¶ Discussion on Relationships and Boundaries
Thank you , thank you , thank you , carmen , for putting all this together , putting our two groups together . A lot of back office discussion about how we were going to do this , and I'm sorry that I was late . Cynthia , nice to meet you . Andrea , nice to meet you too , rick , as always , it's good to be here .
I'm sure we got a bunch of things to talk about . I don't know how , what are going to be the parameters and everything else like that . Usually on Thursday nights , right after All , about the Joy we usually do Late Night Parents where we talk a little bit of technology , a little bit of education , a little bit of parenting and a lot about sports .
And we talk about new products and other things that we kind of run across News , current events , Current events , social issues and everything like that . Quite a few opinions , yeah , quite a few opinions . So we usually do that and we usually piggyback off of you guys sometimes because you guys have some great topics .
So we thought it would be beneficial to work with you guys to see if we could do something like this , maybe once a quarter .
Oh , oh , I'm sorry what .
You heard that too right , you heard that too .
That is a great idea . Yeah , this is some of my hard negotiating . If you see me hard at work usually , if you see me doing my daytime job , I'm like we just throw this one in , since everyone does most of their own live streams or pups . Maybe Cynthia and I can talk about a specific topic on Night Parents .
Andrea , who's a mom , we can talk about things like that . Tony does certain things . I'm sure you guys would love to listen to Mr B's podcast and live streams on MMA , mixed Martial Arts and stuff like that .
People don't like violence .
Brian Talks about everything cooking and gaming Rick for those of you that are spiritual and love the Lord . He gives you that flavor and we would just like to learn about the different expertise that Cynthia and Andrea would . You guys ?
Andrea .
Yes , Andrea .
It's Andrea .
Oh , it's Andrea , that's Andrea .
No , andrea . Andrea , you can be really hard , but you're leading , you're right Andrea .
Okay so .
Andrea , we've done some research on you so we know you do all different types of consulting and leadership and stuff like that . So we would love to hear from you .
What do you want to hear ?
You guys think I'm bad Some of the stuff that you do , some of the mentoring , the coaching and stuff that you do .
My work , work Great . Yeah , it's like quitting time . I don't know that's what's going on .
Very nice . We would love to have my work done afterwards .
Hey Alma , how you ?
doing yeah .
I guess like the elevator speech .
The elevator speeches . I work with organizations on leadership development and strategic and succession planning , do a lot of executive coaching and just ideally help people cultivate better workplaces where people actually like being at work or don't hate it .
And Cynthia , if you could break this up to speed for Brian myself . Maybe Tony knows , but I don't know if Jojo knows what you want to do what I do .
I'm a medical administrator , just graduated college for anthropology and hoping to get my master's degree Nice .
And then you get the apology , hey .
So good stuff , Good stuff , that is good stuff . Carmen helped me out a lot this week . I was able to pick her brains on a few things , a few topics and things like that not related to the show but or business and I did it for free . She did it for free . How do you like that ? She did it for free . I'm sure she would have charged a grip for it .
No , I wouldn't have . So , yes , carmen helped me out greatly this week on a few things that I need to hopefully address , and it was , I tell you , discussions like that are usually great because when you're surrounded by yes , people and you're surrounded and I guess it's some similar work that people would do when you're looking to how do you increase ?
Or you just need to hear some straight talk sometimes from people , and we all know how shy I am and I would never believe you that .
So , hard to get straight . Talk to Carmen . But yeah , Carmen's always beating around the bush she never tells you what's really on her mind .
She never really tells you . You know , and I'm walking through the subway .
I'm walking through the subway and she's giving me the straight talk and I'm like , okay , and she said maybe you don't want to hear this , ted , but I'm going to tell you anyway . I was just like , okay , but it was good . It was good , no , it was really helpful . Well , you need to tell them what I said .
You can't hear that . You just left it all out .
You got to tease a few things you got to tease , a few things you know we'll get to that . We'll get to that point . You know we'll get to that , but I guess first , Carmen , we were talking about topics to discuss amongst our group . That made sense and I guess we could lead off with relationships .
Jada and Will . No , I'm just kidding .
Will and Jada or Jada and Will or .
I'm just kidding . I'm just wondering where Tony is .
I don't know why that's bothering me so much I had to get a little out of the dryer . My work clothes were expensive . I apologize .
Okay , he's there , he's there , he's there , did you ?
say I know Alma , I don't know . Ted is teasing it to show Alma you got to hang on .
Maybe in the C block we'll get into . She was beating me up the entire way , you know , but it was constructive . I was going to put you up .
You asked me a question and I answered it in the flavor that is Carmen , yeah .
Which is very honest and very strong .
Okay , here's the thing . Why are you going to ask me a question ? You all know me pretty well . Even Mr B , who probably knows me the least here , would know if he asked me a question , he's going to get a straight up answer , right .
Probably right here . Yeah , that's true .
I said it nicely and kindly , but I told you the truth .
You did , you did and we'll get to that . We were talking about relationships . Last night I was watching you guys . Just to let you know , there was no stream last night because I had some dental work done yesterday so by the time I woke up it was like 10 minutes after nine , so I just watched you guys .
What you guys last night we're talking about Will and Jada and your thoughts on the promotion , the book , things that you used to say in the public , things that you shouldn't , things you know .
Well , it was kind of a jumping off point . It wasn't really about Will and Jada although Mario had some thoughts about Will and Jada but it was really about , like , how much information is too much information ? Like , how much are you willing to share with each other at work , right ?
So one of the big issues I'm having at work right now and anybody who knows me , when you text me during a day or whatever you know , I'm in the middle of talking to a team of people and the big conversation I've had in two different places telling people . I'm not your friend .
I've had to say that multiple times in the past few months to different teams . I'm not your friend , I'm not your therapist .
I need you to do your work , you know , because some people will just want to share way too much information and give too much like just a lot of excuses that are very personal for why something is done which you know we're all happy and want to be as supportive as possible for whatever is going on in your life .
But at the end of the day , I don't care , you know , I need the work done , and so it was kind of that . It was kind of a jumping off point . Alma said I respect that . I subscribe to the same philosophy . If you want the truth , ask me . If you want someone to be nice , you're not going to get that over here . We're the same .
So yeah , so that's kind of what we were talking about when it comes to relationships . But we can dwell into whatever you want .
Well , I guess , do you guys actually really still do want to talk , will and Jada , or just , is that kind of beat to death ?
I think it's beat to death . I think it's a lot of their personal business , should be out there as much as it is . And I'll be honest , those memes are brutal . Y'all ain't right on social media .
I'm gonna tell all of y'all .
Funny , funny . Some of those memes are funny they were friends , they were homies .
I'm gonna need a bunch of y'all to stop back and like men and women can't be friends without trying to get with each other , because y'all front what yes .
I have been we ain't never get together , we just man , what's up ?
with that .
What's up with that when I ?
saw that woman . It was in the car with sugar to buy . I said I'm through with y'all on social media Clearly . I miss something . They're just going hard on Jada . They're going real hard .
Yeah .
Yeah .
Talking about that , jada was two pocked the whole time .
Okay , that's just wrong . That's just wrong , hey fireman .
Hey , what's up , rich ? I see you down there too , but no , I mean I'm over . Y'all can discuss it . Yeah , I don't have much because I think they've gone through enough . Kanye and Kim , they're going through enough . I just saw a story on him was going on with his situation .
I don't know To me , and I'll say this about relationships , the biggest problem I've seen with relationships right now is they are advertising broken homes .
Yeah .
I said this on Tiff a while ago they advertise a marriage , they advertise having kids , then they advertise a problem . Then they advertise divorce . Then they advertise somebody else taking care of the kids and somebody else got somebody else who can't see the kids enough .
That is entirely too much on social media and also blame a lot of television because they pushing it . 80s TV shows families that were steady and comfortable . They didn't go through that . You hate divorce . Now you want to see a divorce because you want to see everybody survives afterwards . Yeah , that's exactly what they're advertising .
But , but tone . I got a challenge that because 50% of marriages end in divorce .
I used to be 75 . I remember .
Okay , Well wait . Are you talking about , like the overall number or African American households ?
overall . Okay , overall it was 75% of marriages ended in divorce , so there was almost no one sent it to get married . So how do you even keep a family together if you're pushing that narrative ?
We got to push it better People staying together and working through issues , instead of just being one and done and not having nothing and struggling just to maintain what you built in the first place , right ?
Wait , are you advocating staying in a marriage even if the relationship is over because of the children ?
I'm advocating .
I'm advocating for marriage .
That's my Tony . Be careful , I will do this . I will have marriage .
I'm fighting with you . I'm asking a question .
I know I will advocate for marriage , I will advocate for people . So can I ask ?
a question . What do you consider to be a great marriage , something that should be saved ?
You got to fight through everything you have to , and it's really going to have to start with you both sides male , female , husband , wife , husband , husband , wife , wife , all of y'all .
You got to Tony . What about Tony ? What about infidelity ?
That is where it gets tricky to me , and I will .
Finances and infidelity . How do you get around those two things ?
Finance has become an issue when you don't have it established in the first place . I'm not going to talk against people who lost their jobs I'm not . You don't anticipate that . But if you came in with a bad financial situation and you don't work to improve it either side not just one that's the problem I can't answer . I'll be honest about that .
But people got to learn how to . When you get married , you got to know what you're getting yourself into .
Okay , I'm going to say something , because I'm a little frustrated . I'm confused here . Tony , you're married , you're in the middle of a divorce , right ? Or you've already been divorced ?
Okay .
So my question is you're saying all this , but it says not to get too personal . But then why didn't you fight for your marriage or why didn't you stay together ?
I did Okay .
But you still ended in divorce .
That was necessarily my fault .
So why would you want to stay with somebody who doesn't want to stay with you , is my question .
That's the hard question . Why would you want to ? Depends on what the situations are of the divorce and so why you even got to that point . Sometimes it's infidelity , sometimes it's finances , sometimes it's just tired of each other . Sometimes , some people just get married to get what they want .
For the moment , you got a lot of variables when it comes to divorce . These days , it's not just infidelity .
Hey , rick , can you put that message on screen ? The last one from fireman rich Marry 37 years , marry , 37 years .
Yep . Congratulations to the misses . Yeah , I mean I mean overall .
Overall , though , you got to have a healthy balance . That's one thing . It has to be a healthy balance , not a what have you done ? For me lately it's not like a business transaction .
The last two years , from 2020 to 2022 , when I was with the move , when I was a coordinator for a moving company , I have moved a lot of people that ended up in divorce where the guy had to take an early retirement and a pay cut , but they had a downsized they're lavish seven bedroom house to a four bedroom house and the wife was like no , I can't do
this , no more , I'm out . I felt bad for the dude . A lot of them were cooped up together . They just got to the point where they couldn't stand each other . That ended up into a breakup or divorce , but it's just like there's
¶ Balance and Growth in Relationships
no . There's no balance .
Honestly it's either it's .
There's no give and take , there's no , I mean . There's no trust , there's no respect , there's no balance . There's , I mean , and even witnessing it with my , with my , my friends in my inner circle , with their relationships , I mean like if you take out , if you get married , there's a bow . It's a bow for reason .
That's why they have that for richer , for poorer , for sicker , for health . I'm a ride or die , and if you ain't going to be a rudder die with me , then I ain't got . Then buy kick rocks , go , I mean , because I I'm at the point in my life I don't need any more headaches . I got enough dealing with my headaches already . I don't need any more .
If you don't cook and you like cleaning , great , I like cooking . Or if it's vice versa , it don't matter . There's got to be a healthy balance . I agree with the balance . I've never been married .
Thank you , wow . So what you do ? I'm going to be a wow .
So what you ?
do Listen , listen . I have been divorced , and even I'm shutting my mouth right .
So no , no , no , but you shouldn't have to no , no , no , no , no .
Here's my point . I'm okay with people getting divorced and here's why I think we have a really weird idea that we have to stay with one person , the perfect person , forever , and everything that we're talking about is this weird idea that if that , if it doesn't work , that somehow you failed at something .
I know divorce is hard , I get it , and I don't have children and my divorce was amicable . Everybody here knows that I am the godmother to the child of my ex-husband .
Okay , so clearly I have a very amicable , very friendly relationship and I think what bothers me is the animosity that happens with people when you do look at everyone has been like Alma , I know you and Mario been married and I get it . I love all the people who've been married for all the umpteen years . Bravo to you .
But that doesn't mean that other relationships didn't work out Okay Just because people got divorced . I think we have to change our mindset . It doesn't have to be . You don't have to be so angry about it .
Sometimes relationships change and end and if you loved someone to begin with , then you can love them even if you don't like them anymore for whatever choices they had to make , and move on and understand that your anger is all about you , but also too .
But with relationships in marriage it's like a plant you got to give time to grow . It takes work . You can't , you can't , you can't just one .
A plant can die . That's right , because you don't ?
I mean ?
as much as you care for it as much as you give it water the plant gives you oxygen . It can still die .
It takes work and everybody's doing the same thing you put in the work .
Listen , I've been with my husband for 25 years and we have had what
if I leave the toilet seat up this damn thing down . You don't have to break up with me for that stupid shit .
Yo , you know what ? I'ma let Cynthia and Andrea talk on my sugar break 25 years we've been together .
We definitely have had ups and downs . He's disabled . Now he can't work , so I'm the sole breadwinner . You know what I'm saying . But we work at our relationship and it's not perfect . There is no relationship that is perfect , correct , and you know . And if down the line we decide we want to get a divorce , then so be it .
Then we're happy for each other to be happy with someone else .
I got a text on what you're saying right now .
Rick , we love each other .
You will love each other through whatever iteration your relationship is , even if that's separate . You don't have to . What I'm for is people being content and fulfilled , and that can happen in a marriage , it can happen outside a marriage , it can happen for a period of time in a marriage and then you grow in a different direction and that's okay .
But to me it's just a Archaic kind of instant . And I've married , my anniversary is tomorrow , so I mean it's . It's a big institution that people don't really need .
The wrong , different directions . I'm seeing a lot more of . That's what's concerning me with today's society .
There's a lot of people growing different a lot of people choose not to grow . That's the issue . People Decision not to grow right and if one person Not to grow and the other person is making the decision to grow , what are you gonna do ?
That is .
A love Dawson that's Alma .
That's Mario's wife .
Oh , okay , alma .
Her name like , but it's a loose , loose Dawson .
I've been married for 25 years , together 28 , and it is work . It is a choice to love , honor and obey . You work every day .
But from the beginning we establish boundaries and deal breakers , those things and I promise you , when Alma says obey , she don't mean she just obey her husband , she means the other way around .
Also to theater . Roosevelt said it best . He said comparison is the biggest thief , is the biggest thief of joy . So when you're on cut , when y'all social media and you're like , oh look , they're in the Bahamas and we're in Florida . Oh look , they're in Canada , we're in Birmingham , alabama , you're always comparing .
And then by telling me , no , you're like why can't my dude be like that dude ? I can't my chick be like that chick . It's always comparing and that , what . That is what really destroys a relationship . You're compared to all that it's not a competition , it's not a competition media is just a facade .
People put up what they want to look like their relationships . And their lives are perfect , and then other people are getting jealous for something that isn't even real .
People that , having grown , and then they make it . They make it like a trend , which , which is horrible to hear , to say . You know what I mean . I think about it turning marriage into a trend where everybody's like you know , let's get married , because they're married , and they're married , let's get married . And now it's like we're here , we are .
Oh , I hate your guts . I eat your guts too . You know , some , some people are more happy just being together , then being married , and marriage doesn't work for everybody . But when you guys say you know you want the best for your significant other and whether you're together or not , you separate , you separate . You just want the best , that's it .
You don't got to have animosity towards people or anything . Just go about your way , man , and just say it is what it is .
I think that's what makes me sad about most of the marriages that I see that break up and again I know that my situation is an extreme , but it shouldn't be , you know , like if you loved it , someone enough to do that , to make that commitment .
It makes me sad how much people loathe and hate and have such resentment towards the person that they had children with that they are gonna spend the rest of their lives with and it's kind of like can you , can you find a way to forgive Either yourself and that other person you know ?
And I just want to tell just a couple people in the chat room I don't want to leave them hanging . Mario , I'm not going after you . Baby Melanie just said you can grow as individuals , keep communication open and stay together . Yeah , I Don't know why fireman rich is bringing in go Texas rangers . Haha , I'm on follow you or whatever .
And LaToya , unconditional love on both parts is necessary . Ooh , that's a good one . One might grow quicker , but then that's a moment to carry the other person . Oh , I like that .
Yeah , but also , but also to a foundation , and boundaries were not set in place to begin with , because if you set up a foundation , you set up boundaries . You will have a good relationship .
From my observation , from everybody else I know and everybody else I've spoken to , that been married for X amount of years , my , like my failed relationships has been financial because , like it's my choice in the type of jobs I wanted to go , but I do the best of my ability , you know shit , I mean .
But the thing about it is it's like hey , rich , but hey , I mean you want to go , you want to go for somebody else , you know that that wants to flaunt and all that stuff . Fine , go ahead , be that way .
But it's just like , hey , you know , well , I mean , but but also to but it like what annoys me from my past experience is just that like I'd be there , for I'd be like , yeah , what do you need ? I got you . Would you need help with that ? I got you , but the moment I run into a snag , oh bye , I gotta go .
I know , but , like I said , it's been like financial because it's like I run into a snag , but yet everything else I've done , I helped them out try not to help them out so much .
Yeah , don't do what you can . Like don't over exert yourself trying to give them everything when they can't do the same to you well , but I expect that reciprocated , like I was there for you and your time of need . Do you need to be on our last podcast with the love language ? Your language is not the same as the girls you've been finding .
Cuz . I mean like I can fix shit , I could cook shit , I mean I could do it .
Yeah , brian , I . You should talk to Cynthia later . She can get by .
Not hard to find . It's all good , I'm not hard to find .
Brian , I think you're just choosing the wrong people , or you're not choosing , but you're connecting and maybe falling for people and maybe you don't see the signs . Because , look at as much as I make fun of you and whatever we , we go back and forth . I know you a good man and I know you can cook some shit .
Okay , that I go give you some credit right there . I've seen you with the barb you okay like I would go to Texas just for that . Okay , so You're a good person , you work hard . You need to find a person that connects on your level . You're not finding those right people .
Yes , yeah .
Want from you , know what you want in a relationship , what your own values are , so that you can kind of Scream people for those values .
Doesn't mean they have to really match up , but they can't be like in total conflict either and one thing I'll say too is if you don't want me , then I don't want you , because why would I want you if you don't want me ? Sound simple , but it's like that's the bottom line . If someone doesn't want to be you .
They're not the right person . Boom done , there you go right .
¶ Significant Other Need to be Your Best Friend?
Something that you guys had mentioned a couple of weeks ago and I responded to you , but it was at the end of your stream . Does your significant other need to be your best friend ?
I say no which is it may need to be , but it probably would help the relationship a little if they are one of your best friends .
So I say no , but a comment that was used earlier . I think that person , a significant other , needs to be your right to die .
Yeah .
But they don't have to be your best friend can you tell me what ride or die is versus best friend ? What does that mean ? What's the difference or what does it mean , because I don't know what that means .
Um , you know , your significant other is your right at that , meaning you can depend on them when needed , just as they would depend on you .
But it's the same as a best friend . A best friend , you would depend on them regardless of whatever .
And they would have an expiration date .
They're close .
They're very close .
Become your best friend though .
Situation . I'm just saying there's a little bit more to it .
I know , I know , I know , I know , I know , I know it's going , I know it's going . Yeah , I'm just saying though , like all right , I get it . You know , I mean I'm in a situation , you know , I mean , uh , I'm falling and I can't get up . I mean , I mean , I need a upliftment . Here you go . Yeah , I got that , thank you .
You know what I mean , but it's not just like you know I mean compared to your best friend . You know we could talk , we could do this , you could do . It's a good place . There's a slight difference between the two . Now I'm thinking about it . There is a slight difference between the two .
I don't know what it is , they 'll potentially Eventually become that same person .
Yeah , if you put the time in . Yeah , if the time is put in , they'll eventually become the same person . But I Get my daughter die .
My best friends are my ride or die . I don't have With no experience there's . No , I don't know what that was about . Brian , next week it's over , you're no longer . It's been 30 years . It's a me a ride , a die .
You could be stuck in the side road at two o'clock in the morning . They'll be there . Yeah , be there , yeah , the best friend will be like oh , I hate that for you oh .
I .
Sometimes the best friend could pop up out of nowhere . You know what I mean .
I feel like we have to have individual therapy sessions .
Feel like these men . I had some really bad relationship , friends and and partner . Wise Tony agrees .
Yeah .
Carmen , your friends , and you're like what ?
Okay so .
I could call me from frickin , thailand , at 2 am and I'd be on a plane . Yeah yeah , right . Yes , you know , like , without even thinking , like , should I do this or not ? It would just be .
So I , so , andrea , I mean this Andrea , but go ahead she . Okay , and I can't butch your Cynthia , okay , so I have a couple of . I have a best friend . We've been friends for 40 plus years . We don't have to talk every day , right , we can get on the phone and just pick up from when ?
yeah that , to me , is a definition of a best friend if You're in , you know , if you're in need or the . The example that was just given now you're right to die is Like , hey , I need an enema , who you know ?
You're in a situation and you're like , okay , I'm going to look for , you know , my significant other or my partner or whatever like that , but that person doesn't need to meet that Best friend . But your best friend not do that for you .
I mean that's a little too much information , but Life example I had surgery and my best friend Andrea Helped me take a shower . No problem , wasn't even a question because I could not do it myself . Right did it for a week , helping me and making sure that I had everything I needed .
That's the best right , and you know what any one of my best friends would have done that .
Any friends who I wouldn't if I had to call and be like dude . I need an enema . I need your help Right . All of my friends would come and help me if I need it for you .
Okay , okay , I just want you to know now , enema Ted .
I wanted to go to an extreme . I wanted to go to a full extreme this week , like , okay , here's the difference , you know it would be .
It's like I mean , I got people .
For real yeah , I've been like a blushing . Yeah , but anema yeah but is it because it's another male ? Is it that because I mean you got andra and Carmen would do it for each other , no questions asked ? But is it because you're right or die , or your best friend's another male ? You mean to tell me you wouldn't do it ?
Nah , nah , my friend really needs it . You going for it . You gotta go get it , you know how it got really quiet , right , that's all I'm like , hmm . You guys , you guys , and he right in the eyes , but don't feel like it .
I was the most , the most the most , the most , the most .
Tony doesn't know what to say .
I'll get it . I'll get it . But if you're going to tell me like yo , we got to go with the procedure , then I'm like hey , man , you're on your own buddy . I'm going to tell you , keep it , keep it real with it . I'm going to tell you that Y'all be on your own , but I'll fight for you . I'll go get it if you need it .
Maybe everyone's definitions are a little bit different . As to what you know spouses and friendships , I think in the perfect world to me and the world that I live in . My best friend and my ride or die are pretty much exactly the same person .
Yeah , that's why I'm single is because I don't want anything less than that in the in in the man that's going to spend his life with me . Do you know what I mean ? Like I have a standard that I and it's Brian .
I think you should Comments .
What happened ?
Brian thinks that way too yeah , Brian . Yeah , but . But here's the thing my standards are reasonable , Carmen's standards not even the best Olympic pole Volterka hit that bar .
You need a jetpack .
You need a jetpack . If not a jetpack , you need a plane . If not a plane . You get a damn shuttle .
I don't . What is he doing ? Yes , you're absolutely right . The standard is way high .
I don't even Hold on Hold , on Hold , on Hold on . What exactly is the standard , are you ? Being are you being ? Are you being ? Are you being ? Are you being ? Are you being ? Are you being ? Are you being ? Are you being ? Are you being ? Are you being ? Are you being ? Are you being ? Are you being ? Are you being ? Are you being ?
are you being ? Are you being ? Are you being ? Are you being ?
are you ? Being are you saying that ? Are you being ? Are you being ?
I'm not going to get it . Just take it easy on the fiber y'all Easy on the bread .
So so , brian , I'm going to answer the question because he asked me a question . You want to know what the standard is for me , or are you trying to figure out what the standard is for all women and why you're having , maybe , difficulties finding women and why you're having a problem with your life .
I got time , here we go Open 10 doors box .
There we go . What am I missing ? Is this really hard ?
I didn't knock on the door . I kicked that door . Let's go .
No , I asked what was Carmen's standards , because it was a little bit of a problem , I'm going to get my beer .
They say I'm so boozy because let me give you the example .
Why ? Again , because one time they were thinking about coming to California and I said I'll be happy to suggest some hotels and some places you could stay . I live in Santa Monica , california , in San Juan , california . I'm going to have another step up because I want that Andrea Cynthia has stayed at .
Andrea lives here as well the normal hotel here would easily be one night like what 500 or $550 a night and we lost it .
They lost it . They did not let go of the whole bouze concept since then . Can I just say , when I went to Santa Monica to visit Carmen .
She hated the hotel I .
But it was only like I think , 200 a night .
Which one , Cynthia ? Was it Five Star ?
It was Four Star ?
No , because they were that's the reason why it was only one of the four .
And it was also across from the pier . Did you hear that part ? And , cynthia , what else was broken ? You ?
didn't have a pool Right , they were renovating the pool , so we didn't have a pool .
And I had to go pick you up and like go around the world , even though you're 10 minutes from me . I had to go around the world to go pick you up because it is like the crowd .
Anyway , if you're gonna ask me where you wanna stay in Santa Monica , or you ask Andrea , or you ask anyone you wanna stay in Santa Monica at the beach , I'm gonna tell you where you should stay , because these are beautiful hotels here , but and again , it's not even Santa Monica . I don't like . When I go to New York , I stay in Soho , I stay in Trebekah .
That is the luxury , my people , of not having children . Okay , that's the other part that you don't need to understand . I don't have to spend my money or worry about taking care of kids or whatever , so I can do things like fly first class or . Those are choices I make .
Thank you , nick . Thank you , you have the option to pamper yourself as you just said I'm just saying , and that's not a crime . Thank you , dorothy .
That's not a crime .
If that's how you wanna do things , it's not a crime I'm gonna call .
the check out is at 11 o'clock . I'm gonna be right back .
I wanna tell her and say that she has lived the life and she has earned . She deserves to get what she wants and to be bougie and all of those things . And so whatever her standards are , like , yeah , someone should meet those standards and if they don't guess what , she's fine without them , it's okay .
And .
I'm not taking money out of your pocket .
Brian , right , I'm not asking you to pay for my hotel , okay .
He's gonna give it . He's gonna give it .
I respect that .
I respect that , okay , and then looking just to back up for a minute and and and I thank you for saying that you know , there there was a lot of guilt for a long time , cause I did grow up on the streets , literally that is not like me just saying it I grew up without parents . I already , I already did the time .
I mean I hope like if , if , if God makes me have to go through something else , I will go through it . But yeah , that's also part of it . Part of it is if I can do something for myself that isn't hurting , nobody is not taking my rent or whatever . Yeah , but also I mean it's why I choose to live where I live .
No , and I think it should be like that . I think everyone should be able to to treat themselves once in a while , and if you're going to travel anywhere , why not travel first class ? Why not stay in a five star hotel and treat yourself ?
We're not saying you got to do it every day or every time , or you know what I'm saying Like but once in a while , if you got the options , if you got the option to do it yeah , you got to do it I can so far yeah .
I was going to tell you . That would have been beyond my means with what I have going on myself . That's why we did that . It wasn't so much that you know I would tell you something even if I had the money , if I'm spending $500 on that . I want full room service and I don't want no questions asked .
I'm like Nancy , I want to go toilet , go ahead and put the bidet on there .
I might .
That's not $500 , though that's not just me Because that's a lot and I mean $200 a night , I guess standard prices right now . She was actually correct for the future because hotel prices are going in that direction , depending on what location you go to , based on what I've been seeing . But we did get on . We me and Brian kind of roasted it .
We didn't mean to make a few bad , but you know what .
I mean when you're talking about standards .
You know what I mean . You're talking about standards , Like . For me , one of the standards is is that a man in my life understands that and gets it ? He don't have to provide nothing for me . By the way , when I married my husband , Andrea and Cynthia , before I say a word , do you guys remember what my husband used to do as a job when I met him ?
I remember how you met him . Yes , I do . Do you want to share that with them , or should I ? You can tell .
Well , because they're all freak out .
They're going to be so stunned by my choices . The man that I married told my car he was a tow truck driver . That's who he was , and I had the job I had now and was making even more money . That's how I met him .
OK .
Was it his private business ? I'm sorry , was it his private business ?
No , he was working as a tow truck driver .
He was a tow truck driver , Just all right .
So he turned around and now he has you know he's going to be like that's right , talk about me like this . But now he has his own motor cross company . You know he has his own motor cross company . He's extremely successful . He does really well .
¶ Relationship Standards and Financial Dynamics
So , when you're talking about standards , what am I looking for in a person ? Somebody who is and these are all the things that Andrea and Cynthia both know who he is and they know the men I've dated kindness , ambition , you know . I mean , of course you have to be attracted to .
We're not talking about physicalities here , right , you need to be attracted to them .
I understand that .
Somebody who can teach me something , somebody who understands my travels in my life and how things worked out for me and is OK with that , but doesn't push me down , lifts me up , you know . And why didn't it work out between us ? Because , culturally , I was the one bringing in so much money .
And , yeah , money is an issue , especially when you're very , very , what's the word ? I don't want to say macho or whatever , but you come from a culture that's very masculine .
You know , latino is a very like I have to be a charge and I think we just had a moment where it was like this is not going to work out , and we made that decision together and it was amicable and luckily , first we didn't have children you know what I mean Like I think that was a good thing . So we've stayed friends .
And then his new wife and I are best friends and asked me to be the godmother to their child , who is now 15 .
You two are , for example , friends who remain friends regardless .
I am probably friends . I am friends with most of my exes , most of them .
A lot of people can't say that . That's a good thing , in my opinion , because a lot of people are breaking .
It's a good thing that you can't stay connected to your friend .
I don't need to be the godmother Hell . No , a lot of women wouldn't even deal with that these days , the ones that I see .
I'm actually good friends with my husband's kid's mother . Yeah , it's a good friend With the big mama .
Sometimes it works out and they'll be amicable with that . Yeah , godmother , you all are that close to that . That's a plus , that's a positive answer .
So wait , carmen , just a question . He had the problem that you were bringing home the bacon , or you were the problem I think it was both and I think it was just it became too hard on .
I mean , I don't think that's what he would say . You know what I mean . I think for him there's a pride thing in that , but I do think money is a fireman which is saying money is no issue in my marriage , I won't have a pot to tinkle in . If it wasn't for the mistake I also had a very I'll be honest , I also had a very high pressure job .
That's when I was working a corporate job . I was flying back and forth to New York . I had four assistants , two in LA , two in New York . It was . I was working all the time . So I think there was also this kind of a distance a bit of a separate , it's not about distance . I was also just in a . I was in it . I was going to parties .
I was going to you know what I mean . There was a lot happening that for him was like it's out of my league , it's not . You know what I mean . Like , and again , I'm not with a different level of life .
Yes , it was just different .
It's happening and so , and now , when I see him and I see how successful he is and how happy he's , here's the difference he is happy doing what he loves and I still do the job I don't love . Right , like it's weird .
Right , it's not really about money , it's like he wanted to tell the business doing motocross and all that sportsy stuff that you guys know more about than I do and you know , for a while there he was fixing , like the CHPs , motorcycles , the B , you know what I mean . Like that was like a big contract for him , and I'm talking about it .
It's like yeah .
So watching someone succeed that way is awesome , and I here's what I would suggest in the future for all of you who are divorced or thinking about being in relationships . When you tell people because I think this is the real problem when you tell people you love them , you need to understand what love really is , Because to me , that's the problem .
I love people fiercely and it's really hard for them to get out of my life , so I don't use that word so loosely .
That's fair , that's fair .
Yeah . So if I love you , that means a really big deal to me . That is the right or die , that is the best friend , that is the . There is nothing you can do . That will I mean .
I used to say to Mia all the time , my other best friend , I would say to her all the time I don't care if you murdered somebody , If you tell me , oh my God , I didn't do it , but it was this one , I'm gonna defend you . I'm gonna figure that shit out . I'm gonna do what I gotta do because I love you so much .
I'm gonna understand , I'm gonna do what we have to do to try to help you walk through that .
All right .
Because there's nothing she could do . That would make me not understand her , because I love her that much . I understand that she would never murder anybody . By the way , I just you know , in case it comes back and hits me in the ass . It could be like two years ago you said yeah .
I'm trying to shovel .
Yeah .
Is it realistic that , if the Carmen I'm not using using the example , I'm just using the fact that you were making so much money , so much more than your partner is it realistic Could he still consider himself head of household when there's that type of financial gap between the two of you ?
What do you mean on our taxes , or what are we talking about ?
No , just in general , meaning head of household . You guys are together but you're not overseeing the household .
I think
¶ Changing Gender Roles and Relationship Dynamics
. Again going back to something Andrea said , those are really archaic terminologies and I think it's kind of what's the problem with why people get into relationships and then end them . Because there are these roles that everybody wants to fit into or force their partner to fit into , and who cares ? Who's the head of the household ? Can we pay our bills ?
Can we get what we need to get ? I don't think we ever had that conversation .
I think for him , if you never had a good relationship , if you never had that issue , you had a good relationship . Cynthia , what ?
should you take on that ?
I think that , like Carmen was saying , it's kind of sad because as a culture we were brought up that way that the man is the one who maintains the house , while the woman takes care of the children and the household , while the man works .
But I think in this generation all that's kind of changed and a lot of people are thinking differently now and a lot of the women are the ones that are working while men stay at home , and a lot of the times , with culture , it's very hard for men especially to kind of change that in their whole mindset , like , oh , almost , like their masculinity is kind of
taken away , yeah , you know , and they think they're being talked about by other people because they so-called now wearing the skirts and not the pants , things like that . But I think it's , you know , it's stuff that we grew up with , her Parents and grandparents who taught us that , you know all right , andrea , what's your take ?
I Just have a almost like visceral reaction to the term head of households . Like I can't like what . Why would anyone think they need to be the head of the household me or my husband or one of my kids ? Like you are a family in partnership , together with everybody . Everybody's the head of the household , nobody's the head of the household .
Everybody's got to pull their weight . Everyone's got to , you know , be able to give everybody else some grace every now and then . I like that . It just doesn't even register with me and I just have a very like I just Rejected and push it back like no , get away from you with those kind of terms . I don't , I don't accept that .
Gentlemen , traditionally that's where everybody gets it from . This was that's what we're taught . So much this , and it's traditional in this arcade . They're correct .
It was all your taxes .
Men are not seen as men unless you were the head of household . You are the breadwinner . You make sure everything external , she makes sure of everything internal . When the roles are reversed at any aspect , that's when people start looking at it crazy . And today's society there are a lot of more stay-at-home dads both sides .
They realize at any given point , if you lose your significant other spouse and you had to take care of kids by itself , you got to take on both sides . I think so I need to learn both sides period . You know , some of us are , some of us who are parents , like me and my ex wife . Both of us are military . We could have been TD White anytime .
We had to take care of both sides of the house , which I've done and she's had to do so . I agree with it being traditional in our cake , like she said very good word , by the way . We got to get past it . So I'm glad to hear that there are women out here who don't see that as an issue .
That is definitely plus , because there are still some women who do want it to be the issue . You have to do this . You ain't a man if you don't do this . You ain't a man if you don't do that , I don't hear dudes telling women you're not a woman . If you don't do this , you don't .
You know the woman if you don't facts , I don't hear that you get a lot of women talking about you ain't a man If you ain't this or you ain't no real man . I don't tell women you're not a real woman .
Yeah , but , but , but . But there's the other part of it too , where there's this idea that women can do it all , and that's another lie , you know , where there's a hole in the pressure , like , as much as we want equality , you know it's like . You know , a lot of my friends are not only had a household , they take care of the kids .
You know , they have their career women . They have to be great in bed . They got to take care of their husband . That's this again . It's about changing the dynamics and the definitions .
Whatever your friendship and relationship is , you know , whatever your personal relationship is with your significant other Needs to be a real , authentic conversation Like what does this mean to us if we choose to get together , married or not ? By the way , marriage is just a license . I'm talking about people who make a decision to live together and yes .
Both sides have to realize both sides can be in control at any time . Both sides can be the underdog , if you will . The deny head household . Head household is really a term .
It's a tax term . That's why I was like you mean tax wise .
If you go to a counselor session . I had a counselor tell me and a girlfriend that I had one time had a household , the one who makes the most money and I was like it's a tax term .
Yes , that's true , because they want to know who the person send the bill to .
Basically , but women are just as equal to run things as men are these days , so both sides just gonna have to face the other one . If you can be in charge , right , but also yeah so too .
There also , too , there's a lot of compromise , or there has to be a compromise , but not many people are willing to do that . I mean , you have most like statistically now most men are dropping out of college because they've been , they found out , they've been lied to like oh , if you go to college you'll get over a hundred thousand dollars a year .
But then now most guys now are dropping out of college picking up a trade because they're like a I'm not in debt To , I can learn , I could learn a skill and get paid very well and live comfortably off of that .
Yes , and and for for , like now , most women , women dominate the college , because most women are now in college , because they're going with the whole like , yeah , I graduate , I'm like making over 90,000 a year or whatever , whatever their type of degree , degree is . But that that's where now it's like again the competition . It should not be a competition .
You should just have an understanding and a balance and some of those women who make those high figure incomes .
I'm looking for men that make more money than them still so you guys think that making 90 or 100 I'm just asking a question 90 or a hundred thousand dollars , you think that's a lot of money ?
It is to me . It is to me .
I'm just asking because I just want you to know . It really is not .
Okay , cuz like like I dated a nurse , she was making about a good 55 to 60,000 a year . I was the ER technician making about 40 to 45 , apparently , just because she's a nurse I mean ER tech , even though , like I do more grunt work than she does .
But yet everybody's like , oh , you should be with a doctor , you should be with this , versus my options are going like yo , you knew what you were getting yourself into . When you get with me now you're like listening them because you don't want to piss .
There's so much that you just said that needs to be . She is not the right person for you . I don't even know the bitch you know , I mean like you're missing the point I'm saying .
Who works hard , who is somebody I'm attracted to , who I like , and instead I'm gonna be like Let me listen to my friends , and if I have the doctor , she don't does you don't . You don't need that in your life , brian , that's not man .
I say 90,000 still a lot because I remember back when I used to make less than $50,000 . I know the life and how comfortable I was . But some of the women who have those high standards , they have those high , ambitious , high dreams that we can't afford and they won't deal with us . That's where it comes from .
So I'm at a point now where I can honestly say I'm close to making that income . I still do consider a lot of money because I remember what I used to do . With less I can only .
But would you date a woman who said to you you know what I would love to date you , but I need you to make more money , would you like ?
then this by women who told me that because they think I make more money than what I make , see , and if I was in the room with you , I would have been like bitch .
You don't deserve him right , yeah just saying like these are not , these are not your people , those are gold diggers .
Well , there's , women in the
¶ Considering Love and Career in Relationships
city .
If they want somebody who's out making the same amount of money as them or more , they do want that .
Look it , I'm not gonna lie to you . To me , it would be great , it would be icing on the cake if I could meet somebody who was also a financially successful or financially happy or whatever . Like would it ? I mean , wouldn't you want to meet somebody who is all set with their stuff in so that you don't have to also be worried about their credit rating ?
Exceptional thing . We all would rather be with somebody who is set right .
Well , you want somebody who's comfortable and give you less headache . Body who wants to do ? We want to have somebody who's comfortable what they have , but you want somebody wants to do as much as you and that's what a lot of people looking for today's society .
Yeah , that's not a standard , that's like my wish . I'm like , if he got everything else and he's a tow truck driver , I'm in , but he , but it is everything else and you know he's a Famous football player or whatever . I'm not gonna be like you know what , struggling a little bit .
No more . I don't wish nobody man .
If you're not a team , the minute you stop being a team , you're already headed for disaster . If , if it's like if you're pitted against each other , you're not a team anymore . It's a team . You guys are working together towards being happy together , like you got to be a competition or the whole thing as a team . Well , let me jump .
We've been . You haven't really had much to say or you ever had chance to get in here , but I like what you said . If you're not a team . But you also said working together . I think if you want to be with somebody and you find somebody comfortable enough , a lot of us want to find somebody we don't have to work with or work at being with them .
We just want to be naturally comfortable off the rim without putting in any work . Yeah , it shouldn't be any work . If you have to be already people , sometimes you'll meet somebody . It'll just flow . You want the flow over the job . A lot of people today they just want to meet somebody . Everything's gonna go the way it's supposed to .
You shouldn't have to put any boundaries . You have to put any standard . This already be established and understood in the first day in place . Everybody knows what you want to relationship . Don't you know me ? Don't get me broke . Make sure I can trust you . That's it , everything else you're doing to me broke .
Don't get me broke .
Carmen . Yeah would you be willing to move on a moment's notice If your partner got the dream job of their life ? Would you be willing ?
Yes , I can roll , I can work remotely . Yes , but where are we moving to ? So , my perfect man .
I don't think I would . Okay , off the chain , my goodness .
Go ahead , Okay . But here's the thing I don't think I would ever be with somebody who loved me , who we have a partnership with , who would say let's move to a place where I know you're going to be really uncomfortable , there's a lot of racism and we're going to deal with a whole other batch of crap . You know what I mean .
Like I don't know if that would be a dream job . I don't . Before you even finished , I said yes .
But yes , that's true . It's their dream job . It's the job they've been waiting for their entire life . Would you move at a moment ?
Is he black ? Or is he black ? All of this matters , I would . I'm telling you I would .
I'm flabbergasted . That was crazy .
There's why what I was just going to say , I don't think it's illogical . If we're going to do like China theorize if that's the right word , theorize a scenario it needs to be realistic . A black man or a Latino man , his perfect job isn't going to be in Wyoming . You know what I mean .
No , I don't see that , because racists are the black man that Carmen would date .
I said not a black man that Carmen would date .
Thank you , you just stopped me .
But if he has the perfect job and does that , you're no longer going to have the perfect marriage because she's going to be miserable .
Exactly , we're going to be in trouble with stuff . I'm fine . I will move anywhere for someone I love . Okay , I'll put it this way , if one of my best friends needed me and they were like Carmen , I would move . They know that . Andrea knows that Me knows that it's not a question . Why would I do anything less for the man I'm involved in ?
You said Wyoming . I don't see a scenario where me and my significant other would be living in Wyoming , kentucky , arkansas I can go down the list of all the states . Me and my significant other would probably not . Okay , I'll tell you a secret , that's not even a secret . I dated a guy . He was a triathlete . We were dating for I don't know .
It was like a year , maybe six months . We were at the beach , we had just done this huge workout or whatever . We were having these conversations . He's like I could see us having kids . I was like , okay , he's getting really serious . He's like I could see us moving . He's like I got names for our kids .
He named our kids , which was a little bit weird because it was two boys and a girl .
I was like okay , I'm in , I'm in .
Then he's like and we could live in Montana , I was done . We were done , the relationship I was like . Survey says eh what ?
I guess he was also a head of household , tony , what's your ? What's your answer to the question ? No , no , no no significant other dream job .
Kentucky .
Bathhouse , south Dakota . No , okay , matter of fact , that option actually came up when I was married . We had to shoot a look at that move in Texas . And I'm not going to Texas . She said why not ? I said first of all it's too damn hot and I've been to Texas .
I don't have a problem with the state , but I only know two major cities where you can have fun . I don't know much about down there . I have friends from there . I'm not going down there . She was like where would you go ? I told her where I would go San .
Antonio .
To go Now ? I was going to go to San Antonio . I actually wanted to move to Maryland . I wanted to go to the DC area .
Yeah , dc , I moved to DC .
The account for the careers that we had because both of us were retired military and civil service . We could have went up there six figures a piece , no problem .
Right .
I looked at the options for the both of us , not just her , which may have seemed somewhat of an aspect of selfish , but when we actually did go up there one time to go visit my mother and my sister , I took her to the places that I was telling her I would move to . I said I can go here .
I would go here If your job would be right here , we could telework , I have to worry about nothing , and everything we needed was in this area . We wouldn't have to deal with any traffic . I showed her my whole plan If we was going that direction . You have these options .
And when you brought up Wyoming and Carmen , I do want to say this if you would have had a chance to go there , you probably would have had an entrepreneurial aspect or an entrepreneurial opportunity . I've been to Wyoming ?
I don't think you've been . I've been to every state in the country .
I've never been to Wyoming , you know .
Okay , I have been to Wyoming .
I got you . I'm moving to Wyoming . Go ahead . I'm just saying if you had a chance to be a ground breaker or a trailblazer in a new area , would you still turn it down ? I want to be about your nose , no no , no , wait , wait , wait , andrea .
Can you hi Michael Bathurst ?
No , no , no , no , no . Andrea , can you ?
I don't know why Tony just said no .
I would , I would not , I would . Tony said no , I would not , I would not .
I would say yes with qualifications , and I get backlash . No , please explain in a different way .
Carmen , it's your show . You got to get backlash , it's your show .
It's okay , but I want Andrea to see if Andrea could maybe explain it in a different way .
Oh , we're going to get to Andrea , I'll change from mommy .
I had to look down , I wrote it out I think Tony gets it .
I think he's just you know . Okay , thank you for being up to .
Thank you .
Thank you . All right , I'm done , go ahead . You know why you're not going to Wyoming ? And I have also been to Wyoming and Carmen's not going to Wyoming . No , I'm not . You asked me that question . Don't ask me in Wyoming .
I have had a couple of friends who were out there . I've never heard anything bad about Wyoming . I've had a couple of friends who were out there in military .
Because nobody wants to live over there .
Oh .
Wyoming is beautiful to visit , right Water rafting or whatever . That's not what I'm talking about . This country is a beautiful country . Living in red states is not something I choose to want to be part of .
That's what I'm talking about .
I don't want to be in a red state . It's as simple as that .
Gotcha , cynthia , you've been married , coming up on 25 years . It'll be 26 . Coming up , it'll be 26 . A significant other says South Dakota dream job . What should take no meaning ? It's a showstopper , or no meaning . Let me hear you out .
I would say probably he could go for a few months , see if he likes the job , if he really loves it . While I stay here , I'm going to be a little more .
If .
I had to go right away and be a no Brian . Uh-huh .
Is that an affirmative answer ?
I would move to London , England . Yes .
Nobody said .
London .
I'm not sure .
I'm not sure Michael's in London , but that's not the question . Arkansas , arkansas , sure , on a moment's notice , it's a red state .
It's Brian red state .
Well , because A taxes are lower . B . There's opportunity out there .
See it's like right in the middle of everybody else . I know Time out , Brian .
I don't know , I'm not sure . I'm not sure . Yes , I would , but not LA . I'd be like look at full house , y'all .
I'm not sure .
Joe , what should take ? What's my take ? Are you picking up ? Are you picking up and moving across the country to somewhere ? Where you haven't been because you're significant other and saying , hey , it's the opportunity of a lifetime .
It depends on the place , man , but for the most part , yeah , it depends on the situation , if it's like the dream job that they really want . But it really depends on the place where it's at .
Oh my God , I get slammed , but I'm okay , I'm just saying , Sam says that .
I say the truth straight up . I'm saying Sam says the truth .
The taxes will kick my ass . I like paying no taxes over here .
Rick , what's your take ? You're moving , hypothetical situation .
Does the dream job mean I don't have to work anymore ?
See , that's a good negotiation .
That's a good negotiation Because if I don't have to work anymore , I'm good in most places , except in the North Pole or on the equator . I don't like those extremes of temperature .
Otherwise .
I'm good pretty much anywhere . If I don't have to work , I'll figure it out .
If I don't have to work .
¶ Discussing Dream Jobs and Difficult Topics
You didn't put that in the equation .
I should come a YouTuber or something .
You said dream job .
That don't mean lots of money , but it's not a dream .
I'll just say this 21 years ago I got the dream job . My wife moved no questions asked and it was rough as can be down there .
Where did you work ?
In Tampa Florida . It was rough as can be down there Very kind .
See , that's why I said , I'd send him by himself for a few months .
Scope out .
Yeah , yeah , you scope out the scene . I'm fine , right where I'm at .
I was in the location . Like I said , I know where I want to go . I know places that I would like to live , Even when I came here . I had no desire to live here when I first came here in 2008 . It took a couple of years before I realized how comfortable I would be .
Where are you again ? I forget where you are .
You're in New York , right ? No , I'm in one of them .
Georgia .
Georgia , right , georgia , where I'm at is a base . Where I'm at is comfortable for me my career field , my work history , so I'm stable . You want to go to where you're able to maintain some stability and you also want to be some way that your significant other can be just as comfortable as you are . That is how you have peace in the home .
In my aspect , Plus , I could go fishing and hunting in Arkansas too .
Yeah , we said San Francisco for you , honey , we changed it . We changed it , so it was all the way around . No firearms .
Jesus Christ .
It would be difficult for you to make a choice . So , ted , what happened with Tampa ?
4? . I can make a snare and use a machete . I'll go with you .
My wife opted . We agreed . She moved back and I had to figure out a way through the good Lord to get me back to New York . She moved back .
Yeah , yeah .
That first .
That's crazy . I hear a lot of good things about you .
Andrea , what about you ?
I don't know .
Where am I going ?
Wisconsin .
Well , we didn't want to say Wyoming , because you shut us down .
Wisconsin . I'm going to give her , let me give her .
Des Moines , Iowa . You're going to Wisconsin , the land of the trees .
She's in Iowa a lot lately because she's working there right now . She's working there . Is it Iowa Andrea ?
None of the above Tennessee .
Tennessee .
So far . No absolutely not .
Yeah , Nancy .
Yeah , where's Nancy ? She's in Wisconsin .
Iowa Wisconsin .
Wisconsin . I love Madison . I used to go to Madison , wisconsin , every year I was in .
Milwaukee once . It was lovely , but not moving there . I will not live anywhere where it is freezing cold ever . I also will not live in the red state and I've moved around a lot and wound up coming back because this is the best place to be . The West Coast is the best coast .
I thought about moving to New Orleans .
But I would move again , but it just depends on where , so I wouldn't go to any of the places that you all bought Early 2000s .
I looked at New Orleans . I looked at Las Vegas .
New Orleans , I could do that .
No .
I wouldn't .
No , you can't , you would not survive in New Orleans . I loved .
when I was in New Orleans , I was a problem with surviving down there .
But New Orleans was . I'm glad I didn't go down there , that's right .
That's right . East Coast is the best .
I like Vegas , but Vegas , I was told , vegas is old . After a while I was in 2016 . I was out there for about three weeks . Yeah , Vegas isn't cool after a while Out of three weeks . I was ready to get up out of there , but I like Vegas . I could visit Vegas . I could visit New Orleans . I was out there at the lived there , not Vegas .
That's all I'm going to say Four hours from here .
I was pretty sick over in Vegas .
After that you just got to head out After two weeks . That's enough . That's enough , we're done .
Although now with the dome concert thing with you two , oh my god .
Yeah .
I'm going on the first .
I'm going on the third Really .
Do you have an extra ticket for me , sweetheart ?
Sweetheart no so sweetheart .
Sweetheart , oh my goodness .
Hey so just a question what topic is , like , the most difficult topic that you've had to discuss with your partner ?
Well , the enemy thing never came up . I'm just saying that kind of tops it .
I'm in your hidden needle .
I don't know . I mean , it's been a while since I've had a partner on a regular basis , so I'm probably I should be last . I got to think about it .
Okay , tony .
Money and death .
Mario .
I agree with Mario Money .
I'll make this a majority of relationships that I've had . I have had quite a few relationships . Kids would not have children .
Oh interesting .
Oh , I was agreeing because , like just I would say , differences in how we , you know , want to parent .
Yeah , yeah , yeah , cynthia .
Money . Money is always a difficult topic .
Ryan how to be better Self-improvement .
Say more about that , Brian .
What do you mean ? Just mainly because , like , if they're , if they're so like living , if they're doing one or two things that's kind of like a habitual and they realize it's bad for them , what can they do to like get out of that funk and learn how to be , how to be a better and all that ?
And normally I would just say , yeah , you know , like , find a hobby , whether it be like painting , because there's a lot of workshops that do like painting there's , there's an organization called Meetup where you can meet up with people that have the same interests like you are , if you want to , if you're curious about photography , there's a group for that .
You know , just finding out like new things to kind of uplift your spirit If you feel like you're pretty much like your life , if you're like you feel like you're out of plateau , which most , most people are . So it's just like we just talked about .
Just find something that really that you want to do together or you want to try for yourself , if you want to do like a personal growth .
¶ Navigating Difficult Conversations, Career Changes, Relationships
And those are the . You've had , the difficult conversations you've had with partners .
I could probably say off the top of my head , one and the thing was I felt that I would be better doing something that's more suited to my skill and ability versus sitting behind a desk . And I don't like . And my last job I sat behind a desk . I felt like I was handcuffed and I hated it .
I never wanted so much that I wanted to break off the handcuffs , say screw it , I'm out . So finally , when they're trying to come up with some ideas and I just wouldn't agree , I'm like nope , this is not suited for me . Thank you for the opportunity , but I'm going to go somewhere where my talents could be best utilized .
I remember that conversation when you had it , so I remember you saying yeah , I , yeah , I never drank so much .
I was that . I was like that angry , I was that depressed , I was like man I need . That's why I went ahead and went back to school . See what I could find .
I went back to my old bread and butter because it was easy , because the bills don't pay themselves , and now , like with the current job that I have , the current job that I have , I'm having fun again . I'm I'm in a leadership role , but I don't have that title . But it doesn't matter , because the crew I have .
We're a night , we're a tight , yet we are a team , we're a unit , and I'm having fun again . It feels great and the thing about it is not being handcuffed to the desk no emails , no zoom calls , no all these other stuff . It feels wonderful .
I can just go ahead and just do what I do and I have fun , and that might like my person , like my happiness is more important than money , because sometimes the grass ain't greener on the other side .
It's not . I like what Alma said . Having kids and how you will raise them is one of the conventions that should have been had early , before you get pregnant . I'm 100% agree . You got to have those conversations . You have got to have those conversations because by the time the kids come in , they ain't nothing to talk about .
Take care of the kids and shut up . I want to get that out to a lot of people because I see a lot of people not taking care of the kids . That bothers the hell out of me . It really does .
Joe , what's your take on it ?
It wasn't really difficult , but it was something that kind of bothered a lot of like people I dated a lot of like girls women I dated . It was the fact that I was overly mellow about things . I don't know if people noticed . I probably some people noticed that I was just cool with certain things .
They would always ask oh , they get upset that I'm not being jealous or I'm not getting mad or uptight about something . I'm like no , what's the big deal ? I never understood it . I never understood it . It was always a big problem . It's like oh , I dated this one girl .
She would say things , we would argue and she would get into these fights and I said , oh okay , all right , she get upset , she try to pull . You know what I mean ?
Try to get her to know it she wants you to feel what she feel it .
Yeah , and I'm like , all right , that's cool . Whatever we on the phone , she would argue up and like , all right , I'll talk to you tomorrow . Bye , I'm like I'm gonna do this on like a crazy streak and my friend used to talk to me about it . Go yo , what's wrong with you ?
You know you in a relationship , right , and I'm like , yeah , but I'm not sweating it . I'm like why people want this for Like come on man , you don't care .
Like , like you're not interested in the thing . Yeah .
But it's just that I don't want to deal with a lot of that . I'm just like why are we arguing ? Why are we beefing ? What are we doing here ? Yeah , what are we doing ? here , and it was just so weird to me , man , and I'm like why y'all like this ? It's just so weird , but it was always something , and I did it .
My oldest brother , he used to do that too , and we've got that from our dad , so it was like just like , just us being carefree and mellow , that's all it is . It's like that . Just don't want to stress it . It has just been like a topic that I've noticed throughout a lot of my relationships .
Yeah , Rick , don't so much emotion . We've seen all of them , but we got to take it easy . That's what a lot of fathers will teach you . Take it , just think about it ?
Yeah , just like calm down it's flexible Again .
There's like a misalignment of relationship there , but yeah , I'm a lot like Mr B .
If you're going to fight , it's going to be by yourself . Yeah , it's funny because we rarely fought , me and my ex , and you would think even like , since I'm divorced , maybe at the end . No , we really didn't . I only found out over the phone we were getting divorced , just like that . I was like I got sucker punched
¶ What Do You Differ on in Relationships
. But if I had to pick one thing , I would say money .
Money . Money is always an issue , Ted . What about you ? You want me to remind you what the question is ? No , no , no .
It's really easy . One thing we differ on is parenting , the way you raise the kids , the certain times where we're on opposite . A lot of times I would say 99.9 percent were on the same page , but then there's that time when you're like I don't agree with that one .
Clearly it's a big deal , since your show's called Late Night Parents , late Night Parents , easy . But I just want to say if you are divorced , you're not broken goods , you're not a failure . There is hope you might find somebody else and be even happier .
Or I've even seen people get back together , that more mature , they figured out life and they're happy as they could possibly be . So I just want to throw that out there .
Or you don't ever have to be married or in a relationship and you're going to be just fine . I'm not Also , no , I'm just saying like we are human beings , we need to normalize . It's okay to be single and have fun and have a life too . I think that's the other thing that's changing generationally is you don't have to have somebody to be of any value .
You are valuable as you are .
I like that . That's what I'll say , Carl . That's what I'll say I like that yeah , I really appreciate you .
I do .
We are . We are interactive human beings . We need like constant contact and interaction .
I didn't say don't have contact . When you say contact , are you talking about sex ? Because that is not what I say . I knew she was going to go to . I knew it .
Give her an inch and she just goes a whole 10 yard like a mile .
Good reform Plus define constant , because that can be Well , I mean , because it's because we like interaction like hey , what are you doing ?
Hey , what's going on ? You know we're like that . We got to have , we got to be people in general .
Maybe some of I mean , I know a lot of people do , but I prefer much more solitary life as much as I would like to pay your ship , but I know the country with the shit .
I'll be fine on my own because I know I'll survive .
I got a question for Andrea . She just says she's going to sell into her life . We based it on where you're at now . I have you always been like that and I say that because I believe you are married correct .
I've always been like that . I was always the kid in my room listening to music , reading books . She is married and I went outside and all of those things . But like I like to have a significant amount of alone time and being around a lot of people in person or online is very draining for me .
Actually that , because some people do seek .
And you're like on a sleep for like the next two days after this . Wow , really getting .
This is Carmen asked . I'm not saying I don't enjoy it .
I'm just saying it takes a lot of my energy and then I need to go and recharge by myself . You got to take some downtown to yourself , a lot of people who are married .
They need downtown to themselves because they know online habit . That's why I asked is it ? Is it your mentality now based on what you've been through or where you're always like that ? You know what I'm saying .
Yeah , I was always and I have . You know , like Carmen said , I'm married , I have kids . I have to be interacting with people all the time , so every little second when I can like , you need some time for yourself , yeah .
Yes , I agree with that whole hardly .
Andrea , are you a cancer ? No , okay .
Introverted people are fueled by alone time . Extroverted people are fueled by being around people .
I can tell you myself , when I'm being separated and there was nobody in house , it drove me nuts being alone , because I used to come home to see everybody . My mental piece was coming home to everybody under the same roof . So that took an adjustment for me . That took a big adjustment .
Coming home to nobody and nothing and just quiles like there's somebody else in the room that can connect with you on that level , when their husband was away . I won't say who it is .
I don't want to help anybody , I don't want to feel alone . I was going to say I totally agree with that .
You change your mindset to having a family . Once you have a family , you want to come home to everybody . It helps to come on to yourself a weekend a month . It helps to come home and have 30 minutes to yourself . When you come home , there's nobody there . All this silence and all this space . You don't know what to do with yourself . That took me months .
It took me about four good months to get used to it . I didn't even go in the barrel . I didn't want to be anywhere secluded , I just want to be able to notice everything around me and make sure , because I'm used to so much happening I can go in my room and know what's going on . I'm used to everything when I been around for so long .
I kind of held onto the bottom . I dolan that about for so long . It's just , it's like like a wish .
It's just . It's definitely exciting and addictive . It's always so creative , it's like I'm sandwiched into it .
It's like I'm just what I do with my mom when she's at being home .
I just want to show her . It's something that my mom was grateful for me with my life and my honor and whatever you don't watch his show .
We're a raw and honest Shoot from the hip . Shoot from the hip you do .
My name . We agreed on the relationship topic and we're sticking to it . We're dying to talk about MMA . We're dying to talk about NFL .
You have a platform where you can all go do that right .
It's like a fight baby .
Look , the only relationship advice that I think I really remember and that I've taken to heart is don't let a man change who you are authentically . Right and I think that has always been something that it's not just a man but other people .
But I remember being told that and sticking to that , because a lot of , especially when you're younger and a woman , you're like oh my god , I love football , I love no , I don't , I don't love football , you know . But we do that right , because we're accustomed to want to please , you know , like , oh , I don't care what we eat , whatever you want to do .
So I think that's probably , to this day , part of what I do in any relationship , but definitely with a man . I'm not going to let somebody change who I am authentically .
Tony , I'm going to need you to ask me again , honestly .
That's relationship advice that you've received .
See , it's not easy .
Do you want me to come ?
back to you , please . I want to be honest with my answer . I want to just make something up . I want to be honest .
Cynthia , I just made that up off the cuff , ain't I good ?
Yeah , I'm good , even Cynthia , Honesty , whether it hurts or not being honest with each other , I guess .
Andrea .
Andrea , for the love of Jesus , I love you too . I love you too . I love you too .
Oh .
OK , I love you too , hey .
I've got it written down , hey . Hey , we've been up here for how long and you still can't , I know Come on man .
Andrea , we're going to have you a late day , parents .
That's a big deal , because I've never been invited . That's a big deal , andrea so .
Best relationship advice I ever got was your most important relationship is with yourself . You got to be right with you before you can be right with anybody else . Friend ride or die partner , kids , neighbor , whatever .
Ryan , put it in the work . Don't be lazy and help each other get better , because you're a team , because everyone achieves more . Together , everyone achieves more . Don't be selfish .
Just have that healthy balance , joe would you like me to repeat the question , Joe ?
Have patience , have patience , rick .
No way . Learn that one , carmen , as much as possible . Ryan , ryan , he's the flame thrower . Ryan , no , I'm bringing in the lumber boy . I just I've been nothing but nice and it's all I want .
I'm just trying to get it right . I'm just trying to get it right .
I'm just trying to get it right . I'm just trying to get it right . I'm just trying to get it right .
I'm just trying to get it right . I'm just trying to get it right , exactly .
this is crazy man .
Rick as much as possible . I mean it's not going to be 100% . You got to try to be on the same page and whenever you're not , you got to be already know where you're going to have to compromise , so that there's no surprises later before you get super deeply serious and especially ended up in marriage .
I always say too like Whatever annoys you about somebody before you got married , trust me , honey , after you get married it's going to be magnified 10 times . You ain't never know about that shit . If you can't deal with it , then forget about it . Later it's gonna be worse .
Boundaries and foundation oh shit , right there .
You ain't got nothing .
Boundaries and foundation .
I got my answer , tony . Keep a God in the center of relationship . I want to just agree with that . To me , it's also been make sure the two of you work together more than against each other . That's the only way it's gonna work .
But what was the best advice of Gabriela ?
Gabriela was the best advice , Especially when you get married . They say put God in the center of relationship . Absolutely Almost that forgiveness , almost that forgiveness . I like that you open the door for things to happen with that . As much as I understand that , I kind of see a flip side to it . No disrespect to what you're saying now .
What forgiveness .
Yes .
Oh explain .
To me , forgiveness is gonna have to be there , but it's also meaning you're expecting something to happen wrong . I don't necessarily expect things to happen wrong when I go into a relationship . I want to go 100% . I want to go right . I want to do as much as possible to make sure nothing goes wrong .
I kind of have a fantasy mindset of ain't nothing going to go wrong because we're gonna fight everything to make sure everything goes right . That might be what's wrong with me .
Okay , I think Gabriela said it best Keep God first , keep an open mind , be willing to address your deficiencies . Be willing to embrace where your partner might say , hey , you aren't doing . Insert whatever . Go into it with an open mind . With that , I would like to turn this over to our Mistress of Ceremony , carmen Mistress .
Mistress of Ceremony . I'm thinking of Elvira .
I want to thank you for allowing us to use the platform tonight .
I think it went okay right . Me and Brian didn't go too bad .
Yeah , we're good .
I would like to extend to each of you the opportunity to come over on our platform , whether together or separate , to join us to talk Nine sports related items .
Yeah , I mean , we should wait , you gotta put in five minutes of sports at least Five minutes of sports .
Here's the thing . We go straight with three .
We started this whole thing , and I talk about whatever it was we talked about .
Oh , okay , okay , here's what was open .
It went really bad , Like I was mean to you no no , no , no , no , no , no .
You helped me this week because I kind of embraced that the live stream and the podcast and everything is a hobby for me and you were able to help me finally get a grasp on that , where a lot of folks are specific brands and push their platforms a certain way .
I just like to do it , I just like to jump on , do it work on a website , speak with people and talk about other related issues or discussion topics and stuff like that .
Well , you didn't tell me what the question was , though . So , people , I just feel like you're not really explaining this very well , so I'm looking bad . I don't want to look bad .
No , you didn't . You didn't .
You gave me straight talk because we were talking about See , that's part of my brand that I don't like , right ? No , no , no , no , no . You gave me this . No , no , no . You asked me about LinkedIn . That's what you .
Oh , okay , okay , okay .
Carmen , what is your LinkedIn game ?
Or what is it ? There you go . I said you mastered , thank you for for bringing it back .
Yeah , that's what I'm trying to say , and I said that on different platforms we do different things , but it depends on what it is you're looking for . I don't care how many people watch us . I care about an overall brand of who I am , because I have all of these different things that I'm trying to accomplish with that umbrella . You know what I mean .
So it's I'm not worried about you know how many people are watching us every day . I'm more concerned about the branding of Carmen Lissette Productions , because that's the media wing of my company now .
So I'm just saying , because I mean Ted , the reason why I'm trying to put it out there correctly is because I know that a lot of the live streaming thing that we do goes to one certain segment , right when we're with this group of people , and I said that respectfully but I don't want it to be like you know .
I called you and was like let me tell you this straight . No no , no , no , no no . I actually called you , it was business .
Right , right , I actually called you and it was helpful . It was an helpful fruit fleshen , so that was really that . So I do definitely appreciate you and everyone that's took their time out the two hours or so we did two hours . Two hours and the parameters were set prior to this . Ted , this is two hours . Two hours , that's it .
That's it Well at first we were going to do an hour , but that wasn't going to be enough for all of you .
No it wasn't , it wasn't , and thank you for I was just coming up with these questions , just winging them . I wish you know next time we do this next quarter , hopefully you guys can take this , keep it .
Ted Next quarter so .
I'm going to make you look bad .
Go ahead .
I asked you how many times do you want to talk about whatever we're going to talk about ? Do you want to get together and talk ?
You did , you did . I had a question .
While he's on the train . He's on the train . I'm a little drunk going in a tunnel .
I did , I did , I did , but it was good . It was good because it wasn't rehearsed .
Yeah , it's okay , it's all good , we're on the same page .
So , like you know , next year when we do this again , it'll be next year , next year , next year is only a few months , that's true . Next year is actually next quarter Next year is next quarter .
Next year is next quarter .
It wasn't as funny as I thought it was .
It was timed very perfectly we could all go to .
California and do it live . Look , we could totally do this again . I think it went well .
She's going to stab me . She's going to stab me . What are you kidding me ?
I almost got a heart attack when you hear California . I'm not going to have to go in the name on her .
You know what I mean . I am totally missing everything that's happening right now .
You know what I'm saying Anyway , we could totally do this again .
It'll be totally cool . I'm glad that it was fun and fast . I think I learned a lot about a lot of you . It's good Look at the face . It was a good way .
It was a good way , maybe not in such a good way .
No , no . Well , you with the enema . I don't know what else to say .
I've never been with my kids . You have to go to the point where you're out of bounds , man .
You know what's so interesting ? Men are talking about women in such a way that you think we think a certain thing . What I learned is you guys want the same thing we want , but I think we all have this idea in our heads that there's something that we all want that isn't actually true . It's fascinating to me .
I'm going to have to go back and listen again , but I think what I realized is there's some beautiful men here . You know what I mean .
Like it's kind of nice To piggyback on what you said . There's a saying at my last job that was hanging on the wall . It said it's not who you are that holds you behind , it's who you think you are that holds you behind Nice .
It's true . All right , with that , I'm going to say good night to everyone . Thank you to everyone in the chat and for stopping by , and everyone who's listening and not in the chat , because that's an interesting number . We'll see you all again soon , definitely next Thursday , right , ted ? You have your show at 7 .
7 PM Eastern , 7 PM Pacific , and you have your show at 6 o'clock Pacific time 9 o'clock Eastern .
Yes , Thank you everyone . Good night . Thanks for stopping by . All about the joy Be better and stay beautiful folks have a sweet day .