1 00:00:08,200 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 1: Welcome to Strictly Business Varieties, weekly podcasts featuring conversations with 2 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:17,040 Speaker 1: industry leaders about the business of media and entertainment. I'm 3 00:00:17,079 --> 00:00:21,239 Speaker 1: Cynthia Littleton, co editor in chief of Variety Today. My 4 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:24,919 Speaker 1: guest is Henry Munos, the third. Munos has many titles 5 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:30,560 Speaker 1: and roles in his career architect, activist, philanthropist, entrepreneur, but 6 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:34,239 Speaker 1: for this conversation he's the new owner and chairman of 7 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:37,720 Speaker 1: Funny or Die. Funny or Die was founded in two 8 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:41,199 Speaker 1: thousand seven by Will Ferrell, Adam McKay and others as 9 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:43,880 Speaker 1: a home for short form video at a time when 10 00:00:43,960 --> 00:00:47,000 Speaker 1: video on the Internet was a lot more herky jerky 11 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:49,720 Speaker 1: than the four K quality material we watch now on 12 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:54,720 Speaker 1: streaming video platforms. Muno's acquired Funnier Die and its content 13 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:58,440 Speaker 1: library last year. He is the son of activists from 14 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:01,560 Speaker 1: Texas who grew up to join the family business. He's 15 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:05,080 Speaker 1: also a trained architect, and he counts the late Texas 16 00:01:05,120 --> 00:01:08,640 Speaker 1: Governor and Richards as a key mentor. She appointed him too, 17 00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:12,520 Speaker 1: rolls on the Texas Transportation Commission and to run the 18 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:16,679 Speaker 1: transit system in San Antonio. He's also served as a 19 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:22,920 Speaker 1: democratic activist and big time fundraiser through numerous ventures. Of late, 20 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:25,679 Speaker 1: he is a co founder of the so Most Community 21 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:30,280 Speaker 1: Care healthcare network that serves New York City. In our conversation, 22 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:33,440 Speaker 1: you knows his candid about his background and what he 23 00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:37,400 Speaker 1: describes as his journey as a brown gay man from Texas. 24 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 1: His enthusiasm for using the Funny or Die platform to 25 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:45,640 Speaker 1: change culture and foster unity in this much divided country 26 00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 1: is very infectious. That's all coming up after the break. 27 00:01:54,680 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 1: M Henry runs the third airman of Money or Die. 28 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:04,760 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for joining us today. Thank you 29 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:08,080 Speaker 1: for having me. I'm excited to be here. You were 30 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:11,280 Speaker 1: something of a surprise bidder for Funny or Die last 31 00:02:11,320 --> 00:02:14,120 Speaker 1: year when the company went on the block. Tell us 32 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:17,560 Speaker 1: what it was about the opportunity that attracted you. Why 33 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 1: did you buy Funnier Die? Well, it was kind of 34 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:23,640 Speaker 1: a surprise to me too. I think that was one 35 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:26,320 Speaker 1: of those points in my life where I was trying 36 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:30,600 Speaker 1: to decide what would come next. I have been working 37 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:33,520 Speaker 1: in the streets of New York for the last several years, 38 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 1: taking care of the health of poor people and immigrants, 39 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:41,440 Speaker 1: the working poor, communities of color, people who don't speak 40 00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:44,320 Speaker 1: English very well. The last two years of it have 41 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:49,360 Speaker 1: been devoted to testing and vaccinating people. And I had 42 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 1: decided with some of my friends who gathered around this moment, 43 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:58,920 Speaker 1: to create a coalition that could share information people across 44 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:03,160 Speaker 1: the country, particularly the Latinos around UM what to be 45 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:07,840 Speaker 1: prepared for in UM this pandemic. And that's what introduced 46 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:10,160 Speaker 1: me to Funnier Die. And I think I just fell 47 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:14,600 Speaker 1: in love with the fact that that's a business that 48 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:22,040 Speaker 1: seems to have been blended political thought and philanthropy and comedy. 49 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:24,839 Speaker 1: And I think the country needs to laugh right now. 50 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:28,080 Speaker 1: We need to we need we need some humor. And 51 00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:30,919 Speaker 1: so the combination of all of those and the fact 52 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:35,760 Speaker 1: that I'm a person who has undertaken change in many industries, 53 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 1: particularly on behalf of my community, the Latino community, maybe 54 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:43,960 Speaker 1: decide that maybe Funny or Die was the right next step. 55 00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:48,080 Speaker 1: Was there something that you saw, Was there a sketch 56 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:50,280 Speaker 1: or a bit on Funnier Die that caught your attention 57 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 1: that that led you to the side, or had you 58 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 1: been aware of it generally? Well, I spent a few 59 00:03:57,080 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 1: years of my life as the finance chairman of the 60 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 1: Democratic National Committee and work very closely with the President 61 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:06,880 Speaker 1: Obama with President Obama at the time, and of course 62 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:11,320 Speaker 1: we all remember that moment of President Obama and Zach 63 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:18,320 Speaker 1: Californakis between using humor really to educate people about UM, 64 00:04:18,360 --> 00:04:22,240 Speaker 1: signing up for the Affordable Care Act and and creating 65 00:04:22,839 --> 00:04:26,440 Speaker 1: more access to healthcare. And so that moment, I think 66 00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:28,920 Speaker 1: I was, you know, I was a little bit involved 67 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:32,240 Speaker 1: in that. And so that moment of using humor and 68 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:36,279 Speaker 1: using culture UM to connect to people who need help, 69 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:40,040 Speaker 1: I think is is where I first really became aware 70 00:04:40,200 --> 00:04:44,000 Speaker 1: of the rich history of funny or dye. Henry, let's 71 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:46,800 Speaker 1: take a step back and tell us about the business, 72 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:49,599 Speaker 1: the different businesses that you have built and sort of 73 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:51,600 Speaker 1: the operation that you had that allowed you to do 74 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:55,760 Speaker 1: the Funnier die deal. Well, I've never been involved in 75 00:04:55,760 --> 00:05:00,920 Speaker 1: a business that I was educated to undertake. So when 76 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:06,480 Speaker 1: I was a very young man, I was living in Texas. 77 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:09,400 Speaker 1: I've gone back to Texas after college because my father 78 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:13,960 Speaker 1: had gotten sick, and somehow, out of that experience found 79 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:17,880 Speaker 1: myself in architecture. I'm not a trained architect, but I 80 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:21,480 Speaker 1: think at this point and I'm a really good architect 81 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:27,640 Speaker 1: of change and and that business UM in combination with 82 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:30,640 Speaker 1: some my political activity. You know, I had a great 83 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 1: had a great mentor. Her name was Ann Richard. She 84 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 1: was funny, right, and she used her big personality to 85 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:40,039 Speaker 1: create change, to create a new Texas. And I was 86 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 1: a part of that movement. I was the Transportation Commissioner 87 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:46,479 Speaker 1: for the State of Texas for almost four years, very 88 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 1: I was very young, and it taught me a lot 89 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:54,599 Speaker 1: about the difficulties of moving institutions and bureaucracies forward. It 90 00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:57,479 Speaker 1: also taught me that the stories of my people, of 91 00:05:57,520 --> 00:06:01,560 Speaker 1: my community weren't the stories that were in museums or 92 00:06:02,080 --> 00:06:05,880 Speaker 1: archives or libraries. It taught me a lot about if 93 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:09,320 Speaker 1: you're going to build a building, design a university, for example, 94 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:12,359 Speaker 1: that it's important that that university look like the people 95 00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:15,640 Speaker 1: that were hoping to inspire. So that started about a 96 00:06:15,680 --> 00:06:20,599 Speaker 1: thirty year journey to try and imprint on the built environment, 97 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 1: on architecture and urban planning, the cultural traditions, the history, 98 00:06:26,040 --> 00:06:29,279 Speaker 1: the storytelling of Latinos in this country. That led me 99 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:33,920 Speaker 1: to the Board of the National Board of the Smithsonian Institution. 100 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:36,839 Speaker 1: Are very happy that I just was elected the chairman 101 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:40,400 Speaker 1: of the newest board, which is the board to create 102 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:44,200 Speaker 1: the National Museum of the American Latino and that is 103 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:48,080 Speaker 1: what introduced me to President Obama. And President Obama really 104 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:51,920 Speaker 1: was the person who taught me that I could change 105 00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:57,760 Speaker 1: create massive change in cultural institutions and businesses. So long 106 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 1: story short, I found myself working to change healthcare in 107 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:04,920 Speaker 1: New York City. And that has been eight years now. 108 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:09,840 Speaker 1: And I'm not a doctor, but um I have learned 109 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:14,920 Speaker 1: how to create a closer connection between a very confusing 110 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:19,560 Speaker 1: system and people in this country, and in particular people 111 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:23,360 Speaker 1: who don't necessarily speak English, just like my grandmother when 112 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:26,760 Speaker 1: she needed medical attention. And we've figured out a way 113 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:30,880 Speaker 1: to do it at a more affordable cost and improving 114 00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:35,960 Speaker 1: quality and doing what really needs to happen, which is 115 00:07:36,600 --> 00:07:40,320 Speaker 1: allowing working people to have the same approach to wellness 116 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:42,920 Speaker 1: and preventative care and not to wait until it's too 117 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:45,760 Speaker 1: late to get into the hospital. So I have built 118 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 1: a business in Texas and built a business in New York. 119 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 1: Both of them are involved in this kind of intersection 120 00:07:53,720 --> 00:07:58,880 Speaker 1: right of sign and politics or government, and and now 121 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:01,320 Speaker 1: I want to do what has not been done I 122 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 1: think in in the entertainment industry is to bring that 123 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:12,480 Speaker 1: same kind of leadership, ownership and inclusiveness to entertainment on 124 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 1: behalf of the Latino community, communities of color, gay people. 125 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:22,200 Speaker 1: And you know, somebody said that when um I was announced, 126 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:24,440 Speaker 1: when that what the surprise announcement of who the new 127 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:26,840 Speaker 1: owner of Funny or Die was, they said, Oh, yeah, 128 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:28,680 Speaker 1: he's Latino, And they go, oh, it's worse than you 129 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:33,600 Speaker 1: think he's gay too. I would I would really hope 130 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:36,200 Speaker 1: that we were in a world where where I would 131 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:38,960 Speaker 1: hope that nobody would think that, but the very least 132 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:41,640 Speaker 1: not say it to your face. But I realized, I'm 133 00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:44,439 Speaker 1: not delusional. We're not in that world, which just I'm 134 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:46,240 Speaker 1: guessing I get the sense that that's kind of thing 135 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:49,960 Speaker 1: that just motivates you that much harder. Well, you know, 136 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:54,480 Speaker 1: I was raised by two activist parents who my father 137 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:58,520 Speaker 1: decided when he graduated from school that he wanted to 138 00:08:58,600 --> 00:09:02,000 Speaker 1: use his education to help other people, and my mother 139 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:05,000 Speaker 1: joined him. And you know, I spent a lot of 140 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:06,880 Speaker 1: my time when I was a little bit on picket lines. 141 00:09:07,320 --> 00:09:08,800 Speaker 1: Now I went to private school, but I was on 142 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:12,040 Speaker 1: a picket line every weekend. And I think the lesson 143 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:14,679 Speaker 1: I learned there is that when there is you know, 144 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:18,800 Speaker 1: injustice finds its way into the daily lives of many people, 145 00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:21,800 Speaker 1: and you don't. Many times I've been asked, well, where 146 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:24,560 Speaker 1: is the great leadership in the LIFT community? And I say, 147 00:09:24,559 --> 00:09:26,760 Speaker 1: it's us. You know, we don't have to wait for 148 00:09:26,960 --> 00:09:30,240 Speaker 1: a hero, where our own heroes. And and I think 149 00:09:30,280 --> 00:09:33,200 Speaker 1: there's a lot of people like me who are in 150 00:09:33,400 --> 00:09:37,080 Speaker 1: very modest ways trying to create that change. And that's 151 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:39,680 Speaker 1: really what the country needs right now. And a good 152 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:44,920 Speaker 1: laugh definitely. Um, how have you found parallels in your 153 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:48,959 Speaker 1: activism work and and your business work? I guess I 154 00:09:48,960 --> 00:09:53,880 Speaker 1: should ask are there similar skills to being to to 155 00:09:53,920 --> 00:09:56,520 Speaker 1: help to generate a movement, to help to lead people 156 00:09:56,559 --> 00:09:59,959 Speaker 1: to an understanding, or to help, you know, lead people 157 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:03,120 Speaker 1: to a health care site? Are there similarities to doing 158 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:06,440 Speaker 1: that kind of work? And similarities to doing the business 159 00:10:06,480 --> 00:10:10,280 Speaker 1: work of you know, profit and law statements? And do 160 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:13,439 Speaker 1: those Do those two activities have common threads? It seems 161 00:10:13,480 --> 00:10:17,199 Speaker 1: like they do. Absolutely. I mean, I think everything I've 162 00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:22,120 Speaker 1: ever done has been an intersection of activism, philanthropy, good 163 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:26,640 Speaker 1: business sense, and and culture. And it didn't matter whether 164 00:10:26,679 --> 00:10:30,439 Speaker 1: it was an architecture, doesn't matter whether it's in health care. 165 00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:34,880 Speaker 1: It doesn't really matter whether it's in entertainment. It's all 166 00:10:34,920 --> 00:10:42,800 Speaker 1: about bringing those um strengths together and and educating people 167 00:10:43,240 --> 00:10:46,360 Speaker 1: really the fastest growing demographic groups in this country, the 168 00:10:46,440 --> 00:10:50,920 Speaker 1: future audiences, the future consumers, the people who are born here, 169 00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:53,439 Speaker 1: the people who are youngest who are going to move 170 00:10:53,760 --> 00:10:58,679 Speaker 1: this country forward, and educating them um dealing with their 171 00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:01,200 Speaker 1: identity in a different way. And so I think all 172 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:04,320 Speaker 1: of those things coming together, at least in my career, 173 00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:07,360 Speaker 1: have been the strength upon which I've been able to 174 00:11:07,360 --> 00:11:13,920 Speaker 1: accomplish massive change within business, a new model of healthcare, 175 00:11:14,520 --> 00:11:19,200 Speaker 1: within real estate and architecture and urban planning, a new 176 00:11:19,600 --> 00:11:24,760 Speaker 1: architectural language that that that is that is about the 177 00:11:24,840 --> 00:11:29,200 Speaker 1: blended cultural identity of a place like Texas that unites people. 178 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:32,440 Speaker 1: And I hope that's what what Funny or Die is 179 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:34,640 Speaker 1: going to be in the future. Because one of the 180 00:11:34,679 --> 00:11:37,400 Speaker 1: things that really attracted me to the leadership of Funny 181 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:39,440 Speaker 1: or Die, all of whom are there, even Will Ferrell 182 00:11:39,520 --> 00:11:43,360 Speaker 1: State as a shareholder and an owner, is that they 183 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:46,719 Speaker 1: were willing to evolve the studio into a place that 184 00:11:46,880 --> 00:11:50,720 Speaker 1: is funny, original, and diverse, and that really looks at 185 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:53,960 Speaker 1: a new methodology of story retelling hand in hand with 186 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:57,480 Speaker 1: building upon you know the platform that they were successful 187 00:11:58,040 --> 00:12:00,840 Speaker 1: UM building originally but now needs to evolve into the 188 00:12:00,840 --> 00:12:04,520 Speaker 1: twenty one century. Mm hmm, what I mean, can I 189 00:12:04,559 --> 00:12:07,640 Speaker 1: press you? Do you think? Obviously Funnier Dies Bill made 190 00:12:07,640 --> 00:12:10,719 Speaker 1: its name on short form comedy. A lot of you know, 191 00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:12,800 Speaker 1: a lot of things over the years really went viral. 192 00:12:12,880 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 1: They were certainly one of the one of the forerunners 193 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:18,360 Speaker 1: of things going viral. I think about some of those 194 00:12:18,400 --> 00:12:22,720 Speaker 1: fun early Will Ferrell bits with his with his daughter. 195 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:25,600 Speaker 1: Those were really funny, and I remember watching those on 196 00:12:25,679 --> 00:12:30,120 Speaker 1: more horkey jerky Internet than we have today. UM. But 197 00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:33,080 Speaker 1: I will say, like like a lot of entertainment as 198 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:34,760 Speaker 1: I look back and I think about it, that the 199 00:12:34,880 --> 00:12:38,319 Speaker 1: number of Latin X, the number of artists of color 200 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:41,640 Speaker 1: were more few and far between. That is for sure. Well. 201 00:12:41,640 --> 00:12:43,360 Speaker 1: I think if you look at the history of Funny 202 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:46,679 Speaker 1: or Die, people would look at that moment and say 203 00:12:46,679 --> 00:12:50,240 Speaker 1: they were innovators in social media and digital media. But 204 00:12:50,520 --> 00:12:56,360 Speaker 1: that part of our culture, of the popular culture, global 205 00:12:56,400 --> 00:13:01,080 Speaker 1: popular culture UM continues to change. I think that we're 206 00:13:01,120 --> 00:13:05,800 Speaker 1: at a moment in the history of entertainment where the 207 00:13:05,920 --> 00:13:10,920 Speaker 1: voice of for example, Latino and Latin American people is 208 00:13:10,960 --> 00:13:16,959 Speaker 1: becoming a global language at a global voice. I think 209 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:21,040 Speaker 1: that you know that the best way I would describe 210 00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:28,040 Speaker 1: it is that funny original diverse where the programming or 211 00:13:28,160 --> 00:13:31,160 Speaker 1: Funnier Die also evolves from. You know, I don't think 212 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:34,320 Speaker 1: anybody it's not a surprise of say, hey, the origins 213 00:13:34,320 --> 00:13:37,080 Speaker 1: of funny or Die were kind of bro humor, Okay. 214 00:13:38,040 --> 00:13:41,760 Speaker 1: I love that. I don't want them to stop doing that, 215 00:13:42,640 --> 00:13:47,520 Speaker 1: but I want us to be more inclusive and to reflect. 216 00:13:48,280 --> 00:13:51,280 Speaker 1: You know that what the young people in this country, 217 00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:55,000 Speaker 1: the identity that they that they share, um, what they'd 218 00:13:55,040 --> 00:13:58,280 Speaker 1: like to see in their entertainment, the stories that they 219 00:13:58,360 --> 00:14:01,360 Speaker 1: want to tell, the way that they deal with identity. 220 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:04,160 Speaker 1: I mean, they don't even just look at themselves as Latino, right, 221 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:07,280 Speaker 1: There's so many components to what it means to be 222 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:11,160 Speaker 1: you know, here, this is my identity. I mean, I 223 00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:15,480 Speaker 1: started this conversation that way. I'm brown, I'm Latino, and 224 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:19,040 Speaker 1: I'm gay. I'm a businessman, and I'm an activist and 225 00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:23,040 Speaker 1: I'm a philanthropist. I have many interests and so I'm 226 00:14:23,120 --> 00:14:26,520 Speaker 1: really working very hard with a group of people who 227 00:14:26,520 --> 00:14:29,120 Speaker 1: have been at Funnier Die for a long time and 228 00:14:29,160 --> 00:14:32,800 Speaker 1: a new generation of talent at Funnier Die to open 229 00:14:32,920 --> 00:14:35,800 Speaker 1: up that aperture. We just bought a very funny book 230 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:39,920 Speaker 1: called Ola Poppy. The story a very humorous of essays 231 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:43,240 Speaker 1: by a young man who, um, you know, kind of 232 00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:47,640 Speaker 1: bluffed his way into being the advice columnist for Grinder. 233 00:14:48,240 --> 00:14:50,680 Speaker 1: You know, at my age, we didn't we don't even know, 234 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:53,120 Speaker 1: we didn't know what Grinder was. But you look at 235 00:14:53,160 --> 00:14:58,320 Speaker 1: these amazing stories that people have to tell and you say, 236 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:02,040 Speaker 1: let's let's invest in that allent and let's invest in 237 00:15:02,160 --> 00:15:05,160 Speaker 1: those stories. And I hope to bring more of that 238 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:08,200 Speaker 1: to Funny or Die, to f O D. And I 239 00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:11,400 Speaker 1: think we are. We're all committed to it. How in 240 00:15:11,520 --> 00:15:13,920 Speaker 1: terms of how the company is operating, has have you 241 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:15,800 Speaker 1: changed much? I mean, I realized a lot of the 242 00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:19,360 Speaker 1: operations are in Los Angeles. There's a studio. Do you 243 00:15:20,120 --> 00:15:22,640 Speaker 1: do you tending and keep that status quo? Do you 244 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:27,680 Speaker 1: think you'll expand the studio business? Well, I definitely think 245 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:30,280 Speaker 1: we're going to expand what we're doing. I don't know 246 00:15:30,320 --> 00:15:34,320 Speaker 1: what that means in terms of expanding geographically. I'm comfortable 247 00:15:34,720 --> 00:15:37,640 Speaker 1: being on a plane all the time. I think that 248 00:15:37,680 --> 00:15:41,680 Speaker 1: there's a credible content being created all over the country 249 00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:45,600 Speaker 1: and across the globe. Really globalism is something that everybody 250 00:15:45,640 --> 00:15:50,120 Speaker 1: is interested in. How do you take what we are 251 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:53,440 Speaker 1: experienced here and translate it in the same way that 252 00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:57,080 Speaker 1: things are happening in other places and translate it for 253 00:15:57,200 --> 00:16:01,480 Speaker 1: our audiences. And so I would have to say, yes, 254 00:16:01,960 --> 00:16:05,680 Speaker 1: we're going to expand the meaning a Funnier Die. We're 255 00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:09,040 Speaker 1: going to expand expand the audiences a funnier Die. We're 256 00:16:09,040 --> 00:16:14,640 Speaker 1: going to forecast trends in the Latino community, for sure, 257 00:16:14,680 --> 00:16:17,520 Speaker 1: and in communities of color. We're going to really take 258 00:16:17,560 --> 00:16:20,880 Speaker 1: a hard look at what identity means in this moment, 259 00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:24,440 Speaker 1: and we're going to look at our traditional strengths, and 260 00:16:24,480 --> 00:16:28,720 Speaker 1: we're gonna mind that foundation of comedy because I think 261 00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:33,520 Speaker 1: there's not enough great comedy creators that are being recognized 262 00:16:33,520 --> 00:16:36,080 Speaker 1: by this industry yet. And we're going to move all 263 00:16:36,120 --> 00:16:39,920 Speaker 1: of that forward. And that's going to be something that's 264 00:16:40,040 --> 00:16:43,560 Speaker 1: very good both for my business and for this industry 265 00:16:43,680 --> 00:16:47,400 Speaker 1: and for the young people around the globe who are 266 00:16:47,400 --> 00:16:50,720 Speaker 1: looking to have a laugh and to see themselves, you know, 267 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:58,600 Speaker 1: on in the media. It's important don't go anywhere. There's 268 00:16:58,640 --> 00:17:01,680 Speaker 1: more to come from Funny or Die. Owner Henry mun 269 00:17:01,720 --> 00:17:12,520 Speaker 1: knows the third, and we're back with more from Funny 270 00:17:12,600 --> 00:17:16,320 Speaker 1: or Die owner Henry mw knows the third. How about 271 00:17:16,400 --> 00:17:18,800 Speaker 1: Funny or Die? And just in terms of as a business, 272 00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:23,119 Speaker 1: do you still see largely it'd be largely advertising and 273 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:26,040 Speaker 1: content licensing would be the revenue drivers. Do you have 274 00:17:26,080 --> 00:17:30,200 Speaker 1: any any sense of transforming it from a from the 275 00:17:30,240 --> 00:17:33,920 Speaker 1: business side, Well, absolutely, I think we're already transforming. I 276 00:17:34,000 --> 00:17:35,760 Speaker 1: think that if you ask the people that Funny or 277 00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:39,119 Speaker 1: Die what the future brings, I think that this idea. 278 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:42,360 Speaker 1: I've created a development fund for example, long form content. 279 00:17:42,920 --> 00:17:45,199 Speaker 1: They've never had a development fund. I mean, they couldn't 280 00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:49,480 Speaker 1: invest in in real quality work. I mean they created 281 00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:54,520 Speaker 1: quality UM shorts digital programming, right, but they never had 282 00:17:54,560 --> 00:17:57,840 Speaker 1: the freedom, the creative freedom right to to take on 283 00:17:57,920 --> 00:18:01,679 Speaker 1: that movie or that television series and to own it 284 00:18:01,800 --> 00:18:05,000 Speaker 1: and to develop it. And that's something that we're doing 285 00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:07,920 Speaker 1: right now. So increasingly, I think that Funny or Die 286 00:18:07,960 --> 00:18:12,320 Speaker 1: is going to be a place that UM invests in 287 00:18:12,960 --> 00:18:19,440 Speaker 1: both new content new media and also traditional content television 288 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:24,320 Speaker 1: programming and movies that maybe with create young creators and 289 00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:27,400 Speaker 1: people who have never had an opportunity to have UM 290 00:18:27,440 --> 00:18:32,560 Speaker 1: that that that first UM movie or television, that first 291 00:18:32,600 --> 00:18:37,360 Speaker 1: book UM to be a success. So we're definitely evolving. 292 00:18:38,480 --> 00:18:41,560 Speaker 1: Do you, um, how did you finance the transaction? Do 293 00:18:41,600 --> 00:18:45,160 Speaker 1: you have partners in the deal? Did you um? Did 294 00:18:45,160 --> 00:18:47,320 Speaker 1: you bring in did you bring in any kind of 295 00:18:47,440 --> 00:18:50,840 Speaker 1: investment financing or anything like that. No, I took a 296 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:53,120 Speaker 1: big gamble on my own. You know, here's one thing 297 00:18:53,240 --> 00:18:55,760 Speaker 1: I think you'll find about me and every single thing 298 00:18:55,800 --> 00:18:59,840 Speaker 1: that I've done. I'm not a billionaire, right, I'm not. 299 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:02,320 Speaker 1: I don't have that kind of wealth. But I am 300 00:19:02,359 --> 00:19:04,199 Speaker 1: a person my dad used to tell me when I 301 00:19:04,240 --> 00:19:08,320 Speaker 1: was growing up, no paceo, no so, And so many 302 00:19:08,400 --> 00:19:12,800 Speaker 1: times that's a good that's a great thing. You know. 303 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:16,800 Speaker 1: Many times, you know, we sit over to the side, right, 304 00:19:16,840 --> 00:19:21,000 Speaker 1: the Latino community sits to the side, and we say, Wow, 305 00:19:21,040 --> 00:19:23,560 Speaker 1: I wish we could do this or we could do that. 306 00:19:23,920 --> 00:19:27,520 Speaker 1: And I think I'm lucky in that because of my 307 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:30,600 Speaker 1: hard work, I'm in a position in which I actually 308 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:35,280 Speaker 1: have the opportunity to invest in something. So I personally 309 00:19:35,320 --> 00:19:39,440 Speaker 1: invested in Funny or Die. I'm lucky that my husband 310 00:19:39,600 --> 00:19:43,280 Speaker 1: Kyle decided that it was a good thing to do. 311 00:19:43,600 --> 00:19:46,200 Speaker 1: And well, maybe originally I thought I was going to 312 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:49,480 Speaker 1: be kind of an absentee owner. I think everybody agrees 313 00:19:49,560 --> 00:19:54,399 Speaker 1: now that as a team, we're building something that is stronger, 314 00:19:55,480 --> 00:19:59,200 Speaker 1: both financially and in terms of the opportunity that's it's 315 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:01,520 Speaker 1: creating and the stories that it wants to tell. And 316 00:20:01,560 --> 00:20:04,439 Speaker 1: I have a great faith that that investment is going 317 00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:07,800 Speaker 1: to pay off. And and maybe at some point the 318 00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:12,640 Speaker 1: scale of it and the opportunity two, for example, create 319 00:20:12,680 --> 00:20:17,720 Speaker 1: a Latino Um emphasis or Latino Studio UM that is 320 00:20:17,760 --> 00:20:19,760 Speaker 1: a part of Funny or Die or sits next to 321 00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:22,879 Speaker 1: Funny or Die will be, you know, of a scale 322 00:20:22,960 --> 00:20:27,320 Speaker 1: that I can't afford. Um. But at this point, this 323 00:20:27,400 --> 00:20:35,040 Speaker 1: is a journey of activism, passion, and personal belief in 324 00:20:36,440 --> 00:20:41,960 Speaker 1: a place that, interestingly enough, just celebrated its keen yet 325 00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:47,480 Speaker 1: at and yet at the fifteenth anniversary of Funny or Die. 326 00:20:47,680 --> 00:20:54,280 Speaker 1: And I'm and I'm so honestly honored to be an 327 00:20:54,320 --> 00:20:58,800 Speaker 1: owner of a studio in Hollywood. There aren't many of us, 328 00:20:59,840 --> 00:21:02,360 Speaker 1: I and I and I'm It's not lost on me. 329 00:21:02,600 --> 00:21:04,880 Speaker 1: You know, I had this session with these young Latino 330 00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:09,679 Speaker 1: Um not just creators but managers and agents and and 331 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:13,119 Speaker 1: there's you know, like I'm sitting there and they're twenty 332 00:21:13,200 --> 00:21:15,840 Speaker 1: nine years old and thirty years old and thirty two 333 00:21:15,920 --> 00:21:19,720 Speaker 1: years old. And I said to them, you're a big deal. 334 00:21:20,480 --> 00:21:23,840 Speaker 1: Can you imagine if you told your stories what that 335 00:21:24,040 --> 00:21:30,160 Speaker 1: little all of those young people we're sitting in Texas 336 00:21:30,240 --> 00:21:34,280 Speaker 1: and California and Louisiana and New York and all of 337 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:36,600 Speaker 1: these places who look and say, I wish I could 338 00:21:36,600 --> 00:21:40,120 Speaker 1: be that. I mean, it's not me, it's them. Look 339 00:21:40,160 --> 00:21:43,160 Speaker 1: at what they're doing. And so, you know, I'm very, 340 00:21:43,280 --> 00:21:49,440 Speaker 1: very hopeful that Funnier died this kind of marriage of 341 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:58,119 Speaker 1: of a movement of inclusiveness and good business, because I 342 00:21:58,160 --> 00:22:00,400 Speaker 1: believe this is good business. You know, I'm gonna I've 343 00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:03,920 Speaker 1: been telling the people that I've met in the entertainment industry. 344 00:22:04,320 --> 00:22:06,520 Speaker 1: You know, many years ago, when I was first appointed 345 00:22:06,560 --> 00:22:08,960 Speaker 1: to the Smithsonian Board, I think I was the first 346 00:22:09,080 --> 00:22:11,640 Speaker 1: Latino ever appointed to serve on the board of the 347 00:22:11,760 --> 00:22:16,040 Speaker 1: nation's museum, right, And it had been a hundred and 348 00:22:16,080 --> 00:22:21,720 Speaker 1: fifty years already, And so the the idea there that 349 00:22:22,320 --> 00:22:25,080 Speaker 1: it was anything except in the best interests of the 350 00:22:25,080 --> 00:22:30,360 Speaker 1: Smithsonian Institution to reach out and include the stories, the objects, 351 00:22:30,440 --> 00:22:34,960 Speaker 1: the audience, development of the fastest growing population of people 352 00:22:34,960 --> 00:22:38,200 Speaker 1: in this country. Once people know that, I mean, look 353 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:40,240 Speaker 1: at the future of the people who are going to 354 00:22:40,359 --> 00:22:45,840 Speaker 1: buy television sets and refrigerators. Their last names are Dias 355 00:22:45,920 --> 00:22:50,240 Speaker 1: and Munos and ramidz those cars and cell phones and 356 00:22:50,359 --> 00:22:54,200 Speaker 1: you name it absolutely and so you know what, it 357 00:22:54,240 --> 00:22:58,560 Speaker 1: makes great business. I mean I think we maybe nobody 358 00:22:58,680 --> 00:23:03,600 Speaker 1: yet has quite figured out the magic formula for how 359 00:23:03,720 --> 00:23:08,920 Speaker 1: to deal with them yet, how to reach them, how 360 00:23:08,960 --> 00:23:14,560 Speaker 1: to inspire them, because it is a complex issue. I mean, 361 00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:18,919 Speaker 1: we're not we don't We're not one thing. And the 362 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:24,639 Speaker 1: young people don't identify purely as Latino. And we want 363 00:23:25,080 --> 00:23:29,919 Speaker 1: to be a part of this country. Were Americans, We 364 00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:34,760 Speaker 1: aspire to be Americans. With many many cases, we come 365 00:23:35,280 --> 00:23:39,840 Speaker 1: to this country hoping honored by that opportunity. So it 366 00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:45,080 Speaker 1: is complex, but it is also good business. And I 367 00:23:45,119 --> 00:23:49,879 Speaker 1: think that this industry and the industries that this industry 368 00:23:49,920 --> 00:23:54,720 Speaker 1: sells to, when they have an opportunity, when I have 369 00:23:54,760 --> 00:23:57,159 Speaker 1: an opportunity to explain it to them, I think that 370 00:23:57,240 --> 00:23:59,760 Speaker 1: they'll buy into it. I mean, and you look at it. 371 00:23:59,760 --> 00:24:03,520 Speaker 1: You we need to laugh, right, We we need humor. 372 00:24:03,880 --> 00:24:07,000 Speaker 1: It gets us through our most difficult moments. I'm so 373 00:24:07,040 --> 00:24:11,080 Speaker 1: proud of our this movie that we're producing with Roku 374 00:24:11,200 --> 00:24:14,639 Speaker 1: called Weird You know the story of Weird Al Yankovic. 375 00:24:14,680 --> 00:24:18,080 Speaker 1: He was one of my famous, my favorite recording artists 376 00:24:18,320 --> 00:24:21,280 Speaker 1: when I was younger. And it stars Daniel Radcliffe And 377 00:24:21,280 --> 00:24:24,640 Speaker 1: so there you have these two generations. Lin Manuel meet 378 00:24:24,720 --> 00:24:27,320 Speaker 1: On the wanted to come do this part in this 379 00:24:27,359 --> 00:24:30,600 Speaker 1: movie because he's always been a fan of Weird Al. 380 00:24:30,880 --> 00:24:33,200 Speaker 1: You look at that, or you look at we'd producing, 381 00:24:33,280 --> 00:24:36,280 Speaker 1: you know, with one of the people you just talked about, 382 00:24:36,840 --> 00:24:41,280 Speaker 1: Stephen Colbert, who decided that one of his first projects 383 00:24:41,280 --> 00:24:45,280 Speaker 1: outside of The Late Show should be Pickleball. Especial about 384 00:24:45,320 --> 00:24:48,680 Speaker 1: pickle ball. I mean, is there any more lighthearted diversion 385 00:24:48,720 --> 00:24:52,920 Speaker 1: than pickle ball right now? But you know we need 386 00:24:52,920 --> 00:24:58,560 Speaker 1: that too, And so you know, I'm my dirty little 387 00:24:58,600 --> 00:25:02,399 Speaker 1: secret is that I'm I can be funny and I 388 00:25:02,440 --> 00:25:05,440 Speaker 1: love being around funny people. And the people that funnier die, 389 00:25:05,840 --> 00:25:10,720 Speaker 1: they understand the importance of laughter. Do you see any 390 00:25:10,760 --> 00:25:14,600 Speaker 1: more acquisitions in your future? Do you think you bolt 391 00:25:14,680 --> 00:25:18,280 Speaker 1: on or you're you're going to build with what you got? Cynthia, 392 00:25:18,320 --> 00:25:23,120 Speaker 1: are you challenging me to keep acquiring? You know? Um, 393 00:25:23,160 --> 00:25:28,920 Speaker 1: I'm a good shopper, and and I do know that 394 00:25:28,960 --> 00:25:33,000 Speaker 1: as the industry continues to evolve, and as the ideas 395 00:25:33,200 --> 00:25:38,520 Speaker 1: at Funnier Die continue UM to evolve and to grow 396 00:25:38,880 --> 00:25:44,760 Speaker 1: and to and the aspiration there continues UM to move forward, 397 00:25:44,840 --> 00:25:51,160 Speaker 1: that it is likely that there will be um Let's call. 398 00:25:51,200 --> 00:25:54,920 Speaker 1: It could be an acquisition, could be an enhance scope, 399 00:25:55,280 --> 00:25:58,280 Speaker 1: could be other talent that needs to be brought to 400 00:25:58,320 --> 00:26:00,840 Speaker 1: the table to accomplish what we want to accomplish. I 401 00:26:00,880 --> 00:26:04,320 Speaker 1: think everybody understands that. And the good thing I always 402 00:26:04,320 --> 00:26:06,480 Speaker 1: say this, they make fun of me for saying it, 403 00:26:06,560 --> 00:26:11,959 Speaker 1: but I'm not intimidated. Maybe maybe it's because you know, 404 00:26:12,119 --> 00:26:17,359 Speaker 1: I'm a pretty lucky guy. I'm very happy. I definitely 405 00:26:17,840 --> 00:26:20,440 Speaker 1: have been through a life where I understand just how 406 00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:23,840 Speaker 1: lucky I am to come from where I've come from, 407 00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:26,480 Speaker 1: um to fight for what I believe is right, and 408 00:26:26,560 --> 00:26:29,840 Speaker 1: to have succeeded not only for myself but for other people. 409 00:26:30,840 --> 00:26:36,600 Speaker 1: And I am not intimidated by challenges. I'm invigorated by challenges. 410 00:26:37,359 --> 00:26:41,760 Speaker 1: And I love opportunity because the more you create opportunity 411 00:26:41,800 --> 00:26:44,680 Speaker 1: and the more you let people come in, the better 412 00:26:44,720 --> 00:26:47,560 Speaker 1: off we all are. So I don't think we're this 413 00:26:47,640 --> 00:26:50,959 Speaker 1: is just the beginning for Funny or Die. This is 414 00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:54,320 Speaker 1: that this is absolutely the first moment. It hasn't even 415 00:26:54,400 --> 00:26:57,840 Speaker 1: been a year yet. I'm proud of what our team 416 00:26:57,840 --> 00:27:00,200 Speaker 1: has been able to create. I'm proud of the that 417 00:27:00,240 --> 00:27:03,760 Speaker 1: we've been able to add to the team. And we'll 418 00:27:03,800 --> 00:27:07,159 Speaker 1: see what the future brings. But I think the future 419 00:27:07,240 --> 00:27:12,000 Speaker 1: is going to bring more and better content creation spread 420 00:27:12,040 --> 00:27:19,040 Speaker 1: across platforms in a very interesting multicultural manner. Well, were 421 00:27:19,200 --> 00:27:22,240 Speaker 1: definitely eager to stay tuned, Henry. You kind of touched 422 00:27:22,240 --> 00:27:23,680 Speaker 1: on it a bit at the start, but I'd love 423 00:27:23,720 --> 00:27:27,320 Speaker 1: to know what we're What were some of the formative experiences, 424 00:27:28,160 --> 00:27:31,080 Speaker 1: What what really set you off onto the path that 425 00:27:31,160 --> 00:27:33,280 Speaker 1: you are on today? And it is a very unique 426 00:27:33,800 --> 00:27:36,640 Speaker 1: you have a very unique sort of role for yourself. 427 00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:43,920 Speaker 1: What what led you to where you are today? Mm hmm, 428 00:27:45,200 --> 00:27:49,840 Speaker 1: you know definitely, Um growing up in South Texas the 429 00:27:49,960 --> 00:27:57,800 Speaker 1: sun of two activists, seeing you know firsthand that economic development, 430 00:27:57,800 --> 00:28:02,840 Speaker 1: there was a dollar minimum age for the farm workers. 431 00:28:03,080 --> 00:28:06,719 Speaker 1: I think you know my mom, I just opened I'm 432 00:28:06,760 --> 00:28:09,680 Speaker 1: a co producer of Funny Girl on Broadway, and when 433 00:28:09,680 --> 00:28:13,640 Speaker 1: I decided to get involved in it, um Sonia Friedman, 434 00:28:13,640 --> 00:28:15,399 Speaker 1: the lead producer said, why do you want to do this? 435 00:28:15,480 --> 00:28:17,680 Speaker 1: And I said, so funny because when I was when 436 00:28:17,680 --> 00:28:19,920 Speaker 1: I tried to come out to my mom, she said, 437 00:28:19,960 --> 00:28:22,280 Speaker 1: oh me home, don't worry about it. I knew you 438 00:28:22,320 --> 00:28:24,159 Speaker 1: were gay when you came out of Funny Girl singing. 439 00:28:24,800 --> 00:28:27,919 Speaker 1: You know, I think that kind of I think that 440 00:28:28,080 --> 00:28:35,359 Speaker 1: kind of unconditional acceptance and love. I was so lucky 441 00:28:35,400 --> 00:28:40,239 Speaker 1: to have. I had a great mentors, you know, I 442 00:28:40,240 --> 00:28:43,920 Speaker 1: had Anne richards Was. I think about her every day 443 00:28:43,960 --> 00:28:46,480 Speaker 1: and the things that she taught me about the equality 444 00:28:47,040 --> 00:28:50,640 Speaker 1: and how hard fought that comes, and the fact that 445 00:28:50,680 --> 00:28:52,320 Speaker 1: she gave me a job and said, you know you 446 00:28:52,360 --> 00:28:54,800 Speaker 1: really don't want it. I didn't want it. It's going 447 00:28:54,880 --> 00:28:58,440 Speaker 1: to be difficult. You know, you're probably gonna hate me 448 00:28:58,480 --> 00:29:02,480 Speaker 1: when this is all over. I didn't, but but it 449 00:29:02,520 --> 00:29:04,680 Speaker 1: wasn't easy. It was the same thing. It was like, 450 00:29:04,720 --> 00:29:07,960 Speaker 1: how do you change the system in Texas to build 451 00:29:08,320 --> 00:29:12,680 Speaker 1: economic development through infrastructure where none existed? It was hard, 452 00:29:12,720 --> 00:29:17,000 Speaker 1: but it taught me so much about my power too. 453 00:29:18,240 --> 00:29:26,880 Speaker 1: Change American institutions, change transportation, change the nation's museum, change 454 00:29:27,120 --> 00:29:31,560 Speaker 1: the landscape of national parks and monuments. You know, I 455 00:29:31,560 --> 00:29:38,640 Speaker 1: I'm so proud of you know, working with um President 456 00:29:38,760 --> 00:29:42,560 Speaker 1: Obama and Vice President Biden to create a national monument 457 00:29:42,560 --> 00:29:45,840 Speaker 1: at Stonewall. You know, I think I'm the only person 458 00:29:45,880 --> 00:29:47,760 Speaker 1: who ever took the President of the United States to 459 00:29:47,800 --> 00:29:52,440 Speaker 1: a gay bar. But I did, and he went, and 460 00:29:52,480 --> 00:29:54,320 Speaker 1: he is the only president I think to ever. I 461 00:29:54,320 --> 00:29:58,440 Speaker 1: don't know, but I think he definitely was the only 462 00:29:58,480 --> 00:30:01,280 Speaker 1: president to go on an official vis So, you know, 463 00:30:02,280 --> 00:30:07,240 Speaker 1: there have been moments, there have been mentors. They have 464 00:30:07,360 --> 00:30:12,600 Speaker 1: been married to a real belief that we have nothing 465 00:30:12,640 --> 00:30:15,320 Speaker 1: to lose when we're not afraid and we stand up 466 00:30:15,360 --> 00:30:18,080 Speaker 1: for who we are, and we realize that the country 467 00:30:18,120 --> 00:30:22,320 Speaker 1: is stronger when we're willing to invest in ourselves, invest 468 00:30:22,360 --> 00:30:26,200 Speaker 1: in our country and move our businesses forward, move our 469 00:30:26,240 --> 00:30:28,920 Speaker 1: cultural institutions forward, and at the end of the day, 470 00:30:29,360 --> 00:30:34,680 Speaker 1: move the next generation of leaders forward with us. That's 471 00:30:34,680 --> 00:30:37,920 Speaker 1: a lot of important work. Henry, thank you so much 472 00:30:38,000 --> 00:30:40,640 Speaker 1: for taking the time to talk to us about about 473 00:30:40,680 --> 00:30:43,480 Speaker 1: your work and your vision for Funny or Die. We 474 00:30:43,560 --> 00:30:54,240 Speaker 1: will definitely stay tuned. Thank you, Cynthia, thanks for listening. 475 00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:57,400 Speaker 1: Be sure to leave us a review at Apple Podcasts. 476 00:30:58,000 --> 00:31:01,000 Speaker 1: We love to hear from listeners. Please go to Variety 477 00:31:01,040 --> 00:31:03,680 Speaker 1: dot com and sign up for the Strictly Business newsletter. 478 00:31:04,000 --> 00:31:07,680 Speaker 1: It's free and as always, be sure to tune in 479 00:31:07,760 --> 00:31:10,880 Speaker 1: next week for another episode of Strictly Business.