Mad Valid Podcast

Take Action ft. Max Forman-Mullin

In the season finale of Mad Valid Podcast (MVP), host Reyna Erika sits down with Max Forman-Mullin—a director, producer, and advocate for using art to create social change. 🎙️✨ Max dives into what it means to take action, both in life and art. From leveraging social media as a tool for impact to believing in theater’s ability to reimagine our world and our role in it, this episode reminds us that meaningful change starts with bold steps—and a willingness to face complexity head-on. 💥 About Max Forman-Mullin: Max Forman-Mullin is a director, producer, and storyteller who believes the arts—especially theater—are essential to a healthy society. 🎭✨ His work focuses on using performance to grapple with complexity, reimagine possibilities, and inspire action. For Max, art isn’t just about entertainment—it’s about helping us articulate what is and what could be. Passionate about both creativity and strategy, Max’s work explores the intersection of art and activism, pushing boundaries while encouraging audiences to reflect and respond. Connect with Max: Instagram: @maxformul [https://www.instagram.com/maxformul/] Website: maxformanmullin.com [http://www.maxformanmullin.com/] Hosted by: Reyna Erika Produced by: Brisa Areli Muñoz Design & Editing by: Andrea Negrete Music by: Nicholas Ryan Gant @ghettofalsetto [https://www.instagram.com/ghettofalsetto/] Instagram: @madvalidpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/madvalidpodcast/] Email: madvalidpodcast@gmail.com

Find Your Joy ft. Nicholas Ryan Gant

In this episode of Mad Valid Podcast (MVP), host Reyna Erika catches up with Nicholas Ryan Gant—the voice and talent behind the MVP theme music. 🎙️✨ Nicholas opens up about finding joy in the little things—whether it’s roller skating, stepping outside, or rocking a vintage fit—and why celebrating small wins can keep you grounded in a chaotic world. From creating music to teaching the next generation, Nicholas reminds us that joy is resistance and that “everybody ain’t gonna do what you gonna do”—so you might as well do it boldly. 💥 About Nicholas Ryan Gant: Nicholas Ryan Gant (NRG) is a New York-based singer, songwriter, and educator whose dynamic vocals and soulful sound have made him a sought-after performer and vocal coach worldwide. A classically trained opera singer with a degree from Howard University and a Master’s in Music Education from Hunter College, Nicholas brings creativity and passion into classrooms and concert stages alike. As a music teacher in NYC schools, he connects music to real life, showing students how rhythm and harmony echo far beyond the classroom walls. Nicholas has worked with icons like Mariah Carey, Jon Batiste, Childish Gambino, and Michael McDonald, blending genres and pushing boundaries in every performance. Offstage, his love for vintage fashion inspired SAINT NICHOLAS VINTAGE, his online store dedicated to timeless urban looks. When he’s not singing, teaching, or thrifting, Nicholas serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors for Decolonizing the Music Room, amplifying diverse voices in music education. Connect with Nicholas: Instagram: @ghettofalsetto [https://www.instagram.com/ghettofalsetto/] Music: Ghettofalsetto.bandcamp.com [http://ghettofalsetto.bandcamp.com/] Website: NicholasRyanGant.nyc [http://nicholasryangant.nyc/] Hosted by: Reyna Erika Produced by: Brisa Areli Muñoz Design & Editing by: Andrea Negrete Music by: Nicholas Ryan Gant @ghettofalsetto [https://www.instagram.com/ghettofalsetto/] Instagram: @madvalidpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/madvalidpodcast/] Email: madvalidpodcast@gmail.com

Break Tasks into Manageable Steps ft. AriDy Nox

In this episode of Mad Valid Podcast (MVP), host Reyna Erika sits down with AriDy Nox—a multi-disciplinary Black femme storyteller—whose work is rooted in radical imagination, liberation, and joy as resistance. 🎙️✨ Trigger Warning: This episode includes a discussion about suicide between 25–35 minutes. Please take care of yourself while listening. 💛 AriDy opens up about breaking big tasks into manageable steps, honoring the creative process, and daring to create with the audacity of their ancestors. From navigating overwhelm to reclaiming joy, this episode reminds us that showing up for yourself—piece by piece—is an act of courage. About AriDy Nox: AriDy Nox is a multi-disciplinary Black femme storyteller whose work imagines liberated futures through magical realism, historical reimaginings, and ancestral reckoning. 🌿 Their plays include BLACK GIRL IN PARIS (2020), A WALLESS CHURCH (2019), and the FRESHWATER PLAY series (2020), all crafted with the belief that radical imagination is key to liberation. AriDy’s work centers Black femmes as architects of expansive, transformative worlds. Their work has been developed across the country, bringing bold, imaginative stories to life through collaboration and resistance. AriDy’s accolades include: -Graduate of NYU’s Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program -Member of MTF’s Inaugural MAKERS cohort and Horizon Theatre’s Black Women Speak Cohort -Emerging Writer’s Group Fellow at The Public Theater (2020–2023) -Playwrights Center Core Writer (2022–2025) -Van Lier New Voices Fellow (2023–2024) Connect with AriDy: Website: www.aridynox.com [http://www.aridynox.com/] Instagram/TikTok: @aridynox [https://www.instagram.com/aridynox/] Hosted by: Reyna Erika Produced by: Brisa Areli Muñoz Design & Editing by: Andrea Negrete Music by: Nicholas Ryan Gant @ghettofalsetto [https://www.instagram.com/ghettofalsetto/] Instagram: @madvalidpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/madvalidpodcast/] Email: madvalidpodcast@gmail.com

Keep the Self-Talk Positive ft. Andrea Negrete

In this episode of Mad Valid Podcast (MVP), host Reyna Erika sits down with Andrea Negrete—artist, storyteller, and community-builder—to talk about positive self-talk, mindset shifts, and interrupting negativity before it spirals. 🎙️✨ Andrea shares how small shifts in mindset can create big waves in how we show up for ourselves and others. From learning to replace negative thoughts with love to asking questions like “Am I committed to the path I’m on?”, this episode is all about staying grounded and growing with intention. About Andrea Negrete: Andrea Negrete is a multidisciplinary artist, storyteller, and community strategist originally from Rio Grande Valley and now based in Los Angeles and New York City. 🌎✨ As the Design & Editing Lead for Mad Valid Podcast, Andrea blends her love for visual art, communication, and storytelling to create work that amplifies voices and builds connections. When she’s not behind the scenes shaping narratives, Andrea explores mental health, identity, and personal growth through her art and advocacy. They are the Director of Community Relations at Musical Theatre Factory and Hike the Good Hike. Her work is rooted in empathy, resilience, and the belief that the answer usually lies in community. Whether they're developing new work, on a hike, tattooing, or on stage, Andrea brings care, creativity, and curiosity to everything she does—reminding us that positive self-talk is a practice, not a performance. 🌱💥 instagram.com/aah.ndrea www.mtf.nyc www.hikethegoodhike.org Hosted by: Reyna Erika Produced by: Brisa Areli Muñoz Design & Editing by: Andrea Negrete Music by: Nicholas Ryan Gant @ghettofalsetto [https://www.instagram.com/ghettofalsetto/] Instagram: @madvalidpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/madvalidpodcast/] Email: madvalidpodcast@gmail.com

Focus on Your Physical Health ft. Ashley Thomas

In this episode of Mad Valid Podcast (MVP), host Reyna Erika connects with her mentee, Ashley Thomas—a theater scholar, writer, and creative powerhouse—about the importance of prioritizing your physical health. 🎙️✨ Ashley breaks down why “self-care is not a metaphor” and how taking care of your body is just as critical as nurturing your mind and soul. From overcoming fear to playing bigger in life, this episode reminds us that “playing it small serves no one”—especially not ourselves. 💥 About Ashley Thomas: Ashley Thomas is an artist, thinker, theater scholar, writer, dramaturg, and proud godmother whose work centers creativity, storytelling, and growth. ✨ She shares her thoughts, essays, and reflections on her Substack newsletter, Brownstone Bandit, a biweekly creative journal about life, art, and everything in between. Ashley believes in showing up fully, pushing past fear, and owning your space—whether on stage or in life. Her words inspire action and remind us to “feel the fear and do the thing.” Connect with Ashley: Instagram: @harlem_nista [https://www.instagram.com/harlem_nista/] Substack: Brownstone Bandit [https://brownstonebandit.substack.com/subscribe?utm_campaign=email-subscribe] Hosted by: Reyna Erika Produced by: Brisa Areli Muñoz Design & Editing by: Andrea Negrete Music by: Nicholas Ryan Gant @ghettofalsetto [https://www.instagram.com/ghettofalsetto/] Instagram: @madvalidpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/madvalidpodcast/] Email: madvalidpodcast@gmail.com