1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:02,000 Speaker 1: Or yah me hinted. I just want to give you 2 00:00:02,040 --> 00:00:04,360 Speaker 1: a heads up. The program you are about to hear 3 00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:08,200 Speaker 1: may have some explicit language, it may not. It also 4 00:00:08,280 --> 00:00:10,680 Speaker 1: depends on where the vibes and the spirit leads us. 5 00:00:11,039 --> 00:00:19,600 Speaker 1: Hope you enjoy. Welcome to more Anita, a deep dive 6 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:22,880 Speaker 1: into the Latin X experience. With more Anita, we want 7 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:25,640 Speaker 1: to create a community and a shared space with you 8 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:29,600 Speaker 1: while sharing knowledge and inspiration. This show is about celebrating 9 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:32,839 Speaker 1: our culture with guests who exemplify the best of us. 10 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:41,960 Speaker 1: I'm Darrylene Gastillo, Ethane Viatle or you'll be hinted. Today 11 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:45,839 Speaker 1: we have the Thalia theas Field. Salia is a Haitian 12 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:50,520 Speaker 1: Puerto Rican actor and coach, and if you've owned a television, 13 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 1: you've probably seen her on. She holds an extensive resume 14 00:00:55,320 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 1: and has been seen on shows such as FBI, Succession, 15 00:01:00,040 --> 00:01:05,679 Speaker 1: In Trolls, Topia, Deep, and so so so many more. 16 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:09,000 Speaker 1: Not only is Salia killing the TV film game, she 17 00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:12,880 Speaker 1: is a stage actress as well. She has just finished 18 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:16,320 Speaker 1: starring in a play called Windfall, directed by the Jason 19 00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:20,840 Speaker 1: Alexander That's right, George from Seinfeld at the Bay Street 20 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 1: Theater Baliyah is a force and she is unapologetically authentically herself, 21 00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:31,400 Speaker 1: which explains why we here at Monanota are obsessed with 22 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:35,320 Speaker 1: her and trust me, you will be too. Balia and 23 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:38,680 Speaker 1: I dive into her journey into the arts. She shares 24 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:41,440 Speaker 1: how her parents have always had a love for the 25 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:44,880 Speaker 1: arts and music and how that love was passed down 26 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:49,320 Speaker 1: to her. Also how an unexpected casting moment changed her 27 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:54,040 Speaker 1: life forever. Oh and warning lion, tigers and bears, Oh 28 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:56,920 Speaker 1: my had a hand in this. It's a good one, 29 00:01:57,080 --> 00:02:00,840 Speaker 1: So stay tapped. In Baliah's journey to the stage and 30 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 1: screen involves so much more than her artistry. We unpack 31 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 1: how her cultural experiences have lended a hand throughout her 32 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:13,080 Speaker 1: journey in finding herself. So, me, being domin again, I 33 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:17,119 Speaker 1: had to ask Thaliah about her roots. I was curious 34 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:21,520 Speaker 1: if she had ever experienced any identity struggles within her 35 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:25,840 Speaker 1: patient culture. Now, if you share Caribbean roots, you might 36 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:29,120 Speaker 1: understand what I'm talking about, and if you're Dominican, you 37 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:34,840 Speaker 1: especially know what I'm referring to patients versus Dominicans. So 38 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:38,679 Speaker 1: now this might get controversial, but a little controversy can 39 00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:42,160 Speaker 1: bring out some great insight and some deep thoughts. Baliyah 40 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:45,360 Speaker 1: and I we dive right in on this topic. We 41 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:48,640 Speaker 1: don't hold anything back. We definitely don't shy away from it, 42 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:50,840 Speaker 1: and I don't want to spoil it for you. Just 43 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:53,840 Speaker 1: so you know, no sugarcoating, and a reminder to you 44 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 1: all that we are speaking from our own personal experiences 45 00:02:58,560 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 1: and here we are sharing if you Salia, welcome to 46 00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:20,000 Speaker 1: Morenita like typical New Yorkers what yes? So okay, So 47 00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:23,080 Speaker 1: first off, just so the listeners are aware, you and 48 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:27,040 Speaker 1: I have known each other for a very long time. Darylyn, 49 00:03:27,240 --> 00:03:32,720 Speaker 1: it's been like over a decade. Wow. I met you 50 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:35,560 Speaker 1: when I was I was like fresh, I was like 51 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:39,080 Speaker 1: just starting. I was like you were a little baby street. 52 00:03:39,160 --> 00:03:45,400 Speaker 1: What's this you came through like I'm just baby, and 53 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:47,960 Speaker 1: Dalia was like, okay, girl, let me tell you what's popping. 54 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 1: I mean that was ten years ago, but I was like, 55 00:03:52,560 --> 00:03:56,160 Speaker 1: I definitely was already approaching my pp face. So you 56 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:59,280 Speaker 1: were like, I took took us all under your wing. Yeah. 57 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 1: At that time, we did a show called Marie Christine 58 00:04:04,560 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 1: Yes years ago in like I don't even remember where. 59 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 1: It was, like by the World Trade Center. It was 60 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:14,400 Speaker 1: like some random theater. Yeah, it was like a where 61 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:18,200 Speaker 1: it was a Columbia University production and we did it. 62 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:22,560 Speaker 1: We did it in a warehouse type of situation, right, 63 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:26,200 Speaker 1: Like it was a studio warehouse performance space down in 64 00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:29,800 Speaker 1: the financial district. So weird, but it was fun. I 65 00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:32,760 Speaker 1: made a lot of friends. I mean, we made a 66 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:34,520 Speaker 1: lot of friends that I think. I mean, I still 67 00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:36,719 Speaker 1: talk to you to this day, which is rare in 68 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:41,160 Speaker 1: this industry. Um. But let's back back it up, back 69 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:43,480 Speaker 1: it up, back it up a little bit about you. 70 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 1: How did you catch the bug? So, if I'm gonna 71 00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:50,960 Speaker 1: be honest, I got to give you, like the childhood 72 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:55,479 Speaker 1: te um. I kind of fell into this by accident. 73 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:59,760 Speaker 1: My mom was a working mom. My dad is a photographer, 74 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:03,240 Speaker 1: so he worked from home, and so summertimes I was 75 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:05,560 Speaker 1: a camp kid. They just needed to get me out 76 00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:09,200 Speaker 1: of the house. Um. And so I I had done 77 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:13,680 Speaker 1: every camp you could think of, like science camp, art camp, 78 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:18,200 Speaker 1: like every sport camp. And once somewhere my mom was like, Okay, 79 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:19,719 Speaker 1: we're gonna try a theater camp. And I was like, 80 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:24,919 Speaker 1: all right, so I go, and you know, we have 81 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:27,800 Speaker 1: our little auditions on like the first day, we're doing 82 00:05:27,839 --> 00:05:31,279 Speaker 1: the whiz and I really wanted to be the lion 83 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:35,640 Speaker 1: because I love to entertain. I wanted to be the 84 00:05:35,720 --> 00:05:38,560 Speaker 1: fun one. I wanted to be the one when the best, 85 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:42,200 Speaker 1: most outrageous costume. So I got up there with my 86 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:44,960 Speaker 1: little this is gonna age me. I got out there 87 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:49,320 Speaker 1: with my little Walkman tape cassette with the headphones, I 88 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:53,440 Speaker 1: had the I had the music in my ears, and 89 00:05:53,520 --> 00:05:58,320 Speaker 1: I say, Vanessa Williams saved the best for last. Yes, 90 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:03,479 Speaker 1: I clearly knew nothing about singing for the role that 91 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:05,839 Speaker 1: you we wanted to audition for. I said, I'm going 92 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:08,240 Speaker 1: to sing the song that I like, and you like 93 00:06:08,320 --> 00:06:12,159 Speaker 1: it exactly. So then the castlest goes up. Like the 94 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:15,880 Speaker 1: next day, Mom picks me up from camp and I'm 95 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 1: I'm just bawling, and she thinks that like I didn't 96 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:23,880 Speaker 1: get a part, or like, you know, I wasn't happy, 97 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:29,279 Speaker 1: like I was in the ensemble or something, and she goes, oh, well, 98 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:31,600 Speaker 1: you know, like what part did you get? And I said, 99 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:35,840 Speaker 1: I got Dorothy Darylyn. I was so mad. I was like, 100 00:06:35,960 --> 00:06:40,039 Speaker 1: damn in my little like fourth grade head, I was 101 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:44,960 Speaker 1: like that hou was boring funck this bitch, like who 102 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:47,200 Speaker 1: wants to play Dorothy, I want to with the fur. 103 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:50,840 Speaker 1: Where's the fur? Already? In like the fourth grade, I 104 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:53,480 Speaker 1: knew you need to dress me in fur, baby, like 105 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:57,560 Speaker 1: I don't want to like checker dress. So I was mad. Um. 106 00:06:58,279 --> 00:07:01,159 Speaker 1: Then cut to the next when we started rehearsals, and 107 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 1: I realized that everything was about me and here we are. 108 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:10,280 Speaker 1: That is how we got here. Rylyn, you could thank 109 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:12,720 Speaker 1: my mother for putting via theater camp because it was 110 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:15,280 Speaker 1: all downhill from there. So from there that was it. 111 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:17,960 Speaker 1: You caught it. You were like, this is it? And 112 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:20,520 Speaker 1: you grew up where uh in Connecticut. My whole family 113 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 1: is from the city. I've spent a lot of time 114 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:25,239 Speaker 1: in the city. I split time between Connecticut and the city. 115 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:29,200 Speaker 1: But technically I was raised and went to school in Connecticut. 116 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:33,480 Speaker 1: Um so yeah, but my parents really made sure to 117 00:07:34,320 --> 00:07:37,920 Speaker 1: instill the arts, um and to me make it a 118 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:39,760 Speaker 1: huge part of my life. Like I said, my father 119 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 1: is a photographer. Um. You know, we grew up with 120 00:07:43,480 --> 00:07:49,160 Speaker 1: pretty modest like lower middle upper middle class. In between 121 00:07:49,200 --> 00:07:51,840 Speaker 1: their um household. We lived in like a little two 122 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:56,240 Speaker 1: bedroom condo in a small town in Connecticut until I 123 00:07:56,280 --> 00:07:59,800 Speaker 1: was thirteen. And our house, you know, we didn't have 124 00:07:59,840 --> 00:08:02,080 Speaker 1: a lot of money, but my parents spent their money 125 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 1: on art. So we had this little condo with fabulous 126 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:11,760 Speaker 1: art on the walls. And like my parents, every Sunday 127 00:08:11,800 --> 00:08:14,560 Speaker 1: it was no TV. In the morning, Mom would make 128 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:18,480 Speaker 1: brunch and we would play music and it was classical 129 00:08:18,560 --> 00:08:22,040 Speaker 1: music and jazz and so um. I was one of 130 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:25,320 Speaker 1: those kids that tried everything, like I'm a do gymnastics, 131 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:29,000 Speaker 1: I'm gonna play piano, I'm gonna do But always art 132 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:31,400 Speaker 1: was a part of my life, so um and going 133 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:33,040 Speaker 1: to the city was a big part of that too. 134 00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:35,320 Speaker 1: So I think we've spoken about that a bunch of 135 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:39,360 Speaker 1: times where we both have these similarities of being having 136 00:08:39,400 --> 00:08:42,199 Speaker 1: the exposure of being in the city and being able 137 00:08:42,240 --> 00:08:45,640 Speaker 1: to see our people and people that look like us. 138 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:48,840 Speaker 1: And then for me going to Rockland County, you know, 139 00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:53,640 Speaker 1: being the only Dominican, the only brown Latina in the room. 140 00:08:53,679 --> 00:08:55,800 Speaker 1: You know, that gave me insight. I'm like, oh, there's 141 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:57,720 Speaker 1: more out there in the world, and I tell people 142 00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:00,600 Speaker 1: I'm for Latina. My my father is from Haitie, my 143 00:09:00,640 --> 00:09:03,920 Speaker 1: mom's Puerto Rican. Um. So, I don't really identify with 144 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:07,720 Speaker 1: the whole like mixed kid conundrum because even though I 145 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:11,280 Speaker 1: grew up in a predominantly white town. Um, I was 146 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:17,400 Speaker 1: so surrounded by both of my cultures, uh that I 147 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:22,280 Speaker 1: was never lacking or wanting for that um And as 148 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:25,600 Speaker 1: a little kid with a big gass mouth, I made 149 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:28,200 Speaker 1: sure everybody in that white town knew who I was, 150 00:09:28,760 --> 00:09:31,320 Speaker 1: you know, like there was no question, Like I was 151 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:36,360 Speaker 1: the multi culty, black and Latina kid, and everybody knew it, 152 00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:39,200 Speaker 1: and I didn't shy away from it. And I think 153 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:42,200 Speaker 1: that that's a credit to my parents because of the 154 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:45,000 Speaker 1: food we ate and the music we played, and you know, 155 00:09:45,120 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 1: them getting me out of town and bringing me into 156 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:50,480 Speaker 1: the city, so I was able to bring that into 157 00:09:50,520 --> 00:09:54,679 Speaker 1: my suburban experience. I'm always like, how did you do that? Like, 158 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:57,240 Speaker 1: I hope whenever I have kids, I hope that I'm 159 00:09:57,320 --> 00:09:59,920 Speaker 1: able to instill that in my children. It's something that 160 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:03,040 Speaker 1: think about constantly because I'm like, I don't have like 161 00:10:03,080 --> 00:10:08,280 Speaker 1: the formula that my parents instilled that confidence or like 162 00:10:08,320 --> 00:10:10,600 Speaker 1: that that knowing of who I am, that knowing of 163 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:12,880 Speaker 1: being of who I am. And I'm always like, how 164 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:15,360 Speaker 1: did you all do that? Yeah? Of course, like the 165 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:18,480 Speaker 1: music and all of that, But like I remember being 166 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:21,920 Speaker 1: challenged as a younger kid in these white neighborhoods, and 167 00:10:22,640 --> 00:10:26,040 Speaker 1: you know, obviously having that same energy of like I'm Dominican, 168 00:10:26,160 --> 00:10:28,959 Speaker 1: you don't know what it is, google it like by 169 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:32,719 Speaker 1: like go get a book. I can't help you. Right, 170 00:10:32,800 --> 00:10:36,320 Speaker 1: there was no question. There was no question, and I 171 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:39,960 Speaker 1: didn't I didn't shy away from it at all. Um. 172 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:41,800 Speaker 1: And as a matter of fact, I even have like 173 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:44,920 Speaker 1: some memories of like being a kid and finding ways 174 00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:50,120 Speaker 1: to like incorporate my Latina and like my my Afro 175 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:53,680 Speaker 1: Central roots in like in my school work. When it 176 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:56,560 Speaker 1: was time to do a biography or something like write 177 00:10:56,559 --> 00:11:01,480 Speaker 1: a biography or do a project. I was always seeking out, um, 178 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:04,120 Speaker 1: you know, inspiration from. I think I did a biography 179 00:11:04,120 --> 00:11:07,600 Speaker 1: on Sammy Davis Jr. And another one I wrote a 180 00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:10,360 Speaker 1: biography I think in the fourth grade on like Celia Cruz, 181 00:11:11,520 --> 00:11:13,720 Speaker 1: and then I wrote one on on Jim Henson because 182 00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:21,720 Speaker 1: obviously muppets. But my influences were from so many, so 183 00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:24,840 Speaker 1: many places. Like I was such a nerd. I was 184 00:11:24,920 --> 00:11:31,080 Speaker 1: so obsessed with comic books and muppets and like animation. Um. 185 00:11:31,120 --> 00:11:33,240 Speaker 1: But then you know, we would dance outs in the 186 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:36,520 Speaker 1: living room, Like don't ask me to dance out so 187 00:11:36,559 --> 00:11:40,320 Speaker 1: though I'm a terrible partner. Agree, Is it because you 188 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:43,160 Speaker 1: only like to lead? Is that the problem? I only 189 00:11:43,320 --> 00:11:46,920 Speaker 1: can lead? So I think the reason why I can't 190 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:49,800 Speaker 1: dance with a partner is because and you know this, 191 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:53,200 Speaker 1: Oh my god. We talked about this at the last 192 00:11:53,320 --> 00:11:56,960 Speaker 1: dance callback that we had together. We were in a 193 00:11:57,080 --> 00:12:01,080 Speaker 1: dance callback together a few months ago, and I would panicking. 194 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:03,080 Speaker 1: I had never been in a dance callback where they 195 00:12:03,080 --> 00:12:06,800 Speaker 1: made you partner for in the heights. Remember, I was panicking. 196 00:12:06,840 --> 00:12:10,079 Speaker 1: And I think the reason why I'm a terrible partner 197 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:13,960 Speaker 1: is because I didn't have a sibling until I was thirteen. 198 00:12:14,040 --> 00:12:16,440 Speaker 1: My brother wasn't born until I was thirteen, and all 199 00:12:16,480 --> 00:12:19,640 Speaker 1: my cousins lived in New York and none of them 200 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:23,600 Speaker 1: really danced either, Like, none of my cousins really danced. 201 00:12:23,800 --> 00:12:26,520 Speaker 1: The only people who like really dance were like the 202 00:12:26,520 --> 00:12:30,559 Speaker 1: Thea's and like the older cousins, like my mom's cousins. 203 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:32,320 Speaker 1: So like they would kind of like grew with me. 204 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:34,040 Speaker 1: We would go to Jones Beach and like they would 205 00:12:34,040 --> 00:12:36,760 Speaker 1: pull up the drums and everything, but like I didn't 206 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:40,800 Speaker 1: have anybody to actually partner with. And then I would 207 00:12:40,840 --> 00:12:44,080 Speaker 1: go home to Connecticut. And like, there wasn't anybody in 208 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:47,480 Speaker 1: Rocky Hill, Connecticut that I was partnering with. So I 209 00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:51,720 Speaker 1: would just dance by myself. That's all I know. And 210 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:54,240 Speaker 1: so listen, give me, give me a beat, and like 211 00:12:54,360 --> 00:12:56,880 Speaker 1: I will spend myself, I will dip myself. I would 212 00:12:56,880 --> 00:12:59,640 Speaker 1: do all the tricks. But try to do that with 213 00:12:59,679 --> 00:13:02,680 Speaker 1: a part No, No, I can't. My problem is I 214 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:04,640 Speaker 1: just don't like it when people lead me. I'm like, 215 00:13:04,720 --> 00:13:07,120 Speaker 1: let me lead, especially when it's a man and we dance, 216 00:13:07,200 --> 00:13:09,280 Speaker 1: and I'm like, I think at the audition, I mean, 217 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:13,240 Speaker 1: my poor partner, he didn't know what he was doing. Bless. 218 00:13:13,280 --> 00:13:16,040 Speaker 1: You want to remember your name, but Bless. And then Luise, 219 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:19,720 Speaker 1: which we've had on the show here before. Luis Um 220 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:22,040 Speaker 1: he came a dance with me and partnered with me 221 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:24,480 Speaker 1: for a second. He's like, yo, let me lead, and 222 00:13:24,520 --> 00:13:30,640 Speaker 1: I'm like, no, listen while he tried. He danced with me, 223 00:13:30,679 --> 00:13:32,280 Speaker 1: and I was like, oh my god, thank god, because 224 00:13:32,360 --> 00:13:34,400 Speaker 1: I knew he was just gonna move me around like 225 00:13:34,400 --> 00:13:38,200 Speaker 1: a rag doll. That was like this yes and then 226 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:42,559 Speaker 1: and I oh, he made me feel like a lady. 227 00:13:42,640 --> 00:13:45,080 Speaker 1: I was. I was like, I didn't have to do 228 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:48,559 Speaker 1: anything I was like, yes, move me around, spind me around. 229 00:13:48,840 --> 00:13:51,400 Speaker 1: I walked out of that dance audition feeling like I 230 00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:54,559 Speaker 1: was like, oh, I just killed it, very very damn 231 00:13:54,559 --> 00:13:58,120 Speaker 1: well that I probably didn't just kill kill it. Luise 232 00:13:58,240 --> 00:13:59,920 Speaker 1: just threw me around like a rag doll and may 233 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:02,880 Speaker 1: me look good. Shout out to Luisa got the first 234 00:14:02,920 --> 00:14:05,800 Speaker 1: throwing us all around like rag dolls. But also making 235 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:08,760 Speaker 1: this feel so special. He's incredible, such a great I mean, 236 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:10,760 Speaker 1: that was my first time ever seeing him in action 237 00:14:10,800 --> 00:14:14,200 Speaker 1: and like dancing in action, and I was like, okay, 238 00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:18,520 Speaker 1: I get it, I see it. I feel its energy. 239 00:14:19,360 --> 00:14:22,360 Speaker 1: Energy was so good. And also like how many times 240 00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:25,160 Speaker 1: have you ever been in a dance call where we've 241 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:27,360 Speaker 1: gotten to do that as a community. Also like that 242 00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:29,960 Speaker 1: was that was I've been to a few in the 243 00:14:30,040 --> 00:14:33,480 Speaker 1: Heights calls and I've never been to one like that. 244 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:38,360 Speaker 1: In the Heights auditions UM are always going to feel 245 00:14:38,360 --> 00:14:41,880 Speaker 1: different than any other audition, even even as somebody who's 246 00:14:41,920 --> 00:14:44,800 Speaker 1: multi culty, Like even when I go to UM an 247 00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:48,760 Speaker 1: audition for like a predominantly black show, it's different, and 248 00:14:48,960 --> 00:14:51,880 Speaker 1: all the final show it's like going to the club, 249 00:14:52,960 --> 00:14:57,560 Speaker 1: yes you know, and and it's like the waiting room 250 00:14:57,600 --> 00:15:01,680 Speaker 1: is like everybody knows everybody. They're speaking Spanish like and 251 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:03,800 Speaker 1: you know, me like, I don't even speak Spanish like that, 252 00:15:03,840 --> 00:15:08,080 Speaker 1: but I'm like, like, you know, getting in on the conversations. 253 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:12,200 Speaker 1: But that one, you're right, that one in particular, And 254 00:15:12,280 --> 00:15:14,560 Speaker 1: I don't know if it's because it was coming off 255 00:15:14,600 --> 00:15:16,920 Speaker 1: of the pandemic. I mean, I know that had to 256 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:19,560 Speaker 1: be part of it, but you know, for those who 257 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:23,400 Speaker 1: weren't in the room, Luise started the dance call back 258 00:15:23,560 --> 00:15:27,440 Speaker 1: with all of us in a circle and just really 259 00:15:27,480 --> 00:15:33,400 Speaker 1: focusing our energies and connecting, and it was so special, 260 00:15:33,480 --> 00:15:36,720 Speaker 1: and it was really just a testament to how Latin 261 00:15:36,760 --> 00:15:41,920 Speaker 1: culture is really about community and the way in which 262 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:45,240 Speaker 1: that when we got that dance call started, the way 263 00:15:45,240 --> 00:15:48,840 Speaker 1: in which everybody was helping each other. I had never 264 00:15:48,960 --> 00:15:54,720 Speaker 1: been in a call where you could feel everybody rooting 265 00:15:54,800 --> 00:16:00,280 Speaker 1: for you. There was no competition. Everybody just wanted every 266 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:04,800 Speaker 1: body to feel look and do good and so like 267 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:08,440 Speaker 1: I could have fallen flat on my face. I didn't, though, right, 268 00:16:09,080 --> 00:16:11,560 Speaker 1: but I could have fallen flat on my face and 269 00:16:11,600 --> 00:16:13,560 Speaker 1: I still would have walked out of that room being 270 00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:16,720 Speaker 1: like this was the best call I've ever had, because 271 00:16:16,760 --> 00:16:21,200 Speaker 1: the energy was just right. It was and it actually 272 00:16:21,320 --> 00:16:23,520 Speaker 1: was for me my first time ever going in for 273 00:16:23,680 --> 00:16:38,200 Speaker 1: in the Heights. Something that i want to touch face 274 00:16:38,240 --> 00:16:41,760 Speaker 1: with you on because I'm just curious, especially being Dominican, 275 00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:45,840 Speaker 1: but I'm curious for you your connection with your Haitian roots. 276 00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:50,880 Speaker 1: I have just never understood the disconnect. I have always 277 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:55,400 Speaker 1: viewed it as a family. It's the same island, but 278 00:16:55,480 --> 00:17:02,400 Speaker 1: there is like this deep rooted, obviously historical hatred, um. 279 00:17:02,440 --> 00:17:04,640 Speaker 1: I think also from it could be from both ends, 280 00:17:04,960 --> 00:17:10,119 Speaker 1: And I'm so fascinated to hear your experience of being 281 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:13,120 Speaker 1: patients to me are like I don't see them as 282 00:17:13,160 --> 00:17:15,960 Speaker 1: far as off Latinos as I mean, I I don't 283 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:20,120 Speaker 1: understand that. So I'm so curious for you how you've 284 00:17:20,720 --> 00:17:24,080 Speaker 1: dealt with that growing up. I'm not Haitian, but I've 285 00:17:24,080 --> 00:17:27,000 Speaker 1: heard so much about it within my culture and within 286 00:17:27,040 --> 00:17:29,960 Speaker 1: the Caribbean culture, and I'm just so curious what that 287 00:17:30,040 --> 00:17:33,040 Speaker 1: experience was like for you, being both Latina and Haitian. 288 00:17:33,720 --> 00:17:37,360 Speaker 1: That's an incredible question. Um. I will say, you know, 289 00:17:37,520 --> 00:17:41,160 Speaker 1: to a certain extent, Uh, naturally, I am a little 290 00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:43,280 Speaker 1: bit biased, So before I even get into that, I 291 00:17:43,320 --> 00:17:46,720 Speaker 1: will acknowledge that. Um, but I am a person and 292 00:17:46,760 --> 00:17:48,920 Speaker 1: I think you know me to be a person who 293 00:17:49,359 --> 00:17:53,879 Speaker 1: really tries to be diplomatic and see both sides. That 294 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:57,120 Speaker 1: being said, that wasn't something that I really dealt with 295 00:17:57,200 --> 00:18:02,920 Speaker 1: until adulthood. UM. Mostly because where I grew up there 296 00:18:02,920 --> 00:18:07,720 Speaker 1: were more Puerto Ricans than Dominicans in Connecticut, and I 297 00:18:07,800 --> 00:18:13,360 Speaker 1: just wasn't aware of that history until I got older. Um. 298 00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:15,760 Speaker 1: I became aware of it when I got older, but 299 00:18:15,880 --> 00:18:20,320 Speaker 1: still it never really affected me until I moved here 300 00:18:20,800 --> 00:18:24,280 Speaker 1: to this neighborhood. I live in Hamilton Heights, just below 301 00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:29,200 Speaker 1: Washington Heights. There is a rich Dominican community here as 302 00:18:29,240 --> 00:18:32,240 Speaker 1: well as others. There are actually there's a Haitian church 303 00:18:32,600 --> 00:18:35,640 Speaker 1: right down the street from my apartment. Um, so there's 304 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:40,600 Speaker 1: a mixture, but it's it's mostly Dominican. And UM. I 305 00:18:40,640 --> 00:18:43,240 Speaker 1: remember a long time ago, I was working in a 306 00:18:43,240 --> 00:18:47,280 Speaker 1: little restaurant down the street, like on one and these 307 00:18:47,359 --> 00:18:51,160 Speaker 1: two adorable little yahita's come in like they were they 308 00:18:51,160 --> 00:18:54,200 Speaker 1: were best friends. These two panas come in and they 309 00:18:54,320 --> 00:18:57,119 Speaker 1: order their little service gas and they're sitting by the window, 310 00:18:57,200 --> 00:19:00,119 Speaker 1: and they were adorable. And then they start talking to me, 311 00:19:00,320 --> 00:19:03,040 Speaker 1: and you know, I'm answering in my like spanglish, but 312 00:19:03,119 --> 00:19:05,840 Speaker 1: basically they're saying to me like, oh my god, you're 313 00:19:05,920 --> 00:19:10,480 Speaker 1: so beautiful midas holes. And for those who don't who 314 00:19:10,480 --> 00:19:12,359 Speaker 1: can't see me or don't know me, I have blue 315 00:19:12,400 --> 00:19:20,119 Speaker 1: eyes and beautiful of you know, people think they're cool, 316 00:19:20,520 --> 00:19:23,119 Speaker 1: but they're going on on, oh my god, oh my god, 317 00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:26,000 Speaker 1: what are you? And I answer and I'm like my 318 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:33,040 Speaker 1: mother's Puerto Rican my datation, and immediately their faces, I know, 319 00:19:34,560 --> 00:19:39,359 Speaker 1: I beah, no know, and the reaction was like, you 320 00:19:39,440 --> 00:19:44,919 Speaker 1: can't possibly look like this and your Haitian. That was 321 00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:50,639 Speaker 1: the first time I had ever experienced that, and then 322 00:19:51,080 --> 00:19:54,360 Speaker 1: I think that opened up the door for me noticing 323 00:19:54,680 --> 00:19:58,600 Speaker 1: microaggressions here in my neighborhood, you know, going out to 324 00:19:58,640 --> 00:20:02,760 Speaker 1: a bar into some guy and being like damn, he's like, oh, 325 00:20:03,200 --> 00:20:05,879 Speaker 1: where are you from? What's your background? And you know, 326 00:20:05,960 --> 00:20:08,160 Speaker 1: and I'll be like Puerto Rican a Haitian. He's like, oh, 327 00:20:08,240 --> 00:20:12,840 Speaker 1: you Haitian. So it's something that's still kind of new 328 00:20:12,880 --> 00:20:17,479 Speaker 1: to me, and my thoughts around it are that, you know, 329 00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:21,840 Speaker 1: it's a form of colorism. It's a form of racism, 330 00:20:22,080 --> 00:20:26,399 Speaker 1: and just like any other racism, it does it starts 331 00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:31,439 Speaker 1: in the family. I know most of my Dominican friends 332 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:35,320 Speaker 1: do not share that sentiment. Um. I think it's an 333 00:20:35,359 --> 00:20:39,080 Speaker 1: old school, uh antiquated point of view as well. And 334 00:20:39,200 --> 00:20:41,320 Speaker 1: because of that, I think that's why it's it has 335 00:20:41,359 --> 00:20:45,840 Speaker 1: to be ingrained in family to carry on. UM. So 336 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:51,600 Speaker 1: I think younger generations are letting go of that sentiment. UM. 337 00:20:51,640 --> 00:20:54,840 Speaker 1: It also is just prevalent on the island. I think 338 00:20:54,880 --> 00:20:59,720 Speaker 1: people here who still have that mentality are people who 339 00:21:00,560 --> 00:21:05,960 Speaker 1: emigrated from island, because even I have like younger cousins, 340 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:09,000 Speaker 1: and the mentality it has stuck because they have come 341 00:21:09,040 --> 00:21:13,000 Speaker 1: from the island. This is where my bias may come in. 342 00:21:13,119 --> 00:21:16,119 Speaker 1: But I think it really comes from a lack of 343 00:21:16,280 --> 00:21:21,040 Speaker 1: understanding about the history. Um. There is a lot of 344 00:21:21,080 --> 00:21:25,320 Speaker 1: confusion about who took over who, who kicked who out, 345 00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:28,000 Speaker 1: who did this and that, And we're talking about hundreds 346 00:21:28,040 --> 00:21:30,960 Speaker 1: of years ago, right. Um. The fact of the matter 347 00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:34,440 Speaker 1: is we're on the same island. And you mentioned that, 348 00:21:34,480 --> 00:21:37,400 Speaker 1: you know, you don't think that Haitians are that far 349 00:21:37,440 --> 00:21:40,080 Speaker 1: off from Latinos, Well they're not. I mean, we're on 350 00:21:40,200 --> 00:21:44,840 Speaker 1: the same island and there are there are so many 351 00:21:45,320 --> 00:21:50,960 Speaker 1: Haitian Dominicans who acknowledge their Latin ead Um. And there 352 00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:56,200 Speaker 1: are so many Haitians who may not have direct Dominican 353 00:21:56,320 --> 00:22:02,280 Speaker 1: blood who still consider themselves Latino or Latina in a 354 00:22:02,359 --> 00:22:07,320 Speaker 1: certain aspect because we're on the same land. And you know, 355 00:22:07,680 --> 00:22:10,600 Speaker 1: we could go on and on about the actual history 356 00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:16,639 Speaker 1: that that's misinterpreted and missing understood. But basically, um, what 357 00:22:16,760 --> 00:22:20,159 Speaker 1: it boils down to is and and this is the 358 00:22:20,200 --> 00:22:24,480 Speaker 1: same thing for colorism in the African American community. What 359 00:22:24,560 --> 00:22:28,080 Speaker 1: it boils down to is the perpetrator is the colonizers, 360 00:22:28,240 --> 00:22:33,200 Speaker 1: and the colonizers were the Spaniards. And you know, if 361 00:22:33,240 --> 00:22:35,639 Speaker 1: we want to talk about who did what to who, 362 00:22:36,680 --> 00:22:40,520 Speaker 1: that's what it boils down to. But because Haitians and 363 00:22:40,600 --> 00:22:43,680 Speaker 1: Dominicans are the ones who are now on the island, 364 00:22:44,280 --> 00:22:46,800 Speaker 1: they are the ones who are blaming each other. Does 365 00:22:46,840 --> 00:22:51,280 Speaker 1: that make sense? It just gets passed on and passed on. 366 00:22:51,480 --> 00:22:57,960 Speaker 1: And um, I think any people who are going through 367 00:22:58,640 --> 00:23:03,840 Speaker 1: a struggle or living in adversity or underprivileged or you know, 368 00:23:04,119 --> 00:23:09,159 Speaker 1: there's going to be animosity and there's gonna be um 369 00:23:10,560 --> 00:23:14,440 Speaker 1: a want and a need to point a finger at 370 00:23:14,440 --> 00:23:19,080 Speaker 1: a cause. And I think that's a lot of what's happening, um. 371 00:23:19,119 --> 00:23:24,000 Speaker 1: But basically it's about misunderstanding. It's about not really understanding 372 00:23:24,680 --> 00:23:30,360 Speaker 1: um our own history and not being able to let go. UM. 373 00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:32,919 Speaker 1: You know, I think there is a lot to be 374 00:23:32,960 --> 00:23:39,520 Speaker 1: said for generational trauma and um, you know, especially when 375 00:23:39,520 --> 00:23:43,639 Speaker 1: it comes to black community, African American community, and the 376 00:23:43,680 --> 00:23:47,879 Speaker 1: way in which we still struggle with and hold onto 377 00:23:47,920 --> 00:23:51,879 Speaker 1: the trauma of our slave ancestors. I think that that 378 00:23:51,920 --> 00:23:54,920 Speaker 1: can also be applied to a certain extent, But there 379 00:23:54,960 --> 00:23:59,480 Speaker 1: also has to be the personal responsibility of saying, I 380 00:23:59,560 --> 00:24:05,320 Speaker 1: acknowledg edge this trauma. I acknowledge and honor the experience 381 00:24:05,320 --> 00:24:08,440 Speaker 1: of my ancestors, but I am me, I am Talia 382 00:24:08,640 --> 00:24:12,280 Speaker 1: Gtti that these field in two and this is the 383 00:24:12,320 --> 00:24:15,000 Speaker 1: trauma I need to learn to let go. These are 384 00:24:15,080 --> 00:24:19,080 Speaker 1: the ingrained things that have been taught to me that 385 00:24:19,240 --> 00:24:21,920 Speaker 1: I need to let go. We need to take personal 386 00:24:22,040 --> 00:24:25,359 Speaker 1: responsibility for changing the narrative. Absolutely, I think that was 387 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:31,000 Speaker 1: beautifully said and beautifully answered. Um. And just the curiosity 388 00:24:31,119 --> 00:24:33,959 Speaker 1: going further into this question you mentioned you've dealt with 389 00:24:33,960 --> 00:24:37,200 Speaker 1: it more, you know, moving into Hamilton Heights and seeing 390 00:24:37,240 --> 00:24:39,960 Speaker 1: it more in that area and that energy, is it 391 00:24:40,040 --> 00:24:43,040 Speaker 1: ever something that you've ever confronted your family with and 392 00:24:43,119 --> 00:24:45,800 Speaker 1: kind of like talked with them about because it was 393 00:24:45,840 --> 00:24:49,199 Speaker 1: something you've never experienced when you were younger. You know 394 00:24:49,240 --> 00:24:53,239 Speaker 1: what's funny. Um, I think part of the reason I 395 00:24:53,320 --> 00:25:00,760 Speaker 1: was such a strong willed, opinionated kid and person for 396 00:25:00,800 --> 00:25:03,159 Speaker 1: a very long time. Those who know me know I've 397 00:25:03,240 --> 00:25:07,439 Speaker 1: chilled out a lot um, but I used to, you know, 398 00:25:07,600 --> 00:25:13,280 Speaker 1: I was o g facebook like like going off on people. Um. 399 00:25:13,320 --> 00:25:15,719 Speaker 1: I think the reason why I grew up like that 400 00:25:15,840 --> 00:25:20,280 Speaker 1: is because when I faced any kind of racism as 401 00:25:20,280 --> 00:25:24,040 Speaker 1: a child, and again, it wasn't something I came up 402 00:25:24,080 --> 00:25:27,440 Speaker 1: against often. But you know, the first time somebody called 403 00:25:27,440 --> 00:25:29,199 Speaker 1: me the N word on the playground, I kicked him 404 00:25:29,240 --> 00:25:36,679 Speaker 1: in the balls, Like I was like what, Like I 405 00:25:36,720 --> 00:25:38,720 Speaker 1: didn't you know, I didn't have it. And I think 406 00:25:38,760 --> 00:25:43,720 Speaker 1: that's partly because my father, Um, he didn't acknowledge racism. 407 00:25:43,760 --> 00:25:47,239 Speaker 1: He's like, I don't care what you say, Like you 408 00:25:47,280 --> 00:25:49,640 Speaker 1: can call me, you can call me the N word, 409 00:25:49,640 --> 00:25:51,680 Speaker 1: you can call me whatever you want. But like I'm 410 00:25:51,800 --> 00:25:56,679 Speaker 1: not that so by, you know, And that's kind of 411 00:25:56,680 --> 00:25:59,879 Speaker 1: what he put in me. So like I've never really 412 00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:06,520 Speaker 1: in one whenever somebody's come at me with racism. For 413 00:26:06,680 --> 00:26:09,000 Speaker 1: the most part, it doesn't bother me. I just laugh 414 00:26:09,080 --> 00:26:12,960 Speaker 1: at it because I'm like, okay, like what does that mean? 415 00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:17,520 Speaker 1: Even tell me something I haven't heard, right, Like you know, 416 00:26:17,560 --> 00:26:19,320 Speaker 1: like once, I remember one time when I was living 417 00:26:19,320 --> 00:26:22,960 Speaker 1: in l A. And then this was like, um, during 418 00:26:23,080 --> 00:26:28,440 Speaker 1: Obama's first run for president, there was like some woman 419 00:26:28,520 --> 00:26:32,480 Speaker 1: she happened to be black in a ross and something happened. 420 00:26:32,600 --> 00:26:36,200 Speaker 1: The cashier happened to be Asian, and she went off 421 00:26:36,240 --> 00:26:38,960 Speaker 1: on the Asian woman, and I was like, yo, sis, 422 00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:42,399 Speaker 1: like continent, We're not doing that, not this, not when 423 00:26:42,400 --> 00:26:45,040 Speaker 1: we're about to have a black president. Don't Because she 424 00:26:45,080 --> 00:26:47,040 Speaker 1: was calling her like racist names. I was like, Sis, 425 00:26:47,080 --> 00:26:49,000 Speaker 1: don't do that. And she turned to me and she 426 00:26:49,080 --> 00:26:52,440 Speaker 1: called me a half breathe and I looked her in 427 00:26:52,520 --> 00:26:56,720 Speaker 1: the face. I laughed so hard, and I think my 428 00:26:56,720 --> 00:26:58,720 Speaker 1: my response was like, well, you're about to have a 429 00:26:58,760 --> 00:27:03,119 Speaker 1: half breed president's so have a good day, like I did. 430 00:27:03,320 --> 00:27:05,639 Speaker 1: Like I just was so unbothered. But I was like, 431 00:27:05,640 --> 00:27:08,560 Speaker 1: what does that even? Yes, I mean, if we're gonna 432 00:27:08,600 --> 00:27:13,440 Speaker 1: get technical, I mean, yeah, I'm a half breed. It's 433 00:27:13,440 --> 00:27:16,679 Speaker 1: a shitty name for it, but like, yeah, Okay, So, 434 00:27:16,800 --> 00:27:19,840 Speaker 1: like all this is to say that when I've noticed 435 00:27:20,400 --> 00:27:23,480 Speaker 1: stuff like this. Um. First of all, like I said, 436 00:27:24,280 --> 00:27:29,080 Speaker 1: I didn't start noticing um, this kind of animosity towards 437 00:27:29,119 --> 00:27:31,520 Speaker 1: the Haitian community until I was an adult, until I 438 00:27:31,560 --> 00:27:34,280 Speaker 1: lived here, and I think I I already had been 439 00:27:34,320 --> 00:27:38,639 Speaker 1: able to like process things differently. UM. So I never 440 00:27:38,680 --> 00:27:41,440 Speaker 1: really went to my parents about it. I never really 441 00:27:41,440 --> 00:27:43,399 Speaker 1: talked about it. I think I kind of was just like, 442 00:27:44,359 --> 00:27:47,760 Speaker 1: that's stupid because that was the energy that you were 443 00:27:47,800 --> 00:27:51,040 Speaker 1: receiving from home. To was like, wh I talk, what's 444 00:27:51,040 --> 00:27:54,159 Speaker 1: the point, what's the point? It never made sense to 445 00:27:54,200 --> 00:27:57,040 Speaker 1: be like that animosity never made sense to me because 446 00:27:57,040 --> 00:28:02,159 Speaker 1: I'm like, yo, we're on the same island. Also listen 447 00:28:02,480 --> 00:28:05,760 Speaker 1: again here comes to bias. Also, what the funk are 448 00:28:05,800 --> 00:28:08,159 Speaker 1: y'all complained about? We're the one with the hurricanes and 449 00:28:08,200 --> 00:28:11,560 Speaker 1: the earthquakes. You're chilling, like, tell me how we're on 450 00:28:11,640 --> 00:28:15,560 Speaker 1: the same island and Haiti is getting all the natural 451 00:28:15,560 --> 00:28:21,000 Speaker 1: disasters and you're just like, uh, like salsa the beach. 452 00:28:21,359 --> 00:28:24,000 Speaker 1: You know. I never understood it. I never understood it, 453 00:28:24,040 --> 00:28:27,159 Speaker 1: and I never ingested it. I never I never I 454 00:28:27,320 --> 00:28:30,560 Speaker 1: never let it. It's just never really affected me because 455 00:28:30,560 --> 00:28:34,520 Speaker 1: I just thought it was so fucking stupid. I love that. 456 00:28:34,640 --> 00:28:38,320 Speaker 1: I love that answer. And I honestly, nobody I know 457 00:28:39,320 --> 00:28:45,480 Speaker 1: of any worth to me who's Dominican has any inkling 458 00:28:45,640 --> 00:28:50,280 Speaker 1: of that mindset, that sentiment, and so like, you know 459 00:28:51,800 --> 00:28:56,880 Speaker 1: my business, right, You're like, I'll just take half of it. 460 00:28:56,880 --> 00:29:01,000 Speaker 1: It's fine, whatever. And so that's how people. I'm have 461 00:29:01,080 --> 00:29:03,320 Speaker 1: Puerto Rican and have Haitian. So as far as I'm concerned, 462 00:29:03,320 --> 00:29:07,720 Speaker 1: that makes me like honorary Dominican. I mean, you've always 463 00:29:07,720 --> 00:29:09,760 Speaker 1: been invited to the cookout on mine. Like if you 464 00:29:09,840 --> 00:29:12,719 Speaker 1: put if you put a Puerto Rican and a Haitian together, 465 00:29:12,840 --> 00:29:15,600 Speaker 1: doesn't wouldn't that make a Dominican. I'm just saying. I mean, 466 00:29:15,640 --> 00:29:17,520 Speaker 1: I don't know. The audience might have to weigh in 467 00:29:17,560 --> 00:29:20,480 Speaker 1: on that one. Some Dominicans would be like, now you 468 00:29:20,480 --> 00:29:24,680 Speaker 1: don't know, be honest, be honest. You listen, you you 469 00:29:24,800 --> 00:29:27,000 Speaker 1: you've already been famed for a decade for me. So 470 00:29:27,120 --> 00:29:29,360 Speaker 1: you've already been been at a cookout on my end. 471 00:29:29,440 --> 00:29:32,440 Speaker 1: So I already hard. I'm gonna piste off all your 472 00:29:32,480 --> 00:29:38,080 Speaker 1: audience members. But news flash, the many Donalds you're black, Oh, 473 00:29:38,080 --> 00:29:40,760 Speaker 1: they know that this is this is like what they've 474 00:29:40,800 --> 00:29:44,360 Speaker 1: been hearing that from you. You're black, so black and 475 00:29:44,520 --> 00:29:49,080 Speaker 1: Puerto Rican, Puerto Rican and Haitian. It makes a Dominican. 476 00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:52,400 Speaker 1: That's how you make a Dominican. That's how we mix 477 00:29:52,440 --> 00:29:55,320 Speaker 1: it up. That's how we mix it up. Um. I 478 00:29:55,400 --> 00:29:57,920 Speaker 1: want to revert back to you because I just think 479 00:29:58,640 --> 00:30:02,280 Speaker 1: because it's all about me that swing it on back 480 00:30:02,320 --> 00:30:07,160 Speaker 1: to Dorothy. It's all about Dorothy. Um. It's just it's 481 00:30:08,160 --> 00:30:12,200 Speaker 1: hearing you speak about where you come from and who 482 00:30:12,200 --> 00:30:15,120 Speaker 1: you are and your beliefs and how strong you are 483 00:30:15,120 --> 00:30:19,040 Speaker 1: in that it I've already known all that about you obviously, 484 00:30:19,080 --> 00:30:22,320 Speaker 1: but I think it also like helps our listeners understand 485 00:30:22,360 --> 00:30:24,200 Speaker 1: the kind of artists that you are and the person 486 00:30:24,280 --> 00:30:27,880 Speaker 1: that you are, which is really important I think now 487 00:30:28,480 --> 00:30:31,600 Speaker 1: more than ever, Um, and the work that you do. 488 00:30:31,720 --> 00:30:36,360 Speaker 1: And I'm curious how your experiences have bled into your 489 00:30:36,480 --> 00:30:39,480 Speaker 1: art and how that's maybe who you are and the 490 00:30:39,520 --> 00:30:41,200 Speaker 1: work that you're doing now and the work that you're 491 00:30:41,200 --> 00:30:44,600 Speaker 1: focused on doing now as an Afro Latina, because I 492 00:30:44,640 --> 00:30:47,720 Speaker 1: know it's evolved for me personally from the person that 493 00:30:47,760 --> 00:30:51,320 Speaker 1: you met and Marie Christine, I'm not that same person anymore. Right, 494 00:30:51,360 --> 00:30:53,600 Speaker 1: we don't take the same jobs. We ain't out here 495 00:30:53,600 --> 00:30:57,680 Speaker 1: saying yes, yes, yes, yes, no none of that. We 496 00:30:57,720 --> 00:31:01,400 Speaker 1: ain't doing that no more. Yeah. So you know, I'm 497 00:31:01,480 --> 00:31:07,400 Speaker 1: also a coach, UM and I a lot of my 498 00:31:07,520 --> 00:31:12,760 Speaker 1: coaching work, UM is a result of the self awareness 499 00:31:12,800 --> 00:31:18,280 Speaker 1: I gained as an actor. In retrospect, looking back, I 500 00:31:18,280 --> 00:31:24,760 Speaker 1: think what I struggled the most with was authenticity. UM. 501 00:31:24,840 --> 00:31:26,680 Speaker 1: I think a lot of artists struggle with that. I 502 00:31:26,720 --> 00:31:29,360 Speaker 1: think that's one of these we're always in our heads, 503 00:31:29,440 --> 00:31:33,040 Speaker 1: you know, yeah, always in that in that mindset. Yeah. 504 00:31:33,120 --> 00:31:37,479 Speaker 1: And it was a real mind fuck growing up, getting 505 00:31:37,520 --> 00:31:45,480 Speaker 1: older and like I said, being confronted with my identity 506 00:31:46,080 --> 00:31:49,400 Speaker 1: as an adult and a young adult, because I had 507 00:31:49,440 --> 00:31:54,840 Speaker 1: never had that confusion um as a kid. So you know, 508 00:31:54,920 --> 00:31:58,360 Speaker 1: when I went into when I when I stepped into 509 00:31:58,560 --> 00:32:04,520 Speaker 1: the professional industry, UM, I really found myself trying to 510 00:32:04,840 --> 00:32:08,960 Speaker 1: fit in um and fit boxes, to be black enough, 511 00:32:09,000 --> 00:32:14,840 Speaker 1: to be Latin enough. Um. And I think you know, 512 00:32:16,000 --> 00:32:22,960 Speaker 1: over time, the lessons that my parents taught me about, uh, 513 00:32:23,600 --> 00:32:29,080 Speaker 1: not caring what people think, you know, being unapologetic about 514 00:32:29,120 --> 00:32:34,560 Speaker 1: who I am, being unapologetic about being Afro, Latina, Haitian 515 00:32:34,720 --> 00:32:38,080 Speaker 1: and Puerto rican. Um. You know, I think it took 516 00:32:38,120 --> 00:32:41,080 Speaker 1: a long time. It took a lot of trial and error, 517 00:32:41,480 --> 00:32:46,760 Speaker 1: but I think that is what really shaped and changed 518 00:32:46,960 --> 00:32:51,120 Speaker 1: my work as an artist because I would say, you know, 519 00:32:51,440 --> 00:32:55,680 Speaker 1: it's been pretty recent recent, being somewhere between the last 520 00:32:55,760 --> 00:33:00,960 Speaker 1: like five to seven years, that I really feel like 521 00:33:01,160 --> 00:33:06,680 Speaker 1: I'm bringing myself to my work, um, you know, and 522 00:33:06,680 --> 00:33:10,960 Speaker 1: and and my experiences, UM finding ways I just did 523 00:33:12,080 --> 00:33:15,200 Speaker 1: before the pandemic, I did Into the Woods and I 524 00:33:15,280 --> 00:33:19,080 Speaker 1: played the Witch, and it was the first time that 525 00:33:19,200 --> 00:33:27,440 Speaker 1: I could really incorporate my experience, my individual experience as 526 00:33:27,480 --> 00:33:31,680 Speaker 1: a black woman, UM to the role. Uh. And I 527 00:33:31,720 --> 00:33:35,120 Speaker 1: think I think that was self awareness. I think that's 528 00:33:35,200 --> 00:33:47,800 Speaker 1: just growth maturity. UM. But yeah, I I do find myself, um, 529 00:33:47,800 --> 00:33:53,840 Speaker 1: bringing a more authentic version of myself that doesn't feel 530 00:33:53,880 --> 00:33:58,680 Speaker 1: like I'm trying to be someone else's perception of what 531 00:33:59,520 --> 00:34:02,400 Speaker 1: my call there should be. And that also applies to 532 00:34:02,520 --> 00:34:06,280 Speaker 1: being a woman. You know, I I am my own woman. 533 00:34:06,800 --> 00:34:09,759 Speaker 1: I am not being a woman of color is not 534 00:34:10,000 --> 00:34:14,960 Speaker 1: a monolith um and really embracing that, and most recently 535 00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:18,840 Speaker 1: as a coach, I've really taken that and made that 536 00:34:19,000 --> 00:34:23,480 Speaker 1: the cornerstone of my work as a coach. Um, I'm 537 00:34:23,520 --> 00:34:26,480 Speaker 1: really proud of the fact that a lot of my 538 00:34:26,600 --> 00:34:31,160 Speaker 1: clients UM come back to me because they feel seen 539 00:34:32,080 --> 00:34:36,680 Speaker 1: as people of color, as people on the lgbt Q. 540 00:34:37,600 --> 00:34:45,400 Speaker 1: I a plus spectrum UM because I I I really 541 00:34:45,440 --> 00:34:50,920 Speaker 1: just have a passion for making people feel safe and 542 00:34:51,040 --> 00:34:57,480 Speaker 1: comfortable in bringing themselves into their art. Um. It feels 543 00:34:57,520 --> 00:34:59,760 Speaker 1: like you know what it feels like, Darylyn. It feels 544 00:34:59,800 --> 00:35:05,880 Speaker 1: like something so inherent and natural that was just chilling 545 00:35:06,239 --> 00:35:12,399 Speaker 1: and like lying dormant in me for years And I don't, 546 00:35:12,960 --> 00:35:15,359 Speaker 1: to be honest, I don't know what it was that 547 00:35:15,560 --> 00:35:19,919 Speaker 1: unlocked it. But sometime around like five to seven years ago, 548 00:35:20,080 --> 00:35:23,120 Speaker 1: something broke open and I was like, fuck this ship, 549 00:35:23,719 --> 00:35:29,399 Speaker 1: Like this breakdown says this. I got a version of this. 550 00:35:29,960 --> 00:35:32,919 Speaker 1: I don't know if it's what they want, but this 551 00:35:33,000 --> 00:35:37,080 Speaker 1: is what they're gonna get. And being okay with that 552 00:35:38,719 --> 00:35:43,839 Speaker 1: and releasing any judgment with that. I think when I 553 00:35:43,920 --> 00:35:49,279 Speaker 1: learned to do that as a person in life, then 554 00:35:49,320 --> 00:35:51,400 Speaker 1: I was able to do it as an artist. But 555 00:35:51,480 --> 00:35:54,160 Speaker 1: I think, yeah, in order to have the freedom that 556 00:35:54,200 --> 00:35:58,200 Speaker 1: we want as artists, you have to find that freedom 557 00:35:58,239 --> 00:36:00,960 Speaker 1: as a human being. You have to and the freedom 558 00:36:01,000 --> 00:36:05,240 Speaker 1: to let go of self judgment and judgment of others. 559 00:36:06,000 --> 00:36:10,640 Speaker 1: You need to learn how to adopt an attitude of gratitude, UM, 560 00:36:10,680 --> 00:36:13,000 Speaker 1: and be grateful for the things you have and not 561 00:36:13,080 --> 00:36:17,799 Speaker 1: focus on the things that you don't. Um. And that 562 00:36:17,920 --> 00:36:20,800 Speaker 1: I mean, I think growing up as a woman of color, 563 00:36:20,960 --> 00:36:23,920 Speaker 1: that that was a journey for me, you know, looking 564 00:36:23,960 --> 00:36:27,919 Speaker 1: at other people playing the comparison game, wondering why these 565 00:36:27,960 --> 00:36:31,319 Speaker 1: people had something and I didn't, wondering, you know, why 566 00:36:31,360 --> 00:36:33,680 Speaker 1: I wasn't black enough, or why I wasn't Latin enough, 567 00:36:33,760 --> 00:36:37,759 Speaker 1: or you know, once I let go of all that 568 00:36:37,840 --> 00:36:42,040 Speaker 1: and said, that's not my concern. My concern is being 569 00:36:42,760 --> 00:36:48,320 Speaker 1: a bomb mass human being, being good to people, leaving 570 00:36:48,360 --> 00:36:51,640 Speaker 1: whatever little mark on this tiny little speck of a 571 00:36:51,760 --> 00:36:58,359 Speaker 1: planet that I can and that's it. And applying that 572 00:36:58,400 --> 00:37:00,800 Speaker 1: to everything that I do and my work and trying 573 00:37:00,840 --> 00:37:03,120 Speaker 1: to impart that on other people as an educator and 574 00:37:03,160 --> 00:37:07,719 Speaker 1: a coach. And you're doing it. I'm a witness of it. 575 00:37:07,800 --> 00:37:10,440 Speaker 1: You're doing it. And UM, I mean, as I mentioned 576 00:37:10,440 --> 00:37:13,520 Speaker 1: in the intro for Dalia, like, I mean, I can't 577 00:37:13,560 --> 00:37:15,680 Speaker 1: even count on my hands and number of TV shows 578 00:37:15,719 --> 00:37:18,560 Speaker 1: you might have seen her face on it and the 579 00:37:18,640 --> 00:37:21,239 Speaker 1: incredible work that she does on the stage. UM, I 580 00:37:21,239 --> 00:37:23,360 Speaker 1: know that you mentioned that Into the Woods was a 581 00:37:23,560 --> 00:37:25,640 Speaker 1: was a changing moment for you? Is there something else 582 00:37:25,719 --> 00:37:28,160 Speaker 1: that really stood out where like it felt like you 583 00:37:28,200 --> 00:37:30,799 Speaker 1: were a new person after that experience, Like what was that? 584 00:37:30,920 --> 00:37:33,440 Speaker 1: What was that? Five seven year what was that moment 585 00:37:33,680 --> 00:37:37,920 Speaker 1: for you? I would say right after that, that was 586 00:37:38,000 --> 00:37:41,399 Speaker 1: like the what cracked the door open? And the next 587 00:37:41,400 --> 00:37:43,560 Speaker 1: show I did about a month later, and it was 588 00:37:43,600 --> 00:37:47,160 Speaker 1: my last show before the pandemic was In the Heights 589 00:37:48,520 --> 00:37:53,279 Speaker 1: and I played Daniela. And never before have I ever 590 00:37:53,600 --> 00:37:59,320 Speaker 1: felt so connected to a role, like you know, a 591 00:37:59,440 --> 00:38:02,279 Speaker 1: special because when In the Heights came out, I was 592 00:38:02,320 --> 00:38:07,600 Speaker 1: a little bit younger, um, and I was, yeah, I 593 00:38:07,640 --> 00:38:10,719 Speaker 1: was going out for like Nina and Vanessa, even though 594 00:38:10,719 --> 00:38:14,279 Speaker 1: I kept telling them I can dance, um, but I 595 00:38:14,360 --> 00:38:19,839 Speaker 1: kept you know, I had aged into Daniela. And I 596 00:38:19,880 --> 00:38:22,280 Speaker 1: was like, oh my god, this is why I haven't 597 00:38:22,280 --> 00:38:27,240 Speaker 1: booked this show yet, Like this is me like all 598 00:38:27,480 --> 00:38:33,799 Speaker 1: day every day. And again it was my version of Daniela. 599 00:38:34,360 --> 00:38:38,200 Speaker 1: Like anybody who saw that show and I'm pat myself 600 00:38:38,239 --> 00:38:41,479 Speaker 1: on the back of this ship. You couldn't tell me 601 00:38:41,760 --> 00:38:48,160 Speaker 1: that wasn't unequivocally me in that role, Like I gave 602 00:38:48,560 --> 00:38:51,000 Speaker 1: all of my spirit to that and I had so 603 00:38:51,120 --> 00:38:57,759 Speaker 1: much pride and being Afro Latina in that show. Um, 604 00:38:57,800 --> 00:39:00,520 Speaker 1: and that really yeah, that was a show where I 605 00:39:00,560 --> 00:39:02,399 Speaker 1: really was like, I'm doing what I want to do. 606 00:39:04,520 --> 00:39:08,280 Speaker 1: And the pandemic happened and unfortunately, you know, things shut 607 00:39:08,320 --> 00:39:10,560 Speaker 1: down for a bit and I wasn't really able to 608 00:39:11,640 --> 00:39:16,480 Speaker 1: parlay that into another show for until this summer and 609 00:39:17,400 --> 00:39:19,919 Speaker 1: I just finished up a show at Bay Street Theater 610 00:39:20,000 --> 00:39:23,600 Speaker 1: in the Hampton's. UM. I did a show called Windfall, 611 00:39:24,200 --> 00:39:27,200 Speaker 1: directed by Jason Alexander. First of all, I just got 612 00:39:27,200 --> 00:39:30,600 Speaker 1: to say that Jason Alexander is a cham of a 613 00:39:30,719 --> 00:39:36,360 Speaker 1: human being, and UM, we had some really deep discussions 614 00:39:36,400 --> 00:39:40,440 Speaker 1: about my identity. Um. You know, there was a moment 615 00:39:40,920 --> 00:39:45,479 Speaker 1: in directing me that um, you know, he was trying 616 00:39:45,480 --> 00:39:49,120 Speaker 1: to get me to go in a different direction. And uh, 617 00:39:49,160 --> 00:39:51,560 Speaker 1: there were moments where he was he was telling me, 618 00:39:51,760 --> 00:39:54,319 Speaker 1: don't make her quite so aggressive. And I had to 619 00:39:54,360 --> 00:39:57,440 Speaker 1: sit him down and we had a conversation about what 620 00:39:58,680 --> 00:40:04,840 Speaker 1: the direction it's too aggressive me means to a black woman, 621 00:40:04,920 --> 00:40:07,759 Speaker 1: to a Latin a woman, what it means for me 622 00:40:07,840 --> 00:40:13,880 Speaker 1: to negotiate that and um, you know, reinterpreting what his 623 00:40:14,000 --> 00:40:18,600 Speaker 1: direction was in a way that didn't feel triggering, and 624 00:40:18,600 --> 00:40:22,080 Speaker 1: and and um was more productive for me. So that 625 00:40:22,160 --> 00:40:25,399 Speaker 1: was a pretty cool um learning experience. That was really 626 00:40:25,440 --> 00:40:30,360 Speaker 1: the first time that I was able to safely I 627 00:40:30,360 --> 00:40:32,480 Speaker 1: wouldn't say the first time because it happened with with 628 00:40:32,520 --> 00:40:35,359 Speaker 1: Into the Woods. That was the starting moment. But I 629 00:40:35,400 --> 00:40:39,200 Speaker 1: feel so much more confident and able to have those 630 00:40:39,280 --> 00:40:45,960 Speaker 1: kinds of conversations about my identity and how it relates 631 00:40:46,200 --> 00:40:49,560 Speaker 1: to the circumstances of the work and the character, and 632 00:40:50,000 --> 00:40:55,200 Speaker 1: how to effortlessly maybe not effort effortlessly because it is 633 00:40:55,239 --> 00:40:58,799 Speaker 1: not always Yeah, thoughtfully art is not art is not 634 00:40:58,960 --> 00:41:06,680 Speaker 1: always effortless, but thoughtfully consciously, UM, blend the two so 635 00:41:06,719 --> 00:41:11,040 Speaker 1: that I am honoring my experience and myself and and 636 00:41:11,040 --> 00:41:13,640 Speaker 1: and what I bring to this role as well as 637 00:41:14,800 --> 00:41:19,040 Speaker 1: the writer's vision the director's vision. And that's the battle. 638 00:41:19,200 --> 00:41:22,040 Speaker 1: That's always the battle. I understand exactly what you're saying. 639 00:41:22,360 --> 00:41:24,120 Speaker 1: That's that's most of the battle, because it's like, how 640 00:41:24,120 --> 00:41:25,640 Speaker 1: do you not walk in there and you're not like 641 00:41:25,920 --> 00:41:31,120 Speaker 1: fuck you? Or then the other end of it, then 642 00:41:31,160 --> 00:41:33,800 Speaker 1: you're quiet, and then you're feeling like you're dying inside 643 00:41:33,880 --> 00:41:35,960 Speaker 1: and you're like, I hate coming to work every day. 644 00:41:36,239 --> 00:41:40,880 Speaker 1: So finding that, honestly, honestly that comes with age. Because 645 00:41:40,880 --> 00:41:43,239 Speaker 1: I'm gonna tell you, what do I want to tell 646 00:41:43,440 --> 00:41:46,040 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna say my I'm usually not one who's like, 647 00:41:47,520 --> 00:41:51,279 Speaker 1: but it's a podcast, so like it's forever, so I 648 00:41:51,360 --> 00:41:53,160 Speaker 1: might I don't want to change my mind. So I 649 00:41:53,200 --> 00:41:59,839 Speaker 1: am anyways moving on. I mean retinal and hyaluronic as 650 00:42:00,000 --> 00:42:03,560 Speaker 1: it um. But I would say I am a woman 651 00:42:03,600 --> 00:42:05,640 Speaker 1: of a certain age. And when I turned this certain 652 00:42:05,680 --> 00:42:11,840 Speaker 1: age recently, I really said fuck it um. And and 653 00:42:12,840 --> 00:42:15,600 Speaker 1: I woke up the morning on my birthday. I had 654 00:42:15,640 --> 00:42:18,360 Speaker 1: been kicking and screaming on the way to my birthday 655 00:42:18,360 --> 00:42:19,879 Speaker 1: and I woke up on my birthday and I was like, 656 00:42:21,080 --> 00:42:26,120 Speaker 1: oh my god, none of this matters, Like so much 657 00:42:26,280 --> 00:42:32,479 Speaker 1: doesn't matter, so much is not worth my energy. And 658 00:42:32,920 --> 00:42:41,399 Speaker 1: you know that really changed my work, like aging and 659 00:42:42,560 --> 00:42:46,600 Speaker 1: self awareness, and my god, how that will change your work. 660 00:42:46,680 --> 00:42:49,920 Speaker 1: The way I auditioned now, Darylyn, I don't. I'm like, 661 00:42:50,080 --> 00:42:54,040 Speaker 1: bamboom boom, let's do this. Two takes tops done, like 662 00:42:54,600 --> 00:42:57,640 Speaker 1: three hours doing this? No who got the time to him? 663 00:42:57,680 --> 00:43:00,400 Speaker 1: And Hall over stuff and and perfect I don't give 664 00:43:00,400 --> 00:43:03,279 Speaker 1: a damn about perfection. I give a damn about like 665 00:43:04,200 --> 00:43:05,960 Speaker 1: punch him in the punch him in the face with 666 00:43:06,000 --> 00:43:12,320 Speaker 1: some talent, boom boom, tell a story like do good work, 667 00:43:12,719 --> 00:43:14,600 Speaker 1: but like if I flob a line, or if a 668 00:43:14,719 --> 00:43:16,680 Speaker 1: hair is out of place, or all the stupid ship 669 00:43:16,760 --> 00:43:18,920 Speaker 1: that we used to worry about. If you know, I 670 00:43:18,960 --> 00:43:21,279 Speaker 1: don't care who who else is in the room, or 671 00:43:21,320 --> 00:43:24,399 Speaker 1: who else has been, who has been invited to submititate. 672 00:43:24,600 --> 00:43:27,719 Speaker 1: I don't care who else they're looking at. Like it's 673 00:43:27,760 --> 00:43:34,200 Speaker 1: about me, don't y'all know, Like that's how I approach 674 00:43:34,280 --> 00:43:36,359 Speaker 1: it now. It's like I don't give a damn. This 675 00:43:36,400 --> 00:43:38,200 Speaker 1: is about me. This is my experience, this is how 676 00:43:38,239 --> 00:43:57,480 Speaker 1: I want to live my life. Like out of here, Darlia, 677 00:43:57,600 --> 00:43:59,840 Speaker 1: we have reached the moment that we've all been with 678 00:44:00,160 --> 00:44:07,160 Speaker 1: for the moment of the questions. Questions, questions, question questions, questions. Okay, 679 00:44:08,640 --> 00:44:15,399 Speaker 1: favorite cartoon character growing up? Oh my god, see there's 680 00:44:15,400 --> 00:44:17,560 Speaker 1: a reason why you didn't. You didn't give us these 681 00:44:17,640 --> 00:44:22,880 Speaker 1: ahead of time for a reason. Only one, only one, okay, Maleficent. 682 00:44:23,440 --> 00:44:28,440 Speaker 1: I love I love villains so much. I love that 683 00:44:28,480 --> 00:44:30,920 Speaker 1: for you, I see she was. She was the O 684 00:44:31,040 --> 00:44:34,799 Speaker 1: G for me. I see you in that role. Wow, 685 00:44:35,239 --> 00:44:41,600 Speaker 1: what does self care look like for you? Skincare? I 686 00:44:41,680 --> 00:44:46,080 Speaker 1: love skincare, and there's something and it's not even like 687 00:44:46,239 --> 00:44:49,440 Speaker 1: it's not vain there. It's ritualistic. I think that's what 688 00:44:49,480 --> 00:44:53,160 Speaker 1: it is. Self care for me is about ritual because 689 00:44:53,160 --> 00:44:58,080 Speaker 1: it really can be anything, but it's the act of 690 00:44:58,360 --> 00:45:03,680 Speaker 1: ritual that really enriches the spirit. So whether your self 691 00:45:03,719 --> 00:45:08,520 Speaker 1: care is making tea or for some people's self care 692 00:45:08,640 --> 00:45:11,760 Speaker 1: is like shaving their whole body, like that's that's a ritual, 693 00:45:11,760 --> 00:45:14,560 Speaker 1: getting in the shower, scrubbing down, shaving their whole body. 694 00:45:14,719 --> 00:45:18,200 Speaker 1: For me, it's the ritual of opening my little jars 695 00:45:18,400 --> 00:45:21,960 Speaker 1: and putting the little dropper in my hand and you know, 696 00:45:22,080 --> 00:45:25,160 Speaker 1: rubbing the you know, spending time massaging my face, doing 697 00:45:25,200 --> 00:45:30,839 Speaker 1: my little guasha, breathing like it's meditative. So yeah, that's 698 00:45:30,920 --> 00:45:33,520 Speaker 1: that's my version of self care. I love that. I 699 00:45:33,520 --> 00:45:35,640 Speaker 1: feel like I'm in a spa right now. Listen when 700 00:45:35,680 --> 00:45:38,840 Speaker 1: you speak about your face regimen, I hit you with 701 00:45:38,880 --> 00:45:43,360 Speaker 1: a voiceover voice. What reminds you of home or makes 702 00:45:43,400 --> 00:45:48,320 Speaker 1: you feel at home? That's a really good question. Um, 703 00:45:48,360 --> 00:45:51,080 Speaker 1: I feel like This is probably what a lot of 704 00:45:52,040 --> 00:45:59,080 Speaker 1: Latin A people say. But food, yes, yeah, I know, 705 00:45:59,360 --> 00:46:03,080 Speaker 1: it's I think connects you. Nothing connects you to home 706 00:46:03,360 --> 00:46:06,800 Speaker 1: quite like food. So like, so if we're going to 707 00:46:06,960 --> 00:46:12,000 Speaker 1: narrow it down, what kind of what is the dish? Okay, 708 00:46:12,160 --> 00:46:15,920 Speaker 1: I think my favorite dish is different than the dish 709 00:46:15,960 --> 00:46:18,760 Speaker 1: that connects me to home. So the dish that connects 710 00:46:18,760 --> 00:46:25,240 Speaker 1: me to home is got like like my grandmother, Oh 711 00:46:25,280 --> 00:46:27,640 Speaker 1: my god, I just got like I just got all 712 00:46:27,680 --> 00:46:31,719 Speaker 1: the fields. That probably is what connects me to home 713 00:46:32,000 --> 00:46:34,560 Speaker 1: the most. But whenever, like I'm here in the city 714 00:46:35,000 --> 00:46:37,640 Speaker 1: and I want to feel a little bit of like 715 00:46:38,480 --> 00:46:40,920 Speaker 1: you know, of of my childhood and my home and 716 00:46:40,960 --> 00:46:43,920 Speaker 1: my family, I'll usually just order like a plate of 717 00:46:47,520 --> 00:46:50,080 Speaker 1: some like oh you know what, Really what really gives 718 00:46:50,120 --> 00:46:53,600 Speaker 1: me is um not everybody body like really funks with 719 00:46:53,719 --> 00:46:58,960 Speaker 1: guenel the way I do love like I love and 720 00:46:59,000 --> 00:47:02,080 Speaker 1: then like us like regular as like the pepper steak 721 00:47:02,120 --> 00:47:08,000 Speaker 1: that you get yes, you know yes, or if I'm 722 00:47:08,040 --> 00:47:11,040 Speaker 1: feeling a real fancy, I will never say no to 723 00:47:11,120 --> 00:47:15,880 Speaker 1: some fungo of course, how could you do? You know what? 724 00:47:16,520 --> 00:47:20,640 Speaker 1: I never had mango until I'm moved here, really and 725 00:47:20,840 --> 00:47:25,680 Speaker 1: oh oh, y'all around to something. I can show you 726 00:47:25,760 --> 00:47:32,239 Speaker 1: to the sausage, the sausage and the cheese. Yes, all 727 00:47:32,280 --> 00:47:35,719 Speaker 1: of that, all of the honey food, food, food. We 728 00:47:35,800 --> 00:47:39,960 Speaker 1: got it. That's it. That's the way. That's hard. That's it. Salia, 729 00:47:40,200 --> 00:47:42,520 Speaker 1: thank you so much for being on Morrida. Thank you 730 00:47:42,560 --> 00:47:45,759 Speaker 1: for sharing your story. Thank you for being vulnerable and 731 00:47:45,840 --> 00:47:50,600 Speaker 1: opening yourself and and sharing your secrets of your artistry 732 00:47:50,640 --> 00:47:54,759 Speaker 1: and how you are pushing and winning. And it's a 733 00:47:54,800 --> 00:47:57,120 Speaker 1: beautiful sight. And I'm grateful to be a friend of 734 00:47:57,120 --> 00:48:01,520 Speaker 1: yours and watch the journey. Blessed said I am. I 735 00:48:01,560 --> 00:48:06,520 Speaker 1: am so thankful to have friends like you, especially after Latina, 736 00:48:06,600 --> 00:48:09,000 Speaker 1: friends like you who are showing up for the community 737 00:48:09,600 --> 00:48:14,400 Speaker 1: and teaching the people and really encouraging everybody to engage 738 00:48:14,440 --> 00:48:18,240 Speaker 1: and listen and learn and love. I love you, girl, 739 00:48:18,280 --> 00:48:20,960 Speaker 1: I'll let you girl. Thank you for coming. Thank for 740 00:48:22,280 --> 00:48:25,160 Speaker 1: I can't wait to get some food with you. That's it. Yes, 741 00:48:25,280 --> 00:48:31,919 Speaker 1: by my love, Thank you so much. Thank you. Mona 742 00:48:31,960 --> 00:48:34,640 Speaker 1: Nita is a production of Sonato and partnership with I 743 00:48:34,760 --> 00:48:38,600 Speaker 1: Heart Radios Michael Uda podcast Network. For more podcasts from 744 00:48:38,600 --> 00:48:41,720 Speaker 1: I Heart Radio, visit the I Heart Radio app Apple 745 00:48:41,800 --> 00:48:44,480 Speaker 1: podcast or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.