Vulnerable with Christy Carlson Romano

Today on Vulnerable, I’m joined by actor and musician Corey Feldman! Corey got his start from his roles in The Goonies, Stand by Me, and The Lost Boys, and has gone on to have a successful music career. As someone who has worked in the industry since he was 3 years old, Corey has a unique passion for child actor rights and protections. He shares about his tell-all memoir, his friendship with Hugh Hefner, and the controversial circumstances surrounding his unfinished documentary. He also gives a look into his teenage romance with Drew Barrymore. Which famous Disney animated movie was Corey a voice actor for? How often did Corey go to the Playboy mansion? Join us now! You can follow Corey on Instagram @cdogg22 and Twitter @corey_feldman. You can order his new Love Set 2.1 Boxset here. Follow me, Christy Carlson Romano on Instagram @thechristycarlsonromano and TikTok @christcarlsonromano, subscribe to my YouTube channel, and follow Brendan Rooney on  Instagram @thebrendanrooney and TikTok @brendanrooney. Be sure to follow Vulnerable @thevulnerablepodcast on Instagram and TikTok. You can watch the video version on my YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on Vulnerable, I get to chat with Melanie Samuels and Melissa Coulier! Melanie is a holistic nutritionist and Melissa is a fitness instructor and award-winning photographer. They are the Co-Founders of Living Well with Mel and Mel, a wellness brand focused on bio-individuality and managing inflammation. Melanie and Melissa talk about their unique holistic wellness journeys, and how Melanie’s battle with disordered eating and Melissa’s Lupus diagnosis brought them together to find healing and restoration for their bodies. They also share the dangers of the diet industry, what it’s like to live with chronic pain, and their mission for their wellness community. Why don’t women talk more about their wellness journeys? How has Dave Coulier been impacted by holistic health? What went wrong when Christy’s husband proposed? Join us to find out! You can follow Melanie on Instagram @choosewellwithmel, Melissa on Instagram @melissacoulier, and Living Well with Mel and Mel on Instagram @livingwellwithmelandmel and visit their website here. Follow me, Christy Carlson Romano on Instagram @thechristycarlsonromano and TikTok @christcarlsonromano, subscribe to my YouTube channel, and follow Brendan Rooney on  Instagram @thebrendanrooney and TikTok @brendanrooney. Be sure to follow Vulnerable @thevulnerablepodcast on Instagram and TikTok. You can watch the video version on my YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on Vulnerable, I review Jennette McCurdy’s beautiful and heart-wrenching memoir, “I’m Glad My Mom Died.” So much of what Jennette shares is close to my heart, and I was deeply impacted by this book. Jennette’s book gives a raw and honest look into her life growing up in the industry. She talks about her complex and often confusing relationship with her mom, the abuse she suffered from her mom and Nickelodeon, and how her trauma compounded into years eating disorders and addictions. But her story didn’t end there. With therapy and supportive relationships, Jennette was able to take back control of her life. Change is needed in the industry. Networks and creators need checks and balances and true accountability. Visit this link to learn more about the Coalition for Child Performers and how you can take action today: https://www.coalitionforchildperformers.com/ You can follow Jennette McCurdy @jennettemccurdy on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter, and order “I’m Glad My Mom Died” here. Follow me, Christy Carlson Romano on Instagram @thechristycarlsonromano and TikTok @christcarlsonromano, subscribe to my YouTube channel, and follow Brendan Rooney on  Instagram @thebrendanrooney and TikTok @brendanrooney. Be sure to follow Vulnerable @thevulnerablepodcast on Instagram and TikTok. You can watch the video version on my YouTube channel.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on Vulnerable, I’m joined by Dan Benson! Dan is an actor best known for his role as Zeke Beakerman on “Wizards of Waverly Place,” and has recently found a new kind of fame on OnlyFans. Dan is the epitome of Vulnerable, and gives an up close and personal view about his experience transitioning from a Disney Channel star to an OnlyFans star. He shares the unexpected circumstances of how he was introduced to OnlyFans, how he’s grown in self-confidence, and the importance of organizations like the Trevor Project. What fanfiction was Dan a part of? What’s the craziest thing he’s been DM’d? Tune in to find out! You can follow Dan on Instagram @danleebenson, TikTok @danleebenson, Twitter @_danbenson, and OnlyFans @danbenson Follow me, Christy Carlson Romano on Instagram @thechristycarlsonromano and TikTok @christcarlsonromano, subscribe to my YouTube channel, and follow Brendan Rooney on  Instagram @thebrendanrooney and TikTok @brendanrooney. Be sure to follow Vulnerable @thevulnerablepodcast on Instagram and TikTok. You can watch the video version on my YouTube channel.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on Vulnerable, I have the opportunity to talk with the brilliant Dr. Bruce Perry. Dr. Perry is a teacher, clinician, and researcher in children’s mental health. Dr. Perry shares all about the complexities of childhood trauma, and we explore how that manifests in the entertainment industry. We dig into how advocacy is often seen as a hindrance in Hollywood, how child actors are given little to no protection in the industry, and the hope that these realities might change for the better one day. How are celebrities often dehumanized? What is a common dynamic between child actors and their parents? Why do so many child actor stories end in tragedy? Join us now. You can follow Dr. Perry on Twitter at @BDPerry Follow me, Christy Carlson Romano on Instagram @thechristycarlsonromano and TikTok @christcarlsonromano, subscribe to my YouTube channel, and follow Brendan Rooney on  Instagram @thebrendanrooney and TikTok @brendanrooney. Be sure to follow Vulnerable @thevulnerablepodcast on Instagram and TikTok. You can watch the video version on my YouTube channel.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on Vulnerable, I get to chat with the one and only Anneliese van der Pol! Anneliese is an actress and singer best known for her role as Chelsea Daniels on “That’s So Raven” and “Raven’s Home,” as well as her time as Belle on Broadway’s “Beauty and the Beast.” She opens up about her experiences on “That’s So Raven” and shares what it was like reprising her role for “Ravens Home.” She also talks about her relationship with Raven-Symoné, her Hollywood hookups, and why child actors are such easy targets for substance abuse. What role in “That’s So Raven” did Anneliese initially audition for? Which Disney star taught Anneliese about sex? Join us to find out! You can follow Anneliese van der Pol on Instagram at @anneliesevanderpol. Follow me, Christy Carlson Romano on Instagram @thechristycarlsonromano and TikTok @christcarlsonromano, subscribe to my YouTube channel, and follow Brendan Rooney on  Instagram @thebrendanrooney and TikTok @brendanrooney. Be sure to follow Vulnerable @thevulnerablepodcast on Instagram and TikTok. You can watch the video version on my YouTube channel.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on Vulnerable, I chat with Juliana Joel! Juliana made history by being Disney Channel’s first openly transgender actress through her role as Nikki in “Raven’s Home.” She discusses the lack of positive trans representation in the industry while growing up, how she accidentally outed herself in high school and now, confidently owning her identity.  What advice did Raven give Juliana when she walked on the Disney Channel set? How did she deal with the negative press? Listen now!  You can follow Juliana Joel on Instagram at @thejulianajoel, on Twitter at @thejulianajoel and on TikTok at @thejulianajoel.  Follow me, Christy Carlson Romano on Instagram @thechristycarlsonromano and TikTok @christcarlsonromano, subscribe to my YouTube channel, and follow Brendan Rooney on  Instagram @thebrendanrooney and TikTok @brendanrooney. Be sure to follow Vulnerable @thevulnerablepodcast on Instagram and TikTok. You can watch the video version on my YouTube channel.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on Vulnerable, I chat with Nathalia Ramos! Nathalia is a former actress and current Associate Director for Studio B at Berggruen Institute in Los Angeles. She is best known for her role as Yasmin in the movie “Bratz” and as Nina in the Nickelodeon television series, “House of Anubis.”  She talks about her transition from actress to political content creator and merging her two passions in her role at Berggruen Institute. She shares her experiences filming the movie “Bratz,” the moment she realized she wanted to pursue a career outside of acting and her mission to make knowledge sexy. Nathalia also tells an unbelievable story about meeting two of the most talented stars in Hollywood that you don’t want to miss. Is Nathalia still friends with her co-stars from Bratz? How did Christy play a role in the evolution of Nathalia’s career? Tune in now!  You can follow Nathalia Ramos on Instagram at @nathaliaramos, on Twitter at @nathalia73 and on TikTok at @nathaliaramos82.  Follow me, Christy Carlson Romano on Instagram @thechristycarlsonromano and TikTok @christcarlsonromano, subscribe to my YouTube channel, and follow Brendan Rooney on  Instagram @thebrendanrooney and TikTok @brendanrooney. Be sure to follow Vulnerable @thevulnerablepodcast on Instagram and TikTok. You can watch the video version on my YouTube channel.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on Vulnerable, I chat with actress and children’s rights activist, Taylor Dooley! Taylor made her debut into the industry with her role as Lavagirl in The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl. She opens up about her experiences as a child actor, and shares some of her most traumatic moments on set. She also talks about her relationship with her mom, advocating for change in Hollywood and reprising her role as Lavagirl on We Can Be Heroes. What did Matthew Lawrence warn her about on the set of National Lampoon? Did she actually get along with Taylor Lautner? How has becoming a mom helped her process her trauma? Listen now!  You can follow Taylor Dooley on Instagram at @taydools and on Twitter at @taylordooley.  Follow me, Christy Carlson Romano on Instagram @thechristycarlsonromano and TikTok @christcarlsonromano, subscribe to my YouTube channel, and follow Brendan Rooney on Instagram @thebrendanrooney and TikTok @brendanrooney. Be sure to follow Vulnerable @thevulnerablepodcast on Instagram and TikTok. You can watch the video version on my YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on Vulnerable, I chat with actress, model, activist and all around icon, Jillian Mercado! Jillian plays Maribel Suarez in “The L Word: Generation Q.” She's a prominent figure in the fashion world challenging beauty ideals and redefining traditional norms in the industry. She opens up about advocating for more representation for people with disabilities, starting her initiative called Black Disabled Creatives and even being nominated for a GLAAD award!  What does Jillian want people to understand about the disabled community? Listen now!  You can follow Jillian Mercado on Instagram at @jillianmercado, on Twitter at @jilly_peppa and on TikTok at @thejillianmercado. Learn more about Black Disabled Creatives at www.blackdisabledcreatives.com and on Instagram at @blackdisabledcreative.  Follow me, Christy Carlson Romano on Instagram @thechristycarlsonromano and TikTok @christcarlsonromano, subscribe to my YouTube channel, and follow Brendan Rooney on  Instagram @thebrendanrooney and TikTok @brendanrooney. Be sure to follow Vulnerable @thevulnerablepodcast on Instagram and TikTok. You can watch the video version on my YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on Vulnerable, I chat with Brooklynne Webb! Brooklynne is a social media superstar who rose to fame on Tiktok (she has over 10.6 million followers!). She’s best known for her videos featuring fashion looks, POV’s, dance trends, princess roleplay & body positivity.  She opens up about what it’s like to move from Canada to West Hollywood at 18, building her TikTok followers from 30,000 to over 8 million in a year, disrupting society’s standard with her musical satire, and taking control of her mental health struggles.  What does Brooklynne think is the healthiest way to have a relationship with social media? Listen now!  You can follow Brooklynne Webb on Instagram at @brooklynnexo, on TikTok at @xobrooklynne and subscribe to her YouTube at @xobrooklynne. Follow me, Christy Carlson Romano on Instagram @thechristycarlsonromano and TikTok @christcarlsonromano, subscribe to my YouTube channel, and follow Brendan Rooney on  Instagram @thebrendanrooney and TikTok @brendanrooney. Be sure to follow Vulnerable @thevulnerablepodcast on Instagram and TikTok. You can watch the video version on my YouTube channel.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on Vulnerable, I get to chat (and laugh a lot) with the Lawrence Brothers! Joey, Matt, and Andy stole all of our hearts in the 90s through their sitcom Brotherly Love, and their appearances in Boy Meets World, Blossom, Mrs. Doubtfire, Horse Sense, Jumping Ship & more. They open up about what it’s like to face the entertainment industry as three brothers, and the struggles that come with that. They also give me the inside scoop on what it’s like working together on their exciting new project, the Brotherly Love Podcast! Is there anything these three wouldn’t do for each other? Listen now!  Tune into the Brotherly Love Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and everywhere you listen. Follow the Brotherly Love Podcast at @officialbrotherlylovepod on Instagram and @brotherlylovepod on TikTok, Facebook and YouTube. Follow me, Christy Carlson Romano on Instagram @thechristycarlsonromano and TikTok @christcarlsonromano, subscribe to my YouTube channel Be sure to follow Vulnerable @thevulnerablepodcast on Instagram and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on Vulnerable, I get to chat with the queen of color herself, Courtney Quinn. Courtney is the Founder and Creative Director of the fashion and media company, Color Me Courtney, and works as a fashion designer, blogger, and full-time Disney fan! (Not to mention, the primary reason why I wear color!) In this episode, Courtney shares all about her journey in the fashion industry and her unique path to designing her first official Disney clothing line. We also discuss the importance of inclusivity and representation in popular media, showing kindness and learning from other generations, and what it’s like to be creative partners with your significant other. What movie resparked Courtney’s love for Disney? What job did Courtney get by taking her MBA off her resume? Join us to find out! You can follow Courtney @ColorMeCourtney & @ColorMeMagic on Instagram, and @ColorMeCourtney on TikTok and Twitter, subscribe to her YouTube channel, and check out her website at colormecourtney.com Follow me, Christy Carlson Romano on Instagram @thechristycarlsonromano and TikTok @christcarlsonromano, subscribe to my YouTube channel, and follow Brendan Rooney on Instagram @thebrendanrooney and TikTok @brendanrooney. Be sure to follow Vulnerable @thevulnerablepodcast on Instagram and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A special kind of magic gets unlocked when casts reunite, and my time with the stars of Ned’s Declassified was no different. Today on Vulnerable, I catch up with Devon Werkheiser, Lindsey Shaw and Daniel Curtis Lee about what they’ve been up to since the show, the part nostalgia plays in adulthood, what it was like experiencing their childhood on set, and of course, all about their hilarious and heartwarming new podcast, Ned’s Declassified Podcast Survival Guide.   Why is Devon nervous about what he said on the podcast? What shady experience did Daniel have on set? Why did Nickelodeon turn down a Ned’s Declassified reboot? Get ready for all the behind-the-scenes stories your millennial hearts desire.   Tune into Ned’s Declassified Podcast Survival Guide on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and everywhere you listen.   Follow Devon @devonwerkharder on Instagram and @devonwerkheiser on TikTok. Follow Lindsey @ladymshawsters on Instagram and @lindsey.shawsters on TikTok. Follow Daniel @daniel_curtis_lee on Instagram and @danielcurtislee on TikTok.   Follow me, Christy Carlson Romano on Instagram @thechristycarlsonromano and TikTok @christcarlsonromano, subscribe to my YouTube channel, and follow Brendan Rooney on  Instagram @thebrendanrooney and TikTok @brendanrooney. Be sure to follow Vulnerable @thevulnerablepodcast on Instagram and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on Vulnerable, I’m joined by Jennifer Stone & David DeLuise, two of the stars from the beloved Disney Channel series ‘Wizards of Waverly Place.’ We talk about their early memories of working together on the show, how they’ve given back to the community through mentoring young actors, the good ol’ boys club in Hollywood, and the juicy details of what we can expect to hear on their new venture together, Wizards of Waverly Pod. What did Selena Gomez say that made David cry? Why does Christy think Shia LaBeouf went on to be a movie star instead of her? What did Ellen Degeneres do that made David say she was not a nice person? Find out now! Tune into Wizards of Waverly Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and everywhere you listen. Follow Jennifer @JenniferStone on Instagram and Twitter, and @JenniferLStone on TikTok. Follow David @DavidDeLuise on Instagram and @D_DeLuise on Twitter. Follow me, Christy Carlson Romano on Instagram @thechristycarlsonromano and TikTok @christcarlsonromano, subscribe to my YouTube channel, and follow Brendan Rooney on Instagram @thebrendanrooney and TikTok @brendanrooney. Be sure to follow Vulnerable @thevulnerablepodcast on Instagram and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s guest on Vulnerable is the hilarious and wise Danny Pellegrino. Danny is a writer, comedian, content creator and Bravo TV superfan! He’s captivated audiences with his authenticity, humor and heart in his New York Times best-selling book “How Do I Un-Remember This?: Unfortunately True Stories” and through his hit podcast Everything Iconic. We talk about mental health, embracing childhood magic, learning to love yourself and of course, who Danny’s current favorite Real Housewife is. Will Danny be turning his book into a TV Series? Why did Danny’s low point include a trip to Disney? Will Christy be signing up for The Real Housewives of Austin? Find out now! You can follow Danny @DannyPellegrino on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and check out his website at www.everythingiconic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on Vulnerable, my guest is the multi-talented Anna Akana. In 2011 she launched her YouTube channel that now has over 2.8 million subscribers. She is a writer, actress, filmmaker and musician. I’m convinced there’s NOTHING this girl can’t do.  Nothing is off limits in my conversation with her and we talk about therapy, cosmetic enhancements, the evolution of feminism, using her trauma in stand-up comedy, dealing with trolls, friend breakups and more. Is Anna leaving YouTube to become an OnlyFans star? Will I be joining her?? Find out now! You can follow Anna @annaakana on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, and subscribe to her YouTube channel. Follow me, Christy Carlson Romano on Instagram @thechristycarlsonromano and TikTok @christcarlsonromano, subscribe to my YouTube channel, and follow Brendan Rooney on Instagram @thebrendanrooney and TikTok @brendanrooney. Be sure to follow Vulnerable @thevulnerablepodcast on Instagram and TikTok.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on Vulnerable, I get to chat with Canadian pop-punk icon, Fefe Dobson. Fefe has been ahead of her time since her 2003 self-titled debut album, and has been inspiring generations of artists ever since. In this episode, Fefe takes us back to the days of wearing dresses over jeans with fishnet gloves and WAY too many belts. From writing about her angsty rebellious teenage years to performing those songs on tour with Justin Timberlake, Fefe walks me through what it was like to be a female in the early 2000s breaking into the male-dominated pop-punk scene. Besides her goal of leaving the boys in the dust, what she really cared about was writing music that reflected what she felt on the inside. Fefe is still taking the music scene by storm with her latest single “Recharge My Heart,” and is inspiring the next generation of powerful female artists such as Olivia Rodrigo and WILLOW. I can’t help but fan-girl about this badass. She is so genuine and true to herself, and her music has been a soundtrack to my life. What’s Fefe manifesting next and does it include a potential acting career? Find out now! You can follow Fefe @fefedobson on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, @IAmFefeMusic on Twitter, and subscribe to her YouTube channel.  Follow me, Christy Carlson Romano on Instagram @thechristycarlsonromano and TikTok @christcarlsonromano, subscribe to my YouTube channel, and follow Brendan Rooney on Instagram @thebrendanrooney and TikTok @brendanrooney. Be sure to follow Vulnerable @thevulnerablepodcast on Instagram and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on Vulnerable, I have an inspiring conversation with Mattel Television’s Manager of Creative Content, Teale Sperling. Teale focuses on preschool TV and the Barbie Vlogger on YouTube.   In this episode, Teale shares with me the journey she went on to become a leading voice in development and production at Mattel. Teale originally planned on being an actor, but as a little person, the roles available were limited and tended to be stereotypical. She saw a gap in the industry for women like herself and with the encouragement of her husband (who is also a childhood friend of mine!) she decided to go into development to create the representation that was missing. Now she has been at Mattel for over 8 years working on Barbie Vlogger (which has over 11 MILLION subscribers on YouTube), Deepa & Anoop, Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go, and more.    Teale and I discuss the need for more representation of disabled people in media. She shared how she's navigated her own disability, developed self-love, and her passion for developing more projects that show that disabled people are people.    Teale is AMAZING! I am so thankful for her thoughtful work in creating content for kids, like mine, and for educating them about important issues that are going on in the world in such a fun and creative way. Because of her work, a new generation of children will see themselves represented in a way that she wasn’t. Follow Barbie Vlogs on YouTube. Connect with Teale on LinkedIn. Follow me, Christy Carlson Romano on Instagram @thechristycarlsonromano and TikTok @christcarlsonromano, subscribe to my YouTube channel, and follow Brendan Rooney on  Instagram @thebrendanrooney and TikTok @brendanrooney. Be sure to follow Vulnerable @thevulnerablepodcast on Instagram and TikTok. You can watch the video version on my YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on Vulnerable, I talk with Lisa Jakub. You may remember her from Mrs. Doubtire, Independence Day, and The Beautician and the Beast, to name a few. I had the pleasure of meeting her at 90's Con. In this episode, Lisa shares with me how she started acting as a child and the events that led up to her decision to ultimately quit the industry. She details the work she did to discover herself outside of performance and how she addressed her anxiety and depression. Today, Lisa has written two books, is the CEO and founder of two organizations. Blue Mala is a pay-what-you-can mental health community that offers yoga, meditation, and mindfulness practices. Mission Flexible is a non-profit which supports veterans through mindfulness retreats. Lisa is inspiring because she has built a life that she truly loves when before she didn't have the agency to do so. I hope this episode is encouraging to everyone to care for their mental health and seek community in the process. Follow Lisa @lisa.jakub on Instagram and @lisa_jakub on Twitter. Check out Blue Mala at bluemala.com and Mission Flexible at missionflexible.org. Follow me, Christy Carlson Romano on Instagram @thechristycarlsonromano and TikTok @christcarlsonromano, subscribe to my YouTube channel, and follow Brendan Rooney on  Instagram @thebrendanrooney and TikTok @brendanrooney. Be sure to follow Vulnerable @thevulnerablepodcast on Instagram and TikTok. You can watch the video version on my YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices