At the Table with Greg and Elliott

In this episode of At the Table with Greg & Elliott, Greg Mathis Jr. and Elliott Cooper sit down with actor Philemon Chambers for an honest and inspiring conversation about his journey into Hollywood, the lessons he’s learned along the way, and the importance of staying grounded while pursuing creative dreams.

Philemon reflects on how his passion for acting began as a child after seeing The Lion King at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles, a moment that sparked a lifelong love for storytelling and performance. From performing in church and community theatre to building a professional ac...

In this episode of At the Table with Greg & Elliott, Greg Mathis Jr. and Elliott Cooper sit down with Nicholas Wiggins, founder and principal of NIW Design and Managing Director at Values Partnerships, for a thoughtful conversation about leadership, strategy, and the importance of building spaces where culture and advocacy intersect.

Nicholas shares insights from his years working with the NAACP, including helping shape experiences around the NAACP Image Awards, conventions, and leadership gatherings that bring together activists, creatives, and decision-makers. He reflects on the challenge of keeping legacy organizations relevant for younger generations, the importance of...

In this deeply moving episode of At the Table with Greg & Elliott, Greg Mathis Jr. and Elliott Cooper sit down with Wendy Rodgers, M.Ed, MPH, Director of Care and Support Services at the Lupus Foundation of America, for a powerful conversation about survival, advocacy, and purpose.

Wendy shares her journey living with lupus — a disease that began showing signs in her teens but went undiagnosed for years. After being dismissed by doctors and navigating medical bias, her lupus progressed to kidney failure at just 27 years old, ultimately leading to dialysis and a life-saving kidney transplant. She sp...

Welcome to At The Table!

Join hosts Elliott and Greg for an inspiring conversation with Trell Thomas, founder of the Black Excellence Brunch movement. From small-town South Carolina to the White House, Trell shares his journey of building community, stepping out on faith, and creating a global celebration of Black achievement.

In this episode: ✨ How Sunday dinners became a cultural movement ✨ From Obama campaign organizer to LA entrepreneur ✨ Creating the first Black Excellence Brunch at the White House ✨ The power of authentic storytelling and intentional design ✨ Never telling yourself "no" and making room for bigger dreams

In this powerful and uplifting episode of At the Table with Greg & Elliott, Greg Mathis Jr. and Elliott Cooper sit down with trailblazing model, actress, and activist Isis King for an honest conversation about courage, growth, and stepping fully into your power.

Isis made history as the first openly transgender woman to compete on America’s Next Top Model, forever changing visibility for trans women in mainstream media. She opens up about navigating national television during a very different cultural moment, the pressures of transitioning publicly, and what it meant to carry representation on her shoulders at ju...

This week, Greg Mathis Jr. and Elliott Cooper sit down with Jeffrey T.D. Wallace, President & CEO of LeadersUp, to talk about what it really takes to build economic mobility—especially for young people who’ve been locked out of opportunity.

Jeff breaks down how LeadersUp began (and why “not in school, not working” doesn’t mean “lazy”), what he calls “power-building” with young people, and how mentorship, storytelling, and policy all connect to workforce outcomes. The conversation also hits big-picture questions: equity vs. equality, the “benefits cliff,” why financial success doesn’t solve your problems, and how the shift into an AI...

This week on At the Table with Greg & Elliott, Greg Mathis Jr. and Elliott Cooper sit down with actor, producer, and entrepreneur Maia Modeste for a wide-ranging conversation about purpose, money, creativity, and building something that truly serves people.

Maia opens up about her journey from acting and producing to founding Kirabo, a financial wellness platform designed to help individuals and families build generational wealth without shame, jargon, or gatekeeping. She breaks down why so many high-achieving people still struggle with money, how financial literacy gaps persist across class lines, and what it looks like to meet...

In this episode of At the Table with Greg & Elliott, hosts Greg Mathis Jr. and Elliott Cooper sit down with acclaimed playwright and director Dennis Williams for a thoughtful conversation about Black theater, cultural legacy, and the responsibility of storytelling.

Dennis reflects on the inspiration behind his celebrated work I Cried the Blues, sharing how history, music, and lived experience inform his creative process. The discussion explores the enduring power of theater as a space for truth-telling, healing, and preserving community stories, even as the arts face financial and institutional challenges.

Together...

In this episode of At the Table with Greg & Elliott, Greg Mathis Jr. and Elliott Cooper are joined by Camara Mathis-Webb and Ryan Webb for an honest, thoughtful conversation about marriage, parenting, and navigating modern life together.

Camara and Ryan open up about their journey from high school sweethearts in Detroit to building a life as parents of two daughters, sharing how their relationship has evolved through different seasons of growth. The conversation explores communication in marriage, balancing careers and family, and the realities of raising kids in a digital world.

The...

This week on At the Table with Greg & Elliott, Greg Mathis Jr. and Elliott Cooper sit down with media personality and journalist Archie Jay, creator of The Arch Effect, co-host of ReKap with Colt Paulsen, and Vice President of the Los Angeles chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists.

Archie opens up about his journey from Midwest radio to digital media, the evolving role of Black journalists in the creator economy, and how traditional journalism can coexist with podcasts, YouTube, and social platforms. The conversation explores integrity, trust, and visibility in media, especially as audiences increasingly...

In this holiday-themed episode of At the Table, Greg Mathis Jr. and Elliott Cooper reflect on family, tradition, and what the season really looks like as life evolves.

The two talk candidly about how they each grew up celebrating the holidays — from church, food, and large family gatherings to travel and long-standing rituals — and how those experiences have shaped the traditions they’re building together today. They discuss navigating holidays as a couple, balancing time between families, and letting go of traditions that no longer serve them while honoring the ones that still matter.

G...

In this episode of At the Table with Greg & Elliott, Greg Mathis Jr. and Elliott Cooper are joined by Sarah Allyn Bauer, COO, and Veronica McClelland, CEO of Towne Street Theatre, one of Los Angeles’ longest-running community theatre companies.

The conversation dives into Towne Street Theatre’s 32-year legacy, its origins following the LA uprising, and its ongoing mission to tell stories that challenge, heal, and build community. Sarah and Veronica share what it takes to sustain a nonprofit theatre company in today’s climate — from funding realities and labor costs to adapting to the digital age while re...

In this heartfelt and wide-ranging episode of At The Table with Greg & Elliott, the hosts are joined by Linda Mathis — educator, entrepreneur, community leader, and matriarch of the Mathis family — for a powerful conversation about family, legacy, education, and service.

Linda Mathis reflects on her decades-long career in education, from teaching in Detroit Public Schools to founding Children’s Advanced Learning Centers, a network of early childhood education centers that shaped generations of Detroit youth. She also discusses the ongoing work of the Mathis Community Center in Detroit, which provides mentorship, job readiness programs, expungement fairs, and real s...

In this episode of At The Table w/ Greg & Elliott, we sit down with a special guest who also happens to be family — producer, on-camera talent, and creative force Amir Mathis. From growing up in the Mathis household to building a multi-platform entertainment career, Amir gives us an honest, funny, and inspiring look into what it really takes to make it in today’s shifting media landscape.

We talk about his work producing American Gangster: Trap Queens on BET+, lessons from working alongside icons like Steve Harvey, Tiffany Haddish, and Judge Greg Mathis, and what he’s learned from...

In this episode, Greg Mathis Jr. and Elliott Cooper welcome photographer and creative visionary Jon Dailey to At The Table for one of the most heartfelt conversations of the season. Before Jon joins, Greg and Elliott kick things off with a Culture Catch-Up spotlighting A’ja Wilson, celebrating the WNBA champion’s authenticity, leadership, and her bestselling book Dear Black Girls. They also reflect on a recent car break-in in Hollywood that cost them an iPad — a frustrating but grounding reminder of the realities of city living. And, of course, they share what’s on the table: a full spread from Fi...

In “Show Biz Part 1,” Greg Mathis Jr. and Elliott Cooper kick things off with a check-in about Greg’s latest acting work, the chaos of self-tape auditions, and how Elliott has leveled up as his off-camera reader. In Culture Catch Up, they spotlight Better Brothers Los Angeles, their Truth Awards, Black theatre nights, and a recent outing to the hit musical “& Juliet.” Over “New York Chopped Cheese” from LA’s Chopped NY Chopped Cheese, they welcome producers and filmmakers Vanda Lee and Joe Carroll, who worked with Greg on his first movie, Fighting to Be Me: The Dwen Curry Story on BET+. Vanda...

In Show Biz Part 2, Greg Mathis Jr. and Elliott Cooper continue their hilarious, honest, and heartfelt conversation with producer Vanda Lee and director/writer/actor Joe Carroll. Picking up where Part 1 left off, the episode dives deeper into their journeys through Hollywood, the psychology behind navigating the industry, and the resilience required to keep creating when rejection is part of the job. Joe opens up about the decade-long success of his novel series Sinful Confessions and teases Book 3, while Vanda shares how his psychology background became one of his greatest tools for surviving and thriving in the entertainment world. From c...

In Just Us Part 2, Greg Mathis Jr. and Elliott Cooper pick up right where they left off in their Be Honest, Don’t Hold Back series — this time going even deeper into what makes a healthy relationship work when the cameras turn off.

They start by unpacking a big question: is being a bad communicator a red flag, or can you grow into better communication over time? Greg and Elliott talk through why openness, vulnerability, trust, and a willingness to work on communication matter more than perfection. From there, Elliott asks one of the most emotional questions of the se...

In this episode of At the Table with Greg & Elliott, hosts Greg Mathis Jr. and Elliott Cooper kick things off with a weekly check-in, talking travel, auditions, and what it feels like when the calendar is finally full of real work and not just busy work. From there, they slide into Culture Ketchup with a spotlight on Uncle Nearest whiskey and the legacy of Nathan “Nearest” Green—the formerly enslaved master distiller whose craft helped shape American whiskey and inspired the Black-owned Uncle Nearest brand that’s thriving today.

Since no episode at the table is complete without food, Gr...

In Just Us, Greg Mathis Jr. and Elliott Cooper sit down for a rare, guest-free episode of At The Table, giving listeners a front-row seat to the unfiltered chaos, honesty, and laughter that makes their dynamic so magnetic. Over sushi from Crazy Rock’n Sushi in West Hollywood, the two husbands dive into their week, their ever-evolving routines, Greg’s mysterious hiccup saga, and the small joys of settling into fall.

In Culture Catch-Up, Elliott spotlights NSBE — the National Society of Black Engineers — a powerhouse organization uplifting Black excellence in STEM since 1975. From pre-collegiate programs to nationwide conferences, N...

In this episode of At The Table, Greg Mathis Jr. and Elliott Cooper sit down with political strategist, social impact leader, and culture shifter Dorien Blythers—a powerhouse whose career spans public service, national campaigns, and advocacy at the highest levels. Fresh off a whirlwind week of weddings, travel, and lupus fundraising, Greg and Elliott jump straight into Culture Catch-Up, spotlighting philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, her Yield Giving platform, and her historic $700M+ in donations to HBCUs, including more than $132M to Howard University.

From there, they welcome Dorien, CEO of Good Rebel, a social impact firm shaping strategie...

In Respect for the Law – Part 3, Greg Mathis Jr. and Elliott Cooper wrap up their powerful and deeply personal three-part conversation with civil rights attorney, restorative justice advocate, and mental health champion Jade Mathis. This final installment goes even deeper into the unseen realities of living with depression, navigating relationships, setting boundaries, and advocating for yourself in a world that often expects you to be “fine” even when you’re not.

Picking up where Part 2 left off, Jade shares what it’s like to manage an invisible disability while balancing family expectations, demanding careers, and the emotional weight of her...

In part two of At the Table with Greg & Elliott, Greg Mathis Jr. and Elliott Cooper dig deeper with their sister, attorney and mental health advocate Jade Mathis, on what real second chances look like in America. Picking up from their conversation about blocking people “for their own good,” Greg shifts gears to highlight Jade’s work in restorative justice—including her recent expungement fair in Detroit that drew nearly 500 people, most of them Black men hoping to clear their records and rebuild their lives.

Jade walks listeners through nearly a decade of expungement work, from DC to Detroit, expla...

At The Table with Greg Mathis Jr. & Elliott Cooper | Episode with Shemaiah Holness & Kenzie

Greg Mathis Jr. — son of legendary TV Judge Greg Mathis — and his husband Elliott Cooper host At The Table, their talk series following the viral success of their coming-out story on Mathis Family Matters (E! / Peacock). Millions connected with Greg and Elliott as they shared their truth, and now the couple brings that same openness to weekly conversations on culture, food, Black travel, relationships, millennial life, careers, and advocacy.

Greg and Elliott are also passionate about lupus awareness. Elliott’s mother passed...