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PEOPLE & ARTS Monday 3 June 2019
Celebrities branch out with podcasts of their own

By ALICIA RANCILIO Man, Big Daddy Kane, pro- ent of getting others to
Associated Press ducer Rodney Jerkins and open up. Karamo Brown of
NEW YORK (AP) — Topher Dave East. “Queer Eye,” says the suc-
Grace has added a lot of Others are using podcasts cess of the show has made
skills to his portfolio over the to call attention to things people reach out to him
last few weeks. they care about. for advice.
He learned to beatbox. He Milano was looking for a His expertise on the series is
officiated a wedding with way to bring attention to culture, where he special-
“Shazam!” star Zachary people who dedicate their izes in making people feel
Levi, and even tried tele- lives to making change, better about themselves.
marketing. but who aren’t famous. With his new podcast ,
He’s doing it all for a new “There are so many people Brown, who used to work
role, but it has nothing to do on the ground that fight as a social worker and psy-
with acting: Instead, he’s every single day ... and the chotherapist, takes ques-
trying different things in his only reason why I get (me- tions from real people look-
recently launched podcast dia) interested is because ing for advice.
called “Minor Adventures I’m an actress, and that’s Brown says helping people
with Topher Grace .” great,” said Milano. find closure or to feel bet-
“It really is more fun for me But, she wondered, “How ter, helps him: “I literally
than anyone else,” said can I use that platform to feel better about myself,
Grace. empower others to make a it’s contagious.”
“Tig Notaro came on and difference?” He believes people feel
we did livestock auction- Milano’s new podcast, comfortable opening up This combination of photos shows celebrities, top row from left,
eering,” he recalled. “I was “Sorry Not Sorry ,” attempts to him because he’s hon- Alyssa Milano, Kamaro Brown, David Tennant, and bottom row
so bad at it. But, upon listen- to highlight those change est about his own past from left, Omari Hardwick, Lauren Conrad and Topher Grace,
ing back I realized, ‘It really seekers. She speaks to ac- struggles. q who have launched podcasts.
doesn’t matter if I’m good tivists including Manuel Ol- Associated Press
or not. In fact, it’s kind of ivier, a father who lost son
better if (the adventure) is Joaquin in the 2018 school
outside of everyone’s com- shooting at Marjorie Stone-
fort zone.’” man Douglas high school,
Grace is among the grow- and #MeToo activist Tara-
ing number of celebrities na Burke.
who are branching out to Lauren Conrad, who
host their own podcasts. gained fame as an
Notables including Lena MTV reality star but later
Dunham, Chelsea Han- branched out to write
dler, Alyssa Milano, “Pow- books, design clothes and
er’s” Omari Hardwick and take on other projects, has
“Queer Eye” star Karamo added podcast host to her
Brown are among those list with “Asking for a Friend,
who’ve launched their own “ which features experts
approximately hour-long, in various fields dishing on
weekly shows this year. their work. Most guests are
And Katharine Schwar- people she’s worked with
zenegger hosts a podcast in the past.
about rescuing pets. “I felt like this was a very
For some, it’s a way to be cool opportunity to sit
creative outside of the me- down and talk with each of
dium where they are tradi- these people about all the
tionally known. things they’ve taught me,”
Hardwick’s podcast, on she said.
the subscription-based Lu- Grace also appreciates
minary Network, is called how a podcast allows for
“Poetics.” It’s dedicated to a space to share more of
poetry, which is one of his himself, but still in a con-
passions. trolled environment. He’s
At the end of each epi- rarely appeared in tabloids
sode, Hardwick’s guests and was never a paparazzi
must create original prose favorite.
inspired by their conversa- “I started to realize, ‘Oh this
tion. It requires guests to is a way that I can share
dig below the surface and something that I love do-
come up with prose based ing in my free time, but still
on their emotions and ex- I don’t have to talk about
periences. anything I don’t want to
“We just kind of talk about talk about, like family stuff.”
their journey, their life and (For the record, Grace
when they found a pen ... does mention his wife and
and where they see them- baby on the show, but ev-
selves going from that point erything is on his terms.)
on,” said Hardwick. Guests Others like to use podcasts
have included Method as a way to share their tal-