Actor, musician, producer and performer LEON joins AW for a candid conversation about an extraordinary career spanning more than three decades and the man behind the work that has become part of the culture.

From unforgettable performances in The Five Heartbeats, Cool Runnings, Above the Rim, and Waiting to Exhale, to his acclaimed portrayals in The Temptations and Little Richard, LEON has built a body of work that continues to resonate across generations, earning Emmy and NAACP Award nominations along the way.

And his story is still being written.

LEON also stars as veteran defense attorney Greg Sims in the upcoming film WILDCARDS, a unique production that blends cinema and theatre.

Beyond film and television, LEON is a musician and frontman of LEON & The Peoples, continuing to create and perform while adding another dimension to a career that has never fit neatly into one lane.

In this revealing conversation, LEON opens up about recognizing when his work had become bigger than a role and part of the culture, what more than three decades of longevity has required of him, staying grounded through the different chapters of his career, and what continues to excite him creatively.

He also gets personal about what success has demanded, the lessons that come with experience, and the truth he wishes his younger self had understood.

Thoughtful, authentic and open, LEON gives us something beyond the iconic performances and accomplishments: a glimpse at the man, his perspective, and the life behind an enduring cultural legacy.

LEON also shares what's next, from WILDCARDS to his music with LEON & The Peoples and performing live at City Winery NYC, proving that more than three decades into his career, he's still creating new chapters.

AW Confidential, Where Truth Transforms.

To learn more about LEON, visit www.justleon.com or Instagram @wwwjustleon

What if understanding your healthcare options could change your life?

Millions of women live with uterine fibroids, yet many spend years searching for answers, living with painful symptoms, or believing surgery is their only option.

In this episode of AW Confidential, Yvette Bodden sits down with Dr. Yan Katsnelson, founder of Fibroid Fighters and a cardiac surgeon dedicated to advancing awareness around uterine fibroids and empowering women through education.

Together, they discuss why so many women remain unaware of their treatment options, the emotional impact of living with fibroids, and why informed healthcare decisions begin with honest conversations.

Whether you're living with fibroids, supporting someone who is, or simply want to become a better advocate for your health, this conversation offers valuable insights that every woman should hear.

• Why Dr. Yan founded Fibroid Fighters
• Why awareness and education are critical to women's health
• Common misconceptions about fibroids
• The emotional impact of living with fibroids
• Why women deserve to understand all of their healthcare options
• One truth every woman should hear about her health

If this conversation empowers you, please share it with someone who may benefit from it. One honest conversation has the power to change a life.

To learn more about Fibroid Fighters, visit: www.fibroidfighters.org

What happens when a personal health journey becomes a mission to help others?

In this special episode of AW Confidential, Yvette Bodden sits down with model, entrepreneur, television personality, and Fibroid Fighters Ambassador Cynthia Bailey for an honest conversation about women's health, advocacy, and the importance of breaking the silence around uterine fibroids.

Millions of women live with fibroids, yet many spend years searching for answers, dismissing symptoms, or feeling alone in their diagnosis. Cynthia shares why lending her voice to this cause became deeply personal, what she hopes women take away from conversations like these, and why education and self-advocacy are essential to making informed healthcare decisions.

This conversation is a reminder that awareness is more than information. It's about giving women the confidence to ask questions, explore their options, and know they are not alone.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why Cynthia Bailey became an advocate for women's health.
• The importance of breaking the silence around uterine fibroids.
• How awareness empowers women to make informed healthcare decisions.
• The power of honest conversations to create change.

If this conversation resonates with you, share it with someone who needs the reminder that their health matters and their voice does too.

To learn more about Cynthia, visit Instagram @cynthiabailey

Success rarely follows a straight line.

In this episode of AW Confidential, actress Lindsay Weisberg shares her unexpected journey from competitive downhill skiing and neuroscience to a flourishing career in film and television. Together, we explore what it means to reinvent yourself, redefine success, and embrace the unexpected chapters that shape who we become.

Lindsay reflects on why her role in Lethia resonated so deeply with her, how her own life experiences informed her connection to the story, and the lessons she's learned about resilience, identity, and purpose along the way.

This conversation isn't just about acting, it's about trusting your path, finding meaning through life's challenges, and discovering the truths that no degree, achievement, or career milestone can teach.

Lindsay can next be seen in the upcoming theatrical release GANGLAND and Netflix's highly anticipated limited series All the Sinners Bleed.In this episode, we explore:
• Reinvention and embracing unexpected paths
• Redefining success beyond achievement
• Finding purpose through storytelling
• Resilience through life's unexpected chapters
• The truths life teaches beyond accomplishment

Learn more about Lindsay. Visit her on Instagram.

What if fear wasn't the monster... but the villain?

In this episode of AW Confidential, host Yvette Bodden sits down with Puerto Rican filmmaker Christopher Piñero, writer, director, and editor of the psychological horror short The Prowler, recently selected for the Academy Award®-qualifying LA Shorts International Film Festival.

Christopher shares the inspiration behind the film, how growing up between Virginia and Puerto Rico shaped his imagination, and why psychological horror allows us to explore the fears we often avoid in everyday life. Together, they discuss independent filmmaking, the realities behind festival recognition, the power of storytelling, and the unseen forces that influence human behavior.

This conversation goes beyond horror to explore creativity, identity, resilience, and one unforgettable question:

Is fear something we're meant to overcome or something we're meant to understand?

In this episode:

• The inspiration behind The Prowler
• Growing up between Virginia and Puerto Rico
• Independent filmmaking and the festival journey
• Why psychological horror resonates so deeply
• Creativity, identity, and the role of fear
• The AW Truth Bomb

If you enjoy conversations about filmmaking, personal growth, creativity, and the stories that shape us, subscribe to AW Confidential for new episodes featuring inspiring voices from entertainment, culture, and beyond.

Learn more about Christopher on Instagram @clpinero

In this episode of AW Confidential, AW sits down with Danny Miro-Chinea, the Founder of Comprende and Partnerships Manager at Famosos, for a powerful conversation about ownership in the creator economy.

From starting his career as a legal assistant in Washington, D.C., to building Comprende during COVID and partnering with Famosos to scale Latino influencer marketing, Danny shares the mindset shifts that helped him move from stability to strategy.

We discuss:

• Unlearning cultural narratives around money

• Charging your worth without guilt

• Community-building in the creator and brand economy

• Latino representation in influencer marketing

• What sustainable growth really looks like

This isn’t about hype. It’s about ownership, compensation, and building long-term value as a creator or founder.

If you’re navigating the creator economy and wondering how to grow with integrity while charging your worth, this conversation is for you.

To learn more about Danny, visit him on LinkedIn

What does it take to build a movement instead of just a business?

In this episode of AW Confidential, Yvette sits down with Shelley Zalis, Founder and CEO of The Female Quotient, entrepreneur, movement maker, and self-described Chief Troublemaker.

From challenging workplace norms early in her career to building one of the world's most influential business communities, Shelley shares the leadership lessons, risks, and mindset shifts that shaped her journey.

Together, they discuss the power of community, why meaningful change requires collective action, the importance of taking risks, and what Shelley calls "The Power of the Pack."

Shelley also opens up about legacy, working alongside her daughter, creating opportunities for the next generation, and why success was never meant to be built alone.

If you've ever felt like the only one in the room, this conversation is your reminder that leadership starts with believing in possibility, trusting your voice, and having the courage to build something that doesn't exist yet.

🎙️ In this episode:

• Building The Female Quotient into a global movement
• Leadership, entrepreneurship, and taking risks
• The Power of the Pack philosophy
• Creating opportunity through community
• Legacy, family, and the next generation of leaders
• Why meaningful change starts by challenging the status quo

This episode includes Shelley’s powerful #AWTruthBomb and a conversation that will leave you inspired to think bigger, lead boldly, and remember that sometimes the most impactful things we build begin with a simple decision to start.

Learn more about The Female Quotient.

We live in a world that celebrates doing more.

But what happens when doing more comes at the expense of yourself?

In this solo episode, AW opens up about the stress that nearly broke me, the importance of listening to our bodies, and why taking a step back isn't weakness, it's wisdom.

Sometimes protecting your peace is the most productive decision you'll ever make.

Next week, we're back with a powerful conversation about the power of community and why building something meaningful is never meant to be done alone.

If this episode resonated, comment, like, and subscribe to AW Confidential.

To learn more about AW, visit www.awconfidential.com or find us on social instagram.com/awconfidential

"Because at its core, Broken Land isn't just a story about borders. It's a story about humanity."Actress Jaklyn Bejarano joins AW Confidential to discuss her powerful role as Irene in Broken Land, a modern western that explores survival, grief, sacrifice, and the humanity that can exist between strangers on opposite sides of the border.

In this thoughtful conversation, AW and Jaklyn dive into the emotional weight of portraying a pregnant migrant fleeing violence in El Salvador, the unexpected connection between Irene and Carson (David Morse), and why stories like this matter now more than ever.

Together, they explore compassion, identity, resilience, and the importance of seeing people beyond labels, assumptions, and headlines.

Because at its core, Broken Land isn't just a story about borders. It's a story about humanity.

Topics discussed:
• The emotional journey of Irene in Broken Land
• Survival, loss, and hope
• Immigration and human connection
• Latina representation in film
• Finding humanity beyond labels
• The power of storytelling

Broken Land is available on digital VOD platforms worldwide, courtesy of Well Go USA Entertainment.

Actress Rama Montakhabi, known to audiences for her role as Peaches on the hit series BMF, joins AW Confidential for a powerful and deeply human conversation about purpose, identity, and the journey behind the spotlight.

Now appearing in the upcoming film The Daughters of Dolemite, Rama shares the story behind her path to Hollywood, including a dream of acting that began at four years old. But success didn’t come without reflection, resilience, and moments that tested her sense of self.

In this episode, Rama opens up about the lessons shaped by loss, the importance of knowing who you are and what you truly want, and how she brings depth and perspective into an industry often driven by image.

From honoring cinematic legacy to staying grounded in a fast-moving industry, this conversation explores the woman behind the roles and the courage it takes to follow a calling that begins long before the spotlight arrives.

Topics include:

• Growing up with a dream to act

• The emotional journey behind success

• Finding clarity after loss

• Staying true to your identity in Hollywood

• Her role in the upcoming film The Daughters of Dolemite

This is a conversation about purpose, persistence, and trusting the path meant for you.

To learn more about Rama, visit her Instagram @dr.ramajoon