Surviving Hollywood, Facing Loss, and Signs Along the Way with Actress and Writer Marisa Coughlan

In this episode I sit down with my friend Marisa Coughlan. Marissa shares her journey as an actress and writer, from growing up in Minnesota to building a successful career in Hollywood and eventually choosing to leave Los Angeles to begin a new chapter. We speak honestly about the emotional toll of the industry, constant rejection, power imbalances, and the pressure women face to disappear as they age. We also dive into her film Blue Eyed Girl, now available on Amazon, and the deeply personal story behind it. Inspired by her own life, the film explores grief, aging parents, sisterhood, nostalgia, and the disorienting experience of returning home after years away. Writing the script became a form of healing, a way to process the loss of her father and the quiet mourning we carry not only for people we lose, but for the lives we imagined. She also shares meaningful behind the scenes moments working with Beau Bridges, whose kindness, integrity, and love for his wife offered a rare reminder that goodness and humanity still exist in the industry. At its core, this episode is about resilience, reinvention, and the courage to want more. We talk about midlife, identity, faith, and the ache of not being able to call the person who once knew you best. We reflect on signs from loved ones who have passed, the comfort found in nature, and the permission to cry, remember, and keep going. If you have ever felt stuck, dismissed, or unsure whether it is too late to begin again, this conversation is a reminder that it is not. You are allowed to pivot, you are allowed to grow, and you are allowed to take up space at every stage of life. LifeMD is offering a Holiday and New Year’s Sale with 50% off their Weight Management Program plus free shipping, which makes getting started easier and more affordable. Just visit lifemd.com/JUDGINGMEGHAN to activate the offer. This podcast is a place for trauma survivors as well as their friends and family. This is a safe environment to be vulnerable but it's also a place for celebration and moving forward. Let's all start to embrace who we are becoming by #mentalhealth #selfcare #self #judgingothers #judgingmeghan #suicideawareness #suicideprevention #survivor # resilience #traumahealing #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthmatters #podcasts #JudgingMeghan #LifeTransitions #RedefiningSuccess #AgingWithPurpose #WomenOver40 #MidlifeAwakening #CreativeReinvention #GriefTalk #LossAndLove #HealingThroughStory #VoiceAndTruth #WomenWithStories #EmotionalHealing #BlueEyedGirl #SuperTrooper #Hollywood #FaithAndGrief #ListeningToYourBody #InnerStrength #ChoosingYourself #SlowDown #BuildANewLife #HomeAndBelonging #MarisaCoughlan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices