Ellen J. Wanjiru, professionally known as Ellen Tha Great®, is a media producer, storyteller, and founder of Ellen Tha Great Productions, LLC, where she creates original programming that blends education, entertainment, and human connection.
Whether unpacking a psychological concept, decoding modern life, exploring the origins of a word, interviewing creatives, or producing original scripted content, Ellen creates experiences that make complex ideas accessible, memorable, and deeply human.
Through her production company, she develops, produces, hosts, edits, and distributes original content spanning psychology, language, culture, relationships, and the human experience—helping audiences think differently, connect more deeply, and discover something new about themselves and the world around them.
Original Programming
Every series starts with a simple belief: the most interesting discoveries often begin with a simple question.
Recurring content franchises spanning language, storytelling, psychology, culture, and the human experience across educational, commentary, and character-driven formats.
Ellen Decodes Modern Life
Storytelling and commentary exploring psychology, relationships, culture, and the human experience.
My Imaginary Therapist
A scripted dual-character series in which Ellen and her imaginary therapist, Dr. Joy, explore self-awareness, personal growth, and the complexities of being human.
Word Mechanics
Uncovering the hidden patterns, origins, and fascinating quirks of language.
Words That Explain
Exploring the language behind complex emotions, human behavior, cultural ideas, and shared experiences.
Misused Words
Clarifying commonly confused words, phrases, and concepts while exploring how language shapes understanding.
Word of the Day
Making vocabulary, language, and communication more accessible, memorable, and relevant to everyday life.
Ellen's work reaches audiences across digital platforms through long-form and short-form video, where millions of viewers have engaged with her original content.
Every piece of content—from initial research to final edit—is developed in-house through Ellen Tha Great Productions, reflecting her belief that thoughtful storytelling can both educate and entertain.
Media Experience
Before founding Ellen Tha Great Productions, Ellen built a career in entertainment journalism and film criticism as a media correspondent for Blackfilm.com.
She interviewed actors, filmmakers, and industry professionals, produced and hosted the weekly series Rewind with Ellen, covered major film festivals, and represented the publication at the 93rd and 94th Academy Awards after receiving media credentials from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Together, these experiences sharpened her approach to storytelling, interviewing, and production—an approach that continues to shape every original project she develops today.
Celebrity interviews include:
Idris Elba (Concrete Cowboy), Regina King (The Harder They Fall), Tyler Perry (A Madea Homecoming), Kevin Hart (Fatherhood), Octavia Spencer, Melissa McCarthy (Thunder Force), Ava DuVernay (Colin in Black & White), Samuel L. Jackson, (The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey), Walter Mosley (The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey), Mahershala Ali ( Swan Song), Marlon Wayans (Respect), Jessica Williams (LOVE LIFE), William Jackson Harper (LOVE LIFE), Jeffrey Wright, Jennifer Hudson (Monster), Skyh Alvester Black (All The Queen's Men), Colman Domingo, Glynn Turman, Michael Potts (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom), Deborah Joy Winans (Don't Waste Your Pretty), Christina Milian (Resort to Love), Sinqua Walls and Jay Pharoah (Resort to Love), Kofi Siriboe, Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing (Really Love), Director Angel Kristi Williams & Screenwriter Felicia Pride (Really Love), Sam Richardson (Werewolves Within), Mario Van Peebles (The Story of a Three Day Pass), Paula Patton (Sacrifice), Vernon Davis (Acting & Producing After the NFL), Cliff "Method Man" Smith, Lorraine Toussaint, Jharrel Jerome (Concrete Cowboy), Gary Dourdan (Redemption Day), Skylan Brooks (Archenemy), Asjha Cooper (Black as Night), Director Marcus A Clarke (Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali), Macy Gray (PHOBIAS), Kelley Kali, Angelique Molina (I'm Fine Thanks For Asking).