#WeNeedToTalk

On this episode of #WeNeedToTalk, Malynda chats with the founders of United Stages Collective, Sam Cook, Madison Prince and Matt Coleman. They talk about the purpose behind United Stages collective, culturally what they want to bring to the states, the need for representation within Indigenous and Aboriginal communities and what the future holds.

United stages collective is aiming to bring aboriginal Australian creative excellence to Hollywood. Their goal is to bring a different perspective to the Film and television industry as well as presenting the industry with the opportunity for more intersection and collaboration. 

On this episode of #WeNeedToTalk Malynda is joined by Comedian Zarna Garg. The two chat about her culture, her journey from India to America,  how she found her way into comedy and her view of America.

Raised in Bombay and living in multiple countries throughout the world, Zarna made her way to the United States at the age of 16. After losing her mother at 14 and facing the choice of an arranged marriage or leaving, she journeyed to America on her own. Her experience immigrating from India to the U.S fed into her deep love for storytelling. She builds her career on her passion for having fun while also sharing her life in America from an immigrant’s perspective. After receiving her B.S. in Finance from the University of Akron and J.D. at Case Western Reserve School of Law, she began exploring her love for comedy and became a screenwriter. From a lawyer and a mom to award-winning stand-up comedian and screenwriter, Zarna now uses her signature style to highlight the immigrant and American experience.

On this episode of #WeNeedToTalk, Malynda chats with Actress and Philanthropist Nikki DeLoach. They chat about her early start in the industry as an original 90's Mickey Mouse Club member,  her reason for being an avid supporter of Children's Hospital LA and The Alzheimer Association, being open about her postpartum journey, and  how she found her way to being a leading lady on the Hallmark Channel.

Born in a small town in South Georgia, Nikki DeLoach always knew she wanted to be an entertainer. She started dancing at the age of three, eventually adding singing, modeling and acting to her repertoire.  All her hard work paid off when at age 12, DeLoach became a member of The Mickey Mouse Club, alongside Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Ryan Gosling. After “MMC,” DeLoach spent several years in Los Angeles pursuing acting and landed a starring role opposite Mark Wahlberg and Bill Paxton in the feature film Traveller, and the TV series Misery Loves Company. She also played Anthony LaPaglia’s daughter in the
television movie Never Give Up: The Jimmy V Story. In 1997, DeLoach put her acting career on hold to enter the world of pop music, signing with RCA and BMG Records to become part of the
girl group Innosense. When the group disbanded in 2003, DeLoach returned to Hollywood and has gone on to enjoy a successful and diverse acting career.

On this episode of #WeNeedToTalk, Malynd chats with writer/actor and podcast host Clark Moore. The two have an in depth conversation surrounding the entertainment industry, race, content from the 90's and more. An invigorating conversation you want to hear! 

Clark is a Georgia native.

He is most known for his breakout role of "Ethan" in the hit Fox 2000 LGBT Teen rom-com, "Love, Simon" and for his recurring role of "AJ" on the CW's critically-acclaimed musical comedy "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend."

He is currently the host of "Soul Balm by Clark Moore" a podcast about healing and identity.

Clark graduated from Dartmouth College where he received a Bachelor's in History and Art History. He is currently conducting a research project in the School of History, Classics, and Archaeology at the University of Edinburgh with a focus on queer culture and identity in late-Imperial Russia. His research interests include material and visual culture, slavic studies, and queer history.

He has a background in Tech from his 3 years at Snapchat where he served as the Director of Community Outreach for Snap PRIDE and he consults for corporations and educational institutions and speaks on the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

In 2019, Clark was the recipient of the Human Rights Campaign Visibility Award.

On this episode of #WeNeedToTalk Malynda chats with Curve model and Actress Saje Nicole. The two talk about the body positivity movement, why it's important to find representatives for your career that align with your beliefs, and how the industry is working to change the perception of what beauty truly is.

Saje Nicole is a Model and Actress that is currently a finalist in the Sports Illustrated Swim Search 2021! She recently walked in Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty Vol. 2 Runway Show and can be seen in ‘Bad Boys III’ alongside Martin Lawrence and Will Smith. Saje has previously worked with brands such as Rare Beauty, SKIMS, Vogue Italia, Nike, Lu Lu Lemon, Savage X Fenty, Sports Illustrated, ILIA, and many more!.

Saje’s mission is to inspire women to pursue their dreams, and to do so unapologetically. She is passionate about advocating for size inclusivity and creating more diversity in the modeling industry.

On this episode of #WeNeedToTalk, Malynda chat with Emmy Award and Grammy Award Winning Artists Alisha Gaddis. They talk about applying activism to your artistry, the dynamic in her family life, how she maintains her mental health and sense of self, and what let her to write her book Mama's Milk and Me.

ALISHA GADDIS is an Emmy Award Winner (multiple nominations), multi Grammy Award Winner, writer, actress, best selling author, and producer based in Los Angeles. She is a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. 

 As a writer, Alisha and her writing partner, award- winning screenwriter Meg Swertlow, have optioned their romcom feature with Matt Baer Films and Four Leaf Films. The two are currently developing two Christas movies for Hallmark with TV darling/producer, Jessy Schram.  Alisha has published seven books with multiple publishers to critical acclaim

On this episode of #WeNeedToTalk, Malynda chats with American Idol alum David Hernandez. The two chat about his career journey, how coming out in 2016 affected his life and trajectory, what he learned about himself during the pandemic, and how important it is to stay humble. 

David Hernandez gained national attention with his dynamic voice and affable personality as an American Idol finalist. A true self-made artist with the potential to transcend any genre, David is a force to be reckoned with. 
In addition to American Idol, David has showcased his talents on The Ellen Show, The Today Show, MTV’s TRL, EXTRA, Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, Teen Choice Awards, & TV Guides’ Sexiest Stars to name a few.
With soulful powerhouse vocals, he has been touring the world while writing and producing his original music. Most notably he was invited to sing at the Inaugural Kick-Off Celebration ball for Barak Obama, performing alongside celebrity recording artists John Legend & Maroon 5.

David’s hit single, “Beautiful” reached the Top 100 of the Billboard Dance charts while the music video was a viral sensation. His recent releases this past year include self-produced songs & music videos, “Sorry”, “Kingdom” & his summer anthem, “Boomerang”. Additionally, his 23 song album “Kingdom:
The Mixtape” is available on all digital platforms. The new single & music video “ily.” Is available now on all digital platforms & the music video is available on YouTube with over 116k views.
David has streamed 57+ virtual shows and you can catch him live on Facebook weekly.

David counts Stevie Wonder, Ne-yo, Donnie Hathaway, Alicia Keys, Luther Vandross & Michael Jackson amongst his musical influences.

On this episode of #WeNeedToTalk, Malynda chats with CEO, Model and Behavioral Scientist Adaire Byerly. The two chat about the creation of her company Entertainment Mindest, how she uses science to get to the root of company communication issues, and why she enjoys working with creative minds the most. 

As the CEO/Founder of Entertainment Mindframe™, Adaire is hired by major Fashion, Sports and Entertainment companies to enhance their internal communication. Adaire does this by utilizing modern-day behavioral sciences and her own first-hand industry experience as a Fashion Model. She works to get to the root of any company communication issues – which can often stem from anxiety, depression, and verbal/email miscommunications. Adaire helps fill in the communication gaps between creative departments, teach professional skills, and help rebuild the communication structure within companies.

On this episode of #WeNeedToTalk, Malynda chats with Vocalist Connor Smith. The two chat about his journey of self discovery and identity, his past relationship with the church as a member of the LGBTQ community, his career and the recent Netflix documentary "Pray Away".

“You may not have heard his name before, but chances are you’ve heard his voice.” As a studio singer, arranger, and music producer Connor Smith has collaborated on a wide-breadth of major motion pictures, television shows, studio albums, video games, live shows, Disney Recordings®, and more. In 2018, Connor was signed to Disney Music Group, releasing an album with Disney’s critically-acclaimed a cappella group "DCappella” the following year. As a touring artist, vocal director, and guest soloist Connor has performed across the globe from renowned concert halls and recording studios to the stages of Universal Studios Hollywood and the Disneyland Resort. He has had the proud honor to be a guest soloist with the Golden State Pops Orchestra and Lviv Philharmonic in Ukraine, among others. In addition to his work as a performer and vocalist, Connor is an internationally-recognized choral composer, with published arrangements and compositions that are regularly performed worldwide by groups of all sizes and calibers.

10 more episodes left of Season 5 for #WeNeedToTalk! 

We will be back on Monday with a brand new episode!