Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum - ERICA DURANCE: Life After SMALLVILLE, Letting Go of Hustle & Redefining Happiness

Episode Date: January 6, 2026

Erica Durance (Smallville, Saving Hope) joins us for an open and reflective conversation about life after Smallville and the internal shifts that came with stepping away from constant momentum. She talks about burnout, aging, and learning how to listen to her body instead of pushing through everything. Erica also opens up about redefining success, letting go of hustle culture, and finding peace in slowing down. Thank you to our sponsors: ❤️ This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/inside and get on your way to being your best self __________________________________________________ 💖 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/insideofyou 👕 Inside Of You Merch: https://store.insideofyoupodcast.com/ __________________________________________________ Watch or listen to more episodes! 📺 https://www.insideofyoupodcast.com/show __________________________________________________ Follow us online! 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/insideofyoupodcast/ 🤣 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@insideofyou_podcast 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/insideofyoupodcast/ 🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/insideofyoupod 🌐 Website: https://www.insideofyoupodcast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

you're listening to inside of you with michael rosenbaum ryan teaz is here barely barely he just flew in from hawaii he did yeah yeah happy new year happy new year happy new year everybody out there honestly i mean you know you're always looking for change like this is going to be the year and you know i say take it moment by moment step by step i'm trying to do that Like, there's a couple things that, you know, like I've had a couple cigarettes here and there. And I'm like, you know, let's, so I said once I get back to L.A., change. So no smoking at all. I'm doing 100 pushups a day, like 30 in the morning, 30 and after you and 30 at night.

I am, yeah, I read something where it's just like, you know, little by little, taking more walks. I went curling yesterday. Curling, you know, Olympic curling. So we learned how to curl. I brought like 15 of my friends. I would have brought you, but I was not here. I would love to do that. Curling is so much fun.

Try curling. I swear you'll have a blast. It's like shuffleboard, but on ice. And everybody did really well, and the dogs are barking. But happy New Year. Thanks for supporting this podcast. If you're here for Erica Durantz, you know, if you like the podcast, please subscribe, write a review. It really helps this podcast.

There's so many podcasts out there. and um you know without your help will will disappear quiet see that i yelled at my dogs because they start to go nuts but um yeah it's really important that if you can support this show we've got a lot of great guests coming and we try to give you good content and unlike a lot of shows we try to get really deep with people and find out what makes them tick and you know talk about mental health, Ryan. You're still doing therapy? I think you might need it this week.

I might. You might. I'm down having therapy today after this. So nice. Yeah, I said, you know what? I'm going to start doing it more. And yeah, I just want to, I want to make some changes. Like no snacking at night.

Do you know how hard not snacking at night is? After I ate, I'm sitting there at like 7.38 and I'm still a couple hours away from bed, but like it's not good to eat before you go to bed. so the last two nights I have not snacked either it's good so like little things little things I'm just incorporating it's not that big of a deal but it's like I'm not snacking I'm going to do some pushups I'm gonna it's just a little thing take a walk do something do something change it every day try something you know do something else and incorporate it in your life yeah you don't have to eradicate the bad thing all the all the way like you're you're you're gonna chisel away at it chisel away

I want to be healthier, and I'm getting older. So, you know, you're going to just feel crappier and crappier, the older you get. So if that's the case, why not incorporate healthy things? And coffee. And coffee. If you want to join Patreon, Patreon is a wonderful thing. It has saved this show. It has saved Talkville.

It's pretty much a platform where, you know, we interact. There's different tiers. I send boxes in one tier and little notes and zooms. And there's a tier where you could be on the show. But it really helps. The patrons give back and it supports the show and the cost of the show. And so if you're looking to get involved in a great community, to have a great community behind you, it's really wonderful.

And I've met so many amazing people. So join patron, p-at-r-o-n.com, patron.com, slash inside of you and join patron and if you want to get back to the show because we always talk about it like it's a streamer you know it's a you get this for free yeah and if you're enjoying it and you're enjoying the interviews you know that's a couple bucks but it helps the show it certainly helps the show uh without without you guys we we couldn't do this so patreon.com slash inside of you uh the inside of you online store you can find all this stuff in my link tree if you go to uh Instagram at the Michael Rosenbaum, The Linktree.

You know, I'm on the cameo, and you can join Patreon and the Inside of You online store, which has tons of Smallville merch autographed and tons of inside of you stuff as well, great tumblers. And there's so much greatness. But I'm really excited about this year. It's going to be a great year. I get Ryan by my side. He's also producing the Talkville show, which I've committed to another year of that,

season eight that I'm not on. Well, it's a half a year. A half year. I know we'll go for that. Yeah, we'll go for that. Exactly. Who else? I got Bryce.

Bryce is my, you know, our producer without Bryce, you know, this show wouldn't exist. Everything sinks. And Tim. And Tim. And Tim. Tim, doing fantastic. Our new editor, we love and miss Jason, but Tim has just jumped in and kicked some ass.

And in fact, what you're listening to now, he has to incorporate for tomorrow's episode immediately. So it probably wants us to shut the hell up. Yes, shut the hell up. But it's the new year. Tim so thanks to everybody also on the Instagram link at the Michael Rosenbaum the link tree if you want to get my book the talented farter it's there it's on Amazon it's a very cheap now you can get it it's a sound book it's my farts um and uh rosy's puppy fresh breath for your dog's breath you just drop it in your dog's water odorless tasteless and your dog's breath smells

better period rosy's puppy fresh breath so a lot of great stuff and um I guess that's it, you know, doing the podcast, you know, trying to sell a show, got somebody a big star attached. So hopefully that will help with the pitch. So we'll see what happens. But I just want to say thank you. I hope you guys have a wonderful new year and be kind. And our guest today is Erica Durant.

And she's a good friend. She was on Smallville for me with me for years. but I didn't get to work with her a lot. And she's great. She's always great to have on. So if you're here for Erica Durant, thank you for listening. Thank you for watching. And if you're done after this, so be it.

But if you like it, please subscribe, write a review, join Patreon. And without further ado, sorry for the long intro, but it's the new year, Ryan. It is the new year. Well, by the way, what are you going to change this year? Oh, God. What would you like to change about what you're doing with your life, son? What are you going to do? It's your life.

Well, I'm going to try to do a little bit more traveling. And just... Maybe exercise a little? Exercise. I'm still doing all my sports. And, you know, I've got the talk fill under my belt. I'm getting more used to that.

And so... Continue with what you're doing. Continue. Be nicer to myself and... That's hard. also just be freer to express myself as always it's been an ongoing process i like that for me i'd like to you know just i don't know there's a lot of my mind we can get that get to that in the next episode but uh anyway look i love erika you're amazing thanks for coming to the podcast every time

we talk you're like there's nothing to talk about and then we talk for an hour and we're like wow And that's part of your charm. So without further ado, let's get inside of Erica Durantz. It's my point of you. You're listening to Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum. Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum was not recorded in front of a live studio audience. How you doing? I'm pretty good.

How are you? Fair to horse shit. Okay, okay. No, I'm good. I'm good. You look good. I like your hair like that. You look like the, you look like you belong back on your parents' turkey farm.

Yeah, I do belong there. Yeah. I went away in my mind mentally and, you know, psychologically for years and I'm cycling back. I just want to get a farm and go live on the farm with some animals and walk around. Do you really? Yeah. Yeah. You want to go full circle?

I do. feeling that that urge to just keep get things more simple again for myself i'm i'm happiest when it's quite quiet and um i feel like i can somewhat disappear so when you're on a farm or you live in you know in your driveways a mile long before you get to the main highway isn't it feels great yeah i was just talking to my friend nate in indiana and i was i uh i was like you know I just want things to be as simple as they can be. And because, you know, we've got these hustle and bustle lives and you're just always on the move and you're always like, you know, as they say, trying to stay relevant. And, you know, it's like, you know, I don't, I care less and less.

And I wonder if that is a good thing because I feel like I just, I want to do less. I want to be less. I just want to be comfortable and not, you know, I think trying to avoid the stress in life. And the older you get, I think, the less you care. Because when we're younger, we're go-getters and we have to do this and we have to do that, right? So is that sort of where you're at? I think so. Yeah, you know, I think that we are kind of, we're just meant to go in a circle.

And so, you know, you start out, I really think that the babies actually know what's going on, but they don't have the verbal or emotional development yet, but they're like, they got their shit together. They know what they want. They live in the moment. They speak, you know, I want this and this is where they're at, and they're not going into the past or the future. And then we kind of grow and we get older.

We get distracted. You know, we're fed what society says that you're supposed to associate your value with success of particular job and you're supposed to identify with that. And then as you get a lot older and maybe you've had some success, and then you're going into something else and you're like, wait, this didn't feed me what I thought it would. And you're eventually kind of forced to this other part of your existence where you're starting to ask, you know, you say relevance, well, then you go, well, what really is relevant?

Then you start asking those things, well, why? Who decided to define it that way? And all of a sudden, you're like, I really don't know a whole lot, but also all these things that I thought matter don't really matter so much. And you start to go back into thinking, you know what I loved? I love some of the stuff that happened when I was younger, and it was simple, and you start to kind of go back to your roots, and then I make a joke often that life becomes intolerable in your 70s, 80s, and 90s, because you're just not supposed to be here anymore. You don't get society, you don't get tech, you don't get what's going on. Why? Because you're, like, psychologically already going, I'm out.

You've checked out. And why do people, why is it that, you know, it's, you got to, you know, people always say, you know, what are you up to? What are you working on? What do you, you know, that's always the question instead of just, how are you? How are you? How are you doing? How are you dealing with things? And that's sort of like, you know, I wanted to talk to you and why I want to talk to everybody, because every time I, I, you know, you hear about people on their deathbeds. And they, even when you look on Instagram, it's like, what were there, what was the most important thing that they thought they worried too much about and they would have done differently? And it's always the same. It's always, I wish I wouldn't have cared so much. about what people think. I wish I, you know, didn't work so much. I wish I didn't worry so much. I wish I just hung around my friends or family more. And they all say that. It's not like, you know, half and half of people saying, oh, I wish I worked harder. I wish I had done this. It's usually the same thing. So if that's the end game, then you have to start at some point

simplifying your life and doing the things that you want to do and being around the people you want to do because what I have done definitely in the past is people who have a negative energy who bring me down who aren't supportive who aren't they don't provide something now that something doesn't have to be you know monetary it doesn't have to be you know something that they could help me with or you know like an opportunity sort of way, but it's just they have to like, you know, this person makes me smile and they're around. That's enough. That's enough for me. Or this person, you know, will tell me to F off and say, you know, hey, you know, this is the right thing to do or this is, you know, having good quality

people around. Do you think you do that? Do you think you keep quality people in your life and you're weeding out the bad ones as you get older? I'm definitely starting to. And I think just to kind of put a little framework around what you were saying or it sounds like I'm going on a rabbit trail, but I'm not. I think we have our like midlife crisis for a reason and it's not really a crisis. So I think what happens is we're born and we're given a lot of different types of education depending on where we're at. And it tells us the relationships we're supposed to have and all of that kind of thing. And then we maybe get into relationships that are tough or maybe not the best for us, but we don't know that because we just do what everybody else around us did. Right?

this is our this is our we you know for myself small town you you grow up you're very religious you get married you have children you do these things and you stay committed to these relationships and these are blah blah blah blah blah you just this is how you're supposed to act and then you get midlife and that part of you that says no this is not what life's about start saying uh stop and everybody kind of has that break at some point and they're like my survival instincts are not working for me anymore and then you start unpacking it and then you start going wait i this doesn't work for me and being around these kind of people is is toxic and hard and difficult and i actually don't have to do the thing i was programmed to do and so you kind of do what everybody says is you like

kind of blow up your life but i don't really like that because it's quite negative you you the better way of saying it or even just to come to a better conclusion you blow it up to save it. You know what I mean? Like you kind of, you start back and reevaluate and sort of, you know, hey, what's working in my life right now and what isn't? Yeah. And slowly get rid of those things that aren't.

And, you know, being add to the equation, a good routine, something positive in your life every day, like whether it's feeding the homeless or going to a children's hospital or being with your kids more or um or adding you know doing a certain diet whatever it is i think that people a lot of times myself included sort of you know you get sort of down on yourself but you don't look at really why you're down like what is causing this and can you fix it and if you can fix it you better fix it because you're just this it's this cyclical thing that goes on where it's like I'm tired. Well, that's what I think is there's this little voice inside of us that knows. It's like I call it my truth voice. And it knew for many years that this was not a good place to

be. But it was so quiet. And I kept shoving it away and shoving it away and shoving it away. Then it got louder and louder and louder to the point where I was like, oh, okay. And it kind of aligned at the same time, you know, with the rest of what was going on. And that became my one voice. And so then when something doesn't jive with that anymore, sometimes that voice shouts a little too loud, right? Like it's like finding your boundaries and you're screaming your head off to like, you know, just say, I don't like this, I don't like this. You know, you have to kind of tone it down a little.

But you start to hear that voice so specifically. And those things that we would have like pushed away and ignored, we can't do anymore. And so that happens at this time. life. And I think as well, what you had mentioned, you start going, all the things that I was looking for to feed me may not have been the thing. It was something that was interesting and something I needed to still pursue. But what am I doing with my life? Am I doing something helpful today for anyone? You know, like you had mentioned, you have your specific things that you really

like to be involved with and you start to kind of go, I want my life to matter in some way. And for everybody that's different. But then you start asking that and you realize that, hey, if I do this one thing here for this person today, this actually felt better than an entire day of filming for me. You're right. That little moment, that little interaction that I had. Isn't that something? Isn't that something? Because was good. Yeah. You know, it's, it's, I'm telling you, whether you're at a convention and you meet a fan who you know, is a little emotional and they lost their dad or and they used to have a connection with them watching Smallville or whatever, you know, taking the time. And sometimes in your head, you're thinking, you know, I get to the next person. It's like, no, and I remember, I say stop in

my head. I go, focus on this person. What can you do right now to make this situation better for this person and yeah i didn't realize until later in life like i think my gift the gift that i have was i'm really good with people and i i can make people feel good and i'm going to use that and i should use that more i think that you know it's it's it's so beneficial to you know um have a conversation with someone who's going through a tough time. Just listen. Listening is so important. And I feel like I do that, but I definitely feel like I need to do more of that. This show is sponsored by Better Help. The new year doesn't demand a whole new you, maybe just less burden to you. Therapy can help more easily and identify what's weighing you down. Therapy offers an unbiased

perspective to better understand your relationship. motivations and emotions and can help you release the weight that's holding you back. Maybe it's fear, pressure, perfection, or doubt. We all know letting go isn't easy, but BetterHelp can match you with quality therapists that can help you focus on your therapy goals. A short questionnaire helps identify your needs and preferences,

and believe me, it's short. It doesn't take much time. And if you aren't happy with your match, switch to a different therapist at any time from their tailored wrecks With over 30,000 therapists, BetterHelp is one of the world's largest online therapy platforms, having served over 5 million people globally. BetterHelp makes it easy to get matched online with a qualified therapist. Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com slash inside. That's BetterHELP.com slash inside.

BetterHelp.com slash inside. American Skyjacker tells the story of D.B. Cooper Copycat Martin McNally. who hijacked a plane and jumped out with $500,000. But that's just the start of this epic true crime saga. Now American Skyjacker is an action-packed documentary available on all major platforms. Go to American skyjacker.com to subscribe to the podcast and watch the film, and look out for a new bonus episode of the podcast coming soon.

American Skyjacker, follow and listen on your favorite platform. but it is when you say the little things it is the little things that make you happy it's not the you got the job you got this you got oh you got a paycheck you got a new car you got it's as much as you think that when you look back at what makes you really happy it's memories it's connection it's absolutely it's looking at someone in the eyes and saying hey this is going to get better you can do this yeah and you know um you know you were talking about i don't know if you remember saying this but jenny's your sister right yeah and we went on a smallville cruise and i said do you have two bedrooms like no we sleep in the same bed because we're

sisters and i said oh you know that makes sense i wouldn't sleep with my brother i have but yeah because he snores and comes home late but you said something like do you not sleep can you sleep with somebody else in the bed she go and you said when jenny's in the bed i sleep the best because i feel safe yeah like you feel safe tell me about that what what is that well um i think it's our like again it speaks to connection you know when i was a little girl she uh you know my my poor mother i i i could couldn't sleep on my own and I would try to like sleep with my mom at night and like I was scared all the time and she was so exhausted you know she was just like go to bed and she did everything she could but then I would just go straight to Jenny and from the moment I can remember we

shared the same room the same bed I would I would go to her when I was scared and she would tell me stories just for hours until I fell asleep and we just created there was just that connection like it feels like we're almost the same person and in a strange way. And then, you know, we spent many, many, many years apart and then came back together when our lives were mirroring each other quite a bit and going through some really difficult times that we saw each other through. And now this is another period in our life where we're getting to travel and do things

together. And so she's on these cons with me. And I remember we just like, we ended up getting a hotel room and I went back. We're like, whatever, we did this when we were five, no big deal. And we got up the next morning where I was like, oh, my God, I haven't slept that well. at like three decades. And I think it's just some kind of, I don't know, it's some kind of amazing thing.

And that just speaks to what we were talking about. We get distracted by all the other stuff that's going on in our life. And like some of my favorite memories are still just those moments, just getting to kind of chat before we go to sleep and then fell asleep and close it. It was awesome. I feel like I have, you know, I was just thinking what you're saying that. Like, who's my safe person? Like, you know, it's, you know, I think I have a couple safe people where I feel comfortable, um, and I feel like I could say anything and tell them everything. And, um, it's, it's, it's definitely a good feeling. But my mind is always going and it just doesn't stop. And it's like, but I didn't have that parental thing. I didn't have that, you know, mother who is very affectionate or father. So it was, you know, it was, you just went to bed.

And if you're scared, you didn't wake them up. You didn't, you know. You just, yeah. You fought off the demons. We fought off the demons. You fought off your own demons and you probably, you know, figured out a way to be incredibly self-reliant and independent and autonomous and all those things. But it's nice even in later in life if you can find those people that you're like,

okay, this is restful. I can, I can maybe, you know, if there's one or two people you have in your life, that you can kind of, the brain doesn't go so much into the, constant fight or flight scenario and you just stop in those moments and go this is it this is where living is it's right here yeah and i know i know that like the last couple of times is like you know we were supposed to do the podcast and you're like hey i'm not in the right mindset and and i've done that i mean i've done that where i'm like yeah you know i'm not you're just it's not a good day it's not a freaking good day um yeah how's everything going now are you in a better

place? Yeah, because I'm on your podcast. This is therapy. It is. It's therapy of sorts. Yeah, you know, big, you know, things have been going on in my life for the last few years, and you just kind of ride the different waves, and there's different levels of stuff that go on. And I'm the kind of person that I think maybe we're all this way. You kind of go for a while, and then all of a sudden you need, You need a week or two or a month or two where you just kind of disappear. And you just, it's like an overload of everything that's going on and you don't have words anymore. I find that I go into a shutdown mode where I can't talk anymore. There's nothing, I'm just too, everything's shut down. Too much information, too many things coming at you. You need to compartmentalize or figure it out. One of my biggest things that I do as a human being, and I'm trying to figure out why I have some answers.

And I have to stop doing it as I tend to, and I want to be careful with this because I hear everybody talking about this all the time. And it probably is very true for them. But I tend to try to adopt the emotional trauma of everybody around me and try to help all the time. Me too. And it's almost actually, if I think about it from the other people that, live with me's perspective. It's a little bit invasive and controlling of me, you know, as the other person. But it's like if anything's going on wrong, whether it's my kids or my partner or whatever, my sister, my mom, it's like it becomes my thing. It becomes my problem. Fix, fix.

And fix it. And feel it with them. If I feel it with them somehow, I can make it better. and I'm learning, I believe, to hear what's going on with people in my life and and witness it without feeling it or owning it. And it feels very weird for me. It feels almost like I'm not really with them, you know, but I realize that it's, it's as if I don't have a boundary between me and the people I love the most in my life. It makes sense. You know, and so I'm trying to find how to make.

manage that. And what's happening for me now is I know that I haven't managed it when I get to a point where I'm like, I literally go not, I almost, well, not literally. That sounds so silly. But it's almost as if I'm nonverbal. You know, I just stop talking. No one's not to anybody. I've always been that way. I've always been, I've got to fix this. I've got to make everything right. I've got to. And with my family, I, for the most part, have stopped. And because with me, if people are complaining, if they're upset with the way things are going and they want my advice and I give it to them and I try to help them and I do whatever I can, I'm fine with that. But when you find yourself doing the same thing over and over with the same people who are not taking your advice and you're not. wasting time it is my therapist once said you're crazier than your mom and i said what do you mean you trying to fix your mom or change your mom is crazier than the things you're telling me that your mom's doing you have to stop it because you it's it's you're it's like that show uh um what we do in the shadows the energy vampire What's his name, Colin, Colin Robinson.

Have you ever seen it? No. It's really fun. But it's draining and I do it and I'm just like I want to help. So now I just, I've learned to say, you know, I'm really sorry to hear that. I'm really sorry to hear that. You know, you could, you could do, you could fix that though. You could do it.

I don't go into how and I don't go into because it's a waste of my. time. I'm not going to do it anymore. I'm not going to change any of my nobody. I'm not changing anybody. If I want to change myself, I could change myself, but I'm not going to do this because it's debilitating. I have a conversation for an hour or somebody and I need to sleep the rest of the day. It's like it's taking everything out of me. Yeah. So I wonder if that happens to you where. Oh, yeah. I, I definitely have members of my family. that I've had to change my behavior with because I realized there was no, it didn't matter what I did or how many times I tried to intervene.

I'm never going to get the kind of relationship that I want from them. Never. Never. Yeah, it's not in your court. It's in their court. And, you know, as much emotional support or financial support or anything like that, it's never going to get me the relationship I wanted when I was five. You're 100% right.

This speaks falling. You know? And I remember one night, this is the thing, is I'll go for a long time and just not, I'll just stop talking. And then a thought will come to me. And it was after a pretty intense time. And I had thought, again, because my conscious and subconscious search always, my body is not always connected to what my brain is like, you're fine, you're fine, you're fine.

But then my body shuts down. I'm like, oh, I didn't somehow get the message to my body. And I remember I thought to myself, you know, Erica, you're. Yeah. You were not going to find much peace until you're, what was it? I said, I said, it seems that your need to be needed is greater than your need to be loved properly. Hmm. And until I figure out how to flip that, I will be in this pattern again and again and again with this person. Yeah, it's just that you're repeating the same thing over now. You know? And so that's a piece for me.

is somehow, especially when I was younger, this, I learned the emotional support bit. I learned that that was when I got the connection that I needed from this person was when I was emotionally available and making them feel better. And then I could have just a moment of their time, which felt like a little connection. And I now extrapolate that to the most important points in my life and the most important people. and now I'm catching myself, you know, maybe three steps in instead of, you know, having been in all in for, you know, five years, I'll catch myself going, wait, I, like you said, like I'm sorry that you feel that way. Yeah. I'm sorry that you're going through that. But that's a you thing. And I remember I said that to a person the other day, I was like, you know, that's not a me thing. Like, I really love you, but that's not for me. yeah and and it and that voice just kind of came out of nowhere and it seemed so harsh coming out of me but it was like that's not for me and you're taking care of yourself yeah and so it's i don't know

it's i think one of the solves for it because it is important that we try to kind of clear this stuff for ourselves yeah but when you have too much time to think about self then it's it becomes this perpetuating never ending yeah you look for things where i think that's why the part of this psyche goes now who are you helping who are you reaching out to and like when we go to our cons and get to talk to fans and they talk to us about what their experience was and what we did and you have those little moments and those interactions you're like that was a win you know that was a great moment yeah um because there's no there's a connection there's a moment there's a moment but you're not obligated to take care of that person.

You're not obligated to, you know, there's a difference. And but I think about like the simple things. We're going back to the simple things. But I think about when's the last time somebody said, Erica, honestly, how are you doing? Like really, how are you not, hey, how's it going? Oh, good, good. Oh, yeah. Anyway, on to the next thing.

How are you doing? Like, how are you doing? Have you, I think about that. And I'm like, how often do people just look at me and go, hey, how are you? Like, how are you? What's going on in your head? What's, it doesn't happen often, does it? No.

I mean, it's a very rare thing. You have it with your, again, if you've chosen your select circle very well, then you'll have much more, much more of that interaction, much more of that face time with people. And that's where I started, you know, kind of picking different situations and different relationships. But I think part of the issue is, in general, people are moving too fast. We're all moving too fast. We're all fighting something. We're racing against something, nothing that really matters. We're just in this crazy race together.

And it's like, we all kind of know it's crazy. And we look at each other and go, yeah, but we got to keep going. You know, so you may have people in your life that intentionally, like, they do kind of care. but they're stuck in their own kind of rat race. Everybody has their own shit. But if you can find those people in your life that you can connect with and have those moments and then you realize, like, let's invest the most of myself into these things and into these people,

into these interactions or, like you said, the causes that really matter to you and pull back from the stuff that just feels superfluous, right? You're right. But, you know, like I work, I volunteer at my kids' school a lot. and I do fun lunch, which is like basically the moms that pass out the lunches during the week. And I have to tell you, like, that's a super highlight of my life. I go in there.

I'm getting to know all the kids. I'm chatting with some of them. And, you know, somebody will be out in the corner, like, looking sad. They'll be like, hey, dude, what's going on? And I remember one little guy. He was like, I just needed a break from class. It's like, I get it, you know. He's like, and he's got his legs crossed like a little old man.

He's only like eight years old. He's like, you know, sometimes. it's just people don't answer questions fast enough and like just get to the answer you know and it's just like they're my favorite experiences with with kids so i don't know i'm going to find something where i'm spending more time doing that i'm going to also ask people more i'm also going to you know when i say how you're doing i'm going to you know mean it you know sometimes like you know just ask my friend ryan who's over there right like how you know it's just like how are you doing How are you doing?

Like, just, you know, like, just a minute of like, you know, what's going on in your head? Ryan actually got the microphone. He thought I was actually asking him a question. There's no way that was actually happening. You're like, why are you talking to me? You're talking to Erica. Hi, Ryan. Hey, Erica.

I want to know how you're doing. You can find out later. Yeah, we will find out later. It can be like the voice, the voice of God. Hey, what do you think of Justin Trudeau and Katie Perry? you're Canadian I don't know it's weird

I think I think everything has become like a tabloid yes everything is I mean I can step into a lot of stuff but I feel like

leadership and everything in the world has become this like sad and scary depressing reality show that's going on and you know we could talk for hours about that but

what is What is happening? I'm like, I don't care. I mean, she's cute. He's handsome. Great. Go for it. They found each other at the stage of the life.

I don't know. Do you think. Maybe they're a perfect match. Get ready for the rush with Max Crosby. It's time. Don't miss the behind the scenes moments everyone's talking about. Regardless of what they say, I'll take the fine. I don't care.

All pro defensive end, Max Crosby takes you beyond the field with exclusive insights. I could say this because I've played them. This is the rush. You guys already know what time it is. It was fire. And we'll be right back on the pod and we'll be talking about it next week. The Rush with Max Crosby. Follow and listen on your favorite

platform. I also think away from the Justin Trudeau thing, that was just a kind of zinger, fun, stupid thing. But you know, somebody once said to me, you know i read this it said not to me but it was a message it said you're not depressed

you're just bored and it it says it spoke to me and that meant to me it was like you're sitting around you're thinking too much you're worrying too much go out go do something go you know because sedentary lifestyles are just uh they're just petri dishes for depression obesity, poor mental health, hygiene, all these things. And if you're not getting up and doing something or writing or walking or just go to the store, go somewhere, get out. Like it spoke volumes to me. It's like when I'm thinking too much, it's like, you know, and you start to think, if you think too much, you start to get sad. You start to think about, oh, what am I doing with my. And a lot of times it's just like there's not enough activity. You got to start, get the whiteboard out

and say, all right, this week, I'm going to do these things. Fill it up. Yes. Fill it up with things to do. You know, hey, this day is a day off. I'm going to sleep, nap, and, you know, just be a slob. You know, but like, that does help when I'm like, sometimes I'm just like, let's get out of the house. Let's go out.

Let's go out. You got to move. Let's go. You got to get in your body. Like, just scientifically sometimes, you know, what happens with us, or I shouldn't say scientifically but let's just talk about the reality of our bodies. If we're in the think tank too much, we're not meant to do that. it can make us crazy.

We're supposed to be mind and body. So if you're not even physically moving, and that's what a lot of us can do now because, you know, life for some people is a lot easier. You can call and have everything delivered to you. You can cut out so many of the errands that would have kept you moving as a human being 50 years ago. You had to go do everything for yourself.

So even that in itself can cause you to be in a space of like way too much brain brain stuff, you know, like introspection. And it is immobilizing. Yeah. And I think that's, it is part of what's making everybody a little bit depressed right now, right? And then we get on our devices and we look at lives that don't actually exist. And then we get more depressed instead of going, like, I'm going to go do something in my real life right now. Yeah.

And I seem to have that in the forefront of my mind when it applies to my children all the time, right? very, I'm very controlled about their screen time. I want to make sure that they're outside living and doing all these things. And if they like something on a screen, then like, okay, so say they, my, my sons love to play basketball, then they have to play basketball, right? They have to actually go play the sport and interact. It doesn't have to be at a high level, but let's go play the game. And I think that I need to apply that a little bit more to myself.

Like I'll give myself a day to, crash. Generally, I only get it when my body just won't move anymore. So, like, I've had the flu for the last three days. It just shut down. That's the only time I let myself relax. I know. When you're forced to relax, when you're sick, when you have to, you just take, yeah, I get it. Isn't that something? You know, there's warning signs before that, but you don't listen to them. No. So somewhere in the, in the adage of, like, don't become so interesting. perspective that you can, that you just kind of eat yourself, kind of, you know what I mean, to the other end of the extreme, which is keep busy so you don't have to focus on the thing

that truly matters. Like, we're kind of, at least myself, I find that I swing between those two things instead of finding somewhere kind of nice in the middle. Yeah. You know, it's interesting. My partner is from another, he's from France, and it's a totally different culture. And he is now part of North American culture and he just says it's very interesting in North America how you guys live your lives

he goes it very much is centric on what you do like you are what you do it's move move move faster faster faster what have you achieved how much money do you have how many things do you have what is your next level of success

and you know it just in certain just where he's from he's like it's just not a priority the way we are it's kind of like what is your life like how did you experience your life today yeah where is your family what is your family doing you know it he goes it's very bizarre and there's there's a reason that people are feeling stressed and sad like when do you let up when do you live you know wow when do you live you know i kept

going well i'll do this and this and this and this so he goes what you wait till you're 55 or 65 to live in 10 years you can live yeah and you know what else you know you know what i do i when i see something on instagram or something that's poignant or something profound i'll send it to myself because i'm like oh you know and i never get around to it to looking at it i just have all these links you know i'm like what are you doing like yeah it's it's like this weird thing it's like oh yeah that makes sense i'll save that and i'll no look at it now Yeah. Think about it now because there are some good things on Instagram. There are a lot of bad things on Instagram. There's always I, you know, I stopped one thing. I stop. I can't say stop, but like I really try not to compare myself to anyone else or anyone else's success. Yeah, we all do, but it's human nature. I just stop and I just go, can you afford to have a life? Can you have dogs that are healthy? You have a roof over your head. You're, you know, I try to look at, the important things and I don't get frazzled when I'm like, oh, that guy, everybody listens to his

podcast. Look at his guest on his podcast. I'm like, okay, well, my guests are great. I love what I do. People enjoy it. Stop thinking about numbers or how many people are listening compared to what I mean. There's always, that's always a danger zone when you start comparing instead of just living going, hey, I got something good here and enjoy it while it lasts. I did that on Smallville. I did that where, you know, I was just like, it's work, work, work. I just got it. I want to get done.

I want to get done. And then I'm like, why don't you just enjoy the moment more, more? Enjoy these moments because they're gone so quickly. Well, I think when you get in the comparison game, what it does is it puts you exactly where the Matrix wants to. Because then you're going to get out and hustle more. right but when something when you really sit in the honesty of what you where you've been what you've done in your life the things you really cherish and care about what do you find that you do the most is you breathe and you slow down and you relax and you go it's good enough which means you

you might not have that hustle in your mind that says i got to do this next thing i got to get to the next gig in the next gig in the next gig and that's the thing because i've always been like of my upbringing i always felt like i have to everything has to be in order i have to be perfect i have to be this i have to be this for all the wrong reasons and the best advice you can give what you just said ultimately is just be good enough you don't have to be the best you don't have to be perfect you can't be perfect just be good enough like yeah am i good at what i do yeah i think i'm good at what i do great yeah success like give yourself a break it's one of those things are you if you're really caught up in knots about some of this you kind of just go

like doesn't matter and not in the way where you just ask it the one time you know you could do like that just keep asking yourself does this matter does this matter no it really doesn't and my mom used to say to me because i was always comparing as a kid and looking outside and dreaming bigger and bigger and bigger and i get upset about this that and the other thing she's a fairly contended person and she's busy working as she always was and she's like you all end up we all end up six feet under in a wooden box deal with it and it was wonderful in a way and she is dark humor kind of but at the end of the day when we're like running around all upset about these these things which should have some value i'm not dismissing that for people but really at the end of the day we all are doing

the same thing whether we've had a 50 million dollar home whether we've been living you know on the street it we're we're all doing the same life we're all going to be here we're all going to the same place so do some good on this fucking earth so try to do something nice when you're here yeah you know um i don't know if you remember but helen slater said something on this podcast but she also said it at a convention we were at together and i we adore her she's just phenomenal i'm in love with her i think she's awesome i do i love her but she said something where she did a movie and the director was like you know i want to show you some dailies and she goes no no she's no show you some dailies and he showed him some dailies and all she could think it was like i don't know i don't like kind of

i'm looking older or whatever something like that and she told her friend helen hunt and she said oh yeah and then he wanted me to see this and i looked at it and i thought i'm looking older. And Helen Hunt just looked in and goes, we're dying. We're dying. To me, that was hilarious. Because it's like, it's true. We're just, we're slowly dying.

We're dying. In a way, it was just, it made light of things because it's so true. It's like, we're dying. So don't care about these things. It's like you're, you know, we all do like how do look and people are going to judge. But there are haters everywhere. I mean, I say stuff, you know, the other night I'm like, man, that dude got old. And I'm like, wait a minute, you're getting old.

Yeah. Shit happens. Bad lighting. Yeah. It's part of it. I mean, it's just like. You know, it's so good when you kind of get that counter voice. And, you know, she's also been in the business so long.

But there's, there's, you know, being in this world, there's certain, there's certain messages. that are given to you for so many years that you really do feel like you're expected to kind of like stay the same or if not staying the same still like look like the healthiest version of you

or whatever it is instead of just pay yeah you know what like people have said to me people are always quite funny I'll be at a corner and be like you still look okay you still look great and I'm like thanks

but it's almost like it's a consolation prize. And I'm like, but you know, it's okay. I know. 25 years older, 25, man. I get that too. And I remember it was like in my 30s, people are like, you look like you're in your 20s. And I'm in my 40s. And I'm like, you look like you in your 30s.

They're like, now they're like, how old are you? I'm like, 53. And they're like, oh. Yeah. There's no. Yeah. Just like, oh. Yeah.

I'm like, fuck. But you know what? But then this tells you like what's happening in specific. our culture right now instead of people going how are you their first comment is often like about your age or what you look like it's all like it's all external yeah we're always fighting it too we're fighting like how we look and how we walk and how we you know and you know sometimes i look in the mirror and i go fuck you've got a shower and you don't even need a shower you need a shower to just like snap out of this awful look that you have right now because you look like a smacked ass

Just, just, whoa. And, you know, and like, maybe shave, maybe trim your ear hair. Maybe, you know, try to be healthier, not eat like shit the night before. You wonder why you look like shit. There's no, you know what the secret is? There is no secret. That's the secret. There's no secret.

You just, you want to look better, eat better. Exercise. You don't want to. Stop complaining because you're going to continue to. look like shit faster. Yeah. That's just the way it is. What we need to look for, and especially for myself, there is, like, a lot of times when

I was younger, that I went through real extremes to try to be a certain size. But I didn't really care that I was maybe giving myself heart problems. You know what I mean? And now there's a point with which it's like, how am I going to have a heart attack early? Like, do I feel good inside? or is it still like this opposite way of trying to to be healthy but only on the outside? You know what I mean? I know.

Hey, let me ask you. You did Kristen, Kruk, our good friend, you did her show, murder in a small town. How was that? Amazing. Did you love it? I loved it. We hadn't worked together since Smallville and even then. Not much.

We didn't work much on the show. And I remember I came out of the makeup trailer and I looked down between the trailers and she goes, and we screamed like we were like little girls. Like we went running down to like how each other. It was so cool. And it is something to work with somebody that knows you so well. And I bet she made you feel so comfortable on set. I was so comfortable.

And I remember I was in the middle of a scene that had been constructed to be like it was only like three pages. But she's supposed to be like angry. then sad, then crying, then, you know, like it was like, all in two and a half pages, right? There were so many crazy transitions throughout the discovery of the, you know, because they had to solve the crime in, like, a scene. Right. That's not easy. And I did it, you know, a few times. And then I was just like, I could tell I was like a little bit blocked or whatever.

And Kristen, you know, she's so cute. She was like, holding my hand the whole scene. And then she just laid her head of my lap between takes. She just laid down, like kind of on me, you know? And it helped? And I was like, I'm ready. Because I was like, she just like gave me some energy, you know? Oh.

She just knew. And she didn't say a word. She just knew that I was like, okay. And she just, it's like she gave me a hug. And it was like, she's a pro. She's a pro. Yeah, she's so good. I loved working with Kristen because I just remember, I remember working with her.

And, you know, and they'd have close up, or it was an intense part. And then she just held my hand, looked at me and she goes, she goes, that was really great. And it just, it made me just, she knew she had a way, she has a way about her. She does. That is just honest. Mm-hmm. You know if Kristen is uncomfortable around you. You know if Kristen doesn't like you.

And you know if she's got your back. And it's certainly a good feeling when she does. But do you audition a lot still? Like, do you auditioning, you offer? Oh, so you don't just get offers. no i mean i get some but it's also the business is such that i don't think unless you're really like an a list or b list or whatever like you really have to get out and fight again you can't just go oh give me an offer depending on like if it's if it's a group that you're used to if it's a network

that you've been with a lot you might be able to do that but it's it's competitive out there yeah i know it is and you're only remembered is the last thing thing you might have done that somebody recall. So I always think depending on like if you really want something for me, I'm going to, I'm going to read for it for sure. Because I feel like I'm constantly still having to prove myself. Do you still learn your lines when you audition or do you kind of like sometimes have papers? I still learn my lines. How long does it usually take you to learn lines for like three or four pages of dialogue? If I'm like hyperfocused, I'm doing like I'm an hour or something and I'm done. That's it?

hour. If I'm really focused, like I find that I can't focus as well. Yeah, like if I had to go and I actually do my best when I have to hyperfocus, if I know I have a scene that I have to do in two days, it'll be around. But it won't be until the half hour before that I'm like, okay, go. But whether I'll be able to remember it in an hour is is another story. Yeah. See, I can't do that. I don't know what it is, but I get so nervous if they throw something at me. I'm not good like that. I'm good at improv. I'm good at, like, if I have my lines ahead of time, I'm great. But when they throw shit at me, and if it's a lot of stuff, that ruins my day. It ruins my day because I'm just, so it's just weird. I can't, I'm not someone who can like, okay, I'll just learn this monologue in 30 minutes. I'm like, um, nowadays. My brain works best when it's backed into a corner.

Yeah. They're like hyperfocuses and then. Wow. See, not me. I fucking. Yeah, I think that's something deep down childhood trauma shit that I'm like, I don't know. You can't do this. You're going to blow it.

You're going to be feel shame. You're going to be embarrassed in front of everybody. There's a weird thing. What would you like to do that you haven't done? I just saw a show called The Abandones. And it's a period piece back into like the, their Western times and families fighting over land rates and stuff like that i think i'd like to do something that was period piece oh i could see that i could definitely see you doing that like i love things like that i would love to do i spend a lot of time

watching those shows i would love to do a western i would love to do a western i would love to do i want to play a serial killer i want to play there's just so many things that i would love ironically you'd be very good at that you're like one of the nicest people i've ever met in my life but you'd be Well, I'm writing something that's kind of crazy if I could, you know, get my butt into gear. But what makes you the happiest? Being with my family, being with my boys. And then when I'm on my own, the most, I don't, you know what the thing is, Michael? I don't know if I like the word happy.

Yeah, you know what? A lot of people don't like the word happy. I don't know anymore when I was younger. What makes you feel at ease? Being alone. Really? My alone time feels so much. Yeah, because you probably don't have a lot of alone time.

My favorite thing is to go for walks in the forest here. Do you ever get tired of acting? Like, thinking maybe I can do something else or do you do. I do. Awesome. Yeah. I still really love that moment when they say action and cut. You know, I love that.

peace. But everything else about it is starting to tire me out of it. Yeah, it is. It's exhausting. It's like those days on set are. Well, I just finished a couple of night shoots. And I said to my friend that I was working with, I said, you know, I think I'm too old. Like, I got sick. I was just, I was working in a warehouse. It was raining. I was inside the first night. and I got sick and then I had two night shoots and I've now been in bed for two days recovering from it

and I used to be able to do that on small while remember I'd like put on a fancy dress and heels and run around and lay on rain shot you know train tracks in the rain and if I can run in this like that that one scene where we did in January and I'm running around

I can't like I just don't I don't know what's happened but my brain and my body just go like I can't do this anymore you know why Erica we're dying we're dying it's because we're dying I swear to God, I was laying on the pavement with my face in the brain at 3 in the morning.

And I was like, I got to keep moving and oiling my hips because I can't flip up and turn it out of this. Like I would have like, I'm like so stiff. I was just like, I can't do this. It's sad. But the only time I could act is if I was in a warm studio all the time. But I understand wholeheartedly. I get it. I mean, the thought of just, you know, I mean, people could say like, oh, you're lucky, you have this, you know, yes, we're lucky. We're grateful, all that, but we're human. And like, you know, the older you get, the harder it is to do the things that seem to be effortless and easy. And, you know, now it's, now there's a toll.

Yeah, well, that's what I was saying. I was like, actually, my mind and my spirit were like, be excited and be there and all those things than I was. But I was like, literally my body shut down and said, no, you're just. supposed to sleep at this time of night you know i know i was like wow it's it's happening right now this is shit talking with erika durrance these are my lovable patrons who support this show patreon dot com slash inside of you if you want to support the show and keep listening and help us out uh these are rapid fire okay but if you feel like you want to elaborate be uh do it rage asks tell me about a time you felt unapologetic oh You could also pass. Pass.

I'll see if I, I'm too introspective for this game. Okay. Bob Kay. That's Knudson, Bobby Knudson. I just started watching Saving Hope. How did you prep for the role as a doctor? I watched surgeries in the hospital for reals. And then I had a doctor with me almost all the time.

That's a lot of work. It was a lot of work. It was amazing, though. And I practiced suturing and like, tying, you know, tying up the sutures, threading it all. it was it was fantastic did you see the pit have you watched the show the pit no oh my god have you seen it right we'd watch it a fantastic it is it's it's every episode is an hour of the same day so the next episode is the second hour third hour fourth hour you're watching it in real

time as these things are happening in the uh in the emergency room oh my god it's so good i'm Oh, Wiley, who I love. Okay, Linda M. What's a recent important life lesson that you learned? I have to give me another one and then I'll cycle back to it. All right. I always say the same thing. You please some of the people, some of the time, a few of the people all the time, but you can't please all the people all the time.

Well, that's amazing. Yeah, that's Bob Dylan, I think so then. Oh, okay. There we go. Not me. Nico P. Pizza, thick crust, thin crust, or deep dish? Thin crust Deep dish for me, Ryan?

Too much bread. My body can't handle it. I know. Medium. Okay, so that'd be a thick crust. Yeah, thick crust. Teapaw 12. What was the last movie you watched recently

and one you particularly enjoyed? Fuck, last man standing, not dead man standing, walking. Dead man walking? No, no, I don't know. It was the one with Daniel Craig. and it's um the knives out it's like a third wake up dead man yeah it's like the third rendition of um the knives out murder murder oh is it good i loved it really yeah i love those kind of

movies you know what i don't like it's not that i don't like the actors or what they're doing it's just that genre who done the 007 kind of like and like guys just kicking ass this isn't that's boring this is like i know i know but i was just thinking Daniel Craig. I find that in those movies, I, like, I liked them when I was in my 20s, but I disengage if there's too much action. I'm like, I kind of go, oh, really. I like dialogue and talking and like, so I like those ones, the Knives Out movies because it's a murder mystery, and I love murder mysteries, but it's not too scary. And I really don't know who did it until the end. Like, they're pretty well ready. I love good crime stuff. Finding out who did what?

Yeah, if it's good, I'm in. All right, Jen T. What is one hobby or interest outside of acting that people may find surprising that you enjoy um i think that i would like to um work in early childhood education so i may end up working in daycares at some point are you serious that's so sweet i'm dead serious i love it i'm thinking of going back to school so i can hang out with babies all day playing the sand i love it little lisa what is the best song to describe your life right now What would be a good one for me right now? We've got to think of one where it's very slow because apparently my mind is moving very slow. I've been listening to a ton of Jack Johnson.

Jack Johnson. He's been my jam for like a few weeks. I love that stuff. I never got into Jack Johnson. Did you? I like him. Yeah. I definitely had a.

jack johnson moment i keep the the albums you know in my library and they every now and again you're like i'm in the mood for a there's a level of like there's a level of positivity he has and also realism it's not too dark you know there's always a little bit of redemption in all his songs which is kind of me you know i'm looking at all this stuff and it's just like i mostly we just had a nice conversation i told you we would just have a great conversation i said you know like what are we going to talk about i just wanted to like i don't know what to talk you know it's it's really weird because i feel very at ease with you like i can just talk to you so in my mind i'm like uh you know we're going to figure it out we're going to just talk and and you just start when you talk

ideas pop into my head and i start thinking it's just it's just two people having a chat it's all it is well you're very good at this job because you do that with everybody no i appreciate it well some people don't want to just, I mean, I guess some people do want to talk about, you know, life and some people just kind of want to talk about their projects. And you know, you never know, you never know what you're doing. It depends on what people feel safest doing, you know, or where people are at. Yeah. I'm glad you're not my friend Nate because this is, I'm not kidding. This is my impression of me calling my friend Nate, who lives in Indiana. Hello. Nate, what's going on? not much how's the family fine cool how's that old mama shepherd doing pretty good okay cool man i'm thinking about coming to town all right yeah so anything else going not a whole lot i mean it is if you heard his voice you would he sounds like everybody in my family it's just It's just a simple guy. He doesn't get too excited about things.

I'm like, dude, we're, hey, I got us tickets to go to Disney World. All right. Dude. I mean, it's, there's a, there's a beautiful steadiness to that. Yeah, he doesn't get worked up. So maybe there's a, there's, there's good into that because, you know, he probably has a really good heart. Like in terms of it's not beating too fast. Oh, yeah.

You know what I mean? Yeah. His blood pressure. It's probably perfect. There's something I really trust about that. And I don't know if it's because I grew up with that. But the simplicity of those answers, there's an honesty to it that you know that if something really were wrong, then perhaps he would use five words. And you'd be like, oh, this is a big deal.

Do you know what I mean? Yeah. It's something so, I feel comfortable with that. They're not trying to bullshit you about anything. It's fine. He actually got me. What else more do I have to say? Yeah, he got me into his show.

I said once, I go, Nate, what would you recommend a show? show that i watch what what do you think a good show that i would enjoy and they goes milf manor i go what he goes yeah milf manor oh my god and i watched it and i was just it was so bad that you couldn't stop watching this train wreck and i was like and i was like this is what nate enjoys you know just some crappy easy fun and uh i And you couldn't stop watching, so it has something to it. I mean, it has, if you watched it, you'd probably be upset with me. But it was, it's ridiculous, but.

I have a general, I have a pretty good inkling about what it's about. It's ridiculous. Miltz manner. Like they show up all these milfs, that's what they call them. And then the surprises, all their sons that are in their 20s show up. And then so the milfs and the different sons all hook up. Yeah. And it's it's just like what, what am I watching?

Do any of the sons fight each fight each other? No, but it gets ugly. It gets a little ugly, but it's just like it's a train wreck. It's a just a train wreck. It's so crazy. Yeah, I don't know. But people are going to be disgusted with me after listening to this podcast. But Erica, I adore the hell out of you.

I loved having you. here today. It means a lot. If I don't have you on at least once a year or once every other year, I mean, we got to check it and see what's why. Maybe next year I'll have a completely different philosophy about life and I'll, I've done a 180 or who knows? Yeah, I'll ask you, are you happy? And you go, happy, I'm happy. No. Happy. I'm super happy. Are you going on the Smallville cruise? Yeah. You are going. We're going. I am going on the Smallville cruise. Guys, we're going. Tom's going. Who else is coming? I'm not sure. I know Aaron Ashmore is coming.

I'm excited about that. I like Aaron. I love him. Very much. Here's the cast. Thomas Welling. Me. Thomas Welling.

Erica Durantz. Elena Huffman. Oh, Elena. Aaron Ashmore. Sam Jones. Thrice. Sam Jones. John Schneider.

John Glover. A glove. Yes. All right. You're amazing. I hope you feel better. And is there anything else going on? Like, is there something that you did or that's coming out or anything?

I can't think of anything that I want to plug at the moment or that I can plug. I'm filling right now. Yeah, you're filming something right now so you can't really plug it. I guess I can't, but it'll be fun. But that's good. You're working. Yeah. It's good.

I'm working. If you want to work, it's good. Yeah, I just picked the different ones. Like, I think this year I did a Law & Order and a wild card's up here because it's like two of my friends called and said, will you do these parts? And they were fun. I did a played a politician, a cult leader. And now I'm playing a stunt woman. So that's kind of fun. I love it. Well, you look great. I'm not just saying that. You really look great. I feel great. Well, not really because you have the flu. Well, yeah, but like I feel better psychologically than I did a few months

ago. Is that because of the podcast or just in general? That I feel better. I feel better after talking to you. I feel like I've had my therapy section. Oh, God. I'm so glad. Yeah. No, this has been a joy. I love you to death. And I can't wait to see you. Okay. See you. Bye. All right, folks. We are kicking off something new. Okay. And it's called Inside of Us. Yes. For the first time, we're bringing community members onto the show to share how they're navigating life and mental health these days. Yes, real people, not just actors. It's a chance to hear real stories from real people and maybe even find

a bit of a connection or some advice along the way. So if you want to get involved and join us on a future episode, yep, check out patreon.com slash inside of you. And let's dive in and hear from some of you. Leanne Pritchett is here. She's not only, only a wonderful patron and friend, but she's someone who has supported the podcast, the podcasts, and she's an advocate of mental health. And, you know, it's a joy to have you here. And I know you've dealt with a lot in your life. So you're a great person to be talking to about this. But first of all, why inside of you? What got you thinking, okay, I'm going to listen to the show. During the pandemic, actually, if you recall, I write you a letter. Granted,

is going back five and a half years. Okay. But going through some tough times, some hard times. I actually was rewatching Smallville. And what was it? Some con where Tommy was wearing like a huge cowboy hat and I was like had a picture of you up and then you were out on stage and I was watching it on YouTube. And I was really moved by you and your sincerity and your, like yeah you guys text me email me i have this podcast i'm like that sounds cool and i loved you lex luther so i'm like let me check it out and i did and it's been a great help for me by the way audience i'm going to try not to cry my dad had a bad fall and he has dementia so i'm going to try not to get overly i'm sorry you know what my mom had a fault last night and my sister yes my mom told me

and then i called my sister and she says yeah we were going to take her to the hospital but anyway But go ahead, continue your thought. Oh, my gosh. My thoughts are with your father. Yeah, so you all get it. I've gone through a lot and it's helped me grow personally, hearing other people's stories and giving me the confidence to be me and to get Leanne back. Yeah, no, I was in a bad, you know, a bad relationship and played drinks with my mind. I...

didn't value me and listening to what other people has gone through has helped me value me and start my own two podcasts, be an advocate. I just have one of my students now. I just finished class. Tell me that they like it because I'm positive and I have positive energy and I empower my blind and visually impaired students to know they can do it. And if something's challenging, all right, it's challenging. We're just going to do it a different way.

And that was pretty cool. And you have so much patience to be able to do what you do and such a big heart to give, to help to, I mean, working with visually impaired kids and who else? Adults, yeah. And adults, right, is, you know, it's a lot of work. And you have to love what you do to do that sort of job. Yeah. And it's, you know, your patience has tested all the time. And, you know, we always talk about what it, what a, you know, everyone has something they do hopefully for their mental health, for their physical health, for all this.

What do you do that keeps you centered? Keeps me centered. Do you go to therapy? I was. In order to do this job and live eight minutes from my parents, I, my pay went down by $30,000 a year. So at the moment, I cannot afford it. See, this is inside of us. This is real people, real problems, the real world.

And this is why I wanted to talk to you. Yeah. Thank you. So, yeah, not at the moment. But I'm going to give a shout out for a second. My best friend, Michelle King, who was a patron. Michelle, she's the best. I love Michelle.

I know. She's my little sister. She helps you She helps me a lot Nature walks help me a lot I live right by the beach here Good Believe it or not

Go into my parents' house The house I grew up in centers me a lot I went and picked apples during lunch with my brother The other day during my lunch hour And that just kind of grounded me Being where I was as a kid So

Is there something that you do I guess those things to recharge. But when you're feeling stressed, when you're feeling anxious, are you able to stop yourself and take a deep breath and go for a walk and be aware of what's happening? Yeah. Actually, I'm more aware because since I do teach visually impaired individuals, we actually did a lesson about echo location and being aware of your senses. And that's made me be more aware. So yeah, when I'm like really up, I will be like, all right, turn everything off, turn my phone off. I'm going to walking on the beach and I am just going to like from all

electronics, everything and just go away and then come back. And that that helps me quite a bit. But I'm also, we get at heart. I mean, I will color and I will, you know, read books do. Yeah. Yeah. And I think sometimes we get in our heads about, you know, we worry about things that are out of our control. Yeah. We worry about things that we can't control, that we just can't. And if you take a step back sometimes and go, okay, why am I upset? I'm upset about this. Is that their fault? No. Uh, is it my fault? I shouldn't feel this way because this person isn't doing what I want them to do or isn't reacting the way I want them to react. That's not, that's out of my control. I could only react the way I want to react. Yeah. And. So,

So reaction is important. And I think, you know, listening and, you know, I'm hardheaded. I'm hardheaded. And a lot of times I'll think, you know, I didn't do anything wrong. This isn't my fault. I'm not. And it's just like, I'm like, where does that stem from? And it stems from childhood.

It stems from not being listened to. It stems from not having a voice. It stems from being feeling less than. And those are things I need to work out. And in order to be a better person and to not respond a certain way that some people might not like, including myself, for feeling that way. It's taken me a long time to learn that. I was very overly emotional at one point and would just immediately react instead of doing what you did. Stop, analyze, and think, and breathe.

I would and then like, no. No. Yeah, so I get it. Yeah, I think it's important. I think it's important. But it's also important. I always say be good to yourself at the end of every episode. But it is important to say, okay, that happened.

It's the past. Let it go. Move on. I won't make the same mistake twice. Or I won't react that way again. You know, I think people, especially me, I, you know, if I do something, I dwell on it. Like, I feel bad. I feel remorse.

I feel, you know, I shouldn't have reacted that way or I should have. I should do things a little differently, but I think some things just hurt me. I feel hurt and it's something I have to explore. You know, I have to explore about why that hurts me and why I don't think they meant to hurt me. Maybe they didn't mean to hurt me. Maybe it's just because I'm sensitive to it and I've been hurt before. So I'm expecting that I'm going to be hurt. Yeah.

You know, it's crazy. It's crazy. But, like, I've learned so much from you, from other patrons and people and guests and, you know, it's, it's important to find out, find what it is works for you to help you live the best life you can live. Yeah. To help you, you know, and I think a lot of that is, you know, therapy, exercise, eating right, getting up, taking a walk, not being sedentary. I talk about that all the time because I see people that are sedentary and are just at their computers all day and go, this isn't healthy. Are you, you know, my therapist said set an alarm every 45 minutes and get up and walk around for five minutes. Go outside for some sun for five minutes.

Don't sit at your computer for eight hours straight or whatever it is. Yeah. And that's really, that has help. I try to get up, kiss my dog, do whatever. But I need to do more. But it's like one step at a time, you know? Yeah. Well, that's nice about what I do because I help blind and visually impaired people travel from point A to point B safely.

So like I'm not geared up right now, but usually I have like my inside of view hat on and they have like I'm all geared up and I have walking around with a cane how to take a bus. So I'm like, I move a lot and what I do. Well, well, you're a joy. I really appreciate you. You're going to be in Chicago. Uh-huh. Of course. You know, I got to ask for my collection.

Well, hey, give my love to me. Michelle. Give my love to your father. I hope he's okay. And I'm thinking about you. And thanks for all the support and love over the years. It's just above and beyond. And I really sincerely appreciate you. Thank you. Yeah. No, I appreciate you too. Because without you, without inside of you and without Michelle, I wouldn't have made it. Quite like. Hey, I, I'm glad that inadvertently I could help in some way. You know, I'm just like, I'm just trying to be, you know, be as mindful and truthful. just genuine as I can. So I'm not always that way, but I try to be and try to be.

So, all right, you're the best. Thanks, Erica, for coming on the podcast again. You know, I have to have you on at least once a year. You're just, just, you know, maybe once every other year. This is a really good one. I remember she was really forthcoming. It was a really nice one. Yeah, she's fantastic.

Yeah. She really is. She's a fantastic human being, period. I'm saying this because I mean it. I don't think there's a lot of people like her. She's, you know, when you're talking to her,

it feels like she is just focused on you. And I wish I could be like that more because I'm so ADD, ADHD. It's hard sometimes to focus. And I always feels like you have her undivided attention. You know, so Erica, you're amazing.

Thank you. And David Ramsey said you're amazing to work with. So they work together on that show, a tracker, Justin Hartley show. You laugh. Because Amanda's family watched it and I was just with them. And her nine-year-old niece is obsessed with Justin Hartley. Really? That's so funny. I love that. Thank you for listening. Thank you for being a part of my life. And, you know, again, we couldn't do this without the top-tier patrons and you know all the patrons we can do this with without any of you so thank you patron thank you patrons they say patrons but i i think of them as friends they're just great

people and i've got to know some of them pretty pretty well and uh here are the top tier patrons that give the most back to the show um they get summer and how how deep is your love tier and they get extra goodies like i just threw some autographed ship keys from smallville autographed for their extra little bonus gift but they get a box for me full of fun prizes or gifts inside of you gifts blah blah it's they're really great they're great boxes they see inside of you like the personalized note from me that i actually write out and take the time and um you know can't forget these people here they are nancy d little lisa you keep you Michael, Brian H., Nico P.

Rob B. the fourth. Yeah. Jason W. Raj C. Stacey L. Jamal F. Janelle B. Mike L. Don Suprema, 99 more. San Diego M. Kendrick F. Belinda N.

Dave Ho. Dave Ho. Brad D. Ray H. Tabitha T. Tom N. Talia M. David G. Betsy D. Rannin C. Michelle A.

Jeremy C. Mr. Melski. Eugene R. Monica. Monica T. Mell S. Eric H. Amanda R. Kevin E. Jammin J. Leanne J. Luna R. Jules M. Jessica B. Frank B. Gn T. Randy S. Claudia. Rachel D. Nick W. Stephanie and Evan.

Stefan. Charlene A. Don G. Jenny B. 76. N.G. Tracy. Keith B. Heather and Greg. Grether. Beth. I said Beth Benjamin. I knew a girl named Beth Benjamin, but it's Ben B. Jammin. Ben B. Jammin. PRC. Sultan of Swing. Dave Tab. Brian B. T. Paul. Gary F. Jackie J. R. J. R. Other brother, Darrell, Ivan G. John A. Mikhail L. or Michael. I think it's Michaela. Michaela. Michaela. L. Are you new? Michaela L. But guys, it means the world to me. Thank you for being a part of this podcast and employing Ryan. and Tim and Bryce and me and without you couldn't do it we love you from the Hollywood Hills

in Hollywood, California. I'm Michael Rosenbaum. I am Ryan Teas. Yes. A little way to the camera. Happy New Year. Happy New Year. Happy New Year. Happy New Year. I wish you the best year. Thank you. And you too. Yes. Thank you. All right. I will see you guys next week. Please be good to yourself and do something kind and do something kind to your you know for you know treat yourself to something and get outside well yeah i'll see you next week the united states soccer federation presents the u.s soccer podcast my name is david goss and i'm joined by my co-host megan clenemberg everything up until this point has been an outside look at the world cup and now we're giving people an inside look It is just total pressure cooker.

Watching flags come out of little plastic balls is like the epitome of everything that I love. And the World Cup is everything. It's why I became a soccer fan. The U.S. Soccer Podcast. Follow and listen on your favorite platform.