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[0:06] Robert Peterpaul: Hello, beautiful people. Welcome to the Art of Kindness, where we have compassionate conversations with artists from all areas of the entertainment industry who are using their voice to spread joy and make this big spinning planet in the universe a better place to be.

[0:22] Robert Peterpaul: I'm Robert Peterpaul, and I'm so glad you're here. Hello, friends. It's so good to have you here in these wild times. Ugh, a lot has been going on in our neck of the woods lately. First of all, in the good news section, we're thrilled to be returning to BroadwayCon this year. I'm so honored to be hosting a panel on how we can build kinder rehearsal rooms. Kind spaces are successful spaces. That's something I truly believe. We get into that today, actually, with our wonderful guest. At BroadwayCon, I'm honored to have panelists Tony Nominee L. Morgan Lee of A Strange Loop, Andrew Lloyd Weber's Bad Cinderella star, Linady Hanao, and director Taylor Havenholt of Back to the Future the Musical. Please consider joining us on Saturday, July 22nd in New York City for a live taping of the AOK. I'd really love to meet you.

[1:24] Robert Peterpaul: Some not as joyful news that happened since I last saw you or spoke to you, I guess, or listened together. I don't know. I'm going down a rabbit hole. SAGAFTRA has officially joined our siblings at the WGA on strike. It's a righteous strike, really aiming just to get artists what they're worth. I won't go on about it, but if you want to support, please head to SagAftraStrike.org. Now, will this affect my favorite podcasts? You might be thinking. At this time, the guidelines state that actors shouldn't be doing interviews to promote any SAG AFTRA projects. So as long as we steer clear of that, we're A-OK. Luckily, we have a lot of podcast episodes in the can here. Note, this very interview was recorded well before the SAG After Strike was authorized.

[2:10] Robert Peterpaul: Which brings me to today's astonishing guest. This person truly blew me away, and although we had some internet connection issues during our conversation, I felt so connected to her beautiful heart. I seriously could have talked with her for hours. Preferably in a really cozy kitchen with delicious margaritas if you catch my drift here. Today's guest is the extra sweet Sheryl J. Anderson. Sheryl J. Anderson is the showrunner of Sweet Magnolias, a cozy dramedy on Netflix. She began her writing journey as a playwriting major at William and Mary. Lured to Los Angeles by the intrigue of television and the promise of 300 sunny days a year, she worked as a television studio executive, screenwriter, and half-hour series writer on shows like Parker Lewis Can’t Lose and Dave’s World.

Sheryl then moved to writing and producing hour-long series, working on a wide range of series from Charmed to Flash Gordon to When Calls the Heart. She has sold pilots to Netflix, SyFy, Lifetime, UpTV, and Disney, and written movies for NBC, UpTV, and Lifetime. As previously stated, Sheryl is now the showrunner for Sweet Magnolias on Netflix. The small-town show is a true ray of sunshine, and we'll be back for season three this month.

[3:35] Robert Peterpaul: If you love this episode, go on down the feed and listen to our chats with Sweet Magnolia stars JoAnna Garcia Swisher and Carson Rowland, who were equally lovely. I can't say enough kind words about Sheryl. She opens up about maintaining a positive set while filming Sweet Magnolias, working alongside her children, which is quite a unique position to be in, and so much more in this inspiring conversation. I feel like we're friends now. As always, please join me after the interview for your kindness tip of the week. I'd also love for you to take a kind moment to leave us a five-star review. Ah, it really helps get the word out there. Now, without further ado, please welcome the sweetest Sheryl J. Anderson.

[4:36] Robert Peterpaul: Sheryl, hello.

[4:38] Sheryl J. Anderson: Good morning.

[4:40] Robert Peterpaul: How are you?

[4:41] Sheryl J. Anderson: I'm great. How are you doing?

[4:43] Robert Peterpaul: I'm fine, thank you. And delighted and honored to be here.

[4:48] Sheryl J. Anderson: Oh, I'm so excited to talk to you.

[4:50] Robert Peterpaul: I'm honored to have you. I am a huge fan of your work, especially Sweet Magnolias. You know, my wife and I watch it and it just feels like a warm blanket is being put over us.

[4:59] Sheryl J. Anderson: So excellent, excellent.

[5:02] Robert Peterpaul: That's our goal.

[5:03] Sheryl J. Anderson: Oh good. Yeah, we just exhale the whole time while watching it. It's so charming. And I'm certainly gonna have a ton of compliments for you throughout this conversation today.

[5:12] Sheryl J. Anderson: I appreciate that.

[5:14] Robert Peterpaul: I appreciate that. Speak of charming, look behind you. There's this quaint fireplace with these books just to put a picture for our listeners. She's cozied up in a corner. I love it.

[5:21] Sheryl J. Anderson: Yeah, the books are all antique books that came down in my mother's family.

[5:31] Robert Peterpaul: Really?

[5:31] Sheryl J. Anderson: But they're covered up by the Mother's Day cards my kids gave me.

[5:35] Robert Peterpaul: Oh, well, even more lovely, those are the best kind of book covers. But have you read them? Because I feel like I have some antique books for my grandma and I'm afraid to open them, honestly.

[5:44] Sheryl J. Anderson: I don't handle these often because they're so old. And actually, a lot of them are Bibles. So I know what's in them.

[5:55] Robert Peterpaul: There you go. So you don't need to read it. That's perfect. All right, but there are a couple of novels that one of these days, maybe with gloves and tweezers, I'll actually try to get through.

[6:06] Sheryl J. Anderson: Yes, in a glass case with the proper lighting and all that kind of stuff. You know, I've been complimenting you, and one of the first questions I like to ask people as we just kind of slip into our chat is how are you at receiving compliments? You know, I'm sure you have a lot of people messaging you and coming up to you, telling you how much the show means to them. Do you feel like you're good at accepting compliments?

[6:24] Sheryl J. Anderson: It's a weird thing. I'm working on it. I particularly struggle. First of all, I'm always delighted personally when the show has really touched someone. I mean, that's what our goal is, but the show is the product of 250, 300 people working together, and I'm very, very blessed to be the leader of the group, but I couldn't do it by myself. So I always try to make sure that people understand that, as I like to say, we're a show about community made by a community.

[7:15] Robert Peterpaul: It shows. And you know, I think it encourages people watching, whether they're cognizant of it or not, to then go and talk to their neighbor or call an old friend and kind of reunite. It has that kindling. I think that's part of the magic of the show.

[7:27] Sheryl J. Anderson: I hope we've created a lot of magnillionites around the world.

[7:31] Robert Peterpaul: Yes, yes, with all those margaritas. You know, we had JoAnna on here a while back and I had to ask her what was in the margaritas. She was like, it's an I know it's not your alcohol, but I mean they just look so delicious.

[7:41] Sheryl J. Anderson: We have a wonderful props team. And I know they're not real and yet they walk by me with the tray and I'm like, oh could I have one of those?

[7:51] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, salt on the rim, please. Thank you. I'll take one. So I can't wait to dive into Sweet Magnolias with you. But since our conversation today is about kindness to kind of unlock the door for kindness that you've experienced and both done yourself. What is your definition of kindness if you had to define it?

[8:06] Sheryl J. Anderson: I've been giving this some thought since you and I first touched base, and where I am in my life right now anyway, I would say my definition of kindness is the willingness to offer the love someone needs in the moment.

[8:33] Robert Peterpaul: I love that.

[8:34] Sheryl J. Anderson: And sometimes that's a warm and gentle love, sometimes that's a sort of bracing love, and sometimes it's just fun. And sometimes the someone is yourself, right?

[8:47] Robert Peterpaul: Absolutely.

[8:48] Sheryl J. Anderson: That one I'm also still working on.

[8:50] Robert Peterpaul: I know. It listen, it's easier said than done a lot of the time.

[8:53] Sheryl J. Anderson: Well, and I think in industries like we're in, where you're always collaborating with other people, the tendency is to focus on worry about the other people. And then additionally, I'm a mom, so I focus on and worry about them. And then, you know, I get to me at some point on the list. But my parents always taught me that if you look after everybody around you, then the hope is that somebody around you is looking after you.

[9:31] Robert Peterpaul: And then harkbacks to the community thing that you've been talking about and that you're working on right now with your art.

[9:37] Sheryl J. Anderson: I love that. You know, getting to that growing up, I know you moved around quite a bit as a child with that upbringing and seeing all sorts of different places. I always think it's so unique when people have that. What is your sense of community just from having bounced around so much and not been rooted somewhere?

[9:53] Sheryl J. Anderson: Been rooted in family. My mother and my father were my continuity. Still are, even though my parents are gone. My brother and I are still super close. And I also grew up with the church being an important part of our lives wherever we lived. We're Lutheran, and my parents liked to be involved in new congregations that were trying to get on their feet and build a new church. So wherever we could find a good church, then there were good friends and good neighbors and good activities. And probably most of my longest-time friends came out of that.

[10:42] Robert Peterpaul: I love that. I grew up going to church as well, and it is just a beautiful place to always go to and recenter yourself. No matter what's going on in your world in your day, you can go there and just feel love and be surrounded by people that are sort of striving for the same goal as you, which I think is really beautiful. So I appreciate you sharing that. Is there, you know, as you were growing up and looking at this career path that isn't necessarily traditional, but it's more dreamlike in today's society. Well, first of all, I guess, you know, something popping into my head now is I would love to know how you had the courage to follow your dream. Was that hard for you? Balancing the normal quote unquote trajectory and the dreamlike one.

[11:23] Sheryl J. Anderson: My parents and my brother were so supportive. I actually went to college for theater. And my parents had taken us to a lot of theater when we were growing up. And it's interesting. I'm a writer, my brother's a lawyer. Both use emotionally persuasive language to achieve a particular end. When I was following the arts, my grandpa, who's a lawyer, said, You'd make a great lawyer. Are you sure you don't want to do that? So we were both raised with a real appreciation of the arts. Our parents took us to films and theater and concerts. And so when I said I wanted to study theater, my father, who was a naval officer, and my mother both said, follow your heart. And my father said, This might be your last chance to do it.

[12:24] Sheryl J. Anderson: And so a playwright. And then when I graduated, I was thinking about going to graduate school. And a couple of friends from school had moved out here to Los Angeles. And one of them infamously called me and said, come out here. The money's better and the weather's better.

[12:51] Robert Peterpaul: Oh, so enticing.

[12:54] Sheryl J. Anderson: So I thought about it and I prayed about it. And I told my parents, I think I need to do this just so that I don't look back someday, you know, halfway through my life and go, I wonder what might have happened. And my mother said, Will hate that you're so far away, but you need to do what you need to do because God gave you this talent. You gotta put it to work.

[13:26] Robert Peterpaul: What a gift to have parents that said that and supported your dream. That's amazing.

[13:31] Sheryl J. Anderson: Absolutely. Absolutely. And at the time I thought, dear Lord, please give me the strength to say that when it's my turn, which is why I have a daughter who's a writer and a son who's an actor.

[13:48] Robert Peterpaul: Yes.

[13:49] Sheryl J. Anderson: I made the promise before they were born.

[13:51] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah. And both your children are at least I saw your daughter works on Sweet Magnolias with you, right?

[13:57] Sheryl J. Anderson: She does. And so my son does too. My son's in the cast.

[14:01] Robert Peterpaul: Wow.

[14:01] Sheryl J. Anderson: And then he's also in the home office. So he takes care of all my development work.

[14:11] Robert Peterpaul: Wow. That is so what is that like working with your kids? That must be so much fun.

[14:15] Sheryl J. Anderson: It's a blast and it is a huge blessing. And I warned them. I said, if you want to do this, and if you want to work for me, I'm going to make you work twice as hard to make sure that you fully understand what this is all about. And so that people understand that you're here on merit. And they do, they work very, very hard. And I'm delighted that they're both very good at what they do. And I don't suppose it'll be too long before I'm working for them.

[14:55] Robert Peterpaul: Well, you know, what an amazing mom you are to support their dreams and have them work for you, but then also make sure they're working for it. I think that's really cool. And not every child has that luck. Not everybody's born into a family where they, you know, there's a lot of fear, and it seems like you choose the opposite. You choose a lot of love, which I think is really important and wonderful, not to overanalyze you and your family, but I just love that. I think that's so cozy and cool.

[15:18] Sheryl J. Anderson: No, but that's that that's exactly where we are. We made a decision. It's always faith over fear. And, you know, joy over doubt. Not that there aren't moments like right now with the writer's strike of oh my gosh, what happens next? But still when you choose faith over fear, it's much easier to say tomorrow will be a new day and bring new pleasures. So that's where we try to stay.

[15:50] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, I love that because it doesn't discount the hurt and the pain you're experiencing, but it reframes it in your brain to remind you that there are better times ahead, which I think it there's a quote in Sweet Magnolias that I love that is, why does it always storm so much? And then somebody says, There's a lot of rainbows too, or something like that.

[16:10] Sheryl J. Anderson: No, Matt Maddie says, um, do the storms ever stop? And Helen says, No, but neither do the rainbows.

[16:17] Robert Peterpaul: There it goes. And I'm skipping ahead, but I did I wanted to ask you about these little magnolia isms because there's so many in the show, and you must have so much fun writing those. I know I walk away every episode with a thing, and I know I don't quote it right, but I walk out of the room and I'm like, oh, these storms and wrangle. And people are like, okay, calm down.

[16:34] Sheryl J. Anderson: No, no, no, no. Don't calm down. I love that so much because the essence of the line stayed with you, and that's what's important.

[16:42] Sheryl J. Anderson: Yes. Um, and we do have a lot of fun with those moments because it's such a great opportunity to really cut straight to the heart of the emotion of what's happening. Um, and given our wonderful semi-mystical town, it's easy to put those words in the mouth of these wise and wonderful women.

[17:11] Sheryl J. Anderson: And brilliant and talented performers, you know, it comes across. And because it's not always easy to, I know, as an actor deliver lines like that, you know, where it's like you're it even if it fits the character sometimes, you're like, you get in the groove of it. But I think it can be hard to sell those sometimes, and it never comes across as like weird or hokey or anything like that. It's just very natural for the show and for the viewer.

[17:35] Robert Peterpaul: You know, getting, I guess, since we're here at Sweet Magnolias, I think you first got involved with the show. I wanted to ask you about acts of kindness that changed your career. But when I was reading about you, I think it kind of was an act of kindness that got you involved with Sweet Magnolias in the first place, right?

[17:49] Sheryl J. Anderson: Absolutely. I mean, one of the greatest acts of kindness I've ever received. Um, Matt, who is now my non-writing co-ep and I had worked on a show together a couple of years before. And when the time came to find a showrunner for Sweet Magnolias, he was working for Dan Paulson, and he said, For this show, you have got to meet Cheryl. And I was just so flattered that he thought of me. Um, delighted that Dan and I hit it off. And I have told Matt since I don't ever want to do a show without him. I mean, he's brilliant, talented, he's funny. Um, but he also has such a huge heart. And that's just one instance where he led with his heart, and it turned out beautifully for a lot of us. And there we go with the community again. It's all about helping each other in this crazy, weird thing we call life, you know.

[19:01] Robert Peterpaul: So I think that's so wonderful.

[19:02] Sheryl J. Anderson: Yeah. And if I had a margarita right now, I'd pour one out for that. I'd pour one out for Sweet Magnolias. And I know listeners will be doing that. Our listenership is such a huge fan of this show. You know, we had Joe on, we had Carson on, and the people just tune in like crazy for these episodes. So I know everyone's so excited to hear from you. And I do want to ask you a few questions about it that have to do with kindness, of course, because I think that's embedded in the DNA of the show.

[19:27] Robert Peterpaul: You know, I personally believe, which I think you do too, is that people do their best work when they're happy. And as a showrunner, I was so blown away. And I just admire that you take the time to set that tone on the set of Sweet Magnolias by saying, you know, we're gonna make this a safe and positive atmosphere. Would you mind just speaking to how you not only set that tone, but then continue to maintain that tone throughout your shooting process?

[19:52] Sheryl J. Anderson: Um, happy to. Uh, I when we start the writer's room and when we start production, I tell everybody my main concern is that everyone feels safe, heard, and respected. And if they don't, they need to come to me. I mean, they can go to their department head, but they can come right to me and we'll figure it out. And my other motto is we work too hard not to have a good time.

[20:21] Robert Peterpaul: I love that.

[20:21] Sheryl J. Anderson: And as you said, people who are creating from a place of joy, um, people who feel supported as they're trying new things, striving for their best, you know, trying to throw a rope around the moon. Uh, I think they do the best work because again, fear constricts us and hampers us. And because of the heart of Sweet Magnolias, I want that heart alive on the stage too.

[20:58] Robert Peterpaul: I love that.

[20:59] Sheryl J. Anderson: Alive. And on the stage, it is so clear to me that you are a playwright in the best way because every scene I feel like we're really sitting into, you know, we're it's a it's a new layer of television in a way, because it is such a cozy comfort show. But then you're getting these kind of dramatic, almost stage-like scenes where where you really just are looking at the characters, you know, it's not like you have to put them on a roller coaster, literally, and have these fire flames shooting in the background and all this stuff going on. We're just so invested in what they're saying to each other, which I think is really hard to do.

[21:30] Robert Peterpaul: You know, that was just another random compliment. But speaking of these long hours, let me let me read you my list of them over here. No, speaking of the long hours you mentioned on set, working so hard to not have fun. What do you do to take care of yourself on set? I don't know your kids are there and other people, but just specifically a self-care practice you have as an artist on set who is, I mean, I think the term showrunner, maybe for people that aren't in the industry, gets a little mystical as well, but it's a huge job. I mean, you're overseeing so much. So, do you have anything you do to just take care of you?

[22:06] Sheryl J. Anderson: I will admit it's uh it's my kids who make sure that uh I eat. But uh in the course of the day, I do my best to inhabit the scenes with the actors. And I have a reputation. Our producing director uh calls it the terometer. We'll do a take. And when when he's directing in particular, he'll yell back to video village, is she crying? If I'm crying, they're like, good, we can move on. Um, but I do. I work, I don't work, I relax into it to experience the scene the way I hope the audience will. And if I feel the emotion, if I'm covering my hands because I don't want to bust the take by laughing out loud, if I'm if I'm crying, if I'm excited, then I know the audience will be too. And that I know that that's not necessarily traditional self-care, but it renews me to see the hard work uh that comes out of the writer's room, the hard work of everybody on stage coming alive in the moment because we're creating something, and all those ingredients are so crucial, and to be able to watch as the cake comes out of the oven perfectly, take after take after take.

And then it's just a matter of do we have the shots we need? Does everybody feel good about their performances? And yes, I'm watching the clock, and yes, I'm watching all the technical things, but I feel like a big part of showrunning is taking care of our community and making sure that that people feel comfortable with their contributions and that people feel supported and recognized, particularly when they've done something amazing. I mean, my cast is amazing all the time, but there there are standout moments, and I want them to know that was gorgeous, that was surprising, that was hilarious, whatever the appropriate reaction might be. And that keeps me going.

[24:43] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, and that's so validating because we don't always stop when something is right and going really well. We stop when things go wrong because we have to fix the problem. But I think it's equally important to do the opposite. And to have a leader like yourself that's very present and in the moment and literally watching the scenes, not texting their, you know, co-EP or whatever it is about the next thing they have to do. That's really special, you know, and it does stem down from the top. So I get that's a self-care thing as well. You know, you're enjoying what you're working on, which is what you were saying was your goal. So I think that's really wonderful.

[25:16] Sheryl J. Anderson: You know, one of the...

[25:16] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, I love that. And I'm glad as you were talking, your video started lining up with your voice. Cause I'm sitting here, I'm like, I'm here with her, I'm present. I'm not gonna worry about if I'm frozen and I look like I'm crazy. You know what? It's all good.

[25:30] Sheryl J. Anderson: No, you haven't frozen again. You're marvelous.

[25:34] Robert Peterpaul: Oh, yay. You have such expressive eyes.

[25:37] Sheryl J. Anderson: Oh, thank you. I appreciate that. I'll take that. I'm like now staring into the camera. She's like, oh, that's yeah, I tried to put up this little neon sun. It doesn't look like a sun on camera. I have to put something darker behind it, but I was hoping it's not gonna blind my interviewees as I'm talking to them. So hopefully it's I was like expressive sun eyes. Okay, cool.

[25:57] Sheryl J. Anderson: And here I was thinking it was a magnolia blossom just for me.

[26:01] Robert Peterpaul: Oh, darn it. You know what? Rewind, cut, forget I said that. It's a totally a magnolia blossom.

[26:07] Sheryl J. Anderson: I mean, I'm not that artist who created the wonderful opening credits and drew it, but I tried. I did try.

[26:13] Sheryl J. Anderson: It's gorgeous.

[26:17] Robert Peterpaul: Thank you. You know, uh one of the themes I pick up on in your show is I was really thinking about it. And of course, there's a lot of kindness, but I think it stems from each character individually and their struggle to be their quote unquote best self and stay true to their self when the whole town is like busting down their door and trying to get up in everybody's business. Something I find it's very relevant in today's world. You know, we're not all in small towns, but we all have social media where everybody's watching what we're up to and weighing in and calling and that kind of thing. Has working on the show taught you anything in that regard about, you know, staying true to who you are in this chattery world?

[26:56] Sheryl J. Anderson: I think one of the most amazing lessons of the show has been that people aren't always prepared to process genuine emotion, that we've grown a little cynical. And so if you just come out and tell somebody that you know you love them, that you care for them, that you're concerned for them. Um, I've been intrigued by the reaction on social media of basically can they really love each other this much? And I'm like, yes. And I'm so sorry that that even crossed your mind that that this is unusual. See season one, you know, the lockdown had just started. Um, and Heather called me and said, I believe we have created a balm for this particular Gilead. And I said, I will I will take that mantle. And I do think that the isolation of COVID has compounded some of our worst habits and magnified some of our worst tears.

So that there's a hesitancy to engage on a sincere and open-hearted level. And whatever I can do in art or in life to get people to release those hesitancies and really embrace each other and enjoy life together. Uh, I'm ready to do.

[28:43] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, thank you for doing that. I think that's vital to our society and creating communities because I really mean that because it is so hard to be vulnerable in today's world, but it's necessary not only as an artist to try and open up and let people in, but just as a person, and we live in a world where everybody's putting the perfect filter on their Instagram and doesn't want to ever have anything wrong. And the people that, you know, the lower percent of the people that are sharing their horrible days on TikTok or whatever it is, are the ones that people are making fun of and looking away from because they're like, that's weird at the end of the day. I don't know when how we got to this point where everybody is afraid to be vulnerable and has their guard up.

And it is a perfect situation in Serenity that they can just be expressive and be messy. Like I think you've said you love these messy characters and their relationships, you know, messy is real. And as the showrunner and as an artist in general, I guess what's your relationship with accepting that messiness been like and not getting bogged down with the perfection? Because I feel like it can be so hard as an actor when I have a self-tape and I have to watch my clips and I'm cringing at myself.

[29:46] Sheryl J. Anderson: It's like you want to pick the perfect one, but that's not the one that people are gonna wanna see. They wanna see the messy real one, not the one where you think you look perfect. Do you know what I'm saying? So have you struggled with that at all? I'm like, as I hide my Zoom. Um I think that that struggle is key to serenity. Um, that these three gorgeous women are still concerned about relationship and passion and purpose and the things that define our lives, the things that give life its truest and deepest meaning. And so I think the occasional hair out of place, the occasional pillow that's a little skewed on the sofa makes them not that we don't have amazing set decorators. I did I don't know why I picked that.

No, I know what you're saying, an analogy because I wanna live inside every set that you show, everyone's house, everyone, the restaurant, you know. I mean, it's also beautiful. Yeah, it's we have incredible people behind the camera as well as in front of the camera, but those little and to our set design, I said from the very beginning, everything needs to look lived in, not town and country perfect. Um, my house is so lived in, I can't find my keys most days. So I think there is a relatability, there's a humanity involved in saying, but really, how important is this? What's important is the person who's in front of you, the person who needs you or you need them in the moment. The dust in the dishes can wait.

[31:40] Robert Peterpaul: Oh, I love that. The two Ds. And it is the kind of thing where you know, we just moved and our last apartment was so lived in. I didn't think we could get out, but we did get out. And I think seeing the it has an aspirational quality to it because it's so aesthetically pleasing, but it does feel like it can be attained when you're watching it. You're like, I could I could put those throw pillows on my couch. I could hang up that, you know what I mean? So it is I achieved in many ways what you're saying, you know, this beautiful town of serenity.

[32:06] Sheryl J. Anderson: Yeah, I'm telling you here today. I have a trophy. Where is it? No, I don't. I should have this is a magnolia again. You know, the town of serenity, I'm waiting to crash the set or have a pop-up, you know, like a little pop-up we can all go to because it's such an ideal, just cozy town. Serenity, I looked at the definition shocker, everybody. I can read, and it's synonymous with peaceful and untroubled. And I'm wondering for you, what's that place? Where do you feel the most at peace?

[32:34] Sheryl J. Anderson: Um, as an artist on set with my cast and crew. Um feeling. I did have a feeling because we've all worked so hard. Um, and everybody's great to each other. We don't have any divas, we don't have any problem children. We just have great professionals who are happy to be doing what they're doing and really going above and beyond because they're enjoying it. Um so professionally, that's that's my favorite spot.

[33:15] Robert Peterpaul: I love that. That's perfect. Sorry, I think I paused for a second.

[33:19] Sheryl J. Anderson: No, no, no. I was just gonna say, I will confess that um personally, my favorite spot is when my kids and I go visit my brother, and we can just sit and talk and um watch movies together, go out to good restaurants together. Um that that's my restoration. It is, it's a reset. You know, my siblings were just here. We all celebrated Mother's Day together, which I'm so grateful for. And you don't realize that you just slip back into your true childhood self, I guess, in a lot of ways when you're around them and you start doing things. Or my wife was like, you you like talk differently when you're with them. I don't, it's really weird. She was like analyzing it, and I'm like, I guess I do. It's a good time. I don't know. We all put on southern accents or something. It's weird, but I agree. I love that, you know.

[34:06] Robert Peterpaul: And for the people that are looking to join a family like that, or for people like myself who want to use their talent to just bring joy to people and give back, do you have any advice for those looking to I guess work on a show like Sweet Magnolias, where it is all about giving that joy?

[34:22] Sheryl J. Anderson: I think that the key piece of the artistic journey that we tend to overlook in our burning desire to create is patience. I think we get impatient with ourselves, with the schedule, with the process. And I've seen people derail their journey because they were impatient. If I'm not to spot A by date B, then what am I even doing here? It everything takes longer than you think it's going to. And yes, it's frustrating, and yes, it's heartbreaking. And I have to say in your beautiful podcast about kindness, there will be unkind people along the way, but you have to remember why you want to do this and what it is that you want to say and let that be your guide. And then have the faith to walk through every open door. You know, some doors are just gonna lead you down a hallway to another door. Some doors are going to lead you to a brief experience that teaches you something that you need to carry forward. And some doors lead you to your dreams.

[35:47] Robert Peterpaul: That's beautiful. Everybody rewind that. I got the chills. I'm gonna paint that on my wall with a marker and then probably get kicked out of my apartment for doing it, but I don't care because I want to read that every day. I love that.

[36:00] Sheryl J. Anderson: And it reminds me too. Oh, you I think you're amazing. So that means a lot. You know, I think the sauce always tastes better the longer it simmers. I'm simmering, I might be burning at this point, but I'm not gonna stop because you know, like you said, it's just every experience is opening a new door and uh open a new window, I guess to quote MAME, which was I think a wonderful musical. Anyway, absolutely, yeah. I appreciate that. And there are people to look to, such as yourself. You know, you're a role model for so many. And I'm wondering for you do you have any role models in this industry you would love to come and work on Sweet Magnolias?

[36:35] Sheryl J. Anderson: I'll tell you for me, I'd love to see Dolly Parton pop up on that show, you know, as a going to the spa. I don't know. Wouldn't that be something I think it could happen?

[36:45] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, she she is welcome in serenity any day.

[36:49] Sheryl J. Anderson: Yes, and put it out there. Uh, I love that. I love that. You know, Joe, Joe's big about manifesting. I will speak to Joe about manifesting that. Yes, I think it could happen in a second. It's it's perfect. It's a perfect match. Even if she just like comes to the spa or or the restaurant or so, I don't know. She's ah she's have you been to Dollywood?

[37:09] Robert Peterpaul: I'm gonna just actually I haven't. I want to go and I just haven't managed to make the trip yet.

[37:16] Sheryl J. Anderson: Yeah, that's a lot. You're in your own Serenity theme park, which I we can let's make that a theme park. Um you know, I I know you probably can't talk to the speak too much to the third season, but they say third times the charm. And I would love to know if there's anything you're excited about that you can give us or or tease us with.

[37:34] Sheryl J. Anderson: I'm excited about everything. Oh man, I see what you did there.

[37:40] Robert Peterpaul: I did see a twinkle in her eye. Okay. I don't want to spoil anything. I don't know why. And I and I promised the writer's guild that um I was coming on this to to chat with you, not to promote the show.

[37:56] Sheryl J. Anderson: So here and here it comes, you know, because I was gonna ask you. I we've all been waiting for that that third season. And I know you probably can't, you you might not even know when it's coming, but the writer strike is certainly delaying TV across the board right now. Would you first of all, you know, just be open to sharing your thoughts about the strike in general?

[38:16] Sheryl J. Anderson: Uh well, I I think that the companies are being extremely unkind. That the ball's in their court, all we're asking for is a fair contract that reflects the value of what we create, and they take what we write and build their companies on that, and somehow the foundation of the industry isn't important enough to them to pay us a fair wage. And I'm I'm marching with the generations to come in my heart because the industry is changing so drastically that we're only a generation or two away from this not being a viable profession anymore. So I want to am delighted to be doing what I'm doing, but I also feel a responsibility to help raise the next generation. So I teach, I mentor, and during the strike, I'm marching for them, maybe even a little bit more than I'm marching for myself.

[39:28] Robert Peterpaul: I love that because I think people don't realize that I mean, even what 10 years ago, the trajectory for writers is so different. And to become a showrunner, which is a lot of people's goals out there, the goal for a lot of people out there, it might become impossible because you know you can't go to set as much. There's just so many things that can't happen right now under the current contract. It I mean, it seems like for people at home that might not understand it, it is a very simple issue of just paying the writers what they're worth and the respect they deserve. Would you say that's kind of just the solution?

[39:58] Sheryl J. Anderson: I mean, yeah, it's it's they they've already lost more in stock value since the strike started than we're asking them for. So I don't I don't understand their logic. It reminds me of that quote. I don't know if you've heard it, just to get back into these random analogies that pop into my head. Someone else's lack of planning doesn't constitute an emergency on my part. And a lot of these companies jumped in to the streaming game. They were losing money without a plan. They just wanted subscribers, and now it's like the writers and other people have to pay for it. And unfortunately, welcome writers. It's it's come becoming like acting, where it's like you do need a million day jobs. You can't support yourself for a year. And the solution's so simple, like you're saying, nobody needs to be making this amount of money that a lot of the people at these higher up companies are making. It's not kind, like you said before.

[40:48] Sheryl J. Anderson: Right, right. I mean, you know, we're we're all investing everything we have into the business. And uh it would be nice if they they did the same. And and yes, actors are in the same position we are, and we're supporting SAG. SAG's supporting us, the DGA, um, IATSI and the Teamsters. This is also an inflection point in the American labor movement. And we take that responsibility very seriously.

[41:22] Robert Peterpaul: I love to hear that. And you know, looking at these young writers, I know you were a teacher. You could have been my teacher. I think I almost went to Pepperdine, which is wild. And now I wish I did. What? But I as a teacher and a leader, what's your advice for, you know, I'm sure you help mentor people, even your daughter who's a writer as well. What's your advice for that younger generation, especially right now? Is it just to kind of fight and stand up for what you believe in?

[41:47] Sheryl J. Anderson: I think it's always important to stand up for yourself on a daily basis, but absolutely now in the industry to to not become cynical, to continue to do great heartfelt work and understand that part of what you're fighting for is the opportunity to change other people's lives too. I I love the the William Faulkner quote from when he got his Nobel. It is a writer's privilege to help man endure by lifting his heart. And I think we all do that. Writers, directors, actors, artisans, uh across the industry and on Broadway. We we give people a glimpse of other worlds of other lives. But I think most of all, even in the darkest of shows, we give people a glimpse of hope that maybe they didn't have before they walked into the theater or turning on their TV. And to me, that's that's a blessing and a duty for artists.

[42:59] Sheryl J. Anderson: Hope is a thing with wings. Is that is that the quote hope hope um inspires, and we all gather around our favorite art, whether we know it or not, whether you're watching in California and I'm watching in New York City, it is a communal sense of hope as as we watch the same content together. So it's disheartening when that's not going on behind the scenes. You know, it's like the robots at Disney World or Chuck E. Cheese, and then behind the curtain, there's they're not getting their, they're just down, you know what I mean? So it that only makes sense. I mean, I was thinking of different ways we could get into this writer's strike, and it really is just such a simple issue that it it seems like it should be a simple fix, but I guess nothing's as simple as it seems in a in a way.

Particularly in American economics and politics. Um, talk about messing. Um, I think there are many of us here who could easily script a happy ending, uh, but it's the issue is the other side of the table. They're just not willing to negotiate in good faith. But we'll we'll preserve, we're we'll persevere because we we want to keep doing what we're doing for for ourselves, but also for the audience.

[44:17] Robert Peterpaul: I would love to see a writer script a happy ending for this situation and share the screenshots of it in the final draft format or something like that. I don't know. But there are tons of resources on the WGA website for those looking to get involved. I'm planning on going to a strike Thursday. What day is it? I don't even know anymore after the pandemic, but there are a lot of ways we can join and just show.

[44:36] Robert Peterpaul: Even if you share something on social media, it's a way to show support and be a part of this community right now.

[44:43] Robert Peterpaul: I know we don't have too much time left, and I want to respect your time.

[44:46] Robert Peterpaul: Really quickly, do you have time to play a surprise game?

[44:50] Sheryl J. Anderson: Oh, oh, sure.

[44:52] Robert Peterpaul: I promise it's not much of a game, and I hope I didn't blow out your eardrums by just screaming into the microphone.

[44:57] Sheryl J. Anderson: I'm pumped.

[44:58] Robert Peterpaul: It's called the compliment game because Sheryl, you haven't gotten enough love today already.

[45:04] Robert Peterpaul: Everyone's beautiful in their own way. It's the compliments game on me.

[45:07] Sheryl J. Anderson: Yay, okay.

[45:08] Robert Peterpaul: It's the compliment.

[45:09] Sheryl J. Anderson: Compliment, yeah.

[45:14] Robert Peterpaul: And basically, don't worry, not for me anymore. I'm well, I'm not done. I'll probably still compliment you more.

[45:20] Robert Peterpaul: But I reached out to some folks in your life for a loving statement about you. I'm gonna read it to you, and then you just have to try and guess who said it.

[45:28] Sheryl J. Anderson: Oh no.

[45:31] Robert Peterpaul: There's some hints I can use because I know I'm sure a lot of people love you, which is great. You know, we don't want the opposite.

[45:37] Robert Peterpaul: Um, basically, we'll say you get three guesses because people freak out when there's no rules.

[45:41] Sheryl J. Anderson: There's no rules. I don't know anything.

[45:43] Robert Peterpaul: Um, but we'll see what happens. Is it is it gonna be fun?

[45:45] Sheryl J. Anderson: Okay, so I'll read these are good, and usually I just get one, but I always reach out to a few people because of timing and trying to get quotes. And you actually have two, which says a lot, speaks volume.

[45:55] Robert Peterpaul: So here's her first one.

[45:57] Robert Peterpaul: Okay, let me put my reading voice on. Cheryl is one of my favorite humans. She's wildly talented, enormously kind, and fiercely protective of her people. She's a true gift, but watch out when you see that glimmer in her eye and devilish giggle. Something major is coming to Serenity, and we all better prepare for the ride.

[46:20] Sheryl J. Anderson: Well, that's Joanna.

[46:22] Robert Peterpaul: It is, it's Joe, JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Maddie, for those that love the show. Um, be because Joanna will will call me on the glimmer in my eye. Um, she's like, Oh, how worried should I be? So um, but that that's that's beautiful. Thank you, Joe.

[46:43] Sheryl J. Anderson: Oh, talk about kind. She's such a lovely human as well.

[46:46] Sheryl J. Anderson: Oh, I mean, what what a shiny, shimmering, but always professional, but even more so, always authentic number one. I mean, it it's her light shining across the whole show that that you say it's um the three women are spectacular, but I have never worked with a number one who was so committed to living that role on all sides of the camera.

[47:23] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, when I spoke to her about it too, she just kept saying, It's the people, it's the people on this show. You know, she wasn't taking any credit, and she didn't even really know how to answer the question of how she keeps the set positive, because I think she just does it. She just leads with that joy like yourself. And it's really special when those people come together because it shines through the screen.

[47:44] Robert Peterpaul: All right, you have one more. Let me read it to you and pull it up here. This one's also very sweet. I tell people to keep them short, so you know that's why they're not going on and on. You are such a marvelous teacher, both in the classroom and in life, and not just as a showrunner and a writer, but as a Christian, as a friend, and as a human. And then I have a little hint if you need to narrow it down, but the hint will probably give it away.

[48:10] Sheryl J. Anderson: Teachers, so somebody I've taught, which is a lot.

[48:16] Robert Peterpaul: It's probably a lot of people.

[48:18] Sheryl J. Anderson: I will say it's it's teacher in the sense of being a lifelong job.

[48:24] Robert Peterpaul: A lifelong job? Did you talk to one of my kids?

[48:26] Sheryl J. Anderson: Well, the hint is I am who I am today because of you, literally.

[48:32] Robert Peterpaul: So, yes, I did. You talked to my daughter.

[48:35] Sheryl J. Anderson: I did, Sarah. I DM'd her and she was lovely.

[48:40] Sheryl J. Anderson: Oh. Well, there's my mother's day present.

[48:43] Robert Peterpaul: Oh, actually, I have to here. Here's my mother's day present. I was wondering your shirt. I saw this beautiful rainbow, and now it says raise them kind.

[48:54] Sheryl J. Anderson: Yes, I love that.

[48:56] Robert Peterpaul: Your daughter gave that to you.

[48:57] Sheryl J. Anderson: My daughter and my son, and I was like, is this for Tuesday? And they said, No, we actually ordered it before Rob reached out. And I was like, Well, I'm wearing it even if it doesn't show. So I love it.

[49:11] Robert Peterpaul: It's so beautiful. I'm glad we got to take a moment to recognize that. You know, it's it speaks in the in she was so lovely and fun and explanation pointy in conversation, which I love is you can just feel someone's positivity when you're messaging them, this random person reaching out. And I I think again that's a testament to you being such a wonderful mom and letting them live their dream their dreams, you know.

[49:35] Sheryl J. Anderson: Well, they are um they are my world. Um, you know, and and a lot of what I understand about kindness, um I have learned from them. Um you know the the three of us have uh had some interesting adventures over the years, and um they have always I'm sorry, I'm just so I'm happy that it touches it. They are uh they are resilient and they understand who they are, and um you know they they are my life's work. Um and all this TV stuff is great too.

[50:23] Robert Peterpaul: Yes, but you know what? I really love it and admire people that bring their loved ones up with them, and I think you're uplifting them every day. You're bringing them onto your show, and you've obviously taught them to be wonderful humans in their own right. And I mean, how special to have your number one role model be somebody who's creating art that is bringing joy to people. It doesn't get better than that. So I thank you for that.

[50:48] Sheryl J. Anderson: And they're also walking the picket line with me. Um so so they're learning the 360 view, but um, that's so sweet of you to reach out to her. I really appreciate that.

[51:02] Robert Peterpaul: Oh, of course. I mean it was I appreciate you taking the time to do this. So that's a gift from her, but indirectly from me. I'll take some credit there.

[51:10] Sheryl J. Anderson: No, I am so no, you you get you get complete you you get complete credit. And I I just can't can do I get to play pay you compliments.

[51:21] Robert Peterpaul: Oh, I mean if you want to, you don't certainly don't have to.

[51:24] Sheryl J. Anderson: I will confess I didn't know your podcast. I am now hooked. Um, and I think you are doing something so wonderful. Um, because you're not only sharing all these voices, you are making us stop and think, what does kindness mean?

[51:47] Sheryl J. Anderson: And to me, the logical extension of that is then how can I be more kind? Not just in my art, but in my life, and I think we all need more people like you reminding us that life is crazy. The last couple of years, whatever, have been crazy times a hundred, but that doesn't mean that we can't be kind to each other, that we can't love each other and lift each other up. So thank you so much for what you're doing.

[52:24] Robert Peterpaul: Oh, thank you, Sheryl. That means so much to me. Now it's gonna show that I'm bad at taking compliments, but I hear that, I receive it, I appreciate it. I am gonna put it on my website, you know, no big deal.

[52:33] Sheryl J. Anderson: No, I think that's I really do appreciate that. And I feel like, you know, the idea kind of just came to me, but I do feel like the arts and entertainment is a way to hook people in because they're so fascinated by it. And if we can just lead with the fact that we're so fortunate to be a part of this industry of storytelling, which is what we wanted to do when we were little kids, the least we can do is do it with joy and give back. I mean, there really shouldn't be. There's little things along the way, obviously, but there shouldn't be any other way.

[53:03] Robert Peterpaul: So, you know, I truly admire you so much. And speaking of practical ways to change people's minds and days about leading with kindness, I would love if you could just leave us with a practical kindness tip, maybe something tangible that you think listeners could do to incorporate into their day and just make the world better.

[53:23] Sheryl J. Anderson: My dad used to say that the difference between a coward and a hero is usually about 15 seconds. And I think the difference between being kind and being less than kind is that brief too. If we just take that extra moment when we're interacting with someone and think, I don't need to prove that I'm right, I don't need to prove that I'm anything, I need to focus on what this person needs from me. And so often it's just that they need to be heard, or they need to be hugged, or they need a good joke to make them smile again. It's those quick and simple decisions in the course of a day that ripple across the lake because if you're kind to them, they're more inclined to be kind to somebody else.

[54:29] Sheryl J. Anderson: And then we're all being kind to each other, and a rising tide lifts all boats. At the end of the day, we're all happier than we were the day before. So it just takes a few seconds.

[54:44] Robert Peterpaul: That's so special. And I think the more you incorporate that into your day, the more eventually you're gonna reframe your mind to then just take that time to think. Am I treating this person with kindness and respect? Am I treating the person as I would want to be treated? All these things certainly can run through your head. And my wonderful wife is teaching me, you know, newlyweds every day now. It is really just more important to sometimes just be there and not have a solution, not try to be right and just like you're saying, you know, be there with the person, maybe have a joke, a little joke never hurts anything. Sometimes, you know, you just gotta run around and be silly, but it's that taking those moments to discern what the other person needs and loving them in that way.

[55:28] Sheryl J. Anderson: And whether it's a shoulder to cry on or a great joke, um, you know, and how fortunate you are to have a partner who's sharing her view on that with you as the two of you are growing into your marriage. Congratulations, by the way.

[55:47] Robert Peterpaul: Oh, oh, thank you. Oh, you put a ring on it.

[55:49] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, thank you. She's one of the most, I mean, the most amazing person I know. And coming from my own background and baggage with growing up and all this stuff going on. I'm really fortunate to have her anchoring my boat now as our tide rises. And I'm gonna let everybody at home go on and do kindness and rise their tides around them. I don't even know what I'm saying, but same with you because I know you gotta go, and I so have appreciated the gift that is talking with you. I mean, I could talk to you all day. You're so easy to talk to and so knowledgeable, and you just exude such a light, and I can feel it through the screen. So I really, really appreciate you in so many ways. And I'm not only a fan of your work, but now I'm a fan of you as a person.

[56:28] Sheryl J. Anderson: Oh, well, right right back at you. Um, thank you for doing everything that you're doing. And uh, if you're ever out on this coast, let me know, and uh, we'll continue this conversation over uh a good meal. Maybe a margarita.

[56:46] Robert Peterpaul: Perfect. Thank you so much, Rob, for everything.

[56:49] Sheryl J. Anderson: Thank you.

[56:49] Robert Peterpaul: Oh, thank you. Love to your family.

[56:51] Sheryl J. Anderson: Thanks.

[56:52] Sheryl J. Anderson: Bye.

[56:53] Robert Peterpaul: Bye.

[56:56] Robert Peterpaul: And now it's time for your kindness tip of the week.

[57:03] Robert Peterpaul: I just loved being in Sheryl's orbit. Thank you again, Sheryl. I also want to thank my friend Matt Gilhooley of the Life Shift Podcast for having me on as a recent guest.

[57:14] Robert Peterpaul: That was truly a transformative experience for me. Our conversation is currently streaming on his podcast wherever you listen to podcasts, and I would love for you to go check it out. It was really a tough conversation for me, but a great one to have. And I feel like I left my little rollie chair and microphone experiencing growth.

[57:34] Robert Peterpaul: His show is all about talking with humans about the major shifts in their life. And it's inspired a kindness tip for you all. It may be challenging, but I think it's very fruitful to take the time to sit down and really think about the major shift or shifts in your life. Now that's shift S H I F T. Okay. I'm not talking about the other stuff, the other things we experience in life, which there may be a lot more of, let's be real.

[58:04] Robert Peterpaul: Ask yourself, what was my life shift? What truly changed me as a person and my situation in this wild world? Thinking about this and going through and kind of taking stock of your experiences really allows you to see again how you've grown as a person and how you got to where you are. And I think that's an act of kindness, you know? Really looking back at your story. Who knows? It also may inspire you to connect with people from your past and either have a conversation with them about where you are now or just reconnect in some way.

[58:45] Robert Peterpaul: So thank you again, Matt, for having me. Everybody go check out the Life Shift podcast. Thank you for being here and listening to me ramble on. I want to thank our guest Sheryl again, and I hope to see you all at BroadwayCon this year. Well, what? Saturday, July 22nd. Until then, please remember, everything is going to be a okay.