1 00:00:03,320 --> 00:00:05,240 Speaker 1: What's up his way up at Angela Yee, I'm here, 2 00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:07,520 Speaker 1: Jasmine Brand is here, and one of my favorite people 3 00:00:07,560 --> 00:00:11,520 Speaker 1: in the whole wide world, Deborah Roberts, is here today 4 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:15,680 Speaker 1: with a new book out, and Sisters Loved and Treasured 5 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:18,120 Speaker 1: is the name of the book. You know, last book 6 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:21,880 Speaker 1: was an Ohms to Teachers, right, which made me do 7 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:24,880 Speaker 1: a whole topic of teachers that really impacted my life 8 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:27,760 Speaker 1: and it was the teacher who changed my life lessons 9 00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:30,960 Speaker 1: learned and cherished. So now we have this book which 10 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:32,920 Speaker 1: is oh Mys to sisterhood. 11 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:34,320 Speaker 2: And I wanted you to be in the book, and 12 00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:37,000 Speaker 2: then you said, I don't have sisters. So I was like, okay, 13 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 2: that would be a little tough this time. But I know, 14 00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:41,240 Speaker 2: I know how much you loved I always want to 15 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:43,360 Speaker 2: one Well, you know what you will, You will be 16 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:47,680 Speaker 2: inspired to hold tight to your sister friends because of 17 00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:51,240 Speaker 2: this book because it does celebrate sisterhood in all ways. 18 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:53,720 Speaker 2: I mean, obviously I have biological sisters a. 19 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:54,840 Speaker 3: Lot, a lot. 20 00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:57,640 Speaker 2: Y'r deal, we're deep, We're very deep. But there you know, 21 00:00:57,720 --> 00:01:00,920 Speaker 2: the sisterhood, the bond is just real, whether you're related 22 00:01:01,040 --> 00:01:01,240 Speaker 2: or not. 23 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:02,640 Speaker 4: Well, let's talk. 24 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 3: About yours first. 25 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:06,000 Speaker 1: Because I even want to know what made you feel 26 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 1: inspired to write this book. 27 00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:08,680 Speaker 3: And I have to imagine. 28 00:01:08,840 --> 00:01:11,120 Speaker 1: And I know you've beaten yourself up about feeling like 29 00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:12,400 Speaker 1: you're not the best sister. 30 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 3: Read the book. 31 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:15,039 Speaker 2: You've read the book. 32 00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:16,000 Speaker 4: Honest about it. 33 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:19,360 Speaker 2: I am honest about it. So after I finished writing 34 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:21,959 Speaker 2: the last book, and I had such a great experience, 35 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:24,319 Speaker 2: I started thinking what would I do next? And you 36 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:27,520 Speaker 2: write really what you know, and I started thinking about 37 00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:31,000 Speaker 2: the things that interest me. And at the time, I think, 38 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:33,880 Speaker 2: maybe just I don't know. My sisters were on my radar, 39 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:37,560 Speaker 2: and I've had sisters who have dealt with illnesses, including 40 00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:40,800 Speaker 2: one sister right now who is fighting cancer, and I 41 00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:43,679 Speaker 2: was sort of thinking about sisterhood in general. And I 42 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:47,880 Speaker 2: had read a study that said sisters boost your emotional 43 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:50,320 Speaker 2: well being. Having a sister is actually good for your 44 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 2: mental health, and I thought that is so interesting. And 45 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:56,560 Speaker 2: then I started looking deep into my own relationships with 46 00:01:56,600 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 2: my sisters, because they're all over the map. I grew 47 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:01,800 Speaker 2: up in a large family, as you both know, with 48 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:05,480 Speaker 2: six sisters, six sisters and two brothers and one bathroom. 49 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:12,120 Speaker 1: By the way, first of all those poor brothers exactly, and. 50 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:14,680 Speaker 2: In fact I dedicate the book to my oldest brother, Jackie, 51 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:18,639 Speaker 2: who just passed away recently. But we've lost some siblings 52 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:20,840 Speaker 2: along the way. We've lost two sisters, and we can 53 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:22,840 Speaker 2: talk about some of those stories. But I have four 54 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:26,919 Speaker 2: remaining sisters, and I sort of felt that we weren't 55 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:29,480 Speaker 2: as close as we either used to be or could be, 56 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:32,520 Speaker 2: and we're all scattered. And I have this big life 57 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:35,680 Speaker 2: where I travel and you know, I'm on television, and 58 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:37,800 Speaker 2: I thought, well, maybe it's me and maybe I should 59 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:39,840 Speaker 2: be a better sister. So I wanted to delve into 60 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:42,360 Speaker 2: the sister bond and what is it all about? And 61 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:45,600 Speaker 2: the more I started talking to other people about their sisters, 62 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:49,079 Speaker 2: I realized, Number One, I'm not that unusual in terms 63 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:52,080 Speaker 2: of the bond. Yes, in terms of the bonds, sometimes 64 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:55,560 Speaker 2: praying a little bit, but also too that they're all 65 00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 2: so different. The relationships don't have to be perfect for 66 00:02:58,360 --> 00:02:59,839 Speaker 2: you to have a strong bond. 67 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:01,600 Speaker 1: And to know that they're always there. I saw they 68 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:05,119 Speaker 1: were in the audience at the view, they were here. 69 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:08,359 Speaker 3: For the sub day. That had to feel good. How 70 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:09,120 Speaker 3: did they respond? 71 00:03:09,400 --> 00:03:11,560 Speaker 2: They were, first of all, so excited to be in 72 00:03:11,639 --> 00:03:13,640 Speaker 2: New York and to be on television and they running 73 00:03:13,639 --> 00:03:15,760 Speaker 2: all over yeah, going to a Broadway show and hanging 74 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:18,919 Speaker 2: out because they live in Texas and Florida and Georgia 75 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:20,840 Speaker 2: and they have the kind of lives where they don't 76 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:23,280 Speaker 2: do this kind of thing very often. But I think 77 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 2: more than anything, they got such a kick out of 78 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:29,320 Speaker 2: being celebrated. I have a life that is very big 79 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:31,520 Speaker 2: and that that is, you know, very public, and they 80 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 2: know that. But for them to be pulled into a 81 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:36,960 Speaker 2: project that I was working on and to be celebrated 82 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:38,800 Speaker 2: and to be able to talk a little bit about 83 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:41,640 Speaker 2: our lives and to put some things out there, and 84 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:44,600 Speaker 2: I have to say, honestly, it was actually a very 85 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:47,640 Speaker 2: good experiment for us and bringing my own sisters into 86 00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:50,760 Speaker 2: this book. My youngest sister was a little nervous at first. 87 00:03:51,080 --> 00:03:52,760 Speaker 2: What are we talking about? What's going on? 88 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:53,480 Speaker 1: Are you are? 89 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 4: We are? 90 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 2: We like shaking the family tree and feeling all the secrets. 91 00:03:57,560 --> 00:04:00,240 Speaker 1: But they trust you because I think people would know 92 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:01,080 Speaker 1: your intentions. 93 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:02,480 Speaker 3: Is never that, yes, And I. 94 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:04,280 Speaker 2: Made it very clear to her it is not about 95 00:04:04,320 --> 00:04:07,240 Speaker 2: making anybody feel uncomfortable. And my youngest sister, Belinda, and 96 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:09,160 Speaker 2: I have struggled a little bit over the years with 97 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 2: our relationship, and I think she was a little worried about, 98 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:15,000 Speaker 2: you know, what's your perception? What are you going to say? 99 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:17,400 Speaker 2: And how honest can I be about you? And we 100 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:21,120 Speaker 2: wound up having a really lovely discussion about the ups 101 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:24,640 Speaker 2: and downs and difficulties and how we felt either guilty 102 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 2: or just you know, badly about different things that have 103 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:31,280 Speaker 2: happened over the years. And it opened up a conversation, 104 00:04:31,360 --> 00:04:33,680 Speaker 2: which is what I'm hoping the book will do for others. 105 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:37,440 Speaker 1: Man, there's all different stories and there Viola Davis had 106 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:38,800 Speaker 1: a really powerful one. 107 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:41,359 Speaker 4: How did you get That? Was probably one of my 108 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:44,240 Speaker 4: most memorable ones because it was so traumatic, and she 109 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:48,000 Speaker 4: was talking about how trauma helped bond her sisters what 110 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:50,839 Speaker 4: they saw growing up, and also her having like panic 111 00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:53,280 Speaker 4: attacks and anxiety attacks when she was little and her 112 00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:55,920 Speaker 4: sister helped her. But how did you get all this? 113 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:57,360 Speaker 4: How did you get her to pull that kind of 114 00:04:57,400 --> 00:04:57,880 Speaker 4: stuff out? 115 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:00,880 Speaker 2: Well, Viola had actually talked about all of this because 116 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 2: she had written a memoir, and so I knew that 117 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:06,200 Speaker 2: she had put it out there, and I'd run into Viola, 118 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:08,160 Speaker 2: and I would like to say we're friendly, because I've 119 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:11,280 Speaker 2: interviewed her for a few stories before, and so I, 120 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:13,599 Speaker 2: of course, in the course of thinking about sisters, you 121 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:16,000 Speaker 2: think about people that you read about who have interesting, 122 00:05:16,480 --> 00:05:19,320 Speaker 2: unique bonds with their sisters. And I thought, rather than 123 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:22,760 Speaker 2: just talk about beautiful, lovely bonds and people who get 124 00:05:22,800 --> 00:05:26,320 Speaker 2: along so well, let's talk about bonding over trauma. And 125 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:28,520 Speaker 2: I asked Viola when I saw her last if she 126 00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:30,800 Speaker 2: would be willing to talk to me about her story, 127 00:05:31,080 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 2: and she was happy to do it. And so that 128 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 2: was so interesting to. 129 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:35,040 Speaker 3: Me to hear. 130 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:37,760 Speaker 2: I mean, we've heard her talk about it some, but 131 00:05:37,880 --> 00:05:39,640 Speaker 2: she opened up I think in a way with me. 132 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:41,920 Speaker 2: She took the time to really talk about what her 133 00:05:41,920 --> 00:05:45,279 Speaker 2: sisters meant to her. And the same with other people 134 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:48,679 Speaker 2: when I talk whether they were all famous, like Octavia Spencer, 135 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:52,120 Speaker 2: Arianna Huffington, or Connie Chung the news anchor. There were 136 00:05:52,120 --> 00:05:53,880 Speaker 2: a lot of bold names, but there were a lot 137 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:57,160 Speaker 2: of just regular folks, including my assistant Alex and her 138 00:05:57,200 --> 00:05:57,839 Speaker 2: twin sister. 139 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:00,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, you have a whole thing about twin yes in 140 00:06:00,960 --> 00:06:04,200 Speaker 1: here and the special bond the twins share coming from 141 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:06,800 Speaker 1: the same DNA, So can you talk about that? 142 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:09,800 Speaker 2: They call themselves womb mates. You know, who can be 143 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:12,400 Speaker 2: closer to you than the one you shared the womb with. 144 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:16,520 Speaker 2: Jenna bush Hager and her sister Kim and Karen are 145 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 2: the friends of mine here in New York. I just 146 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:21,839 Speaker 2: thought the sister bond is already interesting. But twins, who 147 00:06:21,960 --> 00:06:25,440 Speaker 2: often say they can feel each other's pain almost read 148 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:29,720 Speaker 2: each other's emotions. Michael Strahan's two girls, Isabella and Sophia, 149 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:32,400 Speaker 2: one of them was going through a life threatening illness. 150 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:36,320 Speaker 2: I thought the twin bond was particularly interesting because it 151 00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:39,359 Speaker 2: can be fraught. People see them as the same, the twins. 152 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:43,800 Speaker 2: The twins, they get their own identity exactly, and oftentimes 153 00:06:43,839 --> 00:06:46,600 Speaker 2: they don't necessarily love that, don't they. 154 00:06:46,640 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 1: Don't, Alex do I hate yeah, even saying I'm not 155 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:51,839 Speaker 1: going to the same. 156 00:06:51,680 --> 00:06:54,159 Speaker 3: School as you, because I would love to like form 157 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:54,719 Speaker 3: my own. 158 00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:57,479 Speaker 4: Idea, like defiant. I have friends that are twins. They're 159 00:06:57,480 --> 00:07:00,320 Speaker 4: older than me, and they really look alike, but they 160 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:02,800 Speaker 4: are like polar opposite, and it kind of irritates them. 161 00:07:02,839 --> 00:07:06,280 Speaker 4: Sometimes people can't recognize it, like the difference. We call 162 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:06,880 Speaker 4: them the twins. 163 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:09,479 Speaker 2: It's kind of likely. Yeah, no, no, we have a name. Yeah, 164 00:07:09,520 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 2: but there are also twins too, though, who were just 165 00:07:11,920 --> 00:07:14,560 Speaker 2: so close and felt that they were upset when they 166 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:17,360 Speaker 2: got separated in school and they felt that, you know, 167 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 2: they were denied this opportunity to be so close. So 168 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:22,960 Speaker 2: you're absolutely right. That's what I thought was so interesting. 169 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:27,240 Speaker 2: The journey of sisterhood is complex. It can be beautiful, 170 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 2: it can be challenging, it can be infuriating, it can 171 00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:33,280 Speaker 2: be all of these things, but yet there is a bond. 172 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:35,640 Speaker 1: And Kim and Karen I believe they both talked about 173 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:38,480 Speaker 1: their fertility issues too in the book, and. 174 00:07:38,520 --> 00:07:40,760 Speaker 2: They talk about the fertility issues, and one of them 175 00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 2: was actually having a major, major crisis, and the other 176 00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:45,160 Speaker 2: one said she felt her pain. 177 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:46,000 Speaker 3: Can you imagine? 178 00:07:46,160 --> 00:07:48,000 Speaker 2: I thought, how is that? You know, you kind of 179 00:07:48,040 --> 00:07:50,200 Speaker 2: wonder like, oh wait a second, is that possible? It 180 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:53,800 Speaker 2: makes but it makes sense though, and ps they're they're 181 00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:56,880 Speaker 2: identical twins. They came from the same egg. So maybe 182 00:07:56,880 --> 00:07:59,520 Speaker 2: there is something there that just unites them in a 183 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:01,480 Speaker 2: way that is different from other sisters. 184 00:08:01,680 --> 00:08:03,920 Speaker 1: You know, what I noticed as a comment thread throughout 185 00:08:03,960 --> 00:08:06,960 Speaker 1: the book is that a lot of times when the 186 00:08:07,040 --> 00:08:09,440 Speaker 1: sisters were talking about each other, they could be opposites. 187 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:12,720 Speaker 1: Like there's Kim Alexis and Randa Derbin Kim, a former 188 00:08:12,760 --> 00:08:17,320 Speaker 1: supermodel Kim Alexis and Ronda Derbin. Kim is a former supermodel. 189 00:08:17,360 --> 00:08:19,080 Speaker 3: Ronda is a retired tech executive. 190 00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:22,920 Speaker 1: What I notice is sometimes like one sister will put 191 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:25,560 Speaker 1: herself down, like you're so much smarter than I am, 192 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:28,080 Speaker 1: You're the pretty one, you're this, you're that, And the 193 00:08:28,120 --> 00:08:31,160 Speaker 1: other sister would be like, you do not say that. Rejected, Yeah, 194 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:33,400 Speaker 1: because that is not true. You are beautiful, you're this. 195 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:37,640 Speaker 1: You know, just that relationship of how sometimes you compare yourself. 196 00:08:37,679 --> 00:08:40,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, but you his sisters here to amplify and to 197 00:08:40,200 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 2: make you feel worthy. That happened with Robin Roberts and 198 00:08:43,559 --> 00:08:46,319 Speaker 2: her two sisters, selling Inn and Dorothy. So I had 199 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:49,160 Speaker 2: interviewed Robin for the first book about teachers, and I thought, 200 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:50,959 Speaker 2: you know, I mean, I know Robin's story, but it 201 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:53,280 Speaker 2: would be fun to hear from her sisters about being 202 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:57,640 Speaker 2: Robin's sister. Yeah, And Robin maybe secretly was a little nervous. 203 00:08:57,679 --> 00:08:59,320 Speaker 2: She thought it was a great idea. But when I 204 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:02,439 Speaker 2: sat to you know you in the zoom the two sisters, 205 00:09:02,520 --> 00:09:04,480 Speaker 2: Robin pops up in the background, I was like, what 206 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:08,400 Speaker 2: are you doing here? But the second the little sister 207 00:09:08,440 --> 00:09:11,160 Speaker 2: and Robin's the baby sister. What was interesting was that 208 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:15,680 Speaker 2: Sally Anne, who was Robin's stem cell donor saved her life, 209 00:09:16,559 --> 00:09:19,120 Speaker 2: was so self deprecating and when I ask her about that, 210 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:21,320 Speaker 2: she well, you know, and other people should do it, 211 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:23,400 Speaker 2: and it's an honor to be able to. And Robin 212 00:09:23,520 --> 00:09:26,400 Speaker 2: chimed in and said, wait a second, sister, no, let 213 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:30,080 Speaker 2: me give you props. And she elevated her sister and 214 00:09:30,120 --> 00:09:33,120 Speaker 2: amplified her voice, and I thought, that's a classic sister 215 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:35,760 Speaker 2: moment to jump in and say no, you're not giving 216 00:09:35,760 --> 00:09:38,800 Speaker 2: yourself enough credit. And that was once again the epitome 217 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:42,520 Speaker 2: of the sister relationship. Again, not always beautiful, not always great, 218 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:45,280 Speaker 2: lots of fights, you know, people are at each other's throats. 219 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:48,360 Speaker 2: But at the end of the day, there is something 220 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:51,920 Speaker 2: that holds you together and makes you feel something different 221 00:09:51,920 --> 00:09:54,760 Speaker 2: and special toward that person whom you share a history with, 222 00:09:54,840 --> 00:09:57,640 Speaker 2: you shared a home with, you have a background. Who 223 00:09:57,640 --> 00:10:02,040 Speaker 2: else knows where your scars are a physical and emotional 224 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:05,120 Speaker 2: your sister. You know someone who shared your childhood. 225 00:10:04,679 --> 00:10:06,960 Speaker 3: And sometimes you don't share a home, right man. So 226 00:10:07,440 --> 00:10:09,000 Speaker 3: there is a story in here. 227 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:13,319 Speaker 2: Denise Graves, and you know the opera singer. 228 00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:15,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, so can you tell us about that one? Because 229 00:10:15,640 --> 00:10:17,480 Speaker 1: I thought that was very interesting Denise. 230 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:19,920 Speaker 2: Now, I have to tell you guys, sometimes I wasn't 231 00:10:19,960 --> 00:10:21,880 Speaker 2: prepared for what I was going to find out because 232 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:24,760 Speaker 2: I thought I knew people a little bit maybe when 233 00:10:24,800 --> 00:10:27,760 Speaker 2: I approached them, and Denise just blew me away with 234 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:30,600 Speaker 2: her story. First of all, Denise is this mezzo soprano 235 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:34,160 Speaker 2: opera star. Everybody knows her from stage. And she starts 236 00:10:34,200 --> 00:10:37,640 Speaker 2: to explain her sister, her relationship with her sister, the 237 00:10:37,679 --> 00:10:40,560 Speaker 2: two of them growing up, they were also sort of opposites, 238 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:43,719 Speaker 2: and you know, Denise used to torture her sister a 239 00:10:43,760 --> 00:10:46,120 Speaker 2: little bit, and you hear these stories a lot and 240 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:48,800 Speaker 2: actually blamed her for something when they were little, and 241 00:10:49,120 --> 00:10:51,480 Speaker 2: you know, and over the years never really took you 242 00:10:51,520 --> 00:10:54,679 Speaker 2: took ownership of it, but you eventually did. So they 243 00:10:54,760 --> 00:10:57,480 Speaker 2: had the classic sister role of having their ups and 244 00:10:57,520 --> 00:11:00,640 Speaker 2: downs and Denise sort of bossing her around. But then 245 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:04,200 Speaker 2: Denise also discovered that there were other siblings in the 246 00:11:04,240 --> 00:11:07,439 Speaker 2: family later on after her father died, and she did not. 247 00:11:07,520 --> 00:11:08,520 Speaker 3: Know that at the funeral. 248 00:11:08,679 --> 00:11:11,240 Speaker 2: At the funeral and I said, oh my gosh, Denise, 249 00:11:11,280 --> 00:11:13,040 Speaker 2: are you sure you want to share all of this, 250 00:11:13,679 --> 00:11:16,080 Speaker 2: but she but she discovered she had other sisters, and 251 00:11:16,520 --> 00:11:20,520 Speaker 2: ultimately she's just decided that that's just life and that, 252 00:11:20,559 --> 00:11:23,960 Speaker 2: you know, there's power in that owning what your maybe 253 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:27,480 Speaker 2: messy situation can be. And I just loved hearing her story. 254 00:11:27,520 --> 00:11:29,840 Speaker 2: She and her sister had a big fight about Denise 255 00:11:29,880 --> 00:11:32,560 Speaker 2: commenting on how she was raising her son or daughter, 256 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:35,480 Speaker 2: and and they had but that's what sisters do. You 257 00:11:35,559 --> 00:11:39,600 Speaker 2: irritate each other. Yes, yes, my job I tell you 258 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:41,720 Speaker 2: what to do. And my youngest sister would say the 259 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:44,679 Speaker 2: same thing. You're the bossy sister who's always telling. 260 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:45,079 Speaker 3: Me what to do. 261 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:49,840 Speaker 1: You definitely give that yeah, yeah, yeah, you felt like 262 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:50,760 Speaker 1: the organizer. 263 00:11:51,559 --> 00:11:54,599 Speaker 2: Yeah, telling them what to do. Tell me. She's like, 264 00:11:54,679 --> 00:11:55,599 Speaker 2: you're judgmental. 265 00:11:55,760 --> 00:11:56,840 Speaker 3: You know what. You can't sing? 266 00:11:56,920 --> 00:12:01,120 Speaker 2: Though I cannot sing, they all saying, and we all see, 267 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:05,079 Speaker 2: well you can, I can a little little not like that, 268 00:12:05,520 --> 00:12:07,240 Speaker 2: not like that, okay, but when we sang when they 269 00:12:07,240 --> 00:12:08,960 Speaker 2: were home recently and we sang a little bit, I 270 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:12,080 Speaker 2: joined in and afterwards they all went, whoa, you didn't 271 00:12:12,080 --> 00:12:12,560 Speaker 2: blow it. 272 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 3: I used to blow the harmony and I didn't. I 273 00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:18,960 Speaker 3: a little Over the years, you know. 274 00:12:18,960 --> 00:12:21,760 Speaker 1: That was always interesting too, and big families, people always 275 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:25,240 Speaker 1: felt like there's a favorite, yes, and so that's a thing. 276 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:28,560 Speaker 2: Don't start, Angela, don't start. Oh my gosh, I know 277 00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:31,840 Speaker 2: they they called me out for that. On a television 278 00:12:31,880 --> 00:12:34,040 Speaker 2: show in the morning. Somebody said was she the favorite? 279 00:12:34,040 --> 00:12:35,040 Speaker 2: And they all went yes. 280 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:37,000 Speaker 3: But I really. 281 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:40,640 Speaker 2: Wasn't the favorite in the household, although my youngest sister said, 282 00:12:40,679 --> 00:12:43,319 Speaker 2: I sort of always thought Mom loved you more. And 283 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:46,760 Speaker 2: that was a moment of honesty, that's how. And it 284 00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:49,720 Speaker 2: also helped me understand her more. Maybe we've had bumps 285 00:12:49,760 --> 00:12:52,560 Speaker 2: over the years because she had certain perceptions. She also 286 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:54,760 Speaker 2: felt that she was left behind. She was the last 287 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:58,040 Speaker 2: one to be as a and that's hard, your last 288 00:12:58,080 --> 00:12:59,160 Speaker 2: one home with mom and dad. 289 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:02,480 Speaker 1: Everybody's gone, Yeah, you don't want to tag You don't 290 00:13:02,480 --> 00:13:04,160 Speaker 1: want to be the Tagaloge exact. 291 00:13:04,240 --> 00:13:06,400 Speaker 3: They don't want you to be Tagloge exactly. I'm so 292 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:08,880 Speaker 3: kind of tired of raising all the mother kids exactly. 293 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:10,760 Speaker 2: And I would call her and tell her now and 294 00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:12,800 Speaker 2: again what she should be doing, you know, and what 295 00:13:12,840 --> 00:13:15,760 Speaker 2: she wasn't doing right. So she had that perception of me, 296 00:13:16,000 --> 00:13:18,240 Speaker 2: and I had the perception of her as being the 297 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:21,400 Speaker 2: spoiled younger child. So we have been able to talk 298 00:13:21,440 --> 00:13:25,360 Speaker 2: about some things in our adult lives that we weren't 299 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:28,760 Speaker 2: able to before. But I think we all agreed that 300 00:13:29,080 --> 00:13:31,960 Speaker 2: maybe I was a little bit of a standout just 301 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:34,520 Speaker 2: because of whatever I my aspirations and things I did 302 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:36,120 Speaker 2: in school, but I was not the favorite. 303 00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:41,760 Speaker 1: Okay, we're also celebrating thirty years. Yes, I mean that's 304 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:44,920 Speaker 1: a big deal for you at ABC, for you being married, 305 00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:46,920 Speaker 1: because that all happened at the same time, the same 306 00:13:47,040 --> 00:13:50,040 Speaker 1: What a crazy year was that? Oh my god, all 307 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:51,199 Speaker 1: that that happened in the same year. 308 00:13:51,280 --> 00:13:53,640 Speaker 2: Angela, you do your homework, you know everything. I love 309 00:13:53,679 --> 00:13:56,079 Speaker 2: that she's just like she ties it all together. She 310 00:13:56,200 --> 00:13:58,720 Speaker 2: always even together too, I know, and I'm thinking maybe 311 00:13:58,720 --> 00:14:01,240 Speaker 2: she'll miss this or that, and she never does. This 312 00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:05,480 Speaker 2: was such a beautiful, beautiful moment because I will always 313 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:08,679 Speaker 2: remember my anniversary, my wedding anniversary, because I started at 314 00:14:08,720 --> 00:14:12,080 Speaker 2: ABC twenty twenty in May, and then I got married 315 00:14:12,120 --> 00:14:14,680 Speaker 2: in September of nineteen ninety five, and I was like. 316 00:14:14,840 --> 00:14:15,880 Speaker 3: Were you able to take time off? 317 00:14:16,440 --> 00:14:16,520 Speaker 2: No? 318 00:14:16,760 --> 00:14:18,960 Speaker 3: Probably not, probably not lunch, not lunch. 319 00:14:19,360 --> 00:14:23,760 Speaker 2: But it's a beautiful time I think in life to 320 00:14:23,880 --> 00:14:26,240 Speaker 2: be able to look back and to think that, Wow, 321 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:28,920 Speaker 2: not only was I able to achieve this dream and 322 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:31,640 Speaker 2: work at network television and you know on. 323 00:14:31,520 --> 00:14:35,400 Speaker 1: Twenty two stay elevating like twenty Like last time I 324 00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:38,040 Speaker 1: saw you, we had the whole twenty twenty discussion of 325 00:14:38,560 --> 00:14:40,920 Speaker 1: that role, and here you are just flourishing. 326 00:14:41,080 --> 00:14:43,760 Speaker 2: Okay, too nice, you're too nice. Yeah, But to be 327 00:14:43,800 --> 00:14:46,520 Speaker 2: able to make it to that program that I had 328 00:14:46,560 --> 00:14:49,960 Speaker 2: grown up watching and I really really aspire to it. 329 00:14:50,320 --> 00:14:52,920 Speaker 2: So there's that. And then to also be celebrating thirty 330 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:56,160 Speaker 2: years with this man who makes me happy and annoyed 331 00:14:56,440 --> 00:15:02,600 Speaker 2: and nourished and and all things. All those things, but 332 00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:05,080 Speaker 2: it's been really great. And to be celebrating our life 333 00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:07,880 Speaker 2: and our children and all of that. It's been a 334 00:15:07,960 --> 00:15:08,400 Speaker 2: nice year. 335 00:15:08,640 --> 00:15:10,800 Speaker 1: I want to ask you too about the news right now. 336 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:15,320 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, there's a lot happening, and yeah, because I 337 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:18,640 Speaker 1: know it's a tough situation being in the spot that 338 00:15:18,680 --> 00:15:20,560 Speaker 1: you and we need you there. You know, I do 339 00:15:20,680 --> 00:15:23,880 Speaker 1: want to say that, like it's there's no question about that. 340 00:15:23,880 --> 00:15:27,200 Speaker 1: But I'm also just concerned, like watching so many things happening, 341 00:15:27,280 --> 00:15:29,680 Speaker 1: so many ships, so many things like not able to 342 00:15:29,720 --> 00:15:32,640 Speaker 1: be reported on in this way, and people just kind 343 00:15:32,680 --> 00:15:36,720 Speaker 1: of having to delicately say things when they may want 344 00:15:36,840 --> 00:15:38,360 Speaker 1: to scream it out. 345 00:15:38,320 --> 00:15:40,760 Speaker 2: To say more. It's a very difficult time, and I 346 00:15:40,760 --> 00:15:43,400 Speaker 2: think it's always been a little bit difficult, I think 347 00:15:43,400 --> 00:15:45,560 Speaker 2: for us in the news industry, because at the end 348 00:15:45,560 --> 00:15:47,600 Speaker 2: of the day, we are in industry and we have 349 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:50,480 Speaker 2: corporate parents and all of that. But it is a 350 00:15:50,640 --> 00:15:53,480 Speaker 2: very different time. But you know, there are people who 351 00:15:53,560 --> 00:15:55,480 Speaker 2: are saying to me, if you look back at the 352 00:15:55,480 --> 00:15:57,840 Speaker 2: sixties and the seventies and the tumult going on in 353 00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:00,280 Speaker 2: the country, that was also a very difficult time, and 354 00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:03,680 Speaker 2: news mattered more than ever. Now. We didn't have you know, 355 00:16:03,720 --> 00:16:07,240 Speaker 2: people trying to shut down news organizations and silence and 356 00:16:07,280 --> 00:16:10,200 Speaker 2: news reporters and all of that at that time, but 357 00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:15,080 Speaker 2: there were efforts to push back and to definitely silence 358 00:16:15,160 --> 00:16:18,200 Speaker 2: reporting back in the sixties and the seventies. So to 359 00:16:18,320 --> 00:16:21,800 Speaker 2: some degree, we have been there historically before, but we 360 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:24,320 Speaker 2: are in a very different time because of social media 361 00:16:24,760 --> 00:16:28,440 Speaker 2: and because of so many other influences and platforms I 362 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:32,240 Speaker 2: think that surround us. It's a very challenging time, and 363 00:16:32,280 --> 00:16:35,640 Speaker 2: it's a very very challenging time because you know, it's 364 00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:40,160 Speaker 2: hard what I really try to work and assert myself 365 00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:44,160 Speaker 2: about is truth. And I think all reporters and journalists 366 00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:46,440 Speaker 2: are all about truth. And when people are picking and 367 00:16:46,520 --> 00:16:51,280 Speaker 2: choosing what they feel is truthful, that is very difficult. 368 00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:52,960 Speaker 2: I mean, I grew up in a time where if 369 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:57,560 Speaker 2: you saw a report on Walter Cronkite on CBS or 370 00:16:57,600 --> 00:17:00,280 Speaker 2: in the New York Times or on sixty Minutes, and 371 00:17:00,520 --> 00:17:03,720 Speaker 2: you know it was obviously reported very well, you really 372 00:17:03,760 --> 00:17:06,359 Speaker 2: believed that that was something you needed to know about 373 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:08,200 Speaker 2: and it was truthful, and you believed it. 374 00:17:08,280 --> 00:17:09,719 Speaker 3: You didn't think you had to fact check it. 375 00:17:09,760 --> 00:17:12,359 Speaker 2: And the idea that people will doubt us and doubt 376 00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:15,679 Speaker 2: our motives and doubt our truth telling is very, very difficult. 377 00:17:15,920 --> 00:17:18,160 Speaker 2: So I think we just have to keep keep fighting 378 00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:19,600 Speaker 2: the fight and keep keep trying. 379 00:17:19,640 --> 00:17:22,439 Speaker 1: That's how we need certain people in positions always. You know, 380 00:17:22,840 --> 00:17:26,520 Speaker 1: I've grown up watching Debora Roberts, so it's amazing to 381 00:17:26,560 --> 00:17:29,919 Speaker 1: me that I can text her texting. 382 00:17:29,560 --> 00:17:31,840 Speaker 3: You, No, like, that's amazing to me. 383 00:17:32,119 --> 00:17:33,720 Speaker 1: Just I just want to say, I love what it 384 00:17:33,760 --> 00:17:35,520 Speaker 1: is and who you are as a human being. 385 00:17:36,200 --> 00:17:36,679 Speaker 3: I love this. 386 00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:39,000 Speaker 1: But my whole life, when I was growing up, I 387 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:40,919 Speaker 1: always wanted a little sister. It did not happen. 388 00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:43,320 Speaker 2: Well that's okay, that's okay, because you want to feel 389 00:17:43,320 --> 00:17:45,240 Speaker 2: like you have a little sister. You're going to feel like. 390 00:17:48,040 --> 00:17:49,960 Speaker 3: I think we have sisters that we choose. 391 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:52,720 Speaker 2: Well, you have exactly, you have a sisterhood. And Carol 392 00:17:52,760 --> 00:17:56,080 Speaker 2: Reziwill one of our essays, talked about that she's got sisters, 393 00:17:56,080 --> 00:17:58,959 Speaker 2: but she's so close to the chosen sisters her friends. 394 00:17:59,320 --> 00:18:00,480 Speaker 2: So you too have a sister. 395 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:02,320 Speaker 4: She's like my big sister. She tells me what to do. 396 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:06,280 Speaker 3: There you go. She's more like my daughter. If I 397 00:18:06,359 --> 00:18:09,240 Speaker 3: had to define it, and you have to define it, but. 398 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:10,600 Speaker 2: I want to just can I just tell you guys, 399 00:18:10,600 --> 00:18:11,920 Speaker 2: the audio book is so great. 400 00:18:12,240 --> 00:18:13,679 Speaker 4: Yeah, we love your voice. 401 00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:16,800 Speaker 3: It's not your voice on the audio books. 402 00:18:16,359 --> 00:18:19,399 Speaker 2: It's there are others. So I read sections that I 403 00:18:19,400 --> 00:18:22,080 Speaker 2: read narrowate sections. But then we have actors who read sections. 404 00:18:22,080 --> 00:18:25,480 Speaker 2: So someone reads Viola Davis's story, someone reads I'll tav 405 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:28,359 Speaker 2: and the voices just bring it to life. And I 406 00:18:28,560 --> 00:18:31,480 Speaker 2: just I'm enjoying listening to the audio book as well, 407 00:18:31,720 --> 00:18:33,760 Speaker 2: and I never really do so read the book and 408 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:34,640 Speaker 2: listen to it as well. 409 00:18:34,720 --> 00:18:37,080 Speaker 1: Did you learn anything about yourself while you were writing this, 410 00:18:37,320 --> 00:18:38,120 Speaker 1: I learned that I. 411 00:18:38,080 --> 00:18:40,760 Speaker 2: Was probably a little hard on myself and my sisters 412 00:18:40,800 --> 00:18:44,080 Speaker 2: by thinking that maybe our bond wasn't as strong as 413 00:18:44,080 --> 00:18:46,840 Speaker 2: it is because we do have ups and downs, and 414 00:18:46,880 --> 00:18:50,640 Speaker 2: I learned that everybody does, and everybody's got stuff, but 415 00:18:50,840 --> 00:18:53,280 Speaker 2: that doesn't mean that you are not bonded. And I 416 00:18:53,320 --> 00:18:55,760 Speaker 2: think I feel closer to my sisters as a result 417 00:18:55,760 --> 00:18:56,080 Speaker 2: of it. 418 00:18:56,240 --> 00:18:58,439 Speaker 1: Well, this book, Sisters Loved and Tergit, I think is 419 00:18:58,480 --> 00:18:59,600 Speaker 1: amazing for the holidays. 420 00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:01,800 Speaker 3: Perfect timing. I know you timed it that way. Oh 421 00:19:01,840 --> 00:19:04,800 Speaker 3: you know, I think about the planner. You know planner. 422 00:19:05,119 --> 00:19:07,879 Speaker 1: So this is something that I think that you know, sisters, 423 00:19:08,119 --> 00:19:11,600 Speaker 1: your chosen ones, your blood sisters, your sisters you just 424 00:19:11,640 --> 00:19:13,960 Speaker 1: found out about years later. 425 00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:14,639 Speaker 2: You know. 426 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:19,080 Speaker 1: Listen, I don't know my dad wasn't getting in like that, 427 00:19:19,280 --> 00:19:23,240 Speaker 1: but but definitely something that you guys should go and 428 00:19:23,280 --> 00:19:25,679 Speaker 1: pick up. Are you doing any like book tours or anything. 429 00:19:25,680 --> 00:19:28,320 Speaker 2: You're doing some signings here and there, so I'm happy 430 00:19:28,400 --> 00:19:30,720 Speaker 2: to hopefully people will find me and I'll sign books 431 00:19:30,760 --> 00:19:32,280 Speaker 2: for you, But just pick up one for you and 432 00:19:32,280 --> 00:19:34,880 Speaker 2: one for your sister or your sister friend. I do 433 00:19:34,920 --> 00:19:37,600 Speaker 2: think you will just really enjoy these stories, be inspired 434 00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:39,040 Speaker 2: and moved and touched. 435 00:19:39,040 --> 00:19:41,080 Speaker 3: And this is so beautiful. I want to say, Connie 436 00:19:41,119 --> 00:19:41,680 Speaker 3: Tongue is in here. 437 00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:46,160 Speaker 1: I just did Maury Povich's podcast yesterday on Part with Maury. 438 00:19:45,960 --> 00:19:47,000 Speaker 2: So she's so funny. 439 00:19:47,080 --> 00:19:49,679 Speaker 1: Yes, by the way, By the way, they are both hilarious, 440 00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:51,080 Speaker 1: like they found each other. 441 00:19:51,680 --> 00:19:53,159 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's a good marriage. 442 00:19:53,240 --> 00:19:54,200 Speaker 3: Yes, it's perfect. 443 00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:57,160 Speaker 1: All right, Well, thank you so much again, Debora Roberts. 444 00:19:57,200 --> 00:19:59,280 Speaker 1: Make sure y'all check her out on twenty twenty. Also, 445 00:19:59,440 --> 00:20:02,480 Speaker 1: because that is my show and it's also streaming too, 446 00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:03,639 Speaker 1: so even if I don't see. 447 00:20:03,520 --> 00:20:03,760 Speaker 3: It, I can. 448 00:20:04,520 --> 00:20:08,040 Speaker 1: Plus, yes, period, I'm gay.