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My Craziest Stunt: Real Rope Bondage | Vanessa Von Schwarz · Breaking The Meta

• Vanessa von Schwarz: I was essentially tied to the ceiling in Japanese. Mike Winson: Really? Vanessa von Schwarz: Yeah. In Japanese rope bondage. Which I had never done before. And you know, like these stories and these productions move so fast. And Mike Winson: Yeah. Vanessa von Schwarz: as a working actress and as somebody who's excited and eager to work and to down to try new things, I was super excited about this project, as crazy as that may sound. but doing that stunt was probably the craziest thing I'd ever done. Mike Winson: Hello, everyone, and welcome to Breaking the Meadow. My name is Mike Winson. Today we are sitting down with the star of some amazing shows, such as The Virgin Stripper and the Hockey Star, breaking the deal with my hockey bad boy and the quarterback next door. Her name is Vanessa Von Schwartz, and I'm so excited to have her here. Hello, Vanessa. How are you doing today? Vanessa von Schwarz: Thank you so much for having me. I'm so excited to be here. And yeah, interesting choice of titles, but we can talk about that. Mike Winson: I looking through the list and I was like, what are the ones that just feel very vertical-esque? And I, you know. Vanessa von Schwarz: Yeah, I those were definitely my intro into the space kind of. So yeah, it's they're fun. Mike Winson: Yeah, yeah. so for those of you that this may be the first video you're seeing here, I have rather newly got into the vertical space. And I the the people that I have met in this space are just so amazing that I really wanted to interview almost as many as I can and help help out all of these amazing people, especially because there are there are things going on in this world and getting live people. Visibility is a very important thing. So I'm really excited to sit down with you. I as I was researching you, your story, at least what it seems like in the beginning, is something that is very it feels very common. So you started out in in like ballet and piano, and then went to cheerleading. And now you're an actor. Could you I mean, introduce yourself a little bit, but also could you give us a little just how did you go from that to deciding to be an actor? Vanessa von Schwarz: Yeah, well, hi everyone. Vanessa here. so excited to be here. I I grew up in Los Angeles, but I'm half Mexican and half German, so I really had, you know, both of those cultural influences around me my entire life. my dad really instilled discipline in me. So I was a competitive gymnast for ten years as well as a competitive cheerleader. And yes, that is a sport, despite what many Mike Winson: Wow. It is a sport. Vanessa von Schwarz: despite what many people will say about it. if you could only see the training sessions that we would endure throughout, you know, a decade of basically doing that. Mike Winson: Yeah. Vanessa von Schwarz: yeah, so my German side really gave me discipline and then my Mexican side really gave me passion for storytelling Mike Winson: Mm. Vanessa von Schwarz: and just wanting to perform and entertain. And so luckily having both of those influences throughout my life gave me the perfect combination to, you know, have the discipline to work in acting and want to be a great actress and and network and all that fun stuff while as well having fun while doing it 'cause that's what life is about. And that's what it should be about. Mike Winson: Did did you ever consider acting growing up? Or were you when you were doing the cheerleading and the and the the dancing and all that other stuff, was that were you were you very focused on doing that going forward? Or was it kind of just like a whatever's interesting at the time and you just kinda let things go with the flow? Vanessa von Schwarz: Yeah, no, I was such a shy kid. Like I my god, it was so hard for me to make friends growing up and speaking in front of a crowd of people even like Mike Winson: Mm. Vanessa von Schwarz: my classmates was terrifying to me. I hated getting my picture taken. So honestly, I think to my family, it kind of is surprising that I ended up doing this as a Mike Winson: Yeah. Vanessa von Schwarz: career. but because I grew up, you know, in Los Angeles seeing films around the corner, you know, being shot and I was really just inspired by how accessible it was. But at the same time I I did happen to grow up in an environment where a lot of kids' parents were famous stars already. So for you to try and go out there and try and make a brand new name of yourself without, you know, kind of your parents backing or without being like a Nepo baby. That is a real cultural thing that happens in Los Angeles that Mike Winson: Yeah. Vanessa von Schwarz: I think a lot of people are not necessarily aware of. So I don't know, for me, as silly as it may sound, I almost felt embarrassed to try from scratch, Mike Winson: Mm. Vanessa von Schwarz: from zero. mainly because my parents were not in the industry. Yeah. Mike Winson: Okay. What what was your intro to the to the acting world? Vanessa von Schwarz: I did a lot of like performing arts when I was younger. did lots of plays like The Wizard of Oz, Beauty and the Beast. And so it was, you know, I was in the environment of it, but never so much as like a career more as like a side hobby. Mike Winson: Yeah. Vanessa von Schwarz: and yeah, it just became the only way I found I was able to like express myself in a fulfilling way. Mike Winson: I was watching a video where you were talking where you talked about how you kind of were the you were just the villain in a lot of in the you know, you you were the consummate villain in in in verticals. You you played a lot of them. you did though Last year get to play lead in in a vertical. It was called what was it called? Your Husband is mine. Yes. yeah. Vanessa von Schwarz: Your husband is mine. I will say, I I may be like more known for my villain roles, but I have done a lot of lead roles. Mike Winson: Okay. Vanessa von Schwarz: I pr I personally feel like they haven't stood out as much. mainly Mike Winson: Mm. Vanessa von Schwarz: because the characters that I've played don't have much agency. And I just think it's it's riveting for an audience to see a lead female character driving the plot forward. Mike Winson: Yeah. Vanessa von Schwarz: And that's not to say that I wasn't a part of great stories and great productions. I totally was and I'm so thankful for that. But we still have so much more to put out and better stories to be told. And yeah, I'm excited to be a driving force in that. Mike Winson: So I watched Your Husband Is Mine. Great job, by the way. I I Vanessa von Schwarz: Yeah. Mike Winson: it was it was a great it was a great video. What what was it like to play that level of a of a lead when when your roles had been very different up until that point? Vanessa von Schwarz: I can't even tell you how excited I was when I got that role. we have a term in our little vertical drama space called villain jail, where you Mike Winson: Okay. Vanessa von Schwarz: know, if you were like subjected to a villain role, like that's all you could be seen as. You're kind of put in this box. And again, it was kind of hard for me to play the lead roles that were presented at the time, mainly because of the lack of agency. And just what they were looking for. I was always told that like you play too much of a strong woman. She's not that strong. Like she you know, so Mike Winson: Yeah. Vanessa von Schwarz: when I finally got a role where she was, you know, conducting the orchestra and the Mike Winson: Yep. Vanessa von Schwarz: story, so to speak, I was like crying. I was so excited, felt so Mike Winson: Mm. Vanessa von Schwarz: fulfilling. And I had worked so hard on the audition as well. Like I know people see these, you know, things and they probably think, my god, nob nobody puts effort into this, nobody it's low budget, whatever, but a lot of the actors put hours and hours and hours and Mike Winson: Yeah. Vanessa von Schwarz: lots of emotions go into it as well. So Mike Winson: Yeah. Vanessa von Schwarz: that was just such a fulfilling experience all around that I'm still so grateful for. I love that role. Mike Winson: Yeah, it you scared me at times Vanessa von Schwarz: No. Mike Winson: not in a bad way, because but you were like you were you were that you were just like, I'm getting my revenge and I got everything planned out and you you you held it. Now I will admit the the you know sucking on the fingers part was a little was a little strange for me, but that's fine, you know, to each their own. That's it's okay. Vanessa von Schwarz: Yeah, I mean I I'm sure the audiences have so many questions about how these are filmed and stuff and that on its own, like the process of setting that shot up was so comedic and yeah, truly. Mike Winson: Yeah. Was because that that that video had a lot of it was it was just completely surrounded with like intimacy was that entire film. How how was it to do that much intimacy? Like, was it I know so I've talked with some people that say that there are just times where you're trying to do it and you you almost can't stop like laughing because of the way it's all set up. Like, was that was it Was that kind of in the background of the entire time you were doing it, or were you guys really focused on it? Vanessa von Schwarz: I think that's always in the background of every vertical set just because of how chaotic they are and things are moving so fast, you're literally dealing with, you know, clients who are making decisions from another country in the world. Mike Winson: Mm. Vanessa von Schwarz: and so there's just so much comedy and chaos that happens behind the scenes. And Casey, my scene partner in that, like we just had such a great relationship and just such a great camaraderie with one another. So, you know, it was so fun and and I always just try to make every set that I'm on a a pleasant experience and enjoy it as much as I can 'cause it truly is such a gift to be on set and be able to, you know, do what we do. Mike Winson: Yeah. I wanna bring this up because the first the first video that I saw of you was on TikTok. And you could not zip up your dress. Vanessa von Schwarz: Okay. Mike Winson: And you had to go into a store next door to try to get someone is that is that something that happens often? Do you have struggle like like zipping up dresses and you find random people to help you? Like is that Vanessa von Schwarz: I mean, truthfully, yeah, that's like girl one one, like in her twenties, like trying to learn how to be independent. It's like stage one. Mike Winson: It's fair. Vanessa von Schwarz: no that that's not something I do often. Mike Winson: Okay. Vanessa von Schwarz: but it just so happened that the guy who I did ask to zip out my dress, like I've known him for years. Like he's Mike Winson: okay. Vanessa von Schwarz: he's literally seen me grow up. So it wasn't like I was Mike Winson: Okay. Vanessa von Schwarz: asking like a full stranger, but yeah, that was funny. And Mike Winson: That was that was a really funny one. I wanted to make sure that I that I that I asked that because when I first when I first messaged you, I was like, Okay, I just you know, we gotta hey, you know, Vanessa von Schwarz: You're like bold. She makes choices. Mike Winson: whatever works for you. wanna go back a little bit. So once you decided you you started getting vertical roles, you started doing you started doing acting, what what was the response from from your family to go from what you were doing to acting? Vanessa von Schwarz: I mean I my father, he's very academically, you know, inclined and always wanted that from me and my sisters. Mike Winson: Mm. Vanessa von Schwarz: so I I think from the perspective of my family, let's let her be happy, let's let her do what she wants. but you know, it's a tough industry. You don't know Mike Winson: Yeah. Vanessa von Schwarz: if you're gonna be able to make a living off of this and be a working actress and what what are you gonna do? and so when these started coming up super consistently, I think my whole family was just blown away, especially by the attention they were receiving online as well. Mike Winson: Yeah. Vanessa von Schwarz: It was it was almost like, what? Like and I had basically been preparing for this. You know, I went to film school, I went to acting school. I knew that this was what I was going to do and for this moment to rise the way it did when it did and as it has been happening is just incredible and fulfilling and just inspires me to continue to want to tell good stories. Mike Winson: You've done quite a few verticals already. Is Vanessa von Schwarz: Men. Mike Winson: there a format or a perspective or a trope of of verticals that you haven't done yet that if's if you could snap your fingers and get it, you'd be like, this is what I want to do. Vanessa von Schwarz: I'm gonna do action so badly. Mike Winson: Okay. Vanessa von Schwarz: Yeah, I what's funny is that one of my fan pages, Wanda, who shout out Wanda, love you so much, Queen. Mike Winson: Mm-hmm. Vanessa von Schwarz: she made an AI like action reel of me this morning. And I I am not anti-AI, though we do have beef. but this video, I was like, okay, this is so freaking cool. It's like me on a motorcycle, like kicking ass, and Mike Winson: heck yeah. Vanessa von Schwarz: I would love to do that. Mike Winson: Yeah. Vanessa von Schwarz: I would love to do something action oriented and I don't know, there's just so much that has been untouched in this space that can really be Mike Winson: Mm-hmm. Vanessa von Schwarz: done in an elevated, beautiful, cinematic way. And I'm so excited to keep exploring that. But Mike Winson: Yeah. Vanessa von Schwarz: action all the way. I feel like a musical would be so fun Mike Winson: I've I've Vanessa von Schwarz: too. Mike Winson: I've definitely in my watching of it. the guys are great. I'm gonna make this clear for any of any male actors in the vertical world that are watching it, you guys are great. Personally, when when any of any of the female actors in the space get to be that strong, powerful woman in the video, I'm just like Yes, Queen. Bring it. It's so Vanessa von Schwarz: yes, yes. Mike Winson: you guys are so good when you do it. It like it's just like and I wish we did it more. I wish I saw it Vanessa von Schwarz: And Mike Winson: more. Vanessa von Schwarz: to hear this from a man, let me let me just slap my fingers right there. No, that's yeah, that I'm glad that that's palpable as well. 'Cause it is Mike Winson: Yeah. Vanessa von Schwarz: it it it's it's growing into, you know, so much more than what it once was and it's yeah, there's just so much room for amazing stories to be told. Mike Winson: I've always said what what the next one that you should do, and I always say if you need a if you ever need a normal guy who doesn't have that ripped body, I'm available. But to do one where it's the strong woman who who is who is, you know, sill, you know, billionaire CEO, mafia boss, whatever you want to make them. Just, but then just the plain old guy who has no idea what's going on, doesn't have hidden funds anywhere, isn't pretending to be like. not a billionaire or homeless, but is or like just something where it's like the they that's the part that always drove me crazy was like they always have to have the guy be somehow way more powerful than they seem. And it's like not all guys are like that. And you can still have a beautiful, romantic, hilarious, action-packed whatever with a guy who's just Something that's not unattainable for a lot of guys, I guess. Vanessa von Schwarz: Yeah, not like this no, it totally makes sense and it's it's so interesting to hear it from a guy's perspective 'cause most of the fans that I talk to are are women and I love talking to all the fans. but yeah, it's fascinating to hear that. Do you feel like you've seen shows where that has happened or? Mike Winson: Yeah. So I was actually just talking about it in a previous interview. it was a it was a movie. I don't know if it was a Netflix movie or or something like that. It was called, I hate this. I hate my memory. It's called Ghosted with Vanessa von Schwarz: Okay. Mike Winson: Chris Evans and Anna Anna De Armas, where Vanessa von Schwarz: Okay. Mike Winson: she's like a she's like this super spy, super powerful, and he's literally a Joe Schmo. He didn't know that she was a spy, and he like went out to like find her, but ends up ruining everything because she's a spy and all this other stuff. But it was like, it was just it was really cool. And and I would love to see that in the vertical space just because I think I think the vertical space is growing like crazy right now. And I think it would be a great to have something like that. It I I think it would be great if I would I I would love it to see more strong women characters. That's just that's that's always been that's always been cool. so you also wrote and directed a short film called Let Them Eat Cake. What do you wanna let us know what that one's about and why like why you wanted to to write this story? Vanessa von Schwarz: Yeah. I made that back when I was in film school. That was kind of like my I think they called it like the midterm thesis or something. Mike Winson: Okay. Vanessa von Schwarz: and it was actually a story that I wrote that was based off a real experience that I'd had. Mike Winson: Hmm. Vanessa von Schwarz: essentially a girl has a birthday party and everybody at the birthday party is trying to make the party about themselves. Mike Winson: Mm. Vanessa von Schwarz: So it's just kind of like social commentary and yeah, it's just it was a special story to me because again it was based off of a true story and it is just comedic completely and sh she ends up like smashing her face in the cake at the end, which was really fulfilling for me. Mike Winson: Ha ha ha. Vanessa von Schwarz: And very vertical, I might add. Mike Winson: Yeah. Yeah. Vanessa von Schwarz: yeah, yeah, very, very much so. Mike Winson: Is writing and directing something that you would like to do more of in the future? Vanessa von Schwarz: Yeah, absolutely. I love storytelling and I was lucky to gain so much experience doing that actively in film school and you know, I made tons of short little projects on like iMovie and Da Vinci and just here and there and I it really just helped me build my skill for having an eye for filmmaking and and a point of view for it as well, which I think has been really beneficial. Mike Winson: what's the craziest experience that you've had doing a vertical? Vanessa von Schwarz: my god, so many. I feel like I could write a book on all the experiences I've had. No, truly, because when it was first born in the US in 2023, that's when I had my start. It's Mike Winson: Yep. okay. Vanessa von Schwarz: it's the wild west now. It was even wilder of a West then. Like Mike Winson: Really? Vanessa von Schwarz: because I mean they would bring, you know, crew and producers straight from China who may not have understood like working protocols as well. Mike Winson: Mm. Yep. Vanessa von Schwarz: in America, which which is okay, it's understandable. It was really like a collaboration of two cultures coming together. Mike Winson: Yeah. Vanessa von Schwarz: And that on its own was comedic, because you know, obviously we have different ways of communicating and and getting things done as well. Mike Winson: Mm. Yeah. Vanessa von Schwarz: I would say that like a lot of the productions early on you know, we did things without stunt coordinators, we did things without intimacy coordinators, we Mike Winson: Mm. Vanessa von Schwarz: did things going over the clock hours and hours and like not getting paid for it. Mike Winson: Yeah. Vanessa von Schwarz: but besides that, I think and this happened in one of my last shows for my drama. I was essentially tied to the ceiling in Japanese. Mike Winson: Really? Vanessa von Schwarz: Yeah. In Japanese rope bondage. Which I had never done before. And you know, like these stories and these productions move so fast. And Mike Winson: Yeah. Vanessa von Schwarz: as a working actress and as somebody who's excited and eager to work and to down to try new things, I was super excited about this project, as crazy as that may sound. but doing that stunt was probably the craziest thing I'd ever done. And if you watch the show, they only have like a wide shot of it. And I think they have some close up shots, but it's like very minimal and I I just wish we got BTS of of the reality. Mike Winson: Hmm. Yeah. That's that's crazy. how did you know that you were gonna like did you did you did you process that that was that that's what was gonna happen when you read the script? Like it did it really like click that you were gonna get tied to the ceiling? Vanessa von Schwarz: I mean in in show business you can fake everything. You know what I mean? So I didn't think it would be as like as involved as I was in it. Mike Winson: Yeah. Vanessa von Schwarz: I thought we would do like cheating shots, but no, they had like a real Shabari master come, tie me up. Mike Winson: Really? Vanessa von Schwarz: One of the first things he said to me, he's like, By the way, I wanna let you know. You could die from this experience. You could be paralyzed for the rest of your life. Nerve damage. Like just laying out as soon as we start the conversation. Not even like, hey, I'm like, you just which is good. But also Mike Winson: Yeah. Vanessa von Schwarz: like, how am I gonna film this scene and like be sexy and like make this work after you told me I could literally die and I'm hanging from the ceiling? And I was in such a like the pose they originally wanted. I I, you know, had to clap back a little bit at that. I Mike Winson: Yeah. Vanessa von Schwarz: was like, you know, which which is important for women actors to do as well, is to Mike Winson: Mm-hmm. Vanessa von Schwarz: know that you have a a ground to stand on and what you feel and what you say matters and your comfortability is the most important aspect of this production because otherwise you're not going to be able to give a great performance. And I did feel lucky that the production, you know, I the certain concerns I had they were willing to work with. But that was crazy. Mike Winson: That almost feels wild to me because I have talked to other people who have like they've gotten on the back of motorcycles and they wouldn't let them go more than like 10 feet on it because of like insurance and like just the because you know they're not gonna have a helmet on and things like that. And yet they're having you be tied to a ceiling and they're selling you you could die doing this. Vanessa von Schwarz: Yeah, yeah, that was still crazy. Yeah. It was Mike Winson: That's crazy. That is crazy. So you obviously got excited to play to get out of your trope of, you know, out of villain jail when you got to play your new part. Were there part are there parts that you like about being a villain more than you liked about being, you know, the the lead in a part? Or were you just like, Just keep giving me these leads, I'm happy. Vanessa von Schwarz: The villains, I mean, just by virtue are just given so much more nuance and you can just Mike Winson: Mm. Vanessa von Schwarz: play with them so much more and just their psychology and you know where their anger and craziness is stemming from. So I do love that aspect of it because I love getting to the root of why people act a certain way. There's always something behind it that is so much bigger than you're just a bad person. This person Mike Winson: Yeah. Vanessa von Schwarz: subconsciously this person is dealing with things that they don't know how to express. So they are expressing it through anger, through, you know, violence, manipulation. And that is so fun and fulfilling for me. But I like, why not make that girl the lead? Like that's Mike Winson: Well yeah, sure. Vanessa von Schwarz: human, that's human nature in general. We are not one sided. We are all, you know, so complex and and we all have so many issues and things that we deal with. So yeah, I I just Mike Winson: Yeah. Vanessa von Schwarz: I love getting to play those characters and I I love that the the stories are more leaning towards putting those characters as the driving force. Mike Winson: Which actually I think was one of the cool things about your husband is mine, because you were like the main good guy person, but also you kind of weren't. And I think that was that was a really cool a really cool thing to play around. And and I definitely felt that from you. This it was like this anti-hero kind of a of a feel about it. Vanessa von Schwarz: Yeah, there's some something so much more fun and gratifying to watch that as an audience as well. Because you see yourself in that. That's human. Mike Winson: Yeah. What so you've been doing verticals since the beginning of verticals coming to to the United States? What would you what what kind of things have changed from back then to now that you think have maybe even elevated what what verticals have become? Like I haven't watched since the beginning, but I assume they are better than they were in in 2023. What what's changed about verticals that you think maybe has made it better? Vanessa von Schwarz: all around everything, people's commitment to it first. Mike Winson: Mm. Vanessa von Schwarz: I think in the beginning nobody really knew what it was. So why take it seriously? You know, it was kind of this show that would eventually be on an app that somebody would have to download. So it kind of seemed like that process felt a little too difficult Mike Winson: Yeah. Vanessa von Schwarz: for it to be something that, you know, could be viral or like seen a ton. but the more that you know, these productions started picking up in pace, and the more that we realized, my god, there's people watching these obsessively, Mike Winson: Mm-hmm. Vanessa von Schwarz: the more I think the actors and the producers and everybody involved started to really want to elevate the productions and the storytelling and and Mike Winson: Yeah. Vanessa von Schwarz: the safety of the sets of most importantly, 'cause like I said, you know, in the beginning we did not have a lot of stunt coordinators, we didn't have intimacy coordinators. We were doing everything. just as non union as it gets. Mike Winson: Yeah. Yeah. Vanessa von Schwarz: which, you know, I'm grateful for because I was able to learn so much through that experience alone. but now it's at such a different level where productions are just not allowed to rush through things Mike Winson: Mm-hmm. Vanessa von Schwarz: as as fast as they used to, for actor's sake and just for like quality's sake as well. Mike Winson: Yeah. Have you noticed that and again, not having been in the background on it from the beginning, has there been a change in how women are treated on the back end, but also depicted during them from back then to now? Have you noticed a growth in that? Vanessa von Schwarz: yeah, definitely, definitely. I think you know, again, like in the beginning a lot of the people we were working with came from a different side of the world with different Mike Winson: Yeah. Vanessa von Schwarz: cultural norms and just a different kind of expectancy of of how you treat people, which is fine. and that's a part of learning and growing is that you know you get to share different sides of your culture with one another. And I think that's what was able to make this space have such a strong foundation. Mike Winson: Mm-hmm. Vanessa von Schwarz: because we were really able to come together. But yeah, I think, you know, all around in life, women and men just have it harder in different ways. And and I don't think that I'm one to be like, my God, I have it so much harder than a man on these sets. But Mike Winson: No, yeah. Vanessa von Schwarz: but The woman, at least in the productions I've been in, we do happen to be in more of the scenes. We do happen to have more of the aggressive scenes, the crying scenes, the like really putting yourself in these vulnerable situations. and I I do feel like productions have gotten a lot better at protecting women through that. But Mike Winson: Okay. Vanessa von Schwarz: I think it yeah, it'll keep evolving. Mike Winson: Yeah. So Vanessa von Schwarz: maybe. Mike Winson: Okay. So let's talk about you're you're not quite as recent, but still recent laws of attraction. Vanessa von Schwarz: Yes. Mike Winson: do you want to talk about what that one's about? Vanessa von Schwarz: Yeah, that one we filmed in Villanus, Lithuania, which is in Europe. Mike Winson: Ooh. Vanessa von Schwarz: I had no idea with where Lithuania was before I shot here. so this was so exciting for me to get to travel and work. we shot it there with an amazing team and in the most beautiful, clean, perfect locations. Mike Winson: Mm. Vanessa von Schwarz: I played a lawyer in that one and Mike Winson: Heck yeah. Vanessa von Schwarz: yeah, that was s a role I've never played before. So she's basically Trying to get to the truth of did he or didn't he do this? Mike Winson: Mm. Vanessa von Schwarz: and you know, there's kind of some entanglement that goes on throughout it with her her client, of course, Mike Winson: Of course, as there must. Vanessa von Schwarz: as there must be. And yeah, that one was just so much fun to film and and a really fun and different story that I got to play. And I feel like the arc of that character too was just, yeah, something I never really got to do. She went from being very pure and innocent and my god, I'm so scared, I'm such a scared lawyer to like this sex god, so that was fun to play. Mike Winson: Yeah. do you know where that one is available on? Vanessa von Schwarz: Drama pop. Mike Winson: Drama Pops. All right. So for anyone who's interested in seeing Vanessa as a as a lawyer, make sure to check out drama pops. all Vanessa von Schwarz: Yeah. Mike Winson: right. So we're did you do like musicals and things like that too growing up? Were you a big into that Vanessa von Schwarz: Mm-hmm. Mike Winson: kind of stuff? Okay, good. Because I love because I'm a musical person as well. So I always towards the end want to ask anyone who's also into it. Favorite musical. Vanessa von Schwarz: Okay, well I'm not like a like as you know Mike Winson: That's fine. Vanessa von Schwarz: ingrained as you are, but man, I'm gonna be so cheesy and say Beauty and the Beast. I just love that one. Does that count? Mike Winson: That's not cheesy at all. That's great. I know plenty of people that are that I mean it's a great it's a great musical. So Vanessa von Schwarz: What's yours? Mike Winson: Newsies? So Vanessa von Schwarz: What's that? Mike Winson: it started out as a movie and then became a musical. it takes place in the 1920s and in New York City. It's the the the newsies were the were the kids that sold newspapers in New York City. And it's you should check it out. The music is amazing. It's amazing, whether it's the musical you watch or the or the movie. I totally recommend it. It's such a good, such a good one. Vanessa von Schwarz: I yeah, I love the that the whole premise. That's awesome. Mike Winson: Yeah. Yeah. all right. So I always end these with asking some very like quick, no wrong answer kind of kind of a questions. I call it a speed round, but it's not really speed round. what is your favorite co your go to coffee order? Vanessa von Schwarz: A skinny vanilla latte with cinnamon powder, two shots of vanilla syrup, and extra shot of espresso and almond milk. Mike Winson: Okay. Yeah. There you go. Love it. Perfect. by the way, I wanted to ask because I saw the I saw a video within do you still consider your favorite food kale and Brussels sprout salad? Vanessa von Schwarz: All the way. It's so good. Are you in LA? Mike Winson: I'm not, I'm not. Vanessa von Schwarz: Okay, well if you ever are, like let me know because we will try Goop Kitchen. It is too Mike Winson: Heck yeah. We'll do it. Vanessa von Schwarz: spectacular. Mike Winson: I'm hoping to come. I I wanna come sometime in the next four to six months. So definitely. Yeah, for sure. Vanessa von Schwarz: Yeah, let us know. Okay, it's so good. yeah, I'm still obsessed with that. How do you actually watch? Mike Winson: Okay, good. sweet or savory breakfast. Vanessa von Schwarz: Sweet. Mike Winson: Sweet. Like what what's what's your go to kind of breakfast? Vanessa von Schwarz: something f fruity, like a fruit smoothie with some peanut butter and like bananas and like an asyl almost, you know. Mike Winson: Mm. There you go. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yep. beach or mountains. Vanessa von Schwarz: beach. Yeah. Yeah. Mike Winson: You're LA, so it's not a surprise. go to karaoke song. Vanessa von Schwarz: my god. this is so hard. Okay. right now it's gonna be Nicole Kidman by Adela. I don't know if you've heard that one. Mike Winson: I've sure I've heard it. I'm so bad with names. Vanessa von Schwarz: Yeah. It's so good. It's so good. Listen to it. Mike Winson: Heck yeah. dogs or cats? Vanessa von Schwarz: Dogs. Mike Winson: Okay. favorite comfort food. Vanessa von Schwarz: pizza. Mike Winson: Pizza. What kind? Vanessa von Schwarz: Goop has a great pizza. Mike Winson: Okay, this is important. This is this is probably the most serious question I'm going to ever ask you. Vanessa von Schwarz: Right. Mike Winson: Pineapple on pizza? Yes or no? Vanessa von Schwarz: Yes. All the way. Sweet and savory, you get both in one. Are you kidding? That's like the elite bite right there. That's like when you Mike Winson: That's okay. Vanessa von Schwarz: mix ice cream with a hot brownie, it's the same thing. Mike Winson: My brain is really weird when it comes to pizza. I'm very much a like I can't even do like chocolate on a pretzel because my brain sees salty on a pretzel. And when I have sweet with it, it it it's like my brain goes, this isn't right. Vanessa von Schwarz: Do you do peanut butter with banana? Or like that? Mike Winson: Yeah, I could still do that, but peanut butter's sweet. Vanessa von Schwarz: I would disagree. I would disagree. Mike Winson: Okay. Well, that's okay. I'll just if Vanessa von Schwarz: Yeah. Mike Winson: we ever have pizza with pineapple on it, I'll give it all to you. Vanessa von Schwarz: Perfect. Mike Winson: last show you binged. Vanessa von Schwarz: your friends and neighbors on Apple TV. I Mike Winson: Ooh, I've never heard of that one. Vanessa von Schwarz: with John Hamm. So good. Yeah. Mike Winson: I'll have to check that one out. morning person or night owl? Vanessa von Schwarz: Night owl. Mike Winson: Okay. one food you refuse to eat. Vanessa von Schwarz: There really is no food I refuse to eat. Mike Winson: Okay. Vanessa von Schwarz: Truly, I'm not a picky eater. Mike Winson: Yeah. favorite season. Vanessa von Schwarz: fall. Mike Winson: Fall. have you been have you gotten the joy of going like to somewhere in the north during the fall? Vanessa von Schwarz: I've been to Vancouver in the fall, which was amazing and Mike Winson: Hm. Yeah. Vanessa von Schwarz: spectacular. But we did just have a rainy day yesterday, which was very nice for us. Mike Winson: Very nice. Yeah. I grew up in Massachusetts, so fall is Vanessa von Schwarz: Stick season. Mike Winson: Yep. Yep. sweet treat you can't say no to. Vanessa von Schwarz: anything with peanut butter. Mike Winson: Really? Okay. if you could, I'll I'll expand this. If you could sing or act with any person, who would you pick? Vanessa von Schwarz: Interesting. I feel like Marilyn Monroe would be a fun one. I just want her to like teach me like Mike Winson: Mm. Vanessa von Schwarz: her sultriness and like you know sh she had it going going on. Mike Winson: Yeah. She she sure did. if you had a free day with no plans, what would you do? Vanessa von Schwarz: no plans no Just like a regular day. Pilates I'd hang out with my family. I would probably read clean organize things. Very boring. Adult things. Mike Winson: What's your what's your favorite? Yeah, I mean I am that way too. What's your what's your favorite book? Vanessa von Schwarz: I I'm more of like a self help book person. Mike Winson: Okay. Vanessa von Schwarz: Yeah. I don't really read as much fiction. so right now I'm just reading the diary of a CEO because I love that podcast. Yeah. Mike Winson: Yeah. yeah, I saw that you also have a YouTube channel where you do stuff too, right? Do you want to tell some people Vanessa von Schwarz: Yeah. Mike Winson: about that? Vanessa von Schwarz: Yeah, I just post some of my shorts on there and VTS of vertical series I've been a part of, as well as just like vlogs of daily life. And it was so funny. The other day I was 'cause I have little sister, she's nine and I caught her looking me up on the internet and just watching all my videos and I was like Mike Winson: Huh huh. Vanessa von Schwarz: if like if I ever made it, it's right now. It's this. 'Cause Mike Winson: Yeah. Yeah. Vanessa von Schwarz: that was so sweet and Yeah. Yeah. Mike Winson: That's so cool. if anyone wants to find you on social media, where where can they find you? Vanessa von Schwarz: Yeah, I'm at Vanessa Schwartz with two Z on Instagram and I'm also on TikTok at Vanessa Von Schwartz. Come hang out. I love talking to you guys and you know, just sharing fun things. I love laughing and just making fun content that hopefully, you know, is is easy and not too serious to watch. Mike Winson: Yeah. And again, make sure you check out. We're not gonna we're not gonna say the other one. Make sure you check out Laws of Vanessa von Schwarz: No. Mike Winson: Attraction on Drama Pop. Okay, Vanessa von Schwarz: Yes, John will. Mike Winson: good. There's so many of them. I cannot keep them all in my head. make sure you check out Laws of Attraction on Drama Pop. Also make sure you go check out if you want, if you really want to like, you know, check out Vanessa in her prime, check out your husband is mine. It it's really good. Highly recommend. Vanessa, Vanessa von Schwarz: Yeah. Mike Winson: thank you so much for coming on here and and letting us get to know you and hang out. It's been a it's been an honor. Really has. Vanessa von Schwarz: Thank you so much. This was so much fun. Thank you, Mike. Such a pleasure. Mike Winson: Good. for everyone else that got this far, thank you very much. Please hit all those buttons down below. Like, subscribe, comment. It means the world to me. It allows me to keep doing what I'm doing, which is interviewing amazing people like Vanessa here. for those of you that may be new to this podcast, breaking a meta breaking the meta is about having hard conversations when necessary, fighting to break the status quo and the idea that all people, no matter your race, religion, gender, or identity, deserve rights, respect, dignity, and safety. Again, Vanessa, thank you so much for being here. And everyone else will see you next time. on breaking the meta. Bye guys.