October 2, 2024 • 39 mins
Broadway star Anastacia Mccleskey takes center stage on this episode of Tea with TJ, offering a captivating glimpse into her illustrious career that began at the American Musical and Dramatics Academy. From her debut in the national tour of "Hairspray" to shining performances in celebrated productions like "Tarzan," "Book of Mormon," and "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert," Stacey's journey is a testament to passion and perseverance. Discover her unique perspective on rebounding from the pandemic, her return to the stage in "Hercules" at the Paper Mill Playhouse, and her fascinating experiences on London's West End and in "Sex and the City 2."
Ever wondered how gratitude and abundance can manifest your dreams? Anastacia and I explore this transformative concept, sharing personal stories and practical advice on harnessing gratitude to live a fulfilling life. Listen as we discuss the art of writing down goals and then releasing them to the universe, revealing how this approach can reduce the pressure and fear surrounding auditions and life’s unpredictable events. You’ll learn the value of embracing the present and how seeing abundance in the small things can lead to a more meaningful existence.
Explore the intersection of creativity, spirituality, and self-awareness with Anastacia as she opens up about her journey of self-love and discovery. We touch on the importance of solitude, energy practices for artists, and Stacey's inspiration behind her TikTok series "Hello Beautiful Spirits." From sound baths to protective energy techniques, Anastacia shares insights into maintaining balance while navigating the pressures of performing. This episode is a heartfelt exploration of personal growth, offering listeners inspiration and practical tools to foster self-awareness and inner strength.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
TJ (00:15):
Hey friends, it's TJ, and you're listening to Tea with TJ,
where our love for tea,conversation and
self-improvement intersect.
So let's take a deeper diveinto my cup and let's have a
chat.
Hey friends, it's TJ.
Welcome back to another episodeof Tea with TJ, and today I
(00:39):
have a very special guest,broadway star Stacey.
So could you just tell me yourstory?
Anastacia (00:46):
Well, my story.
Well, you know, my governmentname is Anastasia McCluskey, but
I definitely go by StaceyS-T-A-C-Y, and I'm originally
from Nashville, tennessee, bornand raised.
I moved to New York when I was18 to go to AMDA, the American
Musical and Dramatics Academy,when it was a two-year program.
This was a minute ago.
(01:06):
I come from a family that hasbeen very supportive of my
career, thank God, a very, Iwould say, moderate kind of
conservative, kind of liberalChristian family in the South.
Father was an engineer and apreacher, mother was an educator
, and I have two older brotherswho are also actors and
(01:31):
activists in their own right andnow are both entrepreneurs.
And I moved here when I was 18,like I said, and right out of
AMDA I booked my first show,which was the first national
tour of Hairspray.
Out of AMDA I booked my firstshow, which was the first
national tour of Hairspray, andthat was exciting because I got
(01:51):
to learn from a lot of peoplethat were much older than me on
that tour about the business,about professionalism, about
work ethic, about just life ingeneral.
I made a lot of great friendson that tour that are still
friends today.
And then I made my Broadwaydebut when I was about 22 in
Tarzan, I was an ape.
TJ (02:11):
Oh, wow.
I love telling people that Ilove that.
I don't think I did that.
Anastacia (02:18):
And that was exciting because I got to work
with Phil Collins, bob Crawley,david Henry Wong and just learn.
It was a four-month rehearsalprocess out in Steiner Studios
in Brooklyn, learning how to ape, and our amazing flight captain
or choreographer Pichon, whoconceptualized Fuerza Bruta and
(02:42):
De La Guarda.
He did all our flightchoreography, so it was really
cool to work with him.
Forza Bruta and De La Guarda hedid all our flight choreography
, so it was really cool to workwith him.
Even though I ended up notflying in the show, I was more
so a singer that kind of diddance movement throughout that
piece.
From there, when I think aboutmy career, I'm like what was
next?
I can't remember.
(03:02):
I think I then did someregional work.
I think around that time I didthe Sex and the City 2 movie.
Yes, yes, you did, yes, you did.
I remember.
They had originally hired BetteMidler's harlots when she was
doing her Vegas show.
They couldn't make it, so theyhired me and two other girls to
(03:24):
do the opening wedding scene inSex and the City 2, which is
really exciting.
Then I went on as far asBroadway's concerned.
I did Book of Mormon.
I did Hair, which was alife-changing experience for me.
It just kind of opened me up tomy truest self.
(03:44):
Um, I did Priscilla, queen ofthe Desert.
I was one of the divas.
That was really exciting too.
Um.
Then I went on to do Waitress,um, well, Violet.
Then Waitress, um, and then, uh, carolina Change.
And the cool thing aboutCarolina Change was one I always
loved this score Janine Tesori,genius, um, but pre pandemic um
(04:15):
.
TJ (04:15):
I was the standby for Carol Dottie and the washing machine.
Anastacia (04:17):
Oh, wow, oh wow yeah, which you know was really
dope.
Um, and then the shutdownhappened and when the show came
back, I went back to Waitress,because Waitress came back to
Broadway, and so I didn't doCarolina Change but, as life
would have it, I ended up.
Well, I did Annie Live rightafter I left Waitress, but then,
as life would have it, I got togo back and do Carolina Change,
(04:40):
replacing the amazing TamikaLawrence as Dottie.
Replacing the amazing TamikaLawrence as Dottie, so then
playing opposite of Sharon Clarkand just being with that cast
that I love so much pre-pandemicI thought that was really a
nice bookend for that piece.
And then I left the city fortwo years.
Oh, wow, wow.
I left New York and I wanted totravel more.
(05:04):
You know, after the pandemic Ifelt like the city was still
trying to recover energetically,wise.
Um, the energy was still alittle sad and somber because
the pandemic did a number on allof us.
Um, it was life changing and soI was like I want to travel, I
can make art anywhere, I don'tneed to be in New York.
Got rid of my place.
I'll also say I did go toLondon.
(05:30):
I worked on the West End.
I did an amazing show calledClose to you, originally called
what's it All About?
It was all Burt Backrack musicreimagined.
Yes, I remember that A dearfriend of mine, kyle, wrote that
, put it together and that wasreally cool because we got to
work with Bert and meet him andhe has since transitioned.
But yeah, I left the city fortwo years.
I went to Seattle to work on anew show.
(05:52):
I did some work at BarringtonStage, traveled, ate good food,
rested, saw my family you knowwe sacrificed so much in this
career and saw friends andextended family members that I
hadn't seen in years and then Ifinally came back.
I was summoned back.
I always said I wouldn't comeback to New York until it called
(06:13):
me back.
So I was summoned back to doHercules at Paper Mill.
Yes, that was really exciting,um, to do that piece.
Um, because I got to work withpeople that have been my friends
since I moved to this city.
Um, I always said the, theother four muses, we are
(06:36):
divinely aligned because we'rein the same place, kind of in
life, in our careers.
We have a similar spiritualpractices, so it's nice to come
together with those ladies andwork on that piece.
Um, oh, I skipped a projectthat I really loved.
Um, I did secret life of beesat the atlantic theater.
Oh, yes, I forgot about that,where I got to play may, and I
(06:56):
really, really loved thatbecause I got to work with
lejean's, say, con, isa davisand so many other amazing
artists.
And another show I worked on,which I was the choreographer
for, was Mighty Real, aSylvester musical, yes, that
Anthony Wayne and Ken Drellcreated.
Um, that I got to working withthem and my best friend,
jacqueline Arnold, um, and weplayed Azora and Martha.
(07:18):
But, um, yeah, summon Back didHercules.
It was amazing.
And then I kind of was still inand out until I was fully
summoned back to work on Sufts,which I am now in currently, and
you know it was a.
It was one of those thingswhere I was like I don't know if
(07:39):
I want to come back and do this, I can do this I don't know if
this is the project that I comeback to New York on.
And I had a dream, and this iswhen I talk about like
understanding that all of ourpurposes will be fulfilled.
The purpose will be fulfilledright, because we're going to
flow.
Life's going to happen.
Everything is alreadypredestined, but it's about
hearing the calling andunderstanding that you have to
(08:03):
make certain decisions orcertain moves in life that you,
your conscious, your currentawareness might not want to, but
it's not about you.
TJ (08:11):
Exactly.
Anastacia (08:12):
And so I had a dream where I met Mary Church
Terrell, who I play in the piece, and she was like it's going to
be okay, but this is you know,the energy was saying this is
what you need to do.
So I said yes to the projectand came back.
We started rehearsals inFebruary, we previewed in March,
opened in April, and it hasbeen one of the most
(08:34):
life-changing experiences of mycareer.
Honestly, I've met some amazingpeople.
I get to work with a cast ofwomen and non-binary humans that
are just talented and divine intheir own right, and the
creative team all women, ourlead producers women, and so
that brings a different energyto the room, to the piece, how
(08:58):
we show up, no matter how we'refeeling, and so that's been a
true gift.
I'm very grateful.
TJ (09:04):
That's amazing, no matter how we're feeling, and so that's
been a true gift.
I'm very grateful.
That's amazing.
I've not had a chance to seeyou in stuff yet, but when you
were going through your veryillustrious career there's a lot
of stuff that I didn't knowthat you had been a part of.
I met you or saw you on stagerather for the first time in
(09:25):
Priscilla, queen of the Desert,which was mind blowing to me.
I think maybe the second yearof me being in New York City, ok
, and it was also the first jobI had here, ok, that company
that I worked for.
So just being able to see youup there and perform every night
, I was like, wow, this personis amazing.
See you up there and andperform every night.
(09:46):
I was like, wow, this person isamazing.
Um, and then I got a chance toactually meet you in person a
few years back, post pandemicand during the time of Broadway,
coming back, um, in an officesetting where I worked and you
were at that time I think wasthat pre waitress during
waitress or like yeah, it mightpre, maybe post, I don't know
what, but what is time I know um, but I remember us having a
(10:09):
conversation in that space in mebeing very enamored and being
like this human.
I feel like this, this humansees me and I feel like we are
in alignment.
And then, of course, theconnective tissue of also being
from down south yes, yes there'sjust something about
southerners that you immediatelyrecognize when you meet in New
York City.
Anastacia (10:29):
Yeah, and so.
TJ (10:29):
I remember, and I kind of kept it in the back of my mind I
was like I want to get to knowmore about this person, and so
that's led us here today.
Anastacia (10:37):
Yes.
TJ (10:38):
So when we were thinking of topics for the show, for your
episode, one of the topics onthe list was manifesting your
dreams and you kind of hinted atthat in your beautiful
introduction.
Uh, so I'm curious to know whatdoes that, what does that mean
to you to manifest your dreams,and how, um, how thick is that
(10:59):
like in your soul of like tryingto actually accomplish that on
a daily basis?
Anastacia (11:05):
Yeah, you know, we all have dreams and goals and I
do believe in planning andsetting those goals and then
making a plan to achieve thosegoals and make those dreams
happen.
I also believe in writing stuffdown and letting it go, because
(11:26):
when you, when you'reconstantly focusing on what you
want and don't have, you'remissing out on being able to sit
in the abundance that you dohave.
You know, I want to be a mother, right, but I have a dog.
I am a mother.
My mother reminds me of that allthe time.
She's like you are a parent andso I have a dog.
I am a mother.
My mother reminds me of thatall the time.
(11:46):
She's like you are a parent, andso I have to remind myself that
, like release, that If that ismeant to happen for me, then it
will.
If it is not, then it won't.
My life will still be full andabundant, but also practicing
gratitude, and gratitude for thesmall things.
This cup of water you know whatI'm saying this cup of tea
(12:08):
sitting here with you, breath oflife, being able to walk and
see and hear, um, being able touse the talents that come
through this vessel to to teachpeople, to heal people, to
commune with people, and so Ithink that's all a part of the
manifestation.
But when you truly sit inabundance and gratitude, all
your wants and desires will cometo you, you will attract them
(12:31):
to you, and it's 10 times out of10 not going to show up how you
think it's supposed to show up.
A lot of times it'll show up alot better.
And no matter what you believein or who you pray to or whatnot
, I always say say thank you tothat energy, because that energy
is facilitating this for you.
It is it.
(12:53):
Like I said, everything'spredestined, everything's laid
out.
I don't believe in coincidenceseither.
So everything's laid out, everypath you think that you're
going right.
You think that you're doingthat on your own, you're being
guided and led there.
So I think just sitting in thegratitude and abundance is the
biggest part of manifestationand releasing it.
TJ (13:17):
And saying, hmm, I'll be fine.
That's amazing.
I love that, where I havestarted to gain a better grasp
on what it means to manifest andwhat, um, what that practice
can look like for me.
Um, because you've mentionedsomething that I think I've
started doing now and it's.
It's funny how the universe willalign things and transmit
(13:41):
thoughts without even sayingwords, but I've gotten in the
habit of writing things downthat bother me and burning it or
letting it go or or likethrowing it in the trash.
Um in, I had a moment and Ithink I've mentioned this a few
times on the show before I hadan acting teacher who, when I
worked when I was at cat 21, itwas like a summer training
program and he mentioned.
(14:03):
He was like the acting umtechnique teacher and he was
like you know, the biggest thingthat actors have a problem with
when it comes to auditioning isletting go of what happens
after you leave the room.
And he was like figure out,whatever that thing is for you
to help, you kind of just leaveit in the room.
Yeah, and I remember coming outof that experience and the
(14:26):
first time I tried it I this isstill when we had paper sides,
because I've become a digitalperson now but we had paper
sides and I left an audition andI felt really good about it and
I was like you know what?
Mm-hmm.
I'm gonna throw this away.
I'm not gonna keep it in mybook, I'm gonna keep it in my
bag, cuz at that time I washolding on to all of this stuff
(14:48):
and I think that wholetransformative moment really
helped me to understand the ideaof actually letting things go,
because I think there is thissense of holding on to this idea
of hope or whatever it is, andfinally figuring out a way
through it and not, um, clingingto it.
(15:11):
Yeah, uh, cause I do believethat there's a way that you can
have hope and still move throughlife without actually, like you
know, obsessively clinging tothings.
Anastacia (15:22):
Yeah, you got to flow.
I flow I mean, I I think thatthat is so true when you hold
tight it also it causes tensionin your body and in your cells
and you're telling your bodythat like fear, there's fear
there.
You know you don't want that.
I would go a step further andsay letting go before you even
go into the room okay, lettinggo like and not.
(15:45):
I've booked a lot of my jobs byshuffling in and being like all
right, um, you know, and andpeople, because what I'm
learning in this industry isthat people want to see you.
Yeah yeah, they know what thetext is you can build a
character in the room, but theywant to see you, yeah, and so
(16:08):
when you just are like, let meshow up as myself and do this
also, those people behind thetable cannot do what you can do
come on now they, they justcan't.
They might be amazing writersand choreographers and directors
, but they can't sing, act,dance, convey a character like
you can.
That's why they sitting on thatside Exactly and not all, let
(16:29):
me be clear Like there's some onthat side that can, but still,
you know, yeah.
TJ (16:34):
That's a whole Jesus Like that is a.
That's a concept that Istruggled with even coming out
of the training program andstill trying to find my footing
amongst everyone.
And I had a conversation withWill, who has also been a guest
on this season, because he isperformed and, like he's a, he's
(16:56):
an all-around creative andbeautiful human.
But we were talking in ourepisode where you know, trying
to, trying to um prove yourselfin the room is also not
conducive to like just showingup.
Yeah right, because you can feelthe energy is very palpable you
can feel it when you walk intothe room.
(17:17):
You can feel the desperation,not to say that people are
desperate for a job.
We're all looking for a job,but you can feel that coming off
of someone and that's not goingto be conducive to the
character that you're trying tocreate.
Anastacia (17:28):
Exactly.
Also, what is for you willnever pass you by.
Yeah, yeah.
So breathe life into that andjust be easy.
TJ (17:38):
What would you say has been outside of on stage performing?
What do you think has been likethe most magnificent dream of
yours that has kind of likestarting, started to come to
life or is currently fullyfleshed out?
Anastacia (17:56):
Um, I don't think anything is ever fully fleshed
out Okay, that's fair.
Um, I don't think anything isever fully fleshed out okay,
that's right.
I feel like everything isalways in draft, um, but I'm a
writer and I had kind of allowedmy writing to take a back seat
to my own stage and televisionlife, and so I this year.
(18:17):
I've just met a lot of peoplethat have reaffirmed that I need
to pick back up where I leftoff, and so that is something
I'm very excited about, becauseI have so many stories within me
that need to be told that I'venever seen, and I think, because
my imagination runs wild, Ithink my stories could be very
(18:40):
healing to people.
I also just love that, likecoming into myself.
I always say I'm a late bloomer, I was a little emotionally
delayed.
I get that.
And so it's been nice todiscover things about myself
that I just am falling in lovewith, and I don't care what
(19:05):
other people think about thosethings, or myself.
Um and I think that comes withage Um, you just you start to
realize that one nobody's reallythinking about you, and and you
stop worrying what other peopleare thinking and you just kind
of live, enjoy that, and what Ifound is that by doing that, you
(19:27):
again attract those things thatyou want, need and desire,
because you're not worried abouteverybody, the external, you're
here and everything that youneed is right here.
So be here.
Yeah, so be here.
So that's been really yummy,and it's also offered me.
I love spending time by myself.
(19:48):
I love it Same, it's quiet.
TJ (19:52):
Yeah, it's very peaceful.
It is a lot of my more solitudemoments, I feel like, have
brought me more clarity and ithas allowed me to really kind of
figure out the things that Iwant in life, the direction I
want to go and what my positionis in this humongous world that
(20:15):
we live in humongous world thatwe live in?
Um because I do feel, like youknow, oftentimes we
unfortunately can sometimes notsee the bigger?
picture and ego can get in theway and we get stuck and hung up
and focused on well, well, thisperson's doing this and why
can't I?
You know why?
Anastacia (20:33):
is it?
TJ (20:33):
happening for me, or why is it not, you know, doing it for
me?
And I agree with you that I dobelieve that the things that you
want and desire and want out ofthe world will come to you once
you actually just release thosethings yeah, um so.
I think you know, as as aperformer, as a creative um,
(20:53):
I've also noticed that you havestarted uh posting on TikTok,
which I love, I absolutely love.
It is it is my like, like mymoments of inspiration,
especially in the middle of thenight when I'm scrolling and I
am feeling some kind of way, orI need to pick me up because I
often go to TikTok when I need agood laugh.
But I love what you've beendoing with beautiful souls,
(21:16):
beautiful spirits beautifulspirits, sorry um, it's, it's so
intimate and it's sointentional.
Where did that come from for you?
Anastacia (21:25):
Oh, during the pandemic, I was in such a rut
and I was just like I didn'twant to get out of bed and I
would go to my mirror and speakaffirmations or speak life over
myself, and I would always startby saying good morning,
beautiful spirit, or hello,beautiful spirit.
And then I just startedthinking and I was like I want
(21:47):
to share these thoughts withpeople and I was like we're all
beautiful spirits, we're allbeautiful lights, no matter what
anyone has told you or how youfeel.
And so you know simple things,simple things like you know we
are the creation and the creator.
What do you do with that?
You know?
And and even if it touched oneperson, because I was like I'm
(22:07):
not at the time, I wasn't tryingto build a brand, I wasn't
trying to like, and becausethat's just kind of not my vibe,
I'm like let's just flow andsee what happens.
And it's reached a lot of people.
People feel seen or they'relike oh, I needed this today and
I'm like great, that's the goal.
I also feel like informationshould be free.
(22:29):
So if I have a thought that hashelped me, that has healed me,
that has made me feel safe, I'mgoing to give it to the world.
They might have thought of it,but there are people out there
that are like oh my God, andthink about that.
Wow, thank you.
So that's where it came fromand it's just kind of doing its
own thing.
Right now We'll see what happensto build a program to go into
(22:57):
schools to help kids between theage of first grade and, like
eighth grade, understand, like Isaid, that everything that you
need is inside of you.
You know if you're being bulliedor if you are the person that
is bullying.
You know, don't let that go,look, look right here at
(23:17):
yourself, let that go, look,look right here at yourself.
Speaking affirmations over selfdoing, exercises where you look
at self and say what are thethings that I want and then
releasing that it's all thethings that we said.
But offering that to children,because I feel like within our
school system, especially publicschool system, you know these
curriculums are set that try tomake little workers worker beads
(23:42):
.
I mean, that's what the Boardof Education was created to do
is to make workers.
But when you are making workers, people aren't understanding
that they possess the secret ofjoy, they possess the divineness
within, and so offering that tochildren at a young age I think
will propel them into society,into high school and into
(24:04):
society with a differentperspective on life.
TJ (24:13):
And then they'll ricochet that out to everyone else.
I was a child, because I thinkso many of us, specifically
black and black and brown folks,I feel like we're we're already
underserved, as it is Right,and within our communities, in
especially in the school system,and I don't know, I'm not
speaking this over every schoolsystem, but where I grew up in
(24:34):
Memphis, tennessee.
You know we had some things andsome programs that existed, but
looking at the bigger picture ofthe world, there are so many
things that I was unprepared for.
You know that I was justwalking in blind and granted.
I think I was fortunate enoughto be in an arts program that
allowed me to kind of like viewthe world in a different way and
(24:57):
it helped me kind of shape thelife that I actually wanted as
an adult coming out of thoseexperiences and going into
college.
But so many people don't havethat.
Yeah.
And I feel like there were eventhere were people in my, like,
high school that didn't have,you know, any type of artistic
presence, and so that that ideaI think amazing and I and I hope
(25:21):
that it is, you know, on trackto to coming it's, it's doing
its thing, it's percolating outthere.
Anastacia (25:27):
But you know also like social media has done a
number on humans in general,yeah, on on the youths of the
world, it really does a number,because there are a lot of kids
that don't like themselves, theydon't love themselves, and then
some of them are in communitiesthat don't uplift and encourage
.
TJ (25:44):
So, yeah, you mentioned something about affirmations
which I don't think I've had aguest bring up yet, but I want
to touch on it while we're inthis moment and acknowledge it.
What if you could give anyadvice to someone who may be
listening or watching, um, thatis trying to pull themselves out
of a rut or potentially getinto a place where they can
(26:06):
start saying affirmations outloud for themselves?
What would you recommend?
Anastacia (26:10):
I am and and breathing into that.
I looking in the mirror andsaying I am, I think about the
chakras as you go up, I am is atthe root chakra and all the way
up to the crown chakra, whichis I know, or I understand, I am
(26:34):
divine.
I understand that I am divine.
I love that.
I am divine.
I speak that I am divine.
I love that I am divine, Ispeak that I am divine, I feel I
know I attract my divinity.
And going up those chakras fromthe root to the crown, speaking
(26:56):
things over your life, whetherit's I love myself, I love you,
saying I love you to yourself,it sends a different vibration
through your body.
Looking at yourself naked andsaying I love my body, hugging
yourself and it's going to bringtears.
But salt water waters the souland we need that.
(27:21):
Whether you're walking down thestreet or in the privacy of
your home, it waters the soul.
So I would start with I am, youknow, going through the, the
solar and and sacral, up to theheart, up to the throat, up to
the third eye, up to the crown,and getting to I know and
understand, and then ascendingyourself on.
TJ (27:41):
I love that.
That is beautiful, thank you.
It's funny because theconversation that I had with
Will on his episode as well, wementioned briefly chakras,
because I was talking to him,because he is also a healer and
I mentioned to him.
I was like I'm always trying tofigure out, like you can sense
(28:02):
and I feel like creatives have avery, um, sensitive soul and
you can tell when something'soff right you can tell when your
body's not right.
You can tell like I feel likesomething's coming.
I don't know what it is, but Ican, I can sense that it's there
.
Um, and I was speaking to himand and just mentioned I was
like I always feel like I haveproblems with my root chakra, I
feel like and.
I'm not, I'm not well versed,but I can sense where things are
(28:25):
, yeah, Um, and I told him I waslike, yeah, I always feel like
there's something just off, eventhough I consider myself to be
a very grounded person andpeople you know acknowledge that
about me but I can tell I'mlike, hmm, something I don't
feel right, Like it's not rightthere Like throat chakra.
I usually feel like that is inalignment.
My heart chakra I feel like ispretty good.
(28:46):
Third eye and crown can varyfor me sometimes, but usually
the root chakra is where I swaya little too much and I'm like I
got to figure out how to dothis.
So I mentioned to him, becausehe was talking about sound baths
and I was like I really want tofigure out a way to do this for
(29:07):
myself or go somewhere orexperience it so that I can try
to just do a cleanse.
I guess, have you had any ofthose experiences, or is that
something that you practiceyourself?
Anastacia (29:20):
I actually have never done a sound bath.
I have a lot of friends thathave actually been talking about
these a lot lately.
They've been going betweenshows or yeah, and I.
It is something that I'm veryinterested in.
I have, however, and I cannotremember the name of this place,
if I'm going to look it up andI'll let you know I used to go
(29:42):
to this place down in the 20s Ithink, like 23rd, between maybe
Broadway and Sixth Probablywrong, but I know it was in
Chelsea and it was a meditationspace and I actually went in
because they were selling thisbefore weed was legal, but they
(30:04):
were selling CBD products in thefront and then in the back they
had these rooms where you couldgo in, lay down, and they would
do like a guided meditation orbinaural tones, frequencies that
would just relax your body.
Um, so I have done that a lot.
(30:24):
Um, and I do a lot of breathwork too, which I think is
important.
Um, because we are sensitive asartists.
We're very sensitive to thetouch, to the spirit, to the
mental.
TJ (30:39):
We have to protect ourselves yeah, we were speaking in that
last episode and how we landedinto that conversation was that
I was telling him I've alwaysbeen, even as a child, very
sensitive to sound and I waslike I can't explain it.
I don't know why, but rainsounds do something for me.
The sound of thunder is verysoothing.
(31:00):
Certain types of music andtones are very calming for me.
The sound of thunder is verysoothing, um, like, certain
types of music and tones arevery like calming for me.
Um, and I've, just as I've been, you know, grown up and become
an adult.
I've noticed it more and moreand I'm like, when I'm feeling a
little off, or when I'm feelingsad, or when I'm feeling, you
know, whatever I will useusually, go to, you know, on
YouTube a rain sound playlist,or I will take a shower in the
(31:23):
dark and just listen to thewater and not like visualize
anything.
Anastacia (31:28):
Well, we are 70% water.
TJ (31:29):
So that makes sense, yeah that's true, that is true.
You know, I am curious to knowhave you had any experiences,
whether it be career-wise orjust in life, where you've
assisted with someone kind ofadjusting to their life to help
them manifest their dreams at?
Anastacia (31:51):
all yeah, no, um, nothing like specifically comes
to mind, but I think, you know,I think we all kind of do that
with each other.
Um, yeah, I mean spiritually Idefinitely think I have, I know
I have um, monetarily I know Ihave um, yeah, and physically as
(32:20):
well, um, and then also.
But in those moments I also amvery protective of my energy,
because I think, when you're, Isense that I'm taking on other
people's stuff a little more,because I know I I let me
preface this by saying as anonly child, as a Gemini, I know
(33:13):
how to detach.
TJ (33:14):
Sometimes it's not always the best method because people
can take offense to it, but Iknow how to detach.
Can you just share with ouraudience, um, what that looks
like for you when you have to togo to that place?
Anastacia (33:30):
Um, it's a lot of alone time.
Now.
If I'm with people, it can looklike me stepping away, going to
the bathroom, going outside tobreathe to do some breath work.
I can also still engage, butwhat I'm doing with my body is
(33:52):
I'm consciously pulling down ashade and what does that feel
like?
It feels like it feels goodactually.
And what does that feel like?
It feels like it feels goodactually because I always say
that I walk through lifewatching, feel like I'm watching
a movie, so I'm over here andeverything else is over there,
(34:25):
and it feels soothing because Iget to partake and and watch and
participate, but I also get tobe a spectator, and so it feels
and kind of looks like that okay.
TJ (34:32):
I love that.
I definitely have prior toliving here when, I used to play
trumpet when I was in highschool.
Um, there are a lot ofmusicians in my family and
singers and all that kind ofstuff, uh, but one of the things
that would help me in thosemoments that I, when I needed to
physically detach from otherpeople or just the world in
(34:55):
general, is, for some reason Ifelt the need to express the
energy through my fingers.
So whether it was playing on thepiano or like molding something
or like kind of I won't sayfidgeting with stuff, but
getting that energy out.
Now that looks like for me isgoing on a walk and like getting
(35:17):
movement through my body.
I'm still working towardsgetting back to a regular yoga
practice because I've alsonoticed that over the years that
has also been helpful.
Anastacia (35:27):
Yeah.
TJ (35:28):
And just being able to do some type of vinyasa flow yoga
to just move all of that out ofme.
Do you feel like you have otherpractices outside of detachment
to help with that, likemovement of energy with yourself
?
Yeah.
Anastacia (35:46):
Yoga is one of them .
Working out, I love to likesweat, I love to run cycle.
Prayer is one of them.
Writing, of course, and beingnear water, I'm a water sign.
(36:08):
With Pisces, I'm on the cusp ofPisces and Aries, so I like to
say I'm a Pyre's.
Okay, that fire and water, butdoing something exciting and
also going to the movies for me.
I love movies and TV andjumping into a storyline that
(36:28):
has nothing to do with me isvery soothing and allows me to
just.
I call them my programs.
I love it.
TJ (36:37):
I love it, it's program that's what my grandma would say
I'm watching my stories.
Yes, yeah, grams, I love it.
I love it, it's per gram.
Anastacia (36:41):
As my grandma would say, I'm watching my stories,
uh-huh.
Yes.
Yeah.
TJ (36:46):
Well, we have made it to our time, but before we go, thank
you so much for doing this.
Anastacia (36:54):
Of course, thank you for having me.
TJ (36:57):
This has been fun, and I'm speaking it into existence now
that this will not be your lasttime on the show.
But before we go, where can thefolks find you?
Anastacia (37:06):
you can find me on all social media platforms
Instagram, I think it'sAnastasia, that's
A-N-A-S-T-A-C-I-A M-C-C official.
You can find me on TikTok athello beautiful spirits, which
I'm going to change soon becauseI need to bring my dog back
more onto TikTok.
I feel like people love her alot more than me and I'm okay
with that because she's divine.
(37:27):
And you can find me on Facebooktoo, if people are still doing
that at Anastasia McCaskey.
Okay, good to know, yeah, andcome down to the music box and
see Sufts.
TJ (37:37):
Yes, yes, please support the Broadway theater.
So we do this thing at Team ofTJ, called the Last Three, just
to give our folks a little bitof knowledge.
You ready?
Anastacia (37:49):
Yeah.
TJ (37:50):
Where do you find the most peace?
Anastacia (37:57):
In nature, in like the woods.
TJ (38:00):
Same.
Where do you find magic in theworld?
Anastacia (38:06):
Oh within.
TJ (38:08):
Oh, okay, all right, all right.
And then final question how doyou practice gratitude?
Anastacia (38:20):
Breath.
TJ (38:21):
I love that yeah that's beautiful thank you.
Thank you for doing this.
This has been perfect and withthat, I will see you next week,
friends, and that's our show.
Friends, thanks for joining uson Tea with TJ.
(38:41):
Please rate, review andsubscribe, and you can find us
on Instagram at Tea with TJPodcast.
And, as always, stay kind, keepsipping and remember we're here
, so we might as well do it,thank you.
Hey friends, it's TJ, and you're listening to Tea with TJ,
where our love for tea,conversation and
self-improvement intersect.
So let's take a deeper diveinto my cup and let's have a
chat.
Hey friends, it's TJ.
Welcome back to another episodeof Tea with TJ, and today I
(00:39):
have a very special guest,broadway star Stacey.
So could you just tell me yourstory?
Anastacia (00:46):
Well, my story.
Well, you know, my governmentname is Anastasia McCluskey, but
I definitely go by StaceyS-T-A-C-Y, and I'm originally
from Nashville, tennessee, bornand raised.
I moved to New York when I was18 to go to AMDA, the American
Musical and Dramatics Academy,when it was a two-year program.
This was a minute ago.
(01:06):
I come from a family that hasbeen very supportive of my
career, thank God, a very, Iwould say, moderate kind of
conservative, kind of liberalChristian family in the South.
Father was an engineer and apreacher, mother was an educator
, and I have two older brotherswho are also actors and
(01:31):
activists in their own right andnow are both entrepreneurs.
And I moved here when I was 18,like I said, and right out of
AMDA I booked my first show,which was the first national
tour of Hairspray.
Out of AMDA I booked my firstshow, which was the first
national tour of Hairspray, andthat was exciting because I got
(01:51):
to learn from a lot of peoplethat were much older than me on
that tour about the business,about professionalism, about
work ethic, about just life ingeneral.
I made a lot of great friendson that tour that are still
friends today.
And then I made my Broadwaydebut when I was about 22 in
Tarzan, I was an ape.
TJ (02:11):
Oh, wow.
I love telling people that Ilove that.
I don't think I did that.
Anastacia (02:18):
And that was exciting because I got to work
with Phil Collins, bob Crawley,david Henry Wong and just learn.
It was a four-month rehearsalprocess out in Steiner Studios
in Brooklyn, learning how to ape, and our amazing flight captain
or choreographer Pichon, whoconceptualized Fuerza Bruta and
(02:42):
De La Guarda.
He did all our flightchoreography, so it was really
cool to work with him.
Forza Bruta and De La Guarda hedid all our flight choreography
, so it was really cool to workwith him.
Even though I ended up notflying in the show, I was more
so a singer that kind of diddance movement throughout that
piece.
From there, when I think aboutmy career, I'm like what was
next?
I can't remember.
(03:02):
I think I then did someregional work.
I think around that time I didthe Sex and the City 2 movie.
Yes, yes, you did, yes, you did.
I remember.
They had originally hired BetteMidler's harlots when she was
doing her Vegas show.
They couldn't make it, so theyhired me and two other girls to
(03:24):
do the opening wedding scene inSex and the City 2, which is
really exciting.
Then I went on as far asBroadway's concerned.
I did Book of Mormon.
I did Hair, which was alife-changing experience for me.
It just kind of opened me up tomy truest self.
(03:44):
Um, I did Priscilla, queen ofthe Desert.
I was one of the divas.
That was really exciting too.
Um.
Then I went on to do Waitress,um, well, Violet.
Then Waitress, um, and then, uh, carolina Change.
And the cool thing aboutCarolina Change was one I always
loved this score Janine Tesori,genius, um, but pre pandemic um
(04:15):
.
TJ (04:15):
I was the standby for Carol Dottie and the washing machine.
Anastacia (04:17):
Oh, wow, oh wow yeah, which you know was really
dope.
Um, and then the shutdownhappened and when the show came
back, I went back to Waitress,because Waitress came back to
Broadway, and so I didn't doCarolina Change but, as life
would have it, I ended up.
Well, I did Annie Live rightafter I left Waitress, but then,
as life would have it, I got togo back and do Carolina Change,
(04:40):
replacing the amazing TamikaLawrence as Dottie.
Replacing the amazing TamikaLawrence as Dottie, so then
playing opposite of Sharon Clarkand just being with that cast
that I love so much pre-pandemicI thought that was really a
nice bookend for that piece.
And then I left the city fortwo years.
Oh, wow, wow.
I left New York and I wanted totravel more.
(05:04):
You know, after the pandemic Ifelt like the city was still
trying to recover energetically,wise.
Um, the energy was still alittle sad and somber because
the pandemic did a number on allof us.
Um, it was life changing and soI was like I want to travel, I
can make art anywhere, I don'tneed to be in New York.
Got rid of my place.
I'll also say I did go toLondon.
(05:30):
I worked on the West End.
I did an amazing show calledClose to you, originally called
what's it All About?
It was all Burt Backrack musicreimagined.
Yes, I remember that A dearfriend of mine, kyle, wrote that
, put it together and that wasreally cool because we got to
work with Bert and meet him andhe has since transitioned.
But yeah, I left the city fortwo years.
I went to Seattle to work on anew show.
(05:52):
I did some work at BarringtonStage, traveled, ate good food,
rested, saw my family you knowwe sacrificed so much in this
career and saw friends andextended family members that I
hadn't seen in years and then Ifinally came back.
I was summoned back.
I always said I wouldn't comeback to New York until it called
(06:13):
me back.
So I was summoned back to doHercules at Paper Mill.
Yes, that was really exciting,um, to do that piece.
Um, because I got to work withpeople that have been my friends
since I moved to this city.
Um, I always said the, theother four muses, we are
(06:36):
divinely aligned because we'rein the same place, kind of in
life, in our careers.
We have a similar spiritualpractices, so it's nice to come
together with those ladies andwork on that piece.
Um, oh, I skipped a projectthat I really loved.
Um, I did secret life of beesat the atlantic theater.
Oh, yes, I forgot about that,where I got to play may, and I
(06:56):
really, really loved thatbecause I got to work with
lejean's, say, con, isa davisand so many other amazing
artists.
And another show I worked on,which I was the choreographer
for, was Mighty Real, aSylvester musical, yes, that
Anthony Wayne and Ken Drellcreated.
Um, that I got to working withthem and my best friend,
jacqueline Arnold, um, and weplayed Azora and Martha.
(07:18):
But, um, yeah, summon Back didHercules.
It was amazing.
And then I kind of was still inand out until I was fully
summoned back to work on Sufts,which I am now in currently, and
you know it was a.
It was one of those thingswhere I was like I don't know if
(07:39):
I want to come back and do this, I can do this I don't know if
this is the project that I comeback to New York on.
And I had a dream, and this iswhen I talk about like
understanding that all of ourpurposes will be fulfilled.
The purpose will be fulfilledright, because we're going to
flow.
Life's going to happen.
Everything is alreadypredestined, but it's about
hearing the calling andunderstanding that you have to
(08:03):
make certain decisions orcertain moves in life that you,
your conscious, your currentawareness might not want to, but
it's not about you.
TJ (08:11):
Exactly.
Anastacia (08:12):
And so I had a dream where I met Mary Church
Terrell, who I play in the piece, and she was like it's going to
be okay, but this is you know,the energy was saying this is
what you need to do.
So I said yes to the projectand came back.
We started rehearsals inFebruary, we previewed in March,
opened in April, and it hasbeen one of the most
(08:34):
life-changing experiences of mycareer.
Honestly, I've met some amazingpeople.
I get to work with a cast ofwomen and non-binary humans that
are just talented and divine intheir own right, and the
creative team all women, ourlead producers women, and so
that brings a different energyto the room, to the piece, how
(08:58):
we show up, no matter how we'refeeling, and so that's been a
true gift.
I'm very grateful.
TJ (09:04):
That's amazing, no matter how we're feeling, and so that's
been a true gift.
I'm very grateful.
That's amazing.
I've not had a chance to seeyou in stuff yet, but when you
were going through your veryillustrious career there's a lot
of stuff that I didn't knowthat you had been a part of.
I met you or saw you on stagerather for the first time in
(09:25):
Priscilla, queen of the Desert,which was mind blowing to me.
I think maybe the second yearof me being in New York City, ok
, and it was also the first jobI had here, ok, that company
that I worked for.
So just being able to see youup there and perform every night
, I was like, wow, this personis amazing.
See you up there and andperform every night.
(09:46):
I was like, wow, this person isamazing.
Um, and then I got a chance toactually meet you in person a
few years back, post pandemicand during the time of Broadway,
coming back, um, in an officesetting where I worked and you
were at that time I think wasthat pre waitress during
waitress or like yeah, it mightpre, maybe post, I don't know
what, but what is time I know um, but I remember us having a
(10:09):
conversation in that space in mebeing very enamored and being
like this human.
I feel like this, this humansees me and I feel like we are
in alignment.
And then, of course, theconnective tissue of also being
from down south yes, yes there'sjust something about
southerners that you immediatelyrecognize when you meet in New
York City.
Anastacia (10:29):
Yeah, and so.
TJ (10:29):
I remember, and I kind of kept it in the back of my mind I
was like I want to get to knowmore about this person, and so
that's led us here today.
Anastacia (10:37):
Yes.
TJ (10:38):
So when we were thinking of topics for the show, for your
episode, one of the topics onthe list was manifesting your
dreams and you kind of hinted atthat in your beautiful
introduction.
Uh, so I'm curious to know whatdoes that, what does that mean
to you to manifest your dreams,and how, um, how thick is that
(10:59):
like in your soul of like tryingto actually accomplish that on
a daily basis?
Anastacia (11:05):
Yeah, you know, we all have dreams and goals and I
do believe in planning andsetting those goals and then
making a plan to achieve thosegoals and make those dreams
happen.
I also believe in writing stuffdown and letting it go, because
(11:26):
when you, when you'reconstantly focusing on what you
want and don't have, you'remissing out on being able to sit
in the abundance that you dohave.
You know, I want to be a mother, right, but I have a dog.
I am a mother.
My mother reminds me of that allthe time.
She's like you are a parent andso I have a dog.
I am a mother.
My mother reminds me of thatall the time.
(11:46):
She's like you are a parent, andso I have to remind myself that
, like release, that If that ismeant to happen for me, then it
will.
If it is not, then it won't.
My life will still be full andabundant, but also practicing
gratitude, and gratitude for thesmall things.
This cup of water you know whatI'm saying this cup of tea
(12:08):
sitting here with you, breath oflife, being able to walk and
see and hear, um, being able touse the talents that come
through this vessel to to teachpeople, to heal people, to
commune with people, and so Ithink that's all a part of the
manifestation.
But when you truly sit inabundance and gratitude, all
your wants and desires will cometo you, you will attract them
(12:31):
to you, and it's 10 times out of10 not going to show up how you
think it's supposed to show up.
A lot of times it'll show up alot better.
And no matter what you believein or who you pray to or whatnot
, I always say say thank you tothat energy, because that energy
is facilitating this for you.
It is it.
(12:53):
Like I said, everything'spredestined, everything's laid
out.
I don't believe in coincidenceseither.
So everything's laid out, everypath you think that you're
going right.
You think that you're doingthat on your own, you're being
guided and led there.
So I think just sitting in thegratitude and abundance is the
biggest part of manifestationand releasing it.
TJ (13:17):
And saying, hmm, I'll be fine.
That's amazing.
I love that, where I havestarted to gain a better grasp
on what it means to manifest andwhat, um, what that practice
can look like for me.
Um, because you've mentionedsomething that I think I've
started doing now and it's.
It's funny how the universe willalign things and transmit
(13:41):
thoughts without even sayingwords, but I've gotten in the
habit of writing things downthat bother me and burning it or
letting it go or or likethrowing it in the trash.
Um in, I had a moment and Ithink I've mentioned this a few
times on the show before I hadan acting teacher who, when I
worked when I was at cat 21, itwas like a summer training
program and he mentioned.
(14:03):
He was like the acting umtechnique teacher and he was
like you know, the biggest thingthat actors have a problem with
when it comes to auditioning isletting go of what happens
after you leave the room.
And he was like figure out,whatever that thing is for you
to help, you kind of just leaveit in the room.
Yeah, and I remember coming outof that experience and the
(14:26):
first time I tried it I this isstill when we had paper sides,
because I've become a digitalperson now but we had paper
sides and I left an audition andI felt really good about it and
I was like you know what?
Mm-hmm.
I'm gonna throw this away.
I'm not gonna keep it in mybook, I'm gonna keep it in my
bag, cuz at that time I washolding on to all of this stuff
(14:48):
and I think that wholetransformative moment really
helped me to understand the ideaof actually letting things go,
because I think there is thissense of holding on to this idea
of hope or whatever it is, andfinally figuring out a way
through it and not, um, clingingto it.
(15:11):
Yeah, uh, cause I do believethat there's a way that you can
have hope and still move throughlife without actually, like you
know, obsessively clinging tothings.
Anastacia (15:22):
Yeah, you got to flow.
I flow I mean, I I think thatthat is so true when you hold
tight it also it causes tensionin your body and in your cells
and you're telling your bodythat like fear, there's fear
there.
You know you don't want that.
I would go a step further andsay letting go before you even
go into the room okay, lettinggo like and not.
(15:45):
I've booked a lot of my jobs byshuffling in and being like all
right, um, you know, and andpeople, because what I'm
learning in this industry isthat people want to see you.
Yeah yeah, they know what thetext is you can build a
character in the room, but theywant to see you, yeah, and so
(16:08):
when you just are like, let meshow up as myself and do this
also, those people behind thetable cannot do what you can do
come on now they, they justcan't.
They might be amazing writersand choreographers and directors
, but they can't sing, act,dance, convey a character like
you can.
That's why they sitting on thatside Exactly and not all, let
(16:29):
me be clear Like there's some onthat side that can, but still,
you know, yeah.
TJ (16:34):
That's a whole Jesus Like that is a.
That's a concept that Istruggled with even coming out
of the training program andstill trying to find my footing
amongst everyone.
And I had a conversation withWill, who has also been a guest
on this season, because he isperformed and, like he's a, he's
(16:56):
an all-around creative andbeautiful human.
But we were talking in ourepisode where you know, trying
to, trying to um prove yourselfin the room is also not
conducive to like just showingup.
Yeah right, because you can feelthe energy is very palpable you
can feel it when you walk intothe room.
(17:17):
You can feel the desperation,not to say that people are
desperate for a job.
We're all looking for a job,but you can feel that coming off
of someone and that's not goingto be conducive to the
character that you're trying tocreate.
Anastacia (17:28):
Exactly.
Also, what is for you willnever pass you by.
Yeah, yeah.
So breathe life into that andjust be easy.
TJ (17:38):
What would you say has been outside of on stage performing?
What do you think has been likethe most magnificent dream of
yours that has kind of likestarting, started to come to
life or is currently fullyfleshed out?
Anastacia (17:56):
Um, I don't think anything is ever fully fleshed
out Okay, that's fair.
Um, I don't think anything isever fully fleshed out okay,
that's right.
I feel like everything isalways in draft, um, but I'm a
writer and I had kind of allowedmy writing to take a back seat
to my own stage and televisionlife, and so I this year.
(18:17):
I've just met a lot of peoplethat have reaffirmed that I need
to pick back up where I leftoff, and so that is something
I'm very excited about, becauseI have so many stories within me
that need to be told that I'venever seen, and I think, because
my imagination runs wild, Ithink my stories could be very
(18:40):
healing to people.
I also just love that, likecoming into myself.
I always say I'm a late bloomer, I was a little emotionally
delayed.
I get that.
And so it's been nice todiscover things about myself
that I just am falling in lovewith, and I don't care what
(19:05):
other people think about thosethings, or myself.
Um and I think that comes withage Um, you just you start to
realize that one nobody's reallythinking about you, and and you
stop worrying what other peopleare thinking and you just kind
of live, enjoy that, and what Ifound is that by doing that, you
(19:27):
again attract those things thatyou want, need and desire,
because you're not worried abouteverybody, the external, you're
here and everything that youneed is right here.
So be here.
Yeah, so be here.
So that's been really yummy,and it's also offered me.
I love spending time by myself.
(19:48):
I love it Same, it's quiet.
TJ (19:52):
Yeah, it's very peaceful.
It is a lot of my more solitudemoments, I feel like, have
brought me more clarity and ithas allowed me to really kind of
figure out the things that Iwant in life, the direction I
want to go and what my positionis in this humongous world that
(20:15):
we live in humongous world thatwe live in?
Um because I do feel, like youknow, oftentimes we
unfortunately can sometimes notsee the bigger?
picture and ego can get in theway and we get stuck and hung up
and focused on well, well, thisperson's doing this and why
can't I?
You know why?
Anastacia (20:33):
is it?
TJ (20:33):
happening for me, or why is it not, you know, doing it for
me?
And I agree with you that I dobelieve that the things that you
want and desire and want out ofthe world will come to you once
you actually just release thosethings yeah, um so.
I think you know, as as aperformer, as a creative um,
(20:53):
I've also noticed that you havestarted uh posting on TikTok,
which I love, I absolutely love.
It is it is my like, like mymoments of inspiration,
especially in the middle of thenight when I'm scrolling and I
am feeling some kind of way, orI need to pick me up because I
often go to TikTok when I need agood laugh.
But I love what you've beendoing with beautiful souls,
(21:16):
beautiful spirits beautifulspirits, sorry um, it's, it's so
intimate and it's sointentional.
Where did that come from for you?
Anastacia (21:25):
Oh, during the pandemic, I was in such a rut
and I was just like I didn'twant to get out of bed and I
would go to my mirror and speakaffirmations or speak life over
myself, and I would always startby saying good morning,
beautiful spirit, or hello,beautiful spirit.
And then I just startedthinking and I was like I want
(21:47):
to share these thoughts withpeople and I was like we're all
beautiful spirits, we're allbeautiful lights, no matter what
anyone has told you or how youfeel.
And so you know simple things,simple things like you know we
are the creation and the creator.
What do you do with that?
You know?
And and even if it touched oneperson, because I was like I'm
(22:07):
not at the time, I wasn't tryingto build a brand, I wasn't
trying to like, and becausethat's just kind of not my vibe,
I'm like let's just flow andsee what happens.
And it's reached a lot of people.
People feel seen or they'relike oh, I needed this today and
I'm like great, that's the goal.
I also feel like informationshould be free.
(22:29):
So if I have a thought that hashelped me, that has healed me,
that has made me feel safe, I'mgoing to give it to the world.
They might have thought of it,but there are people out there
that are like oh my God, andthink about that.
Wow, thank you.
So that's where it came fromand it's just kind of doing its
own thing.
Right now We'll see what happensto build a program to go into
(22:57):
schools to help kids between theage of first grade and, like
eighth grade, understand, like Isaid, that everything that you
need is inside of you.
You know if you're being bulliedor if you are the person that
is bullying.
You know, don't let that go,look, look right here at
(23:17):
yourself, let that go, look,look right here at yourself.
Speaking affirmations over selfdoing, exercises where you look
at self and say what are thethings that I want and then
releasing that it's all thethings that we said.
But offering that to children,because I feel like within our
school system, especially publicschool system, you know these
curriculums are set that try tomake little workers worker beads
(23:42):
.
I mean, that's what the Boardof Education was created to do
is to make workers.
But when you are making workers, people aren't understanding
that they possess the secret ofjoy, they possess the divineness
within, and so offering that tochildren at a young age I think
will propel them into society,into high school and into
(24:04):
society with a differentperspective on life.
TJ (24:13):
And then they'll ricochet that out to everyone else.
I was a child, because I thinkso many of us, specifically
black and black and brown folks,I feel like we're we're already
underserved, as it is Right,and within our communities, in
especially in the school system,and I don't know, I'm not
speaking this over every schoolsystem, but where I grew up in
(24:34):
Memphis, tennessee.
You know we had some things andsome programs that existed, but
looking at the bigger picture ofthe world, there are so many
things that I was unprepared for.
You know that I was justwalking in blind and granted.
I think I was fortunate enoughto be in an arts program that
allowed me to kind of like viewthe world in a different way and
(24:57):
it helped me kind of shape thelife that I actually wanted as
an adult coming out of thoseexperiences and going into
college.
But so many people don't havethat.
Yeah.
And I feel like there were eventhere were people in my, like,
high school that didn't have,you know, any type of artistic
presence, and so that that ideaI think amazing and I and I hope
(25:21):
that it is, you know, on trackto to coming it's, it's doing
its thing, it's percolating outthere.
Anastacia (25:27):
But you know also like social media has done a
number on humans in general,yeah, on on the youths of the
world, it really does a number,because there are a lot of kids
that don't like themselves, theydon't love themselves, and then
some of them are in communitiesthat don't uplift and encourage
.
TJ (25:44):
So, yeah, you mentioned something about affirmations
which I don't think I've had aguest bring up yet, but I want
to touch on it while we're inthis moment and acknowledge it.
What if you could give anyadvice to someone who may be
listening or watching, um, thatis trying to pull themselves out
of a rut or potentially getinto a place where they can
(26:06):
start saying affirmations outloud for themselves?
What would you recommend?
Anastacia (26:10):
I am and and breathing into that.
I looking in the mirror andsaying I am, I think about the
chakras as you go up, I am is atthe root chakra and all the way
up to the crown chakra, whichis I know, or I understand, I am
(26:34):
divine.
I understand that I am divine.
I love that.
I am divine.
I speak that I am divine.
I love that I am divine, Ispeak that I am divine, I feel I
know I attract my divinity.
And going up those chakras fromthe root to the crown, speaking
(26:56):
things over your life, whetherit's I love myself, I love you,
saying I love you to yourself,it sends a different vibration
through your body.
Looking at yourself naked andsaying I love my body, hugging
yourself and it's going to bringtears.
But salt water waters the souland we need that.
(27:21):
Whether you're walking down thestreet or in the privacy of
your home, it waters the soul.
So I would start with I am, youknow, going through the, the
solar and and sacral, up to theheart, up to the throat, up to
the third eye, up to the crown,and getting to I know and
understand, and then ascendingyourself on.
TJ (27:41):
I love that.
That is beautiful, thank you.
It's funny because theconversation that I had with
Will on his episode as well, wementioned briefly chakras,
because I was talking to him,because he is also a healer and
I mentioned to him.
I was like I'm always trying tofigure out, like you can sense
(28:02):
and I feel like creatives have avery, um, sensitive soul and
you can tell when something'soff right you can tell when your
body's not right.
You can tell like I feel likesomething's coming.
I don't know what it is, but Ican, I can sense that it's there
.
Um, and I was speaking to himand and just mentioned I was
like I always feel like I haveproblems with my root chakra, I
feel like and.
I'm not, I'm not well versed,but I can sense where things are
(28:25):
, yeah, Um, and I told him I waslike, yeah, I always feel like
there's something just off, eventhough I consider myself to be
a very grounded person andpeople you know acknowledge that
about me but I can tell I'mlike, hmm, something I don't
feel right, Like it's not rightthere Like throat chakra.
I usually feel like that is inalignment.
My heart chakra I feel like ispretty good.
(28:46):
Third eye and crown can varyfor me sometimes, but usually
the root chakra is where I swaya little too much and I'm like I
got to figure out how to dothis.
So I mentioned to him, becausehe was talking about sound baths
and I was like I really want tofigure out a way to do this for
(29:07):
myself or go somewhere orexperience it so that I can try
to just do a cleanse.
I guess, have you had any ofthose experiences, or is that
something that you practiceyourself?
Anastacia (29:20):
I actually have never done a sound bath.
I have a lot of friends thathave actually been talking about
these a lot lately.
They've been going betweenshows or yeah, and I.
It is something that I'm veryinterested in.
I have, however, and I cannotremember the name of this place,
if I'm going to look it up andI'll let you know I used to go
(29:42):
to this place down in the 20s Ithink, like 23rd, between maybe
Broadway and Sixth Probablywrong, but I know it was in
Chelsea and it was a meditationspace and I actually went in
because they were selling thisbefore weed was legal, but they
(30:04):
were selling CBD products in thefront and then in the back they
had these rooms where you couldgo in, lay down, and they would
do like a guided meditation orbinaural tones, frequencies that
would just relax your body.
Um, so I have done that a lot.
(30:24):
Um, and I do a lot of breathwork too, which I think is
important.
Um, because we are sensitive asartists.
We're very sensitive to thetouch, to the spirit, to the
mental.
TJ (30:39):
We have to protect ourselves yeah, we were speaking in that
last episode and how we landedinto that conversation was that
I was telling him I've alwaysbeen, even as a child, very
sensitive to sound and I waslike I can't explain it.
I don't know why, but rainsounds do something for me.
The sound of thunder is verysoothing.
(31:00):
Certain types of music andtones are very calming for me.
The sound of thunder is verysoothing, um, like, certain
types of music and tones arevery like calming for me.
Um, and I've, just as I've been, you know, grown up and become
an adult.
I've noticed it more and moreand I'm like, when I'm feeling a
little off, or when I'm feelingsad, or when I'm feeling, you
know, whatever I will useusually, go to, you know, on
YouTube a rain sound playlist,or I will take a shower in the
(31:23):
dark and just listen to thewater and not like visualize
anything.
Anastacia (31:28):
Well, we are 70% water.
TJ (31:29):
So that makes sense, yeah that's true, that is true.
You know, I am curious to knowhave you had any experiences,
whether it be career-wise orjust in life, where you've
assisted with someone kind ofadjusting to their life to help
them manifest their dreams at?
Anastacia (31:51):
all yeah, no, um, nothing like specifically comes
to mind, but I think, you know,I think we all kind of do that
with each other.
Um, yeah, I mean spiritually Idefinitely think I have, I know
I have um, monetarily I know Ihave um, yeah, and physically as
(32:20):
well, um, and then also.
But in those moments I also amvery protective of my energy,
because I think, when you're, Isense that I'm taking on other
people's stuff a little more,because I know I I let me
preface this by saying as anonly child, as a Gemini, I know
(33:13):
how to detach.
TJ (33:14):
Sometimes it's not always the best method because people
can take offense to it, but Iknow how to detach.
Can you just share with ouraudience, um, what that looks
like for you when you have to togo to that place?
Anastacia (33:30):
Um, it's a lot of alone time.
Now.
If I'm with people, it can looklike me stepping away, going to
the bathroom, going outside tobreathe to do some breath work.
I can also still engage, butwhat I'm doing with my body is
(33:52):
I'm consciously pulling down ashade and what does that feel
like?
It feels like it feels goodactually.
And what does that feel like?
It feels like it feels goodactually because I always say
that I walk through lifewatching, feel like I'm watching
a movie, so I'm over here andeverything else is over there,
(34:25):
and it feels soothing because Iget to partake and and watch and
participate, but I also get tobe a spectator, and so it feels
and kind of looks like that okay.
TJ (34:32):
I love that.
I definitely have prior toliving here when, I used to play
trumpet when I was in highschool.
Um, there are a lot ofmusicians in my family and
singers and all that kind ofstuff, uh, but one of the things
that would help me in thosemoments that I, when I needed to
physically detach from otherpeople or just the world in
(34:55):
general, is, for some reason Ifelt the need to express the
energy through my fingers.
So whether it was playing on thepiano or like molding something
or like kind of I won't sayfidgeting with stuff, but
getting that energy out.
Now that looks like for me isgoing on a walk and like getting
(35:17):
movement through my body.
I'm still working towardsgetting back to a regular yoga
practice because I've alsonoticed that over the years that
has also been helpful.
Anastacia (35:27):
Yeah.
TJ (35:28):
And just being able to do some type of vinyasa flow yoga
to just move all of that out ofme.
Do you feel like you have otherpractices outside of detachment
to help with that, likemovement of energy with yourself
?
Yeah.
Anastacia (35:46):
Yoga is one of them .
Working out, I love to likesweat, I love to run cycle.
Prayer is one of them.
Writing, of course, and beingnear water, I'm a water sign.
(36:08):
With Pisces, I'm on the cusp ofPisces and Aries, so I like to
say I'm a Pyre's.
Okay, that fire and water, butdoing something exciting and
also going to the movies for me.
I love movies and TV andjumping into a storyline that
(36:28):
has nothing to do with me isvery soothing and allows me to
just.
I call them my programs.
I love it.
TJ (36:37):
I love it, it's program that's what my grandma would say
I'm watching my stories.
Yes, yeah, grams, I love it.
I love it, it's per gram.
Anastacia (36:41):
As my grandma would say, I'm watching my stories,
uh-huh.
Yes.
Yeah.
TJ (36:46):
Well, we have made it to our time, but before we go, thank
you so much for doing this.
Anastacia (36:54):
Of course, thank you for having me.
TJ (36:57):
This has been fun, and I'm speaking it into existence now
that this will not be your lasttime on the show.
But before we go, where can thefolks find you?
Anastacia (37:06):
you can find me on all social media platforms
Instagram, I think it'sAnastasia, that's
A-N-A-S-T-A-C-I-A M-C-C official.
You can find me on TikTok athello beautiful spirits, which
I'm going to change soon becauseI need to bring my dog back
more onto TikTok.
I feel like people love her alot more than me and I'm okay
with that because she's divine.
(37:27):
And you can find me on Facebooktoo, if people are still doing
that at Anastasia McCaskey.
Okay, good to know, yeah, andcome down to the music box and
see Sufts.
TJ (37:37):
Yes, yes, please support the Broadway theater.
So we do this thing at Team ofTJ, called the Last Three, just
to give our folks a little bitof knowledge.
You ready?
Anastacia (37:49):
Yeah.
TJ (37:50):
Where do you find the most peace?
Anastacia (37:57):
In nature, in like the woods.
TJ (38:00):
Same.
Where do you find magic in theworld?
Anastacia (38:06):
Oh within.
TJ (38:08):
Oh, okay, all right, all right.
And then final question how doyou practice gratitude?
Anastacia (38:20):
Breath.
TJ (38:21):
I love that yeah that's beautiful thank you.
Thank you for doing this.
This has been perfect and withthat, I will see you next week,
friends, and that's our show.
Friends, thanks for joining uson Tea with TJ.
(38:41):
Please rate, review andsubscribe, and you can find us
on Instagram at Tea with TJPodcast.
And, as always, stay kind, keepsipping and remember we're here
, so we might as well do it,thank you.
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