On Topic, Off Script

Tia Mowry rewrites the recipe on how to raise cancer awareness over the holiday dinner table, talks new Netflix film 'My Secret Santa'

In a special *bonus episode* of On Topic, Off Script, host Brian Mastroianni sits down with actor, producer, and cookbook author Tia Mowry. For millennial listeners out there, you know Tia as the '90s and 2000s fan favorite star of shows like classic family sitcom 'Sister Sister.' This holiday season, she is using her platform for an important cause -- Tia is joining Change the Odds [https://www.cancer.org/about-us/our-partners/visionaries/pfizer.html], an American Cancer Society (ACS) initiative with sponsorship funding from Pfizer that hopes to bridge the gap in cancer care disparities. Through Change the Odds, Tia is hosting Rewrite the Recipe [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k1laEJwUJk], a video series that addresses these cancer disparities in Black communities. It aims to inspire conversations about family cancer history around the dinner table this holiday season. The need for these conversations in Black households is great — Black people have the highest death rate for many cancers like breast and prostate. Black Americans have the lowest survival rates than their white peers for nearly every type of cancer, ⁠according to recent statistics⁠ [https://www.cancer.org/research/cancer-facts-statistics/cancer-facts-figures-for-african-americans.html]. Brian and Tia discuss her suggestions for how to start these needed conversations during the holidays, her own experience with cancer screenings, and share what she’s been up to — from her holiday dinner table go-to recipes to her upcoming role in 'My Secret Santa,' which premieres this December on Netflix [https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/my-secret-santa-cast-announcement].  Tia Mowry: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/tiamowry/], Current Projects [https://tiamowry.komi.io/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGn4Z5sqP8M5U7hqA-AxCIscreyNZbkvBcnYk82OHAOl3MoyIyuXqazKrdNViE_aem_doO0dwD3wZ1Lm8LMAo-hIQ] American Cancer Society: Change the Odds [https://www.cancer.org/about-us/our-partners/visionaries/pfizer.html], Rewrite the Recipe [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k1laEJwUJk] Music: The Right Direction by Shane Ivers -- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.silvermansound.com/] Logo: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠David J. Martin⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://davidjmartin.com/] For more info on host, journalist Brian Mastroianni: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠brianmastroianni.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://brianmastroianni.com/] IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bmastroianni [https://www.instagram.com/bmastroianni/]

Health advocate spotlight: Heather Ward shares her asthma journey, what it was like to appear on 'American Idol'

On Topic, Off Script host, journalist Brian Mastroianni sits down with Heather Ward to discuss her asthma advocacy and partnership with AstraZeneca. Based out of Fort Worth, Texas, Heather Ward is an application software builder for hospitals and is a proud mom of two. Heather joins On Topic, Off Script today, in partnership with AstraZeneca, to share her personal health journey with asthma. Born with a collapsed lung as a premature baby, Heather was diagnosed with asthma at the age of 5. This has been a thread that’s carried through her whole life. At age 11, she almost died from a flare-up, and over the years, she’s gone through trial and error with a number of medications and treatments. Things subsided until her second pregnancy, when her life was upended once again when her asthma reemerged. Earlier this year, she was prescribed Airsupra, a medication that has seen her experience a difference in her lungs right away. Research published this year [https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2504544] in The New England Journal of Medicine showed that this medication significantly reduced the risk of a severe asthma attack by 47% compared to as-needed albuterol.  For the record, this podcast episode is neither influenced nor sponsored by a pharmaceutical company.  Brian sits down with Heather to learn more about her journey with asthma, how her passion for singing brought her to appear on American Idol (!), and what others can take away from her experiences.  The New England Journal of Medicine: Study [https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2504544], AstraZeneca press release [https://www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/press-releases/2025/statistically-significant-clinically-meaningful-batura-phase-iii-trial-provide-evidence-airsupra-standard-care-as-needed-rescue-treatment-asthma.html#!] Asthma resources: American Lung Association Asthma Resources Library [https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/asthma/resource-library], Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America [https://aafa.org/asthma/], Allergy & Asthma Network [https://allergyasthmanetwork.org/] Music: The Right Direction by Shane Ivers -- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.silvermansound.com/] Logo: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠David J. Martin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://davidjmartin.com/] For more info on host, journalist Brian Mastroianni: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠brianmastroianni.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://brianmastroianni.com/] IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bmastroianni [https://www.instagram.com/bmastroianni/]

Jess Rothschild gives her hot takes on SoulCycle with her new podcast 'Cult of Body & Soul'

On Topic, Off Script host, journalist Brian Mastroianni sits down with Jess Rothschild to discuss her new docu-podcast series Cult of Body & Soul [https://www.cultbodysoul.com/]. Jess Rothschild produces and hosts pop culture podcast Hot Takes and Deep Dives [https://www.hottakesdeepdives.com/]. Since 2019, she’s interviewed the likes of Rosie O’Donnell, John Cameron Mitchell, Sandra Bernhard, and many more as she delves into all things queer pop iconography and New York City culture.  Now, she’s discussing Cult of Body & Soul, her new seven-part docu-podcast series that explores the cultural phenomenon of SoulCycle -- something that became much more than an indoor cycling workout. It hit the zeitgeist, attracting celebrities like Oprah Winfrey but also serving as a hub for community...and some controversy...over the years. Through the show, Jess interviews instructors, studio managers, front desk staff, and corporate insiders, while also weaving in her personal connection to SoulCycle and how it affected her own life. Brian sits down with Jess to hear what inspired her to do this deep dive on all things SoulCycle and what made something that -- on paper -- sounds like just an indoor spin class into the Cult of Body and Soul. Jess Rothschild: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/jessxnyc/] Cult of Body & Soul: Website [https://www.cultbodysoul.com/], Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cult-of-body-soul/id1814921742], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/5Uuyrffmf9LkvCKKqcgKV3?si=oy175GMNTkyS7-krtl54FA&nd=1&dlsi=0a66895eb0694680], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@JessRothschild/videos], Amazon [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ffa1cd43-34dc-4e99-93ee-57b6cac59e24/cult-of-body-soul] Hot Takes & Deep Dives: Website [https://www.hottakesdeepdives.com/] Music: The Right Direction by Shane Ivers -- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.silvermansound.com/] Logo: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠David J. Martin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://davidjmartin.com/] For more info on host, journalist Brian Mastroianni: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠brianmastroianni.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://brianmastroianni.com/] IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bmastroianni [https://www.instagram.com/bmastroianni/]

Peloton star Dr. Chelsea Jackson Roberts says yoga and meditation can heal from within and help us 'tap into our joy'

On Topic, Off Script host, journalist Brian Mastroianni sits down with Peloton fav Dr. Chelsea Jackson Roberts [https://www.onepeloton.com/instructors/CJRLovesYoga]. You know Dr. Chelsea Jackson Roberts as a popular yoga and meditation instructor for Peloton, and in 2018, she was named the first Black global ambassador for lululemon. With a PhD in Educational Studies, Chelsea has dedicated herself to making a positive impact on the world through yoga, believing that yoga and meditation can be healing — connecting us more deeply with ourselves and the world around us. From working with teen girls at Spelman College’s campus where she founded her Yoga, Literature, Arts Camp [https://www.chelsealovesyoga.com/yoga-literature-art-camp/] to The Power of Presence Peloton series with Shayla Stonechild [https://www.instagram.com/shayla0h/?hl=en] that will launch this June, Chelsea believes yoga and meditation can make us all happier and healthier in our daily lives and are crucial tools for longevity and wellbeing.   Brian sits down with Chelsea to learn how yoga has transformed her life, suggestions for all of those yoga beginners out there, and how the healing and power of yoga and wellness comes from within.  Dr. Chelsea Jackson Roberts: Website [https://www.chelsealovesyoga.com/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/chelsealovesyoga/], Peloton [https://www.onepeloton.com/instructors/CJRLovesYoga] Music: The Right Direction by Shane Ivers -- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.silvermansound.com/] Logo: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠David J. Martin⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://davidjmartin.com/] For more info on host, journalist Brian Mastroianni: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠brianmastroianni.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://brianmastroianni.com/] IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bmastroianni [https://www.instagram.com/bmastroianni/]

Fireclay Tile CEO Eric Edelson gives back to those impacted by LA Fires, talks commitment to sustainability

On Topic, Off Script host, journalist Brian Mastroianni sits down with Fireclay Tile CEO Eric Edelson. Eric Edelson is the CEO of Fireclay Tile [https://www.fireclaytile.com/]. Fireclay is a company that makes hand-crafted tiles for a range of businesses from grocery stores to kitchens. Committed to sustainability, the company is a Certified B Corporation and a Climate Neutral Brand. They make every tile domestically in California by way of solar-powered production and recycled materials. Recently, Fireclay pledged $1 million in donations and discounts over the course of the next six years to help rebuild homes and support communities impacted by this year’s LA Fires. Brian sits down with Eric to discuss Fireclay Tile’s commitment to sustainability,  why it’s important that the company supports those devastated by the wildfires, and Eric's own personal journey..and what others can learn from it.  Eric Edelson: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericedelson] Fireclay Tile: Website [https://www.fireclaytile.com/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/fireclaytile/], TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@fireclay_tile], Pinterest [https://www.pinterest.com/fireclaytile/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/fireclaytile] Music: The Right Direction by Shane Ivers -- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.silvermansound.com/] Logo: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠David J. Martin⁠⁠⁠ [https://davidjmartin.com/] For more info on host, journalist Brian Mastroianni: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠brianmastroianni.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://brianmastroianni.com/] IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bmastroianni [https://www.instagram.com/bmastroianni/]