We had the good fortune of connecting with Nicholas D. Monteilh and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nic! How do you think about risk?
The biggest risk for me is to not take one because, despite all of the fears and doubts and anxieties that come with them, the only risks I have regretted are the ones I never took in the first place. If you learn something from every experience, if you can make any outcome an opportunity, if you’re always growing, then failure only happens when you never try at all. It also comes down to my own sense of self-worth because by taking a risk, I’m also saying, “I’m worth taking a risk for – that my dreams are worthy of it.” Proving the concept to myself, in a way.

Tell us more about you. How did you get to where you are, and what’s been the biggest lesson?
I’ve been an actor practically my entire life, starting when I became the lead in my kindergarten play about Christopher Columbus. I started studying the craft at an arts high school in Denver, continued doing so in Los Angeles at USC, and I have been writing, producing, editing, and directing plays, short films, audiobooks, and web series throughout and ever since. My most recent project is CookEatLive (@cookeatliveshow, www.cookeatliveshow.com), a comedy cooking show about how cooking really good food is simple, no matter what level you’re at.
Getting to where I’m at has been both hard and easy at the same time. I feel life has been challenging when having to deal with the day-to-day things like rent and bills and day jobs and the grind to just get by. The pervasive feeling that you’re alone on a huge hamster wheel, just going round and round. And yet, when I’m working in my element and creating my art, everything is easy, everything comes naturally, and that makes all the hard times worth it. The good times give purpose to the bad times.
My biggest lesson was about learning that you get out what you put in, about the power of giving. That is why I have also been teaching, coaching, and helping other artists for years, because helping them see and obtain their dreams has always brought me closer to my own dreams and purpose. That is what I aim to do with every piece of art, really, no matter what medium or genre: to make people feel better about themselves. My energy and enthusiasm for life and human connection is infectious, and nothing makes me happier than to spread that to someone else through a performance, or the written word, or media, or “content”. It’s all about giving back.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oooooooooooo, that’s a good one. I’d do things to highlight the crazy amounts of diversity Los Angeles has. Korean BBQ, Venice Beach Canals, go to a hidden speakeasy, drive up PCH in a convertible, midnight taco trucks, Grand Central Market. Even the touristy areas like The Grove can be a blast for someone seeing it for the first time, although if they wanna go to D-Land they’re buying the tickets. I always take people to my favorite restaurant, La Paella in Beverly Hills. And always the beach (Hermosa is my favorite) because it’s shocking how many people have never seen the ocean in person.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My mother and my wife. When it comes to the amount, the depth, the longevity, and the quality of love and support that I have received, there are no two other people alive who have given me more and continue to do so than my mom Edna and my wife Kenisha. They’re also the ones that have had to consistently put up with me the most, for which I am also eternally grateful.

Website: www.ndmonteilh.com / www.cookeatliveshow.com

Instagram: @ndmonteilh /@cookeatliveshow

Twitter: @ndmonteilh /@cookeatliveshow

Facebook: @ndmonteilh /@cookeatliveshow

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/cookeatlive

Image Credits
Steve Sornbutnark for the shots of me in blue plaid, Brian Parillo for the headshot with denim, David Carlson for the chef uniform.

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