About Recast and Rise - Career transition stories for artists
Ready to explore a career after the stage? You are in the right place. Eve Castelo (former Cirque du Soleil artist now working in tech), brings you real stories of performers, creatives, and artists who’ve stepped out of the spotlight and into something new. We go behind the scenes of big pivots, career transitions, identity shifts, and the messy magic of reinvention. Whether you're still performing or freshly retired, Recast and Rise will help you see that you’re not starting over, you’re just starting your next act.
From Cirque du Soleil to tech, furniture and everything in between
Jason spent over a decade performing in KÀ by Cirque du Soleil, after touring internationally with Cirque and working in film and stunts.
But even while he was performing, he was always exploring what else he could do.
He ran operations for a startup. He started his own business, Dog Bird, building furniture. After leaving the stage, he moved into tech as a VP of Customer Experience, returned to coaching gymnastics, and eventually found his way into partnerships and creative development at a custom cabinetry company.
In this episode, Jason shares what that career evolution actually looked like, why he always had something going on outside of performing, and why he believes the skills performers develop can be incredibly valuable in the business world.
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In this episode, you'll learn:
▸ How Jason prepared for life beyond performing while he was still on stage
▸ How to translate your performance experience into a resume
▸ What he learned from exploring very different career paths
▸ Why creativity is valuable far beyond the entertainment industry
▸ His advice for performers interested in corporate careers or starting a business
▸ Why becoming a beginner again can actually be exciting
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If you're a performer wondering "What’s next for me? ", let's connect!
💥 Connect with Jason Hardabura : https://www.instagram.com/dogbird_designs/ (https://www.instagram.com/dogbird_designs/)
👋 Connect with Eve: https://www.instagram.com/eve.recastandrise/ (https://www.instagram.com/eve.recastandrise/)
And don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE for more inspiring stories and CAREER TOOLS for your next career change!
👉 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.
16 Sept 2026
From Cirque du Soleil performer to occupational therapist
Teresa spent years performing as a synchronized swimmer in Las Vegas, first at Le Rêve and later in Cirque du Soleil’s O. But behind the scenes, she was also building an entirely different career as an occupational therapist.
In this episode of the Recast and Rise Podcast, Teresa shares her unconventional path from earning her master’s degree in occupational therapy, to pursuing her longtime dream of performing, to juggling both careers for nearly a decade.
Now, after recently leaving the stage, Teresa opens up about why she knew it was finally time to move on, how staying on-call helped her ease into the transition, and what life looks like as she puts her energy back into occupational therapy.
We also talk about what occupational therapists actually do, the education required to become one, the many career paths available within the field, and practical ways artists can explore OT before committing to years of school.
You’ll learn:
▸ What an occupational therapist actually does and where OTs can work
▸ How Teresa balanced performing, healthcare, and continuing education
▸ What burnout taught her about knowing when it was time to leave the stage
▸ How staying on-call helped her make her career transition more gradual
▸ How artists can start exploring occupational therapy while they’re still performing
▸ Why observation, research, and taking one class at a time can help you explore a new career path
▸ How the drive, discipline, and resilience artists develop can translate into a completely different career
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If you're a performer wondering "What’s next for me? ", let's connect!
💥 Connect with Teresa Liccardo at: https://www.instagram.com/teresa_liccardo/ (https://www.facebook.com/carole.demers.35)
👋 Connect with Eve on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/recastandrise.eve/): https://www.instagram.com/eve.recastandrise/ (https://www.instagram.com/eve.recastandrise/)
And don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE for more inspiring stories and CAREER TOOLS for your next career change!
👉 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.
2 Sept 2026
From circus performer to Co-Artistic Director: A career change story
Carole Demers spent nearly 20 years as a Russian bar flyer, traveling the world before joining Cirque du Soleil and performing in shows including Zarkana, Alegría, and Paramour.
For years, she knew she would eventually leave the stage, but every time she considered doing something different, another contract came along. Then the pandemic gave her the push to explore what else was possible.
Today, Carole is a co-artistic director of a circus festival and an executive director of a circus company in Quebec City. She went back to university, earned a master’s degree in creative project management, and built a career that still keeps her connected to the circus world, just from a completely different side of it.
In this episode, Carole shares what she calls her “soft transition” out of performing, how getting involved in a friend’s project opened doors she never expected, and what it felt like to go from being at the top of her field to being a beginner again.
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In this video, you'll learn:
▸ Why exploring new projects before you’re ready to leave can make career change easier
▸ How getting involved, meeting people, and following your interests can lead to unexpected opportunities
▸ What it feels like to go from being highly experienced in one career to starting again as a beginner
▸ Why Carole believes there are more possibilities available to artists than they might think
Carole’s story is a great reminder that leaving the stage doesn’t mean leaving everything you loved about your old career behind. Sometimes, it means finding a completely new way to use it.
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If you're a performer wondering "What’s next for me? ", let's connect!
💥 Connect with Carole Demers at: https://www.facebook.com/carole.demers.35 (https://www.facebook.com/carole.demers.35)
👋 Connect with Eve on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/recastandrise.eve/): https://www.instagram.com/eve.recastandrise/ (https://www.instagram.com/eve.recastandrise/)
And don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE for more inspiring stories and CAREER TOOLS for your next career change!
👉 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.
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