The Acting Coach Network Podcast

After forty weeks of podcasting, this episode marks the final chapter of the Acting Coach Network podcast.
In this reflective solo episode, Savanna Madden looks back on what this podcast has been, what it has taught her, and why now feels like the right moment to close this chapter and prepare for what comes next.
Savanna shares the biggest lessons she has learned from showing up consistently every week, including how repetition builds confidence, why consistency strengthens resilience, and how using your voice regularly can transform the way you lead and communicate in business.
She also reflects on some of her most memorable conversations from the podcast, including powerful insights around boundaries, team building, delegation, collaboration, and stepping outside your comfort zone. These moments have shaped not only the podcast, but the way Savanna leads her businesses and supports others as a confidence coach.
This episode is also a heartfelt thank you to the listeners and guests who have been part of the journey. It is a moment of gratitude, closure, and intentional transition.
Savanna also shares what is coming next. In February, the podcast will relaunch with a new name, new branding, and a broader focus on women in business, female founders, and entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, resilience, and clarity without burning out. The heart of the conversations will stay the same, but the audience and intention are expanding.
If you have been part of the Acting Coach Network podcast journey, this episode is for you. And if you are ready for what is next, this is your invitation to stay connected.
In this episode, we cover
• Reflecting on 40 weeks of podcasting
 • How consistency builds confidence and resilience
 • Using your voice as a tool for leadership
 • Boundaries, delegation, and building supportive teams
 • Why stepping outside your comfort zone creates growth
 • Closing one chapter and intentionally opening another
 • What to expect from the podcast relaunch in February
About the host
Savanna Madden is a confidence coach, award winning theatre school owner, and podcast host. She supports women in business to rebuild confidence, lead with clarity, and step into their CEO identity without burnout.
Follow Savanna on Instagram at @iamsavannamadden and subscribe on YouTube to watch full video episodes.
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Email - [email protected]
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How should you start 2026 if you feel behind, overwhelmed or unsure of your next move?
In this episode I explain why reflecting on the year you have just had is the most powerful and strategic way to set goals for the year ahead. Rather than rushing into January with pressure and comparison, this episode invites you to slow down, gain clarity and move forward with confidence and intention.
I share how reflecting on what worked in 2025, what drained your energy and what felt aligned helps you set clearer goals, make better decisions and grow your business without burning out. You will also learn how to write goals that actually stick, why breaking them into 30, 60 and 90 day focuses matters, and how accountability supports real momentum.
This episode is ideal for acting coaches, theatre school owners, creatives and small business owners who want sustainable growth, stronger visibility and a grounded CEO mindset in 2026.
Savanna also introduces her free seven day audio series Reclaim Your Voice, designed to support confidence, self expression and showing up more visibly in your work and life.
Grab My Free Reclaim Your Voice 7 Day Audio Series Here
Grab my LAMDA Teacher Training Course Here
Follow me on Instagram here
Book you Free 15minute call with me here
Email - [email protected]
Check out YouTube here

What happens when a drama teacher stops trying to do everything alone and starts building systems that support both her students and herself?
In this episode of the Acting Coach Network podcast, I'm joined by Jackie Stuart, founder of StageAbility, a multi site drama school she has grown over the last 17 years alongside raising her family.
Jackie shares her journey from being made redundant while on maternity leave during the 2008 financial crisis to building a thriving drama school with four centres, eleven after school clubs, musical theatre classes and a youth theatre. At the heart of everything she does is a clear philosophy: drama should build confidence, self esteem and a sense of belonging before performance ever comes into it.
You will hear how Jackie intentionally built her business so she did not have to be in the classroom full time, why that decision shaped the long term success of StageAbility, and how years of late nights writing lesson plans led her to create the Drama Teachers Toolkit, an online resource library now used by drama teachers around the world.
This conversation is an honest look at
• Building a theatre school that supports family life
• Creating safe, inclusive spaces for children who need confidence the most
• Letting go of doing everything yourself
• Turning your existing resources into something that saves time and can generate income
• Learning new skills as a creative business owner without burning out
Jackie also shares her vision for the future, including a powerful new nurture based programme designed to support children who struggle most in traditional classroom environments.
If you are a drama teacher, theatre school owner or performing arts professional who wants to work smarter, protect your energy and build something sustainable, this episode is full of reassurance, practical ideas and inspiration.
You can connect with Jackie inside her Facebook community
The Drama Teachers Toolkit and explore her resources at thedramateacherstoolkit.co.uk
Grab My Free Reclaim Your Voice 7 Day Audio Series Here
Grab my LAMDA Teacher Training Course Here
Follow me on Instagram here
Book you Free 15minute call with me here
Email - [email protected]
Check out YouTube here

In this episode of the Acting Coach Network podcast, I’m joined by business mentor and class based industry leader Krissy Monaghan for a conversation that is honest, practical and incredibly value packed.
Krissy has spent over a decade in the children’s activity and performing arts business space and has experienced growth from every angle. From building and leading large networks to mentoring business owners through their next stage of expansion, she brings clarity, focus and real world strategy to everything she does.
Krissy shares why messy action will always beat perfection, how consistency compounds over time, and why focus is the most underrated skill for business growth. We talk about stepping into CEO leadership, navigating growth without burnout, and why what got you here will not get you to the next level.
Krissy also gives a glimpse into her next era, including the launch of the Class Business Awards, a new initiative designed to celebrate excellence, leadership and impact across the class based business industry. The Awards sit alongside her wider mission to raise standards, build strong communities and create a lasting legacy for business owners in this space.
If you are feeling stuck, distracted, overwhelmed or unsure how to step into your next era, this episode will give you clarity, confidence and permission to do things your way.
WHAT YOU’LL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE:
• Why messy action and consistency always win
• How structure and routine protect you from burnout
• What it really means to step into CEO leadership
• Why focus matters more than following trends
• How to avoid comparison and distraction
• The importance of mission, values and long term vision
• Why money is not always the real motivator
• How to decide what support you need at each stage of growth
• A look into Krissy’s next era and the launch of the Class Business Awards
Krissy primarily builds her community on Facebook, where she runs regular live sessions, free events, challenges and masterclasses.
You can find her by searching:
Kristine Monaghan Coach
She is also on Instagram under Children’s Activity Business Club.
Grab My Free Reclaim Your Voice 7 Day Audio Series Here
Grab my LAMDA Teacher Training Course Here
Follow me on Instagram here
Book you Free 15minute call with me here
Email - [email protected]
Check out YouTube here

In this episode I chat with Jack Seager, founder of the Community Interest Company Jack Seager School of Dance. Jack is deeply committed to making dance accessible for every child and every family, and he shares the powerful story behind building a dance school rooted in community, inclusion and opportunity.
Jack takes us through his journey from young performer to business owner, opening up about the realities of establishing a CIC, navigating funding, and creating a space where students feel valued, supported and inspired. We explore what it takes to lead with heart in the performing arts industry and the balance between resilience, emotional connection and the drive to make a genuine difference.
We discuss
• Dance as an art form that should be accessible to everyone regardless of background
• How establishing a CIC creates opportunities for community focused work
• The role of funding in keeping training affordable for families
• Why building a strong and supportive community accelerates growth
• The challenges of marketing to local schools and navigating gatekeepers
• The importance of adapting teaching styles to meet diverse student needs
• How emotional connection with students shapes the work in both beautiful and complex ways
• The confidence and resilience needed to thrive in the arts
• The power of collaboration over competition
• The importance of returning to the deeper reason behind your passion and your purpose
This conversation is full of insight, encouragement and real behind the scenes wisdom for anyone who cares about inclusive arts education or is building a mission led business in the performing arts.
You can connect with Jack here:
Instagram
Facebook
https://jackseagerschoolofdance.co.uk/
Grab My Free Reclaim Your Voice 7 Day Audio Series Here
Grab my LAMDA Teacher Training Course Here
Follow me on Instagram here
Book you Free 15minute call with me here
Email - [email protected]
Check out YouTube here