Sickly as a boy growing up in India, Vijay Amritaj was urged to take up a sport to improve his health. He chose tennis and went on to become one of the worlds premier tennis players. Amritajs life has been a series of firsts and triumphs in new fields of endeavor. A very successful businessman, Amritaj has been at the... read full bio
Vali Nasr is a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's South Asia Center and the Majid Khadduri Professor of International Affairs and Middle East Studies at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). In addition to serving as the seventh Dean of Johns Hopkins SAIS, he was the Senior Advisor to Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, the U.S.... read full bio
Allison Janney is a multi-award winning stage and screen actress, known for her versatile roles and natural wit. Her first huge role came with The West Wing, for which she won her first three Emmys. She has since held supporting roles in many films, notably 10 Things I Hate About You, Juno, The Help, and Hairspray. She earned two more... read full bio
Tracy Pollan (born June 22, 1960) is an American actress. Pollan was born in New York City, New York to Jewish American parents Stephen M. Pollan and Corky; she has two sisters and a brother, Michael. Pollan is perhaps best-known for her recurring role on the sitcom Family Ties in the mid-1980s; it was on this show that she met... read full bio
Bored to tears whenever you try to dig an instrumental record Then you obviously haven't gotten your hands on flamenco phenomenon Jesse Cook's latest release. Since his debut album, Tempest, Cook has made a permanent home for himself on the billboard charts. With a fiery mix of rumba, Latin jazz and world music, the Parisian-born virtuoso knows how to move... read full bio
American Authors is a pop rock band, based in New York City, who are signed to The Island Def Jam Music Group. They are best known for their singles “Best Day of My Life” and “Believer” from their album Oh, What a Life. Their debut single, “Believer”, earned great popularity through alternative rock radio. Their second single, “Best Day of... read full bio
Jason Wade is the founder and lead singer of the rock band Lifehouse. He spent his teen years in Washington and Oregon before relocating to Los Angeles, where he founded Lifehouse with a neighbor and friend. Wade is a self-taught musician. He began teaching himself how to play the guitar and write after his parents’ divorce. Wade has released eight... read full bio
Kiesza is a singer-songwriter from Calgary, and is also an in-demand songwriter for acts across the globe, puts together her own stunning artwork, is a trained ballerina, and a former tall-ship sailor who the Army once attempted to train as a sniper. In January 2014, ‘Hideaway’ was released by Rami’s own Lokal Legend label, and soon after Kiesza moved to... read full bio
MS MR, pronounced Miz Mister, are an electrifying and entrancing pop duo consisting of a MS, Lizzy Plapinger, and a MR, Max Hershenow. The New York based Vassar College graduates hit it big in Germany first before floating back to the states. Their breakout singles ""Hurricane"" and ""Fantasy"" were well received for their vintage sound. They included ""Hurricane"" on their... read full bio
Roland Emmerich was a celebrated director of small-budget science fiction films when he teamed up with American actor/producer Dean Devlin to make the high-kicking Jean-Claude Van Damme film Universal Soldier. The movie was a box-office success, and Emmerich followed it up with the interstellar action flick Stargate, a surprise hit that spawned a television series. His sci-fi blockbusters Independence Day... read full bio
Ryan Lochte has left an enduring impact in the world of Olympic sports that goes beyond his swimming accomplishments thanks to his unwavering commitment to perfection. Ryan competed in four Olympic Games: Rio de Janeiro, Beijing, London, and Athens. His unrelenting spirit and determination are demonstrated by his commitment to representing his country on the international front. His accomplishment of... read full bio
Bobby Rahal is an International and National Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee, for his nearly 20-year professional racing career and management roles post retirement. Throughout his career, he accrued 24 wins, 88 podium spots, and 16 Poles (front spot of starting lineup). He raced primarily with Champ Car and Formula One, but also competed in one NASCAR Race. He has... read full bio
The only fighter to win eleven world titles in six different weight classes, and as CEO of Golden Boy Promotions the first Hispanic to own a national boxing promotional firm, Oscar de la Hoya is one of the most charismatic and beloved figures in the history of the sport. From the podium he recounts the thrilling story of his journey... read full bio
At first glance, you would not suspect Roy Jones, Jr. to be the superb melding of talent, personality, and charisma that he is. The quiet, even pensive individual, is a world-renowned boxing superstar…professional basketball player…musical producer and performer…entertainer…actor…and all-around nice guy. Cited as the best ‘Pound for Pound’ fighter in the world, Jones is the undisputed Light Heavyweight Champion of... read full bio
Darren The Human Beat Box" Robinson, Mark "Prince Markie Dee" Morales, and Damon "Kool Rock-ski" Wimbley all grew up rapping in the same neighborhood. Robinson's family could not afford a drum set, so Darren perfected a technique of making percussion like sounds with his mouth -- hence the birth of his nickname The Human Beat Box. The group, then known... read full bio
Tim Flannery is the chief councilor of the Australian Climate Council and a well-known scientist, explorer, and conservationist. He was the head commissioner of the Climate Commission under the Rudd administration and played a significant role in shaping Australian climate policy. Flannery is the author of The Weather Makers: The History and Future Impact of Climate Change (2005). He has... read full bio
Brian Littrell is most known as a member the ultra popular boy band The Backstreet Boys. He reached heartthrob status in the mid to late ‘90s during the band’s peek. The band released four majorly successful albums before the boy band movement began to give way. Littrell then turned his attention to producing Christian music – a dream he’d always... read full bio
Pierre serves as chairman of eBay, a trustee of Tufts University, Santa Fe Institute and Punahou School; and as a commissioner for President Barack Obamas Commission on White House Fellowships. Pierre is also CEO and publisher of Honolulu Civil Beat, a local news service in Hawaii that encourages greater civic participation through media. He lives in Honolulu, Hawaii, with his... read full bio
Georges St-Pierre, a retired French-Canadian MMA fighter, is largely recognized as one of the sport's finest competitors. St-Pierre has left an indelible impression on the world of MMA with an amazing record of 25 career wins, including 8 by knockout, and only 2 losses. During his remarkable career, St-Pierre rose to prominence after appearing on SpikeTV's Ultimate Fighter 4: The Comeback.... read full bio
Chauncey Billups is a retired American professional basketball player, renowned for his illustrious career in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born in Denver, Colorado, he played for the University of Colorado, where he established himself as a star athlete. He was selected by the Boston Celtics as the third overall pick in the 1997 NBA draft. During his 17-year career in... read full bio
