Angie Martinez IRL - Queen Latifah Reflects on Legendary Career, Balancing Fame & Private Life

28:01I think so. And how much of that is like the key to what you've been able to do for so long? I think it's very important. Yeah. I think it's very important. And I think I grew up in a very creative household. My parents were a police officer and who wanted to be an architect. That's your dad? Yeah. Very creative, listened to jazz, played percussion. So a musical household as well. My mom became an art teacher, but we watched her go to school. So she wasn't already, she didn't already have a diploma when we were kids. She went to school. She went to college. Sometimes she would take us to school with her because she didn't have a babysitter.

28:41And there's a janitor that worked there that would watch us while she took her classes. So not only did we, you know, we actually got to see the work that went into her achieving this degree. And so there was a lot of learning, hands-on learning that we got to see. Also, my grandfather owned a hardware store. So we got to see business people in front of us growing up. You know, anybody could get a job. Any one of my cousins could work at the hardware store where my grandfather and his brothers owned it. And a lot of business went through there. My grandmother was very much a hustler, smart, just knew how to talk to people.

29:22I mean, they just lived at a different level. So Newark was not the Newark that people talk about. It was a thriving metropolis with a million plus people. And I got to see a whole lot of things growing up and a lot of success in our own ways. I also grew up in Maryland and Virginia where my mother's side of the family was from. So it was slow. Got to get away from the city, appreciate nature, be in the country, go to church every Sunday, go on to vacation Bible school, whether you like it or not. Nobody's sleeping in the house on a Sunday. It's not happening. I don't care who you are or your religion.

30:00You're going to be at church on a Sunday. So there was something to that. Oh, so there's a lot of discipline in that. Yeah. There's faith in that. There's how you treat people in that. And there's music in that. And there's music in that. There's music in that. But all those things that you talk about, how they define you, it's all rooted in that upbringing and that setting and that thing. It's nice to hear you talk about your brother, too, because when he comes up for us, it's always in the sad part of his existence. But hearing about him in the joyful, how close you were. Oh no, that was my brother.

30:33People thought we were twins because we looked alike. Yeah. As soon as we saw each other, we were just like puppies. We would just hug each other, do something very loving or very silly and people got to see what a loving sibling relationship looked like. So it was very normal for us. So good. And I know at some point my mother was like, listen, I understand that you, I get it. It was my brother who actually brought it to my attention that my mother was stressing about me hanging out and being in the streets like that. And he was like, come on, Dio. Mommy crying. I was like, what? Crying? I made mommy cry?

31:08It was so out of the realm of reality for me. And he was like, yeah. I was like, oh, man. I got to talk to mommy. And I was 17 at that time. So we're talking about two years of just going at it. In the streets, yeah. And my mom and I had to talk. Why do you think she was crying? Did she think she was going to lose you? I think she was definitely. I think she was worried about me. That particular night, I remember I went out to a club. I expected my friends to be there. None of my friends were there. And I went out with no money. And I was like, oh, my God, I'm stuck in the city. By the way, guys, no cell phones, no beepers.

31:46Nope. There's nothing at this time. You're just outside until you're not. And buses and trains, all that stuff starts running in Jersey. Yeah. So I'm stuck in the city. Like, how am I going to get home? So my mother has a cousin who lives in Castle Hill in the Bronx. So I said, okay, I can hop this turnstile and I can just take it to Castle Hill. Then I walked to her house and I knocked on her door. She was a nurse at the hospital locally. And I was like, it's Dana, Rita's daughter. And now she's like, what? Come on in. She led me into a room, let me spend the night. Called my mother, of course.

32:21This is my mother's first cousin. She called my mother, let her know where I was. Gave me train fare and bus fare to get home because she had to work. And I took the train home. And by the time I got back to East Orange, it felt like I traveled 150 miles. And it was time to just have a – and that's when I came in and my brother was like, Dee, what you doing? He was drinking some beer. I could tell. I was like, you tipsy. And then we used to wrestle a lot. So he grabbed me up like, who you got mommy crying? I was like, I got mommy crying. and I was like I couldn't believe I had done that to my mother and and so you know I had to talk to my mom and she talked we had a conversation about things and she was like ultimately it was like I know you're gonna continue to do what you're doing because you you have to do this I just need you to call me and let me know you safe wherever you are and I was like ma I promise you I will let you know wherever I am.

33:18Because I'm thinking, okay, she's going to let me still rile out a little bit. All I got to do is let her know I'm there. If I'm in Brooklyn, I'm there. It got so, it got to the point where everybody would watch. You call your mother? Yo, you call your mother? Yo, you call your mother? No, no, no. Let me get in the door. Like, for real. You really were protected. I was protected. Everybody, like, the whole Flavor unit, if I was in Mark's basement, yo, call your mother. I'm in my friends, I'm in Bed-Stuy, my girl Gigi's house. You call your mother? Call my mother. I'm in the Bronx. You call your mother?

33:53I call my mother. Like I have to call my mother or somebody. Ramsey, tell my mother I'm here. Pass the number along, make sure she knows where I am. And from that moment on, it was like, it was like we were adults. You know, we were women dealing with one another rather than just mother-daughter. You know what I mean? And it was a different kind of cadence in our relationship that really made the difference because she knew I needed to do this and that it was a purpose in it. She could see it. She could see it in my friends. She could hear it because I would play my little songs for her. I would rhyme for her or make up a song and sing it for her.

34:26So she knew that I was called to make music. I was called, something was calling me and she wanted me to follow my creative path. She just didn't want to worry about my life. You know what I mean? And I can respect that. I get it. God bless. How lucky were you? How much has that informed you as a mom now? Like, what kind of mom are you? I don't even know you as mom. I don't know that I know me as mom. What do you mean? You've been doing it for seven years now. I know. Well, the day he got here, I was like, I'm sorry. To your mother? I'm so sorry. What was I thinking? Was I crazy? What? I'm sorry.

35:10Oh, my God. Is that how you talk to her? I was so mad at me. I do. I talk to her like she's right here. I'm like, Ma, I don't know what I was thinking. God bless you. How could you so, I love you so much. How could you even think to be so nice to me after pushing me out like that? You know, I got stuck to, oh my gosh, and she still loves me. You and Mom, you know, it's just one of the most unselfish things you will ever do. And that's pretty much like I don't talk very much about my personal life like that because I need that to keep to keep for myself. And it has served you. It has. And that came from my mother, too.

35:50You know, my mother would tell me to keep, you know, keep your private seat, your private things private. And this house is this is for you. This is your sanctuary. So everybody can't come in your house. You know, out there is out there. But here should be like a safe space for you to be who you are. Because I need to take Queen Latifah off sometimes and sit her at the door and let just La come in the door, Dana come in the door and just be whoever she is. Yeah, I'm just mama, you know, like I'm bringing whatever I can to the table. You know, whether it's, I'm fortunate that I grew up with a brother who comes up with all kinds of craziness.

36:29So I'm never shocked when my son comes up with some madness or has jokes or wants to do something wild that everybody is like, and I'm like, okay, we're going to do that. But here's how we're going to do it. We're going to do that safely, but we're definitely jumping, but not from there. You know, so, you know, I bring it. We become our mothers, by the way. I know. We really do become our mothers. The only thing I will say, and I know I also value your privacy. You know what I mean? And I respect you so much that I would never want to push anything about you. But I will say it has been really joyful for people who love you to see you just seem and be free.

37:15That's really it. It's like I don't even want to know the details of all the intimacies of whatever, all the decision making. And I know you don't really want to share that, but you have been more open. You have been outside. You have been on carpets with your wife and everybody knows you have a child. I know. I've kind of always been outside, to be honest with you. Yeah, you haven't really been. It's not a lot of big secrets. You had to know me to know. If you know, you know, and if you don't, you don't. It wasn't like something I felt. I've seen people, you know, some people are really good at navigating public life.

37:49some people are really bad at it um and some of my peers my friends like that fame thing hit them and their anonymity went away and they were like they couldn't really handle that you know plus we're teenagers and we got to grow up still we're still growing up so that's really really tough to grow up in front of the world um but i never felt i also see people invite the world into their house and then come to regret it. So I don't really feel the need to put my whole life in everybody else's hands. It's not like something that's a desire I have for you to know what's going on in my house every five minutes or what I ate or how I sleep or what I'm doing.

38:31That's not for you. But you never felt trapped or like you felt like you had to hide anything? You know what I'm saying? Because I had the brat on and Judy. Have you ever spent time with the brat and Judy? I would like to spend some time with the brat you should absolutely spend time with them especially now they are so funny that's who I need to be around no they are so funny but the brat was explaining to me like you know there was a time she couldn't do certain things and be certain ways and that was just it that was the law and then she got to a point she was like look I just wanna I don't give a shit you stop caring you stop caring now she's way more open with her they tell her they got a reality show she's not like you she's way more open and that's her choices everybody's choices but I'm just saying like the feeling of feeling I don't know you just even the little bit that you share now you seem happy and free about it you don't seem pressed about it but you also I just wonder if there was another side of that if you ever felt definitely tight oh no question no question I felt tight from jump but what I felt was and I still feel it people think they know me and they don't like I'm still not the box you think I'm in.

39:38Like whatever you think, you're wrong nine times out of 10. And that is why I really can't justify all your thoughts, dear public. God bless you. Dear public. I cannot justify all your thoughts about me by either verifying or, you know, I don't need to clarify that because my life is much more rich than whatever you think. My life is way more colorful than all that. You know what I mean? I'm a Pisces. You know what I'm saying? A full-blooded, free-ranging Pisces over here, and I do what I feel. You know what I'm saying? So you may have to live your life like this. And so you're trying to figure out how does she live her life?

40:21Yeah, they want to know. They want to know. Oh, you can't even believe it. Whatever you thought, think bigger. You know what I mean? Go further. I heard you. You ain't far enough. Yes, that's good. Now go further. You know what I'm saying? Like if it's dangerous, no, it's more dangerous than that. Okay. If that's who she loved, no, no, no. Loved more than that. You know what I'm saying? Much more of that because it's actual real life. And again, I think it comes back to my family and just being around. I mean, it's the reason I can be, I never felt uncomfortable being in a room with different races of people.

40:56I never felt uncomfortable being around people who had more money. You could be a millionaire. you could be a billionaire it makes no difference to me I'm gonna speak to you and treat you just like anyone else in the room it came from my family and what they filled me with before I even stepped into the world at all so people are people but you're comfortable in any room is what you mean right like you're comfortable in most in good rooms in any good room in most and in some places listen I'm not perfect I've I've I've gotten burned by people too you know But I have to keep moving and I have to get up.

41:33I got my heart broke. I still choose to love. I've suffered unbelievable losses of family members. I still have to live because apparently I have to live. I'm still here. I love music. I always will. It's my default. Music is like my default with whatever I do. So if I were hosting this show, I would be playing some music to get me in a mood, to get me in a zone. If it's a scene in a film that I have to cry, I don't have to think of a sad thing anymore. I could put on a Clark Sisters record and the harmonies alone would make me want to cry. Really? So I'll be right there. Call action. You know what I mean?

42:18And that's a gift. And I've received that. And the faith that I have has been my superpower in a lot of ways because you're right. Those who are not walking around with it, they don't have this invisible person to talk to like I do. That's your mom, right? Okay, whether it's my mom or one of my other relatives, Winky, you the big brother. You better watch out for me. I could curse at him a little bit. You still talk to him that way? Yeah. You're supposed to be doing this. How come I have to do it? You the oldest. It's stupid. Do you talk to him as Winky that was a kid or do you have an evolved Winky?

42:55I haven't evolved Winky too because Winky as a kid still checked me as a little sister. Got it. You know what I mean? He still checked me on something. So if I catch myself cursing too much, I can hear him say, D, come on, you're cursing too much. And then I'm like, dang, how can you make me feel bad from way over there? Then I laugh and we laugh about it. You know, it's funny to me. So I like that I don't have those walls between the realms like some people do. And I'm not trying to be all spacey, but I just having to confront life and death like that at such a young age, you know, from the time my grandfather passed away when I was seven, I felt like we went back to back to back funerals.

43:36And so when you lose so many people that you love, you have to deal with the realities that this is a life. But it doesn't for me, it doesn't end there. You know, I can still feel the energy. I still get the messages and the guidance a little bit to go here, do this, do that. And I know it can't be me because I don't even know that to know it. You know, it might just be a feeling that I get. And so I just give it to God. How are you managing? Be careful how I ask this because I don't want to be too nosy. I like your thoughtful process. You like this? Look at me. Yeah. Look at me over here with it.

44:13Well, she's looking at Woody. I'm talking to one of my ancestors. I'm talking about one of my ancestors up there. No, you know, I'm trying to think how to ask this without being too nosy, but it's like, you know, you have made a shift, a public shift. Damn, did I? You did. What did I do? Stop. You are a married woman with a child. You do carpets with your wife. I met your wife at the Mary J. Blige concert, by the way. I think I met her briefly before, but I saw her there. She was going off. I told you we were coming up to the pod. She was like, good, get her. No, she didn't say it. Well, maybe she said something.

44:47She said it. Good Lord. It was great. But when you've let people in a little bit. I mean, you went on a stage. Okay, though. The tiniest bit. So I'm not going to ask about details about none of the intimate home. Thank you. I won't. I promise. I won't. But you did go on stage. You shout pride. You clearly are living in your truth and your family and your life. What was pride day? Dana. I can't do just the regular as shit. Stop. It got to be looked at deeper. It was the damn prime week in LA. No, I'm sorry. No, stop. Talk to me. You made a choice to do that. I did. Yeah, so what about, can you talk about that?

45:24Like that decision to just make that choice. In a woman who's had the career that you've had with the speculation for all those years and the decision to be so private, to make a decision to go, you know what? I'm going to just say this and leave it right there. Like that's a decision. like so what makes you make that decision and then what does that feel like i guess is the question i was getting a lifetime achievement award and i didn't want to leave out the people who were part of the lifetime yeah that makes sense yeah that's about it that was it that's it really it's really that simple it was not more complicated than that so not more complicated than that And it's funny because it's not always that deep.

46:13Some people think that if you don't share, it means you're hiding something versus I'm okay with just not sharing. I guess maybe that's the difference. I mean, maybe it's a combination of both. When I was growing up or kind of hanging out, even in this business, people are just so fascinated about people's private lives. You know what I mean? like, so fascinated by what you're doing with your private life. Why? Is it because you're curious? Is it because you're intrigued? Is it because you might, like, you'd be surprised. I think also sometimes people want to know how you're navigating. Listen, ask me personally how I'm navigating.

46:55But don't expect, unless it's Angie, I may tell you how I navigate. I mind my business. It's okay to mind your business and handle your business. I do try to mom on this Do you really? Yes I do, you know what I mean? Because I realize that a lot of people also like talking about other people's business and they when even before it was like all the pages and everything when it was like literally National Enquirer people would bring those things to me or bring gossip to people near me or around me and I was I'm like what is the point of this why are you telling me this like what do you think you're doing by telling me that you read something about me somewhere and then I gotta look at the person who's bringing me the message like what do you get out of it out of this like do you care about me do you see I'm about to go do this and you come put this on me what do you how do you think I'm gonna feel about that you know what I mean like there's nothing positive that's gonna to come from me having this knowledge right now so really this is for you this is not for me so I told everybody around me don't bring that shit to me if you read it you read it tell me later I don't want to hear that shit keep it where you at you know and so some of it and some of my ability to keep things to myself is me also respecting other people's privacy I know a lot about a lot of different people but it's not really my place for me to share their business necessarily you know um because many of them like myself we're all growing up you know i mean we're not perfect and i make mistakes and other people make mistakes too um when i need to say something else i'm i'm clear about it you know you step on my toe i'm gonna let you know say ouch um but every i don't have to say everything about everything like and i don't need to say everything about my private life because it's my private life and i love the people that are in my life amazon pharmacy presents painful thoughts it's been a long bumpy road dealing with yet another bladder infection and driving to the pharmacy to pick up meds i went over a pothole and a little pee came out.

49:22So now I get to stand in line with pee pee pants. Next time, skip the pain and get fast free delivery with Amazon pharmacy. Healthcare just got less painful.

49:37Support for the show comes from public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously on public. You can build a multi-asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto, and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index with ai it all starts with your prompt from renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20 year over year you can literally type any prompt and put the ai to work it screens thousands of stocks builds a one-of-a-kind index and lets you backtest it against the s p 500 then you can invest in a few clicks generated assets are like etfs with infinite possibilities.

50:13Completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com slash podcast and earn an uncapped 1 % bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com slash podcast. Paid for by Public Investing. Brokered services by Open to the Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA, and SIPC. Advisory services by Public Advisors, LLC, SEC Registered Advisor. Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment recommendation or advice. Complete disclosures available at public.com slash disclosures. Less support through telehealth, but it feels overwhelming and rushed, check out orderlymeds.com now.

50:44Orderlymeds.com was built to be different. Here, you connect with real doctors who take the time to understand your goals, review your eligibility, and guide you through a plan that's right for you. Orderlymeds provides access to proven GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and terzepatide, including both name brand options and personalized compound versions when appropriate. So you have choices backed by clinical oversight, not guesswork. It's a simpler, more supportive telehealth experience designed around people who want clarity, care, and confidence in their weight loss journey. And your medication is delivered directly to your home in discreet packaging.

51:19So your experience stays private from start to finish. Do your research, ask the right questions, then visit orderlymeds.com slash podcast for an exclusive offer. Again, that's orderlymeds.com slash podcast. Individual results may vary. Not medical advice. Eligibility required. See site for details. The following ad is sponsored by Pets Best Insurance Services. You knew right away he's perfect. The one for you. Those puppy dog eyes, that cute little button nose. You don't even mind the drool. When you find your perfect match in a dog or cat, the love is unconditional. Your budget, on the other hand, has realistic limits.

51:58Help protect your heart and your wallet with pet insurance from Pets Best. With plans starting from less than a dollar a day, you can get up to 90 % cash back on eligible vet bills. Pets Best makes it easy to pick a plan that works for you and your bank account. Find the perfect match for your perfect match at PetsBest.com. Pet insurance products offered and administered by Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC, are underwritten by American Pet Insurance Company or Independence American Insurance Company. For terms and conditions, visit www.petsbest.com backslash policy. Products are underwritten by American Pet Insurance Company, Independence American Insurance Company, or MS Transverse Insurance Company, and administered by Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC.

52:32One dollar a day premium based on 2024 average new policyholder data for accident and illness plans, pets age zero to 10. You know, or maybe, maybe I'm getting cheated on, or maybe I'm getting my heart broken, or maybe I'm down in the dumps, or maybe I'm drinking too much, like, and maybe I need to deal with me. So what do you want me to tell all y 'all that? For what? But let me work on this. Let me go work on this. Let me work on me. And so maybe that's been part of it. Or I talk to the people I know who actually care about me. You know, I don't go to people who are strangers who don't necessarily have my best interests at heart.

53:10I talk to the people who actually care about me and try to navigate my life with them. and they also try to do the same with me. And so we need to know we have this circle of protection, this circle of safety, of safe, I don't know what word I'm trying to use, but I mean, even with you, there's things I would tell you because we've known each other a thousand years. I would feel more comfortable telling you than I would tell somebody else. Me and you can have a straight up off-the-record conversation the moment we walk out this door and they're not here. Well, thank you for trusting me. And of course, but I know parts of your life, It's none of their business.

53:46You know what I mean? It's parts of mine. I also understand, and somebody who actually cares about you and respects you, I understand. I was literally sitting in the room earlier thinking about, I want to ask about this and I want to ask about this. And then I thought to myself, I think it's really beautiful the way she has navigated her life this long and just given people enough to stand on your business, stand on your work, stand on your integrity and how you carry yourself, and that you could even have this moment now where you give them just a little. And it's okay. And people are so happy to see it because you seem happy.

54:24Like from the outside. I'm trying to be happy all the time. You seem happy. I don't want a lot to be happy about. I think people are happy for you. I think for the most part. I mean, you can't everybody listen. There's a sick world out there with a lot of people who are very unhappy. But I think most people who know you and have been raised with you and they see you, they're like, yeah, we love to see that. I mean, do you feel that? I do feel that. You know what I'm saying? I do feel that. Even if I occasionally, when I get on, I see the comments that people have and most of the time it's always very positive and I just stick with the positive stuff and then somebody always goes left out.

55:02Okay. But even for you, take you out of the equation and I think about people watching and in the spirit of like real life and learning the lessons of that. It's like you not sharing all of those things. I think lots of women making this mistake now because of social media and because of our need to overshare all the time. And that shit stays with you forever. And then you're walking around with not only trying to figure out like how you said, am I drinking too much? Am I doing this? Like that's the shit we all need to be working on. But all of our stuff is outside because we're looking at other people's things.

55:36We're looking at the comments. We're looking at what we should be doing and what our skin should look like and what we should be wearing. It's like everything is external versus what we're managing inside. Yeah, we lose a lot of our natural instincts, I think. You know, if we always are looking for validation or even justification, we're looking for someone else to tell us that we're right. I mean, there's a lot of gaslighting that can happen. I've just seen so much. I've also, you know, I always, I just, I love smart women. I always have loved smart women. I've always, I grew up around a lot of smart women.

56:19My freshman year of high school, I went to all girls Catholic school in Irvington, New Jersey. I'm still in a group chat with my friends from high school, like my crew. And they are so smart. You know what I mean? And they're mothers and got graduates. and they're going through ups and downs, but they just, I just appreciate, and they have such varied opinions. You know, they have such different opinions. But they all still have to walk the individual paths. And I respect that. You know what I mean? And I think that we, we need to be okay with walking our path and knowing that we'll come out on the other end of things.

57:02Like if I, if I can share some wisdom of my life to let you know that I fell in a hole so deep, I couldn't find the bottom of it. And then I was like, help. And somehow I came up out of that and I was out of it. And I just put one foot in front of the other. Then, and that helps you, then I want you to know that, that I did go through that. You know what I mean? I want you to know that I've gone through hell and back. I have a reason to smile, you know? And whenever I get too much in my own head, I start praying. I pray. I pray it away. I start saying, hold up, wait a minute. I don't have this.

57:49I ain't got it. I don't got it. Listen, I need you to protect my son, protect my family, protect this house. I just go off. And then before you know it, I'm calm. I'm all right. Because then I remember I'm not in control of this. I didn't invent this whole thing. There's no way I could control it all. And once I remember that, that I let go of the wheel a little bit, then I get back to just being me, doing my portion of it, sharing my gifts, you know saying the things that only dana owens will say it's just it's the truth you know it's the truth because there's so much right now i wish i could control in this world with what we're looking at but i will only i will do what i can you know i will do what i can and that's what i can do and i can be content with that it may not change everything but you never know and every little bit will change something so i try to stay positive and keep a positive attitude because i I just can't give in to negativity.

58:47Like, I can't wake up every day like, somebody going to die. This going to happen. I don't want to hear that shit. You know what I mean? Because guess what? Somebody did die. It already happened. And it's going to happen. And I don't want to live in that space. I want to live in a space that, you know, goes beyond that. Somebody's also going to take their first steps today. Somebody is also going to, like, swim for the first time. You know what I mean? And somebody's going to save somebody in the swimming pool today. It's not just going to be a drowning. Like you are telling those stories. Those stories get a lot of publicity.

59:19Tell good stories. You know, you'll see some, you'll find it when you tell good. If you want to find the good, you'll find the good. So I try to find the good because I need to keep my head above water. And the negative is not going to do that for me. I love that. Did you hear a good story today? Let's see. I mean, this is a good story. You are a good story. Angie Martinez came in my dressing room, sat on a giant pillow and levitated. I didn't levitate. She sat in a lotus position. The next thing you know, she floated. And I took a picture of it and I was like, you know what? I'm going to look at this picture when I need to get in a good mood.

59:54I'm going to look at you just sitting there. And I'm going to feel good about something. And I know that that picture is going to come in handy one day. That might really be a simple key to life, really. It's like, because right now people are struggling to navigate this. It is stressful. Even myself, man, I be struggling some days. Me too. I get scared. I get scared of shit. Like I get, I get scared of myself almost because I can't fix it. I want to fix things. I want to help. I want to say the right thing. I want to be, I want to inspire somebody. I want to, I want to challenge myself. Like all, I want to do all these things.

1:00:30And there's so much going on in the world that it's, it's hard sometimes. And so for me, like you, I try to, okay, hold up. Yep. Hold on. Calm, calm your ass down. There you go. What can you control today? Yeah. What is good today? What you got for me today? Yeah. How are you going to use me today? Yep. And let's just get through today. How about that? You know what I mean? How about just the next 30 minutes? Maybe we going too far with this. Let's just, you know. Right here. Right here. That just is making me think of one time I went to go see you. You were hosting, you were doing a show and I was introducing you.

1:01:13and I think it was your jazz album. Oh, wow. And it was here in LA, the outdoor, what's that outdoor? The Hollywood Bowl. The Hollywood Bowl. You're doing the Hollywood Bowl, I'm introducing you. Now I am backstage, my hair is like not doing right, I didn't like what I was wearing, so I'm fidgeting, I'm this and this, and she's getting ready to go out to perform and sing in a way that you didn't really sing in front of people before. It's a new thing. I'm rattled because my hair, my outfit's not really hitting right. She's calm as a cucumber and your demeanor is so calm and I realize what this what you're experiencing what you're expressing you had it even then like you have this kind of like let me just let me just deal with this moment right here let me be you don't like you just I remember looking at you like she's mad and this ain't all going right there were things going wrong last minute people were running in oh the light didn't go off hey I need you to redo this hey and people get scattered you were kind of like okay all right well let me get that like you just you had this demeanor about you that people could be throwing the damn kitchen sink at you and you did not seem to be rattled and I was so inspired by that no really like I was inspired by it because I think that's part of what it takes to be great is to be able to weather fucking noise right and shit yep and still operate at a high level.

1:02:36Yeah. You know what I'm saying? I absolutely know what you're saying. Yeah. And you do that really well. I think I've seen a lot going on around me. And I have to grab onto the things that calm me. And I also seen people that I thought were, that I held in much higher esteem get nervous. And I'm like, I'm nervous about this. I just have a process to certain ways that I do things. I remember actually playing the Hollywood Bowl, and I think my life got off so early. I didn't have the history of all the places that we had gone and the doors we had walked through and how people had been through some of these doors, and some of them were the first Black people to even play some of these places I had played.

1:03:23But everybody was putting so much seriousness on it, and some people I really respect who are accomplished, and I said, mm-mm. I remember taking I had a show at the bowl on a Sunday I rode my motorcycle from my house to the Hollywood Bowl on that Saturday and luckily there was no show, they were on a break at the time, I was like yo I gotta perform here tomorrow, you mind if I like pull up for a second and just so the guy let me in I pulled up on stage, parked my motorcycle he knows who I am kinda, you know what I mean? kinda knows who I am and I just walked out into the crowd. I walked out into the audience and I just looked at the stage.

1:04:09From like way up.

1:04:13I was like, I'm going to buy you this tomorrow. I'm going to kill this tomorrow. Okay, Cleo. You got to go, Cleo. And then I left. And then I left. And then the next day I was like, let's go, you know. Because I had to even take it in like, okay, it's at least 5 ,000 people going to be right here. I got to get it. I got to get it. I got to do this. But that was my homework. It wasn't about being in rehearsal. It wasn't about being with the band. It wasn't about the perfect. Again, again. It was about take this moment and just see where you are. Because tomorrow is going to be filled with people.

1:04:53Imagine them sitting right here looking at you there. How are you going to project? What are you going to do to talk to this person with the seats up here? And this is the stuff my mind goes on. So I said, okay. I know what to do for you. And some of it is just relating to you back there in that seat rather than what's right in front of you, you know. And then some of it is relating to what's in front of you. So good. You know what I mean? But I was just so grateful because, like, again, some of the people in my band that do this in their sleep were like, we're playing a Hollywood Bowl. We're playing a bowl.

1:05:27We're playing a bowl. We're playing a bowl. I'm like, okay, if you're nervous, should I be nervous? I'm not. I'm not about to. No. No, no, no, no. I'm not doing that. I've seen things in different ways I've been on these roads too long I'm going to show up with my crown let me put my joint on tilt it a little yep there we go we got it now let's get out there and give the people what they want and that was what we did so I'm glad you got to make that observation because that's probably why you saw me looking so calm yeah wow that's amazing that's the back story there's always a back story there's always a prep there's always an internal process that everybody has to go through to make sure that your crown is sitting the way it's supposed to sit you do and it's yours and it's meant to be done your way and you ain't gonna find it in the comment section no you need to just trust yourself sometimes and that's the concern with looking outwards for everything if you're looking outwards to develop something on the inside maybe you know but it all has to come from here and when I look at the chats with my friends from high school they're all developed in here and we have been through hell and back still going through it like still can talk about everything that we are going through at our big ages but there's just like a a difference in the development on the inside you know that is no different than when we were freshmen in high school like it was already happening then so when I when I see people negate the youth voice.

1:07:04It's one of the things that irritates me most. When you don't listen to kids, when you don't listen to young people, it annoys me. It does because they're not jaded yet. They're not cynical yet. They haven't learned enough about the world to be afraid of everything, you know, and they have great ideas. They're willing to do things. And so what do you do? You take your old ideas and you shove it down there, you know, noses and tell them who to be and how to be. And then you kind of it's like you don't ruin that. Yeah. You know, and I think my mother had a lot to do with that, too. And my father just watching my mother pour a little bit of something on so many so-called thugs.

1:07:48What? You mean businessmen? You mean doctors? You mean that lawyer? You mean that that owner of that new company? You mean that music person? I watched them. I watched them come in the room like this and she say something and then he just like, the whole posture changes. They come in with a smile. Hey, you know, how you doing, my soul? And I'm like, mm-hmm. So sometimes you need to water, you got to water the flowers, you know. Including yourself. Including ourselves. Including ourselves. So that's what I try to do. I try to pour some positive energy on myself when I'm feeling like I don't have it or I'm not feeling 100%, which is quite often.

1:08:30I find something good to read. I find something funny to look at. Or I draw. You draw? Yeah. You nice? I don't know if I'm nice, but I'm nice enough to just draw a square in perspective. Fat Joe is a very good friend of mine. He's my neighbor. so I go and his wife is one of my best friends so I be staying at the house sometimes right so I'll come down in the morning and get some breakfast and I go in there he's in his office and he's no he's he draws he has these things of crack it says crack it's like 3 ,000 3 ,000 cars so I call him Picasso Joe Picasso and he'd just be in there just drawing with his glasses and I'm like I love I love that for you I love that you're like a painter he just he draws art little graffiti crack Yes.

1:09:19All over the place. Yes. Whatever it takes. Whatever it takes. Whatever it takes. That's his piece. I wanted to learn how to play violin. Really? Anybody got one? You can do it. It's not too late. I know. What was the last good thing you learned how to do? What was the last interesting thing you learned? What's the last new thing you learned how to do? Damn. It's something. Trick question. Well, be a mom, I guess. Still kind of being a mom. That's in progress. You're only seven years in. Yes. Learn to listen to you. no new hobbies no new tricks something for a movie something for something to do I don't know look I'm looking through my life right now I learned how to golf you're looking at my life oh we should go I would love to go golfing with you do you golf?

1:10:04I hear that I could golf if I actually practice no I have you've tried it and you're okay? yeah you're decent? you're friends with Jada aren't you? she's a golfer no? so come on Let's go golfing. Light is a golfer. I have to be here. Light. She can't beat me at everything. Spinderella golfs. There's a world out here. What are we doing? I'm going to take you. I'm going to go with you. I'm not the greatest golfer, but I love it. I'm obsessed. And I think there's a beauty in it. Do you just like the clothes? No, I don't give a shit about the clothes. I go out there and whatever. I don't care. I'm not.

1:10:39No. I like outfit, but I don't really care. Most days I'd be out there. I go out there by myself. I will do a hole 18 by myself in some gray sweat shorts and a little tank top. And I will golf 18 holes. And I find beauty in the grass. I find beauty in the quiet. I find beauty in being in my own head and trying to figure something out quietly without any interruptions. There's no multitasking. It's just like my painting. My painting is the same thing. Anyway, I would love to take you. I'm going to take you. All right, we have a couple of segments, okay? Before you go, we're not going to let you leave here.

1:11:17No, because I got to figure out what I learned. You have not learned anything. Stop. I know I've learned something. You are the daughter of an educator. I know. That's why I got to really recount these things. She's going to be pissed if you don't figure this out. Need it. First of all, real quick, because I have an in-real-life question. First of all, the Hall of Fame induction is really fucking cool. I had nothing to do with it, and thank you. What are you going to say in your speech? Do you know? I have no idea. Okay. I'm gonna practice my tears are you gonna cry you're definitely gonna cry does it make you emotional these things or not anymore that might everybody's excited about that one I think it's really cool I think it is too what does success look like to you right now you've done a lot personal what kind of success I don't know who's success I don't know like is there another level of success that you wish to attain is there anything that you're chasing or feel like you have to conquer still always always even even you know just finishing things just finishing the things that I have started like I told you I'm gonna play you a bunch of music so much music that I just need to finish I'll be I'll be happy to finish that you know I'm happy to finish just basic tasks I'm gonna be a better parent you You know what I mean?

1:12:39Like this, to me, I'm going, I want to be a better, I want to cook better. I want to design better. I mean, I'm a constant student. So whatever it is I'm interested in, I want to get better at it. You know, I want to read more, draw more, paint more. There's many things. I want to learn how to fix my car. You don't know how to fix your car? No, but I want to be under the hood of that joint. You know what we think. You know what we think. What? we think that Cleo is inside of you. Like, that she holds space inside of you. Cleo knows how to fix cars. Cleo knows how to do a few things. Don't she know?

1:13:21Don't she know how to do a few things. Is she not inside of you? I respect Cleo. Is she not? Is that a myth that we have in our head? No. Like, is there any of her in you? Yeah. Yeah, definitely. I just saw clips because I was preparing. I was looking at a bunch of stuff, and I was like, yo. No, no. you're so and you're such a baby like your skin looks so you look like such a baby in that I don't know it's just like I was like look at her she looks so I don't know she looks like a baby and so good you just like you wrapped your arms around that character in a way that was different I wanted to that was the goal I was like y 'all can't see because people don't see you as you people don't always see what you can achieve what you see for yourself you know what I mean um And it's something I said to the graduates at North Carolina A &T.

1:14:10You have to, don't be afraid to drive down that road that the world doesn't see for you yet. Because you see it. You know, you see that you have that vision. You have that imagination. You can see yourself like that. But the world may not be able to see you in that role yet. So now you got to show them so that they, in their small imagination, can now see it in front of them. And so, like, there's so many things. And so whatever I think of that I think I can do, I know I can do. I just need to put the work in to do it and make the time to do it. I need to figure that out. But are pieces of you and all those Khadijah and Cleo.

1:14:51Definitely. There are pieces of you, right? Yeah, for sure. I mean, Khadija is me in so many ways because Yvette literally rode around in a car with me for weeks, looking, studying my mannerisms and my ways and my lingo and writing for me, you know. um cleo is comprised of my aunt some of my former classmates like a few people that i actually know i i made her made sense make sense by figuring out who she was because i know somebody you know in high school that was nice with the hands and was just knocking girls out for what but that's one of the girls i found out lost her mother so it was really like she didn't know what to do with those feelings and that anger.

1:15:38And so her friends, who she loved and who loved her, all they had to do was point, and she was going to handle it. And I was like, that makes sense. Cleo is going to go all out for her friends. She doesn't have parents. We'll never see Cleo's parents in that movie. This is her family. Her girls are her family. So she's going to go all out for them. It made sense. I had to make it make sense. Amazon Pharmacy presents Painful Thoughts Of course I see my co-worker in light at the pharmacy Can he tell I'm picking up prescription hemorrhoid cream? I'm probably standing weird Why is he smiling? He knows He's going to call me hemorrhoid Lloyd tomorrow I know it I've got to quit my job Next time, avoid awkward conversations and get fast free delivery with Amazon Pharmacy Healthcare just got less painful Support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously.

1:16:36On Public, you can build a multi-asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto, and now generated assets, which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index with AI. It all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20 % year over year, you can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one-of-a-kind index, and lets you backtest it against the S &P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like ETFs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's.

1:17:11Go to public.com slash podcast and earn an uncapped 1 % bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com slash podcast. Paid for by Public Investing. Brokered services by Open to the Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA and SIPC. Advisory services by Public Advisors, LLC, SEC Registered Advisor. Generated assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment recommendation or advice. Complete disclosures available at public.com slash disclosures. Are you trying to get weight loss support through telehealth, but it feels overwhelming and rushed?

1:17:37Check out orderlymeds.com now. Orderlymeds.com was built to be different. Here, you connect with real doctors who take the time to understand your goals, review your eligibility, and guide you through a plan that's right for you. Orderlymeds provides access to proven GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and terzepatide, including both name brand options and personalized compound versions when appropriate. So you have choices backed by clinical oversight, not guesswork. It's a simpler, more supportive telehealth experience designed around people who want clarity, care, and confidence in their weight loss journey.

1:18:11And your medication is delivered directly to your home in discreet packaging. So your experience stays private from start to finish. Do your research. Ask the right questions. Then visit orderlymeds.com slash podcast for an exclusive offer. Again, that's orderlymeds.com slash podcast. Individual results may vary. Not medical advice. Eligibility required. See site for details. Protect your pet with insurance from PetsBest. Plans start from less than a dollar a day. Visit petsbest.com. Pet insurance products offered and administered by PetsBest Insurance Services, LLC, are underwritten by American Pet Insurance Company or Independence American Insurance Company.

1:18:47For terms and conditions, visit www.petsbest.com backslash policy. Products are underwritten by American Pet Insurance Company, Independence American Insurance Company, or MS Transverse Insurance Company, and administered by Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC. One dollar a day premium based on 2024 average new policyholder data for accident and illness plans, pets age zero to ten. So good. So legend. Yeah, man. And we had an East Coast premiere for that. I remember it was like the whole hip hop world was at that premiere. And I knew when that kiss came, it was... Everybody was like, like the whole theater went crazy the whole theater went nuts what did you feel like though i felt crazy but i was laughing because i went to see the movie eight times in in the theaters because listen i was poor poor shy my mother everybody's like okay we gotta this is here this is gonna happen i'm like it's in the script sorry it's in the script it is what it is it's not like I is missing it is in the script if I sign up to do this I sign up to the script so but how else would you see me as an actor if I don't step outside of who you know me as who I really am I have to stretch myself you know in order for to even be considered for some other roles I have to let you see me in a different way so that was kind of the thing definitely part of your greatness I'm sure acting greatness Greatness, boo.

1:20:18Taking chances. Gotta take chances. Hey, guys, you ever sign up for a phone plan thinking, wow, what a great price? And then a few months later, it's like, surprise, your bill is higher. We hate that. With Boost Mobile, you pay$25 a month forever. That's unlimited talk, text, and data starting at just$25 a month. There's no price hikes, there's no contract, and this is forever. Plus, Boost Mobile is now a legit nationwide 5G network. They invested billions building 5G towers across the country. So what you need to do is visit BoostMobile.com or head to your local Boost store today and get unlimited talk, text and data for$25 a month forever.

1:20:565G speeds not available in all areas. After 30 gigabytes, customers may experience slower speeds. Customers will pay$25 a month as long as they remain active on the Boost Unlimited plan. We have a segment called Voice Notes. It's our Boost Mobile voice note. Is it Boost Mobile? Well, the university, I don't know. they'll fix it later so we have a second it's called a voice note it's usually a friend of the show whatever and so I ran into a friend the mutual friend I mentioned that you were coming on the show and she just had a little note for you so it's just a little quick voice note and I thought she was perfect because I always hear stories like I had said to you before about how you pour into people and I remember a story about reading a story about you talking about how this woman had poured into you one time so it's a quick little note voice note but I'm gonna play it in you talk with you.

1:21:42Queen, queen, queen. Thank you for so many things. And thank you for being my daughter. You know, when we did that show, Star, you're just such a wonderful person for so many reasons. So many things that you've done for me that you don't know I know. And it's because you love me. And I love you too, honey. Thank you and happy Mother's Day. Oh my god Auntie Patti That was the legendary Patti LaBelle Patti My chest I feel it right here What does that bring up for you? Oh my god, my whole life She's been around my whole life My whole life If it wasn't for Patti LaBelle You might not even know who I am At this point Because when I lost my brother At 22 people was walking up to me like, hey, Queenie, let's see for her.

1:22:42Sorry about your brother. Can I get an autograph? Like one word. Oh, I heard about your brother. Can I get an autograph? Like, I was like, this business, people don't care about me. They don't care about how I feel. I was ready to like check out of this whole thing. And Patti LaBelle is one of the people who I talked to, who talked to me. She has lost sisters. She's been through it. She lost four sisters, I think. Yes. So her, Heavy D, a couple of people who have been through that were able to talk to me and like help reframe my thoughts at the time. What is the reframing? Just that I was going to get through it, you know, it's tough.

1:23:25Just by understanding. Just first of all, just by understanding that I'm feeling a pain that is unbelievable. you know and there's there are no words for um but I pretty much started to get messages not to just don't throw it all away that I was going to get through it so don't throw it all away and she was one of those she was one of those she's and she's been there you know she's been there and we've I mean this is my mother played her music in the house they were mutual friends she's from Philly we from Jersey like we're there's she's just been there my whole life you know and um she loves you I love her I love her and she a G she rides motorcycles too and can cook no not just can cook no she can get down get down and pettipers come on wow she's I don't want to say it too soon but she will be on an up and coming episode I'm glad the podcast I can't wait to see it and I'm going to be honored to have her on but she agreed to do the pod too so we're going to have her on soon you have to have her on she sent that little voice note for you and I thought it was so dope and I think it really speaks to like Like how you were talking about at the beginning of this interview, it's like full circle really because you pour into people, they pour back into you.

1:24:38Patti is about to be 82 years old and she's still pouring into you right now. I feel you felt that. I do. Just a note of love. Like just a, I see you, I love you. Yep. You know, like, but she said also that you pour into her and she said she don't know that I know. Do you know what she's talking about? I don't know. Maybe something more star. did you get maybe you helped her get the role i don't know something she said that anything for her yeah anything for her and i'll make sure people treat her with respect that we gonna have a problem you know what i mean i love that seriously like we this is like she is a national treasure you know so it's like you you gotta we gotta take care of our queens and kings and treat them like such you know treat them as such and make sure they get the respect that they deserve and you know they changed the whole culture so for sure if she feels like I mean I don't even know what to say I'm so stuck over that I was not expecting that you're not expecting Patty of all people no I love her so much I love her so much how could you not she's such a good soul she is and her family they keep her looking fly like she looks so much fly and it has to people around her Patty to me she's still on tour she's got a full brand in Walmart in Walmart food brand she's still relevant 80s is on one I can't wait to have my 80th birthday have you been to an 80th birthday party she had an amazing 80s these 80s are out of control I'm telling you you have no fear about age or no issues with aging or any of that weird stuff and you know a thousand people and if they there you rocking like it's you can't wait i can't wait so 50 didn't hit you hard or 50 the whole world shut down so i was like yay i'm home oh it was cold been home in years oh yeah i was home for six months like okay with a newborn i was like okay this is different but it was for me it was it was a break that i probably needed the world had to stop because i was planning on having a 50-hour party I was about to tear ish up I had a plan well to teach you but nah I mean no fears about 60 or 70 or I don't really look at time like that you know what I mean I just don't I don't I don't I just know too many people older than me I've always rolled with people older than me at least four years older than me and I've always had something to look forward to and so to me you know my grandmother was like in her 80s and she was funny and spunky and laughing and enjoying life and so not that she was without her challenges but I wanted to be like her I was like this is how you live you just keep living you keep learning you keep doing things you know um maybe you don't do what you did in your 20s but I don't want I don't think I want to do everything I did in my 20s hell tore them 20s up you know I know you did I do not want to go back to the families.

1:27:40I know you did. But if I don't leave the door open, I'm not leaving it open for what I still have to learn, like you said, and what I have to give. Because some of this, we got to just pass it on, pass it along. And so, no, I'm going to live as long as I can. All right. We're going to do our speed round of IRL questions in the boat. Oh, no. And we're going to let you go because I know you have things to prepare for. I know that, by the way, the AMAs are coming. Queen Latifah is our host for this year's American Music Award. What should I do? You should do... Do you not have this planned already?

1:28:14You have this planned? You should just show up with that crown. Yep. Bust the crown out. Maybe I'll talk it to the left a little bit. Maybe I'll start straight. Yeah. Don't let that joint slink a little forward. This is fun for you at this point, right? Posting the AMAs is like... What is that? That's just you like... It's a music show. How can it not be fun? I just want to see what everybody's going to do, what you're wearing, how you're feeling. I just want everybody to have a great show. This one's for the people. You know, they get to vote for the winners. So I just want the audience to have a good time.

1:28:49I want it to look great on TV. I want it to look great in person. Oh my God, you're doing that? You're doing The Voice? You got a lot of shit coming up. I do. Okay, IRL speed round, then you're bold, then you're out of here. So you can go prepare for The Voice and for AMAs. On a scale of... On a hat? We can't because we have to clear it then. We don't got to clear this, do we? On a scale of 1 to 10, how happy are you today? How happy am I today? Yes. 10! Yay! Do you run 10 normally? Do you run high normally? You do. Happy. What is happy? 10! Okay, 10. You've got to tell yourself first. Guilty pleasure.

1:29:28Guilty pleasure.

1:29:32I don't like the guilty part. Okay. Pleasure. Okay, pleasure. Biggest, greatest pleasure right now. What's giving you the greatest pleasure? Ooh. Those sweet smiles and laughs that I'm going to get when I get home. Oh. Baby kisses. I love that for you. Funny stuff. What are you most proud of about yourself? Oh, most proud of. Wow. I think I'm most proud of all the people who I've helped through my career that would otherwise have been overlooked by using my power to empower other people. Pet peeves or triggers. People who are disrespectful to women. Word. Feel the weight of that? Okay, stop the violence in hip-hop.

1:30:26Whoa, whoa. Yeah, or children, or old people, and men. Basically everything. don't be a bully and don't be an asshole basically i can't stand a bully that's yeah don't put your bully you know he's a can i get that on a t-shirt don't be a bully and don't be an asshole yes yes it's good there's a there's a hawaiian what is it oh no i don't want to mess it up there's like a hawaiian term when i went to hawaii they were like pono is it keep it pono or keep it something like that and i was like what does that mean guilty pleasure is a hawker dance they do in New Zealand that traditional it's like a it's like a traditional dance slash chant that they do to celebrate things or if it's a wedding happening or somebody's coming home from somewhere and everybody knows it's from the kids to the old people and I'm telling you I put that thing on I got goosebumps right now hard day at work running low on energy I just put it on and then somebody said we're going to dedicate a hocker to black people right now online and I was like let's go now you have to watch that's your pleasure right now it's always that gives you joy it does pure joy what do you pray for most?

1:31:44what do I pray for most?

1:31:49forgiveness and family how often do you think about your legacy? not that often really? I don't think about it that often when I'm reminded of it. What do you want it to be? Or what do you want? Even if you walk out of a room, you leave here today. What do you want to leave people with? What do you want people to say about you or feel? I hope people feel like, you know, inspired in some sort of way. I hope they feel like there's something they could take from this conversation we've had and apply to their own lives in some sort of way, shape or form. in a good way. And to give to other people, help other people, you never know when you're going to need some help yourself.

1:32:35So, word. That comes back around. Hey guys, support for this podcast is brought to you by Walden University. Have you ever thought to yourself, what if I could go after what I actually want and I could really make a difference? Well, you are not alone. And this is exactly why I want to tell you about Walden University. For over 50 years, Walden has helped working adults like you get the W with the knowledge, the skills, and everything you need to build the future that you want. And you can make a difference where it matters most. If you've been waiting for the right moment, this is it. Head to waldenu.edu and take that first step.

1:33:11Walden University, set a course for change. Certified to operate by Shiv. One last question. In the bowl. You're going to go in the bowl before we let you go home today. Can't wait to see you on the AMAs. Can't wait to see you on the voice. I'm telling you don't put my hand in that bowl. The bowl's a good bowl. Do you want me to pick it for you? What's in that bowl? I don't need you to pick it for me. I want to. No. All right, you'll pick your own. You're sure you pick. Can we both pick one? Yes. You pick one and you answer it. Let me pick one for you. You did have, you know what was on there?

1:33:40Was the Queen Latifah show at the beginning? You had a talk show. You could host this pod. But I'm not. What would you ask? You're a better talk show host, so keep doing this. You did pretty good. I've been learning from you for many years. What would you ask me as a talk show host?

1:33:57When is one time when you thought you were going to quit that you decided that you couldn't? Me? Yes. And what made you get up and keep going?

1:34:11After my car accident. I was tired. I felt disconnected. I felt like I didn't want to talk about the same shit I was talking about. I didn't, I felt, I just didn't feel useful in the way that I had been useful in the past. So if you're not useful in that way, then how do you, how do you show up? And then also I was like, I was not well. My body was not good. You know, I was like struggling. So I was like, maybe I just, maybe I'm done and maybe I should just. And then two things, number one, you know, you got to pay, you got bills to pay. So you still got to figure out what work's going to look like.

1:34:45But then also I realize God gives you those type of moments because you were a little stuck. You needed to be shaken up a little bit. Even though it feels harsh at the time. You're like, did it have to be this hard? You think, did it have to be like this? And you're like, kind of. Yeah, you're that hard at it. Yeah, I got to get him to hit you up. And then, you know, then it's uncomfortable, the transition into whatever the new version of you is about to be. Right. and so so yes I had to go through that and then once I got to the other side I was like wait I do have some ideas I do have some things I want to and that's how the pod actually was launched because I wanted to have more meaningful conversations for somebody who's sitting home feeling that to feel inspired by like when you get knocked down or you need to like you how you that visual that you showed alone could literally pick somebody up today you know what I'm saying so that made me want to look how good you are you asked me one question And I'm enjoying it.

1:35:44Keep talking. No, stop. You go in the bowl. Stop. Look, I got to talk so much, she gave me the bowl. You take the bowl. She gave me the bowl. Take the last question. And then I have one in the bowl. That's my favorite. I'm glad you did that. What? Got back up. Thank you. Seriously. You come with such a different wisdom and a handle that is so sure. It feels so sure. And maybe because I've been listening to you on the radio for many, many years. but it's just, and you've been in front of the mic, not just behind the mic. You know what I mean? You know what both sides are. And you're a parent. Like you've got a lot to offer.

1:36:22Thank you. You know everybody. You've been through a lot of things. So it's just like a certain handle that you have on this that to me just feels very relaxing to watch. Very easy to watch you talk to your guests. Thank you. And I like the personal way you're able to do these interviews. I'd love to see you on a huge stage with a huge audience and lots of cameras you think there's still a place for that in the world? but I don't think it would be any different than this you know what I mean? it's the conversation that you're able to generate that's just what everybody will be looking at anyway thank you, I love you, thank you and then you have a special room for Joe and his art and me can I come in your room and do art?

1:37:06that's a good question what is it, tell me if you had a chance to live forever would you take it I think that's a great question for you that's a long ass time right what am I going to do forever you did a lot of shit already wait do I got to age in this forever or do I get to like stay right here so you have too many questions that's why I said I can't answer this question can I ask you the question I like I'm going to ask you the question I like from the ball how many are three hundred and ninety nine I can't find it I'm just going to read it to you ready Well, this is my favorite one in the bowl.

1:37:39A nice bowl. Before you leave, first of all, I love you. Thank you for today. I love you too, Ange. You are a gift to us all. For real. We appreciate you. That's mutual. And I know you don't like people in your business. You let me go in your business a little bit today. We're going to cut all of that. No, you better not. I hope you enjoyed, everyone. Right? No, first of all. So, I don't know what she was talking about. Don't get in trouble. Don't go home and get in trouble. not AI not AI I was very gentle today I didn't I know I didn't violate it in any way did I no I didn't stop alright this is my favorite I love this question for you and I love this question in general it's my favorite if God were to text you right now what would it say are you wearing your reading glasses stop You know you wear reading glasses.

1:38:38Put your reading glasses on. Put your reading glasses. That's the reason I invented reading glasses. Oh. Oh. Was this here all that time? It was, yeah. Wow. Oh, wow. I can see all the questions. Was you going to ask me that shit? For real? You know I'm not answering that one. What do you mean? I'm just joking. first of all she would say I am a woman

1:39:08I got too many jokes for this answer God has the biggest sense of humor because God invented humor so no worries so she gets it oh I gotta go I got a child at home that's what God just told me got it God thanks fine you got a child at home you gotta go I'm watching this child. Okay, fine. I got other people's childs to watch. Okay, fine. We'll go on that. I got other people's childs to watch. Okay, fine, fine. That's what my God has said. You want me to watch your child? How long? Do you know how expensive my time is? All right, go. No, you got to go. Thank you for letting me answer your question.

1:39:44That's what God said. That's it. That's your answer. God said, you're doing all right, kid. Pat on the back. Go home. Both of you girls did a great job. We did. She did amazing. She's great Latifah in real life. She did great. She did great. Cross the board. In life. Thank you. On the pod. That's all around. Damn. See you at the AMA's and at the Hall of Fame and on The Voice. See you at the other things. Thank you, Angie. I know we kept you deep. This is Queen Latifah in real life. Hey, guys. Thanks for watching. Make sure you subscribe, like, comment, and check out all of the other episodes we have on Angie Martinez IRL Podcast.

1:40:30This is Daniel Cormier from The Daniel Cormier Show. This podcast is sponsored by Total Wireless, the official wireless partner of UFC. Power doesn't wait in the octagon or outside of it. You either make the move or you miss the moment. That's why you need a network that's just as powerful as you are. With Total Wireless, you get unlimited 5G data keeping you in the action from the walkouts to the knockouts. Now that's a Total Power move. Make your Total Power move today. Visit TotalWireless.com or stop by your neighborhood Total Wireless store. Additional terms apply. See TotalWireless.com for details.

1:41:06Are you trying to get weight loss support through telehealth, but it feels overwhelming and rushed? Check out OrderlyMeds.com now. OrderlyMeds.com was built to be different. Here, you connect with real doctors who take the time to understand your goals, review your eligibility, and guide you through a plan that's right for you. Orderly Meds provides access to proven GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and terzepatide, including both name brand options and personalized compound versions when appropriate. So you have choices backed by clinical oversight, not guesswork. It's a simpler, more supportive telehealth experience designed around people who want clarity, care, and confidence in their weight loss journey.

1:41:45And your medication is delivered directly to your home in discreet packaging. So your experience stays private from start to finish. Do your research. Ask the right questions. Then visit orderlymeds.com slash podcast for an exclusive offer. Again, that's orderlymeds.com slash podcast. Individual results may vary. Not medical advice. Eligibility required. See site for details. Picture this. You're with your spouse at a seaside botanical garden. The moss hangs low, but your spirits are high. And you've never felt more in love. This is when it hits you. That Myrtle moment. It's the second everything clicks.

1:42:25When you realize Myrtle Beach is more than a getaway, it's right where you belong. Don't just daydream about it. Find your own Myrtle moment at visitmyrtlebeach.com. This is Sophia Donner from OK Storytime. This summer, find your next obsession on Prime Video. And listen, we're not saying you need another obsession, but there could be a lot worse ones. steamy romance, addictive love stories, and the book-to-screen favorites you've already read twice, so why not watch them a third time? Off Campus, Elle, The Love Hypothesis, and more. Slow burns, second chances, chemistry you can feel through the screen, and it makes you wish you were actually in that movie.

1:43:06We've got binge-worthy series, can't-miss movies, perfect for when you're ignoring your own problems, or procrastinating, as one does. Your next obsession is waiting. Watch only on Prime. This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed human.