1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:04,920 Speaker 1: Hey, guys, welcome to I've never said this before with 2 00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:06,560 Speaker 1: me Tammy Diderio. 3 00:00:07,280 --> 00:00:09,120 Speaker 2: Today's guest is full. 4 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:11,240 Speaker 1: Of heart and full of soul, which is my favorite 5 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:13,840 Speaker 1: kind of person to chat with because the conversation is 6 00:00:13,920 --> 00:00:16,000 Speaker 1: so real and meaningful and personal. 7 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:17,720 Speaker 2: Oh, I loved it so much. 8 00:00:18,040 --> 00:00:22,040 Speaker 1: Powerhouse rapper and actress Breezy joins me today and man, 9 00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:23,560 Speaker 1: we cover it all. 10 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:24,240 Speaker 3: So. 11 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:26,760 Speaker 2: Breezy rose to worldwide. 12 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:29,880 Speaker 1: Fame playing Freeda on the hit Fox drama Empire, working 13 00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:33,760 Speaker 1: alongside the brilliant Taraji p Henson and Terrence Howard. 14 00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:37,919 Speaker 2: This show was so good. Fast forward to today. 15 00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:41,559 Speaker 1: She currently stars in the CW hit series All American, 16 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:43,360 Speaker 1: which is in its sixth season. 17 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:43,960 Speaker 2: Now. 18 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:47,440 Speaker 1: The one hundredth episode of All American airs of this summer, 19 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:50,600 Speaker 1: which is an incredible milestone in the TV and film space, 20 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:54,680 Speaker 1: and that just shows the staying power that this series has. 21 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:58,360 Speaker 1: It means so much to the fandom. From the streets 22 00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:02,080 Speaker 1: of Philadelphia to the spot light of Hollywood, Freezy has 23 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:05,520 Speaker 1: easily one of the most interesting stories that I've come across. 24 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:08,560 Speaker 1: She started as a barber, inheriting the craft from her 25 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:12,880 Speaker 1: father and her grandfather before a chance encounter with a 26 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:16,600 Speaker 1: former client that led her to the opportunity of a lifetime. 27 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:19,199 Speaker 1: I love her story because it just goes to show 28 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:21,840 Speaker 1: that if you have the faith, the dots in your 29 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:24,600 Speaker 1: life will connect in the ways that they are meant to. 30 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:28,440 Speaker 1: So let's see if we can get Breezy to say 31 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 1: something that she has never said before. 32 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:38,120 Speaker 2: Freezy, how you doing, my friend? It's so good to 33 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:38,520 Speaker 2: see you. 34 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:43,840 Speaker 3: I'm good. I'm doing well. Enjoying Paris, enjoying the weather, 35 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:48,400 Speaker 3: the air, traffic, the people, not really being able to 36 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:51,760 Speaker 3: communicate properly with them, but you know, making it. 37 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 2: That's the best. 38 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:55,480 Speaker 1: I like when you're kind of forced outside your comfort zone, right, 39 00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:56,720 Speaker 1: it teaches you a thing or two. 40 00:01:57,520 --> 00:01:59,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, I was like, you get to a place that 41 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:02,560 Speaker 3: you've never been. I've never been to Paris, and you realize, like, 42 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:05,400 Speaker 3: I don't know anything. I don't know I don't know 43 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 3: which way to go, I don't know what to eat, 44 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:09,359 Speaker 3: I don't know how to ask for what I want eat. 45 00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:10,799 Speaker 3: I mean, I don't speak the language. 46 00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:13,440 Speaker 1: There's something refreshing about that in this day and age. 47 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:16,520 Speaker 1: So I love to get outside our comfort zones, as 48 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:18,880 Speaker 1: I like to say. But Breezy, it's such a pleasure 49 00:02:18,919 --> 00:02:21,040 Speaker 1: hanging out with you today. I'm a big fan of 50 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:23,320 Speaker 1: your work. I love everything you stand for. I love 51 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:25,919 Speaker 1: your story. It's so interesting in how you got from 52 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:29,160 Speaker 1: essentially a point A to where you are today. But 53 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:30,800 Speaker 1: I want to bring it back for a minute because 54 00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:34,519 Speaker 1: something that I connect with you on is my husband's 55 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:38,720 Speaker 1: grandfather was a barber, and wow, some of his best 56 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:42,200 Speaker 1: experiences with his grandfather were growing up and watching him 57 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:46,200 Speaker 1: cut people's hair. And it's such a dear thing for him. 58 00:02:46,320 --> 00:02:48,519 Speaker 1: And I know that that's your background. And you started 59 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:52,080 Speaker 1: off doing on Philadelphia and then Atlanta. So before we 60 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:54,400 Speaker 1: dive into how you got to where you are today, 61 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:57,280 Speaker 1: what about that craftsmanship did you love? 62 00:02:57,400 --> 00:02:58,919 Speaker 2: Like why did you say? Oh, man, I want to 63 00:02:58,960 --> 00:02:59,720 Speaker 2: get involved in that. 64 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:04,440 Speaker 3: It was actually a skill that came natural. And you know, 65 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:06,600 Speaker 3: I want to say it was just because of the 66 00:03:06,680 --> 00:03:08,880 Speaker 3: many people in my family who did it before me. 67 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:13,120 Speaker 3: Somehow I feel like that thing happens, you know, But 68 00:03:13,520 --> 00:03:17,960 Speaker 3: for me, it was just the people and being you know, 69 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:21,720 Speaker 3: of service and being personable, and you know, it's like 70 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:25,519 Speaker 3: it's such an important job. It's almost like a therapist, 71 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:27,840 Speaker 3: you know what I mean, Like this person comes in 72 00:03:27,919 --> 00:03:31,200 Speaker 3: and they trust you with their look. I mean, this 73 00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:35,400 Speaker 3: is they leave out feeling better than they came or worse, 74 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:37,840 Speaker 3: you know, and that kind of it's like a weight 75 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:39,800 Speaker 3: that kind of sits on your shoulders. So to be 76 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:44,760 Speaker 3: able to have clients that were able to every time 77 00:03:45,080 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 3: leave me feeling better than they came was like, I 78 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:50,480 Speaker 3: just got so much joy from that and also just 79 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:53,720 Speaker 3: like making people look good, you know, And it was fun. 80 00:03:53,720 --> 00:03:56,200 Speaker 3: And I've always been artistic and I love to draw 81 00:03:56,400 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 3: and things like that, so to cut hair, it's like 82 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:02,720 Speaker 3: it's an art to me, you know, So it was 83 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:06,320 Speaker 3: always fun. Everybody has different size shaped heads and different 84 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:08,920 Speaker 3: types of hair and people want different things, you know, 85 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:11,760 Speaker 3: so it was never it never got old for me, 86 00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 3: Like it was always exciting every time. You know, different 87 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:17,160 Speaker 3: personalities coming in the shop every day, and not just 88 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:18,960 Speaker 3: the people that are coming to me, but you know 89 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:22,479 Speaker 3: to barbershops that people everywhere, you know. So it was 90 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:25,680 Speaker 3: just an experience a lot of personalities, a lot of 91 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:30,000 Speaker 3: people that came from different walks of life, you know, backgrounds, 92 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:33,440 Speaker 3: and you know, everybody obviously in any type of salon 93 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 3: just have different opinions, you know what I mean. So 94 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:38,680 Speaker 3: that was that was fun. It was interesting. 95 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:41,840 Speaker 1: Do you walk around now judging people's hair? Are you like, ooh, 96 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:43,240 Speaker 1: bad cut. I could have done that? 97 00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:48,120 Speaker 3: Absolutely? Absolutely, And then I also see people where I'm like, man, 98 00:04:48,279 --> 00:04:50,560 Speaker 3: like I would love to cut his hair. You know, 99 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:53,080 Speaker 3: there is a such thing as having like a great 100 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:57,279 Speaker 3: head of hair. You know that's like worth cutting, you know. 101 00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 3: So yeah, on both sides absolutely, like look at people 102 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:02,599 Speaker 3: and say, you know what, I would love to cut 103 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:05,560 Speaker 3: their hair, or like, dag, who did that? You know 104 00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:08,279 Speaker 3: what I'm saying, Yeah, it happens all the time. Can't 105 00:05:08,279 --> 00:05:08,600 Speaker 3: help it. 106 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:11,640 Speaker 1: That's so funny. Yeah, I would imagine you once you 107 00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:13,359 Speaker 1: have the eye for that and you have the skill 108 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:15,560 Speaker 1: for it, you can't really turn that off, you know, 109 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:17,000 Speaker 1: No I can't. 110 00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:20,360 Speaker 3: And it's like probably like the first thing I look at, 111 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:23,640 Speaker 3: it's like the first thing I noticed, Like if it's 112 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:27,000 Speaker 3: a good cut, I'm like, wow, that fade is amazing, 113 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:29,440 Speaker 3: Like whoever did that? Or I'm like, wow, they just 114 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:31,520 Speaker 3: took off way too much hair because you can always 115 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:34,440 Speaker 3: tell by how much grows back. You're like, dang, they 116 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:36,200 Speaker 3: took off way too much, you know. So I'm always 117 00:05:36,279 --> 00:05:37,839 Speaker 3: it's like I said, it's like the first thing I 118 00:05:37,920 --> 00:05:40,240 Speaker 3: noticed when I especially when I see men, first thing 119 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:40,720 Speaker 3: I look at. 120 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:42,840 Speaker 2: Oh God, no pressure, I hope I'm having a good 121 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 2: hair day to day. 122 00:05:43,839 --> 00:05:47,680 Speaker 3: No, you're good. Here's beautiful. You're beautiful. 123 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:49,640 Speaker 2: You're fine, Thank you, thank you. 124 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:52,480 Speaker 1: Well, it's no surprise you're so creative and artistic in 125 00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:55,320 Speaker 1: that space given what you do, you know, for your 126 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:58,400 Speaker 1: career with rapping and with acting and what I love 127 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:01,600 Speaker 1: is you know, you started with being a barber, and 128 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:04,760 Speaker 1: that led you to cut some pretty influential people's hair, right, 129 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:07,240 Speaker 1: Like did I see Acon and Chris Brown? 130 00:06:07,279 --> 00:06:08,760 Speaker 2: Were they some of the folks you ended up cutting 131 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:09,360 Speaker 2: once you got to. 132 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:13,400 Speaker 3: Up Chris Brown? No, I've never cut him, Luducris was 133 00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:19,600 Speaker 3: some cut a few actors here and there, Woodie McClain. Yeah, 134 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:21,680 Speaker 3: but that was all like that was all before, Like 135 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:24,719 Speaker 3: it was it was early on. You know, I was 136 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:27,600 Speaker 3: I was young. I was like late teens, early twenties. 137 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:31,760 Speaker 1: Oh subtle flat, So my late teens I was cutting 138 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:32,800 Speaker 1: these superstars hair. 139 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:35,480 Speaker 3: You know what. I just happened to be in an 140 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:40,200 Speaker 3: area in Atlanta where you know, it's almost like working 141 00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:44,200 Speaker 3: in a barbershop, maybe on Hollywood Boulevard or in West Hollywood, 142 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:46,440 Speaker 3: Like it's one place that when you come to LA 143 00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:51,400 Speaker 3: you're going to experience one, two or both of those places, 144 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:53,840 Speaker 3: you know what I mean, Like having a barbershop dead 145 00:06:53,839 --> 00:06:56,279 Speaker 3: in the Middle West Hollywood. You're going to see some people, 146 00:06:56,600 --> 00:06:58,440 Speaker 3: you know what I mean, You're gonna meet independent on 147 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:01,200 Speaker 3: your skill level, you may get a chance to interact 148 00:07:01,240 --> 00:07:03,560 Speaker 3: with those people. And I just happened too. So it 149 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:04,119 Speaker 3: was nice. 150 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:09,080 Speaker 2: Well that's exactly what happened, right. You had you had a. 151 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:11,040 Speaker 1: Former client or a client who kind of presented you 152 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:14,440 Speaker 1: with this opportunity in the acting space, is that right. 153 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:17,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, he was a he was a client for a while. 154 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:20,600 Speaker 3: He was also a producer. He was already like kind 155 00:07:20,600 --> 00:07:24,760 Speaker 3: of navigating the world of Hollywood. I wasn't really like 156 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:27,680 Speaker 3: privy to it like that, you know, not not in 157 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:30,280 Speaker 3: great detail as I am now, But yeah, he was, 158 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:33,000 Speaker 3: and he just he he made a call to me 159 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:36,800 Speaker 3: and to see if I was interested because there was 160 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:40,400 Speaker 3: a role and something. It was about music, and I 161 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:42,360 Speaker 3: was just like I didn't really understand what he was saying, 162 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:44,520 Speaker 3: but I like did my best, and yeah, that's how 163 00:07:44,640 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 3: that's how it happened. Happened very quickly. But that was 164 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:49,480 Speaker 3: how it happened. It did start with a client of mine, 165 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:52,040 Speaker 3: which is interesting because you never know, like you just 166 00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:55,480 Speaker 3: never know who's going to be that bridge to get 167 00:07:55,520 --> 00:07:57,680 Speaker 3: you from point A to point B or like you 168 00:07:57,720 --> 00:07:59,360 Speaker 3: know where that's going to come from. 169 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:01,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, And I don't believe in accidents. I mean, I 170 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:03,880 Speaker 1: think everything's kind of lined up in your life for 171 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:06,720 Speaker 1: a reason. And it's so interesting that you started in 172 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:09,600 Speaker 1: this profession that you genuinely loved and it was so creative, 173 00:08:09,640 --> 00:08:12,080 Speaker 1: and you learn from people you love, and it naturally 174 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:14,280 Speaker 1: led you to something else that you love, and you know, 175 00:08:14,320 --> 00:08:16,520 Speaker 1: a whole career in the arts, and that first opportunity 176 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:19,239 Speaker 1: I'm referring to as Empire, which was at the time 177 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:23,520 Speaker 1: one of the hottest shows in the world. I remember 178 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:26,560 Speaker 1: religiously watching it week after week, back back before the 179 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:28,480 Speaker 1: days of streaming, you know, you'd wait every week. 180 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:31,560 Speaker 3: I was watching it before before it happened. I was 181 00:08:31,640 --> 00:08:33,600 Speaker 3: like what, because he asked me if I heard of it, 182 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:36,440 Speaker 3: and I was like, of course, everybody's heard of it, 183 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:39,120 Speaker 3: Like what you know, because we had TV hadn't seen 184 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:41,480 Speaker 3: nothing like that in a long time, and there was 185 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:43,800 Speaker 3: so many stars on that show. It was like, yeah, 186 00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:44,920 Speaker 3: everybody was tuned in. 187 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:47,079 Speaker 1: Yeah, I fell in love with Taraji. I'm like, oh 188 00:08:47,080 --> 00:08:49,880 Speaker 1: my god, who is this actress? She's so phenomenal and 189 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:53,160 Speaker 1: everything about the show I loved. But most people don't 190 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:56,840 Speaker 1: get their big break on this epically popular show. So 191 00:08:56,960 --> 00:08:59,600 Speaker 1: before you joined and once you started working, did you 192 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:01,840 Speaker 1: have any fear? Were you nervous? 193 00:09:01,840 --> 00:09:03,720 Speaker 2: Like? How did you just dive into all of that? 194 00:09:03,840 --> 00:09:05,400 Speaker 2: Because I can be a lot for somebody. 195 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:08,880 Speaker 3: Initially, you know, I was nervous, and I think it 196 00:09:08,920 --> 00:09:12,000 Speaker 3: was just because being in a room full of so 197 00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:17,240 Speaker 3: many well seasoned actors like Taraji, like Terrence, Chris Rock, 198 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:20,720 Speaker 3: Gabby Citabey, she had just came off of Precious, you know. 199 00:09:20,760 --> 00:09:23,960 Speaker 3: These people were like have done big things, and I 200 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:27,040 Speaker 3: was just kind of like, wow, like I've honestly, truly, 201 00:09:27,080 --> 00:09:29,240 Speaker 3: I've done a lot of things, but I've never done this. 202 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:31,319 Speaker 3: So what am I here to do? You know what 203 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:33,920 Speaker 3: I mean? But I was just it was definitely a 204 00:09:33,960 --> 00:09:36,760 Speaker 3: watch and learn type of environment for me. I was 205 00:09:36,880 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 3: learning as I went along, especially as far as the 206 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:42,680 Speaker 3: craft was concerned. Once I finally got the time, like 207 00:09:42,880 --> 00:09:47,400 Speaker 3: because filming was so immediate and the schedule was vigorous, 208 00:09:47,440 --> 00:09:49,559 Speaker 3: and it was just everything was back to back and 209 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:52,400 Speaker 3: I'm trying to figure that whole thing out. I eventually, 210 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:55,800 Speaker 3: you know, got into acting classes like let me understand 211 00:09:55,840 --> 00:09:58,560 Speaker 3: like the technical side of this, because I felt like 212 00:09:59,280 --> 00:10:03,640 Speaker 3: I came in to it just exposing my natural personality, 213 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:07,560 Speaker 3: you know, in lending that to the situation. But I 214 00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:10,560 Speaker 3: felt like I wanted to actually know what I was doing. 215 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:13,360 Speaker 3: But at first I was very nervous. You know, I 216 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:16,160 Speaker 3: was just kind of like, but you know, everybody made 217 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:20,719 Speaker 3: me so comfortable, and most importantly, the director and the 218 00:10:20,760 --> 00:10:23,360 Speaker 3: actors that I were working alongside, they made me feel 219 00:10:23,440 --> 00:10:25,480 Speaker 3: very comfortable. They didn't make me feel like I was 220 00:10:25,559 --> 00:10:25,920 Speaker 3: new year. 221 00:10:26,400 --> 00:10:28,840 Speaker 1: So that helped a lot, and a lot of people 222 00:10:28,840 --> 00:10:32,160 Speaker 1: in that situation would kind of let fear take over, 223 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:34,719 Speaker 1: and it can be very paralyzing. It could affect the 224 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:38,480 Speaker 1: quality of your work, and it could make you not 225 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:40,040 Speaker 1: want to go to work. But you hat to show 226 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:42,560 Speaker 1: up every day, learning lines, learning raps. I mean, there 227 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:45,640 Speaker 1: was so much you had to learn so quickly. Was 228 00:10:45,679 --> 00:10:47,720 Speaker 1: that an easy process for you? I know you've always 229 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:49,960 Speaker 1: written and done your wrapping, but being on a set 230 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:51,840 Speaker 1: with that pressure, like did you kind of pick it 231 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:52,640 Speaker 1: all up right away. 232 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:56,480 Speaker 3: I just was like, I'm here, I have to do it, 233 00:10:56,600 --> 00:10:59,599 Speaker 3: Like it would be more embarrassing to kind of overthink 234 00:10:59,640 --> 00:11:03,680 Speaker 3: it mess up than anything. To me, the music part 235 00:11:03,760 --> 00:11:07,120 Speaker 3: was easy because I did have the pleasure and privilege 236 00:11:07,160 --> 00:11:10,360 Speaker 3: of creating my own music for that character. So that 237 00:11:10,559 --> 00:11:13,120 Speaker 3: was already like in my mind, that was the part 238 00:11:13,160 --> 00:11:15,559 Speaker 3: of it that I was very fluent in, you know 239 00:11:15,600 --> 00:11:17,200 Speaker 3: what I mean. So I was like, oh, when it 240 00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:21,120 Speaker 3: comes to performing or you know, anything, creating the music, like, 241 00:11:21,160 --> 00:11:22,840 Speaker 3: I can do that with my eyes closed, you know. 242 00:11:22,920 --> 00:11:26,360 Speaker 3: It was more so doing the scenes and cannot actually 243 00:11:26,440 --> 00:11:29,439 Speaker 3: remember these lines and am I is it? How does 244 00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:31,600 Speaker 3: it look? Because when you're doing music, we can hear 245 00:11:31,640 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 3: it back and be like, oh that was a good 246 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:35,400 Speaker 3: or that wasn't good. Let me do another take. But 247 00:11:36,320 --> 00:11:39,200 Speaker 3: when you're acting, you don't get that pleasure. You know. 248 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:41,800 Speaker 3: It's kind of like you're at the director's discretion. So 249 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:43,959 Speaker 3: if they're like, do it again, you gotta do it again. 250 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:46,880 Speaker 3: If they're like, oh it was good, then you don't 251 00:11:46,880 --> 00:11:49,880 Speaker 3: get to do it again, whether you know it's good 252 00:11:49,960 --> 00:11:51,200 Speaker 3: or you know it wasn't, you know what I mean. 253 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:53,720 Speaker 3: So it was just it was different, But it didn't 254 00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:56,480 Speaker 3: take long for me to kind of get comfortable in 255 00:11:56,600 --> 00:11:59,280 Speaker 3: the performance of it, you know what I mean. I 256 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:02,280 Speaker 3: was still like concerned of what it would look like 257 00:12:02,320 --> 00:12:04,480 Speaker 3: because I mean, I had filmed I think the show 258 00:12:04,520 --> 00:12:09,200 Speaker 3: premiered in September. I had filmed the first episode in July, 259 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:12,680 Speaker 3: but I had not seen what I did until September. 260 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:16,160 Speaker 3: So I went all that time. And that's how TV works. 261 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:18,720 Speaker 3: You don't get to see it. You know, they're not 262 00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:21,160 Speaker 3: doing playback and here watch this. What do you think 263 00:12:21,320 --> 00:12:23,920 Speaker 3: is not happening? Like that? Everything's moving so fast. So 264 00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:26,680 Speaker 3: it was kind of like I was nervous, like for 265 00:12:26,760 --> 00:12:28,920 Speaker 3: the premiere, like I don't know how I did. I 266 00:12:28,960 --> 00:12:30,920 Speaker 3: don't even know what I look like, you know what 267 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:33,160 Speaker 3: I'm saying, because I go through this air makeup and 268 00:12:33,920 --> 00:12:35,880 Speaker 3: I'm wearing these clothes and this is what they want. 269 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:38,360 Speaker 3: You know, it's just like, Okay, I'm here. A little 270 00:12:38,360 --> 00:12:41,280 Speaker 3: bit of nervous is there, But you know, I quickly 271 00:12:41,360 --> 00:12:44,160 Speaker 3: got into it, quickly got into it. There was too 272 00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:48,600 Speaker 3: many like big names around me to like crumble in 273 00:12:48,640 --> 00:12:51,199 Speaker 3: that moment. That would have been embarrassing and I probably 274 00:12:51,240 --> 00:12:54,760 Speaker 3: wouldn't be here, you. 275 00:12:54,720 --> 00:12:56,640 Speaker 1: Know, There's something to be said too for your first 276 00:12:56,679 --> 00:12:59,640 Speaker 1: kind of major opportunity being on such a big scale, 277 00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:02,000 Speaker 1: because like you said, you don't really have time to 278 00:13:02,040 --> 00:13:02,680 Speaker 1: stop and think. 279 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:03,960 Speaker 2: You just say, I gotta do this. 280 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:06,480 Speaker 1: I'm gonna look like an idiot, so I better just 281 00:13:07,200 --> 00:13:09,920 Speaker 1: buckle down and do the best work I can. That's 282 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:11,840 Speaker 1: kind of been similar in my career. I've had big 283 00:13:11,880 --> 00:13:15,720 Speaker 1: opportunities presented as some of the first ones, and same thing. 284 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:17,960 Speaker 1: It's like, there's no time to worry about it. You 285 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:19,320 Speaker 1: just got to get to get out and do it. 286 00:13:19,360 --> 00:13:21,880 Speaker 1: But I'm even more impressed knowing that you were writing 287 00:13:21,920 --> 00:13:24,840 Speaker 1: your own wraps for that show too, because it's hard 288 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:27,720 Speaker 1: enough learning your lines and being a new actor on 289 00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:29,720 Speaker 1: a new series, and then you have to throw that in. 290 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:32,400 Speaker 1: Even though it's second nature for you, it's still a 291 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:33,200 Speaker 1: lot more work. 292 00:13:33,320 --> 00:13:36,360 Speaker 3: So that's yeah, that's balancing both of them absolutely, And 293 00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:39,920 Speaker 3: I would I would ask myself sometimes like how are 294 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:43,920 Speaker 3: you remembering all these lines? How are you able to 295 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:46,880 Speaker 3: do both? And I just like, I just at a 296 00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:50,280 Speaker 3: point I just stopped questioning myself. I'm like, the moment's here, 297 00:13:50,840 --> 00:13:53,440 Speaker 3: this is what you were called to do. You're here 298 00:13:53,480 --> 00:13:56,320 Speaker 3: to do it, you know. So I just I was thankful. 299 00:13:56,640 --> 00:13:58,920 Speaker 3: I was super grateful, and I just tried to like 300 00:13:59,040 --> 00:14:01,560 Speaker 3: focus and pay attend as much as I could because 301 00:14:01,600 --> 00:14:04,520 Speaker 3: I didn't, you know, my biggest fear had always been 302 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:08,520 Speaker 3: like being unprepared, you know. So to get pulled into 303 00:14:08,559 --> 00:14:12,960 Speaker 3: something that I actually hadn't done enough like you know, 304 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:16,400 Speaker 3: research or had enough knowledge of, to me was kind 305 00:14:16,440 --> 00:14:18,719 Speaker 3: of scary. It's like what it's like somebody handing your 306 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:20,800 Speaker 3: car telling you to change the engine, and you've never 307 00:14:20,840 --> 00:14:22,120 Speaker 3: worked on a car in your life, you know what 308 00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:24,960 Speaker 3: I mean. So I kind of just took everything in 309 00:14:25,040 --> 00:14:28,840 Speaker 3: stride and was like patient with myself too, because you know, 310 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:31,400 Speaker 3: I got to a point where I was a little 311 00:14:31,400 --> 00:14:34,240 Speaker 3: hard on myself and it was affecting how I showed 312 00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:36,640 Speaker 3: up at work. So I just like had to find 313 00:14:36,680 --> 00:14:39,040 Speaker 3: ways to let that go, like let it go. Be 314 00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:41,800 Speaker 3: present in the moment. The time is now, you got 315 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:44,200 Speaker 3: to do it. You were called to do it, Just 316 00:14:44,280 --> 00:14:45,320 Speaker 3: show up and do it. 317 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:47,800 Speaker 1: And I imagine when you start off, you're just kind 318 00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:50,720 Speaker 1: of taking it day by day. You're getting the work done, 319 00:14:50,720 --> 00:14:52,680 Speaker 1: You're looking at the next day of work. It's just 320 00:14:52,760 --> 00:14:55,000 Speaker 1: kind of this machine you're hoping you're doing Okay, you're 321 00:14:55,040 --> 00:14:57,000 Speaker 1: not seeing the work, so it's like, oh, man, I 322 00:14:57,000 --> 00:14:58,680 Speaker 1: hope I'm proud of of all of this when it 323 00:14:58,680 --> 00:15:01,000 Speaker 1: comes out. But do you remember was there a moment 324 00:15:01,080 --> 00:15:04,360 Speaker 1: for you on that set that you thought, Okay, you 325 00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:07,440 Speaker 1: know what, I've arrived. I know I'm doing my damn thing, 326 00:15:07,720 --> 00:15:10,840 Speaker 1: and I feel pretty good and I'm now I'm cruising. 327 00:15:11,960 --> 00:15:16,440 Speaker 3: So the role, initially just for context, was only supposed 328 00:15:16,520 --> 00:15:22,840 Speaker 3: to run throughout four episodes, right, So by the time, 329 00:15:23,760 --> 00:15:25,920 Speaker 3: you know, I felt like in the beginning, Okay, I'm 330 00:15:25,920 --> 00:15:27,760 Speaker 3: going to start here and this is where it stops, 331 00:15:27,880 --> 00:15:29,480 Speaker 3: you know what I mean, So like, let me make 332 00:15:29,520 --> 00:15:32,360 Speaker 3: the most of that. Before I knew it, I was 333 00:15:32,400 --> 00:15:36,800 Speaker 3: on like episode sixteen and I was like, oh, I'm here. 334 00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:39,240 Speaker 3: They keep writing more and more and more, and they 335 00:15:39,240 --> 00:15:41,200 Speaker 3: want me to do more and more and more. And 336 00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:47,200 Speaker 3: then they wanted Lee Daniels had created in that timeframe 337 00:15:47,520 --> 00:15:51,200 Speaker 3: the show Star, and they're like, they want you to 338 00:15:51,240 --> 00:15:53,160 Speaker 3: go on the show Star as well, and you need 339 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 3: to do this on that show. And I was like, 340 00:15:55,120 --> 00:15:57,960 Speaker 3: I obviously couldn't do it because of contractual reasons, but 341 00:15:58,920 --> 00:16:01,200 Speaker 3: I was just like, oh, this is it, and then 342 00:16:01,240 --> 00:16:04,120 Speaker 3: in the interer of that, I'm getting calls to do 343 00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:06,320 Speaker 3: this film. I'm getting calls to do that film. And 344 00:16:06,360 --> 00:16:10,400 Speaker 3: I was like, oh, I'm doing something right. Somebody's seeing something, 345 00:16:10,920 --> 00:16:13,600 Speaker 3: you know. So I was like, okay, you know, but 346 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:16,000 Speaker 3: I didn't take it any less seriously, you know what 347 00:16:16,040 --> 00:16:20,360 Speaker 3: I mean, Like I didn't develop some cocky, you know, attitude. 348 00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:22,960 Speaker 3: I was just like, Okay, you thought it was going 349 00:16:23,040 --> 00:16:25,000 Speaker 3: to be over, It's not over, you know. And from 350 00:16:25,080 --> 00:16:27,680 Speaker 3: that moment, it just kept going, kept going, and I 351 00:16:27,720 --> 00:16:30,160 Speaker 3: was like, Okay, I'm in it. I'm really in it. 352 00:16:30,280 --> 00:16:33,520 Speaker 3: This is not a one way thing, like it's not 353 00:16:34,480 --> 00:16:36,880 Speaker 3: here today, going tomorrow, like this is still going on 354 00:16:36,960 --> 00:16:38,600 Speaker 3: and on. So and that was years. 355 00:16:38,320 --> 00:16:48,520 Speaker 1: Ago, and fast forward to today with All American, which 356 00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:49,760 Speaker 1: is in its sixth season. 357 00:16:49,920 --> 00:16:50,640 Speaker 2: You play Coop. 358 00:16:50,760 --> 00:16:52,840 Speaker 1: I mean, what do you love about playing that role 359 00:16:52,840 --> 00:16:54,200 Speaker 1: and what can you most relate to? 360 00:16:55,040 --> 00:16:58,800 Speaker 3: I like that this role in you know, it's crazy 361 00:16:58,840 --> 00:17:04,639 Speaker 3: because especially newcomers, you don't really spend this amount of 362 00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:09,400 Speaker 3: time on two hit shows back to back. That's one, right, 363 00:17:09,560 --> 00:17:15,119 Speaker 3: so two Coop is like a softer version of what 364 00:17:15,240 --> 00:17:19,119 Speaker 3: I played on Empire. In my opinion, she's really softer 365 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:21,320 Speaker 3: and we get to see more of her personality and 366 00:17:21,359 --> 00:17:24,000 Speaker 3: she's not so angry. You know, that other character was 367 00:17:24,119 --> 00:17:28,200 Speaker 3: very angry. So I liked the likeness of Coop. I 368 00:17:28,280 --> 00:17:31,960 Speaker 3: love that she has, you know, friends, and she's got 369 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:35,000 Speaker 3: like a village and there's like decent camaraderie there and 370 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:37,720 Speaker 3: it's fun. It kind of reminds me of like when 371 00:17:37,720 --> 00:17:40,160 Speaker 3: I was younger watching Save by the Bell. You got 372 00:17:40,200 --> 00:17:42,080 Speaker 3: a group of kids in high school, like that was 373 00:17:42,119 --> 00:17:44,800 Speaker 3: fun for us to watch. I was happy to be 374 00:17:44,920 --> 00:17:49,240 Speaker 3: a representation for that particular generation, which was our target audience, 375 00:17:49,240 --> 00:17:51,919 Speaker 3: you know what I mean, this generation now, you know. 376 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:55,560 Speaker 3: And it was fun doing all of it was fun. 377 00:17:55,600 --> 00:17:58,199 Speaker 3: The characters that I played with are you know, the 378 00:17:58,200 --> 00:18:00,760 Speaker 3: rest of my cast, like everybody was fun. It really 379 00:18:00,760 --> 00:18:02,399 Speaker 3: felt like we were in high school, you know what 380 00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:04,719 Speaker 3: I'm saying. So I like that. It was like I 381 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:08,720 Speaker 3: like that I was able to prepare enough in all 382 00:18:08,760 --> 00:18:12,520 Speaker 3: of my work before this to be able to intentionally 383 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:15,240 Speaker 3: add what I wanted to add to Kop, you know, 384 00:18:15,760 --> 00:18:19,200 Speaker 3: in regards to her sexuality, in regards to her personality, 385 00:18:19,640 --> 00:18:23,399 Speaker 3: her relationship dynamic with her best friend Spencer on the show, 386 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:25,520 Speaker 3: like I was I felt like I was, I had 387 00:18:25,560 --> 00:18:27,440 Speaker 3: done enough of the work to be able to give 388 00:18:27,520 --> 00:18:31,119 Speaker 3: my input on this particular character. So that's what I was. 389 00:18:31,359 --> 00:18:33,840 Speaker 3: You know, makes me most happy about about playing her 390 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:36,320 Speaker 3: because of the input I do have with the character. 391 00:18:36,840 --> 00:18:39,159 Speaker 1: It's a character that means so much to so many people. 392 00:18:39,480 --> 00:18:42,040 Speaker 1: The visibility alone means so much to so many people, 393 00:18:42,119 --> 00:18:44,399 Speaker 1: and the show does too. Why do you think this 394 00:18:44,520 --> 00:18:47,520 Speaker 1: show has resonated in such a big way because people 395 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:50,439 Speaker 1: really do feel reflected and seen through this. 396 00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:55,040 Speaker 3: I think without you know, obviously, this is not a 397 00:18:55,359 --> 00:18:58,879 Speaker 3: X rated show. You know, we are on primetime television. 398 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:01,600 Speaker 3: We're not like you know, on Showtime or HBO or 399 00:19:01,600 --> 00:19:04,400 Speaker 3: anything like that, where we can be explicit in our 400 00:19:04,480 --> 00:19:07,000 Speaker 3: topics and stuff like that. But we've been able to 401 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:12,680 Speaker 3: touch on all the things that are so strongly talked 402 00:19:12,680 --> 00:19:17,159 Speaker 3: about today in an easily digestible form. You know, for 403 00:19:17,560 --> 00:19:23,440 Speaker 3: people that was sexuality, that was depression and self care, 404 00:19:23,760 --> 00:19:29,439 Speaker 3: self awareness, self help, that was the opioid epidemic, you know, 405 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:34,399 Speaker 3: things like that, things that as teenagers, and again speaking 406 00:19:34,440 --> 00:19:37,680 Speaker 3: on the characters, you know, these are things that it's 407 00:19:37,720 --> 00:19:40,679 Speaker 3: not going to change no matter what generation you talk to. 408 00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:45,600 Speaker 3: High school always had the same type of issues. We 409 00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:48,720 Speaker 3: all ran into the same things, not feeling as confident 410 00:19:48,720 --> 00:19:53,080 Speaker 3: about ourselves, or being peer pressured, or leaning on substances 411 00:19:53,119 --> 00:19:56,239 Speaker 3: like alcohol or you know, or even possibly doing it. 412 00:19:56,240 --> 00:19:58,320 Speaker 3: You didn't necessarily have to because I didn't, you know, 413 00:19:58,480 --> 00:20:01,879 Speaker 3: but we all knew somebody that was dealing with something. 414 00:20:01,960 --> 00:20:04,520 Speaker 3: So the way that they've been able to take, you know, 415 00:20:04,600 --> 00:20:07,560 Speaker 3: such important conversations and put them at the forefront of 416 00:20:07,600 --> 00:20:10,639 Speaker 3: this show, I think is what made it made it 417 00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:14,320 Speaker 3: what it is now because our target audience needed a 418 00:20:14,359 --> 00:20:18,160 Speaker 3: representation for themselves, and that's what each of these characters 419 00:20:18,200 --> 00:20:21,760 Speaker 3: I feel has been even you know, Jordan Baker and 420 00:20:21,840 --> 00:20:25,920 Speaker 3: him and his sister being biracial. That was also a thing, 421 00:20:26,080 --> 00:20:28,919 Speaker 3: you know, that was happening. We had this Black Lives 422 00:20:28,920 --> 00:20:32,080 Speaker 3: Matter movement, We had all this stuff with the police 423 00:20:32,119 --> 00:20:34,640 Speaker 3: and black men and stuff happened, and we had there 424 00:20:34,640 --> 00:20:36,840 Speaker 3: were children in the world that did not know what 425 00:20:37,080 --> 00:20:40,400 Speaker 3: side to land on. Am I really black? Am I 426 00:20:40,440 --> 00:20:42,480 Speaker 3: really white? Am I really this? And I really that? 427 00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:45,960 Speaker 3: You know? But we were able to share a story 428 00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:49,040 Speaker 3: that if you were needing help, this gave it to you. 429 00:20:49,119 --> 00:20:52,760 Speaker 3: If you needed a voice or a little encouragement, These 430 00:20:52,760 --> 00:20:55,160 Speaker 3: stories were able to give you that, So I think 431 00:20:55,200 --> 00:20:58,000 Speaker 3: that's why it's been and also for like parents and 432 00:20:58,040 --> 00:21:00,560 Speaker 3: people that have to raise children like that or peers 433 00:21:00,560 --> 00:21:02,159 Speaker 3: of children. It kind of gave you a birds that 434 00:21:02,240 --> 00:21:04,440 Speaker 3: I view of what these people may be going through, 435 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:06,679 Speaker 3: whether they talk to you about it or not, you know, 436 00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:10,439 Speaker 3: So it created empathy across the board for a number 437 00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:13,880 Speaker 3: of people and understanding of self to the people who 438 00:21:13,920 --> 00:21:16,960 Speaker 3: are actually dealing with these issues. And I think, you know, 439 00:21:17,720 --> 00:21:21,159 Speaker 3: entertainment in itself, especially television, has just it's kind of 440 00:21:21,200 --> 00:21:23,840 Speaker 3: finding its way back to a real place, and there 441 00:21:23,880 --> 00:21:28,280 Speaker 3: is an understanding that we need real stories because there 442 00:21:28,359 --> 00:21:32,760 Speaker 3: is real life happening outside and it's not just Hollywood 443 00:21:32,840 --> 00:21:35,000 Speaker 3: is not just glitz and glamour, and it's not all 444 00:21:35,080 --> 00:21:37,639 Speaker 3: made to look like it's so perfect, you know what 445 00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:40,280 Speaker 3: I mean. Like we do have a duty of being 446 00:21:40,320 --> 00:21:44,040 Speaker 3: of service to people, especially being entertainers, you know, so 447 00:21:44,280 --> 00:21:48,600 Speaker 3: and our writers, our showrunner and Catchy Carroll, she's very 448 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:51,760 Speaker 3: adamant about that, you know, just telling these stories properly 449 00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:55,120 Speaker 3: and making sure that people feel seen and heard when 450 00:21:55,160 --> 00:21:59,480 Speaker 3: watching anything that she's attached to all American being, you know, 451 00:21:59,640 --> 00:22:02,080 Speaker 3: one that we both you know, feel that way. 452 00:22:01,960 --> 00:22:05,400 Speaker 1: About well your cast, and certainly you are making many 453 00:22:05,440 --> 00:22:08,359 Speaker 1: many people feel that way. And it must be very 454 00:22:08,840 --> 00:22:10,879 Speaker 1: prideful moment for you to be a part of a 455 00:22:10,920 --> 00:22:13,840 Speaker 1: show that will forever kind of change the conversation and 456 00:22:13,880 --> 00:22:18,359 Speaker 1: the landscape and not teach people in a I'm you know, 457 00:22:18,480 --> 00:22:22,000 Speaker 1: almighty and higher than you, but welcome people into a conversation, 458 00:22:22,040 --> 00:22:24,160 Speaker 1: which I think is what your show does so brilliantly. 459 00:22:24,200 --> 00:22:26,280 Speaker 1: It's like, no, no, no, just come join it, like let's 460 00:22:26,280 --> 00:22:28,399 Speaker 1: all talk about these things together. And I think that 461 00:22:28,520 --> 00:22:29,960 Speaker 1: is so rare to find. 462 00:22:30,760 --> 00:22:33,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, because most people, you know, they move through life 463 00:22:33,720 --> 00:22:36,760 Speaker 3: never saying anything, you know, and that's where that's where 464 00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:40,720 Speaker 3: the depression comes from. That's where the substance abuse comes from. 465 00:22:40,800 --> 00:22:40,960 Speaker 2: You know. 466 00:22:41,040 --> 00:22:43,879 Speaker 3: It's not feeling like you have a voice anywhere, or 467 00:22:43,920 --> 00:22:46,840 Speaker 3: not feeling seen or heard by you know, the people 468 00:22:46,880 --> 00:22:50,520 Speaker 3: around you. And I think that the show more importantly 469 00:22:50,760 --> 00:22:54,960 Speaker 3: made those people a little more visible, you know, and 470 00:22:55,160 --> 00:22:59,080 Speaker 3: it made you know, a person looking at them, invite 471 00:22:59,119 --> 00:23:02,920 Speaker 3: them into the conversation, or start a conversation with them, 472 00:23:03,040 --> 00:23:04,600 Speaker 3: or just try to get them to open up a 473 00:23:04,640 --> 00:23:07,160 Speaker 3: little bit, you know. So I feel like it did 474 00:23:07,200 --> 00:23:10,399 Speaker 3: a lot for so many different people. But you know, 475 00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:12,960 Speaker 3: I'm very proud of that. I'm very proud of that because, 476 00:23:13,160 --> 00:23:16,199 Speaker 3: like I said, I feel like this my purpose is 477 00:23:16,240 --> 00:23:19,919 Speaker 3: to be of service and whatever I'm doing, you know, 478 00:23:20,080 --> 00:23:23,399 Speaker 3: so I'm happy to help. And I'm definitely the person 479 00:23:23,440 --> 00:23:27,440 Speaker 3: that will engage with most people that will message me 480 00:23:27,720 --> 00:23:30,800 Speaker 3: about their story and talk about what they've gone through 481 00:23:30,960 --> 00:23:33,480 Speaker 3: and you know, and how my work has helped them, 482 00:23:33,600 --> 00:23:34,639 Speaker 3: especially on this show. 483 00:23:35,600 --> 00:23:37,120 Speaker 2: I love that. I love that so much. 484 00:23:37,359 --> 00:23:39,800 Speaker 1: I'm all about putting out messages that matter, especially in 485 00:23:39,840 --> 00:23:43,000 Speaker 1: our business. So the fact that you can keep doing 486 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:45,359 Speaker 1: work that does that is amazing. And you strike me 487 00:23:45,480 --> 00:23:48,639 Speaker 1: as very much an old soul and I feel that way. 488 00:23:48,640 --> 00:23:51,760 Speaker 1: I've always felt that way. You just seem so wise 489 00:23:52,080 --> 00:23:55,080 Speaker 1: and so forward thinking, and I feel like you've always 490 00:23:55,119 --> 00:23:58,160 Speaker 1: probably been that way. That's just my guess from talking 491 00:23:58,160 --> 00:24:01,879 Speaker 1: to you thus far. Is there something over the last 492 00:24:01,920 --> 00:24:05,359 Speaker 1: few years that you've really learned about yourself, like a 493 00:24:05,359 --> 00:24:08,439 Speaker 1: great life lesson or something that's kind of helping you 494 00:24:08,480 --> 00:24:11,760 Speaker 1: as you enter the next chapter of your life. 495 00:24:11,920 --> 00:24:15,520 Speaker 3: I think I've learned over the past few years that 496 00:24:16,359 --> 00:24:19,480 Speaker 3: I have so much more to learn, you know, I do. 497 00:24:19,600 --> 00:24:21,600 Speaker 3: I tell myself all the time. I'm like, I feel 498 00:24:21,640 --> 00:24:24,200 Speaker 3: like an old man, you know, Like everything I do, 499 00:24:24,400 --> 00:24:27,240 Speaker 3: I'm like, I'm such an old man. And it may 500 00:24:27,280 --> 00:24:30,480 Speaker 3: be the old soul of it all, but yeah, I 501 00:24:30,640 --> 00:24:33,679 Speaker 3: just feeling like I don't know everything. And you know, 502 00:24:33,760 --> 00:24:35,439 Speaker 3: I was that I had gotten to a point in 503 00:24:35,440 --> 00:24:37,439 Speaker 3: my life where I lived a certain part of my 504 00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:39,560 Speaker 3: life feeling like I know a lot, you know. But 505 00:24:39,800 --> 00:24:43,040 Speaker 3: at this point, I'm like, you know what, I'm opening 506 00:24:43,080 --> 00:24:46,600 Speaker 3: myself up more I have to, you know, and being 507 00:24:46,640 --> 00:24:49,760 Speaker 3: more receptive to things like that. That's where I'm at 508 00:24:49,800 --> 00:24:52,600 Speaker 3: in my life right now. Like I'm just I'm open 509 00:24:52,840 --> 00:24:57,280 Speaker 3: to different perspectives, very open to honesty from others, honesty 510 00:24:57,400 --> 00:24:59,880 Speaker 3: within myself, you know. And a lot of times would 511 00:24:59,920 --> 00:25:02,520 Speaker 3: you skip through like oh it's working, Oh I'm good, 512 00:25:02,720 --> 00:25:04,960 Speaker 3: I'm making money, it's okay, you know what I'm saying. 513 00:25:05,040 --> 00:25:08,239 Speaker 3: And I don't feel like that. I feel like, you know, 514 00:25:08,320 --> 00:25:11,240 Speaker 3: if you want to progress in a particular way in life, 515 00:25:11,280 --> 00:25:14,280 Speaker 3: you have to open yourself up a little bit, you know, 516 00:25:14,400 --> 00:25:17,560 Speaker 3: in each each level of your life, you know. So 517 00:25:17,640 --> 00:25:19,840 Speaker 3: that's where I'm at. I'm just like, you know, so 518 00:25:19,960 --> 00:25:23,639 Speaker 3: much more to learn. I'm open to most things you 519 00:25:23,680 --> 00:25:27,199 Speaker 3: know that are beneficial to me obviously, but yeah, I'm 520 00:25:27,480 --> 00:25:29,080 Speaker 3: I'm just open. That's where I'm at. 521 00:25:29,400 --> 00:25:31,159 Speaker 1: Well, that's why you're going to have a long career. 522 00:25:31,280 --> 00:25:33,440 Speaker 1: I think if you're open and you're willing to keep 523 00:25:33,480 --> 00:25:35,960 Speaker 1: growing and change, that seems to be the secret saw 524 00:25:36,040 --> 00:25:37,840 Speaker 1: so many people miss. And it's like, I don't want 525 00:25:37,880 --> 00:25:39,919 Speaker 1: to be who I was yesterday or last year, Like 526 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:42,199 Speaker 1: I want to evolve. And you know, you seem like 527 00:25:42,200 --> 00:25:44,800 Speaker 1: you're the type who's always trying to better yourself personally 528 00:25:44,840 --> 00:25:48,280 Speaker 1: and professionally, and I think that really is a testament 529 00:25:48,359 --> 00:25:50,640 Speaker 1: to the work we see you do because it's it's 530 00:25:50,680 --> 00:25:53,320 Speaker 1: nothing short of amazing and it's going to only keep 531 00:25:53,440 --> 00:25:55,680 Speaker 1: soaring in every single direction that you want to go in, 532 00:25:55,760 --> 00:25:59,400 Speaker 1: which is really cool, especially in an industry like Hollywood 533 00:25:59,400 --> 00:26:02,879 Speaker 1: where it's so hard sometimes it's so hard to to 534 00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:05,479 Speaker 1: kind of be yourself and you have to fight for 535 00:26:05,520 --> 00:26:07,240 Speaker 1: it and you have to get to a place where 536 00:26:07,280 --> 00:26:10,320 Speaker 1: you're comfortable with being yourself. Have you found it hard 537 00:26:10,359 --> 00:26:13,480 Speaker 1: to maintain authenticity throughout your career in Hollywood? 538 00:26:13,960 --> 00:26:16,520 Speaker 3: Well, First, I appreciate everything you just said about me. 539 00:26:16,760 --> 00:26:20,240 Speaker 3: Thank you so much. Okay, So two parts of that answer. 540 00:26:20,760 --> 00:26:23,320 Speaker 3: I did not used to feel like that. I'm like, 541 00:26:23,600 --> 00:26:26,879 Speaker 3: you know, I came exactly as I was. But you know, 542 00:26:27,000 --> 00:26:32,960 Speaker 3: I shortly learned that being who you are isn't necessarily 543 00:26:33,240 --> 00:26:36,720 Speaker 3: easily digestible for people. You know, And once you get 544 00:26:36,760 --> 00:26:40,520 Speaker 3: in Hollywood, you realize that, you know, are some of 545 00:26:40,560 --> 00:26:43,639 Speaker 3: these people real or are they not? Or why is 546 00:26:43,680 --> 00:26:47,679 Speaker 3: everybody so unhappy? And why is there so much drug 547 00:26:47,680 --> 00:26:50,520 Speaker 3: abuse or substance abuse of alcohol abuse? Like why is 548 00:26:50,520 --> 00:26:53,080 Speaker 3: there like people are miserable, you know what I mean? 549 00:26:53,119 --> 00:26:55,119 Speaker 3: And it's like, no, I'm not, but I just I 550 00:26:55,160 --> 00:26:57,000 Speaker 3: am who I am. Of course I want to be better, 551 00:26:57,520 --> 00:27:02,240 Speaker 3: but I think that the authenticity, true authenticity in Hollywood 552 00:27:02,280 --> 00:27:05,120 Speaker 3: comes with a price. It comes with a price because 553 00:27:05,400 --> 00:27:09,320 Speaker 3: you know, you being who you are could get you uninvited. 554 00:27:09,920 --> 00:27:12,399 Speaker 3: You know, we don't want to do certain things around 555 00:27:12,480 --> 00:27:16,040 Speaker 3: him or her because of who you are, you know 556 00:27:16,080 --> 00:27:18,480 Speaker 3: what I mean? I don't know. And there's a lot 557 00:27:18,480 --> 00:27:20,760 Speaker 3: of pretending going on, and a lot of people are 558 00:27:20,760 --> 00:27:23,480 Speaker 3: doing things they don't want to do. You're in places 559 00:27:23,520 --> 00:27:25,399 Speaker 3: you don't want to be, talking to people you don't 560 00:27:25,440 --> 00:27:28,600 Speaker 3: even like, you know what I'm saying. So I think 561 00:27:28,640 --> 00:27:33,240 Speaker 3: that there's just I don't know for some people like myself, 562 00:27:33,760 --> 00:27:37,200 Speaker 3: for me to be authentic as everything. And I don't 563 00:27:37,240 --> 00:27:40,560 Speaker 3: want to be uptight in pretending in any situation that 564 00:27:40,600 --> 00:27:42,720 Speaker 3: I'm in, you know what I mean. I don't maybe 565 00:27:42,720 --> 00:27:45,680 Speaker 3: I won't be like my wild and crazy self and 566 00:27:45,760 --> 00:27:49,040 Speaker 3: like just blurt out stuff, you know. But I don't 567 00:27:49,080 --> 00:27:51,679 Speaker 3: absolutely want to have to put on a mask, you know. 568 00:27:51,680 --> 00:27:53,159 Speaker 3: I don't want to have to put on a mask 569 00:27:53,320 --> 00:27:55,960 Speaker 3: to be accepted in a room. 570 00:27:56,320 --> 00:27:58,439 Speaker 1: That's a reminder I think so many people need, not 571 00:27:58,480 --> 00:28:01,680 Speaker 1: just in Hollywood, in any career profession where people want 572 00:28:01,720 --> 00:28:03,760 Speaker 1: to put you in a box or want to see 573 00:28:03,800 --> 00:28:06,280 Speaker 1: a version of you that's not really who you are. 574 00:28:06,320 --> 00:28:09,000 Speaker 1: And you're like, wait a minute, no, no, like receive 575 00:28:09,080 --> 00:28:11,800 Speaker 1: me for who I am. And I know in your case, 576 00:28:11,800 --> 00:28:14,720 Speaker 1: it's really important for you to put out the message 577 00:28:14,720 --> 00:28:17,040 Speaker 1: and the importance of being who you are. And you 578 00:28:17,080 --> 00:28:20,719 Speaker 1: say you're proudly a masculine presenting gay women, right, and 579 00:28:20,760 --> 00:28:23,120 Speaker 1: you want to see more representation of that out there, 580 00:28:23,119 --> 00:28:24,280 Speaker 1: so talk to me about that. 581 00:28:24,680 --> 00:28:27,440 Speaker 3: Well, I just feel like, who would I be if 582 00:28:27,480 --> 00:28:30,200 Speaker 3: I wasn't really that, If I wasn't really who I 583 00:28:30,240 --> 00:28:32,919 Speaker 3: was saying I was, Who would I be to the 584 00:28:33,000 --> 00:28:35,919 Speaker 3: young women and men as well who are watching me 585 00:28:36,200 --> 00:28:39,120 Speaker 3: based off the work that I'm doing, Like it's almost 586 00:28:39,120 --> 00:28:43,320 Speaker 3: like I'm giving false advice, like yeah, pretend to be 587 00:28:43,400 --> 00:28:46,680 Speaker 3: this when it matters, and when it doesn't, just forget 588 00:28:46,680 --> 00:28:50,120 Speaker 3: about it, you know. So it's so important. For one, 589 00:28:50,880 --> 00:28:54,000 Speaker 3: I personally did not grow up seeing people like myself 590 00:28:54,320 --> 00:28:58,280 Speaker 3: anywhere on any screen or in music or you know, 591 00:28:58,320 --> 00:29:01,160 Speaker 3: anything like that. So there's a lot of people who 592 00:29:01,200 --> 00:29:04,360 Speaker 3: struggle with that. I haven't. I didn't. I always just 593 00:29:04,360 --> 00:29:06,120 Speaker 3: felt like, you know what you are, who you are. 594 00:29:06,240 --> 00:29:08,840 Speaker 3: I always felt like I was special. I also was 595 00:29:08,960 --> 00:29:12,200 Speaker 3: never like shunned or put down about my sexuality either, 596 00:29:12,440 --> 00:29:14,840 Speaker 3: you know. So I don't share a lot of the 597 00:29:14,840 --> 00:29:17,240 Speaker 3: same experience that a lot of you know, people of 598 00:29:17,280 --> 00:29:20,200 Speaker 3: my community do, And for that reason, I just want 599 00:29:20,240 --> 00:29:23,960 Speaker 3: to make sure that I am properly representing the young 600 00:29:24,040 --> 00:29:27,719 Speaker 3: women that you know come behind me. You know. I 601 00:29:27,840 --> 00:29:30,320 Speaker 3: want you to stand into who you are. You don't 602 00:29:30,360 --> 00:29:32,840 Speaker 3: have to be whatever, you could be absolutely skilled as 603 00:29:32,880 --> 00:29:35,600 Speaker 3: you want to be in whatever you're doing and present 604 00:29:35,680 --> 00:29:38,920 Speaker 3: how it's comfortable for you, you know, And I think 605 00:29:38,920 --> 00:29:42,120 Speaker 3: that's important and that topic alone is something that we're 606 00:29:42,120 --> 00:29:45,560 Speaker 3: having a lot these days, you know, just representation and 607 00:29:45,760 --> 00:29:49,600 Speaker 3: acceptance and the freedom to just be so important these days. 608 00:29:49,680 --> 00:29:52,640 Speaker 3: So I want to I always want to stand on 609 00:29:52,760 --> 00:29:56,240 Speaker 3: that side of the fence, you know, and encouraging people 610 00:29:56,280 --> 00:30:00,400 Speaker 3: to just be yourself. And I've had even though I'm woman, 611 00:30:00,640 --> 00:30:04,680 Speaker 3: I've absolutely had men, you know, who are in relationships 612 00:30:05,160 --> 00:30:09,760 Speaker 3: with women who have found their identity in me, you know, 613 00:30:09,840 --> 00:30:13,360 Speaker 3: and just chose to listen. I'm being honest and I'm 614 00:30:13,440 --> 00:30:16,000 Speaker 3: leaving my marriage and I actually don't like women, and 615 00:30:16,040 --> 00:30:17,680 Speaker 3: I thought this is what I had to do, and 616 00:30:18,160 --> 00:30:21,840 Speaker 3: you know, but whatever, you need to make the best 617 00:30:21,880 --> 00:30:25,680 Speaker 3: step for yourself. If I can do that, I'm so happy. 618 00:30:25,680 --> 00:30:27,360 Speaker 3: Tom Well. 619 00:30:27,400 --> 00:30:30,080 Speaker 1: I think so many people aspire to that. They want 620 00:30:30,120 --> 00:30:32,440 Speaker 1: to have confidence in who they are. And it doesn't 621 00:30:32,480 --> 00:30:35,080 Speaker 1: matter if you're a man, a woman, anything in between. 622 00:30:35,120 --> 00:30:37,520 Speaker 1: I mean, if I am following you and I'm struggling 623 00:30:37,560 --> 00:30:40,080 Speaker 1: with who I am, I'm going to see you being 624 00:30:40,120 --> 00:30:42,320 Speaker 1: your true self and say, oh my god, like, how 625 00:30:42,320 --> 00:30:45,280 Speaker 1: do I get to that point? And in many ways 626 00:30:45,280 --> 00:30:47,560 Speaker 1: you are a pioneer, because yes, we've made a lot 627 00:30:47,600 --> 00:30:50,720 Speaker 1: of progress in twenty twenty four, but there's a lot 628 00:30:50,720 --> 00:30:52,280 Speaker 1: of work to be done, and. 629 00:30:52,440 --> 00:30:55,680 Speaker 3: That's just one year and this really has been this 630 00:30:55,760 --> 00:30:58,000 Speaker 3: has been the year of it so far. 631 00:30:58,640 --> 00:31:01,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, but there's work to do and you're in many 632 00:31:01,960 --> 00:31:05,200 Speaker 1: ways leading the charge, you know, and one of the 633 00:31:05,200 --> 00:31:07,680 Speaker 1: people that are showing just being who you are is okay. 634 00:31:07,760 --> 00:31:10,640 Speaker 1: So I hope, I hope that you never forget that 635 00:31:11,320 --> 00:31:15,080 Speaker 1: what you're doing extends beyond the art to the music, 636 00:31:15,240 --> 00:31:17,960 Speaker 1: the acting. It's also just being yourself in a business 637 00:31:18,000 --> 00:31:20,640 Speaker 1: and in a world where people so badly need to 638 00:31:20,680 --> 00:31:23,320 Speaker 1: see that is making a huge difference, which I hope 639 00:31:23,360 --> 00:31:25,400 Speaker 1: and imagine must feel kind of good, right. 640 00:31:26,040 --> 00:31:29,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, And to be honest, like my it's not something 641 00:31:29,440 --> 00:31:32,800 Speaker 3: that is at the forefront of my mind all the time, 642 00:31:32,880 --> 00:31:37,400 Speaker 3: but my girlfriend absolutely reminds me all the time just 643 00:31:37,480 --> 00:31:41,720 Speaker 3: how important and bigger what I'm doing is, you know, 644 00:31:41,840 --> 00:31:44,720 Speaker 3: outside of, like you said, being on the screen or 645 00:31:44,800 --> 00:31:48,760 Speaker 3: making music. Like there's actually just so many people that 646 00:31:48,840 --> 00:31:52,160 Speaker 3: look to me for many different reputations, you know what 647 00:31:52,200 --> 00:31:56,120 Speaker 3: I'm saying, And I just happen to be someone who's 648 00:31:56,320 --> 00:31:59,240 Speaker 3: who's happy to do it, you know. So I love 649 00:31:59,280 --> 00:32:02,000 Speaker 3: the any chance I get to talk. And I went out. 650 00:32:02,400 --> 00:32:05,440 Speaker 3: I was at a film festival in Miami, and I 651 00:32:05,480 --> 00:32:08,360 Speaker 3: went to an event and I almost like I went 652 00:32:08,400 --> 00:32:11,480 Speaker 3: to the I went inside maybe five minutes, went to 653 00:32:11,520 --> 00:32:14,080 Speaker 3: the bathroom, never made it to the bathroom. I ended 654 00:32:14,120 --> 00:32:17,040 Speaker 3: up in the hallway talking to a group of four people, 655 00:32:17,880 --> 00:32:20,160 Speaker 3: same conversation you and I are having to the end 656 00:32:20,200 --> 00:32:22,360 Speaker 3: of the event before I knew where everybody was walking out, 657 00:32:22,400 --> 00:32:25,000 Speaker 3: and I was like, shit, missed it, you know, But 658 00:32:25,040 --> 00:32:28,440 Speaker 3: I actually I have more pleasure and in more enjoyable 659 00:32:28,480 --> 00:32:31,880 Speaker 3: times standing there talking to It was three women, you know, 660 00:32:32,200 --> 00:32:35,160 Speaker 3: three yeah, three women and two men that I was 661 00:32:35,320 --> 00:32:39,800 Speaker 3: talking to just the entire time about representation, about this industry, 662 00:32:39,880 --> 00:32:43,240 Speaker 3: and you know, just confidence and being yourself and you know, 663 00:32:43,320 --> 00:32:45,920 Speaker 3: the work that you put in and timing and things 664 00:32:45,960 --> 00:32:49,040 Speaker 3: like that. And I just that's what I enjoy. That's 665 00:32:49,080 --> 00:32:51,280 Speaker 3: why I feel like I'm chosen to do it. And 666 00:32:51,320 --> 00:33:00,160 Speaker 3: it's not for any other accolade. 667 00:33:00,400 --> 00:33:03,400 Speaker 1: I think when you go into this industry and your 668 00:33:03,480 --> 00:33:06,440 Speaker 1: artistry with a bigger purpose, that's that's when a some 669 00:33:06,560 --> 00:33:08,320 Speaker 1: of the best magic happens. 670 00:33:07,960 --> 00:33:08,720 Speaker 2: With your work. 671 00:33:08,800 --> 00:33:11,760 Speaker 1: But b it keeps you grounded to keep doing what 672 00:33:11,800 --> 00:33:15,280 Speaker 1: you're doing, knowing there's more to it than just you. Right, 673 00:33:15,440 --> 00:33:17,160 Speaker 1: It puts it all off of you, and it doesn't 674 00:33:17,200 --> 00:33:20,280 Speaker 1: feel so for lack of a better word, selfish, even 675 00:33:20,320 --> 00:33:22,719 Speaker 1: though it's not really selfish, but it feels more like 676 00:33:22,840 --> 00:33:25,000 Speaker 1: I'm sharing my gifts with the world for the better, 677 00:33:25,040 --> 00:33:26,960 Speaker 1: which is exactly what you're doing, which is awesome. But 678 00:33:27,400 --> 00:33:29,960 Speaker 1: at the same time, you probably need like your own 679 00:33:30,000 --> 00:33:32,280 Speaker 1: time to deal with the things going on in your life. 680 00:33:32,320 --> 00:33:34,680 Speaker 1: And mental health is such a big crisis in our 681 00:33:34,720 --> 00:33:37,479 Speaker 1: world right now, and you know, people are just starting 682 00:33:37,480 --> 00:33:39,160 Speaker 1: to talk about it more and more. But how do 683 00:33:39,240 --> 00:33:41,120 Speaker 1: you take care of you? Like, how do you take 684 00:33:41,160 --> 00:33:44,040 Speaker 1: care of your mind and your spirit in such a 685 00:33:44,080 --> 00:33:47,520 Speaker 1: crazy career and being someone that helps so many people, 686 00:33:47,680 --> 00:33:49,680 Speaker 1: like you got to replenish your own cup too. 687 00:33:50,440 --> 00:33:54,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, I've actually I used to live in a space, 688 00:33:54,840 --> 00:33:59,160 Speaker 3: you know, feeling like I had to be just present 689 00:33:59,560 --> 00:34:03,440 Speaker 3: in the career of it all, and I'm a celebrity 690 00:34:03,480 --> 00:34:06,280 Speaker 3: and I'm an entertainer, Like I felt like I had 691 00:34:06,320 --> 00:34:09,400 Speaker 3: to always be that and it couldn't turn off, you know. 692 00:34:09,520 --> 00:34:13,080 Speaker 3: And I finally have gotten to a point now within 693 00:34:13,160 --> 00:34:15,840 Speaker 3: like the past year, where I'm like, no, I'm going 694 00:34:15,920 --> 00:34:18,839 Speaker 3: to take time and disconnect from that, you know, when 695 00:34:18,920 --> 00:34:21,000 Speaker 3: I need to. When I'm in it, I'm in it. 696 00:34:21,040 --> 00:34:24,200 Speaker 3: When I'm not, I'm not, you know. So these days 697 00:34:24,280 --> 00:34:28,200 Speaker 3: it's just completely disconnecting from that when I feel the 698 00:34:28,320 --> 00:34:33,080 Speaker 3: need to and finding now, you know what it is 699 00:34:33,120 --> 00:34:34,839 Speaker 3: I like to do, and what it is that makes 700 00:34:34,880 --> 00:34:37,960 Speaker 3: me happy, and what it is that brings me peace 701 00:34:38,080 --> 00:34:41,000 Speaker 3: and calmness, you know what I mean. Like, I'm actively 702 00:34:41,920 --> 00:34:45,040 Speaker 3: still learning those things. So I don't have a you know, 703 00:34:45,120 --> 00:34:47,239 Speaker 3: a laundry list of stuff that I do to take 704 00:34:47,280 --> 00:34:50,120 Speaker 3: care of myself because I'm actually just figuring it out 705 00:34:50,200 --> 00:34:53,600 Speaker 3: right now. Because for so long I thought that I 706 00:34:53,719 --> 00:34:58,880 Speaker 3: had to be just like in everything, everywhere, all the time, 707 00:34:59,040 --> 00:35:02,360 Speaker 3: you know. So now I'm like, I'm actually just exhausted 708 00:35:02,520 --> 00:35:05,439 Speaker 3: with that, and I do want to take better care 709 00:35:05,440 --> 00:35:08,880 Speaker 3: of myself. So that's the journey I'm on now. Hmmm. 710 00:35:09,200 --> 00:35:11,160 Speaker 2: I love that being in touch with what you need. 711 00:35:11,239 --> 00:35:13,760 Speaker 1: I feel like it is sometimes the hardest first step 712 00:35:14,360 --> 00:35:16,600 Speaker 1: to just like stop and say, wait a minute, this 713 00:35:16,719 --> 00:35:19,359 Speaker 1: is what I need and I might not know how 714 00:35:19,400 --> 00:35:20,959 Speaker 1: to get there right now, but I'm going to figure 715 00:35:21,000 --> 00:35:23,440 Speaker 1: it out. So I think that's that's an important thing. 716 00:35:23,440 --> 00:35:25,440 Speaker 3: And I also feel an obligated you know, I was 717 00:35:25,480 --> 00:35:28,560 Speaker 3: feeling like this strong sense of obligation, you know, like, 718 00:35:29,560 --> 00:35:31,480 Speaker 3: this is what you do, what are you doing it 719 00:35:31,520 --> 00:35:33,360 Speaker 3: for if you don't want to do all the things 720 00:35:33,400 --> 00:35:36,280 Speaker 3: with it? And I'm like, is that really necessary? 721 00:35:36,719 --> 00:35:37,399 Speaker 2: Yeah? 722 00:35:37,440 --> 00:35:39,560 Speaker 3: You know, and that I you know, I landed at 723 00:35:39,600 --> 00:35:41,759 Speaker 3: a place where it's not it's not necessary. 724 00:35:41,840 --> 00:35:42,040 Speaker 2: You know. 725 00:35:42,080 --> 00:35:44,840 Speaker 3: I absolutely can take the time for myself and do 726 00:35:44,920 --> 00:35:46,560 Speaker 3: what I want to do and do the things that 727 00:35:46,600 --> 00:35:49,520 Speaker 3: truly make me happy. So I'm grateful that I've come 728 00:35:49,560 --> 00:35:53,040 Speaker 3: to that realization and I actually have the time to 729 00:35:53,120 --> 00:35:55,640 Speaker 3: figure it out. So that's what I'm doing. So any 730 00:35:55,680 --> 00:35:58,759 Speaker 3: of my spare time outside of like what I need 731 00:35:58,800 --> 00:36:01,400 Speaker 3: to be doing professionally, I'm just you know, just figuring 732 00:36:01,440 --> 00:36:04,360 Speaker 3: out ways to make myself better and to love myself 733 00:36:04,400 --> 00:36:06,440 Speaker 3: better and you know, make myself happier. 734 00:36:07,040 --> 00:36:08,120 Speaker 2: Good for you, Good for you. 735 00:36:08,280 --> 00:36:11,960 Speaker 1: That's that's only going to serve you in every beautiful way, mind, body, 736 00:36:12,000 --> 00:36:14,400 Speaker 1: spirit going forward. So I love that you have that awareness, 737 00:36:14,440 --> 00:36:17,640 Speaker 1: which is so important, Breeze. I could talk to you 738 00:36:17,680 --> 00:36:20,520 Speaker 1: for like four more hours because I just I love 739 00:36:21,040 --> 00:36:23,720 Speaker 1: the advice you give. I love the perspective you share. 740 00:36:23,840 --> 00:36:26,840 Speaker 1: I love how grounded you are. It's always exciting for 741 00:36:26,880 --> 00:36:29,080 Speaker 1: me when I bring people on these shows to really 742 00:36:29,440 --> 00:36:33,880 Speaker 1: peel back be celebrity persona and get to know someone 743 00:36:33,880 --> 00:36:36,600 Speaker 1: a little better. And it's so fulfilling as an interviewer 744 00:36:36,680 --> 00:36:39,200 Speaker 1: to actually feel like, oh cool, I have a good 745 00:36:39,239 --> 00:36:42,040 Speaker 1: idea of who this girl is and she's a badass. 746 00:36:42,280 --> 00:36:43,200 Speaker 2: I really like that. 747 00:36:43,680 --> 00:36:47,160 Speaker 1: And I wrap up every episode with a question based 748 00:36:47,160 --> 00:36:49,920 Speaker 1: off the title of the show, and that question is, 749 00:36:49,960 --> 00:36:52,640 Speaker 1: what is one thing you've never said before? I know 750 00:36:52,680 --> 00:36:54,919 Speaker 1: you've done a lot of interviews, you put a lot 751 00:36:54,920 --> 00:36:56,680 Speaker 1: out there. You have such a big heart, so you do. 752 00:36:56,680 --> 00:36:59,440 Speaker 1: You share a lot, But is there something that you 753 00:36:59,480 --> 00:37:01,400 Speaker 1: can think of that you haven't shared before. 754 00:37:04,280 --> 00:37:09,520 Speaker 3: I would say that I never shared the truth that 755 00:37:10,640 --> 00:37:15,960 Speaker 3: I have never loved myself properly. I've never said that. 756 00:37:16,320 --> 00:37:18,400 Speaker 3: I've never even said it out loud. This was my 757 00:37:18,440 --> 00:37:22,960 Speaker 3: first time saying it. It's always it's about a year 758 00:37:23,000 --> 00:37:28,920 Speaker 3: old thought and just to continue on what you do 759 00:37:29,040 --> 00:37:32,360 Speaker 3: to take care of yourself and mental health and things 760 00:37:32,400 --> 00:37:36,240 Speaker 3: like that. Like that's what led me to that figuring 761 00:37:36,280 --> 00:37:42,080 Speaker 3: that out, the journey of loving myself better and not 762 00:37:42,280 --> 00:37:47,600 Speaker 3: being so accessible to everything in everybody, you know, kind 763 00:37:47,600 --> 00:37:51,759 Speaker 3: of just going inside and shutting the door sometimes and 764 00:37:51,880 --> 00:37:55,040 Speaker 3: just really taking care of yourself and then going out 765 00:37:55,160 --> 00:37:57,960 Speaker 3: when you're ready, you know, Like that's the journey I'm 766 00:37:57,960 --> 00:38:01,399 Speaker 3: on now. So no, I've never I never said it 767 00:38:01,640 --> 00:38:05,600 Speaker 3: one two, never admitted that you know, or even new 768 00:38:05,719 --> 00:38:08,440 Speaker 3: or acknowledged it. It's all new to me right now. 769 00:38:08,600 --> 00:38:10,960 Speaker 3: But it's a part of my life that I'm dealing 770 00:38:10,960 --> 00:38:14,880 Speaker 3: with now, but that I'm also happy to share in 771 00:38:15,000 --> 00:38:18,680 Speaker 3: knowing that it's one of those things that I'm sure 772 00:38:18,680 --> 00:38:20,719 Speaker 3: there's somebody watching going through the same thing. 773 00:38:21,600 --> 00:38:23,879 Speaker 1: When was the moment where you realized that, when you 774 00:38:24,400 --> 00:38:26,080 Speaker 1: when you thought, oh my god, I don't think I've 775 00:38:26,080 --> 00:38:27,320 Speaker 1: ever really loved myself. 776 00:38:28,360 --> 00:38:32,800 Speaker 3: I would say last year April May of last year, 777 00:38:34,360 --> 00:38:36,759 Speaker 3: I just I woke up one morning and I just 778 00:38:36,800 --> 00:38:39,720 Speaker 3: looked in the mirror and I just hated everything. Hated 779 00:38:39,760 --> 00:38:43,440 Speaker 3: what was around me, hated what my personal life was, 780 00:38:44,480 --> 00:38:47,439 Speaker 3: the relationship I was in. I didn't like any of it. 781 00:38:47,719 --> 00:38:50,040 Speaker 3: And I was like, what are you doing? Why are 782 00:38:50,040 --> 00:38:52,880 Speaker 3: you doing it? What part of all of these things 783 00:38:52,920 --> 00:38:56,840 Speaker 3: that I'm now seeing in the mirror in this one moment, 784 00:38:57,960 --> 00:39:02,279 Speaker 3: what about all these things are good for you? And 785 00:39:02,360 --> 00:39:05,520 Speaker 3: none of it was? And I was like, wow, Like 786 00:39:05,600 --> 00:39:08,319 Speaker 3: it was just it was sad. It was hurtful, it 787 00:39:08,360 --> 00:39:11,240 Speaker 3: was painful. It was a painful thing to get through. 788 00:39:11,360 --> 00:39:16,839 Speaker 3: I would say that today way further past that, just 789 00:39:16,920 --> 00:39:19,879 Speaker 3: heavy feeling of it all than I was last year, 790 00:39:20,280 --> 00:39:24,719 Speaker 3: but still gradually working at it every single day. But 791 00:39:24,800 --> 00:39:28,520 Speaker 3: it was just the realization that nothing I was doing 792 00:39:28,760 --> 00:39:33,839 Speaker 3: was for my benefit or for my good or was 793 00:39:33,880 --> 00:39:34,680 Speaker 3: filling my cup. 794 00:39:34,880 --> 00:39:37,359 Speaker 1: For lack of bad words, And did you feel that 795 00:39:37,520 --> 00:39:39,880 Speaker 1: most of your life but suppressed that until it just 796 00:39:40,040 --> 00:39:42,360 Speaker 1: you couldn't suppress that any longer A year ago. 797 00:39:43,000 --> 00:39:46,080 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think that, you know. I just in that 798 00:39:46,239 --> 00:39:50,960 Speaker 3: moment I realized that my cup was empty. I felt 799 00:39:51,000 --> 00:39:55,239 Speaker 3: depleted in every way emotionally, mentally, physically. I was like, 800 00:39:55,880 --> 00:39:59,160 Speaker 3: what am I doing? What am I doing? And that 801 00:39:59,280 --> 00:40:01,400 Speaker 3: was a hard question, and I had to ask myself 802 00:40:01,520 --> 00:40:06,920 Speaker 3: in the realization of everything around me that I mentioned, 803 00:40:06,920 --> 00:40:11,200 Speaker 3: it was very hard to accept. But for some reason 804 00:40:12,120 --> 00:40:14,160 Speaker 3: I was just like, I'm not doing any of it. 805 00:40:15,040 --> 00:40:17,800 Speaker 3: I don't have an explanation, I don't even know why. 806 00:40:17,960 --> 00:40:19,640 Speaker 3: I don't have nothing to talk about. I'm just not 807 00:40:19,760 --> 00:40:23,960 Speaker 3: doing it. And I have not looked back since that day. 808 00:40:24,520 --> 00:40:30,600 Speaker 3: So now I'm just like forward thinking, forward movement only 809 00:40:30,920 --> 00:40:34,040 Speaker 3: if it's not. And again, I have my own stuff 810 00:40:34,080 --> 00:40:38,000 Speaker 3: that I'm still dealing with, but I'm not doing that anymore, 811 00:40:38,480 --> 00:40:40,480 Speaker 3: you know what I mean. And it absolutely has to 812 00:40:40,520 --> 00:40:42,520 Speaker 3: be beneficial to me. And I have to be able 813 00:40:42,520 --> 00:40:46,400 Speaker 3: to replenish myself and energize myself and make myself happy 814 00:40:46,560 --> 00:40:49,520 Speaker 3: and love myself, you know, at a certain level before 815 00:40:49,560 --> 00:40:51,839 Speaker 3: I expect somebody else to, you know. So that's what 816 00:40:51,880 --> 00:40:53,240 Speaker 3: I'm working on. Now. 817 00:40:54,040 --> 00:40:56,640 Speaker 1: That's amazing that you share that, because I think people 818 00:40:56,680 --> 00:40:59,440 Speaker 1: look at you and they say she has success and 819 00:40:59,600 --> 00:41:03,520 Speaker 1: things hit show after hit show, and it's so popular 820 00:41:03,560 --> 00:41:08,239 Speaker 1: and has millions of social media followers. But you, at 821 00:41:08,239 --> 00:41:11,000 Speaker 1: the end of the day, weren't happy, right that in 822 00:41:11,040 --> 00:41:11,680 Speaker 1: that moment. 823 00:41:11,840 --> 00:41:15,040 Speaker 3: Let me take something happy. What you just said was 824 00:41:15,120 --> 00:41:18,880 Speaker 3: the hardest pill for me to swallow, because the perception 825 00:41:19,440 --> 00:41:22,120 Speaker 3: of who I was or who people think I am, 826 00:41:22,320 --> 00:41:25,360 Speaker 3: even now you know what I'm saying, had not matched 827 00:41:25,360 --> 00:41:29,239 Speaker 3: my reality. So I also felt like I can't even 828 00:41:29,280 --> 00:41:32,440 Speaker 3: do that anymore. So if I can't sit here and 829 00:41:32,520 --> 00:41:35,320 Speaker 3: talk to you as a friend and like be honest 830 00:41:35,400 --> 00:41:38,040 Speaker 3: with you, then we actually just can't have a conversation, 831 00:41:38,640 --> 00:41:41,239 Speaker 3: you know what I mean. So a lot of the 832 00:41:41,760 --> 00:41:43,640 Speaker 3: oh my god, you're this and oh it's that. Oh 833 00:41:43,680 --> 00:41:46,160 Speaker 3: my god, you did congratulate and I was like, I 834 00:41:46,280 --> 00:41:50,480 Speaker 3: want to hear it, you know, and it became uncomfortable, 835 00:41:50,560 --> 00:41:54,160 Speaker 3: you know, like, no, like, how how do I go? 836 00:41:54,960 --> 00:41:57,840 Speaker 3: How am I the person that people look up to 837 00:41:57,960 --> 00:42:01,000 Speaker 3: so much? People think I got all the answers and 838 00:42:01,320 --> 00:42:03,440 Speaker 3: I do all the things, and I'm just the best 839 00:42:03,440 --> 00:42:05,279 Speaker 3: of this and the best of that. I'm like, I 840 00:42:05,320 --> 00:42:08,040 Speaker 3: ain't shit, not like in a crazy way, but I'm 841 00:42:08,120 --> 00:42:11,160 Speaker 3: just like, you know, I'm coming to all these realizations 842 00:42:11,200 --> 00:42:13,480 Speaker 3: about myself and this is the exact opposite of what 843 00:42:13,520 --> 00:42:16,279 Speaker 3: people are thinking, you know, about me. And I'm like, 844 00:42:16,840 --> 00:42:19,160 Speaker 3: not that I don't possess any of those things, but 845 00:42:19,760 --> 00:42:24,880 Speaker 3: in totality, I'm sorry, no, you know, and the bad 846 00:42:25,239 --> 00:42:28,840 Speaker 3: parts were outweighing the good, and I'm like, I have 847 00:42:28,920 --> 00:42:31,960 Speaker 3: to make a change, you know. And I'm happy to 848 00:42:32,920 --> 00:42:40,680 Speaker 3: share along my journey because I'm interested to see what 849 00:42:40,920 --> 00:42:43,640 Speaker 3: part of that helps people too, you know what I mean, 850 00:42:43,640 --> 00:42:46,600 Speaker 3: Because I'm like, I can't be the only one. Can't 851 00:42:46,600 --> 00:42:48,279 Speaker 3: be the only one, you know what I mean. So 852 00:42:48,880 --> 00:42:51,719 Speaker 3: I'm happy to and you know, it's a very vulnerable 853 00:42:51,760 --> 00:42:55,080 Speaker 3: time for me, as well, but I'm okay, Like I 854 00:42:55,080 --> 00:43:00,000 Speaker 3: feel like I have someone who absolutely loves and protects me, 855 00:43:00,200 --> 00:43:03,759 Speaker 3: you know, so I feel safe, you know, and being 856 00:43:03,800 --> 00:43:07,840 Speaker 3: able to be comfortable in my vulnerability. And that's so 857 00:43:07,920 --> 00:43:11,040 Speaker 3: important too, like the people you have around you, you know, 858 00:43:11,360 --> 00:43:14,000 Speaker 3: especially if you're if you have a partner in an 859 00:43:14,040 --> 00:43:16,400 Speaker 3: intimate way of some sort, you know, that's so important. 860 00:43:16,400 --> 00:43:18,880 Speaker 3: And that's kind of where it starts, because you go outside, 861 00:43:18,920 --> 00:43:20,840 Speaker 3: but you have to come home every day. You know. 862 00:43:20,880 --> 00:43:22,840 Speaker 3: It's like the person you'll deal with the most. So 863 00:43:23,520 --> 00:43:25,920 Speaker 3: I've had the luxury of having a special person that 864 00:43:26,000 --> 00:43:28,400 Speaker 3: has helped me through all this, but it hasn't been 865 00:43:28,520 --> 00:43:31,279 Speaker 3: It hasn't been easy, you know. But I'm still like 866 00:43:31,880 --> 00:43:35,600 Speaker 3: standing strong in the pursuance of my own happiness. 867 00:43:35,920 --> 00:43:36,879 Speaker 2: And that's powerful too. 868 00:43:36,880 --> 00:43:39,120 Speaker 1: You're not sitting here saying, you know, Tommy, I felt 869 00:43:39,120 --> 00:43:41,000 Speaker 1: that way a year ago. It's something I felt my 870 00:43:41,040 --> 00:43:43,640 Speaker 1: whole life and suppressed it until I couldn't it any longer. 871 00:43:43,680 --> 00:43:46,799 Speaker 1: But now I'm good, everything's great. You're like, no, I'm 872 00:43:46,800 --> 00:43:49,799 Speaker 1: still working on my shit and I don't even know 873 00:43:49,880 --> 00:43:52,640 Speaker 1: what it all means or why I totally felt that way, 874 00:43:52,640 --> 00:43:54,600 Speaker 1: And I'm trying to figure that out day by day. 875 00:43:54,640 --> 00:43:57,200 Speaker 1: And that's an important message too, is it's okay, Like 876 00:43:57,400 --> 00:43:59,680 Speaker 1: there's no time limit on it, Like take time to 877 00:43:59,719 --> 00:44:02,920 Speaker 1: figure out who the hell you are, right, I feel like. 878 00:44:02,920 --> 00:44:06,279 Speaker 3: Things are going to depending on situations, Like things are 879 00:44:06,320 --> 00:44:09,160 Speaker 3: going to arise at any given moment, and there's always 880 00:44:09,200 --> 00:44:10,960 Speaker 3: going to be something that you're going to have to face, 881 00:44:11,480 --> 00:44:14,200 Speaker 3: deal with it, sort out and figure out how you're 882 00:44:14,239 --> 00:44:17,040 Speaker 3: going to move forward. Like I don't think it all 883 00:44:17,080 --> 00:44:21,239 Speaker 3: happens in one shot, Like here it is shits and shambles. 884 00:44:21,600 --> 00:44:23,680 Speaker 3: Figure it out, like no, things are going to keep 885 00:44:23,719 --> 00:44:25,439 Speaker 3: coming and keep coming up, you know what I mean. 886 00:44:25,560 --> 00:44:29,960 Speaker 3: So it's easier said, so I try to say it. 887 00:44:29,960 --> 00:44:33,560 Speaker 3: It's truthfully not easy, but just truthfully speaking, you know 888 00:44:33,600 --> 00:44:34,000 Speaker 3: what I mean. 889 00:44:34,320 --> 00:44:35,840 Speaker 2: Well, thank you for sharing that. 890 00:44:35,920 --> 00:44:37,919 Speaker 1: I think that's a very important message to put out, 891 00:44:37,960 --> 00:44:40,480 Speaker 1: and I'm glad you're at a place today where while 892 00:44:40,520 --> 00:44:43,080 Speaker 1: you still have things to figure out, you do love 893 00:44:43,120 --> 00:44:46,560 Speaker 1: yourself and you know, you realize that you belong here, 894 00:44:46,640 --> 00:44:48,319 Speaker 1: you should be here, you should be doing the things 895 00:44:48,360 --> 00:44:50,840 Speaker 1: you're doing, and you deserve it all. And you'll figure 896 00:44:50,840 --> 00:44:52,880 Speaker 1: out more and more about yourself as you keep going. 897 00:44:52,920 --> 00:44:55,560 Speaker 1: But I think that's a really cool message to put out, 898 00:44:56,120 --> 00:44:59,200 Speaker 1: especially from an outsider looking in when you think she 899 00:44:59,239 --> 00:45:02,560 Speaker 1: can never feel that way. I think that's really really cool, Breezy. 900 00:45:02,880 --> 00:45:04,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, I just I adore you. 901 00:45:04,920 --> 00:45:07,719 Speaker 1: After talking to you, I'm so happy for your success, 902 00:45:08,000 --> 00:45:12,160 Speaker 1: and it's really cool to hear more about who you are. 903 00:45:12,239 --> 00:45:14,920 Speaker 1: And I feel like, hopefully this interview gave you a 904 00:45:14,920 --> 00:45:18,120 Speaker 1: different space to talk about some different things, and I 905 00:45:18,160 --> 00:45:20,320 Speaker 1: know I so enjoyed it, and I think this conversation 906 00:45:20,360 --> 00:45:21,879 Speaker 1: will help a lot of people out there. 907 00:45:22,360 --> 00:45:25,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, I did. I appreciate you. I appreciate you, know, 908 00:45:25,680 --> 00:45:28,920 Speaker 3: just you asking the real questions, you know, because so 909 00:45:29,600 --> 00:45:32,160 Speaker 3: much of these type of things are just so surface 910 00:45:32,320 --> 00:45:35,279 Speaker 3: level when the answers are like premeditated and it's like 911 00:45:35,360 --> 00:45:39,960 Speaker 3: that at you know, But I appreciate you truly. Thank well, Thank. 912 00:45:39,760 --> 00:45:44,759 Speaker 1: You, Thank you for joining from Paris. You're in Paris still, right, Yeah, 913 00:45:44,840 --> 00:45:46,800 Speaker 1: which is, by the way, the city I got engaged 914 00:45:46,840 --> 00:45:48,839 Speaker 1: in so forever a special place. 915 00:45:48,520 --> 00:45:49,160 Speaker 2: In my heart. 916 00:45:49,920 --> 00:45:50,440 Speaker 3: I love that. 917 00:45:50,719 --> 00:45:52,800 Speaker 2: Yes, I love it very much. But thank you. I 918 00:45:53,120 --> 00:45:55,239 Speaker 2: hope we get to hang out in person in the 919 00:45:55,280 --> 00:45:56,719 Speaker 2: near future. Keep killing it. 920 00:45:56,760 --> 00:45:59,759 Speaker 1: I'll be watching your star continue to rise and explode. 921 00:45:59,760 --> 00:46:01,040 Speaker 2: In the best ways possible. 922 00:46:01,640 --> 00:46:02,879 Speaker 3: Thank you, I appreciate it. 923 00:46:03,000 --> 00:46:04,279 Speaker 2: All right, my friend talks soon. 924 00:46:04,840 --> 00:46:05,239 Speaker 3: All Right. 925 00:46:06,680 --> 00:46:10,200 Speaker 1: I've Never Said This Before is hosted by me Tommy Dedario. 926 00:46:10,920 --> 00:46:15,160 Speaker 1: This podcast is executive produced by Andrew Piglisi at iHeartRadio 927 00:46:15,280 --> 00:46:19,600 Speaker 1: and by me Tommy, with editing by Joshua Colaudney. I've 928 00:46:19,640 --> 00:46:22,000 Speaker 1: Never Said This Before is part of the Elvis Duran 929 00:46:22,120 --> 00:46:26,360 Speaker 1: podcast network on iHeart Podcasts. For more, rate review and 930 00:46:26,480 --> 00:46:29,360 Speaker 1: subscribe to our show and if you liked this episode, 931 00:46:29,560 --> 00:46:32,920 Speaker 1: tell your friends. Until next time, I'm Tommy de Dario.