AnnaLynne McCord is an amazing actress, activist, and model who starred on 90210, Nip/Tuck, Dallas, and so many more TV shows and films. More importantly, though, she uses her platform to bring awareness to others and her influence to bring people together to make a larger impact in this world.
Tune in as AnnaLynne shares her journey as an actress and activist, the turning point that gave her clarity on her purpose in this life, and how she is working tirelessly to end slavery and human trafficking. She also shares her experience with sexual assault, including how she overcame the trauma and how she was able to cultivate compassion for those who have hurt her.
*CONTENT WARNING: Discussion of sexual assault starts at approximately 23:10 in the audio.*
What You’ll Learn:
AnnaLynne’s journey coming up in Hollywood.
The turning point when she realized her purpose in life.
How she is working to end human trafficking and slavery.
How AnnaLynne dealt with sexual assault.
The importance of honoring the body.
Ideas Worth Sharing:
“I think I’ll always be leading the anarchy, leading the revolution.” - AnnaLynne McCord
“Don’t stop your momentum when your platform is just presenting itself to the world.” - AnnaLynne McCord
“This is about cleaning up the inside first.” - AnnaLynne McCord
“If we end slavery in our minds, perhaps we’ll be that much closer to ending slavery in the world.” - AnnaLynne McCord
“You have to have a little fear to be brave.” - AnnaLynne McCord
Resources:
TRANSCRIPT:
Molly Dare 0:07
Hello and welcome to On Air with Molly dare. I'm your host Molly dare, founder of Hillenbrand, media producer of the Spotlight Series host of his podcast, and single mom to two girls and three dogs, I should start adding them in. Okay, I'm a single mom of five of two beautiful girls, and three amazing dogs. And I am so excited for today's guest AnnaLynne McCord. This is an amazing conversation. For those of you who know AnnaLynne, which is probably many of you, she's had a long career in Hollywood starting out with on the 90210. And Nip Tuck. I mean, she's been on so many that you guys recognize currently on some lifetime, Christmas movies, which we all love, recently, this past year, and you know, her career has been long and still going. But more importantly is her platform that she uses to bring awareness of others. And for those of you who know me, you know that that is my passion is to promote others to give them a platform to inspire and motivate and use your talents and genius for good and bring awareness. So I absolutely felt such alliance with AnnaLynne and really, really wanted you to get to hear from her as I've been lucky enough to get to hear from her multiple times. We're both members of badass do gooders, one of the founding members, she has founded it along with Seak Smith, who was an earlier guest on this podcast, just combining people she is all about she is a force you guys, she is all about bringing people together to create a larger impact. Because here we all are in our kind of silos trying to make impact in our own little towns, our own little communities. But what a wonderful thing if we had a greater impact if we combined forces, I am all about collaboration over competition, I think that is when we really shine as people as humans, you know, and that's true in business. In business, it is about collaboration over competition, when you see people doing something similar to you in your field, you have two choices. You can compete with that person, or you can collaborate with them. And I have seen over and over and over again, the power and collaboration in feeding off of each other helping one another. There is room for everybody on here. But I'm telling you, you make a larger impact when you combine forces. So really, really excited for you to get to hear from AnnaLynne, she talks a lot about her journey, her awareness of us learning how to be more aware and empathetic to others we do go into cancel culture. For those of you who know me, I am solidly against cancel culture, I want to Cancel Cancel culture, I believe so much that we need to educate, not cancel. That doesn't solve anything to me, educate someone when they make a mistake I have yet in my long years, in my 43 years on this planet, I have yet to meet a perfect person who has not made a mistake, who has not said something out of line who has not wrongly judged whatever it is, none of us are perfect. What we can do is educate each other when we make a mistake, and how powerful that would be instead of canceling people. If we had conversations if we talked about it, because by us having a conversation with that person, guess what, we educate everyone else who's listening as well preventing them from making the same mistake. So I could go on this soapbox for a long time. But I want to get into this really, really powerful and raw conversation with AnnaLynne McCord. I know you're going to love her. I encourage you to follow her. She is just a big walking heart. You can you can feel her presence and the power of her words through this episode and really encourage you to follow along with her after you listen today. So let's get to this conversation with AnnaLynne McCord.
I just wanted to give a content warning that this episode does include conversations about sexual assault. While we don't go into too much detail, I understand this can be a trigger for some so I wanted to let you know to avoid the last half of the episode if you need to.
I am so thrilled to welcome AnnaLynne McCord to the podcast today. AnnaLynne is an actress, writer, director and producer humanitarian and spokesperson I personally met AnnaLynne through the badass do gooders, which I'm a proud founding member of as well and got the honor of hearing her story firsthand in one of the organization's many virtual gatherings during the pandemic and was really blown away by her passion and advocacy for others. So welcome AnnaLynne and so happy you can join me today.
AnnaLynne McCord 4:56
Thank you. I'm happy to be here.
Molly Dare 4:58
You're well known for so many roles are going all the way back on Nip Tuck the CWs 90210, all the way to today's current TV and film roles. You recently were on my favorite network lifetime dancing through the snow just out. But what people see on screen is not always representative of what is going on behind because you have quite a powerful story of your life in and out of Hollywood, which I'm so excited to have you share with our listeners today. I love it to touch on first, your passion for acting and a big break that you almost said no to.
AnnaLynne McCord 5:33
Yes, so hi. Oh my goodness. I had this dream since I was nine years old to be an actress and I you know, grew up in America. So it's the the country where this kind of dreams can happen. But I also grew up in a trailer park in America so it was a little less likely for my wild little nine year old self mind to actually be able to manifest this into reality but manifested I did I actually just recently found a journal from when I was 14 and I had written while living in my trailer park. I just want to preface this right. When I've done a few movies and have some extra cash, I will.... I was like oh my god, I love this kid. I there was no question. She knew my younger self knew that she was going to make my dreams a reality. And she did. She made it happen I left when I was 15 years old. So not long, probably after that, that journal entry was written. And I lived in Miami, I lived in New York, I studied acting in New York and moved to LA when I was 18 I hit the ground running I was only going to be there for a few months and head back to New York but I've been here 16 years now it was a very good move for work and that's the like you know, very quick throw it all into a tiny little two second bubble of my beginnings and within a couple years of working and proving myself in the industry. I was offered 90210 at that exact moment I was having what I call my young life crisis I was having a mild meltdown I did not want to be an actress anymore I was done with this town and I was getting out of here and it was all very cute and I I I honor every step of my little self and her her ideals in the world she's always had quite the quite the eye the imagination and and the ideologies that I think that I've subscribed to throughout life have been that of an anarchist I've always been a bit of a rebel was is a strong word. I think I'll always be all you know leading the anarchy leading the revolution. But yeah, I was being offered 90210 and I was like, No, my team is like oh god here we go actress having a meltdown. This is her to opportunity to you know make it big and actually make that dream a reality that my nine year old self had and my 14 year old self wrote about and I was just not having it I was not happy it was a there were a lot of things culminating as what I would go on to discover but at the time it was just I just didn't think I wanted to be in what had been such an exciting dream to have but it turned into almost the nightmare for me I was dealing with so many things behind the scenes and smiling on a red carpet. And when 90210 was offered I said no and then I said no again and they thought I wanted more money which was really good for learning about negotiation say no and walk and you get more money. But I didn't want more money and I was almost I was actually insulted. I was like how dare they think that they can buy me Oh, it was like That's I grew up with nothing you can buy me I was so mad. There was a lot of rage in that little body. Bless my own heart as we say in the South. Bless my heart. I called my first acting partner Jessica Minhas who I've been friends with now for over half my life like she's we call each other wifey like we're just like, forever.
Molly Dare 9:22
We all have one of those right? Those wifeys.
AnnaLynne McCord 9:24
We got to have the wifey friend. So Jessica Minhas is my wifey friend. And she's now the CEO I'll go first, which is an incredible organization for mental health. And she's doing amazing things. And she was already doing them back then I was very much about myself at the time. She was always involved in these different efforts. And one of the things that she educated me on was the issue of fighting of human trafficking and fighting that cause at a time when nobody knew what it was. Nobody heard of it and it was not a sexy, trendy cool thing to support and fight. It was something that she was doing because There was a need. And when I told her that I didn't want to be an actress anymore, and I was coming back to New York to work at Starbucks and find a new passion because all over this town of La, she was like, No, you're not little girl. She literally was like, psh psh psh snaps whips me in shape. And she said, You have such a platform, you have such an opportunity to use what you is becoming this inertia building career. And don't stop your momentum when your platform is just presenting itself to the world where you could really help a lot of people and you should do that. And
Molly Dare 9:46
that's a good WiFey right there.
AnnaLynne McCord 10:40
That's a really good WiFey. Wifey is always right. So we went on a trip to Cambodia together she had been many times before but this was my first trip and it was extremely eye opening. You know, you think you're gonna go do something good in the world. And what happens is it changes your life and
Molly Dare 11:00
100%
AnnaLynne McCord 11:01
It turned my world upside down. I met all these little girls that I thought I was going there to support and they heal and changed and transformed my existence and continue to do so to this day. But as a result of them and that journey and Jessica Minhhas, my wifey. I decided to say yes to 90210, which did become the big break but everyone thought it was gonna be my Agents were like, the if they knew that Jessica was the reason they would have been sending her flowers like thank you we've worked so hard now she's gonna run. So I did run I said, Yes, I did the project. But I did that that moment, for me was a turning point where I had always known what I wanted to do, but I never knew why. And that was the beginning of my why and my why has evolved and transformed and continued to grow. But in that moment, I learned a lesson that every human being will embark upon at some point because we all get there we all come to that place where like why am I why am I doing this? Why am I still alive I you know, there's so much in the the earth school that we have
Molly Dare 12:15
such a journey to find our purpose and we all find it at different times and through different methods and you actually gave me chills as your you were saying your your story and how you found kind of your purpose. And I had a similar experience. I went on a medical mission with Operation Smile to go and help them with the cleft palates done in Santa Domingo with one of my wifeys, right? And we went together, like let's just do this together. And, you know, before our life was very different, and our priorities were very different, I would say. And when we went on this trip, and I can speak for both of us when I say we were forever, like that was we could not come home the same person, there was no way that I could even spend the time on the things that I was it was so vapid to me. And once you feel that change and the change that you can make in someone's life and the difference that you can make it almost becomes addictive to keep doing it and doing it on a much larger scale. It's why I love people like you who use their platform for that good to impact and and I think that's that's incredible. You have said working with charitable organizations and giving back has been your saving grace as it has taught you how to rescue yourself. And I thought that was like that really touched me I thought it was so beautiful and I completely identify with that. You are president of together one heart which empowers women and children victimized by human trafficking and sexualized violence. Can you talk to me a little bit about that?
AnnaLynne McCord 13:42
So unfortunately, with 2020 together one heart didn't make it it we we went we went belly up as many organizations and 501 C threes and companies mom pop shops did so so many around the world and had to close their doors forever. I'm so grateful that the year that that happened, we had just launched the love storm with all the badass do gooders, actually with Seak and so we had just launched a campaign to further the narrative and the work and the conversation. And this was this was technically in support together one heart but it was separate because that I it was a personal thing for me and I was funding it and I am funding it, and it lives on which is amazing. And the we now have an opportunity for that to have an umbrella company so we it's all actually worked out beautifully. And I think this would be a moment to say just like when you think that something that whole like when a door closes a window opens kind of thing when you think that something technically according to the world's eyes is Oh, that's horrible. I'm so sorry. No, no, it was the best thing that's ever happened. It was so good in somebody's life have shown me that that something that is perceivably bad On the onslaught is actually ends up being a talk about a saving grace. You know, there's a, there's an old story that I love about a father who he is like a little village person or whatever, and he's, you know, he, he gets awarded this incredible horse and, and he takes the horse back to the village and the whole village comes to see the horse, and they're like, Oh, you're so lucky. This is amazing. And he's like, we'll see. And then his son's out there, you know, in the breaking in the horse and doing all the things and he's riding the horse, but it's bucking wildly, and then his son gets thrown off, and his son breaks his legs and ends up in the hospital. And then the Village People are like, Oh, that's so terrible. If you've never gotten that horse, your son would still have his legs. And, you know, like, so then he the farmer, you know, village man says, we'll see. And then he goes, you know, a little bit later, the draft happens in the rural countryside, the, the armies come and collect all the boys, but because his sons in the hospital, he can't go, and now all the villages are like, You're so lucky that your son got on that horse and fell off and broke his legs, because now he can't go to war, and he's gonna probably have his life saved. And he's like, we'll see. And the story continues in that vein, and, and the thing is, we so quickly want to determine that one moment in our life is just for me, I couldn't be an actress anymore, it was the end of all things. Because in that moment, it wasn't right in the way that it was. And what what was happening was that there was a little caterpillar inside a cocoon that was trying to break through something and didn't know why or what the caterpillar doesn't know, it's gonna become a butterfly. It doesn't, it just knows it can't be in that cocoon anymore. And it's got to get out. And it's breaking through something really difficult. It's very painful. And a lot of muscles are built that allow the wings to be strong enough to fly once the caterpillar breaks fully through. And so, in this experience of, you know, kind of getting to these phases of my life, I started to see that but with the love storm, everyone was, you know, obviously, like I'm so sorry about together one heart I was like, I'm not, I'm not the universe, that's exactly what it's doing. And to get together one heart was a beautiful Caterpillar, for which I am grateful. And it butterflied into the love storm, which is a campaign that that the point of the point of the love storm is to bring together one heart like organizations together. So it's actually a bigger endeavor. It's it's a global campaign to create a network of organizations that are fighting human trafficking around the world. Because the way I see it, and I say this all the time, it's like, we've got these amazing little programs that are doing great work in their neck of the woods. And there's one little here and they're like little waves on the ocean, and I want a tsunami. Yeah, so So I want us all to link arms come together, the point of the love storm is fighting slavery from the inside out. So we're talking about a metaphor of ending slavery of the mind for 7.8 billion people as we physically fight slavery of the body for 48 million, according to the late International Labor Organization, individuals who are victims of human trafficking, modern day slavery, sex trafficking. So this is a really, it's a big idea. And I'm been known to have pipe dreams that I make come true. So I'm not worried at all.
Molly Dare 18:31
You do 100%.
AnnaLynne McCord 18:33
But slavery has been in our world for a very long time. And it's it's hasn't gone away, and no one's ended it yet. Because we haven't done it the right way. We try to clean up the outside. And this is about cleaning up the inside first. This is about changing the idea of slavery in our world, which is invisible chains on the brain that stop us from being who we truly are. That's the individual aspect. And the the individual reflects the hole and vice versa. So if we end slavery in our minds, perhaps we'll be that much closer to ending slavery in the world. And that in 1000s of years, we have not tried so. So we'll see, we'll see,
Molly Dare 19:10
and what I love is when speaking of the slavery in our mind, you say that we need to ask ourselves some important questions. In what areas Am I overcoming enslavement? In? What areas? Am I feeling held back or less than myself? How can I inspire more freedom from the invisible chains placed on my mind? When I read that I was like, Oh, wow, okay. That is that's some intense self work that we all need to do or should be asking ourselves
AnnaLynne McCord 19:38
it is and it's kind of crazy, right? That it's that it's so intense you know, because if you if you meet a partner, right, and you late, you meet someone that you're into, or a friend or someone at a dinner that you're brought to or a party or about us event, what's the first thing you do? You ask them questions, you get to know them. So we walk around life for 80-90-100 years. And who teaches us to ask questions to the person that we spend most of our all of our time with ourselves. We don't build a relationship with ourselves. We don't ask ourselves questions. We don't wake up in the morning and say, Hey, how'd you sleep? You know, I have someone staying over. Like when she gets up, wakes up, I'm saying, Good morning. How do you sleep? Do you ask yourself, How do you sleep? No, you just take yourself for granted? Of course, because yourself is there. So you know how you slept Anyway, moving on. But wait a second. If you don't take it into your conscious awareness, if you don't say how did I sleep? Well, actually, I was a little restless last night. Yeah, what that was about, maybe I was a little slimmer, a little anxious when I went to bed and it was coming out in my dreams or my sleep by hmm, maybe I'll be a little more mindful when I go to sleep tonight. You don't get that far. Because you never asked yourself what's going on? So these questions and they are they are deeper questions, the ones that you asked about? How are you contributing to the idea of enslavement? Meaning that in on a planet where 7.8 billion little humans run around, do their little lives, and we have our people, we have our groups and our cliques and our people that will meet one time and are people that we'll meet a few times. And then our families that will probably see more than we were maybe even want to. But we don't always take into account that there's, there's a measurable energy field for one outside of our bodies that measures up to nine feet. So you're bumping into people with your energy all day long. Everything that we are everything that is everything that exists is energy, and energy is malleable, it's always moving and shaking and vibrating and connecting and intersecting. So I butterfly effects butterfly wings over here talks about butterflies, like are great a storm over on the other side of the world. I affect you in Chicago or Florida or wherever you are. I have an effect on people, whether I'm an actress or I am that little girl in the trailer park dreaming to be one, I have an effect on everyone on this planet with what I do. That comes out of my mind first and foremost. And and that to me, you know, we're all this cultures become a shame cancel culture. I'm about an accountability culture. And that requires accountability. And you can point your finger and cancel someone very quickly and be sitting on your cancellation that's coming. Because you do it out and it comes back. It's just the way the world works
Molly Dare 22:37
preach. I mean Yes. Oh my gosh, say it louder. For the people in the back. I say. I absolutely love I could I could spend forever on cancel culture for sure. We'd love to have more deep conversations with people instead of canceling them so that they learn and so that we all have those we educate, educate, educate, that's really what's needed in this world. You know, you talk a lot about your childhood memories returning a few years back, and you bravely revealed that you were sexually assaulted when you were 18 by a male friend. How hard was it not only for those memories to return and for you to remember this, but to also go public with that?
AnnaLynne McCord 23:22
It you know, it's funny I I think in looking at my life, the rebel that I am ever the anarchist as I said, I when I came out about the sexual assault that happened, that was a little bit of I got pushed, pushed up on a stage and asked to impromptu speak and and the event was over. And I didn't know what to say. And I was like, Ah, well, you know about a lot of survivors of human trafficking and sexual violence. And you heard all their stories already. But you don't know the story of one girl that they saved. And that's me. And this is my story came out and I was like, I'm like standing there like, Oh, my god did I just tell 1000 people, I got them all in New York. What happened to be when I was a teenager? And so there was a moment of just like sheer panic. And then, and then Cosmopolitan magazine reached out to my team. And they were like, hi, we were at the dinner where AnnaLynne told everyone what happened to her. We have 18 million readers, and we think that her story might mean something to them, because it's probably happened to some of them too. And it has happened to millions of them. And I started getting outreach from so many people just DMS texts, emails like whatever a the stories were flying in, and this was back in 2014. This was before me too, was a movement and and no one was really talking about these things and And it changed my idea of what it would be like to reveal that I revealed it. And that was like, Oh God, I can't take that back. And my wifey Jessica minhas, she talks about mental health stuff she always, she doesn't warn against, but she always brings up the vulnerability hangover is what she calls it. And it's when you tell your story. And then Oops, did I say that out loud, and oh, God, the shame rushes in and all the things. And so there was a moment of that with the initial expulsion of my story. But I was going to Cambodia a couple of times a year for years listening to these incredibly brave souls telling their stories to us. And their little girls like three, four or five years old, seven years old, eight years old, you know, and I never thought they were weak. Right? Right. But God did, I think it was week of me to get right to get myself sexually assaulted, or whatever the story was, that was in my mind that it was my fault. And when other brave souls started reaching out to me and telling me that my story meant something to them, all of a sudden, my and I'm someone who like I will have a strong belief. But if you give me more evidence that something stronger, I will drop everything I believe in, move into the new the new data, because I I'm very progressive, and new data formulated around my theory that I was weak. And what turn as it turns out, I was very strong. And they they gave me that strength with their responses and with their strength. And then it was, it stopped being brave and stopped feeling courageous, because I think you have to have a little fear to be brave. If I don't have any fear about sharing these things, now, I share them because it's exactly what we should do. Period. That's it, there's no we should just talk about these things. And they shouldn't be taboo, and they shouldn't be brave, they should be so normal that we can talk about these things. And then if we talk about them enough, maybe we'll highlight them enough and we'll educate enough that we will be able to cancel the actions, not the people. And I am going to say that again. I would like to cancel the actions, not the people and to everyone who may or may not be listening who believes in wokesterville and cancel culture, I want you to know that I'm waiting and waiting to see when this works. When you're when your giant amazing plan to cancel the world actually does any good actually creates any healing actually sustains our planet in any way, shape, or form. That makes sense because a beautiful, wonderful profit from a couple 1000 years ago said, whomever be without sin, cast the first stone, you want to throw your shame stones, you want to throw your cancellation stones, they're coming back for you. Because you've done shit too, honey. That's we all have you know what I mean? I I've been a liar. I've been a cheater, I my trauma turned me into a bully. I have used my pain to harm other people and not hurt them, which I which I believe is fine, we can hurt people, they can get hurt by us if we are doing something for us and not against them. But harming someone is different. I have harmed people because of my pain, I had to come to terms with that I had to come to ownership, I had to find accountability. I did not deserve to be canceled, nor do the perpetrators who sexually abused and sexually assaulted me, which is why I will never out them. Unless there's you know, some legal proceedings that helps support the process. I am not here to judge about whether or not the people that have been canceled and the people that did it. Were in the right or wrong again, because I'm not in the mood to cancel people. But I am waving a caution flag that you do do this and you don't believe in redemption and you don't believe in education and you don't believe in having a conversation and getting us to an evolved state versus evolution versus revolution is coming back for you boo. Like it's just the way it works. It's it's going to come back and I don't I don't want that I want compassion to return to me. So when I think about the man who sexually abused me for years, when I was a child, I have so much compassion for him. I'm so sorry for him that he got so hurt in the world that he thought he should hurt me. I'm so sorry for the young man that sexually assaulted me that was drinking and probably didn't even realize that he was doing it because he was in a state and he did what he did. And doesn't doesn't give him any right to do it. And absolutely accountability is required. But I have so much compassion for him. That's my journey. That's because I like to be happy in my life. And I'm not happy when I cancel people I'm happy when I accountability and when I am compassionate. And it compassion is not for the faint of heart. It is not for the weak. I am very very strong. I discovered that in those early days, and I've only continued to grow in my strength, and that's why I'm compassionate. But compassion is a it is it is an alchemical process that requires so much trust and faith in yourself to be able to hold the light. And I know that I can I could sit in the room with those people who sexually abused me and the other all the other people who were sexually inappropriate with me in this crazy industry that I chose to be in. And I could sit across them and be like, Why do you think you did that? Why? Why was that? What was it what was going on for you what happened to you? One of them I know who was sexually abused as a as a boy. And of course he didn't. We have a fork in the road. My wifey again, I quote her all the time clearly wifey wifey level 9000. But she says, trauma is not our fault, it becomes our responsibility. It was not their fault, what happened to them, it is their responsibility, they had a responsibility to not harm me, they harmed me. For me, I'd rather know why. And I'd like to tell them what it did to me, and how I wanted to kill myself for years because of it. And that I doubt that they would ever want anyone to feel that way. And if they're, if we look at the truest part, and the way that we have to do this, by the way, if we want to actually get to compassion, the first step, you got to take all the adults off the planet, you have to look at 7.8 billion people's inner child, you have to imagine them as children, two three year old, four year old little boy was on a playground who never want to hurt anybody. And what went wrong? Something went wrong. That's why they did what they did. It is their responsibility, because they are adults, but there's a child that's wounded on the inside. And I would much rather get in to that child and talk to that child than ever shame or cancel that person. Because I would like that person to heal because healed people don't harm people.
Molly Dare 31:54
Wow. Very powerful. You know that when I go through your social media, which I really suggest a lot of people follow your social media, because it's really beautiful. And your messaging is incredibly beautiful and powerful. You talk a lot about affirmations how important the words are that we speak to ourselves. you're loved. I am enough. Yeah. How do affirmations help you in your journey? Is it something that you practice daily every morning? Do you say those words to yourself? How powerful is our words to you?
AnnaLynne McCord 32:26
Yeah, our words are so there's so much power in the Word everything. Again, everything's energy, a word has a vibration, right? So when we speak, the sound molecules come out of us and into the ears into the body. They're held as a vibration in the world. And, and the word love, for example, the vibration of that word, has conflicting intentions, because that word has been used in so many wonderful beautiful ways and in and horrible ways. So I prefer words like compassion. Actually, I use love because I honor the vibration of what I believe love is, I use it a lot with myself. But if you don't, if you've only heard that word, and it's been icky, or yucky, or dangerous, or people that were supposed to love you did things to harm you. I don't advise that word at first. In fact, I would stay away from that word, and I would go towards words that hold a pure vibration, you tard to taint the word compassion, it's pretty clear. Right? And so for example, I'll just read you something I was using the power of the word to someone very close to me who was having a hard moment. And I'll just share this right now because this is what I believe this this is what I do on a daily basis. And this is she actually told me she said I I keep a screenshotted area of like messages from like words that were from people that means something and she was saving when I said she was going through a painful thing. And one of the things that we do a lot of times when we don't have protective boundaries and proper love shown to us so then proper love for ourselves. We cannot show compassion to ourselves, but we can start with compassion and start to get curious about it. So she had waited on on doing something that was for her body that would have really made her body feel better. So I said, Of course you waited of course that's what happens when you hold up the sky. You've carried the weight of the world on your shoulders and I just wished that anyone listening let me just speak these words to you because we these words were for her and they were for my little self and for their for anyone listening and trust me. She's She would appreciate this being shared because she's also a healer in our world and so wonderful and just sometimes doesn't always remember to do that for herself. But I said is it okay? For that weight on your shoulders to be surrendered today? Is it okay for you to Have some kindness now? Some gentleness now, is that okay? And I kind of continue in that vein with her and, and she said it was very meaningful. And it's one of the things that I do now. So I don't force love, and I don't force compassion. But I asked you, is it okay? For you to have compassion? Is that okay? It's been a long life without some kindness that maybe you need. Is it okay for you to have some kindness today? Is it okay for you to be gentle with yourself? Maybe just for today? You can go back to being mean and beating yourself up tomorrow. But for today, can you just maybe be kind with yourself? And just the power of not only suggesting it but asking the question, letting the heart feel the question in our heart, we hold so much wisdom and so much grief. We've taken so many hits on our heart, we need someone to be gentle with us and to ask our permission. And that's what I've learned with this work. And I've become a Reiki Master recently and I've worked with they're talking about energy, like understanding energy has been really profound to me. And what you learn is that higher level divine like really powerful high energy vibrations that are light and love in its most pure form, the only form that actually exists just FYI.
They do not cross boundaries, that energy does not cross your boundary, it wants your permission, low energy waits for your filters, filters to be down, you're tired, you're hungry, you're lonely, you're missing someone you're hurt. It's like oh, let me get in here and then throw some anger and some apathy and some shame and guilt and like really hook into that energy. So those lower energies will grab on to you because they're trying to cross any boundary if they have a chance of a boundary gets down there in the higher vibration asks permission it wants it wants you to say, Please provide this for me so so I like to do that with myself. I like to ask myself questions and I, I do that all day long. I journal like a psycho. This is I go through this 200 Page college notebook. I go through one of these in two weeks now.
Molly Dare 37:12
Wow.
AnnaLynne McCord 37:12
I write to myself all day long. I check in I ask questions. I just let myself just whatever comes comes. And yes, there there's no I don't do routine. That's not my vibe, if routine is your vibe, I honor that it's not mine. I am all over the place. But it's always the same vibration. am I providing myself the vibration of compassion? am I providing myself the vibration of nurture and kindness. And the last thing I'll say about that is the mind is adult. The mind is developed after puberty and adulthood from age 13. On, we start to exist in what's called the beta brainwave state. Prior to that, from zero to two, we're in what's called delta just deep sleep. So babies are like kind of eyes Open, but they're actually asleep. To to, to to around six, we're in what's called theta. And that's a deep meditation state. It's very suggestible. It's what you're under when you're under nervous sleep like hypnosis, sleep in the nervous system. That's theta, brainwave state. And then from six to puberty around 12-13. You're in the state of alpha, which is highly creative. You see kids start to give you their drawings and the things that they make at that age. And so in those early stages, we don't have this thing yelling at us in the mind going, Man, I remember that time in 2009 When you were a loser, yeah. Is that still kind of happening? Huh? Look at you lame. Like I'm okay, I'm just trying to drive down the freeway Do you mind like not attacking me from like 12-13 years ago, but this is the mind is developed as an adult. So we treat the mind like an adult and when the mind says things that are unkind first thing I ask is, would you be friend with your mind friends with your mind, if it was a person outside of yourself saying the shit that it says to you? And a lot of people are like, man, thank you pass, I might knock that person out. The The other thing is, when we're dealing with the mind, we can say okay, that's all no out of here by the body from zero to 13. We experience the world through energy because we're not in our analytical brain hasn't developed yet. So we feel through our body when we're baby when we're little and we're children. So when the body feels upset, and I hold infinite amounts of space for myself, when I get any kind of stress or anything like that, body is baby we are very nice to baby. We don't tell baby to stop crying. We go get baby milk, we get baby food or sleep time and we understand my baby throws a temper tantrum that baby's cranky because baby needs rest. So I honor the difference of my body feeling duress and the mind going on a spin trail, and I treat them differently. And if we understand this world, the world of the body, when everything feels good in this, we can take on the world outside. The world outside is collapsing. When this world, the world of our body is stressed out, we have to honor the body, then the mind, then the external circumstance changes and our perception is able to rise to a higher level.
Speaking of the mind, you have said it from the day you were born, everyone is trying to educate you about something that has not worked in their life. And you go on to say, we are taught to stop being who we are in order to become in quotes, who we are meant to be. How do we unlearn them?
Well, first, I have to give credit. The first quote was, I stole from Sadhguru. Like, who I love very, very much. And he did, he said
Molly Dare 41:00
that was the reel right
AnnaLynne McCord 41:02
Yeah, reel from the day we're born, we're literally being taught by a bunch of people who did this did not work for me, but let me teach it to you, and then put it in your head. So you do it. And it's like, just this continuation generationally of teaching these ridiculous, pointless ideologies that have just been passed down and nauseum. But yes, so we are, we're taught to, you know, become a good student and become a good college graduate and become a good worker and become a good partner and become and become and become and become and become. And I'm so sorry, because we've all been fed the Kool Aid in our sippy cups, they put the Kool Aid in our sippy cups and force us to drink it. And now, that's what I say all the time now, because it's not a talk about traumas, your, you know, not your fault. It's your responsibility, like, it is not our fault, the way we get programmed and conditioned. We are too little and the society around us, our parents, teachers, peers, you know, neighbors, the news, whatever, those in that 13, zero to 13 period when we're so suggestible, like when it's so subtle, just suggestibility the we're taking in the whole world. And we're just conforming to what we're supposed to do and suppose to become. And everyone who's older than two needs to go watch two year olds, because they will teach you how to be free.
Molly Dare 42:29
so true.
AnnaLynne McCord 42:31
We need to unbecome all the way back to age two. And I'm sorry, there's no such thing as terrible twos. It's terrible adults who have two year olds. And they because two year olds copy you, boo. Where do you think they learn that shit? You want to hear they say no all the time? What did you say for two years straight to them? No, don't touch that, Johnny. No, don't do that. Johnny. No, that's hot, Johnny. No, that's called Johnny. I think you're doing things because you want your so well intentioned, and you're trying to help. But of course, for two years straight, you've said no more than anything else. What do you what do you think the little toddler is gonna say? No, no, no, no, no. That's the word that mommy and daddy say all the time. That's the word that mommy and mommy or daddy and daddy or whomever? All the big people say. So I actually with my nephew. I never say no, my sister took on this thing as well. She was like, I love that. I've never say no, we say oh, yeah, so of course just not right now. And how much better does that feel in your body? Your? Yes, of course. Just I can't do it right now. It's like, okay, it's like you're not being shut down that no has a vibe. Talk about a vibration that is affects your body like No, like it feels constricting in your body when you hear the word no. So So honoring, honoring the freedom of a two year old. I just I'm it's only kids. For me. It's just like, inner children, I want to get into the inner child of every big person. And I just want to give them, give them the little mirror that shows them. Look, you've got the key to the locks that have been holding you back with your invisible chains. Look, just look in the mirror, look at me, and let me mirror back to you. All of your light, and all of your kindness and all of your graciousness, and all of your love in its purest, most accurate form. Let me mirror that back to you. Let me let you through me see what you are, which is pure light
Molly Dare 44:23
Wow, it's so beautiful. And and I do want to say to my listeners, and I do want to plug your podcast because if you're loving what she's saying, and it's resonating with you, you have a podcast as well. Right? Your co host with Shinae Grimes Beach, right? What is your goal with this podcast and where it's called unzipped. For those who are looking for it now. I hope you are and downloading it is your goal with this podcast?
AnnaLynne McCord 44:48
Well, it's funny because I might have a goal and then Shinae will have a different one. Part of our dichotomy is actually how dichotomous we are. We're so different and I'm constantly challenging her with my like, she's like, Oh my Oh, you're so ghuru-i. And then she's also really grounding for me and like, come back to reality AnnaLynne. So you're good,
Molly Dare 45:10
that's a good match is good,
AnnaLynne McCord 45:11
good match, you get some shady spill the tea moments because today lives for just a deep dive into just some shady shit. And I'm not, you know, I mean, I'm human. So it's not like I hate it, but But I definitely prefer bringing on guests who are like, you know, gonna share some deep wisdom bombs and that kind of thing. So so what we've started to do really is, is do more just with her with she and I like where we're talking because we're so different. And she'll bring something to the table, and I'll have something to share that that is a different way of looking at it, and vice versa. And so it's really just an invitation to come chat with two chicks who are letting it all hang out, we unzip so hard. And we do that because we want you to feel that you are fully accepted as your unzipped self. And that's really it. It's its word, we are not experts at podcasting, we kind of suck at it. But if you can get past that, you might actually enjoy the show.
Molly Dare 46:15
Oh my gosh, I love it so much. So what is next for you? What do you want more of in your own life?
AnnaLynne McCord 46:21
Oh, that's amazing, beautiful question. Thank you, I, I've returned, as I said, I've returned to the journaling habit that I had when I was a girl. And a lot of things are coming through about the next portion of my life. And it might look a bit different than I expected it to certainly different than what the world may think an actress at my stage of my career would kind of be shifting into. But I, I know that I'm here on this planet for one very particular thing, and 7.8 billion people have it or will feel pain, I'm here so that they get to feel a little bit more love. And I will reach you, I will find you I don't care wherever you are, before I die, I will find you with my love. If you never see my face or never know my name, you will feel my energy in this world. Because I'm sending love to every being on this planet, I'm so grateful to be alive. And I didn't feel that way for a long time, I didn't want to be here on this earth, and tried to not be here a couple times. And so I go into what in the quantum is called the cosmic Sacred Heart. And it's the idea of a heart energy, that's all of our hearts combined in some beautiful space realm that's magical. And I go to that heart a lot. And I send every one of you love so. So that's my, that's my thing for what's up. For me, I, I have a lot of projects in the works that are actually in development. And I'm a part of the development process, which is really, really rewarding and exciting. So very preliminary things, but things that would actually further this effort in the world. And I'm very excited about that. I've just written about five children's books as part of the series about getting your energy for children. So working on getting the illustrations and I am I can not draw, so I will not be illustrating them, even the children drawings, I need help. So that's the next part of that journey. But it's really important to me to create curriculum and language in the world that provides our kids with what is you know, what is the most important thing in the world which is is owning who we actually are not becoming something else. So, so if they don't have to unbecoming, they can just stay who they are. That would be magical. And I'd love to be a part of that journey.
Molly Dare 48:56
Oh my gosh, I love it and excited about this children's books. So definitely let us know and we'll we'll promote those as well. Where can people follow you and the organizations you're involved in? If you
AnnaLynne McCord 49:08
want to check me out, you can go to @theAnnaLynneMcCord or @thelovestorm and we'll keep you up to date on what's going on with all that I do have a lot of different diversified content because I don't really have any I'm also uh, you know, I suck at podcasts. I suck at Instagram, but I'm showing up you know, I'm there and I
Molly Dare 49:28
very powerfully Yeah, you do I do.
AnnaLynne McCord 49:30
I like to be inspired. And when I'm inspired, it's free flows but I definitely can't plan it out. It comes when it comes but I definitely also do lead meditations and things on my Instagram so if you're needing a little extra nurture there are some Instagram videos that you can go in my archives and and get some get some extra AnnaLynne love so yeah.
Molly Dare 49:53
AnnaLynne, thank you so much for sharing your journey and insights with us and there's nothing I love more than people who use use their platform to educate, inspire and empower others. And thank you to everyone for listening in and see you next week with another powerful story of inspiration
thank you so much for tuning in to this episode of On Air with Molly dare Your support means everything to me and my guests. The best way to support this podcast is with a five star review on iTunes. The best way for this podcast to keep growing is by word of mouth. So if you love this episode and got a meaningful takeaway, we'd love for you to share on social media tag me and the guests and we will be sure to share as well. You can also head over to our new website at Mollydare.com check out our fun shop with fun merch along with our Spotlight Series filmed features and all of our podcast episodes. If you do get your hands on some on air with Molly dare swag, and of course our line of daring fear less and aggressive liker sweatshirts and hats and coffee mugs. It just gives me all the biggest smile and feels. As always, please tag me when you receive your items, and I'll share on my social media as well. Nothing makes me happier than seeing all of you daring and fearless aggressive likers out there wearing it loud and proud. Thanks again for listening and look forward to next week's episode.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
