Brand Building: She never stopped reinventing herself from Broadway, television, songwriting, animation, philanthropy, and leadership.
Strawberry Letter
iHeartPodcasts
4.5 • 1.7K Ratings
🗓️ 27 January 2026
⏱️ 31 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dawnn Lewis.
Summary of the Interview
On Money Making Conversations Masterclass, Rushion McDonald interviews Dawnn Lewis—iconic actress, singer, songwriter, voice actress, philanthropist, and founder of the A New Day Foundation. The conversation traces her extraordinary career, starting from her childhood as a singer, dancer, and actor, through her rise to fame on A Different World, her decades-long voiceover career (including The Simpsons, Futurama, Star Trek: Lower Decks), and her ongoing philanthropic work supporting youth nationwide.
Dawnn discusses the challenges of being a multi-talented artist in an industry eager to box people into one lane, how A Different World both elevated and pigeonholed her, and how animation opened a vast new chapter for her that has lasted more than 30 years. She shares her philosophy on longevity, discipline, relationships, and the responsibility to give back. The interview also highlights her foundation’s programs supporting students, HBCUs, and underserved communities.
Purpose of the Interview
1. Celebrate Dawnn Lewis’s multi-decade, multi-disciplinary career
The interview showcases the depth of her talent—from singing and songwriting to acting, animation, and Broadway.
2. Highlight representation and legacy
Dawnn discusses the cultural impact of A Different World and her groundbreaking role as a Black female captain in Star Trek: Lower Decks.
3. Inspire audiences with her journey from Bed-Stuy to global success
Her story emphasizes perseverance, big dreaming, and ignoring limitations others impose.
4. Promote the A New Day Foundation
Dawnn details programs empowering youth, HBCU students, and underserved communities.
5. Provide insight into surviving and thriving in entertainment
She shares the importance of relationships, versatility, and constant self-improvement.
Key Takeaways
1. She was a “triple threat” long before Hollywood discovered her
Singing, dancing, and acting from age 7–11, she began performing professionally at 10 and even launched her own musical theatre degree program at the University of Miami.
2. A Different World brought fame but also typecasting
While it launched her into global visibility, it also led people to underestimate her songwriting, music, and voiceover abilities.
3. Her voice acting career spans more than 30 years
She has voiced characters on The Simpsons, Futurama, Star Trek: Lower Decks, Craig of the Creek, Fairly OddParents, Mortal Kombat, and many more.
Her entry into animation came from imitating her young niece for a role.
4. Representation matters deeply to her
Seeing Nichelle Nichols on Star Trek inspired her as a child; today, Dawnn is one of the very few Black captains in the Star Trek universe.
5. The industry rewards resilience and relationships
Dawnn emphasizes that her longevity comes from consistently doing excellent work and nurturing her professional network.
6. She founded the A New Day Foundation to uplift youth
Her programs serve teens, HBCU students, and communities nationwide, providing mentorship, laptops, scholarships, and life skills training.
7. Dawnn’s journey is one of intentional growth and constant reinvention
She never stopped expanding—into Broadway, television, songwriting, animation, philanthropy, and leadership.
Notable Quotes
(All quotes from the uploaded transcript.)
On talent and early training
- “I was singing, dancing at seven, acting at eleven… doing all three professionally since I was about ten years old.”
- “I thought I was going to be a recording artist… I had my own single out. I was charting on Billboard.”
On being boxed in
- “I didn’t start getting pigeonholed until I did A Different World… now you’re just an actress.”
On entering animation
- “There weren’t very many people of color in the animation world… the director said, ‘Who are you? How come I never met you before?’”
- “I get to voice characters they wouldn’t hire me visually to play.”
On representation and Star Trek
- “In the legacy of Star Trek, it’s me and Avery Brooks as the Black captains.”
- “Seeing Nichelle Nichols made me hopeful… she was my hero.”
On career longevity
- “You quiet the naysayers by just showing up and doing the work.”
- “God keeps opening doors and giving me what I need to walk through them successfully.”
On giving back
- “I am my best investment.” (also used in her foundation’s mission)
- “Where you were yesterday is not where you have to end up today.”
@#SHMS #STRAW #BEST
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This is an I-Heart podcast. |
| 0:02.5 | Guaranteed Human. |
| 0:09.1 | Welcome to the show. |
| 0:10.6 | I am Rishon McDonnell, the host of Money Making Conversations Masterclass, |
| 0:14.7 | where we encourage people to stop reading other people's success stories |
| 0:18.0 | and start planning their own. |
| 0:20.4 | Listen up as I interview entrepreneurs |
| 0:22.4 | from around the country, talk to celebrities, and ask them how they are running their companies, |
| 0:27.7 | and speak with nonprofits who are making a difference in their local communities. Now sit back and |
| 0:32.9 | listen as we unlock the secrets to their success on Money Making Conversations Masterclass. |
| 0:38.3 | Hi, I'm Rishon McDonnell. I host this Money Making Conversation Masterclass show. |
| 0:43.3 | The interviews and information that this show provides are for everyone. |
| 0:46.3 | It's time to stop reading other people's success stories and start living your own. |
| 0:50.3 | For decades, my guest has used her celebrity platform for mentoring, lecturing, |
| 0:55.2 | giving concerts, and donating her time and talents to causes across America and abroad |
| 1:00.0 | on behalf of organizations such as UNICEF, UNCF, Congressional Black Caucus Against HIV-AIDS, |
| 1:06.8 | and America Heart Association. She is amazing. She really is. In addition to her acting, she lends her voice work on such shows as Star Trek Lord Dex, and she currently lends her voice to reoccurring characters on the Simpsons and Futurama. Please welcome to Money Making Conversation Masterclass, the iconic and very, very funny, Don Lewis. How you doing, Don? Oh, I'm great. I'm great. Or should I say, Tina Turner Mama. Tina Turner, Mama, Dr. Dawn, whatever comes to mind. Whatever comes to mind. Because that's the last time we talked. You was on Broadway. Tina Turner, Mama, doing your thing, and you see, having a great time. But, you know, your whole career, thank you for coming on the show, first of all. |
| 1:44.5 | My pleasure. Thanks for having me. |
| 1:45.9 | Now, you know, I go back with you, we're not talking about television. We first kind of met. I was manager Steve Harvey. You came into the radio studio. He was doing music. You was singing. So you had all these different layers in your life, you know, actress, singer, voiceover work, |
| 2:03.6 | activist, philanthropists. |
| 2:06.6 | Let's start talking about dicing up these different levels. |
| 2:09.6 | Okay. |
... |
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