Heading home for the holidays as an actor can feel… a little loaded.
If you’ve ever braced yourself for the “So, how’s acting going?” question, this episode is for you.
You’ll learn how to protect your peace, stay grounded in your career, and respond with confidence—without overexplaining or spiraling. Walk into your next family gathering feeling regulated, self-assured, and fully in your power.
2025 could be the year everything shifts for you—and I want to be right there with you on the journey.
Follow along for the real behind-the-scenes of acting, modeling, and mindset growth—you’ll see the wins, the lessons, and what it really takes to build a creative career.
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Episode Transcript
Girl, navigating the holidays is a skill set, a whole
skill set of its own.
SPEAKER_01 (00:05):
Going home when you have an acting career or
creative career is probablygonna be hard.
And not because you don't loveyour family, but because this
industry is really difficult toexplain to people who aren't in
it.
The conversation gets too deepand it gets too focused on you,
and you're starting to feel alittle bit of that feeling in
your stomach.
Here's how to protect your peacethis holiday season.
(00:42):
Welcome back to I'm gonna go.
I'm Matt, actress, model, andmindset coach for actors.
Think of me as yourbehind-the-scenes bestie for
chasing dreams, surviving plottwists, and building something
big.
Here we talk about it all.
(01:02):
Audition, photo shoots, mindsetchips, script, prep, and the
career curveballs that nobodyprepares you for.
I'll share the highs and thehard lessons in real time
because growing in this industryisn't always pretty, but it's
always worth it.
If you're ready to ditchself-sabotage, step into your
confidence and build the careerand mindset you've been dreaming
(01:25):
of.
Grab your favorite drink, getcozy, and let's dive in.
Welcome back, friend! Todaywe've got some great holiday
tips for you.
But before we get into the goodstuff, quick check-in.
I need your help.
I really need your help.
Please, please, please, please,please, please, please help me.
So I have been thinking aboutwhat I should get my agent for
(01:50):
Christmas.
What should I get my agent forChristmas?
Should I get like a food basketor should I make something and
send it?
Or should I write them cards,like personalized cards?
What what do you guys think?
What do you guys think?
Because I don't know what to doand it's getting close.
(02:13):
So if you have any thoughts, putthem in the comments of the
podcast episode or send themover to me on social media.
I'm really interested and I'mnot really sure what I should
do.
I'm a little lost.
So if you got thoughts, muchappreciated.
Today we're talking about thedreaded holiday get-together
(02:33):
question.
How's your acting career going?
You're right, my friends.
We are talking about how tosurvive those family questions
at Christmas time or at yourholiday get-together.
So I've really thought about it,guys, and I've come up with a
good solid list.
So today I'm giving you my besttips and the gift of time for
you to plan ahead for yourfamily get together this holiday
(02:57):
season.
As you know, going home when youhave an acting career or
creative career is typically ahard experience.
And if not, then you go, boo.
You found your tribe, you foundyour crew, and that's something
to celebrate.
I'm proud of you.
Also, if that's you, you canprobably skip this episode
because this content is probablynot for you.
(03:19):
And I mean that in the mostloving and kind way.
I'm proud of you.
You go, girl.
But for the rest of us who arestill collecting the best of the
best relationships, going homeis probably gonna be hard.
And not because you don't loveyour family, but because this
industry is really difficult toexplain to people who aren't in
(03:41):
it.
So here's how to protect yourpeace this holiday season.
So tip number one, and this iskind of like prep, is to ground
yourself first.
Get that nervous systemregulated before you even step
into the holiday chaos.
You could do this in your car,you could do this before you
leave on your drive over.
But breathe, remind yourselfwhere you are, remind yourself
(04:03):
you're safe, and that you'reexactly where you're supposed to
be now.
You're on your own timeline.
And then once you've prepped,you've got your nervous system
regulated.
Here's your second tip for prep: is have a go-to line. (04:12):
undefined
Prep just one simple line soyou're not caught off guard when
you get the how's your actingcareer going question.
You could say something like,still chasing the dream, things
are going well.
I want you to think short,confident, which leads us to tip
(04:32):
number three.
Maybe they're just curious andthey're not critical.
I think a lot of the time wetake conversations like these as
like critical interactionsbecause we face so much
rejection in this lifestyle andcareer.
And realistically, most people,like your family members, don't
(04:53):
get or understand our industry.
So maybe the mindset reframe isthat their question is coming
from curiosity and love and justconfusion, not judgment.
Which leads us to tip four.
You don't owe anyone a fullbreakdown of your career.
You don't have to explain repsor auditions or bookings,
(05:16):
self-tapes, or even slowseasons.
Your career is not this biggroup project.
Which ironically leads me to tipnumber five.
You can always redirect withease.
You know those people who arenot naturally curious and are
pretty critical.
Everybody has this type ofperson in their life somewhere
(05:36):
in some capacity.
And what do people who areoverly critical like to do the
most?
Talk about themselves.
So if the conversation gets toodeep and it gets too focused on
you and you're starting to feela little bit of that feeling in
your stomach, redirect theconversation.
Change the subject just byasking them a question about
(05:56):
themselves.
And I'll give you an examplehere.
This could look like I'm superhappy with how things have been
unfolding in my acting careerthis year.
How have you been?
Tell me about what's happeningfor you.
Girl, that's a boundary wrappedin kindness.
And if you need to take it evena step further than that, you
can always excuse yourself whenyou need to.
(06:18):
Maybe you gotta go to thebathroom.
Maybe you need a drink refill.
Maybe you need a snack.
You're not being rude, you'rejust protecting your regulation.
And pro tip (06:27):
excusing yourself to the bathroom is a great place
to take some deep breaths andget centered again.
Now say you're in a conversationwith someone who feels genuinely
curious, or someone who reallycares about your life and your
career in general.
Tip number five is to celebrateyour non-booking wins.
This year you grew in a ton ofways that you might not see.
(06:48):
Uh, training, confidence,clarity, maybe you got
representation, mindset,auditions, healing.
All of those wins, they count.
And my last tip for you today,and this one requires a little
bit of prep too, potentially, isto find a safe person.
This can actually be really fun.
(07:09):
Pick one person, plan a secretsignal to rescue you when you're
stuck in those longconversations you want to get
out of.
A really simple save me glancecan really work wonders in
getting you out of a stickysituation.
SPEAKER_00 (07:27):
Girl, navigating the holidays is a skill set, a whole
skill set of its own.
And you're doing amazing.
SPEAKER_01 (07:34):
And you may be wondering, what's your
actionable step this week?
Try one of these survival tipsfor that dreaded holiday get
together question.
How's your acting career going?
And let me know how it works foryou.
What can I say?
I love to hear about yourjourney.
And seriously, if you wantdeeper support with confidence
(07:55):
or mindset or momentum, DM meand I'll send you all the info
about private coaching and allthe programs and offerings I
have.
And guys, right now too, I'mreally stoked because I'm
revamping this course and partof my coaching program for you
so that they can just get betterand better and better and more
and more helpful.
And I can't wait to share theseofferings with you.
(08:16):
I'm super excited.
I hope these tips help yousurvive your next holiday get
together because whoo girl, itcan be hard.
Alright, cutie queens.
Shorter episode today, I guess.
I don't know.
Bye! That's a wrap on today'sepisode of the glow up year.
(08:39):
Thanks for hanging out with me.
I love having you along for theride.
We're just getting started, andyour glow-up is only getting
brighter.
If you felt inspired today, hitsubscribe or leave a quick
review or share this episodewith another fellow dreamer in
your circle.
If you want more support, youcan work with me one-on-one as
(09:00):
your career mindset coach.
I'll help you clear out thosemental blocks, find balance, and
take some bold steps towardsyour career goals.
You'll find all the details towork with me in the show notes.
And of course, come hang outwith me on Instagram or TikTok
at MegSallsberry Creative formore behind the scenes and pep
(09:22):
talks in just fun.
Remember, your glow up isunfolding one bold move at a
time.
Keep going, keep dreamingbigger, and I'll catch you on
the next one.
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