1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:04,040 Speaker 1: Hey, everybody. Now, you may know today's guest from a 2 00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:07,680 Speaker 1: certain long running, very long running TV show or some 3 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:10,399 Speaker 1: film that you've seen him in, But what you may 4 00:00:10,440 --> 00:00:13,920 Speaker 1: not know is that he actually lives in Chuck Norris's 5 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:18,400 Speaker 1: old house. Now, there's probably a certain portion of my 6 00:00:18,520 --> 00:00:23,320 Speaker 1: listeners who are young enough to be saying, who's Chuck Norris? 7 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:27,280 Speaker 1: But trust me, living in Chuck Norris's old house is 8 00:00:27,640 --> 00:00:30,720 Speaker 1: kind of hard to beat. Wil marvald Ram is a 9 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:33,400 Speaker 1: really nice guy, and I was really impressed by how 10 00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:36,400 Speaker 1: much work he does in the nonprofit sector, help being 11 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:40,600 Speaker 1: across so many different issues. I haven't seen him for years, 12 00:00:40,680 --> 00:00:44,480 Speaker 1: not since we did a movie together. Gosh, I don't 13 00:00:44,479 --> 00:00:47,000 Speaker 1: even I've lost track of time. But this was a 14 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:50,440 Speaker 1: great conversation. I really enjoyed it. I hope you do too, 15 00:00:50,520 --> 00:01:01,560 Speaker 1: So lean in. I'm glad you're here. Here we are 16 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:07,480 Speaker 1: with Wilma Valderrama. I'm so happy to have you here 17 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:12,800 Speaker 1: talking with us. I mean, I want to. My parents 18 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:17,880 Speaker 1: stuck me with two terrible names, the first one being 19 00:01:17,959 --> 00:01:20,600 Speaker 1: Kevin and the second one being Bacon, both names that 20 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:27,440 Speaker 1: I just I despise. Bacon because it's a breakfast food 21 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:31,600 Speaker 1: and Kevin, because it's you know, has become sort of 22 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:37,920 Speaker 1: like the male version of a Karen, and you have 23 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:41,920 Speaker 1: one of the greatest names in Hollywood history. But my 24 00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:46,280 Speaker 1: question is, was there ever a moment when somebody said 25 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:49,240 Speaker 1: to you, we're gonna have to change that name. 26 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:52,440 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, yeah, for sure, for sure. I mean you 27 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:55,240 Speaker 2: could imagine. I mean I think that. I mean, we've 28 00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:57,080 Speaker 2: been doing this for quite a while, and I think 29 00:01:57,080 --> 00:02:01,040 Speaker 2: I'm going to almost thirty years now and thirty years ago. Uh, 30 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:04,840 Speaker 2: if you were of a certain descent, how they we 31 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 2: needed that name to resemble, you know, to resemble the ethnicity, 32 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:12,520 Speaker 2: you know. And for some reason, Wilmer Valderama, which in 33 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:16,080 Speaker 2: Spanish will be will Met vald Rama, right, but in 34 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:19,560 Speaker 2: English Wilmaer Valdorama doesn't sound Latino. For some reason, you know, 35 00:02:19,639 --> 00:02:21,480 Speaker 2: they just did so. So I had a couple of 36 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:25,440 Speaker 2: casting directors basically tell me, hey, you know, you might 37 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 2: you might consider changing your name because it doesn't sound 38 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:29,119 Speaker 2: like Latino enough. 39 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:32,839 Speaker 1: And that's that's But that's interesting because they actually asked 40 00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:35,600 Speaker 1: you to change your name to sound more Latino. 41 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:38,359 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know, and I know. And then 42 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:41,040 Speaker 2: I also know some friends who who also at that 43 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:43,280 Speaker 2: time came from the generation of like, you know, in 44 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:45,640 Speaker 2: America you only speak English, so that you know, so 45 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:47,960 Speaker 2: then they changed their last name as well and all that. 46 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:50,840 Speaker 2: So it's it's it's you know, it's really interesting because 47 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:53,720 Speaker 2: to me, you know, your name is like the two 48 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:57,639 Speaker 2: best worlds. You know, everybody loves bacon, okay, and then 49 00:02:57,680 --> 00:02:59,720 Speaker 2: everyone knows the great Kevin, you know what I mean. 50 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:02,720 Speaker 2: So and you've made Kevin's look pretty good for the 51 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:05,000 Speaker 2: history of time. So don't you know, don't don't understand 52 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 2: yourself there. But I for sure feel like valde Rama 53 00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:11,000 Speaker 2: and Wilmer was just not common, like just like and 54 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:13,639 Speaker 2: Ali was like, what is Wilmer? Like how do you even? 55 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:15,880 Speaker 2: I mean, I asked my mom. I literally asked my mom, 56 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:21,720 Speaker 2: like why you know, and she was like she was like, 57 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:23,440 Speaker 2: I don't know, as your dad, And then I asked 58 00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:24,960 Speaker 2: my dad, and my Dad's like, you know, it's like 59 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:28,240 Speaker 2: a mixture of like Walter and Edward. And I was like, 60 00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:31,760 Speaker 2: that doesn't even make sense, father. So none of that 61 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:34,680 Speaker 2: explained anything. But but Wilmer is a name that you 62 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 2: kind of do here in South America. 63 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:39,720 Speaker 1: Really, I see, I'd never heard before. That's I think 64 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:42,720 Speaker 1: that's that's that's really interesting. So speaking of South America, 65 00:03:44,040 --> 00:03:48,400 Speaker 1: I'm really really fascinated what little I know about your 66 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 1: journey because you were not born in America, is that correct? 67 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 1: Or you were born you were born in America. You 68 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:58,880 Speaker 1: were born in Miami and yeah, moved to Venezuela. 69 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:02,320 Speaker 2: That's right, right, Yeah, it's too interesting, kier and I 70 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:04,840 Speaker 2: I when I tell this story, a lot of people 71 00:04:04,880 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 2: feel like it's almost backwards, you know, like most people 72 00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:09,560 Speaker 2: just moved to America, you know what I mean. And 73 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:13,760 Speaker 2: my my mom and my dad met in Miami and 74 00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:16,680 Speaker 2: they had my sister and me. I'm a year older 75 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:18,960 Speaker 2: than than my sister Maryland. 76 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:21,359 Speaker 1: How many in your so we're three? 77 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:25,719 Speaker 2: So we're three. So it's me, uh, and then a 78 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:28,800 Speaker 2: year younger my sister Maryland, and then Stephanie, who is 79 00:04:28,839 --> 00:04:31,240 Speaker 2: a couple of years summers. You know, she's now in 80 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:34,880 Speaker 2: her thirties and and you know, so it was just 81 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 2: the three of us, you know, but having my but 82 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:40,840 Speaker 2: but but my mom and dad had Maryland and and 83 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:44,240 Speaker 2: me and Miami and then at three years old, I'm 84 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 2: talking about nineteen eighty three, you know, the Bolivad and 85 00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:51,120 Speaker 2: the dollar were almost one in one, because if you remember, 86 00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:53,920 Speaker 2: the economy in Venezuela was booming, I mean like oil 87 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 2: was the They're the number one reserved and the third 88 00:04:56,600 --> 00:04:59,719 Speaker 2: largest producer. So it was like Venezuela was thriving, and 89 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:05,479 Speaker 2: now resources were a very very exciting frontier for a 90 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:07,840 Speaker 2: lot of different commerce, imports and extporting and all that. 91 00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:11,000 Speaker 2: So so my dad decided that he wanted to you know, 92 00:05:11,400 --> 00:05:13,599 Speaker 2: fly back to Venezuela and go back to you know, 93 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:15,880 Speaker 2: where the work was. So he decided that he wanted 94 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:18,880 Speaker 2: to go back into the agriculture industry. And and we 95 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 2: went back to Venezuela at two and three years old. 96 00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:24,800 Speaker 2: They didn't even know how to speak English obviously, you know. 97 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:26,920 Speaker 1: And how long had they been in the States. How 98 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:28,480 Speaker 1: long had your parents been in the States. 99 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:31,240 Speaker 2: Well, my dad and so my mom was visiting Miami, 100 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:34,719 Speaker 2: you know, from Colombia, from my mother's from Colombia. Okay, 101 00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:37,560 Speaker 2: my mother's Colombia. And then my father was kind of 102 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:40,320 Speaker 2: traveling from New York, you know, to Miami, and he 103 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:42,720 Speaker 2: was like a young man traveling the world, you know, 104 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:45,279 Speaker 2: And and they met in Miami and then they got married, 105 00:05:45,320 --> 00:05:47,200 Speaker 2: and I had the tool was in Miami, and then 106 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:50,960 Speaker 2: they moved to Venezuela. And you know, my dad had 107 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:53,360 Speaker 2: his family in Venezuela and all that, but we moved 108 00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:56,560 Speaker 2: four hours south of Kanakas, which is where most of 109 00:05:56,600 --> 00:05:59,159 Speaker 2: the agriculture industry, you know, close to the Amazons and 110 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:00,600 Speaker 2: the Tropical four and all that. 111 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:03,159 Speaker 1: And were they raising what were they grown? 112 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:05,680 Speaker 2: So my dad had like one of those farms that 113 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:07,960 Speaker 2: it was like a one size fits all type of situation, 114 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:10,679 Speaker 2: you know, where like he would do corn on the side, 115 00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:13,080 Speaker 2: he would do rice on this side, he would do 116 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:17,279 Speaker 2: chickens and like pigs and like cows. And then and 117 00:06:17,320 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 2: then he had a bunch of acres. So you know, 118 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:22,800 Speaker 2: he had this you know, the Amazonian trees like the 119 00:06:22,839 --> 00:06:26,480 Speaker 2: size of you know, you know, a two story building, 120 00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 2: you know what I mean. And so you went one tree, 121 00:06:29,480 --> 00:06:33,200 Speaker 2: you produce so much wood, you know that. He also 122 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:37,080 Speaker 2: would sell some wood to wood makers and constructure workers 123 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:40,680 Speaker 2: and stuff like that. So and then the summers were 124 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:43,880 Speaker 2: so long. I'm sorry that the winters were so long 125 00:06:43,920 --> 00:06:45,800 Speaker 2: and the summers were so short because it was so 126 00:06:45,960 --> 00:06:48,600 Speaker 2: moisture so most over there that that you could only 127 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:51,240 Speaker 2: cultivate the land for a certain amount of time, and 128 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:54,760 Speaker 2: so my dad started buying machinery to start renting them 129 00:06:54,800 --> 00:06:56,920 Speaker 2: for leveling the land and all that. So like it 130 00:06:56,960 --> 00:06:59,560 Speaker 2: was like a hustler's you know, like like farm and 131 00:06:59,640 --> 00:07:01,000 Speaker 2: but that's I grew up. I grew up in the 132 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:04,200 Speaker 2: farm riding horses and you know, yeah, yeah. 133 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:05,800 Speaker 1: Wow, well we have that in common. You know. I'm 134 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:08,080 Speaker 1: most looking for connections. That's a that's a that's a 135 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:13,480 Speaker 1: that's the the six degrees thing. I'm on our farm 136 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:17,280 Speaker 1: right now and uh looking right out at our horses. 137 00:07:17,640 --> 00:07:18,720 Speaker 1: Do you still ride? 138 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:22,160 Speaker 2: I do, but not as often as I did. You know, 139 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:24,640 Speaker 2: you when you live in in Los Angeles is kind 140 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:26,280 Speaker 2: of tough, but you know, but also in a weird 141 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:28,640 Speaker 2: way accessible, like man, just go. 142 00:07:31,320 --> 00:07:34,480 Speaker 1: I don't know if I'm not going to say that, 143 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:37,240 Speaker 1: I was going to say, never mind, you can ride. 144 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:38,880 Speaker 1: It is possible to find a horse. 145 00:07:39,480 --> 00:07:41,840 Speaker 2: No, no, for sure. I mean like from from like 146 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:45,400 Speaker 2: Burbank to tulokal leg to like Topanga Canyon to like 147 00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:47,480 Speaker 2: you know, Malu Canyon like all this, there's a lot 148 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:50,280 Speaker 2: of stables, you know. So but for some reason, when 149 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:52,040 Speaker 2: I moved to Los Angeles, I didn't feel like I 150 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:55,000 Speaker 2: didn't I had the actual accessibility for it, because you know, 151 00:07:55,040 --> 00:07:56,360 Speaker 2: you came to the city and you kind of the 152 00:07:56,480 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 2: last thing you think, it's Los Angeles horses, you know. 153 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:01,480 Speaker 2: So I didn't come out exposed with the community and 154 00:08:01,520 --> 00:08:04,440 Speaker 2: the way way later. But riding horses is like something 155 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:06,640 Speaker 2: that I grew up with. I love riding horses. I've 156 00:08:06,640 --> 00:08:10,720 Speaker 2: been waiting in my career to ride horses. 157 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:10,960 Speaker 3: You know. 158 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:12,840 Speaker 2: I think I'm gonna get get a chance to do 159 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:13,880 Speaker 2: it next year, which is. 160 00:08:14,360 --> 00:08:17,480 Speaker 1: Great me too. I never I never get it. It's 161 00:08:17,480 --> 00:08:18,920 Speaker 1: it's the only thing I know how to do, and 162 00:08:18,920 --> 00:08:20,720 Speaker 1: it's the thing that I never get. It's the part 163 00:08:20,760 --> 00:08:23,760 Speaker 1: I never get, you know what I mean. It's like always, 164 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:25,360 Speaker 1: you know, I always got to learn to, I don't 165 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:28,040 Speaker 1: know whatever, operate a spaceship or something. 166 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:30,840 Speaker 2: And you know what I mean, you're always saving the 167 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:32,199 Speaker 2: world somehow, you know, I know. 168 00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:36,120 Speaker 1: Be a doctor. Yeah, a marine. You know. I always 169 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:39,320 Speaker 1: joke about I wouldn't last played like four Marines and 170 00:08:39,840 --> 00:08:42,760 Speaker 1: I wouldn't last two minutes in boot camp. You know, 171 00:08:42,800 --> 00:08:47,400 Speaker 1: we're we're walking delicately, the fact that we were on strike, 172 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:51,760 Speaker 1: we walked delicately around right, No, I uh, you know, 173 00:08:51,880 --> 00:08:54,640 Speaker 1: I mean I feel like it's possible to talk about 174 00:08:54,679 --> 00:08:59,040 Speaker 1: being an actor without specifically mentioning the names of past work. 175 00:08:59,520 --> 00:09:01,240 Speaker 1: But I will say, and I hope it'll get in 176 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:07,240 Speaker 1: trouble with this, that my wife's horse, Woody, came from 177 00:09:07,280 --> 00:09:11,480 Speaker 1: Los Angeles and he actually appeared in Django Unchained. So 178 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:13,880 Speaker 1: if I'm going to get in trouble for that, we 179 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 1: can cut that out. I just want to say that I'm. 180 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:19,040 Speaker 2: Not I think it's related. I mean, I don't think 181 00:09:19,040 --> 00:09:20,439 Speaker 2: the horses are in the Union, so. 182 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:26,200 Speaker 1: I think, right, he is non Union. That's true. Yes, yeah, yeah, 183 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:29,520 Speaker 1: Well that's really interesting. And so at what age did 184 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:35,079 Speaker 1: you make it back to the States and why did 185 00:09:35,120 --> 00:09:37,000 Speaker 1: you had you end up in this gig? 186 00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:40,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, So, I mean, I'll tell you it's very interesting 187 00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:42,320 Speaker 2: because I mean, there was no notion that we at 188 00:09:42,360 --> 00:09:44,080 Speaker 2: some point we had to come back to United States 189 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:47,120 Speaker 2: at all. But at that time, I'm just sure she 190 00:09:47,240 --> 00:09:50,280 Speaker 2: remember kind of in the early nineties, a young general 191 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:54,199 Speaker 2: by the name of Hugo Chavis. He tried to take 192 00:09:55,280 --> 00:09:57,800 Speaker 2: the governing power by force. He tried, he did a 193 00:09:57,880 --> 00:10:02,360 Speaker 2: national coup on the Venezuelan you know government. He didn't succeed, right, 194 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:05,360 Speaker 2: So his forces fell back and they couldn't they couldn't 195 00:10:05,400 --> 00:10:10,320 Speaker 2: take over, and it was a very interesting you know, 196 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:13,120 Speaker 2: it was a very interesting time for Venezuela because it 197 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:16,040 Speaker 2: was telegraphing at this stabilization something. Then you know, Hugo 198 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:18,960 Speaker 2: Chavis decides that he's going to launch himself as a 199 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:23,840 Speaker 2: presidential candidate and wins it, and he wins the presidency 200 00:10:23,920 --> 00:10:26,120 Speaker 2: and then takes over the whole country and becomes a 201 00:10:26,520 --> 00:10:28,480 Speaker 2: you know, the stabilization, the corruption, a lot of stuff 202 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:31,880 Speaker 2: just can't amplify us. Right and right before any of 203 00:10:31,920 --> 00:10:36,320 Speaker 2: that starts turning, my dad realized that it was probably 204 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:39,760 Speaker 2: time to, you know, to come back to in other states. 205 00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:41,880 Speaker 2: My dad also wanted us to you know, to come 206 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:44,600 Speaker 2: back and you know and be back at a place 207 00:10:44,600 --> 00:10:47,560 Speaker 2: where we were born, you know, and and you know, 208 00:10:47,640 --> 00:10:52,319 Speaker 2: so in nineteen ninety at the end of ninety the 209 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:55,599 Speaker 2: middle of nineteen ninety three, my father said, I was 210 00:10:55,640 --> 00:10:57,640 Speaker 2: thirteen years old, and he's like, okay, so we're going 211 00:10:57,640 --> 00:11:00,280 Speaker 2: to America. And I was like, what like when they 212 00:11:00,280 --> 00:11:01,320 Speaker 2: speak English over there, and. 213 00:11:01,640 --> 00:11:03,720 Speaker 1: Like had you been speaking had you had you been 214 00:11:03,760 --> 00:11:04,679 Speaker 1: speaking English at all? 215 00:11:05,240 --> 00:11:06,719 Speaker 2: Not at all? Wow, I mean not at all. I 216 00:11:06,880 --> 00:11:08,439 Speaker 2: didn't even know how to count the three. Like I 217 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:10,360 Speaker 2: and I've always said this in areviews, but I but 218 00:11:10,600 --> 00:11:12,280 Speaker 2: the only word I knew how to say was monkey 219 00:11:12,480 --> 00:11:15,480 Speaker 2: and didn't That didn't help me when I got here, 220 00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:18,320 Speaker 2: you know, but I definitely think it was. It was 221 00:11:18,360 --> 00:11:21,920 Speaker 2: a very very transformative process for us. I mean to 222 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:23,600 Speaker 2: think about that we had to kind of back up 223 00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:25,600 Speaker 2: and sell everything we had and then eventually come back 224 00:11:25,640 --> 00:11:29,080 Speaker 2: to the Under States was a really scary time. And 225 00:11:29,120 --> 00:11:31,360 Speaker 2: we you know, come to the United States, no one 226 00:11:31,360 --> 00:11:33,040 Speaker 2: knows how to speak English. It was like the first 227 00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:34,640 Speaker 2: time that we had to kind of like my first 228 00:11:34,760 --> 00:11:39,120 Speaker 2: job was to really learn rapidly how to answer the phone, 229 00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:41,800 Speaker 2: read the menus and the manuals, you know, like it 230 00:11:41,920 --> 00:11:45,000 Speaker 2: really really, you know, answer the door when it's somebody 231 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:47,640 Speaker 2: that obviously looks like does not speak Spanish, you know, 232 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:50,320 Speaker 2: you know, and that was our first job and just 233 00:11:50,320 --> 00:11:52,320 Speaker 2: trying to make sure that we learned how to speak English. 234 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:55,280 Speaker 2: And so did you come back to So we went 235 00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:57,080 Speaker 2: to Miami for a couple of weeks and there was 236 00:11:57,120 --> 00:11:59,520 Speaker 2: nothing more for us in Miami, but my dad had 237 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:01,880 Speaker 2: a brother here you're in Los Angeles, So we drove 238 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:04,400 Speaker 2: across country, you know, and we came to Los Angeles 239 00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:07,400 Speaker 2: and then we you know, my dad was helping his 240 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:09,920 Speaker 2: brother with this car rental plays that he had, and 241 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:11,400 Speaker 2: you know, and then you know, we had to kind 242 00:12:11,400 --> 00:12:13,760 Speaker 2: of move out on our own after that, and we 243 00:12:13,800 --> 00:12:15,439 Speaker 2: started from scratch, you know what I mean. And you know, 244 00:12:15,520 --> 00:12:17,440 Speaker 2: like every other immigrant family, we had, you know, we 245 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:20,120 Speaker 2: had the very lows and then the lows and then 246 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:23,040 Speaker 2: like the medium lows, and you know, and you started 247 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:24,520 Speaker 2: kind of thinking like what, you know, what was it 248 00:12:24,600 --> 00:12:27,800 Speaker 2: going to be? And you know, my because I told 249 00:12:27,800 --> 00:12:29,960 Speaker 2: you my first job was to learn how to speak English. 250 00:12:30,280 --> 00:12:32,680 Speaker 2: In school, I was going to ESL classes. So I 251 00:12:32,760 --> 00:12:35,000 Speaker 2: went back to like school activities. So it was like 252 00:12:35,040 --> 00:12:37,240 Speaker 2: I was always dancing, singing and actings. That was six 253 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:39,719 Speaker 2: years old back in Venezuela. And when I came here, 254 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:41,520 Speaker 2: I figured like this was the one thing that I 255 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:43,640 Speaker 2: could do. The scene kind of universal that like I 256 00:12:43,679 --> 00:12:45,320 Speaker 2: didn't have to learn how to speak English to do, 257 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:48,320 Speaker 2: you know. And then the more I did theater, the 258 00:12:48,400 --> 00:12:50,240 Speaker 2: more it would force me to read, it would force 259 00:12:50,280 --> 00:12:52,640 Speaker 2: me to speak aloud, It forced me to you know, 260 00:12:52,760 --> 00:12:55,560 Speaker 2: kind of carry on these little fake conversations on stage 261 00:12:55,640 --> 00:12:57,880 Speaker 2: that I didn't have the courage to have outside of 262 00:12:57,920 --> 00:12:58,360 Speaker 2: the stage. 263 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:02,000 Speaker 1: I thought, really interesting, Well, I'm sorry to stop you there, 264 00:13:02,040 --> 00:13:08,240 Speaker 1: but I I I think that, uh, for me, I've 265 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:13,360 Speaker 1: always felt like being in a theater class because I 266 00:13:13,400 --> 00:13:15,160 Speaker 1: got at the theater class. And but around the same time, 267 00:13:15,280 --> 00:13:19,800 Speaker 1: we're very very young. Always was an opportunity to do 268 00:13:19,880 --> 00:13:23,720 Speaker 1: things that you know, I was either embarrassed to do 269 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:28,360 Speaker 1: outside of the class or or would never get an 270 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:32,600 Speaker 1: opportunity to. And and that's really interesting to me that 271 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:36,680 Speaker 1: you were you had a I mean, does it's It 272 00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:39,120 Speaker 1: sounds like it was a safe space to kind of 273 00:13:39,360 --> 00:13:42,800 Speaker 1: mess up English and if you wanted to and not 274 00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:46,120 Speaker 1: get embarrassed or or whatever, bullied or whatever else would happen. 275 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:50,200 Speaker 2: It was definitely a centuary for many things, you know. 276 00:13:50,280 --> 00:13:53,280 Speaker 2: It was where people you know, I just also feel 277 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:56,640 Speaker 2: like when you embraced that mentality and that philosophy of 278 00:13:56,679 --> 00:13:59,960 Speaker 2: the centuary that we speak of, you kind of realize 279 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:02,800 Speaker 2: that this is where you got to make the mistakes. 280 00:14:02,840 --> 00:14:04,480 Speaker 2: This is where you are to me bold, this is 281 00:14:04,520 --> 00:14:06,280 Speaker 2: where you got to throw yourself out there. And I 282 00:14:06,360 --> 00:14:09,640 Speaker 2: was very fortunate that my classmates, you know, were just 283 00:14:09,760 --> 00:14:12,760 Speaker 2: as wondrous as I was, and was just as like, 284 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:15,080 Speaker 2: you know, theater, you know theater doorgs with me, you know, 285 00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:17,280 Speaker 2: and like we would and we would just have fun 286 00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:21,360 Speaker 2: and do these acting exercises that really started opening me 287 00:14:21,520 --> 00:14:24,200 Speaker 2: up and in a world where you know, I thought, 288 00:14:24,920 --> 00:14:26,440 Speaker 2: I thought I knew what life was when I was 289 00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:29,240 Speaker 2: in Venezuela, and that was a very RealD reality, right 290 00:14:29,320 --> 00:14:31,440 Speaker 2: like where I was exposed to things that young kids 291 00:14:31,480 --> 00:14:34,920 Speaker 2: in America just wouldn't be And when I got here, 292 00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:36,960 Speaker 2: it was like the happiest place on earth. Right So, 293 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:39,520 Speaker 2: I mean for me, America was like the happiest place 294 00:14:39,560 --> 00:14:41,920 Speaker 2: on earth because all the things that I grew up 295 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:44,720 Speaker 2: watching all the way after thirteen or seeing and with 296 00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:47,400 Speaker 2: my own eyes at although after thirteen, coming to the 297 00:14:47,520 --> 00:14:51,000 Speaker 2: United States was like, oh my god, this is unbelievable. 298 00:14:51,000 --> 00:14:52,960 Speaker 2: Like you were watch the six o'clock news and be like, 299 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:56,160 Speaker 2: oh that's it. It's a good day, you know. And 300 00:14:56,280 --> 00:14:59,680 Speaker 2: so when I went to school, finding myself in the 301 00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:03,760 Speaker 2: perform in arts and being so shy because I couldn't communicate, 302 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:06,960 Speaker 2: but being on that stage it just like opened it 303 00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:09,160 Speaker 2: all up and let it all float out. And and 304 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:11,760 Speaker 2: then the more I did it, the I mean the 305 00:15:11,800 --> 00:15:13,640 Speaker 2: faster that I learned how to speak English, Like I 306 00:15:13,840 --> 00:15:15,520 Speaker 2: learned how to speak English in months, you know, And 307 00:15:15,560 --> 00:15:19,120 Speaker 2: I was just like full sentences and all the gesist 308 00:15:19,120 --> 00:15:21,280 Speaker 2: part about it, Karen, is that I was listening. I 309 00:15:21,400 --> 00:15:24,560 Speaker 2: was I was also watching I Love Lucy, you know, 310 00:15:24,640 --> 00:15:27,520 Speaker 2: and watching you know, and and Dancy had an accent, 311 00:15:27,560 --> 00:15:29,400 Speaker 2: so I and I had an accent. So I was like, oh, 312 00:15:29,440 --> 00:15:30,080 Speaker 2: this is cool. 313 00:15:30,120 --> 00:15:33,120 Speaker 1: You know, that's a surprise that you were watching I 314 00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:36,040 Speaker 1: Love Lucy that but I Love Lucy was made like 315 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:37,960 Speaker 1: thirty years before before. 316 00:15:38,080 --> 00:15:40,480 Speaker 2: But I'll tell you why. Because I used to watch 317 00:15:40,680 --> 00:15:46,120 Speaker 2: all these iconic shows in Spanish and in Venezuela. So 318 00:15:46,160 --> 00:15:48,320 Speaker 2: when I came to the United States, I gravitateds to 319 00:15:48,760 --> 00:15:52,200 Speaker 2: what I knew because I didn't know the new stuff, 320 00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:58,400 Speaker 2: you know. And therefore, once I discover that, oh this 321 00:15:58,560 --> 00:16:01,320 Speaker 2: is still on TV, you know, I kind of felt familiar. 322 00:16:01,360 --> 00:16:03,840 Speaker 2: It felt comfortable, kind of brought me back to Venezuelan 323 00:16:03,840 --> 00:16:06,240 Speaker 2: in a weird way, you know. And then all of 324 00:16:06,280 --> 00:16:08,280 Speaker 2: a sudden I started piecing it together, like, oh, man, 325 00:16:08,480 --> 00:16:11,440 Speaker 2: looking at it, this's like I'm listening to them speaking English, 326 00:16:11,520 --> 00:16:17,200 Speaker 2: and now all of a sudden, I'm understanding what they're saying, 327 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:19,520 Speaker 2: you know, and I didn't know I did. I had 328 00:16:19,520 --> 00:16:24,600 Speaker 2: no idea that he had an accent. I go to America, 329 00:16:24,680 --> 00:16:27,400 Speaker 2: you know what I mean. But yeah, so so that, 330 00:16:27,600 --> 00:16:29,680 Speaker 2: but that's kind of how it all started. And you know, 331 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:32,600 Speaker 2: I the teacher said to me, hey, you you know 332 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:35,280 Speaker 2: have an interesting look. You know, you you're kind of funny. 333 00:16:35,320 --> 00:16:38,400 Speaker 2: You should maybe try to do commercials. And imagine telling 334 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:40,920 Speaker 2: you dad, you know, it was like working his ass off, 335 00:16:41,120 --> 00:16:42,840 Speaker 2: you know, I heard that I could do commercials. 336 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:45,120 Speaker 1: Like what was his reaction? 337 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:51,440 Speaker 2: My dad? You know, my dad is incredibly supportive. My 338 00:16:51,480 --> 00:16:54,320 Speaker 2: mom was too, But they were supportive because my report 339 00:16:54,360 --> 00:16:57,400 Speaker 2: card was pretty good, you know, like I had a's 340 00:16:57,440 --> 00:16:59,800 Speaker 2: and b's. So he's like, oh, he wants to do this, 341 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:02,520 Speaker 2: We'll let him do this because it's like report Cary 342 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:04,800 Speaker 2: is good. So they thought it was like taking me 343 00:17:04,840 --> 00:17:09,000 Speaker 2: to soccer practice, you know. But to me, it felt 344 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:11,199 Speaker 2: like he had given me permission to really give it 345 00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:14,000 Speaker 2: a shot, you know. And and I just I just 346 00:17:14,040 --> 00:17:16,320 Speaker 2: went forth throughout all that. I was like, I just fell 347 00:17:16,359 --> 00:17:20,199 Speaker 2: in love with making people laugh and making people feel things, 348 00:17:20,280 --> 00:17:23,440 Speaker 2: and and and then just just taking people for for 349 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:26,040 Speaker 2: a journey, you know, and I just had so much fun. 350 00:17:26,119 --> 00:17:29,320 Speaker 2: You know, as soon as you you you you feel 351 00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:33,000 Speaker 2: that energy, especially when you're the theater. It's just there's 352 00:17:33,040 --> 00:17:33,960 Speaker 2: just nothing like it. 353 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:43,080 Speaker 1: Nothing like it. Do your parents live with you? I 354 00:17:43,160 --> 00:17:45,560 Speaker 1: heard I heard that maybe your parents are living under 355 00:17:45,600 --> 00:17:46,439 Speaker 1: the same roof as. 356 00:17:46,280 --> 00:17:48,960 Speaker 2: You and not technically the same river, but that's for 357 00:17:49,080 --> 00:17:54,239 Speaker 2: the same property. So I love it. I love it. 358 00:17:54,280 --> 00:17:58,159 Speaker 2: I Mean, here's the thing, man, you know, I in 359 00:17:58,200 --> 00:18:02,200 Speaker 2: our culture, you know, a family is you know, it's sanity, 360 00:18:02,520 --> 00:18:06,879 Speaker 2: is safe is you know, it's grounding, you know, and 361 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:10,040 Speaker 2: it's humbleness, right, And I think when I think about 362 00:18:10,080 --> 00:18:12,480 Speaker 2: my family and the sacrifices they made to bring us 363 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:16,280 Speaker 2: to the United States, you know, and everything they give up, 364 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:20,120 Speaker 2: because man, like it's tough for people to comprehend how 365 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:23,560 Speaker 2: much an immigrant couple gives up, you know, to bring 366 00:18:23,600 --> 00:18:25,919 Speaker 2: their kids to a place where they can have a 367 00:18:25,920 --> 00:18:30,320 Speaker 2: better future. And you know, had been born here, you know, 368 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:34,879 Speaker 2: they you know, they meaning like Marilyn and I have 369 00:18:34,960 --> 00:18:37,600 Speaker 2: been born here. Give an opportunity for us to kind 370 00:18:37,600 --> 00:18:40,080 Speaker 2: of be here and pay it forward was really important. 371 00:18:40,960 --> 00:18:45,640 Speaker 2: But you know, I was very much aware at thirteen 372 00:18:45,760 --> 00:18:48,879 Speaker 2: fourteen fifteen years old. I was incredibly aware of what 373 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:52,840 Speaker 2: was happening at home, the struggles, you know, the ups 374 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:56,240 Speaker 2: and downs, the you know, the soft Christmases, you know, 375 00:18:56,840 --> 00:18:59,160 Speaker 2: the dinner every other night or every other two nights. 376 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:03,080 Speaker 2: And it just fired me up to really pay it 377 00:19:03,119 --> 00:19:06,040 Speaker 2: forward to them. And and you know, and I just 378 00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:10,480 Speaker 2: I could never imagine. I couldn't fathom that some you know, 379 00:19:10,680 --> 00:19:12,480 Speaker 2: my mom and my dad would give up so much, 380 00:19:13,040 --> 00:19:16,240 Speaker 2: and that I would just be far away from them somehow, 381 00:19:16,359 --> 00:19:18,320 Speaker 2: not being able to be around to pay it back 382 00:19:18,359 --> 00:19:20,600 Speaker 2: and continue to pay. I mean and forever grateful, you know, 383 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:24,600 Speaker 2: so so beck At towards the end some of my 384 00:19:24,680 --> 00:19:27,240 Speaker 2: first you know, jobs, I was like, I don't know 385 00:19:27,240 --> 00:19:28,879 Speaker 2: when else I'm going to make this money again, so 386 00:19:28,880 --> 00:19:31,399 Speaker 2: I might as well buy something, something that would last me. 387 00:19:31,440 --> 00:19:34,919 Speaker 2: And and I was in Tarzana and Chuck Norris was 388 00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:37,720 Speaker 2: selling his property. He had a couple of acres in 389 00:19:38,280 --> 00:19:42,119 Speaker 2: you know, in the valley, and uh and I just 390 00:19:42,200 --> 00:19:44,280 Speaker 2: you know, and he wanted out, man, he wanted to back, 391 00:19:44,600 --> 00:19:46,240 Speaker 2: wanted to go back to the ranch, right, he wanted 392 00:19:46,280 --> 00:19:48,760 Speaker 2: to go back to Texas, you know. And and I 393 00:19:48,800 --> 00:19:51,439 Speaker 2: went in and made him an offer. He sold it, 394 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:54,240 Speaker 2: you know, to me, and I remodeled it and expanded 395 00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:56,320 Speaker 2: and then, you know, thank the Lord, I was able 396 00:19:56,359 --> 00:19:58,800 Speaker 2: to buy the neighbor at some point many years later, 397 00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:01,760 Speaker 2: and I expanded the property and I gave my mom 398 00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:04,960 Speaker 2: the house next door. So obviously they live in the 399 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:06,760 Speaker 2: same property. You know, my my dad is in a 400 00:20:06,960 --> 00:20:08,199 Speaker 2: by the way, my mom and my dad are like 401 00:20:08,280 --> 00:20:10,800 Speaker 2: no longer hanging out. They just don't want to hang out. 402 00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:13,280 Speaker 2: They're fine, but I make them be in the same 403 00:20:13,320 --> 00:20:16,240 Speaker 2: property like like a Spanish soap opera, you know, but 404 00:20:16,320 --> 00:20:19,119 Speaker 2: they but my dad lives in an apartment here the house. 405 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:21,480 Speaker 2: My mom has the house next door, which is literally 406 00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:25,800 Speaker 2: separated by like bushes and trees and my little side door, and. 407 00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:30,080 Speaker 1: Even Chuck Norris's old house, and it's Chuck Norris's old house, 408 00:20:30,160 --> 00:20:32,399 Speaker 1: which is like they couldn't and also think about who body, 409 00:20:32,480 --> 00:20:35,359 Speaker 1: it's like the most random exchange of property in the 410 00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:38,360 Speaker 1: history of property. That's kind of amazing. Yeah, that's kind 411 00:20:38,359 --> 00:20:43,800 Speaker 1: of amazing. Wow, And and it's also totally fascinating to 412 00:20:43,880 --> 00:20:47,479 Speaker 1: me that, you know, the bond is so strong that 413 00:20:47,520 --> 00:20:49,359 Speaker 1: even when they don't want to hang out, they're still 414 00:20:49,359 --> 00:20:51,200 Speaker 1: going to be on the same property. You know. That's 415 00:20:51,400 --> 00:20:54,240 Speaker 1: that's that's really that's really interesting. You have kids of 416 00:20:54,320 --> 00:20:54,760 Speaker 1: your own. 417 00:20:55,280 --> 00:20:57,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, I have a two and a half year old daughter. 418 00:20:57,200 --> 00:21:02,600 Speaker 2: Her name is nakano Oceana, and she is I mean, 419 00:21:02,720 --> 00:21:05,760 Speaker 2: she just brought, you know, so much sunshine to the 420 00:21:05,800 --> 00:21:10,160 Speaker 2: house and and also gave my parents crazy purpose, right, 421 00:21:10,160 --> 00:21:13,439 Speaker 2: Like I mean they literally you could imagine, right, I mean, 422 00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:17,080 Speaker 2: put my my mom, you know, we had already adults, 423 00:21:17,119 --> 00:21:18,760 Speaker 2: and we were you know, we're already doing our thing, 424 00:21:18,880 --> 00:21:22,879 Speaker 2: you know. And and when she was born, my mom 425 00:21:23,119 --> 00:21:26,359 Speaker 2: just like got twenty years younger. And she picks her 426 00:21:26,440 --> 00:21:28,600 Speaker 2: up at like nine in the morning and cooks her 427 00:21:28,800 --> 00:21:32,040 Speaker 2: like the Venezuelan and Colombian soups and all that stuff, 428 00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:35,160 Speaker 2: and like stufs her up, puts her down for a nap, 429 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:37,560 Speaker 2: and it's like half the day suspends work her abuela, 430 00:21:37,640 --> 00:21:40,879 Speaker 2: you know. And it's very very beautiful to see that, 431 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:45,040 Speaker 2: and and honestly, it makes me feel so good, man, 432 00:21:45,080 --> 00:21:48,880 Speaker 2: because it's it's about making sure that your parents still 433 00:21:48,880 --> 00:21:50,520 Speaker 2: want to swing, you know, and they still want to 434 00:21:50,720 --> 00:21:54,320 Speaker 2: wanna dance, and and that that also really gave them 435 00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:54,720 Speaker 2: new fire. 436 00:21:55,440 --> 00:21:59,480 Speaker 1: That's so beautiful. I mean I love that that three 437 00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:02,600 Speaker 1: generation uh in the in the same spot. That's yeah, 438 00:22:02,840 --> 00:22:06,719 Speaker 1: that's pretty cool. You do a lot of stuff on 439 00:22:07,280 --> 00:22:12,159 Speaker 1: social media. I have kind of come to it, I 440 00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:14,720 Speaker 1: would say, over the years, I've come to embrace it, 441 00:22:14,760 --> 00:22:17,200 Speaker 1: but I think that I came to it somewhat reluctantly. 442 00:22:17,280 --> 00:22:20,920 Speaker 1: I'm curious, you know, what what your feelings are about it, 443 00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:25,320 Speaker 1: and uh, you know what what the pitfalls can be 444 00:22:25,400 --> 00:22:28,720 Speaker 1: and whether or not it's it's it's a satisfying thing 445 00:22:28,760 --> 00:22:32,040 Speaker 1: to you or or how you've chosen to use it. Uh, 446 00:22:32,200 --> 00:22:33,840 Speaker 1: you know, what's it like for you? 447 00:22:34,760 --> 00:22:37,720 Speaker 2: I mean, it's it's It's an interesting question because I've 448 00:22:39,280 --> 00:22:42,040 Speaker 2: I feel like we're both young enough and old enough 449 00:22:42,280 --> 00:22:46,679 Speaker 2: to understand where we were in entertainment, where it started 450 00:22:46,720 --> 00:22:50,440 Speaker 2: evolving from, you know, most importantly, what it what it 451 00:22:50,520 --> 00:22:53,600 Speaker 2: became right now. And then you know, we also are 452 00:22:54,280 --> 00:22:58,440 Speaker 2: you know, young enough to recognize that it's, uh, there 453 00:22:58,560 --> 00:23:02,600 Speaker 2: is a content revolution happening and that the evolution needs 454 00:23:02,680 --> 00:23:05,920 Speaker 2: new mediums, you know, for it to survive and uh 455 00:23:05,960 --> 00:23:08,720 Speaker 2: and to thrive. And the world got a lot smaller 456 00:23:09,240 --> 00:23:13,960 Speaker 2: when you know when all these multi window uh, you know, 457 00:23:14,720 --> 00:23:18,679 Speaker 2: multi window platforms of storytelling and awareness you know, became 458 00:23:18,720 --> 00:23:22,719 Speaker 2: available to the next generation of storytellers. So I believe 459 00:23:24,160 --> 00:23:27,120 Speaker 2: that is a compliment to where we're going next in content, 460 00:23:27,240 --> 00:23:30,159 Speaker 2: you know. I think technology has definitely given us the 461 00:23:30,160 --> 00:23:33,399 Speaker 2: scope to make stories bigger, you know. I don't think 462 00:23:33,520 --> 00:23:36,800 Speaker 2: it often is necessary to go that big with storytelling. 463 00:23:36,800 --> 00:23:38,479 Speaker 2: I feel like we should focus a little bit more 464 00:23:38,520 --> 00:23:41,720 Speaker 2: on you know, great scripts, you know, and great stories. 465 00:23:43,720 --> 00:23:46,760 Speaker 2: But nonetheless, you know, we're seeing some of the things 466 00:23:46,760 --> 00:23:48,639 Speaker 2: that we grew up with become, you know, come to 467 00:23:48,720 --> 00:23:52,960 Speaker 2: life on levels that they couldn't twenty years ago, you know. 468 00:23:53,119 --> 00:23:58,119 Speaker 2: So so to see the generation taking taking the baton 469 00:23:58,240 --> 00:24:01,280 Speaker 2: of storytelling and and evolving it into what it is 470 00:24:01,280 --> 00:24:03,879 Speaker 2: and things interesting now when you talk about social media, 471 00:24:04,320 --> 00:24:07,440 Speaker 2: I think it's an interesting tool for awareness, you know, uh, 472 00:24:07,480 --> 00:24:11,719 Speaker 2: and most importantly for uh, the cultivation of certain communities 473 00:24:11,760 --> 00:24:15,719 Speaker 2: and certain audiences that that used to find themselves at 474 00:24:15,760 --> 00:24:18,440 Speaker 2: a convention, used to find themselves that you know, at 475 00:24:18,480 --> 00:24:22,080 Speaker 2: a genre in the movie, you know, and now they 476 00:24:22,119 --> 00:24:25,840 Speaker 2: can be connected to their dislikes and interest and so 477 00:24:25,840 --> 00:24:28,800 Speaker 2: so I choose to look at it that way because 478 00:24:28,800 --> 00:24:31,159 Speaker 2: there's obviously another side of it, that is, you know, 479 00:24:31,240 --> 00:24:34,840 Speaker 2: that it's a little you know, it's a little bit 480 00:24:34,840 --> 00:24:39,520 Speaker 2: more straight and and and mysterious and and also bizarre 481 00:24:39,560 --> 00:24:43,480 Speaker 2: sometimes and you know I have and and pretty dangerous, 482 00:24:43,520 --> 00:24:46,120 Speaker 2: you know. And i'd say, you know, i'd say that 483 00:24:46,560 --> 00:24:49,840 Speaker 2: for me particularly, I think it's an you know, it's 484 00:24:49,840 --> 00:24:51,879 Speaker 2: an exciting complement on the things that we're up to 485 00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:54,720 Speaker 2: in doing, you know. And and you know, you kind 486 00:24:54,720 --> 00:24:56,840 Speaker 2: of want to live with the audiences. You want to 487 00:24:56,880 --> 00:24:59,399 Speaker 2: be able to communicate to them directly. And before it 488 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:01,159 Speaker 2: used to be a that are they used to answer 489 00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:03,919 Speaker 2: back with the headshow and as a signature. Now you 490 00:25:03,960 --> 00:25:06,719 Speaker 2: can comment on their you know, n their tributes to 491 00:25:06,720 --> 00:25:09,280 Speaker 2: to your work or anything like that. So so you know, 492 00:25:09,359 --> 00:25:11,840 Speaker 2: I have an interesting relationship with it, right like I 493 00:25:12,040 --> 00:25:14,280 Speaker 2: I you know, I use it in a way that 494 00:25:14,359 --> 00:25:19,160 Speaker 2: I feel, you know, could uh, you know, could mostly 495 00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:22,439 Speaker 2: feel like a grounding moment for me and my fans 496 00:25:22,480 --> 00:25:25,080 Speaker 2: and the people that support me, you know, and then 497 00:25:25,160 --> 00:25:27,199 Speaker 2: I ampuify for things that I that I believe in. 498 00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:27,320 Speaker 3: You know. 499 00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:29,200 Speaker 2: I think that's the other thing that I feel. Social 500 00:25:29,240 --> 00:25:31,200 Speaker 2: media has given me a platform for to continue to 501 00:25:31,200 --> 00:25:34,000 Speaker 2: talk about the things that are important to me, you know, 502 00:25:34,080 --> 00:25:36,679 Speaker 2: like the many organizations that we work on and well. 503 00:25:36,520 --> 00:25:38,320 Speaker 1: That's a good segue. So tell me what what are 504 00:25:38,320 --> 00:25:39,879 Speaker 1: the organizations that you've been working with. 505 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:42,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, no, for sure, I you know, I I started, 506 00:25:43,280 --> 00:25:46,040 Speaker 2: I started voting registration for a really long time, right 507 00:25:46,119 --> 00:25:49,600 Speaker 2: like I did. Rossara Dawson and I you know, were 508 00:25:49,720 --> 00:25:52,280 Speaker 2: at the first chapter of both the Latina where we 509 00:25:52,280 --> 00:25:56,480 Speaker 2: were educating Latinos across the United States to to you know, 510 00:25:56,600 --> 00:25:59,159 Speaker 2: to get involved in the political process and going out 511 00:25:59,200 --> 00:26:01,680 Speaker 2: there and voting. Know, and this was a non partisan, 512 00:26:01,880 --> 00:26:04,919 Speaker 2: uh you know approach to it. We wanted Latinos to 513 00:26:05,000 --> 00:26:07,679 Speaker 2: just understand that, you know, they are also part of 514 00:26:07,720 --> 00:26:10,280 Speaker 2: this system. They're also part of this national community, and 515 00:26:10,280 --> 00:26:12,680 Speaker 2: that you get in the game and and vote their 516 00:26:12,680 --> 00:26:14,960 Speaker 2: interest in vote their you know, their future, you know. 517 00:26:15,080 --> 00:26:17,879 Speaker 2: And and for many years, we're talking about seventeen years now, 518 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:20,280 Speaker 2: so we you know, so so what to Latino has 519 00:26:20,280 --> 00:26:24,000 Speaker 2: been incredibly influential and amazing for that, you know. And 520 00:26:24,040 --> 00:26:25,919 Speaker 2: then you know, and then throughout the years, I've been 521 00:26:25,960 --> 00:26:28,520 Speaker 2: able to be part of multiple things like the Congressional 522 00:26:28,560 --> 00:26:31,160 Speaker 2: Hispanic cauguists and I created a Ready to Lead program, 523 00:26:31,440 --> 00:26:33,840 Speaker 2: which you know, helps you know, high school students want 524 00:26:33,880 --> 00:26:38,040 Speaker 2: to have leader job leadership jobs. And then you know, 525 00:26:38,160 --> 00:26:41,439 Speaker 2: work worked a lot with different other foundations, you know, 526 00:26:41,600 --> 00:26:43,720 Speaker 2: helped a lot of the darker students, and that was 527 00:26:43,800 --> 00:26:46,840 Speaker 2: really exciting, you know. And and you know, and as 528 00:26:46,880 --> 00:26:49,760 Speaker 2: as time starts evolving and start realizing that certain communities 529 00:26:49,840 --> 00:26:52,199 Speaker 2: need a place and a place to to convene. So 530 00:26:52,320 --> 00:26:55,840 Speaker 2: then America for and I created Hardness, which was, you know, 531 00:26:55,920 --> 00:26:58,640 Speaker 2: a place where a lot of our community leaders can 532 00:26:58,720 --> 00:27:01,600 Speaker 2: meet and workshop their thoughts and ideas and raise awareness 533 00:27:01,600 --> 00:27:04,080 Speaker 2: for the community's interest in the moment. So that was 534 00:27:04,119 --> 00:27:07,640 Speaker 2: really exciting. So Hardness is a really fun place for us. 535 00:27:07,800 --> 00:27:09,440 Speaker 2: And and then you know, and one of the things 536 00:27:09,480 --> 00:27:11,760 Speaker 2: that I one of the organizations that I've been i 537 00:27:11,760 --> 00:27:14,960 Speaker 2: mean just incredibly inspired by has been the USO. Right, 538 00:27:15,040 --> 00:27:17,840 Speaker 2: So I worked with the USO for many, many, many years. 539 00:27:18,480 --> 00:27:20,119 Speaker 2: I know that you have a lot of experience with 540 00:27:20,160 --> 00:27:22,600 Speaker 2: you so as well. And and it's it's been something 541 00:27:22,600 --> 00:27:26,000 Speaker 2: that's really not only touched my heart, but it's gave 542 00:27:26,080 --> 00:27:29,040 Speaker 2: me a reason, not a reason, but a way, you know, 543 00:27:29,080 --> 00:27:31,240 Speaker 2: in a path to actually pay forward, you know, what 544 00:27:31,359 --> 00:27:33,720 Speaker 2: this country's giving me in So that that was another 545 00:27:33,800 --> 00:27:36,840 Speaker 2: organization that I became incredibly passionate about. But you know, 546 00:27:36,840 --> 00:27:39,560 Speaker 2: it's like, yeah, I'm giving your portfolio things that I've 547 00:27:39,600 --> 00:27:42,000 Speaker 2: been over so many years, you know, stuff. 548 00:27:42,080 --> 00:27:44,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, it's it's it's mind blowing. I mean, 549 00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:46,520 Speaker 1: it's it's it's uh, you know, I mean, I I 550 00:27:47,920 --> 00:27:50,399 Speaker 1: big props for for that. I mean, because that's a 551 00:27:50,800 --> 00:27:54,399 Speaker 1: those are a lot of organizations to not only be 552 00:27:54,480 --> 00:27:58,560 Speaker 1: part of generated and and uh and I mean, you know, 553 00:27:58,760 --> 00:28:04,399 Speaker 1: I'm i' I always find it very inspiring with people 554 00:28:05,520 --> 00:28:10,879 Speaker 1: in our industry, you know, start to find a way 555 00:28:10,960 --> 00:28:14,200 Speaker 1: to give back, I mean, in your words, give back. 556 00:28:14,240 --> 00:28:18,640 Speaker 1: And that's really what this podcast is all about. And 557 00:28:19,320 --> 00:28:24,159 Speaker 1: since you are the US Global Ambassador, I think we 558 00:28:24,200 --> 00:28:27,640 Speaker 1: should bring in Jennifer Walquist, who is the I want 559 00:28:27,680 --> 00:28:31,080 Speaker 1: to make sure that I get Jennifer's title vice President 560 00:28:31,400 --> 00:28:35,600 Speaker 1: in charge of Global Entertainment at the us SO. I 561 00:28:35,640 --> 00:28:38,040 Speaker 1: hope I got that right, Jennifer, you did. 562 00:28:38,240 --> 00:28:41,320 Speaker 3: You did, That's right, That is right. Thank you Kevin 563 00:28:41,360 --> 00:28:43,560 Speaker 3: for having me today. I really appreciate it. 564 00:28:43,840 --> 00:28:46,600 Speaker 1: I'm so happy to have you here. Why don't you 565 00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:49,360 Speaker 1: start by telling me a little bit of the history 566 00:28:49,760 --> 00:28:51,760 Speaker 1: of the us SO, because it's it's kind of a 567 00:28:51,800 --> 00:28:54,400 Speaker 1: fascinating history. It's been around very long time. 568 00:28:54,840 --> 00:28:58,400 Speaker 3: Yes, yeah, absolutely, I appreciate the question too. So we're 569 00:28:58,520 --> 00:29:01,880 Speaker 3: eighty two years young, you know, next February we'll be 570 00:29:01,920 --> 00:29:05,920 Speaker 3: a very young eighty three years old. And what sets 571 00:29:06,000 --> 00:29:08,720 Speaker 3: us apart, I think in terms of legacy and length, 572 00:29:08,880 --> 00:29:12,040 Speaker 3: is that we're actually chartered, you know, by President Roosevelt 573 00:29:12,800 --> 00:29:15,040 Speaker 3: just before the start of World War Two. And on 574 00:29:15,120 --> 00:29:17,880 Speaker 3: top of that, you know, entertainment clearly has always been 575 00:29:18,080 --> 00:29:21,000 Speaker 3: in the DNA of the organization. Actually, the very first 576 00:29:21,120 --> 00:29:24,800 Speaker 3: USO show was with Laurel and Hardy in nineteen forty one, 577 00:29:25,000 --> 00:29:28,320 Speaker 3: just prior to President Roosevelt, you know, invoking that Congressional 578 00:29:28,400 --> 00:29:31,000 Speaker 3: Charter and making us the organization that we are today. 579 00:29:31,120 --> 00:29:34,480 Speaker 3: And really the mission has been the same since that time, 580 00:29:34,560 --> 00:29:37,080 Speaker 3: which is we are by the side of those currently 581 00:29:37,120 --> 00:29:40,720 Speaker 3: serving our active duty, our National Guard, and allso our 582 00:29:40,760 --> 00:29:44,120 Speaker 3: reservists around the world. So today, as we said, as 583 00:29:44,120 --> 00:29:48,480 Speaker 3: an organization, we're you know, seven hundred employees strong, we're 584 00:29:48,520 --> 00:29:51,760 Speaker 3: across two hundred and fifty USO sites around the world, 585 00:29:51,840 --> 00:29:54,440 Speaker 3: We're in twenty eight countries. And I think that's one 586 00:29:54,440 --> 00:29:57,080 Speaker 3: of the most beautiful things about our scale and our 587 00:29:57,120 --> 00:30:00,800 Speaker 3: capability is that we really can be a where around 588 00:30:00,800 --> 00:30:02,960 Speaker 3: the world in a single day. But we also live 589 00:30:03,240 --> 00:30:05,600 Speaker 3: in and amongst the military too. We have so many 590 00:30:05,640 --> 00:30:08,040 Speaker 3: colleagues in the field. You know, when we go to 591 00:30:08,080 --> 00:30:10,760 Speaker 3: Iraq and Afghanistan, we're seeing our service members, but we're 592 00:30:10,800 --> 00:30:14,000 Speaker 3: also seeing our colleagues too that are really there every 593 00:30:14,040 --> 00:30:16,640 Speaker 3: single day, you know, operating in that center and giving 594 00:30:16,680 --> 00:30:19,320 Speaker 3: them that lounge like environment and just time to pick 595 00:30:19,360 --> 00:30:21,960 Speaker 3: a break from their day to day life as well. 596 00:30:22,040 --> 00:30:24,640 Speaker 3: So it's an incredibly exciting time to be at the 597 00:30:24,760 --> 00:30:29,120 Speaker 3: USO and inspire programming and keep meeting the needs of 598 00:30:29,120 --> 00:30:30,920 Speaker 3: our military community around the world. 599 00:30:31,640 --> 00:30:34,840 Speaker 1: Why do you think that entertainment is so important for 600 00:30:34,920 --> 00:30:36,760 Speaker 1: people who are serving, Well. 601 00:30:36,600 --> 00:30:41,920 Speaker 3: You think about I think COVID probably gave most of 602 00:30:42,000 --> 00:30:44,480 Speaker 3: us who are outside of the military, the other ninety 603 00:30:44,560 --> 00:30:49,400 Speaker 3: nine percent of the US population, really the first glimpse 604 00:30:49,440 --> 00:30:52,600 Speaker 3: of life. You know, what it's like to be separated 605 00:30:52,760 --> 00:30:55,120 Speaker 3: from your family, you know, you think about it. Wilma 606 00:30:55,200 --> 00:30:57,840 Speaker 3: and I have been on trips together, and you know, 607 00:30:57,880 --> 00:31:01,320 Speaker 3: we talk to men and women it's their twelve thirteenth, fourteenth, 608 00:31:01,560 --> 00:31:04,960 Speaker 3: a year away from being home with their family for Christmas, 609 00:31:04,960 --> 00:31:09,120 Speaker 3: for Thanksgiving, for Easter, for birthdays, you know. So I 610 00:31:09,160 --> 00:31:13,000 Speaker 3: think that connection specifically with our program, it really just 611 00:31:13,120 --> 00:31:16,440 Speaker 3: kind of sets them back. It's an equalizer. It gives 612 00:31:16,480 --> 00:31:19,000 Speaker 3: them the chance just to relax the same way that 613 00:31:19,040 --> 00:31:21,719 Speaker 3: they feel when they walk into the center. You know, 614 00:31:21,880 --> 00:31:24,320 Speaker 3: their rank doesn't matter at that point. They just get 615 00:31:24,360 --> 00:31:27,760 Speaker 3: to be themselves and laugh. Quite frankly, that's a lot 616 00:31:27,840 --> 00:31:31,720 Speaker 3: of it, I think is laugh and take their mental state, 617 00:31:32,000 --> 00:31:33,920 Speaker 3: you know, away from their day to day life. So 618 00:31:34,200 --> 00:31:37,800 Speaker 3: if you're in Poland and you're there for two years, 619 00:31:37,840 --> 00:31:40,520 Speaker 3: that's where you are. You know, the environments around you 620 00:31:40,640 --> 00:31:42,680 Speaker 3: is what you wake up and see every single day. 621 00:31:42,720 --> 00:31:45,880 Speaker 3: And that's why, in particular, when we visit in person, 622 00:31:46,000 --> 00:31:48,800 Speaker 3: it goes such a long way to their resiliency. You know, 623 00:31:49,080 --> 00:31:51,200 Speaker 3: it is a memory that they keep for a lifetime. 624 00:31:51,240 --> 00:31:53,960 Speaker 3: And I think he and I can both agree the 625 00:31:54,040 --> 00:31:57,160 Speaker 3: validation that we feel and the satisfaction that we feel, 626 00:31:57,200 --> 00:31:59,640 Speaker 3: and knowing that when we walk away from that visit, 627 00:32:00,080 --> 00:32:02,120 Speaker 3: you know they're going to remember it forever. But we 628 00:32:02,240 --> 00:32:04,400 Speaker 3: just gave them energy to keep going at least for 629 00:32:04,440 --> 00:32:06,320 Speaker 3: the next six to nine months, to get through that 630 00:32:06,400 --> 00:32:09,080 Speaker 3: mission and then hopefully get home from there. 631 00:32:09,560 --> 00:32:13,320 Speaker 1: You mentioned their mental state Over the last few years, 632 00:32:14,160 --> 00:32:17,880 Speaker 1: we've gotten more and more focused and more and more 633 00:32:17,920 --> 00:32:25,040 Speaker 1: aware of the fact that they're you know, being at 634 00:32:25,120 --> 00:32:28,959 Speaker 1: war or probably even serving and being away from your 635 00:32:29,280 --> 00:32:32,680 Speaker 1: family or being at risk can take a tremendous toll 636 00:32:32,760 --> 00:32:36,560 Speaker 1: on people mentally. You know a lot of our veterans 637 00:32:36,560 --> 00:32:44,120 Speaker 1: are suffering with PTSD, etc. And I'm wondering if you 638 00:32:44,160 --> 00:32:48,240 Speaker 1: could address that visa v. The USO and what you're 639 00:32:48,240 --> 00:32:49,200 Speaker 1: feeling is about that. 640 00:32:49,680 --> 00:32:52,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think that gets back to the criticality of 641 00:32:52,400 --> 00:32:55,640 Speaker 3: our mission. Why day to day it's so vital for 642 00:32:55,720 --> 00:32:58,240 Speaker 3: us to be doing the work that we're doing where 643 00:32:58,280 --> 00:33:00,920 Speaker 3: they are right next to them. You know, when we 644 00:33:01,480 --> 00:33:05,560 Speaker 3: become we're the counselor we're the hugger, we're the friend, 645 00:33:05,760 --> 00:33:09,640 Speaker 3: we're the constant sort of companion with them, whether it's 646 00:33:09,680 --> 00:33:12,560 Speaker 3: an actual dog that we have in our center, a 647 00:33:12,560 --> 00:33:15,160 Speaker 3: therapy dog and a companion dog to visit with them, 648 00:33:15,760 --> 00:33:18,280 Speaker 3: or it's just our colleagues as well. And I think 649 00:33:18,320 --> 00:33:21,000 Speaker 3: we firmly believe at the USO, you know, we're a 650 00:33:21,000 --> 00:33:26,040 Speaker 3: military support organization that, through all of our programs, if 651 00:33:26,040 --> 00:33:29,720 Speaker 3: we're working actively every single day to acknowledge them, whether 652 00:33:29,800 --> 00:33:32,600 Speaker 3: it's in an airport and just spend time with them, 653 00:33:33,520 --> 00:33:36,000 Speaker 3: talk to them, hear them. Like I said, give them 654 00:33:36,040 --> 00:33:38,640 Speaker 3: a hug and maybe a cup of coffee. It's going 655 00:33:38,720 --> 00:33:41,840 Speaker 3: to hopefully build the foundation for them to have a 656 00:33:41,840 --> 00:33:44,360 Speaker 3: better transition on the way out. And I think one 657 00:33:44,400 --> 00:33:47,560 Speaker 3: of the other answers to that too, specifically hitting on 658 00:33:47,600 --> 00:33:50,840 Speaker 3: that veteran space is the is the evolution of our 659 00:33:50,880 --> 00:33:54,400 Speaker 3: transition program that was started about four or five years ago. 660 00:33:54,480 --> 00:33:57,360 Speaker 3: So we have the fantastic Yeah, we have this fantastic 661 00:33:57,440 --> 00:34:01,080 Speaker 3: program now that's actually building a plan for you. So 662 00:34:01,160 --> 00:34:03,960 Speaker 3: when you decide whether it's in five years or two 663 00:34:03,960 --> 00:34:07,120 Speaker 3: weeks that you're ready to transition out and you're ready 664 00:34:07,120 --> 00:34:09,200 Speaker 3: to go through that civilian life, you can go to 665 00:34:09,239 --> 00:34:12,400 Speaker 3: any USO center in the world. They will assign a 666 00:34:12,440 --> 00:34:15,520 Speaker 3: transition specialist with you that's going to help you build 667 00:34:15,560 --> 00:34:18,239 Speaker 3: the tools and skills that you need. You know, they 668 00:34:18,280 --> 00:34:20,920 Speaker 3: if you haven't thought about getting a bank account, or 669 00:34:20,960 --> 00:34:23,160 Speaker 3: writing your resume, or how do I even apply for 670 00:34:23,200 --> 00:34:26,120 Speaker 3: a job anymore, or use LinkedIn, They're going to take 671 00:34:26,160 --> 00:34:29,360 Speaker 3: you on your own individual path to help set you 672 00:34:29,360 --> 00:34:31,960 Speaker 3: out for success whenever you leave. So I think all 673 00:34:32,040 --> 00:34:36,279 Speaker 3: those programs and elements even the entertainment focused. You know, 674 00:34:36,360 --> 00:34:40,719 Speaker 3: we believe that through the well the positivity and encouragement 675 00:34:40,760 --> 00:34:43,799 Speaker 3: and preparation. Quite frankly, you know we're going to do 676 00:34:43,880 --> 00:34:48,640 Speaker 3: our part to help their transition be a little bit better. 677 00:34:52,640 --> 00:34:55,560 Speaker 4: If you are inspired by today's episode, please join us 678 00:34:55,560 --> 00:34:58,479 Speaker 4: in supporting six degrees dot org by texting the word 679 00:34:58,560 --> 00:35:02,680 Speaker 4: Bacon to seven zero seven zero seven zero. Your gift 680 00:35:02,719 --> 00:35:05,840 Speaker 4: empowers us to continue to produce programs that highlight the 681 00:35:05,880 --> 00:35:09,239 Speaker 4: incredible work of everyday heroes, well also enabling us to 682 00:35:09,280 --> 00:35:12,240 Speaker 4: provide essential resources to those that need it the most. 683 00:35:12,600 --> 00:35:17,240 Speaker 4: Once again, text b a c N to seven zero 684 00:35:17,520 --> 00:35:21,600 Speaker 4: seven zero seven zero or visit six degrees dot org 685 00:35:21,760 --> 00:35:22,439 Speaker 4: to learn more. 686 00:35:24,880 --> 00:35:28,359 Speaker 1: Wilmer, you've done some incredible amount of USO tours, am 687 00:35:28,360 --> 00:35:28,719 Speaker 1: I right? 688 00:35:29,280 --> 00:35:31,879 Speaker 2: Yeah, I got some miles. I will always come out. 689 00:35:32,320 --> 00:35:37,440 Speaker 1: Is he a record holder? How many times? How many 690 00:35:37,440 --> 00:35:37,960 Speaker 1: times have you? 691 00:35:38,600 --> 00:35:42,120 Speaker 2: How many times? I mean, let me see, I think 692 00:35:42,200 --> 00:35:45,040 Speaker 2: there's a couple, probably a couple of bands, got me 693 00:35:45,200 --> 00:35:48,040 Speaker 2: on a bunch of tours. I mean I would say, 694 00:35:48,960 --> 00:35:51,720 Speaker 2: I know I'm on forty plus shows, right is something 695 00:35:51,800 --> 00:35:53,920 Speaker 2: that forty plus shows and so walk us here? 696 00:35:54,200 --> 00:35:58,399 Speaker 1: That is like what will walk us through just one 697 00:35:58,440 --> 00:36:01,719 Speaker 1: show or how one show of function that and what 698 00:36:01,719 --> 00:36:04,680 Speaker 1: what the whole logistics are of that and what you 699 00:36:04,760 --> 00:36:07,279 Speaker 1: do in the show and get there and the whole thing. 700 00:36:08,440 --> 00:36:10,480 Speaker 2: I love that you asked that. I don't know who 701 00:36:10,640 --> 00:36:15,200 Speaker 2: was to go over. The reason why I'm smiling is 702 00:36:15,239 --> 00:36:20,640 Speaker 2: because we always have the the idea of the plan, 703 00:36:21,200 --> 00:36:24,400 Speaker 2: and the plan always gets made. We're in there, we're like, 704 00:36:24,520 --> 00:36:27,399 Speaker 2: how is this show gonna go? You know? But but 705 00:36:27,400 --> 00:36:30,280 Speaker 2: but really, like I was just from my personal experience, 706 00:36:30,280 --> 00:36:32,560 Speaker 2: and I love for Jennifer to Wayne in here. It's 707 00:36:32,600 --> 00:36:36,600 Speaker 2: always really fun because the USO always allows us to 708 00:36:36,600 --> 00:36:39,799 Speaker 2: to have this blank canvas we go and then empowers 709 00:36:39,840 --> 00:36:44,880 Speaker 2: the artists to really tailor their strengths within the appearance 710 00:36:44,920 --> 00:36:47,200 Speaker 2: and the and the h and the performance or the 711 00:36:47,239 --> 00:36:50,560 Speaker 2: show or or the you know or the handshake tour, 712 00:36:50,600 --> 00:36:53,200 Speaker 2: you know. And the idea is to find the things 713 00:36:53,239 --> 00:36:56,280 Speaker 2: that we feel our men and women of our uniform 714 00:36:56,320 --> 00:36:59,520 Speaker 2: are going to be excited about, whether it's like a 715 00:36:59,640 --> 00:37:02,840 Speaker 2: character or like just the photo ops or or you know, 716 00:37:02,920 --> 00:37:05,080 Speaker 2: the speech or the talk or the exercise so the 717 00:37:05,640 --> 00:37:08,399 Speaker 2: you know, the sketch or or the music number. So 718 00:37:08,560 --> 00:37:11,000 Speaker 2: it's always a great collaboration to figure that one out. 719 00:37:11,320 --> 00:37:14,719 Speaker 2: That being said, when I first uh, when I first 720 00:37:14,800 --> 00:37:17,280 Speaker 2: joined the USO, which I was like thinking my mid twenties, 721 00:37:17,880 --> 00:37:22,120 Speaker 2: and I was like, uh, I had I bumped into 722 00:37:22,160 --> 00:37:25,560 Speaker 2: a couple of you know, uh young men in uniform 723 00:37:25,719 --> 00:37:30,560 Speaker 2: and the new work and I'm walking by and you 724 00:37:30,600 --> 00:37:32,400 Speaker 2: know this, these young guys come up to me and 725 00:37:32,440 --> 00:37:35,279 Speaker 2: they're like, hey, uh, mister Rodrama, a little bit of 726 00:37:35,360 --> 00:37:37,800 Speaker 2: permission to talk to you. And I was like, yeah, yeah, granted, 727 00:37:37,960 --> 00:37:40,160 Speaker 2: go for ithead then he's like, I just want to 728 00:37:40,239 --> 00:37:42,799 Speaker 2: let you know man, that like what you do, you know, 729 00:37:42,960 --> 00:37:46,160 Speaker 2: really helps us. We change the DVDs of your work, 730 00:37:46,320 --> 00:37:50,359 Speaker 2: you know, in the base and and you know, after 731 00:37:50,400 --> 00:37:52,000 Speaker 2: a long day of doing what we do, you know, 732 00:37:52,040 --> 00:37:53,960 Speaker 2: it's it's just nice to to get a laugh. 733 00:37:53,800 --> 00:37:54,000 Speaker 3: You know. 734 00:37:54,040 --> 00:37:56,440 Speaker 2: And and I and I really really touched me, and 735 00:37:56,480 --> 00:37:59,560 Speaker 2: I said, oh wow, like like some of my work 736 00:37:59,640 --> 00:38:03,320 Speaker 2: is actually being broadcast at the basis around the world. 737 00:38:03,360 --> 00:38:05,359 Speaker 2: And so I called my agents and I was like, hey, 738 00:38:05,360 --> 00:38:07,160 Speaker 2: you know, it'll be cool if like if I just 739 00:38:07,200 --> 00:38:09,680 Speaker 2: went out there then like and like I'm thinking like 740 00:38:09,760 --> 00:38:12,080 Speaker 2: and I also remembering, you know, Bob Hope in some 741 00:38:12,160 --> 00:38:15,160 Speaker 2: ads because he really inspire me to get involved. I 742 00:38:15,160 --> 00:38:19,120 Speaker 2: felt like this. I couldn't wear a uniform when I 743 00:38:19,200 --> 00:38:21,240 Speaker 2: was you know, growing up, you know, so I felt 744 00:38:21,239 --> 00:38:23,440 Speaker 2: like this was the next best thing to serve, you know, 745 00:38:23,600 --> 00:38:25,840 Speaker 2: was to just like get out there and like, you know, 746 00:38:26,000 --> 00:38:28,279 Speaker 2: have like an experience with them. So you know, look, 747 00:38:28,280 --> 00:38:30,840 Speaker 2: story short, I called the USO and went then literally 748 00:38:30,960 --> 00:38:33,040 Speaker 2: by the way, and this is like a really big, 749 00:38:34,120 --> 00:38:36,600 Speaker 2: you know, statement of awareness for every single one of 750 00:38:36,600 --> 00:38:40,120 Speaker 2: our colleagues out there, from actors, musicians, to athletes, to poets, 751 00:38:40,160 --> 00:38:42,719 Speaker 2: you know, to you know, to just personalities out there. 752 00:38:42,880 --> 00:38:48,239 Speaker 2: To know how incredibly available and easy is this experience 753 00:38:48,360 --> 00:38:51,640 Speaker 2: for you to embark in. USO makes it incredibly easy 754 00:38:51,680 --> 00:38:54,319 Speaker 2: for you to visit, you know, the right experience for 755 00:38:54,400 --> 00:38:56,919 Speaker 2: you and and works around your time too, So that's 756 00:38:56,960 --> 00:38:59,640 Speaker 2: that's always that's always great. But I was like, you know, 757 00:38:59,840 --> 00:39:03,440 Speaker 2: what if I did, like what if I did like, 758 00:39:04,400 --> 00:39:06,320 Speaker 2: you know, a battle of your mama soa fat jokes 759 00:39:06,360 --> 00:39:08,880 Speaker 2: you know and like, and they were like, what, I 760 00:39:08,920 --> 00:39:11,560 Speaker 2: don't know about this, but we ended up taking like 761 00:39:11,680 --> 00:39:14,759 Speaker 2: an eight mile you know, like snaps off, you know 762 00:39:14,800 --> 00:39:16,560 Speaker 2: what I mean. Back in the day. That was really 763 00:39:16,600 --> 00:39:19,200 Speaker 2: really a funny you know, choke thing, and so we 764 00:39:19,239 --> 00:39:20,920 Speaker 2: will bring it and put them on stage and then 765 00:39:21,280 --> 00:39:23,240 Speaker 2: you know, I remember seeing the generals in the front 766 00:39:23,360 --> 00:39:25,080 Speaker 2: like it was like what did we just bring here? 767 00:39:25,120 --> 00:39:28,480 Speaker 2: But but everybody was going crazy. It was there on 768 00:39:28,560 --> 00:39:30,600 Speaker 2: a great time. So we realized that we could really 769 00:39:30,600 --> 00:39:34,040 Speaker 2: tailor it ull. So that's like the first version. That 770 00:39:34,120 --> 00:39:36,279 Speaker 2: was like chapter one of like what we were doing. 771 00:39:36,280 --> 00:39:38,520 Speaker 2: And then after that we started realizing a lot of 772 00:39:38,520 --> 00:39:41,440 Speaker 2: the stage performances could have a more complicity you know, 773 00:39:41,760 --> 00:39:47,520 Speaker 2: inspiration music, you know, uh and you know comedy, you know. 774 00:39:47,600 --> 00:39:49,520 Speaker 2: And I think the USO has done a great job 775 00:39:49,520 --> 00:39:51,719 Speaker 2: of curating every one of these shows, you know, with 776 00:39:51,880 --> 00:39:54,960 Speaker 2: enough talent that could fulfill these categorical you know, uh 777 00:39:55,080 --> 00:39:58,760 Speaker 2: segments on an actual stage show. And then you load 778 00:39:58,840 --> 00:40:02,640 Speaker 2: that stage show uh into a C seventeen or C 779 00:40:02,800 --> 00:40:04,719 Speaker 2: one thirty and you go to the next base, you know, 780 00:40:04,960 --> 00:40:08,120 Speaker 2: and then you literally go, you know, from base to base. 781 00:40:08,760 --> 00:40:09,840 Speaker 2: But then I'm not sure. 782 00:40:09,640 --> 00:40:12,319 Speaker 1: How long would you how long were your tours have 783 00:40:12,400 --> 00:40:13,200 Speaker 1: that been normally? 784 00:40:14,000 --> 00:40:16,760 Speaker 2: So it varies, So it varies like if you sometimes 785 00:40:16,760 --> 00:40:18,759 Speaker 2: you can just go to like one base and you 786 00:40:18,840 --> 00:40:21,360 Speaker 2: do a stay and you do a tour and you 787 00:40:21,400 --> 00:40:23,440 Speaker 2: shake hands, you take you know, pictures, you say a 788 00:40:23,480 --> 00:40:26,040 Speaker 2: couple of words, You basit some individuals who probably can't 789 00:40:26,080 --> 00:40:27,840 Speaker 2: get off post, you know, to come and do the 790 00:40:27,840 --> 00:40:30,280 Speaker 2: show that night, and you know, it's like some beautiful 791 00:40:30,320 --> 00:40:32,560 Speaker 2: exchange of love. And then you go home. And then 792 00:40:32,640 --> 00:40:35,400 Speaker 2: there's tours, tours where you're going to like five to 793 00:40:35,520 --> 00:40:39,600 Speaker 2: six countries in about six days, you know, and those 794 00:40:39,640 --> 00:40:41,520 Speaker 2: are a little bit more elaborate. That's when you know, 795 00:40:41,560 --> 00:40:44,240 Speaker 2: calling back to like not not showering for six days. 796 00:40:44,239 --> 00:40:48,120 Speaker 2: I think that that's when that's when it gets really fun. 797 00:40:47,480 --> 00:40:51,520 Speaker 2: But that touring kid lasts about uh yeah, it's about 798 00:40:51,760 --> 00:40:54,279 Speaker 2: five to six days of traveling. You know. Sometimes you 799 00:40:54,360 --> 00:40:57,920 Speaker 2: do about ten shows in six days. It doesn't feel 800 00:40:57,960 --> 00:41:00,000 Speaker 2: like that, right because you're just like in the addrest 801 00:41:00,280 --> 00:41:02,960 Speaker 2: enough having such a blasting exchange your glove. I mean, 802 00:41:03,000 --> 00:41:05,520 Speaker 2: you know, you perform for them, and you understand like 803 00:41:05,560 --> 00:41:08,359 Speaker 2: that energy that the men and women of uniform when 804 00:41:08,360 --> 00:41:11,040 Speaker 2: you're on a base and they're excited to see you 805 00:41:11,080 --> 00:41:13,640 Speaker 2: there and I'm excited to get a little entertainment. That's 806 00:41:13,640 --> 00:41:16,120 Speaker 2: when you start realizing, wow, man, like this is this 807 00:41:16,200 --> 00:41:19,040 Speaker 2: is this is a very special exchange of appreciation for 808 00:41:19,440 --> 00:41:21,880 Speaker 2: both the artists and the audience. 809 00:41:22,520 --> 00:41:25,600 Speaker 1: And Jennifer, can you can you share if you have 810 00:41:25,719 --> 00:41:29,839 Speaker 1: I mean sometimes I get when I'm on the side 811 00:41:29,840 --> 00:41:32,640 Speaker 1: of the microphone. I think it always throws me when 812 00:41:32,640 --> 00:41:34,960 Speaker 1: somebody asks me for something anecdotal, but I'm going to 813 00:41:35,040 --> 00:41:38,799 Speaker 1: do it anyway. Can you share something anecdotal about a 814 00:41:38,920 --> 00:41:47,040 Speaker 1: moment that a service person was either inspired or touched 815 00:41:47,120 --> 00:41:51,800 Speaker 1: or anything specific that happened. It doesn't have to be Wilmer, 816 00:41:53,239 --> 00:41:57,680 Speaker 1: anything that came from you know specifically, you know a 817 00:41:57,840 --> 00:41:59,879 Speaker 1: USO moment basically what I'm looking for. 818 00:42:00,080 --> 00:42:02,959 Speaker 3: Absolutely, I think there's too many to probably choose from, 819 00:42:03,000 --> 00:42:07,799 Speaker 3: so you start when you want to. The first one 820 00:42:07,840 --> 00:42:10,600 Speaker 3: I can think of is so the trip one of 821 00:42:10,640 --> 00:42:12,680 Speaker 3: the trips that Wilmer and I did together was back 822 00:42:12,920 --> 00:42:16,440 Speaker 3: in twenty eighteen, and long story short, Sean White was 823 00:42:16,480 --> 00:42:20,120 Speaker 3: with us too fantastic of course, Olynthian and human beings. 824 00:42:20,280 --> 00:42:22,600 Speaker 3: So about a year later, Sean and I are at 825 00:42:22,600 --> 00:42:26,759 Speaker 3: in events together in New York and Sean walks in 826 00:42:26,840 --> 00:42:30,560 Speaker 3: the door and he hadn't even been there three seconds, 827 00:42:30,600 --> 00:42:33,759 Speaker 3: and immediately this marine walks up to him in full 828 00:42:33,880 --> 00:42:37,000 Speaker 3: uniform and looks them straight in the eye and says, Sewn, 829 00:42:38,200 --> 00:42:42,520 Speaker 3: you were there with me last Christmas Eve in Afghanistan 830 00:42:42,960 --> 00:42:45,359 Speaker 3: and you came to visit us. And I can't tell 831 00:42:45,400 --> 00:42:47,239 Speaker 3: you what that meant to me to have you be 832 00:42:47,360 --> 00:42:50,200 Speaker 3: there and actually show up and just show me that 833 00:42:50,280 --> 00:42:53,320 Speaker 3: you care and help me get that through that holiday 834 00:42:53,360 --> 00:42:55,879 Speaker 3: time frame. And I mean, my whole body just went 835 00:42:55,880 --> 00:43:00,000 Speaker 3: into chills. And the look on Shawn's face was just incredible. 836 00:43:00,320 --> 00:43:02,400 Speaker 3: And I think that really is at the heart of 837 00:43:02,400 --> 00:43:04,719 Speaker 3: what our program is about. You know, you were making 838 00:43:04,800 --> 00:43:08,120 Speaker 3: a connection for someone that maybe you'll get the benefit 839 00:43:08,160 --> 00:43:10,719 Speaker 3: of learning about at some point in your life, like 840 00:43:10,760 --> 00:43:13,360 Speaker 3: that moment. But we're doing that, you know. On the 841 00:43:13,480 --> 00:43:17,960 Speaker 3: entertainment side, by the thousands and another one I can 842 00:43:18,000 --> 00:43:20,960 Speaker 3: think of. I really feel like the shows are fantastic 843 00:43:21,000 --> 00:43:22,719 Speaker 3: and they are always a lot of fun. But I 844 00:43:22,840 --> 00:43:26,839 Speaker 3: really feel like the moment that anyone that works with 845 00:43:26,920 --> 00:43:30,600 Speaker 3: US starts to understand is in those one on one conversations. 846 00:43:30,640 --> 00:43:34,759 Speaker 3: And it was recently down at the Texas border, you know, 847 00:43:34,880 --> 00:43:39,000 Speaker 3: visiting the National Guard down there, and we had a 848 00:43:39,040 --> 00:43:42,640 Speaker 3: gal that was speaking to a National Guard number and 849 00:43:42,760 --> 00:43:45,960 Speaker 3: they talked for probably forty five minutes, you know, and 850 00:43:46,600 --> 00:43:49,920 Speaker 3: they were just in this very in depth conversation, and 851 00:43:50,160 --> 00:43:53,200 Speaker 3: she walked away and said, you know, that conversation changed 852 00:43:53,200 --> 00:43:56,320 Speaker 3: my life. And that also happened to us as well 853 00:43:56,719 --> 00:43:59,200 Speaker 3: in Germany on a different trip that Womer wasn't with 854 00:43:59,280 --> 00:44:02,120 Speaker 3: us on. But this young gentleman, you know, he was 855 00:44:02,280 --> 00:44:05,920 Speaker 3: very quiet and very shy, and he was just starting 856 00:44:05,920 --> 00:44:08,000 Speaker 3: out in the army, you know, for I think EWE 857 00:44:08,120 --> 00:44:11,000 Speaker 3: or A E two, which is on the Newish side, 858 00:44:11,160 --> 00:44:14,520 Speaker 3: and he was a songwriter and when he went back 859 00:44:14,560 --> 00:44:17,160 Speaker 3: to his room at night, he was writing songs, he 860 00:44:17,239 --> 00:44:19,800 Speaker 3: was writing lyrics, he was trying to put together music. 861 00:44:20,440 --> 00:44:22,680 Speaker 3: And so the musicians that we had on that tour, 862 00:44:22,880 --> 00:44:25,239 Speaker 3: you know, stat with him for an hour and we're 863 00:44:25,280 --> 00:44:28,040 Speaker 3: giving him tips and talking about you know, because he's 864 00:44:28,040 --> 00:44:30,799 Speaker 3: already thinking about life after the military too, you know, 865 00:44:30,880 --> 00:44:34,480 Speaker 3: all of those things, what can I do? Where can 866 00:44:34,520 --> 00:44:36,800 Speaker 3: I you know, get my music be seen and heard? 867 00:44:36,880 --> 00:44:40,600 Speaker 3: And there's just countless examples examples of that. And I 868 00:44:40,600 --> 00:44:43,440 Speaker 3: do want to mention too that you know, we have 869 00:44:43,560 --> 00:44:47,400 Speaker 3: this fantastic in person program and touring in person, but 870 00:44:47,520 --> 00:44:49,759 Speaker 3: we really took COVID I think the Bull by the 871 00:44:49,800 --> 00:44:53,840 Speaker 3: Horns and evolved this program in a major way, and 872 00:44:54,000 --> 00:44:56,759 Speaker 3: we now have a very robust digital platform too, so 873 00:44:56,840 --> 00:45:00,200 Speaker 3: we can provide enter cement program to them anywhere they 874 00:45:00,200 --> 00:45:03,279 Speaker 3: are in the world, whether that's on demand content through 875 00:45:03,320 --> 00:45:07,120 Speaker 3: the USO app or actual virtual live connections here too. 876 00:45:07,239 --> 00:45:10,560 Speaker 3: So we'll have guests come on to our MVP series 877 00:45:11,480 --> 00:45:14,440 Speaker 3: and actually visit with the military around the world. So 878 00:45:14,520 --> 00:45:17,600 Speaker 3: in fact, we have Brian Cranston joining us next week. 879 00:45:17,680 --> 00:45:20,120 Speaker 3: We had a lot of folks on and it really 880 00:45:20,239 --> 00:45:22,880 Speaker 3: is I think an easy dip going back to the 881 00:45:22,960 --> 00:45:26,080 Speaker 3: time component of it all and scheduling and this and that. 882 00:45:26,080 --> 00:45:28,400 Speaker 1: That's fantastic. Yeah, I didn't I didn't know that you 883 00:45:28,440 --> 00:45:32,360 Speaker 1: were doing that. You know. It's funny because normally we 884 00:45:32,480 --> 00:45:35,120 Speaker 1: have a you know, a call to action on this 885 00:45:35,239 --> 00:45:38,239 Speaker 1: show that's that's for people. But this is this is 886 00:45:38,280 --> 00:45:41,279 Speaker 1: the one example where if there's any celebrities watching, there's 887 00:45:41,280 --> 00:45:44,239 Speaker 1: also a call to action to celebrities to reach out 888 00:45:44,239 --> 00:45:52,600 Speaker 1: to entertainers, you know, musicians. During the Iraq and Afghanistan war, 889 00:45:54,200 --> 00:45:59,480 Speaker 1: I went multiple times to well to read uh which 890 00:45:59,640 --> 00:46:07,759 Speaker 1: was always really hard. But as you you know, you 891 00:46:07,880 --> 00:46:10,560 Speaker 1: mentioned Wilmer that there's a it goes both ways. 892 00:46:11,360 --> 00:46:15,759 Speaker 2: You know, you get a lot back absolutely. 893 00:46:16,320 --> 00:46:21,480 Speaker 1: I mean from these moments, so I think it's I 894 00:46:21,520 --> 00:46:25,040 Speaker 1: think it's great. I think it's great that this organization, 895 00:46:25,880 --> 00:46:27,560 Speaker 1: you know, has been doing what it's been doing for 896 00:46:27,600 --> 00:46:29,440 Speaker 1: as long as it's been doing it. It's really just 897 00:46:29,640 --> 00:46:32,759 Speaker 1: uh spectacular. I have a question for both of you, 898 00:46:33,920 --> 00:46:37,360 Speaker 1: which is, you know, I like to I'd like to 899 00:46:37,480 --> 00:46:42,240 Speaker 1: focus in this podcast on what it is that you 900 00:46:42,320 --> 00:46:49,920 Speaker 1: think about, either your up upbringing or your life that 901 00:46:50,200 --> 00:46:55,360 Speaker 1: has inspired you to become someone that wants to step 902 00:46:55,400 --> 00:47:00,200 Speaker 1: outside of yourself and and do something positive for the world. 903 00:47:00,200 --> 00:47:01,360 Speaker 1: And we could start with you, Jennifer. 904 00:47:02,920 --> 00:47:07,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, that for me is a very it's a personal 905 00:47:08,360 --> 00:47:12,279 Speaker 3: I think, so long story short, when I was in 906 00:47:12,360 --> 00:47:16,319 Speaker 3: my mid twenties, my mom got diagnosed with an incurable 907 00:47:16,600 --> 00:47:19,400 Speaker 3: cancer and I was at the very kind of onset 908 00:47:19,440 --> 00:47:23,080 Speaker 3: of my career. So that for me very much shaped 909 00:47:23,160 --> 00:47:28,239 Speaker 3: my perspective on work. It shaped my perspective on how 910 00:47:28,280 --> 00:47:30,920 Speaker 3: I'm going to value my time, but also got me 911 00:47:31,000 --> 00:47:34,160 Speaker 3: thinking about the way I want to contribute back into 912 00:47:34,239 --> 00:47:36,840 Speaker 3: the world. And I wasn't quite ready at that point. 913 00:47:36,960 --> 00:47:40,480 Speaker 3: I have been in entertainment my entire career, you know, 914 00:47:40,640 --> 00:47:43,839 Speaker 3: behind the camera if you will, But by the time 915 00:47:43,880 --> 00:47:47,080 Speaker 3: I had my daughter, which was in twenty sixteen, I 916 00:47:47,280 --> 00:47:50,360 Speaker 3: really was thinking very hard about that legacy. You know, 917 00:47:50,400 --> 00:47:53,719 Speaker 3: my mom had passed, and I kept thinking, what do 918 00:47:53,800 --> 00:47:56,120 Speaker 3: I want to leave for her in this world? What 919 00:47:56,200 --> 00:47:58,719 Speaker 3: do I want to tell her about my choices, who 920 00:47:58,800 --> 00:48:01,560 Speaker 3: I was, what I did. And I think a lot 921 00:48:01,560 --> 00:48:04,719 Speaker 3: of it for me was just luck and timing and 922 00:48:05,280 --> 00:48:07,719 Speaker 3: a little bit of perseverance, and I found my way 923 00:48:07,760 --> 00:48:11,239 Speaker 3: to the USO. I had no military background whatsoever, but 924 00:48:11,320 --> 00:48:13,640 Speaker 3: I just knew that at that point in my career, 925 00:48:14,080 --> 00:48:16,520 Speaker 3: I wanted to stay in entertainment, but I really wanted 926 00:48:16,560 --> 00:48:20,480 Speaker 3: to give back something bigger than myself. And and you know, 927 00:48:20,520 --> 00:48:23,839 Speaker 3: when I came there not really understanding the life of 928 00:48:25,080 --> 00:48:27,439 Speaker 3: the military, but really got into it. Over the first 929 00:48:27,520 --> 00:48:30,719 Speaker 3: couple of months, I was just incredibly humbled by it, 930 00:48:30,760 --> 00:48:34,040 Speaker 3: by their by their passion, their commitment to their job, 931 00:48:34,680 --> 00:48:37,840 Speaker 3: their thankfulness. They're so good at giving thank you notes. 932 00:48:37,880 --> 00:48:41,080 Speaker 3: It's unbelievable. I thought my mom was good, good at 933 00:48:41,080 --> 00:48:44,440 Speaker 3: sending thank you notes, and they take it. And so 934 00:48:44,520 --> 00:48:48,719 Speaker 3: it really just became I think this very fortunate situation 935 00:48:48,920 --> 00:48:52,280 Speaker 3: for me that that over time I felt to growing 936 00:48:52,360 --> 00:48:55,200 Speaker 3: in myself and then I just happened through through career 937 00:48:55,239 --> 00:48:58,280 Speaker 3: and experience to find myself here. 938 00:48:59,080 --> 00:49:01,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, I think you kind of touched on it 939 00:49:01,520 --> 00:49:02,719 Speaker 1: a little bit before. 940 00:49:02,480 --> 00:49:04,760 Speaker 2: But yeah, a little bit, you know, but I always 941 00:49:04,760 --> 00:49:07,040 Speaker 2: say that I would even actually make it a little 942 00:49:07,080 --> 00:49:10,880 Speaker 2: bit more detail for me, you know, when I I 943 00:49:10,920 --> 00:49:15,520 Speaker 2: grew up watching my dad being way too generous, you know, 944 00:49:15,640 --> 00:49:17,759 Speaker 2: like to the point where like he rather emptied the 945 00:49:17,800 --> 00:49:20,600 Speaker 2: back account and making sure that everybody was fed, you know, 946 00:49:20,680 --> 00:49:24,120 Speaker 2: before he even saved any money. You know, he was 947 00:49:24,239 --> 00:49:27,960 Speaker 2: very generous with how he hosted. He loved people. I 948 00:49:28,040 --> 00:49:30,480 Speaker 2: love people. I loved talking to strangers. I love getting 949 00:49:30,520 --> 00:49:34,279 Speaker 2: to know different worlds and different people. And I think 950 00:49:34,360 --> 00:49:36,520 Speaker 2: that comes from him, you know, the ability to keep 951 00:49:36,560 --> 00:49:38,960 Speaker 2: the light, you know, keep the door unlocked, you know, 952 00:49:39,080 --> 00:49:41,040 Speaker 2: and everyone's welcomed type of thing. I think it's a 953 00:49:41,120 --> 00:49:43,279 Speaker 2: very cultural thing for me as well. And when I 954 00:49:43,320 --> 00:49:47,920 Speaker 2: came to America, which I've always heard about this American dream, 955 00:49:48,040 --> 00:49:51,520 Speaker 2: you know, and you know, with sparing, you like the 956 00:49:51,560 --> 00:49:54,319 Speaker 2: American dream story, you know, which I'm sure some other 957 00:49:54,320 --> 00:49:56,120 Speaker 2: point I think, Karen, you're he and I can talk about. 958 00:49:56,160 --> 00:49:58,719 Speaker 2: But you know, when that happened for me, When I 959 00:49:58,760 --> 00:50:00,640 Speaker 2: would say when this country, would say, I, well, to 960 00:50:00,680 --> 00:50:03,840 Speaker 2: give me the ability to take care of my family 961 00:50:04,880 --> 00:50:07,040 Speaker 2: at a time where, like I said, we were laid 962 00:50:07,080 --> 00:50:09,680 Speaker 2: in rent and you know, we were paying you know, 963 00:50:09,719 --> 00:50:11,520 Speaker 2: we were eating dinner every other night. And then all 964 00:50:11,600 --> 00:50:14,000 Speaker 2: of a sudden, you know, I gave my big break 965 00:50:14,239 --> 00:50:17,000 Speaker 2: and I'm able to now take care of my entire family. 966 00:50:17,080 --> 00:50:21,120 Speaker 2: I said, Wow, this, this is a wonder. I mean 967 00:50:21,160 --> 00:50:24,319 Speaker 2: that this country is unbelievable. And you know, at the 968 00:50:24,440 --> 00:50:28,360 Speaker 2: risk of sounding like too much cassel, I will say 969 00:50:28,400 --> 00:50:31,080 Speaker 2: that that that was one of those big moments where 970 00:50:31,120 --> 00:50:33,560 Speaker 2: I realized I had to give it back, you know, 971 00:50:33,600 --> 00:50:35,080 Speaker 2: I had to pay it back. I had to give 972 00:50:35,120 --> 00:50:37,040 Speaker 2: it back. Every time I will get a blessing, I 973 00:50:37,080 --> 00:50:40,160 Speaker 2: had to somehow find a way to filter it through 974 00:50:40,280 --> 00:50:43,719 Speaker 2: or like say, way through and to out away from 975 00:50:43,719 --> 00:50:48,200 Speaker 2: my hands again. And then I started joining different task 976 00:50:48,239 --> 00:50:51,200 Speaker 2: force and I realized that I had purpose. And first 977 00:50:51,239 --> 00:50:53,360 Speaker 2: it was like, oh, entertainment is so fun. It seems 978 00:50:53,400 --> 00:50:58,080 Speaker 2: like I'm doing something. And then I realized I had 979 00:50:58,080 --> 00:51:01,280 Speaker 2: to pay it forward to this country, you know. And 980 00:51:00,000 --> 00:51:04,160 Speaker 2: and when I joined the USO at that my early twenties, 981 00:51:04,200 --> 00:51:05,680 Speaker 2: I mean I was always doing it since that was 982 00:51:05,800 --> 00:51:07,760 Speaker 2: my early twenties, I was doing a lot of different stuff. 983 00:51:07,800 --> 00:51:11,879 Speaker 2: But when I joined the USA, it gave me such 984 00:51:11,920 --> 00:51:14,640 Speaker 2: a purpose. It gave me I felt like I was 985 00:51:14,680 --> 00:51:16,319 Speaker 2: a part of it, and I was a part of 986 00:51:16,360 --> 00:51:20,040 Speaker 2: the you know, the task force that was allowing all 987 00:51:20,040 --> 00:51:22,759 Speaker 2: of us in America to have the freedom. And so 988 00:51:22,800 --> 00:51:25,000 Speaker 2: I always thank God for all those stories. And you know, 989 00:51:25,080 --> 00:51:27,120 Speaker 2: ken you talk about going to wall to read, I 990 00:51:27,560 --> 00:51:30,080 Speaker 2: got to go to Lambstone Hospital a bunch of times 991 00:51:30,120 --> 00:51:35,160 Speaker 2: in Germany, and that's like a major er room, you know, 992 00:51:35,280 --> 00:51:38,040 Speaker 2: like that's like a whole hospital was an er room, 993 00:51:38,200 --> 00:51:40,440 Speaker 2: you know, are many women come in and get there, 994 00:51:40,480 --> 00:51:42,799 Speaker 2: they get conditions so they can make it home for 995 00:51:42,880 --> 00:51:47,520 Speaker 2: real treatment. And I got to tour that the humility, 996 00:51:48,239 --> 00:51:52,239 Speaker 2: you know, the gracefulness, the bravery of everyone that I 997 00:51:52,320 --> 00:51:55,480 Speaker 2: met there. I mean, I specifically to tell you the 998 00:51:55,520 --> 00:51:58,319 Speaker 2: moment that I got I was like, I gotta, I 999 00:51:58,320 --> 00:52:00,960 Speaker 2: gotta sign on to every US sold I could possibly do. 1000 00:52:01,960 --> 00:52:04,279 Speaker 2: Was a moment where I walk into a room a 1001 00:52:04,320 --> 00:52:07,480 Speaker 2: young man had just arrived from you know, the night before. 1002 00:52:07,520 --> 00:52:11,480 Speaker 2: They had experienced some contact having his team. Fortunately he 1003 00:52:11,520 --> 00:52:15,520 Speaker 2: was one of the few survivors and he didn't know 1004 00:52:15,600 --> 00:52:18,759 Speaker 2: yet and he was opening his eyes to you know, 1005 00:52:18,960 --> 00:52:22,040 Speaker 2: to the first time for the first time too, you know, 1006 00:52:22,120 --> 00:52:24,279 Speaker 2: to me and uh in the chair and the vice 1007 00:52:24,360 --> 00:52:27,839 Speaker 2: chairman at the time of the Joint chiefs, and they 1008 00:52:27,840 --> 00:52:29,560 Speaker 2: are warned as that he might wake up, you know, 1009 00:52:29,640 --> 00:52:32,400 Speaker 2: during this moment, and he opened his eyes and he 1010 00:52:32,440 --> 00:52:35,880 Speaker 2: looked at the Vice Chairman and immediately recognized him and 1011 00:52:35,880 --> 00:52:38,359 Speaker 2: wanted to salute. And he's like got ease at ease, 1012 00:52:38,400 --> 00:52:41,319 Speaker 2: and then he turns over to me and and he's 1013 00:52:41,400 --> 00:52:44,360 Speaker 2: just like what like he literally thought like he was 1014 00:52:44,400 --> 00:52:46,799 Speaker 2: in a different place. It was like like I wake up, 1015 00:52:46,840 --> 00:52:48,759 Speaker 2: I see the chair, the Vice chairman, and then like 1016 00:52:48,840 --> 00:52:51,239 Speaker 2: Wilmer is here, Like what's going on? 1017 00:52:51,360 --> 00:52:51,560 Speaker 3: You know? 1018 00:52:52,239 --> 00:52:57,080 Speaker 2: And in that that moment, that smile, that moment, in 1019 00:52:57,160 --> 00:53:00,680 Speaker 2: the most you know, in the most critical moment of 1020 00:53:00,760 --> 00:53:06,160 Speaker 2: this man's life, made me feel like that's I was 1021 00:53:06,200 --> 00:53:08,879 Speaker 2: built to be, to be sent there, you know. And 1022 00:53:08,960 --> 00:53:11,840 Speaker 2: so every USO tour did I go, I discover so 1023 00:53:11,960 --> 00:53:14,360 Speaker 2: much of my myself and I connect so much to 1024 00:53:14,400 --> 00:53:16,400 Speaker 2: the men and women of military. And that's why I 1025 00:53:16,480 --> 00:53:19,200 Speaker 2: keep going to every USO tour oll r and over again, 1026 00:53:19,239 --> 00:53:21,560 Speaker 2: because it's that moment where I feel like, Oh, this 1027 00:53:21,719 --> 00:53:24,680 Speaker 2: is what I'm here for. This little thing, this little smile, 1028 00:53:24,719 --> 00:53:26,440 Speaker 2: you know, that's what That's what I'm here for me. 1029 00:53:26,600 --> 00:53:29,160 Speaker 1: And I'm kind of hooked to that amazing story. 1030 00:53:29,400 --> 00:53:31,319 Speaker 3: And if I could, I could add one thing to 1031 00:53:31,360 --> 00:53:33,399 Speaker 3: that too. I haven't thought about this in a long time, 1032 00:53:33,440 --> 00:53:36,600 Speaker 3: But before I came to the USO, I worked on 1033 00:53:36,640 --> 00:53:39,440 Speaker 3: the television network side, and so one of my jobs 1034 00:53:39,480 --> 00:53:41,640 Speaker 3: is I would get requests for talent and I would 1035 00:53:41,760 --> 00:53:43,479 Speaker 3: you know, work to see if we can fulfill those. 1036 00:53:44,239 --> 00:53:47,319 Speaker 3: We got a request once for Bell Bear Girls talking 1037 00:53:47,360 --> 00:53:50,080 Speaker 3: about Walter Reed and this it was this email from 1038 00:53:50,120 --> 00:53:53,160 Speaker 3: the family that said, Hey, our son is has served, 1039 00:53:53,160 --> 00:53:55,680 Speaker 3: He's dying of cancer. Is there any way that we 1040 00:53:55,800 --> 00:53:59,160 Speaker 3: can watch Bear show at the time, which aired overseas, 1041 00:53:59,280 --> 00:54:02,759 Speaker 3: didn't air in the date. So I sat in that 1042 00:54:02,920 --> 00:54:06,680 Speaker 3: and again not having really any military experience, and went 1043 00:54:06,760 --> 00:54:09,600 Speaker 3: to our production team. You know, we ultimately went to Bear. 1044 00:54:09,800 --> 00:54:14,520 Speaker 3: Long story short, they made the season for this gentleman. 1045 00:54:14,760 --> 00:54:19,360 Speaker 3: Bear shot him a personal video and you know, delivered 1046 00:54:19,400 --> 00:54:22,360 Speaker 3: it to the hospital and I think he was he 1047 00:54:22,480 --> 00:54:25,040 Speaker 3: was fairly close, you know, to passing, but they played 1048 00:54:25,040 --> 00:54:27,640 Speaker 3: it for him and then all of a sudden, one day, 1049 00:54:27,800 --> 00:54:30,360 Speaker 3: I was at work and they're like, hey, someone's downstairs 1050 00:54:30,360 --> 00:54:33,080 Speaker 3: for you, And I go downstairs to the lobby and 1051 00:54:33,160 --> 00:54:36,239 Speaker 3: it's his whole family and they're showing up. They brought 1052 00:54:36,239 --> 00:54:40,000 Speaker 3: me flowers and a card. And I'm even getting a 1053 00:54:40,040 --> 00:54:42,319 Speaker 3: little emotional thinking about it, and just said, you know, 1054 00:54:43,480 --> 00:54:45,560 Speaker 3: we can't tell you what that meant to us, that 1055 00:54:45,640 --> 00:54:48,279 Speaker 3: you took the time not only to read it, but 1056 00:54:48,400 --> 00:54:51,160 Speaker 3: you actually took the time to care and make it happen. 1057 00:54:51,360 --> 00:54:54,160 Speaker 3: And so I think, even before I knew I was 1058 00:54:54,200 --> 00:54:57,279 Speaker 3: destined to join for the USO, that exposure I think 1059 00:54:57,480 --> 00:55:01,279 Speaker 3: speaks highly of how the military use you know, this 1060 00:55:01,400 --> 00:55:05,239 Speaker 3: country and what they do, and the importance of an appreciation, 1061 00:55:05,600 --> 00:55:09,360 Speaker 3: you know, for anybody that provides them some acknowledgment and 1062 00:55:09,440 --> 00:55:13,040 Speaker 3: a little bit of care. So it was an amazing 1063 00:55:13,080 --> 00:55:14,879 Speaker 3: moment in my life. And you know, when we take 1064 00:55:14,880 --> 00:55:17,680 Speaker 3: Wilmer out too on tour, I think that's what drew 1065 00:55:18,160 --> 00:55:21,440 Speaker 3: immediately us to him as well, is that sense of gratitude. 1066 00:55:22,320 --> 00:55:24,719 Speaker 3: It's written all over him. It's not that hard, you know, 1067 00:55:24,840 --> 00:55:28,440 Speaker 3: to see. And he's usually the last one, you know, 1068 00:55:28,600 --> 00:55:31,200 Speaker 3: like lumber the chairman is walking. You really got to 1069 00:55:31,239 --> 00:55:33,439 Speaker 3: go now, you know, we're pulling him out with the hook, 1070 00:55:33,560 --> 00:55:38,560 Speaker 3: trying to get him away because of that intention, which 1071 00:55:38,600 --> 00:55:41,480 Speaker 3: is so so important in everything that we do each day. 1072 00:55:41,560 --> 00:55:46,080 Speaker 1: So well, it's great. I love it and I'm so 1073 00:55:46,239 --> 00:55:50,880 Speaker 1: thrilled that you both came on to talk about this. 1074 00:55:51,040 --> 00:55:53,799 Speaker 1: Is there a is there somewhere the way that people 1075 00:55:53,840 --> 00:55:55,719 Speaker 1: can reach out and find out about the USO and 1076 00:55:55,760 --> 00:55:56,840 Speaker 1: help and whatever. 1077 00:55:57,320 --> 00:56:01,160 Speaker 3: Absolutely, yeah, please visit our website, which is USO dot org. 1078 00:56:02,280 --> 00:56:05,320 Speaker 3: You know, of course, there's always ways to financially contribute. 1079 00:56:05,600 --> 00:56:08,960 Speaker 3: If that's not possible, you know, we we the backbone 1080 00:56:09,000 --> 00:56:12,840 Speaker 3: of our organization is volunteers. You can volunteer at your airport, 1081 00:56:13,760 --> 00:56:16,680 Speaker 3: you can volunteer at your local USO center. You know, 1082 00:56:16,760 --> 00:56:20,200 Speaker 3: we greatly appreciate those volunteer hours. We have over eighteen 1083 00:56:20,280 --> 00:56:23,920 Speaker 3: thousand volunteers as well around the world, and those are 1084 00:56:23,920 --> 00:56:27,080 Speaker 3: two fantastic ways to really dial in with us, but 1085 00:56:27,200 --> 00:56:29,319 Speaker 3: all available at USO dot org. 1086 00:56:30,080 --> 00:56:31,880 Speaker 1: Thank you guys, Thank you so much. And you know, 1087 00:56:31,920 --> 00:56:34,440 Speaker 1: before we go, Walmer, I just realized that, you know, 1088 00:56:34,600 --> 00:56:37,920 Speaker 1: I when when I heard that you were going to 1089 00:56:38,000 --> 00:56:42,560 Speaker 1: do this, you know, the silly six degrees thing, I 1090 00:56:43,000 --> 00:56:47,840 Speaker 1: was thinking, uh, well, we never actually have worked together, 1091 00:56:47,960 --> 00:56:50,640 Speaker 1: but we've actually been in the same thing, but we 1092 00:56:50,719 --> 00:56:54,080 Speaker 1: can't say what it is. I know, do you even know? 1093 00:56:54,120 --> 00:56:56,040 Speaker 1: How do you do we even know what? Do you 1094 00:56:56,080 --> 00:57:00,200 Speaker 1: even know what it is? I didn't. I literally was 1095 00:57:00,239 --> 00:57:04,480 Speaker 1: on I was on on your IMDb page and I went, 1096 00:57:04,560 --> 00:57:05,760 Speaker 1: wait a second. 1097 00:57:06,920 --> 00:57:09,520 Speaker 2: So so we man, I wish I could. 1098 00:57:09,400 --> 00:57:14,240 Speaker 3: Talk about this, can it? 1099 00:57:14,280 --> 00:57:17,680 Speaker 2: But I just want you to note that that day 1100 00:57:18,760 --> 00:57:21,800 Speaker 2: we wrote in the van to set together and we 1101 00:57:21,840 --> 00:57:27,520 Speaker 2: had a quick little conversation. You created a character and 1102 00:57:27,600 --> 00:57:30,640 Speaker 2: I had, you know, I had some experience with something similar, 1103 00:57:31,240 --> 00:57:36,480 Speaker 2: and we shared. We shared, we shared a tiny little 1104 00:57:36,520 --> 00:57:39,240 Speaker 2: cameo scene together. I was doing like a quick little 1105 00:57:39,280 --> 00:57:42,000 Speaker 2: cameo there and and when, and I just want you 1106 00:57:42,040 --> 00:57:43,919 Speaker 2: don't care. And I was gonna say this way way 1107 00:57:43,880 --> 00:57:46,280 Speaker 2: away earlier, but then I realized that I don't even 1108 00:57:46,320 --> 00:57:48,000 Speaker 2: know how to say it without saying in the movie. 1109 00:57:48,280 --> 00:57:51,280 Speaker 2: But I just want you to know, man, that I've 1110 00:57:51,320 --> 00:57:55,320 Speaker 2: been such a Kevin Bacon fan like my entire life. 1111 00:57:55,960 --> 00:57:58,560 Speaker 2: So when I was able to share the screen with 1112 00:57:58,640 --> 00:58:02,240 Speaker 2: you's as silly and small than as I confess forgettable 1113 00:58:02,280 --> 00:58:06,320 Speaker 2: at that moment could have been. You know it actually uh, 1114 00:58:06,600 --> 00:58:08,959 Speaker 2: it was actually one of the coolest things that has 1115 00:58:09,000 --> 00:58:11,160 Speaker 2: ever happened in my career. So I just want you 1116 00:58:11,200 --> 00:58:14,520 Speaker 2: to understand that that I just I was so thrilled 1117 00:58:14,520 --> 00:58:16,400 Speaker 2: that I get to talk to you again that way. 1118 00:58:16,440 --> 00:58:22,480 Speaker 2: But you were so kind, and I mean, I know, look, I'm. 1119 00:58:20,840 --> 00:58:25,440 Speaker 1: Glad I was nice. Phew gone a different way. It 1120 00:58:25,480 --> 00:58:27,360 Speaker 1: could have gone a different way, but you're. 1121 00:58:27,280 --> 00:58:30,440 Speaker 2: Top two, Tom Hanks, and you are the nicest guys 1122 00:58:30,440 --> 00:58:31,920 Speaker 2: I've ever met in my in my career. 1123 00:58:32,280 --> 00:58:35,320 Speaker 1: That's nice. I'm glad to hear it. I'm nicer than Tom. 1124 00:58:35,360 --> 00:58:39,760 Speaker 1: So anyway, I've loved having you guys here. Thank you 1125 00:58:39,840 --> 00:58:44,880 Speaker 1: so much and see you down the road. Is kem. 1126 00:58:44,960 --> 00:58:45,800 Speaker 2: Thank you for the word. 1127 00:58:48,800 --> 00:58:51,800 Speaker 1: Hey guys, thanks for listening to another episode of Six 1128 00:58:51,880 --> 00:58:55,560 Speaker 1: Degrees with Kevin Bacon. If you want to learn more 1129 00:58:55,760 --> 00:58:59,960 Speaker 1: about the United Service Organization and how you can donate 1130 00:59:00,280 --> 00:59:03,000 Speaker 1: and all the great work that they're up to, head 1131 00:59:03,000 --> 00:59:08,240 Speaker 1: to their website USO dot org. That's USO dot org. 1132 00:59:08,360 --> 00:59:10,600 Speaker 1: You can find all the links in our show notes, 1133 00:59:11,160 --> 00:59:13,440 Speaker 1: and if you like what you hear, make sure you 1134 00:59:13,480 --> 00:59:16,560 Speaker 1: subscribe to the show. Tune into the rest of the episode. 1135 00:59:17,120 --> 00:59:20,160 Speaker 1: You can find Six Degrees with Kevin Bacon on iHeartRadio, 1136 00:59:20,240 --> 00:59:24,880 Speaker 1: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.