Aviva Mongillo: Breaking the Persona and Finding Independence

It’s been five years since Aviva Mongillo (formerly known as CARYS) last sat down with Jamie. In that time, she’s gone from a viral pop explosion to a radical artistic rebirth. In this episode, we deconstruct the journey of an artist who chose to walk away from the major label machine to find her own voice. Fresh off her role as Dori in the Netflix series Bet, Aviva opens up about the "recovering people pleaser" themes in her new music, the reality of being a CEO of her own independent career, and why she’s finally comfortable being "emotionally wide open" like the legends who came before her Inside the episode: The Name Shift: Why she’s stepping out from the "CARYS" moniker to embrace Aviva Mongillo. Radical Independence: The scariest and most rewarding parts of leaving a major label. The "Drama Queen" Era: Reclaiming labels and setting boundaries through her 2025 project. Acting vs. Artistry: How her high-stakes role in Netflix's Bet fuels her songwriting. The Joni Mitchell Influence: Comparing her current trajectory to the "confessional" legends of the 70s. Connect with Jrodconcerts: Instagram: @jrodconcertsmedia Web: jrodconcertsmedia.com Support the show: Rate and Review on Apple Podcasts! Connect with Aviva: Instagram: @carysofficial Listen: Drama Queen is available on all streaming platforms. __ Try Cheerios Protein! https://www.cheerios.com/shop-protein-bundle Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices