The Open Up Podcast

Zehra Fazal opens up her experience and exceptional talent in multiple industries of Entertainment in the Season One Finale: in Games, TV, Animation and Voiceover - navigating the perceptions and representations of Muslim identity, handling identity sensitivities and narrative censorship in media, the "culture of White supremacy" that has trodden down parts of her career and life,

Actor Natasha Liu Bordizzo opens up about her trajectory from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword Of Destiny to Star Wars' Ahsoka - being first referred to by media as "Chinese takeaway", the truth of why she never wanted to be an actor, navigating her Mixed-Asian identity in life and work and the hope she's bringing to the table for the future of representation in Hollywood.Born

Riley Carter opens up about the legacy he created in UK Television history and the impacts he now navigates as a result, his battle to be seen beyond a 'trans' label and the importance of authentically informed story telling that would allow audiences and actors like him to communicate and exist outside of "the sad Trans story" alone.From Stretford, England, Riley is most recognise

Stacie Merriman opens up the huge and known issue of Hair care on set for Black artists in TV & Film, her own experiences of speaking up in the face of racist abuse and the consequences she suffered from the beginning of her career, the "D word" too many diverse artists face when they speak up for their needs, how unions become a critical part of the problem, and the shocking s

Entrepreneur, activist and educator Joshua Katcher opens up the world's of TV and Fashion to take us behind the scenes of his own journey navigating masculinity and femininity in an industry of historical "fashion gay" cliches, the exclusion of exclusivity, and his belief that "gender neutral fashion is the future" in the compassion fashion revolution. Also, Joshua shares his thoug

Actor and Writer Asha Bromfield opens up issues of colorism in TV and her mission "to help expand this idea of what Blackness is", believing that "there's power in our stories beyond our race", her own personal natural hair journey and the motivation to "feel beautiful, no matter what".Asha is an actress, singer, and writer of Afro-Jamaican descent. She is known for her role as Mel

Renowned Portrait Photographer Ryan Pfluger opens up about the unique struggles faced in his impressive career as a result of the "Queer Photographer" label placed on him, showing up as a true ally for all diverse artists in his field, and his continuing fight for the value of "the full spectrum of what I bring to the table".
Ryan is a born and raised New York photographer with a

TW // racism. TV Writer Cynthia Adarkwa opens up about the experience of being a Black woman in the TV writer’s room - sometimes the only one - and the pressures and problems that creates for both herself and what ends up on-screen, why she’s so much more than just a “good girl”, and her journey in answering one important question - “Do I belong here?”

TW // this conversation touches on suicide and homophobia. Writer and #1 NYT bestselling author Adam Silvera of viral hit title They Both Die At The End opens up about his journey taking queer characters of color from anonymous fan-fiction to No.1 on the New York Times Best Sellers List and where the publishing industry falls short for diverse storytellers.Adam also brought us the

TW // Racism, misogyny. Actor Candice Patton (The Flash) opens up about her experiences as the Black Female lead of the hit genre show, navigating depression and fighting to survive a set that drove her "so down [she had] no place left to go but up."Candice's work as an actress has proven her to be a versatile and dynamic talent in the entertainment industry. She currently plays th