Why Not Me? with Mike Jackson

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

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 [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

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

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 [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

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

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 [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

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

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 [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

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

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 [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]