1 00:00:01,080 --> 00:00:07,000 Speaker 1: It's seven fifty eight in the morning on a Tuesday. 2 00:00:09,039 --> 00:00:15,280 Speaker 1: I'm waking up on the couch actually in my store 3 00:00:16,640 --> 00:00:24,959 Speaker 1: Gby Beauty, off Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. Flew 4 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:31,600 Speaker 1: in last night at midnight from Portland, Oregon, where I 5 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:38,120 Speaker 1: live and am running for Congress. Now that I'm laying here, 6 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:39,960 Speaker 1: I don't know how I was even able to sleep 7 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:44,120 Speaker 1: through all of this. I put a plant in front 8 00:00:44,159 --> 00:00:48,519 Speaker 1: of the door to like create some type of booby 9 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:52,040 Speaker 1: trap in case somebody even tried to like open the door. 10 00:00:54,680 --> 00:01:05,440 Speaker 2: It's like, what's the fern gonna do? You can really, 11 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:07,160 Speaker 2: I don't know how I was able to sleep through this. 12 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:12,080 Speaker 2: I must be really tired. I've put off this cash 13 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:14,319 Speaker 2: before my employees walk in and start wondering what is 14 00:01:14,319 --> 00:01:14,760 Speaker 2: going on. 15 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:22,560 Speaker 3: This is finally a show about a renowned entrepreneur and 16 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:26,520 Speaker 3: beautician running for Congress. Courtney casgro is, the co founder 17 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:29,640 Speaker 3: of Gby Beauty, seeking a seat in the House this year. 18 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:43,200 Speaker 2: All right, and look up towards me. I'm gonna place 19 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:46,320 Speaker 2: some underipads on your bottom lashes to separate them from 20 00:01:46,319 --> 00:01:51,080 Speaker 2: your top flashes, and then you're gonna keep your eyes 21 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:56,240 Speaker 2: closed for the duration of the service. You will hear 22 00:01:56,400 --> 00:02:02,040 Speaker 2: tweezers like the selling knives, but it's just them touching 23 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:04,960 Speaker 2: each other. So if you hear that, don't get scared. 24 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:07,800 Speaker 2: Don't think that there's going to be a We're not 25 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:13,440 Speaker 2: going to Benni Hana. Every job I had, I really 26 00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:17,120 Speaker 2: would essentially be promoted to manager within like thirty days, 27 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:20,000 Speaker 2: which was really interesting. So I had a lot of 28 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 2: confidence for someone that never graduated and we're just kind 29 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 2: of doing whatever they wanted to do. And began my 30 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 2: business that I own now called Gby. That started with 31 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 2: my business partner, Kendra Stutter, and we wanted to create 32 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:44,320 Speaker 2: a cosmetic line. So we were like, well, I'll be 33 00:02:44,360 --> 00:02:46,600 Speaker 2: the best at doing eyelash extensions, and you're going to 34 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:49,960 Speaker 2: do the products, and we're going to create like a 35 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:52,720 Speaker 2: line around that. So I would go drop my son 36 00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:54,880 Speaker 2: off at preschool, go to cosmetology school, and pick my 37 00:02:54,919 --> 00:02:57,920 Speaker 2: son up, work at this restaurant till like one in 38 00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:00,799 Speaker 2: the morning, and then drive to work. It was so crazy, 39 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:06,000 Speaker 2: and learned how to do latch extensions. I'd advertise on 40 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:09,680 Speaker 2: Craigslist just so weird because that's like makes no sense, 41 00:03:09,880 --> 00:03:13,560 Speaker 2: like I'll do your lashes. It's really weird, but it worked. 42 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:17,440 Speaker 2: And my first client was Joan Rivers, which is crazy. 43 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:20,359 Speaker 2: I was managed in the salon and it was when 44 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:23,639 Speaker 2: Joan and Melissa had their show and he came in 45 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:27,359 Speaker 2: to do the show and they were like, well, we 46 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:30,160 Speaker 2: need people to do services, and I was like, I'll 47 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 2: do it, and I really I saw how to do it, 48 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:36,720 Speaker 2: but I hadn't done it on that many people. And 49 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:39,720 Speaker 2: the good thing about Joan is that she doesn't know 50 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:41,640 Speaker 2: what she's doing anyways, and like she didn't know what 51 00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:44,480 Speaker 2: it was, so anything would have been greatmember. I was 52 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:47,880 Speaker 2: shaking the whole time and I did it and then 53 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:51,920 Speaker 2: never heard anything from her again, but was getting referred clients. 54 00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:56,960 Speaker 2: And then in January twenty fifteen, we found our first location, 55 00:03:57,320 --> 00:04:00,440 Speaker 2: which was just a room in this building I'm in 56 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 2: now I know we've taken over the building. Years later. 57 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:06,960 Speaker 2: Thank you for calling TVY. How can I help you. 58 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:12,160 Speaker 2: I was born in nineteen eighty two, so I was 59 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:17,880 Speaker 2: raised in Huntingdon Beach, California, until I was fourteen years old, 60 00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:22,240 Speaker 2: and that's when I got sent away to boarding school. 61 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:26,760 Speaker 2: My family's very conservative. My parents met in church. I 62 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:31,360 Speaker 2: actually have on my mother's side, twenty three cousins. They 63 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:36,359 Speaker 2: all live in like a four block radius. So my 64 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:41,960 Speaker 2: grandparents were very upper middle class and had properties, so 65 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:44,560 Speaker 2: all their children live in those homes. And then we 66 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:48,840 Speaker 2: all just kind of grew up together in one big clan. 67 00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 2: I don't know if that's the right word to reuse. 68 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:57,000 Speaker 2: And my parents got divorced when I was actually three 69 00:04:57,040 --> 00:04:59,919 Speaker 2: years old. They weren't married that long. My dad was 70 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:03,880 Speaker 2: your typical you know, I'll come pick you up and 71 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 2: then never show up. But the days that he did 72 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:12,119 Speaker 2: show up were very exciting and impactful and fun because 73 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:15,039 Speaker 2: it was such a departure from what I was living 74 00:05:15,080 --> 00:05:18,000 Speaker 2: as a child. I actually I found out when my 75 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:21,280 Speaker 2: dad was gay when I was ten, and I remember 76 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:23,159 Speaker 2: he was in We were in a convertible on the 77 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:27,040 Speaker 2: four or five freeway listening to the B fifty twos, 78 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:32,040 Speaker 2: and I said, are you gay? Looking back, I should 79 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 2: have said this is gay? This is already all gay, 80 00:05:34,839 --> 00:05:38,520 Speaker 2: But I said are you gay? And he said would 81 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:41,240 Speaker 2: it matter? Would you still love me if I was? 82 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:44,360 Speaker 2: Would it change anything? And I said no, and then 83 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:46,920 Speaker 2: he said, yes, I'm gay. That's how I found out 84 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:58,000 Speaker 2: my dad was gay. I ended up in boarding school 85 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:06,440 Speaker 2: for bad behavior. So I grew up in a very conservative, 86 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:13,039 Speaker 2: strict home, even though looking back it's very inappropriate, like craziness, 87 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:17,760 Speaker 2: very much like arrested development, where it's just like so absurd, 88 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:20,600 Speaker 2: You're like, this isn't even conservative, this is just absurd. 89 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:24,240 Speaker 2: I got removed from my private school and went to 90 00:06:24,279 --> 00:06:28,200 Speaker 2: a public school. Some kid asked me, like, on the 91 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 2: second day of school, do you do drugs? And I 92 00:06:31,279 --> 00:06:33,720 Speaker 2: was like, I was just so terrified. I said yes, 93 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:39,200 Speaker 2: And I remember this girl in the bathroom saying, well, 94 00:06:39,240 --> 00:06:41,440 Speaker 2: this drug makes you skinny. And my grandma would always 95 00:06:41,480 --> 00:06:43,440 Speaker 2: get on me for my weight, so I was like, oh, 96 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:46,919 Speaker 2: I'll take it. I don't have to hear about it anymore. Essentially, 97 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:52,640 Speaker 2: at thirteen, I started doing speed like math, like bad drugs, 98 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:56,920 Speaker 2: and then got kind of just like snapped. By fourteen, 99 00:06:56,960 --> 00:07:01,279 Speaker 2: I was on house arrest. Fifteen I was sent to 100 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:05,160 Speaker 2: residential treatment at Vista del Mar up in Los Angeles. 101 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:11,240 Speaker 2: By like fifteen, still I used. My mother got remarried 102 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:14,240 Speaker 2: and they lived in such a toxic environment that I 103 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:16,680 Speaker 2: used to just not to hear the screaming and not 104 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:18,200 Speaker 2: want to be around it. I would just call nine 105 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:19,800 Speaker 2: when one and say I'm going to kill myself, just 106 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:21,440 Speaker 2: so they would take me out of the house. And 107 00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:22,880 Speaker 2: it got to the pot where the police knew me 108 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:25,000 Speaker 2: and they would say, your parents are having to fight again, 109 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:28,040 Speaker 2: and I'd say I'm going to kill myself, and like mandatory, 110 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:30,640 Speaker 2: they have to like take you, so they just At 111 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:33,440 Speaker 2: one point, I lived at College Hospital in Coasta, Mesa 112 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:40,480 Speaker 2: for a pretty good time until Orange County Mental Health said, well, 113 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:44,080 Speaker 2: we can't send this girl back home, like she's not suicidal, 114 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:48,640 Speaker 2: but something seriously going on. And then I got sent 115 00:07:49,960 --> 00:07:55,000 Speaker 2: to Montana Bailing's Montana and went to residential treatment there, 116 00:07:56,120 --> 00:07:58,680 Speaker 2: and then from there they kind of got sick of 117 00:07:58,720 --> 00:08:01,480 Speaker 2: me because they didn't know what to classify me as. 118 00:08:01,560 --> 00:08:04,160 Speaker 2: They're like, you're very logical, but then you're just defiant. 119 00:08:05,080 --> 00:08:07,120 Speaker 2: And at that point I figured out how to like 120 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:10,040 Speaker 2: get drugs in a way of like downers. Like I 121 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:11,880 Speaker 2: knew that if I freaked out, I'd get thorsine and 122 00:08:11,880 --> 00:08:14,080 Speaker 2: I wouldn't have to think about anything. So I would 123 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:17,040 Speaker 2: kind of manipulate the system and I would do this 124 00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:19,160 Speaker 2: thing where if I didn't want to go to school 125 00:08:19,160 --> 00:08:21,880 Speaker 2: for the week, I would You'd there were kids called 126 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 2: run risks where they would like run and like they'd 127 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:26,600 Speaker 2: have to take their shoes because they were going to 128 00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:29,080 Speaker 2: run away. I would just walk, so I was the 129 00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:32,160 Speaker 2: only person on walk risk and they were like, we 130 00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:36,320 Speaker 2: can't control her. She's seventeen. We have to get her 131 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:37,920 Speaker 2: out of here. It's wasting our time. So then they 132 00:08:37,920 --> 00:08:40,440 Speaker 2: put me in a place in Aurora, Colorado until I 133 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:46,320 Speaker 2: was eighteen, and that was very different because I was 134 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:51,360 Speaker 2: in a treatment center with girls that were probably more violent, 135 00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:53,840 Speaker 2: and all of them I had to learn how to 136 00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:56,560 Speaker 2: survive in my own way because I didn't feel safe 137 00:08:56,559 --> 00:08:59,199 Speaker 2: at home. I did, I didn't feel safe anywhere. And 138 00:08:59,240 --> 00:09:04,120 Speaker 2: then on my eighteenth birthday, I was woken up by 139 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:08,520 Speaker 2: my therapist and Aurora, Colorado and was told I'm taking 140 00:09:08,559 --> 00:09:12,880 Speaker 2: you to the airport because your father, whom I don't 141 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:16,640 Speaker 2: speak with now, did anymore, but he was trying to 142 00:09:16,800 --> 00:09:18,840 Speaker 2: have me become a ward of the state in Texas 143 00:09:18,920 --> 00:09:21,520 Speaker 2: till I was twenty three. And she picked me up 144 00:09:21,559 --> 00:09:24,240 Speaker 2: and drove me to the airport and I got on 145 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:26,200 Speaker 2: the plane and I showed up with my parents at 146 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:28,560 Speaker 2: my mom's house and my grandparents. They were not expecting me. 147 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:31,720 Speaker 2: They were like, what are you doing here? And that's 148 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:35,960 Speaker 2: that was the end of that. It's terrible. And then 149 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:41,280 Speaker 2: when I was I turned nineteen and met a boy 150 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:45,640 Speaker 2: to skate park because that's what we did. And in 151 00:09:45,679 --> 00:09:48,360 Speaker 2: November of two thousand and one, I found out I 152 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:51,280 Speaker 2: was pregnant with my son. I don't have a high 153 00:09:51,280 --> 00:09:55,719 Speaker 2: school diploma. I've never been to junior college. So I 154 00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:58,360 Speaker 2: was a person that really knew nothing about life. I'm 155 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:02,040 Speaker 2: a person that never would has a formal education. I 156 00:10:02,320 --> 00:10:05,719 Speaker 2: just kind of was. I feel like I was kind 157 00:10:05,720 --> 00:10:07,920 Speaker 2: of thrown to the wolves growing up, and then even afterwards, 158 00:10:07,920 --> 00:10:10,920 Speaker 2: like no one in my family was like, hey, you 159 00:10:10,960 --> 00:10:12,840 Speaker 2: need to have these life skills, you need to have 160 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:15,439 Speaker 2: these things, and I just have to figure it out 161 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:17,800 Speaker 2: on my own. So when I found out I was pregnant, 162 00:10:17,840 --> 00:10:19,880 Speaker 2: I look back at that time and it can't even 163 00:10:19,920 --> 00:10:23,440 Speaker 2: believe it. I look back and I'm like, WHOA, that's crazy. 164 00:10:23,720 --> 00:10:26,320 Speaker 2: Like I didn't know how to do that. I just 165 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:29,120 Speaker 2: figured it out. And now thinking about it, I'm like, 166 00:10:29,160 --> 00:10:31,160 Speaker 2: oh my god. If I think if I got pregnant nowadays, 167 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:34,320 Speaker 2: I probably would flip out and be like, oh my god, 168 00:10:35,120 --> 00:10:39,320 Speaker 2: I'd be so scared. So I actually feel like I'm 169 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:41,400 Speaker 2: lucky in that way. I was, you know, and my 170 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:45,040 Speaker 2: son and are our best friends. We do everything together. 171 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:48,880 Speaker 2: Whatever my son needs, I'm going to figure it out, 172 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:49,240 Speaker 2: you know. 173 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:51,040 Speaker 4: Like now. 174 00:10:52,280 --> 00:10:56,439 Speaker 2: I take him everywhere with me, so you know, he's 175 00:10:56,480 --> 00:10:58,400 Speaker 2: twenty one now and people are always like, well, what 176 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:01,000 Speaker 2: does he do? And I'm like, I just feel this 177 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:04,199 Speaker 2: guilt to not. I'm like, he does not. He travels 178 00:11:04,240 --> 00:11:13,720 Speaker 2: with me. When I was pregnant, I didn't work. I 179 00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:16,640 Speaker 2: was on disability, and then my mother was actually able 180 00:11:16,679 --> 00:11:20,840 Speaker 2: to get me disability for while I was in residential 181 00:11:20,840 --> 00:11:24,040 Speaker 2: treatment because I was like, I guess emotionally like you 182 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:26,520 Speaker 2: can and when you're like psychologically have issues, you can 183 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:29,600 Speaker 2: get disability. Like for the first like two years, I 184 00:11:29,640 --> 00:11:32,559 Speaker 2: didn't really do anything would be a mom. And then 185 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:38,720 Speaker 2: when my son turned three, I started managing this juice 186 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:41,720 Speaker 2: bark at this restaurant called Mother's Market, where like all 187 00:11:41,720 --> 00:11:45,320 Speaker 2: the cool kids worked, and it was there I think 188 00:11:45,360 --> 00:11:50,360 Speaker 2: I was able to start implementing like my business acumen 189 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:54,000 Speaker 2: in a way where I was like, you know, managing 190 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:56,080 Speaker 2: all these people. I didn't understand that I didn't. I 191 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:59,720 Speaker 2: felt like I had the most logic and I knew 192 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:02,440 Speaker 2: how to run this place and didn't understand how everyone 193 00:12:02,440 --> 00:12:05,040 Speaker 2: else was kind of like not able to figure it out. 194 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:08,240 Speaker 2: But I think collectively growing up and seeing my grandpa 195 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:13,760 Speaker 2: run his business and then having to survive and residential 196 00:12:13,800 --> 00:12:16,720 Speaker 2: treatment kind of made me a really good personality manager. 197 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:19,880 Speaker 2: So I was able to see things that other people 198 00:12:19,920 --> 00:12:26,280 Speaker 2: were not able to see. Okay, let me move this 199 00:12:26,360 --> 00:12:31,679 Speaker 2: appointment for you already, we'll see it Thursday. It too, 200 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:35,840 Speaker 2: You're welcome. So these are all the supplies that I 201 00:12:36,200 --> 00:12:43,640 Speaker 2: use for applying eyelash extensions, tweezers, removers, tint. I have 202 00:12:43,760 --> 00:12:46,800 Speaker 2: over a thousand different lashes that range in length, thickness, 203 00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:51,760 Speaker 2: and curl to give the client in each individual look. 204 00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:55,120 Speaker 2: So I think that's one thing that we do differently. 205 00:12:55,559 --> 00:12:58,800 Speaker 2: So that's why there's so many trays on this table 206 00:12:58,840 --> 00:13:04,840 Speaker 2: and then on the drawers underneath. And yeah, so we 207 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:09,520 Speaker 2: work on a lot of celebrities at GBY. The most 208 00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:15,520 Speaker 2: cool and complicated was Lebron because he wanted a custom 209 00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:18,840 Speaker 2: eighteen carre at gold gem of his logo, but he 210 00:13:18,920 --> 00:13:21,120 Speaker 2: wanted it within like forty eight hours, so we had 211 00:13:21,160 --> 00:13:26,240 Speaker 2: to figure out a way to find someone downtown to 212 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:30,760 Speaker 2: make it perfectly and they only were able to make 213 00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:32,880 Speaker 2: one of one and that amount of time, which you 214 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:35,800 Speaker 2: think they'd be able to make a few. So we 215 00:13:35,880 --> 00:13:39,520 Speaker 2: had one and her and I both went. The first 216 00:13:39,559 --> 00:13:41,760 Speaker 2: time we did it was on the back lot of 217 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:44,880 Speaker 2: Space Jam. So we both show up and we're like 218 00:13:44,920 --> 00:13:47,080 Speaker 2: sitting in the car. It doesn't require two people, but 219 00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:48,960 Speaker 2: we were both like, we're not missing this opportunity. We 220 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:52,360 Speaker 2: have to see this for it. And then the thing 221 00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:55,440 Speaker 2: is too is that you don't know what his teeth 222 00:13:55,440 --> 00:13:57,000 Speaker 2: are going to look like, and you don't know if 223 00:13:57,040 --> 00:13:59,520 Speaker 2: it's going to fit, and then you have then it's 224 00:13:59,559 --> 00:14:04,280 Speaker 2: so fragile. You have to bend it to the person's tooth. 225 00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:08,280 Speaker 2: So you know, if once we got into the trailer 226 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:11,160 Speaker 2: and saw its tooth, I'm like holding this, you know, 227 00:14:12,320 --> 00:14:15,840 Speaker 2: miliscopic logo that fits on a tooth that has to 228 00:14:15,960 --> 00:14:18,600 Speaker 2: now be bent to like to the curvature of his tooth. 229 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:20,080 Speaker 2: And it was like, if this falls in the trailer, 230 00:14:20,120 --> 00:14:22,960 Speaker 2: it's gone, falls in his mouth, it's gone. If it 231 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:27,800 Speaker 2: falls anywhere. It's so tiny. And at one point when 232 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:30,160 Speaker 2: I was doing it, he was leaning away from me 233 00:14:30,200 --> 00:14:31,440 Speaker 2: and I just grabbed his face and I said, you 234 00:14:31,480 --> 00:14:35,360 Speaker 2: need to quit leaning, and everyone was laughing because they 235 00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:37,080 Speaker 2: were like, yeah, she's not afraid of you, and I'm 236 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:39,880 Speaker 2: thinking I'm not. I'm afraid of losing this more than 237 00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:42,840 Speaker 2: I am, like I have forgotten who it was. Yeah, 238 00:14:42,840 --> 00:14:44,280 Speaker 2: and then we did we did that, and then we 239 00:14:44,320 --> 00:14:48,200 Speaker 2: did a crystal on him, and then he requested us 240 00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:51,880 Speaker 2: again two to for two other times. The reason we 241 00:14:51,920 --> 00:14:54,440 Speaker 2: had to go back to Lebron's because his his diamond 242 00:14:54,520 --> 00:14:57,000 Speaker 2: kept on popping off and we didn't know why. But 243 00:14:57,040 --> 00:14:59,000 Speaker 2: then I saw him on the and I was in 244 00:14:59,040 --> 00:15:01,560 Speaker 2: the airport and anything. He was on the screen, like 245 00:15:01,600 --> 00:15:03,120 Speaker 2: on the TV screen in the airport, and I saw 246 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:05,640 Speaker 2: him with his mouth piece in and he was chewing 247 00:15:05,640 --> 00:15:08,080 Speaker 2: on his mouthpiece, and I'm like, that's why the gym 248 00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:11,360 Speaker 2: keeps on like falling out. So when they email this 249 00:15:11,400 --> 00:15:12,480 Speaker 2: again that I fell it, I'm like, tell him to 250 00:15:12,520 --> 00:15:14,440 Speaker 2: quit chomping on his mouth guard and they laugh they 251 00:15:14,440 --> 00:15:16,600 Speaker 2: were laughing. There was like I could see it from 252 00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:20,000 Speaker 2: the television. He's chopping it out of his own mouth. 253 00:15:21,800 --> 00:15:24,160 Speaker 2: So right now we are getting to the end of 254 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:34,440 Speaker 2: your service. I'm gonna lash it probably over three hundred 255 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:39,320 Speaker 2: I mean, whatever's on your own natural lashes I'm running 256 00:15:39,320 --> 00:15:44,960 Speaker 2: for Congress in Oregon's first district. My platform is lowering 257 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:47,720 Speaker 2: taxes on working families. I'm running as a Democrat. I 258 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:52,480 Speaker 2: do have to say I was always a registered independent, 259 00:15:53,360 --> 00:16:00,040 Speaker 2: but to primary I had to claim a party. So 260 00:16:01,120 --> 00:16:05,480 Speaker 2: growing up with a gay father, I found myself in 261 00:16:05,880 --> 00:16:11,040 Speaker 2: political activist scenarios as a child. First, my father's his 262 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:16,600 Speaker 2: one boyfriend had HIV and my dad being gay would 263 00:16:16,680 --> 00:16:19,560 Speaker 2: leave me with friends that were drag queens and just 264 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:21,600 Speaker 2: people in the community. So when my dad would have 265 00:16:21,640 --> 00:16:25,280 Speaker 2: to work on the weekends, I would be going with 266 00:16:25,440 --> 00:16:28,000 Speaker 2: his friend Sean at the time, and we would be 267 00:16:28,400 --> 00:16:31,680 Speaker 2: you know, canvassing and passing out flyers for AIDS Project 268 00:16:31,720 --> 00:16:37,200 Speaker 2: Los Angeles and Cole Porter musicals that were gonna, you know, 269 00:16:37,280 --> 00:16:41,920 Speaker 2: raise funds for the Gay and Lesbian Center. So I 270 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:45,440 Speaker 2: was always in this world. And I also never could 271 00:16:45,520 --> 00:16:48,920 Speaker 2: understand why I would be in this world. And everyone 272 00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:50,800 Speaker 2: was so fun and creative and like, I'd have so 273 00:16:50,920 --> 00:16:54,680 Speaker 2: much fun, and then I'd go back to Orange County 274 00:16:55,280 --> 00:16:58,880 Speaker 2: and be at Calvary Chapel Coasta, Mesa and be told 275 00:16:58,920 --> 00:17:02,440 Speaker 2: that the gay and secular people of the world are 276 00:17:02,440 --> 00:17:06,000 Speaker 2: going to hell. And I was like whoa, how could 277 00:17:06,080 --> 00:17:09,080 Speaker 2: that be? Because you guys seem really mean and these 278 00:17:09,119 --> 00:17:16,159 Speaker 2: people seem really happy. So growing up just very confused. 279 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:19,240 Speaker 2: I always say I got the best parts of my 280 00:17:19,280 --> 00:17:24,560 Speaker 2: self esteem from drag queens because they looked every different way, 281 00:17:24,680 --> 00:17:28,600 Speaker 2: like from physicality to race, and they wad all these 282 00:17:28,640 --> 00:17:31,160 Speaker 2: costumes and they could go on stage and make people 283 00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:33,000 Speaker 2: laugh and make people feel loved, and it was a 284 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:38,280 Speaker 2: community where they just wanted to be happy. And at 285 00:17:38,280 --> 00:17:40,119 Speaker 2: home in Orange County, I was suffering from really bad 286 00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:41,920 Speaker 2: self esteem from like the way that I was told 287 00:17:41,960 --> 00:17:43,359 Speaker 2: that I looked and I should look like this, and 288 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:46,840 Speaker 2: my grandmother just telling me it wasn't the epitome of 289 00:17:46,920 --> 00:17:52,760 Speaker 2: like your blonde Orange County girl. So I also feel 290 00:17:52,800 --> 00:17:54,600 Speaker 2: like the gay community has really made me what I 291 00:17:54,600 --> 00:17:58,960 Speaker 2: am today in terms of like activism and also my businesses. 292 00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:05,040 Speaker 2: So growing up with activism and then living in a 293 00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:10,639 Speaker 2: conservative world and then you know, going to treatment centers, 294 00:18:11,320 --> 00:18:15,480 Speaker 2: and then coming out and being a single mom, and 295 00:18:15,520 --> 00:18:17,880 Speaker 2: then going through the programs of you know, my family 296 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:20,719 Speaker 2: said we're not helping you. So being on welfare, so 297 00:18:20,800 --> 00:18:24,560 Speaker 2: go into like, you know, we welfare classes in Santa Ana. 298 00:18:24,640 --> 00:18:30,159 Speaker 2: Because when you get benefits. In certain counties, you have 299 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:31,920 Speaker 2: to sit in on classes to prove that you're doing 300 00:18:31,920 --> 00:18:36,440 Speaker 2: something through with your day, meeting women in those programs, 301 00:18:37,480 --> 00:18:41,119 Speaker 2: being on Wick and just kind of growing up in 302 00:18:41,160 --> 00:18:45,600 Speaker 2: like these both polarizing environments. I do think it's time 303 00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:49,760 Speaker 2: that I think we're seeing more of this, that someone 304 00:18:49,840 --> 00:18:54,119 Speaker 2: of the working class represents the working class and can 305 00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:56,919 Speaker 2: speak on the issues that are are affecting people daily 306 00:18:57,040 --> 00:19:01,480 Speaker 2: and with real true discernment and can mention and experience 307 00:19:01,880 --> 00:19:06,960 Speaker 2: versus like people like you know, Matt Gates or the 308 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:10,119 Speaker 2: incompaned I'm running against. No one really knows too much 309 00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:16,399 Speaker 2: about her, you know, working families party, very docile. She 310 00:19:16,560 --> 00:19:19,320 Speaker 2: has one of the lowest ratings in terms of international 311 00:19:19,320 --> 00:19:23,080 Speaker 2: relations in terms of the Middle East, so I my 312 00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:28,439 Speaker 2: detest for her is triggered. And also she's only past 313 00:19:28,960 --> 00:19:32,560 Speaker 2: seven pieces of legislation in over a decade. And she 314 00:19:32,560 --> 00:19:34,760 Speaker 2: sits on committees that she has no business on, which 315 00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:39,760 Speaker 2: is the Elderly Gay Community, which is my seat, and 316 00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:42,199 Speaker 2: she sits on the Culture and Arts Committee, which is 317 00:19:42,480 --> 00:19:44,480 Speaker 2: definitely my seat. So she needs to get out of 318 00:19:44,520 --> 00:19:48,080 Speaker 2: these seats because she's not doing anything for anybody except 319 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:56,359 Speaker 2: for taking lobby money. I believe two months after I 320 00:19:56,400 --> 00:20:01,320 Speaker 2: announced my congressional bid, nu with me were leaked on 321 00:20:01,359 --> 00:20:05,920 Speaker 2: to Reddit from when I was a dominatrix and I 322 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:09,439 Speaker 2: was looking at photos of me that didn't live on 323 00:20:09,480 --> 00:20:14,000 Speaker 2: the internet for years. So we have some theories on 324 00:20:14,040 --> 00:20:20,280 Speaker 2: who linked them. But Playboy has now decided to support 325 00:20:20,320 --> 00:20:24,080 Speaker 2: me in this and sending out a press release and 326 00:20:24,320 --> 00:20:27,800 Speaker 2: helping me kind of turn the narrative into my favor. 327 00:20:28,560 --> 00:20:34,920 Speaker 2: And that's who we're jumping on the call with. Hi, 328 00:20:35,040 --> 00:20:40,359 Speaker 2: how are you. I'm well. Thank you so much for 329 00:20:40,600 --> 00:20:44,119 Speaker 2: meeting with me again. I really appreciate it. We're so 330 00:20:44,160 --> 00:20:46,879 Speaker 2: excited to have you, Like I can't even put it 331 00:20:46,880 --> 00:20:50,399 Speaker 2: into Where's your story? Is incredible? So many of your 332 00:20:50,480 --> 00:20:53,560 Speaker 2: values really aligned with ours. I love that you're using 333 00:20:53,560 --> 00:20:56,840 Speaker 2: your platform to bring attention. 334 00:20:56,920 --> 00:20:59,080 Speaker 1: To these sorts of issues that we're in face. 335 00:20:58,960 --> 00:21:03,360 Speaker 2: With, like private content thing lead you know. I think 336 00:21:03,359 --> 00:21:04,360 Speaker 2: it's in the. 337 00:21:04,280 --> 00:21:05,720 Speaker 1: Fact that you're also speaking at. 338 00:21:11,560 --> 00:21:16,600 Speaker 2: Cool. Thank you so much, Tori. I appreciate it. Thank you, 339 00:21:17,920 --> 00:21:28,000 Speaker 2: Bye bye. So, I at one point in my life 340 00:21:28,119 --> 00:21:32,320 Speaker 2: was a dominate trix and revisited that line of work 341 00:21:32,400 --> 00:21:36,639 Speaker 2: during the pandemic because we were shut down and during 342 00:21:37,160 --> 00:21:40,080 Speaker 2: twenty twenty we had our twenty nineteen we had to 343 00:21:40,160 --> 00:21:42,680 Speaker 2: open a New York locations. So when we're shut down 344 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:45,840 Speaker 2: in New York City, I'm trying, you know, they're still 345 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:48,480 Speaker 2: making us pay rent, so I'm trying to like save 346 00:21:48,520 --> 00:21:50,679 Speaker 2: the business. And I was like, well, I'll just you know, 347 00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:53,280 Speaker 2: New York is open, I'll just be a dominate trix again. 348 00:21:53,320 --> 00:21:55,840 Speaker 2: Like I honestly don't care. I've no qualms with sex work. 349 00:21:56,280 --> 00:21:59,520 Speaker 2: At the dungeon I was working at in Midtown Manhattan, 350 00:22:00,640 --> 00:22:03,880 Speaker 2: there's a website, and on the website, all the photos 351 00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:07,439 Speaker 2: of me were blocked out, like my eyes right, But 352 00:22:07,480 --> 00:22:09,399 Speaker 2: there was a two days where the photos of me 353 00:22:09,480 --> 00:22:11,000 Speaker 2: were not blocked out. Then I said, you know, maybe 354 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:13,440 Speaker 2: I should block these out. I don't know, maybe my 355 00:22:13,520 --> 00:22:16,359 Speaker 2: face shouldn't be on here. And I was only on 356 00:22:16,400 --> 00:22:20,399 Speaker 2: the website for two weeks because I'm not good at 357 00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:28,240 Speaker 2: my job. And so I announced my candidacy three years later, 358 00:22:29,080 --> 00:22:32,280 Speaker 2: and two and a half months into my congressional campaign. 359 00:22:33,080 --> 00:22:36,760 Speaker 2: Somehow those photos that once lived online all this, all 360 00:22:36,800 --> 00:22:40,760 Speaker 2: of a sudden were being DMed to my congressional account. 361 00:22:40,840 --> 00:22:43,119 Speaker 2: And then I had to recall in my head, like 362 00:22:43,240 --> 00:22:45,720 Speaker 2: did I send these out to? Anybody? Who would I 363 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:51,440 Speaker 2: have send these out to? And started seeing Reddit threads 364 00:22:51,880 --> 00:22:53,640 Speaker 2: in my because I have a lot of press from 365 00:22:53,640 --> 00:22:55,640 Speaker 2: like the humanitarian work that I've done in my business, 366 00:22:56,240 --> 00:22:58,720 Speaker 2: and if I scrolled down far enough there were red 367 00:22:58,800 --> 00:23:01,080 Speaker 2: there were like full Reddit threads, and the reddits threads 368 00:23:01,080 --> 00:23:03,760 Speaker 2: would say or and you can actually still look at 369 00:23:03,760 --> 00:23:05,760 Speaker 2: them up even though they've been reported and deleted, They're 370 00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:07,359 Speaker 2: still there. So I don't know what that even does. 371 00:23:08,520 --> 00:23:12,600 Speaker 2: The photos are gone, which is great, but the threads 372 00:23:12,600 --> 00:23:15,720 Speaker 2: are like in like forums called like Joe Biden not 373 00:23:15,800 --> 00:23:20,560 Speaker 2: my President? One was would you vote for Dominate Trix 374 00:23:20,760 --> 00:23:24,959 Speaker 2: in Congress? So the thing the concern became of it 375 00:23:24,960 --> 00:23:27,040 Speaker 2: once then like oh I don't care. People know it was, 376 00:23:27,440 --> 00:23:31,040 Speaker 2: you know, is all the work that I've done ever 377 00:23:31,080 --> 00:23:35,359 Speaker 2: in my life going to now be overshadowed by the 378 00:23:35,400 --> 00:23:38,480 Speaker 2: headline that reads dominate Trix runs for Congress with a 379 00:23:38,520 --> 00:23:46,320 Speaker 2: photo of me? In twenty nineteen, I ran for business 380 00:23:46,359 --> 00:23:50,199 Speaker 2: co chair in Silver Lake and got it. It's like 381 00:23:50,800 --> 00:23:54,040 Speaker 2: you get all you rally all the businesses together and 382 00:23:54,359 --> 00:23:56,600 Speaker 2: you see what they wants, the needs are, and then 383 00:23:56,640 --> 00:23:59,360 Speaker 2: if there's an issue with like you know, a developer 384 00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:01,159 Speaker 2: coming in and you kind of like put it on 385 00:24:01,200 --> 00:24:04,680 Speaker 2: the docket for the neighborhood council to review. And then 386 00:24:04,960 --> 00:24:09,000 Speaker 2: COVID happened, and then silver Lake Council was up for 387 00:24:09,040 --> 00:24:11,640 Speaker 2: reelection and someone said, you know, you really should run 388 00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:13,680 Speaker 2: in your district. You can run as a stakeholder even 389 00:24:13,720 --> 00:24:15,680 Speaker 2: though you don't technically live here, you have a business, 390 00:24:15,680 --> 00:24:18,840 Speaker 2: You're a stakeholder. So I ran for region for Representative 391 00:24:19,040 --> 00:24:22,240 Speaker 2: and one, and then I sat on the neighborhood council 392 00:24:22,480 --> 00:24:24,520 Speaker 2: for about six months and then was asked if I 393 00:24:24,560 --> 00:24:29,119 Speaker 2: wanted to co chair silver Lake and re Region four 394 00:24:29,560 --> 00:24:33,760 Speaker 2: and I did. But during this time, in these meetings 395 00:24:34,040 --> 00:24:37,920 Speaker 2: during COVID, people would, because I was the coach here, 396 00:24:37,960 --> 00:24:41,760 Speaker 2: would ask me what we should be doing for COVID, 397 00:24:42,240 --> 00:24:47,480 Speaker 2: like prevention, And I'm thinking, how is nobody organized? How again? 398 00:24:47,640 --> 00:24:49,520 Speaker 2: How am I the person that is the smartest person 399 00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:53,480 Speaker 2: in the room. This is really concerning, and Courtney, should 400 00:24:53,480 --> 00:24:56,280 Speaker 2: we do this? Should and the things? Again, logic was 401 00:24:56,320 --> 00:25:00,520 Speaker 2: all out the door. We can't be open, but if 402 00:25:00,560 --> 00:25:03,280 Speaker 2: you want to try something on, we'll let you. And 403 00:25:02,720 --> 00:25:06,840 Speaker 2: I'm just like this is I feel crazy? So I 404 00:25:06,840 --> 00:25:08,920 Speaker 2: found myself in another position where it was like, how 405 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:11,240 Speaker 2: is the city business? O just silver like asking me 406 00:25:11,240 --> 00:25:14,760 Speaker 2: what they should be doing. I'm not, you know, a 407 00:25:14,760 --> 00:25:18,160 Speaker 2: CDC doctor. I don't know. I give you my advice, 408 00:25:18,200 --> 00:25:19,800 Speaker 2: but then I'd give my advice and it wouldn't be taken. 409 00:25:19,800 --> 00:25:23,680 Speaker 2: So I was like, okay. It made me feel absolutely insane. 410 00:25:23,800 --> 00:25:24,360 Speaker 1: And then. 411 00:25:26,119 --> 00:25:28,440 Speaker 2: I was like, if it's this bad here, I wonder 412 00:25:28,480 --> 00:25:34,080 Speaker 2: what Congress is like. Call me crazy, Call me crazy, 413 00:25:34,119 --> 00:25:37,199 Speaker 2: call me growing up around crazy, Call me someone that 414 00:25:37,240 --> 00:25:41,960 Speaker 2: likes to problem solve, Call me a dreamer. I thought, wow, 415 00:25:43,600 --> 00:25:46,640 Speaker 2: in that moment, I really thought, if I win Congress, 416 00:25:46,680 --> 00:25:53,000 Speaker 2: I can make a change. I hope to carry that 417 00:25:53,119 --> 00:25:57,639 Speaker 2: belief in the next throughout my campaign, and again I 418 00:25:57,680 --> 00:25:59,720 Speaker 2: think a lot of my I don't know if ignorance 419 00:25:59,760 --> 00:26:04,440 Speaker 2: is or whatever, but you know, it's like I'm also 420 00:26:04,440 --> 00:26:06,520 Speaker 2: a businesswoman, right so it's like if you guys can't 421 00:26:06,520 --> 00:26:10,160 Speaker 2: figure this out, who's running the show. So I was like, whoa. 422 00:26:10,240 --> 00:26:12,040 Speaker 2: If this is going on in Congress and I get 423 00:26:12,080 --> 00:26:15,840 Speaker 2: elected in I could be really great at this all right, 424 00:26:17,880 --> 00:26:26,440 Speaker 2: by I have a good day, good night. Oh, I 425 00:26:26,480 --> 00:26:36,880 Speaker 2: am now finishing my day. Finally, seven oh two pm. 426 00:26:34,960 --> 00:26:47,159 Speaker 4: And we are closing up the store. Luckily, I'm tired, 427 00:26:47,240 --> 00:26:51,080 Speaker 4: but not so exhausted. I'll be sleeping on the couch 428 00:26:51,160 --> 00:26:58,760 Speaker 4: this evening. It's been a very busy day, a very 429 00:26:58,880 --> 00:26:59,960 Speaker 4: very busy day. 430 00:27:02,320 --> 00:27:05,920 Speaker 2: But a great one, a really great day. Turn off 431 00:27:05,920 --> 00:27:14,480 Speaker 2: the computer. That's not done without a phone call to 432 00:27:14,560 --> 00:27:20,600 Speaker 2: see how my son is doing. So we lock up 433 00:27:20,640 --> 00:27:30,159 Speaker 2: and make that phone call. I'm just getting home. I 434 00:27:30,280 --> 00:27:33,480 Speaker 2: spoke with my son. It's my favorite, it's my favorite 435 00:27:33,480 --> 00:27:37,679 Speaker 2: part of the day. No, I'm going to it is 436 00:27:38,160 --> 00:27:43,320 Speaker 2: nine twenty one. I'm gonna make myself a late dinner, 437 00:27:45,000 --> 00:27:49,040 Speaker 2: but I have some leftover Little Doms. It's an Italian 438 00:27:49,119 --> 00:27:52,720 Speaker 2: restaurant in Los Angeles and Las Fela's, and it's so good. 439 00:27:52,840 --> 00:27:59,800 Speaker 2: And I've been craving this meatball all day. So I'll 440 00:27:59,800 --> 00:28:06,960 Speaker 2: be ye eating and working and watching in these final 441 00:28:08,760 --> 00:28:12,600 Speaker 2: hours of my day.