considered for a role now. That's a lot of competition in an industry tha

Kate Casey is back! This time we're revealing her latest news, baby number five is on the way! In fact her gender reveal video went viral because her sweet son was hoping for a baby brother. Let's just say he was a little disappointed with the reveal. Kate hosts the hugely successful Reality Life podcast where she unpacks her passion for reality TV. Everything from the Kardashians to the Housewives is up for grabs. Each week she features celebrity guests and sometimes real people, like me! In fact I was a guest on episode 8 of her show and we've been friends ever since. She also has a blog where she's been dishing out the real side of parenting for many years called Love and Knuckles. We talk about how we think people are shying away from the standard blogging format and turning to more personal forms of content sharing like podcasting and vlogging. I've noticed a lot of traditional bloggers are struggling to find their audience, especially if they just started in the last few years. Unless you go viral

Music is a big part of our family. It's either constantly playing, or we're trying to learn to play an instrument. Lately, Channing has been into the guitar and let me tell you, I'm already having visions of her in a rock band and it's awesome. So when I had the opportunity to interview someone truly influential in the music industry I jumped at the chance. Anne Cecere is the Senior Director, Film, TV & Visual Media Relations at BMI - a music rights company. Cecere is the visionary behind creating a platform at WonderCon of composers and creators. In 2009, she realized there was no discussion of any music at any of the Con festivals. So she championed for the opportunity to have BMI composers involved at WonderCon by giving them the opportunity to elaborate on the importance of music behind some of TV’s biggest shows, films and video games. L to R Gabriel Mann (Composer for “School of Rock”) Steven Vincent (VP of Music and Soundtracks- The Disney Channel) Anne Cecere (Co-moderator and Senior Director, Fil

Last October I opened a very special email while dressed as Mrs. Potts. I had been selected to attend the Disney Social Media Moms Conference Land and Sea adventure at Disney World. I was dressed like Mrs. Potts because we were at Disneyland for Mickey's Halloween Party so to say we were excited is an understatement. And honestly, I have no idea why I was chosen out of tens of thousands of bloggers but I've pieced together some ideas that might help if this is something you want to be a part of. First, let's talk about what the #DisneySMMC is. It's an annual conference hosted by Disney and typically involves a visit to Disney World or another Disney park/resort. This particular year we were invited to spend 5 days in the park then embark on a 3 day Disney Cruise Line trip to the Bahamas and Disney's private island, Castaway Cay. During the event bloggers are treated to VIP access to certain shows, extra fast passes to rides and attractions and some meals. We are also given the opportunity to hear directly

Screenwriter John August loves writing. He enjoys it so much, he decided to expand his writing repertoire from screenplays to novels. His new novel, Arlo Finch in the Valley of Fire, was two years in the making. And lucky for us, he documented that process to share with others in a new podcast called Launch. August is best known for writing Charlie’s Angels, Big Fish, and his films with Tim Burton (Frankenweenie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Corpse Bride). He is also writing the new live action screenplay for Aladdin but due to some pretty strict privacy rules from Disney, we didn't delve into that story. But I'm hoping once the film comes out he'll come back on my show and gives a closer look at what it's like to re-imagine that classic story with live actors. In Launch, August shares interviews with publishers, meetings, and moments that chronicle his journey to publishing a novel. That novel is available now in stores and online and given the fantastical nature of his writing style, I can't wai

Whether you are a celebrity, mom blogger or influencer wouldn't it be nice to get #paid for your work. In this episode I'm talking to Adam Rivietz, the CSO and co-founder of #paid, an influencer marketing platform for authentic brand collaborations.  We're talking about the evolution of online marketing vs traditional marketing strategies and how big companies are starting to spend their money. Adam Rivietz-CSO and co-founder of #paid A recent study from Neilson Media Lab finds that influencer marketing is more powerful than marketers initially thought. I wanted to share with you an article that perfectly accompanies this podcast. It was written by Richard Wong, VP of Marketing and Creator Relations at #paid. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this and what his colleague Adam have to say about the rise of influencers. TV may affect the brain, but influencer marketing affects the heart. Social media influencer content effectively drives engagement, consideration, and purchase intent. TV effectively drives b