90s Talk Show Live Brings Nostalgia, Culture, and Community Together for a Cause

The girls were out in living color as SHEEN Magazine joined the city for 90s Talk Show Live, an immersive entertainment experience hosted by AspireTV host and producer Vee Carter, featuring special guest Gail Bean. Blending the nostalgia of ’90s culture with live entertainment, interactive conversations, and community engagement, the October 17 event brought together creatives, entrepreneurs, music lovers, and supporters for an evening with a purpose.

Check out the event recap on SHEENTV

From the moment guests entered the space, the atmosphere reflected the vibrant spirit of an era that continues to influence fashion, music, and popular culture. With delicious food, great music, an engaging live talk show, and an eclectic lineup of talent, the experience offered something for everyone. Yet, beyond the nostalgia and entertainment, the evening carried a mission that made the gathering especially meaningful: raising support for Gail Bean’s nonprofit organization, Dream Above The Influence.

The event’s interactive format created opportunities for guests to engage with the people and talent who made the evening special. From live performances to conversations with featured guests, 90s Talk Show Live celebrated the many expressions of Black culture while creating space for meaningful connections. The creative lineup included visual artists Quake and Dizzy, singer Chrissy Ash, headlining performer and recording artist Only Heaven, and Lorees “Rees The Writer” Razaa.

Only Heaven Brings the Sound of New Orleans to Atlanta

Headlining performer and recording artist Only Heaven brought the vibrant spirit of New Orleans to the stage, sharing not only her musical talents but also her passion for preserving and expanding the reach of her city’s culture. With a commitment to creating a platform for bounce music, she sees her artistry as an opportunity to introduce more audiences to the sound and cultural identity of New Orleans.

“I love my city, and I love being able to put our sound on the map. We are real soulful people, we are real cultural people, so I want to continue showing the world what New Orleans can do,” she shared.

Her love for her hometown was evident throughout our conversation, and her personality was just as vibrant as her viral hits. Naturally, I couldn’t leave without learning a little New Orleans lingo. I asked her, “What would be some lingo I use that even the locals would recognize?”

Her answer came with the enthusiasm you’d expect from someone who proudly represents her city.

“SISTAAAA! Anything you doing in the city, people are gonna recognize ‘sistaa,’” she explained.

The exchange offered a glimpse into the personality behind the performer and the cultural pride that fuels her artistry. For Only Heaven, representing New Orleans means continuing to create space for its distinctive sound while showing the world what her community has to offer. Her presence was a reminder that music can carry the identity of a city far beyond its borders, connecting audiences to the people, language, and traditions that make it unique.

Gail Bean: Bringing Atlanta’s Story to the Screen

Sheen Magazine has had the pleasure of connecting with Gail Bean before. In 2022, we caught up with the actress at Refinery29 Unbothered’s The Glow Up, where we discussed her portrayal of Roulette in P-Valley. One statement from that conversation stayed with me: “Roulette was so Atlanta.”

As an Atlanta native, that observation resonated with me.

The city has a distinct cultural identity, and seeing elements of that identity reflected in the characters portrayed on screen is always worth exploring. When we reunited with Bean at 90s Talk Show Live, I was eager to continue that conversation by asking what aspects of Atlanta she brings to her now-infamous character Wanda from the Snowfall franchise, whose story continues in FX’s The Drop.

“Wanda is so real, she’s so strong. I bring the strength of a woman who’s been through something and fought her way out,” Bean shared.

Her response spoke to the resilience at the heart of Wanda’s character. It also brought our conversation back to a shared love for Atlanta, a city whose influence extends beyond its music and entertainment industries into the stories of the people who call it home.

Yet, as we spoke about the city that has shaped so much of her journey, what stood out most was Bean’s dedication to giving back. While her acting career continues to bring her work to audiences, her investment in Atlanta’s youth reflects a commitment that reaches far beyond the screen.

Earlier that same day, Bean hosted her Project 404 fundraiser, providing 404 children throughout the metro Atlanta area with winter essentials and giving their families a day filled with fun and meaningful experiences. The initiative demonstrated how community support can address immediate needs while creating opportunities for families to spend quality time together.

Dream Above The Influence: Investing in the Next Generation

The evening’s 90s Talk Show Live experience served as a fundraiser for Dream Above The Influence, the nonprofit founded by Bean and her co-founder and best friend, Teante Huff. Dedicated to empowering young people through mentorship, resources, and exposure, the organization works to enrich the quality of life within historically disenfranchised communities.

Through its programming and initiatives, Dream Above The Influence seeks to create opportunities that help young people envision and pursue brighter futures. Its work includes community events and the All of My Love scholarships, which support the organization’s broader commitment to changing the trajectory of young people’s lives.

Reflecting on the importance of the organization’s mission, Bean shared, 

“It means so much to give back and to see the way that the city and the things we pour back into these kids making a real difference, from our events, our All of My Love scholarships that we give, we are able to really change the trajectory of so many of these kids’ lives.”

Her words underscored the heart behind the evening. For Bean and Huff, giving back means more than hosting a fundraiser or distributing resources. It means creating sustained opportunities for young people to receive support, gain access to new experiences, and recognize the possibilities available to them. The connection between Project 404 and Dream Above The Influence reflects that commitment in action. From providing winter essentials to creating scholarship opportunities, these efforts demonstrate how community investment can take many forms while serving a common purpose: helping young people thrive.

And what better way to rally a community around that purpose than through an experience rooted in the very culture that brings people together?

A Celebration of Culture, Creativity, and Community

Beyond the performances and conversations, the vendor market offered another opportunity to connect with Atlanta’s entrepreneurial community. Attendees explored offerings from Patsie Girl Natural Body Care and Pulse Performance Buckhead, adding a marketplace element to an evening that celebrated local businesses alongside artists and entertainers.

Every component of the experience contributed to the atmosphere, from the music and interactive talk show to the visual artists and vendors who helped bring the event to life. The nostalgic inspiration of the ’90s provided a familiar cultural backdrop, while the lineup of talent reflected the diversity and creativity of today’s entertainment landscape.

The Vision behind the Show

Ultimately, 90s Talk Show Live was a beautiful culmination of nostalgia, cultural pride, and a cause greater than any individual. It brought people together to celebrate artistry, support entrepreneurship, and contribute to a mission centered on the next generation.

“The decision to make 90’s Talk Show Live a benefit occasion for Gail Bean’s ‘Dream Above the Influence’ (DATI) was truly created at the intersection of understanding community and what it means to be proactive,” says Vee Carter, Curator of the event  

“90’s Talk Show Live is about fun, nostalgia, and music, but it also is about bringing people together for those common interests. Having Gail and the DATI team up with us meant that we got to hit two birds with one stone: we got to appreciate what the ’90s did for the culture and support the future of the Atlanta youth.”

From Only Heaven’s dedication to putting New Orleans bounce music on the map to Gail Bean’s commitment to creating opportunities for Atlanta’s youth, the evening highlighted the many ways creatives can use their platforms to uplift the communities that inspire them.

In a city as culturally rich as Atlanta, the impact of an event can extend well beyond the room in which it takes place. When entertainment becomes a vehicle for philanthropy, and familiar faces use their influence to bring attention to meaningful causes, the result is an opportunity for the community to participate in something lasting.

90s Talk Show Live reminded us that culture has the power to bring people together, but it is what we choose to build through that connection that can make the greatest difference.

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