Anthony Morrison | Overcoming Fear and Making an Impact From an Emmy Award-Winning Producer of Good Morning America
LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS HERE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/anthony-morrison-overcoming-fear-and-making-an/id1500457853?i=1000551871128
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Joining us in this episode is the epitome of self-empowerment and self-acceptance, Anthony Morrison, who will be talking about the importance of being yourself, living with a purpose, and genuinely being present. Stay tuned because you're going to love this show!
Key Takeaways From This Episode
Benefits of trusting yourself and taking a leap forward
Personal stories and lessons on willpower especially in the time of COVID-19
Self-care recommendations and tips for busy days and late-night grinds
Easy small steps that can help motivate yourself
Disclaimer: All information and views shared on the Live Greatly podcast & the Live greatly website are purely the opinions of the authors, and are not intended to provide medical advice or treatment recommendations. The contents of this podcast & website are intended for informational and educational purposes only. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health professional when you have any questions regarding your specific health, changes to diet and exercise, or any medical conditions.
Resources Mentioned In This Episode
About Tony Morrison
Tony Morrison is the Senior Social Media Producer at Good Morning America overseeing the social and digital strategy for America’s #1-morning show. A two-time Emmy® Award winner and multiple GLAAD Media Award honoree, Tony has led on projects for Walt Disney Studios, Lucasfilm, Marvel, Disney Parks Products & Experiences, and internally, for Disney Enterprise Diversity & Inclusion. Tony became part of the Disney family at 18 as a PhotoPass photographer at Magic Kingdom, moving on to other roles at Walt Disney World Resort, from Disney Photo Imaging to Parks Operations and The Disney Event Group, before moving to New York City to produce for ABC News and, eventually, to his current role at GMA, where he recently celebrated five years of making TV magic.
Connect with Tony
Website: Anthony Morrison
Twitter: @THETonyMorrison
LinkedIn: Tony Morrison
About Vegamour
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Kristel Bauer, the Founder of Live Greatly, is on a mission to help people thrive personally and professionally. She is a corporate wellness expert, Integrative Medicine Fellow, Keynote Speaker, TEDx speaker & Physician Assistant experienced in Integrative Psychiatry and Functional Medicine.
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Episode Transcript
Anthony (Teaser)
It gave me pause to think about the opportunity to finally tackle these things that I had really been ignoring. I think part of self acceptance really starts with giving yourself time for yourself. That “me” time.
Kristel (Guest Intro)
If you are looking to feel inspired and gain insights to help you navigate the challenges of life you're going to love today's episode with Anthony Morrison. Tony is an incredible human being and he's an Amy and Glaad award winning. At ABC's good morning, America. He's a senior producer taking the lead on LGBTQ storytelling throughout the network and in a personal essay that Tony published in August of 2021. He shared his experience of living with HIV in secret over the course of 8 years. So that essay brought greater awareness to this topic, and he's really trying to shred the stigma by sharing his story and being a force for change. I'm so excited to share this conversation with you. Let's go ahead and welcome Tony to the show.
Oh, this is great. This has been. I dunno a year and a half in the making a year in the making.
Tony:
Plural in the making, but I'm so bad.
I could join you in having this conversation and chat with you. It's just so great.
Kristel:
Me too. So I would love to start with you just sharing a little bit about yourself, letting everyone know what you're currently up to. You've had a lot going on and you have a lot going on. So I would just love for you to share a little bit about that.
Tony:
Totally. Well, gosh, where do I start? My day job? I am a senior producer at Good morning, America digital and doing a little bit of everything, running our digital and social strategy for America's number one morning show and producing segments for this show as well. And one thing I'm really proud of here at ABC, I've been here for six years for ABC and GMA was able to launch our first ever LGBT employee resource group for LGBT journalists and allies. And that's been kind of my passion project the last few years is not only infusing great inclusive stories and our storytelling, but also infusing our great storytellers as well on the inside and making sure that their voices are heard too.
So I'm all about that. But, I grew up in Orlando, shout out to the 4 0 7. Anyone who's listening, uh, grew up in Orlando, Florida. I went to college in Tampa, went to business school, failed finance twice. Literally can't count and got into photography professionally in Florida growing up out of college and then actually moved to New York city.
Fashion photography. I did fashion week for a number of years and literally moved up here to New York. It was definitely a suitcase in a dream situation. And I moved in with my mom's sister, my aunt in Staten island, and I lived there for freedoms a two hour commute into the city. I'll just say, and that was my sacrifice for living for free in New York the first few months until my aunt was like, Oh, is that apartment search? And then I was like, all right, we got to do this New York thing. So that really launched me into kind of finding myself and career in the big apple. And I fell into a TV production. My first job ever was as a PA for what would you do? Hidden cameras show at ABC. And then that led me to a great career in launch into TV news at CNN for a number of number of years producing their morning show.
And that was a midnight to 9:00 AM or the hours. That was it. That was the shift. Wow. I'll tell you that overnight team, anyone who works overnight, you bond with the others who are on deck with you and especially colleagues and other people and other industries who are also up with you as well. And I will say the hours were toughKristel, but it was one of my most fun jobs ever.
I just love that team and I love producing with that team and that got me into morning news and led me to my time at GMA where I am now.
Kristel:
So you learned on the job, like you didn't have. Traditional like journalism schooling.
Tony:
Yeah. I had always had an interest in, I guess, communications or journalism, I guess I didn't know to label it that when I was growing up or even in college and I didn't think I was a great writer and we'll get into that. I'm sure. I didn't think I was a great writer for a large part of growing up. And I, because of that, I didn't feel like I would qualifies a good journalist. And that's how I went to business.
That's why I went to business school because I was picking up photography and I wanted to maybe turn that into a professional thing and learn how to make that a business. And I've turned out I got best both of the worlds.
Kristel:
So interesting. So you really are like the epitome of just kind of like following your interest in your dreams and letting things develop.
I mean, that, I love, absolutely love that story. And then you also got some awards which sister couple, but I would love for you to share that too, because it's just so fascinating to me that you came to New York with like a dream, not sure. And then, you know, look at you now. So can you share a little tidbit.
Tony:
And I so appreciate you contextualizing that because a lot of it was really walking blindly, but always making sure that I was putting my best foot forward.
And I was going in the direction, at least that I wanted to go and using every opportunity I was in, in the present for the next opportunity to come, not knowing what that opportunity would be. So when I got into that first production assistant job, You asked me, you know, did you have any shooting abilities?
And I was like, oh, well, I'm a professional photographer. So of course I can, you know, run a camera. And then I definitely did the fake it til you make it thing of like, oh, well, can you help me with this specific model of camera? And like, I haven't handle that before and help me with the white balance.
What is that? Or what are those buttons? It was literally a stacking opportunity upon opportunity and just also an element of being able to sit in the back of the room and just observe and learn and not being afraid to raise my hand when I wanted to jump in or learn more ask questions. And that's what I ask of my interns and PAs and new hires coming in is there is an expectation for young producers or young anyone in any industry. But I think that you do stand out, at least in my experience, you stand out to others when you are able to raise your hand and just be present at the same time, but back to me, yes, I am back to me for a sec. I am looking over here at my desk because I'm talking to you.
I've in my time at Good morning America. I've, we as a team we've won best morning show two daytime Emmys, twice two Emmys sitting next to me. And I was just last year honored with a Glaad media award. My first Glaad award for Online journalism article on my reporting about the LGBT. About the policies surrounding LGBT people being able to give blood, or I should say, not being able to give blood and we've had some great reporting this year.
I actually, I can share now that I was able to connect directly with the White house and they're engaging in conversations around this now. So I'm not saying I'm responsible for any of this.
Kristel:
Yes you are Tony, you had a big part to play. Don't underplay.
Tony:
It's the power of the pen, I'm realizing and trusting yourself and trusting your gut has really gotten me a lot.
Has really gotten me a long ways than I thought it would.
Kristel:
It's amazing. All you have accomplished. And all the people that you've helped is really, truly remarkable. I want to go back to something you said that stood out to me because I hear this sometimes, I want to like dig a little into it, this fake it till you make it thing.
It's fake because people said that to me too. And I think anytime you're starting something new. You need to learn. You need to learn as you go. But at that takes a lot of courage and it takes, you know, getting out of your comfort zone. And if people ask you, you know, can you help with this? Can you do this in that you're new.
You're never gonna feel like prepared. I just don't think that's possible because you haven't done it yet. You got to learn as you go. But in order to say yes, I think you do have to, in some ways, fake it until you make it in the sense of you have to feel confident enough that she'll figure it out. And if you fail, if you mess up. You got to trust that you're resilient, that that's okay. You know, but what are your thoughts on that?
Tony:
No, it's, I can get out with you is really interesting. And I'm all about changing our vocabulary, these days into being more empowering for ourselves and others. So I would love to come up with a different phrase other than fake it till you make it because there's nothing fake about genuine curiosity and your will to be there and to do the work.
Like there's nothing fake in that. That's someone you want to hire. That's the only one that's when you want to promote and help them get to where they want to be. Hopefully you've seen that in yourself at some point, but yeah, it's nail on the head. It's all about maintaining that north star, I guess, for yourself and making sure that you're following your heart, mind and spirit, making sure they're all aligned and in a way to take you wherever you should be going. Kristel:
Yeah, I think what's coming to me is like believing in yourself. So instead of like fake it till you make it, it's like, believe it until you're there or something like that, like believe that you can figure it out. Like believe that when you go into this situation, if you feel out of place, like that's okay.
You know, it doesn't mean that you're not going to be good at it. It just means that you're trying something new, which is really amazing.
Tony:
Believe it and mean it and Iwas recording that here.
Kristel:
Believe it and mean it. Yeah, because I agree like the fake it til you make, it has always left me feeling like. I dunno, like you're not being authentic or something.
Tony:
Yeah, absolutely. There are times where you sort of believe it or you do believe it, but you may not mean it. And that can take you down a different road as well. But if you do believe it and mean it, man, sky's the limit I think. People do recognize that a lot of times people recognize that before you recognize yourself within yourself.
Kristel:
Right. And that's a great segue Tony into talking about like self-acceptance, authenticity, self-love and I would love for you to share your experience over the past. I can't remember when your essay came out, was like six months ago at this point, it feels like a hundred years, especially in COVID times.
But no, thank you for teeing that up because I, you know, I'm someone who's always been driven and connected and you know, I was in college. I. Was doing all the things. And then in high school, I remember I was band president and honor society president at the same time, I was always very just forward and social.
So on the outside, the optics that I'm delivering is, you know, I am very accepting of myself and all of those things, but the idea of self acceptance. Really came to a head, I didn't really understand it fully until really the last few months. And so in August of last year, I append an essay for good morning america.com.
Sharing my experience of living with HIV for eight years. And man, it to even say that is makes me scared and anxious still, but also excited that I'm able to articulate those words in a way that I am hoping I'm helping other people so that they are not going through what I went through for literally eight years or felt the way I felt but what I've found is in that time, really during COVID was that experience of, of loss we'd across the board, is loss of your routine, loss of our social circles, actual loss of life. And I really, it gave me pause to think about and really gave me the opportunity to finally tackle these things that I had really been ignoring.
Hmm. I think part of self acceptance really starts with giving yourself time for yourself. That” me” time, as I talk about it more, it really short the time during COVID was the moment, but it really was a product of, it was just me in an apartment with myself, forcing my time to spend with myself to kind of discover or rediscover myself, if that makes sense.
Kristel:
Yeah. Um, and that they take so much courage, Tony, to be able to. Do that. So I'm wondering what helps you harness that courage? Was it the time, was it that like internal or that time with yourself just fostering that relationship with yourself or was it community or something else? I would just love to know how you really felt courageous enough to share that part of your journey.
Tony:
Totally. And you know, I've always felt supported and loved by my friends and family and my circle. But, you know, I had felt ashamed because of what I was living with and living through for a long time. And that's a product of stigma and misinformation, I think, but what really granted me my freedom is the realization that I had to grant myself permission to love.
And really, I think that, It was the idea that I was living so much in shame and an assault when so many other people before us never got a chance to live at all. And that idea really struck me of like, wow, you've built this incredible life. You've been through a lot. There's obviously nothing that you've been through that you can't handle.
So why is this any different? Those layers combined really made me think, wow, how unfair is it for me to live like this? When so many didn't have the chance to, and lesson living is meant for living. So I just didn't want to waste my time anymore.
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Kristel:
Wow. That's like such a powerful statement. The Vincent for living like it's really being present in the moment, making the most with what you have, and everybody's going to have unique challenges and just kind of like owning that and, you know, you sharing this is, I'm just so impressed with your courage, with all of this.
I would love to, for you to share a little bit about how. Insights tips, recommendations. What'd you have for people to be more inclusive and to, I guess, take away the stigma. And so people feel more safe and secure in themselves.
Tony:
Yeah. I think that, gosh, it's the cliche phrase of, we don't know what we don't know.
And I think a lot of times, especially with sensitive topics or what we deem as taboo topics, right. We. I just lost my train of thought here. I was really good. So you were saying with taboo topics sometimes. So, and I think, especially with taboo topics, We have the tape, even delve in the conversations.
We're just scared too. But I think that the turnkey moment is just, we don't know. We don't know. It's okay to have these conversations. It's okay to ask respectfully, just a question in itself is not disrespectful. And I think having conversations like this between you and I on places like podcasts out in the world, you know, um, is really encouraging to see, because it signals to others that.
These conversations are okay. They have to be okay because we're just people. And I think that sharing our own stories just makes us stronger. You know, for a long time, as a journalist, I would tell people, and it's kind of was my motto, especially in inclusive storytelling, that your story is your superpower.
But here I was really ashamed of my own for so long. So. On one. And I sorta felt like a bit of a fraud myself because I wasn't ever bringing my full self into that picture as a journalist, as a storyteller. And now that I am, I feel that I've, I've never felt so much more compassionate for people and just how I live in general, it's just opened my eyes.
And I think that too, as a product of just not being afraid of your own story and knowing that. It's a quote, a good friend, Robin Roberts, just to know that everybody's got something. And we were talking earlier, before we recorded, that it really has hit me how sharing my story has impacted so many people and resonated in different ways.
And I think it's just that piece of humanity that everybody has that something that they're holding onto or they're ashamed of, it could be a small thing. But the reality is if everybody's got that something and nobody's alone in that.
Kristel:
It's part of being human. Yeah. It's just going to vary on what it is.
Tony:
And the feeling of the emotion is it's all the same, no matter what it is.
Kristel:
Yes. A lot the past year, year and a half. How have you supported yourself throughout this? How have you supported your well-being? How, like, what have you been doing for self care? Because you're busy, like a lot of this publicity, the feedback, all that you're like do it. And you have the Disney podcast, which is new and then TMA.
So like, what does that look like for you? What's your, like your rejuvenative time look like.
Tony:
Totally. Well, I will tell you a lot of it is in collaboration with my therapist, which I recommend for everyone because they, they think outside your brain and help you with the simplest things, right. Therapist she's, she's great.
And she's challenges me all the time to kind of think out of my own box, but I put myself in, but you kind of mentioned already. It's that me time. I found myself in that me time. And a lot of times I feel, especially for people on the go. They are just so busy and they're how we thrive as being over committed.
That's just how some of us roll. Right. I think you can relate to that now you're a busy body. Yeah, absolutely. I'm making sure that I like, for example, I'm outing myself here, but on Mondays I try to do like no zoom Mondays outside of like, we do like a Monday meeting for work. Right. But I try not to schedule any Monday meetings and I don't schedule any events, dates, whatever, nothing on Mondays.
So it's no matter how crazy Monday can be. I know that at five o'clock. Nothing is on the calendar and that's just me. So it's reserving that time for myself and making sure that I have that time to, to connect with myself. And I've also just kind of revamped my whole routine. I thrive on the morning routine.
So. And I also already get up early for good morning America. So I take advantage of that. And sometimes I'll get up a little, like an hour earlier than I need to, and I will meditate and read some Bernay Brown and make sure that I'm ready to go for the day and kind of set that intention for the day. And that's really, really helped me a lot.
Kristel:
I love it. And what about at night? Do you have like a wind down routine at night or is it just depending on what you have going on?
Tony:
It's tough for me, especially like last night I was working. 10 11 midnight for some light things that came in and that four 30 or five o'clock again. But yeah, for the most, for the most part, I love spending time with, especially now because so many people have reached out to me in so many people that I haven't connected to in a long time.
So right now I'm actually going through and trying to find some time to connect with folks and, and friends that I haven't been able to talk to. No shade to my, to my close friends. We closed circles. So you guys get the weekends. And again, it's about all that time management of just being able to make sure that I am making myself available to people, but also that I'm being available to myself first.
Kristel:
Well, when you take care of yourself, you're just going to be that much more present for your loved ones. And for everybody. Right.
Tony:
Totally. And I will say only because you brought up wine, I did tap into a wine subscription. So I have a box of cab right here at the ready at all times.
Kristel:
What kind of cab? What is it?
What's your wine subscription?
Tony:
They give me a, oh my gosh. I think it's wine.com. I'm looking, I got a coupon. Okay. And ever since then they.
Kristel:
You got the coupon Gotcha.
Tony:
Yeah. So they send me, they send me all of these great reds and as fancy as they will be, I always seem to find myself drinking out of a Josh wine.
So all my Josh, Josh wine fans out there.
Kristel:
Yes. What's the, when are you doing the Disney podcast? Is that like a once in a while thing? Or do you have a set schedule with that? Is it a weekly occurrence? Tony:
It's a weekly podcast that comes out on Thursdays. I am one of three co-hosts Jeffrey and Sherry were all part of.
We're all Disney employees from all parts of the company. And it's exactly what you think it is. It's the Disney podcast. And we share every week, the best in Disney news, from parks to film and TV, to the cruise lines, everything. And then we have a really great Disney guest and because for the Disney podcast, We get the really good guests.
So my favorite this year that we've done was, uh, some of the casts from Eternals Kumul and Angelina, and it's on audio and it's so fun cause we're on zoom, but obviously we just use the audio. It's a podcast. So it's all over thisA-listers and pajamas are hanging out. And where does key came for a recording?
So it's, it's really, really been a great experience and fun fact. My first job at 18, I was a PhotoPass photographer at Disney world, I grew up in Orlando when I was in high school. And I find myself back at the mouse now. So Disney is our parent company and it's been great back at the mouse. I like it.
Can't get away. The big cheese I worked for the big cheese.
Kristel:
You're going to have to give me the inside scoop Tony offline. Cause we, my kids don't listen to my show. So I can say this. They won't know where surprising them over spring break and we're going to go to Disney then some of the other parks. So I was like, I need on my to-do list is like call the Disney number and find out what if they're doing these tours still and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
But I'm sure you can give me some insight insights.
Tony:
Yeah. But you know, it's such a good time to go because they're celebrating the 50th anniversary still at Walt Disney world. So it's such, such a good time to. Kristel:
Oh fun while this has been awesome. And we are coming towards the end. I'm going to do a couple like fun, quick wellness, lightning, round questions for you, Tony.
But before that, anything else you'd like to share. I'm going to put links to all your stuff in the episode details, but anything we didn't touch on that you want to share with everybody?
Tony:
We covered a lot of things, we did everything. And I was just, I mentioned my awards here around me, but I've, I've noticed that I hang certificates and I frame things and I got into framing during COVID as well.
And I frame a lot of wins and I was watching an episode of queer eye last night, and they did sort of the same thing for one of their folks, but what stuck out to me was a line. They said something around. It's always great to celebrate you and to have them as reminders. So don't be afraid to hang pictures of yourself on the wall or certificates.
I'd say like, we all need to be reminded of our own wins and be able to inspire ourselves from time to time. Especially when we're down unexpectedly, you can just look up and say, ah, this is still worth it. So I just want to encourage anyone who's listening to. That's such an easy way to motivate yourself from time to time is just celebrate your wins.
Kristel:
I love that. Be your own biggest advocate. Actually something I need to get more comfortable with. My husband is so great and he will like frame the different accomplishments that I've had and he knows like magazine articles and stuff like that. And then, and it's so nice. I love it. But at the same time, like I would never do that for myself.
Tony:
You know, and it can be hard. Right. And I'll tell you that I started doing it. I had a, one of our alumni magazine a few years ago, and it's just been sitting here collecting dust. And I started this framing journey by framing. Some of these for my mom is like Christmas present. And then I was like, well, I want one.
This looks really cool. So to get things custom framed as a whole totally like new world that I'm in, but they are so good at what they do. So kristel, I encourage you. To do it and then we just went out. Oh, that's okay. There we go.
Kristel:
Now. Well, okay. A couple of quick questions for you, Tony. So this is kind of just a silly, fun one.
You are on a deserted island and you have to bring three foods with you. You don't know what is going to be there. The three foods are going to be really the only things that you're going to have for you don't know how long, what would you bring? What would your three foods be? Oh, my gosh. Well, it wouldn't last long, but first thing I thought of, which is definitely my cheap item is I love chocolate covered raisins to get your fiber in there and your treat.
Absolutely. Oh my gosh. What else would I bring? Like grocery items or while
Kristel:
It's the only thing you can eat when you're there. Tony. So I don't know. What would you be eating if you're there for like a month?
Tony:
Oh gosh, I'm just, I'm going to, I'm going to say coconuts. That's food and water. Resourceful and Bananas.
Kristel:
You said that like, so like what a weird combo, coconut bananas, chocolate covered raisins. That sounds like an awful hotel, like, okay, perfect. Now the last question that I have for you, what advice would you give to yourself from 10 years ago? Knowing what you know today?
Tony:
Oh, gosh. I would say number one, keep going.
Until it really does get better. And I think for number two, that's more than just an for LGBT people as are everybody. It really does get better.
Kristel:
Love it. Well, that's a wonderful way to end and my light went out. So that's the sign to you and thank you so much, Tony. It was a lot of fun.
Tony:
Thank you Kristel