824. Fearlessly Failing: Honest chats with actor Sana'a Shaik

·47 min·4 clips

Actor Sana'a Shaik reveals why having many pots on the stove is crucial for surviving the creative industry's brutal waiting game.

Lola Berry introduces the episode, framing it around celebrating failure and learning from lows. She interviews actor Sana'a Shaik, who opens up about the necessity of having multiple creative outlets to survive the industry's uncertainties. Sana'a references advice from fellow actor Steph Tisdale about keeping fingers in many pots. They delve into the brutal waiting game actors face, with Sana'a sharing a personal story of being on hold for two months for a life-changing role that fell through. The conversation shifts to Sana'a's work on Class of '07, highlighting the camaraderie formed during COVID-19 filming and funny on-set moments like a fish poisoning scene. She then discusses Dive Club, where she learned to scuba dive and sail, recounting a mishap where she capsized a boat during filming. Sana'a talks about her short film 'Yasmin and Tasneem go to Swedish House Mafia,' which she wrote, directed, and produced, emphasizing the learning curve. She expresses a growing passion for directing over acting, citing a desire for more creative control. The episode covers audition techniques, including Meisner methods and tips from Les Chantery's book, such as focusing on the reader's appearance to stay present. Sana'a admits to struggling with rejection, advocating for mental health maintenance. She shares her dream roles, including Princess Jasmine and Lara Croft, and willingness to relocate to the US for work. The episode concludes with advice for aspiring actors: prioritize personal well-being, put in focused audition work, and aim to 'book the room, not the role.'

As heard by us

A candid conversation about creative momentum, rejection, waiting, and building a career across more than one lane.

Sanaa Shaikh's conversation with Lola Berry frames a creative career as a set of commitments kept in motion, not a single fixed lane. Shaikh moves from acting work linked to Dive Club and Class of 07 into the writing and directing ambitions that were already part of her plan.

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Why you'd press play

You want a creative nudge for the space between rejection, waiting, and whatever project is calling next.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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