Welcome to your diary episode. Here's the thing, I'm a bit of a nomad. So these episodes come to you from wherever I'm living or travelling to at the time. So I'll share with you what's going on in my world, from book tours, animal encounters, delish meals, nature adventures, health discoveries, to swimming in hidden Byron Bay beaches. Come with me as I share my adventures with you. Hello, Dari Potaroni coming to you from beautiful Los Angeles. I have got a bucket full of notes here for you. I've also laid out my mermaid and dolphin oracle cards and I thought I would pick a card for you from the deck. But let's have a little chat ski about the week that was in LA. So as you know, I'm working loads at a yoga studio and essentially in between that, I'm auditioning mainly for commercials and voiceovers, which I love and are so much fun. And then between that, I'm also hustling to book great podcasts on this pod. On Monday's episode, you had a rerelease of an episode with the wonderful and beautiful and talented Travis Jeffery. He's an Aussie actor. And we chatted literally four years ago, almost like I'm going to say he was in the first hundred guests, maybe even 50, like as the pod launched, essentially, because I remember when we were recording over COVID, like lockdown and whatnot. I remember I had six episodes in the can before lockdowns happened because I loved a recording real life. And I thought, ah, six weeks of content, I'm ahead of the game, dah, dah, dah, dah. Neck minute, obviously the lockdown went for much longer than six weeks in Australia. And so I started to have to interview my guests on zoom and Travis was one of these people. So the episode that came out Monday is his career when we were chatting about it four years ago. But he'd already done amazing stuff, unbroken with Angelina Jolly, parts of the Caribbean, Gallipoli, and actually a lot of the Aussie war films and TV series. Anyway, he talks about his process, he's very open as an actor, he's very generous about what works for him. A lot of actors kind of gatekeep a little bit, not all, but some do. And he is absolutely not one that ever does that. So that was Monday's chat. And it was ahead of next Monday's chat, as in the next episode you hear after this diary episode. And that's because he is in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. And he plays a lead, a Nia, a cheeky little teenage chimp. And so we talk about motion capture, which is where they've kind of got like, kind of like a wetsuit vibe on with like little infrared baubles all over them and a little camera that sits in front of their face to pick up their facial expressions. So fascinating, so cool, such a great human being. So that's going to come out Monday morning for you guys in Australia. I cannot wait for you to hear it. It also was recorded on Zoom because Travis in Australia and I'm in Los Angeles, but I hope you love it. And I have booked a couple of other exciting guests both here in LA and back in Australia for August as well. So we are, the pod is tracking. I love it so, so much. It brings me so much happiness. So thank you for always listening and being a huge part of it. But as this is a diary app, I always am reviewing some stuff that I try in LA. So I caught up with a friend on the weekend and we went for a big walk around Santa Monica and Venice and we ended that big walk. Like, I literally think we did close to 20,000 steps. We ended it at an iconic burger place called Heavy Handed. Here's the hack. If you ever go there, ask for extra pickles. They already give you a mazillion pickles. But if you're like me, go for the pickles. So that's a really great place. There's two locations as far as I'm aware. There is one in Santa Monica on Main Street. That's one we went to. And there's also one in Studio City, I believe. Both amazing, I'm sure, that will be the same ballgame there. Like, design is amazing. But get the loaded chips and they put like pickles and cheese and chopped caramelised onion on them. And then we both got a cheeseburger with extra pickles, de-lichemo. Trader Joe's, you probably know this from Listing to Me already, but they do seasonal things and they're famous for their sheet cake. A sheet cake is kind of like, there's not going to describe it as like a thin sponge with cream cheese frosting on top. And people were calling it on TikTok the death row cake. Like, you would have this on death row. I mean, it is very good because it's like classical. There's a vanilla one, a lemon one, a chocolate one, and they just launched a carrot cake one. So naturally, I had to try it. Totally full of gluten, totally full of sugar, totally full of dairy, but it was really good. It is just that like, it reminds me of a bullies cake. You know, how you just know what you're going to get with those mud cakes. You know, it's that texture that all the kiddos love. It reminds me kind of like that. It's just like a fail safe. Of course, I have, I always talk to you about the mochis ice. They've bringing out other flavors like anyway, purple sweet potato flavor. Matt and I have tried that one, but I still think the strawberry moch is the winner. The trick is you've got to let them cool down out of the freezer. So it's a Japanese treat with like ice cream and like this rice paper dough on the outside of it. Also, there is an ice cream place right near where I work called Van Luen ice cream. I went in, I went in, I had a really big shift. Like I was working all day and then I taught yoga in the evening and I was like, I'm going to have a little treat on my break. And I got a two flavored ice cream. I got the Marion Berry cheesecake, which is essentially like a Bramble Berry or like a sour blueberry raspberry vibe or like a blackberry, I would say. And then brown butter cookie dough. That was the winner. Brown butter cookie dough sores, so good. But they're everywhere. And fun fact, one of the owners is Aussie. And fun, fun fact, I, many, many moons ago in my 20s, went to New York and filmed an online series called Fruits and Roots with Lola Berry, still on my YouTube channel to this day. And I interviewed the founders. And so I was like, Oh, I think I'm going to try. I tried a couple of years ago to get them on the pod, but I was thinking I'm going to try and get them on the pod again. Because how funny full circle, like I would have interviewed them literally 15 years ago for my YouTube channel. And it started as like an ice cream truck in New York. And that's where I interviewed them, like at the ice cream truck in New York, I would have been like, yeah, like 25, maybe less, maybe like 24. And I'm 38 now. So it'd be cool to like, and now they've got like storefronts all over America. They've got some special ice cream they're doing with Sabrina Carpenter. It's like an espresso flavor. They're killing it there everywhere. And you know, that's pretty cool, interesting. We're about to pups it again, which is really exciting. I wanted to mention something because 70% of you were Aussies. So I wanted to make mention last year, you know, I toured with Wanderlust Festival. And if I was in Australia right now, I would be hounding these guys to let me be on the bill. But the bill means the line up. Anyway, they are having another event, another true North Wanderlust event in August. And guess who the headline is? Headliner is Drew Barrymore. What? Yeah, Drew Barrymore. Also, G Flip, Terry Irwin, Tones and I, the list is like incredible of the lineup. Anyway, so there's two events in Australia. So you've got Sydney on the 2nd of August. And that's at the ICC Sydney Theatre. And then you've got the very next day, the 3rd of August, Brizzy. And that's at the Brisbane Convention Exhibition Centre. So jump on board. I found all these details just by literally jumping online, wanderlust.com.au/drewbarrymore. But it's called an evening with Drew Barrymore. Can you imagine it'll be like being on her TV show, which is like amazing. Oh my God, that's one of my dreams. I'd love to go on the Drew Barrymore TV show. Anyway, that's an aside. But anyway, I just want to let you know about it because I'm pretty sure it is like the similar format to a show. It says here, Drew's on the couch talent announce, which is what I was just saying, like whether it's G Flip, whether it's Tones and I, Terry Irwin, can you imagine him viewing Terry Irwin? She'd be amazing. Anyway, so cool, so exciting. And yeah, if I was in Australia, I'd be going, but I'm not in Australia. So I want to let you know about it in case you're insides or Brizzy or want to plan like a girls trip or a trip with them up, whatever. Can you imagine? No, Drew Barrymore. I mean, I can't. So good. So good. So good. Also, boss and I and boss's bestie, Adam, we're doing a trip to Joshua Dream. So I was going to be Palm Springs. It's now Joshua Tree and technically Uka Valley, but I think you say Yucka Valley like the Aussie way of it. Anyway, I have been making a list of all these places and all these hikes I want to do. So I want to do a Joshua Tree podcast special for you off the back of it because I have been researching it like from the vintage shopping to all the different hikes you can do to stargazing the places to stargaze the places to watch sunset or sunrise. Pioneer Town, I went to last year. It's built in the 1940s where they used to film westerns. So there's literally like a jail, a church, a museum, trading posts, like all these like like the old post office. Like, I think it's a functional town though. Anyway, I really want to go to the Red Dog Saloon this time, which I didn't do last time when I visited. I got a selfie out the front, but I didn't actually go in. I was on my own. So that's really exciting. I really will give you a full tour guide of Palm Springs slash Joshua Tree because I've obviously stayed in Palm Springs last year, did loads of hikes there. So I'll go all my old Palm Springs content as well. But this will be more Joshua Tree vibes. So I'm so excited. As you know, I've been working pretty much full time at the Yoge studio and then doing all my passions, you know, at nighttime or on my one of two days off and all that kind of thing. So I'm so flipping pumped to have a little getaway in HR too. LA is amazing, but it is a grind and it's a hustle. And sometimes they say LA can burn you out. And so I'm really excited just for like a reset of the batteries to be like, you know, lying by the pool. How nice, how nice would that buy? Okay, radio. Next thing I want to talk to you about is I've got my mermaid cards out here. So the way that I love to do a little reading is my nan used to be a tarot card reader, beautiful Dorothy. And PS day with the meeting when he came on the pod. I don't know if you remember this, but he's like, you I've got a photo lab mode because my mum loves emanating of me and Nan on the fridge. And he said, if you ever need a sign, look for a black cat. And that is your nan. And I was walking the dogs the other night when we were dog sitting just around our like local neighborhood. There was a little black cat in the window. So anyway, I think that's a good sign. Anyway, so the way Nan taught me when she was reading tarot cards, these are Oracle cards, these are not tarot cards, but you pull three cards, one for the past, one for the present, one for the future. So just take a little moment. Together, let's take a big breath in. Let it go. Beautiful. So we're clear, we're all lined. And I've got my beautiful manifesting candle going as I record. So let's just pull three cards together. So first card is going to be past, second, present, third, future. And a little card just popped out. So I'm going to have a look at what that one is. So the past is helpful person. So the past could be an hour ago yesterday, whether you're listening to this as the pod comes out, or if you're listening to this down the line, it just like it associates to you. So whenever the past was for you can literally be an hour ago can be last week, last year, whatever suits. So past helpful person, someone wants to help you think of whom that might be an initiate contact. I love that presence. That's where you are right now in this moment. Make a wish. This is a magical moment. Make a wish and enjoy its manifestation. Okay, I'm going to shut my eyes and take a wish. I always want to make a wish. I breathe it in and now let it settle on the exhale in my body. Did you make a wish? Okay. Future. So the future can be tomorrow, an hour's time, a week's time, three weeks, you know what I mean? Dream big. Lack of small thoughts about yourself and see yourself succeeding. And then I remember I said a card just popped out of the deck when I grabbed the dream big one. And this one is break free. Try different ventures and experiences as a way to grow and learn. And then I always look at the bottom of the deck. Mother healing as your feelings towards your mother heal your desires manifest more rapidly and accurately. That doesn't need to be your mother by the way. That can be just a female energy or figure within your life. So there you go. So past helpful person right now, make a wish and then just like literally make a wish. Breathe it in and then just let it settle on your exhale. Future dream big. Lack of small thoughts about yourself, see yourself succeeding. So to me, that's like letting go of the self doubt picture. And then I'm just going to look at the top of the deck. Oh, yeah. This one always gets me what's your thoughts. It's important to only think about what you desire and not what you fear. That's a hard one though. Easier than done. But focusing on this dream big and letting go of any kind of doubt and then break through, break free. So keep mixing it up. Like do things to reset your energy. Do things like go to the movies, catch up with the mate, go out for a drink, like do things that like break you out of your like cycle or your like day to day mundane things. Really important for me. Like if I get a job, I'm like boss, what are we doing? I've got meetings back to back today. But one of them is at the Polo Lounge, which is super bougie. I've never been there before in my life. It's the lounge linked to the Beverly Hills Hotel. And I said to Matt, like my initial thought was like, Oh my God, Matt, that's going to be so expensive. And he's like, Oh my God, it's the, it's an experience. Like it's the first time you've ever been there. Everybody raves about this place is like, just go and enjoy it. So I thought, you know what, that's what I'm going to have to do. I know I'm just going to have to go and enjoy myself. And I've planned a nice little outfit. They're both back to back work meetings. So send me some lucky vibes. And so I'm really excited. And they're more in the realm. These meetings today are all around TV hosting, send me focusing on TV hosting here in America, which is really, really exciting. And obviously kind of like where I've got more credits in Australia, like where I've done more of that stuff in Australia, then say the acting, I don't have any credits. So every time I audition, I'm just like working so hard on it and then putting the self tape up and then just letting it go, which is a great way to audition. But with the TV hosting, I love it so much that I'm just like, I don't question it. I don't doubt myself as much. Anyway, the last thing I wanted to leave you with lovely people is I found someone posted, I think a mate from acting school, Jenna posted this. It's a quote from Nick Offerman. I love Nick Offerman, arguably one of the best voices in the world. But he talks about acting advice, he's got this bit on acting advice and patience. And so I think it can relate to anybody with a dream or goal. So I've got it up on Instarone for you. I'm going to play it for you. I'm just getting my volume up. Okay, you ready? Here we go. People who I would say were the most talented people I've known didn't make it. Their patience was not up to snuff. And so they would find some other fruitful way to live their lives without depending on the fickle bitch that is show business. Patience, steadfast, despite opposition, difficulty or adversity. I was aware that I wasn't a superstar out of the womb. I wasn't born in a top hat and tap shoes. There was a couple of dark years and a large answer to the question of what was the source of my patience was that I determined if I was going to stick it out in showbiz, I was going to work hard to make my life enjoyable without depending on the successes or failures of show business. I had my wood shop and I was working as an actor. I was making sure that I was rich and living like a king no matter what my paycheck said. I think I was 38 when I got the job on Parks and Rec. The creators of the show, Mike Schur and Greg Daniels, they told NBC they wanted me and NBC said no. And they made them look at hundreds of other actors for five months. And finally, after five months, NBC said okay, we'll let you cast this guy. The thing is by then I had tricked myself into happiness and peacefulness and a life of patience. And so I think I would not have gotten the job if I had not had that peace that I had achieved anyway. I think that people can achieve great things without patience. Some people are great at age 14. They become the biggest pop star on the planet. I would not wish that upon my worst enemy. If you're lucky enough to achieve greatness, I hope that it includes a lot of patience because it really ups your chances of surviving and perhaps perpetuating the greatness. How good is he? Nick Othman, by the way, I saw him live in LA a couple months ago and when he came out on stage, I cried. Also, if you've seen the Last of Us, he has such a beautiful, beautiful story arc in The Last of Us. But as you know, like Parks and Rec, I believe he's in the office as well. But super, super funny human, super talented. And he created this woodwork business off the side of acting because he was like, well, I want to do something that I love with my time when I'm not acting. I don't know, I think he's on the money here. I think this is a good way to live. Anyway, I think you're wonderful. Have a ripper day. I hope you liked your little card reading. I just thought of it as I was getting ready for the pod. So remember, the past is helpful person. The present right now, make a wish and breathe it in and then settle in your body. And then it's all about dreaming big and breaking free for the future. All right, my friends, make a love. Can't wait to check in with you next week. I think you're great. Bye.
