Emmy Award–Winning Hollywood Actress Karina Michel on Insecurity, Purpose & GOD’s Plan | John Giftah Podcast

0:01 Speaker 1: Do you ever look around and think, Wow, the world is a crazy place and it just seems to get crazier and crazier. Ease your mind and take a break. This is Fuel for the Soul with John Gifta. We're a hub for inspirational Christian sermons, practical keys for Christian living, in Christian discussions and interviews. You'll be inspired to live the life that you were created for. Your host is a top ranking podcaster, best selling author, world record holder, aerospace engineer, life coach, evangelist, and founder of John Gifta International.

0:41 Speaker 1: Welcome to Fuel for the Soul with John Gifta.

0:46 Speaker 2: I'm so so happy to have a very special guest with us, and she's an Emmy Award winning active producer all the way from Hollywood. Karina Michael, thank you so much for joining us. It's such a joy and pleasure. You're not just an actor and producer, you're the host of an award winning podcast, Coffee with Karina. You've done many amazing things, including in big names like Rolling Stone and all of those places. So it's such a joy and a pleasure in honor to be with you, and thank you so much for joining us today.

1:20 Speaker 3: Thank you so much.

1:22 Speaker 4: I'm honored to be on your show, probably just as much, if not more so.

1:26 Speaker 3: I appreciate it, appreciate you having me today.

1:29 Speaker 5: Thank you so much.

1:30 Speaker 2: Thank you so to get started even though you're from Hollywood, but it's amazing to know that you actually have a connection to Bollywood in the project called Scared. I think it's started out in twenty twenty three.

1:43 Speaker 5: So can you.

1:45 Speaker 2: Get started with something that you can share on your connection to India and Bollywood.

1:52 Speaker 4: Yes, I had, I guess the pleasure of working on that, playing Cindy, and it was joy. Everybody was wonderful to work with on there, and I can't wait till it comes out. I hear they're getting pretty close to you're finishing and they're in the editing phase, and yeah, I can't wait to see it. That was wonderful and it's funny. I also worked years ago when I was in Hollywood, probably about twenty years ago now, I worked on a film called.

2:22 Speaker 3: Comback ish Am I saying that right, I don't know, do you recognize that?

2:26 Speaker 5: Okay?

2:27 Speaker 3: And it was great and I couldn't believe. I thought it was the coolest thing I've ever.

2:31 Speaker 4: Seen, you know, the singing and the dancing, and I just remember thinking to myself, why don't we do this here?

2:37 Speaker 3: This is so much more fun than of those you know that are just just the acting. I went to music and you know, the theater and I loved it. So I love all things Hollywood.

2:48 Speaker 2: So what is the thing the dainty quarter attention about working on an Indian based project.

2:54 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean, first and foremost it was a good friend of mine, Maria who Marie, who I have worked with on several projects, and she actually just called me one day and said, Karina, they're looking for someone to play Sydney in this and it's and I think I had a couple of days to prep. I mean, it was very quick and they sent me the script and I always said, yeah.

3:18 Speaker 3: Sign me up. I love playing this part.

3:21 Speaker 4: You know. It was a lot of fun and you know, really good people. I think that's one of one of the main things that I look for now about working on a project.

3:32 Speaker 3: Who's doing it?

3:33 Speaker 4: What's the reputation? Like, you know, how creative can I be? And it was great, really was.

3:40 Speaker 2: Before we day bore Tennis. Something fun about yourself, some character trade that you just feed as unusual or something that you enjoy doing that's weird.

3:53 Speaker 4: So I love that you said fun because I feel like probably most people close to me would say that I find the in most things, you know, even if it's something I don't know where you're supposed to be very very, you know, sitting and no smile. I would be the person that found something funny. And I know you have to solve that, but but I just say playful. You know, I'm very you know, I'm just lighthearted, playful kind of person.

4:17 Speaker 3: I find the fun.

4:21 Speaker 2: One of the things that I do and decide sometimes is that I come up with jokes and humor comedy as well.

4:27 Speaker 5: So I really like that. So you do, I do.

4:32 Speaker 4: I think it's the way that it brings people together universally. You know, everybody around understands, you know, they see the humor and things, and you know, sometimes humor is a little different and different parts of the world.

4:45 Speaker 3: But but I think it's something that bring us together. You know. Yes, comedies too. Comedy is one of my favorite.

4:54 Speaker 5: Have you ever worked on any comedy projects?

4:57 Speaker 3: I have. I've worked on quite a few over the years, and I want to do more.

5:02 Speaker 4: That's something recently that I've decided, I guess in the past year that I want I really want to do more of it because you know, it's it's fun, it's it's lighthearted.

5:13 Speaker 3: Just like I said, I enjoyed that kind of thing.

5:16 Speaker 4: And it's like, there's enough things in life that can be depressing your heart to deal with. I don't want to work on something in that, you know, mood all have to be in that, you know.

5:27 Speaker 3: Bring for those feelings all day sometimes you know us.

5:31 Speaker 4: So I think it's fun, especially to make people smile, to make them laugh.

5:36 Speaker 3: That's what it's all about.

5:38 Speaker 2: So since you started off talking about comedy, I just want to take my excus with you. So like if you wanted to think of my angle, let's see who is God?

5:51 Speaker 5: Would you be able to answer the.

5:53 Speaker 3: Question who is God?

5:56 Speaker 4: For me?

5:59 Speaker 5: Just a price there, So it's a.

6:03 Speaker 3: Okay, who is God? I don't know who is God.

6:08 Speaker 2: I think God is Adam's son, because you know, God is able more the name both.

6:18 Speaker 3: I got it. That's funny.

6:21 Speaker 2: I write these kind of stupid jokes sometimes, like a note about a guy who went to his parents his pastor and said, my parents are not letting me be like Jesus. And then the pastor said, what do you mean? Then he said no, I wanted to colorhim my half for Good Friday. And the pastor said, what is coloring your hand go to do to being like Jesus? And he said no, I heard that Jesus died on Good Friday and I wanted to do the same.

6:45 Speaker 5: So I love that one.

6:49 Speaker 3: That's that's really good. So you're sounded, thank you, thank you.

6:58 Speaker 2: So I'll come into some more depth to all the work that you've done. You you know, you accomplished a lot of things. Is there something that I missed out while I was introducing you? I know I mentioned about the podcast, your acting and your production and the Emmy Awards and the Rolling Stones. So is there something else about you that you would like to highlight?

7:22 Speaker 5: Yeah?

7:23 Speaker 3: I think something, well, something that I love to do.

7:26 Speaker 4: Is really connect with people, you know, and placed them in a positive way.

7:30 Speaker 3: And I didn't know that for a long time.

7:32 Speaker 4: And I guess maybe I through the acting or the producing, you know, with the films that I was making.

7:39 Speaker 3: But I was just doing that because I was passionate about it, you.

7:41 Speaker 4: Know, I didn't realize that I was gonna you know, be able to influence so many others, so that that was really a positive thing. But with the podcast, which I love, I feel like that's kind of my I don't know if I should say God given talent, you know, but that's I love just in ale to sit down and have a common station. I'm very casual and you know, just like we're sitting anywhere. It could be anywhere. It doesn't have to be in a studio. What you can get, you know, or help the other personal with a lot of times maybe they may need something like we were talking before the interviews and maybe you can have exchange and it's something so powerful, you know.

8:22 Speaker 3: So I'm really excited to be.

8:24 Speaker 4: Able to bring together maybe my skills on camera or whatever that may be, and do that with a podcast.

8:33 Speaker 3: And I feel like it's so cool because with.

8:35 Speaker 4: The podcast, you can reach you know, a worldwide audience so easily, and.

8:42 Speaker 2: Everybody has a unique gift, everyone has a unique talent. In fact, my major book called Aulia Purpose, which is about finding a book in life, it actually became Anomber one best seller on Amazon in India. One of the things that I always try to drive into people is that everyone has a unique calling and the purpose, Like you have a very unique voice, Like you can speak to people that in a way that I can't. I can speak to people in a way that you can't. And the podcast is one of the ways. Like I really like the way you said talked about you know, having that conversations with people is a way where you actually, you know, pour your heart out and you share your heart out to people, right, because sometimes most of what we see on media is all like scripted and produced and this is how it's supposed to look like.

9:33 Speaker 2: But then it's it's the being ourselves, you know, sharing our heart that is what will actually connect with people. That's what will actually make a difference.

9:43 Speaker 3: Right, Yes, I.

9:45 Speaker 4: Mean I couldn't have said it better myself. I feel like I feel the exact same way. My favorite conversation that come to mind of everything that I've done in the past few years or maybe on like documentaries. Right, it's not planned, you know when somebody comes, you know, to the scene and we're like, you know, would you want to be on camera? And all of a sudden they have this outpouring and you know, it's it's just incredible. What can happen when sometimes unplanned. It can be way way bigger than something you've ever I mean imagined to put in, you know, to put into a project.

10:19 Speaker 3: So and it can be anywhere. It could be in some of my favorites.

10:22 Speaker 4: You know, we're in places where you know, on a studio, not a planned place.

10:27 Speaker 5: So hmm, that's true, true, guys.

10:32 Speaker 2: So those people watching, I just want to use this opportunity to tell you, you know, you have a voice, you have a purpose, you have a call, just like Edina, just like myself. You know, we're using the podcast platform, we are using socials and YouTube and all that you as an individual, butever God is placed to you have a call, You're a purpose.

10:53 Speaker 5: I want you to tap into that.

10:55 Speaker 2: That's how you will be able to live the satisfying life that God has for you as well. So when you talk about the fact that you've accomplished so much and you're doing all of these things, how do you stay grounded? Like you know, one of the things when I'm looking at your conversation so far, you know the flow and everything.

11:14 Speaker 5: You know, you have achieved a lot of things.

11:16 Speaker 2: You have started out as a model, and to be honest, I'm just saying this from my heart. I've seen a lot of people who have a sense of attitude, a lot of pride, and especially you'll come to places like Emmy Awards and all of these things. How do you stay grounded and don't allow pride to come near you?

11:35 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean I think you know, awards or people recognizing you for certain things are nice.

11:41 Speaker 3: I mean, it's amazing.

11:42 Speaker 4: It's something you know, you work hard, and it's nice to hear that feedback.

11:45 Speaker 3: And you know know that you touched other people.

11:48 Speaker 4: And for me, every day I always talk about this. So if you've heard me, I'm of the podcast it's going to be but I love to get out in nature. You know, that really grounds me. And I listen to Joe, so don't Austin was going to.

12:01 Speaker 3: Listen to your podcast too. Now no I know about it, but you know, just listening to that and that really grounds me.

12:10 Speaker 2: Ever since you were young, you started out in the field of modeling, and then you come a long way into acting and then production, uh, and now to these awards and these great accolades. So if you were to give a message to the younger version of you, or locate it in another way that you're giving a word of advice to uh, somebody who's who, who's in the same age, Like maybe they're young and they have big dreams like yours. What would the piece of advice be for them.

12:43 Speaker 3: That's a great question.

12:44 Speaker 4: You know a lot of people will say things to you, you should do this, or you should be doing that, or you know, follow what's time, because I feel like that really speaks volumes right. When I was younger, I had I would record interviews with my friends.

13:00 Speaker 3: Is so funny. I don't usually talk about this, but it was on like a you know, like a book. I was like music thing in my room and I would hook up my mic to it and I.

13:08 Speaker 4: Just interviewed because I thought it was fun, you know, and I want to see your lives and record that. But I didn't really think anything else about it until until recently, and I was like, oh my gosh, I used.

13:19 Speaker 3: To do that. This is so crazy, all those things you.

13:23 Speaker 4: Know that you're interested in, and just you know, follow your your gut feeling about, you know things.

13:30 Speaker 3: If it doesn't feel right, don't do it, and if it if it feels like this is a good.

13:34 Speaker 4: Direction, to go go with it and work hard and yeah, and see where it takes to you sometimes. And I feel like, for me, I never thought I would end up doing what I'm doing all these things that wasn't.

13:48 Speaker 3: That wasn't my plan, you know.

13:50 Speaker 4: So sometimes you know, God's plan may be better, and in my case, it definitely was.

13:55 Speaker 3: And I hear that from a lot of people that they have one, you.

13:58 Speaker 4: Know, very rigid plan of what they want to happen, and then what actually ends up happening.

14:02 Speaker 3: Is far more amazing beautiful than they are thought.

14:05 Speaker 2: Awsob Like, I'm reminded of how Joseph right like he in the scripture, he started off he had these big dreams or leadership and all of those things. But what happens His plan is like, oh, I go tell my brothers, this is what the dream is, and they're going to bow down and if the dream is going to.

14:21 Speaker 5: Come to pass.

14:22 Speaker 2: But in reality, you know, it took a totally different direction, right Like he went into the pit, and then he goes into Potifis house, and then to the.

14:32 Speaker 5: Prison and then eventually the palace.

14:34 Speaker 2: And here's later the dream comes true, not in a sense of them coming and bowing before him, but in a sense of him serving them. You know, like God's ways of making those dreams come through the visions come true is very unique, and that's where we trust him, right Like, like you said, we have these plans, Like I like how what you mentioned about you interviewing other people as a younger a girl, a young girl, and you know, when I was much younger, I used to go around having these makeshift microphones, said, I used to set up at home and I used to act like I'm preaching in front of a huge crowd.

15:14 Speaker 5: Or I'm speaking and I'm teaching.

15:16 Speaker 2: So I used to do that ever since I was young, and today I'm doing that like traveling and preaching and got to other countries and preaching at the same time, you know, doing the podcast through which it's reaching people.

15:30 Speaker 5: All over the world. The YouTube channel.

15:32 Speaker 2: I just came to know yesterday that my YouTube channel is among the top three point five person YouTube channels all over the world. And I was like, wow, okay, I didn't see that coming, like out of one fifteen million YouTube channels out there. So in its own way, God is using it to be a voice to preach people. So that's the word of challenge or encouragement. I want to give you guys, those of you watching listening that you know, whatever God is placed in your heart, just follow, just go with it, like like Kenen I was saying, you know, follow the gut feeling, even if you feel like, oh my goodness, you have guts to do this.

16:08 Speaker 2: You know, TV takes always because you know, do it scanned. So you need to start in the place of doing that.

16:16 Speaker 4: Yeah, there's times when I got this feeling and I'm like, oh my gosh, this is people are going to think I'm crazy.

16:21 Speaker 3: Like even starting the podcast, I was thinking, oh, like, I can't do that.

16:26 Speaker 4: Like whom, you just start out small and you know, you build and it used to one after the other.

16:32 Speaker 3: And it's the same with anything any dream.

16:34 Speaker 2: M What I've seen is that you know, like there's especially rising out of Hollywood and a lot of projects. So there's a lot of movies that have a lot of negative annotations and people love those negative ones. But we needs, uh, you know, like I've been checked out part of your you know, the documentary that won the Emmy Award right about the police officers and the PTSD and all that. We need more content that brings awareness, that makes a positive difference, and uh, you know, like so it's it's not easy for someone to say, you know what, I'm going to stick to my principles.

17:13 Speaker 2: I'm going to stick to my conviction. So at there big moments where you had to maybe pay a price or maybe put your foot down and make sure that you know, uh, this is the direction I'm going, even if it means that it's going to cost me something.

17:29 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, I don't think it. You know.

17:32 Speaker 4: I didn't have a negative reaction, but in the beginning when I was trying to explain to people around me, because I was kind of working in journalism a lot of bit then and in the media, there was a lot of negativity around that. And I understand, you know, there are good people and bad people, and bad things happen, and.

17:49 Speaker 3: I get that. But what I was saying, in my community here was so much positivity, you know.

17:57 Speaker 4: And I would see the officers, you know, just going to like the young the young people in the community and helping them with things, and there's just so many things, playing basketball with.

18:08 Speaker 3: Them, you know, and I just thought, Wow, this is so beautiful.

18:11 Speaker 4: And I kept seeing and it would keep coming out, you know, I kept thinking I can't do this because this is so far.

18:17 Speaker 3: And I remember telling you all I were saying, oh, you know, Karina, this is risky. I don't know, but I said no. The way that I want to.

18:25 Speaker 4: Tell the story is just like you said about the positive, you know, the positivity.

18:30 Speaker 3: Of the situation, and I want to show.

18:32 Speaker 4: What other people don't see necessarily, you know, something that's talk about in the media. And I think that's why that project got the attention that it did, because it was maybe down in a way that hadn't.

18:44 Speaker 3: Been shown before. Yeah, but I love doing it. And again, I like stuff just with the community. I did another one with the Women's Center here, which is actually a.

18:56 Speaker 4: Faith organization I volunteered with to help young women there as well. That we did a little short film and out to some festivals and.

19:07 Speaker 3: People loved it, you know, it was amazing. So I think.

19:10 Speaker 4: It's a lot of times people feel like they need to go to Hollywood or they need to be and and you know, it's true, there are a lot of movies that happen there, but you can really pay attention to what's around you. There's so much more than you think, you know, just locally and things that people can really make a difference with.

19:32 Speaker 2: This particular documentary that you made is about, you know, the police, and right now there's a lot of attack on the police, like on a political scale if you see right, like the defund the police and all.

19:44 Speaker 5: Of these things. It's happening on one side.

19:46 Speaker 2: So have you got yourself into a place where you're trying to bring out awareness about, you know, the things that the police are going through. At the same time, there's a movement that is trying to shut down police like all these different the police, especially from one of the sides of the political spectrum. So have you faced backlash because of political reasons or how did you tackle any of those if you.

20:12 Speaker 3: Did, I really haven't.

20:14 Speaker 4: I try not to get political on a lot of the projects that I do.

20:18 Speaker 3: I like to keep on neutral stands and not just because you know, I don't know I feel a certain way or whatever, but I feel like I do these to spark conversation.

20:29 Speaker 4: And you know, I'm not an expert on the police community as it were.

20:36 Speaker 3: I have worked with the Sheriff's Department and volunteered here, which.

20:38 Speaker 4: Is an amazing experience. But you know, I want people to kind of judge for themselves. And that's the reason I make the movies that I do and the documentaries because I want to spark those conversations that wouldn't barely be coming up. People can decide for themselves, but yeah, I really haven't, and I'm thankful that that I haven't had to deal with anything like that.

21:02 Speaker 3: And I think it's because you know, I'm not standing on any particular side.

21:07 Speaker 4: I'm saying, hey, people aren't seeing this part of it, and it's something the.

21:11 Speaker 3: Media is not just so.

21:15 Speaker 4: For whatever reason, and you know, this is what I say, and I'm just bringing it, bringing it to people, you know, bringing it to documentaries, and.

21:26 Speaker 3: How many people make the decision themselves. That makes sense.

21:31 Speaker 5: Yeah, that's certainly certainly makes sense.

21:33 Speaker 2: Yeah, I really like that approach, and I'm glad that you're doing it because I was reminded of how I think Social Dynama came up and it just thought spoke about the you know, challenges with social media, but people had to make the decision whether they were got to follow it or not.

21:49 Speaker 5: The same thing.

21:50 Speaker 2: You are bringing out this, uh, the awareness and bringing this to light where not many people know about the PTSD that the police are enduring, and even for me when I was going through it, I was like, oh, you know what, I didn't think about this Anglo. So imagine how many people be like, oh my gosh, this is something I need to look at it. So in that, alum, do you have any projects in mind that you want to produce.

22:14 Speaker 4: I don't have anything right now. I kind of wait until it comes to me. You know, a lot of time and a lot of times I'll be out looking and I'll be listening to these things, and all of a sudden, I'll get this idea and I'm like, wow, that's that's a great idea.

22:26 Speaker 3: And I didn't come up with that. I know, that's something that came to me, but no. One. Thing I do want to add though, was that before doing the documentary, I didn't know. First of all, it took me a year to get.

22:38 Speaker 4: Permission to actually go and go on ride along this and see all this.

22:43 Speaker 3: I didn't know what I was going to see, you know, because in the beginning, I just thought, Wow, this is interesting.

22:48 Speaker 4: And anytime I get that like curious, you know, curiosity, and I want know why, it's usually something that I wanted to pursue. So I actually did a couple of ride alongs first to see if it was something that I even, you know, thought Okay, this is something I want to you know, record more of and see more about.

23:07 Speaker 3: So I didn't know either in the beginning.

23:09 Speaker 4: You know, I wasn't really I see the good and the bad as well, just from what I was seeing here in my community and I'm sure many others there was. There was so much love and so much positivity, and and you know, it's.

23:22 Speaker 3: Interesting this morning.

23:24 Speaker 4: Each of the officers that were in that I don't know if you've seen it or not, but I think they talk about it a little bit in the movie.

23:31 Speaker 3: Their faith was the thing that kept them going.

23:34 Speaker 4: They would pray before their shift and hear, you're getting kind of put out there. You don't know what's gonna happen, you know, and that's the part of their life.

23:43 Speaker 3: And I thought that was so beautiful. I thought it was great.

23:48 Speaker 2: Ultimately, that's what no matter what we deal with, whether it's REDSD or the challenges of life, or even you know, being the light in the darkness or for anything and anything, by the end of the day, what helps us get going is through trusting in God and you know, like it's not because everything is going great in my life, or it's not because you know, everything is like picture perfect in your life, right, Like you have your own challenges, but still God strengthens you and it's your faith that keeps you going.

24:19 Speaker 5: In the midst of all of that.

24:21 Speaker 2: Have there been moments where, like when we talk about this aspect where Pitcher perfect or anything, like, you started out as a model and you are into this acting space and you know, one of the things that I think is making a lot of ruckers for especially for the younger generation today, is you know, this sense of unrealistic expectation in terms of the beauty standards or in terms of you know, I'm not good enough or look at them, they look like, you know, so good and look at me, look at my perfections.

24:52 Speaker 2: You know I brought I'm actually on the side. I'm also a huge Scooby Doo collector. I've also got world records my Scooby Doo collections, and it's not the largest collection, but I said records on a different pain And I'm also nicknamed as the Scooby Doo past us. So I will actually be asking you some Scooby Doo based questions as well. So but I brought in one of the things that I brought in was, you know, this is a Scooby Doo Barbie. Okay, Daphne as Scooby Doo's baby. It's a very unique piece. So now when you look at Barbie, Barbie has these standards, you know, like she looks so pretty, She's so beautiful, like you know, the body.

25:29 Speaker 2: So there's and so there's these standards set like Okay, this is how a Barbie is, this is how a pretty girl his or things like that. So entertainment industry in general has these standards that have put these expectations on people that you know, this is what is beauty, and anybody who doesn't meet those standards, you know, is looked.

25:49 Speaker 5: Down or they feel down about themselves.

25:51 Speaker 2: Like even today, while I was just coming towards Saint TiVo, I was just doing even for me, I want, like you know, I want to have that flawless skin and you know, like a Disney skin. That's what I would fantasize all the time. And I was just saying, you know what this in reality on media, we portrayed those things as the standards and expectations which is laid out unrealistic expectations on other people. So what is your word for people to say that, you know, you know, like to be comfortable in their own skin, not to love themselves even if they don't need the you know, Hollywood or entertainment industries or model standards.

26:30 Speaker 3: Yeah. Now, I think that's a great question.

26:34 Speaker 4: I being going into the modeling industry and starting pretty young. I went to New York to work in the modeling industry. And yes, back then, I remember like the wastelook was in which you know, I am, I'm splendor. You know, I look like a model, but I'm not the waste look.

26:54 Speaker 3: I remember thinking at.

26:55 Speaker 4: The time, okay, you know, so I think, I know, I try, and you know, I was like, oh, I have to be this and I have to be that, and I think what I kind of let that go and said, okay, this is.

27:07 Speaker 3: You know, and you have to understand there's only one you that you can bring.

27:11 Speaker 4: So when I started, yeah, just trying to fit into a mold that I probably was was not you know, I wasn't.

27:17 Speaker 3: Going to be that teeny teeny model and that was okay.

27:21 Speaker 4: So yeah, I mean, and especially today, there's there's so much online and it it's scary and it makes me sad just to look, you know, and see what other girls have to deal with now so much more, you know, for days, I guess men and women too have to deal with what But what you see.

27:40 Speaker 3: On social media isn't real. This is what people have done and it was true for like magazines back then.

27:46 Speaker 4: You know, they're airbrushing and whatever, you know, to make feel like a certain way spoken miers you know. But yeah, I mean, there's just so much that the teens, especially have to deal with. And I'm always telling my daughter, like, you know, you know this isn't real, right or.

28:04 Speaker 3: You know, and she knows. I think they're pretty good nowadays, the kids.

28:07 Speaker 4: You know, that's real and what's not so just knowing that, and I think, you know, what makes you unique sometimes are your imperfections, you know, and people can access over Oh I have this or this is this way, or I want I want this kind of hair.

28:23 Speaker 3: You know, you always want what you don't have.

28:25 Speaker 4: I feel like, yeah, but you know, when you when you really realize that there's only one you, and and the body positivity now there's a lot of body positivity that's kind of been happening the last few years, which is exciting.

28:41 Speaker 3: So there is good.

28:42 Speaker 4: Content on social media if you can find it. But just focusing on that being the best view that you can be, not worrying about being someone else or something else, I think is the way to.

28:55 Speaker 2: Go on it.

28:56 Speaker 4: And you know you're going to live a happier life that way, you're not stressing about that going one you that's it.

29:04 Speaker 3: Now. I just think the standards aren't quite as.

29:08 Speaker 4: High, you know, as back as far as like the wavelook when I got started. I don't know, modeling's always kind of been a certain way, but I feel like we have more inclusivity now.

29:20 Speaker 3: You know, there's there's not just one thing.

29:23 Speaker 4: We're looking for, which is really nice, and yeah, just focus on being the best version of you because most people aren't going into that that modeling industry, which is probably a good thing. But even with that in you know, theater, well whatever it is, anything creative like that, just being the best for you and sometimes there might be some fear behind that in the beginning, which is something I talk about a lot now, and it's just knowing that everybody and we talk about this on the podcast a lot too.

29:56 Speaker 3: You know, everybody has concerns or they worry about, Oh, you.

29:59 Speaker 4: Know, is this is this the direction that's just been going? Or is this Am I good enough to do this? Or you know, is this my my thing I'm supposed to be focusing on. But it is everybody deals with that.

30:13 Speaker 3: You know.

30:14 Speaker 4: And that's what I think I've realized, even with doing the podcast, where people had ups and downs in their careers and you know, they their their journey to success was never you know, like a flat, easy broad There's always some kind of ples that come through on there and it's just kind of guiding and finding your way through that and yeah, you're going to get on the right path in the end, hopefully before you close.

30:45 Speaker 5: That's so true, like even for me.

30:47 Speaker 2: You know, one of the books that I wrote, the first book that I wrote is called Who Am I, which is actually on identity. The thing is, ever since I was young, I struggled a lot.

30:57 Speaker 5: With an identity.

30:58 Speaker 2: It was is people used to put me down, especially in Nindia, like oh your dark skin tone, you know, like they used to put you, put me down. And that actually had a negative impact on me to a point where I was like, oh, I was never confident enough like to be myself, like especially if you see for instance, in Andia, like you know, all the like if you're into modeling, you know, if you have this skin tone, after things are like canceled for you because of that, you know. So it's over time that you know, I had to get into that place of like, Okay, you know, accept myself.

31:34 Speaker 5: This is this is who.

31:35 Speaker 2: God made me to be, and there are certain things that I can't change. And eventually what happens is now, even though sometimes it feels awkward because you know, being in the media space, especially on the socials and all of those influenzals spaces, you know, for the most part, you know, you know, the skin tone happens to be like a negative thing or a disadvantage in some ways, but then I find it as a unique spot where that's what helps me stand out from the rest, you know what I mean.

32:06 Speaker 5: Like, so I always tell.

32:07 Speaker 2: People, you know, what is different about you is what will actually make the difference around you. So that's the attitude that I tend to have. And even guys, if you're feeling low about yourself, you have some reason why you feel like oh I'm not good enough.

32:23 Speaker 5: I want you to understand that.

32:24 Speaker 2: You know, if Kenna can say that, you know, despite being a model, despite being an actress and producer in Alive, if she can say that she can also battle with things like, you know, I'm not good enough, then anybody for that matter can feel that. Like you can have the you know, quote unquote like a Barbie model and still feel that you're not good enough. So that's the challenge I want to give you guys.

32:50 Speaker 3: Yeah, no, I think that's really valuable. And that again on the podcast, just interviewing you know, all the people that I've interviewed in.

32:56 Speaker 4: The past few years, everybody doesn't matter how successful they are, you know, they all, I feel like, have that common theme that there were things they had and whatever those were, Like, everybody has it. So you think you see these people who are famous, anythink oh they have the perfect life, they don't have anything to deal with and.

33:15 Speaker 3: It's not true. It's not true at all. So it gives us more.

33:21 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean, it's good to hear what other people go through to help with everyone else.

33:25 Speaker 5: Yes, that's so true.

33:27 Speaker 2: You are also saying that you're doing a project video as sister about a fee based project.

33:34 Speaker 5: What is that about?

33:36 Speaker 3: Yes, And it's so funny.

33:37 Speaker 4: I was thinking, I totally forgot because this is like a family project too, and I was like, this deals with.

33:44 Speaker 3: The church and the Church of England. I was like, I have to tell John about so much. You brought it up.

33:50 Speaker 4: It's called a legacy of sound and it's on my great uncle Sean Applebee's his last night and really his his life and his I guess his need to leave the legacy.

34:06 Speaker 3: Behind, you know, how can something positive in this world?

34:11 Speaker 4: And he lives in the south of England, in the Cotswolds, and it's a beautiful village at Stunning Church.

34:19 Speaker 3: I've been there.

34:21 Speaker 4: It's beautiful, you know, it's a beautiful old English church. And what he did is he brought in gold bells or bell ringing, and he put all of his brothers and sisters names on these gold bells that he had made in Italy, so they would he felt like it would ring out forever, you know, they would be sounding his legacy.

34:41 Speaker 3: And I just think it was such a beautiful thing. But I forgot to mention Uncle John is ninety. I think he's ninety five. He's in his nineties.

34:50 Speaker 4: He still drives, he's still I mean, he's white, normal, walking around living. He has a very busy life, probably busier than mine, so look up to him.

35:01 Speaker 3: But all this, all this.

35:03 Speaker 4: Was happening in my family and my sister Anne Marie Michelle, who's based in London, she was like, we have to, you know, she really wanted to kind of show this and just record it with.

35:17 Speaker 3: Some other people because it was such an amazing thing that he was doing. And then I remember saying, you know, definitely should and you should do it right.

35:26 Speaker 4: And so she did it, and it was her first film. It's her first short that she's ever done. She's a photographer, an amazing photographer. He's been a lot of fashion photography and all types press and everything. But so she did it, she finished it. We just had the premiere. It's actually on my Instagram. I don't know if you saw it on there where some other family came out and it was it was amazing, so beautiful, Like I never thought that I'd be in a theater, you know, with my great uncle and my great aunt, and I'm thrilled to be you know, an executive producer on it, and my sister though she she really did it herself.

36:06 Speaker 3: You know, she didn't. She came to me with questions every once.

36:09 Speaker 4: In a while, but it was it's her, it's her baby, you know, it's her.

36:14 Speaker 3: And she did an amazing job with it.

36:16 Speaker 4: So it's starting to get into the festival circa.

36:21 Speaker 3: London. I think it's the London Independent Film Festival.

36:25 Speaker 4: I want to say on the fifth October fifth in London, that's the one.

36:30 Speaker 3: And yeah, we're excited to see where it goes.

36:33 Speaker 2: When she had this desire to talk about or make this, like whether self doubt like is there anybody going to watch? Or things like that, Like if she had that kind of doubt, how did she deal with it?

36:46 Speaker 5: Do you know anything on that?

36:49 Speaker 4: I you know, he did, I think, And I think she said that she was in the church one day and there were some other people in there and they said, what are you doing?

36:57 Speaker 3: Because she was going around with the camera, and I think she blurted it out, you know, I'm making a movie or I'm making or something like that, and.

37:07 Speaker 4: So she said, oh, okay, I guess I'm doing this, but I'm sure because she's this is she's I think she.

37:13 Speaker 3: Calls herself the accidental filmmaker, and that's kind of how her. You know, it was my next She get.

37:21 Speaker 4: An amazing job, she puts some great people together. I'm really excited to see where it goes. But for me, I mean, it holds a special place in my heart, you know, because it's family, and it's my grandmother's Belle is in there and my great great grandparents.

37:38 Speaker 5: So mm hmm. Can't wait to see these projects live. It's going to be so good to check it out. So what is your word for?

37:49 Speaker 2: Because the reason I was asking about, you know, if she does to itself doubt and all of that is because the next question I want to ask is like, what is your word for buddying creators, content creators or art is our actors or anybody for that matto.

38:03 Speaker 3: You know, I like a word of advice for them or something helpful. Yeah, just I think.

38:09 Speaker 4: So many times it's easy to get caught up in like I need to go to LA, I need to go to New York, I have to be in this place, And a lot of times there's so much able either online, you know, you can pursue training online now right, or you don't even have to leave your house, you know, or just really get involved and you don't need expensive equipment like you first are. You know, you can really A lot of the film that I did was on my cell phone, you know, I recorded because we were in a tight place and I couldn't have a huge camera crew in there.

38:44 Speaker 4: So I just you know, risks with it, take risks on being created. Don't feel like you have to be restricting.

38:54 Speaker 2: That's such a needed a word of advice. Like I always tell people, you don't have to jump into the deep end of the pool. You can start with a kiddy pool in a sense. Like you know, I started my podcast or my ministry when God said start in international ministry. I didn't have international contacts. I didn't have anything. All I had was my phone. Like how God to old Moses, you know what is in your hand? And God, Moses said, I just have a stick. So I like we was, God has watch in your hand? I said, I just have a phone.

39:22 Speaker 2: And I started off with podcasts. You know, thirteen years ago, I started the ministry just with my phone, just sending voice messages. And you know, like those humble beginnings paid the way for me to you know, get better at what I'm doing. I used to stammer a lot. I was not that impressive, but eventually over time I started getting better with the podcast, and then it went into YouTube and then television. Now I have a weekly TV program and then I'm on you know, like traveling and preaching.

39:53 Speaker 5: So it's like all one led to another, you know what I mean.

39:57 Speaker 2: Like everybody wants, you know, the moment when they can get into you know, like maybe get an Oscar or a Remy, but you know, start with you know, your own little thing that you can do at home.

40:09 Speaker 3: So it's true.

40:10 Speaker 2: Yeah, It's like I always tell this that you know, you you if you don't get opportunities, you create your own opportunities, you know what I mean. Like David was about to defeat Goliath. You know, that was a moment where nobody came to David and said, can you defeat Goliath? You know, he saw the need, he bent and presented himself for that need. So that's the challenge to help people like you saw that there's a need to address the PTSD in the police, and you made an effort to address that issue.

40:40 Speaker 2: So likewise, I challenge those of you watching listening, you know, you know ask God to show you needs. Ask God to show you places where you can, you know, shine your light in the darkness. Instead of you going and saying, please give me an opportunity, why can't you create your own opportunity. I think that's going to be a great way to get started. Well, coming back to the aspect of me being a Scooby pastor, do you have any lesson that we can take away from Scooby Doo or from your memories or anything like that.

41:10 Speaker 3: I love this. This is fun, Okay.

41:12 Speaker 4: My favorite Scooby Doo memory a couple of years ago for Halloween. I don't know if you guys celebrate over there, but we dress up here. We'll have parties and things. But I was Daphning for Halloween.

41:28 Speaker 3: I was Daphne and it was so fun. I loved it.

41:31 Speaker 4: It was such a fun character to, you know, stress up ps and have fun.

41:36 Speaker 3: But yeah, what lessons, I don't know. They seem to have good teamwork, right, They stick together. I mean, I like that she's attractive.

41:45 Speaker 4: And I always end up playing a despective, which I love. I love that role anyway. But I think they stick together and they work for the greater good and they cruise around and they solved crimes and no nothing better than that.

41:58 Speaker 3: So good.

42:01 Speaker 2: Like you said about teamwork, I always tell is that you know, everybody has a unique gift. Even in the Scoobedo Gang, each one of us I have a unique call in a purpose. I mean it ties back to that message, guys. It ties back to that message that everybody has something unique, and like you said, they're not doing it for themselves, They're doing it for greater good. Like I was sharing about how even you know, many times we live a life like what can I.

42:24 Speaker 5: Get from this? What will I get? You know, what is in it for me?

42:28 Speaker 2: But can we get to a place where, like you know what, how can I be a blessing to other people? How can I just live for something greater than myself? And so I think that's that's what really really makes the difference. And I think that's the beautiful way to tie that piece up. So what is your one message or something that's burning in your heart that you'd like to share as a message to Maybe I'll watch those who are watching listening as well as you know, to the audience in general.

42:59 Speaker 4: I say, I guess kind of going back and reflecting on this interview, just if you have something that you want to do and it keeps coming up.

43:08 Speaker 3: You know, this is a big one for me.

43:10 Speaker 4: It'll keep coming up and I'll say no, you know, sometimes I'll try it even like put it out of my mind, you know, but I know it's something I want to do.

43:17 Speaker 3: And if it.

43:18 Speaker 4: Keeps coming out, maybe maybe see, you know, see if there's something there, Maybe try it out.

43:22 Speaker 3: And like you were saying, you.

43:24 Speaker 4: Don't have the dump it or jump in you know, the deep end of the pool, right, so you have to jump in the deepend you can kind of dip your toe in a little bit and see if it's something that you want to do. And again, just to follow your heart. You know, it's all in here. I feel like, you know that feeling is something you want to do. Just try it out and follow through with it.

43:44 Speaker 2: One of the things that I chat into you guys, like don't give into the excuses. Just just give it a shot. I mean, like, you know, you never know where it's going ahead, right, Like if if you think like, oh, it's never going to happen, it's never going to happen. But maybe you can just get to this post to what if I try and what if it has happened? You know, one of the principles that I always live by is that you know, the pain of failure is better than the pain of regret.

44:11 Speaker 5: You know, it's better to.

44:12 Speaker 2: Try and fail then to come to the end of your life and wish oh man, I wish I tried, I wish.

44:17 Speaker 5: I done something, you know.

44:19 Speaker 2: So I think that's the principle that I would really recommend you guys to live by as well. So do you have any special or specific word that you would like to share towards me in this podcast or myself or the ministry like you're based on you know, your experience with the podcast as well as your experience taking out my messages and everything as well.

44:44 Speaker 3: Yeah.

44:44 Speaker 4: No, I just want to say I'm truly honored to be on your podcast. I've listened a little bit myself, and I love the messages that you put out there. So I am just thrilled to come on and you know, have this conversation with you and exchange ideas and if.

45:01 Speaker 3: You have so many wonderful things to say.

45:03 Speaker 4: So congratulations on the podcast, and I'm sure it's going to continue to grow with me such a success.

45:09 Speaker 5: For Thank you so much. Thank you.

45:12 Speaker 2: There any plans of like maybe coming down to India or collaborating here in India.

45:19 Speaker 3: You never know. I would love to.

45:20 Speaker 4: I mean, if the opportunity came up, I would I would love to do that.

45:23 Speaker 3: So we'll see.

45:25 Speaker 5: Yeah, that sounds so good, so good.

45:28 Speaker 2: So how can people stay connected with all the work that you do. I'll obviously put on the links in the description that you share, but if there's something else.

45:40 Speaker 4: So as far as like filmography, I mean, IMDb is usually pretty accurate with projects that I'm working on, but for more like behind the scenes, look, it would be my Instagram Karina Michelle Official, and that's where I find everything, you know, what I'm doing day to day. Sometimes it's all there. And then obviously on the podcast Coffee with Karina, Yeah, I think I think we may have some similar things that we talk about, so I think the listeners would would enjoy, you know, the.

46:13 Speaker 3: Conversations on there as well. You're so inspirational.

46:16 Speaker 4: I just I think that you just bring so much, you know, to your audience, and I hope I do the same going forward.

46:24 Speaker 5: Thank you, Thank you so much, thank you.

46:27 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, I mean, well, based on whatever I checked on your podcast and the things that you do, it's a one of the things that, like I said about being authentic, I really loved that aspect about you. You know, there's so many people are there who just do it for the name, and they just do it for namesake, Like you know, you know that it's not from the from the heart, and that that doesn't reach people, that doesn't make a difference. And sometimes it's it's that heart connect that really makes the difference.

46:54 Speaker 2: And I'm so glad that you're doing that. And someday maybe I would join you on your podcast too, but definitely putting your projects or something that you're working on that you are free to talk about.

47:10 Speaker 4: Yeah, right now, it's so funny. I have a couple of projects and the works, and I can't talk about.

47:15 Speaker 3: Either predicament because you know, I love to talk. I have to, I have to talk.

47:21 Speaker 4: So but yeah, I think, I mean a legacy of sound, which is you know, will be coming out to theaters and hopefully be available either online or on the networks after that. But yeah, I'm excited. I have, you know, some fun things going on. But yeah, I can't say too much about it. Hopefully scard will be out soond now I hear that you know it's coming out in India and you'll probably see it before I do. So if you see it, you have to let me know how I did.

47:48 Speaker 5: F that'll be cool.

47:53 Speaker 2: Maybe, I mean, maybe you can use that as any excuse to come down to India, come for a maybe you can meet.

48:01 Speaker 3: That's a great idea.

48:08 Speaker 5: So it's so good. So we will almost come to the end of this thing.

48:12 Speaker 2: And at the same time, I always let you in by asking like, is there something that me and our audience can pray for, like maybe with a project or maybe something in your life that we could pray for you.

48:25 Speaker 3: Oh that is so nice. Oh my gosh. I guess.

48:32 Speaker 5: Yeah.

48:32 Speaker 4: You talk about what you can bring to other people, right, what I can bring to other people.

48:37 Speaker 3: And it's always those ideas of.

48:41 Speaker 4: You know, situations or documentary ideas or even for a podcast idea. So yeah, anything, I'm always I'm always trying to I feel like the more I search for them, sometimes it doesn't work.

48:53 Speaker 3: I wait for them to come to me. So I would love that.

48:57 Speaker 4: I would love sayund that prayer and to see if you know something comes up or you know, they can also just DMP.

49:03 Speaker 3: Me and get in touch with me too.

49:05 Speaker 4: If your listeners feel there's something that they think I should talk about.

49:10 Speaker 3: I love to hear that from people as well.

49:13 Speaker 5: I was actually reminded of this passage.

49:15 Speaker 2: I was just thinking of it while I was coming towards this interview of how you know Samuel came looking for David. David didn't go looking for Samuel. You know, Samuel came looking for David to annoying him as the next thing. So in a sense, like how you said, you know, instead of you searching for it, you want them to come to you, you know, And I think sometimes you know that's the way it actually like, you know, when you have the faith and just pray, God is going to make sure that the right things are going to come your way.

49:45 Speaker 2: Like the boy, I would say, siki first, the Kingdom of God and decirighteousness, and these things shall be added unto you. So in a sense that you know you're staying faith, you do your best, have the spirit of excellence. God will bring the right people across your part. God will open the right doors for you, you know, like for to be honest, like when I got this opportunity to interview you, I was like, in one of my lowest moments myself. You know, I just got laid off from my job. And on the day I got laid off, on the day that the day I had to submit my assets, that was the day you said, you know, you confirm that.

50:18 Speaker 2: Okay, I'm going to be on your podcast.

50:20 Speaker 3: You see.

50:20 Speaker 5: You know, guys, this is a wort to encourage you as well.

50:23 Speaker 2: Like you know, you can have issues in your life or challenges that are making you feel down and discouraged, but you know, you never know how even if a door closes, stay in faith, you know, like with Karina, like in the midst of all this, God will make sure that the right doors come, the right opportunities come. And I'm going to close with about a prayer for you so that you know God will continue to bless you, open doors for you, and use you m tally for His.

50:50 Speaker 5: Glory so much. I will do that at this point.

50:55 Speaker 2: At the same time, before we go, I want to share with you guys, you know, to check out my books that are available.

51:02 Speaker 5: You can check them out on Amazon.

51:04 Speaker 2: If you're watching this on YouTube, I'll challenge you to you know, a like, common, share, and subscribe if you're watching this on listening to this on any other podcast platforms. You know, I challenge you to leave a rating and follow as well, so it'll be a great blessing. Follow me on social media, and I also got to put in all Karina's details in my descriptions. You can follow her, stay in that, check out her podcast, and watch out for her movies as well, so I'm sure it's going to be a great thing to check out for us as well.

51:34 Speaker 2: So I'm going to leave by giving you a word of prayer. Lord, I'm want to pray Karina in the name of Jesus.

51:40 Speaker 5: Lord.

51:40 Speaker 2: We want to bless her from the bottom of a heart. Lord, we thank you that you have chosen enough for such a time as this to be a mighty vessel for your glory, to be a person who's the light in the darkness, to you know, continue to shed light into aspects that I've been forgotten. God, I want to pray and bless her that you're gonna hope it those no men can shut. That she's going to find the right people coming across the part, the right opportunities that will toss her to new levels, new projects that are from unexpected sources.

52:10 Speaker 2: God, I believe that you're going to do the impossible in our life of God. Lord, we thank you because you are the doorkeeper, you are the source for her, and we believe that you know you're going to do things that I can't. We can't even imagine that it's going to be far and beyond what a maybe we could ask think or even imagine. Lord, we give you the glory, we give you to on him, and we leave her with your blessing of God.

52:34 Speaker 5: That your presence will go.

52:36 Speaker 2: With her leader guider and her family and every project that she endoors will be a success for the Kingdom of God. In Jesus name, I pray Amen. Thank you so much, guys, Thank you so much, Karina, and it will be very soon.

52:53 Speaker 1: You've been listening to Fuel for the Soul with John Gift, We hope you were blessed and inspired to live the life that God has for you. Make sure to subscribe to the John GIFTA YouTube channel for regular uploads of sermons, skits, interviews, and more. Follow John Gifta on Instagram for regular inspirational posts, and don't forget to check out the best selling books written by John Gifta, Who Am I? Which will help you understand your identity and the latest number one best seller Unveil Your Purpose, helping you discover your purpose and to start walking in it.

53:27 Speaker 1: Make sure to leave a rating and review, and be sure to share it with your friends and loved ones. If you'd like to donate, you can find the PayPal link in the description, and if you'd like to invite John Gifta to speak at your event or to get more details, go to the website at www godjohngifted dot com. See you on the next episode of the Fuel for the Soul with John Gifta. God bless you you've been listening to Fuel for the Soul with John Gifta, we hope you were blessed and inspired to live the life that God has for you.

54:12 Speaker 1: Make sure to subscribe to the John Gifta YouTube channel for regular uploads of sermons, skits, interviews and more. Follow John Gifta on Instagram for regular inspirational posts, and don't forget to check out the best selling books written by John Gifta, Who Am I? Which will help you understand your identity and the latest number one best seller unveil your purpose, helping you discover your purpose and to start walking in it. Make sure to leave a rating and review, and be sure to share it with your friends and loved ones.

54:43 Speaker 1: If you'd like to donate, you can find the PayPal link in the description, and if you'd like to invite John Gifta to speak at your event or to get more details, go to the website at www dot John gifted dot com. See you on the next episode.