We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kalpana Pot a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kalpana, thanks for joining us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

Let’s be real, I don’t think artists are happy ALL the time doing what they’re doing because the business side is so volatile. I love the craft of acting as it’s freeing and has made me a better person. And thank God for that! I was one of those who just decided that I wanted to be an actor after never having experience doing it. I grew up singing and dancing so pursuing Hollywood just seemed like a logical choice. It truly was a calling. I don’t always love the craft as many roles I go out for aren’t “meaty.” I love exploring the depths of my emotions and putting myself in the darkest situations a human can face. It sounds crazy, but after years of classes, I’ve learned how to do it safely as I know it’s just imaginary. I love it because once you surrender to being purely emotional and not thinking, it’s so freeing! It’s as if you’re a child again. So I am happy when I get to explore my art, and I’m happy when I book work that allows me to continue to pursue it; however, the latter part isn’t that consistent. That’s why I do wonder from time to time what a “regular” job would be like. There’s comfort in knowing you have a consistent income… but that’s where it ends for me. I am my own boss right now. I have the freedom to travel and take time off whenever I need to (national commercials have given me that freedom). I couldn’t imagine doing the same thing every day and answering to other people. I love having “lofty” goals and always working towards growth. The volatility of this industry has made me dabble in writing, which has allowed me to find my voice, my story, and my identity. So yeah, I am happy.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I grew up singing and dancing so I always wanted to pursue on-camera acting in Hollywood. I am the youngest of three girls in a family full of doctors (I’m Indian), but I always was the black sheep. However, I’m grateful to be in a family that valued science and education. Although I find biology interesting, my main science interest is astronomy (NOT astrology). Soon after moving to LA, I got a part-time job at Griffith Observatory, where I still do get to educate the public on the wonders of the Universe. That’s my slogan, not theirs. By working there, I found my skill in science communication, which I’m damn good at. And although I’ve worked on a number of TV shows and commercials, I got into hosting in the past couple of years. I’ve built a large following on social media with my casual approach to astronomy. I’ve co-hosted a digital astronomy series with Franklin Institute that got nominated for a 2023 Webby Award, I co-hosted the first live tour of Wheel of Fortune as the letter-turner, and I’ve even worked with Amazon as a speaker. I’ve felt as though I’ve recently found my voice in the kinds of stories I want to tell, which are grounded comedically while advocating for STEM. The recent uptick in anti-science and stupid conspiracies really has me concerned; therefore, I want to tell stories that humanize those in STEM. With my approach to science communication coupled with my storytelling skills, the Universe is the limit! I’m currently writing a book, and once the strikes are over, I hope to start pitching a pilot I’ve written that brings to light everything I’ve just said. I’m excited to venture down this new path of taking back some of the control that we give away as storytellers in this industry. In the sense that, why not tell my own stories?

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding part of being an artist is that it makes me a better person. I constantly have to put myself in the shoes of other people who are different than I am. That’s the job of acting. Their views could radically be different but I have to humanize them so I can be them truthfully. That naturally grows my empathy as a human, and there’s no shortage of empathy in this world. I also love the freedom it gives – as a job and as a human. I’m my own boss and I get to live in emotions without caring what anyone else thinks.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I initially got trapped on Instagram a number of years ago by just posting “pretty” pictures because I thought that’s what people wanted to see. It wasn’t until I thought about posting astronomy videos on TikTok during the pandemic that my followers grew exponentially. The point is, find YOUR voice and your niche and not what you think others want to see/hear. Find something different that hasn’t already been done, or find a different way of doing what’s already been done. For instance, I curse in my astronomy videos because I don’t think science should ever be stuffy. Do I get some backlash? Of course! Do I care? Not at all. It’s the way I speak with friends. It’s my voice. Not everything will like it but idgaf.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/kalpanapot
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TokNerdyToMe
• Other: Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@toknerdytome