The Risking Space

This week's episode spotlights our very own Karla Mosely! Karla is an actor, songstress, producer and activist who made history playing The Bold and The Beautiful's Maya Avant, the first series regular transgender character in American television. We dive into her creative upbringing, her deep love of service, and the vulnerability and healing that came from playing Maya. Other topics include saying yes, self-actualization as activism and the battle for balance.

Karla is the co-creator of 1:1 productions, an award-winning production company championing women of color in front of and behind the camera. http://www.1to1productions.com/

She also helms philanthropy for Ammunition Theatre Company. https://www.ammunitiontheatre.com/

Here's a link to Janet Mock's book that Karla references called "Redefining Realness" https://amzn.to/3jkC0Xe

If you love us and want to support what we do, subscribe, rate and share this pod!

Donations are graciously received via PayPal to [email protected]!

Two-time Olympian, actor, writer and producer Jamie Nieto is a case study in defying the odds. He not only went to the Olympics twice (2004/2012) as an American high jumper and jumped his personal best there, but, after suffering a severe spinal cord injury, he defied the doctor's prognosis and walked his wife-to-be 150 steps down the aisle. Jamie takes us through his athletic journey, the accident, and the pursuit of his artistic dreams as an actor (Away, The Encounter), writer (Family Time, In the Cut) and producer (Blood Brothers). We get deep into the passion, dedication and mental toughness that it takes to be the best you can be in athletics and art. Other topics include faith, visualization and tongue twisters.

For all things Jamie Nieto, check out www.jamienieto.com and follow him on the socials @jamienieto.

Check out his incredible foundation Helping Others Triumph https://hotleticsofficial.com/foundation

And his ESPN feature story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzpV8OLj7Tw

As always, follow us @ @theriskingspace, check out www.ammunitiontheatre.com and if you love us and want to support what we do, please subscribe, rate and share this pod.

Donations are graciously received via PayPal to [email protected]!

Jar Jar Binks will go down in history as the first CGI character in a motion picture. What you might not have ever thought about is the person behind Jar Jar. Our guest, Ahmed Best, provided all the movement, voice and acting that was used to create Jar Jar in the Star Wars movies. Without his contribution, CGI would not be what it is today. And yet, as a young artist, he had to endure surprising and fierce backlash for what was seen as racial stereotypes in Jar Jar's portrayal. Ahmed talks about his incredible journey from performing in the touring company of the musical "Stomp" to landing this iconic role, the joys and challenges of being the first to do something, and how he has been able to find his artistic power and reclaim his confidence by making his own work. Other topics include play, martial arts and the future!

For more on Ahmed, follow him @bestahmed on Instagram and @ahmedbest on Twitter. Follow us @ @theriskingspace.

And check out more about Ammunition Theatre Company @ www.ammunitiontheatre.com.

If you love us and want to support what we do, please subscribe, rate and share this pod and consider making a Paypal donation to [email protected].

For Actor/Activist Scott Turner-Schofield opportunity and success in Hollywood has come as a surprise. A Transgender artist, Scott assumed there was no direct path for him and instead created a one man show "Becoming A Man in 127 EASY Steps", which has since been made into a film and is currently enjoying its 2nd year screening at Tribeca Film Festival. Additionally, Scott has been featured as an actor on "The Bold and The Beautiful", received an Emmy Nomination for his work on "Studio City", and is a consultant on HBO's "Euphoria" and "The Craft Movie". We talk with Scott about inclusivity vs. tokenism, the importance of recognizing our own privilege, and what he's looking to create next.

For more of Scott, follow him @turnerschofield and check out: "Becoming A Man in 127 Easy Steps" https://www.127steps.com/

Ted Talk "Ending Gender" https://bit.ly/3gPD1WW

Speaking of Transgender https://speakingoftransgender.com/

Janet Mock's Book "Redefining Realness" https://amzn.to/3h1Nhu6

The Trailer for the HBO Series - La Veneno https://bit.ly/2SRBp6c

Follow us @ @theriskingspace & subscribe, rate and share! And check out more about Ammunition Theatre Company @ www.ammunitiontheatre.com.

If you love us and want to support what we do, consider giving us a gift by clicking this Paypal link https://bit.ly/3gXUGL3 and sending your donation to [email protected].

Happy Pride!

Happy Pride! We begin the month talking to Queer, Latinx play and screenwriter Fernanda Coppel (Queen of the South, How To Get Away With Murder, Atlantic Theater Company, Second Stage). She gets real about her journey from Mazatlán to making art in commercial spaces, the pressures she feels as a woman of color and the Latinx superpowers she calls upon. Other topics include getting stuck on a professional "track," confidence and creatively thinking about career moves.

For more on Fernanda, follow her @fer_coppel10 on Instagram. Follow us @ @theriskingspace. And check out more about Ammunition Theatre Company @ www.ammunitiontheatre.com.

If you love us and want to support what we do, please subscribe, rate and share this pod and consider making a Paypal donation to [email protected].

Actor and voice-over artist Zehra Fazal (Halo in Young Justice, Nadia in Voltron) gets real about representation — on both the progress and the pitfalls in achieving equality in the entertainment industry.

As the proud daughter of Pakistani & Indian Muslim doctors, Zehra shares her road from Indiana to LA, the freedom she finds in voice-over, and the stories she'd like to see told. Celebrate AAPI heritage month with us and this multi-faceted bad ass!

For more on Zehra, follow her @zehrafazal on the socials.

Follow us @ @theriskingspace.

And check out more about Ammunition Theatre Company @ www.ammunitiontheatre.com.

If you love us and want to support what we do, please subscribe, rate and share this pod and consider making a Paypal donation to [email protected].

Thank you and happy risking!

When Ginger Gonzaga "came out" publicly about her bipolar 2 diagnosis in a Medium article, some close to her feared she might be stigmatized, but it's Ginger's mission to chip away at the shame associated with mental health diagnoses. In addition to being an incredibly successful actor, writer and director (Togetherness, Kidding, Space Force, I'm Dying Up Here, Your Day), she is a fierce mental health advocate. We talk trauma, the outrageous double standards around mental health and creative expression for men vs. women, and how, for her, art is the answer, the escape and her soul's purpose.

For more from Ginger Gonzaga, follow her on the socials @gingerthejester. Check out her short film Your Day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9MAf245Yag Here's a list of the books & resources we mentioned in the episode: Wired to Create by Scott Barry Kaufman https://amzn.to/3uJMp2W The Soul's Code: In Search of Character and Calling by James Hillman https://amzn.to/3fheDLU The Artists' Way by Julia Cameron https://amzn.to/3odoO8h The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk https://amzn.to/3tGXY9V Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert https://amzn.to/3fdelG2 Elizabeth Gilbert's TED Talk "Your Elusive Creative Genius" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86x-u-tz0MA And, for everything Deepak Chopra: https://www.deepakchopra.com/ If you love our pod and want to support what we do, you can send us a donation via PayPal https://www.paypal.com/us/home to [email protected]. Follow us @theriskingspace on Twitter & Instagram. And, for more on Ammunition Theatre Company, check out www.ammunitiontheatre.com Be well, riskers!

Michael Feldman is an incredibly successful comedic writer who has written for television's Kevin From Work, The Neighbors, Deadbeat and is currently staffed on AP Bio. He's also the writer, creator and producer of the wildly popular "Fairytale Theater: 18 and Over" which traveled to Edinburgh Fringe Festival and has been enjoying sold out audiences in LA for over 10 years. AND YET he still feels anxious about money. Roxie and Karla talk to Michael about his personal pitfalls with money and the business, his inherited beliefs and why choosing joy over profits works for him. Other topics include faith, heat lamps and stuffies.

If you love our pod and want to support what we do, you can send us a donation via PayPal https://www.paypal.com/us/home to [email protected].

Follow us @theriskingspace on Twitter & Instagram.

Check out more about Ammunition Theatre Company,www.ammunitiontheatre.com

South African comedian, actor, writer, mom and all-around super star Tumi Morake joins us to talk about her wild success and the decision to leave it all for America. As the first African woman to have a Netflix stand up special and host a late night talk show, Tumi shares the importance of living her truth, her drive for artistic expression and her commitment to living a life with no regrets. Enjoy this powerful conversation with this super mom and super wife who deeply believes that risk-taking breeds joy and success.

For more of Tumi, check out her comedy on Netflix and follow her on the socials @tumi_morake.

To hear Tumi storytelling, check out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnbiGSjKrrY

For more on her book "And Then Mama Said," check out: https://amzn.to/3mKEA9Z

Follow @theriskingspace on Twitter and Instagram and rate us wherever you get your podcasts.

The Risking Space is produced by Karla Mosely and Roxana Ortega in conjunction with Ammunition Theatre Company. For more on the company, check out https://www.ammunitiontheatre.com/.

Elna Baker is a master storyteller, comedian and producer for This American Life. We talk to Elna about her current journey back to self through ayahuasca therapy, her willingness to rewrite narratives about her body, her family, the Mormon faith she grew up with and why she chooses to walk the Fool's path. Other topics include gas lighting yourself, embarrassing moments in the boudoir and breathable fabrics.

Here's a link to Elna's book "The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance" https://bit.ly/3sH65U7

We also discuss "The War of Art" by Steven Pressfield and "The Denial of Death" by Ernest Becker.

Join our community @theriskingspace on Twitter and Instagram and please rate us wherever you get your podcasts.

The Risking Space is produced by Karla Mosely and Roxana Ortega in conjunction with Ammunition Theatre Company. For more on the company, check out https://www.ammunitiontheatre.com/