1 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:16,360 Speaker 1: Welcome to PM Mood then No Talking Points, No Bullshit 2 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:20,200 Speaker 1: podcast that takes you behind the curtain, off the red carpet, 3 00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:23,079 Speaker 1: and to the front lines of progress with change makers 4 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:26,520 Speaker 1: and innovators that are doing the work to shift our 5 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:33,280 Speaker 1: culture and expand their social impact. I am so excited 6 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:37,599 Speaker 1: to welcome to PM Mood. Roderick Cox, who is one 7 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:41,480 Speaker 1: of the only African American conductors in the world who 8 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:46,000 Speaker 1: made you made your debut conducting the New York Philharmonic 9 00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:49,919 Speaker 1: in March. There's a story to that. So now, so 10 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:52,440 Speaker 1: now because I want to because I want to jump 11 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 1: right in, because I've been excited to talk to you, 12 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:57,680 Speaker 1: and we're, you know, in the age of the coronavirus, 13 00:00:57,680 --> 00:01:00,440 Speaker 1: in a global pandemic. We can't escape it. So it 14 00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:03,320 Speaker 1: becomes a part of every conversation that we've been having 15 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:05,959 Speaker 1: on PM Mood. So tell us what happened. It was 16 00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:09,880 Speaker 1: the week of I think it was around it was 17 00:01:09,959 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 1: March eleventh or something of the sort, and I had 18 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:16,920 Speaker 1: just come back from conducting in Mannheim, Germany, and some 19 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:21,160 Speaker 1: of the restrictions for coming into place there because Monday night, 20 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:25,320 Speaker 1: the first performance we had, the performance was delayed because 21 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:29,040 Speaker 1: the government just sent out orders that no more than 22 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:32,760 Speaker 1: a thousand people can be in the audience, like just 23 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:36,280 Speaker 1: like that, And so we're having to count people and 24 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:39,760 Speaker 1: let people in specifically and turn people away. But still 25 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:43,520 Speaker 1: so Europe or starting to take aggressive measures before the 26 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:46,880 Speaker 1: United States. And the next week was my New York 27 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:51,760 Speaker 1: Philharmonic debut. It's obviously it's like on the pinnacle moments 28 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:55,280 Speaker 1: of a young conductor's career is to stand in the 29 00:01:55,320 --> 00:01:58,880 Speaker 1: America's oldest orchestra and one of the biggest chers to 30 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:00,840 Speaker 1: lead it for the first time. And we have been 31 00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:04,320 Speaker 1: working on this project or it seemed like over a year, 32 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 1: and I was set to leave for New York on 33 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:12,720 Speaker 1: that Saturday. I remember going to bed, arriving back from 34 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:17,320 Speaker 1: Monheim in Berlin on Wednesday, and going to bed, waking 35 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:21,480 Speaker 1: up on Thursday morning just from seeing a bunch of 36 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:24,679 Speaker 1: texts from friends. Have you heard the US travel band? 37 00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:28,560 Speaker 1: The President said? This was before I knew everything about 38 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:33,480 Speaker 1: can Americans get in can American style? And I gotta 39 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:36,440 Speaker 1: also saw a message from the New York Philharmonic. They 40 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 1: were obviously sleep asleep by the time I read it, 41 00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 1: but said, can you get on a plane tomorrow? And 42 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:45,520 Speaker 1: I was trying to figure out does that tomorrow mean 43 00:02:45,919 --> 00:02:49,600 Speaker 1: my today right now, or does that mean Friday. So 44 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:54,120 Speaker 1: I'm scrambling with my management in London, all of us 45 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:56,760 Speaker 1: trying to figure out what do they mean? And we 46 00:02:56,919 --> 00:03:00,120 Speaker 1: realized they meant, let's try to get you out of 47 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:05,119 Speaker 1: Europe today. So I immediately packed my bags and scrambled 48 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:07,919 Speaker 1: and went to the airport. I was on the next 49 00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:15,040 Speaker 1: flight from Berlin to New York and midair, midair, I 50 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:20,799 Speaker 1: got the news that the Metropolitan Opera canceled, and then 51 00:03:20,960 --> 00:03:25,400 Speaker 1: next Carnegie Hall cancels, and those huge pillars in New 52 00:03:25,480 --> 00:03:28,360 Speaker 1: York cultural scenes if they're canceling. There was only a 53 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:31,679 Speaker 1: little a matter of time before the New York Filmonic cancels, 54 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 1: and so like an hour later Near Harmonic cancels all events. 55 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:43,080 Speaker 1: And so I'm about five hours from JFK. Berlin's on 56 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:46,640 Speaker 1: the is in the backdrop and New York this way. 57 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:49,120 Speaker 1: And so I arrived in New York. I had the 58 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:51,960 Speaker 1: option for staying a little bit longer, but I decided 59 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:55,240 Speaker 1: to stay two days. Yeah, because I realized it just 60 00:03:55,280 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 1: felt like the US felt like this ticking time mom 61 00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 1: in the sense of during the nation's biggest city. There 62 00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:08,080 Speaker 1: is no testing available, people are still going throughout their lives. 63 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 1: And I was coming from Europe and seeing how serious 64 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:14,760 Speaker 1: this is and how serious it's going to get. I 65 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 1: said to myself, I didn't feel comfortable stay, not just 66 00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:22,280 Speaker 1: in New York, but in the US in the sense 67 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:25,880 Speaker 1: of it just felt with the lack of information coming 68 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:29,360 Speaker 1: from all different parts, that it was going to get worse. 69 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:32,360 Speaker 1: And so I just left two days later and went 70 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:35,920 Speaker 1: back to Europe, and actually I had very little problems traveling. 71 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 1: Then I noticed on the news lines very very long 72 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:44,880 Speaker 1: from Americans trying to get back into America and people 73 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:48,680 Speaker 1: shuffling around, and so I was actually thankful that I 74 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:52,840 Speaker 1: made a pretty decisive decision to just get back home 75 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:55,800 Speaker 1: while I could, because then, as you know, a week later, 76 00:04:56,120 --> 00:04:59,280 Speaker 1: countries started shedding down their course. So I didn't want 77 00:04:59,279 --> 00:05:07,680 Speaker 1: to be stuck anywhere but home. So I'm that is 78 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 1: just so sad, you know, I can't imagine. It was 79 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:15,640 Speaker 1: kind of in the same news as they were announcing 80 00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:20,240 Speaker 1: finally the shutdown of the Olympics, and thinking about the 81 00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:25,240 Speaker 1: amount of training, the amount of preparation that you've put 82 00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 1: into this historic moment for it not to then transpire. 83 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 1: You know, what I think is really uplifting. What I 84 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:38,280 Speaker 1: find really uplifting in this moment is how music has 85 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:44,840 Speaker 1: been playing such an incredible role in connecting people and 86 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:48,600 Speaker 1: to giving them some type of hopefulness. Can you talk 87 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:52,240 Speaker 1: about that in the way that you know, musicians and 88 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:56,400 Speaker 1: artists in the midst of this pandemic leaning on their 89 00:05:56,440 --> 00:05:59,599 Speaker 1: craft as a way to help, you know, usher people 90 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:03,240 Speaker 1: towards some type of light. Lots of music has this 91 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:07,719 Speaker 1: very hum and element of renewal and struggle and coming 92 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:11,359 Speaker 1: from something dark to something bright and light, and that 93 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:17,120 Speaker 1: has been a consistent theme from really the Romantic period, 94 00:06:17,160 --> 00:06:20,560 Speaker 1: this sense of rebounding or fighting for something greater. And 95 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:24,560 Speaker 1: so it's wonderful that music can play those roles in 96 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:28,080 Speaker 1: our everyday lives and in our culture. It is that 97 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:32,800 Speaker 1: ultimate release for us, and that's why it's so important 98 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:36,040 Speaker 1: for it to be in our lives and our culture. 99 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:40,160 Speaker 1: And I hope that at this time our government and 100 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 1: the people realize how important it is to maintain the 101 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:48,000 Speaker 1: artistic and cultural fabric of our society because they can 102 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:51,440 Speaker 1: go away just like this, and they have gone away, 103 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:56,400 Speaker 1: and I worry for many organizations, arts organizations that might 104 00:06:56,440 --> 00:06:59,640 Speaker 1: not be able to really survive this, and musicians have 105 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:04,359 Speaker 1: been laid off all around the Orchestras can't or opera 106 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:07,880 Speaker 1: houses can't afford to pay their musicians, but the music 107 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:11,720 Speaker 1: still lives within us. It's been very interesting as an 108 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:14,240 Speaker 1: artist being on the other side, as a person who's 109 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:17,160 Speaker 1: giving the music not being involved with it, because you 110 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:19,760 Speaker 1: feel like something is sort of ripped from you. You're 111 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:22,280 Speaker 1: trying to figure out when's the next time you'll be 112 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:26,560 Speaker 1: able to express yourself and express your art and share 113 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:29,960 Speaker 1: it with others. Just some of those sensations of the 114 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:33,480 Speaker 1: electricity of having a live audience there to be a 115 00:07:33,520 --> 00:07:37,000 Speaker 1: part of a performance with you, and really putting together 116 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:40,920 Speaker 1: a performance with your colleagues, it's just an absolute joy. 117 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:43,680 Speaker 1: And so it's been tough, but it's also been a 118 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:47,120 Speaker 1: time of reflection to think about music's role in my 119 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:50,240 Speaker 1: life and how I can approve upon it, and it 120 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:52,920 Speaker 1: makes me even more excited to get back to it 121 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:56,840 Speaker 1: one day and to really also realize that it's a 122 00:07:56,920 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 1: true blessing. But yes, even though with their Philharmonic did 123 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:07,360 Speaker 1: not go forward, I'm also just grateful for my safety 124 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:10,080 Speaker 1: and health and I know that I still live in 125 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:13,480 Speaker 1: this privilege in my life that you know, I get 126 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:15,920 Speaker 1: to wake up in the morning and study music and 127 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:18,280 Speaker 1: present that to people. And there are people who are 128 00:08:18,320 --> 00:08:22,280 Speaker 1: actually who've lost everything in this and their jobs and 129 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:26,520 Speaker 1: worrying about how they can feed their families and make 130 00:08:26,560 --> 00:08:30,440 Speaker 1: ins meet. And I try to remind myself and especially 131 00:08:30,440 --> 00:08:35,080 Speaker 1: others who are own social media, really just complaining, complaining 132 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:38,640 Speaker 1: about being in quarantine during this time, and that there 133 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:42,600 Speaker 1: are you know, you're you're in quarantine, and you're able 134 00:08:42,640 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 1: to be in quarantine in an apartment three bedroom apartment, 135 00:08:46,400 --> 00:08:49,200 Speaker 1: I mean three yeah, And there are certain people in 136 00:08:49,280 --> 00:08:53,160 Speaker 1: societies that two families live in one room. And so 137 00:08:53,320 --> 00:08:56,920 Speaker 1: it's also a great privilege and blessing. I often in 138 00:08:57,000 --> 00:09:00,200 Speaker 1: my work and the different iterations of shows that I do, 139 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:04,360 Speaker 1: some that are focused specifically around politics and progressive politics, 140 00:09:04,400 --> 00:09:08,480 Speaker 1: and then this one really being about social influence and 141 00:09:08,559 --> 00:09:12,480 Speaker 1: social impact. But you can't escape privilege. You really can't. 142 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:16,120 Speaker 1: And I think that you know, for me, I think 143 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:21,400 Speaker 1: that the purpose of recognizing our own privileges in this 144 00:09:21,520 --> 00:09:26,559 Speaker 1: particular moment is also about having gratitude, right you recognize 145 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:29,320 Speaker 1: that you have this privilege for us to be you know, 146 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:32,360 Speaker 1: engaged with one another from the safety and the comfort 147 00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:35,400 Speaker 1: of our homes. While there are people that don't have 148 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:38,839 Speaker 1: a home, right, while there are people who don't have 149 00:09:38,880 --> 00:09:41,640 Speaker 1: the ability to work from home and they must go 150 00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:44,320 Speaker 1: out and make a living in the midst of all 151 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 1: of this, And just understanding that there is gratitude to 152 00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:50,920 Speaker 1: have in the midst of tragedy, right, and understand your 153 00:09:50,920 --> 00:09:53,280 Speaker 1: good fate and fortune. You know, I want to talk 154 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:58,200 Speaker 1: a bit because you are originally from Georgia, yes, right, 155 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:02,319 Speaker 1: And you know I would assume, and maybe I'm wrong, 156 00:10:02,800 --> 00:10:05,280 Speaker 1: but I would have assumed. I would assume that growing 157 00:10:05,360 --> 00:10:10,600 Speaker 1: up you didn't have many other black conductors to look 158 00:10:10,640 --> 00:10:15,080 Speaker 1: at for influence or as a guide and as a 159 00:10:15,160 --> 00:10:20,880 Speaker 1: pathway in your career. How did you get here? How 160 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:23,800 Speaker 1: did you move from the church and the choir in 161 00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:27,840 Speaker 1: Georgia to the world stage as one of the only 162 00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:33,440 Speaker 1: African American conductors. So wonderful question. I mean, I still 163 00:10:33,440 --> 00:10:36,880 Speaker 1: feel like it presents a problem today because it it's 164 00:10:36,960 --> 00:10:41,600 Speaker 1: always feels like I'm going into unchartered territory. Even if 165 00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:47,000 Speaker 1: you have studied music and you've sort of accumulated a 166 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:49,920 Speaker 1: certain amount of accolades, it still feels like you're going 167 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:56,800 Speaker 1: into that rather exclusive room and navigating through that is 168 00:10:56,840 --> 00:10:59,800 Speaker 1: something I think about today, what is possible. There was 169 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:03,360 Speaker 1: only one black conductor I met when I was younger. 170 00:11:03,800 --> 00:11:07,280 Speaker 1: In his name was James to Priests, and he I 171 00:11:07,320 --> 00:11:10,199 Speaker 1: was studying conducting in graduate school, and he saw one 172 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:13,280 Speaker 1: of my videos and invited me to New York before 173 00:11:13,320 --> 00:11:16,080 Speaker 1: he died to just give me some helpful advice, and 174 00:11:16,120 --> 00:11:19,960 Speaker 1: that was so very important for me. I think what 175 00:11:20,080 --> 00:11:25,199 Speaker 1: has helped me is to seek inspiration from other examples 176 00:11:25,280 --> 00:11:30,800 Speaker 1: of black excellence. Also outside of music. I seek inspiration 177 00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:37,040 Speaker 1: from watching Serena Williams play tennis, which you know, if 178 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:39,040 Speaker 1: she can do it, then I can do it. In 179 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:42,400 Speaker 1: terms of breaking down these barriers, I seek inspiration from 180 00:11:42,559 --> 00:11:47,120 Speaker 1: Barack Obama's presidency and all the curveballs he was thrown 181 00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:51,120 Speaker 1: and still to triumph, and from Misty Copeland as a 182 00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:53,439 Speaker 1: as a dancer. And so I like to feel that 183 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:57,079 Speaker 1: we as a community, even though it may sometimes feel 184 00:11:57,080 --> 00:12:00,920 Speaker 1: like you're going into uncharted territory or into a room 185 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:04,679 Speaker 1: that you're alone, that you're never really alone. You have 186 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:09,480 Speaker 1: a community of people who've done many excellent, great things 187 00:12:09,559 --> 00:12:13,480 Speaker 1: and have been the first that you can seek inspiration from, 188 00:12:13,520 --> 00:12:16,440 Speaker 1: and so I try to be my ankle of that. 189 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:20,280 Speaker 1: Even though I am in a profession where there are 190 00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:23,319 Speaker 1: very few of us, and I think a number of 191 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:26,720 Speaker 1: us around the world, we know each other or know 192 00:12:26,840 --> 00:12:29,520 Speaker 1: of each other, and we could probably call I probably 193 00:12:29,559 --> 00:12:33,079 Speaker 1: can't count us all on both hands. It would be 194 00:12:33,679 --> 00:12:36,880 Speaker 1: tough to put together three in terms of counting us 195 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:39,800 Speaker 1: out there. But yeah, I try to support my colleagues 196 00:12:40,080 --> 00:12:42,559 Speaker 1: where they are and hope and feel like we're all 197 00:12:42,600 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 1: in it together. We know that it's not lack of talent, 198 00:12:46,440 --> 00:12:51,360 Speaker 1: it's not lack of grit that keeps African Americans out 199 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:56,440 Speaker 1: of many exclusive industries, right, it's none of those things. 200 00:12:57,480 --> 00:13:00,640 Speaker 1: How do you use I know that you have an 201 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:06,320 Speaker 1: initiative where you provide scholarships to underrepresented groups, right to 202 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:12,240 Speaker 1: inspire young people to connect with musician try classical musician tury. 203 00:13:13,240 --> 00:13:16,600 Speaker 1: How do you inspire them to connect with something where, 204 00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:20,360 Speaker 1: even still now, there are very few reflections of themselves. 205 00:13:21,559 --> 00:13:25,240 Speaker 1: I think, most importantly what you can control and what 206 00:13:25,320 --> 00:13:29,239 Speaker 1: you can't control. You can't control some of these mindsets 207 00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:32,720 Speaker 1: of other people, or you can't control other people icicles. 208 00:13:32,840 --> 00:13:36,560 Speaker 1: But what a musician can do. It's hopefully control, like 209 00:13:36,679 --> 00:13:42,160 Speaker 1: you said, that talent and just nurturing it and growing 210 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:46,560 Speaker 1: it and stretching your imagination and putting your energy there 211 00:13:46,720 --> 00:13:52,160 Speaker 1: and putting very much positive energy into that and hopefully 212 00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:54,920 Speaker 1: not saying that if you have the talent you will 213 00:13:54,960 --> 00:13:57,440 Speaker 1: make it, but hopefully if you put that energy there 214 00:13:57,480 --> 00:14:01,839 Speaker 1: and become the ultimate professional of your craft, then you 215 00:14:01,880 --> 00:14:05,720 Speaker 1: can hopefully make it and the doors will open onto you. 216 00:14:06,200 --> 00:14:09,440 Speaker 1: This is a profession. You can't, I suppose, yell your 217 00:14:09,480 --> 00:14:14,040 Speaker 1: way into it, and with your frustration, you can't make 218 00:14:14,080 --> 00:14:17,520 Speaker 1: people open doors for you. And I've seen this happen. 219 00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:20,760 Speaker 1: And if you focus on that negative energy, it can 220 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:23,640 Speaker 1: really I think, hold you back and cripple you and 221 00:14:23,800 --> 00:14:28,240 Speaker 1: push down that talent because I think then people aren't 222 00:14:28,280 --> 00:14:31,360 Speaker 1: focusing so much on your talent, They're focusing on the 223 00:14:31,480 --> 00:14:34,920 Speaker 1: negative energy you're putting out. It's very interesting. The great 224 00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:40,160 Speaker 1: soprano Lanten Price, who was one of the most famous 225 00:14:40,480 --> 00:14:43,800 Speaker 1: black sopranos that ever lived. I mean she's still living. 226 00:14:43,960 --> 00:14:47,040 Speaker 1: I think she's in her nineties there wow in New York. 227 00:14:47,400 --> 00:14:50,320 Speaker 1: But she commanded the stages of the Metropo and Opera 228 00:14:50,520 --> 00:14:54,360 Speaker 1: Moscala in Berlin, all of the world, and was born 229 00:14:54,400 --> 00:15:01,040 Speaker 1: in the twenties and was born in Jackson, Mississippi. And 230 00:15:01,240 --> 00:15:05,680 Speaker 1: for her every interview you listen to her on YouTube, 231 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:11,600 Speaker 1: she speaks so proudly of her country and so proudly 232 00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:17,400 Speaker 1: of her being an American and the opportunities of being 233 00:15:17,400 --> 00:15:22,120 Speaker 1: an American her country afforded her. And I'm thinking, like, 234 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:24,960 Speaker 1: you had to go to Europe, you had to conquer Italy, 235 00:15:25,040 --> 00:15:27,800 Speaker 1: you had to conquer Germany, you had to conquer all 236 00:15:27,840 --> 00:15:32,480 Speaker 1: these great opera houses before the United States Metropolitan Opera 237 00:15:32,640 --> 00:15:35,440 Speaker 1: gives you a chance to sing there. Why aren't you 238 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:39,480 Speaker 1: screaming about that? Why doesn't that frustrate you that you 239 00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:42,320 Speaker 1: had to do that in order to have those opportunities 240 00:15:42,320 --> 00:15:46,040 Speaker 1: in America? And it just baffles me that she's able 241 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:51,760 Speaker 1: to keep this amazing positive focus and appreciation on being 242 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:54,640 Speaker 1: an American and what that meant for her. And I said, 243 00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:58,880 Speaker 1: isn't that a wonderful constructive use of your time and energy? 244 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:02,200 Speaker 1: And so as a musician, especially a musician of color, 245 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:05,920 Speaker 1: we have to stay focused on the work. Serena Williams 246 00:16:05,920 --> 00:16:09,080 Speaker 1: has to stay focused on the tennis and Barack Obama 247 00:16:09,120 --> 00:16:12,240 Speaker 1: has to stay focused on governing. And that's what I think. 248 00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:15,040 Speaker 1: I try to tell the young people if I can 249 00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:18,400 Speaker 1: help them with in my initiative, if I can help 250 00:16:18,440 --> 00:16:21,840 Speaker 1: them get some of the tools that may keep them back, 251 00:16:21,920 --> 00:16:27,000 Speaker 1: such as a new instrument or instruction from a great teacher, whatnot, 252 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:30,280 Speaker 1: that helps the talent move forward. And with the talent 253 00:16:30,360 --> 00:16:34,560 Speaker 1: moving forward, hopefully people don't have anything else to say. 254 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:37,840 Speaker 1: But as you know, we have to be I hate 255 00:16:37,880 --> 00:16:41,080 Speaker 1: to see it, but almost twice as good. I was 256 00:16:41,120 --> 00:16:47,040 Speaker 1: gonna say ten times, but okay, twice as good. We'll 257 00:16:47,120 --> 00:16:49,080 Speaker 1: be it. I was gonna say ten times as good 258 00:16:49,480 --> 00:16:52,480 Speaker 1: as many of the people that you have been naming 259 00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:58,600 Speaker 1: are right, they are the extraordinary pillars of their industries. 260 00:16:58,880 --> 00:17:02,320 Speaker 1: You know. One of the artists whose quote I often 261 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:05,320 Speaker 1: go back to and I ask other artists in a 262 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:09,800 Speaker 1: variety of spaces how they feel about it, is Nina Simone. 263 00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:16,200 Speaker 1: And Nina Simone, when you reflecting on an artist's duty, 264 00:17:16,320 --> 00:17:20,200 Speaker 1: said this, you can't help it. And artist's duty, as 265 00:17:20,200 --> 00:17:24,800 Speaker 1: far as I'm concerned, is to reflect the times. What 266 00:17:24,960 --> 00:17:28,760 Speaker 1: do you think about that? About that statement in the 267 00:17:28,920 --> 00:17:33,280 Speaker 1: times that we are living in right now, where you're 268 00:17:33,320 --> 00:17:36,760 Speaker 1: speaking about the soprano singer who is born in the 269 00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:41,400 Speaker 1: nineteen twenties, the times that she was born in. In 270 00:17:41,440 --> 00:17:44,960 Speaker 1: many ways we can see the journey of how far 271 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:49,960 Speaker 1: our politics, our culture has come. But in the same respect, 272 00:17:50,320 --> 00:17:53,000 Speaker 1: I'm speaking with you and we're still using in the 273 00:17:53,040 --> 00:17:57,480 Speaker 1: twenty first century phrases like one of the first, right, 274 00:17:57,600 --> 00:18:02,639 Speaker 1: one of the only, and so. On one hand, you 275 00:18:03,280 --> 00:18:05,720 Speaker 1: don't want to live a life that is steeped in 276 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:12,240 Speaker 1: anger and pain, justifiably so right to the barriers, purposeful 277 00:18:12,280 --> 00:18:15,919 Speaker 1: barriers and obstacles that have been placed in African Americans 278 00:18:16,040 --> 00:18:19,760 Speaker 1: and black people in the diaspora in their way. But 279 00:18:19,840 --> 00:18:24,399 Speaker 1: at the other time, you also want to reflect the 280 00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:28,719 Speaker 1: path and the trajectory. How do you manage to do both? 281 00:18:29,080 --> 00:18:32,080 Speaker 1: Is it possible? Does it change with any given day 282 00:18:32,119 --> 00:18:36,160 Speaker 1: for you? Well, I think one thing that's really fortunate 283 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:40,159 Speaker 1: about Nina Simone Versusly and Team prices that she was 284 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:45,399 Speaker 1: a singer songwriter, so her artistry was coming very much 285 00:18:45,840 --> 00:18:50,560 Speaker 1: from her own musical voice in terms of her language, 286 00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:54,080 Speaker 1: her words of sharing and shedding light on that moment 287 00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:57,080 Speaker 1: and shedding light on what was happening in classical music. 288 00:18:57,240 --> 00:19:02,200 Speaker 1: A lot of the times we are as artists mainly vessels, 289 00:19:02,840 --> 00:19:07,480 Speaker 1: vessels for which the composer can shine through. So if 290 00:19:07,520 --> 00:19:13,959 Speaker 1: you are conducting Tchaikovsky symphony or very opera, your job 291 00:19:14,320 --> 00:19:17,800 Speaker 1: is to be this vessel, to bring for that composer's 292 00:19:17,880 --> 00:19:21,480 Speaker 1: vision for its music, for the music, and sometimes if 293 00:19:21,480 --> 00:19:25,399 Speaker 1: we let our personal visions or animal state get in 294 00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:27,879 Speaker 1: the way of that, it's very hard to push that 295 00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:31,840 Speaker 1: message forward. So it is quite the conundrum, a very 296 00:19:31,840 --> 00:19:35,240 Speaker 1: good question. But I do believe certain artists in certain 297 00:19:35,359 --> 00:19:40,760 Speaker 1: other genres are better at shedding light on that. I mean, 298 00:19:40,960 --> 00:19:44,639 Speaker 1: in terms of how hip hop was formed and what 299 00:19:44,760 --> 00:19:47,280 Speaker 1: it grew into before it sort of became what it 300 00:19:47,400 --> 00:19:50,720 Speaker 1: is today, was to kind of shed light on the 301 00:19:50,760 --> 00:19:54,280 Speaker 1: political and social moments of the time. So I think 302 00:19:54,520 --> 00:19:58,680 Speaker 1: giving those two figures Leotine and Nina Simone, I think 303 00:19:58,720 --> 00:20:02,320 Speaker 1: their goals and the visions at that time were different. 304 00:20:02,760 --> 00:20:05,720 Speaker 1: But I always say, you can lead. It's great to 305 00:20:05,800 --> 00:20:08,840 Speaker 1: lead by example. And I know that they're just so 306 00:20:09,480 --> 00:20:13,359 Speaker 1: very few African American conductors in the world on the 307 00:20:13,440 --> 00:20:16,439 Speaker 1: major stage, and there have been people who've tried to 308 00:20:16,680 --> 00:20:19,720 Speaker 1: go there, and somehow we all there's this plateau ing. 309 00:20:20,119 --> 00:20:23,960 Speaker 1: I think, well, I know in the top twenty orchestras 310 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:27,920 Speaker 1: in America. There are no African American conductors and as 311 00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:31,359 Speaker 1: music directors, and still in today, they've never been an 312 00:20:31,800 --> 00:20:37,119 Speaker 1: African American music director of a major orchestra in our country. 313 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:41,639 Speaker 1: That's frustrating, and it's something I think about imponderon, and 314 00:20:41,760 --> 00:20:46,680 Speaker 1: obviously I understand that it's a goal I have. One 315 00:20:46,720 --> 00:20:50,359 Speaker 1: of the sad things is that in American society, our 316 00:20:50,560 --> 00:20:54,800 Speaker 1: classical music industry tends to very much look to your 317 00:20:55,160 --> 00:20:59,760 Speaker 1: morsel and in the next couple of years, I think, 318 00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:04,480 Speaker 1: and Maren also steps down from the Baltimore Symphony. She's 319 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:08,600 Speaker 1: a female American conductor and was the first female conductor 320 00:21:09,040 --> 00:21:11,560 Speaker 1: in the I think around two thousand and nine or 321 00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:15,400 Speaker 1: so to be in charge of a major orchestra in America. 322 00:21:15,480 --> 00:21:19,879 Speaker 1: So still COSCO Music is this very it seems like 323 00:21:19,960 --> 00:21:26,680 Speaker 1: an even much more exclusive club than the government. Yes, yes, 324 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:29,959 Speaker 1: there are these pillars that you just have to really 325 00:21:29,960 --> 00:21:34,040 Speaker 1: work at chopping them down, and so I just feel 326 00:21:34,480 --> 00:21:38,959 Speaker 1: that I just have to stay focused on developing and 327 00:21:39,119 --> 00:21:43,280 Speaker 1: nourishing my talent as an artist and continuing to do 328 00:21:43,320 --> 00:21:47,280 Speaker 1: the work and not have too many distractions and hope 329 00:21:47,320 --> 00:21:50,480 Speaker 1: that it will will work out and hopefully I'll be 330 00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:54,399 Speaker 1: good enough and to take the small successes like a 331 00:21:54,520 --> 00:21:57,640 Speaker 1: debut of the New York Kilharmonic as a great achievement 332 00:21:57,840 --> 00:22:01,880 Speaker 1: as a kid growing up in in Georgia and thinking 333 00:22:02,080 --> 00:22:07,280 Speaker 1: or imagining these things to the point of you're stepping 334 00:22:07,320 --> 00:22:10,040 Speaker 1: on stage with one of those orchestras you've dreamed about. 335 00:22:10,320 --> 00:22:14,439 Speaker 1: Is I think perhaps what Lantine was talking about in 336 00:22:14,440 --> 00:22:17,639 Speaker 1: a way that our country is unfair in many ways, 337 00:22:17,640 --> 00:22:20,159 Speaker 1: and there's a system that's been built over a hundred 338 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:24,399 Speaker 1: years for the systematic failure of a people, but also 339 00:22:24,880 --> 00:22:29,040 Speaker 1: in this country, it is a country in which you 340 00:22:29,119 --> 00:22:33,040 Speaker 1: can come from here and go there, and even in 341 00:22:33,119 --> 00:22:35,640 Speaker 1: some of the most even in some of the other 342 00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:39,400 Speaker 1: industrialized nations that are great and have many things going 343 00:22:39,440 --> 00:22:43,280 Speaker 1: for them beyond ours, that type of achievement is not 344 00:22:43,359 --> 00:22:46,240 Speaker 1: necessarily in the minds of his people. That you can 345 00:22:46,320 --> 00:22:50,159 Speaker 1: be born outside of a certain class or outside of 346 00:22:50,200 --> 00:22:54,399 Speaker 1: a certain group and still go to such heights. I 347 00:22:54,480 --> 00:22:58,080 Speaker 1: love that, and I think that's a beautiful sentiment and 348 00:22:58,280 --> 00:23:02,800 Speaker 1: also beautiful advice piece of advice to give to young 349 00:23:02,840 --> 00:23:05,399 Speaker 1: people and just people in general. I think that the 350 00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:09,920 Speaker 1: harboring of anger, while for me it can fuel your 351 00:23:09,960 --> 00:23:13,360 Speaker 1: work in some ways, but for others it can very 352 00:23:13,440 --> 00:23:16,880 Speaker 1: much stunt you. And I think that looking at who 353 00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:20,960 Speaker 1: has come before you and how far they have been 354 00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:25,239 Speaker 1: able to grow and to develop in spite of so 355 00:23:25,280 --> 00:23:28,600 Speaker 1: many things, should be used as inspiration. I'm frankly in 356 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:31,800 Speaker 1: ammunition in a lot of ways. I think it's about 357 00:23:31,880 --> 00:23:37,240 Speaker 1: also channeling that energy, like in James Ballwin's The Fire 358 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:42,640 Speaker 1: Next Time. Yeah, at the beginning, it just heally hit 359 00:23:42,680 --> 00:23:46,320 Speaker 1: me when he was talking. He said, there's no reason 360 00:23:46,400 --> 00:23:48,919 Speaker 1: for you to try to become like white people, and 361 00:23:48,960 --> 00:23:53,280 Speaker 1: there is no basis whatever for their impertinent assumption that 362 00:23:53,359 --> 00:23:56,359 Speaker 1: they must accept you. The really terrible thing, old buddy, 363 00:23:56,520 --> 00:23:59,240 Speaker 1: is that you must accept them, and I mean that 364 00:23:59,440 --> 00:24:02,640 Speaker 1: very serious. So you must accept them and accept them 365 00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:06,240 Speaker 1: with love. For these innocent people have no other hope. 366 00:24:06,280 --> 00:24:08,800 Speaker 1: They are in effect still trapped in a history which 367 00:24:08,800 --> 00:24:11,720 Speaker 1: they do not understand, and until they understand it, they 368 00:24:11,720 --> 00:24:14,640 Speaker 1: cannot be released from it. And so in the sense 369 00:24:14,680 --> 00:24:18,560 Speaker 1: that it is a society that's built by them, with 370 00:24:18,640 --> 00:24:23,480 Speaker 1: these systems and mechanisms in place, you cannot be burdened 371 00:24:23,480 --> 00:24:29,320 Speaker 1: by a certain anger. You have to accept them and 372 00:24:29,920 --> 00:24:33,400 Speaker 1: work with them. And work on yourself so that you 373 00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:38,679 Speaker 1: can break through those boundaries and not become complacent or 374 00:24:38,800 --> 00:24:41,600 Speaker 1: suffer in the system that was built for you to 375 00:24:41,640 --> 00:24:46,520 Speaker 1: fall down into. And sometimes even them, I hate using them, 376 00:24:46,560 --> 00:24:49,880 Speaker 1: but them, in their privilege, don't realize that that system 377 00:24:50,040 --> 00:24:53,560 Speaker 1: was constructed the way it was, and so I think 378 00:24:53,640 --> 00:24:57,080 Speaker 1: it was even with the Surgeon General said something to 379 00:24:58,200 --> 00:25:03,280 Speaker 1: black people about this that we all know that there's 380 00:25:03,320 --> 00:25:08,600 Speaker 1: some truth to that, but it's also for me upsetting 381 00:25:08,640 --> 00:25:13,280 Speaker 1: because you're not telling the whole story. Now you're feeding 382 00:25:13,280 --> 00:25:17,800 Speaker 1: into You're feeding into a pathology that has been created 383 00:25:18,520 --> 00:25:23,719 Speaker 1: about black people in order to justify paternalistic policies that 384 00:25:23,760 --> 00:25:26,360 Speaker 1: would have us say that we cannot be left to 385 00:25:26,400 --> 00:25:31,280 Speaker 1: our own devices. And his presumption, the Surgeon General and 386 00:25:31,359 --> 00:25:34,520 Speaker 1: his statement was like, well, stop drinking and stop doing 387 00:25:34,560 --> 00:25:38,080 Speaker 1: these bad things, because you're doing these things is causing 388 00:25:38,119 --> 00:25:41,440 Speaker 1: your illness as opposed to a system that was purposely 389 00:25:41,520 --> 00:25:44,840 Speaker 1: created to do you harm. Even being where I am 390 00:25:44,960 --> 00:25:48,080 Speaker 1: right now in the middle of Berlin and a pretty 391 00:25:48,160 --> 00:25:51,960 Speaker 1: nice neighborhood, if I went back home to parts of 392 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:56,639 Speaker 1: where my family lives in Georgia in making and I 393 00:25:56,680 --> 00:26:03,199 Speaker 1: want to go get a wonderful kill salad. You go 394 00:26:03,359 --> 00:26:08,000 Speaker 1: get it, go to a nice juice shop and get 395 00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:11,960 Speaker 1: a nice fresh juice. I mean, you know, you put 396 00:26:12,040 --> 00:26:14,720 Speaker 1: together their system where you put these people in these 397 00:26:14,800 --> 00:26:20,600 Speaker 1: neighborhoods from decades and decades of discrimination, housing discrimination. Then 398 00:26:20,640 --> 00:26:24,120 Speaker 1: you pack those neighborhoods with with those liquor stores. Yep, 399 00:26:24,840 --> 00:26:28,160 Speaker 1: put them in food desert that there are no grocery stores, 400 00:26:28,160 --> 00:26:30,600 Speaker 1: there is no place to get fresh produced from. And 401 00:26:30,680 --> 00:26:34,200 Speaker 1: you wonder where the underlying conditions came from. They weren't 402 00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:37,000 Speaker 1: created on their own, you know. And that's the whole 403 00:26:37,040 --> 00:26:40,439 Speaker 1: when you say, tell the whole story, right, tell the 404 00:26:40,480 --> 00:26:45,200 Speaker 1: whole truth, don't just pick which parts help amplify this 405 00:26:45,240 --> 00:26:49,320 Speaker 1: agenda that you're trying to sell. Yeah, I think that's 406 00:26:49,320 --> 00:26:54,040 Speaker 1: what bother certain people hearing them, because we have to 407 00:26:54,119 --> 00:26:59,280 Speaker 1: be aware as black people of that system and try 408 00:26:59,359 --> 00:27:04,600 Speaker 1: not to one another so greatly because it takes I 409 00:27:04,760 --> 00:27:09,640 Speaker 1: talked about your ability to go this way in this country, 410 00:27:09,680 --> 00:27:13,800 Speaker 1: but it takes an extraordinary effort from being born in 411 00:27:13,840 --> 00:27:16,680 Speaker 1: the spaces in a place where you're having to fight 412 00:27:17,400 --> 00:27:22,960 Speaker 1: versus your counterpart who's having many opportunities that are enhanced 413 00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:25,920 Speaker 1: them just because of who they are and the color 414 00:27:25,960 --> 00:27:28,760 Speaker 1: of their skin. So all those people who you know 415 00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:31,280 Speaker 1: layoutin price and all those people that got there like 416 00:27:31,280 --> 00:27:35,840 Speaker 1: you said that it took an extraordinary effort and sacrifice 417 00:27:36,200 --> 00:27:40,720 Speaker 1: that is beyond what we would consider a normal human being. 418 00:27:40,800 --> 00:27:46,720 Speaker 1: Absolutely true exceptionalism, true exceptionalism. The last question that I 419 00:27:46,760 --> 00:27:52,240 Speaker 1: always ask folks on PM mood is how do you 420 00:27:52,359 --> 00:27:56,560 Speaker 1: get in the mood to change the world just by 421 00:27:56,720 --> 00:28:02,560 Speaker 1: your presence and your passion industry that still only has 422 00:28:02,600 --> 00:28:07,360 Speaker 1: a handful of African Americans in creating and sharing and 423 00:28:07,440 --> 00:28:12,720 Speaker 1: bringing music to life for you know, tens of thousands, 424 00:28:12,800 --> 00:28:16,320 Speaker 1: hundreds of thousands of people around the world, how do 425 00:28:16,400 --> 00:28:19,119 Speaker 1: you get yourself in the mood to change the world? 426 00:28:21,640 --> 00:28:24,880 Speaker 1: That is a I tell you that mood changes every 427 00:28:24,920 --> 00:28:30,439 Speaker 1: right now and then, and it's something that has us 428 00:28:30,520 --> 00:28:33,560 Speaker 1: ups and downs, and you and I struggle with but 429 00:28:34,560 --> 00:28:37,800 Speaker 1: I think it all comes from you, and it's about 430 00:28:37,840 --> 00:28:42,960 Speaker 1: your motivation and termation within yourself because you get what 431 00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:46,320 Speaker 1: you give if you in this art form to make 432 00:28:46,360 --> 00:28:49,200 Speaker 1: it to the level you wish, you have to give 433 00:28:49,240 --> 00:28:52,360 Speaker 1: one hundred percent of yourself. And either you're going to 434 00:28:52,400 --> 00:28:55,600 Speaker 1: decide if you're going to do it halfway or all 435 00:28:55,640 --> 00:28:59,680 Speaker 1: the way, and that motivation, that motivation of knowing that 436 00:29:00,040 --> 00:29:02,520 Speaker 1: I do not want to be at a certain place 437 00:29:02,560 --> 00:29:05,680 Speaker 1: in my life or in my career where I have 438 00:29:06,120 --> 00:29:09,800 Speaker 1: what if, What if I would have studied a little harder, 439 00:29:09,880 --> 00:29:12,520 Speaker 1: what if I would have worked a little harder, what 440 00:29:12,760 --> 00:29:15,800 Speaker 1: I have been there? And I may not get to 441 00:29:15,880 --> 00:29:20,000 Speaker 1: where I want to be. But it's a journey, and 442 00:29:20,440 --> 00:29:23,840 Speaker 1: just the pursuit of that it's the most important thing. 443 00:29:23,880 --> 00:29:27,040 Speaker 1: Because I also don't think this is a profession of 444 00:29:27,160 --> 00:29:30,200 Speaker 1: real arrivals. I mean, you should always have this sense 445 00:29:30,240 --> 00:29:34,880 Speaker 1: of wanting to learn, wanting to grow, wanting to stretch yourself. 446 00:29:35,200 --> 00:29:40,000 Speaker 1: But also one of the big inspirations I feel, it's 447 00:29:40,080 --> 00:29:44,400 Speaker 1: like what Leantine Price said was that as an artist 448 00:29:44,600 --> 00:29:49,120 Speaker 1: is as an amazing gift you have and a responsibility 449 00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:52,960 Speaker 1: you have to be able to move people in a 450 00:29:53,000 --> 00:29:56,320 Speaker 1: positive way. And it would be such a travesty if 451 00:29:56,360 --> 00:29:59,520 Speaker 1: you go on stage and neglect that and not give 452 00:29:59,560 --> 00:30:02,680 Speaker 1: it your all, and not give him you're all. Because 453 00:30:02,720 --> 00:30:07,920 Speaker 1: I still truly believe that music is the ultimate door 454 00:30:08,000 --> 00:30:13,560 Speaker 1: opener and music is the ultimate unifier, and through music 455 00:30:14,040 --> 00:30:19,800 Speaker 1: we can come to understand each other. And like music 456 00:30:19,880 --> 00:30:23,320 Speaker 1: in unifying us as a human race and understanding each other. 457 00:30:23,800 --> 00:30:27,680 Speaker 1: Oddly and unfortunately, this pandemic is that as well. It's 458 00:30:27,680 --> 00:30:31,560 Speaker 1: a way of showing that no matter how bigger guns are, 459 00:30:31,880 --> 00:30:34,600 Speaker 1: or how many nuclear weapons you have, or how many 460 00:30:34,680 --> 00:30:38,680 Speaker 1: technological advances you have, we're all human and we're all organisms, 461 00:30:38,680 --> 00:30:42,560 Speaker 1: and we all have no way of fighting this far 462 00:30:42,680 --> 00:30:45,560 Speaker 1: as and so with that we have to realize that 463 00:30:45,600 --> 00:30:49,280 Speaker 1: we must come together and work as one. So I 464 00:30:49,320 --> 00:30:54,880 Speaker 1: think that's my motivation. Thank you Roderick so very much. 465 00:30:54,920 --> 00:31:01,840 Speaker 1: This was extraordinary. I am very hopeful about your return 466 00:31:01,920 --> 00:31:06,000 Speaker 1: to New York and I hope that I will be 467 00:31:06,040 --> 00:31:08,720 Speaker 1: able to be in the audience to see it, because 468 00:31:08,720 --> 00:31:11,440 Speaker 1: I think it's going to be incredible and it will 469 00:31:11,480 --> 00:31:14,640 Speaker 1: mean so much at that time by the time we 470 00:31:14,680 --> 00:31:18,200 Speaker 1: get there, this reopening and this renewal and this rebirth 471 00:31:18,440 --> 00:31:21,320 Speaker 1: for the world. So thank you well, thank you, and 472 00:31:21,480 --> 00:31:25,240 Speaker 1: stay safe. I will I will do my best. Thank 473 00:31:25,280 --> 00:31:30,240 Speaker 1: you so much. Thanks for listening to this week's PM mood. 474 00:31:30,640 --> 00:31:34,400 Speaker 1: My political podcast, woke af Daily is on Patreon for 475 00:31:34,440 --> 00:31:38,000 Speaker 1: just five dollars a month. That's five new hour long 476 00:31:38,080 --> 00:31:42,360 Speaker 1: shows every week for just five dollars a month. Join 477 00:31:42,400 --> 00:31:46,000 Speaker 1: the conversation now at Patreon dot com slash woke af 478 00:31:46,120 --> 00:31:49,080 Speaker 1: and you can continue listening to PM Mood every week 479 00:31:49,280 --> 00:31:52,880 Speaker 1: absolutely free. Now more than ever we see the importance 480 00:31:53,040 --> 00:31:56,600 Speaker 1: of independent media, so thank you for your support and 481 00:31:56,680 --> 00:32:00,400 Speaker 1: as always, stay in the PM mood to change the 482 00:32:00,400 --> 00:32:00,680 Speaker 1: world