Actress and entrepreneur Issa Rae: Why 'I feel really stagnant'—even though 'I appear successful' on the outside

Issa Rae meets many people’s definitions of a successful person.

She’s a 2007 Stanford University graduate, an Emmy-nominated actor and TV showrunner, a New York Times bestselling author, and a serial entrepreneur. She founded her own production company, Hoorae Media in 2020, and co-owns companies like haircare brand Sienna Naturals and Hilltop Coffee and Kitchen, a California-based coffee shop chain.

But since she doesn’t have a show actively producing new seasons or a movie in theaters, she struggles to feel successful, she said on a Nov. 12 episode of the “Not My Best Moment” podcast.

“Do you consider yourself successful right now?” host Kevin Fredericks asked Rae.

“I know that I appear successful to other people, but right now, no. I feel really stagnant,” Rae responded. “I only feel successful when my s--- is on the air.”