Story & Lesson Highlights with Susan Johnston of Los Angeles 90064

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Susan Johnston . Check out our conversation below.

Susan , a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: When was the last time you felt true joy?
Recently I had an airline ticket that was not refundable, transferable or changeable. I bought it because a friend was going to celebrate a milestone birthday in Italy. By the time the invite went out and the actual date, he changed the date and the location. I was not available on this new date so I questioned what I should do with this ticket. On the day I had made the decision to not go and lose the value of the ticket, an 88 year old cousin mailed me a packet of info about my great grandmother (her mother) from where else but, Italy. So, I decided to go and walk in the footsteps of my grandparents on both sides of my Mom who is 100% Italian.
Once I made that decision, everything was effortless, and joyful. Rental car including full coverage, under $300. Bed and breakfasts next to where they lived, under $100 and included breakfast. I used that historical packet of information my cousin sent me and went. The drive was magical. When I arrived at the 1st bed and breakfast, they asked – what brings you to Itri – I said, La Familia and showed him the names of those grand parents on a typed sheet i brought. He looked at Ruggieri and and pointed out the window and said, let’s go I’ll take you. I put the luggage in the room and he took me over to 2 cousins who owned a gift shop and they knew one of my great aunts! Then one of the women walked to two stores over where her husband owned a clothing store and he had the same last name of the person who witnessed my great grandparents marriage.
At that time there was a woman shopping in the store and the owner said, she speaks English. She turns around and we became fast friends, went out to lunch and spent the next day together in varies towns around Itri as she had lived there 21 years! This was just the beginning.
If that wasn’t fun enough. I had a balcony that overlooked the Medieval village with Castle and churches. I did not know at that time, that is where my grandparents were from, directly behind San Miguel’s church.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’ve always been adventurous and deeply curious about people, places, and ideas. At my core, I believe in authentic connection and creating win-win outcomes—where everyone grows, contributes, and benefits. I’m passionate about reflecting on what works, what doesn’t, and why, so I can continuously evolve into the best version of myself—without conforming to others’ expectations or definitions of success.

People often call me an advocate because I take action that serves the greater good, whether that’s in community, creativity, or collaboration. I’ve also been told I give generously—sometimes too much—which inspired me to build something intentional: a space where people can create, engage, play, learn, and discern. It’s a place that invites curiosity and contribution, and helps me recognize and support those who show up with gratitude, grace, and kindness.

Right now, I’m focused on expanding that vision—developing experiences and platforms that empower others to explore, connect, and grow. It’s not just a brand—it’s a movement rooted in purpose, creativity, and conscious impact.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was 16—bold, creative, and full of dreams. I was a high fashion model, leaving high school to work, immersed in theater, and preparing to move to New York or London after high school to chase my passions. I was fearless, expressive, and ready to take on the world.

Then everything changed. My mother was murdered in a mass shooting at a restaurant—a tragedy that was rare at the time. The adults around me didn’t know how to support me. My peers were scared, unsure how to process what had happened, and many pulled away. My father, overwhelmed by grief and unable to face my resemblance to my mother, asked me to leave. I said “okay” with quiet courage and found an apartment within walking distance of my high school.

The school offered me the chance to graduate early, but I chose to stay. I valued education and craved a sense of normalcy—even if it was just an illusion. I took a steadier job and tried to rebuild some kind of stability. That moment radically altered the course of my life, but it also forged my resilience, my purpose, and my unwavering commitment to the greater good.

It’s why I advocate. It’s why I create spaces for others to heal, grow, and thrive. And it’s why I have zero tolerance for anything that lacks integrity, compassion, or truth.

What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
The defining wounds of my life have shaped me, but they’ve never stopped me. I’ve experienced profound loss, betrayal, and moments of isolation that could have broken me—but instead, they became the foundation for my strength, purpose, and resilience.

Healing didn’t come from one moment—it came from a lifetime of action. If you search “Susan Johnston Los Angeles,” you’ll see the work that speaks for itself. I’ve built platforms, created opportunities, and championed others. From producing Actorfest for The Hollywood Reporter and Backstage with over 3,000 participants, to speaking before a House panel and securing funding for a nonprofit, to sailing as crew on a 100-foot schooner in a tall ships regatta—I’ve lived boldly, with intention.

Each project, each initiative, each collaboration has been part of my healing. I turned pain into purpose, and purpose into impact. I didn’t just survive—I created, led, and lifted others along the way. That’s how I healed: by building something bigger than myself.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
Another hard truth: be cautious about sharing what you’re working on. There are visionaries who build from scratch—and there are opportunists who listen closely, rework your ideas just enough to sidestep legal trouble, and then sell them as their own. That’s why organizations like the WGA exist—to mediate authorship—and why federal trademark and copyright protections are essential.

Your voice, your creations, your lived experience—they are intellectual property. They belong to you and you alone. There is immense value in that. So ask yourself: why are you giving it away?

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If immortality were real, what would you build?
If immortality were real, I would build a light-speed transportation system that carries humans across galaxies—encapsulated in sleek, transparent monorail-style vessels. Each traveler would have a chip embedded in their hand, quietly recording how they treat others. Those who violate basic standards of respect and kindness wouldn’t be punished with prisons or war—they’d simply be sent back to their home planet, with their interstellar travel privileges revoked.

No violence. No confinement. Just a universal understanding: your right to explore the cosmos depends on how you treat others. The ability to leave your world forever could be the ultimate incentive for humanity to evolve with grace, empathy, and accountability.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Sharjah International Film Festival for Children & Youth for the one me holding an award.
Susan Johnston (me) for all other photos no need to credit me. thanks.

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