Two friends.
Different generations.
A shared curiosity about what's possible.
ABOUT
Bridging the Gap is an entertainment, experiences, and learning platform hosted by Tarek Ali and Tina Lifford, bringing people together across generations and perspectives through curiosity, storytelling, and meaningful conversation. Built on the belief that curiosity opens the door to possibility, we explore the space between where we are and what else might be. Through original video and audio programming, publishing, live events, community gatherings, workshops, and courses, we create opportunities to connect with ourselves, understand one another, and discover new ways of seeing the world.
Meet the Hosts
Tarek Ali
Tarek Ali is a storyteller, producer, and founder of BYALI Studios, an entertainment company developing original film, television, and digital media. An early pioneer of digital storytelling, he has built a career reaching audiences across generations, amassing more than 200 million views and collaborating with over 100 brands, including Calvin Klein's #MyTruth campaign, winner of a 2019 Streamy Award.
His original podcast, THAT Conversation with Tarek Ali, earned a 2024 GLAAD Media Award nomination for Outstanding Podcast, charted among the Top 10 U.S. Health & Fitness podcasts, and generated over six million views in a single month. His cultural influence was further captured in a monumental 2023 portrait by acclaimed artist Kehinde Wiley, exhibited internationally.
At 16, Tarek founded the Caring Colors Empowerment Organization, an LGBTQ+ advocacy initiative that expanded to more than a dozen chapters nationwide, with his work leading to an invitation to the White House during the Obama administration. A first-generation college graduate with a degree in Biology from Georgia State University, he conducted research at the National Institutes of Health and completed internships at Howard and Columbia University before pursuing entertainment full-time.
Tina Lifford
Tina Lifford is an award-winning actress, author, and personal development leader whose career spans more than four decades and over 100 film and television roles. Best known for her acclaimed portrayal of Aunt Violet on OWN's Queen Sugar, Tina became a beloved audience favorite throughout the series' seven-season run, earning three NAACP Image Award nominations and a 2022 Gracie Award for her performance. Her extensive career includes roles in Scandal, Parenthood, and South Central, alongside performances with Hollywood legends Sidney Poitier, Clint Eastwood, and Bruce Willis.
Beyond the screen, Tina is the founder and CEO of The Inner Fitness Project, a personal development platform dedicated to making emotional resilience and self-awareness as essential as physical fitness. Her debut book, The Little Book of Big Lies, received a Nautilus Book Award and was recognized by Forbes as a must-read for personal growth. Her second book, The Inner Fitness Revolution, was published through Viola Davis and Julius Tennon's JVL Media in partnership with HarperCollins' Amistad imprint, further establishing her influence at the intersection of entertainment, wellness, and personal transformation.