They Thought I Would Fail But I Proved Them Wrong Feat James Quattrochi
They Thought I Would Fail But I Proved Them Wrong Feat James Quattrochi  
Podcast: Harder Than Life
Published On: Tue Sep 02 2025
Description: 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 👇 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes with world-class guests who help you live and lead at the highest level. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices