Simonetta Lein has built a career on the belief that authenticity is our strongest connection. As the host of The Simonetta Lein Show, she invites audiences into conversations that go far beyond the surface. Balancing a hit series, her philanthropic work with the Wishwall Foundation, and her commitment to inner peace, Lein sat down ahead of her eighth season to discuss the art of the interview, setting boundaries, and the power of a quiet mind. Simonetta Lein is vastly recognized as one of the top 5 celebrity influencers in the world. She has been keeping that record for many years, at today she is the top beauty/modeling and cinema account on all Australia. She is also #2 in Germany and Colombia, #5 in Italy and UK, #7 in the whole U.S. You blend fashion, tech, and storytelling beautifully right now. What is the single story you are most proud of telling this year? "The story I am most proud of telling is the story of human potential," she replied. "Through The Simonetta Lein Show, I have had the privilege of sitting across from people who have reached incredible levels of success, but what fascinates me most is the person behind the achievement, the struggles, the lessons, and the moments nobody saw. This year has been about showing that behind every icon is a journey, and that vulnerability is often the greatest form of strength." You started by finding power in stillness. How does that calm energy change the vibe when you sit down with A-listers for season seven? "Stillness is my superpower," she observed. "In a world that moves so quickly, creating a moment of calm allows people to feel safe enough to be real. When a guest sits down with me, I am not there just to ask questions, I am there to create a space where they can breathe, reflect, and share something beyond the headlines. That energy changes everything." Through the Wishwall Foundation, you make real magic happen for women’s rights. What does it actually feel like when you see that “pay it forward” moment click? "It is one of the most meaningful feelings in the world," she noted. "A wish is often the beginning of hope. When you see someone realize they are supported, heard, and valued, you understand that even one small act of kindness can create a ripple effect. The Wishwall Foundation was built on the belief that humanity grows when we choose to lift each other." You get industry legends like Ice-T and Howie Mandel to totally drop their guard on your show. What is your secret to making them feel so at home? "I never approach my guests as just their fame," she explained. "I approach them as human beings. Everyone has a story they want to tell, and when someone feels genuine curiosity instead of judgment, they naturally open up." She offered a warm smile before adding, "Respect, authenticity, and a little bit of fun can break down any barrier." What is your absolute favorite, slightly rebellious icebreaker when a high-profile guest sits down and initially gives you nothing to work with? "I like to surprise people with questions they are not expecting," she answered. "Instead of asking the predictable questions they have answered a thousand times, I might ask something that takes them back to a dream, a childhood memory, or a defining moment. Sometimes the most unexpected question creates the most unforgettable conversation." "But I also believe the secret begins before the first question," she added. "I approach my guests as human beings, because at the end of the day, that is what we all are. I appreciate their time, I value their presence, and I never want them to feel like they are simply there because of their fame. When people feel respected and genuinely seen, they naturally open up and allow the real story to come through." You are filtering all your new partnerships for deep meaning right now. What is the most surprising thing you have learned about your own boundaries in that process? "I have learned that saying no can be just as powerful as saying yes," she stated firmly. "Growth means understanding your value and protecting your energy. Every opportunity does not have to be accepted. The right partnerships are the ones that align with your purpose, your audience, and the legacy you want to build." She continued, "I have also learned how important it is to surround myself with people who respect my vision, support my growth, and protect the energy I bring into the world. The people around you influence the way you feel, create, and show up, so choosing those relationships with intention is one of the greatest forms of self-respect." Your style inspires so many to feel strong. How do you translate your recent focus on inner peace and health directly into your daily fashion choices? "For me, style has always been a reflection of my energy," she reflected. "As I have become more focused on health, balance, and inner peace, I have become more intentional about what I choose to bring into my life and the people I surround myself with. Protecting your energy is just as important as taking care of your body." "I choose pieces that make me feel confident, elegant, and authentic, but I also believe true beauty comes from feeling aligned within," she added. "When you surround yourself with people who respect and protect your energy, that confidence naturally shows in the way you carry yourself and the way you present yourself to the world." You were so open about the realities of media with Teresa Giudice recently. Going from top influencer to global talk show host, what does “stardom” actually mean to you? "Stardom is not about being seen, it is about what you do with that visibility," she asserted. "The greatest privilege is having a platform that can inspire, connect, and create meaningful conversations. Fame without purpose is temporary. Influence with intention can create lasting impact." Looking at everything you have built, what is the exact feeling you want people to get when they hear the name Simonetta Lein? "I want people to feel inspiration, elegance, kindness, and possibility," she answered. "I want the name Simonetta Lein to represent the idea that you can dream boldly, stay authentic, and use your voice to make a difference." "This is me" she shared candidly. "I believe that strength is a real superpower and that happiness is a choice. In a world full of noise, I choose me and what makes me feel happy and authentic." "I choose meditation, prayer, God, family, and real friendships that I dedicate time to. I choose holistic health, protecting my energy, and continuing to learn about myself through different practices, including astrology," she elaborated. "I believe growth is a lifelong journey, and I am always working toward becoming more aligned with my purpose. And yes, I am working on that Saturn alignment." Since you radiate that energy, what is a quiet, recent victory you haven’t shared on camera yet? "One of my quiet victories has been preparing for Season 8 of The Simonetta Lein Show," she revealed. "After six years of building, evolving, facing challenges, and overcoming setbacks, I am still here, dreaming bigger and creating something even more meaningful. That, in itself, is a victory." "I am also incredibly grateful to see that the work and consistency are being recognized globally," she noted. "Quietly, recent rankings have ranked me at number one in Australia, number two in Germany, number five in the UK and Italy, and number six in Mexico and the United States in the beauty, modeling, and entertainment categories." "For me, those moments are not just about rankings," she concluded. "They represent the power of believing in your vision, staying authentic, and continuing to show up even when the journey is not always easy. They are a reminder that passion, resilience, and hard work truly do create results." You can follow Simonetta Lein on her Instagram, Simonetta Lein Show, The Wishwall Foundation.

The entertainment industry has always drawn dreamers, yet the path from a studio acting class to a working set is famously guarded by closed doors. Reel Scene Owner, producer, casting director, and talent agent Alex Fidelski recognized a fundamental flaw in how talent was being prepared for the screen. He saw that aspiring performers needed far more than acting lessons. They needed an honest understanding of the business, direct access to the people making casting decisions, and actual time under the lights. Driven by a philosophy of practical, on-the-ground experience, he founded The Reel Scene. This London-based acting and film school has quietly rewritten the script on how emerging talent breaks into the business. Fidelski’s approach strips away academic theory in favor of genuine industry immersion. He believes that coaches should be the very professionals currently shaping television and cinema. As a result, his students find themselves learning directly from active actors, directors, producers, and agents. They train with seasoned screen actors whose credits span massive productions like Game of Thrones, Afterlife, The Crown, Downton Abbey, and Pirates of the Caribbean, alongside established names like Asa Butterfield, Kevin McNally and David Schaal. This exposure gives performers multiple perspectives on the realities of the business. It builds the exact type of confidence and versatility expected on a professional set, ensuring the training stays completely in step with a rapidly changing medium. The alumni roster features highly recognized names, from former unified cruiserweight and WBA heavyweight world champion David Haye to Olympic silver medalist, and heavy weight boxer Joe Joyce. The network also includes actors with deep roots in the industry, such as David McNally, the son of celebrated British actors Phyllis Logan and Kevin McNally. This welcoming environment extends far beyond London through The Actors' Gym. This online platform allows performers worldwide to participate in classes, tackle self-tape challenges, and connect with a global network of peers. As this community expanded, Fidelski took the natural next step. He realized that giving actors the right training was only the first half of the equation; they also needed the right representation. This realization led to the creation of RS Talent, The Reel Scene’s in-house acting agency. For approximately a decade, RS Talent has represented select graduates alongside experienced professionals. This provides a credible, direct route from the training room to paid employment. Because of his deep relationships with directors and producers, his students quickly became trusted, reliable performers, booking roles in commercials, television series, and feature films. Yet, Fidelski’s most ambitious move was making The Reel Scene a fully functioning production house. Through RS Productions, the organization has created an extensive slate of over 30 professionally produced short films and five feature films. These are not mere classroom simulations. Students work with professional crews and perform alongside the established actors who coach them. These projects regularly compete and win on the international circuit, earning selections at BAFTA and Oscar qualifying festivals. For a performer fresh out of training, holding a role in a polished, festival-ready film provides something money simply cannot buy. It delivers undeniable proof of their capability. Beyond the academy, Fidelski’s own star continues to rise as a producer and casting director. His public IMDb record reflects a growing catalog of independent successes, including To a Cinder, The Inheritance, and The Bystanders - a feature film co-produced and cast by Fidelski that brought together Reel Scene alumni and coaches. Following its festival journey, The Bystanders ultimately landed distribution on platforms like Amazon Prime and Disney+. He is actively developing new feature films, creating even more opportunities for his network. Whether he is engaging with Oscar winners like Adrien Brody at the Red Sea Film Festival or reviewing a self-tape from a brand-new student, his guiding purpose remains exactly the same. For Alex Fidelski, supporting actors and making films are not separate jobs; they are a single, unified mission. By fusing training, representation, and production into one cohesive entity, he has given performers the rarest gift in entertainment. He has given them a clear, practical path forward, guided by a leader who is genuinely invested in their success.

Markos Papadatos interviewed Grammy and Golden Globe-nominated artist Frank Stallone about his respected career in the music and entertainment industry, and his latest project which includes “Enzo: The Mafia’s Boxer.” Winston Churchill once said: “Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” This quote applies to Frank Stallone. ‘Enzo: The Mafia’s Boxer’ Frank stars in the independent mob drama “Enzo: The Mafia’s Boxer,” which was directed by Alex Javo (who stars in the film). Franks plays Giorgio Cantini, a consigliere to a local mafia boss, in a story that follows an up-and-coming boxer coerced into throwing a key match. “That was good. We will see what’s up with that,” he said. “I have done a lot of movies, and one just bleeds into another. I can’t wait for people to see it.” Future plans On his future plans, he stated, “There are a few things in the works, but I cannot talk about them just yet. There are some exciting things going on.” When asked if there is any new music in the works, Frank responded, “No, not at the moment. Well, that is another thing that has changed. Nobody is doing albums anymore except hip-hop and rap music acts.” “For all intents and purposes, the music and film scene in Los Angeles is dead,” he observed. “Nobody films here anymore and all the songwriters have left; they have gone to other places such as Nashville. I am thinking of moving myself because there is nothing left here anymore.” “People very rarely do movies here. There is no music industry at all. Most of the record labels have left, and they have gone to Nashville or other places. These days, these young acts can just use Pro Tools and make a record in their homes.” Being a part of the Kennedy Center Honors for his brother Sylvester Frank was thrilled that his older brother, Sylvester, was recognized at the Kennedy Center Honors. “That was great,” he exclaimed. “I was very honored to have been a part of that. It was a great deal of fun.” “On July 6th, we will be celebrating my brother’s 80th birthday, which is unbelievable,” he admitted. “We look back on where we came from. I never wanted to be the biggest star. I know what I’m worth, and I know what I can do. Listen, Vincent van Gogh never sold a single painting when he weas alive. Now, his paintings go for hundreds of millions of dollars.” The digital age Frank expressed that he has a strong disdain towards AI and the digital age. “The digital age does not feel great,” he admitted. “I am not a fan of AI. I think it’s potentially very dangerous.” “I feel that AI is ruining the arts and entertainment business,” he said. “All producers think about is saving money. They can just create an actor with AI. They don’t have to put them in a hotel, they don’t have to pay insurance, and they don’t have to give them a salary. They can just make something up, which is creepy in a way.” “These days, people have driverless cars, but I am not into any of those things. I am more old-school. I think AI just disables people from being able to do things on their own,” he said. “These days, I dissuade people to go into the entertainment business because the way I grew up in the industry vs. the way it is now, is completely different. I tell the youth to not try to become actors or musicians because the chances now of them getting their big break is slim to none because they don’t have casting calls anymore.” Frank truly dislikes self-tape auditions. “I won’t do self-tapes myself,” he stressed. “Thank God, I saved my money. To sit there and talk in my phone and try to get any kind of emotion is just pointless. People have gotten lazy these days, and they use COVID as an excuse for everything.” “These young kids that are coming up right now have to sit there and try to act into their phones. I tell casting people if they want me for a movie, they should just take a meeting. If they are not interested, then I am not interested,” he elaborated. “I just think self-tapes are so degrading for actors. Back in the day, we would act with other actors in front of casting people. This way, they could see how we talk, how tall we are, and the expressions on our faces.” “So, if anyone asks me to do a self-tape, I turn them down and I tell them that I am not interested. Self-tapes are just not my thing,” he noted. “This is what young actors are facing now. It has nothing to do with the level of talent now vs. then. Personally, I just don’t know how anyone can give a good performance into a cell phone,” he expanded. “The same thing holds true with self-driving cars. One of the friends encourages me to watch his car park itself. I tell him that he ‘shouldn’t be allowed to have a driver’s license.’ If you can’t park your own car, then you shouldn’t be able to drive. So, the same thing is true in the music business,” he explained. Frank on ‘The Family Stallone’ and his Amazon documentary Frank discussed being a part of the reality series “The Family Stallone.” “It’s a shame that it really didn’t get the push it deserved,” he said. “The same is true for my documentary, ‘Stallone: Frank, That Is’ on Amazon.” “We had won fix awards for ‘Best Documentary’ for ‘Stallone: Frank, That Is’ but then COVID hit, and it just ruined everything,” he admitted. “COVID actually destroyed the industry. All the venues and concerts shut down. From a movie standpoint, no casting was done in person.” “Personally, I feel that a great director who is doing movies would like to see the person they are casting by being in a room not over a phone. In a room, you can feel the energy and enjoy the back-and-forth banter. That is missing these days.” “On my IMDb page, they have me done for 250-plus projects, where 101 of those are films. These days, they don’t look at footage, and they don’t do their research,” he noted. “Back when I was coming up, they had some amazing casting directors such as Bonnie Timmermann and the legendary Lynn Stalmaster. They had been in the business for a long time and they knew how it worked. They knew that interaction between actors is important, and now, that interaction is gone,” he elaborated. “These days, you have people in casting who four years ago were getting coffee for the executives in the studio. Again, you are not going to get a great audition from a cell phone. Sorry, but it’s very intimidating for the actor,” he said. Frank’s advice for young and emerging actors and entertainers “Personally, I love the arts,” he enthused. “These days, they have taken music and drama out of schools. So, there is nowhere for kids to get their foot in the door or hone their craft unless they do regional theater. “When I came up in the industry, I learned on the job myself. I did small little movies, but I gained a ton of experience,” he admitted. “There are some songwriters who died in poverty unknown such as Stephen Foster, who wrote some of our greatest songs,” he said. “Money doesn’t really equate to talent. I’ve seen people in bars who are some of the most phenomenal musicians I’ve ever seen in my life. You just push forward and do what you do.” “I would tell up-and-comers to find a small boutique agency that returns your phone calls, that likes you, and that is coming for you and coming up with new ideas. If not, then you are just wasting your time. Also, you need to develop tough skin. Don’t be too trusts and don’t be taken advantage of.” “Every star is going to fade. My brother’s career is one of the few exceptions and very weird because he had a 10-year stretch where nobody picked up the phone. No one was calling for him until he did ‘Rocky Balboa,’ followed by ‘The Expendables’ and now, ‘Tulsa King’.” “Speaking of ‘Tulsa King,’ it is the No. 1 streaming show in the world right now. These days, you have to be a fighter," Stallone emphasized. “You have to fight for your place. You just go in and do the best that you can. Also, remember that you are not going to get every part. A lot of it in this industry is timing and luck.” “If ‘Rocky’ came out two years later in 1978, it might not have been the same movie because there might not have been the same audience yearning for a new face in pictures. So, it goes that way,” he elaborated. “Young and aspiring actors need to remember to not quit their day jobs. Just because they may be a hit in Iowa, doesn’t mean that they will have a big career. The industry doesn’t work that way; it just doesn’t.” “There are some actors that work for years and years waiting tables, doing plays, and they still don’t make it until later on in their lives,” he observed. “It’s a very turbulent, unrelenting and somewhat of a cruel business. So, I just tell people to make their money and save it,” he added. Frank Stallone on his love for working “I would love to work more as I am getting older. While I don’t like the business part of the industry, I do like the artistic part of it. I love acting, being creative, and hanging out on a set.” “I like doing concerts and everything that goes with that. That is what I enjoy. I let my manager, Chuck Binder, handle the business aspect of the industry, which he seems to enjoy. What I love about Chuck is that he has had huge stars in his career, but he always makes himself available and he always gets back to you.” “Chuck is always working very hard, he is trying, and he always comes up with something great,” he added. Stage of his life On the title of the current chapter of his life, Frank stated, “Right now, I am very financially well-situated.” “I don't have to go out and buy a brand-new car. I don't care about those things anyway. I have my hobbies. I have my friends that I hang out with. I'm a competitive trap shooter and I really like to work,” he said. “At times, the Stallone surname has been more of a curse than a blessing in my life. Trust me on this. I’ve had to deal with a lot of prejudice; however, I know who I am and I know my worth and my talent,” he said. Frank continued, “I know what I can do. I’ve played every dump club for almost 20 years before I did ‘Staying Alive.’ So, I came up on the hard road, where I had to really stand and deliver. It has been 60 years since I turned professional as a musician.” “So, they can't tell me what I can or cannot do. I know I'm not a Shakespearean actor. That’s a fact. The same goes for anybody because not everyone can play every role,” he said. “John Wayne, Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney, and Clint Eastwood, all did their thing. They played different roles, but they knew their niche,” he noted. “Harrison Ford is not going to play ‘Othello,’ and Mark Wahlberg is not going to do Eugene O’Neill’s ‘Desire Under the Elms.’ That’s not his niche. So, you need to find what you are good at,” he added. “I remind the young actors to not go out and spend all their money, and they shouldn’t do drugs or get involved in horrible relationships,” he said. “I’ve known actors who had a lot of money, but they are broke now. Avoid making bad decisions and having bad people around you.” “There are guys like Mark Harmon who have not been off the TV since the ‘70s. He lives a settled life, and he has done incredibly well, and he knows where he is at, and he is doing great,” he said. “The same holds true for Robert Wagner, who is 96 years old, and goes from one series to the next. RJ is very likable, and everyone loved him. He is 96 years young now, and he is doing very well. The same goes for Linda Evans,” he added. Success On his definition of the word success, Frank said, “Success means being able to fulfill your personal goals. Again, some people think of it as financial. I think of it more on a creative end.” “If finance comes with success, then fine. Success is when a great musician comes up to me and tell me that they listened to my album growing up, and that they have found it great. That means more to me than anything, especially getting kudos from somebody you respect.” “While other people think of success as making a lot of money or fame, I’m not superficial. I’m gregarious, a little outrageous and eccentric. There are very few people that stay at the top level… Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and Michael Jackson are three who have stayed at a marquee level for almost their whole careers,” he elaborated. Message for his fans For his fans and supporters, Frank expressed, “I love my fans! I answer all my fanmail. I really do! I get them from all over the place… Germany, France, the U.S. People take the time to write these beautiful letters with beautiful return envelopes. When they take the time to send me something, I take my time to respond to them and send them personalized autographed photos back.” For more information on veteran actor and musician Frank Stallone, follow him on Instagram.

Mark Forti with Papua New Guinea locals How One Conversation with a Homeless Man Became a Twenty-One-Year Pilgrimage—and an Extraordinary Gathering at the Vatican. American inventor, artist and filmmaker Mark Forti shares his journey across continents. Twenty-one years ago, on Skid Row in Los Angeles, a homeless man named Murphy Holmes changed my life. He told me the key to life could be expressed in seven words. Naturally, I asked him what they were. He smiled and refused to tell me. Instead, he handed me five questions and said that if I truly wanted the answer, I would have to discover it myself. At the time I was a young entrepreneur and filmmaker with plenty of confidence, strong opinions about God, and all the certainty that usually accompanies insufficient experience. Murphy appeared to possess almost nothing. Yet he had something I didn't. Peace. That unlikely conversation became a twenty-one-year pilgrimage through sixty-three countries, interviewing everyone from tribal chiefs, Hindu sadhus, Buddhist lamas, Muslim imams and Jewish rabbis to Orthodox priests, refugees, genocide survivors and internationally known figures such as the Dalai Lama and the Nechung Oracle of Tibet. Asking the same five questions again and again gradually became Why in the World-a film exploring where humanity is the same, where we differ and whether those differences ultimately matter. Mark Forti with an Orthodox nurse in a church I could never have imagined that Murphy’s humble conversation would eventually lead back to Rome - or that representatives of the religions and cultures encountered during the journey might gather at the Vatican to watch the film together. Yet that is precisely what is now taking shape. A Second Pilgrimage When I arrived in Rome this July, I had little more than a week to see whether such an event was even possible. Friends warned me that Vatican bureaucracy was surpassed only by North Korea. This was not especially comforting. I walked through the colonnade with an Italian journalist colleague Marco Colombo and considered the task before us. Fortunately, I soon discovered something important. While paperwork may move slowly, people do not. Every time someone watched the trailer, another unexpected door opened. Veteran Vatican journalist Massimo Franco graciously pointed us toward Monsignor Dario Edoardo Viganò, who welcomed us at the beautiful Casina Pio IV in the Vatican Gardens. Monsignor Viganò immediately understood the film's emphasis on encounter and encouraged us to contact the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue. Within days we found ourselves warmly welcomed by Monsignor Indunil Janakaratne Kodithuwakku Kankanamalage. Our meeting quickly became much more than a discussion about showing a film. Monsignor Indunil immediately recognized that the five questions at the heart of Why in the World could themselves become an occasion for dialogue. He even suggested that Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad might answer those same questions for the film and invited the visiting religious leaders to the Dicastery for conversation and fellowship. It struck me that something unexpected was happening. The film was no longer simply coming to the Vatican. The Vatican was beginning to enter the film. Doors Keep Opening Throughout those days, I repeatedly returned to the Holy See Press Office to share developments and seek guidance. Matteo Bruni, Cristina Ravenda and Vatican correspondents including Annaliese Taggart of Newsmax and Elise Ann Allen of Crux offered encouragement, practical insight and valuable introductions. Then another remarkable encounter occurred. Walking around Rome, I happened to be carrying a copy of Inside the Vatican magazine. On its cover was Father Agnello Stoia, the Franciscan parish priest of St. Peter's Basilica. After several attempts - and more than a few memorable encounters with the Vatican Gendarmerie - we finally met him. Father Agnello is a towering, energetic Franciscan whose warmth fills a room before he speaks. We showed him the trailer. He was visibly moved. Then he embraced me. What followed felt less like a bureaucratic meeting than another scene from the film. Father Agnello led us through St. Peter’s, speaking about its history, saints, architecture and living spiritual meaning. He suggested arranging a symbolic opening of the great doors of the basilica for the interfaith delegation and offering the visitors a private tour. He also helped us pursue permission through Cardinal Gambetti to film during the period surrounding the 400th anniversary of the dedication of St. Peter’s Basilica and is helping to arrange the baciamano ceremony where our distinguished guests will be able to personally greet the pope at the papal audience. Among the guests expected in November are remarkable musicians, including Fra Alessandro Brustenghi - the “Voice of Assisi” - and renowned Ukrainian singer Alina Pash. The possibility arose that they might sing for the delegation inside the basilica. A Franciscan tenor from Assisi and a Ukrainian artist singing before religious leaders from several traditions in an otherwise quiet St. Peter’s Basilica: the image captures the spirit of the entire project better than any promotional description could. The surprises continued. Through a young Roman woman named Nadia Accetti, we attended Mass at the Church of the Artists in Piazza del Popolo and met Monsignor Guillermo Karcher, the gracious Argentine priest who served for many years alongside Pope Francis and now works in the Secretariat of State Cardinal Parolin. He kindly explained that meeting the Holy Father is not something one improvises. There are official channels for the baciamano, the traditional greeting of the Pope. That sent us first to the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See and eventually to the Vatican Post Office, carefully mailing letters to Ambassador Brian Burch and Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Rome, I was discovering, has a wonderful way of turning every apparent detour into another chapter of the pilgrimage. The deeper we went, the more doors opened. Before Dawn Perhaps the most extraordinary moment will come before sunrise. Gianni Crea, the Vatican Museums' legendary clavigero, has graciously agreed to welcome our guests into the Vatican Museums before dawn. Carrying thousands of keys, he unlocks the galleries one by one before the world arrives. The image could not be more fitting. Murphy once handed me five questions. Now another keeper of keys will open another journey. The morning will culminate in the Sistine Chapel, where Orthodox iconographer Jonathan Pageau will help explain the symbolism of the masterpieces to guests representing Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and other traditions. The purpose is not to erase differences. It is to encounter one another honestly. Plans also include gatherings in the Vatican Gardens, a meeting at the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue and, finally, the screening of the film Why In the World. Among those expected are Lama Tenzin Choegyal, Fra Alessandro Brustenghi, Jonathan Pageau, Rakesh Bahadur, Alina Pash and many of the remarkable people whose stories have shaped the film over two decades. The Hidden Story Looking back, what surprises me most is not the access we were given. It is the generosity. Again and again, a trailer became a conversation. A conversation became a friendship. A friendship opened another door. The process of organizing the Vatican screening began to resemble the making of the film itself: improvised, improbable and sustained almost entirely by the kindness of people who believed that genuine encounter still matters. And beneath every conversation stood Murphy. He had no title. No office. No followers. He did not know the Dalai Lama. He had never entered the Vatican Gardens. He could not have imagined a cardinal answering his five questions or religious leaders gathering beneath Michelangelo’s ceiling because of something he said. He simply told one person the truth. Modern culture teaches us to measure influence through wealth, followers, access and visibility. Murphy possessed none of these. Yet a conversation almost nobody witnessed crossed continents, entered monasteries and temples, survived wars and personal tragedies, and is now drawing people of different faiths toward one another at the heart of the Catholic Church. The world had overlooked Murphy. Providence apparently had not. Perhaps this is the hidden story of Why in the World: the kingdom of God often enters history quietly, through people whom history does not yet recognize. A mustard seed is planted. A fisherman answers a call. A beggar rebuilds a church. A stranger is welcomed without anyone realizing that an angel has entered the room. Or a homeless man speaks honestly to a cynical filmmaker on Skid Row. Twenty-one years later, the doors of St. Peter’s begin to open. The November gathering will celebrate a film, but its deeper purpose is encounter: the person before the label, the story before the stereotype and the image of God before every category that obscures it. Murphy never set out to bring the world together. He changed one person. Apparently, that was enough. Mark Forti spent over seventeen years exploring fifty-three countries on six continents to film his debut feature length film "Why in the World." During hundreds of hours of interviews and adventures, he asked five basic worldview questions to a staggering variety of people. The questions seek to discover how we humans are alike, where we differ, and whether the differences matter.

The Venice Film Festival had long been the global stage where artistic brilliance met the height of industry prestige. That year, the 8th edition of the Filming Italy Venice Award added a significant chapter to that legacy when it honored Orlando Bloom with the Filming Italy International Award. As the industry continued to globalize, the role of such accolades shifted from mere recognition to strategic milestones. Under the visionary leadership of Tiziana Rocca, who stood as a formidable force in Italian cinema, the Filming Italy initiative successfully cultivated an ecosystem that bridged the gap between Hollywood’s major production studios and the rich, cultural heritage of the European film industry. For those of us navigating the international film scene, those moments were vital. They represented more than just the glamour of the Lido; they were essential forums where creative narratives and business interests intersected. Bloom’s presence - particularly with his work in the competition title Bucking Fastard - emphasized a shift toward auteur-driven films that demanded global attention. By celebrating artists who bridged those worlds, Filming Italy continued to reinforce the importance of cross-border collaboration. It was a reminder that in the modern cinematic circuit, success was built on the strength of one’s network and the ability to operate fluidly across different markets. As we looked toward the future of global production, the partnership between international talent and the Italian industry remained a cornerstone of excellence, proving that the most compelling stories were those that transcended borders.

Film festivals have long been places where audiences discover stories. Today, they are also becoming powerful meeting points for culture, creativity and brands. The HollyShorts Film Festival is at the forefront of that evolution. Theo Dumont and Daniel Sol the co-founders of HollyShorts Film Festival, Photography: Charlie Minh Nguyen As an Oscar-qualifying and BAFTA Qualifying film festival rooted in Hollywood but with a Global presence (London, Dubai, etc) and creative community, HollyShorts has built a platform where filmmakers, artists, athletes, musicians, creators and brands can exist within the same creative conversation. Its growing roster of sponsors reflects that philosophy: the goal isn't simply to place a brand alongside the festival, but to find a genuine point of connection between what that brand represents and what HollyShorts stands for. Leading that vision is Jessica Badawi, Head of Partnerships at HollyShorts, whose role is to transform sponsorship from a transactional relationship into a cultural one. Her approach centers on finding the why behind a partnership - what a brand can bring to the HollyShorts community, and what HollyShorts can give back in return. That can take many forms: a brand becoming part of the red carpet, supporting filmmakers, powering a conversation, creating an intimate hospitality experience, connecting with music and sports programming, presenting an award, or developing original content that lives beyond the festival itself. For sponsors, HollyShorts offers something increasingly valuable: proximity to the next generation of storytellers and a highly engaged creative audience in one of the world's most influential entertainment capitals. For HollyShorts, the right partners bring resources, creativity and new experiences that elevate the festival and create additional opportunities for its filmmakers and community. It's a two-way exchange of influence. Brands gain cultural relevance by participating in an authentic creative environment, while HollyShorts gains partners who can help expand its reach and ambition. Under Badawi's partnership strategy, the philosophy is simple: the festival doesn't just put a brand in the room - it gives the brand a reason to be there. Jessica Badawi on the HollyShorts red carpet And when that reason is rooted in creativity, storytelling and shared cultural values, the partnership becomes more than an activation. It becomes part of the story HollyShorts is telling. It's more than putting a logo on a step-and-repeat. It is about creating meaningful connections between brands, filmmakers, artists and audiences, and building partnerships that add value to the festival while giving brands an authentic place within the culture of cinema.c With a selection of returning sponsors and a great amount of new ones, here is a little highlight of most of this year's sponsors: MASSICAN: @massicanwinery Alexandra Shipp OUFER JEWELRY: Presented Vanessa Hudgens with her honoree award Vanessa Hudgens with her honoree award made by OUFER JEWELRY @ouferbodyjewelry ARNYCA CELLARS: An elevated wine that gives back! Beauty behind the logo - A portion of their sales supports the National Association for the Deaf, established in 1880 by deaf leaders advocating for sign language rights. @arnycacellars GLASROSE VINEYARDS: @glasrosefarm COTRINI SKINCARE: A celebrity high end Luxury skincare @cotriniskin VIBES CANDY: Sponsored the HollyShorts Music Category also presented the Music Documentary Award on Closing Night @vibessnacks VERSE LA @verse.la ABUNDANCE CEREMONIAL CACAO @abundance.cacao FRAGANCIAS PITORRO @fraganciaspitorro Tropical Fine Fragrance Mists from Puerto Rico, Inspired by Pitorro Rum. TAFARI WORLD @tafariworld Tafari dressed Co-Founder Theo Dumont for his red carpet arrival and also made custom scarves for VIPs along with special gift boxes for our honorees this year. @tafariworld SLĀ GOLF @slagolf NOE FDZ CIGARS @noefdzcigars SUSHILUX LA @sushiluxla SAUCY PIZZA LA @saucylosangeles GOLDEN RESERVE CAVIAR @goldenreservecaviar VITAMINWATER @vitaminwater TOPO CHICO @cocacola ALL ABOUT THE CINNAMON @allaboutthecinnamonbaby MONTUCKY BEER @montuckycoldsnacks MOFONGOS LA @mofongosla AWAKE CHOCOLATES @awakechocolate HONDURAS KITCHEN @honduraskitchen ALTADENA BAKERY @altadena_bakery EMPRESS GIN @empress1908gin BARBANCOURT RUM @barbancourtrhum BLOOMING BOUQCAKES @_bloomingbouqcakes ART & REV @artandrevcocktails THE LOST EXPLORER @thelostexplorer THE LOUNGE BOOTH @theloungebooth FLOR DE YEMA @flor_de_yema KHLOUD @khloudfoods HINT WATER @hint SOLELY @solelyfruit SMARTSWEETS @smartsweets SÄTI @drinksati DISTINCTIVE SOLUTIONS @distinctive_es SAM WOO BBQ @sam_woobbq CAFE ELEGANTE @cafeeleganteburbank BUBBA'S CATERING: @bubbascatering FILTHY CHIPS: @eatfilthychips LUXBITESLA: @luxebitesla GOURMELATAS: @gourmeletas SUNBERRY ACAI:@sunberryacai ZAATAR N' MORE: @zaatarnmore DJ'S OPENING NIGHT - FOUR HANDS LA @fourhandsla DJ FOR CLOSING NIGHT- AM!NA JAGUAR - @aminajaguar Albert G. Ruben Film.io First Entertainment Credit Union @firstent Imgn Ai @imgn.ai Kodak @kodak Mental Health Storytelling Initiative Panavision @panavision Sheppard Mullin @sheppardmullin

Photography: AM Reed Christopher Gialanella understands a secret that most of Los Angeles has forgotten: there is a specific gravity to ink on paper. In a town obsessed with the next glowing screen, the real heavy lifting happens in the quiet corners of publishing. It takes a certain kind of dedication to champion stories that lift neighborhoods up, skipping the cheap tabloids entirely. Finding professionals who truly get this obsession is rare, and Gialanella is the guy leading the charge. Photography: AM Reed When the media group led by Mark Geragos and Ben Meiselas bought Los Angeles Magazine, the local whisper network swore Chris bought it himself. The reality is actually much better. The new owners saw a leader and a guy who led by example and tapped Chris as President and Publisher for Engine Vision Media’s Los Angeles, Orange Coast, and Pasadena Magazines, which was the smartest move on the board. Photography: AM Reed A sharp, direct energy from his New Jersey roots translates directly to the West Coast. The art of the hustle was learned early, entirely by accident, thanks to his grandmother, Esther. When a local congressman waved from a parade float, she ran right into the street, stopped him in his tracks, and demanded an internship for her grandson. It worked. That same fearless energy fueled his move to California, where he cut his teeth doing PR and passing around coveted movie screeners, famously crashing at the home of Ian Ziering right at the absolute peak of the Beverly Hills 90210 television craze. Photography: AM Reed Eventually, his fiancée - now his wife - brought home a copy of a beautiful local publication. After looking it over, Chris picked up the phone and called the founder of Modern Luxury directly. Despite having zero magazine experience, he offered a bold deal: give him a desk and pay him strictly on commission. The result was a staggering fifty grand in ads sold for his very first issue. This success came from treating sales like a first date - asking questions, listening intently, and believing blindly in the power of a face-to-face meeting. In a town run on text messages, Chris still requires absolute punctuality and writes handwritten thank-you notes. Photography: AM Reed That genuine curiosity is his secret weapon. Regular appearances on CBS and Fox allow him to highlight local stories, and he covers the Golden Globes and Oscars red carpets with the exact same approachability he uses with the cashier at the grocery store. Everyone is seen as simply human in his eyes. Granted, he admits to completely freezing up and asking for a wildly awkward selfie when he met Robert De Niro, but that only makes him more relatable. Understanding that the guy ordering a drink in Pasadena is having a completely different conversation than the woman relaxing by a pool here in the Hollywood Hills, he refuses to treat our coast like one giant blur. His connection to the community goes far beyond gloss and glamour. When devastating fires ripped through the local canyons, Chris did not simply print a tribute issue. He opened a massive donation center in Marina del Rey, personally handing out socks and blankets to families who had lost absolutely everything. He orchestrated comedy shows to raise relief funds, proving that a publication should act as the actual heartbeat of a city.

Photography: Irma Lion Madison Brodsky is a television host and content creator who has spent more than a decade turning her childhood obsession of celebrity news into a career spanning across Hollywood, sports, live entertainment, gaming and digital media. Long before she ever held a microphone on a red carpet, Madison was the little girl watching Entertainment Tonight with her mom in pajamas and tiny baby heels. When people asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, she would say she wanted a job that gave her enough free time to volunteer at ET because getting paid to interview celebrities seemed far too fun to be an actual career. Photography: Irma Lion She eventually proved herself wrong. Madison attended the University of Arizona, where she double majored in Broadcast Journalism and Film & Television, graduated in just three years and completed 12 internships along the way. Determined to understand the industry from every angle, she learned how to write, pitch, book, shoot, edit and produce before building her career in front of the camera. After graduating, Madison made the trek to the land of fame and success without knowing a soul and was immediately hired at TMZ, spending more than four years inside one of entertainment journalism’s fastest-paced newsrooms. She went on to land the job she had dreamed about as a kid at Entertainment Tonight, working across multiple properties such as Entertainment Tonight, ET Live and ET Canada as a booking producer and a red-carpet correspondent. Throughout her career, she has developed, produced, booked and hosted entertainment franchises while interviewing actors, musicians, athletes, creators, executives and some of the biggest names in pop culture. Photography: Irma Lion As the media landscape evolved, so did Madison. She expanded into live and digital commerce, becoming a host and talent producer in the e-commerce space, including work with talkshoplive, before moving deeper into interactive live entertainment. Today, she hosts for Live Play Mobile, appearing on live casino entertainment platforms including Modo Casino alongside UFC announcer Bruce Buffer and WOW Vegas, where hours of unscripted broadcasting have made quick thinking, audience interaction and improvisation second nature. Sports became another major chapter of her career. Madison has created and hosted content with the Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Kings, covering everything from NFL sidelines and training camp to athlete interviews and fan facing content. Her sports résumé has also taken her to the Super Bowl, World Series, NBA All-Star Weekend and NBA Summer League to interview legends like Tom Brady and Shaquille O’Neal, while her entertainment work has brought her everywhere from Hollywood premieres and press junkets to backstage at the GRAMMY’s interviewing the winners on behalf of the Recording Academy. Her work with Los Angeles Magazine has further blurred the line between journalist, host, producer and personality. As a freelance contributor and on-camera talent, Madison has covered entertainment, sports, culture and major events while developing original concepts that extend far beyond a traditional interview. Among those concepts is “The Roadtrip To,” an original travel-meets-entertainment franchise created by Madison that turns the journey to the world's biggest cultural and sporting events into part of the story itself. Previous installments have centered around destinations including the Super Bowl and Coachella, combining destination coverage, celebrity and personality-driven interviews, brand integrations, behind-the-scenes access and social-first storytelling. The franchise has continued expanding toward major events including Formula 1, with Madison developing The Road to F1 Vegas as its next evolution. Her career has increasingly extended beyond reporting other people's stories and into creating the formats herself. Madison has hosted and moderated major conferences and live events, interviewed leaders across sports and entertainment, created branded campaigns and produced personality-driven social content. She has stepped onto the field as an LA Galaxy player for a day for an Apple TV+ MLS Season Pass campaign, created content inside the Chargers organization, hosted main-stage conversations for high profiled events like New You Beauty Awards, Chi Hair Care’s 40th Anniversary Celebration, and Tim Tebow’s Non Profit Gala. She’s built a career that can move seamlessly from a movie premiere to an NFL facility to a live studio. Whether she is interviewing an A-list actor on a carpet, talking football with an NFL player, improvising for hours on live television, moderating a room full of executives, taking viewers behind the scenes of a major event or turning a brand partnership into an actual piece of entertainment, Madison approaches every assignment with the same goal: make the audience feel like they have the best seat in the house. And increasingly, brands have trusted her to do exactly that. Her partnerships have crossed fashion, beauty, sports, entertainment, travel and lifestyle, with collaborators ranging from Apple TV+ and Wantable to Melinda Maria Jewelry, where her work has helped generate more than $1 million in jewelry sales in a single year. Madison's next chapter is focused on becoming more than the person holding the microphone. She is developing original formats, expanding her footprint across sports and entertainment, pursuing larger television and commercial opportunities and building toward the kind of career where hosting, producing, fashion, brands, live events and pop culture all coexist.

Navigating luxury property markets from Southern California to Dubai requires a distinct caliber of representation. Modern high-net-worth investors need a guide who understands both local zoning in communities like La Jolla, Del Mar, Coronado, and Rancho Santa Fe, and off-plan capital appreciation in the United Arab Emirates. Enter Ghada “GG” Benitez. As a California-licensed REALTOR®, a RERA-certified Dubai real estate broker, and a Certified International Property Specialist, Benitez brings a rare combination of professional credentials and on-the-ground experience in two of the world's most competitive property markets. Her ascent in the real estate sector is not merely a story of sales volume; it is a study in education, relationships, and data-driven strategy. Long before she established GG Benitez International, Benitez honed her business acumen in environments where precision and trust were non-negotiable. She began her career in pharmaceutical sales, presenting clinical research to cardiologists, which taught her how to distill dense data into clear, actionable insights. Later, as the CEO of a public relations agency for twenty years, she represented global brands and public figures. When she transitioned to real estate, she applied that same rigorous methodology: relying on hard numbers, proven track records, and cultivating direct relationships with top-tier developers. Her analytical approach became the foundation of her current enterprise. Recognizing that many North American investors were intrigued by Dubai’s economic growth but lacked a reliable bridge to access it, Benitez decided to fill the void. She launched The Dubai Connect Podcast, which is now in its seventh season. Instead of relying on marketing hype, the platform serves as an education-first resource. Through in-depth interviews with leading developers, attorneys, mortgage specialists, and government officials from the Dubai Land Department, Benitez breaks down the mechanics of international investing. Listeners around the world tune in to understand the realities of the market. Benitez covers everything from identifying prime off-plan opportunities and securing financing to navigating Golden Visa eligibility and executing long-term exit strategies. She emphasizes that successful investing in the UAE requires looking past the immediate glamour to focus on developer reputation, infrastructure plans like the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, and realistic capital appreciation timelines. What sets Benitez apart is a commitment to the long game. She frequently advises clients against short-sighted flipping, encouraging them instead to hold properties for sustainable gains. In an industry where some brokers chase rapid commissions and quick exits, Benitez evaluates her success by her clients' satisfaction years down the line, when they finally rent or sell their completed projects. Her team, split between San Diego and Dubai, ensures that investors have continuous representation and support across time zones. For investors seeking to expand their portfolios across international borders, finding the right advisor is the first and most critical step. Benitez has proven she has the background, the access, and the commitment to guide them. You can follow GG on her Instagram for luxury and international real estate insights from Southern California to Dubai, and subscribe to The Dubai Connect on GG BENITEZ INTERNATIONAL YouTube.

It is one thing to maintain a career in Hollywood that spans many years, it is another entirely to build a body of work that leaves a lasting impact. George Sharperson has done both. Known to millions for his appearances on television series like ABC’s Abbott Elementary, CBS’s United States of Al, Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer, and the OWN Network’s Cherish the Day, Sharperson’s presence on screen is undeniable. He is the kind of veteran performer who brings gravity and heart to every scene he inhabits. But the true depth of his contribution to entertainment extends far beyond his acting credits. As an award-winning executive producer, Sharperson is guiding stories that demand to be told, defining a legacy built on historical truth, social justice, and profound human empathy. Being cast in Abbott Elementary places an actor at the center of modern television history. The ABC and Disney comedy series has captured the cultural zeitgeist, collecting Primetime Emmy Awards and dozens of nominations. Earning a place in an ensemble of this caliber speaks to the level of talent Sharperson brings to his craft. For two decades, he has moved fluently between comedy and drama, grounding his characters with a quiet dignity that resonates with audiences and critics alike. Disney / Gilles Mingasson While his acting career continues to flourish, his work behind the camera reveals his vision for the future of entertainment. He is drawn to documentaries and films that engage audiences and illuminate historical truths. He is the executive producer of the film O'Day Short: An Act of Justice. The film does more than recount a chapter of racial injustice; it highlights the perseverance required to heal a community. By documenting the effort that ultimately led to the renaming of O'Day Short Elementary School, the documentary preserves local history while offering a path toward understanding. The film has drawn widespread interest, resulting in private screenings for educational institutions and local leaders. Equally compelling is his work as Executive Producer of Dreamers, a documentary centered on the immigrant experience in America. Through personal and moving accounts, the film captures the sacrifice and resilience inherent in the pursuit of opportunity. With the documentary eligible for Emmy consideration, it is clear that Sharperson is dedicated to narratives that carry a lasting cultural footprint. Disney / Gilles Mingasson Very few individuals can navigate the divide between performance and production with such clarity. George Sharperson understands storytelling from every angle. He knows how to inhabit a character on a hit series, and he knows how to assemble a documentary that can shift public perspective. Disney / Gilles Mingasson His path from working actor to respected producer is a natural progression for a creative professional driven by authenticity. Whether he is on a soundstage or reviewing cuts in an editing bay, George Sharperson approaches his work with purpose, building a legacy that entertains, educates, and endures. You can follow George Sharperson on his Instagram, IMDb.

Markos Papadatos chatted with Canadian former ice hockey player Brooks Laich about his career in sports and latest endeavors in the digital age, which include World Playground (where he serves as founder). Laich reflected on the greatest lesson that ice hockey has taught him, and he furnished his advice for young and emerging athletes. American track and field running legend Steve Prefontaine once said: “To give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice the gift.” This quote applies to Brooks Laich. After spending more than a decade competing at the highest levels of professional hockey, Brooks Laich has found a new source of purpose. These days, the former NHL player is focused less on life in the arena and more on family, entrepreneurship, and helping others experience the world through travel. At the center of everything, he noted is his family. "This summer, I'm marrying my fiancée, who is an incredible woman and means the world to me," Laich said. "I'm counting down the days until we get to say our vows to each other." The couple also recently welcomed a daughter, now six months old, who has transformed his perspective in ways he never expected. "Being a partner and a father are the roles I'm most proud of and most committed to," he said. "They push me to grow and become the best version of myself. Everything I do is driven by the desire to provide for them, support them, and love them in the best way I can." Professionally, that same drive fuels his work as the founder of World Playground, a travel company dedicated to making travel more accessible. Its recently launched booking platform eliminates commissions traditionally added to travel services, allowing individuals and families to book hotels, cruises, and travel insurance at lower prices. "The opportunity to lead a company that's reshaping the travel booking landscape is incredibly motivating," he said. "It's what energizes me and drives my work every single day." Although hockey defined much of his life, Laich noted that retirement gave him the clarity to understand what he loved most about the sport. "At its core, it was the competition," he reflected. "More than anything else, I loved competing with and against the very best in the world and measuring where I - and our team - stood." Before stepping away from the game, he might have pointed to skating, shooting, or the balance between physicality and mental sharpness. But distance changed his perspective. "I loved hockey, no doubt," he said. "But what I was really addicted to was the competition woven into it." That competitive mindset also shaped the greatest lesson of his career: greatness isn't achieved overnight. "It's built over a lifetime of consistency, dedication, and deliberate effort," he said. "There are no shortcuts. Greatness isn't a destination - it's a continuous process of growth." Much of that work, he notes, happens far from public view. "When I look back on my journey, it's the work no one ever saw that I'm most proud of. That's what earned me the chance to step onto the ice in arenas full of 20,000 people and play with and against the world's best." While hockey required years of sacrifice, technology helped soften some of the distance from loved ones. Leaving home at just 16 years old to pursue his dream meant missing countless family moments, but video calls and digital communication helped bridge the gap. Today, Laich is embracing technology in a different way through World Playground. The platform integrates video and interactive features that allow travelers to explore destinations, resorts, cruise lines, and experiences before booking. "Travel should feel exciting from the very first moment," he says. "We're creating an experience that's more engaging and fundamentally better for the traveler." Retiring from hockey in 2017 also unlocked another lifelong dream: seeing the world. For two years, Laich immersed himself in adventure, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, going on safari in Tanzania, trekking with gorillas in Rwanda, swimming alongside humpback whales in Tonga, scuba diving in Indonesia, and exploring countless other destinations. "I went everywhere and did everything," he said with a smile. "Being a professional athlete consumed my life, and every decision within it. Once I retired, the world opened up to me, and I wanted to experience it all." Those travels ultimately inspired the creation of World Playground. In 2020, he partnered with longtime friend Jeff Shafar to build a community centered around unforgettable adventures. "I figured if I loved these experiences, others would too," Laich said. "Coming from a lifetime in team sports, I missed that sense of shared pursuit." What began as a travel community has since evolved into a full-scale booking platform designed to remove commissions and make travel more affordable. "We give every traveler access to the lowest possible prices on hotels, cruises, and travel insurance—every time," he explains. "No commissions added, ever. Just honest pricing, so you can spend more on the moments that matter." Looking back, one of the defining moments of Laich's life came long before he ever laced up skates professionally. At 12 years old, while competing in a provincial baseball tournament in his hometown of Wawota, Saskatchewan, he struggled through the opening day and felt he'd let his team down. Seeing his disappointment, his mother offered a simple piece of advice that would change his life. "She said, 'You're hoping to hit the ball instead of believing and knowing you're going to hit the ball.'" The lesson transformed his mindset almost instantly. "From then on, I approached everything in life with a deeper sense of confidence and conviction." His team went on to win the provincial championship, but the bigger victory was internal. "I've probably failed more than I've succeeded," he said. "But from that point on, I never questioned my ability to figure things out, keep moving forward, and always believe in myself." He credits both of his parents for helping shape the person he became. "I love my mom so much, and my dad too. I'm so lucky to have terrific parents who supported me every step of the way." For young athletes and aspiring adventurers, Laich's advice is straightforward: pursue what genuinely excites you and commit wholeheartedly. "Find what you're deeply passionate about and go all in on it," he said. "Take ownership of your life and create your own opportunities, because no one else will do it for you. It won't be easy, but it will be worth it." Asked to define success, Laich's answer has evolved significantly over the years. "It's about laying it all on the line and being proud of the effort you gave, regardless of the outcome," he said. He spent 34 years chasing hockey's ultimate prize - a Stanley Cup - but never won one. Yet he refuses to measure his life by a single accomplishment. "If success is measured by getting to do what I loved every day, the incredible people I met, the places I experienced, and the fact that it led me to my fiancée and our daughter, then it was a success beyond anything I could have imagined." Today, success is measured differently. "Every time we help someone save money on a trip, that's a win," he said. "It means we've played a small role in turning someone's plans into meaningful, lasting memories." Ultimately, though, he believes success is deeply personal. "Each person has to discover what it means for themselves and decide how they want to measure it." And to everyone who has followed his journey - from hockey arenas to mountain summits to the next chapter of entrepreneurship - his message is simple. "I would simply say, thank you," Laich said. "Whether you showed up to games, followed along on social media, joined me on a World Playground adventure, or are just discovering my story now, it all means more than you know. I hope to be of service to you in one way or another." To learn more about Brooks Laich, follow him on Instagram. For more information on World Playground, follow its Instagram page.

Photography: Jonas Earnst Markos Papadatos spoke with Grammy-nominated artist Fab Morvan of Milli Vanilli in New York City. Scottish politician Walter Elliot once said: “Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other.” This quote applies to Fab Morvan of Milli Vanilli. Fab Morvan on being back in New York On being back in New York, he remarked, “It’s exciting to be here. I haven’t been here in a while. New York is the city that changed my life. From London, the music went to New York, and from New York, the music went boom.” “New York gave us the stamp of approval, and once New York does that, you know you’re good for the long run. So, I’m back here, and I am telling them where I’ve been and where I’m going and what happened,” he acknowledged. “More importantly, my new label, my new distribution deal and new music. I am re-releasing my book, and adding more shows to the ‘I Love the 90s Tour.’ America, I am coming for you,” he elaborated. “I am super excited about the tour,” he exclaimed. “It has been wonderful! I started the tour in California in Irvine and Sacramento, and then, I will Atlanta with the band, and some more dates in September.” New documentary “The new documentary that is coming out in the fall is going to be good. It covers the Grammys, and the solo nomination that I got for ‘Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording,’ which was pretty awesome! I am on a mission. I don’t take anything for granted and I keep working as hard as I can, and I keep evolving as much as I can. I have four kids from the same woman and I am proud of them. I do everything for them and I am proud of them,” he added. From his catalog, he listed the song “Life is Beautiful” from his new EP as his personal favorite. “That one’s of my favorite songs,” he admitted. ‘Blame it on the Rain’ On their song “Blame it on the Rain,” he said, “When I did the cover of that song, I asked Diane Warren for her blessings. So, I sent it to her, she listened to it, and she gave me her blessings. Go ahead!” The song was recently featured in Ryan Murphy’s “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.” “That was a great thing because it allowed me to connect with the youth of today. My goddaughter turned 18 when it came out last year, and she was telling me that there were kids in her class that were singing the songs. When that happens, it allows you to work longer because now, you have access to the newer generation.” ‘I Love the ’90s’ Tour “Now, when I go and do my ‘I Love the ‘90s’ shows, I am seeing kids who watched the series and they know who I am because they researched my music, and some of their family members know who I am. It’s an eternal circle and if I can add new fans to what I am doing, and reconnect with my older fans, then we have something going,” he explained. “The people that are coming to the ‘I Love the 90s’ shows are essentially older fans bringing newer fans and perhaps their life as well,” he admitted. “We play the soundtrack of our lives and we pass this music to the next generation. This music was made with love despite all the controversy around it. I believe music is very healing and it is here to bring us together.” ‘Girl You Know It’s True’ He opened up about the perennial success and relevance of “Girl You Know It’s True.” “It’s the gift that keeps on giving,” he said. “I’m re-releasing the book because the publisher I am working with didn’t pay me a cent. This time, I had a very good contract so I got everything back and I am re-releasing it and the title is ‘Blame it on the Game’ and I had new chapters and more information, so now the book is even more explosive,” he underscored. The digital age On being a part of the digital age, he said, “I’m not a fan of streaming. It allows you to have people access to you. I come from a time when you bought your vinyl, your cassettes, and your CDs. If Spotify were to crash tomorrow, you would lose all your playlists and all the music.” “Also, I am going back to buying vinyl with my label… I will make some very special edition vinyl because the vinyl business is going up. We are now over $1.5 billion in vinyl business, so it keeps on growing and people are buying record players. I am going to go with the flow, and music is life, and life is music. I really believe in that… music is healing,” he elaborated. “When you come with love, and your intent is positive, I think it will reach people,” he added. Stage of his life On the title of the current chapter of his life, he revealed, “Renaissance.” “It’s Rebirth,” he said. “I’ve worked really hard to get over here. Now, everything lines up together and the stars are aligned. The path looks wide open and the possibilities are clear.” “Everything is meditated. I manifested everything, and with my will, I went ahead through life. I am proud of everything that I’ve earned, and I don’t take anything for granted,” he expressed. Advice for young and emerging artists For young and aspiring artists, he said, “Connect with your fans and build a community. Say something; that’s very important. That is what is going to bring the community together. So when you say something that is going to touch them and give them value, this way the fans will stay with you for the rest of your career.” Success Regarding his definition of the word success, he stated, “Success means when you do something so well that you affect people in the proper way… that is your calling, and that is to elevate people, and stimulate them to live a better life.” “In the end, we all make our decisions, but we have to live with each and every decision we make. In order to make proper decisions, you have to really listen to yourself,” he concluded. To learn more about Fab Morvan, follow him on Instagram. For more information on Milli Vanilli, follow the Instagram page.