Reppin 4.12: Maysoon Zayid

Maysoon Zayid

Her TED talks was titled “I’ve got 99 problems …palsy is just one.” It was one of the MOST VIEWED TED talks E-V-E-R. But don’t you even dare to think of Maysoon Zayid as disabled. She is unstoppable, multifaceted talent. She is a brilliant comedian, disability activist and actor. She is of Palestinian descent, and known as one of America's first Muslim women comedians.

Daytime fans know her as Zahra Amir on General Hospital, she’s also has guested on Law and Order, NBC Nightly News and ABC’s 20/20. As a comic, she’s played the top New York clubs, like Carolines, Gotham and Stand Up NY. With hilarity and heart she tackles serious topics like the Israel-Palestine conflict, breaking cultural stereotypes and her having palsy.

Listen in on what she’s had to and continues to overcome. And find out how and why she is out in front working to make change.

Maysoon’s website: https://maysoon.com/

Maysoon’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/maysoonzayid

Maysoon’s instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maysoonzayid/

Reppin 4.11:Tony Giroux

Tony Giroux

Photo by: Richie Lubaton

Tony Giroux is a talented dancer and actor. He’s danced with Pitbull, Rhianna and Zendaya to name a few. As an actor, he has appeared in Descendants, Descendants 3, ABC’s Once Upon A Time. And he co-starred in Lifetime’s FIRST Asian American centered holiday special, Sugar and Spice Holiday. Currently you can see him as Adil in Freeforms’s supernatural hit, Motherland: Forth Salem.

With everything going for him, you maybe surprised how he struggled to find his identity and where he belonged. Tony is of French and Chinese descent and reveals how he relates to his characters and how grappled with finding connection.

This is a fiercely candid conversation. Find out IF he’s been able to reconcile his place and how he did it.

Tony’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/tkgiroux?lang=en

Tony’s instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tkgiroux/?hl=en

Reppin 4.10: Georgina Pazcoguin

Georgina Paczoguin

The world of ballet is one of sophistication, beauty and high class culture. This is all true but it’s also complicated and the same social issues and inequities that exist in the “everyday” also lives in this elite world. Georgina Pazcoguin is the FIRST Asian-American female soloist at New York City Ballet (her father is Filipino and her mother is Italian). She’s also the author of Swan Dive: The Making Of A Rogue Ballerina where she takes you beyond the stage. Her memoir where she openly shares her love for dance is also where she risks all to expose and fight everything from racism to sexism.

What has she experienced to step up and publicly voice her position and beliefs? Why is she putting her career on the line? What is it costing her?

Meet this firebrand now on Reppin. And see how’s she fighting with grace and integrity to ensure that the art of ballet lives on for future generations and that it is world that is more inclusive and equal.

Georgina’s website: https://georginapazcoguin.com/

Georgina’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/GPazcoguin

Georgina’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/georgina_pazcoguin/?hl=en

Swan Dive: The Making Of A Rogue Ballerina: https://www.amazon.com/Untitled-Holt-Author-Revealed-Fall/dp/1250244307/ref=sr_1_1?crid=14KMY3Q178B1H&dchild=1&keywords=swan+dive&qid=1633808398&sprefix=small+hat%2Caps%2C176&sr=8-1

Reppin 4.9: Nancy Lee Grahn

Nancy Lee Grahn

Nancy Lee Grahn is an Emmy winning actress and fan favorite. Known for her portrayals as the headstrong Julia Wainwright Capwell from Santa Barbara and now, Alexis Davis on General Hospital. Over the years, Nancy has garnered a huge fan base and is most recently celebrating her 25th year on General Hospital. Nancy is known for delivering powerful performances on screen. Off screen, Nancy is also a powerhouse. She’s an unapologetic, passionate, outspoken woman who is using her platform to advocate and fight for the things she believes in. Whether you agree or not—she embraces her position and voice. Meet the woman behind the talent, gain insight into her background, her values, understand what drives her and see what she represents.

Nancy’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/NancyLeeGrahn

Nancy’s website: https://www.nancyleegrahn.com/

Reppin 4.8: Patrick Sabongui

Patrick Sabongui

Photo Credit: Brick Patrick

Patrick Sabongui is a talented actor with a long list of impressive credits. He’s been in Netflix’s wildly popular shows Virgin River and Firefly Lane. You’ve also seen him CW’s The Flash and Showtime’s Homeland and Shameless.

He has a great body of work but throughout his career he has faced the challenges of being labeled and he’s struggled with playing and perpetuating stereotypes on screen.

Because of that, Patrick is a fierce advocate for anti-racism and representation in the arts, Patrick is co-chair of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee for the Union of British Columbia Performers and the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, TV and Radio Artists (UBCP/ACTRA) and on the Diversity Committee for the Jessie Richardson Awards (British Columbia’s Theatre Recognition Awards).

Patrick talks about the constant balancing act of keeping with his sense of integrity, being a good example to his community and his son with the practical needs of getting projects to provide for his family. His shares how he navigates this universal challenge and how he’s giving back.

Patrick’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/PatrickSabongui

Patrick’s instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patricksabongui/?hl=en

Reppin 4.7: Dr. Samantha Yammine AKA Science Sam

Dr. Samantha Yammine

Photo Credit: Al Quintero

Dr. Samantha Yammine is a Neuroscientist and popular Science Communicator better known as Science Sam.

Throughout her life and career, she’s faced challenges and understands what it’s like to be overlooked. Because of this, she is passionate about empowering people to explore science by making it more familiar, accessible, and inclusive.

She’s harnassing the power of social media like instagram, Tik Tok to make science more accessible, and garnering millions of views every month to better help people assess risk, spot misinformation, and have informed discussions with their friends and family.

She has been a guest Science Correspondent for a variety of shows on Netflix, TVO Kids, CBC GEM, Discovery UK, CBC Radio, and AsapSCIENCE. Find out how representation and science directly effects YOU. Meet her here on Reppin.

Dr. Samantha Yammine’s website: https://www.samanthayammine.com

Dr. Yammine’s Social Media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/heysciencesam

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/science.sam/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heysciencesam

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd53z3Lp5Wh-335pOMDxO0g

Reppin 4.6: Dr. Cornelia Griggs

Dr. Cornelia Griggs

As the world continues to be gripped by the pandemic, it’s the hundreds of thousands of front line heroes that continue to pull us through. One of those first responders is Dr. Cornelia Griggs. She’s a Pediatric Surgeon & Critical Care Specialist and mother.

She came to national attention when her tweet went viral. “My babies are too young to read this now. And they’d barely recognize me in my gear. But if they lose me to COVID I want them to know Mommy tried really hard to do her job.” Hear the story behind this tweet , was she ready to say goodbye? And hear how she grappled with doing her job to try and save others at the risk of her own safety.

The number patients pouring in and the devastation by covid 19 was punishing enough. But what was also exposed was the stark racial disparities that exist in an already broken healthcare system. Learn how Dr. Griggs’ personal background helped her understand her own privilege, how close that injustice hits home for her and how she’s reconciling her position. Despite the enormity and severity of the pandemic, how is she able to sustain the fight for others? How did she combat that sense of helplessness?

Each of these heroes have their own stories and we must remember the sacrifices they are making on our behalf. Here’s one of those stories…

Dr. Griggs’ Twitter: https://twitter.com/CorneliaLG

Reppin 4.5: Dr. Chen Fu

Dr. Chen Fu

Dr. Chen Fu is a front line hero. He’s been battling to save lives as hospitals were busting at the seams as patients poured in all desperately sick with Covid-19. Working exhaustively for days that bled into nights and back again, he fought to help as many as possible. Witnessing staggering numbers of devastating loss and gutting goodbyes, often multiple times a day was punishing. Proving time and again, despite his best efforts —they were futile.

While he struggled to help the sick, as a front line responder he was celebrated for what he was doing but the also vilified for what he is— Asian. The duality of this position compounded the situation he was in.

How does it impact him as a doctor? As a person? Did his faith in humanity diminish or has it been renewed?

Reppin 4.4: Yvonne Chapman

Yvonne Chapman

Photo credit: Laura Baldwinson

Yvonne Chapman is a talented Chinese Canadian actress. She’s currently on CW’s hit Kung Fu as the complicated, alluring, sometimes heartbreaking but always lethal villain Zhilan. Her other credits have also included CBC’s Street Legal, CW’s “The 100”, ABC’s “The Crossing.”

Before she was kicking ass on screen, she was doing well in the world of corporate finance! On Reppin, Yvonne shares how she had to overcome her fears, break away from her family’s expectations, all sense of stability to take a giant leap of faith in an effort to make the life and career she wanted. Find out how she found her voice and her footing. And find out how her diverse upbringing, the challenges she faced and her ”late” start in entertainment actually HELPED her.

She reveals the lessons she’s learned and pays it forward here.

Yvonne’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/yvonne__chapman

Yvonne’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ypchapman/

Reppin 4.3: Kimberly McCullough

Kimberly McCullough

Kimberly McCullough is an incredible talent. She started working at 5 years old appearing in movies like Breakin’2: Electric Boogaloo to Bugsy with Warren Beatty, and has an impressive list of television credits that include The Shield, Firefly, Joan Of Arcadia, All My Children. She’s best known as Robin Scorpio the daughter of super spies Robert Scorpio played by Tristan Rogers and Anna Devane played by Finola Hughes on General Hospital. She originated this role at 7 years old and playing this character on an off through the years into adulthood. And she’s won 2 daytime Emmys for her portrayal.

Now, she’s evolved into an incredible Producer/Director for shows like High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Fuller House, It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Carol’s Second Act to The Conners.

She’s grown up in front of audiences and you may THINK you know her. On Reppin she shares what she’s learned throughout her career, challenges she’s overcome and what she’s doing to advocate for others. Meet this incredible woman.

Kimberly’s Twitter:https://twitter.com/whitewatercrew

Kimberly’s instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimmeabreak/

Reppin 4.2: Brandon Victor Dixon

Brandon Victor Dixon

Brandon Victor Dixon has an expansive list of credits that range from Broadway’s Hamilton, The Color Purple to television’s Rent Live, Jesus Christ Superstar to STARZ’s Power.

Brandon has also appeared in concert with various artists such as Burnt Sugar: The Arkestra Chamber, Jennifer Hudson, Nathan Lane, Wynton Marsalis, Chita Rivera, Liza Minnelli, David Hyde Pierce,  and Tony winners Levi Kries, Kelli O'hara, and Brian Stokes Mitchell. Other Credits include: ABC's One Life To Live, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, ABC's The Good Wife, and NETFLIX’s “She’s Gotta Have It”.

His talent doesn’t end there, h'e’s also a producer! His company WalkRunFly has produced multiple works including the Tony Award winning Hedwig and the Angry Inch starring Neil Patrick Harris, He is co-founder of The WeAre Foundation, a non-profit “Turning Art into Action.”

Millions have seen and heard his voice and talent-but here, you’ll learn what motivates this talented man and what he’s fighting for.

Brandon’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrandonVDixon

Brandon’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandonvdixon/?hl=en

We Are Foundation: https://weare.org/

Reppin 4.1: David Harewood

David Harewood

David Harewood is an incredible actor, producer and director. You’ve seen him starring alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Connolly in the film Blood Diamond, in Showtimes’s hit Homeland with with Claire Danes and Damian Lewis, he’s also been in The Night Manager, Man In The High Castle and most recently, he is the martian manhunter, Hank Henshaw, J'onn J'onzz in the CW fan favorite Supergirl.

He may seem like he’s lived a charmed life--but his personal journey has been filled with tremendous challenges. When he was a young actor in his twenties he faced intense racism from critics and audiences alike. The racism was so extreme that it undermined his sense of identity and ultimately triggered a psychotic break. He was hospitalized, treated and thankfully recovered.

In 2019, in an effort to help destigmatize mental illness, David and the BBC produced a powerful documentary called Psychosis and Me. In the film, David retraced his steps and learned for the first time, as the cameras rolled-what actually happened to him vs what he thought happened. He saw his medical records and how serious his mental condition really was.

Because of his personal experiences, he’s incredible advocate for countless charities, from mental health to fighting for more realistic representation in the arts for all ethnic backgrounds to encouraging minorities to vote.

David shares how facing his past and seeing his fault lines have made him a stronger, better man. And now, he’s fighting to help others. An incredible story of courage, strength and love.

A remarkably talented actor who is an even more remarkable human being. Meet him on Reppin.

David’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidHarewood

David’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidharewood/?hl=en