Working Actor Life

Gabrielle Byndloss + Sam Valentine

The actor group chat you didn’t know you needed.

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    21. Redefining "success" in a career you can’t control.

    How have our definitions of success have shifted over time? Trust in our reps. Financial breathing room. Free time. Staying in the work when things are quiet. And learning how to measure wins that no one else can see. Let's get into: why success isn’t a single moment or milestone the different “buckets” that can make us feel successful at different times why auditions, trust, and consistency matter more than bookings how financial flexibility impacts creative freedom redefining success in an industry that no longer creates overnight stars the danger of waiting for one role to change everything the difference between being content, settling, and staying curious why free time used to feel lazy and now feels rich how to create our own victories when the industry won’t hand us any staying in the work without external validation Join The Membership Sam on Instagram Gab on Instagram Timestamps: 00:00:00 intro + why we’re talking about defining success 00:02:10 why we don’t have one single definition of success 00:03:45 the idea of “success buckets” and needing more than one thing to feel okay 00:05:00 why auditions alone can make us feel successful 00:06:30 trusting your reps as a form of success 00:07:45 financial breathing room and mental freedom 00:08:50 why free time used to feel lazy and now feels rich 00:10:00 redefining success around what we can control 00:11:30 why one big booking doesn’t change everything 00:12:45 the Stranger Things example and the myth of blowing up 00:15:00 why waiting for “the thing” keeps actors stuck 00:16:30 content vs settling vs staying curious 00:18:45 happily discontent and wanting more without burning out 00:21:00 different definitions of success at different stages of an acting career 00:22:15 feeling successful without recent bookings 00:24:00 why not needing to be chosen is real power 00:27:45 making your own victories when the industry won’t 00:29:30 connecting success to your younger self 00:32:45 practical examples of choosing process over panic 00:39:10 booking conflicts, weddings, and real-life priorities 00:47:40 closing thoughts on success, growth, and staying in the game

    53 min

  2. 21 JAN

    20. We were WRONG about: all the acting advice we would like to take back

    We’re talking about the acting advice we used to give, fully believed, and would absolutely change or nuance now. We break down why blanket advice ignores actor markets, how self-tapes and demo reels have shifted, what actually works when reaching out to agents and managers, and why productivity systems can become performative instead of helpful. Plus our real-real: audition timing strategy, lighting choices, callbacks and avails that don’t book, booking the room, and redefining success when momentum looks different than expected. Links: Join The Membership ⁠⁠Sam on Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Gab on Instagram⁠⁠ Timestamps: 00:00:00 Intro and why this episode is about being wrong 00:01:10 Why the internet struggles with nuance and growth 00:04:30 Blanket acting advice and why actor markets matter 00:08:20 The problem with one-size-fits-all career paths 00:10:00 Self-tapes vs real footage for demo reels 00:12:00 Reaching out to agents and managers in 2026 00:15:45 Productivity, scheduling, and acting career burnout 00:17:30 Performative productivity vs real progress 00:20:00 What an “ideal” actor schedule actually looks like 00:22:50 Why auditions shouldn’t define your identity as an actor 00:24:30 Letting go of systems that no longer serve you 00:28:10 Finding community and not doing this alone 00:33:00 Audition timing, lighting, and working with your real life 00:37:40 Callbacks, avails, and what booking the room means 00:41:10 Final thoughts and what’s coming next

    42 min

  3. 14 JAN

    19. The acting industry outlook for 2026 + in rooms and on sets in January...we're BACK!

    We're back to break down the current state of the acting industry after sitting in on a closed-door TM only “state of the union” style call with casting. We share what we expected to hear going into the call, + what actually surprised us. Then our real-life working actor moments, including callbacks, Zoom auditions, eating on camera, voiceover marathons, and the absolute chaos of trying to plan anything in this business and/or life. ⁠Join The Membership⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Sam on Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Gab on Instagram⁠ Timestamps: 00:00:00 Intro and why we’re calling this a “state of the union” 00:02:10 What we expected to hear vs what casting actually said 00:04:45 The 400 scripted shows number and why that messed with our heads 00:08:30 Why optimism doesn’t automatically mean fast momentum 00:11:50 Feeling closer to the work even when you’re not booking 00:14:30 Callback stories and what “on first refusal” actually feels like 00:18:20 Eating on camera, SAG rules, and why some auditions have to be in person 00:22:10 Zoom auditions, casting notes, and how to keep it conversational 00:27:40 Why none of our calendars make sense and never will 00:33:15 Voiceover runs, commercial callbacks, and overlapping timelines 00:40:10 What this year requires emotionally from working actors 00:47:30 Final thoughts and what we’ll report back on next episode

    48 min

  4. 8 JAN

    18. finding your actor system focus (aka why we’re giving fewer f*cks this year)

    starting the year in person and doing something radical: caring less. we talk about why giving fewer f*cks is not laziness but can help you get further (technically also faster). we are building a working actor system that works with your brain, setting real time boundaries, choosing habits that support it, and letting the rest go. and cause WHY NOT: backyard digging, hobbies that stay hobbies, and a brief but passionate ode to Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. Timestamps: 00:04:45 the pressure to monetize everything 00:08:20 creative focus vs checking boxes 00:13:45 trusting your process and redefining progress 00:18:30 time and energy management that actually works 00:23:00 setting boundaries around workdays and days off 00:27:00 hobbies that are not allowed to make money 00:30:45 digging in the yard as a metaphor (and a lifestyle) 00:34:45 reality tv, boundaries, and knowing when to log off 00:36:00 final thoughts on systems, creativity, and the year ahead ⁠Join The Membership⁠ ⁠Sam on Instagram⁠ ⁠Gab on Instagram⁠

    36 min

  5. 17/12/2025

    17. Why "working harder" won't fix your Acting Career + Exactly how much $ Gab has made from two National Commercials

    Rest in an industry that rewards blurred boundaries and convinces actors they can control outcomes they absolutely cannot....is it possible? Let's discuss how to use end-of-year downtime without spiraling or trying to fix your entire career in two weeks. We also break down why acting income alone is no longer reliable and what SAG national commercials actually pay in 2025. Timestamps: 00:00:00 why taking time off feels so hard for actors 00:02:30 how to actually plan rest instead of accidentally working through it 00:07:15 setting boundaries without feeling like you owe everyone access to you 00:11:45 why “getting an agent” and “booking” are not real goals 00:16:00 redefining success in an industry you can’t control 00:18:10 money, stability, and why acting income alone isn’t realistic anymore 00:26:30 real SAG national commercial pay breakdown in 2025 00:34:00 why the old version of actor success is officially dead 00:36:45 final reminder before the new year Join The Membership Sam on Instagram Gab on Instagram

    37 min

  6. 10/12/2025

    16. What is booking in self tapes for 2026 (ft. Vas from The Online Actor)

    We brought Vas back from The Online Actor, nobody breaks down auditions, industry waves, and self tape strategy like he does. And we hit on the standard of jealousy, comparison...with an email template for you. Most importantly: authenticity is actually booking more than “perfect” ever did. what we cover: ● the truth about end of year auditions and why the landscape is shifting ● how to hear “there’s auditions” without immediately assuming you’re doing something wrong ● jealousy, comparison, and why literally all of us still go through it ● how Vas emailed his reps about roles he didn’t read for and what actors can learn from that ● the real way to do multiple takes (and why 10 percent different doesn’t cut it) ● authentic vs character-y acting in 2025 and what’s actually booking ● the Goldilocks method for self tapes ● why TM actors are suddenly taping wild, killer choices that stand out ● how to balance dynamic choices with your real essence links: vas's ig the membership sam’s ig gab’s ig

    43 min

  7. 03/12/2025

    15. Agents and managers gifts in 2025 + This sh*it is [nano] bananas

    actors panic over AI and cookies: post-holiday talk through the latest AI freakout and finally answer the question everyone DM’d us about (should you be buying your reps gifts this year or nah?) we cover: ● the new AI update everyone spiraled about and why it’s not worth losing sleep ● real talk about rep relationships and how to know if you should even be gifting ● the gifts reps actually appreciate versus the ones they quietly donate ● why sometimes a handwritten note is more powerful than a pricey basket ● how to make your gift personal even if you barely know your rep ● the rep dinner email we drafted live and why it worked *(cause they already all responded)* time codes: 00:00 catching up and the great nano banana AI panic 07:15 why actors reach for fear when auditions are slow 13:45 the CGI fire rant that accidentally proves our point 19:10 do reps really want holiday gifts or is this all a myth 23:30 real examples of gifts that actually landed 30:00 how to approach your reps with generosity without being weird links: The Membership sam’s IG gab’s IG

    33 min

  8. 25/11/2025

    14. Surviving the holidays as an actor without losing your mind.

    Holidays as a working actor hit different. No one is looking forward to Thanksgiving dinner with a side of getting-grilled-about “what you’ve been in.” This episode is your play book to protect your peace and navigate them regardless of what your holidays look like. Wanna skip the chat? Fast forward the first 8 minutes. Sam and Gab break down what it actually looks like to go home for the holidays (or not), how to handle weird family questions, setting boundaries, teachable (and not teachable) moments, and redefining non-actor moments ftw. what we cover: ● what it’s like juggling auditions, puppies, and podcasting in November ● the freedom to not go home and why it doesn’t make you a bad person ● how actors can answer family questions without spiraling ● the difference between teaching someone about the biz vs just surviving the convo ● using your actual life wins when people ask “so what are you doing with acting” ● making your own traditions when travel is expensive or your mental health says no ● Sam’s squirrel rescue era and Gab’s “why don’t people understand child-free life” commentary ● boundaries, expectations, and showing up as the adult you actually are links: Join The Membership Sam’s IG Gab’s IG

    41 min
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About

The actor group chat you didn’t know you needed.

Information

  • Creator
    Gabrielle Byndloss + Sam Valentine
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Gabrielle Byndloss + Sam Valentine
  • Show Website
    Working Actor Life

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