1 00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:07,280 Speaker 1: Welcome to Money Making Conversations. It's the show that she 2 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:10,039 Speaker 1: has the secrets of success experience firsthand by marketing and 3 00:00:10,119 --> 00:00:13,039 Speaker 1: Brandon expert Rashan McDonald. I will know he's giving me 4 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:16,640 Speaker 1: advice to many occasions in ocasion didn't notice I'm not broke. 5 00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 1: You know. He'll be interviewing celebrity CEOs, entrepreneurs and industry 6 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:22,959 Speaker 1: decision makers. It's what he likes to do. It's what 7 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:25,520 Speaker 1: he likes to share. Now it's time to hear from 8 00:00:25,520 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 1: my man, Rashan McDonald money Making Conversations. Here we come 9 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:32,520 Speaker 1: work on to money Making Conversation. I am your host 10 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:36,040 Speaker 1: with Sean McDonald. UM, it's very special guests I have 11 00:00:36,120 --> 00:00:38,320 Speaker 1: on the show today. US name is Stephen A. Smith. 12 00:00:38,360 --> 00:00:40,159 Speaker 1: We will start right there. Before we get started with 13 00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:42,600 Speaker 1: my interview with Steven NA Smith. Let's look at his 14 00:00:42,680 --> 00:00:47,840 Speaker 1: early media snapshot of one as listen. Steven N. Smith 15 00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:50,680 Speaker 1: will continue his host his popular ESPN First Take Money 16 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:53,440 Speaker 1: through Friday. Then Steven N. Smith will also hosts a 17 00:00:53,479 --> 00:00:57,760 Speaker 1: weekly Wednesday ESPN NBA show Coach Sports Trawler with Steven A. Smith. 18 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:02,080 Speaker 1: It premiers January six. Stephens also hosts a daily Half 19 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:05,360 Speaker 1: Our ESPN plus talk show Stephen Age World. It premiers 20 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:08,880 Speaker 1: on January level and airs Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. 21 00:01:08,959 --> 00:01:11,880 Speaker 1: Because The Sports Center with Stephen A. Smith airs on Wednesday. 22 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:14,800 Speaker 1: Steven A. Smith will continue his recurring role as Brick 23 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:18,400 Speaker 1: on the popular ABC soap opera General Hospital. It airs 24 00:01:18,520 --> 00:01:21,800 Speaker 1: January twelve and thirteen. Stephen Smith and co producing an 25 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:25,720 Speaker 1: HBCU docuseries on the North Carolina Central University basketball team, 26 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 1: which they followed spokesperson the NBA superstar Chris Paul. That 27 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:33,360 Speaker 1: premier's January fifteenth, and Steven A. Smith Stephen A. Smith, 28 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:36,960 Speaker 1: the Speller, msman his name, is starting a highly anticipated 29 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:40,720 Speaker 1: family theme animated wrestling movie called Rumbo. The release date 30 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:44,760 Speaker 1: is made fourteen. Yes, he is very busy. Please work 31 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:49,840 Speaker 1: with the money making conversation stephen A. Smith. It's going on, man, 32 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 1: How you doing, Steven? Leave anything out? First of all, 33 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:56,600 Speaker 1: you know, I don't even know, man, I'm so busy. 34 00:01:56,640 --> 00:02:01,000 Speaker 1: I can't even answer that question defensively because, uh, things 35 00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 1: are just happening for me, and you know, through the 36 00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:06,040 Speaker 1: grace of God and a lot of good things happening 37 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:08,920 Speaker 1: to me for me, and you know, my inner circle, 38 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:11,280 Speaker 1: my family and my friends and my loved ones, which 39 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:14,680 Speaker 1: obviously includes you as well. Things have been going incredibly well, 40 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:16,520 Speaker 1: so I'm happy about that, and you know, we just 41 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:19,840 Speaker 1: move along and see how things go. Moving into the future. Well, 42 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:21,600 Speaker 1: you know when when I listened to that schedule, you 43 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:23,960 Speaker 1: know you're doing first take. Let's let's look at that 44 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:28,320 Speaker 1: first week of January, January four, First take Monday through Friday, 45 00:02:28,480 --> 00:02:32,160 Speaker 1: then Wednesday, January six, is gonna premiere your next show, 46 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:34,480 Speaker 1: new show, Sports Shower with Stephen A. Smith, which is 47 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:38,200 Speaker 1: the NBA centric show, and then the following week the 48 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:41,919 Speaker 1: premier of Steven AD's World tell us about stephen as World. Well, 49 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:44,080 Speaker 1: stephen A's World is a new show that's gonna be 50 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:47,399 Speaker 1: on ESPN Plus, and as you articulated earlier, the only 51 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:49,400 Speaker 1: reason that it's not gonna be five days a week 52 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:51,360 Speaker 1: is because I have to do the Sports in It 53 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:53,799 Speaker 1: with Stephen and A Smith show on ESPN every Wednesday, 54 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:56,680 Speaker 1: not every Wednesday, but most Wednesdays. So because of that, 55 00:02:56,800 --> 00:03:00,160 Speaker 1: is gonna be Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Fridays. And the 56 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:03,880 Speaker 1: reason why I'm so incredibly excited about that is number one, um, 57 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:06,359 Speaker 1: it's pulling It's my show it's pulling me away from 58 00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:08,760 Speaker 1: the debate format. It's not that I don't enjoy it, 59 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:10,720 Speaker 1: but you know, a lot of times you have to 60 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:13,959 Speaker 1: depend on others, you know, in terms of being on air, 61 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:16,800 Speaker 1: because again, the debate involves not just you but the 62 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 1: person that you're debating. And beyond, this is my show, 63 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:21,880 Speaker 1: this is me And not only am I the host 64 00:03:21,919 --> 00:03:23,680 Speaker 1: of the show, but I'm also going to be the 65 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:26,359 Speaker 1: executive producer of the show. And I have my own 66 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:29,320 Speaker 1: production company, which is Mr. S a S Productions, and 67 00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 1: that's going to be co producing it as well. Um 68 00:03:31,919 --> 00:03:35,920 Speaker 1: and as you well know, because you're my right hand man. Uh, 69 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 1: it's something that is very incredibly important to me in 70 00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:41,840 Speaker 1: terms of showing my production chops as it pertains to content, 71 00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:45,120 Speaker 1: and beyond just knowing just showing showcasing what I know 72 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:47,800 Speaker 1: how to do, in terms of knowing how to generate 73 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:50,680 Speaker 1: and and create content that I think that the public 74 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 1: would be interested in seeing. And the thing about it 75 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:55,560 Speaker 1: is that it's not just in the world of sports. 76 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:58,760 Speaker 1: It's beyond. Yes, I can create sports content for ESPN 77 00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:00,440 Speaker 1: Plus or what have you, but there are things that 78 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:03,760 Speaker 1: I can do for Walt Disney as well. Along with 79 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:06,560 Speaker 1: others because I've got the kind of contract where, obviously, 80 00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:09,480 Speaker 1: as an employee of ESPN and Walt Disney, you know 81 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:12,320 Speaker 1: they're gonna get first looked at it at anything, but 82 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:14,880 Speaker 1: in the event that they decide to move in a 83 00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:16,839 Speaker 1: different direction or what have you, I have two freedom 84 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 1: to venture beyond that, to go to other folks, to 85 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:23,839 Speaker 1: really show that I can create content for different venues 86 00:04:23,839 --> 00:04:25,840 Speaker 1: and different genres and things of that nature. So I'm 87 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:29,119 Speaker 1: incredibly excited about it. Um efty three years of age. 88 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:32,599 Speaker 1: So you know, I didn't want to have my career 89 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 1: completely continue and dependent on me being in front of 90 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 1: the camera. I wanted to step behind the camera and 91 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:39,800 Speaker 1: showcase what I could do in that regard as well. 92 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:43,120 Speaker 1: And that's what I'm gonna have the opportunity to do here. Okay, 93 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:44,840 Speaker 1: a lot of information you gave me Steve and A, 94 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:46,920 Speaker 1: but I still don't know what Steven Age World is. 95 00:04:47,080 --> 00:04:50,600 Speaker 1: What is steven a World is a half hour talk show? Uh, 96 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:53,160 Speaker 1: it's a half our talk show is essentially where you're 97 00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 1: gonna still see my takes, open and common closing comments. 98 00:04:56,560 --> 00:04:58,159 Speaker 1: But I want to bring a bit of levity to 99 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 1: the situation. I wanted to show the light heartness side 100 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:04,880 Speaker 1: of me because my ultimate aspiration is the show that 101 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:07,520 Speaker 1: I could host the late night show. UH, similar to 102 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:10,599 Speaker 1: what Senio Hall did, the Great Johnny Carstons, Jay Lenos, 103 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:14,560 Speaker 1: David Letterman Is, Jimmy Kimmels, Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Gobeil, all 104 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:17,120 Speaker 1: of these guys af tremendous respect and admiration for what 105 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:19,359 Speaker 1: they do. UH. Is something that I want to do 106 00:05:19,440 --> 00:05:22,520 Speaker 1: moving ahead in the future. Um, for the foreseeable future. 107 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:24,280 Speaker 1: I don't know how soon that will happen, but I'm 108 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:26,600 Speaker 1: confident that I'll be able to showcase what I can 109 00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:29,720 Speaker 1: do in that regard and that opportunities will be created 110 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:32,800 Speaker 1: moving forward into the future in regards to that. So 111 00:05:32,839 --> 00:05:35,360 Speaker 1: it's gonna be a half hour talk show. I'm gonna 112 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:37,880 Speaker 1: give you my takes, but you're gonna see me bring 113 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:41,039 Speaker 1: stephen A baby stephen A into the mix. You can 114 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:44,080 Speaker 1: see the Love Doctor when I You know, I stole 115 00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:46,280 Speaker 1: from Martin Lawrence because that's one of my all time 116 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:50,720 Speaker 1: favorite comedians and I religiously watched the show Mark and 117 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:53,839 Speaker 1: every chance I get. I've seen practically every single episode 118 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:56,520 Speaker 1: all the years that he was on and one of 119 00:05:56,560 --> 00:05:58,880 Speaker 1: my favorite all Time episodes was when he played the 120 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:02,080 Speaker 1: Love Doctor, you know, where he gave relationship advice and 121 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:04,680 Speaker 1: things of that nature. So things like that, just to 122 00:06:04,760 --> 00:06:07,360 Speaker 1: have a lot of fun, laughter and bring a bit 123 00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:09,800 Speaker 1: of levity to the situation. It's something that I want 124 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:11,640 Speaker 1: to do. And you know, of course I'm gonna be 125 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:14,679 Speaker 1: interviews are gonna be incorporated into the show as well, 126 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:16,600 Speaker 1: but I want people to come on the show to 127 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:19,560 Speaker 1: know that I'm bringing them there to celebrate them, Celebrate 128 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:23,719 Speaker 1: what they wanted, what they're doing, Celebrate their accomplishments, Celebrate 129 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:26,479 Speaker 1: the visions that they have for themselves moving into the 130 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:28,320 Speaker 1: future and beyond. These are all the kind of things 131 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:30,800 Speaker 1: that I'm thinking about, and that's what I'm excited about 132 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:32,960 Speaker 1: looking forward to when it comes to my own show, 133 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:35,480 Speaker 1: because I think that even though people have seen that 134 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:38,200 Speaker 1: side of me Rashan, they haven't seen enough of it, 135 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:40,960 Speaker 1: and I'm anxious to show it. Why Why is Baby 136 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:46,320 Speaker 1: Stephen They've become a phenomenon. I give ESPN social media 137 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:48,560 Speaker 1: folks all the credit in the world because essentially what 138 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:52,160 Speaker 1: they've done is they've seen takes that I've been I've given, 139 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:56,160 Speaker 1: whether it's on Sports Center or whether it's on first take, 140 00:06:56,640 --> 00:06:59,880 Speaker 1: and what they've done is they've super imposed the baby 141 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:04,080 Speaker 1: faced stephen A and alter the voice a little bit, 142 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:06,880 Speaker 1: and all of a sudden, you see this baby version 143 00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:09,800 Speaker 1: of stephen A, you know, given the same takes that 144 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:13,800 Speaker 1: I gave on first takes. So it's their brilliance, their creativity. 145 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:16,800 Speaker 1: I gotta give them all the credit in the world. 146 00:07:16,880 --> 00:07:20,680 Speaker 1: My social media guy, Brendan Kaminski, Uh, he definitely spearheaded 147 00:07:20,760 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 1: that Mike Fosscoo be working on my new show along 148 00:07:23,320 --> 00:07:25,600 Speaker 1: with yourself. Uh. He had a lot to do with 149 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:28,120 Speaker 1: that as well. I take no credit in doing that. 150 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:29,960 Speaker 1: Whatso if I give them all the credit in the 151 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:32,760 Speaker 1: world for their brilliance and their creativity, they deserve a 152 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:34,520 Speaker 1: lot of credit for coming up with that because it's 153 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:39,400 Speaker 1: absolutely hysterical and everybody loves it. I'm laughing because of 154 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:42,000 Speaker 1: the fact that you know, they've done it on a 155 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:44,040 Speaker 1: lot of people. Stephen A. That's why I gotta bring 156 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:46,920 Speaker 1: But it just went over the top. It just blew 157 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:50,200 Speaker 1: up in social media with you. Wasn't because first of all, 158 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:53,040 Speaker 1: when I when I'm looking at you now, I can 159 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:55,280 Speaker 1: see the baby stephen A, and it really does look 160 00:07:55,360 --> 00:08:00,720 Speaker 1: like a smaller version of you, but animated, agitate, agitate 161 00:08:01,160 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 1: like hyper. Well, well, they didn't fake the animated part, 162 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:08,920 Speaker 1: you know, that was definitely me. They just attacked the 163 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:12,200 Speaker 1: baby face to it and all to the voice, but 164 00:08:12,360 --> 00:08:15,760 Speaker 1: that that animation, that definitely was me, And that's always 165 00:08:15,800 --> 00:08:17,920 Speaker 1: been me. A lot of times people get upset and 166 00:08:17,920 --> 00:08:19,720 Speaker 1: it's not even for the things that I say, it's 167 00:08:19,760 --> 00:08:23,280 Speaker 1: the way that I say it. But I quickly remind them, 168 00:08:23,280 --> 00:08:26,360 Speaker 1: and people who know me well quickly remind folks, he's 169 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:29,200 Speaker 1: always been that way. That's the way he talks. You know. 170 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:32,160 Speaker 1: Sometimes I'm mellow and I'm cool, I'm doing an interview. 171 00:08:32,240 --> 00:08:35,160 Speaker 1: Certain environments and what have you calls for a most 172 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:38,760 Speaker 1: cerebral approach to things. But when you're talking sports, you're excited, 173 00:08:38,800 --> 00:08:43,000 Speaker 1: you're animated, you're enthused, you're emotionally invested. And so as 174 00:08:43,040 --> 00:08:44,800 Speaker 1: a result of that, I try to bring that to 175 00:08:44,840 --> 00:08:48,160 Speaker 1: the airwaves because that's what people expect it. More importantly, 176 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:50,160 Speaker 1: that's who I am. I'm not faking who I am 177 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:52,680 Speaker 1: by any stretch of the imagination, because I think that 178 00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:56,640 Speaker 1: the death now in this business is to come across 179 00:08:56,640 --> 00:08:59,120 Speaker 1: in authentic. So I do everything that I can to 180 00:08:59,200 --> 00:09:02,560 Speaker 1: make sure that I consistently who I am right whatever 181 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:04,640 Speaker 1: that makes me, And that doesn't mean I one dimensional, 182 00:09:04,679 --> 00:09:08,800 Speaker 1: because there's multidimensions to me. But nevertheless, everything that you 183 00:09:08,920 --> 00:09:11,680 Speaker 1: see from me is a part or an element of 184 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:14,160 Speaker 1: who I am, from the time I was born to 185 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:17,080 Speaker 1: me being fifty three years of age right now. Now, 186 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:20,280 Speaker 1: now let's talk about producing because you're an HBCU grad 187 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:22,800 Speaker 1: and you and I have been fortunate the last couple 188 00:09:22,840 --> 00:09:25,560 Speaker 1: of years to be unit brand ambassador of HBCU Week 189 00:09:26,120 --> 00:09:30,000 Speaker 1: and stephen A, you've you've we've been part of registering 190 00:09:30,360 --> 00:09:33,200 Speaker 1: on this spot over two thousand students to attend hbc 191 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:37,560 Speaker 1: used and raised over eleven million dollars in scholarships for 192 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:41,000 Speaker 1: students to attend HBCUs. How do you feel about that, man, 193 00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:46,160 Speaker 1: that's pretty powerful. Well, I'm incredibly proud, um, so you know, 194 00:09:46,280 --> 00:09:49,800 Speaker 1: and I'm humbled. I'm humbled that I could find a 195 00:09:49,840 --> 00:09:52,040 Speaker 1: way to have that kind of impact. But to be 196 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:56,160 Speaker 1: quite honest with you, Rashan, I'm also humbled, uh, primarily 197 00:09:56,200 --> 00:09:59,840 Speaker 1: by people like yourself. Um, you know, who's the who's 198 00:09:59,840 --> 00:10:02,000 Speaker 1: the rain. You know, basically you're the brain child behind 199 00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:04,360 Speaker 1: all of this, and I think it's important that our audience, 200 00:10:04,480 --> 00:10:07,840 Speaker 1: that your audience knows this. I wasn't thinking about being 201 00:10:07,840 --> 00:10:10,880 Speaker 1: a brand ambassador. I've always been happy to give back. 202 00:10:11,640 --> 00:10:13,920 Speaker 1: The promise that I made to my late coach Clarence 203 00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:16,280 Speaker 1: Big House Games from Winst the Salem State was that 204 00:10:16,320 --> 00:10:18,200 Speaker 1: I would never forget and that I would always get 205 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:19,800 Speaker 1: back because that's all he ever asked of me. He 206 00:10:19,840 --> 00:10:22,160 Speaker 1: never asked to think of me other than to never 207 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:26,360 Speaker 1: forget my alma mater and always contribute to my alma 208 00:10:26,360 --> 00:10:30,400 Speaker 1: mater and HBCUs overall as much as I possibly could. 209 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:32,760 Speaker 1: That's all he ever asked of me in return. And 210 00:10:32,800 --> 00:10:35,360 Speaker 1: I made a vow to him a long time ago 211 00:10:35,559 --> 00:10:37,960 Speaker 1: that that's exactly what I would do. And so for 212 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:40,319 Speaker 1: me living up to my promise to him is a 213 00:10:40,440 --> 00:10:43,600 Speaker 1: very very big deal. Um. And obviously I've tried and 214 00:10:43,640 --> 00:10:47,160 Speaker 1: I've strived to do that. But in terms of HBCU week, 215 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:49,640 Speaker 1: I never saw that coming. A guy by the name 216 00:10:49,640 --> 00:10:52,199 Speaker 1: of Rashan mcdonna rolled up on me and said, listen, man, 217 00:10:52,200 --> 00:10:54,040 Speaker 1: I think you should do this. Here is the plan. 218 00:10:54,600 --> 00:10:56,920 Speaker 1: This is what kind of impact I think you can have. 219 00:10:57,440 --> 00:10:59,760 Speaker 1: This is what I need from you in order to do, 220 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:02,400 Speaker 1: and so I think one of the things that it's 221 00:11:02,440 --> 00:11:05,560 Speaker 1: incredibly important for folks on the come up to recognize 222 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:08,160 Speaker 1: and even those who have made it, uh in case 223 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:11,439 Speaker 1: they don't learn a lesson, never refrain from giving credit 224 00:11:11,480 --> 00:11:14,440 Speaker 1: to those who deserve it. If you're confident enough in 225 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:16,839 Speaker 1: yourself and what you bring to the table, you don't 226 00:11:16,840 --> 00:11:20,680 Speaker 1: have to deny the alkalaies and the adulation and others 227 00:11:20,960 --> 00:11:24,360 Speaker 1: so richly deserved. And so when it comes to HBCU week, 228 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:27,600 Speaker 1: yes I am the brand ambassador. Yes my name has 229 00:11:27,640 --> 00:11:29,760 Speaker 1: been attached to it. As a result of that, eleven 230 00:11:29,800 --> 00:11:32,400 Speaker 1: point four million scholarships have been in love point four 231 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:35,000 Speaker 1: million and scholarships have been given out. All of that 232 00:11:35,120 --> 00:11:38,280 Speaker 1: is true, but none of that would have happened if 233 00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:41,040 Speaker 1: you didn't bring it to me. You were the one 234 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:42,880 Speaker 1: who brought it to me. You were the one who 235 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:45,320 Speaker 1: asked me to do it. You would the one who 236 00:11:45,360 --> 00:11:47,959 Speaker 1: employed me that this was a good thing. And you 237 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:50,440 Speaker 1: gotta remember you're also the one that is still the 238 00:11:50,480 --> 00:11:53,560 Speaker 1: confidence of me, because I was saying me, I would 239 00:11:53,600 --> 00:11:56,439 Speaker 1: have that kind of been back. I mean, damn, I 240 00:11:56,520 --> 00:11:59,080 Speaker 1: work in ESPN. What's the big deal? I mean, are 241 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:03,960 Speaker 1: you sure like Stephen A. Steam, just listen to me. 242 00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:06,560 Speaker 1: I'm telling you trust me on this, and so I 243 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:09,920 Speaker 1: listened to you, and that it happened from that. So 244 00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:13,080 Speaker 1: I'm incredibly grateful to you. I'm incredibly grateful to my 245 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:15,880 Speaker 1: sister Carmen, who's an educator, my sister Linda, who's an 246 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:19,240 Speaker 1: educator who also we're behind the scenes encouraging me to 247 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:22,160 Speaker 1: do it. You've got people like that in your life 248 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:24,960 Speaker 1: that have a vision for you that you don't see 249 00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:29,319 Speaker 1: for yourself, but you trust them enough to listen to them. Um, 250 00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:32,240 Speaker 1: just because you did doesn't mean that they don't deserve 251 00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:36,320 Speaker 1: credit for what you ultimately receive adulation for. And so 252 00:12:36,640 --> 00:12:38,240 Speaker 1: I just want to thank you. I want to thank 253 00:12:38,320 --> 00:12:41,080 Speaker 1: my two sisters, Linda and Carmon UM, and I want 254 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:45,520 Speaker 1: to thank obviously everybody else Ashton Cooper and Earl and 255 00:12:45,559 --> 00:12:50,120 Speaker 1: others who are murdered me, PERSICKI and Delaware UH Senator 256 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:52,800 Speaker 1: Coon and others. I just can't thank everybody enough for 257 00:12:52,880 --> 00:12:55,880 Speaker 1: their involvement in it, because it was certainly a collective 258 00:12:55,880 --> 00:12:59,120 Speaker 1: effort that made this successful, regardless of my face being 259 00:12:59,120 --> 00:13:03,320 Speaker 1: attached to and man David Robbins's and of course David 260 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:06,880 Speaker 1: rob Its my boss at ESPN, UM Who's Who's the 261 00:13:06,920 --> 00:13:09,880 Speaker 1: greatest boss that I've ever had. He's tyrannical about winning, 262 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:12,360 Speaker 1: making a mistake about it. That's who he is. He 263 00:13:12,520 --> 00:13:16,320 Speaker 1: is about winning at all courts, anything he touches. Uh, 264 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:20,319 Speaker 1: He's is just ultra ultra determined for it to be successful. 265 00:13:20,840 --> 00:13:24,240 Speaker 1: And and he deserves credit. And Norby Williamson deserves credit 266 00:13:24,280 --> 00:13:26,480 Speaker 1: because if they did not give it. Norby Williamson is 267 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:30,199 Speaker 1: an executive VP at ESPN. Dave Roberts is a senior 268 00:13:30,280 --> 00:13:35,000 Speaker 1: VP at ESPN. If they did not give the okay 269 00:13:35,040 --> 00:13:38,920 Speaker 1: for us to do the show for HBCU week Live 270 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:41,760 Speaker 1: from Delaware State, it would have never happened. And so 271 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:45,120 Speaker 1: it's incredibly important to remember people realize. Sometimes people don't 272 00:13:45,160 --> 00:13:48,680 Speaker 1: realize that I'm not the boss you know at ESPN. 273 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:51,240 Speaker 1: They are. And when I went and asked them to 274 00:13:51,280 --> 00:13:55,760 Speaker 1: do first take from that locale, they literally said yes 275 00:13:56,080 --> 00:13:59,240 Speaker 1: in two seconds. The two seconds and I'm telling you 276 00:13:59,280 --> 00:14:02,920 Speaker 1: when the pops that it was very amazing, amatic. There's 277 00:14:02,920 --> 00:14:06,120 Speaker 1: another HBCU project, docuseris that I mentioned in your opening 278 00:14:06,120 --> 00:14:10,000 Speaker 1: credits or the NBA Superstar Chris Paul uh talld us 279 00:14:10,080 --> 00:14:12,800 Speaker 1: about that. It seems like a natural participation being that 280 00:14:12,880 --> 00:14:15,520 Speaker 1: you played basketball in Winston Salem State, it is an 281 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:18,120 Speaker 1: HBCU school, and you went to schools in the state 282 00:14:18,120 --> 00:14:20,400 Speaker 1: of North Carolina. To talk about this this premier on 283 00:14:20,720 --> 00:14:23,720 Speaker 1: ESPN Plus, well, I'm not at liberty to get into 284 00:14:23,760 --> 00:14:26,440 Speaker 1: it right now. CP three and his brother want me 285 00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:28,800 Speaker 1: to wait until there with me to tend to really 286 00:14:28,840 --> 00:14:30,880 Speaker 1: get into it. When I can tell you is that 287 00:14:31,440 --> 00:14:33,960 Speaker 1: it's a project essentially that's going to highlight a particular 288 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:36,080 Speaker 1: school and a couple of athletes from no school, and 289 00:14:36,120 --> 00:14:39,000 Speaker 1: it's going to highlight a particular basketball program and just 290 00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:42,640 Speaker 1: basically highlighting some of the challenges uh. You know that 291 00:14:42,640 --> 00:14:46,840 Speaker 1: that HBCU program stakes. Um. I was called by them 292 00:14:46,920 --> 00:14:51,120 Speaker 1: and ESPN and asked to be an executive producer on 293 00:14:51,160 --> 00:14:54,960 Speaker 1: this particular project, which I was obviously incredibly honored to do. Um. 294 00:14:55,040 --> 00:14:57,720 Speaker 1: CP three is somebody that I respected a maya a 295 00:14:57,800 --> 00:15:00,600 Speaker 1: great deal. Um I think he does. He's a fabulous 296 00:15:00,640 --> 00:15:03,240 Speaker 1: basketball player and somebody that I think is a future 297 00:15:03,280 --> 00:15:06,440 Speaker 1: Hall of Famer because he's one of the great quintessential 298 00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:09,000 Speaker 1: point guards to have ever played the game of basketball. 299 00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:11,680 Speaker 1: But what a lot of people don't realize is that 300 00:15:12,040 --> 00:15:14,800 Speaker 1: as fiery as he is on the court, he's just 301 00:15:14,960 --> 00:15:19,760 Speaker 1: as as as enthusiastic and tenacious about contributing UH to 302 00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:23,400 Speaker 1: various communities, various African American communities throughout this country and 303 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:27,840 Speaker 1: certain causes that would help elevate the profile of of 304 00:15:27,840 --> 00:15:31,440 Speaker 1: of African Americans in this nation, particularly as it pertains 305 00:15:31,480 --> 00:15:34,320 Speaker 1: to HBC US and beyond. So he deserves an incredible 306 00:15:34,320 --> 00:15:37,080 Speaker 1: amount of credit and to be a great basketball player 307 00:15:37,160 --> 00:15:39,160 Speaker 1: that he is, combined with being the president of the 308 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:44,000 Speaker 1: player NBA Players Association, UH, combined with his philanthropy and 309 00:15:44,080 --> 00:15:46,280 Speaker 1: what have you. Uh, He's just one of the true 310 00:15:46,280 --> 00:15:48,840 Speaker 1: true role models. And even though I have to sit 311 00:15:48,920 --> 00:15:51,440 Speaker 1: up there and cover the sport of the NBA and 312 00:15:51,520 --> 00:15:54,160 Speaker 1: call it like you know, I will UM and call 313 00:15:54,200 --> 00:15:56,640 Speaker 1: it like I see it. UH, it just doesn't take 314 00:15:56,680 --> 00:15:59,200 Speaker 1: away from the fact that this is a guy UM 315 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:04,520 Speaker 1: that I have incredible, incredible admiration for UM, and I'm 316 00:16:04,680 --> 00:16:06,840 Speaker 1: honored to be working with him on this project and 317 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:08,880 Speaker 1: on it that I was asked to be an executive. 318 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:12,920 Speaker 1: It's finally here the season of celebration, and no matter 319 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:16,160 Speaker 1: how you celebrate with family and friends, whether you're preparing 320 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:19,840 Speaker 1: for reis magos or karamu lighting the Manura, are going 321 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:22,760 Speaker 1: to midnight mass. Coals has just what you need to 322 00:16:22,840 --> 00:16:26,600 Speaker 1: make those traditions special. Plus you'll find gifts for all 323 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:31,320 Speaker 1: your loved ones. 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You can 347 00:17:50,040 --> 00:17:53,920 Speaker 1: capture action items, remember meeting details, and keep everyone informed. 348 00:17:54,080 --> 00:17:57,080 Speaker 1: Auto dot ai works for in person or virtual meetings 349 00:17:57,119 --> 00:17:59,960 Speaker 1: like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google meet. Sign up for 350 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:02,560 Speaker 1: free at auto dot ai or download the app for 351 00:18:02,640 --> 00:18:05,280 Speaker 1: free auto dot ai. That's O T T E R 352 00:18:05,480 --> 00:18:08,520 Speaker 1: dot ai. So let's talk about something you can't talk about. Dough. 353 00:18:09,080 --> 00:18:15,439 Speaker 1: You're acting acting Brick on the popular ABC soap opera 354 00:18:15,520 --> 00:18:21,200 Speaker 1: General Hospital Premiers episodes premier January. Man, you know sometimes 355 00:18:21,200 --> 00:18:23,399 Speaker 1: you called me man you get so excited going to 356 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:26,400 Speaker 1: do your tapers of General Hospital. Man, that really, first 357 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:29,040 Speaker 1: of all, you grew up watching soap problems. Let's talk 358 00:18:29,040 --> 00:18:31,560 Speaker 1: about the biggest thing that was the biggest thing for 359 00:18:31,600 --> 00:18:36,240 Speaker 1: me you know, I don't consider myself an actor. They say, otherwise, 360 00:18:36,359 --> 00:18:40,720 Speaker 1: they think that I'm pretty damn good. Frank Valentine Uh 361 00:18:40,800 --> 00:18:44,000 Speaker 1: for the executive producer for General Hospital. They brought me 362 00:18:44,080 --> 00:18:48,000 Speaker 1: on in like two thousand sixteen or seventeen, and they 363 00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:50,920 Speaker 1: asked me to make an appearance as a character named Brick. 364 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:52,960 Speaker 1: I did show up in General Hospital in two thousand 365 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:55,919 Speaker 1: and seven. It was like a ten second scene or whatever, 366 00:18:55,960 --> 00:18:58,600 Speaker 1: and that was all. But this is years later and 367 00:18:58,680 --> 00:19:01,199 Speaker 1: Frank uh, they General Hospital asked me to come on 368 00:19:01,920 --> 00:19:05,680 Speaker 1: and play a surveillance expert named Brick. And obviously I've 369 00:19:05,680 --> 00:19:07,879 Speaker 1: been watching the soap since I was eight years old. 370 00:19:07,920 --> 00:19:11,159 Speaker 1: So the star of the show, which is Maurice Bernard, 371 00:19:11,200 --> 00:19:13,840 Speaker 1: who has become a very dear friend of mine. Um 372 00:19:13,880 --> 00:19:17,160 Speaker 1: and he's he plays the character Sonny Corinthos in General Hospital. 373 00:19:17,480 --> 00:19:19,960 Speaker 1: I'm his sibilance expert. He's the head of the mob. 374 00:19:20,040 --> 00:19:23,159 Speaker 1: I'm his surveillance expert. And so I did one scene 375 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:26,879 Speaker 1: with him and he looked at me and said, WHOA. 376 00:19:27,040 --> 00:19:30,719 Speaker 1: He said, you're a natural. And executive producer came right 377 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:34,159 Speaker 1: downstairs in the middle of the scene and he said, 378 00:19:34,920 --> 00:19:37,960 Speaker 1: you you've never done this before I said no, sir, 379 00:19:38,440 --> 00:19:40,879 Speaker 1: he said, would you have time to do this in 380 00:19:40,920 --> 00:19:43,200 Speaker 1: the future, And I said why He said, I want 381 00:19:43,240 --> 00:19:45,320 Speaker 1: to make this a recurring world. We want to create 382 00:19:45,400 --> 00:19:49,640 Speaker 1: this character for you because they liked it that much, 383 00:19:49,680 --> 00:19:52,040 Speaker 1: and so I immediately jumped at it. I was credibly, 384 00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:55,760 Speaker 1: incredibly honored um and ever since then they've had me on. 385 00:19:55,880 --> 00:19:58,800 Speaker 1: I went from having three lines to the very next 386 00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:02,360 Speaker 1: time I appeared, they gave me forty lines, and ever 387 00:20:02,440 --> 00:20:06,679 Speaker 1: since then there's been thirty forty fifty lines spanning two 388 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:09,000 Speaker 1: or three shows to what have you that I've been doing. 389 00:20:09,040 --> 00:20:11,840 Speaker 1: And you know, for me, I always try to tell 390 00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:15,199 Speaker 1: folks my number won't focus is to make sure I 391 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:17,399 Speaker 1: don't forget my lines, because when you do that, you 392 00:20:17,480 --> 00:20:20,200 Speaker 1: mess it up for everybody else because if they remember 393 00:20:20,280 --> 00:20:22,679 Speaker 1: their lines with the union workers and the time they 394 00:20:22,760 --> 00:20:24,679 Speaker 1: spend doing all of this stuff, they've got to do 395 00:20:24,720 --> 00:20:26,280 Speaker 1: it over and stuff like that. So you gotta make 396 00:20:26,280 --> 00:20:29,600 Speaker 1: sure you're on top of your game. But ultimately, I 397 00:20:29,640 --> 00:20:31,800 Speaker 1: have a lot of fun. I've grown to really really 398 00:20:31,840 --> 00:20:34,640 Speaker 1: love it, and now I am interested in acting more 399 00:20:34,640 --> 00:20:36,800 Speaker 1: and more because here's the thing that I've grown to 400 00:20:36,880 --> 00:20:40,200 Speaker 1: appreciate about these wonderful actors that I've run a course. 401 00:20:40,240 --> 00:20:42,040 Speaker 1: First of all, Maurice Bernard, like I told you the 402 00:20:42,080 --> 00:20:45,000 Speaker 1: General Hospital of the guy that plays Victor Newman on 403 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:47,760 Speaker 1: Young and Arrestless, Eric Braden, He's one of my dear, 404 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:50,600 Speaker 1: dear friends. He met he and I met years ago. 405 00:20:50,920 --> 00:20:53,359 Speaker 1: Ever since then, we're in separable. We talk all the time. 406 00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:55,840 Speaker 1: We have lunch of dinner every single time I'm in 407 00:20:55,920 --> 00:20:59,520 Speaker 1: Los Angeles and what have you. And I actually introduced 408 00:20:59,600 --> 00:21:02,200 Speaker 1: him and Orice Bernard, the two biggest soap opera stars. 409 00:21:02,200 --> 00:21:05,639 Speaker 1: They had only met one another once crossing path. They 410 00:21:05,640 --> 00:21:07,879 Speaker 1: had never sat down and broke bread. And I actually 411 00:21:07,920 --> 00:21:10,120 Speaker 1: took the two of them out to dinner years ago 412 00:21:10,200 --> 00:21:12,560 Speaker 1: so they could meet and break bread. And both of 413 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:15,040 Speaker 1: them are my friends, and I can't say enough about them, 414 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:19,040 Speaker 1: and a kind of advice that they've given me about acting, 415 00:21:19,080 --> 00:21:21,240 Speaker 1: knowing that I wasn't necessarily trying to be an actor, 416 00:21:21,440 --> 00:21:23,159 Speaker 1: but if you're gonna do it, damn it. Tried to 417 00:21:23,160 --> 00:21:25,199 Speaker 1: do it right, and who's better to learn from them 418 00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:28,040 Speaker 1: to the best that I've ever done it in soap operas, 419 00:21:28,080 --> 00:21:31,400 Speaker 1: And so you know, I remember that and the advice, 420 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:35,200 Speaker 1: you know, because Denzel is a huge basketball fan, Denzel Washington, 421 00:21:35,560 --> 00:21:37,479 Speaker 1: and I ran across him, and I run across them 422 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:39,280 Speaker 1: a lot of Laker games. At one time, we had 423 00:21:39,320 --> 00:21:41,920 Speaker 1: the pleasure of hanging out one evening and I asked 424 00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:44,320 Speaker 1: him about the work one time when I interviewed me. 425 00:21:44,320 --> 00:21:47,840 Speaker 1: He called into my radio show and he said, the 426 00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:51,359 Speaker 1: final product is for the fans. I'm about the work, 427 00:21:51,920 --> 00:21:56,960 Speaker 1: the process, the grind, the day in and day out, meticulous, 428 00:21:57,040 --> 00:21:59,840 Speaker 1: tedious work that you have to put into perfect your craft. 429 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:02,960 Speaker 1: And the reason why that resonated with me so profoundly 430 00:22:02,960 --> 00:22:05,800 Speaker 1: with Shaun is because that's what I attached to all 431 00:22:05,840 --> 00:22:09,639 Speaker 1: my work. Everybody right now is celebrating Stephen as World 432 00:22:09,640 --> 00:22:12,440 Speaker 1: coming on ESPN Plus, or they're talking about my sports 433 00:22:12,440 --> 00:22:14,720 Speaker 1: and it was Stephen A. Smith the NBA Show, or 434 00:22:14,760 --> 00:22:17,120 Speaker 1: they're looking forward to the new year, or it will 435 00:22:17,200 --> 00:22:20,080 Speaker 1: first take. All I think about is going day to 436 00:22:20,160 --> 00:22:22,400 Speaker 1: day and making sure that I do everything that I 437 00:22:22,480 --> 00:22:26,080 Speaker 1: can to deliver to the audience what their expectations are 438 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:29,480 Speaker 1: of me and to exceed those expectations. And I let 439 00:22:29,520 --> 00:22:32,840 Speaker 1: everyone else judge the final product, because once that's finished, 440 00:22:33,080 --> 00:22:35,199 Speaker 1: I gotta work the next day. I don't have the 441 00:22:35,280 --> 00:22:38,919 Speaker 1: luxury of sitting around and celebrating what I've accomplished when 442 00:22:38,920 --> 00:22:40,480 Speaker 1: I got worked to do to make sure that I 443 00:22:40,560 --> 00:22:44,360 Speaker 1: deliver to the audience what's been promoted. Now, we thought 444 00:22:44,359 --> 00:22:46,760 Speaker 1: we'd be celebrating this movie in the marth of January, 445 00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:49,440 Speaker 1: but because of COVID and eighteen, they really rechanged the 446 00:22:49,480 --> 00:22:52,400 Speaker 1: release date to May fourteen. And this is an animated 447 00:22:52,440 --> 00:22:56,199 Speaker 1: movie called Rumble and you basically playing yourself or sports 448 00:22:56,240 --> 00:22:59,879 Speaker 1: analysts of sports castor and at the w w E. 449 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:02,080 Speaker 1: He's one of the producers of this project along with 450 00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:07,679 Speaker 1: Paramount Animation. Now that stephen A, you know I've seen this. 451 00:23:07,200 --> 00:23:10,320 Speaker 1: This what I'm just tell you all some about Stephen Ames. 452 00:23:10,320 --> 00:23:13,040 Speaker 1: Stephen A is one of the most talented people I've 453 00:23:13,080 --> 00:23:18,359 Speaker 1: met in this business. But also he tends to not 454 00:23:18,520 --> 00:23:20,920 Speaker 1: understand how talent that he is. And that's not the insult, 455 00:23:21,359 --> 00:23:25,639 Speaker 1: because he will give you a d. And the reason 456 00:23:25,680 --> 00:23:27,520 Speaker 1: I say that because just like he was shocked when 457 00:23:27,520 --> 00:23:30,560 Speaker 1: it came down to General Hospital said wow, I always 458 00:23:30,560 --> 00:23:32,560 Speaker 1: tell him he's funny. Man, I don't believe there. I 459 00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:35,200 Speaker 1: don't believe that, Rashwan. You keep saying I'm funny. One 460 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:38,560 Speaker 1: of the funniest people I've met now Rumble. When I 461 00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:41,760 Speaker 1: saw the trailoa on that I was blown away and 462 00:23:41,760 --> 00:23:43,560 Speaker 1: I said, he said, rich that that that that works 463 00:23:43,600 --> 00:23:46,680 Speaker 1: for you. I go, man, that's outstanding. And so let's 464 00:23:46,720 --> 00:23:52,280 Speaker 1: talk about how your character in Rumble group every time 465 00:23:53,520 --> 00:23:58,640 Speaker 1: you went into a looping of the movie. Well, it's 466 00:23:58,720 --> 00:24:01,159 Speaker 1: voice over work, and so of what happens is is 467 00:24:01,240 --> 00:24:05,800 Speaker 1: that you know, people usually want you to do what 468 00:24:05,880 --> 00:24:10,240 Speaker 1: they see you do on television. And my whole point is, 469 00:24:10,320 --> 00:24:12,280 Speaker 1: you know, one of the things that I learned from 470 00:24:12,320 --> 00:24:16,560 Speaker 1: the voiceover work is that your cadence, uh, your tenor 471 00:24:17,119 --> 00:24:20,879 Speaker 1: all of those different things, just like you do in television, 472 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:22,960 Speaker 1: there's a time and a place for everything. There's a 473 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:25,439 Speaker 1: time to raise your voice. There's a time to lower it. 474 00:24:25,720 --> 00:24:27,840 Speaker 1: There's a time to say nothing and just use your 475 00:24:27,840 --> 00:24:31,280 Speaker 1: facial expressions, you know, isn't There's a time and a 476 00:24:31,359 --> 00:24:35,160 Speaker 1: place to utilize all of these uh things that are 477 00:24:35,200 --> 00:24:38,080 Speaker 1: available to you and are at your disposal. And so 478 00:24:38,280 --> 00:24:41,920 Speaker 1: the same as applicable to when you're doing voiceover work. 479 00:24:42,359 --> 00:24:44,320 Speaker 1: They might want you to do X, Y and Z, 480 00:24:44,680 --> 00:24:48,119 Speaker 1: but if you have a feel for the character, the 481 00:24:48,200 --> 00:24:50,560 Speaker 1: more you have a feel for the character, the more 482 00:24:50,640 --> 00:24:53,879 Speaker 1: you're asking you. The more you're asking of yourself to 483 00:24:53,960 --> 00:24:56,760 Speaker 1: deliver in certain different things. You know you might be 484 00:24:57,119 --> 00:25:00,080 Speaker 1: called upon to be a bit more animated. Some this 485 00:25:00,240 --> 00:25:02,879 Speaker 1: is may call may call you the dollar back. And 486 00:25:02,920 --> 00:25:05,920 Speaker 1: so you have producers, executive producers and the like. They 487 00:25:05,920 --> 00:25:09,400 Speaker 1: have an idea what they want, but when they call you, 488 00:25:09,400 --> 00:25:11,560 Speaker 1: you also got to remind them that you're somewhat of 489 00:25:11,640 --> 00:25:13,719 Speaker 1: the expert. Like, for example, if you were asking me 490 00:25:13,760 --> 00:25:17,000 Speaker 1: to just be the actor on on on on the 491 00:25:17,040 --> 00:25:20,480 Speaker 1: General Hospital, well you can. I can defer to the 492 00:25:20,520 --> 00:25:24,159 Speaker 1: executive producer all day every day because that's what they do. 493 00:25:24,640 --> 00:25:27,720 Speaker 1: But to voice over work. You asked me to come 494 00:25:27,720 --> 00:25:31,880 Speaker 1: on and to be a sports announcer sports broadcasting, Well 495 00:25:31,880 --> 00:25:34,400 Speaker 1: that's what I do every day. So when you came 496 00:25:34,400 --> 00:25:36,000 Speaker 1: to me and asked me to give this line of 497 00:25:36,080 --> 00:25:38,800 Speaker 1: that line, I'm like, no, that doesn't work here. That 498 00:25:38,880 --> 00:25:41,760 Speaker 1: may not work here because that's not practical. This is 499 00:25:41,800 --> 00:25:44,520 Speaker 1: what we do. And they defer to my level of 500 00:25:44,560 --> 00:25:47,000 Speaker 1: expertise me because I'm the one that does that every day. 501 00:25:47,320 --> 00:25:49,960 Speaker 1: And so you're learning what they want and what they need, 502 00:25:50,040 --> 00:25:54,240 Speaker 1: but you're also applying your expertise to the equations. So 503 00:25:54,600 --> 00:25:57,280 Speaker 1: you're giving them a feel for what this role is 504 00:25:57,320 --> 00:25:59,879 Speaker 1: supposed to be. And in order to do that, you 505 00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:02,520 Speaker 1: have to go on to folks trust. You have to 506 00:26:02,720 --> 00:26:05,680 Speaker 1: visualize things for them as well. And when you're able 507 00:26:05,720 --> 00:26:07,879 Speaker 1: to do that with voiceover, and then you're able to 508 00:26:07,960 --> 00:26:10,359 Speaker 1: do that on a soul problem, all of a sudden 509 00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:14,399 Speaker 1: you go back to your regularly, daily, regular, daily job 510 00:26:14,720 --> 00:26:16,720 Speaker 1: and you're saying, Okay, these are things that you can 511 00:26:16,760 --> 00:26:19,399 Speaker 1: apply to whatever you're doing every day because they have 512 00:26:19,520 --> 00:26:21,879 Speaker 1: this vision, but you have this vision as well, and 513 00:26:21,960 --> 00:26:24,159 Speaker 1: you're the one doing it. Plus you're in tune with 514 00:26:24,240 --> 00:26:27,000 Speaker 1: your audience, etcetera, etcetera. That's what you're trying to bring 515 00:26:27,040 --> 00:26:28,879 Speaker 1: to the table, and that's what I've been blessed and 516 00:26:28,920 --> 00:26:31,800 Speaker 1: fortunate to be able to do. And you're doing a 517 00:26:31,880 --> 00:26:37,960 Speaker 1: fantastic and closing Um, Stephen A. Smith. That has become 518 00:26:38,000 --> 00:26:41,359 Speaker 1: a pretty famous name, Stephen, especially to stephen A Park. 519 00:26:42,359 --> 00:26:46,879 Speaker 1: Where did that start? The stephen A Smith Park? I 520 00:26:46,920 --> 00:26:52,199 Speaker 1: got left back UM in a third grade at a 521 00:26:52,200 --> 00:26:55,639 Speaker 1: first grade reading level. I had dyslexia. Didn't know it 522 00:26:55,760 --> 00:26:58,880 Speaker 1: until later on in life, believe it or not, UM, 523 00:26:58,920 --> 00:27:00,960 Speaker 1: but I could not comprete him what I was reading, 524 00:27:01,800 --> 00:27:04,639 Speaker 1: so I got left back in the third grade. In June, 525 00:27:06,480 --> 00:27:11,920 Speaker 1: I went to summer school. July and August, I completed 526 00:27:11,960 --> 00:27:15,320 Speaker 1: my summer courses and as a result, I was promoted 527 00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:19,359 Speaker 1: back to my right grade, the fourth grade. By that September, 528 00:27:21,080 --> 00:27:24,080 Speaker 1: I went through the fourth grade and I got left 529 00:27:24,119 --> 00:27:28,000 Speaker 1: back again. This time I was held back the whole 530 00:27:28,119 --> 00:27:30,840 Speaker 1: year because I still had a first grade reading level. 531 00:27:32,160 --> 00:27:35,239 Speaker 1: And I was ridicute, because you're you can imagine how 532 00:27:35,280 --> 00:27:39,840 Speaker 1: crul kids can be. And I was ridicute, excessively laughed at. 533 00:27:40,160 --> 00:27:41,840 Speaker 1: I was so embarrassed. I didn't come out of my 534 00:27:41,880 --> 00:27:44,159 Speaker 1: mother's house for a couple of weeks. It was, you know, 535 00:27:44,359 --> 00:27:47,840 Speaker 1: I sold my dad in the backyard, you know, looking 536 00:27:47,960 --> 00:27:50,280 Speaker 1: at my mom and saying that, you know, there's not 537 00:27:50,359 --> 00:27:53,080 Speaker 1: much hope for him. He doesn't have that level of 538 00:27:53,200 --> 00:27:55,640 Speaker 1: intellect and all of this other stuff. And I remembered 539 00:27:55,680 --> 00:27:59,959 Speaker 1: that and I just said never again. And I remember 540 00:28:00,040 --> 00:28:04,520 Speaker 1: where my mother refusing to go along with that motive, 541 00:28:04,560 --> 00:28:07,879 Speaker 1: thinking he said he just needed to work hard, he 542 00:28:08,000 --> 00:28:10,640 Speaker 1: just needed to do his work, he just needed to focus, 543 00:28:11,280 --> 00:28:15,040 Speaker 1: not be distracted, etcetera, etcetera. And she got me a tutor. 544 00:28:15,160 --> 00:28:17,359 Speaker 1: Plus I had a family friend. Plus I had my 545 00:28:17,400 --> 00:28:21,200 Speaker 1: sister Linda, who were all collaborating with my mother to 546 00:28:21,280 --> 00:28:23,760 Speaker 1: teach me how to read better. And it was all 547 00:28:23,880 --> 00:28:28,120 Speaker 1: spearheaded by my mother's diligence and her commitment and her 548 00:28:28,160 --> 00:28:31,840 Speaker 1: love to me. So as a result of that, when 549 00:28:32,040 --> 00:28:35,159 Speaker 1: I entered the journalism field, I decided to enter the 550 00:28:35,240 --> 00:28:38,240 Speaker 1: journalism field, and I had a byeline for the first time. 551 00:28:39,240 --> 00:28:41,959 Speaker 1: I remember stephen A because I used to hate my 552 00:28:42,080 --> 00:28:45,920 Speaker 1: name because my mother used to call me Stephen, not 553 00:28:46,120 --> 00:28:50,000 Speaker 1: Stephen and and and and and she used especially when 554 00:28:50,000 --> 00:28:52,640 Speaker 1: she loves mad at me over something. And so I 555 00:28:52,720 --> 00:28:55,760 Speaker 1: hated my name at the time because of how it 556 00:28:55,880 --> 00:28:57,880 Speaker 1: was spelled. It wasn't spelled with a V. It was 557 00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:01,440 Speaker 1: spelled with a pH, and I eat it. And so 558 00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:04,520 Speaker 1: as a result of it, once I once I got 559 00:29:04,600 --> 00:29:09,760 Speaker 1: to college and I was an honorable student um, and 560 00:29:09,800 --> 00:29:13,680 Speaker 1: I had my byeline for the first time. It was 561 00:29:13,800 --> 00:29:18,080 Speaker 1: the tribute to her, stephen A. Smith, because that was 562 00:29:18,160 --> 00:29:21,600 Speaker 1: me saying thank you, mommy, I love you, and you 563 00:29:21,640 --> 00:29:25,120 Speaker 1: were right all along. My name, ain't that bad, It's okay. 564 00:29:25,640 --> 00:29:27,560 Speaker 1: And it was a tribute to her. And that's the 565 00:29:27,680 --> 00:29:30,880 Speaker 1: only reason why I had the A in the middle 566 00:29:30,920 --> 00:29:33,600 Speaker 1: of my byeline, Stephen A. Smith. It was because my 567 00:29:33,680 --> 00:29:35,920 Speaker 1: name is Stephen Anthony Smith, and she used to say 568 00:29:35,960 --> 00:29:39,160 Speaker 1: Stephen or Steven or Stephen Anthony whenever she was upset 569 00:29:39,200 --> 00:29:41,480 Speaker 1: with me, and that's why they liked my name. So 570 00:29:41,880 --> 00:29:44,600 Speaker 1: once I finally was succeeding, and not only succeeding, but 571 00:29:44,640 --> 00:29:47,440 Speaker 1: in the field of journalism, and I had a byeline. 572 00:29:47,800 --> 00:29:52,000 Speaker 1: The byeline was a tribute to honor heart. Awesome brother. 573 00:29:52,480 --> 00:29:56,760 Speaker 1: Step You never failed to U not emotionally, uplift me. 574 00:29:56,920 --> 00:29:59,800 Speaker 1: You're motivational. But part I'm happy and part of this ride. 575 00:30:00,200 --> 00:30:01,960 Speaker 1: All right, this is you know, this is a half 576 00:30:02,000 --> 00:30:04,840 Speaker 1: hours went by real fast, and uh, I wanna thank 577 00:30:04,840 --> 00:30:07,280 Speaker 1: you for coming on money making Conversation. I'll be seeing 578 00:30:07,280 --> 00:30:09,160 Speaker 1: you in a couple of weeks, even a couple a 579 00:30:09,160 --> 00:30:13,320 Speaker 1: couple of weeks. Get well, well, I want to thank you. 580 00:30:13,320 --> 00:30:15,560 Speaker 1: You've been an incredible help. You're proud to be working 581 00:30:15,600 --> 00:30:18,400 Speaker 1: with you. I'm proud to have you as my ace. Uh. 582 00:30:18,440 --> 00:30:21,920 Speaker 1: You know you're gonna be executive producing my show alongside me. 583 00:30:22,040 --> 00:30:25,200 Speaker 1: You're my number two, you're my business manager, and you're 584 00:30:25,360 --> 00:30:28,920 Speaker 1: somebody that I trust and have a profound level of 585 00:30:29,000 --> 00:30:31,640 Speaker 1: respect and love for I appreciate everything that you've done 586 00:30:31,640 --> 00:30:33,840 Speaker 1: for me. You know, I still want you to change 587 00:30:33,920 --> 00:30:35,680 Speaker 1: that laugh and I'd like you to get rid of 588 00:30:35,680 --> 00:30:37,880 Speaker 1: that damn beard is so thick. You know what I'm saying, 589 00:30:37,880 --> 00:30:42,840 Speaker 1: Shave it up just a little bit. I don't know. 590 00:30:43,200 --> 00:30:45,280 Speaker 1: I don't know why you got on a three piece 591 00:30:45,320 --> 00:30:48,760 Speaker 1: suit with your jacket closed while you're talking to me 592 00:30:48,840 --> 00:30:52,320 Speaker 1: while I'm on vacation. But that's Michellan, That's who you are, 593 00:30:52,560 --> 00:30:55,320 Speaker 1: So you know, knock yourself out. There's only one year, 594 00:30:55,440 --> 00:30:58,080 Speaker 1: my brother. I understand it. I get it, and I'm 595 00:30:58,080 --> 00:31:00,040 Speaker 1: cool with it. I appreciate it. Man, we talked so 596 00:31:00,200 --> 00:31:08,120 Speaker 1: stephen A. In this season of giving, Coals has gifts 597 00:31:08,160 --> 00:31:10,400 Speaker 1: for all your loved ones. 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