Mommywood

In this episode, Emily discusses the often unspoken reality of survival jobs and side hustles that many actors, including herself, take on to support their artistic pursuits. She emphasizes the importance of flexibility in these roles, especially for parents balancing work and family life. Emily shares her personal experiences with various jobs, including babysitting and teaching, and reflects on how these roles have shaped her as an actor and a parent. She encourages listeners to embrace their side jobs without shame and to find joy in their hustle while pursuing their passions. TAKE AWAYS * Survival jobs are essential for many actors to pay the bills. * Flexibility in work is crucial for balancing parenting and acting. * There should be no shame in having a side job. * Teaching and working with kids can be fulfilling for actors. * The emotional journey of being a parent impacts acting. * It's important to pursue passions alongside day jobs. * Finding joy in side hustles can enhance creativity. * Transparency about financial struggles in acting is needed. * Actors can have multiple sources of income without compromising their art. * The stigma around side jobs in the acting community needs to be addressed. 00:00 The Reality of Survival Jobs 12:01 Balancing Act: Parenting and Acting 20:37 Embracing the Hustle: No Shame in Side Jobs

In this solo episode, Emily gets honest about that one dream role—the one she hasn’t booked yet, but still believes is out there. She dives into what the role is, why it matters so much, and how becoming a mom has shifted the vision. From industry detours to internal doubts, she shares the quiet truths many actor-moms carry—and how claiming a dream out loud is sometimes the boldest move of all. This episode is your permission slip to name what you want, unapologetically. Because it’s never too late, and you’re never too far behind. ✨ In This Episode: * What Emily’s dream role actually is—and what it says about her * Why she stayed quiet about it for so long * How motherhood deepened her creative vision * Limiting beliefs she’s still working through * What it means to claim a dream while also juggling motherhood * An invitation to listeners to share their dream roles, too What’s the dream role you’re still holding onto? DM us or share it in your IG Stories and tag @mommywoodpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/mommywoodpodcast/]—we want to manifest with you. ✨ ✨ In This Episode:📲 Join the Conversation:

In this solo episode, Emily gets personal about something so many moms in entertainment rarely say out loud: “I didn’t know who I was anymore.” From sleepless nights to missing auditions, feeling disconnected from your creativity to not recognizing yourself in the mirror, she dives into the blurry, beautiful, and bumpy path of rediscovering your identity after having a baby. Emily shares the real story of how becoming a mom shook—and ultimately reshaped—her sense of self as a woman and actor. She talks about what helped her feel like herself again, how motherhood has changed her work, and why reclaiming your identity is not a return to the past but an evolution. Whether you’re deep in the baby years, pregnant and panicked, or years out and still figuring it out—this one’s for you. ⸻ 🔥 In This Episode: • When the identity shift really hit • The grief and beauty of letting go of your “before” self • What surprised her about the timeline of “coming back” • How creativity shifted post-baby • The small things that made her feel like Emily again • Words of encouragement to any mom feeling invisible right now ⸻ 📲 Connect with us: Follow @mommywoodpodcast on Instagram for behind-the-scenes, reels, and updates. Leave us a review if this episode made you feel seen—we read every single one!

This week on Mommywood, it's just the two of us—Emily and Cecilia—pulling back the curtain and catching up on all the beautiful chaos of working mom life. No guests, no filters, just real talk. We’re diving into everything from preschool drop-offs and career curveballs to late-night edits and early-morning tantrums (from us or the kids? You decide). If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing it all and somehow still missing something, this one’s for you. It’s raw, funny, and just a little messy—like motherhood itself. Takeaways Life can get busy, and scheduling can be challenging. Finding time for self-care is essential for parents. Schooling choices can be overwhelming for parents. Community support plays a crucial role in parenting. Balancing work and family life requires constant adjustment. Children's school experiences can greatly impact family dynamics. Sharing parenting experiences can help alleviate feelings of isolation. The importance of having a support system in parenting. Future aspirations can evolve as children grow older. Engaging with guests can provide new insights into motherhood. Motherhood is often described as the hardest job. Celebrity parents face unique challenges in balancing work and family. Family planning discussions can be complex and emotional. The pressure to have multiple children varies among parents. Every parent's threshold for managing children is different. Creating a loving environment is a key parenting win. Apologizing to children after losing patience is important. Parents often feel guilty about their parenting choices. The importance of communication with children about feelings. Celebrating the unique qualities of our children is essential. Chapters 00:00 Reconnecting After Time Apart 03:00 Navigating Parenting and Work Life 05:59 Schooling Decisions and Experiences 11:56 The Impact of Community and Support 15:10 Future Aspirations and Guest Ideas 20:14 The Reality of Motherhood 23:45 Family Planning Conversations 26:02 The Pressure of Parenting 30:32 Wins and Fails in Parenting 41:05 Celebrating Our Kids

Audrey's Acting Career and Business Insights Audrey discusses her journey in the acting industry, emphasizing that she's always learning and that the business is constantly changing. Audrey shares that while she's had many challenges, she's never considered quitting acting. Supporting Actor Parents and Child Choices Audrey discusses her passion for supporting actor parents, emphasizing the importance of diverse perspectives in storytelling. She shares her personal decision not to have children, explaining that she always knew motherhood wasn't for her. Audrey describes her supportive role as a friend to parents, making herself available to help and be part of their chosen family in Los Angeles. Actors' Parenthood Challenges and Media Representation Audrey discusses the challenges actors face when considering parenthood, highlighting the lack of transparency about time, energy, and financial commitments. She emphasizes the fear and uncertainty actors experience, especially in the first decade of their careers, as they balance their acting pursuits with the desire to start a family. She expresses frustration with the lack of detailed discussions about the logistics of balancing parenthood and an acting career, particularly in media interviews and podcasts. Parenting and Friendship DynamicsEmily discusses her experiences with friendships after becoming a parent. Emily emphasizes the importance of putting oneself out there to form new connections, particularly with other parents. Supporting New Mothers and Caregivers Emily and Audrey discuss ways to support new mothers and caregivers. They emphasize the importance of taking initiative rather than asking open-ended questions about needs. Suggestions include bringing food, doing household chores, and offering specific help like grocery shopping or hiring a cleaner. They also stress the importance of setting boundaries and communicating them clearly. Balancing Acting Careers With Parenthood Emily and Audrey discuss the challenges of balancing acting careers with parenthood, particularly regarding self-tape auditions. They highlight the difficulties of finding time and space to record auditions while caring for children, as well as the financial burden of childcare or schooling. Emily shares her experience of having an actor husband as a reader and paying for her daughter's schooling to create time for auditions. They also touch on the isolation some parent actors face when unable to reciprocate as readers for their non-parent actor friends. Parenting Challenges and Socioeconomic Disparities Audrey and Emily discuss the challenges of parenting as children grow older. Audrey shares that her friends with older children find themselves busier with activities and social commitments, contrary to expectations of having more free time. Emily expresses concern about managing multiple children's schedules and the financial burden of extracurricular activities, especially in Los Angeles. They also touch on the socioeconomic disparities in LA and the difficulties of maintaining a middle-class lifestyle, emphasizing the importance of empathy and understanding in these situations. Audrey's Selftape May Initiative Audrey discusses her self-tape practice initiative called "Selftape May," which she started to help actors improve their audition skills without spending money. She encourages actors to practice self-tapes regularly, aiming for about four per week, to build capacity and solve logistical issues. Audrey and Emily also discuss the challenges of balancing acting careers with parenting responsibilities, emphasizing the importance of finding ways to practice and improve despite time constraints. Audrey mentions therapy and her supportive husband as her current lifesavers.