1 00:00:04,720 --> 00:00:11,639 Speaker 1: We're ten years apart, and she's been my best friend 2 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 1: since she was a baby. I was queer very early 3 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:18,000 Speaker 1: in our community. That came with a lot of pushback 4 00:00:18,079 --> 00:00:22,439 Speaker 1: from our community. You know, when it was time to 5 00:00:22,760 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 1: make the unconditional love choice. She and my mother both 6 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:32,560 Speaker 1: made that choice in the faith of an entire community 7 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:35,960 Speaker 1: and infrastructure, telling them both that they were going to burn. 8 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:36,640 Speaker 2: In hell for doing so. 9 00:00:38,960 --> 00:00:41,840 Speaker 3: That was the incomparable Billy Porter And to kick off 10 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:44,800 Speaker 3: Pride Month today, we are sharing a special best of 11 00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:48,520 Speaker 3: episode with the Emmy, Grammy and Tony Award winning artist 12 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:52,440 Speaker 3: on the My Legacy podcast. Joining him is his beloved 13 00:00:52,479 --> 00:00:56,680 Speaker 3: sister and best friend, Mary Martha Ford, whose unconditional love 14 00:00:56,720 --> 00:01:00,560 Speaker 3: has helped shape his remarkable journey. Hosted by Martin Luther 15 00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:03,640 Speaker 3: King the Third and his wife Andrea Waters King, and 16 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:06,960 Speaker 3: their friends Mark and Craig Kilberger, this episode is a 17 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:09,800 Speaker 3: powerful reminder of what it means to live your truth, 18 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 3: no matter the cost. Together, Billy and Mary Martha teach 19 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:17,080 Speaker 3: us what it takes to choose yourself in a world 20 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:20,520 Speaker 3: that tells you not to, how unconditional love can break 21 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:24,960 Speaker 3: generational cycles, the role of art in healing trauma, and 22 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 3: why authenticity isn't just brave, it's necessary. This is one 23 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 3: of our most moving episodes and a celebration of the 24 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:34,800 Speaker 3: courage it takes to live out loud. 25 00:01:35,319 --> 00:01:39,480 Speaker 4: Let's jump in, well, welcome to my legacy. We're here 26 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:42,720 Speaker 4: with Billy Porter. Billy, you are on the brink of 27 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:46,800 Speaker 4: egot status, an elite group of artists who have won 28 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 4: the Emmy, the Grammy, the Oscar and the Tony. His 29 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:55,400 Speaker 4: extraordinary life story is one of courage, resilience, and authenticity, 30 00:01:55,720 --> 00:01:57,600 Speaker 4: and we hope it will inspire you to create a 31 00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 4: living legacy and lead a more fulfilled life. On this podcast, 32 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 4: we don't just hear from iconic figures. We also connect 33 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:06,120 Speaker 4: with the people who know them best to give us 34 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 4: deeper understanding of the challenges and the triumphs that have 35 00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:13,680 Speaker 4: shaped their legacy. Joining Billy today is his sister, Mary 36 00:02:13,919 --> 00:02:17,040 Speaker 4: Martha Ford, whose love and support have been central to 37 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 4: his remarkable journey. Billy and Mary Martha, what a privilege 38 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:23,000 Speaker 4: it is to be with you, and thank you for 39 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:24,880 Speaker 4: being here. And so, Billy, we got to start off 40 00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:29,639 Speaker 4: by asking you to introduce Mary Martha and sharing what 41 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:33,240 Speaker 4: makes her such an important person in your life. 42 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:37,680 Speaker 1: Okay, well, Mary Martha Elizabeth Ford is my baby sister. 43 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:46,079 Speaker 1: We're ten years apart, and she's been my best friend 44 00:02:46,160 --> 00:02:49,640 Speaker 1: since she was a baby. It's like I couldn't wait 45 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:52,160 Speaker 1: till she was old enough so we could like hang out. 46 00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:55,280 Speaker 1: I was like, get your childhood all over with please, 47 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:58,080 Speaker 1: so we can hang out. You know, I call her 48 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:02,639 Speaker 1: the rock star because you know, she turned she has 49 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:17,480 Speaker 1: turned a very complicated life into something great for herself 50 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:19,760 Speaker 1: and everyone around her. 51 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 2: And I'm just, you know, honored to call her my 52 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 2: rock star sister. 53 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:32,080 Speaker 4: Oh the sweet thank you, it's beautiful. I love that 54 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:33,640 Speaker 4: I'm here with my brother. 55 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:34,080 Speaker 5: Uh. 56 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:37,120 Speaker 4: I just I've got goosebumps or as you would say, 57 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:40,000 Speaker 4: god bumps listening to that one. I love it, Billy. 58 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:42,120 Speaker 4: So we're talking about legacy, and can you take us 59 00:03:42,240 --> 00:03:44,120 Speaker 4: way back to Pittsburgh. Can you tell us a little 60 00:03:44,120 --> 00:03:46,760 Speaker 4: bit about your childhood and maybe share a story that 61 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:49,680 Speaker 4: really helps to shine a light on what life was 62 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:51,440 Speaker 4: like for you growing up in your younger years. 63 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:58,320 Speaker 1: It was tough, you know, it was traumatizing very often, 64 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:02,080 Speaker 1: and there was a lot of love. 65 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:03,960 Speaker 2: As well. 66 00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 1: And I had a lot of angels in my life 67 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:17,920 Speaker 1: who were encamped around me who saw me in ways 68 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:25,120 Speaker 1: that sometimes my immediate family, my immediate sort of community. 69 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 2: Didn't understand. 70 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 1: And these people were able to just kind of guide 71 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:41,840 Speaker 1: me in the right directions so that I could dream 72 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:51,920 Speaker 1: and accomplish beyond my circumstance. You know, A music teacher 73 00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:58,599 Speaker 1: identified that I could think. And from that point on, 74 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:02,000 Speaker 1: you know, in the fifth grade, and from that point on, 75 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:08,280 Speaker 1: the angels in my life stepped in and made sure 76 00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:13,000 Speaker 1: that I, you know, that I was able to, like 77 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:18,240 Speaker 1: I said, dream and accomplish beyond my circumstance. 78 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:22,520 Speaker 6: Mary Martha, I've got a question for you, yes, being 79 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:27,000 Speaker 6: ten years younger, what was your down dynamic like when Billy, 80 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:30,680 Speaker 6: you know, kind of growing up and how has it evolved? 81 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:32,760 Speaker 2: How is it evolved? 82 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:38,520 Speaker 7: So I don't remember him until my first memory was 83 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:42,520 Speaker 7: maybe when we were five, five or six and it 84 00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:46,279 Speaker 7: was Christmas morning. That's one of my first memories, Christmas 85 00:05:46,279 --> 00:05:49,400 Speaker 7: morning and him waking me up and taking me like 86 00:05:49,520 --> 00:05:53,360 Speaker 7: I rode his back into the living room and there 87 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:55,880 Speaker 7: were gifts and there were gifts that he bought me 88 00:05:56,560 --> 00:05:59,839 Speaker 7: with his own money because he had a job where 89 00:05:59,839 --> 00:06:03,560 Speaker 7: he yet kenny Wood which because Kennywood Park, which was 90 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:09,960 Speaker 7: our amusement Park. I just remember Billy being kind and 91 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:13,599 Speaker 7: my friend, someone that I looked up to, and he 92 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:17,000 Speaker 7: was always singing, and so we were always everywhere where 93 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:19,040 Speaker 7: he was singing and performing. 94 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:24,039 Speaker 2: My mom and I would be there all of the time. 95 00:06:24,320 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 7: I should have been at home on a school night, 96 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:30,880 Speaker 7: but I was in the theater wherever he was. That's 97 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:33,440 Speaker 7: where we were, and so that's how I ended up 98 00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:36,440 Speaker 7: catching the theater bug as well. How has it evolved? 99 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:44,680 Speaker 7: It has evolved from being I don't know, just brother 100 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:48,279 Speaker 7: and sister to best friends, and so I can call 101 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:50,960 Speaker 7: him about anything. We talk every morning, you know, there's 102 00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:52,920 Speaker 7: you know, just to check in how you doing. I'm 103 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:55,320 Speaker 7: doing all right, what you're doing today? And I'm very 104 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:59,640 Speaker 7: grateful for that. I recognize that the relationship as siblings 105 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:03,559 Speaker 7: that he and I have is not one that lots 106 00:07:03,560 --> 00:07:05,799 Speaker 7: of people can say that they have with their siblings, 107 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:09,680 Speaker 7: and so it's something that I used to take for granted, 108 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 7: which I don't take for granted anymore because now I 109 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:16,160 Speaker 7: recognize how true and precious it is. 110 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:21,280 Speaker 5: What's so fascinating to me about that story, though, is 111 00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:23,880 Speaker 5: I can just imagine, see if you were in fifth 112 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 5: grade and then Billy is about ten years older than you. 113 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:31,760 Speaker 5: Like you all said a little bit earlier that there's 114 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:34,960 Speaker 5: a lot of trauma kind of growing up. But here, this, 115 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:39,120 Speaker 5: to me, says it all about your heart, about the 116 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:43,840 Speaker 5: fact of being an entertainer. You worked, just make sure 117 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:46,440 Speaker 5: I heard the story correctly, and then make sure that 118 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:52,320 Speaker 5: your sister had a good Christmas, your baby's sister. It's 119 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 5: almost like that, you know that protection. But not only that, 120 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:57,680 Speaker 5: it seemed like there was so much joy. You got 121 00:07:57,720 --> 00:08:02,040 Speaker 5: as much joy that Christmas morning. I just thought that 122 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:05,600 Speaker 5: that's such a beauty. I actually almost bought tears in 123 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:07,720 Speaker 5: my eyes just I can kind of see you all, 124 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:10,760 Speaker 5: you know, going through that, and I think it's so extraordinary, 125 00:08:10,760 --> 00:08:15,920 Speaker 5: and I'm so I'm also curious, then, Billy, how has 126 00:08:15,960 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 5: your sister been a source of strength for you throughout 127 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:21,760 Speaker 5: your lives growing up? 128 00:08:25,760 --> 00:08:30,680 Speaker 2: Don't cry she. 129 00:08:33,520 --> 00:08:37,720 Speaker 1: You know, she was younger than me and I was 130 00:08:37,800 --> 00:08:42,920 Speaker 1: queer very early in our community. That came with a 131 00:08:42,920 --> 00:08:44,120 Speaker 1: lot of pushback. 132 00:08:43,679 --> 00:08:44,440 Speaker 2: From our. 133 00:08:46,160 --> 00:08:53,520 Speaker 1: Community and our family, and you know, when it was 134 00:08:53,679 --> 00:09:04,240 Speaker 1: time to make the unconditional love choice, she and my 135 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:10,480 Speaker 1: mother both made that choice in the faith of an 136 00:09:10,679 --> 00:09:16,560 Speaker 1: entire community and infrastructure telling them both that they were 137 00:09:16,559 --> 00:09:26,200 Speaker 1: going to burn in hell for doing so. Mary Martha 138 00:09:26,280 --> 00:09:30,280 Speaker 1: was the first, you know, person that I came out 139 00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:33,000 Speaker 1: to in my family, even before you know, when she 140 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:37,280 Speaker 1: was sixteen, Yeah, before my mother. Well no, I told 141 00:09:37,280 --> 00:09:39,280 Speaker 1: my mother, but my mother wasn't able to receive it 142 00:09:39,320 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 1: for a while. So my sister was was able to 143 00:09:43,559 --> 00:09:49,880 Speaker 1: receive it at such a young age, and she was 144 00:09:49,920 --> 00:09:56,120 Speaker 1: so present in the moment for me and so evolved, 145 00:09:57,000 --> 00:10:00,920 Speaker 1: you know, And it was something that I had worked 146 00:10:00,920 --> 00:10:06,120 Speaker 1: on trying to give her, you know, trying to actually. 147 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:10,880 Speaker 2: Be the same kind of angel. 148 00:10:10,559 --> 00:10:15,679 Speaker 1: For her that I had experienced for myself, to show 149 00:10:15,800 --> 00:10:26,040 Speaker 1: her that there were spaces outside of our immediate infrastructure. 150 00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:32,040 Speaker 1: There were people outside of. 151 00:10:30,280 --> 00:10:31,640 Speaker 2: Our status quo. 152 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:38,520 Speaker 1: And experiences outside of that. 153 00:10:36,920 --> 00:10:41,840 Speaker 2: That were just as important. 154 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:47,480 Speaker 1: And more important than the religious dogma that. 155 00:10:50,600 --> 00:10:53,240 Speaker 2: You know, was trying to sort of be ingrained at us. 156 00:10:55,120 --> 00:10:59,800 Speaker 1: There were other options, and I was sort of trying 157 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:05,000 Speaker 1: to show her those other options. And I didn't realize 158 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:07,040 Speaker 1: that they had taken hold until I came out to 159 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:07,840 Speaker 1: her at sixteen. 160 00:11:08,360 --> 00:11:10,760 Speaker 2: They had already taken hold. All of those things that. 161 00:11:10,720 --> 00:11:13,760 Speaker 1: I was trying to instill, had already taken hold and 162 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:18,439 Speaker 1: it was you know, it was magical, It was emotional, 163 00:11:18,520 --> 00:11:26,080 Speaker 1: and it was gratifying and spiritual and all those things you. 164 00:11:26,040 --> 00:11:28,320 Speaker 5: Know when you've heard something and it stays with you. 165 00:11:28,760 --> 00:11:31,440 Speaker 5: If you're still thinking about this conversation, don't keep it 166 00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:34,760 Speaker 5: to yourself. Subscribe to my Legacy podcast, share it with 167 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:38,720 Speaker 5: someone who's navigating something hard, or just a way to say. 168 00:11:38,679 --> 00:11:39,400 Speaker 6: I see you. 169 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:48,040 Speaker 2: Now. 170 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:51,000 Speaker 8: Back to my Legacy will Billy and Mary Martha. We 171 00:11:51,120 --> 00:11:54,920 Speaker 8: admire your tenacity, your love, your compassion towards each other. 172 00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:57,720 Speaker 8: I also want to turn to your amazing career, Billy. 173 00:11:57,800 --> 00:12:02,319 Speaker 8: Your career has been a masterclass breaking barriers and living authentically. 174 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:05,560 Speaker 8: What drives you to keep using your voice to create 175 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:07,839 Speaker 8: such substantive change as you do. 176 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:17,280 Speaker 1: Artists have the power to reach inside of a human 177 00:12:17,320 --> 00:12:23,600 Speaker 1: being and transform them from the inside out. Art has 178 00:12:23,640 --> 00:12:31,720 Speaker 1: the power to heal all kinds of traumas. My soul 179 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:35,680 Speaker 1: was saved because. 180 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:37,559 Speaker 2: Of the art. 181 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:40,079 Speaker 1: If I didn't have the arts, I don't think I 182 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:41,600 Speaker 1: would be alive right now. 183 00:12:42,320 --> 00:12:46,120 Speaker 2: Maybe, And I know. 184 00:12:50,520 --> 00:12:54,400 Speaker 1: That when I'm at my lowest, for as long as 185 00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:59,160 Speaker 1: I can remember, it's my art that gets me out of. 186 00:12:59,120 --> 00:13:05,480 Speaker 2: Bed in the morning, and there was also growing up. 187 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:15,200 Speaker 1: No representation, really, no mainstream crossover rotator representation of somebody. 188 00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:26,920 Speaker 2: Who looked like me, who stood at that intersection of blackness, 189 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:38,719 Speaker 2: queerness and spirituality, and the ones who did were ignored, dismissed, 190 00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:43,800 Speaker 2: passed over, erased. And so I know how I know 191 00:13:43,840 --> 00:13:49,240 Speaker 2: what it felt like to be invisible for over half 192 00:13:49,320 --> 00:13:52,600 Speaker 2: my life. And the only reason why I'm not invisible 193 00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:58,360 Speaker 2: is because I chose myself. I chose my authenticity. 194 00:13:58,880 --> 00:14:05,400 Speaker 1: I to have the audacity to actually choose myself, choose 195 00:14:05,440 --> 00:14:08,520 Speaker 1: my authenticity and then stand on that. 196 00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:11,480 Speaker 5: Did you do that deliberately or do you think that 197 00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:12,640 Speaker 5: choice was made for you? 198 00:14:13,480 --> 00:14:14,800 Speaker 2: No? 199 00:14:14,800 --> 00:14:21,000 Speaker 1: No, Because for the first part of my life and 200 00:14:21,080 --> 00:14:24,800 Speaker 1: my career, I was trying to fit in so I 201 00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:28,280 Speaker 1: could eat. I wasn't lying, you know, but it was 202 00:14:28,400 --> 00:14:32,200 Speaker 1: the don't ask, don't tell era of the world, and 203 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:38,160 Speaker 1: so I wasn't telling. I wasn't lying, but I wasn't telling, 204 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:42,800 Speaker 1: and the omission of not telling is ultimately a lie, 205 00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:46,760 Speaker 1: and that binds you as well, you know. 206 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:55,040 Speaker 2: And so I had the gift of failing. 207 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:06,080 Speaker 1: At somebody else, and particularly in the music industry in 208 00:15:06,120 --> 00:15:08,480 Speaker 1: the nineties, and I just vow to myself that I 209 00:15:08,520 --> 00:15:15,800 Speaker 1: would never show up as somebody else again, and whatever 210 00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:20,040 Speaker 1: that meant for my life and career is whatever it means. 211 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:24,160 Speaker 1: And I still say that today. You know, I grew 212 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:26,200 Speaker 1: up in a family who believed you got to stand 213 00:15:26,200 --> 00:15:30,960 Speaker 1: for something or you'll fall for anything. So even right now, 214 00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:35,400 Speaker 1: you know with how you look at me, with how 215 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:39,280 Speaker 1: you see me, which I think is so humbling and 216 00:15:39,360 --> 00:15:46,720 Speaker 1: so inspiring and exactly my point right to exist inside 217 00:15:46,720 --> 00:15:51,640 Speaker 1: of the truth and to have the audacity to be 218 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:59,240 Speaker 1: authentic and to speak truth always, no matter how uncomfortable 219 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:02,240 Speaker 1: it may be to some of the people around you. 220 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:08,840 Speaker 1: Sometimes is great, and sometimes it's that so great, you know, 221 00:16:08,960 --> 00:16:11,720 Speaker 1: sometimes there are consequences that come with that, as you know. 222 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:23,240 Speaker 2: So I'm grateful that my work. 223 00:16:24,760 --> 00:16:30,800 Speaker 1: And my efforts and my intentions are being seen and 224 00:16:31,960 --> 00:16:36,840 Speaker 1: experienced once again in the spirit in which I am 225 00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:38,080 Speaker 1: sharing them. 226 00:16:38,720 --> 00:16:41,640 Speaker 8: Billy, We're all so glad that you've chosen that authenticity, 227 00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:43,600 Speaker 8: and I just want to say thank you for your eloquence. 228 00:16:44,160 --> 00:16:45,720 Speaker 8: Mary Martin went to want to ask you a quick 229 00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:49,680 Speaker 8: question about a moment that Billy's love and support made 230 00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:52,520 Speaker 8: a difference in your life. 231 00:16:52,760 --> 00:16:53,720 Speaker 5: Oh, his love. 232 00:16:57,360 --> 00:17:02,920 Speaker 7: What people don't know is just how kind, like really 233 00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:07,479 Speaker 7: genuinely kind Billy is. And about fourteen years ago, I 234 00:17:07,520 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 7: had a medical scare where I had to have brain 235 00:17:10,320 --> 00:17:13,919 Speaker 7: surgery and I was going to be down for the 236 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:17,160 Speaker 7: count for at least six weeks and Billy was working 237 00:17:17,240 --> 00:17:21,119 Speaker 7: on a show in New York and the show ended 238 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:24,560 Speaker 7: on a Sunday. He got in the car on Monday, 239 00:17:24,800 --> 00:17:28,200 Speaker 7: drove home to Pittsburgh. I had surgery on a Tuesday. 240 00:17:28,680 --> 00:17:31,199 Speaker 7: And then he stayed with me for six weeks and 241 00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:36,160 Speaker 7: he took excellent care of me. So he's a great caregiver. 242 00:17:39,440 --> 00:17:41,720 Speaker 7: He's a good chef too. People don't know that he liked. 243 00:17:41,600 --> 00:17:44,480 Speaker 1: That's the thing that I would say. 244 00:17:44,800 --> 00:17:51,760 Speaker 2: You know, Covid Lockdown really showed me. 245 00:17:54,760 --> 00:17:59,760 Speaker 1: That cooking is something that soothes me, okay, and something 246 00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:01,000 Speaker 1: that's really healing to me. 247 00:18:01,600 --> 00:18:03,159 Speaker 2: And it's a love language for me. 248 00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:06,280 Speaker 1: You know, I'm not like a big gift giver and 249 00:18:06,320 --> 00:18:12,440 Speaker 1: I'm not like I'm not like that, but I love 250 00:18:12,720 --> 00:18:18,200 Speaker 1: to show love through cooking. And if I cook for you, 251 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:20,320 Speaker 1: I love you. 252 00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:20,720 Speaker 2: Wow. 253 00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:25,160 Speaker 1: I don't cook for I don't generally cook for people 254 00:18:25,160 --> 00:18:26,760 Speaker 1: who I don't like or care about. 255 00:18:26,840 --> 00:18:29,440 Speaker 5: Do you have a specialty he just likes to cook 256 00:18:29,640 --> 00:18:33,280 Speaker 5: just anything, huh, anything anything, And he can take anything 257 00:18:33,320 --> 00:18:36,560 Speaker 5: that you know, remnants to stuff that's in the refrigerator 258 00:18:36,600 --> 00:18:38,840 Speaker 5: and he'll come up with something and it bangs. That's 259 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:41,200 Speaker 5: how I know, Mary Martha, that's a good cook. That's 260 00:18:41,280 --> 00:18:45,359 Speaker 5: always my my test. I can, like, I can follow 261 00:18:45,359 --> 00:18:48,160 Speaker 5: a great recipe, you know, or something that's been passed down, 262 00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:48,960 Speaker 5: and I think I'm a. 263 00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:49,600 Speaker 4: Pretty good cook. 264 00:18:49,880 --> 00:18:50,359 Speaker 1: Yes you are. 265 00:18:53,600 --> 00:18:57,520 Speaker 5: My sisters, they go into me a true like like 266 00:18:57,600 --> 00:18:59,959 Speaker 5: they can go into the refrigerator and then they can 267 00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:03,240 Speaker 5: and see what's there and then make a recipe and 268 00:19:03,240 --> 00:19:05,520 Speaker 5: then make it taste good. That That always is my 269 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:08,840 Speaker 5: benchmark for Yeah, I see there you go and okay, 270 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:12,040 Speaker 5: then you use that that passes That passed the test. 271 00:19:12,760 --> 00:19:14,240 Speaker 4: We'd love it if you shared this episode of the 272 00:19:14,280 --> 00:19:17,640 Speaker 4: My Legacy podcast with someone you admire, someone who shows up, 273 00:19:17,800 --> 00:19:21,120 Speaker 4: who cares deeply, who lives their legacy every day. We'll 274 00:19:21,160 --> 00:19:21,920 Speaker 4: be back in a moment. 275 00:19:31,560 --> 00:19:33,119 Speaker 5: Now, back to My Legacy. 276 00:19:33,480 --> 00:19:36,960 Speaker 6: Reilly, which which of your projects has had the greatest 277 00:19:37,000 --> 00:19:42,800 Speaker 6: impact on your personal growth and perspective as an artist. 278 00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:49,360 Speaker 2: There's not one, but I will say there's a trilogy. 279 00:19:50,040 --> 00:19:54,760 Speaker 1: The first is Tony Kushner's Angels in America, which do 280 00:19:54,840 --> 00:19:55,320 Speaker 1: you know that. 281 00:19:55,240 --> 00:19:57,760 Speaker 5: Piece of course, mm hmm. 282 00:19:58,640 --> 00:19:59,680 Speaker 2: So that was the first time. 283 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:03,000 Speaker 1: You know, Jeffrey Wright was the original belize in that 284 00:20:03,119 --> 00:20:04,840 Speaker 1: back in ninety four, and I went to see that 285 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:09,200 Speaker 1: on Broadway by myself, and that was a transformative moment 286 00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:13,760 Speaker 1: because I didn't understand what I was missing, you know, 287 00:20:13,960 --> 00:20:18,480 Speaker 1: speaking of representation again, you know, I didn't know that 288 00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:24,600 Speaker 1: I was missing seeing a black queer character who was 289 00:20:24,640 --> 00:20:27,479 Speaker 1: not the butt of the joke, who was not the 290 00:20:27,480 --> 00:20:35,360 Speaker 1: one to be reviled or murdered, but who was the 291 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:45,240 Speaker 1: moral depth and heart of this piece that was very 292 00:20:45,320 --> 00:20:49,800 Speaker 1: dark and very heavy and very political, and you know, 293 00:20:49,880 --> 00:20:51,960 Speaker 1: with a bunch of white people swirling around him, he 294 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:55,919 Speaker 1: was the one that held it all together emotionally and spiritually. 295 00:20:56,000 --> 00:21:00,639 Speaker 1: And so that changed everything because up in so then 296 00:21:00,880 --> 00:21:04,720 Speaker 1: my trajectory was not what I wanted it to be. 297 00:21:05,800 --> 00:21:11,400 Speaker 1: And then Kinky Boots, which was the original dream coming true, 298 00:21:12,840 --> 00:21:18,639 Speaker 1: you know, the creation of an iconic character in the canon. 299 00:21:18,359 --> 00:21:25,879 Speaker 2: Of the Broadway musical that was me, that was developed. 300 00:21:25,359 --> 00:21:29,080 Speaker 1: And written around my skill set that I won the 301 00:21:29,119 --> 00:21:29,960 Speaker 1: Tony and Grammy for. 302 00:21:30,160 --> 00:21:32,040 Speaker 2: That was you know, and inside of that. 303 00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:37,000 Speaker 1: You know, my character, who's a drag queen, drag artist, 304 00:21:38,920 --> 00:21:42,680 Speaker 1: you know, has a very not great relationship with his father, 305 00:21:44,240 --> 00:21:52,280 Speaker 1: and he actively forgives him in the story. And my 306 00:21:52,400 --> 00:21:57,720 Speaker 1: relationship with both of my fathers was tenuous at best, 307 00:22:00,560 --> 00:22:04,719 Speaker 1: and I had a lot of forgiving to do. And 308 00:22:04,800 --> 00:22:12,800 Speaker 1: so the act of forgiving, even a fictional character eight 309 00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:17,399 Speaker 1: shows a week for three years, is powerful because our 310 00:22:17,440 --> 00:22:20,800 Speaker 1: bodies actually don't know the difference. That's the hard part 311 00:22:20,840 --> 00:22:23,360 Speaker 1: about being an actor and a performer. Our bodies don't 312 00:22:23,359 --> 00:22:26,200 Speaker 1: know the difference when we're faking it, but our bodies, 313 00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:28,399 Speaker 1: in our nervous system still thinks it's the same, and 314 00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:31,480 Speaker 1: we have to do the work to sort of untangle 315 00:22:31,640 --> 00:22:34,879 Speaker 1: that emotionally and spiritually for ourselves. 316 00:22:35,800 --> 00:22:37,360 Speaker 2: The third piece is pose. 317 00:22:39,960 --> 00:22:45,000 Speaker 1: Because the character of Pray tell the community that it's 318 00:22:45,040 --> 00:22:48,040 Speaker 1: dealing with the timeframe that it exists in. 319 00:22:48,200 --> 00:22:49,680 Speaker 2: All of those things. 320 00:22:51,840 --> 00:22:56,879 Speaker 1: Are part of what it feels like as an artist 321 00:22:56,920 --> 00:23:01,600 Speaker 1: to be in the center of your purpose, calling and ministry. 322 00:23:02,720 --> 00:23:10,480 Speaker 1: Those three pieces were a culmination of really really hard 323 00:23:10,640 --> 00:23:15,680 Speaker 1: and focused work and choices that I had made for 324 00:23:15,720 --> 00:23:19,080 Speaker 1: two decades, you know, to get there. 325 00:23:23,119 --> 00:23:24,840 Speaker 2: You know, I walked away from the status quo. 326 00:23:28,240 --> 00:23:32,080 Speaker 1: I took the road less traveled because I knew that 327 00:23:32,920 --> 00:23:35,040 Speaker 1: if I was going to continue down the trajectory that 328 00:23:35,080 --> 00:23:36,000 Speaker 1: I was on, I would. 329 00:23:35,880 --> 00:23:36,560 Speaker 2: Never be happy. 330 00:23:36,920 --> 00:23:39,680 Speaker 5: And it's so interesting because with that comes a lot 331 00:23:39,680 --> 00:23:42,560 Speaker 5: of I mean there, you know, there's a reason why 332 00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:46,399 Speaker 5: the road less traveled can be lonely sometime. So you know, 333 00:23:46,600 --> 00:23:48,600 Speaker 5: from the end, it seems like, oh, this is, you know, 334 00:23:48,720 --> 00:23:51,520 Speaker 5: such a it's a lot of celebrations, but what people 335 00:23:51,520 --> 00:23:55,639 Speaker 5: don't really see and understand is all the sacrifices. I 336 00:23:55,680 --> 00:23:59,280 Speaker 5: think that goals into that not only when you're doing it, 337 00:23:59,320 --> 00:24:02,240 Speaker 5: but I'm sure you know even now. And one of 338 00:24:02,280 --> 00:24:06,040 Speaker 5: the things that I've been so curious about is that 339 00:24:06,080 --> 00:24:08,679 Speaker 5: you've been a shining beacon for so many young people 340 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:14,360 Speaker 5: struggling right to embrace who they are. But being one 341 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:17,720 Speaker 5: of the first black queer men to live, I mean 342 00:24:17,880 --> 00:24:22,439 Speaker 5: just so boldly and particularly in the spotlight, I know 343 00:24:22,520 --> 00:24:25,919 Speaker 5: it comes with intense pressure. All we know about the 344 00:24:25,920 --> 00:24:28,879 Speaker 5: pressure that people don't see. Can you can you just 345 00:24:28,920 --> 00:24:34,480 Speaker 5: share an experience or what that has been like for you. 346 00:24:34,920 --> 00:24:36,560 Speaker 2: I want to tell the truth, yep. 347 00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:41,840 Speaker 1: And I've been trying to find ways to tell my 348 00:24:42,040 --> 00:24:46,640 Speaker 1: truth with an eye towards the compassionate and the positive. 349 00:24:47,240 --> 00:24:53,320 Speaker 1: You know, the most difficult thing for me is being 350 00:24:53,320 --> 00:24:57,840 Speaker 1: put out by your own You know, I'm already black, 351 00:25:00,320 --> 00:25:05,040 Speaker 1: I'm a man, I'm black first. But for some reason, 352 00:25:05,720 --> 00:25:09,800 Speaker 1: inside of this queer conversation, this queerness conversation, in this 353 00:25:09,960 --> 00:25:15,280 Speaker 1: intersection with the black community, it. 354 00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:17,240 Speaker 2: Says, if queerness. 355 00:25:20,680 --> 00:25:25,320 Speaker 1: Doesn't exist, it is a very we have a very 356 00:25:25,359 --> 00:25:30,600 Speaker 1: homophobic community, and we've grown, and I want to say 357 00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:35,680 Speaker 1: that too, we've grown. There has been movement, and I'm 358 00:25:35,680 --> 00:25:38,080 Speaker 1: grateful for that because I've seen it, because I'm inside 359 00:25:38,080 --> 00:25:39,800 Speaker 1: of it, so I've seen it and. 360 00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:40,800 Speaker 2: I am grateful for that. 361 00:25:42,720 --> 00:25:45,600 Speaker 1: But I find that that is the hardest thing for 362 00:25:45,720 --> 00:25:53,520 Speaker 1: me on a consistent basis, even with the growth, I'm 363 00:25:53,640 --> 00:26:00,679 Speaker 1: hit in the face with it at times when I've 364 00:26:00,760 --> 00:26:06,960 Speaker 1: let my guard down. Nobody's perfect, nobody does everything right. 365 00:26:08,480 --> 00:26:11,600 Speaker 1: You know, we're not going to agree with everybody on everything. 366 00:26:11,840 --> 00:26:15,080 Speaker 1: But for me, I've been in this long enough to 367 00:26:15,200 --> 00:26:18,040 Speaker 1: know what the motivation is for real, and the motivation 368 00:26:18,520 --> 00:26:26,280 Speaker 1: is that I am a black faggot. 369 00:26:27,400 --> 00:26:29,560 Speaker 2: And I use the word on purpose. 370 00:26:30,640 --> 00:26:34,600 Speaker 1: Because that's how violent these responses are to me simply 371 00:26:34,640 --> 00:26:40,159 Speaker 1: being myself. Right, I'm in a sparkly caftan on the 372 00:26:40,160 --> 00:26:48,520 Speaker 1: front row. I'm embarrassing to the black community, not everybody. 373 00:26:48,640 --> 00:26:56,520 Speaker 1: Let me be clear, how dare I have the audacity 374 00:26:57,359 --> 00:27:04,199 Speaker 1: to be on the front row, out loud, proud in address. 375 00:27:05,760 --> 00:27:06,520 Speaker 2: How dare I? 376 00:27:06,960 --> 00:27:10,119 Speaker 5: Is it more anger or hurt? I don't know, No 377 00:27:10,320 --> 00:27:13,800 Speaker 5: for you, like when you yes for you, because yeah, yeah, 378 00:27:13,880 --> 00:27:14,440 Speaker 5: it's both. 379 00:27:15,800 --> 00:27:18,960 Speaker 1: It's all of the above, you know, because I'm out 380 00:27:19,000 --> 00:27:20,320 Speaker 1: here trying to help everybody. 381 00:27:22,200 --> 00:27:23,439 Speaker 2: I'm black first, y'all. 382 00:27:24,080 --> 00:27:28,600 Speaker 1: Whether y'all want to acknowledge that or not, people see 383 00:27:28,640 --> 00:27:31,760 Speaker 1: me as black first babies, you know, even with the 384 00:27:31,840 --> 00:27:34,080 Speaker 1: queer community. I've had to start going to things and 385 00:27:34,119 --> 00:27:38,840 Speaker 1: being like, y'all know, I'm black first, though, right, I 386 00:27:38,960 --> 00:27:42,400 Speaker 1: stand at this intersection, but I'm black first, and clearly. 387 00:27:42,080 --> 00:27:44,240 Speaker 2: I have to remind you all of that. So I'm 388 00:27:44,240 --> 00:27:44,880 Speaker 2: gonna start. 389 00:27:44,720 --> 00:27:48,240 Speaker 5: Reminding y'all, well, Mary Martha is a black woman, because 390 00:27:48,280 --> 00:27:50,399 Speaker 5: that's you know, we talk about that a lot, you know, 391 00:27:50,800 --> 00:27:53,600 Speaker 5: you know, being black and being a woman and kind 392 00:27:53,600 --> 00:27:59,600 Speaker 5: of all that that that that that brings. Yes, yeah, 393 00:27:59,680 --> 00:27:59,960 Speaker 5: all of it. 394 00:28:00,640 --> 00:28:05,680 Speaker 7: I'm black first, woman second, and people, but people put 395 00:28:05,680 --> 00:28:08,639 Speaker 7: it together black woman and that that has its own, 396 00:28:09,119 --> 00:28:09,919 Speaker 7: its own. 397 00:28:11,560 --> 00:28:12,159 Speaker 2: Context. 398 00:28:12,400 --> 00:28:16,080 Speaker 7: For some people, it's not. It's not separate. But I'm 399 00:28:16,119 --> 00:28:17,760 Speaker 7: at a lot of intersections myself. 400 00:28:18,920 --> 00:28:20,399 Speaker 4: Mary Martha, Can I ask you a question? And I 401 00:28:20,440 --> 00:28:22,560 Speaker 4: asked this gingerly and let me acknowledge the fact that 402 00:28:22,960 --> 00:28:24,760 Speaker 4: I'm not black, and so I asked this seeking to 403 00:28:24,800 --> 00:28:28,960 Speaker 4: listen and learn. You have witnessed your brother go through 404 00:28:29,440 --> 00:28:34,280 Speaker 4: challenges but also be a hero for so many in 405 00:28:34,560 --> 00:28:37,399 Speaker 4: black community, but just in the community large. When when 406 00:28:37,800 --> 00:28:42,080 Speaker 4: you look at him, you have seen him at the 407 00:28:42,120 --> 00:28:44,320 Speaker 4: most challenged points of his life, and you've seen in 408 00:28:44,320 --> 00:28:46,920 Speaker 4: the most extraordinary points of his life. What are you 409 00:28:47,080 --> 00:28:50,840 Speaker 4: most proud of? As his sister who knows him on 410 00:28:50,920 --> 00:28:53,760 Speaker 4: an intimate and a personal level in a way that 411 00:28:53,800 --> 00:28:57,320 Speaker 4: we never will. But you have seen the struggles, and 412 00:28:57,360 --> 00:28:58,320 Speaker 4: you've seen the triumphs. 413 00:28:58,360 --> 00:29:02,000 Speaker 7: Yes, well, the high the highs, and this business can 414 00:29:02,040 --> 00:29:06,200 Speaker 7: be high and the lows can be really low. And 415 00:29:06,440 --> 00:29:09,600 Speaker 7: what I'm most proud of is how he continues to 416 00:29:09,640 --> 00:29:11,800 Speaker 7: get up every day and to show up. 417 00:29:11,720 --> 00:29:12,840 Speaker 2: For his life. 418 00:29:12,960 --> 00:29:19,600 Speaker 7: That's what I'm most proud of because that is something 419 00:29:19,640 --> 00:29:22,800 Speaker 7: that I strive for. I can look to him and 420 00:29:22,840 --> 00:29:26,200 Speaker 7: I say, he gets up every day and he is 421 00:29:26,240 --> 00:29:29,320 Speaker 7: showing up for his life. I too can get up 422 00:29:29,360 --> 00:29:32,800 Speaker 7: every day and show up for my life. It doesn't 423 00:29:32,840 --> 00:29:36,960 Speaker 7: matter what people say, even though you know you're human 424 00:29:37,080 --> 00:29:40,760 Speaker 7: and so yes, sometimes the things that people that people 425 00:29:40,800 --> 00:29:45,040 Speaker 7: may say or miscategorize you as of course, that's going 426 00:29:45,120 --> 00:29:49,480 Speaker 7: to bother you. But he keeps getting up and moving 427 00:29:49,520 --> 00:29:51,840 Speaker 7: through it. And that's what's very inspiring. 428 00:29:52,320 --> 00:29:54,440 Speaker 5: Did that kind of help you when you were talking 429 00:29:54,440 --> 00:29:59,640 Speaker 5: about having brain surgery? And oh yeah, like it was 430 00:29:59,640 --> 00:30:01,400 Speaker 5: that also something that helped you. 431 00:30:03,240 --> 00:30:03,880 Speaker 4: Get in through that? 432 00:30:03,920 --> 00:30:09,760 Speaker 7: Absolutely absolutely. And that and our mother, our mom was 433 00:30:09,760 --> 00:30:14,320 Speaker 7: born with a neurological condition very similar to cerebral palsy, 434 00:30:14,840 --> 00:30:17,680 Speaker 7: and she got up every day and showed up for 435 00:30:17,720 --> 00:30:20,960 Speaker 7: her life. And so that was also the blueprint for 436 00:30:21,160 --> 00:30:23,440 Speaker 7: the both of us so that we can continue to 437 00:30:24,800 --> 00:30:26,080 Speaker 7: be the people that we are today. 438 00:30:26,720 --> 00:30:32,440 Speaker 6: Billy, your life's work has been about creating change through art. 439 00:30:32,600 --> 00:30:36,640 Speaker 6: What's one piece of advice you'd give someone looking to 440 00:30:36,680 --> 00:30:38,480 Speaker 6: make a difference in their own unique way. 441 00:30:39,080 --> 00:30:41,080 Speaker 2: My advice would be that you have to. 442 00:30:43,680 --> 00:30:50,640 Speaker 1: Understand who you are, understand what the calling and the 443 00:30:50,680 --> 00:30:55,720 Speaker 1: purpose is, and just get up and put one foot 444 00:30:55,720 --> 00:30:57,080 Speaker 1: in front of the other and do it. Every day, 445 00:30:57,240 --> 00:31:00,320 Speaker 1: tell the truth, you know, and like I said, the 446 00:31:00,320 --> 00:31:04,240 Speaker 1: truth is not always easy. You know, as we've seen 447 00:31:05,000 --> 00:31:09,720 Speaker 1: over the last decade, the truth is under attack. You know, 448 00:31:09,920 --> 00:31:11,400 Speaker 1: a lot of people don't want to hear the truth. 449 00:31:11,480 --> 00:31:14,040 Speaker 1: A lot of people don't want the truth because the 450 00:31:14,080 --> 00:31:20,240 Speaker 1: truth can be horrifying sometimes and the truth will set 451 00:31:20,280 --> 00:31:23,360 Speaker 1: you for you and a lot of people don't want 452 00:31:23,400 --> 00:31:26,280 Speaker 1: to be set free. 453 00:31:25,200 --> 00:31:28,480 Speaker 2: They say they do, but they don't want it. 454 00:31:30,960 --> 00:31:36,280 Speaker 1: That was what was so interesting about trauma therapy, you know, 455 00:31:36,440 --> 00:31:39,760 Speaker 1: because trauma therapy is about the truth and I want 456 00:31:39,800 --> 00:31:41,680 Speaker 1: to and I want to be set free. 457 00:31:42,040 --> 00:31:44,640 Speaker 2: And then you start the process and you're. 458 00:31:44,520 --> 00:31:49,120 Speaker 5: Like, oh, there's some days you don't want to go back. 459 00:31:49,960 --> 00:31:52,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, in some days that the truth is not you know, 460 00:31:52,840 --> 00:31:56,000 Speaker 1: not today, not today. 461 00:31:56,880 --> 00:32:00,520 Speaker 4: To Billy and to Mary Martha, thank you for bringing 462 00:32:00,600 --> 00:32:02,720 Speaker 4: just this beautiful energy between the two of you. For 463 00:32:02,720 --> 00:32:04,480 Speaker 4: those who are listening, I love how often you were 464 00:32:04,640 --> 00:32:08,040 Speaker 4: holding each other's hands and leaning into each other's shoulders 465 00:32:08,160 --> 00:32:10,960 Speaker 4: and just being there as siblings in this incredible way. 466 00:32:11,840 --> 00:32:14,120 Speaker 4: And you know, through this episode, I love how much 467 00:32:14,160 --> 00:32:17,080 Speaker 4: you've spoken about that unwavering family support that you've provided 468 00:32:17,120 --> 00:32:19,800 Speaker 4: for each other. The you know, seeing you get teared 469 00:32:19,840 --> 00:32:22,000 Speaker 4: up and you're talking about your mother, you know, the 470 00:32:22,040 --> 00:32:24,560 Speaker 4: courage to break barriers that she did in her own life. 471 00:32:24,600 --> 00:32:27,360 Speaker 4: And I'm left with these three you know reflections. One 472 00:32:27,480 --> 00:32:30,440 Speaker 4: this importance of self compassion. I love Billy how you 473 00:32:30,480 --> 00:32:34,720 Speaker 4: talked about setting boundaries, about setting boundaries relationship, setting boundaries 474 00:32:34,720 --> 00:32:37,440 Speaker 4: for yourself, and it starts with self putting the oxygen 475 00:32:37,480 --> 00:32:40,840 Speaker 4: mask on first. Second, I love that you talked about 476 00:32:40,960 --> 00:32:47,040 Speaker 4: forgiveness and even finding ways to forgive individuals in unconventional ways, 477 00:32:47,080 --> 00:32:48,880 Speaker 4: as you said, the body doesn't know the difference when 478 00:32:48,920 --> 00:32:52,680 Speaker 4: you were there eight times a week for multiple years 479 00:32:52,880 --> 00:32:55,880 Speaker 4: forgiving as an actor, but forgiving the father figure and 480 00:32:55,960 --> 00:32:58,800 Speaker 4: what that meant for you and to be free in 481 00:32:58,840 --> 00:33:01,440 Speaker 4: that way. But I got to say, the single greatest 482 00:33:01,440 --> 00:33:06,440 Speaker 4: takeaway was authenticity, Like just you've lived your life with authenticity. 483 00:33:06,520 --> 00:33:08,800 Speaker 4: I love when you said you don't mind failing as 484 00:33:08,800 --> 00:33:11,600 Speaker 4: long as you're not failing as somebody else. And I 485 00:33:11,720 --> 00:33:15,520 Speaker 4: love the line You've got to choose yourself, like my god, 486 00:33:15,640 --> 00:33:19,040 Speaker 4: I wish everyone and it doesn't matter what your artist 487 00:33:19,200 --> 00:33:22,280 Speaker 4: passion purpose like, just got to choose yourself whatever it 488 00:33:22,360 --> 00:33:25,360 Speaker 4: ends up being. And so I love that you took 489 00:33:25,400 --> 00:33:27,760 Speaker 4: time to share that with us, but mostly I love 490 00:33:27,800 --> 00:33:30,600 Speaker 4: that you lived it. You proved it through your life 491 00:33:30,640 --> 00:33:33,880 Speaker 4: like that's how you've living your legacy, and in this 492 00:33:33,960 --> 00:33:36,680 Speaker 4: beautiful conversation, the two of you together showing us this 493 00:33:36,760 --> 00:33:40,800 Speaker 4: path to a more fulfilled life. We are grateful to 494 00:33:40,920 --> 00:33:41,440 Speaker 4: both of you. 495 00:33:42,600 --> 00:33:44,880 Speaker 2: We're grateful to you. Thank you, thank you. 496 00:33:46,520 --> 00:33:49,120 Speaker 3: Thanks for joining us for this best of episode of 497 00:33:49,120 --> 00:33:52,760 Speaker 3: My Legacy with Billy Porter and Mary Martha Ford. A 498 00:33:52,880 --> 00:33:55,840 Speaker 3: powerful way to kick off Pride Month. If you want 499 00:33:55,880 --> 00:33:58,800 Speaker 3: to hear the full conversation, head to the My Legacy 500 00:33:58,840 --> 00:34:02,640 Speaker 3: playlist wherever you get your podcasts, and stay tuned. We'll 501 00:34:02,680 --> 00:34:05,880 Speaker 3: be sharing more highlights from our favorite episodes every Tuesday 502 00:34:06,040 --> 00:34:09,200 Speaker 3: through the end of July. Don't forget to subscribe so 503 00:34:09,320 --> 00:34:11,319 Speaker 3: you never miss an episode.