What does it actually mean to be seen—and to belong—without having to earn it, explain it, or change yourself just to be understood?

That’s the question at the center of this conversation with Eugene Yi, an Emmy-winning director known for powerful documentary work including Free Chol Soo Lee, The Rose: Come Back to Me, and his latest HBO film The A-List: 15 Stories from Asian and Pacific Diasporas.

On the surface, The A-List brings together 15 voices across the Asian American and Pacific Islander community—Connie Chung, Sandra Oh, Bowen Yang, Kumail Nanjiani, alongside people you may not know yet, but should.

But this is not a celebrity documentary.

It’s intimate by design: no performance—just people speaking honestly. A story rooted in AAPI identity, diaspora, and lived experience. And what stands out is that even these leaders and public figures have felt like they didn’t belong in the rooms they were in.

This is a universal challenge.

People trying to find their place.
People trying to be understood.

And what you see in this film is a community of people who have felt unseen—realizing those shared experiences don’t just connect us, they strengthen what community actually is.

If you’ve ever felt unseen, you’re not understood or need to change everything you are to belong. This conversation on REPPIN will help you feel less alone in that experience, and see it differently.

Full Conversation here:

https://open.spotify.com/show/1tq2vuZiWLvhmTMaaWX2w8

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Stories don’t just reflect the world—we use them to understand it.

And few writers do that more powerfully than Angie Thomas.

Angie is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Hate U Give, the global bestseller that sparked worldwide conversation and became a major film. She’s also the author of On the Come Up and the fantasy series Nic Blake and the Manifestors.

Her work consistently centers people and communities that are often overlooked—bringing their voices, experiences, and humanity into focus in a way that feels honest and grounded.

She was the very first guest I ever had on Reppin… and helped launch this show.

So having her back is a very special full-circle moment.

In this episode, we talk about The Hate U Give, Nic Blake, why history still belongs in fantasy, and how stories travel across cultures—shaping how young readers see the world and themselves.

We also get into the larger conversation happening right now around books like hers—and why it matters more than most people realize.

If you care about the stories that shape how we see the world—and each other—you’ll come away with a deeper understanding of how they shape how you’re seen too.

Full video on⁠ Spotify⁠:https://open.spotify.com/show/1tq2vuZ...

YouTube: ⁠@ReppinPodcast⁠

Instagram: @reppin_podcast

Angie's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angiethomas/

🎧 Listen, follow the show, and if this episode resonates, share it with someone who needs to hear it.

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Breaking Point: Adam Kinzinger on January 6 and the Courage to Stand for Your Values

What happens when standing by your values could cost you everything — your career, your friendships, even your sense of belonging?

In this episode of Reppin, I sit down with former U.S. Congressman, U.S. Air Force veteran, and January 6 Committee member Adam Kinzinger to talk about the moment that became his breaking point: the January 6 United States Capitol attack.

After 12 years representing Illinois in Congress, Adam Kinzinger made a decision that would define his career — speaking out after January 6 and choosing principle over party. The fallout was immediate: backlash, threats, lost friendships, and a life that would never look the same again.

But this conversation goes beyond politics.

On Reppin, Adam Kinzinger opens up about the fear and chaos inside the Capitol that day, the emotional toll that followed, and the faith that helped him navigate one of the hardest chapters of his life.

He also shares why he founded Country First, a movement working to rebuild trust in American democracy and create space for Americans across political divides to disagree without losing their humanity.

At its core, this episode is about courage, integrity, and the resilience it takes to stand by your values — even when the cost is high.

🎧 If you care about leadership, democracy, and principled conversations that challenge the status quo, this episode is for you.

• Adam Kinzinger’s experience inside the Capitol on January 6

• The moment he chose principle over party

• The personal cost of speaking out

• Relationships that didn’t survive the fallout

• How faith helped guide him through backlash and isolation

• Why he founded Country First

• What he hopes his son learns about courage and integrity

What you’ll hear in this episode

• Adam Kinzinger’s experience inside the Capitol on January 6

• The moment he chose principle over party

• The personal cost of speaking out

• Relationships that didn’t survive the fallout

• How faith helped guide him through backlash and isolation

• Why he founded Country First

• What he hopes his son learns about courage and integrity

Learn more about Adam's organization: COUNTRY FIRST

https://www.country1st.com/

Follow Adam on his instgram:

https://www.instagram.com/adam_kinzinger/?hl=en

WATCH this conversation on Spotify!

https://open.spotify.com/show/1tq2vuZiWLvhmTMaaWX2w8

Listen to Reppin:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reppin/id1480913421

Follow me on the gram:

https://www.instagram.com/reppin_podcast/?hl=en

Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/@Reppinpodcast

Music by: DJ ACE the Cut Lieutenant

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On this episode of Reppin, we talk with Gia Kim from Netflix’s hit teen series XO, Kitty about her role as Yuri Han, LGBTQ+ representation, and turning life challenges into confidence and personal power.

Gia opens up about playing Yuri, the confident “queen bee” at an international school in Seoul, navigating friendship, love, identity, and being one of the few openly gay characters at the center of a global teen drama.

She also shares her own journey across Seoul, Hong Kong, New York, and Beijing, facing imposter syndrome and painful challenges—and in this conversation, she reveals a deeply personal experience she’s never talked about before and how she transformed it into resilience, personal power, and growth.

This conversation goes beyond acting. It’s about representation, multicultural identity, and the real-life experiences that shape who we are. And it’s a story about storytelling—how a character or show can inspire, give voice, and even change a life.

Why Listen:

Watch / Listen:

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Olivia Cheng on Warrior, Netflix’s Marco Polo, Ready or Not 2 & Owning Your Voice

If you know Olivia Cheng, you know she brings fearless, complex women to life. She’s Ah Toy on Warrior, Mei Lin on Netflix’s Marco Polo, and now starring in the hit sequel Ready or Not 2. Today on Reppin, Olivia joins me to talk about her life, leadership, and how she found her voice — on-screen and off.

Olivia has built a career playing strong, layered, unforgettable characters. In this episode, she dives into Ready or Not 2, stepping into a high-council family leader role in a deadly “double-or-nothing” hunt. She also opens up about her life — those messy, human truths we all carry — and how that fuels her craft.

You'll gain insight into where her cultural pride, grit, and perspective comes from. She talks honestly about bullying, racism, and moments that could have held her back — and how she turned those experiences into empathy, strength, and leadership.

You’ll also get a chance to see the real Olivia Cheng — the person behind the roles — as she shares personal stories and challenges that shaped her perspective and how those experiences help bring these incredible characters that we love to life.

In this episode, we cover:

🔥 Joining Ready or Not 2, the hit sequel, and the high-stakes “double-or-nothing” twist

If you care about storytelling, leadership, Asian representation, and finding your voice, this episode with Olivia Cheng is inspiring, real, and unmissable.

🎧 Listen now to Reppin and see the depth, humanity, and fearless energy Olivia brings to every role — from Warrior to Marco Polo to Ready or Not 2.

Olivia's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatoliviacheng/

Listen to Reppin: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reppin/id1480913421

Reppin's gram: https://www.instagram.com/reppin_podcast/?hl=en

Reppin's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Reppinpodcast

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What happens when you step away from the path everyone expects you to follow?

Actress Laura Sohn returns to Reppin for a powerful conversation about redefining success, owning your identity, and finding belonging on your own terms.

Laura broke out globally on the hit NBC drama The Blacklist, and has appeared across television in NCIS and God Friended Me. Her work spans network television and the New York stage—always bringing depth, nuance, and authenticity to the stories she tells.

But this conversation goes beyond the highlight reel.

Laura opens up about the pressure so many of us feel—from family, culture, and society—to chase a very specific definition of success. In her twenties, she made the bold decision to step back from a hit show and ask a bigger question: What actually matters?

What followed was a period of reflection, humility, and growth.

It’s an honest conversation about curiosity, culture, family, and the courage it takes to stop proving yourself—and start owning who you are.

Laura is also currently starring in the New York play JESA at The Public Theater. JESA follows four Korean American sisters who reunite to perform their father’s ancestral ritual honoring the dead. What begins as a ceremony quickly erupts into sibling clashes, humor, and the messy truth about what holds people together.

If you’ve ever:

questioned your path

felt caught between cultures

or wondered where you truly belong

this conversation will resonate.

🎭 See Laura live in JESA!! https://publictheater.org/productions/season/2526/jesa/

🎧 Listen to Reppin:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reppin/id1480913421

🌐 More episodes:
https://reppin.tv

Say hi! Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/reppin_podcast/?hl=en

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🎙️ How The Rose Broke the K-Pop System | Behind the Music, Mental Health & Friendship | Full Interview

The Gram: https://www.instagram.com/reppin_podcast/?hl=en

FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM:

Reppin's website: https://www.reppin.tv/

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The Maria From Sesame Street Who BROKE TV’s Mold & Changed EVERYTHING for Latino Kids

You think representation in media is new? Nah. This episode hits DIFFERENT. We’re talking to the OG — the legendary talent who defined Maria on Sesame Street for 40+ years. She wasn’t just a character. She was a MOVEMENT.

Sonia Manzano isn’t just “Maria” — she’s a trailblazer, an Emmy-winning writer, and a cultural icon who paved the way for Latino voices on TV. Growing up in the Bronx, Sonia broke barriers as one of the first Latina actresses on national television. Beyond acting, she shaped stories behind the scenes, winning multiple Emmys as a Sesame Street writer and creator of Alma’s Way, a groundbreaking animated series empowering Latino kids to embrace their identity and think critically. Sonia’s work has been a beacon of representation, education, and cultural pride for generations.

Back in the 50s and 60s, there was ZERO space for people of color on TV. ZERO. She grew up in the Bronx, a young Latina with ZERO examples on screen to look up to — until she became one. This isn’t just nostalgia. This is the foundation of how Latino kids started seeing themselves on TV. Period.

We get into:

How she owned her identity while holding down one of the most beloved kids’ shows EVER

Breaking generational trauma and building cultural pride through media

Why representation isn’t just nice to have — it’s ESSENTIAL for the future

Here’s the deal — we all face challenges in breaking through the noise, the stereotypes, and the limitations people try to put on us. Whether it’s your culture, your background, or your dreams, this episode is a reminder that YOU have the power to create your own space. To tell your own story. To be the voice that others desperately need. If she could do it, so can you.

Ready to stop waiting for someone else to represent you? Ready to break barriers and build your legacy? Hit play and get inspired!

Subscribe, share, and drop a review — because every time you do, you’re helping us push this mission further. Let’s grow this community and show the world what REAL representation looks like.

Real Stories. Real Identity. Real Power.

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She’s Bothered. She’s Unapologetic. And She’s Saying What We’re All Thinking.

Follow Julie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliekimcomedy/

Reppin's website: https://www.reppin.tv/https://www.reppin.tv/

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He lost everything. Then a dog knocked on his door. Now he's saving lives across America.

Let that sink in. Steven Knight was battling addiction, homelessness, trauma, and shame. He was out of options, out of hope—until one tiny, black dog named Jayde showed up and changed everything.

This isn’t your average redemption story. This is about connection, purpose, and how a foster dog became the reason a man chose to live—and how that one moment sparked Dogs Matter, the ONLY organization in the U.S. that fosters dogs for people going into rehab.

💡 WHY THIS MATTERS:
Here’s the brutal truth: Thousands of people are ready to get clean but don’t go to rehab—because they have no one to care for their dog. That hesitation? It can be a death sentence. But Dogs Matter flips the script. They foster your dog so you can focus on recovery. Then, when you’re back on your feet? You’re reunited.

This episode dives deep with Steven Knight, CNN’s 2024 Hero of the Year, and founder of Dogs Matter. We talk:

His decades-long battle with addiction

Being rejected by his own therapist for being gay

The power of unconditional love from a dog

Why connection is the opposite of addiction

What it really means to rebuild your life from nothing

If you’ve ever felt lost, if you’ve ever needed a sign, if you’ve ever underestimated the power of a pet—this is your episode.

🔥QUOTES TO LIVE BY:

“The opposite of addiction isn’t sobriety. It’s connection.”
“Jade didn’t just save me. She gave me a reason to stay alive.”
“Dogs teach us everything we forget: be present, love hard, judge less.”
“We foster dogs. We save lives. Full stop.”

🎙️About Reppin’
Reppin’ is where real ones rise. We spotlight the unapologetic, the underestimated, and the unbreakable. We dive deep into identity, purpose, and power—unfiltered. No fluff. Just fuel.

🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES:
🐾 Learn more about Dogs Matter: www.dogsmatter.org
📲 Follow Steven Knight on Instagram: @DogsMatter
🐶 Support Dogs Matter with a donation → Save lives. Reunite families.

🔊 Don’t just scroll. Press play.
Because sometimes, a second chance doesn’t bark—it knocks.
And sometimes, a dog saves the human.

YOUTUBE:

https://www.youtube.com/@Reppinpodcast/featured

APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reppin/id1480913421

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/reppin_podcast/

👉 LISTEN NOW.
👉 SHARE this with someone who needs hope.
👉 SUBSCRIBE for more real stories that hit deep.

#AddictionRecovery #DogsMatter #ReppinPodcast #StevenKnight #SobrietyStory #AnimalRescue #DogFoster #MentalHealthAwareness #ConnectionIsHealing #CNNHero2024 #Reppin #LGBTQVoices #PetTherapy #SecondChances #RecoveryIsPossible #podcast #dogs #animals #petlovers #inspire #empower #positive #humanfirst #authenticity #podcast

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