Too Much with Denise Love Hewett

Why You Shouldn’t Fear Being a Beginner: Career Growth Through Learning New Skills

In this solo episode, I’m diving deep into two things:
How to confidently advocate for yourself in interviews, pitches, and career transitions
Why being a beginner is actually your greatest superpower
After changing industries four times, taking big swings, failing publicly, and starting again, I’ve learned a lot about identity, reinvention, intuition, and believing you’re allowed to take up space. We talk about: 
Why you’re the expert of your own story
Getting over the fear of “bragging” in interviews
Letting yourself be bad at something new
How to build confidence through consistent practice over time
Turning perceived weaknesses into unexpected strengths
The power of intuition in shaping your career
If you’ve ever felt behind, unqualified, or scared to start — this episode is your reminder that small steps create massive impact. If this resonated, leave a comment with your own six-word memoir — where you are now, and where you want to be.
Keywords: career confidence, how to pitch yourself, self advocacy tips, being a beginner, fear of starting, career advice for women, early career tips, interview confidence, intuition and creativity, reinventing yourself, personal growth podcast, self development motivation

From Survivor to Advocate: Jimanekia Eborn on Trauma-Informed Healing and Reclaiming Your Life

In this powerful episode, Denise sits down with trauma specialist and educator Jimanekia Eborn to discuss healing from sexual assault, navigating complex trauma, and finding safety in uncertain times. Jimanekia, founder of Tending the Garden nonprofit and host of the Trauma Queen Podcast, shares her personal journey as a survivor and expert with over 17 years of experience in mental health and sexuality education. This conversation covers essential topics including:
Understanding trauma: Complex trauma vs. acute trauma and how it shapes our lives
The difference between somatic therapy and talk therapy for trauma recovery
Practical grounding techniques using your five senses
The trauma response of "fawning" and why it's a valid survival mechanism
How to ask for support from your community during triggering moments
Finding the right trauma-informed therapist (and why not all therapists are equipped for trauma work)
Building resilience and safety during politically turbulent times
The importance of joy and community connection in healing
Why anger is informational and how to use it for positive change
Listeners will learn actionable tools for regulation, how to create a personal grounding kit, the importance of interviewing therapists, and ways to show up for social justice work based on individual skills and comfort levels.
This episode includes discussions of sexual assault and may be triggering for some listeners. Please practice self-care while listening.
Jimanekia Eborn is a trauma specialist, educator, and strategist with over 17 years of experience in mental health, sexuality education, and survivor advocacy. She is the founder of Tending the Garden, a nonprofit organization that supports survivors of sexual assault from marginalized communities, and the host of the Trauma Queen podcast. Jimanekia’s work bridges care, culture, and systems change consulting with media, education, and wellness organizations on trauma-informed practices and equity-driven leadership. She is also the co-founder of CINTIMA, expanding representation in intimacy coordination across film and TV.
You can follow her  @jimanekia
You can follow this podcast @toomuchwithdlh and Denise @deniselovehewett
Email hello@deniselovehewett.com for any suggestions or advice.
 

From Wounded to Healthy Ambition

 In this solo episode, Denise explores the critical difference between wounded ambition and healthy ambition and how understanding this distinction can transform your entire approach to work and success. In this episode, you'll discover:
What wounded ambition is and how to recognize it in your own life
The psychological concept of the hedonic treadmill and why external achievements never satisfy
How to identify your core values using proven methodologies (including free tools)
The difference between hedonistic and eudemonic pleasure—and why it matters for lasting fulfillment
Practical steps to transition from burnout-driven achievement to purpose-driven success
Why successful people are often unhappy and how to avoid the same trap
How to maintain big dreams while prioritizing relationships and well-being
Perfect for ambitious professionals, recovering workaholics, entrepreneurs experiencing burnout, anyone feeling like success is coming at too high a personal cost, and career-driven individuals seeking more alignment and fulfillment.
Key concepts discussed: Values alignment, sustainable leadership, work-life integration, nervous system regulation, purpose-driven career development, and building success without self-betrayal.
Whether you're in the middle of a career crisis or simply sensing that your ambition is costing you too much, this episode offers a roadmap for transformation, proof that you can still achieve your biggest dreams while becoming more present, loving, and fulfilled.
Works referenced:
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
Gallup CliftonStrengths (StrengthsFinder) Assessment
The Values Bridge by Suzy Welch
 

Music, Innovation, and Building Worlds Beyond the Studio with CJ Baran

On this week’s episode of Too Much, we sit down with Los Angeles-based producer, songwriter, and creative director CJ Baran to explore his unconventional path in music, theater, and immersive experiences. From producing hits for Panic! At The Disco, Melanie Martinez, and Marina, to co-creating the visionary musical Cages, CJ shares the lessons, failures, and triumphs of a truly diversified creative career. We dive into:
The evolution of music production and concept albums
How CJ built Cages, blending theater, CGI, and music
His creative process and philosophy on inspiration
The future of the music industry in the age of streaming & AI
Whether you’re an aspiring musician, producer, or creative thinker, this episode is packed with insights on how to redefine success and build worlds that captivate audiences.
CJ Baran is a Los Angeles-based producer, songwriter, and creative director whose work lives at the intersection of alternative rock and pop. Known for his genre-bending approach and cinematic sonic palette, CJ has written and produced hits for a wide range of artists, including Panic! At The Disco, COIN, Melanie Martinez (multiple albums), Nessa Barrett (AFTERCARE and upcoming project), Carly Rae Jepsen (Emotion), and MARINA (Princess Of Power), among many others. After a having publishing deals with Max Martin’s MXM and Pulse he founded his own creative collective, VAMP, which focuses on forward-thinking alternative pop with focus on concept albums.  In addition to his work in mainstream music, CJ co-wrote and produced the immersive gothic musical CAGES, acclaimed by Forbes and the Los Angeles Times for its visionary staging and music. He also recently composed the score for the two Michelin-starred VESPERTINE, in collaboration with Sigur Rós. 
Subscribe for more conversations about creativity, entrepreneurship, and redefining pathways to success
You can follow him @cjbaran
You can follow this podcast @toomuchwithdlh and Denise @deniselovehewett
Email hello@deniselovehewett.com for any suggestions or advice.

How Curiosity Can Transform Your Life: Scott Shigeoka on Building Connection, Purpose & Growth

What if the secret to a more connected, meaningful, and joyful life is simple? What if it’s curiosity?
In this episode of Too Much with Denise Love Hewett, internationally recognized curiosity expert and TED speaker Scott Shigeoka joins to explore how curiosity can transform not just our relationships, but the way we see the world. Scott is the award-winning author of Seek: How Curiosity Can Transform Your Life and Change the World, and his research at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center dives into how asking better questions and staying open can heal divides, build empathy, and increase our well-being. In this conversation, Denise and Scott discuss:
How curiosity strengthens emotional intelligence and connection
The difference between shallow and deep curiosity
How to stay open in a divided world
Practical tools to cultivate curiosity in your daily life
Whether you’re looking to deepen your relationships, find your purpose, or simply live with more wonder, this episode will remind you that curiosity isn’t just a trait, it’s a practice.
Scott Shigeoka is an internationally recognized curiosity expert, TED speaker, and the award-winning author of Seek: How Curiosity Can Transform Your Life and Change the World. His work focuses on how we can strengthen our well-being and relationships, including at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center. He is also a playwright and artist, and was born and raised in Hawaii but now lives in California.
You can follow him at @scottshigeoka
You can follow this podcast @toomuchwithdlh and Denise @deniselovehewett
Email hello@deniselovehewett.com for any suggestions or submit questions for  advice.

Career Advice for Job Seekers: How to Stop Self-Rejection and Apply for Jobs You Want

Struggling with your job search? In this episode, I share career advice that changed my life: don't say no before they say no. Learn how to stop self-rejecting and limiting your opportunities during tough job markets.
I share personal stories about landing jobs I was "underqualified" for, moving across the country for unexpected opportunities, and how believing in yourself can open doors you never imagined. From getting turned down as overqualified in New York to becoming an executive producer in LA, to showing up uninvited at Nylon Magazine's office to land my dream internship, these stories prove that audacity and openness to possibilities matter more than checking every box. In this episode, you'll learn:
Why you should apply for jobs even if you don't meet all requirements
How to overcome imposter syndrome and self-rejection in your career
Real examples of taking career risks that paid off
How to navigate career transitions and job hunting during recessions
The power of letting opportunities guide your path instead of rigid planning
Perfect for recent graduates, career changers, entertainment industry professionals, and anyone facing a challenging job market. Stop limiting yourself—your next opportunity might be the one you almost didn't apply for.
You can follow this podcast @toomuchwithdlh and Denise @deniselovehewett
Email hello@deniselovehewett.com for any suggestions or advice.

Breaking Barriers, Following Her Creative Calling & Redefining Success with Hailie Sahar

In this episode of Too Much, host Denise Love Hewett talks with award-winning actor, producer, director, singer, and writer Hailie Sahar. From making history on Ryan Murphy’s Pose as Lulu, Mother of the House of Ferocity, to starring on Freeform’s Good Trouble, Hailie shares her journey as a trailblazing trans woman in entertainment. They discuss:
Discovering her calling in grade school and pursuing it despite societal barriersNavigating rejection and setbacks in the entertainment industryTurning failures into lessons and tools for growthLaunching her lifestyle brand House of Sahar and her debut music video Star TravelerAdvocacy work and using her platform to create impact
Whether you’re a fan of Pose, Good Trouble, or exploring a creative path without a clear blueprint, Hailie’s story offers inspiration, actionable insights, and a masterclass in courage, determination, and authenticity.
Hailie Sahar is an award-winning actor, producer, director, singer, and writer. She made history as one of the five transgender lead actors in Ryan Murphy's groundbreaking FX series Pose, where she starred as Lulu, Mother of the House of Ferocity. The ensemble went on to achieve global recognition and multiple Emmy Awards across three celebrated seasons. Sahar also made history as the first transgender actor to appear on two television shows simultaneously, starring as Lulu in Pose and as Jazmin in Freeform's Good Trouble, all while holding a national commercial contract with Descovy. Expanding her creative reach, Sahar released her debut music video Star Traveler and launched her lifestyle brand, House of Sahar, which debuted with her signature fragrance Sultana. Her film and stage credits include portraying community pioneer Sylvia Rivera in HBO Max's Equal, recurring as Jazmin in Good Trouble, appearances in Amazon Studios' Transparent and USA's Mr. Robot, and starring in the Off-Broadway production of Charm at New York City's MCC Theater. She also executive produced and co-directed the documentary Beyond Ed Buck, supported by Gilead, which ran in film festivals nationally and internationally and secured distribution with AMC's ALLBLK Network. In 2020, Deadline announced Sahar's collaboration with Emmy Award-winning director Anthony Hemingway on the Sir Lady Java biopic, in which she will executive produce and star as the trailblazing Los Angeles icon. Her visibility and impact extend beyond performance. She has been featured in Vogue, Essence, Variety, Allure, and OUT Magazine, and was named one of People Magazine's "Most Beautiful People" in 2020. She is also one of the few trans women to be profiled by Playboy Magazine, furthering representation and solidarity. Crowned both "Miss L.A. Pride" and "Queen U.S.A.," Sahar continues to use her platform for advocacy. She was invited to speak on the HIV/AIDS epidemic at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center for the 57th Presidential Advisory Council in Washington, D.C., and remains actively involved with the East L.A. Women's Center against domestic violence.
Subscribe to Too Much for new episodes about redefining success, building wholeness, and creating your own blueprints for life.
You can follow her  @hailiesahar and at houseofsahar.com
You can follow this podcast @toomuchwithdlh and Denise @deniselovehewett
Email hello@deniselovehewett.com for any suggestions or advice.
#HailieSahar #TooMuchPodcast #PoseFX #GoodTrouble #TransRepresentation #CreativeJourney #HouseOfSahar #Trailblazer

​​What If the Economy Loved Us Back? Transforming Business with Jess Rimington

What if we could reimagine our economy to prioritize wellbeing over endless growth? In this episode, Jess Rimington, author of "Beloved Economies: Transforming How We Work," joins us to explore how businesses can break free from extractive capitalism and create workplaces that actually support human flourishing.
After both experiencing severe burnout from traditional workplace structures, Jess and her co-author spent eight years following 60 enterprises that were sharing power in unique ways. What they discovered challenges everything we've been taught about business success. In this conversation, we explore:
The 7 practices of beloved economies, including shared decision-making, prioritizing relationships, and reckoning with history
Why capitalism requires constant extraction and how that affects our collective wellbeing
Alternative funding models like reparative capital and patient capital
How venture capital keeps founders trapped in scarcity mindset
Why only 2% of VC funding goes to women and 1% to people of color
The connection between economic democracy and political democracy
Practical ways to organize collectively during uncertain times
How to build businesses that align with your values without burning out
Jess offers a refreshing perspective: we don't need to figure out the perfect economic system before we start making changes. The beloved economy we want is already being created by businesses and entrepreneurs who are choosing to operate differently right now.
Whether you're a startup founder questioning the traditional VC path, an employee wondering if work has to feel extractive, or simply someone seeking hope for a more humane economic future, this conversation offers both inspiration and actionable pathways forward.
Key Takeaways:
Business can exist outside of capitalism - we just aren't taught that our MBA programs teach ideology, not universal truth
Values aren't aspirational statements; they're reflected in what you actually prioritize
Sharing power isn't zero-sum - it actually replicates and creates more for everyone
The companies pioneering new economic models already exist; we just need to amplify them
Resources Mentioned:
Ernst Gotsch, Farmer in South America
"Beloved Economies" by Jess Rimington and Joanna Levitt Gutin
"Believe in You Money" by Jess Norwood (Runway/reparative capital)
Acumen Fund and patient capital models
Working Families Party, Indivisible, Movement Voter Project
Join us for this vital conversation about building an economy that can actually love us back.
Jess Rimington is a next-economy strategist, practitioner, and scholar focused on supporting businesses and organizations to step out of extractive economic practices. She is co-author of Beloved Economies: Transforming How We Work –winner of the Porchlight’s Business Book Award in Management & Workplace Culture. She was co-director of the Beloved Economies research initiative from 2015-2022. 
You can follow her at @jessrimington or at belovedeconomies.com
You can follow this podcast @toomuchwithdlh and Denise @deniselovehewett
Email hello@deniselovehewett.com for any suggestions or advice.
 

The Hidden Cost of Impact: Jane Marie Chen's Journey from Saving a Million Babies to Saving Herself

In this deeply vulnerable conversation, Jane Chen, co-founder of Embrace Global and author of Like a Wave We Break, shares her transformative journey from celebrated social entrepreneur to burned-out founder, and ultimately to healed leader. After 10 years building Embrace, a revolutionary infant incubator that has saved nearly 1 million babies, Jane faced the collapse of an acquisition deal and had to shut down her company. What followed was a profound healing journey across Indonesia and beyond, working with trauma experts like Bessel van der Kolk, exploring psychedelic therapy, and ultimately discovering that the answers she sought externally could only come from within. What You'll Learn:
Wounded vs. Healthy Ambition: How childhood trauma can fuel achievement while leading to burnout
The Truth About Startup Success: Why external validation never fills the internal void
Healing Modalities That Work: From somatic therapy to psychedelics to parts work (IFS)
Leadership and Inner Work: Creating psychological safety starts with doing your own healing
Redefining Resilience: Why softness and self-compassion are more powerful than pushing through
Key Topics Covered:
Entrepreneurial burnout and trauma responses
The role of childhood experiences in driving achievement
Social entrepreneurship challenges and funding gaps
Healing from imposter syndrome and self-doubt
The science of trauma and nervous system regulation
Finding identity beyond work and accomplishments
Sustainable leadership practices
The power of vulnerability in leadership
Perfect for: Entrepreneurs, founders, social impact leaders, high achievers struggling with burnout, anyone on a healing journey, and those interested in conscious leadership and personal development.
Resources Mentioned:
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership
Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy
Jane Chen is a globally recognized entrepreneur, inventor, and speaker. She is the co-founder of Embrace Global, which developed a groundbreaking infant incubator that has helped to save nearly a million babies. She has been a TED Fellow, an Echoing Green Fellow, and a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum. Jane was recognized asaForbes Impact 30 andSchwab Social Entrepreneur of the Year by the World Economic Forum and was a recipient of the Economist Innovation Award. She received her MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business and her Master’s in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
You can follow her at @janemarie.chen  and buy Like A Wave We Break at any bookstore
You can follow this podcast @toomuchwithdlh and Denise @deniselovehewett
Email hello@deniselovehewett.com for any suggestions or submit questions for  advice.

Creative Courage, Policy Change, and Surrendering to the Universe with Jayce Baron

Join host Denise Love Hewett for an inspiring conversation with Jayce Baron, a screenwriter, director, Emmy-winning documentary producer, and former elected official who's making waves in entertainment, advocacy, and policy. In this episode, discover:
How Jayce built a successful PR company at 23 with no New York experience
The power of rejection as redirection in creative careers
Why timing matters more than talent when launching creative projects
Navigating feast-and-famine cycles as a creative professional
Step-by-step guide to getting started in local policy advocacy
How to identify the right elected officials and their teams to contact
The surprising impact of "unglamorous" policy issues (like leaf blower regulations)
Why consistency matters more than one-time testimony at city council meetings
The difference between working inside vs. outside the political machine
When to let go of collaborators and business partners (and how to know)
The art of surrendering control while staying grounded in survival needs
How creative thinking applies to policy work and vice versa
Jayce Baron is an Afro-Latinx, globally recognized, award-winning screenwriter, author, executive producer, director, political figure, and advocate for the Black and Brown LGBTQ+ community. As the founder of jBaron Creative House, Jayce has consistently demonstrated a passion for fostering conscious conversations within the community through various creative and impactful mediums. For over a decade, Jayce has seamlessly merged his entertainment career with his commitment to social justice. He contributes to platforms like NBC and hosts a globally recognized independent podcast with over half a million streams across more than 50 countries. In early 2022, Jayce executive produced and directed the groundbreaking documentary Beyond Ed Buck alongside Emmy Award-winning Pose star Hailie Sahar. Jayce’s advocacy has been widely recognized. In 2016, he was invited to Capitol Hill to raise awareness about sexual assault and played a pivotal role in the passage of SB 813, a California law revoking the statute of limitations on rape charges. That same year, he was honored as one of 16 Heroes alongside Joe Biden, Ashley Judd, and other national leaders. In December 2023, Jayce began his journey as a former elected official when he was unanimously elected to his Neighborhood Council in Los Angeles, where he served as chairs the Homeless & Social Justice Advocacy Committee and as member of the Government Relations Committee before resigning in 2025. Additionally, he was appointed to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Latine Advisory Board and served with the DA until the November 2024 election, furthering his commitment to addressing critical issues affecting marginalized communities.
You can follow him at @jaycebaron
You can follow this podcast @toomuchwithdlh and Denise @deniselovehewett
Email hello@deniselovehewett.com for any suggestions or submit questions for advice.
Featured Topics: LGBTQ+ advocacy, documentary filmmaking, Beyond Ed Buck, neighborhood council experience, SB 813 sexual assault legislation, marriage equality messaging, connecting with nonprofits, labor unions, environmental policy
Perfect for: Creative professionals, aspiring activists, policy advocates, entrepreneurs, anyone seeking to merge creativity with social impact
Keywords: policy advocacy, creative career advice, LGBTQ activism, documentary filmmaking, local government, city council, social justice, career pivots, entrepreneurship, Los Angeles politics, legislative change, nonprofit work, community organizing