S2 Episode 2: Rozz Lee

Right. The Mutton Sandwich

podcast.

All right. Welcome to the Mutton Sandwich podcast. It's just an invite. And with you now we we just started season two where we bring in our famous friends. Yeah, to catch up with us on the podcast. And today's ones can be interesting because it's kind of a blend of season one and season one. We caught up with our radio friends.

That's right. And our guest today used to be from radio, but she's not anymore. But she's still a very famous friend that we love to catch up with because we haven't seen her for a long, long, long time.

Roslyn Lee Hello. Hi, guys here. Ozzy in Singapore famous is an understatement, right? No overstatement.

Overstatement overstatement. Yes. As long as we feel you're famous, you'll be mudslides again.

Only only only famous people can make it on the podcast because we like to name drop. You know, so like we go on telling a routine, we know Ross. You don't exactly. You know, you know, you are considered famous in our books by no, I mean, you are such a such a household name. And we were talking about, you know, you used to be in radio. You should not be in radio for how long? It's been quite a while, right?

Twenty seventeen. When they shut our station down, no English.

Yeah. So it's four years already, three years. And you are pussy actually.

Four years, four years.

Yeah, and four years and a person can get up to a lot in four years, isn't it? I know.

Well, I didn't really do much to see. That's.

Well, I mean, you'd have to do anything in season one. We asked our guests a lot of our radio because it was just radio, but we have to ask you, do you do you miss radio or do you feel like that part of your life is over and done with?

OK, I miss what radio used to be for me. Like, you know, before before social media, it was like so fun because we had all our favorite artists come into the studio and now they all have their own social media platforms. They don't need to come on air anymore, right? Yeah. You know, so that part, I really miss the interaction. Like, I mean, Gene Simmons was in the seven studio. Yeah, exactly. Wow. Yeah, I came down. We were the only radio station that

And now with the pandemic is, well, even worse. Even more so we we don't we hardly get to see anyone these days.

Yeah. How was that like for you guys?

Well, it's literally like this. Like, you know, we do, we do video calls and stuff like that. But you know, it's it's kind of getting to be the new normal. But you know, when when you left radio in 2017, you you told us at plans that you were going to travel the world and do a lot different things. Obviously, you can do that now, but hopefully you've got some travelling done right?

Yeah, I did. The plan was to just spend all my savings. Yeah, and really let myself from zero. Yeah. Oh, OK. So before I quit Lush, actually, you know, in media, you don't really leave it like, you know that even though was closed down, there was like an offer to continue with other shows and stuff. Yeah. Well, that was that was like my my, you know, my cue to like, OK,

Oh, and did you get to zero before COVID hit?

See, that's the thing with with with life, right when you decide to take the plunge. Somehow, the universe is such flouncy terms, but like it just somehow

conspires against you. Like, Yeah, yeah, yeah,

yeah, it did in a good way. I mean, obviously, like going to all these exotic places like, you know, I think exotic by multiple like Iran and to bite off. So I want it to video and film the entire experience. So I kind of like blogged and uploaded the videos on the click that work, which is owned by my friend Jillian. Mm hmm. There's no money involved. There's no sponsorship. We just wanted to check on them for free. Yeah. And it got picked up by people. They were like, Oh,

Well, the good thing is that at least you got to travel even more, you know, like before the bank accomplished that and then you got to see nice just rattle off some of the places that you've been to over the past few years.

Yeah, I think 2018 was the most intense one, divided into a few seconds. I did the Trans-Siberian Railway. Wow between it, from China, from China to Russia and in between, like all the different cities like in Siberia and Mongolia. Mm hmm. I would. They believe this much less by most eye opening one, Iran, especially because it's all closed off. Yeah, the North Pole. Oh wow. Oh, and that it was amazing. Yeah, because most people actually take the ship, they're from Canada

My goodness, I hope you going to see the guys you know, they give.

Give everybody else nothing, but I give everybody an idea. If you don't mind like, how much would it cost to do that mothball trip?

OK, let me tell you how long it's expensive. OK. So in order to get eighty nine degrees north, which is very close to 90 degrees north at 89 degrees north, there's a base camp there called Borneo based ice camp. It's run by the Russians set up once a year. Only 200 people get to go there. Wow. So you don't run the North Pole marathon or you would do the ski to the final degree. A lot of people pay a lot of money to do that. Oh boy. But for me, I'm like, the most the least got

Yeah, man. Wow.

Yeah, it's close to like 40 grand seeing, right? Yeah, exactly. I will say I'm not rich. I don't have like cars or I don't think condos and stuff. So that was almost like all my savings. Wow. But and this doesn't even cover the flight to to nowhere. Sure, it took me a while to like, agree to do this. And I and I did it. OK, I'm glad I did it because 2018 was the last expedition that happened. Oh,

And now that's it. So you actually can can boast that you've been there, done that. And now what's next?

But I express an ex-regime would, if you could, how much you miss traveling for the last year and a half.

Actually, I didn't really enjoy it. Circuit breaker a lot. I think Circuit Breaker 2020 was a very unique experience that somehow didn't get replicated into anything. You want to train. Why? It's really strange. And yeah, you know, it's it's like, not here, not there. Yeah, 2020 was very clear. Cut me a break. There was a break and I enjoyed it. I saw the race. You know, I did a lot of new things. Suddenly, I see my outfit for my performance.

Yeah, I think I think everyone is getting a we are about to start stop. And so let's just let's just once and for all decide what we want to do. Hopefully that happens soon. So that brings us to the question where are you going next? Like the moment the borders are open?

Wait, wait, man, what's your first destination?

What's your first hope?

I don't think I'm waiting for the borders to open, but a lot can happen. You never know. In February next year, I'm just going to go to Mexico for six months. Oh, wow, really? Oh wow. OK, yeah. Y Mexico. I've been there three times in two years, so I think I take it as a as a sign that it is. That is a place that I am very drawn to. Clearly a forward for its nature and the people. And I also want to learn the language. So I came to see the USA for six months will be

Something felt that really sounds like the diary of a truly free spirited person. And while we will, we applaud you for that. You know, it's something that I think I could never do and jealous. Yeah, we obviously were really just, you know, yeah, by by air. Fantastic that you have all these wanderlust dreams and you actually. Not only is it a dream, you're making it reality. Actually, that's yeah, that's amazing. Well done. It comes

the sacrifice. The skies. Yeah, of course. Of course you'll have have us like how much everybody thinks that all my trips are sponsored and it must be, you know, whatever. I was like, No, it's out of my own pocket. They just can't fathom how like you can do this so easily. But I think it comes with a lot of sacrifices like, I don't have kids. Yeah, I have taken over the house that my mom left us when she died. I definitely don't own a continental power like

it's worth, though. But I think a lot of people admire you for your, you know, your drive to, to do to do what you want. And and thank God, we actually call you now because imagine if we called you next March like you want to be on a podcast is like Google Glass. No, I mean Mexico, you know, so. Wow. I mean, fantastic. So so you

guys would love it?

No. Yeah, we've been to Mexico a couple of times, and it really is a beautiful country.

And yeah, but to be fair, we only went to Cancun.

Yeah, the nice,

the nice western part of, you know,

we went to a dodgy market. Don't forget that we did.

We did. We went to a dodgy market. We think we saw a dead body. We're not entirely sure. We're not sure, but we didn't check. But oh, I mean, it also goes to fund. This is what

travel stories this is for. I like Sony. It was a junket.

Yeah, right? That's right.

Oh my God. Almost like a crazy, crazy junket you guys got.

I know it was. It was really. It was really fun. Then when where we have free time, they were like, Do you want to go to a cafe or do you want to go to the to the market in the city? Or like, let's go to the market? Yeah, we should have gone to, I don't know, like the weirdest things, but no, but

I'm so glad you guys went to the market because Cancun is like Mini America. Yeah, yeah. Listen to Dave. And I didn't like it very much. I'm so glad you got to the market.

Yeah, at least experience a bit of off the real Mexico. Authentic Mexico. You know, so, so cool. Cool. So between now and February, it's like saving up and stuff like that.

I just want to pay off my mortgage first, so I do have a little bit left of my home mortgage to bear. So now it's just like working and just doing that. They'll tell you, like, OK, do I have it to make it? So I just want to pay everything up and get back the title from the bank by December.

So, so I last saw you. You said the magic weren't working well. Why are you doing Rose?

What is that for you?

What does it mean that things go when things are right? OK, OK, OK. VIDEO Right, right. Oh, it's just also,

yeah, that's fantastic. I mean, you know, at least you're still getting to do what you love. You know, you're you're still doing stuff that you love doing content creation. Yeah, exactly.

Oh, wonderful. Yeah. Speaking of a content creation, let's let's let's go back to the beginning, right where I mean, when when little Roslyn Lee was. I know this

woman is tall again. She's I don't think she's a very tall woman.

I'll tell you when I first met Ross. Okay. Oh, well, I first met you and I was really young too. I was like 19, maybe a poly student at the time. I was doing radio already. And you were a dancer. You were a dancer of readers. Oh yes. S.F. Music and drama company,

music and drama company.

That's right. And I would meet you at camp shows because I used to host the camp shows and he had dances. And then there all the dancers are like, OK, cool. But is this one very thought? Exactly that stands out above everyone, right? Like, who's that girl? Yeah. And then one day, I mean, I never I never spoke to you then, but one day I saw this dancer in the radio station. Right, right. What is the dancer doing here? She knew you were about to join radio. Tell us about that. How that started.

First of all, you're very kind, Justin. I think a lot of people see tall people, females and MDC is that when none the you know? No. So and the deejays, can I just say poetry? It was so cool, but they never really talked to us.

Yeah, yeah, we never hung out.

Yeah. Like, we also wanted to be your friend, you know, because her. So the story is it's a it's I think I was about twenty four around that time. Like, you know, I I joined when I was twenty one in D.C. and then I left four years later and I left four years later because I wanted to go travel the world you always had. This would be right, right? Just let the wind take me wherever. But because I was hosting a lot of camp shows. Sandra Bonaventure, who

Wow. That's amazing. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So you came in and you started this career about 88. But it wasn't long later that you came to me a cop, you know, joining our station nine, eight seven.

And that was a funny one as well.

Oh wow. Tell us the story. Not everybody knows this, I guess.

So it was like, I think one year into my two year stint at Carnegie, Richman spoke to the way. Hey, can we get her over to two, two, nine, eight, seven? And I was like, Dude, I'm not going to bite the hand that feeds them. I wanted to stay a part of it forever and ever. Yeah. So I said no and I think boxes, OK, I will never, ever hire anyone. So how would I do it again ever again? And and just like I thought, things were going great. It got a bit stifling because I wanted to host

Oh wow. Yeah, my mocha. My son Matt tends to be like that. Yeah, I'm just reading. I'm trying to think now, were you the last ever that transited from power to nine, eight, seven? I think so. You know, I think you might have been the nobody came after that, right?

You sure Jeremy Ratnam? Oh, yeah, Jeremy.

Yeah, yeah, he did. OK, OK. Because there was a period of

time where he went back.

Yeah, he remember. Yeah, exactly. There's a bit of time. There were just so many making the journey. I mean, funding and I both started there. Yeah. You know, Rotman Carew, there's so many names you can think of. Does this alumni like this huge alumni of X x x Safra, right? OK, so let's talk about 1974 for a little bit. You were there for for a number of years, and perhaps you're most known. You're most known. Stint on radio. What's

It was. Definitely, shall we? Hmm. I think that was really like the high point of my real career for me. Play with Sean, it's just so easy. And I remember the first couple of times that we went on air. It was it was tough because know like the night, right? Right. And and then both moderates, but only paired us up because he thought we were like the tallest people based on that alone. Yeah, I know what

you're calling the tallest show on radio. Like, literally, there was the tagline.

Yeah, that was Sean's idea.

Okay, great.

But I mean, do we have anything else to go on besides our? I mean, so we were all miserable. Yes, clearly nothing, right? Yeah, because that was the only thing then. Then I think the first couple of weeks of really, really bad. I mean, it's a really bad enough that our sense of humor is not very mainstream, but we didn't get each other was really bad. So I remember Mark pulled us into a meeting room and he sat

Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, oh, wonderful. Yeah. As with all partnerships, eventually it moved on. After that, you were teamed with Bobby. Was it you and Bobby? Yes. Yeah.

I think Bobby and I were really horrible together in the sense that I hated it. We hated each other. You know, to a point where we thought, OK, this. This is in part because I feel like I feel like at that point of time, I thought he wasn't very serious about radio, right? So we had a lot of like in-person fights to a point where we're like, You know what? We're adults, let's go. Let's figure out where we could get out of this partnership so we

Yeah, exactly. You guys are good friends. I that's all I was going to see here. But, you know, so yeah, it's funny how radio partnerships don't necessarily blossom into two to two relationships or friendships. But but, you know, sometimes if it doesn't work really only in real life, you can become real buddies.

It's true. And I think he's just such a wonderful person, like he doesn't have a single grudge bone in his body off the radio. Obviously, I don't hate anybody. Like, it was just like, you know, I need to explain why I was the way I was. And then he said why he was the way he is obviously bitched about each other to our own personal set of friends, right?

That's wonderful. Yeah. I mean, I have to say to be honest that that there are times that because we knew we were there when you and Bobby were paired together, and now we see you and Bobby are like, you know, Instagram. And they were like, Yeah,

how come they're so good friends

with each other

resolve our individual

results? So after all those years in radio, who would you say is your is the best friend you've made out of radio?

I think so way. So we're doing

what we all

love, so. She's like my she's my first friend on radio. When I joined soccer radio, like every one of us was so busy with their thing. And I think they also felt a bit like, Oh, I don't know, not sure what to make of this new girl who just joined so soon. It's like the only one like, hello. Welcome. Can I show you around kind of music, do you like? So she's been like at this level, high energy, a lot of love from then when I knew her until now. So like, she's just one of my closest like chosen

amazing. Oh, that's so nice. And you do such an awesome impersonation of Sue.

Yeah, yeah.

And I, of course, I keep in touch about.

Right. She's in the US, right? The US

fit me. No, she didn't. She she wanted to go to the US to like, I think, write music, but you just let it stop in Sydney for a while. Her country, home country in order to, you know, get the visa, the one visa to get into America. Yeah. But I think somewhere along the way, a baby happened and that happened happened.

And everybody in Australia is going to stay within the borders, right? So of course.

And plus, she's a mum

for people who don't know, we're talking about Vanessa Fernandez, who is a fantastic US singer. Yes. And of course, I used to be in radio for, for, for many, many, many years. Yeah, but in recent years, you also transit a little bit into acting. Oh yeah.

Why are you? Let me you a transition? What do you feel is a mistake?

Oh, I see you then say that

if I absolutely have you guys like that before? Come on.

I mean, I have very small parts of growth, very small.

But do you not feel uncomfortable? Yes.

Yeah, I me. Well, that's only because we're we're we're true and true radio people. Just the whole thing is it's not a thing like, yeah, but but I mean, you know, you, you did it. You you. Why? Why? Why do

we it? What will your characters do? You have to play yourself? Oh, no,

no, no, no, no. For sure. No one's interested in us.

I think the most high-profile role Vurnon ever had was something to do with what you can write. What you going? Yeah, yeah. So I think the most highbrow horror I ever had was like a Hawkins picking Bing, which couldn't be more different.

Yeah. And the ball python.

Yeah, yeah, you know, so it was very weird and all that waiting around and all that memorizing is just like, is this shit we don't do? So but you know the tell us, tell us your point of view. I mean,

I can't act. I really can't I. When I was twenty one after graduating from film school, I think my first job for eight months until I got it was a casting director and I just wanted to. Yeah, Channel five. Oh, I think director, OK. And I don't know if you know this guy on sale sale.

Yeah, I

know. Channel five. Yeah, that's right. That's right. Let me know, why do you fire you? Because I was OK, so it doesn't do my one year contract. He fired me, says Ross. I'm going to let you go, but I'm not going to fire you. You're going to tender your resignation in two weeks because you're not performing and you're not telling people to just copy the actors, right? When the Court of Law and Order as it like, OK, I'll only do it because I was transitioning from Rita

Are you saying that if they if they call you for another show, you wouldn't do it?

I would say it is like two seasons forward for fun. Then season five came about. I was like, OK, fine. I guess it's not that difficult, but season five, there was some real character development and I had to properly act and I was just sweating in my pits because it was really not my comfort zone and I wasn't excelling in it. I think I put a lot pressure on myself to excel and I wasn't doing a good job. I got embarrassed that I taken up a slot that

OK, yeah. So I guess, and I'm gonna hurt you.

No, no, no. Yeah, I'm sort of

between between now and Mexico, which is, I think, say February. So that's actually a very short six months, I think. And any major projects you want to tell people about, announce or, you know, you just

on the DL? No, it's just, I think, just small, small things. I think Singapore festivals coming up, just hosting some livestreams, but not all of it. Cool. Yeah, it's a small thing. And I'm creating some content with both swag in myself until I leave. Yes, I just got this car, but just temporary. Just passed my driving licence.

No, no. I thought you didn't have a license. What do you mean? You just got the car? Exactly. You just passed.

So I passed. I got my licence April 28 last year. And then, yeah, then I rented a banged up Suzuki just to practice myself. I believe myself familiarized myself with like that fucking situation. They don't prepare you for that in the study. Exactly, yeah. And the deal with Volkswagen just came in a six month thing.

That's nice. Perfect, perfect timing. What colors? What colors the Volkswagen,

you know, allow simple color. It'll be like something funky. So it's like poor, mellow yellow. But it looks green to me. It's like,

OK, OK,

we know which car to avoid

asking for the color.

But seriously, though, I've never I've never felt more like a criminal that as a car owner, suddenly like, you know, just speeding a little or like running a red light makes you feel like a criminal.

Right, right?

Yeah. Like, there's so much anxiety that I'd want to break the law.

Yeah, sure, sure. You'll feel full

it every day. It's like your phone vibrates, but you cannot even glance at it, you know, just the small things like that. You'll get over it already very, very, very fast when you go, OK, well, drive safe. At least I say, Yeah, for sure, man, you know. Yeah, if if we see you on the road, you definitely honk you.

I'll stop the car and go back off of you.

One more. One more thing to do before we go. Rosa and thank you for spending the time with us. Is this thing where we like to turn the tables? So we're asking you questions for half an hour? You're probably sick of it already. Let's let's let's let's turn it around. Where now you've known us for so many years? Is there a question that you've always wanted to but never got to ask us?

OK, I think I want to ask both of you. And it's not something that I've been keeping inside me for many years. It's just something I've suddenly thought of now. OK, let's be real guys like the masseuse, Jeff, and we have so many things to do to man. Then there's nothing we have not said to each other.

Exactly, exactly.

I've got I've got a fresh question for you. Sure. Let you know, being pioneers on radio. I mean, you joined since you 16, right? Just in the way up, right? And same with London as well. You've seen people come and go. Right. I want to know your thoughts on like people who are not radio people and then joining radio because their own careers are not working out, right?

Oh oh,

oh,

oh my goodness. Yeah, this has an aggressive question that is

so like just to make it very, very clear for the podcast listeners, right? Yeah. Like I'm telling it, I'm talking about like models and TV host and singers and whatnot. Yeah. Whose careers are suddenly not happening like a stalemate? And they were like, What to do next? Oh, let's join radio. Yep.

Well, we got a lot of those over the years, obviously. And yeah, and I think you you must feel the same way that we do. I mean, because we're so passionate about you.

Hey, leave me out of it. No, no, no, no. As in as in

you, you asked this question because I think, you know the passion that we have for radio and stuff like that. So yeah, it's really it's really frustrating sometimes because, you know, people think that radio is the second cousin of more glamorous things like TV and modelling and stuff like that. But, you know, to make it on radio, you know, there's a lot of hard work that goes into it and you have to have a certain degree of passion for it. Yeah.

Yeah, unfortunately. And the reason was for people who don't know the reason Ross raises his point is because and of course he's been he's been. It's happened many times over the years. And that's because over the years, unlike like when we first joined, radio radio has become so much more visual now, you know, so suddenly good looking people are more at the forefront and then got then got. We joined radio and we did.

Yeah, we never get hired.

If we try to join radio since like 2012, they're like, No thanks is piss off, you know? So, so by OK, the honest truth is this whenever we see someone who hired for their looks, it pisses us off because we're like, How does looking good equate to being good on radio? And never does it never, never, ever does, right? But it's been happening even to two recent times. You know, people get hired for their looks. But it is when, like what Vernon said, when you can, if they are

But the only consolation is, you know? Yeah, exactly. But the only consolation is people like that don't usually last very long. They don't. Yeah, so so I guess, you know, it's it's a learning curve for for whoever hires these people, but yeah, some of you will never learn that. Oh, well, you know.

You know, yeah, about my body. But yeah, I mean, and if you talk to the radio people and as this select group of us, we like to call the radio people, you know, because you're in this group to rise, we all feel it. We all feel it when people are not hired for their talent because a lot of them think radio is easy. Or to on you oughta know, Tony. You know, it's not. You have to. You've got to put in so much work and effort. And if you don't and you just try to say good bye by

So we miss you so much.

We miss, you know, we should. We should do it. You know, you are fully vaccinated, right? Yesterday, OK, oh no. He's done all right. We can hang out for amusement. Hopefully, before you leave, I'll make you. Yeah, yeah,

let's go eat something Mexican.

No, no. She's not that for her. Bye bye. You take care of yourself. Thank you for being on the show and please drive safe, please.

OK, bye bye birdie. Another inside joke.