Recast and Rise - Career transition stories for artists

Eve Castelo
  • 5.0 (4)
  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Ready to explore a career after the stage? You are in the right place. Eve Castelo (former Cirque du Soleil artist now working in tech), brings you real stories of performers, creatives, and artists who’ve stepped out of the spotlight and into something new. We go behind the scenes of big pivots, career transitions, identity shifts, and the messy magic of reinvention. Whether you're still performing or freshly retired, Recast and Rise will help you see that you’re not starting over, you’re just starting your next act.

  1. 1D AGO

    7 myths about career change every performer believes at least once

    Are you actually stuck… or are you believing one of these? In this solo episode of Recast and Rise, I break down 7 common myths that keep artists and performers from moving forward in their careers. 📍Things like: • “If I change careers, I’m starting from zero.” • “My résumé won’t make sense outside the arts.” • “I need to make one big leap.” • “I’ll lose my creativity.” • “I should wait until life is calmer.” • “I’m just an artist.” • “I should figure this out alone.” The truth is, you are not starting from zero. You are bringing discipline, adaptability, communication skills, resilience, and work ethic into whatever comes next. You’ve already built more than you think. I share real examples from former guests on the podcast who transitioned into completely different fields, not because they abandoned who they were, but because they were willing to build on top of it. If you’ve been thinking about your next chapter, even just a little, this episode will help you separate fear from fact and take one small, clear step forward. I’ve had dancers become software engineers. Acrobats become physical therapists. Performers move into corporate roles, and get hired because they were performers. If you’re in that in-between phase, this episode will help you think more clearly about your next step. And tell me, which myth have you believed at some point? If you're a performer wondering "What’s next for me? ", let's connect! FREE resources 👉 A self-discovery workbook with 10 prompts to help you find what’s next 👉 A Job search and Interview kit 👉  Recast and Rise website  ⁠https://www.recastandrise.com/⁠ 👋  Connect with Eve on Instagram⁠ ⁠ https://www.instagram.com/recastandrise.eve/⁠ And don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE for more inspiring stories and CAREER TOOLS for your next career change! 👉 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.

    13 min

  2. FEB 11

    From dancer to software engineer: A career built through experimentation

    In this episode of Recast and Rise, I sit down with Tanner Huseman, a former professional dancer who performed with the Limón Dance Company, the Metropolitan Opera, and even made his Broadway debut in Phantom of the Opera. When COVID hit and the industry paused, Tanner didn’t rush into a “perfect next move.” Instead, he tried many things, including medical coding, car sales, retail, UPS, and real estate, before landing in software engineering. We talk about: ▸ Why trying different jobs is not failing, it’s data ▸ What it really feels like to start over as a beginner after mastering a craft ▸ Imposter syndrome (and how to move through it) ▸ How he explored tech without a traditional degree ▸ Why conversation, support, and taking action matter more than clarity If you're a performer wondering "What’s next for me? ", let's connect! FREE resources 👉A self-discovery workbook with 10 prompts to help you find what’s next 👉A Job search and Interview kit 👉  Recast and Rise website  ⁠https://www.recastandrise.com/⁠ 👋  Connect with Eve on Instagram⁠ ⁠ https://www.instagram.com/recastandrise.eve/⁠ ⁠⁠💥  Connect with Tanner at: https://www.instagram.com/tanner_huseman/ & https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanner-huseman/ And don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE for more inspiring stories and CAREER TOOLS for your next career change! 👉 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.

    20 min

  3. JAN 28

    From dancer to HR Director, Artistic Director, and more: How she stays connected to the arts in a new way

    In this episode of Recast and Rise, I sit down with Erika, a former showgirl who chose to step away from the stage and build a new career behind the scenes. We talk about what happens when performing is no longer the only plan, and those quiet questions start showing up: What’s next? Who am I without the stage? And what else am I good at? Erika shares how a love for calendars, schedules, and staying organized opened the door to work in admin, operations, and nonprofit arts. From touring with children’s theater to working with Cirque du Soleil, opera companies, and large events, her path shows that careers don’t have to follow one straight line. Erika  takes us inside her very real career pivot: ▸ Finding your place in a new field ▸ Asking for help and finding mentors ▸ Why performers have a strong work ethic ▸ Balancing creativity, work, and family life ▸ And staying connected to the arts in a new way If you're a performer wondering "What’s next for me? ", let's connect! FREE resources 👉A self-discovery workbook with 10 prompts to help you find what’s next 👉A Job search and Interview kit 👉  Recast and Rise website  ⁠https://www.recastandrise.com/⁠ 👋  Connect with Eve on Instagram⁠ ⁠ https://www.instagram.com/recastandrise.eve/⁠ ⁠⁠💥  Connect with Erika at: https://www.instagram.com/trialanderika/ And don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE for more inspiring stories and CAREER TOOLS for your next career change! 👉 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.

    27 min

  4. JAN 14

    From dancer to management supervisor: Trusting your gut in a corporate career change

    While she was still in school, Emily McTernan Buchko went to a Cirque audition almost by accident, No pressure, no master plan, and got the job. That single “why not?” moment launched her into a performing career with Cirque du Soleil. And here’s the part that matters: Emily could have kept dancing. She was skilled, employed, and still very much in demand. But instead of pushing for “more,” she trusted the feeling that it was time for something different, and chose to step away at the peak of her career. In this episode of Recast and Rise, Emily shares how following what felt aligned, not forced, led her from the stage into the corporate world, where she now works as a Management Supervisor at Team One, the agency behind Lexus’ global advertising campaigns. Emily takes us inside her very real career pivot: ▸ Going from a top-level performer to an entry-level corporate role ▸ Letting go of ego and learning to be the beginner again ▸ Taking a non-linear path through sales, automotive, and advertising ▸ Trusting timing instead of forcing outcomes ▸ Proving that creativity doesn’t disappear when you leave the stage, it just changes form Her story is a powerful reminder that you don’t have to let go of what you love to build what’s next, and that following your instincts, even when the path isn’t clear, can lead to something better than you planned. If you're a performer wondering "What’s next for me? ", let's connect! FREE resources 👉A self-discovery workbook with 10 prompts to help you find what’s next 👉A Job search and Interview kit 👉  Recast and Rise website  ⁠https://www.recastandrise.com/⁠ 👋  Connect with Eve on Instagram⁠ ⁠ https://www.instagram.com/recastandrise.eve/⁠ ⁠⁠💥  Connect with Emily at: https://www.instagram.com/emilymctbuchko/ And don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE for more inspiring stories and CAREER TOOLS for your next career change! 👉 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.

    24 min

  5. 12/31/2025

    From Cirque du Soleil to real estate: Building a second career while still performing

    In this episode of Recast and Rise, I sit down with Caroline Lauzon, a veteran performer who has spent 22 years with Cirque du Soleil, while quietly building a full career in real estate alongside the stage. Caroline shares her honest journey of trying different paths, collecting skills, and following her curiosity without rushing herself out of performing. From journalism and event management to marketing, real estate, and motherhood, she reflects on how everything she learned continues to serve her today. This conversation is for performers and creatives who love what they do, and are also curious about what else might be possible. You’ll hear: ▸ Exploring what’s next before you’re ready to exit ▸ Why performers don’t have to choose just one identity ▸ The emotional side of imagining life after the stage ▸ How the Cirque du Soleil experience stays with you, in your confidence, discipline, and résumé ▸ Why starting early gives you more freedom later If you're a performer wondering "What’s next for me? ", let's connect! 👇 ✅ FREE resources 👉A self-discovery workbook with 10 prompts to help you find what’s next 👉A job search and interview kit 👉  Recast and Rise website   👋  Connect with Eve on Instagram⁠ ⁠ https://www.instagram.com/recastandrise.eve/⁠ ⁠⁠💥  Connect with Caroline at: https://www.instagram.com/lauzoncaro/ And don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE for more inspiring stories and CAREER TOOLS for your next career change! 👉 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.

    27 min

  6. 12/17/2025

    From acrobat to inventor, coach, and author: How performance skills turned into a business

    Former Cirque du Soleil acrobat Mathieu joins me for a fun, honest conversation about curiosity, creativity, and building something new without a perfect plan. In this episode, Mathieu shares how one Instagram video went viral overnight and unexpectedly sparked a 10-year journey that led to inventing a fitness apparatus, building a holistic coaching business, and writing a book. We get into: How he created an apparatus and how it turned into a patented fitness inventionWhy handstands somehow turned into life lessonsCoaching through movement, mindset, and masteryLearning business the messy, real way (trial, error, repeat)And why waiting to feel “ready” is wildly overrated This is not a heavy “reinvent your life” episode. It’s curious, fun, honest, and full of those oh wow, that makes sense moments. If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to build something new without letting go of your creative roots, this conversation gives you a very real look behind the scenes. And if you’re a performer thinking “what’s next for me?”,  let’s talk. Send me a message on socials and don’t forget to subscribe for more stories and career tools. 👉 Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.  📚  FREE Resources  https://linktr.ee/recastandrise.eve 👉  Recast and Rise website  https://www.recastandrise.com/ 👋  Connect with Eve on Instagram⁠  https://www.instagram.com/recastandrise.eve/ ⁠⁠💥  Connect with Mathieu  at: https://www.instagram.com/mateobolillo/ 💥  Purchase Mathieu’s book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Unleashing-Handstand-You-through-inversion/dp/B0DZXD2DDN

    25 min

  7. 12/03/2025

    From dancer to entrepreneur: How Tina built a multi-passion career change

    In this episode, meet Tina, a former Celine Dion dance captain and longtime Cirque du Soleil performer who has reinvented herself multiple times; from dancer, to real estate investor to NLP mindset coach to co-founder of an intimacy workshop business. Tina shares how she prepared for life after performing long before her final bow, how she shifted her mindset toward financial independence, and how meditation led her to an unexpected passion for mindset and NLP coaching. She opens up about identity loss, mom-life, building new skill sets, and the exact moments she questioned whether her new path was “for her”, and how curiosity helped her keep going instead of giving up. You’ll hear: • How she transitioned out of a 30-year dance career • The small steps that sparked her real estate journey • What helped her rebuild confidence outside of performing • Why mindset tools changed everything • How she and her husband built an intimacy coaching business • Her advice for performers feeling the “it might be time soon” nudge • The real challenges behind coaching, marketing yourself, and learning business skills • What to ask yourself if you're afraid to make a change If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to pivot into a completely different field, without losing your creative roots, this conversation offers a clear, honest look at what that process really involves. If you're a performer wondering "what’s next for me? ", let's connect! Drop me a message on my socials! And don’t forget to subscribe for more inspiring stories and career tools. Connect with me: ⁠Instagram⁠. Visit my website at https://www.recastandrise.com for tips and tricks to navigate your career change.  Find Tina at: EmpowerWithTina.com | @empowerwithtina LetsPlayIntimacy.com | @letsplayintimacy 👉 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.

    34 min

  8. 11/19/2025

    From dancer to Osteopathic Manual Practitioner: Balancing study, motherhood and career change

    In this episode, I sit down with Emily Honegger, a professional dancer turned Osteopathic Manual Practitioner, to talk about how she navigated one of the biggest transitions of her life, moving from the stage to a completely new professional path. Emily shares what led her to make the shift, how she managed motherhood and full-time study, and what it means to let go of a creative identity while building a new one. We discuss the discipline and focus that dance taught her, the realities of returning to school after years in the arts, and the mindset that helped her stay grounded through change. In this video, you'll learn Emily's transition from dance to osteopathy was inspired by a desire to understand the body better. A teacher's impact can shape our career paths in unexpected ways. Identity shifts can be challenging, especially when balancing multiple roles. The osteopathy school provided Emily with a new matrix of knowledge. The discipline learned in dance supported her osteopathy studies. Reframing challenges as investments can shift your perspective during transitions. Why exploring new passions without fear of failure matters. How community support is crucial during career transitions. How finding joy in new passions can be just as fulfilling as previous ones. Fun anatomy facts that deepen our understanding of the human body. If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to pivot into a completely different field, without losing your creative roots, this conversation offers a clear, honest look at what that process really involves. If you're a performer wondering "what’s next for me? ", let's connect! Drop me a message on my socials! And don’t forget to subscribe for more inspiring stories and career tools. Connect with me: ⁠Instagram⁠ Visit my website at https://www.recastandrise.com for tips and tricks to navigate your career change.  👉 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.

    18 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Ready to explore a career after the stage? You are in the right place. Eve Castelo (former Cirque du Soleil artist now working in tech), brings you real stories of performers, creatives, and artists who’ve stepped out of the spotlight and into something new. We go behind the scenes of big pivots, career transitions, identity shifts, and the messy magic of reinvention. Whether you're still performing or freshly retired, Recast and Rise will help you see that you’re not starting over, you’re just starting your next act.

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