Angie Krass was rejected by the musical theatre world but figured out how to make a space for herself in comedy and storytelling while relentlessly loving animals and people along the way! 

In this delightful conversation we talk about:

• How comedy changes you as a person
• Differences between storytelling and comedy
• The time she bombed in front of a crowd of lesbians

And so much more!!

See Angie live this Thursday, August 15th, 2024 at The Story Edge in Oakland - Click here for tickets and information>>

About Today's Guest, Angie Krass
The Mississippi Madam of Mayhem, Angie Krass has never been one to play by the rules or live life by the norms. Hailed by the San Francisco Chronicle for her one woman show Sex, Biscuits, Jesus and Me as "Superior Southern Fried Comedy."  She has performed for Boston'sWomen in Comedy Festival, the Oakland Comedy Festival and the 2022 Seattle International Comedy Competition.Representing Oakland California, this Mississippi native serves up superior Southern fried comedy with a rainbow twist. Follow her on Instagram @angiekrass

About Your Host, Holly Shaw
Before becoming a comedian, Holly Shaw spent a lifetime on stage, T.V. and film as an actor, professional dancer and later as a speaker, coach and hypnotherapist. She's authored two books: the Amazon bestseller, The Creative Formula, as well as  Making Art In the Middle of Madness and she was a regular teacher at SAG/AFTRA's conservatories in San Francisco as well as Los Angeles. Her podcast, Performers & Creators Lab, was named One of the Most Outstanding Podcasts of 2019 by Databird Research. Through all of her offerings she has helped thousands of performing artists, some of them Emmy Award winning and Grammy nominated, overcome stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create the work they were born to make and become undeniably magnetic performers.  To learn more about Holly's work as a coach please visit www.performersandcreatorslab.com To learn more about her life as a joke teller please visit hollyshawcomedy.com

About the Composer: Dan Cantrell is an Emmy award winning composer and multi-instrumentalist known for his innovative film scoring approach, and his virtuosic abilities on the accordion, piano and musical saw. “Hauntingly beautiful…quirky and energetic” says the San Francisco Bay Guardian.  His extensive scoring catalogue spans a wide range of emotion and style. Dan’s compositions for film and television have earned him numerous awards including an Emmy Award for KQED’s Home-Front,a Golden Gate award for the soundtrack to the documentary Divided Loyalties, and an Annie nomination for his work on three seasons of Cartoon Network’s the Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack. Visit bellowhead.com

Today's podcast interview is with the one and only, Diane Amos! Comedian, actor and storyteller she weaves through the turning points of her long career as a performer with her infectious joy and sparkling attitude.  Don't miss this opportunity to catch a little bit of her wonder and love of the game of show business.

In the Bay Area?  You can see Diane live at The Story Edge, this coming Thursday, June 20th at Sláinte Irish Pub & Restaurant in Oakland 7pm - Get tickets now>>

About Today's Guest
Diane Amos is an actor (Patch Adams), stand-up comedian and storyteller who came up in the improv world along such greats as Robin Williams and is now well-known as the “Pine-Sol Lady” in commercials and as a spokesperson. You can follow her on instagram @dianeamosofficial

About Your Host, Holly Shaw
Before becoming a comedian, Holly Shaw spent a lifetime on stage, T.V. and film as an actor, professional dancer and later as a speaker, coach and hypnotherapist. She's authored two books: the Amazon bestseller, The Creative Formula, as well as  Making Art In the Middle of Madness and she was a regular teacher at SAG/AFTRA's conservatories in San Francisco as well as Los Angeles. Her podcast, Performers & Creators Lab, was named One of the Most Outstanding Podcasts of 2019 by Databird Research. Through all of her offerings she has helped thousands of performing artists, some of them Emmy Award winning and Grammy nominated, overcome stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create the work they were born to make and become undeniably magnetic performers.  To learn more about Holly's work as a coach please visit www.performersandcreatorslab.com To learn more about her life as a joke teller please visit hollyshawcomedy.com

Get ready for some real talk about intuition! The most common question I get asked when I do my "relationship auras" comedy bit is "Are you really an intuitive?" and my answer is always, "yes, and so are you!"  So I decided to dive a little deeper into this topic and explore intuition and how to get more of it. 

Episode Highlights:

• My psychic bit and how I came to develop that
• The best place to start when honing your intuition
• My own journey from being a confused empath to a becoming a confident receiver
• An exercise you can start using right away
• Creativity and its relationship to intuition

And BONUS, I share other free resources you can use to start playing with your intuition today!

About Your Host, Holly Shaw
Before becoming a comedian, Holly Shaw spent a lifetime on stage, T.V. and film as an actor, professional dancer and later as a speaker, coach and hypnotherapist. She's authored two books: the Amazon bestseller, The Creative Formula, as well as  Making Art In the Middle of Madness and she was a regular teacher at SAG/AFTRA's conservatories in San Francisco as well as Los Angeles. Her podcast, Performers & Creators Lab, was named One of the Most Outstanding Podcasts of 2019 by Databird Research. Through all of her offerings she has helped thousands of performing artists, some of them Emmy Award winning and Grammy nominated, overcome stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create the work they were born to make and become undeniably magnetic performers.  To learn more, please visit www.performersandcreatorslab.com

About the Composer: Dan Cantrell is an Emmy award winning composer and multi-instrumentalist known for his innovative film scoring approach, and his virtuosic abilities on the accordion, piano and musical saw. “Hauntingly beautiful…quirky and energetic” says the San Francisco Bay Guardian.  His extensive scoring catalogue spans a wide range of emotion and style. Dan’s compositions for film and television have earned him numerous awards including an Emmy Award for KQED’s Home-Front,a Golden Gate award for the soundtrack to the documentary Divided Loyalties, and an Annie nomination for his work on three seasons of Cartoon Network’s the Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack. Visit bellowhead.com

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 and who just published his latest book, “Audience of One: Reclaiming Creativity for Its Own Sake.”  Srini talks about finding validation in your work, surfing as a creative practice, dating as a self-proclaimed B-List Celebrity and answers the question, “Which should take precedence: morning sex or your writing habit?”

Click here to learn more about the Performers & Creators Lab >>

About Your Host, Holly Shaw

Holly Shaw, CHT  is a performance coach, creativity researcher and stand up comedian.  Growing up in Indianapolis, IN she convinced her parents she needed to go to Chicago to get her own agent when she was 14 years old and has spent a lifetime in film, T.V. and on professional stages all over the world as an actor, dancer, and director.

Now she shares her passion for the problems that artists face as a Creativity Coach and a Certified Hypnotherapist and has helped hundreds of artists, from Emmy award winning and Grammy nominated artists to world class choreographers overcome their anxiety, stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create original work and totally kill it onstage again and again without feeling like they're selling out or losing their sanity.

In 2016, Shaw wrote and released her book, The Creative Formula: Compose, Choreograph, and Capture Your Masterpiece  which has become an Amazon bestseller.  In 2018 she launched the Performers & Creators Lab podcast which was named one of 2019's most outstanding podcasts by Databird Research. She teaches regularly at the SAG/AFTRA offices in L.A. and SF and runs creative laboratory workshops like the Comedy Lab Open Mic once a month at Monaghan's on the Hill in Oakland. Follow her on Instagram @hollyshawspritely

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 foods.

Holly Shaw, CHT  is a performance coach, creativity researcher and stand up comedian.  Growing up in Indianapolis, IN she convinced her parents she needed to go to Chicago to get her own agent when she was 14 years old and has spent a lifetime in film, T.V. and on professional stages all over the world as an actor, dancer, and director.

Now she shares her passion for the problems that artists face as a Creativity Coach and a Certified Hypnotherapist and has helped hundreds of artists, from Emmy award winning and Grammy nominated artists to world class choreographers overcome their anxiety, stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create original work and totally kill it onstage again and again without feeling like they're selling out or losing their sanity.

In 2016, Shaw wrote and released her book, The Creative Formula: Compose, Choreograph, and Capture Your Masterpiece  which has become an Amazon bestseller.  In 2018 she launched the Performers & Creators Lab podcast which was named one of 2019's most outstanding podcasts by Databird Research. She teaches regularly at the SAG/AFTRA offices in L.A. and SF and runs creative laboratory workshops like the Comedy Lab Open Mic once a month at Monaghan's on the Hill in Oakland. Follow her on Instagram @hollyshawspritely

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 this episode will shift how you look at your career, casting, collaboration and help you discover: what kind of storyteller are you?

Find out more about Performers & Creators Lab >>

Blair Hickey has been a working actor for over twenty years. He graduated with a degree in Theatre Arts from Brown University, started his career in New York working on stage and with recurring roles on daytime soaps. Since moving to Los Angeles, Blair’s worked primarily in television, appearing in such shows as NCIS:LA, TOUCH, HARRY'S LAW, HEROES, MEDIUM, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, GHOST WHISPERER, ALLY MCBEAL, THE PRACTICE and CHICAGO HOPE. In 2004, Blair co-created CastingAbout, the online casting and production guide. In 2009, CastingAbout was acquired by Breakdown Services, where Blair continues to serve as a developer and consultant. Blair is also a proud husband, a daddy of two beautiful girls, and a die-hard Philadelphia Eagles fan. Learn more at http://www.castingabout.com

Holly Shaw, CHT  is a performance coach, creativity researcher and stand up comedian.  Growing up in Indianapolis, IN she convinced her parents she needed to go to Chicago to get her own agent when she was 14 years old and has spent a lifetime in film, T.V. and on professional stages all over the world as an actor, dancer, and director.

Now she shares her passion for the problems that artists face as a Creativity Coach and a Certified Hypnotherapist and has helped hundreds of artists, from Emmy award winning and Grammy nominated artists to world class choreographers overcome their anxiety, stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create original work and totally kill it onstage again and again without feeling like they're selling out or losing their sanity.

In 2016, Shaw wrote and released her book, The Creative Formula: Compose, Choreograph, and Capture Your Masterpiece  which has become an Amazon bestseller.  In 2018 she launched the Performers & Creators Lab podcast which was named one of 2019's most outstanding podcasts by Databird Research. She teaches regularly at the SAG/AFTRA offices in L.A. and SF and runs creative laboratory workshops like the Comedy Lab Open Mic once a month at Monaghan's on the Hill in Oakland. Follow her on Instagram @hollyshawspritely

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 in service yet also how to be brave and break the rules.


Find out more about Performers & Creators Lab >>

Heidi-Marie Ferren is an actress, vocalist, and writer who originally hails from California, Arkansas, and Texas. For the past four years she has served our service members as Miss USO, performing and speaking across the globe as an ambassador and steward of gratitude. She has performed and lectured in over 700 venues including performances at CitiField, Nassau Coliseum, Madison Square Garden and Dick Clark’s ‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’ Nivea Stage in Times Square.

 As a country, jazz and gospel recording artist, Heidi’s credits include performances with Patti LaBelle, Lee Greenwood and Tony Orlando.

 Most recently Heidi has had a recurring role on ABC’s hit comedy, ‘American Housewife’ starring Katy Mixon and the lead female role of Sophie in JKic’s award winning short film, The Talk, which is currently playing at festivals worldwide.  She has had the honor of working with the incredible Gary Marshall in one of his last films and working alongside one of her mentors, Ted Danson, playing Wonder Woman on HBO’s hit T.V. show “Bored to Death”.  

 On stage, she has played leading roles in Shakespeare and Shaw across the globe with some of the world’s most renowned Directors. Some of her favorite roles include: Candace in the world premiere of ‘Dogshow;’ Frances Abbott in ‘In the Belly of the Beast,’ directed by Adrian Hall; Lena in Misalliance, directed by Ethan McSweeny; Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing; the Marquise in Successful Strategies, directed by Carl Forsman and Helena/Puck/Flute in the Award-winning PBS broadcast of Shakespeare’s, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream.’

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To learn more, please visit www.heidimarieferren.net

Holly Shaw, CHT  is a performance coach, creativity researcher and stand up comedian.  Growing up in Indianapolis, IN she convinced her parents she needed to go to Chicago to get her own agent when she was 14 years old and has spent a lifetime in film, T.V. and on professional stages all over the world as an actor, dancer, and director.

Now she shares her passion for the problems that artists face as a Creativity Coach and a Certified Hypnotherapist and has helped hundreds of artists, from Emmy award winning and Grammy nominated artists to world class choreographers overcome their anxiety, stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create original work and totally kill it onstage again and again without feeling like they're selling out or losing their sanity.

In 2016, Shaw wrote and released her book, The Creative Formula: Compose, Choreograph, and Capture Your Masterpiece  which has become an Amazon bestseller.  In 2018 she launched the Performers & Creators Lab podcast which was named one of 2019's most outstanding podcasts by Databird Research. She teaches regularly at the SAG/AFTRA offices in L.A. and SF and runs creative laboratory workshops like the Comedy Lab Open Mic once a month at Monaghan's on the Hill in Oakland. Follow her on Instagram @hollyshawspritely

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 strategies, and fresh creative ideas for inviting your ideal audience in and minimizing your time at the computer so you can make more art instead.  We also dive into the paradox of the day job artist and why it’s ok to have a side gig.

Find out more about Performers & Creators Lab >>

As a digital marketing strategist, Suzanne Yada has brought clients big and small into profitability with tools like Facebook advertising and email marketing. As singer-songwriter @ Little Spiral @, she mixes her indie pop, classical, blues and electronic influences with her background in poetry, media and the internet to create clever little piano pop songs for the digital age. Find out more at www.yadacreative.com


About Your Host, Holly Shaw

Holly Shaw, CHT  is a performance coach, creativity researcher and stand up comedian.  Growing up in Indianapolis, IN she convinced her parents she needed to go to Chicago to get her own agent when she was 14 years old and has spent a lifetime in film, T.V. and on professional stages all over the world as an actor, dancer, and director.

Now she shares her passion for the problems that artists face as a Creativity Coach and a Certified Hypnotherapist and has helped hundreds of artists, from Emmy award winning and Grammy nominated artists to world class choreographers overcome their anxiety, stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create original work and totally kill it onstage again and again without feeling like they're selling out or losing their sanity.

In 2016, Shaw wrote and released her book, The Creative Formula: Compose, Choreograph, and Capture Your Masterpiece  which has become an Amazon bestseller.  In 2018 she launched the Performers & Creators Lab podcast which was named one of 2019's most outstanding podcasts by Databird Research. She teaches regularly at the SAG/AFTRA offices in L.A. and SF and runs creative laboratory workshops like the Comedy Lab Open Mic once a month at Monaghan's on the Hill in Oakland. Follow her on Instagram @hollyshawspritely

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 & Creators Lab Podcast shares these captivating short profiles of women change makers making Hollywood great here and now.

Find out more about Performers & Creators Lab >>

Tania Zee is a SAG-AFTRA guild actor and Film & TV Creator from NYC, currently residing in LA.  She is a 6 foot tall, U.S. Army Veteran, doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.), and former model who proudly holds the trifecta of beauty, brains, and brawn. 

Tania stars on television, film, digital, and in network television pilots.  Her dedication & work ethic floods into the realms of writing, producing, and directing across genres, on various platforms; that includes the internationally distributed feature film, The Internship Games, as well as television options, two films created for the Los Angeles County Museum of Arts (LACMA) archives, and other projects at various stages of development.

Learn more here: www.imdb.me/taniazee 

FB/IG/Tweet @iamtaniazee 

Holly Shaw, CHT  is a performance coach, creativity researcher and stand up comedian.  Growing up in Indianapolis, IN she convinced her parents she needed to go to Chicago to get her own agent when she was 14 years old and has spent a lifetime in film, T.V. and on professional stages all over the world as an actor, dancer, and director.

Now she shares her passion for the problems that artists face as a Creativity Coach and a Certified Hypnotherapist and has helped hundreds of artists, from Emmy award winning and Grammy nominated artists to world class choreographers overcome their anxiety, stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create original work and totally kill it onstage again and again without feeling like they're selling out or losing their sanity.

In 2016, Shaw wrote and released her book, The Creative Formula: Compose, Choreograph, and Capture Your Masterpiece  which has become an Amazon bestseller.  In 2018 she launched the Performers & Creators Lab podcast which was named one of 2019's most outstanding podcasts by Databird Research. She teaches regularly at the SAG/AFTRA offices in L.A. and SF and runs creative laboratory workshops like the Comedy Lab Open Mic once a month at Monaghan's on the Hill in Oakland. Follow her on Instagram @hollyshawspritely

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 suffering, the body’s role in creativity, unlocking your personal motivators and more in this fun chat with brilliant award winning screenwriter, playwright, and choreographer, Jade Raybin. 

Find out more about Performers & Creators Lab >>


Jade Raybin was raised by artistic criminals, so of course she writes about people getting away with wild schemes and pushing the edge - for better or worse. She writes about social experiments, where a “what if?” comes true and comeuppance is delivered through magical or sociological means. Whether she's writing a heist movie, a love story, a period drama, or a revenge thriller, love, magic, and the absurd abound.

Her film writing credits include JW Marriott's action comedy Two Bellman (SoH), Over the Moon (distributed by Shorts Int.) 3 Sisters (beats antique.)

As a playwright, credits include: Low Hanging Fruit & America’s Next New Anchor (Drama Mamas), 14 Times in Two Weeks (EPI), Blindspot (T-4), I Dream Reality & Operation Cool (CTE), and Superhero Academy, a self-esteem building activity book for kids.

 She holds an MFA in Experimental Theater with a concentration in Performance Activism. Her pilot, The Golden Cage, placed as top ten finalist in a UCLA'a writing competition.

 For more info, please visit www.JadeRaybin.com

About Your Host, Holly Shaw

Holly Shaw, CHT  is a performance coach, creativity researcher and stand up comedian.  Growing up in Indianapolis, IN she convinced her parents she needed to go to Chicago to get her own agent when she was 14 years old and has spent a lifetime in film, T.V. and on professional stages all over the world as an actor, dancer, and director.

Now she shares her passion for the problems that artists face as a Creativity Coach and a Certified Hypnotherapist and has helped hundreds of artists, from Emmy award winning and Grammy nominated artists to world class choreographers overcome their anxiety, stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create original work and totally kill it onstage again and again without feeling like they're selling out or losing their sanity.

In 2016, Shaw wrote and released her book, The Creative Formula: Compose, Choreograph, and Capture Your Masterpiece  which has become an Amazon bestseller.  In 2018 she launched the Performers & Creators Lab podcast which was named one of 2019's most outstanding podcasts by Databird Research. She teaches regularly at the SAG/AFTRA offices in L.A. and SF and runs creative laboratory workshops like the Comedy Lab Open Mic once a month at Monaghan's on the Hill in Oakland. Follow her on Instagram @hollyshawspritely

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 implications of following a 12 year old girl around a Syrian refugee camp and how do these new “realities” affect us with their ability to harm or heal?

Find out more about Performers & Creators Lab >>

Jerri Lynn Hogg is a media psychologist, director of the Media Psychology program at Fielding Graduate University, 2015 President of the American Psychological Association’s Society for Media Psychology and Technology, co-creator of Fielding’s Certificate in Brand Psychology and Audience Engagement, and co-author of Mad Men Unzipped. She integrates her passion for branding, augmented/virtual reality, technology, and digital environments with research to advance the understanding of the positive use of media and technologies and their physical, cognitive, and emotional impact.

 Dr. Hogg recently spent six months working with the U.S. Department of Defense Global Operations on an anti-terrorism simulation using narrative psychology to degrade and counter terrorist messaging in Iraq, Syria, and North Africa. Her current focus is on brand psychology strategies; augmented and virtual environment design solutions; and narrative messaging for positive change. Find her on Twitter @HoggJL.

About Your Host, Holly Shaw

Holly Shaw, CHT  is a performance coach, creativity researcher and stand up comedian.  Growing up in Indianapolis, IN she convinced her parents she needed to go to Chicago to get her own agent when she was 14 years old and has spent a lifetime in film, T.V. and on professional stages all over the world as an actor, dancer, and director.

Now she shares her passion for the problems that artists face as a Creativity Coach and a Certified Hypnotherapist and has helped hundreds of artists, from Emmy award winning and Grammy nominated artists to world class choreographers overcome their anxiety, stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create original work and totally kill it onstage again and again without feeling like they're selling out or losing their sanity.

In 2016, Shaw wrote and released her book, The Creative Formula: Compose, Choreograph, and Capture Your Masterpiece  which has become an Amazon bestseller.  In 2018 she launched the Performers & Creators Lab podcast which was named one of 2019's most outstanding podcasts by Databird Research. She teaches regularly at the SAG/AFTRA offices in L.A. and SF and runs creative laboratory workshops like the Comedy Lab Open Mic once a month at Monaghan's on the Hill in Oakland. Follow her on Instagram @hollyshawspritely

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 new popular band, the meaning behind the name, “Unlikely Heroes,” and what family wounds songwriting has healed for him. This episode energized by the music of Unlikely Heroes and includes a bonus rap improvisation with Enon.

Find out more about Performers & Creators Lab >>

Enon Gaines is the lead vocalist/rapper of Unlikely Heroes, a psychedelic Hip-Hop/Punk band from Oakland, CA. This band has been making waves in and outside of their local scene with exciting/introspective jams that leave concert goers physically drained and mentally well-fed. They recently released their self titled debut EP that has been long awaited for by fans and playlist curators throughout the U.S. and overseas.

This band has been compared to a unique blend of rapper Kid Cudi and band Rage Against the Machine for their witty/catchy conscious lyrics and unique blend of psy-punk beats that flow seamlessly even in their genre stretching style. Learn more at https://www.uheroesband.com

About Your Host, Holly Shaw

Holly Shaw, CHT  is a performance coach, creativity researcher and stand up comedian.  Growing up in Indianapolis, IN she convinced her parents she needed to go to Chicago to get her own agent when she was 14 years old and has spent a lifetime in film, T.V. and on professional stages all over the world as an actor, dancer, and director.

Now she shares her passion for the problems that artists face as a Creativity Coach and a Certified Hypnotherapist and has helped hundreds of artists, from Emmy award winning and Grammy nominated artists to world class choreographers overcome their anxiety, stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create original work and totally kill it onstage again and again without feeling like they're selling out or losing their sanity.

In 2016, Shaw wrote and released her book, The Creative Formula: Compose, Choreograph, and Capture Your Masterpiece  which has become an Amazon bestseller.  In 2018 she launched the Performers & Creators Lab podcast which was named one of 2019's most outstanding podcasts by Databird Research. She teaches regularly at the SAG/AFTRA offices in L.A. and SF and runs creative laboratory workshops like the Comedy Lab Open Mic once a month at Monaghan's on the Hill in Oakland. Follow her on Instagram @hollyshawspritely

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 bravest of all women warriors, Jackie Loeb, isn’t afraid to say exactly what she’s thinking and will inspire you to do the same.

Find out more about Performers & Creators Lab >>

Jackie Loeb:  Winner of the 2016 MO Award for Best Stand Up Comedian, Jackie Loeb is the creator of TEDious talks, and the web series, The Middle-Agers. Called a must see by LA Weekly, and non stop funny by The Examiner she has worked extensively as a stand-up comedian, actor, vocalist, musician, voice over artist and writer. Jackie has performed to miners, magistrates, doctors, lawyers, students, the sober, the inebriated, the medicated and the institutionalized. Men, women and children of all shapes and sizes have laughed at her and Jackie wouldn't have it any other way. Learn more about her at www.JackieLoeb.com


About Your Host, Holly Shaw

Holly Shaw, CHT  is a performance coach, creativity researcher and stand up comedian.  Growing up in Indianapolis, IN she convinced her parents she needed to go to Chicago to get her own agent when she was 14 years old and has spent a lifetime in film, T.V. and on professional stages all over the world as an actor, dancer, and director.

Now she shares her passion for the problems that artists face as a Creativity Coach and a Certified Hypnotherapist and has helped hundreds of artists, from Emmy award winning and Grammy nominated artists to world class choreographers overcome their anxiety, stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create original work and totally kill it onstage again and again without feeling like they're selling out or losing their sanity.

In 2016, Shaw wrote and released her book, The Creative Formula: Compose, Choreograph, and Capture Your Masterpiece  which has become an Amazon bestseller.  In 2018 she launched the Performers & Creators Lab podcast which was named one of 2019's most outstanding podcasts by Databird Research. She teaches regularly at the SAG/AFTRA offices in L.A. and SF and runs creative laboratory workshops like the Comedy Lab Open Mic once a month at Monaghan's on the Hill in Oakland. Follow her on Instagram @hollyshawspritely

How to bring all of yourself with you onstage, tap into the leadership role, bring the energy especially when you have to wear multiple hats.  In this lively dialogue with dancer, creator and director, Katy Alaniz Barnhill we talk dance, stand up comedy, producing, directing and more!

Connect with Katy on Instagram: @feminineempressmovement

Check out the Comedy Culture Club, a weekly live stand-up comedy show that Holly produces in Oakland, CA>>

About Holly Shaw
Before becoming a comedian, Holly Shaw spent a lifetime on stage, T.V. and film as an actor, professional dancer and later as a speaker, coach and hypnotherapist. She's authored two books: the Amazon bestseller, The Creative Formula, as well as  Making Art In the Middle of Madness and she was a regular teacher at SAG/AFTRA's conservatories in San Francisco as well as Los Angeles. Her podcast, Performers & Creators Lab, was named One of the Most Outstanding Podcasts of 2019 by Databird Research. Through all of her offerings she has helped thousands of performing artists, some of them Emmy Award winning and Grammy nominated, overcome stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create the work they were born to make and become undeniably magnetic performers.  To learn more, please visit www.performersandcreatorslab.com

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 journey from ballet to Brazilian dance to finally burlesque as she explains how Revelling, Revealing and Receiving are the keys to making the best art.

Pick up your free mini-course, Captivate Your Audience, on the podcast gifts page here: 

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Other Episodes You Might Enjoy:

​E12 Your Sensitivity Is Your Superpower

E1 Perform Like A Shaman


Find out more about Performers & Creators Lab >>

Kellita Maloof, the creator of Showgirl Awakening, is an Artist, Dancer, Director, Teacher, Coach, Mentor & Showgirl Shaman.  For over 20 years, she's performed, designed & curated shows & midwifed Awakening Showgirls all over the world: from San Francisco to New Orleans, Hollywood to Montreal, and Paris to Tokyo.

​Her achievements include: founding award-winning troupe Hot Pink Feathers, Queen of Carnaval San Francisco 2008, 5 x finalist at the Burlesque Hall of Fame, and 1st Place in Original World Fusion & Dance Choreography in San Francisco's Grand Carnaval Festival.

​Kellita helps kind, smart, soulful, sensitive women who've been over-editing, over-managing and over-giving--and are attracted to dance theater and performance--to trust themselves & express themselves with confidence, presence & radiance.

​She integrates into her work over a decade of practice in transformative modalities, including EFT, Marin-style NLP, Systemic Constellations, Four-Fold Way to name a few.

​Kellita's mission is to support women in unifying body, mind, heart, spirit & soul, and in expressing the power, truth and beauty that is innate to each and every one.

www.showgirlawakening.com

​

About Your Host, Holly Shaw

Holly Shaw, CHT  is a performance coach, creativity researcher and stand up comedian.  Growing up in Indianapolis, IN she convinced her parents she needed to go to Chicago to get her own agent when she was 14 years old and has spent a lifetime in film, T.V. and on professional stages all over the world as an actor, dancer, and director.

Now she shares her passion for the problems that artists face as a Creativity Coach and a Certified Hypnotherapist and has helped hundreds of artists, from Emmy award winning and Grammy nominated artists to world class choreographers overcome their anxiety, stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create original work and totally kill it onstage again and again without feeling like they're selling out or losing their sanity.

In 2016, Shaw wrote and released her book, The Creative Formula: Compose, Choreograph, and Capture Your Masterpiece  which has become an Amazon bestseller.  In 2018 she launched the Performers & Creators Lab podcast which was named one of 2019's most outstanding podcasts by Databird Research. She teaches regularly at the SAG/AFTRA offices in L.A. and SF and runs creative laboratory workshops like the Comedy Lab Open Mic once a month at Monaghan's on the Hill in Oakland. Follow her on Instagram @hollyshawspritely

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 listening to this you'll find yourself asking the questions, "Where am I putting unnecessary limitations on myself?" or saying, "I can’t because they - someone else - won’t let me." Catherine Clinch breaks through barriers and lets us know that you don't have to be done just because they tell you leave the table.


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Catherine Clinch is a writer/producer with more than thirty years of experience in the entertainment and media industry including writing 18 episodes of network television for hit series including Hunter, Jake & The Fatman, KnightRider, Hart to Hart, The Love Boat, and more. She was associate publisher of Creative Screenwriting Magazine dubbed "Best Screenwriting Magazine" by the Los Angeles Times. As an Adjunct Professor she taught accredited courses in screenwriting, media theory, mass communications and advanced video production at Loyola Marymount University and California State University Dominguez Hills where she wrote, produced and presented more than 2250 hours of LIVE educational TV. Catherine has blogged for The Huffington Post and in recent years has ventured into the field of technology, where she has won prizes at five (5) Hackathons and has been awarded three US Patents (full utility) for inventing a revolutionary new form of mobile entertainment. www.catherineclinch.com


About Your Host, Holly Shaw

Holly Shaw, CHT  is a performance coach, creativity researcher and stand up comedian.  Growing up in Indianapolis, IN she convinced her parents she needed to go to Chicago to get her own agent when she was 14 years old and has spent a lifetime in film, T.V. and on professional stages all over the world as an actor, dancer, and director.

Now she shares her passion for the problems that artists face as a Creativity Coach and a Certified Hypnotherapist and has helped hundreds of artists, from Emmy award winning and Grammy nominated artists to world class choreographers overcome their anxiety, stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create original work and totally kill it onstage again and again without feeling like they're selling out or losing their sanity.

In 2016, Shaw wrote and released her book, The Creative Formula: Compose, Choreograph, and Capture Your Masterpiece  which has become an Amazon bestseller.  In 2018 she launched the Performers & Creators Lab podcast which was named one of 2019's most outstanding podcasts by Databird Research. She teaches regularly at the SAG/AFTRA offices in L.A. and SF and runs creative laboratory workshops like the Comedy Lab Open Mic once a month at Monaghan's on the Hill in Oakland. Follow her on Instagram @hollyshawspritely

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 talk about how music affects brain activity, what position is best when you’re in a line-up with other artists, the connection between stage fright and trance states, how you communicate with your audience when you don’t even realize you’re doing it and more. Included is a new Initiation Exercise for a pre-show ritual you can use before auditions, going on stage or any kind of public speaking.

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John Morgan is a lifelong music fan and the founder of Sparkmesh, a one-stop shop for everything artists have online - events, links, announcements, and more. For artists and fans tired of fighting with algorithms or even having to pay just to reach each other reliably, Sparkmesh is the solution! Prior to founding Sparkmesh, John received his Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of California-San Diego, and was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California-Davis M.I.N.D. Institute, where he studied cellular changes in the brain in autism. John is not currently a practicing musician, but he grew up singing in his school choir, and has always been a passionate music fan with a particular interest in what makes some acts have an easier time attracting and retaining fans. He has extensively read the literature published on the psychology and neuroscience of music, as well as human evolution, motivation, and social interaction.

About Your Host, Holly Shaw

Holly Shaw, CHT  is a performance coach, creativity researcher and stand up comedian.  Growing up in Indianapolis, IN she convinced her parents she needed to go to Chicago to get her own agent when she was 14 years old and has spent a lifetime in film, T.V. and on professional stages all over the world as an actor, dancer, and director.

Now she shares her passion for the problems that artists face as a Creativity Coach and a Certified Hypnotherapist and has helped hundreds of artists, from Emmy award winning and Grammy nominated artists to world class choreographers overcome their anxiety, stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create original work and totally kill it onstage again and again without feeling like they're selling out or losing their sanity.

In 2016, Shaw wrote and released her book, The Creative Formula: Compose, Choreograph, and Capture Your Masterpiece  which has become an Amazon bestseller.  In 2018 she launched the Performers & Creators Lab podcast which was named one of 2019's most outstanding podcasts by Databird Research. She teaches regularly at the SAG/AFTRA offices in L.A. and SF and runs creative laboratory workshops like the Comedy Lab Open Mic once a month at Monaghan's on the Hill in Oakland. Follow her on Instagram @hollyshawspritely

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 alchemizes her own harrowing life experiences into her creative work in this powerful episode that will leave you asking, “What would I stand up and speak for . . . even if no one else would?”  This is the premiere of a new episode series, Women In Hollywood: Warriors from Within, a series of captivating bite-sized profiles of the luminous and courageous women making Hollywood great here and now.

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Eileen Grubba's 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. She is a lifetime member of the world renowned Actors Studio where she is known as a "force" on stage, and often compared to theatre greats Geraldine Page and Kim Stanley. In LA she works mostly in television and constantly trains at The Actors Studio under the tutelage of Martin Landau, Allan Miller, Barbara Bain, Lou Antonio, Mark Rydell, Catlin Adams. Eileen Grubba is also a writer, director, producer, and has an extensive resume in casting, working for network shows and feature films. She has been hired to write screenplays with strong women characters, and has produced several films and a pilot. She draws on her heavy life experience to create dramatic characters with gut-wrenching emotional depth and compassion, on stage, onscreen, and in her writing.

Eileen on IMDb>>

About Your Host, Holly Shaw

Holly Shaw, CHT  is a performance coach, creativity researcher and stand up comedian.  Growing up in Indianapolis, IN she convinced her parents she needed to go to Chicago to get her own agent when she was 14 years old and has spent a lifetime in film, T.V. and on professional stages all over the world as an actor, dancer, and director.

Now she shares her passion for the problems that artists face as a Creativity Coach and a Certified Hypnotherapist and has helped hundreds of artists, from Emmy award winning and Grammy nominated artists to world class choreographers overcome their anxiety, stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create original work and totally kill it onstage again and again without feeling like they're selling out or losing their sanity.

In 2016, Shaw wrote and released her book, The Creative Formula: Compose, Choreograph, and Capture Your Masterpiece  which has become an Amazon bestseller.  In 2018 she launched the Performers & Creators Lab podcast which was named one of 2019's most outstanding podcasts by Databird Research. She teaches regularly at the SAG/AFTRA offices in L.A. and SF and runs creative laboratory workshops like the Comedy Lab Open Mic once a month at Monaghan's on the Hill in Oakland. Follow her on Instagram @hollyshawspritely

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 reading no matter where you are in your career! You’ll learn about common mistakes and what not to do when deciding what to put in or leave out of your bio.  You’ll also hear about my brand new episode series, Women In Hollywood, that’s coming soon, about the 36th annual San Francisco Jazz Festival, Monsieur Periné, why being in the audience pisses me off just a little.  Click here to go to podcast gifts and sign up for a free copy of the Build Your 'You Are 'Da Bomb!' Bio Minicourse>>

Find out more about Performers & Creators Lab >>


About Your Host, Holly Shaw

Holly Shaw, CHT  is a performance coach, creativity researcher and stand up comedian.  Growing up in Indianapolis, IN she convinced her parents she needed to go to Chicago to get her own agent when she was 14 years old and has spent a lifetime in film, T.V. and on professional stages all over the world as an actor, dancer, and director.

Now she shares her passion for the problems that artists face as a Creativity Coach and a Certified Hypnotherapist and has helped hundreds of artists, from Emmy award winning and Grammy nominated artists to world class choreographers overcome their anxiety, stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create original work and totally kill it onstage again and again without feeling like they're selling out or losing their sanity.

In 2016, Shaw wrote and released her book, The Creative Formula: Compose, Choreograph, and Capture Your Masterpiece  which has become an Amazon bestseller.  In 2018 she launched the Performers & Creators Lab podcast which was named one of 2019's most outstanding podcasts by Databird Research. She teaches regularly at the SAG/AFTRA offices in L.A. and SF and runs creative laboratory workshops like the Comedy Lab Open Mic once a month at Monaghan's on the Hill in Oakland. Follow her on Instagram @hollyshawspritely

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’s able to be so open about his sex life and relationships and put it all out there for his audience.  Learn from his stories of how he’s navigated social media haters and broadcasting his own breakups in order to create a show that’s been named one of the top 10 sex podcasts by Esquire.com and inspires a devoted fan base that sends him whisky when he’s going through hard times.  

You might also enjoy these episodes:

​Episode 22 10 Tips for Writing a Stand-Out Bio.

Episode 9 Promoting Your Work: Getting Over the "Ick" and The Art of the Vulnerable Share

Find out more about Performers & Creators Lab >>


About Your Host, Holly Shaw

Holly Shaw, CHT  is a performance coach, creativity researcher and stand up comedian.  Growing up in Indianapolis, IN she convinced her parents she needed to go to Chicago to get her own agent when she was 14 years old and has spent a lifetime in film, T.V. and on professional stages all over the world as an actor, dancer, and director.

Now she shares her passion for the problems that artists face as a Creativity Coach and a Certified Hypnotherapist and has helped hundreds of artists, from Emmy award winning and Grammy nominated artists to world class choreographers overcome their anxiety, stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create original work and totally kill it onstage again and again without feeling like they're selling out or losing their sanity.

In 2016, Shaw wrote and released her book, The Creative Formula: Compose, Choreograph, and Capture Your Masterpiece  which has become an Amazon bestseller.  In 2018 she launched the Performers & Creators Lab podcast which was named one of 2019's most outstanding podcasts by Databird Research. She teaches regularly at the SAG/AFTRA offices in L.A. and SF and runs creative laboratory workshops like the Comedy Lab Open Mic once a month at Monaghan's on the Hill in Oakland. Follow her on Instagram @hollyshawspritely

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 into how she learned to improvise and overcome perfection paralysis, and tales of how she ended up with a hand-written original composition by legend, Hermeto Pascoal, on her kitchen wall. Hear how the creative formula works firsthand! And find exclusive bonus video clips of this episode and others here.

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Rebecca Kleinmann is an acclaimed flutist, singer, teacher and composer with a 20 year professional career marked by diversity and improvisation. In the words of Latin Grammy Nominated pianist and composer, Jovino Santos Neto, “Rebecca plays flute with the passion of a flamenco dancer.”

Rebecca’s international career has taken her to perform all over the world including Brazil, Europe and Australia including Melbourne’s International Women in Jazz Festival, SESC in São Paulo, and Birdland in NYC. Closer to her current Oakland, California home base, she has graced the stages Yoshi’s San Francisco and Oakland, Oracle Stadium, Paramount Theatre and the SF Jazz Center.

An explorer at heart, she rockets and flows between genres, leading The Rebecca Kleinmann Jazz Quartet with pianist Alex Conde, bassist Gary Brown, and drummer Marlon Aldana, performing in “Duo Brasiliense” with guitarist/composer Ian Faquini, leading Brazilian Choro ensembles, and more. www.rebeccakleinmann.com

About Your Host, Holly Shaw

Holly Shaw, CHT  is a performance coach, creativity researcher and stand up comedian.  Growing up in Indianapolis, IN she convinced her parents she needed to go to Chicago to get her own agent when she was 14 years old and has spent a lifetime in film, T.V. and on professional stages all over the world as an actor, dancer, and director.

Now she shares her passion for the problems that artists face as a Creativity Coach and a Certified Hypnotherapist and has helped hundreds of artists, from Emmy award winning and Grammy nominated artists to world class choreographers overcome their anxiety, stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create original work and totally kill it onstage again and again without feeling like they're selling out or losing their sanity.

In 2016, Shaw wrote and released her book, The Creative Formula: Compose, Choreograph, and Capture Your Masterpiece  which has become an Amazon bestseller.  In 2018 she launched the Performers & Creators Lab podcast which was named one of 2019's most outstanding podcasts by Databird Research. She teaches regularly at the SAG/AFTRA offices in L.A. and SF and runs creative laboratory workshops like the Comedy Lab Open Mic once a month at Monaghan's on the Hill in Oakland. Follow her on Instagram @hollyshawspritely

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 writer at age 40 and why she advocates for a creative habit that you work at every single day.

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Tracee Beebe is a full time screenwriter whose projects focus on damaged characters and their relationships with each other. Her goal is to create projects that inspire people to believe in "every day miracles." Her film credits include My Silent Voice and Goodbye Sirena just to name a few. She just wrapped filming for her most recent project: producing horror film, Date from Hell. Tracee also works as a coverage reader for both screenwriting contests and literary managers and enjoys coaching other writers through their own process.

Tracee's previous career as a horse trainer, and her work in animal rescue, has flavored much of her work and given her the tenacity to believe that anything is possible if you just work hard enough along with the humility to know that there is always more to learn. Find out more at www.Traceebeebe.com

About Your Host, Holly Shaw

Holly Shaw, CHT  is a performance coach, creativity researcher and stand up comedian.  Growing up in Indianapolis, IN she convinced her parents she needed to go to Chicago to get her own agent when she was 14 years old and has spent a lifetime in film, T.V. and on professional stages all over the world as an actor, dancer, and director.

Now she shares her passion for the problems that artists face as a Creativity Coach and a Certified Hypnotherapist and has helped hundreds of artists, from Emmy award winning and Grammy nominated artists to world class choreographers overcome their anxiety, stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create original work and totally kill it onstage again and again without feeling like they're selling out or losing their sanity.

In 2016, Shaw wrote and released her book, The Creative Formula: Compose, Choreograph, and Capture Your Masterpiece  which has become an Amazon bestseller.  In 2018 she launched the Performers & Creators Lab podcast which was named one of 2019's most outstanding podcasts by Databird Research. She teaches regularly at the SAG/AFTRA offices in L.A. and SF and runs creative laboratory workshops like the Comedy Lab Open Mic once a month at Monaghan's on the Hill in Oakland. Follow her on Instagram @hollyshawspritely

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 and those who haven’t, as well as the biggest mistakes you’ll want to avoid when it comes to Artistic Voice. Buckle up for an introspective deep dive into what makes you unique and discover how to stand in a category all your own!

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About Your Host, Holly Shaw

Holly Shaw, CHT  is a performance coach, creativity researcher and stand up comedian.  Growing up in Indianapolis, IN she convinced her parents she needed to go to Chicago to get her own agent when she was 14 years old and has spent a lifetime in film, T.V. and on professional stages all over the world as an actor, dancer, and director.

Now she shares her passion for the problems that artists face as a Creativity Coach and a Certified Hypnotherapist and has helped hundreds of artists, from Emmy award winning and Grammy nominated artists to world class choreographers overcome their anxiety, stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create original work and totally kill it onstage again and again without feeling like they're selling out or losing their sanity.

In 2016, Shaw wrote and released her book, The Creative Formula: Compose, Choreograph, and Capture Your Masterpiece  which has become an Amazon bestseller.  In 2018 she launched the Performers & Creators Lab podcast which was named one of 2019's most outstanding podcasts by Databird Research. She teaches regularly at the SAG/AFTRA offices in L.A. and SF and runs creative laboratory workshops like the Comedy Lab Open Mic once a month at Monaghan's on the Hill in Oakland. Follow her on Instagram @hollyshawspritely

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 dancer, a podcaster, a singer/songwriter band leader, a film producer and editor, and an actress/stuntwoman. Some of them do their art full-time, some of them fit it in the cracks when they can.Their stories are inspiring and real. They aren’t superhuman. They are making it work just like you and me, one day, one moment at a time. This episode is for all the women or persons who take care of people and feel the struggle between nurturing their dreams and nurturing someone else’s.

Click hear to learn more about guests, Jessica Klinke, Michelle Elise, Annie Bacon, and Holly Gibson>>



About Your Host, Holly Shaw

Holly Shaw, CHT  is a performance coach, creativity researcher and stand up comedian.  Growing up in Indianapolis, IN she convinced her parents she needed to go to Chicago to get her own agent when she was 14 years old and has spent a lifetime in film, T.V. and on professional stages all over the world as an actor, dancer, and director.

Now she shares her passion for the problems that artists face as a Creativity Coach and a Certified Hypnotherapist and has helped hundreds of artists, from Emmy award winning and Grammy nominated artists to world class choreographers overcome their anxiety, stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create original work and totally kill it onstage again and again without feeling like they're selling out or losing their sanity.

In 2016, Shaw wrote and released her book, The Creative Formula: Compose, Choreograph, and Capture Your Masterpiece  which has become an Amazon bestseller.  In 2018 she launched the Performers & Creators Lab podcast which was named one of 2019's most outstanding podcasts by Databird Research. She teaches regularly at the SAG/AFTRA offices in L.A. and SF and runs creative laboratory workshops like the Comedy Lab Open Mic once a month at Monaghan's on the Hill in Oakland. Follow her on Instagram @hollyshawspritely

Real talk about how to take a little more pleasure in life.

About Holly Shaw
Before becoming a comedian, Holly Shaw spent a lifetime on stage, T.V. and film as an actor, professional dancer and later as a speaker, coach and hypnotherapist. She's authored two books: the Amazon bestseller, The Creative Formula, as well as  Making Art In the Middle of Madness and she was a regular teacher at SAG/AFTRA's conservatories in San Francisco as well as Los Angeles. Her podcast, Performers & Creators Lab, was named One of the Most Outstanding Podcasts of 2019 by Databird Research. Through all of her offerings she has helped thousands of performing artists, some of them Emmy Award winning and Grammy nominated, overcome stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create the work they were born to make and become undeniably magnetic performers.  To learn more, please visit www.performersandcreatorslab.com

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 overcoming self-doubt. You’ll also learn 10 ways to get into Alignment with being creative even when you’re overwhelmed so that you can Make Art in the Middle of the Madness. 

Find out more about Performers & Creators Lab >>

Ayden Graham is an indie folk rock singer-songwriter from the San Francisco Bay Area. Growing up on the music of Sting, Cat Stevens, and The Beatles, he began his career busking in front of the local Three Twins Ice Cream shop. With a regular spot at the Sweetwater Saloon, Graham exploded onto the local music scene as a promising young voice. During two solo trips to Ireland, Graham sharpened his fiddle playing in the pubs and sang on the streets for his supper. While studying literature and electronic music at UCSC, Ayden was introduced to the underground rock, jazz and reggae scenes of Santa Cruz. Graham began to craft a unique artistic identity, incorporating his poignant lyrics with the myriad influences that surrounded him. Ayden Graham released his debut Wooden Bones EPNovember 2017. Find more at www.aydengraham.com/epk

Mark A. Pearson is a principal attorney at ARC Law Group, a law firm focused on counseling creative, talented and entrepreneurial clients. His primary practice areas involve forming business entities, counseling on trademark & copyright issues, and drafting entertainment and technology contracts. His list of clients includes musicians, actors, film & television producers, live entertainment companies, video game developers, online content providers and artists. Mark has negotiated deals with Disney, HBO, LucasFilm (Skywalker Sound) and the Golden State Warriors and worked on projects for MTV Networks and Nintendo of America. Learn more at arclg.com

About Your Host, Holly Shaw

Holly Shaw, CHT  is a performance coach, creativity researcher and stand up comedian.  Growing up in Indianapolis, IN she convinced her parents she needed to go to Chicago to get her own agent when she was 14 years old and has spent a lifetime in film, T.V. and on professional stages all over the world as an actor, dancer, and director.

Now she shares her passion for the problems that artists face as a Creativity Coach and a Certified Hypnotherapist and has helped hundreds of artists, from Emmy award winning and Grammy nominated artists to world class choreographers overcome their anxiety, stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create original work and totally kill it onstage again and again without feeling like they're selling out or losing their sanity.

In 2016, Shaw wrote and released her book, The Creative Formula: Compose, Choreograph, and Capture Your Masterpiece  which has become an Amazon bestseller.  In 2018 she launched the Performers & Creators Lab podcast which was named one of 2019's most outstanding podcasts by Databird Research. She teaches regularly at the SAG/AFTRA offices in L.A. and SF and runs creative laboratory workshops like the Comedy Lab Open Mic once a month at Monaghan's on the Hill in Oakland. Follow her on Instagram @hollyshawspritely

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 Cause You Anxiety about Art Ownership. This episode is Part I of Original You, a series where we’ll dive into what it means to be unique, and how to safeguard it, sell it, and define your artistic voice. The legal information provided in this episode is for educational purposes only, and is not a substitute for qualified legal advice given by counsel of your choosing. Neither Mark A. Pearson nor Holly Shaw dba Performers & Creators Lab shall hold any responsibility for your reliance on the information provided.


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Ayden Graham is an indie folk rock singer-songwriter from the San Francisco Bay Area. Growing up on the music of Sting, Cat Stevens, and The Beatles, he began his career busking in front of the local Three Twins Ice Cream shop. With a regular spot at the Sweetwater Saloon, Graham exploded onto the local music scene as a promising young voice. During two solo trips to Ireland, Graham sharpened his fiddle playing in the pubs and sang on the streets for his supper. While studying literature and electronic music at UCSC, Ayden was introduced to the underground rock, jazz and reggae scenes of Santa Cruz. Graham began to craft a unique artistic identity, incorporating his poignant lyrics with the myriad influences that surrounded him. Ayden Graham released his debut Wooden Bones EPNovember 2017. Find more at www.aydengraham.com/epk

Mark A. Pearson is a principal attorney at ARC Law Group, a law firm focused on counseling creative, talented and entrepreneurial clients. His primary practice areas involve forming business entities, counseling on trademark & copyright issues, and drafting entertainment and technology contracts. His list of clients includes musicians, actors, film & television producers, live entertainment companies, video game developers, online content providers and artists. Mark has negotiated deals with Disney, HBO, LucasFilm (Skywalker Sound) and the Golden State Warriors and worked on projects for MTV Networks and Nintendo of America. Learn more at arclg.com

About Your Host, Holly Shaw

Holly Shaw, CHT  is a performance coach, creativity researcher and stand up comedian.  Growing up in Indianapolis, IN she convinced her parents she needed to go to Chicago to get her own agent when she was 14 years old and has spent a lifetime in film, T.V. and on professional stages all over the world as an actor, dancer, and director.

Now she shares her passion for the problems that artists face as a Creativity Coach and a Certified Hypnotherapist and has helped hundreds of artists, from Emmy award winning and Grammy nominated artists to world class choreographers overcome their anxiety, stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create original work and totally kill it onstage again and again without feeling like they're selling out or losing their sanity.

In 2016, Shaw wrote and released her book, The Creative Formula: Compose, Choreograph, and Capture Your Masterpiece  which has become an Amazon bestseller.  In 2018 she launched the Performers & Creators Lab podcast which was named one of 2019's most outstanding podcasts by Databird Research. She teaches regularly at the SAG/AFTRA offices in L.A. and SF and runs creative laboratory workshops like the Comedy Lab Open Mic once a month at Monaghan's on the

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, maintain your artistic vision and more! Holly will also share The Watermill exercise which helps you calm nervousness and keep the wheel between you and your audience turning. This episode examines your partnership with your audience so you can feel more at ease and confidence leading the room.

Find out more about Performers & Creators Lab >>

Meklit is a San Francisco based Ethio-Jazz singer-songwriter and cultural activist. Meklit’s 2017 album “When the People Move, the Music Moves Too” is a love letter to the Ethiopian Diaspora, originally commissioned by the MAP Fund and released on Six Degrees Records. The album reached #4 on the iTunes World Charts and was named amongst the Best Soul Albums of 2017 by Bandcamp. Meklit is a TED Senior Fellow and her TED Talk “The Unexpected Beauty of Everyday Sounds” has been watched by more than 1.2 million people. She has toured extensively across the US, UK, and East Africa and her music videos air daily on Ethiopian national television. She been an artist-in-residence at NYU and Purdue. She sang alongside Angelique Kidjo and Anoushka Shankar as a featured singer in the UN Women Theme Song, and works with Brighter Sound Manchester on developing women songwriters across the UK. Meklit sits on the Board of YBCA and holds a BA from Yale University. Find out more at meklitmusic.com


About Your Host, Holly Shaw

Holly Shaw, CHT  is a performance coach, creativity researcher and stand up comedian.  Growing up in Indianapolis, IN she convinced her parents she needed to go to Chicago to get her own agent when she was 14 years old and has spent a lifetime in film, T.V. and on professional stages all over the world as an actor, dancer, and director.

Now she shares her passion for the problems that artists face as a Creativity Coach and a Certified Hypnotherapist and has helped hundreds of artists, from Emmy award winning and Grammy nominated artists to world class choreographers overcome their anxiety, stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create original work and totally kill it onstage again and again without feeling like they're selling out or losing their sanity.

In 2016, Shaw wrote and released her book, The Creative Formula: Compose, Choreograph, and Capture Your Masterpiece  which has become an Amazon bestseller.  In 2018 she launched the Performers & Creators Lab podcast which was named one of 2019's most outstanding podcasts by Databird Research. She teaches regularly at the SAG/AFTRA offices in L.A. and SF and runs creative laboratory workshops like the Comedy Lab Open Mic once a month at Monaghan's on the Hill in Oakland. Follow her on Instagram @hollyshawspritely

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 your work as an artist and use it as guidance instead of triggers. Holly & Brett play a fun game with listeners’ commentary - “Highly Sensitive or Not?” and you’ll get insights into how to deal with criticism as a Highly Sensitive Person.​

Click here to find out more about the Performers & Creators Lab 

You might also enjoy these episodes:

​Episode 23 The "It" Factor and Neuroscience

Episode 42 Radical Ideas About Artists and Addiction




About Your Host, Holly Shaw

Holly Shaw, CHT  is a performance coach, creativity researcher and stand up comedian.  Growing up in Indianapolis, IN she convinced her parents she needed to go to Chicago to get her own agent when she was 14 years old and has spent a lifetime in film, T.V. and on professional stages all over the world as an actor, dancer, and director.

Now she shares her passion for the problems that artists face as a Creativity Coach and a Certified Hypnotherapist and has helped hundreds of artists, from Emmy award winning and Grammy nominated artists to world class choreographers overcome their anxiety, stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create original work and totally kill it onstage again and again without feeling like they're selling out or losing their sanity.

In 2016, Shaw wrote and released her book, The Creative Formula: Compose, Choreograph, and Capture Your Masterpiece  which has become an Amazon bestseller.  In 2018 she launched the Performers & Creators Lab podcast which was named one of 2019's most outstanding podcasts by Databird Research. She teaches regularly at the SAG/AFTRA offices in L.A. and SF and runs creative laboratory workshops like the Comedy Lab Open Mic once a month at Monaghan's on the Hill in Oakland. Follow her on Instagram @hollyshawspritely

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 something interesting to you and yet, the impact of that IS activism. In this episode, I chat with Stuttering Comedian, Nina G about “Is it Art or is it Activism?,” about disability, Inspiration Porn, how she learned to take up space, and why she loves to perform. This episode also includes a special advice section from me on “How to Be Onstage With a Show Hog and . . . How Not to Be One.”

Find out more about Performers & Creators Lab >>

Nina G is the San Francisco Bay Area's favorite female stuttering stand up comedian (granted she is the only one). She is also a disability activist, storyteller, children's book author and educator. She brings her humor to help people confront and understand social justice issues such as disability, diversity, and equity. When she isn’t performing at comedy clubs like the San Francisco Punchline or the Laugh Factory, she is playing colleges and presenting as a keynote speaker to children with disabilities and training professionals. Nina is part of the comedy troupe, The Comedians with Disabilities Act, which brings laughter and awareness to audiences of all ages across the country. Nina's next book, “Stutterer Interrupted” is due to release in 2018. Learn more at https://www.ninagcomedian.com/.

About Your Host, Holly Shaw

Holly Shaw, CHT  is a performance coach, creativity researcher and stand up comedian.  Growing up in Indianapolis, IN she convinced her parents she needed to go to Chicago to get her own agent when she was 14 years old and has spent a lifetime in film, T.V. and on professional stages all over the world as an actor, dancer, and director.

Now she shares her passion for the problems that artists face as a Creativity Coach and a Certified Hypnotherapist and has helped hundreds of artists, from Emmy award winning and Grammy nominated artists to world class choreographers overcome their anxiety, stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create original work and totally kill it onstage again and again without feeling like they're selling out or losing their sanity.

In 2016, Shaw wrote and released her book, The Creative Formula: Compose, Choreograph, and Capture Your Masterpiece  which has become an Amazon bestseller.  In 2018 she launched the Performers & Creators Lab podcast which was named one of 2019's most outstanding podcasts by Databird Research. She teaches regularly at the SAG/AFTRA offices in L.A. and SF and runs creative laboratory workshops like the Comedy Lab Open Mic once a month at Monaghan's on the Hill in Oakland. Follow her on Instagram @hollyshawspritely

When an infamous actor telling his side of the story that led to his demise caused more problems than it resolved, it had to be pulled from the air and is retold in this version here. This “un-reporting” uses purposely fabricated names and circumstances in order to safeguard the persons involved in the original “Damon Poll” story while exploring the effects of public shaming in an entertainment industry obsessed with fame through the lens of public figures like Tonya Harding, author Jon Ronson, and Holly's own shame inherited through her family’s DNA.

Find out more about Performers & Creators Lab >>


About Your Host, Holly Shaw

Holly Shaw, CHT  is a performance coach, creativity researcher and stand up comedian.  Growing up in Indianapolis, IN she convinced her parents she needed to go to Chicago to get her own agent when she was 14 years old and has spent a lifetime in film, T.V. and on professional stages all over the world as an actor, dancer, and director.

Now she shares her passion for the problems that artists face as a Creativity Coach and a Certified Hypnotherapist and has helped hundreds of artists, from Emmy award winning and Grammy nominated artists to world class choreographers overcome their anxiety, stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create original work and totally kill it onstage again and again without feeling like they're selling out or losing their sanity.

In 2016, Shaw wrote and released her book, The Creative Formula: Compose, Choreograph, and Capture Your Masterpiece  which has become an Amazon bestseller.  In 2018 she launched the Performers & Creators Lab podcast which was named one of 2019's most outstanding podcasts by Databird Research. She teaches regularly at the SAG/AFTRA offices in L.A. and SF and runs creative laboratory workshops like the Comedy Lab Open Mic once a month at Monaghan's on the Hill in Oakland. Follow her on Instagram @hollyshawspritely

It's time to go deeper!  Do you sometimes feel icky about self-promotion? Or you’re just unsure about how to get the word out so you can actually have an audience, a fan base, a following?  In this Part II episode of the Promoting Your Work Series, Holly covers the “inner game” of this topic. You’ll discover 4 questions you can ask to help you work through your resistance around self-promotion, learn about “The Art of the Vulnerable Share,” and get ideas for how you can promote your work in a way that feels good as we continue the coaching session with singer/songwriter, Emily Zisman and booking agent, Arya Jha.  This episode delivers the powerful mindset shift that you need in order to get out there and actually start promoting your work. Listeners can pick up their free gift, Build Your ‘You Are ‘Da Bomb!’ Bio Minicourse, and the BONUS, The Art of the Vulnerable Share here.

Find out more about Performers & Creators Lab >>

Emily Zisman is a Folk-Americana singer-songwriter born and raised in the SF Bay Area, trained in New York City, and well-weathered and inspired by her travels and a restless heart. In 2009, Emily released her debut album Naked Day Alone in which includes little glimpses into the inner workings of her mind with unapologetic honesty. In 2017 she released her 2nd album Weeds & Wildflowers and is working on her third album releasing in 2018 in conjunction with a tour of the Pacific Northwest. In addition to her solo work, Emily Zisman is part of the electronic duo Chance’s End, a violin-electronica project with violinist Ryan Avery. Emily is an in-demand vocalist, performing regularly around the San Francisco Bay Area with groups such as The Americano Social Club, and band Grand Avenue Soul. Taking her cues from artists like Dar Williams, Joni Mitchell, and Ani DiFranco, Emily Zisman sings about our vulnerabilities and fears, love and conflict. www.EmilyZisman.com

Arya Jha is a talent buyer, marketing director, public relations coordinator and zoo-keeper currently based out of San Francisco. Since 2014 she has been working for Boom Boom Room Presents, a venue and production company, producing 300+ shows annually in both New Orleans and San Francisco. Soon after moving here from New York City in 2013, Arya's main focus and passion has been to work with artists to sustain the live music scene, on both a local and national level. Using the venue, networking and blogging as a tool, Arya helps artists share their voice to wider audience bases, in hopes of aiding the musical community around us.

About Your Host, Holly Shaw

Holly Shaw, CHT  is a performance coach, creativity researcher and stand up comedian.  Growing up in Indianapolis, IN she convinced her parents she needed to go to Chicago to get her own agent when she was 14 years old and has spent a lifetime in film, T.V. and on professional stages all over the world as an actor, dancer, and director.

Now she shares her passion for the problems that artists face as a Creativity Coach and a Certified Hypnotherapist and has helped hundreds of artists, from Emmy award winning and Grammy nominated artists to world class choreographers overcome their anxiety, stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create original work and totally kill it onstage again and again without feeling like they're selling out or losing their sanity.

In 2016, Shaw wrote and released her book, The Creative Formula: Compose, Choreograph, and Capture Your Masterpiece  which has become an Amazon bestseller.  In 2018 she launched the Performers & Creators Lab podcast which was named one of 2019's most outstanding podcasts by Databird Researc

Do you sometimes feel icky about self-promotion? Or you’re just unsure about how to get the word out so you can actually have an audience, a fan base, a following? In this episode and the next one we dive all in and around and over and through this topic. In this rich double-interview with Emily Zisman, a singer/songwriter who wants to know how to promote her work, and Arya Jha, a marketing & PR booking agent, who wants to share her insider expertise with entertainers - you’ll hear about the 70:20:10 rule, you’ll get creative marketing ideas, and learn exactly what booking agents are looking for when they produce shows. And this is just the beginning. Next week in Part II we’ll go deeper and take a look at the “inner game” mindset shift you need to make in order to get out there and actually start promoting your work. ​

You might also enjoy these episodes:

​Episode 9 Promoting Your Work Part II: Getting Over the "Ick" and The Art of the Vulnerable Share

​Episode 20 Vulnerability Is Sexy

Episode 22 10 Tips for Writing Your Stand-Out Artist's Bio


About Your Host, Holly Shaw

Holly Shaw, CHT  is a performance coach, creativity researcher and stand up comedian.  Growing up in Indianapolis, IN she convinced her parents she needed to go to Chicago to get her own agent when she was 14 years old and has spent a lifetime in film, T.V. and on professional stages all over the world as an actor, dancer, and director.

Now she shares her passion for the problems that artists face as a Creativity Coach and a Certified Hypnotherapist and has helped hundreds of artists, from Emmy award winning and Grammy nominated artists to world class choreographers overcome their anxiety, stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create original work and totally kill it onstage again and again without feeling like they're selling out or losing their sanity.

In 2016, Shaw wrote and released her book, The Creative Formula: Compose, Choreograph, and Capture Your Masterpiece  which has become an Amazon bestseller.  In 2018 she launched the Performers & Creators Lab podcast which was named one of 2019's most outstanding podcasts by Databird Research. She teaches regularly at the SAG/AFTRA offices in L.A. and SF and runs creative laboratory workshops like the Comedy Lab Open Mic once a month at Monaghan's on the Hill in Oakland. Follow her on Instagram @hollyshawspritely

Have you ever been so nervous that you choked up during a performance or an audition? Listen as Holly unpacks the surprising truth about stage fright and shares a revelation she discovered that no one else is talking about when it comes to this anxiety that plagues amateurs and experienced artists all the same. You’ll learn a powerful method for transforming stage fright into magnetism that you can use right away in this week’s Initiation Exercise. You’ll also hear from dance professional, Hannah Romanowsky, and learn how the human body is designed to be a vehicle to move through trauma and fear.

Find out more about Performers & Creators Lab >>

Hannah Romanowsky M.A. has been researching, embodying, and teaching women’s dances from the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia for over two decades. Initially trained in ballet, jazz, and musical theater, her life-long devotion to dance as a vehicle of joy, healing, and transformation inspired her to found the DanceVersity multi-cultural youth arts education program in 2005, and the Scheherazade School of Sacred Movement in 2017. Hannah holds a B.A. in Dance Ethnology and World Music, and an M.A. in East-West Psychology. While continuing to educate dance aficionados and the general public on dance technique, culture and history through performances, lecture presentations, classes, workshops, private coaching, and weekend intensives, Hannah also mentors clients therapeutically and hosts women’s sacred dance workshops and weekend immersions. Learn more at http://www.scheherazadeschool.com


About Your Host, Holly Shaw

Holly Shaw, CHT  is a performance coach, creativity researcher and stand up comedian.  Growing up in Indianapolis, IN she convinced her parents she needed to go to Chicago to get her own agent when she was 14 years old and has spent a lifetime in film, T.V. and on professional stages all over the world as an actor, dancer, and director.

Now she shares her passion for the problems that artists face as a Creativity Coach and a Certified Hypnotherapist and has helped hundreds of artists, from Emmy award winning and Grammy nominated artists to world class choreographers overcome their anxiety, stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create original work and totally kill it onstage again and again without feeling like they're selling out or losing their sanity.

In 2016, Shaw wrote and released her book, The Creative Formula: Compose, Choreograph, and Capture Your Masterpiece  which has become an Amazon bestseller.  In 2018 she launched the Performers & Creators Lab podcast which was named one of 2019's most outstanding podcasts by Databird Research. She teaches regularly at the SAG/AFTRA offices in L.A. and SF and runs creative laboratory workshops like the Comedy Lab Open Mic once a month at Monaghan's on the Hill in Oakland. Follow her on Instagram @hollyshawspritely

Do you feel powerless over the success of your career? “Making it” can often feel like it’s defined by someone else and has nothing to do with how hard you work or how good you are. From casting directors, producers, people who hire you for a gig, to the audience themselves - there is often a sense of giving over your power to everyone else in hopes of being one of the “chosen few” in the spotlight. In this episode, Holly talks with Jeffrey Weissman, an actor for over 40 years about the power struggle in Hollywood, how to get ahead and succeed in the film industry, and we hear his firsthand account of how he was caught in the middle of a controversial power struggle over the casting of Back to the Future II. This episode includes an Initiation Exercise to help you shift your mindset from powerless to powerful - and to shake up the Power Paradigm. 

More video tips from acting coach, Jeffrey Weissman, can be found in the Interviews with Artists Video Library.

You might also enjoy these episodes:

​Episode 31 Audition with Improv: A Coaching Call With An Actor

Episode 28 Casting with Collaboration: Finding Your Fellow Storytellers

​

Find out more about Performers & Creators Lab >>



About Your Host, Holly Shaw

Holly Shaw, CHT  is a performance coach, creativity researcher and stand up comedian.  Growing up in Indianapolis, IN she convinced her parents she needed to go to Chicago to get her own agent when she was 14 years old and has spent a lifetime in film, T.V. and on professional stages all over the world as an actor, dancer, and director.

Now she shares her passion for the problems that artists face as a Creativity Coach and a Certified Hypnotherapist and has helped hundreds of artists, from Emmy award winning and Grammy nominated artists to world class choreographers overcome their anxiety, stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create original work and totally kill it onstage again and again without feeling like they're selling out or losing their sanity.

In 2016, Shaw wrote and released her book, The Creative Formula: Compose, Choreograph, and Capture Your Masterpiece  which has become an Amazon bestseller.  In 2018 she launched the Performers & Creators Lab podcast which was named one of 2019's most outstanding podcasts by Databird Research. She teaches regularly at the SAG/AFTRA offices in L.A. and SF and runs creative laboratory workshops like the Comedy Lab Open Mic once a month at Monaghan's on the Hill in Oakland. Follow her on Instagram @hollyshawspritely

​

A musical meditation to listen to as you walk, dance, glide or sit quietly for a quick tune up with these affirmations:

• You are a mentor to your younger self
• Take care of now, your process, and how you are doing your now and the future, the destination, the outcome will take care of itself.

Music by Flint (Through Valleys), Rodellos Machine (The World Inside), Hans Johnson (We Will Meet Again), Duce Williams (The Blessing) with editing and voiceover by Holly Shaw - proper licensing obtained

About Holly Shaw
Before becoming a comedian, Holly Shaw spent a lifetime on stage, T.V. and film as an actor, professional dancer and later as a speaker, coach and hypnotherapist. She's authored two books: the Amazon bestseller, The Creative Formula, as well as  Making Art In the Middle of Madness and she was a regular teacher at SAG/AFTRA's conservatories in San Francisco as well as Los Angeles. Her podcast, Performers & Creators Lab, was named One of the Most Outstanding Podcasts of 2019 by Databird Research. Through all of her offerings she has helped thousands of performing artists, some of them Emmy Award winning and Grammy nominated, overcome stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create the work they were born to make and become undeniably magnetic performers.  To learn more, please visit www.performersandcreatorslab.com

“How do I access the stoned dancer when I’m not stoned?” Listen as Holly answers this question and coaches a professional dancer wanting to find a different way other than marijuana to access her creative genius when she choreographs. The episode covers insights into the way marijuana works with creativity, how to achieve a natural high, the four essential components in creating trance states without drugs, and tips for breaking bad habits. Includes commentary from a musician/composer and a middle-school science teacher who enjoy the benefits of marijuana and see no reason to stop. This episode is 420 friendly and simply provides alternatives for those wishing to create without using substances. Our guest for this episode chose to remain anonymous.

​Click here to learn more about Holly Shaw and the Performers & Creators Lab

You might also enjoy these episodes:

​E19 The Creative Formula Live Experiment

​E42 Radical Ideas About Artists and Addiction


Find out more about Performers & Creators Lab >>



About Your Host, Holly Shaw

Holly Shaw, CHT  is a performance coach, creativity researcher and stand up comedian.  Growing up in Indianapolis, IN she convinced her parents she needed to go to Chicago to get her own agent when she was 14 years old and has spent a lifetime in film, T.V. and on professional stages all over the world as an actor, dancer, and director.

Now she shares her passion for the problems that artists face as a Creativity Coach and a Certified Hypnotherapist and has helped hundreds of artists, from Emmy award winning and Grammy nominated artists to world class choreographers overcome their anxiety, stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create original work and totally kill it onstage again and again without feeling like they're selling out or losing their sanity.

In 2016, Shaw wrote and released her book, The Creative Formula: Compose, Choreograph, and Capture Your Masterpiece  which has become an Amazon bestseller.  In 2018 she launched the Performers & Creators Lab podcast which was named one of 2019's most outstanding podcasts by Databird Research. She teaches regularly at the SAG/AFTRA offices in L.A. and SF and runs creative laboratory workshops like the Comedy Lab Open Mic once a month at Monaghan's on the Hill in Oakland. Follow her on Instagram @hollyshawspritely

What are you afraid of? And how do you persist in spite of it? In this revealing interview with Raz Kennedy, a renowned vocalist dubbed the "coach to rock royalty," Shaw's questions cut right to the core and we get a glimpse into the story of a living legend who persevered through early traumatic experiences to make his desire bigger than his fear. Learn about subconscious imprints, how to work through fear and more. Listen and discover - what is your "Love and Fear Cocktail"? And how can you be afraid, but do it anyway?

You might also enjoy these episodes:

​Episode 8 Promoting Your Work: A Booking Agent Shares Brass Tacks Tips with Booking Agent, Arya Jha and Singer/Songwriter, Emily Zisman

Episode 48 Writing to Freedom: The Story of Beyond this Prison with Glenn "Weez" Robinson, J.R. Furst, and Cate White


Find out more about Performers & Creators Lab >>



About Your Host, Holly Shaw

Holly Shaw, CHT  is a performance coach, creativity researcher and stand up comedian.  Growing up in Indianapolis, IN she convinced her parents she needed to go to Chicago to get her own agent when she was 14 years old and has spent a lifetime in film, T.V. and on professional stages all over the world as an actor, dancer, and director.

Now she shares her passion for the problems that artists face as a Creativity Coach and a Certified Hypnotherapist and has helped hundreds of artists, from Emmy award winning and Grammy nominated artists to world class choreographers overcome their anxiety, stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create original work and totally kill it onstage again and again without feeling like they're selling out or losing their sanity.

In 2016, Shaw wrote and released her book, The Creative Formula: Compose, Choreograph, and Capture Your Masterpiece  which has become an Amazon bestseller.  In 2018 she launched the Performers & Creators Lab podcast which was named one of 2019's most outstanding podcasts by Databird Research. She teaches regularly at the SAG/AFTRA offices in L.A. and SF and runs creative laboratory workshops like the Comedy Lab Open Mic once a month at Monaghan's on the Hill in Oakland. Follow her on Instagram @hollyshawspritely

In this fun and frisky interview with sensual researcher, Lucia Pavone and musician/music producer, Valentino Peeps, everyone gets vulnerable as they share bold opinions about the sexual harassment situation in Hollywood, tell tales on themselves of times they've accidentally stepped over what's "appropriate," and deeply explore how sexuality plays a part in creativity, art and the music business. You'll also discover how to use your natural sexual energy to put a little extra zing into your creative work and performances. Holly Shaw shares the "Circle, Strut, and Squeeze" Initiation exercise

​Click here to find out more about Holly Shaw and the Performers & Creators Lab

You might also enjoy these episodes:

Episode 20 Vulnerability Is Sexy


Find out more about Performers & Creators Lab >>




About Your Host, Holly Shaw

Holly Shaw, CHT  is a performance coach, creativity researcher and stand up comedian.  Growing up in Indianapolis, IN she convinced her parents she needed to go to Chicago to get her own agent when she was 14 years old and has spent a lifetime in film, T.V. and on professional stages all over the world as an actor, dancer, and director.

Now she shares her passion for the problems that artists face as a Creativity Coach and a Certified Hypnotherapist and has helped hundreds of artists, from Emmy award winning and Grammy nominated artists to world class choreographers overcome their anxiety, stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create original work and totally kill it onstage again and again without feeling like they're selling out or losing their sanity.

In 2016, Shaw wrote and released her book, The Creative Formula: Compose, Choreograph, and Capture Your Masterpiece  which has become an Amazon bestseller.  In 2018 she launched the Performers & Creators Lab podcast which was named one of 2019's most outstanding podcasts by Databird Research. She teaches regularly at the SAG/AFTRA offices in L.A. and SF and runs creative laboratory workshops like the Comedy Lab Open Mic once a month at Monaghan's on the Hill in Oakland. Follow her on Instagram @hollyshawspritely

​

Ever wished you could quit your day job and pursue your dream career full-time? Vocalist, Briget Boyle is doing just that! Listen to her story and hear how she overcame years of fatigue and burn-out in order to strike out in 2018 as a full-time songwriter, recording artist, and music producer. Get ideas, tips, and career hacks for how she is taking care of financial considerations, and creating accountability for herself so she can "go to work" every day with her music. Discover how she "spoke her success" into a reality and begin imagining and creating that bridge for yourself. Watch bonus video here.

You might also enjoy these episodes:

​Episode 8 Promoting Your Work: A Booking Agent Shares Brass Tacks Tips

Episode 22  10 Tips to Writing A Stand-Out Artist's Bio

Episode 17  The 5 Components of Artistic Voice

​

​
Find out more about Performers & Creators Lab >>



About Your Host, Holly Shaw

Holly Shaw, CHT  is a performance coach, creativity researcher and stand up comedian.  Growing up in Indianapolis, IN she convinced her parents she needed to go to Chicago to get her own agent when she was 14 years old and has spent a lifetime in film, T.V. and on professional stages all over the world as an actor, dancer, and director.

Now she shares her passion for the problems that artists face as a Creativity Coach and a Certified Hypnotherapist and has helped hundreds of artists, from Emmy award winning and Grammy nominated artists to world class choreographers overcome their anxiety, stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create original work and totally kill it onstage again and again without feeling like they're selling out or losing their sanity.

In 2016, Shaw wrote and released her book, The Creative Formula: Compose, Choreograph, and Capture Your Masterpiece  which has become an Amazon bestseller.  In 2018 she launched the Performers & Creators Lab podcast which was named one of 2019's most outstanding podcasts by Databird Research. She teaches regularly at the SAG/AFTRA offices in L.A. and SF and runs creative laboratory workshops like the Comedy Lab Open Mic once a month at Monaghan's on the Hill in Oakland. Follow her on Instagram @hollyshawspritely

Listen as Holly Shaw explains how performing artists are the shamans of today, leading the world on an emotional journey by using entrainment, channeling and ecstasy in order to invoke the creative movement that the planet is calling for. Exploring examples from her own orgasmic experience on stage, to that of other artists like Tori Amos, Gabrielle Roth, Mickey Hart, Emily Dickinson, and Rainn Wilson, Shaw shares her vision for the Performers & Creators Lab Podcast. Actor, Jeffrey Weissman provides commentary about the origins of stage fright.

​

You might also enjoy these other episodes on the Performers & Creators Lab Podcast:

​Episode 23 The "It"Factor and Neuroscience

​Episode 24 Showgirl Shaman Shares Her Secrets


Find out more about Performers & Creators Lab >>



About Your Host, Holly Shaw

Holly Shaw, CHT  is a performance coach, creativity researcher and stand up comedian.  Growing up in Indianapolis, IN she convinced her parents she needed to go to Chicago to get her own agent when she was 14 years old and has spent a lifetime in film, T.V. and on professional stages all over the world as an actor, dancer, and director.

Now she shares her passion for the problems that artists face as a Creativity Coach and a Certified Hypnotherapist and has helped hundreds of artists, from Emmy award winning and Grammy nominated artists to world class choreographers overcome their anxiety, stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create original work and totally kill it onstage again and again without feeling like they're selling out or losing their sanity.

In 2016, Shaw wrote and released her book, The Creative Formula: Compose, Choreograph, and Capture Your Masterpiece  which has become an Amazon bestseller.  In 2018 she launched the Performers & Creators Lab podcast which was named one of 2019's most outstanding podcasts by Databird Research. She teaches regularly at the SAG/AFTRA offices in L.A. and SF and runs creative laboratory workshops like the Comedy Lab Open Mic once a month at Monaghan's on the Hill in Oakland. Follow her on Instagram @hollyshawspritely

In this episode Holly tackles the issue of loneliness and healing the wounds of community, betrayal and how to find your true people.

We cover a ton in this episode:

• Shocking effects of loneliness and why you shouldn't ignore it
• The Outlaw Archetype: what is it and why you may gravitate towards it
• Reasons why you may have become disconnected in the first place
• Holly shares her own personal story about community and betrayal
• Four components of community-what is it really?
• How you may be blocking yourself from connection with others

BONUS - At the end of this episode Holly leads you through the Community Deep Dive exercise from her book, Making Art In the Middle of Madness.

• Four Questions you can ask yourself to identify:
  • The communties where you already belong
  • How you actually show up there
  • Where you should invest in more
  • People you may need to walk away from

About Holly Shaw
Before becoming a comedian, Holly Shaw spent a lifetime on stage, T.V. and film as an actor, professional dancer and later as a speaker, coach and hypnotherapist. She's authored two books: the Amazon bestseller, The Creative Formula, as well as  Making Art In the Middle of Madness and she was a regular teacher at SAG/AFTRA's conservatories in San Francisco as well as Los Angeles. Her podcast, Performers & Creators Lab, was named One of the Most Outstanding Podcasts of 2019 by Databird Research. Through all of her offerings she has helped thousands of performing artists, some of them Emmy Award winning and Grammy nominated, overcome stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create the work they were born to make and become undeniably magnetic performers.  To learn more, please visit www.performersandcreatorslab.com

Composer
Dan Cantrell is an Emmy award winning composer and multi-instrumentalist known for his innovative film scoring approach, and his virtuosic abilities on the accordion, piano and musical saw. “Hauntingly beautiful…quirky and energetic” says the San Francisco Bay Guardian.  His extensive scoring catalogue spans a wide range of emotion and style. Dan’s compositions for film and television have earned him numerous awards including an Emmy Award for KQED’s Home-Front,a Golden Gate award for the soundtrack to the documentary Divided Loyalties, and an Annie nomination for his work on three seasons of Cartoon Network’s the Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack. Visit bellowhead.com

Other Helpful Resources/Loneliness
Why Community Matters So Much and How to Find Yours (Vox)
Loneliness and Social Isolation Linked to Serious Health Conditions (CDC)
Where Did All My Friends Go? A Simple Guide to Finding Your People (Mel Robbins)

Holly talks to you about how listening to your body can be the one degree shift you need today to place yourself on a different trajectory in your life.  How focusing on the process as opposed to the destination is the answer for getting the juiciest experience out of your day and out of your craft.

If you're in the Bay Area, please join me at the new show I'm producing, Comedy Culture Club which happens every Friday night at Buck Wild Brewing in Oakland starting September 8th, 2023.  Click here for more info and tickets>>

Holly Shaw has been featured on stand-up comedy showcases all over the Bay Area and Northern CA including Cobbs Comedy Club, Alameda Comedy Club, Cheaper Than Therapy, Laughs Unlimited and the Oakland Comedy Festival. In addition to being on her way to becoming a powerful voice in comedy she is also known for producing and creating spaces where creativity and innovation thrives. She is the executive producer of The Comedy Edge, which started out on the Oakland waterfront at Brooklyn Basin, and enjoyed a streak of sold-out weekly shows (100+ seats) from 2020 - 2022. Before becoming a comedian, Holly Shaw spent a lifetime on stage, T.V. and film as an actor, professional dancer and later as a speaker, coach and hypnotherapist. She's authored two books: the Amazon bestseller, The Creative Formula, as well as the newly released book, Making Art In the Middle of Madness.Through all of her offerings she has helped thousands of performing artists, some of them Emmy Award winning and Grammy nominated, overcome stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create the work they were born to make and become undeniably magnetic performers. Currently she lives in Oakland, CA where she coaches artists, performs regularly and produces The Comedy Edge. To learn more, please visit www.HollyShawComedy.com

Holly talks about quitting jobs and winning conversations.  Have you ever apologized for something you said and then felt angry afterwards?  Holly explains why.

NEW SHOW ALERT!  Friday, September 8th, 2023 I'm kicking off a new Comedy Edge presents show at Buck Wild Brewing in Oakland.  Stay tuned for more info - Subscribe, rate and review folks! Thank you!

Holly Shaw has been featured on stand-up comedy showcases all over the Bay Area and Northern CA including Cobbs Comedy Club, Alameda Comedy Club, Cheaper Than Therapy, Laughs Unlimited and the Oakland Comedy Festival. In addition to being on her way to becoming a powerful voice in comedy she is also known for producing and creating spaces where creativity and innovation thrives. She is the executive producer of The Comedy Edge, which started out on the Oakland waterfront at Brooklyn Basin, and enjoyed a streak of sold-out weekly shows (100+ seats) from 2020 - 2022. Before becoming a comedian, Holly Shaw spent a lifetime on stage, T.V. and film as an actor, professional dancer and later as a speaker, coach and hypnotherapist. She's authored two books: the Amazon bestseller, The Creative Formula, as well as the newly released book, Making Art In the Middle of Madness.Through all of her offerings she has helped thousands of performing artists, some of them Emmy Award winning and Grammy nominated, overcome stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create the work they were born to make and become undeniably magnetic performers. Currently she lives in Oakland, CA where she coaches artists, performs regularly and produces The Comedy Edge. To learn more, please visit www.HollyShawComedy.com

Prepare to be inspired! I sat down and had an electric conversation with comedian Ellis Rodriguez (Comedy Central, Stand Up NBC) where he dropped some real truth about comedy life, inspiration, voice, bombing and more! Listening to this episode may just give you that "one stroke" of inspiration you need to take your work to the next level.

See Ellis Rodriguez live at The Comedy Edgiest, Thursday, March 16th at 7th West in Oakland, CA - get tickets & info>>

Ellis Rodriguez’s passion for standup comedy is evident whenever he performs, he is a favorite at comedy clubs across the West Coast including the Improv, Laugh’s Unlimited, Tommy T’s, PepperBelly’s, and the Laugh Factory. He has also performed in filmed showcases including Shaq’s All Star Jam, Laugh’s On FOX, and Comedy Central & Kevin Hart’s Hart of the City. He even gives his time to support the military with his national show Semper Funny, in addition to supporting cancer treatment, the homeless, and the arts. An energetic performer, his comedy is appealing to any comedy audience. In addition to being a hilarious comic, Ellis Rodriguez is also a charismatic actor and stellar writer. He has been the lead in commercials and the Film Shrinkage. Ellis is currently focusing on expanding his brand. Look out for his upcoming projects, the film “Fight 4 Your Life” and a Cartoon Strip titled Plato’s Cave. Follow him on Instagram @ellistrated

Holly Shaw has been featured on stand-up comedy showcases all over the Bay Area and Northern CA including Cobbs Comedy Club, Alameda Comedy Club, Cheaper Than Therapy, Laughs Unlimited and the Oakland Comedy Festival. In addition to being on her way to becoming a powerful voice in comedy she is also known for producing and creating spaces where creativity and innovation thrives. She is the executive producer of The Comedy Edge, which started out on the Oakland waterfront at Brooklyn Basin, and enjoyed a streak of sold-out weekly shows (100+ seats) from 2020 - 2022. Before becoming a comedian, Holly Shaw spent a lifetime on stage, T.V. and film as an actor, professional dancer and later as a speaker, coach and hypnotherapist. She's authored two books: the Amazon bestseller, The Creative Formula, as well as the newly released book, Making Art In the Middle of Madness.Through all of her offerings she has helped thousands of performing artists, some of them Emmy Award winning and Grammy nominated, overcome stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create the work they were born to make and become undeniably magnetic performers. Currently she lives in Oakland, CA where she coaches artists, performs regularly and produces The Comedy Edge. To learn more, please visit www.HollyShawComedy.com

Dan Cantrell is an Emmy award winning composer and multi-instrumentalist known for his innovative film scoring approach, and his virtuosic abilities on the accordion, piano and musical saw. “Hauntingly beautiful…quirky and energetic” says the San Francisco Bay Guardian.  His extensive scoring catalogue spans a wide range of emotion and style. Dan’s compositions for film and television have earned him numerous awards including an Emmy Award for KQED’s Home-Front,a Golden Gate award for the soundtrack to the documentary Divided Loyalties, and an Annie nomination for his work on three seasons of Cartoon Network’s the Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack. Visit bellowhead.com

Forbes magazine called her, “One of the hardest working comics in the industry.” Listen as I get into it with comedian Emma Arnold about how she writes so much so fast, life on the road, and is she quitting comedy for real this time?

See Emma Arnold live at the Comedy Edge: Stand-Up on the Waterfront in Oakland! Saturday, July 16th - get tickets now>>

Emma Arnold is an Idaho backcountry-raised comedian, author, artist, and beekeeper. Her self-produced comedy special, "Yes, Please" (financially backed by comedy legends Bobcat Goldthwait and Dana Gould) has millions of views on youtube and she put out four standup comedy albums with Blonde Medicine Records in as many years. She co-founded/directed two wildly popular comedy festivals and was recently featured in Forbes Magazine, who called her, “One of the hardest working comics in the industry.” In addition to touring, she has a popular podcast and Patreon and is mom to three giant sons. Equal parts outrageous, thoughtful, engaging and honest, whatever the medium, Emma's work is electric and straight from the heart. When not touring, she lives in Boise, where she keeps bees and children with varying degrees of success. Follow her on Instagram: @EmmaArnoldisakeeper

Before becoming a comedian, Holly Shaw spent a lifetime on stage, T.V. and film as an actor, professional dancer and later as a speaker, coach and hypnotherapist. She's authored two books: the Amazon bestseller, The Creative Formula, as well as the newly released book, Making Art In the Middle of Madness and she was a regular teacher at SAG/AFTRA's conservatories in San Francisco as well as Los Angeles. Her podcast, Performers & Creators Lab, was named One of the Most Outstanding Podcasts of 2019 by Databird Research. Through all of her offerings she has helped thousands of performing artists, some of them Emmy Award winning and Grammy nominated, overcome stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create the work they were born to make and become undeniably magnetic performers. Currently she lives in Oakland, CA where she runs and performs in the live weekly comedy showcase on the waterfront, the Comedy Edge. To learn more, please visit www.performersandcreatorslab.com

Dan Cantrell is an Emmy award winning composer and multi-instrumentalist known for his innovative film scoring approach, and his virtuosic abilities on the accordion, piano and musical saw. “Hauntingly beautiful…quirky and energetic” says the San Francisco Bay Guardian.  His extensive scoring catalogue spans a wide range of emotion and style. Dan’s compositions for film and television have earned him numerous awards including an Emmy Award for KQED’s Home-Front,a Golden Gate award for the soundtrack to the documentary Divided Loyalties, and an Annie nomination for his work on three seasons of Cartoon Network’s the Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack. Visit bellowhead.com

Whether the audience is hating you or you're just having an off night, Holly distills it all down to one central factor that will determine whether you stay in the game or spiral out of it.

This episode includes:

• Ways you are unknowingly sabotaging yourself
• The secret to weathering a dicey performance
• How you can implement this strategy
• The importance of your post-show strategy

BONUS! Gardening tips for growing things. . . 

And don't forget, if you love this podcast, then you will love my books The Creative Formula (Amazon Bestseller 2016) and Making Art In the Middle of Madness (Amazon #1 New Release 2020) both available on Amazon and Goodreads.

About Your Host, Holly Shaw
Before becoming a comedian, Holly Shaw spent a lifetime on stage, T.V. and film as an actor, professional dancer and later as a speaker, coach and hypnotherapist. She's authored two books: the Amazon bestseller, The Creative Formula, as well as  Making Art In the Middle of Madness and she was a regular teacher at SAG/AFTRA's conservatories in San Francisco as well as Los Angeles. Her podcast, Performers & Creators Lab, was named One of the Most Outstanding Podcasts of 2019 by Databird Research. Through all of her offerings she has helped thousands of performing artists, some of them Emmy Award winning and Grammy nominated, overcome stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create the work they were born to make and become undeniably magnetic performers.  To learn more, please visit www.performersandcreatorslab.com

About the Composer: Dan Cantrell is an Emmy award winning composer and multi-instrumentalist known for his innovative film scoring approach, and his virtuosic abilities on the accordion, piano and musical saw. “Hauntingly beautiful…quirky and energetic” says the San Francisco Bay Guardian.  His extensive scoring catalogue spans a wide range of emotion and style. Dan’s compositions for film and television have earned him numerous awards including an Emmy Award for KQED’s Home-Front,a Golden Gate award for the soundtrack to the documentary Divided Loyalties, and an Annie nomination for his work on three seasons of Cartoon Network’s the Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack. Visit bellowhead.com

Comedian Melissa McGillicuddy (Voted best comedian, Sacramento News & Review 2019) will be headlining at the Comedy Edge Saturday, June 18th and I was happy to have the chance to grab her for a conversation about how she got her start in comedy even though she's shy, hear her worst stories of bombing and her tips for writing great material.

Get tickets to see Melissa at the Comedy Edge in Oakland,  June 18th, 2022 >>

About Melissa
Melissa McGillicuddy is a stand-up comedian based in Sacramento, California. As a newcomer to the scene in 2015, she won the Wildcard Competition at the Sacramento Comedy Festival. Since then, Melissa has performed at SF Sketchfest, the World Series of Comedy, and colleges all across the country. She has also opened for talented comedians such as Cameron Esposito, River Butcher, and Vicki Barbolak. Being an only child raised by a single mom in a conservative town, Melissa found she didn’t always fit in, so she used humor as a way to connect with people. Her dry wit and unique perspective on life make her a hit with audiences everywhere.  Melissa also co-produces the Moving Van Show, a monthly, secret pop-up comedy show, as well as Sacramento FemmeFest, the city's first all-female comedy festival. In 2019, Melissa was voted best comedian by the Sacramento News & Review.  Follow her on Instagram: @meowlissamcg

About Holly Shaw
Before becoming a comedian, Holly Shaw spent a lifetime on stage, T.V. and film as an actor, professional dancer and later as a speaker, coach and hypnotherapist. She's authored two books: the Amazon bestseller, The Creative Formula, as well as the newly released book, Making Art In the Middle of Madness and she was a regular teacher at SAG/AFTRA's conservatories in San Francisco as well as Los Angeles. Her podcast, Performers & Creators Lab, was named One of the Most Outstanding Podcasts of 2019 by Databird Research. Through all of her offerings she has helped thousands of performing artists, some of them Emmy Award winning and Grammy nominated, overcome stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create the work they were born to make and become undeniably magnetic performers. Currently she lives in Oakland, CA where she runs and performs in the live weekly comedy showcase on the waterfront, the Comedy Edge. To learn more, please visit www.performersandcreatorslab.com

Composer
Dan Cantrell is an Emmy award winning composer and multi-instrumentalist known for his innovative film scoring approach, and his virtuosic abilities on the accordion, piano and musical saw. “Hauntingly beautiful…quirky and energetic” says the San Francisco Bay Guardian.  His extensive scoring catalogue spans a wide range of emotion and style. Dan’s compositions for film and television have earned him numerous awards including an Emmy Award for KQED’s Home-Front,a Golden Gate award for the soundtrack to the documentary Divided Loyalties, and an Annie nomination for his work on three seasons of Cartoon Network’s the Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack. Visit bellowhead.com

Comedian Mean Dave will be headlining at the Comedy Edge next Saturday, May 28th so I decided to sit down with him and see what goes on inside that funny head. In our convo we talk about comedy, writing, his journey with addiction and more!

Get tickets to see Mean Dave at the Comedy Edge, Saturday May 28th, 2022>>

About Mean Dave
Stand-up comedian Mean Dave is a regular Cobb's Comedy Club, Punch Line in San Francisco and Sacramento, and Rooster T. Feathers. He has opened for headliners such as Judy Tenuta, Big Jay Oakerson, Allan Havey, Tom Rhodes, and Josh Blue.  He is also the illustrator of the children’s book “Once Upon An Accommodation: A Book About Learning Disabilities.” Mean Dave has performed with the Comedians with Disabilities Act as an addict in recovery from drugs and alcohol. He also appears in Nina G’s book “Stutterer Interrupted: The Comedian Who Almost Didn’t Happen,” and he performs with Nina at colleges and events across the US. The two talk about being an ally to people with disabilities and bring a unique perspective to disability awareness. Follow him on Instagram @mean_dave

About Holly Shaw
Before becoming a comedian, Holly Shaw spent a lifetime on stage, T.V. and film as an actor, professional dancer and later as a speaker, coach and hypnotherapist. She's authored two books: the Amazon bestseller, The Creative Formula, as well as the newly released book, Making Art In the Middle of Madness and she was a regular teacher at SAG/AFTRA's conservatories in San Francisco as well as Los Angeles. Her podcast, Performers & Creators Lab, was named One of the Most Outstanding Podcasts of 2019 by Databird Research. Through all of her offerings she has helped thousands of performing artists, some of them Emmy Award winning and Grammy nominated, overcome stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create the work they were born to make and become undeniably magnetic performers. Currently she lives in Oakland, CA where she runs and performs in the live weekly comedy showcase on the waterfront, the Comedy Edge. To learn more, please visit www.performersandcreatorslab.com

Composer
Dan Cantrell is an Emmy award winning composer and multi-instrumentalist known for his innovative film scoring approach, and his virtuosic abilities on the accordion, piano and musical saw. “Hauntingly beautiful…quirky and energetic” says the San Francisco Bay Guardian.  His extensive scoring catalogue spans a wide range of emotion and style. Dan’s compositions for film and television have earned him numerous awards including an Emmy Award for KQED’s Home-Front,a Golden Gate award for the soundtrack to the documentary Divided Loyalties, and an Annie nomination for his work on three seasons of Cartoon Network’s the Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack. Visit bellowhead.com