Meet Grayson Brown: Actor and Musician

Speaker 1 0:13

thank you for joining us for the respecting perspectives podcast, and I have mr grayson brown here. Let me tell you something. This guy is is an actor, he is a musician. I mean, he's traveled the world and he's got some really awesome stories and some inspiration to give y'all. And you know what? I'm not even going to have to say anything right now. Man, why don't you tell them who you are are, where you're from and what you're doing?

Speaker 2 0:44

here. Hey, first of all I like say thank you for inviting me on this of course, man proud to have you. Yes, sir, but yeah, like he said, my name is grayson brown. Uh, most people just call me g, you can call me black cat, call me bruja, and we'll get into all that stuff later. But yeah, man, I'm just happy to be here, brother. Yes, dog.

Speaker 1 1:03

Yeah, man, just a smile on your face, man, I appreciate it. Dude, tell me a little bit about your background, give me a little bit kind of where you grew up and how you kind of ended up in this spot, in this chair on the podcast.

Speaker 2 1:18

All right, yeah, so I grew up. Number one I was born in Germany. My parents were in the military. Born grew up. Number one I was born in germany. My parents were in the military. Uh, born in wiesbaden, germany. Uh, after that came to dc area, grew up around the dmv, so all over silver spring, green belt family in baltimore, yada, yada, yada, um, after that, uh, you know, growing up doing all that stuff around here, I went to school in philly drexel university okay, shouts out, drexel.

Speaker 2 1:46

Shout out to drexel, yeah, but um, so I played soccer for a little bit and then after that, after drexel, man like uh came back. Uh traveled all the way around the world. You know, before that lived in jamaica for a little bit as well too, um, but yeah, now I settled down around here and uh, yeah, man just been traveling ever since Nice. That's it.

Speaker 1 2:07

Do you have any particular places that are your favorite? Why don't you highlight some of your?

Speaker 2 2:14

travels, man Travels. So I used to do Olympic developed soccer growing up oh cool. So I played on Olympic level, damn that pro Shit them knees. Don't say that no more before I'm getting older, but um yeah. So I had a chance to go to england, which is cool. Uh, actually met some of my dad's friends in england when I went and traveled there and stayed there, which was actually pretty awesome telling me a couple stories about him.

Speaker 2 2:40

Um france, I've also been to ho, mexico, canada, belize, just like all over the world, brother, yeah, all of the Caribbean islands, like pretty much all of them. I've been there, nice, it's nice most of them, some of them, eh.

Speaker 1 2:59

Right, but I still have for myself.

Speaker 2 3:02

I still got just one left. I got to do St Lucia and. Trinidad.

Speaker 1 3:06

And then also.

Speaker 2 3:06

Haiti. I guess you got to do that, as well, for sure.

Speaker 1 3:09

For sure, any particular places that are your favorite or any story that you got.

Speaker 2 3:16

Jamaica, jamaica, hey, jamaica, I bleed, motherfucking, yellow green, hell yeah, hell yeah.

Speaker 1 3:23

What is it about Jamaica, thatica, that that you know brings, brings that, uh, you know that, that, that specialness to it you know what?

Speaker 2 3:31

my family's from jamaica, my dad's uh, um, my dad is one of ten, oh, wow, yeah, one of ten. Jamaica and england, and uh, what brings that specialness of the caribbean to me is a to food, to the music, and then just the people. They're the people of the sun you know what I'm saying like literally everybody in the world wants to go to jamaica and vacation. Right the reason why it's not just the scenery, right, it's the people that you interact with too. You know what I'm saying like have a great day.

Speaker 2 3:58

You know one. Love bob marley. You think about reggae, you think about everything. We got the music to make you. We got the music to make you move. We got the fucking food to make you fucking move as well too.

Speaker 1 4:07

Love that, love that. Let's get a little bit into history. All right, I know you've said that you've lived many different lives. Give me some meat and potatoes as to, maybe, some of the professions that you've had in the past, and some of the professions that you've had in the past and some of the things that you've, uh, learned from those all right.

Speaker 2 4:30

Um professions, this has been a lot so uh, you know, growing up played soccer. That was like an everyday thing, number one. So like you're kind of like a mini athlete, especially doing olympic level, collegiate level, that's one life. Um graduating from school I work for este lauder, oh cool. Shout out to all the ladies, pretty ladies hey, pretty ladies fucking makeup, yada, yada, yada.

Speaker 2 4:53

So I worked for them and I ran one of their um techs uh, what's not, what's the word? Uh, where I ran a plant for them bristol pa, okay, uh, their north tech division. So basically what it was was getting stuff from Japan to New York, getting stuff from New York to France, all the products, yada, yada, yada. So I did that for a while. After that, I ended up working for a portable diagnostic company called Mobile Medical Imaging, which was cool and also brought me back to family as well too.

Speaker 1 5:21

How so.

Speaker 2 5:22

How so? Because one of the owners was a family member of mine. So getting to know him, see how he acted, interacted what was going on. You know, employees, yada, yada. That's a great thing, but then also. So what I did with them was um I work on their um metamatrix system, which was pretty much like getting ultrasounds and x-rays to doctors so they can read what's going on for people from nursing homes, from jails, um different contracts that they had, um. So I did that. But then after a while, bro, like there was no windows in the office I was working at and there was like a sunlight damn ray got has that sunlight can you imagine having your lunch break with no windows?

Speaker 1 5:59

no, I can't, I can't. I'd be. God be outside, I'd just be moseying.

Speaker 2 6:04

Yeah, I would be too. The fucking 30 minutes to hour turned into an hour and a half to two hours 32 and a half hours.

Speaker 1 6:11

You'd be looking at the time. You're like wait a second. Where did it go?

Speaker 2 6:15

But what I realized about myself in doing that was that me personally I'm not sure if it's because I'm Sagittarius, I'm not sure if it's because I grew up playing sports I just didn't want to be in the office, even though I went to school for business I was like, let me try something different. So I realized and I thought about one of my uncles that used to come up all the time to visit us, was from Boston. Shout out to Faye and everybody up there in Boston Shout out.

Speaker 2 6:41

So what happened was he was a firefighter in Boston and I was like one day I just randomly got out of the computer at work and I was like yo let me see what's up, firefighter gigs, what's up. So I found out that Montgomery County had an opening for firefighters. It was only 24 hours. You can submit the applications. I was like yo fuck it, Let me just submit my shit, not thinking nothing about it. So I ended up submitting it. They called me back and I didn't know. It was a whole year long process.

Traveling the World and Cultural Experiences

Speaker 2 7:05

They're like keep prepared for a whole year, from background checks, interviews with your family, to you know, your physical conditioning test, yada, yada, yada. So I was like, ok, cool. So I knew that this was coming. Once I got to my interview, I just had a good feeling. So I was living at Laurel in the time and I was studying, preparing for the physical stuff, which was easy for me going to university of maryland, working out, chilling, doing some crazy stuff every once in a while. And um, long story short, on my way to my oral interview my car broke down. Oh, shoot, I have them out of the way. Oh, I'm pushing my car into the parking lot of like an arby's yo and like people like, what is this dude in the suit doing, pushing his car in the parking lot?

Speaker 2 7:49

arby's, like yo, I got places to go. I'm going to the arby's, like yo. Y'all gonna tell me they're like no, you're good, you can just park there. Like cool, I run down the street, I go to my interview. Oh, you made it, hell yeah I prepared for this shit. Like I, I do a lot of preparation for like work and things of that nature, so of course I figured out all the questions they're gonna ask me.

Speaker 2 8:07

Number one I figured talk to my uncle like what are the things I need to say and like you know those things are keeping up prep, nice, yeah, prep, anyway. So long story short, I fucking finished that and then I'm like all right. So I think I'm gonna get this job, because I started calling my family and they're like once you go through your family background, check and then you talk to your friends.

Speaker 2 8:25

You're pretty much a shoo-in because of what they're, you know, saying their budget, yada, yada, yada. So, um, anyway, I quit my job at the office shoot you're like yo.

Speaker 1 8:36

Yo first off buy some windows buy some windows.

Speaker 2 8:41

Make sure your lunch breaks a little different you know what I'm saying and after that, yeah, you're cool. You're cool, exactly so. Um, yeah, so I got into pest control for one year.

Speaker 1 8:53

I just want to learn some stuff, so for the time that you had to wait, got you. I was like, yeah, that limbo okay, got into pest control.

Speaker 2 9:01

Did that. After that man, I worked for a firefighter for 11 years and as I was working as a firefighter doing that, if you back a little bit track in the background, I was playing music. I played in the Sessions band. I played in Subject to Change band, playing guitar. Oh, cool. From rock instrumental to reggae stuff. All that stuff's in the background as I'm talking about this story.

Speaker 1 9:24

Of course.

Speaker 2 9:28

Of instrumental to reggae stuff. All that stuff's in the background as I'm talking about this story.

Speaker 1 9:30

Of course, of course you know dating all with this girl, that girl, yada, yada, yada, you know saying getting broken up with breaking up with people you know, just life.

Speaker 2 9:34

Just life um friends passing away yada yada, yada. Sorry to hear that we all go through a little bit of that right we do, we do, we do actually, um, uh, shout out to ch Higgins and his family Firefighter just passed away over the last weekend. 11 years Lieutenant, great guy worked with him a couple years, yeah just let's take a moment.

Speaker 1 9:53

Take a moment for him.

Speaker 2 9:54

You know it's important right, it is, it is, it is sorry for your loss man, yeah, man, thank you. Um, it's not the first person I lost in the fire service, but definitely everybody's a unique loss and a unique individual and my heart goes out to his wife and kids, period. Um, yeah, so I did that for a while and, like now, I'm in a transition and you know that that's the way we met.

Speaker 1 10:25

You know, through music, me talking to you about, you know, wanting to work on a collaborative ep collaborative project yeah, grayson and I are working on, uh, let me tell you I I sorry to sidetrack a little bit, but I think it's cool to let people in on the background. I met Grayson through some mutual friends but you're out here walking the walk and he sent me a bunch of tracks and right now, him and I have like we already have like six or seven songs that are in the making and it's really cool to be. Music is a beautiful thing. We really can combine our energies and all of the past experiences that we've been through and all the jobs that we've had and the girls that we've dated and the people that we've lost have really kind of let's see here given some backing to, uh, our passions for, for what we're, what we're trying to do.

Speaker 1 11:43

um, and make good music yeah, man, and, and we're just trying to, we really are trying to bring some light to the world and, uh, I'm really excited to see uh, what, uh, what comes of this. But, um, but, keep going with the music. I want you to get into the acting.

Speaker 2 11:57

Tell us a little bit oh yeah, uh, acting stuff, yeah. So, um, check out uh thanksgiving roast, uh, shout out to collective media putting that on, shout out to uh trey walker, and then, um, yeah, so that's on 2b. And then we also did a sequel of a, of that which is also on amazon to be streaming networks real cool. Yada, yada, yada. Um, it's called a christmas story and it's. How do you spell that? Christmas like a christmas, okay, but change christmas to a mess. Youtubey, streaming networks, roku, yada, yada, yada. It's called A Christmas Story and it's a-. How do you spell that? Christmas Like a Christmas?

Speaker 1 12:23

Okay, but change.

Speaker 2 12:24

Christmas to a mess, gotcha, and yeah, so that's a cool one as well too. That stars Darren Brand, mojo Brooks, trey Channey as well too. Big shout out to Trey, shout out. I appreciate you, man. He was in the Wire. Nice Lil Poop, but yeah, outside of that man, yeah.

Speaker 2 12:43

So I do the acting on the side as well too. I do the music on the side as well too. I do bartending on the side as well too. I do spirituality on the side as well too. Spirituality is every day.

Speaker 2 12:52

But talking to other people on the side, I make a conscious effort in my walk in life with spirituality to speak and be open and listen to people about where they're at, in reference to whatever system they might be working in. There's a lot of different systems when it comes to certain things spiritual, whether you want to be a wiccan, whether you want to be a christian, whether you want to be a muslim, whether you want to be a hermeticism where you want to, you know, say there's. So you know the davood or your robot, all that stuff like that. But when I way I grew up, it was a correspondence that certain things translate certain spiritual energies, certain uh goals, certain gods, certain gift that you can go from culture to culture, to culture to culture and say that these align. So my gift and what I feel my perspective in dealing with the world is be able to relate with everybody you know what I'm saying, yeah, even if you don't even believe in spirituality you know you hate this materialism.

Speaker 2 13:50

You know what I'm saying. My thing is like all right, cool, you know what I'm saying, let's vibe with that. But yeah, so transition man I've been doing a lot of traveling since the fire department. I just finished doing that for 11 years and I'm working towards. My personal goal is either MRI technician I'm going to school, back to school for that or a radiation therapist.

Speaker 2 14:11

OK that's like what I want to do. I enjoy helping people. I come from a family of people in the medical field, so that's one of the things that I want to work for for my next personal goal, outside of my creative pursuits.

Speaker 1 14:22

Man, it's important right To have, have those goals and have those aspirations. And I think you know, sometimes life can can get in the way sometimes, you know, but I feel like, as long as you have those, let's talk about. Let's talk about some of those goals. Some of those goals, you know, how do you find yourself setting some of those goals for the?

Speaker 2 14:43

future on a daily perspective. A, I wake up, meditate about certain things, checking with myself, mmm, like what's going on with me, is my goal? An egotistical goal? Is my goal? A community goal? Like where is it coming from? Trying to pinpoint that? Yeah, you know, from breathing exercises, with meditation, just even five days, just being present with myself.

Speaker 2 15:08

And then what I do outside of that is I make a plan, man, um, put it in my notes. I might put it on a board, a vision board, whatever it is. And then I try to figure out what steps do I need to do to get to that goal? Who do I need to speak to? That might have come before me that can maybe make the world or my path a little bit easier. And then, outside of that, what do I need to do personally to make it fulfilled? Like, what do I need to wrap up in my past? Maybe it be financial stuff, like these bills over here, or maybe it's a relationship. Like, what do I need to do? So I try to put all that stuff together and then from there.

Speaker 2 15:43

Just make you know what I'm saying start, start, walking right love that.

Speaker 1 15:47

You know, I think it's something that's really important and I think we I spoke with chris, uh, in the other episode about this but, yeah, even something as small as just that, that note tab in your phone, that checklist in your phone, to really stay connected with some of the things, because, as far as your memory goes, you can only remember so much and be able to accomplish so much in a day, so maybe there's a few things that you might not be able to get done during that day.

Multiple Career Paths and Life Transitions

Speaker 1 16:19

But I think, as long as you have that list of things and I think something else that you mentioned was kind of taking like that moral inventory of the things from the past that you need to kind of check off I think that that's something that I struggle with, that I really do need to work on, and that is either whether it's a finances or a relationship, or even like kind of like just collectively taking some of the ideas that I've learned in the past and like how can those things help me with with my goals? You know, I think that's really important.

Speaker 2 17:02

Um, I'm curious about you, like what kind of goals you got working on right?

Speaker 1 17:05

now perspectives, which is great man, that's a good thanks for asking dude um gosh. I would say, in the next year I would like to. I'll do a one year and a five year.

Speaker 2 17:19

Okay, that's cool, I'll do that.

Speaker 1 17:21

One year would be. I want to release two albums, two albums this year. Okay, hold me to it. All right, it's happening. All right, I'm working with a coach, I'm working with a mentor and a team to make this happen, but I'm going to be releasing an album in around like June July. I'm going to be releasing an album in around June July. I'm going to have a release party. I'm going to be featuring some other artists. Let's see here. So there's that I'm going to put a lot of time and attention and energy into that. So you all will hear about that in the near future.

Speaker 1 18:09

Then we got at least five or six other singles that are really punch-out tracks that I feel really need that special attention by themselves, and then we're going to have another album at the end of the year, because once you got that momentum, man, you got to keep it. It's like Sonic's wheel man, you got to keep it. It's like Sonic's wheel man, you got to keep that momentum going. I think that's really important. Hopefully, that's something that we can get into a little bit later. That snowball effect yeah, man for sure, man, that snowball effect and making sure that I'm holding myself accountable. And that's actually why I love this podcast because me telling y'all, and and you gee you know some of these goals.

Speaker 1 18:48

It really helps me, um, stay accountable, you know, um, and then, uh, I plan on releasing at least like 20 to 30 podcast episodes for the year. That's a lot, man, it's work. Yo, we're working, bro, you're working, we're aiming high man, we're aiming high and uh, I'm gonna have some. I have already planned some really interesting guests for the future. I'm not gonna spill too much about it, but, um, I have a bunch of stuff, uh, in the works for that I'm excited, man thanks, man.

Speaker 1 19:16

And then the last but not least uh, I think that I need a manager, so why?

Speaker 2 19:23

why do you need a manager?

Speaker 1 19:24

I'm just curious man, because I need someone to help me be able to focus on the music. I I've been finding myself, you know, doing so many things that, I will be honest, in these past few months, while doing the podcast, I have kind of lost a little bit. I mean, I'm always writing, but when it comes to actually getting that music and putting it out, I try and keep the podcast and the music separate, although I really do. I should be intertwining them more. I don't like to shout things out, but at the same time I want people to know about what's going on in the background.

Speaker 2 20:12

So you need somebody who's going to be your agent for you right now to help compartmentalize certain things for you, and only bring to you what you necessarily need to help, kind of like compartmentalize certain things for you, yes, and only bring to you what you necessarily need to work on, yes let's see here, uh, you know what, personally, just just for me, um, you know, what is it about traveling that, uh, you know, brings out that, that fire in you uh, 360 perspective on the world, brother.

Speaker 2 20:39

Um, getting to know other people's perspective. How do you live? You know what I mean. And when I travel, I get to learn the different cultures. I get to learn different food right, that's the PC aspect. But also I get to see how other people deal with their present moment. Man, we all want the same thing, right Family, love, some goddamn money Right, and honestly, just to learn about good things, bro. That's that's why I love traveling, yeah, outside of the scenery, which is always beautiful, for sure, outside of that but it's literally the interaction with another human being. Say yo, we're on this planet together. I know we love them together, isn't it cool?

Speaker 1 21:14

you know what I'm saying same goals, brother, man, dude, let me tell you, with my traveling um, I've been fortunate enough I'm the only child Only child syndrome over here. Yeah, yeah, I got it. I got it. I'm so grateful and I'm really lucky to you know, my parents also, you know, I think that's really important. It's like your, you know, aspect or version of the world is going to be like a percentage of like what your parents either have lived um or have have taught you and uh, they have always had that um, that want and that drive and desire to see new things, you know, and it's beautiful man. I'm so grateful for that and uh, to be able to have, uh, you know, join them in. You know, I mean, it's cool to be able to travel the world, but like, then, also to like be able to travel the world with, like with your loved ones, with your family yeah now there are times where you know, like you know, dad wants to do one thing and mom wants to do another thing and I want to do something.

Speaker 1 22:19

But you know what it's brought us communication to be able to. Okay, in the beginning of the trip we're like okay, what are the things that you want to do? This is a day for dad, this is the day for mom, and then I get my day and then every day we're working out our family shit yeah.

Speaker 1 22:46

And no, it really actually does, does man it? It helps me practice patience, you know, and like, even if it's something that, like, I, that's the most beautiful part about it, because, like, even if it's something that I, you know, like don't have like a vested interest in, or seeing, like, knowing that, like it's something that, like brings my dad joy, yeah, or you know, you know, my mom joy, I mean, that's do you notice, like when you travel with family or like a really close group of friends, like y'all set your next year's plans, those goals, but you set it in a new energy for sure, you know for sure, definitely, you know I need to do more traveling with friends.

Speaker 2 23:24

I do, uh, that could work out good or it could work out bad. I'm gonna tell you right now wait why. Why you say that you gotta have the, you gotta have the right combination of friends I've been on trips with, like you know, 10 12 people. I've been on trips with four people. More is not ever better to to be honest with you.

Speaker 1 23:39

Good point. And why do you think that is?

Speaker 2 23:42

Because maybe that communication, I guess, as me, mom and dad, we love each other and understand, okay, but if it were a friend, you got one person dating this person, and then you got another girl who might be insecure about this, but then you got your one friend that you know is dating this person but at the same time doing this crazy shit with other friends like, oh, my god, you know what I'm saying with you and you're like you're looking behind your back, you're like you're on the edge of a cliff and you're like, oh gosh, okay, what's about to happen.

Speaker 1 24:12

No, you're right, man, that's, uh gosh, that's key spirituality. Man, let's, let's get into, uh, let's get into some spiritual practices. Tell me a little bit about your spirituality and kind of how things have shaped with spirituality with you throughout the years.

Speaker 2 24:34

Oh shit, there's a long story and I guess you're going to hear it right now. Dive in, man.

Speaker 1 24:37

That's why we're here, it's a long story and I guess you're going to hear it right now Dive in man. That's why we're here.

Spirituality, Hermeticism, and Personal Growth

Speaker 2 24:40

So I grew up my grandparents, my dad on my dad's side I didn't really know too much, except for my grandmother. I love her, she was all about Christianity, right, so I grew up with that, going to church with her hanging out. And then also on my mom's side, her mother was a pastor and a deacon, so grew up in that spirituality as well too. But my dad, surprisingly, was like the exact opposite. Um, just in his own personal walk, and what he did was he got, for whatever reason, real big into alternative spirituality when it comes to like Yoruba Santeria, things of that nature. But what he used to do is collect all these books from like free masonry, rosicrucianism, golden dawn, dawn, yada, yada, yada, and that's what I grew up. So I had church on Sundays every once in a while, grandma, yada, yada, yada. And then at night I go downstairs and scare the fuck out of myself. Yo, yeah, she's like like.

Speaker 2 25:33

I remember one of my first books. I'm like eight years old, like learning how to read it. Years old, like learning how to read. It was like the necronomicon. I'm like what the fuck is this? Obviously it's from. You know certain things. It's not really a true thing, a true path, but and I also read like golden dawn shit, and I'm like yo, what is all this like like crazy stuff.

Speaker 2 25:48

So that's why, I grew up from that, so imagine that expounded till I'm, like you know, 17 in the world a little bit. And then I ran into a lady, um mama joyce, lovey, silver spring, and um howard university used to teach an alternative religion class. Oh, that's pretty cool about, uh, spirituality of the caribbean, um things of that nature, french guyana, that's in south america, yada, yada yada. And I used to be with her all the time because she was teaching me certain things, because she's very like um clairvoyant, if you believe into it or not, but she just in tune with what was going on yeah and uh, I used to translate for the howard university students for her.

Speaker 2 26:25

Oh, cool about certain like why this ritual means this. What does it symbolize? Yada, yada, yada. So that led me to you know further in my practices, and then, unfortunately, drugs as well too hey, it happens, man, it's part of the process, you know, opens up your mind so I went from that man to where I'm at now, from meditation to you know mantras, to just traveling the world seeking spirituality that's what the fuck I do, right?

Speaker 1 26:50

so you had the intention of of finding that. Uh, you know what's the difference between spirituality and like believing in God?

Speaker 2 27:01

Hmm, I believe that. Oh, you mean spirituality and religion. Yeah, yep, okay. I feel like religion and spirituality go cold hand in hand. What's accepted as a majority religion, or just accepted practices, accepted rituals, daily prayers that everybody's accepted? And spirituality is more of an individual thing or more of a community-based thing that might be smaller than the accepted religion and all it really is. Spirituality, whether it's individual, what are your personal rituals? What do you do for yourself to get your mind right, to get your heart worked and to get your body moving? Or what does this sect of Wiccans believe? Or what do these Masons believe, or whatever around the world it might be? You know what I'm saying? Something like that. That's it.

Speaker 1 27:51

Yeah, it's awesome because I think that we can all take a little bit from that and be able to practice our. It's beautiful that we can practice our own understanding of you know what spirituality means, um and uh. I hope for everybody listening that you're on your own, uh, spiritual path and the fact that there is something out there for you. You know, um you might not have found it yet but um, you know, with g over here you hear he's been through, you know, so many different walks of life. I think that's helped him understand and be able to, you know, take a little bit from from each one and and help him, you know, build that, uh, that, that, that spiritual core.

Speaker 1 28:39

That's good advice you know hey man, you're, you're, you're, you're the one spitting it, dude no man.

Speaker 2 28:45

Like just just to add on to what he just said, like to be honest with you. If you think about us as a, as a culture, as a, as an entity on the planet, human, you literally are the tip of the spear for your family's bloodline. I'm the tip of the spear for my family's bloodline, my generation. So I know it's a pc thing to say, or maybe it's just been quoted, but you are the answers to your ancestors prayers oh wait, a second say that again you are the answers to your ancestors prayers.

Speaker 1 29:14

Yeah love, that love that.

Speaker 2 29:16

So you are the next generation that's living in a better world, whether you believe it or not, or a changed world. And so how are you going to act? You know what I mean Because you have their blood, you have their hearts, you have what your parents talked about when you were growing up. They tried to instill in you. Now you're supposed to take that, so you are the answer. That's what it means.

Speaker 1 29:41

Love that man. That's an amazing piece of advice for everybody out there. Let's dig a little bit into sidestep, into a little bit of meditation. How has meditation kind of helped you find that core and to kind of help you build through all this stuff thing? I really I would love to at some point have, um like just like a, a meditation uh practice, either like on the podcast itself or maybe even, like you know, have like a separate, like you know, little little section to be able to help people figure out how to, how to meditate.

Speaker 2 30:14

I'm gonna say the benefits of meditate, why you should meditate? Yeah, present moment. If you can extend the present moment and make it slow-mo, then you can do what you want to do in the present moment and everybody think it's actually happening in real time. But then that gets into magic. What you're gonna do when you got the extra 1.5 seconds of presence? Oh okay, that only person might have one second of in that 0.5 seconds. What you're gonna do with it?

Speaker 2 30:44

yeah right, yeah that adds up, yeah, meditation. So breathing exercises that's what I started off with. You know, just a four full breath is like in for four, hold it for four, let it out for four. Hold that, let out for four, skip breathing. That's what we talk about fire fighting as well, too. So these meditation exercises work with different chakras that are aligned with different energies, whether you believe it or not. Or just period work with different parts of your mind and boom, it adds a different clarity, a different presence in the moment, and that's why I fuck with it yeah, I love that man.

Speaker 1 31:14

Let me tell you, uh, as far as meditation goes, you know, I've been really trying to have that. Do you have any like morning rituals that you um either, or when do you find is the best time to meditate?

Speaker 2 31:28

I feel like you can meditate at any time. There's um from a 30 seconds to a minute, to five minutes to 10 minutes. Your meditations can be elaborate they could be visualizations, they can be invocations what is it invocation?

Speaker 2 31:44

it's trying to bring something towards you, bring something within you. What is so trying to bring a principle or a spirit or energy that you might not be accessible to you? You're trying to bring that to you. Attraction law of manifestation. You know I mean the secret yada. That's that to you Attraction Law of manifestation. You know what I mean? The secret Yada yada, yada.

Speaker 1 31:59

See, you're getting in on something, yeah that's all the same things.

Speaker 2 32:02

Correspondences so, but anyway. But yeah, whatever you want, bro, in the shower, if you're washing your ass. Get in the water Like yo, Meditate about the water, you in your body, breathing it. What's it feel? Oh, this is some air, some humidity. Let me open up my lungs for the day.

Speaker 1 32:20

You know what I'm saying. Let me tell you something. This past weekend, I was lucky enough to attend something called Inner Fusion Festival Shout out to Michaela, thanks for helping me figure out. I was able to volunteer for it. Man, I had this outer body meditation experience that I had never had in the past and it was me.

Speaker 1 32:48

I was crying, like I, I dude, like I was crying, but it was like it wasn't like sad, sad boy tears, you know. I mean, it was like I'm happy yeah, it was, but but at the same time, like I was, like I was getting stuff out. You know, like I feel, like like most of the meditation that I do, like I'm trying to bring in, but like this meditation was like getting getting these like feelings that I had, these emotions that have kind of been stuck in me for a while out and man, dude it was. It was, it was outer body dude and it was exactly what I needed at exactly the right time, and like it was just like it was a real deep cry and like I I'm not lying like I felt something exit my body that's so that that needed to leave, okay, and you know what it was? It was like doubt, it was. Let me think about it real quick.

Meditation and Emotional Vulnerability

Speaker 1 33:48

Um it was doubt it was you felt lighter as well too I did, man, I walked away from that with like, with like 10 pounds off of my shoulders, man, and gosh, I had. Luckily I had some, some really cool people around me to like kind of just guide me through it. You know, cause, like I was really kind of in the moment myself and like I had some people kind of around me, like, you know, get it out. You know, this is, this is really important for you and I, I feel like we don't especially like as men, you know, we're not told to to to cry, you know, and and have these particular emotions or feelings, but, man, I never realized that that something like that could um happen to me, with me and for me, and uh, man, it was, it was amazing dude, I'll, I'll never forget it and uh, I I hope that other people out there can find that same sort of meditation in whatever they're doing.

Speaker 2 34:53

That's what man that's well said, brother, and like. That's a beautiful thing to be able to have something to affect you to the point where you feel lifted and also you feel open. Man, that's, that's beautiful. And yes, I agree with you, as men like growing up, we're supposed to express this non-emotional thing, but the fact that you had an opportunity to do that, that's dope man dude.

Speaker 1 35:13

It made me so grateful, like instantly grateful, and I I'm so appreciative of the opportunity to be able to have these feelings and these emotions and to be able to.

Speaker 2 35:29

Let me ask you a question, yeah, yeah. If you can get rid of one emotion on the spectrum of emotion in the world for everybody, what would it be man if I could get rid of one emotion.

Speaker 1 35:41

I mean I know this sounds kind of crazy, but but fear really yeah, oh shit.

Speaker 2 35:47

You know how many bank robbies we've been having I know, and that's why that's why it's like that's such a personal, personal thing, right your girlfriend's friends that you just thought were friends would just be like yo, I'm going to take you out. There was no fear, Bro. That's dangerous, You're right.

Speaker 1 36:05

It is, but I think, though, if it's in the right hands, I feel like you're right. Fear does like dry. I feel like fear drives a lot of people, but it should be love, though. That should be. I respect that. Think about if we got rid of fear, then what would we put in place of that?

Speaker 2 36:24

Okay, what about you, though? Wait, wait, let's go to you. All right About me.

Speaker 1 36:28

Or not even get rid of one emotion. What actually? What's one emotion that you are super grateful for, that you couldn't do without?

Speaker 2 36:37

I couldn't do without, okay Love, yeah, for that you couldn't do without. I couldn't do without, okay Love. That's full circle. I feel like love and fear are one and the same, because to love somebody is you have to have a little bit of fear that about their decisions you got to have a trust and confidence about you're hoping that they're going to make certain things To love. You could have. Love of God, fear of God, love of another person, fear of another person. You know it's the same edge. But what I could deal with without one motion I think that the world can deal without is jealousy.

Speaker 1 37:07

Oh yeah, that's so important. Let's sit with that for a second Straight up jealousy. When is the last time you felt jealous?

Speaker 2 37:15

The last time I felt jealous. It's a long time, bro. I probably can't even really pinpoint it on it, to be honest with you, because I try to approach things with such a good spirit, like so positive with certain things. But let me reflect for a second. Give me one second so I'll give you a real answer.

Speaker 1 37:31

Yeah, Think about that.

Speaker 2 37:35

While you're thinking oh, I got you, yeah, yeah, yeah, I had one family member go to the league like the NFL, and I had a cousin go to the league NFL and I wasn't jealous about their success because I was sucking happy. I was jealous about their determination to stick in with something that I didn't stick in with as well.

Speaker 1 37:56

Does that make sense?

Speaker 2 37:57

Yo, for sure I'm used to you happy as hell for your success, but I was jealous. I was like yo. It's his determination. I wish I had it in those times.

Speaker 1 38:05

Does that make sense For sure. You know, I was talking with my vocal coach this morning actually about emotions, and something that we speak about is the fact that emotions don't have any actual like backing. You know, most of the emotions that we deal with are just like triggered by particular things and like something that we want to separate is that, you know, your emotions are not your thoughts Hell, no, they're not. You know, I think, as a, as an artist, I, when I'm, when I'm making music this is a challenge that I've been trying to navigate recently, but as an artist, I feel like the best music does invoke particular emotions in people.

Speaker 1 39:03

So, say I'm writing a song about let's go to jealousy, a song about, um, let's, let's go to jealousy, you know. Say I'm writing a song about um, yeah, I mean not not even just like being jealous about something, but like me kind of like having like like fomo, you know, or something like that, but like, as I'm writing those words on the piece of paper, like I do have to go through that emotion, you know, in order to get it out. And, as an artist, like I put myself through a lot of emotions when I'm songwriting and um I do you feel like?

Speaker 2 39:39

that's why I, like the younger kids, only express the let me get money, let me get rich, let me blah blah. They don't ever really express emotion by yo old girl messed girl messed me up. I ain't going to lie to you.

Speaker 1 39:48

Right.

Speaker 2 39:49

I lost out on this day.

Speaker 1 39:50

Yeah, is that what it is?

Speaker 2 39:51

Yeah, do you feel like that coincides with it.

Speaker 1 39:53

It is for sure, and it makes me think about all of the emotions that are out there, you know, and maybe some of the ones that we haven't experienced recently that you know maybe drive us and shouldn't that, maybe drive us and shouldn't. So I hope that everybody listening can kind of think about some of the things that we talked about and some of the emotions that you're going through and figure out a way to get through them. And you know what? Actually, this is a perfect time to plug the Respecting Perspective hotline. Okay, did I tell you about?

Speaker 1 40:32

this yeah, so we got a hotline, okay that you can call and, um, you know we'll put you on the show here, but, uh, if you could give us a call, it's our 443-292-2677, and, yeah, just maybe kind of talk about some of the stuff that G and I have been talking about today and kind of get your voice and some of the feelings that you have out there on there. That way we can all learn from each other.

Speaker 2 41:06

Exactly Express your emotions and we're going to respect your perspective. That's what's up, Yo express your emotions.

Speaker 1 41:14

That way we can respect that perspective. Man, I love that dude, that's perfect dude, I love it. Man, tell me, let's dig a little bit into hermetics. What is hermetics? Because you actually kind of taught me when we first started making music about what hermetics is and I think this is a good little tie-in here Give us the not like the actual definition of hermetics, but like to you what is hermetics?

Speaker 2 41:44

and how can people, so people can relate to it. You ever just heard the saying as above, so below. That comes from hermeticism. Hermes trismegistus, which is something that was as a deity that they believe lived way back before egypt, yada, yada, yada, like thousand years. I'm not a historian, so it's not gonna be perfect. You sound like it? No, I just have a decent memory for the most part. But yeah, so it comes from those principles that he print out, or that they believe that he print out and spoke about. And that's what a hermeticist is. It's just a way of operating within the world, man. So fast forward to like 1500s, fast forward to what's going on. It's a set of principles how you operate in the world and then also how you believe about certain things, whether they're animistic means everything have a spirit or is it psychology, where you're giving certain values and principles of things that may not necessarily have a spirit, but how you work with it? It's so much stuff, bro.

Speaker 1 42:48

We could sit here all day. Honestly, you dropped the word and, and animistic. Yeah, animism animism?

Speaker 2 42:57

well, what it? What is? What is an animist? Uh, I would feel like an animist is a person that believes that everything has a spirit associated with it and everything has a vibration, and that a vibration affects you as a person, but also within the universe it has a place even non-living things, even non-living things, brother for a little bit like let's just like, look at this piece of wood right here.

Speaker 2 43:19

Uh-huh, whether somebody built it or not, there was energy that's placed into it because it's sitting right here vibrating in front of you. So how does that affect you? How does it affect the environment? Ike feng shui is built off of that inanimate objects that you place in certain places that have a vibrational frequency that affects your vibration, your output yeah, for sure, I love that.

Speaker 1 43:41

Um, let's see here. There was something, though, that you were talking about principles. Um, give me some. What are some principles that you live by?

Speaker 2 43:50

Some principles I live by Putting you on the spot with that. Have a smile on, Give a smile to everybody that hopefully you walk by or you have a quick moment with and just honestly ask somebody about their day but actually want to listen about it.

Speaker 1 44:03

Yeah, yeah, that's so important. I think, yeah, man, let's stress that. Yeah, that's so important. I think, yeah, man, let's stress that. The fact that you want to. You know family and friends that are around you. You want to ask them how their day is going day, you know, like you still kind of want to be able to voice that you know and get that out. That way, you can teach other people like, uh, you know, I went through this earlier today. I learned this lesson. I feel like that's a a great way for us to share lessons and to be able to, um, you know, learn from each other.

Speaker 2 44:50

Respect so I think like instead of principles, I'm awarded like maybe virtues that I live by oh, okay, so that I smile and walk it about a person is like try to be happy you know what?

Finding Purpose and Making Music

Speaker 2 45:01

I'm saying, yeah, um, if I actually have a conversation, ask somebody about their day, it just means like try to like engage with the world. So virtue, like engage but be happy while you're engaging and then just listen, so be happy while you're receiving, because it's just a moment. So more virtues I want to say like principles, like I think sometimes we get lost in like wordplay for certain things for sure, and I don't think everybody has the same definitions, and that's the problem of communication right, yeah, no, you're so right.

Speaker 1 45:27

Tell me about your principles, gosh, my principles, man gosh. I feel like I try to lead with light. Okay, I try to honesty. Honesty, you know, try and, but being honest with yourself, that's right, you know. And sometimes you do have to take that deep look in the mirror and ask yourself, you know, are you doing the right thing? I think it has a lot to do with, actually, and it seems very simple, but right and wrong.

Speaker 2 46:15

What if you look in the mirror and say I'm doing the right thing. But what if your right thing is not what everybody else thinks is right? There's some people that look in the mirror. They'll be like yo I'm doing the right thing, I'm doing the best. I can't yada yada.

Speaker 1 46:35

But everybody else in the world is like, oh, what the fuck is this person doing? I think if it, if it really has to do with like morals, okay, right, um, I feel like it has to do with, do you feel like you are adding to the world?

Speaker 1 46:43

you know, you are bringing positivity to the world I think that's really important now, right, right and wrong. Like think about like a defense, um, like a lawyer who's defending like a murderer okay, you know something like that. I think that's like a more extreme case. But like, right, like that, maybe that person feels like they're doing the right thing for that that's the dilemma I'm trying to talk about.

Speaker 2 47:09

Right, because what happens? Because there's the defendant's lawyer that thinks he's doing the right thing right, and then you have the plaintiff's lawyer or the state's lawyer and they think they're doing the right thing right, like, how do we get past that dichotomy that I look in the mirror and think I'm bringing this to the world and it's going to be a positive thing. This other person is saying the exact opposite, but they think it's a positive thing. Right, we work on that man, that's a great question.

Speaker 1 47:35

Um, that's something to really ponder. Uh, I think it has to do with the communication itself. Like you know, asking other people hey, do you think that this is a good cause? Um, and you know, just kind of a numbers game, like, okay, if more of those people think or say, although you know, who knows, because what if those, the 10 people that you ask, are all people you know on this side of the spectrum.

Speaker 1 48:03

You know, you know I think that, as long as you're trying, as long as you are, you know, really, I think it has to do with your heart. Okay, your heart Does it feel good? Does it feel I know right and wrong is kind of hard, okay, so like, liberal and Republican, like each side feels right.

Speaker 2 48:26

Each side feels. You know what I'm saying. How do you feel about that man? I feel like it's like it's.

Speaker 1 48:30

Like is it for the better, is it for the good of society, not just me? Right, like it can be, it can be good or bad for you, but like is it good for the future of?

Speaker 2 48:47

humans. Okay, you know humans themselves.

Speaker 1 48:52

Um, yeah, and I think that can be a dilemma. You know that could be a tricky, a tricky thing. Um, although I do feel like like having a passion and, and you know, keeping your family close and making sure that those people that you really are able to have these deep conversations with and ask them, I think you constantly do need to be questioning. Yeah, like every like, every action that you take is going to require another form of that question that's why you got to have this sith that's it, you do you're gonna have a sip in my head.

Speaker 2 49:38

In the reality I live in, like, whether you talk about a grim reaper, whether you talk about fucking, you know the ancient egyptians why they had the certain siths or the. You know what is a sith? So basically, it's um, it's a big sword, that's like this, and then they use it to cut the wheat, like you see, the egyptian kings have.

Speaker 2 49:55

Yeah, grim reaper has it as well too, but what is the sith? The sith ain't nothing but a question. Mark your question what's going on? This present moment, you feel me you're questioning what is happening inside, has what you know which. That's all it is because a question. You ever had a question, somebody asked you a question at the wrong, at a wrong time and you'd be like fuck, that just fucked my whole energy up, yeah, yeah for sure like it'll mess up a whole group situation.

Speaker 2 50:18

Somebody asked the wrong question, but then sometimes you've asked the right question. Spiritually, it takes you different places, right, that's it.

Speaker 1 50:26

That's why you got to have it, man. I love that man and that's the coolest part about what we're doing here is being able to ask questions, and actually I really respect you for kind of taking the time to ask me some of these questions and listening to what I have to say. Back to the whole listening portion of this Do you feel like people listen enough? Do you feel like the people that are around you? How do you know when someone is actually listening to you?

Speaker 2 50:59

How do you know? I guess I mean they're paying attention to your questions, mm-hmm, they're responding and they're actually responding from a place of relax. They're not trying to jump the gun to respond. Yeah, trying to cut you off, you know what I mean? That's how I figure out somebody's listening. They don't cut you off. For the most part, I feel like they're listening now, whether they're interested or not.

Speaker 1 51:20

That's a whole different thing. You know what I'm saying.

Speaker 2 51:23

But someone who's engaged, eye contact how they're moving. Are they changing with your story? Are you actually connecting? Because when you connect with folks and you're in a conversation, people are going to change their body movement and you can see. Okay, maybe they didn't agree with what you're saying, but you know you're listening, you know what I'm saying, that's a good point, that's it.

Speaker 1 51:40

Yeah, love that. I mean I feel like we should all be doing a little more listening these days.

Speaker 2 51:47

I'll be talking sometimes too much. That's just me. That's my problem. That's my problem.

Speaker 1 51:52

Well, you know what? I'm sure that even with talking too much, that just means that there can be more opportunities for listeners out there.

Speaker 2 52:04

You know, yeah, maybe sometimes there's no shut up. Who's the?

Speaker 1 52:06

best. Let me ask you this in your life, who do you feel like is, uh, the best listener?

Speaker 2 52:11

oh, the best listener in my life is my brother, brandon shouts out to brandon for being a great brandon shouts out to you man, I love you. That's my brother. He was born 14 months after me. Like you're gonna be best man at my wedding whenever it happens. But to listen, but to listen without judgment. But then still give advice from a no judgment place. It's like bro, that's priceless.

Speaker 1 52:35

It is it, it is. Make sure that he sees this, because he'll be super grateful to hear that. I'm sure, gosh man, we've gotten into so many things here. Let's see here. Let's talk about purpose. Let's talk about why you think you're here. What do you think, just personally, uh, what do you think your purpose is here on earth? I?

Speaker 2 53:05

have no clue.

Speaker 2 53:07

I don't think anybody really knows right I feel like that's the existential questions we can figure out or try to think about and meditate for 30 years on a fucking mountaintop about, but in the end we we still won't know Right. The purpose is to be happy, connect with other people, try to be a good person, but have some fun and just realize that, like Slim, live life the way you want to live it. Fuck what they're telling you. This is how you got to live it, with these rules, these laws. Like no motherfucker, you was born at the same. You were born out of a vagina they were born to have a vagina.

Speaker 1 53:40

What makes that vagina more powerful? Like, come on right, the way you want to live, man, that's such a great, that's such a great thought, right, gosh, man. Although when it comes to if, if you were to just give it, though, a purpose, you know, and to kind of give yourself a little bit more of a meaning to the conversation itself, um, do you?

Speaker 2 53:57

do you feel like you? I think my purpose right now is to, in my current walk, where I'm at, is to create music that allows other people around the world to learn whether that's spiritually, and just to have an outlet from whatever they might be going through. Man, love that dude.

Speaker 1 54:18

Have an outlet from whatever they might be going through right now, man, that's it, bro, just like you yeah, just music, that's.

Mac Miller's Influence and Legacy

Speaker 1 54:24

That's what it is man, I, I was gonna, I was gonna, I was gonna say the same thing. Man, you literally took the, the words out of my mouth and, uh, I'm so grateful. I could have never thought, you know, 20 years ago, when I first started writing music, that I would have been able to find my purpose through writing. And, uh, man, let me tell you, when you find it like that, man, that that connection is it. It really creates a sense of being and it really helps you understand. And I think, once you do find that purpose and it's going to take you you might never find it, but I think, as long as you're you know you're guiding people and you're guiding yourself in the right direction. That's one of the most important things is finding your purpose in life. And once you do, you know it, you know it's right.

Speaker 1 55:36

I know for a fact that's the challenge that I'm having right now is because I do HVAC, I fix people's heaters and air conditioners, and while I do, you know love, uh, doing that for people and I get satisfaction. There's part of me that's like I should be in the studio right now. You know I should be. You know I should be spreading, you know, positivity and light through my music. But but at the same time, the daily job that I have helps me create fuel for the fire of my passion. That's what's up, and to be able to kind of have that yin and yang in between those two things is really beautiful, and I'm super grateful to have been able to figure or at least think I figured at least a part of this out Myself. Yeah, myself, man. That's what's up.

Speaker 2 56:33

It's great dude. That's what's up.

Speaker 1 56:34

I love it and I'm excited to see what you and I, what type of purpose we can bring to other people.

Speaker 2 56:41

So I got a question, I got to ask you yeah, man, mac Miller, you know I've always noticed you got the Mac Miller gear on. You speak about him every once in a while. I have yet to have a moment to ask you why Mac Miller is important for you, like, whatever it is.

Speaker 1 56:58

Man. Thanks for asking that question, um gosh, I I might take a few minutes for this, but I think it's worth it. Um, you know, when I was younger I artists. I always looked up to musicians. They were my role models.

Speaker 1 57:20

And to be able to navigate so many different terrains of types of music, it really showed Mac's versatility in trying to figure out himself. Like through his music I'm able to see him trying to navigate life and going through the same problems trial, drug use, trials and tribulations and it really helped me relate. I think it has a lot to do with relatability and when Mac passed, it really brought this sense of I felt like I lost a best friend. And I'm going to give you a little story.

Speaker 1 58:19

I'm not sure if you know this, I know some of the listeners have heard it, but a few years before he passed, I wanted to let him know how important he was to myself and the community around us because really a lot, lot he has influenced and still does influence a lot of people with his, with his music, okay, um, and I thought about okay, you know what, how can I do this? And I wrote him a song and I bought a vip ticket, okay, and when it was my turn in line to get that picture and that autograph I didn't ask for those things I sang him the song and I was able to really make this connection with something that felt so kind of like the sun that you can't touch but brings so much light and joy to to your life. And I was able to touch the sun that day and I was able to develop a connection with him and later on, after open up for him, you know, you opened up for her.

Speaker 2 59:36

Yeah, and was able to open up for her a year after.

Speaker 1 59:40

And man to be able to make that connection. He gave me the time and he made himself available and he was just there and present for that moment, and for me to be able to have that moment itself was just extremely special. I've I haven't been able, I've been able to do it maybe with like one, two or three other artists. Since then, you're writing songs for everybody. Um, you know what?

Speaker 2 1:00:09

man, I'm trying to make connections with everybody you know, and when?

Speaker 1 1:00:13

when mac passed, I really did see it. You know, first I was really sad, obviously, but then it made me realize I was super grateful to be able to have taken advantage of an opportunity when he was here and when I lost my favorite artist. I had to become my own after that, after that, and it gave me the strength to reach new heights and it gave me the, the optimism to realize that, no matter where you are in life, no matter what position you're in, no matter what walk you're going on, that you know the opportunities out there, they're out there, and that it's it's it's beautiful that we can all make these connections with each other. You know, like this, this conversation we're having right now, and it it helps me, you know, go through, you know, some of the, some of the, the things that I haven't thought about in a while that really do drive me down deep inside and I had to really figure out what I wanted that crystal ball to look like. And it's only up to me, man, thank you for sharing that brother.

Speaker 1 1:01:38

Yeah, thanks for asking man. That's really to me, man. Thank you for sharing, brother. Yeah, thanks for asking man.

Speaker 2 1:01:40

That's really gosh man, the way you worded, that is, that I no longer had my favorite artist. I had to become my own artist. Yeah, man, that hit me.

Speaker 1 1:01:48

Dude. And now it's just really. I make music for myself, and I know that might sound selfish in a way, but really like I make music to get me. My music are just messages to my future self.

Speaker 2 1:02:09

I was going to say there's nothing wrong with being selfish every once in a while.

Speaker 1 1:02:12

Right. Think about the words self-centered. You know what does self-centered mean.

Speaker 2 1:02:18

To you, self-centered means whether to me it means things are revolving around me right now. That's it. I'm self-centered right now, at the moment it may not be forever. Just don't be self-centered your whole life, right, although?

Speaker 1 1:02:31

think about it like what, if you're, it's not wrong to be centered at yourself. You know what I mean. Like that, we yourself. You know what I mean With words, you know.

Speaker 2 1:02:43

But what comes first with the words Centered or self Exactly, so, we could be centered. But how are we centered? Are we globally centered? Are we self-centered? Community-centered? Boom, boom, boom. Even that I'm self-centered means my self comes first, then my centering. So I said it's cool to do that every once in a while be, self-centered, self-serving, but you know what I'm saying?

Speaker 2 1:03:03

all that stuff, but every once in a while you have to go out and be serving for other people. Yes, you know? I mean, yeah, just be centered now. Take the self out of the fucking sentence. Just be centered. But now, what are you centered on?

Speaker 1 1:03:13

yeah, you love that man, love that gosh. That's, that's all right.

Speaker 2 1:03:16

Let me ask you a question yeah, yeah, when you listen, what are your pet peeves about other people? When they talk like what, what, what kind of talkers don't you like?

Speaker 1 1:03:29

um, let's see here, uh, someone who is like it's always I, you know, it's always about and it has to do with the self-centered thing too. It's like I did this or or I did that, and they're always trying to like one-up you, you know, there's those conversations and you have those friends who are like always trying to one-up you, you know they're oh, they always got a better story, they've always been to a better place. So, yeah, I would say that that is the biggest pet peeve. And then also the opposite of that, I love people who teach me new words, like if they use a word that I've never heard before, man, that really helps me open up and understand you know, different excited I'll be getting excited about new words.

Speaker 2 1:04:22

When somebody uses a new word, I'll be like yo. What does that mean? I'm looking for excuses to use it.

Speaker 1 1:04:26

You know for sure, for sure. Wait, you hear that. What's that noise?

Speaker 2 1:04:31

are you oh?

Speaker 1 1:04:32

is that the phone? This is the. This is that. Oh, gee, john, okay, okay, wait, who is this? Oh, I got g, I got og here. Okay, okay, wait a second. Yeah, you know what? Actually, I got somebody here with me, right like literally sitting next to me, that uh wants to, wants to give you some. Uh wants to give you some. You know, I'm not sure what he wants to give you, but I'm just gonna give, I'm gonna hand you, going to hand you over here.

Speaker 2 1:04:59

Let me get the phone. Let me get the phone. Hey G, is that you? Oh man, this is OG. Nah, you don't know me just yet. You're a little different. I'm trying to tell you right now. Look, look, look, look, look. Just listen to what I say. Yo, hey, chill now for a second, bro, you're good, you're good. I gotta tell you something.

Speaker 2 1:05:24

Look, number one, express your emotions. Don't get it all bottled up and keep it all bottled up. It's okay, as, being a man, you can express emotions, brother, you can have a whole range of things. I already know why you don't, because you've been through a lot of stuff, so you got to, like, put on that perspective. Yo, express yourself, man, be a little soft at times. Get a pet bunny or something, all right, hey.

Speaker 2 1:05:44

Number two bro, leave the females alone, period. Hey, learn about them, you know, have fun, have good conversation, but just leave them alone on their relationship. Don't put too much into it right now. Man, you need to go out there and study the world quicker. Use that youth in them legs, go find a book somewhere in another continent.

Speaker 2 1:06:07

You feel me, uh, outside of that bro, look, I know, uh, you're gonna do what you want to do and can't nobody tell you nothing. So hopefully you're still listening. Um, well, you know money is very important, uh-huh. Well, yeah, save a little bit, five dollars, ten dollars, like, just save something, motherfucking. Uh, outside of that man. Look man, um, go about your day and just know that what you're going through is only temporary period. And then, bro, just keep loving the way you love, keep seeing things positive as you see positive, and nobody is going to really understand you for your whole life, but what you want them to understand is what you exude. So just be happy, be positive, bro, that's it nice and tell them you love them oh, I love you too, man.

Speaker 2 1:06:57

I love you.

Speaker 1 1:06:58

I know what you about to do, but I still love you hey, man, you end up being being an amazing person and you, you should be really proud of the man that you become oh, thanks bro alright, love you dog. Get back to that video game. Thank you, thank you nice, nice man, that's a fun one ain't it?

Speaker 2 1:07:20

yeah, that's fun, bro, that's good everybody out there.

Speaker 1 1:07:22

You should be having a conversation with your old self at all times. You know, I mean, even if it's, even if it's something as cheesy as picking up a phone to to have to do it, you know, talk to you, talk to yourself, you know, even if you know, even if it's it doesn't apply to what you're doing right now, you know, um, it's important to be able to to. You know, bring those, those, those thoughts, to the to the forefront.

Rapid Fire Questions and Final Thoughts

Speaker 1 1:07:49

All right, so we're about to do a little rapid fire here. Ok, all right, you didn't get to see any of these, but all right. And again it's rapid fire, so you got to kind of like as quick as possible as quick as possible.

Speaker 2 1:08:01

Okay, all right okay, ready.

Speaker 1 1:08:03

Yeah, let's do it. Here we go. What's your favorite time of day and why? Morning time because I get to sleep through it if someone paid you to write a book, what would it be about?

Speaker 2 1:08:16

the adventures of a firefighter who didn't give a fuck oh, you love that love that what was the last book you read? Oh, oh, uh, zen bones. Uh, don't quote it on me, but basically it's about a lot of zen teachings and what they do is um certain words, certain phrases, that um send flesh, zen's flesh, and zen bones just a little quote here.

Speaker 1 1:08:39

There, that's it. There we go cool, go go cop it all right. Would you change your name if you could? Yes, and what would it be?

Speaker 2 1:08:47

to bradley wilkins the third what? Okay, you had that prepared, get all my, get all my reservations on time what's the last movie that made you cry? Oh, there's only one movie that's ever made me cry my whole life, and that was deep impact oh, that's a throwback, throwback baby.

Speaker 1 1:09:05

All right, what's the funniest? What's the funniest movie you've ever seen?

Speaker 2 1:09:10

oh, the ballad of ricky bobby tell it they're nice shaking back baby.

Speaker 1 1:09:16

Uh, explain the last time you faked being sick to get out of doing something.

Speaker 2 1:09:21

Oh, uh, work probably. Uh, it didn't work out too well. I said I went to vacation, went to miami with my brothers and my family and I fucking faked it. I told them like look, I'm sick, blah, blah. But then I posted on facebook must dumb, dumb did it, did it, we've all done it we've all done it all right.

Speaker 1 1:09:42

What item would you grab first if your house was on fire?

Speaker 2 1:09:47

oh, that's a tough one, brother. Yeah shit, I mean, I like shoes, so I'd grab shoes if I was being vain at the moment. But then if you caught me, like on a wednesday, I probably grabbed, like you know, my spiritual cards, my crystals and tarot decks that I made myself. But then if you caught me on a Wednesday, I'd probably grab my spiritual cards, my crystals and tarot decks that I made myself. But then if you caught me on a Friday, I'd probably just grab all my alcohol and call it a day.

Speaker 1 1:10:04

Call it a day baby, All right. What's the best thing about being your age?

Speaker 2 1:10:13

I don't have any kids. That's the best thing right now for myself personally. I got finances and I'm more in touch with who I am as a person, so I'm more confident in my daily walk and also interacting with other people, but not having to take on their shit.

Speaker 1 1:10:27

I can tell Love that All right. Who is someone you know you can talk to about anything? Andrew Awol.

Speaker 2 1:10:36

Yeah, love you, man, you're the best dude.

Speaker 1 1:10:40

Have you ever gotten lost? Where were you and what happened?

Speaker 2 1:10:46

I got lost in Thailand. My GPS stopped working because my self-service started working, but I was about 45 minutes outside of the city on a motorcycle. So I had to slowly ask people on my way back yo, I'm trying to get to blah, blah, blah, you know, and they'd be like go there, and I'd go for like two, three miles and I'm going to ask a little more, okay, what road I got to take next.

Speaker 1 1:11:06

Nice, nice, you found your way. You made it here. Are you afraid of the dark? Be honest, hell. No, I love it. Yes, that always gets you pumped up.

Speaker 2 1:11:18

Ooh Wale Rick Ross, dream, no Dream. Yeah, it's easy to dream the dream, but it's hard to live it.

Speaker 1 1:11:29

Ooh, love that, love that. All right, if you are in a bad mood, would you rather be left alone or have someone try and cheer you up? Both Love that, Love that. What's your favorite movie line? Favorite movie line that's putting you on the spot.

Speaker 2 1:11:46

That is on the spot. Hold on, I got to think about it. Rabidfire, rabidfire, you can pass. Say hello to my little friend. Oh, there you go Say hello, all right. If you could travel to space, would you go and where? Where would it be? Uh, no, I'm not traveling anytime soon to space. No, ain't going call, call elon tell him nah, yep, call you, I need the fifth generation.

Speaker 1 1:12:10

I didn't get blown up on my way out there like you're good all right name, a personal possession that you'd never sell, no matter how much money you were offered my spirit oh, love that, love that. Okay, you find a magic lamp. What's your first wish? Who?

Speaker 2 1:12:30

first wish to have everything I want, like that oh, there you go.

Speaker 1 1:12:37

I got one more for you. Are you ready? I'm ready, I'm ready coconut or pineapple pineapple all day, baby all day love that man.

Speaker 1 1:12:46

Well, hey, you know what, dude, thank you so much for being here and for for asking me those questions and for opening up and being honest and getting some of these emotions out and and uh, I really found this uh conversation extremely productive. And uh, let me ask you um if you could uh tell the listeners you know one last thing, um, either about yourself or like some uh a point of inspiration um to leave them with uh, what would it?

Speaker 2 1:13:16

be. First of all, thank you very much for having me on the show. I appreciate you, Thank you for respecting my perspective and, honestly, thank you for asking the questions and thank you for listening. My inspiration would just be to everybody look, I know you're going through whatever it is that you're going through, but remember it's only temporary, just like waves in the water, just like a plant growing, just like anything that you've ever experienced in your life. So, no matter what it feels like in this moment, just know it's going to be OK. Like you got the respective perspectives hotline, you got other hotlines, like you got friends and if you don't reach out and the universe will catch you. That's number one. But outside of that man, go make your money, have your dreams. You know what I'm saying. Have the body work, work out. You know what I'm saying. But listen, but listen with an open heart and listen with being happy, and no matter what it is, they can have the exact opposite perspective of you. Just be happy, you're alive, they're alive.

Speaker 1 1:14:21

We're talking what up. Oh man, thank you so much, dude. I really appreciate you being here and, uh, I'm super excited to see what the future brings for um, for for us and uh, for the world itself. Uh, thank you everybody for listening uh to another episode of uh the respecting perspectives uh podcast, and we'll see y'all Catch y'all later, later, thank, you brother. Amazing.

Speaker 2 1:14:50

That was fun bro.