EPISODE DESCRIPTION - Ready to publish What if being “invisible” isn’t the problem—but the story I’ve been telling myself about my own career is? In this episode, I open up about the emotional reality of being a working opera singer, the pressure to stay relevant in a world built on other people’s applause, and the hard truth that even a decorated career can still feel unseen. After watching BTS’s Netflix concert documentary and reflecting on the group’s 13-year rise, I found myself thinking about what it really takes to keep going in the performing arts when validation is inconsistent and the machine behind you is small—or nonexistent. From international opera houses to Broadway tours, Carnegie Hall, Washington National Opera, and recording projects, I share how a full résumé can still come with the private feeling of standing in the corner of the room. I get honest about the loneliness of building a performing arts career without a huge team or budget, why comparing myself to everyone else can make my own achievements disappear, and how a music teacher, my parents, and one early solo helped launch me into opera at age 12. I also talk about my career shifts from mezzo to soprano, auditions in Europe, touring Porgy and Bess, and what backstage life, stage nerves, music, and teleprompters mean for today’s classical performers. Most importantly, I share a personal reminder about stage fright, self-belief, and the shift from waiting to be noticed to deciding that my story matters anyway. If you’ve ever felt overlooked, overworked, or quietly exhausted from proving yourself in your own field, this episode is a much-needed mirror. I explore why it can feel like no one sees what we’re doing—and how we can begin telling a bigger, braver, and more human story about our own work.
Can We Talk About ME for Once?
In this episode, I open up about the strange emotional reality of being an accomplished opera singer who still feels unseen. I reflect on my career path, the pressure of always talking about other people’s success, and why this episode is about reclaiming my own story. A BTS documentary unexpectedly sparked a deeper reflection on fame, visibility, and longevity in the arts. I also talk about stage fright, vocal identity, and the realities of performing professionally without a huge machine behind me.
Key topics
Timestamps
00:00 — Welcome back and setting up a season of reflection
01:00 — How a BTS documentary triggered a deeper personal investigation
03:27 — Why artistic careers are hard to sustain without feeling validated
04:55 — Naming the feeling of being invisible in opera
06:59 — Working hard while still wondering why nobody sees me
07:28 — Discovering music at 12 with help from a teacher and my parents
08:24 — Major career milestones that should have felt more visible
09:24 — Wanting to talk about my own opera career for once
10:02 — Social media comparison and the cost of measuring myself against others
10:31 — How my online presence mixes opera, business, acting, and karaoke
11:01 — My first solo opportunities and the early Carmen experience
11:58 — My voice shifting from mezzo to soprano
13:20 — Auditions, Europe, and learning how opera works overseas
14:38 — Why repertoire choices matter for stamina and professionalism
15:08 — My first international tour of Porgy and Bess
16:31 — Loving the performing arts beyond opera
17:25 — Backstage life, audience behavior, and stage safety
18:53 — What nerves feel like before I step onstage
20:14 — Memorization, music onstage, and changing recital norms
22:09 — My first solo, stage fright, and the mistake that taught me a lasting lesson
24:24 — Being seen as a decision, not just a reaction
25:23 — Why the podcast shifted from TV to audio and back again
26:22 — Closing thoughts and where to follow me online