After plenty of interviews across four years, I spent the afternoon with one of my favorite people in the world, Joel McHale. Whoever said “never meet your heroes” obviously had the wrong ones because boy, am I blessed. This guy is the absolute kindest, most down-to-earth person you will ever know. Getting the chance to spend the day with him on the set of one of his projects was an absolute blast and so surreal. We had so many laughs and hugs and just good ‘ol conversation.
For more on this (coming soon), be sure to check out the Events & Appearances page on my portfolio. Y’all are in for a treat with tons of coverage coming your way at Collider! You won’t want to miss it! In the meantime, check out my interview with Joel and his Animal Controlco-star Ravi Patel, and hear about their experience working with Joel’s Community co-star, Ken Jeong.
One of my absolute favorite sitcoms this season has been Ghosts on CBS! If you haven’t tuned in yet, you are seriously missing out. It is incredibly funny, so cleverly written, and just wonderfully cast with a very talented and gifted group of performers that I love and respect so much and am honored to have in my life. I’ve had a chance to cover the show at PopCulture.com since its premiere last October and have been fortunate to chat with the showrunners and every cast member about their quirky characters and storylines every week. It might seem strange to say — call it fate or luck, but this beautiful, sweet and magical show landed in my lap at the most opportune time in my life when I had just lost one of my best friends to suicide and to have this show kind of fill in the gaps, and then chat with these wonderful, beautiful kind people about it has been a godsend and one that has left me in a new phase of life. One where I am the happiest I’ve ever been, while also filled with love and friendship.
With the series brilliantly encapsulating a sincerity with immense heart, reminiscent of a familiar hug, it brought to life a subject matter we rarely speak of and one I am grateful for. With the arts like film and TV being accurate representations of how we interpret life, Ghosts offers room to understanding grief in this affable, humorous containment of sorts. One that encourages healing with stories that are charming and permit reflection of that pain because it is understood and appreciated in terms of grief’s take on loss and rebuilding. Most of all and through conversations with the cast, it has opened up parts of my heart I haven’t recognized in a while and I am so grateful for it. Through conversations with these genuine spirits and the show’s sharp sense of humor, this series has shown me how valuable it is to be the things you loved most about those who are gone and I think that is the greatest testament to the ones we love. (For more on these thoughts and how the show brought to life a controversial theme, please read this.)
Go check out the coverage of the show here at PopCulture, and watch the show this summer on CBS! Below, check out a playlist of all my on-camera interviews with the cast, including Utkarsh Ambudkar, Asher Grodman, Richie Moriarty, Devan Chandler Long, Román Zaragoza, Sheila Carrasco, Danielle Pinnock and Rebecca Wisocky.
And check out some of my favorite micro-moments from our full-length interviews:
Hard to believe it’s March, but here we are! While I am 100 percent looking forward to spring and finally getting out of this winter hibernation that has made me part bear, I have been having so much fun at work thanks to an amazing team that is constantly hitting the goals we set out a year before. One of the coolest aspects of work that stems back to my initial passion for meeting people and talking about film and TV has been the virtual junkets, which I’ve managed to take part in since my first junket last September. One of the shows I had been absolutely waiting for in the literal past year was The Tourist starring Jamie Dornan and Danielle Macdonald.
Little back story — I have been a HUGE fan of Jamie Dornan for years! The Fall is one of my favorite TV shows and honestly, I was never the same after the Sheriff died in Once Upon a Time, lol. But to see Jamie work his way up and grab some really meaty, heartfelt roles like in Belfast or my favorite Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar, I was excited about The Tourist, and I am so glad to say that the show is every bit as phenomenal and well-done as you could imagine. If you love the Coen brothers and dark comedies, this is the one for you. See more of my full review of the series here.
Getting the chance to talk to Jamie about his complex role and lots more, watch the interview in its entirety above. I also spoke to his amazingly talented co-star Danielle Macdonald, whose interview you can see here.
For the full features of this story, head to PopCulture.
It’s not every day you get to talk to someone you look up to and truly admire, but my job is really humbling in that I get to really connect with those making an artistic difference, honoring our peace of mind and providing comfort and solace for the voids we cannot fill. Last week, I once again got that very sweet opportunity when I got a chance to chat with Michael C. Hall (!!!) and his bandmates, Peter Yanowitz and Matt Katz-Bohen of Princess Goes to the Butterfly Museum. While I have been a fan of Michael’s for years dating all the way back to the sheer blessing of watching Dexter, I have been listening to the band’s music this past year and am seriously OBSESSED. Like, seriously. There are so many songs that just tug at your heart and being, like, “Airhead” is a big one for me — and “Armageddon Suite” (and “Ketamine,” off their self-titled EP). Their music is so reminiscent of David Bowie, Joy Division, some early NIN and plays to such moody, thoughtful poetry. I just love it. Getting the chance to chat with this amazing, avant-garde trio about their kaleidoscopic music, what drives them and how they connect through songwriting, their overseas winter tour and so much more was really fun. I had a blast and am really excited to share this one with everyone! They are the nicest, kindest and sweetest guys. So affable and personable, I am excited for their North American tour, whenever that happens!
I also got to chat with Michael about Dexter because how could I not talk about it? Like, hello. That show was all I breathed, lol. In our interview for PopCulture.com, he teases with readers what fans can expect from the finale of Dexter: New Blood after that wild, explosive reveal in Episode 4 — and I got to say, I am stoked for this show. For more of that feature, check it out above or click the link below!
In my almost 13 years of news reporting and entertainment journalism, I’ve had some really fun experiences but this moment is definitely one for the books. I got a chance to attend my first ever movie junket for PopCulture.com and it was an absolute blast. Maybe even more so since it was surrounding one of my favorite TV shows — The Sopranos! Most humbled and grateful to be speaking to the very kind cast (Michael Gandolfini, Alessandro Nivola, Leslie Odom Jr., Michela De Rossi, Ray Liotta) and director (Alan Taylor) of the highly-anticipated prequel film, The Many Saints of Newark, it was a moment to remember and one I am so thankful for.
It’s a real blessing to be working in a field that is not only fulfilling with the chance to share and interpret social commentary and criticism through an art form like film with other cinephiles, but recognize that the privilege to work in a job like this is a real gift. These guys were so much fun (and oh my gosh, the absolute warmest and funniest) — be sure to watch the complete junket, hot off the press, above; and if you are interested in more awesome content from PopCulture.com, head to our YouTube channel for the latest.
Between working that hard deadline to running a 5K, to agonizing over that coveted date with the cutie from work, there’s no denying you’re going to sweat it out — quite literally. While sweating is an effective and healthy biological process that keeps us cool and prevents overheating, it can be a bit of a nuisance to your overall appearance.
According to a study from the scientific journal, PLOS ONE, when you’re sweating from intense amounts of stressful activities that put you under pressure, not only can others see it on you — but they can smell it too.
Staining your favorite top and emitting that intense bodily odor is a real world problem that sends so many of us in the pits. But a new innovative and gender-neutral product is making waves with consumers who are seeking a healthy and all-natural option to traditional antiperspirants.
After debuting Piperwai, the first naturally powerful, aluminum-free deodorant on ABC’s award-winning series, Shark Tank last December, Philadelphia-born founders and creators, Sarah Ribner, 26, and Jess Edelstein, 27, are taking their entrepreneurial venture to new heights with the highly anticipated stick applicator version of their popular product on Dec.15.
Call it an homage to my roots and how I initially started writing back in the day, but I absolutely love talking to those making a difference in their communities. I feel featuring and lifting up others who pay it forward is one of the more important aspects of feature writing. One such company I deeply admire is The Well, a nonprofit coffeehouse nestled in the heart of South Bend’s River Park neighborhood that donates 100% of its profits to helping residents. Introduced to this amazing cafe thanks to my father and his many visits for work to the city, I knew this was a company that others need to model their business strategy on.
In addition to hosting a slew of events, The Well will be hosting a Princess Fundraiser event to support Lauran and local Iraqi war veteran, Brian Cuyler as they fight to treat Brian’s Stage IV brain cancer.
For more information about The Well and the fundraising event, check out my latest for The Hudsucker where I chat with manager, Megan Chandler of The Well about coffee, community and social change.
Whether you call it java, brew, or jitter juice, it’s evident through the frantic morning rush to work you need your caffeine fix. Nestled between hundreds of Starbucks and the independent cafés is one glimmering coffeehouse making a difference, one cup at a time.
Situated in the heart of South Bend’s River Park neighborhood, The Well is the only nonprofit coffeehouse where 100% of the profits go back to the community. Utilizing a pay-what-you-want consumer plan with suggested price donations, customers can pay the amount they are capable of paying in exchange for ethical and delicious coffee.
If you know me, I’m pretty sociable and love doing interviews because I love getting to know people—especially through their passion. Someone that I have been working with professionally over the past year is a photographer that I truly respect and admire: Priscilla Kammerer of Priscilla K Photography. Situated in Indiana, Kammerer is a beautiful spirit and so very kind. Getting to interact and learn from someone like her about her craft makes my job so much more fun and purposeful, especially when I can feel inspired from like minds who appreciate creativity and follow their passion.
Anyway, I got pitched to write about boudoir photography for Womanista and it was very exciting! Everyone assumes boudoir photography is one thing, but it’s actually more about feeling sexy and comfortable in your own skin. It takes a really confident woman to be so daring in her own body (so commendable)—and it takes an even bigger heart like Kammerer’s to photograph without judgment. It’s a really great interview with some awesome tips—definitely check it out over at Womanista! It also features a beautiful gallery care of Kammerer and some incredibly gorgeous, gorgeous women.
Much to what you may think, boudoir photography is not at all about sex — it’s more about feeling sexy and comfortable in your own skin. With sessions focusing entirely on who you are through a personal side, the rising trend has grown rapidly in the last decade, becoming a favorite among many women.
Natural light photographer, Priscilla Kammerer of Priscilla K Photography shares with Womanista that boudoir sessions are just as much a gift for you as they are for your partner.
“I think a woman should do a boudoir session for more than one reason,” Kammerer says. “If done well, [she] should leave the session feeling confident, beautiful, and sexy.”
If you’re nervous to try a session, we’re here to dispel those anxieties. Boudoir, in all its femininity and liberation, can be very effective in boosting self-love and embracing your body without shame.
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