Life & Work with Nevada Gibson of Santa Maria

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nevada Gibson.

Hi Nevada, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up in a small agricultural town called Santa Maria on the Central Coast of California known for their strawberries and Santa Maria style BBQ. Ever since I could remember I’ve been a storyteller. I grew up in a small neighborhood with my sisters and neighbors around my age, I would come up with stories and direct “plays” with my sisters and neighbors as the actors and we would perform them in front of our parents and grandparents.

I loved making Youtube videos and would take pictures with my digital camera and turn them into a slideshow on Youtube with online software editing tools. My dad had a Sony camcorder that was always sitting on the mantle of our unused fireplace. . .One day I picked it up and started shooting videos. I remember making my first film around the age of 8 with my childhood best friend. I shot it in order since I did not know how to edit and didn’t have editing software or knowledge.

At my high school orientation, I visited the film club table and the teacher, Mr. Garcia, took me and my dad to tour the film classroom. I didn’t know that you could make money from filmmaking, and once I learned that was an actual career, I knew it was for me. In high school I was really invested in the film club, I became President, fell in love with editing, and eventually led the production of our high school’s film festival.

I went to CSUF and graduated with a Cinematic and Television Arts degree. During my time there I made connections, got my first internship with the Newport Beach Film Festival, and eventually got my first job through a casting director who visited one of my TV classes as a guest speaker. I became a casting assistant for a reality TV production company called Bunim-Murray. While in school I learned how to AC, direct, write, edit, and produce films and productions–including hosting a podcast I developed with some friends called “Mid-Twenties Podcast.” (Shoutout to Roberto Magallanes for bringing that vision to life with me!)

In December 2019 I had just graduated and then BAM. The COVID 19 pandemic. I was just getting my start in the industry then I had to move home because the freelance life wasn’t reliable for me at the time.

I moved back to Santa Maria at the start of 2021 and decided to take a break from film to pay off debt from school. . .but also because I had an increase of self-doubt if I’d be able to “make-it” in the film industry after feeling like a failure because I had to move home.

In 2025 I finally paid off my debt, decided to quit my job at a non-profit, and take time to figure out my next steps. Since then I got cast as a local dating show host, consistently created and posted videos and online short form content, and launched a podcast with my best friend called Big in a Small Town. I’m now working on my content creation business, writing, and exploring different entertainment opportunities for hosting and developing my personal brand and creative voice and style.

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?
I’ve faced many personal challenges, traumas, and “flops” in the pursuit of my mission, to create, have fun and inspire others. I lost some important loved ones at an early age–early enough to solidify the realization of how precious life and time is. I’ve overcame being a victim of a violent crime in late 2022, I was scared to leave the house, or even look people in the eyes. I didn’t go out for a couple years to do fun things like karaoke or stand-up comedy, things I loved to do before the incident. When that happened, I became a victim of life and felt like the world was against me. Through professional help and my amazing support systems, I eventually was able to separate the incident from my identity in order to save myself from the life I was living. I was coping with alcohol until I got hired at an anti-drug and alcohol agency where I was surrounded by inspiring people who educated youth about the negative impacts of substances. Although the programs were designed for youth substance and alcohol abuse, it inspired me to work through my internal issues of self-worth and limiting belief that I was a victim of life and only bad things happened to me. I had to change the narrative about myself from within and eventually my external world started to reflect a new reality that good things happened to me, I am worthy, and I can still be successful despite the horrible things people have done to me. I reclaimed my power to choose the way I viewed the world and made it so that life was always conspiring in my favor for me to succeed instead of the opposite.

Last year was the biggest growth spurt– As a nonprofit grant writer, I loved my job and the people there. I realized I wasn’t passionate about the way I was showing up or where I was in my life. I developed tendonitis in my hands that was so bad, at one point, it hurt to lift a fork to my mouth when I ate. I had a feeling in my soul, the pain wasn’t from overuse as much as it was from the misalignment of the way I was living my life. I paid off my debt, ended a long term relationship, and in August I decided to quit my job and focus more on my journey of personal growth, which at the core is a way to become my best self –the one who is capable of actualizing my goals and dreams.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am creative, known for my content creation and online to real life personality. I’m known for making content about my life, fitness journey, dating stories, and self-discovery adventure after quitting my job in August– without a backup plan. After throwing my own singles events and mixers, I ended up getting cast as a live host for a comedy dating show, called “How We Met.” Now I’m working with another local producer on a new live dating show where I will have more creative freedom. I also create content for local businesses, covering “things to do” and “lifestyle” on my Tiktok account called @NevadaontheCoast. I am most known for being an inspiring, authentic creator and influencer for my engaging, creative, unique and inspiring content. I just launched a new podcast called “Big in a Small Town” where my cohost, Daniel Black, and I talk about personal growth, living boldly, and how to break the barriers of the environment that surrounds you.

I am currently working on a vertical web-series with a local filmmaker, and expanding the reach for the creative projects I already am a part of. I’m thankful to have a supportive creative community and opportunities even though you would never expect to have that in a “small town.”

I’m proud of my authenticity and transparency. I’m proud of myself for truly just believing in myself that I will figure it out as I go. A lot of people put unnecessary pressure on themselves to be perfect which actually ends up holding them back–I learned that the more I live in alignment with my true desires, and take action despite the fear, the easier it is for me to reach my goals. I think what sets me apart from others is my desire to let love and intuition guide me instead of fear of failure. I’m learning to lean into vulnerability instead of trying to act like everything is fine all the time. I’m constantly learning how to be the best friend, daughter, artist, and person I can be in a world that tries to convince you that you need everything outside of you to be good enough. In order to be the best me I can be, all I have to do is keep being my most aligned version of myself.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I’ve had different mentors in my life, a lot of my friends are my mentors. I remember there used to be a time where “mentorship” was a pay-it-forward thing that people just did because they believe in you and want to pay it forward to the next generation. My advice for mentorship and networking in general is to offer your gifts and see what you can do for others. Always find ways to help others–not in a people pleasing way–but in a genuine, “How can I support you?” way. I’ve learned that truly caring for others and their desires, celebrating their wins, and building up your friends and acquaintances, that “giving” and abundant energy will come back to you ten fold. It’s important to make people feel seen and heard–never expect anything in return. The payoff of genuinely caring for others can have an infinite positive return. I think some people think that success is limited so they are afraid to build others up, but success is abundant and there are infinite resources available for everyone to be happy and successful.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nevadagibson.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nevada_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nevada.gibson/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nevadagibson/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nevada.gibson
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nevadaonthecoast

Image Credits
Emily Desjardins, Pete Ayer, Nevada Gibson, Evan Vega,