From being told he wouldn’t graduate high school to starring in Tulsa King, producing 21 films, and directing 10, James Quattrochi is living proof that relentless discipline, faith, and self-belief can turn any obstacle into an opportunity.
In this powerful conversation, James shares his incredible journey, which includes overcoming severe dyslexia, breaking into acting with Goodfellas, discovering spirituality through loneliness, and carving out a career as an actor, producer, and director. A...
From being told he wouldn’t graduate high school to starring in Tulsa King, producing 21 films, and directing 10, James Quattrochi is living proof that relentless discipline, faith, and self-belief can turn any obstacle into an opportunity.
In this powerful conversation, James shares his incredible journey, which includes overcoming severe dyslexia, breaking into acting with Goodfellas, discovering spirituality through loneliness, and carving out a career as an actor, producer, and director. Along the way, he opens up about personal struggles, near-death experiences, betrayal in Hollywood, and the love that has fueled his staying power for 33 years in the industry.
Whether you’re chasing dreams in Hollywood or simply trying to rise above life’s setbacks, this episode is packed with hard-earned wisdom, wild stories, and spiritual insight you won’t forget.
What You’ll Learn:
💡 How James overcame dyslexia to thrive in Hollywood.
💡 The career-changing advice and support he received from Martin Scorsese.
💡 Spiritual practices (meditation, affirmations, faith) that shaped his success.
💡 The hardest directing challenge of his career and how he overcame it.
💡 Hilarious behind-the-scenes bloopers with Michael Madsen.
Main Points:
00:00 Intro
02:26 Early Struggles with Dyslexia
07:07 From Acting to Producing & Directing
10:20 Discovering Spirituality And Meditation
14:37 Martin Scorsese & Career Breakthroughs
17:55 Confidence-Building Moments in Hollywood
19:22 Directing battle On True Friends
22:25 Michael Madsen Bloopers
23:09 Tulsa King, Emmy buzz, & Career Freedom
24:32 Family & Resilience During Tough Times
27:55 Hollywood Betrayal & Accountability
31:50 Love In Many Forms
35:04 Conquering Inner Demons
42:28 Divine Intervention
44:34 AI’s Impact on Hollywood & Film
46:52 Upcoming Projects & Final Thoughts
💬 Which part of James’ journey inspired you most—overcoming dyslexia, his faith practice, or his Hollywood resilience? Drop a comment below 👇
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Connect With Me:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelly.siegel.71/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-siegel-0146a3/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kellysiegel71
Connect with James:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamie.quattrochi
Website: https://www.jamesquattrochi.com/
Subscribe To The Podcast Here:
Apple:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/harder-than-life/id1725989697
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/29NOnhItmCLkZ9sLswABKS?si=d81915ddabc0420a
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCncVFeA5P2LrAovuofQQcDg
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