Carson Rowland, Actor & Musician | Navigating Success, Family, Culture & Life

Welcome to the success story podcast, I'm your host, Scott Clary. On this podcast, I have candid interviews with execs, celebrities, politicians, and other notable figures, all who have achieved success through both wins and losses, to learn more about their life, their ideas, and their insights. I sit down with leaders and mentors and unpack their story to help pass those lessons onto others through both experiences and tactical strategy for business professionals, entrepreneurs, and everyone in between, with a further ado, another episode of the success story podcast. All right. Thanks again for joining me. I am sitting down with Carson Roland. Now, Carson, you may have seen him on Tweet. You may have seen him on I Am Frankie, and you will be seeing him on Sweet Magnolia's, which is an upcoming Netflix series, very excited to speak with Carson, obviously, a long career in acting, but also just a very talented guy, a very talented individual. He has Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from Florida, Atlanta University. He is a talented musician, so if you check out his YouTube, which I just discovered, he's an incredible singer. I'm not sure if he's songwrites, but we'll find out. But he does it all, so I'm really just excited to learn your story, Carson, understand how you built out who you are today. You're still relatively young in your career, but you've done a lot. So thank you for sitting down. I appreciate it. Of course, man. Happy to be here. Yeah, for sure. No, I really am just impressed because you've not only built out an acting career. You're a smart guy, too. Neuroscience, I'm assuming, is not an easy degree to get through. I don't think that anybody would ever say that, so you obviously have some career plan set out for you now, and you're continuing to expand. Walk me through who you are, your story, how you came to be, everything. Let's start from day one and go from them. Yeah. Of course, so well, how I got involved in the arts was all my parents. My mom was fairly artistic, but never really pursued it. My dad is a doctor, so arts would never in our family before them. But my mom, when we were, we being all the siblings were probably around four or five. They put us in like musical theater, and so that's kind of what we did. I fell in love with it. I mean, from a young age, I just love performing, and I have vivid memories of me being six or seven, just on stage performing, just me falling in love with it. So I pursued that, and my brother, who's older than me, two years older than me, is also very, very talented, very artistic. He was singing, and I was kind of falling in his footsteps, and before long, we were booking these big musical theater productions by the time we were eight or nine. We were doing small tours around South Florida, performing, which was just amazing. And that lasted for quite a number of years, and then I was so, I was homeschooled during that time because of being an heavily involved in musical theater. And then I decided to go to school, and then I was doing a theater there, also sports and stuff like that. But I really, really enjoyed performing in the one stage and entertaining. But that whole time, I never really envisioned it as a career option. It was just something I loved doing. And that you mentioned Tweet, which I haven't thought of in so long. But yeah, luckily, one of my friends who I did a musical with, I mean, back when I was probably eight or nine, or maybe younger, mentioned my name to someone who's casting Tweet. And so I auditioned, I booked the role, and then a manager was on set one day, and she's like, hey, I would love to sign you. So then ever since that, I've been auditioning. And that's when it really, my mind, my mind really changed on how I can use entertaining to be a career rather than just a form of expression and a form of pleasure. And while like throughout this, though, like you said, I have a degree, or I'm bouncing at my degree in neuroscience, I graduate in August. So not fully done yet. Congratulations, still impressive. So don't, don't shrug off of bachelor's and neuroscience. So, and this is, you know, you're doing this while you're doing this degree while you're doing everything else. Yes, exactly. And that's been probably the most difficult part about, I mean, my whole life for the past four years. And it's been, it's been such a blessing in order to balance the two acting in, in school because it's just been, the timing has been perfect. Because whenever I'm on a hiatus from a show or not filming, I can always come back and do a semester in person or doing online, I've been online for the past four years. So that's just, that's been an incredible blessing. And even when I, when I started gaining relative success in acting and performing, I always thought like, getting my degree was such a, such an important thing to do. And also like a very, very strong backup plan. Like, like I said before my dad is a doctor and growing up, I said this before in a couple of interviews and it's just so fun because my dad did the thing called rounds and we'd go to the hospital and he would visit different patients and stuff like that, just check up on him and he would bring his kids along. And so all of the, the patients would ask me what I wanted to be when I grow up. And of course, like, being with my dad, I would say a doctor. So I think that's still on the table, I would, I would love to, I mean, if things don't work out, like, I have a solid, solid plan B. So that's, that's, that's awesome. But balancing the two was really difficult because I, there's been a, see back in like 2017, I was in, was in LA, I just, I just finished the second season of, or sorry, the first season of, I'm Frankie and then a week later after we wrapped, I come back to Florida and I'm studying biochemistry, I was studying organic chemistry. Yeah. So like that, that change was, was really crazy. But doing it is, it's just such a blessing and it's been, it's so fortunate to keep both like my artistic side and my intellectual side occupied at the same time, which has been amazing. That is some left brain, right brain shit right there, that's the, now, how do you, or, I guess my question is, is there something in your, in the way you've just been schooled, and raised your parents that have allowed you to effectively manage so much, so different while being successful at both, you're graduating, you're achieving some level of fame. Yeah. I, what's, what do you think is your trick, your secret that allows you to do both because for a lot of people doing one of those things is already incredibly difficult. Yeah. Well, I think, and I was thinking about this and how this podcast is called success story, and I want to see so honored to be on this podcast, just called this because I don't, I look at myself and I don't really consider myself a success story yet, but, um, in the making and the making is also acceptable. I mean, it's just so humbling to be on this and I was thinking about this and just, just the name of the podcast and, um, I really think the success doesn't come from me. I really think it comes from my family and the culture my family has created. I mean, you look at both grandparents on my, my dad's side and my mom's side, my, my mom's side, my grandpa worked in construction. I mean, he worked a couple jobs, just try to, like put food on the table, my grandma worked as well. I mean, just trying to raise the three kids and then my mom was the first one in their family to graduate college and then look at my dad's side, my dad, it's my dad's dad, my grandpa worked three jobs as well. And while the mom was taking care of six, six children, I mean, this, the success doesn't start with me. I mean, it starts with, with my family and like how hard, I mean, I, I've worked hard to get where I am, yes, but my grandparents have worked infinitely harder than I have. And because of that hard work and because of the hard work of both my parents, my, my dad, um, he was the first one to go to graduate school and paid, paid his, uh, paid his undergrad, paid his medical school all himself. And because of his hard work and dedication, I was able to pursue things I love to do. And that's the success here, the success isn't me, the successes, the successes of my family and how they groomed this culture in my, in my personal family to, um, let us accomplish amazing things. I mean, you look at my, I have a twin sister who, um, at the age of 14 moved to New York City to train, to be a professional ballet dancer and then right when she turned 18, she moved to L.A. together to dance with, she danced with a Los Angeles ballet while I was pursuing acting. And I have a little sister who's just the most incredible ballet dancer who is now in North Carolina training to be a ballet dancer and she's just, she's one all sorts of competitions is getting global, uh, is being recognized globally for her, for her talent in ballet. And I have my brother who is a collegiate baseball player and is now starting his own business. I mean, it's not just, it's not just me, it's, it's my family who has really created this. And I honestly, like you said, the secret, the secret is my family and we're in the, yeah, the culture they created and how they, they've really supported what I, um, what, what my interests are. And I know in the beginning, when I first started gaining success in, um, and acting when I booked, um, the Nickelodeon show, I'm Frankie, my, um, my whole family, uh, grandparents, aunts and uncles included when I was out in L.A. They're like, Carson, when you come home, you need to study, come on, get your degree, like what's going on? And my dad calls me and he goes, Hey, look, I work 60 hours a week and it's really tough on me, emotionally, um, stressful. You know, it's just, it's, it's, it's, it's gonna, it's gonna work you down. Um, he's actually put himself in the hospital because he's been stressed sometimes, um, it's just a hard job and, um, he's done that for his kids and he said, man, look, if you can make a living, doing what you love to do, go for it. And so having that from a, from saying from like, he's, he's probably my favorite man in the world. I mean, just having him say that was just incredible and having him fully engage in what I love to do. I mean, that's, that's the success. And he's been able to, um, groove me to like work my hardest and I know it sounds cliche, but it's just, that's, that's what, that's the success here. Yeah. It's a good answer. And it's, and I appreciate the answer a lot. Um, I think it's, it's incredible that you're, you're, you're understanding like, with, like all the contribution and just, I like the word, the culture, the culture, the family drives success, the drives performance. Now, when you start on a new path into a new, um, a new venture, like, say, venture, like acting, uh, singing, these are things that your family does not know, but you're still, you're still killing it in these, in these, these initiatives. So what, what steps do you take to understand, like how do you align yourself with the right people who know because you're still young in your career, um, you want to be successful, but in particular, when you're going into acting, it's not like you, even if you're going through another industry outside of medicine, right, there's a lot of, uh, defined paths that you can take. And you see so many issues with people that could, that get successful at a young age, especially in the arts. So how do you make sure that that doesn't happen that you align with the right people, that the people that, you know, are managing your career and whatnot? Obviously, your parents have an interest, but they don't know what they don't know. Yeah. So, so who do you find? Where do you go? How do you make sure that everything sort of lines up properly? Yeah, of course. And, um, so like when I first moved to LA, um, I did have friends out there and that were quality friends from the Nickelodeon show I did. And that's, that's the most important thing is finding people that, um, are doing what you love to do or doing what you're aspiring to do and kind of emulate them. Um, so I had some friends that are really successful. And I just asked questions and I was on, I was on the phone figuring out like what to do. Before I even moved out to LA, I had, I had a list, um, of people that I wanted to connect with. I sent several emails just to make sure like I was doing the right thing because it, I mean, like some, it's, it is a shot in the dark essentially. I mean, you'd have to, um, really set a path and I hate my, the thing I hate most is just, is the future and how ambiguous it can be. I, I love, um, knowing what is happening. And so moving out to LA and having kind of this thing that's just up in the air was, it was a real, I mean, it was tough and, um, was a real struggle. But, um, I was able to connect with really good people and that's the thing is having this support system, um, intact. So if things do go wrong and you have this kind of, um, emotional, um, it's a network. It's like a strong network. Yeah, exactly. Um, and there was a time in LA where I was, uh, I was sitting around for, I mean, I was auditioning, but things weren't going my way. I was enacting classes, you know, trying to make myself, um, just kind of grew myself and, um, learn my craft more and things weren't going my way. I mean, it was tough. I was just, uh, every audition was not, I heard nothing back and, um, for like four or five months and it was, it was tough. And I know you talked to any actor in Hollywood and they've, they've been through that. And it's, the rejection is really hard. And that's why a lot of people in Hollywood kind of go down the wrong path. And that's why it's so important, especially in Hollywood to find those good friends. And, uh, I was, I was fortunately able to do that. And I've made some of my best friends, just, um, kind of growing, we're, we're, we're all going through the similar stuff at the same time. And we can empathize with each other and just, uh, through that experience. Yeah, we, I made some of my best friends and, and then when you, and that's a very good lesson for quite literally anybody in, in any industry or anything starting out, like the network, like just aligning with the right people, learning, emulating, and these are all very good things. Um, and it's, it's good that you'd learn them. Um, that, I think that's very important. Yeah. Now, as you grow your career, is it, is it strategic in a sense where, you know, you've ventured into music. Now, uh, I, you know, sweet, sweet magnolia. I have no idea what that, that's really about. I'm going to, I'm going to probably now wash it because we spoke. But I mean, like, was that a purposeful, was that a purposeful move in a career for an actor to move into a type of show like that? Um, was it just the next opportunity that came? Was the music something that you've always wanted to do or was at a purposeful move because that's part of like, you know, your persona, your brand. How do you make those decisions in your career? When again, it's not defined. I'm curious like, what, what you go through. Of course. So we'll have a music, I filmed a small lifetime movie, um, and the producers of that show also owned a, um, a record label. And so, uh, their daughter was starring in the movie as well. So, uh, I'd bring my guitar to set sometimes and we'd sing in this round and then a couple of months later, they're like, Hey, we want you to do a duet with our daughter. And so we, we sang this song and after they're like, Hey, we love your voice. We love your sound. Do you want to sign the record label? And that was just, that was amazing because I was in, I was in school the time in South Florida and I had kind of nothing going on. The, uh, we just finished the season two of the Nickelodeon show. It was just really slow and I was kind of gearing back towards, okay, medical school is, is the option. But I was able to find this, um, find this outlet to, um, do something that I've always loved. Like I've, I've been taking guitar lessons and piano lessons since I was seven years old and, um, I always have this fascination with music and with writing. And so, um, I, I was huge into writing poetry and writing songs. And so finally, I was giving this, I was giving this outlet to write something meaningful and personal and kind of give it to the world, which is just an amazing opportunity. Um, and then so when it comes to the, the Netflix show, uh, I was in South Florida in school. I was taking organic chemistry to genetics. I mean, just like you name it. Like all of these, these tough classes are drowning in school. Um, and I, I booked this movie, um, this, this other lifetime movie. Um, so I was filming that and in school at the same time. So I was driving to Miami, filming, driving back, taking a exam. It was, it was not, it was crazy. So I was super busy, but I love staying busy. So, um, while I was on set, there was this guy there who said, Hey, like, you need to tap into the Atlanta market because I was in LA. I was in South Florida at Miami market, but I haven't explored the Atlanta market. And Atlanta, as you probably know, it's just, it's the hub of film right now. I mean, everything films there. Um, and I said, okay, like, what do I do? And he just, like, just, just send emails. So I, I go home that day, I send emails to five different agents, three respond, um, and then I get on a, if I hop on a phone call three days later with one of the agents, it's like, okay, this agent seems, seems awesome. And that, and then literally a month later, I booked a Netflix series. So, um, I attribute that to just, you know, just getting out there and like that, that can be, um, broadened into a, to another theme, which is just like, you have to just put yourself out there. I mean, it's a shot in the dark, essentially, but if you don't try and ever know, I mean, if I wouldn't have sent those emails, like, I wouldn't be here right now, you know, um, and yes, called a stroke of lack, call it whatever you want, but, um, it was a, it was an incredible turn of events because I was, I was ready to just stay home, stay in Florida and just go to school. Um, but because of this, I mean, it was just, it was amazing. And when I booked this, uh, actually the audition process is really funny because I, uh, I also, I really like politics and I was working in DC at the time. I, I have several interests. It's, it's, it's crazy. So I, I'm completely, uh, branched out. Call me a renaissance man, if you will. Oh, but I want to, I'm, I'm going to, I'm going to let you finish a story, but I want to just say two things before we keep moving on. Sorry, I, I don't mean interrupt, but this is a really good point. The first one is you mentioned where you just took action. Um, you sent an email out and you said, call it luck. It's, I want to highlight that when you do take that action, it's never luck. If you're sending it to the emails, if you're doing whatever you're doing, and the reason why I keep trying to bring out and sort of, you'll notice like when I speak through some of the things I try and just bring up the context so that it's applicable to more wider audience and somebody that's trying to go into acting. I like to bring it like those lessons, like those life lessons. Yeah. So when, you know, the theme here is you're taking action. Uh, you're, you're, you're, you're basically are putting yourself out there and things are coming your way and people look at the end result. People look at, you know, three, well, I guess I'm not sure if tweet was considered a big production, but it's still like, it's still something on your credit. And then you have, you have, I am frank. Yes, we've got only, so now you have, now you're on Netflix. Like, so people look at you're like, oh my god, he's so young. Like how did he become so successful? It's not, it's not luck. It's just you keep doing and you keep, and you keep putting yourself and you keep taking actions. And then this is the end result of those actions. These are like, you know, the stars are aligning only because you're making, you're making the effort you're putting in the work. Definitely. And that's the result. That's, I just want to double down on that because like I think you don't give yourself enough credit because you're not a people that don't take action and expect results to too damn high. Yeah. So that's the one thing I just wanted to sort of double click on. But yeah, sorry, continue. It was a good story. Yeah, you're, you're exactly right. Like I mean, like I said, when I was, I was in LA for, for around a year and things were just, were just rough. I mean, it was so bad. And then I came home and kind of just reevaluated everything and talked to my family and was like, you know, I'm going back to school. I can't do this anymore. And I just have to give shout out to like all my friends who didn't go back home and didn't do the thing I did and are staying out there and living their dream. I did eventually go back out there because work brought me back out there. But I did. I mean, I essentially gave up, if you will. But through just when I, when I was home, I kind of just mentally cleared my head and just realized like, no, that this is, this is my passion. And that's why I kind of started getting back out there again. And the results have been been incredible just because of, yeah, like you said, just putting myself out there and not really caring about the consequences because acting and life is just a game of projection. And everyone experiences it. And luckily, I've been fortunate to have had more yes it or have several yeses in my short career. But I guarantee you down the road, there's going to be a lot more knowns. Yeah. But it's still about, it's still about, you know, it's about, it's a numbers game at the end of the day. You'll appreciate this. I was, I was, since you're into politics, I was speaking to Anthony Scaremucci and, and, and one of the, one of the, the life lessons the insight that he gave over was, it was a baseball analogy, but the, the, the long story short is really just, if you go up to bat, you know, a hundred times and say you, you hit five home runs or whatever, it's, you're still hitting five home runs, right? So it's much better than somebody going up to bat ten times and hitting three home runs, even though they're batting average. You know what I mean? So, and he said it much more eloquently than me, and I'm not actually a huge baseball fan. So, but I just wanted to, I'm more a hock, I'm Toronto, I'm hockey. So they're like, they're with me here, really? But still, it's, if, it doesn't matter how many times you try, it matters the results. Really? That's, that's it at the end of the day. So if you sent out two thousand emails and you got one Netflix series, and then somebody sent out a hundred and maybe they got something that's a little bit less, I don't know, um, spectacular, uh, as part of like their hundred emails, they sent out, you still come out on top, and, and in life, you have unlimited chances to, to do, right? You have unlimited chances to put yourself out there to, you came back, you took a break, whatever, you mentally reset, but you didn't quit. That's the thing. So you kept, you kept going, um, but yeah, Yeah. Uh, not everything's our home runs, too. Like, sometimes you hit single, you know, yeah, like, especially in acting, like, tweet was a single, you know, it put me, it put me on first base, put me on the map. And then later on, like, maybe you hit a double and then a run scores. So yeah, it's all, it's, things happen in incrementally. Um, it's not necessarily a home run, but, um, like everything is, is a, it's a notch in your belt, is, is a credit on your, uh, your resume. And that's what counts. I know I have a friend who's just, she's the, one of the most talented actresses I know. Um, and she, she's, it's been rough, it's been hard for her. Um, she, she can't book anything, um, but what she did was like, you know, I screwed, I'm going to, uh, work in production. So now she's writing scripts. Now she's, she's peeing on set. Now she's, uh, uh, uh, helping lighting and stuff like that. And it's, it's incredible because she, she loves the industry so much and she wants to stay connected. And I know, like, for her, the next thing is on the corner. You guys will all know her name in five years because she's just, she's so dedicated and worked so hard and that's, and that's, and that's incredible. You know, you just have to kind of take those baby steps, learn the, learn, uh, your passion inside and out from front of the camera and behind the camera, whether, whatever you do. So yeah, no, it's very good. So, so, okay. So you mentioned that's, that's sort of how you got into music. Um, it was like accidentally on purpose. Um, but you just, you know, and that's good. Now for, for Netflix, for sweet magnolias, um, I don't know if you touched on that, but maybe just a little bit more about how that came, uh, came to light, uh, how that opportunity came to light. You said you were emailing a whole bunch of people in this sort of opportunity of, um, how do you secure something like this? Because I'm pretty sure a Netflix show is like, is it, is it just an email? And then they say, yeah, we like you. We watch your, your demo reel, um, and, you know, we want you, we want you on. Or is there more to it than that? Because I think Netflix is where people are trying to go right now. Yeah, it's, it's, it's, it's way, it's way harder than that. Um, so I sent an email to an agent in, um, several agents and, uh, couple responded and I ended up signing with, uh, one of the, one of the agents. And then so, uh, agents get to get you auditions. So, uh, now it's basically everything's kind of virtual. So you put yourself on tape, um, read a scene and then send it to the casting director and then they evaluate and see if you get a callback, et cetera. So I was, um, the, the audition process for sweet magnolias, I was, I was working in, in DC for congressmen. Um, and so I got, I got this, this audition, um, and then, uh, I, I get home from, from work and working in the cat on Capitol Hill and, uh, set up my, my iPhone, have, um, call somebody at the same time. So if they're reading the lines while, while recording, so, um, it's all over, like over face time while recording and I do the lines while using like a coat rack as an eye line. And so I sent that in and then a couple of days later, I, I hear, I hear that I got a callback. So, um, from DC, I fly to Atlanta and then I get to the callback and then I got the role. But I'm preparing for that, that callback is, is really, uh, it's really nerve-racking because you go into a room with, um, five producers, directors, uh, writers and you just got to do the scene and you walk and you walk out. Uh, I can tell you right now, like I never prepared. I knew the, I knew I was right for the role. Um, and so I prepared so much for, for that one, one audition, uh, one callback and going in there, um, I kind of like to look at auditioning as like handing someone a gift because like this is, this is my craft and no one is going to read that script or perform that role like I am because I'm unique. Um, so I created this, this gift. I headed to them and I walked out, um, and luckily they resonated with it. And, um, I, I booked the role and that was just, um, it was an incredible experience and working with everyone on that show was just completely surreal because I'm working with, um, these people that have been in the industry forever. I mean, look at people like Heather Headley, who is a Tony winner and a Grammy winner, Joanna Garcia, who has been on everything from Reba to, uh, pretty low liars, Gossip Curly, um, it's just been working with these people and seeing the way they operate is, is how I become better as an individual and also better as an actor because watch, just watching them act, you get something you just kind of, you learn through osmosis, essentially when you're on set, um, asking questions to the director, the producers, the cinematographer, um, all of that, um, attributes to just gaining one knowledge and learning the craft better. I know, um, our director Norman, who's just one of the most brilliant individuals, um, we would, we would, I would, uh, he would give me a recommendation for a movie and I'd go home and I'd watch it and then I'd come back and we'd discuss it. And that's, that's how I learned probably more about cinema than I, than I ever had in my whole entire life for that. Um, we, we, I would watch the movie, we'd come back and we'd discuss and like discuss the themes, discuss the acting, discuss the cinematography, discuss different shots and in the symbolism between everything and learning what I learned there was so consequential to developing, I mean, my act, like, uh, who I am as an actor and who I am as a player as a person, I mean, movies are, are like books. They, uh, you can learn so much through them. It's just, it's just, uh, in a different light. And I am fascinated with, with, when, when movies teach me something, um, and I, I love that. Like, for example, um, the, the movie, uh, a good morning Vietnam is kind of like, it has influenced my, uh, view on an entertainment in general. I, I love how in that movie, um, around Williams is just, is, is there. He's the entertainer and he's entertaining these people who are in the Vietnam war and he doesn't realize what an influence he's having until he stops being at radio host. And that, that's my view in entertaining. Like, I want to be that a step form of escapism to someone. I want to, someone going through that hard time to turn on the television and, or turn on the TV and see, um, see my face and, and get relief from that. I, I, I love that. And that's why, um, I tried to not be controversial and try to just be kind of shooting straight because I want people to see me as that, that form of escapism, like, like, and, like, and, you know, that's a really, um, that's a really self-aware view, uh, I, I appreciate that a lot. I've never really, when you say it, it makes a lot of sense. But I don't think I've ever heard it phrase that way from somebody who is an entertainment, like, to, to understand, to understand, I guess, the, the influence that they have because being self-aware is very important. Yeah. And to, to, to miss out on that, I think is why a lot of people get into trouble on, on, on line and, and, and not just an entertainment. Anybody who has any sort of influence who just doesn't understand how people perceive them. It's very, it's nice thing to, yeah, go ahead, sorry. No, you're good. I totally agree with people who want to, to want to establish a platform and use their platform to, um, push policies or push ideas that they believe in. I totally respect that. But for me, my, my ideology and my vision for myself as a, as a public figure and as an actor is I want, I want that to be that form of escapism. And that's what I've established as my ideology. And that's what I'm going to pursue. See, that's, that's very noble. And I, and I really do hope that you, you carry that through because I think that I think that for better or for worse, probably for worse, people either don't establish that and they don't understand that if you're going to have that level of influence, you do have to have a brand and a brand is not a cheap thing. A brand is something that you embody and everything that you do. And, and even like, that's something that I've sort of even, with this podcast, I've, I've tried to figure out and struggle with because I like speaking to so many different types of people. And then that's why I sort of double down on these agnostic lessons because I want to tap into entrepreneurs. I want to tap into the arts. I want to tap into politicians. And I want to take the insights from the gamut of things that I just find interesting and impressive and people that have done stuff with their life and like pull out those life lessons because that's how I learn my love. I like my background is in sales and marketing and whatnot, but I like reading books. I like watching, you know, YouTube vid. I love, I love, you know, podcasts, Netflix, like so many things you can learn out of that that are not just in line with what I've done in my career, right? There's so many other things that you can pull out of a successful individual. Like that's, that's really what I hope to achieve with this podcast. So I've sort of also tried to do that. But I appreciate that you've, you've consciously thought through it and like everything you're putting out, that's like who you are, that's your persona. It's very impressive. I'm that's very good. Thank you so much. And I hope you, I hope I can help you accomplish your goal with this podcast. No, you are. You really are because I think that there's a lot of lessons that as I sort of ask questions, I just ask questions that I would want to understand. That's really it. And then I try and sort of be that, that, um, I guess that context provider because I'm the layman in most circumstances. And I don't, I, I understand to a point. Like I understand enough where like I'm dangerous, but I don't understand all the way. So like I try, I try and, try and bring out a couple extra things. Um, it's very good. So, so that, that makes a lot of sense. Let's, um, let's understand where like, where do you think or, or for an actor or for yourself? What is the next step after being on a Netflix series? Where do you want to take a career? Where would it be smart for someone to take a career that wants to build a presence? Is this the point where people start coming to you and you no longer, no, no longer have to go out and find things? Is that, are you at that point yet or not? I don't think so. No, um, the goal is to get to that point, but I think, uh, right now I, I think the age of, um, movie stars are dead. I think there's just, there's such a, it's never been easier to be a working actor. Um, I was, I was told that by, by someone I really respect like four years ago, um, because there's, uh, there's, there's so many platforms now. You have all the streaming services. You still have all the network TV, which looks like it's, it's kind of dying out, but you have all like any films and, and feature films. So there's, there's, it's never been easier to be working at your, but nothing said that the, um, the, uh, there's so many more people auditioning. And there's so much more talent brought to life now because of this information age, um, and, uh, so like, so my next step would be, um, just figuring out, uh, like, how I want to, uh, what, what I want my career to look like. So I've been sitting down with my manager along. We're talking about, uh, what are the next steps? And we've, we've established that I think this year, um, we're just, we're going to make the decisions we want. We want, we want to make, we want to accept the products that are going to make me look better and to go into the actor I want to be, I want to be a, a respectable, respected actor. I don't want to sit on a, uh, a television series like, um, should I think everything, but, uh, like, raise anatomy for, for 12 years. Like, I don't, I don't want us to do that. I, I hate sitting still and I hate doing the same character for 12 years. So I think we want to groom me into, um, one of those award-winning actors. I want to be groomed into, um, a, a, an indie film actor that, that actually is really, um, a high budget or, or medium budget films that will go make the, the rounds at, at some dance or the Oscars, hopefully. Um, but that's what, that's, that's my, that's my goal. And that's my vision. I think, um, we have to accept the roles or audition for the roles that are going to push me to that goal. And so, I mean, going back and making the broader theme here is just, it's established in that goals and knowing who you want to be seen as and who you want to be known as, um, and I think, I think we established that. And, and sweet magnolia has been an amazing blessing because it's pushing more, pushing me towards that goal and this, this show has been amazing. And the response from the show has been absolutely incredible. And, um, I think, yeah, this is, this is a huge, like, this was a home run. But it's also a stepping stone to accomplishing, um, more goals that I, that I want to do. Do you think, um, that the future of media in general is, is more focused on Netflix and streaming? Or do you think that, like, what is that path for somebody who is in acting? Because I completely agree. It's never been easier to at least have influence. I don't know much about the, the process, the intricacies you mentioned, some of them in, in becoming like that movie star or that actor, so to speak. But to have influence, to have a digital platform and then we start blurring the lines of like, what is a movie star is, you know, somebody who has 20 million subscribers on YouTube, when did they start crossing over and traditional? Because they're, they're film, they're, their content creators and they have a massive audience, but they're not traditional, the traditional way, right? But also, then you have actors that are focused on more Netflix now as opposed to other, other production companies. So where do you think the future, just a mishmash of everything and the person that could understand all of the channels, the mediums is going to be the one who wins? Yeah, I think I think that ladder statement is probably the most correct because getting influences is a huge is, it sells. So I know several people with, with huge, huge social media followings that are, it's easier for them to book because no matter where they go, they are, they're seen, they, they bring a following with them, which is, which is huge. And I know for me, I don't want to be seen as another social media personality. I want to be seen as an actor and as a serious actor. So when it comes to pushing different socials or YouTube and stuff, I'm not highly invested in that because I want to, I want my work to speak for itself, not my, not my Instagram profile. But like you said, I think it's definitely a mix of, of, of it all because the person who understands how to, to correctly balance all of that will, will definitely be over successful because, because viewers are everywhere. I mean, they're on YouTube, they're on Instagram, they're on TV, they're on Netflix, they're on streaming, and whatever you do, whatever you can do to entertain or captivate those viewers are, is you're, you're going to get paid forward and you're going to grow an audience. I know I appreciate that. And I think that also, I think that also there's other ways that create that, you know, you mentioned about being an escape for people when they, when they see your face, I think that it's also important to create a, like a very intimate connection, which I find that social media is easier to do than, than like a movie per se. Like when, when, when you have a, a Netflix or a movie or even like a, a TV series, you don't feel a connection with like the person, but you see the people, like I'm just thinking of one off top in my head, like, even like, like the rock or something like that, like, you know, like, like he's putting his stuff out, he's, he's on Snapchat, he's doing Instagram live streams, like he, he's doing all this stuff that's like social, but he's still known for the stuff that he's known for, but it's like the, it's, so I think that the different, the difference is where you create your main content, where your main platform is, and then you use everything else, like sort of augment your personality and be more personable. I, that's my opinion. I don't know, but no, it's great. And I know for like what we talked, my talk to my manager, a lot of how to establish myself, like as a brand on social media. And that's exactly what I said. I wanted to be, um, I wanted to be like, I want people to see who I am, um, when they watch me on TV, like I want them to come over here and get, like, social media and get to know me, um, I'm not, I'm not going to post those extremely polished pictures, um, those extremely photoshop pictures, because I think that's, that's way, that's so 2015, so 2014. Yeah. I'm not now, um, people are growing a lot on social media are the ones that are just sharing what they're doing right now, or what are, they're, uh, taking a selfie at, at dinner, something like that and just, um, making funny content, and interesting content that I think fans really, uh, resonate with, because they're seeing who they are, who, um, this leverage are as an individual. And yeah, I like that idea too, because, um, yeah, I want people to know me as a person, but also as like the entertainer. Yeah, no, that's, uh, I think that's important. Um, so the only thing I wanted to ask, like, I guess, what are you, what are you going to, because I, after I asked this, I'm just going to ask like some life lesson questions that I like to bring out from people, um, what would you like to focus on? Because obviously, uh, between them, like, is it going to be the music? Is it going to be, uh, more acting? Is it, is it both, um, I don't think you're going to, are you, are you going to go finish your masters, PhD, whatever, are you going to go practice? So what, what is your game plan for the next five years? Game plan for the next five years, um, so in regards to music, that music is more like, uh, something personal to me. Um, I'm not making it for any person. Um, I'm just making it because I love to make it. And what I write about in my songs are, um, our personal to me, and it's not geared towards, um, becoming the next, um, you name it, uh, vocal artist. It's just because I am writing what, what I want to write and I'm producing what I want to produce. So, um, that's a lot different than any to acting. Um, I definitely see that future. And like, like I said, my goal in the next five years is, um, probably to, to be in those films and be recognized as, as a professional in, in that acting arena. Um, but yeah, so that's, that's hopefully the goal in the next five years. Um, book a couple more, uh, a couple more movies, a couple more shows. Um, yeah, and just trying to, trying to establish myself, um, a good reputation, uh, in Hollywood. Very good. No, that's, uh, that's good. Um, okay. So I guess life, life lesson questions, uh, first one I like to ask, um, if you could give over one life lesson that you've learned across your career, that would help anybody, uh, maybe, uh, just accelerate their career a little bit quicker, maybe manage your life a little bit better, be happier, whatever it may be, just one really strong life lesson. What would it be? Yeah. Okay. So, um, one of my, so Norman Buckley, the director of our show, uh, said this thing to me, um, after I made a super mistake on set, um, he said, um, humiliation is, is one of the greatest teachers. And I, I kind of edited that to say humiliation and failure for some of the greatest teachers, um, because I know for me, I, um, I'm very, uh, let's see. Uh, I'm out there. Like I can, um, I kind of put myself out there, like I said, and get to see the results. And I've been humiliated. I've humiliated myself several, several times, um, and probably a better, a better term would be self-humiliation, um, because I've, I've done some stupid things. And then I was extremely embarrassed by it. I'd, you know, you'd make it, I'd make apologies for them and stuff like that. But that taught me some valuable, valuable lessons and same thing with failure. So I would say self-humiliation and failure are some of the greatest teachers. But also also the point you made is learned from that. Yeah. That's, that's the, that's the major thing. So don't just keep making the mistakes, but you're, but you're, but that's, that's a good one. That's a very good one. I've, I've, I've heard that said different ways, but I've never heard, um, humiliation because humiliation, failure is a teacher. Humiliation is something is enormous teacher. Yeah. It's a different feeling. And I, I know when, um, when my, yeah, when our director Norman said that, I was, I kind of, I went home and was just thinking about it all night, because it sounds controversial, but when put it in a specific instance, it can be extremely, extremely helpful and it can groom you to mature faster and in aspects that you never thought you could. And, and I think that it's fair to say that there's not a single person out there that hasn't screwed something up or been absolutely embarrassed about something they've done. Um, so, you know, leverage that, leverage that feeling and, and take it with you and, and make yourself better because of it. Yeah, definitely. Um, and another thing that I would love to, to pick your brain about and ask you about a resource, a book, a podcast, a person, something that you enjoy to learn from. It could be a movie. It could be Netflix. I don't care to some context about how, how you've sort of incorporated that or learn from it and obviously as a resource for other people to learn from. Yeah. Um, so this is my favorite book. So it's a lot of people have read it probably in high school. Um, it's called the catcher in the rock. Yeah, yeah, it's, it's my all time favorite book. I've read it several times. Um, and there's, there, it's a brilliant book. I mean, there's so many themes hidden throughout that, that novel that are just mind boggling and that's why I find myself reading it over and over again because every time I catch something in, but the, the overall premise and the overall theme of that is, is the, this aspect of innocence and how, um, the, the lead holding call field is, is trying to hold on to this innocence and he can't, he can't let I go. Um, and in the end, the last, this is probably spoiling it because I haven't read it. But, um, his, his, his, um, younger sister who, uh, is, is kind of this, this, the symbol for innocence throughout the whole show, the whole book. And she steps on this carousel and reaches for the golden ring. And in the book, he says, um, he was going to go grab her and save her from falling, but she grabbed it and then that's kind of how the book ends. And the, the idea of being that if you, if you try to cuddle this innocence and try to hold on to it, you're not going to accomplish anything. Um, you have to reach for that golden ring in order to do something. And I, I love that theme. And I don't think people, um, people read the book and they'd be like, Oh, wow, this is depressing. This is, um, this is like, seriously dark. But if you understand the concept of the book, it's, it's brilliant. It's brilliant. Um, so give that a read. And honestly, look up on, um, you can just look up on a, on the internet, the themes in it because you'll, I look up your themes beforehand and then read the book because understanding the way that, um, he articulates these themes are just brilliant. And I love that book. I like that example a lot. That's not a book that I normally hear. I know the book. Um, I think I also read it in high school. It's been around for some time now. But, but I like that you, you, pulled out those themes because I think we hear those themes like so often. Like you always hear like if you don't go forward, you'll never, like if you don't, again, if you don't, you know, I just, I was saying if you don't take action, you know, you're never going to, you're never going to achieve it. So it's been said like a million different ways. You're, you're moving in a sense, but it's also like you're moving, you're moving ignorance and, and you're removing, you're moving all the things that like stop you from moving, moving forward. So I think that that's, that's a really, really good lesson. And I actually, that forgot about that book completely. I haven't even thought about that book for years. So that's, I like, I like being brought that out. That's a, that is a classical example. Yeah. And in the whole book, I mean, holding is established as this depressed this, um, he thinks he's just better than everyone else because he's not, um, he just, he feels trapped. And the thing is, he's, because he's trying to cause all this innocence. And the, the reason why that book is just so immense in the aspect of that simple, um, that simple theme that we hear so many, so many times is because it, it broadens this character in this narrative that this, this main character is depressed and he's not doing anything. He's not doing things like what he thinks he is, but he's not. And so he doesn't realize at the very end of the book that he actually needs to reach for that golden ring in order to do something. And that's why it's so powerful. Because if you just say, put yourself out there and good things will happen, it doesn't hit as much as when you hear, when you have this 100 and 200 page book that talks for 190 pages about the consequences of not reaching for it. Yeah, very good. Very good. I like that one a lot. Um, okay, that's all that's all I got. If people want to learn more about what you're working on, uh, connect with you or, you know, uh, website, Instagram, where, where do they go? YouTube. Yeah, you know, I just add Carson Roland on Instagram. It's worth it. That's all for today. Thanks again for joining me on another episode of the Success Story podcast. You can download or stream this podcast wherever podcasts are available, including iTunes, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, iHeartRadio and many others. You can also watch this podcast on YouTube. If you haven't already, please subscribe and share this podcast with your friends, family, co-workers and peers. Please leave us a rating on iTunes. It takes about 30 seconds as it allows other people to find our podcast and let's our amazing guests reach even more people with their message and remember any rating is fine as long as it contains five stars. I'm Scott Clary from the Success Story podcast signing off.