WEBVTT - Bonus: In Conversation with Alicia Keys, Pt. 2

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<v Speaker 1>Family Secrets is a production of I Heart Radio. I'm

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<v Speaker 1>Danny Shapiro and this is part two of my special

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<v Speaker 1>bonus episode Conversation with Alicia Keys. I hope you enjoy

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<v Speaker 1>it as much as I did. We'll be back with

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<v Speaker 1>a brand new season of Family Secrets in October. You're

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<v Speaker 1>right about going to see Oprah to ask her her advice. Um,

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<v Speaker 1>we're kind of at a cross roads. And what comes

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<v Speaker 1>out of that conversation with Oprah is this whole idea

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<v Speaker 1>of the resounding yes, you know, like that's and that feeling.

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<v Speaker 1>And I think everyone can relate to this if we

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<v Speaker 1>get quiet enough to actually pay it tension to that

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<v Speaker 1>still inner voice, which you know, Look, you and I

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<v Speaker 1>are having this conversation at a time where there's these

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<v Speaker 1>reckonings upon reckonings going on all over the globe and

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<v Speaker 1>people are in a way have been forced to become

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<v Speaker 1>more introspective, whether we like it or not, and to

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<v Speaker 1>face ourselves and to be in this slowed down state

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<v Speaker 1>that we didn't choose. It's not like we all decided

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<v Speaker 1>to go off on a retreat. It's like it it

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<v Speaker 1>came to us. And you talk about this resounding yes

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<v Speaker 1>and it's also kind of in the context of getting

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<v Speaker 1>quiet enough to hear it, giving yourself the space and

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<v Speaker 1>the time, something that you've been super deliberate about doing.

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<v Speaker 1>I think it seems for a long time of implementing

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<v Speaker 1>that space of quiet in your life. Can you talk

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<v Speaker 1>a little bit about that. Oh my goodness, the resounding

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<v Speaker 1>yes moment was definitely a huge, huge, huge turning point

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<v Speaker 1>to me for me and um when I when I

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<v Speaker 1>went to you know, when I went to sit down

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<v Speaker 1>with Oprah and speak with her, I was talking about

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<v Speaker 1>there is a big transition happening in my life. Again.

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<v Speaker 1>It was right on the heels of what I just

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<v Speaker 1>described to this album called Here, where I was really

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<v Speaker 1>starting to recognize who I did not want to be anymore,

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<v Speaker 1>and I was starting to let go of a lot

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<v Speaker 1>of relationships, business relationships, the personal relationships that I had

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<v Speaker 1>used to define me or to as used as crutches.

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<v Speaker 1>Thinking that I could not, um do what I was

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<v Speaker 1>doing without these people, that these people kind of made

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<v Speaker 1>me who I was or who I am or whatever.

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<v Speaker 1>I kind of decided that or they helped me decide

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<v Speaker 1>because they benefited them for sure, whatever the case was,

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<v Speaker 1>And I just didn't know what to do because I

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<v Speaker 1>had this feeling that I just couldn't find the right partnership.

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<v Speaker 1>I couldn't find the right people to to help me

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<v Speaker 1>go to the next place and to continue on my

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<v Speaker 1>journey in a way that was even more meaningful and

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<v Speaker 1>and and more powerful. And and so I would I

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<v Speaker 1>just I I finally she invited me to something special,

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<v Speaker 1>and I thought, oh, how great would this be to

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<v Speaker 1>just ask her advice about this? Because that's another thing

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<v Speaker 1>I think we probably don't do enough. I definitely don't

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<v Speaker 1>often where more now I'm getting better now where to

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<v Speaker 1>reach out to people that may everybody can't reach out

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<v Speaker 1>to Oprah. I'm not trying to say that that we

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<v Speaker 1>all end. I'm surprised that I can't trust me, um,

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<v Speaker 1>but the but there are people in our lives that

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<v Speaker 1>have great experiences, and a lot of the time we

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<v Speaker 1>won't reach out to them because we don't want to

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<v Speaker 1>bother them. I looked at probably so busy, or look,

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<v Speaker 1>they're already dealing with all of this, man, they probably

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<v Speaker 1>how would they know? Or we feel embarrassed that we

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<v Speaker 1>don't know, or whatever the case. And I think for

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<v Speaker 1>a lot of years that maybe didn't utilize my mentorship

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<v Speaker 1>or the people who could give me great advice the

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<v Speaker 1>way to the highest capacity because I didn't want to

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<v Speaker 1>be intrusive, or I didn't want to seem like I

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<v Speaker 1>didn't know, or a lot of my life I spent

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<v Speaker 1>pretending I knew more than I actually did, which we

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<v Speaker 1>probably all find ourselves in one way or another. So,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, finally when I had the courage to kind

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<v Speaker 1>of speak out this this this mentor who I knew

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<v Speaker 1>would have some thoughts about it, it really was a

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<v Speaker 1>powerful awakening because she was able to share how she

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<v Speaker 1>herself found herself in a position of of looking to

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<v Speaker 1>other people to always kind of come up with the

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<v Speaker 1>big ideas or assuming they would know better than her,

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<v Speaker 1>and until she finally realized that, you know, nobody knows

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<v Speaker 1>you more than you, just they just can't. They just

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<v Speaker 1>don't live with you, they're not close to you, they

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<v Speaker 1>don't know your heart like that. They don't even have

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<v Speaker 1>access to those places that you have access to, So

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<v Speaker 1>nobody knows you better than you and I and I

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<v Speaker 1>didn't really see it like that for so long, and

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<v Speaker 1>I always gave so much more credit to everybody else,

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<v Speaker 1>which was a part of that hiding thing that I

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<v Speaker 1>spoke about started to happen in the beginning, and a

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<v Speaker 1>part of this, uh you know, idea of maybe not

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<v Speaker 1>accepting the greatness that's within us. I think we do

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<v Speaker 1>that a lot, especially as women. You know, we're very

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<v Speaker 1>powerful beings. And I think that makes that scary to

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<v Speaker 1>the world. It's scary to ourselves, you know, to be

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<v Speaker 1>so you know, creative. I mean, by the nature of us,

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<v Speaker 1>we create, and so to to create anything out of

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<v Speaker 1>any circumstance, out of nothing is it's scary. And and

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<v Speaker 1>to embrace that's terrifying. And I also feel like that sometimes.

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<v Speaker 1>So when she shared that with me and and really understanding,

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<v Speaker 1>right how who could know better than me? Nobody could

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<v Speaker 1>know better than me? And to start to develop that

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<v Speaker 1>trust with yourself and a confidence in yourself almost the beginning.

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<v Speaker 1>But I still it's sound. I got it in theory,

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<v Speaker 1>but I still can't figure out how to like really

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<v Speaker 1>make it make sense. How do you actually make that

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<v Speaker 1>makes sense and do that in a tactic, tactful way.

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<v Speaker 1>And and and it wasn't until she said, because you

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<v Speaker 1>know what a resounding yes feels like, And I was like, oh, actually,

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<v Speaker 1>I do know what a resounding is still, Like, I

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<v Speaker 1>know when a thing is like I'm so excited to

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<v Speaker 1>do a thing or to go to a thing or

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<v Speaker 1>to talk to a person or whatever, and it's like

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<v Speaker 1>so strong, and I'm like, uh huh, I'm doing that

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<v Speaker 1>for sure without a doubt. And then I know the

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<v Speaker 1>one that's like I think I should do it because

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<v Speaker 1>it's the right thing, that right. Isn't that going to

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<v Speaker 1>make this happen? Whatever we do that convinces us to

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<v Speaker 1>do this. I know what that feels like too, And

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<v Speaker 1>that's not a resounding. It So when she said you

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<v Speaker 1>know what it resounding, it feels like I finally got it.

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<v Speaker 1>The resounding yes is something that that is actually applicable.

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<v Speaker 1>You know. It's like it's like a tool in your

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<v Speaker 1>toolbox that you can come back to again and again, like, Oh,

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<v Speaker 1>that's what that feels like. I know what that feels like.

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<v Speaker 1>And then conversely, that means I know what it feels

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<v Speaker 1>like when it's not the case yes, And so I

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<v Speaker 1>know when it's right for me because if a resounding

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<v Speaker 1>yet opposed to this deliberation that we all do, is

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<v Speaker 1>it right? Is it not right? Is it right? Is

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<v Speaker 1>it not right. You know right away that they resounding yes.

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<v Speaker 1>So that started to give me some clarity about how

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<v Speaker 1>I could start to make some decisions and some difficult decisions,

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<v Speaker 1>and and to be more in control of my compass,

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<v Speaker 1>you know where it was leading me, as opposed to

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<v Speaker 1>feeling so obligated to ask if anybody else or too,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, ask people with more experience, figuring that they

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<v Speaker 1>knew better, but they don't know better than you. You

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<v Speaker 1>know the best for you. You're the best student of yourself.

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<v Speaker 1>M M. I love that We'll be back in a

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<v Speaker 1>moment with more family secrets. There's just a couple more

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<v Speaker 1>things I'd love to talk to you about. And um,

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<v Speaker 1>you go on after your your two kids, your two

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<v Speaker 1>boys are born, and you are convinced. I think it's

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<v Speaker 1>about your friend Erica, who's such a great friend. Um,

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<v Speaker 1>to go on a meditation retreat and you know, like

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<v Speaker 1>any mom in that situation, I've been there myself. It's

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<v Speaker 1>like do I go? Do I not go? I can't go.

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<v Speaker 1>They're not going to survive without me. What will they eat?

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<v Speaker 1>You know, how how can they possibly? How can I

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<v Speaker 1>go do this thing? But you go and you and

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<v Speaker 1>you do you take the time and the space for yourself,

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<v Speaker 1>and it's a Cundalini yoga retreat, and it's like you

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<v Speaker 1>you find a spiritual practice that really really speaks to

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<v Speaker 1>you and resonates with you. Um, and then you talk

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<v Speaker 1>about the way that that creates quiet for you, and

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<v Speaker 1>you know, to connect the whole idea of that kind

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<v Speaker 1>of quiet too, when you can really hear the resounding yes,

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<v Speaker 1>or when you can really hear your deepest inner wisdom yes,

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<v Speaker 1>Oh my goodness. And I was so I truly I

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<v Speaker 1>was so disconnected to my own intuition so many ways,

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<v Speaker 1>and I never even thought of taking the time to

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<v Speaker 1>pour into myself or to even you know, dedicate X

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<v Speaker 1>amount of minutes a day to do that. I just

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<v Speaker 1>didn't know what that was. I hadn't had been exposed

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<v Speaker 1>to meditation before in a few different ways and breathing

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<v Speaker 1>and things like that, but I just didn't I just

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<v Speaker 1>didn't know exactly what to do with it or how

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<v Speaker 1>to make it part of my life style. And my

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<v Speaker 1>friend Erica, you know, she really did challenge me because

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<v Speaker 1>she told me about this retreat and she said, and

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<v Speaker 1>I'm making every excuse and the baby and I can't

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<v Speaker 1>be away. And at the time, I was like, right

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<v Speaker 1>around my husbin's birthday, I think I would have had

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<v Speaker 1>to come home right at the you know, right on

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<v Speaker 1>the day of his birthday, all these things that I

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<v Speaker 1>was using as excuses. And she asked me, when was

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<v Speaker 1>the last time you did anything for yourself? And I

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<v Speaker 1>I couldn't really answer her, and that, of course kind

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<v Speaker 1>of pushed me two, you know, pushed me to say

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<v Speaker 1>I have to do it, and so would. It introduced

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<v Speaker 1>me to really open me up to another logical and

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<v Speaker 1>an applicable way of connecting with spirit, of connecting with

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<v Speaker 1>my own internal compass and with my intuition, and just

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<v Speaker 1>the silence that I think it takes to start to

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<v Speaker 1>hear yourself, which you know I didn't do well before.

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<v Speaker 1>I didn't. I filled up every minute, I answered every request.

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<v Speaker 1>I tried to show up for every single person and things,

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<v Speaker 1>and and I never had I never knew how to

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<v Speaker 1>take that time to be silent and quiet with myself

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<v Speaker 1>for myself. And it really changed everything. And it did

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<v Speaker 1>help me to identify more clearly the resounding yeses and

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<v Speaker 1>and a nose and even the ones that were like I,

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<v Speaker 1>like maybes I was like, Okay, it was not a yes,

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<v Speaker 1>I still a no. And that's that's it. It's really

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<v Speaker 1>it's really been powerful and a challenge to always keep

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<v Speaker 1>up um, but something that I really believe in. Yeah,

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<v Speaker 1>it's it's making me think too, Like just circling back

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<v Speaker 1>to the beginning of our conversation about the the way

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<v Speaker 1>that these lessons, over the course of a life continue

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<v Speaker 1>to return and return to us um maybe always, maybe forever,

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<v Speaker 1>or maybe until we learn them. But even when we

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<v Speaker 1>learn them, we're still learning them anew. And you know,

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<v Speaker 1>towards the very end of of your your book, there's

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<v Speaker 1>this really beautiful passage and I won't read the whole thing,

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<v Speaker 1>but I'll just read the very beginning, which is the

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<v Speaker 1>path to self discovery is not a straight line. It's

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<v Speaker 1>a zig zag. We move in and out of awareness.

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<v Speaker 1>One step forwards, three steps to the left, a baby

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<v Speaker 1>step back, another leap forward. A lightbulb moment might shine

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<v Speaker 1>brightly one day but then flicker the next. It takes

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<v Speaker 1>work to hold tightly to a certain consciousness to live

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<v Speaker 1>in its wisdom every day. I have to intentionally maintain

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<v Speaker 1>an awareness of my value. I know I'm worthy, but

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<v Speaker 1>you don't cross over into the land of self worth

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<v Speaker 1>and just become a permanent resident. You have to keep

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<v Speaker 1>your passport current. I love that, I mean, And that's

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<v Speaker 1>what you're that's what you're describing there, with the meditation,

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<v Speaker 1>with the that deliberate you know, listening for the resounding. Yes,

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<v Speaker 1>it's like renewing. We all need to renew our passports

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<v Speaker 1>every day. Otherwise they really do just kind of sit

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<v Speaker 1>there in the drawer and we don't we don't learn,

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<v Speaker 1>and we don't grow. Yeah, oh my god, so much.

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<v Speaker 1>And it's just natural because you know, these things come

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<v Speaker 1>to us in so many different ways and from so

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<v Speaker 1>many different spaces, and and and and they're meant to

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<v Speaker 1>elevate us, and we we want to be elevated, and

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<v Speaker 1>we're ready to be elevated, and and and but it's tricky,

0:13:49.760 --> 0:13:53.760
<v Speaker 1>and definitely it's surely you have to keep reminding yourself,

0:13:53.800 --> 0:13:56.880
<v Speaker 1>and you have to keep telling yourself that you know.

0:13:56.880 --> 0:14:01.760
<v Speaker 1>So sometimes when I feel a little bit, a little bit,

0:14:01.920 --> 0:14:05.000
<v Speaker 1>you know, something's not going quite right, or maybe my

0:14:05.040 --> 0:14:10.000
<v Speaker 1>confidence is a little shaken over a particular this or that. Um,

0:14:10.040 --> 0:14:14.520
<v Speaker 1>there are times that I will literally say to myself,

0:14:14.559 --> 0:14:18.280
<v Speaker 1>you deserve this. You deserve this, You deserve this, you

0:14:18.360 --> 0:14:21.520
<v Speaker 1>deserve and I'll say it a billion times just to

0:14:21.600 --> 0:14:27.080
<v Speaker 1>remind myself that I deserve it. And you know, and

0:14:27.200 --> 0:14:30.600
<v Speaker 1>that's just naturally go through these places and have these

0:14:30.640 --> 0:14:34.240
<v Speaker 1>feelings where we're uncertain or it's a new place and

0:14:34.280 --> 0:14:36.280
<v Speaker 1>we don't know what to do in that place, or

0:14:36.720 --> 0:14:39.280
<v Speaker 1>you know, we're more comfortable in these other spaces because

0:14:39.280 --> 0:14:43.520
<v Speaker 1>we've been there before, and and and so this reminder

0:14:44.120 --> 0:14:50.480
<v Speaker 1>and this kind of constant reaching towards your higher you.

0:14:50.480 --> 0:14:53.120
<v Speaker 1>You know, um, you don't have to feel guilty about it.

0:14:53.200 --> 0:14:55.600
<v Speaker 1>And I think for a long time, I felt pretty

0:14:55.600 --> 0:15:00.160
<v Speaker 1>guilty about being great. I felt pretty guilty about, um,

0:15:00.200 --> 0:15:04.720
<v Speaker 1>you know, having opportunities that the people around me. I

0:15:04.000 --> 0:15:07.680
<v Speaker 1>I didn't see them having those same opportunities. And and

0:15:07.720 --> 0:15:09.720
<v Speaker 1>I wanted us all to have the same opportunities at

0:15:09.720 --> 0:15:11.600
<v Speaker 1>the same time and reach all of our dreams at

0:15:11.600 --> 0:15:15.480
<v Speaker 1>the same time. And and you know, everybody has their

0:15:15.520 --> 0:15:20.200
<v Speaker 1>own journey, and you don't have to feel guilty about yours. Um.

0:15:20.240 --> 0:15:23.440
<v Speaker 1>In fact, yours will likely inspire the next person. You know,

0:15:23.560 --> 0:15:27.360
<v Speaker 1>if you can just own it and own your your

0:15:27.440 --> 0:15:31.240
<v Speaker 1>wonder and your magnificence and your light and your connection

0:15:31.320 --> 0:15:35.440
<v Speaker 1>to you know, what your purpose is. So so I

0:15:35.480 --> 0:15:37.480
<v Speaker 1>agree this. You do have to keep kind of renewing

0:15:37.520 --> 0:15:39.600
<v Speaker 1>that passport. You have to keep in minding, and so

0:15:39.680 --> 0:15:42.040
<v Speaker 1>you do have to make sure those lessons you learned,

0:15:42.040 --> 0:15:44.600
<v Speaker 1>you didn't um, just learn it for that moment and

0:15:44.680 --> 0:15:47.640
<v Speaker 1>forget it, which I keep myself all the time, and

0:15:47.680 --> 0:15:50.320
<v Speaker 1>I find myself doing that, you know, then remember it

0:15:50.320 --> 0:15:54.080
<v Speaker 1>again and keep on going. So I think there's I

0:15:54.080 --> 0:15:57.080
<v Speaker 1>think there's really high heights to reach that we haven't

0:15:57.120 --> 0:16:00.280
<v Speaker 1>even realized yet. And I'm really excited it and I'm

0:16:00.320 --> 0:16:04.480
<v Speaker 1>looking forward to continuing to reach down. We'll be right back.

0:16:09.840 --> 0:16:14.120
<v Speaker 1>I have one last question for you. UM. Yeah, as

0:16:14.160 --> 0:16:17.480
<v Speaker 1>we're speaking, you know, during this time of reckoning. On

0:16:17.560 --> 0:16:21.960
<v Speaker 1>top of reckoning, you just released the single Perfect Way

0:16:21.960 --> 0:16:29.400
<v Speaker 1>to Die, which is chilling and magnificent. UM. I mean chilling,

0:16:29.440 --> 0:16:31.800
<v Speaker 1>like chills up and down my body listening to it.

0:16:32.280 --> 0:16:37.160
<v Speaker 1>I'm sure I'm far from alone, UM, And I'm just wondering,

0:16:37.680 --> 0:16:43.560
<v Speaker 1>as an artist, how do you respond in the moment

0:16:44.160 --> 0:16:47.840
<v Speaker 1>to the moment. I think it's something that artists so

0:16:47.960 --> 0:16:51.040
<v Speaker 1>often struggle with when we're in um, you know, a

0:16:51.120 --> 0:16:57.440
<v Speaker 1>steam in history or you know, we're really living through something, right, Um? Yeah,

0:16:58.160 --> 0:16:59.920
<v Speaker 1>how do I respond to it? Or how do I

0:17:00.080 --> 0:17:02.800
<v Speaker 1>choose to respond to it? I mean, I know this

0:17:02.880 --> 0:17:06.320
<v Speaker 1>is a song that you had written and hadn't released yet,

0:17:06.400 --> 0:17:12.399
<v Speaker 1>and in this moment it felt like time And that

0:17:12.680 --> 0:17:17.720
<v Speaker 1>makes so much sense. Why hadn't you released it before?

0:17:17.760 --> 0:17:24.480
<v Speaker 1>You know? And and what's the feeling creatively? You know,

0:17:24.560 --> 0:17:27.840
<v Speaker 1>I'm asking asking for a friend. Um, you know, what's

0:17:27.880 --> 0:17:33.880
<v Speaker 1>the feeling of being someone who makes art out of

0:17:33.960 --> 0:17:42.040
<v Speaker 1>life during a time when life is trembling? Mm hmm, wow, man,

0:17:42.119 --> 0:17:46.520
<v Speaker 1>I mean, we are all definitely in a new space

0:17:46.840 --> 0:17:48.880
<v Speaker 1>in so many ways. I mean, in so many ways.

0:17:48.880 --> 0:17:53.240
<v Speaker 1>We're in a really really repetitive space too that we

0:17:54.080 --> 0:17:59.199
<v Speaker 1>have witnessed, or some more than others witnessed over and

0:17:59.240 --> 0:18:03.199
<v Speaker 1>over again, time and time again. And the reason why

0:18:03.280 --> 0:18:07.520
<v Speaker 1>I call it a new space is because we, I

0:18:07.560 --> 0:18:12.200
<v Speaker 1>feel find are finding ourselves face to face with um,

0:18:12.320 --> 0:18:14.320
<v Speaker 1>the truth in a way that I don't know if

0:18:14.320 --> 0:18:18.399
<v Speaker 1>we've ever all had to look so glaringly and so

0:18:19.960 --> 0:18:23.760
<v Speaker 1>obviously and so clearly, and so it's just right in

0:18:23.800 --> 0:18:29.400
<v Speaker 1>front of us. Um, how much we are experiencing as

0:18:29.480 --> 0:18:32.160
<v Speaker 1>the collective and how much we are awakening as the collective,

0:18:32.600 --> 0:18:37.439
<v Speaker 1>and how much we're recognizing the inequality and the unfairness

0:18:37.560 --> 0:18:42.160
<v Speaker 1>that surrounds us, and how much we are all outraged

0:18:42.280 --> 0:18:47.359
<v Speaker 1>and invigorated too really learn more about it, speak up

0:18:47.359 --> 0:18:50.320
<v Speaker 1>more about it, be a part of the change of it,

0:18:50.400 --> 0:18:54.280
<v Speaker 1>the current of change, and and and figure out how

0:18:54.320 --> 0:18:55.560
<v Speaker 1>do we do that, How do we do that with

0:18:55.600 --> 0:18:58.640
<v Speaker 1>our kids? How are we doing that with each other?

0:18:59.160 --> 0:19:02.440
<v Speaker 1>How are we having reversations with our families? How are

0:19:02.520 --> 0:19:05.040
<v Speaker 1>we you know, how are we going out into the

0:19:05.080 --> 0:19:10.200
<v Speaker 1>world and and and expressing, you know, our intolerance with

0:19:10.680 --> 0:19:17.959
<v Speaker 1>hate and and racism and and this inequity overall. And

0:19:17.960 --> 0:19:21.160
<v Speaker 1>and so we're all in this new space to your

0:19:21.200 --> 0:19:23.840
<v Speaker 1>point of reckoning upon reckoning, I love how you've been

0:19:23.880 --> 0:19:26.240
<v Speaker 1>saying that. And we're just in this new space of

0:19:26.240 --> 0:19:31.240
<v Speaker 1>self reflection and uncovering and recognition and eye opening and

0:19:31.240 --> 0:19:34.800
<v Speaker 1>and it's it's uncomfortable, and it's scary, and it's crazy,

0:19:34.920 --> 0:19:37.600
<v Speaker 1>and and you so many of us just wish that

0:19:37.640 --> 0:19:41.600
<v Speaker 1>we could, you know, just erase all of the the

0:19:41.680 --> 0:19:44.880
<v Speaker 1>evils and the and the things that have been prevalent,

0:19:45.000 --> 0:19:47.280
<v Speaker 1>you know, in this country and in the world since

0:19:47.320 --> 0:19:52.280
<v Speaker 1>the beginning. Um but I think that there is also

0:19:52.440 --> 0:19:57.680
<v Speaker 1>this feeling of unity, and there's also this feeling of

0:19:57.920 --> 0:20:01.640
<v Speaker 1>having the hard conversation. It's the difficult conversations, and that's

0:20:01.680 --> 0:20:03.959
<v Speaker 1>great films of you know, of course, there's always going

0:20:04.000 --> 0:20:06.800
<v Speaker 1>to be every side, but I think we and for

0:20:06.920 --> 0:20:11.040
<v Speaker 1>me as an artist, I will truly, truly try and

0:20:11.119 --> 0:20:15.720
<v Speaker 1>want to focus on the part that can uplift us,

0:20:15.720 --> 0:20:19.600
<v Speaker 1>the part that can bring us to to a similar space,

0:20:19.680 --> 0:20:22.440
<v Speaker 1>to an equal ground, and to to touch us on

0:20:22.520 --> 0:20:26.879
<v Speaker 1>a level that is just visceral, because I think that's that,

0:20:27.200 --> 0:20:29.920
<v Speaker 1>to your point, that is the beauty of art. That's

0:20:29.920 --> 0:20:32.720
<v Speaker 1>why I'm so honored to be an artist that that

0:20:32.800 --> 0:20:36.920
<v Speaker 1>can speak to the moment, to the time, to the emotion,

0:20:37.040 --> 0:20:40.560
<v Speaker 1>to the feeling um because that's that's the part that

0:20:40.760 --> 0:20:45.760
<v Speaker 1>erases all the language barriers and all the different things

0:20:45.800 --> 0:20:49.280
<v Speaker 1>that try to make us feel separate from each other

0:20:49.800 --> 0:20:52.520
<v Speaker 1>and and and somehow we are all in one place

0:20:52.560 --> 0:20:55.560
<v Speaker 1>at one time with one feeling and and our eyes

0:20:55.560 --> 0:20:59.360
<v Speaker 1>are open. So I wrote this song Perfect Way to Die,

0:20:59.640 --> 0:21:02.680
<v Speaker 1>almost two years ago, and it was it was written

0:21:02.760 --> 0:21:04.920
<v Speaker 1>based off of what was happening with Mike Brown and

0:21:05.040 --> 0:21:08.320
<v Speaker 1>to mea rights and Trademon Martin and Sandra Blend and

0:21:08.480 --> 0:21:14.199
<v Speaker 1>so many other you know, just horrible murders of black people.

0:21:14.880 --> 0:21:18.440
<v Speaker 1>And I I knew that it would have its time

0:21:18.480 --> 0:21:20.760
<v Speaker 1>to come, and of course it could have been right then,

0:21:20.880 --> 0:21:23.720
<v Speaker 1>but it just felt like there was I was going

0:21:23.800 --> 0:21:27.760
<v Speaker 1>to hold onto it to find the right moment. And

0:21:27.880 --> 0:21:31.480
<v Speaker 1>I actually thought, after this project, Alicia have another project

0:21:31.880 --> 0:21:35.639
<v Speaker 1>that I'm sinalizing as well musically, and I thought it

0:21:35.640 --> 0:21:39.639
<v Speaker 1>would be on that one. But when I, you know,

0:21:39.760 --> 0:21:43.359
<v Speaker 1>realized and looked around and just as we all are

0:21:43.840 --> 0:21:48.320
<v Speaker 1>seeing everything and being a part of it and recognizing it,

0:21:48.400 --> 0:21:51.719
<v Speaker 1>it's just it was the words of everything we're feeling

0:21:51.880 --> 0:21:55.320
<v Speaker 1>right right right now, and and I was, I was

0:21:55.359 --> 0:21:59.960
<v Speaker 1>in awe and shocked that it almost felt like these

0:22:00.040 --> 0:22:04.160
<v Speaker 1>songs were written a while ago. Um, the last three

0:22:04.200 --> 0:22:06.320
<v Speaker 1>songs I've put out, I feel like they've been written

0:22:06.359 --> 0:22:11.080
<v Speaker 1>a while ago, but meant for this time. And and

0:22:11.240 --> 0:22:13.679
<v Speaker 1>so I just actually have been and also in a

0:22:13.760 --> 0:22:19.480
<v Speaker 1>state of just following, following and listening the listening of

0:22:19.520 --> 0:22:24.520
<v Speaker 1>it and and going with with that. UM, and I

0:22:24.560 --> 0:22:27.320
<v Speaker 1>think we're all in a place of deep listening. And

0:22:27.359 --> 0:22:29.960
<v Speaker 1>I and I really do believe that we're in a

0:22:30.000 --> 0:22:35.000
<v Speaker 1>place as deep awakening. Um, there's a you know, and

0:22:35.200 --> 0:22:38.080
<v Speaker 1>I think we're all discovering. So there's so much to

0:22:38.119 --> 0:22:40.879
<v Speaker 1>fight for, and there's so much that we have to

0:22:40.920 --> 0:22:43.560
<v Speaker 1>stand up for and stand up for each other for,

0:22:43.840 --> 0:22:46.400
<v Speaker 1>and and it's never going to change we don't all

0:22:46.480 --> 0:22:49.719
<v Speaker 1>recognize it and stand up for each other. So I

0:22:49.760 --> 0:22:53.200
<v Speaker 1>believe that we can see that happening. And I feel

0:22:53.480 --> 0:22:57.000
<v Speaker 1>like we're on the precipice of great change. And and

0:22:57.040 --> 0:22:59.639
<v Speaker 1>I know him an optimist, and I never want to

0:22:59.640 --> 0:23:02.639
<v Speaker 1>not be an optimist because we have to be and

0:23:02.640 --> 0:23:04.440
<v Speaker 1>and not only do we have to think it and

0:23:04.560 --> 0:23:06.320
<v Speaker 1>dream it and believe it, but we have to act

0:23:06.359 --> 0:23:10.400
<v Speaker 1>on it and not ignore it and be present. And

0:23:11.720 --> 0:23:16.879
<v Speaker 1>I believe we're doing it. M omen. Yeah, really, what

0:23:17.000 --> 0:23:20.040
<v Speaker 1>a privilege and a gift to have this conversation with you.

0:23:20.200 --> 0:23:23.760
<v Speaker 1>I really have just loved talking with you, and I'm

0:23:23.800 --> 0:23:27.480
<v Speaker 1>so excited to share it with so many people. Me

0:23:27.720 --> 0:23:31.439
<v Speaker 1>to have been really looking forward to this one, And

0:23:31.680 --> 0:23:34.840
<v Speaker 1>I really am so grateful for you too, and thank

0:23:34.880 --> 0:23:37.880
<v Speaker 1>you for taking the time to get into it and

0:23:37.880 --> 0:23:41.920
<v Speaker 1>sharing your perspective of it and bringing me into your

0:23:42.040 --> 0:23:46.600
<v Speaker 1>universe as well. And I'm really, really really blessed by

0:23:46.640 --> 0:23:49.880
<v Speaker 1>this conversation, so I can't wait to talk to you again.

0:23:50.080 --> 0:23:54.560
<v Speaker 1>Thanks me to Alicia, be well, Danny, you to take

0:23:54.600 --> 0:24:11.680
<v Speaker 1>care all right m HM. For more podcasts for My

0:24:11.760 --> 0:24:14.800
<v Speaker 1>Heart Radio, visit the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,

0:24:14.880 --> 0:24:16.919
<v Speaker 1>or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.