What happens when you choose the "safe" path and it nearly kills your soul? Debra Martin Chase went from Harvard Law School to becoming the first Black woman producer with a major studio deal. In this episode of The Messy Parts, she shares her journey from corporate lawyer to Hollywood trailblazer, including the near-death experience that made her quit law, the weekend of initiative that launched her film career, and why Vernon Jordan told her she was "too old to start over." It's a masterclass in reinvention, taking risks, and betting on yourself.Guest: Debra Martin Chase - Producer, Entertainment Executive, Broadway Producer Follow Debra on: Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/bdhyj35x LinkedIn: https://tinyurl.com/36zh39tzIMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0153846/ Notable Productions: The Princess Diaries, Cinderella, Cheetah Girls, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, The Equalizer, A Strange Loop (Broadway), The Outsiders (Broadway), Purpose (Broadway)Topics Covered Harvard Law SchoolUSC Film SchoolVernon JordanNina Shaw Frank Price (Columbia Pictures)Doug McHenry (producer)Nina Jacobson (Disney executive)Pearlena Igbokwe (Universal Television)Denzel WashingtonWhitney HoustonMarc Platt (Broadway producer)David Stone (Broadway producer)Michael Dukakis campaignPrincess DiariesCinderella (Rodgers & Hammerstein)Cheetah GirlsSisterhood of the Traveling PantsThe EqualizerSend us a textEmail us: [email protected] To stay up to date with The Messy Parts and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and review on Apple or Spotify or where ever you get your podcasts.Thank you for listening.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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