Kalen Allen joins Joy Taylor for a vulnerable conversation about growing up queer in Kansas, finding fame through viral videos, working with Ellen, navigating Hollywood, and learning how to build a life rooted in joy instead of proving people wrong.

 

0:00 – Welcome Kalen Allen + the Interstellar Detour
3:53 – Turning 30 and Letting Go of Old Personas
7:00 – The Real Reason He Wanted Fame
12:31 – Coming Out, Family & Choosing Joy Over Tragedy
18:13 – The Mask: Performing Through Pain
24:04 – Beyoncé, Faith & Finding God on His Own Terms
32:02 – The Black Church, Pride Month & "Why Won't You Show Up for Us?"
38:26 – Love, Solitude & Wanting Kids on His Own Terms
45:05 – Hustle, Legacy & Opinion vs. Critique
53:30 – Setting the Record Straight on Ellen
1:01:52 – What's Next for Kalen

Kalen Allen joins Joy Taylor for a vulnerable conversation about growing up queer in Kansas, finding fame through viral videos, working with Ellen, navigating Hollywood, and learning how to build a life rooted in joy instead of proving people wrong.
&nbsp;
0:00 &ndash; Welcome Kalen Allen + the Interstellar Detour 3:53 &ndash; Turning 30 and Letting Go of Old Personas 7:00 &ndash; The Real Reason He Wanted Fame 12:31 &ndash; Coming Out, Family &amp; Choosing Joy Over Tragedy 18:13 &ndash; The Mask: Performing Through Pain 24:04 &ndash; Beyonc&eacute;, Faith &amp; Finding God on His Own Terms 32:02 &ndash; The Black Church, Pride Month &amp; "Why Won't You Show Up for Us?" 38:26 &ndash; Love, Solitude &amp; Wanting Kids on His Own Terms 45:05 &ndash; Hustle, Legacy &amp; Opinion vs. Critique 53:30 &ndash; Setting the Record Straight on Ellen 1:01:52 &ndash; What's Next for Kalen

Finally, a podcast that gets brutally honest about the toughest conversations we need to have. The groundbreaking new show Two Personal facilitates thoughtful dialogue on hot-button topics. TV Personality Joy Taylor tackles these conversations head-on, getting candid in a way typically reserved for your inner circle. With equal parts humor and wisdom, Joy chats about culture and social issues. Unafraid to explore complex topics like racism, sexism, and mental health, she advances these conversations with nuance and compassion.

Two Personal with Joy Taylor

Episode 23: Kalen Allen on Fame, Identity & Learning To Heal

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/78a347aa-3282-4ac5-837c-a72300032082/clips/9ab84288-c377-41ab-a910-b46d00daf1ef/transcript

Joy flies solo this week with stories from her trip through France, a breakdown of what Cannes Lions is really like for creators and brands, BET Awards reactions, and her now-viral take on why men having female friends is a green flag. She closes with a Never Two Personal segment on the best moments of her life heading into 40.

 

00:00 France & Cannes recap
04:38 Cannes Lions strategy and imposter syndrome
13:00 BET Awards recap
18:52 White House BTS
19:56 Men with female friends debate
44:43 Never Two Personal

Joy flies solo this week with stories from her trip through France, a breakdown of what Cannes Lions is really like for creators and brands, BET Awards reactions, and her now-viral take on why men having female friends is a green flag. She closes with a Never Two Personal segment on the best moments of her life heading into 40.
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00:00 France &amp; Cannes recap 04:38 Cannes Lions strategy and imposter syndrome 13:00 BET Awards recap 18:52 White House BTS 19:56 Men with female friends debate 44:43 Never Two Personal

Episode 26: Cannes Lions, BET Awards, Men With Female Friends & My Best Life Moments

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/78a347aa-3282-4ac5-837c-a72300032082/clips/af85419b-153b-4141-95c8-b47900f0b150/transcript

Joy Taylor sits down with Valeisha Butterfield, Obama administration alum, Recording Academy's first-ever Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, and founder of Seed Media. Get ready for a raw, wide-ranging conversation on audacity, the death of humility, entrepreneurship, dating post-divorce (with a hiking story that will have you screaming), sisterhood, and what it means to be a Black woman in this moment.

 

0:00 — Intro: Joy introduces Valeisha and teases the topics
1:02 — Audacity: Redefining the word and why mediocre men have it in abundance
3:02 — The case against humility: "I am not humble before other humans"
4:40 — Working loud: Taking credit for your work and not letting anyone swoop it
6:50 — Playing the game strategically in corporate and political spaces
7:44 — Valeisha's mom moment: The audacity to take your full maternity leave
9:29 — The girlboss myth and why the conversation is exhausting
11:34 — How scared are we? Living in unprecedented times
12:20 — Why Valeisha isn't afraid: People move where culture moves
13:44 — Is culture in a good place? Music, art, film, and who we're platforming
17:07 — Empowering creators: Pick up the camera, don't wait for the green light
19:27 — Young people, their time, and learning to live with less
23:18 — Valeisha's shift from corporate to entrepreneurship
26:57 — The one thing Joy and Valeisha cannot stand: Wasted time
27:33 — Dating after divorce: The lover girl problem
29:38 — Love bombing — why it's a red flag AND why it feels so good
33:14 — Meeting your kids: The story of the restaurant ambush
39:00 — Men in their midlife era, online illusions, and the gender war myth
44:00 — Dating apps — what worked, what didn't, and a hiking story gone left
58:40 — What's keeping Valeisha centered right now
1:00:02 — Boundaries as a muscle: Saying no to protect your peace
1:02:17 — Women relationships as the key to survival
1:06:27 — Black women, solidarity, and a direct charge to non-Black women
1:12:24 — Closing: Something has to give, and we have to be ready
1:13:47 — Outro

Joy Taylor sits down with Valeisha Butterfield, Obama administration alum, Recording Academy's first-ever Chief Diversity &amp; Inclusion Officer, and founder of Seed Media. Get ready for a raw, wide-ranging conversation on audacity, the death of humility, entrepreneurship, dating post-divorce (with a hiking story that will have you screaming), sisterhood, and what it means to be a Black woman in this moment.
&nbsp;
0:00 &mdash; Intro: Joy introduces Valeisha and teases the topics 1:02 &mdash; Audacity: Redefining the word and why mediocre men have it in abundance 3:02 &mdash; The case against humility: "I am not humble before other humans" 4:40 &mdash; Working loud: Taking credit for your work and not letting anyone swoop it 6:50 &mdash; Playing the game strategically in corporate and political spaces 7:44 &mdash; Valeisha's mom moment: The audacity to take your full maternity leave 9:29 &mdash; The girlboss myth and why the conversation is exhausting 11:34 &mdash; How scared are we? Living in unprecedented times 12:20 &mdash; Why Valeisha isn't afraid: People move where culture moves 13:44 &mdash; Is culture in a good place? Music, art, film, and who we're platforming 17:07 &mdash; Empowering creators: Pick up the camera, don't wait for the green light 19:27 &mdash; Young people, their time, and learning to live with less 23:18 &mdash; Valeisha's shift from corporate to entrepreneurship 26:57 &mdash; The one thing Joy and Valeisha cannot stand: Wasted time 27:33 &mdash; Dating after divorce: The lover girl problem 29:38 &mdash; Love bombing &mdash; why it's a red flag AND why it feels so good 33:14 &mdash; Meeting your kids: The story of the restaurant ambush 39:00 &mdash; Men in their midlife era, online illusions, and the gender war myth 44:00 &mdash; Dating apps &mdash; what worked, what didn't, and a hiking story gone left 58:40 &mdash; What's keeping Valeisha centered right now 1:00:02 &mdash; Boundaries as a muscle: Saying no to protect your peace 1:02:17 &mdash; Women relationships as the key to survival 1:06:27 &mdash; Black women, solidarity, and a direct charge to non-Black women 1:12:24 &mdash; Closing: Something has to give, and we have to be ready 1:13:47 &mdash; Outro

Episode 25: Valeisha Butterfield On Audacity, Dating After Divorce & Why Humility Is Dead

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/78a347aa-3282-4ac5-837c-a72300032082/clips/27d43239-ee36-406d-9fd0-b4740058c715/transcript

Joy Taylor is bringing all the opinions this week. She breaks down the NYT's viral 8,000-word profile on AI actress Tilly Norwood and explains why she's unbothered. AI doesn't scare her in the creative space, full stop. 

Then she gets into the essay going around about what actually destroys female friendships (quiet dishonesty, not big betrayals), and why being confrontational is actually a form of respect. 

The marriage chemistry debate hits next. Joy weighs in on whether you can settle down with someone who isn't the greatest sex of your life. Spoiler: the answer is nuanced but the delivery is not.

Joy wraps with Never Two Personal, answering whether maintaining friendships with exes is mature or a red flag.

0:00 — Intro
0:00 — AI & the NYT Tilly Norwood Article
7:10 — What Actually Breaks Female Friendships
12:44 — Don't Marry the Best Sex of Your Life
18:49 — Never Two Personal: Boyfriend & His Ex

Joy Taylor is bringing all the opinions this week. She breaks down the NYT's viral 8,000-word profile on AI actress Tilly Norwood and explains why she's unbothered. AI doesn't scare her in the creative space, full stop.&nbsp;
Then she gets into the essay going around about what actually destroys female friendships (quiet dishonesty, not big betrayals), and why being confrontational is actually a form of respect.&nbsp;
The marriage chemistry debate hits next. Joy weighs in on whether you can settle down with someone who isn't the greatest sex of your life. Spoiler: the answer is nuanced but the delivery is not.
Joy wraps with Never Two Personal, answering whether maintaining friendships with exes is mature or a red flag.
0:00 &mdash; Intro 0:00 &mdash; AI &amp; the NYT Tilly Norwood Article 7:10 &mdash; What Actually Breaks Female Friendships 12:44 &mdash; Don't Marry the Best Sex of Your Life 18:49 &mdash; Never Two Personal: Boyfriend &amp; His Ex

Episode 24: AI Tilly Norwood, Female Friendships & Marriage Chemistry 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/78a347aa-3282-4ac5-837c-a72300032082/clips/547258a3-808b-4820-bdd8-b47200578623/transcript

Episode 23: Kalen Allen on Fame, Identity & Learning To Heal

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