Hustling with Vivica A. Fox

This episode is a perfect example of why Vivica A. Fox fell in love with podcasting. She sits down with one of her dearest friends, LisaRaye McCoy, and like every long term relationship there are moments when things could go either way. You'll hear the story of how LisaRaye left Chicago with her baby after feeling abandoned by her family. She decided it was time to pursue her dreams in LA where she soon met Vivica. They became fast, best friends. Lisa's career began to roll and life was good for both. Through tremendous success and some hard times too, the besties went through love and life together. But then these two amazing Queens had a falling out that left them both heartbroken. As fate would have it, after a long separation, they ran into each other in an airport and reconnected on a higher level. Now they're back together working on many different shows and projects including “Cocktails with the Queens” and LisaRaye is continuing her life as a business mogul of LR Home Styles as well as PZI Jeans a LisaRaye Collection. This inspiring podcast is just what we all need to hear!

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In this light-hearted episode Vivica does what she does best - chatting and flirting with a sexy man. That hottie is actor and singer, Leon Robinson, known only as Leon. The duo have worked together in theater and loved reminiscing about touring with plays. Vivica gives him props for being willing to take the risk of walking away from what was a potential NBA career to go all out for his acting passion. We’ll never know what might have happened with basketball, but this New Yorker’s acting career has been stellar. Vivica asks him about appearing in Madonna’s “Like A Prayer” video and how his movie and TV work took off. Early on he was in director Robert Townsend’s “The Five Heart beats,” which didn’t do well at the box office but has become a cult favorite. Later he worked with Whitney Houston in “Waiting to Exhale” and in TV series “Oz.” As if his movie work wasn’t enough, Leon is lead vocalist and songwriter for the award-winning band, “Leon and the Peoples.” Right now he’s working on songs for the band. 

 Leon has had plenty of romance in his life, but his best-known liaison was with one-time fiancé “Real Housewives of Atlanta’” Cynthia Bailey. He is the Baby Daddy of Cynthia’s daughter Noelle. Wanting to be a good co-parent, he is involved with his child and all the Baileys. “We are a family,” he says proudly. Both he and Noelle have been in the news recently. Noelle told her mom in the 12thseason of “Real Housewives” that she is sexually fluid and has introduced her girlfriend in public.  Leon isn’t concerned with her choice, supporting the 20-year old completely. Though Leon says it’s not true, it’s been reported that he is married to Kirbie Wallace. He and Vivica have both been victims of erroneous Internet rumors, which can be intrusive and hurtful. But, it’s all part of the job of celebrity. 

Whether you're a fan of Leon’s, or just getting to know him – this episode is revealing, heartfelt and hilarious. For a good time download and subscribe today.

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This episode will ignite the ambitions of individuals who are daydreaming instead of setting goals. Co-host of “The Real” talk show and stand-up comic, Loni Love writes about her own life lessons in, “I Tried To Change So You Didn’t Have To.” Born in the Detroit projects, young Loni got a job on a factory line, attaching 500 car doors a day, six days a week. While struggling to make a living, she found a mentor, who helped her get an engineering degree. Loni, then in her early twenties tells hilarious stories about working with older white engineers. “They golfed on the weekend. I went to Snoop Dog concerts.” Even with her degree and job security, Loni knew she wasn’t in love with that line of work, so she switched it up and took a stab at comedy. She never gave up, even when she bombed. Working as an engineer during the day and a comic at night, her big break came when she won a comedy contest in Aspen. She was on her way! Now the co-host of “The Real” talk show, Loni is full of fun, but she is serious about making her way in life. “Don’t give up. Keep trying.” That mantra is one that would help anyone trying to figure out how to get ahead.

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In this poignant episode actor Christian Keyes talks about raising his teenage son to be a responsible man. A proud father he suffered through a rough childhood and has made sure to give Christian Jr. a better life. From Flint Michigan, Christian was in and out of at least fifteen foster homes as well as group facilities. When his best high school friend’s mother, Michelle Johnson, heard he was still in a foster home, she took him in, “adopting” him without any papers. He says that family was the first one to take care of him without getting paid. 

Because of his upbringing, Christian is grateful for all the opportunities that came his way, including first modeling, theater and now staring in TV shows. He’s in Atlanta filming season five of “Saints and Sinners” Even when he’s on location Christian gives back by talking with kids in perilous situations like foster care and juvenile facilities.

Christian Keyes story is uplifting, proving that even the roughest of circumstances can be overcome.

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Twitter: @mcvivicafox 

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In this fast-paced episode Vivica talks with Michael Jai and Gillian White about their cliffhanger love story and lessons in show business. Happily married since 2015, actor-martial artist, Michael Jai White, and wife, actor and martial artist, Gillian, do everything together including training, raising their three girls and staring in and producing movies. Michael has eight black belts and Gil became the first African American women martial art star in their recently wrapped action thriller, “Take Back.” The couple has a fight scene and Gil wins!

It wasn’t always easy professionally for the couple. Even though he was a skillful fighter and actor, Michael wasn’t getting hired because Tinsel town moguls preferred white heroes. One executive told him if he was white he could be as big as Tom Cruise. Undaunted Michael worked abroad, returning stateside to become the biggest martial arts star in the U.S. Gil had to endure racism and sexism, as well, but both have come through tough times, having taken control of their work with their production company, Jaigantic Entertainment.

Just as dramatic as their working stories, is their love story. They met 25 years ago, dated happily and then drifted apart because of their schedules. Years later Michael realized, while away on a set, that Gil was the love of his life. He called her, confessed his feelings and they’ve been together ever since. Michael wasn’t going to let Gil get away and he wasn’t going to get angry about racism in Hollywood. He got motived, got the jobs and the girl. A great lesson for all of us.

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Twitter: @mcvivicafox

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In this episode, we discover that actress-singer, Taryn Manning, and Vivica have a lot in common. They have both been stereotyped in Hollywood, limiting their careers. For years, glamorous Vivica tried to break out of pretty girl roles: “I’m more than a model type. I can act.” She finally did with the movie, “Step It Up” 

When Taryn got the role of Tiffany “Pennsatucky,” in Netflix's Orange Is the New Black she wondered if it was art imitating life - as she had actually just gone to jail for fighting. With her tiny frame and childlike face, the actress often played scrawny hellions. She’s been a prostitute, druggie, and addled brained prisoner in movies like Hustle and Flow and done it well, but now it’s time to create different characters. Vivica encourages her to just keep at it. Taryn says that even though she had a tough childhood, growing up poor and her father committing suicide when she was fourteen she is not a down and out person. If you have ever been typecast in life - unable to break free of stereotypes - today’s show is for you. Download and subscribe to today’s inspiring podcast of Hustling with Vivica A Fox.

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In this episode Vivica and her guest comedian and actor, Jamie Kennedy don’t miss a trick talking about everything from Black Lives Matter, to “Karens” and menopause. Funny guy, Jamie, was a little more extreme about Covid-19 than Vivica. Terrified, he was microwaving his clothes and mail. After months of strict quarantine, Vivica invited a small circle of close friends to a safely distanced party. That’s rare – vivacious Vivica usually has a blow out with crowds of friends. 

 They get serious about the importance of Black Lives Matter and what Vivica calls the “culture of the snitch. “Everyone has a camera now and they want to take you down on social media.” With all this information and access, Jamie says people are loosing their sense of irony and fun.

In the future, expect this funny guy to include commentary on the Karens. “The white ladies demanding to speak to the manager,” says the Philly native. “I call them the ‘White Wine Warriors.’” Vivica says they may have menopause, or maybe just “cray cray.”

 And of course, the question, ‘How did you hustle your success?’ comes up. Jamie’s known for doing characters, which he started during a telemarketing job. He got good at selling office products, so he used that technique on agents. It worked! The actor had some early practice, imitating his mother’s bougie friends and his teachers. His big break was “Scream“ a little horror movie that propelled Courtney Cox’s career, too. They talk about his serious roles, his writing and comedy. It’s been a great career, worth hearing about in the podcast.

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When Vivica A. Fox and her girl, actress, Jackee Harry get together the stories are for real and hilarious. Jackee recalls seeing Vivica for the first time in thigh-high snakeskin boots. “Ooh you were fly. I had to find out who you were,” remembers Jackee. The ladies hash out old times, former beaus and their work and love lives now. They’ve both lived through racism and ageism in Hollywood, but keep on hustling. A former New Yorker, who got her start in theater, Jackee admits to shedding tears when planned projects fell through because of Covid-19. Things aren’t all bad though -- she has a new boyfriend. The old friends have both adopted to the times, learning Zoom, but Vivica refuses to appear on screen, unless she’s put together from nails to lashes.  

Emmy and Golden Globe award winner, Jackie is best known for her early roles as sexy Sandra Clark, on NBC’s “227,” and Lisa Landry on the ABC/The WB sitcom “Sister, Sister.” She is the first African American to win the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress on “227.” Vivica is surprised that Jackee has always longed to do drama, but had been type cast in comedy. She’s grateful for her opportunities, but says that not getting dramatic roles still hurts. What Jackee didn’t let get away was her son, whom she adopted as a single mom. “I didn’t know I could fall in love like that,” says the three-time divorcee, who agrees with Vivica that life has been good so far, but neither one is going to stop their grind. 

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Website: https://jackee-online.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JackeeHarryOfficial

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Vivica A. Fox was in for some surprises as she interviews actress and comedian Kellita Smith, best known for her role as Bernie Mac’s wife, in “The Bernie Mac Show” (2001-2006). Though they have been friends for years Vivaca didn’t know Kellita was raised in the Black Panther community of Oakland, California. Recognized for her talent even as a child, 8-year old Kellita was chosen to interview controversial political activist Huey P Newton, for a school production. “I was the only one who could sit still long enough to talk to a grown up.” 

 But it was the funny lady’s appearance on “In Living Color” that gave Kellita her start in Hollywood. She trades stories with Vivica about the “mean girls” they both encountered while auditioning. They’re laughing now, but it was tough then. Kellita has better memories of her early years of hustling for parts, when she got to know and work with the greats including Jamie Fox, Cedric and Steve Harvey. But it’s to Bernie Mac that she says she owes the biggest debt. After numerous rejections and multiple screen tests, Kellita won the coveted role of Bernie's wife, Wanda McCullough, on “The Bernie Mac Show." Vivica and Kellita go deep on their shared admiration for Bernie Mac, who died unexpectedly just as his show completed it’s fifth season. Kellita talks about the fun of appearing in SyFy show “Z Nation” and her newest movie “Influence.” She says she still misses Bernie’s friendship and in his honor is going to try stand up in the near future. It’s all part of Kellita's hustle.

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In this episode of Hustling with Vivica A. Fox, we meet Vivica’s friend, makeup artist Rea Ann Silva, and hear these two friends gossiping about old times. Friends for years, these ladies discuss Rea’s path from struggling make-up artist to becoming a billion-dollar entrepreneur. Since meeting on the set of the film, Set It Off, where Rea Ann worked with Vivica as her makeup artist, they have remained close pals. These ladies bond over events and movies they’ve worked on together, but beyond the raucous stories, is the journey of Rea Ann successfully inventing the universally beloved make up tool, Beauty Blender. Rea Ann reveals the trials and tribulations of starting from scratch with a little egg-shaped sponge for blending foundation to becoming the CEO of a big corporation. This rags to riches episode is a great lesson in starting a beauty business and reminder to be brave and always follow your dreams!

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