Episodes

  • Ep 12: From Films to Philanthropy: Tom Provost’s Journey

    Ep 12: From Films to Philanthropy: Tom Provost’s Journey
    Jul 4 2024
    In today's episode, Eve Richards, the host of The Discovery Pod With Eve, and Melissa Niece Smith, the cohost of this episode, are joined by Tom Provost, founder and CEO of BAGS AND GRACE. This 501c3 non-profit organization has been distributing 500 bags monthly throughout the year to the unhoused people across Los Angeles County since 2017.
    In today’s episode, Tom Provost sheds some very powerful insights on how he had a passion for movies as he was growing up, how he maintains a sense of self in the Film Industry, his favorite movie genre, why he wanted to tackle the problem of the unhoused people, items inside the Bags And Grace bags, how he stays motivated, call to action to everyone listening to what he is doing, if the county is helping with donations for Bags And Grace, the way forward for a long-term solution for NGOs and the government concerning unhoused people and how he came up with the name Bags And Grace.
    Tom talks further and shares his thoughts on how he stays protected from the unhoused people, his current projects, things he does to stay zen, advice to anyone who wants to be an entertainer or start a business, one of his huge writing gigs in the Film Industry, transition from acting to being behind the camera, how he handles rejection, his favorite movie or TV project he worked on and three people he would have dinner with and why. Tune in to learn more!
    Timestamps
    [02:59] What keeps Melissa motivated
    [5:19] Did Tom have a passion for movies growing up?
    [06:15] How Tom maintains a sense of self in the Film Industry
    [07:11] Tom’s favorite movie genre
    [09:33] Why Tom wanted to tackle the problem of unhoused people
    [11:00] Items inside the Bags And Grace bags
    [13:14] How Tom stays motivated
    [15:25] Call to action to everyone listening to what Tom is doing
    [16:44] Is the county helping with donations for Bags And Grace?
    [18:13] The way forward for a long-term solution for NGOs and the government concerning unhoused people
    [19:09] How Tom came up with the name Bags And Grace
    [20:51] Is Tom still doing artistic activities as the CEO of Bags And Grace?
    [22:24] Is Tom at the point where people recognize him?
    [23:41] About Tom Provost
    [25:08] Tom’s current projects
    [25:58] How Tom stays protected from the unhoused people
    [26:54] Street families Tom has encountered
    [28:01] Things Tom does to stay zen
    [28:48] Tom’s favorite meal
    [31:38] Advise to anyone who wants to be an entertainer or start a business
    [34:06] Has Tom’s struggles been worth it so far?
    [35:16] One of Tom’s huge writing gigs in the Film Industry
    [35:42] Transition from acting to being behind the camera
    [36:49] How Tom handles rejection
    [38:22] Tom’s favorite movie or TV project he worked on
    [39:22] Advice to anyone who wants to move to L.A.
    [40:43] Three people Tom would have dinner with and why
    Notable Quotes
    (03:34) “Regardless of the difficulty you are going through, the key for us is surrounding yourself with people who motivate you and uplift you.”
    (03:44) “Never give up regardless of your circumstances.”
    (09:36) “There is no one easy solution.”
    (32:31) “Work hard on your craft and then just keep going.”
    (32:55) “If you just keep trying and you just keep working and get better at your craft at some point, it’s going to pay off.”
    (39:52) “Preparation and opportunity is what gives you success.”
    (40:09) “Don’t judge yourself by other people.”
    Resources Mentioned

    The Movie - Under Suspicion
    SeaQuest DSV - TV Series
    Connect With Tom Provost
    Bags And Grace Website: www.bagsandgrace.com
    Food and Film Website: onfoodandfilm.com
    Cinema Language Website: onfoodandfilm.com
    Website www.cinemalanguage.org
    Facebook @provostom
    Instagram @bagsandgrace
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    45 mins
  • Ep 11: From Small Town to Stardom: Martyn Hale's Hollywood Journey!

    Ep 11: From Small Town to Stardom: Martyn Hale's Hollywood Journey!
    Jun 27 2024
    In today’s episode, Eve Richards, the host of The Discovery Pod With Eve, and Tony Blass, the cohost, are joined by Martyn Hale, who was found on the Barbizon passport during a discovery cruise. He starred in the popular film Coldwater and has been in over a dozen commercials for companies like Nike and Mattel & Oculus. Martyn has also made appearances on Disney's "Just Kickin' It" and ABC's "Switched At Birth". He is set to star on FOX in April. Growing up, he resided with his grandparents and never had the chance to meet his father. His initial acting role was in a music video for Eminem, which was part of the 2010 VMA Awards ceremony, taking place in Detroit, Michigan.
    Originally from Alma, Michigan, he now resides in Los Angeles.

    In this episode, Martyn Hale talks about how he went from Alma, Michigan, to Hollywood, Lessons he learned from the role he got in the movie Cold Water, The pressures he encountered at a young age, Why he wanted to become an actor, About his religious experience, Where he gets his motivation to keep going, The fears acronyms he learned and recovered from, how he handles rejections in the Film Industry, how he is coping with his relationship heartbreak and the show on Fox (Pictionary) with Jerry O’Connell. Martyn also shares more insights on the brand he would love to work with, what he is looking forward to in the future, about his grandparents, his relationship with his mother and brother, about his first acting gig, his thoughts about Hollywood, advice for people who want to join the Film Industry and how to get started and three people Martyn would have dinner with and why. Tune in to explore more!
    Notable Quotes
    (15:53) “I wake up each day, and I’m grateful to be alive because there are a lot of times people don’t wake up to live life as a gift every day.”
    (16:15) “I am not in control of anything in my life; it’s all either God-given or just through hard work.”
    (17:53) “Faith without works is dead.”
    (21:22) “We need positive people in our lives to help us.”
    (23:51) “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
    (28:09) “Family is everything.”
    (31:55) “Life can become very challenging even when you think you’ve got it all.”
    Resources Mentioned
    Cold Water - Movie
    Connect With Martyn Hale
    IMDb
    Instagram: @martynhaleactor
    Twitter (X): @realmartynhale
    TikTok: @realmartynhale
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    45 mins
  • Ep 10: Rejection, Resilience, and the Rise of Dr. Jatali Bellanton

    Ep 10: Rejection, Resilience, and the Rise of Dr. Jatali Bellanton
    Jun 20 2024
    In this episode, Eve Richards, the host of The Discovery Pod With Eve, and Tony Blass, the cohost, are joined by Dr. Jatali Bellanton, the visionary behind Kids Who Bank and Brilliant Minds Unite, she spent more than a decade in the investment banking sector and has authored several books. She developed a financial education program that has been implemented in nearly 300 schools globally, educating both young people and adults on financial matters. Lately, she has explored newer forms of investment

    In today’s episode, Dr. Jatali Bellanton shares more about why she started teaching children about financial knowledge, why she decided to get into investment banking, the rejections she encountered at the inception of her business, her background, and lessons she learned from her father, how to safely invest in cryptocurrency and advice to people who accept projects that don’t align with their core values. Dr. Jatali also sheds more light on why she never hired a babysitter, her podcast on parenting, overcoming the generation curse, the effects of the pandemic on her business, why she chose to invest in Ghana, how to identify business opportunities, the benefits of AI abroad and three people she would have dinner with and why. Tune in to learn more!

    Notable Quotes
    (12:24) “Rejection actually helps us become our best version of ourselves.”
    (13:50) “I don’t fear rejection because getting the no was not the only thing I focused on; it was the yes.”
    (16:54) “We are just all separated honestly by water.”
    (22:54) “Everyone should do their due diligence.”
    (23:36) “When you are working against yourself, then you will find yourself perpetually hitting a brick wall.”
    (24:18) “If you do have to take a job, do your best to make it temporary. Don’t make it a permanent situation in your life.”
    Resources Mentioned
    Brilliant Minds United
    Quick Book Intergration
    Start Engine

    Connect With Dr. Jatali Bellanton

    Website: www.brilliantmindsunite.com
    Instagram: @jatalibellanton
    Twitter (X): @jatalibellanton
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    46 mins
  • Ep 9: Rachel Kylian's Roadmap to Success!

    Ep 9: Rachel Kylian's Roadmap to Success!
    Jun 14 2024
    In today's episode, Eve Richards, the host of The Discovery Pod With Eve, and Melissa Niece Smith, the cohost of this episode, are joined by Rachel Kylian, a French American actress, writer, and producer. Kylian has starred in a variety of films, including the comedy "Almost Christmas" (Universal), "The Wrong Man" (Lifetime), and "The Climb" (Sony Pictures Classics). Rachel Kylian shares her powerful insights on her experience being in the movie Almost Christmas, the people who inspire her, how she started the performing arts, how she managed to get an agent in L.A, the acting classes she signed up for, her modeling to acting transition, her thoughts on her role as a German assistant on MacGyver and challenging role that she would love to do. Rachel also sheds more light on her current and future projects, shows she would love to be on, is she is still a model? what it felt like to be Danny Glover’s love interest in the movie Almost Christmas, the movie Voodoo, facts we don’t know about her, who she would love to do a movie with, if her American dream is worth it, how she deals with rejection and three people she would have dinner with and why. Notable Quotes (02:03) “If you have a dream, just go out and pursue your dream.” (02:18) “When you set your mind to anything, you can achieve it.” (11:19) “If you have a dream, make it happen.” (13:01) “The more training, the better.” (15:34) “Everybody has an opportunity; there is so much work, so much content with the platforms.” (26:28) “That’s how you grow when you challenge yourself doing things you’ve never done and you learn.” (31:50) “It’s not that hard if you want it.” (36:33) “Acting is all about networking.” (38:06) “It’s harder to be an actor than to be a champion.” Resources Mentioned The Dream The movie “Almost Christmas” Lipstick Trailer Connect with Rachel Kylian Website: www.rachelkylian.com Instagram @rachelkylianfilmandtv X: https://twitter.com/rachelkylian YouTube @rachelkylian Facebook @rachelkylianofficial
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    44 mins
  • Ep 8: Inside Rex Smith's Multifaceted Career

    Ep 8: Inside Rex Smith's Multifaceted Career
    Jun 6 2024
    In this episode, Eve Richards, the host of The Discovery Pod With Eve, and Melissa Niece Smith, the co-host for this episode, are joined by Rex Smith, a well-known American actor, singer, and artist. With his charm and many talents, he has won the hearts of people all over the world. He is also well-known for playing Jesse Mach on the 1985 TV series Street Hawk. He was the first actor to portray the Marvel Comics character Daredevil in live action. He is also a singer and a stage actor. In 1979, he released a single from the television movie Sooner or Later titled “You Take My Breath Away” which peaked at number 10 on the “Billboard” Hot 100. The song was included on the platinum-selling Sooner or Later album also named after the movie.

    In today’s episode, Rex talks about how he was able to balance acting and his life, his divorce story, his advice to young performers, and what he would do differently as a young star. He also shares his thoughts on why he agreed to act naked in The Washed Out Pop Star, about Solid Gold, his inspiration behind The Greatest Moment, his current projects and who he would have dinner with and why. Tune in for more!

    Notable Quotes
    (03:37) “Take the leap, do not wait.”
    (03:41) “You only get one life, you don’t want to look back and have regrets.”
    (03:47) “Always follow your dream, do not ever give up.”
    (10:37) “If you want to follow a life in the arts, be prepared for a lot of hardship.”
    (16:49) “All fame is fleeting.”
    (16:58) “The most important you is the you in between your performance.”

    Resources Mentioned
    Sunset Boulevard https://www.amazon.com/Sunset-Boulevard-Original-Canadian-Recording/dp/B000007603

    Connect with Rex Smith
    Website www.rexsmith.com
    Instagram @realrexsmith/
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    46 mins
  • Ep 07: Jeremy Miller's Story of Emancipation at 15

    Ep 07: Jeremy Miller's Story of Emancipation at 15
    May 30 2024
    In today's episode, Eve Richards, the host of The Discovery Pod With Eve, and Melissa Niece Smith, the cohost of this episode, are joined by Jeremy Miller, an American actor known for his portrayal of Ben Seaver on the Growing Pains and its two reunion movies. He was also a voice actor for the show Happy New Year! Charlie Brown! He also appeared in commercials for McDonald's, where he voiced a parody of VH1's "Best Week Ever" promotion. He was also the star of a 1990 Hanukah episode of "Shalom Sesame", an American/Israeli co-production of Sesame Street. He has also been seen in Boys and Girls Guide to Getting Down!

    In this episode, Jeremy Miller shares his valuable insights on his experience when he auditioned for the role of Ben, the insecurities he dealt with as a child, his emancipation when he was just 15 years of age, his drinking problem, and advice to parents with children who want to get into acting. Jeremy also sheds more light on his relationship with Leonardo Di Capri, how we can protect people in the film industry, his book “When I Wished Upon A Star,” cooking for the Black Eyed Peas, how he does his outreach to homelessness, his current projects and who he would have dinner with and why. Tune in for more!
    Notable Quotes

    (16:57) “Things get bad quickly, once you cross that line whether it’s alcohol, drugs whatever it is, once you cross that line things go downhill really rapidly.”
    (22:27) “There are going to be predators in any environment where you have children who are lightly supervised.”
    (27:29) “The amount of info you get online now is scary.”
    (32:22) “God is always working in our lives even when we don’t see it.”
    (33:39) “If you want to help people, you’ve got to be as honest as you can and you’ve got to just bear as much of it as you can.”

    Resources Mentioned
    The Dream (TV Show)
    The Book - When I Wished Upon A Star
    Angel (TV Show)

    Connect With Jeremy Miller
    Website: jeremyjamesmiller.com
    Instagram: @therealjeremymiller
    Twitter (X): @mrjeremyjmiller

    Connect With Us
    Eve Richards
    Instagram: @everichards_eve
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    46 mins
  • Ep 06: Sandro Monetti's Most Shocking Celebrity Encounters

    Ep 06: Sandro Monetti's Most Shocking Celebrity Encounters
    May 23 2024
    In today’s episode, Eve Richards, the host of The Discovery Pod With Eve, and Tony Blass, the cohost, for this episode are joined by Sandro Monetti an award-winning British Journalist, who grew up in North of England, Blackpool. As CNN's Royal Correspondent and BBC's leading British entertainment journalist based in Los Angeles, Sandro has interviewed some of the world's biggest names in film and television. From George Clooney to Will Smith to Madonna to Paul McCartney to Lady Gaga to Al Pacino to Jared Leto to Benedict Cumberbatch and many more, Sandro has covered the world of Hollywood from parties to set visits to red carpet award shows. In addition to his work as a Royal Correspondent, Sandro has written several books (Mickey Rourke: wrestling with Demons and The Man Who Would Be King) as well as articles and radio and television reports that transport readers to the world of Hollywood. Sandro has also created his one-man show, 'Clooney, Cowell', Pitt and Me: amusing encounters with the A-list', 'Marilyn and Sinatra', the parody musical 'Miserable Lesbians' and the revival of the comedy An Evening with Gary Lineker. In this episode, Sandro shares his deepest thoughts on his school magazine, what he felt like living close to Marilynne Monroe, how Marilynne and Sinatra got together, Marilynne’s Game Monopoly, what is best for him (Covering celebrities or royals), what people don’t know about Princess Diana, the real story of the palace behind Princess Diana’s death and his thoughts on the interview with Hary and Meagan on Oprah. Sandro Monetti goes on further and sheds more light on how he kissed Madonna, the worst question he ever asked in his career, peeing on Samuel L. Jackson, the awards that surprised him, about Miserable Lesbians, his upcoming project on Hary and Meagan, if there is another season of “The Crown,” Royal Society of St George, king Charles’ concerns and who Sandro would have dinner with and why. Listen to the podcast for more! Notable Quotes (12:41) “Anything was possible and I could follow my passions and do different things.” (13:53) “Angles are attitude, the way you tilt your hat, the way you look in a photograph conveys so much.” (20:58) “When you are a celebrity interviewer, it is important not to be star-struck because you have a mission to be the voice of the audience and find out what they want to know.” (24:03) “The mark of a great career or a great movie is not awards, it’s time.” (26:00) “The bigger the star, the nicer they are.” (33:28) “It’s just a pleasure to write and to direct and bring so much enjoyment to people.” Resources Mentioned Marilynne & Sinatra - www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/marilyn-sinatra-1673. Princess Diana’s Engagement Interview - • Princess Diana's engagement interview... Confessions of a Hollywood Insider - http://www.amazon.com/Confessions-Hol.... Miserable Lesbians - www.imdb.com/title/tt2730088/. Connect With Sandro Monetti Twitter (X) @SandroMonetti. Instagram @sandromonetti/. Website - www.sandromonetti.com/. Connect With Us Eve Richards Instagram - everichards_eve Connect The Discovery Pod With Eve YouTube - / @everichardsactress Website - www.thediscoverypodwitheve.com/.
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    46 mins
  • Ep 05: Rico Elliott Anderson: Navigating the Peaks and Valleys of the Film Industry

    Ep 05: Rico Elliott Anderson: Navigating the Peaks and Valleys of the Film Industry
    May 16 2024
    In this episode, Eve Richards, the host of The Discovery Pod With Eve, and Melissa Niece Smith the cohost for this episode are joined by Rico Elliott Anderson an American actor in over 90 television series, movies, and commercials.
    Rico is a founder member of the African American Shakespeare Company (AFSC). For more than 5 years, he traveled all around Northern and Southern California with a theater group. They did shows for kids and talked to them about staying healthy and safe. They did this in four big shows made by Kaiser Permanente.
    He's been on lots of TV shows. He was Herbie on Truth Be Told for 3 years. He's also been on FBI International, I Think You Should Leave With Tim Robinson, SWAT, The Orville, Star Trek Renegades, Modern Family, Two and a Half Men, 2 Broke Girls, Bones, NCIS, Criminal Minds, Law & Order, The Bold and the Beautiful, and Days of our Lives.
    Rico is a member of a funny group called 'The Outpatients'. They perform comedy at a famous place called The Comedy Store. Rico has won many awards like the NAACP and Telly Award. He's also been nominated for big awards like the Primetime EMMY® Awards. Rico acts in shows and movies and does voice work. He lives in Los Angeles and is picking his next job carefully.
    In this episode, Rico sheds more light on Black History Month, when he started acting when he knew he wanted a place in the Film Industry, roles that he avoided in acting, what he felt when he booked Captain Kelley Bongel’s role in Star Trek and how he deals with movies that underperformed. Rico Anderson also talks about how he stays humble always, if acting is still worth it so far, If he had a plan B when acting went wrong, his real passion in the Film Industry, The Truth Be Told Show, Rico’s Iconic Franchise, three people he would have dinner with and Eve’s final remarks on Rico.
    Notable Quotes
    (18:37) “Rise above because that is expected, it’s not everything that you do that’s going to be a blockbuster.”
    (18:50) “Part of the business is ups and downs and you are not always going to have a hit.”
    (19:22) “You are not always going to please everybody.”
    (19:46) “There are so many ways that the industry can bring you down if you let it.”
    (31:39) “Sometimes you just got to go on and do it regardless.”
    (31:43) “Do what you can to make it happen.”
    Resources Mentioned
    Truth Be Told
    African American Shakespeare Company
    Connect With Rico Elliott Anderson
    IMDb
    Connect With Us
    Eve Richards
    Instagram
    Eve Richards | Actress l Discovery Pod With Eve (@everichards_eve) on X
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    The Discovery Pod With Eve
    thediscoverypodwitheve.com
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    46 mins