0:03

Melissa: Screlching just like screaming. Melissa: My parents always thought I was just screaming in the basement, but I was singing.

0:09

Melissa: If I was feeling a lot that day, i would just go into the basement and sing.

0:14

Announcer: Welcome to Story and Craft. Announcer: Now here's your host, Marc Preston.

0:19

Marc: Alright, here we go. Marc: Another episode of Story and Craft.

0:21

Marc: How are you? Marc: Had a good week.

0:24

Marc: Things been going okay. Marc: Hope everything's going great with you.

0:28

Marc: If you're new to the show, thank you so much for stopping by checking it out.

0:32

Marc: Going to have a great episode this week.

0:34

Marc: Really enjoyed this chat. Marc: I mean, i've had the good fortune of sitting down with some really interesting, intriguing people.

0:42

Marc: But this week loved this chat.

0:45

Marc: Melissa O'Neill she plays Officer Lucy Chen on the ABC television show The Rookie.

0:51

Marc: Great personality, lot of energy, very insightful, just I really enjoyed this sit-down.

0:57

Marc: It was beyond a pleasure to chat with.

1:00

Marc: We talked about being from Canada. Marc: She even won Canadian Idol at 17 years old.

1:06

Marc: She's been on Broadway and just really enjoyed the conversation and I think you will as well, don't forget, if you would pop on by StoryandCraftPod.com Once again, storyandcraftpod.com, the website.

1:21

Marc: Everything you could possibly want to know about the show is right there.

1:25

Marc: And if you would, as always, subscribe, like the show on your favorite podcast app, leave a review, drop a star, whatever you do on your app, all right, so let's get after it.

1:37

Marc: This week is Melissa O'Neill week, right here on StoryandCraft.

1:45

Marc: How's your day been going so far? Melissa: It's been a little crazy.

1:49

Melissa: I think everyone else is in their own type of experience with COVID, but on our show, which I think is one of the only shows that hasn't been shut down by COVID, we have pretty extreme protocols Even if somebody is asymptomatic.

2:09

Melissa: but if they've tested positive and even if they're beyond the CDC guidelines of like if you're 10 days, even if you're still testing positive, as long as you're not symptomatic, you're fine to reintegrate.

2:22

Melissa: that is not the case on our show, and so it creates a lot of.

2:29

Melissa: it means that we're reshooting a lot of things, so I will shoot things twice.

2:35

Marc: I'm gathering you're restraining a little bit of frustration right now.

2:39

Melissa: I don't think I'm restraining it at all. Melissa: This is an accurate representation of my general.

2:42

Melissa: Let's see, it gets a little mundane after a while.

2:49

Melissa: Like really this again. Marc: Oh, i think that's very common, yeah, everybody.

2:53

Marc: I'm speaking with. Marc: I was talking with an actor named Shay Wiggum the other day and he says hang on, i got to go do something.

2:59

Marc: He had to run to his front door because somebody came to his house to swab his nose.

3:03

Marc: And it's things you don't even think of.

3:06

Marc: We can blame it all on Nathan Fillion because he's technically the boss, right?

3:09

Marc: So we'll just lay it all on those shoulders. Melissa: No, no, that's silly.

3:13

Melissa: How are you? Marc: Doing very well actually.

3:17

Marc: Your folks said you had a chat with your producer so I gave me a chance to go and I'd go and pop into my studio and record some stuff.

3:23

Marc: So actually it was very efficient. Marc: I got something out of the way I needed to get done.

3:26

Melissa: Do you work from home? Marc: I do, I do.

3:28

Melissa: Oh cool. Marc: I took a break from acting because my teenagers were kind of aging to the point where it's like my second kids now going off to college Whoa And COVID, and all that is like, you know, i'm just going to chill out at home.

3:43

Melissa: Wait, does this mean you don't have anyone at home anymore?

3:46

Melissa: Is that the last one? Marc: I got a 16-year-old daughter who's starting her junior year, so she's the last one.

3:53

Marc: This is like a slow emptying of the nest, so I'm How does that feel?

4:00

Marc: That's a really good question. Marc: Let's see here.

4:04

Marc: Let me lay down on the sofa here and go A little bit of therapy. Marc: Actually, I'm so proud of them because of who they are and where they're going, but it's like I have, like on my monitors right here in my studio.

4:16

Marc: I've got a picture of my kids back when they were, like you know, 9, 8, and 6, I think, And I'm sitting there going.

4:22

Marc: That was two seconds ago, I think. Marc: So it's kind of wild.

4:25

Marc: They're getting off to school. Marc: Proud of them, I'm finding I'm trying to evolve ways of busying myself because I think once they're all off to school, then I think that's going to be an interesting experience.

4:41

Marc: But I'm actually My youngest wants to go to school. Marc: She was looking at UCLA, now it's Texas or something.

4:46

Marc: So I'm going to be moving. Melissa: Oh, out of state.

4:49

Marc: Oh yeah, she wants to get the heck out of Dodge. Marc: Now, i'm originally from Dallas, lived in Southern California, but now in New Orleans, so this is where my ex-wife lives here.

4:58

Marc: So it's kind of like if you marry somebody from New Orleans, whether you're still married to them or not, you always end up staying in New Orleans for a period of time which this was kind of Hollywood South for half a second, so for well, not half a second.

5:10

Marc: It was really busy before a lot of stuff went to Atlanta.

5:13

Melissa: That's right. Marc: But everybody from LA is moving to Texas, it seems like.

5:17

Marc: So you know, maybe I should. Melissa: Texas or Georgia.

5:21

Marc: Yeah, i'm a native Texas, so maybe I'm just going to move all the crazy politics there aside.

5:27

Marc: It's a good place to set up shop, but now you're originally from Canada, correct?

5:34

Marc: Now, where in Canada are you from? Marc: I? Melissa: was born and raised in Calgary.

5:37

Melissa: I spent most of my time in Toronto, though, from the time I was 16.

5:41

Marc: So you think casting with Nathan Phillion had anything to do with the fact that you're from Canada?

5:45

Marc: You think that gave you a leg up, since he's from there as well, or do you think that was not even a factor?

5:51

Melissa: Well, probably not, but it doesn't hurt to have something to share with someone in the room.

5:58

Marc: Yeah, he's. Marc: You know, every time I hear him, whenever he's in an interview, he's such an affable guy, You know.

6:04

Marc: He seems like he's. Melissa: Have you met him? Marc: I have not.

6:06

Marc: I've wanted to. Marc: My two oldest, my 19 and eight well, next a few weeks 18-year-old love the rookie.

6:14

Marc: You know that's their thing. Marc: That's kind of one of those few things we can still kind of sit down and watch together.

6:19

Marc: They love watching the rookie and I believe you're one of the favorite characters, So I'm sure they're going to be very jealous that they weren't here today.

6:28

Marc: But y'all are going into season, is it four?

6:32

Marc: Is that what's about to start? Melissa: We're filming season five right now.

6:36

Marc: You're filming five right now. Marc: Okay, now going back to real quick kind of hitting rewind into the origin story, because I was very pleasantly surprised.

6:46

Marc: The whole Canadian Idol thing Did that launch, do you know, roughly the same time as American Idol did, or did it kind of come a few years later?

6:54

Marc: Was it kind of in parallel with what was going on down here? Melissa: I don't know.

6:58

Melissa: I don't think so. Melissa: I think that a few years of American Idol happened before Canadian Idol launched.

7:03

Marc: I know in one of the episodes they alluded to the whole American Idol thing.

7:08

Marc: Was that something that they were just trying to work something in where, okay, we got to get her to sing somehow on an episode?

7:15

Melissa: I think that they were trying to include that.

7:19

Melissa: I'm not sure if they were aware of it, but you know, we were airing around the same time.

7:24

Melissa: I think Idol was our lead-in, and so it was like a fun way to do a crossover and they decided to put that piece in.

7:33

Marc: That was very cool. Marc: At that time I didn't know that you had one Canadian Idol.

7:39

Marc: I mean, you're very young. Marc: You were like 17, 17, 18 when you won.

7:44

Marc: What was that like? Marc: going back, i mean, many moons ago, when I was roughly 17, i started working on the radio in Dallas and I thought that was kind of a heady thing.

7:54

Marc: I thought it was all famous and stuff for like two seconds.

7:57

Marc: But at that age what's it like to actually have that much attention put on you and you win, and now there is an expectation of performing.

8:05

Marc: What was that like back then, being that age? Melissa: It was really uncomfortable.

8:10

Melissa: Yeah, i don't think that you know, if I could.

8:14

Melissa: I mean, maybe it's different now because a lot of young people with technology and Instagram and social media, there's a lot of kids that are kind of trained from the time they're very young to be in front of cameras and to center themselves.

8:30

Melissa: But at the time it was really uncomfortable And I think a big part of that experience is what kind of led me to being interested in ensemble work and working in groups.

8:43

Melissa: I'm not terribly thrilled about being a solo act or a centerpiece.

8:48

Melissa: It's a lot of pressure and I don't really have any aspirations for fame.

8:52

Marc: Yeah, that's funny, the thing you said about teenagers my 16-year-old.

8:55

Marc: oddly, she hates when I take pictures of her. Marc: She can't stand her pictures.

8:58

Marc: When her friends take pictures and want to post it on Instagram.

9:01

Marc: She wants to have nothing to do with that, which is kind of makes me happy a little bit, because the polar opposite is just.

9:07

Marc: You're right. Marc: That's a really wonderful way of putting it. Marc: A lot of the kids now are trained to showcase themselves.

9:13

Melissa: This is a part of the zeitgeist.

9:15

Melissa: It's like the thing to do these days.

9:18

Marc: Yeah, everybody's creating content And some of them are, like I, kind of like a little anonymity sometimes.

9:25

Marc: But the question immediately thereafter, after you won and you said you were working on ensemble stuff, you were working on stage.

9:36

Marc: what were you doing predominantly on stage?

9:39

Marc: And the second half of that question is how did that end up leading to you being on camera?

9:48

Melissa: I think I was on tour at the time when I got a call to audition for a stage production that ended up running for quite a while.

9:56

Melissa: We did the North American Premier of Turdy dancing and I think they were having a hard time finding like a pop singer, And so that's how I landed on to that show and I really loved working in an ensemble group.

10:09

Melissa: It was exciting to be doing something creative with my voice, not needing to be the centerpiece especially as like a young person who wasn't terribly comfortable in their body And to also have the opportunity to really work with people who had a pedigree.

10:30

Melissa: You know, because I left, I didn't go to post-secondary, I was out of high school at a very young age and then working, And it was really educational and inspiring to be around people who had gone to post-secondary for acting, for dancing, for singing.

10:47

Melissa: They were so knowledgeable and I learned a lot during the eight, ten years, Wow.

10:55

Marc: Wow, it's kind of a big maturing phase. Melissa: Yeah, it really was.

10:58

Marc: I can't imagine being that age, being on your own touring.

11:01

Marc: Is it like American Idol where after the show, i guess Top 10 or the finalist if you will all go on tour together.

11:09

Marc: Is that kind of how it works? Melissa: No, it was just the runner-up and I we toured, i think we did like 36 cities.

11:17

Melissa: But I mean, do you remember the summer, the two months of your summer, when you were 17?

11:24

Marc: Yes. Melissa: It's a really like brief.

11:27

Melissa: Oh well, that sounds like it must have been a really good summer.

11:29

Melissa: That I'm very curious to hear about that.

11:32

Marc: Well, I can neither confirm nor deny. Marc: You can hear about the radio station.

11:36

Marc: No, it's funny because my focus was on work.

11:39

Marc: I was talking with my daughter, the one who wants to go off to college somewhere else And I said you know, one of the regrets I had in school was that I didn't focus as much on the fun and the social.

11:52

Marc: I was focused on where I wanted to go, and that's you know so weekends.

11:56

Marc: I was working on the radio and I was just so focused on work I forgot to stop and be 17 or 18, you know.

12:03

Marc: I'm making up for it now I guess. Marc: But yeah, that is, that's pretty young, to be kind of out there on your own and touring out And your family the only one who sings or does something theatrical or acts, or do you come from a family of performers?

12:16

Melissa: I mean they perform in their own way, but I wouldn't say that they do it professionally or for a living.

12:21

Melissa: I think for a long time my family, my mom in particular because she's Chinese she was just like waiting for me to have some type of backup plan.

12:29

Melissa: But you know it's over. Melissa: Like I was, you know I got into it.

12:33

Melissa: I think I auditioned when I was still 16, i turned 17 on the show and I just turned 34.

12:38

Melissa: Like I've been doing this now. Marc: So you turned 17 on the show, so you're 16 when you started, wow, okay.

12:44

Melissa: Yeah, when I auditioned. Melissa: yeah, So it's been a long time.

12:49

Marc: Well, i was enamored. Marc: I caught a video your mother's from Hong Kong, correct?

12:54

Marc: Which I have a great love for Hong Kong. Marc: My grandfather my like grandfather used to work in women's fashions and clothes just stuff He had manufactured in Hong Kong.

13:02

Marc: I was back when Made in China had kind of a negative connotation.

13:06

Marc: but Hong Kong has always been like he would go every year and have a suit made.

13:09

Marc: You know every every time you went to Hong. Marc: Kong. Marc: I always have wanted to travel there and the food is really what I'm kind of down with checking out.

13:18

Marc: I happen to run across a video of your mother showing you how to make spring rolls and talking about exploding spring roll.

13:26

Marc: I'm curious did you catch a lot of the?

13:29

Marc: did you absorb a lot of the cooking from your mother over the years?

13:33

Melissa: You know my mom makes all sorts of food.

13:36

Melissa: One of the best dishes I remember her making is actually Jamaican jerk chicken.

13:40

Melissa: She's just a really exceptional cook. Melissa: But no, i don't think I learned a lot.

13:47

Melissa: My mom kind of was separated from her heritage in a really big way because she left when she was a teenager.

13:55

Marc: Really. Melissa: And so, yeah, it's been a process of reclamation to reconnect with my heritage, and it's happened, incidentally, And you know we also know how to play the part.

14:09

Melissa: So when we were asked to take part in heritage month, we're like, well, let's make some spring rolls.

14:16

Melissa: You know my mom loves spring rolls though, and her spring rolls are amazing and delicious.

14:22

Melissa: But, yeah, I mean it would have been kind of funny if we kind of like popped on and like made jerk chicken though.

14:28

Marc: No, that would have been awesome, that would have been like I did not expect that.

14:33

Marc: And no, my kids and I just were down on a cruise and we went to Montego Bay and we went to this place called Scotchies in Jamaica And they grilled.

14:41

Marc: I mean, it's old school. Marc: They don't use like grill grates, they use sticks, like wood, you know, and they grill.

14:46

Marc: I'm telling you, if you're ever in Jamaica, this place, i think, like Anthony Bourdain and like Andrew Zimmer and those guys, everybody pops into this place.

14:55

Marc: So I had to be a tourist and do it And I ate way, too, way too much.

15:00

Marc: Now, your father, but your father, if I, if what I'm seeing is correct, is Irish correct.

15:08

Marc: So now, did you get any of the bangers and mash from his side, any kind of?

15:12

Melissa: I love potatoes. Melissa: I mean, look at me, i love potatoes.

15:16

Melissa: No, i mean my dad. Melissa: let's see, i think actually my dad thought we were Irish and it's kind of inherent in our surname.

15:24

Melissa: But I did quite a bit of digging a few years back, when I think it was like 29 or something like that, and I found we were.

15:33

Melissa: He was a strange. Melissa: He didn't know his paternal side of the family And I found them because I'm an elder millennial so I'm really good at internetting And I found his entire paternal family, which is wild because I also feel kind of disconnected from it.

15:51

Melissa: Even I can tell him the way I'm speaking about it. Melissa: But yeah, i don't.

15:57

Melissa: I don't, we're not actually Irish, we're Canadian through and through and through.

16:02

Melissa: I mean all the way back into the 1800s. Melissa: I'm talking like poor living in a tar shack with 12 other people Really Canadian.

16:11

Marc: So did you ever do that? Marc: 23 and me, or ancestry thing?

16:16

Melissa: Yeah, I did both just because I'm nerdy like that.

16:20

Melissa: No, I love that. Marc: Each one has an event.

16:22

Marc: I still haven't sent mine in yet. Marc: Side note, my father passed from COVID I'm losing track is year and a half, two years ago And and then so I'm so sorry.

16:36

Marc: No, no, no, no, it was. Marc: You know, a lot of people you know dealt with that And it was it was.

16:41

Marc: It was a little surprising when I went to Dallas to had lunch with a cousin and she said we are dinner and we're all out eating And she said, by the way, i got something to tell you.

16:51

Marc: I did the 23 and me and just FYI, you have a sister.

16:55

Marc: Like I grew up as an only child and we kind of found out I got a sibling.

16:59

Melissa: Like a half sister. Marc: Yeah, and that's so, it was like.

17:03

Marc: So, that was like you know. Marc: I guess I'm no longer an only child technically, which is you know this was in good years ago when I was growing up, I always wanted to have a sibling and I know people that have siblings like no, I don't want a sibling.

17:13

Melissa: Did you guys connect? Marc: We did. Marc: It was. Marc: It was.

17:16

Marc: It happened to be on that same trip. Marc: It was really neat.

17:19

Marc: So you had to and my father had already passed as she was asking some questions.

17:22

Marc: It was, it's a nice connection. Marc: She's got a family and she's a couple of years younger than me but she didn't understand how the connection happened And I put that.

17:30

Marc: I put that one together like that for us, so I kind of helped solve a little mystery for her And my, my kids.

17:36

Marc: So my kids were very like that's wild, because that wouldn't expect that was going to be part of my family.

17:42

Melissa: So he had a secret family. Marc: Well, no, he had a secret interlude that rendered Oh my God, and the lady and I got blessed, her she's.

17:52

Marc: She's like listen, my father, you know he still believes that's his child, and I mean he, she didn't have the heart to break it to him.

17:58

Marc: So it's a, it's a little thing, but it's.

18:01

Marc: You know that 23 and me, i'm going man, the other stuff people must have found out about by going through this thing.

18:07

Marc: Speaking of siblings, did you, did you, grow up with any, or are you an only kid that you know of?

18:12

Marc: I'm just kidding. Melissa: I'm totally joking. Melissa: No, i have an incredible younger brother.

18:19

Melissa: He's eight years my junior and he is he's just an exceptional young man And it's been really cool because they left home when I was young, so he was eight when I left home and getting to know him as an adult has been so cool.

18:37

Melissa: Like I would choose him as a friend even if we weren't siblings And he was out in November to visit and it really solidified our friendship, our friendship and our bond, and we visited like three different national parks.

18:54

Melissa: He stayed with me for about three weeks and we just had such a blast together.

18:58

Melissa: And on my recent hiatus we went down to Peru together.

19:01

Melissa: His name's Colin. Marc: I've always wanted to go down to Peru.

19:05

Melissa: Oh, you should go. Marc: South America is so interesting.

19:08

Marc: I've always went travel there. Marc: But what does he do?

19:11

Marc: Is he still in Canada, or did he move down here as well?

19:14

Melissa: Yeah, he's in Calgary, he works in an ophthalmology clinic and he basically runs these tests in the back that determine what type of difficulty someone is struggling with With their eyesight.

19:29

Melissa: And it was so fun listening to him talk about his job because I said, what do you find most interesting, like, what lights you up about it?

19:37

Melissa: And he was talking about how he learned he was learning how to be like sensitive and graceful and patient, because these elderly people would come in and get tested for glaucoma And it's like a beef test, so you see something and you got to press the button when you see it And there's a particular cadence for the beefs.

19:55

Melissa: But sometimes people will come in and they're in total denial about the loss of their vision and they'll just like press the button really rapidly because they're like I'll catch it at some point.

20:06

Melissa: And then my brother has had to and he says it happens rather frequently and he'll.

20:11

Melissa: He's talking about how he really finds joy in finding creative, loving and kind ways to explain to someone what to do without saying, hey, you're lying and you know, do the test, you know.

20:26

Marc: So I just think it's empathetic. Melissa: He is he is.

20:39

Marc: Has any of your other family made it down to the US, or are they all still in Calgary?

20:46

Melissa: Everyone is still in Alberta. Melissa: It would be nice to see my dad.

20:49

Melissa: I haven't seen him. Melissa: I haven't seen my mom or my dad since before the lockdown.

20:53

Marc: Oh my God, really. Melissa: Yeah, you know it's been.

20:58

Marc: Well, thank goodness for Skype and stuff like that, or Zoom or whatever have you?

21:03

Melissa: Yeah, yeah, it's been really nice.

21:06

Melissa: I mean, I certainly could have during the hiatus, but I really took our COVID compliance protocol quite seriously during work and I just couldn't bear the thought of being the person that like shut the whole thing down And so I, you know, even during Christmas, like I just stayed in my little LA house and didn't go anywhere.

21:30

Marc: And I feel for you, because I mean for you Christmas time.

21:33

Marc: Growing up has to be vastly different, you know. Marc: Just, you have snow, you know, and here you are Yeah.

21:40

Marc: But did y'all have those like COVID marshals or those people on set that you know were like cracking whips?

21:47

Announcer: Yeah, i was speaking with somebody yesterday who said they had people had vests on that either.

21:51

Marc: You know kind of policing things. Marc: But as far as, what do your folks do up there, your mom and dad?

21:58

Melissa: My mom works for the corporate company They sell like really big blinds to different like buildings, and my dad is an insurance adjuster and he also has a really interesting lens on his profession because he's usually the first person that people who are in crisis and dealing with like loss of their stuff, especially when like floods and stuff happen or, yeah, environmental issues.

22:23

Marc: Oh, I was. Marc: I was there almost a year ago Exactly.

22:27

Marc: This is. Marc: this is a new studio here. Marc: I'm in New Orleans, in Hurricane Ida, My whole ceiling and my place came down everywhere and it was just like nuts.

22:36

Marc: Oh, my God, and it sat there for like two, three weeks and people are realized with no AC.

22:42

Marc: when you have that, you walk in and mold is like it's like kind of walk in and going yep, making the call to state farm, you know, it's like oh, my God.

22:53

Marc: But I was. Marc: I lived in the Jimmy Buffett Margaritaville Resort in Biloxi, mississippi, for almost a month which was kind of cool, my golden retriever loved it.

23:03

Melissa: That is a long time. Marc: But the kids liked it also.

23:07

Marc: But kind of going back a little bit more in high school, what were you up to Was this was acting or singing or any kind of performance on the radar, Or were you more of a sporty kind of a kid, or what was going on then?

23:20

Melissa: I was your average overachiever Renaissance person.

23:24

Melissa: I was like on the rugby basketball.

23:27

Marc: Overachiever Renaissance person. Marc: I've got to use that as my own definition.

23:32

Melissa: Not just overachiever, your average overachiever.

23:35

Melissa: Okay, because there's lots of us.

23:38

Melissa: So, yeah, i was like doing basketball and rugby and trap You did.

23:45

Marc: They have girls rugby in Canada. Melissa: Really, yeah, i am.

23:50

Marc: I'm very fascinated by that. Marc: So no pads or anything, y'all are just running into each other.

23:56

Melissa: They're like me, pads. Marc: I need to go to Canada.

24:00

Marc: Y'all got stuff going on up there. Marc: I'm like I don't think they do that here, but I'm sorry to catch off there, but I just heard rugby, but that's great, so basketball.

24:08

Marc: They do other things down here, yeah, yeah. Melissa: And yeah, i was definitely into singing.

24:15

Melissa: I did vocal jazz and stuff, but I was always like scratching in the basement Like I would get upset and I would go downstairs and I would sing along to Jackie Velasquez.

24:26

Marc: What was that word? Marc: again, you were always what in the basement. Melissa: Scratching, scratching, just like screaming, oh okay.

24:33

Melissa: My parents always thought I was just like screaming in the basement. Melissa: But I was like singing.

24:35

Melissa: If I was feeling a lot that day, i would just go into the basement, i would sing And I kind of like snuck into a couple of talent shows And then that's kind of how auditioning for Idol came around, but that kind of unfolded into what's happening now.

24:52

Marc: What were you listening to in high school? Marc: What was your jam?

24:56

Melissa: There were three albums I had on repeat all the time.

24:59

Melissa: I was listening to Robin Bumpy Ride amazing album.

25:03

Melissa: I was listening to Aliyah AJ Nothin' Butta Number, so that really informed a lot of my music taste now.

25:10

Melissa: And then I was listening to Jackie Velasquez, who was this really amazing Latin Christian singer And I just loved her voice.

25:19

Melissa: And then my mom had a cassette tape of Les Mis And so it was really oh yeah.

25:24

Melissa: And then we watched Jesus Christ Superstar almost every Easter.

25:27

Marc: Really. Melissa: And so when I eventually did those two Broadway shows, that's kind of like the transition into screen, because I had already done Les Mis in Canada and then also on Broadway, and then I was doing JCS.

25:43

Melissa: And oh no, flip it the other way around. Melissa: I did JCS And then I was doing Les Mis And I was so like poor and hungry.

25:52

Melissa: I was living in East Harlem and you're working on Broadway and you think you're doing good and you're just so skinny because you're hungry And you're always going to the laundromat And I was so over it Like I really just it was the first time people talk about the power of intention and being clear about what you want in life, and a lot of the time I feel very.

26:17

Melissa: I feel like the winds are kind of pushing at my back, moving me around to where I'm supposed to go, and it was the first time when I was in New York that I was just like I'm done not having money.

26:28

Marc: I don't like going to the laundromat, it's not nice to have that clarity, though, when you are going, okay, this chapter needs to close and there's something else.

26:39

Marc: Because, sometimes that's, i think that's the hardest thing to do.

26:42

Marc: It's like so many choices, what do you make? Marc: And then what Sanford Meisner says act before you think your instincts are more honest than your thoughts.

26:51

Marc: In life you got to listen to your instincts, i think as well.

26:56

Marc: I think I saw it into meditation and you're kind of like you know, i don't know how to kind of roll that up into a lifestyle, but you're a little more the word is escaping me now But is that a big part of your life?

27:11

Marc: Is that the meditation or the kind of that kind of self-learning thing?

27:17

Melissa: Yeah, i think it's like the most important thing.

27:21

Melissa: It's like why we're here to do some remembering, but it requires a lot of uncovering to get to the heart of what's going on.

27:30

Melissa: But as it relates to acting, i mean the more that you're able to fully live your life and by that I mean be present for what's happening around you and also within you, the more I believe one is able to bring to a character, the more fully capable you are of embodying your life, including when you are avoiding yourself or experiencing emotions that maybe aren't as pleasant or kosher and neatly wrapped up.

28:05

Melissa: The more capable you are of being present for the totality of your experience, the more honestly you can represent a person whose shoes you're stepping into, and so it's not so much a function of my profession that led me to that space.

28:24

Melissa: However, it is because of the abundance that I receive through my profession that I'm able to devote as much time to these practices that I feel help me be a better human being, and personally, i feel more equipped to approach my work in a way that makes me feel like I'm being honest.

28:51

Marc: Yeah, nobody wants to feel like a faker when they are.

28:53

Marc: You know, you're playing characters like, and in a way, when you're doing that, i teach voiceover and one of the things I tell people.

29:01

Marc: It's like a flow, it's a vibe, you know, and it just comes out of you and you're not trying to do anything And I think that it's funny you say that.

29:08

Marc: I think that the gig kind of makes you do a little bit of evaluation in other ways that benefit you in your own life, outside of work, I think, especially in this industry.

29:19

Marc: You know now you said you were in New York on Broadway, which I think everybody thinks that's a pinnacle.

29:23

Marc: You're on Broadway, but what was a lifestyle like living there?

29:28

Marc: You know you mentioned the laundry. Marc: What's a lifestyle like as far as doing the?

29:34

Marc: you know doing the shows, and how many days a week and how much personal time do you have?

29:40

Marc: What's it like if you're on an active Broadway production?

29:43

Melissa: Yeah, you're doing age shows a week. Melissa: You don't have a personal life.

29:49

Melissa: It's kind of impossible. Melissa: I mean you can have a personal life and it's very.

29:52

Melissa: It's quite the juggling act And I really bow to people who are working on Broadway and have like a family and everything, because it's a really arduous schedule and you have to, especially if you're singing, you have to live saintly because your vocal cords are I mean, you know they're such a tender part of the body and you cannot abuse them if you want them to perform at, you know, near Olympian feats And like JCS and Les Mis not for everybody but for a great deal of the company, like it's their rock operas.

30:32

Melissa: You're doing a lot with your voice and you're feeling a lot.

30:36

Melissa: So most of the time the schedule is really like go to work, sleep, sleep while you're there on double show days, go home, try to get in a workout, try to remember to eat.

30:49

Melissa: Yeah, you're commuting a lot but I love it.

30:52

Melissa: I love the bustle in New York. Melissa: I feel a lot of resonance with The concentration of people who are on their way and I feel like maybe not as much anymore, but I feel like there used to be this like New York We get a bad rap about people being crusty, but it's not actually like that.

31:08

Melissa: If you take the time to say hello and like make eye contact with somebody, everyone I've never had an issue.

31:14

Melissa: Yeah, I don't know why people think that. Marc: I think people are just.

31:17

Marc: I think people are a little bit more honest and right now I'm from the south and You know, whenever it says oh, somebody says oh, dear, bless your heart, they're not technically saying something nice you know, it's.

31:28

Marc: They're kind of like saying you're a dumbass aren't you No that's kind of the thing which in New York, people are.

31:34

Marc: Just they'll say what's on their mind. Marc: I appreciate we actually I was supposed to move up there.

31:38

Marc: I remember September 12th 2001. Marc: We're supposed to move into a place called Liberty Plaza in battery park and my ex-wife and I were we're gonna move in there and clearly Everything happened.

31:49

Marc: That happened September 11th and went up there a month later.

31:52

Marc: I was like I was so amped about moving to New York as gonna work doing part-time at a radio station, do voiceover and hopefully act.

31:59

Marc: And And then I was like, yeah, this for a new married couple.

32:02

Marc: This is not ever, you know. Marc: You know it's a little more rough of an atmosphere, but I can tell that when everything calmed down, it would just be a pretty magical place to live.

32:11

Marc: If, especially if, you're in your early 20s, i think that's an amazing time to live in New York.

32:18

Marc: But Making the transition to California was that there's that based on you going I want to do on camera Or you were you just kind of like I want to do something different?

32:27

Marc: How did how did you make that that? Marc: Was it for a gig?

32:30

Marc: How'd you make the move to LA? Melissa: Well, coming to LA wasn't my first on-camera job.

32:36

Melissa: I was in New York when that happened and My dear agent, who's like two months younger than me He had just taken over the film and television department And I'd been with the agency for several years and he was kind of like why hasn't, why isn't Melissa auditioning for television?

32:52

Melissa: And he randomly sent me an email to which I replied who is this?

32:56

Melissa: I, i don't know. Melissa: When people do those like blind emails, it's like it's nice to you know, make introductions.

33:02

Melissa: In any case, those first two auditions he sent me, i screen tested for both of them and when I booked and that brought me back to Canada where I filmed three years on this Wicked show that I love so much called dark matter, or just in sci-fi, sci-fi land in space, kicking ass and And.

33:24

Melissa: And then when that closed out, there was like a summer where I was doing, you know, i was guest starring on different shows and During the run of dark matter, the man who, adam, who became my manager down here, he had been reaching out and he was like you should come to LA, i would love to represent you.

33:39

Melissa: And I was like I Was very clear with him, i had no interest in like moving to LA to try to make a go of it, like that's not in my blood.

33:48

Melissa: If if I book a job, i won't, i will move, but I'm not going to completely relocate to the states to like try to make it happen.

33:56

Melissa: And There was this pilot that came on his desk and it was for the rookie and he was raving about it.

34:03

Melissa: He thought it was incredible and it was the first time.

34:06

Melissa: I had just lost my grandmother and so I was in Calgary visiting my family and It was the first time that I actually involved my entire family in the process of doing a self-tape, like I think my brother read with me.

34:20

Melissa: My mom reviewed the takes, my dad looked at the tags and you know they didn't really know what they were commenting on, but they're like it looks great, i guess, and I sent it off.

34:29

Melissa: And Shortly thereafter, when I was in New York visiting with a friend, i got a call to head out to LA to do a chemistry test, and so I booked the rookie And then I lived in an Airbnb for like a little while when we Shot the pilot, and then that first season, and then I made the move down here properly in the second season.

34:54

Marc: Yeah, what was it like, though? Marc: because you knew, came on, you know you had a relation, your character had a relationship with Nathan Fillian's character, but he's also technically the boss, or whatever.

35:02

Marc: You know, and this is your first big US show.

35:06

Marc: What was that is it? Marc: was that a little bit heady for you?

35:09

Marc: was that? Marc: Were there a lot of nerves or What?

35:13

Melissa: was it like No, i mean, well, let's see.

35:18

Melissa: So in my audition, which I was well prepped for, i, i completely was blanking on the entire content of my, my side of the scene in this chemistry test and I was cold and I was tired and I just lost my grandma and In the middle of that, in the room filled with execs like ABC, all of the EPs, the showrunner, i I was like I got up to some squats and And I could tell everyone was like And I pop some squats, i pop some squats, i got some blood flowing and then I killed it in the next version of the scene that we did.

36:03

Melissa: This is what I'm talking about with regards to what we were discussing a little while ago.

36:07

Melissa: As far as I've been able to be with your experience, honor the truth of it and keep going, and I can't say that Like, listen, i think Nathan is a very handsome and charming man.

36:21

Melissa: Does. Melissa: Does his capacity as an executive producer, as my boss, make me nervous now?

36:27

Melissa: And it wouldn't no matter who it was, because at the end of the day, these are human beings.

36:31

Melissa: The same way, i'm a human being with my human experience, and If there's like any takeaway for me that I would share in this space, for anyone who's listening, is that those.

36:44

Melissa: Any time you get to a certain level, it's like everybody in the room wants you to win.

36:48

Melissa: They don't have you in there to like waste your time, waste their time.

36:52

Melissa: They want you to win, and so the important thing is to claim that space.

36:56

Melissa: Do whatever you need to do to feel That you are at your best, including popping some squats, if that's what you need to do in a room filled with strangers and And and get there, like just get there.

37:10

Melissa: So no, and you know it certainly doesn't hurt that they're all exceptionally kind human beings.

37:16

Melissa: You know, i didn't ever feel strange and I I believe that that's equal parts the frequency that you come into a space with as Well as how you're being received.

37:28

Melissa: But to allow a bunch of strangers, regardless of their status, to kind of Impact your Central channel, i think, is giving up power.

37:40

Melissa: That you need it, do you know, especially in an industry That needs to be self-propelled.

37:45

Marc: I mean that's Maturity that has to have come through just doing it.

37:49

Marc: What you're I mean, like you said, going back to when you're on Broadway or anything, even Canadian Idol and all that.

37:55

Marc: I mean that that was obviously by then you're looking at, this is a job, but it's a big deal.

38:01

Marc: A big network series, especially when going into season five, that's that's.

38:04

Marc: You know, that's the, that's the dream, right there, especially when you have like well, how many episodes do you all shoot a season roughly?

38:11

Melissa: Well, i think it was like 18 and then 20, and then COVID was like 14 and then and then back to 20, i think, i think, i think yeah, cuz that's because now I was speaking with someone yesterday who they're doing something for one of the streamers and.

38:25

Marc: That's 8 to 10 episodes. Marc: So you know it's it's a little different of a paradigm.

38:31

Marc: I mean, it's a different commitment. Marc: Is it pretty rigorous doing a show that many episodes in a season We met?

38:37

Marc: you know you mentioned the COVID thing, but outside of COVID, what's, what's the workflow like for you?

38:42

Marc: Are you working every, every day? Melissa: I mean, i think in the first couple of seasons It it felt a little bit more consistent because our our core group of characters was a smaller group and As the seasons have gone on and we've added more characters that are central to the story And we have more regulars, it really has turned into an ensemble show And so sometimes, like, let's say, the episode is heavily featuring your character, then, yeah, you might be in for Every day that week.

39:14

Melissa: Are you gonna be in top to bottom? Melissa: It's not likely, but you might be in every day and then, if you're light on the episode, you might work anywhere from three days on that episode, five days on that episode.

39:25

Melissa: So it's been really neat to see the evolution of the show, not only in what ends up being the end product, but also with what Seems to me to be like this evolution of a work-life balance.

39:39

Melissa: That is such an incredible luxury.

39:42

Melissa: You know And I think that comes from top-down Nathan's been doing this for a long time and he wants to have a balanced experience And so, because that's being spoken about and discussed, it kind of trickles down to the rest of us as well, which is like such a gift.

40:00

Marc: Yeah, i heard him in another interview and once again we got a. Marc: I gotta do some.

40:03

Marc: I would love to talk with him, but it were a lot of sets.

40:06

Marc: I think he I'm paraphrasing a little bit I think I think any actor who's done this for a while has been on some gnarly uncomfortable, see, you know, situations.

40:16

Marc: But I think he wanted to kind of the antithesis of that. Marc: I think he wanted this to be kind of more, you know, professional, chill people with bad vibes, don't you know?

40:23

Marc: It's not part of the ecosystem that he wants. Marc: And you know, and I, it seems like being able to go to work and it's cool, cool situation in and a great show And then being able to drive right back home.

40:35

Marc: You know You're not. Marc: This is not like where you're staying at a hotel and some, you know remote location shooting.

40:40

Marc: You know a film. Marc: What's that like to be able to just go right back home Is it?

40:44

Marc: is it something you prefer? Marc: or do you kind of want to get out?

40:48

Marc: and you know, do films and beyond location and stuff like that?

40:51

Melissa: you know, i think my My attitude towards it is similar to the feeling I have in an audition space, which is like there is a.

41:04

Melissa: This is an interesting topic for me. Melissa: On one hand, i have a very deep trust that what is for me is for me and that if This is the experience I'm having, then there's lots to glean from it, and I try not to spend too much time going oh, but it's not this and it's not that.

41:21

Melissa: And at the same time, i am coming around to understanding that there's a lot of value in aspiring for something.

41:31

Melissa: And When my thoughts drift into that space, i notice that my aspirations don't exist so much in my professional life as they do in my life off-camera, the experiential aspect of me.

41:46

Melissa: Professionally, i don't have aspirations so much of like oh, i'd love to do, like a film that's in Hawaii or something like that.

41:53

Melissa: Like that sounds great, but I'm not like pining for it.

41:56

Melissa: My professional pinings kind of lean towards Content creation, which I have a hard time pulling the trigger on.

42:03

Melissa: So, yeah, i'm sure that would be great, though.

42:07

Melissa: I love going home. Melissa: I love going home. Melissa: I'm a homebody, i'm a canceran.

42:11

Melissa: I like to be at home. Marc: Well, i'm learning.

42:14

Marc: I'm an aquarium. Marc: I don't know what that means, but I know it's The.

42:19

Marc: Did you so? Marc: did you say ooh? Marc: Oh, i thought I said it was like oh, you're one of those.

42:25

Marc: No, So, as far as when you say content creation, are you meaning just acting, or are you meaning like do you do other things creatively?

42:34

Marc: What do you do when you're not professionally creating?

42:40

Marc: what do you like to do creation-wise?

42:44

Marc: Me besides making spring rolls, of course. Melissa: Yeah, well, most of the time I'm reading, and I'm reading about all of the stuff that we've already discussed.

42:56

Melissa: I have a hard time with fiction and yet I have a lot of inspiration from my family.

43:02

Melissa: You know, not everybody's family life is going to be a good material for Stories, but I there's something in my mother's story in particular that I think would make a phenomenal short film, and it's been something that I've been Percolating with and I have like outlines and I start writing and then I get a little.

43:23

Melissa: I Have imposter syndrome when it comes to that space and I understand, or rather I see and am rather intimidated by What appears to me to be like a mountain of a task to not only complete the writing of something but then to step into the shoes of a producer and really like sell your idea to people to make it happen.

43:49

Melissa: I think it's, uh, it looks like an incredible gauntlet.

43:53

Melissa: The people that do take it to completion, um, and so it's something that I quietly am like gosh, i would, i would love that, i would really like to set out the steps, the small attainable goals to complete something like that.

44:09

Melissa: Um, and I hope that as I mature, that I will kind of shed these fears so that I can just get into executing and not thinking about it.

44:19

Marc: It could just be a hobby right now. Marc: Yeah, You could get a final draft, put it on your computer or in just just play with it and create, and I think that, um, god, i was reading a, um the books up here uh, save the cat.

44:33

Marc: about screenplay writing uh, not too long.

44:36

Marc: Cause I do that just kind of for fun And I think it's just well.

44:38

Marc: I don't know if I'll ever sell a screenplay, but there's something cathartic about sitting down, you got a story and how does it play out?

44:44

Marc: You know, and I think just about everybody has imposter syndrome.

44:48

Marc: I don't, i think every, i think a vast majority of the people you live around in LA probably have imposter syndrome.

44:54

Marc: But you know even people that are successful. Marc: I think that's kind of a component, part of things.

44:59

Marc: I think if you don't have a little bit of like nerves that you know some some things a little off, you know but, um, you know you're.

45:07

Marc: You said your mother's story, she being from Hong Kong, but she left and she didn't really have a chance to kind of.

45:14

Marc: If I am I right in saying she never had a chance to really make that connection to that being her lineage or place or, you know, having traditions and stuff like that, she really didn't absorb a lot of that.

45:24

Marc: Is that what you're saying? Melissa: Yeah, i mean without getting all the way into it.

45:28

Melissa: My mom ran away from home, um and so, and, and where she landed was not with her family And then she ended up, you know, getting pregnant by some white guy and had me.

45:40

Melissa: So it's like it's. Melissa: It's just, it feels like there's a lot of um, topical things, especially with regards to what's happening in the world these days, and, um, yeah, the autonomy of a young woman who is trying to do something brave, albeit rebellious.

45:58

Melissa: I just I think it's a really cool coming of age story And it also happens to involve all of the things that I think are, um, that make a good story and, like youth, sex, drugs, love, it's got all of it.

46:13

Marc: I think that'd be wonderful to tell that story, though You, you should, you should put it together, yeah, and that's so cool that it could be something from your family that you get to bring.

46:22

Marc: It's not just something out of your imagination Well, it is out of your imagination, but it's something born of you know your mother's deal, you know, and you get to tell the story, and I think it's pretty fantastic.

46:32

Marc: But that was great.

46:39

Marc: I I one of the things I want to do and I always enjoy doing, is I always have my seven questions.

46:44

Marc: I like to ask It was a kind of wrap up, it's just a little fun additional get to know you, uh, and the first question I always ask is I'm always about the food uh, is what is your favorite comfort food?

46:54

Marc: That thing that it's like and I'm sure you've, you're deeply acquainted with it, i mean COVID, being at home, that thing.

47:01

Marc: It kind of kind of chills you out, brings you back home, makes you feel good.

47:05

Marc: For what is that? Marc: I'm sorry. Melissa: For baby.

47:10

Melissa: Yeah, yeah Oh yeah, absolutely.

47:13

Marc: But what do you like in your father? Marc: Are you a meatball person?

47:16

Marc: You like the brisket. Melissa: No, You know, when I was a little kid, I definitely used to eat those like weird beef meatballs, but they're not actually.

47:22

Melissa: you know meatballs but they're not actually beef. Melissa: They're just like this, like mashup of parts, probably.

47:28

Marc: Borderline knows what it is. Marc: Yeah. Melissa: Yeah, but I love a good bone broth.

47:32

Melissa: You know I really love a delicious.

47:35

Melissa: Actually, my favorite thing at a restaurant are the vermicelli bowls.

47:41

Melissa: Like I like a cold noodle salad with like some spring rolls and then maybe like a little bit of chicken.

47:46

Melissa: I'm trying not to eat that much meat these days, but that like takes me home, like I'm instantly in Calgary, in the Northeast, going somewhere.

47:54

Melissa: Somebody brings my dad a fork and he's like I can use chopsticks, like I can.

47:58

Melissa: It's like I'm instantly back there. Marc: So yeah, Now on a scale of one to 10, where are you at?

48:03

Melissa: on the spiciness, though, I depend on my mood.

48:06

Melissa: I can go there, i can go there. Marc: Okay. Melissa: I've ruined other people's fud before because I'm like, oh, you got to try this.

48:11

Melissa: And then and they're like try it, and they're like I can't eat this And I learned to not season other people's food anymore.

48:17

Marc: Yeah, I can do that with my kids.

48:20

Marc: You know, their big thing is Samba Ola. Announcer: You know, it's kind of like just it's.

48:23

Marc: It shows up in lots of stuff. Marc: So we can handle the spice, but I like.

48:27

Marc: I like to broth to be nice and spicy. Melissa: You know, that's my thing Yum.

48:31

Marc: But you can tell, i haven't had lunch yet today, so I'm talking about free.

48:34

Melissa: I know I'm sorry, that's my fault. Marc: No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, that's my fault, I just I'm working like a fiend.

48:39

Marc: You know Now, if you're to sit down like yeah, three people, you're going to be sitting down at a coffee shop and it could be anybody, but you want to have four people, you and three people together, few hours talking story.

48:51

Marc: Who would those three people be living or not?

48:55

Melissa: Ron Murphy. Melissa: He's a director in Canada.

48:58

Melissa: He's an exceptional human being as well as a fantastic storyteller.

49:03

Melissa: He yeah, he's incredible. Melissa: So that will only land with some people, but it should land with everybody, because Ron Murphy is an incredibly human being.

49:13

Melissa: And then another guy I'm just going to go. Melissa: It's another person nobody's going to know.

49:18

Melissa: His name is Vlad. Melissa: He lives in Peru and owns this retreat center.

49:24

Melissa: And this dude is Czech but has lived in Peru for the last 20 years, and he is a deeply steeped person in psychedelic medicines And he is just a fascinating human being with lots of I don't want to say war stories, but he is a journeyer and he's got some really amazing tales to tell.

49:45

Marc: I've always wanted to meet somebody like that.

49:48

Marc: I was a big like. Marc: Anthony Bourdain was kind of my spirit animal.

49:51

Marc: I always loved watching it And I was like that's the job. Marc: I want to go meet, go out into the world and meet these random people.

49:58

Marc: Now the next question I got is when you were young, who was your very first celebrity crush?

50:05

Melissa: Celebrity crush Gosh.

50:11

Melissa: I don't know if I ever had one. Melissa: If I had one, it was like a cartoon.

50:15

Melissa: maybe I'm trying to think of like, the first like, if I ever had that feeling about like.

50:22

Marc: Or maybe the first person or actor or whatever that you just like.

50:27

Marc: You want to start following them, that they, that something resonated with you when you were young.

50:31

Announcer: I've never, Oh no, not literally following them.

50:36

Melissa: Okay, okay, okay. Melissa: I was at a concert.

50:38

Melissa: I'd never felt this before And at this point, you know, because we did comedy and I don't be like met some personalities, you know, and I remember each time people would like freak out and I didn't really have a thing.

50:47

Melissa: And then one time I was, i went to a concert and it was a Janet Jackson concert and I was like this is fine, this is cool.

50:54

Melissa: And then she walked out on stage and I had that thing that you see, some people have, where they're like they're having a hard time breathing and they're checking And their chest feels funny.

51:04

Melissa: I had that with Janet Jackson, like when I saw her come out.

51:06

Melissa: I was like oh, like yeah, I my body started doing something that I didn't understand, like physiologically, Like I just it was hard to breathe.

51:14

Melissa: I was so far away from her but it was like actually Janet in the flesh.

51:17

Melissa: It was so strange And part of what made it worse was that I was noticing it and I was.

51:24

Melissa: all I could think was like what is happening to? Melissa: my body right now.

51:27

Melissa: But yeah, i don't know if I've ever had a crush, though A big part of me having that sensation is like I kind of like I get crushes and I fall in love with like personalities, you know, so like like the actual person, so yeah, Very cool, i like that.

51:44

Marc: Yeah, i remember seeing Janet Jackson's God back in my radio days.

51:49

Marc: Anyway, she was amazing She did a great it was.

51:54

Marc: I remember Black Cat was a song she was playing, anyway, but she is a show person, most certainly.

52:00

Marc: Now, let's say you're going to be living on an exotic island.

52:02

Marc: Next question is wrapping up.

52:05

Marc: It's an island you want to be on for a year. Marc: It's beautiful, it's awesome, but no streaming, no internet, no nothing.

52:11

Melissa: I was like there's no water. Marc: No, okay, it's time for you LA people to rough it.

52:18

Marc: No, i'm just kidding, no, it's no, you have everything.

52:21

Marc: It's a resort. Marc: It could be just you know, something amazing, but there is no way to listen to music or watch movies or anything.

52:26

Marc: So you got to bring one CD with you, one album, and one DVD, a movie.

52:31

Marc: What would that CD and movie be to kind of you can kind of tap into for your entire year?

52:37

Melissa: Oh boy, okay, let's see A CD.

52:43

Marc: I think a CD It'd be so awesome if you said one of mine No.

52:51

Melissa: No, no, that'd be awesome.

52:58

Melissa: Oh man, like my brain, i want to say something like super cool and moody and current, but I think you need like all of the colors sometimes, and so I would probably choose like like the game, maybe like Queen the game.

53:18

Melissa: I love that album. Marc: Oh yeah. Melissa: It's got like it has everything in it.

53:23

Melissa: You know what I mean. Melissa: Or, or, or the Miss Education of Lauryn Hill.

53:28

Melissa: Like my favorite song on the game besides them having all of the crazy hits is Sail Away, Sweet Sister.

53:35

Melissa: Oh my God, that song, Like it's got the ballads, It's got the stuff when you need to chop wood, and you're like, yeah, you know, like it has all of the things that you might want to experience and feel supported in.

53:46

Marc: But I would also say What part of LA are you living in where you chopping wood?

53:49

Marc: I'm just kind of curious. Melissa: I'm on an island now.

53:52

Melissa: This is your home, Oh that's right.

53:54

Marc: That's right. Marc: I thought that you had some wood chopping.

53:57

Marc: Okay, you're chopping up a palm tree, Yeah because I need fire and um and uh.

54:04

Melissa: So okay, so a DVD. Marc: So if I'm practical, that's funny you say that I forgot that that album was so eclectic It was uh.

54:12

Marc: yeah, that was awesome. Marc: I like that. Melissa: Yeah, it's a good album.

54:15

Marc: But go on. Marc: I'm sorry. Melissa: It's okay, and if I'm going to do a DVD, i'd say like maybe, depending on the island I'm starting to run, i would get like one of the seasons of alone, so I could like learn from them.

54:30

Melissa: Do you watch that show? Marc: Alone. Marc: No, no, no, what's?

54:33

Marc: Oh my God, Marc, I feel like I have a homework assignment now.

54:37

Melissa: Yeah, i know you really do Watch season eight first, so alone it's kind of like naked and afraid, but way better because people aren't naked and also, everything they have to do, everything they film, they have to film it themselves.

54:48

Melissa: They're survivalists. Melissa: They get dropped off in these different places.

54:51

Melissa: They got Patagonia one year, bc, alaska twice and like whoever makes it in the most recent seasons, whoever makes it like a hundred days, you have to build your own shelter, you have to catch your own food, everything.

55:02

Melissa: You have to do everything by yourself. Melissa: So I would have a DVD of that so that I could make sure that I don't die and just like learn from them.

55:10

Melissa: Or Um Sunseed, which is a really lovely DVD compilation of a lot of spiritual teachers, so that I could continue learning and unfolding.

55:24

Marc: That I'm so fascinated It's like you're such a pleasure to you know of all the people I've spoken with Not I've spoken with wonderful people.

55:31

Announcer: Very fascinating, but Do I win? Melissa: Do I win the competition You?

55:34

Marc: win. Marc: Actually, i was thinking of something.

55:38

Marc: I got this little thing in South Padre Island.

55:40

Marc: We have a. Marc: We go down there every year at South Texas coast and my kids and I and I found this whole thing.

55:45

Marc: It's almost like uh and and the late. Marc: I went into this place and I'll show you in a second, and she's, and I was looking for something.

55:51

Marc: I got chachkies and stuff all over my desk and all over my speakers And I found this neat little thing.

55:56

Marc: It's each little stone. Marc: I'll go and show you.

56:00

Marc: I don't know if you can, if my camera will zoom. Marc: Each one of those is a different kind of stone which has different vibratory, yeah, and at the very top is some kind of energy cause.

56:12

Marc: How much do I believe? Marc: I don't. Marc: I just thought it looked really cool.

56:15

Marc: I said everything you're saying is like that's the kind of stuff I imagine finding around your house, kind of like your.

56:21

Melissa: Yeah, i know you can kind of see some of my stations set up.

56:25

Melissa: I do have some, i have some chachkies, i have some sacred things, yeah.

56:30

Marc: That's. Marc: that's very cool. Marc: I like somebody to the introspect.

56:32

Marc: I like being reminded that you need to do that, because sometimes you get so knee deep in our lives You kind of forget it.

56:38

Marc: It got to take a moment. Melissa: We all need reminders.

56:41

Marc: Absolutely Now, if not.

56:44

Marc: last couple of questions. Marc: if you weren't doing this for a living, if acting, singing, creative, was not performing, was not part of your ecosystem, what would that you were doing?

56:55

Marc: What would you be doing for a job? Marc: What would your career be?

56:58

Melissa: You know, i feel really drawn to being a student and I know that I wouldn't be able to do that like endlessly.

57:06

Melissa: If that could be a career, i would, i would, i would make a career out of like endlessly being a student and maybe I would be, maybe like a recourse.

57:17

Melissa: But I have been told from a psychic that I and I did not ask for this.

57:20

Melissa: She looked at me very pointedly and she was like, do not go to a monastery, you're not supposed to do that.

57:27

Melissa: And I was like, how did you know? Melissa: Like I felt like a rat, like I was just like caught in the light And, um, yeah, i would want to be a student like endlessly and then and to probably just like be in service.

57:41

Melissa: I mean, that's the ideal And I guess if I have to make money, i wouldn't mind going back to school so that I could explore Chinese medicine.

57:49

Melissa: I find it really fascinating and it's a really interesting like synthesis of, you know, spirit, physical things and also cosmological information, like it's this totally harmonized system to bring people into wellness on all levels And so food?

58:05

Marc: there is a. Marc: They view food as medicine as well, you know and it's that's fascinating.

58:11

Marc: So you'd be in school, but I think also teaching it sounds like would be something you know.

58:17

Marc: Being a teacher and being able to pass along the stuff you learn sounds like something you'd be doing.

58:21

Melissa: If I was, i would be likely doing it reluctantly.

58:26

Marc: Really I think so Well you got to share your wisdom.

58:29

Marc: It's important stuff, you know. Marc: Give it to the rest of us so we can pass.

58:33

Marc: You know the pay it forward thing, you know. Marc: Now, last question if you're to jump in your DeLorean, you can go back to when you're 16 years old.

58:41

Marc: And you know you can. Marc: You can cruise back and you got a piece of advice, for you got a few minutes with 16 year old you and you want to get 16 year old you, let's say, on a better track or maybe help.

58:53

Marc: Just in general terms, What would that piece of advice be that would be a real value for 16 year old Melissa.

59:06

Melissa: You are not your body. Melissa: Stop stressing out.

59:11

Melissa: Just feed it well, make sure you move it, but don't obsess over it, it's going to be okay.

59:19

Marc: That's a very common thing that I hear.

59:23

Marc: But it's not if it's said in different ways, but it's the same thing, It's going to be okay or nothing.

59:27

Marc: I hear a lot is this lose is something you said earlier, But the idea of don't wait, Yeah, now do it.

59:34

Marc: You know, when you're talking about writing and stuff like that And I was like, just do that thing.

59:39

Marc: You know, I can't tell you how much of a real pleasure it is to sit down with you today And I and I didn't, I didn't ask a single thing about what's going to be going on with you and Tim this season.

59:49

Marc: I did. Marc: I honestly was like.

59:52

Melissa: I was like this guy doesn't even watch the show. Melissa: He's never even asked about Eric or Tim.

59:56

Marc: Oh God, no, You know, you know the, trust me, the way the season ended last year.

1:00:05

Marc: My kids, it's our, my kids and I, it's our show we always watch And, as you see our DVR because my daughter is off, you know, was off at college it's like letting all the all the rookies just stack up.

1:00:15

Marc: You know, i do have to say just one last note.

1:00:18

Marc: I love the way the relationship, be it the writing and the relationship that you had with Eric Winter, the way it's a fall from him calling you boot and all that stuff.

1:00:29

Marc: You know the kind of the way they did to. Marc: Now you're passing a little wisdom on to him in some way.

1:00:35

Marc: It was just an evolution, like I say, i want to get surprised, like everybody else, and only spoilers, but you know seeing where things are, you know going it's, you know.

1:00:43

Marc: I think Rosalind Sanchez might be having some issues with you.

1:00:49

Melissa: I just I just said. Melissa: I just said I'm always like.

1:00:51

Melissa: I'm always like I'm when I were at work. Melissa: I'm constantly trying to like help Eric spend his money on Rosalind, cause I like I you know I'm not immune to it I'm trying to stay off my phone more but, like you know how Instagram is these days are just constantly selling you stuff And for some reason you know like I'll see the stuff they're trying to sell me And I don't really know a lot of people with those body types.

1:01:11

Melissa: But Rosalind has like she looks like a model, like she is a model And I'm like Eric, you should get this for Rosalind.

1:01:16

Melissa: She would look good in it. Melissa: I'm constantly trying to get him to buy like outfits and jewelry for her And I'm like she would look amazing.

1:01:23

Marc: So no, Well, i just think, i think that show is going to be so much fun to shoot.

1:01:30

Marc: You know, it's just the fact that you're living in a city where you're also shooting it.

1:01:34

Marc: It's one of the few shows where LA is part, one of the characters in the show, and it's like, you know, it's just, i imagine, the downtime.

1:01:42

Marc: you know, you have a pretty nice constellation of characters and personalities and we'll send you some New Orleans food or something You know, if you can tell.

1:01:50

Marc: you know, do a little, do a little, do a little. Marc: bump over to you know, to your, to your boss, and say, hey, i talked to this guy.

1:01:56

Marc: I really want to talk to you Because, you know, because y'all both have that sci-fi background, you know, which is kind of cool.

1:02:04

Marc: But, but no, again, I really appreciate you taking time out.

1:02:08

Marc: I think my kids will finally think I'm cool after speaking with you.

1:02:12

Marc: Maybe I'll get closer to cool, but certainly looking forward to this season and love the, the character arc.

1:02:19

Marc: And I think, though, i don't like necessarily cliffhangers and make you wait for months to figure out what happened.

1:02:25

Marc: I was like, okay, this, this has been. Marc: I want to see where this goes, you know there you go.

1:02:30

Marc: You're creative. Marc: You need to get out there and write that screenplay.

1:02:33

Melissa: I'll dare you. Marc: If I ever bump into you in the streets of LA when I'm out there in a couple months and be like how's that screenplay coming?

1:02:40

Marc: You know I'll be that one annoying person, that the car that karmically that just keeps showing up and bugging you.

1:02:45

Marc: Next, you know that'll be a big, big hit. Melissa: Well, hey, do let me know.

1:02:48

Melissa: if you're ever in LA, i'd love to serve you tea sometime.

1:02:51

Melissa: What's? Marc: your favorite tea though. Melissa: I like chocuers.

1:02:55

Marc: No, i don't have to go to research on that. Marc: I was thinking like matcha.

1:02:59

Marc: you know I'm going basic, you know It's definitely no, we're talking.

1:03:03

Melissa: We are talking about tea ceremony, though, so you're not all the way out, Oh.

1:03:07

Marc: I've always wanted to take part in something like that.

1:03:10

Marc: I just think there's something very civilized about me. Marc: I'm just drinking my you know a gallon of coffee here.

1:03:15

Announcer: It's not good Yeah. Marc: Again, i appreciate your time and look forward to the upcoming season and hopefully down the line we'll have a chance to connect.

1:03:25

Marc: I'll, maybe one day we'll do the tea. Marc: How about that? Melissa: Yes, let me know if you're in LA.

1:03:29

Melissa: That's not an empty invitation. Marc: Melissa, health, happiness, prosperity to you, and I look forward to catching up with you down the line.

1:03:35

Melissa: You as well. Melissa: Thank you so much, Marc. Marc: All right, there you go, melissa O'Neill, so enjoy this chat.

1:03:43

Marc: Really had a great time getting to know Melissa.

1:03:45

Marc: You know she has such a great story and I love her energy, her vibe.

1:03:50

Marc: I really am glad I had the chance to share this conversation with you and I appreciate you coming back by every week.

1:03:58

Marc: Great conversations on the way and, of course, as always, pop on by Story and Craft Podcom.

1:04:07

Marc: You can find out anything you could possibly want to know about the show.

1:04:10

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1:04:16

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1:04:23

Marc: And don't forget, if you can, if you would drop a little review in there.

1:04:28

Marc: Appreciate it, if you would All right.

1:04:30

Marc: So please go, have a safe and awesome rest of your week and I'll see you next time right here on Story and Craft.

1:04:38

Announcer: That's it for this episode of Story and Craft.

1:04:41

Announcer: Join Marc next week for more conversation right here on Story and Craft.

1:04:46

Announcer: Story and Craft is a presentation of Marc Preston Productions LLC.

1:04:50

Announcer: Executive Producer is Marc Preston.

1:04:53

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1:05:00

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1:05:07

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1:05:10

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1:05:15

Announcer: I'm Emma Dylan. Announcer: See you next time and remember, keep telling your story.