The Acting Business Boot Camp Podcast

Meet Diane Strand – Executive Producer, Creativepreneur & TEDx Speaker

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Diane Strand, a creative entrepreneur, executive producer, bestselling author, TEDx speaker, and nonprofit founder. She believes in the power of creativity and the arts to transform both life and business.

Get ready for some golden nuggets, including:
✔️ Why believing in yourself—51% more than your doubts—changes everything
✔️ How the next step always reveals itself (if you trust the process)
✔️ The mindset shifts that help actors and creatives thrive

Let’s dive in!

🎭 The Power of Creativity in Business & Life

Diane shares how creativity shaped her journey, from overcoming dyslexia to landing her first school play role as Betsy Ross—even when everyone told her she couldn’t do it.

💡 Key Takeaway: The arts fuel focus, persistence, and personal growth.

She now works with mainstream and special-needs individuals, proving that creativity is a universal tool for success.

💡 O...

Podcast Episode Summary

🚀 Big News! Mandy Fisher, VO expert extraordinaire, is now officially joining me as a co-host on the Acting Business Bootcamp Podcast! 🎉

For Mandy’s first episode as co-host, we’re diving into a game-changing concept: specificity.

💡 Why is specificity so powerful? Because when you’re clear about who you are, what you offer, and who you’re reaching out to, you’ll:
✔️ Cut through the noise and reach the right people
✔️ Build trust with casting directors, agents, and clients
✔️ Strengthen your branding, marketing, and outreach
✔️ Increase your chances of booking work

In this episode, we cover:

✅ Why vague messaging gets ignored (and how to avoid it)
✅ How to be specific in your emails, website, and portfolio
✅ The role of specificity in social media, branding, and direct marketing
✅ Actionable homework to refine your approach right now

👉 Grab a notebook, take a deep breath, and let’s dive in!

🎯 Why Specificity is a Game Changer for Actors & Creatives

In today...

Podcast Episode Summary

This week’s episode is a bit different.

I’m recording from New York, but my heart is in Los Angeles, where wildfires have been creeping dangerously close to my home.

Beyond that, I’ve been facing another personal challenge—my mom suffered a stroke over the holidays, her seventh stroke. Navigating hospital visits, stress, and uncertainty has tested me in ways I didn’t expect.

💡 So today, I want to focus on one simple but powerful tool: journaling.

When stress feels overwhelming, sometimes the only thing we can do is focus on one thing that keeps us grounded. For me, that’s stream-of-consciousness journaling.

🔥 Navigating Stress in Difficult Times

The Past Two Weeks Have Been a Lot

✔️ My mom had a stroke on Christmas night – Her seventh.
✔️ I helped get my parents settled post-hospital stay.
✔️ The LA wildfires began creeping toward my home.

And while I am safe, my family is safe, and my home is safe (for now), I know that so many others have lost thei...

Podcast Episode Summary

Is it possible to be “too nice” in the entertainment industry?

A listener asked me to tackle this topic, and I’m diving in today. 🎙️

As an actor, creative, or performer, you’ve probably heard:
❓ “You’re too nice.”
❓ “You need to be more aggressive.”
❓ “Don’t be a pushover.”

💡 But what does that really mean? And how do you balance kindness with assertiveness—without getting taken advantage of?

👉 In this episode, I break down five key strategies to help you set boundaries, make decisive choices, and stand up for yourself—while still being a respected, professional, and kind person in the industry.

🔥 Does Being “Too Nice” Hold You Back as an Actor?

There’s a fine line between being:
✔️ Kind vs. People-Pleasing
✔️ Assertive vs. Aggressive
✔️ Generous vs. Getting Walked On

💡 Actors & artists often struggle with this balance.
✔️ We want to be liked (which can lead to overcommitting).
✔️ We fear burning bridges (which can stop us from setting boundaries).
✔️ We hes...

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Hi, everyone. I hope you had a wonderful holiday week and let me be one of the first to wish you a very happy new year.

Last week it was to close out 2024 and this week it is to welcome 2025. 

So allow yourself to find a comfortable position and if that means you need to push pause and get settled that's just fine do that now.

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Today I'm going to be doing a meditation to close out the year. 

And you can feel free to do this meditation as many times as you want. 

Because you can also think of this meditation as being something to close out your day, or your hour, or your morning, or your month, or your week. 

But for our purposes today, it will be to close out 2024.

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Podcast Episode Summary

Today’s episode is all about self-care—because let’s be honest, December and January can be tough.

✔️ December = Overwhelming & chaotic.
✔️ January = Cold, rainy (even in LA!), and filled with pressure for the year ahead.

💡 Self-care isn’t just important—it’s essential.

If you’ve ever felt overworked, spiritually drained, or overwhelmed by all you need to do, this episode is for you.

👉 I’m sharing powerful self-care insights, including:
✅ Why neglecting yourself always leads to burnout
✅ How small moments of care (water, rest, journaling) change everything
✅ How to reframe overwhelm & trust that you can handle what’s ahead

Let’s dive in. 🎙️

🌿 Why Self-Care is Non-Negotiable

Whatever you put before taking care of yourself, you’re going to lose.

And what do we usually lose first?
❌ Sanity
❌ Peace of mind
❌ Emotional balance

💡 The truth I wish I learned earlier?
✔️ Taking care of myself pays enormous dividends.
✔️ I spend ...

Podcast Episode Summary

Today’s episode is short but powerful—we’re talking about morning routines and how they set the tone for your entire day.

💡 Inspired by Melody Beattie’s The Language of Letting Go, I’ll share:
✅ The importance of morning cues & listening to your first thoughts
✅ My own morning routine (and why it’s non-negotiable)
✅ How to affirm what you want & set daily intentions
✅ How to tune into what needs your focus & healing

Want to start your day with more clarity, confidence, and purpose? Let’s dive in. 🎙️

🌅 Why Your Morning Routine Matters

First thing in the morning, your mind is open, your defenses are down, and you’re the most in tune with yourself.

🔹 “There is an important message for us first thing every day.” – Melody Beattie

💡 What is the first feeling that floods through you?
✔️ Are you excited? Anxious? Avoiding something?
✔️ Are you frustrated, hurt, or confused?
✔️ What do you need to focus on today?

The answer is important—because that’s where your en...

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Today I'm going to talk to you about the hazard of making excuses as an actor. 

And I'm going to start with perhaps something that if you were like me, or you are like how I used to be the idea of it's only me. 

So it's only me and therefore it doesn't count or, I'm tough, I can handle it. 

One of the things that making excuses as an actor does is it stalls personal growth.

And anything that would affect me in a negative way, I used to be like, “Hey, I'm young. I can take it. Hey, no worries. I can overcome it.” 

Until I couldn't. 

And so the first thing I'm going to talk about in terms of the hazards of making excuses as an actor is just that. Stalling personal growth. 

See, now, as a middle aged woman, I don't want to do anything that stalls me.

I don't want to have any energy that is moving against me. 

I want everything moving for me. 

Because you know what? I deserve it. 

And so do you and this making excuses and stalling my perso...

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Today I'm going to talk about what I find a sad subject, and it is about unsupportive friends and unsupportive family members.

And I'm gonna give you a few points and things to think about. So that you can have the support, at least from me, and I'll talk about getting more support in a moment, that helps you when you're dealing with this. 

Now, the first thing, and I know because, man, I hated this word when I first learned it, was boundaries.

Learning to set boundaries, clearly communicate your goals and values to others, and establish boundaries when necessary. 

This helps you to protect your energy and stay focused on what matters most to you without having that negativity affect you. 

Now, I think that's really important, and I'm going to say something about boundaries in a moment, but I also need to teach you this little phrase.

Don't go to the hardware store for lemons. 

If you know that a family member or a particular friend is not supportive...