E30: A film journalist's Covid move inspires a new chapter and a place to call home | Alicia Malone, TCM Host in ME

I’m excited to invite you to my conversation with Alicia Malone. Alicia is a recent Maine transplant, who relocated from Los Angeles during Covid. Alicia was born and raised in Australia. She is a published author, film expert, and most well known for her role as a host on Turner Classic Movies. Her two books -- Backwards and in Heels  and The Female Gaze - focus on the role of women in cinema history, and the accomplishments and struggles of many female filmmakers today.

Ever since she was a kid, Alicia has been obsessed with cinema. She knew she wanted to someday work in the film industry, and was super focused towards manifesting her goal of building a career in the highly competitive entertainment industry. 

Instead of going to college, Alicia moved to Sydney right out of high school to work behind the scenes in television production. After cutting her teeth as a film journalist in Australia, she moved to Los Angeles, with the specific goal in mind to one day work as a host for Turner Classic Movies. Contrary to the many assumptions about the role of a television host, Alicia writes all of her own scripts, and loves the viewing and researching process more than her time on camera.

As a child, Alicia grew up on a farm and always dreamed that she would go back to live in the country someday. It was always that “one day” sort of dream, but when the pandemic hit, that dream finally seemed like a viable option. Alicia was working remotely, and taking trips every couple of months to film for Turner Classic Movies at their headquarters in Atlanta. She realized nothing was keeping her in the stressful, congested, party scene of Los Angeles.

On a whim, she found a monthly Airbnb rental in a town in Maine that she had only driven through once. Even though she'd never spent anytime there, that one drive thru was enough to enchant her and make her want test the waters to see if could feel like home. In less than a month, she knew this was where she wanted to plant permanent roots. She quickly bought her first home because she saw real estate prices increasing and inventory decreasing.

While most of her work takes place outside of her small community, Alicia is currently pursuing a dream to open a local independent theater. She wants to show classic and contemporary films and is looking forward to contributing to the "movie memories" of others.

Alicia is such an inspiration, not only because of the joy and tenacity with which she approaches following her dreams, but the life she has built for herself on her own terms. I know how grateful she is to make the shift back to small town life after decades of building her career in big cities. I love hearing about how returning to a small town has allowed her to re-experience her childhood rural roots, and also return to a more authentic version of herself - even dyeing her hair back to her natural blonde. Alicia took her physical move as an opportunity for a mental shift as well in prioritizing her health, and also stepping back from the rat race and ‘more is more’ mentality.

In our conversation, we speak about her advice for urbanites making the dramatic shift to small town life, moving while single, Alicia’s lifestyle and career choices, and the changes she has

Transcript

Alicia Malone: 0:00

Coming here, I've been able to reconnect myself in a way that I haven't. Since I've probably was a teenager have started to figure out who I really am. When everything's taken away. People here do not care that I'm on television they go, that's cool, interesting, but they are not trying to get anything from you. They're not overly impressed by what you do. And so to be able to let go of all of that stuff that that persona that I had built up, it's made me able to find out again, who I truly am. And I've felt a level of contentment that I never thought was possible.

Alissa Hessler: 0:42

A movement is underway of people abandoning the emotional, physical, and financial expenses of city living, and crafting their own purpose, livelihoods and joy, and love rural reaches. The urban Exodus podcast shares the wisdom, wit, and stories of those who decided to embark on the road less traveled to pursue their own interpretation of the good life, small business owners changemakers artists, farmers and more working towards building a better future for themselves and their fellow citizens. This podcast is for country dreamers, rural folk in urban dwellers alike, who want to feel more connected to the natural world. And the purpose, the choices their lives. I'm Alissa Hessler, welcome to the urban Exodus I'm excited to invite you to my conversation with Alicia Malone. Alicia has a recent main transplant who moved from Los Angeles during the pandemic. Alicia was born and raised in Australia, and is a writer, film expert, and most well known as a host on Turner Classic Movies, her two books backwards in heels in the female gaze, explore the role of women in cinema history, and the accomplishments and struggles of female filmmakers today. As a child, Alicia spent a lot of time out in nature, she dreamed to one day be able to move to a place where she could reconnect with the natural world and have a slower pace of life. That one day dream seems like a much more viable option when the pandemic hit. Alicia works remotely. And every few months she takes a trip to film at TCM headquarters in Atlanta, she realized that there was nothing keeping her in the traffic, bustle and party scene of Los Angeles. On a whim, she found a monthly rental in a small town in Maine, that she'd only driven through once a month into her move. And she knew that she'd finally found a place to call home. She planted permanent roots and was able to buy her first home. In our conversation today. We speak on so many things, moving to a small town on your own strategies to manifest your dreams, the difficulties women face to be taken seriously in male dominated industries, and so much more. This is a story of following your intuition, new beginnings and the pursuit of happiness. I hope you enjoy it. Alright, so I am really excited to have Alicia Malone. On the podcast. I met Alicia actually at a COVID friendly dinner party in Maine. And Alicia, you are a journalist, you are a film journalist specifically kind of in the classic movie space. And you recently moved from Los Angeles to Maine. And you are a host for Turner Classic Movies and you're able to do that remote. And when we met we just had so much to talk about. And I think you're so interesting and have a lot of really wonderful perspectives on things. And so I'm just really excited to speak with you.

Alicia Malone: 4:20

Thank you. Well, you missed out the part where I basically fangirled over you because I'd bought your book to city and go country and I recognize you from the cover of your book. So as soon as I saw you I said I think that's Alissa. And then I was like did you write a book and I felt like such a little fan but your book. We can talk more about it as we get into this but it was so helpful for me when I moved over here. It gave me a real guide and so many wonderful tips. So thank you for that.

Alissa Hessler: 4:46

Oh, that's really sweet. I did not pay Alicia to just say that. First off. Let's just get right into it. I'd love for you to share a little bit of your personal backstory where you grew up, kind of how you got into drugs. journalism, maybe how you got here, but you can keep it a shorter sweet as you'd like. Well, you

Alicia Malone: 5:05

can tell from my accent to people listening that I'm not from America. I was born in Canberra, Australia, which is the capital of Australia, but it feels very much like a small town. And I grew up riding horses and out on the farm, and that was a great way to grow up. And I also loved movies, particularly classic movies, my dad and the rest of my family, big film buffs. And he showed me many films by classic film directors like Alfred Hitchcock, and then I really got into it in my teens. And I would go down to the video store, My List of films I should watch if I wanted to be a film buff, and I would make my way through them. And I was never into going out and going to parties. It's just very shy and introverted, like many film lovers are, you know, you get to escape into someone else's world. And so the when I graduated high school, I had the grades to go to university, but I decided not to. And I decided, instead of going into film, which I knew was just a long process films take years, I didn't know if I had that patience. I wanted to work in television. So I moved up to Sydney as a team, I started doing just a TV production course for something to do. There, I met a girl who was working at Channel Seven, who's this is one of the big TV networks in Australia. And very luckily, she recommended me for a job leading up to the 2000 Olympics, because they were the host broadcaster. So I worked there for a variety of years, like on a variety of roles for many years. And then I started working at a movie cable network in Australia, as a producer and editor thought I might like to host again, it was a woman who helped me another host who said, I told her what I wanted to do. And she was instead of saying you're trying to take my job, she was like, let me help you. She gave me a real push, or we'll start in the industry. And then I decided in 2010, to pack it all in and move to LA, where I didn't know anyone. And I just wanted to be in the film world, and spent 10 years there with the specific goal of working with TCM, because I love classic films, didn't know if I was ever going to be able to do it, but I somehow managed it. And then last year 2020 made my way over to me.

Alissa Hessler: 7:21

You talked a little bit about your foray into films and putting the pieces together that you wanted to be a film journalist. And I think being on camera, it's kind of different set of standards for women and men. And I wondered if you wanted to speak a little bit about your experience going on camera as a woman journalist versus among journalists in that space?

Alicia Malone: 7:44

Yeah, it's been a wild ride, you know, I started 2007 was when I first started being on camera. So I've been on coming out for what, 15 years or so. And 14 years. And throughout that time, it's been so difficult to hold on to who I am. Because you get so many comments from all different angles of how you should be how you should look like how you should act, he told to fit into a certain mold, either explicitly or implicitly. And that includes your weight. I remember one of my first big jobs in Australian television was a live event. And I was so nervous again, you know, being quite shy, only wanted to be on camera, because I wanted to talk to the filmmakers and be able to tell stories about film, I wasn't really wanting to be a public figure. And the male producer pulled me aside after that and said you did really well, you've got great talent. If you just lose 10 kilograms, which is like, you know, 510 pounds, then you could be really a star. And I thought, what, like, Why does my body have to do with the talent. And that's been something that has been present throughout my career, and seen that with all other female journalists as well that you not only have to look a certain way, but you have to be better than everyone else. I mean, it's especially hard for women of color as well have to prove yourself more than your male colleagues. I'm constantly challenged on what I know or disbelieve for what I know. And it's a really difficult position because you're basically told that you should look like a model. But if you look like a model, then people really don't believe that you have authority or the you know, anything. Because why would you bother being intelligent, if you're pretty, you know, those two things as hard for people to believe. And being on camera. People feel very, very comfortable in telling you exactly how they think of how you look, most of the feedback I would get throughout my career was not what I said and not what I was hired to do, which was to be a film expert. It was how I looked. The dress that I chose how my hair was, it's hard not to lose yourself amongst all of that and start believing that there is everything is wrong with you and you need to fix everything. especially I've learned not to read the comments on the internet.

Alissa Hessler: 10:05

Right? Yeah. I mean, people feel so emboldened by this, like anonymous, commenting. Oh yeah, world of the internet that it's just it's like scary. I hate reading comments of anything.

Alicia Malone: 10:18

That's the thing. You go on any website, any Yelp review anything and there's always horrible comments doesn't matter who you are, you know, you can read 10 great comments about yourself. And the one that's bad is the one that you'll believe and stick with you. And it doesn't matter how much you try to rationalize, well, there must be an angry person, if they're feeling so upset about someone who's talking about movies and television, but it still gets to you, it still gets under your skin. So now I just try to stay away from all of that, really try to keep a hold of who I am. And know that I don't need to fix anything about myself.

Alissa Hessler: 10:55

You are on camera. And I think another kind of maybe false narrative that people just believe is that on camera journalists, like don't do any of the writing. They don't write their own words, they like they have handlers, and they just go up and they read the teleprompter. Is that your experience? Or what is your job kind of entail?

Alicia Malone: 11:14

Yeah, I mean, it's interesting, because in Australia, when you're host, you also have to be a producer and editor or writer, because the industry is so small, you can't possibly just be a host, you wouldn't get any work in there, everyone needs to pitch in. So that's always the mentality that I've had. And I've always done everything and learn how to do everything. Learn how to edit, learn how to do podcast, learn how to you know, any skill I wanted to learn. And so it's it's difficult sometimes to make people aware that firstly, it was difficult for them to make people believe that I could be on camera. But when I had been behind the scenes for so many years, it was kind of like you but you're behind the scenes. Then once I got known for being on camera, it was hard to make them believe that I could do all the other stuff as well. And people watching at home I'm sure most people who watch TCM think that I just read the teleprompter and someone else's writing my words. But I said to TCM pretty early on in being a host that I wanted to write my own scripts, because I love it. I love writing and I love researching about the film's and I want it to all be in my voice. And they have a great team of writers who are wonderful at what they do. But I just said can I do my own writing, they were totally open to that. And that's been really fun to do. And now I'm like, Can I also do some editing and they're like, Oh, you want to do that as well. You know, I love all the behind the scenes stuff. So I just want to do more of that. It is strange also when you're talent that you can come on set and you can be in front of a crew of we got a lovely crew in Atlanta, with TCM citizen have been with them so much. But on a different crew, you could be in front of like 20 people, and they can all be talking about you, because you're the center focus of what they're doing the lighting the camera, but no one actually talks to you. And you want to say like, Hi, I'm a person, you can give me feedback. You don't have to be so careful around me, you can tell me exactly what you need. For me. I've always seen a hostess as being one of many jobs on a crew. And it does not mean you're any more important than anyone else. You just have a different job. And it's your it's your job actually to make their jobs easier. How can you make the camera man or camera woman's job easier? How can you make the editors job easier? You know, be prepared, be ready, don't do too many takes all that stuff is how I try to approach it.

Alissa Hessler: 13:39

That's amazing. I think that you are really good at intentionally manifesting things. And you know, you didn't go to college, you went straight to Sydney, you had this like kind of super focus. And I wanted to know if you had any advice for people who like see maybe your career trajectory, or even just that focus that you have, on ways that they can tap into that in their own lives and kind of pursue whatever it is that even if it's in an industry that is super competitive work towards that goal.

Alicia Malone: 14:14

Yeah, I think one of the first big things is learning to trust that inner voice. I'm not religious. So I say it's like my inner wisdom. But if you are religious, maybe it's a voice of God. But it always has guided me and told me exactly what I needed to do. And it was a big reason why I moved to Maine and said you need to be in nature, you need to be somewhere beautiful. And so trusting that voice that that's what you want to do and need to do and that's your deepest desire. Number one and then for me writing goals, but not just writing, I want to be a host on TCM but really breaking it down. And so when I discovered TCM when I moved to LA and I thought I want to be a host I thought okay, well what do you need to be in order to be a host and I knew it would take up to 10 years I had to build a reputation. As someone who was a classic film expert, I had to learn more about classic films myself, I had to practice my hosting skills, and interviewing skills. So I really just tried to break it down to more manageable steps. So then it didn't feel so overwhelming as a goal. And got to the point where someone said to me at the head of a podcast studio, where I was doing a classic film podcast, said to me, Alicia, what's your dream job? And I've always believed in telling people your dreams, because you never know who will help you. Say it, like, humbly, you know, I deserve to say, I just said, I would love to be on TCM, that's my dream. And he said, well actually know the head of talent, I can put you in touch. And I said, not yet. Can I come back to you in a year or two? Because I knew I wasn't ready and that you have one opportunity. And I wanted to feel ready. So then I spent the next year really working on myself as a host until I got to the point where I felt like I could do an audition, and have a chance. So then I approached him again and said, Oh, can I get that contact now? And that's how it ended up happening in the end. So just breaking down the goals and trusting yourself and knowing that it will take a while. Yeah, not being afraid of working towards it. I've also been very lucky. I think people have helped me a lot.

Alissa Hessler: 16:17

Yeah. Well, I think that like verbalizing whatever it is that you want your dream to be, and then actually knowing the right time for it, too. I think that sometimes, you know, opportunities can present themselves that you aren't ready for. Just like you taking a pause and going Yes, why not? Give me a second. And I'll be back.

Alicia Malone: 16:39

I know. And it was funny, because then when I was ready, I met with the head of talent of TCM, who was lovely. And she at the time, unbeknownst to me, TCM was working on a streaming service called filmstruck. And so she was looking for hosts for filmstruck. So then, you know, it ended up being the right time for that if it had been a year earlier, it wouldn't have been the right time. So that's how I ended up getting my foot in the door.

Alissa Hessler: 17:04

That's amazing. Yeah, let's back it up a little bit. Because you moved from Sydney to Los Angeles and you spent 1215 years, 10 years. 10 years. Yeah. What was that transition like for you? And what was it like living in Los Angeles, I would imagine that being you know, kind of in the center of the entertainment industry, a lot of those pressures that we spoke about earlier probably felt even more weighted.

Alicia Malone: 17:31

Yeah, big time. I mean, I remember moving to LA, and thinking, it'll look like a movie, it looked like everyone looked like an actor, someone that you vaguely recognize from the screen, but you're not sure who they are, as everybody moves there to achieve their dreams, and mostly to work in the entertainment industry, which at first, I found very inspiring, because everyone is so ambitious. Then after a while, it really started to drain on me that everyone's always looking for an angle. And people definitely want something from you. And they want you to help them get to where they want to be, that can be really taxing after a while. And the weight of dreams, you know, you feel in the air, there's expectation that today could be someone's lucky break, or they could be there for years and never get a break. It's all about luck. And timing was great. Because to be in the center of the film world. I think now it's changed slightly with the pandemic that you might not need to be right there in LA. But back in 2010, that was where you needed to be if you wanted to do anything to do with film. So I decided I mean, I tend to decide these big, big things about my life really quickly. So I just decided when I was on a trip to Paris that I wanted to move to LA, I came back from that trip, I had my little performance review with work. They said, you know, where do you see yourself in 10 years time I said in LA and though like what? They said, well, we can offer you a job there. I said that's okay. I will figure it out. And so I had to quit everything and go over there with no work prospects. Luckily, I knew people in Australia. So once I arrived, I emailed everyone I knew an Australian television and said just so you know, I'm here in LA and I thought I could possibly get work as a they call like a junket interview as you go to the press junkets where the celebrity sits in the room. It's like speed dating. I have

Alissa Hessler: 19:26

heard from people that that is a very painful experience.

Alicia Malone: 19:30

It's a grind, no matter which side you're on. Yeah, they have to sit there all day and talk to journalists in four minute increments. For the journalists you're walking in. You have four minutes the clock is counting down as you walk in. You don't have much time to build a rapport. You need to get what you need to get. The actor could be tired and over it you just never know and it's quite nerve wracking and everyone's staring at you and grooms packed, but I knew that was work that I could possibly get for Australian television. And that's how I eventually got my start was they said, Oh, actually, we need someone to fill in. And then there was a girl in LA who wanted to move back to Australia. So she said, you know, I'll recommend you for the job. Again, women have always paved the way for me. But it was very overwhelming experience to be in such a big city. I was lucky, I made great friends who have been so supportive over the years. And to be amongst that world where everyone is just gorgeous. Everyone's waiting to be discovered. It was part of the reason I dyed my hair red was because it was so many bonds in LA that I wanted to stand out during those four minute interviews, you got to do anything you can to stand out and be memorable. And one way or the other.

Alissa Hessler: 20:43

How that's so interesting. And I mean, your red hair has become like, who your personality on camera. And I wondered if we could talk a little bit about this, like characterizing of on air talent, you know, even in the journalism space, which you would think that maybe in the journalism space, it wouldn't be that way. Yeah. But I'd love for you to speak a little bit about that. Yeah, it's interesting,

Alicia Malone: 21:09

it became a persona for sure, a change my hair to stand out a little bit, and I only thought it would be for a little while. And then it became part of my personality. It was how people remembered me or people recognize me the red hair and the accent. That's how people remembered me. I remember getting the nickname red fury, because I was on this YouTube channel that was filled with guys and they would say stupid things occasionally, and I would get really angry. So that I got the nickname red Fury from that. It also for me was a way to kind of like a fake it to make it thing. Again, just being shy and introverted. Suddenly, I was in the situation where you're walking into this room, this hotel room filled like clown car, like with all these people, you got four minutes is this other worldly looking movie, sir? Right? They're staring at you. And I needed to kind of sum up some kind of confidence. I also started asking for hugs from the stars, because I couldn't think of anything scarier than asking for to touch movies. So I thought that would be a way to get me out of my comfort zone. And again, it was something that people were starting to remember me by. And I'm not a particularly touchy feely person. So that's interesting. But I was trying and trying to do all these things to gain confidence. But in the meantime, I can look back now and think I kind of lost myself a little bit in there, both from the comments from people and viewers, and just the Elsa, that's the pressure you feel being in LA, and being surrounded by a certain type of person. And then also the the way that I, I mean, it was still me, but it was still it was like a heightened version of me, that I had to kind of put on in order to do their job. And that can be really hard to shake. After a while it becomes you and say, for example, social media. Well, I joined social media straightaway tweeting and Instagramming. And and to think about it now it's, there's nothing wrong with selfies, but it's just not me to like, do a selfie of myself, I would tell everyone what I'm doing all the time. I love I love my privacy. But I did all that because I thought, that's what you need to do. And I got swept up in the comments and the likes. And I was getting all these followers. And so it was exciting and the dopamine hit of social media, it can be hard when you're in that rush to take a step back and say, Hang on, Is this really me? Am I doing all these things? Because that's who I am? Or is am I doing all the things? Because that's what's expected of me? And therefore, am I playing into the same rules about women that we hear time and time again? And am I being a good role model? To the girls out there? If I lose a bunch of weight? It's what does that say to them that they have to lose weight to be on television? I don't want that.

Alissa Hessler: 23:59

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Alicia Malone: 25:19

Well, I'd always said to my friends, I just want to be in a small town. I'm a small town kind of gal, how I grew up with boots in the mud and out in a farm. But I always said one day, you know, one day, and I never really thought of when I could possibly do that, even though I was technically working from home. TCM being based in Atlanta means I fly there to film so I could be based anywhere, I still thought I had to be in LA and be amongst it all. And then when everything shot in LA, I mean, the things that I loved about LA were the film related things that the movie theaters and the people and the some of the restaurants, but it's not a particularly beautiful city, and in and of itself, it's very much an urban sprawl. So when everything shut down, you're left with thinking, wow, what is it about LA dies, like where I'm living? What am I doing? And then I did, like everyone did with the pandemic, I didn't want to sit with all the thoughts that I was having both about the scary world out there, and about what was really going on inside me and how anxious I actually was just living in a city. And I mean, I used to just be running from one event to the next, I was always late. And I was always eating my car and always stuck in traffic and getting changed in the bathroom and putting makeup on in the car and doing work like it's 5am in the morning and getting to sleep really late. I mean, it was a nonstop life. And I was doing yoga and meditation. And that was kind of like a band aid just sort of holding me together. But it wasn't fixing the real wound that was underneath, which was my stressful life. So I was getting into scrolling on the news. And I realized that from the moment I woke up to the moment I slept in the early stage of the lockdown, I was on a screen, I was looking at the news. And then I was doing yoga from YouTube, doing an Instagram like dance class. And then I was working and then I was binge watching Netflix, and I was doing zooms. And I was going for walks and listening to podcasts and trying to optimize every minute by listening to a self help podcast while I was walking, when what would actually improve my life would be to look around and notice the birds and being quiet. So I started just to feel really anxious and stressed as many people were. And I was like, Yeah, my job and I didn't get sick. But I knew I just needed to cut down on all this social media and screen life. So I, I got off social media lost my passwords, all my accounts, I got rid of a lot of streaming services, I started getting the newspaper instead of the news and just really tried to pare down the screens from my life and tried to have more quiet moments where it was no music, or I could just sit and think and hear what thoughts came up. And what came up was you're incredibly stressed. This is not a sustainable life. You love what you do, but you need to be somewhere else you need to be in nature, which was surprising to me that that's what I got was okay, you need to be somewhere beautiful. And I come to Maine in 2019 with a friend who grew up in Maine and good friends in LA and he always said to me, you would love me you love the outdoors. You love the weather. You like being cozy. So finally I went with him in October 2019 and I loved it. And then I just drove through a small town didn't even stop. Uhm, this particular town just drove through and I was like, I love this place. This is this is where I want to be. Then that got heightened during the lockdown when I'm locked in my tiny apartment in LA it's 115 degrees Fahrenheit. Heatwave, there's smoke in the air from all the horrible wildfires. Everything shut. I just went I got to try. You know, I wonder if work would be okay with me working from over there. And luckily, they could tell that I was sort of at my wit's end. And I needed to do something to change my life and they were so supportive, very grateful for TCM working with them feels like me because it's all about classic films, and that's who I really am. And so they said, Yeah, you can work from Maine. And so I packed up everything. fit as much as I could in my tiny car, put my cat in her backseat carrier, and drove across the country all the way to Maine and stayed in this small town and Airbnb. And within three days I was like I have to make this permanent. This is where I need to be.

Alissa Hessler: 29:48

That's amazing. You were able to buy your first home. Yeah, just a really big accomplishment and you were smart in that you like bought like right almost right away at

Alicia Malone: 30:00

Do the prices were going up and up with dynamic. And I could see, because I was watching the real estate sites and I could see how quickly the houses were being snapped up. And it's I mean, it's cheaper mortgage here than I was paying in rent in LA. So I thought I should just buy something. And I just had to jump on this house as soon as I saw it.

Alissa Hessler: 30:23

So you move to the small town in Maine, you're still working your job remotely. But it's the pandemic was out a very isolating time for you. How did you make inroads? You know, you seem to me like you're really great at like, figuring out what, you know, obviously, you you make a tell a and you figure out yeah, how do I how do I remember how do we make this work? How have you figured out like building inroads and making connections in a small community, especially during a pandemic, where, you know, it's a much more isolating time and people are maybe a little bit more leery of outsiders even?

Alicia Malone: 31:01

Yeah, that's when all my friends said to me, they said, how you gonna make friends? Like, firstly, being an adult and making friends is tough. Secondly, if you're not a parent, you don't have that in with kids that's tough. Don't have a partner didn't know anyone, and a pandemic. And I don't know, it's just like, I'll be fine. I mean, I'm lucky that I'm a bit of a loner anyway, like my company, I like being alone against the introvert thing. It's how I kind of charged up. So I knew I would be fine. Even if I didn't know anyone. Firstly, I bought your book, which was really, and taught me things like wave at people, and they drive past and say hello in the street and say hi to your neighbors and introduce yourself. And so I thought, Okay, I need to be really friendly and need to talk to people. And, and everyone was so nice here. I mean, I don't think I'll ever be seen as a minor or a local, but I think people in this town, because so many people have come from elsewhere. You know, they go, oh, yeah, I moved here. 15 years ago, I moved here five years ago, that people are a little bit more open than they may be in other towns, to new people coming. They've done it themselves. So I was talking to the owner of a local cafe, and she had come from California. And I was talking to her and she said, Oh, here's another woman who just moved over from California. So this is Elizabeth. And Elizabeth was like, Oh, I just moved from LA. I was like me, too, and became friends. And then I was working with a crew in Portland shooting for TCM, and one of the girls there was like, Oh, I know some people up where you are. I'll introduce you. I was like, Yes, please. And I also did a pottery class just so I could go and do something every week and be around people and talk to them. And then things like the dinner party that was through friends who were visiting, and they knew people and so it just sort of slowly happened. And luckily, thankfully, people like you are so friendly. And you said straightaway, here's my number, and let's go for a hike. And that is like so I'm so grateful for that. That everyone has been that way been so friendly. And like, Yeah, let's catch up. Let's have coffee. Let's do this. Let's do that. It's been really nice. Now, I think I'm more social here than I was in LA.

Alissa Hessler: 33:16

No, that's, that's what I was gonna ask. Because, you know, I've interviewed so many people for this project. And I feel like a lot of them say, Oh, actually, like, you think that if you're moving to a small town, that your social life will get smaller, or, you know, less exciting. But a lot of people have said, Oh, actually, like, it feels much richer, like, yeah, I have a much more meaningful friendships with maybe a smaller amount of people. Yes, but we make time for one another.

Alicia Malone: 33:47

Exactly. And, and something you said in your book, which is really true, which I find very, really valuable that you don't do in LA is be friends with people from all different generations, like different ages. And I think especially when it comes to women, you know, women, younger women, and older women are placed in competitions so often, that that cuts out that really important tie of being able to talk to older women and get wisdom and life experience and all of that. So it's been nice to be around different kinds of people. It's also been interesting and quite confronting to be around people from completely different political backgrounds, because LA is very liberal and kind of just expected ever and is liberal. And here and you had mentioned it in your book. And I kept that in mind of the kind of quick to lend a hand so to judge and so I've been able to hold the conflicting idea in my head that someone can be really nice and be have completely different ideals and political background to me. And just maybe just don't talk politics. Yeah, but you can still be genuine and sweet people.

Alissa Hessler: 34:55

Yeah. And I think we've kind of gotten to a place and like politics and mainstream, like media news or like, it's like picked aside, you know, and in some ways that's really alienated people from one another. And in a small town like, you might need your neighbor down the road and maybe you know, maybe you don't go to the same church, and maybe you don't vote for the same people. But like, can you meet on other things? Yeah. If you could transport yourself back into the early days of your career, is there any advice you would have wished? You could tell impart on yourself back then?

Alicia Malone: 35:34

Yeah, I think I would have said like, you're enough as you are. You don't need to change yourself. You don't need to be anything else. And what makes you unique makes you special. Because you've been thinking about it, the way that we get so many comments about women on camera, and some of us and I've caught myself doing that too, being like, Oh, her voice is annoying. You know, it ends up, wind up just smoothing down anyone's sharpness and edge ness and things that make them interesting. And just so women just fade in the background. Just don't, don't be noticeable. Don't be anything, like outwardly interesting, you should just fade into the background. And so I was definitely caught myself at one point looking down and being like, who am I and wearing clothes that I would never wear going to spray down and I'm pale, got red hair. At one point, you know, it was suggested to me I should do more of an American accent because my Australian accent hard to understand sometimes for some people and and I'll say hi to know who this person is. Okay, so I wish I would have held on to that earlier and just sort of stuck with that from the beginning. But it can be difficult.

Alissa Hessler: 36:46

Yeah. And I mean, I think it's especially difficult because not only is it a male dominated industry, it's also usually a male LED industry. I wondered if you had any advice for people in any industry, quite honestly, not people, women in particular, on ways to take up space and to get their work noticed.

Alicia Malone: 37:09

Yeah, I think really, for me, it's been helpful to have women as friends and allies in a big way are set up as being competition for each other so often, that there's one spot for a woman, so it's you or it's her, and she's getting all the work and you're not. And so I've always tried to fight against that and become allies with women, because you need the shoulder to cry on and you need the event. And you need women to help rise the tide, you know, raises all boats, that kind of thing. One win from over a woman is another win for another woman. So that's been the main thing for me is just have that support network. And people you can check in with when you go my crazy is this. You know, is he taking all the credit for my work? Or should I be louder? You know, yeah, and just have someone there quick, lots of women there to help with you and, and to understand what you're going through. And what's been wonderful that TCM is that female led business, which is really rad CEO, General Manager, the head of talent, like the producers, the directors, all women like they outnumber the men. And so it's been such a different experience for me. And women just taking up space. I think it's so important. Just not let yourself be dulled shine be dialed in to speak up and not worry about all the labels you'll get for being difficult or being too annoying. Or to this to that always to something.

Alissa Hessler: 38:37

What are your favorite aspects now of Small Town Living? And what if anything, do you find challenging,

Alicia Malone: 38:44

what was challenging when I first moved that the just the lack of modern conveniences that got so used to in LA, no, Postmates, no Uber, and you'd look up shops, and you go, Oh, that's an hour and a half away, okay, and we look up another shop. Oh, that's not even in Maine, which has turned into a good thing, because it's forced me to cook more at home, which now I'm really enjoying, which I'd never did in the past, because I would just grab something on my way, here, there and everywhere. And it's also made me realize the value in shopping locally, giving back to the community. So another thing I did was stop buying anything from Amazon, and just try to get it in person as much as I can. That was the challenge. And I think also just reminding yourself and again, you mentioned this in your book, if you have a problem with someone to deal with it directly to them not gossip or talk behind anyone's back because it's one small town and it'll get back to them. And you need to have good relationships with everyone and good reputation in the small town. And for me, being a natural introvert I've heard also be like, Okay, you got to get out there and you got to like talk to people and you know, go be friendly. You don't want to be seen as that girl from LA who thinks she's better than everyone else. The thing that I love about this small town is the fact that everyone does have your back like everyone knows your business. Well, everybody also is there and willing to help and everyone's watching out for you. So people will notice if you're unwell or if you need help, or if you like, haven't raised your leaves, like people will tell you like they're very open to tell you exactly what they think. But they also are very helpful and ready to lend a hand. And that's been a new experience for me coming from LA, where I didn't even know my neighbors.

Alissa Hessler: 40:32

Have you felt a shift mentally or physically or emotionally since moving and leaving city life

Alicia Malone: 40:38

been? Yeah, absolutely. Now, I can't imagine myself living in a city again, oh, city, especially LA. Coming here, I've been able to reconnect myself in a way that I haven't. Since yeah, I've probably was a teenager, have started to figure out who I really am. When everything's taken away. People here do not care that I'm on television, they go, that's cool, interesting, but they are not trying to get anything from you. They're not overly impressed by what you do. People how they wear makeup, everyone wears functional clothes rather than fashion. And so to be able to let go of all of that stuff that that persona that I had built up, it's been a it's made me able to find out again, who I truly am. And I've felt a level of contentment that I never thought was possible, just a genuine genuine like level of contentment every day. Sometimes I'll be excited like a kid on Christmas. And I think why am I excited, there's nothing coming up that I'm excited about, oh, I'm just excited about life. I'm excited about living here. And so that's been such a huge shift. The hard thing for me now is being able to then switch back to TV, Alicia, when I need to, and suddenly be in the makeup chair and getting all that done, and being in this wardrobe and styling and being unset with a camera pointing at me, when I live such a quiet life outside of it. I'm sure people watching would never know that I have such a quiet life. Now. I go for walks and the forest and don't listen to any music or podcasters. Listen to the trees. Most of the time, I'm just in the sweatpants at home. And so I think for me now the challenge is how do I continue doing what I love doing TCM is the dream job for me. I love it with all my heart, but not lose myself and not rely on that persona again. And so recently, I'm switching my hair back to my natural blonde, slowly but surely, and trying to find out who I really am and how I can be that authentic on camera?

Alissa Hessler: 42:48

I mean, it seems like you have a very real connection with your intuition and who you are. Do you feel like moving here? All of a sudden the curtain has been pulled back? And there it is again?

Alicia Malone: 43:01

Yeah, absolutely. It's like all the, like the world went on mute, all the noise got turned down all that constant, rushing and traffic and social media and just the the noise of city life. It just all got switched down. And suddenly I was able to think and think clearly. And they go on these walks. And I just come up with these ideas, or I have these big epiphanies about my life. And that's been great to be able to start to process all that.

Alissa Hessler: 43:30

So now you work remotely. And what does your production schedule look like? And how do you balance work life and home life? Because that can be a real transition to all of a sudden be you know, working from home without your colleagues close by? Yeah,

Alicia Malone: 43:47

yeah, I was always sort of working from home but in LA and very much surrounded by other people. And there's a lot of people who work at TCM, who live in LA as well. So now I am like very remote working. And think things like having a dedicated office really helps trying to keep regular hours or routine I was go for a walk in the morning, and then I will get a coffee and I'll sit down and I'll try to work for a few hours. I do the little like Pomodoro method where you put the timer on for 25 minutes and you work intensely on one task for 25 minutes, then the bell rings and you have a five minute break. Get up and walk around, maybe do a little dance.

Alissa Hessler: 44:30

Oh my gosh, I'm like this, I'm gonna do this. This is great. Then

Alicia Malone: 44:34

come back and sit down for another 25 minutes and that I find more manageable to think well I'll do four of those rather than I'll do two hours of work. Yeah, and also gets you up and moving because it's not good to sit down all day. But mainly my schedule is I have two months at home where I get my assignments, My List of films that I'll be, I'll be introducing and we get them months in advance. So right now I'm watching Whoa, Christmas movies. Just so fun. And then there'll be into January 2022, which seems crazy. So I'll get my list, I'll watch the films, I'll do all the research. And I'll write the scripts. And I am such a list maker. And such an organized person that I break it down to, okay, Monday, I'll write these three scripts, choose our write those three scripts, and I'll watch this film. And so I really try to manage my time. Each script takes about an hour to write. But it takes longer view, watch the film, if it's one I haven't seen for a while, always try to rewatch it, and do about an hour worth of research as well. So that's pretty much my days. And then once every two months, I fly to Atlanta for three days, or two days of shooting. And I do to like 60 scripts in a day, which is a lot of talking. That's a ringer. Yeah, just standing in your one position and doing one after the other after the out for like eight hours, just just me. And so I'll do that. That'd be like an intense two days. And then I come back home. And I started again, nice. Yeah, so it's a good schedule.

Alissa Hessler: 46:13

I just wanted to give an enormous thank you to all of you listeners who have made contributions toward the production of this podcast. Every season, I spend about 100 hours preparing, writing, editing, interviewing, and distributing the podcast. And I have hard costs for my editor and for those hosting fees. And it really means so much to me that you find enough meaning and value in this podcast to pledge your support and to keep it going. And if you haven't had a chance to contribute, we've made it really easy for you. Just click the support button on the top of urban Exodus website, and pledge any amount that you like. Thank you again, I really couldn't continue to do this work without you. How has your family and friends kind of responded to your move? Were they surprised? Are they excited for you? I mean, obviously mean is very far from Australia. Yes. I don't think you could get maybe further.

Alicia Malone: 47:13

I know I'd really moved far away. I sure they think I'm crazy that that was crazy when I moved to LA and didn't know anyone. And then they're like, Wait, you're moving to Maine. And you know, my mom always wants the best for me. So she's always like, well, what are you going to do? Like, what about this? What about this and practical things that like should consider, but I'm always like, I'll figure it out. And then I do and so now they see how happy I am here. And I've been able to buy home and find a good community. And so now they're really say they think it's such a good move. And my mom is really happy. I mean, even though I've turned 40. So I'm definitely adult, she's so happy. They live in a town that's really safe. And that doesn't have many cases of COVID. She's like, Okay, I know you're okay over there. I don't have to worry about you as much as she worried when I was in LA. So I think they're really happy for me, but they also like, when are you going to come back to Australia? Like as soon as I can. But it's been difficult there too with Coronavirus getting back to Australia. So hopefully next year,

Alissa Hessler: 48:18

you are so good at manifesting and taking risks. And I wondered like what you tap into? What is that piece of you that just I think that a lot of people feel really scared to make big leaps in their life. And sometimes it's circumstantial, like they just can't and other times it isn't it's like it's just they're trapped by stuff or by golden handcuffs of a job or, or things like that. What advice would you give them on ways to just like jump into it and believe in yourself?

Alicia Malone: 48:50

Yeah, risk. I was, obviously I've been really privileged and I've been able to move around and I don't have a partner or kids to consider. You know, moving from Australia to us is much easier than moving from other countries to the US. But for me, it was always like, okay, it's scarier to stay and keep doing the same thing and possibly regret never trying, then to go and and try and I can always come back. And people always said to me, what are you going to do in LA? Like LA is a really tough town, how are you going to survive? How are you going to pay rent? You know, because also I had a visa that only permitted me to work on television. I couldn't get a job in a bar or a restaurant. So I was really could only make money if I was working on television. And I just thought, well, I can always come back and I guess I never see it as being a failure. If I've tried it, you always learn from it no matter what, how it turns out if it's good or bad. It's always a chance to learn something and I don't think there's really any mistakes you can make because you can just try. If I went back to Australia, I wouldn't see it as a failure. I wouldn't have seen it as a failure of it. never tried. And I always wanted.

Alissa Hessler: 50:02

That's part of the journey. Like it's a lesson, right? I think that even just like relabeling that word, not using that word. Oh, I went through this whole process. And it was a learning. Yeah, it was very

Alicia Malone: 50:17

relationship. Oh, is that learning? Yeah, exactly. Always teaches you something. Yeah. changes your

Alissa Hessler: 50:24

perspective a little bit. Yeah. Makes you braver to step into the next thing, because either way life is it's just a series of choices.

Alicia Malone: 50:33

And that could have moved here and hated it. Yeah. But at least I would have known that. And and I thought, yeah, I can always go back to LA. I mean, my friends are gonna be there. I can always get another apartment. That's fine. I just had to give it a go. And I'm so glad I did.

Alissa Hessler: 50:48

What advice would you give to people who are maybe listening to this in the city right now? And they're like, Oh, you're living my dream life? I want to move to the country. But like, I feel like I can't. What advice would you give them on ways to plan for their move? And find the right community that really fits for them? Yeah,

Alicia Malone: 51:08

I mean, I think I'm just so impulsive, that I was like, living here was a cool word. I didn't know that much about the town, or about the people or anything, except for the research I could do on the internet. And so and I didn't, I only had savings because of COVID. I mean, because I was forced to not spend any money. I had savings from that. But I think just you just have to try and see if you can get a good sense of the place I, like I said, I just driven through. But if it hadn't been for the pandemic, and I wanted to move out here, I would have come back several times, I would have come back in the winter and see how that was because everyone told me all the snow is terrible, and you'll hate the winter. And I didn't I love that. But I will come back in the winter, I will come back and we'll come back or maybe rented something long term. I think just giving it a try and seeing if it fits. And again, there's no mistakes. If you don't like that one place, you could try another. I was also thinking maybe the Hudson Valley in upstate New York. But it was because I couldn't really travel in COVID that I thought I'd rather move to a place that I've driven through a place that I've never driven through

Alissa Hessler: 52:20

Johnson Valley. What was the drive across the country like so

Alicia Malone: 52:25

interesting. Another silly thing about me is I always love things to feel cinematic. And people would say why don't you fly and you can always come back and get your car if you know you're going to stay there. And I said, but I love the idea of driving up to the sun. driving across the country. It's like a new chapter chapter putting distance like physical distance between one part of my life and the next and that feels like it like it's yeah, it was more interesting to me than just flying over.

Alissa Hessler: 52:55

Yeah. Before we started recording, you know, you just went and did a bunch of recordings for your job. And what that homecoming is like now coming back to me versus flying back to LA I love

Alicia Malone: 53:10

it. Yeah, a little bit about really surprised me because I love to travel I always have. And I was so excited about going to the UK recently. There's another show that I do. That's a travel show. And so we get to go to the locations of films, and it's really fun, and a great crew they travel with. But it surprised me that once I was over there, I was like, I really miss me. I was texting a friend here being like the leaves changed yet. I don't want to miss the leaves change because it's so beautiful here in full. And I was thinking about how in the past I would be excited to go back to LA just because I was excited to go to my own bed, have my things be with my cat. But it wasn't like yeah, I'm excited to go back to LA, like specifically. And this time I couldn't wait to get back to Maine. And like we were saying before we recorded and you mentioned it sets a real signifier of a home where you you love everything about the place and it's it's really does feel like home and it felt like home so quickly and that surprised me again my friends like you bought a house within how many months so like saying that you don't want to rent for a while. You haven't even been through a winter and I was like no I love it. This feels like home and it does so now it's kind of ruined traveling for makes now I don't want to go anywhere. It just want to stay here. Yeah.

Alissa Hessler: 54:33

Two more questions for you. The first question is one that I get a lot of questions from single people who are living in cities and wanting to move but feeling like they want to like meet a partner or something before they make that move. I would love for you to just share what your experience is like making that move as a single person and any words of encouragement to them on like not waiting for the right person. to come around. Yeah,

Alicia Malone: 55:01

that was another concern of all my friends was like, how are you going to meet someone, you know, when you're over in a small town, and there's less people and a lot of people are married. And that's true. I am lucky in some ways that I decided very early on in my life, I didn't want to get married or have kids, just nothing that appealed to me. I love kids just didn't want my own. So I don't have that timeline that I see a lot of my friends stressing about, you know that they have to find someone within a particular time, if you want to have a baby, it's so much pressure. So I didn't have that aspect of it. And I was new, I was also okay by myself. But I just had a feeling that I would be fine and that I would meet someone over here. And I didn't want that to stop me from moving over here. I also realized how many times I've settled to be with someone to be in a relationship rather than being okay by myself. And I wanted to feel like I was truly fine by myself. And I think that's when you meet someone that is right for you when you're a whole person and not looking for someone just to fill the void. And so I have a feeling it'll happen. I don't know how I don't like dating apps, so ever do that. But your book again, just gonna keep plugging your book. Encouraging because you had mentioned how people had moved here single, and that you'd they'd met people and that it was possible. I don't think it's impossible. And that, you know, maybe they someone gets divorced and then you end up with someone's Yeah, it's a small town. So you kind of it happens.

Alissa Hessler: 56:38

That's how it happens. And honestly, I feel like you get to know people better in the country or in rural spaces, because there are fewer people so you know, you're in the city and everybody's just swiping. And there are endless possibilities. And like, here you can go I was on my I was on my sister's Tinder, right. Just like I like looking at dating. Even though I cuz I never I got married before dating apps really? Were a thing. Yes. And definitely

Alicia Malone: 57:09

thing in the city. And that's fine, but I never liked them. No.

Alissa Hessler: 57:13

But you can go to the end of Tinder here. And like in like seven swipes, and like most

Alicia Malone: 57:19

people are an hour away. Exactly. Yeah,

Alissa Hessler: 57:23

it does change things. Like all of a sudden, you know, you might go out in the city on a date with someone and you write them off for one thing, you know, it's like, Oh, he did something weird with his teeth or like, this was odd. But here you just like you have to like put a little bit more investment in learning. Like you

Alicia Malone: 57:43

become friends with people. Yeah. And then it could naturally happen from that. Yeah, you know, and you know, my friends, they want me to be happy. And they want me to be with someone. But I'm like, I just, again, I just have a feeling it'll happen. Yeah, like, in time when it's right.

Alissa Hessler: 57:58

Yeah. Yeah, it's awesome. I mean, that's how you've kind of lived your whole life. So and I think that's a perspective that I hope that a lot of people listening can like, grab on to and feel that too, because I feel like our society is like, Go Go, go, go go. You have to do this. And you have to do that. And all before this timeline. And exactly. It's really, really unhealthy.

Alicia Malone: 58:19

Yeah, exactly. And it's, I think we look at the idea of success in the wrong way. We look at it as your money and accomplishments. And people say you're so successful. And it's like, well, maybe for me, because I achieved my goal. I was successful. But actually, I think success is just being happy. Finding content at the end of the day. That's it.

Alissa Hessler: 58:41

Yeah, that is so true. I'd love for you to I know that we've talked about this before, but kind of like, share what your next. Your next vision is. This was your dream job. And I know that there's like this other dream that you have in your mind that you want to manifest. Yeah,

Alicia Malone: 59:00

funny enough years ago, I thought I really would love to own a movie theater. And a lot of movie lovers say that love to own a movie theater. But I remember saying I want to own a movie theater in a small town. I just thought that would be really wonderful to be part of a community, and to be part of people's movie memories and get to know the people that come into the theater, and just be a real important part of the town. And in 2019 When I came here with a friend, we went past this old movie theater now far from where I live now. And it was for sale. And my friend, he called up the real estate agent talked about it and I remember being like, oh, and that'd be wonderful. Since then, since moving here. I've met the owners and they're really lovely. And I've talked to them about the possibility of figuring out a way to buy and run a movie theater. And I'm still going through the process. I am thinking about setting up a nonprofit in order to because that's unfortunately the stays, it's really hard to run an independent movie theater, unless you're a nonprofit. But what would be wonderful is then you get the community involved in helping to keep the theater going. It's being it was built in 1912. So it's a very valuable part of that town. I think maybe with some of the connections I've made over the years, that that could be a value to that theater. And then I surround myself with locals who also wanted this vision to happen. And to play classic films. I mean, that would be wonderful. So that's my next dream. And again, that's one that is very, ill advised to buy movie theater, especially right now with COVID on streaming services. But hey, I've never let that stop me before.

Alissa Hessler: 1:00:47

Yeah. And I think that there is even with everything that COVID has done, there's kind of like this want and need to like return to like, Yeah, I'm not gonna say a simpler time. That's like overly, like, idealistic, but that like community element, like people miss those community pieces and communal

Alicia Malone: 1:01:09

experiences? Yeah, I think so I'd like to hold on to the fact that I think community theaters are going to be even more important down the road, because there'll be a place for people to come and congregate. You know, when, without having a lot of religion and things like that town squares. People don't have a place to get together. And that would be great to be part of that. And so we'll see. Oh,

Alissa Hessler: 1:01:34

yeah. Well, thank you so much, Alicia, for being on the podcast. I'm so glad that I met you at that dinner party. I'm so glad I met you and that you are a new member of our main community here. And yeah, yeah.

Alicia Malone: 1:01:52

Thanks for your book.

Alissa Hessler: 1:01:57

Thank you for listening to my conversation with Alicia Malone. She is such an inspiration, not only because of the joy and energy with what she approaches following her dreams, but the life that she has built for herself on her own. It feels much like a fairytale ending, finding that place to call home after decades of forging a career path and big cities. Returning to Small Town Living has allowed her to reconnect with happy memories of her childhood. It has also allowed her to reconnect to her true authentic self. Alicia took her physical move as an opportunity to prioritize her mental health and well being. It is all too easy to get caught up in the busy hamster wheel of living in a metropolis. I think that's a lot of what urban Exodus is about. Not just a physical shift towards the natural world, but also one that encompasses more of a natural shift within listening to that own inner voice that you have and prioritizing the things that are truly fulfilling in your life. You can find photos from my visit with Alicia and links to her work and social media on the blog by visiting urban exodus.com. Hi, friends, thank you so much for tuning in to another episode of the urban Exodus podcast. Urban Exodus is a labor of love and is only made possible by listener support. I do this work because the people I meet through this project give me energy and hope for the future. My mission is to promote the work of people manifesting good in the world. We are living in a time where there's an overwhelming feeling of dread. And I want this project to encourage people to be proactive and work towards finding creative solutions for both their individual happiness and our collective experience. You can support this work by clicking the support button at the top of urban exodus.com by buying an ad spot in an upcoming episode by shopping our online store or taking an in person or online course through our workshops at Howe Hill Farm. We are also slowly getting our Patreon page together and we'll be adding bonus features and other content there. So check out patreon.com/urban Exodus to learn more. Another way to support is by giving us a five star rating on iTunes and recommending urban access to your friends. Thank you again for helping me continue to do this work. I couldn't do it without all of you. You can find urban Exodus on Instagram and Facebook at the Urban Exodus. To read more in depth features on folks who ditch the city in one country visit urban exodus.com. Until next time, I'm Alissa Hessler, and this is the urban Exodus