1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:03,760 Speaker 1: You and Kobe played basketball at the same place. Yeah, 2 00:00:04,519 --> 00:00:08,680 Speaker 1: Marine represents I was. I definitely Paul I played Kobe. 3 00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:10,720 Speaker 1: Kobe scored more points in its freshman year at that 4 00:00:10,720 --> 00:00:13,000 Speaker 1: I courted my whole season. I need my whole career. 5 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:16,040 Speaker 1: But I was a captain and a starter in All league. 6 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:31,560 Speaker 1: And he's still crushed all my numbers. Every champion and 7 00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:35,199 Speaker 1: carry champions to be a champion of Champion and carry Champion, 8 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:38,400 Speaker 1: and carry champion the champion and carry Champion and carry 9 00:00:38,479 --> 00:00:41,160 Speaker 1: champion rates rateis and sports and enter tam making naked 10 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:44,760 Speaker 1: weird in the world were vulnerable considered. We come and 11 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:48,000 Speaker 1: remove the vail from entertainment elite. It's a difference between 12 00:00:48,040 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 1: with it's real and with the public season. So here's 13 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:53,640 Speaker 1: your favorite celebrities behind the scenes. It's refreshing up than 14 00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:56,720 Speaker 1: the whole story specific life. Oh to renivents, to shake 15 00:00:56,800 --> 00:00:59,720 Speaker 1: the person that you henry, gotta champion and carry champion. 16 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:02,440 Speaker 1: They it's the greatest of sports. And then the taming 17 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:06,880 Speaker 1: connect your Chappion they carry Chappion is champion, the Champion. 18 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:11,120 Speaker 1: They carry Chappion. Chappion, they carry Chappi and they carry 19 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:16,320 Speaker 1: Chappi And then the timing connect warm welcome back. I'm 20 00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:19,360 Speaker 1: glad you're here. I'm glad you're listening. You know it's 21 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:21,800 Speaker 1: interesting My I want to say a side note. First 22 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:23,880 Speaker 1: of all, I appreciate you all who's been listening since 23 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:27,680 Speaker 1: the beginning and understanding that doing any kind of shows 24 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:30,720 Speaker 1: or work in progress. But I have a makeup artist 25 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:34,440 Speaker 1: who kind of you know. Loki salted me on the 26 00:01:34,440 --> 00:01:37,039 Speaker 1: show saying, I really liked the one with Jamal because 27 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 1: it was really conversational, and I thought to myself, that 28 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:43,360 Speaker 1: sounds like somebody who doesn't know how to do any 29 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:45,399 Speaker 1: type of production, so I should give her a break. 30 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:48,720 Speaker 1: But it really irritates me when y'all don't know how 31 00:01:48,760 --> 00:01:51,960 Speaker 1: hard it is to put together this type of work. 32 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:55,920 Speaker 1: We do our best, Me and my Booskie Triple do 33 00:01:56,040 --> 00:02:00,960 Speaker 1: our best here at the Black Effect, and it may 34 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:02,600 Speaker 1: not always turn out the way we want it. But 35 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:05,840 Speaker 1: it's all a work in progress, as are you. Right 36 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:08,400 Speaker 1: If you're listening right now, you ain't got your ship together. 37 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:11,120 Speaker 1: We are all a work in progress, as is this show, 38 00:02:11,639 --> 00:02:14,320 Speaker 1: as is us getting to the level of where we 39 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:20,320 Speaker 1: want to be. Everything takes time. Oprah wasn't great overnight. 40 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:23,880 Speaker 1: I use that because open my home girl. But that 41 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:28,639 Speaker 1: with that being said, everything does take time. Time is 42 00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:32,400 Speaker 1: where the healing begins. Time is where you have perspective. 43 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:36,080 Speaker 1: Time really is a beautiful thing. That's why we shouldn't 44 00:02:36,120 --> 00:02:40,360 Speaker 1: waste it. That leads me to my guest today, Mike Jackson. 45 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:45,920 Speaker 1: Mike Jackson is an entrepreneur. He is a producer. He's 46 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:48,880 Speaker 1: a film and television studio executive. And you may know 47 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:53,200 Speaker 1: him more mainstream for being John Legend's partner at Get 48 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 1: Lifted Films. They're producing and putting out some great content 49 00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:00,799 Speaker 1: and kudos to Mike Jackson. I met him over what 50 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:06,480 Speaker 1: we call the socials, the Instagram, and what I liked 51 00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:07,920 Speaker 1: about him is that I like the word that he 52 00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:09,960 Speaker 1: was putting out there. I didn't. You don't know too 53 00:03:09,960 --> 00:03:11,920 Speaker 1: many people who are behind the scenes. It's rare that 54 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:13,800 Speaker 1: you know the folks who are behind the scenes. You 55 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:16,240 Speaker 1: know some of the big names in Hollywood. You know 56 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:20,200 Speaker 1: the folks who do the the blockbuster films. But it's 57 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:22,400 Speaker 1: rare that you get to meet a black man behind 58 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:25,640 Speaker 1: the scenes that's putting out excellent, award winning content, and 59 00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:28,360 Speaker 1: that is what he does. He grew up in Philly, 60 00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:30,840 Speaker 1: he says, some people would argue because he grew up 61 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:33,960 Speaker 1: in a very affluent neighborhood, a neighborhood in which he 62 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:37,120 Speaker 1: was just the one black kid hanging out with a 63 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:43,440 Speaker 1: bunch of white kids. Ah, my favorite topic, race relations. 64 00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 1: Mike was very clear that he knew he was different 65 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:51,520 Speaker 1: from a lot of other black kids just because of 66 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:53,760 Speaker 1: how he grew up, the privileges in which he had, 67 00:03:54,320 --> 00:03:57,000 Speaker 1: not a bad thing. I'm proud of his parents for 68 00:03:57,040 --> 00:04:00,720 Speaker 1: giving him those privileges. But you have to talk about 69 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:05,600 Speaker 1: being a black kid with privileges in a white neighborhood. Um, 70 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:09,120 Speaker 1: if you are not careful as a parent, you often 71 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 1: forget to remind your child that you're black. If you're 72 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 1: not careful as a parent, your child may think life 73 00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:18,279 Speaker 1: will be easy for them because of how they have 74 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:23,200 Speaker 1: grown up. And kudos to Mike's folks. That did not happen. 75 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:27,279 Speaker 1: He knew he was black. In his own words, I 76 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:30,040 Speaker 1: am a black man. I am defined by my blackness, 77 00:04:30,040 --> 00:04:32,159 Speaker 1: but it does not control me. It made me think 78 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:35,000 Speaker 1: of how when I was a kid, I grew up 79 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:37,880 Speaker 1: in the hood, right, and by hood, I'm not saying 80 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:40,520 Speaker 1: he was shooting every day, but it wasn't a great neighborhood, 81 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:44,200 Speaker 1: and I got bussed to school with white people. My 82 00:04:44,279 --> 00:04:46,000 Speaker 1: mom didn't want me to go to the local schools 83 00:04:46,040 --> 00:04:47,960 Speaker 1: because she thought I was going to get the best education. 84 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:52,680 Speaker 1: She was correct, um, But I grew up with a 85 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:55,440 Speaker 1: lot of white people also. But when I came home 86 00:04:55,920 --> 00:04:58,919 Speaker 1: at night, or when I came home from school, I 87 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:04,679 Speaker 1: was around us, my people, my blacks. So I dipped 88 00:05:04,720 --> 00:05:07,000 Speaker 1: in and I dipped out? Did been I dip out? 89 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:11,080 Speaker 1: I had been at apout, And in that way, I 90 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:14,400 Speaker 1: think that has allowed me to see a lot from 91 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:18,760 Speaker 1: both sides and gives me a perspective that I appreciate. 92 00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:26,960 Speaker 1: Mike is a rare breed for me, and this particular 93 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:32,479 Speaker 1: interview is rare for me as well. Very rarely do 94 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:35,680 Speaker 1: I hear a black man talking about growing up in 95 00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:39,680 Speaker 1: an all white neighborhood but still being very connected to 96 00:05:39,960 --> 00:05:43,200 Speaker 1: his heritage. Very rarely do I hear a black man 97 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:48,800 Speaker 1: speak unapologetically about being married to a white woman, knowing 98 00:05:48,920 --> 00:05:56,360 Speaker 1: that in today's America period, he would be considered something. 99 00:05:56,440 --> 00:05:57,760 Speaker 1: I don't even want to. I don't even say he's 100 00:05:57,760 --> 00:06:00,480 Speaker 1: considered anything people black women, specifically, cause I'm gonna I 101 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:02,720 Speaker 1: gonna talk from a black woman's perspective, we would feel 102 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:05,200 Speaker 1: some type of way. Look at this handsome, well to 103 00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:07,760 Speaker 1: do black man. He married to a white woman. Now, 104 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 1: mind you, he opened up the door to this conversation, 105 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:13,360 Speaker 1: which is why I love him. He brought it up. 106 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:16,120 Speaker 1: He said he never thought in a million years he'd 107 00:06:16,120 --> 00:06:17,719 Speaker 1: be married to a white woman. But it is what 108 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:21,320 Speaker 1: it is. He loves her. They have a black son, 109 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:24,719 Speaker 1: because you know, if you mix, that's it, you're black. 110 00:06:25,640 --> 00:06:28,680 Speaker 1: You mix a girl makes boy you black. And he 111 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:32,640 Speaker 1: talked about it in a way that wasn't saying he 112 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:34,720 Speaker 1: didn't want to be with a black woman. He just said, 113 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:37,200 Speaker 1: I fell in love with this person. This is who 114 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:41,680 Speaker 1: I love. He shared it in such a way that 115 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:45,880 Speaker 1: I understood who he was. And I also know that 116 00:06:45,920 --> 00:06:48,279 Speaker 1: he's very proud to be black, which is why he 117 00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:52,400 Speaker 1: puts out amazing black content telling our stories, telling the 118 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:55,520 Speaker 1: stories of the culture. But he also knows that there 119 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:58,360 Speaker 1: are people on the outside looking and say, I'm looking 120 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:01,160 Speaker 1: at that black man married to a white woman. Well, listen, 121 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:02,880 Speaker 1: I'm not going to explain who I love, but I 122 00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:05,640 Speaker 1: am going to tell you that I know who I am, 123 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 1: and I know what is happening, and I know what 124 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:11,800 Speaker 1: you see, but there is more then, but there is 125 00:07:11,840 --> 00:07:14,800 Speaker 1: more to it than what you expect. There's more there, 126 00:07:17,240 --> 00:07:21,840 Speaker 1: And I kind of envy him because I've been having 127 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:25,280 Speaker 1: this discussion lately about inter racial dating. Talked about it 128 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:27,800 Speaker 1: last week with Jamal. Jamal says she didn't think I 129 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 1: could be with a white man for different reasons. Her 130 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:34,200 Speaker 1: reasons aren't mine. I am well aware of the fact 131 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:39,760 Speaker 1: that I would feel some sort of way hitting the 132 00:07:39,760 --> 00:07:42,280 Speaker 1: streets with the white man on my arm. It's so 133 00:07:42,320 --> 00:07:45,840 Speaker 1: awful to say out loud, but there is this there 134 00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:48,120 Speaker 1: is this idea that I only date whites, and that's 135 00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:50,840 Speaker 1: just not true. But I will tell you. I will 136 00:07:50,880 --> 00:07:55,200 Speaker 1: tell you this I have and this is a humble, 137 00:07:55,240 --> 00:07:57,760 Speaker 1: not so humble brag. I have been asked out by 138 00:07:57,840 --> 00:08:06,640 Speaker 1: some heavy hitters and a white community and I'm like, okay, you, okay, 139 00:08:06,880 --> 00:08:11,720 Speaker 1: you are a little car Okay, look carmel um and 140 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 1: I and I would be lying if I didn't tell you. 141 00:08:13,120 --> 00:08:16,240 Speaker 1: I was flattered, and I would also be lying if 142 00:08:16,320 --> 00:08:18,400 Speaker 1: I didn't tell you that. In my mind, I was like, 143 00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:20,200 Speaker 1: I gotta do this for the culture, you know what 144 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:23,360 Speaker 1: I mean, Just like let me do this for the culture. However, 145 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:29,160 Speaker 1: the idea of explaining my blackness to someone who isn't 146 00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 1: familiar with it is completely uncomfortable to me, especially in 147 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:38,680 Speaker 1: today's times. This podcast, when you hear it, believe it 148 00:08:38,760 --> 00:08:41,160 Speaker 1: or not, there's a hard transition when you hear it. 149 00:08:41,520 --> 00:08:46,880 Speaker 1: Over the weekend, Kobe Bryant was inducted into the Basketball 150 00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:49,720 Speaker 1: Hall of Fame. Michael Jordan on hand, Vanessa Brian on hand, 151 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:54,079 Speaker 1: first ballot, Hall of Famer, no questions asked. Kobe has 152 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:57,719 Speaker 1: a crazy connection with like Jackson, And maybe that's why 153 00:08:57,840 --> 00:08:59,520 Speaker 1: I love Mike Jackson if I'm being honest with you, 154 00:08:59,520 --> 00:09:02,480 Speaker 1: because y'all know how much I love Kobe. Um, but 155 00:09:02,679 --> 00:09:08,000 Speaker 1: listen to the podcast and appreciate this man, this entrepreneur, 156 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:12,400 Speaker 1: for who he is. But look just on GP, Kobe 157 00:09:12,520 --> 00:09:15,760 Speaker 1: is homie. I mean, at least he thinks he was 158 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:24,400 Speaker 1: at one point. Sit back, relax, enjoy naked. You wanna 159 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:27,680 Speaker 1: hear a funny Kobe story that I'll go. He was 160 00:09:27,720 --> 00:09:29,959 Speaker 1: in high school. We would come back and scrimmage the 161 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:34,800 Speaker 1: varsity and it was like a Saturday after a Friday night, 162 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:37,960 Speaker 1: and I'm like, like you and jamale I was had 163 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:40,559 Speaker 1: a couple of drinks, like before, I wasn't feeling my best. 164 00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:43,040 Speaker 1: Kobe comes up and tries to dunk the ball him 165 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:46,360 Speaker 1: and I grab him and I'm like, yo, kid, like 166 00:09:46,440 --> 00:09:49,760 Speaker 1: perspect your elders. Be easy. He's like yeah, yeah, yeah, 167 00:09:50,040 --> 00:09:52,840 Speaker 1: next play down one eight dunks on me, just reverse 168 00:09:53,120 --> 00:09:55,640 Speaker 1: nasty dunk. I'm like all right. So afterward, I go 169 00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:56,839 Speaker 1: up to him and I'm like, you know, a kid, 170 00:09:56,840 --> 00:09:59,120 Speaker 1: you're he's probably a sophomore at this point. I'm like, 171 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:02,480 Speaker 1: you know, kid, you're really good. If you stick with it, 172 00:10:02,760 --> 00:10:05,439 Speaker 1: you might get a scholarship to Temple University or Villanova. 173 00:10:05,880 --> 00:10:13,120 Speaker 1: Work hard. And he was like, yeah, you know what, 174 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:15,000 Speaker 1: I'm done with you. I'm sorry. I take back everything 175 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:19,000 Speaker 1: I said about your communicating skills. I guess it is over, 176 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:24,079 Speaker 1: Sir Cary. Thank you. I had so much fun. Mike 177 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:28,160 Speaker 1: Jackson is an accomplished producer. By definition, he is successful, 178 00:10:28,760 --> 00:10:32,000 Speaker 1: but more importantly, at least for me, he has an 179 00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:36,560 Speaker 1: incredible perspective as a man and and please men, forgive me. 180 00:10:36,640 --> 00:10:41,119 Speaker 1: But he's very aware of his privilege and his blackness. 181 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:45,000 Speaker 1: So I claimed Philly. But if you ask like Kevin 182 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:48,160 Speaker 1: Hart or someone who's like from Philly. I'm from Lawer, Marian, 183 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:50,080 Speaker 1: where Kobe is from. But I grew up with this 184 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:54,320 Speaker 1: really kind of white affluent suburb called the main Line, 185 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:58,840 Speaker 1: and I always knew I was like what the black 186 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:00,720 Speaker 1: kid or one of like two three of us. But 187 00:11:01,280 --> 00:11:03,959 Speaker 1: because that was my home life, my parents always made 188 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:06,560 Speaker 1: me aware of what I am and who I am 189 00:11:06,600 --> 00:11:09,240 Speaker 1: and who gave me life, who gave them life, just 190 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:14,400 Speaker 1: my heritage, but it still wasn't like um, I was 191 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:16,680 Speaker 1: proud of it, but I never like I thought much 192 00:11:16,679 --> 00:11:20,319 Speaker 1: about it outside of those conversations because I always felt 193 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:24,480 Speaker 1: accepted by my white peers and my black peers. But 194 00:11:24,559 --> 00:11:28,120 Speaker 1: then I was playing dunk ball when I was like 195 00:11:28,280 --> 00:11:30,880 Speaker 1: twelve with three of my white friends and I was 196 00:11:30,960 --> 00:11:34,600 Speaker 1: given it to him, and I remember the last play 197 00:11:34,640 --> 00:11:39,240 Speaker 1: I went and dunked on this kid, David and to 198 00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:44,800 Speaker 1: win the game, and he called me nigger, like yelled 199 00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:47,760 Speaker 1: at like the top of his lungs out of frustration. 200 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:50,760 Speaker 1: And I was at defining moment in my life because 201 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:53,960 Speaker 1: everything my parents told me, and that moment was crystallized. 202 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:59,000 Speaker 1: You know, never get too comfortable in your environment, especially 203 00:11:59,040 --> 00:12:01,560 Speaker 1: as a black man and a man's world, because no 204 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:03,679 Speaker 1: matter how they treat you, there's still a little part 205 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:07,839 Speaker 1: of them that's gonna see you as this black boy. 206 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:10,800 Speaker 1: And that was the first time in my life when I, 207 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:13,000 Speaker 1: like I said, I was around twelve years old where 208 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:16,680 Speaker 1: I realized, like, oh shit, like I'm different. Although the 209 00:12:16,760 --> 00:12:19,240 Speaker 1: same these kids I grow up the same, at the 210 00:12:19,240 --> 00:12:23,800 Speaker 1: same access at the same the same toys, the same education, 211 00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:27,400 Speaker 1: but I'm different. And that was the first time that 212 00:12:27,440 --> 00:12:30,040 Speaker 1: really struck me. The twelve year old version of me 213 00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:33,320 Speaker 1: was still really confused by my blackness although I was 214 00:12:33,880 --> 00:12:37,120 Speaker 1: although I was living in it. The twentysomething year older 215 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:42,320 Speaker 1: me understood it a lot more and understood, like, there's 216 00:12:42,360 --> 00:12:45,040 Speaker 1: a power in my blackness, you know what I'm saying, 217 00:12:45,040 --> 00:12:47,640 Speaker 1: And like these folks that I'm around, that I've grown 218 00:12:47,720 --> 00:12:49,440 Speaker 1: up with that tell me they're my best friends and 219 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:51,319 Speaker 1: love me, and some of them to this day are 220 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:54,760 Speaker 1: my best friends and they do love me. But there's 221 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:57,600 Speaker 1: so many people that look like them that don't want 222 00:12:57,600 --> 00:13:01,079 Speaker 1: to see us win or they look like them and 223 00:13:01,120 --> 00:13:03,960 Speaker 1: they don't think we know how to win. And I 224 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:06,880 Speaker 1: just knew it. I just knew it intuitively because David 225 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:10,280 Speaker 1: I could say his last name, called me the N word. 226 00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:13,000 Speaker 1: And I carried that with me and then my my 227 00:13:13,120 --> 00:13:15,600 Speaker 1: godmother set me free, and she told me how to, 228 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:18,440 Speaker 1: you know, embrace my my blackness and just own it. 229 00:13:18,960 --> 00:13:21,080 Speaker 1: And that's informed me every day in my life since 230 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:23,480 Speaker 1: I left Philly. To be proud of my blackness, to 231 00:13:23,520 --> 00:13:26,280 Speaker 1: be proud of who I am. Let it define me, 232 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:31,520 Speaker 1: but don't let it control me. Meaning like I mean, 233 00:13:31,559 --> 00:13:33,920 Speaker 1: I'm an interracial relationship. I never thought I would have 234 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:36,400 Speaker 1: a white blond wife, but that's why I fell in 235 00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:40,559 Speaker 1: love with And that doesn't diminish my blackness. That doesn't 236 00:13:40,559 --> 00:13:42,880 Speaker 1: diminish my grind. You hurt the man, he says, it 237 00:13:42,960 --> 00:13:46,320 Speaker 1: does not diminish his blackness. Uh. Mike goes on to 238 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:49,679 Speaker 1: explain what it means to be married to a white woman, 239 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:52,640 Speaker 1: and more specifically, what it means to have children with 240 00:13:52,679 --> 00:13:56,959 Speaker 1: a white woman, and I respect his unapologetic approach. I 241 00:13:56,960 --> 00:13:59,040 Speaker 1: always thought I was gonna have a woman of color 242 00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:01,640 Speaker 1: as my my life partner and my wife and mother 243 00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:07,280 Speaker 1: and my children. But it's hard out here, you know 244 00:14:07,320 --> 00:14:09,400 Speaker 1: what I'm saying, Like, it's hard to find that person, 245 00:14:10,240 --> 00:14:15,960 Speaker 1: and I just happened to find her in this embodiment 246 00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:20,760 Speaker 1: of a white blonde girl. And the night I met her, 247 00:14:21,640 --> 00:14:25,000 Speaker 1: I saw her from across the room and knew she 248 00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:27,320 Speaker 1: wasn't my type just because of the color of her 249 00:14:27,360 --> 00:14:32,760 Speaker 1: skin and left and my mother, my angel rest in Peace, 250 00:14:33,040 --> 00:14:38,000 Speaker 1: was like you big dummy, and literally like, will this 251 00:14:38,040 --> 00:14:41,800 Speaker 1: woman to my home that same night? And all of 252 00:14:41,800 --> 00:14:44,360 Speaker 1: the sudden as she walked through my front door, and 253 00:14:44,440 --> 00:14:47,760 Speaker 1: an hour later, I was like, you know, I'm done. 254 00:14:47,800 --> 00:14:50,280 Speaker 1: You're my wife, you're the mother of my children. Call 255 00:14:50,320 --> 00:14:52,760 Speaker 1: your people, call you are to call, tell them it's 256 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:55,200 Speaker 1: a rat. And six weeks later we moved to London 257 00:14:55,240 --> 00:14:58,280 Speaker 1: to go make Jingle Jangle. I think about my son 258 00:14:59,160 --> 00:15:01,040 Speaker 1: and you know, he's half black, half wife. He's a 259 00:15:01,040 --> 00:15:03,720 Speaker 1: black boy, because that's how the world's gonna treat him. 260 00:15:03,760 --> 00:15:05,800 Speaker 1: But it's like what we teach him in the house, 261 00:15:06,040 --> 00:15:07,640 Speaker 1: and we're gonna teach him to love all of who 262 00:15:07,720 --> 00:15:09,880 Speaker 1: he is, his white side, his black side, My wife's 263 00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:13,280 Speaker 1: are so Canadian. He's gonna know about Canada. He's gonna 264 00:15:13,280 --> 00:15:15,480 Speaker 1: know about like all of the things that make us 265 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:18,600 Speaker 1: who we are as individuals, and he's gonna love all 266 00:15:18,680 --> 00:15:21,400 Speaker 1: of it. But when he walks out the door, he's 267 00:15:21,440 --> 00:15:23,480 Speaker 1: still gonna know that they see him as a black boy, 268 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:25,760 Speaker 1: and he's gonna know what that means as well. And 269 00:15:25,920 --> 00:15:28,760 Speaker 1: you know, I think to the content that we're making 270 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:31,400 Speaker 1: and the relationships that we've built, me and my wife 271 00:15:31,400 --> 00:15:33,040 Speaker 1: and the people in our life, which is a corner 272 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:36,280 Speaker 1: copy of all kinds of people. I think that Jones, 273 00:15:36,360 --> 00:15:40,680 Speaker 1: my son, will be empowered by his blackness as I am. 274 00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:43,760 Speaker 1: And and and you know, I don't know when he 275 00:15:43,800 --> 00:15:45,240 Speaker 1: grows up if it's still gonna have to be like 276 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:48,920 Speaker 1: armor or not. But um, I know that he's gonna 277 00:15:48,920 --> 00:15:52,400 Speaker 1: be a he's gonna be a proud black man. We'll 278 00:15:52,400 --> 00:15:56,640 Speaker 1: have more Mike Jackson right after this break. Every champion 279 00:15:56,680 --> 00:15:58,760 Speaker 1: and care Every champion is to be a champion out 280 00:15:58,760 --> 00:16:02,080 Speaker 1: of Champion and Carvery, that being they carry Chapion Champion 281 00:16:02,120 --> 00:16:05,440 Speaker 1: and carry Chapion and carry Chepi Sports and and the 282 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:13,000 Speaker 1: team making Naked work Very Champion and Carrie Champions to 283 00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:18,240 Speaker 1: be champion, the Champion they carry Chappion, Chapion, they carry Chappion, 284 00:16:18,280 --> 00:16:22,800 Speaker 1: Andy carry Chappi sorts and the team making Naked. Hey, everybody, 285 00:16:22,880 --> 00:16:26,680 Speaker 1: welcome back to Naked Mike Jackson continued. Starts right now 286 00:16:27,960 --> 00:16:31,960 Speaker 1: professionally and we move on from personally Mike Jackson has 287 00:16:32,080 --> 00:16:35,200 Speaker 1: really done it all. It's extremely impressive. He worked on 288 00:16:35,360 --> 00:16:38,080 Speaker 1: La La Land. In fact, he was the executive producer 289 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:42,240 Speaker 1: of a film that won six Oscars. Who can say that? 290 00:16:42,920 --> 00:16:46,360 Speaker 1: And then Mike, with this very eclectic resume, was the 291 00:16:46,440 --> 00:16:49,960 Speaker 1: producer on Jingle Jango. That one an nub A CP 292 00:16:50,080 --> 00:16:55,240 Speaker 1: Image Award for Outstanding Picture. Mike has a very impressive resume, 293 00:16:55,800 --> 00:16:58,320 Speaker 1: but that's directly related to his hustle and how he 294 00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:01,920 Speaker 1: grew up. I've always felt like I had a superpower, 295 00:17:02,360 --> 00:17:04,359 Speaker 1: you know what I mean, Like I don't know exactly 296 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:09,280 Speaker 1: and growing up how manifested itself. But I always felt 297 00:17:09,359 --> 00:17:13,439 Speaker 1: like special, not like I deserve to be treated differently, 298 00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:15,159 Speaker 1: but I always felt like there was something inside of 299 00:17:15,280 --> 00:17:19,560 Speaker 1: me that was built to win. Um. I always felt 300 00:17:19,560 --> 00:17:22,119 Speaker 1: like if I do the work and I put myself 301 00:17:22,160 --> 00:17:26,560 Speaker 1: in a position to thrive, that's what's going to happen. 302 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 1: You know. I look at my friends back home, we 303 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:31,280 Speaker 1: have wonderful lives and make good livings and have like 304 00:17:31,680 --> 00:17:34,720 Speaker 1: two point five kids and doing the thing, and I'm like, 305 00:17:34,880 --> 00:17:37,359 Speaker 1: that's not that's that's not it from me. Like I 306 00:17:37,520 --> 00:17:40,680 Speaker 1: want those things, but I also want this other thing 307 00:17:41,359 --> 00:17:44,520 Speaker 1: that like I want the dream to become a reality, 308 00:17:44,560 --> 00:17:47,480 Speaker 1: and that's what it's become. Have you ever wondered what 309 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:52,920 Speaker 1: separates the ordinary from extraordinary? What makes you successful versus 310 00:17:53,640 --> 00:17:56,000 Speaker 1: still grinding and hustling and trying to figure it out? 311 00:17:56,920 --> 00:18:01,760 Speaker 1: There is one thing I believe that really changes someone's trajectory. 312 00:18:02,200 --> 00:18:04,960 Speaker 1: No one handing me anything, right, And the perception is 313 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:07,640 Speaker 1: when your partner is John Legend, whose world ran down 314 00:18:07,720 --> 00:18:11,800 Speaker 1: and stupor famous, and people think like they're just handing 315 00:18:11,840 --> 00:18:14,600 Speaker 1: out movie deals and TV deals and the ship is 316 00:18:14,640 --> 00:18:17,560 Speaker 1: easy because John just standing next to you, and that's 317 00:18:17,600 --> 00:18:20,920 Speaker 1: just not the case. And I think you know for 318 00:18:21,040 --> 00:18:24,119 Speaker 1: me and how I've navigated it again real talk, like 319 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:29,600 Speaker 1: growing up in this uber white affluent area, I learned 320 00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:33,160 Speaker 1: how to speak to those folks in a really personal way. 321 00:18:33,960 --> 00:18:38,520 Speaker 1: And a handful of those people are living in l 322 00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:43,240 Speaker 1: A in the movie but entertainment business, and some of 323 00:18:43,320 --> 00:18:45,880 Speaker 1: them are working with us as agents. So like I've 324 00:18:45,920 --> 00:18:49,560 Speaker 1: been able to like capitalize in a significant way on 325 00:18:50,320 --> 00:18:53,600 Speaker 1: on this place where I was from, in a tangible way, 326 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:56,040 Speaker 1: like I said, by working with these people, but also 327 00:18:56,200 --> 00:19:00,320 Speaker 1: an altruistic way of just like understanding them. Blow believe 328 00:19:00,440 --> 00:19:02,840 Speaker 1: people like them. And I think that's one of the 329 00:19:02,880 --> 00:19:05,840 Speaker 1: superpowers right that I had, was the ability to communicate 330 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:07,720 Speaker 1: with people that don't look like me, but I know 331 00:19:07,800 --> 00:19:11,000 Speaker 1: I can think the same way they're thinking about how 332 00:19:11,080 --> 00:19:14,720 Speaker 1: to execute and deliver on a project or whatever that 333 00:19:14,840 --> 00:19:17,000 Speaker 1: task is in hand. And I think that's probably one 334 00:19:17,040 --> 00:19:18,920 Speaker 1: of the biggest blessings I've had in my life, is 335 00:19:19,040 --> 00:19:21,840 Speaker 1: being a black man from this this environment and learning 336 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:25,800 Speaker 1: to speak that language. Some people call it coding um, 337 00:19:25,920 --> 00:19:28,280 Speaker 1: and I wouldn't disagree with that. I don't know. It's 338 00:19:28,320 --> 00:19:31,080 Speaker 1: like a survival method. To me. It's like certain times 339 00:19:31,080 --> 00:19:33,359 Speaker 1: you've got to be certain things right, Like you're always 340 00:19:33,480 --> 00:19:38,439 Speaker 1: uniquely yourself, but I don't think that you're compromising who 341 00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:41,480 Speaker 1: you are by figure out a way to navigate a 342 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:45,359 Speaker 1: certain room that's occupied by certain types of people. I 343 00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:48,160 Speaker 1: think being able to do that as a again a superpower. 344 00:19:48,240 --> 00:19:51,600 Speaker 1: It's a gift, um, and it's a it's a path forward, 345 00:19:52,320 --> 00:19:54,239 Speaker 1: you know what I'm saying. Like, if I just had 346 00:19:54,280 --> 00:19:57,320 Speaker 1: to be like one way all the time, I wouldn't 347 00:19:57,359 --> 00:20:00,440 Speaker 1: have nearly the success that I'm having. I wouldn't be 348 00:20:00,520 --> 00:20:02,480 Speaker 1: relatable to all the different kinds of people that I 349 00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:04,880 Speaker 1: meet in this business. I have a friend that says, 350 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:07,560 Speaker 1: put the weed in the bag and everything else will come. 351 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:14,040 Speaker 1: What that means is do the work, work hard, grind, hustle, 352 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:15,840 Speaker 1: do all the things you need to do in the 353 00:20:15,920 --> 00:20:18,800 Speaker 1: beginning of your career. But once you reach a certain level, 354 00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:23,080 Speaker 1: you will be able to understand your privilege, the privilege 355 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:24,800 Speaker 1: to say what you mean and mean what you say. 356 00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:29,560 Speaker 1: Especially in today's America, we can no longer pretend as 357 00:20:29,600 --> 00:20:32,600 Speaker 1: if race is not an issue. And when you have 358 00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:35,760 Speaker 1: a platform, and if you have the privilege, and more specifically, 359 00:20:35,880 --> 00:20:39,480 Speaker 1: if you have the power, use it. I know Mike does. 360 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:42,199 Speaker 1: Earlier in my career, I would buy my tongue when 361 00:20:42,240 --> 00:20:44,480 Speaker 1: it came to race specifically, just because again I was 362 00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:48,399 Speaker 1: trying to deliver the messaging that I thought would be best, 363 00:20:48,920 --> 00:20:51,080 Speaker 1: that's best suited for what I was trying to accomplish 364 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:57,360 Speaker 1: that moment. Now at with some successes and a savings 365 00:20:57,400 --> 00:21:02,560 Speaker 1: account like I give less bucks, you know, and there's 366 00:21:02,600 --> 00:21:04,520 Speaker 1: still a way to do it, like we're talking about. 367 00:21:05,960 --> 00:21:09,520 Speaker 1: But there's this brashness now about race that I feel 368 00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:12,200 Speaker 1: like I have to have. I'm not just in storytelling 369 00:21:12,280 --> 00:21:14,119 Speaker 1: and using our platform and tell these stories, But in 370 00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:18,200 Speaker 1: navigating real life, like folks need to be told sometimes, 371 00:21:18,520 --> 00:21:21,280 Speaker 1: you know, and telling someone doesn't mean yelling and screaming 372 00:21:21,280 --> 00:21:24,720 Speaker 1: and beating your chest either. There's a there's a there's 373 00:21:24,920 --> 00:21:27,399 Speaker 1: really kind of intelligent way so you can communicate with 374 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:30,399 Speaker 1: folks about race and and kind of check them if 375 00:21:30,400 --> 00:21:33,560 Speaker 1: they need to be checked, tell them you know you're 376 00:21:33,640 --> 00:21:35,440 Speaker 1: overthinking it if they're you know, if you think it's 377 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:37,480 Speaker 1: look a little too much. But I always think there's 378 00:21:37,480 --> 00:21:39,800 Speaker 1: a way to talk to people, and the older I get, 379 00:21:40,480 --> 00:21:44,000 Speaker 1: whether it's race or anything that's considered to be sensitive, 380 00:21:44,440 --> 00:21:47,480 Speaker 1: I just don't have the time to not just come 381 00:21:47,520 --> 00:21:49,119 Speaker 1: at you straight. I don't know about you all, but 382 00:21:49,160 --> 00:21:52,320 Speaker 1: I love hearing an origin story, the beginning of greatness 383 00:21:52,440 --> 00:21:56,080 Speaker 1: or greatness in the making. And when Mike talks to 384 00:21:56,200 --> 00:21:58,159 Speaker 1: me or talks to us now because we're on this 385 00:21:58,280 --> 00:22:03,320 Speaker 1: podcast together, you can till He always had an entrepreneurial spirit. 386 00:22:03,680 --> 00:22:05,080 Speaker 1: I didn't even know that I wanted to be a 387 00:22:05,119 --> 00:22:09,120 Speaker 1: producer at first. I just knew that, like after school, 388 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:12,840 Speaker 1: I moved to a talent Colorado called Boulder, and I 389 00:22:12,920 --> 00:22:15,520 Speaker 1: got a job working at a restaurant, and I was 390 00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:19,760 Speaker 1: super personal and these two guys named Hardy and Lucas, 391 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:22,040 Speaker 1: two white white boys like came up to me and 392 00:22:22,080 --> 00:22:25,040 Speaker 1: we're like, we want you to promote our parties. I 393 00:22:25,119 --> 00:22:27,359 Speaker 1: was like, I don't know what you're talking about, and 394 00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:29,760 Speaker 1: promote your parties whatever. And they're like, give us a 395 00:22:29,800 --> 00:22:32,440 Speaker 1: list of names had them those people will pay to 396 00:22:32,520 --> 00:22:35,200 Speaker 1: come in. You'll give them drink tickets, and then we'll 397 00:22:35,280 --> 00:22:38,240 Speaker 1: pay you money. And I was like, okay, So I 398 00:22:38,359 --> 00:22:40,600 Speaker 1: did it. It was working out. But then of course 399 00:22:40,640 --> 00:22:44,480 Speaker 1: I'm like, well, what are they making? So I decided 400 00:22:44,520 --> 00:22:47,080 Speaker 1: to kind of follow them around and understand what they 401 00:22:47,119 --> 00:22:48,879 Speaker 1: were doing. And they were saying they were producing events. 402 00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:51,080 Speaker 1: So I was like, oh, bet, I can do that. 403 00:22:51,240 --> 00:22:53,880 Speaker 1: So then I became their biggest competitor, launched my own 404 00:22:54,040 --> 00:22:57,520 Speaker 1: events production company and started doing events in Boulder, and 405 00:22:57,560 --> 00:23:00,440 Speaker 1: then that grew to San Francisco and then evolved in 406 00:23:00,600 --> 00:23:04,960 Speaker 1: New York and Philly, UM and somewhere along the way, 407 00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:07,719 Speaker 1: I realized, well, if I can produce an event, why 408 00:23:07,760 --> 00:23:10,520 Speaker 1: can I produce a TV show or a movie? Like 409 00:23:10,920 --> 00:23:13,880 Speaker 1: it's the same word, right, It's they're both verbs. I'm producing. 410 00:23:14,080 --> 00:23:16,240 Speaker 1: So Andy, I was an English ranger in college and 411 00:23:16,400 --> 00:23:18,560 Speaker 1: I loved you know, loved reading and I love stories, 412 00:23:18,600 --> 00:23:20,720 Speaker 1: and I love TV and films. So I just felt like, well, 413 00:23:20,880 --> 00:23:22,920 Speaker 1: let's figure it out. And I ended up back in 414 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:26,359 Speaker 1: Philly and I ended up getting a job. I decided 415 00:23:26,359 --> 00:23:28,760 Speaker 1: to get rid of that business, sell that business, and 416 00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:31,160 Speaker 1: that's why I decided I want to produce TV and film. 417 00:23:31,840 --> 00:23:35,440 Speaker 1: That's just what I'm gonna do. And I um. I 418 00:23:35,560 --> 00:23:37,879 Speaker 1: got a job as a casting director on a dating 419 00:23:37,960 --> 00:23:41,520 Speaker 1: show on this network called TLC but the Learning Channel 420 00:23:41,560 --> 00:23:45,920 Speaker 1: from back in the day. And over a period of time, 421 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:48,760 Speaker 1: I went from casting to producing and that was like 422 00:23:48,840 --> 00:23:51,040 Speaker 1: grad school for me. Was like I would just get 423 00:23:51,160 --> 00:23:53,320 Speaker 1: dropped off in a city with our team and we'd 424 00:23:53,359 --> 00:23:56,720 Speaker 1: have to deliver two episodes and that was my grad school. 425 00:23:56,720 --> 00:23:58,959 Speaker 1: And I was like, Okay, I got it. I can 426 00:23:59,040 --> 00:24:01,440 Speaker 1: do this. And then I ended up reaching out to 427 00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:04,920 Speaker 1: a couple of my friends who were crushing in real estate, 428 00:24:05,400 --> 00:24:10,239 Speaker 1: like commercial reality, just bags, and I just I sold them. 429 00:24:10,280 --> 00:24:12,120 Speaker 1: I was like, you guys love Hollywood. You guys want 430 00:24:12,119 --> 00:24:15,760 Speaker 1: to go like great premieres and meet celebrities. I'm like, 431 00:24:15,880 --> 00:24:19,400 Speaker 1: bank roll me and let's spaunch a company and let's 432 00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:22,920 Speaker 1: go and make movies. And they said yes, people like 433 00:24:23,080 --> 00:24:26,159 Speaker 1: to be popular, and as you start making money, the 434 00:24:26,280 --> 00:24:29,520 Speaker 1: ultimate is like all that us weekly bullshit, right, like 435 00:24:30,920 --> 00:24:34,720 Speaker 1: the Hampton's and like you know, art Basil or Basil 436 00:24:34,800 --> 00:24:37,320 Speaker 1: however you say it, and and con and all that. 437 00:24:37,680 --> 00:24:41,120 Speaker 1: All that that stuff is where people with money want 438 00:24:41,160 --> 00:24:43,679 Speaker 1: to go. But just because you have money doesn't mean 439 00:24:43,720 --> 00:24:47,440 Speaker 1: you can be invited. So what I was trying to 440 00:24:47,560 --> 00:24:51,639 Speaker 1: do was give them a lane in that direction. And 441 00:24:51,760 --> 00:24:54,280 Speaker 1: on cost him a few million dollars, and all of 442 00:24:54,320 --> 00:24:56,760 Speaker 1: a sudden, I had my own company financing films, and 443 00:24:56,800 --> 00:24:58,639 Speaker 1: I made three films for this company, and that was 444 00:24:58,720 --> 00:25:01,840 Speaker 1: grad School. B. If you look at the state of 445 00:25:01,880 --> 00:25:04,800 Speaker 1: our culture, if you look at what is happening in 446 00:25:04,840 --> 00:25:08,920 Speaker 1: our world today, people like Mike Jackson are invaluable. And 447 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:11,280 Speaker 1: the reason I say that is because our stories must 448 00:25:11,320 --> 00:25:14,240 Speaker 1: be told. Don't get caught up in any of the 449 00:25:14,400 --> 00:25:16,600 Speaker 1: extra the things that do not matter. As he said 450 00:25:16,640 --> 00:25:18,879 Speaker 1: early on, I am a black man, and I understand that. 451 00:25:19,359 --> 00:25:22,000 Speaker 1: But he is here to tell stories, stories that matter, 452 00:25:22,720 --> 00:25:24,600 Speaker 1: and the way in which he has gone about it 453 00:25:25,040 --> 00:25:28,600 Speaker 1: has been absolutely amazing. He clearly is a true entrepreneur. 454 00:25:28,760 --> 00:25:32,520 Speaker 1: He clearly knows how to control a room. He has 455 00:25:32,560 --> 00:25:35,240 Speaker 1: an advantage, he grew up, privilege. All of those things 456 00:25:35,400 --> 00:25:38,679 Speaker 1: work together for our good. And what I mean by 457 00:25:38,760 --> 00:25:43,720 Speaker 1: that is he sees a renaissance, a black renaissance in Hollywood, 458 00:25:43,760 --> 00:25:47,640 Speaker 1: if you will, because there was a time that people 459 00:25:47,680 --> 00:25:50,320 Speaker 1: could get movies made and then it went away and 460 00:25:50,440 --> 00:25:53,800 Speaker 1: now it's come back. And I asked him why they 461 00:25:53,840 --> 00:25:56,480 Speaker 1: didn't give us credit? That's all it was. They didn't 462 00:25:56,480 --> 00:25:59,680 Speaker 1: give our audience credit, Like they didn't think that we 463 00:26:00,119 --> 00:26:03,920 Speaker 1: folks they go buy tickets to see Smart Black Ship 464 00:26:04,440 --> 00:26:09,040 Speaker 1: in two thousand thirteen, two thousand fourteen. You know, but 465 00:26:09,160 --> 00:26:14,919 Speaker 1: there's been this incredible shift in in society, especially around 466 00:26:15,040 --> 00:26:19,240 Speaker 1: blackness and like what we bring to the table, like 467 00:26:20,359 --> 00:26:22,600 Speaker 1: for us, by us, like food who started a long 468 00:26:22,760 --> 00:26:25,640 Speaker 1: time ago, and even before that, we were doing things 469 00:26:25,680 --> 00:26:28,480 Speaker 1: for the culture. They just never really wanted to see us. 470 00:26:28,480 --> 00:26:32,480 Speaker 1: And I think, at least for us specifically coming into 471 00:26:32,520 --> 00:26:35,240 Speaker 1: fifteen and that whole right I was just talking about, 472 00:26:35,560 --> 00:26:38,160 Speaker 1: they couldn't ignore us anymore, you know what I mean. 473 00:26:38,760 --> 00:26:44,680 Speaker 1: And then John, it's just such good business and a 474 00:26:44,760 --> 00:26:47,240 Speaker 1: good man, and like how he navigates his life and 475 00:26:47,320 --> 00:26:50,600 Speaker 1: how he walks earth, like he does all the right things, 476 00:26:50,680 --> 00:26:52,560 Speaker 1: and it's not a it's not a gimmick. That's who 477 00:26:52,640 --> 00:26:55,439 Speaker 1: he is. But at the same time, like people want 478 00:26:55,480 --> 00:26:57,800 Speaker 1: to be around that guy and people trust that guy, 479 00:26:58,359 --> 00:27:00,439 Speaker 1: you know. And it's like that that worked in our 480 00:27:00,480 --> 00:27:02,760 Speaker 1: favorite because all of a sudden we could be in 481 00:27:02,800 --> 00:27:05,760 Speaker 1: a position to tell elevated stories. People did trust us 482 00:27:05,800 --> 00:27:09,199 Speaker 1: more because Ava put out some because you know, all 483 00:27:09,240 --> 00:27:12,679 Speaker 1: these great filmmakers up color are doing great things, Casey Lemons, 484 00:27:12,680 --> 00:27:16,560 Speaker 1: So it's like all these great filmmakers, we're finally being seen. 485 00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:19,520 Speaker 1: It was like almost like a monsoon of black content, 486 00:27:20,320 --> 00:27:23,280 Speaker 1: um and black voices, and that's still happening. We have 487 00:27:23,320 --> 00:27:26,159 Speaker 1: a long way to go, but it's certainly happening a 488 00:27:26,200 --> 00:27:30,360 Speaker 1: lot more now than ever, um, even with black executives. 489 00:27:30,359 --> 00:27:33,119 Speaker 1: I mean, my goodness, Like again, we have a long 490 00:27:33,160 --> 00:27:36,240 Speaker 1: way to go, but I'm so excited about the shift 491 00:27:36,320 --> 00:27:40,000 Speaker 1: that I've been watching with black females running studios, Like 492 00:27:40,520 --> 00:27:41,840 Speaker 1: and it's not just one of them, you know, I 493 00:27:41,880 --> 00:27:46,640 Speaker 1: mean there's a handful a bunch, you know, and like yeah, 494 00:27:46,720 --> 00:27:49,440 Speaker 1: and it's like and there are friends, and it's like 495 00:27:49,920 --> 00:27:53,560 Speaker 1: crazy and like it's it's a beautiful thing to be 496 00:27:53,600 --> 00:27:55,320 Speaker 1: able to pick up the phone and call someone they 497 00:27:55,359 --> 00:27:57,960 Speaker 1: don't have to buy your ship. But the fact that 498 00:27:58,040 --> 00:27:59,359 Speaker 1: you know you have a chance, you have a real 499 00:27:59,440 --> 00:28:04,000 Speaker 1: opportunity to be seen and heard and considered is it's 500 00:28:04,040 --> 00:28:06,520 Speaker 1: a magical feeling from looking from where we started to 501 00:28:06,560 --> 00:28:08,600 Speaker 1: where we are now. I kind of have no filter, 502 00:28:10,240 --> 00:28:14,600 Speaker 1: And I mean that in a positive way, Like I 503 00:28:14,760 --> 00:28:17,520 Speaker 1: just speak my truth, Carrie, you know, like, and I 504 00:28:17,640 --> 00:28:21,479 Speaker 1: feel that's refreshing. You know, I don't hide who I am. 505 00:28:21,560 --> 00:28:25,080 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm obviously no it's perfect. I have habits 506 00:28:25,119 --> 00:28:29,560 Speaker 1: and flaws that people could judge nothing horrible, but like, 507 00:28:30,119 --> 00:28:32,679 Speaker 1: I don't try to hide who I am with anyone. 508 00:28:32,720 --> 00:28:35,280 Speaker 1: And I think if you take the guessing game out 509 00:28:35,600 --> 00:28:38,320 Speaker 1: of the equation and people truly see you for who 510 00:28:38,360 --> 00:28:41,200 Speaker 1: you are because you're never trying to be something you're not, 511 00:28:41,880 --> 00:28:44,760 Speaker 1: I think that that that works really well for me. Um, 512 00:28:44,840 --> 00:28:52,600 Speaker 1: at least I hope it does. Mike Jackson, Ladies and 513 00:28:52,640 --> 00:28:58,000 Speaker 1: gentlemen around of applause, Mike, if you're listen in much respect, Um, 514 00:28:58,160 --> 00:29:00,280 Speaker 1: what I see and what I was able to learn 515 00:29:00,360 --> 00:29:03,560 Speaker 1: from you. Uh, And this very naked podcast was a 516 00:29:03,600 --> 00:29:06,840 Speaker 1: man who has lived a life various lives, and he 517 00:29:07,000 --> 00:29:09,960 Speaker 1: understands the good and the bad, the privileged, and the 518 00:29:10,080 --> 00:29:13,600 Speaker 1: not so privileged. You take what you have, your resources, 519 00:29:13,680 --> 00:29:16,280 Speaker 1: your access, and you use it for good, to tell 520 00:29:16,400 --> 00:29:19,640 Speaker 1: stories for the people of the people, and you try 521 00:29:19,760 --> 00:29:23,880 Speaker 1: to change the narrative, and you are unapologetic in every 522 00:29:24,080 --> 00:29:28,600 Speaker 1: single way. Everyone uses that word now right, unapologetic, unapologetic. 523 00:29:28,720 --> 00:29:30,760 Speaker 1: But what that means is is I will tell you 524 00:29:30,920 --> 00:29:32,880 Speaker 1: my truth. I will be naked, this is what I have. 525 00:29:33,040 --> 00:29:36,120 Speaker 1: I will be as vulnerable as I possibly can. If 526 00:29:36,200 --> 00:29:37,920 Speaker 1: you can receive it, great, If you can't, I don't 527 00:29:37,920 --> 00:29:39,760 Speaker 1: know what to tell you. You asked, you got it. 528 00:29:40,400 --> 00:29:43,440 Speaker 1: And that's what I felt when I had this opportunity 529 00:29:43,520 --> 00:29:48,360 Speaker 1: to talk to Mike Jackson. He gave me. Wow. He 530 00:29:48,440 --> 00:29:50,640 Speaker 1: gave me a lot of things to think about. And 531 00:29:50,760 --> 00:29:55,720 Speaker 1: what I mean by that is how I address black 532 00:29:55,800 --> 00:29:59,160 Speaker 1: men who are married to white women for women who 533 00:29:59,160 --> 00:30:02,400 Speaker 1: aren't black. I don't know if it's fair, if I 534 00:30:02,560 --> 00:30:04,880 Speaker 1: feel a type of way, I don't know if I've 535 00:30:04,920 --> 00:30:08,000 Speaker 1: been conditioned to feel a type of way. And then 536 00:30:08,040 --> 00:30:11,760 Speaker 1: there's the hypocrite in me that will tell you unapologetically, 537 00:30:11,840 --> 00:30:16,120 Speaker 1: there's that word, are you okay? I see you, famous 538 00:30:16,240 --> 00:30:20,040 Speaker 1: rich white man trying to holler at me I'm flattered. Man. 539 00:30:20,120 --> 00:30:24,560 Speaker 1: That's crazy, but it's honest, and you know what else 540 00:30:24,680 --> 00:30:29,280 Speaker 1: is honest. Mike Jackson, I applaud you for sharing your 541 00:30:29,320 --> 00:30:31,840 Speaker 1: truth and everybody may not be able to receive it, 542 00:30:31,920 --> 00:30:36,320 Speaker 1: but I did. But more importantly, as we released this 543 00:30:36,560 --> 00:30:41,480 Speaker 1: podcast over the weekend, as mentioned, Kobe Bryant, and obviously 544 00:30:41,560 --> 00:30:44,000 Speaker 1: I'm a huge Kobe Bryant fan, Mike and I bonded 545 00:30:44,080 --> 00:30:49,120 Speaker 1: over that was inducted into the Hall of Fame by 546 00:30:49,200 --> 00:30:54,360 Speaker 1: my was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Michael Jordan's. 547 00:30:55,040 --> 00:31:01,040 Speaker 1: His wife Vanessa was there as well, and the class 548 00:31:01,080 --> 00:31:05,760 Speaker 1: of includes Kobe, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, and Tomika catch Ink. 549 00:31:05,880 --> 00:31:09,000 Speaker 1: So salute to all of you grades, but obviously I'll 550 00:31:09,040 --> 00:31:11,320 Speaker 1: focus it on Kobe and the connection that both Mike 551 00:31:11,400 --> 00:31:16,200 Speaker 1: and I have. Kobe was always my favorite player. The 552 00:31:16,360 --> 00:31:19,920 Speaker 1: Lakers punctuate my childhood. Not only do they narrated, they 553 00:31:19,960 --> 00:31:22,840 Speaker 1: punctuate my childhood and my adulthood. Kobe Bryant was on 554 00:31:22,880 --> 00:31:24,920 Speaker 1: the team for twenty years. I grew up with Kobe, 555 00:31:26,160 --> 00:31:30,600 Speaker 1: met him on a countless occasions, interviewed him. He respected 556 00:31:30,640 --> 00:31:32,600 Speaker 1: my house, so I respected his, and he was so 557 00:31:33,720 --> 00:31:37,720 Speaker 1: very spirit like to me, the way he approached the 558 00:31:37,800 --> 00:31:39,960 Speaker 1: game head down, do my job. You don't like it, 559 00:31:40,040 --> 00:31:43,120 Speaker 1: I don't care. He literally didn't care. I care, but 560 00:31:43,240 --> 00:31:45,440 Speaker 1: he didn't care, and he got a bad rap for that. 561 00:31:45,640 --> 00:31:47,800 Speaker 1: But I understood it, and now that he's gone, most 562 00:31:47,880 --> 00:31:52,960 Speaker 1: of us understand it. But once he retired from the NBA, 563 00:31:53,400 --> 00:31:57,000 Speaker 1: I remember thinking, how did he leave us? What were 564 00:31:57,040 --> 00:32:00,400 Speaker 1: our best memories. I went to his very last game 565 00:32:00,400 --> 00:32:04,360 Speaker 1: where he scored sixty points. It was unbelievable, unbelievable electric. 566 00:32:04,440 --> 00:32:06,280 Speaker 1: I am glad that I was able to witness that. 567 00:32:07,200 --> 00:32:09,520 Speaker 1: I saw him a few times thereafter. I interviewed him 568 00:32:09,520 --> 00:32:12,600 Speaker 1: a few times thereafter, and obviously, much like the rest 569 00:32:12,640 --> 00:32:15,480 Speaker 1: of the world, I was devastated by his death. But 570 00:32:15,680 --> 00:32:18,480 Speaker 1: I will try to celebrate and not cry, because I 571 00:32:18,560 --> 00:32:21,960 Speaker 1: often cry when I talk about him. I would try 572 00:32:22,000 --> 00:32:25,680 Speaker 1: to celebrate his life, as we did this past weekend. 573 00:32:26,680 --> 00:32:30,200 Speaker 1: And that brings me back to our guest Mike Jackson. Mike, 574 00:32:30,240 --> 00:32:33,160 Speaker 1: you had a great story about Kobe Bryant, and I 575 00:32:33,240 --> 00:32:36,120 Speaker 1: think we should share because remember you guys play ball 576 00:32:36,160 --> 00:32:40,160 Speaker 1: together back in Philly. You guys, you know you were 577 00:32:40,800 --> 00:32:43,880 Speaker 1: you were my captain running the show and here comes 578 00:32:43,960 --> 00:32:49,160 Speaker 1: this kid, Kobe. Thank you for sharing here Kobe Bryant memories, 579 00:32:49,320 --> 00:32:53,480 Speaker 1: but more importantly, the very last time you interacted with 580 00:32:53,640 --> 00:33:02,440 Speaker 1: the Hall of Famer, best basketball player ever Kobe Bryant. 581 00:33:04,680 --> 00:33:08,280 Speaker 1: Kobe he we both grew up in Windwood, Pennsylvania, five 582 00:33:08,320 --> 00:33:12,800 Speaker 1: blocks from one another. I um, I knew him when 583 00:33:12,840 --> 00:33:16,120 Speaker 1: he was a youngster going through high school. I didn't 584 00:33:16,120 --> 00:33:21,160 Speaker 1: see him again until November, right before he died, and 585 00:33:21,280 --> 00:33:23,239 Speaker 1: I saw him at an event and I went up 586 00:33:23,840 --> 00:33:26,600 Speaker 1: and I was like, what's good. We started talking and 587 00:33:26,680 --> 00:33:28,360 Speaker 1: he was like, Holy sh it, I can't believe this 588 00:33:28,480 --> 00:33:32,280 Speaker 1: is you and you're here doing this and the entertainment business. 589 00:33:32,360 --> 00:33:34,680 Speaker 1: That's what I'm doing now. I'm like, you want an oscar? 590 00:33:35,360 --> 00:33:39,160 Speaker 1: But um we we we exchanged emails and emailed a 591 00:33:39,200 --> 00:33:42,440 Speaker 1: couple of times, and I remember like, not only is 592 00:33:42,440 --> 00:33:45,240 Speaker 1: he the greatest basketball player in my opinion, he's just 593 00:33:46,120 --> 00:33:49,280 Speaker 1: the greatest because he's got that He's got that MoMA mentality. 594 00:33:49,360 --> 00:33:50,680 Speaker 1: So Kobe is always my guy.