We’re looking forward to introducing you to Vivian Ahn. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Vivian, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
Honestly, what I’m most proud of isn’t visible at all. People see the polished parts — the podcast episodes, the tarot readings, the videos — but behind that is a huge amount of work that rarely gets noticed. I’ve built a bilingual platform that doubles the workload: research, translations, editing, scheduling, planning, networking, and even the infrastructure of my business through my website and memberships.
But another layer people don’t see is the personal work. I’m actually very introverted and not naturally confident. Building confidence has been one of the hardest things I’ve had to work on. Even my accent became something I was self-conscious about — casting directors used to tell me I had “an accent,” which I later realized was just my Canadian accent. To push myself, I started making YouTube videos, not because I was comfortable with it, but as a way to train myself to speak in front of a camera and learn to trust my own voice.
A lot of that growth comes from my acting background. Acting taught me patience, discipline, and how to study human psychology without judgment. That skill translates directly into astrology, which is also about holding space for people. Remaining neutral and present — whether with a role or with a client — is invisible labor, but it’s the foundation of trust.
I also put in thousands of hours of research. I study charts, build my own database of cases, and keep practicing, because I believe in the 10,000-hour rule — mastery comes from time and consistency. Life itself is part of the work too: experiencing and observing as much as possible, because both acting and astrology require understanding the human condition.
I’m also proud of committing to standards. I’m pursuing certifications in astrology, not because anyone requires it, but because integrity matters to me. That sometimes means turning down opportunities that don’t align with what I want my brand to represent — and yes, that can hurt financially. Income in this field isn’t always stable, and there are days I’m scrambling just to keep everything going. But at the end of the day, I’m grateful, because I get to spend my time doing what I love.
What people don’t see is the foundation — the skills, the discipline, and the personal growth. And for me, that’s the most important part, because it’s what makes everything they do see possible.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Vivian Ahn, founder of avivStudio, a creative platform where I bring together my backgrounds in acting, storytelling, and astrology. What started as an acting career gradually grew into something larger — a space where I could combine performance, psychology, and consultation work into one brand.
avivStudio now includes projects like avivPodcast, avivStory, avivAstro, and avivTarot, each offering different ways for people to connect — from bilingual weekly forecasts to narrative storytelling and consultations. What makes it unique is its cross-cultural perspective: I work in both English and Traditional Chinese, which allows me to reach a much wider community.
Right now, I’m focused on growing the platform into something sustainable that people can trust, while also keeping it creative, experimental, and people-centered. At the heart of everything I do is the same question that drives me in acting and in astrology: how do we understand people better, tell their stories in a meaningful way, and bring more positive things into the world? Long-term, I’d love to expand into more charity work, especially helping animal shelters and causes that support both people and animals.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
When I first started acting, I thought it was about becoming someone else. That came from a place of not wanting to be myself — I actually hated being me. But during my two-year training at Stella Adler, I realized the opposite: acting is about embracing who you are. How you interpret a role comes from how you experience the world — your triggers, your perspective, your lived history. One of my teachers told me, “A great actor should also be a great person.” That really stuck with me. Acting helped me learn to love myself, because the better you know and accept yourself, the more truthfully you can play a role.
I think that’s why my cross-cultural background shaped me so much. I grew up in Taipei, then moved to Toronto, lived in Salt Lake City, New York, Tokyo, and now Los Angeles. Every place, every culture, every person I’ve met has taught me something about humanity. It taught me that people are not one-dimensional; they’re shaped by context, culture, and lived experience.
Another moment that deepened my perspective was when my beloved dog passed away. I already knew from acting that life is about experiencing and observing, but his passing solidified that our time on earth is limited. I started to wonder: what is the purpose of life? Then I realized it’s simple — to do what we love, appreciate every moment, live life to its fullest potential, and value the people and animals we share time with. That’s how we live without regrets. And for me, part of that purpose is leaving something behind. Art is how you do that — it’s what endures.
That perspective influences everything I do today — whether it’s acting, astrology, or building avivStudio. It taught me to meet people as they are, without judgment, and to always stay curious about what their story has to teach me.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Many times — honestly, every day I think about giving up. It wasn’t just rejection, it was self-doubt: Am I good enough? Do I even have the talent? Am I pretty enough? Maybe I’m not working hard enough? Watching classmates succeed while I struggled made me question myself even more. Friends and family would say I was “brave,” but also suggest I keep this as a hobby since it wasn’t paying the bills. I hated my own voice and was self-conscious about how I spoke. That’s partly why I turned back to astrology, something I had always loved, because I needed a space where I could rebuild trust in myself.
I also started out struggling to express strong emotions, especially anger. As a woman, and in society in general, we’re told that showing intensity is dangerous — it can be dismissed as being dramatic, not “lady-like,” or even hysterical. Acting classes forced me to unlearn that. They taught me to access and honor those feelings instead of suppressing them. That process helped me understand myself more deeply, and over time, it made me actually like myself more. Astrology plays a similar role — it shows me my shortcomings, even the ones I don’t see, and gives me guidance on how to grow.
My career coach also helped me reframe rejection. She told me if the acceptance rate is 1% — or even 0.1% — then every rejection is like a point card toward the one yes. That stuck with me. Every “no” became progress, not proof of failure. My chart shows talent, but even if it didn’t, I don’t think I could give up. I’ve already invested so much, and what if the yes was waiting just around the corner?
Failure is the stepping stone to success. I wouldn’t say I’m successful now, but every failure, rejection, and low point has taught me resilience, patience, and self-trust. I realized I love the work itself — the classes, the auditions, being on set, even helping out with behind-the-scenes production. I love consultations and reading for clients. That joy matters more to me than applause or short-term wins. If I could turn back time, I wouldn’t change anything or make it easier, because then I wouldn’t be who I am today. I’ve learned to embrace imperfection. In fact, my favorite word is imperfect — because hidden inside is the truth I’ve learned: I’m perfect.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies people tell themselves — in any industry, not just creative ones — is that if you just work hard, you’ll succeed. It sounds good, but it isn’t true. I’ve seen it in acting, in business, and in astrology: hardworking, talented people get overlooked, while others move ahead because they had the right timing, the right connections, the right genes, or simply the right family. Who your parents are can open doors. Wealthy families are often more connected, and even if they aren’t, money can buy access, training, or visibility. Pretending it’s all about hard work sets people up for disappointment.
But here’s the flip side: since luck, timing, connections, talent, and even family background are outside of our control, hard work still matters. You can’t create luck on command, but you can prepare yourself so that when opportunity does come — whether once or ten times in a lifetime — you’re ready to seize it. That’s where persistence, training, and discipline pay off.
Another lie is that charisma or visibility equals expertise. Hype often gets mistaken for craft. Quick fixes and shortcuts spread faster than real study. That’s why I focus on professionalism: certifications, research, and ethical client work. Those things don’t always get the spotlight, but they build trust and longevity.
So yes, privilege, talent, and luck matter. But without preparation, they don’t last. For me, the long game is about being ready when opportunity comes — and building something solid enough to outlast the trends.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Yes. In fact, that’s how I already live. Acting taught me that you can pour everything into a role and never hear a word back. Astrology taught me the same lesson — you can spend thousands of hours researching, writing, and consulting, and most of it is invisible. If I needed applause to keep going, I would have quit years ago. What keeps me here is that I actually love the work. Whether it’s an audition, a reading, or building avivStudio, the process itself satisfies me more than external praise. Praise fades, but the craft stays.
And if there’s a legacy I hope to leave, it’s simple: I want people to walk out of the theatre or leave a consultation feeling inspired and helped. I want them to feel their story was told truthfully, or to be moved to try something they might not have dared otherwise. I want them to feel understood, to feel heard. And I want them to remember that our stories are universal — that no one is ever really alone. If something I create sparks them to carry that forward — to help someone else, to protect more animals, to stand against cruelty — then the impact multiplies. If people remember me that way — as someone who created with integrity and made them feel seen, and encouraged them to do the same for others — then I’ll have done enough.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.avivStudio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vivianahn/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ActorVivianAhn/
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/vivianahn
Image Credits
Yun J Photography
