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[0:00] 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. I'm Robert Peterpaul, and I'm so glad you're here.

[1:27] Robert Peterpaul: Growing up in Washington, Megan Hilty expressed early interest in the arts. She is now one of the most beloved Broadway performers of her time and forever stitched onto the fabric of pop culture thanks to her amazing portrayal of Ivy Lynn in the NBC musical drama Smash, which has a cult following to this day.

[1:48] Robert Peterpaul: Before smashing the TV scene, Hilty started her career on Broadway in A Bubble, playing Glinda in Wicked, Doralee Rhodes in 9 to 5 The Musical, and Brooke Ashton in Noises Off, which earned her a Tony Award nomination.

[2:03] Robert Peterpaul: Other stage credits include Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors at the Kennedy Center, Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun at Encore! NYC Center, and Lorelei Lee in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes at Encore! NYC Center.

[2:18] Robert Peterpaul: Megan's numerous screen credits include Sean Saves the World with Sean Hayes, Difficult People, The Good Fight, playing the iconic Patsy Cline in Patsy and Loretta opposite previous AOK guest Jesse Mueller, and more recently, Lily St. Regis in NBC's Annie Live!

[2:37] Robert Peterpaul: Megan not only has a stunning singing voice, but lends her chops to voiceover work from audiobooks to kids animated favorites on Disney, Nickelodeon, Netflix, Hulu, and Cartoon Network.

[2:49] Robert Peterpaul: Speaking of her voice, she continues to tour her cabaret show, which has been taped for Live from Lincoln Center on PBS, and regularly appears with world-renowned orchestras including the NY Pops, Boston Pops, and the National Symphony Orchestra.

[3:04] Robert Peterpaul: I'm also really grateful right now I have a pop filter on my microphone.

[3:09] Robert Peterpaul: Megan and I touch on her incredible career moments, really centering in on the kindness she's experienced along the way from icons like Dolly Parton and more.

[3:21] Robert Peterpaul: Though we're not promoting anything except for kindness here, I want to note that we recorded this conversation well before the SAG-AFTRA strike was enacted.

[3:31] Robert Peterpaul: If you loved this episode, I'd love for you to please leave us a 5-star review wherever you listen.

[3:36] Robert Peterpaul: We just received a lovely 5-star review from Little Moochie. Ooh, what a fun name. Are you a performer?

[3:42] Robert Peterpaul: Little Moochie said,

[3:44] Robert Peterpaul: "Rob is a class act, and the guests that he pulls in are lovely as they are impressive. Love this podcast and look forward to it each week."

[3:53] Robert Peterpaul: Aw, thank you, Little Moochie. That is so kind of you. These really mean more to me than you know, and if you leave one, I'll try to read it here on the show.

[4:03] Robert Peterpaul: Ah, that rhymed. Mean more to me than you know, read them on the show. Ooh, thank you so much again.

[4:10] Robert Peterpaul: I've also so loved connecting with you all on social media. It brings me tons of joy.

[4:15] Robert Peterpaul: At Art of Kindness Pod and at Rob Peterpaw, please come find us, let's be friends, and start a kindness community. Aw, audio hug.

[4:23] Robert Peterpaul: As always, be sure to stick around for your kindness tip of the week after the interview.

[4:28] Robert Peterpaul: Now, without further ado, please welcome the marvelous Megan Hilty.

[4:39] Megan Hilty: Hello.

[4:49] Robert Peterpaul: How are you?

[4:50] Megan Hilty: There she is. I'm great. How are you?

[4:52] Robert Peterpaul: Good, thank you.

[4:54] Megan Hilty: Do you have one of those pop-up audio booth things?

[4:56] Robert Peterpaul: I have. I mean, it's not quite portable. It's, it's quite substantial. It's about 2000 pounds.

[5:05] Megan Hilty: It's a booth that that me and my husband were able to build, like it comes kind of like the fanciest Lego set you've ever you could ever imagine.

[5:17] Megan Hilty: And then you put it together.

[5:19] Robert Peterpaul: That's amazing. I've seen those and I always want one. And I know that they come in all shapes and sizes and you can kind of show them in the corner of your apartment, but I know you do a lot of voiceover so that makes sense.

[5:28] Megan Hilty: Yes. Yeah. And, um, in, in our old house we were able to make a recording studio in our closet, but we moved about a year ago and there's no such thing as a quiet space in this house.

[5:41] Megan Hilty: So, um, so this was it. This was our.

[5:44] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah. Oh, that's so cool. Well, I'm, I'm so excited to talk to you today. It's wonderful to meet you. I'm such a huge fan of all of your work. I've, you know, had the privilege of seeing you perform. And obviously you're so talented and all that jazz, but I just feel like what I truly admire about you is that you seem to lead with such joy and kindness and really promote that in this business.

[6:06] Megan Hilty: Well, this is very interesting to hear because I don't, you must be hearing good rumors, which is great.

[6:11] Robert Peterpaul: I do. The rumor was very positive.

[6:15] Megan Hilty: Well, that's great. That's excellent.

[6:17] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah. You're like a ray of sunshine. I just feel like you make it feel like Christmas every time I see you on screen or on stage.

[6:22] Megan Hilty: Oh, that's, that's a nice compliment. Thank you.

[6:26] Robert Peterpaul: And I'm going to do a really long, very complimentary probably bio about you. I won't make you sit here while we record that because I just feel like maybe you would enjoy it, but I would feel awkward personally.

[6:34] Megan Hilty: So I'll do that later on. I'd probably stop you at midpoint. We're going, no, please, no, stop. Don't say anymore.

[6:41] Robert Peterpaul: No, that was 2008 actually. I love that. But you know, before I just keep complimenting you for hours and hours, Megan, I would love to know, and you seem to be pretty good at it. How are you at accepting compliments? Because I'm sure you get a lot of them.

[6:54] Megan Hilty: I've gotten better only out of necessity because I realized a while ago that by not accepting them or refusing them almost like, no, that couldn't possibly, it just kind of made people feel uncomfortable.

[7:07] Megan Hilty: So, um, so now I just swallow, swallow my uncomfortability and just say thank you.

[7:14] Robert Peterpaul: You did a great job when I was complimenting you. I mean, I'm sure there's a lot going on over here. I'm awkward at moving my hands and flying around, but, you know, you just said thank you and smiled and it was great.

[7:22] Megan Hilty: But it is a weird thing. And I think it, for me, maybe boils down to how we're taught to accept love and all that kind of deep stuff.

[7:29] Megan Hilty: Because when you get a compliment, which you want, a lot of the time you do an awkward dance of deflecting it or whatever it is. And I just find it fascinating how every person I talk to that's so acclaimed and wonderful, such as yourself. Most people cannot accept a compliment or struggle with it. So it's weird. I don't know.

[7:45] Megan Hilty: It is. Yeah, I mean, and I mean, if we really want to get into it, I feel like it, I feel like that has to do with whether or not, I mean, maybe there's a part of it is just, you know, you don't want to seem to, I don't know.

[8:03] Megan Hilty: If you agree too quickly, then maybe it seems like you think real highly of yourself.

[8:07] Robert Peterpaul: I know it's a fine line.

[8:09] Megan Hilty: Which is a bit, you know, not, sorry, I'm stumbling over my words a little bit because I don't want to say the wrong thing.

[8:18] Megan Hilty: But also there's a degree of like, if I say thank you, am I agreeing and saying, you know, like that I truly deserve that. And that, I mean, I feel like so many of us, especially in this industry, you know, grapple with that a lot.

[8:36] Megan Hilty: You know, there's a lot of like, do I truly deserve that, you know.

[8:41] Megan Hilty: So, but instead I just, I just say thank you.

[8:47] Robert Peterpaul: Well, it is so weird because they're like be confident walking to the room confident but don't be too confident. I mean there's so many things that you get thrown your way that it just ultimately I think if you have a good intention, and you smile, and you're grateful.

[8:59] Megan Hilty: Can't go wrong.

[9:08] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, yeah. And for me all this falls under kindness which we're here to talk about today, you know, through the lens of your career, of course.

[9:16] Robert Peterpaul: And so I would love to know just to start out Megan this is a big question as well but what is your definition of kindness, what comes to your mind when you hear that word.

[9:25] Megan Hilty: You know, I was thinking a lot about this as we were talking about talking, which thank you so much for being so wonderful in that correspondence.

[9:33] Megan Hilty: I'm sorry my schedule got really really crazy there for, for a bit.

[9:48] Megan Hilty: Like I was going bonkers not knowing what I was doing so I know anybody trying to schedule things with me at the same time was probably equally as frustrated. No, it's always a dance and you're very gracious and I'm grateful this worked out but anyway with kindness.

[9:59] Megan Hilty: I literally had to look it up. I had to, because I was like, well, I mean, I know the feeling of kindness but like what's like the definition.

[10:16] Megan Hilty: It boils down to showing generosity, consideration and support to others, right, and it's, and hopefully that has nothing to do with it's, it's in complete disregard to any differences that you have towards that person.

[10:31] Robert Peterpaul: Right. So, yeah, it's those three things, those three things generosity, support and consideration. That's beautiful. Do you have a favorite way that you show kindness to people I know people talk a lot about love languages but I guess your kindness language are you like a gift. I know you love Christmas in my research that came up quite often so are you like a gift person what's your favorite way to show kindness.

[10:48] Megan Hilty: I don't know I do. I try to be mindful that like not every led that everybody does have a different like love language and.

[10:59] Megan Hilty: And so I kind of do a little bit of everything I try to be really generous and supportive with my words, especially lately I've just kind of, I've, I've taken this, I don't know if it's a motto or I don't, I don't know what word that it is that I'm looking for but like, if I'm thinking something nice about someone, I have to tell them, I have to get it out of my brain and into theirs.

[11:12] Megan Hilty: You know, it's like it's kind of wasted in my, in my head, you know, so I immediately have to shower that person, you know, with a phone call a text email something a message, you know, telling them that they're on my mind and I appreciate them for this or I admire them for that, you know, because if I let too much time pass.

[11:36] Megan Hilty: And, and again what good is it just rattling around in my brain.

[11:50] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, you're so right a lot of people don't take the time that you know people pop into our head throughout the day but a lot of people don't stop and actually text that person.

[11:50] Megan Hilty: I try, I try, I also try to like think of like what that would mean to me, you know, and I know that just getting love or support, you know, at any point. It's always like you're never going to be like, ew, gross, why would you do that? Stop supporting me.

[12:09] Megan Hilty: Yeah, stop it. Ew, why would they do that?

[12:28] Megan Hilty: Um, and I love getting gifts. I'm like, I have to cool it with the gifts I think I make people uncomfortable with the gifts sometimes. I know I feel you I feel like every time I go somewhere I have to bring something even if it's just chocolate, or whatever is in my cabinet they're like why are you bringing that I'm like it's for you.

[12:28] Megan Hilty: Yeah, I get that. I get that.

[12:47] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, well I think, you know, all your answers have been beautiful so far but as a performer especially and a Broadway star and a vocalist and a voiceover artist and that angelic voice we all love, you know, and you were very open to talking about this even mentioned it earlier with, you know, not getting in your own head and everything. How do you stay kind to yourself?

[12:47] Megan Hilty: I mean, I'm looking at your beautiful audio booth right now and I'm in my weird corner and this is a podcast about kindness but even this, you know, listeners I'll let you in that when I'm editing I'm not always the kindest to myself, and sometimes I listen back and I'm afraid that maybe in the intro something weird will pop up where I'm like, ah, that's weird.

[13:04] Robert Peterpaul: How do you take the time and really just show kindness to yourself?

[13:34] Robert Peterpaul:

[14:04] Robert Peterpaul:

[14:34] Robert Peterpaul:

[14:44] Robert Peterpaul:

[14:52] Robert Peterpaul:

[14:58] Robert Peterpaul: Anyway, you know coming into that as a young artist. Was it did you grapple with that like being authentic but also trying not to people please, and then battling that imposter syndrome I mean what did you have that at all starting out.

[15:08] Megan Hilty: Yeah, I mean I went into the Broadway production, nine months after it opened. So it was already this monster hit and there were, there was a level of expectation that was, I had never like ever dealt with before I was a baby I was right out of college. And I thought that by starting out, especially as a standby and a replacement, that that meant that I was supposed to just kind of replicate, you know, who I was standing by for who had come before me you know all of those things. I mean, that's that's just kind of a given, almost in everything, but certainly with that job, I just kept waiting for somebody to tap me on the shoulder and be like, Excuse me, who let you into the Gershwin theater, like can you please gather your things and leave.

[15:36] Megan Hilty: But happen that bubble and fly away. Yeah, but I mean that whole job, I really feel like one of the main purposes of that job coming into my life was to learn how to how to be okay with what I brought to the table, because there was a point about a month into rehearsals, where it was like well I cannot do this like Kristen I cannot do this like Jennifer Laura Thompson. I just can't, you know, and the stage manager said as much too and she she said, you know, you just need to stop watching the show, because you can't do their show, but I was so terrified because I knew, you know, I went out the stage door every day I heard what everybody was saying and the comparisons, even early on, you know.

Now, I can't even imagine what the Glynda's and Elphaba's go through, I can't even like with the comparisons and the things online and stuff like that like that. I don't even know if I could deal with it today. But even back then, I came to a point where I was like yeah I might disappoint some people because they might be expecting Kristen Genoweth, you know, but I am not Kristen Genoweth, I am not Jennifer Laura Thompson. And what I bring to this role is enough. And that was really scary.

[17:08] Megan Hilty: And luckily I was, I was in the show for four and a half years and so I had all that time to come to terms with it. And it helped me going forward, doing things like nine to five where it wasn't Kristen Genoweth it was Dolly Parton that I that I, you know, both legends and icons, but it's like now and now I'm doing it in front of Dolly Parton every day, you know. But because I'd had those years in Wicked, coming to terms with the fact that like, yeah, I'm not this person. But what I what I have is, is enough. It really helps with everything that came afterward.

[18:04] Robert Peterpaul: Wow, that's really powerful. And I think that's very relatable for people no matter what industry you're in or even if you're just entering a new relationship with someone where they recently left somebody out like you're not that person you're yourself and accepting that can be really hard in a business where you see a breakdown, and you're trying to peg. I mean, first of all, sometimes breakdowns are like, be bright, but sad. They have such contrasting weird things that you're never going to figure it out anyway. So just be yourself. Honestly, it's the thing we learn when we're kids. And you know, what's interesting to me is that, which who cares if it's interesting to me, I'm just going to say anyway, I feel like Glinda, that was kind of her journey, right?

She was someone who wanted to be popular and well liked. But then in the end, her arc kind of is coming to who she is and seeing the power of kindness and love. And I think it can be hard in this business, like we were talking about before, to not just lead with confidence. I mean, you're taught to always just kind of get insular and protect yourself and get out there and keep booking it and going and going. But sometimes I think people forget the lesson along the way, which is just seeing others and being kind. Do you feel like that's something you struggle with at all to like, as you rose to fame? I mean, I know you have this wonderful reputation. I'm not trying to see if you've ever been mean to anybody. But you know, just finding that balance of not just always putting yourself and your career first.

[19:19] Megan Hilty: Can we narrow down the question a little bit more? Like, yeah, I think there's just a lot of like, are you asking if I've ever been mean to people? No. Are you like what? Yes. Yes. Let me count the ways. You know, I think I'm just wondering, I guess at the bottom of it all is finding the way to be kind to people with balancing getting ahead in your career. Because I mean, I've read a lot of books about how kindness is actually more powerful than the people that are being cutthroat sharks and getting ahead. And even though that gets fast results, overall, it's the people that maintain these relationships and are kind. So does that make sense? I mean, I think.

[19:58] Megan Hilty: And I the best example of that was watching Dolly Parton work during during all the workshops in the, you know, out of town tryouts and everything we did for nine to five, watching how she treated people. That was one of the greatest lessons of my life was, was watching how she dealt with people while she was conducting business, because she does a lot of business, she gets a lot of things done. But she also, in the meantime, has this way where she at no point is she not completely respectful and considerate and supportive of all the people that she's dealing with, you know, even if she's just talking to you about the weather, she has a way of making you feel like you are the only important person in the galaxy.

And that is so powerful. And and it's something that I'm constantly trying to remind myself because I am I'm no Dolly Parton, you know, but I try to be and I find myself constantly asking myself how she would behave in certain situations, even though we have different. It's a little different. But like, W.W.D.D. What would Dolly do? Yes. And because because she's the gold standard, the gold standard. Yeah. So yeah, that's that's my like, that's my what do they call it? Your true north?

[21:30] Megan Hilty: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Your gold standard, you know, your North Star, your that's the she's the goal.

[21:44] Robert Peterpaul: Oh yeah, me too. And I feel like I probably subconsciously made this podcast to try and get to Dolly because she is the definition of kindness, you know? And I'm glad you brought her up. I wanted to ask you about her. I was almost wondering, too, do you have a it sounds like overall, this is just the way she was. But do you have a story about an act of kindness? You saw her give while working on nine to five, which you somehow honored Dolly, but brought yourself to it in such a beautiful way. I'm such a huge fan of your performance in that show. I mean, any Dolly story really would be wonderful, even though you kind of just shared so much.

[22:03] Megan Hilty: Yeah, she's just she's truly wonderful. I mean, one of she's the the first word that comes to mind is is is how generous she is. You know, like she she's Dolly Parton. She didn't need to, to be there all the time. She was. And when we opened in Los Angeles for out of town tryout, she was backstage all the time. And, and the set would break down all the time. And when our set broke down, it stopped the show. And so instead of just letting the you know, the curtain be down, and the audience, you know, be left to their own devices, she would grab a guitar and she'd go in front of that curtain and she'd do a sing along it like she didn't have to do that. She didn't have to, you know, like, she didn't even have to be there, you know, but that's how invested she is in people in the projects that she's working on, you know, she's generous and kind and supportive and just shows up.

Even just talking about it makes me so happy. And I, you know, you could the proof is in the pudding. I mean, it recently was revived in London, I think, and then on tour, and she's still there making videos doing promos for it. So, you know, you can see that it's, it's obvious that she's like that. And I love that story.

[23:29] Robert Peterpaul: Um, you know, I guess moving away from Dolly, I would love to know for you, as you look at your career, do you feel like there's an act of kindness that somebody did to you that changed your trajectory or kind of set you on the path that you ultimately went on? I'm hoping there was a lot of them, but any?

[23:45] Megan Hilty: Yeah, no, I mean, there were a lot. But the the biggest of the first real big one was the night that I made my Broadway debut in Wicked. I was a standby. And so I had a couple hours notice and I ran to the theater and I was freaking out. I was sitting in Jennifer Laura Thompson's dressing room, you know, just freaking out. And Idina came in because this is how long ago this was. This was, I guess, 19 years ago now.

[24:11] Megan Hilty: Wow.

[24:42] Megan Hilty: She had just won her Tony for this. And even if she hadn't won a Tony or even been nominated or anything like that, she could have come in there and said, Hey, at this point, I need you to be standing here. I need you to say this like this. I need we need to go through this and blah, blah, blah, blah. And you need to do this a certain way. You know, and she would have been completely within her right to do so. But instead, she gave me this incredible gift. And that was to just breathe and play with her. And it was a night I will never forget because of that. It was so incredibly generous of her to to create something new with me. You know, within the content, of course, it's the same script.

It's the same. But like different people bring something different to it. And she did not shy away from that. She she let me do my thing and we figured it out together. And by the end, it felt like we'd done something completely new. Yeah. And I'll just I'll just never forget that. And I was kind of try to pay that forward any any chance I can.

[25:41] Robert Peterpaul: I love that because when our minds are spinning, it's really those simple statements that hit home for you. And with you paying it forward, you know, you going on to then be Glinda full time and working on the show, I think I read for maybe four years on and off in different places and different productions, you know, and then, of course, nine to five and all these other wonderful things you've done. How do you pay it forward? I mean, I mean, do you are you cognizant of the things you do to kind of lead with grace when you are that principal character and there's all these people?

[26:08] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, I think it's all a work in progress for everybody. But you know, I just admire people that you, such as yourself that use their platform to whether they're aware of it or not, just spread joy and positivity. And these insecurities creep in. I have them right now. I'm like talking to Megan Hilty, and I'm so insecure and so weird. I'm like, what are these questions? I have so many, you know, so I think that's only natural. But just admitting that and talking about this stuff, I think is really important. You know, when I was younger, I got to do a set visit to Smash. I was interning at NBC and I got to go in all the apartments might have things on this set shelves that I shouldn't. Yeah, it was so much fun.

And I think people would kill me if I didn't bring up Smash. But you know, I know that was also a long time ago. But it was also something so formative in your career. And you seem to still carry that legacy in a lot of ways. And new fans are finding it every day now, which is wild. It's so great. What was your biggest lesson from that experience? Looking back on it? Now? Do you have one thing that you feel like it taught you as we kind of talked about with Wicked a lesson from Smash?

[28:45] Megan Hilty: Oh, my gosh. I don't know. I, I there's so much it was such a huge part of my life and still is. Truly, you know, like, it's one of the greatest things that's ever happened to me. I'm not just like professionally, but also like bringing amazing people into my life and like, opening up new opportunities for me and stuff like that. Like it truly, truly one of the greatest things. I don't I don't know about I don't know if we know what I guess one thing not to interrupt your thought process, but I guess to maybe narrow it down. One thing that I found so interesting when you talk about Smash and just reading these articles from over the years is you do again, bring up that imposter syndrome and of having the you know, I think you had a moment where you were like, I can't do this.

They want me to dance and all this other stuff. How do you feel like you I guess grew into the role and found the confidence over time because I mean, that's wild to film a musical series. I can imagine just wild to film a plane series. I don't know. I don't know how long it took me to I don't know that I ever really got comfortable. You know, I just knew I just kind of leaned into there. I think early on I had so many like pinch me moments. It's like I get to work with who and do what I get to do this all day. You know, like this is I get to say these words I get to sing these songs is Mark Shaman and Scott Whitman songs I get to be in their studio, you know, and record with that like it's just so there were so many wonderful moments.

I think I guess if if I guess you could say that I really learned that like, I guess I but I knew this before you know, this, this business is everything so fleeting. You know, you'd really just have to like, be so grateful in the moment you have to stop and like really look around and take everything in because it happens so quickly and it passes so quickly. But so many wonderful things happen. And so it's only terrible things happen in this business to when the good things happen, you really have to like relish it and like, take stock and and and take a minute to like, appreciate it and remember, remember it. You know, there was a lot with Smash. There was so so many wonderful things and wonderful people.

[30:52] Robert Peterpaul: That's wonderful. I this is gonna sound not casual at all, not trying to name drop, but I did run into Mark and Scott the other day when I was covering this, I didn't run into them. I was covering a red carpet and I had a microphone and I was probably so crazy. But they talked about Smash coming to Broadway and how it's going to be hysterical. And, you know, of course, that's in the news again. I guess I'm just curious to what have you heard about it? What's your hope for it? What are your feelings on it? All these years? It's finally happening. It's kind of

[31:21] Megan Hilty: No, yeah, it's, um, I'm so it makes me so happy that all these years later, there's an audience that is still invested in these characters, these stories, this music, you know, you know, it's, it's so heartening to know that that show still is so is that powerful, really, that like, that it still occupies minds and hearts and, you know, enough to to warrant, you know, and that these songs are gonna live on. I mean, they certainly will in my concerts, like, I'm, I'm never gonna not sing these songs. But it's so wonderful to see that they're gonna have a whole new life in the show.

[32:03] Robert Peterpaul: And you're I mean, your concert careers is incredible. I mean, the way you're traveling and you're always, you know, doing something so wonderful. How do you balance that aspect with, you know, everything you've got personally at home? I feel like that nobody has the answer to this again. But just what have you learned along the way of balancing the arts and the personal? It's such a tough thing.

[32:24] Megan Hilty: I've I've learned that it all boils down to if you do choose to spend your life with someone, that's everything. You know, like everything. The only reason that that I can have a family and a career is because of the partner that I have. Brian Gallagher is like the greatest human on the planet on the planet. And, and it is not easy, but we because he's wonderful. We figured out one day at a time. You know, it's not and it's it's not something that we have figured out every day. We're figuring it out. It's it just keeps changing. So but the most important thing is to have a person that you can go through, you can navigate the toughness with.

[33:13] Robert Peterpaul: It makes everything so much easier, doesn't it? You know, when you have a built in self tape reader, and you can just know, I mean, there's so many, there's a lot of reason I call my wife, we just got married. And I call her production. Sometimes I'm like, put up the ring light. No, it's, it's so yeah, yeah, it makes it so much easier. And then at the end of the day, if it kind of outweighs the falling into the trap of booking things, you're like, I don't who cares if I booked this or not, this is going to be fun to try to do this audition, but I have all this at home.

[33:40] Megan Hilty: Right? Yeah, I've kind of moved out of the like, I need to book this, I need to book this into like, is it was it worth taking me away? You know, if Oh, yeah, you're certainly at a whole different level. It's not a different level. It's like, with my kids and my husband here, it's now it's like, is it worth going away? Yeah, you know, like, I'd rather find something local that has nothing to do with the arts, you know, to stay with them, you know, like, it has to be really worth it. Like now that there are other people in my stratosphere.

[34:15] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah. And I mean, honoring like all you've done, I'm not at that at the I guess I won't say level, but at the place where I'm getting people that are like, always, obviously offering me things, but I still feel that way. And I have almost a shame of I don't know what it is. But I just feel like the industry doesn't really give the grace that it should for people's family life. Because I'm thinking I don't want to take this. No, no, no. It's considered a luxury. Like, it's very simply put, you know, you just look, look to health insurance, equity health insurance, I know, look how much it costs to have one dependent. I believe it's upwards of $750 a month for one dependent. And for some Broadway shows, that is a week's salary.

I mean, quite simply put, and I said this to an actor's equity representative, I just pointed this out. In a show that I did, I was like, that's, you know, that's one quarter of my monthly salary in this Broadway show. That is that is how how much a family is looked at considered a luxury. You know, yeah, because you can't you literally can't afford it. No. And everyone's a lot of people. Yeah, you're people are afraid to say things sometimes people I know, it's different for women who can be afraid if they're pregnant, they don't want to say they don't want to get fat. I mean, there's all these things people deal with. At the end of the day, there's such a surplus of dreamers out there of talented people who could then take the one or two nights a week. So the lead can be with their kids. You know what I mean? It's just, it seems to me that there's an easy equation there that we can pop things into. But you know,

[35:48] Megan Hilty: I would love I would love for you to be running the world.

[35:51] Robert Peterpaul: Let's do it. Let me get my pen. I'm gonna write it down. Megan Hilty said I can I'm put on my resume. No. Well, you know, you know, one job that I saw you recently are about to do, we all do these fun, not we all but people do these workshops. And I know it's not necessarily a guarantee it'll go anywhere. But I saw you're going to work on Death Becomes Her the musical, which is so fun.

[36:10] Megan Hilty: Oh, it happened. It's already done. How was it? Was it? Did you have a great time? Was it incredible?

[36:14] Megan Hilty: It was incredible. It was like, truly a joy from start to finish. And I've never been a part of a reading that was received so enthusiastically. People love that really it was. And it is exceptionally well written. The music, the script, everything. It is not just taken from the movie and plopped on stage. It there has been, I believe, seven years of consideration in in in sculpting this and now it is. It is so it is so good. Oh, that's so good. Like, yeah, we had a really, really excellent time last week.

[36:54] Robert Peterpaul: Oh, I hope it goes and I would love to see it one day. You know, when when you're walking into these spaces into a workshop where they kind of also hire you to be a creative person and bring things to the role because like we talked about, they hire you for you, but also you're shaping a whole new story here. How do you navigate that? I mean, are you someone who feels very comfortable saying that we should do this year or you know, what's your journey with that? Because people I think get really nervous to speak up. They don't want to. There's a weird standard of you feel like you're not kind if you're saying, well, instead of this line, maybe let's try this or you know what I'm saying?

[37:28] Megan Hilty: No, I think I think it's all in. It starts with your intention. You know, it starts with why you want to say what you're saying and then you're like, cut everyone else's songs and add another song for me here. No, no. But then understanding who you're talking to and what your words mean to them. You know, like it's just, you know, comes back to the consideration thing. You know, you can't just tell someone who's spent seven years writing something, you know, well, I don't want to say that, you know, because you know, like that's even if that were the truth, you know, like you can't, there's no way you can't say that to someone because that's their, that's their creation. That's their, you know, like, so it's just, it starts with your Yeah, go back to it just starts with your intention.

You have to have good intentions. And, and then take care with your words, because you the last thing you want to do is to hurt someone because I don't know, you want to say something different, you know?

[38:30] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, there's a weird vulnerability there. And I've, you know, done a bunch of workshops. And I just feel like there's that extra sensitivity throughout. And people are right to share and speak up. But then it is it is, you know, comes back to the delivery.

[38:43] Megan Hilty: Right. And well, and me and my husband always have this thing of like, know when to throw your toys. You know, like, I don't I try to, I try to, I try to like make things work. Until like, there's nothing like until it has to be addressed, you know, because if you're constantly like saying this is wrong, this is wrong, or I don't want I don't want to do this, I want to do this and said, blah, blah, blah, it just becomes like white noise. But if you pick and

[39:30] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, yeah, it's like you don't need to be the uncle at the Christmas party that's always shouting the same thing every year, and then nobody wants to listen to anymore.

[39:36] Megan Hilty: And as you said earlier, that may get the quickest amount of attention, you know, the quickest type of attention. But like, over time, nobody, nobody wants to, nobody wants to work with that person. Nobody wants to like, nobody wants to do anything for that person.

[39:52] Robert Peterpaul: Don't, I think you've just confirmed my thought that we're all just big babies walking around and I think...

[39:56] Megan Hilty: All of us are, all of us are.

[39:58] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, I know. I'm always hungry, crying. No, it's fine. I would love to, if we have time, play a surprise game really quick. Megan, it's not much of a game. It's really not. I shouldn't call it a game because people's eyes do bulge out of their head. People leave the Zoom. It's called the Compliment Game because I didn't compliment you enough already.

[40:27] Robert Peterpaul: Basically, I don't worry, it's not from me again. I did reach out to someone in your life for a loving statement about you. And I'm going to read it to you. And then you have to guess who said it.

[40:39] Megan Hilty: And then I'm gonna cry. Why are you trying to make me cry?

[40:42] Robert Peterpaul: This is a good one. You know, the emotions bring the listeners. What can I say? No, I will give you hints. I mean, you can ask me yes or no questions. I know some things that are public. I don't know too much. What do I even know? But we'll say you get like three guesses because people freak out if there's no rules. I don't know. There are no rules. Anyway, okay. I'm gonna read it to you. Okay. Oh, it's really sweet. At some point, I will stop being surprised by how thoughtful and generous Megan is. Her plate is always full with her family and jobs. And yet somehow she always finds the time to celebrate the people in her life. She always finds the time to send the most thoughtful messages and gifts and reminders of her love and care and investment in a relationship. I can see her and I being friends until we're old and gray. She's just an extraordinary person.

[41:32] Megan Hilty: Oh, snap.

[41:33] Robert Peterpaul: Now I know a lot of people probably feel that way about you. So I can give you some hints.

[41:37] Megan Hilty: Whoa, that was very nice.

[41:38] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah.

[41:39] Megan Hilty: See what's going to be really telling is my answers.

[41:42] Robert Peterpaul: Like who I think it is. That sounds like either Stephanie Block, or Eden Espinosa.

[41:52] Robert Peterpaul: You nailed it. It's Stephanie J. Block. Yeah, it's Stephanie J. Block, who is a gift. Wow.

[41:59] Megan Hilty: That sounds like her.

[42:02] Robert Peterpaul: Literally, I could play it too.

[42:05] Megan Hilty: She's quite generous too with her words. So that, see if that makes sense.

[42:09] Robert Peterpaul: I should have listened to it over and over again because she sent it to me as a voice note. And it was so melodic and beautiful. And then I'm like, at some point, I will be surrounded. Yeah, she's wonderful. She was on here recently. And, you know, she just loves you. And obviously, the work you did in Nine to Five still lives on. I mean, they do it locally everywhere. These kids are bringing it to life and looking up to you. And what have you learned about kindness and love from her? Or just what do you love about working with her? I mean, she's...

[42:37] Megan Hilty: Oh, gosh. Oh, like, I mean, so much. She's, she's another one of those gems that just understands that you need to meet people where they are like they're she she's so wonderful at celebrating you for whoever and whatever you are. And what you bring to the table is not only enough, but it's glorious. You know? Yeah, I'll always cherish my friendship with her. And, and the thing about Steph is that like, when when she does something, like when she loves you, when she is supportive of you, when she, she is all in, you know, there is nothing, she doesn't tiptoe around things like she you have her full love and support and, and kindness, and her generosity, man. I mean, when you Yeah, she's just she's always there with a kind word, a thoughtful gift.

Like basically everything she just said about me, it out right back to her. You know, I think she thinks you're what was it a cupcake? I heard an awesome episode of you talking to her in her podcast. People call me all kinds of like, baked goods. I get cannoli I get cupcake I get you know, that's not a bad thing.

[44:01] Megan Hilty: No, no. Yeah, there's nothing bad except the calories maybe about what's your favorite big good while we're here? I mean, cookie.

[44:04] Megan Hilty: I'll take a cookie any day. Or carrot cake, or coconut cake. Oh, okay. I mean, like, yeah, there's so many. Yeah, I'm gonna see if I can grab it from here. It's the dolly brownies.

[44:17] Megan Hilty: Yes. Yeah, me and my daughter found them in the grocery store. And she was like, Mom, we need all of these. Did you buy them? They're delicious. Yes. I spent like $50 on the collection. It got delivered to my wife was like, you have issues. And I'm like, whatever. We went to Dollywood. And we like fell in love with Dolly.

[44:31] Robert Peterpaul: I haven't been yet. I need to go.

[44:36] Megan Hilty: Yeah. Oh, with your family. It's so magical. Yeah. Yeah. Well, that's a good choice. Cookies. Schmackeries. You've been there.

[44:41] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, of course. Yeah. They're the best. And they used to let you send boxes to your Broadway cast, like your favorite Broadway cast. You think they might still do it. But I think people were like, I'm getting cavities. And this is too. Like, I need to fit in my costumes. Like, this is crazy.

[45:02] Megan Hilty: Yeah. Yeah. Speaking of getting cavities, I'm probably bringing like too much weird sweetness. So I'm gonna let you go very soon. But that was a weird transition. I would love if we could just end our time together by you sharing a tangible kindness or wellness tip that you would like for listeners to incorporate into their day. So like a tangible action that you think people can do to kind of just spread joy. It could be in the arts or just in general.

[45:18] Megan Hilty: To spread joy? Yeah, to themselves, to the world. An example, I guess, would be a lot of people have said this actually just smiling at someone when you walk by them on the street or actually talking to the cashier at the grocery store and not just looking down.

[45:28] Megan Hilty: Do you know what I just recently I mean, it'd be great if everybody just put their phones down. I'm down. But more realistically, I just I recently started like at the beginning of my day. I'm not I'm not like journaling or anything. But I do have like a notebook that I write down what I need to do every day and stuff like that. Because I need to write things down. And I wake up a little bit earlier than everybody else. And I sit down and I write down three affirmations and my intention for the day. And I write down three people or things that I'm grateful for. And that it sounds like, oh, God, that's homework. It's a lot of stuff. It doesn't take long. Doesn't take long. But like taking that like five minutes out of the beginning of your day to just to kind of focus your mind on gratitude and empowerment or in kindness, you know, and self love has made a difference for me. Yeah. I don't know if that would work for everyone, but it's yeah, it's it's been helpful.

[46:45] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah, that's a great way to start the day. And even if it only works for you one time and you have a wild brain like me who bought a positivity journal that literally asks you every morning those questions that you just had and you do it for two days and then you forget if it helps you one day, at least, you know, it's yeah, it's something that works for you. And I think that's really great. Would you be open to maybe sharing like your favorite affirmation or something that listeners you think?

[47:08] Megan Hilty: Oh, you know what I read? So Maya Angelou has like the best. I hope I can quote this correctly. This is I'm paraphrasing here. So I apologize. But it's OK. The one that I read this morning and I wrote down this morning was your crown has already been bought and paid for. It is now your job to wear it proudly.

[47:34] Robert Peterpaul: Oh, right. I love that. Isn't that great? Yeah. Treat yourself like royalty. But my favorite one of hers, my absolute favorite of hers, and I think ever it's something that I remind myself of constantly and I have it framed on my wall, is that people will forget what you said. They will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel. And that I try to remember that every single day. It's like, yeah, my words and my actions are important. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. But like people will ultimately remember if I made them feel important, included, supported or if I've made them feel the opposite. And I'd like I'd like for the first ones I'd like for people to walk away with a good feeling instead of, you know, the opposite.

[48:32] Robert Peterpaul: Yeah. I mean, I like how your voice just came to you when you said the opposite. I'm like, do you do voiceover? No, because I think people are a lot smarter than sometimes we give them credit for. And if you're saying one thing, they can they can read and see the signs that you're looking over their shoulder or whatever it is. You know what I mean? So I love that one, too. And you made me feel wonderful. And I'm so grateful that we had this time together. You're such a special person. And I thank you so much.

[48:59] Megan Hilty: Oh, of course. Thank you for your gift of your time and just being such a great person for people to look up to in this industry, because you truly are a cupcake.

[49:06] Robert Peterpaul: Should I leave it there? Yeah. Oh, yeah. Cupcake, cannoli. I'm all of them. Yeah. I guess I'm going to go eat now because now I'm hungry again. Thanks a lot. No, but I really appreciate it. And I'll keep you posted when this comes out. I think everyone's going to love it and be inspired. Thank you so much.

[49:19] Megan Hilty: Thank you. Have a great rest of your day. I'm really bad at leaving Zoom. So I'll just end it because I won't get through the pain of me. End it. Bye.

[49:37] Robert Peterpaul: And now it's time for your kindness tip of the week. Thank you so much again, Megan. I want to shout out my lovely intern, my kind turn, Carly, who has been doing the most incredible work with us here on the production side. She started compiling a list of kindness tips because she knows that I've been through a lot of them. And sometimes I sit here and I wonder what I can say except be kind to one another. I was looking at her incredible list just now and on it, she had quite a fascinating one, which is to learn more about somebody else's passion. Now, I think before on here, we have discussed taking an interest in someone's passion and championing their dream. But I think this is a bit different.

I think that this tip really centers on actually putting yourself in that person's shoes. For instance, I'm going to I'm not preaching or perfect at this by any means, but my brother, Will, hey, Will, love you, who is amazing in his own right, has a lot of really specific and cool interests. I wish I was that cool and just had a million things that I love to do. One of them is marine life and animals. So every time he comes to visit, I make sure whether he wants to or not, I hope he wants to, that we stop at the aquarium. I got a membership at the aquarium. Hey, shout out Maritime Aquarium. We love you. You've got such amazing exhibits going on. And it's so fun to see him run around there in his element.

We stop at the octopus. We see the seals. We see the sharks, even though I get a little scared and I play the jazz music on my phone. It's truly a special place to be with him. And I think that's mostly due to the fact that he lights up around this marine life. And so stopping at each tank and reading the fun facts or talking to a staff member at the aquarium with him, it's extra special because I think he feels supported. And I know for me, when someone comes to see my show, it's amazing. But when we go to dinner after and they actually ask me insightful questions about the process and really take an interest in not only what I do, but just learning more. There's something so kind and special about that. So stay curious, friends. And until next time, please remember, everything is going to be A-OK.