Cultivated Conversations

The business of partnerships has changed. What was once transactional is now deeply relational — and the best collaborations today are built on trust, creativity, and shared purpose. In this special panel hosted by Jen Proctor, CEO of Cultivated Entertainment, leaders across talent, brand, and management pull back the curtain on what makes a modern partnership truly work. Featuring: Lauryn Bosstic...

Ikenna "IK" Ezeh has built a storied career on both intellect and instinct. From law school to the top of WME, he’s brokered some of the most high-profile deals across sports, music, and entertainment, always with one guiding principle: people first. In this conversation, Jen and IK unpack how the brand world has evolved from transactional to relational, what makes a truly creative partnership cli...

From Goldman Sachs to launching her own purpose-driven agency, Tonna Obaze has redefined what it means to build with intention. Her work sits at the intersection of impact, strategy, and storytelling, helping executives, brands, and communities create lasting change. In this conversation, Jen and Tonna explore how to turn conviction into action, the courage it takes to leave stability for purpose,...

Kristin Turner has spent her career at the intersection of celebrity, partnerships, and business. Heard of Kevin Hart’s tequila brand, Gran Coramino? That’s just one of the projects Kristin has helped bring to life. With more than a decade of experience in music, marketing, and PR, she's helping talent build businesses and brands from the ground up. In this episode, Jen and Kristin unpack what act...

From the NBC Page Program to Saturday Night Live to founding her own company, Disco Nap, Lauren Mandel has carved her own lane in entertainment. She’s produced award shows like the VMAs and People’s Choice, helped launch Las Culturistas’ Culture Awards, and continues to create visionary projects alongside some of comedy’s brightest voices. In this conversation, Jen and Lauren reflect on their Emmy...

From childhood living room pageants to producing some of the biggest cultural moments on screen, Kristen Wong has always known she was meant to create. Now a showrunner and co-founder of production collective Future Friends, Kristen sits down with Jen to talk about her path into the industry, the importance of listening, and how she balances creativity with production realities. They dig into her...

From chemistry major to partner at Three Arts Entertainment, Dunia McNeily’s career is anything but ordinary. She’s navigated agencies, networks, and production companies before finding her home in management, where she now helps talent build businesses, brands, and global platforms. In this episode, Dunia gets candid with Jen about pivoting careers, what managers actually do, and the evolving sta...

From the early days of YouTube to today’s creator economy, Ronit Cohn has been shaping the future of digital talent. As CEO and founder of Cohn Talent Group, Ronit brings a fan-first approach to management, guiding creators through brand partnerships, building communities, and turning viral moments into long-term careers. In this conversation, Jen and Ronit dive into what it takes to start your ow...

From YouTube, Instagram, and ESSENCE to launching her own Conscious Culture Collective, Erika Bennett has shaped culture from inside the platforms and out - and she’s learned that “busy” isn’t a strategy. In this episode, she makes the case for stillness as the most productive move of all, reframing success on your own terms. Jen sits down with Erika for a behind-the-scenes look at how the industr...

From pitch decks to press tours, Lana Womack is in the room where it happens. As Head of Creative Development & Production at OBB Media, she’s helped shape everything from comedy specials to brand campaigns—and she’s doing it all while still in her 20s. In this episode, Jen sits down with Lana for a behind-the-scenes look at how shows really get made. They dive into the art of pitching, balanc...

Jordyn Palos, founder and CEO of Persona PR, joins Jen for an unfiltered conversation on building a career rooted in relationships, resilience, and realness. At just 25, Jordyn launched her own agency and quickly became one of the most trusted names in entertainment publicity, representing some of Hollywood’s biggest names while staying ahead of an ever-evolving media landscape. They get into ever...

Kim Nortman is a multi-hyphenate force. She's a lawyer turned entrepreneur, an AI innovator, business coach, and now, the principal and founder of Set Piece, a strategy and company transformation consultancy at the intersection of creativity and technology. In this episode, Jen sits down with Kim for a thoughtful and energizing conversation on finding your purpose in a tech-fueled world, building...

What does a publicist actually do? And how has the job evolved in the age of TikTok, podcasts, and digital-first talent? In this episode, Jen sits down with longtime friend and PR powerhouse Kelly McWilliam, founder of Hi Hello PR, to unpack the reality behind red carpets, brand moments, and the power of storytelling. From navigating layoffs and reinvention during the pandemic to launching her own...

What do the Emmys, the Grammys, Obama’s inauguration, and your favorite variety show all have in common? Behind the scenes, Kerry Smith has helped make them legally bulletproof. In this episode of Cultivated Conversations, Jen sits down with her longtime friend and powerhouse entertainment attorney Kerry Smith of Smith Entertainment Law Group (SLG). From navigating name and likeness rights to surv...

What does it take to run one of the most powerful digital content studios on the Internet? In today's episode, Jen sits down with Jacob Moncrief, the COO of Rhett & Link's Mythical Entertainment - the studio behind Good Mythical Morning, Mythical Kitchen, and one of the most sophisticated YouTube content machines today. From his early days at MTV to producing with the Try Guys and scaling West...

Orly Shani, an entrepreneur, TV host, and founder of Rocknot joins with Jen for a candid discussion on building a business that fits, embracing personal style, and staying authentic in the content economy. From her early days on Fashion Star to launching a viral DIY into a thriving brand, Orly gets real about the behind-the-scenes hustle - and how navigating self-doubt and producing on her own ter...

Behind every A-lister is someone making the numbers work. In this episode, Jen sits down with Anna DerParseghian, Managing Partner at PTD Business Management who’s spent decades quietly shaping Hollywood’s most powerful financial stories. They talk about how business management all works, risk and resilience, and why understanding psychology is just as important as understanding contracts. From th...

Head of Unscripted & Docs at Fulwell Entertainment Phil Byron sits down with Jen for a no-holds-barred conversation on building talent-led projects, navigating cultural moments, and the wild ride of booking celebs. From hustling in the early YouTube days to helping LeBron James build a storytelling powerhouse, Phil gets real about the business of making shows that matter - and how joy, collabo...

The PR powerhouse behind Revolve, Cardi B’s latest launch, and some of the buzziest Coachella moments joins Cultivated Conversations for a Jenn-packed episode! Jennifer Walker, owner & co-founder of Walker Drawas, sits down with Jen for a no-filter convo on building a brand people actually care about, experiential and influencer strategy, and an insightful look at how creators are changing the...

5 years later, Cultivated Conversations is making its triumphant return! Jen Proctor (CEO & Founder of Cultivated Entertainment) returns to the mic to reflect on the journey so far and unveil what’s ahead for version 2.0 of our show. Rooted in authentic, unfiltered dialogue, this new chapter is designed to inform and inspire those navigating the business of entertainment in an ever-changing me...