1 00:00:13,360 --> 00:00:16,720 Speaker 1: Hey, guys, welcome to another episode of Eating While Broke. 2 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:19,000 Speaker 1: I'm your host, Coleen Witt, and today we have a 3 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:26,440 Speaker 1: very special treat for you all. Pun intended. Terry J. Vaughn, actress, director, producer. 4 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:30,680 Speaker 1: Terry J. Vaughn's in the building. Thank you so much 5 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:33,440 Speaker 1: for coming. I was extremely and I told you off camera, 6 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:36,280 Speaker 1: extremely excited to have you on today. I've watched you. 7 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:38,800 Speaker 1: I feel like we family, Like I've watched you so much. 8 00:00:38,960 --> 00:00:39,559 Speaker 2: I love that. 9 00:00:39,680 --> 00:00:41,800 Speaker 1: I know people probably come up to you and say, hey. 10 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:45,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, it's like we're family, and I don't mind that. 11 00:00:45,080 --> 00:00:47,519 Speaker 1: You don't mind it, Okay for all our listeners, you 12 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:51,560 Speaker 1: don't mind. Yeah, let me eat my mail and come over. 13 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:53,800 Speaker 1: But what will you be having us eat today? 14 00:00:54,080 --> 00:00:56,600 Speaker 2: I Am going to make us some fish tacos. 15 00:00:56,640 --> 00:00:57,440 Speaker 1: Fish tacos. 16 00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:01,200 Speaker 2: Yes, so very excited, very exciting, favorite thing to do. 17 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:04,000 Speaker 2: I love Mexican food, so I love I'm a taco fanatic. 18 00:01:04,120 --> 00:01:06,600 Speaker 1: Really are you based out of Are you from California? 19 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:06,880 Speaker 2: I am. 20 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:09,440 Speaker 1: I'm from the Bay Area, from San Francisco. Okay, okay, yeah. 21 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 1: Whenever someone says they love Mexican food, I'm like that. California. 22 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 1: It is a California thing. 23 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:15,080 Speaker 2: It is, it is. 24 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:18,200 Speaker 1: I have some great news for all the listeners. We've 25 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:20,720 Speaker 1: never had fish tacos on the show. Okay, we've taped 26 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:23,319 Speaker 1: like one hundred and twenty episodes, so that's amazing and 27 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:26,440 Speaker 1: it's affordable. But what will be going into your dish? 28 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:28,360 Speaker 1: By the way, I've never had homemade fish tacos? 29 00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:28,919 Speaker 2: Oh really? 30 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:31,640 Speaker 1: Oh, you're in for a tree not Judge Hard. I'm 31 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:35,040 Speaker 1: like that, who's that white guy that he's the chef, 32 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:36,760 Speaker 1: that he's really mean? I forgot his name. 33 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:37,479 Speaker 2: I don't know. 34 00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:39,840 Speaker 1: You don't watch cook you don't want to cook it 35 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:43,480 Speaker 1: though you want a cook It show except for yours. Okay, 36 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:45,480 Speaker 1: that's great, all right. Tell me what the ingredients are 37 00:01:45,560 --> 00:01:46,360 Speaker 1: for your fish tacos. 38 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:49,840 Speaker 2: Okay, for my fish tacos, we're gonna use tilapia fish. 39 00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:54,520 Speaker 2: I like corntertias because I do a little crunch on 40 00:01:54,640 --> 00:02:02,480 Speaker 2: my tacos. And we have avocados, onions, jalapeno, garlic, tomatoes, 41 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 2: and lime in cilantro. 42 00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:06,640 Speaker 1: Nope, but you got it all. 43 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, And I like it all fresh, okay. 44 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:12,160 Speaker 1: And we did it fresh because I like to sneak 45 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:14,359 Speaker 1: in the two garlic and I was like man when 46 00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:16,840 Speaker 1: they put a real garlic what's official? And then you 47 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:17,520 Speaker 1: have a sauce. 48 00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 2: Yes, So I love taco sauce and I like the green. 49 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:23,919 Speaker 1: Verdet sauce day sauce. 50 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:24,240 Speaker 2: Yes. 51 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:27,960 Speaker 1: I was talking to my Meda glasses. What is Verdet sauce? 52 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:33,639 Speaker 1: Show me picture? Yes, okay, so get in the kitchen woman. 53 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:35,040 Speaker 2: Okay, so I cook? 54 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:38,840 Speaker 1: Now you cook, you cook. It's so weird because you're 55 00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:41,720 Speaker 1: taking a busy time out of your schedule. We have 56 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:45,080 Speaker 1: this beautiful resume and then you're cooking for me a 57 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:49,679 Speaker 1: broke dish, that's right, yes, yes, And I didn't know 58 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:52,200 Speaker 1: if you needed that extra. I don't really know how 59 00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:53,600 Speaker 1: to make tortillas for real, So. 60 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:55,840 Speaker 2: Well, did you know? This is a shame? Come on, 61 00:02:55,880 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 2: you need to learn. 62 00:02:57,080 --> 00:03:00,760 Speaker 1: I'm a New York native. New York. You don't eat 63 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:05,120 Speaker 1: Mexican over there, not really. Some people do, but I 64 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 1: don't think it's a big We're like a Chinese pizza 65 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:07,840 Speaker 1: type of state. 66 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:11,560 Speaker 2: And I do love Chinese food. Chinese food is big, 67 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:14,480 Speaker 2: not in LA in the Bay Area, really, I'm saying. 68 00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:17,680 Speaker 2: In San Francisco, yes, we have a huge Chinese population. 69 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 2: One of the best chinatowns in the. 70 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:23,920 Speaker 1: World what And I love Chinese. I need to go 71 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:24,480 Speaker 1: hit a month. 72 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:27,680 Speaker 2: So yeah, so we Chinese food and Mexican food are 73 00:03:27,919 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 2: huge in San Francisco. 74 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:32,680 Speaker 1: And then, just so you all listeners know, she did 75 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:34,920 Speaker 1: use avocado oil, and I gotta know why. 76 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 2: I just try to eat as healthy as possible, and 77 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 2: I'll be honest. 78 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:39,800 Speaker 1: That's why you look good. 79 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:43,440 Speaker 2: I try, so I'll be honest. So I know we're 80 00:03:43,480 --> 00:03:48,040 Speaker 2: making the broke dish like something I ate, but I 81 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:50,280 Speaker 2: did not use avocado oil. Yeah. 82 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:52,160 Speaker 1: I was growing up and I was assuming you didn't 83 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:53,560 Speaker 1: always have avocados either. 84 00:03:53,440 --> 00:03:57,120 Speaker 2: And I didn't always, So this is an upgraded broke. 85 00:03:57,400 --> 00:04:01,640 Speaker 1: Okay, thank you. I appreciate the treat because sometimes people 86 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:05,680 Speaker 1: really make me relive for real. Okay, so you're putting 87 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 1: the tilapia in the pan and avocado oil. I saw 88 00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:11,120 Speaker 1: you did both sides. By the way, we did play 89 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 1: with some of your seasonings. You should tell the guests 90 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:14,120 Speaker 1: what seasonings you have. 91 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:17,160 Speaker 2: So I like to put a little garlic, even though 92 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:19,200 Speaker 2: I'm using fresh garlic. You know what, I don't need 93 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:19,599 Speaker 2: to do both. 94 00:04:19,800 --> 00:04:21,560 Speaker 1: You don't want to do the both garlic powder. 95 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:23,760 Speaker 2: You know, I'm going to use the fresh garl like 96 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:29,279 Speaker 2: pepper salt, of course, and then Cooman mm hmm. 97 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 1: I always wonder what people use cooming for. 98 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:33,400 Speaker 2: It's Mexican food. 99 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:35,719 Speaker 1: Oh that's what I make for me. 100 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:38,040 Speaker 2: That's the only thing I use it for. When I'm 101 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:42,280 Speaker 2: making my tacos or if I'm making guacamole. 102 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:45,200 Speaker 1: I use Cuman. And really, is it Cooman or Cuman? 103 00:04:45,600 --> 00:04:49,800 Speaker 1: It's Cooman Cooman? Okay, you know what? It wasn't in 104 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:51,359 Speaker 1: the studio. I went home and I was like, I know, 105 00:04:51,440 --> 00:04:54,080 Speaker 1: I haven't in my yeah, but I even understand why 106 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:55,599 Speaker 1: I have it in my cabinet. I was like, I 107 00:04:55,640 --> 00:04:58,800 Speaker 1: must have taken it from point eating while broke or something. 108 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:01,760 Speaker 1: And then you used to whole Himmalayan salt. 109 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:04,800 Speaker 2: I love it again that this is your upgrade. This 110 00:05:04,839 --> 00:05:06,840 Speaker 2: is a part of the upgrade. It was just regular 111 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:10,240 Speaker 2: ass white sauce salt, Morton. 112 00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:12,119 Speaker 1: And why do you feel like this salt is better? 113 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:13,520 Speaker 1: Is it healthier? 114 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:18,400 Speaker 2: It's healthier. It's not well processed. Okay, so you see 115 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:20,360 Speaker 2: it's still and you guys got the good kind too, 116 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:23,599 Speaker 2: because it's still in the big crystal flakes and we 117 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:25,520 Speaker 2: gotta spin it to grind it. 118 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:27,719 Speaker 1: Okay. So that when you go, if we were to 119 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:30,600 Speaker 1: go in your house, would your pepper be the pepper grind? 120 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:33,479 Speaker 1: We have it back there by the way, And they 121 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:36,800 Speaker 1: played a tad of this because you we didn't get 122 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:37,760 Speaker 1: the sodium. 123 00:05:37,839 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, you guys got the one with a lot of sodium. 124 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:41,400 Speaker 2: And the whole point is we're trying to be a 125 00:05:41,480 --> 00:05:45,240 Speaker 2: little bit more healthy, isn't it right? Aren't we? 126 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:48,400 Speaker 1: I really need to lose a lot of weight. So yes, yes, 127 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:49,400 Speaker 1: I'm gonna get there. 128 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:52,400 Speaker 2: Okay, so this is gonna let this fry a little bit. 129 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:55,360 Speaker 2: It's a heat. I'm just gonna say I do not 130 00:05:55,560 --> 00:05:57,640 Speaker 2: like cooking on the electric stoves. 131 00:05:57,320 --> 00:06:01,680 Speaker 1: But everyone on this show, i'd say, like nine hate election. 132 00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:04,680 Speaker 2: Yeah it's terrible. So hopefully the dish comes out. 133 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:07,400 Speaker 1: Okay, Okay, so you're cooking those up, and then what 134 00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:08,600 Speaker 1: do you do with these tortillas? 135 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:11,240 Speaker 2: Are you gonna know the tartilla? I am also going 136 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:13,719 Speaker 2: to just do a little I don't know if you 137 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:16,719 Speaker 2: call it fried because it's not like really fried, but 138 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:19,560 Speaker 2: I am gonna I guess it's fried. I'm going to 139 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:24,679 Speaker 2: put more avocado oil on this pain. Then I'm gonna 140 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:27,520 Speaker 2: put the tortilla on and I'm gonna fry it up 141 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:30,479 Speaker 2: a little bit because I like my shells crunching. 142 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:32,680 Speaker 1: Now, is there a way to get the whole shell 143 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:33,320 Speaker 1: really crunchy. 144 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 2: Listen, if you fry it hard, it'll be very crunchy. 145 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:41,960 Speaker 1: So I watch you do it. I love crunching. I 146 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:44,280 Speaker 1: love crunching. Matter of fact, back in the day, when 147 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:46,480 Speaker 1: Chipotle first came out, I would always get the bowls, 148 00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:48,680 Speaker 1: and then I discovered they had the taco shells, the 149 00:06:48,680 --> 00:06:51,560 Speaker 1: hard shells. You will never catch me in Chippole without 150 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:52,279 Speaker 1: a hard taco shell. 151 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:54,359 Speaker 2: But you know what, and I get so in the 152 00:06:54,360 --> 00:06:57,640 Speaker 2: broke day when I was doing like sometimes, we would 153 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:01,160 Speaker 2: have the taco shells that are already in the box. 154 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:04,800 Speaker 1: I still use some. Okay, are you mad at me? 155 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:05,240 Speaker 2: Yeah? 156 00:07:06,040 --> 00:07:09,680 Speaker 1: So that guys see how she looks in real life. 157 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:12,880 Speaker 1: She looks exactly how she looks on TV. 158 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:13,480 Speaker 2: I do. 159 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 1: And the crazy part is we've been watching her all 160 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:20,360 Speaker 1: for a very long time, so just imagine seeing her 161 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:24,360 Speaker 1: in person. It's crazy how beautiful you are. 162 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:25,120 Speaker 2: Thank you. 163 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 1: Okay, So now that my fans know that they should 164 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:33,040 Speaker 1: be googling you and looking at you, and you have 165 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:35,240 Speaker 1: Instagram too, we can keep it you I do. 166 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 2: Everything is under Terry Jbond. 167 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:41,640 Speaker 1: Terry Jbon. You know, like when I say the JA, 168 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:42,840 Speaker 1: I do like. 169 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 2: I don't like when people forget my jay. 170 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:49,040 Speaker 1: Oh really, I don't good because I like saying it's 171 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:49,440 Speaker 1: Terry J. 172 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:53,600 Speaker 2: Yeah. Isn't it cooler? Yeah? And I've always gone by it. 173 00:07:53,600 --> 00:07:55,720 Speaker 2: It's it's my middle name starts with a J. 174 00:07:56,320 --> 00:07:58,320 Speaker 1: I love it. It's very in a. 175 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:00,640 Speaker 2: Million years, you cannot guess when my middle name. Man, 176 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:07,760 Speaker 2: it starts with the J. Obviously, but everything you say 177 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:08,520 Speaker 2: is going to be off. 178 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:15,440 Speaker 1: I bet I'm gonna go with jam jam Jam s jam. 179 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:17,440 Speaker 1: What is the J stand for? Are you gonna tell us? 180 00:08:17,920 --> 00:08:24,600 Speaker 2: I will? I just wanted to at least take jam jelly. No, 181 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:25,800 Speaker 2: why are you saying weird? 182 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:28,120 Speaker 1: Because I'm trying to think of what name is giving 183 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:31,880 Speaker 1: a J Jackson girl? Wait, I got excited. 184 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:39,400 Speaker 2: People say like Jeanett or jan answer they say regular regular. 185 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:41,880 Speaker 1: No, I'm sure it's gonna be a bomb name. 186 00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:45,400 Speaker 2: It's not necessarily it isn't. I love my middle name, 187 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:50,040 Speaker 2: but will give us a hand? Just want okay? The 188 00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:51,400 Speaker 2: J is silent. 189 00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:53,439 Speaker 1: One? 190 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:55,240 Speaker 2: Keep going? 191 00:08:56,080 --> 00:08:58,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, I was gonna get that right from the jump. 192 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:05,360 Speaker 1: I was thinking that from the jump. Does anyone ever 193 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:06,560 Speaker 1: guess it that way? 194 00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:09,000 Speaker 2: Ever? 195 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:11,760 Speaker 1: But does anyone ever guess one in the beginning? No, 196 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:14,720 Speaker 1: So I'm like the first. 197 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:15,839 Speaker 2: I gave you about a thousand hens. 198 00:09:15,880 --> 00:09:20,480 Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah, but if you give someone the silent jh. 199 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:22,839 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, the silent J gives it away. 200 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:32,640 Speaker 1: Okay, J that's nice. Cherry Juanita, Ye, Terry, okay, Terry, 201 00:09:32,679 --> 00:09:35,280 Speaker 1: take me back to what was going on now with 202 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:38,040 Speaker 1: the elevated fish tacos? What was going on with the 203 00:09:38,120 --> 00:09:39,720 Speaker 1: broke of fish tacos? 204 00:09:39,760 --> 00:09:43,400 Speaker 2: Okay? So, yes, this is elevated because when I was 205 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:46,199 Speaker 2: growing up, like I said, we love Mexican food in 206 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:50,240 Speaker 2: my house, and so we would make tacos really out 207 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:54,160 Speaker 2: of all kinds of stuff. So on a normal day 208 00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:57,480 Speaker 2: it was just the ground beast, regular kind of tacos. 209 00:09:57,480 --> 00:10:00,800 Speaker 2: But I don't eat meat anymore. I only eat fish fish. 210 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:03,720 Speaker 2: Yeah you chicken, Nope. 211 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:07,440 Speaker 1: No, we're slowly learning her beauty tips right here. 212 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:10,360 Speaker 2: Guys, I gave it up. I just felt, to be honest, 213 00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:13,760 Speaker 2: I feel like our country doesn't take good care of 214 00:10:13,840 --> 00:10:16,800 Speaker 2: how they get our meat. So that's what it. This 215 00:10:16,840 --> 00:10:19,920 Speaker 2: is gonna sound so weird, I literally because I used 216 00:10:19,920 --> 00:10:23,800 Speaker 2: to eat bacon back then. We would make bacon tacos. Really, 217 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:27,520 Speaker 2: that's some ghetto ship. Yeah, that's ghetto. 218 00:10:27,760 --> 00:10:30,880 Speaker 1: You really love tacos? Really, really you would make it? 219 00:10:31,760 --> 00:10:37,520 Speaker 1: Did you have like breakfast tacos reastc eggs? Okay? You 220 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:38,360 Speaker 1: just like the shell? 221 00:10:38,960 --> 00:10:42,679 Speaker 2: I too, I love and the shell just gives the 222 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:45,360 Speaker 2: taste of Mexican. But I love Mexican. But I love 223 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:46,800 Speaker 2: the rice, I love the beans. 224 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:48,360 Speaker 1: I love you really love it? 225 00:10:48,480 --> 00:10:49,959 Speaker 2: I do? I really? 226 00:10:50,040 --> 00:10:53,360 Speaker 1: Do you still eat Mexican every day? You just earlier 227 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:54,440 Speaker 1: about eating Mexican? 228 00:10:55,559 --> 00:10:58,679 Speaker 2: Yes, yes, yes. When we finished with you guys, we're 229 00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:00,720 Speaker 2: gonna go out tonight and Mexican. 230 00:11:02,280 --> 00:11:04,559 Speaker 1: Okay, you really like Mexican. Take me back to what 231 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:07,760 Speaker 1: was going on in this household of Mexican food. 232 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:11,520 Speaker 2: So I grew up in a single parent household, raised 233 00:11:11,559 --> 00:11:14,760 Speaker 2: by my mom. It was me and my sister. I 234 00:11:14,800 --> 00:11:18,400 Speaker 2: have a sister that's two years younger than me and 235 00:11:18,559 --> 00:11:21,600 Speaker 2: my mom. She worked two jobs when we were young, 236 00:11:22,559 --> 00:11:25,320 Speaker 2: so me and my sister were we're home a lot 237 00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:27,800 Speaker 2: by ourselves, and. 238 00:11:27,840 --> 00:11:30,800 Speaker 1: So well she when did you become a When did 239 00:11:30,800 --> 00:11:31,800 Speaker 1: she become a single mom? 240 00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:31,920 Speaker 2: Like? 241 00:11:31,960 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 1: How old were you then? 242 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:36,000 Speaker 2: I was really young, probably about. 243 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:38,240 Speaker 1: Four, Okay, so that's pretty much all you've known is. 244 00:11:38,240 --> 00:11:41,199 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, yeah, I don't have a lot of memory. 245 00:11:41,280 --> 00:11:44,079 Speaker 2: I definitely don't have anything. So yeah, So it was 246 00:11:44,120 --> 00:11:47,120 Speaker 2: always just me, my mom, and my sister, and we 247 00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:52,319 Speaker 2: have a family full of amazing, powerful, badass women, so 248 00:11:52,480 --> 00:11:55,520 Speaker 2: like my grandmother would of course we would go to 249 00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:59,040 Speaker 2: her house sometimes or my aunt. So we were always 250 00:11:59,160 --> 00:12:03,079 Speaker 2: very well cared for and we always ate really well. 251 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:05,440 Speaker 2: It's funny as a kid, you never know that you 252 00:12:05,480 --> 00:12:08,280 Speaker 2: were poor, Like I never thought I'd never even thought 253 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:08,640 Speaker 2: about it. 254 00:12:08,760 --> 00:12:10,640 Speaker 1: What about when you got older though, in high school 255 00:12:10,679 --> 00:12:13,079 Speaker 1: and middle school, did you start to were you poor then? 256 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:17,119 Speaker 2: Or no, yeah, you're still living in the same household. 257 00:12:17,720 --> 00:12:20,640 Speaker 1: Did you start to realize you guys were didn't have 258 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:22,320 Speaker 1: as much as others or yeah. 259 00:12:22,520 --> 00:12:25,720 Speaker 2: One time I overheard my mom talking to somebody. And 260 00:12:25,720 --> 00:12:27,360 Speaker 2: this is when I was really young, maybe I was 261 00:12:27,400 --> 00:12:30,600 Speaker 2: in high school and I or with her. My mom 262 00:12:30,880 --> 00:12:34,800 Speaker 2: having a conversation telling somebody that they had to she 263 00:12:35,280 --> 00:12:38,000 Speaker 2: needed to borrow five dollars or something so she could 264 00:12:38,520 --> 00:12:42,200 Speaker 2: get something from McDonald's for us to eat, And that 265 00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:45,240 Speaker 2: always stuck with me. I was like, and I never 266 00:12:45,320 --> 00:12:48,679 Speaker 2: knew that she was doing that, but she was talking 267 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:51,880 Speaker 2: to somebody, telling somebody that's what she had done. And 268 00:12:51,920 --> 00:12:55,120 Speaker 2: I was like, dang, I never even knew. Made me 269 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:56,720 Speaker 2: appreciate my mother a lot more. 270 00:12:57,120 --> 00:12:58,920 Speaker 1: Did you ever approach about it or you just kept 271 00:12:58,960 --> 00:12:59,520 Speaker 1: it to yourself? 272 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:02,880 Speaker 2: I just came to myself. I just kept it to myself. 273 00:13:04,280 --> 00:13:05,520 Speaker 1: Did you tell your sister about it? 274 00:13:05,720 --> 00:13:08,320 Speaker 2: I'm sure we've talked about it now, but back then 275 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:13,760 Speaker 2: we didn't talk about it. But yeah, it just made 276 00:13:13,760 --> 00:13:18,120 Speaker 2: me have a greater appreciation for her. And we always 277 00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:22,120 Speaker 2: tried to be very hopeful around the house, making sure 278 00:13:22,160 --> 00:13:25,400 Speaker 2: that we didn't bring too much drama into her life 279 00:13:25,440 --> 00:13:28,080 Speaker 2: because we knew that she was a single mom and 280 00:13:28,280 --> 00:13:31,400 Speaker 2: working her ass off and so good grades. We always 281 00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:34,000 Speaker 2: did really well in school. It was just I was 282 00:13:34,040 --> 00:13:34,880 Speaker 2: just a fast girl. 283 00:13:35,920 --> 00:13:37,120 Speaker 1: I was what does that mean? 284 00:13:37,280 --> 00:13:43,480 Speaker 2: I was liked boys and that was probably the most 285 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:44,520 Speaker 2: drama that I brought. 286 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:49,840 Speaker 1: I love you, Yes, I was not expecting that. 287 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:52,960 Speaker 2: Just telling on myself. I don't know why you make me. 288 00:13:53,280 --> 00:13:56,920 Speaker 2: I'm just opening up and tell my business. 289 00:13:57,280 --> 00:14:01,200 Speaker 1: I'm sure the boys liked you a lot, did you? 290 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:04,160 Speaker 1: Was your dad semi around even though? Did you see 291 00:14:04,240 --> 00:14:04,920 Speaker 1: him in passing. 292 00:14:05,200 --> 00:14:11,320 Speaker 2: No, not really. My dad suffered from alcoholism and for 293 00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:17,920 Speaker 2: my mom left my dad because of that, Like he 294 00:14:18,120 --> 00:14:24,400 Speaker 2: just wasn't it just wasn't good. And when she decided 295 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 2: that she was divorcing him, I think a part of 296 00:14:28,480 --> 00:14:30,840 Speaker 2: and it's weird, I think a part of his get 297 00:14:30,880 --> 00:14:34,480 Speaker 2: back at her was to not be accessible for him, 298 00:14:34,560 --> 00:14:37,280 Speaker 2: not to help out with us. Okay, then you got 299 00:14:37,280 --> 00:14:40,920 Speaker 2: it on your own. That's what it feels like to me. Yeah, 300 00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:45,840 Speaker 2: but I do remember a couple of times. There were 301 00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:47,560 Speaker 2: several times when I was waiting for him, like he 302 00:14:47,640 --> 00:14:50,120 Speaker 2: was supposed to come pick us up, do something, and 303 00:14:50,160 --> 00:14:54,760 Speaker 2: he just was a no show. And that was very hurtful. Yeah, 304 00:14:54,840 --> 00:14:56,240 Speaker 2: but then I remember. 305 00:14:57,200 --> 00:14:59,240 Speaker 1: Oh, you real cook, you real cook. You see how 306 00:14:59,280 --> 00:15:01,760 Speaker 1: she did that? Very rare we get guests to do that. 307 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:02,200 Speaker 2: I like that. 308 00:15:02,640 --> 00:15:04,840 Speaker 1: By the way, I didn't know how these fish tackles 309 00:15:04,920 --> 00:15:07,440 Speaker 1: going to look. First time watching anyone make fish tackles, 310 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:10,040 Speaker 1: this would be this time I do mine. But I 311 00:15:10,120 --> 00:15:11,720 Speaker 1: love that you broke up the meat. 312 00:15:11,920 --> 00:15:14,320 Speaker 2: I like to do that, okay, because it were mine. 313 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:18,480 Speaker 2: It's like eating like the ground beef, but it's ground turkey. 314 00:15:18,760 --> 00:15:22,120 Speaker 1: Okay, But I do know people that do it, Yeah, use. 315 00:15:23,600 --> 00:15:27,680 Speaker 2: Quiet. So anyway, so I was about to say, I 316 00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:31,880 Speaker 2: remember one time we were going to spend our summer 317 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:35,320 Speaker 2: with him, and he had moved to Oklahoma at this time, 318 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:38,760 Speaker 2: and we were still in San Francisco, and so we 319 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:44,440 Speaker 2: go to visit him, and unfortunately he was still an alcoholic, 320 00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:50,240 Speaker 2: and I remember just not being feeling comfortable being in 321 00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:53,040 Speaker 2: his house. I think like for the first couple of days, 322 00:15:53,080 --> 00:15:55,800 Speaker 2: it was fine, and so at some point we were 323 00:15:56,040 --> 00:15:58,120 Speaker 2: we were just calling my mom and we were like, look, 324 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:00,400 Speaker 2: we want to leave. We don't want to stay here, 325 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:03,120 Speaker 2: because we were supposed to stay like for a few weeks. 326 00:16:03,840 --> 00:16:05,640 Speaker 2: And I was like, there's no way, I can't do it. 327 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:08,840 Speaker 2: I cannot stay here. And I think I'm about maybe 328 00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:12,480 Speaker 2: ten or maybe twelve, but the most I don't think 329 00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:16,600 Speaker 2: I wasn't twelve. And so we're calling my mom. We're crying, like, Mom, 330 00:16:16,640 --> 00:16:18,360 Speaker 2: we don't want to stay, we want to come home. 331 00:16:19,040 --> 00:16:21,800 Speaker 1: So does he catch wind of it? Does she tell him? 332 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:25,840 Speaker 2: Yeah? My grandmother at the time, she was on her 333 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:29,680 Speaker 2: way to Texas for her family's family reunion, because my 334 00:16:29,680 --> 00:16:35,040 Speaker 2: grandmother's from Texas, my mom's mom, and so she my 335 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:38,840 Speaker 2: mom had my dad because Oklahoma and Texas are pretty close. 336 00:16:39,440 --> 00:16:44,800 Speaker 2: Drive them to Texas and they'll be with my mom 337 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:47,320 Speaker 2: and their grandmother and they'll come back. 338 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:49,800 Speaker 1: With her on his side of the family. No, on 339 00:16:49,800 --> 00:16:53,560 Speaker 1: your mom's side, yes, okay, okay, my mother's mom. Okay. 340 00:16:53,680 --> 00:17:01,720 Speaker 2: So he agrees. So I remember driving, riding in the car. 341 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:04,280 Speaker 2: My sister sleep in the back seat. I'm sleeping in 342 00:17:04,280 --> 00:17:08,160 Speaker 2: the front seat. And this is a horrible story, but. 343 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:09,679 Speaker 1: I want to hear it. I'm all in it. 344 00:17:10,600 --> 00:17:14,160 Speaker 2: So we're driving. So I fall asleep and I wake 345 00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:16,520 Speaker 2: up and the car swerving. 346 00:17:17,440 --> 00:17:19,160 Speaker 1: Oh heck no, this is a terrible shit. 347 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:22,240 Speaker 2: And so I look at him and I see that 348 00:17:22,320 --> 00:17:26,600 Speaker 2: he had a drink, a bottle in the center council, 349 00:17:27,280 --> 00:17:32,200 Speaker 2: and so I wake up. I was like, you're drinking. 350 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:35,200 Speaker 2: I was like, you're crazy, you are drinking and you're 351 00:17:35,320 --> 00:17:41,680 Speaker 2: driving us. And he got mad. He raised his hand 352 00:17:41,720 --> 00:17:45,720 Speaker 2: like he was gonna hit me, but he didn't, and 353 00:17:45,840 --> 00:17:48,520 Speaker 2: that's all I can remember from it. But we got 354 00:17:48,560 --> 00:17:51,000 Speaker 2: there safely. But ever since then, I was like, yeah, 355 00:17:51,040 --> 00:17:52,920 Speaker 2: I'm never going back. 356 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:55,480 Speaker 1: Wow again. I was gonna ask you if at some 357 00:17:55,560 --> 00:17:57,240 Speaker 1: point did he plead with you guys that he could 358 00:17:57,240 --> 00:18:01,560 Speaker 1: make the trip better or did he just was it? 359 00:18:02,280 --> 00:18:04,320 Speaker 2: So? Yeah, you only remember the traumatic shit. 360 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:07,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah that's pretty traumatic though. 361 00:18:07,640 --> 00:18:09,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, that was pretty traumatic. 362 00:18:09,359 --> 00:18:10,480 Speaker 1: Did you tell your mom on him? 363 00:18:10,560 --> 00:18:11,080 Speaker 2: Yeah? 364 00:18:11,119 --> 00:18:11,840 Speaker 1: And what she say? 365 00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:17,879 Speaker 2: She was pissed, She was pissed, pissed. I was just 366 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:22,920 Speaker 2: so happy to get in my grandmother's arms with this dude. 367 00:18:23,280 --> 00:18:25,600 Speaker 1: So after that, did you ever request to see him again? 368 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:29,800 Speaker 2: As we got older and just started learning more about 369 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:34,720 Speaker 2: his family and his childhood trauma and all that stuff 370 00:18:34,760 --> 00:18:37,840 Speaker 2: as well, do you become a little bit more forgiving? 371 00:18:38,640 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 1: So you guys were close with his side. 372 00:18:41,080 --> 00:18:43,159 Speaker 2: No, not really because we didn't grow up with her. 373 00:18:43,720 --> 00:18:45,640 Speaker 1: So how did you hear his stories and all that? 374 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:48,800 Speaker 2: So the funny thing is, so my father is from LA. 375 00:18:49,960 --> 00:18:53,320 Speaker 2: And when I got into the business and I moved 376 00:18:53,359 --> 00:18:56,560 Speaker 2: to LA, that's when I got to know some of 377 00:18:56,600 --> 00:18:59,840 Speaker 2: his more of his family, my aunt whom I love her, 378 00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:04,080 Speaker 2: his sister, his mom was still alive then, so I 379 00:19:04,160 --> 00:19:07,960 Speaker 2: used to go visit her, my grandmother, and that's how 380 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:10,639 Speaker 2: I got all the stories. Okay, okay, that's how I 381 00:19:10,640 --> 00:19:11,280 Speaker 2: got all the stories. 382 00:19:11,320 --> 00:19:14,280 Speaker 1: Your food looks really good. It looks official, It looks 383 00:19:15,040 --> 00:19:18,080 Speaker 1: and the tackles look good too. You're gonna make a lot. 384 00:19:18,160 --> 00:19:18,800 Speaker 1: I eat a lot. 385 00:19:19,080 --> 00:19:21,199 Speaker 2: It doesn't look like a lot, but I do. 386 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:25,600 Speaker 1: I'm a real eater. Okay, all right, girl, go for it. 387 00:19:25,640 --> 00:19:30,639 Speaker 1: Go for it. So fast forward to you're starting to 388 00:19:30,680 --> 00:19:32,680 Speaker 1: get older and figure out what it is you want 389 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:33,080 Speaker 1: to do. 390 00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:38,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, so I so I went to college in the 391 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:41,720 Speaker 2: Bay Area as well. This was before I ever knew 392 00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:44,760 Speaker 2: anything about having a career as an actor. I was 393 00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:48,080 Speaker 2: in college and I just knew I wanted to be 394 00:19:48,119 --> 00:19:50,400 Speaker 2: a boss. I was like, I'm going to college because 395 00:19:50,400 --> 00:19:52,280 Speaker 2: I want to be a boss. I want to be 396 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:55,760 Speaker 2: a business owner. But I didn't know what kind of 397 00:19:55,800 --> 00:19:59,040 Speaker 2: business I was going to be in. The boss of 398 00:19:59,160 --> 00:20:00,800 Speaker 2: the business of me in a boss. 399 00:20:01,880 --> 00:20:04,840 Speaker 1: And you told your mom and all this, everybody like yeah, I. 400 00:20:04,760 --> 00:20:07,320 Speaker 2: Was like so in my mind, I was like, okay, 401 00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:10,960 Speaker 2: so I will be in a business as my major 402 00:20:11,080 --> 00:20:12,600 Speaker 2: because I don't know what kind of business I want 403 00:20:12,600 --> 00:20:13,760 Speaker 2: to be in, but I want to learn how to 404 00:20:13,800 --> 00:20:17,040 Speaker 2: be a boss in business. And oh yeah, these are 405 00:20:17,040 --> 00:20:19,160 Speaker 2: cooking good. Now. I use my hands a lot. 406 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:21,879 Speaker 1: Don't I love it? Oh, I see how you've been 407 00:20:21,960 --> 00:20:27,159 Speaker 1: in them. Okay, Okay, don't bring yourself. Geez, do you 408 00:20:27,200 --> 00:20:30,960 Speaker 1: need a utensil? You need an INTENSI I'm terrible. She 409 00:20:31,080 --> 00:20:41,160 Speaker 1: over here doing it with her fingers. Is these are good? 410 00:20:41,560 --> 00:20:42,080 Speaker 2: Oh good? 411 00:20:42,280 --> 00:20:43,840 Speaker 1: Oh my gosh, I'm excited. 412 00:20:44,320 --> 00:20:46,239 Speaker 2: Yeah. I hope they taste good. That's gonna be so 413 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:47,400 Speaker 2: embarrassing if they don't. 414 00:20:47,920 --> 00:20:50,320 Speaker 1: How much I'm gonna judge you really, and I want 415 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:50,600 Speaker 1: you to. 416 00:20:50,560 --> 00:20:56,119 Speaker 2: Be honest, Be honest girl. So yeah, so I was 417 00:20:56,480 --> 00:20:58,240 Speaker 2: God talkt Okay, hold on a second. 418 00:20:58,280 --> 00:20:59,640 Speaker 1: I just want I hope you make more. I hope 419 00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:05,600 Speaker 1: you don't too much time on these little curved tackles. Please, 420 00:21:05,640 --> 00:21:08,720 Speaker 1: you love the utensil. She's over here struggling. 421 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:11,000 Speaker 2: You gotta bend it. You gotta flip it over and 422 00:21:11,040 --> 00:21:15,959 Speaker 2: bend it before it gets too hard. Hold on, hold on, everybody, 423 00:21:16,080 --> 00:21:20,000 Speaker 2: just be quiet and calm down. I'm fixing it. There 424 00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:22,000 Speaker 2: we go. Okay, So there's one. 425 00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:25,320 Speaker 1: I don't know this, This moment with you feels really special. 426 00:21:25,320 --> 00:21:26,639 Speaker 1: I don't know if it's because I watched you on 427 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:29,880 Speaker 1: TV for so long, but it feels really I love 428 00:21:29,920 --> 00:21:30,960 Speaker 1: it special to me. 429 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:35,600 Speaker 2: Thank you? Okay. So yeah, I was so a business school. 430 00:21:35,720 --> 00:21:38,959 Speaker 2: You're gonna be a bus So I started taking all 431 00:21:38,960 --> 00:21:39,800 Speaker 2: these business classes. 432 00:21:39,800 --> 00:21:41,240 Speaker 1: Oh they're flipping right back, It's okay. 433 00:21:42,200 --> 00:21:43,920 Speaker 2: And I didn't like it. I didn't like the classes 434 00:21:43,960 --> 00:21:46,520 Speaker 2: I have to take for a business major. So I 435 00:21:46,560 --> 00:21:49,399 Speaker 2: was like, what else could I do? And so I 436 00:21:49,640 --> 00:21:54,720 Speaker 2: changed it to Liberal Arts because I heard that I 437 00:21:54,720 --> 00:21:58,200 Speaker 2: can go into advertising. That was a good major if 438 00:21:58,200 --> 00:22:01,320 Speaker 2: you want to go into advertising, and it's far as advertising. 439 00:22:01,560 --> 00:22:05,080 Speaker 2: I was introduced to it and it was a business 440 00:22:05,080 --> 00:22:07,520 Speaker 2: but it was super creative and I was like, that 441 00:22:07,560 --> 00:22:10,280 Speaker 2: feels good to me. I want to do that, man. 442 00:22:11,920 --> 00:22:17,000 Speaker 2: And so I got an internship at this advertising agency 443 00:22:18,240 --> 00:22:21,320 Speaker 2: and one of my class projects was to interview the 444 00:22:21,359 --> 00:22:25,760 Speaker 2: people in the company. And it was with Gray Advertising, 445 00:22:25,800 --> 00:22:30,400 Speaker 2: when the biggest advertising agencies based in San Francisco. And 446 00:22:30,520 --> 00:22:38,880 Speaker 2: when I did the interview, everybody, Mama, I mean oh 447 00:22:39,359 --> 00:22:42,600 Speaker 2: I did with garlic and anyase more garlic tastes hilarious. 448 00:22:42,760 --> 00:22:46,359 Speaker 2: Everybody I interviewed at the company had come from theater 449 00:22:47,000 --> 00:22:50,520 Speaker 2: or something artistic like that, like they used to be 450 00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:53,240 Speaker 2: an actor in theater or something in theater. And I 451 00:22:53,280 --> 00:22:55,359 Speaker 2: just thought it was so weird. I'm like, this whole 452 00:22:55,400 --> 00:22:58,119 Speaker 2: advertising agency is full of people that used to be 453 00:22:58,160 --> 00:23:02,320 Speaker 2: in theater. And I just thought it was interesting. Fast forward, 454 00:23:03,080 --> 00:23:04,720 Speaker 2: returning the shills off. 455 00:23:05,200 --> 00:23:07,800 Speaker 1: And this is your first job in advertising, you're realizing this. 456 00:23:08,600 --> 00:23:13,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, so yeah, So it was an internship and everybody 457 00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:17,680 Speaker 2: was talking about how they took theater and fast forwards. 458 00:23:17,720 --> 00:23:19,960 Speaker 1: I would have never thought that either, me either. 459 00:23:20,119 --> 00:23:24,400 Speaker 2: I was very surprised. Fast forward to my fifth year 460 00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:28,919 Speaker 2: in college now and a friend was recruiting girls for 461 00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:33,239 Speaker 2: a Miss Black California pageant. So weird, so random, and 462 00:23:33,280 --> 00:23:35,320 Speaker 2: so me and some of my girlfriends we were like, Okay, yeah, 463 00:23:35,320 --> 00:23:37,600 Speaker 2: we'll do the pageant. So what do you do? What's 464 00:23:37,680 --> 00:23:40,159 Speaker 2: the thing? What do you do for a beauty pageant? 465 00:23:40,200 --> 00:23:43,880 Speaker 2: Because I was just not that girl, and so we 466 00:23:43,880 --> 00:23:47,400 Speaker 2: were like, okay, we'll do it. And we did the pageant. 467 00:23:48,680 --> 00:23:49,800 Speaker 2: I'm concentrating here. 468 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:52,440 Speaker 1: I know it's hard to talk, it is, but your 469 00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:55,400 Speaker 1: stories are very captivating. So eight, come on, go back 470 00:23:55,400 --> 00:23:56,000 Speaker 1: to the story. 471 00:23:56,400 --> 00:23:59,240 Speaker 2: Okay, I still feel like it needs more. 472 00:24:04,160 --> 00:24:05,960 Speaker 1: Wait, what did they say you needed to do for 473 00:24:06,080 --> 00:24:07,240 Speaker 1: the talent part? 474 00:24:07,320 --> 00:24:08,639 Speaker 2: So we had to wear a bathing suit, we had 475 00:24:08,640 --> 00:24:10,879 Speaker 2: to wear a gown, and we had to do a 476 00:24:10,920 --> 00:24:13,080 Speaker 2: talent part. So I was like, what the fuck am 477 00:24:13,119 --> 00:24:15,000 Speaker 2: I going to do for her? Talent. I don't know 478 00:24:15,080 --> 00:24:19,199 Speaker 2: what to do. And so me and my mom and 479 00:24:19,240 --> 00:24:21,439 Speaker 2: my aunt we came up with this idea for me 480 00:24:21,520 --> 00:24:26,919 Speaker 2: to recite a poem from a play, and so I 481 00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:30,040 Speaker 2: recited a poem from a play called for Colored Girls 482 00:24:30,080 --> 00:24:32,640 Speaker 2: who considered to a side when the rainbow is enough? 483 00:24:33,800 --> 00:24:35,960 Speaker 1: And one of the poems I know, does it dark? Wait, 484 00:24:36,160 --> 00:24:39,520 Speaker 1: consider suicide? Wait say it again? For Colored girls who 485 00:24:39,520 --> 00:24:40,280 Speaker 1: can commit. 486 00:24:40,400 --> 00:24:45,159 Speaker 2: Consider suicide when the rainbow is enough? Geez, but it was. 487 00:24:45,280 --> 00:24:48,160 Speaker 2: It's a very powerful play. They actually did a movie 488 00:24:48,160 --> 00:24:50,960 Speaker 2: off of it too. It's very powerful play. So anyway, 489 00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:54,280 Speaker 2: so I took one of the monologues from the play 490 00:24:54,960 --> 00:25:01,720 Speaker 2: and I performed it. And one of the judges in 491 00:25:01,760 --> 00:25:05,800 Speaker 2: the pageant was a producer of a play that was 492 00:25:06,040 --> 00:25:08,560 Speaker 2: getting the casting and getting ready to tour the country, 493 00:25:10,160 --> 00:25:11,840 Speaker 2: and he asked me if I would be interested in 494 00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:14,720 Speaker 2: auditioning for his play. And I was like, what do 495 00:25:14,800 --> 00:25:17,879 Speaker 2: you do for an audition in the play? What is that? 496 00:25:18,880 --> 00:25:22,080 Speaker 2: And so he gave me all the information, told me 497 00:25:22,080 --> 00:25:25,400 Speaker 2: to bring a picture and a resume show up at 498 00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:29,440 Speaker 2: the theater, which was the Black Repertory Theater in Berkeley, California. 499 00:25:30,600 --> 00:25:33,680 Speaker 2: And I was like Okay, a picture and a resume, 500 00:25:33,960 --> 00:25:37,800 Speaker 2: all right, I got it. I'll do it just random. 501 00:25:37,840 --> 00:25:39,720 Speaker 2: My life is full of random stuff. I love it, 502 00:25:39,840 --> 00:25:41,639 Speaker 2: really love it, really I love it. 503 00:25:42,720 --> 00:25:45,080 Speaker 1: By the way, for all your listeners, she added lime 504 00:25:45,240 --> 00:25:48,640 Speaker 1: to the pot, and she added the red as sausa. Yeah, 505 00:25:49,240 --> 00:25:51,800 Speaker 1: so she still got to make a lot more taco though. 506 00:25:52,200 --> 00:25:54,880 Speaker 2: She's crazy. Okay, I want I want you to taste it. 507 00:25:55,440 --> 00:25:58,440 Speaker 2: I want you to taste I know if it is anything. 508 00:25:58,080 --> 00:26:00,680 Speaker 1: In it, it's anything like this store where it's gonna 509 00:26:00,720 --> 00:26:01,360 Speaker 1: be good. 510 00:26:02,359 --> 00:26:03,840 Speaker 2: Salt or pepper or something. 511 00:26:06,119 --> 00:26:09,920 Speaker 1: Don't change anything. Perfect okay, yeah, really good? 512 00:26:09,960 --> 00:26:12,120 Speaker 2: Okay, really good. 513 00:26:12,880 --> 00:26:14,680 Speaker 1: And it's not dry, guys, Oh good? 514 00:26:14,680 --> 00:26:16,679 Speaker 2: Because yeah, and I should turn it off so it 515 00:26:16,720 --> 00:26:18,200 Speaker 2: doesn't get dry. 516 00:26:18,200 --> 00:26:20,080 Speaker 1: That's why you're adding the water and the sauces and 517 00:26:20,080 --> 00:26:20,320 Speaker 1: all that. 518 00:26:20,400 --> 00:26:21,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, because I like it to feel most. 519 00:26:22,000 --> 00:26:23,639 Speaker 1: I like it. Yeah, I was scared it was going 520 00:26:23,680 --> 00:26:26,680 Speaker 1: to be dry, but not at all. That's why you water. 521 00:26:26,800 --> 00:26:29,359 Speaker 2: Okay, So this is yours you want, I'll make yours first. 522 00:26:29,920 --> 00:26:32,439 Speaker 1: You better make way more tackles. We ain't on diet 523 00:26:32,440 --> 00:26:33,200 Speaker 1: eating while. 524 00:26:32,960 --> 00:26:37,959 Speaker 2: Broka, you want me to keep making the showy. So 525 00:26:37,960 --> 00:26:39,159 Speaker 2: this was yours. I was making it. 526 00:26:39,880 --> 00:26:43,679 Speaker 1: We'll just switch plates. This looks really good. Miss a 527 00:26:43,680 --> 00:26:48,360 Speaker 1: little messy, and then why do I feel so comfortable 528 00:26:48,400 --> 00:26:48,679 Speaker 1: with you? 529 00:26:48,920 --> 00:26:49,480 Speaker 2: Alvocado? 530 00:26:49,680 --> 00:26:51,560 Speaker 1: Yes, I want to do it. How you would do 531 00:26:51,600 --> 00:26:53,560 Speaker 1: it the elevated version? 532 00:26:53,800 --> 00:26:56,639 Speaker 2: Yeah, because we definitely did not have bitch tacos. 533 00:26:56,720 --> 00:27:00,520 Speaker 1: This is so good looking. We shouldn't when they have 534 00:27:00,760 --> 00:27:03,280 Speaker 1: the cameras, the picture when you take a picture of 535 00:27:03,280 --> 00:27:04,840 Speaker 1: your food, I feel like we should. 536 00:27:05,080 --> 00:27:05,800 Speaker 2: I should have done that. 537 00:27:06,440 --> 00:27:08,399 Speaker 1: Well we should. We can see technically do it with 538 00:27:08,440 --> 00:27:09,280 Speaker 1: these tacos. 539 00:27:09,480 --> 00:27:12,800 Speaker 2: Okay, you want something, any extra stuff because this I. 540 00:27:12,760 --> 00:27:15,760 Speaker 1: Want to do tomato here, I'll do the about your. 541 00:27:16,320 --> 00:27:20,120 Speaker 2: Okay, okay, oh yeah. So I go to the Black 542 00:27:20,160 --> 00:27:24,679 Speaker 2: Repertory Theater. I show up with a picture and a resume. 543 00:27:24,960 --> 00:27:29,240 Speaker 2: So again, I don't know anything about about acting as 544 00:27:29,280 --> 00:27:32,480 Speaker 2: a career or anything like that at this point. So 545 00:27:33,880 --> 00:27:39,720 Speaker 2: I show up with a regular working resume. I haven't 546 00:27:40,080 --> 00:27:42,200 Speaker 2: marry out hotel and this rent a car. 547 00:27:42,080 --> 00:27:43,320 Speaker 1: I would have done the same time. 548 00:27:44,280 --> 00:27:45,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't know. He said bring a picture in 549 00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:48,280 Speaker 2: a resume, So I brought my picture in my resume 550 00:27:49,359 --> 00:27:53,639 Speaker 2: and the picture and a picture, So it was this 551 00:27:53,720 --> 00:27:57,480 Speaker 2: is I'm totally aging myself. Look guys, I'm totally aging myself. 552 00:27:58,920 --> 00:28:02,520 Speaker 2: I brought a polaroid picture that I had my college 553 00:28:02,560 --> 00:28:04,159 Speaker 2: roommate take of me the night before. 554 00:28:05,080 --> 00:28:07,320 Speaker 1: Oh my goodness, you are real green. 555 00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:10,800 Speaker 2: So I showed up with my working resume and my 556 00:28:10,840 --> 00:28:15,400 Speaker 2: little polaroy picture, and I walk into the into the 557 00:28:15,400 --> 00:28:20,919 Speaker 2: theater and it's full of real actors. And if you 558 00:28:20,960 --> 00:28:23,960 Speaker 2: know anything about San Francisco, in the whole Bay area Berkeley, 559 00:28:24,240 --> 00:28:29,440 Speaker 2: it's very artsy, it's a very artsy town. So these 560 00:28:29,440 --> 00:28:34,160 Speaker 2: were like real thesbian and I walk in and they 561 00:28:34,200 --> 00:28:39,000 Speaker 2: are like doing all these weird theater exercises, like with 562 00:28:39,080 --> 00:28:45,360 Speaker 2: their voice there stretching, They're moaning me all the just 563 00:28:45,440 --> 00:28:48,280 Speaker 2: weird shit. I was like, this is weird. They are weird. 564 00:28:48,720 --> 00:28:50,520 Speaker 2: I'm just gonna sit in the corner and wait for 565 00:28:50,560 --> 00:28:51,400 Speaker 2: them to call my name. 566 00:28:52,680 --> 00:28:55,000 Speaker 1: At this point, did you see what other people's pictures 567 00:28:55,080 --> 00:28:56,560 Speaker 1: in what they saw all. 568 00:28:56,480 --> 00:28:58,200 Speaker 2: The big eight by tens, they were black and white 569 00:28:58,200 --> 00:29:03,480 Speaker 2: eight by tens. Back then, I was like whatever. I 570 00:29:03,520 --> 00:29:05,720 Speaker 2: didn't have a way to feel because I didn't know shit, 571 00:29:06,400 --> 00:29:09,640 Speaker 2: and I've been doing a lot of dropping curse words. 572 00:29:09,800 --> 00:29:13,280 Speaker 1: You literally only curse twice because me sit down, Terrace 573 00:29:13,360 --> 00:29:16,240 Speaker 1: sit down. Okay, let's try this while we hot. Okay, 574 00:29:16,320 --> 00:29:18,840 Speaker 1: I'm excited to eat this, guys, because it looks really delicious. 575 00:29:18,880 --> 00:29:20,360 Speaker 2: Hey, I hope it tastes good. 576 00:29:20,520 --> 00:29:24,600 Speaker 1: I want to Cilantro. I just want to be like 577 00:29:24,640 --> 00:29:28,680 Speaker 1: you right now. I want to experience it. Okay, Okay, 578 00:29:28,680 --> 00:29:30,240 Speaker 1: I'm gonna let you buy first. 579 00:29:30,400 --> 00:29:30,959 Speaker 2: I'm scared. 580 00:29:31,640 --> 00:29:33,360 Speaker 1: You know you ain't got to be scared. You know 581 00:29:33,520 --> 00:29:34,200 Speaker 1: you make this. 582 00:29:35,480 --> 00:29:35,960 Speaker 2: It's good. 583 00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:41,080 Speaker 1: That's way better than any restaurant. You're sure you want 584 00:29:41,120 --> 00:29:45,200 Speaker 1: to go to the restaurant. The dish, Yo, it's juicy, 585 00:29:47,240 --> 00:29:50,760 Speaker 1: it's really good. That crunch. We're on a tight tom crunch. 586 00:29:50,760 --> 00:29:52,360 Speaker 1: But you're gonna make more of these before you leave. 587 00:29:53,400 --> 00:29:53,840 Speaker 2: I got you. 588 00:29:54,160 --> 00:29:58,440 Speaker 1: This is a plus one of my favorite top three 589 00:29:58,840 --> 00:29:59,760 Speaker 1: dishes on this show. 590 00:30:00,040 --> 00:30:05,720 Speaker 2: Yay, yay. Oh all right, let me finish my story. 591 00:30:06,920 --> 00:30:09,920 Speaker 1: Wait, even without all the jobbings, I know, it's just 592 00:30:10,040 --> 00:30:14,280 Speaker 1: you murdered that fish. You annihilated the fish tacco. 593 00:30:14,440 --> 00:30:15,080 Speaker 2: It's so good. 594 00:30:15,320 --> 00:30:19,080 Speaker 1: No one makes a fish taco this juicy and flavorform. 595 00:30:19,400 --> 00:30:22,560 Speaker 1: You can't get it to no Mexican restaurant. No, no, 596 00:30:23,200 --> 00:30:26,200 Speaker 1: you better make moreities at home, girl. Okay, So get 597 00:30:26,200 --> 00:30:29,840 Speaker 1: back to this story. Yes, you are auditioning for this 598 00:30:29,960 --> 00:30:31,960 Speaker 1: play and yes. 599 00:30:32,080 --> 00:30:34,840 Speaker 2: So I walk into the Black Repertory Theater. I see 600 00:30:34,840 --> 00:30:39,240 Speaker 2: all these real actors in there, and they're doing all 601 00:30:39,320 --> 00:30:44,360 Speaker 2: these theatrical exercises warming up for their big audition. Their 602 00:30:45,560 --> 00:30:48,240 Speaker 2: nat it was crazy, all kinds of stuff, and I 603 00:30:48,280 --> 00:30:50,040 Speaker 2: was like, Okay, these people are weird. I'm just gonna 604 00:30:50,040 --> 00:30:51,720 Speaker 2: sit over in the corner and wait for them to 605 00:30:51,800 --> 00:30:54,560 Speaker 2: call my name. I'm sitting on a corner with my 606 00:30:54,880 --> 00:31:00,080 Speaker 2: little working resume and my little polaroid picture and and 607 00:31:00,080 --> 00:31:02,280 Speaker 2: they finally call my name and I go in. I 608 00:31:02,320 --> 00:31:05,240 Speaker 2: meet the director. His name is Paul Roach, and I 609 00:31:05,280 --> 00:31:08,600 Speaker 2: meet the playwright who I'll say who the playwright is 610 00:31:08,600 --> 00:31:11,480 Speaker 2: and it in because you guys might know of him. 611 00:31:12,160 --> 00:31:15,200 Speaker 2: And so they give me some material. 612 00:31:15,880 --> 00:31:18,480 Speaker 1: I'm so excited, you like leaving these little cliffhangers going. 613 00:31:18,680 --> 00:31:19,840 Speaker 1: They give you the material, you read it. 614 00:31:19,840 --> 00:31:21,480 Speaker 2: Oh, they give me the material. So I read it 615 00:31:21,520 --> 00:31:24,400 Speaker 2: with the director and then he gives me a note. 616 00:31:24,440 --> 00:31:27,960 Speaker 2: He's okay, that was good, but this character, she's really sassy. 617 00:31:28,480 --> 00:31:31,520 Speaker 2: She has a lot of spice, and can you read 618 00:31:31,560 --> 00:31:33,360 Speaker 2: it again and give me some of that? And I 619 00:31:33,400 --> 00:31:36,160 Speaker 2: was like absolutely, so basically, you just want me to 620 00:31:36,160 --> 00:31:38,719 Speaker 2: be myself if I used to get in trouble all 621 00:31:38,760 --> 00:31:41,920 Speaker 2: the time for being too sassy, get popped in the mouth. 622 00:31:41,960 --> 00:31:44,280 Speaker 2: I was like, okay, so I'll just be myself. So 623 00:31:44,400 --> 00:31:47,640 Speaker 2: I read it again, did the audition and they were 624 00:31:47,640 --> 00:31:50,360 Speaker 2: like okay, great, And so I go home that night 625 00:31:50,880 --> 00:31:53,320 Speaker 2: and they call me and they offer me apart in 626 00:31:53,440 --> 00:31:57,200 Speaker 2: this play to tour the country. And it was David E. 627 00:31:57,400 --> 00:32:01,560 Speaker 2: Talbert's very first play. Wow Talbert is one maker now wow. 628 00:32:01,720 --> 00:32:05,120 Speaker 2: So yeah, it was his very first play. And I 629 00:32:05,160 --> 00:32:07,600 Speaker 2: toured with that play. It's called telling It like It 630 00:32:07,680 --> 00:32:11,960 Speaker 2: TI is Okay. I toured with that play for two years, 631 00:32:12,000 --> 00:32:15,960 Speaker 2: off and on and the Beauty and what changed my 632 00:32:16,080 --> 00:32:21,479 Speaker 2: life forever was Paul Roach, our director. He was a 633 00:32:21,760 --> 00:32:26,800 Speaker 2: very astute Thesbian had studied at act in San Francisco, 634 00:32:26,880 --> 00:32:31,080 Speaker 2: so he was a very well respected theater director and 635 00:32:31,520 --> 00:32:34,640 Speaker 2: he traveled with us the whole time and was training 636 00:32:34,720 --> 00:32:38,320 Speaker 2: us in the art of acting. He introduced me to 637 00:32:39,080 --> 00:32:42,480 Speaker 2: all the greats that I just started studying about acting 638 00:32:42,560 --> 00:32:47,360 Speaker 2: in theater, ud Hoggins, Demislowski, check Off, and I just 639 00:32:47,400 --> 00:32:49,360 Speaker 2: fell in love with it. I fell in love with 640 00:32:49,400 --> 00:32:51,760 Speaker 2: the craft. I fell in love with all the theater 641 00:32:51,920 --> 00:32:54,280 Speaker 2: exercises that I was laughing at all the other people. 642 00:32:54,720 --> 00:32:56,240 Speaker 2: So now I'm doing all these Oh. 643 00:32:56,240 --> 00:32:58,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, okay, that was good. I wanted to know. So 644 00:32:58,080 --> 00:33:00,720 Speaker 1: you do do those now, so now make it all 645 00:33:00,760 --> 00:33:01,320 Speaker 1: makes sense to you. 646 00:33:01,560 --> 00:33:04,160 Speaker 2: It all makes sense. It all makes sense. And that 647 00:33:04,360 --> 00:33:06,760 Speaker 2: just changed my life forever. So I always tell people that, 648 00:33:07,280 --> 00:33:08,560 Speaker 2: oh my career to Paul Roach. 649 00:33:09,120 --> 00:33:12,120 Speaker 1: Wow, so what did your mom say when you booked 650 00:33:12,160 --> 00:33:12,960 Speaker 1: this tour? 651 00:33:13,360 --> 00:33:16,040 Speaker 2: Yeah? So when they called me that night, the first 652 00:33:16,080 --> 00:33:19,440 Speaker 2: thing I did was I was like, okay, I'll call 653 00:33:19,480 --> 00:33:23,880 Speaker 2: you back. I was like, Mom, these people are offering 654 00:33:23,960 --> 00:33:29,040 Speaker 2: me this role to travel with a play and we're 655 00:33:29,040 --> 00:33:31,320 Speaker 2: going to travel around the country and they take care 656 00:33:31,360 --> 00:33:33,360 Speaker 2: of all of it, and they're going to pay me 657 00:33:33,400 --> 00:33:34,640 Speaker 2: four hundred dollars a week. 658 00:33:34,960 --> 00:33:37,160 Speaker 1: Oh snap, I was like. 659 00:33:37,600 --> 00:33:39,200 Speaker 2: And I was like, can I go? Should I go? 660 00:33:39,280 --> 00:33:41,600 Speaker 2: And she was like absolutely. She was like, when is 661 00:33:41,640 --> 00:33:43,560 Speaker 2: this ever going to happen in your lifetime? 662 00:33:43,640 --> 00:33:43,840 Speaker 1: Yeah? 663 00:33:43,920 --> 00:33:46,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, to get an offer like this, to travel the 664 00:33:46,440 --> 00:33:48,560 Speaker 2: country to perform on stage. 665 00:33:48,240 --> 00:33:49,520 Speaker 1: And how old are you at this time? 666 00:33:49,640 --> 00:33:52,160 Speaker 2: Land At this time, I'm twenty oh. 667 00:33:52,080 --> 00:33:55,600 Speaker 1: Girl, Yes go mom for that shut out of support. 668 00:33:55,800 --> 00:33:58,040 Speaker 1: Yeah yeah, and you were excited about it too. 669 00:33:58,400 --> 00:34:02,480 Speaker 2: I was, Are you changed my mouth? Yes? Again, I 670 00:34:02,520 --> 00:34:07,240 Speaker 2: had never done anything like that ever, And so we started. 671 00:34:07,280 --> 00:34:11,760 Speaker 2: We went into rehearsals, and that's how I learned the craft. 672 00:34:11,920 --> 00:34:13,400 Speaker 1: Was there any part of it that was like a 673 00:34:13,400 --> 00:34:15,440 Speaker 1: little rigorous where you wanted to quit at all? Or 674 00:34:15,560 --> 00:34:15,960 Speaker 1: was it all? 675 00:34:16,280 --> 00:34:19,960 Speaker 2: It is very rigorous, But I was so in my 676 00:34:20,080 --> 00:34:24,719 Speaker 2: element and felt so excited and connected to this new 677 00:34:24,840 --> 00:34:27,160 Speaker 2: thing that I have found acting. 678 00:34:27,400 --> 00:34:29,200 Speaker 1: Did you have to drop out of college to do? 679 00:34:29,320 --> 00:34:29,480 Speaker 2: Yeah? 680 00:34:29,880 --> 00:34:30,799 Speaker 1: Yeah, you was like peace. 681 00:34:30,960 --> 00:34:33,560 Speaker 2: That's why I had to ask my mom. Okay, but yeah, 682 00:34:33,640 --> 00:34:36,080 Speaker 2: but it changed the whole trajectory of my life. 683 00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:40,240 Speaker 1: So after are you getting interior at up in the house? Snap? 684 00:34:40,400 --> 00:34:40,720 Speaker 2: Okay? 685 00:34:40,840 --> 00:34:44,120 Speaker 1: I wanted to ask you after the tour ends? Huh? 686 00:34:44,160 --> 00:34:44,799 Speaker 1: What's it like? 687 00:34:45,320 --> 00:34:47,440 Speaker 2: So the tour. When the tour ended, it was a 688 00:34:47,440 --> 00:34:49,239 Speaker 2: group of us. We decided we were going to move 689 00:34:49,239 --> 00:34:51,800 Speaker 2: to la and pursue acting. 690 00:34:51,960 --> 00:34:53,239 Speaker 1: Are you made friends too? 691 00:34:53,600 --> 00:34:53,880 Speaker 2: Yeah? 692 00:34:54,000 --> 00:34:55,960 Speaker 1: Were any of the people from the audition room? Do 693 00:34:55,960 --> 00:34:58,040 Speaker 1: you remember any of them? And then they made it? 694 00:34:58,440 --> 00:35:03,200 Speaker 1: Kalita Smith a so a known actress. She was it 695 00:35:03,320 --> 00:35:04,440 Speaker 1: was her first start too. 696 00:35:05,040 --> 00:35:06,880 Speaker 2: So we were all from the Bay Area, and we 697 00:35:07,239 --> 00:35:11,400 Speaker 2: all moved to LA after the show went down and 698 00:35:11,640 --> 00:35:13,239 Speaker 2: just started pursuing it as a. 699 00:35:13,239 --> 00:35:14,880 Speaker 1: Career with a real picture. 700 00:35:15,520 --> 00:35:19,680 Speaker 2: Yes, I got a real black and white by tea 701 00:35:19,680 --> 00:35:22,040 Speaker 2: and glossy. This is like so old, so you know 702 00:35:22,120 --> 00:35:26,360 Speaker 2: you We would mail our phus to different agencies and stuff, 703 00:35:26,360 --> 00:35:30,200 Speaker 2: trying to get agents. Again. Was always very adamant about 704 00:35:30,239 --> 00:35:32,760 Speaker 2: the craft. So the first thing we did find acting 705 00:35:32,760 --> 00:35:35,479 Speaker 2: classes to get into. Okay, when we moved to LA. 706 00:35:35,480 --> 00:35:37,600 Speaker 1: Even after all that work and training you went on 707 00:35:37,640 --> 00:35:40,359 Speaker 1: the road, you still wanted to do more to perfect it. 708 00:35:40,400 --> 00:35:42,560 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, okay, it's never ending. 709 00:35:43,080 --> 00:35:45,040 Speaker 1: You still do take Do you still take acts? 710 00:35:45,400 --> 00:35:48,960 Speaker 2: I teach acting classes now, which is also for me 711 00:35:49,080 --> 00:35:52,040 Speaker 2: a form of study for myself as well. But I 712 00:35:52,120 --> 00:35:56,840 Speaker 2: do also watch Masterclass a lot or and for directing, 713 00:35:57,000 --> 00:36:00,360 Speaker 2: I definitely like ye taking all that information and I 714 00:36:00,400 --> 00:36:01,120 Speaker 2: can get still. 715 00:36:01,520 --> 00:36:05,919 Speaker 1: So between the touring and you booking major roles, how 716 00:36:05,960 --> 00:36:08,920 Speaker 1: long is that gap and what was that struggle looking like? 717 00:36:09,040 --> 00:36:12,040 Speaker 2: I would say it was a five year build, which 718 00:36:12,080 --> 00:36:15,319 Speaker 2: is really a blessing because I have several friends that 719 00:36:16,040 --> 00:36:19,839 Speaker 2: I've been in it, doing it for well beyond five 720 00:36:19,920 --> 00:36:24,000 Speaker 2: years and still hadn't gotten their break. But so, yeah, 721 00:36:24,000 --> 00:36:28,040 Speaker 2: so I just I started booking like small parts. And 722 00:36:29,880 --> 00:36:33,080 Speaker 2: I want to say, yeah, five years in of me 723 00:36:33,239 --> 00:36:35,960 Speaker 2: living here, I got the audition for the Steve Harvey Show. 724 00:36:36,360 --> 00:36:38,640 Speaker 1: Wow. And then how are you surviving in between this 725 00:36:38,800 --> 00:36:39,239 Speaker 1: five year? 726 00:36:39,360 --> 00:36:40,600 Speaker 2: Like a waitress? 727 00:36:41,040 --> 00:36:42,279 Speaker 1: You did the waitressing thing? 728 00:36:42,360 --> 00:36:46,360 Speaker 2: Okay, I waitressed, and I worked at a clothing store 729 00:36:46,400 --> 00:36:50,680 Speaker 2: that was in the Sherman Oaks Galleria. Yes, okay, I 730 00:36:50,760 --> 00:36:52,680 Speaker 2: used to work at the Sherman Oaks Galleria at a 731 00:36:52,680 --> 00:36:57,279 Speaker 2: store called Benetton. Yeah, I don't think company. I think 732 00:36:57,280 --> 00:37:00,400 Speaker 2: it's folded, but yeah, that's where I was, Okay, and 733 00:37:00,400 --> 00:37:05,400 Speaker 2: then so so so I have been waitressing a lot longer. 734 00:37:05,880 --> 00:37:08,160 Speaker 2: And then I got tired of waitressing and I got 735 00:37:08,440 --> 00:37:12,480 Speaker 2: the job at ben Aton. And I have been at 736 00:37:12,560 --> 00:37:16,319 Speaker 2: Benaton like two weeks and I booked the Steve Harvey Show. 737 00:37:17,080 --> 00:37:17,760 Speaker 1: Oh my gosh. 738 00:37:18,000 --> 00:37:23,239 Speaker 2: So I gave ben Aton my two weeks notice. I 739 00:37:23,239 --> 00:37:26,000 Speaker 2: didn't just leave. I gave them a two week notice. 740 00:37:26,000 --> 00:37:29,080 Speaker 2: And I still worked at ben Aton after I first 741 00:37:29,080 --> 00:37:30,399 Speaker 2: booked the Steve Harvey Show. 742 00:37:30,600 --> 00:37:34,520 Speaker 1: Okay, that's cool. And then but it wasn't out yet, no, 743 00:37:34,800 --> 00:37:36,600 Speaker 1: so nobody. 744 00:37:35,840 --> 00:37:38,160 Speaker 2: Was on because I came in the second season, but 745 00:37:38,320 --> 00:37:39,160 Speaker 2: I hadn't started. 746 00:37:39,520 --> 00:37:41,880 Speaker 1: People hadn't seen you yet because you that two week notice. 747 00:37:42,000 --> 00:37:47,200 Speaker 1: Now I'm curious, so you become like a household name household, 748 00:37:47,239 --> 00:37:50,759 Speaker 1: everybody knows who you are. You from that point on, 749 00:37:50,960 --> 00:37:54,680 Speaker 1: is your career completely consistent or is it like a 750 00:37:54,719 --> 00:37:56,080 Speaker 1: little roller coastery in there? 751 00:37:56,120 --> 00:38:01,279 Speaker 2: There's nothing consistent in this business. Nothing, no. So I 752 00:38:01,320 --> 00:38:05,439 Speaker 2: did the Steve Harvey Show for five seasons, and when 753 00:38:05,480 --> 00:38:09,480 Speaker 2: it went down, I, like you, just said, thought, Oh, 754 00:38:10,440 --> 00:38:13,239 Speaker 2: I'll just get my next gig. This is great. The 755 00:38:13,239 --> 00:38:15,400 Speaker 2: Steve Harvey Show was great for me. It's gotten my 756 00:38:15,480 --> 00:38:19,200 Speaker 2: name out there, fun character, everybody loves it, so I'm 757 00:38:19,200 --> 00:38:22,200 Speaker 2: sure I'll get another gig. It didn't happen that quick. 758 00:38:23,000 --> 00:38:24,920 Speaker 1: How long would that get? 759 00:38:25,400 --> 00:38:29,480 Speaker 2: To be honest, it wasn't long in the aspect of 760 00:38:29,600 --> 00:38:32,920 Speaker 2: what we do, because even if I was out of 761 00:38:32,960 --> 00:38:37,400 Speaker 2: work for four months, that's not really a long time 762 00:38:37,760 --> 00:38:41,360 Speaker 2: in his business. So it was probably something like that 763 00:38:41,520 --> 00:38:45,640 Speaker 2: before I got a call from Felicia Henderson, who was 764 00:38:45,760 --> 00:38:49,520 Speaker 2: the showrunner and producer of Soul Food that was on 765 00:38:49,680 --> 00:38:53,720 Speaker 2: Showtime at the time, and she offered me a part 766 00:38:53,960 --> 00:38:58,800 Speaker 2: for a reoccurring character on Soul Food, which they shot 767 00:38:58,880 --> 00:39:02,960 Speaker 2: in Toronto, so that was a huge blessing. So I 768 00:39:03,000 --> 00:39:08,840 Speaker 2: did fly to Toronto and I worked there for one season. 769 00:39:09,000 --> 00:39:11,160 Speaker 2: I can't remember how much time I spent out there, 770 00:39:11,640 --> 00:39:14,520 Speaker 2: but that was huge for me because I was going 771 00:39:14,680 --> 00:39:20,640 Speaker 2: from this sitcom really funny, silly kind of character, and 772 00:39:20,680 --> 00:39:23,480 Speaker 2: then I was going on to a Showtime show that 773 00:39:23,600 --> 00:39:27,200 Speaker 2: was a drama and a more astute kind of character. 774 00:39:27,280 --> 00:39:30,160 Speaker 2: So they were totally different from each other. So I 775 00:39:30,280 --> 00:39:33,319 Speaker 2: just always really thanked Felicia Henderson for seeing. 776 00:39:33,120 --> 00:39:36,000 Speaker 1: Pass and not communicat yeah. 777 00:39:35,800 --> 00:39:37,759 Speaker 2: And not just putting me in the box, which a 778 00:39:37,760 --> 00:39:40,719 Speaker 2: lot of people tried to do. So she immediately came 779 00:39:40,800 --> 00:39:49,319 Speaker 2: and gave me that opportunity. So that was huge. 780 00:39:50,360 --> 00:39:53,320 Speaker 1: And then where does along this journey, where does directing 781 00:39:53,360 --> 00:39:56,600 Speaker 1: and producing start to peak its little head in were you? 782 00:39:56,960 --> 00:40:01,920 Speaker 2: So? After the so thing, I want to say, the 783 00:40:01,960 --> 00:40:06,399 Speaker 2: next series that I was a regular on was All 784 00:40:06,480 --> 00:40:10,160 Speaker 2: of Us Will Smiths and Jada Pikett Smith Show. And 785 00:40:10,600 --> 00:40:16,800 Speaker 2: when that show went down, it was dry. The industry 786 00:40:16,920 --> 00:40:19,160 Speaker 2: was really dry. It was when a lot of the 787 00:40:19,200 --> 00:40:22,360 Speaker 2: black shows got taken off air. They weren't really producing 788 00:40:22,400 --> 00:40:27,440 Speaker 2: a lot of black television shows anymore. And that's when 789 00:40:27,440 --> 00:40:30,400 Speaker 2: I got frustrated and I met a girl who was 790 00:40:30,480 --> 00:40:34,560 Speaker 2: a writer. I was working on an independent project in 791 00:40:34,600 --> 00:40:37,480 Speaker 2: Atlanta at the time, and I met a girl that 792 00:40:37,640 --> 00:40:40,400 Speaker 2: was a writer and she had given me her novel. 793 00:40:40,480 --> 00:40:43,239 Speaker 2: She had written her first novel, and she asked me 794 00:40:43,280 --> 00:40:45,759 Speaker 2: if I were read it. So on my flight back 795 00:40:45,800 --> 00:40:49,319 Speaker 2: to home to LA I started reading her book and 796 00:40:49,400 --> 00:40:53,600 Speaker 2: I loved her book. It was called a Girl Named Lily. 797 00:40:53,680 --> 00:40:55,680 Speaker 2: And when I got home, I called her. I was like, 798 00:40:55,719 --> 00:40:59,880 Speaker 2: have you ever considered turning this book into a television show? 799 00:41:00,640 --> 00:41:02,520 Speaker 2: And she was like, no, I never thought about that. 800 00:41:03,239 --> 00:41:05,319 Speaker 2: And I was like, I would like to try to 801 00:41:05,360 --> 00:41:07,000 Speaker 2: do that. Would you be okay with that? 802 00:41:07,320 --> 00:41:09,239 Speaker 1: And how did you guys intersect it? To begin with? 803 00:41:09,480 --> 00:41:12,600 Speaker 2: On a film project that I've done in Atlanta, And 804 00:41:12,640 --> 00:41:16,520 Speaker 2: she was actually the costumer, and she slipped her book 805 00:41:17,080 --> 00:41:20,560 Speaker 2: and she slipping her book, and so once she said 806 00:41:20,640 --> 00:41:23,719 Speaker 2: yes to taking this journey with me of trying to 807 00:41:23,760 --> 00:41:26,000 Speaker 2: sell and this is my first time ever doing something 808 00:41:26,080 --> 00:41:27,799 Speaker 2: like this. But I had been in the business. I 809 00:41:27,840 --> 00:41:31,279 Speaker 2: had great relationships from the shows that I had been on, 810 00:41:31,560 --> 00:41:34,520 Speaker 2: So I thought I was always so naive. I was 811 00:41:34,600 --> 00:41:37,479 Speaker 2: so like I could do anything, give it this book, 812 00:41:37,480 --> 00:41:40,400 Speaker 2: I'm not making a TV show, and so my agent 813 00:41:40,440 --> 00:41:42,120 Speaker 2: at the time, they set up some meetings for me 814 00:41:42,239 --> 00:41:47,480 Speaker 2: to pitch this book. And the feedback we kept getting 815 00:41:47,640 --> 00:41:50,359 Speaker 2: was sounds like a great idea, but it doesn't sound 816 00:41:50,480 --> 00:41:52,920 Speaker 2: like a black voice. It doesn't sound like a black person. 817 00:41:53,120 --> 00:41:56,799 Speaker 2: And I'm like, that's strange because it's written by a 818 00:41:56,840 --> 00:42:00,319 Speaker 2: black person. This is her book, her voice, what are 819 00:42:00,320 --> 00:42:03,200 Speaker 2: you talking about. So that was the feedback we got, 820 00:42:03,320 --> 00:42:05,680 Speaker 2: and it just really lit a fire under our butts. 821 00:42:05,719 --> 00:42:08,360 Speaker 2: It's like, Okay, they're not going to tell us what 822 00:42:08,480 --> 00:42:12,160 Speaker 2: a black voice is. Yes, will We're going to make 823 00:42:12,520 --> 00:42:15,160 Speaker 2: content together that is our voice and that is So 824 00:42:15,200 --> 00:42:18,440 Speaker 2: that's how we started our production company that's called the 825 00:42:18,719 --> 00:42:23,160 Speaker 2: Nina Holliday Entertainment And the first project that we did 826 00:42:23,320 --> 00:42:26,840 Speaker 2: right after we went through that pitching cycle was we 827 00:42:27,080 --> 00:42:31,160 Speaker 2: shot a documentary called Angels Can't Help But Laugh, and 828 00:42:31,880 --> 00:42:34,880 Speaker 2: it was me interviewing a bunch of my peers that 829 00:42:34,920 --> 00:42:37,919 Speaker 2: were in the business just about their journey and how 830 00:42:37,960 --> 00:42:43,680 Speaker 2: they stay motivated and inspired to keep going when the 831 00:42:43,760 --> 00:42:48,120 Speaker 2: opportunities are so small, when we're constantly put in boxes 832 00:42:48,800 --> 00:42:51,000 Speaker 2: like what motivates you to keep doing this? Why don't 833 00:42:51,040 --> 00:42:56,360 Speaker 2: you just quit. So the documentary was amazing. 834 00:42:56,080 --> 00:42:58,640 Speaker 1: It sounds amazing, It was incredible. 835 00:42:59,000 --> 00:43:04,560 Speaker 2: It was Shirley out making good, Melinda Williams, Vanessa Williams, 836 00:43:04,960 --> 00:43:10,160 Speaker 2: Kim Whitley, Regina King, and we had some really great 837 00:43:10,440 --> 00:43:14,640 Speaker 2: people in the documentary and it was like our calling card. 838 00:43:14,719 --> 00:43:17,160 Speaker 2: This is what we are about. We're about the voices 839 00:43:17,320 --> 00:43:20,000 Speaker 2: of the black women in this industry. 840 00:43:20,280 --> 00:43:22,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, so how old did that do? 841 00:43:23,280 --> 00:43:25,440 Speaker 2: So that did good. We ended up doing a lot 842 00:43:25,440 --> 00:43:31,960 Speaker 2: of college screenings and talkbacks. It was available on Amazon 843 00:43:32,280 --> 00:43:35,040 Speaker 2: or something. But this is the thing, and I really 844 00:43:35,040 --> 00:43:38,120 Speaker 2: want to tell everybody to handle your business like we 845 00:43:38,120 --> 00:43:38,920 Speaker 2: were just artists. 846 00:43:38,920 --> 00:43:41,160 Speaker 1: So that was gonna be my next question. How are 847 00:43:41,160 --> 00:43:43,640 Speaker 1: you funding? How are you maintaining during this whole project? 848 00:43:44,200 --> 00:43:46,279 Speaker 2: So we made it. It only cost us like five 849 00:43:46,320 --> 00:43:50,680 Speaker 2: thousand dollars, so we just paid for it ourselves because 850 00:43:50,719 --> 00:43:53,280 Speaker 2: we were just It was just a camera person, lights 851 00:43:53,280 --> 00:43:55,320 Speaker 2: and stuff that we and we would go to people 852 00:43:55,360 --> 00:43:56,680 Speaker 2: to interview them. 853 00:43:56,800 --> 00:43:57,799 Speaker 1: I love that, by the way. 854 00:43:57,960 --> 00:44:02,839 Speaker 2: Yeah, it got out and still to this day it's 855 00:44:03,000 --> 00:44:06,000 Speaker 2: out and you can order it, but I don't know 856 00:44:06,040 --> 00:44:09,600 Speaker 2: where it's being ordered and delivered from. It's really weird. 857 00:44:09,800 --> 00:44:11,000 Speaker 1: What do you mean, if I were to go on 858 00:44:11,040 --> 00:44:13,360 Speaker 1: Amazon type it in, I could order it, but you 859 00:44:13,360 --> 00:44:14,479 Speaker 1: don't know where the money goes. 860 00:44:14,560 --> 00:44:16,399 Speaker 2: I don't know where the money's going, and I don't 861 00:44:16,440 --> 00:44:20,880 Speaker 2: know who's sending it to you. Somebody to this day, Yeah, yeah, 862 00:44:20,920 --> 00:44:23,080 Speaker 2: like you could work because I did it because I 863 00:44:23,120 --> 00:44:25,080 Speaker 2: saw it. Somebody had hit me up and was like, Oh, 864 00:44:25,160 --> 00:44:27,360 Speaker 2: isn't this your documentary? It's so good? I love it, 865 00:44:27,360 --> 00:44:29,480 Speaker 2: blah blah blah blah. And I was like, where did 866 00:44:29,480 --> 00:44:31,080 Speaker 2: you get it? And they were like, oh, I ordered 867 00:44:31,080 --> 00:44:34,000 Speaker 2: it off of I think it's Amazon, And I was like, really, 868 00:44:34,080 --> 00:44:37,359 Speaker 2: So I went in not ordered it, and I got it, 869 00:44:38,400 --> 00:44:41,680 Speaker 2: and I don't know. It's really weird. 870 00:44:42,640 --> 00:44:45,160 Speaker 1: So you did you try to call Amazon and find out. 871 00:44:45,680 --> 00:44:48,319 Speaker 2: I had an attorney to try to reach out to 872 00:44:48,440 --> 00:44:50,920 Speaker 2: the name that was on it. It looks like it's 873 00:44:50,920 --> 00:44:53,960 Speaker 2: coming from somewhere from China, so it was really weird. 874 00:44:54,120 --> 00:44:54,840 Speaker 2: It's really weird. 875 00:44:54,960 --> 00:44:57,919 Speaker 1: But so does that mean did you just find this out? 876 00:44:58,040 --> 00:45:00,439 Speaker 2: Yeah? Not too long ago, like maybe year ago. 877 00:45:00,520 --> 00:45:02,520 Speaker 1: So are they is there a way to find out 878 00:45:02,640 --> 00:45:03,200 Speaker 1: or stop it? 879 00:45:03,840 --> 00:45:04,399 Speaker 2: I don't know. 880 00:45:05,360 --> 00:45:07,839 Speaker 1: Oh no, I just wanted to do But wait, what's 881 00:45:07,880 --> 00:45:09,600 Speaker 1: the name of the documentary One more Time. 882 00:45:09,600 --> 00:45:12,200 Speaker 2: Can really take care of your business when you're doing stuff. 883 00:45:12,360 --> 00:45:13,319 Speaker 1: You still want to see it. 884 00:45:13,480 --> 00:45:19,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, it just it's called Angels can't help but laugh. 885 00:45:19,360 --> 00:45:24,120 Speaker 1: Angels can't help but laugh. Yeah, I love that. Yeah, damn. 886 00:45:24,160 --> 00:45:25,600 Speaker 1: So it's like I want to say, go out there 887 00:45:25,760 --> 00:45:27,360 Speaker 1: and go out and still watch it. 888 00:45:27,560 --> 00:45:31,880 Speaker 2: Really good. It's super informative, some great interviews and advice 889 00:45:32,040 --> 00:45:35,480 Speaker 2: and yeah, it's really good. I want to Smith as 890 00:45:35,480 --> 00:45:38,240 Speaker 2: in it. It was like a lot of my peers Essens, Adkins, 891 00:45:38,880 --> 00:45:39,760 Speaker 2: Jasmine Guy. 892 00:45:39,840 --> 00:45:41,880 Speaker 1: And we could probably order on Amazon. I hate to. 893 00:45:43,120 --> 00:45:44,000 Speaker 1: Let's still check it out. 894 00:45:44,040 --> 00:45:46,879 Speaker 2: It's still also I know, but that's the thing. Of course, 895 00:45:46,920 --> 00:45:51,000 Speaker 2: we want to make money off of stuff. But you 896 00:45:51,040 --> 00:45:54,160 Speaker 2: know sometimes and so this is why I want artists 897 00:45:54,160 --> 00:45:57,560 Speaker 2: to do better to handle your business. But I really 898 00:45:57,600 --> 00:45:59,440 Speaker 2: just I want to give my gifts to the world, 899 00:45:59,600 --> 00:46:03,359 Speaker 2: and that documentary is really a gift to young people 900 00:46:03,920 --> 00:46:07,280 Speaker 2: and it's a gift, and so I still want people 901 00:46:07,320 --> 00:46:09,560 Speaker 2: to see it even I want to see it. Yes, 902 00:46:09,600 --> 00:46:10,360 Speaker 2: I still want business. 903 00:46:10,400 --> 00:46:11,600 Speaker 1: I was very inspirational. 904 00:46:12,000 --> 00:46:15,759 Speaker 2: Yeah, so that was our that was my entry into producing. 905 00:46:16,320 --> 00:46:19,640 Speaker 1: That was that and then from there the whole time 906 00:46:19,680 --> 00:46:21,680 Speaker 1: this is going on, what your mom saying she still 907 00:46:21,719 --> 00:46:26,840 Speaker 1: support everyone's support. You're fully sustained on acting, you're handling 908 00:46:26,920 --> 00:46:28,040 Speaker 1: your money right. 909 00:46:27,880 --> 00:46:31,680 Speaker 2: Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, I've always been very frugal. Okay, good, 910 00:46:31,760 --> 00:46:34,080 Speaker 2: I'm very frugal and I learned a long time ago 911 00:46:34,120 --> 00:46:36,879 Speaker 2: in this business. You're working this great great getting them checks, 912 00:46:36,880 --> 00:46:40,640 Speaker 2: give them check, and then you could go years without working. Yeah. Yeah, 913 00:46:40,760 --> 00:46:45,200 Speaker 2: So I've always been very smart with my money. Yeah. 914 00:46:45,239 --> 00:46:48,800 Speaker 1: I always tell people it's all about managing cash flow. Yeah, 915 00:46:48,840 --> 00:46:51,480 Speaker 1: like people, will you get check a big check and 916 00:46:51,480 --> 00:46:53,560 Speaker 1: you're like, whoa, we can go here and buy this, 917 00:46:53,719 --> 00:46:56,240 Speaker 1: but no, let's make sure that we cover your monthly 918 00:46:56,280 --> 00:47:00,000 Speaker 1: for at least six months. Take exactly exactly minimum, hopefully exactly. 919 00:47:00,040 --> 00:47:01,560 Speaker 1: Actually that is it. 920 00:47:01,920 --> 00:47:04,240 Speaker 2: But at that time, so yeah, so I was sustaining 921 00:47:04,280 --> 00:47:07,920 Speaker 2: myself but still still okay, I need to check. I 922 00:47:07,920 --> 00:47:09,319 Speaker 2: still got a mortgage. I still got that. 923 00:47:09,520 --> 00:47:12,080 Speaker 1: You had a mortgage too, Yeah, oh girl, yeah. Do 924 00:47:12,160 --> 00:47:14,000 Speaker 1: you get married having kids in between all them? 925 00:47:14,120 --> 00:47:18,359 Speaker 2: Okay, that's where I was about. So at that time, yes, 926 00:47:18,480 --> 00:47:23,200 Speaker 2: I was married and I had a son, but I 927 00:47:23,360 --> 00:47:26,319 Speaker 2: was breaking up. In the middle of breaking up, it 928 00:47:26,360 --> 00:47:30,839 Speaker 2: was a very stressful time in my life. Personally but creatively. 929 00:47:30,920 --> 00:47:34,320 Speaker 2: I think that's why I really poured so much into 930 00:47:34,840 --> 00:47:37,880 Speaker 2: especially that particular project, because it featured women and I 931 00:47:37,920 --> 00:47:39,640 Speaker 2: wanted to just get their voice and. 932 00:47:39,880 --> 00:47:42,799 Speaker 1: With the empowerment. Yeah you needed it at that time. 933 00:47:42,880 --> 00:47:47,960 Speaker 2: I really did. I really did. And yeah, so yes 934 00:47:48,080 --> 00:47:51,000 Speaker 2: I was married, and yes I had my first son 935 00:47:51,360 --> 00:47:51,879 Speaker 2: at that time. 936 00:47:52,000 --> 00:47:54,600 Speaker 1: So after that, you go into after producing, you go 937 00:47:54,640 --> 00:47:55,400 Speaker 1: into directing. 938 00:47:56,000 --> 00:48:01,479 Speaker 2: So the directing came in years later. So I did 939 00:48:01,680 --> 00:48:05,480 Speaker 2: finally go through a divorce and I ended up moving 940 00:48:05,880 --> 00:48:11,400 Speaker 2: meeting my current husband who was based in Atlanta, and 941 00:48:11,880 --> 00:48:14,600 Speaker 2: when we got married, I ended up moving to Atlanta. 942 00:48:14,640 --> 00:48:15,640 Speaker 2: That's how I ended up. 943 00:48:15,600 --> 00:48:17,520 Speaker 1: In Atlanta almost just so you know, I wanted you 944 00:48:17,600 --> 00:48:19,960 Speaker 1: so bad. I was like, man, we may have to 945 00:48:19,960 --> 00:48:21,160 Speaker 1: make this trip to Atlanta. 946 00:48:21,480 --> 00:48:23,359 Speaker 2: Ah. I wish I would have known that. I would 947 00:48:23,360 --> 00:48:25,000 Speaker 2: have said, oh, that would have been some fun. 948 00:48:25,200 --> 00:48:27,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, you guys could trust me. It was a lot 949 00:48:27,560 --> 00:48:28,520 Speaker 1: better on my budgets. 950 00:48:28,600 --> 00:48:30,839 Speaker 2: So I'm sure I got you both. 951 00:48:30,960 --> 00:48:33,600 Speaker 1: I got you here, but I was willing to. We 952 00:48:33,680 --> 00:48:35,240 Speaker 1: got to see if we can make it happen. 953 00:48:35,440 --> 00:48:38,560 Speaker 2: But so yeah, so I'm so now. I moved to 954 00:48:39,520 --> 00:48:44,000 Speaker 2: Atlanta in two thousand and nine when I got there, 955 00:48:44,120 --> 00:48:46,560 Speaker 2: so I had been working there already. I had done 956 00:48:46,680 --> 00:48:49,240 Speaker 2: three projects in a row that was based in Atlanta. 957 00:48:49,480 --> 00:48:50,879 Speaker 2: So I was there and then I would come back 958 00:48:50,880 --> 00:48:54,239 Speaker 2: to LA there and so when I decided I was 959 00:48:54,360 --> 00:48:57,719 Speaker 2: moving there, I was like, Okay, I want to help 960 00:48:57,840 --> 00:49:02,239 Speaker 2: contribute to the film industry there because if I'm going 961 00:49:02,320 --> 00:49:08,080 Speaker 2: to live there and be considered now a Atlanta actor, 962 00:49:08,960 --> 00:49:12,040 Speaker 2: I need all the games to be up. So I 963 00:49:12,080 --> 00:49:14,520 Speaker 2: was on a mission to really pour into the film industry. 964 00:49:14,840 --> 00:49:18,239 Speaker 2: And that's when I started teaching acting classes. I had 965 00:49:18,440 --> 00:49:23,000 Speaker 2: a lot of young actors, aspiring actors that I worked with, 966 00:49:23,040 --> 00:49:25,520 Speaker 2: and I fell in love with doing that. I really 967 00:49:25,560 --> 00:49:29,160 Speaker 2: fell in love with just really teaching them how I 968 00:49:29,280 --> 00:49:34,200 Speaker 2: learned acting. And it was really study the books, study 969 00:49:34,200 --> 00:49:38,560 Speaker 2: the craft, watch films, and we would do a scene 970 00:49:38,600 --> 00:49:43,080 Speaker 2: study class. So in scene study, I'm directing actors in 971 00:49:43,120 --> 00:49:48,279 Speaker 2: the scenes. And so we got ready to produce a 972 00:49:49,440 --> 00:49:53,520 Speaker 2: movie that it was independently funded. It was like maybe 973 00:49:53,520 --> 00:49:56,840 Speaker 2: one hundred and twenty thousand dollars, but the script was funny. 974 00:49:56,880 --> 00:50:00,000 Speaker 2: It was a hood comedy. It was called a hashtag 975 00:50:00,080 --> 00:50:03,719 Speaker 2: Digital Lives Matter, Okay, and it was starting DC Young 976 00:50:03,719 --> 00:50:09,560 Speaker 2: fly Me, Little Hudson, I do too, Ernestine Johnson, b Simone. 977 00:50:09,719 --> 00:50:13,400 Speaker 2: So it was a lot of new actors, new faces, 978 00:50:13,440 --> 00:50:16,960 Speaker 2: but they were growing in their social media platforms, right, 979 00:50:17,560 --> 00:50:22,040 Speaker 2: So we produced this movie for them, and we didn't 980 00:50:22,040 --> 00:50:25,520 Speaker 2: really have money to pay a director. So I was like, 981 00:50:25,680 --> 00:50:27,600 Speaker 2: I can do it. I was like, I've been directing 982 00:50:27,800 --> 00:50:33,480 Speaker 2: young talent for a few years now. It's a comedy. 983 00:50:33,840 --> 00:50:39,959 Speaker 2: That's my sweet spot. Ann it's hood, that's my background. Yeah, yeah, 984 00:50:40,000 --> 00:50:43,560 Speaker 2: so I could do this, and that's how I directed 985 00:50:43,680 --> 00:50:44,840 Speaker 2: my first project. 986 00:50:45,280 --> 00:50:48,520 Speaker 1: Wow. And in between all this, you're still acting. 987 00:50:48,719 --> 00:50:52,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, still acting. So when I first moved to Atlanta, 988 00:50:53,160 --> 00:50:54,840 Speaker 2: I called Tyler Perry Studio. 989 00:50:54,880 --> 00:50:56,600 Speaker 1: I was about to get to that. Yeah, oh yeah. 990 00:50:56,680 --> 00:50:58,400 Speaker 2: I was like, I just want to let y'all know 991 00:50:58,480 --> 00:51:02,080 Speaker 2: that I live in Atlanta, so if there's any parts 992 00:51:02,160 --> 00:51:06,000 Speaker 2: on your show, I'm here and I'm available. And so 993 00:51:06,040 --> 00:51:08,799 Speaker 2: they did end up calling me and giving me a 994 00:51:08,920 --> 00:51:10,680 Speaker 2: role on Meet the Browns. 995 00:51:11,080 --> 00:51:11,440 Speaker 1: Wow. 996 00:51:11,719 --> 00:51:13,799 Speaker 2: And that's how I got on Meet the Browns. So yeah, 997 00:51:13,840 --> 00:51:17,359 Speaker 2: so it was still acting and what else was going 998 00:51:17,360 --> 00:51:20,480 Speaker 2: on at the time. I also opened up wanting to 999 00:51:20,520 --> 00:51:23,960 Speaker 2: pour into the community there, the art community. I opened 1000 00:51:24,040 --> 00:51:28,040 Speaker 2: up a coffee shop, slash theatrical bookstore right because when 1001 00:51:28,040 --> 00:51:31,279 Speaker 2: I was teaching the acting classes, there was nowhere for 1002 00:51:31,320 --> 00:51:33,279 Speaker 2: me to send them to get these books that I 1003 00:51:33,360 --> 00:51:36,360 Speaker 2: was telling them about. We're here, we have Samuel French, 1004 00:51:36,840 --> 00:51:39,200 Speaker 2: and as a young actor, I spent so much time 1005 00:51:39,280 --> 00:51:42,080 Speaker 2: in Samuel French. But they didn't have anything like that 1006 00:51:42,280 --> 00:51:45,520 Speaker 2: in Atlanta. So I opened up a store and had 1007 00:51:45,560 --> 00:51:48,480 Speaker 2: a contract with Samuel French store here and so I 1008 00:51:48,560 --> 00:51:51,680 Speaker 2: offered some of the books at my store. And it 1009 00:51:51,719 --> 00:51:54,520 Speaker 2: was a coffee shop, it was a lounge, we had 1010 00:51:54,560 --> 00:51:56,520 Speaker 2: a stage, so I would do my acting class. 1011 00:51:57,280 --> 00:51:58,720 Speaker 1: Run that business too, very. 1012 00:52:00,360 --> 00:52:04,799 Speaker 2: Very I loved all the just the community of it. 1013 00:52:05,000 --> 00:52:08,680 Speaker 2: I loved pouring into the people. People loved it. But 1014 00:52:08,960 --> 00:52:12,600 Speaker 2: running the business was really stressful. For It's very stressful 1015 00:52:12,880 --> 00:52:14,759 Speaker 2: and it was like I had to be there every 1016 00:52:14,800 --> 00:52:18,080 Speaker 2: day and I was like, I gotta go make money. 1017 00:52:18,480 --> 00:52:21,680 Speaker 2: So it stayed open for three years and then I 1018 00:52:21,760 --> 00:52:26,000 Speaker 2: eventually had to close it just because it was just training, mentally, financially, 1019 00:52:26,320 --> 00:52:29,839 Speaker 2: all the things. But people still ask me about it 1020 00:52:30,000 --> 00:52:33,000 Speaker 2: all the time and was like it was just before 1021 00:52:33,080 --> 00:52:35,680 Speaker 2: it's time. If you opened it up now, it would 1022 00:52:35,760 --> 00:52:39,439 Speaker 2: blow up so much. And I'm like yeah, I don't 1023 00:52:39,440 --> 00:52:42,200 Speaker 2: have the time or the wherewithal to do that again, 1024 00:52:42,640 --> 00:52:44,720 Speaker 2: so I don't know, but who knows what the future holds. 1025 00:52:44,960 --> 00:52:47,560 Speaker 2: But those were the things that I was doing before 1026 00:52:47,840 --> 00:52:50,839 Speaker 2: I did the directing thing and having babies, had two 1027 00:52:50,880 --> 00:52:54,680 Speaker 2: more and more kids. 1028 00:52:54,760 --> 00:52:57,600 Speaker 1: Yes, how can everybody keep up with everything? 1029 00:52:58,040 --> 00:53:03,760 Speaker 2: Ary Jay on all the platforms? I am Terry Jay 1030 00:53:03,840 --> 00:53:07,160 Speaker 2: Vaughn on all the platforms. And I do have to 1031 00:53:07,239 --> 00:53:12,239 Speaker 2: plug my new series right here, okay, straight ahead? Yeah, 1032 00:53:12,440 --> 00:53:14,480 Speaker 2: and it's a beautiful Do we have time just for 1033 00:53:14,480 --> 00:53:15,600 Speaker 2: me to tell this quick little story? 1034 00:53:15,640 --> 00:53:16,239 Speaker 1: I love it? 1035 00:53:16,360 --> 00:53:20,319 Speaker 2: Okay. I've had this TV show idea for at least 1036 00:53:20,320 --> 00:53:23,839 Speaker 2: seven years. It was inspired by a girlfriend of mine, 1037 00:53:24,160 --> 00:53:27,600 Speaker 2: London Breed, who became the mayor of San Francisco. Black Girl. 1038 00:53:27,880 --> 00:53:31,160 Speaker 2: She's the only black female mayor that has ever been 1039 00:53:31,360 --> 00:53:33,759 Speaker 2: in the city of San Francisco, and it was just 1040 00:53:33,840 --> 00:53:36,440 Speaker 2: her journey and all the stuff she had to go 1041 00:53:36,480 --> 00:53:40,719 Speaker 2: through was very interesting to me as a story. She's 1042 00:53:40,760 --> 00:53:43,160 Speaker 2: a girl from the hood, all the things, and here 1043 00:53:43,200 --> 00:53:45,640 Speaker 2: she is the mayor of one of the richest cities 1044 00:53:45,920 --> 00:53:48,920 Speaker 2: in the country. Right. So I had this show idea, 1045 00:53:49,520 --> 00:53:52,239 Speaker 2: and every time I pitched it to people, they were like, no, 1046 00:53:52,239 --> 00:53:54,359 Speaker 2: I don't want to do anything political blah blah blah 1047 00:53:54,360 --> 00:53:57,480 Speaker 2: blah blah blah blah. So I put it aside, got 1048 00:53:57,480 --> 00:54:01,200 Speaker 2: busy directing, acting and other stuff. But the strike happened 1049 00:54:01,280 --> 00:54:04,040 Speaker 2: in twenty twenty three, the writer strike and a brutal strike. 1050 00:54:04,400 --> 00:54:06,719 Speaker 2: It was brutal, and I was like, so all my 1051 00:54:06,800 --> 00:54:09,160 Speaker 2: jobs went away. Had jobs lined up through the year, 1052 00:54:09,320 --> 00:54:11,760 Speaker 2: and they all went away. And so I was like, Okay, 1053 00:54:12,840 --> 00:54:16,360 Speaker 2: I'm going to focus back on my dream, which is 1054 00:54:16,400 --> 00:54:19,360 Speaker 2: to have my own series. And so I picked the 1055 00:54:19,480 --> 00:54:23,560 Speaker 2: show back up and I called my writing partner who 1056 00:54:23,640 --> 00:54:26,719 Speaker 2: was working on the show for me with me, and 1057 00:54:26,880 --> 00:54:31,719 Speaker 2: her name is Nia Palmer, great writer, and I was like, look, 1058 00:54:31,760 --> 00:54:33,840 Speaker 2: I know we're in the strike, but would you be 1059 00:54:33,920 --> 00:54:37,200 Speaker 2: willing to just write a fifteen minute proof of concept 1060 00:54:37,280 --> 00:54:39,759 Speaker 2: so we can shoot a proof of concept of this 1061 00:54:39,840 --> 00:54:42,479 Speaker 2: show so when the strike is over we can send 1062 00:54:42,520 --> 00:54:45,480 Speaker 2: it out and pitch it. And she was like, hell, yeah, 1063 00:54:45,600 --> 00:54:48,480 Speaker 2: let's do it. So because I was nervous because a 1064 00:54:48,480 --> 00:54:51,480 Speaker 2: lot of writers just wasn't to they were not and 1065 00:54:51,520 --> 00:54:53,839 Speaker 2: I was like, we'll just do it, you know, I'll 1066 00:54:53,840 --> 00:54:56,440 Speaker 2: call on friends, call the favors, and we'll shoot it, 1067 00:54:57,040 --> 00:54:59,880 Speaker 2: so we did. I did that because it was in 1068 00:54:59,880 --> 00:55:03,719 Speaker 2: the political space I wanted to add I wanted to 1069 00:55:03,760 --> 00:55:07,200 Speaker 2: have a consulting producer, just to add some cachet for 1070 00:55:07,280 --> 00:55:09,439 Speaker 2: when I go out to pitch it. So I met 1071 00:55:09,480 --> 00:55:13,400 Speaker 2: with Keisha Lance Bottoms, who was our mayor in Atlanta 1072 00:55:13,680 --> 00:55:16,759 Speaker 2: some years ago, and we've always had a good relationship. 1073 00:55:16,760 --> 00:55:17,759 Speaker 2: So I called her and I was like, I have 1074 00:55:17,800 --> 00:55:19,480 Speaker 2: an idea. I want to share it run by you. 1075 00:55:20,120 --> 00:55:22,680 Speaker 2: And I met with her and when I pitched her 1076 00:55:22,680 --> 00:55:25,680 Speaker 2: the idea, she loved it and she was like, absolutely, 1077 00:55:25,760 --> 00:55:27,520 Speaker 2: I will join you on this journey. So now I 1078 00:55:27,560 --> 00:55:30,680 Speaker 2: got Keisha Lance Bottoms as a producer with me. I 1079 00:55:30,719 --> 00:55:34,120 Speaker 2: got the script, I got my producing team all together 1080 00:55:34,200 --> 00:55:37,400 Speaker 2: in Atlanta. Oh, and I had to find somebody to 1081 00:55:37,440 --> 00:55:42,080 Speaker 2: fund it because it's still so Keisha was like, I 1082 00:55:42,120 --> 00:55:44,719 Speaker 2: know an investor that would invest in this because he 1083 00:55:44,880 --> 00:55:47,600 Speaker 2: supports black women. Oh okay, this is one of the 1084 00:55:47,640 --> 00:55:50,360 Speaker 2: reasons why I love living in Atlanta. I cannot lie. 1085 00:55:50,440 --> 00:55:54,280 Speaker 2: I love it. The support there and that black pride 1086 00:55:54,560 --> 00:55:58,120 Speaker 2: and stuff there is amazing. So he was like, yep, 1087 00:55:58,160 --> 00:56:00,680 Speaker 2: I got it. I'll cover it. So shot this proof 1088 00:56:00,680 --> 00:56:04,759 Speaker 2: of concept in twenty twenty three at the end of 1089 00:56:04,800 --> 00:56:07,120 Speaker 2: the year at the beginning of the next year. Now 1090 00:56:07,200 --> 00:56:09,960 Speaker 2: the strike is over. I got it edited when my 1091 00:56:10,040 --> 00:56:14,160 Speaker 2: guy Victor editor back in Atlanta. He edited. He got 1092 00:56:14,200 --> 00:56:16,680 Speaker 2: it just like I wanted it. I was like perfect 1093 00:56:17,080 --> 00:56:19,120 Speaker 2: because I was like, I needed to look like it 1094 00:56:19,160 --> 00:56:21,799 Speaker 2: can air on TV. I needed to look like that, 1095 00:56:22,360 --> 00:56:25,440 Speaker 2: and it did. So the music was great, everything was great. Okay, 1096 00:56:25,480 --> 00:56:27,400 Speaker 2: it was like, so, let's put it out into the 1097 00:56:27,440 --> 00:56:31,239 Speaker 2: world and see what happens. So my agent sent it out. 1098 00:56:31,480 --> 00:56:35,319 Speaker 2: We got calls left and right of people wanting to 1099 00:56:35,360 --> 00:56:39,400 Speaker 2: meet with us about it. So we started setting up meetings. 1100 00:56:39,440 --> 00:56:43,480 Speaker 2: Every meeting we had, they were pitching us why they 1101 00:56:43,520 --> 00:56:46,560 Speaker 2: want our show. We did not have to pitch anything. 1102 00:56:47,719 --> 00:56:51,040 Speaker 2: And the perfect fit for me was Tyler Perry. 1103 00:56:51,480 --> 00:56:53,400 Speaker 1: Of course I was wanting it. 1104 00:56:53,280 --> 00:56:59,480 Speaker 2: Okay, Yeah, he was the perfect person. Yeah, that's what 1105 00:56:59,520 --> 00:57:04,239 Speaker 2: I'm saying. For several reasons, he was the one, and 1106 00:57:04,400 --> 00:57:10,520 Speaker 2: working with him has been amazing, like incredibly collaborative. So yeah, 1107 00:57:10,560 --> 00:57:13,120 Speaker 2: so he got it. He got us right away. He 1108 00:57:13,239 --> 00:57:16,640 Speaker 2: was like the wind beneath our wings. And he had 1109 00:57:16,680 --> 00:57:19,400 Speaker 2: a deal at Netflix already in place. 1110 00:57:19,520 --> 00:57:20,479 Speaker 1: What's the name of it again? 1111 00:57:20,680 --> 00:57:23,520 Speaker 2: So the show is she the People, She the People, 1112 00:57:23,520 --> 00:57:28,200 Speaker 2: She the People. It will It's starring me, created by me, 1113 00:57:28,760 --> 00:57:33,200 Speaker 2: Linda's it are in May, So May launching May on Netflix. 1114 00:57:33,360 --> 00:57:34,400 Speaker 2: Please look out for it. 1115 00:57:34,480 --> 00:57:37,120 Speaker 1: She the People, She the People, and I will be 1116 00:57:37,200 --> 00:57:40,720 Speaker 1: watching it. I'm really excited and very happy. That was 1117 00:57:40,760 --> 00:57:44,120 Speaker 1: the most beautiful story. Thank you, beautiful ending, So She 1118 00:57:44,280 --> 00:57:46,480 Speaker 1: the People. Watch it on Netflix now, and you keep 1119 00:57:46,560 --> 00:57:50,160 Speaker 1: up with Terry J. Vaughn on all social media platforms. Yep, 1120 00:57:50,360 --> 00:57:52,640 Speaker 1: don't forget the Jay, don't forget the JA, don't forget 1121 00:57:52,640 --> 00:57:53,439 Speaker 1: the Jay. Peace out. 1122 00:57:53,680 --> 00:57:55,880 Speaker 2: Thank you, Thanks honey. 1123 00:58:00,720 --> 00:58:04,000 Speaker 1: For more Eating while Broke from iHeartRadio and The Black Effect. 1124 00:58:04,120 --> 00:58:07,680 Speaker 1: Visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen 1125 00:58:07,720 --> 00:58:12,360 Speaker 1: to your favorite shows.