A dream can be so familiar that you stop asking whether it’s actually yours. I sit down with my friend Hillary Dominguez to talk about what happens when motivation fades in a creative career and how one unexpected moment can completely reroute your path.

Hillary shares her story of growing up as a child actor in Seattle, chasing musical theater, and carrying that quiet pressure that you’re always one year away from the “big break.” and the surprising way a mentor offered a safer step forward: assistant directing. That behind-the-scenes doorway turned into a real passion for directing, casting, and building stories from the other side of the table.

We also get honest about imposter syndrome, downplaying your own work, and the tricky balance of collaborative leadership. Finally, we go deep on vulnerability, therapy, self-respect, and building a chosen family that holds you accountable when your dreams feel scary to say out loud.

If you’re navigating burnout, a career pivot, or the question of what you want next, this conversation is for you. Subscribe to Tea With TJ, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.

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A song can be a boundary you finally honor. We sit down with Eight—artist, activist, and wellness visionary—for the exclusive premiere of “Switch Up,” a pulsing statement born from being underestimated and deciding not to be. That spark opens a candid journey through creative growth, mental health, and a bold reimagining of what a supportive community can look like for artists and neighbors alike.

We start with craft: how moving from overthinking to feeling changed Eight's songwriting, and why certain lines hit like a mirror when love turns careless. From there, the lens widens to seasons of change—moving from New York to Florida, navigating trauma, shedding people-pleasing, and choosing a new brand identity rooted in warmth, and grace. Eight shares practical tools for anxiety and depression, from breathwork and yoga to guided meditation, and explains how those practices inform a new wellness collective bridging art, mental health, and community resources so people can be seen for both their creativity and their lived experience.

Spirituality threads the conversation. Eight speaks openly about a love-centered view of God and the universe, then shares the power of identifying as Two-Spirit in Indigenous tradition—honoring both masculine and feminine energies, protecting gifts, and leading with service. We trade rituals that keep us steady—morning grounding, the simple ceremony of tea—and name the mindset shifts that carry us through uncertainty: zoom out, choose worth, and keep eyes on the horizon. If you’re standing at the edge of a big decision, take Eight’s clean advice: don’t believe the doubt.

If this conversation moved you, tap follow, share it with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show. What season are you in right now?

Switch up Single Listen Here

Follow Eight on IG @theeighthking

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What happens when the mask that kept you safe starts to shrink your life? We sit down with our friend Jeffrey Vizcaino—actor turned Playbill social lead—to talk about performance, protection, and the messy art of speaking in your real voice. Jeffrey takes us from his early theater years and burnout to building inclusive platforms for new songwriters and off-Broadway creators. Then we get honest about the masks queer people of color learn to wear: the lowered register to dodge mockery, the “retail voice” that smooths edges, the posture we adopt in rooms thick with flags that feel like warnings.

The conversation moves from community to self. Inside queer spaces, labels can liberate and limit at the same time. We unpack “masc for masc,” desirability politics, and the pressure to refit your hair, clothes, and energy to match a trend that changes with the algorithm. Jeffrey shares how confidence lands differently when a camera and a celebrity are involved. We draw a line between professionalism and self-erasure, and why platform size shouldn’t be the price of authenticity.

Therapy and language become turning points. TJ shares how the pandemic ended his habit of filtering Southern Black vernacular to stay “palatable,” and how learning to name feelings—clearly and without apology—changed work and love. We talk about emotional masks, why partners aren’t therapists, and the small rituals that help us unmask at home. Along the way we make space for joy and the everyday grace of liking your own smile or your own eyes in the mirror.

If you’ve ever wondered where safety ends and self begins, this one’s for you. Hit follow, share with a friend who needs the reminder, and leave a review with the mask you’re ready to retire. Your story could be the permission someone else is waiting for.

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