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The Acting Business Boot Camp Podcast

Episode 343: Building Real Confidence as an Actor

core work Jul 02, 2025

 

In this episode, I dive deep into one of the most important and misunderstood parts of an actor's journey: confidence.

Without confidence, you're benched. Without humility, you're a liability. Confidence is essential in the entertainment industry, but it has to be real—not performative, not overblown, and definitely not hubris.

I break down how to build real, grounded confidence that will keep you moving forward in your voiceover or acting career, using neuroscience-backed tools and personal experience from over two decades in the industry.

Key Topics Covered:

  • Why confidence is essential, and why too much of it (aka hubris) can end your career

  • The underrated power of self-awareness and how to cultivate it

  • "Talent blindness" and why some actors can’t see where they’re falling short

  • Real talk on imposter syndrome and how it rewires your brain

  • The difference between self-trust and self-delusion

Three Neuroscience-Backed Tips to Build Confidence:

  1. ...
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Episode 342: Is Fear Standing In the Way of Your Success?

core work Jun 25, 2025

Today I want to talk about something that comes up in almost every coaching session I have with actors.

Fear.

Not just nerves before a big audition. Not just that pit in your stomach when you hit “submit” on a self-tape.

I mean the kind of fear that quietly shapes your entire career. The fear that keeps you playing small, second-guessing yourself, or holding back in moments when you need to be bold. The fear that convinces you maybe this dream isn’t really for you.

If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “What if I’m not good enough?” or “What if I can’t handle it?”—you’re not alone. And that’s exactly what this episode of the Acting Business Boot Camp Podcast is all about.


The Root of Fear in an Actor’s Life

Fear is instinctual. It’s wired into us. Back when humans were being chased by saber-toothed tigers, fear served a purpose—it kept us alive. But today? That same adrenaline spike shows up when you’re waiting outside a casting office or uploading a tape for your reps.

A...

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Episode 341: Shiny Object Syndrome

business tips core work Jun 18, 2025

Episode Summary:

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on something I think we all struggle with at some point—especially if you’re a voice actor, on-camera actor, or creative trying to “make it”: shiny object syndrome. You know the feeling. You see someone post about a fancy new mic, a game-changing workshop, a big booking, and suddenly you're wondering… should I be doing that too?

I’ve been there. I’ve spent the money. I’ve chased the dopamine hits. And I want to talk honestly about how jealousy, comparison, and impulse spending can quietly erode your confidence, your clarity, and your career.

This one’s for the overthinkers, the late-night scrollers, the folks who are constantly trying to prove they belong. You don’t need to spend your way into success. You need a strategy. And maybe a little tough love. That’s what this episode is all about.

In this episode, I talk about:

  • Why shiny object syndrome shows up so often in creative careers

  • How to tell the differ

    ...
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Episode 340: Interview with Aaron Marcus

How to Land Acting Work in Smaller Markets (And Why It’s More Accessible Than You Might Think)

Have you ever thought that real acting work is only found in big cities? Like you have to be in New York or LA to make it? I used to think that too. But my conversation with actor Aaron Marcus on the Acting Business Boot Camp podcast really shifted that perspective.

About Aaron Marcus
Aaron Marcus has been a full-time actor for over 40 years, with nearly 1,300 bookings across film, TV, commercials, and more. You might have seen his scene with Tom Hanks in the film A Man Called Otto. Aaron started his acting journey in a small market, with no connections and no clue how to break in. After figuring it out through trial and error, he dedicated himself to helping others avoid those same pitfalls. He’s led over 800 workshops on three continents and offers private virtual coaching sessions to share his hard-earned wisdom.

You can learn more about Aaron’s work, watch his free quick-tip videos,...

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Episode 339: The Neuroscience of Decision-Making (And Letting Go of Limiting Beliefs)

core work Jun 04, 2025


It’s Mandy Fisher here, your Voiceover actor and creative coach. Today I want to dive into something that’s been on my mind a lot: how the neuroscience of decision-making can help us as actors and creative professionals. Because we’re not just making choices in auditions or on stage. We’re making decisions every single day that shape our careers, relationships, and—let’s be real—our self-worth.

How the Brain Guides Our Creative Decisions

Let’s talk brain science for a sec. The prefrontal cortex? It’s the part of the brain handling complex thoughts and decisions, like our personal command center. Think of it like that alien in Men in Black—the one sitting up front, pulling the strings. Then there’s the hippocampus, which stores memories and helps us imagine what’s next. They’re constantly in conversation, helping us weigh options and see potential outcomes.

Understanding how these parts of the brain work together is powerful. It reminds us that strategic thinking isn’t just some ...

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Episode 337: Desperate Energy Is Hurting Your Career

core work May 21, 2025

Feeling behind in your acting or voiceover career?

 

You’re not alone. But you might be burning through your creative energy in the wrong ways.

In this blog, we’ll unpack something that rarely gets talked about in the entertainment industry: desperate energy. What it looks like, how it sneaks into your process, and why it might be the real reason you feel stuck.

What Is Desperate Energy?

Desperate energy is that anxious, frantic feeling that shows up when you think you're falling behind.

  • It's applying to projects far below your rate just to stay busy

  • Sending emails that sound like begging rather than offering value

  • Obsessively checking job boards and refreshing your inbox

  • Saying yes to everything, even if it doesn't align with your goals

It feels like progress, but it’s just panic in disguise. And it doesn’t lead to your best work.

Why Talented Actors Burn Out

Most actors don’t fail because they ar

...
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Episode 335: Dreams vs. Nightmares: What Are You Really Focused On?

core work May 07, 2025

Welcome back to the Acting Business Boot Camp podcast! 🎙️

I'm Peter Pamela Rose — casting director and certified life and career coach for actors. My mission? To help you break down the business of acting into clear, actionable steps that move your career forward.

In today’s episode, I dive into a powerful concept from Energy Leadership by Bruce D. Schneider — the idea that we are constantly choosing between two mindsets: the dream and the nightmare.

💭 Are you focused on the dream of your acting career?
Or are you unconsciously living in the fear-based nightmare?

You’ll learn:

  • The energetic difference between fear and love thought systems

  • How most actors get stuck in low-level energy (victimhood, passivity, conflict)

  • Journal prompts to help you shift into a dream-focused mindset

  • Why your thoughts directly impact the speed and direction of your success

  • A practical visualization exercise that will change how you show up

Plus, I’ll share a few personal...

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Episode 334: Burnout Isn’t Failure — It’s a Signal

core work Apr 30, 2025

Episode Summary:

In today’s solo episode, Mandy Fisher gets real and raw about something that far too many actors and creatives are experiencing but not talking about enough: burnout.

This isn’t your typical “self-care” pep talk. This is a grounded, honest conversation about the soul-deep exhaustion that can hit even the most passionate, high-achieving creatives. Mandy shares her personal experience with burnout — how it feels, why it happens, and what it actually means — and offers a compassionate, human-first way to start recovering.

You’ll learn:

  • Why burnout isn’t a failure — it’s a warning light

  • What it actually feels like (and how to spot it early)

  • Why pushing through doesn’t work (and what to do instead)

  • Small, sustainable ways to start healing — without quitting your career

  • How to rebel gently against a system that demands constant output

If you’ve ever felt like your passion is slipping away, your to-do list is a brick wall, or your self-wort...

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Episode 332: Show Me the Success

core work Apr 16, 2025

In this episode, I’m getting real about something every actor struggles with at some point in their journey: the frustration of not seeing the success you know you’re capable of.

Inspired by a powerful passage from Jen Sincero’s You Are a Badass, I explore how your dream career (yes, including that dream agent, those callbacks, and the big booking) isn’t out there in the future… it’s already here, waiting for you to meet it at the right frequency.

If you’ve ever asked yourself:

  • Why isn’t this working?

  • Where’s the success I’ve been working so hard for?

  • Why do I feel like I’m doing everything right, but nothing’s landing?

…then this episode is for you.


🔥 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

  • Why the success you’re looking for is already here (and how to tap into it)

  • How energy, mindset, and “vibrational frequency” impact your acting career

  • What You Are a Badass teaches us about staying present and attracting opportunity

  • How to tell if you’re j

    ...
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Episode 331: The Actor’s X Factor – Vibration & Synchronicity

core work Apr 09, 2025

Why Your Energy May Be the Missing Link to Booking Work

Have you ever looked at another actor and thought,
"They’re not more talented than me... so why are they booking and I’m not?"

If so, you’re not alone — and you're asking the exact right question.

In a recent solo episode of the Acting Business Boot Camp podcast, I (Peter Pamela Rose) dove into what I call the "X Factor" — that invisible yet undeniable energy that seems to magnetize auditions, callbacks, and career opportunities to certain actors... even if they’re not the most trained or technically gifted in the room.

Spoiler: it’s not luck.
It’s vibration, energy, and alignment.

And if you’ve been hitting walls despite working hard and doing “all the right things,” this post might be the energetic reset you didn’t know you needed.


What Is the X Factor in Acting?

The “X Factor” isn’t about looks, representation, or even talent. It’s about vibrational alignment — the frequency you’re putting out and how it matches (or...

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