Mommywood

Julie Marchiano is a Second City Chicago alum, was on Barry (HBO), and books national commercials — and she's also a mom to a 3-year-old, figuring out the same juggle we all are. In this one: the time she met Henry Winkler while folding jeans at the mall, years before booking Barry; why she never wanted kids (until she suddenly did); the real math of making it work as a working actor — including going back to a full-time job for 15 months; and why there's never a "right time" to have a baby in this industry. Honest, funny, and full of the stuff actors don't usually say out loud.

What does success look like after becoming a parent—and when the career you love doesn't always go according to plan?
This week, Emily sits down with writer, director, actor, comedian, and podcast host Ilana Cohn for an honest conversation about navigating motherhood while building a creative career in Hollywood.
Ilana opens up about the reality of raising two kids while wearing countless creative hats, redefining success after motherhood, surviving the entertainment industry's constant ups and downs, and why creating your own opportunities has never been more important. She also shares her mental health journey, the unexpected path that led her to sobriety, how becoming a mom shifted her perspective on ambition, and why she hopes her kids grow up knowing that creativity is always worth pursuing.
Plus, they chat about working alongside their actor husbands, parenting in the age of AI and smartphones, balancing stability with artistic fulfillment, and—because this is motherhood—a very memorable conversation about battling lice.
Whether you're an actor, a creative, or simply a parent trying to hold onto your dreams while raising tiny humans, this episode is a reminder that success doesn't have to look the way you imagined—it can evolve right alongside you.

What do you do when the industry doesn't make room for your story? You tell it yourself.
This week on Mommywood, I chat with actor, playwright, director, and creator Minita Gandhi to talk about building a career on your own terms. From acting on television to writing deeply personal work like Muthaland, Minita shares how she stopped waiting for permission, the importance of authentic representation, and why creating your own opportunities can be the most powerful move in Hollywood.
They also dive into navigating rejection, redefining success, staying creatively inspired, and what keeps you going through the inevitable ups and downs of an entertainment career.
Whether you're an actor, creator, or simply someone chasing a dream, this conversation is filled with honesty, wisdom, and encouragement.

What if we actually said the things we usually only think?
This week, I'm sharing the conversations that have been taking up way too much space in my head lately—from questioning my acting career, to wondering if we're supposed to stay in Los Angeles, to feeling guilty that my husband has carried so much of our family's financial load.
I also talk about making friends as an adult, motherhood, getting older, and why social media can make it feel like everyone else has everything figured out.
Spoiler: I don't.
If you've ever felt like your brain is a little too loud lately, this one's for you.

Are we actually living motherhood... or are we documenting it?
In this solo episode of Mommywood, I'm unpacking how social media has changed the way we experience motherhood.
From matching pajamas and perfectly curated birthday parties to feeling like every sweet moment should become a photo or Reel, it's easy to wonder whether we're making memories—or making content.
As someone who's actively trying to grow a brand online while raising a young daughter, I feel this tension every day. I love documenting memories, but I also want to be fully present for them.
This isn't about blaming social media. It's about asking honest questions:
• Has motherhood become a performance?
• When does documenting become distracting?
• How do we preserve memories without missing the moments that matter?
If you've ever reached for your phone before simply soaking in a beautiful moment with your child, this conversation is for you.