Megan Piphus is an Emmy Award–winning singer, songwriter, and ventriloquist who, in 2020, made history as the first Black woman puppeteer on Sesame Street. On the iconic children’s show, she plays Gabrielle, a 6-year-old Black girl Muppet whose character inspires meaningful conversations about racism, representation, and diversity.
But Megan wasn’t always so eager to step into the limelight. As a child, she struggled with shyness and social anxiety. Through her creativity and encouragement from her family, she learned to embrace her uniqueness and find her voice. Now, she aspires to help all children, including her two young sons, to do the same.
In this episode of the Motherly Podcast, Piphus sits down with Liz Tenety to talk about being a pioneer in puppetering, nurturing creativity, and how motherhood has made her more ambitious than ever.
Meet the expert: Megan Piphus is a four-time-Emmy-Award–winning producer, singer, songwriter, puppeteer, ventriloquist, and author. She made history as the first Black woman puppeteer on Sesame Street, where she plays Gabrielle, a 6-year-old Black girl Muppet. Inspired by her childhood struggles with shyness, Megan’s debut children’s book, Brave Like a Lion!, was released in May 2026. Its empowering story encourages young readers to embrace their unique voices. Megan holds a Master in Science in Finance from Vanderbilt University and is the mother of two sons, Leo and Tyson.
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Liz Tenety: You’re the first Black woman puppeteer on Sesame Street. What does that mean to you and the children watching?
Megan Piphus: It was such a special moment when I realized I was first, because I realized it’s possible to make history and change even in an organization that’s been around for, at the time, for over 52 years.
Liz Tenety: Following the murder of George Floyd in June 2020, the Muppets were featured in the CNN special, “Coming Together: Standing Up to Racism.” Can you tell us about that experience?
Megan Piphus: Sesame Street saw a need for us to talk about racism and the differences in our color and why it matters. It was such a beautiful way of having the discussion between the CNN journalists and the Muppet friends. Elmo and Tamir and Gabrielle all got to ask questions, and then also respond to some of the questions that real kids had across the nation.
Liz Tenety: What does it feel like to contribute to the evolution of Sesame Street?
Megan Piphus: It’s extremely humbling, to be honest. It’s the most incredible learning experience ever, just learning how to serve the viewers that are watching to deliver the best performance that we can get. I’ve also learned intention. We have people on set listening for every word and how it will come across.
Liz Tenety: Who or what inspires you in this bold vision of children’s media that you’re bringing to life?
Megan Piphus: I’m inspired by all of the creators, performers, and organizations that are using their platforms to encourage their viewers and community into action.
Liz Tenety: You’ve mentioned that you were a very shy kid. How did puppetry help you through that?
Megan Piphus: It took the pressure off of Megan and put it onto the puppet. I was able to redirect a lot of my anxiety and fears onto the puppet. By the time I was in high school, I did musical theater and was on the debate team. It opened up not just overcoming social anxiety, but finding new interests and skills because I then had the confidence to do things that required me to speak up as myself.
Liz Tenety: Do you still see yourself as a shy person?
Megan Piphus: I’ve transformed how I see shyness. I’m observant, and so in moments where I’m quiet, I’m soaking in the room and observing everything. I’m able to do impressions of a lot of different things because I just watch and I absorb it like a sponge.
Liz Tenety: The story of Brave Like a Lionis similar to your own. What do you want kids and parents to take away from it?
Megan Piphus: I would love for the takeaway to be to find that special thing that makes you come alive, that makes you excited. If there’s anything that interests you, I encourage learning and exploring. I hope that what you find encourages you to share your own creativity and uniqueness.
Liz Tenety: Did your family encourage your creativity as a child?
Megan Piphus: I had so many people in my life — teachers, parents, grandparents — that provided a stage for me to share my gift. I’ll never forget my grandmother. I played piano and she could tell I was kind of discouraged. And so every time I’d play, she’d be like, “Oh, wow, that was great. Do it again.” It’s like she was helping me practice. She was encouraging me to go through more takes and entertain her.
Liz Tenety: I know, among many things, you’re the mother of two little boys. What surprised you about becoming a mother?
Megan Piphus: I thought that I would kind of put my dreams aside and focus 100% on motherhood after I had them. I thought that’s the direction my brain would go. But I chase my dreams more furiously after having my kids because I want to be an example to them of how I want them to go for their dreams. And I didn’t expect that.
Liz Tenety: You’re a rare guest in that your children can actually consume and enjoy your work. What do they think about what you do?
Megan Piphus: They have very elite taste! It’s really beautiful to be able to show them things that I create, and it just warms my heart when I play something and they want to see it multiple times.
Liz Tenety: Do you feel like you have found your voice in a new way as a mother?
Megan Piphus: I’ve completely found my voice in a new way as a parent. Now, my passion is creating stories that I would love our children to have — pushing messages that build character and their drive to be not just career-driven, but community-focused and service-driven.
Liz Tenety: At Motherly, we believe that motherhood brings out our superpowers. What do you see as yours?
Megan Piphus: Encouragement. Whenever my kids want to show me something or try something or do something, I’ll give the absolute most encouragement I can so they feel incredibly special.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Listen to the full conversation on The Motherly Podcast.
