Episodes

  • Rachelle Brooke Smith Takes Center Stage: Acting, Relationships & Self-Worth

    Rachelle Brooke Smith Takes Center Stage: Acting, Relationships & Self-Worth
    Jan 29 2026
    In Season 2, Episode 4 of The Dean West Perspective, Rachelle Brooke Smith Palafox takes center stage to explore the deep connections between acting, relationships, self-worth, and personal transformation. Best known for her breakout lead in Center Stage: Turn It Up and powerful roles in Bring It On: Fight to the Finish, Center Stage: On Pointe, Atomic Shark, and Legend of the White Dragon, Rachelle brings both creative insight and lived experience to the conversation. Dean and Rachelle unpack how acting becomes more than a craft-it becomes a mirror. They talk about navigating Hollywood with heart, the mindset shifts that reshape careers, and why our relationships (with others and with ourselves) are inseparable from the work we do on stage and in life. This is a conversation about presence, vulnerability, emotional intelligence, and learning to stand in your own worth. Whether you’re an actor, a creator, or simply a human who knows growth requires courage, this episode offers grounded insight into how craft becomes consciousness-and how art trains us to live more honestly. If you’re looking to get started in your acting journey, check out Fast Track Acting at www.thedeanwest.com/start.And if you’re already on your journey-of acting and life-dig deeper at www.TheDeanWest.com. You can find Rachelle Brooke Smith (Palafox) on Instagram @Rbrookesmith and This podcast @TheDeanWestPerspective along with our Host Dean West @TheDeanWest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    49 mins
  • Stop Acting, Start Being: Part 2 with Betsy Borrego

    Stop Acting, Start Being: Part 2 with Betsy Borrego
    Dec 18 2025
    In Part 2 of our Season 2 opener, Dean and actress Betsy Borrego go even deeper into ego, embodiment, human behavior, vulnerability, and the spiritual side of acting that most performers never tap into. This episode breaks open everything beneath the “performance”:how presence becomes power, why vulnerability is the gateway to truth, how journaling rewires your character work, and why the best actors stop “acting” and start being. Dean and Betsy talk belief systems, emotional access, character psychology, stereotypes, losing (and rebuilding) ego, and what it really means to “craft” a human on screen and in real life. Betsy shares stories from set, moments that cracked her open, and the shifts that made her a more grounded and connected actor. Dean pulls back the curtain on how identity, manifestation, and the “I Am” perspective fuse directly with character development to create work that feels alive instead of performed. If you’re an actor who wants to deepen your craft, unlock emotional access, or understand how mindset and embodiment transform performances, this episode is your blueprint. And if you want actual training around this work without the usual $300-a-month studio price tag, join the actor community built around this philosophy:Tilt Acting Skool at Skool.com/tilt - a space to learn, grow, train, and evolve, as an artist and a human. Keywords : Dean West Perspective, Betsy Borrego, acting technique, acting vulnerability, stop acting start being, character development, journaling for actors, emotional access, ego death, acting podcast, acting mindset, manifestation for actors, Tilt Acting Skool, acting coach, presence in acting, season 2. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • From Zero Credits to 24+: Betsy Borrego’s Mindset Shift That Changed Everything

    From Zero Credits to 24+: Betsy Borrego’s Mindset Shift That Changed Everything
    Dec 11 2025
    Actress Betsy Borrego (Insta: @itsbetsy) joins Dean to kick off Season 2 with a raw, funny, and wildly honest conversation about the mindset shifts that took her from theater to screen and into 24+ film and TV credits — even through the pandemic, industry shutdowns, and the chaos of strikes. In this episode, Betsy breaks down the moment everything changed: moving from traditional acting techniques into deeper self-work, identity awareness, and what she calls “waking up.” Dean walks her through the inner rewires, the ego checks, and the toolbox mentality that helped her transition into a consistently working actor. They talk: Acting as self-discovery Why mindset became Betsy’s secret weapon How to build characters through humanity instead of “performance” What directors actually respond to Set stories from Renfield, Cloak & Dagger, Daisy Jones & The Six, and more The moment Betsy realized she had to switch coaches, switch strategy, and switch identity If you want to train, grow, and evolve as an actor without dropping $300 a month on classes, check out Tilt Acting Skool— the community built around this entire philosophy. Learn, grow, and level up inside a space designed for actors at Skool.com/tilt. Perfect for actors, creators, and anyone fascinated by character work, mindset, manifestation, or the psychology behind great performances. And you can follow The Dean West Perspective on Instagram: @TheDeanWestPerspechttps://www.instagram.com/thedeanwestperspective?igsh=MTQzeW15c2EzN25pbQ==tive and @TheDeanWest Keywords (SEO): Betsy Borrego, Dean West Perspective, acting podcast, acting mindset, character development, manifestation for actors, audition tips, acting technique, actor interview, acting coach, season 2, Renfield, Cloak and Dagger, self-development for actors, Tilt Acting Skool. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    54 mins
  • Toltec Wisdom of the 2nd & 3rd Agreement

    Toltec Wisdom of the 2nd & 3rd Agreement
    Apr 4 2024
    In this Ep we have a quick update on Dean and the Podcast and then we dive into the 2nd and 3rd agreement based on the Best selling book, The Four Agreements. Follow Dean on instagram @TheDeanWest and @TheDeanWestPerspective You can find more on www.TheDeanWest.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    33 mins
  • Rolling with the Roles: Insights and Warnings with James DuMont!

    Rolling with the Roles: Insights and Warnings with James DuMont!
    Mar 7 2024
    The Dean West Perspective Noted for his finely crafted and nuanced performances, actor James DuMont is one of the busiest actors in both film and television.DuMont just wrapped his 74th & 75th Feature Film, Amazon's Candy Cane Lane with Eddie Murphy & Unit 234, opposite Don Johnson. James plays "Chad" on HBO's The Righteous Gemstones opposite creator & star, Danny McBride, which is going into its 4th Season in 2024. His 70th performance on television was CBS' FBI.James is best known for Focus Features' Dallas Buyers Club opposite Oscar winner, Jared Leto where he played his father. Mr. DuMont is a Tri-Coastal Actor by residing in New York, Los Angeles & New Orleans all at once & he shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. And did I mention he also coaches! I also heard that he slept once or twice. You can find James on Instagram under @JamesDumont Instagram: ⁠@TheDeanWestPerspective⁠ ⁠@TheDeanWest⁠ You can find 💻Courses, 📕📗Books and more from Dean West on his website. ⁠www.TheDeanWest.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    2 hrs and 18 mins
  • Artistic Connection to Source

    Artistic Connection to Source
    Feb 29 2024
    In this solo episode, Dean West discusses how actors can tap into Source or God, whatever resonates with you, enabling us to experience the flow of being in the present moment. Athletes achieve it when they play by instinct, musicians embody it, and actors attain it when fully immersed in character and the moment. Join Dean West as we explore the profound connection to creativity and presence in artistry. TheDeanWest.com www.instagram.com/thedeanwestperspective www.instagram.com/thedeanwest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    33 mins
  • Acting and all that Jazz with TheCoachMC AKA Lorenzo Patane

    Acting and all that Jazz with TheCoachMC AKA Lorenzo Patane
    Feb 22 2024
    Join Dean West and TheCoachMC, also known as Lorenzo Patane. A seasoned veteran of the stage, Lorenzo brings a wealth of experience, including his work on the long-running German show, Storm of Love. As the founder of the Studio of Modern Acting and a prominent figure across various social media channels, Lorenzo shares invaluable insights into the craft of acting and leveraging social media for success. Don't miss out on this engaging discussion!" www.thecoachmc.studio Instagram @TheCoachMc Youtube @THECOACHMCSTUDIO The Dean West Perspective Donate: Use this link for a one time Donation. Use this link to donate monthly! Instagram: ⁠@TheDeanWestPerspective⁠ ⁠@TheDeanWest⁠ You can find 💻Courses and 📕📗Books from Dean West on his website. ⁠www.TheDeanWest.com 🎥 Helping actors put the power back in their hands. Learn to write, structure, and produce your own projects. Website: ⁠⁠Onegrandfilm.com/dean⁠⁠ 🍓🍎🥦 For some of my best supplements! Organifi -Use code: WEST20 for a 20% Discount! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 23 mins
  • Not Always Dean West: You are your habits

    Not Always Dean West: You are your habits
    Feb 15 2024
    In this EP, Dean discusses the essence of who we are at our core and explores how our habits shape our development. He also offers insights on how to create the person and life we wish to live. The Dean West Perspective Donate: Use this link for a one time Donation. Use this link to donate monthly! Instagram: ⁠@TheDeanWestPerspective⁠ ⁠@TheDeanWest⁠ You can find 💻Courses and 📕📗Books from Dean West on his website. DWASTV is also Linked on the page! ⁠www.TheDeanWest.com 🍓🍎🥦🥬 Organifi -Use code: WEST20 for a 20% Discount! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    26 mins