Mark Berryhill
Chief Executive Officer
Mark is CEO of equalpride, which produces The Advocates. He leads the team to new goals and ventures with his strong background in journalism, video, marketing, and branded content. His career has taken him from reporting to running some of the most award-winning television newsrooms in Boston, San Francisco, and Pittsburgh. He has served as Vice President of News and Marketing for the Meredith Broadcast group and then founded Meredith Video Solutions, which took major brands like Better Homes & Gardens, Shape, and other media brands to television, digital video, and branded content. Mark has served as a consultant for digital expansion to major publishers and broadcast groups and served as President and Chief Content Officer for his company, Equal Entertainment. Mark is active in the queer and equality communities when it comes to charity work, mentoring, and speaking engagements.
He also serves on the Easterseals National Board of Directors. Mark and his husband, Daryl, have five wonderful grown children who keep them busy and active.
Mary Schwager
Senior Executive Producer of Programming
Mary Schwager is right at home at The Advocates. Her award-winning, mission-driven reporting has helped people fight city hall, get their money back, reform animal shelters, change laws, and save lives.
She is a digital, print, and television journalist who has won 17 Emmy Awards, eight Edward R. Murrow Awards, and numerous other honors. She's worked as an investigative and consumer reporter and producer at television stations nationwide. She's also known as "Watchdog Mary" and built an award-winning brand advocating for animals, the environment, and consumers.
Mary graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI. While she was in Wisconsin, she also worked as a state-licensed detective performing insurance fraud and criminal investigations.
Sonia Baghdady
Sonia Baghdady is an Emmy, Associated Press, and Telly Award-winning host and producer. Before hosting The Advocates, Sonia co-anchored the nationally syndicated entertainment show Celebrity Page, giving viewers inside access to red carpets, celebrities, and pop culture. Sonia also hosted the daytime talk show The Juice on the national health and wellness network Z Living. The Juice was a live lifestyle audience talk show, with a fast-paced mix of celebrity guests, pop culture headlines, food, fitness, fashion, beauty, and wellness.
Sonia began her career as a television news anchor and reporter, working for local affiliates including ABC, NBC, and Cablevision. As a TV news anchor, Sonia won an Emmy Award for a consumer series she produced and hosted.
Michael Smith
Environmental Editor
Michaelis the supervising producer, operations manager, and environmental editor for The Advocates, which features his compelling, visual, and timely Advocating Earth segments.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Mississippi State University with an emphasis in broadcast meteorology. He is a proud member of the American Meteorological Society and holds the prestigious AMS Television Seal of Approval.
Michael’s career in broadcast meteorology spans various regions, from the Midwest to the Southeast. He spent six years as the chief meteorologist at a television station in Greenville, South Carolina, and nearly eight years tracking tropical weather on television in Miami, Florida. His work has earned him notable accolades, including an Emmy Award for outstanding achievement in television news programming excellence and best weathercaster from The Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas.
Outside of work, Michael enjoys watching documentaries, spending quality time with friends and family, and proudly embraces his inner “aviation geek.”
Lamont Baldwin
Correspondent
Lamont Baldwin is a correspondent for The Advocates. He is a proud graduate of Brooklyn College and holds a Master of Fine Arts in Television Production, complementing his Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications from Norfolk State University.
Beyond the screen, Lamont is a dynamic web personality and the host of Hella Single, Out Magazine’s popular podcast exploring dating and relationships through an queer lens. His broadcasting journey began in 2007 as a segment host for WGNT’s Teen News Now, laying the foundation for a vibrant career in media and storytelling. Lamont enjoys discovering new podcasts, experimenting in the kitchen, and spending quality time with his friends and family when he's not reporting or podcasting.
Stephen Walker
Correspondent, Host, and Executive Producer Out Now
Stephen Walker is a distinguished journalist and on-air correspondent, captivating audiences worldwide from his bases in New York, London, and Los Angeles. He trained at the world-famous Urdang Academy in Covent Garden, where he began his journey in the entertainment industry, working across stage, screen, and television. Deeply committed to philanthropy, Stephen dedicates much of his time to bringing the arts to underprivileged children, teaching and inspiring the next generation of talent.
Known for his engaging and insightful reporting, Stephen brings a global perspective to every story. Before joining Advocates Originals, he honed his expertise at BBC Worldwide, where he worked on the acclaimed show Word on the Street. He now hosts multiple programs, including Out Now, where he dives into the rich history of Out and The Advocate magazines, exploring their most iconic covers and uncovering the cultural and political significance behind the images through compelling interviews and storytelling.
Deeply passionate about amplifying queer voices, Stephen is celebrated for his commitment to impactful journalism. His work has earned industry recognition, and he remains dedicated to inspiring aspiring journalists. With exciting projects on the horizon, Stephen continues to be a vital force in media, shedding light on the stories that shape our world.
Darren Garrett
Senior Producer
Darren Garrett is an Emmy-winning television producer and entertainment journalist with nearly 30 years of experience. He is thrilled to work for as a senior producer for The Advocates.
He was the executive producer of the nationally syndicated entertainment news show Celebrity Page TV and was a producer at Scripps News. He also produced at top local television stations, including WGN and WMAQ in Chicago, WDIV in Detroit, and KVVU in Las Vegas.
Darren also produces the Out100 television special, OutNow, The Pride of Broadway, and other shows for equalpride.
Darren is a member of the Critics Choice Association and the Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics. He is based in Las Vegas.
Brian Kelley
Senior Producer
Brian Kelley is a video producer with seven years of experience in news and creating compelling content. A proud Florida State University alumnus, Brian is passionate about telling stories that spark curiosity, whether it's through the wonders of science and nature or uplifting, heartwarming human and animal experiences. His work is driven by a love of storytelling that educates, inspires, and connects.
Iris Wall
Post Production Editor/Producer
Iris is a post-production editor and producer with over 17 years of experience in the production world. After many years working in New York City, Iris returned to her roots in Missoula, Montana, where she now lives with her partner, two kids, and a very silly goldendoodle. Her approach to production is collaborative and grounded, shaping stories in a way that feels both intentional and authentic.
Kristen Argis Barker
Editor
Kristen Argis Barker is a seasoned editor, producer, and director for television and web-based media. For more than two decades, she's used her passion for storytelling to craft long and short form content for companies like iVillage/NBC Universal, A&E, Meredith, Celebrity Page, Next Millennium Productions, Daily Burn, Apartment Therapy, and NYC Media, among many others. Kristen loves the collaborative nature of her work and is proud to have contributed to productions that include the nationally syndicated The Better Show, where she was chief editor for several Emmy-nominated seasons.
She kick-started her production career after winning a Time Warner contest for best student commercial and soon landed her first gig writing promos at HBO. Fascinated by the editors she watched working their magic every day, Kristen knew then and there that’s what she wanted to do. She has a positive attitude, a keen eye for detail, and is always eager to work on new and inspirational projects.
Kristen was born and raised in NYC. She and her husband have three lively boys who always keep her on her toes. She recently moved to the Hudson Valley, where there’s plenty of room for her children to run around, make mud balls, and enjoy epic wiffle ball games with their friends.
She's thrilled to be working with The Advocates and can't wait to see what projects are coming up next!
Erik Brock
Senior Graphic Designer
Erik Brock is the Senior Graphic Designer for The Advocates, bringing his creative talents and art direction to every project he creates for our show.
Erik has 15+ years in broadcast design, marketing, and promotions. He began his career in Atlanta, GA, working for CNN, then with CBS, Peachtree TV, and the NBC affiliate in Nashville.
Erik currently resides in Palm Springs, CA, with his husband and their dog.
In his spare time, Erik enjoys traveling, cooking, and long hikes with his dog.