Thriving Artists: The Daily Joyride with Robyn Cohen

From Stage Fright to Spotlight: How to Build Confidence, Craft & Community with Jackie Diamond

• Robyn Cohen • Episode 15

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What if thriving as an artist wasn’t about waiting for your “big break,” but about creating it? How do you turn setbacks into fuel, connect with legends, and craft a career that feels as alive as the stories you tell? Join us in this exhilarating episode of 'Thriving Artists: The Daily Joyride,' where host Robyn Cohen sits down with Jackie Diamond—an acclaimed Los Angeles-based producer, director, and renowned acting coach. Jackie reveals her journey, from launching 'For the Actor' to working alongside Oscar, Tony, and Pulitzer Prize winner John Patrick Shanley in . Taste the magic of she produced in LA, NYC, and Paris. She proves the power of artistic communities, and gives practical advice on overcoming performance anxiety. The episode serves as a profound reminder to embrace your creative instincts and persevere through adversity—essential for any artist looking to thrive. Tune in to discover the magic of living a life enriched by the arts and don't miss this delightful opportunity to elevate your creative path!

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🌟 Meet Jackie Diamond

Jackie Diamond is an acting coach, teacher, and creator of For the Actor, a powerhouse resource dedicated to empowering actors with tools, training, and inspiration while providing clarity, encouragement and practical wisdom to stay the course.

✨ Follow Jackie on IG: @for_the_actor

🌍 Explore her site: fortheactor.com


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✨ Podcast: Thriving Artists: The Daily Joyride

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🤗 Loved this conversation? Please leave a review and share it with someone who’s ready to thrive. Let’s grow this movement of joyful, fearless artists together!

Time Stamps:

00:44 Jackie's Career Highlights

04:05 Cultural Identity and Belonging

12:30 Acting Techniques and Advice

19:39 Overcoming Stage Fright

37:44 Reaching Out to Industry Icons

41:01 Connecting with John Patrick Shanley

51:59 Creating Artistic Communities

Robyn Cohen:

Well, hello. Hello and welcome back to Thriving Artists, the Daily Joy Ride. oh my gosh. So, I'm overjoyed, literally to be having a conversation today with one of my. Just favorite people, let alone creatives, uh, on the entire planet. And, uh, for those of you who don't know Jackie Diamond yet, so many of you do, I'm gonna share a little bit about her, her trajectory, some of the magically delicious things that she's been creating in the world. So a little bit about Jackie Diamond. Jackie is a Los Angeles based producer, director, and renowned acting coach with a passion for empowering actors and championing the arts. Yeah. There we go. As the founder of For the Actor, she offers personalized one-on-one coaching, while also producing and directing Dynamic Theater Productions, many of which I've had the privilege to be a part of, and what a creative joy. For the past eight years. Jackie has collaborated with acclaimed writer and director John Patrick Shanley, our friend and colleague who has been on this very podcast, co-producing exclusive professional actors workshops in Los Angeles, New York City, and most recently Paris or Paris!, as we like to call it. these workshops have given actors the rare opportunity to work directly with Shanley, an Oscar, Tony, and Pulitzer Prize winning artist on his newest works. Jackie's Directorial Vision has brought both full productions and staged readings to life Earning her a reputation for working with exceptional talent on and off stage. She is also a co-founder and former co-artistic director of the Los Angeles based Australian Theater Company, a TC, where she collaborated with legendary acting teacher and director. My teacher as well, Larry Moss, as well as producing and casting the amazing, the amazing, as well as producing and casting an array of acclaimed shows, readings, and workshops from 2014 to 2019. As a dedicated teacher, Jackie has shaped the next generation of performers at prestigious institutions such as the Ivana Chubb Studio in Hollywood, 16th Street actor Studio in Australia, and through her own company FOR THE ACTOR. Her commitment to developing artists has helped shape the future of actors in both film and theater to connect with Jackie. And this is all gonna be in the show notes of sports fans Oh, to connect with Jackie or learn more about her work, follow her on Instagram at For the Actor, or visit www.fortheactor.com. Jackie Diamond. Co creative Sprite and collaborator galore. Welcome to the show. I mean, I'm so happy here. Who is this person? I

Jackie D:

wanna

Robyn Cohen:

meet her. And it's so funny because just in terms of who is this person, Jackie may be referring to the fact that we're both joyfully drenched in our own sweat because we had the most party, magnificent dance Party. Lady Gaga, Beyonce, telephone. If you guys haven't heard this song, which I hadn't until Jackie DJ introduced it to me. You know, get on your phones right now and listen to this song and dance your heart out. this is the theme for the show. Show. This is the theme for the show. and Jackie, there was something else about your bio that you were gonna add. Will you share what that piece was? Oh, yes. Tell me, tell us everything.

Jackie D:

something that I did not, have down there is, I, so there was, there's a short play festival called Short and Sweet Hollywood. Yes. it runs all over the world, short and sweet, runs all over the world. It was started in Australia and I was brought on as the program director for the Latino, program, which I did for two years of the festival before COVID and right after COVID, which was really great because yes, as a Mexican American, my mother is from Mexico, also first generation. on my mom's side. My dad's, you know, from the East Coast Pennsylvania, uh, Irish white guy. you know, all of that. And so I had these two parts of myself, which have always been, it's been interesting because. there were definitely times throughout growing up and, and even in my adult years where I've gone, I don't really, where do I fit, you know? Mm-hmm. Like, I don't know if I'm the Mexican side or I'm the more the American side and and I guess there is no side, but that's the reality is there is no sides. Yeah. But sometimes I did feel kind of on the outside of things, you know, definitely growing up and so it was really such a beautiful thing to be asked to, direct this program to work with all of these, Latin American artists, playwrights, directors, actors, actors, People just getting the chance to tell their stories in both Spanish and in English from so many countries, you know?'cause people just often don't think, but I mean the Spanish language is spoken in so many countries. Latinos speak so many languages. Yes. So it was really incredible to be able to bring those. It's kind of like all my sides came together and it was really great. Ah, yeah, it was really cool.

Robyn Cohen:

It was really holistic. A very comprehensive Yeah. Holistic experience. Like from the blood, you know? Exactly. Just like in in your DNA and that. Exactly. Uh, so beautiful. That amalgamation of like welcoming just all the parts of you, right? Like yeah. The wholeness and something that I

Jackie D:

wouldn't normally have had the chance to do. so it was definitely. something I didn't look for or see coming. It just sort of found me Like, don't you think like, so many of the things

Robyn Cohen:

that

Jackie D:

end up being great in our life.

Robyn Cohen:

Yeah. and I wanna have like a whole, there's a whole podcast just about that. Right, right. That's a different thing. And it's part of this. I mean, yeah. You even being here, I was thinking back like, how do we connected because there was a vibe, because mm-hmm. I'm in, I'm a creative that's, in this magically. Yeah. Delicious arts and crafts world. As are you. And I had a friend that told me about your. First Shanley workshop and years ago, eight years ago, he is like, oh, you should send a headshot and resume to this woman Jackie, who at that point I hadn't heard of. Though I knew you from the depths of my soul, as soon as I met you and like always have, I've always felt that way about you. But Timeless connection. A timeless connection, but one that was fostered because vibrationally speaking, if you will, it was a match. Mm-hmm. Like there's a match. I feel that with you. I feel that with everyone who's, you know, that I get to work with, that I have the privilege to teach or collaborate with or, you know, learn from, or you or John or any, there's. There's some kind of energetic match and we become, we magnetize these experiences that like, there's no way we could have logically figured them out. Like, if I do this, then this, then this, then this. Right? This will get me to this. And if I, you know, there's, there's no figuring this stuff out. But there is the practice of raising the vibration and embodying the vibe that you want, your life, the music that you want to be playing in your life that attracts fellow dancers. Fellow collaborators on the dance floor as we were doing before. Or Yeah. sweating, our faces off sweating. Go. Yes,

Jackie D:

but I love that we're gonna be doing this for a while. Woohoo. Yeah.

Robyn Cohen:

Yeah. But I think that's so true in terms of, um, attracting that, which you are in so many ways.

Jackie D:

Mm.

Robyn Cohen:

so I'd love to, speaking of that, which you are, I'd love to take it back for just a minute here. Yes. and I'm, I might cry because you move me. Okay. Oh, and, and this conversation touches me also. We were talking about some of the ideas that were on our hearts in terms of this podcast and what we might discuss. And something that you talked about was this rift in, what actors are seemingly often striving for in terms of celebrity and fame and acclaim, versus actually getting to be just mm-hmm. Loving and embodying, actually getting to be an artist. Right. And that there's some confusion of off times about what people are even going for. and there's also disillusionment You know, you talk like with social media, let's say, you know, this thing about, and this segues into my question, but you have like tens of thousands, 40,000 more followers right on Instagram FOR THE ACTOR'. Such a powerful zeitgeist for artists and creatives everywhere that want to continuously be fed and nourished creatively. it's what you provide and what you stand for and what you teach. And so of course, 50,000 people are on your social media like hungry for that to be fed crazy, that crazy at the same time. You don't even have your name Jackie in the handle. Yeah. And so when you talk about, right,'cause it's at, for the actor, your name Jackie Diamond is not in that handle. No. And so when you talk about you are a living, breathing, walking example. Of what it is to love on this craft and wanna create with fabulous people and wanna connect and dig up humanity. You doing that is the honey to the bees that has put you on the map in this incredible way without it being about you at all. So many people want to be in your Jackie world. Can you talk about what you shared in terms of the way people get confused about what they're striving for in struggling about in terms of making it as an actor and what would help people to get into a mindset? That would allow them to in a way operate in the way that you have operated since the first phone call we had, which is like, you're just a, you're so giving, and this is why I'm gonna cry.'cause like your generosity like it, it knows no limits. It's just like this boundless creative contribution that inspires stadiums, just stadiums of people. So can you talk about that as a way of life and how we might help people to understand about what real fulfillment and joy is? Because you occur as someone who is filled. There's so much you occur as someone that has so much fulfillment in what you do without even having your name on the sign.

Jackie D:

Wow. Okay. well. First of all, not having my name on my stuff like that was an intentional choice because when I was trying to come up with a name for what I do, and, how I wanted to kind of build something, I kept saying to friends of mine who I was talking to,'cause they were saying, you know, Jackie Diamond Studio or Jackie Diamond, whatever. And I was like, no, or JDS, or you know, and I was like, no, no, no, no, no. my name doesn't need to be on it. And I don't want it on it because the thing that kept coming up and what it, it ended up being the name. The thing that kept coming up was, it's not about me, it's for the actor. It's for the actor. It's not about me. I don't need JDS, I don't need Jackie Diamond. In fact, I didn't really want that because I thought, you know, and this leads back to what I was kind of touching on earlier with you about this celebrity versus actor. you know, it's. That doesn't appeal to me. Yes. And and it's not that success doesn't appeal to me. Of course, success appeals, we all wanna be, you know, doing what we do at the highest level that we can. and success is in many forms, you know, it depends on how you define success. Yes. So for me, the idea that I could do what I do and kind of fly under the radar with it appealed so much more than putting my name out there, putting my face on something, you know? so for that reason, that's how that name came about. And that's, yes, I like that about it, you know? Yes. that said, I have spoken to a few people who are like, every now and again, you should pop your face up there or, or post something with you so people kind of see who you are. And I was like, uh, I don't need that necessarily. But, you know, every now and again something comes up or whatever, but, As far as the actor's pursuit, I think there's such a difference between, actors who are genuinely drawn to understanding themselves and understanding human beings and just the human condition on a deeper level, and I can only speak for myself, but I, I know that. Speaking to others, there's been a similar story. You know, there's been people going, oh yeah, me too. Yeah, I'm that way. Yeah, that's true for me. Yeah. So I started going, this isn't a unique thing. This is a bigger, you know, and you find your circle of people. Yeah. But for me, it was very much like, I always had an interest in, in storytelling, in stories, and make believe and imagination.

Robyn Cohen:

Yeah.

Jackie D:

I grew up very, kind of in a family where I felt very alone because, the culture mix between the American and the Mexican, there was a lot of the rules that were, that didn't seem to be anybody else's rules, like, you know, socializing, going to parties, going to things and stuff. So I was very much. Building my own little world. I lived in stories. I lived in, make believe imagination, the world of animals, the world of outdoors, that's kind of where I felt most at home. And so, I had a genuine interest in understanding are there other people like me, or who am I? Like what, what is this, you know, that I'm feeling? Am I alone in this? And so that drew me into reading more and more and learning. And so reading stories kind of, it felt like transporting, you know, like you're time traveling and you're going, oh my God, this person was going through it in 18 hundreds and this person was going through it in the fifties, or whatever it was. You know, you don't feel as isolated alone. I didn't. And so that helped me a lot.

Robyn Cohen:

Yeah.

Jackie D:

and the understanding of like an interest in psychology. Like you know, Carl Young and dream analysis Yes. And all that kind of stuff. So that's what, for me, it could have gone in any direction.

Robyn Cohen:

Hmm. Maybe

Jackie D:

it was gonna go into acting, writing, directing, who knows? It could have, there were so many avenues that it could have taken, but it was all to do with the soul search. so that's what's real for me. That's what I love about acting. And I love that you said the word,

Robyn Cohen:

soul search. Like I, see you as a girl listening for your soul to speak, like feeling Ugh. about the parties and how belonging to this group, belonging to that culture, and the kind of confusion about that. And what I hear in that is You were able to find a way through listening to your soul to belong to yourself, to sort of find,

Jackie D:

still looking, you know?

Robyn Cohen:

Yeah. And it's a forever search. It's a forever search. like, how good are we willing to have it? How deep are we willing to go? the other piece, which fascinates me about what you shared about how you came up with, FOR THE ACTOR, that it didn't feel in alignment, right? Mm-hmm. To be like, this is my studio, this is my thing. Because it was meant and designed to be a contribution to every other creative out there that was looking for answers to questions mm-hmm. That they didn't probably even know how to ask in many cases, Yeah. And so, there you are, You start something more like a movement, right? Mm-hmm. And one of the things that's so riveting about that is that technically, operationally, it's exactly how many acting exercises, for instance, in the Meisner technique, um mm-hmm. the entire technique and approach is about ultimately fundamentally taking the attention off of yourself and putting it over there onto your partner and working off of them, right? Yeah. I always say, it's like, the little e Insider true Hollywood stories, but you know, at the Oscar awards, at the Academy Awards off times. The person that is winning the Academy Award and they're holding a statue in their hand, they so often say, this isn't for me. This is for my co-star. Right. This isn't for me. This is for, because real artists know that it was the other actor and their attention on the other person that dug up their humanity, that gave them that award-winning performance. So they're always like, I'm giving this Oscar my partner. They are the ones that really, I mean, they had to be a skilled artist and to know that, to know that they had to disappear themselves into the other person. But I, I love that, like it's very meta what you're teaching as an acting teacher, as a director, and your entire business, if you will, that aspect of it is founded on the same fundamental principles of, what gives rise to excellence in acting and ultimately mm-hmm. You know. Being a human being as we move and shake and dance throughout the world when we're making it about, yeah, other, the other, right. And how much you come into existence when your focus is out there in life on the other person, where the aliveness of life is actually at. It's like it's out there with that other person's eyes with whatever you're paying attention to. And isn't it amazing? I've noticed this in acting classes and just in every creative situation, people come to life and they start to show up in technicolor when their attention is not on themselves for young actors, or not young, but any age new, newer people that are newer to the acting world. Mm-hmm. Are so often wanting to be seen and put on a good show and get the a and yeah. And perform, and it takes something to dismantle that and man alive, woman alive, are you the one to do it? Because it's sort of what your entire, so much of your life is organized around that premise. Like, take the focus off of here, put it out into the world over there where life is at, and then you kind of get everything, you kind of get everything.

Jackie D:

Yeah. it's true what, you know, when you're talking about, Meisner and the idea of putting it on the other person and removing yourself from you. You shouldn't be looking at yourself or worrying about yourself. Just observe, watch, be in connection with the other person. My very first acting class that I ever took was a Meisner class. And it. Yeah. Yeah. And it opened something up in me that like all of a sudden I was like, oh my God, I love this. I love this. This makes sense. But I also had an incredible teacher at the time who I'm still in contact with. I just adore him. His name is Peter Sardy. He's in Australia. Fabulous. And he was a wonderful teacher, who taught us about a lot of different, you know, just listening, focus, paying attention, you know? Yes. All of that stuff. Yes. And it really opened things up for me. but then I had a curiosity to learn more. So, you know, I went Yeah. And studied many different techniques than many different, ideas, different philosophies, different, so it's all little pieces of different things. Yes. But it is also the advice that I always give to actors when they talk about, you know, do you have any advice for like, stage fright or nerves or, you know, performance anxiety? Yeah, and my advice is always. It's so simple. I know it's not because everyone you know, people deal with this and it's real. it's not to diminish that. They're definitely going through it. And I had it,

Robyn Cohen:

you know, of course I do. Every time I still have it. Yeah. A little I do

Jackie D:

all the time. Yeah. But that's, but that's, I, I don't think that's the same thing. I think the butterflies and the nervous energy is a really great thing because I do, I chase butterflies. I chase the butterflies. Yeah. I'm chasing butterflies. It's, it's actually, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Actually, it's our, our body is preparing for something really exciting. Yes. Our mind and our body is saying we're about to do something really exciting. So it's adrenaline Yes. Of enthusiasm. Of excitement. Yes. So that's a little bit different, but you know, when you see someone on stage and they freeze or they get really panicked and they shut down. Yeah. Yeah. That's a different thing. And when I'm talking to actors about that, the simplest advice I can give them, but it is also I think, the most powerful is that when you are. When you go inwards and you start going, oh my God. Oh God, I think I, I was supposed to pick this glass up at this time and I forgot that my blocking and my line and Oh that just fell. Or, yeah. Or, my God, people are laughing. That wasn't meant to be funny or whatever it was, you know? Yeah. When you start going inward and you're listening to yourself, spin these stories, you are in so much trouble. This is the, the immediately, immediately pull yourself out by putting your attention on the actor that you are working with. Yes.

Robyn Cohen:

Yes. Pull

Jackie D:

yourself out. I mean, as soon as you're going down that you're gonna spiral, it's gonna get worse. It's not a good place to be, and the antigen for that is so simple. It really is just. Put your attention on the actor that you're working with. Put your attention on the other person. Put your attention on the circumstance. Where are you? You know, really be present and connected to the space that you're into. The story that you're telling to the person in front of you. Put your attention outside of yourself because you can't actually be inside your own head freaking out and be connected to the other person at the same time. It can't happen, right? It's not possible. Right. So the minute that you take the focus outside of yourself and put it on the other person, your nervous system will calm down. Yes. Because then you start to be curious. Yes. Oh, what are they thinking? Oh. What do they mean? What are they saying? What do they want from me? What am I supposed to do? You know, you like, what are I wonder what their intention is? Or I wonder how I can get them to like me or I wonder, you know, whatever it is, wonder about them. I wonder where they've just come from. I wonder why they're saying that. you know what I mean? Like, just purely focus on trying to understand what it is that they want from you, what it is that they need from you, what they're saying to you. Are they trying to get under your skin? Are they trying to manipulate you? Are they trying to, whatever it is, take the focus off yourself. Focus on the other person. Try to understand them. Be curious.

Robyn Cohen:

Yeah. Be

Jackie D:

curious. Be observant. Yeah. Listen, and when you're doing that, the nerves will disappear because you won't be inside your own head anymore. Yeah. The nerves happen when we're inside our own head. Get out. Right? Get out of your own head. That's what you gotta do. it's a simple thing, but it's. Sometimes people get really trapped

Robyn Cohen:

in that. So it's just reframing. It is reframing. And I saw when you were sharing about when you first discovered that phenomenon in class, you were like, oh, I love this. And I could see just in your face as you were remembering the relief. Yeah. Like it was literally like a relief from actor prison. Right. To take my focus off how I was doing and how it was going and put it over there. And when you were describing that experience for yourself in this first Meisner acting class with your wonderful teacher, it was like, yeah. Oh, oh. it doesn't have to be about me. What a relief. What a relief. Because it's so exhausting the other way. It's just. it's an endless egoic battle. And with that reframe and with that redirection of your actorly energy, you can suddenly go, oh, mm-hmm.

Jackie D:

It's so much more interesting, don't you think? Oh, more interesting. Yes. To wonder what is going on? Yes. What are you trying to say to me? What do you want from me? Or what are you trying not to say to me? What are you trying to mask? What are you not telling me? Just to be in that place of curiosity. If you do just that one switch, if there is one thing that you change in your acting, yeah. Let it be that. Let it be to make the other person more important, more interesting, and more, revealing. Than your own head.

Robyn Cohen:

Yeah.

Jackie D:

There's nothing. What are you gonna learn by stepping inside of yourself except Yeah. to criticize, to judge, to diminish, you know, to this thing between our ears. It's a maker. It's it's a crazy maker. It's a little beast running rampant. And if we don't, quite a piece. Yeah, yeah. If we don't quite it, because we're always, you know, by nature there's, I mean there's a certain amount of self doubt. That is healthy. Yes. Because it makes us not rest and it makes us strive to do better. So, you know, it's a good thing to have a certain amount of self-doubt to be able to say, I'm not sure that this is the best I could do with this. I'm not sure that the information I have is correct. Let me, let me learn more. Yeah, that's okay. it keeps us growing and it keeps us, moving forward. Yeah. But when the self-doubt becomes a limiting thing, then it's really, you need to get away from that. Yeah. Because anything you do, I think whether you're an actor, as a director, as a teacher, really for me, very much as a teacher and a director, but it is how do I take a situation and make it more expansive? How do I not shut things down? How do I not, and I know, look, I have failed miserably. A hundred percent. I've failed miserably. There's times where I've done things where I've gone, oh my God, why did I do that? That didn't help. That was not helpful. That shut someone down and I know that and I recognize it, and I, I cringe when I think about it. But then I also go, you know what? I, I remember what that's like and I'm I've learned something from

Robyn Cohen:

that. So yes, you took the learning and it's one step closer to you fulfilling a, upon helping even more people, that being able to take the learning from whatever experience so that it doesn't become a failure, really. It, it's actually, it's the feedback, it's feedback that if you can interact with it in that way that you describe, then that's just one step closer to being able to help more people than I would have That's right. toward that end. And now I am, I'm gonna cry some more. I and I just have to say, I, I just have to say, it is such a radical honor to have you here. Turns out Jackie's been invited to other podcasts, and this is, this is Jackie Diamonds Diamond first. Is this your first podcast? Okay. Okay. No, listen, it's, no, no, no. It's, it's such a testament. No, it's

Jackie D:

not. Or it is. It's, it's not the fir No, this is, this is the third one for me. But the funny thing is I thought said you been

Robyn Cohen:

asked. Okay. I

Jackie D:

I did, I did do them. But, um, each time with great apology beforehand going, listen, I don't listen to podcast. I don't understand the concept. I mean yeah, it's like I don't get it, you know? Yeah. And so, with that, sure, I can come and have a chat, but then I kept leaving

Robyn Cohen:

you 10 minute voice memos where I'll be like, listen, all this is gonna be, this is a creative conversation. We're gonna have like tea and trumpets and hot chocolate and high noon. We're gonna have a dance party. We're, we're gonna dance. We're gonna dance. We're just gonna like, We're gonna sweat. We're gonna sweat, we're gonna get into things we would talk about anyway on any given Sunday or any other day. We're gonna just like, enjoy some kind of creative mashup conversation that would, we would be doing like passing voicemails and voice memos anyway. Right. Right. And now other people just get to join in on the party.

Jackie D:

People are just listening to our phone conversation. That's right.

Robyn Cohen:

And that's, and that is my, and that's my dream. And that is my dream because they're so juicy, because Jackie leaves the best. Voice memos ever. Award-winning. Award-winning. Speaking of which, so to get into some of the latest voice memo recollections, right? You have just gotten back from the most amazing world adventure, a world class global adventure, which, involves our John Patrick Shanley, our, our very own, our very own Um, right. I, I literally wanna hear every last detail. I'm not gonna keep you here like all day, but I do at some point want like the 10 hour version of the workshop and everything else. But, in the meantime, So Jackie, everything that you were sharing before about like for the actor and how you sort of realized that it was your soul's calling to like help other people who, you know, are looking for a leg up or looking to kick it down the road, take a step forward in this business of show or as, as craftsmen and women. so this is, you know these workshops over the last, it's eight years now. Eight years. 2017 is when I first reached out to John. Yeah. Right. So I wanna hear about like, was it inside of the same sort of mo, like I want to bring other actors to this kind of first class, first rate. Performing artist, was it inside of that that you were like, I'm just gonna connect with this academy Award-winning fuel and surprise winning Tony Award-winning guy and just like what gave you the gumption? how did you get the wheels in motion for something like this? Because in no uncertain terms, Jackie, like I just got back from New York City. I was doing a presentation with, I know someone that I have looked up to for 25 years. Her name is Mary-Louise Parker. And in this reading Yep. That we performed for John Patrick Shanley and his friends in New York City in the Chrysler building of"Beggars in the House of Plenty", uh, I was playing Mary-Louise Parker's sister, and it was this sort of, Hmm. 25 year dream in the making come true. Yeah. And bonded. And we worked together and it was magic nonpareil and, um, none of that. I just want you to get like, just like we're so crystal clear that like, I'm not in New York City last week. I'm not sitting with John Patrick Shanley performing his play for him. I'm not playing Mary-Louise Parker's sister in this inimitable play that he wrote about his family in many ways. Mm-hmm. I'm not doing, I'm not doing any of it. It's just not like there's another quantum, quantum things have transpired for knowing you, like, for knowing you and for the way that you, you, like no one else I've ever known on the planet, and you and I, I, we've known some people. We've known some people, but there's, there's not a, a soul that I, that comes anywhere near to the amount of creative opportunity and joy and magic. Life changing experiences that you are at the source of is literally mind bending. It's given me some of the best moments, days, weeks, years of my entire life on the planet. So can you talk about like what is the engine for you? How is it, what do you connect to that And this is sort of the more specific, so many actors have this, it's like an imposter syndrome. Yeah. Like, I don't belong here. I'm not good enough. This person is up here and I'm down here in the dirt and should be. I don't belong. This isn't for me. It's not possible for me. And I've, and you've seen, we've seen many talented people where this is a toppling conversation for them. And it is the choke hold on, creating a life that they love. All of this inner dialogue, which is, is just trying to keep you safe and small and save your energy so that you can go out and like kill a bear and eat it for dinner. But it's also getting in the way of all of our dreams come true. So this thing about I can't, or I'm not this not enoughness that I think is a dis-ease. Mm-hmm. It's like a dis-ease among artists, actors, creatives, and humans everywhere. Can you speak about like. What are you in touch with? Is it a divine connection? Is it, how do you get in touch with, such a powerful source of life that you can then give to so many people and get over all of that imposter syndrome and oh my gosh, and what are they gonna think? You know, how do you, we spend so much of our time and our lives, like trying to look good for other people and trying to. You know, people, please, I suffered from that disease for years. The perfectionism, all that stuff. And it's just so excruciating and so exhausting. And someone with you that has your energy, Jackie could light up Times Square. That's you. That's you. So can you give us a little bit Wow, okay. Of like the pharmaceutical drip that's going on in you that we can sort of, what's the prescription? What is the prescription? How do we get over ourselves to go out and live the lives that we love? Thank you.

Jackie D:

Okay. So let me first say, whenever I'm feeling down, whenever I'm feeling like, oh, you know, what am I doing? And I don't know if I'm gonna be able to do something that great again, and I've already done the best that I'm gonna do, and I'm, I'm just gonna call you because I swear to God right now, I'm feeling like I can do anything. We're doing another podcast. You guys listening

Robyn Cohen:

in. Look how humble this woman. It's, it's, it's bananas. It's bananas. How humble. You're It's not. No, I

Jackie D:

mean, oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. It's just, it's so thank you for, thank you for everything you just said. I really, it means so much to me. I really appreciate it because, you know, and not that I necessarily, I'm just one person, Jackie. I'm

Robyn Cohen:

one person and you have, you know, 50,000 people who are listening in and tuning their radio receivers to hear the music that you are playing in the sound vibrations that are your life.

Jackie D:

That's really

Robyn Cohen:

special.

Jackie D:

It's really sweet and it does mean a lot to me. Ah, wow. Okay. So, what gives me the gumption? You know what, that's something I've always had. I have gumption. I just have, you know, when it went. I just have that, and I think that comes from, I didn't think I had anything to lose, you know? You know what I mean? Like, if you have nothing to lose, then there's no risk. I had that from a very early age. You know, I just did things that people said, you can't just do that. You can't just call that person. You can't just like show up. And I was like, why not? What are they gonna do? What's gonna happen? They're not gonna answer. They're gonna say No. How am I any worse off by just, not doing it and saving myself. What? A little embarrassment. I didn't, that didn't, wasn't simple. That's so simple. But that's such

Robyn Cohen:

a simple, but it's so profound. Like, what is, what's gonna happen? All that's gonna happen is they're gonna say yes, no. Or let's try something else. Like there's literally like three things that could happen, right? I think that's, um,

Jackie D:

that's brilliant. Yeah. It it, and it's, it's so simple. I mean, I feel like whatever it is that I'm talking about, whether it's like, how do I not feel nervous and how do I not freeze up to like, how, how do you do this? All, everything that I do comes from like, just the most basic simple stuff. Like, you know, this or this. and, as far as like taking risks, that's, that's never really frightened me. Those types of things have NI have a lot of fears. Trust me, I have a lot of fears. I have a fear of like, you know, driving on freeways with insane drivers and com. You know, welcome to the Human Race. I have plenty of those things, but I don't, I've never really had a fear Of taking risks in the sense of like opportunities. Mm. That has never scared me because I've figured I'm not, I don't currently have that opportunity, so it's not gonna cost me anything if I don't get it. But it, might open something up. So just the

Robyn Cohen:

genius of not making it mean anything about you in terms of the response? Yes. No, maybe. Right. That's the piece that I think in, in my experience, has been missing. Like, it is that simple. Like what do I thinks gonna happen? The sky's gonna fall. No. Right? No. And tomorrow God willing is gonna come and the sun will rise. Even if they say no. Even if they say, we really didn't like it, it's really not for us. Even then the sun's still gonna rise. Right. And I didn't have it anyway, as you said. So what was there to lose? I think the collapse spiritually. I. That it means something about my soul. And that's where I had to go to work, to untangle all of that. and I know a lot of actors that do that, the rejection means something like, well, I should just go back to Maryland where I was born at the Bethesda Naval Hospital for$14 and 27 cents. Like a lot of people were collapsing this No. Or quote unquote rejection with our souls, with our essence, with our humanity. So I, I, it takes something to unravel that. and just getting to the simple, the shift, the reframe of like, if I drill down, like what's really, so I, I reach out to John Patrick Shanley. What's the worst

Jackie D:

like? He might not answer me. So what do you know what? I've reached out to a lot of people who haven't answered me. I don't sit there and hey, I would love, they lost out. I would love they missed out.

Robyn Cohen:

Who's on your wishlist?

Jackie D:

Let's put it out there on my know. Well, I know, listen, I have a few people on my wishlist, but in terms of like more workshops that I'd like to produce and more people that I'd like to work with more writer directors, that would be incredible to bring into these workshops so that. Other people have the opportunity to work with them the way they have with John. I would love to work with Tracy Letts, so I'm putting it out there. Anyone have a connection to Tracy Letts? Let's go. Let's go. We can set up some really incredible workshops. Yes. there's some really, you know, I actually had an incredible phone conversation with Theresa Rebeck. She was super interested in coming on board to do these. Um, and then, you know, timing wise, she was directing something. It didn't work out. But I have it out there that, you know, when the time is right for her, that that might be something she's still interested, but she was super excited about it. She Oh, I love that. Super excited. Oh yeah. So there's more to come. There are more really great people out there that would be. Just a dream to do these with.

Robyn Cohen:

Yes, yes. Um,

Jackie D:

so we will see what happens. But that's the thing. It's like, I reach out to people all the time, and, 99% of the time I might not hear anything. or I might hear, like, you know, with Theresa Rebeck, I did have, an incredibly beautiful conversation with her on the, the phone and got to speak with her about it and share. And she was really excited about it. and so maybe it doesn't work out for one reason or another right now, but the seed is planted and you just never know what will grow from that garden. You just never know. Yes. and I guess my thoughts are just if I plant enough seeds, something blooms something. Mm. I don't know. And I don't know when or what, or how it will unfold. I mean, when I first reached out to John in 2017, I didn't have a connection to him. I had no, nobody said, Hey, You should talk to Jackie? Do? No. I just reached out to him and, at the time I had my theater company and I reached out to him. I would love to speak to you about doing a workshop with us. Would you be interested? Because at that time I had done a workshop with, I mean my beloved, but she's no longer with us, but Elizabeth Kemp, who was the co-artistic director of The Actors Studio. Yeah. And, we had co-produced, with 16th Street. We had co-produced a, beautiful, actors workshop with her here in Los Angeles. And we were planning to do more. She was really excited about doing more. You know, it wasn't meant to be, but, and, and we had done some other workshops with other, but she was such an

Robyn Cohen:

inspiration for everything that was to come. Oh, she was. For all of what that, which has unfolded. And she was the beginning. Oh, wow. She's a, she's a dream angel.

Jackie D:

Elizabeth Kemp is a dream angel. Wow. And so she passed away and, in November of the, the year that she passed away in September and in November, there was a beautiful ceremony, a service for her, at a theater in, times Square. and so many people came to honor her. so many people, I mean, a lot of the people she had worked with came and sang, and performed and spoke It was really an incredible moment. And so I went to New York to be there for the service. and it was while I was there,'cause I stayed a few extra days. It was while I was there that I thought, you know what, what the hell, I'm gonna reach out to John Patrick Shanley.'cause he's been on my list of people. I feel like her angel spirit just got into your ear. I'm telling you. I'm telling you. And so I reached out to him and, and this is what I said on Instagram. On Instagram, I just slid into those dms and said, as for the actor, as for the actor. And I reached out and I just said, I thought, who, what's he gonna, you know, I'll probably never hear from him. Um, I would love to speak to you about doing a workshop with us in Los Angeles. And I have a little theater company that, you know, I would love to see whether you might be interested. Anyway, I really didn't expect to hear from him. I was in my hotel room. I was leaving, this was on, I think a Thursday, and I was flying out on the, I think the Saturday. I mean, it was like right at the end of my trip. and it was really just one of those random, you know what, I'm just gonna, I'm just gonna DM him, whatever. and so anyway, uh, so I was about to fly out, so I said, you know,

Robyn Cohen:

why not?

Jackie D:

Why not? I know, but it's also, it, it says so much about him too, that he's so, his generosity of spirit, I say this about him all the time. He has such a generosity of spirit that he actually does read and does respond to people. Yeah. Where a lot of people That's you too.

Robyn Cohen:

That's you. That's for the actor. That's you Jackie, that's a match for you. I mean, you're, it you're match a vibrational match Yeah. In that way. Yeah. And so he was like. Let's, so he,

Jackie D:

well he responded. It was really funny'cause he responded very, you know, pretty quickly, like within half an hour I sent this message. I'm like, oh my God, this person's responded. And I couldn't believe it. He said, you know, I'm curious to, to learn more what you know. And so I said, would you be available for like breakfast or lunch, uh, tomorrow or Saturday, blah, blah, blah. And he, I'll never forget,'cause he made me laugh. He goes, I'm available for breakfast on Monday. And I said, oh. So I responded, oh, well I'm actually flying back to LA on Saturday. would you be, you know, could we maybe meet before then? And he just responded, I'm available for breakfast on Monday. So I, I was like, right, okay. Breakfast on Monday. It's, let me switch my plans around. Lemme change my flight. This

Robyn Cohen:

is what I just did for New York because I planning to come home early. I was like. Lemme switch my flight for the reading on Monday. Right. Even though my flight was for Saturday. I just did this eight years later, the exact same move. Okay. Okay. I love it.

Jackie D:

So anyway, we met for, we met for breakfast on Monday. we talked about what this could look like. He just couldn't imagine what it would be. you know, I think he just was, tell me what you have in mind. And I didn't have a, a super, certain thing in mind, but I, I knew the idea of it. And, and we talked about what it could be and what he might like to do. And he basically said that he could potentially be interested. Of course, he had a lot of questions and of course he had some concerns about who was this person? I don't know this person. Fair, totally valid. and so, but one thing he said at the end was. I'm gonna give it some thought. Yeah. I might wanna know more information and we continue the conversation for a while. but he said, the one thing I will say for certain is I'm not interested in doing anything with plays that I've already done. It would have to be all new works. It would have to be new material. And I said, that would be great. And he goes, well, you don't know that you might not like him. And I said, I know that I will, I know that I will. And he said, well, you don't know. And so anyway, that's where we, I fortune tell her, and

Robyn Cohen:

I'm telling you, it's all good. Yeah. Um, and, and, and so, so, so, and I literally would keep you here for two and a half hours, but I said I wouldn't and that we would go to lunch, but, so cutting. Cut two, let's say cut two. The workshop, the inaugural workshop in 2017 where I met you. Yeah. Where I met John, that this, this idea Born from your Yeah. Soul speaking to you and Elizabeth and our guides and Elizabeth, and connecting this up and offering this workshop in Los Angeles mm-hmm. Where people like you and me got together in a room, in a theater and, um, won't ever be the same for that experience. And I yeah. when John was on the podcast, I said to him, listen, I didn't know what was possible as an actor. Being in the hands of your writing allowed me to meet what I could even do as an actor. Mm-hmm. Because of what you provided and what you ask of actors in terms of we're getting out a big shovel, we're gonna dig up all the humanity and ultimately you're gonna like it. But I had never worked with shovels that big. I had never gone digging to that extent. And I had also never let go that fully. You know, this podcast is called The Daily Joy Ride. There is something about thriving artists, the Daily Joy ride, about letting our hands fly up in the air Yeah. The workshops are designed for that, where we get the material and then we're on stage in front of a theater. Let go. All people I know let go talk about, let go, let God vis-a-vis Jackie Diamond and John Patrick Shanley like, oh mg. Okay. So, I'd love to hear how seven years later you've just gotten back from the Paris workshop. Could you share about some of the things that, like, you'll never be the same like things that you saw or you couldn't have imagined. You were gonna see, learn, discover, be inspired by. Could you share about this French experience that I know a lot of listeners and a lot of people that are part of the, for the actor tribe wanted in on this workshop. I mean, you had a lot of people that were like, yeah, I'll go to, let me go to Paris. So Right. For those of us listening, who would love a taste of the honey, can you share a little bit about this, this experience overseas with John and these artists and those auditors and what that magically delicious week was

Jackie D:

like? Wow. Um, I mean, Paris. Uh, that was a dream. Really. Yeah. It's still, it's still a dream. You know, every day I would walk from the hotel to the theater, which was only about a, you know, 10 minute walk. And as I walked, I just was like. This is crazy. I mean, what business do I have doing this? What business do I have, you know? Yeah. Creating these things. and although the original connection to John was me just reaching out and me saying, Hey, do you wanna do this? And all of that, that was how it all began. But there's no way these happen without an entire team of people that make these happen. I could not do this by myself. There's no way in hell I know that for sure. And we don't wanna

Robyn Cohen:

do it by ourselves. We don't wanna No. Who

Jackie D:

wants to, who wants to do that?

Robyn Cohen:

Teamwork makes the dream work. Yeah. Yeah. And

Jackie D:

so, you know, had a really great team. Team and that is necessary, absolutely necessary. but still, I was just like, wow, I don't know. Like, this is such a dream. It was such a dream. and then can I just say, oh my gosh, the actors, every time we do this workshop, I'm. Knocked back. Knocked back. I'm, yeah, I get it. Yeah. There's so many, we have hundreds of people applying every workshop. We have had hundreds and hundreds of people applying for what is anywhere from 13 to 16 places. Yeah. the very first few workshops we did, we had 16 actors over five days. The third workshop, so that was LA New York. Then in LA we, John could only do four days his schedule. And so he couldn't do the five days. So I said, okay, well then we'll have to cut back the actors.'cause we wanna make sure everyone has their time with him every day. Yes. and it is a challenge to make it all happen because on the one hand, I don't wanna say no to all these incredible actors that are applying. Yes. I want to say yes to all of them. Yes, yes. And yet there's only space for so many to be able to, you know, do this. That is really hard is that there's so many incredible actors that are on our short list, which is a good problem

Robyn Cohen:

ultimately, of course, that people are in it to win it. Sure. It's

Jackie D:

a great problem. It's a great problem for, for me, but it's a bad, it's a problem for that, wants everyone to have a chance with it. But

Robyn Cohen:

you have the auditing experience, which is we have the auditing, which is immersive as well.

Jackie D:

It's, it's immersive. You're still involved. You're still part of it. And I think anyone that attended the Paris Workshop as an auditor, yes, would also, I'm confident that they would say we were part of this process. We were not observers. they were immersed. They were, they were engaging in the conversations. They were speaking with the cast, the actors, John, every day at lunch. He doesn't go, oh, sorry, I need some quiet time. Please don't, don't look me in the eye. He's not, he's just such a, he's such a t beautiful human being, you know? Exactly. Yes, yes. He would, he would just, all he wanted was to have a sandwich and sit on the steps and the sunshine and, and all the actors were having their lunch on the steps and Wow. You know, and everyone that came, whether they were participating actively on the stage or they were participating by engaging in the conversations and being part of the community in the theater that we were all in. Incredible.

Robyn Cohen:

And I have to tell you, Jackie, I had, a student, some colleagues who were in the workshop, I was getting phone calls and voice memos, like, literally like one of my students. It was like she was levitating. She was, and she was watching, she was an observer, and she said, you know, I'm so glad I had that experience. I learned. She was without words. She was gobsmacked, literally floating on air. Another colleague who's probably gonna be on this podcast, Tracy Pellegrino, she's a teacher there in Paris. Mm-hmm. She literally, after day one of being an auditor, she goes back home, she leaves this voice memo. She is like, after today's inspiration, I went back home and I dove back into a screenplay that I've been writing for like. Five years. Wow. That hasn't been written. And I wrote and completed the entire act. One of my screenplay. She completed it? Yes. Like act one of her screenplay. Okay. And I was like, but that's what that, it's what you're talking about, like that is in the air there. And those are the environments that you're forging for people, whether they're on stage or they're observing. Just being in that envi, like you just, I just wanna, as an actor, as an artist, as a person, I just wanna live in rooms like that. You know? I know. And I know we can't be in Paris around, but. But, but I, but those rooms exist everywhere. They do. Do those rooms

Jackie D:

exist everywhere we create those rooms, yes. We create. Yeah. You know, that's true. And whether it's, whether it's Los Angeles, whether it's New York, whether it's Paris, whether it's Berlin, whether it's Atlanta or wherever it is, right. It doesn't matter. The location doesn't matter. Although Paris was completely magical. But, the room, whatever the room is, is not the walls, it's the community of people that we bring together. Yes. And that is what is so incredible because, you know, we work on these workshops for a long time. There's a lot of work in the process to making them have this last one, we were probably working on it for the better part of a year probably. Yeah. It would've been a year when we first started, yeah. Putting this one together because there was a lot more logistically to. All of us over there and all of that overseas. There was a lot.

Robyn Cohen:

Yeah. Yeah.

Jackie D:

And we wanna make sure we're taking good care of John and we wanna make sure that, we are, inviting as many people from around the world to apply and be part of this. And, and also making sure, I, I think for me as a producer, when I have my producer hat on, you know, you talk about me being a mama in the arts, I'm, I'm such a mama in the arts, which is really funny because Yeah, yeah. Um, you know, I didn't see myself that way at all, but I have grown. And you're a real mama.

Robyn Cohen:

I also You're a mama. Gorgeous. Gorgeous women. Unbelievable. So it's real

Jackie D:

here's a funny story about that. so well, what I was gonna say is the whole Mama in the Arts thing, because I do really take a personal. responsibility and making sure that I take care of anybody who is part of this, whether it's John, whether it's the participating actors, or whether it's the auditors, whether it's my team. Yeah, yeah. Like, I wanna make sure everyone feels, appreciated and that they are getting an incredible experience. It matters to me and I, you know, I do the very best I can and sometimes, I feel like, oh, I could have done this better, or I should have done this more, or whatever. But

Robyn Cohen:

its what makes these experiences so phenomenal, Jackie, because that's rare, thank you. That, that in and of itself is so special to have that kind of care and heart. Thank you for Yes, yes. Thank

Jackie D:

you for saying that. Well, two things. One, was John and I were having a conversation during the workshop about the casting for the next day. So we were sitting there, you know, in the theater seats and everyone's in the theater and, and I was just showing him what I had.'cause I would cast The next day is work, what everyone's gonna be. And then, sometimes, the rest of the team would go, oh, okay, let's, let's all look at that. We would run it by, what do you think? Okay, good. Then I show it to John, he gets the final yes or no if he wants to change anything. So we were having that conversation one day, and as I was talking to him, I was watching, they were setting up some furniture for the next play that was going up. And I happened, something caught my eye as I was talking to John, where one of those folding tables, where the, leg sort of has to pop and lock into place. Yes. And I saw it and I thought, oh, that's not locked. That's, that's, that's gonna get hurt. You know, I looked at that and I went, so I was talking to John and I said, sorry, hang on one second. I'm just noticing that table leg has not locked in place. I'm just, I wanna make sure, I just wanna make sure that we deal with that quickly. And John looks at me and he goes, you know what? This is exactly why I never worry about anything. Because I know that you worry about everything. Wow. So, and I just, it me me laugh in the moment because I thought, oh God, I feel like a neurotic, like, ha. But at the same time I thought, you know what? I, I had to after a moment,'cause I went and dealt with that, came back, finish the conversation with John. But then I actually thought, you know what? Yes, maybe it is a little neurotic, but at the same time it was very much, I would rather be the one that's worried about everything so that no one else has to worry about anything. So they can all focus on why they're there. Yeah. Which is to live in the pure artistry of the experience. I don't want John to worry about anything. Yeah. I don't want the actors to worry about anything. Yeah. And so we have those types of experiences and it made me think when you said, oh, you're like a mama in arts, and I thought, yeah, I, you know, it is that thing of, and maybe, maybe that is just me. I just think it's, you know, being a producer, where you're like, making sure that all these things are needs are anticipated and things. I mean, I, I had one beautiful actor in our ensemble. Fantastic. Had this terrible spill on their clothes at the end of the day on the Friday that we were finishing and they had switched into their nice clothes.'cause afterwards they were done for the day and afterwards we were all gonna go and have drinks and dinner and celebrate. And so they were wearing this beautiful outfit and they had had this terrible spill that just was a disaster. And I could see the face. Oh, uh oh. And I was like, oh no. Yeah, I went. She and I just was like, we go. Come with me. We went upstairs. I said, switch outta those clothes. I rinsed them under. I'm like scrubbing them in the sink and they're switching into other clothes. You crisis averted. But it just made me laugh because this person was like, oh my God, I'm so embarrassed. I can't believe that this happened. And I was like, why? Who cares? And they said to me, you're obviously a mom. Oh, a mom would do this. And I went, I am a mom. But the other thing is, I remember John saying, you know, these are the most hands-on producers that I've ever known. Yes. And I thought. We, we are, because we're, we're small. It's just a small thing that we do. Yes. And so every little bit matters. Yeah. Whether it's, you know, taking a stain out of something, whether it's like fixing a table, like whether it's storing furniture. Yes. storing luggage for the auditors who are traveling in from all over the place, you know, all over the different parts of the world. And they would come in with their luggage and be like, can I store this somewhere for the day? Yeah. Yes. You know, we, or, or even like translating, because there were a lot of non, fluent English speakers Yes. who were in attendance because they loved John's work and they wanted to be part of it. so sometimes it was a matter of like being able to make sure, you know, if they had questions they wanted to ask, that they could ask someone who could then ask them in English and Yes. so there was just a lot of moving parts on this one.

Robyn Cohen:

I have to say, when you, when you shared it was a small. Group and I, I am gonna ask you one more question before we complete, but, it's interesting when you say it was a small group of people. You, and this nurturing way that you have about you, Jackie, that is literally pervasive and infiltrated in the most beautiful way in everything that you touch in, everywhere you are, whether that's in cyberspace or face-to-face or in Paris. you are the space of such a loving artist, citizen that anyone in your presence feels. And I think it has something to do with why you have so many, you know, they're quote unquote followers. All of your children, all of the children, right? All of your children who are flocking to, just in you being who you are. It's so much more powerful. Then anyone who's trying to be impressive. Do you know what I mean? Yeah, yeah. Like it's, it doesn't even compare that care and authenticity. Like it doesn't even compare. And, it isn't magical. It's like, it is magical, but it's not surprising. It's amazing. Not surprising that so many people, because the most impressive person in the room, I think is the most loving person in many ways. Mm-hmm. And so I had more questions, but I'm, I'm going to the theater. I, I told you I would let you go at a certain point. We're already over. But, but, um, in a world where, there's everything going on in the world and you know, There's, there's darkness, in, um, many parts of this world and in the blackest part of the night, it turns out that a single flame actually makes a huge impact. Yeah. Right. If you light a candle and it's midday by noon, it's gonna kind of, in a way go unnoticed. Mm-hmm. But when you're a candle in the shadows of the night mm-hmm. Suddenly, like the world lights up and that little one candle, that small quote unquote small flame can actually make huge impact. So given that, and we've established, you are the mama of the arts, you are the ultimate, gold metal communicator, artist, citizen, teacher, actor, helper. Guidance counselor of the arts. Oh my goodness. If you had like, if you could just speak to all of your people, your community, your students, like what do you wanna give them? What do you wanna give the world? What do you want them to know? What do you want to give them?

Jackie D:

Hmm. Just as you asked me this incredible question, my, my earphones are dying. so hopefully you can hear me and hopefully I can hear you. Hopefully I don't cut out. if there is one thing that I would want all artists to know is that art is not a luxury. Art is nourishment. We need it. It is the nourishment that feeds our very soul. It sustains us. We need it in these dark times we are. You know, listen, we are in dark times. There's no, there's no pretending that we are not in dark times. I mean, we have attacks coming at us we've as artists, we've gone through, a lot, a lot recently. I mean, going back to Yes. The pandemic and people struggling for work during that time, then followed by the very necessary strikes that had to come. Yes. followed by, this crazy situation that we're in now where artists and art flashing and burning, the slashing and burning of all of that. People are struggling. Yeah. across the board just to keep a roof over their head to ke and to keep motivated and to keep inspired during times when it's easy to feel defeated. Yeah. And the thing is that, It's really important during these times, particularly to find something real, you have to find something real because there's a lot of stuff that is not real. So ground yourself. Ground yourself. Yeah. This is what I have to do. So I'm not like giving this advice like, oh holy, when I figured it out. No, God no. I'm like right there with y'all. You know what I mean? Yeah. I'm right there with you all. So what I do is honestly, when I say ground yourself and come to your senses, come to your senses, you know, we say you gotta come to your senses, wake up. But I mean that, I mean that literally the five senses, touch, taste, smell here, you know all of that. So come to your senses, go out and smell flowers. Go out and put your hands in the earth and. Plant something, put some seeds down that you can actually nurture and see come to fruition. Go and take your dog for a walk. Freaking take a nap in the sunshine. You know what I mean? Yeah. Like read a book. Yeah. Go old school, get off the digital stuff, go and read a play. Go and see theater support. Theater. Go and do stuff. Stay grounded. Whatever it is, I don't care what it is. Find something to laugh about. Dance to something like we did. We have to find joy. And I'm not saying it from a like that, oh, let's just smile. Everything's fine. No, not at all. There is darkness and we are in the midst of some really rough times and I don't know how long it's gonna take to get through it, but what I do know is nothing is permanent. Yeah. So whatever it is that we are experiencing right now will come to an end. Yes. It is cyclical. Yes. We are going through it and, and I have to remind myself of this'cause I also can be like, oh my God, all this stuff. But it's important for us to remember that nothing is permanent. Yeah, this too shall pass. Yes. We will emerge from this stronger. A little maybe less naive. Yes. A little more prepared. Yes. And hopefully through this you know, just continuing to build community no matter what that looks like. Yes. Whether it's online, whether it's, in person, whether it's just you getting a few friends together to read plays.

Robyn Cohen:

Yes.

Jackie D:

Or to discuss theater or go to a film, you know, whatever it is. Or paint or cook or whatever. Yes. But find things that bring you joy, not like. Oh, you know, we're gonna be joyful and smile through. No, no. Find real joy. Yeah. Find something that makes you happy. and know that we just gotta hang in there. We just gotta hang in there long enough to emerge out the other side like a phoenix rising from the ashes. We will, it doesn't but we will, we will. and you know, we gotta remind ourselves of this. That's it. Hang in there folks.

Robyn Cohen:

Listen folks, artists, students, creatives, collaborators, human beings everywhere. You heard it here. From the Mama of the Arts, creative collaborator, non pareil, north Star of my life since before time. And for all time. Jackie Diamond. She has written you your prescription. You can take it to the bank. You don't even have to go to the pharmacy. You can actually take it to the bank. And Jackie, I can't thank you enough. I'm always so moved and so touched by like just this limitless I exuding of love that your heart just does. And the impact that you make on so many people on my life and on the lives of so, so, so many. It's so many. It's just countless. Like you can't even count the people. Thank you. Thank you for everything you shared today. This was like, such like, it was all just like mic drop after mic drop. So everyone, when you listen to this episode, just go back and re-listen and re-listen.'cause it really is like medicine. Mm-hmm. And to remember, to remember that. Is, what I feel we have been put on assignment Yeah. To do here Through your words and through your wisdom. So Jackie Diamond of all my creative dreams come true. And otherwise, thank you. Thank you. I love you. I appreciate this so much. I had the best time. It was so yummy. I feel so fed. Like, I just had like the most nourish amazing, like big like meal. Like I just had a meal. We did, do you know what I mean? Rushed each other. We did, we had like a huge sundae brunch. Oh my. But it was like zero calories. Zero calories, I'm telling you. But it was everything. It was the Belgium waffles, It was, it was everything. and still floating on air, right. Without all the, um, what is it called when you eat the Turkey and the chi and then you get, you go to sleep? It's not like that. Oh, the trytophan. The trytophan. No, it's the opposite of that. It's like being in your presence. I feel like ready to go out and do and be and create. And, and that is, I mean, it's what you do for so many. So

Jackie D:

I, I think

Robyn Cohen:

that's

Jackie D:

how you always are, Robyn, but thank you for doing that. And by the way, high fiving, like I said, like I said before, whenever I'm feeling a little bit down, I might just like have to rewatch. And listen to the things that you said because I was like, what on earth? and you gotta come and

Robyn Cohen:

just come back. We'll do an episode two, just come back and we'll do an episode. Two else we talk about, oh my gosh, are you kidding? I would have you here all day. Okay. I'm gonna the theater, you guys know where to find Jackie for the actor on Instagram and her website for the actor. It's all in the show notes. get connected and stay connected with this woman because it's gonna light up your life in ways that you can't even imagine. And, thank you so much, Jackie. Thank you. Thanks for inviting me with every five. Might be a thank you. Love you. I love you. You're the best. You're the best. Bye. Bye. Bye. Oh my gosh. I'm levitating. I am floating on air. I'm dancing with the creative gods. From that conversation with Jackie Diamond. Oh mg in the biggest way possible. Do we? Are we getting it? I feel like that was just such, like I went to a spiritual creative shangrila spa where I got present to what matters. We gotta find the really, really, that speaks to our soul. She talked about it from beginning to end. What's real for you that you can enjoy, appreciate Revel in, learn about in this moment, through utilizing our senses and actually getting present and awake to the miracles that are abounding. That's what we're doing in class. That's what we're doing in all of these opportunities. and I really do invite you to join a community where, through acting classes, through techniques and practices and ways of working. to develop your acting technique, you actually do open up your pores. You develop sensory experiences, which really make life start to show up in technic color. so if you're interested, I would love to meet you. I would love to have you slide into my dms RobynCohenActingStudio or email me, Robyn@cohenactingstudio.com. You can come in and just watch. You can be a butterfly on the wall. Audit a class that's gonna be free if it's your first time, and see what it's like to start to actually be able to get access to enjoying and relishing and appreciating the moment by moment phenomena of being. Alive. That's what life is at its best and acting it turns out. So join us. I can't wait to see you there. Thank you for being part of this community, thriving artists. It's happening because of you and in the profundity of your listening in which this show arises. So thank you. God bless you. Party on, like Jackie said, we're gonna take time to smell the roses today and let it in. Let it in. Things are working out for us. Things are working out for our good, and the miracles are coming at us from every direction. Please God, let our eyes be open to them. Can't wait to see you next time on Thriving Artists. The Daily Joy Ride.