“After After Party After Party” (w/ Sonia Denis and Rebecca O'Neal)

your favorite comedians pretending to be authors. Mostly that one, plus we dole out tons of amazing unsolicited writing advice because we believe everyone has at least one great novel in them. Hey, just last week I had to get a novel surgically removed from my small intestine I accidentally sat on my bookshelf, and now I have three good novels inside me. Very impressive. New episodes of Literary are premiering on Monday, February four, and every Monday after that

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that's the end of that chapter. Hi, everybody, before we get into this episode, we have a little bit of a question for you, and that is what's standing between you and happiness, is that you are your own feelings or a block preventing you from achieving your goals. Have you thought about talking to someone but are uncertain or unsure of where to start, Well, better help dot com

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been wanted to talk, you gotta get started today. So go to better help dot Com slash ding dong and simply fill out the questionnaire to help them assess your needs and get matched with the counselor you'll love and one that you can always change. Look, man, oh, I see you? Why and look over there? How is that culture? Yes, goodness, ding dong los culture. There was a little bit of a cackity cap. I gotta surprise my listeners. You have to really dig into those continents. Can we discuss what

we did last night? Yes, we saw a big for you to at the Brooklyn Ball Queen Diva Queen Best believe be. She was incredible. I had a very nice time. She you know what, blew my mind. But she did a fucking bounce remix to Hello by Adele. I fully gagged for that, and then all all her backup dancers are like shaking their asses to Hello and singing along, and like they're like they're just clapping to Hello and shaking their asses and singing out to us, like sing

it like they had to look in their face. That was like, you know the words, you know the words sing it also loved that the like the end bow was too I Will Always Love You by Whitney, like just blowing it all out. Oh my god, she's saying all her head, she's saying karaoke, she's saying Wrent Explode. I had never been to the Brooklyn Ball Lovely ven you here. I was thinking it was just a bowling alley. No, they quest love us to do all of his DJ

sets on Thursdays. They placed like soul Train clips on the fucking monitors, and I would just go just to watch the soul Train stuff and be like, oh my god, I can't believe they did that back then. Obsessed. But actually, as a result of my experience there last night, I just realized is what my I don't think so honey it is gonna be because I ran into and I don't think so honey worthy moment at the at the bar, at the establishment. It was a person who did something.

It was it was a a rule the establishment apparently has, which I have to I don't think so oh a rule. It's rules are for schools and hello, it's culture number forty sex rules are for schools. I don't like. I graduated long ago. You know what, Oh my god, you know what. I have one of my most embarrassing moments.

Oh I love this. This was like when I was twenty got into a bar out of just it was just kind of on a it was a fluke illegally, um, but I was like I thought, I was like I pretend I was like gonna just quote something that I was. I was just gonna like perform something that I saw someone doing a movie once. And this is what I did. Okay, it's so vulnerable. I go to the bar, I go, hey, I'm I'll do one. I'll do one bud Light, and then I'll do um, I'll do one for the road.

The bartender goes, this is the cringest thing I've ever done. And the bartender goes, that's extremely illegal. We're in New York. It's not like I could like store my beer in my car. I'm also, you idiot to do that for bud Light, just in advanced. I'm gonna want one when I leave. I love this stuff. I can't believe I'm a stupid bitch. And you have to balance this that what's an embarrassing thing you've done at a bar of things, Well, okay, embarrassing thing I've done at a I don't want to

put you on the spot. You don't have to, I mean fully on the spot right now. But the thing is, like, I guess, okay, I'll share a bar story. When I was very young, we used to go to in Bay Shore. There was the station establishment called Hogan's Goat. That was the bar that we went to. It was the only bar in town that didn't give a funk about um about like letting go young young guns in and so

I would go there all the time after work. This is when I was working at the Clam Bar in Bay Shore, and we'd all go and we would do karaoke. And this is when I was trying to like prove to everyone like that I had just come out and I was like singing, So I sang, I sang who will Save Your Soul by Joel by Jewel by Jewel. Imagine if Joel Kim Booster had a recording artist career.

I sang who will Save Your Soul by Jewel at this bar as a nineteen year old drunk person, and everyone was like, uh huh, that person who picks the fucking deep cut at karaoke, get the funk. I'm the person at karaoke who's like, we're going to slow it down with a ballad. You know, it's like what I'm gonna do Sinwagon by Dixie Checks, Like that would be a guy. But so then so then so you sang this song. It wasn't good and that was it was just like great, cool, now we can get back to

having a good time. But you didn't like fully embarrass yourself. I know. I mean I've never done anything like like you did. Isn't that I'm so ashamed of myself? You should be deeply ashamed. Um Oh, that's like one of those moments that where you look back to something you did or said at a young age and you're like, what, I know, like one like like it's like when I when I I can't believe I got into college at

that point. You know what I'm saying. You were someone who was like given given the opportunity to pursue higher education, and you were that dumb wasted Um I one time said that. My my sixth grade Spanish teacher said, who's your celebrity crush? And I said, um terror read you know why she was like she was, And she literally looked the most disgusted that anyone's ever looked. And I was like inside, I was like, no, no, no, no, no, no no no no no no no no, no, no

no no. But that's that's a masculinity, y'all. That is wow. And and we're all victims to that. And can I say this atmosphere is not toxic. It is pleasant. It is an antidote. It's an antidote. It is an antidote to the toxicin And here's the thing. We just were very vulnerable with each other. And I feel comfortable doing that because I know that our guests I feel I

feel that we were in the presence of greatness. And I'm feeling very comfortable because we actually got to know our guests very well over the summer, because we had an amazing experience with them because we were on very frequently, and we were on it to be on after after Party on Facebook, and this was a show hosted by one of our guests, and the other guest was I was always almost always on the panel with this I was almost always on the panel with this guest, and

I was always like, thank God, And they never put us together because you know what together. They put us together once because we demanded it and Regina and Regina came King and remember how cool and nice she was. We'll talk to talk about and I call you called it. You're gonna win something for a Field Street could talk. I know, I said for seven seconds, and weeks later, what did she win for seven seconds? But you also you also did say you have a lot of buzz

going for you for a Field Street could Talk. And this is back in what July August. Genuinely, I did not know how good this movie was going to be. And also like because it's like when you talk about Oscar buzz in like Augress, it's like who then? But Regina, it's Regina's She's a known quae. Regina King has been one of my favorites for a long time, long time, since Miss Congeniality Too, since before since Ray I'm kidding, since Jerry mcguires. Yes, Okay, so here's the deal. I

love our guests. I love our guests, and you can see them upcoming, upcoming. Okay, one of our guests, we're just gonna say, we're just gonna separate them by name for now and we're getting them in in a glow moment, right, a glow moment. The day after, John Mullaney tweeted both of them, and that's John Mullaney, John mullaney, mullaney with a now culture number one. That's John Mullaney tweeting at our guests saying, what an amazing night of comedy at Caroline.

Perfect comedy, perfect comedy, he said, um and it was truly the pageantry around this tweet beautiful. This was at your Bookie Young White show at Caroline. And talk about breakout artists, breakout arts. Speaking of breakout artists, one of our guests is performing on February nineteen at Caroline as a breakout a break as a breakout artist. It's Rebecca O'Neill, and and then and then you and then you go

for the other one. You're not even gonna believe. Where are other guests is going to be performing from February New Orleans. It is New Orleans. Sony will be in New Orleans performing her ass off, her ass and our and our guests February February. Yes, and and if you've been able to accumulate all these hints so far you'll be able to deduce that our guests right now are Rebecca and we do we do apply. I miss being

on after together on a moment. So nice. She was literally also more beautiful in person, tailored suit, a check pattern, yes, shew, her was. Yeah. And there were many guests on after after party. We met many guys and and I will say this, I will say this, you had a ton of incredible guests. Probably Regina King, I would say, probably the most famous guest and so kind, so beyond I think one of the nicest, like famous people I've met. Yeah. Absolutely, she called us by name, Matt. It was like, yes,

I just like black dat. I was like, okay, it was every and look everybody in the eye was joking and she was funny, like, oh my goodness. And she tried with the game. Remember how decided she got. I was like, she stid ad Regina if she actually wants to do this dumb ship. And then she was like and I'm like, well, I loved that. I watched the globes and when she want I was like, yeah, she's been racking up hardware. I feel like every or show you see now, Regina King is winning something and she's

trying to shake the table. She's like announcing she's challenging people women, same energy. Yeah, well, I mean here's the thing, like she and what I read. I watched an interview with her later where she was like she kind of decided to do that in the moment, like and she was like, well, I'm up here because I think Regina is legit so humble that I don't think she's assuming

she'll win all this stuff. I think because she legit worked in the industry for so long and it's just like one of those working actresses who was reliable and so now that she's up there with the opportunity to win these awards, I think all her peers are like goddamn right over. Yeah, And so I think she was up there and she was like, clearly this industry has my back. Let me have the back of ever one.

You know. What I was talking about is in the summer, like when she came on the show, she was talking about like women, we need to be behind the camera. And she's kept the same energy. She is not playing like she wants women all over the place. So like, yeah, I think that was the last time we were all that kind of together. Yeah, it's just a nice little circular moment. After Party got Cancer. Yeah it's oh, but there's gonna be like a future for it, like in

another form under another title, like other magical. That was I had so much fun doing that. I had so much fun doing it. And also other networks, like other people at other networks were like, we love that, by the way, and you had meetings afterwards based on I like, oh, I liked what you're doing after after Party it was nice. Like it may be no longer, but I think all the comics who worked on it had a great time to perfect like that one season we got to bring

on like when you are friends, like everything. I was so proud of everything. We made a vibe. Everything was so good. Warbe was like Warbe, He's incredible, a fun thing. Abouts happened to me. All the clothes they were gonna dolnate now, you said, and if someone on dating right now, was like, I got it. Okay, let me tell you something. I found out this person now and I'm obsessed. Wait we will talk after. Let's talk after. And I know

you're clambering. And I saw this. I saw this individual on another shoot that I did and he was like and then I said, and he took a picture of us together and said, I'm sending this to Sonya because I guess what I said, Jean mulin Can I just really quickly go back to Regina. Regina, I need to share this moment from the Globes. This is because I was in the room, like, yes, he was at the Globes. Oh my god, yeah, writer for the Golden Glove. Because I had like I saw you and I literally screamed,

oh my god, no idea you were hosting. I was just I'd just sit between. I just sit like at the steps um just before the show started, and I was like in this I was in like the line

of this is what happened. Tanny Newton's at one table, Tarage is at another table down in the in the second tier, and then after that it's Regina and three of them, the three of the Tandy because I'm I'm like in between Tandy and Taragi, and Tandy goes Regina Taraji and then Taragi goes Regina Tandy and then Regina is like, oh my Goddy, and it was like they

just there was just so much love. Triumphant of excellences just so much love between these women, and I was like, this is beautiful, Like this is like I was like, this is like what you fantasize about, Like I hope these people are in real life, and it's like it was there and it was like, oh, like these people have Like I was like thinking about the places these people have seen each other in all the different settings and all the glam or and all it's all dressed

down like and they are all decorated there, but they've seen each other in the fucking trenches and that you know what I'm saying. Yeah, And it's like they're all together and there's so much love, and I was like, this is the way for her, this is the future for all of us. That was I think the most beautiful Well. I loved really, I thought you guys did

an amazing job, but Sandra was great. And then that really I actually thought I thought that that it might have been a bit, but then when it was just a pointed moment at the end of her speech where she was like the reason I wanted to I really thought that I thought she was doing like a bit where she was going to get emotional like on Grayson Anatomy when she would always do her but then when she legit just landed like I wanted to do this because I wanted to be a part of this moment

of change. And I see all your faces of change, and they panned around the room and it was just like, you know what, like a moment of levity right now in this fucking crazy world to just say that this is especially from last year when they were all in black because of me too or whatever like times because of Times up. And I was just like, that was a really nice sheet. Both the two of them were both like, we don't want to make it like we really don't even care to even make a political joke

about Trump. We don't want to really acknowledge that. We let's just focus. Sandra was the one who's like, let's just focus on the good stuff that happened because and like and let's not even roast people. Like I thought. It was like a different way. It was a different models, something that you're not used to work, and it's like it's different than like what Ellen would even do. It's like at the Oscars, it's like, oh, this is like such like sincerity is in right now, like just genuine

like we're gonna let's try actively to be nice. That's very like, and I feel like that's like a sort of a protest because everything's real nasty, you know what I mean, let's choose to be like we're comedians, we're basically clowns, like a nice cloud. Yeah, I mean, I think that something I've personally learned in ten like that I left the year with was just finding that there is a lot of strength and a lot of power in vulnerability, you know what I mean, Like people actually

want that more than you think. Yeah, you know what I mean. And also it's so funny because like what we are moved by, Like for example, let's like use

if field Street could talk as an example. Like even just watching the trailer, I had full body chills and was like really almost crying, like like Regina Kings delivery of her line like if love got you this far, don't stop now, Trusted all the way, I was just like I be scared of being vulnerable in my work, you know what I mean, Like I respond to this above all else. Um, I don't know this about you, guys. I don't know if you guys ever told me at least,

how did you guys meet it was it in Chicago. Yeah, we were at open mic. Yeah, we started coming within like a month of each other. And a guy I was dating then knew her, and he was like, yeah, there's another a black girl. Because yes, oh that's that's what they do. That's what they did with us and with Joel. Yeah, you guys be friends. There's one who's

not a white, black, white or blook. Honestly, there's more black like the people who started with us in Chicago around the same time we were the two black girls. So we eventually we're going to meet and uh, the guys, our mutual friend she was staying at the time, introduced us, thinking that we were hit it off. So hated me so much. Isn't a different place where she was very like type And I tell me what your story is, How are you doing, What are you doing, how you doing?

How did you get into comedy? Why do you like it? Who's your favorite? Let me just say clarified this, Yeah, this is this is seven hard years ago. But also I wasn't like eighty MILLI prosaconed my physical hand right she walk around. I used to a little tiny pieces of paper to I didn't know any of this. Yeah, but that was only for like two months and then

you were chilled. But it was like the first the first time I ever saw Rebecca on stage was at the stand up Shot Union Hall and I fucking did some bullshit that and she goes up on stage and does this like holistic like a mother or Adisha, but like, no, I haven't. It was but it was like I don't remember what it was, but it was like fully academic and like I was like, this is like this smart.

You were very attractive. Yeah, I was like, oh my god, and you probably talked about like queer theory or remember I was like, oh my god, who is this? And like you like you came up as someone who was like powerful and maybe was was that something that like you're like, is this something that you're still like of course you still work with it, but was this back then this thing where you were like I need to like show my power or something or not. I think you were just I think I just it was I

don't like my partner didn't assert it that way. I think I was just a very like uncomfortable person in this new space and I was like expecting her to be like, hey, I'm back she said. She was like, I was like, oh, and I don't like this eating and getting to know SA. Also, did you know you don't know how you perceived out here in the I'm there. You're out here doing what you feel is best. You're not knowing that you're freaking people out here going to

become lifelong friends. I'm recalibrating her energy and stuff, and I do think like we're very as much as we have, we don't like the same. Dude. She'll be like, he look at him, he's that's beautiful eyelashes. I'm like vice versa to like, we're like crazy different in so many ways, but to hear this because our relationship also started with a degree of animosity. Yeah, very long only other person. Yeah exactly, but it's the same. It's the something that

you said. World was like, it's kind of funny because it's like we've talked about this on the pod, so the listeners know. But I was the gay on the sketch group at M y U. Bone was the gay on the improv group and M y U and so they literally said like, go play do things together, and we were like, you think just because of this reason that we're gonna and then literally pretty much just because of that. This is literally like the black guy on

the sketch team and they're like, now you're my number. Ness. I always want to I always want to write a sketch for us, which is like when you're the two gays at the wedding and like that, all the straight people are like, oh, you know, be friends talk to each other, like like you have to, you're gay. So I have this idea where they put us together and it's like we're like hi, and then like we literally

bond over the stupidest, most basic gay show. But I remember literally literally what made us friends was we were at the same college party and I had become obsessed pink Pink Friday, Yeah, and so so in your dorm or whatever, so had you And we were at this party and we both were off book on the whole album, like romans. At the party, we were wanting each other like exactly, and I was like, you know, well, you know what it was everywhere the super Base and super

Base was a deep cut. It was it was before it was a single, it was on the Luxe album. It was it was a bonus track, and people didn't know about it. People don't know that super Base was a bonus track. Yeah, and so he and I both but we knew and yeah, and so that's when I was like, Okay, maybe we should just be friends for this gay reason for the chee. Was there a moment

where did the ice just melt at that point? Yeah, we kind of just we we also because the things that we have deep in common is like our work ethic and like how we comedy were always like people would be like saying to us, like Becca and I would like have the same mentality about like going as many mikes as possible. People, that's about it, Like what do you I think you're doing. It's like, okay, we're just trying not to die in Chicago. Yeah yeah, and also trying to do what we love to do. Yeah,

we want to whatever some men of it. But like how we got to know each other is literally like we were both starting at the same time, like, hey, there's so much comedy here, let's do some of it. And we had car pools where it was like us and a group of three other friends and people fall up. But yeah, for the years, but like the core of us are still friends now, like four of us I moved here, like we started to say back in Chicago. But yeah, just basically I tell them when I was like, okay,

this is yeah, yeah, go ahead. One time we used to host this you know exactly about to say the racist guy. Yeah, hosting hosting this Mike was like exhausting. It's five hours started. It started like years ago by Cameron Esposito and we inherited it. Yeah, and then, um, so it's the comedians always, unless it was like a snowstorm or something crazy, there was always that would yeah, well for for for the cost of living in Chicago.

That compensated us well enough for us to show up week after week after and we got every and in Chicago is well it's a comedy destination. It was also the thing where, like it was sixties, spots of every comedy in town will show up to show that and any celebrity what should only be two or three and it was it's like literally and we're like that's the energy and the energy everyone's like on board positive, like it's literally like transplant some people from brookn Nuts Wools there.

Um and then also comedy people so uh there's this so everyone, there's a list as we mentioned right, and sometimes we bumped funnier people, people who have been doing it longer, just to like, you can't have sixty people that are new to comedy just working, yes, working the line up at that scale, because we do it for fifty people. Yeah, yeah, yeah, okay, so you're you're like, yeah, he's this guy, so you sign up. Some people signed

show up at five thirty. Like the lottery system here like stops that from happening or like is it called lottery is very brutal and efficient, but it's so much it makes so much more sense. Yeah, we have a host who does like you can do time if you're an asshole between people and like, so yeah, I would do ten minutes the top that I would host fifteen and she would do ten and she would host fifteen. And we don't make ten tinten until we got it to two am. So this guy he got there late

or on time. Really, if you sign at nine, you're already fucked, right, So he was like he's already wrong. Yeah he comes. And then this happened to me multiple times. Men did not like the women were charge of this. It was always like they would try to like bully us into bumping them and we'd be like like kill me, I don't care. It was mostly a wonderful and pleasant experience. Ent at a time was incredible and we both I feel like I became a better comedian. Definitely definitely riffing

like it taught me I can riff like it. Just that was it. Anyway. So he's late thirties and um, Miami type. No, that's the other one. It was two dudes to never be friends in real life. One of them, like she said, Miami vice. Yeah, no, no, the guy who records. So there's one guy. He's younger, like late twenties, maybe the thirties. He has like a silver briefcase and I had a fitted cap all white in Chicago and winter. Then the other guy like fifties sixties, full on dad

jeans to his waist polo. I'm like, how are you guys together? Someone else was telling me they went to another open mic where they were spending so much money and being assholes. So anyway, that's the sext of who these people are. The guy he keeps coming over, but a lot of people are coming over like hey, when am I up? And I'm like thirty four. We're currently on twelve. Really, I'm like, I'm sorry, like the restaurants, yeah, and I'm like I can't. This is what you have

to do. Like people will be like I have work, and I'm like, so do I. And you know, anyway, he's getting entitled pissed. So at some point he starts falling asleep in the front And this is after he's asked me four times when he's up. So I make a joke at his like say something and everyone looks and laughs, and he someone so fast forward to when it's his turn. This is legit like his dad or this is younger, brief kid, briefcase. Guy hasn't gone up yet. He's just like the woman who's like, uh and not

never shame another too hot for him. But also I would never shame another woman or anything. But like just the people at the other bar was like, she showed up here, he gave her some money. They've been together the whole time. Is it just friendship? I don't care. Yeah, Like she had to endure this because these people are so he got up. This is actually like one of the worst things I would be on stage. But she goes up, she goes up, He goes up. I introduced

him right as I get off stage. I don't even hear what he says, because I'm just in my head, like who's next, that are looking at the list like we're in the slock. So I just hear people in the audience go and I heard everything that happened, like stage watching all the machinery turn, and he says, he starts, you know, comment in on her body, which is the first thing man attacked. Well, girl, I'm trying to I'm

trying to be euphemism zero. I'm trying to talk around it because you know, the first thing, like entitled people who started bombing. First of all, the entitled people always bombed. I don't know why that is. But the people that leave you alone or maybe ask once because they're ages, usually like you'll have a good step, but like people who are in your ask like hey, what's next, what's next, and like annoying suggests bombs. Yeah, So he starts going

in on science body. I'm my first instinct is hit the sound. I don't know how to use technological buttons or whatever. So I'm like, well, what I have to do is job to the stage then, and so he's going in he starts being racist, talking about what's your name? Doing all of them just like that was like so wow, and I just I'll tell you because it's like I was, you can google me and look at my body like so it's a spirit behind the comment more than the perfect Like I like, I don't have to wear a

braw it's great. But he goes with black women, Uh you know, fine body on that one, but with black women if you don't have titties and asked, what's the point. So that's the energy? Yeah, because and then it's already like you're sucking up because me and her here all the time, they like us, we give these people free drinks all night. You're really gonna attack. This is your open and that's going. And then he's proceeds the bomb. So that's when he starts calling us Salanda and Shalanda.

And then at first I was like people started to boot him when he talked about my body. But I was like no, no, no no, no, leave it because I was so excited to go on stage and ross. But then when he started saying racist ship, it was like I because you want when someone does that, you want to be in a place where you can be calm enough to destroy them and not get emotional. But oh my god, it's not even over yet. So he gets off. I grabbed Mike. We go get the funk off. Get that.

We're both screaming at him. Well I'm just trying to like yeah with the silver briefcase. And the coke pulls out his phone and starts recording the ship like world star, and he was like the world Star because we were not even like it was like yeah. But then one of these lights, I have to shut out John Marcha loose Ki. I don't know if he's still doing And in Chicago's down now Brooklyn resident Charlie Verka, he came to our rest his phone, tumbo. This man's lies from

the back. The comedians started throwing, like moving it because they don't want to. He's like my phone, and so then every finding security comes, I guess people, and security is like this huge dude, Larry. He was like the nicest person, but I can tell you how to kill someone with physically at the kindest. But if you saw him and he's like angry, you're gonna do ye. Like his hand is like all of our hands. So then he gets off because securities like you have to go,

you have to go. Then miamis either dude, he's still trying to go up, and I was like, yeah, I literally wanted four minutes. Yeah, after that point, I was like fucking dare you? And Cole is like hey, yeah, like he fuses it, but like I was, so you ever be so angry, like like I just felt that in that moment, and it was like, yeah, he never did. Literally people like that, the fact that he still wanted to go up on stage, so the entitlement, it's well,

it's what it is. Is like people like that never know to leave a space when when they're not welcome. It's like they are like, I'm going to stay here and literally take up space even though it's been made explicitly clear that I don't belong here, that I'm not welcome. Like crazy to me, But that is like out of a TV. It was mostly not like that. Most of chicagoant like everybody in the room, everybody that love love Chicago.

I love that story and that like that's a that's like a big seminal moment for you guys, and for me, I just was like it was I would just felt so excited it felt like in that moment like she had my back fully like she was like a lot of people one other ones day, would you say that so it don't make me kill you? Done that always on my body. But a woman once told me I don't wear enough dresses or something, this older female comedian to Beckos, like, oh thought you out of the window

right now? Yeah, I mean I don't have that like lots of people like we're adults, who does that haird energy? And I don't have time for it, like to throw it down for each other. I want to say we have, but I don't know, we're We're probably people just aren't like come and age all all the time. Either. Anyone

ever said anything fully fucked up? Well I talked about this on another episode, but um this We did this photo shoot where the stylist kept coming up to me and saying like they did like an eye makeup thing with me where that was just like a Spider Man. I over my eye like this, and then like you would someone would look at that and say, oh, that's

like Spider Man. This this stylist comes up to me and goes, wow, I love this very Pokemon Pikachoo Pikachoo pikacho p I was when the two make up artists were also Asian. I just I heard it out of the corner from across the room because I was getting fitted and everyone just the three of them. I'll just go, no, what you didn't have to throw it, But that was a moment where you looked at me and I looked over across the thing, and I was kind of like, you would have stepped in if it had gotten really

I've been right there. I think I would have turned to him and been like by this, because he kept coming back and saying that, and by that time I was by the second time, I was like, no, that's not it at all. Moments are like you if you feel attacked and you look over you make attack, which your friend in the room, and then they're if they're not lady like, that's emotionally at least, that's a writer

that moment for you too. You guys were each other's writers, and then you but then like, but then you guys, you guys have already been spending five hours a week with each other and yeah, and we also ran it so it was like twice a week or once a week and then We also had a monthly show that we ran once a month. Yeah, that's it's still happening now, Like yeah, yeah. Can I say something about Chicago. It depends, well,

I must say this. It is like the scene there is like so charming, which it sounds like this sounds so whatever grows. I don't mean to like sound patronizing. It just seems like the city itself is a great city to like go out and then get drunken and like and it's cozy, you know what I mean. Like it's like every every space I go to, it's like, you know, a lot of the spaces in New York. I'm like, yeah, this is a space, but it's like

sort of uncomfortable, right. But in Chicago, it was the show that you did in Janelle was also on it, Janelle James that you were on the bill. It was it was at the Green Mill. It was a paper that was such a fun vibe, Like everywhere you go it's a fun vibe and it's not hard to find that like that is rare in a city. I was

glad to have started there. I'm glad to have started there around the time that you it because there is so much comedy to do, like we were brand new comics, and like on a Monday night you could easily hit five open mics in the night and get like a month's worth the stage time in two weeks, just because there's so much to do, and also there's no industry people they're like making decisions. You can toil an obscurity there for years and just show up on the good

at comedy and nobody knows who you are. And I love that about Chicago because here I feel like the second you show it, if you were damn, it's like, so what I want you to do is come in here, and I'm like, none of this ship was in Chicago Comedy Central, and the audience at the bar show like that's not But it feels like I said, it's like literally, I can't stop saying it. But like we I felt like in Chicago we're playing assimilation of what this is

because in Chicago we care just as much. Stakes were way lower. But it felt like if I don't get booked on blah blah blah show, I'm not comedient And and yeah, and then you get here, you're like, oh wait, like people get paid, I don't. You can make money. I don't. I was like fighting over shows for a drink tickets. Yeah, but like she said, like you can

just get so much better try things sail. Yeah. And I feel this way about New York too, though, I mean, like it's so interesting to hear you say that, because like I always think I never spend time in Chicago. I've I've spent all my time in New York. Like we were just saying, I've been here for a decade like doing this, and I think the next place I'll go, like the progression would be l A. Because I think, like what I've always thought is like like for me anyway,

starting in New York. It's like they've always talked about New York is the place you cultivate and get good and like your people, and then you go out to Los Angeles to like work, because that's when you're ready to be sold for the people. I know, I'm not in a rush to get to this l A face, And I'll be honest with you, I'm having a good time. Here's chilling out because you can also have you can also be a career stand up here, you know what

I mean. If you can be a career comedian here but in l A, it's like, you know, that's where you actually truly and then that's where the ind expands a little bit. We were talking about doing more than stand up before. But see, Chicago is a place where you like I didn't even I sometimes forget all of our friends that started in Chicago, like good, yeah, right, like so many people, you guys, but you guys didn't really spend that much time to like I'm just using

like toiling it obscure. Well, so I don't feel like I served my tamure like I was. That's where I lived. That's so that's where I started. It was like a destiny. You moved to Chicago to come from d C. I had a friend who it was so random. I had a friend who was like, hey, I'm in the Second City directors programming, Like I took a class. I was just in a place where I didn't know what I was gonna do. And then uh, he was like, yeah, you should come to Chicago, and I like visited, and

then I was like fuck it. I just moved. But I didn't know, like I was fully going to do stand up. I was taking but I have not been there. She's a liar, because you were an ambassador for two minutes. Well, yeah, I was a second city ambassador because it was a scam to get that needed to lure black people in, and I was like yeah. I was like, are you gonna give me money? Absolutely, I'll lure my friends and thousands of dollars. One I've heard about this weird little

thing it say, I don't think it exists anymore. And I was not a good fit for the program because I don't I didn't understand improv. I didn't know the structure of there, you know school. I was just like, yell, need black faces because people are mad at you. Got it, I'll take And here's the thing. It was just an exchange for discount of prices, and they were offering discount of prices to people who were interested in their classes, who were from diverse backgrounds. It was on the up

and up. I just didn't last because I didn't care about that at all. Excuse me, high, are you a smile hider? What I mean by that is do you hide your teeth and grew pics? Are just not smile when meeting someone because you don't like how your teeth look. Let's get something straight. Your teeth that is clever. You know the ones you cover when you laugh or hide when someone breaks out a camera. I'm actually one of you people. Um will listen your fears. Put those dressed.

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code ding dong. Did you guys take well Bowen like really started doing comedy and improv? It was like my gateway because I did it in high school and I would go I would do college tours and I'd be like, yeah, cool, um, So do you guys have to have an improv group here? Like? That was my leading question whenever wherever I went, I was like that gross. Well, I was just like that was like the interest that I lead with, and I was like lying to myself thinking I was going to

be like I was gonna go to med school. I was like, well, but actually, like what my selection has to do with geometrists, which is which was my interest, and like I like relegated it to like a side hustle. When I was in college, which was weird. I was a sketchboy. I did sketch comedy and like did take improv classes but never got over the nervousness of doing like the UCB form of improv. And I always I also like, I don't know, I think it's definitely like

being gay. Like I was very not comfortable with myself, and I don't think you can do good improv being

two in your head because you're just blocked. So I was, yeah, I just for me, I was just so preoccupied that I needed that preparation at the time, I would never have been able to just get on a stage like I do now and kind of like riff with an audience like that takes time, like you were saying, like hosting is like a real skill to you know, going up and doing a seven to ten minutes set like whatever, Like we all we we know what we're doing, so

we go up there and do it. You don't know what's going to be going down when you go up there to host, you know, like some when even when we host our live show, which we do frequently, like it's it's it's an energy that you have to get on board for and you are really performing with the audience, and that's different. So I only think, and only now could I do that successfully? I think because I'm not in my head and I feel the same way with improv.

You're going up there and you don't know what's about to happen, and I wasn't comfortable with that. I don't think it's a type of mentality because I would be an imp would be an improv like say this and say that. You can't be that person who was like orchestrating. I would be fully like, I'll go out and say this, and then this person will probably say this, and this would be a funny thing to happen to. Third, because I really started My whole education and background is in writing,

so I couldn't stop. Do you guys feel this way. We're like especially maybe ever since you guys moved to New York, you like the little tiny skills that we've had that that you are required to pick up, like working, like like I'm sarring this video game. Analogy works with so much stuff because it feels like what's your video game?

Like everything in Chicago was just like a similation to just take that to it like a new Yeah, Like everything in Chicago is like we're picking up these skills like in the first level of a video game, and then when you get to New York, you gotta like beat all the bosson. It's like all these skills I accumulated over the years, like remember to do this, learning how to perform because when I learned how when I when we first started, I think like I knew how

to write a joke and say came from bad. I thought she was like a magician because I was writing my jokes. I would put the comma in and that's where I would be and I would recite my jokes at the audience the way I had written them, like yeah, and she came in like emoting and like no one where they like I would tell too much detail and like we had difference. I feel like a but that's like on a broad that's that's like you can like

hone not like in any place, and that's great. But I feel like once you start to like do stuff like you have your own TV show, basically like you basically have to, like like Sonia, like I'm sure you had to like learn how to like deliver something to camera or like know where to look or like know your angle and like know how to like no no about continuity or you know, it's like leaves a little

people talking last night in or a lift. Sorry because Songa doesn't believe in Uber's corporate policy, I don't think because I don't you know, I'm broke. I'm a. I'm a we were talking about back in two thousand twelve, Like I think I was trying to be grateful because I was drunk, Like I'm matching in two thousand til if. We want to save ourselves now and it's nice, right.

Also the other side of that, the negative side of it, was, did you think that when we decided to like go on stage and like tell our little jokes that we have to be thinking about all the rest of the ship career stuff. You get here in your life. Oh ship, there's so much more outside of performing, Yeah, like managers, ages,

people and industry things and would you do this? And like it's full time and also now I do too, I actually and try to embrace every part of it, like even the social media aspect of like branding yourself and appearing to be like and so it almost like makes you cut yourself some slack for like doing that the whole thing of like, yes, social media is a projection, but also I we need to do it because shame to Yeah, and so but something that I mean, I

actually think the biggest part of it, and especially now that I'm we're all at a certain point. It's like when you meet with people, you have to be personable and like to me, it's like actually a lot of this career is being able to have conversations and like audition in a room, ask yourself, I mean as a general right, like they tell you like, oh, we're just

gonna sit and talk. But it's like you're trying to make sure I'm not the most important and that I could be Yeah, a person who could be around you. I hated him so much, but now I can. I can now I think you got to talk to like in an interview situation or whatever, like just to be like bank burk hit and there new to me and I'm having a great time. Like I didn't know. I was like, who was to talk to me? Oh? How do they know? I exist? Tell me more? What do

you like about my This is great? Have you been in one way? They didn't really know who you were not yet, Like I'm like five, and I'm like, are you guys quoting my jokes? Like tell me more and then back? So I have to like work on that part, like you gotta pitched up. I was. I was going and I'm prepared. Before I had like management or any like or any representation whatsoever. I was just like fielding random emails like show up at this building, this network,

and I'm like, yeah, so excited. Now you know these are important meetings that she needed to the opportunity a compliment session. We you know, wench together. Like when we were out and we had a script, it was ste it was like we went ready. We would be telling that, how did you guys meet? And that was like you to start the routine. You have to do it like that in order to get it in the lining curve, the learning, and I always to have like I had bullet points for my story, and then I had I

had jokes. I was slipped in gotta tell if you're an immigrant, got to tell a joke about your mama's not in soo it, and then I would do the second part where featuring things I like. But yeah, before that, I would just be like, shit, I didn't tell them this. I didn't tell them there are shows, so I have like a bunch of meetings in the day. I'm like, that's three or four shows and then you know that night you have to Yeah. So it's like it's don't make me enjoy it, like I enjoying what I thought

that because I was like, can I greezy about this? Though? As much as I'm thinking about my career here, and I think we were just talking about this too, like I'm glad that we've been so like if you feel disconnected with your friends here, but I feel like we've had shows together recently and we're doing this, which is great because we're talking about a lot of the same ship.

Even though I feel like my career is more focused here, I also feel, for some reason like this is the first time we've actually like chilled out and thought about our personal lives, like a career life, like we're just like, yeah, I would tell like me and my ex would be like comedy first and you know that, like like yeah, it just there was nothing in the world. We were

very young and that we're tired. Imagine like we would be in Chicago like here, my god, like Mike's are harder, and the fact that like it's onny comedians or people a comedians people, but it's so much longer. So we would sit for like five hours, six hours to do

four fucking man. And now that's crazy, but think about like we were just you did the thing with Taraji and all the things they must have seen, but they must have come up together like complain about just now you think about who we were at those tables with them, what they're doing now, Like that's not like that ship sucked, but like Jabuki is a real life celebrity right now.

All of his shows five shows, and I knew he was doing yeah, and he was sitting there doing his five hours too, So I'm like, wow, that ship sucks. Like everybody at many people who like we're at those little awful tables with us and that a little weird bar and and they're winning right now, and I'm like, hell yeah, like we served our a little time. Here's one thing I think was literally just thinking about this

the other day. It's like sometimes people ask me what my interests are and I'll be like, well, I do comedy, and then it's like, because in order to good comedy, you must be speaking about interesting and talking about your life. So it's like it is that thing of like when you wake up every day and it's about this, but you have nothing else to compare that. It is important to be out there and like, you know, experiencing, you know,

dating and like that. There's a reason why these things get discussed comedy because we only make room for the things that are essential. And so that's why when someone comes in and they have a real take on something that's a new experience, that's why we all snap our next in our direction. It's like, wow, how did you

have time to have that? Interesting? Yeah. I also think it's like when you make this the most important to your life and there is nothing else, it's like if you get rejected from like a festival or a show or whatever, it feels like so much bigger when you have nothing else that makes you happen. Yeah, that's why I go. When I got here, I realized, like, I can't just have comedy be the only like the only thing makes me happy, because when I wasn't doing well,

it was like what else am I doing? And those real steaks, yes, legit. When you get those things, you get them and then they're over. Oh yeah. So for example, like with like JFL, I went two years ago and now it's it's over. It's this thing that I crossed off my off my list, and it's like for years, for years, and so now it's like, wait, what are

my goals now? Keep moving if you have a certain mentality that I think we used to have more and we still do, like we're still ambitious people, but I'm happy for the balance because it used to be like never being happy, You're never being satisfied because you're always moving your own goal post back as soon as you get that thing that we would complain about not doing shows, Yeah, we do the show, the show because and then be like okay, so what's next, Like what am I upset

about not having? Now your phone and your friend is like, hey, I'm opening for you, like, bitch, I'm not doing anything in mine and he's I don't feel like that anymore like we were twenty five or some ship. Like it's just different person, I got time for it anymore. You just sort of like get to a place where you can like like yeah, like comedy you also, I think one thing too is like we all kind of believe like I have to If I don't do this, I

will never get out of this thing. And then you get to the point where you're like, I can have a balanced life, like I can be happy, I can benefits we're not, yeah, and have happy much better the times now when I when I'm at peace. I had a really good first week and I was really like my brain was clicking while I'm off now. But what I felt like it was like the first time I was like, oh, like I don't have to really be obsessively with this. I took something like I just didn't

do sets for a while because I was home. But yeah, I think like it's either if you're not living in active life, then you better hope to God that there's some good ship happening, not in quote unquote good ship like mindable ship that's going on in the politics or something like that, and so it's so funny because like, but I also don't apply that to out because people talk about the fucking nightmare we're living in right now, and then they say the ship, like, well, it's good

for comedy, and it's like this. So it's like, so that's why lately I've been trying to live my life because I actually use my own life for basis something because I'm not talking about the hellscape that is, yeah, topical people who have to do topical comedy right now, like wow, Like I mean, you know, the for the show, like it was a drain, like that's trump. It was so exhausted, Like what can we talk about today and make it fun? Oh well, sometimes there was no fun

stuff to talk about. We'll talk about law and order, hate crime. I was opinions at some point. I was like, do what I care about Cynthia Nixon's Bengel or I'm not gonna have to come from my knees with this opinion. Like yeah, that's what's all about the talk show format is you're often like I primarily do jokes about like myself and things like that. But like so it's like it was hard to like shift and care. It was.

It's a second different. I think if you wouldn't want to always do that, Like I wouldn't want to be full time talk show host, even though some of my favorites like cone In and like that's my incredible I just think it takes the type of person that's fine being in that like constantly reading up on the horrible ship he's doing to figure out how to make it funny.

And that's what my question was earlier, where it was like, did you ever think that you would have to pick up all these crazy random skills where it's like I have to learn how to transition into the next piece in my hair where she's telling me things and I'm trying to like listen to the same time. It was it was such a learning experience, and I felt like

I honestly didn't know the scale of that. Julie Miller, who plated the show, shout out to her from UH and she was when we shot the pilot, it was me, her, three people for the panel, and you were to other people, UH and it was what was that ten people who were there for a production? It was it was so yeah, so when we sell a Facebook bias it, I'm like, okay, we'll still Facebook, so probably a little bigger. But then I got there and it would be like forty people

on three from it was a production. Then it was like so it was like in reuse to that, like it was very yeah, and then you are the host of that and it is and you know that moment of I remember looking at you and we'd be on the panel and like I was like, God, I wonder if it ever gets like comfortable to do that, because you were amazing, But it's this thing of like you they were literally in your ear and I'm like a robot because I'm trying to listen. I remember that, I

remember it happening. I was like, not only does she have to negotiate a relationship with us on the panel, gonna be on this like copy which is on the screen, and also be taking suggestions and notes from and her ear, and also with the added thing of potentially there was a celebrity like Regina when she came, I was so ancient the ones actually most of the time when they have celebrity guests. I really was like I was not comfortable with it neither because I just was like, what

if I asked her? Because there was one weird moment with me and Regina King. I remember it. No one thought about it for a oh wait a second, say what you're thinking when I said, so, you've been in a lot of black classics and I was going on to list something else and talk about how she's also branched out. But she thought I think she thought I was trying to pigeonhole her for a second. Yeah, but it was nothing like it was to her. It was nothing.

But me, I was like, oh no, And as Santy Gold was on an episode All Black Women, I don't know, I didn't so nice and right now I'm so happy. The first day I was there, it was not my episode, but she had been on the episode before me was my queen. She was so nice and that was for support the girls. Nice yeah, which she then ended up racking up awards for two At the end of the year.

Everyone's like everyone's favorite movie. Yeah, you guys like good, Yeah, I mean nothing for nothing, But you don't get better than Regina Hall. I mean like like she shot a poor insight, like she is stunning, has she has an age. It's so nice, so genuinely everybody. Honestly, every guest that came on, even like La La, who had like a tired day like episode La, by the end of it was like, remember she was like so good. She was like,

thank you so much. She was like I thought she was like I was dreading this day, but like, you guys really made it fun. Everybody was like everybody. I feel like the level of production you guys put on also outside of tone, for like the amount of effort to guess, yeah, like you showed up. It's nice, Let's

let's try everybody. It was good. That was like my first like real big thing like that, And it was like so nice that everybody who worked on their own, like everyone from like Bethany towns with a makeup and like everybody cared about doing a good job and brought such positive energy. I was very I felt close to everyone Hillary and her and also want and make up. I was like I live for everyone here and the

whole thing was great. And also what I was thinking before it was like you have to do all that stuff and then also know that there's forty people watching the screen, so it's like when you stumble over a word, you're like you have to just like focus on the fact that when it again. You know what I mean, But that is hard and yeah, but you turned it on so fast. And Bone was talking about the skills that you pick up over the way. No one's on you this whole time, from the time back two thousand four,

third two. The skills did you pick up, Like doing stuff like hosting coals on night worship is bad, having to be on like you want to drink. Plus, here's my joke, here's the next comic. Let's think about this, Like all those cylinders are fire. And when once you secured a bag, you know what you're like, it's like how you secure the bag. It's literally like they was a cool show. I remember when we auditioned for you for it. I was like, I think that would be good.

I think that would be good on it and I was, yeah, we were like we are. I was already like that was a journey too behind the scenes because so much, like honestly I loved it, but towards the end, I was like, I have to like I was, it was just so much. The thing too, is like I had to get used to with people writing for me and I can't be in everything and look at every line.

But it was like it really helped me like understand how I would like work in my future projects, like things I create, but also like how to be truly collaborative because I feel like it's stand ups, like we decide what we're gonna tell, how we're gonna tell it, like you tell us how much time and where? Yeah, and then working with someone else and like not being like that's the type of joke I would make and just being like you know what, like how can we

come together? And actually and that was like the biggest challenge, but it was I'm so grateful for that total experience. It was so great. We need to talk about you, Rebecca. Can we talk about this? I don't know you opening for Chet Queens every whole night. By the time this comes out, it'll be like out like you were there all five nights. Yeah. Yeah, well, thank you so hard. That's why I'm saying. We were in the trenches together learning how to do this. Three thousand people in the

King Theater was incredible, insane space. Becca was holding it down as the warm up comic warm it backed like was like just set up that room so so fucking well. I will say. We were just talking about productions and what good energy they have and how that sets the tone for everything. Honestly, being at King's Theater watching two beautiful black women run that ship, be in charge of

that ship, book that ship. Because I can't say who the guests are, but the people they pulled out who were honored to be there to see Phoebe and Jessica, like two black girls in our age group. I'm like, oh, what could go wrong? Like literally all people think tickets to see I felt so great doing it. Like I met Phoebe at a festival that no longer exists called Bridgetown in two thousand thirteen, and like remember Portland, Portland, Portland anymore? Yeah, well we're going to be so I

hope it's there. I'll come back for you. Never Portland would never cancel itself. Is I don't know Jessica. I don't know her that well either, but mab is Phoebe came onbe. Phoebe came on last culture rest test when it was still pretty early, and you know, she's always been so supportive and she will she Phobe is one that will sign a text, you know what I mean, Like like she checks in. I like, she said, be a text the other day that was just like thinking

of you. I was like, why are you thinking of me? She's like you Michelle Obama also remembering her friends like what a queen, what a Yeah. I really was happy to be a part of that and like the lineups they have, like the comics that are books amazing. Everybody's looks were great, Like I had different things every night.

I was just also just happy to be hosting again because like since I moved here, I've been doing like sets in every bar and Brooklyn like every bar, every bar, so many bars, and I'm like, I'm just happy to be different. Now there's like a whole new level. Like in Chicago it was like club bar shows, like that is it? And like now you realize, well, here there's like you could do a Comedy Central showcase actually open for someone on a weekend. It's not like, well zany

the only opening gig. Yeah maybe is great. That's where I did my TV show back home. So love you guys. Things are changing a ton here though. I was just talking about that, like you know what, it's so crazy, but like I came up through you CB and so now just to look from five years ago to now like crazy now close and by the time this episode comes out, it will be closed. That's happened very quickly.

You see, be House kitchen is now the space um and and uh, you know it's an adjustment and it's just it just goes to show you like if you're out there doing it, like you know, take it in because like that you Ceb Chelsea space that was that was a very special space with a lot of with a lot of memories and a lot of moments. So and you know, you're living in major cities where there's a lot of turnover and it's hard to keep business

is open. So you know what when if you go out there and like I don't know, you know what I mean, just like support, tell friends about the shows that you're doing, because these spaces are not going to

be there forever. But I think what we're the four of us are doing now is like really taking a second to like check in and like do a thing about like our own careers, which like for anyone, for anyone listening and thinking that this is like so like masturbatory, it's not because it's like we're really just we don't take We don't take the time in our own lives to do this, to really actually think about where we are, where we want to go, Why what led us to

the places that we are. I don't even know we were going to have a career chat today, but you know it's been very healthy. Well well that's why I was literally I was like, we got you guys in

the moment of the glow and here's last night. It's like, well last night, like literally they were on Jabooky's Caroline Show and John John mulaney tweeted afterwards about Rebecca and Sonia and Pat and Jabooky and everyone that was on the show, and it's just like, first of all, it was a gay to see that, and that's the biggest stand up that's working right now. And to know all the names, that's very cool. And TWND, yeah, that was

very nice. And so that's why I was. I was like that we were having you guys here today because like that is like pretty cool. Yeah, and we were just talking about what a nice, nice guy here. It's not always like that when you meet people that are super successful, but in that situation, is it is it

is great. We should ask the question we should ask the question because we always has asked the question of all of our guests, and we've kind of danced around it because we did talk origins but on Lost Culture Restas and I do know how to say the name of my own podcast, um, despite many people not my own father goes is Las Costa Rica's this week. I was like, my god, recalling this week? Are they recording

Carl Oh? I God, it's so interesting. Um. And I was like, you know, Dad, it's not hard to say. It's the word culture. And then East He's like, I'll get it. But we on this show, we asked every guest what was the culture that made you say? Culture was for me the defining pop culture in your life as you were growing up that you can look back now as the adult you are and say that was really kind of like important, whether it be a movie, musical artist, a television show, place you grew up like,

what was what was it? Let's go to Rebecca first. Well, we've talked about comedy this whole time, so I hate the minus comedy on top of it. Well, this is I do feel like it's it's it's a defining thing. Like I grew up religious, like we were in church all the time. I was not allowed to watch comic view on b ET like every ever, but I snatched everything every night. And I never thought I wanted to be a comedian until I was in my mid twenties.

But thinking back, well, I wasn't like I wrote about comedy. I was like, yeah, for like different places, So I knew I loved comedy, but I never thought I was going to perform. But thinking back, I'm like the whole time, yeah literally, so probably like sneaking and watch that and just uh quoting jokes all the time. And looking back, my mom reminded me of this recently and I'm like, yeah,

you're right, you clocked me like literally aged him. So who were the comics that were being featured there that you remember? Um, definitely Dian Cole. He's like a Chicago legend. I guess he's on Blackish now. Um. I do remember seeing uh Leslie what's her from SNL? Actually Leslie Jones uh do bits about like being a black woman and like one to fun and aggressive and I'm like ten years old, like yeah, not even knowing what exactly she meant. By any people that resonate with you, even if you

haven't experienced that, like ten years old. Yeah, And I really thought like this was like some of the jokes, I'm like, this is what it must be like to be an adult, like that type of stuff. Also very like warped ideas about what was going on in Comic View. Like they had a set up where there was a bar on stage. They were girls on stage. There was like back and forth bolly on griffing with the hosts and the people behind the bar, and they were like

really beautiful women on stage every night. And in my head, who I wanted to grow up to be. Where the women who were like beautiful enough to sit on the stage on Comic View. And here's the thing, it was always the same women. And having a show in Chicago, I had like a TV show for a few weeks, I'm realizing, like they shot all those episodes in the same day and just changed the girl's shirts and moved them. They were Yeah, and those comics got like seven hundred

dollars for doing that. Like nobody was famous after Comic View. But like looking back on that, I'm like, yeah, this was a defining thing. So comic you speaking, Yeah, that's a great answer because and That's also another thing where it's like it's just a container for just different people to come flying through because you would only ever rarely

see the same person multiple times. They had like regulars, like as far as I remember the format, like they had a few different incarnations, different theme songs to different seasons. But and it would evolve with like whoever was the poppingist urban I guess black comic at the time, but yeah, they seemed like they were keeping relevant. I don't know. I wasn't really in the comedy scene at age ten, but I imagine that the bookers had pretty decent taste, uh,

and they definitely like had regulars. But I was getting to see from the South Side of Chicago, not knowing anything about comedy, like the best that the black scene has to offer at the time, which turned out to be real influential. I guess, yeah, talk about your your your path from journalism comedy into comedy, like what I was like, so split Sider's website that just got bought

by Vulture so and exists anymore. Yeah, I was like I found it the as I found in an editor of like the humor section, which is like the shouts and murmurs type thing, so I'd be like reading and fielding humor pieces and then publishing them. So that was my job. Then then then I write about like albums and stuff, so I was doing that for Hawker Randy Fair to play a bunch of places. And I started tweeting jokes because I always, yeah, you can't help it, you can't.

And then I'm like, people that I've been interviewing are like liking my tweets. Maybe I'm funny. One day I went on stage and not quit my job at Splits out Of like three months later, and they were pretty mad because I didn't explain why. I was like, I do stand up now, I need to come behind this curtain. I don't work anymore bodies. So yeah, that's how that happened pretty much. I'm similar actually because I started before

I knew anything. I was eighteen years old and I like started writing for the ny U newspaper and two film reviews, and I would like interview this like celebrities or whatever, and I realized, like, I don't want to be the person that interview identified with what you're saying, because before you find, in my opinion, what you want to do. I was in a lot of different creative stuff, like right, and I thought I was gonna sing for a while. I can't sing, Like it's not something I'm

good at or should have been pursuing seriously. But I wanted to do something I was also doing like event promotion for recording artists in Chicago for a while and like sneaker company, and I'm like around entertained me trying

to catch a piece. Yeah, I have like a lot of a lot a lot of sneakers, but that's because when I was doing that type of promotion, I was under age and I allowed people to pay me and choose a set of money because I was nineteen, Like and all I have to show for those you was in my life is like hell of dead stock sneakers?

Could I don't care about anymore? Like I should have gotten money, you know, Yeah, I should have gotten They were like I thought I was cool and I was like I was hanging around like people like Chicago hip hop people like good music and hustle period like Kanye's old management company. But I was getting taking I was doing like was like doing party promotion for all these people and they're like, here's some shoes, little girl go Away.

So yeah, it's like I feel like I was on the peripheries of performing all this time, and I finally figured out what I wanted to do very much. But it's interesting that you as soon as you were like, I'm going to do that stand up thing that you like, had like you you have that precluded you from from writing about not. Really there was a conflict of interest

that I kept running into. I was fielding pieces that Not didn't always accept from people who were my stand up superiors, and it became an issue sometimes like that's I mean, but that's actually a really it was just a weird dynamic for a while for me to be an open micro telling people who I think are funnier than me in person that we can't publish this piece.

Like it was just weird for me. And I knew instantly from my two weeks in the stand up that I cared about that way more than anything I've ever done on split side or like, there was no comparison at all, so easy choice. It takes a lot of self forest or thought though to be like instant drug laughs, Like I would write here in pieces and I'm like, what do the people think about this? We'll not ever know because I didn't leave any comments or nobody retweeted it.

I told a joke on stage and I'm like, these bitches love me, but first laughs. Yeah, never looked back. That's so interesting. Instant instant drug. That's that. Um. Okay, Sonia, what was the culture that made you say culturists for me? So you mean it like something that made me feel like I want to do comedy or just something that made me love like it helped my life. Yes, yes, this is really weird. It's not weird, but I grew up. I grew up like Evangela. Well I didn't. Okay. So

my parents are Rwandan, Yes, my mom is Rwanda. My dad's Haitian, and like moving this country I was like four or five, and it was like I just never felt like I fit in at all. These will call us like I'll talk to the names African booty scratchers, ask as we spoke African like, and this is like an all African American neighborhood. But I think it's like fluid, like it like it seemed okay for them to like

tack all these things. Yeah, and I think what it is like in the nineties, Like it's not like, uh what you call it, like black panther. There's no real representation of Africa that's like positive in any way. It's all negative. So it's like kind of like how poor white people some will be like racist because at least they're under us. And then I think was the some of the black people kids I grew up with, they were seeing all these horrible things, the huts and this that,

and and it was like, well, at least we're not them. Yeah, So it just was like that was the only exposure they had to Africa. And I had an accent. I still like listen to mp are obsessively to try to lose my accent, Like I was just doing all these things and trying to be because that was tiny. Yeah. But and my parents never likes okay, So then I was in elementary school, I went to middle school. I

went to like this private school Evangelical. My parents are Catholic, but they kind of were like, it's a good private school because like the neighborhood we lived in, like wasn't it great at the time, So uh, then there's no culture in any of those schools, Like we didn't have theater we didn't have, Like the literature we read was like left behind, Like yes, I was so scared of what was it called the ratch for so yeah, and even like they tell you about the anti Christ, like

I went to a hardcore one. We would sometimes have chapel for four hours instead of school, like she wa when I'm going to the school, I'm not really like learning about anything. Like I hear the radio sometimes, but I remember, like my cousin or someone I left the TUPAC C D and I remember which one it was. Because after that, I just listened to every single one.

And I could never go anywhere either because it's like I'm fifteen whatever and my friends are having parties and my parents are like, well we have to come or we have to not just come. Sorry that com but we have to know who's going to be there, what adult is there, and you know at that age, like kids aren't there's no chaperone. Parties were like so I just would not go with immigrant parents. Forget it, forget it. Who is this person is? Keisha? It's just like so

I couldn't go anywhere. I didn't have any friends. I was too weird. So yeah, I found that D and it just felt like it was when I like, I think I have that now to where I like we were talking about like people being vulnerable, Like it just felt like minus the times when you saw about killing people. He went through a face, but it was like personal lyrics. And then I was kind of my gateway into other music. Like it was just like and then I would just

sit in my own weekends, never go anywhere. I would just sit in my room listening to music, and like, I don't know. It was just the first time when I was like, oh, art can help, like exists because my parents were like you're gonna be a lawyer, a doctor or like my dad's a computer scientists or something like that, which I did. But then I was like, no, I gotta get up. You did study that. Yeah it was she was super rich, you guys. I wasn't super rich.

I was like when I I don't when I graduated from college, Uh, I worked as a like a programmer in d C. And you can make so much money there and there because it's like such a specialized thing and there's like an I age and all these government agencies. But it's a question like I just was like, this isn't I'm living my life for my word only like a few years, and then I started doing comedy and

then I took off. I took off a month at a hiatus because I had a panic attack in my Austin's office because my UH team lead or whatever she was pregnant and I was being tapped to pick her. And I can see like the fork in the road of like because once you do that, you once she in management position, you have no life hours and hours

and hours, yeah exactly. And I was like, I didn't know what I wanted to do, but I knew it wasn't this, and I went in and I was going to just be normal and then I just my body was just like I was. And he was so nice. Everyone was so even the people that I worked with after I like quit, they would like come to my shows, like my own shows and like take me out to eat after and I didn't have any money anymore and it was humiliating, but they would like pay for everything

I had to go. That was more ago, that was like five years ago. I just keep telling it. Just still like we talked about like selling his rich friends and then from her years, so it was like people like it's so cool that you're doing this. It's insane, like you're making so much money. You could easily do this forever and make your mom happy. And then then everyone came through and was like people were so nice, like taking me the whole I didn't pay for ship.

I felt like an idiot and ashole the whole time when I'd be like my Chase account, but they were so they never were weird about it, and it was always like, Yo, we're so proud of you, blah blah blah. So Tupac Tupac. He was a complicated man. I didn't think he was dead for like a year. He's alive. And then I saw a cracked article or not cracks, one of the rotten and it showed his fucking autopsy. Yes, I don't know how I saw that. I think someone

sent it to me, like he is dead. The pictures, the picture that you can see if you if you really look for it, are fucking crazy thing, like, oh my god, I think no, I'm taking a picture of that, Like wow. The only picture I saw is after got shot. He was flipping off the camera like anything that shot you and yeah, yeah, like that and that is your energy you're very much like, yeah, let's do that. I can see you flip. I can't think if somebody shot you,

you're flipping off the camera. Yeah, like if somebody really trying to kids be I can't tell you how she could kill anyone in a giving room. She's very no, no, no no, I just mean she looks at security. This is like positive, I'm not trying. She knows. She's very prepared. So like if you're like, it's a possible, just because it was just up to me, I would lay down and die. But back gun will be like we can't. We need, we need, we need, like the survival and stinks.

You know, I think I really do have something to go down about how to just no one is expecting the food because of the shutdown. I always always grape from the earth, like what I always joked, like if there's ever like a zombie apocalypse, I'm going to be the person that's like in the in the group, it's like we have to go, now, come on, I'm gonna be like, okay, wait, let me charge my phone, let me just get going outlet we can't go. Can we

wait fifteen minutes? Stoll be outside five minutes into the second pigeons like I'm ready because where's my weed? Honestly, truly, truly, if anything, if any bird Box happens, I see we're seeing just some standing. That movie it's the best. It's the one of the best Netflix movies I've ever seen. That's not saying it's a qualification. Probably, Yeah, I seen some good was I got some key rom coms out right now? Anyone watch my film The After Party? No

is it the one about the rapper? Yeah, it's called The After Parting. It was so funny because I did after Party and after after Party at the same time. My resume looked like a crazy party after after part. It was funny because I saw my update resume and I'm like, that looks sad to see that. That looks like a copying thing. The guy who was trying at a record deal, right, Yeah, that's funny. Yeah. I was

in it for the trailer. In the trailer and love were probably watching stuff and then I, oh, my god, that's a comedian. Like yeah that I annoy my family so much because I'll be at home like, hey, I know him, like watching like a Chase commercial. Like Evan Williams. He is out there booking. He was on the Americans, like, like I feel like he books TV stuffn't busy, like on a movie doesn't have a movie start um. It

always helps. I think it's im I was gonna say, I'm fucking obsessed with these these career change stories, like they're my favorite thing in the whole world. I didn't quite experience that when you guys started, well we started in college, but I like, I was like, I was like applying to med school until how did your parents

it was you were gonna be a fucking doctor. Yeah, And it was actually it was a slow it was this weird they didn't like it wasn't like they had the wrath of God and them like within like like in the moment that I told him I wasn't going to do it, I was like I was telling them I was thinking about not going to med school and they were like, okay, And it was just this like slow creep of guilt, like poisoned everything. Slow. It wasn't a big cataclysmic thing. So that was like that was

their reaction. And now it's like over the years, it's it's been about like going about the process of detoxifying that I gotta be happy now, right, like the like they can understand like because well for them, it's like they understand that their colleagues and co workers are coming up to them being like, aren't you so you talk about this? No, because okay, So I did a show with city uh and um d C huh uh and it was at this theater. Yeah, you're so considered a

skill that you have to learn any stil. But my parents same thing as you, where it was did you feel like I felt like I was like letting down generations of people? Yes? I was, like my my dad was constantly like you come from such a generation of nomads and farmers and all these people who suffered and like blah blah like whatever, like the sacrifices we've made. My mom is always like, you're my second child. If I had stayed in China, you wouldn't have been born.

All this stuff like essentially it's like so fucked up. I'm like, yeah, I need to honor all the sacrifice. And our American friends are like, I want to be a juggler narers like do what you want to do? So yeah, my parents same thing where it was like they never I don't have the type relationships like my Rwanda is in my dad is like a much mellow Haitian but like he wouldn't they would never be like You're a failure? How dare you? But it was like that feeling, like it was that guilt of like my

mom's like, so, how's this little comedy thing? And it was like the or like she they thought I had a core life crisis. I got her like Carjack the whole thing, but she thought that that had precipitated, like I was type thing. But it was like I was already taking acting classes like it, you know what I mean, like on the side during my job. But it was like I think for her the first time when I my mom specific because my mom moved to this country when she was like in her late twenties, so like

most of her a lot of Western culture. She gets it because she's very savvy, but she doesn't like anything young at that time where it was like she there was a divide between her upbringing versus what she was a similar exactly. So I did that show and a lot of the people that come to the Wooly Mammath Theater in DCRE life, you know, like a flu NPR type crowd and then I'm like yeah, and then there's like young people. So I did a show. They came. I did like I mentioned that they were in the crowd.

I made some joke that fast forward. After the show, my parents are like, oh, good, good, Like my dad is new understood more references. He's like, that was my mom is being supported by default. She still doesn't get this ship. So it's like very and then these this group of white people and they all look like they

have mortgages and the like. They were all like if it was people are age, she would have been like please, But it was people that were in ther like forties fifties, late forties fifties, who were like, hey, is this your daughter? She's so funny? Is this she did? You know? She was this funny and my mom is really like what the like her face was like yeah, okay, yeah. And I think that was the first time where they saw it, like wait a minute, there's a theater, here's a pamphlet,

and then the more stuff you do. I think for them it's a big thing. Is I can afford I pay my own bills, you know, for the very least, I'm not gonna die on the street full what these like my mom does not understand what stand up is. Period. She tries to explain it, She's like I told my friend you want to live facebook posting. I don't. She doesn't forget it, Like like a streaming show, like have you ever tried to explain Like they're like, so, what's going on? And you try to explain a job you got.

I'm like, I'll be like I'm shooting sponsored countries in Montreal and they'll be like, what the fuck are you saying? Yeah, part of the kind of like wishes my parents didn't understand it so well. Yeahs like you know what I mean. It's like this thing like my dad loves stand up okay,

very particular ideas about how nothing. Yeah, And the thing is like also like when you come from it's a little bit of a strange thing to come from Long Island, where everyone has this idea of like, oh, he moved to the city and of course this is going to happen when he goes to comedy and then like all your close friends book SNL but you they're like, oh,

so you're struggling. It's like they don't get that, Like you know what I mean it's like that thing of like they have such an understanding and it's like and it would be so meaningful, you know what. It's an understanding, but it's also a limited, limited understanding of like they know the big things. So it's like I I used to get all the time, like you know what you should audition for Saturday night? Yeah sure, yeah, yeah exactly.

So part of me is like, of course, I like and I'm very lucky because my parents, I will say this, they have never once suggested I do something else, and they've never even asked me what my backup plan would be, not one time, And I think I mean the beast minority of that happening. But like there are times when I'm like, of course, I'm like any human being that

wants to make them proud. So it's like in the struggle, like in my mid twe is when it was like I was still doing shows for only free and like still still quote unquote making an investment in my career, which meant only paying to do the show I was doing, like I'll share them. When I was performing at the pit, like and you were paying for the tech, you know what I mean? Yes, um, you know they're being taken advantage of their oh the performers. But um, I feel

fine saying that. Um. But you know, it's like it's they when they were sticking with me through even that it's kind of just like, okay, that's really it's good. But also there's that thing of like you don't want to disappoint them when they've been riding with you through the whole. It just means it'll feel so good when it's it fine, Like first of all, I feel like you you've you've acquired so much, but also like they see that they see how much like they saw you

on the Tonight show. They came to the fucking taping and like they come to ship like they've seen it, they've seen it in action. They see you in that moment in your element, and they they are when so proud. It just means that once like a great thing happens,

it'll just feel so good. It feels nice to like because all throughout my twenties I couldn't get the nice gifts like now I have any money at all, So like I got like I got tickets from my dad and my mom to see Hamilton's and I was like this pack it up get all yeah, you know, but your dad loves stand up like like what, like what's that thing? Like like that play out? Well, I think everybody was shocked when I started doing stand up just

because that was never a thing that I wanted to do. Um. They never were not supportive though, they were just confused, very confusedly like oh, okay, well go do that. But my parents are very supportive, like if anything ever happens, like they posted on their facebooks like they're really supportive. But I know, like if I ever were to make it, like my dad would put out like an AUM instantly, like you'd have like an R and B career or something like that. Also wanted to be famous, so like

that's the type of energy. I'm like, they're very supportive, but like I have a feeling like my dad would try to like become a part of the show like somehow. So yeah, it's good ship though, it's funny. My family is funny. So I just yeah, my mom's really supportive to like she's great. Yeah, she's they they just were really confused like okay, you're doing this because I like Hobby jumped a lot before, I think, so I think they're mostly happy that I stuck with anything for any

amount of time. And they're like, god, bless, Like, if that's what you're gonna do, focus on that and we'll see how it goes. And to them, that's the most meaningful thing, like she's sticking with it. Fine, Yeah, not not fine, but like great, you know, it's like that's all they want. Well, guess what Melani tweeted, Yeah, so it's go and there's a breakout series show on. We're in New Orleans. Um, but it's time for I don't

think so, honey. So I don't think so honey. Is that segment we have when we take one minute to rail against something in pop culture that we are hating right now? Um are live shows. We are going to be on tour. You can get tickets online. We're gonna be in Portland, Seattle, Vancouver, San Francisco, Philly, Boston, d C, Houston, Austin, and Alice Hunt and Portland is coming back just for us.

Portland's gonna be right right, just for us. Okay, the girls are looking girls, So I have yeah, I have one. I alluded to it in the beginning of the episode, and I am ready Okay, this is Matt Rodgers is I don't think so, honey. His time starts now. I don't think so, honey. When I'm at a bar and I go to order a drink and they say, they say they need to see my I D with my debit card, when I've already had my I D checked at Okay, why do we need to keep checking? I

don't think so, honey. So if you're gonna have a coach check and I have this big, gass wallet, I put my wallet in my coat and I checked the coat. There needs to be signed up if you're gonna need your I D at the bar, that can't be a surprise at the bar. And you know that I have lots of little issues with bars, specifically always I have a problem with the patriots. Whenever the patrons get their drink and they stay parked at the bar, that's usually

a problem I have with them. But no, I'm flipping it around on the bartenders now and the managerial staff, because guess what, honey, you already checked my I D. You can see on my wrist right now, this stamp. That means why do you need more information? So then they told she said to me, you're gonna have to go to the coacheck and get your I D, which I've already waited at the coach check for thirty minutes. No, honey, I don't think so, honey. Clearly eighteen year old couldn't

grow this fine mustache, So give me my drink. It's security theater, it's bullshit, and they just they just want to make it seem more official by checking or who cares? And I was like, I literally said to the girl. I was like, she goes I to see your idea with a debit cart and I said to her, I was like, I mean I checked my ideas in my coat. Do I really have to go get it? And she was like yes. And it was the most frustrating example of someone doing their job at all costs. I'm like,

and you know what, we also stuck. She already poured the Jamison. Ginger was like, I was like right, and I was like, you should have been like, well, now you look like a fucking iddie because you're gonna have to pour that. I was like, are you really gonna waste that drink? She goes, you need to get your I D. And I was like, you know what, I respect that you're doing your job, but really, this is dumb. I was like, this is so aggressively dumb that, like

my idea was checked honestly on the way in. Fully, I have this as proof I didn't speak in there. There was a huge line. He was so annoying. So then I had I had to have a dear friend buy me a drink. And because I was going to be a big for you to and not be for dear friends, right friends, pest culture number eighty nine, Thank god, for dear friends. That's that's when you know you have a writer die. All right, So this is okay, you're being pressure. No, but my my, my head is going

blank for some reason. Okay, um, yeah, okay, okay, this is I don't think sometimes you need to just take a second. This is I don't think so honey, And it's time starts now. I don't think so honey. The fact that I couldn't find corn starch and I had to go to three different store, no, this is okay, this is this is culture. Corn starch. Corn Starch is not fucking It's not a fucking delicacy in this town. And if I want to thicken a stew with the

corn starch slurry. Why is it so fucking hard for me to go and to go to every Boo within a half mile radius and to go to two different Trader Joe's and then to find corn starch at thirty seconds. I mean, I don't want to have to give Target any more money than they already have. That they already own all half to Pete the huts of the world, and so I don't need Target to get any more if my money everyone's is freaking out about Amazon. Target is the next big monster. All you have to be

careful for Target. I don't know to see you his name, but we we do have elon musk on our hands, and they're going to kill us and eat us with their teeth. And that's the one minute. I believe her

name is Miss Target, Miss Target. Target love that. I will say this, It was worth it to get whatever you needed for that stew, because I actually tasted that stew that you and they made a very I had stew this whole thirty beef stew at Studias and it was the stew it need salt, and I proceeded to put salt and I added some crisp kosher crystals and honey, if you think that just being on Whole theater it doesn't mean you can enjoy food. Let me tell you beef stew get to know it. Thank you, But I'm

happy you have eventually found corn Star. That was a very interesting I don't think so corn chart is technically not Whole thirty compliant. But where am I going to find fucking arrow root powder? Yeah? I'm only gonna use once in Yeah, I was almost gonna do. I don't think, so honey that food goes bad because it's literally it's like I can't eat all these eggs in three days. Yes, you're right, even six, okay even. I think we're gonna go with Rebecca first and Insania. This is Rebecca. I

don't think so honey. Okay, it's gonna be popular, but I'm gonna don't do it. Okay, this is Rebecca. iOS. I don't think so honey. Her time starts now. Okay, I don't think so honey. Marijuana decriminalization, whoa, because what a tease? Do you know what I mean? It sounds like it's bad, but I have my reasoning. It's it's fun boy talk. What Clomo is doing right now? The headline was like he's teasing, taking the first steps of

possible eventually maybe making a criminalization a priority. I know, fun boy talk when I hear giving us crimes to keep hope, like just make it legal and explains people's records, like what are we doing? You know what I mean? Yeah? Also, I don't think so, honey sidebar Andrew Cuomo because I thought Chris Cuomo the hot woke one on cee any with his son, that's his brother. Like how embarrassing? You

know what I mean? Like I'm embarrassing. Yeah, Like that's sad to me, So side, I don't think so, honeytons. And also like it's just like an open relationship with law. Tell me if I'm going to jail or not, you know, jail, make the rules clear. Everybody should get what they want five seconds. Hey, hey, hey, smoking it every day and there you go, and that's one minute. It's open relationship

with laws. Also, here's the thing. If we decriminalize it, which obviously it should be, I think it should come on. But is it gonna get extremely expensive? I don't know. Is it important? It's like a birthday situation where you just gowing with seventeen dollars store man, and you don't have to deal with those weird weed people, like every comedian says it. But my guys extremely flaky and I'd

like to have sort of like sucks. And I haven't called him in almost a year because I just go and pick up stuff in l A. Honestly, what the way to do what I just did was I bought I spent dollars one time instead of like having to call the person like every three weeks. I've stockpiled and I feel like I'm on a new level financially do I do smoke every day? So why not just get it all now? I walked to a friend's house sometimes and I just buy weed of that person because I

don't know any friends. I will say, I don't think so, honey me because the last time I bought weed was during our snowstorm and I realized Dave Zoni was over. We were at my apartment and I was like, I think I don't have any weed. He was like, are you fucking crazy? And it was this situation of like, am I legit going to call my last year? This was this was like you months ago, your guy when

there's a storm, girl, excuse me. She did come and um she was like, I'll be there in an hour and a half and I was like, yeah, sure, And she finally showed up, and I felt so bad because she goes, I was really hoping you guys would be girls. I was like, oh, I promised that we're nice. We're also gay, and she goes, yeah, but get you guys don't have tampons. And I was like, oh, she riding around those streets, but I felt so bad. I was like, Okay,

there's a store right down the street. She goes, yeah, Okay, give me the money so I can go. I was like, okay, here, hundreds of dollars to put it in. We don't think about the struggles of our drug dealers, and I think we need tom It's not criminal, it's not. It's not it's decriminalized, but it's not illegal, and they are out here serving us. Yeah, for us, honestly, it would be a drift. And I was like, very thankful that she came through because let me tell you that the snow

was coming down. You were being irresponsied, and I was like, I hate that I'm doing this, but I just need weeds so bad. It's not like they're not getting the job. Yeah she was. Yeah, it was like somebody's got to be next on the list, and me, come, I've got a lot of calls. But you but you were sucking bike career for Yeah. But if I'm saying that, I'm saying you were talking about how it's it's a hard job, and yeah, like I was risking my life a Grubhub

and I was delivering sandwiches. So it wasn't like illicit substantism, Class one drugs or anything. It was just like lunch. But it was like high risk, low return, Like I'm biking from my life in the streets of downtown Chicago for tips, and it just was not a good look. And it was a year of the Year of the the Polar Vortex, which I quit, and we just talked about this, but I vanished to l A to go to a

festival and just didn't come back four months. Yeah, but once you get a little taste of l A, at least the weather, it's like, Okay, why do I live anywhere else? And then you meet the people and you realize why, whatever, I'm kidding, that's an easy I'm gonna be there for two months Okay, so this is similar to today, so please, this is it's going to be incredible. This is sons. I don't think so, honey. Her time starts now. I don't think so, honey. People who like

room Termini, porta bella taki all dirt dust. The ship comes from dirt. It's literally fungy guy. However, you say that, and as the saying goes, you are what you eat and side notes. Side note, I would never slander magic mushrooms. If you are going through something personal right now and you need to sit in a room for six hours, there at the lines in your hands to do it. But everything else, you might say this undercuts my argument, But I say, nay, Oyster, Penny bun, hand of the wood.

What kind of names are these? Some of these are poisonous, mind you. And I would not have a problem with mushrooms if people didn't sneak it into food, but a pizza and people will say to me, pick it off, just pick it off. Anything that has been sullied awes by the taste of mushrooms. You can taste it. I don't think so, honey. Waiters who asked me, are you really allergic to mushrooms? And I say it, and it's like I have to say it. Uh, and eggs are

gross to compline me. Oh my god, you can just an element of that whole dirty mushrooms and mushrooms are great, and then mushroom, great mushroom. Right now, I'm gonna go thank you. Now we know that the lines are drawn. Well, I know this about you because here's the thing. Are you vegetarian pasctarian? Right now? So here's the thing. There's only so many things you can eat, you know what I mean, And you don't need eat People in your

asshole about not eating mushrooms. Yeah, mushroomburger, No I am. I'm so on the fence about mushrooms. But Portobello Bert mushroomburger disgusting, thank you, almost nightmare. There's nothing you can put on it to get rid of that taste in the middle of the texture. It's like I'm biting into an organ a raw from the inside out. Yes, oh boy, But can I tell you some of the best experience of my laf on mushrooms. We did it together and

we were in a room for and we talked. You went to the park and went into like, oh yeah, child, pink energy and her father blue and it didn't she their coats and she was on mushrooms. There was no good. Thing is it wasn't your first time doing it, but it was we've done it before, but like a week t version is not a strong and we hate them. But she had already done them, done them, so it's my When I got him, I was hitting me. Walked outside.

I literally screamed. My neighbors looked because our outside look like a postcard everything. I was gone, like if she hadn't been there to like drag me home from that kid. I was really like it was but it was so good. We worked out so much you just cry, you laugh. We couldn't figure out how to work netflix like and that's beautiful, that's beautiful. We've done asked everything looks like a pain. I recommend I would like to do mushrooms. But the thing is, I'm just nervous. I'm more nervous

about mushrooms. They feel more chaotic to me and unpredictable. What it is is, honestly, the first time you do it, do it with like sandwich right or something. Because for the first hour, my stomach hurt like ship and I was like no, no, no no, second time when you eat them. I was with her and I'm on the couch in a ball, like, but that's because I do. But then the next time I did it, I eate it with food and it's fine. But like other than that, it's lovely,

like it's very I only did one sixteenth. Also, I've never done a full Eighth's well me all I needed si yeah, do a sixteen knock out six hours a year, um, And then I also would not like when I did it. I did with my boyfriend. He wanted to go to Like I'm like, you want to stay in there, but like you want to make sure it was cold outside, and it was like you know what I mean, you want to make sure you're uncomfortable and freaking out that you can calm down, you can't be around other people.

That The way I describe it is it's got to be like a video game level. It's like we're in a place that we can explore, but it's finite. Like we went upstate. We had like an upstate house, so it was like there was the yard, there was the trees in the backyard, there was a little hammock, there was the house, and that was it. It was big enough that we can explore, but it was still like control. Feel like that there it Upstate House. Honey, that's a

little Yeah, Okay, we're gonna do it. We can do it. I am obsessed with this. It's an obsession worthy episode. Talked deeply about career stuff and just a personal history and got into college personal friendship histories, talked about experience with parents, parental We discussed the immigrant narrative. This is a great episode. Everyone listening, Um, I mean, check out more of Rebecca and Sanya stuff. They're they're two of our favorite people in the whole city. You guys do

every time. Honestly, I was, and I did. I was like I slipped into Julia. I was like, you know, um, Bone and I should be on an episode together at least put all over Because I did that made every panelist was great. But I did think this was the three This was honestly the two episodes I did. It was like Regina King episode it was and shout out

Katherine Cohen and shout out James. Yeah, the true share we comedian has ever been to Chicago Woods there you go nationwide, you have a lot of options of things to Do on February nine. You can come see us in Portland or if you're in New York, can go see Rebecca at Caroline son Is in There you go. We love it and um where you finished every episode with the song shake quicker work, Now kill yourselt Shake quicker work, now kill yourse out, Shake quick work, now

kill use out. We're not saying do this, it's big free to This has been a Forever Dog production executive produced by Brett Boham, Joe Cilio, and Alex Ramsay. For more original podcasts, please visit Forever Dog Podcasts dot com and subscribe to our shows on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Keep up with the latest Forever Dog news by following us on Twitter and Instagram at Forever Dog Team and liking our page on Facebook.

Hey there, congratulations, you made it all the way through that episode. We did not think you were going to be able to do it. Yeah, anyway, now that you did, Michael and I have a pretty cool surprise for you. We're gonna get high. Come on that joint, baby. It is not what we do. Little Randie is a podcast about books. What it's not about getting stoned. I thought were I thought we had a special treat. You don't

even smoke weed, you freak out. But we had a special treat or surprise for the listeners who made it to the end of We're going to play him a clip from our show. Not how would we get everybody high? That doesn't even say I didn't, I'm I don't really listen to podcasts. I didn't. I didn't know. If that they I'm guessing they had the technology to do they don't. That's such a weird now, Colin, We're not gonna get anybody high. We're not getting high. I actually think that

you shouldn't be promoting that on this podcast. But if you want to get high at home, sure do it. But we're not promoting it. But that's neither here nor there. We're gonna play a clip from our podcast with Josh Sharp, so just listen and enjoy that and get high. What And with that in mind, we'd like to take the pressure off of us for a second and introduce you to the reader of today. He's a recent n Why you drop out and we know that means a recipe

for success. Oh yes, indeed, dropping out of school and into our hearts. We have young novelist and self proclaimed genius, Clint Temples, for you enjoy. Hello. My name is I'm Clint Temples, and um this is a piece of short literature that I call the story. There was once a girl with deep brown hair who lived with her grandfather

in a small cabin up state. Though her parents, who had been professors, died eight months before in an automobile accident while returning from an academic conference on the viability of the universal basic income, the girl was of a happy sort, her optimism only fading to melancholia on nights such as these, when the rain shuttering at the windows

made her wish for her mother's arms. Her grandfather, a wiry man with a great beak of a nose, had just climbed the old stairs to her attic bedroom when he heard her quiet sniffles. Is everything all right, he asked the girl. I'm just having trouble sleeping. She said it's hard sometimes. Yes, I know, said the grandfather. Maybe a story would help. The little girl nodded, and so

the old man began. There once was a girl with deep brown hair who lived with her grandfather in a small cabin up State, though her parents, who had been professors, died eight months before in an automobile accident while returning from an academic conference on the ability of the universal basic income. The girl was of a mostly happy sort, her optimism only fading to melancholia on nights such as these, when the rain shuddering at the windows made her wish

for her mother's arms. Her grandfather, a wiry man with a great beak of a nose, had just climbed the old stairs to her attic bedroom when he heard her quiet sniffles. Is everything all right, he asked the girl. I'm just having trouble sleeping. She said, it's hard sometimes, Yes, I know, said the grandfather. Maybe a story would help. The little girl nodded, and so the old man began.

There once was a girl with deep brown hair who lived with her grandfather in a small cabin up State, Though her parents, who had invented the soda stream, were murdered eight months before while leaving up Papa John's pizza in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The girl was of a mostly happy sort, her optimism only fading to melancholia on nights such as these, when the rain shutting at the windows made her wish

for her mother's arms. Her grandfather, a wiry man with a great beak of a nose, had just climbed the old stairs to her attic bedroom when he heard her quiet sniffles. Is everything all right, he asked the girl. I'm just having trouble sleeping. She said, it it's hard sometimes. Yes, I know, said the grandfather. Maybe a story would help. The little girl nodded, and so the old man began. There was once a girl with deep brown hair who lived with her grandfather in a small cabin up state.

Though her parents, who had been Professor's, died eight months before in an automobile accident while returning from an academic conference on the viability of the universal basic income, the girl was of a mostly a happy sort, her optimism only fading to melancholia on nights such as these, when the rain shuttering at the window made her wish for

her mother's arms. Her grandfather, a wiry man with a great beak of a nose, had just climbed the old stairs to her attic bedroom when he heard her quiet sniffles. Is everything all right, he asked the girl. I'm just having trouble sleeping, She said, it's hard sometimes. I know how that is, said the grandfather with the trouble sleeping. Is that why you sleep on the roof? The little girl asked, yes, that's why. That's why I sleep on the roof. I see, she said, and no other reason.

He yelled. Okay, cool, fine, said the girl. Will you tell me a story, said the old man. A story? Oh yeah, sure, right, story. Yeah, oh, I can do that, And so the old man began. There once was a girl with deep brown hair who lived with her grandfather in a small cabin up state. Though her parents, who had been Professor's, died eight months before in an anim will be accident. While returning from an academic conference on

the viability of the universal baking a seam. Come the girls, of a mostly happy sort of optimism, only failing to melancholy on nights such as these, when the rain shuttering at the windows made her wish for her mother's arms. Her grandfather, a wiry man with a great beak of a nose, long pointed and yellow like a beak. This nose like a big fucking beak. Her grandfather, the man he just climbed that had just climbed the old stairs to her attic bedroom when he heard her quiet sniffles.

Is everything all right, he asked the girl. I'm just having trouble sleeping. She said, it's hard sometimes. Yes, I know, he said, scratching at his big fucking beak nose. Maybe a story would help, sure, Grandpapa, But what's happening to you? Whatever do you mean? He asked, your nose it's turned into a beak like that of a bird, And sure enough it had, the nose ossified into a large yellow beak. Squawk, said the grand The squawk, squawk has feathers, deep blue

and red feathers began to shoot out of his back. Squawk, he said, squawk, why grandfather, the little girl cried, You're turning into a bird, a real fucking bird with a giant fucking beak. It's amazing. His feet now claws. He reached over and stood atop the girl's wrists. Then he flapped and flapped until he started to rise over the bed, clutching the small girl beneath him, his great wings swatting at the walls. He tilted his feathered crown forward and

burst beak first out of the large attic window. The girl hung below him. As they made their way up higher and higher, until the house was but a speck below them. She looked up, thank you, Grandpapa, thank you, thank you for transforming into a big fucking bird and taking flight. And then the old man let forth a mighty squawk, spread his wings wide, and the two sword off into the warm night air, floating and finally free the end. What a lovely story, said the little girl.

But I must ask was the grandpa in that story, the one who turned into a bird? Was he supposed to be you? Me? The old man replied, whatever do you mean? I mean, said the little girl, Then maybe it is you who wants to be a bird. I'm asking a part because I know you like to sleep on the roof. I told you about that already. I just do that because I like it, no other reason,

he shouted. Well, sure, said the girl. But the way in which you, you know, chew my food up for me, and our winter foods, our winter trips down south, it just all makes me think that maybe you want to be a bird for some reason, which, to be honest, is sort of a ridiculous notion given the your grown man. And so if you actually want to be a bird, well, I don't know. Maybe you're just crazy. Okay, storytime is over, said the old man. I'm turning off the lights. Now

it's time for bad. He pulled the chain on the lamp and all was still. I know you have to use the ladder in my room to clime on to climb onto the roof, Grandpa, said the little girl. So you can turn the lights back on and get it if you want. Okay, I'll turn them on just because I want to turn them on. How about that, said the old man, fumbling for the chain. There we go there on the lights are on. Oh and look it's the ladder. I need to get on the roof. You know.

I better go up there to check on some of the tie and the roofing and other things. Not to sleep, just to you know, check it out. I just you won't mind turning the lights off once I'm up there, you know, just in case I take a while. No, Grandpapa, of course, not all right, he said. Here I go up the ladder to check on the tiles. Night night. I'm almost to the top, Shutting the hatch behind him. The old man sat down on the roof, pulled his knees to his chest, then looked up to the sky

and quietly sobbed. A pigeon landed on his shoulder, and the man gently scooped the bird in his palms and pulled it close. Not today, he whispered, It's not running down his face. Maybe someday, but not today the end. What a sad story, said the little girl. I feel sad for the man in that story who told that other story, the man who wanted to be a bird. Yes, the old man replied, but sometimes it is the sad stories that give us comfort, that remind us of how

lucky we are to have what we have. Your parents left you with a great fortune, and you should take solace in that. She nodded, Yes, but I still miss mom and pop. She paused, Grandpa, do you think they'll ever find who murdered my parents? And front of that Papa John's Pizza and Bridgeport, Connecticut. The grandfather thought for a moment, no, I'm almost certain they will not. He drew in a labored breath. I was very careful. The girl looked up at him. You were what I said,

I was careful. He stood up over her bed. And what's more, I'm not like the old man in that story, pretending to be something he's not. It's time you know who I really am, little girl. I murdered your parents outside of that Papa John's Pizza and Bridgeport, Connecticut. The girl pulled back towards the wall. You what, why would you do that? Because I wanted that soda stream money, and with them gone now only you stand in my way. In one quick motion, he removed the knife from his

sleeve and plunged it into the little girl's chest. He pulled her close to his face and whispered, let me hear you squawk before you fly away, a little bird. Let me hear you squawk. Stop, stop, stop, The little girl shouted. I don't like it when the stories turned scary. I'm sorry if I gave you a fright, said the old man, catching himself. I just thought a little adventure

story might take your mind off things. Yes, but a story about a man who tells a story of some other man who lies, and yet another story is a way of revealing that he's murdered a little girl's parents when I'm here sad about my parents. What are you thinking, you old kuk? And what was all that bird stuff? You're right you're right, the old man replied, standing up from bed, I guess I just got away from myself. He backed out of the room. Good night, It won't

happen again. He opened the bedroom door and tumbled into the dark, empty vacuum of space. The house fell away from him, and he slowly drifted, naked now to his boxer shorts earth. Far off in the distance, a chorus of male voices, hundreds of them, came at him from every direction. You've done well, my good and favorite son. Squawk. Know that you are good and strong, and that your

cock is mighty and powerful. Squawk. And as he crossed into the black hole, his every atom splitting into more energy than powers our sun, his frozen form on the event horizon, trapped for eternity, was that of a man, arms spread wide and reaching for something greater. The end. I don't get it, said the little girl. Come to think of it, said the old man, me either. He gave her a kiss on the head. A nightingale landed

on the window sill. He pulled out an old luger he'd stolen from a Nazi during the war, and then he shot the bird dead. The end, Hey a little reminder better help dot com forward slash ding dong. That's where you can go and put in a little promo code to get therapy online fast. Now. Better help makes it easy to connect with licensed professional counselors who are caring professionals who specialize in the issues that you want

to talk about. We're talking about depression, stress and anxiety, trauma, grief, self esteem and other issues that we're all kind of dealing with that you know, we want to reach out and get some help for. And you can connect with your counselor in a safe and private environment using better help dot com slash ding dong of course, yes, slash ding dog. If you want to use you know, our promo code and get temper sent off, you would use

the promo code ding dong. We just wanted to stop in here in the middle of the episode inside and just say that. So schedule secure video and phone sessions or texture therapist, all included worldwide, and you can start communicating and under twenty four hours. Yeah, and maybe you can even marry. We've been through this. You can't do that. It's not appropriate, it's not a therapist unethical. What if they're hot? Should I get another one? Yeah, okay, better

help dot com forward. Last thing though,