Explore every episode of the podcast Recast and Rise - Career transition stories for artists

In this conversation, Sasha Harrington shares her unique journey from being a solo aerialist with Cirque du Soleil, The Beatles LOVE, to pursuing a career in physical therapy. She discusses the challenges associated with her career transition, the importance of self-care, and how her background as a performer has equipped her with valuable skills for her new path.

She found herself ready for a new kind of challenge, one that still honored her love of movement and the human body. This is a story about reinvention, resilience, and rediscovering joy beyond the spotlight.

You’ll hear about:

• Planning for life after performing

• Finding courage through uncertaintyThe power of support systems and self-care

• How transferable creative skills can shape new careers

• Keeping your passion for movement alive, even when it’s no longer your job

If you're a performer wondering "what’s next for me? ", let's connect!

Drop me a message on my socials! And don’t forget to subscribe for more inspiring stories and career tools.

Connect with me: ⁠Instagram⁠

👉 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.

What happens when live performance suddenly stops? For Zach Manzi, a classically trained clarinetist, 2020 became the unexpected spark for a bold career change.

In this episode of Recast and Rise, Zach shares how experimenting with audience-centered concerts led him to discover service design, and how he used curiosity, networking, and transferable skills to make a successful career transition into tech at GoDaddy and Mailchimp.

Zach’s journey is a reminder that the end of one path can open doors to something even more fulfilling.

In this video, you'll learn

• What “service design” really means (and why artists are naturally good at it)

• How Zach broke into tech during 2020

• The step-by-step process he used: networking, entry-level roles, and persistence

• How to reframe “soft skills” from performance into professional assets

• Why creativity and artistry still matter, even after a big career change

If you're a performer wondering "what’s next for me? ", let's connect!

Drop me a message on my socials! And don’t forget to subscribe for more inspiring stories and career tools.

⁠Instagram⁠

Visit my website

👉 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.

In this episode of Recast & Rise, Maria Failla, host of the #1 houseplant podcast Growing Joy with Maria and author of Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) shares how she went from Broadway performer to building a thriving business she truly loves.

What began as a passion project blossomed into a full-time career, teaching her brand-new skills, fresh confidence, and even a new sense of identity.

Maria’s journey is proof that reinvention doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a process of growth and rediscovery, and a reminder that performers already have everything they need to thrive beyond the stage.

Takeaways

• Maria transitioned from Broadway to podcasting about plants.

• She initially thought her podcast would be a short-term project.

• The pandemic forced her to fully commit to her new career.

• Support from family and friends was crucial during her transition.

• Performers possess valuable skills for entrepreneurship.

• She learned many new skills, including marketing and sales.

• Maria emphasizes the importance of community and mentorship.

• She encourages gradual transitions rather than abrupt changes.

• Her identity shifted significantly after leaving the performing arts.

• Maria's journey illustrates the potential for personal growth through change.

If you're a performer wondering "what’s next for me? ", let's connect!

Drop me a message on my socials! And don’t forget to subscribe for more inspiring stories and career tools.

Connect with Eve on Instagram⁠

⁠Watch this episode on YouTube

Website; Growing with with Maria

Podcast; Growing Joy with Maria

Maria's Book on Amazon; Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants)

👉 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.

What happens when the curtain closes earlier than expected? For Sarah Davison, that moment opened the door to a career she never imagined.

In this episode of Recast & Rise, Sarah shares her journey from a classically trained ballerina in France to performing on some of Las Vegas’s biggest stages—including Celine Dion’s A New Day, Le Rêve, and Cirque du Soleil’s Viva Elvis. When the show closed, an unexpected opportunity led her behind the table as a casting advisor, where she discovered her true passion: finding and supporting the next generation of performers.

We talk about:

• The audition that completely changed her life

• How she managed the identity shift from dancer to casting director

• The skills she had to learn

• The reality of casting—what it is really like behind the scenes

• Why mentorship, connection, and continuous learning shaped her success
  

Sarah’s story is a powerful reminder that the end of one career can be the beginning of something even more fulfilling.

If you're a performer wondering "what’s next for me? ", let's connect!

Drop me a message on my socials! And don’t forget to subscribe for more inspiring stories and career tools.

Connect with Eve on Instagram

👉 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.

From the Met Opera stage to founding a thriving wellness company, Danielle Schulz shows that reinvention can be both bold and fulfilling.

In this episode, she shares how she built The Triangle Sessions, transformed creativity into innovative corporate wellness programs, and faced the real fears that come with asking, “What’s next?”

If you’re exploring your own transition beyond the stage, Danielle’s story is packed with inspiration, tips, and practical takeaways to help you see what’s possible.

Takeaways

• Danielle started dancing at a young age and pursued it intensely.

• She transitioned from a traditional ballet career to a more versatile performance path.

• The Triangle Sessions was launched as a fitness method combining yoga, nutrition, and mindfulness.

• Danielle emphasizes the importance of creativity in business development.

• Networking is crucial for career transitions, as most jobs come from personal connections.

• She offers unique corporate wellness workshops that blend self-care with team-building activities.

• Danielle's journey reflects the importance of mentorship in business growth.

• She encourages others to explore their skills and passions when transitioning careers.

• The conversation highlights the evolving nature of work and the need for adaptability.

  
  

If you're a performer wondering "what’s next for me? ", let's connect!

Drop me a message on my socials! And don’t forget to subscribe for more inspiring stories and career tools.

⁠The Triangle Sessions on Instagram⁠

⁠Website: The Triangle Sessions⁠

Connect with Eve on Instagram

👉 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.

Welcome to Recast and Rise!

Ready to explore a career after the stage? You are in the right place. Eve Castelo (former Cirque du Soleil artist now working in tech), brings you real stories of performers, creatives, and artists who’ve stepped out of the spotlight and into something new. We go behind the scenes of big pivots, career transitions, identity shifts, and the messy magic of reinvention.

Whether you're still performing or freshly retired, Recast and Rise will help you see that you’re not starting over, you’re just starting your next act.

Kirsten Kemp dedicated her life to ballet. She trained at the Houston Ballet Academy, earned a BFA in Ballet from the University of Utah, and fulfilled her dream of dancing professionally with the Oklahoma City Ballet.

After a knee injury led to an early end of her performing career, Kirsten found a new path. Today, she's the founder of The Confident Dancer, where she helps dancers overcome performance anxiety, perfectionism, self-doubt, and comparison so they can perform with more confidence and joy.

In this episode, we talk about navigating an unexpected career transition, discovering coaching, building an online business from the ground up, and finding an identity beyond performing.

Whether you're an artist exploring your next chapter or someone interested in coaching or entrepreneurship, Kirsten shares practical advice on choosing a niche, building confidence, marketing your business, and giving yourself permission to grow into a new career.

📍 In this episode, you'll learn

▸ How Kirsten transitioned from professional ballet dancer to coach

▸ How she discovered coaching during her career transition

▸ What it actually takes to build a successful coaching business

▸ Why choosing a niche is one of the biggest keys to success

▸ How to navigate the identity shift that comes with leaving the stage

▸ Why building a business takes patience, consistency, and the right mindset

This conversation is packed with practical advice for anyone navigating career change, building a business, or redefining who they are beyond the work they've always known.

If you're a performer wondering "What’s next for me? ", let's connect!

⁠⁠💥  Connect with Kirsten at: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/kirsten_theconfidentdancer/⁠

👋  Connect with Eve on Instagram⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/recastandrise.eve/⁠⁠

👉  Recast and Rise website  ⁠https://www.recastandrise.com/⁠

And don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE for more inspiring stories and CAREER TOOLS for your next career change!

👉 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.

Michelle DiTerlizzi spent years performing on some of the biggest stages in Las Vegas. She danced for Bette Midler, Lionel Richie, starred in Peep Show, worked as an aerialist, and finished her performing career with Criss Angel.

But after years of performing, her body was telling her it was time for something different.

In this episode, Michelle shares how she began building her next career while she was still on stage. From earning a business degree to shadowing managers backstage and taking on new responsibilities, she slowly started exploring what life beyond performing could look like.

She also talks about navigating the uncertainty of the pandemic, becoming a beginner again, and learning an entirely new industry from the ground up.

Today, Michelle is a Director of Operations leading teams, managing budgets, and overseeing entertainment experiences across multiple locations. Her story is a powerful reminder that your next career doesn't have to start after you leave the stage. It can start while you're still on it.

_____________________________________________

📍 In this video, you'll learn

▸ How Michelle started building experience before leaving the stage

▸ Why networking played a major role in her transition

▸ How she handled being a beginner again in a completely new industry

▸ The mindset that helped her overcome imposter syndrome

▸ Skills performers already have that employers value

▸ Practical advice for artists considering a career change

_____________________________________________

Whether you're actively planning your next chapter or simply exploring what's possible, Michelle's story is a reminder that the skills you developed as a performer can take you much further than you think.

If you're a performer wondering "What’s next for me? ", let's connect!

And don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE for more inspiring stories and CAREER TOOLS for your next career change!

👋  Connect with Eve on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/recastandrise.eve/

⁠⁠💥  Connect with Michelle  at: https://www.instagram.com/michelled3.14/

👉  Eve website  https://www.recastandrise.com/

🎙️ Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.

In this episode of Recast and Rise, I sit down with Tanner Huseman, a former professional dancer who performed with the Limón Dance Company, the Metropolitan Opera, and even made his Broadway debut in Phantom of the Opera.

When COVID hit and the industry paused, Tanner didn’t rush into a “perfect next move.” Instead, he tried many things, including medical coding, car sales, retail, UPS, and real estate, before landing in software engineering.

We talk about:

▸ Why trying different jobs is not failing, it’s data

▸ What it really feels like to start over as a beginner after mastering a craft

▸ Imposter syndrome (and how to move through it)

▸ How he explored tech without a traditional degree

▸ Why conversation, support, and taking action matter more than clarity

If you're a performer wondering "What’s next for me? ", let's connect!

FREE resources

👉A self-discovery workbook with 10 prompts to help you find what’s next

👉A Job search and Interview kit

👉  Recast and Rise website  ⁠https://www.recastandrise.com/⁠

👋  Connect with Eve on Instagram⁠ ⁠ https://www.instagram.com/recastandrise.eve/⁠

⁠⁠💥  Connect with Tanner at: https://www.instagram.com/tanner_huseman/ & https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanner-huseman/

And don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE for more inspiring stories and CAREER TOOLS for your next career change!

👉 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.

In this episode of Recast and Rise, I sit down with Erika, a former showgirl who chose to step away from the stage and build a new career behind the scenes.

We talk about what happens when performing is no longer the only plan, and those quiet questions start showing up: What’s next? Who am I without the stage? And what else am I good at?

Erika shares how a love for calendars, schedules, and staying organized opened the door to work in admin, operations, and nonprofit arts. From touring with children’s theater to working with Cirque du Soleil, opera companies, and large events, her path shows that careers don’t have to follow one straight line.

Erika  takes us inside her very real career pivot:

▸ Finding your place in a new field

▸ Asking for help and finding mentors

▸ Why performers have a strong work ethic

▸ Balancing creativity, work, and family life

▸ And staying connected to the arts in a new way

If you're a performer wondering "What’s next for me? ", let's connect!

FREE resources

👉A self-discovery workbook with 10 prompts to help you find what’s next

👉A Job search and Interview kit

👉  Recast and Rise website  ⁠https://www.recastandrise.com/⁠

👋  Connect with Eve on Instagram⁠ ⁠ https://www.instagram.com/recastandrise.eve/⁠

⁠⁠💥  Connect with Erika at: https://www.instagram.com/trialanderika/

And don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE for more inspiring stories and CAREER TOOLS for your next career change!

👉 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.

While she was still in school, Emily McTernan Buchko went to a Cirque audition almost by accident, No pressure, no master plan, and got the job. That single “why not?” moment launched her into a performing career with Cirque du Soleil.

And here’s the part that matters: Emily could have kept dancing. She was skilled, employed, and still very much in demand. But instead of pushing for “more,” she trusted the feeling that it was time for something different, and chose to step away at the peak of her career.

In this episode of Recast and Rise, Emily shares how following what felt aligned, not forced, led her from the stage into the corporate world, where she now works as a Management Supervisor at Team One, the agency behind Lexus’ global advertising campaigns.

Emily takes us inside her very real career pivot:

▸ Going from a top-level performer to an entry-level corporate role

▸ Letting go of ego and learning to be the beginner again

▸ Taking a non-linear path through sales, automotive, and advertising

▸ Trusting timing instead of forcing outcomes

▸ Proving that creativity doesn’t disappear when you leave the stage, it just changes form

Her story is a powerful reminder that you don’t have to let go of what you love to build what’s next, and that following your instincts, even when the path isn’t clear, can lead to something better than you planned.

If you're a performer wondering "What’s next for me? ", let's connect!

FREE resources

👉A self-discovery workbook with 10 prompts to help you find what’s next

👉A Job search and Interview kit

👉  Recast and Rise website  ⁠https://www.recastandrise.com/⁠

👋  Connect with Eve on Instagram⁠ ⁠ https://www.instagram.com/recastandrise.eve/⁠

⁠⁠💥  Connect with Emily at: https://www.instagram.com/emilymctbuchko/

And don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE for more inspiring stories and CAREER TOOLS for your next career change!

👉 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.

In this episode of Recast and Rise, I sit down with Caroline Lauzon, a veteran performer who has spent 22 years with Cirque du Soleil, while quietly building a full career in real estate alongside the stage.

Caroline shares her honest journey of trying different paths, collecting skills, and following her curiosity without rushing herself out of performing. From journalism and event management to marketing, real estate, and motherhood, she reflects on how everything she learned continues to serve her today.

This conversation is for performers and creatives who love what they do, and are also curious about what else might be possible.

You’ll hear:

▸ Exploring what’s next before you’re ready to exit

▸ Why performers don’t have to choose just one identity

▸ The emotional side of imagining life after the stage

▸ How the Cirque du Soleil experience stays with you, in your confidence, discipline, and résumé

▸ Why starting early gives you more freedom later

If you're a performer wondering "What’s next for me? ", let's connect! 👇

✅ FREE resources

👉A self-discovery workbook with 10 prompts to help you find what’s next

👉A job search and interview kit

👉  Recast and Rise website  

👋  Connect with Eve on Instagram⁠ ⁠ https://www.instagram.com/recastandrise.eve/⁠

⁠⁠💥  Connect with Caroline at: https://www.instagram.com/lauzoncaro/

And don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE for more inspiring stories and CAREER TOOLS for your next career change!

👉 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.

Former Cirque du Soleil acrobat Mathieu joins me for a fun, honest conversation about curiosity, creativity, and building something new without a perfect plan.

In this episode, Mathieu shares how one Instagram video went viral overnight and unexpectedly sparked a 10-year journey that led to inventing a fitness apparatus, building a holistic coaching business, and writing a book.

We get into:

• How he created an apparatus and how it turned into a patented fitness invention
• Why handstands somehow turned into life lessons
• Coaching through movement, mindset, and mastery
• Learning business the messy, real way (trial, error, repeat)
• And why waiting to feel “ready” is wildly overrated

This is not a heavy “reinvent your life” episode. It’s curious, fun, honest, and full of those oh wow, that makes sense moments.

If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to build something new without letting go of your creative roots, this conversation gives you a very real look behind the scenes.

And if you’re a performer thinking “what’s next for me?”,  let’s talk.

Send me a message on socials and don’t forget to subscribe for more stories and career tools.

👉 Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or watch the full conversation on YouTube. 

📚  FREE Resources  https://linktr.ee/recastandrise.eve

👉  Recast and Rise website  https://www.recastandrise.com/

👋  Connect with Eve on Instagram⁠  https://www.instagram.com/recastandrise.eve/

⁠⁠💥  Connect with Mathieu  at: https://www.instagram.com/mateobolillo/

💥  Purchase Mathieu’s book on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Unleashing-Handstand-You-through-inversion/dp/B0DZXD2DDN

In this episode, meet Tina, a former Celine Dion dance captain and longtime Cirque du Soleil performer who has reinvented herself multiple times; from dancer, to real estate investor to NLP mindset coach to co-founder of an intimacy workshop business.

Tina shares how she prepared for life after performing long before her final bow, how she shifted her mindset toward financial independence, and how meditation led her to an unexpected passion for mindset and NLP coaching. She opens up about identity loss, mom-life, building new skill sets, and the exact moments she questioned whether her new path was “for her”, and how curiosity helped her keep going instead of giving up.

You’ll hear:

• How she transitioned out of a 30-year dance career

• The small steps that sparked her real estate journey

• What helped her rebuild confidence outside of performing

• Why mindset tools changed everything

• How she and her husband built an intimacy coaching business

• Her advice for performers feeling the “it might be time soon” nudge

• The real challenges behind coaching, marketing yourself, and learning business skills

• What to ask yourself if you're afraid to make a change

If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to pivot into a completely different field, without losing your creative roots, this conversation offers a clear, honest look at what that process really involves.

If you're a performer wondering "what’s next for me? ", let's connect!

Drop me a message on my socials! And don’t forget to subscribe for more inspiring stories and career tools.

Connect with me: ⁠Instagram⁠.

Visit my website at https://www.recastandrise.com for tips and tricks to navigate your career change. 

Find Tina at:

EmpowerWithTina.com | @empowerwithtina

LetsPlayIntimacy.com | @letsplayintimacy

👉 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.

In this episode, I sit down with Emily Honegger, a professional dancer turned Osteopathic Manual Practitioner, to talk about how she navigated one of the biggest transitions of her life, moving from the stage to a completely new professional path.

Emily shares what led her to make the shift, how she managed motherhood and full-time study, and what it means to let go of a creative identity while building a new one. We discuss the discipline and focus that dance taught her, the realities of returning to school after years in the arts, and the mindset that helped her stay grounded through change.

In this video, you'll learn

• Emily's transition from dance to osteopathy was inspired by a desire to understand the body better.

• A teacher's impact can shape our career paths in unexpected ways.

• Identity shifts can be challenging, especially when balancing multiple roles.

• The osteopathy school provided Emily with a new matrix of knowledge.

• The discipline learned in dance supported her osteopathy studies.

• Reframing challenges as investments can shift your perspective during transitions.

• Why exploring new passions without fear of failure matters.

• How community support is crucial during career transitions.

• How finding joy in new passions can be just as fulfilling as previous ones.

Former Cirque du Soleil artist Dasha Sobelman spent years building the career she had dreamed about since childhood. From watching Cirque performances on VHS as a kid to performing in The Beatles LOVE in Las Vegas, she achieved the goal she had worked toward for decades. But when the show closed, she found herself facing a question many performers eventually encounter: who am I when I'm no longer performing?

In this episode, Dasha shares her transition from performer to digital marketer and content creator. She opens up about the emotional reality of leaving a career that shaped her identity, the pressure of maintaining a performing career while preparing for what comes next, and the surprising sense of freedom she discovered after stepping away from the stage.

This conversation is an honest look at career change, identity, and what it means to let go of a dream you've already achieved. Whether you're a performer, creative professional, or anyone navigating a major life transition, Dasha’s story offers reassurance that it's possible to honor one chapter of your life while building the next.

📍In this episode, you'll learn:

▸ What it feels like to walk away from a career you've dreamed about since childhood

▸ Why leaving performing can feel like a loss, even when you're ready for the next chapter

▸ The emotional process of separating your identity from your profession

▸ How Dasha’s prepared for a second career while still performing full-time with Cirque du Soleil

▸ The hidden physical and mental pressures that come with being a professional performer

▸ Why many artists struggle to say out loud that they're ready for something different

▸ The unexpected freedom that can come from no longer relying on your body as your career

▸ How to trust yourself through the uncertainty of a major career transition

_____________________________________________

If you're a performer wondering "What’s next for me? ", let's connect!

And don’t forget to subscribe for more inspiring stories and career tools for your next career change!

👉  Eve’s website: https://www.recastandrise.com/

👋  Connect with Eve on Instagram⁠ 

https://www.instagram.com/recastandrise.eve/

⁠⁠💥  Connect with Dasha at: https://www.instagram.com/dashasobelman/

🎧 LISTEN ON SPOTIFY https://open.spotify.com/show/1yzSIrIhf5FoQNFzbU1VgU?si=0c4c6f87ec1e4eb7

🎧 LISTEN ON APPLE PODCAST https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/recast-and-rise-career-transition-stories-for-artists/id1841231998

Watch it on YouTube -> https://youtu.be/pdvBEvAKaNs

In this episode of Recast and Rise, I sit down with former Cirque du Soleil aerialist and performer Gelsey to talk about the part of career change no one really talks about the messy, uncertain transition in between.

After building a successful career across Broadway tours, cruise ships, stunt work, and her dream role in Cirque du Soleil’s The Beatles Love, Gelsey was forced to rethink everything after a serious head injury ended her path as a stunt performer. What followed wasn’t a clear next step. It was years of questioning, burnout, identity shifts, and figuring out what life looks like outside of performing.

In this conversation, we talk about what it really takes to move on from a career you loved. From detaching your self-worth from your craft, to navigating job applications with no “traditional” experience, to redefining success on your own terms. Gelsey shares what it’s like to start over when you’re not fully ready, and how she’s building a new path in the corporate world without losing who she is.

If you’re an artist, performer, or creative thinking about what’s next, or currently in that uncomfortable in-between, this episode will make you feel seen, grounded, and a little less alone.

__________________________________

📍 In this video, you'll learn:

▸ What the transition period actually feels like after a performing career, not just the outcome

▸ How a career-ending injury forced a complete identity shift

▸ Why performers often struggle with self-worth outside of what they do

▸ The reality of applying to “normal jobs” after a non-traditional career

▸ How to identify your non-negotiables when choosing your next path

▸ Why having hobbies and identity outside of performing matters more than you think

▸ What performers bring to the corporate world that most people don’t

▸ How to approach career change with more clarity, patience, and self-trust

__________________________________

If you're a performer wondering "What’s next for me? ", let's connect!

FREE resources

👉A self-discovery workbook with 10 prompts to help you find what’s next

👉A Job search and Interview kit

👉  Recast and Rise website  ⁠https://www.recastandrise.com/⁠

👋  Connect with Eve on Instagram⁠ ⁠ https://www.instagram.com/recastandrise.eve/⁠

💥 Connect Gelsey https://www.instagram.com/gelseylaurie/

And don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE for more inspiring stories and CAREER TOOLS for your next career change!

👉 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.

Ashley Lafferty spent 14 years performing at Cirque du Soleil, living what many dancers would call the dream. From The Beatles LOVE to Michael Jackson ONE, dance was her identity, her routine, and her entire world for most of her life.

In this conversation, Ashley shares what it actually looks like to step away from a career that has defined you since childhood. She opens up about the emotional side of leaving performing, the quiet grief that comes with it, and how she knew it was time to move on even while still loving dance. Instead of waiting until the end, she started preparing early, going back to school during COVID and slowly building her next path while still performing.

Today, Ashley is an interior designer and project manager, blending creativity with structure in a completely new way. She walks us through how she made that transition, what surprised her about entering a new industry, and why real-world experience mattered more than anything else. This episode is honest, practical, and reassuring for anyone wondering what comes after performing.

_____________________________________________

📍 *In this video, you'll learn*

▸ How Ashley prepared for her career transition while still performing at night

▸ What she specifically did during COVID to explore interior design and go back to school

▸ How she translated dancer skills like discipline, timing, and teamwork into a corporate role

▸ What the interview process looked like with zero experience in a new industry

▸ Why working as an assistant and making mistakes fast-tracked her learning more than school

▸ The real difference between interior design and project management (and how she does both)

_____________________________________________

If you're a performer wondering "What’s next for me? ", let's connect!

And don’t forget to *SUBSCRIBE* for more inspiring stories and *CAREER TOOLS* for your next career change!

👉  *EVE’s website*⁠  https://www.recastandrise.com/

👋  *CONNECT WITH Eve on Instagram*⁠  https://www.instagram.com/recastandrise.eve/

⁠⁠💥  *CONNECT WITH Ashley*  at: https://www.instagram.com/ashleynicolle_lafferty/

🎧 *LISTEN ON SPOTIFY* https://open.spotify.com/show/1yzSIrIhf5FoQNFzbU1VgU?si=0c4c6f87ec1e4eb7

🎧 *LISTEN ON APPLE PODCAST* https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/recast-and-rise-career-transition-stories-for-artists/id1841231998

From 17 years performing in Cirque du Soleil to becoming a registered nurse, and a Senior claims manager later, Chantale’s story is a real look at what it takes to change careers while you’re still in it.

She didn’t have a clear plan from the start. She figured it out along the way, while performing full-time, raising two kids, and slowly working toward something completely different. This conversation gets into the reality of that process, the doubts, the timing, the unexpected turns, and what actually helped her move forward.

We also talk about what happens after the first transition, because her path didn’t stop there. From nursing to a claim manager role, Chantale shares what it’s like to start over more than once and adapt as life changes.

In this video, you'll learn

▸ What it really looks like to go back to school while still performing

▸ How she managed the schedule with work, school, and family

▸ Why feeling “not qualified” is more common than you think

▸ The skills she didn’t realize she had and how they helped her get hired

▸ What to do when your career path doesn’t go as planned

▸ Why staying open-minded can lead to better opportunities

If you're a performer wondering "What’s next for me? ", let's connect!

FREE resources

👉A self-discovery workbook with 10 prompts to help you find what’s next

👉A Job search and Interview kit

👉  Recast and Rise's website  ⁠https://www.recastandrise.com/⁠

👋  Connect with Eve on Instagram⁠ ⁠ https://www.instagram.com/recastandrise.eve/⁠

⁠⁠💥  Connect with Chantale: https://www.instagram.com/chantalevitale/

And don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE for more inspiring stories and CAREER TOOLS for your next career change!

👉 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.

From a 15-year ballet career performing at the highest level to becoming a veterinarian and earning a PhD in infectious diseases, Ariel’s story is one of the most intentional and disciplined career transitions you’ll hear.

In this episode, she shares how she didn’t wait until the end of her performing career to think about what’s next. She planned it years in advance. While still dancing, she was already taking classes, preparing for vet school, and setting herself up for a completely different future.

But this transition wasn’t just about strategy, it was about identity. Ariel opens up about what it really feels like to leave something you’ve mastered and step into a world where you know nothing. She spent nearly a decade as a beginner again, navigating self-doubt, intense academic pressure, and the challenge of rebuilding confidence from scratch.

We also talk about the unexpected moments that confirmed she was on the right path (including one very memorable anatomy lab), how she balanced performing with studying, and what it took (mentally and physically) to sustain both.

This conversation is honest, grounded, and incredibly eye-opening for anyone thinking about a career change, especially performers who feel like they’re starting over. Ariel proves that reinvention isn’t about losing who you were. It’s about building on it in ways you didn’t expect. 

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In this video, you'll learn:

▸ How planning your transition early can make the shift out of performing smoother

▸ What it actually feels like to start over as a beginner (for years) and how to handle it

▸ How skills from performing (like discipline and storytelling) translate into completely different careers

▸ Why exploring new interests (even ones you ruled out before) can lead to unexpected career paths

▸ How support systems and community play a critical role during major life transitions

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If you're a performer wondering "What’s next for me? ", let's connect!

FREE resources

👉A self-discovery workbook with 10 prompts to help you find what’s next

👉A Job search and Interview kit

👉  Recast and Rise website  ⁠https://www.recastandrise.com/⁠

👋  Connect with Eve on Instagram⁠ ⁠ https://www.instagram.com/recastandrise.eve/⁠

⁠⁠💥  Connect with Ariel at: https://www.instagram.com/relshepley/

And don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE for more inspiring stories and CAREER TOOLS for your next career change!

👉 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.

Vanessa, a former Cirque du Soleil artist, shares how she built a career beyond performing by staying curious and thinking about what’s next early on. From performing in multiple shows, to becoming a dance coach, to opening dance studios in Puerto Rico and Canada, she didn’t wait for her performing career to end to start exploring.

Instead, she tested different paths, created opportunities from within the company, and focused on gaining experience, even when it wasn’t paid right away.

This episode is a practical and honest look at career change, career transition, and life after performing, and how to approach it in a way that feels intentional, strategic, and aligned with your skills.

 In this video, you'll learn

▸ Why waiting until the end makes a career change way harder

▸ How to figure out what’s next while you’re still performing

▸ How to use where you are right now to create new opportunities

▸ Why trying things beats overthinking every time

▸ The real difference between quick money and long-term direction

▸ How small moves now turn into bigger opportunities later

▸ How to stay ahead instead of scrambling when it’s over

▸ A more realistic way to approach career change as an artist

If you're a performer wondering "What’s next for me? ", let's connect!

FREE resources

👉A self-discovery workbook with 10 prompts to help you find what’s next

👉A Job search and Interview kit

👉  Recast and Rise website  ⁠https://www.recastandrise.com/⁠

👋  Connect with Eve on Instagram⁠ ⁠ https://www.instagram.com/recastandrise.eve/⁠

⁠⁠💥  Connect with Vanessa at: https://www.instagram.com/vgolding/

And don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE for more inspiring stories and CAREER TOOLS for your next career change!

👉 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.

What happens when your dream career evolves twice?

In this powerful and honest conversation, I sit down with my longtime friend and former Cirque colleague, Marjon, to talk about artistic identity, bold transitions, and what it really takes to reinvent yourself without losing who you are.

We first met over 20 years ago on Delirium with Cirque du Soleil. Since then, Marjon has navigated an extraordinary path: from contemporary jazz dancer in New York, to award-winning choreographer and founder of Memento Dance Company, to building a holistic performance hub inspired by the legendary Dance Space in NYC, before stepping into the world of arena touring as an Artistic Director on OVO, Quidam, and Delirium.

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📍 In this episode, we talk about:

▸ Training through injury and discovering the transformative power of the Simonson Jazz Technique

▸ Building a performance and wellness studio from scratch

▸ The leap from entrepreneur to international tour life

▸ Leading artists at the highest level, and the grief that can come when you step away

▸ How the pandemic became an unexpected catalyst for healing and reinvention

▸ Reopening Memento bodyworks in a new way

Marjon shares openly about ambition, loss, courage, and the quiet bravery required to start again. We explore why not knowing the full roadmap can be a gift, how creativity doesn’t disappear, it transforms, and why artists are uniquely equipped to build second (and third) careers.

If you're navigating change, questioning what's next, or feeling the pull toward something new, this episode is a reminder: your story isn’t over. It’s evolving.

Keep dreaming. Keep creating. And trust that every chapter prepares you for the next.

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If you're a performer wondering "What’s next for me? ", let's connect!

✅ FREE resources

👉A self-discovery workbook with 10 prompts to help you find what’s next

👉A Job search and Interview kit

👉  Recast and Rise website  ⁠https://www.recastandrise.com/⁠

👋  Connect with Eve on Instagram⁠ ⁠ https://www.instagram.com/recastandrise.eve/⁠

⁠⁠💥  Connect with Marjon at: https://www.instagram.com/marjonmemento/

⁠⁠📌  Memento Bodyworks’ website: https://www.mementobodyworks.com/en

And don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE for more inspiring stories and CAREER TOOLS for your next career change!

👉 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.

Are you actually stuck… or are you believing one of these? In this solo episode of Recast and Rise, I break down 7 common myths that keep artists and performers from moving forward in their careers.

📍Things like:

• “If I change careers, I’m starting from zero.”

• “My résumé won’t make sense outside the arts.”

• “I need to make one big leap.”

• “I’ll lose my creativity.”

• “I should wait until life is calmer.”

• “I’m just an artist.”

• “I should figure this out alone.”

The truth is, you are not starting from zero. You are bringing discipline, adaptability, communication skills, resilience, and work ethic into whatever comes next. You’ve already built more than you think.

I share real examples from former guests on the podcast who transitioned into completely different fields, not because they abandoned who they were, but because they were willing to build on top of it.

If you’ve been thinking about your next chapter, even just a little, this episode will help you separate fear from fact and take one small, clear step forward.

I’ve had dancers become software engineers. Acrobats become physical therapists. Performers move into corporate roles, and get hired because they were performers.

If you’re in that in-between phase, this episode will help you think more clearly about your next step.

And tell me, which myth have you believed at some point?

If you're a performer wondering "What’s next for me? ", let's connect!

FREE resources

👉 A self-discovery workbook with 10 prompts to help you find what’s next

👉 A Job search and Interview kit

👉  Recast and Rise website  ⁠https://www.recastandrise.com/⁠

👋  Connect with Eve on Instagram⁠ ⁠ https://www.instagram.com/recastandrise.eve/⁠

And don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE for more inspiring stories and CAREER TOOLS for your next career change!

👉 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.