Tommy Talk: WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT FALL

This week, Tommy is joined by a very special guest. Gio Benitez lights up your screens every Saturday and Sunday morning anchoring the #1 morning news show, Good Morning America. He is the Transportation Correspondent on GMA during the week and contributes stories regularly to World News Tonight with David Muir, 20/20 and Nightline. But perhaps even more importantly (to me at least), he is my husband of almost 10 years. Gio has been one of the most requested guests on this show for the last 2 years and the day has finally come. From career reflections to our relationship, we cover so many different things in this conversation, far too many to list. But I will leave you with this. When Gio asked at one point, “Is that part getting cut out,” there was only one answer: no, nothing is getting cut out…this is unedited and unfiltered. I hope you enjoy!Subscribe to this podcast, rate, and leave a written review for this episode if you enjoyed this conversation!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of “Tommy Talk,” Tommy discusses if manifesting really works. Everywhere we turn, there is a book, Instagram post, or guru talking about manifesting. But is this all just a trend, or is there validity to incorporating a daily manifesting practice into your routine? Today we are diving into what’s real and what’s hype. For anyone that may be a skeptic, a believer, or somewhere in between, this episode is for you.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Tommy is joined by actor Max Parker who is one of the break-out stars of the Netflix series BOOTS. Max plays the powerful role of Sergeant Sullivan, who on the surface is tough dude, but in reality there is so much more than meets the eye with this character. Today, Max opens up about how he relates to this complex character, how he’s been waiting to do a powerful queer story, the moments that hit him the hardest when reading the script, why he’s proud to show a darker time in queer history, one of his scenes that absolutely gutted him, why living a publically out life led him to so much more happiness, his competitive disco dancing past, humping Cynthia Erivo’s tongue in a past project, the powerful message he takes away from BOOTS, and so much more. Subscribe, rate, and leave a written review for this episode if you enjoyed this conversation!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of “Tommy Talk,” Tommy discusses how the cozy fall season can feel like an unofficial start to a new year. It’s a season that symbolizes change in so many ways. It’s a time to start fresh and take stock of where you are in your life and where you want to go next. Who doesn’t love a new chapter? The fall is the perfect time for you to write one. It’s also one of the best seasons of the year because it encourages memory making with those you love. For anyone who wants to feel the fall festive vibes while laying out some new hopes and dreams, this episode is for you. Happy Fall my friends.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Tommy is joined by actor David Henrie who left an impact on a generation with his portrayal of Justin Russo in Wizards of Waverly Place. Now, both OG and new audiences are getting to know this iconic character in Season 2 of the spin-off, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. Today, David opens up about what he’s most fond of when he thinks back on his time of originating his role in Wizards of Waverly Place, what growing up in the spotlight was really like for him, if he ever wanted to give up or quit, if he ever thought he would play Justin Russo again, how the idea came to be over the course of many conversations with former co-star Selena Gomez, the nerves he felt before playing Justin again, directing his very first episode, how his friendship with Selena has evolved over the years, the piece of wedding advice he gave her, the piece of advice he wishes he was given as an 18-year-old Disney star and wants to pass on to future generations, the kinds of stories he hopes to tell in the future with his production company, the top secret project he is announcing for the very first time, and so much more. Subscribe, rate, and leave a written review for this episode if you enjoyed this conversation!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of “Tommy Talk,” Tommy discusses how to try to break the habit of comparing yourself to other people. Do you ever catch yourself endlessly scrolling on social media, wondering why you don’t have what someone else has personally or professionally? Comparison Syndrome is very real — we all go through some version of it. But it’s quite unhealthy and can often be toxic. The time we spend comparing ourselves to other people is time that we can instead use to invest in ourselves. Here is my journey with comparison syndrome, and some ways to help you break the habit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Tommy is joined by actor Miles Heizer who you know and love from 13 Reasons Why, Parenthood, Love Simon and so much more. Now he is starring in the upcoming Netflix series Boots, dropping October 9th! Miles plays Cameron Cope, a bullied, gay high school student who joins the Marines with his best friend in hopes of finding some direction in life. The problem is he joined the Marines in the 90s when it was illegal to be gay in the military. The series is based off a powerful true story and explores friendship, resilience, and finding your place in the world. Today, Miles opens up about why this series is so important to him, why playing this role was a cathartic and healing experience, the scariest thing about stepping into this role, the reality show he watched to unwind from long days on set, the shift he has seen working in Hollywood as an openly gay artist, the wink he got from the universe when auditioning for Boots, the moment he got emotional during filming, why he’s already hoping for a Season 2, the supernatural twist he would want to see happen, dreams of being an opening kill in a horror movie, something he has never said before, and so much more.  Subscribe, rate, and leave a written review for this episode if you enjoyed this conversation!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of “Tommy Talk,” Tommy discusses how you are so much more than the job you have. We live in a world that likes to tie our identity to our job title. Work is important, and hopefully we deeply enjoy the work that we do. But we are conditioned to think that being stretched too thin, or #TeamNoSleep is a badge of honor. The quiet and calm moments in our lives are equally as important as those job promotions or professional output. For anyone looking to separate (even just a little bit) of who you are from what you do, this episode is for you.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Tommy is joined by actors (and power couple) Joseph Morgan and Persia White! Joseph shot to fame with his iconic portrayal of the devilish villain, Klaus Mikaelson in The Vampire Diaries which led to the creation of his very own spin-off series, The Originals, because the world needed more of his epic character. Persia shot to fame after the world fell in love with her character, Lynn, in the 8-season hit series, Girlfriends, which followed the lives of four black women and told such powerful and groundbreaking stories. Today, Joseph opens up about what he is most proud of in bringing Klaus to life, what scene of his he would show to someone who has never watched TVD/The Originals, what he really thinks about that Caroline and Klaus relationship, if he ever finds himself slipping back into Klaus all these years later, if he is ready to revisit this character and much more. Persia opens up about celebrating the 25th anniversary of Girlfriends, if she would revisit her beloved role in a new project, why she got ridiculed and attacked in her personal life for being someone on and off screen that stood up for what she believed in, a storyline she would have loved to play, and much more. And together, they dive into their epic love story and both share something that they have never said before. Subscribe, rate, and leave a written review for this episode if you enjoyed this conversation!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of “Tommy Talk,” Tommy discusses how there is a shift in how people are viewing alcohol. There are studies and trends emerging that show younger generations are less interested in grabbing the bottle. Do you feel like alcohol is so last year? Many people feel the pressure to drink in certain situations (with co-workers, bosses, friends, family, etc), even when they just aren’t feeling it. Today I am sharing my relationship with alcohol, and how I handle those societal pressures when they come up in my life. Let’s dive into the world of booze.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.