Reppin 5.3: Gina Yashere

Gina Yashere

Gina Yashere was born and raised in London to Nigerian Parents. She is an award winning stand up comic, author, co-creator, writer, co-executive producer and co-stars in the hit Bob Hearts Abishola on CBS.

Gina is well known as a comic and TV star in the UK for numerous years now, with appearances on iconic TV shows such as Live At The Apollo & Mock The Week, as well as creating & performing the hugely popular comedic characters, Tanya & Mrs. Omokerede on The Lenny Henry Show.

She broke onto the American comedy scene with her appearances on Last Comic Standing, you also know her for being the only British comedian to ever appear on the iconic Def Comedy Jam, as well as for her appearances on The Tonight Show & Crashing on HBO. She’s also regularly featured on Comedy Central as the British Correspondent on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah.

Gina self produced 3 separate 1 hour Stand Up Specials, Skinny B*tch, Laughing To America, & Ticking Boxes, two of which are currently streaming on Netflix.

She’s entertained and made audiences around the world —but what did it take to get here? What kind of sacrifices or compromises did she have to make—or refuse to make? What kind of content does she want to create and why? Meet this amazing woman now.

Gina’s website: https://www.ginayashere.com/

Gina’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ginayashere/

Gina’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/ginayashere

Gina’s book Cack Handed: https://www.amazon.com/Cack-Handed-A-Memoir/dp/B08KYKH999/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2E7U25Y5DE6ZF&keywords=cack+handed&qid=1642785174&sprefix=better+life+%2Caps%2C135&sr=8-1

Reppin 5.2: Meegwun Fairbrother

Meegwun Fairbrother

Photo credit: Kevin McIntyre

Meegwun Fairbrother is an indigenous actor and screen writer in Canada. He’s has appeared in the role of Owen Beckbie on BURDEN OF TRUTH for four seasons. He has enjoyed performing in five seasons of the television series, Mohawk Girls for APTN. Additional television work to his credit includes two leading roles (twins) in Syfy series Helix; a recurring lead on Netflix’s Hemlock Grove and guest appearances on The Beaverton, Murdoch Mysteries and Haven. His feature film credits include roles in Beeba Boys for Deepa Mehta and Breakout for Damien Lee. 

Meegwun is of Ojibway and Scottish origin, from Grassy Narrows First Nation. From age two to thirteen, he lived up on many First Nations communities across Northern Ontario. He grew up hunting, fishing and enjoying the outdoors while taking part in many Ojibway cultural practices.

Belonging and identity is fundamental need for everyone. Finding and establishing a sense of self impacts how we navigate the world and the prism of how we view life and how we are seen by society. But what happens when all that you were taught, from practices, language, to rituals— all disappear? When your fundamental foundation is gone and you inherit the the collective pain, how does one go about finding their place?

Meegwun grappled with this experience, and he shares his insight here. Meet this talented actor and see how it impacted him and his work and find out if he’s been able to regain his footing.

Meegwun’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/bmeegwun

Meegwun’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meegwun_fairbrother/?hl=en

Reppin 3.7: AJ Mendez

AJ Mendez

Photo Courtesy: Cathy and David Photography

AJ Mendez is a former professional wrestling champion with the WWE under the ring name AJ Lee. Don’t let her diminutive stature fool you, she was a formidable opponent. She threw people around like a short order cook threw pancakes onto a plate. With her trademark black widow submission move, she easily took out her competitors. But in real life--nothing came easily for her.

In her autobiography, which was a New York Times best seller, Crazy Is My Super Power, she details what it was like being a petite Puerto Rican girl growing up in an unstable home, struggling with poverty, homelessness and mental illness to how comics, wrestling and her fans helped change her life. 

Because of her own personal struggles, she is a mental health advocate, and is an ambassador to The Jed Foundation and the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

If that’s not enough, she also partnered with actress Aimee Garcia and founded Scrappy Heart Productions. Together, as Latin X storytellers, they want to create the change they want to see in the media and to tell stories that have universal themes.

She is a warrior. Meet this incredible woman, who is breaking boundaries, who has overcome so many personal challenges and now she’s out in front working to help others.

AJ’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheAJMendez

AJ’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theajmendez/

Mental Health Resources:

National Alliance on Mental Illness: NAMI.org

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 (TALK)

Reppin 2.10: Beth Sullivan

Beth Sullivan

Beth Sullivan trail blazed for women when she created, wrote and served as the sole executive producer of Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman-one of the most popular and beloved series of the 90s. The series starred Jane Seymour who plays Dr. Michaela “Mike” Quinn a doctor who leaves a privileged life in Boston to carve a career out in the old West. The series ran on CBS for six seasons and aired in over 100 countries! Beth shares how fought to create a series that was western, a genre that hadn’t been on air in years, in a time slot that was considered a throw away, that had excitement, integrity and substance. Beth shares how she had the strength to fight for what she believed in and how that lead her to one the biggest hits in television history, how she opened doors for other women and her decades long friendship with Jane! Beth also updates us on her life and the possible reboot!

Reppin 2.3: Dr. Aaron E. Carroll

Dr. Aaron E. Carroll

We depend on the news and on the people who bring it to us. But who are they? Can you depend on them to bring you facts. Well, today you will meet one of those people-and find out why he’s someone you can count on! Aaron E. Carroll, MD, MS is a Professor of Pediatrics, Associate Dean for Research Mentoring, and the director of the Center for Pediatric and Adolescent Comparative Effectiveness Research at Indiana University School of Medicine. He is also Vice President for Faculty Development at The Regenstrief Institute. In addition to being a regular contributor to The Upshot at The New York Times, he has written for many other major media outlets and is an Editor-in-Chief at The Incidental Economist, an evidence-based health policy blog, and he also has a popular YouTube channel called Healthcare Triage, where he talks about health research and health policy.

Aaron’s twitter: https://twitter.com/aaronecarroll 

Healthcare Triage: https://www.youtube.com/user/thehealthcaretriage

Reppin 2.2: Sherry Cola

Sherry Cola

Sherry cola is a talented comedian, actress, and writer. She has emerged over the last year as a rising star in the entertainment industry. Named a “Fresh Face” at the world-renowned Laugh Factory, “One to Watch” in 2019 by People Magazine, and “11 Asian American Comics Who Need To Be On Your 2020 Radar” by Entertainment Weekly and she has opened for Arsenio Hall and Ronny Chieng.

Currently, you can find her on the hit show Good Trouble as Alice Kwan, a down to earth, selfless, first generation Asian-American lesbian. Sherry is breaking barriers on television as an actress, as a comic and in her real life. Find out how Sherry found her own voice and strength in being true to herself. Meet this breakout star.

Sherry’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/shrrycola

Sherry’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shrrycola/

Reppin 1.7: Joanna Hausmann

Joanna Hausmann

Joanna Hausmann is a Venezuelan-American comedian, writer, actor and social media personality. She has garnered over 70 million views virally and her biweekly show “Joanna Rants” has collectively reached over 50 million views. Joanna comes to Reppin opens up about the challenges of being a media personality, the confusion she receives when people find out she’s Latina and spills the beans on her grievances with Snow White. Hilarious and insightful—this is a conversation you don’t want to miss! Meet this dynamic woman behind all of the viral videos.

Joanna’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/Joannahausmann

Joanna’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johaus/?hl=en

Joanna’s Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGY8qSl98_5ehQ66zs0ZoaQ

Reppin Premiere with Angie Thomas

Angie Thomas

Reppin Premiere: Angie Thomas

Her award-winning, acclaimed debut novel, The Hate U Give, is a #1 New York Times bestseller and major motion picture from Fox 2000, starring Amandla Stenberg and directed by George Tillman, Jr and her second novel, On the Come Up also on the NYT best seller’s list comes by to kick off the premiere episode of Reppin.

Angie’s Website: https://angiethomas.com/

Angie’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/angiecthomas