Actress, writer, humanitarian, and podcast host Alyshia Ochse, is as inquisitive and sharp, with a candid and classic journalistic approach to her interviews, as she is delightful to watch act.

Alyshia stars in Sony Pictures Televison’s new drama #FreeRayshawn (April 6th premiere). Previous credits include HBO’s True Detective, How I Met Your Mother, HBO’s Ballers, and many more.

Her podcast “That One Audition,” has garnered attention from interviews from the likes of Jason Momoa, Peter Facinelli, Lucy Hale, Laurence Fishburne, etc., detailing their journeys as actors, and what advice they have to impart on others looking to conquer their dreams.

Alyshia is also involved in Young Storytellers, an organization that “sparks creative self-discovery through storytelling.” The program highlights youth as the center of their own story, emphasizing that their stories matter, and celebrates their unique voices. Please read our exclusive interview below to learn more about Alyshia.

Where are you based?
West Hollywood, California

How did you get interested in acting? Who or what were some of your early influences?
I knew I wanted to be “in the TV” before I could even write my name. I remember days of making up stories about people in my neighborhood from the living room window and staring in the mirror analyzing different feelings and emotions. Human beings, connection and body language have fascinated me my whole life.

Tom Hanks! Julia Roberts! Both of them were so influential and monumental to my development as a creative person. Watching their movies made me feel that the process of being an actor was to entertain, to emote, to laugh, to give an honest moment to allow the audience to be captivated. Their seamless transition from comedy to drama made me believe anything was possible. Some of the best influences I had were film and television. I watched Annie a 1000 times, because I wanted to be Annie. Other favorites: Money Pit, Mystic Pizza, The Facts of Life, Who’s the Boss, The Cosby Show, Legends of the Fall, Cape Fear, BIG, Forest Gump, Philadelphia, Pretty Woman. All of these films and television shows captivated me for different reasons and provided a different life for me to play in and I was hooked. I wanted to entertain and live out these roles.

Congratulations on your starring role in the Sony Pictures Television drama "#FreeRayshawn!" Can you tell us a bit about your new role?
D.A. Sarah Foreman is a no-nonsense, by the book, hardworking district attorney in New Orleans who has something to prove. She is challenged and her job is on the line in front of the community of her constituents. She really has to keep her emotions at bay and focus on the law because everyone is now watching her every move.

You have a really cool podcast called “That One Audition". Can you tell us a little bit about your podcast and what inspired you to start it?
Well, it started because my body betrayed me in an audition room. It was hilarious, beyond embarrassing and downright shocking to say the least. I went to my acting class that evening and shared my experience. The whole class started sharing their stories of the front lines and auditioning in the trenches. It made me feel comforted and INSPIRED to know that many of us have failed at our jobs, but really it was the fact that we would all do it again the next day. Then my idea spawned. I wanted to hear all actors’ and storytellers’ journeys from the highs to the lows and all the tricks they learned along the way.

Then I birthed That One Audition Podcast.

It’s the honest, humorous and inspirational conversations with your favorite on-screen storytellers and Hollywood influencers who reveal their most life changing audition tales and the survival skills they've collected along the way.

Who are some of your dream guests?
Tom Hanks - I created the show from day one in the hopes of securing Mr. Hanks for my 100th episode. Laurence Fishburne did my 100th, which was divinely timed. So now my goal is to get to Tom before the 200th.

Julia Roberts, because obviously.

Olivia Wilde, Kanye West, Jamie Foxx, Jim Carey, Seth Rogan, Emily Mortimer, Naomi Watts, Ellen Pompeo, Sandra Oh, Adam Scott, Rosemarie DeWitt, Matt Damon, Sterling K. Brown, Mandy Moore, Amy Schumer, Brit Marling, John Krasinski, Goldie Hawn & Kate Hudson (together), Adam Driver, Sam Rockwell, Amy Ryan, Maya Rudolph, Reese Witherspoon, Greta Gerwig, Melissa Leo, Ann Dowd

Eccentric group, but they all have an interesting journey to me.

Do you have a particular interview that stands out for you? If so, why?
Michelle Monaghan was my 50th episode. She was my screensaver for the first few years of my acting career. I saw Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and was blown away. I watched her career and loved her choices and talent. Getting to work on the same project, True Detective, was a milestone for me. Having her as my 50th episode gave me the opportunity to express my gratitude for her effortless ease of balancing being a mother, wife and having a thriving career.

Laurence Fishburne was my 100th episode and we had just completed shooting #FreeRayShawn. Privilege was bestowed upon my heart and craft as I watched him seamlessly thread together a visceral performance in front of my eyes. After our first evening working together I researched his whole career, every move he has ever made. The next day on set I started asking him questions. I was curious and he met my curiosity with compassion and excitement. He told me stories, parables really about his life and his career. Laurence gave all of him in front of the camera and for every question I threw at him on break. At the end of shooting, I had the courage to invite him to share his wisdom with my audience on That One Audition. Graciously and cautiously, as he does everything, he lovingly agreed. The rest is there for the world to hear. But what they won’t be able to hear is every story he told me about every picture that filled his three story work space. Every picture had a story. I was captivated, enriched with craft knowledge beyond my years and given life lessons through the teachings of his life. That day was the most precious moment in my podcasting days. He is a gem to this industry and to the world.

In addition to acting and hosting your podcast, you're also an author. Your book, "Life Letters: Key to Your Soul... a Journey Into the Self," examines the concept of refinement of self and your own personal journey. What inspired this book and do you feel you have found yourself?
Life Letters was a process that I created to help me through a difficult period in my life about ten years ago. I didn’t know who I was, and I certainly didn't have self-love. The majority of my life until then had been consumed with pleasing others and side stepping my own thoughts, desires, excitements, weaknesses, etc. After calling off a wedding, I knew I needed assistance to get through it and I gained it from my internal source of wisdom (God, Universe, big Self). Eventually, I made this process into a book because many of my dear friends saw a huge transformation in me after this year and requested the process. It is a quick 57 page self-motivational book to get you through a year of growth while learning to love and enhance parts of YOU.

I found myself at the end of that process. But every year we must put time into finding and rediscovering who we are because we shift and blossom. I have visited Life Lessons’ practice several times since the first. After getting married I did another year. After becoming a mother I went back to the letters. And now in “social distancing” I am creating another year of letters. I think we are always challenged to carve out time to remember, learn and love the YOU that you are in every phase of life.

What was the hardest part of your journey to self awareness?
Saying “I love you” to myself daily. It was a practice that required facing my vulnerabilities and shadow self, allowing shame to be diminished by my own loving and soothing practices.

What were some of your key moments of enlightenment?
Hiking Mt. Sinai birthed true enlightenment and source, connecting straight to my heart to birth the Life Letters process. Every moment thereafter felt like “enlightenment”. I discovered what I liked and didn’t. The simplicity of that was purely enlightening.

Also, learning that loving yourself does come with patience, forgiveness and a daily commitment of just showing up exactly the way that you do for your loved ones. I realized putting energy into myself allowed my light to fill the room and be the magnet for the right people, animals, nature, and synchronicities to illuminate. If you align with your truest self with love you are the LIGHT of the world.

What advice do you have for an individual looking to start their journey towards self refinement?
Patience. Consistency. Forgiveness. Practice this daily. Then create a loving practice to observe and learn who you are.

Can you talk about your partnership with Young Storytellers (YS)? Why do you feel it is important people experience their thoughts and feelings through the stories that they write?
I first volunteered with Young Storytellers in the year I started Life Letters. One of the months made me focus on “giving back” and using my purpose to truly be of service. A friend mentioned YS the next day, see synchronicities! I started volunteering and hearing the stories of children. We were teaching the structure of storytelling through the voices of the children we were mentoring. There was encouragement to write what you know. At the end of the semester, I was blown away by the healing that transpired by allowing children to use their voices, tell a story, and then get to watch it be acted on stage in front of their whole school.

RAISING VOICES ONE STORY AT A TIME. This motto drove me to make sure that I continue to foster just that. Stories can change lives. As a child, the stories in films and television made me believe anything was possible. We need to educate those in compromised situations or broken families that their voices matter. They are the storytellers and innovators of the world.

What is your motto in life?
I have two.

“What is for you will find you” ~ Annabeth Gish, my dear friend and co-star from #FreeRayShawn always reminds me of this. I need to be reminded of this in my industry. I try to be available for my art and creativity. There is no need to push or believe the end is near. Rather, what is for me will always find me gives me the reassurance to stay present.

“No doubt, it is unfolding exactly as it should” ~ Morgan Freeman said this to his children as they were growing. When I am in times of confusion, hurt or anger, I say this over and over. Remembering that life is not against you but is for you will keep your spirits high no matter what comes your way. There have been many moments in life that I need to know that I am not controlling it. Free fall and enjoy the ride.

Please list any websites and/or social media that you would like Jejune to promote:
www.alyshiaochse.om
Instagram: @alyshiaochse and @thatoneaudition

Team Credits:
Photography: Ben Cope
Styling: Gabriella Kool
Makeup: Brett Freedman for Celestine Agency
Hair: Felicia Rials/ Tabb Sparks Salon

Alyshia Ochse: The Power Behind Our Stories