What happens when you still love being on set, but thepassion for the dream doesn’t feel the same?

In this episode, I talk honestly about discouragement inacting and entertainment — not the dramatic kind, but the quieter season where you keep showing up without a five-year plan or a constant sense of inspiration.

This isn’t an episode about quitting or forcing motivation.It’s about staying present, redefining success, and letting the work be part of your life instead of the explanation for it.

If you’ve ever felt discouraged but still here — still doingthe work — this conversation is for you.

Music: Blue Ballsa by The Blue Cherries

As the year turns, we’re keeping it simple at Chica’s Café.No resolutions, no reinventions—just a pause, a coffee refill, and a moment to appreciate the conversations we’ve shared.

This short New Year episode reflects on curiosity,observation, and the kinds of everyday moments that make us stop, laugh, and think a little differently. Thank you for being part of the conversations thisyear. Here’s to good stories ahead—and whatever unexpected dialogue wanders into the café next.

Pull up a chair. The conversation continues.

Blessings for the New Year.

On today’s episode of Overheard at Chica’s Café,Sonia pulls up a chair (and a warm cup of ginger tea) to talk about something every actor, voiceover artist, and podcaster knows all too well: what happens when you get sick… and everything on your creative plate comes crashing into amessy little pile.

With her voice still not quite back to its usual sound—todaycomes with a complimentary side of rasp—Sonia dives into the hilarious, humbling reality of being a multi-hyphenate creative whose entire job depends on having a functioning throat. From the dreaded “booking-out” email to agents,to the guilt spiral of falling behind on content, to the dramatic inner monologues that only artists understand, this episode is a gentle reminder that being human comes first.

Sonia shares compassion, humor, and honesty about navigating deadlines, expectations, and recovery while sick. She encourages listeners, especially those in creative fields, to release perfection, slow down, and trust that their audience—and opportunities—will still be there.

Whether you’re an actor juggling self-tapes, a podcasterkeeping up with your release schedule, or simply someone who’s been under the weather, this episode is a soothing, funny exhale.

You’re doing enough. You’re allowed to rest. Creativity will wait for you.

In This Episode:

• What really happens when creatives get sick
• The guilt of “booking out” with your agents
• The pressure of staying consistent while healing
• Why raspy-voice episodes should count as a vibe
• Releasing perfection and honoring your humanity
• A gentle reminder that your audience won’t disappear