Conversations with Carly Maureen Doyle

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carly Maureen Doyle.

Hi Carly Maureen, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’m an actress, director, and recently I’ve begun producing podcasts. It’s funny to list off so many things, but I think we’re in the age of the multi-hyphenate artist. When I began my acting training, understanding the process of creation from start to finish was always a passion of mine. I think, for the first time, I’m at a place in life where all the twists and turns are making sense. For example, I studied Broadcast Journalism for three years before switching my major to Theatre and pursuing acting completely. And for a long time, I saw that as part of my “finding myself” journey, but now I see it really serves me in a larger way. While pursuing acting, I have also recently directed and produced my first short film with The Earthlings Ensemble titled The Acai Defense, and I’ve joined Brett Davern and Katie Leclerc on their podcast/ radio show “The Brett Davern Show ft. Katie Leclerc.” They’ve been amazing mentors who have really believed in me and given me the opportunity to grow.

I’m also partnering with Yaz Ketcherside and Jamie Eads on their podcast Holistic Happy Hour. They’re two women who have found holistic ways to heal their bodies, and they’re really passionate about creating a community, especially for women who are struggling with hormonal imbalances and what comes along with that. Whether it’s Hashimotos, or you’re coming off the pill, or you just can’t figure out how to care for your gut and make yourself feel amazing, they’ve really got your back. And they’ve helped me on my own personal journey, so I’m happy to help them and support their show as a Producer now!

So, I feel really lucky to be stepping into a place in life where I can use a lot of my skills and be fully myself to make art and content for people that will help them, brighten their day, or just help build community.

Check out @holistichappyhourpod_ and @brettdavernshow on Instagram and TikTok!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Neverrrr! At the beginning of the year, I was laid off from my corporate gig, and without sounding super typical, it was the best thing that ever happened to me. I definitely had pretty severe burnout; I worked full-time and went to school at night for my Master’s for 2.5 years. I did 16-hour days Monday-Friday; I was churning out content like crazy, memorizing so many scenes, writing and performing material, all the while not being able to go and visit family or take a good rest, and I didn’t realize how much it was affecting me. Afterward, I learned that if you’re in a particularly stressful situation, your body won’t really respond until it feels safe, and THEN you start feeling the impact of that situation on you physically and mentally. And burn out doesn’t get solved in a 2-week vacation, it really takes a lot of time, patience, rest, community, etc. I’m definitely lucky, in retrospect, to have had a forced break. I’ve been able to see friends I haven’t seen in years, visit my parents, see my family in Europe, and just say “yes” to so many more things. So even though there were lots and lots of tears shed in the uncertainty, I’m much more comfortable just riding the waves of life now.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
What sets me apart from others…. big question. I am really, relentlessly enamored with authenticity and community. We’ve become really separated from one another in the age of social media; it’s easy to forget that most people are kind and funny, and we have similar hardships to one another. So I also am always avoiding superficiality, and in my life and art, trying to dig deeper and give something to people to remind them that we’re all in this together. We can’t do any of this alone! Art, I guess, has always had to serve as a mirror held up to society, but I also want it to be a reminder of finding our truest self and finding the people in the world who make you feel like you belong.

We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I feel like I have an alter ego sometimes! I’m a Scorpio, so there’s always a small piece that’s hidden away. But I absolutely love astrology, tarot, etc. I have a few tattoos that almost no one knows about, so in classic Scorpio fashion, I have my secret, brooding, edgy, witchy side. She’s inspired by Lady Gaga, Stevie Nicks, and AC/DC. Music is really a driving force for me and how I view the world! I was actually named after Carly Simon, so even though I’m not a musician at ALL, music has always been a big part of who I am. ARTPOP by Lady Gaga is like 40% of my personality, and the other 60% is Sandra Bullock movies.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://carlymaureen96.wixsite.com/actor
• Instagram: @carlymaureend