Kelly Gale
Mannequin femme

Suédoise

I’m so excited to share this episode of Mask Off. This time, I’m sitting down with one of my closest friends, actor and director Jay Hernandez, for a conversation that goes way deeper than Hollywood.

Jay opens up about growing up surrounded by violence, panic attacks and addiction, and how watching his brothers struggle shaped the pressure he’s carried his entire life. He talks about feeling responsible for his family from a young age and how that became the driving force behind his career.

We talk about Hollywood stereotypes, almost walking away from acting before Suicide Squad changed everything, and why success never actually made him feel like he had “made it.”

He also shares how years of anxiety, self-destruction and emotional walls eventually pushed him toward deeper healing and self-awareness. From Malibu retreats and breathwork to Burning Man chaos and near-death horseback riding accidents in Mexico, this episode goes everywhere. 😂

This is a conversation about identity, survival, masculinity and what happens when you finally stop being so hard on yourself.

MY CHANDRA SKINCARE ESSENTIALS (use code MASKOFF15):
https://chandrabeauti.com/products/the-super-bundle

FOLLOW:
Kelly Gale — https://www.instagram.com/kellygale
Joel Kinnaman — https://www.instagram.com/joelkinnaman
Chandra Beauti — https://www.instagram.com/chandrabeauti/

Edited by:
Magnus — https://www.instagram.com/thepodfather_magnus/

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Feet jokes and Hollywood beginnings
03:20 Directing his first feature film
05:08 Growing up blue collar and work ethic
06:50 Hollywood stereotypes and representation
14:50 Kelly’s horseback riding accident in Mexico
21:40 Malibu healing retreat and deepening friendships
24:40 Confronting yourself and emotional walls
26:50 Feeling responsible for family from a young age
31:00 How Jay accidentally became an actor
34:30 Destiny, loss and the manager who changed his life
37:00 Masculinity, self-love and emotional suppression
39:20 Panic attacks, anxiety and depression
42:10 Breathwork and trauma stored in the body
43:40 Self-destructive behavior during success
45:40 Why Jay never felt like he “made it”
50:00 Filming in Kazakhstan and dangerous stunts
52:10 Almost quitting acting before Suicide Squad
58:50 Burning Man chaos, RV disasters and fishnets

This is the kind of conversation I’ve been craving. The kind where nothing is scripted, where things get a little uncomfortable, a little messy, and a lot more honest than expected.

What happens when you’re labeled “difficult” for simply having boundaries and not accepting being disrespected?

In this episode of Mask Off, I sit down with my friend, former Victoria Secret Angel and current Hollywood star – Sara Sampaio – for a raw and unfiltered conversation about navigating the modeling and acting industry, setting boundaries, and the reality behind the image people think they see.

Sara Sampaio opens up about the pressure to please, the fear of being misunderstood, and how quickly standing up for yourself can turn into a reputation you never asked for. We talk about uncomfortable situations on set, power dynamics, and the moments where you’re forced to choose between your career and your integrity.

We also get into mental health, emotional growth, and what it feels like to finally start feeling everything after years of pushing it down. From meltdowns during the “best year” of your life to learning how to trust yourself again, this is a conversation that goes deeper than surface-level success.

This is a conversation about perception, pressure, and finding your voice in a world that constantly tries to define it for you.

MY CHANDRA SKINCARE ESSENTIALS (use code MASKOFF15):
https://chandrabeauti.com/products/the-super-bundle

FOLLOW:
Kelly Gale — https://www.instagram.com/kellygale
Sara Sampaio — https://www.instagram.com/sarasampaio
Chandra Beauti — https://www.instagram.com/chandrabeauti/

Produced by Montana Ave Media Group
Magnus — https://www.instagram.com/thepodfather_magnus/

Subscribe for more real conversations on relationships, self-growth and living authentically.

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Intro & meeting Sara Sampaio
00:30 How she started modeling at 16
02:10 Victoria’s Secret dream & early career
03:00 First VS show & rejection struggles
04:10 Modeling vs acting – biggest differences
05:30 Why modeling felt “soul-sucking”
06:20 Pressure, perfectionism & feeling disposable
07:00 “High school mean girls” in the industry
07:20 Insecurity, not fitting in & being sensitive
08:10 Food habits, ADD & growing up
10:30 Fitness, body & early modeling days
11:25 Worst modeling experience (nudity pressure)
12:20 Agent pressure & uncomfortable situations
13:20 Contract broken & betrayal
14:40 Being labeled “difficult”
15:00 People pleasing vs standing your ground
16:30 “We’re not difficult” – setting boundaries
17:00 Hair struggles & being “a diva”
18:10 Transitioning into acting
19:10 Auditions, rejection & accent struggles
21:40 Meltdown after audition rejection
22:20 Landing Superman & big break
23:40 Imposter feelings & self-doubt
25:00 Chemistry read & booking the role
26:00 Life after Superman & bigger opportunities
27:00 Acting advice from Leonardo DiCaprio
28:40 Following instinct vs bad coaching
30:30 Producer game
32:40 Modeling vs acting – emotional disconnect
33:30 Women, anger & suppression
35:00 Feeling everything after “opening Pandora’s box”
36:00 Mental health, Zoloft & meltdowns
37:00 ADD in women & emotional overwhelm
38:00 Relationship, burnout & lifestyle stress
38:30 Funny interruption (dog medication moment)
39:00 Meditation & ADD struggles
40:00 Stress, routines & phone boundaries
41:00 Aging, beauty & industry pressure
42:30 Botox, insecurity & self-image
43:50 Chandra products & skincare
44:40 Rapid fire questions
45:50 Outro

MY VERY OWN PODCAST IS FINALLY HERE…
MASK OFF with Kelly Gale.
My first guest is none other than my crazy husband Joel Kinnaman… love you hubby for being my first guest 😘

From practicing his naked dancing at home, to his best acting advice and the HORROR stories from his career that he’s never shared before.

Mask Off — Episode 1
With Joel Kinnaman 🤍