1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:03,000 Speaker 1: Give her time. Before a D and T fiber Internet, 2 00:00:04,160 --> 00:00:06,640 Speaker 1: What what are you doing in the dungeon? It's the 3 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:09,200 Speaker 1: only place where the bloody WiFi works, and you don't 4 00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:13,880 Speaker 1: mind the spiders. Spiders. Spiders are now there everywhere in 5 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:16,800 Speaker 1: the time. After a D and T Fiber Internet, it's 6 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:19,439 Speaker 1: nice having fast, reliable WiFi in the whole house, for sure. 7 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:22,480 Speaker 1: The dawn never Better Internet era with a T n 8 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:25,520 Speaker 1: T Fiber limited availability and select areas. Check eligibility at 9 00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:27,440 Speaker 1: add dot com slash get Fiber. A t D smart 10 00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:30,640 Speaker 1: WiFi extenders may be required. Soul separately restrictions apply. The 11 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:35,440 Speaker 1: Black Effect Presents features honest conversations and exclusive interviews, a 12 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:39,840 Speaker 1: space for artists, everyday people and listeners to amplify, elevate, 13 00:00:40,080 --> 00:00:44,120 Speaker 1: and empower black voices with great conversations. Make sure to 14 00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:47,360 Speaker 1: listen to The Black Effect Presents podcast on I Heart Radio, 15 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:55,400 Speaker 1: Apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcast. Its up 16 00:00:55,560 --> 00:00:59,400 Speaker 1: man called Loose Miller of the Stup Favors. Make sure 17 00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 1: you check out The Black Market, hostly by Me only 18 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:05,160 Speaker 1: on the eighty five South Show. Fee subscribe to the 19 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:08,000 Speaker 1: eighty five South Show to hear and tune into the 20 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:12,920 Speaker 1: Black Market here amazing interviews with entrepreneurs, creatives and thought leaders, 21 00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:16,160 Speaker 1: people who are doing amazing things in the black community. 22 00:01:16,880 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 1: Listen to The Black Market on my Heart radio, app, 23 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:30,920 Speaker 1: Apple podcast or wherever you listen to podcasts. Welcome to 24 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:33,080 Speaker 1: Money Making Conversations. It's the show that she has the 25 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 1: secrets of success experience firsthand by marketing and Brandon expert 26 00:01:36,440 --> 00:01:39,080 Speaker 1: Rashan McDonald. I will know he's giving me advice on 27 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:42,199 Speaker 1: many occasions. In the case you didn't notice, I'm not broke, 28 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:45,600 Speaker 1: you know, he'll be interview with celebrity CEOs, entrepreneurs and 29 00:01:45,680 --> 00:01:48,440 Speaker 1: industry decision makers. It's what he likes to do, it's 30 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:50,840 Speaker 1: what he likes to share. Now it's time to hear 31 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:55,080 Speaker 1: from my man, Rashan McDonald. Money Making Conversations. Here we come. 32 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:58,960 Speaker 1: Welcome to Money Making Conversation. To have your host, Rashan McDonald, 33 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 1: was time to stop read to other people's success stories. 34 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:03,880 Speaker 1: I said that all the time every episode and start 35 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:06,080 Speaker 1: writing your own. You have to understand it's about you. 36 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:08,880 Speaker 1: It's about your efforts, about your planning, and people always 37 00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:12,040 Speaker 1: talking about the gifts and on purpose. I always tell people, 38 00:02:12,040 --> 00:02:13,880 Speaker 1: if you have a gift, lead with it and don't 39 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:16,600 Speaker 1: let your age, friends, family, or coworkers stop you from 40 00:02:16,639 --> 00:02:20,640 Speaker 1: planning or living your dreams. On my show, interview celebrities, CEOs, 41 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:23,880 Speaker 1: entrepreneurs and people I like to call industry decision makers. 42 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:27,680 Speaker 1: My next guest is a graduate of an HBCU Howard University, 43 00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:32,240 Speaker 1: Leonard Robinson. He's an actor, writer, stand up comedian and 44 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 1: has a degree and Management Information System boor You can 45 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 1: be employed anywhere in this world with a degree like that. 46 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:41,440 Speaker 1: This year, Leonard is currently appearing on the fifth and 47 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:47,080 Speaker 1: final season of HBC Execute HBOS Insecure, where he's required 48 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:51,640 Speaker 1: his very popular character the Emmy winning HBO competitions Insecure Errors. 49 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:55,160 Speaker 1: Every Sunday night, ten pm Eastern Standard Time, n pm Central, 50 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 1: We'll be talking about Lender's career pursuing acting, writing and 51 00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:01,000 Speaker 1: stand up Lendard the car any member of the Ground 52 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:04,040 Speaker 1: Links famed Sketch Comedy and Improv Troop and also as 53 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:06,560 Speaker 1: a cast member on EMPTV from my board Nick Cannon's 54 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:09,040 Speaker 1: Wild and Up. Please Welcome to money Making. A conversation 55 00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:13,040 Speaker 1: from Howard your first to Hollywood Letar Robinson. How are 56 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:16,120 Speaker 1: you doing? Certain? How are you doing? Brother? Gonna meet you? Well? 57 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:18,959 Speaker 1: You up Connecticut and then that's where that's what it 58 00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:24,880 Speaker 1: all started, right, Yeah, Originally I'm from Danbury, Connecticut, spent 59 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:27,919 Speaker 1: a little time in Tokyo, and uh went to Howard 60 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:31,720 Speaker 1: and really kind of found myself and found my place 61 00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:35,000 Speaker 1: and purpose over at Howard University, and then moved to 62 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:38,800 Speaker 1: New York, came to Los Angeles and and now I'm here. Well, 63 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:41,280 Speaker 1: you know, literally, I gotta slowly done. He just ran 64 00:03:41,320 --> 00:03:43,880 Speaker 1: through your whole life. Man, your life is really interesting. 65 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:46,160 Speaker 1: You got judo in your background, you got rastling in 66 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:48,520 Speaker 1: your background. You didn't want to get into that whole 67 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:51,000 Speaker 1: aspect until you got to college. So slow it down, 68 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:52,920 Speaker 1: you know, because that's what this show is all about. 69 00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:56,600 Speaker 1: Because your your your resume proves to be that people 70 00:03:56,760 --> 00:03:58,880 Speaker 1: expect certain people to do certain things when they are 71 00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:01,880 Speaker 1: hit in that direction, and you alnered that direction. Why 72 00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 1: did you alter the direction? Well, you know, growing up 73 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:08,160 Speaker 1: in a small town like Danbury, Uh, there wasn't a 74 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:11,440 Speaker 1: lot of outlets for people who want to act and 75 00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:15,360 Speaker 1: be creative in that space. And also I had parents, 76 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:18,479 Speaker 1: you know where where that that was unfamiliar to them. 77 00:04:18,520 --> 00:04:21,200 Speaker 1: So it's hard to encourage your children to do something 78 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 1: you're unfamiliar with and so I dabbled in it as 79 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:28,919 Speaker 1: much as I could in UM in Danbury. But I 80 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:31,480 Speaker 1: actually got into you know, very active in sports, very 81 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:34,960 Speaker 1: active and wrestling in judo and and for a time, 82 00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:38,279 Speaker 1: you know, that was that was my focus. Uh. But 83 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:41,360 Speaker 1: when I went to Howard, uh you know, wrestled a 84 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:44,760 Speaker 1: very brief time at Howard UM. When I got to 85 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:47,080 Speaker 1: Howard also you know, majored in business. So you know, 86 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:50,680 Speaker 1: it's it's years and years of not necessarily pursuing my 87 00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:54,240 Speaker 1: passion and what I wanted to do. However, I think 88 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:56,599 Speaker 1: all those things I did in between, or or the 89 00:04:56,640 --> 00:04:58,880 Speaker 1: reason why I'm able to keep doing what I do now, 90 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:02,400 Speaker 1: or reason why they you know, that makes me successful. 91 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:06,560 Speaker 1: You know, the discipline and and focused I learned training 92 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:09,960 Speaker 1: for wrestling and judo, it's the same kind of discipline 93 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:13,080 Speaker 1: and focus that I bring into acting and entertainment. Well, 94 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:16,360 Speaker 1: you know, some not everybody who wrestler could act, you know, 95 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 1: just like everybody wrap can sing. So you just talented, 96 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:22,720 Speaker 1: my brother, Let's go, we can throw that focus in there, Leonard. 97 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:25,480 Speaker 1: But you got talent, Okay, let's go appreciate, let's go, 98 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:28,120 Speaker 1: let's go. I like to separate people give them credit 99 00:05:28,200 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 1: because a lot of people want to just slide that well, 100 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:32,720 Speaker 1: you know he's focused. You know, well he can run 101 00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 1: for a touchdown. No, now, that guy who ran for 102 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:37,440 Speaker 1: that touchdown, that's his skill. That's just that's his blessing. 103 00:05:37,520 --> 00:05:40,040 Speaker 1: That's that's what enables him to be great. And then 104 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:42,720 Speaker 1: in reading your your resume and your bio, you know, 105 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:46,719 Speaker 1: like my degree was in mathematics, my minder was in sociology. 106 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:48,800 Speaker 1: And I went to work for IBM, and everybody thought 107 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:50,760 Speaker 1: I was gonna, you know, live a life. I thought 108 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:52,559 Speaker 1: I was gonna live a life and as a career 109 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:55,520 Speaker 1: as an IBM executive. And but then I realized that 110 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:58,560 Speaker 1: wasn't me. It was realized that you know, it was 111 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:01,080 Speaker 1: it was, it was it wasn't creative enough for me. 112 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:03,560 Speaker 1: I think that was my turning point. I realized that 113 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:05,719 Speaker 1: I was going to be boxed in one day and 114 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:07,800 Speaker 1: I was not going to be happy with my life. 115 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:12,760 Speaker 1: Was did you? Was that a similar tone with you, oh, Dent? 116 00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:15,400 Speaker 1: I mean my father worked for IBM over twenty three years, 117 00:06:15,440 --> 00:06:17,440 Speaker 1: and uh, you know that's why we spent a little 118 00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:21,200 Speaker 1: time in Tokyo. Was transferred into transferred Tokyo for three 119 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:23,960 Speaker 1: and a half years. So it was it's in my 120 00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:26,320 Speaker 1: it was in my blood, just to you know, be 121 00:06:26,400 --> 00:06:31,440 Speaker 1: familiar with computers and business. So you know, my undergrad 122 00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:35,479 Speaker 1: was in Management Information Systems UM. I ended up programming 123 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:38,720 Speaker 1: and doing systems administration work out of college for a 124 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:41,560 Speaker 1: little bit. And the story I always tell is I 125 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:45,440 Speaker 1: switched to a small boutique consulting firm and I was 126 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:48,559 Speaker 1: doing a lot of back end programming, you know, making 127 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:51,080 Speaker 1: websites basically is the short of it. You know, all 128 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:54,039 Speaker 1: the all the engine that runs a website that you 129 00:06:54,080 --> 00:06:58,480 Speaker 1: don't see, and working long, long hours. You know, an 130 00:06:58,520 --> 00:07:02,400 Speaker 1: average was fourteen hours a day. And it was one 131 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:06,359 Speaker 1: day when our project had stopped and we're waiting for 132 00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 1: another project and I had we had nothing to do 133 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:11,920 Speaker 1: for weeks, and I was literally banging my head on 134 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:15,760 Speaker 1: the desk, saying, what am I doing here? This is 135 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:18,480 Speaker 1: not what I'm supposed to be. What do I need 136 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:22,680 Speaker 1: to do? And about the fourth bang I just popped up. 137 00:07:22,720 --> 00:07:27,120 Speaker 1: I was like, I can quit. And it's such a 138 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:30,880 Speaker 1: simple thing. But you know, for a lot of people, 139 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:32,880 Speaker 1: you get put on a program, you get on a 140 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:36,120 Speaker 1: put in on a path and you think, well, this 141 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:38,440 Speaker 1: is what I'm supposed to do. You know, I was. 142 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:41,200 Speaker 1: I went to Howard University, I studied business, you know, 143 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:44,080 Speaker 1: a pledge to MAGA. Side five became the bost list 144 00:07:44,080 --> 00:07:48,840 Speaker 1: of our chapter. I served Undergraduate Supreme Council. Like I 145 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:51,600 Speaker 1: was very Everything I was doing was related to business. 146 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:55,080 Speaker 1: It was it was about you know, organization and leadership, 147 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 1: and you know, it's something I had an aptitude for, 148 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:02,800 Speaker 1: but I didn't have a passion for so even even 149 00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:05,520 Speaker 1: throughout all that, I was always you know, in addition 150 00:08:05,560 --> 00:08:08,080 Speaker 1: to you know, the funny guy, you know, cracking jokes 151 00:08:08,080 --> 00:08:11,760 Speaker 1: in the office, or I would take acting classes. Uh 152 00:08:11,800 --> 00:08:14,080 Speaker 1: and you know, after work, I'd go take an acting class. 153 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:18,120 Speaker 1: And that's where I felt more alive, That's where I 154 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:22,440 Speaker 1: felt more in line. But I had already invested so 155 00:08:22,520 --> 00:08:25,120 Speaker 1: much time into doing something else. I didn't think that 156 00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:28,520 Speaker 1: there was an alternative until I decided to make that 157 00:08:28,640 --> 00:08:31,280 Speaker 1: choice and say, no, I'm gonna make this choice today, 158 00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:33,400 Speaker 1: and I'm gonna you know, I'd rather put in eighteen 159 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:36,960 Speaker 1: fourteen hours for myself and figure this out, then put 160 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:41,120 Speaker 1: in another fourteen eighteen hours for some other company to 161 00:08:41,280 --> 00:08:43,200 Speaker 1: you know, to make them successful. You know, it's really 162 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:45,320 Speaker 1: interesting because then when I was reading your bio, because 163 00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:47,600 Speaker 1: a lot of your qualities with similar to my eyes. 164 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:50,320 Speaker 1: I remember when I was a freshman in college, I 165 00:08:50,320 --> 00:08:52,960 Speaker 1: looked at managing information system as an option. You know, 166 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:56,160 Speaker 1: it's a degree option that eventually just wound up in mathematics. 167 00:08:56,200 --> 00:08:58,200 Speaker 1: I went through Civil engineer and did chemical jineer and 168 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:01,640 Speaker 1: didn't I wound up in mathematics and minded out of sociology. 169 00:09:01,679 --> 00:09:03,520 Speaker 1: But you know, when you're doing these things, man, that's 170 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:05,439 Speaker 1: an African American. You know, you're just trying to get out. 171 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:07,960 Speaker 1: You're trying to just build, You're trying to fit in. 172 00:09:08,040 --> 00:09:10,000 Speaker 1: You're trying to fit in the white community as well, 173 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:12,800 Speaker 1: because you're trying to get that nice house, that nice car, 174 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:14,679 Speaker 1: and this is the way we've been told you can 175 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:17,080 Speaker 1: get there. And so when you start altering that, like 176 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:19,320 Speaker 1: you said early in the interview, a lot of people 177 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:23,120 Speaker 1: don't understand Leonard, that, Okay, you know what a stand 178 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:25,760 Speaker 1: up comedy does to make money. They understand what the 179 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:28,920 Speaker 1: engineer does. They understand what a bank teller does. But 180 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:31,240 Speaker 1: with all what I told my family and friends, I 181 00:09:31,280 --> 00:09:33,920 Speaker 1: was gonna leave to pursue a career as a stand 182 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:36,400 Speaker 1: up comedian. I could even tell him how it's gonna 183 00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:38,440 Speaker 1: make money. Okay, but I do that's what I wanted 184 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:39,520 Speaker 1: to do. You know what I'm saying. You know what 185 00:09:39,520 --> 00:09:41,400 Speaker 1: I'm talking about learning. You know, you just know that's 186 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:43,880 Speaker 1: what you wanna do. You're gonna throw you have a 187 00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:46,480 Speaker 1: plan of action, you have a passion that you're driven to. 188 00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:49,319 Speaker 1: But then again, you know we're talking about insecure, But 189 00:09:49,360 --> 00:09:51,520 Speaker 1: you've been on n C I S, n C I S, 190 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:54,360 Speaker 1: you know, Los Angeles, You've been on Young Shelton. So 191 00:09:54,600 --> 00:09:57,320 Speaker 1: your resume is not just tied to the interview that 192 00:09:57,360 --> 00:09:59,960 Speaker 1: I'm bringing you on the show about that success allowed 193 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:02,600 Speaker 1: you to go back to your family. Your friends really 194 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:06,160 Speaker 1: understood why you made that decision. How did that How 195 00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:09,800 Speaker 1: did it look at you? Now? Well, it's it's it's 196 00:10:09,840 --> 00:10:14,280 Speaker 1: funny because for years, my mother would always say something like, well, 197 00:10:14,520 --> 00:10:17,320 Speaker 1: you know you can when times got when times got hard, 198 00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:18,800 Speaker 1: and I would tell her, like, you know, it's a 199 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:21,200 Speaker 1: little rough out here right now. You would always say, 200 00:10:21,280 --> 00:10:22,920 Speaker 1: you know, you can go back to grad school, and 201 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:26,080 Speaker 1: I was like, for what like and it would just 202 00:10:26,160 --> 00:10:29,880 Speaker 1: be years and years of that and but now you know, people. 203 00:10:30,679 --> 00:10:33,400 Speaker 1: You know. I think Jay Z said something like when 204 00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:35,360 Speaker 1: you first come in the game, they try to play you, 205 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:37,679 Speaker 1: then you drop a couple of hits. Look how they 206 00:10:37,679 --> 00:10:41,400 Speaker 1: wave to you. That's kind of where it is right now. 207 00:10:41,520 --> 00:10:43,320 Speaker 1: Like now it's you know, there's no way I can 208 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:48,839 Speaker 1: go get a job and anybody's corporation doing I T work. 209 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:50,920 Speaker 1: I've been out the business. I've been out that business 210 00:10:50,920 --> 00:10:54,160 Speaker 1: too long. I have no idea how they do things. Um, 211 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:57,360 Speaker 1: you know today it's it's something that I would, you know, 212 00:10:57,960 --> 00:11:00,439 Speaker 1: maybe have a thirty minute conversation with somebody, but I'm like, 213 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:03,280 Speaker 1: oh that's interesting, cool, and then go about and go 214 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:07,679 Speaker 1: about my business. Um so yeah. I mean when you 215 00:11:07,880 --> 00:11:11,600 Speaker 1: when you make when you do things that seem impossible 216 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:14,640 Speaker 1: or try to do things that seem impossible to people, 217 00:11:14,800 --> 00:11:18,040 Speaker 1: the first instinct, I think is to call them crazy. 218 00:11:18,360 --> 00:11:22,200 Speaker 1: And that's what I experienced. You know, when I quit 219 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:24,000 Speaker 1: my job and I laughed, a lot of people called 220 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:25,960 Speaker 1: me crazy. Well, a lot of people have thought you 221 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:28,000 Speaker 1: crazy when you played to make Aside Fire. You know 222 00:11:28,040 --> 00:11:30,120 Speaker 1: a lot of people thought I was crazy. You know, 223 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:32,640 Speaker 1: they were going, why why, why? What was the ration 224 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:34,600 Speaker 1: that behind that? But I would tell you this. It 225 00:11:34,720 --> 00:11:36,920 Speaker 1: changed my life. You know, I'm get to be just 226 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:39,840 Speaker 1: on this conversation. I was just flowing through college with 227 00:11:39,920 --> 00:11:43,840 Speaker 1: no direction, uh, Leonard and and and I just I 228 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:46,120 Speaker 1: saw a goal. I saw I needed to go. I 229 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:49,880 Speaker 1: needed a platform where I could um start start moving 230 00:11:49,920 --> 00:11:52,240 Speaker 1: my life forward. And when I played still make it 231 00:11:52,280 --> 00:11:54,280 Speaker 1: side fire and moved my life forward and got me 232 00:11:54,320 --> 00:11:56,960 Speaker 1: into the community. And it changed my whole perspective and 233 00:11:57,000 --> 00:11:59,360 Speaker 1: the values that I have by pleasures of return. That's 234 00:11:59,360 --> 00:12:02,160 Speaker 1: why always recommen people, whatever turns you pledged, whatever sod 235 00:12:02,240 --> 00:12:04,680 Speaker 1: you pledge, it could be a blessing if you understand 236 00:12:04,679 --> 00:12:07,240 Speaker 1: why you did it. Why did you pledge fraternity? And 237 00:12:07,240 --> 00:12:11,200 Speaker 1: that perternity of charge was le'll make us out fire. Well, 238 00:12:11,240 --> 00:12:13,920 Speaker 1: I I come from a long line of Black Greeks. 239 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:18,360 Speaker 1: You know. My my great grandmother, Um Jesse Halfcock, founded 240 00:12:18,400 --> 00:12:21,320 Speaker 1: a chapter in in Dayton, Ohim. She's a building named 241 00:12:21,320 --> 00:12:24,160 Speaker 1: after her at the University of Dayton. So there's a 242 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:26,520 Speaker 1: long history a Ks on that side of the family. 243 00:12:26,640 --> 00:12:30,439 Speaker 1: My father was a Kappa, my my uncle is is 244 00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:35,480 Speaker 1: an Omega from Fisk and Um that was just kind 245 00:12:35,480 --> 00:12:38,040 Speaker 1: of not really a question for me, to be honest 246 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:40,720 Speaker 1: as a kid I saw always saw my uncle's brand 247 00:12:41,640 --> 00:12:43,720 Speaker 1: on his arm, and I just I was just like, yeah, 248 00:12:43,760 --> 00:12:45,120 Speaker 1: I want to get one of those. I don't even 249 00:12:45,160 --> 00:12:48,000 Speaker 1: know what it was. You didn't have the diamond. He 250 00:12:48,040 --> 00:12:50,719 Speaker 1: didn't have the diamond. Yeah, I mean yeah, I had 251 00:12:50,760 --> 00:12:52,680 Speaker 1: my dad been branded, I might have been a capital. 252 00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:56,880 Speaker 1: I don't know now, but you were something you weren't right. 253 00:12:57,720 --> 00:13:01,119 Speaker 1: But look, there was something about about, uh, the Omega's 254 00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:03,760 Speaker 1: that you know. My first week on campus, I went 255 00:13:03,760 --> 00:13:06,319 Speaker 1: to a I went to Omega party at Alpha chapter 256 00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:11,520 Speaker 1: and at our at the frat house, and I stayed 257 00:13:11,559 --> 00:13:14,120 Speaker 1: all night. I partied like I was one of the brothers, 258 00:13:14,640 --> 00:13:16,560 Speaker 1: and I said, I don't know what this is, but 259 00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:19,160 Speaker 1: I need to be part of this. And then, as 260 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:21,000 Speaker 1: you know, you do more research and you get more 261 00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:22,719 Speaker 1: into it, You're like, oh, well this is way more 262 00:13:22,720 --> 00:13:25,800 Speaker 1: in line with you know, what I think my values are, 263 00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:27,760 Speaker 1: what I think my principles are, and so I'm gonna 264 00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:29,720 Speaker 1: strive to that. And some of my best friends you 265 00:13:29,720 --> 00:13:32,840 Speaker 1: know still to this day, you know, are from that era, 266 00:13:32,960 --> 00:13:36,520 Speaker 1: my line brothers and and other frat brothers and and 267 00:13:36,679 --> 00:13:40,280 Speaker 1: just aside on you know, my path into entertainment. You know, 268 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:44,240 Speaker 1: I credit one of my chapter brothers, Buddy Lewis UM 269 00:13:44,640 --> 00:13:49,680 Speaker 1: eighty four Alpha chapter. Yeah, well you know Buddy then Buddy, Buddy, 270 00:13:49,720 --> 00:13:52,560 Speaker 1: when I was in the undergrad um kind of set 271 00:13:52,640 --> 00:13:56,000 Speaker 1: me up and gave me my game plan because I 272 00:13:56,040 --> 00:14:00,079 Speaker 1: came out to Los Angeles to visit this con a 273 00:14:00,920 --> 00:14:03,040 Speaker 1: and stayed with him for a day and he took 274 00:14:03,080 --> 00:14:05,520 Speaker 1: me around and showed me how, you know, what his 275 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:07,719 Speaker 1: life was like as a stand up. And when I 276 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:10,160 Speaker 1: went back to Howard, I still had about a year 277 00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:11,839 Speaker 1: and a half left, but I knew I wanted to 278 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:13,560 Speaker 1: be an actor and He's though, he was the only 279 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:16,120 Speaker 1: person I knew and that was in the entertainment business, 280 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:22,720 Speaker 1: and he gave me basically the foundation um that I 281 00:14:22,760 --> 00:14:26,280 Speaker 1: needed to to create my own blueprint on how to proceed. 282 00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:30,640 Speaker 1: And without his mentorship early on, I don't you know, 283 00:14:30,680 --> 00:14:33,400 Speaker 1: I probably still I probably would be an actor today. Yeah, 284 00:14:33,400 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 1: but they are definitely no body uh my l A 285 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:39,200 Speaker 1: day times the l A times is. I remember I 286 00:14:39,320 --> 00:14:41,320 Speaker 1: first met him when he was doing warm up on 287 00:14:41,360 --> 00:14:44,880 Speaker 1: the Steve Harvey sitcom Um that was on the w B. 288 00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:47,200 Speaker 1: That when I first met Buddy and we became friends 289 00:14:47,240 --> 00:14:50,600 Speaker 1: to Fellers Love flowan fraternity brothers. That's the most amazing 290 00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:52,720 Speaker 1: part of that relationship. We'll be right back with more 291 00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:55,840 Speaker 1: money making conversation with writer, stand up comedian and actor 292 00:14:55,880 --> 00:15:00,560 Speaker 1: and HBO's Insecure Leonard Robinson. 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Sure 316 00:16:28,640 --> 00:16:31,360 Speaker 1: you know what else grows in the forest. Our imagination, 317 00:16:31,680 --> 00:16:35,000 Speaker 1: our sense of wonder, and our family bonds grow too, 318 00:16:35,200 --> 00:16:40,240 Speaker 1: because when we disconnect from this and connect with this, 319 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:45,080 Speaker 1: we reconnect with each other. The forest is closer than 320 00:16:45,160 --> 00:16:48,520 Speaker 1: you think. Find a forest near you and start exploring. 321 00:16:48,640 --> 00:16:51,200 Speaker 1: I Discover the Forest dot org brought to you by 322 00:16:51,240 --> 00:16:55,520 Speaker 1: the United States Forest Service and the AD Council. This 323 00:16:55,560 --> 00:16:58,480 Speaker 1: is Rushan McDonald. Welcome back to money making Conversations. As 324 00:16:58,480 --> 00:17:01,480 Speaker 1: I continue our conversation with writer, stand up comedian and 325 00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:05,440 Speaker 1: actor and HBO's Insecure Leonard Robinson, when I think about 326 00:17:05,480 --> 00:17:08,000 Speaker 1: what you're doing, you know, I thought about when I 327 00:17:08,040 --> 00:17:10,600 Speaker 1: was looking at your resume, not just so stand up comedian. 328 00:17:10,640 --> 00:17:14,760 Speaker 1: Then I realized what I did death comedy Jam. I 329 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:17,840 Speaker 1: didn't Dame Chappelle. Every Spears, and of course it was 330 00:17:17,880 --> 00:17:20,720 Speaker 1: hosted by Martin Lawrence and there were there were were 331 00:17:20,720 --> 00:17:22,400 Speaker 1: not when we went on stage, and when I went 332 00:17:22,400 --> 00:17:25,399 Speaker 1: on stage, I didn't have any restrictions in my mindset, 333 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:28,520 Speaker 1: you know. And I see how stand up has been 334 00:17:28,560 --> 00:17:31,280 Speaker 1: shaped by a culture and some of its rights. Some 335 00:17:31,359 --> 00:17:34,200 Speaker 1: of you should be much more sensitive about how we 336 00:17:34,320 --> 00:17:37,080 Speaker 1: what we say in the ramifications of how people perceive it, 337 00:17:37,119 --> 00:17:39,439 Speaker 1: because people can take what you say and shape it 338 00:17:39,440 --> 00:17:42,720 Speaker 1: to their own personal narrative. How as as as a 339 00:17:42,720 --> 00:17:45,920 Speaker 1: as a as a working and acting stand up comedian, 340 00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:47,919 Speaker 1: how has that affected you as for a stand up 341 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:50,720 Speaker 1: or maybe maybe not he has affected you as a 342 00:17:50,760 --> 00:17:54,520 Speaker 1: stand up? Um, you know, it really hasn't affected me 343 00:17:54,600 --> 00:17:59,200 Speaker 1: that much because most of my comedy is is very personal. 344 00:17:59,359 --> 00:18:01,760 Speaker 1: It's it's really just I'm really just talking about me 345 00:18:01,960 --> 00:18:06,360 Speaker 1: and things that affect me. I think that I think 346 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:10,920 Speaker 1: that oftentimes we can stand up want to step into 347 00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:14,119 Speaker 1: somebody else's conversation because we see something that's funny or 348 00:18:14,160 --> 00:18:16,760 Speaker 1: we see an angle. But you know, you don't need 349 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:19,280 Speaker 1: to pick up every every fight, every conversation you know, 350 00:18:19,359 --> 00:18:24,400 Speaker 1: you can just let's let somebody else carry that. That's 351 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:26,399 Speaker 1: that's all I'm gonna say about that. You know, I 352 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:28,639 Speaker 1: don't well, you know, I want to get into uh, 353 00:18:28,800 --> 00:18:32,439 Speaker 1: you know, being a comedy police or whatever, but just 354 00:18:32,440 --> 00:18:34,960 Speaker 1: just know that sometimes you can talk about some topics 355 00:18:34,960 --> 00:18:38,800 Speaker 1: in some areas that affect other people deeply and it's 356 00:18:38,840 --> 00:18:41,960 Speaker 1: not your fight. Well, you know something, I'm not even 357 00:18:43,800 --> 00:18:47,680 Speaker 1: guiding you into this conversation learning about being a comedy police. 358 00:18:47,760 --> 00:18:50,800 Speaker 1: It is about certain things of having a certain amount 359 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:54,320 Speaker 1: of freedom that I had in ninty two that today 360 00:18:54,520 --> 00:18:56,879 Speaker 1: I would have to think about that joke. Is that 361 00:18:56,960 --> 00:19:01,000 Speaker 1: joke worth? It? Is that joke worthy? The the consequences 362 00:19:01,040 --> 00:19:03,360 Speaker 1: that might come out of it, you know, and uh 363 00:19:03,520 --> 00:19:06,159 Speaker 1: and and and so now you know, we see its 364 00:19:06,200 --> 00:19:09,359 Speaker 1: impacting various comics over the last five to ten years 365 00:19:09,440 --> 00:19:11,760 Speaker 1: who have been who have done jokes in that nature 366 00:19:11,760 --> 00:19:14,680 Speaker 1: that affected their careers as well as now people perceive 367 00:19:14,760 --> 00:19:17,400 Speaker 1: them as a talent moving forward. And my whole thing, 368 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:20,040 Speaker 1: it didn't affect me because, like you, I was always 369 00:19:20,080 --> 00:19:23,320 Speaker 1: talking about my lifestyle, my journey, my personal I never 370 00:19:23,359 --> 00:19:26,760 Speaker 1: went into social areas of concern and nature is like that. 371 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:29,680 Speaker 1: But it is different though, but during stand up comedy 372 00:19:29,840 --> 00:19:33,640 Speaker 1: is different today? Would you would you? Would you agree? Well? Uh, 373 00:19:34,680 --> 00:19:36,560 Speaker 1: outside of just stand up, I mean, the world is 374 00:19:36,560 --> 00:19:39,200 Speaker 1: different right now. You know, people are becoming more educated 375 00:19:39,240 --> 00:19:42,439 Speaker 1: and and more informed on a lot more issues than 376 00:19:42,480 --> 00:19:45,520 Speaker 1: they had to be in the past. And with that 377 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:48,640 Speaker 1: requires a certain amount of growth on your part as 378 00:19:48,680 --> 00:19:52,920 Speaker 1: the artist and new creative. Two. Understand where the world 379 00:19:53,119 --> 00:19:55,119 Speaker 1: is right now, the temperature of the world, and decide 380 00:19:55,160 --> 00:19:57,160 Speaker 1: are you gonna grow with it or are you gonna 381 00:19:57,600 --> 00:19:59,240 Speaker 1: draw a line in the sand and say I want 382 00:19:59,240 --> 00:20:01,960 Speaker 1: to stay right here? Keep saying these things? You see 383 00:20:01,960 --> 00:20:05,879 Speaker 1: it politically? Uh, you know, the last couple of years, 384 00:20:05,880 --> 00:20:09,080 Speaker 1: the whole America first bring back, bring back the good 385 00:20:09,119 --> 00:20:11,359 Speaker 1: old days like well, when you say things like that, 386 00:20:11,440 --> 00:20:15,520 Speaker 1: well good for who? But you know um because because 387 00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:17,840 Speaker 1: because the words that you're using don't sound like it's 388 00:20:17,880 --> 00:20:21,520 Speaker 1: gonna be good for me. Yes, yes, yes, you know. 389 00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:24,080 Speaker 1: The the enteresting thing about this whole world we live 390 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:26,920 Speaker 1: in is that you know the opportunity to come into 391 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:29,600 Speaker 1: your life that make a game changing role play in 392 00:20:29,640 --> 00:20:32,800 Speaker 1: your life. And I'm gonna say it's insecure, Leonard. You 393 00:20:32,840 --> 00:20:35,200 Speaker 1: know your your appearance because you did wild enough, and 394 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:36,880 Speaker 1: I want to talk about that with Nick Cannon Connick 395 00:20:36,920 --> 00:20:39,840 Speaker 1: Canada a very good friend of mine as well. But 396 00:20:39,840 --> 00:20:43,760 Speaker 1: but Insecure is a is a groundbreaking series. You know, 397 00:20:44,320 --> 00:20:47,639 Speaker 1: it airs on HBO. I saw that. I saw the 398 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:50,560 Speaker 1: new season that aired, uh last night, let's just say 399 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:53,000 Speaker 1: last night, the first of the fifth and final season. 400 00:20:53,320 --> 00:20:55,080 Speaker 1: How did you get cast on that? And how did 401 00:20:55,080 --> 00:20:58,520 Speaker 1: the opportunity to come you away? It's far as an audition, Well, 402 00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:01,800 Speaker 1: I was really fortunate and out respect and then I 403 00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:05,080 Speaker 1: started auditioning way back in the you know, at the 404 00:21:05,119 --> 00:21:12,080 Speaker 1: pilot level. And I auditioned, uh and tested to for 405 00:21:12,119 --> 00:21:14,280 Speaker 1: the pilot, and then that didn't work out, and then 406 00:21:14,280 --> 00:21:16,520 Speaker 1: they brought me back in for another role when the 407 00:21:16,600 --> 00:21:19,360 Speaker 1: when the show got picked up and I didn't work out, 408 00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:21,399 Speaker 1: and it brought me back in for about two or 409 00:21:21,440 --> 00:21:25,200 Speaker 1: three morals after that before I landed the Royal of 410 00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:28,760 Speaker 1: Torre and Jackson. So I really credit his Arae apprentice 411 00:21:29,480 --> 00:21:35,840 Speaker 1: for just having the determination, I want to say, on 412 00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:37,760 Speaker 1: their part to to work me into the show some 413 00:21:37,880 --> 00:21:41,639 Speaker 1: kind of way. You know, often as actors we always say, like, 414 00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:43,520 Speaker 1: you know, don't worry about trying to book the job. 415 00:21:43,560 --> 00:21:45,960 Speaker 1: Try to work the you know, book the room so 416 00:21:46,040 --> 00:21:47,919 Speaker 1: that they know who you are and they'll find something 417 00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:50,760 Speaker 1: for you or you know, just do your best. But 418 00:21:50,960 --> 00:21:53,520 Speaker 1: I think in short, it's you know, what's for you 419 00:21:53,680 --> 00:21:56,000 Speaker 1: is for you, and you don't have to worry about 420 00:21:56,880 --> 00:21:58,960 Speaker 1: anything else other than that. Well you know what do 421 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:01,480 Speaker 1: you know? What makes that show work for me is that? 422 00:22:01,880 --> 00:22:03,760 Speaker 1: And I think that's why you know, the kip bringing 423 00:22:03,760 --> 00:22:06,080 Speaker 1: you back, you know, they said, well, well he doesn't 424 00:22:06,080 --> 00:22:08,359 Speaker 1: fit this character. We'd be like like shoving mentor a 425 00:22:08,440 --> 00:22:11,600 Speaker 1: role that really doesn't blend because the characters makes sense 426 00:22:11,640 --> 00:22:13,359 Speaker 1: on that show. You know, when you look at that person, 427 00:22:13,440 --> 00:22:16,480 Speaker 1: that that person should be that person, you know, And 428 00:22:16,560 --> 00:22:18,760 Speaker 1: so your character was the same way as a character 429 00:22:18,840 --> 00:22:21,600 Speaker 1: that made sense for that whole thing. And so when 430 00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:23,719 Speaker 1: you got the opportunity to get on the set and 431 00:22:23,800 --> 00:22:27,040 Speaker 1: started seeing people react to your character, what was the 432 00:22:27,080 --> 00:22:31,359 Speaker 1: biggest thing that you felt excited about? And being um, 433 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:35,480 Speaker 1: you know, featured on Insecure and then being recognized as 434 00:22:35,480 --> 00:22:40,560 Speaker 1: a talent that's also building the cachet of Insecure. Yeah, 435 00:22:40,600 --> 00:22:44,680 Speaker 1: I mean I came on season three, yes, and uh, 436 00:22:44,720 --> 00:22:47,399 Speaker 1: you know, waiting for the reaction and uh, I'm just 437 00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:49,440 Speaker 1: going you know the way the way I feel about it. 438 00:22:49,640 --> 00:22:51,919 Speaker 1: You know, these roles, whatever you take on, try to 439 00:22:51,920 --> 00:22:54,159 Speaker 1: do your best, just to play it to the to 440 00:22:54,240 --> 00:22:56,760 Speaker 1: the best of your ability. And then the audience reaction 441 00:22:57,080 --> 00:23:00,200 Speaker 1: is whatever. People can feel any kind of way about 442 00:23:00,280 --> 00:23:03,600 Speaker 1: whatever the character is. As long as you feel something, 443 00:23:03,800 --> 00:23:07,000 Speaker 1: I'm I'm happy. So I don't mind if it's polarizing 444 00:23:07,040 --> 00:23:09,959 Speaker 1: for some people. But it just you know, as long 445 00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:13,520 Speaker 1: as I'm part of the conversation, I'm glad. But outside 446 00:23:13,520 --> 00:23:15,840 Speaker 1: of that, I'm just you know, And I've said this 447 00:23:15,920 --> 00:23:18,880 Speaker 1: many many times, and I'm just blessed and feel fortunate 448 00:23:18,920 --> 00:23:22,240 Speaker 1: to be included in this world, in this universe because 449 00:23:22,280 --> 00:23:25,840 Speaker 1: this show is so game changing and impactful for so 450 00:23:25,920 --> 00:23:32,639 Speaker 1: many different reasons, um, largely off the screen. Um. And 451 00:23:32,680 --> 00:23:35,440 Speaker 1: it's just to be a part of that thing, that movement. 452 00:23:36,320 --> 00:23:38,960 Speaker 1: It's if I feel blessed like they've they've they've launched 453 00:23:38,960 --> 00:23:42,040 Speaker 1: the careers of so many different people behind the camera, 454 00:23:42,800 --> 00:23:46,719 Speaker 1: and that's just gonna further. You know, They've planted these 455 00:23:46,760 --> 00:23:49,440 Speaker 1: seeds all all across the industry right now, and just 456 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:51,520 Speaker 1: it's it's gonna take a little bit more time, but 457 00:23:52,040 --> 00:23:55,000 Speaker 1: a lot of them are have already started to grow 458 00:23:55,040 --> 00:23:59,160 Speaker 1: and read. But you know, five ten years, fifteen years 459 00:23:59,160 --> 00:24:02,840 Speaker 1: from now, when you all these executives and producers and 460 00:24:02,880 --> 00:24:06,520 Speaker 1: directors and they talked about how they got their start, 461 00:24:06,560 --> 00:24:10,320 Speaker 1: a lot of them, it's going to come back to insecure. Absolutely, 462 00:24:10,480 --> 00:24:12,639 Speaker 1: and that's a beautiful thing. You know that they that 463 00:24:12,760 --> 00:24:14,960 Speaker 1: when they had a show, they didn't just didn't keep 464 00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:19,360 Speaker 1: it to themselves. Absolutely, they opened the door for as 465 00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:24,960 Speaker 1: many people as they could and and not only let 466 00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:28,919 Speaker 1: them in, but gave them the room to learn and 467 00:24:28,960 --> 00:24:31,880 Speaker 1: gave them the opportunity to thrive. You know, it's really 468 00:24:31,920 --> 00:24:34,040 Speaker 1: interesting and and just to bring it back to Nick Cannon, 469 00:24:34,040 --> 00:24:36,119 Speaker 1: you know, there's a lot of parallels between that and 470 00:24:36,480 --> 00:24:38,919 Speaker 1: what he does, and he's been doing so well. You know, 471 00:24:38,960 --> 00:24:40,520 Speaker 1: I was going to go to a couple of things 472 00:24:40,520 --> 00:24:42,760 Speaker 1: that I can't do that you do very well. That's 473 00:24:42,800 --> 00:24:45,119 Speaker 1: improv and act. I can't act. I am very I 474 00:24:45,240 --> 00:24:49,360 Speaker 1: was amazingly funny on stage. You know I noticed near 475 00:24:49,400 --> 00:24:51,760 Speaker 1: bio you your writer. I was a sitcom right, a 476 00:24:51,880 --> 00:24:54,960 Speaker 1: very successful was a sitcom writer. But the whole aspect 477 00:24:54,960 --> 00:24:57,919 Speaker 1: of improving, which Steve Harvey, who managed, was a brilliant 478 00:24:57,960 --> 00:25:03,200 Speaker 1: improv person. And what just separates the improvisational side Leonard 479 00:25:03,240 --> 00:25:08,160 Speaker 1: Robinson from the acting side. Um, you know, they're closely related. 480 00:25:08,240 --> 00:25:10,960 Speaker 1: I think, you know, the the improv aspect of it. 481 00:25:10,960 --> 00:25:13,280 Speaker 1: I do a lot of improv shows at the Groundlings 482 00:25:13,280 --> 00:25:16,080 Speaker 1: Theater in Los Angeles, and did a lot of improv 483 00:25:16,200 --> 00:25:19,680 Speaker 1: before that. Um, you know, it's just on the fly. 484 00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:21,520 Speaker 1: You know, we're trying to we're trying to make these 485 00:25:21,520 --> 00:25:27,520 Speaker 1: scenes happen, you know, based off of suggestion and uh 486 00:25:27,560 --> 00:25:29,480 Speaker 1: and hope it all works out. So it's a little 487 00:25:29,480 --> 00:25:31,879 Speaker 1: bit more like you know, acting on the edge of 488 00:25:31,880 --> 00:25:35,399 Speaker 1: a cliff, I want to say, then just being on 489 00:25:35,440 --> 00:25:38,800 Speaker 1: a on a set with the script. Yeah, I admire that. 490 00:25:38,840 --> 00:25:41,240 Speaker 1: And then he was on the early years of Wilding Out, 491 00:25:41,440 --> 00:25:43,639 Speaker 1: you know, which is the ultimate, which also is a 492 00:25:43,680 --> 00:25:46,760 Speaker 1: groundbreaking George Well, you know, so you have to feel 493 00:25:47,119 --> 00:25:50,399 Speaker 1: blessed about your life, you know, Wilding Out. I feel 494 00:25:50,400 --> 00:25:53,000 Speaker 1: it's the way we have to says the longest running 495 00:25:53,040 --> 00:25:56,199 Speaker 1: black and provisational show in television history. I think we 496 00:25:56,200 --> 00:26:00,679 Speaker 1: can say that. And then the groundbreaking HBO series Insecure 497 00:26:01,440 --> 00:26:03,560 Speaker 1: in terms of the life of to African American female 498 00:26:03,600 --> 00:26:07,520 Speaker 1: as they interact between life social dynamics, which is groundbreaking 499 00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:10,360 Speaker 1: as well. So you've you've had a fortunate career so far. 500 00:26:10,920 --> 00:26:14,040 Speaker 1: And with that being said, the whole how did it 501 00:26:14,160 --> 00:26:16,199 Speaker 1: being in the early years of the of the of 502 00:26:16,280 --> 00:26:19,080 Speaker 1: Wild and out to what has become now? Talk about 503 00:26:19,119 --> 00:26:21,960 Speaker 1: that transition and watching that brand grew out because you're 504 00:26:21,960 --> 00:26:26,720 Speaker 1: part of two huge brands in your resume. Yeah, um, yeah, 505 00:26:26,760 --> 00:26:30,480 Speaker 1: I was really blessed. Uh. You know, it's like that 506 00:26:30,560 --> 00:26:32,919 Speaker 1: you've seen the Internet met I'm sure like you know 507 00:26:32,960 --> 00:26:36,600 Speaker 1: I started versus how it's going? You know, Uh, for me, 508 00:26:36,640 --> 00:26:38,879 Speaker 1: it's like Wild and I was like, how started Insecure? 509 00:26:39,040 --> 00:26:43,200 Speaker 1: Is now how it's going? And I, you know, I 510 00:26:44,400 --> 00:26:46,359 Speaker 1: have a lot of love and respect you know for 511 00:26:46,480 --> 00:26:49,840 Speaker 1: Nicking and that show and everybody involved in it, because 512 00:26:49,880 --> 00:26:52,199 Speaker 1: that was for the most part, Yeah, that was my 513 00:26:52,240 --> 00:26:56,359 Speaker 1: biggest job that really kind of put me in in 514 00:26:56,440 --> 00:26:59,720 Speaker 1: Hollywood when I hadn't been in l a maybe but 515 00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:03,520 Speaker 1: six months when I got cast on that show. And 516 00:27:03,720 --> 00:27:06,320 Speaker 1: you know, before that, excuse me, before that, I was 517 00:27:06,359 --> 00:27:09,960 Speaker 1: just focused on honing my craft. I was just staying 518 00:27:10,000 --> 00:27:13,520 Speaker 1: in acting classes, taking a lot of improv classes and 519 00:27:13,560 --> 00:27:16,080 Speaker 1: performing and and doing as much stand up as I could. 520 00:27:16,160 --> 00:27:20,640 Speaker 1: And I wasn't even really aggressively trying to get on television. 521 00:27:20,880 --> 00:27:25,399 Speaker 1: I was just kind of building up my skills because 522 00:27:25,440 --> 00:27:27,600 Speaker 1: when I when an opportunity came around, I wanted to 523 00:27:27,600 --> 00:27:31,800 Speaker 1: be ready for it, and that opportunity came around. So 524 00:27:32,320 --> 00:27:35,199 Speaker 1: being part of the original cast the first four seasons 525 00:27:35,200 --> 00:27:37,480 Speaker 1: of Wild and Out was a was a real big 526 00:27:37,520 --> 00:27:41,480 Speaker 1: experience and in a big lesson for me. What interesting 527 00:27:41,480 --> 00:27:43,920 Speaker 1: thing about it is that one thing we do share 528 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:46,479 Speaker 1: in common is the writing aspect. You know, you will 529 00:27:46,720 --> 00:27:49,760 Speaker 1: be part of the CBS Diversity Sketch Comedy showcase and 530 00:27:49,840 --> 00:27:52,560 Speaker 1: you were in the first writer's room. Why writing you 531 00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:55,439 Speaker 1: know why that why? That's that goes back to that logic. 532 00:27:55,520 --> 00:27:57,439 Speaker 1: I think that's in your life, that focused as in 533 00:27:57,480 --> 00:28:00,520 Speaker 1: your life that to understand too Pless Too was four? 534 00:28:01,160 --> 00:28:03,199 Speaker 1: Is that what? What that would excite you about the 535 00:28:03,200 --> 00:28:06,439 Speaker 1: writing aspect of sitcom writing, especially the comedic side of it. 536 00:28:07,400 --> 00:28:10,440 Speaker 1: You know what's funny is again? And it probably all 537 00:28:10,520 --> 00:28:12,840 Speaker 1: leads back to Buddy Lewis again because when I went 538 00:28:12,920 --> 00:28:15,199 Speaker 1: when I met him in Los Angeles, he was writing. 539 00:28:15,880 --> 00:28:18,199 Speaker 1: He was also doing stand up, but he was also writing, 540 00:28:18,240 --> 00:28:19,960 Speaker 1: and I had a little seed in my in my 541 00:28:20,000 --> 00:28:24,679 Speaker 1: brain and and then somebody else said something about writing 542 00:28:24,760 --> 00:28:26,879 Speaker 1: and being an actor, like, you're gonna have to write, 543 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:29,760 Speaker 1: learn how to write if you really want to show 544 00:28:29,760 --> 00:28:32,159 Speaker 1: people what you can do. And then it's it's one 545 00:28:32,200 --> 00:28:34,640 Speaker 1: of those things where if you try to follow up 546 00:28:34,640 --> 00:28:36,520 Speaker 1: on at the universe, you know, if you see or 547 00:28:36,560 --> 00:28:39,720 Speaker 1: hear things three times from three hundred places, you know 548 00:28:39,760 --> 00:28:43,360 Speaker 1: the universe is trying to tell you to tap into that. 549 00:28:44,120 --> 00:28:48,680 Speaker 1: And so for me, the writing is is a way 550 00:28:48,720 --> 00:28:51,520 Speaker 1: to make sure that I always have an option on 551 00:28:52,520 --> 00:28:56,040 Speaker 1: bringing my voice and point of view to the world. 552 00:28:57,120 --> 00:29:00,960 Speaker 1: Without that, I'm reliant on somebody else to create something 553 00:29:01,040 --> 00:29:03,680 Speaker 1: for me. So I do a great bill. I do 554 00:29:03,720 --> 00:29:05,720 Speaker 1: a great deal of acting. I do a great deal 555 00:29:05,720 --> 00:29:10,160 Speaker 1: of work. That's largely mostly what I do in between 556 00:29:10,360 --> 00:29:13,920 Speaker 1: I'm writing. In between I'm i'm, I'm I'm writing and 557 00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:17,920 Speaker 1: preparing for the next thing. Um, I'm just fortunate that 558 00:29:17,920 --> 00:29:20,280 Speaker 1: I keep getting interrupted by a bunch of acting jobs, 559 00:29:20,280 --> 00:29:22,680 Speaker 1: so the world's have to wait a little bit longer 560 00:29:22,720 --> 00:29:24,800 Speaker 1: to see a little warm All right, lets don't use 561 00:29:24,840 --> 00:29:27,000 Speaker 1: the word interrupted. That's a that's a blessed, that that's 562 00:29:27,000 --> 00:29:29,160 Speaker 1: a that's a that's you want them, you want them 563 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:31,719 Speaker 1: off the bookies. We don't calling. We call them bookies. 564 00:29:31,800 --> 00:29:34,600 Speaker 1: You know it. You know that's that old famous you know. 565 00:29:34,640 --> 00:29:36,120 Speaker 1: You sit around the house and then one day you 566 00:29:36,160 --> 00:29:38,360 Speaker 1: get that phone call, you get three dates as a 567 00:29:38,400 --> 00:29:40,160 Speaker 1: stand up on the same day, you go, hey, what 568 00:29:40,320 --> 00:29:43,040 Speaker 1: was these? Why couldn't they be separated week by week 569 00:29:43,040 --> 00:29:45,880 Speaker 1: by week, a month by but by but exactly. But 570 00:29:45,960 --> 00:29:48,040 Speaker 1: you know, man, I'm happy you came on my show, 571 00:29:48,040 --> 00:29:50,520 Speaker 1: Ben because I wanted to hear your story and and 572 00:29:50,520 --> 00:29:52,920 Speaker 1: and I consider some things that you've done a younger 573 00:29:53,040 --> 00:29:55,880 Speaker 1: version of me, and you're doing great and your graduate 574 00:29:55,880 --> 00:29:58,160 Speaker 1: of Howard the players to make a sup fire just 575 00:29:58,240 --> 00:30:00,520 Speaker 1: a value system that comes with players, the fraternity of 576 00:30:00,560 --> 00:30:02,800 Speaker 1: the sorority. It's what I push. And the fact you 577 00:30:02,880 --> 00:30:05,320 Speaker 1: start on the final seat of Insecure, keep winning, Man, 578 00:30:05,360 --> 00:30:07,719 Speaker 1: I would always be a fan of yours. Man, if 579 00:30:07,720 --> 00:30:10,320 Speaker 1: you want me to promote, I'm based in Atlanta, Georgia. 580 00:30:10,480 --> 00:30:12,920 Speaker 1: So no, you got a frap brother. I know Buddy Lewis. 581 00:30:12,960 --> 00:30:15,120 Speaker 1: If you call Buddy Luis right now, he said nothing 582 00:30:15,120 --> 00:30:17,680 Speaker 1: but positive things about our relationship. So when you come 583 00:30:17,680 --> 00:30:20,600 Speaker 1: through you through Atlanta, Georgia, make sure you stop in now, 584 00:30:20,920 --> 00:30:23,800 Speaker 1: come by my office and we'll break bread together. Okay, 585 00:30:24,120 --> 00:30:26,760 Speaker 1: no problem, I appreciate it and I will follow up 586 00:30:26,760 --> 00:30:28,560 Speaker 1: on that. Oh no, I know you will. I gotta, 587 00:30:28,680 --> 00:30:30,600 Speaker 1: I know you will, and it guess what I aim 588 00:30:30,720 --> 00:30:34,600 Speaker 1: to please my young frat brother. Okay, I appreciate you. Okay, cool. 589 00:30:34,640 --> 00:30:36,800 Speaker 1: Thank you for coming on Money Making Conversation, Lenda Robinson. 590 00:30:37,560 --> 00:30:39,520 Speaker 1: Thanks for your time. I appreciate If you want to 591 00:30:39,520 --> 00:30:42,560 Speaker 1: hear any of my interviews or see anything by interviews, 592 00:30:42,720 --> 00:30:46,400 Speaker 1: please go to money Making Conversation dot com. I'm Rashan McDonald. 593 00:30:46,440 --> 00:30:48,800 Speaker 1: I am your host. We will be right back with 594 00:30:48,800 --> 00:30:54,080 Speaker 1: more money Making Conversation with Rashan McDonald. 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If 612 00:31:52,880 --> 00:31:55,320 Speaker 1: I could be you and you could be me for 613 00:31:55,440 --> 00:31:57,840 Speaker 1: just one hour, if you could find a way to 614 00:31:57,920 --> 00:32:02,040 Speaker 1: get inside each other's mind, walcome mile in my shoes. 615 00:32:02,320 --> 00:32:07,440 Speaker 1: Wacome mile in my shoes. Shoes. We've all felt left out, 616 00:32:07,840 --> 00:32:10,600 Speaker 1: and for some that feeling lasts more than a moment. 617 00:32:11,160 --> 00:32:14,160 Speaker 1: We can change that. Learn how it Belonging begins with 618 00:32:14,280 --> 00:32:16,760 Speaker 1: us dot org, brought to you by the ad Council. 619 00:32:17,880 --> 00:32:25,280 Speaker 1: Welcome out in Machines. You are now tuned into the 620 00:32:25,320 --> 00:32:29,640 Speaker 1: money Making Conversations Minute of Inspiration with Rashan McDonald's Hi 621 00:32:29,880 --> 00:32:32,640 Speaker 1: Rashan McDonald for Money Making Conversations with your daily minute 622 00:32:32,640 --> 00:32:35,960 Speaker 1: of inspiration. Recently, as put with the CEO and founder 623 00:32:35,960 --> 00:32:39,880 Speaker 1: of the American Black Film Festival and Howard Along Jeff Friday, 624 00:32:40,120 --> 00:32:43,240 Speaker 1: we discussed how pursuing an executing your vision can aid 625 00:32:43,360 --> 00:32:46,200 Speaker 1: future generations. You know how many black writers are working 626 00:32:46,200 --> 00:32:50,120 Speaker 1: today and got deals at studios and first looked that 627 00:32:50,240 --> 00:32:52,560 Speaker 1: if they were fifteen years older, they would have been 628 00:32:52,560 --> 00:32:55,800 Speaker 1: doing nothing it. Had they been fifteen years older, they 629 00:32:55,800 --> 00:32:58,600 Speaker 1: would have experienced what you're talking about right when there's 630 00:32:58,640 --> 00:33:02,080 Speaker 1: nothing to write. We've feel blessed to have had the 631 00:33:02,280 --> 00:33:05,120 Speaker 1: vision in the person there and and yes, Nicole is 632 00:33:05,160 --> 00:33:07,560 Speaker 1: the right of the third eye. That's a perfect analogy. 633 00:33:07,880 --> 00:33:10,880 Speaker 1: As a founder, you get so obsessed with the details. 634 00:33:11,000 --> 00:33:13,040 Speaker 1: You often can't see things because your mind is not 635 00:33:13,120 --> 00:33:15,400 Speaker 1: clear sometimes, so you do need that person who you 636 00:33:15,440 --> 00:33:17,959 Speaker 1: trust to do that. If you want to listen to 637 00:33:18,000 --> 00:33:20,960 Speaker 1: this full interview with Jeff Friday, it's available on Money 638 00:33:20,960 --> 00:33:24,200 Speaker 1: Making Conversations dot com. Now let's return to Money Making 639 00:33:24,240 --> 00:33:29,160 Speaker 1: Conversation with Rushan McDonald. My guest is Ida Rodriguez. She's 640 00:33:29,200 --> 00:33:32,560 Speaker 1: a comedian, actress, writer and producer. She starts in the 641 00:33:32,680 --> 00:33:36,680 Speaker 1: first hour long stand up comedy special, Ida Rodriguez fighting words, 642 00:33:36,760 --> 00:33:39,920 Speaker 1: and I believe me. She's fighting, She's she's doing it 643 00:33:40,040 --> 00:33:43,560 Speaker 1: to toe. She's Muhammad Ali, She's all at Joe and 644 00:33:43,640 --> 00:33:47,800 Speaker 1: Joe Fraser, She's Mike Tyson. It starts uh November four 645 00:33:48,000 --> 00:33:50,920 Speaker 1: on HBO Max, which I do have and I have seen. 646 00:33:50,920 --> 00:33:54,680 Speaker 1: Her special is very funny. Eis HBO Comedy Specialist based 647 00:33:54,720 --> 00:33:59,160 Speaker 1: on her incredible life story, which includes surviving, surviving to kidnappings, 648 00:33:59,400 --> 00:34:02,760 Speaker 1: sexual in a period of homelessness with her children. It's 649 00:34:02,760 --> 00:34:06,040 Speaker 1: a comedian. Then're gonna slide right back to the world comedie. 650 00:34:06,320 --> 00:34:09,920 Speaker 1: It's a comedian, No holds balled, explorational identity and family 651 00:34:10,200 --> 00:34:13,080 Speaker 1: A special conclusive with the documentary of Eida's travels to 652 00:34:13,120 --> 00:34:16,840 Speaker 1: Puerto Rico and the Medical Republic. The comedy special Slash 653 00:34:17,000 --> 00:34:22,080 Speaker 1: documentary celebrats Rodriguez fib political, Puerto Rican and Dominican heritage 654 00:34:22,200 --> 00:34:25,320 Speaker 1: as cameras capture her reuniting with her a strange father 655 00:34:25,800 --> 00:34:29,120 Speaker 1: and paying it forward for up and coming comedians. Please 656 00:34:29,160 --> 00:34:33,800 Speaker 1: welco with the money making conversation. Either Rodriguez, good morning, 657 00:34:34,280 --> 00:34:37,400 Speaker 1: Well either you know, first of all, you know I 658 00:34:38,360 --> 00:34:40,640 Speaker 1: on my background is a stand up comedian. Okay, I've 659 00:34:40,680 --> 00:34:43,560 Speaker 1: done death comedy, jam BT, have done specials, all that 660 00:34:43,840 --> 00:34:47,399 Speaker 1: stand up managed Steve Harvey. UH did share the State 661 00:34:47,480 --> 00:34:51,000 Speaker 1: Madason spect Guard many large venues around this country with him. 662 00:34:51,040 --> 00:34:54,560 Speaker 1: So from a stand up comedy perspective, you know, I 663 00:34:54,560 --> 00:34:57,239 Speaker 1: always tell people comedy is like a one eight D 664 00:34:57,360 --> 00:34:59,319 Speaker 1: look at everything, you know, you might be looking at 665 00:34:59,320 --> 00:35:01,279 Speaker 1: this way, then we just flip it and that's where 666 00:35:01,280 --> 00:35:04,839 Speaker 1: we can see comedy when you might see sadness. And 667 00:35:04,920 --> 00:35:07,839 Speaker 1: so your special is kind of like built out of that. 668 00:35:08,440 --> 00:35:10,719 Speaker 1: You know, you talk about your journey as a stand 669 00:35:10,760 --> 00:35:13,759 Speaker 1: up comedian coming out of the COVID setting and you're 670 00:35:13,760 --> 00:35:15,680 Speaker 1: doing in the Bronx. Why did you do it in 671 00:35:15,719 --> 00:35:19,839 Speaker 1: the Bronx? And what inspired you to do an hour 672 00:35:19,920 --> 00:35:25,280 Speaker 1: loan special? So well, you know that's the uh that 673 00:35:25,480 --> 00:35:29,640 Speaker 1: is the playoffs for a stand up comedian is to 674 00:35:29,920 --> 00:35:34,560 Speaker 1: actually get a special, an hour long special. UM. HBO 675 00:35:34,880 --> 00:35:40,600 Speaker 1: has always been the home of UM amazing comedy. UM. 676 00:35:41,480 --> 00:35:43,839 Speaker 1: You know it is a coveted space for stand up 677 00:35:43,840 --> 00:35:48,400 Speaker 1: comedy and HBO Max now, which is you know, the 678 00:35:48,480 --> 00:35:51,600 Speaker 1: streaming platform that is creating a way for a lot 679 00:35:51,640 --> 00:35:55,040 Speaker 1: of people. UM. I've always wanted to to be there 680 00:35:55,120 --> 00:35:57,239 Speaker 1: and do the great things in comedy that a lot 681 00:35:57,239 --> 00:35:59,960 Speaker 1: of people have done, and my heroes like you know, 682 00:36:00,200 --> 00:36:04,719 Speaker 1: Richard Pryor and George Carlin and so on and so forth. 683 00:36:04,760 --> 00:36:06,840 Speaker 1: The reason I decided to do my special in the 684 00:36:06,880 --> 00:36:09,799 Speaker 1: Bronx is one of the Bronxes where I was kiding 685 00:36:09,840 --> 00:36:11,760 Speaker 1: out from when I was a little kid. My grandmother 686 00:36:11,920 --> 00:36:14,600 Speaker 1: took me from my mother. Um, while we were in 687 00:36:14,680 --> 00:36:17,880 Speaker 1: the Bronx, and my brother was born in the Bronx. 688 00:36:18,520 --> 00:36:22,040 Speaker 1: Um and the Bronxes where I lived before I moved 689 00:36:22,040 --> 00:36:25,759 Speaker 1: to Florida. My mom and I, you know, moved there. 690 00:36:25,960 --> 00:36:28,879 Speaker 1: We were on the run with my mother's partner at 691 00:36:28,880 --> 00:36:32,320 Speaker 1: the time. But um, I wanted to go back and 692 00:36:32,360 --> 00:36:37,239 Speaker 1: so back into the communities that that have sown into me. 693 00:36:38,000 --> 00:36:41,360 Speaker 1: I think that many of us, you know, we ascend 694 00:36:41,920 --> 00:36:45,400 Speaker 1: and then we go do comedy specials and venues that 695 00:36:45,520 --> 00:36:49,120 Speaker 1: our people don't have access to. And so, um, I 696 00:36:49,160 --> 00:36:53,320 Speaker 1: could have done that special anywhere and where my people 697 00:36:53,400 --> 00:36:55,839 Speaker 1: gotta get profiled. And when I say my people talking 698 00:36:55,880 --> 00:36:59,759 Speaker 1: about people of color, black people. UM, So when I 699 00:37:00,000 --> 00:37:01,920 Speaker 1: decided to do it in the Bronx, because I wanted 700 00:37:01,920 --> 00:37:04,960 Speaker 1: to bring something to the Bronx. The Bronx was devastated 701 00:37:05,000 --> 00:37:07,680 Speaker 1: by COVID. Um, you have had a lot of things 702 00:37:07,760 --> 00:37:10,840 Speaker 1: happening in that community, a lot of um, black and 703 00:37:10,880 --> 00:37:14,560 Speaker 1: brown girls being kidnapped and for human trafficking, just a 704 00:37:14,600 --> 00:37:17,799 Speaker 1: lot of things that have been devastating the community in 705 00:37:17,800 --> 00:37:20,080 Speaker 1: the last few years. I always been there, but the 706 00:37:20,160 --> 00:37:23,239 Speaker 1: last few years have been worse because it was devastated 707 00:37:23,239 --> 00:37:25,920 Speaker 1: by COVID and the economy was bad there. And I 708 00:37:25,960 --> 00:37:28,120 Speaker 1: wanted to bring money to the Bronx. I wanted to 709 00:37:28,160 --> 00:37:30,920 Speaker 1: bring um, and I wanted to the people of the 710 00:37:30,960 --> 00:37:33,960 Speaker 1: Bronx and then the neighboring communities to have access to 711 00:37:34,040 --> 00:37:36,960 Speaker 1: something that would bring them joy. Well, first of all, 712 00:37:37,600 --> 00:37:42,000 Speaker 1: super talented. I'm talking to either Venus Comedy, Special Fighting 713 00:37:42,080 --> 00:37:45,759 Speaker 1: Words as an erin on HBO Max. When I when 714 00:37:45,760 --> 00:37:47,560 Speaker 1: I look at you, first of all, you know you 715 00:37:47,640 --> 00:37:51,200 Speaker 1: look so it's just a compliment too. You know you 716 00:37:51,280 --> 00:37:55,560 Speaker 1: look first, were very attractor and but but it also 717 00:37:55,719 --> 00:37:58,040 Speaker 1: looked like you could be my fourth grade teacher. You 718 00:37:58,080 --> 00:38:02,680 Speaker 1: know you I've always wanted to be a teacher, so 719 00:38:02,680 --> 00:38:05,080 Speaker 1: so so that's good. That means that, that means that uh, 720 00:38:05,160 --> 00:38:07,200 Speaker 1: that means you approachable, That means that you have a 721 00:38:07,280 --> 00:38:10,040 Speaker 1: kind heart. That means that when you speak, you know, 722 00:38:10,080 --> 00:38:13,240 Speaker 1: there's there's a there's a sense of understanding and sharing 723 00:38:13,280 --> 00:38:16,360 Speaker 1: their information. And so when I was watching your comedy special, 724 00:38:16,840 --> 00:38:20,799 Speaker 1: it felt like I'm laughing, but you were sharing information 725 00:38:20,920 --> 00:38:23,120 Speaker 1: and then breaking it down and educating me at the 726 00:38:23,160 --> 00:38:25,600 Speaker 1: same time. But we get to laugh at the education 727 00:38:26,040 --> 00:38:29,400 Speaker 1: is that's just part of your comedy stylings, I believe. 728 00:38:29,520 --> 00:38:32,640 Speaker 1: So I think that I work on not being preachy. 729 00:38:32,800 --> 00:38:35,720 Speaker 1: You know, a lot of comedians can be really preachy 730 00:38:35,760 --> 00:38:38,759 Speaker 1: on stage. I like to come from us the perspective 731 00:38:38,840 --> 00:38:42,200 Speaker 1: of I have had such a such a life, and 732 00:38:42,239 --> 00:38:44,480 Speaker 1: there have been some things that have been traumatic, some 733 00:38:44,560 --> 00:38:47,239 Speaker 1: things have been hard, a lot of things have been good. 734 00:38:47,280 --> 00:38:51,359 Speaker 1: I had an amazing grandmother that poured strength into me. Um, 735 00:38:51,400 --> 00:38:54,719 Speaker 1: And I just think that it's important for us who 736 00:38:54,719 --> 00:38:58,279 Speaker 1: are comedians, wherever we stand on that comedy spectrum, to 737 00:38:58,360 --> 00:39:01,520 Speaker 1: be true to ourselves. And so for me, it's about 738 00:39:02,160 --> 00:39:05,400 Speaker 1: you know, my favorite comedians are George Carlin and Richard Pryor, 739 00:39:05,560 --> 00:39:08,560 Speaker 1: And every single time I watched them, even now, things 740 00:39:08,560 --> 00:39:11,960 Speaker 1: that I've watched before, I still learned something. So I 741 00:39:12,360 --> 00:39:15,279 Speaker 1: wanted to UM, I just wanted to be true to 742 00:39:15,320 --> 00:39:18,279 Speaker 1: my voice. And I think that this was an opportunity 743 00:39:18,280 --> 00:39:20,359 Speaker 1: where I could just be me and just do what 744 00:39:20,400 --> 00:39:23,839 Speaker 1: I needed to do without feeling the pressure or the 745 00:39:24,000 --> 00:39:28,360 Speaker 1: censorship or the or anything from anybody else. Well, you 746 00:39:28,440 --> 00:39:30,960 Speaker 1: told a good story, a great story, because it's a 747 00:39:31,000 --> 00:39:33,799 Speaker 1: story I couldn't tell. I don't so I would tell 748 00:39:33,800 --> 00:39:36,120 Speaker 1: people it's important that when I look as a stand 749 00:39:36,160 --> 00:39:38,080 Speaker 1: up comedian or a former stand up comedian, I always 750 00:39:38,080 --> 00:39:39,920 Speaker 1: feel'm gonna be a stand up. I don't just tell 751 00:39:39,960 --> 00:39:45,160 Speaker 1: you that he's your blood. It doesn't soun you should 752 00:39:45,200 --> 00:39:47,600 Speaker 1: go back on stage. No, no, no, what you do. 753 00:39:47,800 --> 00:39:49,759 Speaker 1: See this is a difference between me and you. I 754 00:39:50,160 --> 00:39:53,719 Speaker 1: see you are blessing. You know. God just gave me 755 00:39:53,760 --> 00:39:56,880 Speaker 1: the gift to be funny. And in my mind was 756 00:39:56,920 --> 00:39:58,960 Speaker 1: always weird. You know, I'll be on state. I was 757 00:39:59,000 --> 00:40:01,080 Speaker 1: to be on stage telling your and white people be laughing. 758 00:40:01,160 --> 00:40:05,480 Speaker 1: They are they laughing at me? Are they laughing at night? 759 00:40:06,120 --> 00:40:08,240 Speaker 1: That's how weird my brain would go. And I realized, 760 00:40:08,280 --> 00:40:11,160 Speaker 1: you know, some real stand ups not for you. And 761 00:40:11,200 --> 00:40:14,080 Speaker 1: then thank god you No Deaf Comedy Jam came out 762 00:40:14,360 --> 00:40:16,879 Speaker 1: and I was able to go on stage and make 763 00:40:16,960 --> 00:40:19,760 Speaker 1: my audience to look like me laugh, and I realized, 764 00:40:19,800 --> 00:40:21,919 Speaker 1: you know something, I want to be behind the camera. 765 00:40:21,920 --> 00:40:24,000 Speaker 1: I want to be a writer. And so when I 766 00:40:24,040 --> 00:40:28,040 Speaker 1: look at you, a comedian, actress, writer, producer. So you're 767 00:40:28,120 --> 00:40:30,759 Speaker 1: sharing a lot of hats, which also you share on 768 00:40:30,840 --> 00:40:33,840 Speaker 1: this special as well. What do you enjoy the most? 769 00:40:34,120 --> 00:40:36,160 Speaker 1: I know you have a great comment special. I'm telling 770 00:40:36,200 --> 00:40:39,600 Speaker 1: you right now, I enjoyed your comedy special. You know 771 00:40:39,920 --> 00:40:42,239 Speaker 1: you did you more I could not do, which is 772 00:40:42,239 --> 00:40:45,160 Speaker 1: a testament to your comedy comedy cels because you have 773 00:40:45,200 --> 00:40:47,960 Speaker 1: an eye out there that I will that will I 774 00:40:48,000 --> 00:40:50,279 Speaker 1: did you see that? Okay? But then how does he 775 00:40:50,480 --> 00:40:52,560 Speaker 1: have the courage I mean used their work right there? 776 00:40:52,920 --> 00:40:56,080 Speaker 1: Courage to go on stage in front of strangers. You 777 00:40:56,120 --> 00:40:58,040 Speaker 1: know you're special. You know the front row you got, 778 00:40:58,239 --> 00:41:00,000 Speaker 1: you know, that's your people, But the rest of the 779 00:41:00,160 --> 00:41:02,520 Speaker 1: room you don't really know. Okay, So you're going with 780 00:41:02,880 --> 00:41:06,759 Speaker 1: doing your things. Talk about your approach to comedy item. Well, 781 00:41:06,840 --> 00:41:09,480 Speaker 1: funny for my special, we sat the people that I 782 00:41:09,520 --> 00:41:12,560 Speaker 1: knew in the back of the stage. We did the 783 00:41:12,600 --> 00:41:18,120 Speaker 1: reverse because the people that I'm closest to make me 784 00:41:18,160 --> 00:41:21,399 Speaker 1: a little bit nervous sometimes because they know me, they 785 00:41:21,440 --> 00:41:23,799 Speaker 1: know me so well so I don't. I don't want 786 00:41:23,800 --> 00:41:26,040 Speaker 1: to look and see a weird reaction from someone that 787 00:41:26,160 --> 00:41:28,440 Speaker 1: I know, because then I gotta I gotta live with 788 00:41:28,520 --> 00:41:30,920 Speaker 1: you for the rest of my life. Um, you know, 789 00:41:31,160 --> 00:41:34,960 Speaker 1: I've decided. I grew up in uh in the inner 790 00:41:34,960 --> 00:41:38,360 Speaker 1: city of Miami. I grew up in the hood, and 791 00:41:38,840 --> 00:41:41,080 Speaker 1: part of what we used to do when we were kids, 792 00:41:41,200 --> 00:41:43,920 Speaker 1: we used to do your mama jokes. We used to 793 00:41:44,000 --> 00:41:46,359 Speaker 1: do roast, you know. We used to call it uh. 794 00:41:46,760 --> 00:41:48,800 Speaker 1: You know, we used to crack on each other. People 795 00:41:48,840 --> 00:41:51,440 Speaker 1: call it joning, they call it roasting, they call it 796 00:41:51,480 --> 00:41:53,680 Speaker 1: all the other stuff. But that's what we used to do. 797 00:41:53,960 --> 00:41:56,600 Speaker 1: And when I realized that what we were doing was 798 00:41:56,760 --> 00:42:00,279 Speaker 1: processing our pain through laughter, that I decided. I did 799 00:42:00,320 --> 00:42:03,560 Speaker 1: that when I was when I started writing comedy, I 800 00:42:03,600 --> 00:42:06,160 Speaker 1: would just channel that and say, you know, how do 801 00:42:06,239 --> 00:42:11,120 Speaker 1: I approach talking about sexual abuse. It's such an uncomfortable topic. 802 00:42:11,280 --> 00:42:13,920 Speaker 1: It's taboo. People don't want to talk about this stuff. 803 00:42:14,160 --> 00:42:17,560 Speaker 1: But if it happens so much in our communities, and 804 00:42:17,680 --> 00:42:20,560 Speaker 1: I wanted to release people of guilt and shame. So 805 00:42:20,640 --> 00:42:24,400 Speaker 1: I sat I sat down early in my stand up career, 806 00:42:25,080 --> 00:42:26,920 Speaker 1: and I just made a decision that I was going 807 00:42:27,000 --> 00:42:30,440 Speaker 1: to talk about the things that were uncomfortable because it 808 00:42:30,560 --> 00:42:35,000 Speaker 1: helped me also heal. And so my writing process is 809 00:42:35,760 --> 00:42:40,000 Speaker 1: I write first, and then I incorporate the jokes because 810 00:42:40,040 --> 00:42:42,240 Speaker 1: I think about the things that I want to talk about. 811 00:42:42,239 --> 00:42:46,800 Speaker 1: Because I watched other comedians and I appreciate their comedy 812 00:42:47,040 --> 00:42:50,919 Speaker 1: and I love their stylings, and I watched what they're doing. Um, 813 00:42:50,920 --> 00:42:54,040 Speaker 1: but I know that my journey is different. And Tiffany 814 00:42:54,120 --> 00:42:56,600 Speaker 1: hot is just a really good friend of mine. What 815 00:42:56,800 --> 00:43:00,960 Speaker 1: she does in comedy, she also does process that seeing pain. 816 00:43:01,320 --> 00:43:04,319 Speaker 1: She's also very physical. She's got a lot of physicality 817 00:43:04,360 --> 00:43:07,920 Speaker 1: in her comedy. She likes to be really silly sometimes, 818 00:43:08,480 --> 00:43:11,160 Speaker 1: and that's just not my personality. You just told me 819 00:43:11,239 --> 00:43:13,239 Speaker 1: I look like a fourth grade teacher, because that's just 820 00:43:13,320 --> 00:43:17,319 Speaker 1: who I am, and you know I am. Had I 821 00:43:17,400 --> 00:43:21,120 Speaker 1: not encountered Chris Rock behind the scenes, had I not 822 00:43:21,320 --> 00:43:24,120 Speaker 1: encountered Dave Chappelle behind the scenes, I would feel like 823 00:43:24,160 --> 00:43:27,000 Speaker 1: I'm not a comedian. I would feel like I'm not 824 00:43:27,040 --> 00:43:30,080 Speaker 1: cut out for this. But the people who I really 825 00:43:30,120 --> 00:43:33,120 Speaker 1: like respect and then whose style of comedy I like, 826 00:43:33,239 --> 00:43:36,080 Speaker 1: like Bill Burr, They're just like me when they're behind 827 00:43:36,120 --> 00:43:38,920 Speaker 1: the scenes. They're just chilling. They're not like cracking jokes. 828 00:43:38,920 --> 00:43:40,920 Speaker 1: They're not on all the time. They don't need all 829 00:43:40,920 --> 00:43:45,799 Speaker 1: the attention in the room. Was like, I am a 830 00:43:45,800 --> 00:43:49,120 Speaker 1: comed know exactly. But you know, the interesting thing about 831 00:43:49,160 --> 00:43:53,520 Speaker 1: it is that as a comedian we always trying to 832 00:43:53,560 --> 00:43:57,040 Speaker 1: get to the next laugh real fast. You know, you 833 00:43:57,040 --> 00:43:59,040 Speaker 1: gotta I gotta hear that joke otherwise I'm a freak 834 00:43:59,040 --> 00:44:02,200 Speaker 1: out on stage. You it's more important to get your 835 00:44:02,320 --> 00:44:06,680 Speaker 1: story out in the laugh will be associated with it, 836 00:44:06,719 --> 00:44:09,040 Speaker 1: but it's really more important to you to get your 837 00:44:09,239 --> 00:44:12,080 Speaker 1: it's a message in your stand up comedy. I'm just 838 00:44:12,080 --> 00:44:16,359 Speaker 1: telling everybody, you know, I never heard of either. It's 839 00:44:16,440 --> 00:44:20,880 Speaker 1: not a not a negative thing. When I said so, 840 00:44:21,360 --> 00:44:23,279 Speaker 1: they say, you know, but she's just stand up. I 841 00:44:23,440 --> 00:44:26,080 Speaker 1: heard about her work that she had done. I'm talking 842 00:44:26,200 --> 00:44:29,640 Speaker 1: when I say heard seeing her, and so so when 843 00:44:29,680 --> 00:44:32,120 Speaker 1: I sit down and do I do my due diligence. 844 00:44:32,200 --> 00:44:34,359 Speaker 1: If I'm gonna interview someone as talented as you, I'm 845 00:44:34,400 --> 00:44:37,319 Speaker 1: not just gonna halfway go through the process and care 846 00:44:37,320 --> 00:44:39,799 Speaker 1: you're funny. You're funny. You're funny because I think it's 847 00:44:39,840 --> 00:44:42,480 Speaker 1: because you have you have a craft, and it's a 848 00:44:42,600 --> 00:44:45,960 Speaker 1: very It's a very key craft because you can't sing 849 00:44:45,960 --> 00:44:48,440 Speaker 1: your way out of up bad joke, you know what 850 00:44:48,440 --> 00:44:50,480 Speaker 1: I'm saying. You know, if Joe ain't going you, you 851 00:44:50,560 --> 00:44:52,520 Speaker 1: just can't suddenly just start singing, you know. And it's 852 00:44:52,560 --> 00:44:54,680 Speaker 1: a tap dance, not on what we do with stand ups. 853 00:44:54,719 --> 00:44:59,120 Speaker 1: You know, when that ship started going down, you know 854 00:44:59,160 --> 00:45:02,719 Speaker 1: what I'm talking about, that start going down? You are 855 00:45:03,239 --> 00:45:08,040 Speaker 1: sunk and so watching your journey, how did you we 856 00:45:08,120 --> 00:45:10,799 Speaker 1: talk about That's what you decided. But how did you 857 00:45:10,840 --> 00:45:13,840 Speaker 1: get into stand up comedy? And then when you realize 858 00:45:13,840 --> 00:45:17,520 Speaker 1: that you know something I can do this? Those are 859 00:45:17,520 --> 00:45:20,440 Speaker 1: two questions right there. So I'll tell you the truth. 860 00:45:20,920 --> 00:45:23,799 Speaker 1: I love stand up comedy since I was a little kid. 861 00:45:23,880 --> 00:45:28,040 Speaker 1: My uncle, my uncle David, who's my the youngest of 862 00:45:28,120 --> 00:45:30,160 Speaker 1: my uncle's. My mother had me really young, so I 863 00:45:30,200 --> 00:45:32,200 Speaker 1: grew up in the house with my grandmother and my 864 00:45:32,360 --> 00:45:36,680 Speaker 1: uncle's and my uncle's were you know, very My uncle's 865 00:45:36,719 --> 00:45:38,960 Speaker 1: gave me hip hop, they gave me comedy, They gave 866 00:45:39,000 --> 00:45:41,160 Speaker 1: me Bruce Lee, and they gave me most importantly, more 867 00:45:41,160 --> 00:45:43,960 Speaker 1: important than every anything else, and you mentioned them earlier, 868 00:45:43,960 --> 00:45:48,200 Speaker 1: they gave me Mohammed Ali. So um, you know I 869 00:45:48,239 --> 00:45:50,960 Speaker 1: always was fascinated with comedy. I used to grab the 870 00:45:50,960 --> 00:45:53,400 Speaker 1: broomstick to entertain my mom. She said, I used to 871 00:45:53,400 --> 00:45:55,600 Speaker 1: put a towel over my head and I used to 872 00:45:55,640 --> 00:45:59,600 Speaker 1: make her laugh. Um, I used to sing singing to her. 873 00:45:59,719 --> 00:46:02,160 Speaker 1: I syrink, but she's like, I always made her laugh. 874 00:46:02,719 --> 00:46:05,400 Speaker 1: I always was fascinated with comedy and it was something 875 00:46:05,400 --> 00:46:07,600 Speaker 1: that I wanted to do, but I wasn't encouraged to 876 00:46:07,640 --> 00:46:11,360 Speaker 1: do that because women, especially in my culture, are never 877 00:46:11,520 --> 00:46:17,040 Speaker 1: encouraged to do stuff that feels masculine. So, UM, I 878 00:46:17,080 --> 00:46:20,120 Speaker 1: was doing a My friend had a birthday party and 879 00:46:20,120 --> 00:46:23,319 Speaker 1: she invited me to come do a roast because she 880 00:46:23,360 --> 00:46:25,080 Speaker 1: always thought I was funny. And she was like, I 881 00:46:25,080 --> 00:46:27,919 Speaker 1: don't want anybody who's not thoughtful to roast me because 882 00:46:27,920 --> 00:46:32,520 Speaker 1: I don't want somebody to just, you know, just degradate 883 00:46:32,640 --> 00:46:37,000 Speaker 1: me or if I wanted to be thoughtful, and so 884 00:46:37,080 --> 00:46:38,520 Speaker 1: she was like, I know that if you do it, 885 00:46:38,520 --> 00:46:40,440 Speaker 1: it's going to come from a place of love. But 886 00:46:40,560 --> 00:46:43,120 Speaker 1: she also invited Chris Spencer to do that because Chris 887 00:46:43,160 --> 00:46:48,120 Speaker 1: Spencer and her um were classmates. So after the roast, 888 00:46:48,280 --> 00:46:51,720 Speaker 1: Chris Spencer comes up to me and says, write this down. 889 00:46:51,920 --> 00:46:54,319 Speaker 1: He was like the Westwood Growing Company. And I was like, 890 00:46:54,360 --> 00:46:57,040 Speaker 1: what's that. He said, that's on the open mic. He said, you, 891 00:46:57,200 --> 00:46:59,799 Speaker 1: my friend, are a stand up comedian and you need 892 00:47:00,000 --> 00:47:03,279 Speaker 1: you because my career just was not taken off as 893 00:47:03,280 --> 00:47:07,759 Speaker 1: an actress. I'm tall, I'm five ten, and that's just 894 00:47:08,120 --> 00:47:11,719 Speaker 1: it's really hard when you're tall and not white in 895 00:47:11,960 --> 00:47:15,040 Speaker 1: and let's just keep it real, you know, in this business. 896 00:47:15,360 --> 00:47:18,520 Speaker 1: Um you know there he got Charlie's there and Sobriney Weaver. 897 00:47:18,640 --> 00:47:20,600 Speaker 1: But it's just been really hard for tall women who 898 00:47:20,600 --> 00:47:23,480 Speaker 1: are not already famous because of course Tyra Banks can 899 00:47:23,560 --> 00:47:25,919 Speaker 1: get a role. And so he was like, you should 900 00:47:25,960 --> 00:47:27,759 Speaker 1: be you should do stand up. You should at least 901 00:47:27,800 --> 00:47:30,719 Speaker 1: try it, he said. I I could be wrong. He 902 00:47:30,880 --> 00:47:33,319 Speaker 1: was like, but I know what I know, and when 903 00:47:33,400 --> 00:47:35,080 Speaker 1: I see a stand up I know what it is. 904 00:47:35,200 --> 00:47:39,080 Speaker 1: And I started doing it. Um. I was on the 905 00:47:39,160 --> 00:47:43,759 Speaker 1: radio some I was talking somewhere and Speedy invited me 906 00:47:43,800 --> 00:47:48,080 Speaker 1: to come to Speedy's comedy Corner on the on the Foxhole. 907 00:47:48,840 --> 00:47:51,240 Speaker 1: And he also was like, girl, you need to start 908 00:47:51,280 --> 00:47:54,040 Speaker 1: doing stand up. You you are a stand up comedian. 909 00:47:54,120 --> 00:47:57,800 Speaker 1: So they had this comedy show that they were doing 910 00:47:57,840 --> 00:48:01,280 Speaker 1: with the Foxhole in Arizona. I was hosted by Bernard 911 00:48:01,320 --> 00:48:04,600 Speaker 1: Dette Stanis, who is Thelma from Good Times, the Queen 912 00:48:04,680 --> 00:48:07,360 Speaker 1: that I love this woman. She was like the epitome 913 00:48:07,440 --> 00:48:10,160 Speaker 1: of beauty to me when I was going out, and 914 00:48:10,239 --> 00:48:13,000 Speaker 1: so she they I go and do this show. And 915 00:48:13,200 --> 00:48:15,520 Speaker 1: as you would know, when you first do stand up, 916 00:48:15,560 --> 00:48:18,120 Speaker 1: your first show, you always do well right, because it's 917 00:48:18,160 --> 00:48:21,279 Speaker 1: all adrenaline and if all that energy and all the 918 00:48:21,320 --> 00:48:23,600 Speaker 1: funny you have stored up from your whole life and 919 00:48:23,600 --> 00:48:25,960 Speaker 1: you just give it to that that first five minutes 920 00:48:26,080 --> 00:48:28,560 Speaker 1: and you think when you walk off there that you 921 00:48:28,760 --> 00:48:34,320 Speaker 1: Richard pryor absolutely then so you know. So then um, 922 00:48:34,360 --> 00:48:39,080 Speaker 1: I go do first Impressions at Chocolate Sundays. Um Pooky 923 00:48:39,160 --> 00:48:42,920 Speaker 1: And my friend who's who had the birthday roast is 924 00:48:42,960 --> 00:48:45,080 Speaker 1: really good friends with Pooky too, and she said, Pooky, 925 00:48:45,080 --> 00:48:47,799 Speaker 1: you gotta put her on stage. She's a comede. She's 926 00:48:47,800 --> 00:48:50,439 Speaker 1: gonna be good, you know. He's like, she's not ready yet, 927 00:48:50,920 --> 00:48:55,279 Speaker 1: and and Leah's like, it's my birthday. It was it 928 00:48:55,320 --> 00:48:57,680 Speaker 1: was Memorial weekend. She was like, you gotta put her 929 00:48:57,719 --> 00:49:02,440 Speaker 1: on stage. Three minutes at right, I get on stage. 930 00:49:03,280 --> 00:49:08,359 Speaker 1: I my first joke, hits, I get cocky. I see 931 00:49:08,400 --> 00:49:11,200 Speaker 1: Pookie in the audience. I look at Pookie and I said, 932 00:49:11,920 --> 00:49:15,759 Speaker 1: you said, I wasn't ready, mother, you know what? And 933 00:49:15,800 --> 00:49:18,680 Speaker 1: then I went back to my set and our bomb 934 00:49:18,840 --> 00:49:22,799 Speaker 1: for the rest of the two You know, when you 935 00:49:22,960 --> 00:49:27,320 Speaker 1: bomb in two minutes feels like two minutes, it's ten minutes. 936 00:49:27,480 --> 00:49:31,480 Speaker 1: It's like, you know, it's like the worst. I just 937 00:49:31,640 --> 00:49:36,360 Speaker 1: melted onto the stage and that after that the stage 938 00:49:36,360 --> 00:49:38,960 Speaker 1: because I need to tippy about Chocolate Sunday. Chocolate Sunday 939 00:49:39,040 --> 00:49:42,560 Speaker 1: is deep premiere comedy night in Los Angeles. So she 940 00:49:42,719 --> 00:49:47,279 Speaker 1: wasn't like at a little side hole and and this 941 00:49:47,320 --> 00:49:50,520 Speaker 1: whole comedy club is tied to the whole Kevin Hard, 942 00:49:50,560 --> 00:49:54,080 Speaker 1: which is tied to Jeff Clanagan. So she was like 943 00:49:54,280 --> 00:49:57,440 Speaker 1: at the Who's Who Club, And that's what they call 944 00:49:57,480 --> 00:50:01,000 Speaker 1: it Chocolate Sundays. And so out you go down there 945 00:50:01,040 --> 00:50:03,359 Speaker 1: in Hollywood is a line out the door every time. 946 00:50:03,719 --> 00:50:07,080 Speaker 1: So her good friend put her on the spot in 947 00:50:07,200 --> 00:50:09,520 Speaker 1: the top venue. It used to be Coming Stories who 948 00:50:09,560 --> 00:50:11,879 Speaker 1: was right down the street, but just not anymore. It's 949 00:50:11,880 --> 00:50:15,480 Speaker 1: just the Laugh Factory. And so she was walking on 950 00:50:15,600 --> 00:50:19,239 Speaker 1: stage and she directed her little cute little phrase and 951 00:50:19,400 --> 00:50:22,239 Speaker 1: my man Pooky who was a nice guy. He's shot you, 952 00:50:22,280 --> 00:50:26,440 Speaker 1: by the way, just like Kevin Hard. And she walked 953 00:50:26,480 --> 00:50:29,839 Speaker 1: off that stage amidst silas. I remember one time either 954 00:50:29,920 --> 00:50:32,360 Speaker 1: I walked off stage to silence, and then the people 955 00:50:32,560 --> 00:50:35,000 Speaker 1: started to clap right, no no, no, no, no, no 956 00:50:35,000 --> 00:50:39,439 Speaker 1: no no. Please give me the same reaction y'all gave 957 00:50:39,520 --> 00:50:41,759 Speaker 1: me for the time I was on stage. So don't 958 00:50:41,800 --> 00:50:44,759 Speaker 1: suddenly give me energy like you really. If it's to 959 00:50:44,840 --> 00:50:47,240 Speaker 1: get me on stage the applause, give it to them. 960 00:50:47,280 --> 00:50:49,719 Speaker 1: But if it's just an applaud applause, give me that 961 00:50:49,880 --> 00:50:53,200 Speaker 1: same silence I've experienced. So I know when you walked 962 00:50:53,200 --> 00:50:57,160 Speaker 1: on stage it was not a good moment for you. 963 00:50:55,440 --> 00:51:05,080 Speaker 1: How people were like good, good, I love it, and 964 00:51:05,440 --> 00:51:11,480 Speaker 1: that at the moment that led you to acting still 965 00:51:12,000 --> 00:51:16,000 Speaker 1: led you to writing. But do you like the moment 966 00:51:16,040 --> 00:51:18,680 Speaker 1: though when I'm bombed though, And I'm sorry to cut 967 00:51:18,719 --> 00:51:21,200 Speaker 1: you off, but that was the moment. Because I did 968 00:51:21,280 --> 00:51:24,239 Speaker 1: really well in Arizona that very first show that I 969 00:51:24,320 --> 00:51:27,880 Speaker 1: was on stage. I got enough, I got a standing 970 00:51:27,880 --> 00:51:31,759 Speaker 1: ovation and I realized I wasn't talking about nothing I was. 971 00:51:31,880 --> 00:51:34,000 Speaker 1: I didn't have a set. I was just on stage 972 00:51:34,080 --> 00:51:36,640 Speaker 1: talking and they were laughing at what I was saying, 973 00:51:36,680 --> 00:51:39,439 Speaker 1: and I thought that was stand up. When I went 974 00:51:39,480 --> 00:51:43,320 Speaker 1: to Chocolate Sundays and I actually wrote some jokes and bombed, 975 00:51:43,960 --> 00:51:47,840 Speaker 1: is when I realized that comedy stand up comedy is 976 00:51:47,880 --> 00:51:51,440 Speaker 1: an art and a science, and it's not just people talking. 977 00:51:51,920 --> 00:51:55,480 Speaker 1: There is structure behind it. And that was when I bombed. 978 00:51:55,600 --> 00:51:58,200 Speaker 1: Was when I said to myself, I want to do this. 979 00:51:58,480 --> 00:52:01,319 Speaker 1: I want to figure this. I want to get on 980 00:52:01,360 --> 00:52:04,200 Speaker 1: that stage and get the laughs from beginning to end, 981 00:52:04,560 --> 00:52:06,879 Speaker 1: and I'm gonna sit down and I'm gonna figure out 982 00:52:06,920 --> 00:52:10,560 Speaker 1: how to do that. Wells does not bomb in her 983 00:52:10,600 --> 00:52:15,440 Speaker 1: special HBO Max Special Cars fighting words. She's historical and 984 00:52:15,520 --> 00:52:18,319 Speaker 1: by the way, she's five ten, but I got a 985 00:52:18,320 --> 00:52:21,520 Speaker 1: complimentary She has beautiful legs, y'all. She wears an outfit 986 00:52:21,880 --> 00:52:26,120 Speaker 1: when she reminds everybody that she's five ten, it's white 987 00:52:26,320 --> 00:52:28,400 Speaker 1: and she is like, now, how did you pick out that? 988 00:52:28,440 --> 00:52:33,160 Speaker 1: If I gotta go there, because I looked as I 989 00:52:33,239 --> 00:52:36,120 Speaker 1: appreciate you asking about that because that often means a 990 00:52:36,160 --> 00:52:39,920 Speaker 1: lot to me. So the designer who made that outfit 991 00:52:40,040 --> 00:52:43,760 Speaker 1: is a lot Latino designer that was on Project Runway 992 00:52:43,800 --> 00:52:48,480 Speaker 1: who reached out to me on on Instagram and said, hey, 993 00:52:49,040 --> 00:52:51,600 Speaker 1: I don't know how, but he's like, I love you, 994 00:52:51,640 --> 00:52:53,520 Speaker 1: I love what you stand for, and I want to 995 00:52:53,600 --> 00:52:55,759 Speaker 1: His name is Celestino. He said, I want to make 996 00:52:56,320 --> 00:52:58,480 Speaker 1: something for you. How do I show up for you? 997 00:52:58,960 --> 00:53:01,239 Speaker 1: So we talked about it. He actually made all the 998 00:53:01,239 --> 00:53:03,400 Speaker 1: outfits that I wore in the special, the ones I 999 00:53:03,440 --> 00:53:05,600 Speaker 1: wore in the Dominican Republic Puerto Rico, and the one 1000 00:53:05,640 --> 00:53:08,879 Speaker 1: I wanted stage. But those cutouts that you see at 1001 00:53:08,880 --> 00:53:13,439 Speaker 1: the top are the cutouts of the Taino people and 1002 00:53:13,640 --> 00:53:16,640 Speaker 1: um It's which are the indigenous people of Puerto Rico, 1003 00:53:16,800 --> 00:53:21,520 Speaker 1: the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and that's my grandfather's tribe. So 1004 00:53:22,440 --> 00:53:26,160 Speaker 1: that's what inspired that outfit. Beautiful. Now let's go to 1005 00:53:26,200 --> 00:53:29,799 Speaker 1: the documentary side. You know, I don't know if I 1006 00:53:29,840 --> 00:53:32,480 Speaker 1: got sad. You know, your your dad. You got to 1007 00:53:32,520 --> 00:53:35,400 Speaker 1: meet him that uncomfortable moment. It was uncomfortable for me 1008 00:53:35,520 --> 00:53:38,279 Speaker 1: watching it all right, when you finally made him. It 1009 00:53:38,280 --> 00:53:40,200 Speaker 1: was do I tug him? Do I opened the door? 1010 00:53:40,280 --> 00:53:44,200 Speaker 1: Do I say, Daddy? What the heck is? What was 1011 00:53:44,280 --> 00:53:47,839 Speaker 1: running through your mind? Meeting your father and meeting your 1012 00:53:47,880 --> 00:53:52,759 Speaker 1: father being taped simultaneously? You know it was. It was 1013 00:53:52,800 --> 00:53:56,480 Speaker 1: a chance that I took um a couple of reasons. One, 1014 00:53:56,560 --> 00:53:59,919 Speaker 1: I wanted to have that moment forever because my father's old, 1015 00:54:00,760 --> 00:54:03,640 Speaker 1: and I don't know, I didn't because of COVID and 1016 00:54:03,680 --> 00:54:06,760 Speaker 1: all of the stuff that was happening with his uh 1017 00:54:06,840 --> 00:54:09,480 Speaker 1: you know, him being deported and not being able to 1018 00:54:09,520 --> 00:54:11,680 Speaker 1: come here and all of that stuff. I was like, 1019 00:54:11,719 --> 00:54:13,440 Speaker 1: I don't know what I'm gonna see him again, if 1020 00:54:13,480 --> 00:54:16,200 Speaker 1: I'm gonna see him again, but I definitely want to 1021 00:54:16,200 --> 00:54:19,360 Speaker 1: hold that moment because you can't see it when it's happening. 1022 00:54:19,400 --> 00:54:21,839 Speaker 1: You can only feel it. So I wanted to go 1023 00:54:21,920 --> 00:54:24,960 Speaker 1: back and see it, um, which I saw for the 1024 00:54:25,120 --> 00:54:28,399 Speaker 1: you know, it was it was really painful to watch. UM. 1025 00:54:28,440 --> 00:54:30,560 Speaker 1: The other thing is that there are a lot of 1026 00:54:30,680 --> 00:54:33,840 Speaker 1: us who have not grown up with our parents with 1027 00:54:33,920 --> 00:54:37,560 Speaker 1: a parent, a mother or a father, and we have 1028 00:54:37,760 --> 00:54:40,359 Speaker 1: this idea about what it's gonna be, you know, like 1029 00:54:40,920 --> 00:54:43,080 Speaker 1: we had like, oh, when I meet my father, we're 1030 00:54:43,120 --> 00:54:46,839 Speaker 1: gonna hug make up for lost time. And I just 1031 00:54:46,880 --> 00:54:50,239 Speaker 1: wanted to just I wanted to give a nod to 1032 00:54:50,360 --> 00:54:52,880 Speaker 1: a lot of people who have experienced this and just 1033 00:54:52,920 --> 00:54:57,040 Speaker 1: to let them know it's okay. Um, you know, sometimes 1034 00:54:57,520 --> 00:55:01,000 Speaker 1: somebody's not in your life and you know the most, 1035 00:55:01,120 --> 00:55:04,799 Speaker 1: High knows the most. And so for me, it was, um, 1036 00:55:05,640 --> 00:55:07,920 Speaker 1: I wanted to just free a lot of little girls 1037 00:55:07,960 --> 00:55:11,080 Speaker 1: and little boys like me who haven't been around their 1038 00:55:11,120 --> 00:55:13,760 Speaker 1: parents and to let them know that they're not alone, 1039 00:55:13,800 --> 00:55:16,520 Speaker 1: that a lot of people go through that. And it's 1040 00:55:16,560 --> 00:55:19,400 Speaker 1: okay to feel what you feel because you saw I 1041 00:55:19,480 --> 00:55:24,359 Speaker 1: didn't look excited and like I like I said, when 1042 00:55:24,360 --> 00:55:26,160 Speaker 1: I say the word comfortable, it's good. It's a good 1043 00:55:26,239 --> 00:55:29,320 Speaker 1: uncomfortable because you know she is this is a sincere moment. 1044 00:55:29,680 --> 00:55:32,239 Speaker 1: This is a moment that you know, two ways she 1045 00:55:32,239 --> 00:55:34,759 Speaker 1: could have. She could be dreading this moment and she 1046 00:55:34,800 --> 00:55:37,920 Speaker 1: could be wishing for this moment simultaneously, which is what 1047 00:55:38,080 --> 00:55:40,200 Speaker 1: she leads to Like a lot of doubt and a a 1048 00:55:40,280 --> 00:55:42,719 Speaker 1: lot of questions. You feel it all in that one 1049 00:55:42,840 --> 00:55:46,400 Speaker 1: moment right there. And even when he sits down, he 1050 00:55:46,440 --> 00:55:48,719 Speaker 1: doesn't know what to do either, you know. And so 1051 00:55:48,719 --> 00:55:54,560 Speaker 1: so you have two people coming into a space. They 1052 00:55:54,600 --> 00:55:56,560 Speaker 1: know their names, but they don't know who they are. 1053 00:55:56,960 --> 00:55:59,279 Speaker 1: They don't know what to say. And that's why it's 1054 00:55:59,440 --> 00:56:02,000 Speaker 1: this special was so good because it takes you on 1055 00:56:02,040 --> 00:56:04,640 Speaker 1: all these journeys or you're gonna laugh a lot at 1056 00:56:04,680 --> 00:56:07,319 Speaker 1: the special fighting words. I laughed a lot. I enjoyed it. 1057 00:56:07,360 --> 00:56:10,399 Speaker 1: I you know, I didn't pause at one time when 1058 00:56:10,480 --> 00:56:12,720 Speaker 1: when when she walked out on stage in the Bronx 1059 00:56:12,800 --> 00:56:16,919 Speaker 1: and and announced herself and standing there's five all five 1060 00:56:16,960 --> 00:56:19,640 Speaker 1: for ten of her and the crowd so low they 1061 00:56:19,800 --> 00:56:23,680 Speaker 1: standing up for her. The DJ announces her, she come 1062 00:56:23,719 --> 00:56:26,360 Speaker 1: out on stage doing her little dance and all that 1063 00:56:26,400 --> 00:56:29,799 Speaker 1: good stuff, and she dances away and to the Puerto Rico. 1064 00:56:29,960 --> 00:56:33,759 Speaker 1: She dances away to the Dominican Republic. And then you know, 1065 00:56:33,880 --> 00:56:36,280 Speaker 1: I'm a foodie. Now, I kind of got mad because 1066 00:56:36,600 --> 00:56:38,960 Speaker 1: you see them to all that great food, talk about 1067 00:56:38,960 --> 00:56:41,319 Speaker 1: the food, talk about the experience that you're going back 1068 00:56:41,360 --> 00:56:44,600 Speaker 1: to Puerto Rico, and bluff. I'll be remissed. She pays 1069 00:56:44,640 --> 00:56:47,719 Speaker 1: it forward, y'all because she has other young comedians on 1070 00:56:47,760 --> 00:56:51,160 Speaker 1: the show and just recognize them. They're not doing full sets, 1071 00:56:51,160 --> 00:56:53,440 Speaker 1: but the fact that she allowed that to happen was 1072 00:56:53,480 --> 00:56:56,000 Speaker 1: a blessing for their careers because a lot of people 1073 00:56:56,000 --> 00:56:58,880 Speaker 1: are gonna watch this special and just being able to 1074 00:56:58,960 --> 00:57:01,560 Speaker 1: tag that because people healter our tifty Hanitch just hep 1075 00:57:01,640 --> 00:57:04,840 Speaker 1: to out want the psychists Shaquille Neilans he to out, 1076 00:57:04,880 --> 00:57:08,160 Speaker 1: you know, even Pooky Helter out her best friend he out. 1077 00:57:08,160 --> 00:57:11,239 Speaker 1: So she's always had Chris Spence he to Speedy Helter. 1078 00:57:11,600 --> 00:57:14,680 Speaker 1: So she's always had this mindset that if I've been here, 1079 00:57:14,719 --> 00:57:17,160 Speaker 1: I'm gonna help somebody else. That is really the nature 1080 00:57:17,160 --> 00:57:19,600 Speaker 1: of your personality. And I just wanted to say you 1081 00:57:19,680 --> 00:57:23,040 Speaker 1: are good. I'm a fan now. I may not I 1082 00:57:23,120 --> 00:57:25,680 Speaker 1: know who I Riquets was, but I know who she 1083 00:57:25,840 --> 00:57:28,920 Speaker 1: is now and I will always support you. Thank you. 1084 00:57:28,960 --> 00:57:31,640 Speaker 1: I appreciate that. And as you called that list of names, 1085 00:57:32,120 --> 00:57:35,960 Speaker 1: if you make uh, there's one distinct commonality in all 1086 00:57:36,000 --> 00:57:39,080 Speaker 1: of them is that they're all Black American people. And 1087 00:57:39,200 --> 00:57:42,080 Speaker 1: I say Black American because there are black Latinos to 1088 00:57:43,040 --> 00:57:45,720 Speaker 1: Latin the people, and I want to I want to 1089 00:57:45,760 --> 00:57:48,040 Speaker 1: bring to light that. But I just want to say 1090 00:57:48,080 --> 00:57:51,720 Speaker 1: that had it not been for the Black American community, 1091 00:57:51,880 --> 00:57:54,919 Speaker 1: my career would not have taken off. And the thing 1092 00:57:55,080 --> 00:57:57,200 Speaker 1: is that I'm always going to be thankful for that, 1093 00:57:57,320 --> 00:58:00,360 Speaker 1: and I hope that we can spill that into my 1094 00:58:00,440 --> 00:58:03,400 Speaker 1: community to learn how to support each other that way 1095 00:58:03,440 --> 00:58:05,520 Speaker 1: and to pay it forward and not to just blow 1096 00:58:05,560 --> 00:58:09,440 Speaker 1: each other up because it's always been. I mean, Tama 1097 00:58:09,480 --> 00:58:12,200 Speaker 1: Goings and Valerie Bending are the ones that that put 1098 00:58:12,240 --> 00:58:14,560 Speaker 1: me on the Shock All Star was the first Latin 1099 00:58:14,600 --> 00:58:17,600 Speaker 1: person to ever do that. Wanda Sykes and Page her 1100 00:58:17,680 --> 00:58:20,880 Speaker 1: With put me all Last Comic Standing, Tiffany gave me 1101 00:58:20,960 --> 00:58:25,000 Speaker 1: my first half hour special, and that has always been 1102 00:58:25,680 --> 00:58:29,080 Speaker 1: something very important and meaningful. I grew up in a 1103 00:58:29,280 --> 00:58:33,280 Speaker 1: in a predominantly black and brown community. My high school 1104 00:58:33,320 --> 00:58:37,720 Speaker 1: had two white kids. Everybody was Latin or black, and 1105 00:58:37,840 --> 00:58:40,240 Speaker 1: we and we rocked with each other because it was 1106 00:58:40,320 --> 00:58:43,280 Speaker 1: us against the world. You know, we had our beaks internally. 1107 00:58:43,480 --> 00:58:46,080 Speaker 1: Of course, to say that that that didn't happen is 1108 00:58:46,120 --> 00:58:49,439 Speaker 1: a lie. But at the end of the day, when 1109 00:58:49,520 --> 00:58:51,560 Speaker 1: we were gonna do speech and debate, it would be 1110 00:58:51,800 --> 00:58:55,040 Speaker 1: us against the white boys, because we are all we had. 1111 00:58:55,960 --> 00:58:59,400 Speaker 1: And I'm always gonna be eternally grateful for the people 1112 00:58:59,400 --> 00:59:02,520 Speaker 1: who showed up for me. Kenna Hart also put me 1113 00:59:02,600 --> 00:59:05,680 Speaker 1: on l O L. He's the first person to bring 1114 00:59:05,840 --> 00:59:08,480 Speaker 1: to put me up on a stage in Montreal for 1115 00:59:08,520 --> 00:59:13,360 Speaker 1: the just the last a couple of years ago. Absolutely, so, 1116 00:59:13,800 --> 00:59:18,040 Speaker 1: you know, I mean, we can't just you know, exploit 1117 00:59:18,120 --> 00:59:22,200 Speaker 1: the black community and then you know, forget about them 1118 00:59:22,240 --> 00:59:24,200 Speaker 1: when we win, because a lot of people do that, 1119 00:59:24,280 --> 00:59:27,200 Speaker 1: and I'm always I'm always gonna rock with my people. 1120 00:59:27,680 --> 00:59:29,680 Speaker 1: And when I say my people, I say black and 1121 00:59:29,680 --> 00:59:32,080 Speaker 1: brown people because that's really who my people, that's who, 1122 00:59:32,200 --> 00:59:37,000 Speaker 1: that's my people, My dear. She's a comedian, she's an actress, writer, producer, 1123 00:59:37,040 --> 00:59:42,200 Speaker 1: executive producer, Ida Rodriguez, Fighting words. It's Aaron now HBO 1124 00:59:42,320 --> 00:59:46,640 Speaker 1: Max Uh. It's a comedy special slash documentary. It's travels. 1125 00:59:46,840 --> 00:59:49,880 Speaker 1: It's an inside look at a brilliant stand up comedy mind. 1126 00:59:50,360 --> 00:59:54,480 Speaker 1: And guess what, she's funny. Thank you for coming on 1127 00:59:54,520 --> 00:59:57,080 Speaker 1: my show. Thank you for having me on my show, 1128 00:59:57,160 --> 00:59:59,320 Speaker 1: and keep doing the good work. We appreciate it, We 1129 00:59:59,440 --> 01:00:02,800 Speaker 1: need you, and um that's part of my work. My 1130 01:00:03,040 --> 01:00:06,560 Speaker 1: one work is bringing financial literacy to the communities that 1131 01:00:06,600 --> 01:00:09,840 Speaker 1: are like mine and and we gotta keep doing it. 1132 01:00:09,880 --> 01:00:12,200 Speaker 1: So keep doing the good work. Thank you, Thank you, 1133 01:00:12,200 --> 01:00:13,840 Speaker 1: big timer. If you want to hear or see any 1134 01:00:13,840 --> 01:00:16,080 Speaker 1: of my interviews and money making conversations, please go to 1135 01:00:16,120 --> 01:00:20,200 Speaker 1: money Making Conversation dot com. Roshan McDonald I am your host. 1136 01:00:21,240 --> 01:00:24,560 Speaker 1: You've been listening to money Making Conversations with Rashan McDonald. 1137 01:00:24,800 --> 01:00:27,560 Speaker 1: Please join us next week and always remember leaving with 1138 01:00:27,600 --> 01:00:31,120 Speaker 1: your gifts. Money Making Conversations is a presentation of thirty 1139 01:00:31,160 --> 01:00:36,120 Speaker 1: and fifteen Media Incorporated. You are now tuned into the 1140 01:00:36,160 --> 01:00:40,640 Speaker 1: Money Making Conversations Minute of Inspiration with Rashan McDonald Him 1141 01:00:40,680 --> 01:00:43,360 Speaker 1: Rushan McDonald for Money Making Conversation with your daily minute 1142 01:00:43,360 --> 01:00:46,240 Speaker 1: of Inspiration. This week I sat down with the executive coach, 1143 01:00:46,320 --> 01:00:49,840 Speaker 1: pastor and author of Chasing Failure, How Falling Short to 1144 01:00:49,840 --> 01:00:53,880 Speaker 1: set you up for success? Ryan Leak. He champions operating 1145 01:00:53,960 --> 01:00:56,480 Speaker 1: based on the true desires of your heart as opposed 1146 01:00:56,520 --> 01:01:00,160 Speaker 1: to being pressured by others to fit their expectations. I 1147 01:01:00,160 --> 01:01:02,880 Speaker 1: can't tell you how many business owners are just doing 1148 01:01:02,920 --> 01:01:07,840 Speaker 1: the family business just because it's the family business and 1149 01:01:08,040 --> 01:01:11,080 Speaker 1: haven't paused long enough to go what else would you do? 1150 01:01:11,240 --> 01:01:13,000 Speaker 1: And there was so much pressure on them from a 1151 01:01:13,120 --> 01:01:15,360 Speaker 1: very early age that you're going to take this business 1152 01:01:15,560 --> 01:01:18,240 Speaker 1: that that can bring about tremendous pressure of going. You 1153 01:01:18,400 --> 01:01:21,160 Speaker 1: already filled in the plane with my future, and so 1154 01:01:21,240 --> 01:01:23,520 Speaker 1: some people don't feel the permission to start over and 1155 01:01:23,600 --> 01:01:25,520 Speaker 1: have a clean slate. And I like to just tell 1156 01:01:25,600 --> 01:01:28,320 Speaker 1: them who's making those rules. If you want to listen 1157 01:01:28,360 --> 01:01:31,240 Speaker 1: to this four interview with Ryan leak is available home 1158 01:01:31,280 --> 01:01:34,560 Speaker 1: Money Making Conversations dot com. In this season of giving, 1159 01:01:34,760 --> 01:01:37,560 Speaker 1: Coals has gifts for all your loved ones. For those 1160 01:01:37,600 --> 01:01:41,040 Speaker 1: who like to keep it cozy, find fleeces, sweaters, loungeware, 1161 01:01:41,080 --> 01:01:44,920 Speaker 1: blankets and throws. Or support minority owned or founded brands 1162 01:01:45,000 --> 01:01:48,520 Speaker 1: by giving gifts from Human Nation and Shame Moisture. And 1163 01:01:48,720 --> 01:01:51,880 Speaker 1: in the spirit of giving, Coals Cares is donating eight 1164 01:01:51,960 --> 01:01:56,000 Speaker 1: million dollars to local nonprofits nationwide. Give with all your 1165 01:01:56,000 --> 01:01:58,880 Speaker 1: heart this season with great gifts from Coals or Coals 1166 01:01:58,960 --> 01:02:03,320 Speaker 1: dot com. What girls in the forest, our imagination and 1167 01:02:03,760 --> 01:02:07,320 Speaker 1: our family bonds. The forest is closer than you think. 1168 01:02:07,680 --> 01:02:10,720 Speaker 1: Find a forest near you and discover the Forest dot Org. 1169 01:02:11,080 --> 01:02:13,480 Speaker 1: Brought to you by the United States Forest Service and 1170 01:02:13,560 --> 01:02:17,480 Speaker 1: the ad Council. Adoption of teams from foster care is 1171 01:02:17,520 --> 01:02:19,880 Speaker 1: a topic not enough people know about, and we're here 1172 01:02:19,920 --> 01:02:22,400 Speaker 1: to change that. I'm April Dinuity, host of the new 1173 01:02:22,440 --> 01:02:26,840 Speaker 1: podcast Navigating Adoption, presented by adopt us Kids. Each episode 1174 01:02:26,840 --> 01:02:30,120 Speaker 1: brings you compelling, real life adoption stories told by the 1175 01:02:30,160 --> 01:02:33,640 Speaker 1: families that lived them, with commentary from experts. Visit adopt 1176 01:02:33,720 --> 01:02:37,640 Speaker 1: us Kids dot org, slash podcast, or subscribe to Navigating Adoption, 1177 01:02:37,720 --> 01:02:40,600 Speaker 1: presented by adopt us Kids, Brought to you by the U. S. 1178 01:02:40,640 --> 01:02:43,800 Speaker 1: Department of Health, that Human Services Administration for Children and Families, 1179 01:02:43,840 --> 01:02:44,800 Speaker 1: and the ad Council