Anxiety and the Artist

What do Broadway actors, Fortune 500 executives, and high-achieving creatives all wrestle with? Pressure and anxiety when it matters most.In this episode, Allison talks with executive coach and former theater director Gina Rattan about performance anxiety, executive presence, and why “perfect” is often the most dangerous goal in the room. Drawing from years in theater and high-stakes leadership coaching, Gina shares practical, realistic tools for regulating the nervous system, managing fear of judgment, and showing up with clarity when the spotlight is on.This conversation is for artists, leaders, and anyone who has ever thought, What if I blow it?What We Talk AboutHow Gina went from directing Broadway shows to coaching executivesWhy leadership is an authentic performance (and why that’s not a bad thing)The three most common types of performance anxietyHow perfectionism quietly sabotages confidenceWhy “fear of consistency” hits high achievers hardestSimple nervous system tools you can use before a high-stakes momentHow to stop treating anxiety like a personal failureMantras that help artists and leaders stay grounded in uncertain timesAbout the GuestGina Rattan is a former theater director turned executive coach who works with performers under pressure, from Broadway and Oscar-winning actors to Fortune 500 executives. Her work focuses on communication, reputation, and helping people show up with clarity and authority when the stakes are high.Find Gina OnlineWebsite: green-room.io/LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ginarattan/Instagram: @green.room.ioSubstack: Executive FunctioningFind AllisonInstagram: @anxietyandtheartistWebsite: allisonsheff.comMedia & Production: grastamedia.com

In this episode, Allison sits down with Antonette Cohen, a performance psychology consultant and former Broadway performer, to explore how self-talk shapes confidence, focus, and performance under pressure. Drawing from her lived experience as a longtime dance captain for Wicked and her training in sport and performance psychology, Antonette breaks down why anxiety, burnout, and self-doubt are not personal failures but gaps in psychological preparation.Together, they discuss practical tools for navigating audition nerves, reframing destructive inner narratives, and why self-compassion is not a weakness but a performance enhancer. This conversation offers artists a more humane, sustainable path to excellence without sacrificing ambition.✨ What You’ll Hear in This Episode:Antonette’s journey from Broadway performer to performance psychology consultantWhy burnout and anxiety are common in elite performance environmentsWhat performance psychology is and how it differs from therapyHow self-talk functions as the “inner narrative” performers live insideA simple in-the-moment tool to create space from spiraling thoughtsThe difference between thoughts that are true and thoughts that are helpfulWhy deeply ingrained beliefs take time to shift and how to approach them safelyWhat research shows about self-compassion and high performanceWhy kindness toward yourself does not lower the bar or reduce disciplineUnderstanding the uncomfortable “in-between” or liminal space of growth🔗 Resources & Links:Learn more about Antonette’s work: AntonetteCohen.comPerformance psychology practice: LiminalRise.comFollow Antonette on Instagram: @AntonetteCohenResearch mentioned: Self-Compassion by Dr. Kristin NeffLearn more about the host, Allison Sheff: AllisonSheff.comProduction & media projects: GrastaMedia.com🎭 About the Guest:Antonette Cohen is a performance psychology consultant specializing in mental skills training for performing artists. A former Broadway performer and longtime dance captain for Wicked, she combines lived experience from elite performance environments with graduate training in sport and performance psychology. Through her practice, Liminal Rise, she supports artists in building sustainable excellence, deeper presence, and a healthier relationship with their inner experience.Keywords: performance psychology, self-talk for performers, performance anxiety, mental skills training, audition anxiety, self-compassion and performance, burnout prevention for artists, confidence under pressure, performing artists mental health, Antonette Cohen, Anxiety and the Artist

Allison talks with Hilary Sutton — writer, speaker, and fractional CMO — about building a multi-hyphenate career, promoting your work without oversharing, and the small daily habits that support mental health. Hilary breaks down what a fractional CMO actually does, how creatives can audit their online presence, and why most artists under-communicate their value.Topics:• What a fractional CMO is• Setting boundaries in personal branding• Auditing your online presence• Reframing self-promotion as problem-solving• Micro-habits for mental health• The everyday bravery of creative workGuest Links:Website: hilarysutton.comInstagram: @hilary.suttonHilary Sutton is a writer, speaker, and fractional CMO who leads HSL Digital, a marketing and communications consultancy. She’s also the creator of Hustle & Grace, host of the Hustle & Grace podcast, and author of the Substack The Motherload, where she explores creativity, work-life balance, and modern entrepreneurship. Her writing has appeared in HuffPost, The Washington Post, and USA Today.Keywords: personal branding, fractional CMO, marketing strategy, creative careers, digital presence, entrepreneurship, mental health, artists

Today, Allison sits down with psychiatric nurse practitioner Brad Lieberman for a straightforward, judgment-free look at mental health medication. If you’ve ever wondered what antidepressants actually do, why antipsychotics have such an intimidating name, or whether tools like TMS, psychedelics, or propranolol are worth exploring, this episode gives you the plain-language guide you wish you had earlier.Brad explains how clinicians really make decisions about meds, why most people don’t need them forever, and what to expect when starting or stopping treatment. They also dig into performance anxiety, genetic testing, and why Googling your symptoms is not the same as getting evaluated.What We Cover• The difference between antidepressants and antipsychotics (and why the names are misleading)• How SSRIs may act as a “reset” that helps you learn new patterns more easily• When medication is useful, and when it might not be• Why some conditions require long-term medication and others don’t• What genetic testing can and can’t tell you about medication choices• Propranolol for stage fright: how it works, why performers use it, and who shouldn’t• Newer treatments like TMS and psychedelic therapy• What to do if a GP shrugs off your concerns or prescribes without a deeper evaluation• Practical advice for artists dealing with anxiety, burnout, or isolationGuest BioBrad Lieberman is a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner specializing in high-stress and high-performance populations. He integrates therapeutic modalities, medication management, and emerging technologies to help individuals build resilience and return to full functioning. Learn more at lcptherapy.com.Resources Mentioned• LCP Therapy: https://lcptherapy.com• Information on TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation)• GeneSight and GenoMind testing services (context provided without endorsement)Keywordsmental health medication, antidepressants explained, antipsychotics info, performance anxiety help, propranolol for performers, how SSRIs work, neuroplasticity and mood, psychedelic therapy insights, TMS treatment basics, bipolar medication support, performer mental health, artist wellness, creative burnout support, stage fright solutions, high performance anxiety, tools for performers #AnxietyAndTheArtist #ToolsInTheToolbox #PsychMeds101 #CreativeWellbeing #MentalHealthPodcast #PerformanceAnxiety #ArtistWellness #PsychiatricMedication #ModernTherapy #HealingJourney

In this episode, Allison sits down with business coach and “Possibleist” Kevin Urban for an honest, funny, and deeply relatable conversation about social anxiety, identity, and what it really takes to show up authentically as a creative. Kevin shares how his winding path—from competitive athlete to NYC actor to coach—shaped his understanding of misalignment, reinvention, and the quiet panic so many artists feel in social spaces. Together, they unpack why anxiety hits creatives harder, how to navigate networking without performing, and what it looks like to evolve into your second act with clarity and compassion.In this episode we dive into:Social anxiety and creativesRange as a superpowerFollowing strengths vs. following expectationsThe danger of misrepresenting yourselfReinvention and "the second act"Links:Business Coaching for CreativesKevin UrbanKevin Urban is a coach, speaker, strategist, and the self-described Possibleist. He began his professional journey as a competitive swimmer and an actor in New York City before expanding into communications, marketing, and business development. He holds a master’s degree in Positive Leadership and Coaching, where he blends positive psychology with performance and leadership training to help people evolve authentically.Kevin has worked across multiple creative and corporate sectors, taught artists how to package and market themselves, and spent 13 years working at a camp for children with juvenile arthritis — a role that profoundly shaped his understanding of resilience, reframing, and human behavior.Today, he focuses on coaching creatives and professionals through transitions, reinvention, and the complicated emotional terrain that comes with stepping into a new chapter of life. He brings humor, empathy, and a deeply personal understanding of anxiety, identity, and the power of authenticity to everything he does.Keywords:social anxiety, creative anxiety, artist anxiety, authenticity for artists, creative reinvention, midlife transition for creatives, Kevin Urban, Allison Sheff, the Possibleist, creative coaching, overcoming social anxiety, networking tips for artists, performance nerves, creative identity, imposter syndrome for artists, creative career transitions, actor branding, performer marketing, acting career advice, confidence for creatives, managing social anxiety as an artist, creative mindset, artist wellness, reinvention for artists, creative life coaching

In this episode, Allison talks with Michelle Loucadoux and Kristin Deiss, co-founders of Danscend, a company dedicated to supporting the mental wellness of dancers, educators, and organizations.Born out of the pandemic, Danscend began when Michelle and Kristin realized that while dance often nurtures emotional expression, there were few accessible tools to care for the mental health of the people behind the movement.Together, they unpack what it really means to be resilient—how to bounce back from setbacks, learn from failure, and redefine success on your own terms. They share honest stories about career pivots, creative burnout, and the healing power of community.·      Redefining success after rejection or transition·      Building resilience through vulnerability and connection·      Tools for managing creative blocks and burnout·      Rest and distance as creative resets·      Building community and asking for support·      Redefining success beyond linear achievement·      Facing discomfort as a form of growth“Resilience is staying in the discomfort long enough to understand how to move through it, instead of away from it.” – Michelle Loucadoux"Talent will get you into the room, resilience will keep you in the room" -Kristin Deiss🔗 Connect with DanscendDiscovery Keywords:dance, dancer wellness, resilience, mental health, creativity, burnout, recovery, Danscend, performance anxiety, artistic growth, creative process, self-care, overcoming rejection, reinvention, mindfulness, dance education, artists, well-being, balance, creativity and mental health

In this episode, Allison sits down with acclaimed choreographer, director, and educator Alexandra Beller to explore what it really takes to rediscover your creative juiciness — especially when inspiration feels far away. Alexandra, a veteran of the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, shares her remarkable journey from dancer to director to author. She opens up about battling perfectionism, learning to trust her process, and how neurodivergence shaped her creative rhythm.Together, they unpack the myths of instant inspiration, the discipline behind “just doing it,” and how to rebuild your creative muscles when you’ve been stuck. Alexandra also reveals how she’s integrated AI as a thinking partner to overcome executive function challenges while finishing two books — a surprisingly hopeful perspective on technology as a tool for self-expression.Listeners will walk away with real, repeatable strategies for reigniting creativity:How to show up for your art even when you’re uninspiredThe difference between craft and art — and why both matterHow to quiet your inner critic by separating your intuitive and analytical mindWhy small, consistent creative acts can lead to big breakthroughsThis conversation is a love letter to artists navigating the messy, magical middle of their process.Resources: https://www.alexandrabellerdances.org/#CreativeProcess #ArtistWellness #PerformingArts #ToolsInTheToolbox #Choreography #TheAnatomyOfArt #EmbodiedCreativity #NeurodivergentArtists #RediscoverCreativity #DanceTheater #CreativeJuiciness #ArtistsSupportingArtists #ArtisticInspiration #BehindTheCurtain #AllisonSheffPodcast

In this episode, Allison Sheff sits down with Jim Bracchitta, Associate Director of Health Services at the Entertainment Community Fund, to unpack one of the most confusing and essential topics for artists: how to access affordable healthcare.A veteran actor with over 35 years in the industry — six Broadway shows, countless commercials (yes, he was the voice of “When you’re here, you’re family” for Olive Garden) — Jim brings insider knowledge and real-world empathy to the conversation. Together, Allison and Jim explore how the Fund supports the creative community with healthcare navigation, mental health services, and more.Listen if you want to learn:How to get health insurance if you’ve lost coverageWhy “affordable” doesn’t always mean “cheap” — and vice versaWhat artists should know before the next enrollment cycleHow to access mental health support without breaking the bankResources:Entertainment Community Fund – Health ServicesGuest Bio:Jim Bracchitta is the Associate Director of Health Services at the Entertainment Community Fund, a labor trustee for SAG-AFTRA benefit plans, and a longtime advocate for artists’ wellbeing. Before joining the Fund, Jim spent over three decades as an actor, appearing on Broadway, television, and in thousands of commercials.#EntertainmentCommunityFund #HealthcareForArtists #ArtistsSupportingArtists #CreativeHealth #PerformingArts #ArtistWellness #MentalHealthMatters #ToolsInTheToolbox #ArtsCommunity #AffordableHealthcare #ActorsLife #CreativeAnxiety #BehindTheCurtain #ArtsAccess

Dr. Morgan Martin shares her journey from professional dancer to physical therapist. Specializing in pelvic floor and orthopedic PT, Dr. Martin and I discuss the physical toll of dancers training. She also shares some interesting insight on how the pelvic floor affects so many aspect of our mental and physical well being and provides some great anxiety reducing exercises for all artists to practice. A must listen!

Former dancer turned financial literacy educator stops by to discuss all things artists and investing. We chat about different strategies for artists in different phases in their career, and how financial planning and investing can provide artists with the financial stability and the freedom to pursue the work they love....and most importantly, reduce anxiety!