Art as Medicine with Kristen Lee Gutoskie

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear the full conversation, visit keelysemler.substack.com.Today’s guest is actress, singer, and mother Kristen Gutoskie, and we’re having an honest conversation about what motherhood really feels like once you’re in the thick of it. We explore how she’s learned to trust herself, stay creative and find her footing in parenthood.Kristen opens up about the mental load; the invisible emotional work of keeping a family moving, the vulnerability of sharing her creative projects, and the ongoing challenge of being both a present mom and a whole person with dreams of her own. This episode is a reminder that you’re not alone, and that there’s real beauty in figuring things out as you grow into this new version of yourself.Kristen Lee Gutoskie is a SAG nominated actor known for her roles in the Emmy winning show The Handmaid’s Tale, Chicago Fire, The Vampire Diaries, Narco’s Mexico, Containment, and Lethal Weapon. She is also a musician and has written and recorded music for projects she has starred in, including CW’s Containment and Hulu film The Dust Storm. Her first music single “Stardust” under her shortened name Lee Gutoskie was released earlier this year.If you love the Motherlands Podcast, please help us keep it alive by becoming a paid subscriber at keelysemler.substack.com.3:00 The expectations of motherhood vs the realities4:12 Gaining control of yourself and surrendering control of everything/everyone else7:56 Trusting your intuition and instincts9:28 Connecting parenthood to childhood10:53 Honesty in creativity and what it means to be seen14:56 Following joy and passion17:45 Creative process, intention, and the vulnerability of sharing something you have created21:11 Legacy and the remembering of art, family, and truth23:15 What really matters in parenthood25:18 Navigating comparison28:15 Holding both being a mom and being your own personBehind Closed Doors Extended Interview Includes:31:44 The responsibility of the artist in socially relevant work33:30 Media representation of intimacy, birth, and motherhood36:14 Navigating technology, privacy, and family40:13 The evolution of your connection with your partner44:41 Sharing the mental load47:24 Letting yourself flow in parenthood and creativityWork with KeelyMOTHERLANDS: Online Education Program20% off code MOTHERLANDSPODConnect with Kristen Gutoskie:MusicIMDBSocial: instagram: @kristenleegutoskie, tiktok: @leegutoskieRecent film:https://www.mylifetime.com/movies/i-was-octomom-the-natalie-suleman-storyNext film with Kristen to be released soon: https://takethemoneyandrunproduction.com/million/press/english/Follow our Host, Keely SemlerFollow The Motherlands PodcastYour support keeps The Motherlands alive. Paid subscriptions help me to keep doing this work full-time, offering real support to women through life’s biggest moments.Can’t subscribe right now? You can still– Leave a review on Apple Podcasts– Subscribe to Motherlands on Substack– Follow us on YouTube– Share an episode with a friend This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keelysemler.substack.com/subscribe