Today we’d like to introduce you to Lissa Coffey
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
When I was in high school I would watch The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and in that show, for those who are too young to remember, Mary worked at a television station. I always thought that was so cool, and something I wanted to do.
When it came time to take all the career tests, I always got “Social Worker.” And although I wanted to help people for sure, I didn’t want to be a social worker, I wanted to work in TV. I ended up moving to Los Angeles when I got into UCLA, thinking now I’ll be near the TV industry!
My first job in television was as a page at ABC. Pages do many things, we are basically ushers for live audiences during tapings, we fill in at desk jobs, we watch doors at soap operas, we keep game show contestants occupied when they’re not on-set. And so much more. It’s fun because it’s something different all the time and a great way to learn a lot of different aspects of the business.
Then I graduated and needed a full-time job and income so I because a secretary in the Special Projects Department at ABC Entertainment. This was the ’80s so the main goal of this department was putting on special events and parties. Fun, but kind of “television-adjacent.” I got bored with the 9-5 and the commute in LA traffic and took a job at a local magazine when I figured I could be more creative. The only job opening at the magazine was for a salesperson, so I took it, thinking I’ll keep submitting articles and everything will work out. But, no, they actually wanted me to sell ads… and I was not good at not taking “no” for an answer.
Then I worked as a fragrance model and also as a make-up artist for various brands spending time on my feet in department stores. The fun wore off really quick for that job. Then I became a mom, and that was more than a full-time job.
When I drove my kids around I could never find good music to listen to that they liked and that I could tolerate, and that also had great lyrics. It was as if the choice were Madonna singing “Like a Virgin” or some nonsensical kids song like E-I-E-I-O. Music has always been such an important part of my life – and I wanted my kids to sing songs, knowing that these were probably the first words they’d memorize, that had a meaningful message. I couldn’t find any, so I started writing the songs I wanted them to hear.
Fast forward to: I started my own record label, and we created several albums, and many music videos that aired on Nickelodeon and Discovery Kids. I had amazing singers, and since I was also doing news segments at a local TV station, I also had access to video equipment. Win-win!
Then my singers moved to Broadway to become big stars, and I was on my own, so I started writing books. And the local TV segments turned into national TV segments on the Today Show and Good Morning America and several other national and local talk shows.
And then the internet came to be, I got a website, an email list, and it all came together.
One of my books was about natural remedies, and I discovered Ayurveda, which led me to Deepak Chopra, which led me to write books on Ayurveda and Vedanta. So as my kids grew up, my focus moved from parenting and relationship topics to more wellness and spirituality topics.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s never a smooth road! And it’s never a straight path! There are so many detours and twists and turns. Not getting jobs I really wanted, learning to accept rejection over and over again. Getting divorced was a big struggle. But it was a necessary one. I think age 40 is a big turning point for everyone – we have to be on our spiritual path, to be in our dharma, our purpose, so if we are not then we are compelled to make changes that bring us to that point.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My “brand” is Ancient Wisdom, Modern Style. I am really good at bringing age-old philosophies and practices to the western world in a fun and relatable way. I did that for Ayurveda, and then I got involved with all the Vedic sciences. I can’t get enough! It must be a past-life thing because it resonates with me so much. I’ve been to India four times now.
What I’m most proud of to date is Song Divine: The Bhagavad Gita Rock Opera. Along with my music partner Vito Gregoli, we recreated the Bhagavad Gita into an album, where every chapter is a song. And I have to say, it’s amazing! It’s never been done before. I can’t believe I even came up with the idea – it’s so daunting to think about, but honestly, it was challenging, but some of the most fun I’ve ever had. It turned out great! It took three years to put it all together. And of course, we really wanted to get a Grammy nomination – we dared not even hope for a win, so we poured so
much time and energy into the campaign for that. But, alas, we didn’t get one. There are something like 500 albums in the New Age category each year, so we couldn’t be too disappointed. We’re really just happy that we have this – right now this is the “legacy” I am most proud to leave behind. I think it will inspire many listeners.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
As a kid, I always had a big imagination. I was always making up stories, talking to myself, playing with imaginary friends. I started piano lessons at age 6 and continued until age 16 when I could drive and told my mom that I was quitting piano to get a job. I loved working!
My first job was as a waitress at a soda shop. It was one of those old-fashioned places with a long counter, that served sandwiches and ice-cream. I loved it.
In the seventh grade I turned a play into a musical – I wrote the songs and the choir teacher played the piano based on what I sang. Then I wrote an original one-act play in high school and cast all my friends in the roles. I loved being in the drama club.
I was in yearbook and the school paper. I ran for school office – and never won, those I did get “appointed” to a position when someone dropped out! I remember being very busy – between clubs, and work, and classes. And my mom was a single mom, I was the oldest, so I had a lot of responsibilities at home, too.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.coffeytalk.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/lissacoffey
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/lissacoffeytalk
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/lissacoffey
