Bradley Jaden

Lawrence Zarian interviews Tatyana Ali about self-image at age 46 while working in DC during Black Maternal Health Week, emphasizing gratitude, presence, and being “enough.” Ali explains the week’s role in drawing attention to Black maternal health amid healthcare cuts, hospital closures, and “maternal care deserts,” and stresses that Black women are three to four times more likely to die in childbirth, with over 85% of deaths preventable due to systemic healthcare bias, lack of consent, and inadequate postpartum care. She shares her own obstetric violence experience and how respectful care with a Black midwife shaped her expectations and inspired Baby Yams blankets and quilts, which fundraise for doulas, midwives, and scholarships. Ali also reflects on child-actor life, regaining confidence after industry cruelty, memories from Fresh Prince, Broadway work in Fences, and advice to pursue art locally; she ends by saying she is beautiful because she never gives up.Menu: 00:00 Twin Banter01:40 Mirror Moment Enough04:30 Black Maternal Health Week06:00 Care Deserts And Joy08:23 Why Death Rates Higher10:18 We All Belong Story15:05 Baby Yams Origin20:12 Ashley Banks Spark21:23 Finding The Cipher24:44 Early Acting Beginnings26:38 First Fresh Prince Day28:20 Tom Jones Singalong29:33 Fresh Prince Cast Texts30:27 Desert Island Pick31:47 Life as Raspberry32:36 Broadway Fences Memories35:32 Duet Dreams Rejection37:12 Advice for Artists41:45 Surprised by Life44:17 Kindness Much Expected48:55 Beautiful Because Closing

LZ interviews West End leading man Bradley Jaden, recently seen as Inspector Javert in Les Misérables: The Arena Concert at Radio City Music Hall, about the show’s renewed impact and Jaden’s approach to portraying Javert with increasing vulnerability and a visible “slow demise.” Jaden discusses moving to New York and feeling lonely and overwhelmed by the sudden shift in attention, navigating introversion in an extrovert-facing career, losing significant weight after being told it would help his success, and living with body dysmorphia. He shares surviving a suicide attempt and how Les Mis has been therapeutic, enabling open conversations about men’s mental health. They also cover his asthma as a childhood challenge that became a “superpower,” his stage name’s origin, his support network, and end with a brief lyric exchange and Jaden’s statement, “I… am beautiful because… I love deep.”Menu: 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro01:23 Mirror Check In03:44 Les Mis Resurgence05:02 New York Adjustment09:09 Introvert in Spotlight10:16 Weight and Image Pressure13:57 Stage Name Origin15:09 Career Gratitude and Growth18:53 Support Network and Mentors24:57 Why His Javert Hits Different26:58 Javert Foundations and Auditions31:57 Mental Health and Method41:30 Audience Connection and Purpose43:30 No Singing Lessons Reveal44:01 No Sheet Music Needed44:51 Finding Purpose in Small Wins45:24 First Auditions and Miss Saigon Break47:12 Les Mis Praise and Afterglow48:09 Google Rumors and Relationship Truth50:17 Learning Self Love50:39 Five Things I Like About Me53:58 Asthma Turned Superpower55:58 Rapid Fire Broadway Picks59:15 Singing Challenge and Stars Tease01:05:58 Heartfelt Wrap Up and Beautiful Because

LZ interviews Jennie Garth on his podcast, discussing her book “I Choose Me,” its conversational tone, and themes of embracing emotions, acknowledging automatic negative thoughts, setting boundaries, and prioritizing time after loss and grief. They talk about Garth’s upbringing in Illinois, her parents’ influence as educators who modeled helping others, self-reliance, and women’s empowerment, and how these lessons shaped her purpose. Garth shares memories of her father’s death in 2008, missing his passing by moments, and reflects on the gifts her parents gave her. She recounts being cast on “Beverly Hills, 90210,” the intensity and global fame that left her feeling she missed a decade of personal development, and her bond with Luke Perry, including what he taught her about giving people what they need. They touch on co-parenting and healing conversations with ex-husband Peter, QVC work, and close friendship moments, ending with Garth’s statement: “I am beautiful because I love deeply.”Menu: 00:00 Pre Show Chaos01:24 Outfit Compliments02:32 Book Sets The Tone06:35 Be Emotionful Excerpt08:39 Negative Thoughts Tools10:34 Aging Time Boundaries12:44 Family Roots Midwest14:15 Loss And Lessons17:44 Parents Gifts Values21:11 One Word Seeker23:27 Messy Middle Wisdom26:29 Crush Confessions28:30 Dance Modeling Origins30:50 Headshots And Identity31:58 Dad Sees the Dance32:50 Finding a Future33:51 Landing 9021036:22 First Days on Set37:44 Fame Bubble and Lost Years41:42 Luke Perry True Love48:59 Cast Bonds and Missing Links50:40 Desert Island and Ear Sniffs55:36 Kelly Meets Jennie01:00:25 Divorce Healing with Peter01:04:32 Hustle and Rapid Fire01:06:59 Closing Beautiful Because

LZ welcomes Debra Lee to “You Are Beautiful,” sharing his recent duet with Kelly Clarkson and introducing Lee as the former BET leader behind major cultural programming. Lee recounts growing up amid segregation, learning to sew from her mother, and formative experiences with race, education, and ambition that led to Brown and Harvard Law, then a shift from Steptoe & Johnson to BET after meeting founder Bob Johnson. She discusses building BET’s legal department, leading the network through major growth, and the legacy of shows and events including BET Awards, BET Honors, and “The Game.” Lee explains launching the Debra Lee Collection of Italian-made handbags named for loved ones, including her late son Quinn, and promotes debraleecollection.com. She addresses divisiveness, attacks on DEI, advice on navigating abusive workplace relationships, and her memoir “I Am Debra Lee,” including her abortion decision and Me Too experience, ending with her definition of beauty as caring about people.Menu: 00:00 Late Start and Big News00:16 Dream Duet With Kelly01:06 Why Debra Matters Now02:26 Debra Lee Collection Origins04:28 Growing Up With Segregation08:19 First Job and Hair Bias12:31 Why Handbags and Luxury15:51 Naming the Bags Family Tribute19:29 Timeless Investment and Quality22:20 Third Phase Reinvention28:33 Navigating Hate and DEI Backlash34:09 Treat Everyone With Dignity36:31 Basic Human Needs37:29 Why BET Changed Everything39:30 Leading BET to Excellence41:36 Programming Legacy Highlights43:24 Leaving After 32 Years44:10 Mirror Question Self Image47:39 Memoir Purpose and Lessons49:26 Me Too and Abuse Story52:45 Advice for Getting Out55:54 Fun Rapid Fire Questions01:08:15 Beauty Definition Farewell

LZ opens the podcast with playful Italian banter and a warm introduction of guest Marco Calvani, praising his work as a playwright, filmmaker, actor, and director, including Netflix’s The Four Seasons (as Cloud) and his film High Tide. They recount meeting at the LA Magazine Pride event, discuss the importance of making people feel seen, and reflect on kindness, dismantling patriarchal thinking, and “surrendering to the unknown.” Lawrence shares his sobriety and family history, while Marco describes losing his parents young, finding guidance through theater, later uncovering anger, and forming new ways of connecting with his parents’ memory. Marco names mentor “mothers” Francesca De Sapio and V (Eve Ensler), explains meeting his husband Marco Pigossi during the pandemic, and describes discovering fear, anxiety, and self-love that fueled his writing and career shift. They touch on sibling dynamics, rapid-fire hypothetical questions, and close with affirmations of gratitude, plans for dinner, and a promise to collaborate creatively.Menu: 00:00 Cold Open Banter00:19 Italian Greetings Bit01:33 Marco Calvani Intro05:12 First Meeting Story08:28 Finding Your Tribe11:00 Being Seen and Kindness13:43 Surrender to Unknown15:25 Parents and Light18:25 Theater as Lifeline20:50 Anger and Healing24:58 Chosen Family Mentors29:46 Siblings and Notes31:01 Twin Competition Journey32:44 Brotherhood and Dating Twins33:15 How Marco Met His Husband35:33 Pandemic Self Discovery38:12 Meditation and High Tide Breakthrough39:50 Identity Trauma and Choosing Light42:49 Protecting the Writer Within46:31 Four Seasons Character Talk48:52 Fun Hypotheticals and Dinner Guests52:03 Mirror Questions and Beautiful Mantra54:34 Work Together and Warm Goodbye

LZ opens his “You Are Beautiful” podcast and interviews Tan France about what makes people feel beautiful, personal style, and self-image. Tan shares his daytime and evening go-to outfits, love of jewelry, and his husband’s style influence, then discusses coping with online criticism and the broader culture of cruelty. He reflects on looking in the mirror, gratitude for health after a recent benign scare, appreciation for his Pakistani skin after years of hating it due to racism, and his birth name pronunciation. Tan recounts learning to sew as a child to make clothes for his mother and sister, navigating being queer and not fully out to family, and the nuance of being a visibly gay Muslim on Western TV. They discuss Queer Eye’s impact, production time with participants, meaningful and difficult “heroes,” Tan’s struggle with aging, marriage priorities, and advice for finding style by borrowing inspiration and building your own.Menu: 00:00 Welcome You Are Beautiful00:53 Meet Tan France01:50 Signature Style Staples06:09 Handling Online Hate12:23 Mirror Check Self Image15:45 Learning To Love Skin17:11 Real Name Roots18:41 Fashion Spark Sewing21:50 Queer Eye Coming Out25:08 Representation And Stakes27:27 Rock Bottom Realization27:37 Early Attraction Awakening28:00 Dad’s Store Lessons29:14 Watching Queer Eye Hurt30:31 Why Style Matters31:08 Makeover Intimacy Method32:02 Queer Eye Time Limits34:07 Choosing Stores and Stylists36:31 Hero Who Changed Him37:58 When Heroes Resist38:38 A Racist Hero Incident40:53 Favorite Feel Good Episodes42:01 When Self Care Slips44:13 Struggling With Aging46:33 Gay Men and Beauty Pressure48:48 Off Camera Fab Five51:15 Marriage Secret Sauce52:12 Dating and LA Insecurity53:39 Finding Signature Style54:58 Beautiful Because Authentic

LZ introduces his podcast “You Are Beautiful,” born from pandemic isolation, weight gain, and his Achilles rupture, and welcomes Melissa Etheridge. Etheridge says she learned “mirror work” during chemotherapy for breast cancer 22 years ago, training herself to say “Hello, gorgeous” and define beauty from within. They discuss oneness, choosing one’s feelings, and course-correcting negativity through gratitude and staying general rather than focused on life’s details. Etheridge describes a major awakening after over-consuming cannabis edibles, later followed by her breast cancer diagnosis, which propelled study of spirituality and plant medicine. She speaks about son Beckett’s opioid addiction and death in May 2020, emphasizing, “I cannot get sick enough to make a sick person well.” Etheridge recounts her musical beginnings in Kansas, coming out, early women’s-bar circuit, discovery at Pasadena’s Vermie’s, the “Bring Me Some Water” breakthrough, her bald 2005 Grammy performance during chemo, and writing her new album “Rise,” including “Call You.” They discuss advice for LGBTQ people and parents, and she advises LZ for his upcoming duet with Kelly Clarkson, then sings a snippet of “I Wanna Come Over.”Timestamp Menu: 00:00 Welcome You Are Beautiful01:07 Why This Podcast Exists03:03 Melissa Mirror Work05:01 Oneness Gratitude Reset09:16 Advice For Angry Mornings13:44 Awakening Cancer And Cannabis18:15 Loss And Loving Through Addiction24:51 Leavenworth Roots First Guitar27:10 Coming Out And Early Career29:51 Finding Work in LA30:12 Underground Women’s Scene30:48 Label Pressure and Coming Out32:36 Breakthrough Single Origins36:07 Chemo and Grammy Comeback39:38 Awards and Artistic Purpose40:57 Songwriting Process and Inspiration43:18 Rise Album and Personal Loss46:13 Strength, Identity, and Community48:29 Advice for LGBTQ People and Parents52:16 Duet Prep and Stage Confidence55:06 Romance, Stalker Song, and Farewell

Over Zoom, Lawrence Zarian interviews Ellen Burstyn ahead of their in-person meeting on The Kelly Clarkson Show, reflecting on divine timing and how his pandemic-born podcast explores how entertainers see the world differently. Burstyn discusses promoting her poetry book and her discomfort with “commercializing” something sacred, emphasizing her goal of introducing poetry to people who don’t know it; Zarian shares how the book gave him language for grief, citing Maya Angelou and Rumi, and Burstyn recites Edna St. Vincent Millay’s “Love is not all.” Burstyn recalls a childhood split between being popular at school and hiding at home due to an abusive stepfather, and how poetry helped her envision a future. They discuss forgiveness, therapy, sobriety, and generational trauma, then touch on colleagues and projects including Cloris Leachman, Jack Nicholson, Alan Alda, Linda Blair, and roles like Lois in The Last Picture Show, ending with Burstyn completing “I, Ellen Burstyn, am beautiful because…” with a memory of her mother.Timestamp Menu:01:51 Universe and Timing03:04 Mirror Question03:54 Poetry Book Doubts09:01 Poetry Awakening09:53 Two Lives Growing Up15:42 Forgiving Mom17:40 Trauma and Sobriety24:47 Poems for Grief29:33 Favorite Poem Recital32:07 Poetry as Healing33:21 Central Park Cherry Blossoms35:32 Fashion and Self Love37:39 Rapid Fire Film Memories42:43 Internet Myths and Truth44:24 Alan Alda and Friendship48:07 Women and Equal Partnership52:13 Revisiting Past Characters54:03 Longing Poem and Farewell55:55 I Am Beautiful Because

LZ hosts an episode of “You Are Beautiful” with actor Jason George, discussing why he’s uncomfortable with compliments and how he prefers focusing on work that puts something meaningful into the world. George answers Lauren’s mirror question by identifying first as a proud father, then they explore how he stays grounded in Hollywood through truth-telling family relationships, including a story from his rain-soaked wedding and the role of his brothers in keeping him humble. They discuss hate as fear rooted in lack of understanding, the importance of proximity to others, and Lauren shares his experience as a gay man and his father’s evolving views. George recounts pivoting from a pre-law path into acting, booking Sunset Beach via a large audition contest, and later joining Grey’s Anatomy without auditioning, crediting his ease and chemistry with Chandra Wilson. They reflect on why audiences connect with Ben Warren, share a Denzel Washington anecdote, and George advises actors to create their own work, find their voice, and avoid neediness in auditions, closing with his statement that he is beautiful because he cares about other people.Timestamp Menu: 00:26 Stay Ready Mindset01:34 Compliments and Purpose03:10 Beauty Beyond Looks04:52 Why This Podcast Exists05:53 Mirror Question Dad First07:07 Marriage and Staying Grounded10:27 Brothers Family and Loyalty14:29 Identity Proximity and Hate20:03 Finding Acting by Accident23:02 Sunset Beach Soap Bootcamp24:48 Idol as Publicity25:27 Sunset Beach Break26:46 Kismet Casting Day28:06 Union and LA Move29:31 Denzel Food Truck30:46 Grey's Without Audition34:26 Ben and Bailey Magic39:48 Desert Island Pick43:47 Advice for Actors47:56 Beautiful Because50:39 Fatherhood and Wrap

In this exciting new episode, LZ reunites with Daniel Radcliffe for a playful, fast-paced interview about beauty, identity, and career. Radcliffe shares that he often starts press days feeling camera-unready until hair, makeup, and styling help; he chooses flying or an invisibility cloak as a preferred Harry Potter power and says he’d show his son the first Potter film so his son is least likely to recognize him, noting his current anonymity as “just dad.” Asked about a desert-island companion among past co-stars, he picks Emma Watson. He discusses his series “The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins,” explaining Arthur Tobin’s need for Reggie due to Arthur’s own scandal and reflecting on forgiveness, growth, and changing gambling culture. Radcliffe recalls “Equus,” “How to Succeed,” “Merrily We Roll Along,” praises Jonathan Groff, and previews his one-man show “Every Brilliant Thing,” emphasizing live audience connection. He says he feels “beautiful” because he likes people and tries to ensure no one leaves a set feeling worse than when they arrived.Timestamp Menu:00:53 Meet Daniel Radcliffe01:44 Speed Date Setup02:40 Mirror Morning Check03:27 Pick a Magic Power04:25 One Potter for His Son05:23 Desert Island Co Star06:16 Fallen Rise of Dinkins07:14 Mistakes Forgiveness Growth08:42 Documentary and Autobiography09:18 Broadway Naked Stories10:20 Merrily and Broadway Love11:46 Every Brilliant Thing Preview13:19 I Am Beautiful Because14:26 Thanks and Farewell