Award-winning actress, producer, and activist Judith Light reflects on a career defined by intention, reinvention, and purpose. Spanning creativity, culture, and the choices that shape a life in storytelling, this conversation explores the ideas, collaborations, and values that continue to inspire meaningful work and lasting impact.

Jo Cronk is the Co-CEO of Whalar, the world’s leading independent Creator and social agency. A leader in the Creator Economy, she’s built major partnerships with top-tier brands and platforms like LinkedIn, Meta, Snap, TikTok, and YouTube. Jo co-founded Moby Ventures, Whalar Group’s venture studio, and often speaks at top industry events. With 16+ years in media, she brings global insight and bold vision to how brands connect through culture and creativity.

Cedric 'The Entertainer' is an EP, actor, comedian, and entrepreneur with a 30 year career. Known for The Neighborhood, Barbershop, and The Original Kings of Comedy, he's currently starring on Broadway in August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone. In 2023, he released his debut novel, Flipping Boxcars, for Amistad Press HarperCollins. He is the co-founder of AC BBQ, with his partner Anthony Anderson, and the founder of Setta Wines.

Peltz Beckham is a culinary entrepreneur with 16M+ social followers. He launched hot sauce brand Cloud23 in 2024, debuting exclusively at Whole Foods and now available at Erewhon & Amazon. Previously, he hosted a social channel duly named Cookin' with Brooklyn, and collaborated with notable names in the food space such as Adam Perry Lang, Nancy Silverton, Roy Choi and more.

Daredevil Michelle Khare lives life to the extreme by taking on intense physical and mental challenges in her award-winning docuseries, Challenge Accepted. Michelle has attempted everything from Harry Houdini's deadliest magic trick to surviving a week at FBI Academy. Michelle hopes to prove through her content that with enough hard work, perseverance, and failure, anything is possible.

Droga is vice chair of Accenture, having stepped down as CEO of Accenture Song after nearly doubling it from $12B to $20B+ in revenue.Droga is vice chair of Accenture, having stepped down as CEO of Accenture Song after nearly doubling it from $12B to $20B+ in revenue. Previously, he founded Droga5, named Agency of the Decade by AdAge and Adweek. The most awarded creative in Cannes Lions history. He sits on the boards of the New Museum, NY Public Radio, and the National Gallery of Australia.

DeSorbo is a NYT bestselling author, entrepreneur, and media personality recognized by The Hollywood Reporter as one of the "50 Most Powerful New Yorkers in Media." First gaining recognition through Bravo's Summer House, she co-founded the top-charting Giggly Squad podcast — ranking in the top 0.05% globally — and debuted her book How to Giggle on the NYT Best Sellers list. She is developing a Netflix scripted comedy with Amy Poehler's Paper Kite and launched loungewear brand Daphne in 2025.

Antonio Lucio is the Global Chief Marketing and Corporate Affairs Officer at PayPal. He has 40 years of global experience driving growth in some of the world best known brands at PepsiCo, Visa, HP, Meta and PayPal . He is also an Executive Fellow at Yale School of Management.

Vivian Tu, founder of Your Rich BFF, is a former Wall Street trader turned financial expert, bestselling author, podcast host, and Chief of Financial Empowerment at SoFi. With 10M+ followers, she’s been recognized by TIME100 and Forbes, redefining financial literacy for a new generation.

Cyrus (they/he) is a NYC-based creator, writer, and comedian with 2M+ followers and 77M TikTok views. Named to TIME's 100 Most Influential Creators in 2025, their work explores beauty, wellness, and lifestyle through humor, challenging the gender binary and championing inclusion. They've collaborated with Dell, Google, La Mer & Maybelline, and recently released HONEY, an affirmations journal.

Eni Popoola is a New York–based beauty, fashion, and lifestyle content creator known online as enigivensunday. A Harvard graduate and Columbia Law School alumna, she began her career as a middle school history teacher before ultimately transitioning into content creation full-time. With over a million followers across platforms, Eni has collaborated with leading brands across a variety of industries including Visa, Armani Beauty, Microsoft, Caudalie, L’Oreal, and Fenty Beauty. Her work blends sharp storytelling, cinematic visuals, and a deep appreciation for beauty, style, and travel, making her a trusted voice and trendsetter in the digital space.

Nubia Murray is a dynamic leader, storyteller, and connector who currently serves as Senior Director of US Brand Communications at McDonald’s. For nearly a decade, she has helped shape the brand’s voice and values, leading work that uplifts communities, builds trust, and fuels cultural relevance at scale.

Foti is VP of Marketing for Lavazza's North American business, leading brand growth across the U.Foti is VP of Marketing for Lavazza's North American business, leading brand growth across the U.S. and Canada. Trained in finance at Bocconi University and the Stockholm School of Economics, he built his career across GE Capital, Coca-Cola HBC, Reckitt Benckiser, and L'Oréal before joining Lavazza in 2021. Born in Italy, his instinct for coffee runs deep — espresso was less a beverage than a daily ritual.

Mann is Forbes' #2 Top Creator of 2025 and TIME100 inaugural Creator honoree, reaching more than 163M followers. As founder of Dhar Mann Studios and the #1 digital scripted creator globally, his content delivers 296M weekly views — with three out of four viewers saying his stories change how they feel, think, and treat others after watching.

Prior to Chewed Up and Why'd They Wear That?, Clinton Kelly co-hosted TLC's What Not to Wear for 10 years and ABC's The Chew for seven, winning an Emmy. He created Wear Whatever the F You Want for Amazon Prime, authored several books, and has appeared on HGTV & Food Network. In his spare time, he's an obsessive dahlia grower.

Symon, influenced by his Greek and Sicilian heritage, is a James Beard Award winner and Food & Wine Best New Chef. He owns Angeline and Bar Symon, hosts the Chewed Up podcast, and stars in Food Network's 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing and Symon’s Dinners Cooking Out. He's authored nine cookbooks, including NYT bestseller Symon's Dinners: Cooking Out. When he’s not working, Michael enjoys golf, gardening, and cherished moments with his family.

Rutledge is CMO at American Express, overseeing global media, sponsorships, experiences, brand planning, and customer insights. She has been named Fast Company's CMO of the Year, Forbes' Most Influential CMO, an Adweek Marketing Vanguard, and an AdAge Woman to Watch. Princeton grad, NYU MBA. Board member: ANA, Ad Council & YMCA of Greater New York.

Danya Jimenez and Hannah McMechan are a Mexican American/NorCal writing duo and were named Variety's Screenwriters to Watch 2025. They co-wrote Netflix's most-watched film ever, KPOP DEMON HUNTERS, winning two Oscars, two Golden Globes & a Grammy. Next up, the duo is set to write Tim Burton's Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, alongside Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap, who are developing and producing.

Rooks is a two-time Emmy-nominated journalist and co-host of The NBA on Prime for Amazon alongside Blake Griffin and Dirk Nowitzki. Previously with Bleacher Report and TNT Sports, she's known for viral interviews at the intersection of sports, culture, and fandom. She founded the Taylor Rooks Foundation to empower underserved communities by expanding access to education, wellness, and opportunity.

Sisto is Co-Founder & CEO of Chronicle Studios, an AI-driven media company backed by Patron, Point72 Ventures & others. Previously, Sisto was a Partner at Eric Schmidt's First Spark Ventures and an investor at In-Q-Tel, the CIA's venture arm. He currently serves as advisor and board member to a number of startups and VC firms. Sisto holds a PhD in AI and Quantum Simulation from Stanford University.

Christina Miller is CEO of Spin Master, a leading global children’s entertainment company. As CEO, she blends creative leadership with strategic and operational thinking to guide the company’s long-term strategy and steward its portfolio of award-winning toy brands, powerhouse entertainment franchises and expansive digital games platforms, sparking joy and imagination for kids and families worldwide.

James is founder of luxury accessories brand Brother Vellies and the Fifteen Percent Pledge, which has generated $12B+ in revenue for Black-owned businesses. She is the author of memoir Wildflower, CFDA vice chair, and a recipient of the CFDA Founder's Award. She was previously named to TIME's 100 Most Influential People.

Marc leads storytelling collaborations with a variety of brands across all of Imagine Entertainment. Notable projects include the Summer of 94 on Fox (Dick’s), Tribeca Official Selection John Bronco on Hulu (Ford), Tribeca Winner and Oscar-shortlisted doc Coded: The Hidden Love of J.C. Leyendecker on Paramount+ (P&G) and acclaimed Disney+ series Light & Magic about the pioneers of modern VFX.

McGill Johnson is President & CEO of Planned Parenthood, providing reproductive health care to 2M+ people annually. A champion for social, racial & reproductive justice, she co-founded the Perception Institute and the Culture Group. Alexis has a BA in politics from Princeton University, an MA in political science from Yale University, and taught political science at Yale and Wesleyan universities.

Phil Cook is in his sixth year as the Chief Marketing Officer for the WNBA. By contemporizing the WNBA Brand through athlete storytelling and innovative partnerships, Phil is driving a fundamental shift in the League’s cultural identity from a brand of support to one of fandom. Before joining the WNBA, Phil spent over 25 years at Nike with a focus on the global basketball landscape.

Clarke is CEO of the New York Liberty, leading the franchise to its first WNBA championship in 2024. In her 16th season with the team, she drove 60%+ sponsorship growth and launched Liberty Live, the team's own streaming platform. Clarke was most recently selected as ESSENCE’s CEO of the Year for her industry-shaping leadership and cultural impact. She resides in New Jersey with her husband and their two children.

Epstein oversees ESPN marketing for WNBA, NWSL, MLB, Grand Slam tennis, NCAA Championships, LOVB, espnW & more. She leads female audience growth strategy and Executive Produces the annual espnW Summit. Rachel previously launched and led marketing for Women's Professional Soccer league. She's an Indiana University grad & All-American tennis player.

Atkins is CEO of Dhar Mann Studios, overseeing 200+ team members and the creator-services agency 5th Quarter. Over the past 20 years, he has been a pioneer at the intersection of consumer, media, and tech, driving transformative initiatives at several of the world’s leading brands. Sean has held leadership roles at MTV, Discovery, HBO, Disney & more, consistently building $100M+ businesses.

Wenner is Founder & CEO of Wenner Media Ventures and Executive Chairman of Public Opinion. As former CEO of Rolling Stone, he grew its audience to 60M+, evolving it into a multi-platform, award-winning brand. Previously COO of Wenner Media, he led Rolling Stone's sale to Penske Media and led digital strategy for Rolling Stone, Us Weekly and Men's Journal. Wenner is a graduate of Brown University.

Jack Coyne is a filmmaker, interviewer, and co-founder of Public Opinion. He is the creator and host of Track Star, the hit man-on-the-street music trivia series featuring everyone from everyday fans to Grammy-winning artists. His work blends music, media, and street-level storytelling.

Strickler is a writer and entrepreneur whose work supports creative people. He co-founded Kickstarter, Metalabel, & the Artist Corporations Foundation; authored three books; and co-hosts the New Creative Era podcast. His career began as a music critic writing for Pitchfork, Spin, and the Village Voice. He grew up on a farm in Virginia, and lives with his family in New York City.

Senior Producer of Original Content at FOX Sports, overseeing sports documentaries across the network's linear platforms. She leads projects from initial concept through final delivery, collaborating with athletes, leagues, and brand partners to bring distinctive stories to the screen. Her work has earned multiple Sports Emmy nominations. A UCLA grad and former All-American gymnast, Rotstein brings creative vision to storytelling at the intersection of sports, media, and partnerships.

Droga is a writer, director, and editor from New York City, focused on interpersonal drama and situational comedy. A USC School of Cinematic Arts alum, his work spans short films, music videos, and commercials. Overthinking and nostalgic, he believes drama exists everywhere — or maybe he's just dramatic.

Panagopulos is an Emmy-nominated EP, Director, and President of Simple Alien Inc. He co-launched Chewed Up, a YouTube-first podcast and video series, with Michael Symon, Carla Hall & Clinton Kelly. Previously, he scaled BrainBox Enterprises to $30M+ in revenue and delivered high-impact content for major television networks, Fortune 500 brands, and global sports leagues. Nick graduated from UNC School of the Arts with a BFA in Filmmaking.

With more than five decades in sports, Frank brings the perspective of a lifelong athlete. He competed as a three-sport athlete and reached Division I. He has coached youth sports for over 10 years and helped shape the creative vision of 350+ productions, serving as executive and creative producer across documentaries, films, commercials, and series.

Kathi Chandler-Payatt heads content strategy and acquisitions for LG Channels, securing strategic and exclusive programming and IP that define the platform’s differentiated offering. She previously held executive roles at Amazon MGM Studios and FOX.

Zepeda is SVP of Strategy & Marketing for wines & spirits at Moët Hennessy USA. Carlos joined Moët Hennessy USA as vice president for Belvedere Vodka in 2014, leading the brand's US business and marketing agenda. He served as VP of Marketing for Havaianas and spent 10 years at PepsiCo. Carlos is the co-chair of the ANA Educational Foundation's Talent Forward Committee, holding degrees from Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey, Northwestern University and Executive Education at Harvard.

Jeff Day is CEO of Cloud23. He brings extensive experience leading multi-unit restaurant and CPG brands, with a track record of driving growth across emerging brands. He has held roles at Nielsen, General Mills, Amplify Snack Brands, The Hershey Company, and Tacodeli.

Espinal is Commissioner of NYC's Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, focused on strengthening the city's creative economy and revitalizing film and TV production. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he became NY's youngest elected official at 26. He later led Freelancers Union, securing pandemic relief for self-employed workers. A screenwriter and filmmaker himself, he is committed to building an industry where creators will be supported.

Sarah Spain is an Emmy, Gracie and Peabody Award-winning sports journalist, the host of the only daily women's sports podcast, Good Game with Sarah Spain, and the Content Director of iHeart Women's Sports. Her book, Runs In The Family, came out in 2025. Spain, a co-owner of the LOVB San Francisco pro volleyball team, has been a jack of all trades in her more than two decades in sports, including 15+ years at ESPN.

Mark Stenberg is the senior media reporter at Adweek in New York and author of the weekly media newsletter On Background. Through a mix of scoops, analysis, and spotlight stories, Mark covers the media brands, commercial trends, and strategic insights that shape the business.

A 25-year advertising veteran, Damien serves as WPP Open X Global Category Lead for Coca-Cola. Previously at FCB, BBDO, and Anomaly, he has led award-winning work for Budweiser, the NFL, Google, Duracell, DICK'S Sporting Goods, and leading Diageo brands, recognized by Cannes, The One Show, the Effies, and Clios. He firmly believes success is rooted in the strength of the collective — investing deeply in both brands and the people behind them.

Lucas Shaw is a managing editor at Bloomberg News and the author of the Screentime newsletter. He leads the company's coverage of the business of pop culture, overseeing a team that writes about Hollywood, video games, the music industry and more. He is a regular contributor to Bloomberg Businessweek and NPR, as well as a weekly guest on The Town podcast.

Lucio is a Puerto Rican actress who originated roles in Tony-nominated Liberation and Jeremy O'Harris' Slave Play on Broadway, the West End, and LA. Co-creator of the Webby-winning series B.U.T.S. Princeton and Yale School of Drama alum, she is a proud native of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Lucia Moses covers the media and entertainment business at Business Insider, with a focus on the creator economy. She's broken stories about MrBeast's ambitions, TikToker Khaby Lame's mega mystery deal, and Netflix's push into podcasts. Her reporting has won the Los Angeles Press Club's National Entertainment Journalism Awards. She previously worked at Digiday and Adweek and graduated from Cornell University.

Katie Deighton is a reporter covering marketing, advertising, media and design and for The Wall Street Journal Leadership Institute's CMO Today section. Her articles and analysis explore how companies attempt to present themselves to consumers and investors, as well as emerging and nontraditional media channels.

Gia is an award-winning journalist, TV host, podcaster, and founder of Creatives of Faith.Peppers is an award-winning journalist, TV host, podcaster, and founder of Creatives of Faith. Known for More Than That with Gia Peppers and Healed Girl Era Podcast, the NAACP Image Award-nominated host is one of media's most sought-after voices. She partners with top brands in entertainment, wellness, sports, and lifestyle to uncover powerful narratives and get to the heart of every story.

Christopher Rosen is deputy editor at The Ankler and co-host of several podcasts and shows, including Prestige Junkie and Monday Morning Quarterbacks. He covers awards season and the business of consumer entertainment, and his commentary on the Oscar and Emmy races is widely followed across the industry and other media.

Chief Johnson is a marketing and branding expert and Billboard Top 100 Hip-Hop Power Player. Curent Lead of global entertainment an executive and streetwear pioneer, he’s collaborated with Nipsey Hussle, Meek Mill, Fuerza Regida, and more — helping creators unlock their potential and stay true to their vision.

Alison Weissbrot is executive editor at ADWEEK, overseeing agency, brand and creative news coverage. She was previously editor in chief of Campaign US and spent nearly five years at AdExchanger covering agencies and convergent TV. She is based in New York.

Daniel Kopec is Director of Customer Marketing Production at Microsoft and an Emmy Award-winning documentary producer. His work focuses on rebuilding belief in a media environment where audiences increasingly question what feels real by developing production approaches grounded in lived experience, emotional texture, and human perspective.

Davis Burleson is a host, creator and cultural tastemaker known for his hit interview series What’s Poppin! With Davis and SiriusXM shows Verified With Davis Burleson and Pop Culture Picks With Davis Burleson. Named “the Next Ryan Seacrest” by Cosmo and listed on Variety’s “New Power of New York”, Davis has quickly become one of the most influential rising voices in entertainment.

Emory “Vegas” Jones is a cultural leader blending fashion, sports, music, and lifestyle through authenticity and purpose. As a strategic creative driving influential collaborations across global brands and culture, he champions fearless ambition, creative leadership, and the philosophy to always bet on yourself.

Eric "Ptah" Herbert is an award-winning filmmaker, collaborating with Puma, Netflix, Crocs, Apple, Eleve Health; artists like Snoop Dogg, A$AP Ferg, Guy Torry, Kxng Crooked and Destin “Dutch” Soul. Projects include: TRAIN: The Dick “Night Train” Lane Story, MANCHILD: The Schea Cotton Story, and FAME: The Biz Markie, Dj Cool V and T.J. Swan biopic.

Fred Asquith is a movie critic and podcaster @fredasquithonfilm, providing accessible insight into the world of the cinephile. In the past 12 months he has interviewed the likes of James Cameron, Rachel McAdams and Stanley Tucci to viral acclaim, as well as appeared as 1 of 3 featured panelists on the UK broadcast of the 2026 Academy Awards.

Coichy is Founder & CEO of Pod Digital Media, the first and largest multicultural podcast network in the world. With 20 years in media across WPP, Omnicom, Lacoste, and Verizon, he has grown PDM 1,065% YoY and secured a multi-million dollar McDonald's deal. He was named Ad Age's 40 Under 40 and one of podcasting's most powerful by Podcast Business Journal.

Thomas-Copeland is CEO of the 4As, leading efforts to advocate for and modernize the agency ecosystem. With 30+ years of global leadership, he has served as CEO of RAPP, OPMG Health, and DDB North America, and as CDO of Novartis, leading engagements for Microsoft, Adidas, Virgin Atlantic, and the U.S. Army. Founder of KINDRD Global, he mentors global brand leaders and advocates for inclusive talent pipelines in collaboration with the T. Howard Foundation. Babson College Executive MBA.

Smith is a Baltimore-based creative with 10+ years in entertainment, specializing in marketing, design, strategy, and brand activations. He has worked with Roc Nation, Nike, PUMA, Amazon, and Capital One, and received honors from Revolt TV, Beats by Dre, and Apple Music. With a captivating presence and a knack for connecting with audiences, Raymond inspires and empowers listeners to unlock their creative potential and achieve excellence in today's dynamic business environment.

Candis is a Baltimore native and USC School of Cinematic Arts grad whose feature debut LUV premiered at Sundance. His credits include Colin in Black & White for Netflix and Ava DuVernay, NBA 2K20's When the Lights Are Brightest executive produced by LeBron James, documentary Baltimore Boys for ESPN Films, and feature film They Fight, starring André Holland and Wendell Pierce

Versha Sharma is an award-winning journalist and media executive whose work explores the intersection of culture, politics, and digital media. The former Editor-in-Chief of Teen Vogue, she currently serves on the boards of the International Women’s Media Foundation and VOW for Girls.

Blake is CEO of Atmosphere, the world's leading streaming TV service for businesses. He joined Atmosphere in 2021 as the COO and moved into his current role in 2023. Before Atmosphere, Blake was CEO of digital and cable news outlet Newsy, where he pivoted the company from a white-label content producer into an Emmy-nominated news network, rapidly expanding viewership, growing revenue, and expanding profitability during his nearly six years of leadership of the network.

Alyssa is a senior reporter for Marketing Brew who’s covered sports for three years, with a particular interest in brand investment in women’s sports. She's also written about podcast and audio advertising for Marketing Brew and Business Insider, and started her career covering crime and breaking news for the Boston Globe and the Virginian-Pilot.

Stern is AVP of Brand Strategy and Investments at DIRECTV, leading sponsorship strategy, brand social media, and go-to-market initiatives. His experience includes launching international OTT platforms, developing partnership programs with every major sports league, and driving customer acquisition and retention. Previously at WBD Sports, Discovery, AT&T, and top global agencies, he has contributed to campaigns generating $1B+ in annual revenue.

Sally Holmes is editor-in-chief and GM of InStyle. She started her career at New York magazine as an editor for their website before moving over to The Cut ahead of its relaunch in 2012. She later joined Hearst Magazines in 2014 as the senior news editor at ELLE.com before taking on the role of deputy editor in 2016 and then executive editor in 2017. Sally joined Marie Claire in 2018, where she worked first as digital director and later as editor-in-chief. Born and raised in New York City, Holmes graduated with an English major and French minor from Boston College. She now lives in Brooklyn with her husband and twin daughters, where they love to explore new coffee shops and dream of owning a French bulldog.

Grodman is an actor, director, and writer best known for starring as Trevor Lefkowitz on CBS comedy Ghosts, earning two Critics' Choice nominations for Best Supporting Actor. He won a Cannes Lion, Webby, and TribecaX Award for the Jacksonville Jaguars' viral mockumentary "It Was Written." Recent credits include Succession, Looking Through Water alongside Michael Douglas, and the award-winning short The Train. Columbia and ACT alum; teaches acting at Hunter College and Rikers Island.

Jonathan Borge is the deputy editor & head of entertainment at InStyle. Borge's writing has appeared in Glamour, Refinery29, and PAPER, among other publications. He's held staff positions at Marie Claire, OprahDaily.com, Elite Daily, StyleCaster, and Netflix's TUDUM. He primarily writes about culture and style, and has a passion for telling LGBTQ+ and Latinx stories. When he's not working, he's likely waiting for Lady Gaga to announce her next tour.

Davis Burleson is a host, creator and cultural tastemaker known for his hit interview series What’s Poppin! With Davis and SiriusXM shows Verified With Davis Burleson and Pop Culture Picks With Davis Burleson. Named “the Next Ryan Seacrest” by Cosmo and listed on Variety’s “New Power of New York”, Davis has quickly become one of the most influential rising voices in entertainment.

Zuri Hall is an Emmy Award–winning television host and creator, best known for her work on NBC’s “American Ninja Warrior,” “Access Hollywood” and “Live From E!” red carpet specials. She’s also the creator, executive producer and host of “Not About Sports,” an interview series that explores culture, identity and ambition through the lens of sports.

Rooted in hands-on experience, Kristin began her career with McDonald's in April 2001 at just 16 years old. She advanced to General Manager across four locations and now serves as Area Supervisor, overseeing multiple locations and supporting operational excellence and team development. She holds a degree in Human Resource Management, reflecting her passion for developing people.

Kevin Wilson, Jr. is the Oscar Nominated director of numerous documentaries including: Netflix's "CHEF'S TABLE" and Netflix's "UNTOLD". His award winning commercial work includes collaborations with Mastercard, McDonald's, and Procter & Gamble, among others. He received his MFA from NYU's Graduate Film School where he is now an Adjunct Professor.

Emory “Vegas” Jones is a cultural leader blending fashion, sports, music, and lifestyle through authenticity and purpose. As a strategic creative driving influential collaborations across global brands and culture, he champions fearless ambition, creative leadership, and the philosophy to always bet on yourself.

Rachel Nussbaum is founder of Specular Studios and a producer of audience-centered storytelling experiences at Microsoft. Her work focuses on translating human-centered storytelling into content experiences that create connection, engagement, and trust.