We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Robert Galinsky. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Robert below.
Robert, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?
I’m happiest as an artist. The idea of waking up every day to a ‘regular job,’ knowing what day of the week it is, following a routine, and adhering to clear boundaries holds no appeal for me. I’ve learned that life is a struggle, no matter which path you choose, so I’d rather embrace the messy, unpredictable beauty of playing in my creativity for the benefit of all, rather than for the benefit of an ‘owner’ or a corporate cabal.
The last time I thought about having a regular job I was right in the middle of performing my Off-Broadway solo show, “The Bench: A Homeless Love Story.” I was sitting on stage in front of a packed house at the Cherry Lane Theater.
Somewhere in the middle of the piece—I forgot my lines. I went completely blank and couldn’t remember where I was in the play. I looked out into the audience and made eye contact with my director, Jay O. Sanders, hoping he’d see the panic in my eyes and realize that the pause I was sitting in was not something we rehearsed. I was silently begging him to mouth the lines of dialogue I couldn’t recall, but he just stared back at me, cold and unyielding. I got nauseas. I looked into the lighting booth sending the same message to my stage manager hoping he would see my distress. But he didn’t respond or mouth the words either, and I could feel my spirit leave my body and exit the theatre.
In that moment, I asked myself, ‘Why did I ever choose this? Why didn’t I listen to my father and become a doctor, a court stenographer, or a salesman?’ There I was, on stage, helpless and trapped—no longer the in-control performer I prided myself on being. Then, I made a decision: say anything that came to mind. I did, and within 30 seconds (which felt like an hour), I was back on track, fully locked into the play. That rush of spinning out of control was exhilarating—I loved it. The potential for these excruciating moments is exactly why I love my chosen ‘regular job.’
A footnote to the story: after the play, my PR agent (Joe Trentacosta) came up to me and said, “Oh my God, great show! And what was that moment you guys put in where you were sitting on the bench and looked like you were staring death right in the eyes? That was incredible!” I told him the truth—that the pain of death was real. He laughed and said, “Try to do that again.”
And so, I try to do that again every day. Go blank, terrify myself, recover, and create. It beats any other path I could have taken, and that’s why I’m happier as an artist.
Robert, 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?
My name is Robert Galinsky, and I’m an artist, coach, educator, and town cryer. My work spans many areas—playwriting, acting, directing, and producing—but at its core, I’m passionate about amplifying overlooked or unheard voices, whether through my Off-Broadway shows, workshops, or speaking engagements.
How I Got Into My Craft
I often got into trouble as a kid. My acting out was misplaced, but through the mentorship of Amy Seham, one of my greatest teachers, I found my path. She saw me perform at one of her immersive theater events, tapped me to teach and direct, and I never looked back. I started as an actor and playwright, but over time, my craft expanded to include coaching, teaching, and advocacy.
What I Provide
My work includes several offerings:
• Theater & Performance: I write, produce, and direct, plays and poetry that challenge perceptions, spark action, and shine a light on important social issues.
• Coaching & Teaching: I’ve coached and co-authored over 50 TEDx Talks and teach a public speaking leadership course I developed at The Juilliard School. I coach actors, students, and c-suite professionals, helping them find their presence, hone their voice, and develop confidence.
• Workshops & Programs: I create and facilitate workshops for teens in jails and prisons, including Rikers Island and Sing Sing Maximum Security Prison, helping them share their stories and strengthen their self-expression. I also work with corporate clients to enhance their creativity and communication skills.
Problems I Solve
For individuals, I help unlock creative potential, build confidence, and develop authentic storytelling skills. For organizations, I foster team building and communication through improvisation and performance techniques. For the larger community, my work often confronts social issues like homelessness, literacy, and incarceration, demanding we reckon with uncomfortable truths, quit complacency, and reimagine the systems that perpetuate suffering.
What Sets Me Apart
What sets me apart is the way I reach across divides most people dare not cross. I stand in alliance with incarcerated individuals, debate at tables with corporate executives, and sit on benches with our unhoused neighbors. My work isn’t about the surface; it’s about digging into the essence of humanity with empathy, creativity, and an unshakable faith in art’s power to break chains and rebuild spirits.
What I’m Most Proud Of
I’m incredibly proud of the impact of my theatre piece, The Bench. For over 25 years, the piece has engaged and rattled audiences from New York to Los Angeles, the UK, and India. It has also helped serve tens of thousands of free meals, donate over 20,000 Bombas socks, and distribute hundreds of MPowered solar lights to people experiencing homelessness. Additionally, I am deeply proud of the hundreds of teens I’ve worked with—many behind bars, silenced by a system that was never built for them. Yet, even in confinement, they have found their voices and begun to rewrite the stories the world tried to erase.
What I Want You to Know
My work isn’t just about entertainment—it’s about transformation. It’s about diving into who we are, confronting our fears and our dreams, and holding them up for others to see. Whether on stage or in coaching, the aim is always truth, dignity, and our shared humanity.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
Books:
“If You Want to Write” by Brenda Euland
“Grapefruit” by Yoko Ono
“Mapping Malcolm X” Edited by Najha Zibgi-Johnson
“Scribbling on Spaghetti” by Robert Galinsky
“Writing in Restaurants” by David Mamet
“The Art of Living” Thich Nhat Han
“Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind” by Shunryu Suzuki
Videos:
“The Bench, A Homeless Love Story”
“We Live In Public”
Ice T’s TED Talk at Sing Sing Prison
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
The goal driving my creative journey is rooted in liberation—liberation of the stories that have been silenced. My work is about giving voice to those suppressed, to challenge the structures that try to strip us of our dignity and to cast light on the hidden inflections of humanity that society would rather ignore.
Art is my weapon in this fight. It’s the way I confront injustice. My goal is to entertain, provoke, inspire, and plant seeds of change in the hearts of everyone I encounter, so we can realize that within each of us lies the power to reclaim and reimagine our society. Who wants to join me? Reach out and get on board!”
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.galinskycoaching.com
- Instagram: @galinskynow
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/robertgalinsky/
- Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/galinskyrobert/
- Twitter: @galinskynow
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIbGNymr7JcVGVTEZ5XrpwQ
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/robert-galinsky
- Other: http://www.galinskycoaching.com
http://www.galinskyactor.com
http://www.thebenchplay.com
http://www.newyorkrealitytvschool.com
http://www.creativecoachingpartners.com
http://www.booksondecks.com/
Image Credits
Marc Birnbach
Aiden Grant