EP 98: Unpacking Fame, Pain & Rebirth; featuring Actor & Entrepreneur Dena Amy Kaplan!

About this episode

In this episode, Jess and Dena discuss the complexities of fame, mental health, and personal reinvention.

Welcome to the ninety eighth episode of Talk Spirit To Me . This week, Jess is joined by the powerhouse that is Dena Amy Kaplan . You may know Dena as Abigail Armstrong from the cult-hit series Dance Academy , but her story reaches far beyond the screen. Dena is an Australian artist, actor, dancer, DJ, vocalist, entrepreneur, mental health advocate and all-round creative force. Her career began in the world of ballet, training and performing with The Australian Ballet , before stepping onto the stage in the internationally acclaimed production of The Lion King . From there, Dena moved into television and became widely recognized for her breakout role in Dance Academy , a show that captured hearts around the world and cemented her place as one of Australia’s most memorable young performers. But this conversation is not just about fame, success or the shiny parts of the story. In this episode, Jess and Dena unpack what happens when the identity you built your life around starts to shift. They talk about growing up in the public eye, navigating pressure, performance, pain, mental health, self-worth, reinvention and the messy, beautiful process of coming home to yourself. Dena also…

People in this episode

Host: Jessica Lynne

Guest: Dena Amy Kaplan

Topics covered

• fame
• mental health
• self-worth
• reinvention
• creativity
• public identity

Keywords

• Dena Amy Kaplan
• Dance Academy
• mental health
• reinvention
• creativity
• public identity
• Australia

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Twerk After Werk, RÜFÜS DU SOL, Hayden James

Books & works: Dance Academy, The Lion King

Places: Coachella, Australia

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