We had the good fortune of connecting with Yael Tygiel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Yael, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
When you’re passionate about something, I honestly don’t think if there’s ever a time to give up. Will there be set backs that make you consider it? Absolutely! Are there times when you’ll need to take a detour, or find a new path? Sure. But if you want to accomplish something, go after it.

For me, I know what I love to do, what I’m meant to do, what I’m passionate about, and nothing is going to stop me from achieving that goal. That doesn’t mean it’s going to be a direct route.

Sometimes you end up needing to accept a day job that is completely outside the field you’re pursuing, and while it may delay reaching your target, it might also teach you new skills, introduce you to new connections, or even reveal another passion. For me, some of the day jobs I’ve done were just speed bumps along the way. They may have delayed where I’m going, but they’ve never stopped me. I continued to work towards my dream.

When giving up isn’t an option, there won’t be a right time to consider it.  

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

As Lizzo recently said on the cover of People Magazine, “There was no Lizzo before Lizzo”, she had to blaze her own trail and I feel like I have to do the same. Growing up, I believed I wanted to be an actor, but I abandoned that dream at San Francisco State University, and was kind of aimless for a few years. After graduation I was lucky enough to stumble into an office manager job with Sidereel where I also wrote TV recaps. After a bit I helped them build their video presence with movie junket interviews and red carpets, and that’s when I found my calling.

I remember the day: I wrote and hosted their daily news segment in the morning, took a taxi to interview Emma Stone and Octavia Spencer for The Help, and finished my day at a press screening for the final Harry Potter movie. Before the lights went down I turned to my friend and colleague and said “Today was the perfect day. I want this to be my life”. She suggested I go to Los Angeles and follow my dream to be an on-camera host.

Growing up plus size and dreaming to be an actor, I was told the only way it would happen is if I were funny. At least that path had been kind of carved out. What I wanted was to be myself. At the time, names like Ashley Graham and Tess Holliday weren’t widely known, Pitch Perfect hadn’t come out, I couldn’t even picture a single plus size hosts, so I knew it was an uphill battle. I originally planned to give LA only one year to and when things inevitably didn’t work out, I’d go back to San Francisco. I wanted to prove to myself that I gave it a real shot, but I truly believed the industry wasn’t ready for me. But in my first year, I made strides towards success, tiny steps forward, so I stayed. I realized that I couldn’t consider giving up. It just wasn’t an option. Nearly 10 years later, I’m still here and I’m thriving.

I launched my own websites, podcasts, and blogs; I experimented with a variety of topics and formats, creating and discarding ideas left and right. I started hosting and producing at Maria Menounos’ AfterBuzzTV. I freelanced for outlets like The Beat, Starry Mag, and That Hashtag Show. I was published on POPSUGAR. Eventually my little entertainment site was acquired and merged with FANVERSATION. I kept writing, pitching, and creating.

One of the biggest challenges in Los Angeles, for any creative field, is that many gigs are unpaid. So I took day jobs working in Marketing, Talent Booking, Social Media, and Admin. I taught Hebrew School. I was a Senior Stylist with Stitch Fix. I was open to whatever position would allow me to continue moving towards my ultimate goal. I kept going which landed me opportunities like freelancing for FANDOM, working for CONtv, appearing on ScreenJunkies, and in 2021, I joined the Hollywood Critics Association and launched ‘Hollywood Approved’ with Kristen Maldonado.

Some of my jobs were detours, but through all of the experiences – both paid and unpaid – I learned skills, built a support system, found an audience, and created connections. When I arrived in Los Angeles there were plenty of skill I lacked, but I also couldn’t afford to hire anyone. So I learned. I didn’t give up. I added value to my portfolio. I created my own opportunities. I kept moving forward. When I didn’t see anyone like me – a fat, queer, middle-eastern, jewish-American, child of immigrants – doing what I wanted to do, I built the space for myself.

Now I’m producing projects with Electric Entertainment, and co-hosting the Official Leverage: Redemption Aftershow on Electric Now, I have podcast Law & Order: S-Re-View with my amazing friends Felicia Michelle and Taylor Gates, and I have my body positivity blog TheFatGirlShow which focuses on promoting and uplifting Fat Talent. Plus, I often get to host live events at ComicCons around the world, and local weekly trivia games for King Trivia.

I have big dreams, a lot I still plan to do, and I will not be stopped.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
First I start the trip on a Sunday with the weekly Vegan Exchange in NoHo. For entertainment I’d catch local comedians Danielle Soto, Madison Shepard, Jennifer Sterger, and Matt Champagne wherever they’re performing. We’d also see music by Chel, Mina Tobias, KATJA, and Lauren LoGrasso.

For some shopping we’d go to The Plus Bus on York Street – it’s the best plus size consignment store I’ve ever been to.

Since I’m not originally from Los Angeles, but I’m an avid TV and Movie lover, so I love to show off special Hollywood “exteriors”: It’s always fun to drive by Circus Liquor, the Las Palmas Hotel, the Brady Bunch house, and Nakatomi Tower.

Of course, I’ll also be working so my guest would join me for live trivia, Wednesday nights, at Hop Merchants Bottle Shop & Taproom in North Hollywood.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people! I wouldn’t be anything without the love and support of my parents, brothers, and closest friends. I’ve also been lucky enough to meet some incredible people in this industry who believed in me and actively took steps towards finding me success. Rather than provide just a long list of names, I’ll encourage people to build a support system of individuals who want to see you on top, who will say your name in a room full of opportunities, and who will fight for you.
Don’t waste time on people who aren’t in your corner; grow your team and rise up together.

Website: www.yaeltygiel.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/yaeltygiel

Twitter: www.twitter.com/yaeltygiel

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/fanversation

Other: The Fat Girl Show – www.thefatgirlshow.com Law & Order: S-Re-View Podcast – https://open.spotify.com/show/2RzqdGNmDtqCcvYjqqmQ80 FANVERSATION – www.fanversation.com Official Leverage: Redemption Aftershow – https://www.electricnow.tv/shows/official-leverage-redemption-after-show Hollywood Approved – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmoYHmrmdfs&list=PL-BEbYR5bDWoTAknhig8n2O4BgrrYeFZl

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.