Hollywood Real

Robert Parks Valletta, the Emmy award-winning producer, actor, and author, joins host Jay Menez to catch up on his career and to share his advice on how to make it in Hollywood. He's appeared on over 30 tv shows and films, including The Young and the Restless, Days of Our Lives, True Blood, Melrose Place, Hawaii Five-O, CSI, NCIS, and Vanderpump Rules. Rob Valletta successfully created and hosted his first tv show, This is LA, and replicated it in San Francisco, San Diego, Miami, Denver, and other cities. Today, he's the founder and CEO of Making It Media. As Executive Producer of Staycation, he won an Emmy award in 2021. Other key titles include Wonderful Places, The Recruit, and Destination LA, Dallas, and SF. We talk about getting his first manager, Aaron Sacks, modeling Bradley Cooper's career, Michael B Jordan, soap acting, social media, casting influencers, and how Logan Paul tapped into his audience. And there’s more... • Creating a personal brand and telling your story like Gary Vaynerchuk. • Almost giving up and why Rob also made the heartbreaking decision to let go of a valuable relationship. • The simple method Rob uses to hack his brain out of depression, inspired by his sister, actress/supermodel Amber Valletta. • Why you must be kind to others and how actor Dante Basco sets the example. • Appearing on the reality show, Vanderpump Rules, with his then-girlfriend, Scheana Marie Shay, and what the experience taught him. • The healthy way to think about public criticism and negativity. • Preparation meets opportunity - pitching Matt Eisenberg at CBS and bootstrapping the first show. • Changing the perception about how to "make it" as an artist, and how this mindset leads to success. (He later wrote a book about it) 📺 WATCH the full Robert Parks Valletta interview at Hollywood Real with Jay Menez on YouTube 🎙 Jay Menez hosts revealing conversations with the most fascinating people in entertainment and sports. SUBSCRIBE now for more celebrity interviews. Show Links HollywoodReal.com IG @jaymeneztv YT @hollywoodreal email media@hollywoodreal.com

Actor Rich Ting stars as "Bolo" in Bruce Lee's Warrior on HBO Max. He was honored as Grand Marshall of the San Francisco Chinese New Year Festival and Parade for 2023. Directed by Justin Lin of the Fast & Furious movie franchise, the Warrior television series was inspired by the writings and work of Bruce Lee and brought Rich's career full circle by connecting him to the childhood icon he idolized. Rich joined Warrior castmates Andrew Koji, Dianne Doan, Olivia Cheng, Joe Taslim, Perry Young, Jason Tobin, Dustin Nguyen, Hoon Lee, Kieran Bew, Tom Weston-Jones, Dean Jagger, and Joanna Vanderham. Other screen credits include Magnum P.I., The Old Man, Lone Survivor, The Man in the High Castle, Salt, Supergirl, and NCIS: Los Angeles, among many other appearances in popular films and tv series. He recently appeared at Carter Min in Partner Track on Netflix. A fourth-generation Asian American of mixed descent born in Los Angeles, Rich has been a martial artist and multi-sport athlete from a young age. He played college football at Yale University and earned a dual JD/MBA degree. Coincidentally, Rich's character in Partner Track is also an Ivy League lawyer opposite the series lead, Arden Cho. Rich was headed for a lucrative career in corporate law when his ambitions turned to Hollywood. Solid parental grounding, relentless work ethic, and a healthy dose of self-belief and fearlessness gave Rich the edge he needed to launch himself into Hollywood stardom. We dive into how Rich turned his biggest hurdle into his most significant opportunity, staying gooey and embracing your fear of the unknown. Among the life lessons that guide him, Rich shares his core values of accountability, responsibility, and being a good person — and what Bruce Lee once said that keeps Rich in perpetual motion. 📺 WATCH the full Rich Ting interview at Hollywood Real with Jay Menez on YouTube Connect with Rich Ting: Instagram | @richtingworld Facebook | @richtingworldofficial Twitter | @richtingworld IMDb | @RichTing Website | RichTingWorld.com 🎙 Jay Menez hosts revealing conversations with the most fascinating people in entertainment and sports. SUBSCRIBE now for more celebrity interviews. Show Links HollywoodReal.com IG @jaymeneztv YT @hollywoodreal email media@hollywoodreal.com

Actor Ryan Carnes is a tv and film veteran best known for his roles as Lucas Jones on General Hospital and Justin on Desperate Housewives. Ryan shares about the charities he supports, This is About Humanity, Operation Underground Rescue, and the Change Foundation, and what simple actions we can all take in the name of unity. 🎧 SUBSCRIBE to the Hollywood Real Podcast with Jay Menez! Ryan’s also an accomplished drummer who enjoys creating music and writing lyrics when he's not filming. We talk about his current collaboration with singer/songwriter, Vanessa Silberman. Our discussion wraps with some advice for aspiring actors and the single most important mindset to achieving success in any field. Some of Ryan's other screen credits include NCIS, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, Blackout, Bones, Doctor Who, The Phantom, Surf School, Letters from Iwo Jima, and the upcoming holiday feature, Cupid for Christmas. 📺 WATCH the full Ryan Carnes interview at Hollywood Real with Jay Menez on YouTube. ___________________________ Connect with Ryan Carnes: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/ryancarnes1 Twitter | https://twitter.com/ryancarnes1 IMDb | https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1408453/ ___________________________ 🎙 Jay Menez hosts revealing conversations with the most fascinating people in entertainment and sports. SUBSCRIBE now for more celebrity interviews. Show Links HollywoodReal.com IG @jaymeneztv YT @hollywoodreal email media@hollywoodreal.com

Master Sri Akarshana shares his secrets on how to manifest anything – and how you can too. Formerly known as the Yogi with a Lamborghini, Eric Ho, he rose from troubled beginnings to self-made success. In his quest to create more impact, he undertook a Himalayan journey of deep enlightenment that transformed his life and mission forever. Once a spiritual gangster, he emerged a spiritual master and today leads a following of millions of people seeking inspiration, guidance, and ultimate happiness in their lives. Master Sri credits his hard-working parents as the strong role models who provided the foundation of leadership and entrepreneurial instinct that drives him today. ▶︎ SUBSCRIBE to Hollywood Real with Jay Menez now! In today's in-depth interview, we learn about how it all began for young Eric Ho, his dreams and early challenges, finding purpose, a pivotal moment that rocked his soul, discovering spirituality, and the mindset that can help you achieve greater success in every part of your life. Master Sri simplifies the Law of Attraction and how manifestation practices work and explains how we should think about money and charitable giving. He also reveals what to expect in his 2021 predictions and for the coming years, with specific advice about what to do now so you don't miss the biggest wealth-building opportunity of our lifetimes. ▶︎ WATCH the full Master Sri Akarshana interview at Hollywood Real with Jay Menez on YouTube. #MasterSriAkarshana #HollywoodReal #JayMenez ___________________________ Connect with Master Sri Akarshana: YouTube | https://youtu.be/NVNbE8hDW-w Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/master_sri_akarshana/ Clubhouse | https://www.joinclubhouse.com/@sriakarshana Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/MasterSriAkarshana Twitter | https://twitter.com/SriAkarshana Website | https://www.iamcreator.com/ __________________________ Connect with Jay Menez: YouTube | https://bit.ly/hollywoodreal Instagram | http://instagram.com/jaymeneztv Clubhouse | https://www.joinclubhouse.com/@jaymenez Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/jaymeneztv LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaymenez Twitter | https://twitter.com/thejaymenez Website | https://jaymenez.com __________________________ 🎙 Jay Menez hosts revealing conversations with the most fascinating people in entertainment and sports. SUBSCRIBE now for more celebrity interviews. Show Links HollywoodReal.com IG @jaymeneztv YT @hollywoodreal email media@hollywoodreal.com

Actor Ryan Carnes is a tv and film veteran best known for his roles as Lucas Jones on General Hospital and Justin on Desperate Housewives. He's also an accomplished drummer who enjoys creating music and writing lyrics when he's not filming. Ryan shares about the charities he supports, This is About Humanity, Operation Underground Rescue, and the Change Foundation, and what simple actions we can all take in the name of unity. ▶︎ WATCH the full Ryan Carnes interview at Hollywood Real with...

Actor Mark Dacascos of John Wick 3, Hawaii Five-0, and Iron Chef America is a world champion martial artist who once had ambitions of becoming a monk. He reveals why he chose acting as a noble career, the key life lesson his father taught him, and the values that define his personal brand. Mark's latest big-screen role is as the lead villain, Zero, in John Wick 3 featuring Keanu Reeves and Halle Berry. ▶︎ WATCH the full Mark Dacascos interview at Hollywood Real with Jay Menez on YouTube Mark's appeared in over 40 feature films including the haunting French film and box office success, Brotherhood of the Wolf, nemesis to Jet Li in Cradle to the Grave, and cult classic action film, Drive. He has also reprised the iconic role of Wo Fat in the hit CBS series Hawaii 5-0, Mr. Giyera on the hit television show Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., as well as the star of the series The Crow. Mark has appeared in numerous television shows such as Chicago P.D., Lucifer, and the hugely popular Hallmark franchise, The Perfect Bride and its follow up The Perfect Bride: Wedding Bells. Mark's turn as The Chairman of the Food Network's hit show, Iron Chef America launched him into pop icon status with over 200 episodes and counting on the Food Network. He also took his turn on the dance floor transforming his martial arts moves into dancing magic on ABC's hit show, Dancing With the Stars. Many millions have also enjoyed watching Mark in the hugely popular and uber-successful web series Mortal Kombat Legacy and the international web series The Way. Besides starring in television and films, Mark achieved a career milestone by directing his first feature film titled Showdown in Manilla starring Casper Van Dien and Tia Carrere. The darkly exotic, multi-lingual, multi-skilled Dacascos is a mix of Japanese, Filipino, Spanish, Irish, and Chinese heritages. He was born in Hawaii and attended school in Germany. He is married to actress, Julie Condra, and the proud father of 3 children. IG @DacascosMark __________________________ 🎙 Jay Menez hosts revealing conversations with the most fascinating people in entertainment and sports. SUBSCRIBE now for more celebrity interviews. Show Links HollywoodReal.com IG @jaymeneztv YT @hollywoodreal email media@hollywoodreal.com

In today's Chef André Rush interview, the jacked White House Chef talks about mental health advocacy, defeating negative energy, and surrounding ourselves with people who uplift us. Chef Rush starts every morning by doing 2,222 pushups and consumes 10,000 calories per day. He thrives on staying productive, expanding positivity, charity work, and role-modeling what it means to be a leader. ▶︎ WATCH the full Chef Andre Rush interview at Hollywood Real with Jay Menez on YouTube. Chef Rush is renowned as one of the top chefs in the United States military and retired as Master Sergeant. His representation of the Army has influenced over 100 new soldiers to join the forces. A member of the United States Culinary Arts Team, he won over 150 medals and trophies. Chef Andre Rush was the Senior Enlisted Aide to the Superintendent of the United States Military Academy. In this capacity, he served as Senior Aide and advisor for DVQ’s, dignitaries, and high-profile VIPs. He joined the military as a reservist where he would later switch over to active Army in July of 1993. He has spent time at Fort Stewart, 503 Infantry at Camp Casey Korea, Fort Campbell Kentucky, and Fort Bragg North Carolina. In September 1996 he served as the Joint and Vice Chief of Staff for eight general officers and four Chief of Staff of the Army over the next three years. Moving to West Point soon after, Chef Rush had the opportunity to work for four Superintendents as well as ASI Finance CMD GO Washington DC. He has also worked in the White House and the Presidential Guest House. Chef Rush has deployed multiple times and has held a variety of leadership positions to include Senior Advisor, Enlisted Aides, Operational Manager, and Foodservice Manager. He has served as a hand-to-hand combat trainer to over 1,000 cadets, airmen, soldiers, marines, and civilians. He trained over 10,000 troops in the art of culinary and was called upon Army-wide to assist in teaching other senior and junior aides. He has volunteered his entire career and rendered his services for the Core of cadets for the last 10 years. Chef Andre Rush holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Management from TUI; an Associate's degree from Culinary Stafford University; and an Associates degree in Hotel Restaurant Management from Central Texas. He is also certified in Household/Estate Management from Starkey International; Sommelier Course from Denver Colorado; CCNA; ACF; and Certified Ice Carver. IG @RealChefRush 🎙 Jay Menez hosts revealing conversations with the most fascinating people in entertainment and sports. SUBSCRIBE now for more celebrity interviews. Show Links HollywoodReal.com IG @jaymeneztv YT @hollywoodreal email media@hollywoodreal.com

Actor Gilles Marini of Sex and the City and Dancing with the Stars joins me to talk about life as a young man in France, his role as a special forces soldier, modeling, acting, raising his children, and the need for education to affect change. ▶︎ WATCH the full Gilles Marini interview at Hollywood Real with Jay Menez on YouTube. A former French Army firefighter, Gilles migrated to Miami to pursue modeling. He soon caught the acting bug and ended up in Los Angeles to become the artist who is today creating a positive impact through his craft. Since then, he’s appeared on dozens of hit shows and movies, including Sex and the City, Brothers & Sisters, and Days of Our Lives. He almost won Season 8 of Dancing with the Stars and returned to compete in Season 15. Gilles was honored by People Magazine as a Sexiest Man Alive. IG @GillesMarini 🎙 Jay Menez hosts revealing conversations with the most fascinating people in entertainment and sports. SUBSCRIBE now for more celebrity interviews. Show Links HollywoodReal.com IG @jaymeneztv YT @hollywoodreal email media@hollywoodreal.com

Michael Chaturantabut (aka Mike Chat), a 7-time World Forms and Weapons Champion, shares how the same steps and attitude it takes to be an action hero, world champion, coach, and role model are those that can be used to achieve your biggest dreams. ▶︎ WATCH the full Mike Chat interview at Hollywood Real with Jay Menez on YouTube. After making a name for himself in martial arts tournaments, Mike was cast in Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue as the Blue Ranger. He later founded XMA: Xtreme Martial Arts, which focuses on young athletes, and today he trains the world's biggest action stars for film and television. Over his career, Mike has experienced the highs of being a world champion to the lows of not being able to land a Hollywood acting job for years at a time. Through these experiences, Mike learned the importance of being motivated from failure and established a system for success, which he shares in our interview. Learn how the same steps and attitude it takes to be an action hero, world champion, coach, and role model are those that can be used to achieve your biggest dreams. With over 1500 licensed facilities worldwide, Master Chat is responsible for training over 275 World Champions, Hollywood directors, Chad Stahelski (John Wick Series), David Leitch (Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2), superstars Taylor Lautner (Twilight Saga), Jaden Smith (Karate Kid) & Willow Smith, Boo Boo Stewart (X-Men) and Grammy artists Usher, Apl.de.Ap - Black Eyed Peas, stunt doubles for Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Matt Damon, Keanu Reeves and more! XMA’s signature moves and stunt professionals can be seen in today’s hottest films like Black Panther, Ant-Man, Daredevil, The Defenders, The Avengers, Captain America, Thor, The Dark Knight Rises, Wolverine, Iron Man, X-MEN, TRON Legacy, Spiderman, GI Joe, and The Matrix Trilogy. The Discovery Channel’s Emmy Award-winning documentary XMA, Xtreme Martial Arts on Mike Chat has aired in over 130 countries around the world. IG @MikeChatXMA 🎙 Jay Menez hosts revealing conversations with the most fascinating people in entertainment and sports. SUBSCRIBE now for more celebrity interviews. Show Links HollywoodReal.com IG @jaymeneztv YT @hollywoodreal email media@hollywoodreal.com

Actor Dante Basco is a 30+ year Filipino Asian-American Hollywood veteran, best known as RUFIO, the leader of the Lost Boys, in Stephen Spielberg’s “HOOK” where he was featured alongside Robin Williams, Julia Roberts, and Dustin Hoffman. Dante shares his perspective on the business of acting, competing, recognizing greatness, staying creative, and more. ▶︎ WATCH the full Dante Basco interview at Hollywood Real with Jay Menez on YouTube. Dante is also known as the voice of Prince Zuko in Avatar: The Last Airbender, and for the title role in American Dragon: Jake Long. Other TV and film credits include The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Entourage, Moesha, Hawaii Five-0, The Perfect Weapon, BikerBoyz, and The Head Thieves, to name a few. An original hip hop artist, Dante, and his brothers gained local notoriety in the California Bay Area as an 80’s breakdancing group before relocating to Los Angeles to pursue acting. Earlier this year, Dante released his book, "From Rufio to Zuko,” a personal memoir that chronicles the stories from his life as a pioneering Asian American actor. Get it here: https://amzn.to/31Uo9O At the beginning of today’s conversation, Dante mentioned a film we worked on together a few years ago, but we never came back to discuss it. So here’s a quick summary: In 2017, Dante and I worked together on a feature film project, The Head Thieves. It starred Dante & Dion Basco and EP Mickey Gooch, and I was a producer with Director/Writer Mike Hermosa. We had an amazing cast and crew and the experience was extraordinary. A fun fact is that every crew member on location had a cameo in the movie. We even created a music video starring the entire cast and crew and friends. The film won six festival awards, including two for Best Feature Film. IG @DanteBasco 🎙 Jay Menez hosts revealing conversations with the most fascinating people in entertainment and sports. SUBSCRIBE now for more celebrity interviews. Show Links HollywoodReal.com IG @jaymeneztv YT @hollywoodreal email media@hollywoodreal.com

Thought leaders Sri Akarshana, Annie Bardonski, Preston Smiles, and Marisa Peer offer timeless advice in today's interview about how to create your best year ever. Whenever you need a reset and fresh perspectives for your life, these four remarkable individuals made helping others their life's mission. ▶︎ WATCH the full How to Create Your Best Year Ever interview on Hollywood Real with Jay Menez on YouTube. What if this year you could create your best year ever? Well, there’s still time and for many of us, the first step is to get grounded in the right mindset to spark new actions and a fresh perspective going forward. Master Sri Akarshana, Annie Bardonski, Preston Smiles, Marisa Peer and I got together in early January for an informal discussion about how to create your best year ever and start off right, any time of the year. We covered New Year’s resolutions, relationships, mindset, self-talk, fear, and some strangely accurate predictions by the spiritual master, and more. You’ll also hear some lively back and forth—my favorite part. We gained new perspectives, new friends, and ended the day sharing a wonderful meal. It’s been a challenging year for everyone, but with that comes an unprecedented opportunity to pivot, expand, and grow to new heights. You see, getting stuck in the unfortunate realities of a global pandemic with lockdowns, job losses, and the politics of it all is not gonna move you forward. Better to recognize what’s working in our favor and leverage that—such as more free time—to work on new projects, learn new skills, reconnect with friends, or start an online business for example. Though it was a New Years' talk, you'll find it reinvigorating, especially now when we might want to hit reset and need the inspiration. IG @Master_Sri_Akarshana IG @OhhMyAnnie IG @PrestonSmiles IG @MarisaPeer 🎙 Jay Menez hosts revealing conversations with the most fascinating people in entertainment and sports. SUBSCRIBE now for more celebrity interviews. Show Links HollywoodReal.com IG @jaymeneztv YT @hollywoodreal email media@hollywoodreal.com

Actor Matt Lanter of 90210, Timeless, Pitch Perfect 3, and Jupiter’s Legacy, talks about how he broke into Hollywood, staying sharp, podcasting with his wife, YouTuber Angela Lanter, and much more. ▶︎ WATCH the full Matt Lanter interview at Hollywood Real with Jay Menez on YouTube. You know Matt as Liam Court in 90210, Wyatt Logan in Timeless, the voice of Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Clone Wars, and as Skyfox in Netflix’s Jupiter’s Legacy Other key credits include Heroes, Commander in Chief, USS Indianapolis, and Pitch Perfect 3, just to name a few. Matt’s an impressively humble guy, a devoted family man grounded in his faith, and he’s fired up about his career, so this is one conversation you don’t wanna miss! IG @MattLanter 🎙 Jay Menez hosts revealing conversations with the most fascinating people in entertainment and sports. SUBSCRIBE now for more celebrity interviews. Show Links HollywoodReal.com IG @jaymeneztv YT @hollywoodreal email media@hollywoodreal.com

Eric Fleishman, aka Eric the Trainer, Hollywood Physique Expert and Host of Celebrity Sweat, is a big name in Hollywood fitness. We discover how to build a superhero mind & body and how his personality and perspective on life are even bigger than his biceps. ▶︎ WATCH the full Eric the Trainer interview at Hollywood Real with Jay Menez on YouTube Famously known as "Eric the Trainer," Eric Fleishman went from living on a farm in Maine to Los Angeles where he was mentored by the world's greatest bodybuilders. His commitment and focus led Eric to become the physical transformation guru demanded by Hollywood's most visible individuals—artists, actors, athletes, musicians, and more. Learn how the right mix of focus, hard work, determination, and taking positive action can lead to achieving your biggest goals. IG @EricTheTrainer 🎙 Jay Menez hosts revealing conversations with the most fascinating people in entertainment and sports. SUBSCRIBE now for more celebrity interviews. Show Links HollywoodReal.com IG @jaymeneztv YT @hollywoodreal email media@hollywoodreal.com

Steve D. Sims, the man who Forbes and Entrepreneur magazines call, "The Real-Life Wizard of Oz," and author of "Bluefishing: The Art of Making Things Happen," talks about the finer points of his craft including some trade secrets not even revealed in his book. ▶︎ WATCH the full Steve Sims interview at Hollywood Real with Jay Menez on YouTube Steve started as a bricklayer/biker from the tenements of East London. The grinding work taught him life lessons for sure, but in a pivotal moment of clarity, he decided he was capable of more. So he abandoned the family trade and moved to Hong Kong, beginning the process of discovering what he was truly meant to do. Decades later, Steve Sims is known as the original Bluefisher, the man who makes things happen. An exclusive concierge for uncompromising individuals, his passion is for making big dreams come true. Whether you want to sing live on stage with your favorite rock stars like Journey, be serenaded by Andrea Bocelli, or hang with Elton John at his Oscar party, Steve can get it done. ▶︎ Text UGLYWORKS to 345345 for Steve's pdf cheat sheet & Chug Test video IG @SteveDSims 🎙 Jay Menez hosts revealing conversations with the most fascinating people in entertainment and sports. SUBSCRIBE now for more celebrity interviews. Show Links HollywoodReal.com IG @jaymeneztv YT @hollywoodreal email media@hollywoodreal.com

Michelle Waterson, the UFC’s Karate Hottie, shares why she competes so fiercely, the values she hopes to teach her daughter, how self-talk is key to a winning mindset, and how she gets into the zone with a single word. ▶︎ WATCH the full Michelle Waterson interview at Hollywood Real with Jay Menez on YouTube Michelle is a veteran mixed martial arts fighter, formerly ranked #1 in the Invicta FC Atom-weight division, winner of multiple Atom-weight of the Year awards, and has graced the cover of ESPN’s Body Edition. She’s not only a professional badass, but also a wife, mother, and life-long athlete who shares with me how being a fighter has shaped her perspective on life, raising her child, and achieving her goals. IG @KarateHottieMMA 🎙 Jay Menez hosts revealing conversations with the most fascinating people in entertainment and sports. SUBSCRIBE now for more celebrity interviews. Show Links HollywoodReal.com IG @jaymeneztv YT @hollywoodreal email media@hollywoodreal.com

Neil Brown, Jr of Seal Team CBS and Insecure HBO joins host Jay Menez to catch up and reflect on becoming mission-ready for life's obstacles. Neil shares the step-by-step process that transformed his career after struggling to get booked. Today, Neil finds fulfillment by uplifting audiences with impactful performances. ▶️ SUBSCRIBE and WATCH the full Neil Brown, Jr. interview at Hollywood Real with Jay Menez on YouTube Neil discovered that consistent action and aligning yourself physically, mentally, and spiritually can help focus you to achieve the biggest dreams. Neil started acting as a teenager when he turned his martial arts talent into tv roles. Since then, he's earned appearances on The Walking Dead, Suits, ER, CSI, NCIS, Weeds, and Insecure on HBO, among many others. His best-known film credits include Straight Outta Compton as DJ Yella, Mr 3000, and Fast & Furious. Today, he stars on Seal Team on CBS as Navy Seal Ray Perry IG @NeilBrownJr 🎙 Jay Menez hosts revealing conversations with the most fascinating people in entertainment and sports. SUBSCRIBE now for more celebrity interviews. Show Links HollywoodReal.com IG @jaymeneztv YT @hollywoodreal email media@hollywoodreal.com