This week I’m reflecting on lessons I’ve learned from the Theatre People podcast. It’s a show I listened to years ago, but now that I’ve made filmmaking and documentary production my full-time gig, I decided to revisit some of the old episodes that once inspired me. In doing that, I was reintroduced to insights I had forgotten ...and a few that hit me even harder this time around.

​

One of those moments came from Katie Finneran.

​

Listening to her interview was a delight. She spoke with such warmth and honesty about her career. But what really struck me was something simple she shared: she went to clown school.

​

Katie explained that clowning helped her emote better and loosen up as a performer. It gave her access to muscles in her body she didn’t even know she had. It tuned her into her body in a way that made her more alive, more expressive, and ultimately a better actor.

​

When I heard that, I thought about my own journey. I’m not an actor, and I’m certainly not a clown, but I understood exactly what she meant.

​

As a producer, I go to a lot of networking events. In the beginning, I was stiff. Nervous. My words didn’t come out the way I wanted, and I struggled to fully be myself in the room. Hearing Katie talk about clown school made me realize I needed my own version of loosening up.

​

Now, before networking events, I do simple exercises to release tension. I carry a small anxiety spray to calm my nerves. And even recording these audio blogs has helped me practice emoting more and enunciating better. It’s not clown school, but it works for me.

​

Katie’s lesson reminds me that sometimes the key to showing up as your best self isn’t about being perfect. It’s about finding ways to relax, shake off the tension, and let your real voice come through.