When You Hit a Wall, Lean on God: Sarah Drew & Janine Turner
This week, we’re thrilled to be celebrating our 500th podcast episode with actor Sarah Drew, known for her roles in Grey’s Anatomy and Everwood. Sarah shares how her faith shaped her career from a pastor’s kid who found joy in acting to eventually navigating the pressures of Hollywood. She discusses the rewarding challenge of developing her Grey’s Anatomy character, April Kepner, into an honest portrayal of a person of faith, including the storyline of April’s crisis of faith and her eventual return. Later in the episode, we’ll hear from actor Janine Turner. Janine recounts her own tumultuous path to Hollywood, characterized by countless rejections and setbacks. She shares the story of her darkest period, when she had only eight dollars and felt entirely alone, right before landing her breakthrough, unexpected role as a bush pilot in Northern Exposure. Janine’s experience with closed doors taught her to wait on unexpected, better opportunities—proving that perseverance, even through black holes of despair, can take us to where we’re meant to be.
00:00 - Introduction: Celebrating Our 500th Episode with Sarah Drew & Janine Turner
01:57 - Sarah Drew: Growing Up as a Pastor's Kid and Finding "God's Pleasure" in Acting
03:35 - Stepping Into Professional Theater and Landing Her First Major Break
05:45 - Joining *Grey's Anatomy* as April Kepner: From Unpopular Catalyst to Beloved Regular
07:55 - Shaping April Kepner's Faith Journey: Handling Trauma, Loss, and Crisis of Faith
09:12 - What It Takes for a Believer to Come Back: Writing Honest Faith Portrayals in Hollywood
12:05 - Creating a Culture of Belonging and Positive Energy on Every Set
13:18 - Meet Janine Turner: Growing Up in Texas with a Mother's Instilled Tenacity
14:40 - Navigating the Treacherous Waters of Hollywood and Hearing 10,000 "Nos"
17:10 - Hitting Rock Bottom: Having Only $8 Left Before the Breakthrough of *Northern Exposure*
20:10 - "Too Pretty to Be a Pilot": Overcoming Self-Doubt and Landing the
