1 00:00:02,400 --> 00:00:05,240 Speaker 1: Today, on the bright side, we're exploring what we gain 2 00:00:05,440 --> 00:00:09,040 Speaker 1: when we face our fears with YouTube creator Michelle care. 3 00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:12,879 Speaker 2: I think that fear is always present, but you have 4 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:15,520 Speaker 2: to develop a relationship with it to mitigate it. Like 5 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:18,280 Speaker 2: there will never be a time when I or anyone 6 00:00:18,360 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 2: I believe truly has no fear, and I don't think 7 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:22,279 Speaker 2: that's the objective. 8 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:25,400 Speaker 1: I'm simone voice and this is the bright side from 9 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:30,320 Speaker 1: Hello Sunshine. My guest today has pulled off some wild 10 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:33,880 Speaker 1: stunts in the name of facing her fears. We're talking 11 00:00:34,159 --> 00:00:38,720 Speaker 1: escaping chains underwater. She's gone through the Navy Seals fitness 12 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:41,360 Speaker 1: test and even spent a day responding to nine to 13 00:00:41,400 --> 00:00:44,640 Speaker 1: one one calls. Uh, You're not gonna find me escaping 14 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:46,920 Speaker 1: chains in an underwater tank. I'll tell you that right now. 15 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:48,320 Speaker 2: But we all have. 16 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:52,279 Speaker 1: Fears, fears that hold us back in various ways. And 17 00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:56,560 Speaker 1: because of Michelle, I was inspired to revisit a fear 18 00:00:56,680 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 1: of my own, and that is my fear of heights. 19 00:01:00,720 --> 00:01:03,560 Speaker 1: You guys, I am so tired of being afraid of heights. 20 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:05,960 Speaker 1: I am so tired of hesitating at the top of 21 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:10,600 Speaker 1: every escalator and clinging to the side of a mountain 22 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:15,760 Speaker 1: to avoid exposed areas. It's something that just continues to 23 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:19,039 Speaker 1: resurface for me, and that's why I want to revisit it. 24 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:22,280 Speaker 1: So that's how I found myself at a local climbing 25 00:01:22,319 --> 00:01:25,840 Speaker 1: gym scaling a wall with my son Logan, here I go. 26 00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 1: I am catching up, sweetee. I challenge my son to 27 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:31,920 Speaker 1: go all the way to the top, and now I'm 28 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:32,480 Speaker 1: regretting this. 29 00:01:33,160 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 2: I love you too. I'm gonna go for it. 30 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 1: I am super high and I'm shaking it getting to 31 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 1: the top of a rock wall. That's a big step 32 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:52,160 Speaker 1: for me, but it's small potatoes for Michelle care On 33 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:55,640 Speaker 1: her viral YouTube show Challenge Accepted, she takes on these 34 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:58,920 Speaker 1: physical and emotional stunts that are not for the faint 35 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:02,600 Speaker 1: of heart. Y'all. Michelle's career in media actually started at 36 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:05,320 Speaker 1: BuzzFeed while she was also training and racing as a 37 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 1: professional cyclist, and then she took this huge leap. She 38 00:02:09,480 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 1: quit BuzzFeed and bet on herself. And if you've been 39 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:15,600 Speaker 1: listening to our show, this is a theme that comes 40 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:18,919 Speaker 1: up over and over again. She didn't have another job 41 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:23,359 Speaker 1: lined up. Instead, she decided to bring her two passions together, 42 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 1: the physical challenges and digital videos. Well, fast forward almost 43 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:31,600 Speaker 1: a decade later, and she has over five million followers, 44 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:35,760 Speaker 1: with some of her videos reaching sixteen million views. She 45 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:39,080 Speaker 1: really has endeavored to do it all, from sitting in 46 00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:42,880 Speaker 1: a snake pit, training as the Secret Service, or doing 47 00:02:42,919 --> 00:02:46,960 Speaker 1: squats like a Victoria's Secret Model. But Michelle's secret sauce 48 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:50,480 Speaker 1: isn't that she takes on these huge tasks. She also 49 00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:54,400 Speaker 1: is so real about the failures. She still will air 50 00:02:54,480 --> 00:02:57,920 Speaker 1: the video even if she doesn't meet a challenge, and 51 00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:01,760 Speaker 1: that's what makes her videos so relatable, compelling, and thrilling 52 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:04,880 Speaker 1: to watch the next barrier Michelle's trying to break through. 53 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:09,360 Speaker 1: It's actually in Hollywood today. Michelle is laser focused on 54 00:03:09,400 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 1: winning an Emmy. It's an achievement that few YouTubers have accomplished. 55 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:17,280 Speaker 1: With lofty goals like these, it may sound like Michelle 56 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 1: is fearless, but what I think you'll see in today's 57 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:26,840 Speaker 1: conversation is that Michelle's relationship to fear is actually really nuanced. 58 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:31,040 Speaker 1: We unpack how she tackles huge goals, measures success, and 59 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:34,840 Speaker 1: still keeps raising the bar for herself because ultimately, what 60 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:37,320 Speaker 1: scares her the most is not living her life to 61 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 1: the fullest. I made it. I'm proud of myself. That 62 00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:50,080 Speaker 1: was scary. All right, let's get into it with Michelle Carey. 63 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 1: Michelle Carey, Welcome to the bright Side. 64 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:55,760 Speaker 2: Oh my gosh, thank you for having me. 65 00:03:56,120 --> 00:03:58,080 Speaker 1: Well, it's not every day that we have a guest 66 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:01,240 Speaker 1: who has I don't know, jumped out of playing trained 67 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:01,880 Speaker 1: with the Army. 68 00:04:02,120 --> 00:04:06,839 Speaker 2: You've even escaped from a Houdini water tank. Yes, who 69 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:10,360 Speaker 2: are you? Michelle? Like, how are you even real. 70 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:12,000 Speaker 1: I was watching that episode and I have to be 71 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:14,520 Speaker 1: honest like it it made me tear up at the 72 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:18,039 Speaker 1: end because you could see how intense it was for you. 73 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:21,479 Speaker 1: I'll be honest, like, there was a moment when I 74 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:23,279 Speaker 1: wasn't sure if you were going to be able to 75 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:27,000 Speaker 1: pull it off. Did you feel that uncertainty as well? 76 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:31,160 Speaker 2: It was one of the most intense experiences of my life. 77 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:33,479 Speaker 2: I mean, and this is included in the episode. And 78 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:37,599 Speaker 2: it is true that the attempts I had in rehearsal 79 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:42,160 Speaker 2: were all failures. I would get in there and have 80 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:46,640 Speaker 2: to give a signal to the stunt team I'm not ready. 81 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:49,040 Speaker 2: I need to get out. And there wasn't really a 82 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:53,240 Speaker 2: smooth run through until the night of And thank goodness, 83 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:57,520 Speaker 2: it went well and I felt completely safe with that team. 84 00:04:57,560 --> 00:05:00,919 Speaker 2: But my objective was to get through the entire performance, 85 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:04,799 Speaker 2: and you know, fully make my way through the entire escape, 86 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:08,200 Speaker 2: and I think that that has been a really special 87 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:12,840 Speaker 2: part of Challenge accept It is getting to confront these 88 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:16,000 Speaker 2: fears head on. And originally I started the show because 89 00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:18,960 Speaker 2: I wrote all my fears on a whiteboard and then 90 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:22,520 Speaker 2: connected each fear to a different profession or circumstance where 91 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:23,600 Speaker 2: I'd have to confront it head on. 92 00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:25,240 Speaker 1: Wow, So that's where this started. 93 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:29,120 Speaker 2: Yes, that's where it started. But then over time it 94 00:05:29,160 --> 00:05:32,400 Speaker 2: has shifted into something that I couldn't have even imagined, 95 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:35,719 Speaker 2: where at first it was my own personal motivation of 96 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:39,400 Speaker 2: wanting to confront my fears, and now I feel so 97 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:44,359 Speaker 2: much more indebted to and motivated by the people of 98 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:48,160 Speaker 2: our community who find inspiration from the episode. So now 99 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:51,240 Speaker 2: when I am, you know, struggling to learn how to 100 00:05:51,279 --> 00:05:53,240 Speaker 2: hold my breath for three and a half minutes, I 101 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 2: genuinely imagine and think of specific comments, specific people who 102 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:00,839 Speaker 2: are a part of our community who have felt touched 103 00:06:00,839 --> 00:06:03,440 Speaker 2: by the episodes, because that, to me is a much 104 00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:11,360 Speaker 2: larger motivation and goal than just drawing upon myself, you know, would. 105 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:14,840 Speaker 1: You say that that's your Why is it to inspire 106 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:17,640 Speaker 1: others to be able to tackle the same kinds of 107 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:18,680 Speaker 1: challenges that you are? 108 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:23,080 Speaker 2: It is definitely. It's definitely the first thing I think 109 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:27,159 Speaker 2: of when we're producing an episode. We never hit upload 110 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 2: on any piece of content unless we feel as a 111 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:33,640 Speaker 2: team that it is educational, entertaining, and inspirational. And to 112 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:39,880 Speaker 2: hit that component of inspiration requires vulnerability and struggle, and 113 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:42,880 Speaker 2: I think that's what makes the episodes unique and interesting 114 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:45,120 Speaker 2: but also difficult to produce. 115 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:49,919 Speaker 1: Well, the reason why I started this conversation with the 116 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:53,159 Speaker 1: Houdini Tank is because to me, that one just really 117 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:56,599 Speaker 1: epitomizes your secret sauce and what you do. It's in 118 00:06:56,640 --> 00:07:00,200 Speaker 1: the commitment, thank you, because these aren't just a lot 119 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:02,000 Speaker 1: of people will do shows like this, but they do 120 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:05,120 Speaker 1: it in a gimmicky way, or they don't do it seriously. 121 00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:08,520 Speaker 1: So can you describe the process from start to finish 122 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:11,040 Speaker 1: of Michelle taking on a challenge? Yeah? 123 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:17,080 Speaker 2: Absolutely, I can use Whodini as an example for that project. First, 124 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:21,160 Speaker 2: we had several months of brainstorming and iteration. We didn't 125 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:23,120 Speaker 2: know it was going to be the episode that it 126 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:25,440 Speaker 2: would be at the beginning, as I mentioned earlier, we 127 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:28,000 Speaker 2: thought maybe we'll learn how to do card tricks and 128 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:30,640 Speaker 2: do a magic show, and it evolved into that. Then 129 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 2: there were several months of interviewing a variety of magicians 130 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:38,840 Speaker 2: and other people who have performed this stunt previously to 131 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:41,640 Speaker 2: get their opinion and feedback an insight and find the 132 00:07:41,760 --> 00:07:44,480 Speaker 2: right group of people to bring together. And in fact, 133 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 2: I would say that casting is one of the most 134 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:50,440 Speaker 2: important parts of this process for us, because we really 135 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:53,200 Speaker 2: want to work with the best of the best casting 136 00:07:53,280 --> 00:07:55,840 Speaker 2: the coaches and experts that we're got to working with. 137 00:07:56,280 --> 00:08:00,720 Speaker 2: So we interview several people typically for an episode to 138 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:03,560 Speaker 2: find you know, this is a person I'm going to 139 00:08:03,560 --> 00:08:06,800 Speaker 2: be spending every single day with for the next several months. 140 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:09,840 Speaker 2: We need to make sure that we align on values 141 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:13,400 Speaker 2: and that we gel together, and you know, even technical 142 00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:16,920 Speaker 2: things like they're well spoken on camera and can communicate 143 00:08:17,160 --> 00:08:20,760 Speaker 2: abstract concepts. Clearly, those are all important to me, and 144 00:08:20,760 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 2: we want to make sure they're a good person too, 145 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:25,080 Speaker 2: that we're promoting great people on the show. And then 146 00:08:25,120 --> 00:08:27,800 Speaker 2: from there it becomes you know, I'm training for six 147 00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:30,640 Speaker 2: weeks to learn how to hold my breath. And we're 148 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:34,360 Speaker 2: also working with a fabrication team to make a water 149 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:37,880 Speaker 2: torture salt that's my size, that holds that volume of water. 150 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:41,200 Speaker 2: There was a whole contraption to heat the tank because 151 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:44,479 Speaker 2: temperature of water is really important. All these little details. 152 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:47,080 Speaker 2: Then I ultimately perform the stunt, and then it's two 153 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:51,080 Speaker 2: to three months of post production, sound mixing, color, everything 154 00:08:51,120 --> 00:08:53,920 Speaker 2: before it goes up. And that's just for one episode, 155 00:08:54,040 --> 00:08:57,600 Speaker 2: and not every episode takes that long or requires that much. 156 00:08:57,800 --> 00:09:00,440 Speaker 2: But I would say that our team is you know, 157 00:09:00,480 --> 00:09:02,200 Speaker 2: I'm grateful to work with a group of people that 158 00:09:02,800 --> 00:09:05,880 Speaker 2: have that understanding of finding the midpoint of a Venn 159 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:10,439 Speaker 2: diagram of care, compassion, quality, and relevance. 160 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:14,960 Speaker 1: It's so clear that you care about quality and I 161 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:18,400 Speaker 1: saw that even before our mic started rolling you. You 162 00:09:18,440 --> 00:09:20,720 Speaker 1: asked me, what's our objective? What are we trying to 163 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:23,280 Speaker 1: do here today? And that's not something that a lot 164 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:26,440 Speaker 1: of guests will do, but it just it really lets 165 00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:28,960 Speaker 1: you in on how thoughtful you are about how you 166 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:32,679 Speaker 1: approach your work and how intentional you are. And I 167 00:09:32,760 --> 00:09:35,000 Speaker 1: answered you by saying, I just want to get to 168 00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:36,800 Speaker 1: know Michelle. I want to I want to know the 169 00:09:36,880 --> 00:09:41,080 Speaker 1: woman behind Challenge accepted. So I want to rewind a 170 00:09:41,120 --> 00:09:44,520 Speaker 1: bit and just get to know you more. I hear 171 00:09:44,559 --> 00:09:48,800 Speaker 1: that you have a twenty page document that you make 172 00:09:48,840 --> 00:09:50,840 Speaker 1: at the start of every new year. Is this true? 173 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:54,920 Speaker 2: This is looking at me like, I'm like, what my 174 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:58,560 Speaker 2: page document we're talking about? So you make a twenty 175 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:00,800 Speaker 2: page document at the start of a new year. 176 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:04,000 Speaker 1: And you analyze your goals by quarter? I do, and 177 00:10:04,080 --> 00:10:05,559 Speaker 1: are you still doing this? This is a practice that 178 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:06,360 Speaker 1: you say, yeah, I. 179 00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:09,440 Speaker 2: Just did the Q two review for twenty twenty five 180 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:14,000 Speaker 2: a few weeks. This is so in the weeds. You 181 00:10:14,160 --> 00:10:16,600 Speaker 2: definitely got me. This is a sexy type a talk 182 00:10:16,679 --> 00:10:18,559 Speaker 2: right here. This is yeah, if you want to talk 183 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:22,280 Speaker 2: Google calendar, you know, give me a sum function in 184 00:10:22,440 --> 00:10:25,600 Speaker 2: Google spreadsheet. That's my uh, that's my jam. 185 00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:28,760 Speaker 1: So take me into that process, though, what do you 186 00:10:28,840 --> 00:10:32,920 Speaker 1: discover through that process of creating such an extensive roadmap 187 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:33,800 Speaker 1: of your goals? 188 00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:37,520 Speaker 2: I am a person, you know, with my background and athletics. 189 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:40,960 Speaker 2: I operate best when there's a coach figure in my life, 190 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:44,120 Speaker 2: and that's clear from Challenge accepted. I always want to find, 191 00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:46,400 Speaker 2: you know, who's the best expert that can teach me 192 00:10:46,440 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 2: how to do whatever we're trying to learn, and I 193 00:10:49,559 --> 00:10:52,840 Speaker 2: treat my business and personal and professional life the same. 194 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:56,880 Speaker 2: So I work with a CEO coach, I, you know, 195 00:10:57,000 --> 00:10:59,840 Speaker 2: work with with another person who helps me with goal setting. 196 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:02,520 Speaker 2: I got to this point where I realized, you know, 197 00:11:03,120 --> 00:11:09,280 Speaker 2: I love that coach to a mentor mentee relationship and 198 00:11:10,080 --> 00:11:13,560 Speaker 2: really taking tangible advice and accountability from someone who's further 199 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:15,960 Speaker 2: along in their journey than I am. And so I 200 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:19,160 Speaker 2: just started applying that to like everything in my life 201 00:11:19,559 --> 00:11:23,319 Speaker 2: and I love it. And maybe it's a little bit overboard, 202 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:28,760 Speaker 2: but for someone like me, I believe in taking a 203 00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:31,880 Speaker 2: lofty goal and breaking it down. And you know, that's 204 00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:34,000 Speaker 2: what we do on Challenge Accepted. Like earlier this year, 205 00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:37,000 Speaker 2: when we asked the question, hey, it would be crazy 206 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:40,679 Speaker 2: to recreate Tom Cruise's stunt from Rogue Nation where he's 207 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:43,719 Speaker 2: hanging off the side of a military aircraft. You know, 208 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:46,040 Speaker 2: we throw that out on a brainstorm. But then our 209 00:11:46,040 --> 00:11:48,640 Speaker 2: team actually asked the question, Okay, who would be our 210 00:11:48,679 --> 00:11:51,520 Speaker 2: first phone call? Okay, maybe we could talk to someone 211 00:11:51,559 --> 00:11:53,720 Speaker 2: at the Secret Service who we worked with, and maybe 212 00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:56,080 Speaker 2: they'll know someone at the Department of Defense. Oh, when 213 00:11:56,120 --> 00:11:58,600 Speaker 2: we collaborated with the FAA last year. Maybe they could 214 00:11:58,760 --> 00:12:01,360 Speaker 2: help us get an experiment contract to do something like 215 00:12:01,840 --> 00:12:04,120 Speaker 2: These are the kinds of conversations that our team is 216 00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:06,760 Speaker 2: really adept in, and so it would be remiss of 217 00:12:06,800 --> 00:12:09,360 Speaker 2: me as a leader to not apply that to my 218 00:12:09,400 --> 00:12:13,560 Speaker 2: own growth, mentorship and leadership qualities. So yes, I make 219 00:12:13,920 --> 00:12:17,000 Speaker 2: a giant table at the beginning of every year. It 220 00:12:17,080 --> 00:12:26,120 Speaker 2: is divided by lifestyle, business, personal relationships, spirituality, and in 221 00:12:26,160 --> 00:12:30,320 Speaker 2: one column, I have tangible goals that are within my control. 222 00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:33,200 Speaker 2: So rather than saying, you know, one of our goals 223 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:36,560 Speaker 2: this year was like what it could have been. We 224 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:39,120 Speaker 2: want to win an Emmy. That's outside of our control. 225 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:41,680 Speaker 2: But what is within our control is doing the best 226 00:12:41,720 --> 00:12:44,560 Speaker 2: campaign we possibly can't and I'm grateful to our team 227 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:46,920 Speaker 2: that I think we really did this year. So we have, 228 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:50,520 Speaker 2: you know, tangible goals within our control and then measures 229 00:12:50,600 --> 00:12:53,280 Speaker 2: of how are we actually going to measure success for 230 00:12:53,320 --> 00:12:55,280 Speaker 2: the goal of the Emmy. It was Okay, I'm going 231 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:57,400 Speaker 2: to take as many meetings as I possibly can with 232 00:12:57,600 --> 00:12:59,920 Speaker 2: people who have done this before and learn from them. 233 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:04,200 Speaker 2: I am going to you know, find the best publicist 234 00:13:04,200 --> 00:13:07,400 Speaker 2: in the world. SHADOWT. Bailey and Emily to help me 235 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:11,120 Speaker 2: learn how to navigate this. And even if we don't 236 00:13:11,200 --> 00:13:15,000 Speaker 2: hit the lofty goal of winning an award one day, man, 237 00:13:15,040 --> 00:13:17,079 Speaker 2: can we say that we did the best to try. 238 00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:22,040 Speaker 2: And that's really the journey. Another thing that I do 239 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:24,920 Speaker 2: that as crazy is pretty much every minute of my 240 00:13:25,080 --> 00:13:29,080 Speaker 2: day is outlined in Google calendar, like even like fifteen 241 00:13:29,120 --> 00:13:31,079 Speaker 2: minute transition from this call to this call. 242 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:32,600 Speaker 1: Wow, And that's all built in. 243 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:34,959 Speaker 2: It's all built in because my book, if it's not 244 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:39,480 Speaker 2: written down, it won't happen. That's how I approach goals. 245 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:41,719 Speaker 2: I guess is if it's not written down, if it's 246 00:13:41,760 --> 00:13:45,200 Speaker 2: not put somewhere, then I'm going to just completely forget 247 00:13:45,240 --> 00:13:46,360 Speaker 2: and deprioritize it. 248 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:51,040 Speaker 1: Where does that sense of drive come from? You mentioned athletics. 249 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:52,200 Speaker 1: Is that where it started? 250 00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:55,040 Speaker 2: I think it really comes from you know, when I 251 00:13:55,080 --> 00:13:58,720 Speaker 2: really look inward and deeply at myself. My dad is 252 00:13:58,760 --> 00:14:03,079 Speaker 2: an immigrant from India and when he came to America, 253 00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:07,040 Speaker 2: he worked his ass off. I admire my dad so 254 00:14:07,120 --> 00:14:09,400 Speaker 2: much for that, and my mom also sacrificed a lot 255 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:12,000 Speaker 2: for our family, and so something that I think about 256 00:14:12,120 --> 00:14:16,640 Speaker 2: often is the honoring of that sacrifice and to me, 257 00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:21,440 Speaker 2: in you know whether or not it's right that honoring 258 00:14:21,520 --> 00:14:25,000 Speaker 2: of sacrifice is to make every moment count in the 259 00:14:25,040 --> 00:14:29,280 Speaker 2: privilege that I now have as their descendant. But also 260 00:14:29,640 --> 00:14:34,080 Speaker 2: I find immense drive from our audience. Like I mentioned earlier, 261 00:14:34,080 --> 00:14:38,320 Speaker 2: and when people approach us in airports or at target, 262 00:14:38,880 --> 00:14:42,120 Speaker 2: it's really special to hear how the most unexpected things 263 00:14:42,160 --> 00:14:46,800 Speaker 2: have impacted other people. And so meeting the people from 264 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:49,640 Speaker 2: our community in person is a massive motivator for me. 265 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:53,840 Speaker 2: And why the attention to detail matters and why trying 266 00:14:54,440 --> 00:14:59,960 Speaker 2: and caring matters. For me, It's about what's the greater purpose? 267 00:15:00,120 --> 00:15:02,960 Speaker 2: How is this giving back? How is this impacting other people? 268 00:15:03,320 --> 00:15:05,160 Speaker 2: Because if it isn't, then what is the point. 269 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:07,240 Speaker 1: We've got to take a short break. But we'll be 270 00:15:07,320 --> 00:15:13,520 Speaker 1: right back with Michelle Care. And we're back with Michelle Care. 271 00:15:13,960 --> 00:15:16,440 Speaker 1: So when it comes to you being a daredevil, were 272 00:15:16,440 --> 00:15:18,560 Speaker 1: you always that way? Did you always have a penchant 273 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:21,520 Speaker 1: for physicality and stunts? I know you were an athlete. 274 00:15:21,640 --> 00:15:25,280 Speaker 2: I mean no, okay, And in many ways I consider 275 00:15:25,320 --> 00:15:29,640 Speaker 2: myself an overthinker, an anxious person, and to me, challenge 276 00:15:29,640 --> 00:15:33,360 Speaker 2: accepted was my way to work through that. Actually, my 277 00:15:33,480 --> 00:15:37,680 Speaker 2: love for sport and cycling before I had my channel 278 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:41,280 Speaker 2: was also a way to work through that. So I 279 00:15:41,320 --> 00:15:44,360 Speaker 2: think that fear is always present, but you have to 280 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:47,000 Speaker 2: develop a relationship with it to mitigate it. Like there 281 00:15:47,040 --> 00:15:49,760 Speaker 2: will never be a time when I or anyone I 282 00:15:49,840 --> 00:15:52,920 Speaker 2: believe truly has no fear, and I don't think that's 283 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:55,880 Speaker 2: the objective. I think it's more about learning how to 284 00:15:57,000 --> 00:16:00,320 Speaker 2: know when to listen to it and when to have 285 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:02,120 Speaker 2: a conversation with it. 286 00:16:02,280 --> 00:16:04,600 Speaker 1: How would you describe your relationship with fear now? 287 00:16:05,960 --> 00:16:12,040 Speaker 2: My relationship with fear now is still evolving, honestly. I mean, yeah, 288 00:16:12,040 --> 00:16:15,240 Speaker 2: when we did the tom Cruise plane stunt a few 289 00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:19,000 Speaker 2: weeks ago, I was definitely nervous before getting strapped to 290 00:16:19,040 --> 00:16:23,360 Speaker 2: the side of that thing. But also I rest comfortably 291 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:27,160 Speaker 2: knowing I implicitly trust our team. We have the best 292 00:16:27,160 --> 00:16:29,680 Speaker 2: people in the world working on this stuff. So it's 293 00:16:29,760 --> 00:16:35,560 Speaker 2: a rationalization of I've done my homework, trust in the process. 294 00:16:36,040 --> 00:16:38,360 Speaker 2: And I think that's with anything, even like taking a 295 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:40,480 Speaker 2: test in school. You can study all you want and 296 00:16:40,520 --> 00:16:42,760 Speaker 2: you have to trust, like, Okay, I've done the best 297 00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:46,200 Speaker 2: that I can. I hope it comes through on the exam. 298 00:16:46,640 --> 00:16:50,200 Speaker 2: I prefer that actually, because it is constantly evolving. 299 00:16:50,680 --> 00:16:53,680 Speaker 1: I really like what you said about fear, that trying 300 00:16:53,680 --> 00:16:55,960 Speaker 1: to get to a point where fear doesn't exist is 301 00:16:56,040 --> 00:17:00,600 Speaker 1: it's not realistic and not an attainable goal. Yeah. I 302 00:17:00,640 --> 00:17:02,640 Speaker 1: think just acknowledging that fear is always going to be 303 00:17:02,640 --> 00:17:04,960 Speaker 1: there in the background has been helpful for me. And 304 00:17:06,119 --> 00:17:10,120 Speaker 1: I love my fear though, like I'm grateful for because 305 00:17:10,160 --> 00:17:12,320 Speaker 1: it pushes me to do things that I wouldn't only 306 00:17:12,440 --> 00:17:15,960 Speaker 1: do unless I were motivated by that desire to overcome 307 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:16,399 Speaker 1: that fear. 308 00:17:16,640 --> 00:17:20,119 Speaker 2: Yeah, and I think that negative emotions somepthing negative and 309 00:17:20,200 --> 00:17:25,960 Speaker 2: quotes fear, anxiety, jealousy, they are actually, you know, quantitative 310 00:17:25,960 --> 00:17:29,320 Speaker 2: indicators of things that matter to you, and they come 311 00:17:29,400 --> 00:17:32,679 Speaker 2: from a human place, so it's important to listen and 312 00:17:32,800 --> 00:17:35,119 Speaker 2: understand those. I have a question for you, what is 313 00:17:35,160 --> 00:17:38,440 Speaker 2: your biggest fear? Do you have one? You seem very relaxed. 314 00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:43,440 Speaker 1: You seem very relaxed. You know, I'm going to take 315 00:17:43,480 --> 00:17:46,120 Speaker 1: that as a compliment because I'm so not relaxed, and 316 00:17:46,640 --> 00:17:49,480 Speaker 1: I'm relaxed with you, but I'm so not relaxing this 317 00:17:49,520 --> 00:17:57,840 Speaker 1: season of life. My biggest fear is what you hear 318 00:17:58,240 --> 00:18:03,159 Speaker 1: palliative nurses talk about when they are you know conversing 319 00:18:03,160 --> 00:18:05,480 Speaker 1: with patients who are at the end of their life, 320 00:18:05,840 --> 00:18:08,360 Speaker 1: and one of the most common fears that comes up 321 00:18:08,560 --> 00:18:12,600 Speaker 1: is living a life that wasn't really mine, that didn't 322 00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:15,280 Speaker 1: feel like it was for me, like I was living 323 00:18:15,359 --> 00:18:18,000 Speaker 1: for someone else. That's my biggest fear. 324 00:18:18,800 --> 00:18:21,280 Speaker 2: So it's like an ownership of every decision you make. 325 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:25,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, and also not holding anything back, not leaving anything 326 00:18:25,760 --> 00:18:27,640 Speaker 1: on the table. Yeah, I want to go for it all. 327 00:18:28,560 --> 00:18:31,199 Speaker 1: I mean, it's just what you're doing with challenge accepted. 328 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:35,359 Speaker 1: It's like challenging myself. I want to constantly be learning, 329 00:18:35,480 --> 00:18:39,480 Speaker 1: constantly be challenging myself. So you've been making YouTube videos 330 00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:42,640 Speaker 1: on your own channel for almost ten years now, are 331 00:18:42,680 --> 00:18:45,440 Speaker 1: you gracious with yourself when you look back at your 332 00:18:45,560 --> 00:18:46,320 Speaker 1: early videos? 333 00:18:46,359 --> 00:18:49,280 Speaker 2: Oh my gosh, that's a tough one. I've heard this 334 00:18:49,400 --> 00:18:52,480 Speaker 2: saying a lot that if you aren't cringing at yourself 335 00:18:52,720 --> 00:18:58,000 Speaker 2: from last year, then you aren't growing. Yes, And I'm 336 00:18:58,040 --> 00:19:00,560 Speaker 2: going to subscribe to that because it a lot of 337 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:03,760 Speaker 2: the emotions I feel looking at some of the early work. 338 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:06,119 Speaker 2: But I have so much empathy and love for that 339 00:19:06,240 --> 00:19:08,760 Speaker 2: version of me who had no idea where it would go. 340 00:19:09,400 --> 00:19:13,159 Speaker 2: And I see all the things she was trying to 341 00:19:13,240 --> 00:19:16,480 Speaker 2: do to get better and to learn and to grow. 342 00:19:16,560 --> 00:19:19,199 Speaker 2: And honestly, I think that's been the biggest privilege of 343 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:27,360 Speaker 2: creating content online is that there's no board of directors 344 00:19:27,840 --> 00:19:31,879 Speaker 2: or people in suits that will say, hey, your show 345 00:19:31,920 --> 00:19:34,560 Speaker 2: didn't get enough views, it's not going to get another season. 346 00:19:35,040 --> 00:19:37,720 Speaker 2: As long as you have the drive and intention and willingness, 347 00:19:38,280 --> 00:19:40,840 Speaker 2: you can keep going and creating stuff online no matter 348 00:19:40,840 --> 00:19:43,080 Speaker 2: how many people are watching. And I think that that 349 00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:48,440 Speaker 2: was the greatest privilege I had growing up in this 350 00:19:48,760 --> 00:19:52,240 Speaker 2: era of the Internet, was the privilege of not just 351 00:19:52,359 --> 00:19:55,800 Speaker 2: like waiting in line for my turn at a studio 352 00:19:56,440 --> 00:19:59,000 Speaker 2: and working my way up that way, but instead actually 353 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:02,240 Speaker 2: working on the craft every single day. Yeah, of exactly 354 00:20:02,240 --> 00:20:03,080 Speaker 2: what I wanted to do. 355 00:20:03,359 --> 00:20:09,560 Speaker 1: So vulnerable putting your content out online and hoping people 356 00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:11,680 Speaker 1: are going to see it and like it, and then 357 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:17,600 Speaker 1: measuring yourself against other creators because it's such a visible format. 358 00:20:18,080 --> 00:20:21,280 Speaker 1: What if you learned about safeguarding yourself from some of 359 00:20:21,320 --> 00:20:22,000 Speaker 1: those traps? 360 00:20:23,040 --> 00:20:28,280 Speaker 2: Ooh, like comparison, Yeah, is comparison? 361 00:20:29,080 --> 00:20:31,560 Speaker 1: Is comparison something that you've ever struggled with on your 362 00:20:31,640 --> 00:20:33,240 Speaker 1: journey as a YouTube creator? 363 00:20:33,359 --> 00:20:37,360 Speaker 2: Of course, of course, and I think it's especially pointed 364 00:20:37,720 --> 00:20:41,800 Speaker 2: in our industry because the data is public. You know 365 00:20:42,600 --> 00:20:45,320 Speaker 2: when something has or has not performed well on other 366 00:20:45,359 --> 00:20:48,520 Speaker 2: people's channels on your own, yeah, and you can see 367 00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:51,840 Speaker 2: when someone's community doesn't like the work that they're doing, 368 00:20:52,040 --> 00:20:55,600 Speaker 2: so that is very scary. And also just having access 369 00:20:55,600 --> 00:20:58,359 Speaker 2: to this data of like, oh, one month is we 370 00:20:58,440 --> 00:21:00,879 Speaker 2: grew a lot that month, and this want this you 371 00:21:00,920 --> 00:21:04,160 Speaker 2: know less, so more of a plateau that negative self 372 00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:10,040 Speaker 2: talk can be very difficult to work with. And I 373 00:21:10,240 --> 00:21:15,280 Speaker 2: think that what's been helpful to me is judging the 374 00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:20,040 Speaker 2: content based on did I have fun making it? And 375 00:21:20,119 --> 00:21:22,919 Speaker 2: did our audience like it? And did our crew enjoy 376 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:27,840 Speaker 2: working on it? And oftentimes even if a video, let's say, underperforms, 377 00:21:28,640 --> 00:21:33,320 Speaker 2: but you know everybody loved making it, that can indicate okay, well, 378 00:21:33,320 --> 00:21:37,359 Speaker 2: how can we take the positives of this experience and 379 00:21:37,920 --> 00:21:41,760 Speaker 2: inch our way towards a better performing outcome, but maintain 380 00:21:41,840 --> 00:21:44,120 Speaker 2: what we loved about the project. I always think there's 381 00:21:44,119 --> 00:21:48,199 Speaker 2: something to learn and to apply, even in the quote failures. 382 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:50,760 Speaker 1: Well, I'm so glad that you brought that up, because 383 00:21:50,800 --> 00:21:52,679 Speaker 1: that's one of my favorite parts of your show. Are 384 00:21:52,760 --> 00:21:55,879 Speaker 1: these these lessons that you share at the end of 385 00:21:55,960 --> 00:22:01,000 Speaker 1: each episode, and also the honesty with which you reveal 386 00:22:01,160 --> 00:22:06,080 Speaker 1: the process to your audience because you are really open, Like, 387 00:22:06,160 --> 00:22:08,600 Speaker 1: if you didn't complete the challenge, You're going to show it. 388 00:22:08,680 --> 00:22:12,080 Speaker 1: If you if you struggled getting through a certain part 389 00:22:12,080 --> 00:22:15,359 Speaker 1: of the challenge, You're going to show that. What is 390 00:22:15,400 --> 00:22:19,600 Speaker 1: the challenge accepted setback that you just can't shake. Is 391 00:22:19,640 --> 00:22:21,600 Speaker 1: there one that you replay in your mind? 392 00:22:22,320 --> 00:22:25,879 Speaker 2: Oh, like something a failure that happened on camera that 393 00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:30,680 Speaker 2: I think about, Yeah, my gosh, hmm, this is really interesting. 394 00:22:30,840 --> 00:22:34,359 Speaker 2: So yeah, as you mentioned, I think that failure is 395 00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:36,879 Speaker 2: an important part of the process. It makes for a 396 00:22:36,920 --> 00:22:42,439 Speaker 2: better story. And there are such interesting moments when the 397 00:22:42,520 --> 00:22:45,719 Speaker 2: Michelle on camera and the producer Michelle are at odds 398 00:22:45,760 --> 00:22:49,440 Speaker 2: with one another because sometimes I'm really having a tough 399 00:22:49,480 --> 00:22:53,080 Speaker 2: time with something or confronting a failure, and then the 400 00:22:53,080 --> 00:22:56,000 Speaker 2: producer version of me is like, keep going, like this 401 00:22:56,040 --> 00:22:58,680 Speaker 2: is part of the journey. Yeah, which is such an 402 00:22:58,720 --> 00:23:02,359 Speaker 2: interesting like by vacation of my brain. I think that 403 00:23:02,760 --> 00:23:06,760 Speaker 2: one of the most memorable failures that I think about 404 00:23:06,800 --> 00:23:09,439 Speaker 2: often in a positive way. I attempted to get a 405 00:23:09,440 --> 00:23:13,080 Speaker 2: black belt in taekwondo in only ninety days, and if 406 00:23:13,119 --> 00:23:16,479 Speaker 2: you're unfamiliar, that's a process that usually takes three to 407 00:23:16,560 --> 00:23:19,920 Speaker 2: five years, if not longer. And I got to work 408 00:23:19,920 --> 00:23:23,160 Speaker 2: with Simon Ree, who's one of the greatest taekwondo instructors 409 00:23:23,200 --> 00:23:27,480 Speaker 2: in the world, a grand master. And when we film 410 00:23:27,560 --> 00:23:32,080 Speaker 2: these episodes for ninety days, typically a camera crew will 411 00:23:32,080 --> 00:23:35,919 Speaker 2: come with me maybe once a week, so they're filming 412 00:23:35,960 --> 00:23:39,240 Speaker 2: pretty often, but they're not there every day. And what 413 00:23:39,400 --> 00:23:42,960 Speaker 2: happened is the day that they came for the week 414 00:23:43,720 --> 00:23:46,400 Speaker 2: happened to be a day where in the middle of training, 415 00:23:47,240 --> 00:23:52,159 Speaker 2: my period started. And when you are training any martial art, 416 00:23:52,280 --> 00:23:53,800 Speaker 2: you typically wear all white. 417 00:23:54,160 --> 00:23:55,480 Speaker 1: Oh gosh, so. 418 00:23:57,000 --> 00:24:00,840 Speaker 2: I and you know, I hadn't had a situation like this, 419 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:03,320 Speaker 2: if you will, since like middle school, you know what 420 00:24:03,320 --> 00:24:10,320 Speaker 2: I mean. Like also traumatic, it's crazy. And at first 421 00:24:10,480 --> 00:24:14,600 Speaker 2: I thought, oh my god, like we need to stop filming. 422 00:24:15,080 --> 00:24:17,600 Speaker 2: I'm so embarrassed. I don't have a change of clothes. 423 00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:21,480 Speaker 2: What do we do? And what I thought was really 424 00:24:21,520 --> 00:24:26,560 Speaker 2: amazing was my instructor, Master Ree. He said, Oh, I'll 425 00:24:26,560 --> 00:24:29,080 Speaker 2: just go get you a change of clothes. He went, 426 00:24:29,280 --> 00:24:32,160 Speaker 2: he drove home, picked up a new set of clothes, 427 00:24:32,240 --> 00:24:35,719 Speaker 2: brought them, I changed clothes and we continued the lesson. 428 00:24:37,200 --> 00:24:41,159 Speaker 2: And I love that moment because it was a you know, 429 00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:44,080 Speaker 2: team of all men around me that day, and in fact, 430 00:24:44,080 --> 00:24:48,119 Speaker 2: when we went to edit the episode, our post team, 431 00:24:48,200 --> 00:24:51,080 Speaker 2: who you know, the lead editor on this was also 432 00:24:51,640 --> 00:24:54,000 Speaker 2: you know, it's two guys. They were both like, you've 433 00:24:54,000 --> 00:24:56,520 Speaker 2: got to keep this end. This is this is important. 434 00:24:56,720 --> 00:24:58,600 Speaker 2: And if you look at the comments of that video, 435 00:24:59,080 --> 00:25:03,159 Speaker 2: there are so many from young women saying that moment 436 00:25:03,240 --> 00:25:05,399 Speaker 2: really meant a lot to me, and it's actually the 437 00:25:05,440 --> 00:25:09,760 Speaker 2: most replayed scene of the entire piece, not the black 438 00:25:09,760 --> 00:25:12,280 Speaker 2: Belt final challenge, not any of those epic moments, but 439 00:25:12,960 --> 00:25:17,919 Speaker 2: that moment of vulnerability. And even though I cerebrallly I 440 00:25:17,920 --> 00:25:21,280 Speaker 2: could say, you know, failure is important and whatnot, I 441 00:25:21,320 --> 00:25:23,280 Speaker 2: am also I love that I am challenged by my 442 00:25:23,320 --> 00:25:26,760 Speaker 2: team to continue pushing in that direction. And it also 443 00:25:26,800 --> 00:25:30,840 Speaker 2: illuminated to me I think a lot of the preconceived 444 00:25:30,840 --> 00:25:34,920 Speaker 2: societal notions that I place on myself that everyone else 445 00:25:35,080 --> 00:25:38,880 Speaker 2: was comfortable and relaxed about this moment, and in fact, 446 00:25:38,960 --> 00:25:41,680 Speaker 2: my own embarrassment is what made it a bigger deal 447 00:25:41,720 --> 00:25:45,200 Speaker 2: than it really was. I'm really grateful that everyone encouraged 448 00:25:45,240 --> 00:25:47,920 Speaker 2: me to keep it in and that is the honest story, 449 00:25:47,960 --> 00:25:52,000 Speaker 2: and it's our job as reality documentarians to tell the 450 00:25:52,040 --> 00:25:52,679 Speaker 2: honest story. 451 00:25:53,240 --> 00:25:54,840 Speaker 1: We've got to take a short break, but we'll be 452 00:25:54,920 --> 00:26:01,480 Speaker 1: right back with Michelle care. And we're back with Michelle Care. 453 00:26:02,000 --> 00:26:05,280 Speaker 1: You mentioned casting earlier and how thoughtful you are about 454 00:26:05,320 --> 00:26:09,040 Speaker 1: placing the right people in each episode. I'm a big 455 00:26:09,080 --> 00:26:12,320 Speaker 1: Tom Cruise fan, and you got to interact. 456 00:26:12,640 --> 00:26:15,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, let's go. You got to interact with. 457 00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:20,160 Speaker 1: Him recently when he showed up in disguise to his premiere. 458 00:26:20,760 --> 00:26:20,960 Speaker 2: Yes. 459 00:26:21,440 --> 00:26:25,920 Speaker 1: So Tom Cruise is known for being this mentor figure 460 00:26:26,160 --> 00:26:30,639 Speaker 1: to younger entertainers in Hollywood, and I'm curious did he 461 00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:33,159 Speaker 1: say anything to you any did he leave you with 462 00:26:33,280 --> 00:26:36,000 Speaker 1: any advice that you still think about? 463 00:26:36,080 --> 00:26:39,080 Speaker 2: I mean, just standing in his orbit he absorbed so much. 464 00:26:39,720 --> 00:26:43,960 Speaker 2: But yes, I had the privilege of getting to interview Tom, 465 00:26:44,320 --> 00:26:47,080 Speaker 2: which was a wild journey because when we you know, 466 00:26:47,119 --> 00:26:49,600 Speaker 2: it kind of had two choices going to this premiere 467 00:26:49,640 --> 00:26:53,639 Speaker 2: of wear a nice dress and get and have a 468 00:26:53,720 --> 00:26:57,439 Speaker 2: nice time or try to make an impression. And so 469 00:26:57,840 --> 00:27:03,320 Speaker 2: I worked with a movement coach and a photorealistic mask 470 00:27:03,520 --> 00:27:07,600 Speaker 2: artist to design this disguise where I would walk the 471 00:27:07,640 --> 00:27:09,959 Speaker 2: carpet as a seventy five year old man, and at 472 00:27:09,960 --> 00:27:12,520 Speaker 2: the end when all the Getty photographers were taking pictures, 473 00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:16,600 Speaker 2: reveal myself and I'm so grateful that everyone was a 474 00:27:16,600 --> 00:27:19,920 Speaker 2: great sport about it and it was really really fun. 475 00:27:20,520 --> 00:27:23,880 Speaker 2: So when I finally got to interview Tom, I mean, 476 00:27:23,920 --> 00:27:25,760 Speaker 2: first of all, it's just lovely to hear him speak 477 00:27:25,760 --> 00:27:28,840 Speaker 2: about his passion about all of the various departments on set, 478 00:27:29,080 --> 00:27:33,359 Speaker 2: and that you can tell he's not just an actor. 479 00:27:33,440 --> 00:27:35,000 Speaker 2: I mean that in and out of itself is such 480 00:27:35,000 --> 00:27:37,639 Speaker 2: a big job, but he truly is a producer in 481 00:27:37,680 --> 00:27:41,040 Speaker 2: every sense of the word. He understands how all of 482 00:27:41,080 --> 00:27:45,359 Speaker 2: the pieces of film a film come together, and all 483 00:27:45,359 --> 00:27:48,520 Speaker 2: the departments work together. So that really stood out to me. 484 00:27:49,160 --> 00:27:51,800 Speaker 2: But then at the very end of our interaction, he 485 00:27:51,840 --> 00:27:54,639 Speaker 2: shook my hand and looked me straight in the eyes 486 00:27:54,680 --> 00:28:00,000 Speaker 2: and said, be competent, not careful, And I was very 487 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:05,240 Speaker 2: he was taken aback by this comment in a positive way, 488 00:28:05,240 --> 00:28:10,480 Speaker 2: because I thought, that's just so wise that you can 489 00:28:10,520 --> 00:28:14,440 Speaker 2: approach a large and lofty goal with competence and understanding 490 00:28:15,000 --> 00:28:17,560 Speaker 2: every angle of how it works, and at the same 491 00:28:17,640 --> 00:28:20,560 Speaker 2: time don't let your fear or being over careful, get 492 00:28:20,600 --> 00:28:22,679 Speaker 2: in the way of what you want to do. And 493 00:28:22,880 --> 00:28:25,600 Speaker 2: I thought about that a lot, especially with all the 494 00:28:25,600 --> 00:28:29,400 Speaker 2: projects we filmed this summer. Was really wise words by him. 495 00:28:29,840 --> 00:28:33,480 Speaker 1: Well, you're currently working towards your biggest challenge yet, winning 496 00:28:33,480 --> 00:28:33,919 Speaker 1: an Emmy. 497 00:28:34,560 --> 00:28:36,119 Speaker 2: Yeah. 498 00:28:36,200 --> 00:28:39,560 Speaker 1: And the reason why that is such a lofty goal 499 00:28:39,680 --> 00:28:43,880 Speaker 1: is because the Emmys have traditionally been reserved for television performers. 500 00:28:45,160 --> 00:28:46,880 Speaker 1: But you are one of the creators that's leading the 501 00:28:46,960 --> 00:28:51,360 Speaker 1: charge to include new media YouTube creators like you. What 502 00:28:51,400 --> 00:28:52,960 Speaker 1: would winning an Emmy mean to you? 503 00:28:54,760 --> 00:28:58,479 Speaker 2: Well, it's a goal that's outside of my control. So 504 00:28:59,600 --> 00:29:02,680 Speaker 2: I think the initial goal is to make a show 505 00:29:02,760 --> 00:29:07,760 Speaker 2: that is so good it is indistinguishable by quality and 506 00:29:07,800 --> 00:29:13,320 Speaker 2: storytelling from that of the studios that I look up to. Additionally, 507 00:29:13,880 --> 00:29:18,480 Speaker 2: there's a reason that traditional media cares so much about awards, 508 00:29:19,120 --> 00:29:23,880 Speaker 2: So my pursuit of this is from the industry side 509 00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:28,440 Speaker 2: of Being a part of these conversations attracts crew who 510 00:29:28,520 --> 00:29:31,680 Speaker 2: want to work on Emmy winning or Emmy nominated projects, 511 00:29:32,080 --> 00:29:34,720 Speaker 2: It attracts larger audience who may have never heard of 512 00:29:34,720 --> 00:29:39,120 Speaker 2: the project previously, and it also attracts advertisers who want 513 00:29:39,200 --> 00:29:42,480 Speaker 2: to support the show and be a part of the 514 00:29:42,520 --> 00:29:46,360 Speaker 2: show in an advertising capacity. All three of those things, 515 00:29:46,360 --> 00:29:48,520 Speaker 2: to me are a sign of a maturing industry and 516 00:29:48,640 --> 00:29:51,400 Speaker 2: one that I want to be a part of, and 517 00:29:51,480 --> 00:29:54,000 Speaker 2: so at its core, I want to make the best 518 00:29:54,040 --> 00:29:57,800 Speaker 2: show I possibly can. An award won't necessarily change that, 519 00:29:58,440 --> 00:30:03,480 Speaker 2: but I want every future generation creator to be able 520 00:30:03,520 --> 00:30:08,640 Speaker 2: to feel empowered that they can create the show of 521 00:30:08,680 --> 00:30:11,240 Speaker 2: their dreams themselves. 522 00:30:11,600 --> 00:30:13,680 Speaker 1: I mentioned one of my favorite parts of your show, 523 00:30:13,680 --> 00:30:16,400 Speaker 1: which is the nuggets of wisdom that you share at 524 00:30:16,400 --> 00:30:18,719 Speaker 1: the end about what the experience was like and what 525 00:30:18,760 --> 00:30:23,640 Speaker 1: you took away from it. What is the one learning 526 00:30:24,120 --> 00:30:27,440 Speaker 1: that you keep coming back to, the one learning that 527 00:30:27,520 --> 00:30:30,520 Speaker 1: you developed throughout your time on challenge accepted. 528 00:30:31,320 --> 00:30:36,560 Speaker 2: Oh my gosh, this is going to sound redundant and obvious, 529 00:30:36,680 --> 00:30:43,680 Speaker 2: but I continue coming back to confronting the fear over 530 00:30:43,880 --> 00:30:46,640 Speaker 2: and over and over again. And as I mentioned, it's 531 00:30:47,280 --> 00:30:51,320 Speaker 2: not one and done situation. There's not one thing you 532 00:30:51,360 --> 00:30:53,400 Speaker 2: can do that will make you fearless for the rest 533 00:30:53,440 --> 00:30:56,520 Speaker 2: of life. And accepting that and working on it like 534 00:30:56,560 --> 00:31:00,680 Speaker 2: a muscle, and that means, you know, sometimes working hard 535 00:31:00,680 --> 00:31:04,480 Speaker 2: on it, sometimes resting from it, and understanding fatigue and 536 00:31:04,480 --> 00:31:08,720 Speaker 2: recovery associated with confronting fear is a lesson I'm continually learning. 537 00:31:10,440 --> 00:31:13,440 Speaker 1: Well, since you got your start at BuzzFeed, we are 538 00:31:13,440 --> 00:31:16,640 Speaker 1: going to end this conversation with a full circle throwback 539 00:31:16,680 --> 00:31:19,960 Speaker 1: to the Caste era. Our challenge for you, Michelle, is 540 00:31:20,000 --> 00:31:22,280 Speaker 1: to create a list for us here on the spot 541 00:31:22,760 --> 00:31:24,920 Speaker 1: that will help us all get out of our comfort zone. 542 00:31:25,160 --> 00:31:26,800 Speaker 1: Oh my god, So we're going to call it five 543 00:31:26,840 --> 00:31:29,440 Speaker 1: reasons why you should do things that scare you? Okay 544 00:31:29,640 --> 00:31:34,320 Speaker 1: from YouTube's og Daredevil. So what would you add to 545 00:31:34,320 --> 00:31:35,600 Speaker 1: that list? What would be on your list? 546 00:31:35,720 --> 00:31:38,680 Speaker 2: So these are five reasons why you should step outside 547 00:31:38,680 --> 00:31:39,520 Speaker 2: your comfort zone? 548 00:31:39,720 --> 00:31:40,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, and do things. 549 00:31:41,040 --> 00:31:45,160 Speaker 2: Gosh, there are so many reasons why. Reason number one 550 00:31:45,480 --> 00:31:50,120 Speaker 2: would be you have no idea what you're capable of 551 00:31:50,720 --> 00:31:54,479 Speaker 2: until you push the limits of the comfort zone, and 552 00:31:54,520 --> 00:31:57,240 Speaker 2: I do believe you could surprise yourself with what you 553 00:31:57,280 --> 00:32:03,360 Speaker 2: are capable of. The second reason is it's actually good 554 00:32:03,560 --> 00:32:07,760 Speaker 2: for you to stretch and to grow and to learn. 555 00:32:07,880 --> 00:32:11,120 Speaker 2: There's a lot of science and psychology about confronting fear, 556 00:32:11,640 --> 00:32:15,920 Speaker 2: and even as simple as like exercising and challenging yourself 557 00:32:15,920 --> 00:32:21,360 Speaker 2: physically produces endorphins and adrenaline and makes you more willing 558 00:32:21,480 --> 00:32:25,200 Speaker 2: to try difficult things in other aspects of your life. 559 00:32:26,280 --> 00:32:29,640 Speaker 2: The third is it's just fun when you work through 560 00:32:29,640 --> 00:32:34,880 Speaker 2: something that's hard, that is exciting and satisfying and rewarding 561 00:32:34,920 --> 00:32:39,800 Speaker 2: in a way that comfort is not always. Number four 562 00:32:40,320 --> 00:32:46,800 Speaker 2: is I think life is just so interesting when you 563 00:32:47,640 --> 00:32:53,280 Speaker 2: are challenging yourself and really seeking those big milestone memory moments. 564 00:32:53,400 --> 00:32:58,600 Speaker 2: It makes life feel like it's longer. And reason number five, 565 00:32:59,160 --> 00:33:03,840 Speaker 2: I don't think you can fully intimately know who you 566 00:33:03,960 --> 00:33:09,600 Speaker 2: are as a holistic person unless you push those balances 567 00:33:09,640 --> 00:33:14,719 Speaker 2: in some capacity. I also think it's important to fail 568 00:33:14,840 --> 00:33:21,160 Speaker 2: and learn and grow. It makes you a better collaborator, partner, friend, coworker, 569 00:33:22,680 --> 00:33:27,880 Speaker 2: and people empathize and learn from others who are willing 570 00:33:27,920 --> 00:33:29,160 Speaker 2: to be vulnerable in that way. 571 00:33:29,800 --> 00:33:31,800 Speaker 1: That was so well done. And we just threw you 572 00:33:31,840 --> 00:33:32,080 Speaker 1: in there. 573 00:33:32,160 --> 00:33:34,160 Speaker 2: Put your eye, I thought, improvising. 574 00:33:35,200 --> 00:33:37,680 Speaker 1: You asked me this earlier, and I want to know 575 00:33:37,760 --> 00:33:39,760 Speaker 1: your answer. Okay, what's your biggest fear? 576 00:33:40,720 --> 00:33:49,640 Speaker 2: Oh? I think my biggest fear is not living the 577 00:33:49,680 --> 00:33:56,560 Speaker 2: most intentionally spent life I can. I am so aware 578 00:33:56,600 --> 00:34:00,400 Speaker 2: of the preciousness of every moment that we have the 579 00:34:00,440 --> 00:34:05,840 Speaker 2: privilege of living, and through my parents' sacrifice, I think that, 580 00:34:06,520 --> 00:34:11,759 Speaker 2: you know, I feel a responsibility to honor their sacrifice 581 00:34:11,800 --> 00:34:16,680 Speaker 2: by ensuring that I live life to the fullest as 582 00:34:16,719 --> 00:34:19,279 Speaker 2: I possibly can and give back as much as I can. 583 00:34:19,840 --> 00:34:21,400 Speaker 2: That's something that I think about a lot. 584 00:34:21,560 --> 00:34:25,879 Speaker 1: All right, And finally, this is your moment to shine. Okay, 585 00:34:26,040 --> 00:34:27,920 Speaker 1: what are you celebrating right now? 586 00:34:28,440 --> 00:34:33,160 Speaker 2: I'm celebrating and very proud of our team for completing 587 00:34:33,320 --> 00:34:36,920 Speaker 2: our recent episode. I tried tom cruise as Deadly a stunt. 588 00:34:37,280 --> 00:34:40,080 Speaker 2: This was a massive, massive effort and the biggest stunt 589 00:34:40,080 --> 00:34:42,759 Speaker 2: We've ever done with our team, where I'm hanging off 590 00:34:42,760 --> 00:34:45,439 Speaker 2: the side of a C one thirty military aircraft as 591 00:34:45,480 --> 00:34:49,920 Speaker 2: it's taking off. And obviously that's a cool accomplishment to 592 00:34:49,960 --> 00:34:53,560 Speaker 2: say that we did the stunt, But more than anything, 593 00:34:53,600 --> 00:34:57,080 Speaker 2: I'm exceptionally proud of our team. Like it was our 594 00:34:57,200 --> 00:35:02,080 Speaker 2: production team who managed all all of the staff, the airlines, 595 00:35:02,120 --> 00:35:06,320 Speaker 2: the insurance, the cinematography, learning how to rig the cameras 596 00:35:06,320 --> 00:35:08,280 Speaker 2: to the side of a plane without them flying off. 597 00:35:08,880 --> 00:35:12,560 Speaker 2: I think that that has been the greatest privileges our 598 00:35:12,640 --> 00:35:17,239 Speaker 2: team growing together. So I'm celebrating everyone else on our 599 00:35:17,360 --> 00:35:20,240 Speaker 2: production team who really brought that to life. 600 00:35:21,000 --> 00:35:23,080 Speaker 1: Michelle, thank you so much for coming on the bright Side. 601 00:35:23,120 --> 00:35:25,920 Speaker 2: You're having me I thank you everyone for listening and watching. 602 00:35:28,960 --> 00:35:33,040 Speaker 1: Michelle care is a daredevil YouTube creator and an athlete. 603 00:35:33,080 --> 00:35:36,160 Speaker 1: You can watch our videos challenge accepted on her YouTube channel. 604 00:35:37,520 --> 00:35:40,000 Speaker 1: The bright Side is a production of Hello Sunshine and 605 00:35:40,040 --> 00:35:43,680 Speaker 1: iHeart Podcasts and is executive produced by Rhyese Witherspoon and 606 00:35:43,719 --> 00:35:47,840 Speaker 1: me Simone Boyce. Production is by a Cast Creative Studios. 607 00:35:48,040 --> 00:35:52,200 Speaker 1: Our producers are Taylor Williamson, Adrian Bain, Abby Delk, and 608 00:35:52,320 --> 00:35:57,640 Speaker 1: Darby Masters. Our production assistant is Joya putnoy Acasts. Executive 609 00:35:57,680 --> 00:36:01,440 Speaker 1: producers are Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rudder. Maureen Polo and 610 00:36:01,520 --> 00:36:05,719 Speaker 1: Rhyese Witherspoon are the executive producers for Hello Sunshine. Ali 611 00:36:05,840 --> 00:36:10,080 Speaker 1: Perry and Lauren Hansen are the executive producers for iHeart Podcasts. 612 00:36:10,480 --> 00:36:14,040 Speaker 1: Our theme song is by Anna Stunk and Hamilton Lighthouser.