1 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:14,920 Speaker 1: Well, hello everybody, it's me Rosie O'Donnell, and you've found 2 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:19,079 Speaker 1: us again right here wherever you get your podcasts, it's 3 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:23,800 Speaker 1: onward with me, your host, Rosie o'donnald, And I am 4 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:26,320 Speaker 1: so excited to tell you a couple of things that's 5 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:28,080 Speaker 1: been going on in my life before we get to 6 00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:31,800 Speaker 1: my big conversation of the day or of the week. Actually, 7 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:36,280 Speaker 1: I got my new car. I got my new car today. 8 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:39,200 Speaker 1: I went and picked it up. You know, the dashboard 9 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: is different. It's not a brand I ever had. It's 10 00:00:41,479 --> 00:00:45,120 Speaker 1: a land Rover Evoke, that's the name of it. But 11 00:00:45,159 --> 00:00:49,519 Speaker 1: it's like it's like a smushed little EO suv. It's 12 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:52,360 Speaker 1: very similar to the Volvo that I had, but I 13 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:54,360 Speaker 1: don't know why, but that's the one we got. So 14 00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 1: I'm getting the car and I'm driving it home, and 15 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:01,560 Speaker 1: I am not really sure if the gas tank is 16 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:05,560 Speaker 1: full or on empty because I'm not used to how 17 00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:07,760 Speaker 1: it lights up yet. And so there was like a 18 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:10,840 Speaker 1: white line, but then where it said empty, it was 19 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:13,760 Speaker 1: bright red. So I thought, maybe they don't put gas 20 00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:15,600 Speaker 1: in a new car when you buy one. I don't know. 21 00:01:16,240 --> 00:01:19,760 Speaker 1: I pull into the local gas station and you know, 22 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:23,520 Speaker 1: usually have mild anxiety when I'm doing my pumping on 23 00:01:23,560 --> 00:01:26,360 Speaker 1: my own witch in California. You do you know, if 24 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 1: you grew up in Long Island or in New Jersey especially, 25 00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:31,600 Speaker 1: they pump the gas for you there. You know. I 26 00:01:31,720 --> 00:01:34,600 Speaker 1: enjoy that about New Jersey. So when I pump my 27 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:37,080 Speaker 1: own gas, I have mild anxiety. So I get out 28 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:39,200 Speaker 1: and I do it all right, and I open my 29 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:43,759 Speaker 1: gas little area whatever that's called my gas flap, and 30 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:47,240 Speaker 1: there's an actual top on it. My Volvo was topless. 31 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:49,360 Speaker 1: When you went to put in the gas. There was 32 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 1: no screwing lid thing that goes in. So I thought, oh, 33 00:01:53,120 --> 00:01:54,960 Speaker 1: how nice I have a lid here. So I open 34 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 1: the lid and I put in the gas, and I 35 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:01,160 Speaker 1: pick the right you know, octane, and then I put 36 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:02,960 Speaker 1: the little thing down so you don't have to sit 37 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:06,200 Speaker 1: there squeezing it. And after like you know, eight dollars, 38 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:10,560 Speaker 1: it goes eh and it stops. I'm like, that's so weird. 39 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:14,480 Speaker 1: I of course get the pump that's broken, I think, 40 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:18,120 Speaker 1: and I do it again, and it keeps clicking off. 41 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:20,520 Speaker 1: So I go in and there's an older woman in 42 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:23,480 Speaker 1: there working, and I don't think she knows very much 43 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:25,919 Speaker 1: about pumps either. And I was like, isn't there any 44 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:27,960 Speaker 1: anybody else that could help? And she's like, no, no, 45 00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:30,400 Speaker 1: I'll help you. And I was like, oh boy. So 46 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 1: we get out there and she goes, oh, it's your 47 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 1: brand new cars and I just drove it off the lot. 48 00:02:34,639 --> 00:02:37,320 Speaker 1: She's like, yeah, you know why this isn't working. I 49 00:02:37,320 --> 00:02:39,720 Speaker 1: said why, She goes, it's a full tank of gas. 50 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:46,520 Speaker 1: What an idiot? You know. Obviously they had filled up 51 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:50,360 Speaker 1: the tank and so I was lucky that I didn't 52 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:54,919 Speaker 1: overflow my own brand new car and get gas all 53 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 1: over the paint job or whatever. But I don't know. 54 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:01,560 Speaker 1: So it's exciting. It's exciting to have a new car. 55 00:03:01,639 --> 00:03:04,320 Speaker 1: I like the new car smell. I'm nervous I'm going 56 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:06,480 Speaker 1: to get in an accident, but I'm usually a little 57 00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:08,799 Speaker 1: bit of a nervous driver. If I never had to 58 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:11,359 Speaker 1: drive again, I would not miss it. I really wouldn't. 59 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 1: I'm not one of those people who goes, let's go 60 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:15,959 Speaker 1: on a drive. I'm like, well, i'll go. If you drive, 61 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:19,800 Speaker 1: I can sit and look out the window and play 62 00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:23,760 Speaker 1: with the radio. Then I'm pretty good. And speaking of 63 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:30,919 Speaker 1: the radio, we have a singer extraordinary Stephanie Mills, who 64 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:37,240 Speaker 1: as a teenager starred on Broadway as Dorothy in The Whiz. 65 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:40,520 Speaker 1: This was nineteen seventy four. It was right after my 66 00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:43,200 Speaker 1: mom died, and I remember I went to see that 67 00:03:43,320 --> 00:03:48,280 Speaker 1: show and I was completely blown away. She's so extraordinary. 68 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 1: She's had a wonderful career, and she's had that big 69 00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 1: hit in nineteen eighty and never new love like this before. 70 00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:02,720 Speaker 1: Now we's lonely now. Remember remember she sings a lot 71 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:05,680 Speaker 1: better than me, especially today with bad allergies out here, 72 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:10,760 Speaker 1: I got some kind of going on. I'm sorry about that, folks. Anyway, 73 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:14,960 Speaker 1: she's here, Stephanie, and she has a son, a special 74 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:17,120 Speaker 1: needs son, and we're going to get into talking all 75 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 1: about our special needs children and what a gift they 76 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:24,400 Speaker 1: have been to both of us. And I love Stephanie Mills. 77 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:27,279 Speaker 1: I love when I see her on different interviews and 78 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:31,400 Speaker 1: she's always speaking about what's going on in public and 79 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 1: what's going on in the country. Do you know equality? 80 00:04:35,640 --> 00:04:41,160 Speaker 1: And she's she's a fighter, she's an activist, she's an amazing, 81 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:45,279 Speaker 1: amazing friend and woman. I really really love her very much. 82 00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 1: We tape this a couple of weeks ago. So when 83 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:53,839 Speaker 1: we were talking, a lot of tragedy was happening in 84 00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:56,359 Speaker 1: that week. Ralph Yarl was shot in the head for 85 00:04:56,440 --> 00:04:59,599 Speaker 1: ringing the wrong doorbell waiting to go pick up his 86 00:04:59,640 --> 00:05:04,000 Speaker 1: siblings in Missouri, and the woman Kaylin was shot to 87 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:06,920 Speaker 1: death for driving in the wrong driveway in New York. 88 00:05:07,040 --> 00:05:10,719 Speaker 1: And Peyton Washington is in the ICU after she was 89 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:14,560 Speaker 1: shot for getting in the wrong car in Texas. A 90 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:19,080 Speaker 1: lot of gun tragedies, and the two Justins were expelled 91 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:24,120 Speaker 1: and then reinstated because they stood for the children who 92 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:28,599 Speaker 1: were picketing and protesting and standing up and saying we've 93 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:33,000 Speaker 1: had enough of these gun deaths in Nashville. And you're 94 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:36,320 Speaker 1: gonna hear us talking about the fact that Trump was 95 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:40,760 Speaker 1: about to face rape allegations and charges. And since then, 96 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:43,400 Speaker 1: as we all know, he has been found guilty of 97 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 1: sexual assault. And yippie for that, people. That's all I 98 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:51,640 Speaker 1: can say. And thanks to Egene Carroll for her bravery 99 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 1: and her commitment to really exposing just how horrible Trump is. 100 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:01,400 Speaker 1: There you have it, folks. But any way, Stephanie Mills 101 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:03,920 Speaker 1: is here and I just love her so much. And 102 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:07,320 Speaker 1: you know that song home When I think of home. 103 00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:11,360 Speaker 1: I think of a place where there's love overflowing. I 104 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:14,400 Speaker 1: remember hearing that and hearing her sing that and thinking 105 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 1: what an amazing, amazing woman and song and talent she is. 106 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:25,240 Speaker 1: And she was electrifying on stage. She was magical, and 107 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:28,320 Speaker 1: she's going on tour. She's on tour now through the 108 00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:31,520 Speaker 1: new year. You got to go on her website Stephanie 109 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:34,520 Speaker 1: Mills dot com and find out where so you can 110 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:36,520 Speaker 1: go see her. And when you do, give her a 111 00:06:36,520 --> 00:06:40,159 Speaker 1: big kiss for me, won't you. Stephanie Mills is here. 112 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:52,960 Speaker 1: Here's the conversation. How are you? I'm so happy to 113 00:06:53,040 --> 00:06:53,360 Speaker 1: say that. 114 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:54,680 Speaker 2: Oh, I can't complain. 115 00:06:54,760 --> 00:06:55,480 Speaker 3: I was outside. 116 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:57,560 Speaker 2: It might look sweaty because I was outside in my 117 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:00,200 Speaker 2: yard doing stuff just before I came into to do 118 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:00,880 Speaker 2: the interview with you. 119 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:02,799 Speaker 1: It's the first nice day in a while. 120 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:05,160 Speaker 2: It's not so beautiful outside. 121 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:07,360 Speaker 1: I'm ready for someone to be here. I can tell 122 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:07,760 Speaker 1: you that. 123 00:07:07,920 --> 00:07:09,680 Speaker 2: I'm ready for somebody to be here. I was telling 124 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 2: my brother to get me some word. I don't want 125 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:13,320 Speaker 2: him to leave because he knows how to do this. Yeah, 126 00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:15,360 Speaker 2: and it goes out, and case it goes out, I 127 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:17,400 Speaker 2: am going to keep him around. 128 00:07:16,880 --> 00:07:18,920 Speaker 1: That's that's a good brother to have. You know, my 129 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:20,320 Speaker 1: brother does all my money. 130 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:24,360 Speaker 2: Oh good, I do all my money. 131 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:25,320 Speaker 1: You're smarter than me. 132 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:27,640 Speaker 2: Well, I have a tax person, but I take my 133 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:30,119 Speaker 2: money to the bank, and you know, I have people 134 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:30,920 Speaker 2: that that advis me. 135 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:32,960 Speaker 3: But I don't let anybody touch my money. 136 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:35,560 Speaker 1: You know, you're smart. So many people have told me 137 00:07:35,680 --> 00:07:38,080 Speaker 1: horror stories, even of family members. 138 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:40,880 Speaker 2: I know, you know, I know it's so hard. 139 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:43,600 Speaker 1: It really is hard. But I think you know the 140 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:47,200 Speaker 1: fact that we were kind of five parentless kids. You know, 141 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:50,480 Speaker 1: we all kind of have this uh bond where we're 142 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:53,360 Speaker 1: all fused together, like the fingers of the fists, you 143 00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:55,000 Speaker 1: know what I mean. We're like you go through a 144 00:07:55,080 --> 00:07:58,320 Speaker 1: tough childhood and you almost parent each other in some 145 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:01,120 Speaker 1: kind of way exactly that there were six of us. 146 00:08:01,120 --> 00:08:03,640 Speaker 2: I had both my parents, but there were six of us, 147 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:06,400 Speaker 2: three girls and three boys. And you grew up in Brooklyn, right, 148 00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 2: I grew up in Brooklyn, Benfitt Steiveson. 149 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:10,720 Speaker 1: Yeah. Different times though. 150 00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 2: Oh my god, it was different times. These times now 151 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:16,440 Speaker 2: are so scary it. 152 00:08:16,320 --> 00:08:20,160 Speaker 1: Makes it terrifying. Yes, that young boy Ralph shot in 153 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:21,520 Speaker 1: the head by the old man. 154 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:24,920 Speaker 2: I can't even and then the young girl, the young girl, 155 00:08:25,040 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 2: twenty young girl pulled into the they pulled and they 156 00:08:27,880 --> 00:08:30,200 Speaker 2: were leaving and he shot them. 157 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:33,160 Speaker 1: Yes, indeed, you know people say it's not the guns, 158 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:37,240 Speaker 1: it's guns, it's it's racism, and it's problem. It is, 159 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:38,160 Speaker 1: That's what it is. 160 00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:39,880 Speaker 3: It's it's blatant racism. 161 00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:43,280 Speaker 1: Oh my god, so overt what happened in Tennessee. And 162 00:08:43,559 --> 00:08:46,200 Speaker 1: when they kicked out the Justins and I thought, this 163 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:51,400 Speaker 1: is happening in America right now. I'm sixty one years old. 164 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:53,240 Speaker 1: How are we back here? 165 00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:54,280 Speaker 3: I'm sixty six. 166 00:08:54,679 --> 00:08:57,760 Speaker 1: So how you look? You look good stuff? So you 167 00:08:58,960 --> 00:09:01,079 Speaker 1: thank you. We haven't we. 168 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:04,800 Speaker 2: Age because we keep it real and we're not you know, 169 00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:08,120 Speaker 2: during the pandemic, I thought I wasn't ready for that, 170 00:09:08,160 --> 00:09:10,640 Speaker 2: but I found out that I was. But I think 171 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:12,960 Speaker 2: it was the perfect time for people to realize that 172 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:15,080 Speaker 2: they didn't have to go into the office, you know, 173 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:19,079 Speaker 2: every day and do that. And it changed their lives 174 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:23,760 Speaker 2: to know you can survive, right, you know, in a crisis. 175 00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:26,480 Speaker 2: And I don't think people really realized that they could. 176 00:09:26,520 --> 00:09:28,480 Speaker 2: But now they have all kind of games, you know, 177 00:09:28,559 --> 00:09:32,199 Speaker 2: with the how are you going to raise. 178 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:34,240 Speaker 3: The rent or raise food? 179 00:09:34,440 --> 00:09:37,600 Speaker 2: Eggs and everything when people haven't really had jobs coming 180 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:38,520 Speaker 2: out of a pandemic. 181 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:41,960 Speaker 1: Correct, How is that happening? How was that allowed to happen? 182 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:46,880 Speaker 1: How are we not treating people with basic human dignity anymore? 183 00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:47,680 Speaker 1: In this country? 184 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:54,239 Speaker 2: Respect and human kindness is at all time low. The industry, 185 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:56,560 Speaker 2: the music industry, everything is at. 186 00:09:56,440 --> 00:09:58,000 Speaker 3: Are all time low. 187 00:09:58,160 --> 00:09:58,920 Speaker 1: You know, we have. 188 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:04,520 Speaker 2: All these different movements, but nothing really changes, do you think, ROSSI. 189 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:07,000 Speaker 1: No, I think, in fact, in so many ways, it's 190 00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:11,520 Speaker 1: gone backwards. It's gone backwards that we who we were 191 00:10:11,520 --> 00:10:14,840 Speaker 1: ten years old when we got the right to control 192 00:10:14,920 --> 00:10:18,160 Speaker 1: our own bodies, and now fifty years later they take 193 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:21,400 Speaker 1: that away from women, and think. 194 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:23,320 Speaker 2: About the black people. They're trying to really put us 195 00:10:23,320 --> 00:10:24,559 Speaker 2: back to being slaves. 196 00:10:24,840 --> 00:10:27,320 Speaker 1: You're not kidding, honey, You are not kidding, you know. 197 00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:29,840 Speaker 2: And I tell people that, Neil like, oh, you're crazy. 198 00:10:29,920 --> 00:10:33,559 Speaker 2: I'm like, if you don't pay attention to what's going 199 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:36,320 Speaker 2: on in these different cities and the different laws that 200 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:39,480 Speaker 2: they're changing, yes, you are going to be picking cotton. 201 00:10:39,880 --> 00:10:44,240 Speaker 1: Honey. I am so with you. It is so unbelievably 202 00:10:44,440 --> 00:10:49,520 Speaker 1: systemically racist. Yes, everyone says because the systems don't work. No, 203 00:10:49,679 --> 00:10:52,480 Speaker 1: that's how they were built that they bill to do 204 00:10:52,600 --> 00:10:57,320 Speaker 1: this right, thank to oppress people and take away morale 205 00:10:57,440 --> 00:11:01,760 Speaker 1: and community and dignity and humanity from groups of people. 206 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:05,000 Speaker 1: And and you know, black people in America. I would 207 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:07,480 Speaker 1: be enraged. I'm enraged, and I am white. 208 00:11:07,720 --> 00:11:10,400 Speaker 3: You know, it's not safe to be black in America. 209 00:11:10,559 --> 00:11:12,160 Speaker 1: It's not was it ever? 210 00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:16,240 Speaker 2: Really though Stephanie has no, it's never been, agree with you, 211 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:18,720 Speaker 2: but they tried to camouflage it. 212 00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:19,280 Speaker 1: Of course. 213 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:22,080 Speaker 2: You know, we have the ku klutz Klan in the 214 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:25,680 Speaker 2: office in corporate America. Now, yes, they're not riding around 215 00:11:25,679 --> 00:11:28,880 Speaker 2: in hoods, not anymore. And it's so blatant, especially with 216 00:11:28,920 --> 00:11:31,600 Speaker 2: that president that we had right which was the worst 217 00:11:31,679 --> 00:11:34,520 Speaker 2: thing that ever happened. Oh, oh my god in the 218 00:11:34,559 --> 00:11:35,480 Speaker 2: last fifty years. 219 00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:37,880 Speaker 1: Oh my god. Yeah, but you know what, I love 220 00:11:38,080 --> 00:11:38,400 Speaker 1: what's that? 221 00:11:38,440 --> 00:11:41,360 Speaker 2: And I love you to death board when you got 222 00:11:41,400 --> 00:11:44,200 Speaker 2: his ass told on the view, Oh I had to, honey, 223 00:11:44,320 --> 00:11:46,640 Speaker 2: I had to know when you were like we are 224 00:11:46,880 --> 00:11:48,520 Speaker 2: and we are similar age. 225 00:11:48,559 --> 00:11:50,480 Speaker 1: We grew up in New York. We saw him for 226 00:11:50,559 --> 00:11:53,839 Speaker 1: the loser. He was exact whole lives exactly. We watched 227 00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:58,280 Speaker 1: him try to sell steaks and gin and bed you know, 228 00:11:58,360 --> 00:12:01,360 Speaker 1: we knew he never paid his condors, like there were 229 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:04,320 Speaker 1: things that the news knew about him as factual that 230 00:12:04,360 --> 00:12:09,320 Speaker 1: they just decided not to report on, and then they 231 00:12:09,400 --> 00:12:11,960 Speaker 1: lied to the country for that eight or ten year 232 00:12:12,080 --> 00:12:16,439 Speaker 1: period calling him the billionaire. He was never a billionaire. 233 00:12:16,480 --> 00:12:19,720 Speaker 1: Forbes would never even put him on their list, call 234 00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:22,080 Speaker 1: up with a fake name and pretend to be his 235 00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:26,360 Speaker 1: own publicist. This is a psychonically deranged person and always 236 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:28,480 Speaker 1: has been and it shouldn't have been a shock to 237 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:29,680 Speaker 1: anyone in the world. 238 00:12:29,800 --> 00:12:33,360 Speaker 2: And Rosie, they just gave those people that seven hundred 239 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:35,400 Speaker 2: and eighty five million dollars because. 240 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:38,640 Speaker 1: Yes, to Lion, yes that's right. But they did not 241 00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:44,280 Speaker 1: force Fox to make a national public apology to own 242 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:48,920 Speaker 1: the fact that they lied to America about facts for 243 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:52,160 Speaker 1: the last fifteen years exactly. And they were in bed 244 00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:54,600 Speaker 1: with Donald Trump, and they are in bed with him 245 00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:58,199 Speaker 1: still and the horrible forces of the GOP that has 246 00:12:58,280 --> 00:13:01,880 Speaker 1: made it destroy itself an organization absolutely what it used 247 00:13:01,920 --> 00:13:06,360 Speaker 1: to stand for. It's no longer Democrats against Republicans, it's 248 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:08,280 Speaker 1: Trumpers and everyone else. 249 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:12,680 Speaker 3: Yes, it is yes, And to me, he should have 250 00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:15,679 Speaker 3: been convicted for January sixth alone. 251 00:13:15,720 --> 00:13:19,559 Speaker 2: Even before that, even before what he did. I mean, 252 00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:22,840 Speaker 2: it's just amazing to me. How to me, that's the 253 00:13:22,880 --> 00:13:24,479 Speaker 2: epitome of white privilege. 254 00:13:24,840 --> 00:13:28,280 Speaker 1: It certainly is such this man. Yes, he's been accused 255 00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:34,640 Speaker 1: of sexual inappropriate behavior, including rape, over twenty six times. Yes, 256 00:13:35,080 --> 00:13:38,440 Speaker 1: what does it take? People, what does it take? You 257 00:13:38,760 --> 00:13:41,120 Speaker 1: have been shown the truth of who this man is, 258 00:13:41,160 --> 00:13:45,240 Speaker 1: by his own words, by his own actions, and still 259 00:13:45,240 --> 00:13:48,880 Speaker 1: you have willful blindness. I don't understand. It is like 260 00:13:49,720 --> 00:13:52,320 Speaker 1: they are in a cult and they need to be 261 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:57,960 Speaker 1: deprogrammed exactly, But they were programmed by professionals. Thank you. Fox. Yes, 262 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:01,080 Speaker 1: Fox News, which is not news, which be stripped of 263 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:03,360 Speaker 1: their news credentials right away. 264 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:07,760 Speaker 2: I have no respect for our journalists, very few journalists 265 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:12,560 Speaker 2: today because it's all entertainment. It's all totally reality TV. 266 00:14:12,960 --> 00:14:16,040 Speaker 2: And yes, it doesn't matter if the story is true 267 00:14:16,080 --> 00:14:19,160 Speaker 2: or not correct, just who gets it first, who gets it. 268 00:14:19,120 --> 00:14:21,560 Speaker 1: First, and who can use it to their advantage in 269 00:14:21,640 --> 00:14:22,120 Speaker 1: what way? 270 00:14:22,360 --> 00:14:22,880 Speaker 3: Exactly? 271 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:26,440 Speaker 1: And you know, nuance is dead. God forbid. You should 272 00:14:26,440 --> 00:14:29,040 Speaker 1: bring up a subject that some people find offensive, you 273 00:14:29,160 --> 00:14:32,400 Speaker 1: risk being canceled. Yes, you can't even have a civil 274 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 1: debate about issues that you can't cite facts with other 275 00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:40,280 Speaker 1: people calling you names, right, you know, it's it's very divisive, 276 00:14:40,360 --> 00:14:43,240 Speaker 1: it's very I don't know, I you know, I interviewed 277 00:14:43,560 --> 00:14:48,160 Speaker 1: Cheeta Rivera at ninety years old. Why I love Cheetah. 278 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:49,880 Speaker 1: I love her too. She's just the. 279 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:52,880 Speaker 2: Great She's so nice and kind, Yes. 280 00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:54,960 Speaker 1: And such a mother. She has a great mother. She's 281 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:57,320 Speaker 1: got that daughter, Lisa, and it was two of them 282 00:14:57,320 --> 00:15:00,280 Speaker 1: against the world. Like you and your baby, Yes, me 283 00:15:00,400 --> 00:15:03,480 Speaker 1: and my little ten year old. Yes, is on the 284 00:15:03,520 --> 00:15:07,080 Speaker 1: spectrum and so glorious and such a gift that I 285 00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:10,720 Speaker 1: can't even begin to describe. That's why. Another reason I 286 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:13,920 Speaker 1: was so happy to talk to you, Yes, because I knew. 287 00:15:14,440 --> 00:15:16,840 Speaker 1: I knew about your baby that you had when you 288 00:15:16,880 --> 00:15:20,200 Speaker 1: were over forty, right, I had a forty five forty 289 00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:24,080 Speaker 1: five and they told you that he would have Down syndrome. Yes, 290 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:25,880 Speaker 1: And tell everybody what your response was. 291 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:28,600 Speaker 2: Well, they told me I was three months pregnant and 292 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:30,320 Speaker 2: they said, you're going to have a special needs child. 293 00:15:30,320 --> 00:15:32,040 Speaker 3: He's going to be Down syndrome. 294 00:15:32,080 --> 00:15:33,680 Speaker 2: They said, do you want to avoid I was like, 295 00:15:33,920 --> 00:15:37,000 Speaker 2: absolutely not. I don't care if he has. 296 00:15:36,960 --> 00:15:39,280 Speaker 3: One eye, my baby and I. 297 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:41,280 Speaker 2: I'll go rock this world. There, you go and you 298 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:46,360 Speaker 2: have yes. Yes, I was determined. I mean I mainstreamed 299 00:15:46,440 --> 00:15:49,160 Speaker 2: him from kindergarten to the fifth grade. I sent a 300 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:52,000 Speaker 2: teacher with him every day to school. She was a 301 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:54,000 Speaker 2: teacher that worked at the school where he was, and 302 00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:57,040 Speaker 2: then she retired to work with Farrad and she went 303 00:15:57,080 --> 00:15:59,920 Speaker 2: to school with him every day. But when she couldn't go, 304 00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:03,280 Speaker 2: I went. Good for you, mommy, I went because I 305 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:08,080 Speaker 2: was protecting my child. And mothers have to protect your children. 306 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:09,520 Speaker 1: You have to yes. 307 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:12,440 Speaker 2: And I didn't let he's not on any medication. I 308 00:16:12,440 --> 00:16:14,240 Speaker 2: didn't let them put him on a whole bunch of 309 00:16:14,280 --> 00:16:18,280 Speaker 2: medication to drug him up. No, I was his drug. 310 00:16:18,920 --> 00:16:20,400 Speaker 2: I made sure he was right. 311 00:16:20,600 --> 00:16:21,240 Speaker 1: That's interesting. 312 00:16:21,240 --> 00:16:23,080 Speaker 3: And he's an a student, that's what I heard. 313 00:16:23,120 --> 00:16:24,480 Speaker 1: He writes music, he. 314 00:16:25,240 --> 00:16:28,600 Speaker 2: Writes he has a book, yeah, the Adventures of Faraja. 315 00:16:29,040 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 2: He's working on his next book. That book is almost finished. 316 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:35,800 Speaker 2: But I never let anybody tell me what he couldn't do. 317 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:38,720 Speaker 2: I paid attention to what he could do and what 318 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:41,040 Speaker 2: he naturally gravitated to. 319 00:16:41,240 --> 00:16:42,800 Speaker 1: Yes, and that's what I gave him. 320 00:16:42,840 --> 00:16:45,280 Speaker 3: He wanted to play piano, then he wanted to play 321 00:16:45,360 --> 00:16:47,280 Speaker 3: He thinks he can play everything. 322 00:16:47,320 --> 00:16:49,800 Speaker 2: He wants to play guitar, and so I'm going to 323 00:16:49,840 --> 00:16:52,920 Speaker 2: start him back taking his piano lessons when things kind 324 00:16:52,960 --> 00:16:54,600 Speaker 2: of calm down and we're home, because I take him 325 00:16:54,640 --> 00:16:57,680 Speaker 2: with me. I don't leave him because Rosie, I would 326 00:16:57,720 --> 00:16:59,400 Speaker 2: be in jail if someone hurt my child. 327 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:04,119 Speaker 1: Honey with me, same with me. And I am just 328 00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:07,320 Speaker 1: that kind of ferocious mother too. I mean my son blaky. 329 00:17:08,160 --> 00:17:10,080 Speaker 1: He had a one on one at a school that 330 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:12,639 Speaker 1: didn't allow it. And my best friend quit her job 331 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:15,480 Speaker 1: teaching and was his one on one all the way 332 00:17:15,520 --> 00:17:19,160 Speaker 1: through high school and college. And that was her job. 333 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:21,640 Speaker 1: And she saved this kid as much as I did, 334 00:17:21,680 --> 00:17:24,040 Speaker 1: and as much as God did, and as much as 335 00:17:24,080 --> 00:17:28,000 Speaker 1: he saved himself. It's it's a he's engaged, he's getting married. 336 00:17:28,960 --> 00:17:31,240 Speaker 1: Oh you would? This boy is all heart. 337 00:17:31,760 --> 00:17:33,120 Speaker 3: I want to meet him one day. 338 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:35,520 Speaker 1: I wanted to meet. He comes out the most. He 339 00:17:35,560 --> 00:17:37,720 Speaker 1: comes out to visit a lot. So next time we'll 340 00:17:37,720 --> 00:17:43,359 Speaker 1: all have dinner. Stay tuned for more with Stephanie Mills. 341 00:17:59,320 --> 00:18:01,240 Speaker 1: Now are you still in la or did you know. 342 00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:04,920 Speaker 2: I'm in Charlotte. I've been living in Charlotte, North Carolina? 343 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:05,440 Speaker 1: How long? 344 00:18:05,560 --> 00:18:07,399 Speaker 2: For over thirty something years? 345 00:18:07,720 --> 00:18:08,639 Speaker 1: I did not know that. 346 00:18:08,840 --> 00:18:12,840 Speaker 2: Stephanie Mills for Rod was born here in Charlotte, North Carolina, 347 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:15,879 Speaker 2: and I just raised him. He's upstairs and he has 348 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:17,639 Speaker 2: a man cave that he's in and he has his 349 00:18:17,720 --> 00:18:19,280 Speaker 2: computers and everything. 350 00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:21,680 Speaker 3: He barely runs out and say, you know what he does. 351 00:18:21,760 --> 00:18:24,360 Speaker 2: I feel like I'm Hazel the Maid because he'll come 352 00:18:24,359 --> 00:18:26,440 Speaker 2: down and say, mom, I'm hungry, and that's. 353 00:18:26,240 --> 00:18:26,800 Speaker 1: What I'm doing. 354 00:18:26,840 --> 00:18:29,960 Speaker 2: Then he's back upstairs in his man cave. But he's 355 00:18:30,160 --> 00:18:33,400 Speaker 2: just a joy. He's just yeah, he's just a joy. 356 00:18:33,520 --> 00:18:36,719 Speaker 2: People don't really realize that if they pay attention to 357 00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 2: their children and just to do what their children naturally 358 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:43,600 Speaker 2: gravitate to, it's it's I don't I don't believe in 359 00:18:43,880 --> 00:18:48,199 Speaker 2: handicap or and they're special. They are very special, and 360 00:18:48,240 --> 00:18:51,800 Speaker 2: to me that means they need extra special care. 361 00:18:52,320 --> 00:18:54,639 Speaker 1: This baby, when they said at two years old, what 362 00:18:54,720 --> 00:18:57,359 Speaker 1: I knew because at one years old she said, Mommy, 363 00:18:57,400 --> 00:18:59,840 Speaker 1: I'd been impaled U and I was that was a 364 00:19:00,320 --> 00:19:04,479 Speaker 1: from frozen A little Olaf says I've been impaled and 365 00:19:04,520 --> 00:19:07,000 Speaker 1: she is a little baby said Mama, I've been impaled. 366 00:19:07,119 --> 00:19:10,200 Speaker 1: I was like, what is happening here? You know? And 367 00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:12,600 Speaker 1: but when they first told me that she did, in 368 00:19:12,640 --> 00:19:15,199 Speaker 1: fact have autism. It felt like I got punched in 369 00:19:15,240 --> 00:19:18,199 Speaker 1: the stomach, you know, until you know, last until we 370 00:19:18,240 --> 00:19:20,040 Speaker 1: got back in the car, right, you know. And then 371 00:19:20,080 --> 00:19:21,719 Speaker 1: I was putting her in the car seat and we 372 00:19:21,720 --> 00:19:24,560 Speaker 1: were getting her their favorite toy, and and it was like, 373 00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:29,359 Speaker 1: this too is part of my journey, exactly exactly here 374 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:32,760 Speaker 1: we go and thank you. You know, I'm so thankful 375 00:19:32,800 --> 00:19:33,080 Speaker 1: for her. 376 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:36,239 Speaker 2: I tell you, it makes you a better person, it 377 00:19:36,400 --> 00:19:39,040 Speaker 2: really it really like when I had my child, I 378 00:19:39,119 --> 00:19:41,399 Speaker 2: knew what my body was for. I breastsped him for 379 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:45,399 Speaker 2: six months. I said, this is what my body is for. 380 00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:48,760 Speaker 2: It's amazing what God has. 381 00:19:48,680 --> 00:19:50,680 Speaker 3: Done for us as human beings. 382 00:19:50,680 --> 00:19:53,359 Speaker 2: It made us, you know, it's just amazing if we 383 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:56,680 Speaker 2: allow people to be who they are and just show 384 00:19:56,720 --> 00:19:57,639 Speaker 2: love and compassion. 385 00:19:58,119 --> 00:20:01,359 Speaker 1: Yes, and I always you that I would be a mother. 386 00:20:01,760 --> 00:20:04,960 Speaker 1: Did you always want to? Or was this the he 387 00:20:05,160 --> 00:20:07,639 Speaker 1: always created? But you were working since you're fifteen. 388 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:11,159 Speaker 2: I was working since I was nine ten nine. 389 00:20:11,640 --> 00:20:13,600 Speaker 1: Oh, your first Birdway show, you were eleven. 390 00:20:13,840 --> 00:20:17,119 Speaker 2: I was eleven at Magillin, But I was at the 391 00:20:17,160 --> 00:20:19,160 Speaker 2: Apollo winning the amateur. 392 00:20:18,840 --> 00:20:19,800 Speaker 3: Night before that. 393 00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:25,600 Speaker 2: Wow, And I did captain Kangaroo and the Electric Company 394 00:20:25,640 --> 00:20:26,000 Speaker 2: and all. 395 00:20:25,960 --> 00:20:29,640 Speaker 1: Those to the Electric Company. That was my show. That 396 00:20:29,800 --> 00:20:33,600 Speaker 1: was my show. Yeah, that in Zoom, remember Zoom. 397 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:37,560 Speaker 2: Yes, I've been in this business a long long time 398 00:20:37,760 --> 00:20:38,840 Speaker 2: and have seen a lot. 399 00:20:39,240 --> 00:20:42,200 Speaker 1: But to think that you started that young and then 400 00:20:42,359 --> 00:20:45,080 Speaker 1: to be thrown in, you know, the lead of a 401 00:20:45,520 --> 00:20:48,119 Speaker 1: most Tony winning musical at that time. I mean, I 402 00:20:48,160 --> 00:20:51,640 Speaker 1: don't remember another Tony Award where they won seven. Yes, 403 00:20:52,160 --> 00:20:54,919 Speaker 1: you know seven, But you were seventeen. 404 00:20:55,240 --> 00:20:57,800 Speaker 2: I was seventeen years old when I and you know what, 405 00:20:57,920 --> 00:21:01,560 Speaker 2: I didn't want to audition for The Whiz because I 406 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:04,720 Speaker 2: had gone up for so many auditions and didn't get it. 407 00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:06,399 Speaker 1: So I was like, no, I don't want to go. 408 00:21:06,640 --> 00:21:09,360 Speaker 3: My mother made me go. I went crying and everything. 409 00:21:09,800 --> 00:21:12,159 Speaker 2: And then I had three auditions after that and they 410 00:21:12,200 --> 00:21:14,639 Speaker 2: told me I had the role at Dorothy and I 411 00:21:14,800 --> 00:21:15,200 Speaker 2: did it. 412 00:21:15,119 --> 00:21:16,399 Speaker 3: For five years. 413 00:21:16,680 --> 00:21:18,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, and I saw you in it, you know, I know, 414 00:21:19,560 --> 00:21:22,639 Speaker 1: I know, yes, I used to get the half priced 415 00:21:22,680 --> 00:21:25,199 Speaker 1: tickets back when, and there was just starting out when 416 00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:28,439 Speaker 1: you were doing The Whiz and you know, Pippin and 417 00:21:28,480 --> 00:21:29,640 Speaker 1: all these shows were on. 418 00:21:29,800 --> 00:21:31,200 Speaker 3: Oh my god, was it that? 419 00:21:31,280 --> 00:21:33,120 Speaker 2: But you know what, Rosie, I gotta thank you, because 420 00:21:33,160 --> 00:21:35,520 Speaker 2: you remember when I did your show and I had 421 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:38,639 Speaker 2: auditioned for rag Time and I didn't get there. 422 00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:40,320 Speaker 3: I didn't get it, and you were like, you need 423 00:21:40,359 --> 00:21:41,160 Speaker 3: to give her that role. 424 00:21:41,200 --> 00:21:43,760 Speaker 2: Well they gave me that role after that, and I 425 00:21:43,800 --> 00:21:46,080 Speaker 2: did it for not I did it for nine months 426 00:21:46,359 --> 00:21:48,920 Speaker 2: in Chicago, So I want to thank you for that job. 427 00:21:49,040 --> 00:21:51,720 Speaker 1: Oh well, Stephanie Mills, you can sing to me any 428 00:21:51,880 --> 00:21:55,239 Speaker 1: day or night. I would pay money to see you 429 00:21:55,320 --> 00:21:57,800 Speaker 1: do it, no matter where you are. I mean, you 430 00:21:58,240 --> 00:22:01,320 Speaker 1: went in there and you sang for your wiz audition 431 00:22:01,520 --> 00:22:02,120 Speaker 1: Danny boy. 432 00:22:02,280 --> 00:22:02,399 Speaker 4: Right? 433 00:22:02,560 --> 00:22:03,480 Speaker 1: Was that out of Yes? 434 00:22:03,640 --> 00:22:04,760 Speaker 3: I sang Danny boy. 435 00:22:04,920 --> 00:22:08,320 Speaker 1: Yes, that's such an interesting choice, an Irish like tenor 436 00:22:08,520 --> 00:22:09,080 Speaker 1: folk song. 437 00:22:09,400 --> 00:22:12,840 Speaker 2: But I used to listen to all kinds of music 438 00:22:12,960 --> 00:22:16,159 Speaker 2: back then and learn all kinds of music because I 439 00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:19,399 Speaker 2: love all kinds and I loved Barbara streisand because she 440 00:22:19,480 --> 00:22:22,159 Speaker 2: was from Brooklyn and she went to a Rasmus and 441 00:22:22,240 --> 00:22:24,439 Speaker 2: my sister and brother went to a Rasmus, so I 442 00:22:24,560 --> 00:22:26,840 Speaker 2: was like a fan and I would just listen to 443 00:22:26,880 --> 00:22:28,680 Speaker 2: all kinds of songs. 444 00:22:29,160 --> 00:22:29,360 Speaker 4: Right. 445 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:33,440 Speaker 1: Isn't it wild that we came up in our life 446 00:22:33,920 --> 00:22:36,879 Speaker 1: at the time of the success of Barbara streisand like, 447 00:22:37,160 --> 00:22:40,320 Speaker 1: know we be Oh my gosh, all of these performers 448 00:22:40,320 --> 00:22:43,919 Speaker 1: in our sixties or fifties, you know, fifties that she 449 00:22:44,160 --> 00:22:47,720 Speaker 1: was the models, Like when she's sang, I'm the greatest star. 450 00:22:48,119 --> 00:22:50,960 Speaker 1: Yes you are, Yes, like it remains to this day. 451 00:22:51,160 --> 00:22:55,520 Speaker 2: Right, funny lady, funny girl, funny what's up? 452 00:22:55,600 --> 00:22:58,600 Speaker 1: Doc? For Pete's sake, the way we were, Oh, the 453 00:22:58,640 --> 00:23:03,720 Speaker 1: way we were, Kate Hubble, Oh my goodness. Now when 454 00:23:03,760 --> 00:23:06,840 Speaker 1: you were doing the Whiz and you were seventeen, were 455 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:08,800 Speaker 1: people like that coming to the show? 456 00:23:08,920 --> 00:23:09,160 Speaker 2: Yes? 457 00:23:09,359 --> 00:23:11,800 Speaker 1: Did you meet all these people at seventeen? 458 00:23:11,960 --> 00:23:15,760 Speaker 2: I met Alan McGaw and Steve McQueen, Oh my gosh, 459 00:23:15,840 --> 00:23:21,760 Speaker 2: Jackie o' nassis and Caroline Kennedy, Billy Preston and David Bowie. 460 00:23:22,280 --> 00:23:25,919 Speaker 3: Everybody who was anybody came to the show. It was 461 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:26,720 Speaker 3: so amazing. 462 00:23:26,720 --> 00:23:29,080 Speaker 2: But you know what, I was just a little black 463 00:23:29,119 --> 00:23:33,199 Speaker 2: girl singing and having fun. I didn't look at it like, 464 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:36,600 Speaker 2: oh my god, I didn't. I just I was having 465 00:23:36,640 --> 00:23:38,800 Speaker 2: fun and I was singing because I was always singing 466 00:23:38,840 --> 00:23:41,280 Speaker 2: in church. So I was like, this is just another 467 00:23:41,359 --> 00:23:42,840 Speaker 2: avenue for me to sing to a. 468 00:23:42,800 --> 00:23:43,439 Speaker 3: Lot of people. 469 00:23:44,040 --> 00:23:46,960 Speaker 1: Well, the thing about your performance. I remember you were 470 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:50,120 Speaker 1: so young, you know what I was like, You're right 471 00:23:50,160 --> 00:23:53,080 Speaker 1: around that age. I remember looking at you and thinking, 472 00:23:53,600 --> 00:23:57,520 Speaker 1: she has so much joy. Yes, you were filled with 473 00:23:57,680 --> 00:24:00,000 Speaker 1: joy in that performance, in your youth and your exist 474 00:24:00,480 --> 00:24:03,919 Speaker 1: and I think your nonchalant kind of way of was 475 00:24:04,040 --> 00:24:06,280 Speaker 1: so real for playing a kid. 476 00:24:06,640 --> 00:24:06,879 Speaker 4: You know. 477 00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:09,960 Speaker 1: Yes, it was surprising you didn't get nominated for a 478 00:24:10,000 --> 00:24:12,320 Speaker 1: Tony for that. That was very weird. Well, they didn't like. 479 00:24:12,320 --> 00:24:15,400 Speaker 2: Me, really, I mean Clyde Bonds gave me a terrible 480 00:24:16,119 --> 00:24:18,760 Speaker 2: review back then, and they. 481 00:24:18,560 --> 00:24:19,359 Speaker 1: Didn't like me. 482 00:24:19,440 --> 00:24:22,240 Speaker 3: But you know, I never went. 483 00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:25,080 Speaker 2: Along with what you're supposed to do in the business 484 00:24:25,640 --> 00:24:28,240 Speaker 2: to get ahead, you know what I'm saying. I never, like, 485 00:24:28,960 --> 00:24:31,320 Speaker 2: I didn't kiss ass. I don't know how to do that. 486 00:24:31,680 --> 00:24:31,879 Speaker 1: You know. 487 00:24:32,080 --> 00:24:35,000 Speaker 2: I know how to be professional and do my job right, 488 00:24:35,040 --> 00:24:38,119 Speaker 2: but I don't know how to smooth. I never I 489 00:24:38,200 --> 00:24:41,240 Speaker 2: never did, and in this business that really counts for a. 490 00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:44,520 Speaker 1: Lot, it really does, you know. And I'm never really 491 00:24:44,560 --> 00:24:47,320 Speaker 1: a schmoozer either. Whenever I when I would host the 492 00:24:47,359 --> 00:24:50,440 Speaker 1: Tony's or the Grammys, I would go home right after 493 00:24:50,480 --> 00:24:52,840 Speaker 1: and never go to the party, because I like, I'm 494 00:24:52,960 --> 00:24:56,400 Speaker 1: uncomfortable in parties. I people always think, no, you're rosy O'Donnell. 495 00:24:56,480 --> 00:24:59,080 Speaker 1: You would be No. I'd rather go home after I 496 00:24:59,160 --> 00:25:01,720 Speaker 1: perform than and go and try to talk to the 497 00:25:01,720 --> 00:25:04,600 Speaker 1: other performers, because sometimes it's hard. You get tongue tag, 498 00:25:04,760 --> 00:25:07,600 Speaker 1: you get nervous, and they're so fake some most of them, 499 00:25:07,680 --> 00:25:10,720 Speaker 1: some of them, some of them, you know, and it's 500 00:25:10,760 --> 00:25:13,000 Speaker 1: it's interesting. When I left my show, people were like, 501 00:25:13,040 --> 00:25:15,040 Speaker 1: why could you leave your shout? And like, I got 502 00:25:15,080 --> 00:25:18,960 Speaker 1: sick of talking to only celebrities, you know, it got 503 00:25:18,960 --> 00:25:23,240 Speaker 1: to be my world perspective was changed. Here in LA 504 00:25:23,560 --> 00:25:26,560 Speaker 1: when you meet someone, they're always in show business, right. 505 00:25:26,640 --> 00:25:29,159 Speaker 1: And in New York, where I grew up, where I, 506 00:25:29,560 --> 00:25:32,639 Speaker 1: you know, was raised, you'd meet a doctor and a 507 00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:35,960 Speaker 1: garbage van and the guy who cleans the sewers, and 508 00:25:36,000 --> 00:25:38,800 Speaker 1: a you know, a lawyer right on the bus on 509 00:25:38,840 --> 00:25:41,320 Speaker 1: the way to work or school or right. It was 510 00:25:41,359 --> 00:25:45,560 Speaker 1: a whole different kind of experience. And I got sick 511 00:25:45,640 --> 00:25:48,359 Speaker 1: of just talking to people who only had that one 512 00:25:49,000 --> 00:25:51,639 Speaker 1: thing that was important to them. I wanted a bigger 513 00:25:51,960 --> 00:25:54,639 Speaker 1: a bigger breach, you know, a bigger You wanted. 514 00:25:54,359 --> 00:25:57,439 Speaker 2: Them to talk about something other than the movie or themselves. 515 00:25:57,640 --> 00:26:00,719 Speaker 2: But so many people are afraid to talk about politics, 516 00:26:00,720 --> 00:26:03,879 Speaker 2: are afraid to talk about what's really going on in 517 00:26:03,920 --> 00:26:06,920 Speaker 2: the world. And as I've gotten older, I'm like, I'm 518 00:26:06,960 --> 00:26:09,320 Speaker 2: sixty six years old, what can they really do to me? 519 00:26:09,640 --> 00:26:12,639 Speaker 1: That's exactly what I feel, Steph. That's how I heard 520 00:26:12,680 --> 00:26:15,640 Speaker 1: you say that on Charlemagne the God. Oh I heard 521 00:26:15,680 --> 00:26:18,359 Speaker 1: you you said it. I was like, cheering you on 522 00:26:18,520 --> 00:26:21,920 Speaker 1: from home going. You are exactly right. That's totally how 523 00:26:21,960 --> 00:26:22,399 Speaker 1: I feel. 524 00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:23,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's like, what. 525 00:26:23,560 --> 00:26:25,760 Speaker 1: Are they going to do? Here? We are, here, We're 526 00:26:25,760 --> 00:26:27,920 Speaker 1: gonna do Yeah, here we are. 527 00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:28,840 Speaker 3: What are they going to do? 528 00:26:28,920 --> 00:26:33,280 Speaker 2: It's like you have to especially you have a child 529 00:26:33,359 --> 00:26:34,080 Speaker 2: and you have children. 530 00:26:34,119 --> 00:26:35,560 Speaker 3: I would have loved to have more children. 531 00:26:35,600 --> 00:26:38,960 Speaker 2: And I tried after Arrah because he was so cute, 532 00:26:39,200 --> 00:26:41,080 Speaker 2: and I was like, oh, I could do this again, 533 00:26:41,119 --> 00:26:43,840 Speaker 2: but I didn't get pregnant. But I just think when 534 00:26:43,840 --> 00:26:46,680 Speaker 2: you have a child and you pay attention to what's 535 00:26:46,720 --> 00:26:49,439 Speaker 2: going on, it means more. You know. It's like, I 536 00:26:49,480 --> 00:26:53,040 Speaker 2: can't just talk about frivolous things, and yes, I want 537 00:26:53,040 --> 00:26:57,240 Speaker 2: to say what's really factual, and if I get canceled 538 00:26:57,320 --> 00:27:00,480 Speaker 2: or whatever by that, then that's I'm I'm real and 539 00:27:00,480 --> 00:27:02,959 Speaker 2: I believe in God, and God gave me my talent. 540 00:27:03,440 --> 00:27:07,880 Speaker 2: And people that I knew and was around no longer here, right, 541 00:27:07,920 --> 00:27:12,040 Speaker 2: because I feel like they couldn't say no to the 542 00:27:12,080 --> 00:27:14,960 Speaker 2: toxic people that were around them, you know, like Michael 543 00:27:15,040 --> 00:27:17,879 Speaker 2: all Whitney or and I feel for them, and I 544 00:27:17,960 --> 00:27:20,600 Speaker 2: was so sad, you know, when they passed away. 545 00:27:20,640 --> 00:27:21,480 Speaker 3: And I'm still here. 546 00:27:21,520 --> 00:27:23,880 Speaker 2: And sometimes I say, why am I still here? 547 00:27:23,960 --> 00:27:27,760 Speaker 1: Because I didn't play that game. I wasn't in that circle, right, 548 00:27:27,840 --> 00:27:32,120 Speaker 1: and you didn't fall into the gross excess. I had 549 00:27:32,160 --> 00:27:34,080 Speaker 1: been in the series last year and it was a 550 00:27:34,080 --> 00:27:36,639 Speaker 1: lot of work. It was an hour series. And I 551 00:27:36,720 --> 00:27:39,119 Speaker 1: have this ten year old here that I'm got to 552 00:27:39,200 --> 00:27:41,240 Speaker 1: be here for, you know, got to be here little 553 00:27:41,240 --> 00:27:44,000 Speaker 1: interpreter in the on the planet till she gets her 554 00:27:44,040 --> 00:27:47,399 Speaker 1: bearings better, you know. Right. She's very verbal stuff. You 555 00:27:47,440 --> 00:27:50,480 Speaker 1: could die laughing from what she says. But she has 556 00:27:50,560 --> 00:27:54,600 Speaker 1: specific interests and if you're not in those interests of 557 00:27:54,680 --> 00:27:58,919 Speaker 1: her animation object shows that she watches on YouTube and 558 00:27:59,040 --> 00:28:03,640 Speaker 1: discusses every aspect of them, Yes to the who wrote them, 559 00:28:03,680 --> 00:28:08,080 Speaker 1: what episode, what voice? It's crazy and it's beautiful. And 560 00:28:08,160 --> 00:28:11,160 Speaker 1: so I go in with her into the world of 561 00:28:11,200 --> 00:28:14,040 Speaker 1: that and there we live happily together. 562 00:28:14,240 --> 00:28:16,679 Speaker 2: You know, my son is exactly the same way. He 563 00:28:16,720 --> 00:28:20,440 Speaker 2: loves the descendants. He loves all these movies and videos 564 00:28:20,480 --> 00:28:22,679 Speaker 2: and he has to have them when he goes on 565 00:28:22,680 --> 00:28:24,720 Speaker 2: the road with him. He even sleeps in the bed 566 00:28:24,760 --> 00:28:27,520 Speaker 2: with them, like he has his little CDs in life. 567 00:28:27,640 --> 00:28:31,600 Speaker 2: But even as a child, he would bring Shrek and 568 00:28:31,680 --> 00:28:34,199 Speaker 2: he has all those and Donkey and all of them 569 00:28:34,240 --> 00:28:36,280 Speaker 2: to bed with it, right, And I'd be like, oh God, 570 00:28:36,359 --> 00:28:38,400 Speaker 2: I got to sleep with all these hard toys. But 571 00:28:38,520 --> 00:28:40,800 Speaker 2: I would because that's who he was. You know. We 572 00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:42,760 Speaker 2: come in the middle of the night and come into 573 00:28:42,760 --> 00:28:45,960 Speaker 2: my room. But it's such a joy because it's normal 574 00:28:46,040 --> 00:28:48,480 Speaker 2: and it's natural, and that's what we have. 575 00:28:48,480 --> 00:28:49,600 Speaker 3: To do for our children. 576 00:28:50,200 --> 00:28:54,600 Speaker 1: Yes, and sometimes you know, I know for so many 577 00:28:54,680 --> 00:28:57,680 Speaker 1: mothers of special needs kids like us, you know, we 578 00:28:57,720 --> 00:29:00,720 Speaker 1: worry what's going to happen when I'm not here? You know, 579 00:29:00,800 --> 00:29:02,080 Speaker 1: are they going to be able to do it on 580 00:29:02,120 --> 00:29:04,440 Speaker 1: their own? But you're gonna you know, you can't live 581 00:29:04,440 --> 00:29:07,480 Speaker 1: in that fear, right you have to live staying right 582 00:29:07,520 --> 00:29:10,800 Speaker 1: here with them in all the fear and pain. You 583 00:29:10,880 --> 00:29:11,920 Speaker 1: have to push away. 584 00:29:11,880 --> 00:29:14,840 Speaker 2: Right now and and you have to make sure you 585 00:29:14,920 --> 00:29:18,520 Speaker 2: have a will and trust and trust them into somebody 586 00:29:18,680 --> 00:29:20,840 Speaker 2: that you know will take care of them, and you 587 00:29:20,840 --> 00:29:23,000 Speaker 2: will love them. But you, like you say, you have 588 00:29:23,040 --> 00:29:26,360 Speaker 2: to leave it alone. And because they're so precious and 589 00:29:26,360 --> 00:29:31,200 Speaker 2: they're so innocent, you know, and and he just loves 590 00:29:31,320 --> 00:29:32,480 Speaker 2: He doesn't mean a stranger. 591 00:29:32,600 --> 00:29:35,880 Speaker 3: But he can tell when someone's not right. He won't 592 00:29:36,240 --> 00:29:37,560 Speaker 3: he won't engage with them. 593 00:29:38,360 --> 00:29:41,920 Speaker 1: It's an interesting talents. Yes, that's a great thing to have. 594 00:29:42,520 --> 00:29:44,000 Speaker 3: He will not engage. 595 00:29:44,840 --> 00:29:46,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, protective instinct. 596 00:29:46,440 --> 00:29:47,400 Speaker 3: Yes, yes. 597 00:29:47,840 --> 00:29:50,480 Speaker 1: I saw him with you on I think a Tamaron 598 00:29:50,560 --> 00:29:53,320 Speaker 1: Hall show. Yeah, you were dancing. Oh my god, I 599 00:29:53,400 --> 00:29:58,680 Speaker 1: was sobbing. Everybody was crying, the audience, me, you, the kid, everyone, 600 00:29:59,280 --> 00:30:01,560 Speaker 1: But it was so it's so beautiful. I love how 601 00:30:01,600 --> 00:30:03,920 Speaker 1: he moves. I love his cute face. I love his 602 00:30:04,000 --> 00:30:07,840 Speaker 1: style of clothes. He's got such a personality. Thank you. 603 00:30:07,920 --> 00:30:09,840 Speaker 2: And they told me, they told me he was going 604 00:30:09,880 --> 00:30:12,200 Speaker 2: to be disfigured. They said, your child is going to 605 00:30:12,240 --> 00:30:15,800 Speaker 2: be disfigured. He's not going to really respond, he won't smile. 606 00:30:16,320 --> 00:30:17,640 Speaker 2: What a farce that was? 607 00:30:18,040 --> 00:30:18,800 Speaker 1: That was a lie. 608 00:30:19,000 --> 00:30:21,440 Speaker 2: That was a lie. It was that was a blatant 609 00:30:21,520 --> 00:30:24,360 Speaker 2: line of blaytant lie, a blatant. 610 00:30:24,080 --> 00:30:28,000 Speaker 1: Lie, and we have to really be on the lookout 611 00:30:28,040 --> 00:30:31,440 Speaker 1: for those blatant lies, you know. Yeah, And when something 612 00:30:31,520 --> 00:30:34,560 Speaker 1: is just a blatant lie, we have to you know, 613 00:30:34,720 --> 00:30:40,240 Speaker 1: like they rigged the election was stolen, like our government 614 00:30:40,840 --> 00:30:43,360 Speaker 1: Layton Layton lie. 615 00:30:43,120 --> 00:30:45,000 Speaker 2: And how they perpetuated it. 616 00:30:45,200 --> 00:30:48,360 Speaker 1: Oh, please, you know it's that that Hitler quote. Do 617 00:30:48,440 --> 00:30:50,280 Speaker 1: you tell a lie, tell a big lie, and keep 618 00:30:50,320 --> 00:30:52,880 Speaker 1: telling it and people will eventually believe. And that's what 619 00:30:52,920 --> 00:30:55,840 Speaker 1: they did. That's like a philosophy of the head Nazi. 620 00:30:55,880 --> 00:30:59,720 Speaker 1: And that's what Donald Trump does government. That's what he does. Yeah, 621 00:30:59,760 --> 00:31:02,560 Speaker 1: and government, it's not you can't really blame it only 622 00:31:02,600 --> 00:31:05,480 Speaker 1: on him, you know. You have to really know that 623 00:31:06,000 --> 00:31:08,560 Speaker 1: this government that we've had for the last twenty years 624 00:31:09,520 --> 00:31:11,840 Speaker 1: gave us him. So are we doing what are we 625 00:31:11,920 --> 00:31:14,479 Speaker 1: doing wrong? And how can we make sure that an 626 00:31:14,600 --> 00:31:16,400 Speaker 1: error like this never occurs again? 627 00:31:16,760 --> 00:31:18,840 Speaker 2: I know That's what I've been thinking. I'm like, how 628 00:31:18,880 --> 00:31:21,160 Speaker 2: can we He cannot get in the White House? I 629 00:31:21,240 --> 00:31:23,160 Speaker 2: know that, please, he cannot. 630 00:31:23,160 --> 00:31:25,520 Speaker 1: I don't think I don't think that. I really don't 631 00:31:25,520 --> 00:31:28,360 Speaker 1: think that's possible, especially because but Rose, there are so 632 00:31:28,520 --> 00:31:30,360 Speaker 1: many more indictments coming up. 633 00:31:30,640 --> 00:31:33,120 Speaker 2: But people didn't think he was going to be president 634 00:31:33,200 --> 00:31:34,280 Speaker 2: the first. 635 00:31:33,880 --> 00:31:37,520 Speaker 1: Time, including me stuff I never thought. I said to 636 00:31:37,600 --> 00:31:39,680 Speaker 1: every reporter who would put a camera near me, he 637 00:31:39,760 --> 00:31:43,600 Speaker 1: will never be president, And there he was. I don't 638 00:31:43,640 --> 00:31:48,440 Speaker 1: really understand how someone could be so innately cruel and 639 00:31:49,320 --> 00:31:53,680 Speaker 1: lack basic human compassion and empathy and be the leader 640 00:31:53,720 --> 00:31:55,520 Speaker 1: of the free world. How did that happen? 641 00:31:55,680 --> 00:31:56,240 Speaker 3: I don't know. 642 00:31:56,960 --> 00:31:58,920 Speaker 1: And it's not just in the United States. They're fighting 643 00:31:59,000 --> 00:32:02,320 Speaker 1: it in Israel, right they're fighting for their democracy. They're 644 00:32:02,360 --> 00:32:07,120 Speaker 1: fighting in Paris. People are done with what we have 645 00:32:07,240 --> 00:32:10,320 Speaker 1: all done exactly to this point. Then it has to 646 00:32:10,320 --> 00:32:14,920 Speaker 1: be a radical consciousness shift. Radical. I really wish that 647 00:32:14,960 --> 00:32:17,120 Speaker 1: you lived here so we could hang out. Oh, my 648 00:32:17,280 --> 00:32:19,680 Speaker 1: kids would probably get along so well. They would get 649 00:32:19,680 --> 00:32:22,760 Speaker 1: anybody into computer she wants to talk to. And he 650 00:32:22,960 --> 00:32:26,760 Speaker 1: is into computer's folds. He knows how to work all 651 00:32:26,880 --> 00:32:27,280 Speaker 1: that stuff. 652 00:32:27,280 --> 00:32:29,520 Speaker 2: Because I could go upstairs and if Rod something is 653 00:32:29,520 --> 00:32:31,200 Speaker 2: wrong with this or what, and he'll fix it. 654 00:32:31,280 --> 00:32:34,040 Speaker 3: But when his computer is is well, he'll call Derek. 655 00:32:34,080 --> 00:32:36,960 Speaker 2: Derek, my computer is not working. Derek comes over and 656 00:32:37,000 --> 00:32:39,800 Speaker 2: fixes it, but he couldn't get it back online. 657 00:32:40,360 --> 00:32:42,680 Speaker 3: But he's just amazing. He's he's so special. 658 00:32:43,680 --> 00:32:46,000 Speaker 1: Would you say, it's the greatest gift and. 659 00:32:46,040 --> 00:32:50,880 Speaker 3: You're the greatest. It's the best thing I've ever done. 660 00:32:51,440 --> 00:32:55,360 Speaker 2: I wouldn't change anything about him, nothing. 661 00:32:55,880 --> 00:32:58,000 Speaker 1: And I venture to say, you never knew love like. 662 00:32:57,960 --> 00:33:01,960 Speaker 2: This, And I never never knew ever, never, never, never never. 663 00:33:02,240 --> 00:33:04,080 Speaker 3: When he was a baby, I put that around his 664 00:33:04,640 --> 00:33:07,479 Speaker 3: little room when he would sleep in it. But he 665 00:33:07,520 --> 00:33:09,320 Speaker 3: never slept in there anyway. You always slept with me. 666 00:33:09,680 --> 00:33:11,800 Speaker 1: But same with Dakota. She's still in my bed. 667 00:33:11,880 --> 00:33:14,720 Speaker 2: She's ten, you know, for Audus twenty two, but he 668 00:33:14,800 --> 00:33:16,120 Speaker 2: only comes when he gets sick. 669 00:33:16,480 --> 00:33:18,280 Speaker 3: He'll come and he'll want to sleep in my bed 670 00:33:18,320 --> 00:33:19,600 Speaker 3: when he gets sick. But that's it. 671 00:33:19,840 --> 00:33:22,120 Speaker 1: It's funny. We chose this room, we chose the room 672 00:33:22,160 --> 00:33:23,880 Speaker 1: in this house that we're renting, and she chose the 673 00:33:23,920 --> 00:33:26,320 Speaker 1: room by the parkway, by the freeway, and you know, 674 00:33:26,360 --> 00:33:29,160 Speaker 1: there's like the Pacific Coast Highway right here, right, and 675 00:33:29,240 --> 00:33:32,120 Speaker 1: so she always goes in her bed, says good night. 676 00:33:32,160 --> 00:33:34,400 Speaker 1: Then ten minutes later she goes it's too much traffic 677 00:33:34,640 --> 00:33:36,640 Speaker 1: and gets in my bed. But that's what she does 678 00:33:36,680 --> 00:33:39,360 Speaker 1: every night. Every night she realizes it's too much. 679 00:33:39,520 --> 00:33:41,400 Speaker 3: It's too much traffic. That is so funny. 680 00:33:41,480 --> 00:33:43,280 Speaker 2: When I come to LA to do a show, because 681 00:33:43,320 --> 00:33:45,240 Speaker 2: I come to do a show, I want you to come. 682 00:33:45,440 --> 00:33:47,120 Speaker 1: When are you're going on tour? When are you going? 683 00:33:47,280 --> 00:33:47,680 Speaker 1: I leave? 684 00:33:48,080 --> 00:33:49,720 Speaker 3: I leave the end of this month. 685 00:33:49,960 --> 00:33:52,040 Speaker 1: Well, Steph, you know I couldn't love you more. I 686 00:33:52,360 --> 00:33:54,720 Speaker 1: feel like I've known you my whole life, even though 687 00:33:54,840 --> 00:33:57,560 Speaker 1: I watched you on stage and gotten to hang with 688 00:33:57,600 --> 00:33:59,840 Speaker 1: you a couple times. But I feel so close to 689 00:33:59,880 --> 00:34:02,000 Speaker 1: you when when I see you talking on all these 690 00:34:02,040 --> 00:34:04,880 Speaker 1: interviews you do, I'm so cheering you on. You're so 691 00:34:05,240 --> 00:34:08,000 Speaker 1: You're inspiring to me, Stephanie Mills. I hope you know that. 692 00:34:08,000 --> 00:34:08,359 Speaker 1: Thank you. 693 00:34:08,360 --> 00:34:10,960 Speaker 2: You're inspiring to me because I've watched you all the 694 00:34:11,000 --> 00:34:13,600 Speaker 2: time your show, The View. I loved it when you 695 00:34:13,719 --> 00:34:16,399 Speaker 2: put people in their place and get them right, because 696 00:34:16,440 --> 00:34:19,120 Speaker 2: people don't do that and they're so disrespectful and you 697 00:34:19,200 --> 00:34:21,480 Speaker 2: never let them disrespect you, and I like that. 698 00:34:21,880 --> 00:34:23,160 Speaker 1: Thank you, Stephanie Mills. 699 00:34:23,320 --> 00:34:25,399 Speaker 2: I love you, Rosie, I love you too. 700 00:34:25,840 --> 00:34:29,719 Speaker 1: This was so great. We'll be back right after this 701 00:34:29,800 --> 00:34:53,120 Speaker 1: break with some questions from you the listeners. So we're 702 00:34:53,160 --> 00:34:56,640 Speaker 1: back and listen, you the listener, please leave us a 703 00:34:56,640 --> 00:34:59,840 Speaker 1: little memo, A question, A thought of feeling whatever you 704 00:34:59,840 --> 00:35:01,840 Speaker 1: want on about the show, and we'll get to it 705 00:35:01,880 --> 00:35:04,200 Speaker 1: if we can. And we have a couple of you 706 00:35:04,360 --> 00:35:08,120 Speaker 1: listeners with your questions and comments. Let's hit it. Hey, 707 00:35:08,200 --> 00:35:10,200 Speaker 1: ro It's Patrick in New York City. 708 00:35:10,480 --> 00:35:12,400 Speaker 5: I do have a question, but I wanted to say first, 709 00:35:12,440 --> 00:35:15,359 Speaker 5: I saw you at Sweeney Todd the night you were there. 710 00:35:15,800 --> 00:35:17,960 Speaker 5: I have a friend in the show too, so we 711 00:35:18,040 --> 00:35:19,960 Speaker 5: got to stay after and we were all sort of like, 712 00:35:20,120 --> 00:35:22,920 Speaker 5: you know, it's like thirty people milling about in the house, 713 00:35:22,960 --> 00:35:26,560 Speaker 5: and I saw you, and I had chills from being 714 00:35:26,560 --> 00:35:29,600 Speaker 5: that close to you. I am You're such an icon 715 00:35:29,840 --> 00:35:31,759 Speaker 5: and an inspiration and I love you so much. And 716 00:35:32,040 --> 00:35:33,719 Speaker 5: of course I wasn't going to bother you and say hello, 717 00:35:33,800 --> 00:35:35,560 Speaker 5: because I'm a New Yorker and we don't do that. 718 00:35:36,000 --> 00:35:38,200 Speaker 5: But I was looking at you, and I just love 719 00:35:38,239 --> 00:35:41,600 Speaker 5: you so much. So here's my question. I was listening 720 00:35:41,600 --> 00:35:44,680 Speaker 5: to your conversation with Cameron Manheim about the Chosen Family 721 00:35:44,719 --> 00:35:47,279 Speaker 5: and the way you all had kids. My husband and 722 00:35:47,360 --> 00:35:49,560 Speaker 5: I adopted our daughter through foster care. 723 00:35:50,000 --> 00:35:51,560 Speaker 1: She came to us at six days old. 724 00:35:51,560 --> 00:35:56,160 Speaker 5: We've been the only parents she's ever known, and but 725 00:35:56,200 --> 00:35:58,720 Speaker 5: you know, we've always been open with her about her story, 726 00:35:58,760 --> 00:36:02,680 Speaker 5: of course, and we did have some you know, interaction 727 00:36:02,760 --> 00:36:05,800 Speaker 5: with her birth parents going through the foster process. 728 00:36:06,360 --> 00:36:07,320 Speaker 1: But only briefly. 729 00:36:07,680 --> 00:36:10,880 Speaker 5: And she is always interested in knowing about her mom, 730 00:36:10,960 --> 00:36:14,920 Speaker 5: and of course we have very limited information. She's nine now, 731 00:36:15,120 --> 00:36:17,919 Speaker 5: and the other night, now that Mother's Day is coming up, 732 00:36:18,719 --> 00:36:21,000 Speaker 5: she asked if we could write a Mother's Day card 733 00:36:21,400 --> 00:36:24,560 Speaker 5: to her birth mother, and you know, I kind of 734 00:36:24,719 --> 00:36:27,400 Speaker 5: didn't know how to answer. My husband right away said sure, 735 00:36:28,280 --> 00:36:30,799 Speaker 5: and I thought, oh wow. You know, his thinking was like, 736 00:36:30,800 --> 00:36:32,399 Speaker 5: maybe it'll be like writing a letter to the tooth 737 00:36:32,400 --> 00:36:34,080 Speaker 5: Fairy or Santa Claus. You just want to say something 738 00:36:34,200 --> 00:36:36,400 Speaker 5: nice and then you never think about it again. I 739 00:36:36,640 --> 00:36:39,239 Speaker 5: was thinking, oh god, if she writes like a card 740 00:36:39,280 --> 00:36:41,360 Speaker 5: to her birth mother, she's going to expect a response. 741 00:36:41,920 --> 00:36:44,080 Speaker 5: And so I said, well, sweetheart, you know, we're not 742 00:36:44,120 --> 00:36:47,040 Speaker 5: in contact with your birth mother. And we talked a 743 00:36:47,040 --> 00:36:49,600 Speaker 5: little bit about the birth mom, you know, again all 744 00:36:49,719 --> 00:36:52,600 Speaker 5: the same few things we know about her, and of 745 00:36:52,640 --> 00:36:54,400 Speaker 5: course made it clear that she can always ask us 746 00:36:54,400 --> 00:36:57,200 Speaker 5: any questions about it. But I'm curious your thoughts on this. 747 00:36:57,680 --> 00:37:00,319 Speaker 5: She's nine, She's not old enough to really have a 748 00:37:00,320 --> 00:37:04,239 Speaker 5: full conversation with about why she was, you know, in 749 00:37:04,280 --> 00:37:07,000 Speaker 5: foster care, why she came to us, why you know 750 00:37:07,080 --> 00:37:08,400 Speaker 5: her parents weren't. 751 00:37:08,120 --> 00:37:08,920 Speaker 1: Able to raise her. 752 00:37:09,239 --> 00:37:11,680 Speaker 5: And I guess my question is just what's your advice 753 00:37:11,719 --> 00:37:15,600 Speaker 5: on how to proceed in this conversation in instances like that? 754 00:37:16,600 --> 00:37:19,719 Speaker 5: Your parenting role model and inspiration for me you always have been. 755 00:37:20,080 --> 00:37:22,719 Speaker 5: I love you so so so much. Thank you for 756 00:37:22,760 --> 00:37:25,279 Speaker 5: making this podcast. I love that I get to hear 757 00:37:25,280 --> 00:37:27,280 Speaker 5: your voice every week. All right, thanks Roe? 758 00:37:28,000 --> 00:37:29,920 Speaker 1: Oh God, I love you so much. I feel like 759 00:37:30,000 --> 00:37:31,759 Speaker 1: I know you first of all the way you said 760 00:37:31,800 --> 00:37:34,759 Speaker 1: hey Roe, I'm like, that's my buddy right there. I 761 00:37:34,800 --> 00:37:38,120 Speaker 1: wish you would have come over to me after seeing 762 00:37:38,280 --> 00:37:41,520 Speaker 1: Sweeney Todd and you know, Barry Manilow was there too. 763 00:37:42,000 --> 00:37:47,040 Speaker 1: Wasn't that a magically brilliant show? Every performance was pitch perfect? 764 00:37:47,400 --> 00:37:51,440 Speaker 1: That Annalie Ashford should win every award known to man, 765 00:37:51,560 --> 00:37:55,480 Speaker 1: and Josh Grobin is just a genius. And I hope 766 00:37:55,480 --> 00:37:58,840 Speaker 1: that they both get the trophies and the accolades that 767 00:37:58,880 --> 00:38:02,440 Speaker 1: they deserve because they're just so brilliant. Now, what a 768 00:38:02,480 --> 00:38:06,719 Speaker 1: wonderful kind of story and question about your daughter. I 769 00:38:06,840 --> 00:38:10,120 Speaker 1: have always felt that honesty is the best policy and 770 00:38:10,719 --> 00:38:13,960 Speaker 1: having a mother who left not on her own volition, 771 00:38:14,120 --> 00:38:17,120 Speaker 1: but you know, there is that abandonment that kids feel, 772 00:38:17,239 --> 00:38:20,720 Speaker 1: especially when they're too young to fully understand death and 773 00:38:20,480 --> 00:38:25,759 Speaker 1: the transient nature of life itself. One promise that the 774 00:38:25,800 --> 00:38:28,279 Speaker 1: world keeps to everyone is you're going to die one day. 775 00:38:28,360 --> 00:38:31,280 Speaker 1: You know, that's the only promise that we all get, 776 00:38:31,320 --> 00:38:36,320 Speaker 1: and that never ever changes. And so I would be 777 00:38:36,800 --> 00:38:41,200 Speaker 1: immensely curious if there was a way that I could 778 00:38:41,239 --> 00:38:43,839 Speaker 1: possibly talk to my mom. And I know my mom 779 00:38:43,920 --> 00:38:46,920 Speaker 1: died and it's a different thing, but that sort of 780 00:38:46,960 --> 00:38:51,439 Speaker 1: allowed me the freedom and the understanding of just how 781 00:38:51,520 --> 00:38:57,759 Speaker 1: deep that primal wound of adoption is for children, and 782 00:38:57,760 --> 00:39:03,080 Speaker 1: how it's our job as their pa parents to tell 783 00:39:03,120 --> 00:39:08,000 Speaker 1: them that their parents loved them, they loved them, and 784 00:39:08,080 --> 00:39:11,400 Speaker 1: they weren't able to be parents because they weren't ready 785 00:39:11,440 --> 00:39:15,799 Speaker 1: and prepared, and that you were wanted and they did 786 00:39:15,840 --> 00:39:18,520 Speaker 1: want you, and they do care about you and love you. 787 00:39:18,880 --> 00:39:21,600 Speaker 1: They're not in our family right now, but when you 788 00:39:21,680 --> 00:39:23,600 Speaker 1: get to be a grown up and you're an adult, 789 00:39:24,320 --> 00:39:27,680 Speaker 1: you can have any kind of conversation that you want 790 00:39:27,920 --> 00:39:32,120 Speaker 1: with your birth mother. Strangely enough, the only one who 791 00:39:32,120 --> 00:39:35,560 Speaker 1: ever really asked to speak to their birth parents when 792 00:39:35,600 --> 00:39:38,640 Speaker 1: they were young, which is what your child has done. 793 00:39:39,040 --> 00:39:42,439 Speaker 1: Was Dakota when she was five. She was very, very 794 00:39:42,520 --> 00:39:45,760 Speaker 1: verbal since she was little, and she often had questions 795 00:39:45,800 --> 00:39:49,520 Speaker 1: about her tummy. Lady. That's what I call the birth moms. 796 00:39:49,840 --> 00:39:51,840 Speaker 1: When my kids were little, I said, you grew in 797 00:39:51,880 --> 00:39:55,440 Speaker 1: another lady's tummy, and that's your tummy, mommy, and your 798 00:39:55,480 --> 00:40:00,520 Speaker 1: tummy lady, and she carried you, and she knew that 799 00:40:00,600 --> 00:40:03,760 Speaker 1: she wasn't able to be a mommy, and so God 800 00:40:03,800 --> 00:40:06,440 Speaker 1: looked in the tummy and found you your right match 801 00:40:06,640 --> 00:40:09,280 Speaker 1: for your mommy. And that's me. That's what I always 802 00:40:09,280 --> 00:40:11,600 Speaker 1: told my kid. But at five years old, Dakota asked 803 00:40:11,640 --> 00:40:13,360 Speaker 1: to speak to her birth mother. So I got in 804 00:40:13,400 --> 00:40:16,480 Speaker 1: touch with her, and that was an open adoption. My 805 00:40:16,560 --> 00:40:20,000 Speaker 1: other adoptions were closed because twenty something years ago it 806 00:40:20,080 --> 00:40:23,280 Speaker 1: was done very differently than it's done now. She wanted 807 00:40:23,280 --> 00:40:25,319 Speaker 1: to speak to her birth mother. Now, the birth mother 808 00:40:25,440 --> 00:40:29,600 Speaker 1: didn't have a phone that could do FaceTime. Dakota could 809 00:40:30,000 --> 00:40:33,720 Speaker 1: see the birth mother, but she talked into the phone 810 00:40:34,000 --> 00:40:37,439 Speaker 1: and saw an image of her, and she said, Hi, 811 00:40:37,680 --> 00:40:39,920 Speaker 1: do you remember me. I'm the baby that was in 812 00:40:39,960 --> 00:40:42,520 Speaker 1: your tummy. I just wanted you to know that when 813 00:40:42,600 --> 00:40:46,040 Speaker 1: I got born, my mommy held my hand and I 814 00:40:46,200 --> 00:40:49,239 Speaker 1: grabbed her pinky and I wouldn't let it go. And 815 00:40:49,280 --> 00:40:52,279 Speaker 1: that's my mommy and that's where I am now. And 816 00:40:52,320 --> 00:40:54,440 Speaker 1: I just wanted to tell you that, so you know, 817 00:40:54,880 --> 00:41:00,200 Speaker 1: thanks by, And she walked away, she said, which you 818 00:41:00,239 --> 00:41:03,600 Speaker 1: needed to say, walked away and has never really brought 819 00:41:03,600 --> 00:41:05,759 Speaker 1: it up again. And it's a hard concept, but you 820 00:41:05,840 --> 00:41:09,520 Speaker 1: have to realize when you adopt, even from foster care, 821 00:41:09,520 --> 00:41:11,880 Speaker 1: in any way you adopt a child, there's been a 822 00:41:11,920 --> 00:41:18,839 Speaker 1: tragedy that precipitated your union. There's a tragedy there. There's 823 00:41:19,080 --> 00:41:23,920 Speaker 1: a wound and an abandonment and a feeling that adoptees 824 00:41:23,960 --> 00:41:28,000 Speaker 1: have often of being displaced, of not fitting in anywhere, 825 00:41:28,120 --> 00:41:31,160 Speaker 1: of not knowing who they are or what their origin 826 00:41:31,320 --> 00:41:34,920 Speaker 1: story really is. So I would encourage her. I would 827 00:41:34,960 --> 00:41:37,919 Speaker 1: encourage her, and I would get some books and read 828 00:41:37,960 --> 00:41:41,120 Speaker 1: books about adoption to her and have her write down 829 00:41:41,160 --> 00:41:44,719 Speaker 1: her feelings. And like your husband said, you know, the 830 00:41:44,800 --> 00:41:47,640 Speaker 1: answer to that question, can I write a Mother's daycard 831 00:41:47,719 --> 00:41:51,719 Speaker 1: to my birth mother? Is yes, you certainly can. And 832 00:41:51,760 --> 00:41:53,719 Speaker 1: then you're going to promise to try to get it 833 00:41:53,760 --> 00:41:56,360 Speaker 1: to her, but whether or not you still have the 834 00:41:56,440 --> 00:41:59,560 Speaker 1: ability to do that, and if you can't send it 835 00:41:59,600 --> 00:42:02,320 Speaker 1: to her, that you keep them for your daughter for 836 00:42:02,440 --> 00:42:05,399 Speaker 1: when she gets older, or you keep a copy so 837 00:42:05,440 --> 00:42:09,319 Speaker 1: that she can have an understanding of her yearnings and 838 00:42:09,320 --> 00:42:11,799 Speaker 1: her desire to get to know that part of her 839 00:42:11,840 --> 00:42:15,759 Speaker 1: life of herself. It's not really about you. It's about 840 00:42:15,800 --> 00:42:18,799 Speaker 1: the child. It's not about whether or not you had 841 00:42:19,480 --> 00:42:23,920 Speaker 1: feelings of rejection or competition or that's what you feel 842 00:42:24,040 --> 00:42:27,040 Speaker 1: is really irrelevant. It's what the child feels and how 843 00:42:27,080 --> 00:42:30,840 Speaker 1: you can best provide a safe environment for them to 844 00:42:30,920 --> 00:42:35,280 Speaker 1: share their feelings in life with you about such a deep, 845 00:42:35,760 --> 00:42:40,040 Speaker 1: deep issue. Good for you, honey. You got any more questions, 846 00:42:40,080 --> 00:42:43,320 Speaker 1: send them my way. I'd love to hear what happens. 847 00:42:43,360 --> 00:42:46,359 Speaker 1: I'd love to hear what went down with all of that, 848 00:42:46,520 --> 00:42:50,239 Speaker 1: and how did Mother's Day go for you boys? And 849 00:42:50,320 --> 00:42:54,560 Speaker 1: congratulations and next time, give me a big hug when 850 00:42:54,600 --> 00:42:58,040 Speaker 1: you see me on Broadway. Okay, all right, we got 851 00:42:58,040 --> 00:43:01,279 Speaker 1: another question. Here we go. Hit it. 852 00:43:01,880 --> 00:43:04,400 Speaker 4: Hi, Rosie, my name's Kate. I just listened to your 853 00:43:04,520 --> 00:43:08,320 Speaker 4: Ricky Lake episode and in it you talked about Melissa 854 00:43:08,320 --> 00:43:11,879 Speaker 4: Ethridge's off Broadway show In New York. I actually ran 855 00:43:11,920 --> 00:43:14,520 Speaker 4: into you there, and you and your friend were so 856 00:43:14,680 --> 00:43:18,120 Speaker 4: kind to talk to me for a minute about teaching. Anyway, 857 00:43:18,160 --> 00:43:21,200 Speaker 4: my question is about music. I remember on your TV 858 00:43:21,280 --> 00:43:24,799 Speaker 4: show you had Melissa Ethridge on the show and you 859 00:43:24,920 --> 00:43:29,760 Speaker 4: played drums. Well, she's saying enough of me, and I 860 00:43:29,800 --> 00:43:32,239 Speaker 4: think the joke of the episode was like that she 861 00:43:32,400 --> 00:43:34,960 Speaker 4: was letting you play the drums even though you didn't 862 00:43:35,000 --> 00:43:37,960 Speaker 4: know how, and I don't know, it seemed to me 863 00:43:38,040 --> 00:43:42,600 Speaker 4: like you did know how, and so I was just wondering, like, 864 00:43:42,640 --> 00:43:44,840 Speaker 4: how did you learn how to play the drums or 865 00:43:44,880 --> 00:43:49,239 Speaker 4: any other instruments, And what's your relationship with music like 866 00:43:49,320 --> 00:43:52,920 Speaker 4: these days? What have you been listening to? Thanks Rosie, 867 00:43:52,920 --> 00:43:55,319 Speaker 4: and thanks so much for talking to me that day. 868 00:43:55,400 --> 00:43:56,960 Speaker 4: It meant a lot. You mean a lot. 869 00:43:57,800 --> 00:44:00,680 Speaker 1: Well, thank you. That's so sweet. Yes, I do know 870 00:44:00,719 --> 00:44:03,360 Speaker 1: how to play the drums. I wanted to take drums 871 00:44:03,400 --> 00:44:06,279 Speaker 1: when I was in elementary school, and my mother said 872 00:44:06,280 --> 00:44:09,600 Speaker 1: I couldn't because it was a boy's thing to do. 873 00:44:10,320 --> 00:44:13,279 Speaker 1: And then she went in the hospital and so I 874 00:44:13,440 --> 00:44:18,920 Speaker 1: forged the permission slip and I took percussion and she 875 00:44:19,160 --> 00:44:22,600 Speaker 1: found out about it when she was ill and had 876 00:44:22,640 --> 00:44:25,240 Speaker 1: not long to live and she was definitely not happy. 877 00:44:25,280 --> 00:44:28,800 Speaker 1: And my older brother Eddie said, you know, it's not drums, 878 00:44:28,840 --> 00:44:31,120 Speaker 1: it's percussion, and she said, do you think I'm stupid? 879 00:44:31,280 --> 00:44:34,279 Speaker 1: You know? I remember, I remember she got angry, you know, 880 00:44:34,520 --> 00:44:38,000 Speaker 1: but the fact that she didn't want me to do 881 00:44:38,040 --> 00:44:40,880 Speaker 1: it made me practice every single day because I wanted 882 00:44:40,920 --> 00:44:43,960 Speaker 1: to get really good at it. I wanted to tell 883 00:44:44,000 --> 00:44:48,360 Speaker 1: her about it when when she came back. So the 884 00:44:48,440 --> 00:44:51,480 Speaker 1: joke with Melissa is that I always ask can I 885 00:44:51,640 --> 00:44:54,680 Speaker 1: sing back up? Can I play drums for you? But, 886 00:44:54,800 --> 00:44:58,200 Speaker 1: like you know, serious musicians, that's kind of insulting to say, 887 00:44:58,239 --> 00:45:02,040 Speaker 1: you know, can I play uh with you? But you know, 888 00:45:02,120 --> 00:45:04,880 Speaker 1: my friend Cindy Lauper, let's be go on tour and 889 00:45:04,880 --> 00:45:08,359 Speaker 1: play drums with her. And Melissa has allowed me on 890 00:45:08,480 --> 00:45:11,520 Speaker 1: TV and Wainona has let me sing back up with her. 891 00:45:11,680 --> 00:45:14,560 Speaker 1: And those are the people I love. I love their music. 892 00:45:14,719 --> 00:45:17,959 Speaker 1: I love Joni Mitchell. A. Music has been a huge 893 00:45:17,960 --> 00:45:23,080 Speaker 1: part of my life and career and just part of 894 00:45:23,120 --> 00:45:28,680 Speaker 1: my artistry. Like the music is always underscoring everything. And 895 00:45:29,239 --> 00:45:32,160 Speaker 1: my favorite, of course is Joni Mitchell. She scores the 896 00:45:32,600 --> 00:45:36,759 Speaker 1: emotional truth of my life. That woman has so there 897 00:45:36,800 --> 00:45:41,040 Speaker 1: you go and listen. Next week, we have something special 898 00:45:41,080 --> 00:45:47,120 Speaker 1: for you. A rapper who's like thirty three years old 899 00:45:47,719 --> 00:45:50,840 Speaker 1: and he's one of the biggest rappers in the world. 900 00:45:51,480 --> 00:45:54,719 Speaker 1: He goes by the name Logic. His real name is 901 00:45:54,760 --> 00:46:01,759 Speaker 1: Bobby and he is the nicest, the most talented, the kindest, 902 00:46:01,880 --> 00:46:06,200 Speaker 1: the sweetest guy. And his records, I mean, that's how 903 00:46:06,440 --> 00:46:10,400 Speaker 1: you know. I'm old. His CDs, his albums is whatever. 904 00:46:11,000 --> 00:46:16,600 Speaker 1: His music is just so remarkable. And I didn't know 905 00:46:16,600 --> 00:46:19,520 Speaker 1: who he was. I met him at a restaurant. He 906 00:46:19,560 --> 00:46:22,919 Speaker 1: paid for my dinner, and I never got to say 907 00:46:22,920 --> 00:46:26,439 Speaker 1: hello to him. And now we met people who knew 908 00:46:26,480 --> 00:46:29,040 Speaker 1: people each other, and here he is talking to me, 909 00:46:29,280 --> 00:46:33,239 Speaker 1: and I was so excited to get to really discover him. 910 00:46:33,280 --> 00:46:34,960 Speaker 1: And he's been out for a long time and I 911 00:46:34,960 --> 00:46:36,759 Speaker 1: should have known who he was, but I did not. 912 00:46:37,400 --> 00:46:39,839 Speaker 1: But god do I love this guy. I love him 913 00:46:39,840 --> 00:46:43,600 Speaker 1: And he's next week right here on onward with Rosie O'Donnell. 914 00:46:43,880 --> 00:46:47,719 Speaker 1: Thank you all for checking us out and for downloading. 915 00:46:47,840 --> 00:46:51,240 Speaker 1: I appreciate you doing that for us, So thank you all, 916 00:46:51,360 --> 00:46:55,000 Speaker 1: and we'll catch you next Tuesday with Logic.