Ep 0179 – Magical Journey of Food and Life

Laurie smiles under a floppy straw hat in the woodland
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I’m happy to be out enjoying some garden time in the back woodland of Descanso.

Podcast Recap

Hiking is out due to fires in California, so I’m back pondering at Descanso Gardens about the mystical, magical journey that is the food cycle of life. We hear from our very first BC, my friend Cheryl, about her health concerns and her writing dreams. BC North also stops by to comment. BC Dave updates us on the ups and downs of his life and health and how meditation might help. We say hello to two new friends, BCs Joy and Carol M. I share a snippet from my latest blog post about being a senior plus-sized model and ask for more subscribers to my youtube channel for voice acting. Today’s dance moment features an energetic ditty called Mud Pie.
Display of Halloween lights and flowers featuring a huge blow-up eery pumpkin headed cloaked figure

Descanso Gardens gift store shows off its pumpkin decor.

New BCs

BC Joy posted on Day 178
BC Carol M posted on the COD FB page

Mentioned

The Last Show with comments from BCs Cheryl, North and new BC Joy.

DDP Yoga – the inspiring video BC Dave mentioned in his letter.

Blog post with commercial headshots

Please subscribe to my voice acting YouTube channel

My Voice Acting website where you can hear my demos and learn more about that side of my life

Ways to support the show financially

Credits

Host: Laurie Weaver
Today’s Dance Moment Music, Mud Pie, is used with permission from IB Audio

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My Unexpected Life as a Plus-Sized Senior Model

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Can you believe I just had a photoshoot?

I’m on the Bravery Report!

Long story short, even though I am a voice actor, I took an on-camera class for auditioning for commercials. My reason? Besides being scared witless of seeing full body video and wanting to prove to myself that new experiences are probably not that life threatening, a respected voice acting coach said it would be great to improve my commercial VO (Voice-over).

So my friend and I took the plunge.

Class was a blast and I found out I really enjoyed myself. And once I got over the shock of HOW MUCH I LOOK LIKE MY MOM! (How did I ever age so much from my mind’s eye?), I didn’t really mind the camera’s rendition of my plus-sized senior self. Most of my classmates were young, size -2, the super desirable ethnically “ambiguous”, or California blondes. I stood out in that crowd.

But on reflection, I realized that in casting, standing out in the crowd is not such a bad thing! I’m willing to be my age and size on camera. What the heck. As part of class the teacher, who is an experienced commercial actor and who works often with casting directors, and our classmates offer up your natural commercial types. Things you might book by your looks.

Of course I got sensual vixen….

Okay, not really. Here are some of those types.

Laurie’s Commerical Looks

Bright orange cardigan over yellow and orange flower patterned blouse - gold chain necklace, hair down, no glasses, happy surprised look.

Say hello to quirky neighbor, friendly teacher, admin assistant in my commercial looks.


Laurie hair down in paisley bohemian blouse - smiling and wearing glasses

This is my hippie therapist or candle store owner kind of commercial look.


Hair down and back, glasses, pursed lips, fuchsia v neck blouse under black jacket - raised eyebrows

This shows some of the range of expression in every look. This is my executive, doctor, lawyer, judge look – and this is my judgmental expression LOL.


Looking serious plaid open shirt - blue tee shirt under, hair in messy side bun - no glasses

This is my barb-b-q Mom, blue-collar, straight shooting kind of commercial look.

What it takes for Laurie to be a natural beauty…

  • Unruly crazy hair needs Brazilian blow-out (thankfully unrelated to waxing by the same name)
  • Hair Trim
  • Roots dyed
  • Facial hair threaded out of existence (ouch!)
  • Facial on insistence of hair threading remover – guess my furless self revealed horrible impurities.
  • Professional stylist who knows what looks good on me and what looks good on camera (Hooray I have a friend who does this for a living, so I hired her. BTW, I will NEVER shop without her again! Fast, fun, painless, picks the right size in every brand. Wow!)
  • Manicure (nails might show)
  • Pedicure (nails won’t show, but makes me feel polished)
  • Professional make-up artist
  • Me learning how to IRON and STEAM clothing the day before the shoot.
  • Learning how to tote many outfits without ruining said ironing and steaming to photography studio.
  • Learning how to pose (to look natural means you are doing stand-up pilates).
  • Learning how to love myself no matter what!

Along with wanting some professional headshots to be able to submit myself for commercials, I wanted to rebrand my voice acting business so that I can market to production houses and agents etc. And you can SEE some of this branding by checking out my new commercial voice over demo on YouTube and as a bonus, see even more expressions in these looks. BUT

Please help me with Silly YouTube…

By subscribing to my crazy URL YouTube Channel for my voice acting. I need 100 to get a custom url that would make sense to give out to potential clients. If you are in the same boat, leave me a comment and I will subscribe to yours back! Thanks!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHJG5fw8ozC7yJiZHHVUmzA

I love you Mom. My shoot was actually on the anniversary of her passing. Today would have been Mom’s 86th birthday. Somehow I feel she knows about my adventures and how grateful I am to share her beauty xoxoxo

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Ep 0178 – Zen Garden

Laurie with her hair down smiling under a tree
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Letting my hair down at Descanso Gardens. Zen is how you look at things.

Podcast Recap

It’s a Zen Day by the duck pond at Descanso Gardens. I learn why my favorite bench disappeared from the dry river bed. I contemplate what connections mean – especially to ourselves. Hello to new BC V. Comments from BCs Dave, Sue from the UK and Louise from the UK. Mark the Meditator pops in. Today’s dance moment is a chill contemplative song called Zen Garden.

Mallard ducks gather on the cement path by the pond. Dappled shade from overhead trees.

Here are my impromptu podcast listeners!

Small green pond seen through scraggly pine trees. Blue sky.

Here’s a glimpse of part of the duck pond I recorded by for day 178.

The Last Show with comments from BCs Sue from the UK and Louise from the UK

Day 176, Episode about gifts that BC Dave references – and this is the one with Vegan Zombies!

See a video of my duck friends gathering around while I recorded this show.

My Voice Acting website where you can hear my demos and learn more about that side of my life

Ways to support the show financially

Credits

Host: Laurie Weaver
Mark the Meditator: Mark Weaver
Today’s Dance Moment Music, Zen Garden, is used with permission from AudioBlocks.

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Ep 0177 – My Tears of Joy and a Letter from BC Dave

Laurie in a dark headscarf and shades dancing with her fingers making the peace sign while in the green meadow at the top of the hiking trail under blue skies.
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A snapshot from my ‘Peace Out’ dance on the mountain.

Podcast Recap

Big news that gave me tears of joy! BC Dave shares thoughts and updates about being authentic, Disc Golf, Intuitive Eating, health challenges and why it’s ok to give up a previously cherished goal. I ponder about self-acceptance and value. Thanks Dawny and Amazon shoppers. Featured electronic dance music with cool lyrics about positive vs. negative voices in our heads.
Bright blue skies above hiking trail in the foothills. Gorse and sage and brown dry grass.

Here’s a peek at the trail leading to the Upper Zen spot on the mountain on this beautiful, sunny day.

The Last Show

My Peace Dance on the Mountain

Ways to support the show financially

Credits

Host: Laurie Weaver
Music: Love vs. Hate

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Ep 0176 – Bonus – Gifts, Mics and Vegan Zombies

Laurie smiles in her studio wearing headphones in front of her mic
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My friend loaned me one of her great mics to try out in my space. So far I’m loving the sound. So I recorded today’s episode with it. What do you think?

Podcast Recap

Gifts can be a blessing or a curse! I ponder how gifts impact us and how it relates to my food issues. One gift I truly enjoy is the ability to record today’s bonus episode with a cool new mic my friend loaned me. I’m mic shopping and it makes a difference to hear them in your own studio. Today’s featured song, Vegan Zombies, comes from our old friend, Josh Woodward.
Laurie playing with a stuffed bunny toy in front oof the mic

This is a bunny I gave my mom. It comes from the book, “I love you this much”. I use it in the studio when I want to feel connected in my reads. This was a gift she loved to receive as we often said this phrase with arms outstretched. It was a gift to get it back after she passed away. It’s a gift to have the memories with this little reminder bunny.

Laurie with dragonfly umbrella

PS, I still have my fav umbrella.


The Last Show

Ways to support the show financially

Credits

Host: Laurie Weaver
Music: Vegan Zombies by Josh Woodward – Download for free and see a video of Josh Singing it

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