Stars Making a Social Impact: Why & How Michelle Harris of Animal Angels Is Helping To Change Our World
I loved animals my entire life! There was never one moment, I just knew I would help them in any way I could. They don’t have a voice so we need to be there for them. All animals and humans deserve to be treated well.
As a part of our series about stars who are making an important social impact, I had the pleasure of interviewing Michelle Harris.
Michelle Harris is the host of Alive & Well with Michelle Harris, a national TV series promoting the wellness lifestyle. Michelle is one of the media’s leading lifestyle experts and is a frequent guest on TV shows, radio shows, magazine interviews, red carpets and live events. Michelle is also the co-founder of Animal Angels, a non-profit advocacy group where celebrities promote pet health and adoptions.
Follow Michelle on IG @michelleharris_tv
Thank you so much for joining us on this interview series. Can you share with us the backstory that led you to this career path?
It was really organic for me. I had been working in television and wellness was a big part of my personal life. My husband and I decided to create a television production company dedicated to helping to improve people’s lives. That is how our television series Alive & Well was born.
Can you share the funniest or most interesting story that occurred to you in the course of your career? What was the lesson or takeaway you took out of that story?
We had a celebrity guest on Alive & Well (who shall remain nameless). This person is a great artist but was also very demanding on set. She made us completely re-light and change her setup to feature her most flattering angles. I learned that you should ask for what you want to get the best possible product, but also not to be overly pushy or obnoxious about it. We are all in this together!
What would you advise a young person who wants to emulate your success?
Know how to do more than one job. I am a talent who also produces. I really produce, not a credit. I set up shoots, write scripts, work in posts and more. The more you can do the more valuable you are to any company.
Is there a person that made a profound impact on your life? Can you share a story?
One of the teachers in my master acting program was a huge influence in my life. He pushed me to be better while gaining confidence. He was also an amazing actor and human being.
I was fortunate enough to be one of two students he included in his book on acting. When I left to move to California he presented me with an award that is one of my most valuable possessions. It means so much to me to have earned his respect and friendship.
How are you using your success to bring goodness to the world? Can you share with us the meaningful or exciting causes you’re working on right now?
I am passionate about helping people! I am fortunate that that is what we do on Alive & Well! We are doing a make-over for a Covid survivor who was on a ventilator for over 8 weeks and lost her mother to Covid during that time. She has one more surgery to go to repair damage done to her vocal cords. Once that is done we are going to do everything we can to help her to heal and look and feel her best!
I am also the co-founder of Animal Angels, an animal advocacy and rescue group. I am passionate about animals and the environment and it’s a big part of who I am as a person. I always want to leave things better than I found them!
Can you share with us a story behind why you chose to take up this particular cause?
I loved animals my entire life! There was never one moment, I just knew I would help them in any way I could. They don’t have a voice so we need to be there for them. All animals and humans deserve to be treated well.
Can you share with us a story about a person who was impacted by your cause?
I follow a vegan diet. I have had many people go vegan/plant-based. This helps animals and the environment, but they also feel better. Diets high in fresh fruits and vegetables along with healthy fats are the key to maintaining a healthy weight and feeling your best.
Are there three things or are there things that individuals, society, or the government can do to support you in this effort?
Yes. There are so many things we can do. One of the easiest is to stop puppy mills and over breeding. We have too many animals that need homes. So many unwanted pets are killed every year because we don’t have enough homes. Not only is it heartbreaking, but there is a financial cost to taxpayers having so many unwanted animals. Puppy mills should be outlawed.
Fortunately, there is a great deal people can do. Adopt, don’t shop! Rescues know the personalities of the pets they adopt so you get a great fit, and they are spayed and neutered.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started”
- Get a mentor. You need people who will help to lift you up.
- Be prepared to give it your all because it’s not easy.
- Keep studying. I am always taking classes to improve my knowledge of health and wellness.
- Do it yourself. Most people have to create their own opportunities.
- Take advantage of opportunities that come your way. It’s easy to miss out on things that may have a tremendous impact.
You’re a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
Our group Animal Angels is a community of people who help animals and the environment and we have only just begun. We have started something called, “The Link”. It’s where we help others, who in turn help others. It’s a chain of good that we hope will show great we can be when we work together to make the world a better place.
Can you please give us your favorite life lesson quote? And can you explain how that was relevant in your life?
My go-to quote is to treat people the way you would like to be treated yourself. You can never go wrong. Plus, treating others well has the added benefit of fewer regrets and feeling better about yourself!
We are blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them.
I would love to meet Ron Howard. He is a great producer/director but he is also dedicated to giving back. Success is great if you are using it to help others!
Thank you so much for these amazing insights. This was so inspiring, and we wish you continued success!
About The Interviewer: Growing up in Canada, Edward Sylvan was an unlikely candidate to make a mark on the high-powered film industry based in Hollywood. But as CEO of Sycamore Entertainment Group Inc, (SEGI) Sylvan is among a select group of less than ten Black executives who have founded, own and control a publicly traded company. Now, deeply involved in the movie business, he is providing opportunities for people of color.
In 2020, he was appointed president of the Monaco International Film Festival, and was encouraged to take the festival in a new digital direction.
Raised in Toronto, he attended York University where he studied Economics and Political Science, then went to work in finance on Bay Street, (the city’s equivalent of Wall Street). After years of handling equities trading, film tax credits, options trading and mergers and acquisitions for the film, mining and technology industries, in 2008 he decided to reorient his career fully towards the entertainment business.
With the aim of helping Los Angeles filmmakers of color who were struggling to understand how to raise capital, Sylvan wanted to provide them with ways to finance their creative endeavors.
At Sycamore Entertainment he specializes in print and advertising financing, marketing, acquisition and worldwide distribution of quality feature-length motion pictures, and is concerned with acquiring, producing and promoting films about equality, diversity and other thought provoking subject matter which will also include nonviolent storytelling.
Stars Making a Social Impact: Why & How Michelle Harris of Animal Angels Is Helping To Change Our… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.