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

Marisa , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I’ve encountered numerous opportunities to take risks throughout my life, ranging from monumental decisions to seemingly inconsequential choices. One particular risk, though seemingly small at the time, has had an immense impact on my perspective and life trajectory.

After receiving emails from The Clown School for about 15 years, I finally decided to attend a weekend workshop titled ‘Clown As Healer.’ Intrigued by the title and drawn by my background as a sound healer, I saw this as an opportunity to finally experience what this school had to offer.

The experience proved to be amazingly transformative, allowing me to reconnect with my inner child and wholeheartedly embrace the presence of being in joyful play. It provided a safe space for me, particularly during ‘circle time,’ where I felt remarkably secure in expressing my truth—a significant milestone in my lifelong journey of learning to trust my voice. I owe a big thank you to the endearing, Raquel Gendry, whose guidance was instrumental in fostering such a wonderful group dynamic.

I was eager to explore more of the offerings of this school, so I promptly enrolled in a 4-day Balinese Mask workshop led by the artistic director, David Bridel. The experience was truly magical and even more transformative! Each day was brimming with creativity through dance, movement, exploration, profound joy, inner insight, and just a remarkable sense of liberation in my expression.

David’s skillful leadership and genuine passion for his craft created an atmosphere where creativity flourished and all barriers melted away. His encouragement and support empowered each of us to explore our artistic potential without reservation.

Encouraged by my fellow students, I finally summoned the courage to enroll in Clown 1, and then Clown 2, and eventually Clown 3! These classes, again guided by David, have profoundly altered my life. I’ve shed layers of old thinking patterns which has lightened me up to explore new avenues of self-expression. It’s been a beautiful rebirth, infusing me with the confidence to pursue my unique ideas and contribute to this world without the burden of others’ opinions holding me back.

Reflecting on this journey, I’ve come to realize that even the smallest of risks, those ‘teeny tiny’ steps into the unknown, have been quite instrumental in teaching me the value of venturing beyond my comfort zone.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Absolutely! With over four decades working as an actress, my journey continues to unfold in many interesting ways. Yet, one lesson remains constant: it’s never solely about the roles I land.  Instead, it’s the genuine connections forged with the people I encounter on those sets that leave an indelible mark on me. The stories we share, reflecting on our life experiences, become very profound moments of growth for me. For all of us, honestly. They inspire us to reconsider our perspectives, nudging us towards new ways of being. And I think that’s pretty cool.

While technically, we’re making movies, TV shows, or theater, on a deeper level, we’re all contributing to each other’s evolution as human beings. And this is why, on a deep soul level, I love being an actress. These “movie sets” create the space for everyone to engage in deeper conversations about life.

However, what truly molded my life’s journey is my experience as a survivor of Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare cancer I battled as a young adult at 19 years old. This period of resilience and overcoming adversity ignited a profound commitment to advocacy within me. A few years after relocating from New Jersey to Los Angeles, I found myself in the role of national spokesperson for the Sarcoma Foundation of America from 2007 to 2010. Interestingly, this phase of advocacy coincided with my role as Briefcase Model #18 on NBC’s hit game show, Deal or No Deal.

Wow, those four years marked an incredible period of growth for me. It wasn’t just about the whirlwind of fame and excitement from my role on Deal or No Deal. It was also a profound journey of self-discovery, navigating life through moments of a lot of emotional pressure that I placed on myself. Looking back, I realize I could have been kinder to myself, showing more compassion during those challenging times. However, as I often say, everything happens for a reason—to teach you something important you need to learn. Now, with kinder eyes, I understand that I needed to experience those growing pains firsthand, to truly feel them, learn from them, and now, years later, understand them more deeply. This understanding empowers me to support others going through similar struggles, helping them navigate their journey with greater ease and compassion than I did back then.

As the years have passed and in my ongoing journey of personal growth and healing, I found solace in attending sound baths for over a decade. These transformative sound healings inspired me to become a sound healing facilitator over the past four years. I am deeply grateful to Ana Netanel, whose guidance during my first year in this field allowed me to learn, play, and grow. I am deeply committed to sharing the healing power of sound in various settings, including public and private gatherings as well as one-on-one sessions, complemented by breath-work, meditation, and cacao ceremonies. My ultimate goal is always to cultivate wellness and balance and joy for all those I meet along my journey.

Last year, while attending a kundalini yoga class led by my dear and insightful friend, Charmaine Hamp Carino, I had the pleasure of meeting Lisa Reyes, a radiant fellow sound healer. A few months later, Lisa reached out to me with an intriguing proposition. She asked if I would be interested in leading sound healings and breathwork sessions at several alcohol and drug rehabilitation centers across Los Angeles. After taking some time to pause and reflect on this invitation, I decided to embrace the opportunity and say yes. The experience has been so incredibly rewarding and healing, not only for those in recovery but also for myself. It serves as a poignant reminder that every endeavor we undertake is a co-creation with others. When we shift our perspective from ‘me’ to ‘we’, we end up fostering collective healing and growth.

Transitioning to the acting front, I’m currently involved in two wonderful proof of concept/short films that are making their way through the film festival circuit. In ON THE MARGINS, directed by Emmy Award-winning Curt Apduhan and written by Mary DeRosa Hughes, I play a former investigative reporter. The film tells a compelling story about my character forming a deep bond with an enigmatic recluse, portrayed by karate sensei master William Christopher Ford, who also produced the film. Our characters connect over a shared traumatic event. Additionally, SEUL, directed by Timothy Arielli and starring Blake Leon, who also wrote the film, features me in the role of a mother navigating the challenges faced by her veteran son grappling with PTSD.

As I continue on this acting journey, I find profound beauty in the roles that come my way. Each character carries a slice of life’s intricate complexities, and I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have poured a piece of my heart into each of these captivating stories.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Well, recently, the recognition of receiving the inaugural Humanitarian Clowning Award from The Clown School has been a profound affirmation of my expanding creative journey. In my grant application, I envisioned a fusion of my two passions: clowning and sound healing, birthing THE SOUND HEALING CLOWNS initiative.

I am eagerly crafting our first event with KIDSAVE, a local foster care program, slated for late April. This mission to spark joy, connection and serenity for these children and their potential foster parents has been deeply inspiring. It’s stirred my creativity and instilled a sense of purpose, as I envision contributing something truly beautiful to our community’s growth and healing. My clown mates and I will be merging the whimsical charm of clowning with the soothing power of sound to create a space of playful inspiration and heartfelt connection for those who will be joining us.

Looking ahead, my goal is to explore additional grant opportunities to expand our reach and touch more lives, furthering our mission of bringing joy and healing to those in need.

For fellow clowns in the Los Angeles area who are passionate about joining us on this mission, I invite you to reach out!  Your skills and enthusiasm are invaluable in our endeavor to make a difference. Please send me a message on IG @thesoundhealingclowns to connect and explore how we can collaborate.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I have so many! However, one profound quote that has always significantly influenced my daily interactions and philosophy is by Yogi Bhajan: ‘Recognize the other person is you.’ This simple yet profound idea always serves as a gentle reminder for me to approach every interaction with empathy and understanding, recognizing the shared humanity in each person I encounter.

As an intuitive empath, I deeply resonate with this principle, as it aligns with my innate ability to sense and understand the emotions of others. It’s a guiding principle that has reshaped how I navigate through life, encouraging me to pause and reflect before reacting, especially when encountering someone in frustration.

I’m also guided by the wisdom of Thich Nhat Hanh, who teaches that ‘When you look deeply into your anger, you will see that the person you call your enemy is also suffering.’ This perspective has taught me to look beyond the surface and understand the underlying pain or unmet needs in others. Taking a moment to see them as a small child who didn’t get their needs met allows me to respond with compassion rather than judgment. In turn, they tend to feel this shift in energy, experiencing a different kind of interaction—one where they are seen and heard and witnessed in a more compassionate way.

While this practice is an ongoing journey and I don’t always get it right—I’m only human—it has profoundly influenced my growth and shaped my approach to life. It’s not about achieving perfection but rather making a continuous effort to infuse compassion and understanding into my daily interactions. I’m always striving to make a positive difference in the world, one interaction at a time.

I want to send a heartfelt shoutout to my dear and talented friend, Kincaid Walker, for recommending me to Canvas Rebel. Much love and gratitude!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @marisapetroro @yawnitation

Image Credits
Kenneth Stripe @dpken