HypeFriend! with Ashley Eckstein & Michael James Scott

We’re hanging out with the voices of a galaxy far, far away— Matt Lanter (Anakin Skywalker) and James Arnold Taylor (Obi-Wan Kenobi) drop into HypeFriend for a fast, funny, wide-open conversation about the friendship that outlasts the recording studio! Get a peek behind-the-scenes of a generation’s favorite Saturday morning Star Wars saga, including details about the Mortis arc, how recording in-p...

Radio legend Delilah Rene and her longtime producer—and best friend—Janey Bullman pull back the curtain on 30 years of late nights, love song dedications, and the friendship that built the airwaves’ iconic #1 show. We rewind to the prank call that started it all, get the scoop behind the iconic “De-lil-lah” jingle, and find out the songs they’d dedicate to each other. Whether you grew up listening...

Style icon and creator Color Me Courtney (Courtney Quinn) goes beyond the rainbow to show how color becomes confidence—and how to build a real community by being radically transparent. She traces the path from MBA at 21 to the Coach stockroom, blogging for her grandma, and finally betting on herself; shares her “say it out loud” habit that helped turn a midnight sketch into Disney’s sold‑out Tiana...

Screenwriting duo Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit (Spaceballs 2, Pokémon Detective Pikachu, TMNT: Mutant Mayhem, The Addams Family 2) drop into HypeFriend to show how a friendship‑first partnership delivers laughter to audiences—including their next project, LEGO® Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy - Pieces of the Past on Disney+. We trace their theater kid meet‑cute in a college lighting booth, the yin/...

Ariel herself drops by! Disney Legend Jodi Benson dives in with us to talk about using your voice in IRL, building friendships rooted in mutuality, and knowing when a chapter has lovingly run its course. We also get Jodi’s no-cooking recipe for a perfect friends’ night—plus her ideal Disney park day. Bring your dinglehopper; leave with courage! Join us in our friendship revolution, one HypeFriend...

Are y'all ready for some double trouble? This week, we have two Genies in the HypeHouse as we welcome the Tony Award-winning legend who originated the role of the Genie in Broadway's ALADDIN, James Monroe Iglehart! James talks with the hosts about sending the kids back to school, being a life-long self-described geek, and how everything comes back to chicken. Join us in our friendship revolution,...

This week, Ashley and Michael welcome Olivier Award-winning actress Lesli Margherita! After a groundbreaking run in GYPSY as the iconic “Tessie Tura”, Lesli and the hosts reflect on wins, losses, and staying real with everything “in between.” Join us in our friendship revolution, one HypeFriend (and one episode) at a time!

This week, Ashley and Michael welcome Ryan Key and Ryan Mendez, two members of the hit rock band, Yellowcard! Key and Mendez delve into how they built their friendship through the years and the music they make together. Join us in our friendship revolution, one HypeFriend (and one episode) at a time!

This episode, we bring on the superstar tenor, Josh Strickland! Through laugh out loud moments and touching stories, Josh discusses family, friendship, and the importance of singing voice messages. Join us in our friendship revolution, one HypeFriend (and one episode!) at a time!

The doctor is in! This week, pediatric psychologist Dr. Ariana Hoet of The Kid’s Mental Health Foundation joins the hosts to discuss the urgency of the loneliness epidemic and emphasizes the importance of treating friendship as a core need just like food, sleep, and water. Join our friendship revolution, one HypeFriend (and one episode) at a time!

This episode, we bring on Broadway’s favorite, Ashley Brown (Broadway's original MARY POPPINS)! The hosts talk with Ashley about how they met, how connections are essential to get through difficult times, and how friendships have their seasons. Join us in our friendship revolution, one HypeFriend at a time!

Join us for our second week of HypeFriend! This week, we welcome Tony Award-winning actress and Broadway star Nikki M. James to the neighborhood! The trio discusses how friendships evolve over time, how to accept these changes, and why candor is key to building lasting connections.  (00:00) Intro (04:10) Hypes and Gripes (15:10) Good Gossip (17:50) Nikki M. James Introduction (24:03) Understa...

In our very first episode of HypeFriend, childhood friends Ashley Eckstein (original voice of STAR WARS’ “Ahsoka Tano” and Michael James Scott (“The Genie” from Disney’s ALADDIN on Broadway) team up to discuss what it means to truly be a ‘friend’? In the lasting impacts of the mental health crisis from the 2020 pandemic, Ashley and Michael reflect on the past and discuss different ways to be there...

In our second episode ever, Ashley and Michael invite Bret Iwan (fourth and current voice of “Mickey Mouse”) to be the very first member of their neighborhood. They laugh, catch up, and joke about old times, but most importantly, they dive into how they all met and how to make genuine friends that last.    Join us in our friendship revolution one HypeFriend at a time! 

HypeFriend’s third episode is here! Andrew Levitt or better known as Nina West, comes on the podcast to discuss keeping up your friendships through acts of kindness. Andrew goes into why he loves sending people mail and the significance of practicing your own love language. They then go into the challenges of being on stage and the value of creating safe spaces for others by simply offering your s...

Childhood friends Ashley Eckstein (voice of “Ahsoka Tano” in Star Wars) and Michael James Scott (“The Genie” from Disney’s Aladdin on Broadway) team up for a weekly podcast with the singular mission of starting a friendship revolution, one “HypeFriend” at a time!