May 16, 2025 • 46 mins
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"Dreams are possible." These three simple words capture the essence of Susie Carroll's extraordinary journey from a determined 10-year-old in Utah to a Broadway performer in hit shows like Back to the Future, Mean Girls, and The Prom.
In this heartfelt conversation, Susie reveals the beautiful paradox at the core of her success: while adult Susie battles perfectionism, young Susie possessed a fearlessness that propelled her forward without doubt. "Little Susie had way less doubts than Susie does now," she reflects, describing how she'd ask her mom at age 10 if they could leave Utah for New York because "I think I should be on Broadway."
That early certainty carried her to Pace University and eventually to Broadway, where she's thrived in the demanding role of a "swing" – covering multiple ensemble roles simultaneously. This position, which Susie calls "the best thing that could have happened to me," has become her greatest teacher in balancing meticulous preparation with the flexibility to embrace inevitable imperfections.
Beyond the spotlight, Susie shares her evolution in creating a sustainable life in New York. After experiencing the stark emptiness when shows close, she's cultivated what she calls a "pie chart" of fulfillment – building community, diverse work opportunities, and meaningful connections that sustain her regardless of her performance schedule. Her infectious optimism isn't naive; it's earned through hard work and conscious choice: "I work really hard to make those things true, while also living a very full life of all different emotions."
Whether you're pursuing creative dreams or seeking more authenticity in your life, Susie's insights on forward motion, perfectionism, and creating a balanced life will inspire you to embrace both the challenge and joy of pursuing what lights you up. As Susie demonstrates, sometimes our childhood certainty holds wisdom our adult doubts try to obscure.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Lisa Hopkins (00:01):
This is the Stop Time Podcast.
I'm your host, lisa Hopkins,and I'm here to engage you in
thought-provoking, motivationalconversations around practicing
the art of living in the moment.
I'm a certified life coach andI'm excited to dig deep and
offer insights into embracingwho we are and where we are at.
Today's guest is someone I'vehad the absolute pleasure of
(00:27):
teaching during her time in thecommercial dance and musical
theater program at PaceUniversity.
She is a radiant talent who wasmost recently seen lighting up
the Broadway stage in Back tothe Future.
Her other Broadway creditsinclude the Prom and Mean Girls
and she's also graced the screenon the Tonight Show SNL Blue
Bloods.
Most recently, she performed inthe Saturday Night Live 50th,
(00:50):
which must have been really fun.
From a little girl with bigdreams to a performer living a
wild and beautiful life, my nextguest is living proof that
dreams really are possible.
I couldn't be more excitedreally to reconnect with and
introduce you to, susie Carroll.
Susie, welcome to the show.
Susie Carroll (01:09):
Thank you, that was so kind, thank you.
Lisa Hopkins (01:11):
It's, it's, I mean it from the bottom of my heart.
You know, when you sent me yourbio it says so much about you,
and part of it is because I knowI know you a little bit.
But even if I didn't know you,I think I would feel this way.
So I'm just going to share withyou, which is that you know you
had a few of your credits orwhatever, and then you had this
beautiful line right.
(01:32):
Little Susie couldn't evenbegin to imagine this wild and
beautiful life.
Dreams are possible.
Susie Carroll (01:39):
Yeah.
Lisa Hopkins (01:41):
It's beautiful.
Susie Carroll (01:42):
Thanks.
I've really been actuallythinking about like.
I've like it's been a lotrecently where I've just been
like there's been many momentswhere I've stopped my track and
like I really like that.
You know, on the hard days it'slike no, they're the I know
it's kind of cliche becauseeveryone kind of it's not
unheard of but like I've beenreally thinking about my little
self of like no, but literallyshe would be like you know, I
(02:04):
wanted to do exactly this mywhole entire life, so it's
pretty cool.
Lisa Hopkins (02:08):
That is really cool, and it's funny because
it's it's also a little bitintriguing to me and so maybe we
can dig in there.
I mean, why not?
Which is that like?
Well, what doubts did littleSusie have?
Because when you, when you sortof position it as she never
would have dreamed, is it beyondwhat she ever would have
imagined?
I'm curious.
Susie Carroll (02:27):
Well, it's funny actually, I guess.
I mean maybe she would havedreamed.
Maybe I'm saying it wrong,maybe she would have dreamed,
but I just think that it's likeit does feel beyond the wildest
dreams, but I don't think it's.
Honestly, in my personalopinion, little Susie had way
way less doubts than Susie doesnow.
She was way more fearless.
I mean I, you know, like Istill feel like fearless is
(02:48):
something I kind of still, can,you know, take on.
But she was way more like Imean I was.
I knew I wanted to go move toNew York City when I was like 10
.
And I would ask my mom at likeage 10, I'd be like, can we like
, can we get out of here?
I grew up in Utah.
It's like, can we get out ofhere, let's go?
Like I think it's time, like Ithink I'm like should be on
Broadway.
And so my mom was always like,no, wait, you know what I mean.
(03:11):
Like you know, it was just notin the cards for my family, um,
and thank goodness I waited, butthat's where Pace University
came open door, where I can getto myself to New York city, and
that was Pace, you know,audition for schools.
And Pace university was, youknow, my first way to be like
okay, I can make this New Yorkdream a reality, wow.
Lisa Hopkins (03:34):
So talk to me.
What did you know about NewYork, had you been to New York?
Susie Carroll (03:39):
I had.
I mean, my parents were verygenerous in that way where I was
so obsessed with it that, likemy, the first time I ever came
to New York it was my 13thbirthday and that was like I
trip with my parents and theywere like they took me to shows
my first.
I actually think it's hilarious.
My first ever Broadway show Isaw was American idiot and I
think my parents were like what,what?
This is what we're doing?
(03:59):
And I was like yes, this isawesome, like something about
you know, just there's like thatedgy punk rockery show that I
was just like this is awesome.
You know that secured the bugand my whole family they work in
health insurance Like theydon't have any idea what theater
is.
So I went home and, you know,got on the computer and found
that there was a summer programI could do.
(04:20):
I was just like constantlyfinding like how can I you know,
you know, practice this craft?
And again, my parents were verygenerous and and and helping me
with that and supporting methrough that.
So I would come to New Yorkevery summer and then New York
city college was the first timeI lived here.
Lisa Hopkins (04:39):
So take me all the way back to, to the beginning,
beginning when you starteddancing.
What did you see?
What was your inspiration?
Susie Carroll (04:46):
My mom put me in dance class when I was really
little, like I was like dancingwhen I was like three and really
loved it.
And then again my parents, myfamily didn't really know the
world at all, you know really,but my mom always wanted us to,
you know, be very well-rounded.
So we were in everything I didsoccer and all sorts of
different things, and my dadreally didn't like it at the
(05:06):
time.
He was very much so like Idon't know, like I don't want,
cause once I started dancing Igot.
I basically was like, I like,was like, okay, this is mine,
you know forever.
But my dad really didn.
I had to ski on the weekend.
That was like our deal that ifI would go to ski school on the
(05:28):
weekend, I could dance duringthe week, and so that was like
our deal for a long time, whichnow is awesome.
I love skiing and I love that Ihave that skill in my bag.
And then it was about 10.
I think I went and saw ourlocal theater, did Oliver and I?
and I was like, oh my gosh,they're dancing and singing and
telling a story, Like they'renot just dancing, right, they're
(05:48):
telling a story, and I thinkthat was something that was so
like my.
That's where really my wheelstarted turning.
And then the next year they didSeussical.
So I auditioned for Seussicaland that was my first musical
and fell in love with that andthen just kind of, you know,
just then start taking voicelessons and everything you know
along the way, as long as I wasskiing on the weekends.
(06:09):
But I did, then I was, and thenI was kind of that's where we
went from there.
But that was kind of how I fellinto it.
My mom just put me in class ata young age and truly, since I
was three, I've, like, had thatstrong.
Lisa Hopkins (06:22):
That's amazing.
Fall to it.
Susie Carroll (06:23):
That's amazing.
Lisa Hopkins (06:24):
Yeah, I've like had that strong.
That's amazing.
All to it, that's amazing.
Yeah, what's so amazing aboutthat is that, well, the agency
that you had like this knowing.
Susie Carroll (06:32):
Yeah.
Lisa Hopkins (06:33):
Yeah, and you, you come with that.
You bring that energy to a room.
Thank you you do.
Since the moment I met you, Ihave really strong memories of,
like I said, your presence.
You're so game, you're so readyfor whatever yeah what do you
attribute that to?
I mean, I understand the love,I understand the, the calling,
(06:56):
that that's where you belong isit is there, like what else is
there?
is it is it?
Do you have a desire to serveor to use your gifts, or to just
try new things Like what?
Yeah, let's dig in there.
Susie Carroll (07:09):
One thing about me and if you know, like my
parents and who's known meforever, like I can't I hate
downtime, which is is somethingI'm kind of working on, you know
, cause it's like that's alsogood for me, but like, like, I
just like to be working, likeand that doesn't have to mean
like in a musical, at all times,I just like.
I just like being out in theworld and and and connecting
(07:34):
with people and in creatingthings and just like that
forward motion.
And so I think a big thing forme is like is like what I found
with myself, because I justdon't.
I hate to be stagnant.
You know what I mean.
Like, I want to like.
I always say all the time it'sjust like.
I is like what I found withmyself, cause I just don't.
I hate to be stagnant.
You know what I mean.
Like I want to like, I alwayssay all the time it's just like,
I just like.
If I'm not like growing andlearning, then, like you know,
so it's like, and sometimes Ihonestly, sometimes it is to my
(07:57):
deficit where it is like, it'sit's exhausting and I do wish I
could just be like okay, like,take a beat and let yourself.
You know, you know it doesn'thave to always be moving, which
you know.
You know, I I don't know, Idon't know if I'm making sense,
but it's just like, becausesometimes it is like, it is like
(08:18):
, okay, oh my gosh, like take asecond and acknowledge what you
have done, you know, but I just,I just, really I just I like I
love connecting with people andand, yeah, it is like it is that
greater purpose to me than likeI don't always just love
performing too, like I reallylove being in a room just with
creatives who just want to dogood and serve, yeah, serve,
(08:42):
yeah.
Lisa Hopkins (08:44):
If that makes sense.
Yeah, no, it makes a lot ofsense.
It's interesting I'm hearingyou sort of starting to
recognize that maybe that's notthe only way or the best way,
because there might be somethingyou're missing.
It's interesting.
I often talk to my clientsabout sometimes our strengths
that's a strength of yours too,right, I mean, it's not a bad
thing.
But sometimes our strengthsovershadow you know, they become
(09:06):
our weaknesses because wedefault to them because they
work right.
And so that's how you alwaysoperate until you can't.
And when you can't, forwhatever reason a pandemic or
lack of a job, or an injury, orwhatever it might be- then what
do?
You do right.
Right then, what do you doright?
(09:30):
Yeah, yeah, and I mean it's,it's interesting.
Talk to me more about, likewhat the story you tell yourself
about I get, I get the value.
I'm hearing the value loud andclear.
I I don't I don't dispute that.
But it is interesting becauseyou have really identified a
pattern that you know ifdisrupted, like what happens to
you if your pattern getsdisrupted, your pattern of
really moving forward, as yousaid.
Susie Carroll (09:50):
Yeah, I mean, I mean, I think where I have
gotten better at it is like ease, because I think for a while it
was a completely full cup or acompletely empty cup, right, and
I do think that I had,especially, I mean I've, I've
crazy enough, I've lived herefor 10 years, which is like so
wild to me.
I can't believe it, I can'tbelieve that this is 10 years
living in the city, but I do, Imean, I think that for a while
(10:14):
it was really disruptive If Ihad nothing on it on, you know,
on my, if I had like it.
It felt so stark, it felt likeI was either a hundred percent
me or zero, you know, just likewith, with working and with
being in that forward motion.
Now I feel like it's a littlebit better.
I actually just taught lastweekend and I was talking to
some of these students.
They're college students and Iwas talking to them and I was
(10:35):
like you know, the best thingabout being in New York and I
think the best thing that Ilearned is just to keep where.
I feel like the biggest likerevelation I've had in maybe the
past two, three years is thatthe more you're able to craft
this world, that, or like thispie chart of friendship, of
(10:56):
non-performing jobs, of you know, of performing jobs, of you
know, networking community basedpeople.
You know what I mean as well.
As well, as long as you'renurturing that, then the second
those like that second, likeback to the future closed.
Of course, I was devastated whenback to future closed because
it was such a beautiful cast andexperience and it was truly one
(11:20):
of the best experience thatI've ever had of just like just
a really good camaraderie in aspace.
But it wasn't.
It was the first time.
It didn't feel so like like Iwent under the earth, you know,
because for a while it did feelthat way.
For a while it was very much solike if this, if I go from this
forward motion to nothing, it'sgoing to be, it's going to be
(11:40):
dark.
And now I feel like I've gottento this point where I have the
same families that, whether I'min a show, they, they release me
and let me out to the world,and then, when I'm not, they
take care of me and say, yeah,you want to come nanny for a
couple of days, or you know whatI mean, I've got my friends
that existed with me throughoutthe entire time of Back to the
(12:01):
Future and they're still my.
That's become such a beautifulthing that I've learned of like
you can't rely on just that onething ever gotten better at.
Like you know, if it'ssometimes just journaling of
like you know just to be like,okay, I don't have anything this
week, but here's this is whyyou know this is the things that
(12:24):
I'm going to sit with and enjoyand celebrate that I've done
and you know what I mean.
And like kind of earn my youknow sense of, you know of a
break Earned your sense of abreak Is that what you said,
yeah.
Lisa Hopkins (12:40):
Okay, that's really interesting.
Susie Carroll (12:42):
I know that was probably going to sound as good.
I don't really mean it likethat either, I know.
I mean like you know, it's justlike I feel like it's gotten a
little less.
You know um hard to have youknow that time off, cause I do,
I love, I, I am the happiestversion of myself when I am with
a full schedule.
(13:03):
It just is, it is just, it'swho I am.
Yeah.
Lisa Hopkins (13:07):
That's fair.
That's fair and it'sinteresting.
I guess you know there'sprobably an opportunity for full
to not be only to, to broadenthat criteria, right, do you
know what I mean?
Because there's somethingprobably about full that you up
until now, and it makes sense asyou're building your career,
you know, because all the boxesget ticked when you are doing
(13:30):
theater right, yeah.
But to ask yourself, what is itabout theater besides the
theater, the inherent theaterstuff that?
That really lights me up, right.
And when I don't have a gig,where can I find that?
Susie Carroll (13:48):
Right.
Lisa Hopkins (13:49):
And that's what will absolutely you know, rather
than that, like you said, thebinary right off on yes, well, I
don't have it, so I'll dealwith it.
I'll you know, I can learn howto journal, I can learn to give
myself grace, but it's like oryou can, you can find that same,
that same joy, in a in adifferent manner Maybe.
(14:10):
What do you think about that?
Oh, yes.
Susie Carroll (14:11):
No, I think I mean you're exactly right.
I mean it's there was my longwinded, roundabout way of saying
it.
But yes, like you, I mean it's.
It's, it's like the second backto future close, while I was
devastated.
Oh my gosh, I get to go todinner at 7 PM, like how, like
that is amazing and like thejust seeing life in like all of
its ways and it is, it is, it'sjust creating this full life
(14:34):
that meet full in so manydifferent ways that now it feels
like full can be supplementedas okay the the show schedule
leaves.
Then it's still full becauseI've got this great group of
people that I want to see atnight and I get to go on dates
and I get to do you know what Imean like it's just like
continues to be full andcontinues to feel you, you know,
(14:55):
just like a warm hug as I gothrough all of it and then and
then, then I get to do a job andstuff like that.
Lisa Hopkins (15:03):
So, yes, I love it .
I love it so what would you sayis your biggest challenge?
Susie Carroll (15:13):
My biggest challenge, yeah, really struggle
with perfectionism.
Perfectionism, I mean I thinkthat probably makes sense with
everything I kind of was talkingabout like always wanting to go
, go, go and be working and allof that.
But like I think that isdefinitely something I work on a
lot of, just like, of likebeing a.
I mean it's funny because Ijust and I do mean it with my
(15:36):
whole chest of like I love to begrowing and learning and
constantly evolving, butsometimes I hate being that like
ground zero students, of like anew skill you know, or like
going and being like, oh, I'venever, I've never.
This is a great example.
Cutting my hair Is it actually agreat example?
(15:56):
Like this has been.
So it's been so funny for mebecause I cut it and the day I
got home I loved it because theythey styled it for me and it
was styled perfectly and I waslike, yes, I am rolling with
this, it's so fun, it's freeing.
I just got to do this.
Then, for the next two days,I've had to try to style it
myself and I'm like losing mymind.
I'm like, how do you styleshort hair?
(16:17):
I've had long hair to here for20 something years, right?
So now I'm like and so thenit's like, and I get so
frustrated.
This is like it's a perfectexample of I'm so frustrated.
And then I'm like Susie, youliterally never styled short
hair a day in your life.
Short hair a day in your life?
(16:39):
Give it, you know, give it acouple of weeks to try something
new every single time and thenyou'll get in your groove of
knowing how to style short hair.
But that is definitely, I think, one of my biggest challenge.
And that's like a small example, but it's like, honestly, my
example like it goes into a lotof forms of my life where I'm
like, susie, you've never styleda bob before.
You've never done it Like it,like so, so have fun getting to
learn how to do it, you know,and it's, and I actually think
(17:00):
it's like it was funny as shecut it, I was like, wow, like
I'm like, so I'm so proud ofmyself because it really does
like I just like fought myperfectionism and like you know,
head on, because I just have nocontrol over this.
Now it is gone, I cut it.
Lisa Hopkins (17:21):
Yeah, I love that it's so rich, but it is a good
example.
Sometimes the simplest lifeexamples are really indicative
of the pattern, right, and it'sinteresting.
What really strikes me, andmaybe I can ask you about this,
is that and it kind of makessense as I think about it,
(17:43):
because you said you really youreally hate going into I think
you said, if I heard youcorrectly, I really hate going
into I don't know how you framedit but basically into a realm
that you don't know, right, yeah, yeah, and or one that you
can't control, right?
So it makes sense that in yourrealm, which you are essentially
(18:04):
, you know, pretty confident inas a master and a you know not,
you know an ongoing master youpretty much know you can handle.
I mean, there's a lot of ifs,ands and buts, right, but would
it be, would it be fair to saythat you know when you say, for
example, go into an audition,that you can't control whether
they pick you or not, but youcan control how you present
(18:27):
yourself?
Susie Carroll (18:27):
Yeah, yeah.
Lisa Hopkins (18:29):
And so if that were true, then does that help
you?
Does that help you know thatthe goal becomes to control what
you can control, which is to bethe best you can be?
yeah yeah, see, I feel thatabout you, so it comes off as a
as a strong confidence, becauseyou know you can control how
quote, unquote, air quote,perfect, you can present
(18:53):
yourself right, um, and, andnobody else controls that and
then, and then the rest is is doyou ever get caught in feeling
like you know, I did my best,but I didn't get picked?
For instance, what goes on inyour head?
Susie Carroll (19:07):
You know, honestly, it's, it's.
I don't struggle with that thatmuch.
I didn't think so I don't.
And I, you know, I don't meanto be like.
You know, I'm sure that mightsound annoying to some people,
but and I don't.
And I, you know, I don't meanto be like.
You know, I'm sure that mightsound annoying to some people,
but and I don't know if it'sjust.
I mean, don't get me wrong,there are some instances where
I'll go in for an audition for ajob that I really want and I'm
like, I really wanted that.
But there's not oftentimeswhere I'm like I, I, I take it
(19:32):
in more.
I don't know if it's becauseI've been here for long enough,
but I genuinely, really, reallytruly, I'm like, I think it's
just like I'm meant to be in thespaces I'm meant to be in.
You know what I mean.
And then this, and then thetimes I don't get things because
I'm in the city, I get to gosee that job that I didn't get.
There's many times where I'mlike, yeah, that wasn't mine,
like that wasn't mine and that'sa beautiful thing and I'm so
(19:56):
glad that that was yours.
And you know, I mean, it's justlike.
I really do believe there'senough for all of us to go
around.
I really do, and I think thatyou're, like we are, are found
in the spaces like, and I alsolive by the mantra of like, like
if.
If they like you, if you wantthem and they want you, then
that's where it's like, you know, I mean like it's like if, if
you're trying to fit intosomething that it wasn't for you
(20:18):
, like I just I never strugglewith it too much.
Lisa Hopkins (20:21):
No, I didn't think so.
That was my instinct, but Ididn't.
I didn't want to assume thatit's interesting.
But that fits into the controlconversation, right, and, and to
a certain extent you know, yeah, the the perfectionism meaning
you controlling what, which,focusing on what you can control
, which is, which is you, whichis amazing and it's, it's
interesting.
(20:42):
My, my other question makes me,makes me think, because you do
a lot of swing work, which ismaybe you can, maybe you can
explain that, what that means.
So when you're, when you're, aswing on broadway, what does
that mean?
Susie Carroll (20:54):
um, I cover all of the female identifying people
in the ensemble.
So, um, back to the future,there was seven tracks that I
covered, um, mean girls, andmean girls was eight and I think
palm was seven.
So I yes, I've, you know, popinto, uh, you know, somebody's
injured or sick or medical leave.
(21:14):
I kind of can go in and fill infor anybody whenever needed.
Lisa Hopkins (21:18):
Yeah, that's that, first of all.
That's a phenomenal skill.
Yeah, but it's I'd love to youknow.
I've never really asked anyoneabout this.
I think it's really interesting, just in terms of like mindset.
How do you, for instance, howdo you control?
I get that you would be able tocontrol because you'd study and
(21:40):
you'd understand the parts andyou were given the part.
Ergo, you're, you're, you knowyou're able to do this.
But how does the perfectionismcome into that, if at all?
And then also, what about thenot really knowing when or who
you're going to go on for?
Talk to me a little bit aboutthat when or who you're going to
go on for.
Susie Carroll (21:58):
Talk to me a little bit about that.
Yeah, it's funny because it'slike I it's.
It is funny because, in a weirdway, like this swingy is like
the best thing I think thatcould have ever happened to me,
because and it just fell in mylap too, like I, I just it was
just like I went.
It's actually a phenomenalstory that I can tell you now or
later about, about how I bookedthe prom.
(22:19):
Sure, tell us, it's actuallyfun, because I know that you
know Gabby Campo as well.
Yeah, so we were both sent toan audition because the prom was
looking for one female swingand we, before they, went to
Broadway and we went to thisaudition and there was, you know
, people there all day and thenthey basically started cutting
people down, down, down, down,down, down down, until until it
(22:40):
was narrowed down to like fourof us and Gabby went into seeing
because she's Campo.
She went into seeing before meand then I sang, and then I went
into seeing right after her andactually before I even sang,
they said actually, can you stepout for a second?
We need to talk to Gabby onemore time.
And I said, no problem, youknow, whatever.
(23:03):
And then Gabby went in and thenI went in after her saying, for
real this time.
We both laughed and I rememberkind of leaving that space with
her being like, we're bothpretty sure you just booked the
prom on Broadway, right?
And she was like, yeah, I'mpretty sure you know what I mean
Like, and we just we celebrate.
I mean it was she was a yearolder than me.
It was like, you know, it wasone of those things where I
think we both were like if it'snot me, it's you, if it's not
you to me.
We were like let's go, let'sjust do this.
Um, and then that followingMonday, we showed up to school
(23:26):
and she had gotten the call andwe you know it was awesome, it's
just like, and was like Januaryof 2018.
The prom they went into like alab and then they opened
officially November of 2018.
January of 2019, never went backin for the show, never
auditioned again, nothing.
I just got a phone call Januaryof 2019 to join the show, the
(23:50):
prom on Broadway, as a vacationswing.
So I love that story with mywhole heart for so many reasons.
One, because it has to do withGabby Campo and I love her to
death.
And two, because it's just likesuch a testament to you know,
just like going into an auditionroom and doing your best work
and knowing that there, that ifyou do your best work, you never
know what could come from it,you know.
(24:11):
So I just love that story.
And then, and swinging just fellin my lap in that way.
They needed a swing.
They saw something in me inthat room that day.
It wasn't my time, thankgoodness I also say this all the
time.
I'm like thank goodness I was ajunior in college at that time
and I am so glad I had one moreyear of experience under my belt
to then join them, especiallyjoining them as a swing.
(24:32):
Like I needed that time toreally then show up as the way I
did that time to really thenshow up as the way I did.
So I'm so glad it happened theway I did.
Lisa Hopkins (24:40):
Yeah.
Susie Carroll (24:41):
But so then, to answer your question, I um so
when you just fell into my lap,I and it was the best thing that
ever happened to me, becausethe only way to be good at it or
, to you know, learn throughthat is by doing, and mistakes
are literally the inevitablelike, and it is, it's singer's
(25:03):
plan, and it's like, and thenit's like it's.
I always say, it's like you goand you're like, oh, I, I know
you said that they crossed downstage with me, but I didn't
realize how close they aredownstage me, and so that is why
we bumped into each other.
I knew you and I and I couldlook at that on a paper for the
end of time.
And I am a little bit like that, because I do like, like what
we're talking about.
I have this like sense of like,I like to be prepared to the
(25:25):
end of the earth, and so I willsit in my living room by myself
looking at my notes and goingover a thousand times, and
because I want to be the best Ican be, and Because I want to be
the best I can be and I love toshow up and work hard and
produce good work, but you'renever going to know.
Until you are on that stage I'mlike, oh, never felt that it
was that kind of closeness orwhatever, whatever the example
(26:05):
is, and so I do think it helps.
As I was just doing, as I'vedone this job so many times, I'm
just like, oh, okay, okay, Gotit Learned.
Next time I'll do, next timeI'll do better, you know, next
time I'll, I'll understand that.
But, um, and I, I and I grew toreally, I've grown to really
love it.
I love, I think for me it'slike I, I, I love the
stimulation of it.
(26:25):
I love seeing the audience fromthis angle, from that angle, I
love seeing the scene work fromthis.
I like talking to that personThen tomorrow I talked to that
person and or I'm talking tomyself, then that you know what
I mean Like I think it's soexciting and fun and and, and
you know it's such a greatchallenge.
And again, I think that's whatI kind of said, that that might
(26:47):
be the theme too is I like lovelittle challenges, I love to
like keep myself stimulated,engage in challenge, and
swinging is that ultimate thing.
And so you know, I mean don'tget me wrong, I mean there are
days where it's like I cannotbelieve I'm here doing this
again.
I and this is, you know, sohard.
And then there are days whereI'm like this is awesome, you
know.
I really really, really enjoy.
(27:08):
It.
Lisa Hopkins (27:09):
Yeah, no, for sure .
And that's that forward motionpiece, right, yeah, yeah.
Have you ever been part of ashow not being a swing?
No, I'm probably no.
Is that one of?
Susie Carroll (27:20):
your, your goals, aspirations, yeah yeah, it is
yeah, it is.
I would love to go to work andnot think like you know I mean
that lightly but like I wouldlove to go to work and be like I
know exactly what I'm doingtoday.
That's awesome.
And at intermission, sit andjust have a snack.
You know I'm having a snackwhile I'm watching that video.
(27:41):
You know what I mean?
Yeah, for sure.
Lisa Hopkins (27:45):
It's that fullness though it's interesting because
, as you said that I was likewait.
But that's the fullness thatyou talked about, that you love,
which is it feels a littleempty when the show's over, but
it's like in a microcosm it'slike.
But even within the show youknow you're doing multiple
things, like that's the way youroll, right.
So interesting, so interesting.
(28:05):
Are you afraid of anything?
This landscape?
What are you afraid of, whetherit be work or just whatever?
What scares you?
Is there anything that kind ofmakes you go like where's your
edge?
I don't know again.
Susie Carroll (28:19):
I mean I, I mean it falls in the same category as
the perfectionism as like oflike messing up drastically.
You know I mean like publiclybeing bad.
You know I have fear of like.
You know I've been doing a lotof tv work and like that, that
forever of like that tv scares.
It scares me in many waysbecause it's like when, when I
like theater is like a littlemore like okay, well, tomorrow
(28:40):
I'll just do it, yeah, I'll justdo different you know it's gone
yeah, that's not.
That is not the case.
There it is, stakes are high,it costs a lot more money and
then it's.
Then it is science stilldelivered and it's done.
So it scares me a little bitmore, and so I think it
challenges me in a way of likestill keeping that looseness of
like it's okay, you know.
(29:01):
I mean like yeah, movingthrough it and being like, even
though it's there forever, it'sfine, you know so yeah, it's
exercising that letting go yeahtrusting.
Lisa Hopkins (29:11):
Yeah, what's your definition of living in the
moment for someone who's somotion oriented?
Susie Carroll (29:17):
right.
Um, I think living in themoments, showing up
authentically as you and likereally just being just like so
open to you know, like justhaving like that feelingness of
openness and just being so trueto who you are, I think is also
(29:38):
is so important of living in themoment.
In that moment, you know, likeit's just being so
unapologetically yourself, ableto just kind of let like what
we're talking about like justlike let anything you know, like
having your feet planted, andthen if the wind blew you this
way, you'd go that way and betotally okay, and then that way
(29:59):
and be like you know what I mean, like I feel like that is just
being like totally receptive ofwhatever is coming your way, and
but keeping your feetcompletely cemented where they
are is an authentic to you.
Is, I think, what would beliving in the moment for me?
Lisa Hopkins (30:15):
yeah, no, totally.
And how often do you do yousort of live in that space?
Susie Carroll (30:21):
um, I would say pretty often yeah the older I'm
getting, the more I feel thatway, you know, the more I'm just
like, yeah, this is, this iswhat I need and this is how I
function, and I think I'vegotten better at that of, like
you know, of just staying trueto me.
Well, also, I mean, there, youknow, there's a million factors
(30:43):
that go in every day and there'sa million things that you know
people are going to ask many, somany different things of you
and like, just like being ableto be.
You know, like I used to likehave to like be, like okay, well
, I'm going to respond to thatemail and, you know, a little
while, because I have to thinkabout how I want to.
You know, I mean I feel likeI've just got.
It's just like okay, you knowjust a little bit more like
(31:03):
taking care of myself within allof it yeah is.
Lisa Hopkins (31:07):
Is there a dream that you haven't put out in the
universe yet?
I mean, you're living yourdream currently, right but is
there?
Is there one that maybe is issort of toys around in your head
that maybe you haven't put outin the universe?
Susie Carroll (31:21):
I'm still trying to figure that out, actually,
because I think a big thing forme is I've, I have attained a
dream and it's been so obviousfor me for so long, since I was
like that 10 year old girl.
And so now it is.
I have had these feelings oflike, oh, I mean, I love, I
don't wrong, I love this and I'mso happy within all of this,
(31:42):
but I'm like I am.
I do feel like you know, thereis something in me where I'm
like I know that there'ssomething, there's more that I
want to do.
I just haven't been able toreally really pinpoint on what
it is.
Yeah, I don't know, because Idon't think I want to perform
forever, and I know that forsure.
(32:04):
I do know that for sure.
How do you know that?
Um, I just I've, I kind of haveknown, funny enough, I've known
for a long time.
I remember, actually, rightbefore the pandemic, I was very
much so like I love this, but Iknow that I don't want to like
it.
Just like was I, if I'm honestwith you, I was on stage and I
was like I had this like momentof like, oh, I don't want to be,
(32:28):
I and I love the world, and I'mnot saying I need to stray far
from the world, but I'm justlike, oh, I don't know if it's
going to be and I don't know, Ican't, I can't right now.
It's not clear to me.
It's not clear if that meanschoreographer.
Lisa Hopkins (32:36):
I don't it's not something like I'm dying to be a
choreographer.
That's not something that's youknow, I'm still trying to
figure out exactly what it whatit would be so.
Susie Carroll (32:53):
I don't know, does it, does it excite you?
Just not knowing make, how doesthat excite me?
Yeah, it does.
It does Because I think for solong it's been so concrete, like
this is exactly and it's, it's,again's, again it's.
I guess really the theme is itis a challenge of like okay,
well, it's not going to comenaturally and easy.
You know, I mean like I'm goingto have to like really try new
things and kind of walk adifferent path than what I've
(33:15):
been walking that's sointeresting.
Lisa Hopkins (33:18):
Yeah, or walk the same path, but look at it
differently yeah, exactly how doyou want to be?
Susie Carroll (33:24):
remembered.
I hope that I'm remembered tobe someone who, who you know, I
hope I leave a very positiveimpact of of bringing people joy
as well as kindness.
Yeah, I just love connectingwith people.
I think that we're all so moreconnected than we all think we
(33:48):
are and I think that justsharing kindness and sharing,
you know, and just beingreceptive to other people is
like the other day I was on a.
I sat down on a plane going toOhio and I sat next to this guy.
He's an, an older man, and wedidn't talk for the first half
of the plane and then secondhalf of the plane.
(34:08):
He this is a very sweet storyhis, his wife was, um, two rows
above us.
We were in the exit row, sothey didn't want us to next to
each other because she didn'twant to sit on the exit row, but
she was, um, she had really badflight anxiety and so he would
get up and check on her fromtime to time.
And then, finally, he came backand sat and I was kind of, you
(34:28):
know, chatting with him ofdifferent things and he's from
Ohio, but he lived in New Yorkfor 50 years.
I'm originally, I grew up inUtah, but I'm originally from
Ohio for 50 years works.
We talked about restaurants anddifferent things and you know
just like got a lot of you knowkind of old New York wisdom from
him yeah and then he asked aturn to finally him asking me
(34:53):
what I do.
And I told him what I do and shewas like, oh my gosh, I mean
I'm, like you know, broadway'sso important to me.
I've gone to broadway shows myentire 50 years of new york.
What have you been in?
And I told him back to thefuture and we kind of came to
the conclusion that there's a.
You know I'm a swing, so it'snot.
We weren't certain, but I wason a ton in the month of
september and he was like, oh,and saw it in september and,
(35:15):
like you know, just like it'sjust like kindness and
connection is so important to mebecause you can miss out on so
many conversations like the oneI had with that guy, you know, I
mean like totally and it's likeI just think it's the more that
you are willing to just likeopen yourself up.
I mean like then you get theseconnections with these people
that fill your life in such abeautiful way.
(35:36):
So that's why kindness is soimportant to me.
Kindness, and just likereceptiveness you know I what I
mean Like yeah, cause kindnesscan be, can mean so many
different things.
Lisa Hopkins (35:45):
Yeah, exactly, which is why I thank you, for I
mean, I love, I love to hearwhat, what it means to you.
How do you recharge, causeyou're, you're, you're a go
getter right, you're very busy.
Yes, how do you recharge?
What do you?
Susie Carroll (36:05):
what do you do?
What works for you?
That is where it's my battle,especially when I'm in New York.
Okay, um, I do live alone,though there are some times
where I'm like I need to besolely alone.
I love just like havingsomebody over and sitting them
on, like be, like, sit on mycouch, I'm gonna cook a meal and
we can just like you know, justbe together.
Yeah, and that to me, isrecharging, like.
But then there are moments whereI am like no, no, if in a very
busy day there are moments, orlike a tushar day, there are
(36:25):
many times where I do need tocome, like I, even if it's like
I'm coming home for 30 minutesyeah also something that is like
in my kind of habit where I amlike I don't know, I don't care
if I have to travel for 30minutes, to be home for 30
minutes, like I just need thatlike kind of like touch base
with me and that helps, um.
But then I also recharge.
But I love, I love spendingtime with my family and I have
(36:46):
these two new nephews that Ilove and like, if time allows, I
will go to Ohio, which is wherethey are, um, be with them and
and just kind of take a breathout of New York, cause as much
as I do love it here, I do lovea good suburb in Ohio.
Lisa Hopkins (37:05):
That's so cute.
I love it.
We've talked a lot about someof your highlights in your
career and I'm curious to knoware there any low lights?
Susie Carroll (37:15):
Yes, I mean you know there's definitely been, I
mean, long periods of time thatI wasn't, you know, performing
there.
I have had the most incrediblecareer so far.
But I definitely also knowsomebody who goes from show to
show.
You know what I mean.
Like it it isn't like I have.
I do experience unemployment,because I have some friends who
(37:35):
don't, and that's just theirreality.
They just go from one show tothe next and that is they, you
know.
Um, I really try not to look atit as that is they.
You know, I really try not tolook at it as like a low light.
You know what I mean.
The pandemic was totally low.
It was.
I mean it was totally low.
I mean it just sucks.
I mean because it did feel so,so stark and I at that moment I
(37:56):
was still younger at that pointso I didn't know how to like, I
felt like I didn't know how topivot and shift and be like,
okay, let's try something new.
It just felt.
I just felt so stuck in it.
But then it's like now I lookback and I like I taught me so
much.
You know what I mean.
It was like I don't.
I don't now look at it as low.
(38:17):
You know, I don't look at itlow, I'm like, okay, well, it
taught me.
You know, it taught me, so itdid teach me so much.
Lisa Hopkins (38:27):
What do you know will stay true about you, no
matter what happens.
Susie Carroll (38:34):
I mean, I feel like it's everything we've
talked about, which is just likejust that sense of optimism and
and um ability to just, youknow, see the good in everyone
and everything.
Lisa Hopkins (38:46):
Yes, I think that's.
I think you nailed it.
So can you finish this phrase?
Most people think Susie Carrollis, but the truth is.
Susie Carroll (38:54):
I think people think I am.
I think they do think I am verymonochromatic in the sense that
every like life is easy, likeit's good, I'm happy all the
time and I I, you know it thingsjust come my way and I and I,
you know it is, you know, I lookat it a completely different
way, where I'm like I have Iwork really hard to make those
(39:15):
things true, while also living avery full life of all different
emotions and all different, alldifferent things, and I choose
to show up in a certain way andor, like you said, or and I also
feel like I am very authenticin my way where, where you know
or or I, or I don't, but I alsoam like you know, when I'm not,
(39:37):
I'm very, I'm very open to beinglike yeah, it's not my best day
, you know what I mean Like, butI work really hard, I work
really hard and I've workedreally hard.
Like this is not always comenatural to me, you know I mean
like I I did grow up very much,so like everything's fine, now
all's good.
You know what I mean and I'veI've earned my stripes here
where I'm like no, I'm, I'm areally hard worker, things don't
just come to me.
(39:57):
You don't see the level of workthat is behind this, underneath
the surface, here and yes, yeah, that's so valid.
Lisa Hopkins (40:06):
It's interesting because the word depend came
into my head, which is thatpeople can depend on you for a
lot of things.
I could make a list of all thethings you just said.
Susie Carroll (40:15):
Right.
Lisa Hopkins (40:16):
Yeah, what's something that that you know
people could depend on you for,but that you never really get
asked or expected to to to showup in that way?
Susie Carroll (40:28):
I don't know, so think about that?
Lisa Hopkins (40:33):
I don't know, I don't think about that.
Yeah, fair, it's an interesting, interesting thing to think
about, right.
Susie Carroll (40:38):
Yeah, I'm not, I'm not positive.
Lisa Hopkins (40:46):
Yeah, yeah, fair, good, I'll leave you with that
thought all right, we're gonna,we're gonna do rapid fire.
So I'm gonna say what makes you, I'm gonna say word and you say
the first thing that comes toyour mind okay, okay, you ready.
Yeah, now there's no beingperfect at this.
It's funny.
I even I even felt at thebeginning of our conversation
that you kept I don't want tosay judging yourself, but you
(41:09):
kept reeling yourself in withthat perfectionism going.
I know that's not the questionyou asked me and I know it's
like right and this might reallysound stupid.
It's so funny.
Nothing sounded stupid and youanswered perfectly for you
because, however you are, you'reexactly where you're supposed
to be and what you say isexactly.
You know, and and I really dobelieve that we all do the very
(41:30):
best we can in any given moment-yeah but all our moments aren't
the same.
That's the piece that we misssometimes, right right, so are
you ready?
Yes, all right, all right.
Susie Carroll, here she comes.
What makes you hungry?
Susie Carroll (41:55):
I don't know what makes me hungry.
Well, I love food.
I don't know if that's aquestion, though.
I love food, so I'm hungry allthe time.
But, um, uh, what makes mehungry?
This city makes me hungry.
I just like just like being in,like it, just being absorbed in
(42:18):
in the city really makes mejust like hungry to try new
things cool.
Lisa Hopkins (42:25):
What makes you sad ?
Susie Carroll (42:28):
um, oh my gosh, there's quite a bit.
The world can is a little isquite challenging right now.
Um, but, um, yeah, and I feellike I mean gosh, there's so
many things that make me sad.
(42:49):
I just really wish people hadaccessibility to equal
opportunities so that we couldall live our best life.
Yeah Well, inequality, rightInequality makes you sad, yeah,
and having people who don'tbelieve in inequality makes me
even more sad what inspires you?
(43:09):
um, my, my friends.
I have a lot.
I keep a very great group offriends who continue to
challenge each other, and itreally inspires me on a daily
basis.
Lisa Hopkins (43:20):
I love that, and what makes you frustrated?
Susie Carroll (43:25):
My perfectionism.
What makes you laugh?
Tiktok.
Lisa Hopkins (43:31):
What makes you angry when people?
Susie Carroll (43:34):
don't listen.
Lisa Hopkins (43:37):
And finally, what makes you grateful.
Susie Carroll (43:40):
So much I try to wake up and journal every
morning and I just like reallytried to use a world full of
gratitude.
But like, even like you know, Ilive in this little apartment
by myself and it's like I'malways so grateful for that.
Like, when I wake up here andI'm like, oh my gosh, like it
just is like a reminder everyday, I'm like I live in New York
and I'm by myself and it's socool, so it's great, I mean, but
that's like such a small thingI'm grateful for.
(44:02):
So I'm grateful for so many ofmy friends and my family and
yeah.
It's hard to pick one.
Lisa Hopkins (44:08):
Yeah, fair, yeah Fair.
Susie Carroll (44:15):
What are the top three things that have happened
so far today?
Um, I made a really goodbreakfast sandwich was
phenomenal.
Lisa Hopkins (44:27):
And then I went to work out with a good friend of
mine and we go to the same gym,so we worked out, had a great
time, and then this podcast.
Susie Carroll (44:31):
What's something you're looking forward to, both
today and then, you know, in thefuture say I am going to try a
new restaurant in brooklyntonight with a friend who is on
a show schedule, so we get tosee each other often on Monday
nights.
Going to try a new restaurantcalled Marga and then in the
future I am looking forward tosummer.
(44:55):
I love the summer it's myseason, um but uh, I teach a lot
in the summer, which I alwayslook forward to, and I get to
spend some good time with myfamily.
Lisa Hopkins (45:06):
Yeah, oh, that's nice.
Well, you get.
You'll get out of the city alittle bit, will you?
Susie Carroll (45:10):
Yeah, yeah.
Lisa Hopkins (45:12):
That's nice.
Yeah, that's nice.
I so appreciate you spendingthis time with me today.
Susie Carroll (45:17):
Really Likewise.
It's been such a pleasure yeah.
Lisa Hopkins (45:21):
I've been speaking today with Susie Carroll.
Stay safe and healthy, everyone, and remember to live in the
moment.
In music, stop time is thatbeautiful moment where the band
is suspended in rhythmic unison,supporting the soloist to
express their individuality Inthe moment.
I encourage you to take thattime and create your own rhythm.
(45:45):
Until next time, I'm LisaHopkins.
Thanks for listening.
This is the Stop Time Podcast.
I'm your host, lisa Hopkins,and I'm here to engage you in
thought-provoking, motivationalconversations around practicing
the art of living in the moment.
I'm a certified life coach andI'm excited to dig deep and
offer insights into embracingwho we are and where we are at.
Today's guest is someone I'vehad the absolute pleasure of
(00:27):
teaching during her time in thecommercial dance and musical
theater program at PaceUniversity.
She is a radiant talent who wasmost recently seen lighting up
the Broadway stage in Back tothe Future.
Her other Broadway creditsinclude the Prom and Mean Girls
and she's also graced the screenon the Tonight Show SNL Blue
Bloods.
Most recently, she performed inthe Saturday Night Live 50th,
(00:50):
which must have been really fun.
From a little girl with bigdreams to a performer living a
wild and beautiful life, my nextguest is living proof that
dreams really are possible.
I couldn't be more excitedreally to reconnect with and
introduce you to, susie Carroll.
Susie, welcome to the show.
Susie Carroll (01:09):
Thank you, that was so kind, thank you.
Lisa Hopkins (01:11):
It's, it's, I mean it from the bottom of my heart.
You know, when you sent me yourbio it says so much about you,
and part of it is because I knowI know you a little bit.
But even if I didn't know you,I think I would feel this way.
So I'm just going to share withyou, which is that you know you
had a few of your credits orwhatever, and then you had this
beautiful line right.
(01:32):
Little Susie couldn't evenbegin to imagine this wild and
beautiful life.
Dreams are possible.
Susie Carroll (01:39):
Yeah.
Lisa Hopkins (01:41):
It's beautiful.
Susie Carroll (01:42):
Thanks.
I've really been actuallythinking about like.
I've like it's been a lotrecently where I've just been
like there's been many momentswhere I've stopped my track and
like I really like that.
You know, on the hard days it'slike no, they're the I know
it's kind of cliche becauseeveryone kind of it's not
unheard of but like I've beenreally thinking about my little
self of like no, but literallyshe would be like you know, I
(02:04):
wanted to do exactly this mywhole entire life, so it's
pretty cool.
Lisa Hopkins (02:08):
That is really cool, and it's funny because
it's it's also a little bitintriguing to me and so maybe we
can dig in there.
I mean, why not?
Which is that like?
Well, what doubts did littleSusie have?
Because when you, when you sortof position it as she never
would have dreamed, is it beyondwhat she ever would have
imagined?
I'm curious.
Susie Carroll (02:27):
Well, it's funny actually, I guess.
I mean maybe she would havedreamed.
Maybe I'm saying it wrong,maybe she would have dreamed,
but I just think that it's likeit does feel beyond the wildest
dreams, but I don't think it's.
Honestly, in my personalopinion, little Susie had way
way less doubts than Susie doesnow.
She was way more fearless.
I mean I, you know, like Istill feel like fearless is
(02:48):
something I kind of still, can,you know, take on.
But she was way more like Imean I was.
I knew I wanted to go move toNew York City when I was like 10
.
And I would ask my mom at likeage 10, I'd be like, can we like
, can we get out of here?
I grew up in Utah.
It's like, can we get out ofhere, let's go?
Like I think it's time, like Ithink I'm like should be on
Broadway.
And so my mom was always like,no, wait, you know what I mean.
(03:11):
Like you know, it was just notin the cards for my family, um,
and thank goodness I waited, butthat's where Pace University
came open door, where I can getto myself to New York city, and
that was Pace, you know,audition for schools.
And Pace university was, youknow, my first way to be like
okay, I can make this New Yorkdream a reality, wow.
Lisa Hopkins (03:34):
So talk to me.
What did you know about NewYork, had you been to New York?
Susie Carroll (03:39):
I had.
I mean, my parents were verygenerous in that way where I was
so obsessed with it that, likemy, the first time I ever came
to New York it was my 13thbirthday and that was like I
trip with my parents and theywere like they took me to shows
my first.
I actually think it's hilarious.
My first ever Broadway show Isaw was American idiot and I
think my parents were like what,what?
This is what we're doing?
(03:59):
And I was like yes, this isawesome, like something about
you know, just there's like thatedgy punk rockery show that I
was just like this is awesome.
You know that secured the bugand my whole family they work in
health insurance Like theydon't have any idea what theater
is.
So I went home and, you know,got on the computer and found
that there was a summer programI could do.
(04:20):
I was just like constantlyfinding like how can I you know,
you know, practice this craft?
And again, my parents were verygenerous and and and helping me
with that and supporting methrough that.
So I would come to New Yorkevery summer and then New York
city college was the first timeI lived here.
Lisa Hopkins (04:39):
So take me all the way back to, to the beginning,
beginning when you starteddancing.
What did you see?
What was your inspiration?
Susie Carroll (04:46):
My mom put me in dance class when I was really
little, like I was like dancingwhen I was like three and really
loved it.
And then again my parents, myfamily didn't really know the
world at all, you know really,but my mom always wanted us to,
you know, be very well-rounded.
So we were in everything I didsoccer and all sorts of
different things, and my dadreally didn't like it at the
(05:06):
time.
He was very much so like Idon't know, like I don't want,
cause once I started dancing Igot.
I basically was like, I like,was like, okay, this is mine,
you know forever.
But my dad really didn.
I had to ski on the weekend.
That was like our deal that ifI would go to ski school on the
(05:28):
weekend, I could dance duringthe week, and so that was like
our deal for a long time, whichnow is awesome.
I love skiing and I love that Ihave that skill in my bag.
And then it was about 10.
I think I went and saw ourlocal theater, did Oliver and I?
and I was like, oh my gosh,they're dancing and singing and
telling a story, Like they'renot just dancing, right, they're
(05:48):
telling a story, and I thinkthat was something that was so
like my.
That's where really my wheelstarted turning.
And then the next year they didSeussical.
So I auditioned for Seussicaland that was my first musical
and fell in love with that andthen just kind of, you know,
just then start taking voicelessons and everything you know
along the way, as long as I wasskiing on the weekends.
(06:09):
But I did, then I was, and thenI was kind of that's where we
went from there.
But that was kind of how I fellinto it.
My mom just put me in class ata young age and truly, since I
was three, I've, like, had thatstrong.
Lisa Hopkins (06:22):
That's amazing.
Fall to it.
Susie Carroll (06:23):
That's amazing.
Lisa Hopkins (06:24):
Yeah, I've like had that strong.
That's amazing.
All to it, that's amazing.
Yeah, what's so amazing aboutthat is that, well, the agency
that you had like this knowing.
Susie Carroll (06:32):
Yeah.
Lisa Hopkins (06:33):
Yeah, and you, you come with that.
You bring that energy to a room.
Thank you you do.
Since the moment I met you, Ihave really strong memories of,
like I said, your presence.
You're so game, you're so readyfor whatever yeah what do you
attribute that to?
I mean, I understand the love,I understand the, the calling,
(06:56):
that that's where you belong isit is there, like what else is
there?
is it is it?
Do you have a desire to serveor to use your gifts, or to just
try new things Like what?
Yeah, let's dig in there.
Susie Carroll (07:09):
One thing about me and if you know, like my
parents and who's known meforever, like I can't I hate
downtime, which is is somethingI'm kind of working on, you know
, cause it's like that's alsogood for me, but like, like, I
just like to be working, likeand that doesn't have to mean
like in a musical, at all times,I just like.
I just like being out in theworld and and and connecting
(07:34):
with people and in creatingthings and just like that
forward motion.
And so I think a big thing forme is like is like what I found
with myself, because I justdon't.
I hate to be stagnant.
You know what I mean.
Like, I want to like.
I always say all the time it'sjust like.
I is like what I found withmyself, cause I just don't.
I hate to be stagnant.
You know what I mean.
Like I want to like, I alwayssay all the time it's just like,
I just like.
If I'm not like growing andlearning, then, like you know,
so it's like, and sometimes Ihonestly, sometimes it is to my
(07:57):
deficit where it is like, it'sit's exhausting and I do wish I
could just be like okay, like,take a beat and let yourself.
You know, you know it doesn'thave to always be moving, which
you know.
You know, I I don't know, Idon't know if I'm making sense,
but it's just like, becausesometimes it is like, it is like
(08:18):
, okay, oh my gosh, like take asecond and acknowledge what you
have done, you know, but I just,I just, really I just I like I
love connecting with people andand, yeah, it is like it is that
greater purpose to me than likeI don't always just love
performing too, like I reallylove being in a room just with
creatives who just want to dogood and serve, yeah, serve,
(08:42):
yeah.
Lisa Hopkins (08:44):
If that makes sense.
Yeah, no, it makes a lot ofsense.
It's interesting I'm hearingyou sort of starting to
recognize that maybe that's notthe only way or the best way,
because there might be somethingyou're missing.
It's interesting.
I often talk to my clientsabout sometimes our strengths
that's a strength of yours too,right, I mean, it's not a bad
thing.
But sometimes our strengthsovershadow you know, they become
(09:06):
our weaknesses because wedefault to them because they
work right.
And so that's how you alwaysoperate until you can't.
And when you can't, forwhatever reason a pandemic or
lack of a job, or an injury, orwhatever it might be- then what
do?
You do right.
Right then, what do you doright?
(09:30):
Yeah, yeah, and I mean it's,it's interesting.
Talk to me more about, likewhat the story you tell yourself
about I get, I get the value.
I'm hearing the value loud andclear.
I I don't I don't dispute that.
But it is interesting becauseyou have really identified a
pattern that you know ifdisrupted, like what happens to
you if your pattern getsdisrupted, your pattern of
really moving forward, as yousaid.
Susie Carroll (09:50):
Yeah, I mean, I mean, I think where I have
gotten better at it is like ease, because I think for a while it
was a completely full cup or acompletely empty cup, right, and
I do think that I had,especially, I mean I've, I've
crazy enough, I've lived herefor 10 years, which is like so
wild to me.
I can't believe it, I can'tbelieve that this is 10 years
living in the city, but I do, Imean, I think that for a while
(10:14):
it was really disruptive If Ihad nothing on it on, you know,
on my, if I had like it.
It felt so stark, it felt likeI was either a hundred percent
me or zero, you know, just likewith, with working and with
being in that forward motion.
Now I feel like it's a littlebit better.
I actually just taught lastweekend and I was talking to
some of these students.
They're college students and Iwas talking to them and I was
(10:35):
like you know, the best thingabout being in New York and I
think the best thing that Ilearned is just to keep where.
I feel like the biggest likerevelation I've had in maybe the
past two, three years is thatthe more you're able to craft
this world, that, or like thispie chart of friendship, of
(10:56):
non-performing jobs, of you know, of performing jobs, of you
know, networking community basedpeople.
You know what I mean as well.
As well, as long as you'renurturing that, then the second
those like that second, likeback to the future closed.
Of course, I was devastated whenback to future closed because
it was such a beautiful cast andexperience and it was truly one
(11:20):
of the best experience thatI've ever had of just like just
a really good camaraderie in aspace.
But it wasn't.
It was the first time.
It didn't feel so like like Iwent under the earth, you know,
because for a while it did feelthat way.
For a while it was very much solike if this, if I go from this
forward motion to nothing, it'sgoing to be, it's going to be
(11:40):
dark.
And now I feel like I've gottento this point where I have the
same families that, whether I'min a show, they, they release me
and let me out to the world,and then, when I'm not, they
take care of me and say, yeah,you want to come nanny for a
couple of days, or you know whatI mean, I've got my friends
that existed with me throughoutthe entire time of Back to the
(12:01):
Future and they're still my.
That's become such a beautifulthing that I've learned of like
you can't rely on just that onething ever gotten better at.
Like you know, if it'ssometimes just journaling of
like you know just to be like,okay, I don't have anything this
week, but here's this is whyyou know this is the things that
(12:24):
I'm going to sit with and enjoyand celebrate that I've done
and you know what I mean.
And like kind of earn my youknow sense of, you know of a
break Earned your sense of abreak Is that what you said,
yeah.
Lisa Hopkins (12:40):
Okay, that's really interesting.
Susie Carroll (12:42):
I know that was probably going to sound as good.
I don't really mean it likethat either, I know.
I mean like you know, it's justlike I feel like it's gotten a
little less.
You know um hard to have youknow that time off, cause I do,
I love, I, I am the happiestversion of myself when I am with
a full schedule.
(13:03):
It just is, it is just, it'swho I am.
Yeah.
Lisa Hopkins (13:07):
That's fair.
That's fair and it'sinteresting.
I guess you know there'sprobably an opportunity for full
to not be only to, to broadenthat criteria, right, do you
know what I mean?
Because there's somethingprobably about full that you up
until now, and it makes sense asyou're building your career,
you know, because all the boxesget ticked when you are doing
(13:30):
theater right, yeah.
But to ask yourself, what is itabout theater besides the
theater, the inherent theaterstuff that?
That really lights me up, right.
And when I don't have a gig,where can I find that?
Susie Carroll (13:48):
Right.
Lisa Hopkins (13:49):
And that's what will absolutely you know, rather
than that, like you said, thebinary right off on yes, well, I
don't have it, so I'll dealwith it.
I'll you know, I can learn howto journal, I can learn to give
myself grace, but it's like oryou can, you can find that same,
that same joy, in a in adifferent manner Maybe.
(14:10):
What do you think about that?
Oh, yes.
Susie Carroll (14:11):
No, I think I mean you're exactly right.
I mean it's there was my longwinded, roundabout way of saying
it.
But yes, like you, I mean it's.
It's, it's like the second backto future close, while I was
devastated.
Oh my gosh, I get to go todinner at 7 PM, like how, like
that is amazing and like thejust seeing life in like all of
its ways and it is, it is, it'sjust creating this full life
(14:34):
that meet full in so manydifferent ways that now it feels
like full can be supplementedas okay the the show schedule
leaves.
Then it's still full becauseI've got this great group of
people that I want to see atnight and I get to go on dates
and I get to do you know what Imean like it's just like
continues to be full andcontinues to feel you, you know,
(14:55):
just like a warm hug as I gothrough all of it and then and
then, then I get to do a job andstuff like that.
Lisa Hopkins (15:03):
So, yes, I love it .
I love it so what would you sayis your biggest challenge?
Susie Carroll (15:13):
My biggest challenge, yeah, really struggle
with perfectionism.
Perfectionism, I mean I thinkthat probably makes sense with
everything I kind of was talkingabout like always wanting to go
, go, go and be working and allof that.
But like I think that isdefinitely something I work on a
lot of, just like, of likebeing a.
I mean it's funny because Ijust and I do mean it with my
(15:36):
whole chest of like I love to begrowing and learning and
constantly evolving, butsometimes I hate being that like
ground zero students, of like anew skill you know, or like
going and being like, oh, I'venever, I've never.
This is a great example.
Cutting my hair Is it actually agreat example?
(15:56):
Like this has been.
So it's been so funny for mebecause I cut it and the day I
got home I loved it because theythey styled it for me and it
was styled perfectly and I waslike, yes, I am rolling with
this, it's so fun, it's freeing.
I just got to do this.
Then, for the next two days,I've had to try to style it
myself and I'm like losing mymind.
I'm like, how do you styleshort hair?
(16:17):
I've had long hair to here for20 something years, right?
So now I'm like and so thenit's like, and I get so
frustrated.
This is like it's a perfectexample of I'm so frustrated.
And then I'm like Susie, youliterally never styled short
hair a day in your life.
Short hair a day in your life?
(16:39):
Give it, you know, give it acouple of weeks to try something
new every single time and thenyou'll get in your groove of
knowing how to style short hair.
But that is definitely, I think, one of my biggest challenge.
And that's like a small example, but it's like, honestly, my
example like it goes into a lotof forms of my life where I'm
like, susie, you've never styleda bob before.
You've never done it Like it,like so, so have fun getting to
learn how to do it, you know,and it's, and I actually think
(17:00):
it's like it was funny as shecut it, I was like, wow, like
I'm like, so I'm so proud ofmyself because it really does
like I just like fought myperfectionism and like you know,
head on, because I just have nocontrol over this.
Now it is gone, I cut it.
Lisa Hopkins (17:21):
Yeah, I love that it's so rich, but it is a good
example.
Sometimes the simplest lifeexamples are really indicative
of the pattern, right, and it'sinteresting.
What really strikes me, andmaybe I can ask you about this,
is that and it kind of makessense as I think about it,
(17:43):
because you said you really youreally hate going into I think
you said, if I heard youcorrectly, I really hate going
into I don't know how you framedit but basically into a realm
that you don't know, right, yeah, yeah, and or one that you
can't control, right?
So it makes sense that in yourrealm, which you are essentially
(18:04):
, you know, pretty confident inas a master and a you know not,
you know an ongoing master youpretty much know you can handle.
I mean, there's a lot of ifs,ands and buts, right, but would
it be, would it be fair to saythat you know when you say, for
example, go into an audition,that you can't control whether
they pick you or not, but youcan control how you present
(18:27):
yourself?
Susie Carroll (18:27):
Yeah, yeah.
Lisa Hopkins (18:29):
And so if that were true, then does that help
you?
Does that help you know thatthe goal becomes to control what
you can control, which is to bethe best you can be?
yeah yeah, see, I feel thatabout you, so it comes off as a
as a strong confidence, becauseyou know you can control how
quote, unquote, air quote,perfect, you can present
(18:53):
yourself right, um, and, andnobody else controls that and
then, and then the rest is is doyou ever get caught in feeling
like you know, I did my best,but I didn't get picked?
For instance, what goes on inyour head?
Susie Carroll (19:07):
You know, honestly, it's, it's.
I don't struggle with that thatmuch.
I didn't think so I don't.
And I, you know, I don't meanto be like.
You know, I'm sure that mightsound annoying to some people,
but and I don't.
And I, you know, I don't meanto be like.
You know, I'm sure that mightsound annoying to some people,
but and I don't know if it'sjust.
I mean, don't get me wrong,there are some instances where
I'll go in for an audition for ajob that I really want and I'm
like, I really wanted that.
But there's not oftentimeswhere I'm like I, I, I take it
(19:32):
in more.
I don't know if it's becauseI've been here for long enough,
but I genuinely, really, reallytruly, I'm like, I think it's
just like I'm meant to be in thespaces I'm meant to be in.
You know what I mean.
And then this, and then thetimes I don't get things because
I'm in the city, I get to gosee that job that I didn't get.
There's many times where I'mlike, yeah, that wasn't mine,
like that wasn't mine and that'sa beautiful thing and I'm so
(19:56):
glad that that was yours.
And you know, I mean, it's justlike.
I really do believe there'senough for all of us to go
around.
I really do, and I think thatyou're, like we are, are found
in the spaces like, and I alsolive by the mantra of like, like
if.
If they like you, if you wantthem and they want you, then
that's where it's like, you know, I mean like it's like if, if
you're trying to fit intosomething that it wasn't for you
(20:18):
, like I just I never strugglewith it too much.
Lisa Hopkins (20:21):
No, I didn't think so.
That was my instinct, but Ididn't.
I didn't want to assume thatit's interesting.
But that fits into the controlconversation, right, and, and to
a certain extent you know, yeah, the the perfectionism meaning
you controlling what, which,focusing on what you can control
, which is, which is you, whichis amazing and it's, it's
interesting.
(20:42):
My, my other question makes me,makes me think, because you do
a lot of swing work, which ismaybe you can, maybe you can
explain that, what that means.
So when you're, when you're, aswing on broadway, what does
that mean?
Susie Carroll (20:54):
um, I cover all of the female identifying people
in the ensemble.
So, um, back to the future,there was seven tracks that I
covered, um, mean girls, andmean girls was eight and I think
palm was seven.
So I yes, I've, you know, popinto, uh, you know, somebody's
injured or sick or medical leave.
(21:14):
I kind of can go in and fill infor anybody whenever needed.
Lisa Hopkins (21:18):
Yeah, that's that, first of all.
That's a phenomenal skill.
Yeah, but it's I'd love to youknow.
I've never really asked anyoneabout this.
I think it's really interesting, just in terms of like mindset.
How do you, for instance, howdo you control?
I get that you would be able tocontrol because you'd study and
(21:40):
you'd understand the parts andyou were given the part.
Ergo, you're, you're, you knowyou're able to do this.
But how does the perfectionismcome into that, if at all?
And then also, what about thenot really knowing when or who
you're going to go on for?
Talk to me a little bit aboutthat when or who you're going to
go on for.
Susie Carroll (21:58):
Talk to me a little bit about that.
Yeah, it's funny because it'slike I it's.
It is funny because, in a weirdway, like this swingy is like
the best thing I think thatcould have ever happened to me,
because and it just fell in mylap too, like I, I just it was
just like I went.
It's actually a phenomenalstory that I can tell you now or
later about, about how I bookedthe prom.
(22:19):
Sure, tell us, it's actuallyfun, because I know that you
know Gabby Campo as well.
Yeah, so we were both sent toan audition because the prom was
looking for one female swingand we, before they, went to
Broadway and we went to thisaudition and there was, you know
, people there all day and thenthey basically started cutting
people down, down, down, down,down, down down, until until it
(22:40):
was narrowed down to like fourof us and Gabby went into seeing
because she's Campo.
She went into seeing before meand then I sang, and then I went
into seeing right after her andactually before I even sang,
they said actually, can you stepout for a second?
We need to talk to Gabby onemore time.
And I said, no problem, youknow, whatever.
(23:03):
And then Gabby went in and thenI went in after her saying, for
real this time.
We both laughed and I rememberkind of leaving that space with
her being like, we're bothpretty sure you just booked the
prom on Broadway, right?
And she was like, yeah, I'mpretty sure you know what I mean
Like, and we just we celebrate.
I mean it was she was a yearolder than me.
It was like, you know, it wasone of those things where I
think we both were like if it'snot me, it's you, if it's not
you to me.
We were like let's go, let'sjust do this.
Um, and then that followingMonday, we showed up to school
(23:26):
and she had gotten the call andwe you know it was awesome, it's
just like, and was like Januaryof 2018.
The prom they went into like alab and then they opened
officially November of 2018.
January of 2019, never went backin for the show, never
auditioned again, nothing.
I just got a phone call Januaryof 2019 to join the show, the
(23:50):
prom on Broadway, as a vacationswing.
So I love that story with mywhole heart for so many reasons.
One, because it has to do withGabby Campo and I love her to
death.
And two, because it's just likesuch a testament to you know,
just like going into an auditionroom and doing your best work
and knowing that there, that ifyou do your best work, you never
know what could come from it,you know.
(24:11):
So I just love that story.
And then, and swinging just fellin my lap in that way.
They needed a swing.
They saw something in me inthat room that day.
It wasn't my time, thankgoodness I also say this all the
time.
I'm like thank goodness I was ajunior in college at that time
and I am so glad I had one moreyear of experience under my belt
to then join them, especiallyjoining them as a swing.
(24:32):
Like I needed that time toreally then show up as the way I
did that time to really thenshow up as the way I did.
So I'm so glad it happened theway I did.
Lisa Hopkins (24:40):
Yeah.
Susie Carroll (24:41):
But so then, to answer your question, I um so
when you just fell into my lap,I and it was the best thing that
ever happened to me, becausethe only way to be good at it or
, to you know, learn throughthat is by doing, and mistakes
are literally the inevitablelike, and it is, it's singer's
(25:03):
plan, and it's like, and thenit's like it's.
I always say, it's like you goand you're like, oh, I, I know
you said that they crossed downstage with me, but I didn't
realize how close they aredownstage me, and so that is why
we bumped into each other.
I knew you and I and I couldlook at that on a paper for the
end of time.
And I am a little bit like that, because I do like, like what
we're talking about.
I have this like sense of like,I like to be prepared to the
(25:25):
end of the earth, and so I willsit in my living room by myself
looking at my notes and goingover a thousand times, and
because I want to be the best Ican be, and Because I want to be
the best I can be and I love toshow up and work hard and
produce good work, but you'renever going to know.
Until you are on that stage I'mlike, oh, never felt that it
was that kind of closeness orwhatever, whatever the example
(26:05):
is, and so I do think it helps.
As I was just doing, as I'vedone this job so many times, I'm
just like, oh, okay, okay, Gotit Learned.
Next time I'll do, next timeI'll do better, you know, next
time I'll, I'll understand that.
But, um, and I, I and I grew toreally, I've grown to really
love it.
I love, I think for me it'slike I, I, I love the
stimulation of it.
(26:25):
I love seeing the audience fromthis angle, from that angle, I
love seeing the scene work fromthis.
I like talking to that personThen tomorrow I talked to that
person and or I'm talking tomyself, then that you know what
I mean Like I think it's soexciting and fun and and, and
you know it's such a greatchallenge.
And again, I think that's whatI kind of said, that that might
(26:47):
be the theme too is I like lovelittle challenges, I love to
like keep myself stimulated,engage in challenge, and
swinging is that ultimate thing.
And so you know, I mean don'tget me wrong, I mean there are
days where it's like I cannotbelieve I'm here doing this
again.
I and this is, you know, sohard.
And then there are days whereI'm like this is awesome, you
know.
I really really, really enjoy.
(27:08):
It.
Lisa Hopkins (27:09):
Yeah, no, for sure .
And that's that forward motionpiece, right, yeah, yeah.
Have you ever been part of ashow not being a swing?
No, I'm probably no.
Is that one of?
Susie Carroll (27:20):
your, your goals, aspirations, yeah yeah, it is
yeah, it is.
I would love to go to work andnot think like you know I mean
that lightly but like I wouldlove to go to work and be like I
know exactly what I'm doingtoday.
That's awesome.
And at intermission, sit andjust have a snack.
You know I'm having a snackwhile I'm watching that video.
(27:41):
You know what I mean?
Yeah, for sure.
Lisa Hopkins (27:45):
It's that fullness though it's interesting because
, as you said that I was likewait.
But that's the fullness thatyou talked about, that you love,
which is it feels a littleempty when the show's over, but
it's like in a microcosm it'slike.
But even within the show youknow you're doing multiple
things, like that's the way youroll, right.
So interesting, so interesting.
(28:05):
Are you afraid of anything?
This landscape?
What are you afraid of, whetherit be work or just whatever?
What scares you?
Is there anything that kind ofmakes you go like where's your
edge?
I don't know again.
Susie Carroll (28:19):
I mean I, I mean it falls in the same category as
the perfectionism as like oflike messing up drastically.
You know I mean like publiclybeing bad.
You know I have fear of like.
You know I've been doing a lotof tv work and like that, that
forever of like that tv scares.
It scares me in many waysbecause it's like when, when I
like theater is like a littlemore like okay, well, tomorrow
(28:40):
I'll just do it, yeah, I'll justdo different you know it's gone
yeah, that's not.
That is not the case.
There it is, stakes are high,it costs a lot more money and
then it's.
Then it is science stilldelivered and it's done.
So it scares me a little bitmore, and so I think it
challenges me in a way of likestill keeping that looseness of
like it's okay, you know.
(29:01):
I mean like yeah, movingthrough it and being like, even
though it's there forever, it'sfine, you know so yeah, it's
exercising that letting go yeahtrusting.
Lisa Hopkins (29:11):
Yeah, what's your definition of living in the
moment for someone who's somotion oriented?
Susie Carroll (29:17):
right.
Um, I think living in themoments, showing up
authentically as you and likereally just being just like so
open to you know, like justhaving like that feelingness of
openness and just being so trueto who you are, I think is also
(29:38):
is so important of living in themoment.
In that moment, you know, likeit's just being so
unapologetically yourself, ableto just kind of let like what
we're talking about like justlike let anything you know, like
having your feet planted, andthen if the wind blew you this
way, you'd go that way and betotally okay, and then that way
(29:59):
and be like you know what I mean, like I feel like that is just
being like totally receptive ofwhatever is coming your way, and
but keeping your feetcompletely cemented where they
are is an authentic to you.
Is, I think, what would beliving in the moment for me?
Lisa Hopkins (30:15):
yeah, no, totally.
And how often do you do yousort of live in that space?
Susie Carroll (30:21):
um, I would say pretty often yeah the older I'm
getting, the more I feel thatway, you know, the more I'm just
like, yeah, this is, this iswhat I need and this is how I
function, and I think I'vegotten better at that of, like
you know, of just staying trueto me.
Well, also, I mean, there, youknow, there's a million factors
(30:43):
that go in every day and there'sa million things that you know
people are going to ask many, somany different things of you
and like, just like being ableto be.
You know, like I used to likehave to like be, like okay, well
, I'm going to respond to thatemail and, you know, a little
while, because I have to thinkabout how I want to.
You know, I mean I feel likeI've just got.
It's just like okay, you knowjust a little bit more like
(31:03):
taking care of myself within allof it yeah is.
Lisa Hopkins (31:07):
Is there a dream that you haven't put out in the
universe yet?
I mean, you're living yourdream currently, right but is
there?
Is there one that maybe is issort of toys around in your head
that maybe you haven't put outin the universe?
Susie Carroll (31:21):
I'm still trying to figure that out, actually,
because I think a big thing forme is I've, I have attained a
dream and it's been so obviousfor me for so long, since I was
like that 10 year old girl.
And so now it is.
I have had these feelings oflike, oh, I mean, I love, I
don't wrong, I love this and I'mso happy within all of this,
(31:42):
but I'm like I am.
I do feel like you know, thereis something in me where I'm
like I know that there'ssomething, there's more that I
want to do.
I just haven't been able toreally really pinpoint on what
it is.
Yeah, I don't know, because Idon't think I want to perform
forever, and I know that forsure.
(32:04):
I do know that for sure.
How do you know that?
Um, I just I've, I kind of haveknown, funny enough, I've known
for a long time.
I remember, actually, rightbefore the pandemic, I was very
much so like I love this, but Iknow that I don't want to like
it.
Just like was I, if I'm honestwith you, I was on stage and I
was like I had this like momentof like, oh, I don't want to be,
(32:28):
I and I love the world, and I'mnot saying I need to stray far
from the world, but I'm justlike, oh, I don't know if it's
going to be and I don't know, Ican't, I can't right now.
It's not clear to me.
It's not clear if that meanschoreographer.
Lisa Hopkins (32:36):
I don't it's not something like I'm dying to be a
choreographer.
That's not something that's youknow, I'm still trying to
figure out exactly what it whatit would be so.
Susie Carroll (32:53):
I don't know, does it, does it excite you?
Just not knowing make, how doesthat excite me?
Yeah, it does.
It does Because I think for solong it's been so concrete, like
this is exactly and it's, it's,again's, again it's.
I guess really the theme is itis a challenge of like okay,
well, it's not going to comenaturally and easy.
You know, I mean like I'm goingto have to like really try new
things and kind of walk adifferent path than what I've
(33:15):
been walking that's sointeresting.
Lisa Hopkins (33:18):
Yeah, or walk the same path, but look at it
differently yeah, exactly how doyou want to be?
Susie Carroll (33:24):
remembered.
I hope that I'm remembered tobe someone who, who you know, I
hope I leave a very positiveimpact of of bringing people joy
as well as kindness.
Yeah, I just love connectingwith people.
I think that we're all so moreconnected than we all think we
(33:48):
are and I think that justsharing kindness and sharing,
you know, and just beingreceptive to other people is
like the other day I was on a.
I sat down on a plane going toOhio and I sat next to this guy.
He's an, an older man, and wedidn't talk for the first half
of the plane and then secondhalf of the plane.
(34:08):
He this is a very sweet storyhis, his wife was, um, two rows
above us.
We were in the exit row, sothey didn't want us to next to
each other because she didn'twant to sit on the exit row, but
she was, um, she had really badflight anxiety and so he would
get up and check on her fromtime to time.
And then, finally, he came backand sat and I was kind of, you
(34:28):
know, chatting with him ofdifferent things and he's from
Ohio, but he lived in New Yorkfor 50 years.
I'm originally, I grew up inUtah, but I'm originally from
Ohio for 50 years works.
We talked about restaurants anddifferent things and you know
just like got a lot of you knowkind of old New York wisdom from
him yeah and then he asked aturn to finally him asking me
(34:53):
what I do.
And I told him what I do and shewas like, oh my gosh, I mean
I'm, like you know, broadway'sso important to me.
I've gone to broadway shows myentire 50 years of new york.
What have you been in?
And I told him back to thefuture and we kind of came to
the conclusion that there's a.
You know I'm a swing, so it'snot.
We weren't certain, but I wason a ton in the month of
september and he was like, oh,and saw it in september and,
(35:15):
like you know, just like it'sjust like kindness and
connection is so important to mebecause you can miss out on so
many conversations like the oneI had with that guy, you know, I
mean like totally and it's likeI just think it's the more that
you are willing to just likeopen yourself up.
I mean like then you get theseconnections with these people
that fill your life in such abeautiful way.
(35:36):
So that's why kindness is soimportant to me.
Kindness, and just likereceptiveness you know I what I
mean Like yeah, cause kindnesscan be, can mean so many
different things.
Lisa Hopkins (35:45):
Yeah, exactly, which is why I thank you, for I
mean, I love, I love to hearwhat, what it means to you.
How do you recharge, causeyou're, you're, you're a go
getter right, you're very busy.
Yes, how do you recharge?
What do you?
Susie Carroll (36:05):
what do you do?
What works for you?
That is where it's my battle,especially when I'm in New York.
Okay, um, I do live alone,though there are some times
where I'm like I need to besolely alone.
I love just like havingsomebody over and sitting them
on, like be, like, sit on mycouch, I'm gonna cook a meal and
we can just like you know, justbe together.
Yeah, and that to me, isrecharging, like.
But then there are moments whereI am like no, no, if in a very
busy day there are moments, orlike a tushar day, there are
(36:25):
many times where I do need tocome, like I, even if it's like
I'm coming home for 30 minutesyeah also something that is like
in my kind of habit where I amlike I don't know, I don't care
if I have to travel for 30minutes, to be home for 30
minutes, like I just need thatlike kind of like touch base
with me and that helps, um.
But then I also recharge.
But I love, I love spendingtime with my family and I have
(36:46):
these two new nephews that Ilove and like, if time allows, I
will go to Ohio, which is wherethey are, um, be with them and
and just kind of take a breathout of New York, cause as much
as I do love it here, I do lovea good suburb in Ohio.
Lisa Hopkins (37:05):
That's so cute.
I love it.
We've talked a lot about someof your highlights in your
career and I'm curious to knoware there any low lights?
Susie Carroll (37:15):
Yes, I mean you know there's definitely been, I
mean, long periods of time thatI wasn't, you know, performing
there.
I have had the most incrediblecareer so far.
But I definitely also knowsomebody who goes from show to
show.
You know what I mean.
Like it it isn't like I have.
I do experience unemployment,because I have some friends who
(37:35):
don't, and that's just theirreality.
They just go from one show tothe next and that is they, you
know.
Um, I really try not to look atit as that is they.
You know, I really try not tolook at it as like a low light.
You know what I mean.
The pandemic was totally low.
It was.
I mean it was totally low.
I mean it just sucks.
I mean because it did feel so,so stark and I at that moment I
(37:56):
was still younger at that pointso I didn't know how to like, I
felt like I didn't know how topivot and shift and be like,
okay, let's try something new.
It just felt.
I just felt so stuck in it.
But then it's like now I lookback and I like I taught me so
much.
You know what I mean.
It was like I don't.
I don't now look at it as low.
(38:17):
You know, I don't look at itlow, I'm like, okay, well, it
taught me.
You know, it taught me, so itdid teach me so much.
Lisa Hopkins (38:27):
What do you know will stay true about you, no
matter what happens.
Susie Carroll (38:34):
I mean, I feel like it's everything we've
talked about, which is just likejust that sense of optimism and
and um ability to just, youknow, see the good in everyone
and everything.
Lisa Hopkins (38:46):
Yes, I think that's.
I think you nailed it.
So can you finish this phrase?
Most people think Susie Carrollis, but the truth is.
Susie Carroll (38:54):
I think people think I am.
I think they do think I am verymonochromatic in the sense that
every like life is easy, likeit's good, I'm happy all the
time and I I, you know it thingsjust come my way and I and I,
you know it is, you know, I lookat it a completely different
way, where I'm like I have Iwork really hard to make those
(39:15):
things true, while also living avery full life of all different
emotions and all different, alldifferent things, and I choose
to show up in a certain way andor, like you said, or and I also
feel like I am very authenticin my way where, where you know
or or I, or I don't, but I alsoam like you know, when I'm not,
(39:37):
I'm very, I'm very open to beinglike yeah, it's not my best day
, you know what I mean Like, butI work really hard, I work
really hard and I've workedreally hard.
Like this is not always comenatural to me, you know I mean
like I I did grow up very much,so like everything's fine, now
all's good.
You know what I mean and I'veI've earned my stripes here
where I'm like no, I'm, I'm areally hard worker, things don't
just come to me.
(39:57):
You don't see the level of workthat is behind this, underneath
the surface, here and yes, yeah, that's so valid.
Lisa Hopkins (40:06):
It's interesting because the word depend came
into my head, which is thatpeople can depend on you for a
lot of things.
I could make a list of all thethings you just said.
Susie Carroll (40:15):
Right.
Lisa Hopkins (40:16):
Yeah, what's something that that you know
people could depend on you for,but that you never really get
asked or expected to to to showup in that way?
Susie Carroll (40:28):
I don't know, so think about that?
Lisa Hopkins (40:33):
I don't know, I don't think about that.
Yeah, fair, it's an interesting, interesting thing to think
about, right.
Susie Carroll (40:38):
Yeah, I'm not, I'm not positive.
Lisa Hopkins (40:46):
Yeah, yeah, fair, good, I'll leave you with that
thought all right, we're gonna,we're gonna do rapid fire.
So I'm gonna say what makes you, I'm gonna say word and you say
the first thing that comes toyour mind okay, okay, you ready.
Yeah, now there's no beingperfect at this.
It's funny.
I even I even felt at thebeginning of our conversation
that you kept I don't want tosay judging yourself, but you
(41:09):
kept reeling yourself in withthat perfectionism going.
I know that's not the questionyou asked me and I know it's
like right and this might reallysound stupid.
It's so funny.
Nothing sounded stupid and youanswered perfectly for you
because, however you are, you'reexactly where you're supposed
to be and what you say isexactly.
You know, and and I really dobelieve that we all do the very
(41:30):
best we can in any given moment-yeah but all our moments aren't
the same.
That's the piece that we misssometimes, right right, so are
you ready?
Yes, all right, all right.
Susie Carroll, here she comes.
What makes you hungry?
Susie Carroll (41:55):
I don't know what makes me hungry.
Well, I love food.
I don't know if that's aquestion, though.
I love food, so I'm hungry allthe time.
But, um, uh, what makes mehungry?
This city makes me hungry.
I just like just like being in,like it, just being absorbed in
(42:18):
in the city really makes mejust like hungry to try new
things cool.
Lisa Hopkins (42:25):
What makes you sad ?
Susie Carroll (42:28):
um, oh my gosh, there's quite a bit.
The world can is a little isquite challenging right now.
Um, but, um, yeah, and I feellike I mean gosh, there's so
many things that make me sad.
(42:49):
I just really wish people hadaccessibility to equal
opportunities so that we couldall live our best life.
Yeah Well, inequality, rightInequality makes you sad, yeah,
and having people who don'tbelieve in inequality makes me
even more sad what inspires you?
(43:09):
um, my, my friends.
I have a lot.
I keep a very great group offriends who continue to
challenge each other, and itreally inspires me on a daily
basis.
Lisa Hopkins (43:20):
I love that, and what makes you frustrated?
Susie Carroll (43:25):
My perfectionism.
What makes you laugh?
Tiktok.
Lisa Hopkins (43:31):
What makes you angry when people?
Susie Carroll (43:34):
don't listen.
Lisa Hopkins (43:37):
And finally, what makes you grateful.
Susie Carroll (43:40):
So much I try to wake up and journal every
morning and I just like reallytried to use a world full of
gratitude.
But like, even like you know, Ilive in this little apartment
by myself and it's like I'malways so grateful for that.
Like, when I wake up here andI'm like, oh my gosh, like it
just is like a reminder everyday, I'm like I live in New York
and I'm by myself and it's socool, so it's great, I mean, but
that's like such a small thingI'm grateful for.
(44:02):
So I'm grateful for so many ofmy friends and my family and
yeah.
It's hard to pick one.
Lisa Hopkins (44:08):
Yeah, fair, yeah Fair.
Susie Carroll (44:15):
What are the top three things that have happened
so far today?
Um, I made a really goodbreakfast sandwich was
phenomenal.
Lisa Hopkins (44:27):
And then I went to work out with a good friend of
mine and we go to the same gym,so we worked out, had a great
time, and then this podcast.
Susie Carroll (44:31):
What's something you're looking forward to, both
today and then, you know, in thefuture say I am going to try a
new restaurant in brooklyntonight with a friend who is on
a show schedule, so we get tosee each other often on Monday
nights.
Going to try a new restaurantcalled Marga and then in the
future I am looking forward tosummer.
(44:55):
I love the summer it's myseason, um but uh, I teach a lot
in the summer, which I alwayslook forward to, and I get to
spend some good time with myfamily.
Lisa Hopkins (45:06):
Yeah, oh, that's nice.
Well, you get.
You'll get out of the city alittle bit, will you?
Susie Carroll (45:10):
Yeah, yeah.
Lisa Hopkins (45:12):
That's nice.
Yeah, that's nice.
I so appreciate you spendingthis time with me today.
Susie Carroll (45:17):
Really Likewise.
It's been such a pleasure yeah.
Lisa Hopkins (45:21):
I've been speaking today with Susie Carroll.
Stay safe and healthy, everyone, and remember to live in the
moment.
In music, stop time is thatbeautiful moment where the band
is suspended in rhythmic unison,supporting the soloist to
express their individuality Inthe moment.
I encourage you to take thattime and create your own rhythm.
(45:45):
Until next time, I'm LisaHopkins.
Thanks for listening.
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