German Chocolate - Life of a Mixed Girl

Josh and I cover everything from his time on America’s Got Talent, how his breakdance background got him into stunts, the importance of being prepared when the “right time and place” come together, the ugly truth about loneliness and true connecting in this business, living in two markets (TX & NY), and sooo much more.

Fellow mixed girl and stuntwoman, Selene Hara Shankle, is on the mic with me today. Selene is half-white and half-Japanese, lives and trains in Los Angeles, and is breaking down her routine, habits, and how she uses a no-pressure, go-with-the-flow mentality while navigating her career.

Today I have Paul Varacchi, stunt performer and co-host of the Film Fights wth Friends Podcast and co-owner of Breakfall Studio in NYC. We're talking about the importance of having a full life outside of stunts, our shared love for film, and how we connect with it through the people we love.

I get to chat it up with Anthony Nanakornpanom, stunt performer and founder of Battlecat Stunts in Los Angeles, CA. We talk about his humble beginnings, the hustle of getting into stunts, and the importance of getting the basics right.

What I've achieved this year, how I measure it, why 2026 will be an important year for my 5-year plan, and some more insights into my life and processes. Keep niching in this industry and preparing for what comes next.

Kicking off the special series "Stunt Talk" with Frank Alfano from FJA Fire Stunts. Stunt performer and Fire Rigger out of New York City. We discuss current productions, fire burns, his workshop, AI and stunts, and some nerdy movie talk! Open for discussions in the comments.

In this episode, I strip down my walls and share the hard and the health side of doing what I do. Going through the VA disability process and realizing "I might not be ok". Dealing with depression, anxiety, adult diagnosis of ADHD, peri-menopause, while being a mom, in a relationship, working a 9-5, hustling, and training to live out my dreams. Thanks for inspiring me to finally come back. More to come!

On this final episode of the mini-series "The Experts I Know" on my podcast "German Chocolate - Life of a Mixed Girl", I have German Voiceover Talent Alex Kratzenstein with me. He lives and works as a full-time VO in Germany, so I had to pick his brain about it. This episode is recorded in German with English subtitles. You can find Alex on IG @alexspricht.

Guest on this episode, Lina aka The Wellness Amazon, certified Holistic Health Coach and very good friend of mine. We talk about what a holistic health coach is, does, crystals, planets, the universe, and what's meant to be and not meant to be, and some personal stories of our own manifestations. You can find her on IG @thewellnessamazon

Guest on this episode, Dr. Jared Warren, licensed clinical psychologist in the State of Florida. We talk about what therapy looks like, how one can benefit from it, the effects of the pandemic on our social interactions and well-being, as well as mindfulness.

Guest on this episode, John Watkis, voice actor and professional speaker. We talk about how to capture attention, sustain attention, being more confident and kind to ourselves. You can find him on IG, Facebook, and LinkedIn @johnwatkis or look up his website johnwatkis.com

Guest on this episode, Marie-Luise Huber, a nutritionist, health coach, women's health expert, and very good friend of mine. You can find her on IG @marieluise.huber, her website marieluisehuber.com, and LinkedIn.

Guest on this episode, award-winning writer, director, actor, and voice actor Austin Kase. He currently jet-sets around the globe with his short film "Hide Your Crazy". You can find him on IG @austinkasefilms.

Guest on this episode, Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) and voice actor Megan Urbano. She gives insight into what a SLP does, when to best see one, and tips and tricks for vocal health. You can find her on IG @meganthesingingslp or on X/Twitter @meganurbanovo.

Before I dive into and introduce my new series on this podcast: The Experts I Know (aka TEIK), I'm giving a bit of an update and behind the scenes of my life from what you don't see on my social media.

It's been 5 years since I've been back to the US and what a rollercoaster ride it's been! I've never been able to answer the dreaded interview question "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?" in a simple way. I get into why by showing you what the last 5 years of my life have been like. Intro Sound Effect by Aleksandr Karabanov on Pixabay.com Background by Huseyn Kamaladdin on Pexels.com

Fellow actress Nina Vu-Matlock, also with Level Talent, joins me on this episode. We talk about what it's like being an actor in multiple markets while being a mom, and wife, and having time to learn new skills. I coined her the Booking Queen because she is continuously booking amazing commercial jobs. Check her out on Instagram @nina.vuuu

Did it catch your attention? This is an update on the rollercoaster ride of being an on-camera commercial actor and voice actor. This episode is about current wins, ups and downs, and something nobody prepared me to be aware of. Hope you enjoy! Connect with me on Instagram or Twitter @realgermanchoc

This episode is really about confidence and a reminder that overnight success doesn't actually happen "overnight" and how I've been working towards being an entertainer all of my life. I'm sharing my path, obstacles, and how adulting created a 10+ year break in the career I've always wanted.

Award-winning Voice Actress and IG Friend Yasmeen Ansari-Roberts joins me on this extended episode for some much-needed Girl Talk. I've shared my stories on living the life of a mixed girl, and even though Yasmeen is not mixed, we share some similar experiences. Plug in your headphones, and here we go... Sound Effect by Muzaproduction from Pixabay

On this episode, Geddes Gibbs Jr., voice actor and puppeteer, joins me for a fun episode introducing his puppet troupe called the ‘Brooklyn Puppet Squad’. Geddes is known for lip-syncs with his puppets to some of the scenes from movies and TV shows, and doing voice over challenges on TikTok and Instagram and voice, so be sure to follow and check them out.

This is the winner topic from the "You Pick" Episode contest on my IG @realgermanchoc. I get into detail on how I juggle my family, day job, acting, business, podcast, and some. It isn't easy and a lot of trial and error goes into trying to find just the right balance for any given life period. I share some of my tips and tricks and give insight into my goals and action plans for the year.

Get comfy because this is a long one. Listen or watch as the creator of the animated series Laundromax, Pedro Melendez, and I chat about how we connected, how he came up with Laundromax, some cultural talk about our backgrounds, and more! Lots of love and laughter in this episode.  Shout-out to the entire Laundromax crew: Christian Rosado (Animator/Producer), Kevin Del Valle (Animator/Producer), Brian Hernandez (Dir. of Animation), and Jael Rivera (Marketing Director). #creatives #creators #indieanimation #animators #voiceacting #gettingstarted

The first episode of the new year, 2023. Update on voice acting and... on-camera acting, the newest of news (life update, and what's to come this year. Also, announcing the next guest for the next episode.

Let's talk marketing, branding, accountability, goal setting, taking risks, dreaming big, and working hard in this episode. All of that mixed together with an update on this mixed girl's life from the last 4 months. What have I been up to? What's Vibe Check Apparel, and on-camera acting now? I hope my journey inspires you too to follow your passion and dreams.

Special guest on this episode is fellow voice actress: Vanessa Garcia (IG: @vanessagarcia.vo). Watch or listen as we talk about our opposite experiences and opinions on racial ambiguity. Vanessa from the POV of the fair-skinned Latina and me from the Latina-looking German-American side. Authenticity is key when you seemingly don't fit into a social "box". Laugh, discuss, or ponder with us on this episode. #voiceactor #racialambiguity #authenticity Sound Effect by Muzaproduction from Pixabay

Part 2 of the VO corner mini-series for voice actors, actors, and anyone starting out in the business. Maggy Pasho (IG: @maggyarda, Backstage & IMDb: Maggy Pasho) is an actress I met while taking improv classes with The Barrow Group. Listen to us talk about the classes we've taken and what it's like to get started in the business (recorded in Feb 2022). #voiceacting #voiceactor #acting (note: apologies for the audio, epic fail when zoom converted back to computer mic🤦‍♀️) Sound Effect by Muzaproduction from Pixabay

In this episode, I give a brief life update. A true roller coaster ride of 2022, with all of the exciting experiences (voice acting), the anxiety of potentially being laid off, and what getting "red carpet ready" means to me and why. Hope you enjoy it! For questions or comments: @realgermanchoc on Twitter and IG

This episode is part 1 of the VO Corner mini-series for voice actors, actors, and anyone that is starting out in the business. Kevin Kmet (IG: @kevin_kmet_vo) is a voice actor that I met on IG and has been a real blessing on my now 6-month journey of becoming a working voice actress. Tune in to learn more about what he does, how he trains, what his goals are, and geek out with us as we talk all-things #voiceacting and #voiceover!

Recapping the past 4 months and sharing both my experience and training up til now and what's to come for voice acting and this podcast! Get excited for a fun and a little silly episode. #voiceacting #voiceover

This is a longer and slight inspirational episode on the path I'm taking to become a voice artist and how my life's choices and even differences lead me here.

This can be a sensitive topic and you might hear it in my voice, a little nervous. I'm sharing vulnerable thoughts and stories about being mixed and raising a mixed child.

Not black, not white, must be Hispanic. But that language doesn't sound like Spanish... Relive some awkward situations with me when placed into a certain box.

Curious what this episode is about? Tune in and check out my journey of understanding what "daddy issues" most likely really means.

Special Guest: My brother Dani. Let's talk Detroit and family affairs a little.

In this episode I snuck into my closet to talk to you guys about the number one question I get: Do you like white guys or black guys? Sound familiar, or you're curious what it's all about? Tune in! Follow on Twitter or IG @realgermanchoc

On this episode guest, Everett Anthony from the "Illhouse Comedy" and "That's Wild" Podcasts will talk with me about times when me being black had some advantages and disadvantages - pressure! Tune in for a fun exchange on stereotyping and confidence

This episode is about me exploring the other half of my identity: Being African-American. Stories from the 313, risks of wanting to be cool, and music, movies, and all of that 2000s stuff. Oh, and Summer Break of course. Tune in!

This episode is about my first love and one feature that stuck with me from then on. Listen and maybe you'll be able to identify your kyptonite!

This episode is all about figuring out what to do when you don't have a clue. Learnings and some advice.

This episode is about a little girl experiencing some difficult situations, but showing big girl attitude toward them