EP 54: Hamilton Meets Hamilton: How Broadway and Mental Health Ignited Angela's Filmmaking Journey

In this episode, our host Ydaiber sits down with Angela, a multi-talented and multi-passionate filmmaker and IT professional, to discuss the intersection of creativity and mental health. Angela shares her journey from stand-up comedy to filmmaking, the impact of the pandemic on her creative process, and how her personal struggles with mental health have influenced her work. This conversation is filled with insights on balancing a dual career, the importance of supportive communities, and the power of storytelling in addressing mental health issues.

Here are some Key Takeaways :

1. Diverse Career Path: Angela transitioned from stand-up comedy to filmmaking, demonstrating how varied creative experiences can enrich one’s artistic journey.

   • "I started doing standup comedy... and that was so much fun. I got to learn how to write for an audience, how to pace your writing so that you get the reaction that you want."​​

2. Impact of Pandemic on Creativity: The pandemic and exposure to musicals like Hamilton reignited Angela's passion for the arts.

   • "The pandemic happened... Hamilton the musical came out on Disney plus... and it broke my brain."​​

3. Mental Health in Filmmaking: Angela's films often focus on mental health themes, drawing from her own experiences with depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

   • "The majority of our films have something to do with mental health or belonging, making sense out of a world that isn't always super welcoming."​​

4. Therapeutic Techniques in Art: Angela incorporates therapeutic techniques such as grounding techniques into her films to provide viewers with practical mental health tools.

   • "The protagonist uses grounding techniques taught in therapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), to help regulate the nervous system."​​

5. Community and Support: Angela highlights the importance of community support and how her partner Nick has been a steadying force in her life and work.

   • "Nick is such a steady source and he's the one who makes sure that the environment stays upbeat and relaxed."​​

6. Personal Growth and Therapy: Angela shares her journey of self-improvement, finding the right therapist, and the importance of committing to the therapeutic process.

   • "I found the perfect therapist... It's about committing to doing the work... learning how to observe my feelings without judging them."​​

Balancing Multiple Passions: Angela balances her creative work in filmmaking with her day job in IT, showcasing the possibility of pursuing multiple passions simultaneously.

• "I work in IT as a client success manager... and then I'm also an editor for clinical reports, which is very boring."​​

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Important links from today's episode 

Check out Angela's Cosmic Wave Films

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