Nice Talk with Nikki Ogunnaike

Quincy Tyler Bernstine is a Tony-nominated theater performer known for her work in shows such as Doubt: A Parable, Small Mouth Sounds, and Ruined, but this year, she rose to television fame for her role as Nora in Hulu's thriller series Furious. On this episode, Bernstine shares why it feels important to flip typical power dynamics within the crime genre, the finances of a career in theater, and why she felt emotional attending the Kallmeyer show at her first NYFW this year.

As the chairman of Bravo and Peacock Unscripted, Frances Berwick is the woman behind your favorite reality TV shows, from The Traitors to Top Chef to Love Island USA to the Real Housewives franchises and more. On this episode, Berwick shares her insights on how to evolve a show over the course of 20 years, what it took to build The Traitors US into the record-smashing show it is today, and her advice for anyone trying to break into the reality TV industry—whether that's behind the scenes or on camera. Plus, she reveals her current favorite Housewives tagline.

Melinda French Gates has been leading philanthropic efforts for over 25 years, and in 2015, she started Pivotal with the mission to accelerate the pace of social progress for women and young people. On this episode, recorded live at The Whitby in NYC, French Gates breaks down the findings from a recent survey Pivotal conducted in partnership with global analytics firm Gallup about women's health. She dives into the stats about menopause and the workplace and what we can do about the state of women's health in this country. Plus, she shares everything that went into Pivotal's collaboration with Olivia Rodrigo for the Daisy Chain Fields Music Festival.

Lily Shimbashi, the founder of sports media company Sportsish, joins Nikki for the final episode in our four-part US Open miniseries. Sportsish bills itself as “not your boyfriend’s sports news” and is on a mission to support and encourage women sports fans. On this episode, Shimbashi dives into all the stories we need to know from this year’s US Open, explains the economic advantages of investing in women in sports, and shares her thoughts on how influencers should navigate attending major Slams.

Four-time Olympian, six-time Grand Slam champion, and 60-time WTA winner, Rennae Stubbs joins Nikki for the third episode in our four-part US Open miniseries. After retiring from tennis in 2011, Stubbs transitioned into broadcasting and coaching, working with legends like Serena Williams. On this live-recorded episode, Stubbs dives into the importance of mental health in professional sports, the “three C’s” mantra she always comes back to, and the power of movement and exercise. Plus, Stubbs shares some of her favorite moments from the 2026 US Open.

Award-winning journalist and television host Cari Champion joins Nikki for the second episode in our four-part US Open miniseries. Champion is a former ESPN anchor, and today she’s a regular CNN contributor, host of Naked Sports With Cari Champion, and co-host of Flagrant and Funny alongside Jemele Hill. On this episode, she shares why she felt pressure to tone down her fashion while working at ESPN, how she’s been able to uncouple her value from her job title, and why she started her foundation, Brown Girls Dream. 

Ayan Broomfield—former tennis player, content creator, philanthropist, and model—joins Nikki for the first episode in our four-part US Open miniseries. On this episode, Broomfield discusses her complicated feelings toward the term "WAG," why she's focusing on bringing more women of color into the tennis space with her organization Ayan's Aces, and how she approaches getting dressed for the various Grand Slams of the season. 

Ariana Madix is a reality TV personality known for her 11-season tenure on Vanderpump Rules and her role as the Emmy-nominated host of Love Island USA. She’s also starred as Roxie Hart in Chicago, competed on Dancing With the Stars, and has a recurring role on St. Denis Medical, and this fall, she will be returning to the Broadway stage in Just in Time. On this episode, Madix shares how she juggled multiple jobs in order to pursue her dream of being an actor, why Ginger Spice was her style icon growing up, and the behind-the-scenes details on how Love Island really makes it from the villa to our screens.

Jazzy Collins is an Emmy Award–winning casting director whose résumé includes fan-favorite shows like The Traitors, Love Island, Very Important People, The Circle, and many more. She's also the cofounder of the production company Forced Perspective and was recently named one of Vulture's Reality TV Masterminds. On this episode, she discusses everything that goes into casting the most popular scripted and unscripted shows—from identifying potential reality TV stars on social media to making sure people are "there for the right reasons." Plus, she shares the details about the feature film she's producing alongside the L.A.-based meme account @americanaatbrandmemes.

You may know Ally Love as the beloved Peloton instructor with impeccable music and challenging classes, but she's also a contributor for the Today Show, the VP of instructor strategy and development for Peloton, and a member of JPMorganChase's Athlete Council. On this episode, Love shares why she views energy as currency, what it means to her to be able to guide young athletes through their financial journey with the Athlete Council, and how she approaches getting dressed to be on camera. Plus, she details the exact anatomy of a perfect workout playlist.