We recently connected with Summer Moran and have shared our conversation below.

Summer, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

I was six years old when my parents separated and nine when their divorce was finalized. They worked (often side-by-side until the split) as professional speakers, lecturing at companies on a variety of topics from leadership to customer service to the power of positive thinking, influenced by people like Eckhart Tolle, Tony Robbins, and the like. In 2001, they even co-authored an unpublished self-help book, “The Feel-Good Philosopher.”

Given my parents’ penchant for speaking in front of large groups, it is unsurprising that I would want to pursue a career in a similar vein. I often joke that one thing they undoubtedly did right was naming me Summer. My dad loves to remind me of this fact and I believe it may be among his proudest achievements. As an actress, it is certainly helpful to have a memorable name.

Beyond that, there were a handful of phrases I heard repeatedly growing up— little mantras that have shaped how I navigate such a fickle career (and life!):

“Just because someone throws you a ball, doesn’t mean you have to catch it.” In a business that is inherently selfish, it is important to know (especially as a Libra and a people-pleaser like me) when one must put one’s own needs first.

“‘No’ is a full sentence.” Self-explanatory, but an easy thing to forget until one is burnt out.

“It’s good to be Summer Moran!” Well, insert your own name there instead of mine, and you’ve got your own personal positive affirmation. I come back to this one a lot. When taking stock of where I am— and wondering why I’m not further along— it reminds me to shift perspective. Appreciate the moment, and keep moving forward.

It’s not lost on me how fortunate I am to have parents who understand the appeal of a creative career. That kind of built-in support and encouragement is something I don’t take lightly. They get it— and to me, that’s priceless.

Summer, 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?

Hiya! I’m Summer Moran— an actress, writer, singer, and show host. I first caught the theatre bug at age seven, playing the Changeling Child in A Midsummer Night’s Dream alongside my mom, who played Queen Titania. From there, I dove headfirst into community theatre, eventually transitioning to on-camera work during college. Since then, I’ve had the pleasure of appearing on MTV, in vertical shorts for DramaBox and KalosTV, and even hosting a mobile game show.

In addition to my passion for acting, I’ve always had a writer’s brain. I thought I’d be a novelist, but fell hard for comedy writing. It sounds like a cliché, but I just love to make people laugh. Seeing the sparkle in someone’s eye when the humor hits is addictive to me.

I’ve always been told that as a storyteller, in any capacity, your job is to help the audience forget their troubles for a little while. Whether I’m onstage, onscreen, or behind the scenes writing, that’s the heartbeat of what I do— creating moments of connection, joy, and a little bit of escape.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I think for non-creatives— people who thrive on structure, routine, and predictability— it can be difficult to understand how to make such an unpredictable lifestyle work. When I was starting out, there was a real excitement, almost an adrenaline rush, in the spontaneity of the job. You never quite knew what the next day would bring. One day you’re on set, the next you’re not. Many of the people I know who work in more structured fields— finance, healthcare, even hospitality— tend to value stability over that kind of uncertainty.

Over time, I’ve become a little disillusioned with that unpredictability myself. But that’s the life. For creatives, it is worth the struggle, the sacrifice, the tears, and the fear. It’s worth it to pursue the art.

I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t questioned it, though. Recently, seeing high school classmates getting engaged, married, or announcing pregnancies—whether through social media or word-of-mouth—gave me pause. Was I doing something wrong? They were hitting all these major life milestones, and what was I doing? Wondering where my next paycheck would come from, or whether my character should grip the fork with her right or left hand.

But at the end of the day, this is the life I’ve chosen. It feeds me in ways nothing else could. It’s not the easiest path, but for me, it’s the one worth walking.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Although I’m by no means The Authority on social media, I’ve learned a thing or two along the way.

During the pandemic, I carved out my own little corner of the internet, building a community of around 50,000 followers on TikTok. I mostly posted Harry Potter content and other fun, nerdy things. What really made it special was the sense of connection—many of us supported each other by liking, commenting, reposting, and even collaborating on videos. In July of 2022, I used a trendy Harry Potter filter to improvise a silly story set at Hogwarts, and to my complete shock, it hit over 20 million views! I’m still floored that that many people saw my face on their phone screens.

As much as I loathe the overused advice of “find your niche,” I’ve found it’s truly the best way to build an audience. If TikTok has taught me anything, it’s that there’s no such thing as a totally unique experience— someone, somewhere out there shares your weird interests. I have found that in the digital age where connection is often hard to come by, community is invaluable.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.summermoran.com
• Instagram: @summermoran
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/summer-moran
• Other: I co-host a Desperate Housewives rewatch podcast called We’re Going To Tell! It is streaming on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, or anywhere you get your podcasts.

Image Credits

Erin Rene Bruce