Tryphena Wade...

...is a multi-dimensional artist from Columbus, Ohio. She discovered her love for theatre, dance, and singing as a young child, performing in productions in school and at church. Tryphena's formal theatre training began at the renowned Howard University in Washington, DC where she excelled as a student and performer. While matriculating at Howard, she had the opportunity to study at the SOAS in London, England and completed a semester abroad researching Ghanaian culture, history, and popular music at The University of Ghana in Legon, Ghana, West Africa. That experienced opened her eyes to the beauty of the world and the richness of the world's cultures and sealed within her a love for Ghana and a passion for travel. She completed her time at Howard, earning her BFA in Theatre, and began her career performing throughout DC at a myriad of theaters including The Folger Shakespeare Theatre, The Kennedy Center, Signature Theatre, and Theatre of the First Amendment. Some of her favorite credits include Trojan Women at Classical Theatre of Harlem, Open The Door, Virginia!, written and directed by Dianne McIntyre, Black Nativity with Andre De Shields, and Queen Sarabi in Disney's The Lion King. In 2014 Tryphena had the opportunity to study and perform as a featured vocalist at The Amalfi Coast Music and Arts Festival in Maiori, Italy. She remains inspired by the lives and careers of fellow Howard alums Phylicia Rashad and Susan Kelechi Watson as well as Angela Bassett.

Tryphena has had the opportunity to embrace her passion for travel, exploring close to 30 countries, and has coined the phrase wedontsitoncouches to describe her approach to her life and travels. That phrase, wedontsitoncouches, has become a personal brand and has taken the form of a travel blog and podcast. As an accomplished writer, Tryphena has created and penned several blogs throughout the years. In August of 2017 she self-published her first book, The Heart Works: A Collection, and has recently starred in, directed, and produced Dear Carefree Black Girl, a short spoken-word film based on one of the pieces in her book.

Tryphena's personal life motto is "Fear Is Stupid" and she has created a line of merchandise, a coaching business, and a weekly show, Fearless Fridays, based around this phrase. The idea is to recognize that yes, fear may come, but we do not have to live our lives controlled by it. Whether performing, writing, traveling, or coaching, the goal, hope, and prayer is to be able to inspire others to embrace life and live fearlessly.

Tryphena ends each episode of Fearless Fridays with the following phrase:

"My life experience has proven to me that the euphoria of fearlessness trumps the comfort of staying 'safe'."

And that is Tryphena's reminder to herself and the world.