Reppin

Stories don’t just reflect the world—we use them to understand it. And few writers do that more powerfully than Angie Thomas. Angie is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Hate U Give, the global bestseller that sparked worldwide conversation and became a major film. She’s also the author of On the Come Up and the fantasy series Nic Blake and the Manifestors. Her work consistently centers people and communities that are often overlooked—bringing their voices, experiences, and humanity into focus in a way that feels honest and grounded. She was the very first guest I ever had on Reppin… and helped launch this show. So having her back is a very special full-circle moment. In this episode, we talk about The Hate U Give, Nic Blake, why history still belongs in fantasy, and how stories travel across cultures—shaping how young readers see the world and themselves. We also get into the larger conversation happening right now around books like hers—and why it matters more than most people realize. If you care about the stories that shape how we see the world—and each other—you’ll come away with a deeper understanding of how they shape how you’re seen too. Full video on⁠ Spotify⁠:https://open.spotify.com/show/1tq2vuZ... YouTube: ⁠@ReppinPodcast⁠ Instagram: @reppin_podcast Angie's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angiethomas/ 🎧 Listen, follow the show, and if this episode resonates, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Breaking Point: Adam Kinzinger on January 6 and the Courage to Stand for Your Values What happens when standing by your values could cost you everything — your career, your friendships, even your sense of belonging? In this episode of Reppin, I sit down with former U.S. Congressman, U.S. Air Force veteran, and January 6 Committee member Adam Kinzinger to talk about the moment that became his breaking point: the January 6 United States Capitol attack. After 12 years representing Illinois in Congress, Adam Kinzinger made a decision that would define his career — speaking out after January 6 and choosing principle over party. The fallout was immediate: backlash, threats, lost friendships, and a life that would never look the same again. But this conversation goes beyond politics. On Reppin, Adam Kinzinger opens up about the fear and chaos inside the Capitol that day, the emotional toll that followed, and the faith that helped him navigate one of the hardest chapters of his life. He also shares why he founded Country First, a movement working to rebuild trust in American democracy and create space for Americans across political divides to disagree without losing their humanity. At its core, this episode is about courage, integrity, and the resilience it takes to stand by your values — even when the cost is high. 🎧 If you care about leadership, democracy, and principled conversations that challenge the status quo, this episode is for you. • Adam Kinzinger’s experience inside the Capitol on January 6 • The moment he chose principle over party • The personal cost of speaking out • Relationships that didn’t survive the fallout • How faith helped guide him through backlash and isolation • Why he founded Country First • What he hopes his son learns about courage and integrity What you’ll hear in this episode • Adam Kinzinger’s experience inside the Capitol on January 6 • The moment he chose principle over party • The personal cost of speaking out • Relationships that didn’t survive the fallout • How faith helped guide him through backlash and isolation • Why he founded Country First • What he hopes his son learns about courage and integrity Learn more about Adam's organization: COUNTRY FIRST https://www.country1st.com/ Follow Adam on his instgram: https://www.instagram.com/adam_kinzinger/?hl=en WATCH this conversation on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/show/1tq2vuZiWLvhmTMaaWX2w8 Listen to Reppin: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reppin/id1480913421 Follow me on the gram: https://www.instagram.com/reppin_podcast/?hl=en Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Reppinpodcast Music by: DJ ACE the Cut Lieutenant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Reppin, we talk with Gia Kim from Netflix’s hit teen series XO, Kitty about her role as Yuri Han, LGBTQ+ representation, and turning life challenges into confidence and personal power. Gia opens up about playing Yuri, the confident “queen bee” at an international school in Seoul, navigating friendship, love, identity, and being one of the few openly gay characters at the center of a global teen drama. She also shares her own journey across Seoul, Hong Kong, New York, and Beijing, facing imposter syndrome and painful challenges—and in this conversation, she reveals a deeply personal experience she’s never talked about before and how she transformed it into resilience, personal power, and growth. This conversation goes beyond acting. It’s about representation, multicultural identity, and the real-life experiences that shape who we are. And it’s a story about storytelling—how a character or show can inspire, give voice, and even change a life. Why Listen: See how Gia channels her life into Yuri Han, making the character authentic and relatable. Hear a raw conversation about self-doubt, growth, and confidence. Understand why Netflix teen hits like XO, Kitty matter for LGBTQ+ and global representation. Discover how storytelling can inspire, empower, and make a real difference. Watch / Listen: Full video on Spotify Clips on YouTube: ReppinPodcast Follow Evelien on Instagram: @reppin_podcast Follow Gia Kim on Instagram: @thisisgiakim Subscribe, share, download, and leave a review—help others discover stories that inspire, represent, and make a real difference. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Olivia Cheng on Warrior, Netflix’s Marco Polo, Ready or Not 2 & Owning Your Voice If you know Olivia Cheng, you know she brings fearless, complex women to life. She’s Ah Toy on Warrior, Mei Lin on Netflix’s Marco Polo, and now starring in the hit sequel Ready or Not 2. Today on Reppin, Olivia joins me to talk about her life, leadership, and how she found her voice — on-screen and off. Olivia has built a career playing strong, layered, unforgettable characters. In this episode, she dives into Ready or Not 2, stepping into a high-council family leader role in a deadly “double-or-nothing” hunt. She also opens up about her life — those messy, human truths we all carry — and how that fuels her craft. You'll gain insight into where her cultural pride, grit, and perspective comes from. She talks honestly about bullying, racism, and moments that could have held her back — and how she turned those experiences into empathy, strength, and leadership. You’ll also get a chance to see the real Olivia Cheng — the person behind the roles — as she shares personal stories and challenges that shaped her perspective and how those experiences help bring these incredible characters that we love to life. In this episode, we cover: 🔥 Joining Ready or Not 2, the hit sequel, and the high-stakes “double-or-nothing” twist 🔥 Why Olivia is drawn to complex, powerful women 🔥 How exploring the shadow self shapes her craft and storytelling 🔥 Growing up between cultures and finding identity, pride, and resilience 🔥 Turning challenges into empathy, strength, and leadership 🔥 Representation through Warrior (Ah Toy), Marco Polo (Mei Lin), and Ready or Not 2 and its impact on audiences 🔥 Using your voice and platform to create real-world change If you care about storytelling, leadership, Asian representation, and finding your voice, this episode with Olivia Cheng is inspiring, real, and unmissable. 🎧 Listen now to Reppin and see the depth, humanity, and fearless energy Olivia brings to every role — from Warrior to Marco Polo to Ready or Not 2. Olivia's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatoliviacheng/ Listen to Reppin: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reppin/id1480913421 Reppin's gram: https://www.instagram.com/reppin_podcast/?hl=en Reppin's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Reppinpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when you step away from the path everyone expects you to follow? Actress Laura Sohn returns to Reppin for a powerful conversation about redefining success, owning your identity, and finding belonging on your own terms. Laura broke out globally on the hit NBC drama The Blacklist, and has appeared across television in NCIS and God Friended Me. Her work spans network television and the New York stage—always bringing depth, nuance, and authenticity to the stories she tells. But this conversation goes beyond the highlight reel. Laura opens up about the pressure so many of us feel—from family, culture, and society—to chase a very specific definition of success. In her twenties, she made the bold decision to step back from a hit show and ask a bigger question: What actually matters? What followed was a period of reflection, humility, and growth. It’s an honest conversation about curiosity, culture, family, and the courage it takes to stop proving yourself—and start owning who you are. Laura is also currently starring in the New York play JESA at The Public Theater. JESA follows four Korean American sisters who reunite to perform their father’s ancestral ritual honoring the dead. What begins as a ceremony quickly erupts into sibling clashes, humor, and the messy truth about what holds people together. If you’ve ever: questioned your path felt caught between cultures or wondered where you truly belong this conversation will resonate. 🎭 See Laura live in JESA!! https://publictheater.org/productions/season/2526/jesa/ 🎧 Listen to Reppin:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reppin/id1480913421 🌐 More episodes:https://reppin.tv Say hi! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reppin_podcast/?hl=en Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices