Having a Laugh
As an actor and voice actor, I've spent countless hours talking and jabbering away. So why not put my talking to good use and start a podcast? Get ready, babes, and join me for some spicy hot tea, generational TRAU-MA (Jamie Lee Curtis voice), and some hilarity. My therapist always told me I should do stand-up, and this is the closest I’ll ever get. I've also roped in some guests to join me in discussing acting, mental health, and behind-the-scenes magic. Welcome to the wild world of my podcast, where sarcasm reigns supreme and laughter is the best therapy.
https://linktr.ee/havingalaugh (FOR MORE)
Having a Laugh
#24 Hunger Games in Hollywood: Job Hunting, Burnout, and Real Talk on Women’s Health
In this candid episode, Shayla opens up about the brutal realities of job hunting in Los Angeles. From the fierce competition in the entertainment industry to the emotional toll of navigating adult life, Shayla gets candid about burnout, self-doubt, and the unpredictability of acting work. She also dives into personal experiences with the healthcare system—especially the challenges surrounding women’s health—and the importance of prioritizing mental wellbeing. Expect honest reflections, dry humor, and a few video game shoutouts as Shayla reminds us that even in chaos, we're doing better than we think.
Shayla - @shaylatharp_
Having a Laugh - Instagram
Shayla Tharp (00:01)
Uhhhh
Okay. Hi everybody. I just wanted to come on today in my pajamas on a Sunday and just chit chat. And by chit chat, I mean complain. if there's nothing more I love than a good complaining session. And that's what I'm here to do. So I think my biggest beef right now that I need to get off my chest.
is the work force in LA right now. Like what is going on? What is going on? Someone needs to tell me what to do because apparently I don't know what to do. I don't know what's going on.
I have been job hunting for like six months. No joke, I've been applying for everything I freaking see and I've got nothing, not a response, not anything. And it's like, okay, I'm not, know, sorry, I put on some Vaseline because my chit chatting's gonna make my lips dry. I could put some makeup on, I could have brushed my hair, we could have looked a little better but.
This is what we're working with. Anyway, I am really struggling to find a job and I don't know how everybody in LA is surviving and I don't know what to do. Like I am really trying and also my voice work has been like, I went from making like, you know, not a lot. mean, how can I say this? I went from making a good chunk.
to absolutely zero. And the only thing that's changed is I've moved to LA. And I'm like, it because I'm now doing my auditions later in the day? So like I'm the last one to upload or I just don't know. But I'm really struggling. I'm really struggling to do the basics. And it's like, how is everyone else surviving here? How is everyone surviving just in general? How do you all have kids? How do you, I just, don't know.
Sorry, I hold for a plane. Y'all hear that? Don't move next to the Burbank airport is all I gotta say if you do recording, because it's gonna be a lot of holding for planes.
Anyway, so I think that's my biggest beef right now is just I'm really struggling with work and I don't know what I'm supposed to do, where I'm supposed to go, who I'm supposed to ask. I just need some help. And it's like, I've got a lot of schooling. went to, I did my undergrad here in California. I did my master's in London. I've been working in the entertainment industry for like 12 years. And it's like,
Might as well be nothing because no one cares. No one gives a solid shit and that's fine. That's fine. I just wish someone would have told me before I went and spent money on schooling. It just feels like Hunger Games right now.
Not just in LA, I know it's everywhere, but in LA specifically, it feels very hunger game-ish and like gatekeeping-ish. and I don't think people are trying to gatekeep. I think it's, they don't even know how to obtain a job for their friends or anything. Like they've struggled just getting their job and now it's like, that's all they can do at the moment. I'm so sorry.
The last few podcasts have just been pure rambling because I'm just so at a loss of what to do. I'm so confused about life. Like I'm like, do I need to go back to school and study x-ray technician things? Because I just don't know what to do. And I need to be working. I need to at least have some income coming in. then I...
it's fine. You know, at least I've been so grateful to have my work with Kristin and being able to go to set with her and just, you know, meeting everybody there. It's been wonderful. And it's just, it's kind of heartbreaking because I love, love, love being on a set. And I love specifically a sitcom because that is the cushy.
the cushy stuff because you get the same place, the same stage, a set schedule, you know when you're gonna have a week off, you know when you're gonna come in, you know this is the table read day, these are the rehearsal days, this is the filming and tape days. I love it, I love it. You get so spoiled with a good schedule, right? So I feel like every show should be a sitcom and I wish that's all I could do all the time.
Because other shows you go on, like I did background the other day for Hacks, and we were outside in the elements for eight hours or whatever, and you never know when you're gonna be filming. It's like, maybe you'll get a 4 a.m. call. You're gonna get us, you know, it's just so unpredictable, and you're in the elements and all these things, and I don't, I love it, but like I...
I don't love it as much as going into an air conditioned soundstage. Anyway, super grateful for those experiences and to be there and to meet those people. I'm just at a loss of what I'm supposed to be doing next and how are people finding their jobs? I'm begging and I hate begging and I hate, when people are at work on set, they're trying to work.
And I don't want to be like, hey, what are you guys doing? How did you get this job? How are you doing this? How are you doing that? I'm not trying to be annoying and I'm not trying to step on people's toes, but like, I just feel like I have to now because I'm struggling to get employment. I want to scream so bad. I want to scream right now so bad, but my roommate's home so I can't. Oh, sorry, I had to burp. I got so anxious.
So if anyone knows like anything, if you know anything, let me know. What do have to do over here? What do I need to do? I got itch my boob. I'm sorry. It's so itchy. Even that's like, I'm getting, I'm itchy stressed. I feel very confused and very lost and.
It's frustrating because I love something. I love the jobs so much and I love working as an actor. I love working on set as production. I love doing all these things, but the world and job circumstances are like...
I'm so sorry. This is just such a huge ramble because I didn't plot anything out. Usually like when I do my podcast, right, I plot out a nice little sheet of what I'm going to talk about, you know, so I can kind of follow along or I've researched the guests or whatever. And I ain't got the brain power for that anymore because we've been in pure survival mode. It's been like. Go work the job on set, you know, help Kristen during the week.
come back, do a million voice auditions, apply for a million jobs, and then go to bed. And that's been it. And my brain power has been, like, at a zero. I've not been able to just, like, carry on normal conversations, because I'm just so burnt out. And it's crazy, because, like, I'm not even burnt out from working a job. I'm burnt out from trying to find a job.
And it concerns me, like what is this world coming to? And when I say, I don't know, it's the whole, it is the whole world that I'm worried about. It's not just America, it's a whole world. But I mean, specifically right now, America's got some issues they need to work out. And then, you know, of course, like I went online and was like, what am I supposed to be doing? Like, what am I doing wrong? And then people were like,
you need to move to England because that's where all the jobs are going. And it's like, I was just there for five years. Thank you very much. I do know that. Unfortunately, you guys wouldn't let me in. Even though I was paying taxes and went to school and had a job and was on the stage off West End doing a show, you guys wouldn't give me my next visa because I didn't meet the talent qualifications.
So I'd love to go back, but y'all won't let me. and that's not even like, that's just a whole other issue and things. It's just, guys, I'm so sorry. I'm just whining, but
Isn't it crazy that like, can fly all, like, say, take our show that we're working on, we could take all of our cast and crew, fly us all over to London and have a stay somewhere else and film the show and bring everybody back for cheaper than just filming at the studio where we all live and exist.
Like what? What? And I'm just so concerned about everything. Everything in life is a concern to me at this point.
but I guess I can't make this whole podcast about depressing work things. I'm sure you guys are already depressed enough as it is. And this supposed to be about having a laugh. So let's talk about having a laugh. Let's talk about, this new game called schedule one. It's on steam. So like on your computer and it is basically a Stardew Valley and drug dealing had a baby.
that is what the game is and it's so much fun. I've been playing it so much and I'm like, wow, I wish real life were this easy. I've made a business of net 40 grand already and it's been a week and I'm like, how can I do that out in California? Can I just do this? Because apparently I'm good at it.
I think you guys should play the game. It's actually quite fun. And I've seen some hype about it on the internet. So I'm sure you've probably already heard of it. Maybe you've played it. Come join. It's just so simple and fun. It's kind of like my power washing game. If you guys have heard me a boast about the power washing game. It's kind of like that where it's just super simple.
Super easy. It's a task that you know, it's kind of repetitive. You're just running a business. It's all good This one has got a few more rules though and a few more Special things that you can do Unlike the power washing where it's just power washing This has a little bit more things for your brain power to to do. I'm sorry. My nose itches so bad I can't stop itching it. Help me
Okay, what's another game I'm playing? Phasmophobia. I know I'm like five years late to that game. I'm like five years late to every game right now because I've never had my own system to play on like Mac or, what am I trying to say? I've never had my own system to play on. I've only had Macs before, so I've never really played any games. And now that this door has been opened for me,
Forget it, I don't need real life. Forget about it. I wanna be paid to play video games for the rest of my life. And now I'm like, okay, well, I missed the train on being like a steam live streaming YouTube player. I should have got on that boat 10 years ago and been a gamer. And it's like, sometimes I feel like I'm too old.
And which is so not true, but sometimes I feel like I'm an 18 year old and I'm like, I'm just a baby. I don't know what to do. And then sometimes I'm like, yeah, I am 60 years old. So you're going to have to take it easy on me. don't know what half those words mean. So it's like, it feels very odd. I, I, I'm unsure of like myself, which sounds odd. when I lived in London, I felt like.
Yeah, like I'm an adult, I'm in my 30s, I feel confident, I don't really feel like a baby, I know what I'm doing and I know how things work. And then when I had to move back here, I have gone and like regressed back to teenage life because I'm like, what? What are all these things? Like when I had to learn social security stuff, I had to learn health insurance, car insurance.
all the adult things that suck, that made me feel like a little child again, where I was just like, I don't know, I need adults, I need help, I need help from other people, and it made me feel very infantile. And so I think right now I'm struggling a lot with feeling like an adult, and especially with being unable to find a job and, you know, being...
kind of a low, lower on the totem pole when I go to set, you know, like if you're an assistant or whatever, it's like, you kind of feel like you're not as cool as everybody else and not as high up. And I just am constantly feeling like I'm not good enough for almost everyone and everything. And I know that's not true. I know it's just in my head that that's all in my head, but.
That's how it feels and it's a struggle. That's what my therapist is for though. Bless her. We're still figuring it out.
And I think that's kind of what this little mini podcast is really focusing on today is just kind of allowing myself to be where I'm at, acknowledge it, and keep pushing forward. But wow, is it hard. I just want to play video games 24-7. Is that so much to ask for? Is that so much to ask for? Ugh.
Are y'all struggling? Is it just me? And this is another thing is I don't really talk to anybody because I don't want to. I just am like, y'all. Basically after COVID, I was like, I don't want to talk to anyone ever again. But I've gone in phases back and forth to being more social and back to unsocial. And right now I don't know what to feel.
love being anti-social. But I also know that to advance and to network, you have to be social and you have to be interacting with people like a human. And that's been real hard for me lately because all I want to do is come home and isolate and unmask my little ADHD mask and just sit alone and power wash. Who knew that was such a task?
But yeah, I just, I'm struggling to talk to other people my age, I think, and see what's going on with them. Like, I'm like, what are other 30-some year olds doing? Like, are y'all struggling too? I know some of my friends have kids, some of my friends are married, some of my friends have moved back in with their parents. you know, it's kind of like the 30s right now are...
really strange. Like I know a lot of 30 year olds that have moved back in with their parents. And I don't think any other generation at 30s has had to do that before. So I feel like us millennials are really, we're paving some way of something. I don't know, but I just feel like we're getting the shit out of the stick. I don't know. Maybe I'm just.
Blaming the boomers, but I gotta blame somebody
Anyway, I do apologize because this was just another ranting podcast and I didn't even do my makeup. You can see half my room. It's a mess, but that's kind of the reality right now. And I want to show the reality. The reality is I'm struggling, but I'm still here. I'm showing up, but this is...
This is it right now. This is what we've got. A messy room, my microphone, messy head, messy thoughts. But we're coming here and we're trying. And that's the best we can do. That's all we can do. And I hope that that's what you're doing too is the best you can do. Because that's all you can do is the best, your best. You show up with good intentions and do the best you can. And that's all you got.
also a little health update. I'm on the low insurance, like low income insurance. Yeah, I know, don't judge me. But I went to the doctor and they like touched my thyroid and my neck and she was like, that's hella enlarged. And I was like, all right. And so I had to go get an ultrasound recently and then I had to get my blood drawn and
urine analysis and I find out this week the results of that I know there were some nodules and stuff that they took photos of and all that but that stuff's kind of scary and nerve-racking and it's interesting that no one as I'm going through the process of all this no one really is explaining to me what's going on or what's happening like thank goodness for Google am I right because
If Google didn't exist, I wouldn't know what to do because that was how I was able to solve all my health problems in England because getting a doctor was a stressful feat. So I turned to Dr. Google. And so in America, I've tried not to do that as much because I've had more access to doctors, but still they're not really talking to me about like what's going on. And of course this could be like,
her doctor or whatever doctor it is. But yeah, they were just like, it's enlarged. And I was like, all right. And that means they don't really tell you. She was just like, yeah, you're going to need an ultrasound. You're going to need this. You're going to that. And I was like, but we've not discussed what's even happening. And I'm confused.
So I did all the tests and everything and now I just have to wait a week and it's like, but I don't even know what's going on. Women's health is such a mystery. And as more comes out about that, about like people saying, oh yeah, it's because they've not studied women. It's because, know, mostly just they haven't studied women. It's like.
absolutely baffling. But it's not even that baffling because then you think about it it's like yeah men wanted to study men. And because men were the only ones that could really be doctors for a while back in the day. So of course they're gonna study men.
It gets me so heated. It gets me so freaking heated. Come on. I just want better for women. I want better for us. I want better healthcare for us. I want them to know more about women's bodies. I want them to know more about hormones and all the things we go through, like taking out you, you, what is it? The things that go up your vagene and it's for birth control, the one.
the one that hurts really bad when they pull it in and out. What is that called? The U, U something. U, I, UTI, no that's an infection. I don't know, you know what I'm talking about though. The ones that are super painful and like they just make women do it raw dog. Like they're like, you're fine, take the Tylenol. But then when a guy goes to get a vasectomy, they're like, we gotta put him under, it's gonna be so bad. it's so painful.
That's the kind of shit I'm talking about. Absolutely absurd. I feel like, God, just being a woman going through the healthcare system is treacherous.
The whole thing is bad. The whole thing is so bad. And I have hope and faith that there are new up and coming doctors that are gonna do better and more research and all these things. And even right now, like I've just gotten my first female doctor. I've never had a female doctor in my whole life and I'm in my 30s.
And that's wild to me. was like, yeah, I could get a female doctor. Cool. Like a guy doesn't have to poke and prod at me. Sick. So that's already a great thing, but there's just so much more to be done and changed and fixed and that could be said for the whole world. You know? Sorry, I'm still itchy. Okay. Well.
this was my absolutely ranting whiny podcast and I will try my best going forward to have something with more content and more substance to it instead of just whining. I hope you guys are doing well and do let me know if you're hiring, right? Am I right? Are you guys hiring? Anyone hiring? You wanna hire me? Thinking about it?
Okay, you just let me know. Okay. Alright, bye.
