Episode 98: Tijuana Ricks

Actor, director, writer, and producer Tijuana Ricks joins At the Podium for a deeply reflective conversation about origin, representation, and what it means to take up space in a life that truly belongs to you.

Known for her work across more than 100 episodes of television—including the Marvel Netflix universe (Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist), multiple seasons of Billions, and Tiny Beautiful Things—Tijuana reflects on how being raised in a big, loud, Black, Creole matriarchy in Gramercy, Louisiana shaped her voice, presence, and sense of agency.

In this episode, Tijuana poses one of the most honest questions anyone navigating high-pressure careers, elite training programs, or long-held dreams can ask:

Are you actually happy?

She challenges the idea that persistence alone is virtuous, and speaks candidly about what happens when we continue doing what we think we should be doing simply because we’ve invested so much time and identity into it—even when it no longer feeds us. This conversation explores how representation matters not only on screen, but behind the camera, and how claiming authorship over your life can change the way you move through the world.

This is not a conversation about quitting.
It’s about listening.
About joy, sustainability, and self-authorship.

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