1 00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:05,520 Speaker 1: Today on the bright Side, we're stepping into the world 2 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:09,280 Speaker 1: of celebrity hairstylist Vernon Francois. He's showing us how a 3 00:00:09,360 --> 00:00:12,200 Speaker 1: hair transformation can set us up for a full life 4 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:13,280 Speaker 1: transformation too. 5 00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:16,520 Speaker 2: Whilst you may think it starts esthetically with the hair, 6 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:19,920 Speaker 2: it actually starts with self and your environment, your lifestyle, 7 00:00:20,079 --> 00:00:23,239 Speaker 2: the choices, the people who you're listening to. It all 8 00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:26,319 Speaker 2: has a profound impact on how you then go on 9 00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:28,880 Speaker 2: that trajectory for a better version of yourself. 10 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:31,920 Speaker 1: I'm simone voice, and this is the bright Side from 11 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:40,559 Speaker 1: Hello Sunshine. Hi, welcome back to the bright Side. I 12 00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:43,520 Speaker 1: am so glad you're here. I actually have a quick 13 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:46,160 Speaker 1: story to tell you before we get into today's conversation. 14 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:49,600 Speaker 1: When I was a local news reporter, more than one 15 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:53,080 Speaker 1: boss told me they didn't like my curly hair on air. 16 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:57,200 Speaker 1: So I started to wonder, where did this idea come from? 17 00:00:57,280 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 1: That natural hair, curly hair, braithe and locks aren't acceptable 18 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:05,600 Speaker 1: in the workplace, and I wondered if anyone else was 19 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:08,880 Speaker 1: feeling the same way. Well, that curiosity took me to 20 00:01:08,959 --> 00:01:12,479 Speaker 1: places I never could have imagined, like sitting across from 21 00:01:12,680 --> 00:01:17,000 Speaker 1: Kelly Clarkson on her national talk show. I'll be honest, 22 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:20,520 Speaker 1: I never intended to become a natural hair activist, but 23 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:24,840 Speaker 1: standing alongside other black news anchors to raise awareness about 24 00:01:24,920 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 1: hair discrimination was one of the proudest moments of my career. 25 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:33,560 Speaker 1: Suddenly I wasn't being singled out anymore. I was actually 26 00:01:33,880 --> 00:01:39,000 Speaker 1: part of something bigger. Long before that moment, a stylus 27 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 1: named Vernon Francois made me feel the same way, even 28 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 1: though I had never sat in his salon chair. I 29 00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 1: just knew that from Afar I felt seen, supported and 30 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:53,160 Speaker 1: never alone in my hair journey. Well, Vernon is my 31 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:57,200 Speaker 1: guest today, which feels like a full circle moment. Born 32 00:01:57,240 --> 00:02:00,360 Speaker 1: in the UK, Vernon became one of Hollywood's most sought 33 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 1: after hair architects, redefining natural hair on the red carpet 34 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:08,600 Speaker 1: with show stopping looks for women like Lupita Niango, Solange 35 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:12,120 Speaker 1: and Serena Williams. And I call him a hair architect 36 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:17,639 Speaker 1: because he brings this otherworldly structural element to the hairstyles 37 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 1: that he creates. So today he's taking us behind the 38 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 1: velvet rope to explore what our hair really says about us. 39 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:29,960 Speaker 1: Why feeling seen starts with seeing yourself and which big 40 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:33,920 Speaker 1: box store is surprisingly his go to for supplies. So 41 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:36,800 Speaker 1: if you've ever wondered what goes into crafting a headline 42 00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 1: worthy hair story, he'll be fascinated by today's conversation. Let's 43 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:47,120 Speaker 1: get into it with Vernon Francois. Well, Vernon francois, welcome 44 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:50,640 Speaker 1: to the bright Side. I did, ye, I was. 45 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:55,639 Speaker 2: Yes, he did. Okay, happy to be here. 46 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:58,320 Speaker 1: I'm so happy to have you. You know. My intention 47 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 1: for today's conversation is to talk about hair as a 48 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:04,920 Speaker 1: tool for transformation. It's something that's come up in my 49 00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:07,880 Speaker 1: own life. Okay, and we'll get into that please, But 50 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:10,919 Speaker 1: first I want to start by actually playing a clip 51 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:14,399 Speaker 1: for you. God. This is from the yeah, well you'll 52 00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:17,560 Speaker 1: hear it. So this is from the show fleabag. 53 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:19,880 Speaker 2: Oh in England. Yeah, I know the hair. I know. 54 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:22,079 Speaker 2: This is so okay, going. 55 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:24,760 Speaker 1: Okay, let's play it. 56 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:28,160 Speaker 2: Don't blame me for your bad choices. Hair is in everything? 57 00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:33,040 Speaker 1: Wow? What? Hair is everything? 58 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:35,440 Speaker 3: We wish it wasn't so we can actually think about 59 00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 3: something else occasionally, but it is. It's a difference between 60 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:40,360 Speaker 3: a good day and a bad day. We're meant to 61 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:41,760 Speaker 3: think that it's a symbol of power, that is a 62 00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:44,080 Speaker 3: symbol of fertility. Some people are exploited for it and 63 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:45,320 Speaker 3: it pays your fucking bills. 64 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:49,960 Speaker 1: Hair is everything. Hair is everything? Yes, what do you 65 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:51,160 Speaker 1: think about that statement? 66 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:55,960 Speaker 2: I've always said and I will continue to say, especially 67 00:03:55,960 --> 00:03:57,960 Speaker 2: in the field that I work in, and that hair 68 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 2: is actually, singly the most important thing, the image that 69 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:04,520 Speaker 2: we put together. If she may have or he or 70 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:07,960 Speaker 2: they may have an incredible outfit, face might be done, 71 00:04:08,240 --> 00:04:11,560 Speaker 2: but the hair isn't given. I think you see that 72 00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:15,840 Speaker 2: in the pictures the individual doesn't feel great. Not only 73 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:19,320 Speaker 2: does it show, but more importantly you feel it. 74 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:23,080 Speaker 1: How old were you when you first realized this about hair? 75 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:26,240 Speaker 1: That hair truly is that foundation when it comes to 76 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:27,160 Speaker 1: a sense of self. 77 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:32,760 Speaker 2: My outlook in life was because of that one singular 78 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:35,960 Speaker 2: moment that I had at eight years old which started 79 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 2: me on this path to explore in the why. And 80 00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:41,280 Speaker 2: it was simply because of how I felt when my 81 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:44,039 Speaker 2: mom was doing my hair, which was not great, that 82 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:47,680 Speaker 2: was very Sasobastafarian and my mum is from Jamaica and 83 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:50,120 Speaker 2: my dad is Grenadian. When I was born in the 84 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:53,800 Speaker 2: UK and traditionally every weekend was getting your hair done. 85 00:04:53,839 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 2: You would sit down the rise and piece would be 86 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:59,040 Speaker 2: cooking on the stove. You'd wash your hair and then 87 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 2: you'd section it in big doodoo plants we used to 88 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:03,360 Speaker 2: call it, and you twist it and then you get 89 00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:05,200 Speaker 2: the food done and eat your food and then come 90 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:07,960 Speaker 2: back and have your hair braided. That was like ritual 91 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:10,839 Speaker 2: in our house. And I remember one day that happening, 92 00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:14,960 Speaker 2: and it was just torture. It was so painful. You 93 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:17,400 Speaker 2: would sit between my mom's legs and she would get 94 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:19,480 Speaker 2: the comb and then you know, use part in it, 95 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:22,400 Speaker 2: and it's just like to the side and your eyes 96 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:24,640 Speaker 2: are watering, and she's pulling in the day and it's 97 00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:27,640 Speaker 2: just not a pleasant experience. Even talking about it, my 98 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:32,159 Speaker 2: arm pis getting like wet. And so I remember specifically 99 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:36,680 Speaker 2: looking in the mirror and being really underwhelmed by the result. 100 00:05:38,760 --> 00:05:42,720 Speaker 2: A polite person like mom wanted to do to me 101 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:46,640 Speaker 2: the pain that I went through for this result. I 102 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 2: was like this, these don't seem to match up. And 103 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:52,280 Speaker 2: so she was like, if you don't like it, go 104 00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:54,279 Speaker 2: out and do it yourself. And I was like, fine, 105 00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:56,200 Speaker 2: I'm going to go and learn how to break to 106 00:05:56,240 --> 00:05:58,839 Speaker 2: make sure that this is no longer torturous. For me, 107 00:05:59,279 --> 00:06:01,520 Speaker 2: surely you must be to braid and it not be painful, 108 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:04,600 Speaker 2: like you don't have to be so discomforting. And on 109 00:06:04,600 --> 00:06:07,320 Speaker 2: the pursuit of that was the reason how I landed 110 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:10,760 Speaker 2: where I've landed, which is working from the act of 111 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:15,400 Speaker 2: being kind and gentle and intentional and caring and still 112 00:06:15,440 --> 00:06:19,320 Speaker 2: achieving the optimum with what you already have, because what 113 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:23,960 Speaker 2: is already there is already beautiful. And I just realized 114 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:27,680 Speaker 2: every time someone sits in my chair, I would go 115 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:30,800 Speaker 2: back to the moment with how I felt. And that's 116 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:35,599 Speaker 2: how I've remained consistent in what I do, because I 117 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:36,680 Speaker 2: am the client. 118 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:41,280 Speaker 1: How did you want to make your clients feel? And 119 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:42,680 Speaker 1: how do you want to make You're. 120 00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:45,680 Speaker 2: Trying to make me upset now and cry. I remember 121 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:49,680 Speaker 2: sitting in the barber's chair as well, and you know 122 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:52,760 Speaker 2: they were rough. You would go in the clippers were 123 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:56,040 Speaker 2: half clean, and in the barbershops having big, full on 124 00:06:56,120 --> 00:06:59,640 Speaker 2: conversation which was very culturally enriching. It's that one of 125 00:06:59,640 --> 00:07:02,680 Speaker 2: the players is where you just live your best life. 126 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:07,240 Speaker 2: Everyone is, everything is happening in there. And I remember 127 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:09,840 Speaker 2: just sitting in there and he would never do my 128 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:14,080 Speaker 2: shape up. How I asked. He would always take too 129 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 2: much hair off and I would always end up having 130 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:20,880 Speaker 2: lines where my skin would be opened up basically from 131 00:07:20,880 --> 00:07:22,680 Speaker 2: the clippers because he was just it was in and out, 132 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:25,280 Speaker 2: in and out. The haircut was good, but it wasn't 133 00:07:25,320 --> 00:07:29,080 Speaker 2: what I asked. And I think for those people who 134 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 2: I've had the privilege of working with will attest that 135 00:07:32,960 --> 00:07:35,320 Speaker 2: one of the big things that they enjoy about our 136 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:40,160 Speaker 2: collaboration is my capacity to see them and to acknowledge 137 00:07:40,200 --> 00:07:44,960 Speaker 2: their existence in every fiber of their body. It's really important. 138 00:07:45,440 --> 00:07:49,360 Speaker 1: I actually think you just named the element of hair 139 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:53,080 Speaker 1: that is so transformational. Like when you have a hairstyle 140 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:56,320 Speaker 1: that feels like it's you, it feels like it embodies you. 141 00:07:56,920 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 1: It allows you to be truly seen by the world, 142 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:00,800 Speaker 1: child to. 143 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:05,440 Speaker 2: Be like, come one, now, let's go, cat, We're done. 144 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:06,840 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for listening. 145 00:08:06,920 --> 00:08:12,960 Speaker 1: Everyone, Thank you everyone. But that's what it is, right, 146 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:14,400 Speaker 1: It allows you to be truly seen. 147 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:17,920 Speaker 2: You know, conversations I've had before and other interviews that 148 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:20,840 Speaker 2: I've had, people will ask and go, how do you 149 00:08:20,880 --> 00:08:23,560 Speaker 2: come up with these creations for Willow Smith or Lapida 150 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:27,000 Speaker 2: Ormandela Stemberg, And I was like, I don't understand your question, 151 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:28,960 Speaker 2: what do you mean how do I come up? Well, 152 00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:32,080 Speaker 2: you know, there were these amazing liberate styles that you 153 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:35,080 Speaker 2: may not see around on people, and I was like 154 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:38,400 Speaker 2: right for me and the people who I have the 155 00:08:38,400 --> 00:08:42,480 Speaker 2: privilege to work with, It's a very easy transaction. The 156 00:08:42,520 --> 00:08:46,679 Speaker 2: reason why you are enjoying what you're witnessing is because 157 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:50,280 Speaker 2: it's done with authenticity. There's nothing that I have done 158 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:53,200 Speaker 2: with the clients that I consistently work with where they 159 00:08:53,240 --> 00:08:55,960 Speaker 2: don't show up as their most authentic version of themselves. 160 00:08:56,400 --> 00:09:00,000 Speaker 2: And when you find a rhythm with somebody, yes, it's important, 161 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:03,880 Speaker 2: and you keep the miview. It's beyond your wildest capacity 162 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:06,720 Speaker 2: to know what you can create as an artist with 163 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:10,400 Speaker 2: another artist that gives you the permission to be self. 164 00:09:11,400 --> 00:09:13,520 Speaker 2: It requires both of you to have courage and to 165 00:09:13,559 --> 00:09:16,200 Speaker 2: be seen. And it's really important that when you are 166 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:20,560 Speaker 2: in this state of transitioning in whatever that is, Whilst 167 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:23,000 Speaker 2: you may think it starts esthetically with the hair, it 168 00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:27,240 Speaker 2: actually starts with self and your environment, your lifestyle, the choices, 169 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:30,040 Speaker 2: the people who you're listening to, the things you're watching. 170 00:09:30,559 --> 00:09:33,959 Speaker 2: It all has a profound impact on how you then 171 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:37,280 Speaker 2: go on that trajectory for a better version of yourself. 172 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:41,079 Speaker 1: So it sounds like that exchange with your mom when 173 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:43,280 Speaker 1: you were eight years old and she said, well, go 174 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:45,439 Speaker 1: out and learn it yourself. It sounds like that really 175 00:09:45,559 --> 00:09:48,960 Speaker 1: galvanized this mission for you, right yes. And then you 176 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:53,880 Speaker 1: just mentioned some of your celebrity clients Lupita Nyonggo, Angela Bassett, 177 00:09:53,920 --> 00:09:57,719 Speaker 1: Serena Williams, Amanda Stenberg. The list goes on, how did 178 00:09:57,760 --> 00:10:00,240 Speaker 1: you get from that place of being an ab year 179 00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:03,439 Speaker 1: old on a mission to now working with the best 180 00:10:03,480 --> 00:10:04,640 Speaker 1: actors in Hollywood. 181 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:08,880 Speaker 2: What I've learned in this journey that I'm on is 182 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:12,559 Speaker 2: you are what you attract. It just happened to me 183 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:15,679 Speaker 2: Lupeta at a cross path where she was seeking the 184 00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:18,120 Speaker 2: same thing that I was seeking, and we just made 185 00:10:18,120 --> 00:10:22,120 Speaker 2: a pact within minutes of meeting each other. And it's 186 00:10:22,559 --> 00:10:25,800 Speaker 2: just been timing and divine and I think we were 187 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:27,920 Speaker 2: meant to align at the time that we did, and 188 00:10:28,400 --> 00:10:31,480 Speaker 2: we had a point of view, but we hadn't anticipated 189 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:34,360 Speaker 2: it would be so transcendent in what it was doing, 190 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:37,920 Speaker 2: because that wasn't the goal. It was actually, how do 191 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:39,600 Speaker 2: you want to show up? Okay, cool, let's do that. 192 00:10:40,480 --> 00:10:43,400 Speaker 2: If you just open yourself out, you will continue to 193 00:10:43,559 --> 00:10:45,760 Speaker 2: not only learn about self, but learn about the people 194 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:48,760 Speaker 2: around you. And when you want to do that, every 195 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:50,559 Speaker 2: second of the day is an opportunity. 196 00:10:51,520 --> 00:10:54,560 Speaker 1: So coming back to pair as a tool for transformation, Yes, 197 00:10:55,080 --> 00:10:58,040 Speaker 1: So what are the questions that we should ask ourselves 198 00:10:58,200 --> 00:11:00,680 Speaker 1: when we're considering a big hair pivot? 199 00:11:01,320 --> 00:11:05,040 Speaker 2: A consultation is the single most powerful thing we have 200 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:08,959 Speaker 2: access to as a hair artist, and I don't believe 201 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:12,640 Speaker 2: we lean into that enough to be able to ask 202 00:11:12,679 --> 00:11:17,040 Speaker 2: the questions that are needed to understand how to help 203 00:11:17,080 --> 00:11:20,240 Speaker 2: them on their journey, Like how are you feeling today? 204 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:25,120 Speaker 2: It's a really important question. What happened yesterday? Oh how 205 00:11:25,160 --> 00:11:27,840 Speaker 2: are you dealing with that? You can learn so much 206 00:11:27,840 --> 00:11:31,360 Speaker 2: more about the character or what you're working for than 207 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:33,800 Speaker 2: what they're asking for you. Most times people are asking 208 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:38,280 Speaker 2: things that are unobtainable, unmanageable, and they need it in 209 00:11:38,280 --> 00:11:40,320 Speaker 2: that moment, but it's not actually going to be of 210 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:42,679 Speaker 2: service for them. Wants to leave the door, and I 211 00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:46,000 Speaker 2: was like, if the client can never recreate in a 212 00:11:46,040 --> 00:11:48,000 Speaker 2: silent environment, if she leaves the door and count and 213 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:49,800 Speaker 2: recreate what I've done, then I haven't done my job. 214 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:54,360 Speaker 2: And so it's been mindful of managing expectations. 215 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:58,000 Speaker 1: So I want to talk about the building blocks of 216 00:11:58,080 --> 00:12:01,120 Speaker 1: a hair reinvention. I'd say that client wants to make 217 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:04,319 Speaker 1: a big transformation with how they present their hair. Yes, 218 00:12:04,679 --> 00:12:05,720 Speaker 1: where would you start? 219 00:12:05,960 --> 00:12:08,360 Speaker 2: So so funny you say that. So the first thing 220 00:12:08,400 --> 00:12:10,760 Speaker 2: that I observe is the walk, because they're walking to me, 221 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:11,559 Speaker 2: So what does. 222 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:11,880 Speaker 1: That tell you? 223 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:14,400 Speaker 2: How they're feeling, who they are, where they come from. 224 00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:17,160 Speaker 2: People have a slouch, Some people come and they're like 225 00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:20,360 Speaker 2: show their bodies down. Some people working very confident and 226 00:12:20,400 --> 00:12:24,240 Speaker 2: then sit in the chair and become very very vulnerable. Literally, 227 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:27,880 Speaker 2: how someone shorts and stands and sits, it tells you 228 00:12:27,880 --> 00:12:30,679 Speaker 2: a lot about who they are and why they do 229 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:33,880 Speaker 2: what they do. And you have to have the linguistic 230 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:36,679 Speaker 2: intelligence to be able to recognize that as well, and 231 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:40,640 Speaker 2: being able to look at how people shake your hand, 232 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:43,560 Speaker 2: if they shake your hand or not, if they want 233 00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:47,240 Speaker 2: to have a close body contact. All of that really 234 00:12:47,360 --> 00:12:51,240 Speaker 2: gives you some significant signs of who they are and 235 00:12:51,559 --> 00:12:53,760 Speaker 2: potentially how this is going to go. And then it's 236 00:12:53,760 --> 00:12:55,880 Speaker 2: for you to go on that journey to either break 237 00:12:55,880 --> 00:12:59,199 Speaker 2: the ice cube or to offer a handout and go 238 00:12:59,360 --> 00:13:03,000 Speaker 2: I hear, I see you. You're safe with me. Let's 239 00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:04,959 Speaker 2: go in this journey even when clients sit in the 240 00:13:05,080 --> 00:13:07,160 Speaker 2: chair and they may sit and their hands might be 241 00:13:07,200 --> 00:13:10,160 Speaker 2: costed or their legs might because open language and close 242 00:13:10,200 --> 00:13:13,520 Speaker 2: body language really indicates how someone is feeling when they're 243 00:13:13,520 --> 00:13:17,160 Speaker 2: talking to you about these major moments that have impacted 244 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:20,800 Speaker 2: their existence and how they deal with it and dealing 245 00:13:20,840 --> 00:13:23,280 Speaker 2: with it is very telling to how the essential you're 246 00:13:23,280 --> 00:13:26,080 Speaker 2: going to manage what you're going to do for them. 247 00:13:26,160 --> 00:13:28,839 Speaker 1: Well, let's take me for example, because I have been 248 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:30,840 Speaker 1: getting very bored with my hair. I feel like I 249 00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:34,560 Speaker 1: haven't changed it in a while, and I just feel 250 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 1: this urge to do something radical with my hair. But 251 00:13:37,960 --> 00:13:40,280 Speaker 1: I don't really know where to start. Do I start 252 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:44,120 Speaker 1: with a cut? Do I add length? Do I radically 253 00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:48,600 Speaker 1: change my hair color? What would what would you suggest 254 00:13:48,640 --> 00:13:50,440 Speaker 1: for me? Like, what's a game plan? How do I 255 00:13:50,480 --> 00:13:53,120 Speaker 1: figure out how to tackle my own hair transformation? 256 00:13:53,559 --> 00:13:55,400 Speaker 2: Well? All the things that you just spoke to a 257 00:13:55,520 --> 00:13:57,679 Speaker 2: temporary So what is it that you're really bored with? 258 00:13:57,800 --> 00:14:00,920 Speaker 2: Is the question I would ask you. Life is not 259 00:14:01,000 --> 00:14:01,839 Speaker 2: being a new joy. 260 00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:04,200 Speaker 1: I guess I never thought about it that way. 261 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:06,880 Speaker 2: Because your hair is an extension of that. So whilst 262 00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:11,760 Speaker 2: we take these radical, drastic moments meant something tragic is 263 00:14:11,800 --> 00:14:14,319 Speaker 2: happening or great is happening in our life. To lobby 264 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:18,600 Speaker 2: your hair for color, it it's transactional and it's temporary. Yeah, 265 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:23,120 Speaker 2: but if you're not really ready to go, actually, why 266 00:14:23,120 --> 00:14:26,200 Speaker 2: are you bored? You can't be bored because how your 267 00:14:26,200 --> 00:14:28,680 Speaker 2: hair looks. Your hair is an extension of choices you've made, 268 00:14:29,400 --> 00:14:32,200 Speaker 2: and so the boredom is extending from something else that 269 00:14:32,400 --> 00:14:34,520 Speaker 2: is a vibration of you making a choice that you 270 00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:36,080 Speaker 2: make now to have your hair this way. 271 00:14:36,840 --> 00:14:40,200 Speaker 1: Now that I'm thinking about it, I'm not feeling these 272 00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:43,600 Speaker 1: feelings this like restlessness with my hair as much now 273 00:14:43,680 --> 00:14:46,560 Speaker 1: as I was probably six months ago. And if I'm 274 00:14:46,560 --> 00:14:48,520 Speaker 1: honest with myself, I was not really in a good 275 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:51,920 Speaker 1: place mentally. I was depressed. I had just gotten into 276 00:14:51,920 --> 00:14:54,480 Speaker 1: a car accident, some other things were happening in my life, 277 00:14:54,520 --> 00:14:57,320 Speaker 1: and I was at this low point earlier this year 278 00:14:57,360 --> 00:15:00,440 Speaker 1: and feeling really discouraged about how this year was shaking out. 279 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:04,040 Speaker 1: So you're right, and there's a connection there. There's definitely 280 00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:04,880 Speaker 1: a connection there. 281 00:15:05,040 --> 00:15:08,600 Speaker 2: Like your hair is external, it presents a perspective to 282 00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:12,200 Speaker 2: the world. You can use it as a protector, or 283 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:15,000 Speaker 2: you can use it as a tool to invite conversation 284 00:15:15,160 --> 00:15:18,000 Speaker 2: to you. And so often when I do see people 285 00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:20,320 Speaker 2: walking on the street and I can just know that 286 00:15:20,520 --> 00:15:22,640 Speaker 2: this head, yes, I walk up to the God, you 287 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:26,200 Speaker 2: look amazing and thank you for choosing yourself. Because you 288 00:15:26,200 --> 00:15:28,440 Speaker 2: can often see when people are living in their most 289 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:31,440 Speaker 2: authentic being, and their hair is a big extension of that. 290 00:15:31,560 --> 00:15:34,680 Speaker 2: You can often also see when people are not and 291 00:15:34,720 --> 00:15:37,920 Speaker 2: they're conformed. It's not a bad thing, but you can 292 00:15:38,040 --> 00:15:42,720 Speaker 2: often see when people are conforming, and I feel where 293 00:15:42,760 --> 00:15:45,320 Speaker 2: you've arrived is realize that you've been conforming for so 294 00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:48,160 Speaker 2: long you actually don't even know where to start to 295 00:15:48,280 --> 00:15:53,080 Speaker 2: explore all the amazing wilderness about you. And your hair 296 00:15:53,160 --> 00:15:55,840 Speaker 2: is a big part of that, and often you can 297 00:15:56,040 --> 00:15:58,560 Speaker 2: get confused where all the hair should be the start, 298 00:15:58,920 --> 00:16:00,600 Speaker 2: And actually the hair is a ask thing that you 299 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:03,880 Speaker 2: should be focusing on, because the reality is finding what 300 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:08,240 Speaker 2: brings you joy, finding what brings you strength, Recognizing what 301 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:11,120 Speaker 2: doesn't bring you joy or what is contributed to making 302 00:16:11,160 --> 00:16:15,040 Speaker 2: you feel so dark in these moments is really crucial 303 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:18,480 Speaker 2: because if you're not dealing with that hand putting paint 304 00:16:18,560 --> 00:16:20,600 Speaker 2: on the wall is not going to address the elephant 305 00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:23,440 Speaker 2: in the room. So if you'd come to me and 306 00:16:23,480 --> 00:16:25,560 Speaker 2: you were in this moment and you had a car accident, 307 00:16:25,920 --> 00:16:28,200 Speaker 2: I would essentially go, okay, well let's not do the 308 00:16:28,240 --> 00:16:31,280 Speaker 2: big job today, but let's take more of than what 309 00:16:31,320 --> 00:16:34,680 Speaker 2: you wouldn't normally do. Let's start there, okay, because I 310 00:16:34,720 --> 00:16:36,920 Speaker 2: can start you on the journey, but the journey you 311 00:16:37,040 --> 00:16:39,640 Speaker 2: have the lead. I'm a guider for you, I'm a mentor. 312 00:16:41,240 --> 00:16:43,160 Speaker 1: We've got to take a quick break. We'll be right 313 00:16:43,240 --> 00:16:50,080 Speaker 1: back with Vernon Francois. And we're back with Vernon Francois. 314 00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:55,160 Speaker 1: When it comes to hair color, are there certain rules? 315 00:16:55,760 --> 00:16:59,960 Speaker 1: Are there certain rules that you play with? Are there 316 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:03,360 Speaker 1: certain rules that you love to break? Does everyone have 317 00:17:03,440 --> 00:17:05,600 Speaker 1: a perfect hair color match? 318 00:17:06,520 --> 00:17:09,439 Speaker 2: Well, I'm a redheaded black guy. I didn't know that 319 00:17:09,480 --> 00:17:12,720 Speaker 2: people like this until a couple of years ago, and 320 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:15,600 Speaker 2: so thank you for your support. We love it. Are 321 00:17:15,600 --> 00:17:16,159 Speaker 2: you kidding me? 322 00:17:16,240 --> 00:17:17,480 Speaker 1: You're gorgeous? 323 00:17:17,760 --> 00:17:20,320 Speaker 2: It's you know, it's I don't even know if we 324 00:17:20,359 --> 00:17:22,719 Speaker 2: have the time to unpack this here, but most of 325 00:17:22,760 --> 00:17:28,159 Speaker 2: my environment, people who are black, darker skin tones don't 326 00:17:28,200 --> 00:17:32,320 Speaker 2: have orange progression. Urburn hair, and so I was never 327 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:36,920 Speaker 2: seeked out as somewhat attractive or desirable or beautiful until 328 00:17:36,920 --> 00:17:39,800 Speaker 2: I got older. And so I, even though I work 329 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:43,080 Speaker 2: in an industry that thrives on people finding indivisionalism and 330 00:17:43,160 --> 00:17:46,280 Speaker 2: authenticity and beauty, I think one of the reasons why 331 00:17:46,280 --> 00:17:48,240 Speaker 2: I'm so good at what I do as I go 332 00:17:48,359 --> 00:17:50,040 Speaker 2: back to it, I know what it feels like to 333 00:17:50,080 --> 00:17:52,439 Speaker 2: not feel beautiful. I know what it feels like to 334 00:17:52,520 --> 00:17:54,240 Speaker 2: want someone to just hug you and tell you that 335 00:17:54,280 --> 00:17:56,879 Speaker 2: it's okay. I know what it feels like to be 336 00:17:56,920 --> 00:18:01,040 Speaker 2: abused physically, mentally, emotionally at home in your work environment, 337 00:18:01,160 --> 00:18:04,639 Speaker 2: with your trusted loved ones. And if there's anything that 338 00:18:04,680 --> 00:18:06,560 Speaker 2: I can personally do in this world is to never 339 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:09,720 Speaker 2: make anyone ever go through that again. And so my 340 00:18:09,920 --> 00:18:13,119 Speaker 2: way of holding myself accountable and trying to do the 341 00:18:13,160 --> 00:18:16,360 Speaker 2: best as a public service is to offer that to everyone. 342 00:18:17,320 --> 00:18:20,320 Speaker 1: What does your current hair say about where you are 343 00:18:20,440 --> 00:18:23,600 Speaker 1: right now personally? Because it's very expressive. You can't see 344 00:18:23,600 --> 00:18:26,760 Speaker 1: it necessarily if you're listening, but it's it's pink. I'm 345 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:27,960 Speaker 1: seeing little PiZZ of. 346 00:18:27,960 --> 00:18:30,760 Speaker 2: Pink popping out, and that's intentional, Like I push it 347 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:33,040 Speaker 2: so you see it hair like I have a hairline 348 00:18:33,080 --> 00:18:35,000 Speaker 2: and all that stuff. My hair has always been it's 349 00:18:35,080 --> 00:18:38,440 Speaker 2: like maybe five or six different patterns and textures in there, 350 00:18:38,960 --> 00:18:43,520 Speaker 2: and hair is well. I was going to disclose something. 351 00:18:43,560 --> 00:18:46,320 Speaker 2: I don't know if this is closing well, I just 352 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:52,360 Speaker 2: I recognize the significance and the impact hair has. I 353 00:18:52,400 --> 00:18:55,280 Speaker 2: had one hair transplant and that changed everything for me, 354 00:18:55,840 --> 00:18:56,560 Speaker 2: my confidence. 355 00:18:57,160 --> 00:18:58,480 Speaker 1: So tell me more about that. 356 00:18:58,720 --> 00:19:02,760 Speaker 2: I didn't know I was on a pursuit of trying 357 00:19:02,800 --> 00:19:07,159 Speaker 2: to invent something because I recognized that there was a 358 00:19:07,320 --> 00:19:11,320 Speaker 2: shortage in a service for a particular hair pattern that 359 00:19:11,359 --> 00:19:15,320 Speaker 2: didn't exist, and so hair transplants were being around for 360 00:19:15,320 --> 00:19:17,240 Speaker 2: a long time, but it wasn't able to sort of 361 00:19:17,280 --> 00:19:20,080 Speaker 2: plant it into the graphs of their scalp because I 362 00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:22,199 Speaker 2: had curls and blah blah blah blah blah, and so 363 00:19:22,240 --> 00:19:24,680 Speaker 2: I just went on this deep dive for many years 364 00:19:24,720 --> 00:19:26,800 Speaker 2: trying to go, Okay, well, I need to be a 365 00:19:26,840 --> 00:19:32,600 Speaker 2: part of inventing something for us. We the curl diaspora 366 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:35,800 Speaker 2: is way greater than a straight and so anyone that 367 00:19:35,880 --> 00:19:37,560 Speaker 2: has a kink or a curl in the hair re 368 00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:40,720 Speaker 2: exists more than any other hair pattern, and in pursuit 369 00:19:40,760 --> 00:19:44,440 Speaker 2: of doing that, I was losing a lot of density 370 00:19:44,480 --> 00:19:47,440 Speaker 2: within my own hair. But I'd always want hat since 371 00:19:47,440 --> 00:19:50,320 Speaker 2: I was little, like I've never not been who I am. 372 00:19:50,440 --> 00:19:54,120 Speaker 2: But I realized the impact that losing my hair had 373 00:19:54,160 --> 00:19:57,600 Speaker 2: on my self confidence was way greater than I had 374 00:19:57,640 --> 00:20:01,720 Speaker 2: never anticipated or was facing myself. But once again, when 375 00:20:01,760 --> 00:20:04,199 Speaker 2: clients would sit in a chair, and whether they were 376 00:20:04,240 --> 00:20:06,840 Speaker 2: female or male, and would talk about hair loss for 377 00:20:06,960 --> 00:20:09,760 Speaker 2: many different reasons, I could sympathize with them because I 378 00:20:09,760 --> 00:20:11,520 Speaker 2: also was going through that with them, even though I 379 00:20:11,640 --> 00:20:16,359 Speaker 2: never communicated that. And so being a product of your 380 00:20:16,440 --> 00:20:20,600 Speaker 2: environment and also going on your own journey as for 381 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:24,840 Speaker 2: self can really help you be a better mentor for 382 00:20:24,920 --> 00:20:27,520 Speaker 2: whoever it is you're trying to be of service to. 383 00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:32,359 Speaker 2: And so for me, I am when I had that done, 384 00:20:32,560 --> 00:20:36,440 Speaker 2: and it really changed how I show up just for myself. 385 00:20:36,440 --> 00:20:38,240 Speaker 2: It wasn't for anything else but myself. I think my 386 00:20:38,320 --> 00:20:43,119 Speaker 2: husband would tell you, I feel more attracted in a 387 00:20:43,160 --> 00:20:45,679 Speaker 2: way that I didn't know I needed to feel. And 388 00:20:45,760 --> 00:20:50,840 Speaker 2: so I never undermine and judge anyone for making choices 389 00:20:51,160 --> 00:20:56,480 Speaker 2: that impact sincerely how they feel, how they think about 390 00:20:56,520 --> 00:20:59,920 Speaker 2: they should feel. I get more concerned about why they're 391 00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:03,399 Speaker 2: making the choices based on what they've been exposed to 392 00:21:03,680 --> 00:21:05,399 Speaker 2: and what they feel is going to make them happy 393 00:21:05,480 --> 00:21:07,240 Speaker 2: versus actually what will make you happy. 394 00:21:07,520 --> 00:21:09,639 Speaker 1: Well, I can see just in the way that you 395 00:21:09,680 --> 00:21:12,920 Speaker 1: talk about this experience how transformative it was for you. 396 00:21:13,160 --> 00:21:15,360 Speaker 2: And once I just told you that information. 397 00:21:16,080 --> 00:21:19,120 Speaker 1: Thank you. Thank you for trusting me with that when 398 00:21:19,160 --> 00:21:22,399 Speaker 1: I think about my own confidence with my hair. You 399 00:21:22,440 --> 00:21:25,480 Speaker 1: don't know this, but you actually had a great impact 400 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:29,639 Speaker 1: on me from AFAR because I was an entertainment reporter 401 00:21:29,760 --> 00:21:32,640 Speaker 1: here in New York City when I started to see 402 00:21:32,840 --> 00:21:36,040 Speaker 1: a lot of your work on the red carpet and 403 00:21:36,480 --> 00:21:39,040 Speaker 1: I would interview some of the actors that you had 404 00:21:39,200 --> 00:21:41,800 Speaker 1: styled and had worked with. But then I also saw 405 00:21:41,840 --> 00:21:44,760 Speaker 1: the conversation that you were starting around natural hair and 406 00:21:44,840 --> 00:21:49,679 Speaker 1: texture online and it was liberating for me because I 407 00:21:50,040 --> 00:21:54,040 Speaker 1: was a news anchor on TV who felt pressure to 408 00:21:54,280 --> 00:21:57,240 Speaker 1: straighten my hair, and at times I even had bosses 409 00:21:57,600 --> 00:22:01,240 Speaker 1: explicitly tell me straighten my hair in the interview. I 410 00:22:01,440 --> 00:22:04,800 Speaker 1: one time interviewed for a job and the news director said, well, 411 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:07,400 Speaker 1: I like your hair. I like your hair straight basically, 412 00:22:07,440 --> 00:22:09,959 Speaker 1: and the implication was you'll only get the job if 413 00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:13,000 Speaker 1: you're willing to straighten your hair, and so to encounter 414 00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:16,200 Speaker 1: someone like you who was giving all of us permission 415 00:22:16,280 --> 00:22:20,200 Speaker 1: to embrace our curls and natural texture, that was huge 416 00:22:20,200 --> 00:22:24,000 Speaker 1: for me. That was major. Do you even know the 417 00:22:24,040 --> 00:22:26,280 Speaker 1: impact that you've had in that sense? 418 00:22:26,720 --> 00:22:29,800 Speaker 2: Now I'm going to get emotional, so thank you for 419 00:22:29,880 --> 00:22:35,200 Speaker 2: sharing that. It makes total sense. My goal has always 420 00:22:35,280 --> 00:22:39,520 Speaker 2: been to show beauty and what that looks like. Yeah, 421 00:22:39,640 --> 00:22:43,960 Speaker 2: it's been a fight and a struggle, and I've been 422 00:22:44,119 --> 00:22:48,199 Speaker 2: so grateful for the women that I've aligned with that 423 00:22:48,359 --> 00:22:53,520 Speaker 2: are willing to walk courageously in self and trust me. 424 00:22:54,080 --> 00:22:57,640 Speaker 2: And we talk about world wars and pandemics. There's been 425 00:22:57,720 --> 00:23:01,240 Speaker 2: a beauty pandemic of self identity from the beginning of time. 426 00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:04,000 Speaker 1: Wow, I've never heard anyone say. 427 00:23:03,800 --> 00:23:06,960 Speaker 2: That, And that's what I'm trying to help people realize 428 00:23:06,960 --> 00:23:11,320 Speaker 2: and change the blueprint. You do not have to diminish 429 00:23:11,640 --> 00:23:15,879 Speaker 2: a sense of self, of your character to walk in 430 00:23:15,960 --> 00:23:18,080 Speaker 2: the shoes that you know you should be walking in. 431 00:23:18,359 --> 00:23:21,119 Speaker 2: And I think we've arrived at a point in time 432 00:23:21,359 --> 00:23:24,360 Speaker 2: where we realize that if you're not able to show 433 00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:26,399 Speaker 2: up as your most evented self, then it's not a 434 00:23:26,400 --> 00:23:28,720 Speaker 2: place that you should be in. There was so much 435 00:23:28,760 --> 00:23:30,720 Speaker 2: more of the semantics around it, where you feel like 436 00:23:30,760 --> 00:23:32,600 Speaker 2: you had to take that job to survive and do 437 00:23:32,680 --> 00:23:36,240 Speaker 2: the thing. We can have those conversations, but the reality 438 00:23:36,320 --> 00:23:38,520 Speaker 2: is that you just need one person to show up. 439 00:23:39,000 --> 00:23:42,679 Speaker 2: And so when Lapiita started walking that carpet, it changed 440 00:23:43,040 --> 00:23:46,719 Speaker 2: so many people's perspective of how to show up. I 441 00:23:46,840 --> 00:23:49,880 Speaker 2: hadn't realized the impact that we were having because that 442 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:53,119 Speaker 2: wasn't our intention. That intention was for her to feel seen. 443 00:23:53,800 --> 00:23:56,879 Speaker 2: And so thank you for sharing that, and I hope 444 00:23:56,920 --> 00:24:01,560 Speaker 2: that you continue to lead into that at the times 445 00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:04,880 Speaker 2: when you're feeling bored, because it's in those moments where 446 00:24:04,920 --> 00:24:09,040 Speaker 2: you will learn how to really afford yourself the privilege 447 00:24:09,080 --> 00:24:11,159 Speaker 2: to explore. Well. 448 00:24:11,600 --> 00:24:15,399 Speaker 1: The courage that you have is contagious because it rubbed 449 00:24:15,400 --> 00:24:19,800 Speaker 1: off on me, and something really cool and magical happened. 450 00:24:20,680 --> 00:24:22,640 Speaker 1: Because of my own experience and my struggle with showing 451 00:24:22,720 --> 00:24:25,720 Speaker 1: up with natural hair on TV. I decided to bring 452 00:24:25,800 --> 00:24:30,320 Speaker 1: together other black women newscasters who had experienced the same thing, 453 00:24:31,040 --> 00:24:34,439 Speaker 1: and I put together this little photo shoot. It was 454 00:24:34,480 --> 00:24:38,119 Speaker 1: like twenty five to thirty of us maybe, and then 455 00:24:38,160 --> 00:24:40,879 Speaker 1: it got picked up by the Kelly Clarkson show. It 456 00:24:40,920 --> 00:24:43,240 Speaker 1: went viral and I was able to go on her 457 00:24:43,280 --> 00:24:47,280 Speaker 1: show and share my experience. But it was bigger than 458 00:24:47,280 --> 00:24:50,800 Speaker 1: my experience. It was all of us standing together and saying, 459 00:24:51,280 --> 00:24:53,440 Speaker 1: we deserve to be able to show up to work, 460 00:24:53,480 --> 00:24:55,520 Speaker 1: to deliver you the news, to give you the information 461 00:24:55,600 --> 00:24:57,760 Speaker 1: that you need, and do it in a way that's 462 00:24:57,800 --> 00:25:00,359 Speaker 1: authentic for us and how our hair grows out of 463 00:25:00,400 --> 00:25:02,840 Speaker 1: our heads. But I want to go back to what 464 00:25:02,880 --> 00:25:07,639 Speaker 1: you mentioned about Lupida, because I remember when you were 465 00:25:07,680 --> 00:25:11,919 Speaker 1: working with Lupita very closely on the Met Gala on 466 00:25:12,200 --> 00:25:16,720 Speaker 1: Black Panther, and when she walked out on those carpets, 467 00:25:17,080 --> 00:25:23,040 Speaker 1: her hair was revolutionary. What was the carpet the event 468 00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:26,800 Speaker 1: when you were able to really identify that and say, oh, wow, 469 00:25:26,920 --> 00:25:28,400 Speaker 1: we're really onto something here. 470 00:25:29,000 --> 00:25:31,320 Speaker 2: Oh, it was the met Gala, at first Met Gala together. 471 00:25:31,720 --> 00:25:35,399 Speaker 2: That's when people went crazy. People went nuts, people went crazy. 472 00:25:35,440 --> 00:25:37,399 Speaker 1: Can you describe that whole look for us that you 473 00:25:37,440 --> 00:25:38,360 Speaker 1: created for Lupita? 474 00:25:38,720 --> 00:25:42,040 Speaker 2: It was Nina Simone. Is that famous image of Nina 475 00:25:42,080 --> 00:25:44,800 Speaker 2: Simone from the side profile where her hair goes up 476 00:25:44,840 --> 00:25:47,320 Speaker 2: into like a pyramid and then she has these shells 477 00:25:47,320 --> 00:25:50,439 Speaker 2: hanging around and probably a braid of some sort like 478 00:25:50,480 --> 00:25:54,679 Speaker 2: a cone. That was one of many inspirations. But my 479 00:25:54,800 --> 00:25:57,840 Speaker 2: whole thing for the met Gala was and this is 480 00:25:58,160 --> 00:25:59,960 Speaker 2: a good thing and a bad thing sometimes when you 481 00:26:00,119 --> 00:26:03,280 Speaker 2: a creative bubble. I was like, oh, and gee, this 482 00:26:03,320 --> 00:26:06,880 Speaker 2: is my first met Gala. Metgala's like fantasy hair. It's 483 00:26:06,960 --> 00:26:09,919 Speaker 2: like ov god that it's wildest. It's a moment to 484 00:26:10,040 --> 00:26:14,280 Speaker 2: show up and to really be unapologetic. Oh my god, 485 00:26:14,280 --> 00:26:17,359 Speaker 2: this is amazing. That was literally all I had in 486 00:26:17,359 --> 00:26:24,080 Speaker 2: my mind. And she's extraordinarily intentional, very smart with collaboration 487 00:26:24,600 --> 00:26:26,760 Speaker 2: and knowing what she knows and knowing what she doesn't 488 00:26:26,800 --> 00:26:30,640 Speaker 2: know and seeking guidance from the professional while still having 489 00:26:30,640 --> 00:26:35,600 Speaker 2: a very strong vision about self. She's extraordinary aware of 490 00:26:35,680 --> 00:26:39,600 Speaker 2: who she is. So she will often say, oh, we're 491 00:26:39,600 --> 00:26:42,880 Speaker 2: doing the Metgala. Here are some inspirations. She will send 492 00:26:42,880 --> 00:26:45,720 Speaker 2: me a plant, she will send me a picture of something. 493 00:26:45,760 --> 00:26:47,880 Speaker 2: She'll send me something from Kenya or something from Mexico, 494 00:26:48,119 --> 00:26:50,399 Speaker 2: and then let me go on my wildest adventure and 495 00:26:50,440 --> 00:26:52,720 Speaker 2: come up with something. And she will just say, oh, 496 00:26:52,760 --> 00:26:55,879 Speaker 2: I want to feel tall. Oh. She will give me 497 00:26:55,920 --> 00:26:58,600 Speaker 2: words and I will go and run with that, and 498 00:26:58,680 --> 00:27:02,040 Speaker 2: vice versa. So I just showed up and I went 499 00:27:02,160 --> 00:27:06,640 Speaker 2: to build this mountain of just execution and fluid tea 500 00:27:06,680 --> 00:27:09,000 Speaker 2: in terms of blending the textures with like four different 501 00:27:09,040 --> 00:27:12,119 Speaker 2: textures on this sculptural headpiece that I built for her 502 00:27:12,160 --> 00:27:13,480 Speaker 2: that was towering off. 503 00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:15,760 Speaker 1: How long did that creation take? 504 00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:20,160 Speaker 2: I build in real time, meaning that I can construct 505 00:27:20,160 --> 00:27:22,639 Speaker 2: something in the moment, but it takes me days or 506 00:27:22,680 --> 00:27:24,600 Speaker 2: weeks to figure out how I'm doing. So I go 507 00:27:24,760 --> 00:27:26,960 Speaker 2: walking out the park, I don't sleep. I walk them 508 00:27:26,920 --> 00:27:30,560 Speaker 2: around hardware stores, home depot for hours, just looking at tools, 509 00:27:30,560 --> 00:27:33,960 Speaker 2: thinking how I can manure like It takes home Deepot 510 00:27:35,359 --> 00:27:38,080 Speaker 2: literally Michael's Home Deepot. 511 00:27:38,440 --> 00:27:41,639 Speaker 1: What I never expected you to say, home deeper? What? Oh? 512 00:27:41,840 --> 00:27:44,320 Speaker 2: I was in Home Deeper the day for fashioning it 513 00:27:44,440 --> 00:27:46,120 Speaker 2: waits some of the best stuff ever. 514 00:27:46,280 --> 00:27:48,720 Speaker 1: Wait, what do you mean? What are you talking about? 515 00:27:49,080 --> 00:27:53,640 Speaker 2: So I'm twenty eight and number seven, I know the aisles. Yeah, 516 00:27:53,680 --> 00:27:59,000 Speaker 2: it's really amazing craft craftsmanship. AM an architect. 517 00:27:59,320 --> 00:28:02,280 Speaker 1: So what ends up in your shopping cart or home 518 00:28:02,320 --> 00:28:04,280 Speaker 1: depot as you're putting together. 519 00:28:04,520 --> 00:28:06,480 Speaker 2: Everything you can imagine? Give me give me one thing 520 00:28:07,119 --> 00:28:11,000 Speaker 2: I found. Do you use it like a pipe phae 521 00:28:11,840 --> 00:28:13,960 Speaker 2: cleaner or holder? So it's the things you put into 522 00:28:14,000 --> 00:28:18,560 Speaker 2: pipes like it's pham. Okay, yeah, but it keeps them insulated. Yeah, 523 00:28:18,600 --> 00:28:21,200 Speaker 2: and those phoneps are really good to build because they 524 00:28:21,240 --> 00:28:24,000 Speaker 2: are lightweight but have structure to it. And then you 525 00:28:24,119 --> 00:28:26,800 Speaker 2: use my weaving needle that I used to stitch hair 526 00:28:26,840 --> 00:28:29,600 Speaker 2: and sell hairing to stitch it onto the hair. I 527 00:28:29,760 --> 00:28:31,679 Speaker 2: very rarely use pins. I'm always sewing. 528 00:28:32,160 --> 00:28:34,359 Speaker 1: Oh interesting, I've seen you use a lot of thread 529 00:28:34,520 --> 00:28:35,560 Speaker 1: and yarn in your work. 530 00:28:35,680 --> 00:28:39,600 Speaker 2: It's from self taught. The stitching is more secure, less discomforting, 531 00:28:40,080 --> 00:28:43,520 Speaker 2: more seamless, just as craft. 532 00:28:43,760 --> 00:28:46,360 Speaker 1: So you're telling me the key to our next hair 533 00:28:46,440 --> 00:28:49,760 Speaker 1: transformation could be at our local hardware store. 534 00:28:50,360 --> 00:28:54,080 Speaker 2: Oh it always has been. Let's just be real clear 535 00:28:54,080 --> 00:28:57,520 Speaker 2: about that. The key to your transformation is recognizing that 536 00:28:57,720 --> 00:29:01,120 Speaker 2: it's in your hands, like it's around you. But yeah, 537 00:29:01,440 --> 00:29:04,640 Speaker 2: So that was one of the most amazing looks that 538 00:29:04,720 --> 00:29:10,120 Speaker 2: I think really propelled me where people like, holy crap, 539 00:29:10,520 --> 00:29:13,480 Speaker 2: you are like not here to play around. 540 00:29:14,360 --> 00:29:16,680 Speaker 1: So I'm gonna prepper you with some rapid fire questions. 541 00:29:16,720 --> 00:29:19,560 Speaker 2: Now I don't do well with those, but just letting you. 542 00:29:19,520 --> 00:29:22,440 Speaker 1: Know, Okay, we'll try our best. I'm gonna run a 543 00:29:22,440 --> 00:29:26,520 Speaker 1: couple of hair theories by you, starting with Isa. I 544 00:29:26,560 --> 00:29:30,160 Speaker 1: interviewed her last year and she says everyone should shave 545 00:29:30,200 --> 00:29:35,080 Speaker 1: their head once. Oh, agree or disagree? Absolutely agree? Why. 546 00:29:35,800 --> 00:29:41,560 Speaker 2: I believe it's really important that you free yourself of 547 00:29:42,200 --> 00:29:46,160 Speaker 2: this thing that you believe is a part of your identity, 548 00:29:46,320 --> 00:29:49,160 Speaker 2: your beauty and reconcile with the fact that it's just 549 00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:53,800 Speaker 2: an object that can be easily removed, and it forces 550 00:29:53,840 --> 00:29:58,320 Speaker 2: you to find other things and other attributes of yourself, 551 00:29:58,760 --> 00:30:02,640 Speaker 2: so you're not wholly relied on this thing that you 552 00:30:02,640 --> 00:30:05,680 Speaker 2: can flip and toss or build into shapes to find 553 00:30:05,680 --> 00:30:06,600 Speaker 2: a sense of self. 554 00:30:07,160 --> 00:30:10,040 Speaker 1: So there's a conversation happening on TikTok right now and 555 00:30:10,120 --> 00:30:14,200 Speaker 1: it's called the hair theory, and some users are theorizing 556 00:30:14,240 --> 00:30:18,040 Speaker 1: that right before an artist becomes famous, they do something 557 00:30:18,120 --> 00:30:21,120 Speaker 1: radical to their hair and they find this signature look 558 00:30:21,200 --> 00:30:24,720 Speaker 1: like Sabrina Carpenter and her bangs, for example. Do you 559 00:30:24,920 --> 00:30:28,520 Speaker 1: think there's something to that like having a signature look? 560 00:30:28,920 --> 00:30:31,520 Speaker 2: Absolutely. I used to work in music a lot, and 561 00:30:31,560 --> 00:30:33,160 Speaker 2: that would be one of the things we would sit 562 00:30:33,240 --> 00:30:36,120 Speaker 2: down and work with an artist and identity and food, 563 00:30:36,120 --> 00:30:40,200 Speaker 2: the creative direction as an artist enters into the spotlight 564 00:30:40,760 --> 00:30:43,520 Speaker 2: how they're able to differentiate themselves amongst all the other 565 00:30:43,680 --> 00:30:47,280 Speaker 2: things that existing in the same space. And hair plays 566 00:30:47,560 --> 00:30:51,920 Speaker 2: arguably the more important role in that exploration of identity 567 00:30:52,640 --> 00:30:54,640 Speaker 2: because it's the one thing that you can either be 568 00:30:54,760 --> 00:30:58,920 Speaker 2: consistent or be unconsistent with that will attract attention. And 569 00:30:58,960 --> 00:31:00,720 Speaker 2: so when I say that, I think, when you look 570 00:31:00,720 --> 00:31:05,000 Speaker 2: at adult Cha, I think, right now, I've been so excited. 571 00:31:05,240 --> 00:31:07,120 Speaker 2: I know the whole team shout out to you, doing 572 00:31:07,120 --> 00:31:11,840 Speaker 2: an amazing job because she has been extraordinarily like, just 573 00:31:11,960 --> 00:31:16,520 Speaker 2: so unconventional with consistency. It's brilliant because actually she's just 574 00:31:16,520 --> 00:31:18,920 Speaker 2: showing up. It's my eye, it's who I am. I 575 00:31:18,960 --> 00:31:21,360 Speaker 2: can be a chameleon and do all these things and 576 00:31:21,400 --> 00:31:24,680 Speaker 2: still show up. I think it's brilliant, Like she has 577 00:31:24,800 --> 00:31:27,840 Speaker 2: just put a middle finger up to all of that 578 00:31:27,960 --> 00:31:31,760 Speaker 2: notion that you have to have consistency. Does consistency work? 579 00:31:32,280 --> 00:31:35,520 Speaker 2: I think we've been trained to acknowledge that it works, 580 00:31:35,720 --> 00:31:38,440 Speaker 2: And I think it's probably boxed a lot of artists 581 00:31:38,440 --> 00:31:41,160 Speaker 2: in because now they can't do anything other than that. 582 00:31:42,000 --> 00:31:45,320 Speaker 2: But yes, building an identity through hair, especially if you're 583 00:31:45,360 --> 00:31:49,200 Speaker 2: establishing yourself as an artist, even actors is a real thing, 584 00:31:49,240 --> 00:31:52,640 Speaker 2: and Lupita gets typecast with her hair. They keep asking 585 00:31:52,720 --> 00:31:54,560 Speaker 2: us to take her back to when she first came 586 00:31:54,600 --> 00:31:56,120 Speaker 2: onto the scene. I was like, well, you know, that 587 00:31:56,200 --> 00:31:58,320 Speaker 2: was ten years ago, and her hair grows, so. 588 00:31:58,200 --> 00:31:59,680 Speaker 1: She's also a person. She grows. 589 00:32:00,080 --> 00:32:02,480 Speaker 2: People are not looking at that. So then my coaggressions 590 00:32:02,560 --> 00:32:07,480 Speaker 2: and the racism that's prevalent in just not recognizing that 591 00:32:07,600 --> 00:32:10,840 Speaker 2: is a real thing. It's not singular to subpoena carp 592 00:32:10,880 --> 00:32:13,680 Speaker 2: and tota thing. It's Jennifer Anderson gets type cuss because 593 00:32:13,680 --> 00:32:16,320 Speaker 2: of how she looked in friends. So Jessica Parka that 594 00:32:16,520 --> 00:32:18,400 Speaker 2: that look is she doesn't have that. No one doesn't 595 00:32:18,440 --> 00:32:20,440 Speaker 2: recognize it, and no one wants to hire up if 596 00:32:20,520 --> 00:32:23,600 Speaker 2: she's not doing that, And so it's a good thing 597 00:32:23,600 --> 00:32:24,480 Speaker 2: and it can be a bad thing. 598 00:32:24,760 --> 00:32:27,120 Speaker 1: I was going to ask you who is killing the 599 00:32:27,160 --> 00:32:29,600 Speaker 1: glam game right now, and you brought up Doci. I mean, 600 00:32:29,680 --> 00:32:32,040 Speaker 1: that's the woman who comes to mind for me when 601 00:32:32,040 --> 00:32:35,840 Speaker 1: I think about her Paris Fashion Week debut and all 602 00:32:35,920 --> 00:32:39,280 Speaker 1: of those looks. I'm obsessed with that black mullet that 603 00:32:39,360 --> 00:32:42,400 Speaker 1: she I know, I want that mullet so bad when 604 00:32:42,400 --> 00:32:46,600 Speaker 1: it comes to styling curly hair. I thank God for 605 00:32:46,720 --> 00:32:50,320 Speaker 1: the gen Z curl Talk gurlies, because I have learned 606 00:32:50,360 --> 00:32:54,080 Speaker 1: so much. Yes, thank you, Yes, thank you curl Talk. 607 00:32:54,680 --> 00:32:58,640 Speaker 1: What's one curly hair hack that all of us curly 608 00:32:58,680 --> 00:33:00,560 Speaker 1: girls should you're met with? 609 00:33:00,880 --> 00:33:02,760 Speaker 2: I don't know if it's a hack, but I would 610 00:33:02,840 --> 00:33:07,120 Speaker 2: love to challenge everyone to leave your hair to dry 611 00:33:07,240 --> 00:33:11,239 Speaker 2: naturally and live in that for twenty four hours and 612 00:33:11,280 --> 00:33:12,160 Speaker 2: see how you feel. 613 00:33:12,440 --> 00:33:15,280 Speaker 1: So you're saying, don't diffuse it, just let us. 614 00:33:15,560 --> 00:33:18,840 Speaker 2: Leave your hand, let it dry naturally, twist or whatever 615 00:33:18,880 --> 00:33:21,520 Speaker 2: you want to do with it. But have you allowed 616 00:33:21,520 --> 00:33:24,480 Speaker 2: your hair to sit in its natural form? And how 617 00:33:24,520 --> 00:33:28,480 Speaker 2: does it make you feel? Really have that conversation with yourself. 618 00:33:29,480 --> 00:33:32,880 Speaker 1: That's good. I prefer to let my hair dry naturally. 619 00:33:32,960 --> 00:33:39,560 Speaker 1: I always better exactly all right? For this section, I'm 620 00:33:39,560 --> 00:33:41,960 Speaker 1: going to make a statement and you fill in the blank. 621 00:33:42,600 --> 00:33:48,120 Speaker 1: Oh okay, So I never leave the house without when 622 00:33:48,160 --> 00:33:49,200 Speaker 1: it comes to when it comes. 623 00:33:49,120 --> 00:33:53,480 Speaker 2: To hair, I never leave the house without a hair tig. 624 00:33:53,600 --> 00:33:55,520 Speaker 2: That's right. Save, Yeah, that saved the day. 625 00:33:55,560 --> 00:34:02,600 Speaker 1: When you ever, when I outside without a hair tie, 626 00:34:03,720 --> 00:34:07,680 Speaker 1: I'm like the other day I found like a luggage 627 00:34:07,680 --> 00:34:10,680 Speaker 1: strap from my bag and it was like carabineice and 628 00:34:10,719 --> 00:34:12,000 Speaker 1: I just wrapped it around. 629 00:34:13,160 --> 00:34:15,600 Speaker 2: I don't have hair, and I have a hair tie. 630 00:34:16,080 --> 00:34:17,879 Speaker 2: I have it all in it for somebody if someone 631 00:34:17,920 --> 00:34:18,200 Speaker 2: needs it. 632 00:34:18,680 --> 00:34:20,440 Speaker 1: Oh my gosh, the hairty angel. 633 00:34:20,520 --> 00:34:22,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, I've given it to people in the street before. 634 00:34:22,880 --> 00:34:25,200 Speaker 2: I can see people looking like, oh I have one. 635 00:34:25,239 --> 00:34:27,240 Speaker 2: I work in hair and my daughter to this morning. 636 00:34:27,280 --> 00:34:28,680 Speaker 2: I put one on their list every day. 637 00:34:29,120 --> 00:34:32,200 Speaker 1: Oh my gosh, I love that so much. Okay, every 638 00:34:32,239 --> 00:34:36,319 Speaker 1: person should keep Blank in their bathroom cabinet. 639 00:34:36,080 --> 00:34:41,919 Speaker 2: Leaving conditioner and a spray bottle with alkaline water. 640 00:34:42,920 --> 00:34:46,760 Speaker 1: Oh that's good. Okay, I'm going to try that immediately next. 641 00:34:47,000 --> 00:34:51,080 Speaker 1: If you see Blank on a product ingredient list, put 642 00:34:51,080 --> 00:34:51,920 Speaker 1: it back on the shelf. 643 00:34:52,680 --> 00:34:55,480 Speaker 2: So I had my own product company. I learned a 644 00:34:55,520 --> 00:34:58,600 Speaker 2: lot about product ingredients. I also learned a lot about 645 00:34:58,600 --> 00:35:01,960 Speaker 2: product performance. I also learned a lot about consumer behavior. 646 00:35:02,760 --> 00:35:06,600 Speaker 2: And what I learned through this experience is the pandemonium 647 00:35:06,840 --> 00:35:13,920 Speaker 2: of accessibility trumps any ingredients, and so whether an ingredient 648 00:35:14,000 --> 00:35:18,239 Speaker 2: is toxic or not is relative to the desire of 649 00:35:18,280 --> 00:35:20,720 Speaker 2: the need of that individual to have access to the brand, 650 00:35:20,880 --> 00:35:23,040 Speaker 2: the product, or what they think that product is going 651 00:35:23,080 --> 00:35:25,160 Speaker 2: to do for them. I know a lot of people 652 00:35:25,239 --> 00:35:29,200 Speaker 2: intentionally by product full of silicone because they prefer how 653 00:35:29,200 --> 00:35:32,440 Speaker 2: it feels on their hair, knowing that it's not the 654 00:35:32,440 --> 00:35:35,120 Speaker 2: most comforting thing to have over a long period of time, 655 00:35:35,600 --> 00:35:38,600 Speaker 2: but they still actively go and get it. And so, 656 00:35:39,040 --> 00:35:43,560 Speaker 2: as an experienced business professional, the one ingredient thing has 657 00:35:43,600 --> 00:35:47,880 Speaker 2: no weight anymore because people are searching for these products 658 00:35:47,880 --> 00:35:51,520 Speaker 2: for different needs and will pursue it in respect of 659 00:35:51,520 --> 00:35:54,360 Speaker 2: what they think they need from it, irrespective of whatever 660 00:35:54,440 --> 00:35:54,839 Speaker 2: I say. 661 00:35:55,680 --> 00:35:58,120 Speaker 1: And finally, I know you have a daughter, you are. 662 00:35:58,360 --> 00:35:59,719 Speaker 2: I do the one that I know of. 663 00:36:01,200 --> 00:36:03,920 Speaker 1: Stop, don't play around like that. 664 00:36:03,960 --> 00:36:06,239 Speaker 2: Does that happen to my family? I learned I had 665 00:36:06,280 --> 00:36:08,319 Speaker 2: a sister and during COVID the same age. 666 00:36:08,120 --> 00:36:10,799 Speaker 1: I learned I had a brother about fifteen years ago, 667 00:36:11,040 --> 00:36:14,960 Speaker 1: and I love him Jason. When it comes to my daughter, 668 00:36:15,520 --> 00:36:18,400 Speaker 1: I hope she knows her hair is blank. 669 00:36:19,040 --> 00:36:20,759 Speaker 2: When it comes to my daughter, I hope that she's 670 00:36:20,800 --> 00:36:23,560 Speaker 2: not defined by her hair, which sounds very controversial for 671 00:36:23,600 --> 00:36:25,839 Speaker 2: someone like me to say, but I want her not 672 00:36:25,880 --> 00:36:29,560 Speaker 2: to be defined by this thing that people in the 673 00:36:29,600 --> 00:36:31,799 Speaker 2: world are going to validate you by. You have to 674 00:36:31,800 --> 00:36:34,560 Speaker 2: have a sense of your beauty, strength and compassion, and 675 00:36:34,600 --> 00:36:38,160 Speaker 2: your capacity to do whatever it is with or without 676 00:36:38,200 --> 00:36:38,760 Speaker 2: your hair. 677 00:36:38,840 --> 00:36:41,319 Speaker 1: Which goes back to what is saying about shaving her 678 00:36:41,320 --> 00:36:45,520 Speaker 1: hair correct correct, rays, never wrong, life rule number one 679 00:36:45,560 --> 00:36:46,080 Speaker 1: sixty two. 680 00:36:46,280 --> 00:36:47,799 Speaker 2: She gets it because. 681 00:36:47,520 --> 00:36:50,080 Speaker 1: This is the bright side. I like to end each 682 00:36:50,080 --> 00:36:53,680 Speaker 1: conversation by asking our guests, what are you celebrating right now? 683 00:36:54,239 --> 00:36:58,239 Speaker 2: Oh, that's a bit. I'm celebrating joy. What you are 684 00:36:58,239 --> 00:37:01,279 Speaker 2: witnessing right now is the best version that I've had 685 00:37:01,320 --> 00:37:05,520 Speaker 2: access to in myself. I now recognize how beautiful I am, 686 00:37:05,719 --> 00:37:09,520 Speaker 2: and it's afforded me so much more self confidence. I'm 687 00:37:09,560 --> 00:37:12,640 Speaker 2: relinquishing the imposture syndrome, which has been a big thing 688 00:37:12,719 --> 00:37:17,520 Speaker 2: for me, and I am extraordinarily excited to turn forty 689 00:37:17,680 --> 00:37:18,120 Speaker 2: this year. 690 00:37:18,400 --> 00:37:19,319 Speaker 1: Oh my gosh. 691 00:37:19,600 --> 00:37:24,960 Speaker 2: I'm just really happy that I'm here and I have 692 00:37:25,960 --> 00:37:28,640 Speaker 2: arrived here by being consistent. 693 00:37:28,920 --> 00:37:31,240 Speaker 1: Vernon, thank you so much for coming on the bright side. 694 00:37:31,440 --> 00:37:32,359 Speaker 2: Thanks for having me. 695 00:37:35,239 --> 00:37:39,560 Speaker 1: Vernon Francois is a celebrity hairstylist and global brand ambassador 696 00:37:39,640 --> 00:37:45,719 Speaker 1: for Olaplex. Hey, before we wrap today's episode, I just 697 00:37:45,760 --> 00:37:47,640 Speaker 1: want to take a moment to reflect on our time 698 00:37:47,640 --> 00:37:51,640 Speaker 1: together at Shinaway last month and that unforgettable conversation with 699 00:37:51,760 --> 00:37:54,720 Speaker 1: Chrissy Tiegan. If you were there with us in person 700 00:37:54,840 --> 00:37:57,319 Speaker 1: at the Universal Studios lot in Los Angeles, or if 701 00:37:57,360 --> 00:38:00,520 Speaker 1: you listen to the episode at home. Either way, I 702 00:38:00,600 --> 00:38:03,360 Speaker 1: just hope you could feel how electric that room was, 703 00:38:04,200 --> 00:38:09,120 Speaker 1: hundreds of women coming together under one roof, laughing, celebrating, 704 00:38:09,600 --> 00:38:13,319 Speaker 1: and taking in Chrissy's honesty. She was so open about 705 00:38:13,360 --> 00:38:16,319 Speaker 1: her family's journey with type one diabetes after her son 706 00:38:16,400 --> 00:38:20,080 Speaker 1: Miles was unexpectedly diagnosed, and she admitted that she didn't 707 00:38:20,120 --> 00:38:23,360 Speaker 1: really understand how serious the disease was at first, but 708 00:38:23,440 --> 00:38:27,600 Speaker 1: she quickly realized that their lives were changing overnight, and 709 00:38:27,640 --> 00:38:31,760 Speaker 1: now over time, Chrissy has found this thriving online community 710 00:38:31,800 --> 00:38:35,479 Speaker 1: of support around T one d. Chrissy also shared how 711 00:38:35,520 --> 00:38:38,680 Speaker 1: important early detection can be. I mean, how amazing is 712 00:38:38,680 --> 00:38:41,440 Speaker 1: it that we can actually screen for this condition, And 713 00:38:41,440 --> 00:38:43,600 Speaker 1: that's why she's teamed up with Santafee to help spread 714 00:38:43,640 --> 00:38:46,680 Speaker 1: the word about screening for type one diabetes. It's such 715 00:38:46,719 --> 00:38:50,759 Speaker 1: a powerful reminder that knowledge really is everything, especially when 716 00:38:50,760 --> 00:38:53,120 Speaker 1: it comes to our health and our children's health. So 717 00:38:53,200 --> 00:38:56,239 Speaker 1: if that conversation with Chrissy resonated with you, take this 718 00:38:56,360 --> 00:38:59,240 Speaker 1: moment as a friendly reminder to talk with your doctor 719 00:38:59,280 --> 00:39:02,120 Speaker 1: to learn more about type one diabetes screening, and to 720 00:39:02,200 --> 00:39:05,080 Speaker 1: also visit screen for type one dot com to find 721 00:39:05,080 --> 00:39:07,919 Speaker 1: out how screening can help you better understand your family's risk. 722 00:39:08,400 --> 00:39:09,800 Speaker 1: And one more time, we just want to send it 723 00:39:09,840 --> 00:39:12,080 Speaker 1: a big thank you to Santa Fie for sponsoring our 724 00:39:12,080 --> 00:39:14,759 Speaker 1: live recording at shine Away and for making conversations like 725 00:39:14,800 --> 00:39:18,879 Speaker 1: this possible. Thanks, I'll talk to you soon, and until then, 726 00:39:19,160 --> 00:39:28,400 Speaker 1: keep looking on the bright side. The bright Side is 727 00:39:28,440 --> 00:39:31,520 Speaker 1: a production of Hello Sunshine and iHeart Podcasts and is 728 00:39:31,560 --> 00:39:35,920 Speaker 1: executive produced by Reese Witherspoon and me Simone Boyce. Production 729 00:39:36,160 --> 00:39:39,920 Speaker 1: is by ACAST Creative Studios. Our producers are Taylor Williamson, 730 00:39:40,160 --> 00:39:44,200 Speaker 1: Abby Delk, and Adrian Bain. Our production assistant is Joya Putnoy. 731 00:39:44,880 --> 00:39:49,280 Speaker 1: Acasts executive producers are Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rudder. Maureen 732 00:39:49,360 --> 00:39:53,640 Speaker 1: Polo and Reese Witherspoon are the executive producers for Hello Sunshine. 733 00:39:53,719 --> 00:39:57,000 Speaker 1: Ali Perry and Lauren Hanson are the executive producers for 734 00:39:57,080 --> 00:40:00,960 Speaker 1: iHeart Podcasts. Our theme song is by Anna Stump and 735 00:40:01,040 --> 00:40:02,120 Speaker 1: Hamilton Lakehouser.