1 00:00:01,320 --> 00:00:04,600 Speaker 1: Hey, lady, is doctor dom here. If you like this 2 00:00:04,720 --> 00:00:07,240 Speaker 1: show and you want to make your own, let me 3 00:00:07,280 --> 00:00:10,840 Speaker 1: tell you about the free platform Anchor. It's a creation 4 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:13,800 Speaker 1: tool that allows you to record and edit your podcast 5 00:00:13,920 --> 00:00:17,280 Speaker 1: right from your phone or computer. You can add songs 6 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:21,000 Speaker 1: from Spotify and create any type of content that you 7 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:24,400 Speaker 1: are looking for. Anchor will distribute it all for you 8 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:28,440 Speaker 1: so it can be heard on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more. 9 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:32,040 Speaker 1: Download the free Anchor app or go to anchor dot 10 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:33,320 Speaker 1: fm to get started. 11 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:38,879 Speaker 2: You on this week's episode of Cultivating her Space, the 12 00:00:38,920 --> 00:00:41,199 Speaker 2: person talking to me about who my character is, what 13 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:42,720 Speaker 2: they feel, what they think, has. 14 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:45,400 Speaker 3: Always been a white man, and if I want that 15 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:49,360 Speaker 3: to change, I need to be the change. So I 16 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:52,199 Speaker 3: decided that I wanted to be a director so that 17 00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:57,840 Speaker 3: I could create the opportunities for black women, especially to 18 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:01,200 Speaker 3: be able to look across the table and have sometimes 19 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:04,480 Speaker 3: the complex and difficult conversations about how we are being 20 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:08,480 Speaker 3: portrayed on the stage than Today's episode is sure to 21 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:13,479 Speaker 3: provide you with motivation, inspiration, or a fresh perspective. If 22 00:01:13,520 --> 00:01:17,640 Speaker 3: you have any AHA moments or appreciate anything from this episode, 23 00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:20,399 Speaker 3: please leave us a review to let us know we're 24 00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:24,959 Speaker 3: on the right track. Also, we release episodes every Friday, 25 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 3: so be sure to subscribe on iTunes and visit cultivatinghurspace 26 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:33,680 Speaker 3: dot com to access our exclusive after show and other 27 00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:36,000 Speaker 3: bonus content from the Patreon tab. 28 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 1: You welcome to Cultivating her Space, a podcast dedicated to 29 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:46,720 Speaker 1: uplifting women like you. We're your hosts, doctor Dominique Bussard, 30 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:49,600 Speaker 1: a college professor and psychologist. 31 00:01:49,080 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 2: And Terry Lomax, a techie and motivational speaker. In a 32 00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 2: world where black women are often misrepresented and misunderstood, please 33 00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:02,960 Speaker 2: join us as we initiate authentic conversations on everything from 34 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:06,120 Speaker 2: five rooids to fake friends, and create a safe space 35 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:07,240 Speaker 2: where black women can. 36 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:08,480 Speaker 3: Just be. 37 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:14,880 Speaker 1: Hey, lady, it's doctor dom here from the Cultivating her 38 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:18,960 Speaker 1: Space podcast. Are you currently a resident of the state 39 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:24,440 Speaker 1: of California in contemplating starting your therapy journey? Well, if so, 40 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:29,480 Speaker 1: please reach out to me at doctor Dominique Brusard dot com. 41 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:34,800 Speaker 1: That's d R D O M I N I q 42 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:39,440 Speaker 1: U E b R O U S s ar D 43 00:02:40,160 --> 00:02:45,160 Speaker 1: dot com to schedule a free fifteen minute consultation. I 44 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:47,320 Speaker 1: look forward to hearing from you. 45 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 2: All right, lady, Today we have a very special guest, 46 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 2: a very inspiring guest in the Cultivating her Space podcast 47 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 2: Today Okay. Shelley Williams is a Brooklyn based director committed 48 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:04,359 Speaker 2: to cultivating the original plays, musicals, and socially conscious theater. 49 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:05,240 Speaker 3: She is the. 50 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:09,760 Speaker 2: Director of the revival of Aida for Disney Theatrical Group, 51 00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:14,680 Speaker 2: Mandela the Musical, and Indigo. She has directed at regional 52 00:03:14,720 --> 00:03:17,960 Speaker 2: theaters and festivals across the country and has a long 53 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:23,359 Speaker 2: history of work on Broadway and Rent Aida and Motown 54 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:26,640 Speaker 2: the Musical And Today, we're super excited to learn more 55 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:30,919 Speaker 2: about Shelley's book, Your Legacy, a bold reclaiming of our 56 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:35,760 Speaker 2: enslaved history. Shelley, welcome to Cultivating her Space. 57 00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:40,000 Speaker 3: Oh, it is so wonderful to be here with y'all. 58 00:03:40,240 --> 00:03:43,920 Speaker 3: I'm happy to be in conversation. We are so excited. 59 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:46,920 Speaker 1: Yes, we are looking forward to this conversation. We have 60 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:50,360 Speaker 1: all kinds of questions, so we are going to start 61 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 1: with our quote of the day. Our quote of the 62 00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 1: day comes from ESA. 63 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:54,960 Speaker 3: Rape. 64 00:03:55,800 --> 00:03:59,840 Speaker 1: Diversity is still a huge issue. We need more people 65 00:03:59,840 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 1: of color and positions of power to green light content. 66 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:06,960 Speaker 1: If you want to see content of color, then it 67 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:12,000 Speaker 1: has to be in the hands of people of color. So, Shelley, 68 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:17,920 Speaker 1: we picked this quote after thinking about all of the 69 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:25,080 Speaker 1: work that you have done in theater and how you 70 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:28,760 Speaker 1: have fought to get a seat at the table, and 71 00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:33,560 Speaker 1: the content that you have intentionally created in theater, but 72 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 1: now also with your book. And so when you hear 73 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:39,680 Speaker 1: this quote, what comes up. 74 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:44,800 Speaker 3: For you that there is an authenticity mandate. I grew up. 75 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:47,680 Speaker 3: I won't speak for you, but I grew up so 76 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:51,720 Speaker 3: happy for whatever we got. I was so happy for 77 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:54,599 Speaker 3: our one show. I was so happy for, you know, 78 00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:57,400 Speaker 3: the one of us that was in a movie, even 79 00:04:57,440 --> 00:05:03,600 Speaker 3: though we got killed first fire. And what's really interesting is, 80 00:05:03,680 --> 00:05:05,760 Speaker 3: you know, I have two daughters that are ten and eleven, 81 00:05:06,440 --> 00:05:10,560 Speaker 3: and they now have the expectation to see themselves. You know, 82 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 3: they're looking around and they're saying, like, Mommy, why are 83 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:14,920 Speaker 3: there only two black girls in the show? And how 84 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:17,720 Speaker 3: come none of them have glasses? And why is their 85 00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:21,520 Speaker 3: hair straight? You know, they're like, they really have this 86 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:29,640 Speaker 3: expectation to see themselves in the world and society as 87 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 3: a whole, especially people of color, have said no more, 88 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:37,839 Speaker 3: are we going to allow our stories to be told 89 00:05:37,880 --> 00:05:42,200 Speaker 3: by someone else? Are we going to allow these generalizations 90 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:48,400 Speaker 3: and these stereotypes about us continue to be perpetuated because 91 00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:53,280 Speaker 3: when we make our own content, it sells. So not 92 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:57,640 Speaker 3: only is it a bad idea to mock us by having, 93 00:05:57,760 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 3: you know, people that are not us you are work, 94 00:06:00,440 --> 00:06:05,000 Speaker 3: it's also bad business. So I think a long way 95 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:08,960 Speaker 3: of you know, in us healing and us getting to 96 00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:13,159 Speaker 3: know each other is to actually have authentic representations of 97 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 3: who we are. 98 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 2: That is beautifully stated and extremely true. So thank you 99 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:20,480 Speaker 2: for pointing that out. Shelly. Can you tell us more 100 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:24,160 Speaker 2: about your origin story and what I guess what made 101 00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:26,919 Speaker 2: you know that you wanted to act, direct and create 102 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:28,120 Speaker 2: Broadway shows? 103 00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:32,119 Speaker 3: Well, I didn't know any of those things. My story 104 00:06:33,160 --> 00:06:36,440 Speaker 3: is that I was a very energetic child and my 105 00:06:36,520 --> 00:06:39,479 Speaker 3: mother said to me because I took like tap, ballet 106 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:43,000 Speaker 3: and jazz growing up, and piano lessons, and I was like, 107 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:45,200 Speaker 3: you know, what did I want to do all those things? 108 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:47,600 Speaker 3: And my mother was like, you had so much energy. 109 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:51,120 Speaker 3: I was like, any class that we can afford, this 110 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:56,360 Speaker 3: child needs to be busy. So I kind of found 111 00:06:56,400 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 3: my way into it. I have always loved telling stories, 112 00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:02,800 Speaker 3: you know. I was the girl who was like, you know, 113 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:06,280 Speaker 3: doing shows in the backyard of my friends, and I've 114 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 3: always been fascinated with with, you know, creating art, any 115 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:14,560 Speaker 3: kind of art. I've always loved it. I've always loved 116 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:18,360 Speaker 3: being on stage. My dad is a professional musician. He's 117 00:07:18,400 --> 00:07:22,040 Speaker 3: the drummer for the Ohio Players. So I grew up 118 00:07:22,160 --> 00:07:24,920 Speaker 3: in the business. I grew up, you know, traveling and 119 00:07:24,960 --> 00:07:28,280 Speaker 3: seeing them perform, you know, on the weekends, and so 120 00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:34,200 Speaker 3: being in the business. She was a very realistic profession 121 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:36,800 Speaker 3: I was not, you know, I wasn't raised with parents 122 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:39,160 Speaker 3: who were like, that's not a real job. I was 123 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:41,120 Speaker 3: raised with parents but like, that is a real job. 124 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 3: If that's what you want to do, follow your heart, 125 00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:46,800 Speaker 3: follow your passion. But I was also raised with, you know, 126 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:50,480 Speaker 3: because my dad is a musician. He practices every day. 127 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:53,880 Speaker 3: So if you're going to follow your heart, it takes 128 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:58,040 Speaker 3: rigor to do that. There was no question about, you know, 129 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:00,400 Speaker 3: whether I just like to dance. It's like, if you 130 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:02,120 Speaker 3: like it, you're going to take lessons, You're going to 131 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:04,760 Speaker 3: practice every day, you know. So there was There's a 132 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:07,680 Speaker 3: lot of work that goes with following your dreams, whatever 133 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:11,080 Speaker 3: they are. But I started in Dayton, Ohio, and then 134 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:13,120 Speaker 3: ended up in New York City. I went to the 135 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 3: American Musical and Dramatic Academy and was an actor for 136 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:20,920 Speaker 3: ten years on Broadway, and became a director in my 137 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:25,040 Speaker 3: mid thirties. And it was very scary to change careers. 138 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 3: When I was at the height of my career as 139 00:08:27,160 --> 00:08:31,880 Speaker 3: an actress, I realized that, you know, in my lifetime, 140 00:08:32,040 --> 00:08:35,679 Speaker 3: I had worked with one black woman that was, you know, 141 00:08:35,800 --> 00:08:39,880 Speaker 3: on the creative team. She was a choreographer, and I 142 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:42,240 Speaker 3: had always played a black woman on stage, and I'd 143 00:08:42,240 --> 00:08:45,240 Speaker 3: always been directed by white men. And I was like, 144 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:48,560 Speaker 3: how is it possible that every word I've ever uttered 145 00:08:48,559 --> 00:08:51,679 Speaker 3: have been words written by white men. Every time I've 146 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:55,200 Speaker 3: been told to move, I've been mostly choreographed by white men. 147 00:08:55,800 --> 00:08:59,080 Speaker 3: And why is it that, you know, every person talking 148 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:01,120 Speaker 3: to me about whom I canaracter is what they feel, 149 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:04,040 Speaker 3: what they think, has always been a white man. And 150 00:09:04,080 --> 00:09:06,760 Speaker 3: if I want that to change, I need to be 151 00:09:06,920 --> 00:09:10,080 Speaker 3: the change. So I decided that I wanted to be 152 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:14,840 Speaker 3: a director so that I could create the opportunities for 153 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:18,600 Speaker 3: black women, especially to be able to look across the 154 00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:23,199 Speaker 3: table and have sometimes the complex and difficult conversations about 155 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:25,760 Speaker 3: how we are being portrayed on the stage. 156 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:32,440 Speaker 1: That is so powerful, so so beautiful, so complex too. 157 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:39,720 Speaker 1: So Shelley tell us about Black Theater United, and yes, 158 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:43,920 Speaker 1: and lady, if you are listening to us, you need 159 00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:46,480 Speaker 1: to check us out on Patreon to catch the full 160 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:51,640 Speaker 1: video of this episode, because just mentioning Black Theater United 161 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:54,880 Speaker 1: brought the hugest smile to Shelley's face. 162 00:09:55,280 --> 00:09:57,079 Speaker 4: So Shelley tell us. 163 00:09:57,040 --> 00:10:01,040 Speaker 1: More about Black Theater United and what it's been like 164 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:06,280 Speaker 1: having to see at the table and intentionally cultivating and 165 00:10:06,360 --> 00:10:08,640 Speaker 1: creating spaces for black women. 166 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:12,920 Speaker 3: Black that United has been one of the greatest gifts 167 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:16,360 Speaker 3: of my life. I got a call from from Audrey 168 00:10:16,400 --> 00:10:20,840 Speaker 3: McDonald probably three or four days after the killing of 169 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:23,640 Speaker 3: George Floyd, and she said, a bunch of us are 170 00:10:23,679 --> 00:10:26,280 Speaker 3: getting together on a zoom on Sunday night. Can you 171 00:10:26,400 --> 00:10:29,720 Speaker 3: join us? And I said, yes, of course. You know, 172 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:32,319 Speaker 3: I was sitting in a place of a lot of pain, 173 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:36,679 Speaker 3: a lot of anger, a lot of frustration, and I 174 00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:39,400 Speaker 3: joined the call. And you know there are people that 175 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 3: I knew very well. You know, Billy Porter's been friends 176 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:45,120 Speaker 3: of mine for years, was on the call, Brian Stokes 177 00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:50,240 Speaker 3: Mitchell with Shawn's Vanessa Williams. As I said, Audre so 178 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:53,840 Speaker 3: many people that I love, admire, Lily's white people I've 179 00:10:53,880 --> 00:10:57,040 Speaker 3: known for years and years and years, and we all 180 00:10:57,240 --> 00:11:02,160 Speaker 3: had the same feeling, which was is what are we 181 00:11:02,200 --> 00:11:06,640 Speaker 3: going to do about this? We all have our various platforms, 182 00:11:06,880 --> 00:11:10,000 Speaker 3: and we all have you know, we're all expressing our 183 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:13,040 Speaker 3: anger and our pain. But now we have to we 184 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:16,200 Speaker 3: have to come together and figure out what the plan is. 185 00:11:17,160 --> 00:11:21,040 Speaker 3: We knew we had influence on the you know, on Broadway, 186 00:11:21,120 --> 00:11:24,520 Speaker 3: on our stages, but black people were getting killed on 187 00:11:24,559 --> 00:11:26,680 Speaker 3: the streets. So we knew that we had to not 188 00:11:26,840 --> 00:11:28,520 Speaker 3: only look at how are we going to make our 189 00:11:28,640 --> 00:11:33,400 Speaker 3: business better, which is certainly complicit in the perpetuation of 190 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:37,079 Speaker 3: the stereotypes of black people, which is getting them killed, right, 191 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:43,000 Speaker 3: but we also had to get active in advocating as 192 00:11:43,040 --> 00:11:46,439 Speaker 3: a group and creating an atmosphere where we're using our 193 00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:51,840 Speaker 3: platforms to advocate to save black lives. And so, you know, 194 00:11:51,960 --> 00:11:55,480 Speaker 3: we started meeting and we have met every Sunday night 195 00:11:55,559 --> 00:11:58,559 Speaker 3: since then. We have many committees. We went through a 196 00:11:58,559 --> 00:12:01,840 Speaker 3: strategic plan, and one of the things that we realized 197 00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:06,079 Speaker 3: was that our business had to change. We were obviously 198 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:11,640 Speaker 3: on a long pause for Broadway during the pandemic, but 199 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:13,199 Speaker 3: there was no way that we were going to come 200 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:17,000 Speaker 3: back the way that we were. We had to have 201 00:12:17,480 --> 00:12:21,600 Speaker 3: the brave and bold and difficult conversations. We needed to 202 00:12:21,679 --> 00:12:25,040 Speaker 3: lean in. We needed the people that were the gatekeepers, 203 00:12:25,080 --> 00:12:31,440 Speaker 3: that are the gatekeepers to create be part of creating 204 00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:35,319 Speaker 3: the solutions. Our job wasn't to spoon feed them. Their 205 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:38,719 Speaker 3: job was to educate themselves, to talk about what they 206 00:12:38,800 --> 00:12:41,320 Speaker 3: thought needed to change, and for us to kind of 207 00:12:41,360 --> 00:12:47,160 Speaker 3: be to ensure that there was really changes in structures, habits, 208 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:51,640 Speaker 3: and accountability. So that's what the New Deal is, firm 209 00:12:51,679 --> 00:12:57,800 Speaker 3: commitments from theater owners, producers, directors, choreographers, designers, and unions 210 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:02,760 Speaker 3: about structural shame in our industry that will go on. 211 00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:04,920 Speaker 3: You know, we are planning for the New Deal to 212 00:13:04,960 --> 00:13:07,560 Speaker 3: be you know, at least the next five years that 213 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:10,400 Speaker 3: we will continue to meet. We have committees that are 214 00:13:10,440 --> 00:13:13,480 Speaker 3: meeting on a regular basis and we're going to continue 215 00:13:13,520 --> 00:13:17,720 Speaker 3: to you know, educate ourselves. We're doing our own diversity training. 216 00:13:17,720 --> 00:13:20,200 Speaker 3: That's part of Black Theater United. We trained every single 217 00:13:20,200 --> 00:13:23,960 Speaker 3: person that was a part of this initial summit and 218 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:26,360 Speaker 3: we will continue to do so so that we are 219 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:31,559 Speaker 3: growing our own humanity as we are thinking very critically 220 00:13:32,080 --> 00:13:35,120 Speaker 3: about how we must move ahead and holding ourselves accountable 221 00:13:35,200 --> 00:13:35,560 Speaker 3: to do so. 222 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:39,160 Speaker 2: Wow, that's amazing. 223 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:40,920 Speaker 4: Tee. 224 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:44,960 Speaker 5: Okay, I'm not trying to enterrupt the show. What I 225 00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:47,080 Speaker 5: had this random idea I want to share with you, 226 00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:48,480 Speaker 5: and I don't want to forget it. 227 00:13:48,920 --> 00:13:51,559 Speaker 3: Tell me, tell me what is it? Okay? 228 00:13:52,280 --> 00:13:56,560 Speaker 5: So you know how at the start of every New Year, birthday, 229 00:13:56,960 --> 00:14:02,920 Speaker 5: new moon, anniversary, new month, anything, people find themselves wanting 230 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:06,040 Speaker 5: to have a reset, but they're not sure where to start. 231 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:08,199 Speaker 3: I sure do What are you thinking? 232 00:14:08,679 --> 00:14:11,960 Speaker 5: What if we hosted a workshop where we could interact 233 00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:15,520 Speaker 5: with our listeners to talk about stuff like self care 234 00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:16,760 Speaker 5: and self. 235 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:19,520 Speaker 6: Love, oh and g and we could even have a 236 00:14:19,560 --> 00:14:24,360 Speaker 6: session about manifestation, leaving toxic relationships and becoming our best selves. 237 00:14:24,480 --> 00:14:26,400 Speaker 4: Girl, I am so excited. 238 00:14:26,400 --> 00:14:26,920 Speaker 3: I'm sold. 239 00:14:27,160 --> 00:14:30,240 Speaker 6: We could call it the Vibrate Higher Empowerment Workshop. 240 00:14:30,920 --> 00:14:33,520 Speaker 5: Yes, yes, that is it. 241 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:39,840 Speaker 7: And we could even host a live quarterly wind down 242 00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:43,680 Speaker 7: to check in and build community as we vibrate hire 243 00:14:43,760 --> 00:14:44,240 Speaker 7: all year. 244 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:47,320 Speaker 3: Yo. I love it, I love it. 245 00:14:47,480 --> 00:14:48,640 Speaker 4: I'm sold. Let's do it. 246 00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:49,400 Speaker 5: Lady. 247 00:14:49,600 --> 00:14:52,760 Speaker 4: If this sounds like fun to you, visit New. 248 00:14:52,600 --> 00:14:55,760 Speaker 6: Year Workshop dot com and join us for the Vibrate 249 00:14:55,880 --> 00:14:59,760 Speaker 6: Higher Empowerment Workshop. If you want to release baggage, set 250 00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:02,120 Speaker 6: and and manifest the like you desire. 251 00:15:02,320 --> 00:15:05,880 Speaker 3: This is just for you, lady. That's New Year Workshop 252 00:15:06,160 --> 00:15:08,960 Speaker 3: dot com. We can't wait to connect with you. 253 00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:18,800 Speaker 2: I think many of us we hear people complain about 254 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:22,480 Speaker 2: the issues, right, and sometimes people get comfortable with complaining, right. 255 00:15:22,480 --> 00:15:24,480 Speaker 2: It's like that's the extent of the action they take. 256 00:15:24,560 --> 00:15:26,640 Speaker 2: It's like, oh again, oh the man, this. 257 00:15:26,680 --> 00:15:27,200 Speaker 4: Or this happened. 258 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:29,000 Speaker 2: But the fact that you are have been so committed, 259 00:15:29,280 --> 00:15:31,200 Speaker 2: that's so admirable. And I think that's a great way 260 00:15:31,240 --> 00:15:34,120 Speaker 2: to showcase to other people in their areas and influence 261 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:37,000 Speaker 2: how you can make a difference. So I want to 262 00:15:37,080 --> 00:15:38,760 Speaker 2: kind of go back to something you said earlier. You 263 00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:43,400 Speaker 2: talked about how supportive your parents were of this creative 264 00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:45,440 Speaker 2: career that you wanted to pursue. And I know a 265 00:15:45,440 --> 00:15:48,000 Speaker 2: lot of creatives and people a lot of times, especially 266 00:15:48,080 --> 00:15:50,880 Speaker 2: their parents are not creatives. They don't really get that support, right. 267 00:15:51,120 --> 00:15:53,440 Speaker 2: So what would your top three tips be for black 268 00:15:53,560 --> 00:15:56,680 Speaker 2: women who want to get into theater but maybe they 269 00:15:56,680 --> 00:15:58,200 Speaker 2: don't have that support from their family. 270 00:15:58,880 --> 00:16:02,520 Speaker 3: I do believe that more than anything else, you have 271 00:16:02,600 --> 00:16:05,600 Speaker 3: to believe in yourself, and. 272 00:16:05,480 --> 00:16:06,840 Speaker 4: You have to you know. 273 00:16:07,520 --> 00:16:09,640 Speaker 3: The one thing that I knew. You know, now we 274 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:13,440 Speaker 3: say you know you got hustle. I was not afraid 275 00:16:13,440 --> 00:16:17,880 Speaker 3: to hustle. I knew. I wanted this so badly. I 276 00:16:18,280 --> 00:16:20,840 Speaker 3: you know, clean the dance studio so that I could 277 00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:24,760 Speaker 3: have free lessons. I waitressed. I had four roommates in 278 00:16:24,760 --> 00:16:27,640 Speaker 3: a one bedroom. I was like, I will do what 279 00:16:27,760 --> 00:16:30,720 Speaker 3: it takes, you know, to make sure that I'm continuing. 280 00:16:31,080 --> 00:16:33,080 Speaker 3: You know, I had four roommates in a one bedroom. 281 00:16:33,080 --> 00:16:36,000 Speaker 3: We had two bunk beds. Somebody was kind of always 282 00:16:36,040 --> 00:16:38,920 Speaker 3: on tour, so there was seldom where we all four 283 00:16:38,960 --> 00:16:43,640 Speaker 3: there at the same time. But I knew the sacrifices 284 00:16:43,720 --> 00:16:46,520 Speaker 3: I was making. I was investing in myself and in 285 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:51,440 Speaker 3: my dreams. So I didn't go into this, you know, 286 00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:53,920 Speaker 3: thinking that I was going to be on Broadway in 287 00:16:53,960 --> 00:16:57,480 Speaker 3: the first year, and I certainly wasn't. I worked in 288 00:16:57,520 --> 00:17:00,480 Speaker 3: Europe for three years. I worked regionally, worked at a 289 00:17:00,560 --> 00:17:02,800 Speaker 3: dinner theater that used to flood and we'd have to 290 00:17:02,880 --> 00:17:05,600 Speaker 3: walk on like classes to get in the States, or 291 00:17:05,640 --> 00:17:07,920 Speaker 3: our dance shoes went. I mean, I've worked all over 292 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:11,719 Speaker 3: the place. When I finally got to Broadway. I felt 293 00:17:11,760 --> 00:17:15,399 Speaker 3: like I had earned it, I had paid my dues, 294 00:17:15,760 --> 00:17:19,320 Speaker 3: I had made my mistakes elsewhere I had you know, 295 00:17:19,359 --> 00:17:23,760 Speaker 3: I have the most amazing memories and friendships that you know, 296 00:17:23,920 --> 00:17:27,160 Speaker 3: my friendships from Europe and the time there are still 297 00:17:27,200 --> 00:17:31,320 Speaker 3: some of my longest, most cherished friendships. That whatever you 298 00:17:31,440 --> 00:17:34,399 Speaker 3: do is going to take work, and it's going to 299 00:17:34,480 --> 00:17:38,560 Speaker 3: take sacrifice. And it is not a career that has 300 00:17:38,680 --> 00:17:40,760 Speaker 3: the guarantee you're not going to work on a show 301 00:17:40,800 --> 00:17:43,920 Speaker 3: for forty years and then retire. There's gonna be times 302 00:17:43,920 --> 00:17:46,840 Speaker 3: when you're gonna be like hustling again. You're gonna be 303 00:17:46,920 --> 00:17:50,240 Speaker 3: on Broadway on a Sunday and on Tuesday you're going 304 00:17:50,320 --> 00:17:52,480 Speaker 3: to be auditioning and like, you know, trying to pick 305 00:17:52,520 --> 00:17:55,399 Speaker 3: up a shift at the restaurant. You know, there's that's 306 00:17:55,480 --> 00:18:00,600 Speaker 3: the life, and that's the realistic part of the life. 307 00:18:01,160 --> 00:18:04,359 Speaker 3: And if you're willing to do that, if you have 308 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:07,159 Speaker 3: a good side hustle work, you can teach dance class, 309 00:18:07,200 --> 00:18:08,919 Speaker 3: you can do other things that keep you in the 310 00:18:09,040 --> 00:18:12,160 Speaker 3: arts or babysit or all those kind of things, then 311 00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:16,840 Speaker 3: then this is then one hundred percent pursue this. If 312 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:22,280 Speaker 3: that's not your jam then find a way to be 313 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:27,000 Speaker 3: around the arts in a way that still fulfills you 314 00:18:27,560 --> 00:18:31,880 Speaker 3: but maybe does not have the risk of, you know, 315 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:34,960 Speaker 3: being a performing artist, because there certainly is a risk. 316 00:18:35,080 --> 00:18:37,520 Speaker 3: I have found it to be extraordinarily worth it for me, 317 00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 3: but that's certainly not for everybody. 318 00:18:40,800 --> 00:18:44,040 Speaker 2: I'm taking those as you share, so I have hustle, creatively, 319 00:18:44,440 --> 00:18:49,000 Speaker 2: sacrifice persistence be around the arts. And doctor Donald's favor 320 00:18:49,080 --> 00:18:51,440 Speaker 2: quote embrace the process or trust the process. 321 00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:55,960 Speaker 4: So thank you for that, Shelley. Yes, yes, I will. 322 00:18:55,800 --> 00:18:58,719 Speaker 3: Tell you something. Be around the arts was one of 323 00:18:58,720 --> 00:19:01,000 Speaker 3: my professors in school said, whatever you can do to 324 00:19:01,080 --> 00:19:04,880 Speaker 3: be around theater. So I ushered a lot for theaters 325 00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:07,959 Speaker 3: and you could see free shows. You can't do it 326 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:10,399 Speaker 3: for union shows, you know, because there's a there's an 327 00:19:10,480 --> 00:19:12,239 Speaker 3: ushers union. But I did it for a lot of 328 00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:16,480 Speaker 3: off Broadway shows and then I sold merchandise. And this 329 00:19:16,560 --> 00:19:19,159 Speaker 3: is a true story. I was co checking at a 330 00:19:19,160 --> 00:19:22,680 Speaker 3: restaurant in Midtown and a friend of mine said, there's 331 00:19:22,680 --> 00:19:26,520 Speaker 3: a new show that's coming into Broadway and they're looking 332 00:19:26,560 --> 00:19:28,800 Speaker 3: for a coach check. Girl, not a coach check, they're 333 00:19:28,800 --> 00:19:32,479 Speaker 3: looking for a merchandise person. Are you you know, do 334 00:19:32,520 --> 00:19:35,720 Speaker 3: you want the gig, and as my professor said, be 335 00:19:35,840 --> 00:19:39,240 Speaker 3: around theater, and I was like, yes, absolutely, that show 336 00:19:39,359 --> 00:19:43,520 Speaker 3: was Rent. I was the original merchandise girl for Rent. 337 00:19:44,520 --> 00:19:48,000 Speaker 3: I went on. I watched the show every day and 338 00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:50,720 Speaker 3: then an intermission sold T shirts and hats. When it 339 00:19:50,760 --> 00:19:53,680 Speaker 3: came around for the audition, who knew the show better 340 00:19:53,720 --> 00:19:57,040 Speaker 3: than me? I got the first national tour. I was 341 00:19:57,080 --> 00:19:59,760 Speaker 3: the dance captain. And you know a few months later, 342 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:01,520 Speaker 3: I mean my Broadway debut. 343 00:20:02,359 --> 00:20:04,160 Speaker 4: Wow, that's incredible. 344 00:20:04,640 --> 00:20:07,800 Speaker 3: So I like my hustle was like selling T shirts 345 00:20:07,800 --> 00:20:10,359 Speaker 3: and hats at the very show, in the very theater 346 00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:11,800 Speaker 3: that I made by Broadway debut. 347 00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:14,760 Speaker 4: I love, love, love this story. 348 00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:17,719 Speaker 1: As I'm listening to you, I think the biggest lesson 349 00:20:17,920 --> 00:20:20,159 Speaker 1: that you shared out of all of this is what 350 00:20:20,240 --> 00:20:24,439 Speaker 1: your professor shared with you is be in the theater. 351 00:20:24,720 --> 00:20:28,320 Speaker 1: Be around it. So even if you aren't doing the 352 00:20:28,480 --> 00:20:34,120 Speaker 1: exact role that you want, be in the space. 353 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:38,199 Speaker 3: Be in the space. Watch artists, make art. Learn what 354 00:20:38,280 --> 00:20:40,720 Speaker 3: you can learn. Take it in. Look at the lighting, 355 00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:43,960 Speaker 3: look at the costumes, look at the sets. Like take 356 00:20:44,000 --> 00:20:46,639 Speaker 3: it all in. It's all part of the world. Listen 357 00:20:46,680 --> 00:20:49,080 Speaker 3: to the way that people are getting notes. Watch the 358 00:20:49,080 --> 00:20:51,760 Speaker 3: way people are taking notes, take it all in. 359 00:20:52,680 --> 00:20:57,160 Speaker 1: And so as you were doing that, Shelley, what were 360 00:20:57,200 --> 00:21:01,000 Speaker 1: your biggest takeaways from all of those years of observation 361 00:21:01,119 --> 00:21:04,320 Speaker 1: of just being in the space right, What were your 362 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:09,840 Speaker 1: biggest takeaways from your years of observation Once you started 363 00:21:10,160 --> 00:21:13,240 Speaker 1: directing and creating. 364 00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:17,200 Speaker 3: There was this whole philosophy in theater that you had 365 00:21:17,200 --> 00:21:20,760 Speaker 3: to break people down to build them back up. And 366 00:21:20,840 --> 00:21:22,280 Speaker 3: it was like, you know, we kind of need to 367 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:25,800 Speaker 3: just you know, break you down, beat you down, kind 368 00:21:25,840 --> 00:21:28,879 Speaker 3: of you know, point out all your flaws, get you 369 00:21:28,920 --> 00:21:31,200 Speaker 3: to a very vulnerable place, and then we're going to 370 00:21:31,320 --> 00:21:34,480 Speaker 3: restore you back. That was a philosophy that was held 371 00:21:34,520 --> 00:21:36,480 Speaker 3: for a lot of years. You know, there's there's a 372 00:21:36,520 --> 00:21:38,280 Speaker 3: lot of that. You know in the dance world. It's 373 00:21:38,280 --> 00:21:41,120 Speaker 3: a super critical that's not right, your back's not straight enough, 374 00:21:41,119 --> 00:21:43,280 Speaker 3: your tot's not pointed enough. It was just like all 375 00:21:43,320 --> 00:21:46,240 Speaker 3: we're looking out out of flaws. Right. The one thing 376 00:21:46,280 --> 00:21:49,760 Speaker 3: I realized is I just wanted to be around people 377 00:21:49,760 --> 00:21:54,679 Speaker 3: who were kind. I wanted to feel valued. You know, 378 00:21:55,040 --> 00:21:58,199 Speaker 3: I spent my whole life working to be in this place. 379 00:21:58,720 --> 00:22:00,680 Speaker 3: I don't want to be abused when I get there. 380 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:05,199 Speaker 3: And so the thing that I think about as a 381 00:22:05,240 --> 00:22:12,200 Speaker 3: director is how absolutely blessed I am that these actors 382 00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:17,440 Speaker 3: and actresses said yes that when I had the dream 383 00:22:17,680 --> 00:22:19,880 Speaker 3: of what a show was going to be, and they 384 00:22:19,880 --> 00:22:24,480 Speaker 3: came in an auditioned. They're literally my dream come true. 385 00:22:24,640 --> 00:22:26,720 Speaker 3: And the last thing I want to do is abuse them. 386 00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:31,359 Speaker 3: I want to embolden them to be their authentic self 387 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:33,919 Speaker 3: in the space. I want them to be brave. I 388 00:22:33,960 --> 00:22:36,440 Speaker 3: want them to be honest, and if there are times 389 00:22:36,480 --> 00:22:38,280 Speaker 3: when they need to take a minute, I want them 390 00:22:38,280 --> 00:22:39,919 Speaker 3: to know that they are in a safe space and 391 00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:41,919 Speaker 3: they can say, you know what, I need to take 392 00:22:41,960 --> 00:22:47,399 Speaker 3: a minute. And so I really do try to lead 393 00:22:48,119 --> 00:22:52,119 Speaker 3: the room with the same kindness that I would want, 394 00:22:52,359 --> 00:22:57,480 Speaker 3: and I find that everyone around me is filled with joy. 395 00:22:58,280 --> 00:23:00,240 Speaker 3: And it doesn't mean that we don't have obstacle. I 396 00:23:00,320 --> 00:23:02,359 Speaker 3: was just in London last week working on a show 397 00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:07,680 Speaker 3: and our deadline kept changing and I kept going, Okay, y'all, 398 00:23:07,760 --> 00:23:10,040 Speaker 3: we're gonna do this, We're gonna do this. You know, 399 00:23:10,440 --> 00:23:13,200 Speaker 3: on the inside, I was like, what do you mean really, 400 00:23:13,520 --> 00:23:15,639 Speaker 3: But I was like, We're just gonna do it. And 401 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:19,320 Speaker 3: we did it, and it was so beautiful and every 402 00:23:19,520 --> 00:23:21,960 Speaker 3: moment of those rehearsals. We had to deal with a 403 00:23:22,359 --> 00:23:26,320 Speaker 3: very difficult subject matter and there were times when you know, 404 00:23:26,359 --> 00:23:29,320 Speaker 3: the whole room was crying. It was it was really 405 00:23:29,359 --> 00:23:32,480 Speaker 3: difficult because of the theme, because what we were talking 406 00:23:32,480 --> 00:23:34,639 Speaker 3: about in the show was just it really get close 407 00:23:34,680 --> 00:23:38,879 Speaker 3: to home, and you know, you just say, hey, everybody, 408 00:23:38,960 --> 00:23:41,200 Speaker 3: let's let's take ten let's take a little walk, let's 409 00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:44,320 Speaker 3: it's an air. Let's you know, just being sensitive to 410 00:23:44,400 --> 00:23:50,000 Speaker 3: knowing we're not machines and if we're going to make 411 00:23:50,560 --> 00:23:55,560 Speaker 3: bold and brave art that starts with kindness and respect. 412 00:23:56,960 --> 00:23:58,399 Speaker 4: What an amazing. 413 00:23:58,720 --> 00:24:01,320 Speaker 2: Yeah right, I'm just thinking, what an amazing energy to 414 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:03,760 Speaker 2: have as a director, like the person that's in charge, 415 00:24:04,200 --> 00:24:06,399 Speaker 2: having people under you, but you having that type of 416 00:24:06,480 --> 00:24:08,600 Speaker 2: energy and being able to just share that with your team, 417 00:24:09,040 --> 00:24:12,879 Speaker 2: that sounds amazing. I'm not an actor, but I want 418 00:24:12,920 --> 00:24:14,320 Speaker 2: to be on Broadway with you now, Shelley. 419 00:24:14,480 --> 00:24:15,000 Speaker 4: You sold me. 420 00:24:15,080 --> 00:24:19,600 Speaker 2: I'm ready to go, ready to work. But Shelsey, I 421 00:24:19,600 --> 00:24:21,399 Speaker 2: thought about something you said in the beginning that was 422 00:24:21,440 --> 00:24:24,159 Speaker 2: just so powerful about being this black woman. You know, 423 00:24:24,200 --> 00:24:26,399 Speaker 2: you were an actress on Broadway for ten years. You 424 00:24:26,400 --> 00:24:29,480 Speaker 2: had these white directors trying to like tell these stories 425 00:24:29,480 --> 00:24:31,880 Speaker 2: of a black woman's narrative and you having to read 426 00:24:31,920 --> 00:24:34,400 Speaker 2: their words and move as they said to move. And 427 00:24:34,680 --> 00:24:36,320 Speaker 2: I wanted to know, has there ever been an instance 428 00:24:36,320 --> 00:24:39,240 Speaker 2: where you didn't agree with how they were portraying the 429 00:24:39,240 --> 00:24:41,720 Speaker 2: black woman and you did you ever like give feedback 430 00:24:41,800 --> 00:24:43,960 Speaker 2: or is there a way to offer feedback when the 431 00:24:44,040 --> 00:24:46,639 Speaker 2: director who doesn't relate to your experience is telling you 432 00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:48,360 Speaker 2: one thing, but you're like, that's. 433 00:24:48,200 --> 00:24:50,320 Speaker 4: Not how black women, that's not how we do things. 434 00:24:50,440 --> 00:24:53,920 Speaker 3: You know. Yeah, it's a delicate balance. I mean, I've 435 00:24:53,920 --> 00:24:58,920 Speaker 3: certainly that would not work with me again, that's for sure, 436 00:24:59,440 --> 00:25:03,000 Speaker 3: because I I was seldom ever shy about saying how 437 00:25:03,040 --> 00:25:05,680 Speaker 3: I felt. But you know that comes at a cost, 438 00:25:06,200 --> 00:25:11,919 Speaker 3: and not everyone is in the position to pay the cost. 439 00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:17,720 Speaker 3: And it's really interesting because I you know, I've talked 440 00:25:17,760 --> 00:25:23,879 Speaker 3: with you know, younger generation that well sometimes feel like 441 00:25:24,880 --> 00:25:27,720 Speaker 3: people who didn't speak up in all of the moments 442 00:25:28,920 --> 00:25:34,480 Speaker 3: had somehow shold out. And I am very cautious about 443 00:25:35,040 --> 00:25:39,520 Speaker 3: judging the situation that somebody else is in. You know, 444 00:25:39,920 --> 00:25:45,440 Speaker 3: I think if you're if what you're doing is your 445 00:25:45,560 --> 00:25:48,960 Speaker 3: means of survival, then maybe you do need to keep 446 00:25:48,960 --> 00:25:51,679 Speaker 3: your mouth shut and maybe someone who's sitting in a 447 00:25:51,680 --> 00:25:55,240 Speaker 3: place of a little bit more privilege can speak up. 448 00:25:57,119 --> 00:25:57,480 Speaker 4: And that. 449 00:25:59,040 --> 00:26:02,760 Speaker 3: If someone sits silently and I find out, you know, 450 00:26:02,800 --> 00:26:05,160 Speaker 3: at the end, oh my gosh, they endured all this. 451 00:26:05,560 --> 00:26:09,719 Speaker 3: I actually have great empathy for them, especially if they 452 00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:12,000 Speaker 3: knew what was going on. And you know, I don't 453 00:26:12,119 --> 00:26:15,600 Speaker 3: like to I don't like to pretend to be in 454 00:26:15,640 --> 00:26:19,159 Speaker 3: someone else's position. There are times where I've spoken up 455 00:26:19,160 --> 00:26:22,000 Speaker 3: and really paid the cost and actually, you know, was 456 00:26:22,040 --> 00:26:25,040 Speaker 3: told you're never going to play this role because I 457 00:26:25,040 --> 00:26:30,040 Speaker 3: don't like you like a big Broadway director. I was like, yeah. 458 00:26:30,880 --> 00:26:35,280 Speaker 3: And there's times where I sat back because you know, 459 00:26:35,640 --> 00:26:38,080 Speaker 3: it was futile, like they're going to do. We would 460 00:26:38,119 --> 00:26:40,119 Speaker 3: all kind of look at each other, you know, have 461 00:26:40,119 --> 00:26:42,160 Speaker 3: the look where you're like, they don't know what they're doing. 462 00:26:42,400 --> 00:26:46,720 Speaker 3: Look and okay, my check cash is on Thursday. But 463 00:26:46,960 --> 00:26:50,600 Speaker 3: where you want me to stand? So I've had both, 464 00:26:50,760 --> 00:26:52,600 Speaker 3: you know, in my thirty years of career. 465 00:26:53,080 --> 00:26:57,960 Speaker 4: That's so real. That is so so. 466 00:26:57,200 --> 00:26:58,639 Speaker 3: So like just real. 467 00:26:59,040 --> 00:27:03,960 Speaker 1: Like I think about it out as I have conversations 468 00:27:04,080 --> 00:27:09,399 Speaker 1: with people of multiple generations, right, and we talk about 469 00:27:09,400 --> 00:27:13,280 Speaker 1: what it's like to be black in America, and the 470 00:27:13,320 --> 00:27:18,720 Speaker 1: biggest takeaway is that we're not monolithic and that everybody's 471 00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:24,159 Speaker 1: experience is different, and that everybody can play a different 472 00:27:24,240 --> 00:27:29,000 Speaker 1: role at different points when it comes to advocating for 473 00:27:29,160 --> 00:27:31,640 Speaker 1: the betterment of all black folks. 474 00:27:32,160 --> 00:27:33,320 Speaker 3: Yeah. 475 00:27:33,840 --> 00:27:42,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, And so speaking of having conversations with the younger generation, Shelley, Yes, Now, 476 00:27:42,080 --> 00:27:45,520 Speaker 1: I mean we just talked about how you are an 477 00:27:45,680 --> 00:27:50,919 Speaker 1: actress and a director and a dancer. Now you have 478 00:27:51,320 --> 00:27:59,400 Speaker 1: added children's book author to that list of amazing things 479 00:27:59,480 --> 00:28:03,840 Speaker 1: that you were doing. So tell us about your new 480 00:28:04,000 --> 00:28:09,320 Speaker 1: children's book, Your Legacy, a bold reclaiming of our enslave history. 481 00:28:10,160 --> 00:28:14,439 Speaker 3: Well, Your Legacy came about because I was trying to 482 00:28:14,440 --> 00:28:20,760 Speaker 3: have a conversation with my daughters about slavery, and I 483 00:28:20,800 --> 00:28:24,280 Speaker 3: didn't know how to do it. I knew for sure 484 00:28:24,880 --> 00:28:26,840 Speaker 3: that I did not want them to hear about it 485 00:28:26,920 --> 00:28:30,480 Speaker 3: in school the way that I had, which was traumatizing, 486 00:28:31,480 --> 00:28:37,040 Speaker 3: and the little bit that we got was woefully incomplete, 487 00:28:37,160 --> 00:28:39,240 Speaker 3: and I felt like all eyes were on me. You know, 488 00:28:39,280 --> 00:28:42,440 Speaker 3: I was one of the few black kids in the class, 489 00:28:42,480 --> 00:28:46,240 Speaker 3: and you know, everybody looks over like those are your people, 490 00:28:46,320 --> 00:28:49,840 Speaker 3: Like it was just it was horrifying and so I 491 00:28:49,880 --> 00:28:52,000 Speaker 3: wanted to talk to them about it, and I didn't 492 00:28:52,080 --> 00:28:55,840 Speaker 3: know how. I didn't know how to begin, and so 493 00:28:55,920 --> 00:29:00,040 Speaker 3: I started doing a lot of research, and what I 494 00:28:59,840 --> 00:29:07,120 Speaker 3: did discovered was really just so illuminating for me as 495 00:29:07,120 --> 00:29:10,560 Speaker 3: a grown woman, and I realized that I actually didn't 496 00:29:10,560 --> 00:29:14,240 Speaker 3: want to have a conversation with about slavery. Slavery is 497 00:29:14,280 --> 00:29:17,560 Speaker 3: an act of oppression. What I wanted to have a 498 00:29:17,600 --> 00:29:22,920 Speaker 3: conversation with them about was their enslaved ancestors. And creating 499 00:29:22,960 --> 00:29:28,000 Speaker 3: that distinction really turned what I thought was going to be, 500 00:29:28,160 --> 00:29:32,560 Speaker 3: you know, a dreadful, hard conversation, and it into one 501 00:29:32,560 --> 00:29:36,160 Speaker 3: that I was thrilled to talk to them about. I 502 00:29:36,200 --> 00:29:41,520 Speaker 3: think of this book as the first conversation because I 503 00:29:41,520 --> 00:29:45,480 Speaker 3: think it's really important to know who they were before 504 00:29:45,480 --> 00:29:48,960 Speaker 3: we talk about what was done to them. So the 505 00:29:49,000 --> 00:29:53,240 Speaker 3: slavery conversation has happened with my children now by now 506 00:29:53,360 --> 00:29:57,520 Speaker 3: you know, I've had that conversation. But they had the 507 00:29:57,560 --> 00:30:05,600 Speaker 3: better understanding of the extraordinary ancestors that endured such brutal 508 00:30:05,680 --> 00:30:09,320 Speaker 3: and violent acts of oppression. They have an understanding of 509 00:30:09,360 --> 00:30:12,719 Speaker 3: their intellect, of their brilliance, of their love, of their grace, 510 00:30:12,800 --> 00:30:18,760 Speaker 3: of their dignity, that allowed them to survive so that 511 00:30:18,880 --> 00:30:23,200 Speaker 3: we could be here living a free life and without 512 00:30:23,480 --> 00:30:30,080 Speaker 3: understanding who they were first in Africa and the full 513 00:30:30,160 --> 00:30:34,320 Speaker 3: and complete lives that they lived there before arriving in 514 00:30:34,360 --> 00:30:38,120 Speaker 3: the Americans. Their story, their origin story, did not start 515 00:30:38,240 --> 00:30:42,360 Speaker 3: at sixteen nineteen. Their origin stories started thousands of years 516 00:30:42,400 --> 00:30:47,160 Speaker 3: before that. So, you know, the very first line of 517 00:30:47,240 --> 00:30:52,680 Speaker 3: the book is your story begins in Africa. And that's 518 00:30:53,000 --> 00:30:58,160 Speaker 3: something that I wanted every Black child to know. Your 519 00:30:58,280 --> 00:31:04,000 Speaker 3: story begins in Africa, and let's look at your people, 520 00:31:04,960 --> 00:31:10,880 Speaker 3: fully clothes, speaking their many languages, thriving with their families, 521 00:31:12,240 --> 00:31:17,720 Speaker 3: building kingdoms. That's what began the story and began the book. 522 00:31:17,760 --> 00:31:21,120 Speaker 3: And I realized if I were having such a problem, 523 00:31:21,480 --> 00:31:24,960 Speaker 3: you know, having this conversation, many other parents must be 524 00:31:25,000 --> 00:31:26,920 Speaker 3: as well. And I'd ask my parents, like I'd ask 525 00:31:27,000 --> 00:31:29,720 Speaker 3: my friends, you talk to your kids about, you know, slavery, 526 00:31:29,840 --> 00:31:32,920 Speaker 3: And they were like no, fuck, nobody kind of knew. 527 00:31:33,160 --> 00:31:35,160 Speaker 3: Because I was like, anybody got a cheat sheet? Like 528 00:31:35,200 --> 00:31:38,160 Speaker 3: who's got one? Fuy need some help, and everybody was 529 00:31:38,200 --> 00:31:41,000 Speaker 3: like not yet, No, I'm looking for something, you know. 530 00:31:41,080 --> 00:31:45,040 Speaker 3: So I had a feeling that you know, if I 531 00:31:45,040 --> 00:31:47,280 Speaker 3: if I could figure it out for my kids that 532 00:31:47,440 --> 00:31:49,840 Speaker 3: perhaps it would be a great resource for other children 533 00:31:49,920 --> 00:31:50,240 Speaker 3: as well. 534 00:31:51,240 --> 00:31:52,000 Speaker 4: How amazing. 535 00:31:52,280 --> 00:31:53,960 Speaker 2: I mean when you think about, like you said, the 536 00:31:53,960 --> 00:31:56,320 Speaker 2: traumatic experiences that many of us have had being the 537 00:31:56,320 --> 00:31:58,960 Speaker 2: only black person, only black kid in class, and they 538 00:31:58,960 --> 00:32:02,440 Speaker 2: look at you like you can share experiences about that 539 00:32:02,520 --> 00:32:04,840 Speaker 2: time when we're all, you know, peers. It's just it 540 00:32:04,920 --> 00:32:07,920 Speaker 2: is traumatic. So it's so beautiful that you started where 541 00:32:08,000 --> 00:32:11,040 Speaker 2: the story began, because it didn't begin when they came 542 00:32:11,080 --> 00:32:12,840 Speaker 2: to America, right, which is what we were many of 543 00:32:12,920 --> 00:32:14,360 Speaker 2: us were taught in school. 544 00:32:14,400 --> 00:32:15,520 Speaker 4: Would you mind. 545 00:32:15,240 --> 00:32:18,520 Speaker 2: Sharing, Like what was your daughter's reaction to these this 546 00:32:18,600 --> 00:32:20,520 Speaker 2: amazing research that you had done, Like, how did they 547 00:32:20,560 --> 00:32:21,200 Speaker 2: respond to that? 548 00:32:21,960 --> 00:32:22,160 Speaker 4: Well? 549 00:32:22,200 --> 00:32:25,880 Speaker 3: It was It was so interesting because I every draft 550 00:32:26,120 --> 00:32:31,320 Speaker 3: I read to them and their questions opened up more 551 00:32:31,400 --> 00:32:34,400 Speaker 3: things for me to talk about. You know, I wrote, 552 00:32:34,480 --> 00:32:36,640 Speaker 3: there's a little section that I wrote about music, and 553 00:32:36,720 --> 00:32:38,880 Speaker 3: obviously music's a big part of our lives, you know, 554 00:32:38,960 --> 00:32:42,640 Speaker 3: in my own personal life. So they were like, well, 555 00:32:42,840 --> 00:32:44,600 Speaker 3: music was a powerful tool. Well, how is it a 556 00:32:44,600 --> 00:32:46,080 Speaker 3: powerful tool? And in what way was a power? 557 00:32:46,160 --> 00:32:46,240 Speaker 1: Like? 558 00:32:46,920 --> 00:32:50,080 Speaker 3: So actually the music section got expanded because of their 559 00:32:50,160 --> 00:32:53,040 Speaker 3: curiosity and wanting to know more, and I was like, oh, 560 00:32:54,080 --> 00:32:58,560 Speaker 3: when we started talking about, you know, I illuminate ways 561 00:32:58,560 --> 00:33:03,320 Speaker 3: of escape. And something that I talked to them about 562 00:33:03,440 --> 00:33:05,840 Speaker 3: was like, there's more than just escape, means more than 563 00:33:05,880 --> 00:33:09,520 Speaker 3: one thing. It's not just the people that were able 564 00:33:09,600 --> 00:33:15,480 Speaker 3: to literally escape to the north, it's about every act 565 00:33:15,480 --> 00:33:19,640 Speaker 3: of defiance was a means for escape, and really kind 566 00:33:19,680 --> 00:33:26,280 Speaker 3: of talking about how brave it was to steal a little, 567 00:33:26,480 --> 00:33:30,720 Speaker 3: you know, some spices, to teach someone to read, to 568 00:33:30,920 --> 00:33:35,320 Speaker 3: learn to read and write in English, you know, and 569 00:33:35,360 --> 00:33:39,800 Speaker 3: really enforcing for them they spoke other languages. The more 570 00:33:39,880 --> 00:33:42,280 Speaker 3: things that I broke down for them when I was 571 00:33:42,320 --> 00:33:44,600 Speaker 3: reading my original draft of the book, the more I 572 00:33:44,680 --> 00:33:47,960 Speaker 3: realized I needed to expand the book. Most children's books 573 00:33:47,960 --> 00:33:49,640 Speaker 3: are thirty two pages, and when they tell you like 574 00:33:49,680 --> 00:33:51,360 Speaker 3: your book has be thirty two pages, like this like 575 00:33:51,400 --> 00:33:54,160 Speaker 3: a mandate for a children's book. My book is actually, 576 00:33:54,160 --> 00:33:58,000 Speaker 3: I think, like forty one pages. And God bless you 577 00:33:58,040 --> 00:34:01,280 Speaker 3: know Abram's kids for giving me the lattitude to do that. 578 00:34:01,360 --> 00:34:05,040 Speaker 3: But I was like, I really I need to break 579 00:34:05,040 --> 00:34:11,839 Speaker 3: this down and really expand this because this area is 580 00:34:11,880 --> 00:34:17,200 Speaker 3: so lacking for us in the literary world. There's not 581 00:34:17,360 --> 00:34:20,320 Speaker 3: enough of us writing our own stories and the ones 582 00:34:20,320 --> 00:34:22,040 Speaker 3: that you know, those of us who there are plenty 583 00:34:22,040 --> 00:34:23,800 Speaker 3: of people, I'm sure who are writing our own stories, 584 00:34:23,800 --> 00:34:28,080 Speaker 3: but not all of them are getting published. So you know, 585 00:34:28,400 --> 00:34:31,920 Speaker 3: can I can? I continue to write what I feel 586 00:34:32,040 --> 00:34:35,040 Speaker 3: is necessary and then you can cut from there. And 587 00:34:35,080 --> 00:34:38,319 Speaker 3: they thankfully were in agreement and allowed the book to 588 00:34:38,320 --> 00:34:39,960 Speaker 3: be published as as I wanted. 589 00:34:41,800 --> 00:34:42,440 Speaker 4: Amazing. 590 00:34:43,120 --> 00:34:46,040 Speaker 1: Thank you for writing this book. 591 00:34:46,480 --> 00:34:46,880 Speaker 3: Thank you. 592 00:34:47,560 --> 00:34:49,399 Speaker 2: I'm sure that it's going to help a lot of parents. 593 00:34:49,440 --> 00:34:51,760 Speaker 2: I'm trying to mute myself as my infant is screened 594 00:34:51,800 --> 00:34:55,120 Speaker 2: me downstairs. So thank you so much, Shelley. I'll be 595 00:34:55,120 --> 00:34:56,920 Speaker 2: sure to get that copy and read it to my 596 00:34:57,080 --> 00:34:59,440 Speaker 2: child when she's old enough. And even now, honestly, as 597 00:34:59,440 --> 00:35:01,880 Speaker 2: an infant, I know that reading is super good for 598 00:35:01,880 --> 00:35:04,120 Speaker 2: our children now. And what we want to do at 599 00:35:04,120 --> 00:35:06,719 Speaker 2: this point, Shelley, is we want to shift up the 600 00:35:06,960 --> 00:35:08,239 Speaker 2: energy of this conversation. 601 00:35:08,800 --> 00:35:10,360 Speaker 4: Yeah, let's go ahead. 602 00:35:10,440 --> 00:35:13,200 Speaker 2: And you've already provided so many gems, so much inspiration, 603 00:35:13,560 --> 00:35:15,480 Speaker 2: and so much insight. But we're going to learn about 604 00:35:15,480 --> 00:35:18,279 Speaker 2: a different side of Shelley that you all may not 605 00:35:18,400 --> 00:35:24,080 Speaker 2: have ever heard of. In her facial expression, what's happening, so, Shelley, 606 00:35:24,360 --> 00:35:27,600 Speaker 2: let's just dive on in because we recognize, appreciate, and 607 00:35:27,640 --> 00:35:31,600 Speaker 2: celebrate the multifaceted woman, and we here on the Cultivating 608 00:35:31,600 --> 00:35:34,120 Speaker 2: her Space podcast, we believe that it's okay to be bougie, 609 00:35:34,400 --> 00:35:38,239 Speaker 2: classy and ratchet. You know, still you can still be 610 00:35:38,280 --> 00:35:42,360 Speaker 2: elegant and dance to strip club music if you so choose. Shelley, 611 00:35:42,400 --> 00:35:45,160 Speaker 2: we want to invite you to the oh you blatchet segment? 612 00:35:45,560 --> 00:35:48,000 Speaker 2: So do you take on the challenge. 613 00:35:48,160 --> 00:35:49,279 Speaker 3: Let's do it. I'm doing it. 614 00:35:51,120 --> 00:35:53,400 Speaker 2: Yes, okay, we got it dom all right, Shelley. So 615 00:35:53,440 --> 00:35:55,400 Speaker 2: what this means is we're going to ask you three questions. 616 00:35:55,719 --> 00:35:58,719 Speaker 2: We're going to share three sentence completions, and then we're 617 00:35:58,719 --> 00:36:01,440 Speaker 2: going to choose or you can choose one photo that we. 618 00:36:01,400 --> 00:36:03,799 Speaker 4: Have of you on screen. We're gonna share our screen. 619 00:36:03,920 --> 00:36:08,160 Speaker 2: And Jesus, we would love for you to provide more 620 00:36:08,280 --> 00:36:11,520 Speaker 2: context around the photo that we wouldn't know just by looking. 621 00:36:11,280 --> 00:36:11,840 Speaker 3: At the photo. 622 00:36:12,200 --> 00:36:15,920 Speaker 4: Okay, all right, don you want to take it from here? Yes? 623 00:36:16,120 --> 00:36:20,080 Speaker 1: Okay, so you know we're gonna start you off classy 624 00:36:21,160 --> 00:36:24,160 Speaker 1: unless you choose to answer with something a little bit 625 00:36:24,239 --> 00:36:30,440 Speaker 1: more ratchet. But okay, what is the best piece of 626 00:36:30,880 --> 00:36:34,600 Speaker 1: wisdom or advice that you have ever received. 627 00:36:35,239 --> 00:36:42,080 Speaker 3: From my mother. She said, your name goes with you everywhere. 628 00:36:43,160 --> 00:36:48,920 Speaker 3: Be careful whose lips it's left on, and be mindful 629 00:36:49,000 --> 00:36:54,960 Speaker 3: that everywhere your name is seen, your reputation will follow. Ooh, 630 00:36:56,239 --> 00:37:03,000 Speaker 3: I said, you go somewhere you're representing me, So do not. 631 00:37:02,719 --> 00:37:05,840 Speaker 1: That's a that's a black mamaviting. 632 00:37:07,320 --> 00:37:12,839 Speaker 3: Don't embarrass me where you like. I've always been really 633 00:37:12,880 --> 00:37:15,719 Speaker 3: mindful of like do I want my name on that? 634 00:37:16,680 --> 00:37:18,120 Speaker 3: Do I want you know, do I want to be 635 00:37:18,160 --> 00:37:22,359 Speaker 3: associated with that. I'm a very private person, you know, 636 00:37:22,640 --> 00:37:24,879 Speaker 3: to begin with. So that was like, a I really 637 00:37:24,960 --> 00:37:27,600 Speaker 3: do think about where my name is and whose lips 638 00:37:27,640 --> 00:37:30,919 Speaker 3: my name is, you know, are on the company I keep. 639 00:37:32,200 --> 00:37:34,680 Speaker 2: That is amazing advice I got goosebumps. I hope your 640 00:37:34,719 --> 00:37:37,600 Speaker 2: mom does not listen to this episode because I'm a 641 00:37:37,640 --> 00:37:41,200 Speaker 2: little nervous about this. Next question, Shelley, I'm just gonna 642 00:37:41,200 --> 00:37:42,960 Speaker 2: say I have four words for you. I have four 643 00:37:42,960 --> 00:37:48,920 Speaker 2: words for you, Shelley Turk or two steps. Oh yes, 644 00:37:49,400 --> 00:37:51,320 Speaker 2: She's like, oh that's easy, easy. 645 00:37:51,120 --> 00:37:55,920 Speaker 1: No hesitation, okay, okay, answer, we see the roots, we 646 00:37:56,160 --> 00:37:56,640 Speaker 1: get it. 647 00:37:57,520 --> 00:37:58,360 Speaker 4: You go there. 648 00:37:58,600 --> 00:38:04,440 Speaker 1: I appreciate it. Okay, and so, Shelly, what is the 649 00:38:04,560 --> 00:38:07,120 Speaker 1: sexiest item that you own? 650 00:38:08,040 --> 00:38:13,160 Speaker 3: Oh? I have some amazing high heel leather boots and 651 00:38:13,200 --> 00:38:17,080 Speaker 3: they are oh cordeoussed and when I wear them, I 652 00:38:17,080 --> 00:38:21,160 Speaker 3: feel so sexy. Oh I feel sexy for like a 653 00:38:21,360 --> 00:38:22,640 Speaker 3: half an hour, and. 654 00:38:22,560 --> 00:38:25,719 Speaker 1: Then I just say yes and they gotta come off. 655 00:38:26,160 --> 00:38:32,479 Speaker 3: With that half hour, I feel so damn fine, so good, yeah, 656 00:38:32,760 --> 00:38:34,200 Speaker 3: myself for a full half hour. 657 00:38:34,360 --> 00:38:36,040 Speaker 4: Yeah, I love that. 658 00:38:36,160 --> 00:38:38,200 Speaker 2: I love the honesty because at this point it's like, Okay, 659 00:38:38,200 --> 00:38:40,279 Speaker 2: the hills got to come off after the thirty minutes, but. 660 00:38:40,239 --> 00:38:42,040 Speaker 4: At least you felt sexy for a little bit. 661 00:38:42,080 --> 00:38:44,880 Speaker 3: We love that. So now we have a sex You know, 662 00:38:45,000 --> 00:38:47,440 Speaker 3: I'm not a heels off girl. Oh, I will tell 663 00:38:47,480 --> 00:38:49,840 Speaker 3: you I'm not a heels I will take a seat. 664 00:38:50,680 --> 00:38:54,200 Speaker 4: Okay, So you just I love it. 665 00:38:54,280 --> 00:38:55,919 Speaker 2: So it's like I'm still looking cute with my heels 666 00:38:55,920 --> 00:38:57,640 Speaker 2: and we're just not gonna be standing up and dancing 667 00:38:57,640 --> 00:38:58,839 Speaker 2: and doing all that. 668 00:38:58,840 --> 00:38:59,319 Speaker 3: That's right. 669 00:38:59,520 --> 00:39:03,719 Speaker 2: Yeah, I love it, so, Shelley. Now we're going to 670 00:39:03,719 --> 00:39:06,279 Speaker 2: move on to our sentence completions. Okay, So what we 671 00:39:06,320 --> 00:39:09,399 Speaker 2: want you to is finish the sentence one question our 672 00:39:09,440 --> 00:39:12,480 Speaker 2: topic I wish people ask me about more often is 673 00:39:13,600 --> 00:39:14,320 Speaker 2: my kids. 674 00:39:15,680 --> 00:39:19,000 Speaker 3: No one like people seldom ever ask me about my children. 675 00:39:19,960 --> 00:39:23,720 Speaker 3: And it's really interesting because I think that most people 676 00:39:23,800 --> 00:39:28,040 Speaker 3: do not associate professional women as mothers, and most mothers 677 00:39:28,320 --> 00:39:31,840 Speaker 3: don't like to talk about professional mothers do not like 678 00:39:31,920 --> 00:39:35,439 Speaker 3: to talk about their children. But I actually think being 679 00:39:35,480 --> 00:39:39,080 Speaker 3: a mother has made me a better director, a better listener, 680 00:39:39,600 --> 00:39:44,000 Speaker 3: a better communicator. And I wish that more people would 681 00:39:44,239 --> 00:39:48,759 Speaker 3: invite my full life into a space. I boguard it 682 00:39:48,840 --> 00:39:52,279 Speaker 3: in there anyway, but I really wish that people would 683 00:39:52,320 --> 00:39:54,440 Speaker 3: really want to know all of me and not just 684 00:39:54,480 --> 00:39:56,520 Speaker 3: the piece of me that they want to hire or 685 00:39:56,560 --> 00:39:56,920 Speaker 3: work with. 686 00:39:57,920 --> 00:40:03,400 Speaker 1: Well, since you let it out there, for as Shelley Oh, 687 00:40:03,760 --> 00:40:10,600 Speaker 1: tell us, what is your favorite thing about eight of 688 00:40:10,680 --> 00:40:11,280 Speaker 1: your kids? 689 00:40:12,840 --> 00:40:18,040 Speaker 3: My daughter Sela full on dances like no one's watching. 690 00:40:19,120 --> 00:40:26,200 Speaker 3: She has just this unabandoned joy and when music is 691 00:40:26,239 --> 00:40:28,880 Speaker 3: on or she's singing, or she's playing a pane like 692 00:40:28,960 --> 00:40:33,759 Speaker 3: she just is the most free, has no sense of 693 00:40:34,000 --> 00:40:37,440 Speaker 3: am I doing this right? She's just like her dancing 694 00:40:37,560 --> 00:40:40,080 Speaker 3: is the most joyful thing in the world. My daughter 695 00:40:40,200 --> 00:40:43,600 Speaker 3: Sasha is one of the funniest human beings I have 696 00:40:43,960 --> 00:40:48,000 Speaker 3: ever met. In my entire life. When comedians say I 697 00:40:48,160 --> 00:40:50,239 Speaker 3: was making people laugh like at the table when I 698 00:40:50,280 --> 00:40:53,279 Speaker 3: was three. This girl is a full on stand up 699 00:40:53,320 --> 00:40:58,480 Speaker 3: show every night, and she is. Her timing is amazing. 700 00:40:59,360 --> 00:41:02,760 Speaker 3: But there's like not a joke that she doesn't miss 701 00:41:02,920 --> 00:41:07,399 Speaker 3: or recall. It's it's going to be really interesting to see, 702 00:41:07,600 --> 00:41:09,480 Speaker 3: like what she grows up to you when she's older. 703 00:41:10,400 --> 00:41:12,240 Speaker 3: But she's like the person you want to be sitting 704 00:41:12,239 --> 00:41:15,239 Speaker 3: next to at an event, Like you want to be 705 00:41:15,280 --> 00:41:18,000 Speaker 3: sitting next to Sasha, like either at a party or 706 00:41:18,040 --> 00:41:20,080 Speaker 3: at a funeral. Like she's the girl who's gonna be 707 00:41:20,080 --> 00:41:22,840 Speaker 3: given like the side eye in the common one hundred 708 00:41:22,840 --> 00:41:25,520 Speaker 3: percent already at ten years old. She's the one. 709 00:41:26,520 --> 00:41:27,920 Speaker 4: They sound so amazing. 710 00:41:28,120 --> 00:41:30,640 Speaker 2: And I'm glad that we have this interview here because 711 00:41:30,680 --> 00:41:33,200 Speaker 2: one day, when Sasha might be on this stand of stage, 712 00:41:33,360 --> 00:41:35,200 Speaker 2: we'll be able to refer back to the interview. 713 00:41:34,840 --> 00:41:37,160 Speaker 4: Like remember what her mom said? You know, so that 714 00:41:37,280 --> 00:41:39,480 Speaker 4: that's kind of cool. I love it now, Shelly. 715 00:41:39,480 --> 00:41:44,440 Speaker 2: Our last sentence completion is what I love most about myself. 716 00:41:44,200 --> 00:41:51,960 Speaker 3: Is I'm fearless. I really do think that anything's possible. 717 00:41:53,080 --> 00:41:56,000 Speaker 3: I don't know whether it's my age, but I do 718 00:41:56,080 --> 00:42:01,319 Speaker 3: feel like, there's why not try anything? But if I 719 00:42:01,360 --> 00:42:03,960 Speaker 3: want to do something, I'm not afraid to ask the questions. 720 00:42:04,000 --> 00:42:06,319 Speaker 3: I'm not afraid to do it. I'm not afraid to 721 00:42:06,320 --> 00:42:10,000 Speaker 3: put myself out there. I'm not afraid to fail. I'm 722 00:42:10,000 --> 00:42:11,240 Speaker 3: not afraid to get back up again. 723 00:42:12,120 --> 00:42:19,120 Speaker 1: I love that. That's just so so beautiful. Okay, So Shelly, 724 00:42:19,400 --> 00:42:20,879 Speaker 1: now we're going to move to. 725 00:42:22,480 --> 00:42:23,320 Speaker 4: Your photos. 726 00:42:24,800 --> 00:42:30,080 Speaker 1: So we've pulled one photo from your Instagram that we 727 00:42:30,280 --> 00:42:37,400 Speaker 1: think optimizes what it means to be the multifaceted woman 728 00:42:37,840 --> 00:42:41,400 Speaker 1: that you are. Right, So you're going to pick a 729 00:42:41,480 --> 00:42:46,520 Speaker 1: number between one and three. We will show you the photo, 730 00:42:47,640 --> 00:42:53,120 Speaker 1: and then you will provide for our listening audience the context. 731 00:42:53,440 --> 00:42:58,760 Speaker 1: What's something that we wouldn't know about what we see 732 00:42:59,160 --> 00:42:59,920 Speaker 1: in this photo? 733 00:43:00,719 --> 00:43:02,600 Speaker 3: Okay, number two? 734 00:43:03,840 --> 00:43:04,840 Speaker 4: All right, here we go. 735 00:43:06,640 --> 00:43:09,960 Speaker 3: Okay, so this is a picture, can I tell everybody? Yes? 736 00:43:10,239 --> 00:43:10,799 Speaker 4: Oh for sure. 737 00:43:10,960 --> 00:43:15,040 Speaker 3: It's a picture of me and Titus Burgess. And here's 738 00:43:15,080 --> 00:43:17,200 Speaker 3: something that you don't know about this is that I 739 00:43:17,200 --> 00:43:22,359 Speaker 3: have known Titus Goodness fifteen sixteen years since his very 740 00:43:22,480 --> 00:43:25,600 Speaker 3: first Broadway show, which is a show called Good Vibrations. 741 00:43:26,200 --> 00:43:30,560 Speaker 3: And we became friends then and have been friends ever since. 742 00:43:31,200 --> 00:43:34,080 Speaker 3: I have been at his house when he's written songs. 743 00:43:34,560 --> 00:43:39,040 Speaker 3: We have worked together, we have had lots of many, 744 00:43:39,160 --> 00:43:44,400 Speaker 3: many many dinners and laughs, and watching his career ascend 745 00:43:44,520 --> 00:43:47,440 Speaker 3: has been one of the great joys of my life. 746 00:43:47,880 --> 00:43:50,319 Speaker 3: But we have been friends for over fifteen years and 747 00:43:50,400 --> 00:43:52,880 Speaker 3: I just adore I don't know, Oh, this is at 748 00:43:52,880 --> 00:43:54,920 Speaker 3: a Broadway inspiration This is backstage at a Broadway ins 749 00:43:55,000 --> 00:43:58,600 Speaker 3: Verrational Voices concert. Let this picture. 750 00:43:59,680 --> 00:44:01,480 Speaker 4: Thank you, Thank you for sharing. That is so cool. 751 00:44:01,520 --> 00:44:02,799 Speaker 4: It's always nice and fun to. 752 00:44:02,760 --> 00:44:04,640 Speaker 2: Get the context behind the photo that you just see 753 00:44:04,680 --> 00:44:06,720 Speaker 2: on social media and it's like we get the inside 754 00:44:06,760 --> 00:44:08,840 Speaker 2: scoop now. So thank you so much for that. Shelly, 755 00:44:08,880 --> 00:44:11,319 Speaker 2: and we just want to thank you for being who 756 00:44:11,360 --> 00:44:13,239 Speaker 2: you are and for all that you've done for our 757 00:44:13,280 --> 00:44:15,840 Speaker 2: community and what you continue to do. I think that 758 00:44:16,040 --> 00:44:20,160 Speaker 2: you have just I mean, your trailblazing spirit is contagious, 759 00:44:20,320 --> 00:44:22,360 Speaker 2: and I really do believe that our listeners will be 760 00:44:22,560 --> 00:44:26,080 Speaker 2: inspired and they're going to get that fire under them 761 00:44:26,080 --> 00:44:27,160 Speaker 2: by listening to this interview. 762 00:44:27,239 --> 00:44:29,359 Speaker 4: You are so inspiring. We just thank you so much. 763 00:44:30,040 --> 00:44:32,080 Speaker 3: Thank you, Thank you for having me, thank you for 764 00:44:32,160 --> 00:44:37,359 Speaker 3: supporting your legacy. This book is it's my baby, and 765 00:44:37,400 --> 00:44:39,759 Speaker 3: it means so much to me to talk about it 766 00:44:39,800 --> 00:44:43,640 Speaker 3: with black black women, talk about it with mothers as 767 00:44:43,680 --> 00:44:46,040 Speaker 3: we think about, you know, who we want our children 768 00:44:46,080 --> 00:44:48,000 Speaker 3: to be in the future, and how we want them 769 00:44:48,040 --> 00:44:55,800 Speaker 3: to see themselves and really go towards their history, not 770 00:44:56,400 --> 00:44:58,839 Speaker 3: turn away from it, but really run towards it with 771 00:44:59,040 --> 00:45:02,439 Speaker 3: great pride. I will tell you you know one little thing. 772 00:45:03,320 --> 00:45:05,319 Speaker 3: I went to Washington, d C. To work and we 773 00:45:05,360 --> 00:45:09,319 Speaker 3: went to the museum there, the African American Museum, and 774 00:45:09,480 --> 00:45:13,960 Speaker 3: there's a plaque there that shows the Washington Monument and 775 00:45:14,120 --> 00:45:18,560 Speaker 3: the White House and it talks about the enslaved people 776 00:45:18,920 --> 00:45:22,680 Speaker 3: that built it. It is incredible to walk around Washington, 777 00:45:22,760 --> 00:45:27,840 Speaker 3: DC with your children and say, we built that, we 778 00:45:27,960 --> 00:45:32,120 Speaker 3: built that, we built that. It was our genius that 779 00:45:32,239 --> 00:45:38,239 Speaker 3: engineered that. We built all of this. That to me, 780 00:45:39,120 --> 00:45:44,080 Speaker 3: that's our legacy. And so it is so wonderful to 781 00:45:44,120 --> 00:45:46,640 Speaker 3: be in conversation with both of you, and thank you 782 00:45:46,680 --> 00:45:48,719 Speaker 3: for having me. It's been a lot of fun. 783 00:45:49,840 --> 00:45:52,400 Speaker 4: Oh I just got chills. 784 00:45:52,680 --> 00:45:57,000 Speaker 1: I was like, Oh, I put myself in that space 785 00:45:57,160 --> 00:46:01,000 Speaker 1: as you were talking about walking around DC, and I've 786 00:46:01,000 --> 00:46:04,160 Speaker 1: been to DC many times, and I put myself in 787 00:46:04,239 --> 00:46:07,080 Speaker 1: that space and I got chills as you were talking 788 00:46:07,080 --> 00:46:13,440 Speaker 1: about how our ancestors built that city. Mm hmmm, So, Shelling, 789 00:46:14,920 --> 00:46:19,200 Speaker 1: I know our listeners want to buy these books. The 790 00:46:19,280 --> 00:46:20,440 Speaker 1: holidays are. 791 00:46:20,520 --> 00:46:21,440 Speaker 4: Right upon us. 792 00:46:23,320 --> 00:46:29,040 Speaker 1: Where can our listeners find your legacy and then where 793 00:46:29,040 --> 00:46:30,719 Speaker 1: can they get in contact with you? 794 00:46:31,960 --> 00:46:35,600 Speaker 3: I'm on Instagram, so that's the best place to contact me, 795 00:46:35,800 --> 00:46:39,520 Speaker 3: and it's at Shelley Williams and it's also at Legacy book. 796 00:46:39,719 --> 00:46:43,400 Speaker 3: You're at your Legacy book. You can. I always encourage everyone, 797 00:46:43,480 --> 00:46:45,960 Speaker 3: if they can, to buy their books from an independent 798 00:46:45,960 --> 00:46:49,160 Speaker 3: bookseller and a black independent bookseller if they can. But 799 00:46:49,200 --> 00:46:51,279 Speaker 3: you can get it everywhere. You can obviously get it 800 00:46:51,320 --> 00:46:55,000 Speaker 3: at all the you know dot com retails, the very 801 00:46:55,120 --> 00:47:00,760 Speaker 3: very popular one. It's selling there, doing very very well there. 802 00:47:01,120 --> 00:47:03,920 Speaker 3: But I do. I love to support independent black booksellers 803 00:47:03,960 --> 00:47:06,400 Speaker 3: as much as I can, so I highly encourage that. 804 00:47:07,440 --> 00:47:09,759 Speaker 2: Thank you so much, Shelly for your time. We appreciate you, 805 00:47:10,200 --> 00:47:12,239 Speaker 2: and Lady, we hope you enjoyed this conversation. 806 00:47:13,480 --> 00:47:14,920 Speaker 3: Thank you, Thank you. 807 00:47:15,600 --> 00:47:19,080 Speaker 2: Hey, lady, It's Terry here from the Cultivating her Space podcast. 808 00:47:19,440 --> 00:47:22,239 Speaker 2: I'm hosting a free podcasting masterclass where I'm going to 809 00:47:22,280 --> 00:47:25,879 Speaker 2: teach you how to create your impactful podcast and how 810 00:47:25,880 --> 00:47:28,960 Speaker 2: you can generate multiple streams of income. You can visit 811 00:47:29,080 --> 00:47:32,880 Speaker 2: podcast with Terry dot com to register for free. I 812 00:47:32,920 --> 00:47:33,760 Speaker 2: hope to see you there. 813 00:47:34,200 --> 00:47:39,360 Speaker 1: Thank you, thanks for joining us today. Please note that 814 00:47:39,440 --> 00:47:45,319 Speaker 1: our show may contain conversations about self help, advice, self empowerment, 815 00:47:45,880 --> 00:47:49,080 Speaker 1: and mental health, but is by no means meant to 816 00:47:49,080 --> 00:47:53,080 Speaker 1: be a substitute for an ongoing formal relationship with a 817 00:47:53,120 --> 00:47:56,920 Speaker 1: trained mental health provider. If you are someone you know 818 00:47:57,520 --> 00:48:00,440 Speaker 1: is in need of mental health care, please visit a 819 00:48:00,560 --> 00:48:05,960 Speaker 1: Therapy for Black Girls directory Psychology today or contact your 820 00:48:05,960 --> 00:48:06,920 Speaker 1: insurance provider. 821 00:48:07,480 --> 00:48:09,319 Speaker 2: If you liked what you heard and want to keep 822 00:48:09,320 --> 00:48:14,320 Speaker 2: the conversation going, visit our website at cultivatinghirspace dot com 823 00:48:14,719 --> 00:48:17,000 Speaker 2: and be sure to click the Patreon tab to get 824 00:48:17,040 --> 00:48:22,080 Speaker 2: access to video content, bonuses, and our weekly after show 825 00:48:23,000 --> 00:48:27,520 Speaker 2: and before we meet again, repeat after me, what's meant 826 00:48:27,600 --> 00:48:29,560 Speaker 2: for me? Will never miss me? 827 00:48:30,400 --> 00:48:31,520 Speaker 3: I don't have to chase