- This and more coming up on the "Whitney Reynolds show."

- And just to think about those feelings and how lost I was at the time and where I am today, it's overwhelming and rejoicing at the same time 'cause I'm in such a great space.

- "Boop" is basically about Betty Boop.

She comes to the real world and she's trying to find something that she feels like she's missing in life.

And she meets these people along the way that help her discover what it is she's missing.

- I created "Keyshawn Solves It" to be a fun mystery for kids.

And hopefully, that kids, when they listen, they're following with Keyshawn and understanding and solving the mystery with him.

- [Announcer] The "Whitney Reynolds Show" is made possible by Simple Modern, drinkware with unique styles for adults and kids.

Take us with you.

Kevin O'Connor Law Firm.

When it comes to your injuries, we take it personally.

Together at Peace, a foundation with a mission to generate financial support for hospitals, schools, and many charities that provide compassionate bereavement care and foster spiritual resilience.

We are here to inspire tangible moments and share the light of loved ones who have passed away, always doing good in their honor.

Children's Learning Place, a school for the earliest learners dedicated to aiding every child in uncovering the power of learning.

Our curriculum is centered around empowering young students with the confidence to overcome present and future challenges to promote a brighter future for our youth and community.

"The Adventures of the Harry Moon" book series for kids that focuses on becoming your best self with themes of friends, anti-bullying, and responsibility at harrymoon.org.

Kevin Kelly, joeperillo.com, High-Five Sports, Fumee Claire, Respiratory Health Association, Hearing Health Center, Mike Dyer with Edward Jones.

- Welcome to the "Whitney Reynolds Show."

Today, we meet everyday detectives, the show that takes you on a captivating journey into the world of people on self discovery.

Here, we believe your story matters.

(audience cheering) - Whatever the story is behind those scars, I think it's beautiful.

- I was that story, the one that needed a safe space.

- We can build a stage, speak life back into this community.

- So we created it.

- From this moment on, everything has changed.

- Just treat housing as a human right.

- When I was, I think, 15 months old, my mom adopted me.

- I've been transitioning for three and a half years and I'm nowhere near being close to where I want to be.

(audience cheering) - My vision for this podcast is I want kids to be introduced to these keys of success.

The beginning, I would say, of the thoughts about Keyshawn happened after the events of George Floyd.

It was such a significant experience being in that community.

And for me, a lot of, I guess the thoughts I had were about kids.

You know, how are they experiencing this?

What are they feeling about this?

And also how, you know, how are those kids in Minneapolis, how do they identify, especially African American kids?

You know, how are they feeling their identity and their value is in this situation?

- [Whitney Voiceover] Ed Jenkins is the creator of "Keyshawn Solves It," a podcast on PBS Kids.

- You know, I thought if there was any place in the world that I could set the stage for this story, I wanted it to be North Minneapolis.

And because I wanted to show the positive and show just there are kids that are doing extraordinary things in that city.

- So often when tragedy strikes and we see the news and we see these headlines, you know, we get this knee-jerk reaction, and yours was immediately for the kids.

Was this because you're a dad?

- Well, yes.

I'm a dad of a 3-year-old son.

He was very, very young at that time.

But really, I've worked with kids for 20 years, you know.

I am a person who I think my calling is to inspire kids to do great things.

And so my heart is always thinking about kids and families and how they can be the best selves that they are.

- When you were living in real time with this George Floyd moment and in your city, did it trigger anything, thinking back to your childhood?

- It is a part of a history that is very common.

So growing up, hearing about things, understanding the way that the world was, I mean, I think that's what brings out the anger in the rage of it.

And I think what some people now can understand is that injustice for the one is really ultimately injustice for an injustice society for everyone.

And that really we need to be people who work together to solve these big issues.

- But yet you're able to somehow take that and make it into a detective podcast that takes kids on a journey to understand how they navigate these things.

- Yeah.

Because I think that the reality of it is, okay, so moving past these things in justice, what is the world that we want to see our kids live in?

Like, showing kids doing something extraordinary, showing they have voice, they have agency to be able to handle a tough situation.

And so Keyshawn, I mean, one real strong theme through it is what I call keys to success.

- [Whitney Voiceover] On the podcast, we follow a 10-year-old African American boy who inherits a set of keys that can unlock any door.

Listeners will be introduced to Juneteenth and where it began as well as social and emotional keys to success, such as resilience, self-worth, and responsibility.

- Every kid has value regardless who you are, where you are, where you live.

But do they know that?

- [Whitney] Right.

- Are they hearing that and having that kind of encouragement?

And so one of the things that I wanted to do with "Keyshawn Solves It" was to speak encouragement and highlight these certain key values so when Keyshawn is experiencing it, when the listener is hearing it too, that we really are telling the listener, you know, remember your self-worth.

- Wow.

- Don't waste a mistake.

Everyone makes mistakes.

But we wanna learn from those mistakes.

And just consistently, every episode, these things that he discovers is really what I'm hoping that takeaway from listeners actually experiencing themselves and saying, wait a minute, you know, I can do this.

You know, I can solve things, I can problem solve.

And that they start living that out in their lives.

- Thank you so much for coming on.

- Thank you.

Thanks for having me here.

- I came from California.

I can't fly because shared air with other people.

I mean, obviously, I have to wear a respirator to go to a lot of places.

So for me, flying is not an option.

I have airborne allergies, chemical allergies.

I'm pretty much allergic to the world and this is how I survive.

- [Whitney Voiceover] We welcomed The Allergy Chef to Chicago.

We chose to tape this interview in my home because of all the extra safety precautions needed for her allergies.

She drove in a Suburban because she can't fly.

It's also equipped with a bed and a refrigerator to keep her food fresh.

She drove all the way from California.

Kathlena, AKA, The Allergy Chef, developed her business from her firsthand experience.

She has over 200 food allergies.

She is contact and airborne allergic to many things, some more severe than others, and they can even be life threatening.

She wears a respirator in public because this device allows her to leave her house safely, and as she said, without dying.

- Welcome to my kitchen.

It's super surreal having you here.

- I'm so glad to be here.

It was a drive, but it was worth it.

- So we're actually gonna make cupcakes.

- We are.

I wanna teach you how to decorate some free-from cupcakes.

So they're gluten-free, what we call top nine-free, so no milk, wheat, eggs, soy, peanut, tree nut, fish, shellfish, no coconut, no sesame.

They're also free from other things as well to make it super inclusive.

And so, today, I've got two flavors of cupcakes for you and then I've got five flavors of frosting.

But I'm gonna teach you how to decorate.

I've got a bunch of tips here.

We're gonna decorate and then, of course, you're gonna eat some.

You know, people look at my story and they go, wow, you're allergic to so much.

How do you do it?

And it's like, I don't really look at my problems.

I kind of go, okay, this is what you have.

Great.

Now go change the world.

- Yes.

- And that's my thing.

- Like if I have the power to do, why wouldn't I?

- [Whitney Voiceover] Today, she will be teaching us how to decorate cupcakes.

She prepped everything prior to the interview.

This recipe and her others are private.

That is until you join her platform.

Then she releases customized dishes, cookbooks, and more.

This path for safe food was formed after her near death experience.

- I was essentially sick my entire life.

I got the proper diagnosis in my twenties.

I'm what you would call a complex case.

I'm not straightforward, you know?

And so not only that, but you wouldn't believe it probably looking at me, but I weighed about 450 pounds.

I was like super morbidly obese.

And it wasn't from, you know, sitting and eating.

It was literally, my body could not process anything.

So it was just storing all this toxicity and it was just, it was bad.

It was so bad.

- Wow.

So then when you did discover what it is, what would you say your, when you say your diagnosis to people, what would you say to our audience you have?

I know it's 200 plus allergies.

- Basically, my diagnosis is allergic to everything.

- Allergic to everything.

- You know, what's really interesting is at one point, they even thought I have a really rare water allergy.

- I saw that.

- Because I can't drink most water.

It all makes me very sick.

Turns out I'm allergic to the processing of water.

So when you turn on your water from the tap, it's gone through a bunch of systems.

- Right.

- I'm allergic to those systems.

- Wow.

- Yeah.

- Tell us about how you've kept going.

- You know, this lady, her husband got diagnosed and she reached out.

I don't even know how she found me.

So I send her like all these just loads and loads of information.

And she responds back, you know, and she's like, the doctors were not able to tell me what you told me and you literally just saved his life.

- Wow.

- See, when people are telling you that, who am I to quit?

- Right.

- Do you know what I mean?

- When God has given you a purpose and you're really good at it, like who are you to quit?

Take your power back.

Recognize what's in the world, right?

Air, water, food, movement, medicine, all of it.

Like, recognize what's going on, take control and live your best life.

Like, there are options.

I'm not saying it's easy.

You do need elbow grease if you're gonna live my way.

But it's doable.

- [Whitney Voiceover] From the flower tip to the French star, we made glamorous cupcakes, yet it was the kitchen conversation that was the real soul food.

Her story to keep going despite the circumstances.

Now that's her secret recipe.

- You're teaching me so much more than a recipe today.

Thank you so much for coming on.

- [Whitney Voiceover] Kathlena and I ended up chatting more than creating, but for all her tips on decorating these cupcakes, go to our website.

And now to Angelica Hale, an actor who plays the curious friend of Betty Poop in the musical.

Both are on a journey to self-discovery, something Angelica knows about firsthand.

- [Whitney] Welcome to the show.

- Hi!

So great to be here!

- First of all, tell our audience how old you are.

- I'm Angelica Hale.

I am 16 years old and I am here in Chicago and I'm having the best time ever.

- Well, it's funny, when you introduced yourself, it took me back to your time on "America's Got Talent."

- Yeah.

"AGT" was my first time on a really big stage.

And I think, you know, that's really what launched my career.

So grateful that I had that amazing experience.

- Well, and hearing your voice then as a 9-year-old, incredible.

And outgrowing it, you continued on.

So you're here doing "Boop."

Tell us about the play.

- So "Boop" is basically about Betty Boop.

She comes to the real world and she's trying to find something that she feels like she's missing in life.

And she meets these people along the way that help her discover what it is she's missing.

Hint, hint.

She meets Tricia, who I play in "Boop," the musical.

And we both learn many things from each other.

- [Whitney] So she's on this road of self discovery.

- [Angelica] Exactly.

- And you also personally have been on this road of self-discovery at a young age.

- Yes.

- You actually had a health scare.

- Exactly.

So when I was four years old, I had double pneumonia and I also went into septic shock.

So it ravaged my organs and I basically ultimately needed a kidney transplant.

I lost 20% of my right lung, which is crazy 'cause I'm a singer.

- Yeah.

- I needed that.

- But here I am.

Here I am today and I'm still prevailing.

And my kidney transplant was actually from my mom.

And we're currently 10 years kidney strong now.

- That is so great.

Tell me, how have you been able to adapt?

- As a growing teenager, I think a lot of teenagers these days have a lot of problems with self-confidence.

And I have had trouble myself.

And this show, you know, Tricia, she has her own problems with self-esteem.

And, you know, she's got this creative light, that Betty Boop.

'Cause she's crazy about Betty Boop.

And Betty really is that inspiration and light for her.

But sometimes she has trouble finding her inner unique Tricia light.

And sometimes I have trouble finding my own light, but I have such amazing friends and family who've helped me keep that self-confidence.

- [Whitney] Yes.

- Always remember to find that light inside of me whenever I feel down.

- On January 9th, 2017, my father passed away.

He had a heart attack unexpectedly.

So we decided to build a family tree.

And later that year, as we were doing our discovery and talking to our family, my middle brother, Jermaine, took a DNA test.

I decided to follow suit and take a DNA test.

However, when my results came back, I found out that I was not even on the Jackson family tree.

- [Whitney Voiceover] It all started with a call that would unlock a mystery.

- [Whitney] You go ahead, you make that phone call.

- Yes.

To who is my brother, or my half brother, on my paternal side, David.

He's like, "Janeen, oh my gosh.

I can't believe you found me."

My heart is racing.

And even talking to you now and remembering on that moment, I feel like a mild panic kind of raising up in me because I thought I was a part of a scam.

I don't understand what's going on.

He tells me the story about his dad as a teenager and he, you know, he and his girlfriend had this baby and they couldn't take care of her and she was placed in adoption.

And I'm like, wait, what is going on?

And he's like, "Well, you know, you're my adoptive sister."

I'm like, wait, I'm not adopted.

And he's like, "This isn't a joke, Janeen."

I said, "I know it's not a joke and I don't know who you are.

How did you get my information to even call me?"

And he told me that he bought a background report on me.

- [Whitney Voiceover] And this random phone call felt like a prank or a scheme.

- And so I email this woman and her email said, "I believe I'm your mother."

- Wow.

- Sorry.

I haven't revisited that moment...in a moment.

Later that evening, David sent me an email with the case manager's information, phone number, everything.

And then he sent me a newborn picture of me.

I remember sitting up at the computer going, oh my gosh.

I'm very visual and I started visualizing my baby book and I'm going through the pages and I'm like, oh my gosh, there are no newborn pictures of me in my baby book.

I call my youngest brother.

And I said, "Jamar, it says here that I'm about 25, 26% Ashkenazi Jew."

And I'm like, mom's name is a Jewish name.

Maybe mom's dad isn't who her dad is.

So I call her and she's like, "Why are you calling me with this mess?"

You know, she's like, "I'm sorry.

Can't help you.

It is what it is."

And before I hung up, I said, "Fine, mom.

But I have a question for you.

What is an Ashkenazi Jew?"

She's like, "Why?"

I said, "Because I'm 26%."

Well, we have great-greats that are part German.

- [Whitney Voiceover] It wasn't until the call with the adoption agency where this misfit puzzle started coming together.

- And she's like, "Okay, I have your records right here."

And I'm like, what do you mean records?

She's like, "You were adopted on May," and I think it was May or June of 1972.

And she gave the names of my mother and my father.

And she actually gave the maiden name of my mom.

- [Whitney Voiceover] It was piecing together this puzzle, the gaps, the sadness, the past, and now this new family.

- And she said, "Because on, I believe it was January 9th, 2017, the adoption laws were lifted."

And I started crying and she's like, "Ma'am, are you okay?"

And I said, "My father passed unexpectedly on January 9th, 2017."

- [Whitney] Wow.

- I'm like, what else about my life do I not know?

And I said, "Who are my birth parents?"

And she gave me the names.

And when she gave me my birth father's name, I'm like, that's a Jewish name.

She was like, "Wait, ma'am, your birth father is Jewish."

And I said, "A Black Jew?"

And she said, "No, ma'am, your birth father is white.

You're mixed race."

I'm like, what?

So I called my mom, I'm like, "Hey, mom, how's it going?"

And I said, "I have a question for you."

And I said, "I want you to understand that it's coming from a place of love and that it's gonna be very strange."

She's like, "Sure, what is it?"

I said, "I was told today that I was adopted, and I was wondering if you can confirm that or not."

And she's like, "Who told you that?"

And I got very serious.

I said, "The Children's Society of New Jersey."

And she said, "Oh.

Okay.

I made a promise to your father and to God that if you ever came to one of us with that question, I'd tell you the truth."

And I said, "Why would I come to you with that question?"

And she says, "Janeen, I need you to be quiet."

She said, "I was told that I couldn't bear children.

Your father and I had just moved to New Jersey and we adopted you."

And at that moment, that's when I believed.

And I said, " I just wanna let you know I'm gonna explore this journey full force."

- Did she beg you not to?

- My mom is like, "Go for it.

It is your story."

I called my brother David back, it was April 10th.

And I called him and I said, "You were right.

I am adopted.

I am your sister."

And he says, "Oh my gosh, you will not believe what just came through on my text."

And he texted to me and I look at my phone and it was National Siblings Day.

I had never heard of that holiday.

- Wow.

- And I literally was like, who invented this holiday?

I hate it, right?

But then in July of 2018, I called my birth mother and my birth father.

I had spoken to them a couple times on the phone.

- And they are no longer together?

- No, they split after I was born.

She was, I believe she was 17 and he was 16.

And I said, I called my birth mother first, and I said, "I'm asking you for one motherly thing.

I need you to come to California to meet me."

And she's like, "Not a problem."

And I said, "My birth father is gonna be there, too."

And she's like, "Okay.

I haven't seen him in years, but I'm gonna do this.

I'm gonna do this for you."

And I called my birth father.

Before I could even finish the sentence, I think he was already online booking a ticket.

I met them at a gallery, a small gallery in Santa Monica, and we had the whole space to ourselves.

And they get out and I'm like, oh my gosh, oh my gosh.

These two strangers are my birth parents?

This is odd.

I don't look like them.

Why am I comparing myself to them?

In my head, I'm like, mom, dad, mom, dad, where are you?

I need you guys right now.

I hug my birth mother.

It was like a repressed memory.

- [Whitney Voiceover] It brought on a wave of emotion.

She channeled that though, and with a simple thought, she delivered it to her kids.

That thought planted a seed and it blossomed into much more, now helping others.

- I decided it's time for me to tell my children because I did not wanna keep secrets from them.

- It's a lot of moving parts.

- It's a lot of moving parts.

There's race, there's different families, there's adoption.

- Right.

- And so the school had a garden.

In his class, the kindergarten had a kinder garden.

And I saw these two tomatoes, a red one and a yellow one.

And at the bottom of the vine, there was a little tiny kind of orangish tomato that had fallen.

And I said, "Mommy's like those tomatoes."

You see all of the red tomatoes, that's the Jackson family and the Clark family.

That's my family that I've always known as my family.

But on that vine, there's a red tomato and a yellow tomato.

The yellow tomato's my birth father and the red tomato's my birth mom.

And all the way at the bottom, that little one that fell off the vine, that's me.

And I said, "A warm wind's gonna blow, and a ladybug, who's the adoption agent, is gonna find that baby tomato a forever home just like me."

And he's like, "Oh."

And we're looking at the tomatoes.

And he is like, "Oh, okay."

I said, "We're all tomatoes, but we're just a little different."

And so when he wasn't looking, I took the tomato and I threw it over to the red vine.

And the next day, he said, when I picked him up for school, he goes, "Mommy, the lady bug helped the tomato find a forever home, just like you."

- [Whitney] Wow.

- I was like, yep.

And she's gonna grow up really big.

And maybe one day she'll tell her son, who's a tomato, what happened.

I remember the first Mother's Day, which was a really tough one for me.

I said, "Now that I do understand the complexities of race, especially when it comes to adoption, you all didn't see a Black baby, a white baby.

You saw me for everything that I am.

And thank you for loving me, caring for me, and most importantly, for liking me."

- There's our everyday detectives, a reminder that we can all discover more in our journeys.

Remember, your story matters.

(light inspirational music) - [Announcer] The "Whitney Reynolds Show" is made possible by Simple Modern, drinkware with unique styles for adults and kids.

Take us with you.

Kevin O'Connor Law Firm.

When it comes to your injuries, we take it personally.

Together at Peace, a foundation with a mission to generate financial support for hospitals, schools, and many charities that provide compassionate bereavement care and foster spiritual resilience.

We are here to inspire tangible moments and share the light of loved ones who have passed away, always doing good in their honor.

Children's Learning Place, a school for the earliest learners dedicated to aiding every child in uncovering the power of learning.

Our curriculum is centered around empowering young students with the confidence to overcome present and future challenges to promote a brighter future for our youth and community.

"The Adventures of the Harry Moon" book series for kids that focuses on becoming your best self with themes of friends anti-bullying, and responsibility at harrymoon.org.

Kevin Kelly, joeperillo.com, High-Five Sports, Fumee Claire, Respiratory Health Association, Hearing Health Center, Mike Dyer with Edward Jones.

- [Whitney Voiceover] Want to stay connected to all things Whitney Reynolds?

Well, follow us on social media, and you'll get exclusive content and updates from the show.

All episodes are available for streaming anytime.

- [Kids] I love me!

(bright piano music)