1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:04,000 Speaker 1: Thunderstruck adjective shocked and amazed by the power of fun. 2 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:07,080 Speaker 1: In Carnival Riding Bolt, the world's first roller coaster and 3 00:00:07,160 --> 00:00:10,600 Speaker 1: Sea Bryan got funderstruck so hard his ninety three year 4 00:00:10,640 --> 00:00:13,760 Speaker 1: old grandmother felt it three thousand miles away in Nebraska 5 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:19,400 Speaker 1: and immediately booked the cruise Get Understruck starting at two 6 00:00:19,400 --> 00:00:25,200 Speaker 1: eighty nine Carnival Shoes, Fun Cruiser and US I was 7 00:00:25,239 --> 00:00:27,440 Speaker 1: a person. Double documency Texas fees and port expense, additional 8 00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:29,240 Speaker 1: restricts and apply for details on cardival dot com. Ships 9 00:00:29,280 --> 00:00:32,479 Speaker 1: Red Street, Bahamas, Panama. Hon't weary forest Ranger Pitty White 10 00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:36,280 Speaker 1: here lending a hand my dear friends Smoky Bear because 11 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:40,600 Speaker 1: for years he's only said only you can prevent wildfires. 12 00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:43,120 Speaker 1: But there's a lot more to say, like if you 13 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:46,240 Speaker 1: park your car on tall dry grass, the hardig sauce 14 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:50,159 Speaker 1: pipe can start a wildfire, so keep the animals safe, 15 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:53,440 Speaker 1: especially the cute shirtless swamp. Go to Smoky bear dot 16 00:00:53,479 --> 00:00:56,400 Speaker 1: com to learn more about wildfire prevention. Brought to you 17 00:00:56,400 --> 00:00:59,240 Speaker 1: whether U S Forest Service your state Forrester and the 18 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:02,720 Speaker 1: ad comes piece of the planet, Charlemagne, the god here 19 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:05,720 Speaker 1: and you don't want to miss Hello Somebody with Senator 20 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:09,800 Speaker 1: Nina Turner on the Black Effect podcast Network. I love 21 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:15,280 Speaker 1: Hello Somebody simply because I love Nina Turner. She's feeless, Turner, 22 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:21,840 Speaker 1: hell raising, humanitarian, sister in the struggle and recovering elected official. 23 00:01:22,360 --> 00:01:27,200 Speaker 1: Listen to Hello Somebody every Thursday on the Heart Radio, 24 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:37,479 Speaker 1: a Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome 25 00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 1: to Money Making Conversations. It's the show that she has 26 00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:42,639 Speaker 1: the secrets of success experience firsthand by marketing and Brandon 27 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:45,600 Speaker 1: expert Rashan McDonald. I will know he's giving me advice 28 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:48,200 Speaker 1: on many occasions. In the case you didn't notice, I'm 29 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:52,200 Speaker 1: not broke, you know he'll be interviewing celebrity CEOs, entrepreneurs 30 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:54,640 Speaker 1: and industry decision makers. It's what he likes to do, 31 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:57,240 Speaker 1: it's what he likes to share. Now it's time to 32 00:01:57,320 --> 00:02:01,560 Speaker 1: hear from my man, Rashan McDonald. Money Conversations. Here we go. 33 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:05,680 Speaker 1: Welcome to Money Making Conversation. I am your host, Sean McDonald. 34 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 1: I always tell people's time to stop reading other people's 35 00:02:08,040 --> 00:02:10,640 Speaker 1: success stories and really start writing your own. And I 36 00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 1: always tell people to leave with their gifts and don't 37 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:15,639 Speaker 1: let your age friends family or coworkers stop you from 38 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 1: planning or living your dreams. As you know, my interviews 39 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:21,240 Speaker 1: provide to you or you are the consumer, and of 40 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:25,000 Speaker 1: course you are business owners, access to celebrity CEOs, entrepreneurs 41 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:28,000 Speaker 1: and what I like to call industry decision makers. My 42 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:31,360 Speaker 1: next guest is stephen A. Smith. He is the recognized 43 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:34,919 Speaker 1: face of ESPN Sports because on ESPN he hosts First 44 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:38,720 Speaker 1: Take and Sports Center's NBA Show hosted by stephen A. Smith. 45 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:42,560 Speaker 1: He is a proud graduate of an HBCU, future book, author, 46 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 1: runs his own production company, and the executive producer of 47 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:49,640 Speaker 1: the hit ESPN Plus show stephen A's World. Please working 48 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:52,440 Speaker 1: the money making conversation my man, stephen A Smith? How 49 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 1: you doing, stephen A? What's going on? Man? How you doing? 50 00:02:55,720 --> 00:02:57,320 Speaker 1: I want to get this out o the way, real 51 00:02:57,320 --> 00:03:00,720 Speaker 1: early statement. You know, everybody knowing based in the Lanta, Georgia. 52 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:03,679 Speaker 1: You know, you traveled between New York and Los Angeles 53 00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:05,440 Speaker 1: and I look at my phone and I get a 54 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:09,239 Speaker 1: text and I see this guy, you know, crouching behind 55 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:12,120 Speaker 1: this car, you know, and he looks like he's a 56 00:03:12,760 --> 00:03:16,080 Speaker 1: uh police offer ser he looks like he's acting on 57 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:18,880 Speaker 1: a soap proper And I said, that's my man, Brick. 58 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:21,920 Speaker 1: What's what's called on his TV? What do they have 59 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:25,800 Speaker 1: you doing on TV? Now? Man? No, I mean I 60 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:28,480 Speaker 1: got a recurring role on the soap opera General Hospital. 61 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:32,240 Speaker 1: My character's name is Brick. I'm a surveillance expert for 62 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:36,400 Speaker 1: the mob headed by Sonny Corenthos. Uh In real life, 63 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:39,800 Speaker 1: his name is Maurice Bernard's character in General Hospital Sonny Corenthos. 64 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:43,560 Speaker 1: His his henchman is right here. Man is Jason Morgan. 65 00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:46,960 Speaker 1: And essentially I worked for and with a really really 66 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:49,680 Speaker 1: pretty much with those guys. And uh, I was a 67 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 1: subillance expert for the mob. But this particular scene, um, 68 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:55,400 Speaker 1: I had to help out the henchman, Jason Morgan. So 69 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:58,040 Speaker 1: we had to break him out of prison, and uh 70 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 1: I was the driver. But also I'll be sleep. I 71 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 1: was an enforce of myself as you saw, because I 72 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:05,480 Speaker 1: had to shoot somebody and kill somebody, you know, in 73 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:07,760 Speaker 1: order to get him out of their safety. Sound that's 74 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:11,800 Speaker 1: how you know, we we play around because just watching 75 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:14,880 Speaker 1: you act, you know, is fun to me. But you 76 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:17,200 Speaker 1: really take your acting. You don't believe you really have 77 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:19,479 Speaker 1: the talent to act. But we all know you have 78 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:22,720 Speaker 1: the talent. Why are you so humble about your acting? Well, 79 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:25,520 Speaker 1: because I've never it's you know, I've got such profound 80 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:28,720 Speaker 1: respect for the Thesbians, the guys and the girls out 81 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:30,599 Speaker 1: there that you know, the ladies out there that have 82 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:34,840 Speaker 1: done such a phenomenal job taking this profession seriously studying it, 83 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:37,919 Speaker 1: uh from a very young age, going to school for 84 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:42,560 Speaker 1: learning the tricks of the trains per se. Me. I've 85 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:44,680 Speaker 1: never done any of that. I'm a guy that's a 86 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:49,600 Speaker 1: sports announcer. I'm a sports commentator and broadcaster. I'm a journalist. 87 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:52,839 Speaker 1: I've been a newspaper journalist and you know, before transitioning 88 00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:56,039 Speaker 1: the radio and television for the past twenty eight years 89 00:04:56,080 --> 00:05:00,920 Speaker 1: or so. Because I've never put the work into the profession. Essentially, 90 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:02,880 Speaker 1: what I do is go about the business of making 91 00:05:02,920 --> 00:05:04,919 Speaker 1: sure that I memorized my lines to the best of 92 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:08,040 Speaker 1: my ability, so I'm not a hindrance or an impediment 93 00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:10,960 Speaker 1: to the success of the show. Uh in that regard. 94 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:13,920 Speaker 1: Outside of that, I just followed their lead. I listen 95 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:17,799 Speaker 1: to what Maurice Bernard and and Steve Burton, who plays 96 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:20,000 Speaker 1: those characters that I mentioned earlier. I listened to what 97 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:22,000 Speaker 1: they tell me to do and how they tell me 98 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:24,400 Speaker 1: to do it. Along with executive producer Frank Bellan's team. 99 00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:26,359 Speaker 1: They all think I can act. They all think that 100 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:29,719 Speaker 1: I've done an incredible job. But I give all praise 101 00:05:29,760 --> 00:05:32,159 Speaker 1: to them because of how much they've helped me and 102 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:35,279 Speaker 1: how much they've embraced me being a part of the show. 103 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:38,400 Speaker 1: And that's where the humility comes in, because they could 104 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:41,080 Speaker 1: have made it difficult if they wanted to. They never ever, 105 00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:43,880 Speaker 1: ever did it, not for one second. They invited me 106 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:45,960 Speaker 1: on the show, they asked me to do it, and 107 00:05:45,960 --> 00:05:48,560 Speaker 1: they've been incredibly supportive. And I think that, you know, 108 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:50,880 Speaker 1: being a part of it has really really helped me 109 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:55,279 Speaker 1: appreciate me, you know, actors and actresses even more. It's 110 00:05:55,320 --> 00:05:59,039 Speaker 1: allowed me to take that very significantly more seriously and 111 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:01,440 Speaker 1: now I am interest been and learning more and doing 112 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:04,320 Speaker 1: it because it's something to be said about being able 113 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:07,040 Speaker 1: to play a character and that character is allowed to 114 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:10,760 Speaker 1: do whatever they write for the character to do, and 115 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:13,160 Speaker 1: it's not held against you. You know, you could be 116 00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:15,440 Speaker 1: you could be a killer, you could be a criminal, 117 00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:18,160 Speaker 1: you could be Gandhi for crying, and allow whatever the 118 00:06:18,279 --> 00:06:21,599 Speaker 1: role calls for. It's acting and if you do it, 119 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:24,640 Speaker 1: and you do it well, the public tends to appreciate 120 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:27,000 Speaker 1: the role that you're playing and then they leave you 121 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:29,720 Speaker 1: alone on a personal level, and that's a beautiful thing. Well, 122 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:32,320 Speaker 1: it's the funny thing about you is that you're you're 123 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:35,719 Speaker 1: so talented, but you also are I don't want to 124 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:39,039 Speaker 1: admit certain skill sets because I feel you're really funny, okay, 125 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:41,760 Speaker 1: and the opportunities to come away you're funny on your show, 126 00:06:42,279 --> 00:06:45,000 Speaker 1: you're I guess we can use the word sarcastic, which 127 00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:48,120 Speaker 1: leads you to being funny. Can you Stephen A. Smith 128 00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:52,080 Speaker 1: host Saturday Night Live? I think I can hold Saturday 129 00:06:52,120 --> 00:06:54,280 Speaker 1: Night Live one night, but I think I would need 130 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:58,159 Speaker 1: the help of Pete david Ston and Chris red And 131 00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:00,880 Speaker 1: and all of those guys. I would definitely need their assistance. 132 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:02,680 Speaker 1: The only thing I ever worry about is the opening 133 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:05,560 Speaker 1: monologue in terms of just playing the role or whatever 134 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 1: for a show or whatever the case would be. I 135 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:09,560 Speaker 1: know I can do that. Um. I have aspirations to 136 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:12,160 Speaker 1: host late night television someday because I don't you know, 137 00:07:12,240 --> 00:07:14,800 Speaker 1: since our senior Hall has departed, I think there's been 138 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:17,920 Speaker 1: a gap on network television that hasn't been fulfilled, and 139 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:19,560 Speaker 1: I'm confident that I could be able to do that, 140 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:21,600 Speaker 1: but I will still need writers to help me with 141 00:07:21,640 --> 00:07:23,520 Speaker 1: the opening monologue because I want to be as funny 142 00:07:23,520 --> 00:07:25,840 Speaker 1: as I possibly can be and my confident that I 143 00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:28,720 Speaker 1: can do these things shut But I compare myself to 144 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:31,640 Speaker 1: the elite of the elite, the Creme dela creme, because 145 00:07:31,640 --> 00:07:33,640 Speaker 1: I'm not trying to be average or just good at 146 00:07:33,640 --> 00:07:36,760 Speaker 1: anything that I choose to do as a profession. If 147 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:39,560 Speaker 1: I'm going to do it, my goal is to ultimately 148 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:42,080 Speaker 1: assent to a point where I'm considered one of, if 149 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:44,840 Speaker 1: not the best, at what I do. I strive for 150 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:49,400 Speaker 1: excellence constantly and to meet anything short of it, I'm 151 00:07:49,440 --> 00:07:52,040 Speaker 1: just another guy doing the job. And I never want 152 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:54,960 Speaker 1: to be just another guy doing the job. So that's 153 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:57,360 Speaker 1: always my goal to be elite at whatever it is 154 00:07:57,400 --> 00:07:59,600 Speaker 1: that I choose to involve myself with and whatever I 155 00:07:59,680 --> 00:08:02,640 Speaker 1: choose do, And that's where it comes from, and that's 156 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:05,560 Speaker 1: that's just my mindset all the time. It's finally here, 157 00:08:05,840 --> 00:08:09,280 Speaker 1: the season of celebration, and no matter how you celebrate 158 00:08:09,320 --> 00:08:12,640 Speaker 1: with family and friends, whether you're preparing for Reis Magos 159 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:16,280 Speaker 1: or Karamu lighting the Manura are going to midnight mass. 160 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:19,920 Speaker 1: Coals has just what you need to make those traditions special. 161 00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:23,360 Speaker 1: Plus you'll find gifts for all your loved ones. Send 162 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:27,680 Speaker 1: warm wishes with cozy fleeces, sweaters, loungeware, blankets and throws. 163 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:31,640 Speaker 1: Support minority owned or founded brands by giving gifts from 164 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:35,280 Speaker 1: Human Nation and shame moisture, or treat them to everyone's 165 00:08:35,280 --> 00:08:38,720 Speaker 1: favorite active wear from top brands like Nike, Adidas, and 166 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:42,440 Speaker 1: under Armour. And in the spirit of giving, Coals Cares 167 00:08:42,520 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 1: is donating eight million dollars to local nonprofits nationwide committed 168 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:49,520 Speaker 1: to the health and well being of our communities. No 169 00:08:49,559 --> 00:08:52,839 Speaker 1: matter how you celebrate, when you shop at Coals, you're 170 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:56,280 Speaker 1: right where you belong. So this season, give with all 171 00:08:56,320 --> 00:09:00,120 Speaker 1: your heart with great gifts from Coals or Coals dot Com. 172 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:02,280 Speaker 1: If I could be you and you could be me 173 00:09:02,679 --> 00:09:05,160 Speaker 1: for just what hour, If you could find a way 174 00:09:05,200 --> 00:09:08,800 Speaker 1: to get inside each other's mind, walk a mile in 175 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:13,120 Speaker 1: my shoes, wac a mile in my shoes, walco shoes. 176 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:16,720 Speaker 1: We've all felt left out, and for some that feeling 177 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:20,320 Speaker 1: lasts more than a moment. We can change that. Learn 178 00:09:20,360 --> 00:09:23,120 Speaker 1: how it belonging begins with us dot org brought to 179 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:30,840 Speaker 1: you by the AD Council. Walcome mile in machines. What 180 00:09:31,040 --> 00:09:34,480 Speaker 1: grows in the forest trees? Sure you know what else 181 00:09:34,520 --> 00:09:38,079 Speaker 1: grows in the forest, Our imagination, our sense of wonder, 182 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:41,640 Speaker 1: and our family bonds grow too, because when we disconnect 183 00:09:41,679 --> 00:09:48,360 Speaker 1: from this and connect with this, we reconnect with each other. 184 00:09:49,080 --> 00:09:51,959 Speaker 1: The forest is closer than you think. Find a forest 185 00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:55,320 Speaker 1: near you and start exploring. I discover the forest dot 186 00:09:55,400 --> 00:09:58,199 Speaker 1: org brought to you by the United States Forest Service 187 00:09:58,360 --> 00:10:01,760 Speaker 1: and the AD Council. So why are you so competitive? 188 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:04,800 Speaker 1: Because that sounds like a competitive mindset. What drives that 189 00:10:04,920 --> 00:10:07,440 Speaker 1: is is the ability of wanting to be number one 190 00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:10,880 Speaker 1: or the fact growing up or in college you didn't 191 00:10:10,880 --> 00:10:14,960 Speaker 1: feel you got the right of credit for your accomplishment. 192 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:17,719 Speaker 1: What drives that competitiveness comes from at all? I got 193 00:10:17,760 --> 00:10:19,400 Speaker 1: left back in the fourth grade because that at the 194 00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:21,760 Speaker 1: first grade reading level, I was called the dummy, and 195 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:24,400 Speaker 1: I was you know, I had guidance counsels and others 196 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:26,880 Speaker 1: laughing at the notion of me ultimately going on to 197 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:30,360 Speaker 1: get a college education. Um, all my life, I've been doubted, 198 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:34,560 Speaker 1: I've been marginalized and minimized to some degree. Um, at 199 00:10:34,640 --> 00:10:37,960 Speaker 1: least in the initial process. And I don't recall a 200 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:41,160 Speaker 1: time ever where I've walked into a situation and the 201 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:44,240 Speaker 1: assumption was I was going to be great. I've always 202 00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:47,480 Speaker 1: had to prove myself. So I combined that with the 203 00:10:47,520 --> 00:10:50,800 Speaker 1: reality that we live in a capitalistic society. To the 204 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:53,920 Speaker 1: victors go the spoils. Uh. If you want something, if 205 00:10:53,960 --> 00:10:56,360 Speaker 1: you want something bad, You're gonna have to go get it. 206 00:10:56,679 --> 00:10:58,960 Speaker 1: Really is it going to be handed to you? Almost 207 00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:02,320 Speaker 1: never if you are of the black man and understanding 208 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:08,200 Speaker 1: that reality and knowing those obstacles that I'm going to face. Ultimately, 209 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:12,320 Speaker 1: somebody has chosen, no matter what profession it is, no 210 00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:14,560 Speaker 1: matter what your job description is, no matter what your 211 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:19,280 Speaker 1: job title is. Ultimately something someone is chosen. And if 212 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:22,000 Speaker 1: you're chosen, it's usually at the expense of somebody else, 213 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:24,640 Speaker 1: And if somebody else has chosen, it's usually at the 214 00:11:24,679 --> 00:11:28,840 Speaker 1: expense of you. So thereby that reality alone brings into 215 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 1: the equation competition. That's what competition is. And because that's 216 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:35,760 Speaker 1: the situation, I embrace it. I accept it because I 217 00:11:35,760 --> 00:11:38,080 Speaker 1: know it's a reality that's never going to escape me 218 00:11:38,160 --> 00:11:40,440 Speaker 1: in my lifetime. With the world that we're living in 219 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:44,280 Speaker 1: So since I embrace it, embrace competitive furvor. Understand that 220 00:11:44,320 --> 00:11:46,760 Speaker 1: you're competing with other people. Understand that you're not the 221 00:11:46,760 --> 00:11:49,920 Speaker 1: only one who wants what you want. Every but everybody 222 00:11:49,960 --> 00:11:52,400 Speaker 1: can't get it. So put your best foot forward. And 223 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:54,000 Speaker 1: if you have to put your best foot forward in 224 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:55,640 Speaker 1: order to get what you want, that means you have 225 00:11:55,679 --> 00:11:58,240 Speaker 1: to maximize your potential UM, and that means you have 226 00:11:58,320 --> 00:12:00,880 Speaker 1: to notice what your potential is and what isn't. So 227 00:12:00,920 --> 00:12:03,160 Speaker 1: there's so many different steps that come with it. I 228 00:12:03,240 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 1: understand it, I recognize it, I accepted um, and more importantly, 229 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:09,800 Speaker 1: I embrace it. I like the competition because if I 230 00:12:09,840 --> 00:12:12,319 Speaker 1: do get the things that I want, it means I'm 231 00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:15,000 Speaker 1: one of, if not the very best at what I do. 232 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:18,840 Speaker 1: And I will not apologize for liking to be the best. 233 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:21,760 Speaker 1: Well the Well, that's true, I know that for a fact. 234 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:25,960 Speaker 1: But you went to an HBCU and our hbc use, Um, 235 00:12:26,040 --> 00:12:29,760 Speaker 1: what would you say the reputation is of an HBCU, 236 00:12:29,800 --> 00:12:31,480 Speaker 1: And then what did you get out of going to 237 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:34,520 Speaker 1: an HBCU. Well, I think people outside of the world 238 00:12:34,559 --> 00:12:39,120 Speaker 1: of HBCUs view it as black colleges and they stopped 239 00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:41,760 Speaker 1: right there it's a place for black people to go 240 00:12:41,880 --> 00:12:45,120 Speaker 1: to get their education because they probably weren't qualified to 241 00:12:45,120 --> 00:12:48,480 Speaker 1: get into a predominantly white institution. I think that's the 242 00:12:48,480 --> 00:12:52,480 Speaker 1: thought process of those outside of HBCUs. For those who 243 00:12:52,480 --> 00:12:56,240 Speaker 1: have attended HBCUs, we know it's far more than that. Obviously, 244 00:12:56,280 --> 00:12:59,680 Speaker 1: you have professors that are incredibly capable. You have administrative 245 00:12:59,679 --> 00:13:02,439 Speaker 1: official you was in a like who are incredibly capable, 246 00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:06,080 Speaker 1: from the chancellor on down, and so you have that 247 00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:08,880 Speaker 1: going on, and then the student body itself. It's just 248 00:13:08,920 --> 00:13:11,840 Speaker 1: a different environment because you're surrounded by people who look 249 00:13:11,880 --> 00:13:15,160 Speaker 1: like you, who share your cultural identity. Obviously a lot 250 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:18,320 Speaker 1: of your experiences that you may have ended growing up 251 00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:20,600 Speaker 1: and beyond, and so as a result, you have a 252 00:13:20,600 --> 00:13:23,920 Speaker 1: support system. You don't feel like you're, you know, a 253 00:13:23,960 --> 00:13:26,640 Speaker 1: dot in the ocean of folks that don't look like 254 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:28,960 Speaker 1: you and don't share any kind of identity with you. 255 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:30,800 Speaker 1: You feel like you're a part of a brotherhood, of 256 00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:33,680 Speaker 1: the sisterhood, of a family. You have professors who don't 257 00:13:33,720 --> 00:13:35,880 Speaker 1: just care about grades, they care about your well being. 258 00:13:36,240 --> 00:13:38,920 Speaker 1: They invest in you because you're one of them, and 259 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:41,120 Speaker 1: it's in their best interest to see you as sin 260 00:13:41,240 --> 00:13:44,240 Speaker 1: and to see you succeed, uh to to like that 261 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:47,280 Speaker 1: maybe you didn't even imagine. And so because you walk 262 00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:50,240 Speaker 1: into that, this actually add impression. Sometimes it could be 263 00:13:50,280 --> 00:13:53,160 Speaker 1: even a bit harder than you imagine, because the interest 264 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:56,560 Speaker 1: in you elevates not just from a professional on an 265 00:13:56,559 --> 00:13:59,480 Speaker 1: academic level, but to a personal level. They place a 266 00:13:59,520 --> 00:14:02,840 Speaker 1: personal invested interests in you because they consider you an 267 00:14:02,840 --> 00:14:06,240 Speaker 1: extension of them and therefore a reflection of them. And 268 00:14:06,280 --> 00:14:09,040 Speaker 1: if you if you don't succeed, you're not only letting 269 00:14:09,080 --> 00:14:12,040 Speaker 1: yourself down, you're letting those professions down, you're letting down 270 00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:15,880 Speaker 1: the institution that that you represent, and you're letting down HBC, 271 00:14:15,920 --> 00:14:19,640 Speaker 1: you folks everywhere because you're contributing to a stigma or 272 00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:22,840 Speaker 1: a level of skepticism that people outside of HBCUs may 273 00:14:22,880 --> 00:14:26,200 Speaker 1: have that is completely inaccurate. But you've attached the level 274 00:14:26,200 --> 00:14:29,800 Speaker 1: of legitimacy to their skepticism and their cynicism. And so 275 00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:33,440 Speaker 1: when you recognize that challenge, you've got to embrace the 276 00:14:33,520 --> 00:14:37,080 Speaker 1: reality that you're supposed to want to debunk those those skeptics, 277 00:14:37,160 --> 00:14:40,000 Speaker 1: those cynics at every time. You want to show them 278 00:14:40,080 --> 00:14:42,040 Speaker 1: that indeed, this is what you can do. And so 279 00:14:42,160 --> 00:14:44,320 Speaker 1: for me. I remember when I was working for the 280 00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:46,680 Speaker 1: New York Daily News. Before I worked for the New 281 00:14:46,720 --> 00:14:48,760 Speaker 1: York Daily News, it was because I got offered an 282 00:14:48,760 --> 00:14:53,000 Speaker 1: internship with the met Pro Internship Program, and that was 283 00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:55,760 Speaker 1: a collaboration between New York News Day and Los Angeles 284 00:14:55,760 --> 00:14:58,560 Speaker 1: Times Daily newspapers where they were taking interns from all 285 00:14:58,600 --> 00:15:02,000 Speaker 1: over the country and employing UH throughout their various papers 286 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:05,840 Speaker 1: throughout the country. And there was twenty four candidates. I'm 287 00:15:05,880 --> 00:15:08,120 Speaker 1: sorry it was twenty four people that was chosen, but 288 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:11,160 Speaker 1: over three thousand candidates. I was one of the twenty four. 289 00:15:11,560 --> 00:15:15,880 Speaker 1: And you had people that winter, you Columbia University of Columbia, 290 00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:20,240 Speaker 1: Missouri UM, you know, Columbia, New York Ivy League Schools, 291 00:15:20,360 --> 00:15:24,520 Speaker 1: usc U, c l A, Northwestern, various other journalism programs, 292 00:15:24,520 --> 00:15:27,360 Speaker 1: and they had incredible grades. What I had was two 293 00:15:27,440 --> 00:15:30,480 Speaker 1: hundred and fifty published clips before I even graduated, because 294 00:15:30,520 --> 00:15:33,120 Speaker 1: I had interned at the Winster Salem Journal, the Greensborg News, 295 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:36,080 Speaker 1: a Record, the Atlanta Journal Constitution back at the at 296 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:38,680 Speaker 1: the Winster salim In Journal. Plus I had written for 297 00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:42,960 Speaker 1: the newspaper before I ever graduated, because I understood that 298 00:15:42,960 --> 00:15:45,760 Speaker 1: coming from an HBCU what I was going up against. 299 00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:47,840 Speaker 1: I understood that I had to do a little extra 300 00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:50,160 Speaker 1: and I had to be a little bit different in 301 00:15:50,280 --> 00:15:52,960 Speaker 1: order to put my foot forward into really stand out 302 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:54,680 Speaker 1: to make sure I wasn't just a name on a 303 00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:57,560 Speaker 1: resumeate you knew exactly who the hell I was. And 304 00:15:57,600 --> 00:16:00,440 Speaker 1: that's what I went about, the business accomplishment of a opporishing. 305 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:03,600 Speaker 1: I did it, and I beat out those people, and 306 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:06,520 Speaker 1: it was really an indication of what was to come 307 00:16:06,560 --> 00:16:09,440 Speaker 1: because I realized throughout my career I would have to 308 00:16:09,480 --> 00:16:12,520 Speaker 1: face similar challenges and I would have to overcome similar 309 00:16:12,680 --> 00:16:15,120 Speaker 1: similar obstacles in order to get to where I wanted 310 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:17,440 Speaker 1: to be. And that's what I did well. That statement 311 00:16:17,480 --> 00:16:20,480 Speaker 1: allows me to transition to I like to call it 312 00:16:20,600 --> 00:16:24,800 Speaker 1: the book, the memoir. Why is that important to get 313 00:16:24,840 --> 00:16:27,480 Speaker 1: your stories on paper? And then you've been approached by 314 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:31,400 Speaker 1: a major publishing company and giving an opportunity to tell 315 00:16:31,480 --> 00:16:34,760 Speaker 1: your story. Why is your story important? And how will 316 00:16:34,840 --> 00:16:39,080 Speaker 1: it help people when they read about your story? Because 317 00:16:39,080 --> 00:16:41,760 Speaker 1: the people who are closest to me, the people who 318 00:16:41,800 --> 00:16:44,440 Speaker 1: love me, uh, the people who have known me for 319 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:47,680 Speaker 1: a very long time, my family, my friends, people like you, 320 00:16:48,440 --> 00:16:52,000 Speaker 1: UM y'all insistent on that. I was actually reluctant and 321 00:16:52,040 --> 00:16:54,120 Speaker 1: hesitant to write my own book for a very very 322 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:56,960 Speaker 1: long time. I literally said, although I had a national 323 00:16:57,000 --> 00:16:59,560 Speaker 1: television show that's been number one in the morning for 324 00:16:59,640 --> 00:17:03,080 Speaker 1: nine years and counting. Um, I literally and I was 325 00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:06,040 Speaker 1: a I've been an NBA analyst, and obviously my success 326 00:17:06,040 --> 00:17:08,920 Speaker 1: of the ESPN speaks for self. I literally was saying, 327 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:11,360 Speaker 1: why would anybody want to read a book for me? 328 00:17:12,119 --> 00:17:13,959 Speaker 1: And so many people came forward, like, what the hell 329 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:16,040 Speaker 1: are you talking about? Was wrong with you? Everybody needs 330 00:17:16,080 --> 00:17:19,439 Speaker 1: to hear your story. Everybody needs to hear what you endured, 331 00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:21,439 Speaker 1: what you had to experience, what you had to go 332 00:17:21,560 --> 00:17:25,159 Speaker 1: through to get to this place that you're here now, 333 00:17:25,640 --> 00:17:28,720 Speaker 1: what you succeeded, has been some unprecedented stuff to once 334 00:17:28,800 --> 00:17:32,240 Speaker 1: be let go by ESPN just a decade ago into return, 335 00:17:32,600 --> 00:17:35,640 Speaker 1: and to be their number one guy at the network, 336 00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:38,240 Speaker 1: the face of the network, just ten years removed from 337 00:17:38,280 --> 00:17:41,000 Speaker 1: them letting you go and saying goodbye. This is some 338 00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:44,040 Speaker 1: unprecedented stuff for you to get left back because you 339 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:47,040 Speaker 1: couldn't read, you could accomprehend what you were reading as 340 00:17:47,080 --> 00:17:49,919 Speaker 1: a fourth grader with a first grade reading level and 341 00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:53,400 Speaker 1: to excel in the field of journalism and broadcasting. That's 342 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:56,600 Speaker 1: some unprecedented stuff. To be the figure that you are, 343 00:17:56,640 --> 00:17:59,080 Speaker 1: where you walk into arenas and you're more popular than 344 00:17:59,160 --> 00:18:02,439 Speaker 1: most of the athlete This is unbelievable. You've got a 345 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:05,400 Speaker 1: story to tell, and it took a lot of convincing 346 00:18:05,480 --> 00:18:08,080 Speaker 1: over the years. But I do think at this particular juncture, 347 00:18:08,160 --> 00:18:11,200 Speaker 1: this particular moment of time, now is the time. Now 348 00:18:11,320 --> 00:18:14,040 Speaker 1: is the time to just sit back and to tell 349 00:18:14,040 --> 00:18:18,720 Speaker 1: the world who I am, what I've endured, what where 350 00:18:18,720 --> 00:18:21,320 Speaker 1: I've come from, and how I got here. You know, 351 00:18:21,359 --> 00:18:23,440 Speaker 1: when people look at me and I used to say, 352 00:18:23,640 --> 00:18:26,959 Speaker 1: I'm angry and I take myself too seriously, I was like, 353 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:28,359 Speaker 1: first of all, they don't know me because I know 354 00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:30,119 Speaker 1: how to laugh and smile and tell jokes. It just 355 00:18:30,160 --> 00:18:32,560 Speaker 1: like the best of them. But in the same breath, 356 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:35,560 Speaker 1: you know, what would you feel like if you were 357 00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:38,639 Speaker 1: conquering one obstacle after another and you were called an 358 00:18:38,640 --> 00:18:41,320 Speaker 1: affirmative action higher that the only reason why you got 359 00:18:41,359 --> 00:18:43,800 Speaker 1: this job is because you're black. That if you are 360 00:18:43,800 --> 00:18:46,040 Speaker 1: a white guy, you know what, it wouldn't have happened 361 00:18:46,080 --> 00:18:48,160 Speaker 1: for you like that. You know, it's just that we're 362 00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:50,480 Speaker 1: living in a different age and stuff like that where 363 00:18:50,480 --> 00:18:53,560 Speaker 1: people are catering and capitulated the African Americans and stuff 364 00:18:53,560 --> 00:18:55,879 Speaker 1: like that. This is what I've been told, This is 365 00:18:55,880 --> 00:18:57,919 Speaker 1: what has been written to me, death threats that have 366 00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 1: come my way, this stuff like that. I've gone through 367 00:19:01,119 --> 00:19:05,439 Speaker 1: a lot because I've succeeded because people didn't want me 368 00:19:05,480 --> 00:19:07,359 Speaker 1: to be in a position that I'm in. And a 369 00:19:07,359 --> 00:19:10,280 Speaker 1: lot of times what I'm saying, it's not that people 370 00:19:10,280 --> 00:19:12,399 Speaker 1: have a problem with what I'm saying. They have a 371 00:19:12,440 --> 00:19:15,439 Speaker 1: problem that my black behind is in the position that 372 00:19:15,520 --> 00:19:18,520 Speaker 1: I'm in to say it and to disseminate and have 373 00:19:18,600 --> 00:19:22,000 Speaker 1: a reach that spans tens of millions of people. They 374 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:24,840 Speaker 1: have a problem with that. And so when you face 375 00:19:24,960 --> 00:19:28,320 Speaker 1: those challenges on a day to day basis, and you 376 00:19:28,400 --> 00:19:33,280 Speaker 1: are just flummix and inundated with people coming your way. 377 00:19:33,720 --> 00:19:35,720 Speaker 1: And it's not just the people who support you, is 378 00:19:35,800 --> 00:19:38,199 Speaker 1: cynics and skeptics who want to hate on you. The 379 00:19:38,280 --> 00:19:41,080 Speaker 1: list goes on and on and you're still standing. But 380 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:44,119 Speaker 1: you're not an athlete, You're not a rap artist. You know, 381 00:19:44,160 --> 00:19:46,879 Speaker 1: you're not an actor and actress. No, this is what 382 00:19:47,040 --> 00:19:49,920 Speaker 1: this is what you're doing You did it as a journalist. Um, 383 00:19:49,960 --> 00:19:52,600 Speaker 1: there's a story to be told there. I finally was 384 00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:55,120 Speaker 1: convinced that there's a story to be told there. I'm 385 00:19:55,160 --> 00:19:58,840 Speaker 1: passionate more than ever before about telling that story, and 386 00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:01,840 Speaker 1: I'm looking forward to doing it. And we're live here 387 00:20:01,880 --> 00:20:05,240 Speaker 1: outside the Perez family home, just waiting for the and 388 00:20:05,440 --> 00:20:08,439 Speaker 1: there they go, almost on time. This morning. Mom is 389 00:20:08,480 --> 00:20:10,960 Speaker 1: coming out the front door, strong with a double arm 390 00:20:11,040 --> 00:20:13,840 Speaker 1: kid carry. Looks like Dad has the bags. Daughter is 391 00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:18,000 Speaker 1: bringing up the rear. Oh, but the diaper bag wasn't closed. 392 00:20:18,160 --> 00:20:23,560 Speaker 1: Diapers and toys are everywhere. But Mom has just nailed 393 00:20:23,640 --> 00:20:26,879 Speaker 1: the perfect car seat buckle for the toddler. And now 394 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:29,400 Speaker 1: the eldest daughter, who looks to be about nine or ten, 395 00:20:29,640 --> 00:20:32,320 Speaker 1: has secured herself in the booster seat. Dad SIPs the 396 00:20:32,359 --> 00:20:36,480 Speaker 1: bag clothes and they're off, But looks like Mom doesn't 397 00:20:36,520 --> 00:20:38,679 Speaker 1: realize her coffee cup is still on the roof of 398 00:20:38,680 --> 00:20:43,160 Speaker 1: the car. And there it goes. Oh, that's a shame 399 00:20:43,280 --> 00:20:46,439 Speaker 1: that mug was a fan favorite. Don't sweat the small stuff. 400 00:20:46,600 --> 00:20:48,720 Speaker 1: Just nailed the big stuff, like making sure your kids 401 00:20:48,720 --> 00:20:50,880 Speaker 1: are buckled correctly in the right seat for their agent's eyes. 402 00:20:51,080 --> 00:20:53,119 Speaker 1: Learn more n h t s A dot gov slash 403 00:20:53,119 --> 00:20:57,280 Speaker 1: the Right Seat visits h s A dot gov slash 404 00:20:57,359 --> 00:21:00,000 Speaker 1: the Right Seat, brought to you by Mitza and the Adcounts. 405 00:21:00,720 --> 00:21:03,639 Speaker 1: Look for your children's eyes to see the true magic 406 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:07,199 Speaker 1: of a forest. It's a storybook world for them. You 407 00:21:07,320 --> 00:21:10,320 Speaker 1: look and see a tree. They see the wrinkled face 408 00:21:10,359 --> 00:21:13,760 Speaker 1: of a wizard with arms outstretched to the sky. They 409 00:21:13,800 --> 00:21:16,959 Speaker 1: see treasure in pebbles, They see a windy path that 410 00:21:17,040 --> 00:21:21,360 Speaker 1: could lead to adventure, and they see you. They're fearless guide. 411 00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:24,840 Speaker 1: Is this fascinating world? Find a forest near you and 412 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:27,879 Speaker 1: start exploring. I Discover the Forest dot org brought to 413 00:21:27,880 --> 00:21:30,440 Speaker 1: you by the United States Forest Service and the ad Council. 414 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:35,400 Speaker 1: What grows in the forest trees? Sure no. What else 415 00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:38,960 Speaker 1: grows in the forest, Our imagination, our sense of wonder, 416 00:21:39,359 --> 00:21:42,560 Speaker 1: and our family bonds grow too, because when we disconnect 417 00:21:42,560 --> 00:21:49,240 Speaker 1: from this and connect with this, we reconnect with each other. 418 00:21:49,960 --> 00:21:52,840 Speaker 1: The forest is closer than you think. Find a forest 419 00:21:52,960 --> 00:21:56,160 Speaker 1: near you and start exploring. I Discover the Forest dot 420 00:21:56,320 --> 00:21:59,120 Speaker 1: org brought to you by the United States Forest Service 421 00:21:59,280 --> 00:22:02,720 Speaker 1: and the ad count Phone. Stephen Age World. That's what 422 00:22:02,760 --> 00:22:07,240 Speaker 1: we're talking about right now. ESPN plus the number one 423 00:22:07,240 --> 00:22:10,600 Speaker 1: new show ratings are on fire right now. And it's 424 00:22:10,600 --> 00:22:14,000 Speaker 1: about you. Is that pressure because it's about you? Or 425 00:22:14,040 --> 00:22:16,560 Speaker 1: it's the fun of that it is about you and 426 00:22:16,600 --> 00:22:19,920 Speaker 1: your vision on a daily basis talk about Stephen Age World. 427 00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:23,720 Speaker 1: It's both. Uh, it's it's definitely fun because I don't 428 00:22:23,800 --> 00:22:28,280 Speaker 1: run from the responsibility of controlling my own destiny. A 429 00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:30,520 Speaker 1: matter of fact, the challenge for me is to have 430 00:22:30,640 --> 00:22:34,000 Speaker 1: to lean on others to control my destiny. Uh, to 431 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:37,920 Speaker 1: to make sure that what I produce is top notch 432 00:22:38,080 --> 00:22:40,679 Speaker 1: and it's a quality it's a quality programming and what 433 00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:43,000 Speaker 1: have you. To be the executive producer, to be the 434 00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:46,159 Speaker 1: production company co producing in a concert with ESPN is 435 00:22:46,160 --> 00:22:49,040 Speaker 1: an incredibly, incredibly big deal because I think it's gonna 436 00:22:49,080 --> 00:22:52,800 Speaker 1: open doors for myself, for you as my partner, as 437 00:22:52,840 --> 00:22:56,480 Speaker 1: my business manager. Uh, you know, for my family that 438 00:22:56,560 --> 00:22:59,000 Speaker 1: I never never would a dream could have been open. 439 00:22:59,320 --> 00:23:02,080 Speaker 1: So in that God, it's definitely fun. It's about me 440 00:23:02,160 --> 00:23:05,040 Speaker 1: and I got that part. But it's an immense amount 441 00:23:05,080 --> 00:23:08,800 Speaker 1: of pressure, There's no question about it. But if pressure 442 00:23:08,840 --> 00:23:12,639 Speaker 1: phases you, then I'm in the wrong business. Um is 443 00:23:12,680 --> 00:23:15,240 Speaker 1: what I live for. I don't I don't have a problem. 444 00:23:15,240 --> 00:23:18,320 Speaker 1: I'm not scared to fail. I'm scared if I didn't 445 00:23:18,359 --> 00:23:21,080 Speaker 1: do all it took to succeed. I'm scared if I 446 00:23:21,119 --> 00:23:25,159 Speaker 1: took shortcuts. I'm scared of of not making sure that 447 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:28,280 Speaker 1: I prepare myself for the opportunities that are going to 448 00:23:28,280 --> 00:23:31,720 Speaker 1: come my way. But I believe that if I'm at 449 00:23:31,760 --> 00:23:35,040 Speaker 1: my best with anything that I'm doing, no one can 450 00:23:35,080 --> 00:23:39,960 Speaker 1: stop me. No one in in in a meritocracy environment. 451 00:23:40,440 --> 00:23:43,000 Speaker 1: Um if in the environment based on merit, If you 452 00:23:43,040 --> 00:23:46,040 Speaker 1: want to get political, and there's the figurative proverbial glass 453 00:23:46,040 --> 00:23:49,440 Speaker 1: ceiling that's hovering over me, where I can't see where 454 00:23:49,480 --> 00:23:51,760 Speaker 1: the darts and arrows are coming from, and people are 455 00:23:51,760 --> 00:23:55,360 Speaker 1: back during and and and and cheating and being shady 456 00:23:55,920 --> 00:23:59,639 Speaker 1: in their mission to keep me down or to precipitate 457 00:23:59,680 --> 00:24:03,040 Speaker 1: my eyes, that would be different. But in terms of 458 00:24:03,080 --> 00:24:06,680 Speaker 1: the merit where you show me what the obstacles are, 459 00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:11,160 Speaker 1: you give me a fair opportunity to excel. I believe 460 00:24:11,720 --> 00:24:15,040 Speaker 1: that my a game is just as good, if not better, 461 00:24:15,560 --> 00:24:18,240 Speaker 1: than anybody on this planet. And I saw how I 462 00:24:18,240 --> 00:24:21,439 Speaker 1: approached things when I'm in front of that camera, you know, 463 00:24:21,880 --> 00:24:25,600 Speaker 1: I believe I'm the Michael Jordan's of television. I truly do. 464 00:24:25,920 --> 00:24:28,560 Speaker 1: And I'm talking about you know, sports television. To be exact, 465 00:24:28,840 --> 00:24:31,680 Speaker 1: I believe I'm the Michael Jordan of television, and I'll 466 00:24:31,680 --> 00:24:34,080 Speaker 1: show you how literal I am with it. I just 467 00:24:34,080 --> 00:24:37,360 Speaker 1: spoke to Michael Jordan yesterday and I told him yesterday 468 00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:41,679 Speaker 1: I'm the Michael Jordan's of television, of sports television. I 469 00:24:41,720 --> 00:24:48,600 Speaker 1: really feel that way. I think I'm better per se. 470 00:24:49,119 --> 00:24:51,960 Speaker 1: It's just I feel I can't be stopped cool. Uh So, 471 00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:53,800 Speaker 1: what did Michael Jordans say when you said you're the 472 00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:57,120 Speaker 1: Michael Jordan You started laughing, You started laughing. He said, 473 00:24:57,119 --> 00:25:00,840 Speaker 1: you're crazy or you Chris. But he was on the 474 00:25:00,880 --> 00:25:02,720 Speaker 1: golf course. He say, had to go, but you know 475 00:25:02,920 --> 00:25:05,000 Speaker 1: I knew he had to go. But that that's the 476 00:25:05,080 --> 00:25:09,240 Speaker 1: kind of conversations um that you know, you know I've had, 477 00:25:09,320 --> 00:25:12,880 Speaker 1: because you know, I don't think you know I over 478 00:25:12,960 --> 00:25:15,160 Speaker 1: when I give speeches. Rather I tell people this all 479 00:25:15,200 --> 00:25:18,879 Speaker 1: the time, I'm brilliant, because I know I'm not. I 480 00:25:18,960 --> 00:25:22,200 Speaker 1: steal from people who are brilliant. I learned from them, 481 00:25:22,240 --> 00:25:26,000 Speaker 1: and I learned successful habits. I learned what to eradicate 482 00:25:26,040 --> 00:25:29,679 Speaker 1: and dismiss and then I move forward. That's what and 483 00:25:29,760 --> 00:25:32,880 Speaker 1: so for me, Um, that's where it's at. That's where 484 00:25:32,880 --> 00:25:35,840 Speaker 1: I'm coming from. And uh, you know that's the approach 485 00:25:35,880 --> 00:25:37,800 Speaker 1: that I have with everything that I do. I'm gonna 486 00:25:37,800 --> 00:25:39,600 Speaker 1: ask two questions of I ask you, is the same 487 00:25:39,640 --> 00:25:45,000 Speaker 1: subject matters about being able to um dominate and become 488 00:25:45,640 --> 00:25:48,919 Speaker 1: a force in social media, that's one. And then the 489 00:25:49,040 --> 00:25:54,480 Speaker 1: popularity of Baby stephen A. Yeah, those two things tend 490 00:25:54,520 --> 00:25:58,480 Speaker 1: to intertwine, but they've they've taken you to another level 491 00:25:58,680 --> 00:26:01,399 Speaker 1: on the social media side and then on the Baby 492 00:26:01,440 --> 00:26:06,040 Speaker 1: stephen A side. Talk about those two brands. Well, for me, uh, 493 00:26:06,200 --> 00:26:09,280 Speaker 1: Baby Baby stephen A, I take I give all the 494 00:26:09,359 --> 00:26:12,800 Speaker 1: credit to the folks and social media because about a 495 00:26:12,880 --> 00:26:16,320 Speaker 1: year or so ago, you know, they attached the baby 496 00:26:16,359 --> 00:26:20,320 Speaker 1: face me to my face and it was kind of funny, 497 00:26:20,520 --> 00:26:23,359 Speaker 1: you know, it was hilarious actually, and I said, you 498 00:26:23,400 --> 00:26:24,960 Speaker 1: know what, that's something that I want to do so 499 00:26:25,200 --> 00:26:29,800 Speaker 1: periodically on social media. Um. I threw that out there, um, 500 00:26:29,920 --> 00:26:33,879 Speaker 1: and folks loved it. And because they loved it, you know, 501 00:26:33,960 --> 00:26:35,600 Speaker 1: once I started to my show, I said, you know 502 00:26:35,640 --> 00:26:37,679 Speaker 1: what it has to be. You know, it has to 503 00:26:37,720 --> 00:26:39,640 Speaker 1: be on the show like an alter ego of mine 504 00:26:39,720 --> 00:26:42,479 Speaker 1: or whatever. Because baby stephen A is arguing with stephen 505 00:26:42,520 --> 00:26:45,159 Speaker 1: A all the time. You know, he challenges me even 506 00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:48,440 Speaker 1: though he's a baby, you know. Indicative of today's generation 507 00:26:48,520 --> 00:26:50,280 Speaker 1: of youth where they come at you and they think 508 00:26:50,320 --> 00:26:53,840 Speaker 1: they know everything. Breath smelling like simularc wet behind it is. 509 00:26:53,880 --> 00:26:55,920 Speaker 1: They don't know a damn thing yet because they're too young, 510 00:26:56,160 --> 00:26:57,960 Speaker 1: but they think they know everything, just like I thought 511 00:26:58,000 --> 00:27:00,359 Speaker 1: I knew everything when I was younger. You all of 512 00:27:00,359 --> 00:27:02,320 Speaker 1: those kind of things, and so I just incorporate some 513 00:27:02,359 --> 00:27:04,400 Speaker 1: of those things into it and it's just taken off 514 00:27:04,640 --> 00:27:07,760 Speaker 1: and it's really really funny the way they digitize everything. 515 00:27:07,840 --> 00:27:09,640 Speaker 1: It makes it look like the baby face and all 516 00:27:09,640 --> 00:27:12,120 Speaker 1: of that stuff. So that's great, um, But in terms 517 00:27:12,200 --> 00:27:15,560 Speaker 1: of everything else, like I said, you know, I'm from 518 00:27:15,560 --> 00:27:18,000 Speaker 1: Holly queens Man, New York City, and I went to 519 00:27:18,040 --> 00:27:20,280 Speaker 1: an HBCU wins the Salem State. I grew up in 520 00:27:20,280 --> 00:27:23,320 Speaker 1: the streets of New York City. I have four older sisters. 521 00:27:23,359 --> 00:27:26,400 Speaker 1: I got thirteen niems I'm sorry, fifteen nieces and nephews. 522 00:27:26,800 --> 00:27:28,920 Speaker 1: You know. The greatest mom in the world, God rested. 523 00:27:29,000 --> 00:27:32,359 Speaker 1: Solo passed away in seventeen and you know my dad 524 00:27:32,400 --> 00:27:35,720 Speaker 1: had passed away, you know, sixteen months later. Stuff like that. 525 00:27:36,040 --> 00:27:39,160 Speaker 1: There's a lot of family stories that I could tell. 526 00:27:39,680 --> 00:27:41,640 Speaker 1: A lot of us can do that where I can 527 00:27:41,680 --> 00:27:44,240 Speaker 1: imitate my mother, I can imitate my sisters, or I 528 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:48,520 Speaker 1: peel a lot of ideas from my personal experiences growing up, 529 00:27:48,880 --> 00:27:53,159 Speaker 1: not just in terms of voices, diction, cadence, how people 530 00:27:53,200 --> 00:27:56,120 Speaker 1: talk to you, how they deliver certain things, stuff like that, 531 00:27:56,600 --> 00:27:59,200 Speaker 1: um in terms of speaking to you. All of those 532 00:27:59,240 --> 00:28:02,720 Speaker 1: things contribute you. Two characters that I try to bring 533 00:28:03,119 --> 00:28:07,040 Speaker 1: and incorporate on my show because I think those I 534 00:28:07,320 --> 00:28:10,000 Speaker 1: think there's a lot of fun memories and stuff like that. Like, 535 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:12,840 Speaker 1: for example, I got one of my boys literally literally 536 00:28:12,920 --> 00:28:17,600 Speaker 1: Rashanda is the absolute truth. One of my boys literally 537 00:28:17,720 --> 00:28:20,640 Speaker 1: was sucking his thumb until he was forty two years old. 538 00:28:22,760 --> 00:28:25,120 Speaker 1: I mean I didn't even bring him to the screen yet. 539 00:28:25,280 --> 00:28:27,240 Speaker 1: I mean he was one of those and he was 540 00:28:27,280 --> 00:28:37,080 Speaker 1: like Steve Yo, Steve, Joe, you're tripping. It was stuff 541 00:28:37,119 --> 00:28:39,840 Speaker 1: like that, and so you know, I'm like, just imagine 542 00:28:40,080 --> 00:28:42,760 Speaker 1: if somebody like that was on TV, people would be crying. 543 00:28:42,840 --> 00:28:45,880 Speaker 1: Levin he had grown man, but he he just stopped 544 00:28:45,880 --> 00:28:49,320 Speaker 1: sucking his thumb a decade ago, literally a decade ago. 545 00:28:49,480 --> 00:28:53,240 Speaker 1: He was sucking his dumb through college. He never stopped. 546 00:28:53,440 --> 00:28:56,840 Speaker 1: And it's just I like, they have no idea, you know, 547 00:28:56,920 --> 00:28:59,080 Speaker 1: the kind of guys that I grew up with, the 548 00:28:59,160 --> 00:29:02,120 Speaker 1: kind of people that I've been around, the personalities. So 549 00:29:02,160 --> 00:29:07,080 Speaker 1: it's always it's always easy for me the peel compelling stories, 550 00:29:07,080 --> 00:29:09,520 Speaker 1: and you've been around me, they'll just pop into my head. 551 00:29:09,640 --> 00:29:11,880 Speaker 1: Something up on me is something, and I'll tell a 552 00:29:11,920 --> 00:29:14,320 Speaker 1: story of what I experienced and what I endured, and 553 00:29:14,400 --> 00:29:17,440 Speaker 1: all of those experiences contribute to me putting forth the 554 00:29:17,480 --> 00:29:20,000 Speaker 1: product on the screen that everybody can see that I 555 00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:21,920 Speaker 1: think will make people laugh and a little bit of 556 00:29:22,000 --> 00:29:25,200 Speaker 1: levity to the situation. Uh, and just let people know 557 00:29:25,600 --> 00:29:27,400 Speaker 1: I'm trying to make them laugh, trying to make them 558 00:29:27,440 --> 00:29:30,239 Speaker 1: have a good time and enjoy watching me. Even though 559 00:29:30,280 --> 00:29:32,760 Speaker 1: I do have a serious personality, I do like to laugh. 560 00:29:32,800 --> 00:29:35,080 Speaker 1: I do like to have fun. I do like to 561 00:29:35,160 --> 00:29:38,640 Speaker 1: make other people smile when I can. And so that's 562 00:29:38,720 --> 00:29:40,200 Speaker 1: just the kind of things that I try to bring 563 00:29:40,240 --> 00:29:43,840 Speaker 1: to my show. The ultimate goal late night Talk and 564 00:29:43,920 --> 00:29:46,640 Speaker 1: seeing you do interviews on Stephen Age World and seeing 565 00:29:47,360 --> 00:29:49,640 Speaker 1: I've seen you know first of all, you're talented at it, 566 00:29:49,720 --> 00:29:52,200 Speaker 1: Let's get that out of the way. But seeing the 567 00:29:52,240 --> 00:29:55,560 Speaker 1: people that you don't know and going into genres that 568 00:29:55,600 --> 00:29:58,760 Speaker 1: you're not familiar with, and then familiarizing yourself with their 569 00:29:59,040 --> 00:30:01,640 Speaker 1: their work, an interview and them, and then seeing people 570 00:30:01,680 --> 00:30:04,240 Speaker 1: come back on your show. What pride do you take 571 00:30:04,320 --> 00:30:07,200 Speaker 1: in watching that growth of your show and seeing these 572 00:30:07,240 --> 00:30:09,880 Speaker 1: major stars come on your show which is on the 573 00:30:10,040 --> 00:30:13,200 Speaker 1: ESPN Plus flat platform, which is sports are driven, but 574 00:30:13,240 --> 00:30:15,600 Speaker 1: they're ignoring that. Coming to talk to stephen A. Smith, 575 00:30:16,360 --> 00:30:18,920 Speaker 1: I'm proud of it, but I'm even killed. And the 576 00:30:18,960 --> 00:30:21,560 Speaker 1: reason why I'm even killed, Like you know, they're sometimes 577 00:30:21,600 --> 00:30:24,800 Speaker 1: you My sisters and others would be like, man, you 578 00:30:24,800 --> 00:30:27,520 Speaker 1: should be far more excited. I mean, my god, the 579 00:30:27,640 --> 00:30:31,200 Speaker 1: numbers that you're bringing in, uh to ESPN Plus. Now, 580 00:30:31,600 --> 00:30:34,760 Speaker 1: what you've contributed to subscriptions, what you know, what you're 581 00:30:34,800 --> 00:30:37,800 Speaker 1: doing on linear television with first Take and sports and 582 00:30:37,800 --> 00:30:40,000 Speaker 1: the sports and it was stephen A and blah blah 583 00:30:40,040 --> 00:30:43,880 Speaker 1: blah blah blah. What people don't realize is that, you know, 584 00:30:44,000 --> 00:30:47,000 Speaker 1: I peel it from what Denzel Washington once told me. 585 00:30:47,440 --> 00:30:50,640 Speaker 1: You know, I asked him what was the best film 586 00:30:50,760 --> 00:30:56,360 Speaker 1: he ever made. His answer was the next one. He said. 587 00:30:56,400 --> 00:30:59,400 Speaker 1: The work that I do, he said, is the work 588 00:30:59,440 --> 00:31:03,400 Speaker 1: that I do. The finished product, and all the accolades 589 00:31:03,440 --> 00:31:06,479 Speaker 1: and adulation and celebration and everything else that comes with 590 00:31:06,520 --> 00:31:09,560 Speaker 1: it is for all of you all to do. He said. 591 00:31:09,640 --> 00:31:12,560 Speaker 1: This is my profession, and so what I do is 592 00:31:12,640 --> 00:31:15,160 Speaker 1: I'm about the business of doing the best work I 593 00:31:15,200 --> 00:31:19,840 Speaker 1: can possibly do. That's where he's at. For me, where 594 00:31:19,880 --> 00:31:23,280 Speaker 1: that elevates to another level is that he's a supreme 595 00:31:23,400 --> 00:31:27,920 Speaker 1: movie star. I'm in television. I'm not doing a show 596 00:31:29,200 --> 00:31:33,400 Speaker 1: twice a month, once a week. I'm doing it every day. 597 00:31:33,560 --> 00:31:36,480 Speaker 1: So I don't have the in my mind, I don't 598 00:31:36,480 --> 00:31:42,640 Speaker 1: have the luxury of sitting back and just enjoying. You 599 00:31:42,680 --> 00:31:45,960 Speaker 1: know what, everybody else is celebrating. Wow, it's a great show. 600 00:31:46,000 --> 00:31:48,280 Speaker 1: It's this is that All that says to me is 601 00:31:48,720 --> 00:31:51,720 Speaker 1: I gotta give it to them tomorrow too. I gotta 602 00:31:51,720 --> 00:31:53,959 Speaker 1: give it to them Friday, and then I gotta give 603 00:31:54,000 --> 00:31:57,160 Speaker 1: it to them next week Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. 604 00:31:57,280 --> 00:31:58,880 Speaker 1: In the week after that and the week after that 605 00:31:58,920 --> 00:32:01,520 Speaker 1: and the week after that. I focus on the task 606 00:32:01,560 --> 00:32:04,080 Speaker 1: at hand because I'm the one that has to perform. 607 00:32:04,120 --> 00:32:07,200 Speaker 1: You know I could sit up there. Rashan McDonald is 608 00:32:07,240 --> 00:32:12,600 Speaker 1: a brilliant business manager, incredible with ideas, very focused, you know, 609 00:32:13,040 --> 00:32:16,960 Speaker 1: meticulous with scheduling and the light. There's so many things 610 00:32:17,000 --> 00:32:20,760 Speaker 1: that you handle that make my life easier. My assistant 611 00:32:20,760 --> 00:32:23,960 Speaker 1: Samatra Hawkins does a sensational job of that as well 612 00:32:24,000 --> 00:32:27,280 Speaker 1: as well as as you well know, my sister is 613 00:32:27,360 --> 00:32:30,280 Speaker 1: like my sister. Calmen is like my ace. Even though 614 00:32:30,440 --> 00:32:34,040 Speaker 1: Linda and all And and Abigail were close to you know, 615 00:32:34,120 --> 00:32:36,600 Speaker 1: but I have I have all of these people around 616 00:32:36,640 --> 00:32:38,360 Speaker 1: me along with my boys that I grew up with, 617 00:32:38,400 --> 00:32:41,360 Speaker 1: my boys from college. I got an incredible inner circle. 618 00:32:41,440 --> 00:32:43,040 Speaker 1: Not to mention the people that I know in the 619 00:32:43,080 --> 00:32:46,000 Speaker 1: world of supports that I've learned to cultivate relationships with 620 00:32:46,080 --> 00:32:48,840 Speaker 1: and they become dear friends of mine that loved ones. 621 00:32:49,040 --> 00:32:52,040 Speaker 1: I'm surrounded by a lot of people and it's a great, 622 00:32:52,120 --> 00:32:55,760 Speaker 1: great thing to see. But in the end, I'm the 623 00:32:55,800 --> 00:32:57,560 Speaker 1: one that has to step in front of that camera 624 00:32:57,640 --> 00:33:00,760 Speaker 1: and that microphone and do the job. And I can't 625 00:33:00,840 --> 00:33:04,520 Speaker 1: let everybody else down and myself down by being caught 626 00:33:04,600 --> 00:33:08,640 Speaker 1: up and what I've done that I forget what I 627 00:33:08,680 --> 00:33:11,160 Speaker 1: have to do, and I think that. That's the reason 628 00:33:11,280 --> 00:33:15,480 Speaker 1: that my bosses support me so much, because they have 629 00:33:15,640 --> 00:33:19,160 Speaker 1: to think that way too. ESPN is the world wide leader. 630 00:33:19,560 --> 00:33:22,800 Speaker 1: They they're they're the behemoth. They can't walk around saying 631 00:33:22,960 --> 00:33:25,080 Speaker 1: we're the behemans, we're the world wide leader, so we 632 00:33:25,080 --> 00:33:27,440 Speaker 1: don't have to do anything. They have to come to 633 00:33:27,480 --> 00:33:31,000 Speaker 1: work every day striving to live up to a standard 634 00:33:31,320 --> 00:33:34,560 Speaker 1: that they've set, and the people that they in trust 635 00:33:34,880 --> 00:33:37,680 Speaker 1: has to have the same mentality as well. And so 636 00:33:37,720 --> 00:33:39,960 Speaker 1: what I try to do is to make sure that 637 00:33:40,000 --> 00:33:43,280 Speaker 1: I'm I prove that I'm trustworthy when they pay me 638 00:33:43,760 --> 00:33:47,240 Speaker 1: this latest contract and we agree to it. That contract 639 00:33:47,360 --> 00:33:53,120 Speaker 1: is through June of five. They have they essentially said, 640 00:33:53,840 --> 00:33:57,719 Speaker 1: we trust that what you gave us to earn this 641 00:33:57,840 --> 00:34:00,400 Speaker 1: contract here, you're going to continue to get of us 642 00:34:00,760 --> 00:34:03,680 Speaker 1: for years to come. And it's my job to make 643 00:34:03,680 --> 00:34:06,960 Speaker 1: sure I don't let them down by making them out 644 00:34:06,960 --> 00:34:09,879 Speaker 1: to be lives. That's the approach that I have. That's 645 00:34:09,920 --> 00:34:12,480 Speaker 1: how I focus um and that's how I go about 646 00:34:12,480 --> 00:34:15,120 Speaker 1: doing my job all the time. Stavin A thank you 647 00:34:15,120 --> 00:34:18,600 Speaker 1: for coming on Money Making Conversation. I appreciate you. Thank you, 648 00:34:18,640 --> 00:34:20,640 Speaker 1: bro Cool. If you want to hear or see any 649 00:34:20,640 --> 00:34:22,920 Speaker 1: of my interviews, please go to Money Making Conversation dot 650 00:34:23,000 --> 00:34:29,360 Speaker 1: com or my YouTube channel. I'm Rashan McDonald. 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Get it right visits n h S 667 00:35:34,080 --> 00:35:37,520 Speaker 1: a dot gov slash The Right Seat brought to you 668 00:35:37,560 --> 00:35:40,319 Speaker 1: by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the AD 669 00:35:40,360 --> 00:35:40,720 Speaker 1: Council