Journalist, Author & Syndicated Columnist
Founder and CEO of Motivating the Masses, Inc., Lisa Nichols was once a single mom relying on public assistance to help make ends meet. Now a motivational speaker and best-selling author, Nichols says she feels grateful to be able to help others. The 49-year-old California resident’s latest book is “Abundance Now: Amplify Your Life and Achieve Prosperity Today” (Dey Street Books, $25.99).
Born in New York and raised in North Carolina, where she played basketball for the Tar Heels, Jessica Breland has overcome so much to get to where she is today. The summer before her senior year of college, Breland was excited thinking about all the places she wanted to visit before school started. Instead, she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and spent the next half-year undergoing chemotherapy treatments.
For the early part of his career, Ralph Covert was known for his rock band, the Bad Examples. These days, his fans span a wider age range, thanks to his children’s music group Ralph’s World. “It’s fun performing for audiences whether they are four years old or grandparents,” says the Chicago-based musician. “When they get up and sing and dance along, it makes the concerts so much more fun.”
Grammy Award-winning musician Angelique Kidjo says that being named UNICEF’s International Goodwill ambassador in 2002 has been a fulfilling part of her life. “It gave me the opportunity to travel to all the other continents and meet incredible women who carry the continents on their shoulders,” says the New York-based artist. “They are the main inspiration behind my songs.”
Chef and restaurateur Tim Love is one of the stars of CNBC’s series “Restaurant Startup.” The reality show helps potential restaurateurs by investing money in new restaurants. He says one way he keeps on top of culinary trends is via travel. “Cooking is really not the hard part,” says Love, 44. “When you travel, you experience different cultures and see how they do different things. This inspires me to incorporate new ideas and experiment with different cuisines, ingredients and flavors.”
Actor Dominic Monaghan says he enjoyed one of his best meals in Bengaluru, India. “I arrived at a beach and a gentleman asked me if I was hungry. I told him I was. He told me to go swim in the ocean and when I got back, he would have food. I watched him from the sea build a fire and make some bread. By the time I’d returned, he had made me a fantastic spicy chicken tikka and fresh naan bread. It was the best meal I’ve ever had and it cost me about $2.”
Author Matt Marinovich says that his ultimate excursion would involve his career. “As a writer, I would love to be able to cover a true crime story that would lead me to strange places across the country, preferably in a mid-sized rental car,” says Marinovich, whose latest thriller — “The Winter Girl: A Novel” (Doubleday, $24.95) — is set in the Hamptons. “I’ve always envied the backstory of how Truman Capote became involved with ‘In Cold Blood.’ It was one of the most memorable books I’ve read.”
“Shameless” actress Isadora Goreshter says, “There’s nothing in the world quite comparable to Los Angeles, but I have visited Russia with my family and was able to see where my roots come from. I am first-generation American, so I was raised immersed in Russian culture, art and food; so Russia, in a way, reminded me of my childhood home.”
If you ask celebrity fitness instructor, Adam Rosante, what his goal is he’ll say that it’s to help people live healthy lives. One way of keeping your life in balance is with travel, he says.
“Downton Abbey” fans immediately recognize Brendan Coyle as John Bates, the valet and former British Army batman to the Earl of Grantham in Julian Fellowes’ period drama series. Coyle, 52, now stars in the Esquire Network’s series, “Spotless,” where he portrays an East London mob boss named Nelson Clay.
Raised in Ukhta, Russia, actress Olga Fonda came to the United States to study and was later discovered by a modeling agent. A former competitive dancer who’s also proficient in krav maga and karate, Fonda puts her talents to good use on TNT’s “Agent X.” On the series, she portrays a fearless Russian spy.
Sixteen years after Tia Mowry became a household name on the sitcom, “Sister, Sister,” the busy actress stars in two series. She appears on TV Land’s “Instant Mom” and “Tia Mowry at Home,” her own lifestyle show on the Cooking Channel. Married to actor Cory Hardrict, she says her family travels all the time and never tires of it.
“Each language has its own advantages,” says Dino Lingo founder Serdar Acar. “I realized that being able to communicate in (more) languages opened new doors and opportunities for me. But when it comes to traveling, I think English speakers are a bit luckier, because you can find an English-speaking person most of the time, especially if you stick to the tourist routes. That is why most people in other countries learn English.”
“It’s interesting living and working in two different countries — both India and the United States,” says “The Big Bang Theory” star Kunal Nayyar. “Whenever I have time, I go to India and see my mom and dad. We’ll be there for Christmas. And for work, I’m based out of Los Angeles.”
Broadway star Lea Salonga’s latest role is in “Allegiance.” Starring opposite George Takei, she portrays an American woman of Japanese descent whose family is locked away in an internment camp during World War II. Based out of Manila, Salonga has relocated to New York for the production’s run. Just 17 when she auditioned for “Miss Saigon” — a role that would win her a Tony Award — Salonga has gone on to star in musicals such as “Les Miserables.”
“I’m blessed in my life to have had the good fortune to travel and I never take that for granted,” says actor Cary Elwes. “It’s a wonderful gift to go to new places and meet new people.” Elwes’ breakthrough role came almost 30 years ago when he was selected to play the dashing (and funny) Westley in the movie “The Princess Bride.” Since then, the Los Angeles-based Brit has appeared in numerous films, such as “Glory,” “Liar Liar” and “Saw.”
“I grew up in Seattle, so Hawaii was a popular destination for my family and a decently close plane ride,” says “Thursday Night Football” sports reporter Megan Alexander. “Lahaina, Maui, has got to be one of the most beautiful islands on the planet. The beaches are beautiful, the Hawaiian people are so relaxed and friendly and the tropical drinks are delicious, because of the fresh fruit. There is just something magical about the plane touching down in Hawaii and the pilot saying, ‘Aloha and Mahalo.’”
When asked for a unique destination that he would recommend, “Expedition Unknown” host Josh Gates says, “Cuba. Go right now and you’ll see Havana as it existed 50 years ago — classic cars, sleepy streets and music in the air. Go in five years and there’ll probably be an Applebee’s where (Ernest) Hemingway used to drink.”
Fans love to hate Joe Morton’s portrayal of Rowan (Olivia Pope’s father) on the hit ABC drama, “Scandal.” The actor, 68, remembers, “I was in Williamstown, Mass., to see some plays and this woman came up to me and said, ‘I didn’t recognize you right away, but I knew I hated you!’” Laughing, he adds, “We had a lovely long conversation after that. But people do react to my role on ‘Scandal.’”
“Four out of seven days a week, I’m on planes or my tour bus,” says comedian Gabriel Iglesias. “I’ve been to all 50 states and over 30 countries around the world, but my favorite place is my own bed.”