Journalist, Author & Syndicated Columnist
Filmmaker J.J. Kelley and journalist Kinga Philipps have teamed up to put their expertise to use in “Lost in the Wild,” which airs Sundays at 11pm ET/PT on Travel Channel. The reality adventure series follows the two as they head into remote areas to investigate missing persons cases and try to help solve the mysteries.
Once an accountant, Wengie is better known these days for her music, Whimsical By Wengie toy line for Target and her popular YouTube channel. Splitting her time between Los Angeles and Sydney, Australia, the beauty influencer recently was nominated for the 12th Annual Shorty Awards’ YouTuber of the Year.
“When I was younger, I spent a month living in Belgrade, Serbia,” says “Shrill” actor Luka Jones. “But all I can recall from that time are some curse words!”
“I have regarded myself unambiguously as a Chicagoan,” says “Presumed Innocent” author Scott Turow. “But we will spend more time in Naples than any other city. Sandy Stern, my main character, is an elderly lawyer. To me, there is a lot to love in Naples, but Stern despises all of Florida. He says that America’s elderly are like characters in a Shaw play who do not realize they are actually in hell.”
It’s only fitting that globetrotting actress Erinn Hayes stars in the new Netflix series, “Medical Police,” where she plays a doctor chasing down a life-threatening virus worldwide. The Emmy-nominated actress films most of the series in Croatia, which doubles for countries such as Italy and Brazil. This summer, Hayes will be seen in “Bill and Ted Face the Music,” where she portrays Keanu Reeves’ wife.
Musician Kurt Reifler divides his time between the United States, Germany and Malta. His motto for getting from one home to the other is the same as when he tours or travels for pleasure: less is more. “I travel with a Timbuk2 daypack and have lived out of that for months at a time, no problem. The clothes on my back, plus about three days more in the bag,” he says. “I either wear the coat I’m bringing, purchase one when I arrive or, better yet, I try not to be in places that would require a coat.”
Diagnosed with a pair of rare disorders that kept her in a vegetative state for four years, Victoria Arlen began her recovery nine years ago, relearning how to walk, eat and speak. In 2012, she won four medals (including a gold) at the 2012 London Paralympic Games. A former competitor on “Dancing with the Stars,” Arlen is the author of “Locked In: The Will to Survive and the Resolve to Live,” which was made into an ESPN Films documentary, and she models for Jockey. In early 2020, she will make her debut as one of the co-hosts of “American Ninja Warrior Junior.”
Raised in Chicago and currently a resident of Los Angeles, Alex Castillo portrays a row inmate awaiting his execution in Chinonye Chukwu’s film “Clemency.” There’s a big buzz surrounding the film, which won the Sundance Grand Jury Prize earlier this year. Castillo is also the founder of Castle2000 Films, which aims to produce thought-provoking and diverse projects.
Jazz pianist Kayla Waters kick-started her career with back-to-back No. 1 singles on Billboard. Her latest release, “Full Bloom” (from her CD “Coevolve”) is zooming up the Smooth Jazz Songs chart as well. Residing in the Capitol Hill area of Washington, D.C., Waters says touring is a perk of her job. But even when she doesn’t have to travel, she enjoys squeezing in a quick visit somewhere.
Dr. Jen Gunter has two New York Times columns dedicated to women’s health, a Canadian docuseries called “Jensplaining” and a very active social media presence where she disseminates medical fallacies in a way that the general public can understand. Her latest project is the book “The Vagina Bible: The Vulva and the Vagina: Separating the Myth from the Medicine” (Citadel, $18.95) — a Publishers Weekly and New York Times bestseller.