1 00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:03,680 Speaker 1: You said Journey was boss from the beginning. 2 00:00:03,760 --> 00:00:05,520 Speaker 2: This is a good question to kick this off. I 3 00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:08,000 Speaker 2: want to see what she got to say. 4 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:13,560 Speaker 3: Journey Smollette is the Emmy nominated actress whose powerful performances 5 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:16,880 Speaker 3: from Friday Night Lights to Lovecraft Country to Apple TV's 6 00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:19,959 Speaker 3: Smoke I've earned her critical acclaim and the respect of 7 00:00:20,040 --> 00:00:20,960 Speaker 3: Hollywood's greatest. 8 00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:23,159 Speaker 2: You know, Denzel, he started like improving with me and 9 00:00:23,239 --> 00:00:25,239 Speaker 2: kind of like going at me in the best way. 10 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:27,600 Speaker 2: And he called my manager afterwards and was. 11 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:30,600 Speaker 3: Like alongside her. The sister who stood by her side 12 00:00:30,600 --> 00:00:35,040 Speaker 3: through it all. Jas Mollett, producer, interior decorator and star 13 00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:36,200 Speaker 3: of Living by Design. 14 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:39,120 Speaker 4: When she was doing Full House, I was in charge 15 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:42,680 Speaker 4: of cutting up her overalls and putting patches on them. 16 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:46,360 Speaker 3: From Family Secrets to Motherhood. These sisters aren't holding back. 17 00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:48,640 Speaker 5: Was there any jealousy? Competition? 18 00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:50,760 Speaker 2: You trying to get real deep? 19 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:53,880 Speaker 6: There was a point when you were broken on the 20 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:55,280 Speaker 6: verge of quitting acting. 21 00:00:55,440 --> 00:00:58,240 Speaker 2: I was really kind of insecure about my looks. 22 00:00:58,240 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 7: The roles were just awful. 23 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:02,040 Speaker 2: Everyone was like, I don't want to be the best 24 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:04,800 Speaker 2: friend that dies. On page thirty six, join host Martin 25 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:05,319 Speaker 2: Luther King. 26 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:09,240 Speaker 3: The third Andrea Waters, King, Mark Kilberger and Craig Kilberger 27 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 3: for a heartfelt conversation about sisterhood, determination and finding your 28 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:15,000 Speaker 3: way back to yourself. 29 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:17,959 Speaker 2: Knew God was going You're either going to end this moment, 30 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:22,000 Speaker 2: push through and become the most authentic version of yourself, 31 00:01:22,319 --> 00:01:23,480 Speaker 2: or you're going to become a love. 32 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:32,640 Speaker 7: Welcome to my legacy. 33 00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:36,640 Speaker 6: Our guest today is Journey Smollett, an Emmy nominated actress 34 00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:40,880 Speaker 6: whose work has consistently centered stories of resilience and resistance. 35 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:43,360 Speaker 7: Journey, We're so honored to have you here. 36 00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:45,840 Speaker 6: With us today, and as always on this show, our 37 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:50,320 Speaker 6: guest brings someone meaningful along for the conversation. Journey, would 38 00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 6: you please do us the honor of introducing your plus 39 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 6: one for today? 40 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:54,920 Speaker 3: Oh? 41 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:58,360 Speaker 2: I love that for one. Thank you for that introduction. 42 00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:01,600 Speaker 2: I'm so humbled and honored. Yes, my plus one is 43 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:08,320 Speaker 2: my big sister, Jazz, who is amazing in her own 44 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 2: right and really a force in our family and such 45 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:17,080 Speaker 2: a pillar in our family and my best friend and 46 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:22,960 Speaker 2: someone who I call for everything, mom advice, career advice, 47 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:29,200 Speaker 2: dating advice, life advice, and Jazz is a producer, a creator, 48 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:34,680 Speaker 2: a host, and just an all around amazing human being. 49 00:02:34,919 --> 00:02:37,160 Speaker 2: So I'm happy to have her with us. 50 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:38,079 Speaker 7: Welcome. 51 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:44,400 Speaker 1: Thank you, Jazz. You and Journey are two of six siblings. 52 00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 1: And even though she is younger than you, you said 53 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:54,680 Speaker 1: Journey was boss from the beginning. Can you share. 54 00:02:54,560 --> 00:02:57,520 Speaker 2: I probably did say that at some point. I'm sure 55 00:02:57,680 --> 00:03:03,639 Speaker 2: I know I said that. You know, I don't know. 56 00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:09,200 Speaker 1: So could you share a story from your childhood that 57 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:12,919 Speaker 1: showed you Journey was always going to be a force? 58 00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 2: Oh wow, Oh wow, this is a good question. 59 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:24,080 Speaker 6: To say, So I I guess I have to go 60 00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:26,440 Speaker 6: with the first thing that comes to mind. 61 00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:30,200 Speaker 4: But I mean, there are many, but she just she 62 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:33,600 Speaker 4: First of all, she had a walk that was like 63 00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:38,120 Speaker 4: of confidence, and she would just walk into rooms and 64 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 4: she would just feel You could feel her presence, you 65 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 4: could feel her smile and her warmth and her command. 66 00:03:47,480 --> 00:03:49,480 Speaker 4: But I the first thing that came to mind, for 67 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 4: some reason, when you asked that question, was that my 68 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:55,480 Speaker 4: mom always told this story. So we were waiting at 69 00:03:55,480 --> 00:04:00,200 Speaker 4: home when they were at the hospital and Journey was 70 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 4: being born. So, because you talk about the beginning, right, 71 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 4: so when she was being born, I remember getting that 72 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 4: phone call on one of those phones that used to 73 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:14,920 Speaker 4: hang on the walls and you pick up the receiver, 74 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:17,560 Speaker 4: and my older brother picked it up. And this was 75 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:21,880 Speaker 4: the first time we were home without parents. And they 76 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 4: called and they said she had been born and it 77 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 4: was a girl. 78 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:26,599 Speaker 2: I was screaming. 79 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 4: I had begged my mom for a sister, and I 80 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:34,240 Speaker 4: was just so happy, and I just remember the excitement 81 00:04:35,279 --> 00:04:39,000 Speaker 4: of knowing I was going to have a little sister, 82 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:43,520 Speaker 4: and then hearing the story and we had welcome home 83 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:45,800 Speaker 4: signs and all these things, and hearing the story that 84 00:04:45,839 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 4: she had fallen asleep for two hours during in the 85 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:53,039 Speaker 4: birth canal. Oh, so that was the story that my 86 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:55,000 Speaker 4: mom always told. So I was like, you know what, 87 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:57,599 Speaker 4: she coming out on her own time, she doing it 88 00:04:57,640 --> 00:05:02,440 Speaker 4: her way, that, oh, my goodness. 89 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:05,719 Speaker 7: Well you fell asleep in the birth canal for two hours. 90 00:05:05,839 --> 00:05:09,040 Speaker 2: My mom has always told that story as in crediting 91 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:11,640 Speaker 2: that story as to the reason why she made me journey. 92 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:15,440 Speaker 2: But because she said she she was always saying, this 93 00:05:15,480 --> 00:05:17,359 Speaker 2: girl's a trip, this girl's a trip, like when she 94 00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:21,200 Speaker 2: was in labor, and that, yeah, I fell asleep at 95 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:23,160 Speaker 2: two hours. I wasn't ready to come into the world. 96 00:05:23,279 --> 00:05:26,039 Speaker 6: Yet clearly you are trying to make up your mind. 97 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:29,120 Speaker 7: So let's talk about your mom. 98 00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:33,159 Speaker 6: Because your family moved thirteen times before you were a 99 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:37,719 Speaker 6: teenager journey, but at every single home, your mother hand 100 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:41,720 Speaker 6: built a table. What did that table represent for you? 101 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:44,800 Speaker 6: And what memory comes up for you thinking about your mom? 102 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 2: Oh, that's such a beautiful question. You know, it's funny. 103 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:51,320 Speaker 2: We have actually talked a lot about this table. We 104 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:54,600 Speaker 2: even have a cookbook called the Family Table. She read 105 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:57,320 Speaker 2: the Family Table because now I'm like, she's getting these 106 00:05:57,320 --> 00:05:58,839 Speaker 2: stories from the Family Table. 107 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:04,520 Speaker 7: We do a homework around here, and yeah. 108 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 2: She would build this table. She would go to the 109 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:13,280 Speaker 2: local lumberyard and buy butcher block or buy four by 110 00:06:13,360 --> 00:06:18,160 Speaker 2: fours and like bond them together. And this table was 111 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 2: quite symbolic of a number of things. I think won 112 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:27,440 Speaker 2: this spirit of just doing it yourself. If a job 113 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:29,279 Speaker 2: needed to get done, she was going to do it. 114 00:06:29,360 --> 00:06:31,960 Speaker 2: And she expected us to have that same sort of 115 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:35,160 Speaker 2: philosophy and life, so like, don't wait for someone else 116 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:37,440 Speaker 2: to do it, and don't wait until you even have 117 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:39,600 Speaker 2: necessarily the money to do it. 118 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:39,919 Speaker 4: You know. 119 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:42,719 Speaker 2: It's like, if you want a table that would cost 120 00:06:42,920 --> 00:06:46,120 Speaker 2: five hundred dollars one thousand dollars, like go and make it. 121 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:48,080 Speaker 2: You don't have to wait until you can afford it. 122 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:51,080 Speaker 2: You can have nice things. You can live your life now. 123 00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 2: And I appreciate that she made us very self sufficient. 124 00:06:55,160 --> 00:06:59,880 Speaker 2: She made us very independent, very sovereign, you know, and 125 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:03,800 Speaker 2: and that I think is a quality we are all 126 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:10,320 Speaker 2: blessed to have inherited because nowadays, whether regardless of the industry, 127 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:13,119 Speaker 2: we all work in. You know, our youngest brother works 128 00:07:13,120 --> 00:07:16,800 Speaker 2: in tag. Another younger brother, Jake, is a chef, and 129 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:21,840 Speaker 2: Jazz and Jake have this incredible design show called Living 130 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:24,680 Speaker 2: by Design, and it's so it's like, you know, whatever 131 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:28,280 Speaker 2: we do in life, it's not about us like waiting 132 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:31,520 Speaker 2: until someone gives us the approval to do it. It's 133 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 2: about finding the tools. It's about finding the materials that 134 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:38,320 Speaker 2: we need, the crew we need, the squad we need, 135 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:41,240 Speaker 2: whatever it is. You know, that philosophy I think has 136 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:45,920 Speaker 2: benefited us in our own lives. You know, of like yo, 137 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:48,920 Speaker 2: just get it done, you know, like where's the need 138 00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:50,800 Speaker 2: and how do we how do we make it happen? 139 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:53,160 Speaker 2: Not accepting no for an answer. 140 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:58,120 Speaker 6: So it also seems that it fostered creativity. So how 141 00:07:58,120 --> 00:08:01,400 Speaker 6: would you how would you say that your mom created 142 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 6: an environment that really did foster creativity. 143 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:09,679 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, I mean it was all about creativity. Everything 144 00:08:09,720 --> 00:08:15,480 Speaker 2: was centered on creativity, cooking. You know, growing up, we 145 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:22,160 Speaker 2: would watch nothing but classic movies, listening to classic music. 146 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:26,880 Speaker 2: It was all raisin in the sun. 147 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:29,840 Speaker 4: In the living room. We were from the play, from 148 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:33,439 Speaker 4: the page play. We were reading plays very early on. 149 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:38,640 Speaker 2: She she would put a plywood in the middle of 150 00:08:38,720 --> 00:08:42,000 Speaker 2: the living room, and if we wanted to learn how 151 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:46,480 Speaker 2: to tap dance, okay, start tap dancing. Yeah. You know, 152 00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:49,360 Speaker 2: we had entire libraries in our living room. 153 00:08:49,440 --> 00:08:53,760 Speaker 4: So we had the Encyclopedia Britannica, and you know, that 154 00:08:53,960 --> 00:08:56,600 Speaker 4: was like a major investment, a big deal at the time. 155 00:08:56,679 --> 00:09:00,199 Speaker 4: And then and they were on those homemade bookshelves. Was 156 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:04,079 Speaker 4: like everything was about We were creating all day. Cooking 157 00:09:04,520 --> 00:09:07,720 Speaker 4: was a whole thing as well. She was baking bread 158 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:10,840 Speaker 4: from scratch. We were learning how to do all of that. 159 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:13,960 Speaker 4: We were cooking from like seven eight years old. We 160 00:09:14,080 --> 00:09:17,560 Speaker 4: learned how to be self sustaining. And so a lot 161 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:21,080 Speaker 4: of that has carried over, like Journey said, and then further, 162 00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:25,840 Speaker 4: you know a lot of those building and cooking and 163 00:09:25,880 --> 00:09:28,440 Speaker 4: all of that have carried over into our careers and 164 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:33,080 Speaker 4: also into our lives and Journey has a garden. I 165 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:36,360 Speaker 4: have some fruit trees, you know that. We you were like, okay, 166 00:09:36,360 --> 00:09:39,000 Speaker 4: how can we be self sufficient? Like how can we 167 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:45,320 Speaker 4: be sustainable? And she definitely definitely imparted that spirit and 168 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:48,000 Speaker 4: the arts was such a center of our life. 169 00:09:48,040 --> 00:09:51,439 Speaker 2: We had the ups and downs financially most of our childhood. 170 00:09:51,679 --> 00:09:56,360 Speaker 2: But for her, whether it was a birthday or Mother's 171 00:09:56,400 --> 00:09:59,719 Speaker 2: Day or Christmas, she did not want as buying her presents. 172 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:02,040 Speaker 2: And to this day still she's like, I want you 173 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:07,280 Speaker 2: to do a concert for me. Oh and it's like 174 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:10,320 Speaker 2: y'all go all. But we was like, oh man, we got. 175 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:12,800 Speaker 6: Because she had to bring it because if you were 176 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:16,960 Speaker 6: doing in the sun, so I mean, yeah. 177 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:19,120 Speaker 2: Listen, she was having my older brother Joeldo trying to 178 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:25,000 Speaker 2: sing avalois love you. It's like, you know no. But 179 00:10:25,120 --> 00:10:28,400 Speaker 2: she definitely was like, I just want you all to 180 00:10:28,640 --> 00:10:33,040 Speaker 2: just share your gifts and cultivate your gifts. And that 181 00:10:33,280 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 2: was the greatest gift for her is to have us 182 00:10:36,600 --> 00:10:40,840 Speaker 2: deliver a poem or monologue or sing something or somebody 183 00:10:40,880 --> 00:10:43,400 Speaker 2: play an instrument. Truly to this. 184 00:10:43,480 --> 00:10:46,840 Speaker 5: Day, so you have this incredibly creative husshole, this artist 185 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:49,840 Speaker 5: colony six kids. Many of you, of course end up 186 00:10:49,840 --> 00:10:54,520 Speaker 5: pursuing careers and entertainment. Was there any jealousy competition? How 187 00:10:54,520 --> 00:10:56,959 Speaker 5: did you guys like navigate all this as a family 188 00:10:57,240 --> 00:10:58,640 Speaker 5: having this wonderful experience. 189 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:02,640 Speaker 4: There really would have been no room for that because 190 00:11:03,120 --> 00:11:05,480 Speaker 4: the reality was we were like a farm family. We 191 00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:07,920 Speaker 4: always said everyone had to pitch in, everyone had to 192 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:10,760 Speaker 4: do something. I remember when Journey was little and she 193 00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:13,160 Speaker 4: was doing Full House. I mean I took her to 194 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:16,079 Speaker 4: the audition. Obviously I didn't drive. I didn't drive yet, 195 00:11:16,120 --> 00:11:19,320 Speaker 4: so I don't even remember how I walked her in, 196 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:21,920 Speaker 4: And I remember her reading her lines and being able 197 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:24,439 Speaker 4: to read from her script and being impressed by that 198 00:11:24,880 --> 00:11:28,240 Speaker 4: when going to the table read with her. But also 199 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:31,560 Speaker 4: I make the point to say that when she was on, 200 00:11:31,760 --> 00:11:34,319 Speaker 4: when she was doing Full House, I was in charge 201 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:37,680 Speaker 4: of cutting up her overalls and putting patches on them, 202 00:11:38,559 --> 00:11:42,319 Speaker 4: and designing these little overalls she had, which were basic overalls, 203 00:11:42,360 --> 00:11:45,480 Speaker 4: but then putting holes in them because she was this 204 00:11:45,559 --> 00:11:49,600 Speaker 4: really like scruffy kind of kid and attitude and all 205 00:11:49,640 --> 00:11:51,920 Speaker 4: of that, and so my mom was like or helping 206 00:11:51,960 --> 00:11:55,360 Speaker 4: twist her hair. So there was like all of these 207 00:11:55,400 --> 00:12:01,040 Speaker 4: ways that everyone was in the charac everyone did. 208 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:03,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, so there was really no time or room. 209 00:12:03,840 --> 00:12:07,679 Speaker 4: We were like our own little artist colony, like everyone's 210 00:12:07,720 --> 00:12:10,000 Speaker 4: collaborating and sharing and figuring out how to. 211 00:12:10,040 --> 00:12:11,960 Speaker 2: Get it done. Now when jas say is cutting up 212 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:14,440 Speaker 2: my overalls, like it's the overalls for the character that 213 00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:16,960 Speaker 2: a war in the show. Because my mom never during 214 00:12:17,360 --> 00:12:19,640 Speaker 2: full House she was like, no, she's gonna wear her 215 00:12:19,679 --> 00:12:22,920 Speaker 2: own clothes and I'm gonna we're gonna do her hair. 216 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:26,200 Speaker 2: No one's such in her hair. And so yeah, it 217 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:30,200 Speaker 2: was such a thing of like if one person's winning, 218 00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:33,040 Speaker 2: we're all winning. You know, we're all pouring back into 219 00:12:33,080 --> 00:12:36,920 Speaker 2: the pot and everyone we're all invested. It was such 220 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:41,319 Speaker 2: a it's such a tribal mentality, you know. 221 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:43,040 Speaker 4: That. 222 00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:45,360 Speaker 2: I think it's so easy for us now that we're 223 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:48,800 Speaker 2: adults to take for granted, but going to other people's 224 00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:53,160 Speaker 2: homes or you know, now being of an adult, you realize, oh, 225 00:12:53,160 --> 00:12:56,960 Speaker 2: this was actually really rare, Like most people didn't grow 226 00:12:57,040 --> 00:13:01,240 Speaker 2: up like this, and it's an incredible blessing that we 227 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:04,800 Speaker 2: were given by our mom. Is like, yo, we all 228 00:13:04,840 --> 00:13:05,559 Speaker 2: in this together. 229 00:13:06,320 --> 00:13:09,040 Speaker 6: Well let's talk a little bit more too about why 230 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:14,439 Speaker 6: you While you all were growing up as children. Because Journey, 231 00:13:14,440 --> 00:13:17,640 Speaker 6: you won this incredible honor at just eleven years old, 232 00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:21,800 Speaker 6: the critics' choice best Young Performer. But then as a 233 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:24,559 Speaker 6: young woman, there was a point when you were broken, 234 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:26,240 Speaker 6: on the verge of quitting acting. 235 00:13:26,640 --> 00:13:28,120 Speaker 2: She did her research. 236 00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:33,600 Speaker 6: Damn, can you take us back to that moment? See, 237 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:35,440 Speaker 6: you all can adopt me. I will fit right in 238 00:13:35,480 --> 00:13:36,120 Speaker 6: with your family. 239 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:40,280 Speaker 2: I love it when you. 240 00:13:40,200 --> 00:13:42,680 Speaker 6: Had to decide do I keep fighting for this or 241 00:13:42,679 --> 00:13:44,400 Speaker 6: do I is it time for me to walk away? 242 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:49,760 Speaker 2: Yes, yes, yes, there's definitely a moment. You know. It's it. 243 00:13:49,920 --> 00:13:51,199 Speaker 2: I've been in front of the camera since I was 244 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:54,240 Speaker 2: ten months old, and so it's interesting because there was 245 00:13:54,280 --> 00:13:58,360 Speaker 2: a period when I was like a teenager and going 246 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:01,800 Speaker 2: into transitioning into being a young adult. I broke out 247 00:14:01,800 --> 00:14:05,760 Speaker 2: with severe acne. I was really kind of insecure about 248 00:14:05,840 --> 00:14:08,320 Speaker 2: my you know, my looks and stuff like that. But 249 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:12,200 Speaker 2: then also the roles were just awful, and it was like, 250 00:14:12,280 --> 00:14:14,120 Speaker 2: I don't want to be the best friend that dies 251 00:14:14,160 --> 00:14:18,080 Speaker 2: on page thirty six, you know. And my mom had 252 00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:22,520 Speaker 2: ingrained in me like this real standard of excellence and 253 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:25,480 Speaker 2: what it takes to be a great you know, and 254 00:14:25,520 --> 00:14:29,440 Speaker 2: I was looking up so you know, the Sicily Tyson's, 255 00:14:29,480 --> 00:14:33,160 Speaker 2: the Catherine Herpburn's, the Diane Carroll's, you know, and I'm 256 00:14:33,160 --> 00:14:37,480 Speaker 2: going they wouldn't take these roles. And so, in addition 257 00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:42,440 Speaker 2: to being very creative, our mom is very political, very 258 00:14:42,520 --> 00:14:45,600 Speaker 2: very political, and so volunteering at a young age, all 259 00:14:45,640 --> 00:14:49,720 Speaker 2: of us were expected to be attending marches, going in 260 00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:51,720 Speaker 2: the voting booth with her, and when she was voting, 261 00:14:51,880 --> 00:14:54,760 Speaker 2: being on the corner holding up signs, protesting things. And 262 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:59,320 Speaker 2: so while I wasn't finding real fulfillment in the arts, 263 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:02,520 Speaker 2: I was finding a lot of fulfillment in the nonprofit world. 264 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:05,600 Speaker 2: And you know, there was this organization called Artists for 265 00:15:05,640 --> 00:15:08,160 Speaker 2: New South Africa, which really was a village of artists 266 00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:12,760 Speaker 2: and activists that kind of you know, helped raise me 267 00:15:12,840 --> 00:15:16,560 Speaker 2: in a sense, you know, Sammue ol Jackson, Latanya Richardson Jackson, 268 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:20,520 Speaker 2: Alfred Wood or Blair Underwood, all these people who were 269 00:15:20,680 --> 00:15:23,680 Speaker 2: at the time they founded the organization in the early 270 00:15:23,760 --> 00:15:27,000 Speaker 2: nineties to rid South Africa of apartheid, and then it 271 00:15:27,080 --> 00:15:33,360 Speaker 2: transitioned to more of an HIV AIDS prevention organization. And 272 00:15:33,560 --> 00:15:35,640 Speaker 2: I was doing a lot of volunteer work with them, 273 00:15:35,640 --> 00:15:37,960 Speaker 2: and I was their youngest board member, and I felt 274 00:15:38,160 --> 00:15:42,040 Speaker 2: so fulfilled with that work. I was going into schools 275 00:15:42,040 --> 00:15:47,120 Speaker 2: here in Los Angeles, taught through a program called Positively Speaking, 276 00:15:47,160 --> 00:15:50,720 Speaker 2: and I was speaking about HIV AIDS prevention and kids 277 00:15:50,760 --> 00:15:52,280 Speaker 2: would look at me and be like, what is the 278 00:15:52,400 --> 00:15:55,320 Speaker 2: chick from Road Bounds doing in my class right now? 279 00:15:55,400 --> 00:15:57,800 Speaker 2: Talk telling me how to put on a condom, you know. 280 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:05,400 Speaker 2: And I was on a delegation on my twentieth birthday 281 00:16:05,480 --> 00:16:09,400 Speaker 2: to South Africa actually with artists for New South Africa. 282 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:12,640 Speaker 2: And I went there and we were building a well 283 00:16:12,760 --> 00:16:18,640 Speaker 2: in Enguavooma, a township in South Africa, and visiting like 284 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:24,440 Speaker 2: Kayalicha and all these different places, and it was just 285 00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:27,480 Speaker 2: a life changing for honestly in so many ways. One 286 00:16:28,400 --> 00:16:31,240 Speaker 2: it gave me a level of humility and gratitude and 287 00:16:31,280 --> 00:16:34,840 Speaker 2: an awareness of my own privilege and just being born 288 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:41,640 Speaker 2: in this country right. And I saw the work we 289 00:16:41,640 --> 00:16:45,040 Speaker 2: were being able to do, and it dawned on me 290 00:16:45,120 --> 00:16:49,800 Speaker 2: really that well, this work is so essential, This is 291 00:16:49,920 --> 00:16:52,720 Speaker 2: like food for my soul. But we were able to 292 00:16:52,760 --> 00:16:56,120 Speaker 2: get there because of the platform that all these artists 293 00:16:56,120 --> 00:17:00,560 Speaker 2: were using, and they were using their platform to be 294 00:17:00,680 --> 00:17:04,920 Speaker 2: able to contribute to a bigger cause than themselves, right, 295 00:17:05,480 --> 00:17:08,760 Speaker 2: And I thought, well, if God's given me a gift, 296 00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:12,720 Speaker 2: you know, how dare I not use that? Right? And 297 00:17:13,920 --> 00:17:18,199 Speaker 2: interestingly enough, when I came back from that trip, I 298 00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:23,040 Speaker 2: was sent the script for Great Debaters, And I mean 299 00:17:23,080 --> 00:17:26,240 Speaker 2: I think it was probably four days three or four 300 00:17:26,320 --> 00:17:27,960 Speaker 2: days after I got back from that trip, and I 301 00:17:28,040 --> 00:17:30,240 Speaker 2: was like, okay, God, I'm on a mission, and I 302 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:34,480 Speaker 2: was actually staying with Jazz. Jazz was going to NYU 303 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 2: and I went to the Schomberg Library and I started 304 00:17:37,280 --> 00:17:41,199 Speaker 2: researching Melvin B. Tolsen. And when I came back to 305 00:17:41,320 --> 00:17:44,080 Speaker 2: LA it was like months before I even was able 306 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:47,000 Speaker 2: to get an audition. And my initial audition was not 307 00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:50,040 Speaker 2: even an audition for me. It was they called me 308 00:17:50,200 --> 00:17:53,800 Speaker 2: and asked me to just be a reader for the 309 00:17:53,880 --> 00:17:59,679 Speaker 2: Gentleman that Denzel was thinking of casting as the male character, 310 00:18:00,480 --> 00:18:02,360 Speaker 2: and they just needed a reader to read with it. 311 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:07,840 Speaker 2: But I was like, Okay, you know, this is my opportunity. 312 00:18:08,320 --> 00:18:11,719 Speaker 2: And I had researched so much of the story and stuff, 313 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:14,439 Speaker 2: and you know, Denzel, he started like improving with me 314 00:18:14,520 --> 00:18:17,200 Speaker 2: and kind of like going at me in the best way. 315 00:18:18,240 --> 00:18:21,160 Speaker 2: And he called my manager afterwards and was like she's 316 00:18:21,240 --> 00:18:24,679 Speaker 2: incredible actress. And from that moment when I was like, 317 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:29,320 Speaker 2: this is no doubt. Even in the ups and downs, 318 00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:31,959 Speaker 2: I know this is a part of my calling and 319 00:18:32,040 --> 00:18:32,879 Speaker 2: I've never doubted it. 320 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:37,320 Speaker 6: Since scrolling won't change your life, but subscribing just might. 321 00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:41,680 Speaker 6: We're sharing real stories, heart won wisdom and unforgettable lessons 322 00:18:41,720 --> 00:18:44,280 Speaker 6: that stay with you long after the screen goals. Start 323 00:18:44,720 --> 00:18:48,119 Speaker 6: tap that button and stay connected to conversations that truly 324 00:18:48,160 --> 00:18:49,280 Speaker 6: count joys. 325 00:18:49,280 --> 00:18:52,080 Speaker 5: I want to ask you about your calling because you've 326 00:18:52,080 --> 00:18:57,040 Speaker 5: been an actor, producer, chef, designer, host, author, and entrepreneur. 327 00:18:57,359 --> 00:18:59,520 Speaker 5: When so many people just want to stick with us 328 00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:02,280 Speaker 5: being come, You've done the opposites. Why is it so 329 00:19:02,280 --> 00:19:04,520 Speaker 5: important to you to keep on challenging yourself in the 330 00:19:04,560 --> 00:19:05,720 Speaker 5: way that you continue to do. 331 00:19:07,400 --> 00:19:13,520 Speaker 4: I love a spice of life. I love variety. I 332 00:19:13,560 --> 00:19:19,000 Speaker 4: don't like getting bored. I like learning and growing and 333 00:19:19,440 --> 00:19:22,520 Speaker 4: having my hands and a lot of things. And I 334 00:19:22,560 --> 00:19:26,200 Speaker 4: feel like, at heart, like my base. I'm a producer 335 00:19:26,960 --> 00:19:30,800 Speaker 4: first because I love pulling people together. I love when 336 00:19:30,840 --> 00:19:34,720 Speaker 4: we would watch those musicals that Journey mentioned when we're 337 00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:36,720 Speaker 4: growing up, I always drew to the person. 338 00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:39,720 Speaker 2: I love the person who'd say, hey, kids, let's go 339 00:19:39,760 --> 00:19:42,280 Speaker 2: put on a show, and then they'd get everywhere together 340 00:19:42,440 --> 00:19:43,600 Speaker 2: and they'd make it happen. 341 00:19:44,840 --> 00:19:47,960 Speaker 4: I love being the person who can make things happen 342 00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:51,280 Speaker 4: and take all of the creative components of a project 343 00:19:51,320 --> 00:19:54,439 Speaker 4: and pull them together. But I also love humanity and 344 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:58,199 Speaker 4: I love working with people. So at the core of 345 00:19:58,240 --> 00:20:02,840 Speaker 4: what I do, my passion, my purpose is connecting people 346 00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:08,680 Speaker 4: in spaces of joy and storytelling and real connection. So 347 00:20:09,040 --> 00:20:13,359 Speaker 4: I don't like false, you know, connections. I don't like 348 00:20:13,480 --> 00:20:17,120 Speaker 4: surface I like going deep. And so when we do 349 00:20:17,880 --> 00:20:20,199 Speaker 4: our show, my brother and I Living by Design, we 350 00:20:20,280 --> 00:20:23,520 Speaker 4: host and produce that show as well. It's really important 351 00:20:23,560 --> 00:20:26,480 Speaker 4: to get into the minds of the clients who are 352 00:20:26,600 --> 00:20:30,040 Speaker 4: who we're redesigning for to really know how to bring 353 00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:34,000 Speaker 4: out what they want in their space and really make 354 00:20:34,040 --> 00:20:36,680 Speaker 4: their space feel like a sanctuary to them and make 355 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:39,160 Speaker 4: it reflective of who they are. So when anyone walks 356 00:20:39,160 --> 00:20:42,920 Speaker 4: into their space, they're like, oh, this is definitely them. 357 00:20:43,200 --> 00:20:45,240 Speaker 2: I see their heart, I see their soul. 358 00:20:45,600 --> 00:20:48,920 Speaker 5: And you're putting that into practice with your show, of course, 359 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:51,840 Speaker 5: Living by Design that you just reference with Jake helping 360 00:20:51,840 --> 00:20:54,840 Speaker 5: millennial families create dream spaces of breaking the bank so 361 00:20:55,200 --> 00:20:57,440 Speaker 5: all right, we have a lot of millennials that watch 362 00:20:57,520 --> 00:20:59,240 Speaker 5: the show and listen to us. What are a couple 363 00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:03,160 Speaker 5: of things best hop tips from lazz here in terms 364 00:21:03,240 --> 00:21:05,760 Speaker 5: of what you can do to help spruce up that 365 00:21:05,840 --> 00:21:06,920 Speaker 5: house when money is tight. 366 00:21:08,280 --> 00:21:11,560 Speaker 4: Yes. So first first, first thing I always tell people 367 00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:16,600 Speaker 4: is a new coat of paint. If your space has 368 00:21:16,640 --> 00:21:19,880 Speaker 4: not been painted in a while, you need to get 369 00:21:19,920 --> 00:21:22,159 Speaker 4: a fresh coat of paint. Whether you're changing the color 370 00:21:23,160 --> 00:21:25,919 Speaker 4: or whether you're just putting a fresh coat of the 371 00:21:25,960 --> 00:21:29,320 Speaker 4: color you have. It immediately brightens the space. It immediately 372 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:32,840 Speaker 4: makes it feel fresher and newer. The other thing I 373 00:21:32,880 --> 00:21:36,480 Speaker 4: would say is don't be restricted to what you consider neutral. 374 00:21:36,920 --> 00:21:39,760 Speaker 4: So neutrals are not just tans and off whites and 375 00:21:39,840 --> 00:21:44,720 Speaker 4: creams and whites and things like that. Neutrals are also navies. 376 00:21:45,680 --> 00:21:49,840 Speaker 4: Neutral can be a sage green. You don't have to 377 00:21:49,880 --> 00:21:53,160 Speaker 4: be stuck with just the lighter colors to go neutral. 378 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:55,880 Speaker 4: Don't be afraid of color if you love color. And 379 00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:58,880 Speaker 4: the third thing I would say is to really think 380 00:21:58,920 --> 00:22:03,320 Speaker 4: about the function of your space and the heart of 381 00:22:03,320 --> 00:22:07,240 Speaker 4: your space. So really think about if what you're doing 382 00:22:07,280 --> 00:22:09,359 Speaker 4: to the space is going to be functional, but also 383 00:22:09,440 --> 00:22:12,399 Speaker 4: stylish at the same time, and you don't have to 384 00:22:12,480 --> 00:22:15,199 Speaker 4: follow any particular set of rules. You can have your 385 00:22:15,240 --> 00:22:19,440 Speaker 4: sofa floating. It doesn't have to be against the wall. 386 00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:22,520 Speaker 4: That might not be the best suited for your particular 387 00:22:22,720 --> 00:22:26,760 Speaker 4: living room. So really think about how your living room 388 00:22:26,840 --> 00:22:29,760 Speaker 4: is structured. And then the last bonus tip I'll say 389 00:22:29,920 --> 00:22:33,320 Speaker 4: is bring greenery in. It's great to bring in live 390 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:36,280 Speaker 4: plants and things like that, to bring the outdoors in 391 00:22:36,359 --> 00:22:40,600 Speaker 4: because we are natural human beings and nature makes us 392 00:22:40,640 --> 00:22:41,200 Speaker 4: feel it live. 393 00:22:42,280 --> 00:22:45,000 Speaker 2: One of the things I love though about Also what 394 00:22:45,040 --> 00:22:47,159 Speaker 2: you all do in the show is you all thrift 395 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:51,119 Speaker 2: a lot and you'll remodel like the old bookcase that 396 00:22:50,720 --> 00:22:56,880 Speaker 2: you get on Facebook for free, and you'll painted or 397 00:22:57,000 --> 00:22:57,840 Speaker 2: rebuild it. 398 00:22:57,960 --> 00:23:01,080 Speaker 4: I call it online thrifting, so a lot of it. 399 00:23:01,119 --> 00:23:04,880 Speaker 4: Because our budgets are also tight, we do a lot 400 00:23:04,880 --> 00:23:07,960 Speaker 4: of online thrifting, so gently use items that you can 401 00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:12,200 Speaker 4: either refurbish. Which one more story I do remember Journey's 402 00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:16,520 Speaker 4: high chair when she was little, was off the street 403 00:23:17,520 --> 00:23:21,640 Speaker 4: and our mom sanded it down and she repainted it, 404 00:23:21,760 --> 00:23:23,440 Speaker 4: uh a royal purple. 405 00:23:23,960 --> 00:23:28,800 Speaker 6: So let's talk a little bit more about sisterhood because 406 00:23:28,840 --> 00:23:32,800 Speaker 6: outside of my relationship for me, outside of my relationship 407 00:23:32,840 --> 00:23:38,040 Speaker 6: with my husband and our daughter, my sisters are the 408 00:23:38,040 --> 00:23:42,520 Speaker 6: most important relationships in my life. And you all seem 409 00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:46,160 Speaker 6: to have this incredible bond that that only sisters can 410 00:23:46,160 --> 00:23:48,640 Speaker 6: bring to each other. Because sisters are the people that 411 00:23:48,720 --> 00:23:52,040 Speaker 6: can make us laugh the hardest. They are there when 412 00:23:52,080 --> 00:23:55,480 Speaker 6: we need them the most. They tell us the truth 413 00:23:55,680 --> 00:23:59,040 Speaker 6: when no one els will journey. What's one truth your 414 00:23:59,080 --> 00:24:02,000 Speaker 6: sister told you that you really needed, even if you 415 00:24:02,040 --> 00:24:03,240 Speaker 6: didn't want to hear it at the time. 416 00:24:05,080 --> 00:24:11,800 Speaker 2: Oh, you're trying to get real zed. Honestly, the thing 417 00:24:11,840 --> 00:24:15,800 Speaker 2: that popped recently into my head would probably have been 418 00:24:15,880 --> 00:24:18,359 Speaker 2: like some cooking advice, and. 419 00:24:18,280 --> 00:24:19,119 Speaker 7: You didn't want to hear it. 420 00:24:19,920 --> 00:24:23,040 Speaker 2: No, because you know you asked the question about competition. 421 00:24:23,119 --> 00:24:27,119 Speaker 2: We are not competitive at all except in two areas. Okay, 422 00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:31,199 Speaker 2: all six of my siblings, no five siblings, but all 423 00:24:31,240 --> 00:24:34,080 Speaker 2: six of us kids, right, we are We are so 424 00:24:34,240 --> 00:24:38,879 Speaker 2: not competitive. Unless you're planning a game or if you're cooking. 425 00:24:40,359 --> 00:24:42,439 Speaker 2: Jazz will come in there and she will taste a 426 00:24:42,520 --> 00:24:44,960 Speaker 2: dish and be like, mm mmmm, you gotta put it. 427 00:24:45,840 --> 00:24:50,679 Speaker 2: You gotta put more season than that. I'll try to 428 00:24:50,680 --> 00:24:56,080 Speaker 2: get No. Jazz is notorious for being the ones to 429 00:24:56,240 --> 00:24:58,080 Speaker 2: go and grab a spoon and you gotta be like 430 00:24:58,160 --> 00:25:00,600 Speaker 2: uh uh uh uh, it's not done yet, Like stay 431 00:25:00,640 --> 00:25:01,600 Speaker 2: out the kids, stay. 432 00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:02,720 Speaker 7: Out in the pot like that. 433 00:25:02,920 --> 00:25:04,200 Speaker 6: That's what we say. That's what we say to you. 434 00:25:04,240 --> 00:25:08,680 Speaker 6: Don't get my pots yet. So now, Jazz, look, now, 435 00:25:08,720 --> 00:25:09,920 Speaker 6: the same question to you. 436 00:25:10,320 --> 00:25:15,280 Speaker 4: Most times I do appreciate it, but there there's definitely 437 00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:17,880 Speaker 4: those little bits of advice of like, well, you don't 438 00:25:17,960 --> 00:25:20,879 Speaker 4: have to let that go. Like I think a recent 439 00:25:20,880 --> 00:25:23,080 Speaker 4: one was probably about motherhood. It was something I was 440 00:25:23,119 --> 00:25:27,280 Speaker 4: feeling guilty about something I was like, you know, like, oh, 441 00:25:27,320 --> 00:25:29,679 Speaker 4: but I'm not I'm not able to do this, or 442 00:25:29,920 --> 00:25:32,920 Speaker 4: like as far as like yeah, oh I wasn't able 443 00:25:32,960 --> 00:25:37,000 Speaker 4: to fix the situation for her, for my daughter, or 444 00:25:37,040 --> 00:25:40,640 Speaker 4: I wasn't able to I was. I was working this 445 00:25:40,800 --> 00:25:43,320 Speaker 4: on set this particular day, and my daughter was with 446 00:25:43,400 --> 00:25:46,280 Speaker 4: me and I couldn't take her to a specific thing, 447 00:25:46,359 --> 00:25:47,480 Speaker 4: and my sister took her. 448 00:25:47,880 --> 00:25:50,600 Speaker 2: I brought I brought Nyla out to New York and 449 00:25:50,720 --> 00:25:53,760 Speaker 2: Jazz was living by design recently, and I brought her 450 00:25:53,760 --> 00:25:57,520 Speaker 2: out and I brought Hunter, my son, and Jazz had 451 00:25:58,000 --> 00:26:00,439 Speaker 2: schedule a day that she was supposed to be off, 452 00:26:01,280 --> 00:26:04,119 Speaker 2: and she she had scheduled this day. Listen, let me 453 00:26:04,160 --> 00:26:07,720 Speaker 2: tell you. She was going to take Nihilt to was 454 00:26:07,800 --> 00:26:11,000 Speaker 2: taking her the dancing at she was taking her to 455 00:26:11,080 --> 00:26:12,800 Speaker 2: the museum, she was gonna take her to see the 456 00:26:12,880 --> 00:26:15,840 Speaker 2: rock Yester that night. She had the day scheduled because 457 00:26:15,880 --> 00:26:18,520 Speaker 2: Jazz is she will pack a day. She's a producer, 458 00:26:19,240 --> 00:26:22,080 Speaker 2: exactly exactly, and she's like, I'm gonna show you the town. 459 00:26:22,240 --> 00:26:25,680 Speaker 2: I'm gonna show you, you know. And the set ended 460 00:26:25,720 --> 00:26:28,760 Speaker 2: up needing Jazz to work that day, and it was 461 00:26:28,800 --> 00:26:30,520 Speaker 2: the only day she was going to have off the 462 00:26:30,680 --> 00:26:32,760 Speaker 2: entire time. Nyla was going to be there. She was 463 00:26:32,840 --> 00:26:36,439 Speaker 2: so like, she felt so bad and so guilty, and like, 464 00:26:37,200 --> 00:26:40,119 Speaker 2: you know, we both have a tendency in certain areas 465 00:26:40,119 --> 00:26:43,320 Speaker 2: to struggle with mom guilt, which I think a lot 466 00:26:43,359 --> 00:26:46,840 Speaker 2: of moms all the way to yeah, exactly, And it's 467 00:26:46,880 --> 00:26:50,359 Speaker 2: not just working moms. It's like, you know, the gamut, yes, 468 00:26:50,920 --> 00:26:54,680 Speaker 2: and and so there's often times where we both have 469 00:26:54,760 --> 00:26:58,239 Speaker 2: to remind each other of that of like they're not 470 00:26:58,280 --> 00:27:03,080 Speaker 2: going to remember that, but they're gonna remember is it's 471 00:27:03,119 --> 00:27:06,680 Speaker 2: just how present you are there, how present you are 472 00:27:06,720 --> 00:27:10,479 Speaker 2: when you are there, and she's gonna remember seeing her 473 00:27:10,520 --> 00:27:13,920 Speaker 2: mom be this this this boss, one said, and she's 474 00:27:13,920 --> 00:27:17,639 Speaker 2: gonna remember, you know, how intentional her mom is and 475 00:27:17,680 --> 00:27:21,320 Speaker 2: how inquisitive her mom is. And if there's one time 476 00:27:21,440 --> 00:27:23,320 Speaker 2: that her auntie has to take her to the dance 477 00:27:23,400 --> 00:27:27,960 Speaker 2: class and her mom couldn't, she gonna be fine, you know. Yeah, 478 00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:29,639 Speaker 2: And it's the way Journey will say it. 479 00:27:29,720 --> 00:27:32,800 Speaker 4: So like what you said about how she'll be a boss, 480 00:27:32,840 --> 00:27:34,840 Speaker 4: the way she'll say that is be like, you're. 481 00:27:34,680 --> 00:27:35,639 Speaker 2: Gonna have to let that go. 482 00:27:36,640 --> 00:27:39,879 Speaker 4: And it's like pointed, it's like and you're like, because 483 00:27:39,880 --> 00:27:42,400 Speaker 4: she's saying it, she's saying it to me, she's saying 484 00:27:42,440 --> 00:27:44,600 Speaker 4: it to herself, and she's saying it to all the 485 00:27:44,680 --> 00:27:48,320 Speaker 4: moms in the world, and that one like it's the thing, 486 00:27:48,359 --> 00:27:50,600 Speaker 4: it's the thing of like, and so it hits you like, 487 00:27:51,160 --> 00:27:55,240 Speaker 4: I know, but I feel guilty, like, and you're like, 488 00:27:55,960 --> 00:27:58,959 Speaker 4: that's true. And at the exact moment you may not 489 00:27:59,040 --> 00:28:01,199 Speaker 4: want to hear it, but it's not that it's horrible 490 00:28:01,200 --> 00:28:03,879 Speaker 4: to you. It's just like, I know. 491 00:28:05,040 --> 00:28:10,399 Speaker 1: So you both have had this incredible success, but oftentimes 492 00:28:10,480 --> 00:28:15,800 Speaker 1: we learn more when things don't go as we planned. 493 00:28:17,359 --> 00:28:19,159 Speaker 1: I want to ask you both about a moment of 494 00:28:19,280 --> 00:28:22,680 Speaker 1: failure that became one of your greatest teachers. 495 00:28:24,240 --> 00:28:27,800 Speaker 2: Honestly, there was a moment I had a few years ago. 496 00:28:30,160 --> 00:28:37,919 Speaker 2: It was COVID and I was shooting. I was shooting 497 00:28:37,960 --> 00:28:41,200 Speaker 2: overseas and because of COVID, you know, at the time, 498 00:28:41,360 --> 00:28:44,720 Speaker 2: if you remember, like you had to quarantine and so 499 00:28:44,800 --> 00:28:48,680 Speaker 2: the studios were during this process where you quarantine for 500 00:28:48,720 --> 00:28:51,720 Speaker 2: fourteen days and then you could be one set. And 501 00:28:51,800 --> 00:28:58,640 Speaker 2: so it was the holidays, and it was probably a 502 00:28:58,680 --> 00:29:01,120 Speaker 2: really really low time for me because it was the 503 00:29:01,160 --> 00:29:04,800 Speaker 2: first time I had to send my son back to 504 00:29:04,880 --> 00:29:11,440 Speaker 2: the States and couldn't be there for Christmas. I mean, 505 00:29:11,840 --> 00:29:15,760 Speaker 2: I was devastated and I felt really depressed, honestly, and 506 00:29:15,920 --> 00:29:18,560 Speaker 2: like this just is not how life is supposed to be. 507 00:29:21,280 --> 00:29:24,479 Speaker 2: And it was in that moment, you know, I'm sitting 508 00:29:25,640 --> 00:29:28,360 Speaker 2: and it's wild because God will give you so many 509 00:29:28,520 --> 00:29:32,560 Speaker 2: gifts and so many blessings, right, but there's still those 510 00:29:32,600 --> 00:29:36,120 Speaker 2: moments of humility where you gotta go, all right, I'm 511 00:29:36,200 --> 00:29:38,360 Speaker 2: leaving it all at the altar. God, what you need now? 512 00:29:38,440 --> 00:29:40,560 Speaker 2: You need to deepen where are we going? You know, 513 00:29:40,640 --> 00:29:44,080 Speaker 2: and just trust and your faith is really tested because 514 00:29:44,080 --> 00:29:45,880 Speaker 2: you're like wait, but this is what I've worked so 515 00:29:45,960 --> 00:29:49,560 Speaker 2: hard to have, and yet it still feels empty, and 516 00:29:49,600 --> 00:29:51,960 Speaker 2: it still feels like, wait, this is not how life 517 00:29:52,080 --> 00:29:55,080 Speaker 2: is supposed to be. Like I imagine family would be a 518 00:29:55,080 --> 00:29:59,040 Speaker 2: certain way, and I imagine, you know, when you get 519 00:29:59,040 --> 00:30:02,560 Speaker 2: married and you think it's going last. All these things 520 00:30:02,880 --> 00:30:06,040 Speaker 2: didn't actually work out the way I thought it would. 521 00:30:06,120 --> 00:30:09,360 Speaker 2: And so I'm in this house by myself and can 522 00:30:09,520 --> 00:30:13,760 Speaker 2: leave and feel guilty for even feeling bad, you know, 523 00:30:13,840 --> 00:30:16,000 Speaker 2: because you're like you too, fripleaged these people in the 524 00:30:16,000 --> 00:30:19,800 Speaker 2: world that's like their life is really struggling. And I 525 00:30:19,840 --> 00:30:23,360 Speaker 2: was talking to one of my coaches, actually one of 526 00:30:23,400 --> 00:30:26,440 Speaker 2: my acting coaches, and he said to me, he was like, 527 00:30:27,120 --> 00:30:31,120 Speaker 2: when's the last time you read You read Danny the 528 00:30:31,120 --> 00:30:34,840 Speaker 2: Deep Blusy. It's one of my favorite plays. And my 529 00:30:34,960 --> 00:30:38,560 Speaker 2: coach she feels like everything is solved with art. And 530 00:30:38,680 --> 00:30:41,840 Speaker 2: so I went and I printed out a bootlet copy 531 00:30:41,880 --> 00:30:43,959 Speaker 2: of the play and did the play to an audience. 532 00:30:43,960 --> 00:30:49,000 Speaker 2: I'm no one but myself, And there was something about 533 00:30:49,000 --> 00:30:51,600 Speaker 2: that moment that I knew God was going You're either 534 00:30:51,680 --> 00:30:54,880 Speaker 2: going to in this moment push through and become the 535 00:30:54,920 --> 00:30:59,280 Speaker 2: most authentic version of yourself and lean into your gifts 536 00:30:59,280 --> 00:31:01,920 Speaker 2: and lean into to what calling I have on your life, 537 00:31:02,040 --> 00:31:04,800 Speaker 2: or you're going to become a lie. Thank God, God 538 00:31:04,800 --> 00:31:08,440 Speaker 2: brought me out of it and that moment, you know, 539 00:31:08,520 --> 00:31:11,200 Speaker 2: I've poured into my art. I've used it in so 540 00:31:11,320 --> 00:31:13,720 Speaker 2: many moments, have called on it in so many moments, 541 00:31:13,880 --> 00:31:17,000 Speaker 2: because I do believe I'm drawn to these kind of 542 00:31:17,120 --> 00:31:19,360 Speaker 2: characters where you do have to make a sacrifice, you 543 00:31:19,400 --> 00:31:21,400 Speaker 2: do have to leave something on the altar, and they 544 00:31:21,440 --> 00:31:23,560 Speaker 2: do require a lot of me and it requires me 545 00:31:23,640 --> 00:31:26,680 Speaker 2: to go to these dark places. But I also feel 546 00:31:26,680 --> 00:31:31,160 Speaker 2: like God wants me to portray these emotions on screen 547 00:31:31,240 --> 00:31:33,480 Speaker 2: so they could be healing for someone else, because I 548 00:31:33,520 --> 00:31:37,080 Speaker 2: think art is healing. It makes us feel less alone. 549 00:31:37,120 --> 00:31:40,280 Speaker 2: Like that play in that moment made me feel less alone. 550 00:31:40,840 --> 00:31:44,000 Speaker 2: It made me feel like, Oh, my experience is not 551 00:31:44,120 --> 00:31:48,880 Speaker 2: unique to me. It's universal, and failure is just an 552 00:31:48,880 --> 00:31:50,120 Speaker 2: opportunity to get back up. 553 00:31:51,960 --> 00:31:52,840 Speaker 7: Now Journey. 554 00:31:53,160 --> 00:31:56,040 Speaker 6: For your most recent role on the series Smoke, which 555 00:31:56,120 --> 00:31:59,800 Speaker 6: is on Apple Plus, you gain twenty pounds of muscle 556 00:32:00,440 --> 00:32:04,560 Speaker 6: to play Michelle, a former marine turned detective. What did 557 00:32:04,640 --> 00:32:09,040 Speaker 6: you discover about strength through that transformation? Both mental strength 558 00:32:09,080 --> 00:32:10,080 Speaker 6: and physical strength? 559 00:32:11,080 --> 00:32:18,200 Speaker 2: I learned a deeper appreciation for willpower and pushing yourself 560 00:32:18,280 --> 00:32:23,520 Speaker 2: past your own limits. I never thought i'd be able 561 00:32:23,560 --> 00:32:26,360 Speaker 2: to become as strong as I became, and I give 562 00:32:26,440 --> 00:32:29,800 Speaker 2: credit to my trainer, Jeanette Jenkins. Shout out to Jeannette, 563 00:32:30,000 --> 00:32:33,240 Speaker 2: but I just, you know, physically felt stronger than I 564 00:32:33,360 --> 00:32:37,680 Speaker 2: ever have. And I think there was something that happened 565 00:32:37,680 --> 00:32:40,720 Speaker 2: to my body after I gave birth to Hunter. You know, 566 00:32:40,800 --> 00:32:45,040 Speaker 2: my limbs were kind of like all wobbly, and it 567 00:32:45,160 --> 00:32:48,440 Speaker 2: was really a new body I had, and I went 568 00:32:48,480 --> 00:32:50,959 Speaker 2: through this period of kind of grieving my old body 569 00:32:50,960 --> 00:32:54,160 Speaker 2: and grieving my old self, which unfortunately I don't think 570 00:32:54,200 --> 00:32:57,320 Speaker 2: we talk about enough as women. We don't share that. 571 00:32:57,640 --> 00:33:02,840 Speaker 2: It's like kind of taboo, and it's like people would 572 00:33:02,960 --> 00:33:06,280 Speaker 2: comment about to snap back, and you like, wait, that's 573 00:33:06,360 --> 00:33:08,600 Speaker 2: not the goal, because I actually don't feel healthy right now, 574 00:33:08,760 --> 00:33:11,680 Speaker 2: you know. And I was like doing fight scenes on 575 00:33:11,760 --> 00:33:14,040 Speaker 2: Lovecraft and like going off and trying to like pump, 576 00:33:14,200 --> 00:33:18,880 Speaker 2: you know, in between setups, and I remember just not 577 00:33:19,240 --> 00:33:23,560 Speaker 2: feeling still in my body, you know. And I think 578 00:33:23,720 --> 00:33:28,440 Speaker 2: there was something about this training session that I embarked 579 00:33:28,480 --> 00:33:31,480 Speaker 2: on with Jeanette where it wasn't about how I looked. 580 00:33:32,200 --> 00:33:37,479 Speaker 2: It wasn't about you know, trying to snap back or 581 00:33:37,600 --> 00:33:41,040 Speaker 2: have any sort of you know, sizes or anything like that. 582 00:33:41,120 --> 00:33:45,680 Speaker 2: It was truly about just being strong and it made 583 00:33:45,680 --> 00:33:49,200 Speaker 2: my character better. It made me understand her more, you 584 00:33:49,240 --> 00:33:53,000 Speaker 2: know than marine workouts, Like they are no joke, you know. 585 00:33:53,240 --> 00:33:57,600 Speaker 2: And Jeanette pushed me so hard where I was able 586 00:33:57,640 --> 00:34:00,280 Speaker 2: to literally like, I was so excited when I could 587 00:34:00,280 --> 00:34:03,400 Speaker 2: lift my own weight, and then she got me to 588 00:34:03,440 --> 00:34:06,520 Speaker 2: the point where I could lift double my weight and 589 00:34:07,480 --> 00:34:11,200 Speaker 2: I was like, oh, there is literally nothing I can't do, 590 00:34:11,520 --> 00:34:15,279 Speaker 2: you know, Like that's just where your mind goes, the 591 00:34:15,520 --> 00:34:19,240 Speaker 2: of like whoa the human will power that we're given. 592 00:34:19,800 --> 00:34:22,600 Speaker 2: You know, we think this is the ceiling and it's 593 00:34:22,640 --> 00:34:25,520 Speaker 2: actually not. And you went once you pressed through that 594 00:34:26,360 --> 00:34:29,920 Speaker 2: and you know it's look, it's it's it. I have 595 00:34:30,280 --> 00:34:33,359 Speaker 2: an incredible support team. It was it was hard, though, 596 00:34:33,440 --> 00:34:36,360 Speaker 2: like the pain of that and like the hours and 597 00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:39,719 Speaker 2: then you're still trying to be mommy. And Hunter once said, 598 00:34:39,920 --> 00:34:44,080 Speaker 2: so I started incorporate Hunter in my workout all the time. 599 00:34:44,440 --> 00:34:47,120 Speaker 2: It would be he would be mimmy, let's do some squats, 600 00:34:47,120 --> 00:34:49,880 Speaker 2: and I would just put him right in front of me. 601 00:34:49,960 --> 00:34:53,160 Speaker 2: And like hold under his legs and squat him, you know. 602 00:34:53,680 --> 00:34:57,160 Speaker 2: And I think you know that's now we evolve into 603 00:34:57,200 --> 00:34:59,720 Speaker 2: something beautiful where he and I now work out together 604 00:35:00,200 --> 00:35:03,759 Speaker 2: and he loves he's so athletic. He's always been that way, 605 00:35:03,840 --> 00:35:06,680 Speaker 2: but he loves It's like another way for us to bond. 606 00:35:08,000 --> 00:35:11,480 Speaker 2: But yeah, it was it was important for the character 607 00:35:11,560 --> 00:35:13,640 Speaker 2: to do, to do justice to the character. 608 00:35:14,440 --> 00:35:18,600 Speaker 6: Okay, so motherhood. We could do a whole segment just 609 00:35:18,719 --> 00:35:21,520 Speaker 6: on on motherhood. And I know we've been talking about 610 00:35:21,960 --> 00:35:25,440 Speaker 6: these defining moments in your lives. Both of you all 611 00:35:25,480 --> 00:35:29,080 Speaker 6: are mothers. And Journey you wrote something beautiful about Jazz 612 00:35:29,160 --> 00:35:32,839 Speaker 6: on Mother's Day, and so I'm gonna read it. Motherhood 613 00:35:32,920 --> 00:35:36,440 Speaker 6: has been the most sole, expanding, purpose filled role of 614 00:35:36,480 --> 00:35:39,600 Speaker 6: my life. And to walk this journey side by side 615 00:35:39,640 --> 00:35:42,920 Speaker 6: with my sister, that's been one of the greatest blessings. 616 00:35:43,360 --> 00:35:48,440 Speaker 6: We've grown, learned and loved deeply together. But this question 617 00:35:48,600 --> 00:35:52,520 Speaker 6: is gonna be to Jazz. What do you admire most 618 00:35:52,600 --> 00:35:54,040 Speaker 6: about Journey as a mother? 619 00:35:54,280 --> 00:35:56,719 Speaker 2: Oh? I love that. 620 00:35:58,880 --> 00:36:03,279 Speaker 4: Something I admire most about Journey as a mother is 621 00:36:05,200 --> 00:36:09,160 Speaker 4: her ability to get in there with Hunter. She mentioned 622 00:36:09,200 --> 00:36:12,920 Speaker 4: he's really athletic and she'll be out there playing with 623 00:36:13,000 --> 00:36:17,600 Speaker 4: him on the basketball court tirelessly. I admire that she's 624 00:36:17,640 --> 00:36:20,240 Speaker 4: a boy mom, because it seems like a whole different 625 00:36:20,280 --> 00:36:28,799 Speaker 4: beast to me. I admire her intentionality and her ability 626 00:36:28,920 --> 00:36:33,640 Speaker 4: to mostly like keep things in perspective, to not get 627 00:36:33,800 --> 00:36:37,239 Speaker 4: swallowed up by motherhood, if that makes sense. So I 628 00:36:37,239 --> 00:36:40,960 Speaker 4: don't know if that's about motherhood. It is, though about motherhood, yeah, 629 00:36:41,040 --> 00:36:46,359 Speaker 4: because I always admire her ability to love Hunter and 630 00:36:46,440 --> 00:36:49,279 Speaker 4: to be present with him but not get swallowed up, 631 00:36:50,200 --> 00:36:55,960 Speaker 4: and to remain true to her passions and her life 632 00:36:56,080 --> 00:36:59,400 Speaker 4: and her loves and all the facets that make her 633 00:36:59,440 --> 00:37:04,120 Speaker 4: a full one. I admire how she steps into her 634 00:37:04,160 --> 00:37:06,680 Speaker 4: womanhood in motherhood. 635 00:37:07,680 --> 00:37:11,360 Speaker 1: A journey. We have a connection that many people perhaps 636 00:37:11,440 --> 00:37:15,880 Speaker 1: don't know about. I'm sure when you were twelve years old, 637 00:37:16,560 --> 00:37:20,600 Speaker 1: you were in a film called Selma Lord and played 638 00:37:20,880 --> 00:37:23,600 Speaker 1: the character of a friend of mine, Shyanne with Christberg, 639 00:37:23,640 --> 00:37:25,759 Speaker 1: who became a friend of my father's. In fact, was 640 00:37:25,800 --> 00:37:29,680 Speaker 1: the youngest, probably one of the youngest persons who marched 641 00:37:29,719 --> 00:37:34,760 Speaker 1: from Selma to Montgomery. But my sister Yolanda played your teacher. 642 00:37:35,480 --> 00:37:38,000 Speaker 1: What do you remember from that experience? 643 00:37:39,560 --> 00:37:42,400 Speaker 2: One? How much I love your sister, you know, and 644 00:37:42,880 --> 00:37:47,200 Speaker 2: the friendship that we established, not just during Selma Lord Soema, 645 00:37:47,320 --> 00:37:51,000 Speaker 2: but into my adulthood. I would call her all the 646 00:37:51,040 --> 00:37:56,319 Speaker 2: time and ask for advice or you know, she was 647 00:37:56,520 --> 00:38:03,960 Speaker 2: such a phenomenal spirit. You know. I do remember shooting 648 00:38:04,160 --> 00:38:11,359 Speaker 2: the Bloody Sunday scene, and it was actually truly impactful 649 00:38:11,400 --> 00:38:13,759 Speaker 2: on me, you know, my mom in those moments when 650 00:38:13,840 --> 00:38:16,919 Speaker 2: whether it's Eves by You or Selma or Sea, these 651 00:38:16,960 --> 00:38:22,920 Speaker 2: were obviously adult heavy topics. Although Selma was made for kids, 652 00:38:22,960 --> 00:38:27,759 Speaker 2: I think, but it's still we went to places that 653 00:38:27,880 --> 00:38:32,240 Speaker 2: were dark, you know, and heavy for a ten eleven, 654 00:38:32,360 --> 00:38:38,160 Speaker 2: twelve year old. And I remember being so shooken up 655 00:38:38,239 --> 00:38:40,520 Speaker 2: by that scene, you know, like they had the tear 656 00:38:40,640 --> 00:38:45,680 Speaker 2: gas and the dogs and the police officers who were 657 00:38:45,719 --> 00:38:51,399 Speaker 2: like beaten folks up. And I remember talking with your 658 00:38:51,400 --> 00:38:56,960 Speaker 2: sister a lot about that of like just the disbelief 659 00:38:57,040 --> 00:39:01,520 Speaker 2: I had that Yo, our people survived this come from this. 660 00:39:01,800 --> 00:39:05,480 Speaker 2: You know. My mom grew up in the South, and 661 00:39:06,560 --> 00:39:09,560 Speaker 2: we grew up hearing stories about our grandmother working for 662 00:39:09,640 --> 00:39:12,040 Speaker 2: white folks and cleaning the homes of white folks and 663 00:39:12,080 --> 00:39:15,960 Speaker 2: how disrespectful they were and they didn't appreciate her she 664 00:39:16,040 --> 00:39:18,680 Speaker 2: wasn't even given a stool to sit on throughout the day. 665 00:39:18,680 --> 00:39:22,239 Speaker 2: They expected her to stand for the entire time, you know, 666 00:39:22,400 --> 00:39:26,440 Speaker 2: and just like the treatment that they grew up having 667 00:39:26,440 --> 00:39:29,719 Speaker 2: to deal with. Now. I can't tell you how many 668 00:39:29,760 --> 00:39:33,280 Speaker 2: people still tell me how much they loved that movie. 669 00:39:33,320 --> 00:39:37,080 Speaker 2: And oh, I grew up watching Selma, Lord Selman, you know, 670 00:39:37,160 --> 00:39:41,319 Speaker 2: And so I'm grateful to have been a part of 671 00:39:41,320 --> 00:39:44,000 Speaker 2: that project because I think you was very special and 672 00:39:44,400 --> 00:39:47,560 Speaker 2: obviously being able to be a part of anything with 673 00:39:48,239 --> 00:39:51,600 Speaker 2: you and your family, your lineage and your legacy, your 674 00:39:51,640 --> 00:39:57,080 Speaker 2: incredible father and incredible sister, incredible family is still you know, 675 00:39:57,360 --> 00:39:59,600 Speaker 2: it's an honor for me for all. 676 00:39:59,520 --> 00:40:05,279 Speaker 6: Of our life listeners. I cannot recommend that movie high enough. 677 00:40:05,320 --> 00:40:05,520 Speaker 4: It is. 678 00:40:05,840 --> 00:40:09,399 Speaker 6: It is terrific, and it was well done, and it's 679 00:40:10,200 --> 00:40:12,000 Speaker 6: it's just in a way because it was made I 680 00:40:12,000 --> 00:40:15,640 Speaker 6: think it was shown on ABC but for Disney. So 681 00:40:15,680 --> 00:40:19,920 Speaker 6: it's dealing with a very hard subject but in a 682 00:40:19,960 --> 00:40:23,680 Speaker 6: way that children I think can truly see and understand 683 00:40:25,200 --> 00:40:29,480 Speaker 6: and without sensationalized but not I mean, it's a great movie. 684 00:40:29,480 --> 00:40:32,720 Speaker 6: So if anyone with little ones, particularly January and February, 685 00:40:32,800 --> 00:40:35,640 Speaker 6: sit down and watch Selma Lord Selma together as a 686 00:40:35,680 --> 00:40:39,799 Speaker 6: family now Journey. I want to end this conversation with 687 00:40:40,160 --> 00:40:42,680 Speaker 6: another one of my favorite movies that you were in, 688 00:40:43,360 --> 00:40:46,680 Speaker 6: The Great Debaters. Talked about it a little bit earlier, 689 00:40:46,719 --> 00:40:48,880 Speaker 6: and it's based on a true story of a nineteen 690 00:40:49,000 --> 00:40:55,080 Speaker 6: thirties debate team from Wiley College right in Texas, which 691 00:40:55,080 --> 00:40:58,480 Speaker 6: is an historically black university of black college fighting to 692 00:40:58,600 --> 00:41:01,080 Speaker 6: compete against elite white universities. 693 00:41:01,960 --> 00:41:02,719 Speaker 7: I've heard that. 694 00:41:02,719 --> 00:41:06,080 Speaker 6: You've shared that the film completely changed your life. How 695 00:41:06,120 --> 00:41:09,240 Speaker 6: does this experience on The Great Debaters and that story 696 00:41:09,320 --> 00:41:11,160 Speaker 6: continue to inspire you today? 697 00:41:11,560 --> 00:41:14,600 Speaker 2: Oh, great question. I mean, I think on a number 698 00:41:14,640 --> 00:41:19,160 Speaker 2: of levels. Artistically, it was like taking a masterclass, you know. 699 00:41:20,080 --> 00:41:25,840 Speaker 2: I think having the opportunity to not only act alongside 700 00:41:26,239 --> 00:41:30,040 Speaker 2: some of the gat I mean, Denzel's me greatest actor 701 00:41:30,640 --> 00:41:36,600 Speaker 2: of all time, of our generation, you know. And I 702 00:41:36,640 --> 00:41:41,719 Speaker 2: think not just only acting alongside him, but being directed 703 00:41:41,760 --> 00:41:46,759 Speaker 2: by him. It was truly my university. And I had 704 00:41:46,840 --> 00:41:49,960 Speaker 2: my little notepad every day I was writing down all 705 00:41:50,080 --> 00:41:54,520 Speaker 2: the things he said. And there were so many tools 706 00:41:54,560 --> 00:41:58,239 Speaker 2: he gave me and things that I put in my 707 00:41:58,480 --> 00:42:01,200 Speaker 2: back pocket that I still use. Dame my approach to 708 00:42:01,600 --> 00:42:06,719 Speaker 2: the craft and my approach to building character. You know, 709 00:42:06,880 --> 00:42:11,560 Speaker 2: things like not over rehearsing, but rehearsing, you know, knowing 710 00:42:11,760 --> 00:42:17,440 Speaker 2: everyone's lines, studying the great writings of our time, all 711 00:42:17,480 --> 00:42:20,200 Speaker 2: the way back to Shakespeare. You know, he had us, 712 00:42:20,719 --> 00:42:26,560 Speaker 2: he had us actually doing Shakespeare in debate camp, and 713 00:42:27,000 --> 00:42:30,600 Speaker 2: it was just I think the biggest blessing he gave 714 00:42:30,719 --> 00:42:33,920 Speaker 2: us was he would say, all the time, trust your instincts, 715 00:42:34,480 --> 00:42:36,560 Speaker 2: Trust your instinct How would you do it? How would 716 00:42:36,560 --> 00:42:36,879 Speaker 2: you say? 717 00:42:37,600 --> 00:42:37,799 Speaker 4: You know? 718 00:42:38,120 --> 00:42:41,000 Speaker 2: And he didn't want us looking outside of ourselves to 719 00:42:41,080 --> 00:42:45,080 Speaker 2: him for the answers. He really wanted us to understand 720 00:42:45,360 --> 00:42:52,880 Speaker 2: the importance of lee breathing life into a character and 721 00:42:54,440 --> 00:42:58,000 Speaker 2: loaning your soul to that character in order for it 722 00:42:58,080 --> 00:43:02,239 Speaker 2: to have a soul and not try to copy him. 723 00:43:02,640 --> 00:43:08,839 Speaker 2: You know, yes, there are tools, there's ways of approaching 724 00:43:09,000 --> 00:43:12,760 Speaker 2: story and building a biography. Knowing everything about your character 725 00:43:12,840 --> 00:43:14,560 Speaker 2: when you step on said what kind of sheets does 726 00:43:14,600 --> 00:43:18,080 Speaker 2: she sleep on? You know, what does she eat for breakfast? 727 00:43:19,480 --> 00:43:24,520 Speaker 2: So I think it really is one of the It 728 00:43:24,560 --> 00:43:27,000 Speaker 2: definitely was a turning point for me with my craft. 729 00:43:27,120 --> 00:43:30,360 Speaker 2: You know. I think there were a few projects like 730 00:43:30,400 --> 00:43:32,799 Speaker 2: that where it's like, oh man, when you work with 731 00:43:32,880 --> 00:43:36,120 Speaker 2: the greats. You know I've been fortunate enough to work 732 00:43:36,120 --> 00:43:38,399 Speaker 2: with some of the greatest actors of all time. Let 733 00:43:38,440 --> 00:43:41,399 Speaker 2: alone you know of our time, but literally of all time. 734 00:43:42,960 --> 00:43:45,879 Speaker 5: Well, Driniaz, thank you both of you for reminding us 735 00:43:45,920 --> 00:43:49,280 Speaker 5: that legacy isn't built on stages or screens. Is built 736 00:43:49,280 --> 00:43:53,879 Speaker 5: around kitchen tables, even those hand crafted by mothers who 737 00:43:53,960 --> 00:43:57,399 Speaker 5: believed in something bigger. It's built in ways that six 738 00:43:57,440 --> 00:44:00,600 Speaker 5: siblings learned to lift each other up. Is built in 739 00:44:00,600 --> 00:44:04,000 Speaker 5: the choice by keep on reinventing yourselves, by fighting for 740 00:44:04,160 --> 00:44:08,759 Speaker 5: justice and also walking through the journey of motherhood. Thank 741 00:44:08,800 --> 00:44:10,680 Speaker 5: you for your honesty, Thank you for your courage, thank 742 00:44:10,680 --> 00:44:13,000 Speaker 5: you for your passion, thank you for your love. Thank 743 00:44:13,000 --> 00:44:17,239 Speaker 5: you for allowing us to glimpse so briefly but meaningfully 744 00:44:17,280 --> 00:44:20,759 Speaker 5: into your family. And thank you for living your legacy 745 00:44:21,040 --> 00:44:22,200 Speaker 5: every single day. 746 00:44:22,560 --> 00:44:27,279 Speaker 2: Wow, thank you so much, and thank you for having us. 747 00:44:27,360 --> 00:44:30,760 Speaker 2: And truly we look to you all and your family 748 00:44:31,280 --> 00:44:34,719 Speaker 2: for so much meaning and inspiration on the daily. So 749 00:44:34,880 --> 00:44:37,120 Speaker 2: thank you for the contribution you made to our life. 750 00:44:38,440 --> 00:44:42,200 Speaker 3: Thank you for joining us. New episodes drop every Tuesday. 751 00:44:42,680 --> 00:44:45,120 Speaker 3: Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss a moment.