We were lucky to catch up with Melinda Cea recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Melinda , thanks for joining us today. We love asking folks what they would do differently if they were starting today – how they would speed up the process, etc. We’d love to hear how you would set everything up if you were to start from step 1 today.
If I were starting over today, I would make self-discovery my top priority.
Some may label this as “self-help,” but in reality, it’s about diving deep to understand who you are, what you truly desire, and most importantly, why.
When you know yourself at a core level—your motivations, passions, and values—you can discern whether you’re chasing a dream that’s authentically yours or one imposed by family, society, or other influences. Often, we’re conditioned to pursue things that don’t align with our unique gifts, and that conditioning creates so much delay, and obstacles that keep you from tapping into our true potential.
Here’s how you know if a dream isn’t genuinely yours: it feels uninspired, and a little “meh.” Hustle becomes hard, initiative feels forced, and excitement is nowhere to be found. It’s a false sense of success, and eventually, you’ll start to feel a quiet but undeniable beckoning for something else—something more.
The sooner you strip away what doesn’t reflect your true self—and approach this with radical awareness of <i>why</i> you’re making the decisions you are or reacting in certain ways (spoiler: this isn’t easy, and some hard truths will surface)—the quicker you gain clarity. The faster you feel real momentum. That’s where the magic happens: you unlock passion and purpose, which provide an endless well of energy and inspiration.
When you’re aligned with your unique gifts, failure feels like a stepping stone rather than a setback. You take more risks, experience fewer regrets, and avoid wasting time and money chasing things that don’t truly align with you. Instead of endlessly trying to figure out what fits, you channel your energy and resources into what authentically lights you up. This kind clarity fuels a deep sense of aliveness, and success. When you’re in service to your true gifts, you’re also in service to the world.
But here’s the beauty of it: each of us has our own timeline for self-discovery. The sooner you become intentional about it, the faster your life will blossom and bloom. You become a magnet for money.
It wasn’t until I was in my thirties—over a decade into producing some of the biggest TV shows, traveling the globe, and interviewing the Dalai Lama—that I started to pay attention to my own inner beckoning. It was a quiet but persistent whisper saying, “There’s more out there for you, sis! Gifts you haven’t even begun to explore.”
As a TV producer, I was so busy telling everyone else’s stories and building everyone else’s dreams that I went completely numb to my own. Oops!
Then, I had a wake-up call—a life-changing moment when I realized there was one thing I couldn’t produce for myself. (You’ll have to read my forthcoming book to find out what that is—who doesn’t love a good cliffhanger?) Let’s just say it’s an OMG-no-she-didn’t-yes-she-did jaw-dropper.
That moment inspired radical awareness in me. I decided that if I had the unique playbook to turn other people’s visions into vibrant realities, why not apply it to my own life? My upcoming book chronicles this journey of stripping away everything that wasn’t truly me, discovering what is, reclaiming the producer’s seat of my own life—and helping others do the same.
Once I aligned with what was authentically me, the strength of personal agency and a lightning bolt of momentum propelled me in unexpected and rewarding directions. I accomplished more, faster. Life felt richer, more expansive, and undeniably magical.
Fun fact: you don’t have to wait to start your own transformation. Head over to melindacea.com and grab my free guide, 5 Secrets to Taking Your Reality from ‘Meh’ to Magically More. It’s the same framework I’ve used to produce reality shows—and now I’m sharing it with you so you can start creating your own vibrant reality today.
Melinda , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Hi, I’m Melinda Cea—a TV producer, coach, author, and speaker with over two decades of experience bringing big ideas to life.
My journey began in a small high-desert town, where I became captivated by the excitement of a local film set. That curiosity grew into a passion for storytelling, which I pursued through a degree in Cinema and Television Arts at Cal State Northridge.
Since then, I’ve had the privilege of producing some of the biggest reality TV shows (The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Dancing with the Stars, I Can See Your Voice, Better Late Than Never, and the untitled second season of Jury Duty) and various docu-series, traveling to over 28 countries. I’ve told stories for some of today’s most influential producers, like Mark Burnett, and thought leaders, including His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and President Bill Clinton. From Donna Karan to Kevin Costner, William Shatner, Terry Bradshaw, Harry Connick Jr., Sir Elton John, Ken Jeong, Glenn Stearns, and Jenna Dewan, I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with and learning from some of the world’s most remarkable talent.
<b>How I Got Into the Industry:</b>
My career in television production started with interning at every place that would take me—from local news stations to E! Entertainment. I said “yes” to every opportunity and took every shot I could get. When reality TV took off, I found myself traveling the world with Tara Reid, and I began to understand the transformative power of stories and <i>travel! </i>I truly believe seeing the world changes you and helps you tap into hidden gifts. Travel as often and as far as you can.
I believe stories shape how we see ourselves and the world around us. That belief drew me to the behind-the-scenes magic of crafting compelling narratives, whether in reality TV, docu-series, or documentaries. Over the years, I’ve honed the ability to manage creative chaos—overseeing multiple shoots, aligning vision with execution, and turning messy ideas into polished productions that resonate with audiences worldwide.
<b>What I Do and Problems I Solve:</b>
Now, my work has expanded beyond television. As a coach and author, I help others take the producer’s seat in their own lives, turning their “meh” realities into something magically more. Whether it’s helping clients clarify their dreams, map out plans to achieve them, rewrite the limiting stories holding them back, or find the momentum to take relentless action, my mission is to empower people to create the lives they’ve always imagined.
For production clients, I offer Executive Producer and consulting services that draw on my years of experience in TV. From development to production and post-production, I help build strong ideas, concepts, stories, teams, manage logistics, and ensure visions are brought to life with creativity, professionalism, and precision.
For my personal coaching clients, I provide what I affectionately call “Producing Partner Packages,” rooted in self-discovery, mindset mastery, and turning intangible visions into vibrant realities with actionable plans. My goal is to help clients go from stuck to start on their dreams. My process mirrors my approach to TV production: clarify the vision, uncover the obstacles, and map out a plan to execute it with intention and heart.
<b>What Sets Me Apart:</b>
What truly sets me apart is my ability to blend creative vision with practical execution. As a TV producer, I’ve learned to navigate high-pressure situations, think on my feet, and transform challenges into opportunities. This skill set translates seamlessly into the coaching and consulting work I do. I’m not just about dreaming big; I’m about making it happen—step by step, with no fluff and no excuses. I believe success lies in the small daily actions, not just the final accomplished product.
Additionally, my approach is deeply personal. I’ve walked the path of feeling stuck, unsure, and unclear—chasing dreams that didn’t truly align with me—and finally reclaiming my own narrative. That experience fuels everything I do and allows me to connect with clients and audiences in a real, relatable way. I believe each of us has unique gifts to offer the world—we just have to remember what they are.
<b>What I’m Most Proud Of</b>
I’m incredibly proud of the diverse body of work I’ve created—from producing award-winning shows and interviewing world leaders to creating a documentary that explores the transformative power of kindness. I’ve also secured partnerships with Lionsgate, Discovery, and production companies in Los Angeles, NYC, and Canada for my own TV show concepts. I am currently represented by Mark Turner at Gersh, with whom I am working to bring some exciting new shows to life in 2025.
But what truly lights me up is helping others unlock their own potential. Whether it’s a client finally taking action on a long-buried dream, an audience member watching a show I produced, or a reader of my newsletter <i>Magically More</i> or forthcoming book who starts to feel more like themselves—those moments mean everything to me.
<b>What I Want You to Know About Me and My Work:</b>
At the heart of everything I do is this belief: we’re meant to live extraordinary realities. Whether through my upcoming book, my coaching programs, or my TV productions, my goal is to help people remember this, who they are, rewrite the stories holding them back, and step fully into the lives they’re meant to live.
I’d love for you to follow along with my journey, whether it’s through my social media (@MelindaCea) or by joining the waitlist for my forthcoming book at melindacea.com. When you join the waitlist, you’ll get my free guide, 5 Secrets to Taking Your Reality from ‘Meh’ to Magically More, straight to your inbox. You’ll also be the first to know everything about the book—from its title to the jaw-dropping wake-up call that inspired it—and you’ll gain access to my monthly newsletter, Magically More.
You can also visit my website (melindacea.com) to learn more about my coaching packages.
Let’s create something amazing together.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
Oh–this is MAJOR! One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was people-pleasing—especially to the point of burnout and exhaustion. In the world of television production, people-pleasing can feel like a requirement. When you’re working with big networks or huge celebrities, there’s this unspoken expectation to say “yes” to everything, no matter the cost to your own well-being.
As a young producer, I didn’t know how to hold boundaries. If a network exec had a last-minute request, I’d drop everything to make it happen, even if it meant pulling an all-nighter. If a celebrity’s team had unrealistic demands (trust me, I’ve heard it all), I would bend over backward to accommodate them. I thought that saying “yes” all the time proved my dedication and made me indispensable.
But here’s what I learned the hard way: people-pleasing at that level doesn’t just exhaust you physically and mentally—it chips away at your creativity, confidence, and sense of self. The more I overextended myself, the more I realized I wasn’t showing up as my best self for the team, the project, or even the people I was trying so hard to please.
There was one particular moment that really hit me. I was juggling multiple shoots on different coasts, pulling 18-hour days, and running on fumes. A network exec called with a request that felt completely unreasonable. My first instinct, as always, was to say “yes.” But as I opened my mouth to respond, I realized that saying “yes” meant compromising the quality of the work and my sanity. So instead, I said something I’d never said before: “I can’t make that happen on this timeline, but here’s what I can do.”
To my surprise, the world didn’t fall apart. In fact, the exec respected my honesty and worked with me to find a solution. That moment was a turning point. It taught me that holding boundaries isn’t about being difficult—it’s about protecting your ability to deliver your best work while maintaining your health and integrity.
When you’re constantly saying “yes,” you’re not only burning yourself out—you’re teaching others to expect it. This can lead to unrealistic expectations, diminished respect, and, ironically, a drop in the quality of the work you’re trying so hard to protect. People may appreciate your effort in the moment, but over time, they’ll notice when the work suffers or when you’re no longer the creative, problem-solving force they counted on.
I had to learn to hold boundaries by communicating clearly and confidently. Instead of an automatic “yes,” try “Here’s what I can offer” or “This timeline is doesn’t allow for x,y,z—can we adjust expectations?” Clear communication shows professionalism and respect for everyone involved.
It helps to always know your limits. Understand your capacity and prioritize what truly matters. Saying “no” to one thing often means saying “yes” to doing something else well. Another tip to avoid the mistake of people pleasing is to reframe your mindset. Boundaries aren’t barriers—they’re a way to create sustainable success. When you hold boundaries, you’re protecting the work, the relationships, and yourself.
Unlearning people-pleasing is still a work in progress for me, but it’s made all the difference in how I approach my career and life. It’s not about shutting people down—it’s about showing up fully for the things that matter most to me.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
Absolutely. At the heart of everything I create—whether it’s producing a show, writing a book, or coaching someone to bring their next dream to life—is a deep desire to help as many people as possible step into the full embodiment of themselves. It’s the most exciting thing to watch!
For a long time, I secretly found myself worrying, waiting, and wishing for more—unsure of how to go after the life I truly wanted. That changed when my dad was given five months to live. Watching him face the end of his life was a wake-up call that time is both infinite and fleeting; we have all the time in the world, and yet somehow, never enough. That realization ignited a fire in me to pursue everything I was curious about. Some paths bombed spectacularly, while others caught fire in the best possible way. But even the “failures” taught me that there’s no such thing as wasted time when you’re chasing what lights you up. Doing so, at every stage of your life, is how you fully embody you!
Waiting only makes time feel shorter, and that’s a lesson I now carry into everything I do: the urgency to motivate others to stop waiting and start creating the lives they dream of.
Whether it’s through storytelling that inspires, coaching that empowers, or projects that challenge people to see new possibilities, I know creativity sparks transformation—not just in what people consume but in how they see themselves and the world around them.
In television, I strive to produce stories that resonate deeply with audiences—stories that reflect the human experience and leave viewers feeling seen, inspired, or empowered. Through my upcoming book and coaching programs, I aim to help people take the producer’s seat of their own lives, equipping them with the tools, insights, and encouragement to fully embrace the magic of their unique journey.
At the end of the day, my ultimate goal is simple: to help others feel alive, aligned, and unapologetically themselves, and to remind them that life is too short to worry, wait, or wish for more when they can start producing it right now.
Contact Info:
- Website: melindacea.com
- Instagram: @melindacea
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melindacea
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindacea/
- Twitter: @melindacea
Image Credits
Lori Dorman Photography