42 Gay City News Impact Awards 2020
HONOREE
PJ RYAN
CREATOR & PRODUCER, “THE DEAR YOU PROJECT” PODCAST
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 world of corporate fi nance to pursue his passion for being a voice for those whose voices go
unheard. Since then, he has made important strides as an actor. One of the fi rst 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 —
watching his students become excited in ways unimaginable.
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 creator and 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 fi nancial 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. One listener
called this community “celibatees” — not to be confused with celebrities.
PJ also created and produces “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. Past letters have been written to the guests’ younger selves, to their fear, their future
love, or about overcoming an emotionally abusive or absent parent.
In the podcast’s second season, PJ decided to dig deeper and bravely divulged his story of being a survivor of sexual
assault, which led to his HIV-status of more than 20 years.
All his podcasts are available on multiple platforms as well as his website, iampjryan.com.
/iampjryan.com
