Hello and welcome to Big Gay energy. I'm Bree. I'm Fiora and I'm Caitlin come along with us while we dive into the fun and nuances of queer media representation matters. And we're here to talk about it. Okay, sorry there was no like welcome back. Okay, sorry, they are stop laughing, you got this Caitlin. Hi everyone, welcome drugs, honky introduction. The or knows that if she doesn't write it out, I won't say it.
Yeah. Okay. So now that we said hello, we are Beyond thrilled to have Joshua Gonzalez. Join us today. Joshua is an artist that where's my many hats, including actor, content creator and writer. We are super excited to talk to you today and talk about your new book called. Keep sweet, thank you for joining us. Thank you so much for having me on. This is so exciting. Thank you so much.
I'm excited. Yes, we're very excited because Joshua was very kind and sent us a copy of his book so we got to read it and we super love it. Our first question, those were wondering like why did you decide to write the book? Sure, that is a great question. I actually it started as a gratitude exercise during the pandemic. You know, a lot of time on my hands.
I'm it was an actor and theater maker and so the entertainment industry, you know was on pause and I started just writing things that I was grateful for writing things that had happened in my life that I you know, was really that changed. Me that moved me, that inspired me made me who I am. And then it got to the point where one of my friends was like, hey, this is like a lot of really cool stuff. Maybe you have a book here and I was like, I don't know, I don't
know. I never considered myself a writer until now and I was like maybe so I just kept writing and see where it went and my kind of thought process was always I'm going to take this as far. Far as I can. And if at any point along the way it dies, then it dies. But here we are. And there's a whole real book, physical book, and digital ebook, and everything, and it's here and it happened. So I guess I did it organic that was, and how do we think that friend?
Oh, he is so wonderful. His name is Edward Rice. You can. You can find him on the socials. He's really great. And yes, he deserves a lot of the praising. The thanks for the making this happen. Thank you. Thank you, friend out there. Yes, thank you. It's a really good book. It is. Thank you for the book is an independently published book. So my first question is, why did you decide to independently
publish it? Yes. My journey through the publishing world is very unique and and very interesting, I would say, I think so I actually I had almost no idea what the publishing world was like, you know, I had never written a book. I never been in that world before but I it's very similar
to the entertainment industry. You know, you can get your agent, they get you the gigs and or similarly you know, so I started researching it and found the community on Twitter a little bit and kind of felt out the steps that I needed to take and I had initially planned on traditionally publishing because I had no idea how to do how to publish a book myself and I ended up carrying during 2020 or 2021 which is a crazy time to be doing that and in in the world and I I got an agent Eric Myers
from Eric Myers literary is who's been incredible and a huge champion of the book throughout this entire process and we ended up going on submission in 2021 in the in the spring of that year and that was right when we were getting into a lot of supply chain issues, and the paper shortage is, and the publishing industry was going through a lot of its own and cutting staff and Reading Acquisitions left and right.
And so it was a very tumultuous time and it got to the point where I had a few editors who were very interested in it and I think them they were so much great feedback from so many awesome. Editors dream. Editors at like dream houses that I could only imagine being published and the reality of the situation was they were like, you know, I try again in like, six seven months when like things are a little more settled or Around here. And then, in my head I was like that is so wonderful and
encouraging. However, I don't know if I physically can stand waiting seven months and then a whole nother year, year and a half for the whole long traditional publication process. And so, with my agents blessing, he's very supportive. I decided to pull the book from submission and just take a run at doing it myself because I was like, you know, I've put on Productions, I put on shows. Ozai, I kind of know how to project manage. Is something that's artistic, maybe I could do this too.
And so here we are. So basically you're like I think I can do it, let's just do it. Yeah, yeah, exactly. What advice do you have for new Authors? Who are thinking about independently publishing like, how do you even do that? Yeah, it's it's I mean, what is so cool? And what is so great about all of the resources and tools that we have?
Now on the internet on YouTube on podcast, you can find all of the like education and the learnings that you need to do it but also what the advice that I would give would be to really sit and think about how you want to do it because you can do it in so many different ways and and think about what success looks like for you and then kind of go down that path, you know, for some people success to them looks like having their book in Barnes & Noble or Target, sometimes success to them is
just having to someone is just having the book out there in the world and having their Best friend, read it or be able or just seeing their book on Amazon or something of that nature. And so depending on what path you want to go down, there's there is a path for you. You can find it, you can do it
yourself. There are so many great resources out there and honestly from from what I have found the community the the Indie author community on Twitter on Reddit on there's like some slack channels. I'm a part of everyone is so excited. Incredibly supportive and is willing to help and you can make it happen. And there are also kind of, I will say, like a scale, a sliding scale of the amount of effort you can put in, depending on what you want.
So, you know, if you don't think you have a lot of time or a lot of energy to devote to it, there's a point on that scale for you. If you want to go all out, there's a point on that scale for you as well. It it's been a very fulfilling experience. Sounds like you can get out of it, whatever you want to put into it, and so there's lots of Freedom with it.
Yeah, that's awesome. All right, so speaking of the book a little bit, you mentioned in the book that when you were growing up, you really wanted to see somebody represented in media. That was more like you instead of like the run of the bill Street Caucasian Abercrombie models, I love that description because it's so spot-on. So, let me simply we created this podcast, because we think representation in media is very important. And so, we wanted to hear your take on that.
Like, why is it so important? Oh my gosh, it is, it is, so it's okay. Where do I go? Where do I begin? I know. I know it's a big big question. Like what? But I think the answer to this question for me, or the way I would answer. It is a little twofold. So for one, it is important for those of us who, who haven't gotten as much representation to see ourselves in all of these situations, particularly particularly successful situations. So that we can understand that
that is available to us and we can achieve this. same dreams and goals that everyone else has or that everyone else who is usually portrayed, Hasn't can that's half answer. Sorry. And so there's like that side like everyone needs to see that they can do what they want and like achieve, their goals and have their dreams. But I also think the second, the second point is that it is so important for everyone else to see other people also be able to
like live that light. It just builds that empathy with other people who aren't Don't look like them who are queer or not queer. Who male female, any gingers in between no genders like, it is just so important for everyone to be exposed to different people. And to see, like the possibilities when we are able to work together when we are able to love together. When we are able to, just take all the best pieces from everyone and put it together to build something great as a
theater maker. Especially Lee working with third rail projects, which if you don't know, is a very weird, an immersive theater company and we devised a lot of our works.
And a lot of that process is going into a room with a whole bunch of different artists and kind of working and figuring things out and like, oh, taking this thing from this person, oh, taking this thing, from this person, taking this choreographed movement, from this person and kind of re mixing it Dividing it back up, putting it all together and that's how you get the most brilliant works that I have
seen. It's really that collaboration, and I think there's a little kind of metaphor in there of what we should be doing in the world and in real life, Yeah, I was just thinking like the the line you here in like corporate HR stuff. It's like diversity makes us stronger and it sounds like a line. But it's true because different perspectives like when they come together to make something new and beautiful.
And I love the part you mentioned about empathy because that's something I think we need to remember. And relearn perhaps since so yes always always need to be reminded of that. Totally, I apologize. I'm not laughing at you. My dogs are fighting. In the background right now. No animals. All right, back to you always know. Yeah, I was just talking to our third host about this.
Like the media. He can teach you so much and people are always like, I feel like downplaying the representation in it, but really, especially if you're growing up and like pretty isolated. If you're moving around a lot stuff like that, seeing all of these different situations play out. It allows you to like get experience without being directly involved. So, I just wanted to bring that up, but how has representation in media changed since you were young? Have you come across any
projects where you feel seen? Oh yes, when we're definitely not there yet, but we are. We have made so much progress and I have seen that I continue seeing that you know whether that be You know, I got to the city in 2012. Yes. I think about that.
It's been a minute. Okay. And like, you know, when I first got here, all of the roles that I was being sent out for were like busboy and teen drug dealer, criminal or illegal immigrant, you know, like those were like the only roles that I was being sent out for For and now I'm, I can see. And I've seen over the years like oh, that's changed. Like I can go in for anything now and people are willing to like visualize seeing a Latino in any role which is like a huge step.
And now we also have you know, not only let more Latino representation but also queer representation and we have created Latino representation. I mean like love Victor is Huge staple piece that I'm so excited to see so, yes, we are definitely on the right path, for sure.
And I'm so excited to see that. yeah, I agree with all that and I'm like, we're getting, we're finally getting to the point where we're starting to see like lead roles to which is very exciting and very much needed All right, so in the book, you there's a lot of sage advice for those that haven't read it, go read it. There's a lot of sage advice in there, including a phrase that you mentioned that, I heard you that totally changed my life, which is the fake it till you
make it wine. So with all the advice in the book, what are you, what are you? Hoping that readers will take away from you? Telling your journey of like becoming a successful successful artists and having like a wonderful happy marriage and happy life. Yeah, I would say. The, the two big takeaways that I would, I really hope people take away. I'm so articulate when I'm not written word. Is you heard me talking like
that important is? I know, usually I'm reading from a script so I'm sorry, I start, I would say the two big takeaways are one. Anything you want is possible, no matter who you are, no matter like yet. Sure may be harder or easier but it is possible. And too Failure is necessary, you will fail. Prepare to fail. And failure is sometimes the best thing that can happen to you.
And so just know that that's going to happen and it's going to be great, and it may not feel great for like, the literal. Two minutes, you are failing and you're fumbling. And you're like, oh no, this isn't going well, but I promise you, you will be much, much, much better.
After it, and for it. Yeah, your book is very, very good at making you feel better about yourself like as I think I need to reread like the your book every week because I felt so much better when I read it and then yeah, I need to read it again because you're very wise and very positive which I, you know, very Silver Lining. Yeah. That is so encouraging to hear. Thank you so much that.
Such a huge goal of this book and, and it's because, you know, growing up or like, like reading or watching queer media, especially everything was so dark and traumatic, you know, I really wanted to just release a big bundle of queer joy into the world and that's we all want that, really? That's a really weird. It's like serial killer, the office like It's good. Great, Tony. Other really have a breakdown. But yeah, you're so positive which we've experienced firsthand.
Now with all of our recording issues that just happened. You, you talk so much about being happy in the book and then I was reading and I'm like, is it possible to be this happy? Is it? I think they're cool. So there's definitely think so. Living example, right here. Yeah, I go off the rails, a lot. Can you talk? Mmm. So back to you, you were part of the Williamstown Theatre Festival.
In 2012, where you participated in many roles, including stage crew did hands-on experience as a crew member enhance your acting at all. Oh, that is such a good.
Interesting question. I I don't know necessarily if it like helped quote-unquote acting but it definitely helped just being like a better theater collaborator being a better like like when I would have like a like a part of the production because you know, when I'm when I'm on stage and or like running backstage and there's also crew members trying to do their job, like I understand what they're doing. Like, I understand what needs to be done, like how they're
feeling? What they're going through at the time. So like I'm Able to, you know, help them out or not, leave my kind of costume strewn about all over something that they need to move our like actually put my props away to where, you know, they're just like things that sometimes I do. Think actors aren't so aware about. So I do, I do feel like it helped in that manner as well. Yeah, the the crew life is difficult. So no knowing to help them is
very nice of you. Yeah, of course because, you know, we're all at the end of the day, we want the production to be the best it can be. And so anywhere we can all help out towards that goal. I'm down for It also sounds like from some of the descriptions, the book that like behind this behind the curtains when there's like costume changes and things like that. It sounds very quick and like pretty chaotic showing I did theater as well. So that's cooking just that trip.
I had to rip a costume off somebody because it was stuck and they had to get out. Yeah, it's usually always very chaotic but, you know, we thrive in the chaos. Oh yeah. Theater theater life. All right, so the pivot a little bit. So there's there's a lot of lines in your book that I truly love and one of them that really was very striking was, we can't just sit by and do nothing with all this precious time.
So what until you've accomplished a lot like at this point, your you made your own book, which is awesome. Is there anything like you have any like top achievements or like a bucket list of things you want to do in your career? I do have things I want to do. I don't know if I have like a top list of achievements, but I do have things I want to do. So, you know, life is interesting. Life is I do? I like to do a lot of things.
A lot of different things. I would like I'm working on a fiction book right now, A rom-com that I'm excited about, I'm sorry, can we okay? Answer this and then we'll talk about that. Okay, sorry. And and I also some of my goals are very specific. So this may sound like wild I love Mariah Carey. She's like my number one, absolutely love her.
I'm a musical person. So, like, I really appreciate her, her musicality her, compositions her production, I really loved it. And so I'm also I was born and raised in Texas. So even though, you know, I live in New York City, and I don't ever foresee myself, moving back to Texas. I I love country music still so like Mariah Carey in country music, right? So the where this is going is that a bucket list project that I have is I want to do a Mariah Carey country covers album.
That's interesting. Cool goal like all new Arrangements. Like I want some banjo in there. I want some fiddles I want. Yeah so it I have a lot of ideas for that project. That's one of them, one for Christmas and to a country song. Oh my God, we need a remake of that song from her goddamn is like, so. So I have like things like that and I think I have a few more but I'll keep them. I'll keep them close to the chest for now. I don't think anyone's questioning how Creative, you are.
Yeah. Bursting with ideas is what it sounds like. Oh my gosh. So, one of the things in the book that grabbed my attention, I'm like, oh my God, I need to read a lot more. You were talking about when your brother became a prisoner of war. Hmm. Which I was, I was like, where the hell did this come from? Like that? That seems so crazy, like, go through and just like witness. Yeah, that's what we thought at the time, like I am so glad things ended. Okay, spoiler alert. I'm sorry.
They do you get your fine in a way they ended in a way. Okay. So you talked about your parents doing a lot of interviews and there's like a lot of media coverage around it. Did your exposure to this media, so much impact, your desire to be a performer and in front of the camera at all. That's a that's a good question.
I don't think it necessarily pushed me towards being an actor or like or like a you know, in front of cameras but I do think that one that experience so young when it happened. I was For everyone listening. I was eight and so experiencing that whole thing. So young, I do know really taught me how small the world was and it really did make me feel like oh little me from the middle of nowhere. Texas is now like on TV screens. Like it was like you can't like
things can happen. Like big things can happen to you. Like this was a bad thing that kind of happened. It ended up being okay but big things can happen. So that was like the first Like, thing that clicked I the second thing is why they didn't necessarily I think. Push me towards the acting realm. I do think it like, watching that happen, kind of gave me those first things with like oh like being in front of a camera isn't necessarily scary or anything. It's just like something my
family did. Like it's it wasn't this big thing now because we had already done it for like big news stations and so once you've already done that when you're eight it's like You know. I'm not gonna be afraid of being on a stage in high school or something, you know. So I do think it, kind of there were those things that that got instilled in my brain Yeah, it's a confidence booster. It away. Yeah, Silver Lining. So it seems like, like, in the art realm theater made a huge
impact on you. Like you were mentioning, like, in high school being supposed to theater. Can you talk a little bit about why theater is so important pacifically? I think. What makes it so great and unique is getting that live experience between whoever is performing and the audience.
There's something very special, very sacred, and unreplicated Bowl about that experience, like having that energy between performer and audience, live in the same room, going through those emotions, living those emotions watching that story, Open. And you know, there have been many, many studies that prove this that you know, the there my fit one of my favorite studies especially it's a little
different. But one of my favorite studies is when people are singing together in a choir or like just in a group singing together, typically, a lot of their heartbeats will sink and like, it's some pitches. There's something so magic in human and electric that happens and that has the Power to change people's minds, get people more open to different ideas, get people to be a little more thoughtful and reflective when they're watching the story.
That that is about something very important and as much as I love TV, as much as I love films, it's just not quite the same. That is a really cool study first of all, and second of all. Yeah, you're right. And there's, there's this kind of like, real time feedback happening silently between like performer and audience. That's just unique to the having that like in-person experience.
Like you said, unfortunately the Arts is always battling with like getting its recognition and by recognition, I mean money to keep going and it constantly is getting cut. Do you have any advice of like what people can do? Do to help like support the Arts. Oh, man. It's, it's real rough out there right now, especially, especially Live Theater. They are still decimated by the pandemic and I don't as of now
as much as positive. And as hopeful as I am in life, I really still don't see a way where we can get back to post pandemic without huge interventions. So the best things you can do. Our, if you can funding, you know, by ticket go see shows go donate, go become a season subscriber to a theater, your local theater. All of those good things are great.
Money is always great. Other things you can do is, volunteer time to do either help raise money or to just be, you know, an usher or work in the box office, you know that volunteer, even though you can't give money, you can give your time so they don't have to spend money to to pay. Someone to do that. And that could be a really great
way to help out another. Another thing that I don't know how to make happen, but we really, really need is, I think a Grassroots movement, starting locally and then to the state level and in and then, to the National level to try to lobby for more funding for the Arts, in all areas, we haven't had anything like that here in this country and we could really, really use it about now. Yeah, that would be wonderful,
you know, yesterday. I studied entertainment Arts Management in college, so I was constantly hearing there's no money in theater. Like, Broadway shows, never make money. Well, barely hmm. So it's just It just shows like how much people love it to like still be doing it even though, like it's not going to be as lucrative I guess as film and TV. So, Why are you passionate about theater? I'm passionate because again like these live experiences can
change lives. Can, you know, change the course of community, thinking can open those doors of empathy for people who are not like you. It is so, so important. It also, you know, when there's theater programs in schools or after-school, programs it there are also more studies that show how well it helps for children's development. Aunt, not only academically but also socially and building all of those skills. And there really is no money.
And it's like, it's it's so especially now, when we are seeing, you know, the cost of living Skyrocket, especially in the city here everyday, I'm seeing more and more actor, friends having to leave the business because they can't take the They can't live on a project that pays $300 a week or in a huge Off-Broadway show that is successful selling out tickets
all the time. And it's $800 a week, which, you know, sounds may be okay but not New York City and not after you pay your agent and you pay your manager and you pay the union and you pay your taxes in New York taxes. So you're taking home like five hundred dollars a week, And it's just it's unsustainable and I don't know what to do. I wish I had the answer. Yeah.
Because like it's it's insane. Like you really have to be all in and a lot of times you have to be well off to even like consider doing it and it's unfortunate because there's so many people who be so happy doing it. When the pandemic happened, we turn to the Arts. Hmm, well, obviously not the live theater in person, but yeah. And it's just people forget how important it is. And especially in the entertainment. Industry is just expecting.
people expecting you to work for free and for very low pay when you're like parking so I can I get a I don't know what the word is, but can you tell like, I'm very passionate about that part? Yeah. Yeah, it's, it's, it's tough right now. It's very, I mean, it always has been tough, but now it's a new level and I think, we are maybe reaching some sort of what I hope is a turning point and not a breaking point, but we are we are nearing something I think, Hope for the best positivity. Hmm.
But moving on from theaters slightly, you are in a segment for what would you do? And the subject matter is definitely difficult for people in the lgbtq+ community. You had to play a bully. Who was forcing another teen to come out of the closet? What did it feel like having to play this role and be somebody who? You're definitely not. But Basically, like basic having
to portray like a nightmare. Yeah, first it was scary because this was, I think only their second segment they had ever had that was like, LGBT themed in any way, shape, or form. So it was a little scary, just to know how audiences would react to anything, you know. No. And then it was also even more scary because it really is real.
Like these are strangers that we are interacting with and we shot at a diner in New Jersey. So I wasn't necessarily like You know, I wasn't afraid of like getting shot or anything. Like if I was in Texas but you know, they're, you know, you never know, you know, how strangers going to react and what what what's going to happen, but I did feel feel very safe. There was plants all around from production and they were all literally right there.
So I did feel very sick but you know, you never know like what kind of Confrontation you are going to get into. And then I also felt a little uneasy about tricking people and like kind of forcing them into these. Rough emotional states when they were unsuspected. It didn't quite sit that well, with me, but I will say, production was very, very, very awesome in the fact that one. They kept the goal on how this segment would help people.
And how, you know, there is representation but also it would bring this issue to light how, you know, you shouldn't force people out of the closet and then to production. Also let us have real conversations. As with these people, after they came out. Like, after it was like, hey, by the way, you're on a hidden camera, show your on, what would you do?
They let us then sit down with them that we trick the people that we tricked and talk to them about it and thank them for stepping in and thank them for being a part of part of the process and apologize that you know we kind of tricked them but at the same time it would help so many people and so it was a very interesting Ting and unique and awesome experience at the end of the day. How did people react to like
finding out? Because you always see people like find out like you're on a hidden camera show, and it's just like, you never think that you would stumble into that. The, the beauty I think of this segment, and of the people who were there, stepping in, there was always a huge rush of relief that like, oh, this isn't real like this, this isn't real. It was, it wasn't real. So that was also very heartening to see how much, how passionate they were and how much they
cared. And then when they finally realize, oh, it wasn't real, that like relief that they had that I could see them have that. Honestly made me more hopeful than anything. That's really beautiful because it could have gone the complete opposite way and then just disheartening real. Yeah, totally. So Okay, so we saw that, we run to that you were a part of a springboard NYC so we're hoping you can talk a little bit more about the program and what the impact that program has four for
actors? Oh my gosh, that is one of the best programs ever. If you like you want to be an actor. If you want to be a performer, you want to be work in the theater World in New York. I can't recommend it enough. I think they still do it. Anything that you basically you spend two weeks and you're taking master classes from like current Broadway professionals, you are doing mock auditions with casting directors and music
directors, all of that stuff. Then they also teach classes that are like how to do your taxes as an actor, how to find an apartment in New York City, like really like actually find a living Arrangement. Here's how the bills work in New York City. These this is what your budget needs to look like in New York City. These, this is like how you find auditions and how to go to the audit. Like it's very so practical things that colleges don't teach.
And then like almost every night you're going to see a show and so it's like really these long days for two weeks, it's really great and they also have scholarship opportunities. I was a recipient of a scholarship opportunity, I would not have been able to attend the program if I, if I hadn't had that. So I'm very, very thankful and that program really did set me up. Up to be successful once I moved here.
I love that they like talk taxes and stuff like that because yeah so many people are just getting throated to the world and not knowing and I know you talked about like in college teaching your friends about finances and stuff and I just when I was a freshman, I was teaching my friends about credit scores and credit cards and how to build your credit. Yeah. So it's just so important and I don't understand why people don't focus on that anymore.
Yeah, it's wild because it's you can't do anything without that kind of knowledge. And, and I wish schools would would kind of take it on, but I guess, I guess we just have to keep like telling people about it to find out themselves. I don't know. I don't know what we could do. It's just as important as like the acting training because you're not going to get anywhere if you don't know how to get somewhere. Yep. Especially in New York. The taxes are wild there that
will learn that stuff. So wild wild heart attacks only go so far. I understand, I live in California. Now, their taxes are wild. Do. Hmm. You got it. You got it. I get it. Of course, the aura. You had another very interesting job and when you were working at Escape rooms. Oh yes. It's and I found that very interesting when you talk about how watching people play these games, like showed you what was going on with Humanity, can you talk about that a little bit
more? Like, how you Likes all people through these games. Yeah, it was It's mind-blowing because, you know, they're in the room, they're trying to do an activity. That is a little stressful so they have that kind of stress put on them and you know I think you can tell a lot about someone about how they react to stress and it's like watching Lab Rats because they don't they kind of
forget you're watching them. They don't really know you're watching them so they really just are themselves and they would always be wild things happening all the time. I would see like you know is a lot of families. So A lot of the time I saw like a patriarchal figure really put down the matriarch of the family like we're like just not listen to her they'd be like oh look I found this clue and they'd be like, no, no, we're working on this and it's like like she has
the clue you need. It was a lot of like that like microaggressions or like, just overt microaggressions that you saw all the time. And then sometimes there would be mixed groups of like, people who didn't know each other. And so seeing how they would either kind of coalesce and come together to solve it or like not really be comfortable with each other. If they were like from different cultures or something, it was just, you can learn.
So, so much and I did. And if there was like a 24/7 live stream of people in Escape rooms, I think that would be one of the biggest hits on the internet. So I'll say, yes, amazing. Tick Tock, but have you ever seen the videos of people working at Escape rooms and just like overhearing? I don't know if they're real but like sure. I haven't seen those but I need to go look at them now because I think I can relate, I'll send them the Oh, so many flashes of different body parts.
We've had, there's been various body fluids. There's been, it's just, there's a lot. It's wild. All right, somebody's definitely missing an opportunity for are really great show. Everyone wants a big rat, head us up. Hey Josh. You want to start you and work on that together? Sure. Yeah. I've got nothing else to do once his book is out at out. Forgot about that too. Yeah it's happening. I think I don't know.
I think I'm like half I'm like the outlines done and I'm like halfway through first draft drafting it. Wow, we'll see. And then once once I get like a decent amount will see if there's any there there. Yeah, I don't know much past that point. That's what is what it's about. Oh, contemporary, gay, rom-com set in New York. I think that's all I may say about that. Okay, so I'm going to need you to finish this book. Publish it, and then make it into a movie. Yes, I got.
That is my goal. I mean. Isn't that everyone's goal? Weenie. Need more. Wrong comes. Yes, they're my favorite. Yes, yeah. Yes, you know ones that don't end in tears. Yesterday, I would like that. We need to positivity in rom-com for movie form. Yes. Yeah. I I would I need that to Netflix. If you're listening, you know, whatever. Amazon is my favorite one is single all the way like if I could write anything half as good as that I would consider that successful.
Okay well you know it's not a TV shows the or some Maybe they're good for us and many things that end. They're good if you're trying to continue. Oh yeah, no, I'm not getting cancelled after four episodes that playing that game Netflix. No, no movies are better. They're like, just like a gay cable like lgbtq cable network. There used to be there used to be logo. Yeah, they're did. You feel that was?
And then and then now we have there's a streamer called reverie, which I think I'm in a movie on there, I don't know what. yeah, we we've heard of a few like online That's, that's not it. It's our ev'ry TV. I accidentally have a That now I put it in there for some reason. No, I watched Think the full is on here. So yeah, what are you? What are you in here? I don't know if it's still in on here or not and it may be a couple things, but I do know one.
My very first gig ever in the city, was a short film called bows Academy and I think it it, I know. It definitely did used to stream on here and I think it may still be, but I have no idea. So, either way, it's really cool. Yeah, we will go find it. Speaking of the city, Okay? So I have some friends who are headed up there soon to see him play.
Hmm. And since there haven't been new episodes of sweet husband's in a while, I'm wondering if you have any pastry / desert recommendations are so you have to explain what sweet husband's is. Okay. So if you're not if you like to explain it, oh so sweet, husband's TV is a desert And Pastry review YouTube show. Oh, that me. And my husband, Matt Tolbert, started and did for a long time. And so you can see go to Sweet husband's TV on YouTube.
And you can see our episodes to get the scoop on all the latest desserts and Sweet Treats in New York City and and around, we did more than just New York City, but it's like 90% New York City. So yeah I think Hmm what's around now that I'm really loving who bear donut in K-Town is mochi Donuts that I highly recommend the very, very good. and then, This magnesium refined and then I still love like so many of our episodes are about like Schumaker. He's cookies.
So recommend. If they go to Hudson yards with which they should Queens, Queens yard, I think is what it's called. It's like a restaurant there. It's from London and they have a location here. In Hudson yards, they have a really good desserts and drinks and they Duty time as well so I highly recommend them as well. Okay, I will send the segment to them. Thank you so much. What do you know what? Play, they're going to go. See, they're going to see prima
facie. Okay, I know while they're here if they can score a ticket to Titanic, okay? It's the best show I've ever seen. All right, what's it about? I'm not familiar with that one. Okay, so Titanic is a parody musical of Titanic.
Basically the setup is Celine. Dion herself, interrupts a Museum tour like people were touring the Titanic Museum Celine Dion interrupts the tour and she's like, hey actually I was on the Titanic and I can tell you exactly what really happened and she she then proceeds the entire show to be the next serve as our narrator in our Master of Ceremonies to tell the story of what really happened on. On Titanic, everything about that sounds in for some movie of
this. This is amazing best show I've ever seen. And their social media Clips are really good right now, but I gotta tell you the videos on their website, do not do the show Justice. So just know that Best show I've ever seen. I mean yeah, I wanted to go with my friends to see Prima but I just couldn't take his word ridiculous to get, but yeah, I really want to see this play. This sounds incredible. I'm not getting speaking of incredible shows, I can't
believe. We don't have this question on here, but you talked briefly about immersive theater and I didn't really know that was a thing until this book. And it seems so cool. Yes. Yeah, like teach everybody about immersive theater, please. Oh my God. This is a whole College course so you know immersive theater is where typically a show happens all around you. So there are ones like then she
fell or sleep no more. I worked on, didn't she fo for five years, where the whole entire show took place in a three-story old, abandoned Hospital, Ward and audience. Members are kind of Taken throughout this entire space while performers are going in and out of Rooms with them performing all around them. There's a very chaotic tea party and dance fight. That is like happening where teapots are being smashed like all right in front of audience members. And it's so it's this half.
Participatory half watching a show experience, that is very unique and different and exciting and I really, really, really love it. I've also done ones. We throughout the entire show, we were in this like huge giant event space with different rooms in a basement and we would take audience members throughout the space for different scenes.
And during the night, they would cook an entire dinner and then at the very end of the performance we and the audience all set this giant table for 60 people and we all sat down and we ate the dinner that we cooked throughout the entire performance and that was like my favorite thing I've ever done. Wow, that's So neat, so cool as your talk. I just realized I actually did go see an immersive thing, but it was in Greece who he was on in Santorini.
Yeah, it was like this whole like family getting married. We're like in the house and went. So I was like, oh, wait, nevermind. Yeah, you'd Ms. Yeah, remember though, you live in My Big Fat, Greek authentic, Greek Wedding? We got smashed plates and everything was great. Yeah. Okay. So you're an immersive theater veteran. It's okay. So now that I know that, that's what that was. It is so much fun and such a unique experience. so, the are we need to do this? We need to go see it is of
theater. I just had no idea about like the immersive and it just sounds, it just sounds so fascinating because, like, you're a performer, but you don't know what you're walking into really if you're an audience member, quote unquote. So that's it's so cool. And it sounds like as the as the actual performer. There's so much you're doing, that's like a typical like, you said, like we're actually making a meal and it's a lot, it's a lot. Yeah, but very, very
fascinating. Ng. Something else in your book that I picked up was I loved what you said in the very beginning about your book. But I know that I can help at least one person with my stories. If I can just make one person smile or make one person's brain, click that will change their outlook on life. Then I know I did a great job.
My experience I created a documentary and that was like my goal with it. The first person you help with projects, like this is yourself, did writing this book, help you at all. Oh, really, how did you grow from writing it? You are asking great questions that I just, I didn't expect but I love. I think I was like, oh, that is like Oprah level question. Thank you. You're very welcome. Yes, the the answer is, yes, 1000% more so than I thought.
and, I don't know if it was necessarily like the writing it all down, but I think it's more. So the process has taught me so much and about like what I'm capable of and what I what I thought I could do actually was more. So what I knew I could do? Like, I just didn't know it, I wasn't like quite back confident, but now I know I can do almost anything I set my mind to I made a documentary and I was like I'm doing this all by myself.
I'm going to do every single role I'm in it and I'm going to just prove to myself that I can do every single thing. but, I don't know where I was going with that. Did, did you prove your to yourself that you could? I did. Nice. It's on Amazon. Oh my God. Send it to me, please. But stuff like that, it just really makes you think back. And I think makes you like process like what you have actually experienced and Was it like a good reminder for you of things that you've accomplished?
Oh, yes. And and not only like, you know, like things I accomplished, but What it it helped me also, remember, what obstacles there were for me and maybe what? I can focus on whenever I'm looking to, like, do when I feel like I want to do something to help the world. Like, I'm like, oh, I know I had all these obstacles. What can I do to remove these types of obstacles for others right now. I'm working in an in the corporate world as a media producer for a tech company.
And I see, you know, we are like, predominantly straight, white space, and so I was like, what can I do to make this a better environment for those of us who are from Minority? And so, I found different ways. I can like, push things forward and remove some of these obstacles and I'm part of the mentorship program where a minting and are mentoring. And, and I think that the writing the book has helped a lot in the in that regard. Weird.
Yeah, it's very Pay It Forward. I love that always, always always, always always well that wraps up our questions for today. Thank you for answering all of them before we sign off and say goodbye to the listeners at home. We wanted to see if you had any final words for our audience. Oh, I would say, you know, I hope you read the book, but even if you don't know, please just know, read the book. Look, please just know that.
I'm rooting for you. I think you have a lot more people rooting for you than you think always. And even though you have all of these people rooting for you, you are going to fail still and know that. Like you're not going to disappoint the people rooting for you. If you don't like try you know they will be a little saddened but like you still want disappoint them. Just go for it, fail at it, and then try again. Maybe if you want to wise words.
Yes. So if you want more wise words and positivity, please check out Joshua's book. Keep sweet and rate it anywhere. You can talk about it on social media which we will be doing and just please support. Amazing artists like Joshua. So thank you. Yes. And thank you so much for being here. This was super fun. We really I'd get you to talk to you. Hopefully, we get to talk to you again. And that's all we got for today. Everybody until next time. See you later. Bye, bye.
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Until next time, stay safe and hydrate for lesbian Jesus. Yes.