1 00:00:02,360 --> 00:00:05,760 Speaker 1: Today on the Right Side, Emmy nominated actor Karen Pittman 2 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:09,240 Speaker 1: is here and we're talking season four of The Morning Show, 3 00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:12,399 Speaker 1: her role in the viral Netflix series Forever and the 4 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:15,560 Speaker 1: journey that's led to what she calls her Golden era. 5 00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:19,119 Speaker 2: There is this moment that we have as women where 6 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 2: you have the choice to societally betray everything that you 7 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:29,120 Speaker 2: have been conditioned to learn about what it means to 8 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:32,159 Speaker 2: be a woman. And just like a little you can 9 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:35,480 Speaker 2: see like there's a little veil that starts to lift 10 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:37,840 Speaker 2: a little bit, and you're like, well, what's that? What's 11 00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:39,360 Speaker 2: that over there? No, I'm not gonna worry about that, 12 00:00:40,080 --> 00:00:41,600 Speaker 2: or I can't look at that. I'm gonna go in 13 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:42,400 Speaker 2: opposite direction. 14 00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:45,280 Speaker 1: I'm simone voice and this is the Right side from 15 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:46,200 Speaker 1: Hello Sunshine. 16 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:49,880 Speaker 3: Welcome back to the show, y'all. I have the best. 17 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:53,320 Speaker 1: News to share to kick off today's episode, Season four 18 00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:57,360 Speaker 1: of Hello Sunshine's hit drama The Morning Show is live. 19 00:00:57,160 --> 00:00:58,320 Speaker 3: On Apple TV. Y'all. 20 00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:01,200 Speaker 1: Okay, it's been a minute since we've been with our 21 00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:04,760 Speaker 1: girls at UBN, so let's do a little recap, shall we. 22 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 1: Spoiler alert If you're not cut up, then just skip ahead. Well, 23 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:11,760 Speaker 1: season three ended with a massive shakeup. So if you remember, 24 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:15,600 Speaker 1: Bradley Jackson played by Reese Witherspoon turns herself into the 25 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:20,320 Speaker 1: FBI after she deleted footage to protect her brother. Meanwhile, 26 00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:25,000 Speaker 1: UBA merged with its rival network UBN, with Alex Leevy 27 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:28,080 Speaker 1: played by Jennifer Aniston right at the center of that 28 00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:32,480 Speaker 1: power struggle. And now two years later, the women are 29 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 1: running the show and they're pulling at the. 30 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:37,960 Speaker 3: Threads of trust, truth and power. 31 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:40,480 Speaker 1: So a lot of you already know that in a 32 00:01:40,520 --> 00:01:43,520 Speaker 1: past life, I worked at a place that's not too 33 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:44,720 Speaker 1: different from UBN. 34 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:46,000 Speaker 3: Hi everyone, I'm simone. 35 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:48,680 Speaker 1: Boys say good morning, as you mentioned, and just good 36 00:01:48,760 --> 00:01:49,560 Speaker 1: morning ladies. 37 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:52,080 Speaker 3: As women continue to break down, Darry, I mean. 38 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:55,240 Speaker 1: The larger than life egos, the rush to be first, 39 00:01:55,600 --> 00:02:00,720 Speaker 1: the politics both inside and outside the newsroom. I've definitely 40 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 1: been around that energy before. And one character who feels 41 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:09,720 Speaker 1: especially familiar, like someone I've probably worked with, is UBN 42 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:14,400 Speaker 1: executive Mia Jordan, played by my guest today, Karen Pittman. 43 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:16,160 Speaker 4: I'm the one who has to look at Julia and 44 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 4: Layla and everybody else who's overworked, underappreciated, underpaid on my watch, Yeah, no, no, no, 45 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:24,519 Speaker 4: don't look over there, you know, keep the show lean 46 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 4: and mean, do more with less, get creative sleep in 47 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:30,000 Speaker 4: your office if that's what it takes, because that is 48 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:30,880 Speaker 4: what it takes. 49 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:35,320 Speaker 3: And this season, let's just say Mia reaches her breaking point. 50 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:39,600 Speaker 3: I know it, I deserve and it's my time now. Ooh, 51 00:02:39,639 --> 00:02:40,560 Speaker 3: I love that line. 52 00:02:40,720 --> 00:02:45,040 Speaker 1: Honestly, it's Karen Pittman's time now too, between her Emmy 53 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:48,960 Speaker 1: nomination for The Morning Show, the viral and just utterly 54 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:53,440 Speaker 1: delightful Judy Bluem adaptation Forever on Netflix and her role 55 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 1: as doctor Niah Wallace on and just like that, I mean, 56 00:02:57,440 --> 00:03:01,760 Speaker 1: Karen Pittman is on fire, and today you're gonna hear 57 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:04,000 Speaker 1: what it took for her to get to that point. 58 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:05,200 Speaker 3: I'm gonna be honest with you. 59 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:09,760 Speaker 1: Karen is truly one of the most inspiring second act 60 00:03:09,880 --> 00:03:13,800 Speaker 1: stories I've ever heard, because she started her acting career 61 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:16,960 Speaker 1: at a stage when most people might have given up. 62 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:19,760 Speaker 1: And you'll see what I mean in just a few minutes. 63 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:23,880 Speaker 1: This is your sign to leave imposter syndrome at the 64 00:03:23,919 --> 00:03:27,600 Speaker 1: door and show up for your dreams unapologetically. Sis, what 65 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:30,960 Speaker 1: are you waiting for? Let's get into it with Karen Pittman, 66 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:39,640 Speaker 1: Karen Pittman, Welcome to the bright Side. 67 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:43,680 Speaker 3: Thank you the right Side. I wore my bright side 68 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:44,560 Speaker 3: dressed today. 69 00:03:45,400 --> 00:03:49,120 Speaker 1: I got all gussied up, as you should because you 70 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:51,800 Speaker 1: have had quite the year, ma'am, been so good. 71 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:55,200 Speaker 3: I mean, it's been great for us as audiences. 72 00:03:55,280 --> 00:03:59,080 Speaker 2: And listen, I'm staying alive in five Oh, you are 73 00:03:59,200 --> 00:03:59,920 Speaker 2: doing more than stay. 74 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:02,400 Speaker 1: You are thriving because we started the summer with you 75 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:05,040 Speaker 1: in Forever, which was just delicious? 76 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:07,960 Speaker 3: Did you love that show? Delicious? Wasn't it so good? 77 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 1: It made me think, it made me feel, It made 78 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:12,480 Speaker 1: me hope, I saw myself. 79 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:13,840 Speaker 3: We needed that. We need a. 80 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:17,560 Speaker 2: Little delicious morsel at the start, Yes, summer, we needed it. 81 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:17,760 Speaker 3: Well. 82 00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:19,560 Speaker 1: I can't wait to talk to you more about Don 83 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:21,279 Speaker 1: Edwards because I've got a lot of questions for you 84 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 1: about that. But I want to start with The Morning 85 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:26,919 Speaker 1: Show because now we are heading into fall, Season four 86 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:30,480 Speaker 1: of the Morning Show is premiering. I mean, how would 87 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:33,640 Speaker 1: you describe this era that you're in right now? 88 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 3: Karen? Oh, how would I describe this era? I'm golden? Ooh, 89 00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:40,880 Speaker 3: I love golden. 90 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:43,479 Speaker 2: Yeah, golden, because it feels like I'm in a light moment. 91 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:48,200 Speaker 2: I'm in a bright moment, and I have been navigating 92 00:04:48,279 --> 00:04:50,719 Speaker 2: my own life conversations about what light means. You know, 93 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:54,240 Speaker 2: I love a diamond. Everybody loves a jewel, But in 94 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:56,479 Speaker 2: order to have a really beautiful shine, there should be 95 00:04:56,480 --> 00:04:59,080 Speaker 2: a little bit of darkness in that diamond, just a 96 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:01,960 Speaker 2: little bit so that it refract the light. And so 97 00:05:02,080 --> 00:05:04,080 Speaker 2: for a while, I've had a little bit more dark 98 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:05,880 Speaker 2: than I've wanted, and so now I have a lot 99 00:05:05,880 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 2: of light. I balanced it out with a little bit 100 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:11,480 Speaker 2: of you know, shade and sometimes, and now I feel 101 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:13,400 Speaker 2: like I'm in a really good season. So golden is 102 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:14,039 Speaker 2: the word for me. 103 00:05:15,080 --> 00:05:16,680 Speaker 3: I love that. Well. 104 00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:19,280 Speaker 1: I saw you at the premiere last night. I got 105 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:22,560 Speaker 1: to see the first episode of season four, and wow, 106 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 1: it just is like this a pol Yes, we are 107 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 1: being launched into a completely new era for the women 108 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:32,800 Speaker 1: of the Morning Show. And that's what we really see 109 00:05:32,839 --> 00:05:36,000 Speaker 1: also in the trailer at UBN, like women are really 110 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:39,200 Speaker 1: stepping up and stepping into their power. And Mia is 111 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:42,960 Speaker 1: no exception because we see you say this line, I 112 00:05:43,040 --> 00:05:46,200 Speaker 1: know what I deserve and it's my time now to 113 00:05:46,279 --> 00:05:49,640 Speaker 1: Jennifer Andison's character, I mean chills. That is such a 114 00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:54,760 Speaker 1: powerful declaration. Yea, what does Mia have up personally? How 115 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:58,919 Speaker 1: when your light that I can't's violent? 116 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:02,080 Speaker 2: But I think I think me as journey has been 117 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:06,320 Speaker 2: really interesting as a character. I've really had to hold 118 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:10,360 Speaker 2: a lot of what she feels close to the vest. 119 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:14,839 Speaker 2: And even in you know, some of the trailers, you 120 00:06:14,880 --> 00:06:17,720 Speaker 2: can see that she's starting to let things off her 121 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:21,400 Speaker 2: chest a little bit, like she's saying it with her chest, 122 00:06:21,480 --> 00:06:24,720 Speaker 2: She's speaking up. And I think that's part of what 123 00:06:25,080 --> 00:06:27,440 Speaker 2: the journey that people will see me on. How do 124 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:31,040 Speaker 2: you find your voice? How do you become an army 125 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:34,680 Speaker 2: of one? How does that happen? And why it really 126 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:37,240 Speaker 2: does have to be strategic and how do you come 127 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:41,040 Speaker 2: about that strategy? And Mia does that in season four 128 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:43,280 Speaker 2: and I think people are going to love it. 129 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:47,120 Speaker 1: One of the most impressive aspects of the Morning Show 130 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:49,760 Speaker 1: to me is the way that it responds to world 131 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:54,800 Speaker 1: events in real time. Season four starts with talk of 132 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:59,440 Speaker 1: the Paris Olympics, and we see that the show is 133 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:02,560 Speaker 1: really about the messiness of truth, right, like who gets 134 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:04,960 Speaker 1: to tell the truth, who owns the truth? 135 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:07,280 Speaker 3: Who gets silenced? And you alluded to that like Mia 136 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:08,159 Speaker 3: being silenced. 137 00:07:08,760 --> 00:07:11,320 Speaker 1: Where do you think Mia sits in that bigger conversation 138 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 1: about truth. You know. 139 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:16,000 Speaker 2: I think me as really for most of her career 140 00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:20,080 Speaker 2: been mission based, whatever the mission of U Ben or 141 00:07:20,360 --> 00:07:22,880 Speaker 2: Uba or NBN or whatever they're calling it now on 142 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:25,280 Speaker 2: the show, it's I think now they put those two 143 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 2: together and they're called ub In. She's a real company girl, 144 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:31,440 Speaker 2: like she believes in what the Morning Show and what 145 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:33,800 Speaker 2: the corporation is meant to do in the same way 146 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:36,880 Speaker 2: that Alex has believed in it, and Alex Leevie Jennifer 147 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:40,240 Speaker 2: Anderson's character is supported folks at the Morning Show in 148 00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:44,520 Speaker 2: her own way, and grete Lee characters sell A Bak 149 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:47,520 Speaker 2: is supported in her own way. So I think all 150 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:49,880 Speaker 2: of these women are moving in the same direction, but 151 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:53,000 Speaker 2: they're doing it in very very different ways. So I 152 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:54,640 Speaker 2: think Mia is having to deal with the truth of 153 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:57,960 Speaker 2: her own journey right along with all of the simuli 154 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:01,960 Speaker 2: that comes along with dealing with an environment that includes AI, 155 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 2: which is challenging what our sense of truth is, dealing 156 00:08:05,400 --> 00:08:08,880 Speaker 2: with the legacy media and how money is influencing what 157 00:08:08,920 --> 00:08:13,280 Speaker 2: we tell the news, how we find our news, you know, 158 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:17,080 Speaker 2: dealing with anchors and people at work who had big 159 00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:21,480 Speaker 2: egos and they want to see themselves realize and actualized 160 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:24,840 Speaker 2: like Chris Hunter and you know, meeting the bottom line. 161 00:08:24,920 --> 00:08:27,400 Speaker 3: So I think she's dealing with all of those myriad 162 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:28,880 Speaker 3: of issues and challenges. 163 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:31,720 Speaker 1: You mentioned all the powerhouse women who are on the show, 164 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:38,360 Speaker 1: Reese Weatherspoon, Jennifer Aniston, Greta Lee, Marian Cootier. And even 165 00:08:38,400 --> 00:08:40,960 Speaker 1: with all the progress that we've seen to make Hollywood 166 00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:44,240 Speaker 1: more equitable, I imagine it's still so rare to step 167 00:08:44,280 --> 00:08:46,640 Speaker 1: onto a set like this where there are so many 168 00:08:46,679 --> 00:08:49,920 Speaker 1: powerful women both in front of and behind the camera. 169 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:53,240 Speaker 1: What is that energy and that camaraderie? Like, how would 170 00:08:53,280 --> 00:08:53,880 Speaker 1: you describe it? 171 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:55,880 Speaker 3: Well, you know, I think. 172 00:08:57,320 --> 00:09:01,240 Speaker 2: It's very powerful when women come together and you know, 173 00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:03,320 Speaker 2: I don't want a sugarcoat and act like it's perfect 174 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:06,239 Speaker 2: all the time. Like we do have our own conflicts. 175 00:09:06,280 --> 00:09:08,960 Speaker 2: But the way that women handle conflict, at least on 176 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:12,360 Speaker 2: our show is to air it out to you know, 177 00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:18,000 Speaker 2: demand honesty along with integrity. You know, this is what 178 00:09:18,040 --> 00:09:20,319 Speaker 2: we say we're about, then what are we what are 179 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:23,480 Speaker 2: we really doing here? There's a Glamour cover that I'm 180 00:09:23,800 --> 00:09:26,920 Speaker 2: so blessed to share with all the women on the 181 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:30,440 Speaker 2: Morning show, and you'll see that Recent and I are 182 00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:32,400 Speaker 2: leaning into each other, but you also see that I'm 183 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:35,640 Speaker 2: holding onto Nicole Bari's hand, and you know, she's on 184 00:09:35,679 --> 00:09:38,839 Speaker 2: the side of the photo on this little bitty great balancing, 185 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:41,640 Speaker 2: but I wanted, I wanted to make sure that in 186 00:09:41,720 --> 00:09:45,840 Speaker 2: many ways, me holding onto her hand, it's just, you know, 187 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:48,120 Speaker 2: sort of it was a natural instinct of my part, 188 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 2: and I'm so glad they caught it. But it's also 189 00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:54,120 Speaker 2: a reflection of my own personal ethos, my own personal 190 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:56,840 Speaker 2: politic when it comes to any show that I work on, 191 00:09:56,880 --> 00:09:59,480 Speaker 2: but especially the Morning Show, it is about, you know, 192 00:09:59,559 --> 00:10:03,560 Speaker 2: linking farms with the women and pulling as you climb, 193 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:06,080 Speaker 2: bigging others along with you as you climb, which I think, 194 00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:11,000 Speaker 2: you know, quite honestly, Jennifer Anda, san Reese Witherspoon have 195 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:14,200 Speaker 2: done it better than any producers I've ever met. And 196 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:17,040 Speaker 2: I've had a seventeen year career in television, in theater 197 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:22,560 Speaker 2: and film, and they're exemplary. And that they walk the 198 00:10:22,640 --> 00:10:25,720 Speaker 2: walk and they talk the talk. You know, you always 199 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:29,520 Speaker 2: know that they're going to do what's best for the 200 00:10:29,640 --> 00:10:33,120 Speaker 2: entire production, and that that feels it feels good, like 201 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:35,640 Speaker 2: you know, the greatest good is there is their highest 202 00:10:35,679 --> 00:10:38,559 Speaker 2: goal and so we're we're all encouraged by that. 203 00:10:38,679 --> 00:10:41,160 Speaker 1: Well, I'm so glad that you brought up that Glamour 204 00:10:41,320 --> 00:10:44,320 Speaker 1: cover story because it was so so compelling to read 205 00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:45,760 Speaker 1: and it was so. 206 00:10:45,760 --> 00:10:48,480 Speaker 3: Good doing so much good stuff. You guys were ready 207 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 3: for the support. 208 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:52,280 Speaker 1: It's going to be so golden, golden, We're in our 209 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:55,280 Speaker 1: golden era, golden era. Well, Reese in that interview have 210 00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:58,080 Speaker 1: said that she wishes that reporters would ask her not 211 00:10:58,160 --> 00:11:00,240 Speaker 1: just about the roles that she's doing now, but what 212 00:11:00,280 --> 00:11:01,920 Speaker 1: it actually takes to get to. 213 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:03,439 Speaker 3: The level that she's at in her career. 214 00:11:03,559 --> 00:11:06,000 Speaker 1: So I want to throw that framing back on you 215 00:11:06,559 --> 00:11:09,000 Speaker 1: because a lot of people probably don't know that you 216 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:11,079 Speaker 1: discovered acting a bit later in life. 217 00:11:11,160 --> 00:11:11,800 Speaker 3: Yeah that's true. 218 00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:15,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, you started out in the music industry as an 219 00:11:15,080 --> 00:11:18,520 Speaker 1: opera singer. Tell me what it took for you to 220 00:11:18,559 --> 00:11:19,559 Speaker 1: get here? Right? 221 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:21,600 Speaker 2: Well, first and foremost, like, I kind of had a 222 00:11:21,640 --> 00:11:23,760 Speaker 2: plan for my for a where I wanted my life 223 00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:25,400 Speaker 2: to go, and a lot of it was about my 224 00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:29,080 Speaker 2: inherent obedience to my parents for what I thought, Oh, 225 00:11:29,120 --> 00:11:31,480 Speaker 2: this is what a good life is supposed to look. 226 00:11:31,360 --> 00:11:33,560 Speaker 3: Like, this is this is what you're supposed to do. 227 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:36,559 Speaker 2: This is how you go and marry me mom, mom 228 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:40,440 Speaker 2: and my m and same and you retire. And so 229 00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:44,880 Speaker 2: I thought, oh, okay, so that's what. But I was miserable, 230 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:46,440 Speaker 2: very sad in that life. 231 00:11:46,559 --> 00:11:50,000 Speaker 3: You know. Acting came into my life after I had affort. 232 00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:53,680 Speaker 2: Nothing was really working, and I had a midlife crisis 233 00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:57,120 Speaker 2: at like twenty eight or twenty nine, and I had 234 00:11:57,160 --> 00:12:00,920 Speaker 2: to rethink my whole scenario. You know. By that time, 235 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:04,760 Speaker 2: I was pregnant with my first child, and I auditioned 236 00:12:04,760 --> 00:12:07,680 Speaker 2: for grad school to go to acting at NYU, which 237 00:12:07,720 --> 00:12:09,960 Speaker 2: at the time was like one of the number one 238 00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:12,240 Speaker 2: schools in the country. I had no idea, so it 239 00:12:12,320 --> 00:12:14,520 Speaker 2: was really I was rolling the dice, you know what 240 00:12:14,559 --> 00:12:16,800 Speaker 2: I mean. I was like, you know, seven eleven, you 241 00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:17,280 Speaker 2: know what I mean. 242 00:12:17,559 --> 00:12:20,040 Speaker 1: So you just up and decided I'm going to I'm 243 00:12:20,080 --> 00:12:22,840 Speaker 1: just gonna go audition for acting. 244 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:24,800 Speaker 3: Well, up and decide. 245 00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:28,840 Speaker 1: I was saying, did you have just up and decide, 246 00:12:28,840 --> 00:12:31,520 Speaker 1: because that's radical, up and decide. 247 00:12:31,760 --> 00:12:35,440 Speaker 2: I did think to myself, go to some place good, yes, 248 00:12:35,559 --> 00:12:36,319 Speaker 2: of course. 249 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:38,880 Speaker 1: But did you have experience in acting before that? Did 250 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:41,640 Speaker 1: you mean at the opera is theater? Yeah? 251 00:12:41,679 --> 00:12:44,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, okay, So if you're doing opera, you're doing 252 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:48,960 Speaker 2: a theatrical the most theatrical version. Yes, of singing, right, possibly, 253 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:51,800 Speaker 2: but there is some singing and acting, but there's a 254 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:55,559 Speaker 2: lot of acting in singing, right. And I'd had an 255 00:12:55,600 --> 00:12:58,400 Speaker 2: acting coach who actually said I was like, you know, 256 00:12:58,520 --> 00:13:00,440 Speaker 2: I love acting. I want to if I could do 257 00:13:00,440 --> 00:13:01,679 Speaker 2: this for a career, and he's like, yeah, sure of 258 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:03,560 Speaker 2: course you could do it. And at the time I 259 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:05,120 Speaker 2: was pregnant. I said yeah, but I'm pregnant. 260 00:13:05,160 --> 00:13:07,920 Speaker 3: He was like, so, so what try it? 261 00:13:08,800 --> 00:13:12,040 Speaker 2: And I watch your audition for school and I auditioned 262 00:13:12,080 --> 00:13:15,560 Speaker 2: for NYU again, which you know, I mean it was 263 00:13:15,640 --> 00:13:18,680 Speaker 2: kind of an up and deside because you do have 264 00:13:18,800 --> 00:13:22,440 Speaker 2: to be radical at a certain point. You're backing up 265 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:24,880 Speaker 2: against the wall, kind of when you have your children 266 00:13:24,880 --> 00:13:26,559 Speaker 2: in your life and you find out you're going to 267 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:29,120 Speaker 2: be raising other human beings. Your back is up against 268 00:13:29,120 --> 00:13:31,480 Speaker 2: the wall. You're like, I've got okay, I you know, 269 00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:33,760 Speaker 2: I can't f around and find out, you know what 270 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:37,080 Speaker 2: I mean, Like I need to I need to actually 271 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:41,360 Speaker 2: engage with this life and strategize. And so part of 272 00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:44,800 Speaker 2: my strategy was just joy. It's just I want to 273 00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:46,520 Speaker 2: have a I want my son to look at me 274 00:13:46,600 --> 00:13:49,280 Speaker 2: and think, oh, that's a woman who's happy and she's 275 00:13:49,280 --> 00:13:51,960 Speaker 2: happy to have me around, and she's not sacrificing everything 276 00:13:52,080 --> 00:13:55,360 Speaker 2: for me and my life, and you know, she's got 277 00:13:55,360 --> 00:13:58,439 Speaker 2: a life of her own. And so acting was my stab. 278 00:13:58,840 --> 00:14:01,720 Speaker 2: I was my my sore out into the world and 279 00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:05,200 Speaker 2: my gesture to say, hey, I want to see myself 280 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:05,920 Speaker 2: out here and. 281 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:09,840 Speaker 3: Why you brought me in? You know, I think for 282 00:14:09,920 --> 00:14:10,960 Speaker 3: many years for me, it. 283 00:14:10,920 --> 00:14:13,240 Speaker 2: Was the grind. It was a hustle and grind. It 284 00:14:13,320 --> 00:14:16,200 Speaker 2: was the late nights. It was you know, no sleep. 285 00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:18,680 Speaker 2: You know what I mean that no sleep hustle, which 286 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:21,320 Speaker 2: will get you very far, so mo mom will get 287 00:14:21,360 --> 00:14:24,440 Speaker 2: you far that I'm going to run this race until 288 00:14:24,480 --> 00:14:27,320 Speaker 2: I drop kind of thing, and then I'm gonna rest 289 00:14:27,360 --> 00:14:29,720 Speaker 2: and pick myself up and start running again. Like that 290 00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:32,760 Speaker 2: literally was me for a very long time. And then 291 00:14:32,920 --> 00:14:36,320 Speaker 2: maybe after the second season of The Morning Show I 292 00:14:36,360 --> 00:14:39,480 Speaker 2: started and just like that a Sex and the City reboot. 293 00:14:39,840 --> 00:14:41,400 Speaker 3: I started to realize that. 294 00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:46,640 Speaker 2: I needed to create another gesture in the world to 295 00:14:46,640 --> 00:14:49,800 Speaker 2: see myself, and it had to start with rest. I 296 00:14:49,840 --> 00:14:53,880 Speaker 2: could not be a human being that lived on fumes 297 00:14:54,280 --> 00:14:58,280 Speaker 2: my imagination, my life would not flourish, would not thrive 298 00:14:58,760 --> 00:15:00,360 Speaker 2: on you know, air. 299 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:01,400 Speaker 3: I had to be. 300 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:05,200 Speaker 2: Grounded in the earth, and so I started to develop 301 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:10,000 Speaker 2: ways pockets of rest, which helped to give me opportunity 302 00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:14,200 Speaker 2: to think into play, not just with you know, my career, 303 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:17,200 Speaker 2: but with my children, with my friends. It gave me 304 00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:22,280 Speaker 2: an opportunity to find and rEFInd people that had been 305 00:15:22,320 --> 00:15:25,280 Speaker 2: in my life, including Marl brockerheel what I do forever 306 00:15:25,360 --> 00:15:28,440 Speaker 2: with it was the spark of us coming together for 307 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:32,920 Speaker 2: forever was going to Vegas to see Usher and on 308 00:15:32,960 --> 00:15:36,440 Speaker 2: that trip, girls trip, hanging out watching you know, Usher, 309 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:39,640 Speaker 2: doing a thing which only Usher can Thank you, Usher 310 00:15:39,640 --> 00:15:40,480 Speaker 2: shout out to Usher. 311 00:15:40,760 --> 00:15:40,960 Speaker 3: Well. 312 00:15:41,120 --> 00:15:43,480 Speaker 2: The next morning we woke up with this warm feeling 313 00:15:43,560 --> 00:15:46,920 Speaker 2: about our friendship and our relationship and boy, this was 314 00:15:46,960 --> 00:15:49,600 Speaker 2: fun and you know, how do we continue it? 315 00:15:49,680 --> 00:15:50,800 Speaker 3: And then Mars said. 316 00:15:52,040 --> 00:15:54,760 Speaker 2: You know, I got this character and this television show, 317 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:56,800 Speaker 2: and I you know, I saw you do. 318 00:15:56,880 --> 00:15:59,240 Speaker 3: This play years ago. This might be good for you, 319 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:01,960 Speaker 3: and you might be a true and we've been friends 320 00:16:01,960 --> 00:16:02,720 Speaker 3: for many years. 321 00:16:03,040 --> 00:16:06,720 Speaker 2: But it came out of the strategy of play, rest work, 322 00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:14,560 Speaker 2: and I think it has manifested an incredible stream. 323 00:16:14,280 --> 00:16:16,520 Speaker 3: Of opportunity and light. 324 00:16:17,040 --> 00:16:21,920 Speaker 2: You know, a new version of myself in the world 325 00:16:21,960 --> 00:16:26,840 Speaker 2: where I just decide to take more risks, a few 326 00:16:26,840 --> 00:16:27,920 Speaker 2: more calculations. 327 00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:29,440 Speaker 3: Right, I'm a little bit more calculated. 328 00:16:29,520 --> 00:16:32,680 Speaker 2: But if you have energy, if you have life force, 329 00:16:32,880 --> 00:16:39,160 Speaker 2: energy to share, right, then you're able to take risks 330 00:16:39,520 --> 00:16:43,040 Speaker 2: and not be so concerned about the outcome because you 331 00:16:43,160 --> 00:16:46,400 Speaker 2: learn the process. The journey is the most you're going 332 00:16:46,440 --> 00:16:48,640 Speaker 2: to get to a lot of places, you get to mountaintop. 333 00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:51,320 Speaker 2: I mean that premiere last night. I wish you guys 334 00:16:51,320 --> 00:16:54,960 Speaker 2: had been there. We were at MoMA, we left it 335 00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:58,600 Speaker 2: went to Metropolitan Club, which is very on twenty in 336 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:00,000 Speaker 2: New York. I wish you guys would have been there. 337 00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:03,320 Speaker 2: It was so incredible. But there's a mountaintop moment. But 338 00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:06,600 Speaker 2: if like the journey getting there, yxtraordinary. 339 00:17:06,760 --> 00:17:07,720 Speaker 3: Yeah. Worth it. 340 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:19,600 Speaker 1: More from Karen Pittman after this quick break, take me 341 00:17:19,680 --> 00:17:22,560 Speaker 1: back to that day when you audition. Oh, you're five 342 00:17:22,560 --> 00:17:25,560 Speaker 1: months pregnant, five months pregnant. What was going through your 343 00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:28,639 Speaker 1: mind that day? Did you go out there without fear? 344 00:17:28,800 --> 00:17:32,040 Speaker 1: Did you feel courageous? Was there an affirmation that you 345 00:17:32,080 --> 00:17:33,040 Speaker 1: played over and over again? 346 00:17:33,359 --> 00:17:36,320 Speaker 3: No, no, no, no, No, I was panicked. To you, 347 00:17:36,920 --> 00:17:38,359 Speaker 3: I was desperate in that moment. 348 00:17:39,720 --> 00:17:42,080 Speaker 2: You know, there is this moment that we have as 349 00:17:42,160 --> 00:17:49,880 Speaker 2: women where you have the choice to societally to betray 350 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:55,560 Speaker 2: everything that you have been conditioned to learn about what 351 00:17:55,640 --> 00:17:58,359 Speaker 2: it means to be a woman, and you just like 352 00:17:58,520 --> 00:18:01,680 Speaker 2: a little you can see, like there's a little veil 353 00:18:01,720 --> 00:18:02,800 Speaker 2: that starts to lift. 354 00:18:02,560 --> 00:18:05,159 Speaker 3: A little bit and you turn it. Yep, You're like, well, 355 00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:06,960 Speaker 3: what's that? What's that over there? 356 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:09,359 Speaker 2: No, I'm not gonna worry about that, or I can't 357 00:18:09,400 --> 00:18:11,040 Speaker 2: look at that. I'm gonna go in the opposite direction. 358 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:15,120 Speaker 2: But I had had my opportunity to investigate that that 359 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:18,520 Speaker 2: little crack, that little space. I think Roomy says something 360 00:18:18,560 --> 00:18:21,520 Speaker 2: about when you're exploring craft, is that little space where 361 00:18:21,520 --> 00:18:25,560 Speaker 2: you find yourself? You know that's where you are. And 362 00:18:25,880 --> 00:18:27,679 Speaker 2: I thought that I saw a crack of light that 363 00:18:27,760 --> 00:18:29,240 Speaker 2: was going to inform my journey. 364 00:18:29,280 --> 00:18:32,920 Speaker 3: And I was right in that moment though I was panicked. 365 00:18:34,240 --> 00:18:36,680 Speaker 2: I wasn't going to turn around, because your girl don't 366 00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:39,280 Speaker 2: turn around when she's going in one direction right. 367 00:18:39,640 --> 00:18:42,479 Speaker 3: At any rate. I was freaked out. There's no courage, 368 00:18:42,520 --> 00:18:46,719 Speaker 3: it was just adrenaline. But you were there you showed up. 369 00:18:46,840 --> 00:18:50,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, and it sounds like motherhood did for you what 370 00:18:50,040 --> 00:18:54,160 Speaker 1: it did for me. It galvanized me. It gave me courage, 371 00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:57,160 Speaker 1: It gave me clarity. And I think there's this myth 372 00:18:57,280 --> 00:19:00,439 Speaker 1: or misconception that our careers have to end when we 373 00:19:00,520 --> 00:19:03,399 Speaker 1: become moms, because it did for a while. But for me, 374 00:19:04,160 --> 00:19:06,280 Speaker 1: it gave me the courage to go even further. Well, 375 00:19:06,320 --> 00:19:08,360 Speaker 1: now that's the first baby. On the second. 376 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:11,320 Speaker 3: Baby'd be like, wait. 377 00:19:11,240 --> 00:19:14,440 Speaker 2: That second baby, well, that second child comes along. It 378 00:19:14,520 --> 00:19:16,320 Speaker 2: truly is a death. You go from being a daughter, 379 00:19:16,440 --> 00:19:18,760 Speaker 2: being a mother, You go from being a wife to 380 00:19:18,800 --> 00:19:21,080 Speaker 2: being a capital m Yes. 381 00:19:20,960 --> 00:19:21,640 Speaker 3: Do you know what I mean? 382 00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:22,119 Speaker 1: Yes? 383 00:19:22,359 --> 00:19:23,160 Speaker 3: Is that true for you? 384 00:19:23,280 --> 00:19:26,320 Speaker 1: Or oh my gosh, yeah, Karen, my second kid almost 385 00:19:26,320 --> 00:19:26,720 Speaker 1: broke me. 386 00:19:26,840 --> 00:19:28,919 Speaker 3: Yes exactly. Yeah. Yeah. 387 00:19:29,119 --> 00:19:31,879 Speaker 1: I had mine back to back and I was just like, whoa, 388 00:19:31,920 --> 00:19:34,879 Speaker 1: this is way more than I ever bargained for. Yeah, 389 00:19:34,920 --> 00:19:36,480 Speaker 1: and now on the other side of it, I'm like 390 00:19:36,720 --> 00:19:41,119 Speaker 1: so happy. Of course, of course, those those trenches, those moments, 391 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:43,000 Speaker 1: And I know you experienced that too, because you got 392 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:45,960 Speaker 1: pregnant with your daughter right right after a. 393 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:47,840 Speaker 2: Year and a half out of grad school. Spend all 394 00:19:47,840 --> 00:19:51,240 Speaker 2: that money. My mother said, girl, you spend all that money, 395 00:19:51,240 --> 00:19:53,320 Speaker 2: I only end up pregnant. Beginning, What in the hell 396 00:19:53,359 --> 00:19:55,760 Speaker 2: are you thinking? What are you going to do? It 397 00:19:55,800 --> 00:20:00,240 Speaker 2: was crazy, And that was a pregnancy that I I 398 00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:06,720 Speaker 2: had not planned, you know, extraordinary father, but a partner 399 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:09,520 Speaker 2: I ended up having to detach from after my daughter 400 00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:14,280 Speaker 2: was born. You know, we literally got back together to 401 00:20:14,560 --> 00:20:17,320 Speaker 2: have her because we were apart when I found out 402 00:20:17,359 --> 00:20:20,719 Speaker 2: I was pregnant. Girl, I'd messed the whole thing up. Wow, 403 00:20:21,160 --> 00:20:23,840 Speaker 2: you know what I mean, Like I had blown my 404 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:26,240 Speaker 2: whole thing up. 405 00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:29,480 Speaker 3: That's what you thought in your mind. I had not. 406 00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:33,000 Speaker 3: I had it al slowed down. 407 00:20:33,359 --> 00:20:37,040 Speaker 2: It slowed down to a grinding halt when my second 408 00:20:37,080 --> 00:20:39,679 Speaker 2: child was born because I had real responsibilities. I couldn't 409 00:20:39,680 --> 00:20:41,760 Speaker 2: just you know, go ahead and drop that kid off 410 00:20:41,800 --> 00:20:44,359 Speaker 2: with in laws or you know that time and a 411 00:20:44,480 --> 00:20:47,080 Speaker 2: co parent of a bus and so forth, with grandma whatever. 412 00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:51,080 Speaker 2: I had two children, had real responsibilities, and I went 413 00:20:51,119 --> 00:20:53,800 Speaker 2: through it with my second child. That was an extraordinary 414 00:20:54,320 --> 00:20:56,720 Speaker 2: gift to me. Lena was speaking of the bright side. 415 00:20:56,760 --> 00:20:59,560 Speaker 2: Her name means a bright light, and she was that 416 00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:02,639 Speaker 2: for me. What it really informed me, though, Simone, was 417 00:21:02,680 --> 00:21:04,320 Speaker 2: my childhood desire. 418 00:21:04,040 --> 00:21:07,080 Speaker 3: To be seen was not enough to build a career on. 419 00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:08,680 Speaker 3: Wait say that again. 420 00:21:08,760 --> 00:21:14,639 Speaker 2: My childhood desires to be seen was not enough to 421 00:21:14,640 --> 00:21:15,640 Speaker 2: build a career on. 422 00:21:16,520 --> 00:21:18,760 Speaker 3: And so the desire to be seen was what was 423 00:21:18,840 --> 00:21:24,399 Speaker 3: motivating you. I realized that red carpet layer, do you 424 00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:25,040 Speaker 3: know what I mean? 425 00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:31,000 Speaker 2: That applause that oh I booked that job? 426 00:21:31,200 --> 00:21:38,240 Speaker 3: That a validation. That was what I really needed and wanted. 427 00:21:38,480 --> 00:21:40,240 Speaker 2: But when you've got two children who have to be 428 00:21:40,320 --> 00:21:44,080 Speaker 2: fed and no partner in the house, grow you better. 429 00:21:44,440 --> 00:21:48,199 Speaker 2: You better grow up, You better grow up because you 430 00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:49,760 Speaker 2: got to feed. And so then I was like, well, 431 00:21:49,800 --> 00:21:52,000 Speaker 2: what am I going to do? And my sister, one 432 00:21:52,040 --> 00:21:54,119 Speaker 2: of my sisters, my oldest sister, Michelle, she's an attorney, 433 00:21:54,200 --> 00:21:56,000 Speaker 2: She said, Karen's time to stop doing homework. 434 00:21:56,359 --> 00:21:57,640 Speaker 3: You got to go out there and get it. 435 00:21:58,480 --> 00:22:00,680 Speaker 2: And then my other sister, Rauquel, my old sister, said 436 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:04,080 Speaker 2: to me, I mean, pooper, get off the pot, babe. 437 00:22:04,840 --> 00:22:06,679 Speaker 3: What are you going to do with this career? Go 438 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:07,800 Speaker 3: out there and get it. 439 00:22:07,840 --> 00:22:10,120 Speaker 2: And it was the motivation of my sisters, you know, 440 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:14,040 Speaker 2: their words of advice, genuine their experience was if anybody's 441 00:22:14,080 --> 00:22:16,439 Speaker 2: going to do it, you got to do it. And 442 00:22:16,440 --> 00:22:18,800 Speaker 2: that was back in twenty eleven. Now, mind you is 443 00:22:18,840 --> 00:22:23,000 Speaker 2: twenty twenty five, right, so it's been a fourteen years. 444 00:22:23,119 --> 00:22:25,000 Speaker 2: Or let me see where you are. Let's do this 445 00:22:25,080 --> 00:22:27,639 Speaker 2: in fourteen years, baby girl. Let me know where you 446 00:22:27,680 --> 00:22:29,560 Speaker 2: are in fourteen years, to sit down and see how 447 00:22:29,600 --> 00:22:31,800 Speaker 2: far you've come and all the lessons that you've learned. 448 00:22:32,080 --> 00:22:35,320 Speaker 2: That's why people say it's not the mountaintop, it's what 449 00:22:35,359 --> 00:22:38,520 Speaker 2: you're seeing as you're going up, because my life is 450 00:22:38,560 --> 00:22:42,040 Speaker 2: not that one night at MoMA, or the Glamour magazine 451 00:22:42,119 --> 00:22:45,960 Speaker 2: cover or you know, any of the extraordinary fashion campaign, 452 00:22:46,000 --> 00:22:48,320 Speaker 2: none of that. It's it's this journey I've had over 453 00:22:48,320 --> 00:22:50,479 Speaker 2: the last fourteen years from those moments I have with 454 00:22:50,520 --> 00:22:51,600 Speaker 2: my sisters. 455 00:22:51,720 --> 00:22:53,760 Speaker 3: Wow, right, it sounds like that pep talk kind of 456 00:22:53,840 --> 00:22:55,800 Speaker 3: changed everything. I mean it did. 457 00:22:56,000 --> 00:22:57,920 Speaker 2: I mean it was the biggest thing that changed me 458 00:22:57,960 --> 00:23:01,680 Speaker 2: as a mother was when my mother passed in twenty sixteen. 459 00:23:01,960 --> 00:23:04,960 Speaker 2: I joined the Morning Show in twenty eighteen. I joined 460 00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:09,320 Speaker 2: in just like that cast. In twenty twenty one. I 461 00:23:09,520 --> 00:23:13,600 Speaker 2: booked a bunch of other things in their Yellowstone, but 462 00:23:14,040 --> 00:23:15,720 Speaker 2: I came to Mars Show. 463 00:23:15,560 --> 00:23:16,760 Speaker 3: In twenty twenty four. 464 00:23:17,119 --> 00:23:21,119 Speaker 2: So there was something that took fire and that really 465 00:23:21,960 --> 00:23:26,879 Speaker 2: you know, ascended once my mother left this earth, and 466 00:23:26,960 --> 00:23:29,119 Speaker 2: I think some of it is that life force energy 467 00:23:29,160 --> 00:23:32,400 Speaker 2: in her that continues to propel me for that continues 468 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:35,359 Speaker 2: to mother me and nurture me from beyond. But I 469 00:23:35,400 --> 00:23:37,840 Speaker 2: also think it was just this sense of Oh, you 470 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:39,959 Speaker 2: got as you girl, and you can do it. 471 00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:42,040 Speaker 3: You gotta do it, though, you gotta do it. 472 00:23:43,440 --> 00:23:46,160 Speaker 1: We talked about validation, and it's such a tricky thing 473 00:23:46,200 --> 00:23:49,120 Speaker 1: because I'm not going to lie. I need validation as 474 00:23:49,119 --> 00:23:50,880 Speaker 1: an artist, as a creative, I need to know them 475 00:23:50,920 --> 00:23:52,840 Speaker 1: on the right track. Yeah, But at the same time, 476 00:23:52,880 --> 00:23:55,600 Speaker 1: I can't let it win me over and take over me. 477 00:23:56,960 --> 00:24:00,119 Speaker 1: But I think every actor has that project that it 478 00:24:00,119 --> 00:24:03,879 Speaker 1: feels like a turning point in their career, that feels like, yeah, 479 00:24:04,080 --> 00:24:07,120 Speaker 1: I belong here and I'm bringing something here and. 480 00:24:07,280 --> 00:24:10,920 Speaker 3: I can do this. Which role or experience was that 481 00:24:11,200 --> 00:24:12,080 Speaker 3: valid That was. 482 00:24:12,080 --> 00:24:15,639 Speaker 2: In twenty fourteen when I did my first Broadway show, 483 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:19,200 Speaker 2: and it was a play called Disgraced with an extraordinary 484 00:24:19,200 --> 00:24:22,840 Speaker 2: playwright named aod okstar who's peeled a surprise winning Tony 485 00:24:22,880 --> 00:24:26,159 Speaker 2: nominated all the things, you know. We did the playoff Broadway, 486 00:24:26,160 --> 00:24:28,639 Speaker 2: and then it came to Broadway and I was the 487 00:24:28,640 --> 00:24:31,000 Speaker 2: only actor that came from the off Broadway cast for 488 00:24:31,040 --> 00:24:36,000 Speaker 2: whatever reason. But he said to me, well, this play 489 00:24:36,040 --> 00:24:39,360 Speaker 2: doesn't work without you, but I will tell you. I actually, 490 00:24:39,960 --> 00:24:43,480 Speaker 2: at some point in the process believed him, and yeah, 491 00:24:43,520 --> 00:24:45,640 Speaker 2: it's extraordinary play. It doesn't have to work with anybody. 492 00:24:45,680 --> 00:24:47,280 Speaker 2: He work with whoever he wants to. I mean, he's 493 00:24:47,560 --> 00:24:51,399 Speaker 2: aod Och star. But I thought, oh, oh, this is 494 00:24:51,400 --> 00:24:53,960 Speaker 2: different now, because after that point I knew I would 495 00:24:54,000 --> 00:24:57,600 Speaker 2: never not work on Broadway unless I didn't want to, 496 00:24:58,000 --> 00:25:00,000 Speaker 2: and Broadway was a real goal of mine. In Nashville, 497 00:25:00,359 --> 00:25:02,960 Speaker 2: I was a young girl in Nashville going around singing, 498 00:25:03,440 --> 00:25:05,680 Speaker 2: start spreading the news. 499 00:25:06,440 --> 00:25:10,240 Speaker 3: My parents were like, what in the heck she do? 500 00:25:11,560 --> 00:25:18,160 Speaker 5: I'm leaving today. I would go around singing that whenever 501 00:25:18,200 --> 00:25:20,600 Speaker 5: I went and They're like, what is she? I was 502 00:25:20,640 --> 00:25:22,680 Speaker 5: a young girl with big, big, big feelings. 503 00:25:22,720 --> 00:25:24,440 Speaker 2: You know, you have a child that has big, big, 504 00:25:24,440 --> 00:25:25,800 Speaker 2: big emotions, a big feelings. 505 00:25:26,080 --> 00:25:28,800 Speaker 3: I was that kid, and they knew not what to do. 506 00:25:29,000 --> 00:25:31,159 Speaker 3: You were manifesting before we even had the language for her. 507 00:25:31,240 --> 00:25:32,280 Speaker 3: I was, I was. 508 00:25:32,960 --> 00:25:35,280 Speaker 2: But yeah, that was a big moment for me. And 509 00:25:35,359 --> 00:25:38,359 Speaker 2: also twenty eighteen when I booked the Morning Show and. 510 00:25:38,400 --> 00:25:41,520 Speaker 1: Let's talk about your Emmy nomination for me. You've called 511 00:25:41,520 --> 00:25:42,600 Speaker 1: that a mountaintop. 512 00:25:42,960 --> 00:25:46,560 Speaker 2: That was oh, for sure, sure, I've had many mountaintop moments. 513 00:25:46,680 --> 00:25:49,399 Speaker 2: I mean, I think I was somewhere that day and 514 00:25:49,440 --> 00:25:51,720 Speaker 2: I just know I've seen all the other names of 515 00:25:51,800 --> 00:25:54,359 Speaker 2: the supporting actresses on the show come up, but I 516 00:25:54,400 --> 00:25:57,720 Speaker 2: didn't see mine. And then I saw first time Emmy 517 00:25:57,760 --> 00:26:01,280 Speaker 2: nominees on the morning show include you know, Karen, and 518 00:26:01,320 --> 00:26:04,520 Speaker 2: I was like, I'm a person nominee. 519 00:26:05,040 --> 00:26:06,160 Speaker 3: Wow, I did it. 520 00:26:06,720 --> 00:26:10,639 Speaker 2: I did it finally, and then my shoulders dropped for 521 00:26:10,640 --> 00:26:16,080 Speaker 2: a second and they were to my neck because there's 522 00:26:16,119 --> 00:26:19,080 Speaker 2: you know, but it was an interesting it was interesting. 523 00:26:19,119 --> 00:26:21,720 Speaker 2: I did feel like a big deal in the moment 524 00:26:21,880 --> 00:26:23,560 Speaker 2: here at the top of that mountain. And then you're 525 00:26:23,640 --> 00:26:25,840 Speaker 2: like time to go back down because you. 526 00:26:25,800 --> 00:26:30,320 Speaker 3: Know, sewing is work, but reaping is work too. 527 00:26:31,000 --> 00:26:35,440 Speaker 2: You can't just take all your things and because you 528 00:26:35,440 --> 00:26:37,119 Speaker 2: got to put away, you got to pack up, you 529 00:26:37,160 --> 00:26:41,159 Speaker 2: gotta can, you got to freeze, you gotta whatever it is. 530 00:26:41,800 --> 00:26:45,320 Speaker 2: Forgive me for being, you know, to agricultural. 531 00:26:44,920 --> 00:26:46,440 Speaker 3: How par can I take this metaphor? 532 00:26:47,040 --> 00:26:49,920 Speaker 2: But having a career in this industry is very much 533 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:54,359 Speaker 2: like agriculture. You are planning seeds, you are nurturing relationships, 534 00:26:54,440 --> 00:26:57,240 Speaker 2: you are sewing, you are reaping, and all. 535 00:26:57,119 --> 00:26:57,800 Speaker 3: Of that is work. 536 00:26:58,320 --> 00:27:00,280 Speaker 1: We're going to take a short break, but before we do, 537 00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:03,320 Speaker 1: if you are loving this conversation with Karen Pittman as 538 00:27:03,359 --> 00:27:05,960 Speaker 1: much as I am, do me a favor and just 539 00:27:06,040 --> 00:27:08,200 Speaker 1: copy that link and share it with a friend right now. 540 00:27:08,800 --> 00:27:12,119 Speaker 1: Everyone needs a little Karen Pittman in their lives, right Okay, thanks, 541 00:27:12,280 --> 00:27:18,280 Speaker 1: You're the best. Now it is time I want to 542 00:27:18,320 --> 00:27:24,240 Speaker 1: talk about Don in Forever. Okay, gosh, the show really 543 00:27:24,280 --> 00:27:28,439 Speaker 1: impacted me. What do you think was so unique about 544 00:27:28,480 --> 00:27:31,960 Speaker 1: don and the way that you portrayed her to elicit 545 00:27:32,000 --> 00:27:34,560 Speaker 1: the kind of viral response that you got from this role. 546 00:27:34,680 --> 00:27:38,040 Speaker 2: Well, you know, I think it's really it really is 547 00:27:38,080 --> 00:27:44,000 Speaker 2: in the writing. She just sparked my imagination. She made 548 00:27:44,040 --> 00:27:47,680 Speaker 2: me want to fill in all those cracks between the 549 00:27:47,760 --> 00:27:51,520 Speaker 2: words because the words were so incredible. 550 00:27:51,680 --> 00:27:55,359 Speaker 3: I mean, every word is like a gospel verse in 551 00:27:55,440 --> 00:27:56,040 Speaker 3: many ways. 552 00:27:56,200 --> 00:28:00,879 Speaker 2: When she says to Justin, you know these white folks 553 00:28:00,920 --> 00:28:03,560 Speaker 2: out here, they say it takes a village until it 554 00:28:03,560 --> 00:28:04,560 Speaker 2: comes to our children. 555 00:28:05,480 --> 00:28:09,359 Speaker 3: I'll say that's a word. Do I say that? 556 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:13,040 Speaker 2: And fill in all the spaces for what she really 557 00:28:13,080 --> 00:28:16,680 Speaker 2: means underneath that and what she means on the other 558 00:28:16,720 --> 00:28:19,159 Speaker 2: side of it, and underneath it and above it, and 559 00:28:19,800 --> 00:28:24,760 Speaker 2: you know, so really being Dawn was about crafting this 560 00:28:25,960 --> 00:28:29,879 Speaker 2: character with a lot of with all the nuances, but 561 00:28:30,480 --> 00:28:32,800 Speaker 2: grounding the character and care and love. 562 00:28:34,080 --> 00:28:36,640 Speaker 1: So many women have reached out to you to say 563 00:28:36,640 --> 00:28:38,880 Speaker 1: that they see themselves. 564 00:28:38,480 --> 00:28:42,080 Speaker 2: So much and really all of my characters. Yes, yes, 565 00:28:42,240 --> 00:28:46,080 Speaker 2: there is a strong sense of representation in the work 566 00:28:46,240 --> 00:28:49,920 Speaker 2: that I do via Jordan do you know Doctor Niawa, 567 00:28:50,000 --> 00:28:52,320 Speaker 2: Professor Wallace and Nahwallace. 568 00:28:51,800 --> 00:28:56,160 Speaker 3: On Sex and City Reboot and for Dawn and Forever. 569 00:28:56,520 --> 00:29:02,280 Speaker 2: And it's interesting, as daunting, little unrelenting. Sometimes as an 570 00:29:02,320 --> 00:29:05,160 Speaker 2: artist it makes you feel like, well, I mean, my 571 00:29:05,240 --> 00:29:08,400 Speaker 2: commitment is to the art. It can't be a representation, 572 00:29:09,440 --> 00:29:13,440 Speaker 2: can't be to representing. The best look for who these 573 00:29:13,640 --> 00:29:17,880 Speaker 2: women are has to be being truthful and authentic to 574 00:29:18,120 --> 00:29:21,880 Speaker 2: whatever these writers come up with. There are times where 575 00:29:21,880 --> 00:29:24,640 Speaker 2: I have conflict with that, but I have faith that 576 00:29:24,720 --> 00:29:29,160 Speaker 2: my writers will give me an opportunity to nuance whatever 577 00:29:29,200 --> 00:29:31,000 Speaker 2: comes up that I might have conflict with. 578 00:29:31,960 --> 00:29:34,600 Speaker 1: So knowing that your dedication is to the art and 579 00:29:34,640 --> 00:29:37,959 Speaker 1: the writing and the character. I know you're also human too, 580 00:29:38,040 --> 00:29:40,160 Speaker 1: and you're a black woman and you're a black mother. 581 00:29:40,720 --> 00:29:42,040 Speaker 3: So what does it mean to you? 582 00:29:42,240 --> 00:29:44,760 Speaker 1: And how does it feel whenever you hold up a 583 00:29:44,800 --> 00:29:47,800 Speaker 1: mirror for audiences like that and see that response. 584 00:29:47,920 --> 00:29:53,480 Speaker 2: Well, I think it's for me. It's an active political engagement, 585 00:29:54,360 --> 00:29:59,080 Speaker 2: it's a service, it's a vocation, it's a ministry. It's 586 00:29:59,120 --> 00:30:04,240 Speaker 2: all those highest, you know, life force efforts that we 587 00:30:04,400 --> 00:30:06,840 Speaker 2: do as human beings is what I do it for. 588 00:30:06,920 --> 00:30:11,600 Speaker 2: I was raised Catholic, I was raised in scripture. I'm 589 00:30:11,640 --> 00:30:17,840 Speaker 2: not practicing Catholic anymore. I do love Jesus's teachings, but 590 00:30:17,920 --> 00:30:20,600 Speaker 2: I was raised to believe that you have a light 591 00:30:20,640 --> 00:30:21,720 Speaker 2: and you have to let it shine. 592 00:30:21,840 --> 00:30:23,600 Speaker 3: God gives you talents, and what are you going to 593 00:30:23,640 --> 00:30:24,520 Speaker 3: do with them? Do you know? 594 00:30:25,280 --> 00:30:30,880 Speaker 2: So it feels like a very sincerely I am responsible. 595 00:30:30,920 --> 00:30:34,440 Speaker 2: I'm accountable to my life by being a part of that, 596 00:30:34,680 --> 00:30:39,600 Speaker 2: being part of helping to craft conversations that get people 597 00:30:39,640 --> 00:30:42,640 Speaker 2: talking not where they feel judged, but where they just 598 00:30:42,680 --> 00:30:43,719 Speaker 2: start looking inward. 599 00:30:44,520 --> 00:30:50,000 Speaker 1: One of my favorite definitions of community is people who 600 00:30:50,040 --> 00:30:52,680 Speaker 1: see your light and protect it. And it seems like 601 00:30:52,720 --> 00:30:58,240 Speaker 1: you have that with Marra Brakakiel. Yeah, what has female 602 00:30:58,280 --> 00:31:01,840 Speaker 1: friendship given to you when you think about how it's 603 00:31:01,880 --> 00:31:05,160 Speaker 1: impacted you and your career friendship? 604 00:31:05,240 --> 00:31:07,200 Speaker 3: Well, it starts really started. 605 00:31:06,840 --> 00:31:10,280 Speaker 2: At home, you know, started with my siblings, my sisters 606 00:31:10,360 --> 00:31:13,200 Speaker 2: really and my mother who taught us to always really 607 00:31:13,200 --> 00:31:17,160 Speaker 2: put each other first. Loyalty is very important. And then 608 00:31:17,200 --> 00:31:21,480 Speaker 2: it ended, it really ended with this deep understanding that 609 00:31:21,600 --> 00:31:23,840 Speaker 2: first and foremost that must be a friend to myself. 610 00:31:24,920 --> 00:31:27,360 Speaker 2: You know, I tell my daughter this all the time 611 00:31:27,440 --> 00:31:29,720 Speaker 2: because you know, young girls they deal with all these 612 00:31:30,280 --> 00:31:33,320 Speaker 2: questions and conflicts around self image. I said, if you 613 00:31:33,320 --> 00:31:35,040 Speaker 2: don't love you, there's someone who's going to be able 614 00:31:35,080 --> 00:31:37,120 Speaker 2: to love you in return. Do you know love you too? 615 00:31:37,720 --> 00:31:41,040 Speaker 2: So please work on loving yourself. Please be a good 616 00:31:41,080 --> 00:31:44,600 Speaker 2: friend and a best friend to Lena. And my daughter's 617 00:31:44,640 --> 00:31:48,560 Speaker 2: name is Lena, and so really those are the two 618 00:31:48,760 --> 00:31:51,680 Speaker 2: sort of my sisters and my own sort of journey, 619 00:31:51,720 --> 00:31:55,040 Speaker 2: and we're to be kind and loving to myself has 620 00:31:55,080 --> 00:31:59,120 Speaker 2: really helped me to create a safe space for my friends, 621 00:31:59,600 --> 00:32:03,880 Speaker 2: certainly for women in my line of work in television 622 00:32:03,880 --> 00:32:08,440 Speaker 2: and film industry, there's you know, we go through it 623 00:32:08,480 --> 00:32:11,880 Speaker 2: and some days we're fine, sometimes we're sad. 624 00:32:11,920 --> 00:32:13,760 Speaker 3: Some days we're like, why did you get that part? 625 00:32:13,960 --> 00:32:16,160 Speaker 3: And then other days we're like you ain't that cute? 626 00:32:16,320 --> 00:32:16,760 Speaker 3: Like you know? 627 00:32:16,880 --> 00:32:18,840 Speaker 2: And then other days we're like, oh my god, girl, 628 00:32:18,880 --> 00:32:19,880 Speaker 2: I can't believe I said that. 629 00:32:19,960 --> 00:32:21,560 Speaker 3: You know, I love you, and you're like, I know 630 00:32:21,640 --> 00:32:23,360 Speaker 3: you love me. I'm so glad you're back. Do you 631 00:32:23,440 --> 00:32:23,920 Speaker 3: know what I mean? 632 00:32:23,960 --> 00:32:26,880 Speaker 2: It's like, it's not that petty bullshit, it's not that 633 00:32:26,960 --> 00:32:29,120 Speaker 2: grudge holding. It's like, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, you 634 00:32:29,160 --> 00:32:31,360 Speaker 2: were going through it. Let's keep going together. 635 00:32:31,800 --> 00:32:32,000 Speaker 4: You know. 636 00:32:32,160 --> 00:32:35,240 Speaker 2: It's forgiveness is love, it's creating safe space where people 637 00:32:35,240 --> 00:32:36,320 Speaker 2: can just be themselves. 638 00:32:36,440 --> 00:32:38,240 Speaker 1: I know that we're getting a season two of Forever, 639 00:32:38,360 --> 00:32:41,320 Speaker 1: which I'm so excited for it too. Do you have 640 00:32:41,400 --> 00:32:42,920 Speaker 1: any hopes for Dawn? 641 00:32:43,560 --> 00:32:47,400 Speaker 2: Well, I know that we started this show in twenty eighteen, 642 00:32:49,560 --> 00:32:53,320 Speaker 2: so if we're basing it in some sort of historical truth, 643 00:32:53,520 --> 00:32:55,560 Speaker 2: and I know that she's going to encounter all of 644 00:32:55,600 --> 00:32:58,360 Speaker 2: the things that I encountered in twenty twenty, the death 645 00:32:58,400 --> 00:33:01,760 Speaker 2: of Mammatt Arpery, the death of Breanna Taylor, the death 646 00:33:01,800 --> 00:33:05,800 Speaker 2: of George Floyd. And I think what the writers did 647 00:33:05,800 --> 00:33:07,680 Speaker 2: give me, what Mara gave me, was this idea of 648 00:33:07,720 --> 00:33:12,080 Speaker 2: catastrophic parenting and how that creates anxiety and worry and 649 00:33:12,120 --> 00:33:15,080 Speaker 2: concern in her. I know that it's going to get 650 00:33:15,240 --> 00:33:18,320 Speaker 2: very heightened for her, but I'm interested in what Maraa 651 00:33:19,200 --> 00:33:19,640 Speaker 2: is doing. 652 00:33:19,720 --> 00:33:21,440 Speaker 3: She keeps it very close to the vest, but I 653 00:33:21,440 --> 00:33:25,600 Speaker 3: trust her. Trust is a beautiful thing. Yes, I trust her. Yeah. 654 00:33:26,200 --> 00:33:28,840 Speaker 1: Well, I've actually seen you say that you don't have 655 00:33:28,920 --> 00:33:32,040 Speaker 1: imposter syndrome. No, I don't anymore. You but you had 656 00:33:32,040 --> 00:33:34,160 Speaker 1: it at one time, right, No, for sure, but you've 657 00:33:34,160 --> 00:33:34,800 Speaker 1: grown out of it. 658 00:33:35,280 --> 00:33:35,719 Speaker 3: I had to. 659 00:33:36,240 --> 00:33:38,680 Speaker 1: I think it's so refreshing to hear women say I 660 00:33:38,720 --> 00:33:41,080 Speaker 1: don't have imposter syndrome, because we hear so many women 661 00:33:41,160 --> 00:33:43,200 Speaker 1: say that they do have it. We need to see 662 00:33:43,240 --> 00:33:45,920 Speaker 1: the models. We're saying you don't have to have it. 663 00:33:46,760 --> 00:33:49,520 Speaker 1: So what did it take for you to grow out 664 00:33:49,520 --> 00:33:51,400 Speaker 1: of it? Was there a moment, a breakthrough? 665 00:33:52,800 --> 00:33:57,760 Speaker 2: I think maturity a matter of time, extending grace to myself, 666 00:33:58,360 --> 00:34:03,560 Speaker 2: making mistakes, huge swings, and you know, you know, we 667 00:34:03,640 --> 00:34:08,000 Speaker 2: have a swing in the bat. I think it does 668 00:34:08,120 --> 00:34:13,480 Speaker 2: take seeing other women trying things and failing. You know, 669 00:34:14,040 --> 00:34:15,680 Speaker 2: when I was growing up, I was an athlete, big 670 00:34:15,680 --> 00:34:19,799 Speaker 2: time athlete. So I think the competition can be a 671 00:34:19,840 --> 00:34:25,399 Speaker 2: great tool for self knowledge, and as an athlete, I 672 00:34:25,440 --> 00:34:28,200 Speaker 2: loved competing because I could learn so much about myself 673 00:34:28,200 --> 00:34:31,880 Speaker 2: in the process. And one of my favorite athletes is 674 00:34:31,960 --> 00:34:36,320 Speaker 2: Naomi Osaka. And I think Naomi does this extraordinary gift 675 00:34:36,360 --> 00:34:41,560 Speaker 2: of letting us see her emotion, her anxiety, all of 676 00:34:41,600 --> 00:34:43,959 Speaker 2: her fears, and she doesn't hide them. 677 00:34:44,160 --> 00:34:46,319 Speaker 3: She can't. She actually can't hide them. 678 00:34:46,320 --> 00:34:48,600 Speaker 2: I mean, you see Naomi on a court and she 679 00:34:49,000 --> 00:34:53,240 Speaker 2: is joyful and then she's winning. But if Naomi is losing, 680 00:34:53,400 --> 00:34:56,200 Speaker 2: you see it all over her face. And what a 681 00:34:56,239 --> 00:35:00,239 Speaker 2: gift she gives us by letting her allowing us to 682 00:35:00,360 --> 00:35:03,880 Speaker 2: watch her journey. She has a new documentary on to 683 00:35:04,080 --> 00:35:07,960 Speaker 2: be called Second Set, and it is about her experience 684 00:35:08,560 --> 00:35:12,040 Speaker 2: as a mother after her journey after having had her 685 00:35:12,120 --> 00:35:14,799 Speaker 2: daughter at twenty six years old twenty five, twenty six 686 00:35:14,880 --> 00:35:18,280 Speaker 2: years old, she says, people have said that my career 687 00:35:18,360 --> 00:35:21,120 Speaker 2: is over, but they don't understand as it's just starting. 688 00:35:21,440 --> 00:35:25,320 Speaker 2: And it just so touched me deeply that she figured 689 00:35:25,320 --> 00:35:28,080 Speaker 2: that out. I wish I had known it twenty five, 690 00:35:28,200 --> 00:35:32,560 Speaker 2: that you know, opening yourself into areas where you don't 691 00:35:32,600 --> 00:35:35,080 Speaker 2: know how it's going to turn out. Great risk is 692 00:35:35,239 --> 00:35:40,320 Speaker 2: actually going to expand you in ways that you cannot foresee, 693 00:35:40,360 --> 00:35:42,799 Speaker 2: you can't imagine, you know, on the other side of 694 00:35:42,800 --> 00:35:44,759 Speaker 2: what that process is going to look like. And so 695 00:35:45,440 --> 00:35:48,040 Speaker 2: watching other women you know, do it has really helped 696 00:35:48,080 --> 00:35:51,160 Speaker 2: me to do it too. What's behind the emotion I'm 697 00:35:51,200 --> 00:35:53,520 Speaker 2: seeing in I just think I just think it's a 698 00:35:53,719 --> 00:35:57,359 Speaker 2: just special one. I think she's very special. I think 699 00:35:57,400 --> 00:36:00,400 Speaker 2: I just you know, I have such a fondness for me. 700 00:36:02,560 --> 00:36:05,319 Speaker 2: But also any woman who's like, gone there, I just 701 00:36:05,480 --> 00:36:06,520 Speaker 2: you know, it's empathy. 702 00:36:07,200 --> 00:36:11,000 Speaker 3: M h. I'm an actor, got big feelings. I got 703 00:36:11,080 --> 00:36:15,240 Speaker 3: such big feelings. Child is exhausting, how many big feelings 704 00:36:15,280 --> 00:36:17,680 Speaker 3: I have? Lord free me from these big failings. 705 00:36:17,800 --> 00:36:21,600 Speaker 2: But but yeah, I mean I felt that same way 706 00:36:21,600 --> 00:36:23,560 Speaker 2: when I saw Michelle Obama tak you know. 707 00:36:25,320 --> 00:36:29,800 Speaker 3: What she's been through that poor Mega Markle, Oh my god. 708 00:36:29,920 --> 00:36:34,320 Speaker 3: And also Ree's been through so much Jennifer, like I 709 00:36:34,320 --> 00:36:37,560 Speaker 3: have deep, deep, deep empthy mar, I have deep empathy 710 00:36:38,160 --> 00:36:40,480 Speaker 3: for these people who have walked through these storms on 711 00:36:40,520 --> 00:36:42,400 Speaker 3: their own, these women who walk through the storms on 712 00:36:42,440 --> 00:36:45,640 Speaker 3: their own and come out on the other side. I mean, 713 00:36:45,680 --> 00:36:49,400 Speaker 3: Reese is a perfect example. She has set a template. 714 00:36:50,800 --> 00:36:51,359 Speaker 3: She really is. 715 00:36:52,239 --> 00:36:56,200 Speaker 2: She set a template for how women get through periods 716 00:36:56,200 --> 00:36:59,320 Speaker 2: in their careers where they can't or they're not given 717 00:36:59,320 --> 00:37:00,399 Speaker 2: the opportunity work. 718 00:37:01,000 --> 00:37:04,960 Speaker 3: She blazed trail and that's not just you know, you 719 00:37:05,000 --> 00:37:06,000 Speaker 3: don't just say that lightly. 720 00:37:06,040 --> 00:37:08,760 Speaker 2: I know this is on Hello Sunshine, this our company, 721 00:37:08,800 --> 00:37:13,080 Speaker 2: but I do mean this literally act of trail blazing 722 00:37:13,480 --> 00:37:17,880 Speaker 2: is actually a very lonely and daunting pursuit. And she 723 00:37:18,000 --> 00:37:21,040 Speaker 2: figured it out and now so many other people, so 724 00:37:21,120 --> 00:37:24,160 Speaker 2: many other women will know she went that direction. 725 00:37:24,360 --> 00:37:26,080 Speaker 3: That's the way I go, do you know what I mean? 726 00:37:26,239 --> 00:37:26,399 Speaker 1: Oh? 727 00:37:27,360 --> 00:37:30,799 Speaker 2: So I learned no imposter syndrome because of just you know, 728 00:37:30,880 --> 00:37:34,680 Speaker 2: watching other people, but also just you know, failing failing forward. 729 00:37:35,719 --> 00:37:37,920 Speaker 1: You know what, Karen, I'm having a moment right now 730 00:37:38,120 --> 00:37:41,200 Speaker 1: because I'm realizing why. 731 00:37:40,920 --> 00:37:42,319 Speaker 3: You are the talent that you are. 732 00:37:42,560 --> 00:37:43,120 Speaker 2: Oh. 733 00:37:43,160 --> 00:37:45,360 Speaker 3: When I watch your work, you're honestly one of my 734 00:37:45,400 --> 00:37:47,560 Speaker 3: favorite actors to watch, so good you are. 735 00:37:47,960 --> 00:37:50,279 Speaker 1: I always have a bunch of screens going whenever I'm 736 00:37:50,280 --> 00:37:53,680 Speaker 1: watching stuff, because add and the Internet and everything. Whenever 737 00:37:53,760 --> 00:37:55,840 Speaker 1: you come on screen, or whenever I find out, oh, 738 00:37:56,000 --> 00:37:58,120 Speaker 1: Karen Pittman's in this, Oh, let me put my stuff down. 739 00:37:58,000 --> 00:38:02,279 Speaker 5: Let me lock in, Let me pay everybody be exactly 740 00:38:02,360 --> 00:38:04,719 Speaker 5: Karen Pittman is on. 741 00:38:05,960 --> 00:38:10,520 Speaker 1: But what I'm realizing now talking to you, Karen Pittman, 742 00:38:10,840 --> 00:38:14,239 Speaker 1: like the woman behind all these characters, and seeing the 743 00:38:14,280 --> 00:38:16,719 Speaker 1: deep empathy that you have in the way that you 744 00:38:16,920 --> 00:38:19,920 Speaker 1: are just filled with emotion, talking about the women who 745 00:38:19,960 --> 00:38:25,000 Speaker 1: inspire you like this is what makes you a truly 746 00:38:26,120 --> 00:38:27,120 Speaker 1: generational talent. 747 00:38:27,520 --> 00:38:30,320 Speaker 3: Oh, thank you. Yeah to you, Simon. 748 00:38:30,360 --> 00:38:34,279 Speaker 2: It's us together that that's doing this, that's having this 749 00:38:34,360 --> 00:38:38,080 Speaker 2: moment a deep, soulful, spiritual experience. 750 00:38:38,360 --> 00:38:38,680 Speaker 3: Yeah. 751 00:38:38,920 --> 00:38:41,440 Speaker 1: I feel so lucky that we get to witness you 752 00:38:41,480 --> 00:38:43,120 Speaker 1: as you're building this body of work. 753 00:38:43,280 --> 00:38:47,120 Speaker 3: No, that's what's happening. You're building a legendary body of work. 754 00:38:47,239 --> 00:38:49,440 Speaker 3: Oh clod, I'm so glad you feel like that, because 755 00:38:49,440 --> 00:38:50,160 Speaker 3: I hope I am. 756 00:38:50,280 --> 00:38:52,000 Speaker 1: Okay, I need to lighten the mood for a minute. 757 00:38:52,080 --> 00:38:54,560 Speaker 1: I want to end on a silly note. Okay, when 758 00:38:54,560 --> 00:38:56,920 Speaker 1: I was working in news, I worked in news for 759 00:38:56,960 --> 00:38:59,759 Speaker 1: many years and people will often ask me to do 760 00:39:00,120 --> 00:39:03,239 Speaker 1: my anchor voice. Ah yah, have you have you ever 761 00:39:03,440 --> 00:39:05,120 Speaker 1: just dabbled in a news anchor and. 762 00:39:05,160 --> 00:39:07,840 Speaker 3: Pressures you have to we have to you kidding me? 763 00:39:08,040 --> 00:39:08,680 Speaker 3: Can I hear it? 764 00:39:10,719 --> 00:39:10,879 Speaker 1: Hi? 765 00:39:10,960 --> 00:39:14,880 Speaker 3: This is Karen Pitman and you are watching the bride side. 766 00:39:15,000 --> 00:39:18,640 Speaker 3: I don't know what that was perfect. 767 00:39:18,760 --> 00:39:21,360 Speaker 1: Karen Pittman, thank you so much for coming on the 768 00:39:21,360 --> 00:39:22,759 Speaker 1: bright Side. 769 00:39:22,600 --> 00:39:24,439 Speaker 3: We did, We did. 770 00:39:27,239 --> 00:39:30,239 Speaker 1: Karen Pittman is an Emmy nominated actor and star of 771 00:39:30,320 --> 00:39:33,399 Speaker 1: the Morning Show. Season four is available on Apple TV 772 00:39:33,840 --> 00:39:39,080 Speaker 1: right now. The bright Side is a production of Hello 773 00:39:39,120 --> 00:39:42,640 Speaker 1: Sunshine and iHeart Podcasts and is executive produced by Rhyese, 774 00:39:42,680 --> 00:39:46,680 Speaker 1: Witherspoon and me Simone Boyce. Production is by A Cast 775 00:39:46,760 --> 00:39:51,760 Speaker 1: Creative Studios. Our producers are Taylor Williamson, Adrian Bain, Abby Delk, 776 00:39:52,000 --> 00:39:53,040 Speaker 1: and Darby Masters. 777 00:39:53,480 --> 00:39:54,799 Speaker 3: Our production assistant is. 778 00:39:54,800 --> 00:39:59,200 Speaker 1: Joya putnoy A Casts Executive producers are Jenny Kaplan and 779 00:39:59,239 --> 00:40:03,880 Speaker 1: Emily Rudder. Maureen Polo, Andrhyese Witherspoon are the executive producers 780 00:40:03,880 --> 00:40:07,640 Speaker 1: for Hello Sunshine. Ali Perry and Lauren Hansen are the 781 00:40:07,680 --> 00:40:11,719 Speaker 1: executive producers for iHeart Podcasts. Our theme song is by 782 00:40:11,719 --> 00:40:13,920 Speaker 1: Anna Stump and Hamilton Lakehauser.