1 00:00:02,560 --> 00:00:05,600 Speaker 1: Hi, Welcome back to the Brightside. I hope your twenty 2 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:08,360 Speaker 1: twenty six is off to an incredible start, and I 3 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:12,160 Speaker 1: also hope that last week's episode about travel sparked some 4 00:00:12,400 --> 00:00:16,160 Speaker 1: inspiration for you as to the kind of destinations and 5 00:00:16,239 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 1: stamps you want to add to your passport this year. Well, 6 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:23,480 Speaker 1: today we are revisiting one of the Brightside conversations that 7 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:26,799 Speaker 1: lives rent free in my mind. It's an episode I 8 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:29,920 Speaker 1: keep coming back to when I think about new beginnings 9 00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:33,760 Speaker 1: and what it means to live a truly limitless life. 10 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:37,600 Speaker 1: I'm talking about my conversation with Morning Show actor Karen Pittman, 11 00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 1: which originally aired last fall, and it feels especially timely now. 12 00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:48,440 Speaker 1: Karen's perspective on growth, creative longevity, and appreciating every single 13 00:00:48,479 --> 00:00:52,040 Speaker 1: step of the journey feels especially fitting as we ease 14 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:55,280 Speaker 1: into a new year together. I hope you enjoy revisiting 15 00:00:55,320 --> 00:00:57,360 Speaker 1: this one with me, and we'll be back with a 16 00:00:57,400 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 1: fresh episode next week. Today, on the Right Side, Emmy 17 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:06,560 Speaker 1: nominated actor Karen Pittman is here and we're talking season 18 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:09,440 Speaker 1: four of The Morning Show, her role in the viral 19 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:12,720 Speaker 1: Netflix series Forever, and the journey that's led to what 20 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:14,440 Speaker 1: she calls her Golden era. 21 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:18,000 Speaker 2: There is this moment that we have as women where 22 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 2: you have the choice to societally betray everything that you 23 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:28,000 Speaker 2: have been conditioned to learn about what it means to 24 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:31,080 Speaker 2: be a woman. And just like a little you can 25 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:34,399 Speaker 2: see like there's a little veil that starts to lift 26 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:36,760 Speaker 2: a little bit, and you're like, well, what's that? What's 27 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 2: that over there? No, I'm not gonna worry about that, 28 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:40,560 Speaker 2: or I can't look at that. I'm gonna going the 29 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:41,319 Speaker 2: opposite direction. 30 00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:44,160 Speaker 1: I'm simone voice and this is the right side from 31 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:47,840 Speaker 1: Hello Sunshine. Welcome back to the show, y'all. I have 32 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:51,440 Speaker 1: the best news to share to kick off today's episode, 33 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:54,919 Speaker 1: season four of Hello Sunshine's hit drama The Morning Show 34 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 1: is live on Apple TV. 35 00:01:56,960 --> 00:01:57,200 Speaker 2: Y'all. 36 00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:00,600 Speaker 1: Okay, it's been a minute since we've been with girls 37 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 1: at UBN, So let's do a little recap, shall we. 38 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:07,120 Speaker 1: Spoiler alert If you're not cut up, then just skip ahead. Well, 39 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:10,680 Speaker 1: season three ended with a massive shakeup, so if you remember, 40 00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:14,520 Speaker 1: Bradley Jackson played by Reese Witherspoon turns herself into the 41 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:19,200 Speaker 1: FBI after she deleted footage to protect her brother. Meanwhile, 42 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:23,920 Speaker 1: Uba merged with its rival network UBN, with Alex Leevy 43 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:26,960 Speaker 1: played by Jennifer Aniston right at the center of that 44 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:31,360 Speaker 1: power struggle. And now two years later, the women are 45 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:35,200 Speaker 1: running the show and they're pulling at the threads of trust, 46 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:38,960 Speaker 1: truth and power. So a lot of you already know 47 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 1: that in a past life, I worked at a place 48 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:43,600 Speaker 1: that's not too different from UBN. 49 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 2: Hi everyone, I'm simone. 50 00:02:44,960 --> 00:02:47,200 Speaker 1: Boys less a good morning, as you mentioned, and just 51 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:50,520 Speaker 1: good morning ladies. As women continue to break down, Dary, 52 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:53,440 Speaker 1: I mean the larger than life egos, the rush to 53 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:58,240 Speaker 1: be first, the politics both inside and outside the newsroom. 54 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:03,320 Speaker 1: I've definitely been around that energy before. And one character 55 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:07,400 Speaker 1: who feels especially familiar, like someone I've probably worked with, 56 00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:12,240 Speaker 1: is UBN executive Mia Jordan, played by my guest today, 57 00:03:12,520 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 1: Karen Pittman. 58 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:15,079 Speaker 2: I'm the one who has to look at Julia and 59 00:03:15,160 --> 00:03:20,640 Speaker 2: Layla and everybody else who's overworked, underappreciated, underpaid on my watch. 60 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 2: Yeah no, no, no, don't look over there. You know, keep 61 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:26,120 Speaker 2: the show lean and mean, do more with less, get creative, 62 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:28,520 Speaker 2: sleep in your office if that's what it takes, Because 63 00:03:28,560 --> 00:03:29,600 Speaker 2: that is what it takes. 64 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:34,200 Speaker 1: And this season, let's just say Mia reaches her breaking point. 65 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:37,760 Speaker 2: I know it, I deserve and it's my time now. 66 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 1: Ooh, I love that line. Honestly, it's Karen Pittman's time 67 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:45,320 Speaker 1: now too, between her Emmy nomination for The Morning Show, 68 00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 1: the viral and just utterly delightful Judy Bluem adaptation Forever 69 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:54,080 Speaker 1: on Netflix and her role as doctor Niah Wallace on 70 00:03:54,320 --> 00:03:58,240 Speaker 1: and just like that, I mean, Karen Pittman is on fire, 71 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:01,840 Speaker 1: and today you're gonna hear what it took for her 72 00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:04,080 Speaker 1: to get to that point. I'm gonna be honest with you. 73 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:08,680 Speaker 1: Karen is truly one of the most inspiring second act 74 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:12,720 Speaker 1: stories I've ever heard, because she started her acting career 75 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:15,840 Speaker 1: at a stage when most people might have given up. 76 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:18,680 Speaker 1: And you'll see what I mean in just a few minutes. 77 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:22,800 Speaker 1: This is your sign to leave imposter syndrome at the 78 00:04:22,839 --> 00:04:26,479 Speaker 1: door and show up for your dreams unapologetically. Sis, what 79 00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:29,839 Speaker 1: are you waiting for? Let's get into it with Karen Pittman. 80 00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:40,599 Speaker 2: Karen Pittman, welcome to the bright Side. Thank you the 81 00:04:40,760 --> 00:04:44,400 Speaker 2: right side. I wore my bright side dressed today. I 82 00:04:44,440 --> 00:04:46,360 Speaker 2: got all gussied up. 83 00:04:47,080 --> 00:04:49,360 Speaker 1: As you should, because you have had quite the year 84 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:52,479 Speaker 1: ma'am been so good. I mean, it's been great for 85 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:57,159 Speaker 1: us as audiences. And listen, I'm staying alive in five Oh, 86 00:04:57,200 --> 00:04:59,840 Speaker 1: you are doing more than staying alive. You are thriving 87 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:02,400 Speaker 1: because we started the summer with you in Forever, which 88 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:03,920 Speaker 1: was just delicious? 89 00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:06,840 Speaker 2: Did you love that show? Delicious? Isn't it so good? 90 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:08,840 Speaker 1: It made me think, it made me feel, it made 91 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:11,359 Speaker 1: me hope, I saw myself. 92 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:14,200 Speaker 2: We needed that. We need a little delicious morsel at 93 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:16,680 Speaker 2: the start. Yes, summer, we needed it. Well. 94 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:18,440 Speaker 1: I can't wait to talk to you more about Don 95 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:20,160 Speaker 1: Edwards because I've got a lot of questions for you 96 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:22,560 Speaker 1: about that, But I want to start with The Morning 97 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:25,839 Speaker 1: Show because now we are heading into fall, Season four 98 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:29,400 Speaker 1: of The Morning Show is premiering. I mean, how would 99 00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 1: you describe this era that you're in right now? 100 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:38,800 Speaker 2: Karen? Oh? How would I describe this era? I'm golden? Ooh? 101 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 1: I love golden. 102 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:42,359 Speaker 2: Yeah, golden because it feels like I'm in a light moment. 103 00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:47,120 Speaker 2: I'm in a bright moment and I have been navigating 104 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:49,640 Speaker 2: my own life conversations about what light means. You know, 105 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:53,120 Speaker 2: I love a diamond. Everybody loves a jewel. But in 106 00:05:53,240 --> 00:05:55,320 Speaker 2: order to have a really beautiful shine. There should be 107 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:57,920 Speaker 2: a little bit of darkness in that diamond, just a 108 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:00,599 Speaker 2: little bit so that it can refract the light. And 109 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:02,560 Speaker 2: so for a while I've had a little bit more 110 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:04,640 Speaker 2: dark than I've wanted, and so now I have a 111 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 2: lot of light. I balanced it out with a little 112 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:10,360 Speaker 2: bit of you know, shade and sometimes and I feel 113 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:12,280 Speaker 2: like I'm in a really good season. So golden is 114 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 2: the word for me. 115 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:17,080 Speaker 1: I love that well. I saw you at the premiere 116 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:19,600 Speaker 1: last night. I got to see the first episode of 117 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:24,960 Speaker 1: season four, and wow, it just is like this pole. Yes, 118 00:06:25,080 --> 00:06:28,520 Speaker 1: we are being launched into a completely new era for 119 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:31,279 Speaker 1: the women of the Morning Show, and that's what we 120 00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:34,080 Speaker 1: really see also in the trailer at UBN, like women 121 00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:37,440 Speaker 1: are really stepping up and stepping into their power, and 122 00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:41,080 Speaker 1: Mia is no exception because we see you say this line, 123 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 1: I know what I deserve and it's my time now. 124 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:48,440 Speaker 1: To Jennifer Andison's character, I mean, chills. That is such 125 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:52,560 Speaker 1: a powerful declaration. What does Mia have up personally? 126 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:58,760 Speaker 2: How when your light? That? My kid's violent, But I 127 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:03,840 Speaker 2: think his journey has been really interesting as a character. 128 00:07:04,080 --> 00:07:06,479 Speaker 2: I've really had to hold a lot of what she 129 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:11,400 Speaker 2: feels close to the vest and even in you know, 130 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:15,040 Speaker 2: some of the trailers, you can see that she's starting 131 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 2: to let things off her chest a little bit, like 132 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 2: she's saying it with her chest. She's speaking up. And 133 00:07:22,720 --> 00:07:24,480 Speaker 2: I think that's part of what people the journey that 134 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:27,600 Speaker 2: people will see me on. How do you find your voice? 135 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:31,480 Speaker 2: How do you become an army of one? How does 136 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:34,360 Speaker 2: that happen? And why it really does have to be 137 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:37,400 Speaker 2: strategic and how do you come about that strategy? And 138 00:07:37,640 --> 00:07:41,520 Speaker 2: Mia does that in season four and I think people 139 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 2: are going to love it. 140 00:07:42,520 --> 00:07:46,040 Speaker 1: One of the most impressive aspects of the Morning Show 141 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:48,640 Speaker 1: to me is the way that it responds to world 142 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:53,720 Speaker 1: events in real time. Season four starts with talk of 143 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:58,360 Speaker 1: the Paris Olympics, and we see that this show is 144 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:01,480 Speaker 1: really about the messiness of truth, right, like who gets 145 00:08:01,520 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 1: to tell the truth, who owns the truth? Who gets silence? 146 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:07,880 Speaker 1: And you alluded to that like Mia being silenced. Where 147 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:11,120 Speaker 1: do you think Mia sits in that bigger conversation about truth? 148 00:08:11,760 --> 00:08:14,520 Speaker 2: You know, I think MIAs really for most of her 149 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 2: career been mission based, whatever the mission of UBN or 150 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:21,760 Speaker 2: Uba or NBN or whatever they're calling it now. On 151 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:24,560 Speaker 2: the show. It's now they put those two together and 152 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:27,200 Speaker 2: they're called ubn. She's a real company girl, like she 153 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:31,160 Speaker 2: believes in what the Morning Show and what the corporation 154 00:08:31,320 --> 00:08:33,280 Speaker 2: is meant to do in the same way that Alex 155 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:36,640 Speaker 2: has believed in it, and Alex Leevie, Jennifer Andson's characters 156 00:08:36,679 --> 00:08:39,760 Speaker 2: supported folks at the Morning Show in her own way, 157 00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:44,480 Speaker 2: and grete Lee characters sell a Bak is supported in 158 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:46,959 Speaker 2: her own way. So I think all of these women 159 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:49,360 Speaker 2: are moving in the same direction, but they're doing it 160 00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:52,439 Speaker 2: in very very different ways. So I think Mia is 161 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:54,360 Speaker 2: having to deal with the truth of her own journey 162 00:08:54,520 --> 00:08:57,760 Speaker 2: right along with all of the stimuli that comes along 163 00:08:57,800 --> 00:09:01,360 Speaker 2: with dealing with an environment. It includes AI which is 164 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:04,599 Speaker 2: challenging what our sense of truth is, dealing with the 165 00:09:04,679 --> 00:09:08,640 Speaker 2: legacy media and how money is influencing what we tell 166 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:12,600 Speaker 2: the news, how we find our news, you know, dealing 167 00:09:12,640 --> 00:09:16,559 Speaker 2: with anchors and people at work who had big egos 168 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:20,800 Speaker 2: and they want to see themselves realize and actualized, like 169 00:09:20,880 --> 00:09:23,880 Speaker 2: Chris Hunter, and you know, meeting the bottom line. So 170 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:26,720 Speaker 2: I think she's dealing with all of those myriad of 171 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:27,840 Speaker 2: issues and challenges. 172 00:09:28,120 --> 00:09:30,600 Speaker 1: You mentioned all the powerhouse women who are on the show, 173 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:37,280 Speaker 1: Reese Weatherspoon, Jennifer Aniston, Greta Lee, Marian Cootier. And even 174 00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:39,880 Speaker 1: with all the progress that we've seen to make Hollywood 175 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:43,160 Speaker 1: more equitable, I imagine it's still so rare to step 176 00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:45,560 Speaker 1: onto a set like this where there are so many 177 00:09:45,559 --> 00:09:48,800 Speaker 1: powerful women both in front of and behind the camera. 178 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:52,160 Speaker 1: What is that energy and that camaraderie? Like, how would 179 00:09:52,160 --> 00:09:52,800 Speaker 1: you describe it? 180 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:58,480 Speaker 2: Well, you know, I think it's very powerful when women 181 00:09:58,559 --> 00:10:01,040 Speaker 2: come together. But you know, I don't want a sugarcoat 182 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:03,959 Speaker 2: act like it's perfect all the time. Like we do 183 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:07,360 Speaker 2: have our own conflicts, but the way that women handle conflict, 184 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:10,120 Speaker 2: atleast on our show, is to air it out to 185 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:16,600 Speaker 2: you know, demand honesty along with integrity. You know, this 186 00:10:16,679 --> 00:10:18,400 Speaker 2: is what we say we're about. Then what are we 187 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:21,880 Speaker 2: what are we really doing here? There's a Glamour cover 188 00:10:22,040 --> 00:10:25,400 Speaker 2: that I'm so blessed to share with all the women 189 00:10:25,559 --> 00:10:29,079 Speaker 2: on the Morning Show, and you'll see that Resent and 190 00:10:29,120 --> 00:10:31,040 Speaker 2: I are leaning into each other, but you also see 191 00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:33,960 Speaker 2: that I'm holding onto Nicole Bari's hand and you know 192 00:10:34,160 --> 00:10:36,160 Speaker 2: she's on the side of the photo on this little 193 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:39,280 Speaker 2: bitty great balancing But I wanted I wanted to make 194 00:10:39,320 --> 00:10:43,320 Speaker 2: sure that in many ways, me holding onto her hand, 195 00:10:43,400 --> 00:10:46,040 Speaker 2: it's just, you know, sort of it was a natural 196 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:48,640 Speaker 2: instinct of my part, and I'm so glad they caught it. 197 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:52,280 Speaker 2: But it's also a reflection of my own personal ethos, 198 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:55,160 Speaker 2: my own personal politic when it comes to any show 199 00:10:55,200 --> 00:10:57,120 Speaker 2: that I work on, but especially the Morning Show, it 200 00:10:57,240 --> 00:10:59,880 Speaker 2: is about, you know, linking up arms with the women 201 00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:03,560 Speaker 2: in and pulling as you climb, bringing others along with 202 00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:07,080 Speaker 2: you as you climb, which I think, you know, quite honestly, 203 00:11:08,120 --> 00:11:10,560 Speaker 2: Jennifer Anda, san Reese Witherspoon have done it better than 204 00:11:10,600 --> 00:11:13,959 Speaker 2: any producers I've ever met. And I've had a seventeen 205 00:11:14,040 --> 00:11:17,640 Speaker 2: year career in television, in theater and film, and they're 206 00:11:18,760 --> 00:11:22,360 Speaker 2: exemplary and that they walk the walk and they talk 207 00:11:22,440 --> 00:11:26,520 Speaker 2: the talk. You know, you always know that they're going 208 00:11:26,559 --> 00:11:29,920 Speaker 2: to do what's best for the entire production, and that 209 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:33,199 Speaker 2: that feels it feels good, like you know, the greatest 210 00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:35,400 Speaker 2: good is there is our highest goal, and so we're 211 00:11:35,559 --> 00:11:37,480 Speaker 2: we're all encouraged by that. 212 00:11:37,600 --> 00:11:40,079 Speaker 1: Well, I'm so glad that you brought up that Glamour 213 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:42,800 Speaker 1: cover story because it was so it was so compelling 214 00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:44,680 Speaker 1: to read, and it was so. 215 00:11:44,679 --> 00:11:46,280 Speaker 2: Good, so much good stuff. 216 00:11:46,280 --> 00:11:48,760 Speaker 1: You guys are ready for sea support. It's going to 217 00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:52,959 Speaker 1: be so golden, golden, We're in our golden era, olden era. Well, 218 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:56,080 Speaker 1: Reese in that interview said that she wishes that reporters 219 00:11:56,160 --> 00:11:58,120 Speaker 1: would ask her not just about the roles that she's 220 00:11:58,160 --> 00:12:00,760 Speaker 1: doing now, but what it actually takes to get to 221 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:02,880 Speaker 1: the level that she's at in her career. So I 222 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:05,840 Speaker 1: want to throw that framing back on you because a 223 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:09,199 Speaker 1: lot of people probably don't know that you discovered acting a. 224 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:10,680 Speaker 2: Bit later in life. Yeah that's true. 225 00:12:10,840 --> 00:12:13,959 Speaker 1: Yeah, you started out in the music industry as an 226 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:17,400 Speaker 1: opera singer. Tell me what it took for you to 227 00:12:17,440 --> 00:12:18,439 Speaker 1: get here? Right? 228 00:12:18,520 --> 00:12:20,480 Speaker 2: Well, first and foremost, like I kind of had a 229 00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:22,640 Speaker 2: plan for my for a where I wanted my life 230 00:12:22,679 --> 00:12:24,280 Speaker 2: to go, and a lot of it was about my 231 00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:27,959 Speaker 2: inherent obedience to my parents for what I thought, Oh, 232 00:12:28,040 --> 00:12:30,400 Speaker 2: this is what a good life is supposed to look like, 233 00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:32,679 Speaker 2: this is this is what you're supposed to do, This 234 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:35,480 Speaker 2: is how you go and marry me a mom mom 235 00:12:35,520 --> 00:12:39,079 Speaker 2: and myam and the same gown and you're retired, and 236 00:12:39,200 --> 00:12:42,920 Speaker 2: so I thought, oh, okay, so that's what But I 237 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:46,679 Speaker 2: was miserable very sad in that life. You know. Acting 238 00:12:46,760 --> 00:12:49,800 Speaker 2: came into my life after I had after nothing was 239 00:12:49,840 --> 00:12:52,960 Speaker 2: really working, and I had a midlife crisis at like 240 00:12:53,320 --> 00:12:57,240 Speaker 2: twenty eight or twenty nine, and I had to rethink 241 00:12:57,320 --> 00:13:00,000 Speaker 2: my whole scenario. You know. By that time, I was 242 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:04,360 Speaker 2: pregnant with my first child, and I audition for grad 243 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:06,840 Speaker 2: school to go to acting at NYU, which at the 244 00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:09,199 Speaker 2: time was like one of the number one schools in 245 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:11,680 Speaker 2: the country. I had no idea, so it was really 246 00:13:12,200 --> 00:13:13,679 Speaker 2: I was rolling the dice, you know what I mean. 247 00:13:13,760 --> 00:13:15,839 Speaker 2: I was like, you know, seven eleven, you know what 248 00:13:15,880 --> 00:13:17,760 Speaker 2: I mean, So you just up. 249 00:13:17,640 --> 00:13:21,720 Speaker 1: And decided, I'm just gonna go audition for acting. 250 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:26,920 Speaker 2: Well, up and decide, I was, you have just up 251 00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:31,400 Speaker 2: and decide, because that's radical and decide. I did think 252 00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 2: to myself, go to some place good, Yes, of course. 253 00:13:35,520 --> 00:13:37,480 Speaker 1: But did you have experience in acting before that? 254 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:40,280 Speaker 2: Did you at the opera is theater? 255 00:13:40,360 --> 00:13:40,520 Speaker 1: Yeah? 256 00:13:40,559 --> 00:13:42,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, Okay, So if you're doing opera, you're doing 257 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:47,840 Speaker 2: a theatrical the most theatrical version, yes, of singing, right, possibly, 258 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:50,720 Speaker 2: but there is some singing and acting, but there's a 259 00:13:50,880 --> 00:13:54,480 Speaker 2: lot of acting in singing, right, And I'd had an 260 00:13:54,520 --> 00:13:57,280 Speaker 2: acting coach who actually said I was like, you know, 261 00:13:57,400 --> 00:13:59,440 Speaker 2: I love acting. I wonder if I could do this 262 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:01,080 Speaker 2: for a career, Like, yeah, sure of course you could 263 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:03,000 Speaker 2: do it. And at the time I was pregnant. I 264 00:14:03,040 --> 00:14:05,760 Speaker 2: said yeah, but I'm pregnant. He was like, so, so 265 00:14:05,840 --> 00:14:09,400 Speaker 2: what try it? And I watch your audition for school 266 00:14:09,520 --> 00:14:14,079 Speaker 2: and I auditioned for NYU again, which you know, I mean. 267 00:14:14,120 --> 00:14:16,880 Speaker 2: It was kind of an up and deside because you 268 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:20,920 Speaker 2: do have to be radical at a certain point. You're 269 00:14:20,920 --> 00:14:23,080 Speaker 2: backing up against the wall, kind of when you have 270 00:14:23,200 --> 00:14:25,160 Speaker 2: your children in your life and you find out you're 271 00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:27,560 Speaker 2: going to be raising other human beings. Your back is 272 00:14:27,640 --> 00:14:30,360 Speaker 2: up against the wall. You're like, I've got okay, you know, 273 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:32,760 Speaker 2: I can't f around and find out, you know what 274 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:35,960 Speaker 2: I mean, Like I need to I need to actually 275 00:14:37,280 --> 00:14:40,240 Speaker 2: engage with this life and strategize. And so part of 276 00:14:40,280 --> 00:14:43,720 Speaker 2: my strategy was just joy. It's just I want to 277 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:45,400 Speaker 2: have a I want my son to look at me 278 00:14:45,480 --> 00:14:48,160 Speaker 2: and think, oh, that's a woman who's happy and she's 279 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:50,840 Speaker 2: happy to have me around, and she's not sacrificing everything 280 00:14:50,960 --> 00:14:54,240 Speaker 2: for me and my life, and you know, she's got 281 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:57,320 Speaker 2: a life of her own. And so acting was my stab. 282 00:14:57,720 --> 00:15:00,840 Speaker 2: I was my sword out into the world and my 283 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:04,560 Speaker 2: gesture to say, hey, I want to see myself out here. 284 00:15:04,760 --> 00:15:08,640 Speaker 2: And while you brought me in, you know, I think 285 00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:10,680 Speaker 2: for many years, for me, it was the grind. It 286 00:15:10,720 --> 00:15:13,160 Speaker 2: was a hustle and grind. It was the late nights. 287 00:15:13,280 --> 00:15:15,640 Speaker 2: It was you know, no sleep. You know what I 288 00:15:15,680 --> 00:15:18,840 Speaker 2: mean that no sleep hustle, which will get you very far, 289 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:21,520 Speaker 2: so my mom will get you far that I'm going 290 00:15:21,560 --> 00:15:24,800 Speaker 2: to run this race until I drop kind of thing, 291 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:27,040 Speaker 2: and then I'm going to rest and pick myself up 292 00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:29,840 Speaker 2: and start running again. Like that literally was me for 293 00:15:29,880 --> 00:15:34,000 Speaker 2: a very long time. And then maybe after the second 294 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:36,600 Speaker 2: season of The Morning Show I started and just like 295 00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:39,360 Speaker 2: that I Sex in the City reboot. I started to 296 00:15:39,400 --> 00:15:44,600 Speaker 2: realize that I needed to create another gesture in the 297 00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:47,960 Speaker 2: world to see myself, and it had to start with rest. 298 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:52,760 Speaker 2: I could not be a human being that lived on fumes. 299 00:15:53,160 --> 00:15:57,160 Speaker 2: My imagination, my life would not flourish, would not thrive 300 00:15:57,640 --> 00:16:01,640 Speaker 2: on you know, air, to be grounded in the earth. 301 00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:05,720 Speaker 2: And so I started to develop ways pockets of rest, 302 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:09,720 Speaker 2: which helped to give me opportunity to think and to 303 00:16:09,840 --> 00:16:13,520 Speaker 2: play not just with you know, my career, but with 304 00:16:13,560 --> 00:16:16,960 Speaker 2: my children with my friends. It gave me an opportunity 305 00:16:17,080 --> 00:16:21,880 Speaker 2: to find and rEFInd people that had been in my life, 306 00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:24,840 Speaker 2: including Marl Brockerhel who I do forever with. It was 307 00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:28,800 Speaker 2: the spark of us coming together for forever. Was going 308 00:16:28,920 --> 00:16:33,120 Speaker 2: to Vegas to see Usher and on that trip girls trip, 309 00:16:33,160 --> 00:16:36,400 Speaker 2: hanging out watching you know, Usher doing a din which 310 00:16:36,440 --> 00:16:39,360 Speaker 2: only Usher can do. Thank you, Usher, shout out to Usher. 311 00:16:39,680 --> 00:16:39,880 Speaker 1: Well. 312 00:16:40,040 --> 00:16:42,400 Speaker 2: The next morning we woke up with this warm feeling 313 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:45,840 Speaker 2: about our friendship and our relationship and boy, this was 314 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:48,680 Speaker 2: fun and you know, how do we continue it? And 315 00:16:48,680 --> 00:16:52,280 Speaker 2: then Mars said, you know, I got this character and 316 00:16:52,360 --> 00:16:55,600 Speaker 2: this television show, and I you know, I saw you 317 00:16:55,640 --> 00:16:58,160 Speaker 2: do this play years ago. This might be good for you, 318 00:16:58,240 --> 00:17:00,600 Speaker 2: and you might be interested in it. And we've been 319 00:17:00,600 --> 00:17:02,880 Speaker 2: friends for many years. But it came out of this 320 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:08,240 Speaker 2: strategy of play, rest work, and I think it has 321 00:17:08,280 --> 00:17:16,359 Speaker 2: manifested an incredible stream of opportunity and light, you know, 322 00:17:16,960 --> 00:17:21,879 Speaker 2: a new version of myself in the world where I 323 00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:27,040 Speaker 2: just decide to take more risks, a few more calculations. Right, 324 00:17:27,080 --> 00:17:30,040 Speaker 2: I'm a little bit more calculated. But if you have energy, 325 00:17:30,119 --> 00:17:35,800 Speaker 2: if you have life force, energy to share, right, then 326 00:17:36,200 --> 00:17:40,120 Speaker 2: you're able to take risks and not be so concerned 327 00:17:40,119 --> 00:17:43,800 Speaker 2: about the outcome because you learn the process. The journey 328 00:17:43,920 --> 00:17:45,800 Speaker 2: is the most You're going to get to a lot 329 00:17:45,800 --> 00:17:48,000 Speaker 2: of places, you know, get to the mountaintop. I mean 330 00:17:48,040 --> 00:17:50,880 Speaker 2: that premiere last night. I wish you guys had been there. 331 00:17:51,040 --> 00:17:55,600 Speaker 2: We were at MoMA, we left it went to Metropolitan Club, 332 00:17:55,640 --> 00:17:58,160 Speaker 2: which is very Ony twenty in New York. I wish 333 00:17:58,160 --> 00:18:00,880 Speaker 2: you guys would have been there. It was so but 334 00:18:00,920 --> 00:18:05,040 Speaker 2: there's a mountaintop moment. But if like the journey getting there? Yeah, story, 335 00:18:05,680 --> 00:18:06,600 Speaker 2: Yeah worth it. 336 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:18,520 Speaker 1: More from Karen Pittman after this quick break, Take me 337 00:18:18,560 --> 00:18:21,440 Speaker 1: back to that day when you audition. Oh you're five 338 00:18:21,480 --> 00:18:24,479 Speaker 1: months pregnant, five months pregnant. What was going through your 339 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:27,560 Speaker 1: mind that day? Did you go out there without fear? 340 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:30,919 Speaker 1: Did you feel courageous? Was there an affirmation that you 341 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:31,920 Speaker 1: played over and over again? 342 00:18:32,280 --> 00:18:36,040 Speaker 2: No, no, no, no no. I was panicked. I was 343 00:18:36,080 --> 00:18:40,080 Speaker 2: desperate in that moment. You know, there is this moment 344 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:44,080 Speaker 2: that we have as women where you have the choice 345 00:18:45,080 --> 00:18:53,000 Speaker 2: to societally, to betray everything that you have been conditioned 346 00:18:53,520 --> 00:18:55,560 Speaker 2: to learn about what it means to be a woman. 347 00:18:56,400 --> 00:18:58,800 Speaker 2: And just like a little you can see like there's 348 00:18:58,840 --> 00:19:02,000 Speaker 2: a little veil that starts to lift a little bit 349 00:19:02,040 --> 00:19:05,360 Speaker 2: and you turn Yep, you're like, well, what's that? What's 350 00:19:05,400 --> 00:19:06,879 Speaker 2: that over there? No, I'm not gonna worry about that, 351 00:19:07,640 --> 00:19:09,080 Speaker 2: or I can't look at that. I'm going to go 352 00:19:09,080 --> 00:19:12,560 Speaker 2: in the opposite direction. But I had had my opportunity 353 00:19:12,640 --> 00:19:16,200 Speaker 2: to investigate that, that little crack, that little space. I 354 00:19:16,240 --> 00:19:19,440 Speaker 2: think Roomy says something about when you're exploring craft, is 355 00:19:19,480 --> 00:19:23,200 Speaker 2: that little space where you find yourself? You know that's 356 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:25,760 Speaker 2: where you are. And I thought that I saw a 357 00:19:25,800 --> 00:19:28,080 Speaker 2: crack of light that was going to inform my journey. 358 00:19:28,160 --> 00:19:31,840 Speaker 2: And I was right in that moment, though I was panicked. 359 00:19:32,240 --> 00:19:35,600 Speaker 2: I wasn't going to turn around, because your girl don't 360 00:19:35,680 --> 00:19:38,679 Speaker 2: turn around when she's going in one direction right at 361 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:41,520 Speaker 2: any rate, I was freaked out. There's no courage. It 362 00:19:41,560 --> 00:19:45,639 Speaker 2: was just adrenaline. But you were there. You showed up. 363 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:48,879 Speaker 1: Yeah, And it sounds like motherhood did for you what 364 00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:53,040 Speaker 1: it did for me. It galvanized me. It gave me courage, 365 00:19:53,040 --> 00:19:56,080 Speaker 1: It gave me clarity. And I think there's this myth 366 00:19:56,160 --> 00:19:59,359 Speaker 1: or misconception that our careers have to end when we 367 00:19:59,400 --> 00:20:01,879 Speaker 1: become moms, because it did for a while yeah, but 368 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:04,920 Speaker 1: for me, it gave me the courage to go even further. 369 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:06,240 Speaker 2: Well, now that's the first baby. 370 00:20:06,240 --> 00:20:10,240 Speaker 1: On the second baby'd be like, wait. 371 00:20:10,119 --> 00:20:13,359 Speaker 2: That second baby, well, that second child comes along. It 372 00:20:13,440 --> 00:20:15,200 Speaker 2: truly is a death. You go from being a daughter 373 00:20:15,240 --> 00:20:17,560 Speaker 2: and being a mother, You go from being a wife 374 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:20,199 Speaker 2: to being a capital m Yes, do you know what 375 00:20:20,200 --> 00:20:20,520 Speaker 2: I mean? 376 00:20:20,760 --> 00:20:21,040 Speaker 1: Yes? 377 00:20:21,240 --> 00:20:22,080 Speaker 2: Is that true for you? 378 00:20:22,200 --> 00:20:25,160 Speaker 1: Or oh my gosh, yeah, Karen, my second kid almost 379 00:20:25,240 --> 00:20:28,760 Speaker 1: broke me. Yes, exactly, Yeah, yeah. I had mine back 380 00:20:28,800 --> 00:20:31,080 Speaker 1: to back and I was just like, whoa, this is 381 00:20:31,080 --> 00:20:34,200 Speaker 1: way more than I ever bargained for. Yeah, and now 382 00:20:34,280 --> 00:20:36,760 Speaker 1: on the other side of it, I'm like so happy. 383 00:20:37,240 --> 00:20:40,240 Speaker 1: Of course, of course those trenches, those moments. And I 384 00:20:40,240 --> 00:20:42,520 Speaker 1: know you experienced that too, because you got pregnant with 385 00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:45,200 Speaker 1: your daughter right right after a year. 386 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:47,280 Speaker 2: And a half out of grad school. Spend all that money, 387 00:20:48,520 --> 00:20:50,200 Speaker 2: My mother said, girl, you spend all that money, I 388 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:52,399 Speaker 2: only end up pregnant beginning What in the hell are 389 00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:53,639 Speaker 2: you thinking? What are you going to do? 390 00:20:54,520 --> 00:20:59,520 Speaker 3: It was crazy, and that was a pregnancy that I 391 00:20:59,560 --> 00:21:05,880 Speaker 3: not play, you know, extraordinary father, but a partner I. 392 00:21:05,920 --> 00:21:08,920 Speaker 2: Ended up having to detach from after my daughter was born. 393 00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:13,920 Speaker 2: You know, we literally got back together to have her 394 00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:17,520 Speaker 2: because we were apart when I found out I was pregnant. Girl, 395 00:21:17,560 --> 00:21:20,439 Speaker 2: I'd messed the whole thing up. Wow, you know what 396 00:21:20,480 --> 00:21:25,080 Speaker 2: I mean? Like I had blown my whole thing up. 397 00:21:25,280 --> 00:21:26,800 Speaker 1: That's what you thought in your mind. 398 00:21:26,840 --> 00:21:27,320 Speaker 2: I had. 399 00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:28,520 Speaker 1: I'm not. 400 00:21:30,440 --> 00:21:30,879 Speaker 2: I had. 401 00:21:31,040 --> 00:21:31,080 Speaker 1: It. 402 00:21:31,200 --> 00:21:35,280 Speaker 2: Alslowed down. It slowed down to a grinding halt when 403 00:21:35,359 --> 00:21:38,080 Speaker 2: my second child was born because I had real responsibilities. 404 00:21:38,160 --> 00:21:40,159 Speaker 2: I couldn't just you know, go ahead and drop that 405 00:21:40,240 --> 00:21:43,080 Speaker 2: kid off with in laws or you know that time 406 00:21:43,080 --> 00:21:44,840 Speaker 2: and a co parent of a bus and so for 407 00:21:44,960 --> 00:21:49,119 Speaker 2: a grandma whatever. I had two children. I had real responsibilities, 408 00:21:49,480 --> 00:21:51,399 Speaker 2: and I went through it with my second child. That 409 00:21:51,520 --> 00:21:55,040 Speaker 2: was an extraordinary gift to me. Lena was speaking of 410 00:21:55,040 --> 00:21:57,960 Speaker 2: the bright side. Her name means a bright light, and 411 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:00,480 Speaker 2: she was that for me. What a really me though, 412 00:22:00,520 --> 00:22:04,119 Speaker 2: Simone was my childhood desire to be seen was not 413 00:22:04,520 --> 00:22:07,520 Speaker 2: enough to build a career on. Wait say that again. 414 00:22:07,680 --> 00:22:13,520 Speaker 2: My childhood desires to be seen was not enough to 415 00:22:13,560 --> 00:22:14,520 Speaker 2: build a career on. 416 00:22:15,440 --> 00:22:17,679 Speaker 1: And so the desire to be seen was what was 417 00:22:17,720 --> 00:22:18,359 Speaker 1: motivating you. 418 00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:23,520 Speaker 2: I realized that red carpet layer, do you know what 419 00:22:23,600 --> 00:22:29,920 Speaker 2: I mean? That applause that oh I booked that job. 420 00:22:30,119 --> 00:22:36,600 Speaker 2: That shed a validation. That was what I really needed 421 00:22:36,640 --> 00:22:38,879 Speaker 2: and wanted. But when you've got two children who have 422 00:22:38,960 --> 00:22:42,600 Speaker 2: to be fed and no partner in the house, grow 423 00:22:42,600 --> 00:22:45,840 Speaker 2: you better. You better grow up. You better grow up 424 00:22:46,760 --> 00:22:48,680 Speaker 2: because you got to feed. And so then I was like, well, 425 00:22:48,680 --> 00:22:50,920 Speaker 2: what am I going to do? And my sister, one 426 00:22:50,920 --> 00:22:53,040 Speaker 2: of my sisters, my older sister, Michelle, she's an attorney, 427 00:22:53,119 --> 00:22:55,320 Speaker 2: she said, Karen, this time to stop doing homework. You 428 00:22:55,400 --> 00:22:57,600 Speaker 2: got to go out there and get it. And then 429 00:22:57,600 --> 00:22:59,800 Speaker 2: my other sister, Rauquel, my older sister, said to me, 430 00:23:01,240 --> 00:23:03,960 Speaker 2: I mean, pooper, get off the pot, babe. What are 431 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:05,920 Speaker 2: you going to do with this career? Go out there 432 00:23:05,920 --> 00:23:08,480 Speaker 2: and get it. And it was the motivation of my sisters, 433 00:23:08,760 --> 00:23:11,639 Speaker 2: you know, their words of advice and genuine their experience 434 00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:13,919 Speaker 2: was if anybody's going to do it, you got to 435 00:23:13,960 --> 00:23:17,120 Speaker 2: do it. And that was back in twenty eleven. Now, 436 00:23:17,160 --> 00:23:20,760 Speaker 2: mind you is twenty twenty five, right, so it's been 437 00:23:20,800 --> 00:23:23,399 Speaker 2: a fourteen years. Or let me see where you are. 438 00:23:23,480 --> 00:23:26,119 Speaker 2: Let's do this in fourteen years, baby girl. Let me 439 00:23:26,160 --> 00:23:27,880 Speaker 2: know where you are in fourteen years. To sit down 440 00:23:27,920 --> 00:23:29,960 Speaker 2: and see how far you've come and all the lessons 441 00:23:29,960 --> 00:23:33,399 Speaker 2: that you've learned. That's why people say it's not the mountaintop, 442 00:23:33,720 --> 00:23:36,480 Speaker 2: it's what you're seeing as you're going up. Because my 443 00:23:36,640 --> 00:23:40,080 Speaker 2: life is not that one night at MoMA or the 444 00:23:40,080 --> 00:23:43,440 Speaker 2: Glamour magazine cover or you know, any of the extraordinary 445 00:23:43,800 --> 00:23:46,879 Speaker 2: fashion campaign, none of that. It's it's this journey I've 446 00:23:46,920 --> 00:23:49,000 Speaker 2: had over the last fourteen years from those moments I 447 00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:50,520 Speaker 2: have with my sisters. 448 00:23:50,640 --> 00:23:52,679 Speaker 1: Wow, right, it sounds like that pep talk kind of 449 00:23:52,760 --> 00:23:54,720 Speaker 1: changed everything. I mean it did. 450 00:23:54,880 --> 00:23:56,800 Speaker 2: I mean it was the biggest thing that changed me 451 00:23:56,840 --> 00:23:59,520 Speaker 2: as a mother was when my mother passed in two 452 00:23:59,520 --> 00:24:02,960 Speaker 2: thousand and sixteen. I joined the Morning Show. In twenty eighteen, 453 00:24:03,160 --> 00:24:07,480 Speaker 2: I joined in just like that cast. In twenty twenty one, 454 00:24:08,160 --> 00:24:11,640 Speaker 2: I booked a bunch of other things in their Yellowstone, 455 00:24:12,400 --> 00:24:15,680 Speaker 2: but I came to Mars Show in twenty twenty four. 456 00:24:16,040 --> 00:24:20,000 Speaker 2: So there was something that took fire and that really, 457 00:24:20,840 --> 00:24:25,800 Speaker 2: you know, ascended once my mother left this earth. And 458 00:24:25,840 --> 00:24:28,000 Speaker 2: I think some of it is that life force energy 459 00:24:28,080 --> 00:24:31,280 Speaker 2: in her that continues to propel me for that continues 460 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:34,240 Speaker 2: to mother me and nurture me from beyond. But I 461 00:24:34,280 --> 00:24:36,720 Speaker 2: also think it was just this sense of oh you 462 00:24:36,800 --> 00:24:39,040 Speaker 2: got is you girl? And you can do it. You 463 00:24:39,080 --> 00:24:40,920 Speaker 2: gotta do it, though, you gotta do it. 464 00:24:42,359 --> 00:24:45,040 Speaker 1: We talked about validation and it's such a tricky thing 465 00:24:45,080 --> 00:24:48,000 Speaker 1: because I'm not gonna lie. I need validation. Yeah, as 466 00:24:48,040 --> 00:24:49,760 Speaker 1: an artist, as a creative, I need to know them 467 00:24:49,840 --> 00:24:50,480 Speaker 1: on the right track. 468 00:24:50,560 --> 00:24:51,000 Speaker 2: Yeah. 469 00:24:51,040 --> 00:24:52,720 Speaker 1: But at the same time, I can't let it win 470 00:24:52,800 --> 00:24:54,480 Speaker 1: me over and take over me. 471 00:24:54,680 --> 00:24:54,880 Speaker 2: Yeah. 472 00:24:55,880 --> 00:24:59,280 Speaker 1: But I think every actor has that project that feels 473 00:24:59,280 --> 00:25:02,800 Speaker 1: like a turning point in their career, that feels like, yeah, 474 00:25:03,000 --> 00:25:06,200 Speaker 1: I belong here and I'm bringing something here and I 475 00:25:06,920 --> 00:25:10,479 Speaker 1: can do this. Which role or experience was that valide? 476 00:25:10,560 --> 00:25:12,879 Speaker 2: And that was in twenty fourteen when I did my 477 00:25:12,920 --> 00:25:16,280 Speaker 2: first Broadway show, and it was a play called Disgraced 478 00:25:17,080 --> 00:25:20,600 Speaker 2: with an extraordinary playwright named aod ochstar who's peeled, a 479 00:25:20,640 --> 00:25:24,199 Speaker 2: surprise winning Tony, nominated, all the things, you know. We 480 00:25:24,240 --> 00:25:26,040 Speaker 2: did the playoff Broadway and then it came to Broadway 481 00:25:26,520 --> 00:25:28,760 Speaker 2: and I was the only actor that came from the 482 00:25:28,800 --> 00:25:34,320 Speaker 2: off Broadway cast for whatever reason. But he said to me, well, 483 00:25:34,520 --> 00:25:37,320 Speaker 2: this play doesn't work without you, But I will tell you. 484 00:25:37,359 --> 00:25:41,680 Speaker 2: I actually, at some point in the process believed him, 485 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:44,000 Speaker 2: and yeah, it's extraordinary play. It doesn't have to work 486 00:25:44,000 --> 00:25:46,000 Speaker 2: with anybody he worked with, whoever he wants to. I mean, 487 00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:50,160 Speaker 2: he's aod Och star. But I thought, oh, oh, this 488 00:25:50,200 --> 00:25:52,560 Speaker 2: is different now, because after that point, I knew I 489 00:25:52,600 --> 00:25:56,520 Speaker 2: would never not work on Broadway unless I didn't want to, 490 00:25:56,880 --> 00:25:58,920 Speaker 2: and Broadway was a real goal of mine. In Nashville. 491 00:25:59,240 --> 00:26:02,679 Speaker 2: I was a younger in Nashville going around singing, start 492 00:26:02,960 --> 00:26:07,280 Speaker 2: spreading the news. My parents were like, what in the 493 00:26:07,720 --> 00:26:08,800 Speaker 2: heck she. 494 00:26:09,080 --> 00:26:13,320 Speaker 1: Do I'm leaving today? 495 00:26:13,800 --> 00:26:17,560 Speaker 2: I would go around singing that whenever I went and 496 00:26:17,560 --> 00:26:20,160 Speaker 2: They're like, what is she? I was a young girl 497 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:22,280 Speaker 2: with big, big, big feelings. You know, you have a 498 00:26:22,359 --> 00:26:24,560 Speaker 2: child that has big, big, big emotions, a big feelings. 499 00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:27,680 Speaker 2: I was that kid, and they knew not what to do. 500 00:26:27,880 --> 00:26:30,080 Speaker 1: You were manifesting before we even had the language for her. 501 00:26:30,119 --> 00:26:33,280 Speaker 2: I was, I was. But yeah, that was a big 502 00:26:33,320 --> 00:26:35,800 Speaker 2: moment for me. And also twenty eighteen when I booked 503 00:26:35,800 --> 00:26:37,320 Speaker 2: the Morning Show and. 504 00:26:37,320 --> 00:26:40,400 Speaker 1: Let's talk about your Emmy nomination for me, you've called 505 00:26:40,440 --> 00:26:41,520 Speaker 1: that a mountaintop. 506 00:26:41,840 --> 00:26:45,439 Speaker 2: That was, oh, for sure. Sure, I've had many mountaintop moments. 507 00:26:45,560 --> 00:26:47,840 Speaker 2: I mean, I think I was somewhere with that day, 508 00:26:48,000 --> 00:26:50,600 Speaker 2: and I just know I've seen all the other names 509 00:26:50,600 --> 00:26:53,080 Speaker 2: of the supporting actresses on the show come up, but 510 00:26:53,200 --> 00:26:55,520 Speaker 2: I didn't see mine. And then I saw first time 511 00:26:56,320 --> 00:26:59,800 Speaker 2: Emmy nominees on the Morning show include you know, Karen, 512 00:27:00,119 --> 00:27:04,560 Speaker 2: and I was like, I'm a person nominee. Wow, I 513 00:27:04,680 --> 00:27:09,159 Speaker 2: did it. I did it finally, And then my shoulders 514 00:27:09,200 --> 00:27:13,640 Speaker 2: dropped for a second and they were back to my neck 515 00:27:14,160 --> 00:27:17,399 Speaker 2: because there's you know, but it was an interesting It 516 00:27:17,480 --> 00:27:20,080 Speaker 2: was interesting. If did feel like a big deal in 517 00:27:20,160 --> 00:27:22,119 Speaker 2: the moment here at the top of that mountain, and 518 00:27:22,119 --> 00:27:24,800 Speaker 2: then you're like, time to go back down because you know, 519 00:27:25,760 --> 00:27:30,760 Speaker 2: sewing is work, but reaping is work too. Can't just 520 00:27:32,080 --> 00:27:34,520 Speaker 2: take all your things? And because I think you got 521 00:27:34,520 --> 00:27:36,280 Speaker 2: to put away, you got to pack up, you gotta 522 00:27:36,920 --> 00:27:40,040 Speaker 2: can you got to freeze, you gotta whatever it is. 523 00:27:40,720 --> 00:27:44,160 Speaker 2: Forgive me for being, you know, to agricultural. How par 524 00:27:44,160 --> 00:27:47,399 Speaker 2: can I take this metaphor? But having a career in 525 00:27:47,440 --> 00:27:50,840 Speaker 2: this industry is very much like agriculture. You are planning seeds, 526 00:27:50,960 --> 00:27:55,520 Speaker 2: you are nurturing relationships, you are sewing, you are reaping, 527 00:27:55,680 --> 00:27:56,720 Speaker 2: and all of that is work. 528 00:27:57,240 --> 00:27:59,080 Speaker 1: We're going to take a short break, but before we do, 529 00:27:59,440 --> 00:28:02,199 Speaker 1: if you are loving this conversation with Karen Pittman as 530 00:28:02,280 --> 00:28:04,879 Speaker 1: much as I am. Do me a favor and just 531 00:28:04,960 --> 00:28:07,080 Speaker 1: copy that link and share it with a friend. Right now, 532 00:28:07,720 --> 00:28:11,320 Speaker 1: Everyone needs a little Karen Pittman in their lives, right Okay, thanks. 533 00:28:11,160 --> 00:28:12,240 Speaker 2: You're the best. 534 00:28:15,920 --> 00:28:17,960 Speaker 1: Now it is time I want to talk about Don 535 00:28:18,160 --> 00:28:24,760 Speaker 1: in Forever. Okay, gosh, the show really impacted me. What 536 00:28:24,840 --> 00:28:28,159 Speaker 1: do you think was so unique about don and the 537 00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:31,359 Speaker 1: way that you portrayed her to elicit the kind of 538 00:28:31,440 --> 00:28:33,000 Speaker 1: viral response that you got. 539 00:28:32,800 --> 00:28:35,640 Speaker 2: From this role. Well, you know, I think it's really 540 00:28:36,440 --> 00:28:40,800 Speaker 2: it really is in the writing. She just sparked my imagination. 541 00:28:42,480 --> 00:28:45,560 Speaker 2: She made me want to fill in all those cracks 542 00:28:45,800 --> 00:28:50,800 Speaker 2: between the words because the words were so incredible. I mean, 543 00:28:50,840 --> 00:28:54,959 Speaker 2: every word is like a gospel verse in many ways. 544 00:28:55,080 --> 00:28:59,720 Speaker 2: When she says to Justin, you know these white folks 545 00:28:59,760 --> 00:29:02,440 Speaker 2: out here, they say, it takes a village until it 546 00:29:02,480 --> 00:29:08,000 Speaker 2: comes to our children. That's a word. Do I say 547 00:29:08,040 --> 00:29:10,840 Speaker 2: that and fill in all the spaces for what she 548 00:29:11,600 --> 00:29:15,360 Speaker 2: really means underneath that and what she means on the 549 00:29:15,400 --> 00:29:17,880 Speaker 2: other side of it and underneath it and above it, 550 00:29:17,960 --> 00:29:23,320 Speaker 2: and you know, so really being Dawn was about crafting 551 00:29:23,400 --> 00:29:28,720 Speaker 2: this character with a lot of with all the nuances, 552 00:29:28,720 --> 00:29:31,720 Speaker 2: but grounding the character and care and love. 553 00:29:33,000 --> 00:29:35,560 Speaker 1: So many women have reached out to you to say 554 00:29:35,560 --> 00:29:37,760 Speaker 1: that they see themselves. 555 00:29:37,400 --> 00:29:41,000 Speaker 2: So much and really all of my characters. Yes, yes, 556 00:29:41,120 --> 00:29:45,000 Speaker 2: there is a strong sense of representation in the work 557 00:29:45,160 --> 00:29:48,800 Speaker 2: that I do via Jordan do you know doctor Niawa, 558 00:29:48,880 --> 00:29:53,760 Speaker 2: Professor Wallace Nahwallace on Sex and City Reboot and for 559 00:29:54,000 --> 00:29:58,840 Speaker 2: Dawn and Forever. And it's interesting as daunting, it's a 560 00:29:58,880 --> 00:30:02,959 Speaker 2: little unrelenting sometimes as an artist, it makes you feel like, well, 561 00:30:03,680 --> 00:30:06,320 Speaker 2: I mean, my commitment is to the art. It can't 562 00:30:06,360 --> 00:30:11,320 Speaker 2: be the representation, can't be to representing. The best look 563 00:30:11,520 --> 00:30:15,480 Speaker 2: for who these women are has to be being truthful 564 00:30:15,520 --> 00:30:20,280 Speaker 2: and authentic to whatever these writers come up with. There 565 00:30:20,280 --> 00:30:23,000 Speaker 2: are times where I have conflict with that, but I 566 00:30:23,040 --> 00:30:25,959 Speaker 2: have faith that my writers will give me an opportunity 567 00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:29,880 Speaker 2: to nuance whatever comes up that I might have conflict with. 568 00:30:30,840 --> 00:30:33,480 Speaker 1: So, knowing that your dedication is to the art and 569 00:30:33,520 --> 00:30:36,920 Speaker 1: the writing and the character, I know you're also human too, 570 00:30:36,920 --> 00:30:39,080 Speaker 1: and you're a black woman and you're a black mother. 571 00:30:39,640 --> 00:30:41,560 Speaker 1: So what does it mean to you And how does 572 00:30:41,600 --> 00:30:45,000 Speaker 1: it feel whenever you hold up a mirror for audiences 573 00:30:45,200 --> 00:30:47,120 Speaker 1: like that and see that response. 574 00:30:46,800 --> 00:30:52,360 Speaker 2: Well, I think it's for me, it's an active political engagement. 575 00:30:53,280 --> 00:30:57,960 Speaker 2: It's a service, it's a vocation, it's a ministry. It's 576 00:30:58,040 --> 00:31:03,160 Speaker 2: all those highest you know, life force efforts that we 577 00:31:03,320 --> 00:31:05,720 Speaker 2: do as human beings is what I do it for. 578 00:31:05,840 --> 00:31:10,520 Speaker 2: I was raised Catholic, I was raised in scripture. I'm 579 00:31:10,520 --> 00:31:16,719 Speaker 2: not practicing Catholic anymore. I do love Jesus's teachings, but 580 00:31:16,800 --> 00:31:19,480 Speaker 2: I was raised to believe that you have a light 581 00:31:19,560 --> 00:31:21,320 Speaker 2: and you have to let it shine. God gives you 582 00:31:21,400 --> 00:31:22,960 Speaker 2: talents and what are you going to do with them? 583 00:31:23,080 --> 00:31:26,680 Speaker 2: Do you know? So it feels like a very sincerely 584 00:31:27,240 --> 00:31:32,760 Speaker 2: I am responsible. I'm accountable to my life by being 585 00:31:32,760 --> 00:31:35,520 Speaker 2: a part of that, being a part of helping to 586 00:31:36,360 --> 00:31:40,680 Speaker 2: craft conversations that get people talking not where they feel judged, 587 00:31:40,720 --> 00:31:42,600 Speaker 2: but where they just start looking inward. 588 00:31:43,440 --> 00:31:48,920 Speaker 1: One of my favorite definitions of community is people who 589 00:31:48,920 --> 00:31:51,520 Speaker 1: see your light and protect it. And it seems like 590 00:31:51,600 --> 00:31:53,600 Speaker 1: you have that with Marra Brokakiel. 591 00:31:54,320 --> 00:31:54,640 Speaker 2: Yeah. 592 00:31:55,200 --> 00:31:59,960 Speaker 1: What has female friendship given to you? When you think 593 00:32:00,080 --> 00:32:02,720 Speaker 1: about how it's impacted you and your career? 594 00:32:03,640 --> 00:32:06,800 Speaker 2: Friendship? Well, it starts really started at home, you know, 595 00:32:07,040 --> 00:32:10,040 Speaker 2: started with my siblings, my sisters really and my mother 596 00:32:10,880 --> 00:32:13,200 Speaker 2: who taught us to always really put each other. First, 597 00:32:13,440 --> 00:32:17,320 Speaker 2: loyalty is very important. And then it ended, It really 598 00:32:17,400 --> 00:32:21,320 Speaker 2: ended with this deep understanding that first and foremost that 599 00:32:21,400 --> 00:32:24,560 Speaker 2: must be a friend to myself. You know, I tell 600 00:32:24,600 --> 00:32:27,440 Speaker 2: my daughter this all the time because you know, young 601 00:32:27,480 --> 00:32:30,440 Speaker 2: girls they deal with all these questions and conflicts around 602 00:32:30,440 --> 00:32:32,920 Speaker 2: self image. I said, if you don't love you, there's 603 00:32:32,960 --> 00:32:34,920 Speaker 2: someone who's going to be able to love you in return. 604 00:32:35,000 --> 00:32:37,680 Speaker 2: Do you know love you too? So please work on 605 00:32:37,760 --> 00:32:40,959 Speaker 2: loving yourself. Please be a good friend and a best 606 00:32:40,960 --> 00:32:44,840 Speaker 2: friend to Lena. And my daughter's name is Lena, and 607 00:32:44,960 --> 00:32:48,520 Speaker 2: so really those are the two sort of my sisters 608 00:32:48,560 --> 00:32:52,520 Speaker 2: and my own sort of journey, and we're to be 609 00:32:52,640 --> 00:32:54,840 Speaker 2: kind and loving to myself has really helped me to 610 00:32:55,480 --> 00:32:59,360 Speaker 2: create a safe space for my friends, certainly for women 611 00:33:00,400 --> 00:33:03,800 Speaker 2: in my line of work in television and film industry. 612 00:33:04,480 --> 00:33:08,240 Speaker 2: There's you know, we go through it and some days 613 00:33:08,280 --> 00:33:11,680 Speaker 2: we're fine, sometimes we're sad. Some days we're like why 614 00:33:11,720 --> 00:33:13,840 Speaker 2: did you get that part? And then other days we're 615 00:33:13,880 --> 00:33:15,960 Speaker 2: like you ain't that cute? Like you know? And in 616 00:33:16,080 --> 00:33:18,040 Speaker 2: other days we're like, oh my god, girl, I can't 617 00:33:18,040 --> 00:33:19,720 Speaker 2: believe I said that. You know I love you? And 618 00:33:19,720 --> 00:33:21,000 Speaker 2: you're like, I know you love me. 619 00:33:21,040 --> 00:33:22,840 Speaker 1: I'm so glad you're back. Do you know what I mean? 620 00:33:22,880 --> 00:33:25,840 Speaker 2: It's like, it's not that petty bullshit, it's not a 621 00:33:25,880 --> 00:33:28,000 Speaker 2: grudge holding. It's like, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, you 622 00:33:28,080 --> 00:33:30,240 Speaker 2: were going through it. Let's keep going together. 623 00:33:30,720 --> 00:33:30,920 Speaker 1: You know. 624 00:33:31,040 --> 00:33:34,120 Speaker 2: It's forgiveness is love, it's creating safe space where people 625 00:33:34,160 --> 00:33:35,240 Speaker 2: can just be themselves. 626 00:33:35,320 --> 00:33:37,160 Speaker 1: I know that we're getting a season two of Forever, 627 00:33:37,240 --> 00:33:38,480 Speaker 1: which I'm so excited for it. 628 00:33:38,600 --> 00:33:42,800 Speaker 2: Yes, me too. Do you have any hopes for Dawn? Well, 629 00:33:42,880 --> 00:33:46,320 Speaker 2: I know that we started this show in twenty eighteen, 630 00:33:48,480 --> 00:33:52,200 Speaker 2: so if we're basing it in some sort of historical truth, 631 00:33:52,400 --> 00:33:54,480 Speaker 2: and I know that she's going to encounter all of 632 00:33:54,520 --> 00:33:57,280 Speaker 2: the things that I encountered in twenty twenty, the death 633 00:33:57,280 --> 00:34:00,680 Speaker 2: of Mamatt Arbery, the death of Breonna Taylor, the death 634 00:34:00,720 --> 00:34:04,680 Speaker 2: of George Floyd. And I think what the writers did 635 00:34:04,720 --> 00:34:06,560 Speaker 2: give me, what Mara gave me, was this idea of 636 00:34:06,600 --> 00:34:10,960 Speaker 2: catastrophic parenting and how that creates anxiety and worry and 637 00:34:11,040 --> 00:34:13,960 Speaker 2: concern in her. I know that it's going to get 638 00:34:14,160 --> 00:34:17,280 Speaker 2: very heightened for her, but I'm interested in what Maara 639 00:34:18,080 --> 00:34:20,040 Speaker 2: is doing. She keeps it very close to the vest, 640 00:34:20,080 --> 00:34:23,120 Speaker 2: but I trust her. Trust is a beautiful thing. Yes, 641 00:34:23,160 --> 00:34:23,759 Speaker 2: I trust her. 642 00:34:23,840 --> 00:34:27,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, I've actually seen you say that you don't 643 00:34:27,600 --> 00:34:30,960 Speaker 1: have imposter syndrome. No, I don't anymore, but you had 644 00:34:30,960 --> 00:34:33,080 Speaker 1: it at one time, right, No, for sure, but you've 645 00:34:33,080 --> 00:34:33,719 Speaker 1: grown out of it. 646 00:34:34,160 --> 00:34:34,640 Speaker 2: I had to. 647 00:34:35,160 --> 00:34:37,560 Speaker 1: I think it's so refreshing to hear women say I 648 00:34:37,600 --> 00:34:40,000 Speaker 1: don't have imposter syndrome, because we hear so many women 649 00:34:40,080 --> 00:34:42,120 Speaker 1: say that they do have it. We need to see 650 00:34:42,120 --> 00:34:44,799 Speaker 1: the models. We're saying you don't have to have it. 651 00:34:45,680 --> 00:34:48,399 Speaker 1: So what did it take for you to grow out 652 00:34:48,440 --> 00:34:50,320 Speaker 1: of it? Was there a moment, a breakthrough? 653 00:34:51,719 --> 00:34:56,680 Speaker 2: I think maturity a matter of time, extending grace to myself, 654 00:34:57,280 --> 00:35:02,040 Speaker 2: making mistakes, taking huge swings, and you know, do you 655 00:35:02,080 --> 00:35:05,959 Speaker 2: know we have a swing in the bat. I think 656 00:35:06,000 --> 00:35:11,800 Speaker 2: it does take seeing other women trying things and failing. 657 00:35:12,120 --> 00:35:14,360 Speaker 2: You know, when I was growing up, I was an athlete, 658 00:35:14,400 --> 00:35:18,600 Speaker 2: big time athlete. So I think that competition can be 659 00:35:18,640 --> 00:35:23,840 Speaker 2: a great tool for self knowledge. And as an athlete, 660 00:35:24,120 --> 00:35:26,759 Speaker 2: I loved competing because I could learn so much about 661 00:35:26,800 --> 00:35:30,680 Speaker 2: myself in the process. And one of my favorite athletes 662 00:35:30,719 --> 00:35:34,920 Speaker 2: is Naomi Osaka, and I think Naomi does this extraordinary 663 00:35:34,920 --> 00:35:40,359 Speaker 2: gift of letting us see her emotion, her anxiety, all 664 00:35:40,360 --> 00:35:44,000 Speaker 2: of her fears, and she doesn't hide them. She can't. 665 00:35:44,040 --> 00:35:46,560 Speaker 2: She actually can't hide them. I mean, you see Naomi 666 00:35:46,640 --> 00:35:50,960 Speaker 2: on a court and she is joyful and then she's winning. 667 00:35:51,000 --> 00:35:53,480 Speaker 2: But if Naomi is losing, you see it all over 668 00:35:53,520 --> 00:35:56,480 Speaker 2: her face. And what a gift she gives us by 669 00:35:56,560 --> 00:36:00,719 Speaker 2: letting her, allowing us to watch her journey. She has 670 00:36:00,800 --> 00:36:05,120 Speaker 2: a new documentary on to be called Second Set, and 671 00:36:05,160 --> 00:36:10,160 Speaker 2: it is about her experience as a mother, her journey 672 00:36:10,200 --> 00:36:12,839 Speaker 2: after having had her daughter at twenty six years old 673 00:36:12,880 --> 00:36:16,120 Speaker 2: twenty five, twenty six years old, she says, people have 674 00:36:16,200 --> 00:36:18,800 Speaker 2: said that my career is over, but they don't understand 675 00:36:18,840 --> 00:36:21,560 Speaker 2: as it's just starting. And it just so touched me 676 00:36:21,640 --> 00:36:25,640 Speaker 2: deeply that she figured that out. I wish I had 677 00:36:25,920 --> 00:36:29,600 Speaker 2: known it twenty five, that you know, opening yourself into 678 00:36:30,040 --> 00:36:32,359 Speaker 2: areas where you don't know how it's going to turn 679 00:36:32,440 --> 00:36:36,520 Speaker 2: out great risk is actually going to expand you in 680 00:36:36,600 --> 00:36:40,400 Speaker 2: ways that you cannot foresee. I can imagine, you know, 681 00:36:40,920 --> 00:36:42,799 Speaker 2: on the other side of what that process is going 682 00:36:42,840 --> 00:36:45,880 Speaker 2: to look like. And so watching other women you know, 683 00:36:45,960 --> 00:36:48,080 Speaker 2: do it has really helped me to do it too. 684 00:36:48,760 --> 00:36:51,359 Speaker 2: What's behind the emotion I'm seeing in I just think 685 00:36:51,600 --> 00:36:54,920 Speaker 2: I just think it's a just special one. I think 686 00:36:54,960 --> 00:36:57,080 Speaker 2: she's very special. I think I just you know, I 687 00:36:57,120 --> 00:37:03,000 Speaker 2: have such a fondness for Naomi, but also any woman 688 00:37:03,000 --> 00:37:05,400 Speaker 2: who's like gone through I just you know, it's empathy. 689 00:37:06,080 --> 00:37:06,360 Speaker 1: M h. 690 00:37:06,800 --> 00:37:07,440 Speaker 2: I'm an actor. 691 00:37:08,600 --> 00:37:09,560 Speaker 1: I got big feelings. 692 00:37:09,680 --> 00:37:13,279 Speaker 2: I got such big feelings. Child is exhausting, how many 693 00:37:13,400 --> 00:37:16,400 Speaker 2: big feelings I have? Lord free me from these big failings. 694 00:37:16,680 --> 00:37:20,480 Speaker 2: But but yeah, I mean I felt that same way 695 00:37:20,520 --> 00:37:22,080 Speaker 2: when I saw Michelle Obama talk. 696 00:37:22,200 --> 00:37:22,400 Speaker 3: You know. 697 00:37:24,239 --> 00:37:28,640 Speaker 2: What she's been through that poor mega Markle, Oh my god. 698 00:37:28,800 --> 00:37:33,200 Speaker 2: And also Ree's been through so much, Jennifer, Like I 699 00:37:33,200 --> 00:37:36,400 Speaker 2: have deep, deep, deep empathy, mar I have deep empathy 700 00:37:37,080 --> 00:37:39,320 Speaker 2: for these people who have walked through these storms on 701 00:37:39,400 --> 00:37:41,239 Speaker 2: their own, these women who walk through the storms on 702 00:37:41,320 --> 00:37:44,520 Speaker 2: their own and come out on the other side. I mean, 703 00:37:44,560 --> 00:37:48,240 Speaker 2: Reese is a perfect example. She has set a template, 704 00:37:49,719 --> 00:37:53,439 Speaker 2: she really is. She set a template for how women 705 00:37:53,840 --> 00:37:57,320 Speaker 2: get through periods in their careers where they can't or 706 00:37:57,440 --> 00:38:02,200 Speaker 2: they're not given the opportunity to work. Blazed trail. And 707 00:38:02,320 --> 00:38:04,880 Speaker 2: that's not just you know, you don't just say that lightly. 708 00:38:04,920 --> 00:38:07,640 Speaker 2: I know this is on Hello Sunshine, and this our company. 709 00:38:07,680 --> 00:38:12,440 Speaker 2: But I do mean this literally, active trail blazing is 710 00:38:12,480 --> 00:38:17,240 Speaker 2: actually a very lonely and daunting pursuit. And she figured 711 00:38:17,239 --> 00:38:20,200 Speaker 2: it out and now so many other people, so many 712 00:38:20,280 --> 00:38:23,520 Speaker 2: other women will know she went that direction. That's the 713 00:38:23,560 --> 00:38:25,279 Speaker 2: way I go. Do you know what I mean? Oh, 714 00:38:26,239 --> 00:38:29,640 Speaker 2: so I learned no imposter syndrome because of just you know, 715 00:38:29,800 --> 00:38:33,280 Speaker 2: watching other people, but also just you know, failing failing 716 00:38:33,360 --> 00:38:34,680 Speaker 2: for you. 717 00:38:34,719 --> 00:38:37,440 Speaker 1: Know what, Karen, I'm having a moment right now because 718 00:38:37,960 --> 00:38:41,160 Speaker 1: I'm realizing why you are the talent that you are. 719 00:38:41,480 --> 00:38:41,640 Speaker 2: Oh. 720 00:38:42,040 --> 00:38:44,239 Speaker 1: When I watch your work, you're honestly one of my 721 00:38:44,280 --> 00:38:47,320 Speaker 1: favorite actors to watch, so good you are. I always 722 00:38:47,400 --> 00:38:49,720 Speaker 1: have a bunch of screens going whenever I'm watching stuff 723 00:38:49,719 --> 00:38:52,960 Speaker 1: because add and the Internet and everything. Whenever you come 724 00:38:53,000 --> 00:38:55,520 Speaker 1: on screen, or whenever I find out, oh, Karen Pittman's 725 00:38:55,520 --> 00:38:57,000 Speaker 1: in this, Oh, let me put my stuff down, let 726 00:38:57,040 --> 00:38:58,680 Speaker 1: me lock in, let me pay a time to everybody, 727 00:38:58,760 --> 00:39:03,560 Speaker 1: be quiet, exactly Karen Pittman is on show is on. 728 00:39:04,880 --> 00:39:09,360 Speaker 1: But what I'm realizing now talking to you, Karen Pittman, 729 00:39:09,760 --> 00:39:13,080 Speaker 1: like the woman behind all these characters, and seeing the 730 00:39:13,160 --> 00:39:15,520 Speaker 1: deep empathy that you have in the way that you 731 00:39:15,840 --> 00:39:18,759 Speaker 1: are just filled with emotion talking about the women who 732 00:39:18,840 --> 00:39:23,880 Speaker 1: inspire you, like this is what makes you a truly 733 00:39:25,040 --> 00:39:25,959 Speaker 1: generational talent. 734 00:39:26,440 --> 00:39:30,120 Speaker 2: Oh, thank you, Yeah to you, Simon. It's us together 735 00:39:30,320 --> 00:39:35,480 Speaker 2: that that's doing this, that's having this moment a deep, soulful, 736 00:39:35,760 --> 00:39:37,439 Speaker 2: spiritual experience. Yeah. 737 00:39:37,800 --> 00:39:40,239 Speaker 1: I feel so lucky that we get to witness you 738 00:39:40,360 --> 00:39:41,960 Speaker 1: as you're building this body of work. 739 00:39:42,200 --> 00:39:44,000 Speaker 2: No, that's what's happening. 740 00:39:44,120 --> 00:39:45,959 Speaker 1: You're building a legendary body of work. 741 00:39:46,160 --> 00:39:48,319 Speaker 2: Oh, Cloud, I'm so glad you feel like that, because 742 00:39:48,320 --> 00:39:49,000 Speaker 2: I hope I am. 743 00:39:49,160 --> 00:39:50,880 Speaker 1: Okay, I need to lighten the mood for a minute. 744 00:39:50,960 --> 00:39:53,440 Speaker 1: I want to end on a silly note. Okay, when 745 00:39:53,440 --> 00:39:55,800 Speaker 1: I was working in news, I worked in news for 746 00:39:55,880 --> 00:39:58,560 Speaker 1: many years and people will often ask me to do 747 00:39:58,960 --> 00:40:02,040 Speaker 1: my anchor voice. Oh yeah, have you have you ever 748 00:40:02,320 --> 00:40:05,120 Speaker 1: just dabbled in a news anchor impressures. 749 00:40:04,600 --> 00:40:05,120 Speaker 3: You have to? 750 00:40:05,520 --> 00:40:06,040 Speaker 1: We have to. 751 00:40:06,160 --> 00:40:06,719 Speaker 2: You're kidding me? 752 00:40:06,960 --> 00:40:07,480 Speaker 1: Can I hear it? 753 00:40:09,600 --> 00:40:09,719 Speaker 3: Hi? 754 00:40:09,880 --> 00:40:13,760 Speaker 2: This is Karen Pitman and you are watching the bride side. 755 00:40:13,920 --> 00:40:17,480 Speaker 2: I don't know what do I say? That was perfect? 756 00:40:17,680 --> 00:40:20,200 Speaker 1: Karen Pittman, thank you so much for coming on the 757 00:40:20,280 --> 00:40:20,840 Speaker 1: bright side. 758 00:40:21,520 --> 00:40:22,239 Speaker 2: We did it. 759 00:40:22,920 --> 00:40:28,440 Speaker 1: We did Karen Pittman is an Emmy nominated actor and 760 00:40:28,600 --> 00:40:31,719 Speaker 1: star of the Morning Show. Season four is available on 761 00:40:31,760 --> 00:40:37,480 Speaker 1: Apple TV right now. The bright Side is a production 762 00:40:37,600 --> 00:40:41,080 Speaker 1: of Hello Sunshine and iHeart Podcasts and is executive produced 763 00:40:41,080 --> 00:40:45,040 Speaker 1: by Rhys Witherspoon and met Simone Boyce. Production is by 764 00:40:45,120 --> 00:40:49,560 Speaker 1: A Cast Creative Studios. Our producers are Taylor Williamson, Adrian Bain, 765 00:40:50,000 --> 00:40:53,960 Speaker 1: Abby Delk, and Darby Masters. Our production assistant is Joya 766 00:40:54,000 --> 00:40:58,880 Speaker 1: putnoy A Casts executive producers are Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rudder. 767 00:40:59,280 --> 00:41:02,800 Speaker 1: Maureen Polo and Reese Witherspoon are the executive producers for 768 00:41:02,920 --> 00:41:07,080 Speaker 1: Hello Sunshine. Ali Perry and Lauren Hansen are the executive 769 00:41:07,120 --> 00:41:10,839 Speaker 1: producers for iHeart Podcasts. Our theme song is by Anna 770 00:41:10,920 --> 00:41:12,800 Speaker 1: Stump and Hamilton Lighthouser.