Welcome to the Vulnerable Podcast with Christy Carlson Romano. The Vulnerable Podcast is an invitation to hang out every week with me, Christy Carlson Romano as I invite friends, celebrities, and experts for in-depth conversations discussing the good, the complicated, the beauty of being human, and what it means to be vulnerable. Starting on March 8th, and every Tuesday from then on, join me as we navigate the ups and downs of my guests’ paths to success.
Today on Vulnerable, I invite Will Friedle to share the journey of his long career in acting. Will shares how he started acting as a kid in New York City and how he wasn’t the first Eric Matthews cast on Boy Meets World. Will also discusses his journey with anxiety and how he structures his lifestyle to mitigate anxiety spirals. Will and I reflect on our time doing Kim Possible together and our shared love for voice acting. Will talks about how he transitioned from live-action acting to exclusively voice acting and how he really enjoys interacting in the diverse world of voice actors. Brendan Rooney (AKA my husband) also joins in the conversation (he’ll be a part of every episode). This episode highlights Will and I’s long-standing friendship. There also *MIGHT* be a special announcement at the end of the episode…
Today on Vulnerable, I invite the hilarious duo, Syd and Olivia, to share their journey to becoming TikTok comedy queens! Syd and Olivia have always wanted to perform, write, and create comedic stories. They met and began to collaborate when they were just tweens. Fast forward to today they currently have a show, The Generational Talk Show, on Ellen Tube and are hosts of Syd and Olivia Talk Sh*t podcast. They have skyrocketed TikTok success with their hilarious sketches and have new work in development. What’s so awesome about Syd and Olivia is that they have a clear vision for their comedy, but that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily been easy. Syd, Olivia, and I reflect on what it's like to be a woman in comedy. They share their journey to get representation and how they’ve created a space online for their artistic endeavors when traditional spaces are slow to open up. Syd and Olivia are a DREAM TEAM and truly hilarious!
Today on Vulnerable, I geek out with my favorite aerospace engineer Emily Calandrelli AKA The Space Gal. Emily shares her journey to becoming an Emmy-nominated science TV host and author. Growing up in the coal mine country of West Virginia, Emily was looking for a sustainable future and decided to pursue engineering. Amid her education, she fell in love with aerospace engineering and the different avenues she was able to educate and raise awareness. Brendan and I got to ask Emily all of our space and education-related questions as Emily has been a source of inspiration to our own daughters. Emily shares how she has navigated being a female in a male-dominated industry and why this new era of space exploration and tourism is out of this world!
Today on Vulnerable, I sit down with the incomparable multi-disciplinary artist in my most vulnerable conversation to date: actress, singer, dancer Alyson Stoner. Alyson and I share our experiences of growing up as child actors. As adults, we have been working hard to unpack it all and advocate for current and future child actors. This episode isn’t a salacious conversation, rather a sobering insight behind the curtain of fame. Alyson’s passion for advocacy has prompted her to work with a team of experts to create modules that educate and protect child actors.
Today on Vulnerable, I sit down with the charismatic singer, songwriter, and actress Hana Giraldo. She also happens to be the daughter of rock icons Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo. I first met Hana a few years ago, so it was great to catch up and learn what she is currently up to. At the time of our interview, Hana’s show Relatively Famous: Ranch Rules on E! was mid-season. Hana details what it was like to be working on a ranch with other celebrity offspring, embracing the whole experience and how she stayed grounded in a unique situation. Hana’s childhood was anything but normal. She grew up on tour with rockstar parents, yet their humble beginnings and creative spirits fostered Hana to grow into her own creative and independent direction. Even as a child, she designed merch for her mom. She later began writing songs for other artists, performing in music videos, and producing campy social media videos.
Jonathan gets SO real with me and Brendan (AKA My husband) about the struggles of growing up extremely famous and navigating becoming an adult. With the stereotype that follows child actors, Jonathan was very cautious not to make mistakes as a young adult. Now that he’s in his 30s, he reflects on how going to therapy, surrounding himself with positive and real friends, and becoming a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu have kept him grounded. Jonathan is passionate about allowing yourself to grow, and through this lens, he applies the tenets of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in everyday life and is working with a mental strength coach. Jonathan also details that he felt as if he wasn’t a good actor for a period in his life. He took acting classes and now feels more prepared to take on new roles.
Blair shared her journey into education and activism with Brendan and me. Blair is a Black bisexual Muslim woman born and raised in Los Angeles, California. During her college career at Lousiana State University, she learned to have complicated and nuanced conversations with people who thought differently than her. She became an advocate and activist for LGBTQ+ rights and Black Lives Matter while at school. At Blair’s core, her activism and education are to make the world a better place for all humans to live and thrive. Her work hasn’t been necessarily easy or safe. As she has navigated and grown in these spaces, she has found a way to educate with joy and positivity in 30 seconds! Blair gets vulnerable about converting to Islam as a young adult and how she handled that with her family. She shares about being arrested at a protest and so much more.
Years ago, I met Jimmy Coco when he spray-tanned me. His care and attention made an impact on me. So it was delightful to have him come to the Vulnerable Studio and share with Brendan and me, the man behind the brand. Jimmy has lived many lives. Jimmy shares stories of growing up in Sacramento, feeling different, and knowing he wanted to experience life out of Sacramento. Jimmy details his experiences in modeling and singing. Finally, in learning about spray-tanning, he came up with a ground-breaking idea that would shift the industry, mobile spray-tanning. Despite Jimmy being the go-to tanning expert for the Kardashians, Victoria's Secret Models, and many more A-list celebrities, we learn how close Jimmy is to his family and how he values those familial relationships.
In this episode, Kimberly and I reflect on our experiences in NYC being child actors. Kimberly shares what it was like to be Young Cosette in Les Miserables and how she juggled being on Broadway and a regular on Guiding Light at the same time. We also talk about being the first Disney Channel “stars” and what it was like to usher a new era for the Disney Channel in terms of entertainment that adults and kids today still enjoy! Kimberly shared how she navigated her education while acting and why she decided to go to college and study something entirely outside of “the arts.” Kimberly’s deep wisdom from growing up in the industry, has allowed her to really own her creative endeavors, from continuing her acting, to writing and producing sketches on her YouTube and social channels, to selling unique graphic tees on her Etsy shop, to traveling and interacting with fans at Cons. Kimberly has crafted a life she enjoys. She truly loves that her work can bring someone joy.
In this episode, Jennifer reflects how acting has always been something she was passionate about from a young age. As an adult, she realized that although the art of acting is something she continues to love, she needed to spend time doing something that wasn’t just about her. She didn’t want to become the narcissistic and self-involved side of the industry she was exposed to as a child. Being a nurse has allowed her to continue pursuing acting while grounding herself in the real world. It was so interesting to talk to Jennifer about how acting has informed the way she taps into empathy while navigating the ER, how patients sometimes recognize her, and how she has survived working on the frontlines during the pandemic.
In this episode, Khleo and I reflect on being raised in a traditional production mentality and our journeys to take ownership of everything we create and adapt to the changes that the internet has cultivated. Khleo is TALENTED, to say the least. On top of acting in iconic movies and tv shows, he is a very talented rapper and musician, streetwear clothing designer, gamer, influencer, and also host! Today Khleo spends his time creating content about the things he loves and is cultivating a community motivated to pursue their passions. Throughout this conversation with Khleo, I was in awe of Khleo’s groundedness and confidence. He knows who he is, what his talents are, and isn’t afraid to experiment with new ways to highlight his passions. He shares why he decided to stop producing music, how his family has kept him grounded, how he took months of studying Twitch before he launched his own channel and so much more.
Today my guest is Matilda and Mrs. Doubtfire star, Mara Wilson. Along with being a successful actor and former child star, she’s an accomplished author, NYU graduate, and all-around incredible human being. Please enjoy this conversation.
Today on Vulnerable, I have my husband, Brendan Rooney. He has the most insane, beautiful life story. Thank you for listening.
In this episode, Raven shares the journey that led her to apply to be on The Bachelor, her experience on the show, and how she navigated being a public figure afterward. She details how she and Adam were able to make a real connection on Bachelor in Paradise and how they are managing life as new parents. Raven was so generous with her vulnerability but also shares some behind-the-scenes information about her Bachelor experience! This episode is a fun one.
In this episode, Shenae details how she got into acting, what it was like to be the lead in a reboot (before reboots were a thing), and how she is navigating and creating her own content today. Shenae and I have a lot of similarities so it was nice to catch up and dig a little deeper into Shenae's acting experience. We also discovered that Shenae is an expert manifester!
Today my guest is Steven Anthony Lawrence, aka “Beans” from Even Stevens. Along with being a successful actor and former child star, he’s an amazing acting teacher and all-around amazing human being. Please enjoy this conversation.
Today my guest is Elizabeth Sneed, aka @CurvySurferGirl on IG and TikTok. From almost drowning in the ocean to building a platform around surfing and body positivity, Elizabeth has had an amazing journey to building her life around doing things she loves. Learn about her activism, her modeling, her fashion designing, and more. Please enjoy this conversation.
Today my guest is a dancer, actor, singer, producer, television host, podcaster and SO MUCH MORE... Frankie Grande! Frankie shares his journey from his early days on Broadway to starring in Reality TV to getting sober to married life. Frankie's story is one that encourages you to do the work to truly know yourself. We all want to "shine bright like a Frankie." Please enjoy this conversation.
Today my guest is a free solo climber, BASE jumper, wingsuit pilot, motivational speaker, vegan athlete, and author - Steph Davis. Steph shares her journey from being a classical pianist to her discovery of rock climbing to creating a life around doing things she loves. Steph details her lifestyle and practice that not many people really understand outside of the rock climbing community. Steph has utilized social media and speaking opportunities to educate and inspire. Please enjoy this conversation.
Today my guest is actress, tv personality, podcaster, and activist - Jodie Sweetin. Jodie has been gracing our televisions since she was five, portraying the beloved Stephanie Tanner in Full House. In this episode, Jodie and I reflect on our individual journeys coming into our authentic selves. She shares her experience of being on Full House and how being sober has helped her grow as a human. She also explains being her authentic self has allowed her to flourish in podcasting, hosting, and participating on reality TV. Jodie is also an activist. We discuss her recent experience protesting and how she made headlines when the LAPD aggressively pushed her. Jodie is clearly passionate about the liberation of all people, and it was great to talk on a deeper level about how we feel about the state of the world. This episode truly feels like you are listening in on two friends catching up. I hope you enjoy this conversation.
Today my guest is New York Times Best Selling Author Eve Rodsky. Eve wrote Fair Play and Find Your Unicorn Space. Fair Play offers solutions for women on how to rebalance their domestic responsibilities and reclaim time for themselves. Find Your Unicorn Space offers solutions on how to reclaim what makes you, you! In this episode, Eve and I discuss the catalyst that caused Eve to pivot from foundation management to create a system to help restructure domestic responsibilities in the home. I share how I've been applying Fair Play in my own life. We also deep dive into what "Unicorn Space" is and the importance of cultivating time to be in that space.
Today my guest is actress, writer, and producer - Susie Abromeit. Susie is one of those extremely talented individuals that has been pursuing her passions her entire life! In this episode, Susie and I journey through her parent's history to being a top-ranked tennis player (#6 in the US) by the age of 16 to her singing career to her making an impact on-camera acting and producing. Susie is most known for her role in Jessica Jones. She currently has a 4 picture deal with GAC Family. What I appreciated the most about this conversation with Susie is that despite navigating many performance-based industries- tennis, music, modeling, and film, she knows herself. She is extremely self-aware but also confident in who she is. We talk about how manifesting our dreams, manipulative power dynamics in the music and film industry, the value of being in nature and taking care of your mental health and more. Susie's honesty is refreshing. I hope you enjoy this conversation.
Today my guest is actress, dancer, beauty mogul, and TV personality - Peta Murgatroyd. Peta danced her way into our homes in ABC's Dancing with the Stars and has won the Mirror-Ball Trophy twice! In this episode, Peta and I journey through her dancing career. We also discuss the tricky balance of having public and private lives. Recently, Peta went public about her experiences navigating infertility, miscarrying, and starting IVF treatment. She has graciously decided to invite her fans and community to come alongside her and her family as they navigate IVF. Peta also has a very successful and expanding beauty line - PETA JANE BEAUTY. Building her award-winning line of self-tanners and products has been a joy in her life despite her infertility struggles. It was such a treat to talk with Peta. Her resilience, openness, and overall optimism are evident. I am grateful to Peta for sharing her story with me on Vulnerable.
Today my guest is singer, songwriter, and TikTok sensation Jax. Her recent original song Victoria’s Secret has been making waves all over the internet and topping the music charts! In this episode, Jax and I discuss how TikTok has been a unique space to cultivate fans of her singing and songwriting. Although Jax may be popping up in your “FYP,” she isn’t new to the industry. She shares with me how supportive her family has been since she was young and the realities of being a ghost songwriter in the music industry. Jax has been able to break out of that space through TikTok and has even garnered a record deal with Atlantic Records. Jax is a prime example of how talent, grit, and adapting to new media spaces can create a new way to connect with fans and build community. Her song Victoria’s Secret is not only topping charts but also creating a movement around body positivity. We chat about how she is handling and navigating this new iteration of success and fame.
Today my guest is host, pop culture extraordinaire, and TikTok creator Tefi. Her recent deep dive on Amy Winehouse has everyone remembering why she was so beloved. In this episode, Tefi and I chat about what drew her to TikTok and start creating content. Tefi is one of the OG TikTokers. She also is a storyteller. With that winning combination, she'll likely pop up on your FYP offering insights on how to embrace your humanity. She highlights significant pop cultural figures as a way to help others embrace their feelings but also offer others a little more empathy. When she's not offering us "big sister" insight, she is also a host on Instyle's TikTok and MTV's Merch Masters. Tefi and I also talk about her Tedx presentation “The Future of Confidence”. She details how she has created conscious boundaries with social media and how using it to highlight humanity creates confidence within oneself that "likes" will never produce.
Today my guest is actress, singer, and songwriter, Hayley Orrantia. You may know her as Erica Goldberg from the hit ABC sitcom "The Goldbergs." Big sisters unite! In this episode, Hayley and I chat about how she got into "the business." I was surprised to learn that acting was originally a means to land a record deal for Hayley à la Hannah Montana style. She shares stories about being on the X-Factor and how she stayed grounded despite being launched into fame through "The Goldbergs." She details how she got into flipping houses and what it's like to produce her own music independently. Hayley is talented, joyful, and true to herself. It was such a pleasure connecting as "older sisters" and now as friends.
Today my guest is New York Times bestselling author, actress and television personality, Holly Madison. Holly is an OG reality tv star from E! The Girls Next Door. In this episode, Holly and I connect on THE DAY her new podcast Girls Next Level launched. We talk all about her podcast, her relationship with Hugh Hefner, and her time on The Girls Next Door. She also shares her complicated history of being constantly associated with Hugh and Playboy and why she leans into it now. We also connect on our experience as content creators, the TikTok community, and being moms in the public eye. PLUS she shares what it was like to write a memoir. Holly is generous, kind, and open. It was such a pleasure to connect outside of social media. I hope you enjoy this conversation.
Today my guest is model, screenwriter and entrepreneur, Ireland Baldwin. In this episode, Ireland and I connect on our very abnormal childhoods. She shares with me what it was like to navigate her famous parent's very public divorce as a young child. We both discuss how challenging it is for a world of strangers to have opinions on public people and their relationships. Ireland details the events and circumstances that led her to go to rehab. Today Ireland is living and thriving in Portland, opening Good Times, a cafe and boutique, along Oregon's coast. Ireland is honest, witty, and open. I hope you enjoy this conversation.
Today my guest is former actor and producer Bug Hall. You may remember Bug as Alfalfa in Steven Spielberg's The Little Rascals. In this episode, Bug takes me on a journey detailing why he's chosen to leave Hollywood, take a vow of poverty and live on a homestead in Michigan. We connect over the trauma that child actors endure. Bug details his personal experience of being taken advantage of on sets and the destructive coping mechanisms he developed. Today he's a devout Catholic, married, a father of four, and living a life he finds peace in. I want to extend my gratitude to Bug for being so open and honest about his journey. I hope you enjoy this episode.
Today my guest is the founder and CEO of Social Curator, Jasmine Star. Jasmine Star empowers entrepreneurs to market their business on social media, build a brand, and create a life they love. In this episode, Jasmine shares with me how she went from dropping out of law school to helping over 35,000 business owners through Social Curator. Jasmine is one of those individuals that inspires you because she doesn't shy away from the hard situations in life. She learns from them and grows. She's done this personally and professionally. Today, she is a momma, wife, CEO, podcast host, and so much more. I felt like I was in a masterclass. She was so encouraging to me, and I hope you too find encouragement through our conversation today.
Today my guest is actress and acting teacher Lindsey Shaw. You may remember Lindsey from Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide, ABC Family's 10 Things I Hate About You, Pretty Little Liars, and more! In this episode, Lindsey and I deep dive into her journey to sobriety. She details multiple rock bottoms, finding the right sponsor, learning how to be a friend and so much more. One important piece in her sobriety journey is being diagnosed with BPD, borderline personality disorder. She shares how acting may have delayed her diagnosis and how she manages symptoms. Lindsey was generous, open, and very honest. She shares what she finds joy in and how she teaches acting through Elissa K. Studios. I'm so grateful that she took the time to have a conversation with me. I hope you enjoy this episode.
Today my guest is actor, dancer, and content creator Garrett Clayton. You may remember Garrett from the Teen Beach Movies, Hairspray Live!, King Cobra, and more! In this episode, Garrett unpacks the multi-faceted levels of bullying he has experienced throughout his life. From his elementary days to his management encouraging him to stay in the closet, Garrett, despite it all, is such a lovely and infectious human being. I love that Garrett communicates how he learned to create boundaries with the people he works with and spends time with. Today Garrett continues to be booked and busy. He's acting in tv, film and the theatre. He's hosting a podcast with his husband, A Gay in the Life on Spotify. He's dancing and creating content on social media platforms. He's living his best life. A life where he is happy and thriving.
Today my guest is actor, singer and content creator Paul Butcher. You may remember Paul as Dustin from Zoey 101, My Neighbor Totoro, Meet the Robinsons, and more. In this episode, Paul and I sit down in the Vulnerable Studio to discuss how he got into acting as a child. He details how his education helped him stay grounded throughout his child-acting career. Beyond acting, Paul is a very talented singer. He shares his stories of navigating the music industry and why he's independently producing his music. He talks about his new single Horses. Paul also has a major presence on social media. Paul and I chat about how fun it is to create content for Instagram and TikTok. This conversation was a delight, I hope you enjoy it.
Today my guest is filmmaker, actress, and activist Alexa Nikolas. You may remember Alexa from Zoey 101, The Walking Dead, Revelations, and currently, her work with Eat Predators. In this episode, Alexa details the abusive and problematic culture she experienced on the set of Zoey 101, helmed by Dan Schneider and Nickelodeon. From wardrobe fittings to bullying from co-stars to meetings without guardians to pictures of...you'll just have to find out. Alexa shares why she left the show and holds Nickelodeon accountable for the abuse she experienced. Alexa and Christy reflect on how not having control over one's body, due to being child actors, grooms you to be open and vulnerable to other abuses. Christy and Alexa are working to protect and prevent others from experiencing abuse. In 2022, Alexa founded Eat Predators, a survivor-led movement organizing to hold the music industry for enabling and protecting abusers.
Today my guest is the QUEEN of roasting on TikTok, the icon herself, Drew Afualo. In this episode, Drew shares with me her journey to becoming one of the most loved and hated people on TikTok. FYI - I LOVE HER (#TeamDrew). From getting her dream job at the NFL to being fired because she couldn't "build a following" to creating her TikTok account in the early pandemic, in these past few years, Drew has completely transformed her career. Today she spends her time calling out misogyny, patriarchy, bigots, and racists. She advocates for women, femmes, the LGBTQ+ community, people of color and other marginalized groups with witty honesty, humor, and her iconic laugh. She speaks truths that a lot of people react to.
In this episode, I share my perspective and my experiences with sobriety and accountability. You get to know why I am hosting Vulnerable. I hope that this episode encourages those on their own journey with sobriety and the loved ones who are supporting individuals on that journey. You can have a fulfilling life being sober, and I want to remind you all to be kind to yourself.
Today my guest is actor Max Casella. You may remember Max from Newsies, Doogie Howser, M.D., The Sopranos, Lion King on Broadway, and, currently, Tulsa King, to name a few. Let's be real, I'm a huge fan of Max Casella. In this episode, Max and Christy deep dive into his complicated relationship with his father and how his father's disapproval didn't prevent Max from pursuing his dreams. We should all be grateful because Max has been acting for 40 years and has such diverse credits from Broadway to voice-over work to Coen Brothers film to many culturally-iconic films and television shows. With his artistry and passion for the craft, he's graced our screens and brought storytelling and entertainment to us all.
Today on Vulnerable, Alyson Stoner and I continue to our conversation advocating for high-performing children. Alyson is a multi-disciplinary artist - actress, singer, dancer, and podcast host, to name a few. You may remember her from Camp Rock, Cheaper By The Dozen, Step Up Franchise, and more. Alyson and I discuss the deeper work we are doing in our own healing journeys. We talk about how we work to feel safe, being in romantic relationships, and more. We share an update on our efforts to organize a way to advocate for and protect child actors. We both discuss if we would allow their kids to be in the business.
Today on Vulnerable, THE podcast queens Monica Padman and Liz Plank join me. Monica is a producer, podcaster, and actor. She is best known for co-creating, co-hosting, and building the Armchair Expert empire along Dax Shepard. Liz is a filmmaker, award-winning journalist, international bestselling author of For the Love of Men, and co-host of Man Enough Podcast. In this episode, Monica and Liz share with me why they decided to document the process of freezing their eggs and make it into a podcast. The Race to 35 Podcast is currently in the thick of their journey. Each episode invites different voices to talk about fertility as they document their experiences. It was an eye-opening journey for them, and they hope their personal experiences will support and educate others. We chat about how the intersections of feminism, ageism, class privilege, reproductive health + rights all converge around fertility and egg freezing.
Today on Vulnerable, I get to chat with Monique Coleman. Monique is a Multi-hyphenate Creative - actress, speaker, producer, Emmy Nominated host and "Champion for Youth." In this episode, Monique and I catch up about what she's been up to, and goodness, she is up to A LOT. She's currently training in weapons, martial arts, taekwondo, and dancing to be prepared for the role she believes she is ready for. She's developing MOtivated Kids. She'll be your kiddo's future Fred Rogers meets Ms. Frizzle figure affirming and empowering kids. She's starring in Greed, joining the High School Musical: The Musical: The Series cast to reprise her role, and so much more. Monique and I take a step back and discuss how she got into the business, her time as the first-ever UN Youth Champion, how we can better protect child actors. This conversation is so FULL of heartfelt vulnerability.
Today on Vulnerable, I get to chat with Allina Robie. Allina and I connected via TikTok when her Ukrainian orphan advocacy videos started popping up on my FYP. In this episode, Allina and I discuss how her childhood shaped her to become an orphan advocate. Last year, Allina moved to Ukraine to care for the orphaned and vulnerable children and young adults in the Zakarpattia Oblast of western Ukraine. Less than a month later, Russia invaded Ukraine. Allina details how her daily life has changed due to the war, also, how the war has exacerbated Ukraine's orphan crisis. Allina educates me on the differences between the Eastern Europe orphan crisis vs. the US foster system and how she is maintaining joy in the midst of war. Allina's compassion, vulnerability, and joyful demeanor are evident throughout our conversation, and I know the kiddos under her care are receiving lots of love. I appreciate her education, advocacy, and the beauty of the internet that brought us together!
In this episode, Tia shares with me how she got into dancing and her decision to document her cancer + other illness via video. She gave us a real perspective on what it was like to be seriously sick during the height of the pandemic on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. She wanted to communicate to all there is still goodness in the midst of hard situations. She is currently cancer free, and beyond her social media fame and content creation, she designs merch, owns Vault Dance Studio, and is a wife and mom to 5. Tia's joy and optimism are so infectious. I am so grateful for her and her choosing to dance to support those who are going through health trials. So during this holiday season, I want to remind you of something that Tia said in our conversation. Every day, we have a chance to start again. So no matter where you are or what you are feeling, you are glorious!
In this episode, Nikki and I reconnect over parenting, caregiving, the healthcare system, and her advocacy efforts with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Mind What Matters, and The Alzheimer’s Association. Nikki has been in the business for decades, from her early days in The Mickey Mouse Club to her girl group Innosense to now being a Hallmark leading lady. She is taking her experience and now writing and producing her own movies with Hallmark. Nikki is part of the new era Hallmark is creating. They are telling more stories that represent their diverse audience. The throughline for Nikki is to tell authentic stories. Nikki also shares her experience grieving her father's passing while working and how that has pushed her to a greater depth of authenticity in her work.
In this episode, Lisa shares with me how she started acting as a child and the events that led up to her decision to ultimately quit the industry. She details the work she did to discover herself outside of performance and how she addressed her anxiety and depression. Today, Lisa has written two books, is the CEO and founder of two organizations. Blue Mala is a pay-what-you-can mental health community that offers yoga, meditation, and mindfulness practices. Mission Flexible is a non-profit which supports veterans through mindfulness retreats. Lisa is inspiring because she has built a life that she truly loves when before she didn't have the agency to do so. I hope this episode is encouraging to everyone to care for their mental health and seek community in the process.
In this episode, Teale shares with me the journey she went on to become a leading voice in development and production at Mattel. Teale originally planned on being an actor, but as a little person, the roles available were limited and tended to be stereotypical. She saw a gap in the industry for women like herself and with the encouragement of her husband (who is also a childhood friend of mine!) she decided to go into development to create the representation that was missing. Teale and I discuss the need for more representation of disabled people in media. She shared how she's navigated her own disability, developed self-love, and her passion for developing more projects that show that disabled people are people.
In this episode, Fefe takes us back to the days of wearing dresses over jeans with fishnet gloves and WAY too many belts. From writing about her angsty rebellious teenage years to performing those songs on tour with Justin Timberlake, Fefe walks me through what it was like to be a female in the early 2000s breaking into the male-dominated pop-punk scene. Besides her goal of leaving the boys in the dust, what she really cared about was writing music that reflected what she felt on the inside. Fefe is still taking the music scene by storm with her latest single “Recharge My Heart,” and is inspiring the next generation of powerful female artists such as Olivia Rodrigo and WILLOW. I can’t help but fan-girl about this badass. She is so genuine and true to herself, and her music has been a soundtrack to my life. What’s Fefe manifesting next and does it include a potential acting career? Find out now!
Today on Vulnerable, my guest is the multi-talented Anna Akana. In 2011 she launched her YouTube channel that now has over 2.8 million subscribers. She is a writer, actress, filmmaker and musician. I’m convinced there’s NOTHING this girl can’t do. Nothing is off limits in my conversation with her and we talk about therapy, cosmetic enhancements, the evolution of feminism, using her trauma in stand-up comedy, dealing with trolls, friend breakups and more.