Out Of The Spotlight

Welcome back to Out Of The Spotlight! After a nearly five-month walkout in the entertainment industry, we are excited to announce that the Writers' Strike has officially come to an end! After 148 days on strike, the writers walked away with an agreement... so we are back! We stood in solidarity with our fellow writers and now we can all return to doing what we enjoy and love.This week's episode is a really special one. We are highlighting a nonprofit organization that is making a huge difference around the world. Stephanie Gonzalez sits down to chat with Rebecca Welsh, the creator and founder of The HALO Foundation. HALO has one mission: Helping one more child spend one less day alone. HALO gives homeless kids a home in which hope emerges from hardship, poverty gives way to potential, and where drawings of the past unlock dreams of the future.Rebecca talks to Steph about how this mission came together, the inspiration behind it, and how we can help to decrease the growing rates of youth homelessness. HALO puts homeless kids on a path to a positive future and together we can all make a difference as well. With the holidays around the corner, we hope that this episode will inspire everyone to give back, support and love one another. To learn more about The HALO Foundation you can click here or visit HaloWorldwide.orgYou can also follow HALO on Instagram:  HaloEmpowersYouth

Welcome back to Out Of The Spotlight! The Writers Strike is a movement that's been heard around the world. On May 2, 2023 the WGA went on strike with one goal in mind - fair pay. This week, Stephanie Gonzalez sits down with Emmy award winning Writer, Executive Producer, and Director, Mark Blutman. Mark has been on the picket lines every day and has been joined by many other professional writers like himself who have paved the way for many. Actors have joined Mark each day as well, from former colleagues to familiar faces that we see on our screens. Due to this strike, writing work has come to a halt on many TV shows and numerous jobs are on the line.Leading and directing isn't foreign to Mark - he has been in the entertainment industry, or showbiz as he says, for a long time now. He is best known for Boy Meets World, Girl Meets World, Ghostwriter, Spy School and of course, So Little Time featuring Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. Storytelling is Mark's specialty so get ready to learn, laugh and live through his words. He tells us all about his writing process, favorite episodes he's written, and what he hopes we can accomplish through the Writers Strike.If you'd like to support the Writers Strike, please visit: https://entertainmentcommunity.orgYou can also follow Mark Blutman on Instagram.

Welcome back to Out Of The Spotlight! It's a big week for actor Jesse Garcia but he made time to chat with us. Stephanie and Jesse are bringing the heat this week as they talk about Jesse's new upcoming film, "Flamin Hot"! Jesse takes us back to how he got into acting, moving away from his small hometown in order to pursue a dream, booking his first ever role on his own, and being a voice within the Hispanic community. He also takes us behind the scenes of his latest movie "The Mother" which recently premiered on Netflix... and shares what it was like getting slapped by Jennifer Lopez. Both in the movie and in real life (don't worry, it was an accident). Jesse also tells us about his friendship to the amazing Eva Longoria and why they can't sit next to each other in serious settings. We all have that friend, right?Jesse is all about creating equal opportunities, representing the Latino community and going after your wildest dreams. "Flamin Hot" is based on a true story and has a phenomenal cast which includes Golden Globe & Tony Award winner Tony Shalhoub. Jesse shares what it was like portraying Richard Montanez and the message he hopes to send across through this film. Get ready to laugh, cry and feel inspired after watching "Flamin Hot". "Flamin Hot" premieres June 9th on Hulu and Disney+! 

Welcome back! This week, Stephanie sits down with her long time friend who happens to be an Olympic Medalist. Get ready to talk soccer, Olympics, World Cup and life lessons with former Professional Soccer Player and TV/Podcast host, Lauren Sesselmann! Lauren started her soccer career at the age of 12, but her first love was basketball. She played both soccer and basketball throughout her life and attended Purdue University for both sports. She set 6 records there and was named First Team All-Big Ten. And by the way - Lauren was recently inducted into the Purdue Hall of Fame.Lauren shares with Steph intimate moments when she was ready to give up, the negative comments she heard from coaches, and all the lessons she learned throughout her career. But the good news is that her hard work eventually paid off. Lauren went on to represent Canada in the Pan American Games, 2012 Olympics and FIFA World Cup. She is a huge mental health advocate and has many upcoming projects. From the big screen to a new line, she is ready for her next chapter. Listen to find out what Lauren has coming up as we get closer to the 2023 FIFA World Cup! 

You're killing me, Smalls! This week, Stephanie sits down with the one and only, Marty York!In case you haven't heard, this year marks the 30th anniversary of the iconic and legendary film, "The Sandlot".Marty is highly recognized for his role in the film as Alan "Yeah-Yeah" McClennan. From being chased down the mall by fans, to surprising members of the armed forces, Marty has been making people smile for a long time now.Marty began his acting career at a very young age. He starred in his first film alongside the hilarious John Candy. No big deal. He went on to star in sitcoms such as "Boy Meets World", "Saved By The Bell", "Hey Arnold", and more. In this episode, he shares a few behind the scenes moments which include a few "The Sandlot" secrets... So how long did it take Squints to film the pool kissing scene? Hint: Hours!Marty was involved in a really bad car accident at the age of 17 and decided to step away from the industry for a few years. But it was during this time that he learned about nutrition, working out, and taking care of his health. This is when his fitness journey and love for working out began.He gets candid about the ups and downs, and tells us about his younger sister, Nadia, who passed away due to an overdose. Marty is passionate about helping those who are battling addiction and is a huge advocate for addiction recovery. He also gives advice to aspiring actors and tells us all about his upcoming projects.Marty and his Sandlot castmates have a very busy year ahead of them. They will be traveling to different cities for meet and greets, panels, Q&A's and more. Make sure to check out "The Sandlot" schedule and see if they're coming to a city near you! You can also follow Marty York on Instagram, and don't forget to watch his new documentary.Legends Never Die!

Welcome back to Out Of The Spotlight! This week we are joined by someone who has forever changed the world of soccer. We are talking about the one and only, Meghan Klingenberg! Meghan has been a fan favorite since day one. She is a one-time FIFA Women's World Cup champion and recently won her second NWSL Championship... So yes, she is pretty freaking good at playing soccer but there is way more to her story.Meghan and Stephanie will talk about how her soccer career kicked off, being absolutely nervous when she was called up to the US Women's National Team, winning the 2015 World Cup, and her time in the spotlight during that crazy year.We also get to hear about her favorite person ever, her brother Drew. Shoutout to Drew!Meghan also talks about her time on the Houston Dash which eventually led her to her current team, the Portland Thorns. And of course, she takes us back to winning the 2022 NWSL Cup and all the hard work it took getting to that trophy.Her wish is to leave this beautiful game better than before. Her hope is that all the work she is doing right now will create a level playing field.In 2019, Meghan joined forces with teammates Megan Rapinoe, Tobin Heath, and Christen Press and together they founded "Re—Inc". She explains why and how their lifestyle brand came together. And yes, there will be a rapid fire session - Meghan and Steph will forever be known as the rapid fire masters. There are many amazing takeaways from this conversation so get ready to have Meghan take you behind the scenes of her wild ride so far. And this is just the beginning! * Reminder: The 2023 NWSL season kicks off Saturday, March 25! 

Welcome back to Out Of The Spotlight! This week, Stephanie is joined by Professional Rugby Player, Christian Dyer. Christian is making a difference not only on the field but in front of the camera as well.From an ACL tear to not making the Olympic team, Christian has overcome a lot of obstacles in his career. However, he is thankful for these setbacks and considers them some of the greatest blessings and lessons. After recovering from his ACL injury, not only was Christian an important key player for USA Rugby, but he eventually joined the Houston SaberCats in his MLR debut. He helped Houston make the playoffs for the very first time in history and is confident that they will have another successful season in 2023. Christian recently premiered his podcast, "The Chase", where he features different guests who share their life lessons while chasing their dream. Get ready to feel inspired and don't forget to also check out "The Chase" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. 

Welcome back to Out Of The Spotlight! This week, Stephanie is chatting with Actress, Entrepreneur, & Mental Health Advocate, Nadia Simms. Nadia has been modeling and acting for as long as she can remember, and has starred in many TV and film roles. You probably remember her from "Fargo" alongside Chris Rock, or perhaps "Innocent" on FOX. Nadia currently stars on "Family Reunion" on Netflix alongside Tia Mowry & Cameron Wright... It's absolutely hilarious! And her upcoming project? A Christmas movie sequel just in time for the holidays. You can catch Nadia on "A Christmas Gift" premiering December 22nd on BET. Nadia is also passionate about mental health and spreading the message of self-love. Which is why she created her own cosmetic line YummiPop Cosmetics. Check it out!

Welcome to Out Of The Spotlight. This episode was really tough to record but we really hope it did our amazing friend, Grant Wahl, justice. Grant Wahl was an American journalist who paved the way for soccer in America. Many people also know him as the journalist who discovered a 17 year old Lebron James and put him on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Grant's love and passion for the beautiful game was unstoppable and contagious. If it involved soccer... Grant was there. He treated each player with kindness and was a truth seeker. His goal was to introduce soccer to everyone while bringing communities together. He also fought for equality in the women's game and in life. Grant and Stephanie met back in 2010. Stephanie's best friend and former pro soccer player/reporter, Temryss Lane, was with her that evening and they all quickly became best friends. At that time, there weren't many female soccer reporters. But Grant was always willing to include Steph and Temryss in every conversation, in every event. So we figured that Temryss would be the perfect guest this week to chat all things Grant and futbol with Steph.Grant was supposed to be a guest on Out Of The Spotlight next month, so it's super hard to be writing about him in this manner. As a past tense. However, we find some comfort in knowing that he passed away doing what he loved the most - covering a WORLD CUP. His 8th to be exact. Grant's legacy will live on forever. The impact he has made will never be replicated. He is the definition of kindness. And the true definition of courage.If anyone ever asks what a journalist should be... just look up Grant Wahl. Grant's love for soccer, his many stories, and the people he brought together will live on forever. We're sending all of our love to his wife, Dr. Celine Gounder, his brother Eric Wahl, his entire family, and the soccer community he loved so much.We love you Grant Wahl. THANK YOU.

Welcome back to Out Of The Spotlight! To know Stephanie is to know that "Boy Meets World" is one of her favorite TV shows of all time. And this week, she is joined by Actress, Trina McGee! Trina is a sitcom icon who opened the doors for so many important conversations. Her "Boy Meets World" character, Angela, made a lasting impact on the show and for viewers. Angela's relationship with Shawn Hunter was one of the first interracial relationships that we had seen on TV at the time. And who can forget Shawn & Angela? Before joining the cast, Trina starred in movies alongside Sylvester Stallone and Robin Williams.Trina has a lot of knowledge under her belt when it comes to acting, working hard, and enjoying life. She has maintained true to herself over the years and is very open about behind the scenes moments that occurred during her time on the show. Why wasn't she on the very last episode of "Boy Meets World"? Trina has no problem with sharing what truly happened. Dream, Try, Do Good!You can follow Trina McGee on Instagram and TikTok.

Welcome back everyone! This week, Stephanie is joined by Actor and Rapper, Maxwell Simkins! Maxwell has starred in numerous TV shows and movies such as Bizaardvark, Meet The Coopers, The Sleepover and The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers - just to name a few. He shares a few behind the scenes stories, including what it was like to work alongside Timothee Chalamet and Emilio Estevez (THE Coach Bombay). Maxwell also gives us an inside look on his rapping career and future work. Also... why does Maxwell dislike Thanksgiving food so much?! Listen to find out.Warning: Get ready to laugh!You can follow Maxwell on Instagram. 

Welcome back to Out Of The Spotlight! It is an honor to say that this week, Steph is chatting with the one and only, Cheryl Burke!Cheryl has been part of Dancing With The Stars for 26 seasons now and her presence in the ballroom is breathtaking. The way she moves on the dance floor is so beautiful, but her story to recovery has touched so many people as well. Cheryl has been very open about her journey to sobriety. She recently announced that she celebrated 4 years of her sobriety, which is a huge milestone. She has also shared her divorce with all of us through her podcast, Burke In The Game. "It is ok to not be ok." This is Cheryl's message, which also includes self-love. Get ready to feel inspired.You can follow Cheryl Burke on Instagram and listen to her Podcast, Burke In The Game on Apple Podcasts.

Welcome back everyone! Since it's the last week of October, we figured this would be the perfect time to bring you a Hocus Pocus, LEGEND! This week, Stephanie is joined by actor, musician and songwriter Larry Bagby. Larry has been part of numerous historical TV and film moments such as Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Walk The Line alongside Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix. And let's not forget... Hocus Pocus where he played the unforgettable Ernie also known as ICE!Larry shares his love for songwriting, his upcoming music video, a movie he is currently shooting called "Horizon" alongside Kevin Costner and more. Plus, he is very open about many Hocus Pocus behind the scenes moments. Oh and does Larry know who kept the cross trainers?! You don't want to miss this one. It's just a bunch of Hocus Pocus!

Ducks Fly Together! Stephanie is joined by Actress, Taegen Burns to talk all things The Mighty Ducks, Monarch, acting, hockey and more. Taegen is as real as they come and has been part of some historical film and TV moments. She has worked alongside Emilio Estevez, Dennis Quaid, Susan Sarandon, Josh Duhamel, and more. From wigs to having to bleach her eyebrows, she talks about what it truly takes to get into character.Taegen currently stars on The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers.  And by the way... Season 2 just premiered! You can watch her and the Ducks every Wednesday on Disney Plus. You can also catch Taegen on Monarch on Fox. You can follow Taegen on Instagram: @Taegen.Burns

Welcome to Out Of The Spotlight! This week, Stephanie is chatting with childhood friend, Mental Health Advocate, and Blogger, Whitney Webster.  Whitney is very open about her own struggles with mental health. She is dedicated to raising awareness daily through her social media and blog, Life Of Whit Web. Her message is simple: You are NOT alone. On this episode, Whitney and Steph talk social media, mental health, always asking for help, and showing up for your friends. Whitney has learned a lot about herself throughout her journey with mental health and has so much advice to share. She gives credit to athletics, but also recognizes that being diagnosed and receiving treatment has been tremendously helpful. To stay in touch with Whitney or if you have any questions for her you can email: lifeofwhitweb@gmail.com or send her a Direct Message here.We hope that this episode is helpful and life changing for everyone listening. "If you or someone you know is in crisis or just simply needs to talk to someone, you can call or text 988."Sending you all so much love!

Let's talk Big Shot! Stephanie is joined by Actress, Cricket Wampler. Cricket has been acting for pretty much her entire life and has a lot of experience under her belt. She currently stars on "Big Shot" alongside John Stamos, which airs on Disney+. From dancing to acting to basketball, Steph and Cricket waste no time and get right into it. We also get a "Big Shot" Season 2 sneak peek, as well as a few behind the scenes stories. Also... has Cricket figured out John Stamos' secret to great hair? You'll have to hear for yourself!

Roll out the red carpet! Stephanie is excited to reconnect with Entertainment Reporter, Chelsea Briggs. From Ed Sheeran to Cyndi Lauper, Chelsea has interviewed numerous celebrities. She has been in the entertainment industry for 12 years now, so you probably recognize her from Hollywire, Billboard, LiveOne and more. Stephanie and Chelsea have a lot in common due to their careers and work ethic, so they share a few behind the scenes moments while giving their best advice to aspiring reporters.  And yes... Chelsea talks about that infamous red carpet moment with Shawn Mendes!

Stephanie is joined by friend and 2022 Major League Rugby Champion, Sam Windsor! When they first met in 2018, Sam tried teaching Steph how to play rugby - and this shows how passionate Sam is about growing the game in the US. Sam grew up in Australia and his love for rugby started at a young age. His career brought him to Houston followed by New York.This year has been HUGE for Sam and Rugby New York since they just won the 2022 MLR Championship! Sam takes us back to that big day and also gives advice to aspiring players. 

Welcome back to Out Of The Spotlight! Stephanie is excited to be joined by her friend who happens to be really good at soccer, AJ DeLaGarza. Many people know AJ as a talented professional soccer player who has made a HUGE difference in Major League Soccer. AJ was a key player, alongside David Beckham and Landon Donovan, who led the LA Galaxy to three historical MLS Cup Championships. And now he plays for the New England Revolution alongside his partner in crime, Omar Gonzalez. If you follow AJ, you definitely have heard of "Luca Knows Heart" - an initiative he created after losing his newborn son, Luca, due to a heart defect. AJ is as strong as they come, both on and off the field. Listen to get to know him more!

You think you know... but you have no idea. Stephanie is joined by the oh so fabulous singer/songwriter, Rossi! They talk songwriting, pop music, 80's, Caliwater, and being besties with Vanessa Hudgens. Also, Rossi gives us a sneak peek of a huge upcoming live performance alongside the queen herself, Christina Aguilera. Rossi's new song "7 Minutes" is out NOW!

Welcome back to Out Of The Spotlight! You may know this week's guest as an expert on the hit TV show "Married At First Sight" or perhaps you've read her book "The 4 Intimacy Styles".  Dr. Viviana Coles joins Stephanie to chat about what it takes to have a fulfilling relationship, advice for single people, reality tv, her career path and... Jared Leto. Whether you're in a relationship or not, this episode is for you! Learn more about Dr. Viviana Coles and her book "The 4 Intimacy Styles" at: www.DoctorViviana.comwww.4IntimacyStyles.com

From the Olympics to The Bachelor, Olympian Marlena Wesh joins Stephanie this week to chat about her life experiences. Marlena didn't make her school's soccer team... so she became an Olympian. She got out of an unhealthy relationship... but refused to give up on love and went on The Bachelor.One thing is clear, if there's an obstacle in front of her - Marlena refuses to give up.Also... will we see her on Bachelor In Paradise this summer?!

Welcome to the 1st season of Out Of The Spotlight! Our first guest is someone who made history in the comedy world. He went the extra mile to launch an all-Black comedy night at The Comedy Store... and there was no looking back.  His new documentary "Phat Tuesdays: The Era Of Hip Hop Comedy" is out on Prime Video. Get ready to learn and laugh (a lot) with comedian/actor Guy Torry!

The trailer is here! Out Of The Spotlight, hosted by Stephanie Gonzalez - premieres April 5th! Subscribe now to stay tuned for Episode 1.