Meet Robert Galinsky

 

We were lucky to catch up with Robert Galinsky recently and have shared our conversation below.

Robert, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

I believe that purpose isn’t something found—it’s something that is formed and created amidst the mess and madness of life, regardless of whether you are excellent or broken. My purpose commenced at the age of 13, during a time of deep sadness and uncertainty. My mother had suffered a devastating accident and was hospitalized in critical condition, leaving me to be dropped off at school earlier than usual, and consumed with worry about whether she would survive. Each morning, I was sent to the special education classrooms—now known as compensatory education—where I spent a month immersed with kids who had special needs. I didn’t realize it at the time, but those hours and hours of connection with them, while I was dealing with my own pain and fear, were transformative. While working with them, I found strength and comfort by offering support; I healed myself by helping others—a lesson I’ve carried throughout my life: helping others is a means to healing for all. So again, purpose isn’t something you find; it finds you—buried in the chaos and disorder, arriving through self-discovery and earnest effort, not through lofty exhibitions or external validation. It requires thoughtfulness, patience, and reflection to allow your character to guide you.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

My focus is on coaching a range of individuals in any profession who seek personal breakthroughs through public presentation and theatre techniques and training. That’s what excites me! My coaching business, GalinskyCoaching.com, is very active and growing, and I love building confidence in my clients. I also have a deep passion for working with incarcerated individuals.

I’ve co-authored and coached over 50 TEDx Talks and some of my current and past coaching clients include actor and producer 50 Cent, NFL Hall of Fame running back Edgerrin James, fashion model and public spokesperson Winnie Harlow, and numerous incredibly resilient and brilliant incarcerated youth incarcerated in Rikers Island Jail, Sing Sing Maximum Security Prison, and a dozen other facilities from NYC to LA. I’ve written, produced, and am performing two solo shows touring colleges and theatres currently.

My Off-Broadway solo show, “The Bench: A Homeless Love Story,” directed by Jay O. Sanders, will be playing at Sing Sing Prison in September, touring colleges with a stop in Atlanta this fall, and is also in pre-production for a film version. I recently directed and produced the award-winning Off-Broadway solo show “Tripping On Life,” written and performed by the incredible Lin Shaye. Additionally, I am developing another solo show written by the superb Caragh Donley, with plans to bring it to Off-Broadway. Lastly, I produce and host a monthly performance night at the renowned Book Club Bar called “Poetry In New York.”

Reach out to me and let’s go to the next level together with your projects and plans!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Reflecting on my journey, I believe that three qualities or areas of knowledge stand out most profoundly, intertwined in ways that reveal the depth of who I am and my work.

First, empathy: My ability to feel and understand the experiences of others is the most essential quality that has shaped my path. This empathy isn’t just at surface level; it involves a profound and active engagement with the pain, joy, and struggles of those I seek to represent and of myself. It’s more than listening—I try to absorb, internalize, and then reflect those experiences into artistic expression. This empathy drives my commitment to telling stories that are often neglected and bringing visibility to those kept in the shadows. One of my favorite quotes, which I live by, is: “When the spotlight is turned off, the truth is lit up.”

Second, some how I have tapped into a courage to confront the uncomfortable truths of society and more so, myself. This allows me to delve into the raw, often brutal realities of life, particularly within the prison system, the mental health crisis society has created, and with those who are experiencing homelessness. To expose, question, and stand against the societal structures that perpetuate injustice takes fortitude, and I believe that’s what enables me, or any artist, to create work that is not only meaningful but also impactful.

Third, striving for a deep understanding of the human condition, my work is underpinned by a profound knowledge of what it means to be human—the complexities, contradictions, and shared experiences that bind or divide us all. This understanding comes from my own suffering through physical abuse and mental health issues, as well as years of interacting and learning from the lives of others, particularly those who have been marginalized. These personal experiences and the knowledge gathered from them, are what I believe give my work an authenticity and resonance. Art has to do more than reflect life; it must interrogate it, challenge it, and ultimately, attempt to transform it.

In these three areas—empathy, courage, and an understanding of the human condition—I have found the tools not only to craft some art but to make it a vehicle for change. And in doing so, I hope to follow the path that all true artists must walk: the path of truth, no matter how difficult the path is and where it leads.

Advice?
First, understand that your work is not just an expression of yourself—it is a reflection of and reaction to the world that surrounds you. You have to dig deep into your own experience, but never forget that what we create is a mirror held up to society. To make incredible work, we must first improve our understanding of ourselves so we can further understand the people we want to represent, the stories we want to tell. By immersing myself in the lives of others, particularly those who have been silenced or forgotten, I found great joy. You must be willing to break yourself open, to expose the rawness of your own soul, so that others can see themselves in your work.

But above all, I believe, that art is a form of activism. It is not enough for me to simply create; I must create with purpose of challenging, provoking, and ultimately inspiring change. I am not content with merely entertaining—I strive to make people think, to make them feel, to make them question the world they live in, to shake them out of our cultural stupor.

How would you describe your ideal client?

An ideal client for me is someone who embodies a fervor and a deep commitment to personal and social transformation. I love clients that aren’t just seeking to refine their work; they seek to inspire and provoke change and are driven by a purpose that extends beyond the self.

I simply serve as a guide, someone who helps my clients harness their potential and channel it into something powerful, transformative, and lucrative for themselves and others. They might be a business professional, a public speaker, or someone in a leadership position—anyone who needs to sharpen their ability to communicate with authenticity and impact. It doesn’t matter if they are seasoned professionals or as green as grass. What matters is their passion, their willingness to learn, and their commitment to growth.

Greatness can come from anywhere, whether it’s a novice stepping up for the first time or a professional refining existing work. But beyond their professional background, it’s their consciousness that matters, and their readiness to use their voice and talents to uplift and awaken others. I love working with people who are not satisfied with mediocrity; they want to be the best version of themselves, and to influence the world in a positive way. My ideal client doesn’t need years of experience—they need heart, drive, and a vision for what they want to say to the world.

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