Cassie Byram began her professional career in entertainment at the age of 19. She has received critical acclaim in multiple disciplines. An award-winning actress, singer, and songwriter, Cassie’s career encompasses theater, film, television, voice-overs, published songwriting and multiple album releases for adults and children alike. Cassie was a recurring guest-star on the T.V. series, Jake and the Fat Man. She co-starred in the pilot episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Civil Wars and the feature film, The Time Changers with Gavin MacLeod and Jennifer O’Neil. She is also featured singing the solo “If I Loved You” in the film City Hall starring Al Pacino and was honored to work with the legendary film director, Hayao Miyazaki as the soloist in the classic animated film, Totoro. Her stage roles include Marguerite in The Scarlet Pimpernel, Christine in Phantom of the Opera, the Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Maria in West Side Story for which she received an Outstanding Achievement in Theater Award for Best Actress. Cassie’s additional experience in business, combined with her expertise in entertainment has led to her position as President and Founder of her company, Mamala Media…created to serve families with fun-filled animated videos, children’s books, and parenting tools. “My heart is to bring the experience of God’s love to children at the earliest of ages.”
Kathleen Cooke: What’s the one thing you’d like to share with women that God has recently taught you?
Cassie Byram: The idea of “peaking” is unbiblical. The thought that you are past your prime is a message from the enemy who constantly wants to disable you every step of the way. It’s a message that plagues our society and can start as early as our 20’s. God, on the contrary, is in the business of redeeming our past and working in our present, all while His Holy Spirit ushers us into our future. God truly does work all things together for good. (Romans 8:28) From my experience I can tell you that just when you think your ship is docked and anchored, that’s when you’ll experience Christ, walking on the water next to you, helping you to sail. I love this quote I recently heard from Tyler Perry: God says, “You don’t tell me when it’s over, I tell you when it’s over.”
Kathleen: What do you wish you’d learned more quickly in life?
Cassie: Comparison is your worst enemy. We must realize everyone’s gifts and time frames are not the same. If we are in God’s hands, then the timing of our greatest impact is also in His hands. Our responsibility is to be obedient to His ways then God does the rest. The Bible is clear that we can flourish at any age. We see time and again, through Bible stories and present day stories, how God uses people of all ages to make a significant impact. I think about amazing women like the late Edith Kirchmaier, who on her 105th birthday signed up on Facebook. She didn’t compare herself to younger people and give up. Instead, she used the platform to spread the message of giving back to her 32,000 friends and beyond! Passing away at 107, she left a lasting legacy of conduct, values and perseverance.
Kathleen: What have you learned about failure?
Cassie: Many times, we confuse transition and change with failure. Learning to expect the unexpected brings a new and healthy perspective on the twists of the journey and the bumps along the way. I can tell you from experience, a turn in the road doesn’t mean your dreams are going to die. Many times, our skills and gifts flourish in ways we never expect. In 2010 God added to my career as a professional actor, singer, with a position as an Executive Creative Director of a company. Now I run my own company called Mamala Media, where I offer “Heavenly Resources for Families” by producing music, books & animation for children. It’s so much fun, but I never saw that coming! This quote from Charles Stanley makes a great point: “Why would you give up now at an age when you’ve finally learned some things and have so much to offer?”
Kathleen: We all impact others’ lives, but what’s the one thing you’ve learned about influence?
Cassie: Influence comes only through perseverance and trust. They are the keys to building your own fruitful growth, which leads to realizing goals placed in your heart that will be used to lead others. If we look at our lives as a slow fizzle, then we really aren’t living out what we say we believe when it comes to trusting God. For many women, the responsibilities of marriage and family can, at times, feel like a dream squisher! We start to create a narrative that discounts us from ever realizing our dreams or being viable again. But God promises, if we wait on him, we will mount up with wings like eagles! (Isaiah 40:31) This promise is not a once in a lifetime occurrence. God can renew our strength again and again, at any time, at any age.
