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 4.2: 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

Reppin 3.10: Candace Wohl

Candace Wohl

My next guest has proven you should never underestimate the power of determination and hope. Meet Candace Wohl, she is a writer, public speaker and women’s health advocate. Her evolution towards becoming that advocate began when she and her husband Chris, who were in their late 20s then, were thrown onto the private and painful roller coaster of infertility.

After 6 years of enduring an assault of medical procedures and investing their entire life savings, they were still unable to conceive. As they went through devastating lows, they also began documenting their struggles and created a blog called Our Misconception. They worked to break down the stigma of infertility and provided the unique perspective of a man and a woman. They shared information and mistakes to help others navigate and approached this shrouded issue with a lighter touch.

Since then, Candace’s blog garnered national attention and has been named Best IVF blog in 2019 and they’ve been profiled in Glamour and Cosmopolitan Magazine and were featured on MTV’s Award Wining documentary series True Life.

Find out how Candace and Chris transformed their pain into power, how they harnessed their strength using humor and light and how they persisted through grief. See how she’s paying it forward and find out if she and Chris were able to have the family they desperately wanted.

Candace’s Blog Our Misconception: https://ourmisconception.com/

Candace’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/rmisconception

Candace’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ourmisconception/

Be sure to check out our instagram https://www.instagram.com/reppin_podcast/ to get an update on Candace.

Candace with husband Chris

Candace with husband Chris at one of their many doctor visits

Reppin 3.8: Benjamin Von Wong

Benjamin Von Wong

Benjamin Von Wong is a talented innovative, creative, artist, photographer and activist. His work has been described as a mix of fantasy and photography and combines everyday objects with shocking statistics. It has attracted the attention of corporations, like Starbucks, Dell, and Nike and has generated over 100 million views for causes like ocean plastics, electronic waste, and fashion pollution. Most recently, he was named one of Adweek’s 11 content branded masterminds.

He is also the host of the Impact Everywhere Podcast.

Meet this incredible talent as he shares what he’s learned and how he infuses his creativity with purpose and how he’s working to make a change.

Benjamin’s website: https://www.vonwong.com/

Benjamin’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/thevonwong?s=20

Benjamin’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vonwong/?hl=en

Impact Everywhere: https://impacteverywhere.org/

Photo Courtesy: Benjamin Von Wong

Photo Courtesy: Benjamin Von Wong

Reppin 3.4: Mary Beth Evans

Mary Beth Evans

Mary Beth Evans is an 8 time Emmy winner! She’s an immensely talented actress, producer and entrepreneur. Since 1986, she has breathed life into the beloved character Kayla Brady and part of super couple, Steve and Kayla on Days Of Our Lives.

Mary Beth’s other credits include General Hospital, The Bay, Chasing Life, Body Of Proof and As the World Turns. She’s consistently in top form, hitting e-v-e-r-y beat and in e-v-e-r-y scene. Mary Beth has been a longtime favorite with audiences and has earned her spot as a daytime icon.

Going beyond television, she’s a successful entrepreneur with Mary Beth’s Apple Pie and she also has a lifestyle and inspirational blog called Plank.

Entertainment outlets have covered her career throughout the years so you may think you know her—but you have no idea. Mary Beth comes to Reppin and shares her personal stories, lessons learned and her sources of strength. This maybe an interview unlike any other, get to know this incredible woman behind the powerhouse talent.

Mary Beth’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/marybeth_evans1

Mary Beth’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marybeth.evans/

Mary Beth’s Blog Plank: http://www.plankblog.com/

Reppin 3.2: Keala Settle

Keala Settle

From stage to screen, Keala Settle is a powerhouse talent. She made her Broadway debut in 2011 Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, then originated the role of Norma Valverde in Hands On A Hardbody on Broadway in 2013 and was nominated for the Outer Critics Circle Award, Drama Desk Award and Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Her other credits include Hairspray, Les Miserables and Waitress. In 2017, she portrayed Lettie Lutz in the film The Greatest Showman with Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron and Zendaya and sang the song “This Is Me. ” The song won the 2018 Golden Globe award for best original song and nominated for an Academy Award for the same category. In this very candid conversation, she shares why this award winning song made her feel so incredibly vulnerable and where she finds her strength and sense of belonging now.

Keala’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/kealasettle

Reppin 2.12: Nicola Correia-Damude

Nicola Correia-Damude

Nicola Correia-Damude is an award winning actor and singer. You’ve seen her on Shadowhunters, Burden Of Truth, October Faction, The Strain, Coroner and My Spy. Nicola has also been nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for her Guest Starring performance on Remedy and received the Best Actress in a feature film award at the San Diego FilmOut Festival for her work in Margarita. Nicola comes to REPPIN and shares her personal challenges of being mixed race, self identification, body diversity, inequalities, what she’s learned and what she’s doing to open doors for others. You’ll see she’s not only a talented actress and singer-but she’s out in front working to open doors for others.

Nicola’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicolancd

Nicola’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolasummer/?hl=en

Reppin 2.6: Liris Crosse

Liris Crosse

Liris Crosse, dubbed “The “Body” and “The Naomi Campbell of Plus” is a model/actress and trailblazer in the fashion industry for full-figured and African American women pushing curvy women into mainstream fashion!

In 2015, Liris was one of a few models selected to walk the runway for reality TV competition, Project Runway’s, first ever plus size collection at New York Fashion Week. That honor was followed by being chosen as one of the models for the show’s first season to include plus size models for the weekly competition premiering in August 2017. Liris was also named one of the two model winners of Project Runway to be featured in Marie Claire magazine, a first for plus models. You’ve also seen her in American Vogue, Essence to British Cosmopolitan.

Find out what challenges she’s faced, how’s she’s using her platform to help others and what her attitude is on and off the runway.

Liris’ Website: http://www.lirisc.com/

Liris’ Twitter: https://twitter.com/LirisC

Reppin 2.4: Jamie Margolin

Jamie Margolin

Jamie’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jamie_Margolin

Zero Hour: http://thisiszerohour.org/

At 15 years old, Jamie Margolin founded the youth climate action organization Zero Hour with Nadia Nazar and serves as co-executive director. Zero Hour was in response to what she saw after Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and her personal experience during the Washington Wildfires.

Zero Hour has led the official "Youth Climate Marches" in Washington, DC and 25+ cities around the world during the summer of 2018. Jamie represented the organization at international leadership events like the C40 Mayors summit and the UN Youth Climate Summit. She also serves as a media spokesperson for the youth climate movement, going on national and international TV, radio, and print publications to spread the word about climate justice and the youth movement. She’s written Op-Eds for various publications such as The New York Times, Teen Vogue, TIME Magazine, and The Guardian, and has been on both American and international speaking tours for climate justice all while being in high school!!

Jamie is one of Teen Vogue’s “21 Under 21” girls changing the world in 2018, One of People Magazines 25 women changing the world in 2018, Fuse TV’s Latina Trailblazer of 2018, one of The Today Show’s 18 under 18 Groundbreakers of 2019, MTV EMA Generation Change winner of 2019,  and one of the BBC's 100 most influential women of 2019. All while being in high school!!

Find out what drives this young woman to be the unstoppable force she is and what sacrifices she’s had to make to try and save the planet.

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 1.11: Adam Jacobs

Adam Jacobs

Adam Jacobs is a talented actor well known on stage and beyond. He originated the lead role of Aladdin on Broadway shouldering Disney’s spectacular production. He’s also played Marius in Les Miserables, Sky in Mamma Mia and Simba in the Lion King. Adam, being mixed Filipino-Jewish ethnicity, shares how he struggled to find his place, until he found the stage and himself by becoming others. What was perceived as his weakness ultimately, became his strength.

Adam’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/AdamJacobsNYC

Adam’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adamjacobsnyc/

Reppin 1.8: Danny Pino

Danny Pino

You’ve seen him as Detective Nick Amaro on NBC’s Law and Order SVU, he’s been on Cold Case, Brain Dead, Gone, Scandal, The Shield and his credits go on and on. Currently, he plays cartel boss Miguel Galindo on FX’s hit Mayans M.C. Danny Pino comes to Reppin and gets personal. He shares some powerful experiences, you’ll gain insight on what and who has inspired him, how he carries all of those lessons with him and how he hopes to pay it forward. Get to know the man behind all of these amazing performances.

Danny’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheDannyPino

Danny’s Instgram: https://www.instagram.com/eldannypino/?hl=en

Reppin 1.6: Benjamin Melzer

Benjamin Melzer

Meet Benjamin Melzer, a model based in Germany. On Instagram, along with 114k followers, you’ll see his fantastic portfolio, work out regimen and his washboard abs. What you don’t see is the inner turmoil he experienced. Born Yvonne Melzer, Benjamin says “I was a boy for as long as I can think.” Struggling for years with never feeling like he was in the right body and never having any sense of inner comfort or peace. But at 23 yrs old, he took the steps towards gender reassignment. After many painful surgeries he became Benjamin. Listen to his journey, how he went from feeling scared and alone to becoming the first transgender model on the cover of Men’s Health Magazine in Germany, see how he’s making a difference and if he’s been able to find peace.

Benjamin’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benjaminryanmelzer/?hl=en

Reppin 1.4: Mahdis Keshavarz

Mahdis Keshavarz

A leader in the PR world and founder of The Make Agency, Mahdis Keshavarz has built an incredible firm with prestigious clients that include the United Nations, BBC, MTV and UNICEF to name a few. Mahdis shares her personal experiences, challenges she’s had to overcome and some defining moments that ultimately empowered her. Mahdis also built a sister company called Polite Society -where you can purchase beautiful gifts and every purchase dedicates a portion of their sales towards human rights causes. You’ll also hear about her personal humanitarian efforts that will leave you absolutely inspired.

The Make Agency: https://www.themakeagency.com/

Polite Society: https://www.sopolite.com/

Reppin 1.3: Jon Huertas

Jon Huertas

He has an impressive list of credits that include HBO’s Generation Kill, he was Detective Javier Esposito on ABC’s long running, fan favorite series Castle and now he is Miguel Rivas on NBC’s huge hit and critic’s darling This is Us. Jon Huertas comes to Reppin to share his experiences and thoughts-so get to know this amazing actor and see what he is doing to further representation.

Jon’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jon_Huertas

Jon’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jon_huertas/?hl=en

Reppin 1.2: Michele Selene Ang

Michele Selene Ang

On screen, you’ve seen her on CBS’ Elementary and she also plays the complicated Courtney Crimsen from Netflix’s hit 13 Reasons Why. But in real life actress Michele Selene Ang is a thoughtful and fierce advocate for Asian American representation. She comes by to hang out with us so listen in and find out what Michele is all about and why she’s so passionate about the importance of representation.

Michele’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/MicheleSelene

Michele’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/micheleseleneang/?hl=en

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