Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to JOCELYN JONES. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

JOCELYN, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So, let’s start with a hypothetical – what would you change about the educational system?

I am a teacher first and foremost; I teach actors, directors and writers about storytelling. How to create the lives and stories of compelling IMAGINARY characters.

But what is ANY life really, but the curation of a story? Your life—YOUR story. I believe there is an artist in everyone, and your first most important work of art—is your LIFE. I believe education should support the discovery of an individual’s deepest desires. And one of the ways to do that is to discover and honor what brings a person joy. Another way is to ask questions, and listen for the most truthful answer. Truth is easy to decipher because it’s visceral—it moves in you.

We are living in turbulent times. In the absence of leadership, education, civility, and common decency—the “wonders” of technology have come along and hijacked our attention, rendering us little more than spectators trained to compete and consume. We have forgotten how to listen. And what are we listening for? The truth. And who are we listening to? Well, let’s start with ourselves. The heart knows.

If we simply LISTENED to children from a very young age:

• if we observed their interests and what brings them joy
• if we taught them the difference between their monkey mind (the anxious internal chatter of their
rapidly developing, insecure ego) —and their own quiet, internal guidance
• if we taught them to still themselves, breathe into their hearts and listen. And if we taught them to trust beyond the shadow of a doubt that the truth lived there

—we would have a far less dysfunctional society.

When we seek counsel from what we know in our hearts, and act on that truth, we move toward a higher state of humanity. This is the nature of evolution. This is why we’re here. Our current peril contains a message: it’s time to wake up and realize who we are, and what we’re capable of. Imagine if this was what education was about. Imagine if instead of TEACHING we were LEARNING from a student? Learning just what they need to support a fulfilling life.

Storytelling and listening go hand in hand. To write a good story, either imaginary—or your life’s story, you have to ask questions and listen for answers from your own internal guidance. You ask—and then patiently wait for the intuitive and visceral thoughts to arrive. The hunches. Often, you have to ask again, and again—what else? What else can it be? Because beyond the logical and cluttered thinking that you’ve internalized from others—inspiration lives. When inspiration strikes, you’ll know it—it’s like a light turns on, it’s like your soul cries out—you feel it, it’s visceral.

We are being called upon to stop looking outside ourselves for answers, validation, and even love. We have reached a time in history when it is imperative for us to discover our own autonomy as beings. To heal ourselves, parent ourselves, love ourselves, and, most importantly, LISTEN to ourselves. By “ourselves,” I don’t mean the incessant chatter of our self-centered egos, trying desperately to navigate in a competitive society—but rather the trustworthy counsel of our soul—which is there, waiting for us to still ourselves, breathe into our hearts… and listen.

By teaching ourselves to listen to our own inner guidance, we have the opportunity to create our lives in concert with our higher selves, and in so doing, with the best in each other. This is what’s meant by oneness, by wholeness, by unity. This is what’s meant by awakening consciousness.

We are meant to excel at the things that make us happiest in life but we get lost in outside influences telling us things like: You can’t make money at that! You were raised to go into the family business! You can’t get anywhere in life without a degree! And worst of all—that just isn’t cool.

But if education was simply about listening to children from a young age, asking them what interests them, observing what brings them joy as individuals, and then giving them the tools they need to become expert in that field—we’d have a living pedagogy rather than a historically ineffective educational paradigm.

JOCELYN, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am an acting teacher, writer, creative consultant, filmmaker and inspirational speaker.

I started out as an actor and studied with the master teachers of the time—Sanford Meisner in New York, and Lee Strasberg in LA, but it wasn’t until I studied with Milton Katselas that I fell in love with a real, meat and potatoes acting technique. Within three years I was teaching for him and I’ve been teaching ever since—over 30 years now. As a child, I loved puzzles and that’s what acting technique was like for me—putting together the puzzle pieces of a full, albeit imaginary life.

I have worked with actors who’ve never set foot on stage before, and over the years, with their dedication and commitment, I’ve been able to develop their careers to the point of starring in their own series. And I have worked with A-list superstars, developing scripts, characters, and guiding their career choices.

I am grateful that my book: Artist: Awakening the Spirit Within—was a bestseller, won 18 International book awards, and garnered reviews such as “Life changing” “Masterpiece” and “A roadmap of how to become a brilliant human being”

My 16-episode documentary series—In Class With Jocelyn Jones: A Celebration of Actors & Acting is endorsed by former President of Paramount Pictures, David P. Kirkpatrick saying, “If you’ve ever wondered what goes on in a first rate professional acting class, watch this series!”

Having taken a break from teaching to write the book and make the series, last January I returned to teaching for the first time since the pandemic. That 2025 10-Week Intensive sold out in 48 hours, a full 4 months prior to the first class. Seeing this hunger for an inspirational experience in these historically dark and divisive time, I wanted to create a space for like-minded souls to work together, to grow as artists—to create hope in their lives.

Because of that huge demand, we are launching two new Ongoing Acting Classes in June. They are currently filling with an extraordinary group of industry professional. We have actors, directors and even an award winning editor. All storytelling techniques is the same—they even apply to writing the story of your own life!

Learn more at JocelynJonesStudio.com

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I had known about the importance of meditation. Even 10 minutes a day gives us a break from the incessant chatter of our ego’s monkey mind. We are not our thoughts; we are the awareness that observes our thoughts. It is in this space that we connect with our truest self. It is in this space that inspiration can arrive. It’s a practice. I wish I’d known this earlier—we are what we practice.

How’d you meet your business partner?

My husband, Miles Watkins (a successful television director) and I founded the studio after my mentor Milton Katselas died in 2008. Since then I’ve become more and more bicoastal. I spend most of my time in Los Angeles. But I keep a studio in New York City (where I am from) and where I also work— and most importantly, where I visit with my daughter and grandbabies, who live upstate.

After the success of the 10-week seminar, we were all sad to stop the work. I knew without doubt that I wanted to return to teaching ongoing classes, because that’s where students thrive the most. In looking for a solution I realized if I had a partner I could teach for 12 weeks—and have them teach for 12 weeks. We could alternate teaching, 12 weeks on—12 weeks off. Finding the right partner seemed the perfect solution for keeping the group together year round (which is how they benefit the most) while allowing me time to travel back East, and continuously guide the ship.

I tried several different options before I found the perfect partner. I was reminded by my failures—that Universe will fail you until you get it right! How many times have things fallen through, and after the initially feeling of stress and disappointment, a new solution arrives that is SO much better. And you realize, Oh my god—if that disappointing thing hadn’t happened, then THIS much better solution never would have come about! We are always exactly where we need to be to learn our next lesson.

My new partner, Griff, studied with Milton Katselas for 10 years, I studied and worked with MK for 17. Griff was also one of an elite few chosen by our mentor to take a two-year teaching program. When Milton died Griff came to the studio and study with me for 7 years. I knew we came from the same work and spoke the same creative language. Not only is he a brilliant actor, with a dynamic energy—but he is also an accomplished writer and producer—and to top it off he is a very successful audition coach—something I can’t offer because the time constraints of my other work.

I believe teachers are a breed and that Griff has that calling. Lastly, I believe in following your hunches—and my heart told me that given the opportunity, Griff would rise to the occasion. Isn’t this how every successful person gets their start? Someone sees something in them, gives them a chance, and they rise to the occasion—they excel! I know that’s true for me. Milton took a chance on me, and because of that opportunity—teaching became my life’s work. At some point we all have to pass the baton.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://JocelynJonesStudio.com
• Instagram: @JocelynJonesStudio
• Facebook: Jocelyn Jones Acting Studio
• Youtube: Jocelyn Jones Studio

Image Credits

All head shots by Dana Patrick
Full length portrait by Dana Patrick