Wide Open with Ashlyn Harris

Roku’s Director of Content, Publicity and Talent Relations Nicole Wilcox joins the show this week to give a peek behind the curtain into how, why, and when certain stories get told in film and television. Nicole knows what it takes to bring a project into the world, build excitement around it, and make sure everyone is represented on screen. Ashlyn and Nicole discuss the art of documentary filmmaking and why accessibility to media matters. Plus, they dive into what it took to get Ashlyn’s documentary, Game Changers: The Ashlyn Harris Story made and what it’s like to have it out in the world.

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Comedian, actress, and now author Aida Rodriguez joins Wide Open this week to depart some of her infinite wisdom on all things motherhood, comedy, and finding the courage to truly be yourself. Aida and Ashlyn have a raw conversation on setting boundaries with family and the importance of teaching conflict resolution to their children. Plus, Aida tells Ashlyn all about her new book Legitimate Kid and how her upbringing made her who she is today.

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Climate change is a fact, not a question. If you’re watching the World Cup this summer, you’ll see players facing record-breaking heat head-on. As a former player, Ashlyn knows how hard heat is on these athletes’ bodies, not to mention the challenges of travel, dehydration, and overheating turf. To get a handle on what exactly the teams are facing this summer, Ashlyn is talking to sport ecologist Madeline Orr and CEO of the Korey Stringer Institute, Dr. Douglas Casa. In this special episode, Dr. Maddy Orr and Dr. Doug Casa discuss the conditions of the World Cup and warn that it is just a preview of how rising temperatures will affect the future of sports.

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On the Waking Up with Ryan podcast, coach Ryan Weiss explores how the first five minutes of your day can shape everything that follows. Through short daily audio and video episodes (10–12 minutes), he delivers powerful "moments of awakening" designed to interrupt the inertia of fear, ego, and judgment, helping listeners reconnect with themselves before the noise and demands of the day take over. Blending wisdom, meditation, and practical insight, Waking Up with Ryan offers a daily ritual that grounds, inspires, and empowers listeners to move through life with greater intention. More than just a podcast, it is an ongoing exploration of self-discovery, presence, and what it truly means to remember who we are.

Listen here and subscribe to Waking Up With Ryan on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts!

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Get ready, because comedian, actor, and writer Michelle Buteau is gracing Wide Open with her loud, boisterous, and infectiously-upbeat self. That larger than-life persona is intentional. In her career, Michelle refuses to tone herself down for the male gaze. She tells Ashlyn how she stays true to that value, where her confidence comes from, and why kindness and allyship are of the utmost importance in comedy today.

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Happy Pride month from Wide Open! For more of your favorite LGBTQ+ content, check out the Outspoken Network from iHeartPodcasts.

Legendary film, television, and theater producer Bruce Cohen joins Ashlyn for a conversation about what showing up for the queer community looks like now— when it’s more needed than ever. Bruce is best known for producing films “American Beauty,” “Milk,” and his latest documentary “Reclaim the Flag.” The doc shines a light on the political movement to take back the American flag from those who have co-opted it as a symbol of hate and division. Ashlyn and Bruce talk about the ways the documentary moved them, and the importance of political activism.

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Jordan Lucas went viral for being utterly himself. On CSUN’s men’s volleyball team, he snaps, flicks, waves, and serves more than just volleys on the court. He’s one of the few visibly gay male athletes we have right now, and today Ashlyn sits down with him to talk about what it took to live so openly. They discuss safety in men’s sports for queer people, the importance of leading by example, and Jordan’s mission to make sure everything is better for the next generation of players.

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Happy Pride month from Wide Open! For more of your favorite LGBTQ+ content, check out the Outspoken Network from iHeartPodcasts.

This week, Ashlyn welcomes Emmy award winning actor Laverne Cox to the show. Ashlyn talks to Laverne about the release of her new book, Transcendent, and what it was like writing about the challenges she faced in childhood. Laverne speaks about the importance of speaking out and supporting the queer community right now, the art of forgiveness, and the power in moving past your internal shame.

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Happy Pride month from Wide Open!  For more of your favorite LGBTQ+ content, check out the Outspoken Network from iHeartPodcasts.

This week, Ashlyn welcomes Tony winning director and choreographer Sam Pinkleton to the show. Sam has made a career out of bringing outrageous queer theatrics to the masses. At a time when queer and trans rights are in danger, Sam’s work proves that embracing your deepest, most unique self is the key to personal and communal joy. Ashlyn talks to Sam about the stunning rise of Oh, Mary!, his recent Tony nomination for Rocky Horror Picture Show, and the importance of not just chasing success—but chasing what you love.

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Do you ever feel like you have to split yourself between who you really are and who society tells you to be? Amy Chozick’s thrilling, vulnerable novel, With Friends Like You, explores that feeling from the perspective of a new mother. A former journalist who profiled figures like Lorena Bobbitt, Stormy Daniels and Elizabeth Holmes, Amy knows that a messy woman can be hard for the public to swallow. Amy and Ashlyn talk about the multiple selves they confront every day and about the new parts of herself Amy confronted while writing her book.

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