Community Highlights: Meet Davina Douthard of The Able Show

ORIGINAL SOURCE — VOYAGE LA

In this Voyage LA feature, Davina Douthard opens up about her journey from an entertainment-filled childhood in Inglewood to founding The Able Show, a pioneering podcast that empowers individuals with disabilities in the entertainment industry. Inspired by her uncle, Nathaniel Taylor (Rollo from Sanford and Son), Davina began her career as an image consultant and entrepreneur, founding Mass Appeal Magazine and The Image Cartel. Her dedication to diversity and inclusion led to the launch of The Able Show in collaboration with Dream Magic Studios. The show, which trains and employs people with disabilities in production roles, aims to reshape industry standards by promoting representation and fostering a sense of community and self-worth among its team. Davina’s story highlights her enduring commitment to breaking down barriers and championing a more inclusive entertainment landscape.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Davina Douthard

Hi Davina, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.

Raised in Inglewood, I was immersed in the vibrant world of entertainment from a young age. My uncle, the iconic Nathaniel Taylor, known to many as Rollo from Sanford and Son, ignited my passion for this industry. My first taste of the limelight came when I was cast as a cheerleader in Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure. Although I didn’t complete the movie, the experience was a thrill. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of working with numerous celebrities and industry giants, including RCA, Arista, Capitol Records, and many talented artists and actors, assisting them in managing their image.

My entrepreneurial spirit has been a driving force in my three-decade-long career. It led me to explore various roles, from image consulting to creative management, writing, and executive producing. In each of these positions, my focus was on mentoring and helping others succeed. In 1991, I founded Mass Appeal Magazine, a publication dedicated to image consulting and personal branding. The same year, I launched The Image Cartel, my image consulting service, and Polishing the Professional, a comprehensive career center that provides training and employment opportunities for both non-disabled individuals and those with disabilities.

My unwavering commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in the entertainment industry has been a constant thread in my career. This commitment led me to launch my most recent endeavor, The Able Show, at the beginning of this year. This groundbreaking show, a collaboration between Polishing the Professional and Dream Magic Studios, is a testament to our belief in providing equal opportunities. It offers individuals with disabilities the chance to work in various production roles, marking a significant step towards a more inclusive entertainment industry. The show’s rapid growth and its profound impact on diversifying the industry fill me and my team with immense pride.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

Despite the many successes, my journey has not been without its share of challenges. The path to establishing myself in the entertainment industry and business in general was often steep and rocky, but I persevered. Running a business isn’t easy despite the players on social media propping it up and representing it as a glamorous endeavor. One of the main challenges has been entry into the entertainment industry. I am genuinely grateful for the partnership with Dream Magic Studios, which has helped us progress swiftly; they are a blessing. The Able Show has picked four new projects to produce, so it’s gratifying.

Regarding The Able Show, I am driven by my passion and belief in the importance of diversity and inclusion. Our challenges have mostly been specific personal barriers for the individuals with disabilities we work with. Many people we have hired haven’t had the opportunities others have. We embrace the opportunity to help them understand their worth and learn how to cope with working on such a large production. It’s overwhelming for professionals who’ve done this for many years, but it’s equally challenging for those who have been shut out of virtually everything their entire lives. I also think many of our individuals with disabilities don’t often trust their capabilities because so many people have told them their entire lives that they can’t do the things they want to do. We are here to show them and the rest of the world that we are all able.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?

As an organization, we have had many triumphs, but right now, I am most proud of establishing The Able Show and what it is doing for the disability community.

One of my biggest life missions has always been to work towards more representation of the disability community in entertainment. In 2024, I launched The Able Show, a podcast where individuals with disabilities handle most production roles. With over 1.3 billion individuals with disabilities worldwide, the show is committed to harnessing and exhibiting the disability community’s power and influence through impactful conversations and inclusion.

Weekly, our hosts, former NBA player Olden Polynice (who was born with a disability) and Scott Ealey, an intern with Autism, and Rebecca Cristancho and Bruna Bertossi interview celebrity guests and pop-culture figures and inspire individuals from disabled and non-disabled communities. The Able Show is about inclusivity. We aim to explore diverse perspectives on intriguing topics such as entertainment, sports, human rights, and more. Recent guests included legendary comedian Joe Torry, impressionist painter Tommy Hollenstein, and R&B vocalist Keith Washington.

The Able Show has filled a massive void in entertainment and has been bringing creative visionaries together since its launch. With a strong community at the core of production, The Able Show has created access to the entertainment industry for the disabled community and will continue to advocate within the industry for equal representation.

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