Mentor Buffet

Chris Bender is the producer who brought so many movies you love to the screen, like American Pie and Final Destination. On this episode of Mentor Buffet, Chris talks about how his career has been about finding screenwriters with strong voices who were otherwise being ignored—his taste is his form of expression. Chris’s collaborators were also mentors to him—early in his career, Warren Zide helped Chris understand the business and how he wanted to approach it, and the late and great J.C. Spink, Chris’s intern-turned-business partner, who he worked with for 20 years. Chris and Alexi also talk about parenting, high school career day, and how the industry is evolving. 

The actress Ciara Bravo joins host Alexi Pappas to discuss her transition from child stardom on Big Time Rush to acting in more adult roles—like Wayne in 2019, Cherry with Tom Holland in 2021, and Alexi and Ciara’s new movie together, Not an Artist which is available to watch digitally on January 31. Alexi and Ciara talk about how to find your north star, and Ciara talks about how she found it in Hollywood, while making Wayne in 2019 with her mentor Shawn Simmons who created a set environment that felt like summer camp. They also chart Ciara’s evolving relationship with school, and Ciara shares a funny audition story. And Merrell is offering Mentor Buffet listeners a special deal! Use code MentorBuffet25 at checkout for 25% off your first order at merrell.com. 

The Olympic 1500-meter champion Cole Hocker joins Alexi to recap his gold medal race in Paris. The two Oregon duck alums also discuss managing self-doubt, accessing your alter ego for peak athletic performance, and what makes a good coach. Cole also talks about his athletic style icons, Mike Tyson and former American Olympic 1500-meter champion Matthew Centrowitz. 

Harry Hudson, a popstar and philanthropist, shares his inspiring journey of self-discovery and mentorship. He recounts how a Swedish music producer taught him about hard work, while an elderly woman in chemotherapy helped him find his purpose. Harry also reflects on key friendships, such as with Jaden Smith, emphasizing the importance of real connections. The conversation highlights the value of viewing dreams as ongoing practices, embracing vulnerability, and celebrating small victories along the path to personal and artistic fulfillment.

The chef Duff Goldman joins host Alexi Pappas on Mentor Buffet to discuss mentorship in the food world. Duff shares about how his stubbornness has made him resistant to accepting mentorship his whole life. Duff also shares his tips for how to trust yourself, how to harness the power of your subconscious mind, and how to cultivate a lasting state of optimism. Duff and Alexi also talk about Disneyland, “weirdo” status, and the secret to life. 

The restauranteur and media icon David Chang joins host Alexi Pappas to talk about how to level yourself up by failing within boundaries. They talk about checking in with your actual priorities, the importance of being around people who are better than you, and what it really means to grow up. David also talks about the mentorship he received early in his career in the restaurant business and explains his worldview through the myth of Sisyphus. 

Cat Cohen, the comedian, writer, and actress joins host Alexi Pappas to talk about her legendary age gap friendship with a woman named Marla who originally was her voiceover acting coach but then became a friend who taught her a bunch of life lessons she still cherishes today. Cat also shares about some of her peers in comedy who she’s learned from. The girls also discuss the movie they acted in together, the excruciating conditions that are sometimes necessary for creativity, and how to tell if your jokes are funny. 

The chef and media extraordinaire Eddie Huang joins host Alexi Pappas to discuss how a handful of mentors have helped him stay in touch with himself and his values along his ever-evolving and sometimes turbulent business trajectory in the media world. Eddie shares what the editor of his book Fresh Off the Boat taught him about writing and how the lessons we learn making art always apply elsewhere in our lives too. Eddie recounts the day he met Anthony Bourdain and tells Alexi about how their friendship was predicated on a mutual commitment to always tell the truth. Eddie and Alexi also talk about the difference between judgment and understanding, the characteristics of a graceful mentor, and how to stay focused. 

Grammy-winning artist Estelle tells host Alexi Pappas about how curiosity is her guiding light at this point in her music career. They discuss why Estelle’s famous for her collaborations, and she talks about making American Boy with Kanye West, Garden Shed with Tyler the Creator, and Oh No with Kaytranada. Estelle also shares her tips for staying present, talks about the importance of making honest art, and explains why everything is perfect. Subscribe to Mentor Buffet for a new episode every Thursday.

Legendary Hollywood producer Debbie Liebling sits down with Alexi to talk about how she brought to life several shows and movies you love. South Park, Borat, PEN15, and more. The ladies talk about the start of Debbie's career at MTV in the 80s. They also talk about trusting your intuition, the importance of taking ownership over your desires, and how change is scary but sometimes you just have to embrace it.