HypeFriend! with Ashley Eckstein & Michael James Scott

Are y'all ready for some double trouble? This week, we have two Genies in the HypeHouse as we welcome the Tony Award-winning legend who originated the role of the Genie in Broadway's ALADDIN, James Monroe Iglehart! James talks with the hosts about sending the kids back to school, being a life-long self-described geek, and how everything comes back to chicken.

Join us in our friendship revolution, one HypeFriend (and one episode) at a time

This week, Ashley and Michael welcome Olivier Award-winning actress Lesli Margherita! After a groundbreaking run in GYPSY as the iconic “Tessie Tura”, Lesli and the hosts reflect on wins, losses, and staying real with everything “in between.”

Join us in our friendship revolution, one HypeFriend (and one episode) at a time!

This week, Ashley and Michael welcome Ryan Key and Ryan Mendez, two members of the hit rock band, Yellowcard! Key and Mendez delve into how they built their friendship through the years and the music they make together.

Join us in our friendship revolution, one HypeFriend (and one episode) at a time!

This episode, we bring on the superstar tenor, Josh Strickland! Through laugh out loud moments and touching stories, Josh discusses family, friendship, and the importance of singing voice messages.

Join us in our friendship revolution, one HypeFriend (and one episode!) at a time!

The doctor is in! This week, pediatric psychologist Dr. Ariana Hoet of The Kid’s Mental Health Foundation joins the hosts to discuss the urgency of the loneliness epidemic and emphasizes the importance of treating friendship as a core need just like food, sleep, and water.

Join our friendship revolution, one HypeFriend (and one episode) at a time!

This episode, we bring on Broadway’s favorite, Ashley Brown (Broadway's original MARY POPPINS)! The hosts talk with Ashley about how they met, how connections are essential to get through difficult times, and how friendships have their seasons.

Join us in our friendship revolution, one HypeFriend at a time!

Join us for our second week of HypeFriend! This week, we welcome Tony Award-winning actress and Broadway star Nikki M. James to the neighborhood! The trio discusses how friendships evolve over time, how to accept these changes, and why candor is key to building lasting connections. 

(00:00) Intro

(04:10) Hypes and Gripes

(15:10) Good Gossip

(17:50) Nikki M. James Introduction

(24:03) Understanding Friendships

(33:59) Staying Connected

(51:57) One Last Thing

Join us in our friendship revolution, one HypeFriend at a time! 

HypeFriend’s third episode is here! Andrew Levitt or better known as Nina West, comes on the podcast to discuss keeping up your friendships through acts of kindness. Andrew goes into why he loves sending people mail and the significance of practicing your own love language.

They then go into the challenges of being on stage and the value of creating safe spaces for others by simply offering your support.

Join us in our friendship revolution, one HypeFriend at a time!

In our second episode ever, Ashley and Michael invite Bret Iwan (fourth and current voice of “Mickey Mouse”) to be the very first member of their neighborhood. They laugh, catch up, and joke about old times, but most importantly, they dive into how they all met and how to make genuine friends that last. 

Join us in our friendship revolution one HypeFriend at a time! 

In our very first episode of HypeFriend, childhood friends Ashley Eckstein (original voice of STAR WARS’ “Ahsoka Tano” and Michael James Scott (“The Genie” from Disney’s ALADDIN on Broadway) team up to discuss what it means to truly be a ‘friend’?

In the lasting impacts of the mental health crisis from the 2020 pandemic, Ashley and Michael reflect on the past and discuss different ways to be there for the people that mean the most to you, and recognizing different moments when you can build and empower supportive relationships.

Join us in our friendship revolution, one HypeFriend at a time!