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Three-episode premiere drops July 11, plus first-ever live after-show tapes July 25 at SDCC
Her Universe founder Ashley Eckstein (voice of Star Wars’ Ahoska Tano) and Broadway star Michael James Scott (The Genie in Disney’s Aladdin on Broadway) today announced the launch of their new weekly podcast, HypeFriend!, debuting July 11 with a three-episode premiere. The duo returns to San Diego Comic-Con to co-host the opening night event, The Her Universe Fashion Show Presented by Universal on Thursday, July 24 at 6 p.m. PT in the Seaport Ballroom of the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel. This will be Michael James Scott’s third year co-hosting the iconic SDCC kickoff event, where fans will yet again be dazzled by his powerhouse vocals and electrifying fashion.
Friends since high school, Ashley and Michael launch HypeFriend! as a weekly podcast with the singular mission of starting a friendship revolution, one “HypeFriend” at a time. Filled with Hypes & Gripes, Good Gossip, and Neighbor Drop-Ins, the comedy podcast centers around authentic conversation meant to inspire the next generation of friendships. Guests featured in the premiere episodes include voice actor Bret Iwan (official voice of “Mickey Mouse”) and Andrew Levitt, also known as Nina West from RuPaul’s Drag Race. All three are available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.
For the first time ever, the HypeFriend! podcast will host a special “Her Universe Fashion Show After Party” on Friday, July 25 (10-11 am) at the Neil Morgan Auditorium of the San Diego Central Library. Fans are invited to join the special live taping, hear the backstage stories, and meet the newly crowned “Her Universe Fashion Show” winners.
“I’ve learned that connection is an essential need, just like food and water. We can’t be there in person for every single listener, but we can virtually create a community while simultaneously learning and sharing some tips and tricks for how to make friends and connect with those around you. Just like someone might share a recipe for a cake, there is a recipe for friendship!” — Ashley Eckstein
“Ashley’s over here giving you the recipe for friendship—and I’m the friend who shows up, in a FIERCE outfit, ready to eat the cake, even if it’s burnt. And with Ashley’s baking, you never know! Honestly, doing a podcast with my lifelong bestie where we overshare and laugh too loud? That’s my love language. HypeFriend is like a big, glittery group hug but with jazz hands.” — Michael James Scott
HypeFriend is produced by Dream Three, a multi-platform entertainment studio headquartered in New York and founded by award-winning writer-director Jeremy Merrifield and Broadway star Michael James Scott.
ABOUT HER UNIVERSE
Her Universe is a groundbreaking fandom fashion company and lifestyle brand originally founded by Ashley Eckstein in 2010. Her Universe strives to cultivate a fandom-centric community powered by women to be authentically themselves and celebrate what they love by designing high-quality, fandom-centric, size-inclusive, stylish merchandise. For more information, visit heruniverse.com and follow @heruniverse on Instagram, X, Facebook, and @officialheruniverse on TikTok.
ABOUT HYPEFRIEND!
HypeFriend is a weekly, hour-ish conversation podcast series hosted by childhood friends and Disney icons —Ashley Eckstein (the voice of Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars) and Broadway’s Michael James Scott (“The Genie” from Disney’s ALADDIN on Broadway). In 2023, the US Surgeon General declared that we are currently experiencing a loneliness and isolation epidemic. United by an unshakable belief that authentic connection can change lives, Ashley and Michael are starting a “friendship revolution” one “HypeFriend” (and one episode!) at a time. Each week, they delve into what it truly takes to Be A HypeFriend — a friend who is genuinely there for you, who proudly supports you, and unconditionally cares for you. Blending laugh-out-loud banter with guests from “the neighborhood”, Michael and Ashley build a vibrant community of friends and guests who share their own experiences, lessons learned, and stories about friendship in a fun, casual, and conversational way. The show is produced by Dream Three. For more information, visit: www.beahypefriend.com.
ABOUT ASHLEY ECKSTEIN
Actress, author, designer, entrepreneur, inspirational speaker, and producer, Ashley Eckstein, is most known for originating the character of Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars, she voices Ahsoka in projects such as Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Rebels, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy - Pieces of the Past, coming to Disney+ this September. Ashley founded the fashion and lifestyle brand Her Universe, and Eckstein's designs can currently be found at Disney Parks worldwide. Ashley is currently serving as Co-Creator, Executive Producer, and will be starring in a new audio drama for Disney. Eckstein is also a passionate advocate for mental health awareness and is on the National Advisory Council for The Kids Mental Health Foundation. Follow Ashley on Instagram @ashleyeckstein.
ABOUT MICHAEL JAMES SCOTT
Best known as the “Genie” in Disney's Aladdin on Broadway and having won awards for playing the role in productions around the world, Michael James Scott is globally recognized for originating the Broadway roles of “The Minstrel” in Something Rotten! and “Dr. Gotswana” (aka The Maggots Man) in The Book of Mormon. He's the voice of Disney Cruise Line’s national commercial campaign, where you can hear his reimagined rendition of Cinderella’s “A Dream Is A Wish” and is currently touring with his symphonic show of the same name. With more than fifteen Broadway credits, Michael can be heard on multiple cast albums, studio recordings, and on his holiday album A Fierce Christmas. In addition, he has numerous film and television credits, including Black Monday, The Carrie Diaries, and South Park. Follow Michael on instagram @iammjscott.
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