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Writer's pictureMarylee Fairbanks

Bold Journey Interview

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Marylee Fairbanks. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Marylee below.

Hi Marylee, thanks for sitting with us today to chat about topics that are relevant to so many. One of those topics is communication skills, because we live in an age where our ability to communicate effectively can be like a superpower. Can you share how you developed your ability to communicate well?

This is an interesting question to me because my ability to communicate has expanded over time.I am ADHD & Dyslexic and back in the 1970’s this was not something that was accommodated in schools. I don’t think we had names for neurodivergent brains.But, I discovered music at a very young age and this became an excellent communication tool for me. I was seven years old first time I heard someone singing Barbra Streisand live. I saved my allowances and got the Barbra Streisand Superman album and learned to sing. This was a way to slow my brain and connect my heart and mind. I found a new balance imitating Barbra Streisand and singing out my bedroom window.

School was challenging for me because of my differences and I found ways around it by memorizing the text to music and movement. I am sure is this led me to musical theater!

But even once I was performing on stage, a curtain speech was overwhelming. There is nothing to hide behind if you are not in character and being myself in front of an audience was very uncomfortable.

So, when Stephanie J. Block and I decided to start Stages Podcast, I had to find a way to overcome this impostor syndrome.How could I conduct interviews if I was too afraid to be myself in public? So, I forced myself to compete in Moth Radio Hour story slam competitions. I wrote my five minute stories, and force myself up on the stage in front of people to practice sharing parts of myself. It’s a very challenging experience but I found that the story telling audiences are very kind and supportive people. It helped me develop as a communicator.

Also watching my co-host Stephanie interview people helped me learn so much. She fearlessly shares who she is and it has given me the courage to do the same.


Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

It’s difficult for me to label my career. I’ve done so many different things over the years. I started out as a musical theater actor and worked until I had my son, Sebastian.

I was close to 40 when I had my child and I knew that I wanted to dive in and experienced motherhood without leaving town to do shows. The work/life balance for parents who are actors is extremely difficult. And I was fortunate to be able to set it aside for a little while in order to raise my son.

I know myself well enough to understand that if I am not being creative… I get self destructive so I went in search of avenues of self-expression. I got certified as a yoga teacher and taught workshops on the chakras. (The bodies energy system). I wrote articles about yoga and parenthood when my son was small.

But as my son prepared for college, I knew I should get busy and get back to the theater. I reached out to some of my oldest friends and we started some projects together. Stephanie J. Block and I founded Stages Podcast and LaChance and I founded Tima Productions.

I ran an investment team for Kimberly Akimbo, (Tony winner for Best New Musical 22/23 season) and last season (23/24) I won a Tony Award as a producer for the Outsiders.

It’s interesting as a woman in her 50’s to jumpstart a career and have a bit of a Renaissance. It certainly helps when you are surrounded by supportive people. I have a husband who supports me 100% and girlfriends who are not only my biggest cheerleaders but creative and competent partners. Life is so much about trusted relationships. Our brains and our energy is influenced by the people with whom we spend time.

I’m going to be performing with PBS’ Stories From the Stage in November and I’m excited about that. Stages Podcast heads into its fifth season in January 2025 with more than 100 episodes. And I plan to produce two shows on Broadway next season which will be announced in 2025.

It’s fascinating to see all the different aspects of yourself come together in an unexpected way. Yoga and writing were something I did when my son was small in order to keep busy and active. Now, I understand how those two things have imbued them selves into my storytelling and Stages Podcast. They even help me decide which shows I want to produce based on an edifying script. With every opportunity to produce, I asked myself “Why are we telling the story? How does it make the world a better place?”Yoga requires this kind of introspection in your daily practice.


Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

I would say that relationships are really the most important thing for any success in any area. The incredible Andre DeShields said, in his Tony Award speech; “Surround yourself with people whose eyes light up when they see you coming.”

This struck me as the truth. In order to succeed at anything you must surround yourself or people who cheer you on and hold you up. And you must do the same for them. This builds trust, which is rare. Being able to go back to some of my oldest friendships in order to rebuild my career was absolutely the greatest place I could have started.

I also have strong organizational abilities. I keep lists and check things off in a systematic way. I cannot go to bed until I hand write a list of things that will be accomplish the next day.

But I think one of the greatest assets anyone can possess is curiosity. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to fail. Be curious and never pretend to have all the answers. There is always much to learn


Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

I find during life’s stressful times, I go back to a simple technique. I allow myself five or ten minutes to let my brain spin out of control. I imagine all of the worst circumstances that could possibly happen. I cry or feel sorry for myself. I allow anger and confusion up to the surface. And then once I’ve gotten that out of my system I come back to what I know for sure. I come back to the facts. What is true at this time? Not in some made up future.Then I make a gratitude list of all of things that I have an abundance and focus on that. Because what you think about GROWS. We are co-creators of our existence.

We can allow ourselves to feel the sadness and anger and let it pass through. But, don’t linger in it, or define ourselves by it. Feelings are fleeting and pass.

I practice yoga often. I try to do it daily but sometimes the days get away from me. I do find that when I practice I am more centered and my feelings are far more neutral. So that’s something else that I do. I come back to a Kundalini practice often.




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