Life Changes Show, June 15, 2015
Life Changes Show with Filippo Voltaggio and cohost Mark Laisure
Kicking Cancer with Guest, TV Personality, Writer, Speaker, Former Miss World Canada Runner-up, Allyson Phelan-Eagan and Guest, Former Professional Soccer Player and Winner of the Hit Reality TV Show Survivor Africa, Ethan Zohn; and Musical Guest Bradley Kohn, Founder of Creative Ninjastries and Two-Time Platinum Artist, Writer, and Producer on The LIFE CHANGES Show.
Guest, Allyson Phelan-Eagan
GUESTS: ALLYSON PHELAN-EAGAN
ALLYSON PHELAN-EAGAN
Originally from Vancouver BC, I was awarded a scholarship to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Paul Rudd and I went through the program together and am proud to say that we graduated in the same class.
Dance
My first love was dance. I have been a dancer my whole life and performed with a Vancouver based company until I decided to make my way to the land of “dreams come true”. My love for dance kept me in one studio or another teaching classes and choreographing students ranging from 3 years to adult. Dance is my soul.
Modeling
I won the FRESH LOOK CANADA 1980 modeling contest and was then recruited by a prestigious Vancouver based modeling agency. This led to the film and television world where I began building my resume. One of my first times on set was in a scene with Johnny Depp when he had a show called 21 Jump Street which filmed in Vancouver.
Pageants
My pageant career was intense. I won several titles and loved the hard work that went into presenting my best self. Representing my city, province, country meant a great deal to me and I did my very best to be an outstanding citizen and virtuous role model to all. My first and most memorable title was Miss Teen Vancouver which landed me a trip to Toronto where I competed in the Miss Teen Canada Contest. The next most prominent title was Miss Canada Runner Up. I am still very proud of these titles which allowed me to contribute to the community in so many beneficial ways for many years.
National CFL Cheerleader/Sports Dancer
The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders were very popular at this time in my life. One of my aspirations was to represent our national team, The BC Lions as a cheerleader/sports dancer. After a long day of grueling auditions I was ecstatic to be one of the few chosen out of hundreds of dancers who showed up for tryouts. There were only a few spots in the line that were open and I really wanted one. I succeeded, was the youngest dancer ever on the team and probably the most joyous as well.
University of British Columbia
I attended UBC, University of British Columbia but all I could think about was being accepted to a school like. FAME. I did my research, auditioned for the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (LA/NYC) was awarded a scholarship and packed my bags for Los Angeles.
After graduating from the American Academy I was cast in a film called Barbarians at the Gate. This was an HBO film starring James Garner and Jonathon Price. It was my first audition out of school and thought to myself… wow this is easier than I thought!
I continued with the journey by pounding the pavement: Student films, endless performances in plays all over the city, making the casting rounds, go to acting class 4 nights a week, attending workshops, theatre sports, networking, earned my SAG card, etc, …. doing everything possible in my power to achieve success.
As luck would have it, I met a wonderful fellow thespian with whom I co-wrote a sitcom and shopped it. Not getting the reaction we wanted, we decided to take a producer class at UCLA extension with Howard Storm. He told us to write about what you know… what you are good at. My partner and I were both full of enthusiasm and lots of fun so we decided to write a show about Nightlife. We filmed in LA and Las Vegas and planned on taking it across the globe.
We started with the basics. A pitch. We did not just do any pitch, we did a performance pitch. We wore costumes, choreographed a 2 minute routine and actually performed for our potential investors in their offices!!!
KTLA/WB was interested but they wanted to see a pilot. We raised $15,000.00 in one week, hired a production company and filmed two months later on New Year’s Eve. Our very first interview was with Paul Oakenfold, starting at the top with the biggest DJ in the world. Literally.
KTLA picked up our show which was called CLUBBIN’. It ran for two seasons and had top ratings, only second
to The Jimmy Kimmel Show.
Then this happened… Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson had that wardrobe faux pas at the Super Bowl half time show and everything changed for KTLA and Tribune. We had already shot a whole new season and it was in the can which unfortunately is where it stayed. The FCC was coming down hard and KTLA’s lawyers were not in favor of another of season of Clubbin’.
As one door closed another opened. A new company called nowlive.com was looking for content for their TV Web channel and they loved Clubbin’. We were on air, live, for two hours once a week for two years. We hosted in studio guests, had chatters, callers and a very loyal following. This interactive concept which combined so many forms of media into one made for an extremely exhilarating experience.
This lead to covering red carpet events, music festivals, food and wine shows, etc… LIVE on location.
CBS LA approached me about writing for cbsla.com under the pen name SHARLA. Currently I still write for them about LA hot spots and entertainment.
Within this time frame I wrote a spinoff of Clubbin’ called GIRLZ WEEKEND. I filmed the pilot in Las Vegas and had just secured an investor to fund this show when I was diagnosed with Stage 3 colo-rectal cancer.
All bets were off.
Now here I am… on the other side and am ever so passionate about giving back through information, information and insight.
Below you will find clips of my work from Clubbin’ to Cancer and everything in between.
With all the love and strength in my heart, I thank you. Allyson Phelan-Eagan
*TV Personality:
*Writer CBSLA:
*Webshow Talk Host:
*American Academy of Dramatic Arts Scholarship Graduate
*Miss World Canada runner-up *Miss Teen Vancouver
*BC Lions Cheerleader (CFL)
Public Speaking
Gratitude and Cancer
https://www.dropbox.com/s/4em3sv57e2ize8k/Allys on%20Phelan-Eagan.mov (7 minute version)
My Top 5 Favorite Words You Can Say to Another Human Being (Parts 1-2-3)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpcAEp5qDog https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vF1kOl5DO6A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbS7YrnRT0U
Kicking Cancer You Tube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/KickCancerToTheCurb
BlogSpot
http://kickingcancertothecub.blogspot.com
Guest, Bradley Kohn
Bradley Kohn has been active as a musician, songwriter and producer from a very young age. He started play the piano at 6 years old, was writing songs at 9 and first recorded one of his songs in a professional recording studio at only 10, where he was co-produced by Mike Moran (Freddie Mercury, George Harrison, David Bowie) and Pete Van Hooke (Van Morrison, Live From Abbey Road, Paul Carrack).
Spurred on by such incredible experiences he started experimenting with a four track recorder as a way to catalogue his compositions. By the age of 16 he was fronting a rock band (as both lead singer and rhythm guitarist) that played regularly on the London circuit. Bradley was now rapidly gaining valuable musical knowledge. Not one to rest on his laurels he kept himself active by promoting and arranging shows for himself and others proving his skills in many areas of music.
Having successfully finished his A-levels Bradley went on to study at the Academy of Contemporary Music where he received a HND with honours.
Determined to work in music, the next few years saw Bradley test his skills in various musical arenas. This included being booked as a pianist, singer, guitarist and percussionist for private, public and televised events in Europe, producing drum tracks for ITV, writing songs for European artists including Spanish TV show (Generación OT: En concierto) winner and pop star Beth Rodergas, organising and promoting the Session All Star events in London’s Covent Garden, Chelsea and Soho and running his own music studio – Home Farm Studios.
“A unique talent”
– Peter Van Hooke
This became his base for almost a decade which lead him to become a multi-platinum awarded producer, writer, artist and engineer, working with scores of bands and artists, scored and music supervised award winning films and completed work for The BBC, Discovery and The Royal Ballett among others. In 2009 he became an in house producer for EMI working out of Abbey Road Studios and The Roundhouse. In 2014 he moved to Los Angeles, where he has already worked at East West, Ocean Way, The Village, NRG, New West Records, Fonogenic Studios, Nightbird Studios (The Sunset Marquis) and Remote Control Productions (Hans Zimmer), as well as performed on local radio shows and at venues such as The House of Blues, Soho House and RG Club.
To Learn More About Our Guest, Brad Kohn, Visit: https://www.facebook.com/BradKohnMusic
Connect With Our Guest, Brad Kohn on FB at: https://www.facebook.com/BradKohnMusic
To Hear More of Our Guest Bradley Kohn’s Music, Visit: https://soundcloud.com/bradley-kohn/sets/production-showreel or on Youtube at: www.youtube.com/user/groove2012
Guest, Ethan Zohn
ETHAN ZOHN
ETHAN ZOHN is a former professional soccer player, cancer survivor, winner of the hit reality television show Survivor Africa and co-founder of Grassroot Soccer. As demonstrated by his charitable work, volunteerism, and community involvement, Ethan believes that a better and healthier world can be achieved through education, advocacy and inspiration.
CO-FOUNDER, GRASSROOT SOCCER
With the $1 million prize money that he secured in winning the 2002 Survivor: Africa, Ethan co-founded Grassroot Soccer (GRS), a nonprofit organization that uses the power of soccer to strengthen communities and empower young people to stop the spread of HIV. Since 2002, GRS has graduated over 700,000 from its tailored, soccer-based HIV prevention-curriculum. GRS now directly implements programs throughout Southern Africa and partners with organizations to implement its curriculum in over 40 countries around the world. Ethan has contributed to GRS’ ability to develop a strong donor network, including Nike, the Gates Foundation, USAID, FIFA, Elton John AIDS Foundation, Barclays, Peace Corps and the MAC AIDS Fund. In the summer of 2010, Ethan and Grassroot Soccer teamed up with the (RED) Campaign to bring Soccer Skillz Camps to children in South Africa during the highly publicized and watched 2010 FIFA World Cup.
In August 2008, Ethan officially launched the Grassroot Soccer UNITED campaign, an international, youth-led movement to end HIV/AIDS in Africa, by embarking on a world-record-breaking 550-mile journey on foot, from Boston, MA, to Washington, D.C. – dribbling a soccer ball the entire route. Ethan also spearheaded the creation of the GRS Endurance Team which has enabled over 250 athletes to compete in the NY, Boston and LA Marathons and raising over $2,000,000. Ethan himself has competed in marathons on behalf of GRS, including running the 2010 and 2011 New York City Marathons, despite being diagnosed and undergoing treatment for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. He later captained the GRS Team and ran 2012 Los Angeles and Boston Marathons.
GLOBAL SPOKESPERSON, STAND UP 2 CANCER
In April 2009, Ethan was diagnosed with CD 20+ Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. After multiple rounds of chemotherapy and an autologous stem cell transplant, Ethan learned that his cancer had returned. Thanks to the dedication of a team of doctors, Ethan underwent a course of experimental treatment and received a second stem cell transplant, this time from his brother. Throughout his battle with cancer, Ethan served as a National Ambassador for Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), and has since harnessed his industry connections in television to create SURVIVOR SU2C, through which donations are made to cancer research through the popular television show, Survivor.
In the fall of 2011, after 20 months of being in remission, Zohn was told his cancer had returned. He quickly and without hesitation persevered, using his platform to continue to be “the megaphone” for the young adult generation battling cancer. He engaged with his fans through autobiographical short on People Magazine’s People.com. Through an in-depth video web series, Ethan opened up about his fight against cancer, showing the raw truthfulness behind this disease – the humor, the fear, the doctors, hospitals, etc. Since 2011, Ethan has been a guest writer for the Huffington Post and penned a blog for EverydayHealth.com called the “The Zohn Zone” about life after cancer. Today, he continues to use his celebrity to educate others about cancer research and advocacy across the country. Ethan is also a Global Envoy for The LIVESTRONG Foundation and is a national spokesperson for the Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
TELEVISION, FILM AND RADIO
Ethan and Survivor Amazon Winner Jenna Morasca hosted the 2012 Daytime Emmy-nominated ABC show “Everyday Health.” They traveled around the country covering stories on amazing people who have gone through a health crisis and continue to use the power of the human spirit to not only better themselves, but also the communities around them. Ethan has also been featured in the award-winning documentary film A Closer Walk, and has been a host for the MSG Soccer Report (Madison Square Garden Network) and FC Fox (Fox Soccer Channel) and Outside Today (Outside Television Network). Ethan has also worked as a sideline commentator for the US Men’s National Soccer Team, Major League Soccer, NCAA College Soccer and for ESPN Radio. Ethan’s other television credits include The Amazing Race 19, Survivor All Stars, Eco-Challenge Fiji and Earth Tripping.
BRAND AMBASSADOR AND MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER
Ethan is a global ambassador for Beyond Sport, an organization that promotes, develops and supports the use of sport to create positive social change across the world. Ethan has also worked extensively with Autism Speaks, America Scores, Stupid Cancer, Maccabi USA, Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital’s Cycle for Survival and Be The Match. Ethan travels the world as a motivational speaker emphasizing character, leadership, resiliency, values and service to nurture the immense potential that young people have to change their world. Ethan routinely addresses high schools, colleges, corporate, and professional audiences, including United Synagogue Youth, Goldman Sachs, Young Professionals Organization, NCAA, WE Day, Atlantic Health Systems, Seattle Genetics, Genentech, Lynne Schusterman Foundation/ROI, Tribefest, and others.
EDUCATION AND BACKGROUND
Originally from Lexington, MA, Ethan graduated from Vassar College, where he majored in biology. After graduating from Vassar, Ethan played professional soccer for Highlanders FC (Zimbabwe), the Cape Cod Crusaders and the Hawaii Tsunami, as well as for the 1997 and 2001 U.S. National Maccabiah squads. From 1998 to 2002, Ethan was the Assistant Coach for Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Men and Women’s soccer teams. In 2003, he coached the U.S. Maccabiah team at the Pan-American Maccabiah Games in Chile.
Ethan’s latest endeavor is co-authoring a three-part children’s educational book series. Soccer World: South Africa was the #1 children’s book on Amazon.com for May/June 2010.
AWARDS
2013 – Gilda’s Club “Gildie Red Door For Advocacy Award”
2012 – Xfinity Survivors Hall of Fame
2011 – Honorary Doctorate Of Humane Sciences Degree – Dominican College
2011 – Mia Hamm Foundation “Courage Award”
2011 – Ulman Family Fund Award for Advocacy
2008 – A Caring Hand “Philanthropic Achievement Award”
2007 – The Peace Abbey – Courage of Conscious Award
2005 – People Magazine 2005 Helpers of the Year – People Magazine
2005 – Vassar College Innovator of The Year
2005 – Campus Activities Magazine – Rookie Speaker of the Year
2004 – Hero’s Among Us Award- Boston Celtics and Massachusetts State Department
2004 – Nkosi Johnson Community Spirit Award – IAPAC
2003 – Auxilia Chimusoro Award – U.S. State Department in Zimbabwe
Life Changes Show
Come and join the conversation about what's going on and what we can do together about it, with it, and for it. We have the choice, we have the power. We can do magic if we just believe!
A show about the changes going on in us, to us, around us, and because of us. Therefore, it's technically a show about "Everything," only with a how to make it better, see it better, be better.
In the show, there is talk about, and with, people who have either been through major changes, are helping others with major changes, or people who are changing the world for the better in a major way.
The show is a one-hour talk show format with a monologue by the host, a 30 minute interview with a guest of note, capped by a "Producer's Wrap" segment, in which Filippo and Co-Host Mark Laisure, and sometimes surprise guests, bring it all home for the listeners in a sometimes humorous and sometimes touching, but always entertaining conversation.
