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Why Chica Took a Pause

Why Chica took a PauseWhy Chica Took a Pause

While Overheard at Chica’s Café continues as a monthly podcast, the blog has been quiet since July 30, 2025. This is why Chica took a pause.

This pause wasn’t about absence or disengagement, but about navigating creative burnout in entertainment and choosing where creative energy could be held responsibly.

This editor’s note marks the return of the written reflections that accompany the café conversations — shaped by lived experience, recalibration, and renewed clarity.

Why a Creative Pause in Entertainment Was Necessary

There’s a kind of silence that isn’t absence — it’s prioritization.

Since July 30, 2025, the blog portion of Overheard at Chica’s Café has been paused. The podcast itself continued — conversations were still happening, stories still unfolding. What shifted was the bandwidth for writing alongside speaking.

Blogging requires a different kind of presence. It asks for stillness, editing, and sustained reflection. When life compresses time and energy, something has to give — and for a while, that something was the blog.

This pause wasn’t about disengagement. It was about choosing where creative energy could be held responsibly.

Creative Pause in Entertainment Isn’t Always Loud

Creative burnout in entertainment doesn’t always announce itself. Sometimes it shows up quietly — as fatigue, as reduced clarity, as the need to conserve creative output rather than expand it.

Many creatives continue working while reassessing how much they can offer in each format. Speaking may feel accessible while writing feels demanding. Recording may feel grounding while drafting feels heavy.

That doesn’t signal failure. It signals self-awareness.

Why Writing Requires a Different Kind of Energy

Podcasting allows for real-time conversation — tone, breath, humor, pauses. Blogging requires a slower excavation. It asks you to organize thoughts, make them coherent, and offer them without the warmth of voice.

During periods of personal change, it’s common for creators to stay connected through one medium while stepping back from another. That choice isn’t avoidance — it’s stewardship.

The café didn’t close. One door simply rested.

Returning to the Blog With Clarity

This return isn’t about “catching up” or compensating for time away. It’s about re-entering the written space with intention.

The blog remains a place for:

  • Entertainment industry reflection
  • Honest conversations about creative sustainability
  • Discouragement, humor, and recalibration
  • The human stories that shape artistic lives

Not performance. Not productivity theater. Just clarity.

What Comes Next for the Café Blog

Going forward, blog posts will appear alongside the ongoing monthly podcast — not as obligation, but as accompaniment. Writing will return when it adds value, not pressure.

If you’ve stepped back from one part of your creative work while continuing another, you’re not inconsistent. You’re responding to reality.

Pull up a chair.
The blog is back — steady, intentional, and grounded.

Listen on Apple Podcast

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The Healing Power of Laughter

The Healing Power of Laughter and Escape

*Because Sometimes Soul Work Looks Like Binge-Watching in Pajamas*

Let’s be real — not every healing moment looks like a spiritual retreat in the mountains or hours of deep journaling by candlelight. Sometimes, healing looks like stretchy pants, a perfectly timed meme, and laughing until you wheeze over a ridiculous comedy sketch.

I’m Sonia Iris Lozada — actor, poet, and over-thinker turned wisdom whisperer — and in this week’s episode of Overheard at Chica’s Café, I talk about the underrated brilliance of laughter and the sacred pause of escapism.

And no, I’m not talking about ignoring your feelings or bypassing reality. I’m talking about intentional joy. That full-body exhale that comes when you let go of the need to “fix” everything and just let yourself feel better for five minutes.

What I’ve Learned from Laughing at the Absurd

A few years ago, I was going through grief, exhaustion, and burnout all at once. You know the kind — where even brushing your teeth feels like a workout.

Instead of trying to meditate it away or “be productive,” I surrendered. I turned on a silly video. And I laughed. Not a polite giggle — I mean an ugly, snorting, can’t-breathe, just-peeled-myself-off-the-floor kind of laugh.

That moment did more for my nervous system than any affirmation ever could.

Escape Isn’t Weakness — It’s Wisdom

We tend to treat escape like it’s a dirty word. But the truth is, conscious escapism is an emotional palate cleanser.

Without it, we’d all be walking around like mannequins with unresolved childhood issues — smile painted on, dead behind the eyes. (Yeah… I said it.)

Escaping into a feel-good story, a comedy binge, or a joyful distraction doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means you know when to put the heavy stuff down.

Try These Soulful Escapes

  1. Laugh List: Make a list of videos, shows, or jokes that never fail to crack you up.
  2. Comedy Night: Pick one night a week for intentional joy. No true crime. No drama. Just light.
  3. Journal the Ridiculous: What silly thing happened this week? Write it like a stand-up set.

Listen Now

If this blog made you smile or sigh in relief, go listen to the full episode:
The Healing Power of Laughter and Escape — now streaming on all platforms.

And remember, you don’t always need a breakthrough. Sometimes, you just need a break.

With love and laughter,
Sonia

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Albert Bramante – Talent Agent

On the Overheard at Chica’s Café podcast, we are delighted to welcome the insightful Albert Bramante, a seasoned talent agent, as well as the accomplished author of Rise Above the Script. In this engaging episode, we dive deep into the intricate world of the current entertainment industry. Albert shares his expert perspective on the evolving landscape, shedding light on the myriad challenges performers face today. We also explore the subtle ways in which artists often unwittingly undermine their own potential, unraveling the complex web of self-sabotage that can hinder their careers.

I assist performers, educators, and creators in unlocking their full potential by combining psychology, performance strategies, and AI to drive unstoppable progress. With over two decades of experience at the intersection of entertainment and education, I have coached actors to secure transformative roles, guided students to become top-tier professionals, and developed systems to help individuals overcome fear, imposter syndrome, and self-sabotage. As the CEO of Bramante Artists, I manage a diverse group of talent in Broadway, film, television, commercials, and print. I focus on career development rather than simply booking roles, using psychological insights and industry strategies to foster long-term, purpose-driven success for talent. In my role as a college professor, I have taught psychology at Union County College and BMCC (CUNY), creating and delivering courses in Child Development, Personality, and Human Growth, with an emphasis on transformative learning experiences rooted in practical application. As a practitioner of hypnosis and NLP, I provide powerful mental performance tools in my work, whether coaching actors, mentoring students, or speaking to creatives. My approach centers on eliminating internal barriers and enhancing clarity, confidence, and focus.

Listen to the episode

Rise Above the Script – Available on Amazon

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Catching Up at Chica’s Café

Catching Up at Chica’s CaféCatching Up at Chica’s Café: The Industry, the Pause, and What’s Ahead. It’s been a full, complex, and sometimes quiet stretch since my last blog post—and if you’ve been listening to Overheard at Chica’s Café, you know just how layered this past year has been, both personally and within the industry.

In July 2024, I shared my thoughts on the unpredictable nature of auditions and how the industry was already beginning to feel the tremors of change. The SAG-AFTRA strike and the LA fires further disrupted production, leaving many of us in limbo. But in the midst of it all, we kept creating, sharing, and showing up.

I had the joy of speaking with remarkable artists:

August 2024 – Inam Inamullah, a brilliant playwright and interdisciplinary artist, brought a thoughtful lens on storytelling and truth.
September 2024 – Matthew Carauddo, actor and author, shared insight into legacy, writing, and performance.
October 2024 – Danny Mora, legendary actor and voiceover artist, reminded us of the joy in longevity and versatility.
November 2024 – Nathan Singer, musician and author, offered a soulful perspective on art, activism, and sound.

In December, I hosted a year-end gratitude episode, giving thanks to all our 2024 guests—and to you, the listeners, for showing up so meaningfully.

Then came the silence.

In January and February, I took a step back. My sister passed away, and I was also healing from an injury. It was a necessary pause, a space for grief, recalibration, and self-care.

By March, April, and May, the show returned, diving into bigger questions: the rise of AI, its effect on the entertainment industry, and the evolving role of artists in a digitized world. Those conversations were some of our most raw, honest, and needed.

In June, I had the pleasure of welcoming Albert Bramante, a respected Talent Agent, to the Café. We discussed casting trends, the agent-actor dynamic, and what artists can focus on during slower seasons.

As I sit here in July 2025, I’m reminded that even during quiet times, important conversations continue. Creativity doesn’t always look like action—it can also look like deep listening, healing, and waiting for the right moment to bloom again.

Thank you for staying with me through it all. New episodes are on the way. The Café remains open—and you’re always welcome here.

 

With warmth and gratitude,
Sonia

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Jane Shaw – Sound Designer/Composer

Jane Shaw - Theater Sound Designer & ComposerJoin us in celebrating the beginning of a new year with our special guest, Sound Designer and Composer Jane Shaw. We delve into her journey into the world of sound design for theater, and explore her impressive list of credits. Our conversation is full of fun anecdotes about her career, as well as her hobbies outside of work. As one of the founding members of TSDCA (Theatrical Sound Design Composer Association), she has a wealth of knowledge about the history and current state of sound design in the theater world. So, if you’re interested in learning more about this field, this episode is a must-listen!

“I love supporting story and emotion thru sound and music. I am endlessly inspired by my directors, fellow designers, actors, singers, musicians, as well as the messy, wonderful, dirty, haunting, and tormented manmade and natural world that surrounds us.”

Listen to her episode here

Jane Shaw—Sound Designer & Composer

Recent: 

Little Women (Seattle Rep, Milwaukee Rep), A Christmas Carol (Guthrie, composer), The Art of Burning (Huntington, Hartford Stage), The Wanderers (Roundabout, The Old Globe), The Railway Children (Northern Stage, music & lyrics with Mark Hartman), and The Engagement Party (The Geffen, Hartford Stage). New York: Playwrights Horizons, Manhattan Theatre Club, Theatre for a New Audience, National Black Theatre, Rattlestick, The Women’s Project, Repertorio Español, New York Theatre Workshop, and over thirty productions with the Mint.

Regional:

The Alley, Shakespeare Theatre Company (DC), ACT (San Francisco), American Repertory Theater, Cleveland Play House, The Old Globe, Mark Taper Forum, Two River Theater, Cincinnati Playhouse, Milwaukee Rep, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Theater, Arena Stage, Asolo Rep, Dorset Theatre Festival, Denver Center, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. Recognition: Drama Desk, Connecticut Critics Circle, Henry Award, Bessie Award, Premios ACE 2012, NEA/TCG Career Development Grant, Meet the Composer Grant, and several Lortel nominations.

Member: USA 829, TSDCA (Theatrical Sound Designers and Composers Association).

Ms. Shaw is a graduate of Harvard University and the Yale School of Drama, and hails from Lawrence, Kansas. https://www.janeshaw.com/

 

 

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Happy New Year

Happy New Year 2024Happy New Year to all! As the 2023 came to an end, I wanted to wish everyone an amazing New Year filled with love, joy, prosperity, and most importantly, good health. We often take our health for granted, but it truly is the foundation for enjoying life’s many blessings.

Overheard at Chica’s Café launched in July of 2022 as a way to bring some lightheartedness back into our lives after three years of pandemic struggles. In the upcoming year, we plan on adding more interviews at the suggestion of one of our listeners. These interviews will feature individuals from all areas of the entertainment industry, giving you a behind-the-scenes look at their journeys. We’ve also discussed important topics such as the writers’ and actors’ strike in several episodes this year. Sadly, our sister podcast, Chica and the Man, came to an end in September due to our busy schedules. It was a bittersweet goodbye since my co-host Alex is a dear friend of mine.

Overheard at Chica’s Café is all about my friends, and I can’t wait to introduce you to more of them. And not just my friends – I’ll also be featuring associates I have worked with in the past. This will not only be entertaining but also educational as you’ll get insight into what it takes to be in these positions in the entertainment industry. So, stay tuned for more episodes where friends meet at Chica’s Café.

2023 Guests

This year we had amazing friends visit the café and I want to thank the following guests. Check out the episodes here or at the links per guest below.

Che Rae Adams – Let’s Talk Theater – Artistic Director of PlayPen in Philadelphia Che’Rae has been a longtime friend.

Kelly Keefe – Multi-Disciplinary Artist – Author, Musician and founder of Heartspace.co a mindfulness platform.

Steve Walker – Theatrical Agent – Connor Ankrum & Assoc. in Los Angeles

Marabina Jaimes – Actor, Voiceover Artist & Producer and I got signed to my voiceover agents DDO LA. because she helped me with my demo tape. I’m very grateful.

Jane Witzenburg – Musician and Music teacher

Doreen Calderon – Actor, Fatal Attraction

Kristi Schultz – Theatre Maker, Director & Educator

Norma Maldonado – Actor

Denise Sanchez – Actor, Bosch Legacy – I play her mom on the Bosch Legacy TV Series.

Thank you and many blessings and Happy New Year.

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Che’Rae Adams Artistic Director

Che'Rae Adams Artistic Director of Playpen in Philadelphia In November 2023 on Overheard at Chica’s Café, we welcomed Che’Rae Adams. Che’Rae is the Artistic Director of PlayPen in Philadelphia and the founding director of LA Writer’s Center. We discuss the current state of theater after the pandemic and what’s to come for this creative community. Che’Rae gives us an insight into her journey as a full-time artist; from an actor, to director, dramaturge, and now Artistic Director. Listen in to hear her words of wisdom about the future of theater.

Che’Rae has been the Producing Artistic Director of the LA Writers Center since 2006 where she develops new work with local writers. She was the Director of Operations and Programming for the Moss Theater in Santa Monica for seven years and has been the Development Executive for Playhouse Pictures Studios, Co-Artistic Director of the Road Theatre Company, and Managing Producer for the LA Women’s Theatre Festival.

She began her career as the Assistant to the Staff Producer at The Mark Taper Forum where she worked on the writing workshop of the Pulitzer Prize winning Angels in America, Part II: Perestroika. As you can imagine, this was like a master class in new play development for her. Bitten by the new play bug, she went on to do other projects for the Taper that supported playwrights such as coordinating the Taper Lab Series and Mentor Playwright’s Series. There she worked with writers such as Luis Alfaro, Anthony Clarvoe, Han Ong, Oliver Mayer, Ellen McLaughlin, Alice Tuan and Mac Wellman.

She has a master’s degree from the University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music (CCM) and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from California State University, Northridge. For almost two decades, she has produced the Directors Lab West which takes place at the Pasadena Playhouse annually.

Che’Rae has developed and directed the West Coast premiere productions of several new plays including plays by Lee Blessing, Ken Hanes, Tim Toyoma, Patricia Cardosa, John DiFusco, Jon Bastian, and Abi Morgan. She has also provided direction and/or dramaturgy for productions with Cincinnati Opera Outreach, Disney/ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshop, Highways Performance Space, and Troupe Vertigo at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre. She has worked with prominent performers such as Tonya Pinkins, Lynn Redgrave, Kim Fields, and Carlos Alazraqui; as well as award winning directors and choreographers such as Vincent Paterson, Tom Hulce, Jane Jones, Bonnie Story, Kitty McNamee, and Tina Kronis; and distinguished designers such as Sara Clement, Cricket S. Myers, and Ming Cho Lee.

As the Director of Programming for The Moss Theater she worked with numerous musical organizations including Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO), Duo Del Sol, Jazz Bakery, Musical Theatre Guild, and Musicians At Play Foundation (including Seth McFarlane’s Jazz Band). As part of the Moss Theater’s Live Talks LA and Writers Bloc series, she has hosted celebrities such as John Irving, Jason Segel, Shepard Fairey, Moby, Kevin Costner, Linda Ronstadt, Diane Keaton, Maria Bello, Camyrn Manheim, Eric Bogosian, Herb Alpert, Deborah Voigt, Ann Rice, Nicholas Kristof, Amy Tan, Russell Brand, Mitch Albom, Malcolm Gladwell, and Kristoffer Kristofferson.

As a producer for Directors Lab West she has curated close to two decades of programming (workshops, panels, and master classes) at the Pasadena Playhouse. This annual event hosts fifty international midcareer directors free of charge. Highlights include Vincent Paterson, Moises Kaufman, Jason Alexander, Martin Benson, Marc Masterson, Todd London, Sheldon Epps, George Furth, Anne Cattaneo, Des McAnuff, Jessica Kubzansky, Chay Yew, Jack O’Brien and Bill Rausch.

Che’Rae is also an experienced public speaker and educator, having taught acting and writing workshops at various institutions around the country such as The Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Catholic University, Miami Dade University, California State University Fullerton, UCLA Extension, Azusa Pacific University and Hussian College. She has also served on panels for Hollins University, USC, The New Playwrights Festival at the College of the Desert, and the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.

Che’Rae is an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. She spent the last two years of the pandemic producing diverse online programming with HowlRound TV in response to the social inequity taking place in our society. Recently, she curated Breathe: A BIPOC Reading Series in response to George Floyd’s murder; Home: Asian Voices Reading Series to amplify Asian-American stories; and The Voices of Afghanistan project where monologues were constructed from interviews with Afghan artists in hiding.

Che’Rae has had 22 articles published online at NOHOARTSDISTRICT.COM, and self-published a workbook for writers called Writing is Hard… She is the recipient of a SDC Foundation Observership award where she shadowed James Burrows on the TV show Will and Grace. She has been nominated for a Cincinnati Enquirer Entertainment Award and Backstage West Garland Critics Citations Award. Fun fact: In 2009, Che’Rae played Gladys Presley in Cirque du Soleil’s Viva Elvis which opened the Aria Casino in Las Vegas.

Check out her previous interview on the podcast.

Check out the November 2023 podcast here.

LA Writers Center

PlayPen in Philadelphia, PA

Info video on PlayPen on YouTube

 

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Sonia Lozada – Life & Acting Updates

Sonia Iris Lozada - Life & acting updates. My life and acting updates. It’s been a few months since my last post, mainly due to the writer’s and actor’s strike. Negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP are ongoing, but I’m grateful for the updates each day. In the meantime, I’ve been attending many commercial auditions in person and through self-tapes. Although I haven’t booked any of them yet, being put on avail several times in the last month tells me that I’m headed in the right direction. As a matter of fact, I have another call-back on Monday Oct 30th so let’s hope for the best.

There have been several changes recently as well.

DDO Talent AgencyFor one thing, I got signed by DDO Agency for voiceover, thanks to my friend Marabina Jaimes who helped me put together my voiceover demo. Last week, I had an audition for dubbing animation which was pretty exciting.

Unfortunately, Chica and the Man Podcast aired its last episode on Sept 30th of this year. Working with Alex Greenwood was great fun, but our busy schedules prevented us from continuing further. Nevertheless, we still keep in touch and remain good friends. Check out the blog.

Currently, I’m working on updating my YouTube channels as they’re overdue for new content. This year has witnessed both loss and gain, but it’s always important to be thankful for what we have regardless of life’s circumstances.

Join me in celebrating life and all its blessings.

Check out this episode

 

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Kelly Keefe Multi-Disciplinary Artist

Kelly Keefe - Multi-Disciplinary Artist of Heatrspace.coThis month,  join us at Chica’s Café as we welcome Kelly Keefe a Multi-Disciplinary Artist to the show. We had a great time as we share stories about the lessons we’ve learned through entertainment and life. She’ll discuss her music releases, books, and how she developed Heartspace.co through mindfulness. Listen in for helpful hints from the entertainment industry and learn how to find success in your artistic endeavors.

Kelly Keefe is a multi-disciplinary artist, including comedy, music, writing, and more. As a wordsmith, best-selling author, innovative leader, empowerment guide, and Reiki teacher and the founder of The Heartspace.co established in 2016 helping individuals and groups elevate into states of thriving. She works deeply with the Divine Feminine energy to endlessly create uplifting experiences, creations, and teachings. Her music is a multi-dimensional experience created intending to expose and elevate the different facets of herself, and as a reflection – of everyone. Kelly is a world traveler serving, performing, and creating as needed and desired. Ready to thrive and live alive? Welcome to The Heartspace.

Instagram: @iamkellykeefe

The Kelly Keefe

Listen to episode here

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Steve Walker – Theatrical Talent Agent

Steve WalkerIn this month’s episode, I’m joined by Steve Walker, a theatrical talent agent. We talk about what it takes to be a successful actor, from preparing for auditions, marketing oneself and honing one’s skills. Listen in as Steve gives us a crash course on the responsibilities of an agent and the things actors should focus on.

Steve Walker has been a talent agent for 17 years with Connor Ankrum & Associates in Los Angeles. He holds a Master’s Degree in Administration from New York University and used to oversee the daily operations of multiple small theater companies before relocating to the West Coast. With a deep-rooted admiration for actors, Steve values the effort they put into preparing for auditions.

Listen to Episode

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