I Dreamed a Dream…Then Checked My Email

What happens when your artistic journey takes an unexpected path—and you discover that success means more than the next role?

In this episode, Adam and Emily welcome actor, director, coach, producer, choreographer, and father Stephen Schellhardt for a nerd cluster-fueled heart-to-heart.

Stephen shares his journey from performer to multi-hyphenate artist, including his decision to step away from acting for eight years and returning with renewed joy and perspective. He reflects on balancing career ambitions with parenthood, the adoption process, navigating financial uncertainty, advocating for fair compensation, and redefining success around family, meaningful work, and creative collaboration.

Together, they explore the pressures of rejection and self-doubt, the importance of chosen family, and why kindness and empathy are strengths rather than weaknesses.

Join us for an affirming conversation about career pivots, personal growth, and rediscovering the magic in the work you love.

This podcast contains occasional strong language

and candid conversations. While one of our co-hosts is a licensed psychotherapist, this is not a substitute for professional mental health care.

Follow Stephen: @sschellhardt

For coachings and more: https://www.stephenschellhardt.com/

“Witch” at American Players Theatre: https://www.americanplayers.org/plays/witch

What happens when you step away from the thing you love—and discover you can return to it with even more joy?

In part two of this episode, Adam and Emily continue their sincere dialogue with actor, singer, director, casting director, and writer, Brittney Brown.

Brittney shares her experiences navigating racial stereotypes and representation in audition rooms, advocating for herself and other performers, and creating more inclusive, supportive theater environments. She also opens up about comparison, rejection, and learning to celebrate other artists’ successes without diminishing her own.

Brittney reflects on taking a break from performing in 2024 after experiencing burnout. And together, they discuss the importance of rest, self-advocacy, and building a sustainable artistic life that leaves room for relationships, personal growth, and joy.

Join us for an honest conversation about burnout, representation, comparison, and finding your way back to the work you love—on your own terms.

Listener discretion is advised: This episode discusses racial stereotypes, microaggressions, and mental and emotional well-being.

This podcast contains occasional strong language and candid conversations. While one of our co-hosts is a licensed psychotherapist, this is not a substitute for professional mental health care.

Follow Brittney: Instagram at @honeybbrown and Letterboxd at https://boxd.it/5Mr2Z

Catch Brittney 10/31, 11/6, & 11/7 performing as Dot/Marie in “Sunday In The Park With George” with Kokandy Productions! Tickets at https://www.kokandyproductions.com

Note: This episode includes conversations about potentially triggering or sensitive topics that may be difficult for some listeners. Please listen at your own discretion and prioritize your emotional well-being.

What does it mean to find your authentic self in an industry built around auditions, rejection, and outside expectations?

In part one of this episode, Adam and Emily plop on the couch for a sincere dialogue with actor, singer, director, casting director, and writer, Brittney Brown.

Brittney shares her journey from childhood talent shows to professional theater, reflecting on the challenges of navigating a competitive college training program, managing body image struggles, and processing experiences of feeling unsupported as a performer of color. Together, they explore the pressures of external validation, the freedom of showing up authentically in audition rooms, and the importance of learning to trust your own assessment of your work. They also examine the value of creating welcoming audition spaces and the need for ongoing conversations about diversity, inclusion, and emotional support in performing arts.

This podcast contains occasional strong language and candid conversations. While one of our co-hosts is a licensed psychotherapist, this is not a substitute for professional mental health care.

Follow Brittney: Instagram at @honeybbrown and Letterboxd at https://boxd.it/5Mr2Z

What happens when the people behind the art finally get the space to be seen, heard, and supported?

In this episode, Adam Hill and Emily Goldberg sit down with music director, musician, and vocal coach Carolyn Brady for a raw, urgent conversation about authenticity, identity, and acceptance in the performing arts. Carolyn opens up about the delicate balance of motherhood and a thriving creative career, her mission to build truly supportive artistic spaces, and why we must start advocating for artists as whole people. Together, they dig deep into the heavy stuff: the pressures of the audition room, navigating changing voices and bodies, and the recent Non-Equity Jeff Awards controversy. It is a candid look at the absolute necessity of accountability, transparency, and safety in the industry.

This podcast contains occasional strong language and candid conversations. While one of our co-hosts is a licensed psychotherapist, this is not a substitute for professional mental health care.

Follow Carolyn on Insta: @carolynbradymusic

For Voice Lessons, Coaching, etc with Carolyn: https://www.carolynjeanbrady.com/

Tickets for “Ride the Cyclone” at Metropolis Performing Arts Centre: https://www.metropolisarts.com/ride-the-cyclone/

What happens when the dream you’ve chased your whole life starts to look a little different than you imagined?

In our premiere episode, hosts Adam Hill and Emily Goldberg dive into their shared theatre roots and the winding paths that followed. From the awkward anxiety of trying to fit in as kids to the intensity of professional auditions and national tours, they share honest stories about what it’s really like to build a life in the arts.

Adam reflects on his major career shift from performing onstage to becoming a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). Meanwhile, Emily revisits her first-ever audition, finding a sense of belonging through theatre, and navigating the realities of working as an actor in Chicago. Together, they open up about career pivots, letting go of old expectations, and redefining what it means to find true psychological fulfillment. Join Adam and Emily for a conversation about where they started, where they are now, and the unexpected journey that brought them together.

This podcast contains occasional strong language and candid conversations. While one of our co-hosts is a licensed psychotherapist, this is not a substitute for professional mental health care.