Why Not Me? with Mike Jackson

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Join host Mike Jackson as he uncovers the authentic stories behind success on 'Why Not Me?' With engaging interviews and practical insights, discover diverse paths to achievement and empower your own journey. Tune in and ask yourself: Why not me? Produced by Get Lifted Inc. and Rabbit Grin Productions

Mike Jackson


    • Feb 18, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 58m AVG DURATION
    • 37 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Why Not Me? with Mike Jackson

    Tika Sumpter: Soap Opera Stardom, Gossip Girl, & Working with Tyler Perry and Oprah

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2025 56:15


    On our final episode of Season 1, Mike is joined by Tika Sumpter! Tika talks all about growing up in New York, finding success on the soap opera One Life to Live and being nominated for a NAACP Image Award, being followed by paparazzi during the filming of Gossip Girl, getting to work with Tyler Perry, Oprah Winfrey, Robert Redford, and Chadwick Boseman, playing young Michelle Obama in Southside with You, what it was like producing a project A to Z, finding love, and so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Tim Story: From Making His First Movie for $30,000 to Directing Fantastic Four

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2025 65:01


    Tim Story is on the podcast this week talking all about the highs and lows of the film industry, attending film school at USC, inspiration he took from Kevin Smith's movie Clerks and deciding to make his first movie for $30,000, what he learned directing Barbershop that he applied to Fantastic Four, his mindset during tough times in the industry, living in true artistry, and so much more!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Prentice Penny: From Substitute Teacher to Showrunner on Insecure with Issa Rae

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2025 74:47


    Prentice Penny joins Mike on the podcast this week! He talks all about growing up in the heart of the filmmaking world in Los Angeles and working as a substitute teacher, to feeling inspired by Spike Lee and deciding to follow his passions. Prentice breaks down his career journey from getting his first writing gig, to learning the business from Brooklyn Nine Nine to Scrubs, all the way to becoming Showrunner on Insecure with Issa Rae. He shares wise words of wisdom about trusting your instincts, using time as your resource, and so much more!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Zuri Hall: Living A Life of Integrity & Becoming a National TV Host By 25

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2025 77:40


    Zuri Hall joins Mike on the podcast! She talks about her journey growing up in Toledo, Ohio and attending Catholic school, how she grew out of her shy personality, her first date being at her Senior Prom, having integrity in her reporting, the momentum she felt in TV hosting and setting her sights on going national by age 25, her experience hosting for E! News, Access Hollywood, American Ninja Warrior, and so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Bresha Webb: Run the World, Her One-Woman Show, & Viewing Auditions As Opportunities

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2025 54:19


    This week, Mike's good friend and talented multi-hyphenate artist Bresha Webb joins the podcast! She chats all about her move from Baltimore to Los Angeles, taking a gap year to figure out her acting goals, attending Cal Arts, finding her grit, working at Costco while handing out promos for her shows, creating her own one woman show, working on Run the World and Meet the Blacks, and so much more!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Robin Thede: A Black Lady Sketch Show & Being Your Authentic Self

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2025 78:00


    Robin Thede is on the podcast this week talking about her journey from Iowa to Hollywood, finding your voice in storytelling, the pursuit of your passions and what to pitch when you're given the opportunity, her advice to writers when they receive notes, the challenges of creating a sketch show, and so much more!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    BEST OF 2024: A Look Back at Favorite Episodes of Why Not Me with Mike Jackson

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2024 29:52


    In this special episode, Mike takes a look back at a few listener favorite episodes from 2024! This year Mike was joined in conversation by an entire roster of talented aritsts that have overcome hurdles to get to where they are today. In this episode, Mike chats about a few favorite moments from this past year and why these particular moments were so impactful. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    AMA with Mike Jackson and Bresha Webb

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2024 33:27


    This week on the podcast, Mike Jackson is joined by Bresha Webb for a special AMA! Bresha moderates questions for Mike submitted by listeners about his own career journey: how he got into the industry, what different producing roles mean, his biggest challenges and successes, his best advice for young people in the entertainment industry, and so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Cory Hardrict: The Significance of His Film Brotherly Love & Speaking Dreams Into Existence

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2024 53:53


    This week on the podcast, Cory Hardrict joins Mike! He talks about growing up in Chicago, the impact of losing his mom during his formative years, moving to Inglewood with no money, working at Kmart even after booking iconic roles in Never Been Kissed and Crazy Beautiful, the grind of auditioning, the significance of the film Brotherly Love, producing under his banner Hardcor Films, and so much more! Follow Why Not Me podcast on Instagram and Youtube! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Kerry Washington: The Success of Scandal and Django Unchained & Living Up to Her Parents' Prayers

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2024 79:37


    This week on the podcast, Kerry Washington joins Mike to talk all about her journey from growing up in the Bronx, to attending a private school and how that shaped her trajectory. She also talks about the impact of finding out her father was not her biological father, the fulfillment she found from playing characters like Olivia Pope in Scandal and Broomhilda von Shaft in Django Unchained, how public perception of her shifted after certain success, working with Reese Witherspoon on Little Fires Everywhere, what she hopes to pass on to her kids, and so much more! Follow Why Not Me podcast on Instagram and Youtube! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Stephen A. Smith: ESPN Success, Basketball Dreams, & The Value of Not Quitting on Yourself

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2024 74:19


    Stephen A. Smith is on the podcast this week talking all about the difficulty in navigating his complicated family dynamics growing up, what it was like losing a scholarship, his reaction when a mentor told him he was quitting on himself, the importance of learning the value of your word and not wasting someone's time, working for ESPN, and so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Yara Shahidi: Black-ish, Harvard, and The Optimist Project

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2024 50:22


    Yara Shahidi joins the podcast this week and shares all about her journey from growing up in Minnesota to attending Harvard—a dream she never initially envisioned. She reflects on the life-changing experience of starring in Black-ish, the profound impact the show had on society, and her passion for driving change in her community and beyond. Yara also discusses the lasting influence of Prince on her life, the unwavering support of her family, and the lessons she's learned along the way. Plus, she chats about her new podcast “The Optimist Project." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Leslie Odom Jr.: How Hamilton Changed His Life, Respecting His Artistry, and being a Multi-Hyphenate

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2024 62:39


    Leslie Odom Jr. joins the podcast this week! He talks all about how he was only 17 when he was offered a professional job on Broadway, moving from NYC to LA, working with legends like Lin-Manuel Miranda and Kingsley Ben-Adir, what success for his children looks like for him today, how Hamilton shaped not only his career but him as a person, memories from One Night in Miami, his passion for music and writing, and so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Aldis Hodge: Friday Night Lights, Working with Kevin Bacon and The Rock, and The Joy of Being a Parent

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2024 58:02


    This week on the podcast, the talented Aldis Hodge joins us! He talks about what it was like being raised in New York, the support he always got from his mother, starting in the industry at a young age alongside his brother, being proud of his identity, how actors like The Rock and Kevin Bacon shaped him, his time working on Friday Night Lights, his entrepreneurial spirit, and so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    La La Anthony: The Love Playbook, MTV Fame, and Uplifting Young Men at Rikers Island

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2024 46:41


    La La Anthony joins the podcast this week! She talks all about her journey from radio to film and TV, being told she was at the peak of her career as a young adult working for MTV, her favorite character she's ever played, her book and soon to be TV series, The Love Playbook: Rules for Love, Sex, and Happiness, what makes her feel wealthy (and it's not money!), her non-profit organization ThreeSixty's work rehabilitating young men who are incarcerated at Rikers Island, and so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Gabby Thomas: On Harvard, Winning Gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and Surviving a Health Scare

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2024 61:04


    This week, Gabby Thomas joins the podcast to share her journey—from moving to an all-white town in Massachusetts as a young girl to attending Harvard, where her coach had a game-changing heart-to-heart with her about running track. She talks about being named Ivy League Most Outstanding Track Performer two years in a row, turning Pro with New Balance, winning medals at the 2020 and 2024 Olympics, training in Austin, TX, and so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Jemele Hill: Growing up in Detroit, The Importance of Black Journalism Mentors, and Working at ESPN

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2024 78:45


    Jemele Hill joins the podcast to talk all about her tumultuous childhood growing up in Detroit, the “Why not me?” moment she had becoming the only black female sports columnist at a daily newspaper in North America, getting her own show, her new podcast Spolitics, and so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    D-Nice: Producing 'Self-Destruction,' Club Quarantine, and the Importance of Evolution

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2024 74:19


    D-Nice joins the podcast this week to talk about growing up in New York, encountering fame at a young age and how that shaped him, the support system he had in the entertainment idustry, producing the famous song” Self-Destruction" for the Stop the Violence Movement, what made him start Club Quarantine in 2020, how he continues to evolve as a creative individual and so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Quincy Isaiah: Leading man qualities, mental health, and the Magic Johnson sign-off he never got.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2024 72:58


    Quincy Isaiah joins the podcast this week to talk about booking the role of Magic Johnson in the HBO series Winning Time, what life was like post-filming, if Magic Johnson signed off on the TV series, understanding the producing process and his interest in directing, valuing therapy and taking care of your mental health, and so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Diallo Riddle: Stepping Out on Faith and What it's Really Like Developing a TV Show

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2024 49:39


    EMMY-nominated writer, actor, and show runner Diallo Riddle joins the podcast this week. He talks all about the struggle of figuring out how to pay for your life while you're pursuing your art, the confidence of your 20's you can use to your advantage, having faith in your dreams, what it's really like developing a TV show, his excitement for Sherman's Showcase live in Los Angeles, and so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    ALOK: Using Art as a Healing Ritual, The Value in Vulnerability, and Being a Tortured Poet with Taylor Swift

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2024 59:15


    ALOK joins the podcast to talk about the challenges they've come across as a trans person in the world of comedy, having to constantly prove their work, being disruptive to induce change, the feelings workshops they've led across the world, the value in vulnerability, taking inventory of the cost of not being yourself, crushing on Pedro Pascal, and so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Roy Wood Jr.: His Journey from Radio to Comedy, Becoming Just Like His Father, And Learning To Be Alone

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2024 72:12


    Roy Wood Jr. joins the podcast to talk about growing up watching his dad work in the radio business and the risks he took to get his own start, what he realized he had to do to stand out in the world where sports commentary meets comedy, what he wants his tombstone to read one day, and so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Michael Ealy: On Fatherhood, Life after Think Like a Man, and His Biggest Hollywood Crush

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2024 82:51


    Michael Ealy joins the podcast to talk about his acting journey from New York to LA, following his gut instincts, how fatherhood changed him, landing his breakout role in Barbershop, what it was like for his peers to see him in a new light after one life-changing role, his true thoughts on winning awards, and so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Sanaa Lathan: Touching the World With Your Art

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2024 69:18


    Sanaa Lathan joins the podacst to talk about how she found her path into acting, what it was like training for her role in Love and Basketball, how she wants to touch the world with her art, and so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Jay Ellis: Building an Acting Career & Navigating Hollywood

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2024 60:04


    Jay Ellis joins the podcast to talk about how he went from modeling in NY to acting in LA, what it was like starting out knowing nothing about the entertainment industry, the audition process for his breakout role on the TV show The Game, his experience working with Issa Rae on the TV show Insecure, and so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Charles D. King: Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2024 64:26


    Charles D. King joins the podacst to talk about growing up in Georgia, his journey from working as a traveling paper salesman to becoming a junior agent, and later Partner, at WME, starting his company, MACRO, what he thinks it really takes to success in the entertainment industry, and so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Blake Griffin: Valuing Empathy & Hard Work

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2024 64:32


    Blake Griffin joins the podcast to talk about what it was like growing up alongside his brother playing basketball, getting drafted in the NBA the same year as his brother, the impact Kobe Bryant had on him, his experience playing for the Clippers, and so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Adrienne Warren: On Playing the Iconic Tina Turner

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2024 69:06


    Adrienne Warren joins the podcast to talk about her journey finding her voice as a young artist, what it felt like to attend a school where she was the minority, her life changing experience playing Tina Turner on Broadway and what she learned from the icon herself, her advocacy work and finally getting recognized for making a difference, and so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Shanola Hampton: Stay Humble and Hungry

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2024 51:53


    Shanola Hampton joins the podcast to talk about being raised as a pastor's kid, growing up in South Carolina, what it was like hustling as a bartender even after she booked her role on Shameless, how she gave herself financial stability while pursuing a creative career, the impact her mom had on her, and so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Kelvin Harrison Jr.: Protecting Your Performance

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2024 52:08


    Kelvin Harrison Jr. joins the podcast to talk about the mistakes he made when he first found success as an actor and what he's learned since then, the best advice he got from a co-star, his perspective on continuing to evolve as a person, his role as a producer on future projects, and so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Jurnee Smollett: Being a Citizen of the World

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2024 49:57


    Jurnee Smollett joins the podcast to talk about the support she received from her mother early on in her acting career, what roles gave her a new perspective, how her mother instilled the importance of advocacy and education, what it was like working with Denzel Washington, and so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Gabrielle Union: Finding Strength Through Trauma

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2024 62:24


    Gabrielle Union joins the podcast to talk about her early days playing soccer and attending college in Nebraska, how modeling transitioned to her acting career, her experience with sexual assault and how that changed the trajectory of her life, the importance of advocacy, her most meaningful acting roles recently, and so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Candace Parker: Dedication to the Game and Family

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2024 59:40


    Candace Parker joins the podcast to talk about her love for basketball finding her at a young age, how being in a family who also played the sport shaped her, what it meant to win her first WNBA championship, having a winner's mentality, and so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Marlon Wayans: Alchemy and Cultivating Positive Energy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2024 59:06


    Marlon Wayans joins the podcast to talk about his belief in karma, holding space for our own humanity, how he brings a unique perspective to the projects he works on, forgiving to free yourself from pain, and so much more!

    John Legend: The Harmony of Life and Art

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2024 69:33


    John Legend joins the podcast to talk about his early memories of being drawn to the stage, his experience recording the first album he was ever on, the "why not me?" moment he felt getting a record deal, the world he envisions for his daughters, and so much more!

    Introducing...Why Not Me?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2024 1:53


    Join Tony and Emmy award-winning producer Mike Jackson as he brings you captivating conversations with incredible guests from the worlds of film, TV, sports, entertainment, and pop culture. Don't miss new episodes starting June 18th!

    Coming Soon...Why Not Me? with Mike Jackson

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2024 0:08


    Stay tuned and subscribe.

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