“Gas Me Up, Lil Bro!” (w/ Joanna “JoJo” Levesque)

Look Mayer, Oh, I see you my own and look over there is that culture. Yes, lost cut Ding Dong lostistas calling what I chose to do with my hands I was in raised my hands up like a vida in our news space.

I mean very appropriate. We have a Broadbay legend among us today. Welcome, welcome.

Oh, this is when I went to the wrong one while I'm finding our footing here and what is essentially a NewSpace that really says we're in New York.

We're next to the Port Authority. Like, it doesn't get more New York than this. It's giving Oliver and Company. It's giving true New York.

Yeah, when you say, I would say it's given to New York. I've been so happy to be here. In fact, I was telling Bowan off air, characters from the past, characters from the past of the podcast have sort of come back into.

Play, and you better believe it took me two seconds to guess who it was and I was correct.

Yep, y'all Big Bro is back. Last night I met up with Big Brother. You met up with him. I thought he just like rolled into the chat or something. Big Bro came by The Bro rolled through. No, and I gotta tell you there was a reason why he's a legendary man on this podcast. That man. So basically, for those of you who are joining last College later in life, we went to we were in.

Fire Island a few years ago and then Matt I was not there for it. I got there a couple of days late. Matt comes back home from a night out and tells the house of his escapade with someone named Big Bro and how they had something they were doing stuff by the river.

There's no river on Fire Island, Fire Island, Knights. I was taken by a man who referred to me as Lilbro, and so by transit of property, he had to be referred to as Big Bro. And that was the sort of let's just say dynamic when I was taken down by the river which was really the bay, and had pretty incredible sex. And I have to say, years later in the UNIFOL Alert twenty twenty four, better, wow, even better.

Always that's always what you want, Like sometimes it's not a given that it's an upper trajectory.

Sometimes you know it's the worst when you have like what we're gonna call like mythological sex with someone that becomes part of the cannon in your life. You're like, wow, remember that, and then you would visit it later and it's flop.

Yeah, that's happened. If it happens every day, it happens every day. It's actually real culture number nineteen.

It happens. It happens every day.

Now, I have so many questions, like how did the conversation sort of strike?

He texted, He said, are you in town? I said, I sure am. Saw you at the Open and a center. At the Open, we actually went to the one. Yes, let's tradition to that out of this like sort of we had a we had a great weekend variety.

See our guest and Mulamer's the musical Run Don't Walk at the Al Hirschfeld.

And you know, I got us the best seats in the house. And this actually is a real it's a real tip to everyone out there. If you ever can buy tickets to a broad musical and the first row of the mezzanine is available, grab those seats because I like to see the whole production. Of course you want to, and this production is a production.

Oh no, the mezzanine is giving you have the titular mulan on one side, on house left, and then you have the elephant elephant, the titular elephant from the Love medley on house right. Wow, I didn't list so many titular things a lot. It's a very titular show.

And some tits around, thankfully, some beautiful Broadway bodies. Let me tell you if you want to see what we refer to as stacked people dancing about and I'm sorry to objectify our guests this way, but gorgeous, gorgeous, stunning, sparkling diamond for body tea, body tea, voice tea, acting tea tea.

Oh my god, we were so sid well, we'll bring her into this later, but we fully insulted our guests in a way because we like went to her dressing room and we're like, oh my god, your acting was so good, so grounded, And then we left We're like, no, she's fully been in like storied, storied actor Aquamarine RV Like are you kidding?

Where we like, oh my god, you're acting was incredible, because well, here's the thing. When you are blessed to be one of the great singers of your generation, that's sort of going to be the thing that like, that's the headline the representation. First of all, can we just take the representation and it matters, But the reputation of our guests singing voice, let's just say it precedes her because first of all, go back.

With me in time. Oh, I know this is mortifying her, but like, this is just how it is. I remember exactly where and when, and this is what I'm gonna say. I was an information processing class.

I had an older friend, this girl that I You ever have a class with someone and they become your friend in just that class because you have nothing else together. Yeah, So I was in information processing learning how to type on home Row. We all know Homeow home Row is one of the great girls. Whatever, it's on the keyboard. So I'm learning how to type to get the maximum words permitted. And I'm next to my new friend, Jasmine, and she turns to me and she was like, do

I was on the top level of our cafeteria mm hmm. That's mockey Hill High School, and I saw a picture of her, and then I listened to the song yep, and I was like, holy fucking shit.

I knew growing up.

I was like, there's gonna be a day when, like outside of like kids programming and like kids TV shows, like there's gonna be someone our exact age, yep, who's gonna pop the fuck off? Like I knew this innately as a kid. And there she was, you know what I mean, Like that was like the first person.

And it got better because then I got the album and I was obsessed with every track. We have to talk about Breezy because it gets talked to about in the book, and that's so funny. We must get into it. I can't even believe her here, baby, it's you. We were just having one of the great songs at all time. Forget about too little, too late. I'll never forget like what people think people like sort of like singing in on the cross country bus to go to meets and

Just about how it's made about like what inspires musicians, like the way it's collaborative, Like this is also grounded in like this beautiful realism. There is also so soulful and devastating but inspiring and uplifting, Like it's everything. I have not had this feeling about a memoir, say well, hold on. It was like, oh, like this is like a friend reading like talking to me and telling me about their life, but then not since meeting Mariah Carrey, I.

Was gonna say the same thing. This calls some reading

Joliv God, I'm on Lost Coach.

You fully are on Lost Coach, and it's our honor. It's you, guys.

I'm honored. Thank you so much. That was so cool to hear you talking about the book because it's one thing to write it, and now people are going to start reading it, and it's just just like blowing my mind. So thank you so much for taking the time and saying those nice things about it.

Truly incredible and like all the way up until the last page, it was just so so beautiful and the way you even wrote about it, Like I'm on Waikiki Island in New Zealand right now typing this setting it to my editor, and I was just like there was just this like momentous like it was on the precipice of something. It's like she's about to share her story, and like you're someone that we've talked about on the podcast since the beginning many times.

Really well, I said, I've been a fan of ever since I heard you sing a note, and you have that you do have that with like people like in our generation, our age. It's like this nostalgia and I wonder how that feels as someone who's still like so young.

It is weird and dope to hear you guys talk about like the first time you heard about me or heard my music, because I remember the first time I heard Britney Spears, I was like backstage at the Huntington Theater playing Mustard Seed in a Midsummer Night's Dream, and I remember this cooler older girl was like brought in this big boombox or something and played baby one more time, and I'm like, that is fire? What is that?

Yeah? Is that?

And it's just crazy that people have those like moments with my music. Yeah, And I know it maybe is cliche to say that, even twenty years into my career that like it's crazy, but like, I don't know how else to describe it. It just is kind of weird that we're all the same age and we were growing up at the same time. And I don't know, and.

Yes, people can be like I grew up listening to your music.

It definitely makes me feel old and we're not young.

Yeah, we're not older older.

So I don't know, it's just it's weird.

The fact is that way, Yeah, isn't that? Isn't that crazy that? That's what the fact is?

That is the fact.

Does mid thirties started thirty three three? I don't.

I don't identify as mid thirties yet.

Okay, okay, how do you identify thirty three? You're you're like a month younger December.

Babymber, December twentieth, December twentieth, nineteen ninety.

That's right.

I'm okay with identifying as mid thirties.

I'm okay with it. I just don't yet I'm okay with it, but I did giving.

Do you know that it's always mortifying to think, like a couple of years after you've turned a certain age and you said at the time, like, oh God, I can't believe I'm assage. Like I remember being twenty five and saying, it's just such a weird age to turn. You now, I feel like I'm in the middle of something. And someone like truly in their mid to late thirties, was like, you need to stop saying that. And I remember at the time being like, why, it's how I

But the thing about you hearing this from people though, like I grew up on you. I grew up on you, Like you're just going to keep hearing that as we all get older, you know what I mean? Like this is just like such a huge important threat in your career and your story. It's like and that's what you build on.

Absolutely, it's amazing to have that. Ieah, wouldn't trade it for anything. No, hell yeah.

I mean we saw you the other night in Uge and by the way, your performance is so great and you.

Are the best audience members of all time.

We tend to be the best thing.

Yeah, yeah, it is.

I'm going to give us that. Okay, I'm going to give us. Okay. We're very engaged and we're very gay, so we're screaming.

We heard, we felt, we loved it.

We were clocking people like there's a scene that takes place on the Chanze les A and everyone's in these fabulous Yes, this was.

A gorgeous pretty sign is so beautiful.

That beyond like the story and the music and the and the performances, like there is just so much to be said about, like the production design of the show. Thank you for that, maximalist, sumptuous all of it. It's so fucking good. There was just a couple of people and I think we told Jay this just people in the back, like.

Just like we can't even do that. There was just a kisses from a long distance air kiss ye each other to each other. So my favorite thing to do is, and you're a theater fan, so you and like you mentioned in the book, like one of the great things is that you can go back to this show and a lot of these maximalist productions and you can just watch one ensemble member the whole time, to watch their choices and it's so fun. So we were hiding, we

Great vibe. And also how hot is everybody in the show. The ensemble is unbelievable. The legs on the guys who lift me and stuff. If we could just for a moment.

We got to talk about that one. Believe.

Yeah, I feel as though you're talking about Alec, who has big, beautiful legs. He's so fit, he looks like I don't know, like a.

Like a like a Marvel like a Marvel guy. It's like if Prince Eric was thick.

That's what I'm going to say about Alecs with those thighs.

Yeah.

So yeah, when I'm getting lifted all those times for night, I am in good hand. Yeah, I know they are in the gym just getting them reps int.

No, it's great. The glue bridges were not missed. No, not at all, but you so. I one thing I was concerned about was when you do descend yes as the Sparkling Diamond, which you do a couple of times, because then you come back as the iconic Kylie Minogue Green Faerry.

This is Kylie Minogue Green Fairy, Yes.

And so I was like, now, I hope she's okay with heights, because when you book the show, it's like, yeah, of course I'm going to be Satina amazing, and then they say to you later, well, you're gonna have to come down from one hundred feet every show.

Yeah, it was so scary the first few times. But I actually saw this show like two years ago when it was the touring production of it, so it was at the Pantagious in La I saw it and I was like, oh my god, it's so romantic and sumptuous something and just decadent, and it feels like you're inside a beating heart. I was so into it, and I saw Satine come down from the ceiling and I was just like, Oh, first of all, I'm like, I'll never

Oh sure, I'm not. Well, she'll calm you down, Okay, Yeah.

So it's for like heart palpitation. I get debilitatingly nervous. So I used to like, do it just a cheeky, just a touch of a xanax and just a tasteful mindful amount of mindful so I don't like. But then I was like, oh no, but what if I want to cry, It's not gonna let me, you know what I mean. So Panol for the first few shows kept me right love.

But now I don't need it anymore.

Oh no, put me up there, throw me down. I don't even need a harness.

Well you wrote this in the book, like I think it was your first show, a seteene coming down. You were like, not even the wings, like the ceiling about to come down, and you were like, what would sateen, how would the teen feel in this moment? Be like I've done this hundreds of times. I love people are coming for me. I need to be in that mindset.

Literally, people like I don't even need to try.

Like I would say spoiler alert, it's like a good like twenty ish minutes into the show before we even see you, and like I don't know, like the people that we were with, we were just like, oh my god, we're here for Jojo, like when she's coming out, like Aaron Debait everybody, David Harris. We love the whole cast, like the whole crew, but we're just like they really are like teasing it, teasing in such a cool way, like Joejo's about to pop out, and then you popped down.

You came down. And I do the same thing with Nicole in the movie that were you a fan of the movie.

Big massive fan one of my favorite movies, Baz Luhrman, I Love You and you know it. He came backstage and he like showed love and I'm like, oh my god, you like me. There's a character, such a character. Yeah, I love to like party with him, Like.

I bet that option is available to you hopefully one of these days.

He just seems, yeah, like such a character so interesting.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I remember the first time I ever watched that movie. I watched it with my mom. We rented it on demand, and the first half hour is so bad. Shit. The whole thing is like, but you come to appreciate its level of batshitness, like when you adjust to it, because what happens is you adjust to it and your senses are so overloaded, and then it falls into just being

Who really pulls at my heart string?

Yeah, that like shouty singing. I realize that's so earnest and beautiful.

Yeah, Ernest, Ernest, Yeah, the way that bas like his cuts and all that stuff. It's very frenetic, I think. And I love that about Elvis. I love that about The Great Gatsby. I love that style is just so so wild. And yeah, the songs. You hadn't seen it before the show, neither we had.

Why I took us to see the original broadcast and then COVID and the COVID happen.

Did you think that the songs would be different because the songs are different from the movie.

Yes, well, I knew that the songs would be different, but I did not. I think the show does a really good job of not telling people, like it's not in the Playbell like you know.

What I mean.

Like, I think it's a very good intention because it's like we should be surprised as an audience about what songs are being.

It's always so funny, like when the audience is like, oh, I see what you're doing there, Like when Aaron turns his head and it's like when I say shut up and dance with me or whatever, he looks and winks and they're like the audience was like, oh that.

Song, now, I love that. So there's the number in the movie which is Nicole Sing's one Day Fly Yeah, and that's fully replaced by Katie Perry Firework, Yeah.

Is that what it's replaced?

Pretty There's a scene there's a scene where like, you know, she is preparing I guess to the duke is however, and she sings about her desire to you know, transcend that place and do more. And I guess it's not exactly an emotional one to one, but it is like in that same place and Firework really it takes you there.

It does take you there. Her duke was creepy by the way like really really creepy and like in our show, he's very sexy Australian.

We were interested in him.

Yes, he is interesting.

He's interesting. Is interesting. Just someone hot is interesting. My favorite way not always the case.

They broke. Maybe I need to ask you whatever you want.

No camera, mychnology on the show. We really don't say much off camera here.

Okay, great. I really enjoyed the way that you talked about this mythical sex with someone because there are people and the way.

You read the book.

Yes, but into the canon of somebody's what I'm like, yo, because there are people who I've mit size. Yeah, of course that is great. I'm just gonna start thinking about and speaking about.

Things sometimes though that is dangerous to do because certain

You can summon that person.

I know, but don't you don't I know what you know what I'm talking about. It's like it's like sometimes it's like the access to your your vitality is sometimes not always like I know because you texted me when you listen to the episode last week and you said, because she goes when you said I need access to my penis to feel like Matt Rogers, she goes, well, yes, journey, yes.

Longer, I'm no longer and is cool for me, but I'm I loved it at the time, but I'm glad to not be on it anymore personally, of.

Course, But you said you were a situational girl.

That's what my therapist said. She was like, I think it's situational depression. But yeah, was prozac for a long time. And then I'm like, do I need to be on Should I be on this forever? Can I explore like natural things? Can I explore what happens when I work out consistently? And I actually try to take you like prioritize those things. And it was it was very good for me.

What's your journey now? Are you? Are you vegan? Like no, okay, God, I.

Just had a chicken finger. Yes, honey mustard babe.

Honey mustard Babe's so good.

So I'm not vegan, but I love to like cook plant based. I've been vegan before for a relationship. Actually, I think it's like really why I was vegan at the time. But then I was like, oh, I feel really good and it's hot, like if you're vegan together and you're like eating watermelon and large making each other food and like being naked and hot. It was just a moment and yeah, so no, I just I call myself a flexitarian flexitarian.

Would it be nice to have in someone you were with if they could do the vegan thing with you again, just like a new person.

I really enjoy the freedom of like when I go overseas to eat the cuisine of where I'm at in Rome, if you will. So I don't really desire to be vegan right now?

Are you with someone? Now?

I'm sorry, I'm this is like my roundabout way of being like are you Are you dating anybody?

I am not dating anyone seriously, but I am outside out there, I'm outside and it's so weird. I never thought that I would be on a dating app, but I'm on Ride.

Yeah, yeah, I read that.

Have y'all seen me? Oh okay, I haven't seen you actually.

Any women, but I see some women. If you go to the map, ye go y three to thirty three, not mid thirties, not.

Yet mid early so early, not identify thirties?

Is there really good changing?

And so when you're dating now is the intent? Because in the book you also talk about like the many intense relationships that you've had.

Oh many? And what are you calling me many many lovers?

No? I would say, you know what I'm saying. Yes, and so you know, the words love addict are even used love addicted. And I have to say I identified with a lot of what you said. And lately I've also been on the journey of like, I'm going on dates and it's to spend time with another person, And is that where you're at now? And have you adjusted to that in a way where you can leave the day and not overthink woo, Yeah.

I think that's the beauty of learning how to just go on dates, like what you said, and also like not just because I've jumped into relationships or I've been like this is good, I'm just going to go with this. And I've been a serial you know, two years, three years, one thing after the next, never really free falling, always having my hand on the next monkey bar man, if you will, you know what I'm saying, like the next thing, and always having that security and comfort of the next person.

It's one less thing to explain about yourself.

Yeah, And I just like the way music affects me and how I love it and how I like to like, you know, I grew up like harmonizing with my parents and like singing with them in the car and stuff, and I think there's something very comforting about that. But I question is the comfort a good thing or is it something that I should If it's familiar, should I go try to, you know, look for something else. So long winded way of answering your question is have I

Do you know what I mean? That's what I'm trying to Well, we try to sometimes say, well, you were the first person that said this, and I literally adopted it immediately. It was if I'm spending time with you, it's a big deal.

The serious Where did you get that? I think I just made it is a big deal?

Yeah, it is, isn't it?

And like, especially now for you, where you are feeling this like not easey, because it's never easy to lead a Broadway show, but it's like you are feeling this like like that is a stable center and anchor of your life, but you're you're now able to, like you were telling us earlier, like have a night out like once a week, you know, like that is protected time.

Though, yes, you know what I mean, precious, So if I'm gonna go out with somebody a fucking stranger loose, I don't know what hell these guys are Yeah. Yeah, then it's like it needs to feel substantial or like there's it's there's something of something there. So yeah, And I've never really had that type of stability of like

Well, you were saying how the last time you did Milan Rouge there was a moment when you went back to LA and how you were kind of nervous about this stability or other structure kind of just kind of being put on pause for a little bit, right, Like your life back in LA was just like catching up to you again and like hitting you in one like

But they're not. It has to do with the show, because you do love it.

I love it. I love it.

Yeah, And Connie's outside. I know.

Yeah, my aunt Connie and my cousin's girlfriend Billy were from South Boston and they just like they'll drive in so I get to see my family more often. I was in LA for fourteen years, and I didn't realize how far I actually was. Obviously it's three thousand miles away whatever, But like it just made me into a weirder person, Like I am weird, but like it made me into a certain I'm just good. I'm good on

Like.

I like how weird things happen here. I like the chance meetings that you might run into somebody on the street, and I like all the walking, and I like to taking the subway, and I like the community that I feel here, And yeah, I dig it. So I think I'm gonna explore some more neighborhoods see what feels like the right fit for me to come to Brooklyn.

I was gonna say, what about Brooklyn for you? What about what about like Carroll Gardens.

Okay, I did look at a place in Carroll Gardens. It was like a five story walk up and I'm like, I don't know I can do.

That's tough.

Yeah, that's really gonna be a no for me. Yeah, but maybe you can tell me some like cool spots.

I'm trying to put my on touch with my my gal, my broker.

But the iconic running Row, the iconic Ronnie Rose her second mention in a row.

Wow, really just another.

Mythological hurd that looms larned in the world of real estate. Not exact. Ronnie Rose is my.

Real estate big bro. She really gave me the business. But anyway, I'm feeling okay, so not really you know what, here's the thing to the Hirschfeld.

Yeah, but like I'm not going to move into the Hirschfeld, So like, of course, I don't know how long you know, yes, exactly, just like six more weeks there. But if yeah, if I'm gonna, I want to be a part of that world a little bit more than I don't know.

I think you are so where you belong on theater. I mean, I just think it makes sense because just because because you really are great and I mean like like you really are like.

Little broad to that that's the title.

That's another thing that up a little broke up, a little bro period period. I just can see you in so many roles. I can see you just doing a play, like I mean, like.

Great, yeah, because it would be so nice to not have to think about singing. Do you know what I mean? You guys, it'd be so cute to be able to go out and have a cocktail and then show the next day.

Couldn't be me, you know what, though, I remember, like I saw Adina Menzela in a play.

Oh yeah, it was face face Value or something whatever it was.

It was something.

She's doing another one. She has a new one coming out soon.

Is it a musical or is it a play? Because I saw her in a play and I was like, this is the idea of famously of singing yes, yes, and just see her in a play. I was like, you know, if you get connected to this part of town, like they'll think of you for all sorts of things, and I have to imagine that, like, well, obviously, like you're doing things outside of Mulin Rouge that are like exciting, but I do want to ask, like just in terms of recorded music, can you talk about the song Porcelain

Yes, I'm putting on new music soon. You are are going to lead with Porcelain, which is really cool. And I'm just so nervous because I just haven't put out music in a long time.

And it's been three years I think, so it.

Feels like it's been thirty three years. It feels like I've never put out music before. Actually it's so weird. But yeah, I'm really excited just to rip the band aid off and just put stuff out like Era New Era. There so much dope music out there, and I just want to play. I just want to beat, you know.

Fun We were saying the other day, you're really into the Sabrina album so good. I feel like you guys speak to each other.

You really just so funny and yeah, cute and horny and I'm obsessed.

I also, can she can map out a riff?

Yes? Oh? She is really? Like is she underrated as a vocal fast?

There was this video of her like just messing around with this Jasmine Sullivan song.

Yes, Oh, I've seen and.

Siss A commented like, I did not know you exactly.

And a lot of us fell that way. Wow, do you know Eric Vitro the vocal Coach's arian his vocal coach. I feel like, I don't know if you went over to the UK, Like he's been a part of her life for a long time, but he's also we worked with Sabrina. I work with him from time to time. He's great, He's in la if you guys every n it's amazing.

I feel like all three of all three of you that you just mentioned, Like I hear a ton of Ariana like in like all three of you guys' stuff. Like I thought Sabrina's album was just like not only was it incredibly well performed and well written, but it's just it's like a fusion of those two things. There's just a lot of personality. It feels like getting to know someone better. Yeah, and I think that on your

Yeah, it makes me feel really bad.

No, no, no, because I completely identify with that. Do you of course, being like, well, it means something to people, and so therefore it is like valid and important that you should honor as someone who who made it. But also, and I'm just talking about like a little four minute sketches, you know what I mean. Yeah, sure, let's say when everyone comes hate.

It's just like when someone just boils you down to a thing.

When someone just when you know, someone will just shout across the street like Iceberg, and I'm like, I don't.

Wrin is that it's happened?

What happened?

Yeah, I'm the girlfriend back.

You're so good in that though, Oh well, thank you so much, you really.

Are, but please tell me more about Well, no, it's.

Just I really And what what Matt's getting at is like it's it's like it's a constant renegotiation internally where you're like and it lands like the pendulum finally like stays at are we so lucky to be doing what we do? But like, I think you are so honest and vulnerable about how difficult a lot of these songs that you put out were because it was being dictated by all these other people.

Yeah, and that makes me feel a lot of ways, makes me feel like a little embarrassed because but not to where I'm like, you know, hanging my head down, you know, like it's just sha. I don't feel ashamed about it because I understand now like why I made decisions all throughout my life, like even ones that I'm like where I hurt people or wherever. But like as it goes with that, like it kind of just makes me really excited when I see artists that are just

I think.

And I just I always felt kind of alone, like when I was trying to fight for something. So then I because I was going through stuff in my personal life or family life, and I had like been in this wicked long lawsuit and I just had no more resources energetically or financially or anything. I just like felt

Because they happened to be right the first time. So get in the book, you discuss how you first heard Leeve get Out even as a twelve year old, and you're like, this doesn't feel like me, and I don't get it, and then you record it, you put your thing on it, and it literally immediately pops off. So then it's like it becomes a core belief. These people do know better core belief.

And it was no longer those people that were telling me. It was just other people that filled that place. So I was like, oh, even though it's not like Barry and Vincent, you know, making these these calls, it is other people who also have had success in that area. And because it's a core belief, they whoever, they are no better than me. And then those those songs that I compromised on, it just never popped off, like the promise was. I'm like, so then you just feel silly. Yeah,

Sure, I'm totally fine, totally yeah.

And then like Creature of Habit for example, which I like, don't care for that song. I'm so glad that I don't have to sing that. I'm a creature.

What the fucks, I'm a creature.

I'm a creature, and I just did Masked Singer. I'm like, honestly, I want to take myself off of this planet right now. This is insanity, But that was the recommendation.

We talk about climbing Cringe Mountain. I feel like the way you wrote about your time on the Mass Singer was I think kind of beautiful and sort of really yeah, heistic too, because You're just like, this is obviously like not where I thought I.

Was gonna I thought I was going to be doing.

But you've you've like crossed that fire and that crucible and like you can literally do anything, like no one can.

Tell you actually really enjoyed doing it. It was during it was twenty twenty or twenty twenty one, so I was like very much about getting a check as well, get.

The check and get out the use.

I really enjoy that.

Yeah.

So yeah, so it was cool. I got to sing songs that I wouldn't have Like I sang how am I supposed to Live Without You?

Michael Bolton, Major Major, By the way, your cover of Can't Fight This Feeling from Lisa Frankenstein, which came out this February.

Pea Williams director, Oh that movie a cult classic, instant classic.

It really like that that song you gave that song? Yeah, you really did, and you gave every song, but well, thank you. I mean one thing that I think was a really fun thing when it happened. And also it's really interesting to look back now that like Taylor has her tailor's versions and stuff. Is you re recording your

Their new songs, Yeah, and they are.

There were grown ass songs, grown ass voice the way you do me.

What am I talking about? How to touch a girl? I mean, how to touch her heart? But like I don't know, so you know, but.

How to touch a girl.

I mean, like it's really meaningful that it's like the song that you wrote, and it's like it's such a beautiful it's like Aretha, like this girl's in love with you.

It's so.

But even singing like keep on keeping On, which was like the song that I wrote by myself twelve years old from my first album, I was like really touched by thinking about my little prepubescentself walking around the apartment complex and like writing those lyrics and then to re sing them. It was I just even in just writing this book, in totality, I realized how very little I had actually taken the time to try to remember because I didn't want to.

Wow, that's really interesting.

I didn't give myself the time or space to appreciate how unbelievable my life is. It has been the things that I've accomplished, the things I've overcome, the to me, it feels like against the odds that I'm still alive sometimes, do you know what I mean? And so I'm like take the time and be like even the wisdom that I had at twelve years old to want to encourage myself and others and keep on keeping on, like that's precious Yeah, I'm like, oh my god, little Joe.

And that she was speaking to you twenty years later.

Yeah, she was still telling me to keep on keeping on.

I'm like, what is happening?

It was cool, But that's interesting to hear you say that, like you weren't sure what the capacity for your own memory was because like the detail is very granular and it's very specific in this book, and I wonder if that must have been And I'm sure it was like a very intense process of just like picking out these details of just like even like you talking about like how long this hallway in this Vegas hotel was. I was just like, yeah, that's so specific, Like that's tied

That was very visceral. That detail is very visceral because you can feel.

It, so like I imagine it was really deep, kind of excavating of like the details of those really intense moments.

Yeah. I mean, I've been in therapy for a long time now, so I have thought about some of the pain points in my life because I've wanted to work through them and try to learn something or grow from them. But like that moment in Vegas, for example, that is a hinge point in my life where it's also my mom's story, and I wanted to be really thoughtful and sensitive about the way that I told things that were her story and that are pain points for her too.

That's beautiful.

And the theme that kind of rang for me in reading this was like from the beginning, from your first appearance on Kids Say the Darkness things, which I loved as a kid too, like when they're product so I loved so sweet. But it's like from your first moments being on camera, it's like you were talking to a

God, thank you for saying it, Like, yeah, I really appreciate it because I had a lot of I did have fear about anybody feeling upset or like I put them out there. I look, I don't paint myself in like the rosiest you know light. I'm not a victim, nor am I a villain. I've been all things. Yeah, and a lot of people have been that in my life too.

So it's not like anyone can read this book and be like, Wow, she really went out of her way to make it seem like everyone was the bad guy good. That's not how I look at it.

That's what I look at it.

In fact, I think one of my favorite parts of this book is when you literally just tee it up by being like, I don't even know how to say this, I'm just going to say it, I cheated on awesome person, this this incredible person. And I think that that was actually one of the things that of course, like if you're on your like moral high horse or whatever like which people of course, undoubtedly maybe you might not see

This compulsions, saboteur compulsion inside which which I think you know, in the way that I think about addiction, addiction can be to stimulation, to loved substances, to getting outside yourself, to chaos too. I've flirted with all of that, you know what I mean, And I think that I was in such pain. There was such confusion and chaos in my life that it's as if I needed to poison this like one thing because I felt unworthy. It's it's like I wanted to test, maybe subconsciously, how much it's

Right?

You know what i mean?

The excuse is the human condition right now, It's like, that's that's what it is. It's like, it's irrational, it's selfish, selfish, but also it's informed by like and this is this is me. I'm not putting blame on these people, but it's I think it's a product of you being the on the receiving end of a lot of adults and people who are there, who are there to protect you, who made you feel maybe unprotected.

At times I felt I felt very alone.

You know, who looms very large in this book who I wanted to ask you about is Aliyah. Like from the very beginning, it feels like there's this moment where you go into Barry Hankerson, who was her uncle, yeah, and who was you know, the founder of Blackground, and you know he obviously is a complicated figure in the

I texted him when I got to that part, insane, but.

That in many ways it's insane because it's like you believe that he believed it, but also you also think this is a manipulation. Yeah, totally, because there's probably no no more, especially when that person is literally at that point like a specter, like they're not there. And her image is so brandished and utilized for this thing that is like you know, of the past, but also will always feel contemporary. It's like she is an ideal that

She's an icon. There's no one like she has inspired all the girls, myself included, but everyone who's putting out music around her time and since then, like she is the one, she's the prototype and an amazing actress and all around performer. She was about to go on and do the Matrix series, I think right like she was, and she had just done Queen of the Damned and you know, Romeo Must Die and all these things, like just unbelievable. I feel so much for her because of

With look make her look very grown.

Yeah, And there was this whole mystery and amazing thing surrounding her, like her oral was larger than life. In the marketing and the music and just everything was perfect. But now that I'm an adult, I'm like she was not protected. And matter of fact, I know a lot of things that I'll never say. And it's just crazy all the stuff that's come out with our Kelly, thank God,

It yeah, really rough.

And I feel like your connection to her is even kind of projected onto the way that like background sort of withheld both of your work.

For so long.

Yeah, So every label has to do a deal with the digital streaming platforms like that was going on when kind of the digital streaming revolution was happening and everything was changing and people were streaming music as opposed to like buying and stuff. So every label, no matter how big or small, needed to do individual deals with all the DSPs. My former label that Aliyah was on as well, and Tony Braxton and Timbland and stuff, they did not

And I could tell even then. I was like, this must be a thing of like there must be something fucked up going on. And the fact that you were doing that was like both I'm sure empowering for you, but also you have to know, so empowering and fun for your fans. Yes, yes, because I'm telling you, I

For both every seven years, they say.

Yeah, I heard of this. Well, yeah, you're your entirely, you're entirely cellularly replaced seven years. But I think seven is vocal. Well, but we're not. None of us are scientists the chemist story. No no, no, no, no, I'm not so close to a scientist. No no, no, that's not true.

But but yes, like the way you write about in the book is so honest too, because you're like, because now, I'm sure you love the way your timbre, but it's like, I'm sure with the changes as you age, It's like.

It was weird to accept, of course, because I mean my first album, I hadn't got my period, Like I wasn't.

It wasn't a woman's voice quite literally, yeah, not a girl.

I was a girl and also not yet a woman a woman. Yeah, so yeah, it was weird because I'm like, oh my god, people always going to compare my voice to a prepubescent voice. Yeah, and now I just don't care. I'm just too old for that. I'm too grown.

I will say like something about the first two albums not being on string, and but then the twenty eighteen albums being right, like there was like.

A little they rarely then put the albums.

On stream exactly, That's what I'm saying. So then then it made you look like, yeah, but whatever, I think.

I've just stayed with the twenty eighteen releases and I just prefer those versions, honest dead ass rediction down, like like conviction down, fiction down. I'm like, we're listening to Baby It's You twenty eighteen. I don't, it's it's just that's.

A little richer.

Well, it's just I think it's just better than the fact that you still like Baby It's You. I do. It's huge for us because we can't.

Dislike too Little Too Later or leave get out or anything.

All. I get what you're saying, but like you don't really talk about too little too late.

Because I wanted that.

I know.

It's that was my ship, like it was sent to my sidekick messenger or whatever, like the demo from her last name Cunningham, She's She's Super Dope, and then Billy Steinberg and Josh Alexander and it was sent to me and I was like, I knew that if I could get this song, that that should be my next single. To Little Too Late was everything everything.

I just have to shout out, not that kind of girl.

Eighteen just better than the original so much.

Yeah, First of all, the way you tore up SWV week like as a twelve year old kidding me, had absolutely no right. And I was not surprised that the girls were reaching out because that had to be who from that time was like a singer, singer that reached back out that you were especially gagged. It had to be a ton of people what like around that time when you get introduced.

To like Brandy, Yeah, I mean that was like no better than Chaka Khan. I remember, like I mean, oh, Whitney Houston, I mean, send me flowers to Square Garden, You're hitting no. When I was performing at like a jingle Ball or something, her and her daughter rest in peace. Then Bobby Christina, they sent me flowers, and I'll never forget that moment.

That is the ultimate validation as a sing.

It really is. Actually I don't need anything else, period.

But like there are so many wonderful moments of the Boat Too where you just talk about these like moments and these interactions with all these singers like Destiny's Child and oh yeah, even like going to Taylor's house to Selena and she was like keeping up with the lawsuit and so many things.

Victoria Monet. I love the Victoria Monnet piece because we just saw we we're a Victoria fans. Speaking of Big Bro, I think I think that she may have made an appearance last night sonically.

I love I have texted her this. I was like, I have had some of the moment of my life to her musical.

Oh yeah, I really have got this fucking moment that Arian positions We're big. Oh yeah, yeah, I mean, look, her hand on all contemporary R and B pop music is monumental. And we saw her at Coachella. She killed it.

Of course, she's a force. I could not be happier for her. No one deserves it more. And she's a mother.

Yeah, I know.

I'm just in awe just to.

See, like by the industry standards like someone quote unquote older or like up in years.

No, it's fire.

Yeah, she's amazing.

Mid thirties, looking better than anyone in the world.

Yep. And it's just it's aesthetic is so you can just tell it's someone who has, you know, for better or worse. I'm sure coming up, it felt like, when is it going to be my turn? But now that it's like she can have this fully realized like visual like sonic, you know, emotional identity and what she's doing, that feels really satisfying.

But that's the exact word that I'd use to describe it. It's satisfying because of all the thoughtfulness, the attention to detail. She spared no expense, she put everything into this. I love Jaguar one and two. I'm just so here for everything that she does. Like, I trust her as an artist so much, and she's such a beautiful person, and I know so many people that are in her orbit, and I've you know, known her a little bit throughout the years, and she's just it's so cool to see her.

I was with your former castmates Liz Gillies and Frankie Grande during those Grammys. We were at Ari's whenever named drop but then but watching her win, like Ari Burser tears. Yeah, Like when Victoria won the Grammy, it was just like everyone on Liz and frank it just everyone was just like this. They were just turning me belink. You have no idea, no idea. This girl deserves it more than anybody.

So yeah, so when she was on the fifth Harmony tour that I was on too, and just to see how humble she was, she was grateful for the opportunity just kind of doing her thing. I think she had written for them or was working with them, and and I'll never forget, you know, just heard how she just had a fan on her, just like a fan blowing her hair, and she learned how to do all the things behind the scenes. And it's just truly the best story ever.

I mean, as we're talking about her, like, it just makes me excited for Porcelain and for everything that's coming with you because because Sagittary Sun, Aquarius Moon, Yes, and that made sense for me, sad sad, because it made sense to me just because you have this thing in the book where you're like I was always told I was like left of center, that you always have these experimental ideas, and that's like, that's the Aquarius, I think.

I'm so inspired by everything that I see and the people that you just named, Like it's even I've been doing this a long time. It really fills me with a lot of energy to see that and to keep believing for myself too that like if you are true to your artistic vision, you are clear about it, like build it and they will come and the right people will come, and it can take time, but you know, just to keep that faith is.

Yeah, it's a long game.

It's a long game, and we're talking about the culture. I think it's time, asked Joe to the question.

Yes, I mean it is. I'm just like sitting here like and I'm just thinking about like all the times you were like all I wanted to do was do my vision and they stop me. And I was just thinking like about how authenticity is while people are truly responding to right now, and there's it's such a great time, Like no one can tell you or anyone now that like oh, R and B isn't what's in. That's not the way we should take pop. It has to be pop rock, it has to be pop dance or whatever.

Time and what is a genre even?

That's what I'm saying is it's like it feels like a really ripe time. And like, speaking of time, we'll go back in it and we'll ask you the question, ask what is the culture that made you say? Culture was for you?

Okay, I hope I understand this question correctly.

It's okay that you don't give.

You my interpretation. Diva's Live.

Thank you for anyone said it Diva's If they have, they haven't said it today.

Okay, I know that's right. That that was everything for me, Seeing like Mariah and Shanaiah and Shaka and Celine and Whitney and all of these women they used to do.

It every year. I was like, why did they stop? They have to do it again me?

That was everything for me. It made me feel so alive and I was like, oh, I want like a little bit of this one and this one, and like one day I want to.

Be like that talk about genres are coming together. I mean they represented everybody.

Was Bonnie right there. You know, it's just yeah, so cool, and I feel like now would be a great time to bring that back. I think amazing they did something I did like a Divas Live Chris this thing a few years ago, and that was that was sick. But really the heyday was in the late nineties. Yes, I was a little cherub, Yes, sitting and putting in my VHS tape, taping it and watching it back over and over again.

Yes, yeah, oh that was the That was truly the moment. I remember. It was like the first one they ever did. Mariah came out first and she did I think my

What not more than three short years ago. I was abandoned so very young, and so I took the shoes the shoes. Sometimes I couldn't even I often cried myself to sleep, so I had to keep on going, never knowing if I could take it, if I could make it.

She's bridging, and then.

At the end she is way lay yeah out. I had all the instruments and it's just like the drum, it's just percussion, but like everything roaring, she's just raw because she is preaching.

She is preaching me as like a six year old girl. Was like just I don't know why I needed that injected into my veins in that way.

But yeah, but Diva's Live was like giving you a fucking buffet, you know what I mean. That's what we need to bring back. It's like get all them on the same stage, and you want to know.

What to It created iconic moments in the culture, such as Selena and Aretha doing their sing off at the end. I reversial amongst the girls like Mariah like, you know, feel some way about it, I think, but like who won that though, I don't think we can confidently say there was a winner.

I hear you, but like, wasn't one of them kind of like just unaffected by it. Some were playing.

Think Selene was just in playful mode. I love her so much, so much for that. But then you could see some other ladies were like in reverent mode. Like Mariah truly was in reverent mode. She was like, you don't go up to Aretha and challenge and that's how I feel, right, And but Selene, I think maybe because like Selene maybe culturally didn't come up in a place of like, well she's Canadian, right and sings like a

Good for the question.

Now you can see in this by everyone's footage that I everyone they like as if it was church.

If you want another memoir to read her, it was written by Dave Ritz and he interviewed her over years, and it's Aretha's memoir. It is so good, really interesting. I had no idea what her childhood was like. And her father was a creep a famous pastor, mad creepy, but really amazing, especially if you guys love Aretha.

Were you like researching a lot of other.

I was reading a lot of memoirs in the past couple of years. When I was thinking about writing one, I'm like, let me just get this all in my brain so I can see.

You must have read Mariah's Yes, truly, I.

Mean, and her audiobook is really what is so good?

Are you doing yours? Of course? Of course, and we better hear you singing that.

I still don't know if legally they were able to clear with the publishing I just cracked my hand on here.

I kind of.

Satisfaction, very satisfying. So yeah, I hope that they were able to get clearance because I did sing the words and the stuff, So we'll see.

Oh, we hoped that would be good. I mean, did you have emotional moments reading it was there parts that were very difficult to get through.

Yeah, so I did it over the course of like five days. It was like five hours a day for five days.

Yeah, that's a lot.

It was cool, It was cool. I'm glad. I couldn't have let it go down with anybody else reading it that had been so weird. I have a pretty nice speaking voice. I felt like I could do it, So.

We love hearing your voice. But but so in terms of like the divas live of it all, we have to know if there's five today, and yeah, that's the thing is there has to be. I guess it's like you have to build it around Beyonce, right.

You have to build it around Beyonce. Ariana y Ariana.

I want Yeah, maybe Adele. I always put Kelly out there.

Kelly.

Kelly Carson can sing.

There's only one. Now I need a country person, Carrie.

I suppose it's Carrie. She certainly can sing like a motherfucker. Yeah. I have a berries trainer who I literally have to stop working out every time because he goes after this, you're gonna be looking like Carrie Underwood And it's just the gayest I mean has now becoming celebrity on the podcast he needs to be on like but like literally, like he always to say, after this, our thighs are gonna like carry underwood and I have to put my

Like the women you everybody knows I've ever seen is that like factotum, she really shows them off on the album covers.

Okay, she could be you just cast that like in two seconds.

I mean you starting with Beyonce and then me with Ari and then ale I mean from there.

We haven't even said the word Jennifer Hudson, you know who.

Also, I mean miss n I rap oh love, Renee kills it. There's so many, There's just so many.

And isn't that amazing?

Is it's just like it's a good time.

It's a really good good like also like you have on good to know? Yeah, come watching her moment now, Like I.

Really feel like that's the song of the summer nasty.

Yeah, but I know.

It's a controversial topic of what is the song?

People this year it's harder than ever had we had a really good summer.

I mean espresso for me it's between Espresso and Nasty.

I think we have to give it to Espresso just because of the ubiquity and the fact that it announced Sabrina Carpenter in this way that it feels like we're never going back now, is it? And it feels like Espresso was the most so nasty. Good luck babe, good luck babe.

Birds a feather like there. I mean, it was a great summer. Like this is like there's a ground swell happening in music right now and like there's room for everything, and like fuck, like I don't know, like it's exciting and like it's just really exciting me that you're you're putting up.

When do you think we'll get it?

I think really soon.

You think you want to clear mulan rouge and then maybe put it out or you want to, like.

What I'm thinking, get myself a little, Yeah, let her cook a little, you know. But yeah, I've been sitting on this, this song for a little bit and just wanting to like make sure I got my business in order so it can come out and do the thing. And yeah, I'm eager.

Are you is it? Indie? Now? Like are just still on your.

Your over It's on Clover little distro situation, and it's it's cool, it's different. It's like, I respect so much how Tanache has rolled it out. When you're bringing on people and you're doing it independent, but you it's it's not for the faint of heart. It's actually a lot to learn from doing India.

Yeah, I want to pick your brain after this, actually yeah, please do Yeah, but anyway, uh, can you give us some If you had to describe the new music in three words.

Flirting with pop is three words, perfect.

Delicious, little hooks. But there's nothing like pop R and B music. There's nothing like it. It's why I love you so much. Yeah, I just love people who really fucking mean what they're singing. And pop music is not trash. Pop music actually is very powerful because it gets in people's ears. And when you have a meaningful demure, meaning

Yeah, and imagine that feel it. Yeah, their song writers and they are whether they're writing it themselves, they're collaborating doesn't matter. These are their stories and that's why they connect. And there's no way to like whatever labels they're signed to. Are so lucky to have them because you can't fabricate that they are real. They are authentic.

These girls Chapel too.

I think Yea is a beast.

Beast like that bridge on good Luck, Babe. We haven't seen a bridge like that since disaster.

Guys, I'm gonna be honest with you, this is embarrassing, but like I am not deep into the Chapel canon. I don't know the world. Yeah, I need to give it time. Sure, sure you're gonna like that. I'm gonna dive in tomorrow when I'm at the theater. I'm gonna listen. I'm gonna think of.

You both, you think of us and send us to sex because there's real writing on there. And she's got a beautiful voice. I remember. So we were just talking the other day about like when I first went to go see her at the Fonda, and she she had this unbelievable voice and her energy on stage. The way I described it was like Annie Lennox meets Kesha, like this like super like conceptual, like weird drag persona that's like very fun forward, but this voice from like someplace.

Else, Yeah, like channeling something where I feel like you were channeling something like I feel like.

I'm pitching to her.

Okay, you at the yes, my pinstripe pants are.

Exactly giving, exactly like I'm sold on her. You don't need to do it tomorrow. You know this might make or brink her. I have to ask you about Iceland.

To Iceland.

Then I went to work there and one of my favorite experiences of my life.

Really, where did you you went to Blue Lagoon?

Which is iconic? I went to Sky Lagoon?

Okay, I was looking at that one too.

Really good.

If you go again, I just think what a beautiful place. Didn't feel like Mars, Like, yeah, you feel like you're on another planet. The nature is like so unbelievable, Like that's where they shot like Interstellar and stuff. It's like, where can we go in the world? That makes underrated film by the way.

Really underrated film. Anyway. That's a good edible on your day off watch do you still fuck with weed? No?

It scares me right now, it scares you. Not the season for me, for us.

I get you from marijuana totally see, and we were just talking about how you both need to take a step back because we're actually our proper Stoners. But the thing is, I know sometimes though, like just sitting in front in front of an Interstellar like it really was, and that's a movie I sob Oh my god, what movie makes you cry the hardest?

Interstellar? I definitely cried for that too.

Rival. Have you seen that one?

I haven't seen that. I haven't seen that.

First of all, Amy Adams is that girl and no one, no one can ever say anything to me because she's deserved in an oscar several times. Arrival is her best performance. It's just it's so beautiful when you really get to what it's about, Like it's one of those movies that's like, is.

It about space too?

So it's an alien movie, it's an alien encounter movie. She plays someone who is like a linguistics professor who they bring into communicate with these aliens who they don't know what the aliens want.

And I already have chills.

So you find out that their concept of time is very different, and that speaks to a situation that she goes through, and it is an absolutely beautiful message and it is one of the great films. That way an evil move who did the Dune films directed it. Yeah. Visually, very beautiful, very brand new in terms of like yeah, like just the way that the creatures are designed, like I thought.

You do get to see the creatures, you do.

You intimately see them.

It's not like a big bro little brother.

They made me shot Heaven like the video productry doesn't know me, and so I feel like he just understood who I was in a moment, and that's sort of that's just gonna when they realize my candor Hello, Hello, So which ones of the boys in Mulan Rouge do you think should date us?

I love this question?

Do you really? Yeah?

Are you both single? Do you want me to?

By the way, can you give it up for this cover? This cover is really good. It came in the mail. I took it out of the album. I was like, I gass, be honest, not gas. I gassed. You were sent. You were probably send a bunch of photos from the shoot. When you saw this, you were like, that's her, That's.

Be honest with you. I did the shoot myself in London. We did a whole other shoot. It was just me and Ronaldo, who does social stuff. He's he's worked, he's been on my team for a long time. We love Ronaldo and it was just me, him and the photographer in London. I did a whole other shoot with my book company. Hated hated it, huh and just went back to this shoe and was like, sorry, guys, I know you just paid for this whole thing, but like, look at this picture.

This is a beautiful thing.

Let's let'sten to that.

See. And also you talk a lot in the book about, like, you know, the way that you have been packaged and the photos that they've chosen and stuff like that.

Stupid.

Yeah, yeah, but like you know what, that is empowering because you're like, I'm gonna tell my story. I'm also gonna pick the fucking photo. Yeah.

It just had to be that. Yeah, come on, come on, We've been doing this too long.

To say, you know, we're over the influence. I just love it. I love it so much. It might be time for I don't think so. I don't think so money. Okay, so we are. We've arrived at that part of the episode where we take sixty seconds to rant against something in culture that is bothering us a little bit. Now today I'm not going to be so cultural. I'm going to talk about something a little personal. And I feel like this episode I've been very bodily, and that's not

Uh oh, coming out a different end. No, stop, this is Matt Rogers. I don't think so many as time starts now, I.

Don't think so honey. Why is my one foot all of a sudden bigger than my other foot? Is? I swear to God, if someone can explain to me what is happening? Please. The other night, we were out of wedding, I wore some nice shoes. I have these nice boots, and I put one foot in one shoe, another foot in another shoe, and I realize the one shoe doesn't fit.

I'm not a doctor and you're not, then shut.

Up bigger than It's like when women are like, my one tit and I do have that you have one bigger tit than the other. I've got one bigger tip.

I need to explore see which one is bigger.

It's like, I guess it makes sense. It makes and I'm literally, as I'm talking right now, I'm realizing my one foot just feels bigger. I also think, you know what I think I have? So every single morning, when I wake up, the back like above my heel feels sore, and when I get up, I'm like when I walk, I'm like oh, oh, I think I have achilles. I think I have that to.

Achilles thing is.

Tender right and sore. And when I was feeling the one, especially on the right, I was like, is there a little bit of a bump here?

Inserts for our shoes? Is that where we're at?

Suddenly you're identifying al It took me was It's like achilles tendonitis. And I think I think you'all did to go to the diatress. No, that's you know what I mean? That is foot tea, foot tea. I wish my foot was. See, my foot is not tea. My body's been kind of lily. My foot is not tea. Everybody is stop, We'll just tell any one of those absolutely stacked dancers. Yeah. Actually, to be honest with you, sometimes I'm like I like

Why is women's tennis best out of three and men's tennis best out of five? I just learned that this weekend after going to the Open. That doesn't make any sense to me. I want to see the women play a little longer, if anything. But if we're striving for gender parody, then I think we might as well just make up the same rules.

Everything else is the same. Why could the number of sets be the same. I cannot believe what I was seeing. I was seeing Pagoula go against.

Swy techy tech Okay, that was a thrilling game, and then that and admits too soon, and then I goes, I just see mister Sinner go up against what's his face?

Taylor Fritz? Not Taylor Fritz at the quarter final?

It was it was someone else. But I was just like, I think I would have preferred to watch the.

Women play longer. Yeah, I'm a news I get it now. Fifteen.

I lost so much time in my life not standing tennis. Now I finally do sports are back, y'all. I mean, this Olympics really lit a fire under my ass. Now I'm like, I'm second it on every damn, I'm doing a little wars around the house.

I'm putting the game on. That's why, Menda, this is our big sports.

Year in the game to see it for you, and I want to put the game on too. When I saw Challengers, that's when.

I first of all round of applause, so good.

So hot, loved it. But then I started taking tennis lessons because I'm like, I want a tennis bae. I think that's a sexy thing. I did watch none of the US Open.

Where did I go?

It's not okay and it needs to change next year.

I haven't watch any either, except when we went to the men's final and I didn't even know who Tyler Fritz was. He in fact competed in the final of the US Men's Open.

I've been thinking about this all night long.

Okay, this is really good. Okay, so this is Joe's I don't think so, honey, Joanna, Jojo Levesque. Her time starts now.

I don't think so honey. Why do you say? I don't know if either of you say it like this important? When did people start doing it like that? Is this a Kardashian speak? And like the slow down and that

Yes?

And also like it's interesting when I have to ask people like where are you from? Because you just sound like a Kardashian, right, I mean, so, how am I going to fill up these last three seconds? Do I sound like this too? Am I aware of what I sound like? Anyway?

That's one minute you are. You've really pinpointed something that has bothered me so much, And this is why it's a great I don't think so, honey, because I've never said it out loud. There are people who be like important important, Yeah, they will hit all that and sometimes I'm like, I don't know, is it like an accent? Is there just like is there a regionalism where I don't want to like be like why are you saying it like that? But it's enough people now where I'm like, what's happening?

Yeah, it's a trend.

I think can you both can you both say the word as you would say important important?

And I don't think that's correct.

I think that is correct. First of all, they're going to be like not not a mask important important, it's important important.

You know.

I've been called out because I say, I say picture, like picture, picture, and I say, remember, like member, how do you say museum?

Do I say it weird that you actually say it in thet way? Museum, museum, music, museum, like it's museum.

How do you say it museum?

Um, museum, but that's just being museum.

How do you how do you say? How do you say that the thing of a house a roof?

Okay, but my granddad used to say a rough rough.

But I say I say a rum Yeah, I say I'm going to my room. How do you go to my room, this room. How do you say the video game character that wears a red hat.

Mario Mario, I'm on island.

I am like, if that's the thing, is like, if I ever get a little angry or a little drunk, he comes out.

Yeah, my Boston self comes out. And it's like I've lived in l A a long time, but when I get drunk or angry, it's coming out.

Yeah. You absolutely said Wicked earlier. Yeah, and you weren't talking about it. Remember four film? Are you excited? Oh my god?

Am I excited?

Have you seen that? No?

I saw it in the West End, so I.

Have seen it.

So funny, I'm sorry, funny because they really dig it because they speak in British accents in that show.

It's so funny.

Just like just the difference is so popular. Yaw, it's like, oh yeah, sure that works.

You know. There's been so the Wicked trailers have come out, and I want to say, if you want to and this is I'm just saying it. The best Wicked trailer yet is the Italian Wicked trailer. The other night, I gotta watch it. I don't know why internationally trailers are different than domestic trailers, but for some reason, they will send out different versions of different cuts of entire trailers.

They tried to hide that The Mean Girl's Reboot was a music. Yes, they did try awareness until later, Yes, and.

Then it was full on, which is in fact, the reason it existed is because there was the musical on

Do you speak Italian or how do you know like what's being narrated as far as the trailer or you just know from the way they're piecing it together.

Subtitles are amazing thing.

Subtitles wow especial roller coaster number one hundred amazing, one hundred and fifty years old. I'm not familiar with do you.

Do you know? But if you're one hundred and fifty, then do you ever like when you're watching TV? Do you do the subtitles?

Because because my vision is impaired because I'm in my mid thirties, so I need the help I can.

What a journey we've been on this episode, the.

Whole bridge that I crossed to accept when you.

Said you wouldn't accept it now you've identified as elderly. Well except yeah, Command War. This episode has aged you, but in a beautiful way. Thank you. You've told your story and what not just here on the episode, but in this amazing book September seventeenth, Over the Influence. Wow,

Thank you for gassing me up this whole episode. You guys, I am about to go out and take over the world.

Y'all?

Thank you?

Can they call us too well to call us Molly pills, Molly Pills, Molly Pills. No, no, no no, we're just trying to I was trying to deflect the compliment and I ended up being silly. But the fact is, we fucking we love it absolutely.

I adore you. I'm honored to be sitting on this burn orange velvet vels. Okay, guys, I'm a fucking last couch. I am so excited, oh my god, so much.

We saw the door. And the fact is we end every episode with a song.

It's just a little little you know, all right, doing the same, you know, it's just too little to lay Wow.

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