Mad Valid Podcast

In the season finale of Mad Valid Podcast (MVP), host Reyna Erika sits down with Max Forman-Mullin—a director, producer, and advocate for using art to create social change. 🎙️✨

Max dives into what it means to take action, both in life and art. From leveraging social media as a tool for impact to believing in theater’s ability to reimagine our world and our role in it, this episode reminds us that meaningful change starts with bold steps—and a willingness to face complexity head-on. 💥

About Max Forman-Mullin:

Max Forman-Mullin is a director, producer, and storyteller who believes the arts—especially theater—are essential to a healthy society. 🎭✨ His work focuses on using performance to grapple with complexity, reimagine possibilities, and inspire action. For Max, art isn’t just about entertainment—it’s about helping us articulate what is and what could be.

Passionate about both creativity and strategy, Max’s work explores the intersection of art and activism, pushing boundaries while encouraging audiences to reflect and respond.

Connect with Max:

Instagram: @maxformul

Website: maxformanmullin.com

Hosted by: Reyna Erika

Produced by: Brisa Areli Muñoz

Design & Editing by: Andrea Negrete

Music by: Nicholas Ryan Gant @ghettofalsetto

Instagram: @madvalidpodcast

Email: [email protected]

In this episode of Mad Valid Podcast (MVP), host Reyna Erika catches up with Nicholas Ryan Gant—the voice and talent behind the MVP theme music. 🎙️✨

Nicholas opens up about finding joy in the little things—whether it’s roller skating, stepping outside, or rocking a vintage fit—and why celebrating small wins can keep you grounded in a chaotic world. From creating music to teaching the next generation, Nicholas reminds us that joy is resistance and that “everybody ain’t gonna do what you gonna do”—so you might as well do it boldly. 💥

About Nicholas Ryan Gant:

Nicholas Ryan Gant (NRG) is a New York-based singer, songwriter, and educator whose dynamic vocals and soulful sound have made him a sought-after performer and vocal coach worldwide. A classically trained opera singer with a degree from Howard University and a Master’s in Music Education from Hunter College, Nicholas brings creativity and passion into classrooms and concert stages alike. As a music teacher in NYC schools, he connects music to real life, showing students how rhythm and harmony echo far beyond the classroom walls.

Nicholas has worked with icons like Mariah Carey, Jon Batiste, Childish Gambino, and Michael McDonald, blending genres and pushing boundaries in every performance. Offstage, his love for vintage fashion inspired SAINT NICHOLAS VINTAGE, his online store dedicated to timeless urban looks.

When he’s not singing, teaching, or thrifting, Nicholas serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors for Decolonizing the Music Room, amplifying diverse voices in music education.

Connect with Nicholas:

Instagram: @ghettofalsetto

Music: Ghettofalsetto.bandcamp.com

Website: NicholasRyanGant.nyc

Hosted by: Reyna Erika

Produced by: Brisa Areli Muñoz

Design & Editing by: Andrea Negrete

Music by: Nicholas Ryan Gant @ghettofalsetto

Instagram: @madvalidpodcast

Email: [email protected]

In this episode of Mad Valid Podcast (MVP), host Reyna Erika sits down with AriDy Nox—a multi-disciplinary Black femme storyteller—whose work is rooted in radical imagination, liberation, and joy as resistance. 🎙️✨

Trigger Warning:

This episode includes a discussion about suicide between 25–35 minutes. Please take care of yourself while listening. 💛

AriDy opens up about breaking big tasks into manageable steps, honoring the creative process, and daring to create with the audacity of their ancestors. From navigating overwhelm to reclaiming joy, this episode reminds us that showing up for yourself—piece by piece—is an act of courage.

About AriDy Nox:

AriDy Nox is a multi-disciplinary Black femme storyteller whose work imagines liberated futures through magical realism, historical reimaginings, and ancestral reckoning. 🌿

Their plays include BLACK GIRL IN PARIS (2020), A WALLESS CHURCH (2019), and the FRESHWATER PLAY series (2020), all crafted with the belief that radical imagination is key to liberation. AriDy’s work centers Black femmes as architects of expansive, transformative worlds. Their work has been developed across the country, bringing bold, imaginative stories to life through collaboration and resistance.

AriDy’s accolades include:

-Graduate of NYU’s Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program

-Member of MTF’s Inaugural MAKERS cohort and Horizon Theatre’s Black Women Speak Cohort

-Emerging Writer’s Group Fellow at The Public Theater (2020–2023)

-Playwrights Center Core Writer (2022–2025)

-Van Lier New Voices Fellow (2023–2024)

Connect with AriDy:

Website: www.aridynox.com

Instagram/TikTok: @aridynox

Hosted by: Reyna Erika

Produced by: Brisa Areli Muñoz

Design & Editing by: Andrea Negrete

Music by: Nicholas Ryan Gant @ghettofalsetto

Instagram: @madvalidpodcast

Email: [email protected]

In this episode of Mad Valid Podcast (MVP), host Reyna Erika sits down with Andrea Negrete—artist, storyteller, and community-builder—to talk about positive self-talk, mindset shifts, and interrupting negativity before it spirals. 🎙️✨

Andrea shares how small shifts in mindset can create big waves in how we show up for ourselves and others. From learning to replace negative thoughts with love to asking questions like “Am I committed to the path I’m on?”, this episode is all about staying grounded and growing with intention.

About Andrea Negrete:

Andrea Negrete is a multidisciplinary artist, storyteller, and community strategist originally from Rio Grande Valley and now based in Los Angeles and New York City. 🌎✨ As the Design & Editing Lead for Mad Valid Podcast, Andrea blends her love for visual art, communication, and storytelling to create work that amplifies voices and builds connections.

When she’s not behind the scenes shaping narratives, Andrea explores mental health, identity, and personal growth through her art and advocacy. They are the Director of Community Relations at Musical Theatre Factory and Hike the Good Hike. Her work is rooted in empathy, resilience, and the belief that the answer usually lies in community.

Whether they're developing new work, on a hike, tattooing, or on stage, Andrea brings care, creativity, and curiosity to everything she does—reminding us that positive self-talk is a practice, not a performance. 🌱💥

Hosted by: Reyna Erika

Produced by: Brisa Areli Muñoz

Design & Editing by: Andrea Negrete

Music by: Nicholas Ryan Gant @ghettofalsetto

Instagram: @madvalidpodcast

Email: [email protected]

In this episode of Mad Valid Podcast (MVP), host Reyna Erika connects with her mentee, Ashley Thomas—a theater scholar, writer, and creative powerhouse—about the importance of prioritizing your physical health. 🎙️✨

Ashley breaks down why “self-care is not a metaphor” and how taking care of your body is just as critical as nurturing your mind and soul. From overcoming fear to playing bigger in life, this episode reminds us that “playing it small serves no one”—especially not ourselves. 💥

About Ashley Thomas:

Ashley Thomas is an artist, thinker, theater scholar, writer, dramaturg, and proud godmother whose work centers creativity, storytelling, and growth. ✨ She shares her thoughts, essays, and reflections on her Substack newsletter, Brownstone Bandit, a biweekly creative journal about life, art, and everything in between.

Ashley believes in showing up fully, pushing past fear, and owning your space—whether on stage or in life. Her words inspire action and remind us to “feel the fear and do the thing.”

Connect with Ashley:

Instagram: @harlem_nista

Substack: Brownstone Bandit

Hosted by: Reyna Erika

Produced by: Brisa Areli Muñoz

Design & Editing by: Andrea Negrete

Music by: Nicholas Ryan Gant @ghettofalsetto

Instagram: @madvalidpodcast

Email: [email protected]

In this episode of Mad Valid Podcast (MVP), host Reyna Erika sits down with Dreeemy—an indigenous Egyptian interdisciplinary artist and healer—whose work bridges sound, spirituality, and activism. 🎙️✨

Dreeemy dives into the art of slowing down, re-centering, and moving from multi- to interdisciplinary thinking. From navigating the noise of modern life to building meaningful connections, this episode explores what it means to embrace creativity as a tool for collective healing and transformation.

About DREEEMY:

DREEEMY is an interdisciplinary sound artist, culture bearer, and healing justice activist based in NYC and working globally. As a performer, DJ, poet, educator, and embodiment guide, her work blends art and meditation to create transformational experiences rooted in ecosystem consciousness and creative empowerment.

She’s the founder of The Collective BAE, a global impact agency and empowerment ecosystem dedicated to building community, fostering healing, and reimagining justice through art and collaboration.

Connect with DREEEMY:

Instagram: @dreeemy

Website: The Collective BAE

Hosted by: Reyna Erika

Produced by: Brisa Areli Muñoz

Design & Editing by: Andrea Negrete

Music by: Nicholas Ryan Gant @ghettofalsetto

Instagram: @madvalidpodcast

Email: [email protected]

In this episode of Mad Valid Podcast (MVP), host Reyna Erika sits down with Brisa Areli Muñoz—a director, facilitator, and community builder whose work centers connection, healing, and transformation. 🎙️✨
Brisa opens up about the power of reaching out when you’re feeling low and how maintaining community is essential to wellness. From vulnerability to resilience, this episode explores what it means to lean on your people and show up for yourself.

About Brisa Areli Muñoz:
Brisa Areli Muñoz is a multidisciplinary artist and cultural organizer whose work focuses on equity, collaboration, and social change. As a director and facilitator, Brisa builds spaces for meaningful dialogue and collective healing, using theater and storytelling as tools for transformation.
Brisa’s work has been featured at The Public Theater, The Kennedy Center, and New York Theater Workshop, and she’s led community-centered projects across the country. Passionate about accessibility and inclusion, she continues to push boundaries, creating spaces where art and activism intersect.
Connect with Brisa:
Instagram: @brisaareli

Hosted by: Reyna Erika
Produced by: Brisa Areli Muñoz
Design & Editing by: Andrea Negrete
Music by: Nicholas Ryan Gant @ghettofalsetto
Instagram: @madvalidpodcast
Email: [email protected]

In this episode of Mad Valid Podcast (MVP), host Reyna Erika sits down with Modesto “Flako” Jimenez—a Dominican-born, Bushwick-raised poet, playwright, and director whose art is rooted in activism, storytelling, and honoring community. 🎙️✨
Flako opens up about the importance of practicing gratitude, leaning into your roots, and letting your ancestors guide you—even when the world tries to pull you away from yourself. From personal growth to creative accountability, this episode is a reminder to stay grounded and keep building.
About Modesto “Flako” Jimenez:
Modesto “Flako” Jimenez is a multi-hyphenate artist using poetry, theater, and education to address social and political change. Raised in Bushwick, he draws from his Dominican roots and NYC experiences to create work that highlights identity, resilience, and culture. Flako’s acclaimed project, Taxilandia, explores gentrification through stories collected during his years as a NYC cab driver, turning conversations into immersive art. He’s performed at venues like Soho Rep., BAM, and The Public Theater, earning awards such as the HOLA Outstanding Solo Performer and Princess Grace Award Honorarium. He just featured MERCEDES Part 1 at BAM in Decemer 2024. MERCEDES wasn't just an installation–it was a call to connection and healing. When he’s not performing, Flako teaches theater and poetry in NYC schools and runs his company, Oye Group, producing festivals, workshops, and original work.
Connect with Flako:
Website: flakojimenez.com and https://www.oyegroup.org/
Instagram: @Modesto_Flako_Jimenez
Twitter: @FlakoBK
Hosted by: Reyna Erika
Produced by: Brisa Areli Muñoz
Design & Editing by: Andrea Negrete
Music by: Nicholas Ryan Gant @ghettofalsetto
Instagram: @madvalidpodcast
Email: [email protected]

In the season opener of Mad Valid Podcast (MVP), host Reyna Erika sits down with CAFFETTI, a Queens-born artist who’s redefining what it means to turn failure into growth. 🎙️✨
Blending art, mental health advocacy, and raw storytelling, CAFFETTI opens up about using his creative platform to tackle tough topics while inspiring self-reflection and healing. From pushing boundaries to finding joy in dark places, this episode dives into the power of self-compassion and the lessons that come with falling—and getting back up.
About CAFFETTI:
A mix of his last name, Caffey, and the word confetti, CAFFETTI creates art that sparks emotion, alters perception, and ignites conversations. His work centers mental health and positive affirmations, encouraging audiences to view challenges through a lens of resilience and creativity.
Connect with CAFFETTI:
Instagram: @CAFFETTI_
Podcast: The All Staff Meeting – Season 2 coming soon.
Website: www.CAFFETTI.com
Hosted by: Reyna Erika
Produced by: Brisa Areli Muñoz
Design & Editing by: Andrea Negrete
Music by: Nicholas Ryan Gant @ghettofalsetto
Follow us on IG: @madvalidpodcast
Email us: [email protected]

Welcome to Mad Valid Podcast (MVP)—where real talk meets big energy. 🎙️✨

Hosted by Reyna Erika, this podcast is your go-to for bold conversations, unfiltered truths, and deep dives into the moments that shape us. From mental health and identity to art, culture, and community, we’re breaking it all down—loud, proud, and with that unapologetic New York big sister vibe.

Season 1 introduced you to the coolest people in Reyna’s life. Now, Season 2 is casting a wider net—highlighting voices that challenge, inspire, and keep it all the way valid.

What to Expect:

•Conversations that hit. Mental health, art, identity, and resilience—we’re talking about it all.

•Guests who get real. Artists, thinkers, and game-changers dropping wisdom you didn’t know you needed.

•Vibes that feel like home. Bold, loud, and full of heart.

Whether you’re here to listen, learn, or just vibe out—this is your space. Tap in and stay valid. 🔥

Credits:

Hosted by: Reyna Erika

Produced by: Brisa Areli Muñoz

Design & Editing by: Andrea Negrete

Music by: Nicholas Ryan Gant @ghettofalsetto

Follow & Connect:

Instagram: @madvalidpodcast

Email: [email protected]