Ray DeForest: Live Your Truth

from Gratitude Through Hard Times · host Chris Schembra

If you aren't living your truth, then you aren't living the life you are meant to live.Ray DeForest knows just how necessary it is to live your truth.Performer, producer, activist, community leader, Ray DeForest, may also be known to some as his popular theatrical character, Doris Dear. 3-time winner of the MAC Award, actress and comedienne Doris Dear, has been featured in numerous movie and TV productions, performs in her own sold-out cabaret-style shows, and stars in her series "Doris Dear's Gurl Talk" on the BroadwayOnDemand streaming service. Ray created the series at the height of the Covid pandemic as a way to bring Doris to a new audience while live theater was on hold. Ray writes, directs and produces the series now currently filming season 3. The show was an immediate hit and won the prestigious Silver Telly Award for season one.In addition to entertaining audiences and raising funds to support theatre development, Mr. DeForest is a member of the prestigious Dramatist Guild of America. It is through his lifelong love of theatre that Ray nurtured his storytelling and comedic talents, as well as his ability to connect with an audience and take them on an emotional journey. "Art requires reaction," he proclaims. Long before theatre life beckoned Mr. DeForest to Manhattan, he found himself growing up in 1950-1960s Staten Island, where idyllic "Americana" was a real-world version of Norman Rockwell's iconic paintings. But what is one to do when they don't fit the traditional mold? "Admitting who we are is never easy," states Mr. DeForest. But, this challenge of self-expression found a creative outlet through character development and performance and continues to be richly rewarded by audiences who react to the experience and find a safe space in his character's maternal presence. Bravo!In this episode, Ray shares vital lessons from living his authentic life.Listen to this episode and learn about:Ray giving credit and thanks to the people who closed the door on him (5:33)Why it takes time to share our emotions (16:23)Living our life authentically because we have no idea what's coming next (19:55)Gender as a social construct (25:23)Getting people to acknowledge that we have more in common than differences (32:36)The qualities that make a great leader (36:15)Gratitude inspiring creativity and innovation (40:51)Insights from Ray (43:42)LinksConnect with Ray on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raydeforest/Doris Dear - https://www.dorisdear.com/homeRay's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hewearsheelsandhose/?hl=enDoris Dear Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dorisdearny/?hl=enCosplay Ray Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cosplayrayde/?hl=en

What this episode covers

If you aren't living your truth, then you aren't living the life you are meant to live. Ray DeForest knows just how necessary it is to live your truth. Performer, producer, activist, community leader, Ray DeForest, may also be known to some as his popular theatrical character, Doris Dear. 3-time winner of the MAC Award, actress and comedienne Doris Dear, has been featured in numerous movie and TV productions, performs in her own sold-out cabaret-style shows, and stars in her series "Doris Dear's Gurl Talk" on the BroadwayOnDemand streaming service. Ray created the series at the height of the Covid pandemic as a way to bring Doris to a new audience while live theater was on hold. Ray writes, directs and produces the series now currently filming season 3. The show was an immediate hit and won the prestigious Silver Telly Award for season one. In addition to entertaining audiences and raising funds to support theatre development, Mr. DeForest is a member of the prestigious Dramatist Guild of America. It is through his lifelong love of theatre that Ray nurtured his storytelling and comedic talents, as well as his ability to connect with an audience and take them on an emotional journey. "Art requires reaction," he proclaims. Long before theatre life beckoned Mr. DeForest to Manhattan, he found himself growing up in 1950-1960s Staten Island, where idyllic "Americana" was a real-world version of Norman Rockwell's iconic paintings. But what is one to do when they don't fit the traditional mold? "Admitting who we are is never easy," states Mr. DeForest. But, this challenge of self-expression found a creative outlet through character development and performance and continues to be richly rewarded by audiences who react to the experience and find a safe space in his character's maternal presence. Bravo! In this episode, Ray shares vital lessons from living his authentic life.

NOW PLAYING

Ray DeForest: Live Your Truth

0:00 54:36

1×

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

Bringing it all together.

Mar 31, 2026 ·54m

Why is the vendor role so contentious in the cyber ecosystem?

Mar 27, 2026 ·14m

But what do you really want?

Mar 24, 2026 ·42m

Strategic approaches to talent: A practical guide.

Mar 20, 2026 ·42m

Mid season reflection with Kim Jones.

Mar 17, 2026 ·41m

Is the role of the CISO adding to the confusion?

Mar 13, 2026 ·44m

Similar Podcasts

French Your Way Jessica: Native French teacher founder of French Your Way Boost your French listening skills and test your comprehension with this one of a kind series of podcasts. Get the chance to listen to a real conversation between native speakers talking at normal speed AND customise your learning experience through carefully designed sets of questions (2 levels of difficulty) available for download at www.frenchvoicespodcast.com. All interviews also come with the transcript. French teacher Jessica interviews native speakers of French from around the world who share a bit of their life and passion. Where else would you meet in one same place a French yoga teacher based in Melbourne, a soap manufacturer from Provence, or a couple cycling around the world? Kaizen Blueprint Aldo Chandra "Kaizen" is a Japanese term for continuous improvement. This podcast provides a blueprint to learn about health, wealth, relationships and everything else in between. Through our podcast, we strive to inspire, educate, and motivate our audience to cultivate a mindset of lifelong learning, productivity, and personal development. By sharing insights, strategies, and practical tips, we aim to guide listeners on their journey towards realizing their fullest potential, fostering success, and creating lasting positive change. Solving for Change MOBIA Technology Innovations Solving for Change welcomes business and technology leaders to share stories of bold business transformation within complex organizations. In an era when technology and markets are changing around businesses, the key to staying competitive is to evolve in response to those changes. MOBIA’s Mike Reeves and Marc LeBlanc investigate business transformation, deconstructing the challenges, ambitions, and market disruptions that drive companies to embark on transformation journeys, and exploring their unique approaches to achieving meaningful outcomes. What sparks leaders to pursue business transformation? How do they overcome the challenges along the way? What are the keys to creating enduring change? Through in-depth conversations with business and technology leaders, Mike and Marc answer these questions and explore how businesses evolve by pulling four key transformation levers: people, process, technology, and culture. MuppetWatch petervulfranc MuppetWatch is a journey through entertainment and popular culture using The Muppet Show as our guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times?

This episode is 54 minutes long.

When was this Gratitude Through Hard Times episode published?

This episode was published on October 26, 2021.

What is this episode about?

Can I download this Gratitude Through Hard Times episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.

URL copied to clipboard!