Jess Clark Garcia shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Jess, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
More than ever, I’m being called lately to slow down. I think I was afraid to slow down before, because slowing down meant that I wasn’t going to get where I needed to go. It meant that I was going to fall behind – or it meant that I was going to “miss the boat”. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that you’re not going to miss the boat that you’re meant to be on. I find a lot of comfort in knowing this.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, my name is Jess Clark Garcia and I am a singer/songwriter, actress, podcast host and full time stay-at-home mom. I’ve been singing and acting professionally for the last 15 years and have always considered myself a “jack of all trades”. Aside from performing, I’ve always had a passion for communication and hosting so I launched my own podcast in October 2024, where I got to interview some of the most influential people in my life. I am married and have two children, and being a mom is the most important thing to me. Motherhood and parenthood have become a huge part of my “brand” and I enjoy connecting with other moms on social media.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
It’s funny, because I’ve never quite seen myself as a “people-pleaser”. But just in the last year or so, I’ve really come to terms with the fact that I often put other people’s feelings before my own. I think from a very young age, I struggled to make friends and I often felt left out or judged, and so as an adult, I find myself often glamorizing the idea of friendship – so much so that when it comes to how I treat my friends, I have a habit of going above and beyond to make sure their needs are met, even if it means sometimes putting my own needs aside. It’s hard, because while I value this quality about myself (to an extent), I think I’ve realized the importance of healthy, reciprocal relationships more than ever lately. I don’t think you should give to expect anything in return, but I do think there is a need for a mutual push and pull – or give and take – when it comes to the people in your life who are meant to love and care about you.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I truly feel there is such raw power in honesty and vulnerability. It’s so easy to want to hide the parts of ourself or the parts of our life that aren’t pleasant. I think especially in the world of social media and branding, etc, it’s so easy to feel the need to only show the “good” parts of your life – almost like a highlight reel. I mean, I’m guilty of it, don’t get me wrong – but I also pride myself on being honest about the not-so-good or not-so-easy parts as well. I’ve found that when you embrace every part of the process, that’s when connection happens… and the connection and community that I’ve fostered through sharing my experiences has become the most prominent in my life.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
I think people who truly know me would say that my family is the most important thing to me – and that is the truth. There is literally nothing more important to me than the people I love.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
Oh, so many times. There have been so many times throughout my life where I thought I wanted something or I thought I needed to reach a certain point, whether it be in my career or my personal life, in order to be happy – just to realize that it wasn’t what I truly wanted at all. But I’m grateful for those moments, because I think no matter what, there was something be learned. I think the most important part is often the journey, not the result – and that’s a tough lesson to learn, but one that comes when you’re ready for it.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessclarkgarcia/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/jessclarkmusic
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@jessclarkgarcia
