Act Up With Alana J
by Alana J.
Alana J is a New Jersey-based actor, comedian, and teacher who recently graduated with her MFA in Acting from Louisiana State University. You may have seen her on BET, STARZ, CBS, Investigation Discovery or live on stage at a comedy show. Living back in New Jersey after two years down South, she's eager to reconnect with some of her favorite creatives, and have raw conversations with this new generation of inspiration in hopes for you to learn, laugh and level up. Let's ACT Up!
Episodes
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Calixto Chinchilla is a Class Act
On this crossover episode of Act Up and 1st Class 2nd Place, hosts Alana J and Jason Enrique are joined by special guest Calixto Chinchilla, founder & executive director of the New York Latino Film Festival, as they dive into the humble origins of the festival, the impact it’s had since its...
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Acting Up With Kate Lawlor
This episode features the hilarious Jersey-native stand-up comic and producer, Kate Lawlor. Kate and Alana swap stories about attending the same Catholic high school (years apart!) and how it secretly sharpened their comedic edge. Kate opens up about losing her father at a young age, falling into...
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Acting Up With Laura Merli
This week Alana taps in one of her favorite stand up comedians, the hilarious Laura Merli. Laura talks about what pushed her to pursue comedy, some of her most memorable sets, navigating frustrating jobs, her love of reading popular psychology, and so much more. Check out Laura’s stand up special...
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Acting Up with Bill “The Billionaire” Gilbert
This week Alana taps in comedian, actor and host Bill “The Billionaire” Gilbert. They discuss his journey from former athlete to stand up comic, how he manifested his self-produced Amazon special, Savedish But God Knows My Heart, and his debut performance at The Apollo Theatre. This one is laden...
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Acting Up With Frankie DaPonte
This episode features actor, singer, K-Pop star, and Alana's former roommate, the multitalented Frankie DaPonte. Frankie takes us through the incredible chapters of his journey from acting in school dramas to his full-fledged career as a K-Pop star working and training in Korea. Alana and Frankie...
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Acting Up With Gordon Baker-Bone
Episode 29 features stand-up comedian and writer, the hilarious Gordon Baker-Bone. Gordon discusses his unique entrance into the world of stand up comedy via an offer from a former college professor. He speaks on writing for the MTV Show Yo Momma, working in television production, as well as the...
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Acting Up With One Day
This week, Alana reconnects with her longtime friend, collaborator, and favorite DJ, Eric "One Day" Saldarriaga. Together, they reflect on the many chapters of their friendship, including co-hosting the "One Day Radio Show," working with Killerhiphop.com and The Source, and curating events. Eric...
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Acting Up with Sita Sarkar
Episode 27 features actress, writer and artivist the lovely Sita Sarkar. Alana and Sita discuss meeting at an audition and having instant chemistry as the best friends they wound up portraying on screen together. Sita opens up about her beginnings in classical Indian dance and how that influenced...
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Acting Up on Law & Order
On this episode, Alana shares her experience working as an actor on the set of Law & Order. She touches on her acting journey up to this point, and how this opportunity was a true full circle moment. Listen to the full episode and subscribe here.
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Acting Up with Jason Enrique Again
This week Alana is joined by fellow Bravery Studios podcaster, the host of 1st Class 2nd Place, Jason Enrique. Alana and Jason reminisce on their days working together at Maggiano's Little Italy and discuss how their artistic journeys have intersected over a decade of friendship. You'll feel like…
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Acting Up With Jenni Ruiza
In this episode, Alana sits down with her friend and multi-talented performer, Jenni Ruiza. Jenni shares her acting journey, particularly being inspired by Bette Midler as a child, she knew she was destined to entertain. She discusses how she earned a hosting segment alongside Alicia Menendez on...
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Acting Up With Marc Reign
This week's guest is actor, filmmaker, and creative engineer, Marc Reign. Marc and Alana recall first connecting through her BET Digital Series Two Grown for which Marc served as a Director of Photography and actor. He discusses his acting roots, having a divine intervention to change his college...
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Acting Up with "LoganX" Hill
This week we tapped in rapper, artist, friend, and inspiration to Alana, the one and only Quinton "Logan Raps" Hill. Alana and Logan discuss his artistic trajectory from rapping in Church as a middle school kid, to creating Good Fella Media - a legendary digital hip-hop brand that was ahead of…
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Acting Up With Isabel "Velise" Alvarez
This week ACT Up features singer, songwriter, and Alana's BFF, Isabel "Velise" Alvarez. Isabel discusses what motivated her to become a singer, and how she developed her songwriting abilities. She also shares her experience performing on SNL as a backup singer for Raye earlier this year, and...
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Acting Up With Juan Bago
This week Alana taps in comedic actor, writer, producer, husband, and father Michael “Juan Bago” Diaz. Bago enlightens us on his artistic journey from Connecticut college kid to viral comedic content creator. From hustling to create film projects and casting out of his Washington Heights…
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Acting Up with JuJu
This week Alana chops it up with creative director, stylist, fashion designer and actress Julissa "JuJu" Peralta. JuJu gives us the inside scoop on her experience competing on Hulu’s first-ever fashion competition show, Dress My Tour, and speaks on how the show has helped advance her career. She...
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Acting Up With Robbie Maxx
This week Alana is visited by New Jersey musician, songwriter, entrepreneur, father, and husband, Robbie Maxx. Robbie takes us on his journey into music, bearing witness to studio sessions with the Fugees and finding solace in pursuing his passion for writing rhymes. He speaks on his evolution as…
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Acting Up Solo
This week, you're in for a unique treat - an Alana J solo special. Alana shares some of the most impactful moments from her creative journey thus far, speaking on her experience working for The Maury Show, collaborating with Viacom and BET, as well as some of her sobriety story. It gets real on...
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Acting Up With TwonDon
Episode 16 features NJ musician and entrepreneur, TwonDon. TwonDon discusses his hip hop roots, growing up with his mom working for the legendary Sugar Hill Gang, and how that influenced his artistic ambitions. He speaks on the evolution of his music and clothing brand, UpperClass International,...
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Acting Up With Theresa Moriarty
This week’s episode features stand-up and sketch comedian, podcaster, actor, model, and mom Theresa Moriarty, aka T-Mo. Theresa discusses her artistic journey beginning as a child actor, and how having a daughter has changed her perspective on acting and life in general. Check out her podcast,...
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Acting Up With Katherine Nunez
Episode 14 taps in actress, model, mom and author, the fabulous Katherine Nunez. Katherine discusses returning to acting as an adult after earlier endeavors as a pregnant teen. She enlightens on her experience rebranding from model to professional actress, how she landed a role in the Lifetime...
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Acting Up With Mary Jane Murphy
This week on ACT Up With Alana J, we meet stand-up comedian, producer, and content creator Mary Jane Murphy. Mary Jane discusses beginning her comedy career in Hawaii, being a child actor, and for funsies, sparks a conversation about good old-fashioned masturbation. Spoiler alert, this episode...
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Acting Up With Katherine G. Mendoza
Episode 12 welcomes producer, content creator, writer, and native New Yorker, Katherine G. Mendoza. We get candid about content, discussing the need to approach creation from a data-oriented perspective, a skill she acquired working for Buzzfeed. She shares about her early background with acting,...
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Acting Up With Dwayne Tousand Again
Dwayne Tousand aka Dwayne The Comic returns for Episode 11 of ACT Up. Dwayne gives us his top 5 memorable moments of the podcast thus far, and updates us on his adjustment moving from the Dirty South to Dirty Jersey. Additionally, the two discuss witnessing Kevin Hart’s comedic genius live at The...
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Acting Up With Black Rose
This week ACT Up features content creator, actress, artist, comedian and glamma, Black Rose. Rose walks us through her artistic evolution from theatre kid to stand-up comedian and every creative medium in between. She speaks on using her social media presence for comedy and activism alike, plus…
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Acting Up With Melissa Sweets
Episode 9 taps in Melissa Chaile aka Melissa Sweets, a digital and music marketing maven, former radio personality for both the iconic Spanish-language station La Mega 97.9 and Sirius XM’s Shade 45, self-made entrepreneur, and wrestling mom. Melissa discusses her creative and entrepreneurial...
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Acting Up With Jared Waters
This week’s episode features a pillar of the New York City comedy scene, the hilarious and humble Jared Waters, aka Turbo. You might have seen him on ABC's Tamron Hall Show, Amazon Prime, or on stage at comedy clubs nationwide. Listen to Jared's comedy journey from Tampa, FL to NYC in this…
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Acting Up with Sibel Damar
On this week’s episode, Alana features multi-hyphenate creative Sibel Damar. She’s an actor, comedian, character actor, impressionist and content creator, who’s been seen on CBS’s FBI, and can be heard on the narrative podcast Academy streaming on Amazon and Wondery. The two discuss Sibel’s...
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Acting Up with Jason Enrique
On this week’s episode, Alana taps in fellow Bravery podcaster, multihyphenate creative, friend, and former coworker, Jason Enrique. The two discuss Jason’s artistic journey, from being rapper Jay Maverick back in the day, to currently directing, acting and becoming the diligent host of his…
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Acting Up With Ramon Pesante
This week's episode features Telly award-winning filmmaker, Webby and Emmy-nominated Director, Ramon Pesante. Ramon has accolades for days including working for BET, Wendy Williams and Sherri Shepherd to name a few. The two talk about their most memorable celebrity encounters, Ramon's journey as…
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Acting Up With Jani
This week Alana tags in another very special guest, the lovely, multi-talented Janisha aka Jani. Jani is most commonly known for her rise to Instafame, but she is so much more than meets the IG (see what I did there?). The two discuss harsh truths and stories about being women in the…
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Acting Up with Rachel La Loca
This week we’re acting up with creator and producer of The HERlarious Show, host of the multi-award winning podcast Latinos Out Loud, the one and only Rachel La Loca. Rachel is also a comedienne, writer, professor, mother, and dear friend of Alana, so this episode is extra special. The ladies...
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Acting Up With Courtney Brown
This episode is one for the hip-hop history books, featuring the multifaceted Courtney Brown. Courntey is a hip hop historian, journalist, writer for The Source Magazine, and supermom. She enlightens us on her friendship with the late, great DMX, her stint as a "studio rat" for Pharrell and…
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Acting Up With Dwayne Tousand
On the premiere episode of ACT Up with Alana J, our host is joined by Louisiana native, stand-up comedian, and podcaster, Dwayne Tousand. They discuss their experiences relocating from one state to another, the culture shock that comes with it, and each market's respective comedy scenes. From the...
About this show
Alana J is a New Jersey-based actor, comedian, and teacher who recently graduated with her MFA in Acting from Louisiana State University. You may have seen her on BET, STARZ, CBS, Investigation Discovery or live on stage at a comedy show. Living back in New Jersey after two years down South, she's eager to reconnect with some of her favorite creatives, and have raw conversations with this new generation of inspiration in hopes for you to learn, laugh and level up. Let's ACT Up!
Hosted by
Alana J.
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