The Crown Jules with Maria Menounos • EP206

J K. That's the name of the episode. This aired October and four after dare Knight, resulted in new arrangements, new arrangements, I don't know what, new couplings, new couplings. Here we go. A midnight meteor shower finds Lucas sharing a romantic night with Anna, who is inexplicably afraid of her brother's approval of disaval. Good One and Andy surprises Karen with a dinner date, and Keith cooks for jewels

on their first date. Brook finds herself for me a mutually beneficial relationship with Felix, and Peyton sets out to find an opening act for our club, and we name Trick. This was directed by Sandford Bookstaver, who we all raved about. We never got him back ever, Why didn't he ever? Comes like he was great because he was on fire, Like we were so lucky to have him. And I think you all mentioned in this episode his camera shots

are beautiful. He looked that techno crane so beautifully, those big widening shots that we get tall and leave people in these little zones. I mean, he he was so talented and so young, and yeah, you're right, his career just took off. That's a good point, Sophia. This episode was full of it felt like a bird's eye view.

It was lots of little in yet and he did use that crane shot a lot, which gave me the feeling that I was constantly seeing things from a just from a bigger perspective, especially that last shot where it's like we're in all the drama, We're in the scenes, were in all the emotions, but it's that last shot of the episode was a reminder that it's just small town America at the end of the day, you know, just a mom and her son sitting on the porch

going through the mail the long lens and he did something, Yeah, he did those beautiful long lens shots, you know, of all of us in the classroom, where you'd see through people in the foreground characters. And then I got the sense to he wove a metaphor. So well, we had a lot of metaphors on our show, right, but this episode, this is the big meteor shower. Also the only time we ever saw that fabulous science teacher. Why we didn't have him back all the time, but you know, he

was explaining a meteor shower. Also, he made a comet reference, which I'm sure the hardcore fans noticed. Um and and all of Sandy shots would start on two people and then widen out or someone you know, hathen Hathen Hathan started on my brain, just scrambled nearly in a knock cute way, so Nathan a Harry on their porch, and then it would pull back Brooke coming out and sitting alone, and you saw this little girl in front of this big house, and then you panned over to Felix alone,

you know, Karen and Lucas on the porch. All of these shots that would pull out and in a way you you pulled away from them, just like in the science class. We started on these stars and then pulled back and realized how far apart they were. It was really metaphorical filmmaking, and I thought it was gorgeous. That just blew my mind. We see how far apart they are.

He he elevated it. And you know, as as much as I felt like the the on the paper material of this episode was kind of boring, like there, I don't know that, we did a lot of moving forward. Joy did say that in the episode, She's like, this one's boring. I'm sorry, you can always count on me to spive my mind. I just I thought it was kind of boring. But what he did, but what he did as a director in taking this material and taking this sort of I don't know, catching the audience up

on stuff and just slowly moving different storylines forward. This was kind of an interim episode of just filler space filler, But um, he did a lot of really cool stuff with it and made it feel bigger and better than probably what he was given on the page. So that was I mean, that's that's a director's job, right, like to make it even bigger and better. So well done. It's so funny that you say that, because I I was just saying um. I was talking to my friend

Jenny and she was like, God, season two. I was telling her whatever that we were on. She was like, it was such a good season. And we were laughing, and I was saying that one of the things I miss a TV now, I miss when we could just go slow in episodes. Not every yeah, not every scene had to be some major event. You could really let people smooth through things and discover things, and so it's funny. You're like, God, it's boring, and I'm like, thank god,

someone is slowing down. No. I like when things slow down. It's just that I don't think that I don't in this particular episode, I don't think the writing was good enough to be slow and and really draw you in. Like, in order to slow down, there has to be subtlety. There has to be um oh nuance. That's what I'm saying. My favorite part of the rewatch is you too doing the predictive dialogue, like anticipating Lucas is going to say my favorite No, You're both like wait, wait, wait, there

it is, and there're gonna say this. I love it. It's like we do, guys, when we watch this show. It's like mad libs we're just I will say I was very proud of myself. I nailed a Nathan line today too. I knew it was coming. It was sweet. He said, my future is with Haley. That of course he did, Sweet Little Bunny, delicious. So let's rewind to the beginning beginning where we see hot Dan and hot Deb.

This is like empty nester syndrome, perhaps at like a very young age, Like imagine empty nester syndrome in your thirties. That would be crazy. Yeah, I mean, I guess I have friends that had kids either like senior year in high school or right out of high school, and they're in it and they are always like on boats and like doing fun show. And we're still in our thirties and I'm like, oh, you know, they figured this out

and I'm still changing pull ups. Um, it's gonna I'll be in men of pause by the time I hit empty nest. And I'm okay with it. But I can see we're hot Dan and hot Deb really make the hard self for just like getting it out of the way early. They sure, dude, I mean Dan on that treadmill. I let Paul any excuse for Paul to get hit the gym, he always takes it, so I love that

he was like, Dan's getting better. Here I go, you got a hair cut at a haircut, tan muscles at all and Barbara looked like just so young and fresh and cute, and I loved. I loved watching them in this episode. Are either of you guys rooting for Dan and deb at this point? Now? Sort of it's really hard because it's like, what will change a person if not in your death experience? And you can see him trying.

He wants to do something romantic for her. He's saying, you know, he's got the second chance he didn't ever think he was going to get. But every time he does something sweet, whether it's with her or with Nathan, right when you're like, oh, wow, is he changing, then he says something gross and you're like, I don't know,

and it can't help him. See's hard, yeah, yeah, but he's so goodly rooting for him, I'm no, so like I like watching them together, and I think their chemistry is so strong, even when it's combative and so as like a voyeuristic viewer who is not invested in anyone's emotional well being, I'm like yeah, and like, go to the beach house. Guess that sounds great, But like, as a woman who cares about feelings and toxic relationships, I'm like, deep, babe,

you have been a martyr called Keith. See what Keith is doing. It's a date a date. Keep is on a date with hot Jewels. Also, can we just talk about one of my favorite hilarious devices of television is because you know, you can't give out a phone number, people will call it and ruins. You can't give out an address because people will go there and terrify whoever

really lives somewhere. So when Keith, you know, in the last episode, looks at Jewels phone number, it's a five five five, because that's always what you have to do on TV. And then in this episode he calls her. They have a very cute scene. So she says, oh, you know, he waited a week to call me, and then he came up with this lame survey thing. It was like so flirty and cute. And then he asks her on a date and goes, how about a cookie

dinner tomorrow? She goes, great, and then he just slams that little flip phone show girl, Mac, So, so you didn't set a time, and you don't know where the woman lives. What are you gonna do? Find her? Like a homing pigeon? White pages? Remember when we had white pages, like an actual book in a drawer where we would look people. Um, maybe she put it on in the paperwork when she first came in to test drive the car. I don't know. Maybe they're gonna text in T nine

on those little footballs, hey friends. When we texted back then, you would literally have to hit like each button three times to get it to the right letter you wanted. Yeah, select the letter. It took full keyboard. Last. People are

never going to have the patience. Well, we also had Tyler Hilton in this episode, the introduction of our fabulous love Tyler, who I'm so glad stood the test of time with our show and just stuck around forever and never because he brings so much life and fun and he's so smart and so free on camera and improvisational and it's just like energy. As soon as he's on screen, you just feel the energy. And so that was super fun. I love seeing him when that production is great too.

Because Gravity Records in downtown Wilmington's was a hangout for all of us. I literally, Gus wanted our record player, and so he's got the record player up here, and I pulled out a Creative records and they're all like records that I bought in Gravity Records. There's like the Outcast album. There's some there's some like really depressing Emo in there, you know, like tat Power is in there, um forever Jenny Lewis, that was such a great hangout, and so it felt cool to be able to come

in there and shoot. And Tyler was a child when we met him. He was a baby. He was He was only a little bit older than James, right, wasn't he Like No, I think he was younger. I think he might have been even younger. Yeah, I don't know. He's just graduated high school or something. He was a kid, really, Tyler. Tyler came in with major kid brother energy, which so fun,

and he was so spunky and he really committed. And we were saying when we were watching the episode, how much fun it was to watch the two of you spar and how funny it is you know that they put Peyton an Emo shirt. Tyler, by the way, star predictive energy, you know, who knew what we didn't even know about ourselves and our eventual advocacy then was just casually standing there in a vote or die teacher, and I was like, hell, yes, yeah, it may be so happy.

Chris Keller did something really right in that first episode, and it was encouraging civic engagement. It always helps when that kid brother energy comes in. And it's also very pretty because he had just come off a plane Elvis and walk the line, and so we were just like, you're fun to look at, You're fun to talk to, Like this is the total package. Um, and now he's like a dream dad. He's like a girl dad. So he brings that same like fun cute boy energy to

parenting and what a delight. We'll get Tyler on super soon. Um, yes we will. We got some good guests in season two. We did. We totally did. Um. And let's talk about Danielle a little bit more too, because why why was she so concerned with Felix? Like every conversation she had is obsessing over her brother, and it's her whole arc. Yeah, her whole arc is I I don't want my brother

to find out I like a boy. But weirdly, Lucas goes along with it, and I just can't figure out why the writers wrote this stuff for him, because it's not like Lucas and Felix were friends. That's what I'm saying. Day, it doesn't make any sense. Guys. I have the three brothers, the three brothers, I have never consulted any of them on who to kiss ever in the whole life. And we were also very close in age, so you know gross.

The thing that was so weird to me is it felt like I mean, you guys, we were laughing watching these scenes, going like, well, what's up is Felix? Like are we in the sixteen fifties? Is Felix responsible for this woman's dowry? Like goats? Like what is this weird? I can't be around you if your brother doesn't know, I'm caughting. Likes also like, you know what fair enough if you want to explore some sort of cultural, uh tradition,

let's explore it. But what are we just like it's just so arbitrary and he's such a douche anyway, Felix that why is she? You know? I just I can't I don't understand it, know, the only person like doing like proper dating our Karen and sweet Andy and Keith and our fabulous guest today, ladies, shall we bring her in? Let's bring her in? Just there? You a okay, right, let's do it. I mean to give you you need

a proper intro. Guys, Our our guest right now is an American entertainment reporter, television personality, professional, wrestler, actress, author, businesswoman. She's a journalist. That's that's conducted the only interview with the entire Obama family. She's interviewed every sitting president since

Bill Clinton one on one. She's she is an allegend in her own right and has been through so many amazing things in life and has held a torch for so many leading so many people in incredible avenues of philanthropy and um just learning and growth personal growth. She's got her own podcast right now. So we are so so so happy to introduce Maria Manudos high ladys. Oh my god, it's so nice to hear your voice not just on TV, but like directed at us. It feels

so good. I am so excited to view with you today. I'm so excited to catch up. I mean, my god, it's been so long and um yeah, it's been way long. Yeah, but you haven't aged a day. Yeah, you've gotten younger, which seems like you neither have any of you. I'm like just dealing with COVID right now, by the way, So this is my COVID tried killing together for you guys, Babe. How are you feeling? Are you okay? You? I'm actually good,

thank god. The first day was pretty um and I had a fever, but then after that it was it was pretty good. I mean, it wasn't that bad. Well, you worked like twenty jobs, so I hope it's an opportunity for you to just like chill out for a minute. I think you've found that. Um. Did you guys both meet Marian for the first time on One Tree Hill? Was that y'all's first meeting because we met at MTV. I don't know if you remember this, but we met. I remember meeting you in the hallway and being like,

oh my god, she's so pretty. It's like that green room hallway right outside the control room. Were you Did you work in MTV? Did you host? Um? I was doing a show at that time called e T on MTV, right, that's what, But we weren't filming it there, so I might have just been there, like making an appearance or something on some show. Yeah, gosh, and that's when I remember, gosh, Marian, I weirdly did you and I need like I knew you because of your dad. Yeah. By the way, guys,

I have absolutely no memory being my husband. And my first assistant was with me for years there my USB drive, so I usually have to ask them for everything did I give me? And I don't remember anything in life, but I do remember your dad took my first head shots here in l A, being in a place called Channel one and Charles Bush I'll never forget. And um, and I knew you because of your dad, and then you met somehow before the show. I don't remember how.

I think it was an ET thing because I remember how crazy it was, you know, my Yeah, my dad was a photographer. I had to like work for him during the summer, and I was a petulant teenager who didn't pay attention to anything because I was like mad, I wasn't at the Glendale Galleria with all my friends and and then suddenly we're all doing this TV show and I have no idea what's going on. And it

was one of those I don't know what. It was, some press thing we did, like at the end of season one, and I remember seeing you and being like, I wonder if she remembers me, because I know her and this feels safe. Everything is overwhelming here, and you were just like, oh my god, your show. It was so so sweet and lovely, Maria. How did you get started? How did I get started? Um? Well, you, as you all know, it's like a series of baby steps, right,

It's like little thing after a little thing. It's saying yes to the things and then you get there. But um, kind of like the big moment that led to the big moment was, um, my now husband was um working at MTV at the time, came back to Boston to make a movie. I was so unconnected, guys, my parents were janitors, Like this was not that kind of story. But my cousin went to high school with him randomly and he said, Hey, that buddy I've been telling you about he was coming back to make a movie. You

should work on it. And he had been telling you since I was thirteen that he had this buddy at it in l A and not like whatever, and he's like, it's coming back to make a movie. And I was working um at Lord and Taylor in Copley Square doing makeovers for chel Huh. I did make up and I basically quit my job started working on the movie. And then a producer named Mark Finney who was working on our movie, went back to l A after re wrapped and was peeing at a place called Channel one News.

So he called one day because they were looking for new TV anchors and he knew I was studying journalism at Emerson, so he said, you should put in a tape. So Kevin and I got the only two videos I had of myself because I was like not that person that was like so psycho focused on like I gotta put my real together, I getta do all this. I was just kind of like going with the flow, and

we put a real together. I ended up getting a job moving to l A. And then from there I went to entertainment tonight across the street, and so um that was it. From there it was like history. And then I was with you guys, Yeah, how did you end up on one Stree Hill? What? What did you? Was in a random audition or did you know somebody?

Like how did it come out? So? Um, I remember my attorney, Kevin Yourn repped Mark Schwan at the time, and I had told my attorney that I wanted to do some acting, and so he spoke with him, and then there was some audition and I broke my toe just for the audition, you know. And then Mark at the time was like, that's so Jewels, and so he

was like, this is so Joel's side. Did the part, but it was only supposed to be like an episode or two, I think, and then it just kept growing from there because your good collection is thank you, thank you. I did watch back and I wasn't embarrassed. No, you're

so cute. You're like the perfect guys girl totally. And Enjoyce said it, there's that scene in this episode because you know, we meet you in the last one, and then in this one we were talking about how cute you were kind of riving Craig about how he calls you with this total BS like survey excuse. But Joyce said it, when you're sitting in that cue purple T shirt on the phone, you're throwing out such strong, charming

like Alicia Silverstone vibes. It's so it's like such an iconic energy of an of an era and you tapped into it so beautifully, and I feel like that's why week after week everyone was like, how do we keep her here? What do we do? You know, how do we have more Jewels? No way? I don't know what happened behind the scenes. I don't know how it all happened or worked out, because I was in a storm working um crazy crazy and it was like forty out a fifty two weekends, seven days straight a week, and

then I was flying to Wilmington's to do this. And every time I got to go to Wilmington's, I could take a breath and I could breathe, and I felt like I was in safe, good hands, Like I just felt so good that I remember when we wrapped, I was balling, like I don't want to go anywhere. I wish we could have kept you. Where do we think Jewels is today? What do we think Jewels is doing?

I think she probably stayed with um Keith because I felt bad in the end, right, like I had a like deep dive and remember what was going on because I'm watching it, I'm like, didn't I pull a fast one here? And then I saw it. I was like, okay, so obviously evil band put me up to all this, But now I really like him. So I would like to think, because a lot of people hate me for breaking Keith's heart, I hate me for breaking Keith's heart.

I would like to think that we made it work somehow, that we like got back together again and lived happily ever after they had little Craigs. I don't want to ruin it for you. He's dead. Yeah, I know, it's so sad. It's so sad. Maybe she just got like a huge Keith tattoo and she's just like he die because I tribute like season five, season three, season three. Yeah, it was season three because I had a short haircut. That's how I know what. And it was it was

the big school shooting episode. Oh I thought I had had time to get back together with him. I guess not. No, baby, it was like it was a strong one to punch. They were we're gonna break his heart and then break his body. Yeah. He's so good though. He's really so lovely and so um so helpful and kind with me. I really appreciated him. Have you acted growing up? Have you done theater and stuff? No? No, I used to clean nightclubs, praying someday that I would get to like perform,

So we would go. I would go up on stage and like the B fifty two s would leave there like their gear, like there are drums and their guitars, and I would just go up there and pretend I was performing, and like my parents wouldn't pay attention to me because they were of course cleaning and we were trying to get the forge out of there. But um no, I never danced. I never did acting classes. I never did any of that. And then in college I started kind of dipping my toe and acting in some student

films and things like that. Was it a hard transition going from being a reporter into acting? Was that? How was that for you? Did it feel like a strategy to feel like a new adventure. Well, it's funny because back then people weren't multi hyphen It's right, exactly. Everybody was a very particular box. Yeah, and they were really really against it, Like everybody was like, she can't act, she's a reporter. And I have to give my husband credit because he was the one who was like why not,

why can't you do everything? He was there, He was there with you, wasn't he He did. He came down at some point. Um, I remember we had a ship one of my dogs to my parents. I will never forget they go money. Don't tell anybody that we baby sitting in the dog. They're gonna think we're crazy. But yeah we um. He pushed me and I just you know, I wanted to do so many different things. I was so curious, and I always had the kind of mindset of like, we only live once, why would we just

stick to one thing? Why wouldn't we explore and try things? And so I loved it. I had so much fun. In fact, throughout the years after, you know, because I did some other acting. I did, you know, Fantastic four, and I did um this other movie called Kicking at Old School with Jamie Kennedy and Trumpic Thunder and stuff. What I realized about myself is I was always happiest on a movie center, a TV set, not necessarily because I really wanted to be an actor per se, but

because I really liked focusing on one thing. And it's funny how different things in your life will teach you things about yourself. Like I was so overstretched and doing so many things at some point that I was like well, when when am I happiest? And I'm like, oh, it's when I'm on a set because I'm so no good at it that I have to focus really hard, right, yes you are or not like or maybe I shouldn't be like negative. But the point is it wasn't my

strong suit. My strong suit's hosting right, that was, like I think, Um, I had never been trained, so I had to really give it everything I had. And I loved that energy of being able to focus someone things. So there are so many times in my life as I continue to be a multi hyperniteddu way too many things where I'm like, how do I gravitate back to that? Just one thing? So okay, if you could pick, like your perfect movie or perfect TV show to do, what

would you like? What's your dream gig? Currently? Um? You know it's it's such a tough landscape. I feel like the world has changed so much, not just because of the pandemic, but I'm sure, I mean, gosh, I have to have you ladies on my show at some point so we can talk about this because I don't want to take up your show. Make my baby give it,

give it. The acting world has changed so much and I can't wait to hear from you guys on it because it's so splinter The whole business is splintered, hosting, acting, everything is splintered. It's like you get you a little fief to them and stay with your fiefdom and then that's it. Um. I have to say I've been doing a little bit more acting randomly. I did a holiday movie I think Bethany I saw you in one recently, right, Yes, yes, I was. I saw you. I was like, oh my god,

she looks so beautiful and she's still exact same. Oh my god, So I like you and I loved it. Oh no, you did it with um Janna. Yeah, yes, I saw Jane posting like beautiful pictures on a wharf for something with you, and I'm like, I know, we had such a good time and it's so funny because you know we're all just here right now. But um, but yeah. And then I have another um Netflix series coming out I think in April with a very famous comedian where I get to be something. So my scene

now is just my podcast. I really am trying to build that kind of like health wellness, life improvement space for people to come where they don't have to fight about politics and they don't have to think about all the dreary, horrible things. It's like, how do we how do we roll with the punches, how do we live better lives? How do we live happier and healthier? And take everything that I've gone through in the last few years and teach people what I've learned. Being your own

boss as a woman is the most empowering thing. And you know, we all kind of came up in the business at the same time where we were at the mercy of a lot of dudes, and so to see so many women take the reins is exciting. Yeah, the fact that you came up during a time when they're everything was so segregated, you couldn't sort of be outside of your box, and the fact that you did break the mold in so many ways is a huge testament to not only your gifts and abilities, but who you

are as a person. That you just could see through the barriers, these sort of arbitrary barriers that have been put up and decided to just do your own thing. I mean, it's just so bad ass, Maria, and I think it's I think it's so inspiring too, because to the point of what we're talking about. You know, for folks listening at home, it might seem weird to think about now, but when our show launched, you know, Mario, when you were beginning your hosting career, you were really

told that you could only do one thing. So if you were a TV host, you were a TV host. If you did television, you could not do movies. If you did movies, you wouldn't dare to go on a TV show, if you know journalists or journalists. Everything was so specific. Even the idea that singers might act was a shock to anyone. And now we we think it's

so funny because if you're creative, you're creative. If you're a storyteller, whether you write music or articles, or film and TV, whatever, it's all of this is a creative medium. And so it's almost crazy now to consider that we all make film, television, movies, We work in journalism, political spaces. We you know, some people on this show make music, and you know, not just albums, but write musicals. I mean, like Joy, you do eighty seven things in music alone.

And it's like, isn't it wild that there was an era, especially when we were all being sort of born as artists, where other people were telling us what we could and could not do. It's it is crazy now because with the advent of new tech, like anyone can do anything even from home. It's it's surreal. And you really did set examples for a lot of people, us included I want to dig into your personal life. Well you have been to watch this episode. I did, Yeah, I watched

it last night. So right before we my husband, I was like so excited, like I'm not an americment Oh no, you right. So many years later you're like, oh, I definitely happen. There's no way I didn't suck. That was like the first time. So you're so cute. So we're lamenting Danielle Alonso's character caring so much about her brother's opinion about who she's dating. But you're telling us that, like your cousins set you up with your husband? Did they?

Did he mean to set you up? Or was this supposed to be a business thing but the career set up? But when I met Kevin, I was like, Oh, he's the one. He doesn't know it yet, so I'm just gonna have to force him to fall in love with me. I love it good. I'm glad he didn't know. No, I was like a chubby nineteen year old guy coming in from I was forty ground seven or than I am now. Of course I was. It was so cute. Yeah, I mean listen, I was tall, so I wore it

pretty well. But I was just this kid and he was like this, you know, filmmaker guy from Hollywood or whatever, and so yeah, he had no idea that I was like, no, it's you. How long have you guys went together at this point twenty four years in April. It's amazing, especially in our industry, you know what I mean, Like you're

I mean, you work so so much. I love how rounded you are with your family, um and with your relationships and the fact that you can just like pick up with people like the last time you saw them was yesterday and it's been what fifteen years. It's I also remember being so struck then and I and I still am so impressed by it and love to kind of witness it as a person who adores you, as

we all do. I remember being young, and you know, having this sort of first experience and definitely realizing that there's a lot of men in the world who are very threatened by successful women. And you came on our show with this husband who you know is what is he like at least ten years older than you, and you're you're coming into act and you've got this hosting career and you're running from you know, a war zone here to the oscars there and going to MTV and

going to eat and coming to work with us. And he was walking around with you, holding one of the dogs and just beaming watching you and the way he talked about you. And you'd like, go to shoot a scene, you know, we'd all be down on the river um and two of us wouldn't be on camera, so we'd be at video village and he was at video village and he's like, God, just look at her. She's good

at everything. And he was so proud of you, and it it really it set such an example for me in in what I would not tolerate less of in my relationships moving forward as I became an adult, I was like, oh, no, no, there are people who will love your success and be proud of if they're not. Yeah, if they're threatened, that's there and it's not your responsibility.

And I just got I just think about him all the time, standing there with that cute little baseball app just watching you and like being so in love with you being the best version of yourself. It was very cool. Oh my god, you guys are so so beautiful. Thank

you for that, because you're gonna make me cry. Um, I'm gonna make sure he listens to this, because you know it is it is hard, I know for so many people to find somebody that is going to root for them, and he really has, I mean so rooted for me every second of every day for almost twenty four years, and you're reminding me of how much I should appreciate him even more. I wanted to ask what you remember about Wilmington's. You know you said you came in.

I've had a big breath of fresh air every time you got there because your life was so such a blur. What do you remember what? What did you love about that town? What do you remember about your filming experience too? I loved every second of all of it. Um. I think getting to have fun, you know, for me, because I grew up cleaning nightclubs, I didn't get to go do all the things that kids got to do and have fun. So when I look back at my career, it was seems like One Tree Hill. Even Fantastic four,

I had like two scenes. But we were there for months, so I got to have like almost like a college experience where we would just like go out and party every summer camp or Dancing with the Stars where I got to have my dance recitals. But as an adult, my parents come see my dancer cital, and so I look back at those moments where I'm like, wow, okay, I got my fun in kind of like a hyper insane way. Wilmington's was gorgeous. I remember loving it there.

And there was that ice cream shop. Remember what's it called? Yes, uh, what was your flavor? What did you go get? I'm always like a cookie dough person, or was a cookie dough person then very much now, but I was die hard cookie dough. Yeah, that's awesome. Cookie dough on a waffre. Did you stay? Were you at the Riverview Sweets or were you Did you get an apartment while you were there? I was that's the Hilton right the river we were in there. Yeah, it was so nice. It was just

like I could breathe. I feel like it was so great. And you guys were all so loving and warm and fun. And I remember all your dogs, Sophia, a little rescue troop always. How many do you have now? Just one? Can you believe it? I know I'm gonna do so, Oh my god, look at us. At what point do you direct? Like, at what point, after conquering all of this stuff do you say, Okay, I'm in the boss chair, this is my time. That's funny. Um, I directed a little I did a short film, um years ago. I

think that one went to so Fire tried Doka. I don't remember. We did a couple of different movies that Kevin directed, and then I directed a short. I really like directing a lot. It's funny you say that. I like, I have always looked at everything in life like a shot, which is so weird. I don't know why, but um, but then, of course now it's like a whole other life, right because now with iPhones everything is a shot. But

preceding iPhones, everything was a shot in my head. And I love I love working with actors and I love all of that. So I don't know, it just seems like it seems like so much work now. I think I'm like retired into old but I am going to direct a documentary. Um, Joe Burlinger is going to mentor me through directing a documentary on my brain tumor journey and my mom's and kind of the parallels I'm seeing in women today and and basically pointing out some of

that to everybody. So um, so I'm working on that right now. He's literally like the best. I'm so excited for you to move into that space. Thank you do you find because one of the things that I think is really interesting about you know, all of us in the way that, like you said, we pick up exactly where we left off, and we talk a lot on this show about how we're all at a point in

our life. We're really nothing's off limits, you know, like, let's share the lessons, let's get let's get into the stuff, whether we agree or disagree or we're processing something. And you know, on your podcast on Better Together, you open up so much about all of this major life events stuff, and like you said, you do it in a way where it's about wellness and growth and and you're talking about, you know, what you went through with your brain tumor,

what your mother went through with her cancer. This is big life stuff that a lot of people go through, but a lot of people don't often feel like they can talk about. Do you do you feel like all the years where you've been a storyteller, where you've built these connections with audiences and people, do you do you feel like you want to heal out loud so that other people can do that with you. That's an interesting

way to put it, actually, to heal out loud. I think I was healing out loud when I started the show because it was partly I wanted to financers to help my mom through her cancer journey, and I knew I had access to people. I knew I had access to the best of the best, and I knew that I would be able to help others have that access. And then at the same time, UM be able to help my mom and myself really my mom, But you never know, there were always some nuggets for me there too.

But I think, um, you know, I just love helping people. That's always been something that's been in my heart and what I loved and admired so much about watching an Oprah in life right, she loved helping with people, and that was something I loved about her. I love about Tony Robbins. I love about so many people, so I

love helping people. And I think that's kind of why, because I know if I'm open and vulnerable, someone else will be able to be open and vulnerable, and someone else will share something that might help us all kind of unlock something. Right. That's why I always say we're better together. Yeah, So yeah, what what inspired you? Just so?

When did you start the podcast? Was it initially you started specifically because of what your mom was going through or did you Is it something that was ruminating for a long time. I think I shifted it shifted the title to that I started doing the podcast. It was funny Kevin Um. One day I came home from e then he had blown out our garage and I'm like, what are you doing you psycho? He's like, this is your future and I go what? And he was building a podcast studio in the garage and he goes, this

is your future. Ire me talking about this weirdo. This has literally been twenty four years and me calling a long yard and not understanding. But he has such a vision, so he built the studio. Soon after, I get a brain tumor, my mom got to brain tom I get a brain tumor and I had surgery, and so I had like no balance and you know, affected some nerves. So all I could do was use my walker and get into the studio and and do my show there.

So it ended up being, you know, where I kind of started my podcasting, and and then at some point, like the show um shifted into such health and wellness out of necessity because of my mom. Yeah, so it was organic. It just kind of happened. It was what I was already interested in. I've always been interested in life improvement, self improvement and health and wellness, but then

it became very very important and very tough of mind. So, and what are the things that keep you staying positive and motivated when you're going through tough times and you know, as you process the things that you're talking about on your show. Well, I was talking about this recently, Like I think life is like a roller coaster, right, I love roller coasters. Do you guys like roller coasters? I do?

So why do we love roller coasters? Because we're gonna scare the s out of us and then we're gonna get to the other side, right, So it's like we know we're going to be okay. I'm locked in. Yeah, Like, no matter what, we're always going to be okay. So I love I love the analogy of a roller coaster because it's highs and lows. We're gonna have them. It's inevitable. Life isn't supposed to be fair, it's not going to be perfect. It's how we choose to go through it.

And so I made a conscious decision. It took me a second. I had to gather myself because when you hear your mom as stage four brain cancer, it is the most paralyzing, worst moment of your life. Yeah, but I said, okay, we're going to go through this with like faith and with um, with you know, as much laughter and comedy as possible. And the same thing. When I was diagnosed, I was like, okay, now it's pure comedy.

I mean I was crashing jokes with the surgeon the second I walked in there, I go, hey, so you see this mother daughter tumor thing often And he was like God, and I'm like, okay, then serious here, Okay. To the point where I had I had promised him I would go to this charity event where they were honoring him. It was June seven, I get diagnosed like sometimes. I think it was like in April or something, and he's like, well, I can operate on the eighth of June.

I said, well, that's my birthday. It's perfect. It's a rebirth. And he goes, well, obviously you're not going to make it on the seventh and I go, no, I'll be there and he's like what. And so I show up to this charity and then you guys, and it's at the Stave Bonds house. The Save Bonds are these like oper wealthy family whatever in Beverly Hills, and I see Dr Black and I'm like, hey, to drink minimum. You're

in my brain tomorrow morning. I'm watching you. And so then they're showing brain surgeries that he's operated on on the screens and I'm looking around. I see like Ted Surranda's from Netflix there and all these people. I'm like, no one has a clue, but this man is going to be cutting my skull open and removing it to murder tomorrow. We this is insane, but yeah, I mean, I definitely am someone who honors my commitments. So I went and it's bananas, but you know, life is gonna

have throw it's purballs. That's why I love Rocky so much. She says, It's not about how hard you hit, It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward, how much you can take and keep moving forward. And so I think we all have choices how we want to go through things. And I know that the decision to use comedy and to to make it as light as possible made our journey easier, and so I highly encourage it because having your pity party, we can all

have our pitty party for a minute. I had one the other day on you know when I'm like, oh Christmas is ruined. Kevin and I both have COVID. This is great, Okay, go on our trip. But that took a minute, and then I was like, okay, this is probably happening for a reason, Well what is it? Then you did again, You're like, well, I need a rest, and I think God is just forcing arrest. And I think that's you know, there's always a reason behind things.

It's so important. I think this is such a valuable outlook because it seems like a very it's a very common theme right now in our modern Western society. The entitlement to not suffer the entitlement to this idea that, um, I shouldn't be inconvenienced, I shouldn't be suffering, I shouldn't be going through anything. I have a right to my perfect life. Um. And it shows up in so many ways, and um, it is so hard to I don't know.

I feel like I don't know if it's just this new generation or just what's happening with culturally in our in our society right now. But I think it's what you're talking about as a message that's really important for people to listen to and to reevaluate where we are in life. Yeah, you know, it's so interesting that you freeze it that way. Joy part of what I've really been wondering a lot about, which I know is a bit ironic considering we're all connecting via devices from four

different places around the country. But I think there's like a dissonance happening because so many people are on devices so much of the day, and what people share out in the digital world is their highlight reel so sub anxiously or even consciously. Now we all think everyone's out there having this Instagram perfect life, and suddenly we go, well, why am I the only person having a hard day, and it's like, well, everyone's having a hard day, they're

just not posting about it. And I really wonder how well that's by the way, it feeds the mentality that I'm talking about that entitlements like I should something wrong with me. Yes, yeah, that's what I mean. And that's why, to bring it full circle, I think a show like yours, Maria is so important because when you let people get real about what's going on, when you let people in. I mean, it's why I started my podcast, That's why, it's why I launched Work in Progress to have like long,

deep talks but are honest and funny and hard. It's why when we launched this show, we were like, well, let's talk about let's talk about let's get into it. Let's talk about the weird misogyny. Let's talk about what was really stup culturally back then. Let's talk about what we've all learned. Let's talk about what was hilarious. Like when you when you can be your whole self in a space, I think you do give other people permission

to do the same. And it is like kind of an out of body experience that I know I'm having as the four of us talk about this right now because I realized I don't think I could have consciously articulated this at three. But you showed up for us when we were twenty three, and you were an example of this living out loud then, and we didn't have, you know, women really too to set examples for us, who were producers and hosts, all the people in power on our show. We're men, and you showed up and

you were like, oh, I'm in power. I have five companies. And we were like, that's that's allowed. Oh we should all we should try to be like Maria. I'm like, God, I let that on a T shirt. I want to be like Maria on a T shirt. Be like Maria. You had that energy where all the boys wanted to flirt with you, but you demanded respect and used humor in a way that they never from from an outside observer. They didn't trivialize you the way some other girls got trivialized,

like you were well respected on our set. Are like grips and electrics were like that, Maria, she's a dame, you know. Like it's so funny how people perceive you like you don't even know what they think. Of you like, sure, that's so interesting. I appreciate that feedback. There is nothing like a dame. I hope it was a good experience because I know the Jewels storyline is like, you know, it's a fun storyline, and I wish I had gotten

more Jewels. I'm glad that we got more than the one or two episodes you thought it was going to be. I know, we too. We Too was literally such an amazing experience. Oh, we know, what was gonna say, I just remembered it. Um, what I was gonna say is so you talk about kind of like showing up and

doing all this stuff. And first of all, it was really really hard because I you know, again, nobody wants you to do anything other than the one thing you're doing, and so we had to fight and fight and fight. Can we do this? Can we do that? Can we do this? And by the way, my male co stars historically could do the exact same thing I asked for, but I couldn't. Right, I literally think, oh my god,

the examples are so horrendous and evil and bad. But anyway, he thought, and I'll never forget, Kevin actually threw the gauntlet down for me to do one tree Hill really called the executive and said she's doing it. I think he said something like she's doing it. And I remember being in an airport shaking because I'm like, this is the right thing to do. Oh my god. We just bought a house and I'm like, how are we gonna pay for things? And I get fired and all this stuff,

and he just grew down. He's like, listen for weekends. You know, she's she's working for you guys, seven days a week or whatever. She's gonna do this and that's it. There's just like so we like fired the shot, and we really but I'm so grateful because I would never have had that experience and you know, they would have chewed me up and spit me out at some point anyway. So now I got to have all these really amazing experiences with great people and great friendships that I've built

throughout the years. So well, we have to have an in real life reunion once you get better. Please, um you guys located? Are you guys only cal No? I'm in New York. Okay, I'm in California right now, and so Sophia, but she's also in Toronto, So where are you? I'm in l A. Okay. Where did you grow up? By the way, Austin, Okay, that's why the Lord and Taylor. I was like, are you jersy? So maybe that's what we'll do. Yeah, let's have it get together. Oh my god. Fun.

We'll kidnap Hillary and we'll have a little get together. Just come to the ranch. Oh, yes, we'll go to the ranch. Yeah, I've got I'm becoming an adult life change. Covid reassess was getting a ranch up in wine country in California. So we can drive here and and ban we can. We love the men, Kevin included, but we'll just ban them for the weekend that we road trip. Oh my god, a road trip with Jules. She's a bad driver, remember, Oh my god? Should we take a

convertible Mustang from Dan Scott votors? Hey, do we have any fan questions that Maria can answer with us? Oh? Yeah, fan questions? And then we spin a wheel for our Our superlatives are most likely to um, I'm looking at I can't believe Keith dying that I have no recollection. I'm so crazy. I hadn't even remember how evil I was. I didn't even remember my own storyline. To be honest, I had to go back and watching a little bit

last night. Maria. I didn't remember that you were evil until we read the prep duc for you coming on this episode. I'm so enamored with jewels that I forgot. I definitely pulled us all friends. We have a we have a wheel. It has been spun the superlative this week. Most likely to win an Olympic gold medal, Maria, we pick a cast member like a real life person but also a character on the show. So who do we think is most likely to win an Olympic gold medal?

I mean, didn't I guess it would have been, Yeah, you've probably would have write like you were such a like focus go get her or like perfect Yeah, whatever Sophia put her mind to, she would have so would win in like archery, you know what I mean, Like you would take like you know, I'll take it. Yeah, I would. I need I could. I when you guys, when the Hunger Games came out, I was like, oh, I could really get Catinus up in this if things got I love that plan, So I'll take that. Compliment

wasn't and my crazy wasn't. Paul on Canada he was actually so falls. The answer for that, for sure is really the answer. But honestly, I love the thank you um which character from the show? I mean, poor Nathan and his high flyers situation. It could have been a contender. I feel like it would have been Quentin if it hadn't gone south for him. Oh Quinton, Yeah, that's another person that dies, Maria. We have a whole slew of them so much. There was a lot of law Centrey Hill,

Good god, it's a game of thrones around here. Well, Jules is thriving out there somewhere. I just know. I feel like Jewels should have come back and got a bartending job at Trick. That would have been the ticket bartend on the show at one. I feel like, yes, I think I did. I didn't I remember working like I remember working there for some reason, weird. I guess we're gonna find out. We're just going to plow through all these episodes. What's your drink, Maria? This is where

I throw my brain tumor car down. I'm like, alright, folks, well we're all going to get together at some point, hopefully very soon in two and we want everyone to listen to your podcast when does it? What days does it drop? We are a daily show actually, so amazing. How do you have the energy? Yeah? I gone off the board. Actually we went daily and COVID so co I was a weaker and I felt like I needed

to be with everybody. So I was like, Okay, we'll do this every day and it'll probably last like two weeks. And so here we are amazing better together with Mariam the Ness on YouTube and up podcasts, and then I launching a website companion for the show. Um mid January. Amazing. We're so happy to see you. Yeah you girl, You love you. My friends, we love Mariam the New knows we love you. We're so grateful that you spend your

time with us, spend your afternoons or your mornings. Maybe you're in your morning commute, but we love hanging out with you. And thanks for showing up every week with us and can't wait to sissy you next week. We'll see you soon. Don't forget he like Maria, Hey, thanks for listening. Don't forget to leave us a review. You can also follow us on Instagram at draw McQueen's o t H or email us at Drama Queens at I Heart Radio dot Com. See you next time. We are

all about that high school drama. Girl Drama girl, all about them high school queens. We'll take you for a ride in our comic Girl Cheering for the Right Teen drama queens draws my girl up girl fashion, But your tough girl, you could sit with us. Girl Drama Queens, Drama Queens, Drama, Queen's Drama, Drama, Queen's Drama Queens