Career Stories

At just 23 years old, award-nominated actor, producer, and television personality Kalen Allen has catapulted into the mainstream media, reaching millions of people worldwide across his social media platforms and through his content online. Discovered in 2018 by renowned talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, Kalen first made a name for himself through his hilarious “Kalen Reacts” videos, giving colorful and witty commentary on culinary concoctions online. It was one of these videos that caught the attention of Ellen, and he was invited to appear on the show. Ellen knew she had found something special in Kalen, and offered him an opportunity to collaborate and produce content for her digital platforms. Today, Kalen holds a regular guest spot on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and often takes his trademark wide-brimmed red hat and infectious personality to high-profile events, such as the Billboard Music Awards and the MTV Video Music Awards as Ellen’s correspondent. He also has his own weekly digital news series, “OMK

Kayla Itsines is recognized as one of the most influential trainers in the world and has made it her personal mission to help as many women as possible achieve their ideal levels of fitness and feel more confident and happy. Kayla created the Bikini Body Guide (BBG) and BBG Stronger fitness programs to help women around the world make permanent and sustainable changes to both their mindset and lifestyle. The BBG routines are flexible (you can choose whether you want to work out at home or in the gym) and help women learn how to train to increase both fitness and strength through regular workouts. The best part...they are only 28 minutes long!  Kayla opens up in this episode of Career Stories about her upbringing in a close-knit Greek family in Australia, her journey to creating the BBG program, why she was inspired to become a fitness trainer, how her relationship with her fiancé, Tobi, blossomed into a business empire, and her message to women around the world.  With more women joining every day, the BBG C

Erin Lim is the host of E! News’ “The Rundown," one of the first fully produced weekly shows for Snapchat, which recently expanded to three days a week after early success on the platform, averaging 13 million viewers. Erin is also a correspondent for E! News and serves as a regular panelist on Live From E!, a fast-paced and popular digital show that E! News developed for the Facebook Live platform.  In 2017, Erin’s on-air work helped E! News earn a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Entertainment News Program.  Erin and the E! News team continue to reinvent entertainment and celebrity news for the next generation, serving as the go-to multiplatform destination for content and pop culture coverage spanning fashion, beauty, lifestyle, viral content, television, music and more, and the voice for what's trending in pop culture across all platforms – from television and online to mobile, social and VOD. Erin was formerly the host for E! News Asia.  She was born and raised in the Los Angeles area and is

Dr. Mike Varshavski is a celebrity doctor, a social media star, successful YouTuber and a practicing family medicine physician.  His family is originally from Saransk, Russia and immigrated to New York City when Mike was five years old. He lived with his parents and sister in a one-bedroom low-income apartment for eight years, watching his parents start over with their professional lives. His father, who was a doctor in Russia, completely redid medical school and his mom went from being a math professor in her home country to sweeping floors, then eventually became a computer programmer.  Mike was inspired to go to medical school and when he did, he used Instagram to document his experience and social life. During his program, Mike's mother passed away from an aggressive form of CLL, a type of leukemia. The experience taught him how important it was for medical caregivers to be compassionate, empathetic and respectful to all families during times of grief and medical hardship.    Dr. Mike's Instagram accoun

Tomi Lahren is a conservative political commentator and host of FOX Nation's daily programs First Thoughts and Final Thoughts. On First Thoughts (9:30AM/ET) Tomi delivers her opinion on the latest news in politics and pop culture. Her signature Final Thoughts (6PM/ET) recaps her views on the day’s top stories. Her first book, "Never Play Dead: How the Truth Makes You Unstoppable" releases July 2nd.  She tells the story of how she worked her way out of South Dakota to television fame in LA, surviving social isolation and a very public lawsuit. Along the way, she was tempted to follow everyone’s advice to keep quiet and bide her time, but she never did. In addition to her role on FOX Nation, Lahren is a contributor for FNC, offering political commentary across the network’s opinion programming, primarily on Hannity and FOX & Friends. Lahren joined the network in August 2017. Prior to joining FNC, Lahren served in a communications role at Great America Alliance (GAA), a super PAC supporting President Donald

Kelsey Wells is a personal trainer, a social media influencer in the field of fitness and an inspiring wife and mother. After having her son, Anderson, Kelsey started a healthy eating and exercise plan to help increase her fitness and cope with postpartum anxiety. Little did she know that decision would completely change the course of her life.  As a certified personal trainer with additional expertise in post-natal training, Kelsey's mission is to empower women to strengthen their bodies and their minds.  "I want ALL women to feel amazing, both inside and out, and to be totally in love with who they are. You can train alongside me at any stage of your fitness journey, simply choose the program that best suits your goals," said Kelsey.  PWR is Kelsey's gym-based program, a unique take on weights training to help women sculpt lean muscle. It's available through the SWEAT app and even has an updated version, PWR At Home, for more convenient training options without professional equipment. Kelsey's also has the

Maz Jobrani is an Iranian-American comedian and actor, best known for his Netflix standup special "Immigrant," Showtime's "I'm Not a Terrorist, But I've Played One on TV," and as a member of the "Axis of Evil" comedy group.  Maz’s first original Netflix standup special was filmed in 2017 at the Kennedy Center and is currently available for streaming. He has also put out three other solo specials on Showtime including: “Brown and Friendly”, “I Come in Peace”, and “I’m Not a Terrorist, But I’ve Played One on TV”. In spring 2016 he performed at the White House where he had the privilege of introducing Michelle Obama. Maz is a founding member of The Axis of Evil Comedy Tour, which aired on Comedy Central. Maz starred as the title character in the award-winning indie comedy, "Jimmy Vestvood: Amerikan Hero," a film which he co-wrote and co-produced and is now available on all major outlets online. He has co-starred in many films including Disney’s "Descendants," Sydney Pollack’s "The Interpreter" and Ice Cube’s "Fr

Chef Fabio Viviani has harbored a passion for food since his childhood growing up in Florence, Italy. Fabio owned and operated several restaurant concepts by the time he was 27 including two nightclubs and five restaurants in Florence.  Best known for his television debut on Bravo’s hit series Top Chef—earning the “Fan Favorite” title—his on-screen appearances have propelled him to become one of the top culinary names in the country. He is a recurring guest on national television shows such as Good Morning America, The Rachael Ray Show, The Chew, and countless Food Network Shows such as Cutthroat Kitchen: All-Star Tournament, which he won. In February 2017, he also released “Fabio’s Kitchen,” a 52-episode cooking show hosted on YouTube. Teaming up with one of Chicago’s restaurant consulting group, Dine|Amic, Fabio opened Siena Tavern in Chicago in 2013 and the following year he opened Mercato by Fabio Viviani, a quick-service Italian concept with branches in Chicago and San Diego. In 2015, Fabio continued to

Hillary Kerr is co-founder and Chief Ideation Officer of Clique Brands, a modern lifestyle company that lives at the intersection of media and commerce. Named to Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies list in 2017 and as Digiday’s Most Innovative Publisher in 2018, Clique is a global media and consumer brands company that combines the power of data science with its expert editorial team to create content and products that millennial women and Gen Z girls crave. Clique is the parent company of Who What Wear, THE/THIRTY, College Fashionista and the podcast Second Life.  Clique launched its consumer products division in early 2016 with the Who What Wear clothing collection, sold exclusively at Target, and has since expanded with JoyLab, an activewear line created in partnership with Target. Along with fellow co-founder Katherine Power, Kerr is considered a visionary entrepreneur for creating the data-driven and curated fashion site Who What Wear in 2006, followed by five additional content properties. At Cliqu

Thank you so much to all of you listening to Career Stories around the world.  The week of May 21, 2019 - just three months since launching on Apple Podcasts - Career Stories broke into the Top 50 for Apple Podcasts in the category of Business: Careers. That wouldn't be possible without you, the amazing listeners! CHANGES ARE COMING TO CAREER STORIES beginning in June! I'm excited to announce that in addition to the back stories and career paths of successful journalists, the Career Stories Podcast is branching out to include the journeys of people at the top of their industries in a range of fields.  You'll soon be hearing from social media influencers with millions of followers, comedians, celebrity chefs, attorneys, and politicians about how they built their brands and successful careers and the advice they have for you.  If there is a guest you'd like to request, please send an e-mail to Natalie@CareerStoriesPod.com. Thank you for listening and stay tuned for more great interviews!

Paula Faris is a senior national correspondent and anchor at ABC News and the host of the popular podcast “Journeys of Faith with Paula Faris,” which gives an intimate look at how some of the world’s most influential people lean on faith and spirituality to guide them through the best and worst of times. Previously, she was the co-anchor of Good Morning America’s weekend edition, as well as a co-host of ABC’s The View. Paula is an Emmy-Award winning journalist who has reported on major headlines around the world, from the 2018 Royal Wedding in Windsor, England, to the 90th Annual Academy Awards, the 2017 Inauguration of President Donald Trump, the World Cup in Brazil and the New England Patriots “Deflategate” scandal. In 2018, Paula sat down with each of the Texas Senate race candidates, Senator Ted Cruz and Representative Beto O’Rourke, while on the Texas campaign trail. In October 2017, Paula made headlines for an exclusive interview with former White House Press Secretary, Sean Spicer. Previously, she sat

Kristine Leahy is a sports broadcaster and national television host of "Fair Game" on FOX Sports 1. She is a former co-host of "The Herd with Colin Cowherd" on FS1 and "American Ninja Warrior" on NBC.  Before becoming entering the national spotlight, Kristine spent two and a half years with the CBS and Turner Sports Family. She worked the sidelines for March Madness and CBS Sports' regular season college football and basketball packages. She also anchored CBSLA's "Sports Central," contributed to KCAL's Dodgers pre-game show "Think Blue," and has covered everything from the Super Bowl to the World Series to the NBA and Stanley Cup Finals.  Kristine started her career in local news on the East Coast, working in sports radio, TV and as the official reporter for the Boston Celtics. She is originally from the Chicago area and grew up watching sports (including the glory days of the Bulls) with her family. You can follow her at @KristineLeahy.

Gianna Toboni is a correspondent and producer for VICE News Tonight, the Emmy award-winning half-hour nightly newscast and the multi-award-winning VICE on HBO series. Over the last year, Toboni has covered escalating cartel violence and political corruption in Mexico, tracked down Nigerian pirates on their illegal oil refineries and landed an exclusive interview with death row inmate, Scott Dozier. She’s been on the forefront of the most important domestic debates in the United States, interviewing charter school magnate Dick DeVos about school choice and sitting down with NRATV's Grant Stinchfield for a contentious interview about mass shootings. Before joining VICE in 2013, she worked as a correspondent at Al Jazeera and as a producer for ABC News. In 2015, Toboni was named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list for media jobs and spoke at TEDx in 2014. She won a Webby Award in 2014 for Best Documentary Series for "The Real," as well as a GLAAD Media Award for Church and States in 2017. Toboni was also recently recogn

Amy Robach is a co-anchor of ABC’s Good Morning America and 20/20 and can be seen reporting across all ABC News platforms.  Since joining ABC News, Amy has been on the front lines of some of the world's biggest headlines. She reported on the terrorist attacks in Manchester, UK and in Brussels, Belgium, as well as the mass shootings at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, TX, Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, and Sandy Hook elementary school in Newton, Connecticut. Amy also contributes to ABC's network-wide coverage on Election Night and anchored ABC's Olympic coverage of the 2018 Winter Games in PyeongChang, the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. In 2014, Amy traveled to Nigeria to interview Malala Yousafzai, the 17-year-old who was campaigning to free hundreds of captive school girls. In this interview, you'll hear why this interview stands out to Amy as one of the most moving and important assignments she's had.  Amy has also interviewed countless new

Nikki Battiste has been a correspondent for CBS News based in New York City since 2018. Her reporting appears across all CBS News platforms and broadcasts, including CBS This Morning, CBS Evening News, and 48 Hours.  Battiste has also served as a substitute anchor on CBS News’ digital channel, CBSN. Battiste’s groundbreaking reporting and investigations into the Catholic Church sexual abuse scandal gained critical acclaim.  In a television first, her reporting led to two alleged clergy abuse survivors sitting down face-to-face with the priest they say abused them as children. During a separate investigation, Battiste questioned U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops President, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, about why a priest with sexual abuse allegations in his own Galveston-Houston Archdiocese was still in active ministry.  After the story aired, the priest was removed from ministry.  Two months after her exclusive interview with now former Washington, D.C. Cardinal Donald Wuerl, he resigned.  She also broke the sto

Tara Palmeri is an ABC News White House correspondent who can be seen reporting on Good Morning America & World News Tonight weekend editions, and on ABC's 200+ local affiliates and digital platform.  Tara got her start in journalism by working as a news assistant for CNN in Washington, D.C. before making a name for herself as a gossip columnist. She reported for the Washington Examiner's "Yeas and Nays" column, before getting scooped up by The New York Post, where she wrote for Page Six and eventually covered city politics. Her quick ability to develop sources impressed Politico, which gave her a dream opportunity to move to Europe and report on everything from Brexit to the Greek Financial crisis and the Paris and Brussels terror attacks.  Then, President Trump was elected and Tara felt a strong calling to return to D.C.  After all, Trump was a familiar name and face in the tabloid world Tara had come to know so well. She served as a Politico White House Correspondent and a CNN Political Analyst until 2

Andrew Fried is an award-winning documentary filmmaker & TV producer. His long list of credits includes executive producing hit Netflix docuseries like Chef’s Table (now in its 6th season), Last Chance U, 7 Days Out and the upcoming Street Food (which premieres April 26). Even though Andrew says Chef's Table catapulted his career to another level, our Career Stories episode doesn't get to how the show was created until an hour into the interview, and that's because Andrew has had a fascinating and unpredictable career path. He started as an actor and comedian in New York City before 9/11 shifted his path temporarily to working for his family's real estate business. But the suit-and-tie life didn't last long and Andrew was ultimately pulled back into his love for storytelling through documentaries. Starting as a production assistant and working his way up to producer, Andrew has worked on everything from Jay-Z’s Fade to Black to Britney: For the Record to Iconoclasts (plus many, many more), and eventually

Willow Bay is the first female dean of USC's prestigious Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism. Her prominent broadcast experience includes co-hosting NBA Inside Stuff, serving as a correspondent for the Today Show, co-anchoring ABC's Good Morning America weekend edition and anchoring CNN's Moneyline News Hour. Before joining USC to direct the journalism program, she was a senior editor and senior strategic advisor to The Huffington Post and a special correspondent for Bloomberg TV. Willow is originally from New York City and holds an MBA from NYU. In her 20s, she was the face of Estee Lauder cosmetics and she says her modeling career not only helped her pay for school, but launched her into the TV reporting world by leading to on-air marketing spots.  One of her first gigs was also hosting a travel show alongside former NBC Today Show anchor, Matt Lauer.  Willow was named Dean of USC's Annenberg in July 2017. She launched the school's Media Center in Wallis Annenberg Hall, introduced the school

Miguel Almaguer is a national correspondent with NBC News and the network's go-to reporter for breaking news. He's covered stories around the world for Nightly News, the Today Show and MSNBC. Miguel holds an Edward R. Murrow Award and was recognized by the National Association of Hispanic Journalists with the Presidential Award of Visibility. Miguel has gone live feet from the flames of wildfires, waist-deep in flood waters, from a helicopter over an erupting volcano, and from the summit of El Capitan! Follow him at @MiguelNBC.

Emily Chang serves as the anchor and executive producer of Bloomberg Technology. Her San Franscisco-based TV show features interviews with the tech industry’s top executives, investors and entrepreneurs. Last year she published her first book called Brotopia: Breaking up the Boys' Club of Silicon Valley, which turned into a national bestseller. It examines gender inequality in tech and how women were left out of the greatest wealth creation in history. Emily is a Harvard grad who started her career in local news before becoming a foreign correspondent with CNN. She has been referred to as one of the most influential women in tech. You can follow her at @EmilyChangTV.