The Leap That Changed His Life: Arkansas to Hollywood | Actor Nate Mayes

What does it take to pursue an acting career in Hollywood and leave behind the familiarity of a small-town life? In this episode of the Starter Girlz Podcast, Jennifer Loehding sits down with actor, writer, and producer Nate Mayes to explore the personal journey behind building a creative life in Los Angeles. Originally from Arkansas, Nate grew up surrounded by creativity — painting, storytelling, and exploring different forms of artistic expression. But it wasn’t until a simple moment while painting a mural in Los Angeles that something shifted. Someone asked a question that stuck with him: why not pursue acting seriously? Soon after graduating college, Nate packed up his belongings, left behind his small-town community, and moved to Los Angeles to build a career in film. Since then, he has been steadily developing his craft — acting, writing, and producing independent projects while learning what it means to bring characters to life in authentic and meaningful ways. This conversation isn’t about Hollywood fame. It’s about creativity. It’s about courage. It’s about what happens when you decide to follow the path that feels aligned with who you are. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE The moment a simple question pushed Nate to seriously pursue acting What it’s like leaving a small-town community to chase a creative dream in Los Angeles Why many creative people feel pulled toward multiple forms of expression Nate’s personal approach to stepping into the mindset of a character How storytelling can create emotional connections with audiences The realities of building a creative career in a competitive industry Why finding the right community matters when starting over somewhere new Nate’s perspective on defining success as an actor and creator Why certain films and series pull audiences deeply into their stories What keeps him motivated to continue creating and pursuing new projects ABOUT NATE MAYES Nate Mayes is a Los Angeles-based actor, writer, and producer originally from Arkansas. After graduating from Harding University, Nate made the bold decision to move to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film and storytelling. Since then, he has been building his body of work through independent films, short films, and creative collaborations while also developing original content of his own. Passionate about character-driven storytelling, Nate focuses on portraying complex, authentic characters and exploring the emotional depth behind every role he plays. Through acting, writing, and producing, he continues to pursue meaningful storytelling and creative collaboration. CHAPTERS 00:00 – Chasing the Scene High 00:31 – Podcast Welcome and Mission 03:31 – Meet Nate Mayes 04:16 – The Leap to Los Angeles 05:51 – Creativity and Many Mediums 07:57 – Owning Your Work 09:40 – Small Town vs Big City 13:53 – Finding Community in LA 15:49 – Actor First, Everything Else 17:17 – Choosing Roles and Antiheroes 20:26 – Pricing Your Creative Value 23:39 – Passion Projects and ROI 25:05 – Defining Your Why 25:51 – Building Characters Backstory 28:47 – Owning Your Creative Process 30:00 – What Success Feels Like 32:37 – Why Great Stories Hook Us 35:19 – Upcoming Projects Ahead 36:42 – Favorite Genres And Influences 41:02 – Life Beyond The Arts 42:10 – Dream Roles And Roots 43:44 – Closing Thanks And Farewell CONNECT WITH NATE MAYES Instagram: @natejmayes CONNECT WITH STARTER GIRLZ Website: startergirlz.comTake the 2-Minute Success Block QuizJoin the Community Newsletter Want to be a guest on Starter Girlz? Apply HERE