Giving up Isn't an Option - with Mary Tilden & Leah Raidt

Author: Tony Rossi
Published: Thu 08 Oct 2020
Episode Link: https://tonyrossishow.libsyn.com/giving-up-isnt-an-option-with-leah-raidt-mary-tilden

Today’s interview features TWO Chicago actresses - Leah Raidt & Mary Tilden.

Leah Raidt is a Chicago-based artist and leader proudly hailing from Louisville, Kentucky. As an actor and director, Leah is passionate about advancing and uplifting Queer, Feminist perspectives, and pushing us out of a solitary headspace and into an embodied journey together. As a leader and educator, Leah aims to debunk "the starving-struggling artist" narrative in herself and others by equipping us to heal artistic injuries, and cultivate mindsets rooted in abundance, bravery, and joy. Leah works as a private acting teacher and instructor at The Green Room Studio Chicago and Actors Training Center, and is in Vedic meditation teacher training with Kelsey Mathes of KAM Meditation. Leah is a director in residence at PROP Thtr's inaugural Chicago Director's Workshop. She holds a B.F.A in Acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University, and is an alum of The School at Steppenwolf. She is represented by DDO Artists Agency and Heyman Talent.

Mary Tilden is a Chicago-based filmmaker, improviser and theatre artist passionate about comedy, narrative storytelling, and creating space for queer, femme voices on film. Her most recent film project Cool for Five Seconds, for which she served as a producer and lead actor, has been featured in film festivals all over the country, including winning Best Illinois Short at Beloit International Film Festival. Mary was a member of IO's primetime Harold Team, Devil's Daughter, for over five years. She is repped by Grossman & Jack Talent.

Together Leah Raidt and Mary Tilden are a power couple who enjoy the challenge of leveling one another up with honesty, humor, and gratitude.

Stay connected with Leah & Mary!

Leah & Mary’s film - “Rough River Lake” https://www.fullspectrumfeatures.com/rough-river-lake

Rough River Lake Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roughriverlakefilm/

Leah’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lraidt/

Leah’s Website: https://www.leahraidt.com/

Mary’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marytilden/

Things we chat about…

How they’re managing a project while staying vigilant to the state of the world in 2020
Being “precious” with where you spend your energy and focus
Why actors could be better prepared to handle 2020 over non actors
The story of how they started creating a project based on a grant - which they didn’t receive!
How Mary takes her upsetting experiences and turns them into films
Why giving up was never an option for them
Why Leah doesn’t stop asking for funding - even during a pandemic
How to get rid of your acting “should’s” when it comes to accepting or declining work

Previous episodes:

“Why You’re Not A Starving Artist” - with Leah Raidt

“Why We’re Married to our Stress” - with Kelsey Mathes

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Giving up Isn't an Option - with Mary Tilden & Leah Raidt