Today on Vulnerable, I chat with actress, model, activist and all around icon, Jillian Mercado! Jillian plays Maribel Suarez in “The L Word: Generation Q.” She's a prominent figure in the fashion world challenging beauty ideals and redefining traditional norms in the industry. She opens up about advocating for more representation for people with disabilities, starting her initiative called Black Disabled Creatives and even being nominated for a GLAAD award! What does Jillian want people to under...
Mar 21, 2023•56 min
Today on Vulnerable, I chat with Brooklynne Webb! Brooklynne is a social media superstar who rose to fame on Tiktok (she has over 10.6 million followers!). She’s best known for her videos featuring fashion looks, POV’s, dance trends, princess roleplay & body positivity. She opens up about what it’s like to move from Canada to West Hollywood at 18, building her TikTok followers from 30,000 to over 8 million in a year, disrupting society’s standard with her musical satire, and taking control o...
Mar 14, 2023•45 min
Today on Vulnerable, I get to chat (and laugh a lot) with the Lawrence Brothers! Joey, Matt, and Andy stole all of our hearts in the 90s through their sitcom Brotherly Love, and their appearances in Boy Meets World, Blossom, Mrs. Doubtfire, Horse Sense, Jumping Ship & more. They open up about what it’s like to face the entertainment industry as three brothers, and the struggles that come with that. They also give me the inside scoop on what it’s like working together on their exciting new pr...
Mar 07, 2023•42 min
Today on Vulnerable, I get to chat with the queen of color herself, Courtney Quinn. Courtney is the Founder and Creative Director of the fashion and media company, Color Me Courtney, and works as a fashion designer, blogger, and full-time Disney fan! (Not to mention, the primary reason why I wear color!) In this episode, Courtney shares all about her journey in the fashion industry and her unique path to designing her first official Disney clothing line. We also discuss the importance of inclusi...
Feb 28, 2023•47 min
A special kind of magic gets unlocked when casts reunite, and my time with the stars of Ned’s Declassified was no different. Today on Vulnerable, I catch up with Devon Werkheiser, Lindsey Shaw and Daniel Curtis Lee about what they’ve been up to since the show, the part nostalgia plays in adulthood, what it was like experiencing their childhood on set, and of course, all about their hilarious and heartwarming new podcast, Ned’s Declassified Podcast Survival Guide. Why is Devon nervous about what ...
Feb 21, 2023•43 min
Today on Vulnerable, I’m joined by Jennifer Stone & David DeLuise, two of the stars from the beloved Disney Channel series ‘Wizards of Waverly Place.’ We talk about their early memories of working together on the show, how they’ve given back to the community through mentoring young actors, the good ol’ boys club in Hollywood, and the juicy details of what we can expect to hear on their new venture together, Wizards of Waverly Pod. What did Selena Gomez say that made David cry? Why does Chris...
Feb 14, 2023•39 min
Today’s guest on Vulnerable is the hilarious and wise Danny Pellegrino. Danny is a writer, comedian, content creator and Bravo TV superfan! He’s captivated audiences with his authenticity, humor and heart in his New York Times best-selling book “How Do I Un-Remember This?: Unfortunately True Stories” and through his hit podcast Everything Iconic. We talk about mental health, embracing childhood magic, learning to love yourself and of course, who Danny’s current favorite Real Housewife is. Will D...
Feb 07, 2023•52 min
Today on Vulnerable, my guest is the multi-talented Anna Akana. In 2011 she launched her YouTube channel that now has over 2.8 million subscribers. She is a writer, actress, filmmaker and musician. I’m convinced there’s NOTHING this girl can’t do. Nothing is off limits in my conversation with her and we talk about therapy, cosmetic enhancements, the evolution of feminism, using her trauma in stand-up comedy, dealing with trolls, friend breakups and more. Is Anna leaving YouTube to become an Only...
Jan 31, 2023•1 hr 9 min
Today on Vulnerable, I get to chat with Canadian pop-punk icon, Fefe Dobson. Fefe has been ahead of her time since her 2003 self-titled debut album, and has been inspiring generations of artists ever since. In this episode, Fefe takes us back to the days of wearing dresses over jeans with fishnet gloves and WAY too many belts. From writing about her angsty rebellious teenage years to performing those songs on tour with Justin Timberlake, Fefe walks me through what it was like to be a female in t...
Jan 24, 2023•35 min
Today on Vulnerable, I have an inspiring conversation with Mattel Television’s Manager of Creative Content, Teale Sperling. Teale focuses on preschool TV and the Barbie Vlogger on YouTube. In this episode, Teale shares with me the journey she went on to become a leading voice in development and production at Mattel. Teale originally planned on being an actor, but as a little person, the roles available were limited and tended to be stereotypical. She saw a gap in the industry for women like hers...
Jan 17, 2023•42 min
Today on Vulnerable, I talk with Lisa Jakub. You may remember her from Mrs. Doubtire, Independence Day, and The Beautician and the Beast, to name a few. I had the pleasure of meeting her at 90's Con. In this episode, Lisa shares with me how she started acting as a child and the events that led up to her decision to ultimately quit the industry. She details the work she did to discover herself outside of performance and how she addressed her anxiety and depression. Today, Lisa has written two boo...
Jan 10, 2023•59 min
Today on Vulnerable, I get to chat with Nikki DeLoach. You may remember her from MTV’s Awkward, many Hallmark movies, and as a member of the popular 90’s cult classic show “The Mickey Mouse Club” alongside Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, and Christina Aguilera, to name a few of the iconic cast. I had the pleasure of meeting her at 90's Con. In this episode, Nikki and I reconnect over parenting, caregiving, the healthcare system, and her advocacy efforts with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, M...
Jan 03, 2023•43 min
Today on Vulnerable, I get to chat with Tia Stokes. She is the dancing QUEEN on TikTok. You may remember her from dancing to Glorious by Macklemore (feat. Skyler Grey) throughout her cancer journey. I was an avid follower and was rooting for her and her family. In this episode, Tia shares with me how she got into dancing and her decision to document her cancer + other illness via video. She gave us a real perspective on what it was like to be seriously sick during the height of the pandemic on T...
Dec 27, 2022•42 min
Today on Vulnerable, I get to chat with Allina Robie. Allina and I connected via TikTok when her Ukrainian orphan advocacy videos started popping up on my FYP. In this episode, Allina and I discuss how her childhood shaped her to become an orphan advocate. Last year, Allina moved to Ukraine to care for the orphaned and vulnerable children and young adults in the Zakarpattia Oblast of western Ukraine. Less than a month later, Russia invaded Ukraine. Allina details how her daily life has changed d...
Dec 20, 2022•52 min
Today on Vulnerable, I get to chat with Monique Coleman. Monique is a Multi-hyphenate Creative - actress, speaker, producer, Emmy Nominated host and "Champion for Youth." In this episode, Monique and I catch up about what she's been up to, and goodness, she is up to A LOT. She's currently training in weapons, martial arts, taekwondo, and dancing to be prepared for the role she believes she is ready for. She's developing MOtivated Kids. She'll be your kiddo's future Fred Rogers meets Ms. Frizzle ...
Dec 13, 2022•49 min
Today on Vulnerable, THE podcast queens Monica Padman and Liz Plank join me. Monica is a producer, podcaster, and actor. She is best known for co-creating, co-hosting, and building the Armchair Expert empire along Dax Shepard. Liz is a filmmaker, award-winning journalist, international bestselling author of For the Love of Men, and co-host of Man Enough Podcast. In this episode, Monica and Liz share with me why they decided to document the process of freezing their eggs and make it into a podcas...
Dec 06, 2022•54 min
*Content Warning* In this episode, Alyson Stoner and I discuss the realities of child labor and the exposure child actors experience. We do discuss different traumas we experienced. It may be triggering, and we encourage you all to take care of yourself. Today on Vulnerable, Alyson Stoner and I continue to our conversation advocating for high-performing children. Alyson is a multi-disciplinary artist - actress, singer, dancer, and podcast host, to name a few. You may remember her from Camp Rock,...
Nov 29, 2022•55 min
Today my guest is actor Max Casella. You may remember Max from Newsies, Doogie Howser, M.D., The Sopranos, Lion King on Broadway, and, currently, Tulsa King, to name a few. Let's be real, I'm a huge fan of Max Casella. In this episode, Max and Christy deep dive into his complicated relationship with his father and how his father's disapproval didn't prevent Max from pursuing his dreams. We should all be grateful because Max has been acting for 40 years and has such diverse credits from Broadway ...
Nov 22, 2022•43 min
Today there is no guest. It was supposed to be Aaron Carter. It's my first solo episode. In this episode, I share my perspective and my experiences with sobriety and accountability. You get to know why I am hosting Vulnerable. I hope that this episode encourages those on their own journey with sobriety and the loved ones who are supporting individuals on that journey. You can have a fulfilling life being sober, and I want to remind you all to be kind to yourself. Follow me, Christy Carlson Roman...
Nov 15, 2022•34 min
Today my guest is the QUEEN of roasting on TikTok, the icon herself, Drew Afualo. In this episode, Drew shares with me her journey to becoming one of the most loved and hated people on TikTok. FYI - I LOVE HER (#TeamDrew). From getting her dream job at the NFL to being fired because she couldn't "build a following" to creating her TikTok account in the early pandemic, in these past few years, Drew has completely transformed her career. Today she spends her time calling out misogyny, patriarchy, ...
Nov 08, 2022•48 min
Today my guest is actor, singer and content creator Paul Butcher. You may remember Paul as Dustin from Zoey 101, My Neighbor Totoro, Meet the Robinsons, and more. In this episode, Paul and I sit down in the Vulnerable Studio to discuss how he got into acting as a child. He details how his education helped him stay grounded throughout his child-acting career. Beyond acting, Paul is a very talented singer. He shares his stories of navigating the music industry and why he's independently producing ...
Oct 25, 2022•45 min
Today my guest is actor, dancer, and content creator Garrett Clayton. You may remember Garrett from the Teen Beach Movies, Hairspray Live!, King Cobra, and more! In this episode, Garrett unpacks the multi-faceted levels of bullying he has experienced throughout his life. From his elementary days to his management encouraging him to stay in the closet, Garrett, despite it all, is such a lovely and infectious human being. I love that Garrett communicates how he learned to create boundaries with th...
Oct 11, 2022•59 min
*Content Warning* In this episode, Lindsey Shaw and I discuss our journeys to sobriety. There were multiple rock bottoms, a mental health diagnosis, and more. We do discuss different traumas we experienced. It may be triggering, and we encourage you all to take care of yourself. Today my guest is actress and acting teacher Lindsey Shaw. You may remember Lindsey from Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide, ABC Family's 10 Things I Hate About You, Pretty Little Liars, and more! In this episode, ...
Oct 04, 2022•55 min
Today my guest is the founder and CEO of Social Curator, Jasmine Star. Jasmine Star empowers entrepreneurs to market their business on social media, build a brand, and create a life they love. In this episode, Jasmine shares with me how she went from dropping out of law school to helping over 35,000 business owners through Social Curator. Jasmine is one of those individuals that inspires you because she doesn't shy away from the hard situations in life. She learns from them and grows. She's done...
Sep 27, 2022•1 hr 1 min
*Content Warning* In this episode, Bug Hall and I discuss the exposure child actors experience and sexual assault. We do discuss different traumas we experienced. It may be triggering, and we encourage you all to take care of yourself. Today my guest is former actor and producer Bug Hall. You may remember Bug as Alfalfa in Steven Spielberg's The Little Rascals. In this episode, Bug takes me on a journey detailing why he's chosen to leave Hollywood, take a vow of poverty and live on a homestead i...
Sep 20, 2022•1 hr 5 min
Today my guest is model, screenwriter and entrepreneur, Ireland Baldwin. In this episode, Ireland and I connect on our very abnormal childhoods. She shares with me what it was like to navigate her famous parent's very public divorce as a young child. We both discuss how challenging it is for a world of strangers to have opinions on public people and their relationships. Ireland details the events and circumstances that led her to go to rehab. Today Ireland is living and thriving in Portland, ope...
Sep 13, 2022•59 min
Today my guest is New York Times bestselling author, actress and television personality, Holly Madison. Holly is an OG reality tv star from E! The Girls Next Door. In this episode, Holly and I connect on THE DAY her new podcast Girls Next Level launched. We talk all about her podcast, her relationship with Hugh Hefner, and her time on The Girls Next Door. She also shares her complicated history of being constantly associated with Hugh and Playboy and why she leans into it now. We also connect on...
Sep 06, 2022•44 min
Today my guest is actress, singer, and songwriter, Hayley Orrantia. You may know her as Erica Goldberg from the hit ABC sitcom "The Goldbergs." Big sisters unite! In this episode, Hayley and I chat about how she got into "the business." I was surprised to learn that acting was originally a means to land a record deal for Hayley à la Hannah Montana style. She shares stories about being on the X-Factor and how she stayed grounded despite being launched into fame through "The Goldbergs." She detail...
Aug 30, 2022•47 min
Today my guest is host, pop culture extraordinaire, and TikTok creator Tefi. Her recent deep dive on Amy Winehouse has everyone remembering why she was so beloved. In this episode, Tefi and I chat about what drew her to TikTok and start creating content. Tefi is one of the OG TikTokers. She also is a storyteller. With that winning combination, she'll likely pop up on your FYP offering insights on how to embrace your humanity. She highlights significant pop cultural figures as a way to help other...
Aug 23, 2022•1 hr
Today my guest is singer, songwriter, and TikTok sensation Jax. Her recent original song Victoria’s Secret has been making waves all over the internet and topping the music charts! In this episode, Jax and I discuss how TikTok has been a unique space to cultivate fans of her singing and songwriting. Although Jax may be popping up in your “FYP,” she isn’t new to the industry. She shares with me how supportive her family has been since she was young and the realities of being a ghost songwriter in...
Aug 16, 2022•49 min
