Three words define Mykel Shannon Jenkins' career as an actor, director, and producer--passion, purpose, and persistence. I've seen these three qualities come out of Mykel's pores since I saw him on Bonnabel High School's speech and debate team. In this conversation, we go into a deep dive about where he saw his career going and some of the hard decisions that go into life as an actor. Mykel also talks about a day in the life of a working actor and what it means to direct your life.

About Mykel Shannon Jenkins

IMDB Profile: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0420926/?ref_=ra_sb_ln

Mykel, born in Biloxi, Mississippi to an officer in the U.S. Air Force, called many states home. With his parents and two siblings, the family finally settled in New Orleans, Louisiana, where Mykel graduated from Bonnabel High School. After that, he earned his bachelor’s degree from Loyola University New Orleans. While in high school, Mykel was a national competitor in drama as well as speech and debate. That is where his fire for the dramatic was ignited.

During college, while holding down a part-time job as a waiter, Mykel became a household name as the host of New Orleans’ WB38 Kids’ Club, where he served as an on-air personality for more than four years introducing kids and parents to a world of knowledge. After college while still in New Orleans, Mykel began his acting career, landing minor roles in a few movies. During this time, Mykel’s knack for writing reared its creative head as he penned his first screenplay about childhood friends who pull off the greatest art heist. Although this one did not make it to film (yet), Mykel has written, directed, and produced over six screenplays since that first one.

In 2003, empowered by his family and armored with a dream and staunch determination, Mykel made his big move to Hollywood. Mykel has studied under some of the most renowned teachers in the industry, such as the Beverly Hills Playhouse, Gary Imhoff, Lesly Kahn, and he continues to be mentored by acting coach Eric Stuart. Over the years, Mykel’s hard work paid off. His TV credits include The CW’s "Containment," "Steppin’ Back to Love," "A Royal Christmas Ball," "Michael Jackson: Searching for Neverland," and "The Bold and the Beautiful," among many others. Mykel’s film credits include The Last Heist, Beyond the Trek, The Masked Saint, Same Kind of Different as Me, and Undisputed 3: Redemption where he brought to life the charismatic and unforgettable American fighter, Turbo.

Mykel also starred in the critically acclaimed WellGo USA Ent (THEATRICAL)/Netflix’s The Paper Tigers, a film about three now middle-aged Kung Fu prodigies who reunited to avenge the death of their master teacher. Most recently, Mykel played Dobbs Ryker opposite Morgan Freeman (gang kingpin Kendric Ryker) and Luke Hemsworth (Lee Gunner) in the action-thriller motion picture Gunner (2024).

Expanding his opportunities, Mykel delved into creative writing and directing, which was provoked by his own words, “Why wait for an opportunity? I will create my own.” He has written, directed, produced, and starred in over six features, including The Gods, The Gods 2: The Dark Side, Two Wolves, and Octopus Pot. Mykel is currently writing The Gods 3, and a series entitled Summer 17. In 2024, Mykel released Youn’G (which he again wrote, produced, directed, and co-starred), spotlighting his son, Bryce Clyde Jenkins, in a coming-of-age dramedy about a teenage boy who, with the help of his close friends, fights for his true love while at the same time discovering his cool neighborhood mentor is his father.

Although Mykel is quite busy writing, directing, and acting, he still finds time to train physically as well as spiritually. As a personal trainer, Mykel knows what it takes to maintain a healthy body and mind: hard work and dedication. Mykel applies these disciplines to all that he does.

The views expressed on "For Our Edification" do not reflect the views of any entity with which the hosts or guests are affiliated.

This throwback episode features a conversation with playwright and author Harold Ellis Clark Jr. While he is known for his great radio broadcasting, public relations and communications work, Harold has made a mark as an award-winning playwright and author. In this interview from the old "Eddie Francis Podcast Show," Harold talked about his burning desire to write, how it felt to see that dream come true, the struggle in maintaining the dream, and how he stays motivated.

About Harold Ellis Clark Jr.

Profile: https://www.stage32.com/profile/788995/about

Harold is a proud native of the Westbank of the Greater New Orleans area. He has won awards from Playhouse on the Square (Memphis, TN) for "We Live Here" (2013) and UpStage Theatre (Baton Rouge, LA) for "Fishers of Men" (2013).

He has been named one of two finalists for the Stanley Drama Award an unprecedented three times for "Tour Detour" (2013), "Uncle Bobby ’63" (2015), and "Madame Thames’ Spirit Bar" (2016). Harold was also named a semifinalist for the Eugene O’Neill National Playwrights Conference in 2013 ("Tour Detour"), 2014 ("We Live Here"), and 2015 ("Uncle Bobby ’63"); and he traveled to Durban, South Africa for the South African premiere of "We Live Here" (2017). American Blues Theater (Chicago, IL) named Harold a featured finalist for the 2018 Blue Ink Playwriting Award for his play, "Run No More," and produced a staged reading of the drama. Additionally, the North Carolina Black Repertory Company (Winston Salem, NC) produced a staged reading of "Run No More" in 2019. As a 2018-2019 member of Southern Rep Theatre's 4D New Play Development Program in New Orleans, Harold penned "Indoctrination," for which he was named one of ten finalists for the 2019 Todd McNerney Playwriting Award. A staged reading of "Run No More," previously scheduled for April 17, 2020 at IATI Theater (New York, NY) as part of Cimientos 2020, occurred June 14, 2020 virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Harold is known among Greater New Orleans radio listeners for having taken over the weekly talk show "Sunday Journal" for which he won multiple awards from the Press Club of New Orleans. He also authored the novel, Chummy's Spirit.

The views expressed on "For Our Edification" do not reflect the views of any entity with which the hosts or guests are affiliated.

This throwback interview goes back to May 2018 when I asked Halima about cultural philanthropy. In this Write to Bear Alms segment, she gave great insight about how giving differs from one community to the next. At the time, Halima had been the chief philanthropy officer for the Texas Muslim Women's Foundation.

Halima talks about the common traits among various communities in their giving, philanthropic legacies, her "a-ha" moment about cultural philanthropy, and the most unusual gift she has ever received as a fundraising and philanthropy professional.

About Dr. Halima Leak Francis

Website: https://sopa.tulane.edu/degrees-programs/programs-study/public-administration

Halima is a nationally accomplished educator, practitioner and scholar whose career spans more than 20 years. She has focused on strengthening capacity, sustainability and equitable practices within nonprofits, philanthropy, and higher education administration. Halima joined Tulane University's School of Professional Advancement in 2019 to lead the development of the school’s public administration program. As the program’s founding director and professor of practice, she worked with school leadership and advisors to steer curriculum design, recruit a nationally accomplished faculty, and secure accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Under her leadership, the program exceeded launch expectations by tripling initial enrollment projections and was later named in honor of the late U.S. Congressman John Lewis, reinforcing its role as a contemporary voice for advancing inclusive public service and community leadership.

Halima joined Tulane from Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation, a multi-sector, ethnically and culturally diverse civic organization specializing in providing culturally specialized social services. She has a proven track record of strengthening of communities through meaningful collaboration, strategic leadership, and philanthropic investment. Along with her work at Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation, she has developed programming and engaged public and private supporters on behalf of institutions such as the City University of New York School of Professional Studies, New York University, Barnard College, and Communities in Schools of Wake County (North Carolina). Throughout her career, Halima has also taught diverse populations of students, increasing educational and professional development access in public service related fields through online and blended learning environments.

Halima holds a Ph.D. in higher education administration from New York University – Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development where she also earned her master's degree in sociology of education. She earned her B.A. in English from Hampton University. A dedicated community volunteer, she prioritizes advancing systemic equity and inclusion by supporting organizations and programs that are committed to the same. She serves as a founding co-chair of the HERitage Giving Fund, Tulane History Project co-chair, Greater New Orleans Foundation’s Impact 100 co-chair, and Foundation for Louisiana board member. Additionally, Halima holds the Carnegie Corporation of NY Professorship in Social Entrepreneurship at Tulane’s Taylor Center for Social Innovation and Design Thinking, and is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

Born and raised in Winston-Salem, N.C., she has lived and worked in cities throughout Virginia, New York, and Texas. She now enjoys her home in the New Orleans area with husband Eddie, who is an award-winning mass media veteran and New Orleans native. Her favorite times are spent with her husband, her amazing bonus son, other family members, friends, and pets.