We go deep with Phillip Johnson Richardson on the real stuff behind a Broadway glow up. He opens up about being a young Black man showing vulnerability onstage, the pressure to be perfect, and how identity, belonging, and mental health shape the work. We talk about choosing when to step away, the cost of staying, and the tools he uses to keep his center steady when the noise gets loud. Quick heads up: if you hear a low rumble while I am speaking, that was the rain hammering the studio during our recording.

We also get into the creative process behind his original music, the difference between chasing applause and building a life that feels true, and the practical ways performers make it work in New York. If you want to see him live, his final performance in Hell’s Kitchen is November 30. This one is candid, grounded, and full of takeaways you can actually use.

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