Meet Molly Brandenburg | Artist , writer and podcast host

We had the good fortune of connecting with Molly Brandenburg and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Molly, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
I’m very grateful that my work/life balance has changed significantly in recent years and I’m finally able to make a living creatively (working as podcast host/actor /narrator for The Parcast Studios on Spotify) while also working as a humorous illustrator/painter. Things in my life finally evolved to a point wherein I am my own art benefactor; my acting/voiceover work is in itself very gratifying but it now also pays for me to work in my art studio and develop my artwork.

I do not take any of this for granted, as I know what it’s like to struggle to make a living and keep on living a creative life. For many years I was either working a full time job in a corporate environment (as a movie advertising copywriter) and trying to fit in my creative work at night and on weekends,, or I was freelancing (and broke) and trying to get ahead creatively . As I said, I don’t take any of this for granted. If you want to live a creative life you have to live it and breathe it every day, but the work/life balance can be a real struggle to achieve. Staying positive and committing to your dream are they keys to it all.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am an actor as well as a visual artist. My father was a Ww2 veteran and after the war he became a doctor of medicine but also a painter. He understood a lot about the creative process and he shared it with me from the time I was a young child, as I spent a lot of time with him in his studio while I was growing up. I saw how much he lived his process and he taught me a lot about taking a journey in your work and not cheapening it by being “results oriented;” the key is you have to go on a creative exploration in your work and not worry about any material rewards. I’ve tried to stay with those lessons while I am drawing and painting.

As for acting, he gave me some of the best advice I ever heard. He told me early on that the key for me would be in developing my own creative work, with my own writing and characters, rather than standing in line at auditions and risking being overlooked and ultimately disappointed. He said, if you create something of your own that’s exciting, you don’t have to stand in line, everyone will be getting in line to see you and to work with you. Those were very insightful words, Gary Austin, who created The Groundlings Theater, told me the same things

I’m not saying any of this is easy, it’s not. Somehow as you pursue a creative career you also have to make a living and that can be very challenging. For me, a feeling of success and a healthy work/life balance has come later on in the game but my feeling is it’s never too late as long as you hold into your dreams .

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love Los Angeles and I love it for the abundance of fascinating and glamorous!! things to see and do here. Also, the food choices here are just beyond the beyond in their fabulousness.

Any tour of LA guided by me would have to include stops at some of LA’s greatest and most weirdly interesting attractions, including The Museum of Jurassic Technology, The Magic Castle, Griffith Park Observatory and the new Academy Motion Picture Museum and its film series. For live entertainment, The Dresden Room in Los Angeles has long been a favorite, with music by the legendary Marty and Elayne. Marty has now passed but hopefully The Dresden will reopen and we can honor Marty’s memory with more live music. I also have to mention that there is a fabulous standup comedy scene here, with comics trying out material in fun clubs at low ticket prices. Jet Pack Comedy at Bar Lubitsch is a favorite.

Also, classic eateries like El Coyote Mexican Cafe ( as seen in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”) are a must, along with fashionable and delicious cafes like Joans on Third. We love LA!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’m so grateful to the teachers and mentors who’ve helped me along the way, I’m especially grateful to my family as well as to my voice coach Alice Rowe, musical theater teacher Lynn Sjolund, theater professor John Blankenchip, my voice coach Wenndy McKenzie, and acting teacher (and founder of the Groundlings theater ) Gary Austin.

Website: Www.mollybrandenburg.com

Instagram: @mollybcats

Linkedin: https://www.LinkedIn.com/in/mollybrandenburg

Twitter: Mollburg

Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/mollytoons/