1 00:00:02,800 --> 00:00:06,760 Speaker 1: Hey guys, welcome to I've never said this before with 2 00:00:06,960 --> 00:00:11,360 Speaker 1: me Tommy di Dario. Today's guest is actress and New 3 00:00:11,440 --> 00:00:16,720 Speaker 1: York Times best selling author Hillary Burton Morgan. Hillary is 4 00:00:16,840 --> 00:00:19,880 Speaker 1: best known for playing Peyton Sawyer on One Tree Hill 5 00:00:20,079 --> 00:00:23,680 Speaker 1: and Sarah Ellis in White Collar. She's also a former 6 00:00:23,800 --> 00:00:28,440 Speaker 1: VJ of MTV's Total Request Live aka TRL. Yes, my 7 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:32,000 Speaker 1: millennials listening, I know you know TRL very well. But 8 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:35,839 Speaker 1: something that Hillary is most proud of, and rightfully so, 9 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:41,040 Speaker 1: because ah it is absolutely fantastic. It's her second book, 10 00:00:41,159 --> 00:00:46,640 Speaker 1: called Grimoire Girl, a Memoir of Magic and Mischief. This 11 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:49,680 Speaker 1: is a book for anyone who wants to create a 12 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:55,279 Speaker 1: more meaningful existence. Now. Since childhood, Hillary has felt a 13 00:00:55,520 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 1: calling to record and keep and catalog life in all 14 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 1: all of its strange wonder Yeah, it was a whimsical 15 00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:06,720 Speaker 1: habit with really no clear goal at the time. But 16 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:10,760 Speaker 1: then she became a mother and the importance of all 17 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:14,399 Speaker 1: of that collecting, well, it just snapped into focus. She 18 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:17,840 Speaker 1: realized that over all of those years she was crafting 19 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:21,840 Speaker 1: a grimoire. Now, this is Hillary's most intimate book yet, 20 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:23,960 Speaker 1: where she shows us how we too can look at 21 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:27,120 Speaker 1: the elements of our lives and collect the pieces into 22 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 1: a tangible collection of a lifetime of learning. How beautiful 23 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:34,080 Speaker 1: is that? There is so much heart and soul in 24 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:38,560 Speaker 1: this book, and of course so much magic. Oh I 25 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:40,960 Speaker 1: could have talked to Hillary for five more hours. You 26 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:43,399 Speaker 1: know when you meet someone and you just connect right, 27 00:01:43,480 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 1: almost as though you've known each other forever. Well, that's 28 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:49,920 Speaker 1: how this felt. So get a warm beverage, cozy up 29 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:52,560 Speaker 1: with the blanket, and let's see if today we can 30 00:01:52,600 --> 00:02:00,240 Speaker 1: get Hillary to say something that she's never said before. Hill, 31 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:01,919 Speaker 1: How are you my friend? 32 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:05,960 Speaker 2: I mean, I'm trying to behave myself, which is always 33 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 2: an adventure. 34 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 1: Well do we have to behave ourselves? You know? 35 00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:12,119 Speaker 2: It's back to school, which always makes me feel kind 36 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:14,520 Speaker 2: of frisky because it's like, I don't know, it's a 37 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:16,520 Speaker 2: new beginning. It's like who am I going to be 38 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:17,440 Speaker 2: this year? I don't know. 39 00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:20,079 Speaker 1: Oh, I like that a new beginning. Are you happy 40 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:22,160 Speaker 1: it's back to school? Does mama need a little break? 41 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 2: Well? No, But I was that kid that like loved 42 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:27,240 Speaker 2: back to school like I loved it, And I think 43 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:30,400 Speaker 2: that the bio rhythm of my life has always maintained 44 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:32,959 Speaker 2: back to school energy because it was what we would 45 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 2: go back to work on on the TV shows I 46 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 2: worked on, and you'd film through like the school year 47 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:41,120 Speaker 2: and then have summers off. So as an adult, I 48 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:44,280 Speaker 2: still feel like I'm in tenth grade and I'm just like, 49 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:49,400 Speaker 2: all right, here, we go to school shopping, get some 50 00:02:49,440 --> 00:02:50,359 Speaker 2: cool cardigans. 51 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:53,000 Speaker 1: Is anything better than that? I was the geek who's like, Mom, 52 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:55,840 Speaker 1: take me to Staples and let's get fun binders. 53 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 2: Like putting together binders with all the dividers and that 54 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:02,240 Speaker 2: shittle pencil bags. I live for it. 55 00:03:02,639 --> 00:03:05,639 Speaker 1: You live for it. This I'm telling you. So when 56 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:07,440 Speaker 1: I read your book, which we're about to get into, 57 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:10,480 Speaker 1: I finished it and I said to my husband, I 58 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:14,440 Speaker 1: feel like Hillary and I are like solely connected because 59 00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:18,160 Speaker 1: we view life in so many of the same ways. 60 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:19,960 Speaker 1: And I have so many I'm going to call them 61 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:22,400 Speaker 1: little quirks about life that we're going to talk about. 62 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:25,560 Speaker 1: And I just I love how you view, you know, 63 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:29,079 Speaker 1: everyday life. I think it's a magical thing. So ugh 64 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:35,240 Speaker 1: your book, Grimore Girl, creating an Inheritance of Magic and Mischief. 65 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:38,480 Speaker 1: You saw my tweet about it, and I. 66 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:41,000 Speaker 2: Meant that was so nice, thank you well. 67 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:44,240 Speaker 1: I meant every word it really brought me back to 68 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:47,680 Speaker 1: a place of my youth and childhood and things that 69 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 1: I haven't thought about in quite some time, or smells 70 00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:53,480 Speaker 1: I haven't smelled in some time. I mean, it was 71 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:57,360 Speaker 1: such a visual and reactive book for me, and it 72 00:03:57,440 --> 00:04:00,160 Speaker 1: reminds you to appreciate the simple things on life. There 73 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 1: so many beautiful themes in this book, and it really 74 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:05,640 Speaker 1: grounded me after reading it, and it was it was 75 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:10,120 Speaker 1: a transformative experience. And I'm not kidding it was it wasn't. 76 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:13,760 Speaker 1: I know. That sounds so maybe silly for people listening 77 00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:16,320 Speaker 1: thinking like, oh, how can a book be so that transformative? 78 00:04:16,320 --> 00:04:19,120 Speaker 1: But listen to this interview and you will understand. So 79 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:22,600 Speaker 1: what is a grim war Let's kick off by talking 80 00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:26,080 Speaker 1: about that, and what is this book about? 81 00:04:26,279 --> 00:04:29,000 Speaker 2: I mean, so, a grimoire is a book of knowledge 82 00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:34,800 Speaker 2: that was historically kept, usually by women who would put 83 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:39,840 Speaker 2: their recipes in there, any plant knowledge they had, any 84 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:43,840 Speaker 2: kind of religious knowledge that they wanted to accumulate. It 85 00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:47,479 Speaker 2: was really a place to keep the tidbits of information 86 00:04:48,279 --> 00:04:51,680 Speaker 2: that would keep you alive. And as we know, through 87 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:54,560 Speaker 2: some of our darker history, a lot of women were 88 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:58,279 Speaker 2: persecuted for keeping things like this because it was indicative 89 00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:03,479 Speaker 2: of witchcraft. You know, women who retained knowledge were vilified 90 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:06,960 Speaker 2: in a lot of situations. And so to keep a 91 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:10,080 Speaker 2: grimoire today and to be kind of out in the 92 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:13,440 Speaker 2: open about it is a bit of a rebellion and 93 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:17,440 Speaker 2: a testament to never going backwards to those dark ages. 94 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:21,200 Speaker 2: And for me, I didn't even realize that I was 95 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:25,960 Speaker 2: keeping grimoires my entire life. I started journaling as a 96 00:05:26,040 --> 00:05:28,280 Speaker 2: child just because it's like an activity they make you 97 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:31,239 Speaker 2: do in second grade, right where you're like my favorite 98 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:35,920 Speaker 2: color is And I found probably the first grimoire I 99 00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:38,800 Speaker 2: ever ever worked on in first grade, and it was 100 00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:42,120 Speaker 2: just a book of things that I like, And in it, 101 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:46,040 Speaker 2: I wrote that my favorite color was black, that I 102 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:50,360 Speaker 2: loved the doors, and that I loved witches in October. 103 00:05:50,839 --> 00:05:53,120 Speaker 2: And it was startling for me to see that as 104 00:05:53,160 --> 00:05:56,560 Speaker 2: an adult because I was like, yeah, that all holds up. 105 00:05:57,040 --> 00:06:00,240 Speaker 2: I have not changed since I was six years old. Yeah, 106 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:03,000 Speaker 2: this book was really just about encouraging other people to 107 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:07,880 Speaker 2: speak their truths and record their truths so that they 108 00:06:07,960 --> 00:06:10,120 Speaker 2: can celebrate their own evolution. 109 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:13,919 Speaker 1: Wow, and you certainly do that throughout this book. I 110 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:16,839 Speaker 1: also love how you say the word I'm so Jersey Italian. 111 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:21,920 Speaker 1: I'm like Grimoire, like, yeah, but you're so elegant. And 112 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:27,560 Speaker 1: how you say it, no, baby, we say it. It's 113 00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:30,680 Speaker 1: way prettier than how I say it. You have so 114 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:32,440 Speaker 1: many quotes in this book that I love. I wrote 115 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:34,480 Speaker 1: a few down and right in the beginning you say 116 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:37,960 Speaker 1: that this is a book about living so hard and 117 00:06:38,120 --> 00:06:41,640 Speaker 1: with so much intention that your people see the shooting 118 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:44,760 Speaker 1: star in you let's burn bright. 119 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:50,200 Speaker 2: Oh thanks, Yeah, I mean that was specifically in regard 120 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 2: to uh. I saw shooting stars for the first time 121 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:57,760 Speaker 2: ever in my life and then lost a couple people 122 00:06:57,920 --> 00:07:01,120 Speaker 2: rapidly back to back, and and you know, there's a 123 00:07:01,120 --> 00:07:04,320 Speaker 2: lot of talk about how we are all made of stardust, 124 00:07:04,360 --> 00:07:07,560 Speaker 2: about like what makes up a human body and is 125 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:11,120 Speaker 2: it cosmic and is it the product of stars? And 126 00:07:12,240 --> 00:07:15,680 Speaker 2: I like this idea that energy is everlasting. I like 127 00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:20,080 Speaker 2: this idea that matter is ever evolving. And so the 128 00:07:20,120 --> 00:07:25,240 Speaker 2: marriage of science and mythology and just sensitivity, just like 129 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:30,000 Speaker 2: human emotion. I think factoring that in makes all the 130 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:32,680 Speaker 2: other disciplines much more palatable and enjoyable. 131 00:07:32,920 --> 00:07:35,160 Speaker 1: Yeah. I couldn't agree more. And I think that this 132 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:38,880 Speaker 1: is a book that's very much about creating a meaningful existence, 133 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:43,080 Speaker 1: and that's a lesson that I think is often lost 134 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:45,559 Speaker 1: along the way because we get so wrapped up in 135 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:50,240 Speaker 1: everyday things and sometimes admittedly material things, and you know, 136 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:52,600 Speaker 1: we lose that focus. And I think that you bringing 137 00:07:52,640 --> 00:07:54,520 Speaker 1: that message to the forefront is so important. 138 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:59,040 Speaker 2: Well thanks. I mean, look, I think working at TRL 139 00:07:59,320 --> 00:08:03,760 Speaker 2: was probably a very formative experience for me because as 140 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:06,400 Speaker 2: a young person, as a teenager, I got to see 141 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:09,440 Speaker 2: every single person who is at the top of their game, 142 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:13,640 Speaker 2: right whether it was athletes or musicians or actors or 143 00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:18,200 Speaker 2: olympians like whatever, they all came through that funnel. And 144 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:21,520 Speaker 2: when the cameras are not rolling, you get a much 145 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:27,480 Speaker 2: better sense of what's real and seeing like behind great Oz, 146 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:30,120 Speaker 2: you know, I got to see the man behind the curtain, 147 00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:33,520 Speaker 2: and the idea that any accomplishment was going to make 148 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:38,199 Speaker 2: you feel fulfilled was immediately dashed. You know, my childhood 149 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:43,080 Speaker 2: hopes were destroyed on the rocks of TRL, because I 150 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:46,520 Speaker 2: knew that happiness and fulfillment really had to come from 151 00:08:46,520 --> 00:08:50,600 Speaker 2: something different, that success was not going to be the 152 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:51,400 Speaker 2: be all, end all. 153 00:08:51,679 --> 00:08:54,600 Speaker 1: And this is such a size tangent, but I work 154 00:08:54,640 --> 00:08:57,280 Speaker 1: on Extra the entertainment news show, and I interview a 155 00:08:57,280 --> 00:08:59,080 Speaker 1: lot of people like you did that TRL, and I 156 00:08:59,080 --> 00:09:02,080 Speaker 1: see the same theme and it makes you step back 157 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:04,480 Speaker 1: and think, wow, like I love what I do, but 158 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:06,760 Speaker 1: I can't let that solely define me. There has to 159 00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:08,640 Speaker 1: be other things that fuel me and spark me and 160 00:09:08,679 --> 00:09:11,640 Speaker 1: interest me and excite me. And I'm all about the connection, 161 00:09:11,840 --> 00:09:14,280 Speaker 1: real connection, and I gather you very much are too. 162 00:09:14,679 --> 00:09:17,000 Speaker 2: The other thing is that it becomes kind of humiliating 163 00:09:17,040 --> 00:09:19,920 Speaker 2: that the thing you place so much importance on, you know, 164 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:22,920 Speaker 2: like TRL, which was the biggest show in the world 165 00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:26,880 Speaker 2: for a minute there. My son's friends have no idea 166 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:29,760 Speaker 2: what that is. They have no idea what MTV is. 167 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:34,319 Speaker 2: They've never heard the term VJ before. And so these 168 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:39,440 Speaker 2: things that we build our identities on are ephemeral. They're 169 00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:42,959 Speaker 2: not forever. And so finding the things in yourself that 170 00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:46,200 Speaker 2: will go on, the mischief in you, that's something you 171 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:48,880 Speaker 2: can retain as like one hundred year old person sitting 172 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:51,760 Speaker 2: in a rocking chair. When you keep your mischief, you 173 00:09:51,880 --> 00:09:52,760 Speaker 2: keep your identity. 174 00:09:53,120 --> 00:09:55,920 Speaker 1: Yes, oh my god, say that again. 175 00:09:56,280 --> 00:09:59,079 Speaker 2: Yeah, when you keep your mischief, you keep your identity. 176 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:01,040 Speaker 2: To hold on to that. 177 00:10:01,559 --> 00:10:03,400 Speaker 1: I love that so much. All right, so let's get 178 00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:06,200 Speaker 1: back to creating a grim ware. How do we go 179 00:10:06,280 --> 00:10:08,000 Speaker 1: about that? For those listening who said, all right, I 180 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:09,840 Speaker 1: want to start getting my feet wet with this, what 181 00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:10,280 Speaker 1: do we do? 182 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:13,280 Speaker 2: Okay? So you can start off really, really small. You 183 00:10:13,320 --> 00:10:16,160 Speaker 2: can start off with a spiral notebook if that's what 184 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:18,440 Speaker 2: you have at your disposal. You can grab steal some 185 00:10:18,559 --> 00:10:22,480 Speaker 2: printer paper from work, you know, keep it really simple. 186 00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:27,360 Speaker 2: Try to write down a couple interesting tidbits that happen 187 00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:31,440 Speaker 2: each day, whether it's something funny or something totally weird. 188 00:10:32,080 --> 00:10:36,199 Speaker 2: And then as you read other books, as you hear songs, 189 00:10:36,520 --> 00:10:40,760 Speaker 2: as you experience poetry, or experience any kind of beauty 190 00:10:40,800 --> 00:10:44,800 Speaker 2: in the world, record those things, because we all know 191 00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:48,800 Speaker 2: inevitably in this life cycle we will go through lows. 192 00:10:49,440 --> 00:10:52,080 Speaker 2: And when you have this little nostalgic tool with you, 193 00:10:52,200 --> 00:10:56,240 Speaker 2: this little grimoire, you're able to revisit the highs in 194 00:10:56,280 --> 00:10:58,840 Speaker 2: the midst of the dark lows, and it becomes a 195 00:10:58,880 --> 00:11:02,480 Speaker 2: really important tool just for your headspace. You know, we 196 00:11:02,640 --> 00:11:05,640 Speaker 2: all did it during the pandemic we were locked in. 197 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:08,240 Speaker 2: There was a lot of depression, there was a lot 198 00:11:08,280 --> 00:11:11,960 Speaker 2: of isolation, and people resorted to going back through old 199 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:14,800 Speaker 2: photo albums or watching the old TV shows that were 200 00:11:14,800 --> 00:11:18,400 Speaker 2: comfort TV shows, and so providing yourself with a tool 201 00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:20,640 Speaker 2: like that's really important. And then if you want to 202 00:11:20,679 --> 00:11:24,960 Speaker 2: get fancy an artsy fartsy, I like using sketch books 203 00:11:25,080 --> 00:11:27,920 Speaker 2: because they don't have any lines and you can just 204 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:31,520 Speaker 2: doodle all around the things that you're writing. If you 205 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:33,720 Speaker 2: don't know the name of a plant that you see 206 00:11:33,720 --> 00:11:36,000 Speaker 2: that you like, just draw a picture of it and 207 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:39,000 Speaker 2: you can figure it out later. The lack of lines 208 00:11:39,080 --> 00:11:43,240 Speaker 2: gives you more freedom to explore and express yourself. And 209 00:11:43,280 --> 00:11:47,520 Speaker 2: then as you gradually grow as a Grimoire keeper, you 210 00:11:47,559 --> 00:11:51,840 Speaker 2: can get the leather bound notebooks. Oh honey, listen, if 211 00:11:51,880 --> 00:11:54,520 Speaker 2: you want to go to a renaissance fair, that's happening 212 00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:57,360 Speaker 2: right now in New York. It's in Duxedo. They have 213 00:11:57,559 --> 00:12:01,160 Speaker 2: boos and boots and boost full of bejeweled grimoire. You know, 214 00:12:02,040 --> 00:12:04,360 Speaker 2: depending on how much you want to commit to it, 215 00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:07,400 Speaker 2: there are resources for every commitment level. 216 00:12:07,720 --> 00:12:10,240 Speaker 1: And you say use pen not pencil. 217 00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:14,880 Speaker 2: Right totally. Something I found as a teenage Grimore keeper 218 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:18,600 Speaker 2: is that I used to go back and erase stuff 219 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:21,400 Speaker 2: because you know, you'd change your mind about who you 220 00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:23,400 Speaker 2: had to crush on, or you would change your mind 221 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:26,440 Speaker 2: about a feeling and then go back two years later 222 00:12:26,679 --> 00:12:30,120 Speaker 2: and try to rewrite history. And I think it's very 223 00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:34,120 Speaker 2: important to honor where you are at any given time 224 00:12:34,440 --> 00:12:37,040 Speaker 2: and keep it. And you can certainly grow out of 225 00:12:37,080 --> 00:12:40,240 Speaker 2: those faces, but keep it as a memory, because your 226 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:42,640 Speaker 2: journey is something you should be proud of, not something 227 00:12:42,679 --> 00:12:43,880 Speaker 2: that you should be trying to erase. 228 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:46,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, and we have to celebrate all those moments of 229 00:12:46,360 --> 00:12:47,360 Speaker 1: our lives, even. 230 00:12:47,280 --> 00:12:50,360 Speaker 2: If it weren't the best, wacky ones. Yeah, we've all 231 00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:51,880 Speaker 2: had them, the tacky ones. 232 00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:54,160 Speaker 1: Ooh. I mean there are things I wish I could erase, 233 00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:57,160 Speaker 1: but they're there, They're there forever. Yes, they are well. 234 00:12:57,200 --> 00:12:59,200 Speaker 1: And I love that you celebrate all of the moments 235 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:01,840 Speaker 1: to good in the bad and something else you celebrate 236 00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:04,000 Speaker 1: which I so connected with. And I just think this 237 00:13:04,040 --> 00:13:05,880 Speaker 1: is a really fun thing to bring up, is this 238 00:13:05,920 --> 00:13:10,160 Speaker 1: idea of creating your own personal holidays, And I love 239 00:13:10,200 --> 00:13:12,679 Speaker 1: that I've been doing that my whole life. Yesterday, my 240 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:15,640 Speaker 1: husband and I we celebrated our eight year proposal versary. 241 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:20,120 Speaker 1: All celebrate to well. So we got engaged in Paris 242 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:23,080 Speaker 1: eight years ago and yesterday. We ended up going for 243 00:13:23,160 --> 00:13:25,200 Speaker 1: like a nice dinner with some friends and making it 244 00:13:25,240 --> 00:13:28,080 Speaker 1: a fun little thing. But during the pandemic, when we 245 00:13:28,080 --> 00:13:31,280 Speaker 1: were all under lockdown, I turned our little dining area 246 00:13:31,360 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 1: into a Parisian cafe. Ah See, you have to do 247 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:36,600 Speaker 1: things like that to celebrate. So why do you love 248 00:13:36,640 --> 00:13:39,760 Speaker 1: celebrating these little personal holidays And what's one for you 249 00:13:39,960 --> 00:13:41,160 Speaker 1: that you love to celebrate. 250 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:45,079 Speaker 2: We're your instruction followers right from the time that we're 251 00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:47,360 Speaker 2: in elementary school. You go into school and you're there 252 00:13:47,480 --> 00:13:49,960 Speaker 2: when the bell rings, and you say the pledge of allegiance, 253 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:52,240 Speaker 2: and you do your homework, and you follow all the rules, 254 00:13:52,280 --> 00:13:54,760 Speaker 2: and you celebrate the holidays that you're told to celebrate, 255 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:57,800 Speaker 2: and you celebrate them how you are told to celebrate. 256 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:02,000 Speaker 2: You know, you make the little pine own turkey for Thanksgiving, 257 00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:05,119 Speaker 2: and you know you do the stocking stuffers for Christmas. 258 00:14:05,640 --> 00:14:09,600 Speaker 2: Inventing your own holiday gives you ownership of the things 259 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:15,200 Speaker 2: that bring you joy personally, and it allows you to 260 00:14:15,360 --> 00:14:19,240 Speaker 2: really make a decision about what is celebratory in your life. 261 00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:21,600 Speaker 2: So I feel like a lot of people have gotten 262 00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:25,320 Speaker 2: frustrated with Christmas and the holidays in the winter because 263 00:14:25,720 --> 00:14:30,040 Speaker 2: they've become so like financially oriented. You're buying presents, you're 264 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:35,000 Speaker 2: spending money on decorations, you're having to outdo travel every year. 265 00:14:35,880 --> 00:14:41,040 Speaker 2: A celebration that you invent yourself can be devoid of 266 00:14:41,080 --> 00:14:43,840 Speaker 2: all of that. You know, my husband and I celebrate 267 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:47,680 Speaker 2: Timmy Nolan Day because we were introduced on a blind 268 00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:51,560 Speaker 2: date at a Irish pub called Timmy Nolan's, which is 269 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:55,960 Speaker 2: in California. And I wasn't necessarily someone that hung out 270 00:14:55,960 --> 00:14:58,440 Speaker 2: in a lot of Irish pubs, but this dude in 271 00:14:58,600 --> 00:15:02,840 Speaker 2: all leather who's very like intimidating. It was like, are 272 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:04,680 Speaker 2: we doing Irish car bombs? I don't think we're allowed 273 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:06,040 Speaker 2: to call them that anymore, but you know what. 274 00:15:06,040 --> 00:15:07,800 Speaker 1: We're talking about, Well, you. 275 00:15:07,800 --> 00:15:10,600 Speaker 2: Drop like Bailey's into a pint of guinness and then 276 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:13,200 Speaker 2: you drink the whole thing in like two seconds. They're horrible. 277 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:16,240 Speaker 2: It's like eating a loaf of bread. I was not 278 00:15:16,320 --> 00:15:20,240 Speaker 2: going to let this man outdo me, and it turned 279 00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:23,920 Speaker 2: into our personal holiday where we don't celebrate Saint Patrick's Day. 280 00:15:23,920 --> 00:15:28,000 Speaker 2: We decorate with shamrocks and Irish apparel and things for 281 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:32,960 Speaker 2: Timmy Nolan Day, which is May nights and Yeah, I 282 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:35,640 Speaker 2: value that holiday. I like that my children know what 283 00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:39,240 Speaker 2: Timmy Nolan Day is and it doesn't cost any money, 284 00:15:39,560 --> 00:15:43,640 Speaker 2: It isn't on anyone else's calendar. It's become an intimate 285 00:15:43,840 --> 00:15:46,560 Speaker 2: family story that we get to tell over and over 286 00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:48,920 Speaker 2: again every year, so that it holds its value. 287 00:15:49,760 --> 00:15:51,560 Speaker 1: I love that, because you know what, we need to 288 00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:53,520 Speaker 1: celebrate more of the fun moments in life. 289 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:58,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean more are our friend aversaries, you know, yeah, 290 00:15:58,280 --> 00:16:01,200 Speaker 2: what day did you meet your best friend? What day 291 00:16:01,640 --> 00:16:05,640 Speaker 2: did you move into your house? That's your sanctuary. Those 292 00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:08,280 Speaker 2: are the kinds of things that we need to personally 293 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:11,360 Speaker 2: celebrate so that it's not a competition with other people 294 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:14,160 Speaker 2: as to who had the best Fourth of July fireworks. 295 00:16:14,520 --> 00:16:17,280 Speaker 2: I think having these intimate things is really important. 296 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:25,280 Speaker 1: I couldn't agree more with you on that. And another 297 00:16:25,360 --> 00:16:29,200 Speaker 1: thing that I felt so connected to you on is 298 00:16:29,240 --> 00:16:33,160 Speaker 1: your idea and the meaning behind home and home seems 299 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:35,200 Speaker 1: to be a very big theme throughout your life and 300 00:16:35,200 --> 00:16:37,760 Speaker 1: throughout this book. And I know you wrote that you 301 00:16:37,800 --> 00:16:40,600 Speaker 1: were longing for your home for Ithaca for such a 302 00:16:40,640 --> 00:16:43,440 Speaker 1: long time, and you write about going back there and 303 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:47,400 Speaker 1: seeing that again and what's changed, what hasn't changed? And 304 00:16:47,440 --> 00:16:49,440 Speaker 1: I know that's something that's come up for you a lot, 305 00:16:49,480 --> 00:16:52,360 Speaker 1: and in my thirty seven years on this earth, I'm 306 00:16:52,400 --> 00:16:54,720 Speaker 1: discovering that it's come up for me a lot. So 307 00:16:54,960 --> 00:16:58,560 Speaker 1: why is there such a focus on that word, on 308 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:00,520 Speaker 1: that theme in your life? Life Home? 309 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:03,360 Speaker 2: Well, the book is split up into three different sections. 310 00:17:03,400 --> 00:17:05,960 Speaker 2: There's the Home of my childhood, where I was born 311 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:08,480 Speaker 2: and I was raised, and then there is the Home 312 00:17:08,520 --> 00:17:11,760 Speaker 2: of my young adulthood, which deals a lot with Wilmington, 313 00:17:11,800 --> 00:17:15,439 Speaker 2: North Carolina. And then there is the home that I 314 00:17:15,520 --> 00:17:18,680 Speaker 2: have found for myself and my husband and our children 315 00:17:18,800 --> 00:17:21,840 Speaker 2: here in the Hudson Valley. You know, it's worth noting 316 00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:25,920 Speaker 2: that for many, many, many generations, you just live where 317 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:29,600 Speaker 2: you were born. And it's not until recent history that 318 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:34,560 Speaker 2: people have branched out and moved on, and the idea 319 00:17:34,560 --> 00:17:40,040 Speaker 2: of reinvention has become very popularized. You know, you leave 320 00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:42,520 Speaker 2: to go away for college, and then after college, you 321 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:45,000 Speaker 2: leave to go away and you find your first job, 322 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:47,640 Speaker 2: and then when you find your partner, you two go 323 00:17:47,760 --> 00:17:51,560 Speaker 2: and you move away together. And I have a glamorized 324 00:17:51,640 --> 00:17:54,320 Speaker 2: idea of what it means to live in the town 325 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:57,440 Speaker 2: you were born in. I find the people that grew 326 00:17:57,520 --> 00:17:59,680 Speaker 2: up here and went to the schools that my son 327 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:03,719 Speaker 2: and his friends go to, and I'm like, tell me everything. 328 00:18:03,840 --> 00:18:06,080 Speaker 2: I want to know what shitty bowling nelly you guys 329 00:18:06,119 --> 00:18:08,119 Speaker 2: hung out at. I want to know, like where the 330 00:18:08,240 --> 00:18:11,520 Speaker 2: Kissing Hill is. I want to know, like where the 331 00:18:11,600 --> 00:18:14,359 Speaker 2: kids went to like go drink without their parents. Like 332 00:18:14,359 --> 00:18:16,800 Speaker 2: I want to know all the folklore of this place, 333 00:18:17,359 --> 00:18:20,439 Speaker 2: because when I was growing up, I thought those places 334 00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:24,960 Speaker 2: would live forever. And when I was in high school, 335 00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:29,199 Speaker 2: AOL moved its headquarters to my little tiny town of 336 00:18:29,240 --> 00:18:31,840 Speaker 2: like nine thousand people, and all of a sudden, there 337 00:18:31,880 --> 00:18:35,520 Speaker 2: was a population boom, there was a building boom, and 338 00:18:35,560 --> 00:18:39,800 Speaker 2: the small town that I thought would exist forever was gone. 339 00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:43,960 Speaker 2: And so I've spent the rest of my life trying 340 00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:48,080 Speaker 2: to either recreate it or patch together bits and pieces 341 00:18:48,119 --> 00:18:51,840 Speaker 2: of it so that I don't feel adrift. You know, 342 00:18:52,040 --> 00:18:55,159 Speaker 2: I think it's really important that you have those touchstones 343 00:18:55,560 --> 00:18:58,840 Speaker 2: to remind you of who you are, so again you 344 00:18:58,840 --> 00:19:00,400 Speaker 2: can honor the journey. 345 00:19:00,320 --> 00:19:04,040 Speaker 1: And today do you feel like you've created the ideal 346 00:19:04,080 --> 00:19:05,840 Speaker 1: and perfect home for you and your family. 347 00:19:06,240 --> 00:19:10,959 Speaker 2: So last winter, my son was having trouble the seventh 348 00:19:10,960 --> 00:19:14,160 Speaker 2: grade blues we're gonna call them that. We're like, your 349 00:19:14,200 --> 00:19:17,600 Speaker 2: body's changing and your hormones are changing, and your teachers 350 00:19:17,640 --> 00:19:20,560 Speaker 2: can be kind of mean, and there are bullies at school, 351 00:19:20,640 --> 00:19:23,159 Speaker 2: and it was just a perfect storm of awful things. 352 00:19:23,560 --> 00:19:27,480 Speaker 2: And so I asked another parent. I was like, Hey, 353 00:19:27,560 --> 00:19:29,879 Speaker 2: what's going on at the school. And they were like, 354 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:34,199 Speaker 2: funny you should ask. We need a PTSO rep for 355 00:19:34,280 --> 00:19:36,800 Speaker 2: the middle school and it's you. And I was like, 356 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:41,280 Speaker 2: oh god, you know, I'm pretty busy busy. They're like, 357 00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:44,080 Speaker 2: it's you, babe. We're going to have an election next week. 358 00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:50,120 Speaker 2: It's you. And so, rather than make snide jokes about it, 359 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:53,520 Speaker 2: you know, like PTA PTSO moms are usually the butt 360 00:19:53,560 --> 00:19:56,960 Speaker 2: of a lot of jokes, I decided to just commit 361 00:19:57,280 --> 00:20:00,439 Speaker 2: a whole hog to this idea that to be the 362 00:20:00,440 --> 00:20:05,479 Speaker 2: PTA Lady. And so just on Thursday and Friday, we 363 00:20:05,520 --> 00:20:08,240 Speaker 2: head back to school night Thursday night, which was a 364 00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:13,440 Speaker 2: huge success, and then we had this town picnic on 365 00:20:13,560 --> 00:20:16,359 Speaker 2: Friday where all three grade levels, it was like, the 366 00:20:16,440 --> 00:20:19,200 Speaker 2: high school, the middle school, and the elementary school all 367 00:20:19,240 --> 00:20:22,560 Speaker 2: came together at this playground in our town. And my 368 00:20:22,720 --> 00:20:26,080 Speaker 2: husband showed up and manned the grill and cooked five 369 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:29,480 Speaker 2: hundred burgers and three hundred hot dogs for the entire town. 370 00:20:30,200 --> 00:20:33,520 Speaker 2: And I got to give out candy from our candy 371 00:20:33,560 --> 00:20:39,600 Speaker 2: store to all the kids. And it felt so deliciously dorky, 372 00:20:39,680 --> 00:20:41,400 Speaker 2: right like if you saw it in a movie, you'd 373 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:46,119 Speaker 2: be like little heavy handed guys, like the your Nerds. 374 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:49,080 Speaker 2: But just seeing all these kids like run around and 375 00:20:49,119 --> 00:20:52,200 Speaker 2: squeal and have fun, and the big kids taking care 376 00:20:52,240 --> 00:20:54,240 Speaker 2: of the little kids, and the little kids just like 377 00:20:54,359 --> 00:20:58,000 Speaker 2: adoring the big kids, and all the parents interacting. That's 378 00:20:58,040 --> 00:21:01,000 Speaker 2: what I got to grow up with, and I was 379 00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:04,120 Speaker 2: very afraid I couldn't recreate it for my kids, and 380 00:21:04,200 --> 00:21:08,360 Speaker 2: so having that happen just on Friday was so awesome. 381 00:21:08,560 --> 00:21:10,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, those are the magical moments. They're not dorky. You 382 00:21:10,960 --> 00:21:13,359 Speaker 1: look around and you think, wow, I created this life 383 00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:15,639 Speaker 1: for myself and my family, and that's amazing. And you 384 00:21:15,680 --> 00:21:18,200 Speaker 1: seem to do that quite a bit based off your book. 385 00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:20,080 Speaker 1: Throughout your life, I love when you talked about your 386 00:21:20,119 --> 00:21:24,440 Speaker 1: beach house aka the Goth beach House. The Goth beach House. 387 00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:26,520 Speaker 1: I grew up at the Jersey Shore. I grew up 388 00:21:26,520 --> 00:21:28,880 Speaker 1: at the Jersey Shore. I love the beach. And there's 389 00:21:28,880 --> 00:21:31,600 Speaker 1: this one house on the boardwalk where you're walking by 390 00:21:31,640 --> 00:21:33,520 Speaker 1: and you know, there are all these beautiful beach homs 391 00:21:33,520 --> 00:21:36,280 Speaker 1: and whites and creams and Beiga's, and then you get 392 00:21:36,320 --> 00:21:38,679 Speaker 1: to this house and there's like dinosaurs in front of it, 393 00:21:38,760 --> 00:21:41,280 Speaker 1: and it looks like a jungle and it's dark, and 394 00:21:41,280 --> 00:21:44,200 Speaker 1: I'm always like, what is that story? And I thought 395 00:21:44,240 --> 00:21:46,399 Speaker 1: of you when you talk about the goth beach house. 396 00:21:47,000 --> 00:21:49,439 Speaker 2: I see it, man, Yeah, you just I like to 397 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:53,160 Speaker 2: be a sneak attack, you know, goth beach house. I've 398 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:56,720 Speaker 2: gotten a lot of grief for. But my kids love it. 399 00:21:56,920 --> 00:22:00,000 Speaker 2: I think it's so fun. And anytime we have people 400 00:22:00,040 --> 00:22:02,040 Speaker 2: that have to come in there and work, they're like, 401 00:22:02,320 --> 00:22:04,359 Speaker 2: you know, it's not as bad as I thought it 402 00:22:04,400 --> 00:22:08,879 Speaker 2: would be, Like, it's actually kind of chic. So yeah, 403 00:22:08,960 --> 00:22:11,600 Speaker 2: we've got a goth farmhouse and a goth beach house, 404 00:22:11,840 --> 00:22:14,600 Speaker 2: and what more could a girl want? 405 00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:16,560 Speaker 1: I don't know. I'm here for all of it. And 406 00:22:16,600 --> 00:22:18,800 Speaker 1: I know you're also burning lots of candles in all 407 00:22:18,840 --> 00:22:22,560 Speaker 1: of these houses. You talk about candle magic being your favorite. 408 00:22:22,600 --> 00:22:25,440 Speaker 1: I'm a big candle guy. What is it about candles 409 00:22:25,440 --> 00:22:27,720 Speaker 1: that you find so magical and whimsical? 410 00:22:28,160 --> 00:22:31,159 Speaker 2: I think because they're tangible. I talk about how like 411 00:22:31,280 --> 00:22:33,760 Speaker 2: fire magic and candle magic is the thing I'm most 412 00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:39,280 Speaker 2: drawn to because I like a physical action to take 413 00:22:39,320 --> 00:22:43,560 Speaker 2: place with my intention setting, or with my prayers or 414 00:22:43,600 --> 00:22:45,840 Speaker 2: with my spells. You know, you can call it whatever 415 00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:47,760 Speaker 2: you want to call it, but it's all the same thing. 416 00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:51,280 Speaker 2: If you are putting a desire out into the ether, 417 00:22:51,760 --> 00:22:55,679 Speaker 2: and you are putting gratitude out into the universe, and 418 00:22:56,440 --> 00:23:00,520 Speaker 2: you choose a deity to direct that at, having a 419 00:23:00,600 --> 00:23:04,359 Speaker 2: tangible thing just really helps you focus your energy. We 420 00:23:04,480 --> 00:23:07,080 Speaker 2: do it in church. We kneel when we pray in church. 421 00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:09,280 Speaker 2: I go to the Episcopal Church. 422 00:23:09,520 --> 00:23:10,360 Speaker 1: It's your ritual. 423 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:15,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's your ritual. And I like being able to 424 00:23:15,760 --> 00:23:18,280 Speaker 2: be done with something. So if you're burning a candle 425 00:23:18,359 --> 00:23:21,439 Speaker 2: down to nothing, then you can put the intention out 426 00:23:21,480 --> 00:23:24,080 Speaker 2: there and be done with it. You know. Talk about 427 00:23:24,119 --> 00:23:27,320 Speaker 2: like pin magic with candles, putting a pin in as 428 00:23:27,359 --> 00:23:29,840 Speaker 2: you make your intention and letting the flame burn down 429 00:23:29,880 --> 00:23:32,439 Speaker 2: to that pin to see if it drops, if it 430 00:23:32,480 --> 00:23:35,920 Speaker 2: falls out, or if it gets stuck. And that's a 431 00:23:35,960 --> 00:23:37,879 Speaker 2: good indication of whether or not your intention is going 432 00:23:37,920 --> 00:23:40,879 Speaker 2: to work out for you. So little things like that, 433 00:23:41,480 --> 00:23:44,600 Speaker 2: I think I've seen them work in real life. I 434 00:23:44,640 --> 00:23:46,520 Speaker 2: had a girlfriend come over and we wrote a bunch 435 00:23:46,560 --> 00:23:49,280 Speaker 2: of intentions on bay Leaves. I talk about that in 436 00:23:49,320 --> 00:23:51,640 Speaker 2: the book. And at the time none of her children 437 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:55,160 Speaker 2: were in relationships, but all she wanted was for her 438 00:23:55,160 --> 00:23:59,240 Speaker 2: family to grow. And within eighteen months two over children 439 00:23:59,320 --> 00:24:01,960 Speaker 2: were married and both had children on the way. 440 00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:02,440 Speaker 1: Wow. 441 00:24:02,440 --> 00:24:05,480 Speaker 2: And so she came like a double grandma super fast. 442 00:24:05,960 --> 00:24:08,359 Speaker 2: And maybe it is just putting that energy out there, 443 00:24:08,800 --> 00:24:11,119 Speaker 2: you know. I don't like to try to figure it out, 444 00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:14,080 Speaker 2: because that's part of the magic. Once you know how 445 00:24:14,080 --> 00:24:17,080 Speaker 2: the magic works, the show is not as entertaining anymore. 446 00:24:17,160 --> 00:24:19,840 Speaker 2: So surprise me. I like surprises. 447 00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:23,040 Speaker 1: That is so true. And for people listening, they might 448 00:24:23,080 --> 00:24:28,119 Speaker 1: be thinking, so is this manifesting? Is this gratitude? Is 449 00:24:28,200 --> 00:24:32,800 Speaker 1: this witchcraft? I mean, how would you describe your overall 450 00:24:32,960 --> 00:24:34,879 Speaker 1: beliefs and practices. 451 00:24:35,240 --> 00:24:38,439 Speaker 2: Honestly without any labels on it. I grew up in 452 00:24:38,560 --> 00:24:41,320 Speaker 2: the church. I grew up in an Evangelical Lutheran church, 453 00:24:41,720 --> 00:24:45,119 Speaker 2: and then we switched over to the Methodist church and 454 00:24:45,200 --> 00:24:47,400 Speaker 2: I was the girl that was there at least two, 455 00:24:47,520 --> 00:24:50,000 Speaker 2: if not three days a week. I mean, I'm real 456 00:24:50,040 --> 00:24:54,800 Speaker 2: good at Bible jeopardy. And studying Biblical history was something 457 00:24:54,840 --> 00:24:58,399 Speaker 2: that I did for fun as a kid because I 458 00:24:58,440 --> 00:25:00,480 Speaker 2: feel like there was a piece missing, And as I 459 00:25:00,520 --> 00:25:02,760 Speaker 2: got older, I was finally able to articulate that the 460 00:25:02,800 --> 00:25:07,120 Speaker 2: piece that was missing was the feminine right. So much 461 00:25:07,119 --> 00:25:09,400 Speaker 2: of what I was being taught was really male oriented 462 00:25:09,440 --> 00:25:12,680 Speaker 2: and male skewed and through a male lens, because the 463 00:25:12,800 --> 00:25:16,040 Speaker 2: King James version of the Bible was absolutely written to 464 00:25:16,080 --> 00:25:21,760 Speaker 2: control people, particularly women. King James had a notoriously horrible 465 00:25:21,800 --> 00:25:25,520 Speaker 2: relationship with his mother, and he is the person who 466 00:25:25,760 --> 00:25:28,320 Speaker 2: really kind of kicked off those witch hunts that we 467 00:25:28,560 --> 00:25:33,040 Speaker 2: like to judge from the safety of today's perspective. So 468 00:25:33,760 --> 00:25:37,080 Speaker 2: once I learned that there were parts of Biblical history 469 00:25:37,160 --> 00:25:39,879 Speaker 2: that I hadn't been taught, and there very much was 470 00:25:39,960 --> 00:25:44,679 Speaker 2: a divine feminine element to Christianity and faith, all these 471 00:25:44,720 --> 00:25:47,280 Speaker 2: other doors opened. You know. Then all of a sudden 472 00:25:47,280 --> 00:25:51,639 Speaker 2: it wasn't sacrilegious to question things or be curious. It 473 00:25:51,720 --> 00:25:56,880 Speaker 2: was actually an act of devotion to engage in one's curiosity. 474 00:25:57,320 --> 00:25:59,159 Speaker 1: Were you made to feel badly growing up if you 475 00:25:59,320 --> 00:26:00,280 Speaker 1: questioned some thing? 476 00:26:00,760 --> 00:26:04,120 Speaker 2: Dude? I remember there were certain movies that came out, 477 00:26:04,160 --> 00:26:06,879 Speaker 2: like remember when the Craft came out, of course, and 478 00:26:06,920 --> 00:26:09,560 Speaker 2: it was like, if you see that movie, then you're 479 00:26:09,560 --> 00:26:12,720 Speaker 2: a sinner, you know, Or like even when we were 480 00:26:12,720 --> 00:26:15,800 Speaker 2: on One Tree Hill, I remember when the Da Vinci 481 00:26:15,880 --> 00:26:19,200 Speaker 2: Code came out and there was this beautiful Catholic church 482 00:26:19,400 --> 00:26:20,959 Speaker 2: by my house and I was like, I'm gonna go 483 00:26:20,960 --> 00:26:25,040 Speaker 2: try it out one Sunday, and the entire sermon was 484 00:26:25,080 --> 00:26:26,960 Speaker 2: about how you were a sinner if you went and 485 00:26:27,000 --> 00:26:31,240 Speaker 2: you saw this movie. And that kind of control was 486 00:26:31,280 --> 00:26:33,800 Speaker 2: something that I was raised with. And so to throw 487 00:26:33,880 --> 00:26:39,359 Speaker 2: off those shackles and really engage in a pursuit of 488 00:26:39,440 --> 00:26:44,800 Speaker 2: curiosity and knowledge and history and just mythology. I think 489 00:26:44,840 --> 00:26:48,760 Speaker 2: mythology is so important because there are universal truths that 490 00:26:48,800 --> 00:26:52,520 Speaker 2: are hard for humans to accept, like death, like loss, 491 00:26:52,720 --> 00:26:56,280 Speaker 2: like betrayal, and if we can tell a story that 492 00:26:56,720 --> 00:26:59,120 Speaker 2: helps you understand that it happens to everyone and you're 493 00:26:59,119 --> 00:27:03,040 Speaker 2: not alone, I think that that's a really important quality 494 00:27:03,040 --> 00:27:06,440 Speaker 2: that humans have that maybe other species don't have. We 495 00:27:06,640 --> 00:27:08,480 Speaker 2: have been gifted with the art of storytelling. 496 00:27:08,640 --> 00:27:10,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, and I like how you touched upon the importance 497 00:27:10,920 --> 00:27:16,720 Speaker 1: of having women's voices being heard and accurately depicted throughout history, 498 00:27:16,760 --> 00:27:20,040 Speaker 1: which we all know that just wasn't the case, sadly, 499 00:27:20,440 --> 00:27:22,560 Speaker 1: and though God sometimes that has not changed, I guess 500 00:27:22,600 --> 00:27:25,520 Speaker 1: in today's day and age. But I like that you're 501 00:27:25,640 --> 00:27:28,800 Speaker 1: pulled to wanting to share and connect with women and 502 00:27:28,840 --> 00:27:32,640 Speaker 1: you talk about your coven. Right, And here's another quote 503 00:27:32,680 --> 00:27:34,880 Speaker 1: you wrote that I love so much. You wrote that, 504 00:27:35,160 --> 00:27:39,879 Speaker 1: throughout my life, I've been drawn to groups of magnetic, complicated, 505 00:27:40,160 --> 00:27:44,560 Speaker 1: bright creatures. They are my rider dies, my army, my squad. 506 00:27:44,880 --> 00:27:48,000 Speaker 1: You could also say they are my coven. So when 507 00:27:48,040 --> 00:27:50,480 Speaker 1: was the first time you realized you had a coven? 508 00:27:50,960 --> 00:27:53,800 Speaker 2: Yeah? I mean I grew up with a group where 509 00:27:53,800 --> 00:27:58,400 Speaker 2: we had named ourselves the Squatches, right, and we didn't 510 00:27:58,400 --> 00:28:01,000 Speaker 2: even realize it was a coven. It was our pack 511 00:28:01,359 --> 00:28:07,320 Speaker 2: of like fiercely female friends and we had been watching 512 00:28:07,440 --> 00:28:10,320 Speaker 2: like Miss America pageants. We were all like on the 513 00:28:10,400 --> 00:28:14,080 Speaker 2: cheerleading squad. I don't know. That whole ceremony was so 514 00:28:14,200 --> 00:28:16,720 Speaker 2: baffling to us, And so there was a mix of 515 00:28:16,880 --> 00:28:22,080 Speaker 2: awe but also like shitty teenage humor. And there was 516 00:28:22,160 --> 00:28:25,080 Speaker 2: just one girl that could not walk in those high 517 00:28:25,119 --> 00:28:29,680 Speaker 2: heels and they had her stomping across the stage for 518 00:28:29,800 --> 00:28:33,479 Speaker 2: Allsworth and we were rooting for her because she was 519 00:28:33,640 --> 00:28:36,600 Speaker 2: clearly the underdog, but she walked like Sasquatch and that 520 00:28:36,800 --> 00:28:41,280 Speaker 2: very famous video of him like sautering through woods and 521 00:28:41,320 --> 00:28:45,080 Speaker 2: we're like, yes, that's us. We're the Squatches. We're the 522 00:28:45,200 --> 00:28:48,640 Speaker 2: awkward girl trying to move across the stage. And so 523 00:28:48,720 --> 00:28:52,280 Speaker 2: that was my first coven. But it wasn't until I 524 00:28:52,320 --> 00:28:55,680 Speaker 2: worked on One Tree Hill that I made friends with 525 00:28:55,720 --> 00:28:59,360 Speaker 2: a couple older women who very much took me under 526 00:28:59,360 --> 00:29:02,640 Speaker 2: their wing a very toxic time in my life and 527 00:29:03,000 --> 00:29:08,840 Speaker 2: provided me with different perspectives and outlets for serenity and 528 00:29:08,960 --> 00:29:12,440 Speaker 2: just the wisdom that they'd accumulated. And they were the 529 00:29:12,480 --> 00:29:16,440 Speaker 2: first people to say out loud, this is our coven. 530 00:29:16,840 --> 00:29:19,239 Speaker 2: And I remember being very uncomfortable with it, you know, 531 00:29:19,320 --> 00:29:24,160 Speaker 2: my Christian upbringing was just still still there. Yeah, And 532 00:29:24,240 --> 00:29:26,520 Speaker 2: it took a minute for me to relax into it 533 00:29:26,560 --> 00:29:30,800 Speaker 2: and realize that this isn't dangerous, this isn't taboo, This 534 00:29:30,920 --> 00:29:34,080 Speaker 2: is actually probably the safest I've been in a very 535 00:29:34,120 --> 00:29:34,680 Speaker 2: long time. 536 00:29:35,000 --> 00:29:37,160 Speaker 1: What a nice feeling that must have been, right. 537 00:29:37,240 --> 00:29:40,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, the second I would step into their homes, I 538 00:29:40,520 --> 00:29:43,960 Speaker 2: knew I was totally safe, and that was a very 539 00:29:44,040 --> 00:29:46,000 Speaker 2: rare feeling for me during that time. 540 00:29:46,240 --> 00:29:48,920 Speaker 1: Wow, that's that's something I think we should all be 541 00:29:49,040 --> 00:29:51,760 Speaker 1: so lucky in life to find and to hold on 542 00:29:51,880 --> 00:29:55,240 Speaker 1: to it and treasure those relationships and those covens. I 543 00:29:55,240 --> 00:29:58,360 Speaker 1: think is truly magical. But you are somebody who creates 544 00:29:58,440 --> 00:30:00,960 Speaker 1: magic daily. It's very obvious from reading your book. You 545 00:30:01,000 --> 00:30:04,360 Speaker 1: find the moments and you create those moments. So how 546 00:30:04,400 --> 00:30:07,120 Speaker 1: do you find the magical moments in everyday life, even 547 00:30:07,200 --> 00:30:09,400 Speaker 1: during the toughest, grimmest times. 548 00:30:09,920 --> 00:30:12,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, I think having a sense of humor 549 00:30:12,800 --> 00:30:16,120 Speaker 2: is really important. I think growing up in a theater 550 00:30:16,280 --> 00:30:20,000 Speaker 2: community is probably pretty helpful. Even when I bought my 551 00:30:20,040 --> 00:30:23,360 Speaker 2: first house, I remember people being like, you're not decorating 552 00:30:23,400 --> 00:30:26,280 Speaker 2: a house like a house. You're making sets, you know, 553 00:30:26,440 --> 00:30:29,280 Speaker 2: like this is your Victorian set, this is your Wild 554 00:30:29,360 --> 00:30:32,080 Speaker 2: West set, this is your you know, it's your Annegreen 555 00:30:32,160 --> 00:30:35,840 Speaker 2: Tables set. And the idea that we don't have to 556 00:30:35,920 --> 00:30:41,240 Speaker 2: adhere to the rules, right whether you're decorating your home 557 00:30:41,880 --> 00:30:45,680 Speaker 2: or you're making lunch for your kids. You know, I 558 00:30:45,760 --> 00:30:48,520 Speaker 2: put creepy things on the napkins that might go in 559 00:30:48,520 --> 00:30:50,880 Speaker 2: my kid's lunchboxes, just so at some point in the 560 00:30:50,960 --> 00:30:53,720 Speaker 2: day there's a little bit of laughter, even if maybe 561 00:30:53,720 --> 00:30:57,160 Speaker 2: the school day has been hard, maintaining your sense of 562 00:30:57,240 --> 00:31:01,640 Speaker 2: humor and your sense of the theatrical is what makes 563 00:31:01,800 --> 00:31:05,480 Speaker 2: life fun. I'm not sure how I would be able 564 00:31:05,520 --> 00:31:11,000 Speaker 2: to handle the day to day monotony of get up, 565 00:31:11,160 --> 00:31:13,840 Speaker 2: go to school, go to work, pick up from school, 566 00:31:13,960 --> 00:31:16,240 Speaker 2: make dinner, do the grocery shopping, you know, like do 567 00:31:16,320 --> 00:31:20,480 Speaker 2: all the things if there wasn't an element of play involved. 568 00:31:20,920 --> 00:31:24,160 Speaker 2: And that's groomed out of us at some point, and 569 00:31:24,240 --> 00:31:28,080 Speaker 2: so it's our adult responsibility, especially if you're a parent, 570 00:31:28,720 --> 00:31:31,760 Speaker 2: to bring that element of play back in. 571 00:31:32,160 --> 00:31:34,160 Speaker 1: You even talk about that in the book when you 572 00:31:34,200 --> 00:31:37,160 Speaker 1: bring up the concept of death, and it's a very 573 00:31:37,240 --> 00:31:40,080 Speaker 1: uncomfortable topic for a lot of people to think about. 574 00:31:40,640 --> 00:31:43,680 Speaker 1: I know my dad and my stepmom they hate talking 575 00:31:43,720 --> 00:31:47,040 Speaker 1: about it. There. My dad's late sixties. He says every 576 00:31:47,120 --> 00:31:49,080 Speaker 1: day I'm closer to dying, and it's a very tough 577 00:31:49,120 --> 00:31:51,440 Speaker 1: relationship he has with death. And I look at him 578 00:31:51,440 --> 00:31:53,160 Speaker 1: and I think, oh my god, this is so sad, 579 00:31:53,160 --> 00:31:56,600 Speaker 1: because you're you're wasting your alive years, your vibrant years, 580 00:31:56,600 --> 00:31:59,640 Speaker 1: your semi retire like live your best life, and your 581 00:31:59,760 --> 00:32:02,840 Speaker 1: think thinking about death every day, and it breaks my heart. 582 00:32:02,920 --> 00:32:06,040 Speaker 1: But you have this outlook where you say we should 583 00:32:06,080 --> 00:32:08,120 Speaker 1: even go write our own obituaries. 584 00:32:08,480 --> 00:32:11,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean I talk in the book about writing 585 00:32:11,120 --> 00:32:14,760 Speaker 2: your own eulogy. And it's hard for me to say this, 586 00:32:15,400 --> 00:32:19,239 Speaker 2: but that is the single most important thing that I 587 00:32:19,320 --> 00:32:23,400 Speaker 2: have done, is keep this list of all of the 588 00:32:23,480 --> 00:32:26,520 Speaker 2: things that I've done in my life that are kind 589 00:32:26,560 --> 00:32:31,040 Speaker 2: of weird, or that were transformative, or that were really 590 00:32:31,160 --> 00:32:34,400 Speaker 2: silly that like my kids will never know about. My 591 00:32:34,480 --> 00:32:37,160 Speaker 2: kids will never know about, like a weird night I 592 00:32:37,200 --> 00:32:39,720 Speaker 2: had in Paris, dancing in a nightclub with a snake 593 00:32:39,760 --> 00:32:42,960 Speaker 2: around my neck, They'll never know. Like, those are things 594 00:32:43,000 --> 00:32:45,960 Speaker 2: that you don't experience about your parent, Those are things 595 00:32:46,000 --> 00:32:49,800 Speaker 2: that you don't necessarily experience about your spouse or your 596 00:32:49,800 --> 00:32:54,800 Speaker 2: best friends. Like, everybody has their own personal well of experience. 597 00:32:54,960 --> 00:32:58,240 Speaker 2: And so rather than let someone else write this list 598 00:32:58,320 --> 00:33:01,920 Speaker 2: for you when you die of like what mattered to you, 599 00:33:03,120 --> 00:33:06,000 Speaker 2: write it for yourself. And then even when you're alive 600 00:33:06,400 --> 00:33:12,040 Speaker 2: and you are in moments of despair or uncertainty, being 601 00:33:12,080 --> 00:33:14,000 Speaker 2: able to look at that list of things that I've 602 00:33:14,040 --> 00:33:18,760 Speaker 2: done and realize, like, Okay, I did that at my lowest. 603 00:33:19,160 --> 00:33:21,760 Speaker 2: I did that when I was really insecure. I did 604 00:33:21,800 --> 00:33:26,880 Speaker 2: that when you know I was in a terrible relationship. 605 00:33:27,280 --> 00:33:29,840 Speaker 2: You're able to see that you were able to accomplish 606 00:33:29,840 --> 00:33:33,320 Speaker 2: things even in dark days, and it gives a lot 607 00:33:33,400 --> 00:33:36,560 Speaker 2: of hope and perspective. I revisit it all the time. 608 00:33:36,680 --> 00:33:39,400 Speaker 2: I love my eulogy list. My kids are going to 609 00:33:39,440 --> 00:33:41,800 Speaker 2: be so mortified when that gets read out loud. 610 00:33:42,320 --> 00:33:45,320 Speaker 1: Har But you know what I love about that. It's 611 00:33:45,320 --> 00:33:47,880 Speaker 1: something for you too, like you're going to live a 612 00:33:47,920 --> 00:33:50,440 Speaker 1: long and fruitful life ahead still, but when that day 613 00:33:50,480 --> 00:33:52,680 Speaker 1: does come, you're going to feel like, Okay, I'm putting 614 00:33:52,680 --> 00:33:54,480 Speaker 1: out what I want. And you share a story about 615 00:33:54,480 --> 00:33:58,360 Speaker 1: the grandmother who had Ouiji bords passed out as all right, 616 00:33:58,400 --> 00:33:59,440 Speaker 1: and that was for her. 617 00:34:00,720 --> 00:34:03,680 Speaker 2: The grandmother that put it like at her funeral gave 618 00:34:03,720 --> 00:34:06,880 Speaker 2: out the little ouiji boards and said keep in touch 619 00:34:07,560 --> 00:34:11,520 Speaker 2: on the back of them. She she loved it. But 620 00:34:11,560 --> 00:34:14,320 Speaker 2: that's that sense of humor, that's that sense of mischief 621 00:34:15,719 --> 00:34:19,040 Speaker 2: that she retained her whole life. And so I think 622 00:34:19,080 --> 00:34:22,960 Speaker 2: the end is less scary if there's a joke that 623 00:34:23,040 --> 00:34:27,120 Speaker 2: you're in on, And that's certainly my perspective. You know, 624 00:34:27,320 --> 00:34:29,280 Speaker 2: I hold my kids, I'm like I could go tomorrow, 625 00:34:29,320 --> 00:34:32,799 Speaker 2: and I've had the best time ever. Not because shit 626 00:34:32,920 --> 00:34:35,920 Speaker 2: was easy for me, but because I understood how to 627 00:34:35,960 --> 00:34:38,480 Speaker 2: make it funny. Just make it funny. 628 00:34:38,800 --> 00:34:47,040 Speaker 1: It's a beautiful perspective to have. There's so many themes 629 00:34:47,080 --> 00:34:50,160 Speaker 1: of spirituality in this book and diving deeper into those 630 00:34:50,160 --> 00:34:53,640 Speaker 1: sorts of things, but there's also themes about synchronous cities 631 00:34:53,840 --> 00:34:57,160 Speaker 1: and ugh, there are so many in life if you 632 00:34:57,200 --> 00:34:59,360 Speaker 1: pay attention to them. And you had one that happened 633 00:34:59,360 --> 00:35:03,040 Speaker 1: in twenty I believe when you launched your podcast, and 634 00:35:03,120 --> 00:35:05,280 Speaker 1: I loved this story if you could share it real quick. 635 00:35:05,600 --> 00:35:09,560 Speaker 2: So the entire time I lived in Wilmington working on 636 00:35:09,719 --> 00:35:12,759 Speaker 2: One Tree Hill, I lived in a haunted house. It 637 00:35:12,840 --> 00:35:16,080 Speaker 2: was a Victorian house from the eighteen nineties. I bought 638 00:35:16,120 --> 00:35:20,200 Speaker 2: it impulsively in season one when everyone was like, we're 639 00:35:20,239 --> 00:35:22,920 Speaker 2: getting canceled, and I was like, eh, no, we're not. 640 00:35:23,640 --> 00:35:27,120 Speaker 2: And what I learned was that the woman who lived 641 00:35:27,120 --> 00:35:30,080 Speaker 2: in this house her entire life had been a very 642 00:35:30,120 --> 00:35:35,200 Speaker 2: well respected artist in the community. She was a painting teacher, 643 00:35:35,239 --> 00:35:38,480 Speaker 2: but she also was heavily involved with the theater, and 644 00:35:38,560 --> 00:35:43,120 Speaker 2: so that house was a hub of activity where all 645 00:35:43,160 --> 00:35:46,439 Speaker 2: the artists gathered in the community and she would throw 646 00:35:46,480 --> 00:35:49,799 Speaker 2: these parties and it was all really fantastic. And so 647 00:35:50,560 --> 00:35:54,640 Speaker 2: I hadn't necessarily revisited that chapter of my life, particularly 648 00:35:54,640 --> 00:35:58,200 Speaker 2: since the Me Too movement, because having everyone understand your 649 00:35:58,280 --> 00:36:03,400 Speaker 2: trauma makes it hard to talk about anything else. But 650 00:36:03,520 --> 00:36:06,200 Speaker 2: maybe is lighthearted, right, because it just becomes all about 651 00:36:06,239 --> 00:36:09,880 Speaker 2: the trauma. As we're launching the podcast, and I was 652 00:36:10,040 --> 00:36:15,279 Speaker 2: pretty insecure about the Drama Queen's podcast because we were 653 00:36:15,320 --> 00:36:18,600 Speaker 2: just talking all things. One Tree Hill and I had 654 00:36:18,640 --> 00:36:21,520 Speaker 2: been in touch with an art dealer over the course 655 00:36:21,520 --> 00:36:24,640 Speaker 2: of six months, and he was like, I have a 656 00:36:24,719 --> 00:36:29,680 Speaker 2: Hester Donnelly painting. Do you want it? I was like, yes, please, 657 00:36:30,640 --> 00:36:34,720 Speaker 2: and he was busy. I was busy, he was busy. 658 00:36:34,760 --> 00:36:37,719 Speaker 2: I was out of town. Just the shipping of this 659 00:36:37,840 --> 00:36:43,200 Speaker 2: painting became a process, and so the day that Drama 660 00:36:43,280 --> 00:36:46,680 Speaker 2: Queens was premiering, I was horrified because I did not 661 00:36:46,960 --> 00:36:49,680 Speaker 2: know how people were going to take it. And I 662 00:36:49,760 --> 00:36:52,600 Speaker 2: get this package in the mail and it is my 663 00:36:52,760 --> 00:36:57,919 Speaker 2: Hester Donnelly painting, and I had the ghost that took 664 00:36:57,960 --> 00:37:00,560 Speaker 2: care of me and kept me company all those years 665 00:37:00,600 --> 00:37:05,280 Speaker 2: down there finally like in my possession here in New York, 666 00:37:05,440 --> 00:37:07,399 Speaker 2: and it was so good to have her artwork there 667 00:37:07,440 --> 00:37:10,560 Speaker 2: and you can see every brushstroke, you can see her handwriting, 668 00:37:10,719 --> 00:37:14,000 Speaker 2: you can see the colors that she chose, and it 669 00:37:14,040 --> 00:37:18,000 Speaker 2: was such a nice, warm reminder that those artistic communities, 670 00:37:18,040 --> 00:37:21,760 Speaker 2: if you foster them, will stay with you forever, even 671 00:37:21,800 --> 00:37:25,080 Speaker 2: in death, even as a ghost. Hester is just that's 672 00:37:25,120 --> 00:37:26,719 Speaker 2: my lady. She took care of me. 673 00:37:27,080 --> 00:37:29,440 Speaker 1: Like I said, if you look for those moments of 674 00:37:29,440 --> 00:37:33,279 Speaker 1: sant Greno City's they happen and they are not coincidental. 675 00:37:33,400 --> 00:37:35,600 Speaker 1: And you needed that on that day. You needed it. 676 00:37:35,600 --> 00:37:39,640 Speaker 2: But I needed to feel home on that day, and 677 00:37:40,080 --> 00:37:42,879 Speaker 2: of all the days for that thing to arrive over 678 00:37:42,920 --> 00:37:46,279 Speaker 2: the course of months, it showed up exactly when I 679 00:37:46,320 --> 00:37:46,920 Speaker 2: needed it. 680 00:37:46,920 --> 00:37:49,520 Speaker 1: It's funny how those moments of magic happen, and like 681 00:37:49,560 --> 00:37:51,640 Speaker 1: you said, it's not our job to figure out the why. 682 00:37:51,800 --> 00:37:54,200 Speaker 2: It's just that ruins it. Boo hands. 683 00:37:55,080 --> 00:37:58,239 Speaker 1: Yes, Hillary, what do you hope people get from this book? 684 00:37:58,280 --> 00:38:00,000 Speaker 1: There's so many great stories like the one we just 685 00:38:00,080 --> 00:38:02,600 Speaker 1: talked about. I want people to read it for themselves, 686 00:38:02,640 --> 00:38:04,799 Speaker 1: so I don't want to share any more stories like that, 687 00:38:04,920 --> 00:38:07,080 Speaker 1: but I wanted to give them a taste because I 688 00:38:07,120 --> 00:38:08,880 Speaker 1: know what I got from this book. But what do 689 00:38:08,960 --> 00:38:09,919 Speaker 1: you hope people get. 690 00:38:10,520 --> 00:38:15,279 Speaker 2: I mean, we all just dealt with this huge traumatic 691 00:38:15,400 --> 00:38:20,880 Speaker 2: situation with COVID, the pandemic, the political landscape in our country. 692 00:38:21,160 --> 00:38:27,880 Speaker 2: There has been huge trauma, and I am someone who 693 00:38:28,160 --> 00:38:32,680 Speaker 2: I like to confront it head on and not pretend 694 00:38:32,800 --> 00:38:36,640 Speaker 2: like everything's okay. And I think in writing this book, 695 00:38:36,680 --> 00:38:39,640 Speaker 2: it forced me to commit to my beliefs. When you 696 00:38:39,640 --> 00:38:42,680 Speaker 2: put something down on paper, that's a commitment, and then 697 00:38:42,719 --> 00:38:45,480 Speaker 2: when you share it, that's a commitment. And then when 698 00:38:45,480 --> 00:38:48,239 Speaker 2: you share it on like a mass level, that's a 699 00:38:48,280 --> 00:38:52,080 Speaker 2: really big commitment. And I needed to make that commitment 700 00:38:52,200 --> 00:38:55,760 Speaker 2: before I could encourage anyone else to do the same. 701 00:38:56,520 --> 00:39:00,560 Speaker 2: So my hope is that people will take whether it's 702 00:39:00,600 --> 00:39:05,240 Speaker 2: a large collective trauma or a very personal intimate trauma, 703 00:39:05,840 --> 00:39:10,280 Speaker 2: and they will find the magical practices or the ideology 704 00:39:10,800 --> 00:39:15,279 Speaker 2: or the spirituality or the mythology, any of that that 705 00:39:15,480 --> 00:39:18,319 Speaker 2: is a balm for what they're suffering, so that they 706 00:39:18,320 --> 00:39:21,160 Speaker 2: can get back to the joyful parts of life. We 707 00:39:21,280 --> 00:39:24,080 Speaker 2: get such a tiny, tiny, tiny chunk of time here, 708 00:39:24,760 --> 00:39:28,160 Speaker 2: and I want everyone to feel like they are the 709 00:39:28,320 --> 00:39:32,359 Speaker 2: main character of their own personal hero's journey. You know, 710 00:39:32,440 --> 00:39:35,560 Speaker 2: we're all on our own journey. You're the hero of 711 00:39:35,600 --> 00:39:38,680 Speaker 2: your story, so make it a really good story. 712 00:39:40,080 --> 00:39:42,319 Speaker 1: Isn't that the best that we have the opportunity to 713 00:39:42,440 --> 00:39:42,759 Speaker 1: do that? 714 00:39:43,480 --> 00:39:47,160 Speaker 2: Oh? I love hearing other people's journeys. I love it. 715 00:39:47,200 --> 00:39:48,799 Speaker 2: I'm the chick that would sit in a bar for 716 00:39:48,920 --> 00:39:52,399 Speaker 2: hours talking to strangers, and now I do the same 717 00:39:52,440 --> 00:39:55,480 Speaker 2: thing with Ptso I'm like, tell me everything. 718 00:39:55,840 --> 00:39:57,319 Speaker 1: Yeah, where're you from? 719 00:39:57,480 --> 00:40:01,160 Speaker 2: How'd you get here? Yeah? I think encouraging people to 720 00:40:01,400 --> 00:40:08,240 Speaker 2: live a really loud, authentic, messy, colorful life is important. 721 00:40:08,360 --> 00:40:11,319 Speaker 2: You need a cheerleader in your corner helping you do that. 722 00:40:11,640 --> 00:40:14,600 Speaker 2: And if I can be a cheerleader for people, that's 723 00:40:14,960 --> 00:40:15,839 Speaker 2: what I want to do. 724 00:40:16,120 --> 00:40:18,719 Speaker 1: It's so refreshing to hear that. I feel you so 725 00:40:18,840 --> 00:40:21,120 Speaker 1: deeply on that. It's why I started the show. You know, 726 00:40:21,480 --> 00:40:23,279 Speaker 1: when I work a red carpet, you get two three 727 00:40:23,320 --> 00:40:25,319 Speaker 1: minutes with someone. You don't get to dive deep. And 728 00:40:25,360 --> 00:40:28,279 Speaker 1: I'm interested in all of the things that make up 729 00:40:28,280 --> 00:40:33,319 Speaker 1: a person and not just the flashy headlines of somebody's life. 730 00:40:33,360 --> 00:40:35,160 Speaker 1: I want to know the whys and the how and 731 00:40:35,360 --> 00:40:38,680 Speaker 1: the whens and where's right, all that delicious information you 732 00:40:38,719 --> 00:40:41,960 Speaker 1: can't get in a quick conversation. So I so feel 733 00:40:41,960 --> 00:40:44,520 Speaker 1: you on that. And what's so evident to me, Hillary 734 00:40:44,600 --> 00:40:47,920 Speaker 1: is you are somebody who brings so much joy to 735 00:40:48,000 --> 00:40:51,080 Speaker 1: the people that have you in their lives, and you 736 00:40:51,280 --> 00:40:55,240 Speaker 1: enrich them by listening to their stories and to feel 737 00:40:55,280 --> 00:40:57,160 Speaker 1: who they are as a human being. And that's such 738 00:40:57,160 --> 00:41:00,520 Speaker 1: a gift because you don't get that as much in 739 00:41:00,560 --> 00:41:03,640 Speaker 1: this day and age, with whether it's social media or 740 00:41:03,719 --> 00:41:06,120 Speaker 1: everyone's working at a lot of different jobs to make ends meet, 741 00:41:06,200 --> 00:41:08,799 Speaker 1: or whatever the situation may be. You take the time 742 00:41:08,880 --> 00:41:11,000 Speaker 1: and pour it into somebody. And even when I sent 743 00:41:11,040 --> 00:41:13,359 Speaker 1: that tweet out talking about your book, I started getting 744 00:41:13,360 --> 00:41:15,520 Speaker 1: all these tweets from people saying how much they look 745 00:41:15,600 --> 00:41:18,520 Speaker 1: up to you and admire you. And I would be 746 00:41:18,560 --> 00:41:20,680 Speaker 1: remiss if I don't bring this up. Because there was 747 00:41:20,719 --> 00:41:24,440 Speaker 1: one woman I believe she's late thirties who wrote to 748 00:41:24,480 --> 00:41:28,719 Speaker 1: me and she said something as simple as you posting 749 00:41:28,800 --> 00:41:32,200 Speaker 1: about having your long, beautiful, luscious gray hair means the 750 00:41:32,200 --> 00:41:34,920 Speaker 1: world to her because she went gray young and has 751 00:41:34,960 --> 00:41:37,279 Speaker 1: been terrorized for it so much throughout her life. And 752 00:41:37,320 --> 00:41:39,520 Speaker 1: here she is looking at someone like you, embracing it 753 00:41:39,600 --> 00:41:42,440 Speaker 1: and loving it and feeling beautiful with it, and that 754 00:41:42,640 --> 00:41:45,799 Speaker 1: meant everything to her. Is it important for you to 755 00:41:45,840 --> 00:41:48,320 Speaker 1: put out messages like that, Yeah. 756 00:41:48,160 --> 00:41:52,200 Speaker 2: Because I was a part of the machine for so long, 757 00:41:52,880 --> 00:41:58,720 Speaker 2: whether that was selling stories, people, musicians, whatever at MTV, 758 00:41:59,520 --> 00:42:03,120 Speaker 2: or then being you know, like a teen drama actress, 759 00:42:03,120 --> 00:42:07,520 Speaker 2: where I had to sell this illusion of what's cool 760 00:42:07,920 --> 00:42:11,600 Speaker 2: or what's pretty, or what's acceptable, what you should be 761 00:42:11,640 --> 00:42:14,440 Speaker 2: living up to. I talked about it at the time 762 00:42:15,160 --> 00:42:18,080 Speaker 2: as the new normal. I said, I didn't like the 763 00:42:18,120 --> 00:42:21,960 Speaker 2: new normal we were creating. I was really worried. And 764 00:42:22,000 --> 00:42:23,920 Speaker 2: so that's where a lot of the conflict on that 765 00:42:24,000 --> 00:42:27,759 Speaker 2: particular show stemmed from, is that I thought, perhaps we 766 00:42:27,840 --> 00:42:31,600 Speaker 2: should be less cool, we should be more awkward like 767 00:42:31,719 --> 00:42:36,319 Speaker 2: teenagers actually are. And then as an adult, there's not 768 00:42:36,400 --> 00:42:39,359 Speaker 2: as much pressure, right. I think I've always felt kind 769 00:42:39,360 --> 00:42:44,360 Speaker 2: of this weight to be honest with kids, like teenagers, 770 00:42:44,360 --> 00:42:48,440 Speaker 2: specifically adults, you know, like white collar. I felt no 771 00:42:48,520 --> 00:42:50,480 Speaker 2: trauma doing that. I was like, yeah, I'll we're a 772 00:42:50,520 --> 00:42:55,640 Speaker 2: pencil skirts signed mea. But I've seen behind the smoke 773 00:42:55,680 --> 00:42:59,759 Speaker 2: and mirrors, and I see social media the same as 774 00:42:59,760 --> 00:43:03,640 Speaker 2: everybody else does, and I see I can tell as 775 00:43:03,680 --> 00:43:08,400 Speaker 2: a producer what's produced and is being presented as reality 776 00:43:08,960 --> 00:43:13,640 Speaker 2: and that freaks me out. And so I think the 777 00:43:13,719 --> 00:43:19,480 Speaker 2: grittier and messier I can be to hopefully counterbalance that, 778 00:43:19,880 --> 00:43:23,560 Speaker 2: the better. You know, women in particular are told you 779 00:43:23,680 --> 00:43:26,680 Speaker 2: have to look twenty eight forever, and you have to 780 00:43:26,719 --> 00:43:30,120 Speaker 2: act twenty eight forever, and you're not allowed to be tired, 781 00:43:30,640 --> 00:43:32,759 Speaker 2: and you're not allowed to be grumpy, and you're not 782 00:43:32,800 --> 00:43:36,360 Speaker 2: allowed to be all these things, And god damn it, 783 00:43:36,400 --> 00:43:38,920 Speaker 2: I'm going to be every single one of those things. 784 00:43:40,840 --> 00:43:43,759 Speaker 1: Well good on you, because that's a message we need 785 00:43:43,800 --> 00:43:47,600 Speaker 1: more and more in this world. As we wrap up today, 786 00:43:47,719 --> 00:43:49,600 Speaker 1: the name of the show is of course, I've never 787 00:43:49,680 --> 00:43:53,120 Speaker 1: said this before, and you're someone who has been so 788 00:43:53,280 --> 00:43:57,520 Speaker 1: open and honest throughout your books and interviews and on 789 00:43:57,560 --> 00:44:00,879 Speaker 1: social media, But I'm wondering if there is something, whether 790 00:44:00,920 --> 00:44:03,800 Speaker 1: it's silly, whether it's deep, that you've never said before. 791 00:44:04,520 --> 00:44:08,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, I think when you hit the age 792 00:44:08,480 --> 00:44:12,480 Speaker 2: I am, I'm forty one and I have kids who 793 00:44:12,520 --> 00:44:17,960 Speaker 2: are becoming ages that I vividly remember, right, it changes 794 00:44:18,000 --> 00:44:21,240 Speaker 2: your perspective about the narrative you were fed as a kid. 795 00:44:21,480 --> 00:44:25,640 Speaker 2: And it has been on my mind constantly and the 796 00:44:25,760 --> 00:44:30,319 Speaker 2: lead up to this book that I finally feel like 797 00:44:30,520 --> 00:44:33,200 Speaker 2: I'm on the path to doing the thing that I 798 00:44:33,239 --> 00:44:37,520 Speaker 2: actually wanted to do as a kid. It's very hard 799 00:44:37,600 --> 00:44:40,600 Speaker 2: for me to say that I just realized at forty 800 00:44:40,600 --> 00:44:43,680 Speaker 2: one years old that I don't like acting. That it 801 00:44:43,760 --> 00:44:47,400 Speaker 2: was never something I wanted to do, but I got 802 00:44:47,680 --> 00:44:51,719 Speaker 2: love for it. And so you learn to do the 803 00:44:51,760 --> 00:44:54,880 Speaker 2: thing that you are rewarded for. You're like dogs, you know. 804 00:44:55,040 --> 00:44:57,399 Speaker 2: It's like, I got a treat for that. Cool. I'll 805 00:44:57,480 --> 00:45:02,000 Speaker 2: keep doing that trick so to be able to pivot 806 00:45:02,560 --> 00:45:07,759 Speaker 2: in my career and start with these nonfiction books and 807 00:45:07,800 --> 00:45:11,560 Speaker 2: then I'm moving into fiction now. That's like the next 808 00:45:11,560 --> 00:45:17,080 Speaker 2: thing that terrifies me. People being supportive of that is 809 00:45:17,440 --> 00:45:21,240 Speaker 2: something that floors me on a regular basis, because having 810 00:45:21,320 --> 00:45:27,280 Speaker 2: to discover that thing about yourself privately is hard. Having 811 00:45:27,320 --> 00:45:31,960 Speaker 2: to discover it about yourself publicly is super weird. And 812 00:45:32,040 --> 00:45:36,359 Speaker 2: so as we watch One Tree Hillback for the podcast, 813 00:45:36,920 --> 00:45:40,360 Speaker 2: I can see my castmates miss it, and it dawned 814 00:45:40,360 --> 00:45:44,160 Speaker 2: on me one day, but I was like, I have 815 00:45:44,480 --> 00:45:48,080 Speaker 2: zero desire. I like other parts of it. I like 816 00:45:48,719 --> 00:45:52,320 Speaker 2: the teamwork part of it. I really like making things 817 00:45:52,400 --> 00:45:56,239 Speaker 2: with other people and bouncing ideas off each other. But 818 00:45:56,320 --> 00:46:01,000 Speaker 2: I have that fulfilled through ptso now so there's zero 819 00:46:01,120 --> 00:46:05,240 Speaker 2: desire to be on a set. So yeah, in this phase, 820 00:46:05,920 --> 00:46:09,279 Speaker 2: it's nice to be able to do something that I 821 00:46:09,400 --> 00:46:13,160 Speaker 2: wanted to do that maybe wasn't as valued when I 822 00:46:13,200 --> 00:46:13,800 Speaker 2: was younger. 823 00:46:13,920 --> 00:46:17,439 Speaker 1: And I think that's such a brave and important thing 824 00:46:18,080 --> 00:46:21,200 Speaker 1: to say, and I thank you for that. And I 825 00:46:21,239 --> 00:46:23,560 Speaker 1: was starting to feel emotional hearing you talk about it, 826 00:46:23,600 --> 00:46:27,839 Speaker 1: because I think people think they see someone's success and 827 00:46:27,920 --> 00:46:31,960 Speaker 1: that they're so happy and content and everything is amazing 828 00:46:32,000 --> 00:46:34,160 Speaker 1: in the world, and it's easy to fall into the 829 00:46:34,160 --> 00:46:36,840 Speaker 1: pattern of sticking to something that doesn't truly fulfill you, 830 00:46:36,880 --> 00:46:39,200 Speaker 1: which I believe is why there is so much unhappiness 831 00:46:39,239 --> 00:46:41,680 Speaker 1: in this world. But to get out of that and 832 00:46:41,719 --> 00:46:44,200 Speaker 1: be grateful for the opportunities and what you did, which 833 00:46:44,200 --> 00:46:47,359 Speaker 1: you so clearly are, but to know that there's more 834 00:46:47,520 --> 00:46:50,200 Speaker 1: for you that will fulfill you in an even bigger way, 835 00:46:50,840 --> 00:46:53,960 Speaker 1: I think is incredible. And I really thank you for 836 00:46:54,000 --> 00:46:56,120 Speaker 1: sharing that because I think a lot of people listening 837 00:46:56,160 --> 00:46:58,319 Speaker 1: will say, you know what, this is a good day 838 00:46:58,360 --> 00:47:00,560 Speaker 1: to change the course of my life, and that is 839 00:47:00,640 --> 00:47:02,720 Speaker 1: due to you and what you said today. 840 00:47:03,360 --> 00:47:06,120 Speaker 2: Well, thank you, and I think it helps us not 841 00:47:06,239 --> 00:47:08,799 Speaker 2: be so judgmental to a lot of young people that 842 00:47:08,840 --> 00:47:11,839 Speaker 2: we see in the industry, because I can look at 843 00:47:11,840 --> 00:47:14,680 Speaker 2: a lot of them and be like, that's someone whose 844 00:47:14,719 --> 00:47:19,320 Speaker 2: love was conditional, and let's be gentle with those people. 845 00:47:19,800 --> 00:47:21,560 Speaker 2: Let's be nice to their babies. 846 00:47:21,880 --> 00:47:26,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, a lesson all worth hearing over and over again. Hillary, 847 00:47:26,800 --> 00:47:28,440 Speaker 1: I love this book so much. I could keep you 848 00:47:28,480 --> 00:47:32,000 Speaker 1: for five more hours, but I won't. It is out now. 849 00:47:32,480 --> 00:47:33,920 Speaker 1: How can people get this book? 850 00:47:34,239 --> 00:47:36,960 Speaker 2: We have a website that's the link in my bio 851 00:47:37,160 --> 00:47:41,120 Speaker 2: has the Amazon link, the Barnes and Noble link, the 852 00:47:41,520 --> 00:47:45,120 Speaker 2: small bookstore link. You know, We're trying to put as 853 00:47:45,160 --> 00:47:48,919 Speaker 2: many different outlets out there as possible. And the audiobook 854 00:47:49,160 --> 00:47:52,279 Speaker 2: is also out there that I narrated, which is so 855 00:47:52,480 --> 00:47:55,160 Speaker 2: weird having to read your own words out loud because 856 00:47:55,200 --> 00:48:00,640 Speaker 2: you're like, am I performing right now? Yeah, that's a 857 00:48:00,640 --> 00:48:04,680 Speaker 2: fun experience, especially for the engineer, the sound engineer that 858 00:48:04,719 --> 00:48:06,439 Speaker 2: has to sit there with you and listen to all 859 00:48:06,520 --> 00:48:09,399 Speaker 2: of your intimate stories and then you're like, cool man, 860 00:48:09,560 --> 00:48:14,239 Speaker 2: see you tomorrow. So yeah, I mean, there's lots of 861 00:48:14,239 --> 00:48:16,640 Speaker 2: different ways to get it. But my new favorite thing 862 00:48:16,680 --> 00:48:18,839 Speaker 2: that I'm trying to encourage people to do is. I'm 863 00:48:18,880 --> 00:48:22,720 Speaker 2: supporting the little mini libraries that you see in towns, 864 00:48:22,760 --> 00:48:25,440 Speaker 2: like the little bird house looking things full of free books. 865 00:48:25,920 --> 00:48:29,200 Speaker 2: I'm encouraging people to buy a second copy to put 866 00:48:29,200 --> 00:48:31,840 Speaker 2: in those because you never know who in your town 867 00:48:32,000 --> 00:48:36,440 Speaker 2: really really needs a dose of magic. And so I'm 868 00:48:36,520 --> 00:48:39,640 Speaker 2: hiding them all throughout my town. And I hope that 869 00:48:39,719 --> 00:48:41,279 Speaker 2: other people are in on the game. 870 00:48:41,600 --> 00:48:44,200 Speaker 1: All right, Everyone, get on that scavenger hut and Hillary. 871 00:48:44,239 --> 00:48:46,160 Speaker 1: I hope that we have the chance one day to 872 00:48:46,719 --> 00:48:50,319 Speaker 1: I don't know, do a ghost tour, or they drink 873 00:48:50,360 --> 00:48:53,040 Speaker 1: at a bar that's spooky and haunted, or just all 874 00:48:53,080 --> 00:48:54,040 Speaker 1: the things. I'm with you. 875 00:48:54,280 --> 00:48:57,600 Speaker 2: There's the Catacombs in Lower Manhattan. We're going. I'll get 876 00:48:57,640 --> 00:48:58,280 Speaker 2: the reservation. 877 00:48:58,920 --> 00:49:03,719 Speaker 1: Never knew that existed. I'm in gone, all right, my love. 878 00:49:03,760 --> 00:49:06,719 Speaker 1: Congrats on this book. I'm so happy for you. Everybody, 879 00:49:06,760 --> 00:49:08,560 Speaker 1: go out and read it and support it, especially in 880 00:49:08,600 --> 00:49:11,320 Speaker 1: the month of October. It's what's more perfect than reading 881 00:49:11,320 --> 00:49:14,960 Speaker 1: this book this month, although it's year round, but it's 882 00:49:15,000 --> 00:49:17,279 Speaker 1: extra fun this month. And thank you for your time. 883 00:49:17,360 --> 00:49:18,560 Speaker 1: Wishing you all the success. 884 00:49:18,960 --> 00:49:22,680 Speaker 2: Thank you, You're so wonderful. I really heartfelt appreciation for 885 00:49:22,760 --> 00:49:23,320 Speaker 2: your support. 886 00:49:23,400 --> 00:49:25,560 Speaker 1: Thank you thank you, thank you, have a good one, 887 00:49:25,719 --> 00:49:31,040 Speaker 1: all right by I've Never Said This Before is hosted 888 00:49:31,120 --> 00:49:35,680 Speaker 1: by Me Tommy Didario. This podcast is executive produced by 889 00:49:35,719 --> 00:49:39,720 Speaker 1: Andrew Pivlisi at iHeartRadio and by Me Tommy, with editing 890 00:49:39,760 --> 00:49:43,520 Speaker 1: by Joshua Colaudney. I've Never Said This Before is part 891 00:49:43,560 --> 00:49:48,160 Speaker 1: of the Elvis Duran podcast Network on iHeart Podcasts. For more, rate, 892 00:49:48,280 --> 00:49:51,120 Speaker 1: review and subscribe to our show and if you liked 893 00:49:51,160 --> 00:49:54,880 Speaker 1: this episode, tell your friends. Until next time, I'm Tommy 894 00:49:54,920 --> 00:49:55,400 Speaker 1: de Dario.