Jason Lee is not here to play small — and he never has. From surviving foster care and gun violence to becoming Vice Mayor of Stockton and founder of Hollywood Unlocked, Jason’s life is a masterclass in using street smarts, grit, and unapologetic truth-telling to shake up every room he enters.

In this episode, we go all in: how he went from labor organizing and taking on corrupt unions to building one of the most influential media platforms in urban culture. We talk about running for office after a brutal political betrayal, holding brands accountable for fake “diversity” pledges, and why he refuses to play nice when the stakes are our communities, our kids, and our culture.

Jason is equal parts activist, dealmaker, and disruptor — the rare leader who will sit in a City Council meeting one day and in a room with Cardi B the next. This is a conversation about power, purpose, and the courage to say what everyone else is too scared to.

About Jason Lee:

Jason Lee is a seasoned entrepreneur, media innovator, and community advocate recently elected to represent District 6 on the Stockton City Council. As CEO and founder of Hollywood Unlocked, a leading multimedia entertainment platform valued at over $50 million, Jason’s dynamic career spans labor relations, business development, and civic engagement. After six years in education and probation, Jason transitioned to labor relations in 2006, joining the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). Rising from union representative to staff director within the Kaiser Permanente division, he later became a labor representative for the California Nurses Association, where he negotiated contracts for registered nurses and earned a reputation for resolving complex issues. In 2015, Jason launched Hollywood Unlocked, now a major force in entertainment and cultural commentary. Its rapid growth, combined with the launch of The Jason Lee Show in 2023, cemented Jason’s role as a key voice for underrepresented communities. Beyond entertainment, he spearheaded Healthcare Unlocked, an initiative to provide affordable healthcare to one million Americans, blending business innovation with meaningful social impact. In 2024, Jason ran for Stockton City Council’s District 6, a diverse community facing economic inequality, public safety challenges, and limited youth opportunities. His campaign focused on public safety, economic growth, youth programs, and affordable housing. His historic victory reflects his deep understanding of the community’s struggles and his vision for transformative change.

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What do Jessica Alba, Hollywood’s elite, and my own face all have in common? Shani Darden. She’s the esthetician-turned-entrepreneur who went from rolling around in music videos to creating the go-to skin care line trusted by celebrities and Sephora shoppers worldwide.

In this episode of The Stiletto Room, Shani opens up about her journey from a small town in upstate New York to becoming one of the most respected Black female founders in beauty. She talks about her obsession with skin care as a kid, the leap from giving facials in her back house to opening her own energy-infused studio, and the product that changed the game: Retinol Reform.

We get into it all — building a business as a woman of color, the pressure of perfection in Hollywood, surviving the pandemic launch of her Sephora line, and why reputation is the only real currency. And yes, we even talk about her pet turtle Mitch.

This conversation is raw, funny, and full of wisdom — a must-listen for anyone chasing their passion and glowing while doing it.

About Shani Darden:

Considered the secret behind Hollywood’s most flawless faces, expert esthetician Shani Darden sets herself apart with her results-oriented approach to skin care. Her passion for simple, yet effective solutions has earned her clients’ trust and respect in a town where beauty, health, and wellness standards are high. Shani trained as an aesthetician under a leading dermatologist, eventually going out on her own. She developed a passion for creating products she could not find, sending clients home with custom-made formulas between visits. Her Retinol Reform® serum quickly built a huge celebrity following. Today, Shani is sharing her proven formulas and trusted expertise so people everywhere can achieve their best skin. In June 2019, Shani opened her first flagship studio in Beverly Hills where she treats clients, develops high-performance formulas, and shares her expertise with her followers on social media.

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What does it really take to survive—and thrive—in the music industry? In this episode of The Stiletto Room, I sit down with two of the most brilliant (and brutally honest) hitmakers in the game: Bonnie McKee (the pen behind Teenage Dream, California Gurls, Roar) and Shane Stevens (the voice behind American Honey, Fancy Like, and countless Nashville gems).

We go way beyond the highlight reel. Bonnie opens up about losing her first record deal at 16, falling into addiction, and clawing her way back with one hit after another. Shane shares how George Michael and Mariah Carey inspired his songwriting dreams, how rejection almost ended his career, and how sobriety gave him back his purpose.

Together, we dive into:

• The real life of a songwriter (spoiler: it’s not all glitz and Grammys)
• Why failure and struggle are essential to becoming an artist
• How sobriety sharpened their creativity and saved their lives
• Full circle moments that prove the universe is always listening
• Why mentoring the next generation is the greatest legacy

Funny, raw, and unfiltered—this episode is as much about survival as it is about songwriting. If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to make it in music, this is your masterclass.

About Bonnie McKee

Grammy-nominated songwriter and pop artist Bonnie McKee has shaped modern pop with massive hits like Katy Perry’s Diamond-certified “California Gurls” and “Roar.” She’s also penned songs for Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Ke$ha, Bebe Rexha, Jason Derulo, Kygo, and Adam Lambert. As a solo artist, Bonnie has toured nationally, performed at Coachella and the Hollywood Bowl, and released the cult-favorite Bombastic EP, with its title track featured in over 20 TV and film placements. In 2020, she wrote, produced, and starred in the award-winning short film April Kills the Vibe. Her 2024 album Hot City delivers bold, empowering anthems that celebrate individuality and self-expression.

About Shane Stevens

Shane Stevens is a Grammy-nominated songwriter whose work spans country and pop, with cuts by Carrie Underwood, Lady A, Walker Hayes, Meghan Trainor, Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez, Fifth Harmony, and more. His smash hit “Fancy Like” by Walker Hayes went 6x Platinum and earned a Grammy nomination, BMI award, and NSAI Song of the Year. Shane’s first No. 1, “American Honey” by Lady A, earned multiple industry awards and launched a career of chart-topping success. In February 2025, he released “I Can’t Quit,” a duet with Sara Evans. His songs reflect resilience, creativity, and a passion for storytelling shaped by his journey through Nashville, New York, and beyond.

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Tinashe doesn’t just walk into a room, she floats in like she owns it, crystals in one hand, hit records in the other. From dancing at age four to leading a girl group, and ultimately carving out her own lane as a fearless solo artist, she’s lived a lifetime before most people finish high school. In this episode of The Stiletto Room, we get into it all: the freedom of creating her early mixtapes, the perfectionism that still drives her, and the viral wildfire that was Nasty and No Broke Boys.

Tinashe opens up about rejecting the industry’s bullshit boxes, protecting her creative instincts at all costs, and why owning her intellectual property was the ultimate power move. She also lets us in on what’s next, from writing a motivational book to starring in the kind of action film where she’s kicking ass, stunts and all.

This conversation is raw, funny, and full of the kind of unapologetic honesty that makes Tinashe more than a star, she's a blueprint. If you’ve ever doubted yourself, listen up, because she’ll remind you exactly why you shouldn’t.

ABOUT TINASHE

Tinashe is a multi-platinum-certified R&B disruptor singer, writer, and dancer—but she also produces, mixes, engineers, creative directs, and edits. She is one of music’s most compelling artists, fusing innovative sounds from R&B, pop, and hip-hop that has generated a global cross-genre fan base of over 13 million social media followers. Tinashe has headlined two world tours and accrued over 1.5 billion global streams of all time. Her first album, Aquarius, came out in 2014 and debuted in the top 20 on the Billboard 200. She has since released four more studio albums, not including BB/ANG3L, as well as several mixtapes and numerous hit singles. Tinashe recently released her new album, Quantum Baby, on August 16th, which is led by her new single, “No Broke Boys,” that is rapidly climbing the charts. Produced by Ricky Reed (Lizzo, Camila Cabello) and Zack Sekoff, the album includes the hit track “Nasty,” which has been streamed over 500 million times worldwide since release. Following the viral dance trend, the track has become a certified hit, breaking onto major charts, including the Billboard Hot 100. The track also reached #1 on Spotify’s Global Viral 50 and US Viral 50, as well as #2 on the Apple iTunes R&B and Soul Songs chart. The single is currently in the top 10 on the TikTok Billboard Top 50, #4 on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs, and #11 at Rhythm Radio and was just launched to Top 40 radio. On TikTok, the song has surpassed 4.2 million creations across sounds and is at 13 billion total views! Tinashe’s list of collaborators is extensive, including Tyga, Chlöe, Britney Spears, A$AP Rocky, Usher, Charli XCX, Chance the Rapper, Travis Scott, Dev Hynes, and Calvin Harris.

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When Prophet speaks, entire rooms shift. From being slammed to the ground by police at just 13 years old to becoming the co-founder and president of the Black Music Action Coalition, Prophet has spent his life turning trauma into transformation. In this episode of The Stiletto Room, I sit down with Prophet to trace his journey—from grabbing a megaphone in the Bronx to standing shoulder-to-shoulder with lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

We talk about everything: battling Reverend Butts over rap lyrics, hearing Al Sharpton call him into action, and why Senator Raphael Warnock remembered him decades later. We dive into the fight to pass the Restoring Artistic Protection Act, how BMAC holds the music industry accountable with report cards and receipts, and why changing laws is the only way to change lives.

This one isn’t just an interview, it’s a blueprint for activism, resilience, and using your voice like your life depends on it. Because sometimes it actually does.

About Prophet

Willie “Prophet” Stiggers, lifelong activist and co-founder, CEO, and President of the Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC). BMAC formed as a unified force of action for racial equity and justice within the music industry and to use the power of our collective voice to improve communities and drive systemic change. BMAC advocates on behalf of Black artists, songwriters, producers, managers, agents, executives, lawyers, and other passionate industry professionals and represents 200+ music managers and industry professionals that constitute 65 percent of the highest-grossing artists in music. Under Prophet’s leadership, BMAC is committed to holding the music business accountable and creating new pipelines of access and opportunity for the next generation. Subsequently, Prophet has been named one of Billboard’s Power Players for two consecutive years and received accolades from the Associated Press (AP) and the New York Times. Additionally, Prophet has executive produced the BMAC Gala for the past four years, led multiple panels and legislative conferences, and formed a working group and active coalition around the Restoring Artistic Protection Act (RAP Act). Prophet has also established close relationships with numerous organizations, including the Academy of Country Music, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Recording Academy, the Black Music Collective, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Songwriters of North America, SAG-AFTRA, and Save The Music. Prophet has dedicated his life to bridging the gap between entertainment, music, and activism. As a music manager, Prophet’s mission has been to work with and represent talent who want to elevate the culture and use their platform to make a positive impact on this world.

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When Siedah Garrett walks into a room, legends stop and listen—literally. She’s the Grammy-winning, two-time Oscar-nominated force who penned “Man in the Mirror” for Michael Jackson, sang alongside the greats, and turned every “you can’t” into “watch me.” In this episode of The Stiletto Room, we go way beyond the headlines. Siedah gets real about growing up in constant motion, dodging eviction notices every nine months, finding music as her lifeline, and learning to ignore the doubters (or better yet, use them as fuel).

We talk about that life-changing call from Quincy Jones, the thrill of proving her publisher wrong twice, and the priceless moment Miles Davis declared, “Damn, I love that bitch.” It’s part masterclass, part comedy show, and all heart from the woman who’s written for everyone from Aretha Franklin to Jennifer Hudson. If you’ve ever needed a reminder that grit, talent, and a little audacity can rewrite your story, this one’s for you.

About Siedah Garrett:
World-renowned singer, songwriter, actor, podcaster, and philanthropist, Siedah
Garrett is best known as a collaborator and band member of Michael Jackson. She
co-wrote The King of Pop’s megahit Man In The Mirror from his chart-topping
1987 album, Bad, and recorded as his vocal duet partner on the #1 pop single I Just
Can’t Stop Loving You. Siedah toured with Jackson as a featured and background
vocalist on his Dangerous World Tour and internationally with Madonna and
Sergio Mendes. Siedah’s illustrious career is highlighted by a Grammy Award win
and two Academy Award nominations. Her first Oscar nomination came for her
original song Love You, I Do, performed by Jennifer Hudson in the film
adaptation of the Broadway musical Dreamgirls. Her second nomination was for
co-writing Real in Rio for the animated feature film Rio, further cementing her
status as a versatile and accomplished songwriter in both cinema and music.
Siedah has the remarkable distinction of having been discovered by Quincy
Jones in 1984 and has collaborated, recorded, and performed with him for over
thirty-five years. Other artists who have recorded on her songs include Diana
Ross, Aretha Franklin, Miles Davis, Earth Wind & Fire, Jamie Foxx, Anne
Hathaway, Common, Ray Charles, Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Toto,
Sheena Easton, Natalie Cole, Barry White, Pointer Sisters, Donna Summer,
Dionne Warwick, Patti Austin, Roberta Flack, Al Jarreau, Paula Abdul,
Tevin Campbell, The Sugarhill Gang, The Brand New Heavies and many
others.

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Welcome to The Stiletto Room—the unfiltered chat show where no topic is off-limits. I’m Dina LaPolt, entertainment attorney, advocate, and tenacious trailblazer. Each week, I sit down with creative visionaries, iconic disruptors, and unapologetic originals to dive deep into work, life, love, LGBTQ+ journeys, social justice, and everything in between.

So, grab a seat, get comfortable, and let’s get real. Baby, this is The Stiletto Room.

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