Anchored Actor | Acting, Wellbeing, Stability, Film, Theatre

Miriam Kaerma | Actress, Actorpreneur, Mindset Mentor, Emotional Resilience Mentor, Mental Health First Aider, Corporate Girly
  • 5.0 (11)
  • Performing Arts
  • Weekly

Are you an actor juggling auditions,  acting gigs, a day job, and other real-life commitments? And even though you’re surrounded by people in the creative industry, do you still feel lonely, unseen, or disconnected from those who truly get you — and your values? Do you feel emotionally tired from holding it all together, worried that if you slow down everything will fall apart? Do you ever wonder if staying true to your values will cost you roles, respect, or your future in the industry? I am so glad you’re here! This podcast will help you cultivate emotional stability, inner peace, and resilience so you can navigate auditions, day jobs, and uncertainty without burning out. You’ll learn faith‑rooted mindset tools, wellness rhythms, and practical habits that support both your acting career and your everyday life, even when the industry feels unpredictable. Each episode offers encouragement, simple practices, and honest conversations to move you from isolation and overwhelm into grounded confidence, creative freedom, and a steady sense of purpose in your calling. Hey, I’m Miriam—an actress and creative who combines a steady corporate job with acting and other projects. I know what it feels like to crave stability while your heart still burns for storytelling and performance. For a long time, I tried to fix that tension by doing more: side projects, “this might be it” business ideas, and relationships that kept me busy but not fulfilled. I was juggling roles, exhausted, and often lonely, trying to hold together work, creativity, and my inner life by sheer willpower. Spiritually, I carried a lukewarm faith—praying when things got heavy, then going straight back to hustling on my own and wondering why I still had no peace. What finally changed wasn’t a big break, but letting God into my everyday decisions and learning to build emotional stability from the inside out. Simple wellness and mindset rhythms, clearer boundaries, and a lived, daily faith helped me walk through auditions, my job, and uncertainty with far less burnout and far more calm.Now, I am ready to teach how to do the same If you’re tired of pushing through your calling in constant tension and you’re ready to feel grounded again, this podcast is for you. Press pause on the hustle, settle in, and let’s step into stability together.

  1. 3d ago

    28 | Stressed Out as an Actor? The Two Words I Pray When Everything Goes Wrong

    Stressed Out as an Actor? The Two Words I Pray When Everything Goes Wrong 💭 Have you ever had a day when every area of life asked for your attention at the same time? 💭 Do you make a plan in the morning and watch it fall apart before you have even started? 💭 When everything goes wrong, do you push harder, or do you remember to stop and breathe? 🎙️ In this episode I’m sharing what I do on the days when many priorities fight for my attention at once, so you can find a calmer way to take the next step instead of pushing harder. If you’re an actor who feels stressed out when everything lands at the same time, this one is for you. We get into letting go of the to do list when the day changes, the verse from Ecclesiastes that calms my mind, the two things I pray for, and the mini prayer break that helps me step out of the spinning wheel. All of it to help you move from overwhelmed and spinning to grounded and ready for one next step.I also share honestly that I have forgotten to stop and breathe myself, and what that did to my stability. Prayer does not fix everything, and some days are better than others, so action is needed too. After you’ve paused, ask yourself what your next step is. 🌿 Your one thing this week: next time everything seems to go wrong, take a mini grounding break. It could be a prayer, just two words in your head: peace and wisdom. Then take the one next step. 📖 Verse mentioned: Ecclesiastes 3:1, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” 🎧 More episodes if this one landed for you: Why Does Stopping Feel So Hard? The Hidden Cost of Always Being “On” as an Actor Feeling Stuck? You Don’t Have to Wait Until January to Start Fresh Struggling to Stay Present After a Mistake? This Is the Skill I Didn’t Know I Had 💌 Let’s stay connected If this episode met you in a moment of feeling stretched in every direction, please leave a short review wherever you’re listening and share it with an actor friend who needs the reminder that your worth is not determined by outcomes. Reviews and word of mouth are the main ways this podcast reaches other creatives juggling acting jobs, work and real life, and it genuinely lights me up to know these stories are helping you stay rooted, steady and anchored as you go. 💛 🔎 Questions this episode answers ❓ What can an actor do when everything goes wrong in one day? Pause, even for a moment, if you can. If things are already in progress, acknowledge what you have already done, then ask one question: what is the next one step? Not two, not ten. It also helps to remember that someone around you may be able to help, and that rest matters too. ❓ How do you cope when several priorities fight for your attention at once? Take it one step at a time. That can mean letting go of the to do list, sometimes halfway through and sometimes before you have even started, then gathering what is coming in and assessing it step by step. ❓ What does Ecclesiastes 3:1 say, and how can it help on a stressful day? It says that to every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. When many things land at once, reminding yourself that everything has its season, a time and a place, can help you ground yourself and pause, even briefly. ❓ How can prayer help when you feel overwhelmed? A mini prayer break, even a few seconds in your head, can help you step out of the spinning wheel for a moment. Two things to ask for are peace and wisdom, because decisions are hard to make in chaos or in fear. Prayer does not fix everything, and some days are better than others. After the pause, action is needed too, so ask yourself what your next step is. ❓ Why do we forget to stop and breathe when life is busy? Because things move so fast that stopping is the first thing to go. Being busy being busy while tackling many fighting priorities can mean forgetting to take deep breaths, and quietly losing your stability. 💬 Quotes from this episode “Not two, not ten, just what is the next one step?” “We forget to stop, and most importantly, to breathe.” “Stability isn’t controlling the day, it’s knowing where to take it.” ✨ About your host Hey, I’m Miriam, actress and actorpreneur, plus singer and musician at heart, balancing a corporate day job with a creative career, just like you. I’m also a mindset mentor and Mental Health First Aider, here to help you find steady ground. Anchored Actor is a podcast about acting, wellbeing and stability. Each episode helps actors, performers and creatives working in film and theatre find stability in an unpredictable industry by building emotional resilience, rather than pushing harder. Topics covered: stressed out actors, overwhelm and stress for creatives, juggling priorities, faith and acting, prayer for peace and wisdom, grounding, stress management, emotional resilience for actors, stability in an acting career, acting and wellbeing, mental health for creatives, UK acting podcast.

  2. Nov 3

    27 | Burnout, Rejection & Self-Worth: Why Do Actors Put Their Wellbeing Last? | Sophelia Joan

    Burnout, Rejection & Self-Worth: Why Do Actors Put Their Wellbeing Last? | Sophelia Joan 💭 Why do actors and creatives so often put their wellbeing last, even when we know how important it is? We're taught to work hard, keep going, chase the next opportunity and push through the difficult moments. But what happens when our wellbeing starts paying the price? In this episode of The Anchored Actor Show, I'm joined by Sophelia Joan, a multifaceted creative, performer, Cognitive Behaviour Coach and founder of Gone Against the Grain, whose work spans performing arts, film and TV, music and wellbeing. Together, we have an honest and heartfelt conversation about burnout, rejection, identity and self-worth in the creative industry. Sophelia shares her personal journey of bringing creativity and wellbeing together, including the moment she realised she was already burnt out, something she only fully recognised after taking a break. We explore why prioritising ourselves can feel so difficult, how our identity can become tied to our work, and why rejection can sometimes feel so deeply personal. We also discuss practical ways to recognise our needs, challenge negative self-talk and build a healthier relationship with ourselves, both as creatives and as individuals. 🎙️ In This Episode, We Explore: Why actors and creatives often put their wellbeing at the bottom of their priorities Recognising the early signs of burnout and the cost of constantly pushing through How rejection can affect our confidence, identity and sense of self-worth Why we're conditioned to keep working rather than give ourselves permission to rest Challenging negative thoughts and learning to separate our worth from our achievements Small, practical ways to reconnect with ourselves and prioritise our wellbeing Along the way, we share personal experiences, reflections and a few laughs about navigating the realities of creative life. 💜 A Little Reminder to Take Away Our worth isn't determined by the roles we book, the opportunities we receive or how much we achieve. And looking after ourselves isn't something we have to earn. Sometimes, the first step is simply recognising that we matter, too. 🔎 Questions We Explore in This Episode ❓ Why do actors struggle to prioritise their wellbeing? Actors and creatives often work in environments that reward persistence, competition and constant productivity. Sophelia explores how we're conditioned to keep working rather than resting, and how recognising our own worth can help us make wellbeing a priority. ❓ How can I tell if I'm experiencing burnout as an actor or creative? Burnout can be difficult to recognise when you're used to pushing through exhaustion. In this conversation, we discuss changes in energy, mood, motivation and everyday functioning, including Sophelia's personal experience of recognising burnout after taking a holiday. ❓ How do I stop taking acting rejection personally? Rejection can feel particularly painful when your identity and self-worth are closely connected to your creative work. We explore ways to challenge negative self-talk, acknowledge difficult emotions and remind yourself that an unsuccessful audition doesn't define your value. ❓ How can I separate my identity from my acting career? Your identity extends beyond the characters you play and the jobs you book. I share a personal exercise of writing down who I am outside a character, while Sophelia discusses building an inventory of your strengths, achievements and personal qualities. ❓ How can actors look after their mental wellbeing while pursuing their careers? Small, consistent acts of self-care can help creatives recognise their needs and establish healthier boundaries. We discuss making space for rest, checking in with ourselves and developing a healthier relationship with who we are. ✨ Connect with Sophelia Joan Sophelia is a multifaceted creative, performer, Cognitive Behaviour Coach and founder of Gone Against the Grain, providing wellbeing coaching, workshops and one-to-one support through a creative and holistic approach. 📸 Instagram: @sopheliajoan 🎨 Gone Against the Grain: @goneagainstthegrain 🌐 Website: www.sopheliajoan.com ✨ About Your Host Hey, I'm Miriam Kaerma,  actress, actorpreneur, and a singer and musician at heart, balancing a corporate day job with a creative career, just like many of you! I'm also a mindset mentor and Mental Health First Aider, and the founder of The Anchored Actor. I'm passionate about helping actors navigate the uncertainties of the creative industry and find steadier ground along the way. Through The Anchored Actor Show, I bring together honest conversations, personal experiences and practical insights to explore acting, wellbeing, resilience and the challenges we face as creatives. Because I believe your identity and worth go far beyond your next role or opportunity. 💜 From Uncertainty to Steady Ground, Together. 🎧 Stay Connected with The Anchored Actor Show If this conversation resonated with you, consider sharing it with another actor or creative who might need the reminder. 💜 Follow The Anchored Actor Show for more honest conversations about acting, wellbeing, resilience and navigating the ups and downs of a creative career. ⭐ If you enjoyed the episode, leaving a rating or review is a lovely way to support the show and help other creatives discover these conversations.

  3. Oct 27

    26 | Does Having a Day Job Make You Less of an Actor?

    Does Having a Day Job Make You Less of an Actor? Have you ever told someone you're an actor, mentioned that you also have another job, and suddenly felt like you needed to justify yourself? Does having another career make you any less of an actor? And can you really pursue acting seriously while balancing another career alongside it? In this episode of The Anchored Actor, I'm sharing my personal experience of balancing a corporate career alongside acting, and challenging the idea that having another source of income somehow makes you less committed to your craft. Inspired by recent findings from Equity about the financial realities facing creative workers, we're exploring what happens behind the scenes of an acting career. Because beyond the performances, auditions, premieres and exciting announcements, there are real decisions about time, money, priorities and how to keep going. For me, having a corporate career hasn't always made balancing everything easy. There are sacrifices, difficult choices and moments when I simply can't do everything I want to do. But that financial foundation has also given me the freedom to invest in my acting development, work with coaches and make decisions that align with my values. And perhaps that's a side of having another career that deserves more attention. 💭 🎙️ In this episode, we explore: Why actors sometimes feel less successful or less committed when they have a day job. Whether it's possible to balance acting with another career. The challenges and sacrifices that come with pursuing two careers. How financial stability can support your acting training, personal growth and long-term ambitions. The difference between wanting an acting opportunity and financially depending on getting it. Why having another source of income can give you the freedom to say no when an opportunity no longer aligns with your values. How to think about building a sustainable acting career on your own terms. 🔎 Questions you might be asking yourself Can I be a serious actor and still have a day job? Absolutely. Having another job doesn't automatically make you less committed to acting. Your circumstances, priorities and the way you build your creative career may look different from someone else's, but that doesn't invalidate your ambitions. Is it possible to balance acting with another career? It can be, although it comes with real challenges around time, energy, scheduling and sometimes missing opportunities. In this episode, I share what navigating those challenges has looked like for me. Does having another source of income mean I'm holding back my acting career? Not necessarily. For some actors, financial stability can provide the freedom to invest in training, pursue long-term growth and make creative decisions without every opportunity needing to provide immediate income. 💭 Something to reflect on What if having another job isn't evidence that you're falling behind, but part of how you're creating the freedom to build the acting career you actually want? Perhaps it's not about finding a career path without challenges, but deciding which challenges we're willing to navigate and what kind of foundation helps us pursue our creative ambitions sustainably. ✨ About your host Hey, I'm Miriam, actress and actorpreneur, plus singer and musician at heart, balancing a corporate day job with a creative career, just like you. I'm also a mindset mentor and Mental Health First Aider, here to help you find steady ground. 💛 Enjoyed this episode? If this conversation resonated with you, share it with a fellow actor or creative who might need to hear it. And if you're enjoying The Anchored Actor, I'd love it if you could leave a rating and review. Your support means a lot and helps more actors and creatives discover the podcast.

  4. Oct 20

    25 | Feeling Stuck? You Don’t Have to Wait Until January to Start Fresh

    Have you been doing, doing, doing… and somewhere along the way, that excitement and motivation have started to fade? Have you looked back at your goals and wondered why some dreams haven't quite happened? Or perhaps you've been so busy juggling acting, work and everyday responsibilities that you've forgotten to notice how far you've already come. What if you didn't have to wait until January to give yourself permission to reset? In this episode of The Anchored Actor, I'm sharing some personal reflections on my annual vision board tradition, the goals I've achieved, the ones I've exceeded and even a few I've completely forgotten about! We explore how unfinished goals don't automatically mean failure, why progress in an acting career isn't always easy to see, and how a fresh perspective can help us reconnect with what excited us in the first place. Because sometimes a fresh start isn't about doing more. It's about giving yourself a little breathing space to reflect, dream again and rediscover that spark of excitement. In This Episode, We Explore 🌟 Feeling stuck or losing motivation: Why a year of challenges, changes and constantly doing things can leave us feeling disconnected from our original excitement. Dreaming big without losing sight of the journey: What revisiting old vision boards taught me about vague goals, disappointment and taking smaller, clearer steps. Recognising and tracking progress in your acting career: Why creative progress isn't always visible, particularly when you're juggling auditions, opportunities, relationships and a day job. Moving away from comparison: The value of looking at how far you've personally come rather than constantly measuring yourself against other actors. Finding a fresh perspective: How working with an acting coach helped me approach my acting profile and opportunities more intentionally. Making room for new possibilities: Why giving yourself permission to reset doesn't mean ignoring bills, responsibilities or the realities of everyday life. A Little Invitation for You 💭 What would giving yourself permission to reset look like right now? Is there something you've been carrying through the year that you'd like to look at differently? Perhaps there's a dream or idea that still excites you but has become buried beneath everyday responsibilities. You don't need to have everything figured out or create an elaborate plan immediately. Maybe the first step is simply giving yourself permission to pause, reflect and make a little room for what's next. Questions This Episode Explores ❓ How can I feel motivated again when I'm stuck in my acting career? Sometimes feeling stuck isn't about a lack of ambition. It may be that you've been navigating challenges, responsibilities and constant activity without taking time to reflect. A fresh perspective can help you reconnect with what initially excited you. What if I haven't achieved my acting or creative goals this year? An unfinished goal doesn't automatically mean failure. Looking back can reveal progress you hadn't noticed, goals that need clearer steps, and dreams you may still want to pursue. How do I recognise and track progress when I'm not booking acting jobs? Progress in an acting career isn't always immediately visible. Beyond bookings, you might be applying for opportunities, developing your skills, building relationships or balancing another job alongside your creative work. Taking time to reflect, or having a simple way to track what you've been doing, can help you recognise how far you've come rather than getting caught in a constant cycle of doing or comparing yourself with other actors. Do I need to wait until January to make a fresh start? No. A personal reset doesn't have to depend on the calendar. You can give yourself space to reflect and reconnect with new possibilities at any point in the year. How can I reset without putting more pressure on myself? A reset doesn't necessarily mean adding more tasks or creating another ambitious plan. It can begin with allowing yourself some breathing space and recognising what matters to you now. Related Episodes 🎧 If this conversation resonated with you, you might also enjoy: 3 Tips to Overcome Anxiety and Protect Your Wellbeing Stressed About Balancing Your Day Job With an Acting Tour? Still an Actor Without Acting Jobs? Why You Feel You Have to Prove Yourself Let's Stay Connected 💌 If this episode met you in a moment when you've been feeling stuck, overwhelmed or simply in need of a fresh perspective, I'd love to know what resonated with you. Please consider leaving a short review wherever you're listening and sharing this episode with an actor friend who might need a reminder that they don't have to wait until January to start fresh. Reviews and word of mouth help The Anchored Actor reach other creatives juggling acting, work and real life. And it genuinely lights me up knowing these conversations are helping you feel a little more rooted, steady and anchored. About Your Host Hey, I'm Miriam, actress and actorpreneur, plus singer and musician at heart, balancing a corporate day job with a creative career, just like you. I'm also a mindset mentor and Mental Health First Aider, here to help you find steady ground

  5. Oct 13

    24 | Still an Actor Without Acting Jobs? Why You Feel You Have to Prove Yourself

    Have you ever… Told someone you're an actor, only to feel awkward when they ask what you've been in lately? Felt that having a day job makes other people see you as less of a “real actor”? Put yourself forward for acting opportunities, heard nothing back and started wondering whether you're doing enough? 🌟 In This Episode In this episode, I'm sharing my experience of being called a “half actor”, navigating quieter periods between acting projects and finding stability alongside my corporate career, so you can feel more confident in your identity as an actor, even when you're not currently working on a project. If you're an actor who feels uncomfortable explaining gaps between acting jobs, frustrated by unanswered applications or under pressure to prove you're serious about your craft, this conversation is for you. We'll explore two important shifts: Your acting projects don't define your identity. Being between acting jobs doesn't make you any less of an actor. I'll share how my perspective has changed, why having another career alongside acting has helped me find stability, and why not every quiet moment needs to be filled with another activity. Recognise what you're already doing and let go of what you can't control. From submitting applications to developing skills, your actions still matter, even when you can't see immediate results. I'll also share what reviewing applications from the other side has taught me about silence, uncertainty and emotional resilience. One small action to try: The next time you catch yourself thinking, “I'm not doing enough,” ask yourself: “What is the one thing I've already done to support my acting career?” Maybe you've submitted an application, practised a scene, developed a skill, started your own project or given yourself some much-needed rest. Acknowledge that one thing, then bring your attention back to what you can do next. Because finding stability isn't always about having everything around us figured out. Sometimes it's about learning to feel a little steadier within ourselves, even when things are uncertain. 🎧 Related Episodes Episode 21 — Did the Character Come Home With You? How to Take the Role Off A conversation about identity beyond the characters we play. Episode 18 — 3 Things I Go Back To After an Acting Rejection For those moments when an opportunity doesn't work out and you need to find your footing again. Episode 23 — Why Does Stopping Feel So Hard? The Hidden Cost of Always Being ‘On’ as an Actor An exploration of busyness, rest and giving ourselves permission to slow down. 💛 Before You Go If this episode resonated with you, especially if you've ever felt you needed to justify a quieter period in your acting career, I'd love to hear from you. Leaving a review or sharing this episode with another actor can help this conversation reach someone who might need the reminder that they're not defined by their latest project. Let's keep finding our way towards feeling rooted, steady, and anchored, together. Questions This Episode Answers Am I still an actor if I'm not currently acting? Yes. Being between acting projects doesn't erase your identity as an actor. The industry naturally involves quieter periods, and your current credits or bookings don't have to determine how you see yourself. Does having a day job make me less of an actor? No. Having another job alongside acting doesn't mean you've given up on your creative career. For me, a steady corporate career has helped relieve some of the pressure of unpredictable acting work, while offering opportunities to observe people and their behaviour. How can I stop feeling like I'm not doing enough in my acting career? Start by recognising what you've already done rather than measuring your progress only by the outcomes you receive. Submitting an application, practising a scene, developing a skill, creating your own work or allowing yourself rest are all actions worth acknowledging. You can control the effort you put forward, but not every response or casting decision. Memorable Moments From the Episode “Because I think your identity as an actor doesn't disappear just because you are between projects.” “Not every quiet moment needs to be filled with something.” “It's not about never feeling disappointed, but it's about learning to move forward even when I don't have the answers, and you don't have all the answers.” “Sometimes it's about learning to feel a little steadier within ourselves, even when things are uncertain.” Topics Covered Actor identity · Acting jobs · Acting careers between projects · Actors with day jobs · Career stability · Emotional resilience for actors · Acting applications · Rest and creative development · Actor wellbeing About The Anchored Actor Hey, I'm Miriam, actress and actorpreneur, plus singer and musician at heart, balancing a corporate day job with a creative career, just like you. I'm also a mindset mentor and Mental Health First Aider, here to help you find steady ground.

  6. Oct 6

    23 | Why Does Stopping Feel So Hard? The Hidden Cost of Always Being “On” as an Actor

    Do your days ever blur together, switching from one hat to the next with no real line where one thing ends and the next begins? Have the people closest to you ever looked a little dizzy when you told them everything you had planned? Have you ever kept pushing because stopping felt like missing an opportunity you couldn't get back? Highlights of This Episode 🌟 In this episode, I’m sharing what I’ve learned about the hidden cost of constantly switching between everything I do, my corporate day job, acting, music and the never-ending to-do list, so you can recognise when constant doing has started to become one long blur. If you're an actor or creative juggling a day job and your craft, and your weeks have started to feel like one long hamster wheel, this conversation is for you. I talk honestly about why stopping can sometimes feel like missing the train, the fear of missing out that can sit underneath constant pushing, and the question I've learned to ask myself when those thoughts take over: What is actually true? I also share something I didn't expect to find underneath all that busyness: how easy it is for friendships and genuine connection to quietly get pushed aside when the time to simply be with people is never allocated in the first place. Your one thing this week: Put one slot in your diary for being, not doing, with one person. It could be a friend, family member or new connection. Treat it like any other commitment. Resources & Related Episodes 📚 More episodes if this one landed for you: Did the Audition Go Wrong? Here's What I Did With My Thoughts Next Getting Into Character Is a Skill. Getting Out Is What Protects You Distracted or Out of Time? Two Ways to Get Lines In That Actually Work Connecting With Me & Next Steps 💌 If this episode met you in a moment of running on empty, or realising you've let a friendship slide while you were busy keeping every plate spinning, please leave a short review wherever you're listening and share it with an actor friend who needs the reminder that your worth is not determined by outcomes. Reviews and word of mouth are the main ways this podcast reaches other creatives juggling acting jobs, work and real life, and it genuinely lights me up to know these stories are helping you stay rooted, steady and anchored as you go. Questions This Episode Answers Why does constantly switching between tasks leave you more tired than the hours suggest? Every switch between roles costs energy. Without a clear line marking where one thing ends and the next begins, the day can start to run together into one long blur. Why can stopping sometimes feel harder than continuing to push? Because stopping can bring up the fear of missing out — the feeling that if you don't keep going, you might miss an opportunity you won't get back. What can you ask yourself when the “what if I miss out?” fear takes over? Put the fear to one side for a brief moment and ask: What is actually true? You cannot do everything. Naming that can create space to reassess what actually needs your energy and attention. How can a busy schedule quietly lead to isolation? When every available space is allocated to doing, time for simply being with people can easily get pushed aside. Genuine connection needs room too. Quotes From This Episode “There isn't the stopping line, so it all kind of becomes a blur.” “I cannot do everything. It's not humanly possible.” “The time to be, it wasn't really allocated.” About the Show Hey, I'm Miriam, actress and actorpreneur, plus singer and musician at heart — balancing a corporate day job with a creative career, just like you. I'm also a mindset mentor and Mental Health First Aider, here to help you find steady ground. Anchored Actor is a podcast about acting, wellbeing and stability. Each episode helps actors, performers and creatives working in film and theatre find stability in an unpredictable industry by building emotional resilience rather than simply pushing harder. Topics covered: acting, actor wellbeing, stability, burnout, busy schedules for creatives, isolation, balancing a day job and acting, actor mindset, emotional resilience for actors, and mental health and wellbeing for creatives.

  7. Sep 29

    22 | Struggling to Stay Present After a Mistake? This Is the Skill I Didn’t Know I Had

    Did the Audition Go Wrong? Here's What I Did With My Thoughts Next Have you ever gone blank, or spiralled, mid performance, in front of a room full of people who could see it happen? Do you find that one mistake sets off a whole chain of comparison thoughts you can't switch off? Have you ever noticed your best work happen right after you stopped trying to fix something that had already gone wrong? In this episode, I'm sharing what actually happened in my head during a live singing audition that went sideways, so you can learn what to do with the thought that shows up the moment something slips, instead of the thing everyone tells you to do, which is just push it away. If you're an actor who spirals after a mistake, or who's caught comparing yourself to everyone else in the room mid performance, this one is for you. I take you through the audition itself: choosing the bolder song, the slip, the loud inner critic, and the choice not to restart again. Then the twist, an unrehearsed improvised piece that landed better than anything I'd prepared, because I'd stopped fighting my own thoughts and come back to the room instead. I name the actual psychological skill behind that moment, cognitive defusion, so you have something real to reach for next time, not just a feeling to hope for. Your one thing this week: next time something slips, wherever you are, notice the thought for what it is. Just a thought. Don't give it more power than that. Then let it pass, and come back to the room. More episodes if this one landed for you: Anxious Before Auditions? 3 Steps That Protect Your Wellbeing, Not Your Performance Distracted or Out of Time? Two Ways to Get Lines In That Actually Work Getting Into Character Is a Skill. Getting Out Is What Protects You If this episode met you in a moment of spiralling after a mistake, or bracing for the next audition where it might happen again, please leave a short review wherever you're listening and share it with an actor friend who needs the reminder that your worth is not determined by outcomes. Reviews and word of mouth are the main ways this podcast reaches other creatives juggling acting jobs, work, and real life, and it genuinely lights me up to know these stories are helping you stay rooted, steady, and anchored as you go. Questions this episode answers What do you do when your mind spirals mid performance? Notice the thought instead of arguing with it. In a live audition, in front of nearly a hundred people and casting directors, that might mean a wrong note, or a loud comparison to the person before you. You don't have to silence it or prove it wrong. Just see it as a thought passing through, not a command you have to obey, and stop feeding it. Why did an unrehearsed, improvised performance go better than a carefully prepared one? Because presence, not preparation, was what was missing. During a rehearsed song, the inner critic can get loud enough that you're managing your own head instead of listening. Once that quiets, even without a script, there's room to actually hear what's being asked of you in the room and respond to it, which is what happened in an improvised recall that landed better than the version that had been practised for weeks. Is there a name for noticing a thought without engaging with it? Yes, psychologists call it cognitive defusion: seeing a thought as a thought, a passing mental event, rather than a fact or an instruction you're required to follow. It's not about arguing yourself into a better mood, it's about loosening the thought's grip enough to come back to the present moment. Should you restart or keep going after a mistake in an audition? It depends on the mistake, but restarting doesn't undo what already happened. Choosing to finish, to your best ability in that exact moment, protecting your composure instead of chasing a clean take, is often the stronger option, especially in a live, open audition where a second restart risks compounding the first mistake with visible frustration. Quotes from this episode "Let go of the final result. Letting go of the outcome I was hoping for." "The matter of fact is that you don't need to silence the thoughts. Just notice that it's there." "Even if mistakes happen, they happen. I'm always able to finish and still come out with the biggest smile." About the show Hey, I'm Miriam, actress and actorpreneur, plus singer and musician at heart, balancing a corporate day job with a creative career, just like you. I'm also a mindset mentor and Mental Health First Aider, here to help you find steady ground. Anchored Actor is a podcast about acting, wellbeing and stability. Each episode helps actors, performers and creatives working in film and theatre find stability in an unpredictable industry by building emotional resilience, rather than pushing harder. Topics covered: audition anxiety, staying present under pressure, cognitive defusion, mental spirals during performance, self tape and live audition nerves, acting and wellbeing, actor mindset, emotional resilience for actors, stability in an acting career, mindfulness for performers, mental health for creatives, UK acting podcast.

  8. Sep 22

    21 | Did the Character Come Home With You? How to Take the Role Off

    Have you ever finished a role and realised you were still a bit sharp, a bit cold, a bit not quite yourself? Has someone who loves you ever asked whether you are okay, when you had no idea what they were seeing? Do you know how to get into character quickly, but have no real way of getting back out? In this episode, I'm sharing what protects you as you step into a character, and more importantly what protects you when you step back out, so you can play anyone without losing yourself in the process. If you can get into a role quickly but were never taught how to take it off again, this one is for you. We get into grounding yourself before you start, using a picture as the door into the character's world, treating a role like clothing that you put on and then take off, and the small handwritten note that brings you back to yourself. All of it to help you move from quietly carrying a character home with you, to coming back to yourself on purpose. I also tell you about the role that followed me home. A character who was not a nice woman, a version of me that turned dismissive and cold, and the friends who noticed before I did and asked, very gently, whether I was okay. Your one thing this week: before your next role, write yourself a note about who you are. Not the character. You. Then read it when the work is done. More episodes if this one landed for you: 3 Tips to Overcome Anxiety and Protect Your Wellbeing Stressed About Balancing Your Day Job With an Acting Tour? Think You Blew an Acting Audition? Think Again When the Audition Goes Silent: Managing Anxiety and Finding Stability Questions this episode answers: How do you get into character on cue?Two moves. Ground yourself first, then go to the picture you have already built of the character's world and use it as a door. It works because the door is built long before you need it. How do you stop taking a character home with you? Take the role off deliberately rather than just stopping. For me that is prayer, and then reading a note I wrote about who I am before the work began. Why do you feel strange after a role ends? Sometimes you come out high, sometimes low, and sometimes lost in between, not the character any more and not quite yourself yet. In that state it is very easy to skip the switching off entirely. Is it normal for friends to notice a change in you? Yes, and they usually see it before you do. If someone who loves you asks whether you are okay, listen to them. "The character borrowed you, and the character shouldn't get to keep you." "When you come home, you take your shoes off. You don't wear them to bed. It's the same with your mind, but spiritually." "You can play anyone, as long as you know who you're coming home to. And that isn't a craft skill. That's stability." If this episode met you in a moment of feeling not quite like yourself, please leave a short review wherever you're listening and share it with an actor friend who needs the reminder that your worth is not determined by outcomes. Reviews and word of mouth are the main ways this podcast reaches other creatives juggling acting jobs, work, and real life, and it genuinely lights me up to know these stories are helping you stay rooted, steady, and anchored as you go. Anchored Actor is a podcast about acting, wellbeing and stability, hosted by Miriam Kaerma, a UK based actress, mindset mentor and emotional resilience mentor. Each episode helps actors, performers and creatives working in film and theatre find stability in an unpredictable industry by building emotional resilience, rather than pushing harder. Topics covered: how to get into character on cue, how to leave a character behind, character bleed, post role decompression for actors, identity and acting, mindfulness for performers, emotional exhaustion, acting and wellbeing, mental health for actors, faith and acting, stability in an acting career, emotional resilience for actors, audition preparation for film and theatre, UK acting podcast.

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Are you an actor juggling auditions,  acting gigs, a day job, and other real-life commitments? And even though you’re surrounded by people in the creative industry, do you still feel lonely, unseen, or disconnected from those who truly get you — and your values? Do you feel emotionally tired from holding it all together, worried that if you slow down everything will fall apart? Do you ever wonder if staying true to your values will cost you roles, respect, or your future in the industry? I am so glad you’re here! This podcast will help you cultivate emotional stability, inner peace, and resilience so you can navigate auditions, day jobs, and uncertainty without burning out. You’ll learn faith‑rooted mindset tools, wellness rhythms, and practical habits that support both your acting career and your everyday life, even when the industry feels unpredictable. Each episode offers encouragement, simple practices, and honest conversations to move you from isolation and overwhelm into grounded confidence, creative freedom, and a steady sense of purpose in your calling. Hey, I’m Miriam—an actress and creative who combines a steady corporate job with acting and other projects. I know what it feels like to crave stability while your heart still burns for storytelling and performance. For a long time, I tried to fix that tension by doing more: side projects, “this might be it” business ideas, and relationships that kept me busy but not fulfilled. I was juggling roles, exhausted, and often lonely, trying to hold together work, creativity, and my inner life by sheer willpower. Spiritually, I carried a lukewarm faith—praying when things got heavy, then going straight back to hustling on my own and wondering why I still had no peace. What finally changed wasn’t a big break, but letting God into my everyday decisions and learning to build emotional stability from the inside out. Simple wellness and mindset rhythms, clearer boundaries, and a lived, daily faith helped me walk through auditions, my job, and uncertainty with far less burnout and far more calm.Now, I am ready to teach how to do the same If you’re tired of pushing through your calling in constant tension and you’re ready to feel grounded again, this podcast is for you. Press pause on the hustle, settle in, and let’s step into stability together.

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