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Everyday Heroes with Andrew Norlen
Everyday Heroes with Andrew Norlen

Everyday Heroes with Andrew Norlen

A series of one-on-one interviews with powerhouse women. Join New York based actor, writer and entrepreneur, Andrew Norlen, as he sits down with inspiring women in his life. "Join me as I interview these forces-of-nature about their personal thoughts, fears, trials and careers". What keeps you motivated? How do you cope with your grief? These fearless women are speaking up, speaking out and talking about the shit that matters. FOLLOW: Andrew - @Anorlen FEEDBACK: Don't forget to write a review and give us a 5 star rating in the Apple Podcast App/Store! SUBSCRIBE: And check out Andrew's road to publishing his memoir, Defining Brave on his website:https://www.andrewnorlen.com/defining-brave

Available Episodes 10

In this episode I had the privilege of sitting down with the remarkable, Diamond Essence White. (We actually recorded this episode in the spring of 2021—so I am beyond excited to finally share her story, her point of view, and her power with all of you!)

Diamond and I discuss her childhood, the March On Broadway, her activism, her very personal experiences with racism in the workplace during her time at Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway. She shares her heart with us with grace and honesty. You don't want to miss a moment of Diamond's inspiring conversation with me.
 
This episode brings us back to celebrate the New Year and bring back the podcast after a 6+ month break, due to the publication of my first book—When The Lights Are Bright Again: letters and images of loss, hope and resilience from the theatre community. (check it out here and buy your copy to benefit The Actors Fund today!) 

Please share this with friends and family, and don't forget to show her some love by leaving us a five star rating and review in the Apple podcast app to keep our show growing!

Now, get listening!

FOLLOW:
Diamond - @diamondessencewhite
Andrew - @Anorlen

RESOURCES/ORGANIZATIONS:
Follow these organizations that Diamond is passionate about!

SUBSCRIBE:
Subscribe to this podcast and stay connected with Everyday Heroes, and check out Andrew's road to publishing his memoir, Defining Brave on his website:
https://www.andrewnorlen.com/defining-brave  

FEEDBACK:
Check out another episode to hear from the rest of Andrew's amazing heroes, and don't forget to write a review and give us a 5 star rating in the Apple Podcast App/Store.

Please SHARE this episode with your friends and family!

Be well. Be kind. And be brave.
-A

In this episode I had the privilege of sitting down with a new friend who is the epitome of kindness, empathy and is quite honestly the best dancer on Broadway—Khori Petinaud!

This episode brings us back—along with Robyn Hurder's episode—to celebrate Mother's Day with these two extraordinary women/mothers and also—celebrate SEASON TWO of Everyday Heroes returning, after a three month break.

Khori and I chat about her covid-19/2020 pregnancy, loss, birth and new life, growing up in sports yet always knowing that dance was her calling and how important it is that we diversify what we deem important because we impact culture with what we put on our stages in the theater community.

You don't want to miss a moment of her honesty or this inspiring conversation with this hero and powerhouse!   

Please share this with friends and family, and don't forget to show her some love by leaving us a five star rating and review in the Apple podcast app to keep our show growing!

Now, get listening!

FOLLOW:
Khori - @Kmr8787
Andrew - @Anorlen

RESOURCES/ORGANIZATIONS:
Follow these organizations that Robyn is passionate about!

The Birthing Place -
"They are a team of experienced, BIPOC local doulas and birthing professionals with a dream: to create The Birthing Place, serving families in search of a safe, serene, and deeply supportive alternative to birthing low-risk pregnancies in hospitals. They have a link on their Instagram to donate towards building the birthing center in the Bronx." - Khori

NAACP - https://naacp.org  

SUBSCRIBE:
Subscribe to this podcast and stay connected with Everyday Heroes, and check out Andrew's road to publishing his memoir, Defining Brave on his website:
https://www.andrewnorlen.com/defining-brave  

FEEDBACK:
Check out another episode to hear from the rest of Andrew's amazing heroes, and don't forget to write a review and give us a 5 star rating in the Apple Podcast App/Store.

Please SHARE this episode with your friends and family!

Be well. Be kind. And be brave. 
-ARN 

In this episode I had the privilege of sitting down with the force-of-nature that is Robyn Hurder!

This episode brings us back—along with Khori Petinaud's episode—to celebrate Mother's Day with these two extraordinary women/mothers and also, celebrate season two of Everyday Heroes returning, after a three month break.

Robyn and I talk about everything from her ditching school for a week to test the waters of the Broadway scene in NYC as an eager and passionate teenager, to this last year of intense change, spent at home with her husband Clyde and son, Hudson.

When Broadway went dark on March 12th of 2020, Robyn was in the middle of her—now—Tony nominated performance as Nini in Moulin Rouge. We discussed the business, this difficult time of loss and grief, motherhood, homeschooling, her love of cooking and making others feel welcomed and endlessly cozy inside her home!

You don't want to miss a moment of this heartfelt, honest and hilarious conversation with this hero and icon.   

Please share this with friends and family, and don't forget to show her some love by leaving us a five star rating and review in the Apple podcast app to keep our show growing!

Now, get listening!

FOLLOW:
Robyn -  @robynhurder
Andrew - @Anorlen

RESOURCES/ORGANIZATIONS:
Follow these organizations that Robyn is passionate about!

targetals.org/donate - For sweet Rebecca Luker! 

fredsteam.org - Sloan Kettering - "My first agent Ashley Landay is living with stage 4 cancer and nailing it. She runs marathons for Fred’s Team every year and raises money for cancer research. I just lost my mother in law to stage 4 brain cancer this summer. This is a great organization to fund cancer research! Please consider donating!" -Robyn

SUBSCRIBE:
Subscribe to this podcast and stay connected with Everyday Heroes, and check out Andrew's road to publishing his memoir, Defining Brave on his website:
https://www.andrewnorlen.com/defining-brave  

FEEDBACK:
Check out another episode to hear from the rest of Andrew's amazing heroes, and don't forget to write a review and give us a 5 star rating in the Apple Podcast App/Store.

Please SHARE this episode with your friends and family!

Be well. Be kind. And be brave. 
-ARN 

I have been wanting Marissa to be on the show for months, and we have finally made it happen and I couldn't be anymore excited for you to hear from this light of a woman!

We catch each other up on our families lives and covid—of course—and she shares how special and needed this time of slowing down has been for her soul. We discuss the storming of the capitol and her own anger and helplessness surrounding our countries current divide.

We reminisce about her many years in the incredible show DIVA! in NYC and her celebration of ten years of friendship with the incomparable Marty Thomas, her best friend and "Jill-of-all-trades."

And the interview would NOT be complete if we didn't gush over her beautiful story of her magnificent Broadway debut in For the Girls, with the living legend and class act that is— Kristin Chenoweth.   

This friend of mine is a breath of fresh air, in a world that is broken and hurting at the moment, Marissa brings joy and positivity to every room she walks into, and she is a champion of all her people, at all times. She is my hero because she redefines what it means to be a TRUE and authentic DIVA, in our own industry, and just in our world today.   

Please share this with friends and family, and don't forget to show her some love by leaving us a five star rating and review in the Apple podcast app to keep our show growing!

Now, get listening!


FOLLOW:
Marissa - @themarissarosen
Andrew - @Anorlen


RESOURCES/ORGANIZATIONS:
Follow these organizations that Marissa is passionate about!

The Actors Fund - actorsfund.org

Broadway Cares / Equity Fights Aids - broadwaycares.org

*Puppies are forever: 

https://www.muddypawsrescue.org

Aspca.org

*Marty and Marissa Merch
(a portion of the proceeds go to our favorite no kill animal shelters!)
https://www.redbubble.com/people/martyandmarissa/works/65690437-puppies-are-forever?asc=u

*The Award Winning Holiday Album
http://itunes.apple.com/album/id1541822862?ls=1&app=itunes


SUBSCRIBE:
Subscribe to this podcast and stay connected with Everyday Heroes, and check out Andrew's road to publishing his memoir, Defining Brave on his website:
https://www.andrewnorlen.com/defining-brave  


FEEDBACK:
Check out another episode to hear from the rest of Andrew's amazing heroes, and don't forget to write a review and give us a 5 star rating in the Apple Podcast App/Store.

Please SHARE this episode with your friends and family!

Be well. Be kind. And be brave. 
-ARN 

This is a really special one for me! I know I always say that, and it is true, every guest I have is special, but this is MiMi—my best friend! It seems fitting that I started this podcast—19 episodes ago, in February—with my other best friend Catalina, and this is how we are ending the year now, with MiMi.

My people are my everything and when you listen you will understand just what I mean. I fully cried my way right through this incredible interview. I can't wait for you to hear her heart, her inspirational words, her laugh, her stories, and her empowerment.

This woman is a force—FULLOUT Y'ALL!

We didn't miss a beat, discussing her big break earlier this year before covid began, what it means to come from love, family, Dolly Parton, plus-size positivity, accountability to self and to others, hard conversations, our college years together, and her dreams and goals for her future.

This is one you will want to listen to twice, and you MUST share it with a friend who needs a light at the end of this dark year, that light might just be MiM's revealing to you or your loved one that the glitter is truly inside all of us, we just have to listen and learn how to use it.

Now, you may be reading this first and wondering, WTF is Andrew talking about..glitter?! What the fuck is this!? Well to you I say—don't knock it till you've listened, cus I promise YOU will change your mind and be spreading your own before the episodes even over honey!

Now, get going!

FOLLOW:
MiMi - @mimidulla
Once Upon a One More Time - @onemoretimebway
Andrew - @Anorlen

RESOURCES:
Follow these organizations that MiMi is passionate about!

Broadway Dreams Foundation - website
Broadway Babies - website
BreakOUT! - website

SUBSCRIBE:
Subscribe to this podcast and stay connected with Everyday Heroes, and check out Andrew's road to publishing his memoir, Defining Brave on his website:
https://www.andrewnorlen.com/defining-brave  

FEEDBACK:
Check out another episode to hear from the rest of Andrew's amazing heroes, and don't forget to write a review and give us a 5 star rating in the Apple Podcast App/Store. 

Please SHARE this episode with your friends and family!

Be well. Be kind. And be brave.  & happy new year! 
-ARN 

In this episode I sit down with my Aunt Michelle two days after Christmas! I have not had the ability to sit down face—to—face with one of my guests in over 10 months, so this was a special treat to interview her and her wife—my Aunt Lisa— while they joined our Covid pod for the holidays. 

We discuss her time in the Navy, her relationship with her mom, her coming out story, her senior year of high school when she lived on her own, family dynamics, shame, love, race, women supporting women, and her journey with her own self-confidence.  

I am so excited to finally delve into episodes with many of my family members over the next few months on Everyday Heroes. 

Share this episode with your family and friends and subscribe to the podcast to get notified when new episodes are live! And don’t forget to also listen to my Aunt’s wife’s episode- Lisa Conner, episode 17. 

These women have been integral in helping shape the man I am today and I am so excited for you to get to hear from their hearts and learn a bit more about their story and why they are such heroes in my life! 

Now get going!

FOLLOW:
Michelle - @muchlove_michellep
Andrew - @Anorlen

RESOURCES:
Follow these organizations that Michelle is passionate about!

The Trauma Healing Project - Website
Friends of Trees (Eugene/Springfield, OR) - Website


SUBSCRIBE:
Subscribe to this podcast and stay connected with Everyday Heroes, and check out Andrew's road to publishing his memoir, Defining Brave on his website:
https://www.andrewnorlen.com/defining-brave  

FEEDBACK:
Check out another episode to hear from the rest of Andrew's amazing heroes, and don't forget to write a review and give us a 5 star rating in the Apple Podcast App/Store. 

Please SHARE this episode with your friends and family!

Be well. Be kind. And be brave. 
-ARN 


In this episode I sit down with my Aunt Lisa the day after Christmas! I have not had the ability to sit down face to face with one of my guests in over 10 months, so this was a special treat to interview her and her wife Michelle while they joined our Covid pod for the holidays.

We talk about her high school days, her first marriage to a man, her coming out journey, the dynamics of being queer in our family, sexual abuse, shame, regret, and above all else - love. I am so excited to -finally- delve into many episodes with my family members over the next few months on Everyday Heroes.

Share this episode with your family and friends and subscribe to the podcast to get notified when new episodes are live! And don’t forget to also listen to my Aunt’s wife’s episode- Michelle Parkins, episode 18.

These women have been integral in helping shape the man I am today and I am so excited for you to get to hear from their hearts and learn a bit more about their story and why they are such heroes in my life!

Now get going!

FOLLOW:
Lisa - @lisamajik
Andrew - @Anorlen

RESOURCES:
The Trevor Project - Website
The Trauma Healing Project - Website


SUBSCRIBE:
Subscribe to this podcast and stay connected with Everyday Heroes, and check out Andrew's road to publishing his memoir, Defining Brave on his website:
https://www.andrewnorlen.com/defining-brave  

FEEDBACK:
Check out another episode to hear from the rest of Andrew's amazing heroes, and don't forget to write a review and give us a 5 star rating in the Apple Podcast App/Store. 

Please SHARE this episode with your friends and family!
Be well. Be kind. And be brave. 
-ARN 


This hero of mine has been a pillar in my life for over eight years. Ale embodies kindness, strength, and compassion. Her and I became fast friends our freshman year of undergrad and she continues to change my life as our friendship grows and changes over the years.

In this conversation, we sit down (over FaceTime of course!) to catch up and discuss her journey over the last few years, and her big decision to move back home—to Miami—earlier this year, that was before Covid arrived and changed her plans.

We talk about finding your tribe and surrounding yourself with people who build you up and hold you accountable. We talk racial unrest and hear Ale's perspective about how we can better show up for our marginalized brothers and sisters, now and always. She shares her journey about her own mental health and how important it has become for her to focus on her well being, everyday, as a practice of mindfulness. (TRIGGER WARNING) She also opens up about her struggles with suicidal thoughts.

Ale's resilience and transparency to share her struggles endlessly inspires me. She finds inner strength from opening up and letting others see that none of us have this crazy life figured out, at all, and it is such a better place to be when we have others supporting us.  I can't wait for you to hear from her heart, she is filled with empathy and love and shares so much truth in our conversation.

Ale is changing the world for girls, women, and people everywhere, because she wears her heart on her sleeve and isn't afraid to talk about the hard things in order to grow and learn from her past.

I can't wait for you to hear from this hero of mine! Now get to it!


FOLLOW:
Alejandra -@Alemparrilla
Alejandra's Mental Health Page - @being_alejandra
Andrew - @Anorlen

RESOURCES:
Mental health resource, Suicide Prevention Hotline  800-273-8255

Need help seeking treatment for an easting disorder? - theprojectheal.org

SUBSCRIBE:
Subscribe to this podcast and stay connected with Everyday Heroes, and check out Andrew's road to publishing his memoir, Defining Brave on his website:
https://www.andrewnorlen.com/defining-brave  

FEEDBACK:
Check out another episode to hear from the rest of Andrew's amazing heroes, and don't forget to write a review and give us a 5 star rating in the Apple Podcast App/Store. 

Please SHARE this episode with friends and family!
Be well. Be kind. And be brave. 

VOTE!
If there was one word to describe the importance of this episode, it would be to vote! In this episode I had the privilege of sitting down over FaceTime with one of my dear friends from across the pond, Leanne! Leanne is a performer, dancer, singer, actor, personal trainer and fitness professional and above all else - one of the hardest working and tenacious souls I have ever met! 

Originally from the Midlands in England and currently residing in London,  we jumped right into the nitty-gritty of what our upcoming election means to her as a Non-American, how she has been dealing with the roller coaster that is 2020, her fitness and life aspirations, and her message to the American people to use their voices and their power to vote, because so much is on the line this year. 

It was important to me to get the perspective of an outsiders point of view when it comes to the deep divide we see in our American culture today. We discussed politics, we discuss the histories of racial unrest in England and the states, as well as her blossoming fitness career.

You don't want to miss this episode with Leanne! Get to it!

FOLLOW:
Leanne - @LeanneMarshallFitness
Andrew - @Anorlen

SUBSCRIBE:
And check out Andrew's road to publishing his memoir, Defining Brave on his website:
https://www.andrewnorlen.com/defining-brave  

FEEDBACK:
Check out another episode to hear from the rest of my amazing heroes, and don't forget to write a review and give us a 5 star rating in the Apple Podcast App/Store. Please share this episode with friends and family!

This is 47 minutes and 46 seconds you need to hear! In this episode, I sit down with my dear friend Karen. The trials, trauma, hardship, loss and pain she has had to endure this year have been unfathomably devastating, however, as you will hear when you listen, Karen is a fighter. Karen is a warrior throughout a year where not only the world has been turned upside down -because of this worldwide pandemic we are in- but because after nearly approaching death in the hospital with Covid-19 herself, Karen woke up to the news that she had lost three of the most important men in her life to the virus. Her resilience and decision to "put one foot in front of the other every day" is  both heartbreaking and inspiring, all at once. She shares about  her and her husbands incredible life of love and adventure spent together. We discuss the virus and our governments mishandling of it, 45's lack of care and empathy for others and how we can even begin to move on and forward, but stronger.

 How do we go on from here? What is it going to take? How do we get better? "People need to be kind. This is real, it doesn't get anymore real than this!"   -Karen

You don't want to miss her opening up and sharing her story and her truth. Check out this episode and please please please share it with your friends and family that might need a wake up call during this time.

We must take care of each other because, "Tomorrow is promised to no one!"

Thank you for listening!

FOLLOW:
Karen - @karennascembeni
Andrew - @Anorlen

SUBSCRIBE:
And check out Andrew's road to publishing his memoir, Defining Brave on his website, and sign up for his email list: https://www.andrewnorlen.com/defining-brave    

FEEDBACK:
Check out another episode to hear from the rest of my amazing heroes, and don't forget to write a review and give us a 5 star rating in the Apple Podcast App/Store. Please share this episode with friends and family!