In this episode of In the Waiting Room, Rashad Edwards sits down with Carolyn Michelle for a grounded, honest conversation about one of the most difficult—and liberating—realities of an acting career: accepting who you are in the marketplace.

Rather than chasing endless versatility or resisting being “typed,” Carolyn shares how clarity around her strengths, presence, and natural casting lane allowed her to work with greater intention and confidence. The conversation explores how many actors unknowingly extend their path by fighting the very qualities that make them most employable—and how alignment, not reinvention, often leads to sustainable momentum.

Together, Rashad and Carolyn unpack the difference between limitation and leverage, the importance of understanding how the industry actually responds to clarity, and why crafting your lane early can create more opportunity, not less. This episode is a timely reminder that longevity in this business often comes from refinement, not resistance.

If you’re an actor questioning your place in the industry—or feeling pressure to be everything at once—Crafting Your Lane offers a practical, adult reframing of what it really means to build a career that works.

In this candid and deeply insightful episode, Rashad sits down with acclaimed actor Deirdre Lovejoy (The Wire, Bones, The Blacklist) for a conversation that pulls back the curtain on the realities of a life in the arts.

Lovejoy reflects on her journey from Evansville, Indiana, to the stages of Broadway and the sets of prestige television, offering a rare look at the intentionality, resilience, and self-awareness required to build a sustainable acting career. She discusses how early environments shape ambition, how societal expectations influence personal and professional choices, and why authenticity remains the true currency of artistry.

Together, they explore the often-hidden financial truths of the industry, the evolving landscape of acting training, the role of mentorship, and the mindset that separates working actors from those who burn out. Lovejoy also speaks openly about navigating balance—between craft and survival, personal life and professional drive—and why access and diversity in the arts must move beyond slogans and into real structural change.

Whether you're an actor, a creative, or simply someone curious about what’s behind the performances you see on screen, this episode offers an honest, grounded, and empowering portrait of what it means to build a life in this profession.

🎙️ Episode 7 — “That Joy!”

In this episode, Rashad reconnects with actor and artist Paul Deo, Jr., his NYU Grad Acting classmate whose creative journey has been anything but linear.

From performing in Shakespeare in the Park to building storyboards in the Vegas desert during the pandemic, Paul shares how life’s detours shaped his art — and how losing an agent in the middle of nowhere became an unlikely turning point.

This conversation digs into the reality of the “working actor”: regional theater runs, creative side hustles, content creation, and learning to keep joy alive through it all.

Rashad and Paul talk about what it means to stay curious, to reinvent yourself when the industry slows down, and to find the beauty in waiting seasons that don’t look the way you planned.

🎧 Episode 7: “That Joy!”

Now streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.