Episode Transcript
[00:00:02] Dr. Sarah: All right. Hello and welcome to the Dr. Random podcast. I'm Dr. Sarah and today I have Amanda Sellers.
Hello. Hi, Amanda. And fun story.
We met through Runningman in the like beforehand chat and then we like saw each other there and then we've been connecting and we both still have our.
We just realized we both still have a Running man bracelets on. So this is kind of funny.
[00:00:31] Amanda: It's hard to take it off. It's like, no, I don't want to let that go.
[00:00:35] Dr. Sarah: Yeah. So cute. Yeah, it was a great weekend.
[00:00:40] Amanda: So, so fun.
That was your first one. Will you be back next year?
[00:00:45] Dr. Sarah: Yeah, that was my first one. And actually people are gonna think I'm such a nerd. I like haven't even gone to like really any music festivals or anything. So that was really a newbie for me.
Good for you. Yeah, I've.
The last few years I've kind of been doing stuff, you know, for myself, taking away because like, I've just been working since I was 18 and like never really like did a lot of fun stuff on the in between. Always just been supporting myself and. Yeah, so. Yeah, but.
[00:01:18] Amanda: And how invigorating is it to.
To go and put yourself out there and act? You just get more energy and like more ideas and it feels like there's just more possibility.
[00:01:30] Dr. Sarah: Yeah, totally. So it's a good place to go.
Yeah, it is highly recommend for everybody to check it out.
And so Amanda, she basically has, I don't know, she's an award winning voice actor and she's a guided meditation creator and she's an emerging motivational speaker, a former rock band front woman, radio DJ and New Kids on the Block backup singer.
And she's also, you know, she's a mom and. But I'll kind of let you go into your little introduction how you want to share it with.
[00:02:11] Amanda: Sure. I mean, honestly, like, it's been such a journey. I was always a free spirit and I just always knew that it wasn't going to be a conventional road for myself. I loved performing, I loved speaking, I loved expression, creativity. So right When I was 18, I left home and I went to Vancouver and I went to theater school.
And then from that point, that's when I singing in bands and writing music and I started playing guitar and I'm like, oh, this is actually really fun.
I started acting, went down to Los Angeles and kind of like a pretty pivotal point in like the journey was when I auditioned for this one rock band and the drummer and the guitar player, they both got their MBAs from Harvard and they were looking to like, make the band a business.
So up until then, I was just such a, like, free spirit gypsy. No home, like, you know, just always figuring things out. But when I met them, we actually put all of our belongings in storage and we bought a 15 passenger van, had a trailer on the back, and we lived in this van and we toured around the USA full time.
And from them I learned like, how to hustle, how to, you know, have a. Be your own entrepreneur.
[00:03:41] Dr. Sarah: Yeah.
[00:03:41] Amanda: And that. And that, you know, you can make things happen for yourself. So we actually spend a lot of time in North Carolina, in Raleigh. My drummer's mom lived there. So I love the east coast, but even though I'm like way up in Canada. But then, but the band broke up, I thought maybe I'd be a radio dj. Tried that, didn't like it. And then I think I was like 27, 28 years old.
I discovered voiceover.
And.
And then the day that I discovered it, the day I was like, like, it was like my life went from black and white to color. I was like, this is what I meant to do. So. So that's kind of like the long story. Well, that's the short story of how I got here. But it's been like 17 years now of voiceover and making this my living, so.
[00:04:34] Dr. Sarah: Yeah, that just sounds amazing. And how can you share with the audience maybe what some of like what you've been a voiceover for or is that.
[00:04:45] Amanda: Yeah.
[00:04:46] Dr. Sarah: Even say it like I'm not.
[00:04:47] Amanda: Yeah, for sure.
Well, I've had a lot of crazy jobs. Like one of. Well, I always say one of the most crazy jobs I've had was I was like the sniff in the Febreze commercial. Like they hired me to like, oh, ah. And pretend that I was sniffing in. That doesn't really use my voice. That was a weird one. But I've done like big campaigns, so say it's like Ziploc.
So it'd be like Ziplock Unlock Life, SC Johnson, a family company. Like, stuff like that.
[00:05:19] Dr. Sarah: Okay, okay.
[00:05:21] Amanda: You know, Expedia, Xfinity.
One year I was nominated as the best character in a video game. I was like Akaneta and Skyforge.
So I was like this like witchy character. Character and then animations. Like, my son had his first voiceover job when he was 2 and he's done a lot of acting and a lot of times we got to play like mother and son in things. So we're both mummy owl and baby owl or mummy beetle. Baby Beetle, like, just different things. So it's just. Honestly, in a lot of behind the scenes things that you don't hear.
Yeah. It's so random. Every day is so random.
[00:06:09] Dr. Sarah: Love it. Okay.
And it sounds like.
What's the.
How does voice like voice awards, you know, when you. So do you go with like the actual, like, Academy type of awards and like.
[00:06:26] Amanda: Yeah.
[00:06:27] Dr. Sarah: Oh, interesting.
[00:06:28] Amanda: Yeah, the, The. The Voice Arts Awards, they are like the Academy Awards of voiceover. So they're like, usually in Beverly Hills, like at the Beverly Hills Hotel. And it's like where the.
Not the Grammys are. It's where, I don't know, some other awards show is. It's very fancy. Really cool. Awesome to be a part of. But I've never won, like, I've never won there. I've won different, like a different award.
[00:07:01] Dr. Sarah: But like, okay.
[00:07:01] Amanda: It's just fun to go because you get to dress up and see lots other cool voice actors.
[00:07:08] Dr. Sarah: That's so neat.
No, it's funny because I think about, you know, the whole thing now with AI and stuff and like, the voice stuff. So is.
Is there, like, how do I explain this? Like, is there like an IP or a copywriter or a patent on voice stuff too? Is that included?
[00:07:27] Amanda: And that's. That's a really.
[00:07:29] Dr. Sarah: Do you know?
[00:07:30] Amanda: Yeah, that's a really good question. I don't have any. Anything like that. People have recommended doing that.
AI has definitely changed things.
But, you know, my goal is to not, like, I don't want to be a dinosaur that, like, goes extinct because of evolution.
So there are a lot of voice actors that are enraged with AI Right. Like super angry and like, frustrated because it. It is taking some of the work. Like some really basic behind the scenes, like HR videos that used to be kind of like bread and butter. You know, we. We'd voice all the behind the scenes for like, Walmart or Gap or Southwest Airlines.
It's so easy to take the script and punch it into AI when you're just telling your employees something. So stuff like that has changed it. I don.
I don't know where it's all going, but I'm not gonna let it stop me. Or it's like having that positive mindset.
It's like you can. You can die or you can evolve. So I'm just gonna, like, play it out and I do other things and, you know, just see how it unfolds. I. I truly believe that there's this integrity that big brands should have, especially when they're doing commercials and they're Talking to their audience. Like, yeah, why are you have, like, this artificial artifact voice communicating to your people? Like, so far we've seen. We've seen a movement where it was like, a lot of brands trying AI, and then they're like, no, like, we just want to work with a human being and people. So. So I'm passionate about, like, keeping it, like, with a real voice, but we'll. We'll see how it goes. Yeah, just roll with it.
[00:09:26] Dr. Sarah: Yeah. Love that. Okay.
And, yeah, speaking of AI, it's funny because I don't know if you caught. I had.
I've had two people on in the past who are super into, like, investing and, like, inventions, and they do do a lot with AI, so they're obviously really for it.
I don't know if you've kind of seen it out there, but there's been. Since we're on this topic where there's a lot of people.
It's almost like the numbers and they're not reporting it accurately, but there's a lot of unemployed people right now due to AI that aren't finding jobs, which is interesting. So it makes you wonder if it's AI taking over roles that normally would be there, or people just aren't utilizing hiring people anymore because of AI. So it is interesting.
[00:10:19] Amanda: Yeah.
[00:10:20] Dr. Sarah: Going on.
[00:10:20] Amanda: That's a little scary. I. I mean, I listened to Tony Robbins and the Diary of a CEO Guy, and like, yeah, Tony Robbins was, like, genuinely worried about it. So there is concern with it, but hopefully we'll get some common sense to just freaking bring it back to the people.
[00:10:41] Dr. Sarah: Yeah.
[00:10:41] Amanda: But who knows?
[00:10:44] Dr. Sarah: Yeah. And so. And it looks like you did a Toyota commercial, super bowl, the animations, video games, commercials, all that. I don't know if you want to talk more about any of that.
[00:10:56] Amanda: Yeah.
[00:10:57] Dr. Sarah: Next thing I want to talk about with you. So. Sure.
[00:11:00] Amanda: I mean, the Toyota, like, hearing myself in a Super bowl commercial was. That's kind of the. You know, it's.
The commercials are everything for us. Right. So the fact that I got it was a really random voice. I was like the voice of a doctor, actually, that was telling this athlete that he had a degenerative eye disease that there's no cure for.
So. And it's. It was like kind of a storytelling Toyota commercial, and it actually became one of the, like, the top commercials of the year. So that was cool.
But, yeah, voiceover is just.
It's so much fun. And I honestly, I felt a lot of insecurity. Like, when I was. I used to do, like, some on camera, acting. And I always like felt so judged. Like you're to this, you're too that. You're not enough this. And.
And so it kind of like retracted me a little bit. That's why I became like a singer in a rock band because I was like, nobody can touch me up here. Nobody can tell like what I am, what I'm not.
[00:12:15] Dr. Sarah: Yeah.
[00:12:15] Amanda: And then the thing that I loved so much about voiceover is like, I got to like express myself fully as me without like, no one had to see me. So it was just like this like playground.
And I just am so passionate about it. I love the voice. I love how you can use it and.
[00:12:35] Dr. Sarah: Yeah, I love that. Yeah.
And.
Oh, I just had a thought and then I lost it. Dang it. I hate when I do that.
[00:12:44] Amanda: I do that all the time.
[00:12:47] Dr. Sarah: It'll come back to me. It'll come back to me.
Okay, that's okay.
[00:12:52] Amanda: Okay. It'll come back and then you can interrupt me.
[00:12:56] Dr. Sarah: Yeah. And so I kind of wanted to go into, you know, working with like even brands, different things like that.
So how.
I guess. Oh, I know what I was gonna ask. Being paid as a voiceover, if you don't mind, you don't have to say how much. But I'm just curious, is it like, is it like royalties? Do you have royalties with voiceover or like kind of with music or whatever? Or is it more like a flat fee you're paid and you're done?
[00:13:22] Amanda: Yeah, that's a great question. It definitely varies.
So sometimes a lot of times these days, because people can work from everywhere and there's no real way to like keep it like, contained. A lot of times when you work, it's a full buyout in perpetuity, so they just give you a base rate and then they can use it for however long they want, you know.
[00:13:47] Dr. Sarah: Okay.
[00:13:48] Amanda: But a lot of, a lot of like really big commercials like Ziploc or, you know, big brands, they will make it a one year usage so they can use it for a year and then if they want to keep using it, then they have to contact you. And. And usually it's like half of what the main rate was. So then they'll give you half if they want to use it for another year. So I'm a non union actor, so typically my rates are definitely more negotiable on my own terms.
But of course you're always like, I have agents that I work with and they're always trying to get me the most and make the best terms. But there's really no rules. Like, there's people on Fiverr that, you know, do jobs for, like, 20 bucks and, you know, turn things around. Like, there's.
There's. We're trying to, like, keep the integrity in the industry, but it's just all over the map. It's. You gotta be. You gotta be your own boss and fight for yourself and know your own value.
[00:14:54] Dr. Sarah: Okay. No, that's very interesting. And. Sorry. I'm just gonna get my foot again. I don't know. I twisted my ankle running it. Running, man.
[00:15:02] Amanda: You did?
[00:15:03] Dr. Sarah: Yes. So I was hobbling around.
I was like. I was kind of hoping one of those guys would pick me up and carry me.
[00:15:11] Amanda: Oh, wouldn't that be nice? Mike Holland. Hello.
Did you see him?
Oh, Mike Holland, like the breath work guy.
[00:15:23] Dr. Sarah: He.
[00:15:23] Amanda: Oh, okay, cool.
[00:15:24] Dr. Sarah: Oh, I know who you're talking about now.
[00:15:26] Amanda: Yeah. There's so many cool guys.
[00:15:27] Dr. Sarah: I was like, okay, what.
[00:15:28] Amanda: What? How. How far did you run?
[00:15:31] Dr. Sarah: 5k.
[00:15:32] Amanda: 5k. And was it on, like, one of the pot, like, kind of the holes in the grass that you hurt yourself?
[00:15:37] Dr. Sarah: Yeah. But to be honest, this is like my second time rolling my ankle. Running. I think it's just something with me, but. Yeah, you know, but like, I'm notorious for doing things like this, I swear. Like snowboarding. Twist my knee. Oh, twist my ankle.
[00:15:58] Amanda: Running, you know, just like an extra memory to carry on from the. Yeah.
[00:16:03] Dr. Sarah: It's almost like my ankle is like. Okay, we're doing this again. Nope.
[00:16:07] Amanda: Oh, right. No. Anyway, sorry.
[00:16:09] Dr. Sarah: Yeah, so I just decided to elevate my foot real quick. Sorry.
And you know something? I wanted to kind of talk to you about which, you know, because your voice is very soothing and talk about how you, you know, wanted to get into, I don't know, proper way you want to put it. Meditation or guided. Like, how do you like to label it?
[00:16:34] Amanda: Yeah, I mean, meditation, and it's almost like it's kind of morphed into, like, personal development.
I always had friends that would call me when they were, like, going through things because they felt like I would give a good answer or, like, you know, kind of be that listening.
I mean, I've always been a very, very optimistic person. Like, delusionally optimistic, so. But ironically, the meditation chapter came at a time when I was in a very dark place. I was going through, like, a separation with my husband. Like, we weren't there yet. We were. We were talking about, like, the D word, like, divorce.
And I started. I got really bad vertigo, and my head was spinning every, like, Every day. And I was like, oh, my God, I felt so awful. But my son always wanted me to lay down beside him.
And I was like, honey, I can't lay down beside you because my head is spinning. So I would sit at the edge of his bed, and I would talk through, like, a Gratitude for kids meditation. I didn't even know it was a meditation at the time. I would just say, like, relax your. Your body, relax your mind, and, you know, give thanks to your arms for hugging. Give thanks to your eyes for seeing. And then, boom, he would fall asleep.
And so my ex, like, my kid's dad, was like, oh, you should upload that on Insight Timer. This app that I just downloaded, and you can become a teacher got all the equipment.
So I wrote it out and I recorded it, and I put it up, and then I was getting, like, messages from people all over the world that were listening to it and resonating with it, and that helped their kid fall asleep.
So, honestly, it just became this journey for me where I dove into meditation because it was helping with my vertigo. It was helping, like, these cobwebs, this fog in my brain just stilling my mind. And I took a breathwork certification course, and I just went all in. Went to a couple, like, silent meditation retreats and wrote and record. Wrote and record. And just the things that would help me.
So, yeah, that was honestly how it started was like, helping myself. And then anything that I was going through, I'd put up. And then honestly, like, voiceover aside, the meditation path has led me down into the most insane opportunities. Like, the reason I'm at Running man was because of meditation. Like, it's a whole other long story, but, like, I met Jesse Itzler through my meditations, you know, in a weird way. Yeah. So, I mean, it's. I can tell that story, but it's up to you. But, yeah, just.
[00:19:28] Dr. Sarah: Yeah, tell it.
[00:19:30] Amanda: He was. He was starting a radio station in 2020, and it was called BYLR Radio, and they were looking for a voice.
I auditioned. I got the job.
So I'm working with him and his team in my booth, and I'm. I'm doing the.
You're listening to BYLR Radio up next and all these things. Right?
[00:19:53] Dr. Sarah: Yeah.
[00:19:54] Amanda: So normally the job would be done at that point. Yay. I worked with Jesse Itzler. Awesome fun.
But from being on the call and working with his team, we started following each other on Instagram.
And the radio station is about to launch, and it's launching, and they've got a morning show, and they thought we should really get Amanda on here to do a meditation because it's like, inspirational radio.
[00:20:22] Dr. Sarah: Okay.
[00:20:23] Amanda: So I'm like, yeah, for sure. So I went on to go be, like, a guest and do a meditation one day, and then I just, like, really?
And then they asked me back again, and then before I knew it, I was a regular. I was, like, on the morning show, and, you know, when we were in the sauna, we were all dancing. Do you know the DJ D Wiz that was playing the songs?
Like, he was outside of the sauna on the other side of the glass.
[00:20:56] Dr. Sarah: Okay. He.
[00:20:57] Amanda: He was on the morning show with me.
[00:20:59] Dr. Sarah: Oh, okay.
[00:21:00] Amanda: So. And it was like, all these people from. From his team, from Jesse's team. And then I just ended up doing the meditations for All Day Running co.
And now, like, I have Jesse on my text. Like, I can text them. You know what I mean? Like, yeah, it was just. I love the meditation route because it's opened up a lot of really cool opportunities.
[00:21:25] Dr. Sarah: I love that. That's amazing. I love how, you know, we take that chance and do that one thing, and then it's like kind of like a trickle effect. It keeps opening more doors and doing different things, so.
[00:21:36] Amanda: Yes. Yeah. And I'm sure you met, like, incredible people at running.
[00:21:43] Dr. Sarah: Yeah, I could be.
I found out about Running man because I'm a part of Behind Closed Doors, which is Devin's group with small group entrepreneurship and, like, master chats. And so that's how I heard about Running man, because I'm part of that group. And I was like, oh, this sounds cool. You know, and so I was like, I'm gonna check it out, because it's not like, you know, the typical festivals, I think, kind of scared me away because, you know, it's like, a lot of drugs and alcohol and that kind of environment, and I'm not comfortable with that. But with Running man, it's, like, wellness focused. You know, there's drinking, but it's fun, but it's not. Like, that's the focus. You know what I mean?
[00:22:21] Amanda: Yeah.
[00:22:21] Dr. Sarah: And so.
So I was like, I'm gonna try it out. I'm gonna, like, go do this. And I'm glad I did. So did you.
[00:22:28] Amanda: Were you in a glamping tent with people you didn't know?
[00:22:33] Dr. Sarah: Yeah, exactly. I'm just gonna do the shared. And I met Dr. Bethany, Hamlet, Little Town.
And I met Deidre, who's. I think I'm saying her name right. Why am I, like, drawing a blank? She's From. She's the one that flew from Greece.
[00:22:49] Amanda: Oh, really?
[00:22:50] Dr. Sarah: And she's talking about, they're gonna hold a running man in Greece. I guess I don't know that's what she was saying, but I don't know if that's true or not. But. So, yeah, I had some really cool tent mates. One was from Germany originally.
So, yeah, it was. It was fun. And I made. And I met this other lady there who was.
Who we. Who I carpooled with from the airport with people I didn't know.
[00:23:10] Amanda: Yes. I. I was texting a girl, but her flight was going to be late, so she's like, just go, I have a different ride. Yeah, that's cool.
[00:23:19] Dr. Sarah: Yeah.
But, yeah, it was amazing. So, yeah, great time.
Yeah. And I just really adore. And every. Everything that, like, Devin's doing and. Yeah, all them, they're like amazing people.
[00:23:33] Amanda: So, yeah, good to be their circle energy around them.
Yeah. Every year there's always something different that I want to do. The next year, like, I stayed in a Hotel and 100 next year, like, I'm gonna stay, like, in a tent. Like, I'm gonna.
Because it's just, like, at the end of the night having to leave, it just sucks.
[00:24:00] Dr. Sarah: Okay.
[00:24:01] Amanda: You know, and then. And then you kind of gotta drive down those, like, windy roads, like, back to your hotel. So I'm like, no, next year I'm like, I'm in a tent and I'm gonna do it that way.
[00:24:13] Dr. Sarah: Yeah. I'm like, if I can survive it, anybody can.
[00:24:16] Amanda: Well, good for you. Wow. What about the ants, though? Were they. Were the ants bad in your tent or. No, No. I heard maybe because you were above, like, you. You know, I mean, there were some,
[00:24:27] Dr. Sarah: but it wasn't bad.
[00:24:29] Amanda: That's good.
[00:24:30] Dr. Sarah: Yeah. And I love the pool. I was like that the first day I got there. I was like, in the pool.
[00:24:36] Amanda: Oh, nice.
Yeah.
[00:24:41] Dr. Sarah: Yeah. And the food, just everything. It was great.
[00:24:44] Amanda: Yeah.
[00:24:46] Dr. Sarah: And, you know, and I was gonna.
I kind of wanted to ask you about.
So do you have to. With. With the voiceover stuff, do you get approached a lot or do you feel like you kind of have to do your own legwork on that? I'm just curious.
[00:25:02] Amanda: I.
I used to do a lot more legwork, like, when I started, and now I feel like I kind of just wait for my agents to come to me. Like, they will put, like, auditions in my inbox. So I audition.
Like, I'll audition at least a few times a day for a job, and then if I book it Then, yay.
But you can hustle. Like, people that are starting out, I tell them, like, you can literally, like, send your demo. Like, that's like, our business card is, like, our demo of the work that you've done. And you can send it to, like, small business owners, production companies, like, video houses. Like, there is a lot of hustle that you can do.
I just kind of get lazy at this point because I'm kind of doing lots of stuff. So I just let my agent focus on getting me auditions. Right now. That's kind of where I met. But you can hustle. You can definitely hustle.
[00:26:06] Dr. Sarah: Yeah.
That's awesome.
So tell us about the New Kids on the Block.
[00:26:12] Amanda: Oh, well, I was. It was. It sounds bigger than it is, but it's just, like, a funny tidbit of life. But when I lived in Vancouver, I was in a gospel choir.
[00:26:23] Dr. Sarah: Okay.
[00:26:24] Amanda: And with this guy named Chico. And Chico used to be in the Temptations back in the day.
So he got asked to get, like, six, I don't know if it's like, six or 10 singers to sing backups for New Kids on the Block when they came to town on a club, like, on a couple of the songs. So he called me and he asked me. So it was just one show. Lady Gaga was the opener. But it was really cool. We learned the songs, and, you know, we didn't really spend much time with them. They were just kind of like, hey.
But, yeah, that was my New Kids on the Block. It was honestly, so long ago. It was kind of like pre.
Like, everyone having phones.
[00:27:08] Dr. Sarah: Okay. Yeah.
[00:27:09] Amanda: So, no, I don't. Like, there's no evidence.
Like, I was on a stage with, like, you know, a bunch of people, thousands of people watching. Like, that. That's a rush. I can see why, like, the Rolling Stones and these bands, like, don't want to stop because it's so much adrenaline. Like, being on stage, like, that was crazy.
[00:27:31] Dr. Sarah: That's cool. I used to be in choir, too.
[00:27:34] Amanda: Did you?
[00:27:35] Dr. Sarah: Yes, I used to be in church choir. Such a nerd.
[00:27:38] Amanda: What was your. I love that. What was your. Like, were you alto, soprano?
[00:27:43] Dr. Sarah: I was.
I kind of did both at one point. Yeah. Mostly alto, but, yeah.
Yeah.
So, yeah, I even, like, did youth choir, where we actually traveled. I sang at Disneyland one time.
[00:27:59] Amanda: You did? That's awesome.
[00:28:03] Dr. Sarah: And, yeah, I just did, like. And we had the most, like, strict music ministers. And, like, I did some drama with it, too, like, acting pieces. But.
But that was interesting. It was fun. It was a commitment. And then I kind of did the adult choir when I got a little older, but then nothing anymore. I'm not into singing at all.
[00:28:26] Amanda: But don't. Don't you want to be, though? Like, don't you want to join something, like, for singing?
[00:28:32] Dr. Sarah: Yeah, I'm okay, actually.
[00:28:35] Amanda: You're okay? You're like that. That door's closed.
[00:28:38] Dr. Sarah: Yeah, I think I'm okay without it. But I did have an experience. Interesting. You talk about, like, going on the radio and stuff. I went on a radio local here to Charleston for my podcast. I went and talked about on local radio station, which is kind of fun.
[00:28:54] Amanda: That's interesting.
[00:28:55] Dr. Sarah: That before. So that was really fun. I actually, if anything, I would. I could see myself doing more of radio than singing. Yeah.
[00:29:05] Amanda: So that's awesome.
Very cool.
One thing I've been thinking about getting back into is improv.
[00:29:13] Dr. Sarah: Okay.
[00:29:14] Amanda: Like, improv is so good. Like, if there's one thing that I tell up and coming voice actors or even for people like us that, like, do podcast, improv gets your brain thinking, like, really sharp on, like, what to say next and telling stories. I don't know, it's. It's like, kind of embarrassing, but I
[00:29:35] Dr. Sarah: just think, like, explain improv to the audience.
[00:29:38] Amanda: Oh, for sure.
[00:29:40] Dr. Sarah: It's okay.
[00:29:41] Amanda: Improv is when you don't have a script, so you. You go on a stage and they give you, like, maybe you'll pick like, a word out of a can and it'll say, like, dogs. And then you have to do a skit about a dog.
[00:29:56] Dr. Sarah: And.
[00:29:56] Amanda: And the big thing with improv is that you're always supposed to say whatever the other person says. Yes and yes. And you never.
It's called blocking. When you turn down the person of what they're saying. Like, oh, no, that would never happen. Like, whatever the person dreams up. You're like, the dog, you know, ate the cat. Yes. And then they. Well, you know, like.
[00:30:21] Dr. Sarah: Yeah.
[00:30:23] Amanda: So it's just all about using your imagination, creating stories, telling stories, and, like, trying to come up with what to say next really fast.
[00:30:32] Dr. Sarah: Okay. That sounds like, kind of fun, though.
[00:30:34] Amanda: Yeah.
[00:30:37] Dr. Sarah: I have you found, like, now with your podcast, do you sit down and talk with a lot of people or is it more you solo?
[00:30:47] Amanda: When I first started, like, I. I've kind of, like, put it on hiatus. Like, I used to do, like, kind of just interviews, and then I quit for like a year or two, maybe kind of going through, you know, single mom stuff, keeping up.
And then now I'm just experimenting, just doing solo. But yeah, I do want to get into interviewing because it is fun having conversations with people.
[00:31:13] Dr. Sarah: I.
Yeah, I thought I'm. I've done a few solo things, but it's not like official podcast episodes. It's more just stuff I've posted on the social.
And I'm kind of a nerd. I call it, like, reading time with Dr. Rand.
[00:31:27] Amanda: I love that.
[00:31:29] Dr. Sarah: Yeah, that's cool.
And tell the audience the name of your podcast. Sure.
[00:31:36] Amanda: Well, honestly, right now, it's the Amanda Sellers show.
[00:31:39] Dr. Sarah: All right.
[00:31:40] Amanda: Like, I. I do this thing where I. On Insight Timer, I have a pretty big audience, I guess, and I do it live on there because, like, people will come, and they come every day, but while I'm recording it live, like, while I'm doing it live, I'm actually recording it.
So then as soon as I say bye to everybody, I end the live, then I edited it, and I take out all the conversations that I have with people.
So, like, I'm talking to people kind of the whole show or whatever, but I take all that out, and then what I'm left with is just, like, the tips or, like, the message of the day. And then I post it. So ironically, like, the point of my podcast is, like, more about the live.
Because, like, I thought I saw a thing that Gary Vee said. I don't know. He's like, live is the future of.
Because of AI. Like, people just want the human interaction live. So that's why I thought, okay, I'm gonna do live with my audience. And then that I'm like, well, I shouldn't just waste it. So I'll put it on, you know, Spotify and Apple on the Amanda Seller show. But now I'm. It's weird because now I'm starting to, like, care more about, like, the podcast of it than the live. Like, I like them both.
[00:33:08] Dr. Sarah: So, yeah, that's the name.
Take a listen, follow her.
[00:33:13] Amanda: Thank you.
[00:33:14] Dr. Sarah: And let's kind of get in to talking about if you're gonna fit motherhood for you.
And you know, you have two or you tell, tell me.
[00:33:27] Amanda: Yeah, yeah, I have. I have two boys, 11 and 13.
[00:33:32] Dr. Sarah: Yeah, nice. Yes.
One thing I have found sometimes, and I'm bringing this up as we're going out to say it real quick, like, for instance, sometimes on the podcast, especially the ones when we talk about dating and relationships and things like that, I find that sometimes the.
How do you say it? The. My guest will put something off on me or say something, and I'm like, that's not correct. That's not right about me at all but that's okay.
And nothing against them if they hear this. So, like, recently my last podcast I was on, I talked about how if I'm gonna have like, babies or get pregnant, I'm gonna have to do it now. And I'm like, okay, no pressure on you guys out there. If you meet me and you're dating me and I'm gonna be like, okay, let's get married and have children, right?
Do this quick because of my age. But it was funny because she was like, oh, you can just freeze your eggs. It's like, nope, I'm past that. I don't think people even freeze my eggs at this point, so.
[00:34:34] Amanda: Is that right?
[00:34:35] Dr. Sarah: Yeah. I'm at the age where it's like, I just have to pray on a miracle and know that my body is healthy and that it's gonna happen. And I know it's gonna happen and it's gonna be like, about mindset miracles, healthy. I love that sperm. So that's what's interesting about me. But. And my sisters. I have two sisters. They each have four kids.
[00:34:58] Amanda: Oh, wow.
[00:34:59] Dr. Sarah: Yeah.
But, yeah, I thought maybe. Is there anything you want to share with mom, wife, with audience or anything?
[00:35:07] Amanda: Well, just bouncing off of your, like, your message.
When we were at Running Man, a good friend of mine, he's, he's younger than me and he's got a girlfriend and he's like, yeah, I didn't think I was, I, I was ready, but now I'm, I'm like, I, I, I'm thinking about kids and my thing to him was like, just, just do it. Like, yeah, I got to make sure it's the right person. I'm thinking a couple years from now, and I'm like, no. Like, yeah, you will never regret it. Like, I honestly, I didn't think I had the maternal part. Like, I was just like such a free spirit. I didn't, I didn't want to be a mom. It wasn't part of my journey. And then, and then once I found out I was pregnant, not necessarily planning on it, I was like, it's a, it's the weirdest switch that goes off in your brain where you're like, okay, like, I want to do this. And then you have one kid and then you kind of feel like the hormone surge again, like another one. You know, after it was like, oh, this is, I'm only going to be like a one child mother.
And then, and then I found myself, like, wanting another. And then I feel like I was okay, you know, But I mean, it's the greatest. It's the greatest gift. And so if you meet someone and he's hot and he's got a good job, like, just do it.
[00:36:39] Dr. Sarah: Like.
[00:36:39] Amanda: Yeah, no relationship is ever going to be perfect.
I don't know. I just think. I don't know. While we were running, I was saying this to my friend and then another friend kind of. This was all at running, man. Another friend interject is like, well, you got to make sure it's with the right person. You don't want them with the wrong person. I'm like, I get it, I get it. But at the same time, I don't know, maybe that's not the best message, but, like, you're not going to regret it.
No one ever.
I don't like, you know. Yeah, it's challenging. It's not easy keeping a lot of pots and balls in the air, trying to keep them going. But yeah, it's. It's the best thing ever.
[00:37:27] Dr. Sarah: And.
And so I guess I would just want to talk about kind of going into like your spotlight moments. Like, what would you say are kind of like the highlights of your career with being a voiceover?
Is there anything that stands out to you more than others?
[00:37:51] Amanda: I mean, being nominated for the Voice Arts Awards.
[00:37:56] Dr. Sarah: Okay.
[00:37:56] Amanda: Are definitely like walking down the red carpet and like, Sigourney Weaver is beside you or John Cena is nominated. Like, those are really pinch me moments. And I recently was a contributing author to a book, which was a really cool thing. Yeah, that was a definite highlight. It's called Unreserved. And there's a. It's like a, like maybe 25 other female entrepreneurs. And we all kind of told our stories and then we had a huge, A huge party, like, book launch in Toronto. That was last year. That was a big moment.
What else? I have been asked to go speak at some things, which has been cool. Like, I went.
Yeah, I went to New York to go speak for this female founders group. And honestly, that was because this woman, like, listened to my meditations all the time and she's like, I really want you to come speak at our next retreat. Like our next gathering. I was like, for sure.
So they flew me to New York and I don't know if you know Melissa Wood Tepperberg. She's like this fitness.
She's huge.
Yeah, Melissa Wood health.
She was like one of the speakers there. And like Misty Copeland, the ballerina.
[00:39:23] Dr. Sarah: Oh.
[00:39:23] Amanda: Was the speaker. And like, I'm. I was a speaker. So. Yeah, just being in those room, I guess being in Those rooms, in those environments, they've felt really good. And I truly am my worst
[00:39:40] Dr. Sarah: critic,
[00:39:40] Amanda: my worst enemy because I feel like there's no reason I shouldn't be in more of those rooms doing more of that on more of a regular basis.
But I stop myself or I self sabotage. But that's, you know, part of learning and growing.
That's why I'm kind of doing this. Like, like my podcast and showing up every day. I'm like, I gotta make this happen. Like, if my son wants to go to a private hockey school in a couple years, like, that's his goal. And like, you know, I just gotta like, amp it up a little bit and believe in myself and know that I have a good message. So, yeah, that's, yeah, that's the next step.
[00:40:25] Dr. Sarah: I love that.
Yeah. So you're a leader for women and the, you know, being asked to speak at speaking engagements, I mean, that's, that's, that's great. That's amazing.
And you know, what would you say if somebody was to ask, what's your underlying message that you like to share with maybe other women or just in general, is there anything that you feel like, resonates with you more that you feel like you kind of fill it on your heart and mind to like, kind of like remind others about or share?
[00:41:00] Amanda: Yeah.
[00:41:01] Dr. Sarah: Or a message or a purpose?
[00:41:02] Amanda: I think the thing that I'm most passionate about in life is taking the risk and going for it. Because I sincerely, like, I'm an introvert and I'm a shy person.
Like, you can be a performer, but you can still be shy and reserved.
You know, like, think like Keanu Reeves. Like, you know, he's quite quiet. Like, and so I feel like my whole life has been this continual putting myself out there against my own will, but knowing that there's a benefit on the other side of it. So, yeah, taking the risk and then not conforming to social norms and what everyone else is doing, like, get out of the box, think outside the box. My favorite quote is by an astrologer, Carl Sagan, and he says somewhere something incredible is waiting to be known. So I often think to myself, like, what do I not know? What do I need to know? Where am I meant to expand? Like, we only know what we know, so. And then beyond that, my, my next kind of passionate message is like having fun. Like, like what. What would this look like if it was more fun? You know, like everything that we're doing in life, trying to add an element of fun or playfulness or I Think people take life too seriously. Like, I think. I think people are just on this path of, like, you know, Alabama. Like, I'm in a hurry to get things done, and I rush and rush until life's no fun. Like, why are we all just, like, rushing to get to the end and what's the end? And then we're done? Like, yeah, enjoy the ride.
[00:42:57] Dr. Sarah: Enjoy the present moment. Yeah.
[00:43:00] Amanda: Go to Running Man. Go to, like, you know,
[00:43:04] Dr. Sarah: so, yeah, I. The point you just brought up is something you made me think of because, you know, it's like, yeah, like, I have a podcast, but in person, I'm kind of shy. Like, if you meet me in person, I'm not, like, bold at all.
I need. I'm like, it's probably to my detriment in some ways because, like, I've been single for a very long time, and I don't know, I'm just not, like, in that way where I'm. You know, I'm not. I'm just not.
But then in other ways, I feel like I am kind of bold and assertive, like, in the business, but personally, I'm not, which is interesting. You know what I mean?
[00:43:45] Amanda: Oh, yeah.
[00:43:46] Dr. Sarah: And I feel like people are always trying to pull it out of me. Like, they're like, I know you have more. Like, I feel like you always want to pull it out of me, and it's like, no, why can't you accept me, Me for me, you know?
Yeah.
[00:43:58] Amanda: Because you don't. You don't want to be inauthentic to who you are.
You don't want to try to perform or be something you're not. So I do struggle with that, too. It's like, don't try too hard. Just, like, be yourself, and if you are quiet in those moments, like, you don't force it.
But I do think, you know, I'm single as well. For, like, four years now. I've dated a little bit here and there, but I work alone. I'm by myself a lot.
Yeah, the apps always suck. Like, where are we gonna find these guys?
I don't know.
[00:44:34] Dr. Sarah: Yeah. Speaking of, like, just this. This could be vulnerable for both of us to talk about, but the being alone, the vulnerability of that and how it is hard some days where it's. Yeah. Like, where.
You know. And then it's interesting. Like, on the last podcast, we talked about the fantasy loop, but then you don't want to have, like, this fantasy in your head of how it will be when you're not alone. Like, I look at it I try to be as real as possible with life in situations, but also, like you said, I don't take it too seriously. Like, let's have fun. It's the present moment. Like, life is short.
I think that, like, you know, some things I've been through, losing people set the in lead to death. Make you more of a person who's like, you gotta enjoy today. Like, yeah. You know, make it fun.
But I don't know, I just think that sometimes it is hard, like. And you're hearing more and more about almost like this pandemic of singleness and loneliness with people. Yeah, but how do we fix this?
[00:45:38] Amanda: I know that's, like, honestly, a really good question. And I've had to pull myself out of the loneliness loop because, like, when I don't have my kids and I'm by myself and, you know, my friends are mostly all married and have their kids.
Sometimes, like, that's why I run, because it. You know, and then it's great because, like, you kind of join forces with the other people that are crazy and like, to run long distances and do challenges.
But, yeah, it's tough. Like, I don't know. Like, I. I feel like I'm trying to open my heart to someone coming in my life and. And then I don't want to, like, put this out in the universe. But then it feels like when you do open your heart and you connect with somebody, then it, like, some for some reason doesn't work out, or they, like, they get cold feet and they retreat, you know, when you were open.
So, I don't know, we just gotta keep. Keep ourselves, our hearts open and not give up.
[00:46:45] Dr. Sarah: Yeah. I think it will happen for both of us.
[00:46:48] Amanda: Yeah.
I thought, like, every year I always think, like, I'm gonna meet someone at Running man, but it just, like, never happens. Did you think, like, there's. Did you go on the singles walk? I was like, I came in late.
[00:47:02] Dr. Sarah: Okay. So I have a funny story with that. I, like, went there and, you know, you're supposed to find a partner. You, like, partner up with somebody, this lady or whatever. You're supposed to partner with somebody and then you, like, switch. I don't know. I had come from carpooling in the airport, and I was wearing, like, this all black, like, kind of like little short squirt like thing. And because it was all black, I was, like, dying. I was like, I can't do this. I had to go back to the tent, and I changed, and then I went and got in the pool.
[00:47:28] Amanda: Oh, well, hey, that's all good.
It's your. Your journey. Yeah.
[00:47:35] Dr. Sarah: So, yeah, I. I mean, my goal, I think of going was like, just to connect with people. I saw virtually a lot, which I did, which was fun. I connected with Emily from Behind Closed Doors. Emily, if you're listening, we connected. She ran pregnant, which I thought was awesome.
And.
Yeah, but I know what you're saying. It's. It's just. I don't know. I don't know what's.
[00:48:03] Amanda: I think. I think it's like not. Not allowing ourselves to stay in that spot, like, you know, expanding the surface area, like, getting out there more for me, whether it's. I mean, I actually just joined a track club over winter. Like an indoor track club, so I can, like, get faster because I'm so freaking slow. But just getting involved. Like, do you. Are you involved in things locally? Like.
[00:48:34] Dr. Sarah: Yeah, I go to yoga. I do hot yoga. Yeah. I do Bikram.
[00:48:40] Amanda: Nice.
[00:48:41] Dr. Sarah: And then I have the gym that I go to, which is awesome. I can walk to the gym where I go. And. Yeah. So I do the gym, yoga.
I. You know, church, of course.
[00:48:53] Amanda: Nice.
[00:48:54] Dr. Sarah: I always hate the whole. Oh, you meet somebody at church. No, you don't meet anybody at church. That's.
Doesn't never happens.
[00:49:01] Amanda: Oh, bummer.
[00:49:03] Dr. Sarah: I don't know. Yeah. But yeah, I would say, like, I think you're right. Like, the more you just put yourself out there and authentically meeting somebody, you know, or.
[00:49:17] Amanda: Yeah.
[00:49:18] Dr. Sarah: Who knows? Even if you have, like, friendships that turn into more, that's always probably the best thing that could happen.
[00:49:23] Amanda: Yeah.
[00:49:24] Dr. Sarah: Or meeting, you know, just somebody that you already know because it's. It's to me and probably you, it's about feeling safe.
[00:49:32] Amanda: Yeah.
[00:49:33] Dr. Sarah: So safe is. Is a thing that's important, you know, because. Yeah. You want to know they're a good person and who they.
[00:49:40] Amanda: Yes.
[00:49:40] Dr. Sarah: Are.
Yes.
So, yeah, I had a.
[00:49:44] Amanda: A little bit of a bad habit with, like, dating guys way younger than me.
[00:49:51] Dr. Sarah: Oh.
[00:49:51] Amanda: And then my friends would be like, my. Then my friends, when I told them I met someone, their first question would be like, how old is he?
Like, he's. He's older. He's older. But then, you know, it's just like, not a healthy pattern. Like, you know, it's not gonna last. You know, they're gonna go different directions. So I'm waiting for this guy, though.
[00:50:10] Dr. Sarah: You can meet a younger guy. Men do it with women. We can do it with men. Yeah.
[00:50:14] Amanda: That's true. I always just think, well, they want a family and I'M done.
[00:50:19] Dr. Sarah: Oh, I see.
[00:50:20] Amanda: You know what I mean? So if it's. But like, my. My ex husband was seven years younger than me. Like, I've. I've.
I've always kind of, I don't know, skewed younger for some reason, but nothing wrong with that. Yeah.
[00:50:36] Dr. Sarah: Yeah. I actually have a relative who is married.
They're like something crazy. It's like 15 years difference. He's younger, and they're like the happiest couple I've ever seen, but together, which is interesting.
But.
Yeah, I.
Oh, man. I had a thought on something. I hate that. It was so good, too, and I was gonna talk about it.
It'll come back to me. It'll come back to me.
All right, well, we're gonna manifest.
We're just gonna manifest for both of us. Amazing, loving, lasting relationship, success in our careers, and we're just gonna, like, bring all this good stuff. We'll see each other hopefully at Running man next year. If not before then, maybe we could connect somehow.
[00:51:29] Amanda: Yes.
[00:51:30] Dr. Sarah: If not, you know, connecting over the air again or something.
[00:51:33] Amanda: I would love that.
[00:51:35] Dr. Sarah: And. Yeah. And I don't know, just any fun closing things or insights or a practice that you want to leave with listeners around office authenticity or self expression with your meditations?
[00:51:50] Amanda: Well, sure. I think if there's one thing I can, you know, leave you with today is just taking a deep breath and connecting with your heart.
And I feel like a lot of times we have because, you know, we're talking about relationships and, like, putting ourselves out there and just like softening the area around your heart space. Like, it's almost like we put up, like, armor and cobwebs and clouds. But just, like, take a deep breath and just like, ah, just try to let your heart open and soften a little bit and like, you know, just go out there and go get them.
[00:52:29] Dr. Sarah: Yeah, go get it. Okay.
[00:52:31] Amanda: Go get them.
[00:52:32] Dr. Sarah: Yes. So, Amanda, I know that.
Gosh, I just wish we could, like, teleport each other together or something. And where are you?
[00:52:43] Amanda: I'm. I'm in Canada, in Saskatoon, so.
[00:52:45] Dr. Sarah: Okay. Yeah. All right.
[00:52:47] Amanda: Middle of nowhere, really.
[00:52:48] Dr. Sarah: But, yeah, in Canada. I actually want to visit Banff. Oh.
[00:52:53] Amanda: I'm actually not too far from there, so.
[00:52:56] Dr. Sarah: Oh, amazing. I want to go with it. And the, like, spring, summer, fall. I want to do both seasons because it just looks.
[00:53:02] Amanda: Yeah.
[00:53:02] Dr. Sarah: Amazing.
[00:53:04] Amanda: Okay, well, that would be, like, the perfect meeting point. So easy for me to get to.
[00:53:08] Dr. Sarah: Yeah.
[00:53:08] Amanda: Let me know.
[00:53:09] Dr. Sarah: Yeah.
[00:53:11] Amanda: All right.
[00:53:12] Dr. Sarah: Well, I wish we had more time. We can always connect maybe do another one later. So everybody, thanks for kind of listening to us. Going back and forth is two single women and who both just enjoy wellness, fitness, outdoors, all that. Check Amanda out on all her platforms. I'll be sharing links and reels from this podcast so you guys can find her.
And yeah. So Amanda, thanks again for coming on the Doctor and podcast, and I'm so glad we connected. And as always, here on the Dr. Random podcast, I say chow.
[00:53:48] Amanda: Ciao. Thank you for having me. Ciao for now. I really appreciate it. It's an honor to be here.
[00:53:55] Dr. Sarah: Thank you.
