Second Chances

Greg Behrendt doses out pearls of wisdom about raising girls, prejudice, politics, mental illness, depression, women, relationships, cancer, relapse (taking the dog’s pills), and joining the opioid crisis. Through all his dark thoughts, trials and challenges, clarity finally came with his cancer diagnosis. He is now living in the moment and helping other people. His favorite saying in recovery is, “Bring the problem here, take the solution home,” which he tries to practice each day. Mantastic, Greg Behrendt. Mantastic.

Greg Behrendt is an American comedian and author. His work as a script consultant to the HBO sitcom Sex and the City, starring Sarah Jessica Parker, paved the way for co-authoring of the New York Times bestseller He's Just Not That into You (2004), later adapted into a film by the same name. Apart from that he also hosted two short-lived television shows, The Greg Behrendt Show (2006) and Greg Behrendt's Wake Up Call (2009). Greg is also known for his podcast Walking the Room with his friend Dave Anthony and his surf/rockabilly instrumental band, The Reigning Monarchs. Greg graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in theater from the University of Oregon in 1991, though initially he had enrolled to be a business major and to play rugby. After graduation, he moved to San Francisco, where he joined an improvisational troupe, and met fellow comic Margaret Cho. In his early years, he performed comedy and improv in San Francisco and was a member of the improv troupe Crash and Burn. He came up as a performer alongside such comics as David Cross and Patton Oswalt. He is married to Amiira Ruotola. They have two daughters, Mighty Luna and Bella True. He is a recovering alcoholic and a cancer survivor.

Melanie Vesey began dancing at the age of 5 in Michigan and is now a successful businesswoman and comedian. Between all of that, she got addicted to drugs, got kicked out of Juilliard, realized she was a lesbian, got shot by a New York City police officer, lived with a drug dealer, got sober, had a baby, moved to Los Angeles, got married...did we mention she got shot? Listen to her incredible story full of highs and lows. It’s amazing.

Melanie Vesey is an accomplished comedian, actress, filmmaker, and dancer. Trained at the Juilliard School at Lincoln Center, Stella Adler Conservatory in New York City, and The Interlochen Arts Academy, she has a strong foundation for her body of work.

The highlights of her acting career include co-starring with Jim Carrey and Courtney Love in Man on the Moon directed by two-time Academy Award winner Milos Forman, working with Hal Hartley and Parker Posey in Henry Fool, and being on stage with Elizabeth Ashley and Sam Trammell in the Off Broadway run of If Memory Serves. In addition to co-starring roles on Law and Order and Homicide, she's been in national commercials and voice-overs.

As a comedian she got her start performing regularly at The World Famous Comedy Store. In addition to performing all over LA she's been seen at The Motor City Comedy Festival and is scheduled to film her comedy special Wild Animal in February of 2018.

In 1999 Melanie faced one of the greatest challenges of her life when she was shot by her x-girlfriend, a New York City police officer. In her own way of processing the traumatic experience she wrote and produced a one-woman show, Bullets Bounce Off.

As a former Vice President of Public Relations at a boutique record label, Melanie transitioned into opening her own PR consulting firm, PromotionalRescue.com where she helps award winning independent artists and small business owners grow their audience and visibility through private coaching and workshops.

She lives with her brilliant and loving family that consists of a couple of angels and a dog named Fig.

Nancy Linehan Charles is a fireball of funny bravery with a resume that rocks. In her 40’s, she drank unstoppably and got sober after realizing that she was screwing up her life. She’s been sober now for 32 years. At age 49, she came to Hollywood. She has appeared in more than 70 films and television programs as well as stage productions. At age 71, she was arrested for doing Shakespeare in the street and refusing to leave. Six months ago, she had a Shakespeare line tattooed on her body. At age 75, she jumped out of an airplane. Along the way, Nancy learned to love herself unconditionally, and we love her, too.

Nancy Linehan Charles has been a professional actress and writer for three decades. She has performed on stage from off-Broadway and the Kennedy Center to regional theatres including the Meadowbrook Theatre, Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre, The Geffen Playhouse, Pacific Resident Theatre and the Colony theatre in L.A., in such roles as Vivian Bearing in the Pulitzer-winning play WIT, Amanda Wingfield in GLASS MENAGERIE, the title role in MRS. WARREN’S PROFESSION, Albertine in TOYS IN THE ATTIC, Kate in ALL MY SONS, Linda Loman in DEATH OF A SALESMAN, to name a few. She has twice won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award and was the recipient of The Ovation Award.

In film, she can be seen as Ned Beatty’s wife in Mike Nichols’ film CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR, starring Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman; as Max Von Sydow’s wife in Spielberg’s MINORITY REPORT, starring Tom Cruise. She has been seen on television, guest-starring on such shows as THE WEST WING, 24, CLOSE TO HOME, JOEY, DREW CAREY, SEINFELD; with recurring roles on HUFF and SIX FEET UNDER, to name a few.

Nancy Linehan Charles can also been seen in the recurring role of ‘HELEN’ in the web series “We Got Next” as well as her recurring role as ‘ELSPETH’ in the web series AVE 43 She has five adaptations of Shakespeare (for middle schoolers) published through Dramatic Publishing, and her scripts are being performed in schools all over this country and in Canada. Ms. Charles is also a Marathon runner and the mother of two fine young men: Will Rothhaar, a working actor; and Charlie Linehan, a Manhattan Assistant District Attorney.

Willie Aames is an award-winning, platinum-selling writer, producer/director who starred in 22 network series and has a long list of credits. Despite his Hollywood successes, low self esteem, overbearing parents and childhood stardom were only the beginning of his struggles. His career faltered. After an appearance on Celebrity Fit Club, his life completely fell apart and Willie ended up in bankruptcy, homeless and divorced. While pulling himself up by his bootstraps, Willie took an out-of-the-blue opportunity and became a 6-star cruise director. His whole life turned around. Listen to this AMAZING Hollywood story where the happy ending truly happens on a love boat.