PJ Ryan
PJ Ryan, born in
Brownsville, Brooklyn,
the eldest of 12
children, was given
the name Phillip James,
by which his dear grandmother
always called
him. But in the creative
world, Phillip James
Ryan is known as PJ
Ryan.
PJ is an actor, educator,
mental health
and wellness advocate,
writer, and the Brooklyn
nominee for Most
Valuable Producer, or
MVP. His artistic journey
began on Juneteenth of 2017,
when he took a scary leap of
faith – deciding after 15 years to
leave the corporate finance world
to pursue his passion for being a
voice for those who go unheard.
One of the first alumni of Stella
Adler’s Black Arts Insitute led
by his mentor, Phylicia Rashaad,
PJ has been cast in network and
cable shows such as “Ray Donovan,”
“Power,” “Murphy Brown,”
“Blue Bloods,” and “New Amsterdam.”
He has also appeared in
several Off-Broadway productions.
Still, PJ knows that there
is more to be done than simply
being “seen.”
As an educator, PJ is a teaching
artist for the BRIC Arts Media
Youth Education Program. He has
had residencies in several Brooklyn
schools, where he teaches
youth about digital photography
and audio and video production.
As a digital content creator,
PJ is focused on creating
safe spaces for Black
and Brown faces to be
authentic, vulnerable,
and love their melanated
skin. He is co-host
– with Ushi, Blair Tate,
and Chris Red – of the
“Highly Melanated Podcast,”
which was nominated
for a 2019 BSpoke Award.
Episodes range from financial literacy
to mental health and wellness
and women’s reproductive
justice.
PJ co-produces another podcast,
“Willing and Waiting.” There
he and co-host JBT-Dub talk
about dating and the journey of
celibacy or sexual abstinence from
a male and female’s perspective
with guests sharing their stories.
PJ also created “The Dear
You Project,” a podcast centered
around vulnerability with guests
sharing their stories in a “Dear
You” letter intended to encourage
listeners from communities
of color to recongnize they aren’t
alone. The writer chooses whomever
they wish to write to on whatever
subject they choose, but the
letter must chronicle their growth
and overcoming of adversity.
In the podcast’s second season,
PJ decided to dig deeper and
bravely told his story of being a
survivor of sexual assault, which
led to his HIV-status.
All his podcasts are available on
multiple platforms as well as his
website, iampjryan.com.
Creator &
Producer,
“The Dear You
Project”
Podcast
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