Hey. How's it going. Susan Reese here. This episode, I had a wonderful conversation with Ruby on, an extraordinary walk and let's see. The list of all the things she does is really long. So she is a performing song artist. So in other words, you know, she writes songs too as well as performs. She's a model. She is an activist. She loves to cook. She's funny. She's she's very funny. She's beautiful. While I said she's a model. So, of course, she's beautiful.
But she's beautiful inside, which to me is the best kind of beautiful. What else? You know, we talk a lot about what's going on in the world and how she feels about her place in the world as, you know, I talk about how, I feel about my in the world. It's weird times out there, folks. So
I just... Every everyone who knows Ruby knows her, of course, from the fact that she's a fun phenomenal artist, but also, you know, she tours a jack White and Ryan Adams and and Sam and Ruby and and all this stuff and it's fantastic. However, I wanted to talk to Ruby has Ruby, not Ruby as all these other things. So, I really dug it. I doug my time with her, and I hope you dig it too. Alright. Here we go. Oh, and I almost forgot If you haven't already subscribed on itunes, please do so, and
I think that's it. Oh, hey, human podcast dot com if you wanna check out the website. Okay. Now for Reals Z's, here we go. Hi, Ruby. Hi. See news. Today, we've got Ruby Ama on fu. So exciting. I'm very excited to to have this conversation. Can't wait to you meet you. So hopefully won't disappoint you. I know it's not gonna disappoint me. I'm really excited. I'm excited to. And we have some wine. Yes. Delicious. Because humans love wine, People And the brand of wine is called simple life. Mh.
Right? What about to that? Here's to that. So telephone folks who may not know your awesome miss what Ugh. What it is that you do. Starting with... I mean, you were born in Ghana. Yeah. I was. You're an immigrant. Yes. God forbid. Flat right? Yeah. Full eye. I think God you're an immigrant when you a bed and yeah trying to be an immigrant now. It's more complicated business. It's so complicated, but it's so funny because I didn't become a citizen. Of the states until I was in my
early twenties. Wow. And that was 2. First, you know, we had our green cards, which now I hear is exceptionally hard to get. And very expensive. All that. You know. Mh. So when we came to this country, we were really blessed to have sorted all of that out in the beginning. Yeah. So we came... You know, we basically came here with that kind of sorted. Or or you swapping mom dad. Mom dad sister brother and myself. I'm I'm the middle. And so we got on the plane. I was
1 month away from 3 years old. My sister was 5. My baby brother was 4 months old. Wow. I. Just for a moment to think about try traveling Yeah. With small children that far. And not just on a vac moving to a new country. Major your deal sure. Yeah. Yeah. So So... What was the impetus? Why did they decide to move here? My dad, at the time, he was a computer programmer. Okay. And he was the eldest to 4 boys, and his father had passed away when he was, I think 5 years old.
And as the eldest, and especially in that cult sure you take care of the family. Sure. And, you know, by any means. And so the best opportunity for my father to do that was to leave donna and to make money, you know, more money and then send it back to the family. So he was considering jobs in different parts of Europe and also the states. And the job he chose was in Nashville, Tennessee. Random. Yeah. It it was amazingly so, But you know what?
We had some friends, my parents had come up and their, you know, early twenties with another wonderful couple dis seminars, and another couple called the. And they had moved to Nashville, you know, differing times. Mh. So when... You, I think that was also 1 of the reasons my dad considered Nashville. But they couldn't have been better and the opportunity job opportunity for him could not have been better, and our family was really taken care of and
protected. And and when we came here, it was truly just... I felt like everything was laid out. Like... It was the American Dream as it was supposed to be. Yeah. The way originally was... That's right. Yeah. You were absolutely right. Yeah. The way that the way that our fore father were lack of a better Yep. Pool to dig from. Right. Pool the dig from. Pull the women. Yeah. That that was that was what they wanted, was that people could
come from anywhere. That's right. With with with open arms as as opposed to. Shin guns. Yeah. What do I get Yeah. Has evans these days? Yeah. It's it's... You know, And... So it really. Gosh. I know. And it really hits home for me to see what is going on right now with with everything. And with with with people who are trying to come to the states for...
Or or other countries even from their own for differing reasons, you know, oppression in within their, countries and which is, you know, really big 1 that... Obviously, a lot of us are talking about right now and we know about what's been going time. It's really easy for an American. And who has a pretty... Even even those who don't have a great life. It's still a billion times better than some of the people in these countries are just ravaged. Yeah. And and we really have no
idea. Most most Americans can't even fathom it. Mh. And and And into that end, I think that's why what comes off as, lacking empathy is just it's just true ignorance. Yeah. And, you know, it's funny when when I was coming up, just his children do, you hear words, and I remember as think I was about 8, and I heard the word ignorant. I think a teacher used it sith ignorance, you know? And I was like, oh, but ignorant. That's a word that we use on the playground to make fun of other kids. We say
you're ignorant. Like, I didn't, you know, but I didn't I would hear it said. Like oh, you're ignorant. You're ignorant, you know, people would laugh about it because to me, I translate as stupid or as, you know, incapable of... I think it's often translated to be stupid, but it's not. It's it's a lack of knowing lack of education. It's just lack of lack of knowledge. Very young people intellectual like people who have the capacity Knowledge
could be very ignorant. That's right. Yeah. And if there's something that I don't know, I will use that word for cell, and not think anything about it. And then that's that's the that's that's the way I wish more and more people were to not take it as threatening word, but as a word's, like, you know, if you say, you know, I'm ignorant to this, it's like an opportunity. To If we live in a culture right now, I feel like there's AAA villain to intelligence.
If you're smart, it's somehow vi and that the dumb you are, the more you're in status quo. I know I know that's not exact. I mean, that's hyper, of course, But it seems like the dumb down of humanity. I only not just talking about America. Yeah, think on America till the day as long, but it's not just here. Well, but what you're saying really does resonate with think talking about being a kid in school again, Like, think about who was made fun of. Who was called the nerd in a geek. Yeah.
You ever recall anything heavy duty because the color of your skin or we... Was that not really because you went to nice schools. Yeah. Yeah. Up in a... I was lucky. I was lucky, you know, in the first part of of of my life in Nashville Tennessee and in the states. And in the south, by the
way, let's Yeah. You know what's funny is, you know, my parents did a good job of making us feel safe with an the environment that they move us to and the schools that they, you know, sent us to, but as much as my parents wanted to, I think continue that protection, it's expensive to... You know, that... That to protect your children in this country, is expensive. And... What do you mean by that? Expense? Like, even something is where where are you going to put them in day?
You know, is it gonna be a day that you never gonna be well fed and taught or you gonna, you know, because the ones that are they're cheap? You're gonna sit your children. They're gonna sit, you know, kids in out every. Yeah. And they're not gonna... They're just gonna sit there and they're up educated. There's no... You know, there's not gonna... In the interaction.
And the school systems, also, you know, everyone's talking these days about montessori schools versus public schools or private schools versus public schools. And I know that when my parents when our family first moved here, my parents, were initially, you know, concerned about what would we be taught in this place that In Ghana there are certain assumptions about America and American children and the lack of discipline that sometimes they have, like, we do not talk back
to our parents. We don't... There's there's a certain level of respect that you that you learn that carries over into your life. So not so that you're subs servant, but just so that you can give the same respect that you want for yourself. Like a 19 fifties America. I'm I'm idealistic 19 fifties America. Well, that's I... That's the thing is I I have a hard I'm even knowing what that looks like. Because when I think of 19 fifties, I also think
about exactly because. I think when I when I hear 19 fifties, I'm also thinking about Jim Crow and where... Yeah. Wouldn't be able to sit where. I say that as a white person, of course. A white 19 fifties ideal. Mh. What kid obtain, don't talk back to your teachers and don't talk about your parents. But in yeah. In the 19 fifties, black people were being rounded up and hung for. So, I mean, Yeah. And that's not even that long ago. It's still it's lost my
mind all the time. When I stopped it, people talking about all the stuff going on. And I'm like, we have We haven't outgrown that. We haven't learned from anything, and it was just yesterday. I know. And it really was. And that's in the states and think about South Africa and it was ce. Less
time or steven lester time. So, you know, so what I'd say when I say it's expensive to protect your children here, you know, just anything that is is healthy or save, it's gonna cost more, whether the neighborhood you choose for instance. So that's good if you are... If you choose to live in a neighborhood that, you know, the crime rates are lower, it's
gonna cost you more. If you choose to put your your child in a school system to keep their minds safer to keep their minds, you know, educated or and safer or whatever, if gonna cost you more. So, you know, my parents wanted to continue that for the whole time. But it got expensive with 3 children. With 3 children and was sending money back to Ghana and, you know, to take care of the family back there as was the, you know,
mission as well. It's expensive. And and my parents worked tirelessly, and even for what they did and how much they worked day and night, there's still only so much you can do. Mh So at a certain point, you know, the the private school education had to be modified. And luckily, we ended up getting into megs and Martin luther your King Magnet, you know, meg magnet, Martin luther your King Magnet. And it's they explain the magnet school some
you might not know. Management schools an amazing situation where if you're... If you are a child or your child shows promise in in school. And es sc promise you can have an opportunity to get an education that an otherwise elite school, like, for Nashville, that would be, like, Ends sw, you know, or
Mu montgomery bell Academy or Harbor call. There there are schools that you have to pay 30 plus thousand dollars a year to go to to get an education that you know, the magna school system gives you, and you go there for free. You you test in, and then you get selected in accepted. So does doesn't it mean that there are different kinds of teachers or the... That there's only a small... Is I know, like, the the students. Yeah. The clusters
are overrun and less kind stuff. So my school isn't placing you in a Montgomery bell or the and its own school. It's its own school. It's its own school, and there is a focus on, on in... How should I say this? There is a focus on the elevation of education? Yeah, wouldn't it be something if every school just had that in general? Wouldn't it be? But see, there we go. There's the division of versus poor black versus. Why? Right. Whatever whatever
division might you wanna throw down. Yeah. It should be that schools are just fucking awesome. Schools are just exactly. And that that's a great education that we're turning out bright, excited minds It's not reality, and it's a... I don't feel like that should be utopian nor do I feel like it should be Polly to like that. Yeah. Yeah. It's it's and it's not... And and these are things that we're trying to to change, you know, especially also in Nashville with
our school board, you know? And, there are some great things that have dumb, but there are some things that have not been addressed and and we're in the time now where we really have to address those things. And as you know, going back to money, like, money is a big thing. And if a teacher feels you know, that they are not being valued by the system. It's going to affect. A lot of times
it just naturally affects how they perform. K. The same thing for me if I have a show where somebody's giving me a thousand bucks to perform a show. I'm going to try harder have... Maybe even have an extra rehearsal, you know, with my brand for because I can afford it. Yeah. Because I can afford it, whereas if I have a show and they're, like, you know, 250 that's for your take. My band members are not gonna want to even maybe rehearse once. We're gonna have to do a line check and rehearse at the
venue. There's nobody wants to be as excellent. It's just the way it goes, and you can't say, oh, you should always be excellent all the time. Yeah. That's true when you're stressed out about everyday things like, how to pay your bills, how to feed yourself, and you want to to, you, you know, going back to the band thing, you know, when you want to give people what you know they are worth. If you want to show them that you value them.
Yeah. And if you can't, you're gonna feel shame for that, and it's going to express itself. That's not like, Bob goes into work as an engineer and that morning. His boss is like, today, we're gonna pay you 250 dollars. Thank back to you Right. To 2000 dollar worth of engineering That's great analogy. It's a strange thing that creative go... I know we're jumping around Lopez. It's a strange thing that creative Yeah. Everybody wants to absorb creativity. Mh. Mh.
Since the dawn of time. Mh. The Gods. Yeah. You know, loved it. They would... On mount of olympus, the write down going, yeah. Play on. Play on. Yeah. And yet, nobody wants to value it at anything. It should be just given I don't get that. I don't know anybody can go to their job every day Expect to be paid and then turn around and look at someone who's creative, and I don't care any creative cancer, musician, writer doesn't matter. You know, any of those things, a painter
that somehow it's okay. To not value them. You know, that's humanity. That's yeah. A a lack of understanding of how humans value each other. It is. It is. And I can't say that it doesn't ba me still even though I have been, you know, a creative for my proportion for, you know, yes. Forever, and it's still frustrate me and it's still
baffles me. It's still something I'm trying to figure out, you know, and as we continue forward in this industry in entertainment industry trying to Now every day we're trying to figure out how can you monetize this? How can you... How can you continue to do this and still put food on the tape and keep a over your head and pay your, you know, your rent or your mortgage. Most of us, it's rent. Let's be honest, you
know? And how can you do that without, you know, I mean, gosh, I don't know many people in my situation who don't have second careers or, you know, jobs or thirds or... Exactly. You know, And this company included? Yeah. Yeah. Me too. And this is the thing is that people don't... They don't want to know that. Mh. They just want to see, you know, the art without knowing what the sacrifice was to create
the art. Yeah. Well, and I think going back of here shows, like, Mtv crib probably did a major disservice because all a sudden it appears like anyone that sits down to do music is just sort of eating bond bonds doing laps in their Infinity pool. Oh, yeah. But that's not the reality now. Just... And it's true that over the history of time artists, again, dancers answers, musicians, painters, whatever. Have died penn list. Yeah Not not knowing,
you know this. And not having the experience of having, quote, unquote, A6I don't know what success means. I mean, that's such a made up board anyway. Yeah. But we can... You can talk about specific levels of success. The specific divisions of success. And if you're talking about financial systems Insurance is always nice. I... That is nice. That's the thing. And... Takes the bulk of my income. Really? Yeah. Yeah.
It is felt very expensive. And I remember being on the phone this January with my insurance company and asking why it had gone up almost 100 dollars. Because you aged to hear. Because I aged a year. Mh. And nothing else had changed and and they also, you know, gave me some bs about how, you know, well, it's how... Well, this is true, but it's also something that is a break in the system. Is it just function in the system about the cost of health care are rising,
which is true. So they're trying... They're having to take it from people. But at that point, they're not... There's no rhyme of reason to whom they take it from. They just take it. Well not only ain't that, but I mean they they go totally on statistics. And whether or not you are an elite athlete or, you know, sitting on your couch weighing 400 pounds. It doesn't matter. Yes. Statistical data. Mh. If every year, we were able to... I mean I could probably run circles around
my insurance agent, honestly. Right. I mean, I I'd probably beat. And elaborate through whatever. But they don't look at that. They just got your your age group, color of your skin. Right. You know, how much the money you make, all that stuff because... Yeah. You know? And it's it's ridiculous. Yeah. And someone's making a lot of money. Ours well when we know that. Yeah. We know it's broken the broken systems. Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah. It is. You know, and there have been years where I have sent, you know, no to health insurance by principal alone, and there been years where I have had to say no to insurance by a lack of lack of income, and then there, you know, been where, you know, I just make it work. And it's it's it's still hard. It's hard. I don't think in my adult life I've ever had a year where I don't worry about paying my bills.
And that is shocking to me as I say it out loud because of of, you know, the amount of work I continue to do, you would think that... But you know what this like, I'm going back teachers because the same thing applies, I think teachers should make as much as doctors. I so wholeheartedly agree. That is the way it should be. I so So... And and the requirements for their education should be held to withstand as well. Yes. I am
appalled that some of the... You know, when I baby sat for my friends kids or whatever and the things that... I'm like, why did you learn that? Mh. You know. Mh. Some some of the teachers. And III think teachers police officers, all these guys. I mean, my gosh yes Yes. They're all doing god's work. I know. You know. Yeah. We need to take the money away from some folks and give it to others. I don't even know. I mean, Terrible to say. I don't
know. I mean, I think an opinion is in if you're paying a baseball player who's exceptional his job granted, but if you're paying them 200000000 dollars a year, and and there are 5 and 4 year olds who can't get health and... You know, can't get... Go to see the doctor, or who do go to the doctor and then end up with medical bills completely destroy the family. Yeah, that's a broken world. Let's talk about this.
What do you think why do you think that there are a lot of people not everybody because I know a lot of people with a really, really hefty income who do give back. Absolutely. Sure. Why do you think that there are people who make an exorbitant amount of money who's who don't naturally say, I am going to give away this percentage because I don't need it. What do you think that is? I mean, I think that's probably a couple different things. Things 1 ego, and I don't
mean Ego like, on the shit. I mean, Ego, like your ego versus your soul. It's somewhere in they think that they're not that they're not deserve, They probably work very hard for the money. Yeah. Or maybe they inherited it. Whatever. Whatever it is. I think there is an an inherent thing that happens to a human being where they become a person, and they either see themselves as an individual. Mh. Going through the world, or they see themselves as part of humanity. Wow, that's that... I'm
the only way I resonates. Yeah. The only way I can look at it because it seems to me that the people... And it it's directly correlates with how they feel about themselves. I will say it until I'm blue the face. Nobody treats another human being Mh. Except for how they feel about the. You're absolutely right. Yeah. So the man or woman walking down the street that can't look in the eyes of the homeless person. Mh. That really doesn't much to do with the homeless person. It has to do with their
own feeling of them. Themselves. Right? Right. Maybe maybe they're wealthy and they somewhere in them. They don't feel worthy of that, and so they over overcome by buying a, you know, 400000 dollar car. Mh. To somehow feel worthy, but it's my experience. I can only speak from my experience that no matter what your wealth level. I mean, I'm not rich. Obviously like. What the people I have known and the peep the company I have caps. That money absolutely
emphatic does not buy happiness. Yeah. In fact, for some, it causes more misery because they try and fill this God shaped hole, and I referenced God And it doesn't matter whether you're religious or not. It's an expression. Right. You know, to fill a gods shaped hole, Right. Well, never work. It it's an infinite amount of empty. Yeah. Right. So what are you gonna do? So that... That's a long winded answer to. Should absolutely resonates it completely.
And I wish it weren't the case. I mean, I don't know what happens. Every soul has its own journey. I guys. And and I I personally believe in rein incarnation. So I believe that, you know, maybe in the last life, I was at deck. I have no idea. Why. I don't know. I mean, I the same. I feel like every soul as they move through kind of experience all these different things. And wow. You know, I was the rap. I was raped. I was a murderer. I was murdered. I was black. I was
white. I was you know, Asian. Was native American. I had smallpox. I gave blankets that had smallpox on them. You know, I don't know. I I don't know because I don't know. And nobody parents should speak to knowing. Right. And be emphatic about any of that stuff. Mh. You know, All we can do is Yeah. See what resonates to ourselves, but right Ryan. I don't get it. I don't know why a baby born comes up and says, I'm gonna be a jerk for the whole...
For my whole life. And I'm gonna think these people are worth less, and these people are worth more based on the virtue of how much money they make where they came from the parents are it's crazy to me. Yeah. That's me. And there are plenty of people that might even listen to this that get irritated by this conversation because it resonates them that they behave that way. Right. Right. They have every right to. It's their life, but it's unfortunate to
me. It's unfortunate. And add to that, you know, there are things and there are influence is that each 1 of us have had from birth to also inform us. And, you know, it... Yeah and I'm not even just saying, oh, who raised you? You know, That's definitely a huge part of it. Who raised you and how did they raise you, but there also comes a point when you as an individual start to receive the world in a certain way and perceive the world in a certain way. And And that's a
decision, and that's a personality choice. So within that, the the that we have all had have informed who who we are and how we believe ourselves to be in the world to be and what we deserve and what we owe. Yeah. And who's to say? I gratitude this is normal parenting couple. Mh. May raise soc path. Mh. Steve Jobs. So about. He's just associate app that used his his personality to become what he became. And you have like a bunny, there's yours girls in the cars. Right. See what I mean?
Who's to say? Does that have anything do with their parents? We weren't. We weren't there though. That's the thing too. You know? Who's we weren't... We we weren't there. Nobody's sat down and talk to see jobs parents. I always say look at the first example, you come from a family life 3 children. As do I? My brothers and myself are so different. Really raised by the same people? Mh Are... I mean, are your siblings very similar or
we... Under what we're very close. You know, we have definitely a red thread that joins us and, the way we perceive the world, And that might be rare or that maybe because we did kind of have a shock to the system and move here, and we were, you know, very much with entire family was really, you know, in the new... Like, a a nuclear family in that way. But but like, for instance, like, our We're also... Each 2 years apart that may make a difference like how about you and your siblings are you
different 7 years. So... That also... Of course, that has to do a lot with it too. And that's the world changes. And as is the parents change and as the world changes, like, there are definitely different ways of raising. And I think that's the thing. Like, we were all 2 years apart. 2 and a half isn't. So you're basically You know little puppies, you know, falling Together. Yeah. Yeah. You know, together and so we're experiencing life with a 2 year difference 17 a team.
Yeah. Yeah. That makes sense. Yeah. So you fascinating. Go to school, you getting a great education that also includes music, in. Yeah. Yeah. So so, you know, I I went to Hu fog, academic magnet here in Nashville downtown. And you know, and and children came from all over the city. We didn't even have a, you know, Metro didn't fund school buses. You know, because it is, you know, it's if it's a lot. Yes. It would've...
It would been an expensive fleet to go around the the city to pick up children in all these varying. Yeah. Places. So that was a lot of strain and work for parents. I remember myself and many of my friends, we rode the metro school bus when we might have been even too young to even do that. You know? Yeah. Just like, just get on and then your for downtown and I got... You know, but but we also... We learned, you know, a lot from that. And What all that to say, I learned the value of not only
an elevation of education. I learned the value of of thinking beyond what you might perceive your limits to be. Does that make sense? Yeah. Absolutely. So, you know, it's... I'm I'm I'm laughing inside about something my fault, who is now a life coach and he, you know, project manager, trainer and stuff. He sent my sister and I, this this this forward that he had seen things tend to not say in business, Like, phrases that you should take to pull out of your life.
Just... And 1 of those was does this... Does that make sense? Does that, interesting. And I was laughing inside. I said that I see that Yeah. Well, it's a great... I know fascinating anything a lot. You have to say just. You so. Know. And the list is full of things. Like, don't say, I'm confused or don't say, you know, Like, there... It's just to be, like, you know, I need to write And I'm sorry.
Or is 1 of them, but it's, like, well, well, in an in and roundabout way, But the the big 1 is, like, 1 of the big ones is... Does that make sense? I just realized that, you know, because it's it's it's discounting that that person isn't gonna take their time to process that. Patronizing. Yeah. It can't it can be. But for me when I say it, it's truly it's truly that. It's true I'm really good It that sounds Does that sound weird? That's what I say when I said, does that
make sense? And I feel like does that sound weird. Yeah. Anyway. So did you experience any kind of weird hate or anything like that? I mean, did that... You know, my stuff came in an interesting way, my stuff came as I was an immigrant as I was a child with a, quote unquote, funny accent. Oh, you had an accent back then? Oh, my goodness. I had a... I guess I'm says. Yeah. No. I had a super thick
West African accent. I talked like this, and I said my words like this, and sometimes people would make fun of me. And... But it... Sometimes they would just giggle because it sounded different to them and children our children and they're just discovering things, and they don't really know how to react to things. And so I would speak in a away and the giggle.
But what I found to be really interesting or I I guess ironic is went there was a 2 year period where from the private school system, before I got into megs. There were 2 years where I was in this particular public school, and I was made fun of more than I ever knew possible. And... But I was called things walking down the hall for the way I dressed and the way I spoke and from the country I was from.
And the biggest phrase that I would hear every day, and I knew I would hear it every day walking down the hall. It's funny now in a way. But not really, but I was called African booty scratch. What is What does that mean? What does that even mean an African booty scratch? I think, you know, kids find these little catch phrases, and this is the catch phrase of the time. And, you know, they had asked, like, did you
did you, like, ride on elephants? Did you swing in trees like month use you monkey, Like, there were all these things. That children would say to me. And it's it's it's tricky. Those came from my fellow, shall I say people who were the same skin color as myself. Those were the only people who made fun of me. What? And I've struggled with that fascinating. I struggled
with that for really long time. I struggled and struggled and struggled because For me, I'm, you know, I struggle to be a fighter, you know, because I was also raised to choose peace over anger and choose peace of violence. And so in those times, I... You know, I was like, I'm not gonna fight. I'm not gonna some money in the nose. You know, I'm not gonna show and express my sadness in this other way that's not helpful and... You know, conducive too. Progress. But I was always... I'd go home and
be why Why? And I sit in class, and I'd asked myself why? Why Why is this happening Why? Is this happening. And it wasn't until I was I was older that it was a light bulb that came off to me that you know, I had... I started having grace for for my you know, fellow, brothers and sisters in this way. Because at the time, the word my nor was the buzz phrase. Was the phrase that people were using, and, and and also, affirmative action was being discussed when I was coming up.
And I can only imagine that children were going home and their fam... Their families and their parents were having these discussions. And, you know, and saying, like, you know, because I don't know if you know this, but within the African American community, affirmative action was considered something that most people didn't even want to to be a part of. Being called a minority was what most didn't want to be associated as. We wanted to just have everybody wanted to just have equal
bearing equal place. We didn't want anything those special. Nobody want special treatment. Sure. Sure. Yeah. It it... It it puts you in this other place. It causes you to be more excluded. It more excluded. It causes you to be more included. So here I was in this situation as a child. I was even more of a minority than my African American brothers and sisters. And so to get that magnifying glass off of them. Mh. They didn't want it to get that magnifying glass off
of them. They would say, look at her. She's even more minority than we are. Oh, look at her. Early from... Yeah. So to make fun of me to to to my differences cause them to be more accepted. That's exactly what I was saying is people treat other people based on how they're feeling about themselves. Right. It's like, you know, there were jews in concentration camps that killed jews. For the nazis. Mh. Because as long as they're looking over here. They're
not gonna complain. Yeah. Right. Yeah. You know, and it's pretty wild, then I think once I realized that, you know, and I didn't have this misplaced anger. I lost all the anger for it. And I lost for you at that point. Well, I then seventh... I was in seventh grade. Wow. When I finally got school They're like, Yeah. Yeah. No. It was... I I cannot deny that and I won't deny that because I know it's what's carried me through and it's what
it's what has caused me to survive. Do you find that children or adults are more cruel when it comes to that kind of thing or ignorant? 158 percent children or more cruel. Mh. It's adults. They're because they're more... That's right. Because children are more forward because even my off as a child. I would say some things to, like, my my my I remember, there was, like, children just say things. Like, I remember my dad had a friend. Who came over
and his breath smelled. And so I said, I and I thought I was being cute. And I said Daddy, and I asked him to come down to my ear level so I could tell him. I was like, his breath smells. I knew that that man could hear me. I knew that I was saying that out loud, but I thought it was cute. Right. I got a biggest spanking for that, you know. But that's the thing is that children don't always know you can't say that. You. For an honest racist to a du races any day. Yes. I'd rather know where I
stood As far as That's right. You know, the company I keep you. That's the 1 the Ira say about Yeah. Trump is say what you will about him. He's... I think a nut job, but I think he's a bird dog. I think he is flushing out the races and the homo folds and the x oh, most sorry. G what I mean that he... He came in and just flushed all those people out. Mh. Which say what you will, but I'm I'm happy to know who the people are that are those people because it's not my vibe, you
know, and they... Yeah some of them... They... I have friends. I was like, what? The you believe this? How did I not know that? Mh. Now peace be with you, but on I go because... Yeah. That's a great phrase peace be with you, but on that go. That is really great. I do never look at peace go.
I really love that. You know and I I find that in so many different aspects of of of the experience of life of living in a journey is you're gonna meet so many people whom you don't agree with, and you're gonna meet, you know, people you have to you have to still live within and exist around. And you have to find a way to just say, you know what? Yeah. And I'm... Here's the thing, and I said this before we started the tape Is, I I welcome discourse. I do. As long
as it doesn't get violent Yeah. Or insane. Yeah. I mean, I am all about having a different differing opinion in that includes. I mean, I want to know what the race thanks. I do. I wanna know what the, you know, anti semi thinks. Yeah. Because if I don't know. Yeah. I I don't feel safe with the unknown. Yeah. I wanna know too. I I definitely do. I wanna know. And, you know, and I really don't encourage the behavior, but
I know and not know. Right. And for me, it also allows me to to try to seek what that person is going through or has gone through to get to that point because it is true. Nobody is born a racist. Doesn't see know your is once No. Especially when you see you see children, babies existing. Yeah. Together. Yeah. They do not have any concept of it. So... Well, it's somewhere. Trump as an example. Again and all the people who love Trump. I'm not dis you.
Everyone's entitled to their own opinion. I'm just using this as an example. The thing is is, you know, when when he started things started really cooking, they they started to get the, the nazi, you know, the Hitler reference back and forth with Trump, like, always like Hitler. Yeah. I heard that. And it's funny because yeah speaking to that you have to be taught, but guess who's doing all the teaching these days. It's not it's such as the parents. It's
the media. It's it's social media and it's news. And honest to god, it's private prem television. You watch... I don't... You know, like, you turn on... I don't know any of these Cr shows. You turn on Most of these shows Yeah. And who's the perpetrator. Is it a nice looking white new? Right. Not so much. Right Yeah. I mean, they've they've kinda now they're... It's, you know, latinos or the bad guys or whatever it is or Muslims,
you know, that makes me insane. Because I have plenty of lovely Muslim friends who wouldn't hurt to fly, of course. And they're scared out of their wits right now. Of course. Scared of you know we with their their families and and the people we know and exist with... We are all in the same date in the same state as what is going on. And it's,
you know, it's who... For, you know, and for me, it's who I don't know that oftentimes I am Lee of, and, you know, and I know that I have been lucky to have been surrounded by people, even growing up in the south, even in the mid of all these things that have happened. And, you know, that I can say, I've my stories to tell. Yeah.
You know, and I'm not saying there has never been an outright, you know, scenario where I have experienced racism from people you know, who are not my skin color, because I have definitely experienced that as well. But when I was older and wiser and also able to know that that... I'm so that I learned. It's in seventh grade that that comes from a place of of fear and of self judgment. Yeah. In in an interesting way.
But the south gets, you know, south gets bullied up for being filled up with the with the racism and all that, but I come from Washington state, and you go over the mountains to Easter Washington plenty of that there too. I mean, it's it's it has no boundary. It doesn't. It's everywhere. Right. It doesn't make a difference. Yeah. And I do believe that it definitely comes from what you don't know. It is
the ignorance thing again. Well, I think you spoke it so well and you said that other kids in your school with your same skin tone as you put it, you know, would point at you and say, well, balance from Africa. Right. At least down not from Africa. Right. And I think that that is an unfortunate It's that... What is that old poem see I keep using Hitler It's such a great example. You know, the Nazis, you know, came through and asked for the Jews, and I was in a jews.
I didn't say anything. And came through and asked for the black. I was in black. So I didn't saving anything, And then they wanted the G, and I was in G, so I didn't say it that Yeah. And then, eventually, there was nobody left to speak out her me. Yeah. And again, that's the whole point of freaking humanity. Yeah. That's where did we forget. That's
we are human bean. That's right. And somebody, I may joke the other day, and then I heard the joke again today from somebody else Was like, well, I must be on everyone's mind that is it true that the only way to unify us as a world? Is for an alien invasion. Just like that raining Ring it on. Honestly like they're? That's really weird bringing it on because that would definitely unify. I'm like, I believe it's it's black is an African American don't even know anymore. I'm so... For
myself. Sure. Yeah. Well, you know... So when I when I became a citizen in my twenties, that's the first time I started calling myself in African. Americans. Literally you are. Yeah. Because literally, I am, you know, and that was always hard for me before, you know, because they're because at the time when this was all going down where I felt kind of os sized in a in a way that I didn't understand it was the time where the the the phrase African American was the used and utilized
term. Right? So I was like, wait. You know, I'm African... I'm, like African and you are African American. So how is this such a different thing, why do we differ so much? But So I was African, and then I became African American ever since I was little filling out these consensus things and filling out these test scores. Is a very good go. Yeah. I just was... What I would see these terms, They didn't have anything for me. They didn't have anything for me because
also, when... You know, back in the day when I was little and and coming up in school, I think the forms have changed now, but at the time, it was white, black, Pacific island, native American, they're, Asian, Hispanic, there were these terms. But the... You know, the only ones that had a color association were white and black. And when I picked up a cray box of crayon. Sure. I colored my skin tone brown. It took a brown
crayon and colored my skin tone brown. I took a black crayon and colored my hair. You know, or, you know, us shoot doing a picture of my friend, Christy Percy Gardner, I would take a peach colored Crayon and color her skin. And take a brown crayon and color her hair. So I didn't understand why I was made to choose a color to to deal with that. But but again, that was something that was created before my time that I was still learning to understand.
And now I know that the terms black and white, you know, come from a beginning of time almost kind of thing where when the separation was needed, to to differentiate slaves versus non slaves, good versus evil, all these things, these these words these colors black and white we're used. And to this day, I still find it in our vocabulary is you know, you've got, you know, the the the the black knight is the evil knight. The white knight is a good night. You know, you scared of the dark codes and
lights and everything. You know? And there's a song that you know, because I grew up, I grew up, Christian, and there's a song that we would sing in church. Over blood of Jesus, it washes white as snow. And every time in my mind, I would say, how can blood wash white? That makes no sense, and that's how I knew it was a social program. So I've always fought against that social program because I think that there is a subconscious way that we do continue forward in our society.
So I am a person who, you know, if if you want to in need... If you feel the need to call me a color, call me a color by a cray box. We are all colored. Yeah. Right. If you're using a cray box. Sure. Yeah. So so that's... You know, that's what I... So I say I say brown and people like, oh, brown people are Indian. And it's a Was like no. Brown people are Hispanic. I'm like, no. Wow Indian people are Indian. The ground. Greenish brown. Yeah. It's like, Indian.
You know, it's like everyone wants to be like, oh, brown people are Spanish It's like a simple football. But you know Hispanic people are Hispanic. Indian people are Indian. Right? Why is it that white people are white and black people are black? And I know that it's because, oh, it's so hard to kind of see everyone and classify them in their own original way. You know, but it's like, okay. Well, then if you have to choose a color, can we choose the real
car? This is my frustration with what you're saying right now, it it's... It makes so much sense. And I get frustrated when I hear, especially when I hear why white people say. Well, they just... Why are they so worried about this. I'm like, try try being in their shoes for 5 minutes. For, I don't know, 567 hundred years I mean, how long has a... You know. Do you know what I mean? Yeah. It's not just in America. And there's yeah. That's the last 250 year.
I mean, yeah. The thing is is everyone is... 1 of the things I wanted to talk about today was perspective on all the stuff going on out there with the Black lives matter, and then that immediate, I think. It kinda gross respond of all lives matter. Yeah. Well no shit. All lives matter. Of course, all lives matter, but you're missing the points. Yeah. Yeah. And it's so easy for somebody who looks like me. Be like, law, lives matter, and, you know, what... Why...
Well, there's a reason why we need to say black lives matter or, you know, whatever. There's a there's a yeah. Real reason for
that. There is a discrepancy in that being a true reality, and being something that, you know, is expressed in the way we live and the way we we view things and and and the way our interactions are, and even statistics, the way statistics are laid out, like, you know, going back for a millisecond to, even the way health insurance works, they list, you know, African Americans as being more prone to diabetes and more prone
to heart disease and things like that. So the older I get, they're gonna continue put me oh, she's she's 1 year older. So now, you know, because you know what? 1 day, she's probably gonna have diabetes. She's gonna have heart disease, and that is so not a progressive mind to thought. That's not No. 10 It doesn't take a mind soc economics. I mean, a white person who eats like crap because maybe that's all they can afford because let's be honest, poor
people Yeah. Eat, like, crap because they can't afford the organic food and the healthy food. So they eat crappy food. Mh. And they going to be pre just, you know, they're they're predisposed to get diabetes and Right. Heart attacks. And, you know, all that stuff. But again, like you were saying. It's a you. Yeah. You've been placed into this little tiny box. It's ridiculous. And it frustrate the crap on. Yeah. It's so about. It's it's it's it's
really frustrating. I have so so many thoughts on all of that you just said, but I think if we have another another cast where we're talk about food. I would love to dig into that separately. You're a big chef person Well. I'm am a cook Seriously we can cook and shuffle voice. Well, the main difference is training. Oh is professional training. Okay. And you also have to clock certain amount an hours where cook for people. And then you become a
chef. Yeah. But, you know, the the main the main thing is to have professional training. Okay. It's is the big 1, but but but also in an equally large part of it is is cooking for people, like, in public. Like, cooking full. We're cooking for other people and not just, you
know, you're cook. Like, and even some people who are trained, I have friends who are trained and culinary school, and they will not call themselves a chef, You know, if they're, you know, if they're private cooks or whatever all these different things, but I'm still trying to sort it through and sort it out, but I know that all of my my friends who are in the the food industry they really looked down on on when people will call themselves chefs. They'll be like, I'm a cook. Or, you know,
chefs you know, are a certain thing. You know, there's there's a hierarchy to it. I'm still trying to learn it. All I know is I'd love to. Right. They're, you know, and I'd love to talk about that more. Unit 1 day. Yeah. Sure. You know, but back to I identify myself with it all now. Because, you know, what I'd also realized the more and more I learn about my American culture because I am now also an American I chose that when I was in my early twenties.
So I very much studied it in a way that when Maya Angelo says black. When doctor mountain luther for King Junior said black. You know, that, yes, these were terms that were given to our people to to put us to, to, you know, to put us in this place and in this lower position, it's, like, you know, nigga, black, like these things is that were given to say what we were, but to also differentiate us from you know, another person, another people.
It's a reclaiming. It's almost a reclaiming of the word. Which I am learning and discovering, even though you know, I can't say I can't say that I am saying, like, okay. Even though I under stand that it's a reclaiming because of the oppression that was put on a person. You know, it's something that I still... I'm working through how I feel about it, but I understand the use of taking the word black and making it a positive and not a negative.
I very much understand now more than ever, where that comes from and why that's important to say black lives matter because you know what? The majority of people don't think is I think, don't perceive like, oh, we're all colored. If I got up on the... The... At the capital building downtown, and got a bull and said, we are all colored. We are all colored. We're all colored.
Everyone would have a differing differing opinion, but most people would say, hell to the no. I'm not colored because they don't want what comes with that term. And there are other people that would also say, hell to the no. They're not colored because they don't know what we've gone through being called colored a whole lives. Did you have a colored bathroom? Did you have a colored restaurant diner counter? There's there's differentiation.
So you, you know, you can't just say, oh, we're all this and then not expect people who have experienced the history tree of it. Right. And know what that history is to say that it's equal that you can just gloss over it. But it's still a struggle for me because in the same way that, you know, we're trying to take backwards words and take the negativity out of them and make positive. I struggle with people trying to reclaim the inward.
I really struggle with that personally You know, But it's, like, like, ra culture or something or Whomever. Yeah. Not just even rap culture, I mean it's used in in our communities. It's not... You know, I definitely... Like, I'm not a person who says, like, oh, it's this this, you know, this person started or that person started it or whatever. You know, because I I feel that it is just in is so ingrained in society, this word and it, you know, in in every society
without saying too much. I'll say that. But it's something that I struggle with and I'm like, I don't really want to reclaim a word that was gifted. Shall we say too much to to to to, you know, people of the certain skin color to my skin color, should say that, you know, you are negative, and you do not deserve equal respect. I don't want to reclaim that word. You know, but I would love to also spend more time having conversations with anybody who does say that word as a
reclaiming word. Like, I would love to sit down with Jay z and have a converse station. And I think that he would probably educate me on some things that I haven't thought about. Alright, Cheesy. If you're listening. Yeah. Yeah. Me with he could be listening right now right now. You know, and I really... That's the thing. Is I I respect him so much. So I'm like, you know what? The Could sit down and talk to him. Maybe there'd...
I would see a reason. That's just stuff to me that's such an important thing that dialogue is everything. Yeah. The dialogue is everything because we cannot... The only way I can perceive you Ruby. Mh. Is through all of my own experiences Right. It's the only way I can understand you. Mh And for me to say, oh, I get what you're saying. Mh. I'm not really? Because I'm not you. You know? Right I can't be in your mind or your body your soul. So I...
All I can do is sort of it's like a little bit of a guess work thing Yeah. Right? So I I agree. It's important to go to the store for sac conversation Yes. The conversation is so... Even if you don't agree important. Yeah. Here are the words coming from the person that is
the 1 saying. And instead of reading about it or are we're getting your information secondhand hand, again speaking to the black lives matter somehow it's being bastard and being meaning, you know, oh, the Black lives matter movement just wants to you know, shoot at cops or something or You know what Say his Does who the... And that that is not a part. That's like saying at all. Oh, Of course not ridiculous And unfortunate the ignorance that is per protruding.
And I just, you know, I just know that it's going to be 1 person at a time in terms of education. Yeah. It's really going be 1 person at a time, you know, and with all that is going on and you know, and I wanna talk a minute about, you know, the the crimes that are going on that that cops are committing within the community and then the community also then re... In the retaliation retaliation committing as well. And, you know, this is something for me that it breaks my heart on every level.
And on both sides. Have I experienced law enforcement, who has abused power? Yes. Have Experienced law enforcement who has upheld their responsibility? To serve the people? Yes. What have Experience more of the latter of the good. Of the good. So when when now I'm hearing because of some poisoned apples and some rotten apples within the system. Who are making things a terrible place and I get so angry about that. I also feel that you cannot generalize and say,
we're are all this way. They are all this way. Just in the same way, that some idiots who are shooting cops because they're angry. Right that does not just about going on. But unfortunately, now a lot of people are clump all. Of course. That's what we do. It's like the thing. It's just like you know, the... It's... It happens all the time. Really. And it's so frustrating because the people that are shooting at cops That's wrong. Period. And you're probably showing people
that are good police officers. So really you're navigating innovating your own cause because you're gonna take out the good cause. Which there are way more good cops and there are bad props. There are. You know? And but there are violent people of every car and creed religion and whatever. And they do not represent the the whole. Right? But the media, that's not A good freaking story. Isn't it? No. It's not, you know, And I heard something today. I was saying... I like the Joe Rogan podcast.
I'm not really into the M mma fighting thing which he talks a lot about, but he has some really interesting guests and I listen to 1 today. His name was Michael Schmidt. Mh. And, they were talking about... Oh, shoot. There goes my train of thought. Just numbers. Is that thinking about all the other stuff? They were talking about the, oh, Joe Rubin said, you know nobody talks about all the great stuff that the police officers are doing or that the African American communities
are doing or whatever. They Yeah. That's a good story. But Right. Right right. On both sides on all sides. It's absolutely. Yeah. And it's just gosh. They wanna deal with... Because it's crap. Sell sensational themselves. Mh. Content cells. And yeah. You know, of 1 police to serve beating the crap a guy or shooting a guy clearly, in the wrong, the the police officer are clearly in the wrong. They're not even,
you know, amount... The the the bulk of the police officers every day, finding the good fight, trying to help trying to serve did it because they love human humanity, You know, whatever. Which does... No. They don't. And which... This is the thing, like, I think everyone is, like, which does not discount that we have to deal with why that happened and how that cannot continue to happen. Absolutely. You know? And I think that's people are mistaken when they think it's gotta
be 1 or the other. I agree. It doesn't have to be 1 or the other. It have color be Right. Yeah. That's the thing. It has to be... It has to be all. You have to deal with it all. You can't... Gosh, You know what what was it, like, To me like, if you are angered by the shoot it by by cops shooting black people but not angered, by black people shooting cops. You are also part of the problem. And that that is true. And that is, you know, there's, you know, it it
nearly... There's so many times where I just want to burst into tears. You know, Like, it nearly brings me to that point. When I think about it and when I talk about it because I don't I don't know what the resolve is gonna be because, you know what is pushing this is fear. It's all fear. Always end money, but that's fear too. Isn't it? I guess it is. Yeah. That's a good point. Yeah. What are we afraid of and and and end... Afraid of ourselves. Yes.
We're afraid to look within. Yeah. And minute we look within, there's a lot of heavy lifting to do. Lot of heavy lifting. A lot of heavy. Much easier to point at other people. Yeah. You know, and people like, well, I only have, you know, 70 to 80... 90 years on the eric for. You know, Not gonna have time to change the world. Nope. I'm just gonna do my own thing and stick to my,
and that's what most people do. And honestly, that's is what most people do is they say, I've got this amount of time on the earth. You know, I'm gonna gonna create my life and deal with my life, and then I'm gonna be gone. And then I'm not and because they think, like, you can't change the world in 50 years and 60 years and 7 years and 80 years, so people don't dry. Tell that to Martin Luther King junior. That's right. That's na gandhi. That's absolutely right.
And that it always baffles me that people don't get that and see that and say, you know what? 1 voice connecting with 1 voice. Connecting with 1 voice, connecting with 1 voice, and then that voice becomes the loud. The loud. I totally believe that. Yeah. Absolutely. So we just have to continue to share that. I think that's what it is is we have to continue to to not be silent. So what would you tell your children? Should you have them
about. If I had if I have children, I would tell them don't be silent. Don't be silent, but also educate yourself on what you're speaking about. Yes, we are going to be overwhelmed with a emotion at times. And yes, there is a time in a place to share emotion but also ask yourself, is this going to create progress or is this going to s full? I really feel strongly about that, you know, it's like, if my potential future daughter, knocks over her little brother. I'm gonna ask her
what was the benefit of that? Or why did you do that? Well, Was mad. So you knocking him over and him hitting his head on the end of a coffee table on him bleeding. Did that accomplish what you wanted to accomplish? Did that make what you think he did to make you upset? Did that fix it? Or is he now going to even more angry because you hurt him. And is that going to continue him hurting you and not having any you know, patience or, you know, or clarity to to treat you better next
time. For understanding. Yeah. And that's what I'll say. And that's what I say even to to myself to my friends to people I don't know to my fans? How are your actions going to help and not hurt? Do you feel like they listen? I want to feel that. I want to believe that. And I will always continue to hope for that. And that's why I I'll I will always continue to speak forward because I always hope that somebody's getting it somebody's really listening. And processing it.
Well, this conversation right here is is it helps. I mean, that's the whole reason I wanna do this pod cast is to make the world smaller. And to maybe somebody listening who be like, fuck, black lives matter. Wasn't it, you know, or whatever it goes, oh, I didn't think of from that perspective Or Yeah. You know Somebody who makes fun of immigrants or thinks that immigrants shouldn't be in the country. Yeah. Right.
Right. You know? Well, here's a beautiful woman who is an immigrant who has done quite well with herself. Mh So is she not okay with you? Mh. Yeah. You have to be carefully taught in the words of South Pacific. You remember that musical? Oh, absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. Carefully, carefully talk. Yeah. That's not is it. That's it for sure. Heavy stuff. Say something. Let's talk about something fun and festive. What do you what projects you got going? Well, when does this come out by the way?
Put this I mean next week? Okay. Next week, like... So not this week, but next... Yeah. It'll don't... So I just launched this particular podcast. So, I launched with 3 episodes. So in a week I'll... I'll put up the next signing. Yeah. I'm excited. I'm currently working on going to Newport Rhode Island for first time in playing Newport Folk festival. Oh, it's exciting. Which is wonderful. And I have to admit I didn't know
what Newport Folk festival was. And this word bulk, you know, it's something that sometimes has has not been a word that has served me. You know, I remember when I first started doing music and people wanted to compare me to Tracy Chapman. And she was folk, and you know, then I had to discover what this word folk me, you know And it's like, oh, it's your storyteller, You know, you're your singer song writer and you're you're telling a story I'm like, okay. That's that's folk.
But that's not folk. When you look at the music, you know? And then when I look at what I do, it's like, I'm not that you know, now, but that's also the progression of how music has changed. So when I heard of newport folk festival, I didn't really understand what that was. And as I studied it, I realized that that was at the time this festival began 30 40 50 years ago, that was what the type of music that was, you know, was prevalent. So that? The search. Yeah. Folk well folk music Right.
So it's was the newport Folk festival. So it was Joan bae. As it was Joan Mitchell. It was, you know, but but also, Jimmy Hendrix it. So there you go. Like, there were, you know, definitely people who made their way. But now, even a festival where New newport book Festival is the violent fans. Is Ryan Adams is, my morning jacket is Nora Jones is Leon Bridges. You know, so Wow. It's this different thing. So the name still holds because the name,
you know, has always been. So it's a point of reverence. Sure. But I'm excited because now I get to, you know, experience this amazing festival, which I think as much like what woodstock was. In in you know. So... But how do you identify your own music, which is the worst question ever when it really is, and I may not even be able to answer that wealth for you. But
I feel this way. Here's how I feel about the type of music that I do and also the type of music that I think a lot of my friends do is if we had the money to market to get our songs in the people's ears. On these stations who are only playing a certain type in realm of music. If we had that money, we would be as popular as any of those people who are considered quote unquote mainstream. I agree. That's what I absolutely 150 percent believe.
Because if you think about the people who have made it through that system, where you had a label who was a mainstream label who... A label who believed in something that was a little left of center and pushed it and got other people to fund and push it and put it on top 40 radio. You might have listened to it at first been like, what's that doing on this stage and next to to this bubble gum pop thing. But the more and more you play it, the more and more people recognize it and
said, like, you know what? I like And I would say that about Erica Do, I would say that about Nora Jones, I would say that about the beatles. I would say that about h year, my friend, You know, I would say that about Jack White. I would say that about so many artists who if you have an opportunity, if you give them an opportunity to reach the masses, it happens. So the word pop music, I believe should be allowed to be really what it is, which is it it reaches a a mass population.
It is popular because it reaches the pop population. And I just wish for everyone I know who does this thing this art. If it's good art, I wish for all of us to get an opportunity to reach the masses. I wish that too. You know, it used to be the formats of the radio where you could hear everything Anything in a given an hour. Yeah. I remember that. Again, the systematic dumb down of Human humanity It's serving someone. I'm not sure who it's
serving, but it's certainly serving someone. Right. And that's why fear reign supreme and record labels, of course. Everyone's to the job or doing the wrong, you know, what... No? Yeah. And then and the more bang for the buck and what's what's the most dumb down sound? What, you know, you know what I'm saying, what's the easiest thing to put forward? You know, because people are afraid of like, oh, this is different. I don't know if I like it. And so I don't know if
it's gonna work. But if you have something that is simple and, you know, it's... Like, that's why they call it bubble gum pop. Mh. Who doesn't like bubble gum. Right? So that's That's why that that works, but I put... But again, like, when Erica Bad do. Oh no no. No no. No. Well, that came out. I remember, I was like, whoa. Whoa Whoa. Whoa. What is this? I love erica combined. Right? Oh, god. But even going way way back to the beatles like they were rejected
so many times times They love rejected. So many times. I stopped posting the today. You're very active on Facebook. I really... I love your feeds. Oh, thank you. I I'd say say all your Facebook games because you have great fees. Well, you know, my my public Facebook is just ruby on food so Facebook dot com so slash Ruby On foods. Great. You. Yeah. And, you know, in Instagram, I do a little bit of a different energy, you know, on my Ruby On food page
on Instagram. You know And I... Because I think there's also different formats and a time and a place for things on different, you know, Sometimes I... Sometimes I cross and sometimes I don't, Yeah. Yeah. Thanks for saying that though. I tried to. No. Great. I I try and re yours because you always... You... I fine. You always have something really interesting to say. Thanks Girl. Yeah. So I very much. And I get excited when people as I say use Facebook for good. Yeah. I've
got something. You know. That's something. Yeah. The but y'all have to specify. I know. It's crazy. Oh, my goodness. Yeah. It's pretty wild, but, you know what? I... On Facebook the other as but my my point I was supposed to... It was on Facebook with the other day. Some very dear friends of mine who do a song thing. They have, you know, 1 of those... There's a million of them out there where song writers kind of comp and all this stuff. And they had a post. I'm not
gonna sit their names because physician's not. There's no point to that, but okay, there was a post that sits like, like, if it's a hit song, it won't have to work that hard to be on the radio. And I just... I read that, and it made me actually physically mad. Because that is the absolute non truth. That is it's a lie. It's absolutely a lie, and it's prop this mythology that is it's part of the problem, and it's it... You look at... Let's just take country music because
that's... These people come from that world. Okay. The house that built me. Mh. 12 years or something like that, getting pitched over and over and over again. Yes. To know avail. Who are you and I'm not looking? These are number 1 songs that were not only number 1 for a week, but several weeks. Mh. You know, who are who am I... Who are you and I'm not looking as a blake shelton hit written by my friend Bud, and it's sat around for years. Nobody wanted it. Nobody touched in this.
And you... To your point, the beatles No John. Richer Marks. I mean, you could name the the list goes on and on and on of people that thought blend and died to either get a song her or to get their art in general hurt. Right. And to, it's just a technology. I nobody knows what it hit is. Nobody holiday just working working and working. Yeah. It's crazy. So it's stuff like that really frustrate me because I think it's... Again, speaks to that instant gratification culture
that we have developed. Yes. Like, I'm gonna write this and I'm gonna send it to a publisher and the publisher is gonna play it for the artist. And if it's really a hit, the artist is gonna go yes. It's it. And Us straight away. And it'll be a hit, and it'll be, you know, make Chili dollars and I'll have a big user, and it's such a mythology. Yeah. That isn't not how it works. It's right. And many incredible books paintings, you know, dance. Me... Whatever it
is. Mh. Many of these things, years and years and years go by before anybody even noticed Yeah. That's right. That's absolutely right. There's... Frustrate me. Yeah. It frustrate me too. It frustrate me. Absolutely. Today. Yeah. But I can't can't give it up. I won't give... Well, you can't because it's where you are. I mean continue I I Yeah. No many times of people said to. Well, why do you even do this? If it says... Yeah. Well, Oh yeah because it's
in your blood. It's it is and in there and not saying there haven't been times when I wanted to walk away if for walking away. But I think I'm through that I'm over that now, knowing that, well, this is... Like, this is what I... This what I do you are. This is... Well, this is... You know, I I am a musician. I am a musician. I don't, yeah. Ruby is a musician. Yeah. You've had a really wonderful things. This past year. It's great.
Yeah. You know, I... Obviously, I haven't known you your whole life, but I feel like that people are starting to finally come to their senses. I Oh, yes. You great. Thank you. Thanks for saying that. Yeah. It's true. I mean... And that must feel good. Yeah. I'm I'm I continue to plug away, and that's the thing is I...
I'm definitely a believer that they're all seats planted And if you give up on nurturing and watering seeds, you won't ever see the harvest, and some things take longer to produce a harvest than others. And you just can't give up because you never know when it's gonna... When it's gonna sprout and bloom and bear fruit. And so I just continue to to just nurture those seeds I planted. Yes. So thinking goodness that you didn't give up. Thanks. The world all needs you.
Well, thank you. And you know, well, it's cyclical isn't it, you know, it's very cyclical because if nobody gave a crop about me, then I wouldn't have any work to do. So Yeah. I wanna beat a good steward of that. And... Well, And I think you you're sing and you write and you cook your truth. And as long as there are people in the world. Yes. Being in their truth. Yes. Ever it is. Yes. I mean, yes. I I feel like there's hope. Yes. I believe that I know. I
wanna believe that. And, of course, Have people say, well, my whatever insert negativity is my truth. And for that I understand, you can't know Jesus for that knowing Hitler, I get that whole rhetoric. I get it. But I'm... I'm on the side of truth and love. Yes. Me too. Let's bring that. That's right. We have to. And cheers to that. Cheers to that. Right nice that sound? Yeah. We have to... We we have a responsibility in those who know better, must do
better. Absolutely well put. Yeah. Absolutely. That's right. Thank you for. Thank you so much for choosing. I you for trusting me. Yeah. I know. We'll do another 1 when we tell you about cooking. I love that. Yeah. Love I do enjoy it culture. Yes. In food and culture. You actually cook something I get to Eat sure. Okay. Yay. That'd. It's exciting. Yeah. I... My... I can cook, like, 5 things really, really well. But, you know, by myself. I tend to the quesadilla. And I really... I gosh she is.
And you call it the quesadilla yeah. Oh my god. Yes. Okay. I you. That's time I know. That's serious. The quesadilla. Okay. I have mastered the art of Quesadilla. Have to make you 1 sometime time. They're very good Alright. Well, thank you, Ruby. Thank you, Susan.