Creative Courage, Policy Change, and Surrendering to the Universe with Jayce Baron

Join host Denise Love Hewett for an inspiring conversation with Jayce Baron, a screenwriter, director, Emmy-winning documentary producer, and former elected official who's making waves in entertainment, advocacy, and policy. In this episode, discover: How Jayce built a successful PR company at 23 with no New York experience The power of rejection as redirection in creative careers Why timing matters more than talent when launching creative projects Navigating feast-and-famine cycles as a creative professional Step-by-step guide to getting started in local policy advocacy How to identify the right elected officials and their teams to contact The surprising impact of "unglamorous" policy issues (like leaf blower regulations) Why consistency matters more than one-time testimony at city council meetings The difference between working inside vs. outside the political machine When to let go of collaborators and business partners (and how to know) The art of surrendering control while staying grounded in survival needs How creative thinking applies to policy work and vice versa Jayce Baron is an Afro-Latinx, globally recognized, award-winning screenwriter, author, executive producer, director, political figure, and advocate for the Black and Brown LGBTQ+ community. As the founder of jBaron Creative House, Jayce has consistently demonstrated a passion for fostering conscious conversations within the community through various creative and impactful mediums. For over a decade, Jayce has seamlessly merged his entertainment career with his commitment to social justice. He contributes to platforms like NBC and hosts a globally recognized independent podcast with over half a million streams across more than 50 countries. In early 2022, Jayce executive produced and directed the groundbreaking documentary Beyond Ed Buck alongside Emmy Award-winning Pose star Hailie Sahar. Jayce’s advocacy has been widely recognized. In 2016, he was invited to Capitol Hill to raise awareness about sexual assault and played a pivotal role in the passage of SB 813, a California law revoking the statute of limitations on rape charges. That same year, he was honored as one of 16 Heroes alongside Joe Biden, Ashley Judd, and other national leaders. In December 2023, Jayce began his journey as a former elected official when he was unanimously elected to his Neighborhood Council in Los Angeles, where he served as chairs the Homeless & Social Justice Advocacy Committee and as member of the Government Relations Committee before resigning in 2025. Additionally, he was appointed to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Latine Advisory Board and served with the DA until the November 2024 election, furthering his commitment to addressing critical issues affecting marginalized communities. You can follow him at @jaycebaron You can follow this podcast @toomuchwithdlh and Denise @deniselovehewett Email [email protected] for any suggestions or submit questions for advice. Featured Topics: LGBTQ+ advocacy, documentary filmmaking, Beyond Ed Buck, neighborhood council experience, SB 813 sexual assault legislation, marriage equality messaging, connecting with nonprofits, labor unions, environmental policy Perfect for: Creative professionals, aspiring activists, policy advocates, entrepreneurs, anyone seeking to merge creativity with social impact Keywords: policy advocacy, creative career advice, LGBTQ activism, documentary filmmaking, local government, city council, social justice, career pivots, entrepreneurship, Los Angeles politics, legislative change, nonprofit work, community organizing