1 00:00:04,080 --> 00:00:06,120 Speaker 1: What do you do when life doesn't go according to 2 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:09,760 Speaker 1: plan that moment you lose a job, or a loved one, 3 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:14,080 Speaker 1: or even a piece of yourself. I'm Brookshields and this 4 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:18,759 Speaker 1: is now What, a podcast about pivotal moments as told 5 00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:19,480 Speaker 1: by people. 6 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:20,400 Speaker 2: Who lived them. 7 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:22,680 Speaker 1: Each week, I sit down with a guest to talk 8 00:00:22,720 --> 00:00:25,440 Speaker 1: about the times they were knocked off course and what 9 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:30,440 Speaker 1: they did to move forward. Some stories are funny, others 10 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 1: are gut wrenching, but all are unapologetically human and remind 11 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:40,720 Speaker 1: us that every success and every setback is accompanied by 12 00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:44,080 Speaker 1: a choice, and that choice answers one question. 13 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:45,800 Speaker 2: Now, what. 14 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:53,000 Speaker 3: Will Ferrell now technically is one of my employers, and 15 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:56,320 Speaker 3: he's a lovely friend, and like that's bizarre. It's like 16 00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:58,920 Speaker 3: it's weird to be among them now and to have 17 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 3: relationships with them. 18 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 2: So I've spent much time with him. 19 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:06,880 Speaker 1: Yes, because Chris, my husband, was one of the three 20 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:10,240 Speaker 1: people that ran ran the company and started Funnier Die. 21 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:10,920 Speaker 3: Wow. 22 00:01:11,319 --> 00:01:14,759 Speaker 1: They just came, he and his wife and sons came 23 00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:17,840 Speaker 1: to my daughter's basketball game, you know, and I thought, Okay, 24 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:20,360 Speaker 1: I hope everybody's cool. When Will walks into the state, 25 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:23,080 Speaker 1: you know, to the watch the game, and so. 26 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:24,880 Speaker 2: Everybody was like fine. 27 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:28,160 Speaker 1: Then we started listening to the girls and the girls 28 00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:30,280 Speaker 1: were like, yeah, yeah, yeah, we know that's Will Ferrell, 29 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:35,080 Speaker 1: but oh my god, his son is hot career. My 30 00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:38,400 Speaker 1: younger one was like, mom, all your all your friends' 31 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:41,880 Speaker 1: kids have grown up to be like super hot and 32 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 1: they were. You know, there went from these skinny little 33 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 1: boys that were annoying to these like honky guys. Hello listeners, 34 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:55,960 Speaker 1: did you miss me? I'm excited to announce that now 35 00:01:56,000 --> 00:02:00,320 Speaker 1: what is back? After an eventful September break, spent the 36 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:04,840 Speaker 1: month performing my one woman show, previously owned by Burke Shields. 37 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:08,000 Speaker 1: It's been a whirlwind, but I am very grateful to 38 00:02:08,040 --> 00:02:11,679 Speaker 1: have worked on something deeply meaningful, and I've loved being 39 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:15,200 Speaker 1: back on stage making people laugh and hopefully giving them 40 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:18,880 Speaker 1: a little bit of entertainment. Speaking of making people laugh, 41 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:21,600 Speaker 1: my guest today is very funny. 42 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:24,840 Speaker 2: Bowen Yang is a comedian. 43 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:27,239 Speaker 1: A writer, an actor, and the co host of the 44 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:33,400 Speaker 1: critically acclaimed podcast Last Culturistess. He has a fascinating story 45 00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:35,600 Speaker 1: filled with the most unexpected pivots. 46 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:36,640 Speaker 2: Case in point. 47 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:40,440 Speaker 1: He worked as a graphic designer until twenty eighteen, when, 48 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:44,080 Speaker 1: after years of writing and performing comedy on the side. 49 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:47,760 Speaker 1: He got a job at Saturday Night Live. Bowen is 50 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 1: one of the most thoughtful people I've interviewed, and I 51 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:54,960 Speaker 1: was blown away by his patients and his generosity. So 52 00:02:55,520 --> 00:02:58,120 Speaker 1: without further ado, here's Bowen Yang. 53 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:03,720 Speaker 2: Bohen Yang. So nice to know you. 54 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:07,360 Speaker 1: I'm doing the thing right now that I that I 55 00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 1: always think I'm not going to do. But I feel 56 00:03:10,639 --> 00:03:12,720 Speaker 1: like I know you because I watch you and you 57 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:16,280 Speaker 1: I laugh with you, and you're in my home and 58 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:20,280 Speaker 1: so I'm like, oh, hi, but we don't know each other. 59 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 2: So nice to meet you. 60 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 3: Nice to meet you. What if we're like both coming 61 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 3: from that same place? Though, Like, isn't do we skip 62 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 3: a couple of steps? I feel like we're allowed to. 63 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:33,840 Speaker 2: I think, you do? I think? And where you live 64 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:34,760 Speaker 2: in New York? Correct? 65 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:36,800 Speaker 3: I do? I do? Where are you right now? 66 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:37,800 Speaker 2: I'm in New York. 67 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:43,040 Speaker 1: I'm born and bred raised in Manhattan Night, so I'm 68 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 1: a native New York Right, And where were you raised? 69 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:50,520 Speaker 3: I was raised in mostly an Aurora, Colorado. But before that, 70 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:54,000 Speaker 3: so between Australia and Colorado, I was in Brisbane for 71 00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 3: six months, so I barely so I don't remember a 72 00:03:57,080 --> 00:03:59,520 Speaker 3: single thing. But then we moved to Canada. Oh wow, 73 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:02,080 Speaker 3: we did a lot of moving between, Like we moved 74 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:04,680 Speaker 3: a lot within Canada, and then when we moved from 75 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:07,400 Speaker 3: Montreal to Colorado, that was like a huge shift. 76 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:07,880 Speaker 2: God. 77 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:10,760 Speaker 3: I remember taking French in school and then I had 78 00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:14,480 Speaker 3: to like really to like really understand, like, oh okay, 79 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:17,320 Speaker 3: I get, like English is the language you're gonna be speaking. Now. 80 00:04:17,760 --> 00:04:19,120 Speaker 2: What were you like as a little kid. 81 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:22,479 Speaker 3: I mean, don't we all like as adults, like look 82 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:24,840 Speaker 3: back on ourselves as kids and go like, I was 83 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:27,760 Speaker 3: pretty precocious. But no, it's like we were just we 84 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:31,120 Speaker 3: were we were we were kids when we were kids. 85 00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:34,159 Speaker 3: Does that make sense. I feel like I had to 86 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 3: toorialize my childhood in a way sometimes when I talk 87 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:38,840 Speaker 3: about it, and I need to be honest with you 88 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:42,640 Speaker 3: Brookshields about how like I was like just a pretty 89 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:47,880 Speaker 3: normal kid and hammy. But that was like the way 90 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:52,920 Speaker 3: the way into like the new schools in these new 91 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 3: social environments was just to be like silly and goofy, 92 00:04:56,640 --> 00:04:58,800 Speaker 3: and as soon as you ran out of your own material, 93 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:00,839 Speaker 3: you would like go home and wat TV shows and 94 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:05,360 Speaker 3: like I would watch SNL and Seinfeld and like the 95 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:08,800 Speaker 3: Simpsons and Friends, and Matt TV and like and you 96 00:05:08,839 --> 00:05:11,520 Speaker 3: know Drew Carey Show, and like I just like consumed 97 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:14,840 Speaker 3: all of that to like regurgitate it the next day 98 00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:17,320 Speaker 3: at school. And that was like the cycle for me. 99 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:21,120 Speaker 1: That was my favorite thing to do is just be 100 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 1: alone in my room and the complete dark watching SNL. 101 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:28,800 Speaker 1: Oh and it's interesting that you mentioned SNL because I 102 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:32,400 Speaker 1: was fascinated to learn that you were actually pre med 103 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:33,560 Speaker 1: in college. 104 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:37,120 Speaker 3: I was, yeah, this is and this is like I 105 00:05:37,240 --> 00:05:42,080 Speaker 3: still like always think about this sort of time and 106 00:05:42,120 --> 00:05:44,400 Speaker 3: like this is this is my like now what like 107 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 3: this is the thing that like defines like so much 108 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:49,240 Speaker 3: about like the way my life is gone is like 109 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:51,800 Speaker 3: it could have gone like the sliding doors of it 110 00:05:51,839 --> 00:05:56,120 Speaker 3: could have really gone another way. And yeah, it's it 111 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:58,320 Speaker 3: was it was I was pre med and then uh, 112 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:02,880 Speaker 3: comedy was just this like hobby I was doing in college. 113 00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:06,680 Speaker 3: But I would always hang out with like the comedy kids, 114 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:08,240 Speaker 3: like the people who were in the sketch groups, the 115 00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 3: people who were in the improv groups, and like we 116 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 3: would go to each other shows, like throw each other parties. 117 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:16,600 Speaker 3: Like it was like that was like my reality, Like 118 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 3: that was what I was going into. That was what 119 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:23,160 Speaker 3: I was surrounded by every day. And then I don't 120 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:26,279 Speaker 3: know if like that's what like seeped in or if 121 00:06:26,279 --> 00:06:29,520 Speaker 3: that's like something that I just like naturally gravitated towards. 122 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:33,880 Speaker 1: Was there fear surrounding sort of pursuing acting professionally? 123 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:37,080 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, and like fe fear in the ways of 124 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:40,919 Speaker 3: like I'm not being educated or trained in this, and 125 00:06:40,960 --> 00:06:43,560 Speaker 3: then fear and then and then just the baseline fear 126 00:06:43,560 --> 00:06:46,359 Speaker 3: that comes with like working in this business anyway, but 127 00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:47,920 Speaker 3: like applies to everybody. 128 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 2: Did your parents support support it? This is a big 129 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:53,120 Speaker 2: shift for their son totally? 130 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 3: Well, they they kind of they sort of saw it coming. 131 00:06:56,040 --> 00:06:58,400 Speaker 3: They like they would ask about how school was going, 132 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:01,520 Speaker 3: and all I would talk about was, you know, doing 133 00:07:01,520 --> 00:07:04,000 Speaker 3: comedy festivals or something. And then they were like, okay, 134 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:08,000 Speaker 3: but we mean, like you know, like classes and you know, 135 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 3: you're extracurriculars and like med school and like all this stuff. 136 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:12,160 Speaker 1: And I would just be like, oh, right, did they 137 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:13,560 Speaker 1: want you to go to pre med? I mean, did 138 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:14,640 Speaker 1: they want you to be a doctor? 139 00:07:14,960 --> 00:07:18,400 Speaker 3: If you ask them now, they would say no, they 140 00:07:18,400 --> 00:07:21,520 Speaker 3: did not care either way. But of course, like they 141 00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:24,000 Speaker 3: say that because it all worked out. But I think, right, 142 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:26,160 Speaker 3: But I think. I mean, at the time, there was 143 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:28,960 Speaker 3: there was some pressure I do I do need to 144 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:31,320 Speaker 3: give them more credit. Now I find it sort of 145 00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:34,200 Speaker 3: convenient in my own mind to be like, oh, well, 146 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:36,200 Speaker 3: they were hard on me and they like pressured me 147 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 3: to like go into this. But I mean, at the 148 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 3: end of the day, they were like any other parent 149 00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:42,000 Speaker 3: where they were just like, we just want you to 150 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:44,440 Speaker 3: be happy. And so when I told them, and there 151 00:07:44,480 --> 00:07:45,760 Speaker 3: was a there was a moment where I was taking 152 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:49,600 Speaker 3: my mcat the second time at one one pen Plaza, 153 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:52,840 Speaker 3: like right next to MSG. It was during the written 154 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:55,480 Speaker 3: section that I got to, like the written section of 155 00:07:55,480 --> 00:07:58,360 Speaker 3: the test. And then I remembered this interview that Steve 156 00:07:58,480 --> 00:08:02,720 Speaker 3: Carell had done out filling out his law school applications 157 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:05,600 Speaker 3: because like comedy wasn't really working out for him in Chicago, 158 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:07,240 Speaker 3: and he was like applying to law school and then 159 00:08:07,320 --> 00:08:09,120 Speaker 3: he got to the written section of his law school 160 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:12,720 Speaker 3: application and said, I can't do this, like the comedy 161 00:08:12,760 --> 00:08:15,360 Speaker 3: is the only thing I can do, and then he 162 00:08:15,440 --> 00:08:17,720 Speaker 3: just didn't he just didn't finish the application. And then 163 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:21,480 Speaker 3: I flashed back so clearly to that interview, to reading 164 00:08:21,520 --> 00:08:24,560 Speaker 3: that like a year or two ago, that I was like, 165 00:08:24,640 --> 00:08:27,920 Speaker 3: I can't do this, and then I nullified. I avoided 166 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:31,080 Speaker 3: my exam. I told the proctor I was like I 167 00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:34,240 Speaker 3: need to leave, like I don't think I can finish this. 168 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 1: And they were like, oh, so you got up in 169 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:39,439 Speaker 1: the middle and just yeah, put your pencil down and 170 00:08:39,920 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 1: just said what a revelation in that moment and how 171 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:47,680 Speaker 1: you had the guts to actually get up and walk out. 172 00:08:47,920 --> 00:08:50,640 Speaker 3: But I was in this like weird day's fugue and 173 00:08:50,640 --> 00:08:52,840 Speaker 3: then like I remember just like walking down to the street, 174 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:54,920 Speaker 3: like getting out of the building and calling my parents 175 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:57,959 Speaker 3: and being like mom, Dad, like I just did this 176 00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:00,360 Speaker 3: thing and I think it's I think I I think 177 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:02,120 Speaker 3: I have to do it. And they were like, and 178 00:09:02,440 --> 00:09:03,640 Speaker 3: this is the moment where I think I need to 179 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:06,559 Speaker 3: give them some credit work because they were just like, Okay, 180 00:09:07,520 --> 00:09:10,360 Speaker 3: well if you feel that it's what you have to do, 181 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:11,280 Speaker 3: then we believe you. 182 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:14,719 Speaker 2: Did you panic after oh yeah, I think I think 183 00:09:14,760 --> 00:09:15,120 Speaker 2: I was. 184 00:09:15,400 --> 00:09:17,400 Speaker 3: Oh gosh, I'm so bad at these things and I 185 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:19,080 Speaker 3: need to talk to my therapist about this more. But 186 00:09:19,160 --> 00:09:21,000 Speaker 3: like I can't quite identify like what. 187 00:09:20,880 --> 00:09:22,120 Speaker 2: That's okay, I'm here. 188 00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:24,920 Speaker 3: How much should I Billy? You? Are you in network. 189 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:27,120 Speaker 2: No, you know, first one's on the house. 190 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:30,079 Speaker 3: Oh great, great, great, thank goodness. I but yeah, I 191 00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:34,679 Speaker 3: think it was like some sort of anxiety moment, an 192 00:09:34,679 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 3: episode of something where I was just like rocketing out 193 00:09:38,720 --> 00:09:41,240 Speaker 3: of this situation that I'd been in for four years 194 00:09:41,280 --> 00:09:42,960 Speaker 3: where it's like I'm going to be I'm on this path, 195 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:44,760 Speaker 3: I'm on the rails to like be this doctor. And 196 00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:47,760 Speaker 3: then it just and this critical moment, I was just 197 00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:50,119 Speaker 3: like no, like it cannot continue. 198 00:09:50,520 --> 00:09:54,760 Speaker 1: So you decide you're going to you make that huge pivot, 199 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:59,839 Speaker 1: which is truly an amazing not what moment? What did 200 00:09:59,880 --> 00:10:05,200 Speaker 1: you do to break in so to speak to the business. 201 00:10:05,280 --> 00:10:08,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean I well, first of all, my parents 202 00:10:08,320 --> 00:10:10,200 Speaker 3: were like, we're gonna help you with like your rent 203 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:11,840 Speaker 3: for another like a few months. 204 00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:14,440 Speaker 2: And then after that, you were they living in Colorado? Still? 205 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:17,040 Speaker 3: Yes, yes, and they still are. They're they're they're they're 206 00:10:17,080 --> 00:10:19,360 Speaker 3: having a great time. There, lots of nature for them 207 00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:23,480 Speaker 3: to enjoy. They were like, you sort of have to 208 00:10:23,520 --> 00:10:25,800 Speaker 3: figure it out in New York and then if you 209 00:10:25,840 --> 00:10:28,400 Speaker 3: can't really hack it in a year, then you should 210 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:31,200 Speaker 3: move back home with us. And so there were stakes 211 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:35,000 Speaker 3: involved immediately, obviously, not that there weren't already, but at 212 00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:37,760 Speaker 3: that point I had been pretty aimless. I was taking 213 00:10:37,800 --> 00:10:42,120 Speaker 3: classes at this theater in the city, the Upper Citizens Brigade. 214 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:45,599 Speaker 1: I love UCP, Yeah, uc B, Yeah, it was I 215 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 1: just I've done some of their their nighttime shows. 216 00:10:49,080 --> 00:10:51,960 Speaker 3: That's right. The yeah, I remember you did monologues for 217 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:55,120 Speaker 3: like the Harold or the ass Cat or like yeah 218 00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:59,440 Speaker 3: those shows. Yeah, and so yeah, like it was, it 219 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:00,720 Speaker 3: was I was trying. I was like I was like 220 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:04,320 Speaker 3: finding people within that little coterie of like people who 221 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:05,880 Speaker 3: were taking classes at the same time as me, and 222 00:11:05,880 --> 00:11:09,319 Speaker 3: then we started little sketch groups andprop groups and then 223 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:12,080 Speaker 3: and then we were just fortunate enough that like you know, 224 00:11:12,559 --> 00:11:15,280 Speaker 3: management sort of like took notice and they would come 225 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:19,439 Speaker 3: to shows, they would sign people, and people would get 226 00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:21,959 Speaker 3: plucked up and you know, raptured into like the sky. 227 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:25,720 Speaker 3: And then like I I was like pounding the papent 228 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:27,200 Speaker 3: for like a few years like they were. It was 229 00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:30,880 Speaker 3: about like five ish years of just like doing shows, 230 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:34,000 Speaker 3: not knowing if anybody would come, not knowing if anybody cared, 231 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:36,880 Speaker 3: booking people, just trying to make it work. But then 232 00:11:36,920 --> 00:11:38,800 Speaker 3: the thing that you don't realize is you developed that 233 00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:42,000 Speaker 3: is you develop reps. You like put in the hard yards. 234 00:11:42,040 --> 00:11:45,200 Speaker 3: You like you've bombed enough times that you're not scared 235 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:48,360 Speaker 3: of bombing anymore. You have met people that you don't 236 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:50,280 Speaker 3: realize you're gonna work with for the rest of your life. 237 00:11:50,320 --> 00:11:52,840 Speaker 3: And I mean it's all these really nice things that 238 00:11:52,880 --> 00:11:56,160 Speaker 3: build up with time and with like experience. 239 00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:07,000 Speaker 4: Well, you've talked about your parents and the more positive 240 00:12:07,040 --> 00:12:11,679 Speaker 4: relationship that that you had with them and the support 241 00:12:11,760 --> 00:12:13,760 Speaker 4: that they gave you over the years for your career, 242 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:16,600 Speaker 4: but then you've also been very open about a more 243 00:12:16,679 --> 00:12:19,120 Speaker 4: fraught time in your relationship with them, which is when 244 00:12:19,160 --> 00:12:19,800 Speaker 4: you came out. 245 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:21,440 Speaker 2: Can you talk a little bit about that. 246 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:25,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean I came out not quite on my 247 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:29,199 Speaker 3: own terms. Mom came home one day, used the family computer, 248 00:12:29,679 --> 00:12:33,840 Speaker 3: remember those like you used the family computer computer? Yeah, yeah, yeah, 249 00:12:33,840 --> 00:12:38,160 Speaker 3: And then like you know, saw some like proof or whatever, 250 00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:39,520 Speaker 3: and like there was no there was no there was 251 00:12:39,559 --> 00:12:44,800 Speaker 3: it was irrefutable evidence, and so you know, my parents 252 00:12:44,840 --> 00:12:49,120 Speaker 3: were these are these two very scientific people. And then 253 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:51,959 Speaker 3: I think I think in some ways, like scientific people 254 00:12:52,040 --> 00:12:54,280 Speaker 3: end up being a little bit more dogmatic sometimes, right, 255 00:12:54,320 --> 00:12:57,960 Speaker 3: and they feel like there are solutions to problems or 256 00:12:57,960 --> 00:13:00,400 Speaker 3: that there are like axioms that have to be like 257 00:13:01,040 --> 00:13:02,720 Speaker 3: addressed in a certain way. And they I think they 258 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:06,360 Speaker 3: saw my sexuality, my queerness is something that had to 259 00:13:06,360 --> 00:13:10,640 Speaker 3: be like addressed rather than you know, understood or celebrated. 260 00:13:10,679 --> 00:13:12,400 Speaker 3: I think they I think they saw it as like 261 00:13:12,440 --> 00:13:16,800 Speaker 3: this anomalous thing. And I don't fully I don't fully 262 00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:19,560 Speaker 3: blame them. I think they were I mean, what they 263 00:13:19,559 --> 00:13:21,800 Speaker 3: were telling me was they were like, we never we 264 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:25,199 Speaker 3: did not grow up around any people like this when 265 00:13:25,240 --> 00:13:28,520 Speaker 3: we were kids. And I kept saying, even as a teenager, 266 00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:29,920 Speaker 3: I was I knew. I was like, no, you did. 267 00:13:29,960 --> 00:13:32,640 Speaker 3: You just didn't ever hear about them because you were 268 00:13:32,679 --> 00:13:36,800 Speaker 3: living in this like culture that like never incentivized or 269 00:13:36,840 --> 00:13:39,760 Speaker 3: motivated people to do this or to be public about this, right, 270 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:43,840 Speaker 3: And so they it was just a lot of I'd 271 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:46,920 Speaker 3: seen the pain I had caused, and then at a certain 272 00:13:46,920 --> 00:13:49,079 Speaker 3: point I convinced myself, like I have to do something 273 00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:51,360 Speaker 3: to like solve this, like I'd seen my dad cry 274 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:52,720 Speaker 3: once before. 275 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:55,480 Speaker 1: And then but what you said, the pain you caused 276 00:13:55,960 --> 00:13:58,560 Speaker 1: just by being you, Well, yeah, that's the way you 277 00:13:58,640 --> 00:13:59,480 Speaker 1: interpreted it. 278 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:01,560 Speaker 3: That's the way at the time. At the time, it 279 00:14:01,559 --> 00:14:03,720 Speaker 3: felt like it was my fault that my dad was 280 00:14:03,720 --> 00:14:07,640 Speaker 3: crying every single day, and so my parents, my dad 281 00:14:07,679 --> 00:14:10,240 Speaker 3: would drive me down to Colorado Springs, a home of 282 00:14:10,240 --> 00:14:12,480 Speaker 3: like the megachurches and you know, focus on the family 283 00:14:12,520 --> 00:14:15,640 Speaker 3: and all this stuff, where there's there's just like a 284 00:14:15,760 --> 00:14:20,000 Speaker 3: pretty interesting community of like conversion therapists there. I mean 285 00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:22,560 Speaker 3: there aren't there anymore. It's been it's been made illegal 286 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:26,120 Speaker 3: now thankfully, but at the time very much this like 287 00:14:26,400 --> 00:14:33,040 Speaker 3: weirdly legitimized school of thought within like psychology or whatever 288 00:14:33,120 --> 00:14:37,840 Speaker 3: of like clinical psychology, and went to go see this doctor. 289 00:14:37,960 --> 00:14:42,040 Speaker 3: Basically it was eight weeks of this. It was getting 290 00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 3: pathologized on like my desire, which like you know, I've 291 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:48,520 Speaker 3: like since then spend a lot of time like sort 292 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:51,560 Speaker 3: of healing from. And but I will say, like the 293 00:14:51,880 --> 00:14:56,560 Speaker 3: the now, what of that really has Like it's put 294 00:14:56,560 --> 00:14:58,200 Speaker 3: me in a position now where I like I never 295 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:01,440 Speaker 3: second guess, I never questioned anything about myself. Now it's 296 00:15:01,480 --> 00:15:06,280 Speaker 3: like if like, especially when it comes to like my 297 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:08,480 Speaker 3: my queerness, I'm just like no, Like this is like 298 00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:11,080 Speaker 3: it's been I've I've been at war with myself, you know, 299 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:13,000 Speaker 3: and like I want. 300 00:15:12,920 --> 00:15:15,960 Speaker 1: Do you remember the tipping point when you when you 301 00:15:16,040 --> 00:15:18,880 Speaker 1: decided to tell your parents this is who I am 302 00:15:19,440 --> 00:15:21,280 Speaker 1: and I won't. 303 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:25,680 Speaker 3: Change it was it was end of college because basically 304 00:15:25,680 --> 00:15:29,080 Speaker 3: this this all happened senior year of high school and 305 00:15:29,120 --> 00:15:31,200 Speaker 3: they gave me this ultimate and they were like, you're 306 00:15:31,240 --> 00:15:35,000 Speaker 3: gonna go and then you're gonna go to New York 307 00:15:35,400 --> 00:15:38,120 Speaker 3: where your sister is, and like she had this very 308 00:15:38,200 --> 00:15:42,720 Speaker 3: unenviable job of being like the intermediary between my parents 309 00:15:42,720 --> 00:15:46,040 Speaker 3: and me, and she was put in a really tough position. 310 00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:48,200 Speaker 3: But then she left and then I came back out 311 00:15:48,240 --> 00:15:51,160 Speaker 3: again in college to everybody, and then by senior year, 312 00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:54,200 Speaker 3: I was just like this is there's no like I 313 00:15:54,240 --> 00:15:57,080 Speaker 3: can't hide this. It just it really was like a 314 00:15:57,200 --> 00:16:01,600 Speaker 3: daily exercise of a daily strain of being like, all right, 315 00:16:01,640 --> 00:16:03,680 Speaker 3: what am I going to say to my parents about this? 316 00:16:03,840 --> 00:16:05,760 Speaker 3: And you know what am I going to say when 317 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:08,280 Speaker 3: they ask me about that? And it just became this 318 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:12,080 Speaker 3: like wait and it just it just at a certain time, 319 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:13,400 Speaker 3: it's a little too much to bear. 320 00:16:13,560 --> 00:16:16,600 Speaker 1: Literally, does your relationship readily heal? 321 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:21,040 Speaker 3: No, certainly not. It took a while, but then but 322 00:16:21,040 --> 00:16:22,960 Speaker 3: then it was like and like my parents had like 323 00:16:23,320 --> 00:16:25,680 Speaker 3: never asked me about anyone I was dating, even before 324 00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:27,440 Speaker 3: I was out of the closet. They like they were 325 00:16:27,560 --> 00:16:31,200 Speaker 3: not interested in that at all. And then like I 326 00:16:31,240 --> 00:16:32,640 Speaker 3: think it was two summers ago, I just went to 327 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:34,600 Speaker 3: the grocery store with my mom and Atlanta. My sister 328 00:16:34,680 --> 00:16:39,320 Speaker 3: lives in Atlanta now she's got three kids. Just like 329 00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:41,360 Speaker 3: everyone's doing great. But yeah, we went to my mom 330 00:16:41,360 --> 00:16:42,720 Speaker 3: and I went to the grocery store and then she 331 00:16:42,840 --> 00:16:44,080 Speaker 3: just asked out an nowhere. She was like, are you 332 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:47,320 Speaker 3: seeing anybody? Are you have a boyfriend? I was like no, 333 00:16:47,480 --> 00:16:51,200 Speaker 3: But there was something so like there was just something 334 00:16:51,320 --> 00:16:55,840 Speaker 3: so emotionally impactful about that about her just being curious 335 00:16:55,880 --> 00:16:59,640 Speaker 3: about her asking me unprompted, like, you know, what's your life? Like, 336 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:02,000 Speaker 3: that's incredible that it was nice. 337 00:17:02,160 --> 00:17:04,560 Speaker 1: I'd love to talk to you about SNL because it's yeah, 338 00:17:04,640 --> 00:17:06,959 Speaker 1: dream come true for so many people. 339 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:09,080 Speaker 2: How did that come about? So? 340 00:17:09,119 --> 00:17:11,840 Speaker 3: I was in this sketch group in New York for 341 00:17:11,880 --> 00:17:15,119 Speaker 3: a while and then one of our members sent in 342 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:17,600 Speaker 3: a packet to submit herself as a writer. Her named 343 00:17:17,600 --> 00:17:20,520 Speaker 3: Sudie Green. She worked there for six years. She was 344 00:17:20,520 --> 00:17:24,320 Speaker 3: a writing supervisor, very prolific person in her time there. 345 00:17:24,680 --> 00:17:26,439 Speaker 3: But she was the first person we were like twenty three. 346 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:28,120 Speaker 3: She was the first person to get sort of like 347 00:17:28,320 --> 00:17:30,119 Speaker 3: I'm going to use this sword again, like raptured up 348 00:17:30,119 --> 00:17:32,919 Speaker 3: into the spaceship that was like SNL. We were like, 349 00:17:32,920 --> 00:17:34,800 Speaker 3: oh my god, like someone's made it. Like it was 350 00:17:34,800 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 3: such a moment, you know, we were like, is this 351 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:40,159 Speaker 3: like a rising tide sort of thing, like you know, 352 00:17:40,280 --> 00:17:43,679 Speaker 3: are we all gonna like come up with her or whatever? 353 00:17:43,760 --> 00:17:46,080 Speaker 3: And it seemed for a second like we just needed 354 00:17:46,119 --> 00:17:48,280 Speaker 3: to give her time to like develop, because I mean, 355 00:17:48,320 --> 00:17:51,760 Speaker 3: her first year at SNL was really tough, and it 356 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:54,120 Speaker 3: always is for everybody, but especially for her. I think 357 00:17:54,160 --> 00:17:56,120 Speaker 3: like she was entering the show at a time when 358 00:17:56,119 --> 00:17:59,639 Speaker 3: it was super competitive within the show, like this is 359 00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:02,800 Speaker 3: right way, and like Kate McKinnon was doing Hillary, and 360 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:04,719 Speaker 3: like you know, there were so many eyes on it. 361 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:08,280 Speaker 3: So I didn't ever consider being on the show or 362 00:18:08,320 --> 00:18:10,639 Speaker 3: being involved in any way. As someone who grew up 363 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:13,800 Speaker 3: loving it, obsessed with it. I would bring vhs is 364 00:18:13,840 --> 00:18:16,560 Speaker 3: to school the next day, not of like the best ofs, 365 00:18:16,560 --> 00:18:18,520 Speaker 3: but I would just I would just record the night 366 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:21,359 Speaker 3: before or that or that weekend's SNL and bring it 367 00:18:21,400 --> 00:18:25,680 Speaker 3: to school. For like certain teachers, that's illegal. It's illegal, No, 368 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:26,720 Speaker 3: I was I wasn't. 369 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:30,359 Speaker 1: Distributing criminal Oh okay, you were distributing all right. 370 00:18:30,520 --> 00:18:32,239 Speaker 3: Good, yeah, there you go. I was just like, I 371 00:18:32,280 --> 00:18:33,800 Speaker 3: was just like prass, like did you see this? I 372 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:39,280 Speaker 3: brought a tape like so so corny. But anyway, my 373 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:41,720 Speaker 3: manager at the time was like, you know, SNL is 374 00:18:41,840 --> 00:18:44,119 Speaker 3: looking at cast members if you want to send in 375 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:47,040 Speaker 3: a five minute tape of stuff. I was like, they're 376 00:18:47,160 --> 00:18:51,960 Speaker 3: never gonna hire an effeminate Asian man. What do I 377 00:18:52,040 --> 00:18:55,480 Speaker 3: have to lose? I should just like challenge myself to 378 00:18:55,560 --> 00:18:59,520 Speaker 3: make five minutes of stuff of like impressions, characters, whatever. 379 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:02,840 Speaker 3: Let me just try it as an exercise. And I did. 380 00:19:03,040 --> 00:19:04,639 Speaker 3: I did not do it. I did not make it 381 00:19:04,680 --> 00:19:08,479 Speaker 3: with the intention of it being seen by anybody of 382 00:19:08,520 --> 00:19:12,000 Speaker 3: it like getting me anywhere. And I think that's sort 383 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:14,720 Speaker 3: of what was like nice about it was because I 384 00:19:14,800 --> 00:19:17,919 Speaker 3: was the stakes were completely off and I was like, 385 00:19:18,040 --> 00:19:19,560 Speaker 3: let me do what I think is funny. 386 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:21,040 Speaker 2: Do you remember what you did? 387 00:19:21,200 --> 00:19:24,040 Speaker 3: Yeah? I did. I did. I did this trade minister 388 00:19:24,160 --> 00:19:25,760 Speaker 3: character that I did on the show that I ended 389 00:19:25,840 --> 00:19:27,960 Speaker 3: up doing on the show. I did the soul cycle 390 00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:30,080 Speaker 3: instructor that I ended up doing on the show. I 391 00:19:30,119 --> 00:19:34,160 Speaker 3: did the model for like those choking posters that ended 392 00:19:34,200 --> 00:19:36,879 Speaker 3: up being on the show. I did like a George 393 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:40,200 Speaker 3: Taque impression. I had like a very limited set of 394 00:19:40,240 --> 00:19:42,760 Speaker 3: things to work with, like they wanted impressions and I 395 00:19:42,800 --> 00:19:44,959 Speaker 3: was like, there are only a handful of Asian public 396 00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:46,600 Speaker 3: figures that I can like mimic here. 397 00:19:47,040 --> 00:19:49,480 Speaker 1: And what was the process like that? What do they 398 00:19:49,680 --> 00:19:51,320 Speaker 1: call you right after that? Or do you have to 399 00:19:51,359 --> 00:19:53,000 Speaker 1: go in in person. 400 00:19:53,040 --> 00:19:54,920 Speaker 3: After this submission? Like I hear back a couple of 401 00:19:54,960 --> 00:19:57,600 Speaker 3: weeks later, they're my manager's like, okay, well they're they 402 00:19:57,680 --> 00:19:59,399 Speaker 3: liked your tape. They want you to perform at this 403 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:02,600 Speaker 3: live show case where the producers come and watch you. 404 00:20:03,080 --> 00:20:06,000 Speaker 3: And I was like really, And then I was like this, 405 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:08,000 Speaker 3: this isn't going to go over that great. I go 406 00:20:08,920 --> 00:20:11,320 Speaker 3: it goes well, and then the next week they're like 407 00:20:11,320 --> 00:20:13,000 Speaker 3: they want you to come in for a screen test, 408 00:20:13,080 --> 00:20:16,440 Speaker 3: and I was like I kept clearing each stage gate 409 00:20:16,480 --> 00:20:18,720 Speaker 3: in a way that I was like, this wasn't supposed 410 00:20:18,720 --> 00:20:21,600 Speaker 3: to happen, Like so this literally was not what I 411 00:20:21,680 --> 00:20:24,080 Speaker 3: meant to happen at all. And then I went in 412 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:26,639 Speaker 3: for the screen test. Did that I remember coming out 413 00:20:26,640 --> 00:20:28,840 Speaker 3: of my screen test, like I was doing my George 414 00:20:28,880 --> 00:20:32,200 Speaker 3: to k impression, but it was him like fusing with 415 00:20:33,760 --> 00:20:36,919 Speaker 3: Facebook to become like the Singularity. It was like really 416 00:20:37,119 --> 00:20:39,359 Speaker 3: stupid high concept. But I was in this like silver 417 00:20:40,359 --> 00:20:43,400 Speaker 3: one piece suit, the silver onesie, and I remember walking 418 00:20:43,440 --> 00:20:46,320 Speaker 3: out like with my bag of props, and then Kate 419 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:49,360 Speaker 3: was there, Kate Mini Kinnon was watching like no one 420 00:20:49,359 --> 00:20:51,199 Speaker 3: else was there, but it was just Kate watching in 421 00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:53,239 Speaker 3: her like little hoodie, and she just gave me this 422 00:20:53,320 --> 00:20:56,080 Speaker 3: hug like I'd never met her before. She was like 423 00:20:56,200 --> 00:20:59,480 Speaker 3: that was brilliant, and I was like that that's all 424 00:20:59,480 --> 00:21:02,159 Speaker 3: that mattered. I was able to make her laugh. I 425 00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:06,440 Speaker 3: impressed her. I left. They did not hire anybody that year. 426 00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:08,679 Speaker 3: They hired like two people on CAST. I was not 427 00:21:08,760 --> 00:21:11,560 Speaker 3: one of them, but I had met with Lauren. It 428 00:21:11,600 --> 00:21:14,240 Speaker 3: didn't really go great, I think. I think the first 429 00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:16,920 Speaker 3: thing I said when I went into that office was like, yeah, 430 00:21:16,960 --> 00:21:18,919 Speaker 3: I grew up in Quebec and I speak French, and 431 00:21:18,960 --> 00:21:23,320 Speaker 3: like I was so I was so like I was 432 00:21:23,359 --> 00:21:25,399 Speaker 3: so brown, nosy about like wanting him to know that 433 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:27,919 Speaker 3: I was Canadian too. That like it didn't work. He 434 00:21:27,960 --> 00:21:28,960 Speaker 3: saw right through it. 435 00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:31,720 Speaker 1: So then how do you finally, how do you eventually 436 00:21:31,760 --> 00:21:32,680 Speaker 1: get on the show. 437 00:21:33,160 --> 00:21:37,360 Speaker 3: So I put that to rest, and then a year 438 00:21:37,440 --> 00:21:38,840 Speaker 3: later they were like, they want you to come back in, 439 00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:40,600 Speaker 3: and so I came back in with like five minutes 440 00:21:40,640 --> 00:21:43,160 Speaker 3: of new stuff. They called me back for another five minutes, 441 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:45,160 Speaker 3: and then I did it with my best friend Matt Rogers. 442 00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:47,920 Speaker 3: At the time. I got a writing job, he didn't, 443 00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:50,800 Speaker 3: and so they were like, we're not sure. So basically 444 00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:53,760 Speaker 3: that was the whole thing. And then they told me, 445 00:21:54,720 --> 00:21:56,359 Speaker 3: Lauren's not sure if he wants to put you on 446 00:21:56,400 --> 00:21:58,879 Speaker 3: the cast, but like, would you want to write for 447 00:21:58,920 --> 00:22:01,600 Speaker 3: the show, And it was like yes, absolutely. It was 448 00:22:01,680 --> 00:22:05,680 Speaker 3: just like my ticket into like this world that I 449 00:22:06,400 --> 00:22:08,480 Speaker 3: like didn't realize I wanted to be in for so long, 450 00:22:08,560 --> 00:22:11,320 Speaker 3: but now that it was like within reach, I was like, 451 00:22:11,480 --> 00:22:13,120 Speaker 3: please let me do I'll do anything. 452 00:22:19,960 --> 00:22:24,440 Speaker 1: Now you mentioned being an Asian American and being the 453 00:22:24,560 --> 00:22:29,320 Speaker 1: first was was that a conversation that ever happened? 454 00:22:29,560 --> 00:22:33,320 Speaker 3: It was pure, There wasn't the well. The only thing 455 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:37,399 Speaker 3: that like was ever acknowledged was I had written their 456 00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:40,439 Speaker 3: first season. I had done an okay job, like I 457 00:22:40,440 --> 00:22:43,639 Speaker 3: didn't like, you know, get anybody killed, and so like 458 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:48,240 Speaker 3: I did well, And so it's a good standard. That's 459 00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:51,240 Speaker 3: a good standard. Yeah, yeah, it's safe, right, I agree. 460 00:22:51,280 --> 00:22:53,919 Speaker 3: And then I I was working on a show that 461 00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:57,639 Speaker 3: summer after my first year, and then Lauren called and 462 00:22:57,760 --> 00:22:59,400 Speaker 3: was like, well, you know, I'm moving you to the cast. 463 00:22:59,400 --> 00:23:02,800 Speaker 3: I was like, oh okay. And then he had said 464 00:23:03,280 --> 00:23:05,800 Speaker 3: this was the plan all along, to like make sure 465 00:23:05,840 --> 00:23:08,040 Speaker 3: you wrote for a season, because I wanted you to 466 00:23:08,119 --> 00:23:11,800 Speaker 3: know how the ropes worked and how everything got made. 467 00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:14,080 Speaker 3: And then he was like and also he said, you're 468 00:23:14,080 --> 00:23:16,400 Speaker 3: gonna be looked at, You're gonna be scrutinized a little 469 00:23:16,400 --> 00:23:20,040 Speaker 3: bit differently than than other cast members, and so I 470 00:23:20,119 --> 00:23:22,399 Speaker 3: needed to make sure you weren't. I wasn't throwing you 471 00:23:22,440 --> 00:23:26,800 Speaker 3: out there completely overwhelmed that like you had some sense 472 00:23:26,840 --> 00:23:30,320 Speaker 3: of like what resources were available to you as a 473 00:23:30,359 --> 00:23:32,959 Speaker 3: cast member, and like, you know, I wanted to make 474 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:35,639 Speaker 3: sure you could write for yourself because it's gonna be 475 00:23:35,640 --> 00:23:37,240 Speaker 3: hard for people to like figure out what to do 476 00:23:37,320 --> 00:23:37,560 Speaker 3: with you. 477 00:23:38,520 --> 00:23:39,920 Speaker 2: Was he right? 478 00:23:40,080 --> 00:23:43,280 Speaker 3: I think I think on some level, I think like 479 00:23:43,400 --> 00:23:46,679 Speaker 3: everybody's everybody's on their own journey at SNL, like for 480 00:23:46,760 --> 00:23:49,280 Speaker 3: the for as long as the show's been on, and like, 481 00:23:49,359 --> 00:23:51,119 Speaker 3: I think part of mine has just been about like 482 00:23:51,119 --> 00:23:54,560 Speaker 3: showing people that, like I can do things besides the 483 00:23:54,680 --> 00:23:58,719 Speaker 3: expected things you might think of me to do, you know, 484 00:23:58,880 --> 00:24:03,439 Speaker 3: like I like being sort of a peripheral supporting player. 485 00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:06,280 Speaker 3: I like being someone who can just like straight man 486 00:24:06,320 --> 00:24:08,600 Speaker 3: as in like be like the straight person in a 487 00:24:08,600 --> 00:24:11,560 Speaker 3: sketch and let someone else be the communic focus. Like 488 00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:14,000 Speaker 3: I like that part of it just as much. And 489 00:24:14,040 --> 00:24:16,200 Speaker 3: it's been about like making sure I can like round 490 00:24:16,240 --> 00:24:17,159 Speaker 3: that out to people. 491 00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:19,600 Speaker 1: What is amazing to me is when I look at 492 00:24:19,840 --> 00:24:23,600 Speaker 1: your history and one of the reasons I was so 493 00:24:23,920 --> 00:24:25,680 Speaker 1: happy to have you in the show is the fact 494 00:24:25,680 --> 00:24:32,040 Speaker 1: that you have created opportunities for yourself. You know, you 495 00:24:32,119 --> 00:24:38,000 Speaker 1: built a full brand and with the following of Las Culturistas, yes, 496 00:24:37,520 --> 00:24:41,000 Speaker 1: and you know, and that talk to me about what 497 00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:43,240 Speaker 1: drives you to be able to do that. 498 00:24:44,320 --> 00:24:45,960 Speaker 2: I mean, I. 499 00:24:45,960 --> 00:24:49,679 Speaker 3: Feel like I've come from this place of using what 500 00:24:49,760 --> 00:24:53,080 Speaker 3: you have in front of you, Like that comes from 501 00:24:53,080 --> 00:24:55,600 Speaker 3: like moving around a lot, that comes from like those 502 00:24:55,680 --> 00:24:57,600 Speaker 3: those times when you're alone and you're like, well what 503 00:24:57,640 --> 00:24:59,359 Speaker 3: do I do? And like, like I like the I 504 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:02,159 Speaker 3: wish those times too, and I'm like, well, all I 505 00:25:02,240 --> 00:25:06,960 Speaker 3: have is me, and like what I can what things 506 00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:09,360 Speaker 3: can avail themselves to me, and then I like try 507 00:25:09,400 --> 00:25:11,719 Speaker 3: to make something out of that, and like I feel 508 00:25:11,720 --> 00:25:15,360 Speaker 3: like that's it's just like something that's like wired in 509 00:25:15,440 --> 00:25:19,880 Speaker 3: you at an early age. And I kind of feel 510 00:25:19,920 --> 00:25:23,840 Speaker 3: myself like getting further away from that, and like now, 511 00:25:24,040 --> 00:25:26,080 Speaker 3: right now, I'm just about I need to go back 512 00:25:26,080 --> 00:25:30,399 Speaker 3: to that place of like pure like creativity and pure 513 00:25:30,520 --> 00:25:33,080 Speaker 3: like of like making opportunities for myself because I feel 514 00:25:33,119 --> 00:25:35,000 Speaker 3: at this point, I'm like it's getting a little fallow, 515 00:25:35,040 --> 00:25:36,720 Speaker 3: it's getting a little stale, and that's okay, And I 516 00:25:36,720 --> 00:25:39,000 Speaker 3: think this is just gonna like motivating me to like 517 00:25:39,040 --> 00:25:41,560 Speaker 3: go into like the next thing with like a new vigor. 518 00:25:42,080 --> 00:25:44,040 Speaker 2: What is the next thing for you? 519 00:25:44,359 --> 00:25:46,760 Speaker 3: I feel like I've done a good job of like 520 00:25:47,359 --> 00:25:49,760 Speaker 3: not pulling up the ladder. I've gotten to help out 521 00:25:49,760 --> 00:25:51,840 Speaker 3: on like my friends projects as they've come up, and 522 00:25:51,880 --> 00:25:54,000 Speaker 3: like now they're like on a rocket ship to space 523 00:25:54,040 --> 00:25:57,000 Speaker 3: and it's like really incredible. And the next thing has 524 00:25:57,040 --> 00:25:59,560 Speaker 3: to be like something that I get to I get 525 00:25:59,600 --> 00:26:02,639 Speaker 3: to like create for myself while also like creating something 526 00:26:02,680 --> 00:26:04,760 Speaker 3: for other people. Like I know I'm talking, I'm speaking 527 00:26:04,800 --> 00:26:07,359 Speaker 3: in such vague terms, but I feel like that's what 528 00:26:07,400 --> 00:26:09,480 Speaker 3: I'm working with now is just to like start from 529 00:26:09,520 --> 00:26:14,760 Speaker 3: like this unformed, idealistic place almost and then see where 530 00:26:14,760 --> 00:26:15,600 Speaker 3: it goes from there. 531 00:26:16,080 --> 00:26:18,159 Speaker 1: I mean, I think that that's the healthiest way to 532 00:26:18,280 --> 00:26:23,879 Speaker 1: approach all of it. I'm in awe of your excitement 533 00:26:24,040 --> 00:26:29,119 Speaker 1: for what you do to continually creates. It's impassioned, but 534 00:26:29,200 --> 00:26:32,320 Speaker 1: I think it's it is an inspiration. And if you 535 00:26:32,400 --> 00:26:36,480 Speaker 1: were to look at your life up until now, what 536 00:26:36,680 --> 00:26:38,199 Speaker 1: would you say your through line is? 537 00:26:39,280 --> 00:26:42,280 Speaker 3: Oh, oh my god, what a question, Brooke. And for 538 00:26:42,400 --> 00:26:46,520 Speaker 3: you to say all that, I mean, if anyone's inspiring anybody, 539 00:26:46,560 --> 00:26:49,679 Speaker 3: it's like, I mean, you, you've like you've dealt with 540 00:26:49,720 --> 00:26:54,720 Speaker 3: like this, this scale of people attaching things on you 541 00:26:54,760 --> 00:26:57,119 Speaker 3: that like you don't want anything to do with, and like, 542 00:26:57,240 --> 00:27:00,399 Speaker 3: I mean, I think about you and I'm just likely 543 00:27:01,359 --> 00:27:03,280 Speaker 3: awe struck. And I mean to hear you say that 544 00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:06,119 Speaker 3: is really wild. So thank you. That's very nice. I mean, 545 00:27:06,480 --> 00:27:09,600 Speaker 3: I think the world of you. Thank you truly. 546 00:27:09,680 --> 00:27:10,920 Speaker 2: But what is your through line? 547 00:27:10,920 --> 00:27:16,280 Speaker 3: Do you think my through line is just just a compassion? 548 00:27:16,400 --> 00:27:16,600 Speaker 1: You know? 549 00:27:16,720 --> 00:27:21,200 Speaker 3: I feel like in several moments of my life it's 550 00:27:21,560 --> 00:27:24,240 Speaker 3: there are moments where where I've been like in situations 551 00:27:24,240 --> 00:27:27,800 Speaker 3: where there's a clear like person or thing or concept 552 00:27:27,840 --> 00:27:31,800 Speaker 3: to direct like your frustration, your anger, your hatred towards, 553 00:27:32,400 --> 00:27:36,760 Speaker 3: and it's just it never it never really is worthwhile 554 00:27:36,840 --> 00:27:39,680 Speaker 3: to like choose that to like fall in that trap, 555 00:27:39,720 --> 00:27:42,240 Speaker 3: and it's it's to always like like there's a world 556 00:27:42,280 --> 00:27:44,240 Speaker 3: in which I like never forgave my parents, or there's 557 00:27:44,280 --> 00:27:46,480 Speaker 3: a world in which, like I there's a there's a 558 00:27:46,480 --> 00:27:51,040 Speaker 3: world in which I like blame any any given person 559 00:27:51,080 --> 00:27:53,560 Speaker 3: for any given problem that I've come up against. And 560 00:27:53,600 --> 00:27:56,680 Speaker 3: it's just it's just so the through line for me, 561 00:27:56,760 --> 00:27:59,680 Speaker 3: the thing that's gotten me opportunity, the thing that's like 562 00:27:59,720 --> 00:28:02,199 Speaker 3: open doors for me, is just to be like, you 563 00:28:02,240 --> 00:28:04,959 Speaker 3: know what, I'm gonna give this person the benefit of 564 00:28:05,040 --> 00:28:06,960 Speaker 3: the benefit of the doubt. I'm sure they didn't like 565 00:28:08,359 --> 00:28:13,080 Speaker 3: come with this like weird like oblique intention, Like I 566 00:28:13,119 --> 00:28:16,560 Speaker 3: think it's fine if I just like if I can 567 00:28:16,640 --> 00:28:18,760 Speaker 3: like put something compassionate out there. I think that's what 568 00:28:18,840 --> 00:28:21,960 Speaker 3: lost culturistics is about. I think it's about like everybody 569 00:28:22,040 --> 00:28:26,160 Speaker 3: like coming together and just like I don't know, having 570 00:28:26,200 --> 00:28:29,240 Speaker 3: a good time. It's not like super mushy either. It's 571 00:28:29,320 --> 00:28:31,960 Speaker 3: like pretty, it's it's fun, it's biting, it's it's it's 572 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:35,159 Speaker 3: all of that, but it's it's patient and it's kind 573 00:28:35,280 --> 00:28:38,200 Speaker 3: and like I think that is that is the thing 574 00:28:38,240 --> 00:28:43,520 Speaker 3: that's like been my engine. 575 00:28:45,320 --> 00:28:46,760 Speaker 2: That was Boeing Yang. 576 00:28:47,160 --> 00:28:49,320 Speaker 1: If you want to hear more from him, go listen 577 00:28:49,360 --> 00:28:54,080 Speaker 1: to his hilarious podcast Last Culturist Does on the iHeartRadio 578 00:28:54,120 --> 00:28:56,440 Speaker 1: app or wherever you get your podcasts. 579 00:28:57,720 --> 00:29:03,760 Speaker 2: That is it for us today. Thanks for listening. Now. 580 00:29:03,800 --> 00:29:07,479 Speaker 1: What with Burke Shields is a production of iHeartRadio. Our 581 00:29:07,560 --> 00:29:11,760 Speaker 1: lead producer and wonderful showrunner is Julia Weaver. Additional research 582 00:29:11,960 --> 00:29:16,320 Speaker 1: and editing by Darby Masters and Abu Zafar. Our executive 583 00:29:16,320 --> 00:29:21,360 Speaker 1: producer is Christina Everett. The show is mixed by Bahied Fraser.