Leading With Joy: Shanola Hampton on Shining Your Light & Making an Indelible Impact

The radiant Shanola Hampton joins her longtime friend John Frank Levey to share her remarkable journey from a five-year-old with a dream to becoming the lead of NBC's "Found" after her unforgettable run as Veronica on "Shameless."

In this heartfelt conversation, Shanola opens up about how faith, family, and education shaped her path, including a touching story about a minister's prophecy during her childhood that sustained her through years of almost-but-not-quite moments in Hollywood.

In this episode:

• Shanola's leap from beloved ensemble player to leading lady, and what it really means to be #1 on the call sheet
• How she juggles her demanding career with family life, including weekly cross-country flights to be with her kids
• The changing landscape for actors of color in television, from limiting stereotypes to leading complex characters
• Fun behind-the-scenes stories about filming intimate scenes on "Shameless" and her deep friendship with co-star Steve Howey
• Her growing passion for directing and cherished mentorship from John Wells
• The fascinating dynamics of her education-driven family, where she jokes about being the "underachiever" despite her advanced degree

This conversation is a joyful masterclass in perseverance, authenticity, and the magic that happens when artists create safe spaces to do their best work.

TV shows discussed in this conversation:

• Shameless (TV)
• Found (TV)

Connect:

• To connect with Shanola Hampton, find her on Instagram: @shanolahampton
• To connect with John Frank Levey, please visit his website: https://www.johnfranklevey.com/ or connect on IG: @john_frank_levey_ 
• To order a signed copy of John’s memoir, "Right for the Role": https://www.johnfranklevey.com/book

Acknowledgments:
Photographer Eusebio Hernandez specializes in “hero shots” — his own artistic spin on headshots. He helped John Frank Levey, who typically hates having his picture taken, feel comfortable enough to get a great shot for his memoir "Right for the Role." Learn more at www.heroshots.la. 

The Right for the Role podcast would not have been possible without the generous support of PBS Management, Karen Cease, and the estate of Peg Sweesy. 

Many thanks to my producers, Jerod Morris and Trudi Roth of It’s the TruStory (https://www.itsthetrustory.com)