289 💪 Fearless Living: Mandy Gonzalez's Journey Through Cancer and Creativity

Episode Transcript
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>> Mandy Gonzalez (00:00):
But it's about that people pleasing thing and

(00:02):
I had to let go of that once, you know, the
big C came in because it was all
about making it through and
surviving and what was it going to take for me to make it through.
And a lot of that was singing.
You know, that was one of my first questions, was will I
be able to sing during this process? Because

(00:23):
I never thought about it before, but it's a such so much a part
of my lifeline and connecting
and it's also this
show, must, the show must go on mentality that I have
and that I grew up with. And so
I knew how to do that. I knew how to
continue and fight through and get through a show and

(00:43):
not just get through it, but let go.

>> Wendy Valentine (00:46):
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Welcome back to the Midlife Makeover Show.
I'm your hostess of the Midlife mostess, Wendy

(03:56):
Valentine. Today's guest is the
incredibly talented Mandy Gonzalez.
She's an accomplished actor and author whose work
spans film, television, Broadway and books.
Oh, my gosh, she does it all. You might
recognize her from her standout roles in Hamilton,
Wicked and In the Heights. But beyond the

(04:17):
spotlight, Mandy is also a woman, a cancer
survivor, a health warrior, an author of the
Fearless book series, and an inspiring
advocate for women and underserved communities.
She's currently bringing down the house as
Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard on
Broadway and somehow still
finds time to be fully present in her with her 12

(04:39):
year old daughter, her family, her fans, and most
importantly, herself. Today,
we're talking all about how Mandy manages to do
it all and still lives with grace,
gratitude and grit. She'll share her secrets to
finding balance in a busy life. How community fuels
her energy and how she pushed through breast cancer
treatments while performing eight shows a week. Oh, my gosh.

(05:02):
We'll also touch on her amazing fearless series and
the social movement it sparked. Get ready
to feel empowered, inspired, and a little starstruck.
Please welcome Mandy to the show.
Ta da.

Hi, Wendy.

Is that the best intro ever you've had? Even on
Broadway?

Oh, it's so the best. But I'm just like,
oh, I am like so busy. Like I'm
tired. But no, no, no, I loved it. Thank you
so much.

Like, oh my gosh, how am I doing it all?
So it was funny that my first question for
you.

Well, a little backstory.

You are the second Mandy I've ever met
in my entire life. Isn't that why
only the second man is.

It is wild. And I think we, I don't know
about this, but she's pulling probably a child of the 80s, late
70s. because I'm named after the Barry Manilow hit.
yes. And When I meet another Mandy, I said, are
you. We always say to each other, are you a real Mandy or
are you Amanda? And Amanda, like, I am a
real Mandy. My parents were so into Barry Manilow,

(06:10):
and, yeah, it's not an. Yeah.

Mandy was my bestest S's friend
growing up in the 70s and the 80s.
Yeah. And so it brings me back
to little Wendy and little Mandy.
So what was little. What was little Mandy like?
And what inspired little Mandy to
become a performer?

Oh, my goodness. Well, little Mandy had a lot of
big energy and probably like you,
I was, you know, I came out, with
curly hair and just a voice that
wanted to sing and talk and do everything that I could do
with it. And, I had a, ah,
grandmother. So I am a part of two different
cultures. My mom is Jewish American and

(06:56):
my father's Mexican American. And so I grew up with a
Bubby and an abuelita.
Yes. And I spent a lot of time, with
my bubby and listening to
cast albums of musicals. And she loved
big torch singers like G.B. garland,
Edie Gourmet, like, all these people. And then, you know, my

(07:16):
parents loved, Barry Manilow, the Beatles
and Elvis. And I fell in love with the music.
And so my, My bubby said, well,
Mandy has this really big voice. I think
she's going to hurt herself. Let's get her into lessons.
Little did she know that that big voice would one day
help me sing in a live theater, you

(07:37):
know. But, so I started lessons very young.
I started at around 7 or 8 with
a, vocal teacher. And it really
was those lessons, but also the car rides
with my Bubby to all of my lessons
everywhere that, really shaped my
musical, life, because I just loved

(07:57):
it. I loved music. I still do. And, so that's
what it was. And then, you know, I was doing all the
things I had, the friends I had, the clubhouse.
I, was running around. My brother and I are like 13
months apart. So one day we would play Star
wars, one day we'd play Barbies. Like, I was just a
super active kid in all the things. You know, my
parents are not showbiz people,

(08:20):
so it was never like, oh, man, she does
this. Like, I had a brother and a sister, and we all
were equal. You know, my parents did a great job
with, We were all special, but not too special, you
know what I mean? And so, you know, my brother's hockey was just
as important as my sister's piano as my singing. And
so, we all Got to take lessons in one thing.

(08:41):
And, that's really how my journey began.

When did you first get, like, your big, big
show that you did?

Well, the thing that kind of changed my life was, I
was in college. In my freshman year, I went to
CalArts, in California, because that's where I'm from.
And I wasn't really ready, like a lot of my friends,
to go to New York to start, you
know, to go to school in New York. I was very
much a homebody. You know, I would get homesick at
sleepovers. I was definitely that kind of kid.

(09:11):
And I had a lot of fear and anxiety and
things like that. And, And so I went on an
open call because they were looking for backup singers for Bette
Midler. And I went on this open call and I waited in line
and I kept getting called back. I was like, callback after
callback. And I got that job and it took me away
from home for the first time. And I

(09:31):
toured the country singing behind Bette Midler
in the band.

I have goosebumps.

yeah, Having these, like, crowd awesome.

M. And then Bubby was so excited.

Oh, my gosh.

Beside herself.

Oh, my gosh. She loved it. And
she, you know, she came to the show
and, it was a concert where Bette
Midler was playing, like, arenas,
you know. So we played. I guess we played
the Staples Center. That's what it was at that time. But they all
came and I had to do these crosses and like a G

(10:05):
string. And my dad was there, and thank God I didn't have a lot of
money, so I had to put them, like, in the back.
But it was fabulous. And I
was on the road. And that really, you know,
catapulted my trajectory into
New York because we played New York,
I guess we played the Triborough, like, that whole area,

(10:28):
jersey. And I was like, I saved my money
from that. And then I moved to Brooklyn and started my
career.

How old were you when you got the. With Bette Midler?

19. I know
I couldn't drink. I was like such a baby
and. But she really took care of me, you know, like,
she watched out for all of us. And
she was such, It was a masterclass, you know, getting
to spend that time with her, watching her
create a show. And, you know, she

(10:59):
had us working hard, and, we had to learn about 30
songs, and she would only do, like, 20. But
just in case she pulled the song out and wanted to do it
that night, like, we would know it, you Know, she's,
every show that we went to, she memorized.
She would work with her writer, Bruce Blanche,
and they would write an opening monologue from the different

(11:19):
papers that they would read and tell different jokes. And
every single show she had a new monologue
memorized. She was
incredible. And she still is.

You mentioned before having fear and
anxiety. Anxiety. How did you overcome
it?

I don't think I ever overcame it. I think that
I also come from this,
mindset and I have an incredibly strong
moment who would always say to me,
feel, the fear and do it anyway.
And, that is always in the back of my mind.
And I think that the way that I was able to

(11:58):
live with it was to realize that it's just a
small part of who I am. And the more
attention I give to it and try to get rid of it,
the more fear, the more fear
I have and learning about it and why that
happens. And I think that, that was a
big journey for me, and has been a big journey for me

(12:18):
throughout my life.

I think it's so important though, for people. Like you
said, like, your mom says to do it anyway, because I
always say that, like, I can't give you a jar of courage.
You have to fill up your own jar of courage. And you do it
by taking action and you still have
fear. Like before you go on stage sometimes or before
a podcast, I was like, oh, my gosh, like, it's.

(12:41):
I don't know if I ever completely feel like, oh,
okay, I'm ready to rock and roll. You know, like, let's
go. Listen, I'm always
worked up.

And I think that we were talking about it before the podcast where
you said, you know, I'm a recovering
perfectionist. And I
loved that because I feel the same
way. And I think the more we let go of
that perfection and what others think about us, which
will never let go of completely.

Yeah.

but the more freedom I think we
feel, with letting go of, like, it has to be
perfect. And for me, it was a lot about,
what others thought, you know,
reviews, things like that. Like, oh my gosh,
something that means it's true. And it was
never looking at the positive reviews or

(13:32):
things like that. It was always focusing on that one.
And it's probably that 15 year old kid that's like,
she sucks. And I'm like, oh my God,
right.

Now, like, you could have 500 great
reviews and you'll just concentrate on the one shitty one,
right?

No, it's true. It's so true. And I just
think, you know,
that's something that I think is put in our way for a reason,
because we're supposed to learn from it. And then the more
we learn, the more we can give to others.

Yeah.

You know, and I think, too, like.

Done is better than perfect. I remind myself of that
because I. I used to not.
I mean, as a perfectionist.
Used to be a perfectionist. It's why I never
started. You know, I didn't start a show, I didn't start
writing. I didn't do all the things that I knew
deep down that's truly what would feed

(14:27):
my heart and my soul, but I didn't do them.
And because I was so worried about, oh, my God, what
if I produce something that's crappy? What if people laugh
at me? What if I don't sound right or do it right
or blah, blah, blah, to where it was like, you know,
analysis is paralysis. And I did. I
paralyzed myself with, the. It's
like, why does it matter? I think that's what's

(14:50):
so great about, like, especially when you get in your 40s and
50s, you do start to not care
as much about what people think and why it's
the perfect time to, like, go for it.

Absolutely. I think, you know, the more you
are for me, the more you prepare
for things, whatever it is, working
on a podcast, and then the opportunity comes
where somebody says yes. for me,
it's like, oh, my gosh, what if they don't like it? What if it. And
I jump. I don't know what it is about

(15:22):
me that makes me do that, but the more I'm
afraid of something, I just feel like,
oh, that means I need to do
it. And so I start to do it, and then somebody
says yes. And then I'm like, oh, my God,
yes.

Yeah, exactly.

I just. I know I keep doing the work,
and, you know, it just feels right.
It's universal.

I've had. I've had some amazing
daredevils on this podcast. Like, people that
have hiked, you know, Everest and all
the. The seven summits have done all those things
to me. Like, my Everest is
leaping out, writing a book, starting a
show, buying an RV and taking up across the.

(16:07):
Like, those are. That's. That's my Everest. And
I think, like, for us, we need to ask ourselves, like,
okay, if I'm not going to go and, you know,
hike up a gigantic mountain or do
something crazy, daredevil like that, then what is
that? Everest? That you'll just leap. And just
like the saying is leap, in the net will appear. Right?

Absolutely.

Yeah. I mean, and we are our own net,
and we have a little bit of faith in ourselves that, like, we will
catch ourselves. You figure this shit out as you go along.
I mean, right? You do? Yeah. I mean,
yes, yes, exactly.
And I think it's in figuring it
out that is. That's really what makes you

(16:49):
stronger and more resilient.

Absolutely. Because in my world, you
know, I do a lot of. You know, I do a lot
of, different shows. I do Broadway shows, I do
TV shows. And there's always
an end, you know, for some of them, there's
just an end for you. Ah, because you're ready to move on to
something else. But I think that you,

(17:12):
have to stay, flexible,
and you have to stay. Stay hungry
for whatever it is, whether it's, you
know, I want to be really great, this month.
Sometimes I'll go through that where I'm, like, making
really incredible meals for my family,
or, you know, I want to be the mom that, like,

(17:32):
when my kid comes home, she's like, this is soggy. Like, I want
to be the one that, you know, gets all the food groups in
and, you know, all those things. And. And so I think
that for me, I think you always have to
continue to, to challenge
yourself.
But in some ways, like
I always say, like, to be fearless, but

(17:53):
to be fearless is not living with. Without fear.
I always break it up into two words where we fear
less and we keep going. And that's really
what it is. Like, you know, you think when a
show ends, you know, sunset's closing, and
you think, oh, my gosh, like, what now?
And you just. There has to be a trust of

(18:15):
you're going to be taken care of. And look at what you can do
right now with your loved ones. And are you being a
good friend and are you being, you know, present in
your family and all of those things? So there's always something.

Yeah, instead of, like, yeah, instead of
like, what now? I was like, oh, what now?

Like, yeah, I mean, there is that moment of like, oh,
my God. Like, but. And that's totally normal,
too. But it's just one foot in front of the other,
and your journey continues, you know?

Yeah.

Just how it is.

I sometimes think, like, we don't. We don't give
ourselves enough credit, and we don't give ourselves enough
permission to evolve, to change
and to be someone else, to do other things.
Like it's. I mean, I, know it's
so cliche, but life is so freaking
short. I say this all the time. Like, if we're lucky
enough to get a hundred years even, like, I think the

(19:09):
average, age for a woman in the
US is 80.5. And.

Right. You get 80, we get that point five. Right?

I want that.05, damn it. I'm
0.75. But if we're lucky enough,
like it's. You think of it like that's not very,
that's not very long and.

No, it's not.

It's all the more reason to leap and just
go for it and just.

Yeah.

And just.

And whatever. I love what you said about
Mount Everest and whatever your Everest is,
don't be afraid to start. It doesn't mean that you have
to have it all planned out. it just means
that you start, you start walking
and you know, you start, ah, journaling
or you start making that list of I want this

(19:56):
and this, I want my show to be like this or I want to
run that 5K. You know, I have a cousin who,
started by running 5Ks, and now she does,
50 mile merit, like ultra marathons.

Yeah.

And it's so inspiring to me. Not that that's where
you have to go, but it's just you never know where
that journey is going to take you.

I know. What's the saying from God who
said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step?
I think it's Lao Tzu or something like that.

Oh, I love that.

But I, I've always loved that. I used to have that little quote,
you know, in my bathroom or something like that. It's like a journey.
And I always read that. I'm like, okay, just take a step,
Just take a step. And then don't
worry about the second and third and the fourth step. Like, just take
one step at a time.

And like.

And yes, we would like to think that you can
imagine the entire thing of what is,
whatever that it is for you, whatever that Everest is for
you. You can try to imagine what you would like for it to be,
but you never know how it's going to change along
the way and what other options are
presented your way, you know, like, that's what's cool

(21:03):
about it.

It is cool. And I think like, as you go
like on those steps, like, try to
be kind to yourself, you know, and if you're
being too hard on yourself, get out of
yourself and do something for somebody else. You
Know, Because that also, for me,
that's such a big part of my life is,

(21:24):
you know, reaching out and when somebody's going
through something and. And seeing how I can,
you know, be of service and in some way, you
know. And, that's why I created. Exactly.

Yeah. We all shine our light in different ways, and
we never know how. How we can help somebody
else. Right. No matter what it is. But being on stage,
helping them to laugh or helping them to cry
and all of it.
Yeah.
So when did you start. When did you start writing?

Oh, gosh, I've been writing my whole life, I think.
And then, I had a lot of
stories and characters that I had been thinking about.
You know, my favorite place. One of my favorite places
growing up was the library. it's. My mom
took us every week, and it was the one place
that, she would say, go and get whatever

(22:14):
you want, you know. And at that time, you know,
I'm a child of the 80s, so that time we had a library
card, and you had to, you know, sign your name in the
card, in the book. And it was just such a special.
No, I love plastic.

The plastic that's over.

All of it. All of it.
I know. And now my daughter, all. You know, she's. So
all they use is the computer, like, in school and
things like that. Like, I miss having, Remember you
had to cover your books with the.
Yeah. The bags that you would get at the grocery
store. Yes. Oh, my God.

And I had it down, like, I would have the fold down,
like, really good. And then.

Oh, totally m. Oh. And then decorate. It was, like,
the best. But, Yeah, so I
would go and I would constantly look for
books that, you know, were
represented, who I was, and characters
that made me feel like I belonged. And
I had a really hard time finding those kind of books. And
so I started to create characters,

(23:16):
that look like me, that had.
And some of my friends in the theater. Because the thing about
New York and the thing about Broadway is that
we all come from somewhere else.
a lot of times, a lot of people,
in a show, you know, weren't born in New
York. Sometimes they are. Like, my best friend was

(23:37):
born in Harlem, and he really became one
of my first, inspirations. We met.
I was, I was a standby,
in the show Aida on Broadway,
Disney's Aida. I was a standby for
Idina Menzel, for the part
of Princess Mneris. And it was the first. That's the first time

(23:57):
That I was in a Broadway show. And when you're
the standby, you're put into a swing room. And
the swings, they understudy about five different
ensemble members in the show. So if
somebody goes down that swing, gets dressed and goes
on, like, that's what it is. So I shared, the
dressing room with all the swings, and I shared a mirror with my best

(24:18):
friend, Darrell Grand Moultrie, who's now a
renowned choreographer, all around the world.
And, we became friends. And I just.
I loved, I just love him. And. And
so for me, I started to write these stories
about, a nickname that he has. everybody calls him
Relly. You go into Harlem and you walk around,

(24:38):
everybody says, hey, Relly. Hey, Relly. And I.
I absolutely love that because that's how it was where
I grew up, you know, in Los Angeles. But it was just a
little bit. A little bit different. And so
I wanted to write stories about,
this character that was inspired by him. And
so I did. And then I

(24:59):
started to send it out, as you do, to different
publishers and agents. And I had a lot of
rejection, for many, many years. And
then, finally somebody said yes,
and, that's how it started. And
my, Fearless Squad series, began. I had
an agent, and I still have that agent

(25:22):
who believes in me and always,
just says, like, okay, what do you got? What do you got?
What's the story? and says,
this is something that I think young people would want to
read. And. Yeah, and so that's how the
Fearless series began. And,
through that series, I was able
to, connect with others online.

(25:44):
I had a lot of young people writing to me at the theater.
I, think I was in Hamilton at the time, and I was
playing, Angelica Schuyler, and had a lot of
young people that wrote to me and said about feelings of
loneliness. You know, back, when I started, you would have to write a
letter at the stage door, and it would get to you,
but letter with paper and pen. I

(26:05):
know. And now, you know, my DMs are open.
I'm a very, like, open person. I'm very
curious. And so I have a lot of people that write to
me. And, And so I said, well, if you don't have a place to
belong, you can be part of my Fearless Squad. And I
put it out there, and I said, who's with me? And I had no
idea that hundreds of thousands of people would want to be a
part of it. And I even have

(26:28):
young people. To this day, I call them young because I met
some of these kids when they were in middle school,
and now they have graduated and
are, you know, so just
doing wonderful things in the world. And we
started in 2017 on this.
On this platform online. And

(26:48):
it not only changed their life, but it changed mine as
well. And, I had no idea when I
started that platform how much I would need
their support. when I was diagnosed with
breast cancer, in 2019,
and then the pandemic happened in, 2020, and
I was in chemotherapy, and

(27:09):
I, couldn't, have anybody in the room with me. I couldn't.
You know, it was very isolating. Like, you know, the
nurses would touch you, but nobody would look at. You know, it
was.
It was a really hard, hard time.
One of the most difficult times of my life. And I really
leaned on the squad, and
people's. People's messages to help

(27:30):
me. Help me really get through that time. And
so I, at this time in my life, I want to
continue to pass it on, you know, because
you can keep going. And if you're going through
something hard, there are people out there that love you and,
and will, you know, be by their computer
even. And sometimes that's all you need is a message of,

(27:51):
hey, I hear you. I see you.
And, you feel a little bit less alone.

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(29:02):
that time? Where did you. How did you do it?

I don't know. I think it comes from, a very deep
place in m. Myself,
and I think I come from a long line of
survivors, you know, on both sides of
my family. You Know, my great grandparents came
here to escape what was happening in Europe
and, they thrived. And the same

(29:26):
happened with my father's family. You know, they came
here from, from Mexico for a better life
and they worked in the fields and
you know, they, they worked
incredibly hard. My abuelita, like,
she was one of the hardest working people I've ever known.
And so I think that core strength comes from

(29:47):
the people that were here before me.
And I, I carry them. And I think
that's always been a part of my, My
journey is to not let go of where I come from.
Because I think, ah, it grounds you.

Yeah.

At least for myself. And I come from
very strong, a very strong family.
And I, I have an incredible husband
who, it has been my strength
through those times of. Okay.
Because my husband is. And I like to call him, like
Larry David. exactly.

(30:24):
Clarity. But, he. There's an episode, that
they talk about the son of a doctor. And he is
the son of a doctor, father
was a pediatrician. And and
so, but being a part of like the
medical. Having a little bit of
knowledge in the medical community and not feeling
intimidated by it, allowed me

(30:47):
to become more of an advocate, not just for
myself, but for others. because,
you know, a lot of times you're really on your own
and it's up to you to decide what you want to do. And
you know, if you want to get a second opinion. I would always feel bad.
I would always feel like, well, they're a doctor and
they told me what I should do and I shouldn't question anybody. And

(31:08):
it was like, from my husband I learned, no, you can ask a lot
of questions and yeah, or
it's your journey, you know.

Yeah, it's your journey, it's your body, it's your life,
it's your everything. And I know,
I would be the same way. Like, oh, gosh, what does. I don't want him to
hurt his feelings. And what if I decide to go back
to him and then he's really. Oh, but you went to somebody else.

Exactly.

I feel bad if I change my hairdresser, you know.

Yeah. But it's about that people pleasing
thing and I had to let go of that once,
you know, the big C came in because it
was all about m. Making it through
and surviving and what was it going to take
for me to make it through. And a lot of that was
singing. You know, that was one of my first questions,

(31:54):
was will I be able to sing during this process because
I never thought about it before, but it's so much a part
of my lifeline and connecting
and it's, it's also this
show, must. The show must go on mentality that I have
and that I grew up with. And so I
knew how to do that. I knew how to

(32:16):
continue and fight through and get through a show and
not just get through it, but let go of what I was
going through. And I don't recommend it for a
lot of people, but I was able to do it.
And and my show was incredibly, ah,
supportive of my, my journey.
And then when the pandemic hit,

(32:36):
I had no idea how much I needed to stop
performing, you know, and just take that
time to get through.
Because the healing for me really begins when you're
done with treatment. M. It's really not
during it, during it. You're just trying to
get through it, get through it, you know. And

(32:57):
And I think, yeah, the inner strength comes from the
fearless squad that's around me. And yeah, I'm lucky
that I have a strong one.

Yeah, I was just thinking that too. I mean
you have so many great people in your
circle.
Is it Bubby, right? Bubby?

Yes, my Bubby.

Yeah. I mean between Bubby and Bette Midler and
you know, people that, that you were able to look
up to and go, okay, they're examples
of strength and resiliency. And I think
more of that, you know, I mean.

Yes, do.
Yes. I think that we're. I
don't know, it seems sometimes that a lot
of people look at
older women, and as we get older as
this thing of like, like fear. But
I see such. And I, I'll be the
first to admit, like, oh my gosh, like this is changing. It's

(33:52):
happening. exactly. And oh, what is
this? You know, whisker here and there. But it's.
Gosh, there's so much wisdom. There's so much.

I know. And we're so much stronger than
we think. We are way stronger than we
think.

Yeah, but there's so much wisdom in sitting down with somebody that
is older than you and a woman
and asking questions, you know. And
if you're lucky enough to have that moment with, with
people in your life, take it.

Yeah.

Because I'm still filled with so much,
inspiration and gratitude from the older generation
before me. You know, I was just with my mom, last
week I was in Los Angeles and both my
parents. But I get to have those moments with my mom
and just talk to her, like, okay, how are you
doing? How are you getting through this? And the

(34:45):
questions that in my mom's generation,
people didn't ask, you know, and
how lucky we are now that people talk more and, talk
to my. My aunt, who is also there, two
years apart, you know, and these sisters that are just
fantastic and have seen life together, you
know, it's, it's such a beautiful thing.

I did see that picture on Instagram. So cute when you guys are
at Disneyland.

Oh, yeah, yeah. So cute.

Yes. And then your daughter was like, oh.

So three generations, you know? it was.

That's awesome.

It was really, really wonderful. And, you know,
we're big Disney people. My parents used to wake us up
on, you know, a weekday, and they would say, we're not going to school
today. We're going to Disneyland. And it would be
pouring rain, and we'd be like, the only
family there. But we were like, my dad, the.

Best time to go.

Oh, yeah, we bought these tickets. We're not leaving. You
know, and we brings up so
much, so many beautiful memories. But also, my mom
growing up in Los Angeles, they just
celebrated at Disney, I think the 70th anniversary.

Yeah.

And, yeah, we. And my
mom was saying that she went. The first time she went
was with her parents in 1958.
I was like, oh, my gosh. And so she has
those memories, and, you know, it's. It
truly is a magical place.

I know. My son actually lives in la. Santa
Monica area. Yes. My oldest one.

Yeah.

And he lived in. He lived in New York, too. Oh, my gosh.
19 years old is when he moved to New York. Yeah.

Like, I said that if you
could. Traveler.

What. If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere. And don't worry, I
won't. I can't sing. If I could
sing, girl, I would totally
be on Broadway. I would totally do that. But I can't sing
where.

Shit. yeah, I feel you.

So how do. How do you avoid
or deal with any
overwhelm or burnout
or making sure you just, like, totally, like, you're not
collapsing?

I think what I have to start doing
is, not doing what
I'm in those. Those moments. And,
it's really just allowing myself that sometimes
I just need to veg out and watch
a show, that everybody's talking about and,
you know, watch it all the way through and,

(37:13):
or, you know, eat
onion dip and potato chips
or take a break, Take a Break.
it's so important to
recharge and for me,
to get back on wherever I'm going. It's all about
writing and journaling and that's

(37:34):
like a really big part of whatever I'm going through.
the next step, which I started to do a lot
of recently. Journaling.

So you like journaling then?

I love journaling. And it's always like when
I get a new journal, my daughter will say another
journal, like another. But I just,
just, I love writing and that's where,
you know, the ideas flow. If somebody says something, I
want to write it down so that I remember and so I can
look back and maybe it's about like I was here,

(38:05):
you know, in some kind of.

Journals differently and about different things.
So do you have like, what's your journaling
ritual or how do you, like, how do
you know what you're going to write about?

I don't. So sometimes I'll just start writing about
my day and I'll go, today I did this and then
I did this and then my mind starts to go somewhere else
and I start to write about that and then
I go, oh, I had this idea, I try not
to, have my journal.
It has to be this because sometimes it's like,

(38:39):
oh, remember to call, you know, for this hair
appointment. And I only say that because I'm looking at your
gorgeous hair. But I'm like, oh my gosh.
so for me it's just writing down what
the free flowing thoughts of my mind. but I've
had some journals which I've really loved.
One, that a dear friend of mine got me, where it

(39:00):
prompts, it has prompts on the journal, like
how to let go of certain things, how to think
about things. Especially, I think the
beginning of the journal was all about your body and what are some things
you like about your body? What are some things you don't like? How can you
let go of that type of thinking and this and
that. And I really love that too. So

(39:20):
I don't think that there's like one specific way. I
just know like when I'm in a creative space or I
feel lost and I'm not in a creative space.
sometimes it's just about writing things down and you know,
and not just making lists.

I know, I know. I do make lists on my
phone. But yes, my journal.

Oh, I'm a big lister person.

I share. I shared recently on social
media about how I journal.
And because a lot of people won't journal because
they're afraid that somebody reads. You know,
somebody they live with, whatever might read.
Like, oh, my gosh, I can't really get these thoughts and these feelings
out. So I started probably,
I don't know, a few years ago, I started. I call it

(40:04):
soul. Soul scribbling or soul scribing,
whatever.

Oh, I like that.

But basically, like, you. You write. And I
just. When I get up in the morning and I meditate, and then
I go right to journal, and I just. Whatever's
on my mind, I'm just like, you know, it could be good, happy,
sad, whatever. Something I want to do fast, whatever it
is. But then after you journal one
page, you turn your journal over
upside down, and you write over what you just

(40:31):
wrote. So it just looks like. It
just looks like a bunch of looks. Looks like pretty
artwork, but it's just a bunch of, like, little
loops and scribbles. You can't. No one can read it. So I was
telling, like, just do that. Because then that way.
Because, again, some people will not.

Just get it out. Just get it. Get it out.
Whatever. Oh, yes. Yeah. Whatever it is,
get it out. And, like, whatever works. That's
fantastic. But I love that.

Yeah. Isn't that fun, though? And actually, it's cool because
as you and I can't reread any of my
journals, obviously, but to me,
I just feel like, okay, at least it's out.
Out of my heart, out of my.

Out of my brain. Yes.

Yeah. And then it's gonna leave a little bit more freeing. So I want to write
something nasty or.
I can't believe that, can't believe I got a bad review,
you know?

Oh, gosh, all of that.

I know everybody.

Everybody writes reviews now, so it's like,
oh, you worry about it.

I'm like, how do they have this much time, you know?

I know, I know. But, you know, but then, you
know, you get those good ones, and you're like, oh, that was so great.
But I know, right?

Like, that'll take you a long way.
So how many. How many books so far in the series?

I've written four books. Wow. Yeah.
And that's my. For this series. That was my,
That was my goal. And because I wanted each of the
main characters to have their own book and their own story.
Even though all of the squad is in all
the. The books, each book follows a
different character, so

(42:05):
throughout New York. So, the first
book is about Monica Garcia
mg Who travels, from Reedley,
California. And that's where my, my father grew up,
to New York with her abuela. And they,
she. She gets a call from a casting
director in New York, because she's seen

(42:25):
a, ah, video submission that Monica,
you know, put in for an audition for a new Broadway show. And
Monica becomes the understudy to the understudy
in, a new Broadway show. And I had
no idea that there was a role like that,
until I started on Broadway. And then I was like, oh, there is an
understudy to the understudy. Like, that is so
wild. But when I was a

(42:48):
kid, you know, my bubby was a big part of my
performing life and she came to ah, all my shows.
But my abuelita, she always, she was always
working, you know, and she worked very hard and she
never came to any show that I ever did. And
the only time she would see me was if I did something on
television or things like that. So I was like, wouldn't
be amazing to put both of them together and

(43:11):
allow my abuelita to come and have this experience
too. So it was really feeling her
and her first time on a subway and
you know, she would always. I don't think she ever
took, a plane, you know, a plane ride.
And because she would always say, oh, I don't want to go on a plane. Like, she had
a lot of superstitions. And that's something that I, I

(43:31):
really love too, about theater. And because
there's so many superstitions within
the theater alone and don't
break a leg. Oh yeah. I have so many
superstitions on my own, so I've like incorporated
all of those, to be part of, part of my
books.

What, what, what are a couple of your superstitions?

Oh, goodness. So when I get into a new
dressing room, I put an elephant, like a
statue of an elephant in each dressing room. And
it has to face the door or a
window because that's something that I grew up.

Oh, yeah, yeah.

And then, my father would always put
coins at the top of every door. So whatever
dressing room I'm in, to bring luck, I put
coins up there. I keep, ah,
pictures of my family and things that
are very positive, within my, my
dressing room space, but also things that will
protect me.

That's a good superstition.

Yeah, absolutely. But you don't, you don't do
things, to upset who's, ever.
Whatever spirits in the.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

You know, because there are, there's people that have not left,
but that's where they stay, you know, I can imagine.
Yeah. it's like, I would bet, because.

Some of those places that you're performing in have been
there for a long, long time.

Long, long time. You know, when I did Aida, my
first job, at the Palace Theater, it was before they
redid it. now they've redone it, and the palace is, like,
on the second level, and it's gorgeous. But,
it was the album,
that I listened to a lot with my bubby was Judy,
Garland Live at Carnegie Hall. And she also

(45:13):
played that show at the Palace. And so I
felt her spirit at that theater.
And then somebody took me into this private,
area. They had a walkway and a
door built when Judy Garland played the Palace.
So she would open that door, and it would be behind,
the orchestra seating, so she could see

(45:34):
what the opening act was doing and
how the crowd was. She could get a feeling of that.
And it was like, oh, I got to climb the same steps as Judy
Garland and, you know, be there. But
there are all of those kind of things within
each theater. You know, maybe it's not Judy, but it's
somebody that, you know, loved the theater as much

(45:54):
as I did and put their heart and soul there. So it's
like, there has to be respect paid.

Oh, I love that.

I've had goosebumps and maybe a little.

Sage, and I'm like,
maybe I'm just cold, but I got goosebumps, like.

Exactly, exactly.

So what's next for you?

well, right now, I'm taking that big leap,
and I am putting together, a solo
concert, which is gonna start
with the Boston Pops Symphony
Orchestra. And then, we are going to play
Carnegie, Hall, with the New York Pops. I'm going to play
Carnegie Hall. And it is a show called Everything I Know.

(46:33):
And it is the music, of Lin Manuel
Miranda. And I'm putting together an entire evening,
with the director, writer Dixie Scanlon, and
my incredible musical director, Dan Lipton. So I've
been in rehearsals for that solo
show, and, I'm so proud and
excited to bring that music to a live
orchestra, to bring in a crowd to

(46:56):
hear things that they absolutely love
that they've heard, from Lin Manuel and things that
they haven't heard that he's written and, things
that they can go, oh, I love that because
when I go and I play, symphonies and I work with
symphonies, I'll sing a song from in the Heights Or a
song from Hamilton. And there, it just brings in

(47:16):
a completely different crowd, and it makes the crowd
that's already there fall in love with his music. And so I
said, I want to do an entire evening of that. So I'm
leaping. It's a big leap.

That is so awesome. Okay, when is it.
When is that going to take place?

So the Boston Pops will be on September
20, and then a Carnegie hall
will. You should come. Will be on November, 21st.

Yes. So I will. I might be in New York for
my book launch September, 9th.

Please come.

That would m. Be so awesome.

Yes, please come. I'm so
excited, and we're really putting together an evening
that is, so I think, going to be so
spectacular and one that, people will never forget.

Oh, you are so inspiring.

Thank you.

You really are. Oh, my gosh. Like, what do
you not do? You know?

Thank you. Well, like you said, we've got one life,
got one chance. And, why
not? When you have, When you have an idea
and somebody says yes, why not
go all the way?

I know. Just go for it.

Yeah, absolutely.

Just like, before I record, I was like, just have fun.

Absolutely. And this has been so much fun. I
love it.

Oh, thank you so much. My. My second
Mandy in my life.
And actually, the first Mandy, she. She did break a leg.
I'll never forget. She broke both legs. Poor thing was
in. She was in a. Like, a. A
full body cast. That poor thing.

Oh, my God, that's horrible.

I was like, hurry up and get better. We need to go out and play.
I was like, exactly.

Oh, my gosh. Poor thing. Well, I hope
she's doing better.

I know, right? I hope so, too. I'm assuming,
like, by now, you know, what, 40 years later. But
thank you so much. And then how can we find
you? And how do they get your books, too?

Oh, goodness. So you can go on my website,
mandygonzalez.com or you can follow
me on Instagram, Mandy Gonzalez.
And you can order my books, through my website, or
you can order through my link tree, over
at Simon and Schuster, kids, and,
yeah. See what it's all about.

Yeah, I know. Oh, my gosh.
I'm going to join it.

Yeah, it's, Anybody can be a member. All you have to do
is, join, is follow the rules.
So, yeah, the rules start with, I held your hand of
mine and together we change the world held. We help each other when
we fall we embrace our differences we look for the good,
and we dream big, and together, we're fearless. And that's all
you need. You are. You are now officially a member.

(50:00):
Oh, I love it.

That's so cute. Yeah.
When do. When do tickets go on sale for the.

So tickets go on sale, for Carnegie Hall?
Tickets are on sale right now for Boston Pops, but tickets go on
sale for Carnegie hall on August 11th,
so.

Oh, that's coming up.

Get your tickets.

I'll make sure this show. This episode airs then.
Close to that, because I want to make sure that people.

Oh, perfect. Yeah, perfect. If you want to
subscribe, be a subscriber for the New York Pops and
buy multiple shows. For multiple shows, you can
buy tickets on August 4th, but single tickets for my
show are on sale August 11th.

I love it. Thank you so much, Mandy.

Thank you, Wendy. This is so great.

Thank you, everyone.

Have a great day.

Did this podcast inspire you? Challenge you?
Trigger you to make a change, or spit out your coffee laughing?
Good. Then there are three ways you can thank me.
Number one, you can leave a written review of this pod
podcast on Apple iTunes. Number two, you
can take a screenshot of the episode and share it on the
social media. And tag me Wendy Valentine.

(51:08):
Number three, share it with another midlifer that
needs a makeover. You know who I'm talking about.
Thank you so much for listening to the show. Get out there
and be bold. Be free.

Be you,
Sam.

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