As the year turns, we’re keeping it simple at Chica’s Café.No resolutions, no reinventions—just a pause, a coffee refill, and a moment to appreciate the conversations we’ve shared.

This short New Year episode reflects on curiosity,observation, and the kinds of everyday moments that make us stop, laugh, and think a little differently. Thank you for being part of the conversations thisyear. Here’s to good stories ahead—and whatever unexpected dialogue wanders into the café next.

Pull up a chair. The conversation continues.

Blessings for the New Year.

On today’s episode of Overheard at Chica’s Café,Sonia pulls up a chair (and a warm cup of ginger tea) to talk about something every actor, voiceover artist, and podcaster knows all too well: what happens when you get sick… and everything on your creative plate comes crashing into amessy little pile.

With her voice still not quite back to its usual sound—todaycomes with a complimentary side of rasp—Sonia dives into the hilarious, humbling reality of being a multi-hyphenate creative whose entire job depends on having a functioning throat. From the dreaded “booking-out” email to agents,to the guilt spiral of falling behind on content, to the dramatic inner monologues that only artists understand, this episode is a gentle reminder that being human comes first.

Sonia shares compassion, humor, and honesty about navigating deadlines, expectations, and recovery while sick. She encourages listeners, especially those in creative fields, to release perfection, slow down, and trust that their audience—and opportunities—will still be there.

Whether you’re an actor juggling self-tapes, a podcasterkeeping up with your release schedule, or simply someone who’s been under the weather, this episode is a soothing, funny exhale.

You’re doing enough. You’re allowed to rest. Creativity will wait for you.

In This Episode:

• What really happens when creatives get sick
• The guilt of “booking out” with your agents
• The pressure of staying consistent while healing
• Why raspy-voice episodes should count as a vibe
• Releasing perfection and honoring your humanity
• A gentle reminder that your audience won’t disappear

In this episode of Overheard at Chica’s Café, Sonia Iris Lozada explores the unseen side of acting — the hours of preparation that audiences never witness. From memorizing lines for a single scene, to scrambling with last-minute sides, to navigating the silence that follows auditions, actors carry invisible labor that shapes every performance. Sonia also touches on the growing reality of self-tapes, where actors double as their own crew — a topic she’ll expand on in a future episode.

But invisible work isn’t unique to actors. Parents, teachers, creatives, and caregivers all hold hours of unseen labor that sustain lives and communities. With humor, compassion, and a touch of Los Angeles reality, Sonia reminds us that even the work that goes unrecognized mattersdeeply.

In this episode, I reflect on watching the Bad Bunny concert on Amazon and the pride of seeing Puerto Rican music honored on a global stage. From the African roots of Bomba, to the storytelling voice of Plena, to the worldwide reach of Salsa, I share both personal memories and insights from my background in Ethnomusicology.

These rhythms are more than genres—they are history, resistance, and the heartbeat of Puerto Rico.

References – Further Reading

• Bomba (Puerto Rico). Wikipedia
• Plena: The People’s Newspaper. Smithsonian Folkways → link
• History of Plena. La Casa de la Plena → link
• Music of Puerto Rico. Wikipedia

• 
  

• “Bomba Pa’ Siempre” by Jimmy Fontanez

• “Llena de Plena” by Jimmy Fontanez

• Used with appreciation and respect for the traditions of Puerto Rican music.

Welcome back to Overheard at Chica’s Café, where the coffee is strong, the conversation is flowing, and the occasional biscotti mysteriously disappears. Today, we’re talking about something every entertainer knows too well: what do we do between gigs? Those in-between stretches where your phone is quieter than a stagehand after a blackout cue.
You know, people think actors, musicians, or performers are constantly in the spotlight. But the truth? A lot of our lives are spent waiting. Waiting for auditions, waiting for callbacks, waiting for the gig that finally makes your family stop asking when you’re going to get a “real job.”

But here’s the secret: the waiting doesn’t mean we stop expressing ourselves. In fact, those in-between times are prime creative hours.

Think about it—expression doesn’t only happen on stage or onset. It happens in the things you do to stay alive and sane. Podcasting? Yep. Writing a poem no one else will ever see? Absolutely. Starting a memoir even if the first line is just, “Dear Diary, Hollywood is weird”? Go for it.

Maybe it’s designing or decorating your place. I once rearranged my living room so many times between gigs, my couch now qualifies as a traveling performer. It’s seen more blocking than some actors I know.

And cooking counts, too! Whipping up a new recipe? That’s performance art with edible applause. Just don’t burn the garlic bread, or the critics will be harsh—and by critics, I mean your own smoke alarm.

The point is: as entertainers, we need to express. If we cork the creativity while we’re waiting for the next “yes,” we start to feel like unopened soda cans—eventually, something’s going to explode.

So, write that song. Start that podcast. Paint the wall neon green if it makes you laugh—though maybe check with your landlord first. Expression isn’t about waiting for permission. It’s about keeping your creative pulse alive so when that next gig does come along, you’re not rusty. You’re ready.
So, whether you’re in rehearsal, in between jobs, or just staring at the ceiling fan wondering if it could double as a set piece, remember: creativity doesn’t clock in and out. It’s who you are.

And until that next big gig shows up—express yourself anyway. You might surprise yourself with what you create.

Thanks for joining me here at Chica’s Café. Don’t forget to grab a refill on your way out—and maybe, just maybe, rearrange your couch tonight. It might inspire your next masterpiece.

"Modern Jazz Samba" Kevin MacLeod(incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The Healing Power of Laughter and Escape"Because sometimes Soul Work Looks Like Binge-Watching in Pajamas*

Let’s be real — not every healing moment looks like a spiritual retreat in the mountains or hours of deep journaling by candlelight. Sometimes, healing looks like stretchypants, a perfectly timed meme, and laughing until you wheeze over a ridiculous comedy sketch.
I’m Sonia Iris Lozada — actor, poet, and over-thinker turned wisdom whisperer — and in this week’s episode of Overheard at Chica’s Café, I talk about the underrated brilliance of laughter and the sacred pause of escapism.
And no, I’m not talking about ignoring your feelings or bypassing reality. I’m talking about intentional joy. That full-body exhale that comes when you let go of the need to “fix” everything and just let yourself feel better for five minutes.

A few years ago, I was going through grief, exhaustion, and burnout all at once. You know the kind — where even brushing your teeth feels like a workout.
Instead of trying to meditate it away or “be productive,” I surrendered. I turned on a silly video. And I laughed. Not a polite giggle — I mean an ugly, snorting, can’t-breathe, just-peeled-myself-off-the-floor kind of laugh.
That moment did more for my nervous system than any affirmation ever could.

Escape Isn’t Weakness — It’s WisdomWe tend to treat escape like it’s a dirty word. But the truth is, conscious escapism is an emotional palate cleanser.
Without it, we’d all be walking around like mannequins with unresolved childhood issues — smile painted on, dead behind the eyes. (Yeah… I said it.)
Escaping into a feel-good story, a comedy binge, or a joyful distraction doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means you know when to put the heavy stuff down.

This month on Overheard at Chica’s Café, we are delighted towelcome the insightful Albert Bramante, a seasoned talent agent, as well as the accomplished author of Rise Above the Script. In this engaging episode, we dive deep into the intricate world of the current entertainment industry. Albertshares his expert perspective on the evolving landscape, shedding light on the myriad challenges performers face today. We also explore the subtle ways in which artists often unwittingly undermine their own potential, unraveling thecomplex web of self-sabotage that can hinder their careers.

I assist performers, educators, and creators in unlockingtheir full potential by combining psychology, performance strategies, and AI to drive unstoppable progress. With over two decades of experience at the intersection of entertainment and education, I have coached actors to secure transformative roles, guided students to become top-tier professionals, and developed systems to help individuals overcome fear, imposter syndrome, and self-sabotage. As the CEO of Bramante Artists, I manage a diverse group oftalent in Broadway, film, television, commercials, and print. I focus on career development rather than simply booking roles, using psychological insights and industry strategies to foster long-term, purpose-driven success for talent. Inmy role as a college professor, I have taught psychology at Union County College and BMCC (CUNY), creating and delivering courses in Child Development, Personality, and Human Growth, with an emphasis on transformative learningexperiences rooted in practical application. As a practitioner of hypnosis and NLP, I provide powerful mental performance tools in my work, whether coaching actors, mentoring students, or speaking to creatives. My approach centers oneliminating internal barriers and enhancing clarity, confidence, and focus.

Rise Above the Script – Available on Amazon

I’m actively seeking partnerships in:

Acting schools—Courses on the business of acting &mindset (based on my book)

Colleges & universities—Guest lecturing, curriculumdevelopment, and student success initiatives

Performance & wellness programs – Hypnosis + NLPintegration for creative peak performance

AI in education & content—Training educators andcreators to work smarter with AI

AI & Entertainment: The Future of Creativity or the End of It?

In this episode of Overheard at Chica’s Café, Sonia delves into the growing influence of AI in the entertainment industry, including voice cloning, script writing, AI actors, and music creation. Is AI a tool that empowers artists, or is it taking their place? Engage in this intriguing discussion about the essence of creativity in an era where machines can replicate human imagination. Sonia shares her heartfelt, artistic insights as a voice actor and poet.

So what do we do now?

We listen

We create with awareness

We stay present

With our voices and our why

Because in the age of algorithms—

The human soul is still

The wildest art form