Elyssa Nicole Trust, Positive Creativity Podcast
From Peter: It’s Positive Creativity Podcast/The Obvious Path swap week!
Mid-pandemic, I found myself in a class taught by Elyssa Nicole Trust. Besides her *very* cool name, I found myself enamored with the multi-hyphenate artistic ability she brought with her to every class. One of those hyphens: Podcaster. And, thus, our obsession with Positive Creativity Podcast began.
Elyssa and her co-host, Lauren Schaffel, have become a part of our weekly inspiration ritual. As hosts, Lauren and Elyssa have a remarkable knack for having very human conversations with very incredible people. Their mission, to speak with creatives about what they're working on, what's inspiring them, and how they stay positive in the entertainment industry, has been an oasis for the desert that was 2020. Not to mention, it aligns perfectly with everything The Obvious Path believes.
It was a no-brainer to have them on the blog, but once we began prepping a joint feature, we just couldn’t do it. Lauren and Elyssa, though they work together seamlessly, come from opposite coasts and opposite starts. The lessons they’ve learned, the exciting alleyways they’ve found, and the dreams they have were inspiring to document as their own feature. We proudly present the two pieces of one of our favorite joint efforts: Elyssa Nicole Trust, Lauren Schaffel, and Positive Creativity Podcast.
And, if you want to understand why we write our blog, be sure to “Like, um, you know” check out Kat and I’s episode of Positive Creativity Podcast released today!
Elyssa Nicole Trust has one of the most say-able names we’ve ever heard! Elyssa, would you introduce yourself to our readers with some “human facts”?
Why thank you! Thanks so much for having me. It is truly an honor to be on this inspiring blog.
I’m Elyssa. Rhymes with Melissa. :-) I’m an actor and writer for stage and screen as well as a children’s book author. My enneagram is Type 7: The Enthusiast. In addition to being an artist, I’m a swimmer, an avid reader, eco-conscious, plant-based, obsessed with my dog Benji, and a ukulele player.
You’re an actor, playwright, screenwriter, librettist, podcast host, Children’s book author, and founder of the Ahava Theatre Company. What is your advice for young artists who want to be multi-hyphenates like yourself?
My advice is to own and celebrate all of the parts of yourself. I used to worry that embracing myself as a professional writer in the industry would make me seem less serious about my acting career. On the other side of that, I feared that being an actor would get in the way of certain writing opportunities. Now it is so clear to me that all of the ways in which I use my voice inform each other. Performing for years has given me an ear for dialogue and how characters react to different situations, which makes me a better writer. Writing makes me a better actor. Being a part of a community of children’s book authors has led to voiceover and audiobook opportunities. I am a storyteller and an artist at heart, and the only thing that changes is the medium.
Ahava Theatre began after my play Observance ran at FringeNYC. Some of the feedback about the play was that people had never seen an empathetic approach to both religious and secular Judaism on stage. It seemed like a learning experience for many about Judaism as well. It occurred to me that there is no professional theatre in New York City that exclusively produces contemporary Jewish plays in English. There are more Jews in New York than anywhere else in the world other than Israel, so that realization blew my mind. Also, when people think of Jewish theatre, they still think of Fiddler. That is so wild to me because there are so many incredible, contemporary Jewish plays and playwrights. So I wanted to create a space that brings contemporary Jewish plays to life and sheds light on various aspects of the Jewish experience. Ahava’s mission is to tell stories about Jewish culture, history, and philosophy that spark conversation, break barriers, and challenge the status quo. Ahava is also dedicated to representing all sects of Judaism in a positive light and defying stereotypes. One of my goals has also been to uplift emerging playwrights who are writing about the Jewish experience, which has been made possible by the reading series. We are a very young theatre company and our plans were derailed because of the pandemic just like every other theatre. A friend and I are now building out virtual educational programming for children which is extremely exciting. Out of all of my endeavors, starting a theatre company has filled me with the most imposter syndrome and doubt. My belief in the importance of telling these stories is what drives me to continue. I am grateful to have others on my team who believe in Ahava’s mission and are committed to collaborating to build something meaningful.
So this is all to say my other advice for aspiring multi-hyphenates is to lean into your curiosity and interests. You just may discover a new part of your artistry!
Your website says you’re currently writing: a new play, a pilot that deals with women’s issues, and the book of a new musical comedy. When did you know writing was such a meaningful part of your artistry? How do you find balance in working on so many different projects?
I started writing little books at age 6 and got the acting bug at age 8 in a camp production of The Wizard of Oz. My family was unsupportive of me pursuing an acting career and I actually studied Journalism in college. I thought that would be my career path, even while performing in shows every semester. As college graduation was approaching, it became harder for me to ignore that I wanted to continue to perform for the rest of my life. Shortly after moving to NYC, a friend who knew I was a writer told me about a free webseries writing seminar. That seminar led to a course which really ignited my desire to write creatively. A 5 episode webseries about my college a cappella group was developed from that class. It was around that time that my children’s book was born and shortly after that, I started writing plays and have been writing consistently ever since!
Balance is honestly a struggle for me. What helps is to prioritize and have “seasons” for different projects. To be more specific about that, during pilot season, my acting career is at the forefront. For the first 6 months of the pandemic, writing was my priority, and 3 new scripts came out of that time. My children’s book is coming out in early 2021, so right now, all of my other projects have taken a backseat. Around the time the book comes out, we are building out the educational programming for children through Ahava Theatre. I will work on edits for my pilot and plays during that time, but not put pressure on myself to complete any new scripts until Ahava’s program launches. My musical is on a proverbial shelf for the time being, and that will change at some point. Letting certain projects be the focus while pushing others to the side and then going back to them is the only way for me to avoid burnout and overwhelm.
You co-host one of our favorite podcasts, Positive Creativity Podcast, with Lauren Schaffel. You all interview creatives about what they’re working on, what’s inspiring them, and how to keep positive in the entertainment industry. How did the idea for this podcast come about? What’s the most valuable thing you’ve learned from creating and hosting?
Thank you so much for saying that! The podcast has been a ton of work and an absolute pleasure. It means a lot that you are listening.
Positive Creativity Podcast came about because I had started to get curious about what inspires writers to tell certain stories. After seeing a show, I would do a deep dive into the playwright and listen to podcasts they did, read interviews, etc. That time was also a frustrating point in my career. A few career-changing opportunities that were on the horizon ended up falling through. I was in a dysfunctional relationship with my agent (I take responsibility for that as well) and terrified of going into pilot season without rep who would go to bat for me— it was becoming clear that my goal of booking my first co-star would be impossible without my agent answering my emails. A few regional theaters that I knew my plays would be right for declined to read my scripts without a literary agent. These hurdles and feelings of being unable to get past the “gatekeepers'' made me sad and scared for my future in this business. All of what I was experiencing was, of course, so normal and relatable, and it started to make me wonder how people stay in it. I thought, “how do people stay positive in this industry that can be so disheartening?” Waiting to feel happy and fulfilled until I reach certain career milestones was not something I was willing to do. It occurred to me that there was a way for me to quench my curiosity about writers AND learn how people stay positive in the industry — ask them on a platform that would help me as well as others. The idea of a podcast felt great because it is super inexpensive to create and free to consume. I had also started to get really into voiceover at that time and was obsessed with using my mic as much as possible. Since there were many other projects on my plate, I wanted some accountability and knew that a co-host situation would be helpful. Lauren seemed like the perfect person. At the time, we lived 12 blocks away from each other (I’ve since moved from the UES to Brooklyn because of COVID) and we share a lot of the same values and ideas about the business. She is also one of the most positive and joyful people in my life. Lauren is the one who illuminated the fact that it would be great to speak to a variety of different artists — writers, actors, directors, casting directors, and more! Thank G-d for that, because we have spoken with so many amazing artists and I am so grateful to all of them. Learning how to stay positive as an artist became even more relevant once COVID hit.
The most valuable thing I’ve learned is the importance of hearing diverse stories and perspectives. In starting to heal the injustices and racism within our industry and our larger world, it is crucial to amplify BIPOC voices. For season 2, we made it a goal to use our podcast to have conversations about building a more equitable industry. Hearing the perspectives and experiences from our BIPOC guests has taught me so much and helped me become more comfortable with difficult conversations. I am so grateful to our guests for having these conversations with us. Of course, we still have a ton of work to do in this industry and a lot of it needs to change from the top down. Hopefully, by having these conversations, we are contributing in a small way to the necessary change we hope for in our industry.
What’s the change in our business you hope to see coming out of this time of a racial reckoning and a global pandemic?
I would love to see stories about universal experiences cast with an inclusive lens. It would be great to see organizations that reflect the diverse world we live in. BIPOC artists should be represented in every facet in our industry and especially in leadership positions. It would be dreamy if video auditions could stay the norm so that actors are able to hold work in other industries and live anywhere they want.
We’ve used the metaphor of a mountain to be analogous to our career accomplishments, dreams, and changes. We feel a lot of our reader’s “climb” is on pause. Has your mountain ever changed? Is it changing now? What’s keeping you moving?
My mountain is always changing. One of the big ways that it has changed is that it is absolutely imperative for me to work on projects that are in alignment with my values. I used to equate success to how many jobs I would book in a year, and it was my goal to make my living solely through artistic means. That is still, of course, a goal, but it’s more important to do meaningful work. In some ways, I am at the very bottom of my mountain. TV and theatre are the mediums that I most want to work in. Ultimately, I hope to play (and write!) recurring characters on tv shows that feature women with agency and include people from all backgrounds, races, ethnicities, and identities. I also want to perform in one of my plays on Broadway. (And perform in other people’s plays!) Even if/when those goals are achieved, I will strive for more. So what keeps me moving is my mission, which is to use my voice to empower others. As long as I am doing that … whether I am using my voice as an actor, a writer, a singer, a podcaster, a voiceover artist, through Ahava, or by just being me as a human— it feels important to keep going. What also keeps me going is approaching every artistic endeavor by showing up with a giving mindset, accentuating the positive, listening with an open heart, and leading with integrity.
RAPID FIRE:
Favorite Quaran-TV: Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist. It was really cool to have one of the writers on the podcast who went to high school with Lauren! Also, Royal Pains, Little Fires Everywhere, Upload, and Schitts Creek were other faves.
Quaran-reads: The following books have changed my life: The Person You Mean To Be by Dr. Dolly Chugh, Mindset by Dr. Carol Dweck, How Not To Die by Dr. Michael Greger, Reach Out by Molly Beck, Becoming by Michelle Obama. I just started A Promised Land by Barack Obama.
Exercise routine (if you are into that): Starting to jog a little again after a serious running injury last fall. Pre-pandemic and post injury, I was swimming multiple days a week and miss that a lot. Over the past few months, I’ve been doing pilates with Watch That Rock pilates and just got a spinning bike on Black Friday. Will report back! :)
Favorite food: Pineapple.
Best part of being plant-based: Thank you for asking this because I am seriously obsessed with eating whole foods, plant based. I follow the work of Dr. Michael Greger (nutritionfacts.org) and other plant-based doctors and can literally talk about it for hours. The best part is that it is the healthiest, most sustainable, and most ethical lifestyle. I also love trying out new recipes with my husband!
Most meaningful “no” you’ve ever received: I was on the waitlist for an MFA Acting program and if I had gotten off the waitlist, I would not have met my husband.
Surprising moment your fluent Spanish came into use: In San Diego while someone was ordering dessert.
Tip for starting a theatre company: Do it with a team, and speak to other theatre founders.
Religious, Spiritual, or Nah: Being Jewish is a strong part of my identity. Observing Shabbat and Jewish holidays makes me feel peaceful.
Social Media Feelings: Mixed. So many opportunities have come from it. But it can be dangerous and addicting.
Most memorable part of a COVID wedding: When the cantor shared our answers to the question why we love each other! We said similar things about each other and both cried.
Social Media Handles: Instagram: @elyssanicoletrust @ahavatheatre @positivecreativitypodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elyssanicoletrust
Anything you’d like to promote?: My children’s book, Daisy Moves To America is coming out in winter 2021! You can find it on my website www.elyssanicoeltrust.com. Also, keep an eye out for Ahava Theatre’s educational programming! :)