1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:02,280 Speaker 1: Like you mentioned, like they're a huge part of like 2 00:00:02,440 --> 00:00:06,120 Speaker 1: black women's lives. Like my hair braider a week before 3 00:00:06,160 --> 00:00:08,440 Speaker 1: my wedding, Like she saved my life. 4 00:00:08,520 --> 00:00:12,800 Speaker 2: You know, it was like everything I needed that day. 5 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:15,200 Speaker 1: Like I was having a meltdown, I had a thigh 6 00:00:15,280 --> 00:00:17,720 Speaker 1: in my eye, I didn't get the right hair for 7 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:21,079 Speaker 1: the style I wanted. She was my therapist, she was 8 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:23,560 Speaker 1: my mom, she was my auntie, she was my best 9 00:00:23,560 --> 00:00:26,040 Speaker 1: friend and on all of that, and I feel like 10 00:00:26,079 --> 00:00:31,480 Speaker 1: that's all encapsulated in this show. So it's really exciting 11 00:00:31,560 --> 00:00:34,280 Speaker 1: to be able to put that on a Broadway stage. 12 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:36,920 Speaker 1: I never thought i'd get that opportunity to The play 13 00:00:37,120 --> 00:00:40,800 Speaker 1: is Ja Jazz African hair Braiding. It is on Broadway 14 00:00:41,080 --> 00:00:46,640 Speaker 1: right now. We must support my next guest, Jocelyn Bio 15 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:47,600 Speaker 1: on Naked. 16 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:01,000 Speaker 3: It's the greatest spel And then the same ma can 17 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:03,440 Speaker 3: nanke You put carry champion, then carry chappy. 18 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:06,280 Speaker 4: Is to be a champion, a champion, they carry chapion, 19 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:07,960 Speaker 4: thet a champion. 20 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:09,679 Speaker 2: They carry chapion and carried she. 21 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 5: Nake. 22 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:12,840 Speaker 2: You wear done. 23 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:15,520 Speaker 5: For most Black women, getting your hair done is pretty 24 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:17,640 Speaker 5: much a spiritual experience. 25 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:19,680 Speaker 2: And I learned this when I was seven years old. 26 00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:22,400 Speaker 5: That's when I started getting my hair done because my 27 00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:25,080 Speaker 5: mother did not want to do it herself. It was thick, 28 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:28,120 Speaker 5: as the old folks would say. But the exposure of 29 00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:31,760 Speaker 5: putting your hair on someone else's hands, that transformation that 30 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:35,840 Speaker 5: we undergo. The patience it takes to sit and get 31 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:40,240 Speaker 5: your hair done, especially as a Black woman, is unlike 32 00:01:40,319 --> 00:01:43,520 Speaker 5: anything you can ever really experience. But of course now 33 00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:47,360 Speaker 5: you can. There's a play it is called Ja Jazz 34 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:51,400 Speaker 5: African Hair Braiding. The playwright it is Jocelyn bi Oh 35 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:56,000 Speaker 5: and she, by far, at least in my opinion, is 36 00:01:56,200 --> 00:02:00,800 Speaker 5: one of the most young talented playwrights out there. She 37 00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:05,000 Speaker 5: captures the experiences of black women in such a very 38 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:08,679 Speaker 5: special way, in such unique settings, and I feel like 39 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:12,800 Speaker 5: it is her duty to do so. She's been chosen 40 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:16,720 Speaker 5: set apart for the very first time, her play is 41 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 5: on Broadway, and as you listen to her talk, I 42 00:02:20,200 --> 00:02:23,600 Speaker 5: really truly encourage you all go out and support her. 43 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:27,040 Speaker 5: It will be on Broadway until November nineteenth. They could 44 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:30,840 Speaker 5: get extended, but it is worth a special trip to 45 00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:34,800 Speaker 5: support her, to give her life because she is giving 46 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:38,600 Speaker 5: voice to Black women and she's making sure that they 47 00:02:38,639 --> 00:02:42,799 Speaker 5: are seen and they are heard. Such a beautiful moment 48 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:47,240 Speaker 5: and such a lovely conversation. Welcome Jocelyn Bo to Naked. 49 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:50,359 Speaker 2: Cha Champion and Care with Chapion and Care with chap. 50 00:02:51,639 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 5: Jocelyn. First of all, congratulations on all of your success. 51 00:02:54,919 --> 00:02:58,000 Speaker 5: I have been reading of a storm. I literally was saying, 52 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:02,120 Speaker 5: as this is random, as I was getting. 53 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:02,440 Speaker 2: Ready for work. 54 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:04,280 Speaker 5: I was doing have a TV show and I was 55 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 5: doing hair and makeup, and I was talking to my 56 00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:09,799 Speaker 5: podcast booker and I was like, oh, yeah, I want 57 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:13,000 Speaker 5: to see that play. I heard that play was so great, 58 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:15,560 Speaker 5: jah Jobs, and I was just like, oh, it's word 59 00:03:15,639 --> 00:03:19,280 Speaker 5: of mouth, Like it's so wonderful that it's just word 60 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:21,000 Speaker 5: of mouth and you can just be sitting somewhere and 61 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:21,880 Speaker 5: somebody can say I. 62 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:26,240 Speaker 2: Heard and that was just that wonderful. So let's begin there. 63 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:33,160 Speaker 2: This is your first on Broadway play. How does it feel? Congratulation, 64 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 2: thank you, thank you. It feels good. 65 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:38,120 Speaker 1: It feels good that people are connecting with it. It 66 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:42,120 Speaker 1: feels good that people are enjoying it. It's bringing in 67 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:45,040 Speaker 1: a whole new crop of audiences to see Broadway shows 68 00:03:45,080 --> 00:03:48,360 Speaker 1: because for the most part, it's usually like older, whiter, 69 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:52,560 Speaker 1: you know, audiences there's not usually a lot of younger 70 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:56,000 Speaker 1: black people who show up, so it's nice that they 71 00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:58,360 Speaker 1: feel like there's something for the culture happening on a 72 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:00,400 Speaker 1: Broadway stage and they want to come out and support. 73 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:03,240 Speaker 2: So it's good. I feel good and. 74 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:05,480 Speaker 5: You think you deserve it. It's been a long time coming. 75 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:07,840 Speaker 5: I know people were like, she's an overnight says, I've 76 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:12,080 Speaker 5: been doing this for a minute, you know, you know. 77 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:14,440 Speaker 2: That that's like the craziest statement in the world. 78 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:16,680 Speaker 1: Like, we worked so hard doing what we do and 79 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:19,640 Speaker 1: I've been grinding for a very, very, very long time. 80 00:04:19,800 --> 00:04:22,760 Speaker 1: So you know, my best friend always says like it 81 00:04:22,839 --> 00:04:25,000 Speaker 1: takes a long time for things to happen quickly, and 82 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:28,200 Speaker 1: that's I really feel like that's kind of the vibe 83 00:04:28,279 --> 00:04:29,240 Speaker 1: with the show right now. 84 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:32,240 Speaker 5: Okay, so let's go back from the to the beginning. 85 00:04:32,839 --> 00:04:36,160 Speaker 5: From my understanding, Jocelyn, you went to school and you 86 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:40,239 Speaker 5: and you got a degree in English as well as theater. 87 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:44,800 Speaker 2: Is that correct? Yeah? And the reason, uh, I well 88 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:45,520 Speaker 2: not even the reason. 89 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:48,640 Speaker 5: I think you told your parents you were going to 90 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:50,560 Speaker 5: school for business because you didn't want them to know 91 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:51,440 Speaker 5: your real love. 92 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:55,960 Speaker 2: Why is that? Well, you know, look, I'm first generation Ghanian. 93 00:04:56,240 --> 00:04:58,600 Speaker 1: Both my parents are from Ghana and West Africa, and 94 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:01,720 Speaker 1: like like most immigrant parents, you know, they want their 95 00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:05,559 Speaker 1: kids to kind of only go into professions that seemed 96 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:09,479 Speaker 1: like moneymakers out the gate, you know, doctor's, lawyer, engineer, 97 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 1: the whole vibe. And so of course that's what they 98 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:14,279 Speaker 1: wanted me to do. Of course, it's what they wanted 99 00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:15,080 Speaker 1: me to study. 100 00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:16,880 Speaker 2: And I was just scared. 101 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:19,400 Speaker 1: I was just scared to, you know, share that my 102 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:22,120 Speaker 1: my real love was in theater, was in the arts. 103 00:05:23,640 --> 00:05:25,640 Speaker 1: But I knew that I was really passionate about it, 104 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:28,000 Speaker 1: and I knew that I was pretty good at it, 105 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 1: and so I was hopeful that when they learned I 106 00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:34,040 Speaker 1: had changed my mind, it wouldn't be that big of 107 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:37,400 Speaker 1: a deal. And honestly, it really wasn't it really, honestly. 108 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:39,040 Speaker 2: Wasn't that bad. It was why did you tell them 109 00:05:41,520 --> 00:05:46,279 Speaker 2: just shy of my graduation? You're like, so, by the way, 110 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:49,720 Speaker 2: when you guys come to see me graduate, funny thing 111 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:54,640 Speaker 2: is wouldn't be English or theater, not business. 112 00:05:54,920 --> 00:05:59,920 Speaker 1: Just but it was fine because I actually had decided 113 00:05:59,960 --> 00:06:02,560 Speaker 1: to go straight from undergrad to grad school and I 114 00:06:02,640 --> 00:06:08,040 Speaker 1: had gotten into Colombia's MFA playwriting program and so I 115 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:10,880 Speaker 1: think the like Ivy League of It all kind of 116 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:12,160 Speaker 1: smooth things over. 117 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:15,160 Speaker 5: You're like you like, listen, I'm not going to Hollywood 118 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:16,839 Speaker 5: to start this. I'm going to go right to school. 119 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:19,400 Speaker 5: I'm going to just perfect what I already know. That's perfect, 120 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:20,760 Speaker 5: exactly exactly. 121 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:24,839 Speaker 2: So what you have decided to do, and I. 122 00:06:24,839 --> 00:06:27,080 Speaker 5: Think it's been done before but in very different ways, 123 00:06:27,279 --> 00:06:31,760 Speaker 5: is the way in which you be you you actually had. 124 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:34,799 Speaker 2: I don't want to bypass this. You you are an actor. 125 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:37,200 Speaker 5: You have been in a play, yes, right, you're a 126 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:39,800 Speaker 5: working actor, you're a theater actor. 127 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:43,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, So I want to make sure that I'm very 128 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:44,320 Speaker 2: clear about that. 129 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:49,039 Speaker 5: I read that you got your very one role as 130 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:53,240 Speaker 5: a punk girl unhelpful employee. 131 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:54,360 Speaker 2: Right, was it that one of the roles? 132 00:06:54,640 --> 00:06:58,000 Speaker 5: Yeah? And you were like I was making decent money. 133 00:06:58,040 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 5: What does decent money make me? You don't have a name, 134 00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:03,200 Speaker 5: You just have a title as your your your role. 135 00:07:04,080 --> 00:07:04,280 Speaker 5: You know. 136 00:07:04,760 --> 00:07:09,040 Speaker 1: It's it's a tricky thing, you know, doing theater and 137 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:13,600 Speaker 1: and and wanting to have a career and also trying 138 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 1: to pay your bills, like of you know, of all 139 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:20,120 Speaker 1: of the like entertainment sects that you can work as 140 00:07:20,120 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 1: an actor, film, TV and theater. You know, theater is 141 00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:26,760 Speaker 1: the one that is the least paying, and it's it's 142 00:07:26,840 --> 00:07:29,280 Speaker 1: just different. It's a different model. It's it's usually a 143 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:32,440 Speaker 1: lot of non for profit and the rate of return 144 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:36,760 Speaker 1: is different. And so I knew that I wanted to 145 00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:43,280 Speaker 1: really step into my writer a bag, but for a way, 146 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:45,560 Speaker 1: and I knew that I just had to make a 147 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:48,040 Speaker 1: commitment to that. And so that meant that I had 148 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:52,200 Speaker 1: to like kind of shift my priorities from acting on 149 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:56,080 Speaker 1: stage to writing. What I didn't know was that the 150 00:07:56,160 --> 00:07:58,880 Speaker 1: writing would then lead to opportunities in film and TV. 151 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:00,880 Speaker 1: And that's kind of like some implemented a lot of 152 00:08:01,040 --> 00:08:07,600 Speaker 1: my income, man if you will. Yeah, yeah, So so 153 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:09,600 Speaker 1: I just made a I just made a shift in 154 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:12,040 Speaker 1: my priorities. But it didn't mean that it's gone forever. 155 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:15,280 Speaker 1: I still still have to get back to age. 156 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:17,480 Speaker 2: But yeah, you're doing you can? You can't you write 157 00:08:17,480 --> 00:08:21,760 Speaker 2: yourself in a play? I can? I mean you might 158 00:08:21,840 --> 00:08:23,640 Speaker 2: want to get back to you. Did you just write 159 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:26,960 Speaker 2: a play called Jocelyn? I know, I just I don't 160 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:29,440 Speaker 2: know why I'm bugging out. I need to do that now. 161 00:08:30,760 --> 00:08:34,760 Speaker 1: Yes, it's about me here first breaking news I'm writing 162 00:08:34,800 --> 00:08:35,360 Speaker 1: my own show. 163 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:38,319 Speaker 2: It's called Jocelyn, and it's breaking news right here on 164 00:08:38,400 --> 00:08:41,319 Speaker 2: this podcast, like I'm hoping to get back to it. 165 00:08:41,360 --> 00:08:43,800 Speaker 2: I'm like that was me with my ego self. I'd 166 00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:45,760 Speaker 2: be like, oh, what did I do? She's gonna hop 167 00:08:45,800 --> 00:08:48,000 Speaker 2: on what did I do? So here's my thing. 168 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:52,440 Speaker 5: I know, all businesses don't pay well, right, especially in theater. 169 00:08:52,520 --> 00:08:55,040 Speaker 5: I remember when I first started as a local journalist. 170 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:56,959 Speaker 5: My first shop is twelve thousand dollars a year. I 171 00:08:57,080 --> 00:09:00,360 Speaker 5: was living, but I was barely living. Yeah, so you 172 00:09:00,559 --> 00:09:03,960 Speaker 5: have this talent that is undeniable. And what I think 173 00:09:04,080 --> 00:09:06,240 Speaker 5: that you've done in your very your early plays that 174 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:10,880 Speaker 5: that were off Broadway, not on Broadway. Uh, can you 175 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:14,080 Speaker 5: tell me the difference off that Way means versus on Bread? 176 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:18,599 Speaker 2: Yes, okay. So Broadway is a very specific group of 177 00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:23,880 Speaker 2: commercial theaters that usually center around the Times Square area, 178 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:30,199 Speaker 2: and they are for profit theaters. So anybody who's doing 179 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:33,319 Speaker 2: a Broadway show, for the most part, is doing a 180 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:37,120 Speaker 2: show that is produced by a group of producers and 181 00:09:37,280 --> 00:09:41,200 Speaker 2: they are in it to make a profit, whereas off 182 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:46,680 Speaker 2: Broadway is usually a nonprofit theater organization who benefit from 183 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:50,599 Speaker 2: like donations or sponsors or you know, donors, things like that, 184 00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:56,280 Speaker 2: and so their budgets are set every year from essentially 185 00:09:56,400 --> 00:10:01,520 Speaker 2: people who are generously generous enough to fund their programming. 186 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:06,440 Speaker 2: So there's differences there, I mean each each theater of course, 187 00:10:06,480 --> 00:10:09,720 Speaker 2: commercial or nonprofit. They all want to have a hit 188 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:13,400 Speaker 2: show that makes them a lot of money, but commercial 189 00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:15,600 Speaker 2: is a different vibe and that's what's on Broadway. 190 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:18,640 Speaker 5: Okay, So tell me the difference between your early place, 191 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:20,920 Speaker 5: like you had the African Mean Girls, which was based 192 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:26,120 Speaker 5: on a combination of your experience, your mom's experience, and 193 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:29,439 Speaker 5: I just believe, I don't know the other there was 194 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:32,240 Speaker 5: another another experience. I forgot which what it was, but 195 00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:33,120 Speaker 5: I love that. 196 00:10:35,280 --> 00:10:36,280 Speaker 2: I loved it loosely. 197 00:10:37,679 --> 00:10:42,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, it was Lucy inspired from the real Mist Ghana Pageant, 198 00:10:42,920 --> 00:10:48,600 Speaker 1: uh in the early aughts, where the Ghana Pageant officials 199 00:10:48,640 --> 00:10:51,800 Speaker 1: went and found a girl who was American born, bi 200 00:10:51,920 --> 00:10:55,440 Speaker 1: racial but had a gunny even father and brought her 201 00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:58,559 Speaker 1: to compete in the Mist Ghana Pageant because they thought 202 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:02,760 Speaker 1: they'd have a better shot Miss Universe in a candidate 203 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:03,959 Speaker 1: who was lighter skinned. 204 00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:08,440 Speaker 2: And it was really quite the scandal in. 205 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:12,199 Speaker 1: Like Gannian news media obviously didn't make it across the pond, 206 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:16,719 Speaker 1: but I thought that was a really unique story of 207 00:11:16,800 --> 00:11:20,480 Speaker 1: how colorism kind of came into play in a beauty competition. 208 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:23,199 Speaker 2: And not that I follow that. I don't follow beauty 209 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:25,800 Speaker 2: pageants or anything in a real way, but I just 210 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:26,680 Speaker 2: I had my. 211 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:30,520 Speaker 1: Own experiences with colorism and kind of my own journey 212 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:33,400 Speaker 1: into like owning my beauty as a dark skinned black woman, 213 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:35,120 Speaker 1: and always wanted to write about it. And so I 214 00:11:35,200 --> 00:11:37,800 Speaker 1: put I put all of that into a play that 215 00:11:37,920 --> 00:11:40,360 Speaker 1: was set in a high school, and you know, the 216 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:43,400 Speaker 1: high stakes thing was that a Paja recruiter was coming in. 217 00:11:44,080 --> 00:11:47,080 Speaker 2: You know, comedy and drama in too. So I started. 218 00:11:47,160 --> 00:11:50,160 Speaker 1: That was my first play that got produced off Broadway. 219 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:54,200 Speaker 1: And I was six years ago now, and yeah, such a. 220 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:56,880 Speaker 2: Great sense of humor. Oh you know what I mean. 221 00:11:57,880 --> 00:12:01,520 Speaker 5: So I always say this about black people, we do 222 00:12:01,640 --> 00:12:04,560 Speaker 5: trauma the best, Like we really can turn our pain 223 00:12:04,760 --> 00:12:08,960 Speaker 5: into hilarity or comedy, whatever we choose to do. Color 224 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:11,400 Speaker 5: is a reserveo thing and it's painful, but it's really 225 00:12:11,480 --> 00:12:14,520 Speaker 5: funny to look at who we are as people and 226 00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:16,679 Speaker 5: how we behave and if you may and then if 227 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:19,000 Speaker 5: you laugh at it, it's digestible. 228 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:20,640 Speaker 2: At least that's how I see it. 229 00:12:21,160 --> 00:12:23,800 Speaker 1: I mean, yeah, because we're a people who come from 230 00:12:23,880 --> 00:12:26,760 Speaker 1: a lot of trauma, and like, you know, you can't 231 00:12:26,880 --> 00:12:30,760 Speaker 1: say that at any given time in our existence that 232 00:12:30,840 --> 00:12:32,599 Speaker 1: we did not find joy in some way. It's the 233 00:12:32,679 --> 00:12:35,719 Speaker 1: only way we could survive. So I feel like, you know, 234 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:41,319 Speaker 1: my baseline as a writer is comedy. I just like 235 00:12:41,440 --> 00:12:45,160 Speaker 1: that kind of spoonful of sugar mentality when you're telling 236 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:48,000 Speaker 1: a story in a similar way like Ja Jaws. Like 237 00:12:48,080 --> 00:12:50,360 Speaker 1: the heart of it is of course about like Harlem hair, 238 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:54,280 Speaker 1: braiding black women hair, the diaspora, and then at the 239 00:12:54,400 --> 00:12:57,160 Speaker 1: center of it, it's also immigration and like what it's 240 00:12:57,240 --> 00:12:59,839 Speaker 1: like to be an immigrant woman in this country, and 241 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:02,240 Speaker 1: and you know what it's like to come here with 242 00:13:02,360 --> 00:13:05,680 Speaker 1: an American dream and then kind of meet American reality. 243 00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:09,200 Speaker 1: So all of that is not going to be easily digestible, 244 00:13:09,920 --> 00:13:11,840 Speaker 1: and so I think wrapping it up in a comedic 245 00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:16,920 Speaker 1: space is really helpful. So as long as people keep laughing, 246 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:20,120 Speaker 1: then I you know, I'm good. Let's say stop laugh 247 00:13:20,160 --> 00:13:21,600 Speaker 1: from I'll be like cool, cool, cool, Let me put 248 00:13:21,679 --> 00:13:22,200 Speaker 1: up my pencil. 249 00:13:22,559 --> 00:13:24,800 Speaker 2: Okay, I'm all said. I don't think that'll ever be 250 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:25,320 Speaker 2: the case. 251 00:13:25,440 --> 00:13:28,800 Speaker 5: Joh Joss African Hair Breeding is on Broadway until November fifth. 252 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:30,680 Speaker 5: I'm sure there it may stay long. 253 00:13:32,200 --> 00:13:34,400 Speaker 2: Update update, update, update, taking. 254 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:40,880 Speaker 1: News today, we have extended again until November nineteen. So 255 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:44,040 Speaker 1: we have extended again. The people love it, and so 256 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:46,960 Speaker 1: we are going for another two more weeks. So we're 257 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:50,240 Speaker 1: going now till November nineteenth. Congratulations. 258 00:13:50,760 --> 00:13:51,439 Speaker 2: Just proud of you. 259 00:13:51,880 --> 00:13:55,760 Speaker 5: I love that all of the settings for your place 260 00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:58,800 Speaker 5: take take place within the diaspora, and they tell a 261 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:03,240 Speaker 5: very interesting story that must be told and acknowledging hair 262 00:14:03,360 --> 00:14:06,320 Speaker 5: braikers like talk about that for a second, because there's 263 00:14:06,360 --> 00:14:09,080 Speaker 5: so much poetry in what they do and who they 264 00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:14,240 Speaker 5: are for us, for us in general, getting your hair braided, Brady, 265 00:14:14,760 --> 00:14:17,400 Speaker 5: getting your hair done is a spiritual experience period for 266 00:14:17,600 --> 00:14:21,240 Speaker 5: put right exactly and I just period. 267 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:24,120 Speaker 2: So I love this idea. Tell everybody more about the. 268 00:14:25,760 --> 00:14:25,920 Speaker 3: Well. 269 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:29,760 Speaker 1: So Josha's African Hair Braiding is set in twenty nineteen 270 00:14:29,920 --> 00:14:33,320 Speaker 1: on a hot summer day, and the play spans over 271 00:14:33,360 --> 00:14:35,240 Speaker 1: the course of one day. We start at nine am 272 00:14:35,680 --> 00:14:37,960 Speaker 1: and we end at nine pm, and we just meet 273 00:14:38,080 --> 00:14:40,600 Speaker 1: all of the hair braiders at this shop and the 274 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:45,200 Speaker 1: central character, the title character, rather, Jaja is getting married 275 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:48,880 Speaker 1: and there's a lot of questions about whether her marriage 276 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:52,400 Speaker 1: is really for love or for you know, the convenience 277 00:14:52,440 --> 00:14:55,320 Speaker 1: of papers, and so there's a lot of discussion about that. 278 00:14:55,640 --> 00:15:00,800 Speaker 2: And like I mentioned immigration throughout the play, and I mean, 279 00:15:01,560 --> 00:15:03,080 Speaker 2: and it's a huge cast of characters. 280 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:07,200 Speaker 1: It's ten actors on stage, nine black women, one black man, 281 00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:10,680 Speaker 1: and there's seventeen different characters. So there's some people who 282 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:15,000 Speaker 1: are playing multiple customers and people there's and stuff like 283 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:16,160 Speaker 1: that who come into the shop. 284 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:19,080 Speaker 2: So I really wanted to spread the wealth of like 285 00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:22,160 Speaker 2: all of the black people who come into the shop, 286 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:25,280 Speaker 2: after the women who come in, who work at the salon, 287 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:30,880 Speaker 2: customers who come into the shop, everyone and everything I 288 00:15:30,920 --> 00:15:33,640 Speaker 2: could think of I head threw into the play. 289 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:35,880 Speaker 1: And it was important to me. I wanted to write 290 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:38,800 Speaker 1: a love letter to these Harlem women. They're the heart 291 00:15:38,880 --> 00:15:41,360 Speaker 1: of Harlem. They're part of a huge part of the 292 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:46,520 Speaker 1: economy of Harlem, and also kind of telling their story. 293 00:15:46,640 --> 00:15:49,320 Speaker 1: So many of us who like either grew up in 294 00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:52,680 Speaker 1: Harlem or you know, go there to hang out, whatever 295 00:15:52,760 --> 00:15:55,080 Speaker 1: the case. You walk by a lot of these shops, 296 00:15:55,120 --> 00:15:57,400 Speaker 1: you walk by these women sometimes trying to solicit you 297 00:15:57,600 --> 00:15:59,800 Speaker 1: to braid your hair in the street, and you don't 298 00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:02,600 Speaker 1: really know about them their lives, And I think this 299 00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:06,040 Speaker 1: is like really lifting you know, the curtain on who 300 00:16:06,120 --> 00:16:09,400 Speaker 1: they are, their experiences, and you know what their dreams 301 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:11,520 Speaker 1: and hopes were. And I feel like there's never been 302 00:16:11,600 --> 00:16:13,680 Speaker 1: a story that's centered on them in any way, And 303 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:16,920 Speaker 1: like you mentioned, like they're a huge part of like 304 00:16:17,160 --> 00:16:18,240 Speaker 1: black women's lives. 305 00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:21,680 Speaker 2: Like my hair braider a week before my wedding, like 306 00:16:22,040 --> 00:16:27,440 Speaker 2: she saved my life. You know, I needed that day. 307 00:16:27,680 --> 00:16:29,880 Speaker 1: Like I was having a meltdown, I had a sigh 308 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:32,440 Speaker 1: in my eye. I didn't get the right hair for 309 00:16:32,880 --> 00:16:35,640 Speaker 1: the style I wanted. You know, I was feeling stressed 310 00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:36,359 Speaker 1: out about. 311 00:16:36,280 --> 00:16:39,680 Speaker 2: You know, family coming in town and all the things. 312 00:16:39,760 --> 00:16:42,080 Speaker 1: And like in those six hours that she did the 313 00:16:42,120 --> 00:16:45,320 Speaker 1: most beautiful, perfect style of braids that I wanted for 314 00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:48,280 Speaker 1: my wedding day. She was my therapist, she was my mom, 315 00:16:48,440 --> 00:16:52,160 Speaker 1: she was my auntie, she was my best friend and 316 00:16:53,080 --> 00:16:54,640 Speaker 1: on all of that and I feel like that's all 317 00:16:54,760 --> 00:16:59,880 Speaker 1: encapsulated in this show. So that's really exciting to be 318 00:17:00,040 --> 00:17:02,720 Speaker 1: able to put that on a Broadway stage. I never 319 00:17:02,760 --> 00:17:06,840 Speaker 1: thought I'd get that opportunity, but why. I think, well, 320 00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:09,879 Speaker 1: why would I you know, those opportunities never come to 321 00:17:10,359 --> 00:17:12,720 Speaker 1: you know, black people. I mean, I'm the first black 322 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:17,000 Speaker 1: playwright since nineteen ninety one to premiere a play on 323 00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:21,880 Speaker 1: Broadway cold like without having without it being done previously anywhere. 324 00:17:23,119 --> 00:17:26,920 Speaker 1: Those kind of stats are you know, very common when 325 00:17:26,960 --> 00:17:29,960 Speaker 1: it comes to black people and black artists. Leave it 326 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:32,680 Speaker 1: to a black woman, don't you do it? 327 00:17:33,359 --> 00:17:37,640 Speaker 2: Won't we do it? I mean we will? We will 328 00:17:38,520 --> 00:17:40,879 Speaker 2: because I'm like, you know, I'm like, why not? 329 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:43,320 Speaker 4: Why not? 330 00:17:44,200 --> 00:17:47,439 Speaker 2: How does it mean? The first y one? How does 331 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:51,960 Speaker 2: it feel? It feels? It feels incredible, it feels humbling, 332 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:56,120 Speaker 2: it feels bittersweet, like so many of our those beautiful 333 00:17:56,160 --> 00:18:00,920 Speaker 2: acknowledgments and winds are. But I'm I'm thrilled about that. 334 00:18:01,080 --> 00:18:04,280 Speaker 1: I'm thrilled to be able to share this story and 335 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:07,159 Speaker 1: that people are coming out and it also it just 336 00:18:07,359 --> 00:18:12,080 Speaker 1: proves that, like we when people say representation matters, I know, 337 00:18:12,160 --> 00:18:15,120 Speaker 1: this side of saying we've it has been beaten to death. 338 00:18:15,040 --> 00:18:17,560 Speaker 2: At this point, but like it's so true. I think 339 00:18:17,760 --> 00:18:18,360 Speaker 2: the show. 340 00:18:18,240 --> 00:18:23,320 Speaker 1: Extending multiple times, extending, having different audiences come to see 341 00:18:23,400 --> 00:18:27,159 Speaker 1: the show just proves that, like people are starving to 342 00:18:27,359 --> 00:18:30,680 Speaker 1: have a good time, starving to see themselves on a 343 00:18:31,200 --> 00:18:35,280 Speaker 1: Broadway stage, and I'm just glad that I'm part of 344 00:18:35,359 --> 00:18:36,639 Speaker 1: that history. 345 00:18:37,440 --> 00:18:40,960 Speaker 5: Yeah, I think that's amazing. So let's just take a 346 00:18:41,040 --> 00:18:43,440 Speaker 5: moment and celebrate that. Don't gloss over that. I think 347 00:18:43,520 --> 00:18:47,480 Speaker 5: that we oftentimes do amazing things and we're like, what's next, 348 00:18:47,560 --> 00:18:49,920 Speaker 5: and we're looking ahead. Have you been able to sit 349 00:18:50,080 --> 00:18:53,919 Speaker 5: and enjoy this success? Have you been able to understand 350 00:18:54,040 --> 00:18:56,639 Speaker 5: the accomplishment as you just explained it to me with 351 00:18:56,760 --> 00:18:57,520 Speaker 5: all the stats? 352 00:18:58,119 --> 00:19:02,880 Speaker 1: I think I think I understand that more every time 353 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:04,240 Speaker 1: I say it out loud. 354 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:08,680 Speaker 2: You know, when I just think and think about it 355 00:19:08,840 --> 00:19:10,680 Speaker 2: or read about it, I don't. I don't know that. 356 00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:12,920 Speaker 1: I'm like taking it in, But when I say it 357 00:19:13,040 --> 00:19:14,920 Speaker 1: out loud, I'm like, wow, that's crazy. 358 00:19:15,119 --> 00:19:18,080 Speaker 5: You know that I'm part of the part of the Hey, everybody, 359 00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:20,840 Speaker 5: you know what I do. I have to pay these bills. Otherwise, 360 00:19:20,880 --> 00:19:23,919 Speaker 5: the podcast does not stay on, so you can fast forward, 361 00:19:24,200 --> 00:19:25,800 Speaker 5: or you can listen to these great commercials. 362 00:19:25,880 --> 00:19:27,439 Speaker 2: We'll be right back in just a few minutes. 363 00:19:27,840 --> 00:19:30,600 Speaker 3: Every champion and carry champion is to be a champion, 364 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:33,560 Speaker 3: A champion and carry champion and carry chat be a 365 00:19:33,680 --> 00:19:38,359 Speaker 3: Champion and carry Chappion and carry Chap Entertainment and Naked 366 00:19:38,440 --> 00:19:47,840 Speaker 3: Weird Kerry Champion and carry Champion. 367 00:19:47,560 --> 00:19:50,240 Speaker 4: Is to be a champion, a champion and Carrie Chappion, 368 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:53,800 Speaker 4: Nigger Champion and carry Champion and carry Chap. 369 00:19:55,240 --> 00:19:56,480 Speaker 2: Entertainment and naked Word. 370 00:19:57,320 --> 00:20:00,600 Speaker 5: Welcome back to Naked and here is more from the 371 00:20:00,960 --> 00:20:06,720 Speaker 5: lovely and extremely impressive Joscelynbio. You also had one of 372 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:09,280 Speaker 5: your off Broadway plays premiere in the UK and you 373 00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:12,159 Speaker 5: had you know, Andris Elba as the production on the 374 00:20:12,240 --> 00:20:14,200 Speaker 5: on the producing team like that, Yeah, that's just a 375 00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:16,680 Speaker 5: check check check check check. Like to me, the next 376 00:20:16,800 --> 00:20:19,480 Speaker 5: probable step after that, it's like, okay, I'll be on Broadway. 377 00:20:19,760 --> 00:20:21,360 Speaker 5: You never thought like I'll be on Broadway. 378 00:20:21,640 --> 00:20:24,960 Speaker 1: That's I mean, I think I'm you know, I'm such 379 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:28,320 Speaker 1: a like head down and only peek up you know 380 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:31,920 Speaker 1: when I need to kind of person. I'm like just 381 00:20:32,040 --> 00:20:36,080 Speaker 1: truly driving with no peripheral Like I'm just like you know, 382 00:20:36,560 --> 00:20:40,320 Speaker 1: just like go go go, and I only And I 383 00:20:40,359 --> 00:20:42,680 Speaker 1: think you always have those moments where you're like you're 384 00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:44,760 Speaker 1: working your grind that and all of a sudden you 385 00:20:44,840 --> 00:20:47,320 Speaker 1: look up and you're like where am I, Oh my god, like. 386 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:49,560 Speaker 2: How did I even get here? And I know how 387 00:20:49,640 --> 00:20:50,160 Speaker 2: I got here? 388 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:54,919 Speaker 1: But that's part of I think, you know, my mentality, 389 00:20:54,960 --> 00:20:58,720 Speaker 1: I guess is just really keep working, really keep working 390 00:20:58,800 --> 00:21:03,440 Speaker 1: through that checklist of like think of dreams, bucket list 391 00:21:03,520 --> 00:21:06,120 Speaker 1: things you want to do, and hope. 392 00:21:05,880 --> 00:21:09,280 Speaker 2: That youth end up checking them all off. So I 393 00:21:09,640 --> 00:21:10,320 Speaker 2: don't know, the. 394 00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:13,520 Speaker 1: Interesting was wild because like it was it so it 395 00:21:13,680 --> 00:21:16,480 Speaker 1: was my UK for me or my play school Girls. 396 00:21:16,520 --> 00:21:20,840 Speaker 1: I was just talking about and I knew that he 397 00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:25,120 Speaker 1: had been sent the play to possibly come on board 398 00:21:25,200 --> 00:21:26,679 Speaker 1: to produce, but I just was like. 399 00:21:27,200 --> 00:21:28,159 Speaker 2: Feels far fetched. 400 00:21:28,240 --> 00:21:33,320 Speaker 1: He seems busy, like I don't know, and you know, 401 00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:35,560 Speaker 1: next thing I know, it was like a week later 402 00:21:35,680 --> 00:21:37,680 Speaker 1: or something like that, I'm sitting on a zoom with 403 00:21:37,800 --> 00:21:38,879 Speaker 1: him and he's just like I love it. 404 00:21:39,840 --> 00:21:43,600 Speaker 2: I'm not, he saying, and I'm like, what is happening? 405 00:21:44,080 --> 00:21:47,159 Speaker 5: You know? It was everything that is supposed stab and 406 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:50,200 Speaker 5: oh my god, I'm so excited for you. It was exciting. 407 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:52,159 Speaker 2: I mean, this is like a big deal, you know 408 00:21:52,200 --> 00:21:52,600 Speaker 2: what I mean. 409 00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:54,960 Speaker 5: You never wait till you wrap this up, if it 410 00:21:55,040 --> 00:21:57,600 Speaker 5: ever wraps, like it may keep getting extended and extended 411 00:21:57,640 --> 00:21:59,600 Speaker 5: and extended and wait till you see the offers. Now, 412 00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:01,640 Speaker 5: do you have your site set on anything or we're 413 00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:04,520 Speaker 5: just back down at the computer writing your own story 414 00:22:04,720 --> 00:22:05,520 Speaker 5: and starring in it. 415 00:22:06,280 --> 00:22:09,800 Speaker 2: I mean, yes, right, there's my show. John is not 416 00:22:12,440 --> 00:22:18,119 Speaker 2: of soon come but don't of course. I mean, look now, 417 00:22:18,160 --> 00:22:19,880 Speaker 2: I'm glad that the writers strike is over. 418 00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:21,920 Speaker 1: It would be great to like start focusing on some 419 00:22:22,040 --> 00:22:26,280 Speaker 1: film and TV things really wide in the audience. Theater 420 00:22:26,440 --> 00:22:29,040 Speaker 1: is great, but like film and TV you can reach millions, 421 00:22:29,119 --> 00:22:31,480 Speaker 1: you know, And so that was that's always going to 422 00:22:31,520 --> 00:22:33,960 Speaker 1: be a goal of mine to be able to create 423 00:22:34,119 --> 00:22:39,200 Speaker 1: a new TV show or film that the masses can see. 424 00:22:39,400 --> 00:22:42,359 Speaker 1: So I'm I'm hopeful about that. But I'm glad we 425 00:22:42,480 --> 00:22:47,000 Speaker 1: found some a resolution there with the writer. With the writers, well, 426 00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:50,000 Speaker 1: I know everyone's like it as as considering someone who 427 00:22:50,080 --> 00:22:52,480 Speaker 1: has no content to consume except for the play that 428 00:22:52,520 --> 00:22:54,760 Speaker 1: I am going to go see, thank you very much. Yeah, 429 00:22:55,760 --> 00:22:58,320 Speaker 1: I need some content at the house. There's not on 430 00:22:58,400 --> 00:22:58,639 Speaker 1: your sol. 431 00:22:58,920 --> 00:23:00,960 Speaker 2: Can you get to these streaming so vices and help 432 00:23:01,000 --> 00:23:05,199 Speaker 2: them out trying to whisper in their ears? See what's what. 433 00:23:08,040 --> 00:23:08,760 Speaker 5: So in? 434 00:23:08,960 --> 00:23:13,600 Speaker 2: You have been a you did you did the schoolgirls? 435 00:23:13,680 --> 00:23:15,040 Speaker 2: You did another play. 436 00:23:15,040 --> 00:23:17,760 Speaker 5: What was the second play that you did, Nollywood Dreams, 437 00:23:18,080 --> 00:23:21,240 Speaker 5: Nollywood Dreams, which was about based in based in Nigeria 438 00:23:21,680 --> 00:23:26,200 Speaker 5: and then and then now we have obviously in Harlem 439 00:23:26,280 --> 00:23:28,520 Speaker 5: on Broadway, Ja Jazz African hair braiding. 440 00:23:29,040 --> 00:23:32,639 Speaker 2: I am really curious about. 441 00:23:33,320 --> 00:23:39,600 Speaker 5: The locations that you choose, albeit intentional, but where does 442 00:23:39,680 --> 00:23:43,600 Speaker 5: it come from? Like, where does that that creative inspiration 443 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:46,600 Speaker 5: come from to say this particular setting. 444 00:23:47,119 --> 00:23:49,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, well, like and they all kind of 445 00:23:49,960 --> 00:23:53,640 Speaker 1: like span through the death, like you know, Schoolgirls set 446 00:23:53,680 --> 00:23:54,320 Speaker 1: in the eighties. 447 00:23:54,440 --> 00:23:56,240 Speaker 2: Nollywood Dreams is set in the nineties. 448 00:23:56,880 --> 00:24:00,920 Speaker 1: I did an adaptation of a Shakespeare play called Mary 449 00:24:00,960 --> 00:24:04,000 Speaker 1: Wives and that sat in the two thousands, and then 450 00:24:04,320 --> 00:24:06,360 Speaker 1: Jo Jows is now in twenty nineteen. 451 00:24:06,480 --> 00:24:07,080 Speaker 2: So I don't know. 452 00:24:07,080 --> 00:24:09,400 Speaker 1: I guess I'm moving through all the decades of my life. 453 00:24:09,520 --> 00:24:14,440 Speaker 1: I guess maybe that's what I just want to I 454 00:24:14,520 --> 00:24:16,040 Speaker 1: want to spread the up. I want to be able 455 00:24:16,080 --> 00:24:20,880 Speaker 1: to tell like black diasporic stories. So if that means 456 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:23,280 Speaker 1: that some of them are set in Ghana in a 457 00:24:23,359 --> 00:24:28,680 Speaker 1: boarding school in the eighties, or in Nigeria during the 458 00:24:28,800 --> 00:24:34,160 Speaker 1: heart of like the Nollywood movie industry explosion, or Harlem, 459 00:24:34,280 --> 00:24:36,440 Speaker 1: where you know I was. I was born and raised 460 00:24:36,480 --> 00:24:38,959 Speaker 1: in Washington Heights, which is the neighborhood just above Harlem, 461 00:24:39,080 --> 00:24:42,280 Speaker 1: so I, you know, hung out in Harlem all the time. 462 00:24:42,320 --> 00:24:44,359 Speaker 1: I went to the hair braiding shop, like since I 463 00:24:44,560 --> 00:24:47,359 Speaker 1: was at five years old. So I'm just interested in 464 00:24:47,520 --> 00:24:49,879 Speaker 1: like touching all of the places that I guess I 465 00:24:50,040 --> 00:24:53,960 Speaker 1: have touched or like I feel a connection to, and 466 00:24:54,119 --> 00:24:58,800 Speaker 1: also kind of diversifying the conversation of how diaspora's portrayed. 467 00:24:58,840 --> 00:25:02,600 Speaker 1: I think so often, and especially with African stories, certainly 468 00:25:02,720 --> 00:25:06,400 Speaker 1: with Black American stories, there's like a just a through 469 00:25:06,520 --> 00:25:11,280 Speaker 1: line of just like you know, trauma, you know, poverty, 470 00:25:11,320 --> 00:25:14,160 Speaker 1: porn when it comes to like a lot of African stories. 471 00:25:14,280 --> 00:25:19,280 Speaker 1: And it's a very singular narrative with many of our stories, 472 00:25:19,320 --> 00:25:23,720 Speaker 1: which is not always untrue, Like many of these stories 473 00:25:23,760 --> 00:25:24,320 Speaker 1: are true. 474 00:25:24,880 --> 00:25:27,720 Speaker 2: I just feel like it can't be the only narrative, 475 00:25:27,920 --> 00:25:29,199 Speaker 2: you know. We can't always be. 476 00:25:29,400 --> 00:25:32,200 Speaker 1: Expected to go see a show or turn on the 477 00:25:32,280 --> 00:25:35,200 Speaker 1: TV or go to a movie and just be like 478 00:25:35,520 --> 00:25:38,600 Speaker 1: really bummed out, you know, at the atrocities of the world. 479 00:25:39,040 --> 00:25:41,600 Speaker 1: We kind of experience that every day just by watching 480 00:25:41,640 --> 00:25:44,119 Speaker 1: the news, you know, or scrolling through Instagram, and we 481 00:25:44,280 --> 00:25:46,720 Speaker 1: kind of get accosted by like what video am I 482 00:25:46,800 --> 00:25:47,240 Speaker 1: going to see? 483 00:25:47,320 --> 00:25:49,800 Speaker 2: Now? You know who who was pulled over? And it 484 00:25:49,840 --> 00:25:50,480 Speaker 2: didn't go well. 485 00:25:50,560 --> 00:25:53,280 Speaker 1: Now, And so to be able to add to the 486 00:25:53,359 --> 00:25:58,119 Speaker 1: conversation of how we're reflected and do that diasphorically on 487 00:25:58,240 --> 00:26:01,640 Speaker 1: the continent in America, I feel like that's a really 488 00:26:01,720 --> 00:26:03,520 Speaker 1: important thing to do. And I feel like I have 489 00:26:03,640 --> 00:26:06,200 Speaker 1: a purview of that because I grew up as a 490 00:26:06,280 --> 00:26:09,000 Speaker 1: child of immigrant African immigrants, but I also grew up 491 00:26:09,040 --> 00:26:12,280 Speaker 1: in America as a black woman. I walked through the 492 00:26:12,359 --> 00:26:15,840 Speaker 1: world as a black woman. Nobody knows, you know, where 493 00:26:15,880 --> 00:26:17,399 Speaker 1: my cultural identity is or. 494 00:26:17,440 --> 00:26:20,480 Speaker 2: Anything like that. I know what it's like to face 495 00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:22,240 Speaker 2: the racism that every black. 496 00:26:22,040 --> 00:26:25,320 Speaker 1: Person in America faces. And so I have that two 497 00:26:25,440 --> 00:26:29,000 Speaker 1: fold perspective, and I think I'm always trying to explore 498 00:26:29,080 --> 00:26:32,040 Speaker 1: that in all of my writing. Yeah, I think that's beautiful, 499 00:26:32,080 --> 00:26:34,400 Speaker 1: and the story needs to be told, and more importantly, 500 00:26:34,480 --> 00:26:36,080 Speaker 1: we need to be heard. And this is just a 501 00:26:36,160 --> 00:26:39,119 Speaker 1: way in which you're able to actually put voice in 502 00:26:39,320 --> 00:26:43,040 Speaker 1: power together, which I think is the beauty of entertainment 503 00:26:43,160 --> 00:26:44,720 Speaker 1: in so many ways, you know what I mean? 504 00:26:45,280 --> 00:26:48,879 Speaker 3: Yeah, for sure, every champion and Cary champion is to 505 00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:51,880 Speaker 3: be a champion, a champion and Carry Champion and Carrie 506 00:26:51,960 --> 00:26:56,200 Speaker 3: Chap Beata Champion and Carry Chappion and Carrie CHAMPI and 507 00:26:56,400 --> 00:26:57,880 Speaker 3: Entertainment and Naked Weird. 508 00:27:02,760 --> 00:27:05,560 Speaker 4: Kerry Champion and Carrie Champion is to be a champion, 509 00:27:05,760 --> 00:27:10,520 Speaker 4: a champion and Carrie Champion the Champion and Carrie Chapion. 510 00:27:10,119 --> 00:27:17,720 Speaker 2: And Carrie Chap Congratulations to you. I I love it. 511 00:27:17,880 --> 00:27:21,000 Speaker 5: I love the everything that you're doing. I would dare 512 00:27:21,119 --> 00:27:23,720 Speaker 5: ask what is next for you? And if and you're like, 513 00:27:23,760 --> 00:27:26,399 Speaker 5: I'm gonna try to do this TV thing. But if 514 00:27:26,480 --> 00:27:28,719 Speaker 5: you close your eyes and you and you said your 515 00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:31,840 Speaker 5: your biggest dreams out loud? One, would you ever say 516 00:27:32,080 --> 00:27:33,000 Speaker 5: what it would be? 517 00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:36,480 Speaker 2: And two and two? What is your biggest dream? 518 00:27:39,880 --> 00:27:43,200 Speaker 1: Okay, yes, I would say my dreams out loud. I'm 519 00:27:43,240 --> 00:27:47,600 Speaker 1: not superstitious about that. I think being able to have 520 00:27:47,760 --> 00:27:51,720 Speaker 1: a canon of work in film, TV and theater that 521 00:27:51,840 --> 00:27:55,000 Speaker 1: people know as a staple, like Jocelyn what is a 522 00:27:55,080 --> 00:27:58,280 Speaker 1: Jocelyn Bo play at Jocelyn Bo TV show at Jocelyn 523 00:27:58,320 --> 00:28:01,800 Speaker 1: Bo film, Having that kind of like cannon of work 524 00:28:01,800 --> 00:28:05,040 Speaker 1: where people just know what it is, and and the 525 00:28:05,160 --> 00:28:07,880 Speaker 1: comedy and my name feels synonymous. 526 00:28:07,440 --> 00:28:11,639 Speaker 2: Like that's that's really that's the goal for sure. Uh, 527 00:28:12,280 --> 00:28:13,879 Speaker 2: what's next? I have no idea. 528 00:28:14,040 --> 00:28:16,480 Speaker 1: Look, I also just had a baby three and a 529 00:28:16,480 --> 00:28:25,000 Speaker 1: half months ago, so I think that's wonderful. So I'm 530 00:28:25,080 --> 00:28:28,399 Speaker 1: also so I've been doing this play while also me 531 00:28:28,520 --> 00:28:31,359 Speaker 1: and my husband have been like managing our little you 532 00:28:31,440 --> 00:28:34,280 Speaker 1: know baby. So I'm also like, what am I gonna 533 00:28:34,640 --> 00:28:37,000 Speaker 1: what's the legacy I'm creating for my son? 534 00:28:37,200 --> 00:28:38,760 Speaker 2: You know, what do I want him to see? What 535 00:28:38,880 --> 00:28:41,120 Speaker 2: do I want him to experience? What do what I 536 00:28:41,200 --> 00:28:42,920 Speaker 2: want him to know about this time? 537 00:28:43,120 --> 00:28:45,360 Speaker 1: You know, when he was a small baby and I 538 00:28:45,520 --> 00:28:48,160 Speaker 1: was like, yeah, when you were only like seven weeks old, 539 00:28:48,240 --> 00:28:49,720 Speaker 1: I was putting up a Broadway show. 540 00:28:51,040 --> 00:28:52,960 Speaker 2: I want him to think that that's kind of cool. 541 00:28:53,040 --> 00:28:57,760 Speaker 2: He may not, but so you know, you know, my 542 00:28:57,840 --> 00:29:00,800 Speaker 2: mom's a broway play right right. She also has a 543 00:29:00,880 --> 00:29:02,320 Speaker 2: movie starring herself that she wrote. 544 00:29:02,560 --> 00:29:05,960 Speaker 5: And so you can go say all of that, all 545 00:29:06,040 --> 00:29:09,760 Speaker 5: of that justin I am so excited about your adventure. 546 00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:12,880 Speaker 5: It is inspirational and it is encouraging even to me, 547 00:29:13,000 --> 00:29:15,360 Speaker 5: who feels very comfortable in my own world. I'm like, 548 00:29:15,640 --> 00:29:17,360 Speaker 5: let me get excited about something again. 549 00:29:17,440 --> 00:29:18,840 Speaker 2: I'm excited for you. 550 00:29:19,080 --> 00:29:22,200 Speaker 5: I'm excited for your future, and more importantly, I'm excited 551 00:29:22,480 --> 00:29:24,560 Speaker 5: for the work that you give us, the humor that 552 00:29:24,640 --> 00:29:27,400 Speaker 5: you give the collective, because we need it. It's impairedive 553 00:29:27,440 --> 00:29:30,120 Speaker 5: and we want women, Black women especially, we need to 554 00:29:30,200 --> 00:29:33,040 Speaker 5: feel seen and heard, and you're doing that with your work. 555 00:29:33,160 --> 00:29:36,040 Speaker 2: Thank you. High praise coming from you because you are 556 00:29:36,120 --> 00:29:38,880 Speaker 2: the cleen Queen Felos. Oh, you are so sweet. I 557 00:29:39,040 --> 00:29:39,400 Speaker 2: noticed that. 558 00:29:39,560 --> 00:29:40,640 Speaker 5: You know, I was about to teach you with my 559 00:29:40,680 --> 00:29:43,200 Speaker 5: Ghana story before listen. I'm gonna tell you when we wrap. 560 00:29:43,240 --> 00:29:44,920 Speaker 5: But you know I've been a Guden three times. I'm 561 00:29:45,000 --> 00:29:47,240 Speaker 5: fully I when I did my twenty three and meters, 562 00:29:47,280 --> 00:29:50,880 Speaker 5: I was mad that I wasn't like one hundred percent Kanaian. 563 00:29:51,480 --> 00:29:51,960 Speaker 2: I think it was. 564 00:29:52,640 --> 00:29:54,560 Speaker 5: I was like, okay, I'm as long as the West 565 00:29:54,560 --> 00:29:56,760 Speaker 5: African part is here, all right, So we're we're gonna 566 00:29:56,760 --> 00:29:59,200 Speaker 5: wrap this podcast. Jab thank you so much, justin Bille, 567 00:29:59,200 --> 00:30:00,720 Speaker 5: thank you so much for being on here. 568 00:30:00,840 --> 00:30:05,640 Speaker 2: I you are so kind, so sweet, thank you, thanks 569 00:30:05,720 --> 00:30:07,280 Speaker 2: for having me. I appreciate it. 570 00:30:08,840 --> 00:30:12,640 Speaker 5: It's really funny that she can't take compliments. I noticed 571 00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:16,480 Speaker 5: that about most folks. Most folks, well, that's not true. 572 00:30:17,040 --> 00:30:21,560 Speaker 5: I noticed that with black women that I've interviewed in 573 00:30:21,680 --> 00:30:25,360 Speaker 5: the past on this show, giving compliments is such a 574 00:30:25,560 --> 00:30:29,440 Speaker 5: hard thing for us to receive. I'm speaking, you know, 575 00:30:29,680 --> 00:30:33,800 Speaker 5: from my past experience and also from what I've witnessed 576 00:30:34,320 --> 00:30:35,360 Speaker 5: doing this podcast. 577 00:30:35,760 --> 00:30:38,360 Speaker 2: And I don't know what that is. I don't know 578 00:30:38,480 --> 00:30:39,640 Speaker 2: why we won't. 579 00:30:39,440 --> 00:30:44,160 Speaker 5: Allow life to give us the joy and the rewards 580 00:30:44,240 --> 00:30:49,520 Speaker 5: that we so so much deserve. And it's probably a 581 00:30:49,600 --> 00:30:53,320 Speaker 5: little bit of feeling let down all the time, feeling 582 00:30:53,440 --> 00:30:57,720 Speaker 5: like the world is against you. Maybe maybe it is 583 00:30:57,920 --> 00:31:03,400 Speaker 5: the constant fight for recognition, the constant battle. 584 00:31:03,160 --> 00:31:05,600 Speaker 2: For respect, Hell if I know. 585 00:31:06,240 --> 00:31:08,320 Speaker 5: But moving forward, I'm going to make sure that I 586 00:31:08,400 --> 00:31:11,200 Speaker 5: give everyone their flowers, and you should do the same, 587 00:31:11,600 --> 00:31:12,720 Speaker 5: especially our black women. 588 00:31:13,560 --> 00:31:15,720 Speaker 2: Thank y'all for listening Naked. We'll be back next week.