Fresh Is The Word

On Fresh is the Word, we like to deliver wisdom through great stories from the minds of bright creatives of pop culture. Through those stories, we like to dissect the journey of our guests and present actionable lessons and advice for our listeners no matter what career or avenue of artistry they pursue. On this episode, we feature another wrestler featured at the Olde Wrestling event in Detroit on March 30th, their champion Matt Cross. Now Cross isn't just the Olde Wrestling champion, he is a wrestler known throughout the world, most notably as Son of Havoc in Lucha Underground. During our interview, we talk about how he got his start in wrestling, working with Olde Wrestling, the punk rock lifestyle he lives as a wrestler, his Wrestling Is Forever clothing company, how he's been able to make a career worldwide as a wrestler, and how he opened up avenues for wrestling in many parts of the world where wrestling was vastly ignored. This was one of the best chats I've had about wrestling ever. Follow Matt Cross: Web: wrestlingisforever.com Instagram: instagram.com/mdoggmattcross Twitter: twitter.com/MDoggMattCross Facebook: facebook.com/mdoggmattcross Follow Olde Wrestling: Web: oldewrestling.com Twitter: twitter.com/oldewrestling Facebook: facebook.com/oldewrestling YouTube: youtube.com/user/oldewrestling Instagram: instagram.com/oldewrestling THEME MUSIC Courtesy of Knox Money, Bang Belushi, and Foul Mouth. SPONSOR Founded in 2015, 20x20 Apparel brings original tributes to Pro Wrestling's classic arenas, moments and events. They look to spotlight the Bloopers, Bleeps and Bodyslams along with the Biggest, Smallest, Strangest & Strongest. In the world of wrestling there are 100's of shirts, promotions, flyers, social media accounts and ads. Don't get lost in the sea of parody shirts and display fonts. We can provide professional graphic design services at a reasonable price. 20X20 also hand screen prints all tees in house. If you would like to discuss a possible run of tees, posters, koozies, foam fingers...Zubas, then drop them a line at 20x20apparel.com Web: www.20x20apparel.com

On Fresh is the Word, we like to deliver wisdom through great stories from the minds of bright creatives of pop culture. Through those stories, we like to dissect the journey of our guests and present actionable lessons and advice for our listeners no matter what career or avenue of artistry they pursue. This episode's guest is Vita Ayala, who is a queer non-binary Afro-Latinx comic writer from New York City. As quoted from Vita's Twitter, "Queer & Brown is my brand". Ayala has written some franchise stuff (DC, Marvel, Valiant), and some creator owned stuff (The Wilds, Submerged) in many genres (Horror, YA, Superhero, Thriller, Drama, Romance). You can currently catch Vita's run on comics like Valiant's Livewire or Black Mask's Black AF: Devil's Dye. During our chat, we talked about writing authentic dialogue, how she got started writing comic books, the collaborative effort of making comics, how a good editor improves your work, Black AF: Devil's Dye, The Wilds, representation of marginalized groups in comics, women's role in the comic book industry, Livewire, about being a wrestling fan, and the music she listens to! Follow Vita Ayala: Twitter: twitter.com/definitelyvita Facebook: facebook.com/vita.ayala Instagram: instagram.com/definitelyvita Patreon: patreon.com/vitaayala Comixology: comixology.com THEME MUSIC Courtesy of Knox Money, Bang Belushi, and Foul Mouth. SPONSOR Founded in 2015, 20x20 Apparel brings original tributes to Pro Wrestling's classic arenas, moments and events. They look to spotlight the Bloopers, Bleeps and Bodyslams along with the Biggest, Smallest, Strangest & Strongest. In the world of wrestling there are 100's of shirts, promotions, flyers, social media accounts and ads. Don't get lost in the sea of parody shirts and display fonts. We can provide professional graphic design services at a reasonable price. 20X20 also hand screen prints all tees in house. If you would like to discuss a possible run of tees, posters, koozies, foam fingers...Zubas, then drop them a line at 20x20apparel.com, Web: www.20x20apparel.com Facebook: facebook.com/20x20Apparel Twitter: twitter.com/20x20Apparel

The guests for this episode are Sara Sheperd and James D. Gish, who play the roles of Carole King and Gerry Goffin respectively in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Carole King has long been one of the most prolific songwriters for decades. Beautiful is the story of her rise to a legendary status in the history music, detailing her songwriting partnership with her husband Gerry Goffin along with their relationship with fellow songwriting team Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann. It’s the story of true determination, where the good and bad times of her life helped shape the person she would become. During our conversation, we talked about being back on stage after the pandemic lockdowns, how things have changed in regards to workers rights, how they prepared for their roles, the accessibility of Beautiful to your casual audience member, and much more. Beautiful: The Carole King Musical will hit the Fisher Theatre in Detroit for a limited run from January 4-9, 2022. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit broadwayindetroit.com or beautifulonbroadway.com. SPECIAL NOTE: All Guests attending these performances must show proof of a Negative Covid Test (taken within 72 hours of your performance) OR proof of Full Vaccination (at least 14 days after your second dose) with a government issued ID prior to admittance to the theatre. Additionally – all guests must wear face coverings while in the theatre unless actively eating or drinking, regardless of vaccination status. SUBSCRIBE/RATE/REVIEW FRESH IS THE WORD: Subscribe on all major streaming platforms. Please rate and review on Apple Podcast and Stitcher. List of where Fresh is the Word streams: linktr.ee/freshisthewordpodcast or just search “Fresh is the Word”. Also available on IHeartRadio. THEME MUSIC Courtesy of STEVE O. Check out more music at eyeamsteveo.bandcamp.com. Support via Patreon If you want to support Fresh is the Word, please consider pledging via Patreon at Patreon.com/freshistheword.

The guest for this episode is Kyle Taylor Parker, who plays the role of Happy Man in the national tour of Pretty Woman: The Musical. During our chat, we talked about how he got his role on Pretty Woman, being on the Broadway company of Kinky Boots, how the Pretty Woman musical is the same and differs from the movie, and his latest album Broadway Soul Vol. 2, plus much more. Pretty Woman: The Musical will hit the Fisher Theatre in Detroit for a limited run from November 2nd-14th. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit broadwayindetroit.com. SPECIAL NOTE: All Guests attending these performances must show proof of a Negative Covid Test (taken within 72 hours of your performance) OR proof of Full Vaccination (at least 14 days after your second dose) with a government issued ID prior to admittance to the theatre. Additionally – all guests must wear face coverings while in the theatre unless actively eating or drinking, regardless of vaccination status. Socials: Web: kyletaylorparkeronline.com Instagram: instagram.com/ktpway Twitter: twitter.com/ktpway Facebook: facebook.com/KTPWAY Stream/Purchase Music: kyletaylorparkeronline.com/music SUBSCRIBE/RATE/REVIEW FRESH IS THE WORD: Subscribe on all major streaming platforms. Please rate and review on Apple Podcast and Stitcher. List of where Fresh is the Word streams: linktr.ee/freshisthewordpodcast or just search “Fresh is the Word”. Also available on IHeartRadio. THEME MUSIC Courtesy of STEVE O. Check out more music at eyeamsteveo.bandcamp.com. Support via Patreon If you want to support Fresh is the Word, please consider pledging via Patreon at Patreon.com/freshistheword.

The guest for this episode is Aiyana Smash, making her national debut as Mimi Marquez on the RENT 25th Anniversary Farewell Tour. During our chat, we talked about how she got the role of Mimi, how growing up in Mount Vernon molded her as person and how that translated into the musical theatre world, her experiences as a part of RENT and how she was able to relate to the Mimi Marquez, and how RENT is still relatable 25 years later. Aiyana also just released a new single titled “Queen”. The RENT 25th Anniversary Farewell Tour will hit the Fisher Theatre in Detroit for a limited run from October 19th-24th. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit broadwayindetroit.com. SPECIAL NOTE: All Guests attending these performances must show proof of a Negative Covid Test (taken within 72 hours of your performance) OR proof of Full Vaccination (at least 14 days after your second dose) with a government issued ID prior to admittance to the theatre. Additionally – all guests must wear face coverings while in the theatre unless actively eating or drinking, regardless of vaccination status. Purchase/Stream “Queen”: distrokid.com/hyperfollow/aiyanasmash1/queen Socials: Website: rentontour.net Instagram: instagram.com/rentontour Linktree: linktr.ee/rentontour Instagram (Aiyana Smash): instagram.com/aiyanasmash Facebook (Aiyana Smash): facebook.com/livin4themusic1999 Twitter (Aiyana Smash): twitter.com/AiyanaSmash SUBSCRIBE/RATE/REVIEW FRESH IS THE WORD: Subscribe on all major streaming platforms. Please rate and review on Apple Podcast and Stitcher. List of where Fresh is the Word streams: linktr.ee/freshisthewordpodcast or just search “Fresh is the Word”. Also available on IHeartRadio. THEME MUSIC Courtesy of STEVE O. Check out more music at eyeamsteveo.bandcamp.com. Support via Patreon If you want to support Fresh is the Word, please consider pledging via Patreon at Patreon.com/freshistheword.