Check out various activations from Google, Fox Searchlight, FX, OWN and iOne Digital in New Orleans last weekend

Boss ladies from the Women’s Entrepreneurial Panel at The Chicory in New Orleans on June 30, 2017

Google made a big splash over the weekend with three signature events all hosted at The Chicory: a Women’s Entrepreneurial Luncheon (135th CEO Shante Bacon served as one of the speakers), a “Big Easy” Business Mixer hosted by radio personality Angela Yee, and a Black Women’s Leadership Dinner which featured an appearance by Chance the Rapper and a performance from Solange’s new neo-soul group “Ladies of King.“

Guests quickly filled the room for the Women’s Entrepreneurial Luncheon

Angela Yee welcomes the audience and later flicks it up with Mona Scott-Young and Shante Bacon at the Big Easy Business Mixer

Shante Bacon with Google staff after the mixer

(left)The setup at the Black Women’s Leadership Dinner was absolutely beautiful! (right) After dinner, guests got a chilling virtual reality experience of what it’s like to be a black man in America

Tamika D. Mallory, Symone Sanders, Nilka Thomas,

Valeisha Butterfield-Jones, Gia Peppers,

Demetria Lucas D’Oyley, Shante Bacon and Janaye Ingram all SLAYED at Google’s Black Women’s Leadership Dinner

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Click to check out the Lethal Ladies Of Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women commanding the stage at the 2017 Essence Festival in New Orleans

https://www.dropbox.com/s/9n9wi9w7o4nnlmk/20170630_142358.mp4?dl=0

Fox Searchlight’s new documentary STEP was also on the scene at the Essence Festival. The

Lethal Ladies of the Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women were on hand for a “Welcome To Essence” Meet & Greet reception at the Le Meridien Hotel. Press and influencers such as April Reign (Creator of #OscarsSoWhite Hashtag), Henry Hicks (President-National Museum Of African American Music), Janaye Ingram (Women’s March/AirBNB Diversity Officer), and Lolita Toney (Executive Director-National Museum Of African American Music) were in attendance.

Additionally, the STEP cast participated in the Walmart Community Parade, performed a step exhibition on the main stage at the convention center, conducted a post-screening Q&A with radio and tv personality Bevy Smith and capped off the weekend with a flash mob performance at “Salon Conversations” presented by Michaela Angela Davis and My Black Is Beautiful.

Blessin Giraldo, Cori Grainger and Tayla Solomon pictured with ABC Radio’s Candace Williams (left) and the #OscarsSoWhite originator April Reign (right)

The ladies of STEP are all smiles at the “Welcome To Essence” Meet & Greet

Geri “Coach G” McIntyre, STEP Director Amanda Lipitz, Paula Dofat, Tayla Solomon, Blessin Giraldo share thoughts on the power of sisterhood at the 2017 My Black Is Beautiful Experience at the Essence Music Festival

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Dennis White, Angel Love, John Singleton, Angel Saunders and Wild Wayne at the Theatres at Canal Place in New Orleans

FX Networks previewed their new drama series “Snowfall” for an intimate group of press and influencers on Saturday. Co-creator John Singleton made brief remarks; Q93 radio host Wild Wayne intro’d the screening.

Angel Love (left) and Angel Saunders (right) are “Tank’s Angels”

Wild Wayne and John Singleton kick off the screening to a full house

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Nicholas L. Ashe, Tina Lifford, Bianca Lawson, Dawn-Lyen Gardner, Ava DuVernay, Ethan Hutchison,

Rutina Wesley, Dondre Whitfield, Omar Dorsey and Timon Durrett of “Queen Sugar” arrive in the press room at Essence Festival 2017 in New Orleans on Saturday, July 1, 2017

During Essence weekend, OWN brought the casts of “The Haves and the Have Nots,” “Queen Sugar” and “Greenleaf” to the New Orleans Morial Convention Center to interact with fans, screen clips, participate in interviews and discuss their respective shows on the main stage.

(left)Tyler Lepley, Angela Robinson and Gavin Houston during their Center Stage moment on Friday, June 30 with

“OWN Tonight!” host Stacey Ike; (right) Cast members spend some time with their supporters immediately after

Timon Durrett, Dawn-Lyen Gardner, Ava DuVernay, Dondre Whitfield, Rutina Wesley and Omar Dorsey seen backstage before DuVernay was honored at the Woke Women Awards on Saturday, July 1

“Greenleaf” cast members Keith David, Lynn Whitfield, Merle Dandridge and Deborah Riley Draper on Sunday, July 2

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Malcolm Lee, Queen Latifah, Tiffany Haddish, Larenz Tate, Regina Hall, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Kofi Siriboe and Will Packer arrive at the private screening of “Girls Trip” in New Orleans on June 30, 2017

Photos can be viewed/downloaded here: http://bit.ly/2tx1QPm

(Photo credit: J. Wiggins)

On Friday, iOne Digital and HelloBeautiful.com in partnership with NISSAN presented a private screening of the new film Girls Trip at The Theatres At Canal Place.

The cast attended including Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah, Regina Hall, Tiffany Haddish, Larenz Tate and Kofi Siroboe. Directors Malcolm Lee and Will Packer introduced the film. Hello Beautiful editors Allison McGevna, Shamika Sanders and Keyaira Kelly were also on hand to welcome guests.

(left) Jada Pinkett-Smith and Queen Latifah; (right) Kofi Siriboe, Issa Rae and Larenz Tate

Hello Beautiful editors Keyaira Kelly, Allison McGevna and Shamika Sanders (left); “STAR” cast Ryan Destiny, Jude Demorest, Brittany O’Grady and Miss Lawrence (right)

Big Freedia and Karen Civil

Yandy Smith-Harris and Mona Scott-Young

Recording Artists Tank and Letoya Luckett

Recording artist Elle Varner and Celebrity Stylist Ty Hunter

We Speak Authors

Micky Angelo Petrillo Shares an Inspiring Journey on The Andrew Eborn Show

Published

1 week ago

August 2, 2026

Jimmy Star

Some conversations stay with you long after they end. Micky Angelo Petrillo’s appearance on The Andrew Eborn Show was one of those rare moments—an honest, heartfelt discussion about courage, resilience, and the extraordinary freedom that comes from finally embracing your authentic self.

Known for his deeply personal documentary, The Man I Was Born to Be, Micky spoke openly about his remarkable journey, proving that it is never too late to live the life you were always meant to live. With Andrew Eborn’s thoughtful and compassionate interviewing style, the conversation went far beyond headlines, exploring the challenges, triumphs, and hope that have shaped Micky’s inspiring story.

The interview highlighted the message at the heart of Micky’s documentary: authenticity has the power to transform lives. His story is one of perseverance, humor, vulnerability, and determination, offering encouragement to anyone who has ever struggled to find their true identity. The documentary is currently making its way through the film festival circuit following a successful preview screening, bringing Micky’s message of visibility and acceptance to an even wider audience.

Andrew Eborn’s ability to create meaningful dialogue allowed viewers to see not only Micky’s personal journey but also the universal themes of acceptance, family, and self-discovery that resonate with audiences everywhere.

For viewers seeking an interview filled with honesty, compassion, and inspiration, Micky Angelo Petrillo’s appearance on The Andrew Eborn Show is a powerful reminder that the greatest journey we can ever take is becoming ourselves.

Watch Micky Angelo Petrillo on The Andrew Eborn Show on Octopus TV here: