Reppin

"i'm gonna try to do as much as my heart desires." regan aliyah of netflix's xo, kitty on going all in. she's young. the perspective isn't. it came from her family: they taught themselves music because they couldn't afford lessons. the most talented people she knew. most never broke through. nothing is promised. she saw the odds. went anyway. here's the move. her family worked with what they had. so does she. anyone can count what's missing. she counts what's there. that's where the power is. here's what she knows. the only things we're promised are being born and...

content warning: the conversation covers child abduction, sexual assault, and violent crime.

she survived a serial killr. now what?

kara robinson chamberlain was fifteen when she was abducted and assaulted by a serial killer for eighteen hours. kara managed to save herself — and remembered enough to hand police the man who did it. yep. all of that. at fifteen.

for most people, that's the story. for kara, it was chapter one.

she's worked in law enforcement. then a mom. now a host — making two true crime shows at once, with a two...

at nine, a car accident took her father and left one of her arms permanently paralyzed. every time since, when someone decided what she couldn't do, she went and found out for herself. tiffany yu relearned how to write. got herself to the bathroom alone in a wheelchair. stood at the bottom of a climbing wall telling herself she couldn't, and climbed it anyway. somewhere in there, she stopped letting other people set the limit. she built diversability, a community where disabled people find pride and power together. she started speaking on stages when speaking terrified her. she wrote...

what happens when both choices are the right thing: the life you want, and the family who needs you?

liz sargent lived that question for years. every time her sister anna needed help, the phone rang. so she did what she does with fear: she wrote it down. then she turned it into a film and cast anna as the lead. as one does, right?

take me home looks like a story about disability and caregiving. it's really about what happens when someone you love needs more of you than you know how to give...

i was there. this is my city. this is what i actually remember. this is the real moments i had.

i'm re-releasing this one for the 25th anniversary. it's just me this time, no guest — my own reflections on 9/11, as a new yorker, in my home, twenty-five years later.

i don't want to give you the highlight reel version of that day. i want to tell you what it actually felt like to live here when it happened — the fear, the quiet, the way the whole city held its breath together for a while. and i wa...

**listener discretion is advised.

twenty-five years ago, rais bhuiyan was shot in the face, ten days after 9/11, just because he looked different. i'm re-releasing this conversation for the 25th anniversary — him telling you what happened next, in his own words.

rais came to america for the idea of it — the cowboys, the fairness, the wide-open promise of the whole thing. in the fear and anger after the attacks, people who looked like rais became targets. a man walked into his gas station, asked where he was from, and pulled the trigger. rais survived. a few othe...

a kid threw away his mother's Hmong food so no one would see it — the same food just made his restaurant one of Time's "World's Greatest Places."

yia vang is a Hmong chef in Minneapolis, a James Beard semifinalist whose restaurant vinai has landed on the New York Times Restaurant List and Bon Appétit's Best New Restaurant. he named it after Ban Vinai, the refugee camp in Thailand where his Hmong parents — refugees who fled Laos after the Vietnam War — met and where he was born. he calls it a love letter to them.

but bef...

she's blonde. she's australian. and she's been living in china for over a decade.

turns out being the outsider has given her the inside track.

amy lyons built Blondie in China from the outside in — nearly 600,000 subscribers who show up every week because she takes them somewhere real. street food. local neighborhoods. conversations with strangers. the China you don't see on the news.

but here's what nobody tells you about being the one who gets stared at.

ten years of walking into rooms where everyone turns to look. of being the cu...

some people wait for permission. these six didn't.

osric chau bought a one-way ticket to a country he'd never lived in — and bet on himself.

laura sohn walked away from a hit network show in her 20s to build a life on her own terms.

chris pang's own team told him to pass on crazy rich asians. he trusted his gut instead.

six people you know from the credits, on the exact moment they chose courage — what it took, what it felt like, and what it made possible. no highlight-reel versions. the...

some people wait for permission. these six didn't. osric chau bought a one-way ticket to a country he'd never lived in — and bet on himself. laura sohn walked away from a hit network show in her 20s to build a life on her own terms. chris pang's own team told him to pass on crazy rich asians. he trusted his gut instead. six people you know from the credits, on the exact moment they chose courage — what it took, what it felt like, and what it made possible. no highlight-reel versions. the real ones. this is reppin presents: the mome...

eva noblezada spent her whole career refusing to be handled, boxed in, or told who to be. and i need you to hear how she says it.

she's a two-time tony nominee — for miss saigon, and for hadestown, the broadway musical that takes a centuries-old greek myth and blows it wide open with jazz, blues, and gospel. eva originated the role of eurydice and made it entirely hers.

and hadestown just made history. the live stage capture film beat hamilton for the biggest opening weekend ever for a live stage film — pulling in $10.2 million across near...

three major roles are landing for yvonne chapman at once. that's not what this conversation is really about.

she's kyoshi in netflix's avatar: the last airbender, madeline in hulu's the season, and soon on screen with michael douglas, willem dafoe and ellen barkin in oliver stone's white lies. that's a big year. but the roles aren't the point.

the point is how she's going about it.

she's been on reppin a few times now, across different chapters. go back, listen, you'll hear the trajectory. this is the latest one. might be the most...

chris pang. one of the faces proving hollywood wrong about asian actors.

chris pang — charlie's angels, joyride, crazy rich asians, and now hulu's the season, set against the stunning backdrop of hong kong high society, where mystery and drama follow every relationship in the room. chris plays andrew fong, a man who's tough to like at first. but take a second longer look and you see how fully human he is — flawed, insecure, and wanting nothing more than to be loved.

but the real conversation starts long before any of these roles. chris grew up not...

listener discretion advised. this episode contains discussion of sexual assault.

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allison gill was one of the first four enlisted women in the navy's nuclear program.

she was sexually assaulted. she reported it. it was mishandled. she got PTSD. and then she went on camera for an oscar-nominated documentary and said it out loud anyway — because someone had to.

that was before the podcast.

she started mueller, she wrote which became one of the most listened-to independent political shows in the country by doing one thing really well: making the muel...

What happens when you reach the top of your field — and still feel completely alone?

I sit down with world-class golfer and long-drive champion Alexis Belton for a conversation about what success doesn’t always show you — being visible, accomplished, even celebrated… and still feeling invisible in the spaces you move through.

And maybe more people understand that than we say out loud.

In a world where we’re more connected than ever, so many people are still navigating loneliness, disconnection, and that quiet question of where they actually belong. Alexis shares her experience o...

What do Bruce Lee, hip hop, and you have in common?

More than you think.

Acclaimed author and cultural critic Jeff Chang joins us for a conversation that goes way beyond Bruce Lee—and straight into identity, race, representation, belonging, and the pressure to become someone else just to fit in.

Based on his acclaimed book Water Mirror Echo: Bruce Lee and the Making of Asian America, Jeff unpacks how Bruce Lee became a symbol of visibility, confidence, and self-definition for generations of people who felt underestimated, stereotyped, or erased.

But th...

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 ca...

What does it actually mean to be seen—and to belong—without having to earn it, explain it, or change yourself just to be understood?

That’s the question at the center of this conversation with Eugene Yi, an Emmy-winning director known for powerful documentary work including Free Chol Soo Lee, The Rose: Come Back to Me, and his latest HBO film The A-List: 15 Stories from Asian and Pacific Diasporas.

On the surface, The A-List brings together 15 voices across the Asian American and Pacific Islander community—Connie Chung, Sandra Oh, Bowen Yang, Kumail Nanjiani, alongside people you may...

Stories don’t just reflect the world—we use them to understand it.

And few writers do that more powerfully than Angie Thomas.

Angie is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Hate U Give, the global bestseller that sparked worldwide conversation and became a major film. She’s also the author of On the Come Up and the fantasy series Nic Blake and the Manifestors.

Her work consistently centers people and communities that are often overlooked—bringing their voices, experiences, and humanity into focus in a way that feels honest and grounded...

Breaking Point: Adam Kinzinger on January 6 and the Courage to Stand for Your Values

What happens when standing by your values could cost you everything — your career, your friendships, even your sense of belonging?

In this episode of Reppin, I sit down with former U.S. Congressman, U.S. Air Force veteran, and January 6 Committee member Adam Kinzinger to talk about the moment that became his breaking point: the January 6 United States Capitol attack.

After 12 years representing Illinois in Congress, Adam Kinzinger made a decision that would define his career — speaking out after Janu...

On this episode of Reppin, we talk with Gia Kim from Netflix’s hit teen series XO, Kitty about her role as Yuri Han, LGBTQ+ representation, and turning life challenges into confidence and personal power.

Gia opens up about playing Yuri, the confident “queen bee” at an international school in Seoul, navigating friendship, love, identity, and being one of the few openly gay characters at the center of a global teen drama.

She also shares her own journey across Seoul, Hong Kong, New York, and Beijing, facing imposter syndrome and painful challenges—and in this conversa...

Olivia Cheng on Warrior, Netflix’s Marco Polo, Ready or Not 2 & Owning Your Voice

If you know Olivia Cheng, you know she brings fearless, complex women to life. She’s Ah Toy on Warrior, Mei Lin on Netflix’s Marco Polo, and now starring in the hit sequel Ready or Not 2. Today on Reppin, Olivia joins me to talk about her life, leadership, and how she found her voice — on-screen and off.

Olivia has built a career playing strong, layered, unforgettable characters. In this episode, she dives into Ready or Not 2, stepping into a high-council family l...

What happens when you step away from the path everyone expects you to follow?

Actress Laura Sohn returns to Reppin for a powerful conversation about redefining success, owning your identity, and finding belonging on your own terms.

Laura broke out globally on the hit NBC drama The Blacklist, and has appeared across television in NCIS and God Friended Me. Her work spans network television and the New York stage—always bringing depth, nuance, and authenticity to the stories she tells.

But this conversation goes beyond the highlight reel.

Laura opens up ab...

🎙️ How The Rose Broke the K-Pop System | Behind the Music, Mental Health & Friendship | Full Interview Go behind the scenes of The Rose: Come Back to Me — the new documentary about the Korean indie rock band who defied the K-pop industry to stay true to themselves. This in-depth conversation with award-winning filmmakers Eugene Yi and Diane Quon explores the real story behind The Rose’s rise, their fight for creative freedom, and the universal themes of identity, resilience, and friendship. 🎬 The Rose: Come Back to Me isn’t just a K-pop documentary — it’s a story of courage, loyalty, and the power of choos...

The Maria From Sesame Street Who BROKE TV’s Mold & Changed EVERYTHING for Latino Kids

You think representation in media is new? Nah. This episode hits DIFFERENT. We’re talking to the OG — the legendary talent who defined Maria on Sesame Street for 40+ years. She wasn’t just a character. She was a MOVEMENT.

Sonia Manzano isn’t just “Maria” — she’s a trailblazer, an Emmy-winning writer, and a cultural icon who paved the way for Latino voices on TV. Growing up in the Bronx, Sonia broke barriers as one of the first Latina actresses on national televi...

She’s Bothered. She’s Unapologetic. And She’s Saying What We’re All Thinking. Award-winning comedian, national headliner, and writer Julie Kim is done shrinking herself to make others comfortable. In this sharp, funny, and deeply real conversation, she unpacks the everyday microaggressions and quiet biases women—especially women of color—deal with constantly. From confronting manspreaders in premium class to shutting down a heckler mid-joke about childbirth, Julie’s turning these moments into something powerful, hilarious, and true. 🎤 Seen on Just for Laughs, The Debaters, and sold-out stages across North America, Julie is done and speaking up.

We’re not...

He lost everything. Then a dog knocked on his door. Now he's saving lives across America.

Let that sink in. Steven Knight was battling addiction, homelessness, trauma, and shame. He was out of options, out of hope—until one tiny, black dog named Jayde showed up and changed everything.

This isn’t your average redemption story. This is about connection, purpose, and how a foster dog became the reason a man chose to live—and how that one moment sparked Dogs Matter, the ONLY organization in the U.S. that fosters dogs for people going into reha...

🎧 From Bed-Stuy to the Badge: DJ ACE’s Unfiltered Journey Through the Streets, the System & the Sound

What do you call someone who grew up in tough neighborhoods in Brooklyn, rose through the ranks of the NYPD with empathy and grit, and rocks the turntables like a pro? You call him DJ ACE the Cut Lieutenant.

He’s got one of the dopest sounds I’ve ever heard, and he's the man who helped me revamp the Reppin theme song into what you hear today.

ACE takes us through his life growing up in Brooklyn Bed...

What if the person with everything decided the system was broken—and then put her money where her mouth is?

That’s not a headline. That’s Marlene Engelhorn’s real life.

In this episode of Reppin, Marlene—yes, a multi-millionaire heiress from Vienna—breaks down why growing up rich wasn’t the dream everyone assumes… and how waking up to her privilege pushed her to become one of the most outspoken voices for wealth redistribution, tax reform, and economic justice.

This isn’t performative philanthropy. It’s not guilt. It’s ACTION. REAL action. She literally g...

🔥 “I didn’t want to change myself—I wanted to change the world around me.”

That one of the many amazing insights from Osric Chau. In this powerful, deeply personal, and transformative episode of Reppin, I sit down with actor, producer, and changemaker Osric Chau—you know him from Supernatural, Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender, and most recently, the history-making “Worth the Wait” on Tubi. But this conversation is different. For the first time ever, I share something I’ve never said out loud—how I struggled with my own identity, how I once wanted a nose job to “look more...

What happens when one of Hollywood’s most iconic producers teams up with one of the world’s most beloved bands to tell a story about identity, resilience, and belonging?

In this episode, we sit down with legendary producer Janet Yang — the force behind The Joy Luck Club and The People vs. Larry Flynt — to talk about her powerful new documentary The Rose: Come Back to Me, centered on the wildly popular global band The Rose and the community they’ve built around the world.

Janet shares how her own journey — from navigating cultural challenges in childhood...

Reppin: James Roh on The Rose Documentary, Far East Movement’s Historic Breakthrough & The Rose’s Rise

What does it take to break barriers, top the charts, and still stay rooted in community?

In this episode of Reppin, I sit down with James Roh — artist, manager, and founder — to unpack the making of the The Rose Documentary and the remarkable rise of The Rose, a band that has built a fiercely loyal global fanbase through raw honesty, independence, and a commitment to authenticity.

We trace the spark that led to the film — from a studio m...

Ever wondered what it really takes to rise from peeling potatoes to being named the World’s Best Female Chef?

In this powerful episode of REPPIN, I sit down with Chef Pam Soontornyanakij aka Chef Pam— the culinary visionary behind Bangkok’s acclaimed restaurant Potong — and the 2024 winner of both Asia’s Best Female Chef and The World's Best Female Chef by 50 Best.

Chef Pam shares her 15-year journey through the culinary trenches — from studying at Le Cordon Bleu, working in Michelin-starred kitchens in New York, to navigating burnout, cultural expectations, and industry pressures.

W...

The events of 911 changed everyone. It changed everything about how we see each other, how we carry pain, and how we find hope.

I recorded this episode just a few days after this past 9/11 anniversary, and it’s not my usual format. I’m really reflective here—sharing something deeply personal and raw. This will not be one of the usual epsiodes.

This episode revisits one of the most powerful conversations I’ve had—the story of Rais Bhuiyan, a man who was shot in the face in a hate crime right after 9/11… and who chose forgiv...

🎙️ From Soap Star to Survivor: John J. York’s Unbelievable 30-Year Legacy & Life-Saving Battle | Reppin Podcast You know him as Mac Scorpio — the tough, beloved brother of Robert Scorpio on General Hospital, a role he’s made iconic for over 30 years. But what you didn’t know? Off-camera, John J. York was quietly fighting a real-life, life-threatening battle: not one, but TWO rare blood cancers. And the odds weren’t in his favor. This is John’s most raw, honest, and inspiring conversation ever — where he shares: How he went from waiting tables to becoming a daytime TV legend The miracle moment...

🎙️ TRIBECA EXCLUSIVE — “We Are Pat” w/ Rowan Haber | SNL, Identity & Reclaiming the Narrative

What do you do when the only version of you the world sees… is a joke?

In this Tribeca Film Festival special episode of Reppin, filmmaker Rowan Haber sits down to talk about their deeply personal and powerfully necessary documentary, We Are Pat — a film that takes one of SNL’s most controversial characters and reclaims it with heart, depth, and truth.

For some, Pat was just a sketch.
But for others — especially those who never fit neatly into labels — Pat was a...

🔥 This isn’t just a film. This is a conversation we ALL need to have. I'm coming to you straight from the Tribeca Film Festival—one of the most prestigious, culture-shifting film events in the world. Founded by Robert De Niro after 9/11 to revive NYC’s creative spirit, Tribeca is where bold voices, visionary filmmakers, and fearless stories get the global spotlight. 🎥 In this powerful and personal interview, I sit down with writer/director Uttera Singh to talk about her breakout film Pinch—a raw, emotional story of a young woman reclaiming her power after sexual assault. But let’s be real: this...

Hey there! I’m so glad you’re here. 2024 has been a year of profound change and growth for me, and I want to invite you to take this journey with me. It’s been full of powerful moments—some that challenged me, others that opened my eyes to new truths about life, love, and what it means to be human.

On this episode of Reppin', I'm opening up about the lessons I've learned during this transformative year. I’ll dive into what truly matters—things like kindness, resilience, and the power of taking a step back to reflect o...

Join us for an unforgettable episode featuring the one and only Nigel Barker! Known globally for his dynamic role as a judge beside Tyra Banks on *America's Next Top Model* , Nigel has captivated audiences with his expertise and charisma. But there’s so much more to him than what you see on screen—he’s a multifaceted creative director, filmmaker, entrepreneur, and a passionate philanthropist dedicated to making a difference in the world.

In this episode, you'll get an intimate look at Nigel’s incredible journey. We’ll explore what he’s really like in everyday life, uncovering t...

Mike Amoia's rise to success is the epitome of a self-made journey. Starting from humble beginnings, Mike's career began as a young music producer at just 22. He took on freelance assistant editing roles at MTV, VH1 and Sony Studios, working tirelessly through night shifts loading tapes and prepping footage. His dedication and hard work paid off, allowing him to climb the ranks to become a sought-after freelance editor, contributing to major projects for MTV, VH1, Sony Studios, and Comedy Central’s Chappelle's Show. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to co-found Vidiots in 2003, which grew from a postproduction facility into a...