Behind the Bling w/Kelly Mi Li and Kim Lee

and Kelly. Hey, Kelly, Hi Babby, how are you? What a pleasure to meet you? First of all? Oh same here. First of all, your apartment or wherever you are is like you're out of a magazine. It's like so pretty. It's only because I just moved in and it's fully rend newly renovated. Give me a month, will be a mess. So now it looks good. We're just coming were a very busy family holiday and everybody here and I won't even you know, I found a wall that's quiet, so well, thanks.

Well it's so nice to me too. I I you know, I started watching the show during the pandemic with my two daughter in laws, and then you know, life got busy and I binged watched again this weekend, and I gotta tell you, I loved it. I loved it. Good. Well, thank you so much for a sunny time and supporting

and watching us. That's so great. Hes a lot. Yeah, I have a ton of questions, and I'll be really honest, I kind of I watched rewatched a bunch in the first and a bunch in the second, so I tried to get, you know, some information, and I have a lot of questions. But first of all, I noticed that you um, when you were ten, you moved from China to Chicago. I did when I was ten. Yeah, it was a big change for me. Where I'm from Chicago. I'm from the North North suburb will Met. Where did

you move? I grew up? So when I first moved to Chicago, it was Atlantic and Bridgeport, which is where the White soxes on Round thirty five out the side of Chicago. And then we moved to Hansdale, Hangsdale. I don't know if you're familiar with this little suburb because they had the Hinds, they had the Hinsdale Health Center. I remember, okay, yeah we went. We went on a field trip there to learn about sex in seventh grade. Yeah, that's how That's how I know Hinsdale. Yeah, one things

a central Oh I didn't know this from Chicago. It's yeah, you know, which kind of if you're from Chicago kind of sets the tone. It means, you know, you're pretty, like you got your feet in the ground and but here you are in the middle of this incredibly successful show. I mean, is it a scripted show or a reality show. It's like when you watch it, you just can't believe

that it's actually reality. Yeah. I think a lot of time the funny, the funny things, a lot of things that like the penis pump people thought was planted, but it was it like, all that stuff is really organic. Same thing with you know, their necklace that the five with the Necklace season one, all that stuff was it was real, And you know, the camera's just happen to be there to capture off. But you must know that.

You know, when you guys are living your life that someone's watching and I know this is basically your show. You you know, it was your idea, you got it off the ground. So tell me a little bit what that was like, being you know, an entrepreneur and starting this. Well, first of all, I never thought I will be on a reality show ever. If you told, if you told

me just five years ago, I'm like, no, that's not happening. Um, you know, I think for me, I've always been very comfortable behind the cameras and I've always been, you know, entrepreneur. I've always kind of, uh, my comfort space is by myself in front of my computer and getting hard work done and working with my team. So being on a reality show, I think first of all was it was a challenge for me to push me out of my comfort zone and boundaries. But I'm really happy I did it,

and there's no regret on my part. Um. But you know, getting to show off the ground by itself was such a big task. Like you know, you own a production, you do production as well. Every project takes so long and it's a lot of notes and until we finally got it, Yes, how many years did it take you? It took me a good three years. And then once even after we had you know, Netflix was interested. It's

the pilot presentation. We had a film that it's a little process until we got Green Live for the full season. And did you ever go to college? I didn't. I dropped out. It was you started, I started. I dropped out. It was one of those things where my whole family are doctors and growing up in the Asian culture, it was very much like you know, study study, study, A minus is a failure. You know, you have to get

an A plus. And um, I think was you know, it was my way to rebellow, my way to want to show my mom that there's other ways to be success for other than just be a doctor, a lawyer or engineer. So I packed two backs moved out to Los Angeles when I was twenty one. And at the time I told my mom, I said, oh, I'm just taking a year off because I didn't have to. I don't want to argue with her. And even that was it was a push. And uh, you know, I found my own way and I never went bad. It doesn't

mean I don't think education is important. I think it's very very important. But I'm learning every single day through other forms than just school. Well, Chinese moms are not that different from Jewish moms, I think, and you know, I I have a Jewish mom. And I was really lucky because when I told my mom I was dropping out, she actually made me think about what I wanted to do with my life. And I chose makeup and I went to college for makeup, and I'm glad I did.

But your path is so different, and you've achieved so much from you know, your young age, not knowing anything, like how did you? How do you? How do you do this? Like like what's your what's your superpower? I think, you know, it was really about learning from everyone that came in my life. Um, I think there's something unique about every person that comes to your life, and I learned. I try to learn as much as possible, keep an open mind. And also I'm always seeking knowledge, so reading

books or even watching YouTube. Now with the Internet, it's incredible information that would get shared across the globe. So I try to spend my time to you know, just even even it's like thirty months a day to read or watch YouTube, listen to a podcast. And I think that, you know, it's my curiosity of never stopped learning. And also I think I get bored very easily, So I'm

always wanting to learn new things. And my mom sacrificed so much for me by moving to the US and being a single mom, and uh, you know, raised me herself. So I think it was I had I don't have a I don't have a you know, I I don't have a like I can't fail, and then there's no backup plan for me. Um, you know, unlike a lot of my cast members, you know, they have trust funds that they can fall back on. I really don't, you know, So I only have there's really no choice for me

other than keep going. Uh And did did your mom work when you were growing up? Oh? Yeah, she moved to the States to do anti cancer research at U i C at the time, you know, and then my dad and I moved here a year later, and uh, my dad was working really odd jobs. My mom was doing anti cancer research, but at the same time she was working at restaurants and doing a lot of labor intensive jobs, you know. And then my dad couldn't take it anymore, so he ended up moving back to China.

And then he said he was gonna come back, which she never did. You know. I think like at that time, I if my dad actually stood up and say, hey, you know what I'm gonna work these weird odd jobs. Why don't you go do your because the other to do your residencies all over again. Um, you're for your medical degree if you want to be a doctor. Here. I wish he's like, let me take care of our like, our little our finance, our financial like everyday needs you

go back to school or one of them. If they worked as a team, I think it would have been you know, our life would have been very different. But my mom just kept her head down and just kept working and raised me. And do you have a relationship with your dad now? They don't really. So we didn't really talk for ten years after he left, and when I was in my early twenties, I did reach out. I did see him in China, but it just you

can't make up ten plus years of relationship. And also, you know, I mean we're we're we're on each other's weed chat, which has like what'sapp and from China, so he can message me anytime, but he does it. So for me, I don't really feel like I have the need to build a relationship with somebody who doesn't try that hard. He sure knows how successful you are, so

he has he has, he has not reached out. The show actually is very popular in China, even though Netflix is not, you know, they watch it off VPN or something like that. And how about your mom? How how does your mom feel about all this? I think she's

enjoying it and it's finally kind of getting it. She's like, Okay, there's a you know, you know, we kind of explored that a lot together afterwards, because after the show aired, you know, I'm it's all about pushing boundaries right now, and it really pushed me to challenge myself and how to build a better relationship with my mom because I think growing up the Tiger mom, you know, I the syntomes like nothing is ever good enough. So I think

I became kind of closed off to her. Um, I didn't really open up a lot to her, and I think after the show aired, I tried my best to you know, after I start going to therapy, I I wanted to open up and speak to her more and communicate my emotions to her, which was never taught to me before. And now she's kind of she's kind of

getting it. And then she's kind of um getting how my life is and be happy with and she's proud of me, which is she told me she's proud of me for the first time ever last year and I'm like, what, like, you know, and she told me she loves like like I love you. The word I love you. These words are so simple and so common in the Western culture, but it's not very in the Chinese culture. Now then, is I'm really really sweet? Have you done something special

for your mom? Like how have you treated her where you wouldn't have been able to a worded before? Yeah? I, um, you know, I try to spoil her as much as I possibly can, you know, um, But I think for her a lot of it is quality time and spending time with me. So we just got back from a cruise for her birthday and we did five nights um on the new Virsion cruise all around Miami the Caribbean. So I think that was really nicer and I make an effort to spend her birthday with her every year.

Well what is it like for you on this show with people that were raised so differently and come from just you know, the amount of money. It's like, you know, I have a lot of very successful friends and people in my life. When I see what everyone is doing, like you go to let's go to dinner. Okay, you're in Paris at this suite, and you know, it's like it's mind blowing. So what's the one of the funny

things that they actually cut out from the show. It did show So as a surprise for my birthday to Paris, Anna actually shut down the palace of her side. So we had a call polite private store of palace of her size and you know that was pretty insane. Um. You know, but I think in the day, like the great thing about this cast and most of them, like Anna's actually pretty down to earth like she seems it. Yeah, she lives in her own world, but she's actually pretty like,

you know, down to earth. Um. And then you know, Kinge's one of my best friends. We've been friends for over ten years and I'm almost ten years. And then, uh, his family is so grandfriends with his you know, I just was just thing before having dinner at his family, his house with his parents. But I think, you know a lot of them, they're still very grounded. Yeah, they all seem incredibly nice. And I know, and I you know, from the little I know about you, that's important to you,

you know, being around really nice people. And I have to say, I'm still really bothered by season one and your boyfriend and how we treated you. And I was really proud of how you, you know, pushed back and wouldn't take it. And I think that's so good for girls and women to see. It was a big learning curve for me because, um yeah, growing up, I didn't really know how to set boundaries and then I think

self value. I I didn't really know that, so you know, and also like I didn't realize I had an anxious attachment style. Um so now they're going to therapy and learning that and then start everything starts connecting, making sense how my childhood is, you know, affected the way I am, and how to rewire my brain and know my self worth and know my boundary and know that what I deserve. Um, I think was it was very powerful and that I think that that show really season one has really helped

me push me to do that. I think without the show, I don't know. I mean maybe eventually, but I don't think I would have. It was like literally in my face, I had to face it. There was no other way around it. How is it being a public person where every single thing you do is you know, I'm sure not everything you do, but most things are in the

public eye. Um, you know, I'm actually very like I don't go out too much of a homebody now, um and I I try to just kind of focus on my work and focus on what it matters to me and what truly matters. I think part of it that you have to kind of almost ignore it if that makes sense of other people's opinion, because end of the days, your life, and it's the good and bad. Right, If you're still focus on people's approval of you, of the good of the praise, you're not going to be as

ground as I think. You know, maybe some people can do it, but for me, I don't really read too much about um, you know, just in general, I tend to I want to just stay center, stay ground it and you know, it's my life. But people are going to talk. But that's just the way it is. And yeah, I think generally it's been pretty okay. Twitter is mean, though, Twitter, I just kind of tend to stay awful. Yeah, Twitter is mean, and I get I mean, since my account

is personal, it's not a business. I just delete and I block. I'm so good at blocking. I don't care you play, it's like it's enough. Our world is too tough exactly. Yeah, but can you go out in the public, like do people like run after you down the street.

They don't run after but they do, you know, stop me asking for pictures all that stuff, which you know, it's great because the end of the day, we are where we are because the fan base and you know, because every single person that watched the show, you know, what is the result of us being so successful on Netflix? Um. And when I went to because because of pandemic, I haven't been able to travel, so I just got back

from Singapore when I went to Asia. Though, like our fan base definitely is in Asia because Singapore, Hong Kong all the space of world number one for a really long time, so that is I think it's a different level. Um. But I'm just really grateful, honestly. And also a lot of fans that came up to me, they were able to connect with my storyline, and some of them has told me personal stories that has how my storeline has affected them and empowered them or inspired them. So I'm

just really really grateful for that. You just become an advocate for for mental health, and I think that's amazing. I mean, was that intentional or you know, you're just

you've kind of adopted that. The reason I'm such a big advocate with for mental health because it has helped me so much, like crazy, Um, it's my first therapy session ever was the one that was filmed on television for season one of Bling on Fire, so walking, and obviously I had no idea what to expect um, but that really opened a lot of the doors for me for mental health because in the in the Asian culture

growing up, we never talked about mental health. We didn't really even talk about how we feel, like the emotions and you know, humans were emotion beings. But it's just it's weird, like I didn't I don't even know the language how to express that. And after the season wrapped, I really spend time to do individual therapy. I read a lot of books, uh, listen to podcasts, YouTube and things are start like started connect and it's really changed me and to uh and you know, I'm still work

in progress, but just how much it's benefited me. I was like, wow, this is the information I got to share, especially with the younger generation, especially you know in the Asian culture that is also removing a stigma. There was such a big stigma on mental health. Yeah, and and you know, working as hard as you do, and you know, I'm sure you're not unsimilar to me that even when

you're not working, you're thinking about other things. Once you're an entrepreneur, you know, the hustle is real and you're just always going, how do you soothe yourself? How do you take care of yourself? Like, what are some of the things you do to kind of calm down? So I never I never learned to do that. I never learned to do until about a couple of years ago. I think during the pandemic has really helped me slow down. And during that time is also time that I start,

you know, really looking into mental health and mental wellness. Um. But for now, Sundays I don't work, so everybody knows not on Sundays, not to bother me. I actually this is a little probably too extreme. I have two films. So one is my personal phone that you know that, but literally this personal phone is text messaging and you know, like my friends and family all that stuff. The other one, I don't have social media, I don't have news, I don't have any stuff on a small and the other

phone is for social media, UM and news. I used to remember I like would just always be on my emails and news. If you email me at two three am, I'll probably respond like I don't even like sleep with like my like my sound off because I was working also in Asia time as well. Um. Nowadays I know how to set boundaries. I go on, I love going on WASP, being in nature. UM, disconnect my phone from my TV. UM. So just just just basically you have to disconnect. And and what about your personal life are

you dating? Like? What's you know? How? How is is that able to balance? Yeah? I think now I'm able to balance a little bit better. And also uh, I learned self love during this process as well, and then learning how to love myself and really build a relationship with myself. It's as weird as this sound. You know, thirty plus years I lived with myself and until a couple of years ago, I'm like, well, I really don't even know myself. I never spent a time by myself.

I hate it. A long time. I was always doing other things to distract myself. I hate it being home at nighttime. I will always just like go out me, friend, what are you doing? What are you doing? What are you doing just to occupy my time? Now? Like I love you know, just spending time and um, you know, I have to watch the next season to find out my dating life. I'm very very very happy. I'm the happy that I've ever been, and I'm just very grateful

for everything. What what episode do we do? We get a glimpse because I've I've gotten almost two you know, through three in the second episode it's the next season that's coming out. Yeah, because I think, Um, you know, one of the things I learned was that back then, back then, I never really learned to take the proper time to heal between relationships. I would jump into one

thing after another out for another. And now you know, I after you know, my breakup, I was like, I'm not dating anybody any six months by myself and just kind of hang out with myself, take myself on dates, you know. Um yeah, and that's it was. It was amazing. So that's why Also this that's why season two, you really don't see me doing a lot of dating and stuff. Well, are you do hang out with the cast when you guys are not in season? Like I'm probably closest with Kane,

you know, and all of us kind of talk, you know. Uh, so can I just was poor together and we went to seek him too. When she has a residency in in Vegas, so we went to see her in Vegas to support her. So yeah, well that must that must have been really fun. That was really fun. But the music was so loud. I was like, I don't know how you do this every single weekend. So are you working on anything besides this show or is the show kind of taking everything? No, I'm you know, so obviously

working on my business. I have a production from so we have a documentary uh impost right now, a feature film and post right now. I have about five projects right now that we're in development, ready to hopefully shoot soon. And um, I just shot a movie as far as a talent goes out, you know, it was it was fun because it was my old cruise. It was really fun.

And then um, I'm doing some other I have a have another company that we we developed products, so I'm for the first time I'm doing something uh that's my product myself and some were in development that I'm just it's really exciting. Just a lot of stuff. So I knew. Yeah, there's more stuff coming out, So I'm keeping myself busy. I'm always gonna get myself busy. Okay, so let's let's talk about network, Like, like, talk to me about food. Do you have any special ding you know? Do you

love to eat? Do you cook? Is there anything special that you're like loving these days? I love to eat. I'm not a good cook, but I'm really great at eating. And I love spicy food. I'm the type that would travel the places just to eat. Um. And it's also why I love traveling. I think it's you know, traveling is is living. I I live to eat, you know. That's what I I always say, and I always say I'm always on a seafood diet. I see food, I eat it and eat whatever you want. And food doesn't affect you.

You don't get you know, stomach, egge, headache, nothing. I think I've forced my body to learn. I used to be not aviobly eat very too much. But I think like the more I was eating, the more, but my body is kind of used to it. I eat pretty much everything. Um. Yeah, there's I love. I love trying food, but I love spicy food. That's my things. Like spicy food. And you never go on and off health kicks, like you're not someone that juices or does protein smoothies. You

just go right for the real food. I do protein smoothies after I work out, but it's not a like it's not that I have to even after I work out, I just have to get a protein. So I'm either eating meal or I'm getting a smoothie in um. You know, juicing, I think it's great. I think it's great to juice in the morning. I I once in a while, I'll do it, but it's not I'm not on a regular, like very strict diet. And how about your fashion, Like,

what's when you're not working? What? What? What are you wearing? Sweats? Sweats? I don't know if I should be saying that, but yes, I were. I wear like actual, yeah, I were like. And I'm on a hunt for the perfect T shirt. I've been like trying and T shirts. So what what what's your comfort outfit? Pajamas and sweats? You know, because I think like I used when I was in my twenties, I used to wear like I want to look like

I was wearing high heels. I loved wearing high heels back then it doesn't matter how far I have to blok. I'm like, well, I'm wearing high heels out Nowadays, I'm like, what's comfortable? Even when I try to dress on, Like when I when I have to go to premier, go to carpets. If it's not comfortable, I'm like, I'm good, Like, I just rather find something out it's more comfortable. That is definitely. That is definitely the pandemic. I think we

all just you know, realize that who needs that stuff? Yeah, exactly? What about you do? Cook? You know, my family cooks. I've got two daughter in laws of different cultures. I've an Indian daughter in law and a half Filipino and they bring things from you know, from their family recipes. And my son's all cook. So I'm a very I like really clean food. So I'm a pretty basic cook.

But I've become the soux chef, and I've definitely become the I call myself a mutler because I am the one that, you know, make sure I have everything, and you know, kind of like a mother, butler is what it is. And I also clean up. I'm kind of a little bit nutty that way. So I like to clean. I don't mind doing dishes. I actually relax with me like cooking. Sometimes it's supposed to relax people, you know, it's pressure. Yeah, well how does that get ready at

time for this? And you know I'm a little unfocused, so it's hard to be that kind of a cook. So one one last question before I asked you the final question. Do you have a favorite cocktail? Oh? I think just a dirty martini. You know, for me, it's just like it's classic and I never get sick of it. Um. Yeah, extra bruised, wow, extra dirty, extra olive, and choose all

of if they have it sounds awesome. Yeah. Well, since this podcast is called The Important Things, um, I always like to ask my guests, like, what would one thing that you could tell all the listeners that are listening now, according to to you, what they could do that would change their life or add to their life. I think

it's really live a work life balance, you know. I think, you know, one of the things that for me was that in my twenties I really focused with work, work, work, war work, to the point that my body was giving up and I was but a the end of the day, what is it? What am I working for you, know, so spend time, spend time for you with your family, spend time even to get to know yourself. It's so important. Um. Like I said, just like I I really didn't know myself and I really have to spend a time, you

know now. I love alone time. So just a live a work life balance. Well, I hope you're able to do that with all this stuff that you are actually working on. I can't imagine how, but you know I will be. I'll be out there rooting for you and watching. So it was really really fun meeting you and really fun talking to you. Thank you so much, just such a pleasure. You're such an inspiration. Thanks, thank you, thank you, Thanks for having me. Thank you bye, Thank you. Hey, Kim,

how are you good? I knew you were going to be all glammed up? And my hair's wet, ponytail story in my life? So who did your hair and who did your makeup? Did you do it today or did you have somebody? I actually had my friend she's a makeup artist. And your makeup. I wish I can do my own glamps sometimes. It would save you so much time. I know, I know, I wish I buy all those brushes and I try and I just can't do well. You look so beautiful. Thank you so much. Yeah, how

are you. I'm doing good. I just got back from bancou Her. I had a show there. Um. Life's been very busy for me. Um been Um, this is the busiest I've ever been in my entire life. How is it? How is it to like being that busy or is it a little crazy? I like being busy because you know, the pandemic happened, we were a lot of us were in lockdown for a long time. So I guess having that long break, maybe I think a lot. You know, I'm in the creative field, meaning like I'm in show business.

It's it's not sometimes it's not stable, and I know how it is not to be busy, so I appreciate times like this. But your schedule must be so insane because you're deejaying, like, what are your hours? Oh gosh, it's um, I'm my staying up late night. But it's weird because I'm in morning person. I love waking up early eight o'clock. I'm out of the house at the gym. I I love being up early. But yet, what I do I have to stay up late till like five o'clock in the morning. So, well, what time do you

have to get to work? For most gigs, Um, sometimes I have to leave in the early morning, get on the plane, like I would say eight o'clock. Sometimes, um, eight or nine. I get to UM or wherever I have to go to check into my hotel. I don't go on until like twelve am and I DJ T three am. Yeah, oh my god. And then and then how do you calm down when you get back to your room? Do you go out do? What do you do? I turn off my phone. I do not want to hear no music. I get in the bathtub and take

a nice bump bath and go right to sleep. Go right to sleep. You don't have to come out. I try to, you know. It's hard sometimes I'm not gonna lie. It's hard to wind down on It's because it's like I'm I'm around a different a lot of different energies, you know, and it's a lot, especially now my show has gotten bigger, more fans from ever since the show aired. Um,

it's a little bit overwhelmed. I'm not gonna lie, but UM, so far I'm doing pretty good, you know, And So what about fueling your body as you're going through these days? Because you know, I mean, I'm talking to a couple of different people that have these crazy lives, but they don't have like that. I don't think people realize that the physical nous it's like being an athlete of mjan like, don't you have to fuel yourself a certain way? Absolutely? That's why I work out every single day. And it's

not about just staying in shape. It helps me mentally, um, And to do what I do, you've got to be in shape. Um. So I actually take a lot of vitamins now, I'm taking more vitamins more than ever. I actually go to g n C. I go to the health stores and get all the vitamins I need just to maintain. And you know, I put my health first. I think without health, I wouldn't Without good health, I wouldn't be able to do what I'm doing. To be honest, there's absolutely a way. What's your what what kind of

a diet do you follow? Um, I'm getting a lot of salmon now. I eat. I do eat protein and stuff for energy. I am a health freak. Actually, I try to eat healthy as much as possible. I take um. Oh, I drink smoothies every day. I love smoothies. I gotta have my smoothes. I do depend on a lot of energy drink. I'm not gonna lie because I don't drink alcohol anymore, and you know, I I gotta have something, so I guess, um, yeah, I depend on a lot

of energy drinks to stay upbeat all the time. All right, So I won't ask you your favorite cocktail, your favorite car. That's the old Kim. Also, you you there was an old Kim and a new Kim. Okay, yes, you know. The new Kim was like when I was when I first entered this industry, you know, Um, being so new, I used to get very nervous before my shows, so I would depend on drinking so much. And I realized, like, okay, to last in this industry, I have this whole lifestyle.

I can't just depending on alcohol all the time. So it was like a lot of training myself. Trust me, it's not it's not easy. It's like, you know, you're around that. I'm around people that's drinking, doing all these crazy things. And I think being disciplined in this industry has helped me so much. It's hard I am sure. So first I want to talk about your mom because I love that early episode with your mother teaching you how to pose and what to wear. You know, tell

me a little bit about your mom. My mom is a wonderful woman. UM. I mean I'm not just saying this because she's my mother, but she you know, she has helped me so much. I am the woman I am today because of her. Um. A lot of Asian American moms are usually how do you say that, they expect their child to become a nurse, a doctor, loy you'r um. My mother has always you know, I think

she always been supportable with everything I've done. You know, in the very beginning, she didn't really understand what Deejaying is and modeling, and but she always encouraged me. And it's surprising because she would watch my my DJ shows and she said, Kim, you need to wear something more sexier, but really tone it down. So she gets it, you know. And um, they call her like the Asian Chris Jenner.

I find it so funny. She gets that, she understands and UM, we have a great relationship, as you can see on Umbling Empire. UM, we're like best friends. And I think it's important to have like a bond with your parents. You know, she's I trust her, I tell her everything. Sometimes I feel like I tell her too much. Well you're you're You're lucky to have that. You're really are. But I'm just gonna go get down to the meat of it, Like what was up with Kevin? The guy

is so cute? I mean, I'm sorry, I have such a crush on him, Like, did you ever get it together with Kevin? It's like, come on, okay, I'm so glad. Actually, this is my first podcast ever ever since the show aired, by the way, and I'm a huge fan. Yes, I'm a huge fan of yours for me, like huge inspirations too many people, including myself so nice. Yeah no, Um, okay, back to Kevin good looking, he's so cute. Yes, he

isn't a very attractive person and he is a sweetheart. Um. We had such a difficult time taking him serious because season one, okay, he was. He even told me this. He was very serious about Kelly while she was in a relationship with him. He was trying to pursue here and season two, out of nowhere, he switched and he's said Kim I want to be with you, and to me, it's like, wait, just a season ago, not too long ago, you were so serious with Kelly and it was weird.

It was like I tried to believe that I wasn'cere and I didn't. I couldn't believe him. There you go. I thought it was okay. I was confused, are you doing this for camera time? Or do you really like me? On top of that, you know, Kane and I were all good friends. We all know Kevin have other women. He was dating other girls. Why we were filming you Sometimes the cameras don't capture all this. But I looked like the bad guy because I was leading him on. I was, and you didn't show up. You stood him

up there? That was wrong, right, right? Okay? Okay, And the phone looks so good. I'm getting a lot of like hate on the internet because of that. Absolutely, you know I was wrong for that. I had cold feet. Yeah, I didn't think he's going to get a chef. I'm paying for all his meals, Bobby, I always pay for everything. Whoever thought Kevin would get a chef on the first day it was nice, but I didn't know really, So when it aired, I was like, oh my god, I

look like a complete jerk for doing that. Yes, that was wrong. I apologize for that. Right, that was wrong. All right, Well, it's gonna be so interesting because I watched a bunch of the episodes this weekend. I had watched them a year ago, and then I came back and watched them again knowing I was going to talk to you, and now I can't wait to watch the rest, so I might have to text you with more questions. I don't know why. I just I enjoy it so much.

I know it's like and I'm not a reality show guy, Like there's other reality shows I'm not interested in, but this one, I don't know what. Well, thank you, I mean same. I'm happy to hear that. That's to me, that's a huge compliment. A lot of people do tell us that that we like, we'll get this all the time. We don't watch reality shows about blaming higher. Wow, So

hearing that makes me really happy. So thank you. Everyone's so different, you know, first of all, the amount of money, Like I know people that you know have a lot of money and spend a lot of money. I never saw anything like the things I'm seeing in that show, and it's like it's crazy, but everyone seems so down to earth and nice. Yeah. I mean, I gotta admit, we've got a great cast. Um off camera, Um, you know Anna, I just saw her the other day. I love Anna. Anna is like I want to be Anna

when I get older. She's amazing, great, and she's like she has this in her child in her. We saw each other at this Netflix party. She was the only one on the dance floor. I loved it. She seems like a really good, down to earth person. Oh absolutely, I you know, besides getting cursed out by her, sometimes we get along so well. Um, you know, I love her. She's definitely one of my favorites. And when they when the show came to you to do this, did you jump?

Are you nervous? Did you know what was going on? I didn't know what I was gonna get myself into because, um, we were all so different, to be honest with you, like, we all have different personalities. And at first I was like, oh, reality show, yes, why not? But until I got to know the cast, I was like, wait, we have nothing in common. But I guess that's what made it interesting. We have Jamie here that just talks about dir and Chanelle all day and it's like she's really like that

in person, and it's interesting to me, you know. And we have um, we have Kane. I mean I first met Kane on online. So what happened was Bravo came to me. Um, after Crazy Rich Asians movie aired, it was a hit show. Um, Bravo reached out to me said, hey, Kim are our president wants to do an awe Asian cast a reality show and they want to give your own TV show. But at that time, they're like, we will film you and your girlfriends, and I was like, what girlfriends? So they said, can you help us get

a fine other Asian Americans? And so that's when I went on Instagram. UM, this is so weird, but I came across Kinglyn's profile and that was the first person I saw out of everybody. And I told Bravo, I don't know who this guy is, but he lives such a lavish lifestyle. You guys need to get him. So they said, well, can you reach out to them to him? And I said, okay, I'm not a casting director, and okay, I'll do it this one time. It took him three days to respond to me, and he said, Kim, um,

please don't sign anything. You need to meet Jeff Jenkins. I was like, who's Jeff Jenkins? So I googled him. I was like, oh, we did the Kardashians and everything. So the very same night, I drove up to the Hollywood Hills. Jeff, you put me on camera and he said, Kim, you're literally are missing puzzle, and yeah, next everything happened

really fast. After that, we we shot a pilot. Next thing you know it, we're Netflix wanted to come to one of my shows, which I thought was weird, and they announced they picked up our show, and um, yeah, everything happened very fast from there. That's that's incredible. And are you able to actually go out in public? Like can you go to the grocery store? Oh my god? Speaking of that, Bobby, I am like, it's things. Like I said, when things happened so fast for me, I'm

not even lying. I went to Koreatown not too long ago to have Bolba with my friends. It turned out to be a meeting greet. I don't know. It was like, you don't really I didn't realize how big of the show was until I actually stepped out and people were asking for photos. Left to write. And recently I went to In and Out and the I had no makeup on. I went from the gym, I went straight to In and Out, no makeup, Like, no one's gonna recognize me. This girl with my order from window one ran to

window too. She said, are you kid from going out? I said no, I took my burger and drove off. Oh my god. Yeah, I think it's I think it's only going to get worse, you know, Yeah, no, But I again, I appreciate everything. I mean, if it wasn't for the fans, we wouldn't have this show. So you know you're enjoying it right now. What what else do you want to do? I mean, not that you have a nanosecond in your life, but is there anything else that you're like, Wow, I'd love my own clothing company,

makeup company, any of that stuff. Yes. I'm actually UM in the works with a couple of projects right now. Definitely UM, probably in the beauty industry. But I feel like Bling Empire has been a stepping stone for me, and I feel like that's just just the beginning, and that I do want to take film and TV more serious now just it's just a matter of time. How I'm gonna fit this, make this happen with my busy schedule. But absolutely, um, more TV, more of movies, more film.

Yeah that's so neat. And you I mean you're American, you were born here, right and your mom is from she's from Vietnam. Yes, from My mom's from Vietnam. Um, she's been here for a very long time. Um. Yeah. It was very hard for me to get her on the show at first because she's like reality she because my parents are very private you know. Um, so for them to come on the show and open up but

their lives was very It was a big deal. And I thank him so much for that, you know, because I know I respected privacy, so they really did her for me. You know, you didn't see your dad on the show. Was he on the show too? My stepdad is on the show, but for season one. Um. You know, my my storyline was looking for my biological father to get closure and unfortunately he found out he passed. And yeah,

I never got a chance to see him. Uh but your stepdad pretty much raised you correct, correct, Yeah, we have an amazing um relationship, you know. Uh, he's uh, gosh, I can't. I can't be even more thankful ever, Like I wouldn't even know what to do without him, you know, just having to having I guess watching Bling Empire made

me realize how important family is. You know, that was a big wake up call when um, when I got the private investigator to go look for my biological debt, because I guess part of me always thought, like, all, He'll always be there, and watching that's still really hard for me sometimes, like I still hold some regret inside, but I'm I'm still learning to let go and it's the past. It's okay, you know, Well it's it's awesome that you're still so open and growing as a person,

and I think that is what it's about. Hey, Christy Carlson Romano, the voice of Kim Possible, and you Fee from Kingdom Heart Will for del voice of Ron Stoppable, and Terry McGuinness a k A. Batman, How are you doing? I am so jazz that I Heart Radio is now producing I Hear Voices our podcast. Can you believe that we are actually part of the I Heart family. I am so excited because we get to interview some of

the coolest people ever in the voice over industry. I think so too, And you guys have to go ahead and listen to it because we interview amazing guests that are all icons in the industry, and they teach you plenty of things, from Eric Bowsa to who else brock Powell, you name it, we got him on the show. Because where else, when you really think about it, can you

talk to Batman and SpongeBob SquarePants in the same day. Nowhere, But I hear voices and you can listen to I hear voices on the I Heart Radio app or wherever you listen to podcasts. So come and check us out if you want the inside scoop on the voiceover world. So I always asked my guests, this is this final question, which is the podcast is called The Important Things. So what is the one thing that the listeners that are hearing this podcast when they walk away say, oh my god,

Kim taught me this. What could you tell them to do to love yourself, put yourself first. And it's okay to put yourself first. And I'm saying that is because of season two. I I opened up about my past relationship. I gave my all to a certain person, that I thought, I truly that would be with for a long time. And I gave him my all. I put him first. I didn't and I put myself second, and and I thought I look back, I was like, wow, I've almost lost myself. And and so when I say put yourself first,

and it's okay, that that's how it should be. You gotta love yourself first before you love. That's a nice. Thank you so much for getting on talking to me. I'm honored it was your first podcast. And I can't wait one day when I want to stay up all night and you're djaying nearby, I'll give you a call and are do you live in l A or d you know? I'm New York, New York. Well if you're ever in l A and I'm ever in a New York, oh definitely please. All right, well are you gonna answer me?

Are you got nine million people if I talked? No? No, no, I'm gonna follow you now. Actually just Bobby Brown, Yeah, just Bobby Brown. Yeah, thank you a great thanks for listening. Follow us on social at the Important Things podcast on Instagram, and just Bobby Brown on TikTok. See you guys next time.