Ashley Eckstein and Michael James Scott Launch Sparkling New Podcast HypeFriend! and Reunite to Co-Host Her Universe Fashion Show at San Diego Comic-Con 2025

Get ready to laugh, overshare, and embrace friendship with open arms and jazz hands! Disney icons Ashley Eckstein (beloved voice of Ahsoka Tano from Star Wars: The Clone Wars) and Michael James Scott (Broadway’s show-stopping Genie in Aladdin) are teaming up for their brand-new weekly podcast, HypeFriend! — and kicking things off in epic style with a three-episode premiere dropping July 11.

But that’s just the beginning.

The dynamic duo are reuniting live at San Diego Comic-Con 2025, returning as co-hosts of the highly anticipated Her Universe Fashion Show Presented by Universal, the official opening night celebration of SDCC, happening Thursday, July 24 at 6:00 PM PT in the Seaport Ballroom of the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel.

🎧 HypeFriend!: A Glittery Group Hug in Podcast Form

Launched with the mission of sparking a “friendship revolution, one HypeFriend at a time,” Eckstein and Scott describe the podcast as a comedic, joy-filled space packed with:

• Hypes & Gripes
• Good Gossip
• Neighbor Drop-Ins
• And candid, feel-good conversations

The first episodes feature special guests like Bret Iwan (official voice of Mickey Mouse) and Andrew Levitt (aka RuPaul’s Drag Race star Nina West). The podcast is available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

💬 “Just like someone might share a recipe for a cake, there is a recipe for friendship!” says Eckstein.
🎭 “I’m the friend who shows up in a FIERCE outfit to eat the cake… even if it’s burnt,” quips Scott.

🌟 Her Universe Fashion Show Returns in Style

Known as the fashion-forward kickoff to SDCC, the Her Universe Fashion Show is a dazzling celebration of fandom-meets-runway couture. Ashley Eckstein, founder of Her Universe, and Michael James Scott, now in his third year as co-host, promise another night of jaw-dropping designs, Broadway-level theatrics, and joyful celebration of geek fashion and community.

🧵 Expect bold fandom-inspired fashion, powerhouse vocals, and more sparkle than a Disney fireworks finale.

🎤 LIVE: HypeFriend! After Party Taping at SDCC

For the first time ever, fans are invited to be part of the podcast magic with a special live taping of the HypeFriend! After Show:

📍 Friday, July 25 | 10:00 – 11:00 AM
📌 Neil Morgan Auditorium, San Diego Central Library

Attendees will get behind-the-scenes insights from the fashion show, meet the newly crowned winners, and connect with the HypeFriend community IRL. It’s not just a podcast — it’s a movement of fun, fashion, and friendship.

🎬 About HypeFriend!

HypeFriend! is produced by Dream Three, the multi-platform entertainment studio co-founded by Michael James Scott and award-winning writer-director Jeremy Merrifield. With roots in Broadway and a heart full of fandom, the podcast aims to inspire connection, celebrate individuality, and create a place where everyone is welcome — glitter optional, good vibes required.

📲 Don’t Miss a Beat

Follow @HerUniverse, @HypeFriendPod, and @AshleyEckstein for all the latest podcast drops, SDCC updates, and friendship-powered content.