Today we’d like to introduce you to Sam Dever
Hi Sam, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I am a podcast host, multimedia producer, actor, artist and speaker based in Los Angeles, CA.
Originally, I’m from a town in the Midwest called Canton, IL.
Basketball was a huge part of my life growing up all the way through my first two years of college, but when my playing days ended I decided to pursue the creative arts.
I began my artistic career by making hip hop music and filming videos for a vlog I had and made the move to Tuscon, AZ shortly after college graduation.
After one year in Arizona, I moved to Las Vegas where I would then spend almost 8 years. Las Vegas was an incredible creative experience as I was involved in music, media production, interviewing and acting.
California (LA in particular) had always been a dream destination for me so I packed it all up again and moved to Los Angeles in February of 2018 and I have been in LA ever since. Since moving to LA, I’ve been heavily involved in the acting community and started my podcast The Sam Dever Podcast. I’m extremely grateful for the creative community I have found in both Los Angeles and Las Vegas and travel between the two frequently working on various projects.
Producing creative content has always been my passion whether it was through podcasting, making music, creating videos for social media or an acting/film project. Taking creative visions and bringing them forth into reality has given me purpose in life. Not only do I want to bring my creations to life but I also feel inspired to help others produce their passions as well!
Outside of the arts, I’m a huge health and fitness advocate. You can often find me in the weight room, at the yoga studio, going on walks or hiking a nature trail. I also enjoy spending my time reading books, watching movies and trips to the beach.
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?
There have been several obstacles in my life but one of the biggest one’s was a severe leg injury I experienced almost four years ago. I knew the moment it happened my life had changed forever.
From someone who was used to being extremely active both physically and creatively, this was a time where I was forced to sit still and not be able to participate in some of my favorite activities.
It’s been a long road to recovery and within it I have had to overcome both physical and mental battles. Fortunately, I have made it through to the other side thanks to God and so many amazing people. I am now back to living my best life and becoming my most authentic self.
What the injury taught me the most aside from the importance of having constant gratitude, is that we are all on very limited time here on planet earth and this life can be taken away any moment.
I say that not to create fear or panic, but to motivate others to the realization so they can start taking action.
This perspective has given me a sense of urgency when I am producing my own projects as I know no year, month, week, hour, etc. is guaranteed for any of us.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a mutlifaceted artist/creative with my specialities consisting of podcasting, multi-media production, acting, filmmaking, music creation and speaking.
The main focus for me over the past year has been the podcast I produce and host called “The Sam Dever Podcast” which consists of long-form conversations featuring a variety of guests who live and think outside the box. This has consisted of actors, filmmakers, artists, entrepreneurs and other creative pioneers and more, who have overcome obstacles in their respective industries.
It’s been an incredible experience to say the least and a phenomenal opportunity to explore creativity and humanity at a deeper philosophical level.
A new episode comes out every Monday and is available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Aside from the podcast, I am excited to produce new projects through the other artistic mediums above.
I’d say one thing that sets me apart is my work ethic and persistence. I don’t give up easily and I don’t let anything stop me from producing the projects I feel passionate about. I have never been the most talented artist or creative in the room but I am usually one of the hardest working and am someone who figures out how to make something work regardless of resources.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
My best advice for anyone starting out is to be consistent. Nothing is going to be perfect when you first start out, in fact it never will be. The key in my opinion, is to continually be moving forward and improve along the way.
Someone told me a long time ago, simply focus on the work. Accolades and recognition can be nice but it’s only a bi-product of you working really hard consistently.
I would also add, learn to love the process and have the understanding that it’s not going to happen overnight. Creative and artistic projects take a lot of time, patience, effort, money, etc., so we as creatives must enjoy the everyday grind of following our passions and keep in mind we may never “hit it big” or make a lot of money doing the things we do. Money and fame are not the reason we do it. We do it, because we love creating and it makes us feel like our true authentic selves. It’s our mission and it gives us purpose.
Also, we never know who may benefit from seeing or experiencing our creative projects. Even if it inspires only one person, that alone helps contribute to the greater collective consciousness of society and can lead to a ripple effect of inspiration for years to come!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.samdever.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samdever
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/samdeverfanpage
- Twitter: https://x.com/samdever
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thesamdeverpodcast
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@samdeverclips
Image Credits
Photos by Julie Bergonz (Sam Dever Main Photo, Sam Dever Photo 1, Sam Dever Photo 2, Sam Dever Photo 3, Sam Dever Photo 5, Sam Dever Photo 6)
Photo by Eric Sarich (The Sam Dever Podcast on Set)
