Episode Transcript
[00:00:07] Speaker A: Scooby Doo ending at the beginning. Hey. Hey, friends. Dana here. Feeling a little loopy at the moment. Stoked you're here. This episode is so much fun. It's me having a conversation with Taya Lee, who is a person that I think the world of and always have. And if you don't know her, you're late. I'm excited to introduce you. If you do know her, you're thrilled because she's 100% delightful 100% of the time. Before we get into that conversation, though, we're going to do some wins today. I've got a very human win.
That win was a loss that turned into a win due to me having a large amount of money in my savings account. Largest relative, whatever.
I get it.
I just got new air conditioning, y'. All.
The kind that required a crane to replace the thing on the roof and the kind that required an angle grinder to replace the part that's in my. My building. So we. It was a twofer. This is a full, like, piping units, whatever.
Basically a car. I bought a car and it keeps me cool in my home in the middle of summer in Los Angeles.
So we're celebrating that I have become a person with a healthy savings account. Healthy enough to get new air conditioning even when that was not on the annual budget plan.
But I'm feeling great in my house. It's a casual 73 on this whatever day of whatever. It's hot. The sun, it's hot. Y' all drink some water. That's my win. I have new air conditioning. You're staying hydrated. Now you go. What? What. What's going well in your world? Please tell me that you're and cool.
Congratulations, my friend. I'm so glad that you're winning. This episode really is a win. Ta Lee is such a light, a gift to dance movement, but the entertainment industry specifically. I think she has a great eye and a great flexibility.
Emphasis on ability to flex. This episode is a flex. Just casually talking about working with Beyonce for the Cowboy Carter tour. She's talking about her.
The game changing, literal game changing moments that led to that. I think you're gonna really love this. I know I sure did.
Without any further ado, the one, the only, Ms. Taya Lee.
I licked the shit out of that pen. I think you're delightful. I'm super excited that you're here. Welcome to the podcast.
[00:03:03] Speaker B: Thank you for having me.
[00:03:05] Speaker A: It's happening right now. Taylee, this is your first podcast ever.
[00:03:08] Speaker B: What?
[00:03:09] Speaker A: I'm so honored. I'm so thrilled. I think the world of you. And I've thought the world of you from the day that we met. Which was over. Zoom, right?
[00:03:17] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:03:17] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:03:18] Speaker B: Dang.
[00:03:18] Speaker A: Before we get into our meet cute, tell us a little bit about yourself. What do you want the listener viewer to know about you?
[00:03:24] Speaker B: My name is Taya Lee and I do like going by my first and last name, actually.
[00:03:29] Speaker A: Do you?
[00:03:30] Speaker B: I do.
[00:03:30] Speaker A: It's funny, I don't like stopping after Taya. Taya Lee.
[00:03:33] Speaker B: Yeah. Just because it's so short. It just.
It rolls off the tongue.
[00:03:36] Speaker A: Actually.
[00:03:36] Speaker B: In high school, most I went by my first and last name not. And I didn't choose it. That was just given to me.
I am from San Diego, California.
I am a dancer assistant, stand in creative person.
And also I have my bachelor's in health and human sciences within evidences in psychology, fun fact and anything else. Hopefully you'll discover. Yeah.
[00:04:09] Speaker A: If yours truly asks all the right questions.
Okay, I want to jump back to.
You're from San Diego.
[00:04:17] Speaker B: I am.
[00:04:18] Speaker A: When did you move to LA?
[00:04:20] Speaker B: I moved to LA in 2016.
[00:04:22] Speaker A: Okay. For college and for school. Okay. And so you graduated in 2020.
[00:04:28] Speaker B: I did.
[00:04:29] Speaker A: Enter the pandemic and enter Dana Wilson's first ever year of career coaching for creatives and people navigating career transitions, which at that time was everyone. Because the world is shutting down and we're all in transition. And I'm so glad that you found me. I don't know how. How you did. How did that.
[00:04:52] Speaker B: I was thinking about that as well before coming here. I don't. I have to assume social media. Yeah. But I also am not sure who mutually, you know, like reposted your flyer. I have no idea.
[00:05:04] Speaker A: Okay, well, you got like, in my opinion, that was my best program the first round. Cause after that I feel like we all had 12 weeks at that point to be doing some intensive deep dive and reflection and curation of self and work on self. And after that, every program got a little bit shorter because people's summers were more.
How do you say. Active and less reactive to the circumstances. But I really loved you and that group of ABC students. I don't do this program anymore for. Also my summers have gotten really busy. But the program was for graduates only. And so you had recently graduated. This program was like, hey, are you curious? Confused about next steps? And I just remember you showing up every week so bright, unstumpable in the tasks, which we did a couple self tape exercises. We did a lot of fun stuff.
I remember your self tape in particular. Didn't we do, like, a peanut butter? Like a scoop?
[00:06:11] Speaker B: Yeah, but it was a live audition. It wasn't. Yes, it was a live audition.
[00:06:15] Speaker A: Oh, we did it really, really in zoom.
[00:06:17] Speaker B: Oh, fun.
[00:06:18] Speaker A: Thank you, you for that memory.
I really hope that I get to hire you someday for some gig that involves, like, your experience of eating off a spoon. Because I was like, that I want what she's having. I immediately was like, yeah, booked. I like, if I was in charge. Absolutely booked. Have you had any success with those commercial castings yet?
[00:06:41] Speaker B: No yet.
[00:06:43] Speaker A: Listen, I mean, the world has been back open for, what, two years? And one of those was a writer's strike, so it's not. It. It's not you, it's me.
But I. I'm curious what your experience of the industry has been since then, and are you feeling prepared?
[00:07:00] Speaker B: I feel like as prepared as one can be since so much of what we do, you learn while doing it.
[00:07:08] Speaker A: Correct.
[00:07:10] Speaker B: And I think. Which is helpful for me because I think before I really started having a career in dance, I assumed that I had to know everything before I stepped into the. You know, Like, I think I assumed that I had to. I didn't know enough to be able to work.
So it's been refreshing to be able to still learn while being paid, you know. Like, I think I assumed that I had to know all the answers before someone would pay me to. I see, do everything. So, yeah, it's been a very interesting ride because also during that time, I was still living in San Diego. Like, I moved here, did college, did all of that. And then once the pandemic hit, I moved back home for what I thought was two weeks, and I was there for two years.
And so I thank God I was in San Diego. So I was still driving back and forth whenever I needed to for whatever, auditions or whatever, so.
And I was also working, too. And so I finally was able to move back here with a job, and then dance things started happening, and I was like, okay, this is cool.
And it became too. Not even too much for them, but they just wanted an employee that was really creating their life around that job.
And I was not 100%.
I was not that person. And so, yeah, they had to let me go, which I understood, But I was kind of freaking out a little bit, obviously, because I. And this was a few months after I'd moved back to L. A. So I was like, well, shit, am I going to have to move back home?
Started looking for another job, and then I went on a game show, and I won $50,000.
So that was like. Okay. I know. It's like a really insane.
[00:09:04] Speaker A: Wait, I really did not know that plot detail.
[00:09:07] Speaker B: Yeah, it's a very ser. Yeah, so. And I did. I filmed it and everything while I was working. Right, right.
And, yeah, it aired, and then I got my money, and I was like, well, shit, might as well try, you know? Yeah. I was like, I have this safety net to sustain my life, you know, as long as it'll last me, and just a little bit of savings that I had from working. So I was like, well, let's go all in and try.
[00:09:39] Speaker A: How would you not know this plot point?
[00:09:42] Speaker B: I know. It's so insane. It's a really cool.
[00:09:44] Speaker A: What was the game show and what was the winning moment?
[00:09:46] Speaker B: It's called $100,000 Pyramid. It's on ABC. It was a very. And I actually applied to a bunch of game shows during the pandemic, probably around the time that we were in the program, as a joke to myself, because I was like, well, I don't really wanna work. I just want money, so. Ha, ha. That's fun. Let me just apply to some game shows. Da, da, da, da, da. And I heard back from a few, but nothing really materialized. And then two years later, they reached out, and it was an extremely rigorous process. It was like months and months of vetting, and, you know, every week, pretty much, I was on Zoom with a producer playing the game. And I didn't know that during that process, people were not being called back. Yeah. Like, I just thought, oh, yeah, there's just, you know.
Yeah. I was like, oh, just here playing this game.
[00:10:34] Speaker A: We're in an audition.
[00:10:35] Speaker B: Yeah. And I had no. I was just like, oh, yeah, it's fun. Yeah. Okay, you. Yeah. Another Zoom meeting. And then it was like, okay, now we're going to do the background check. And I was like, oh, I think I'm going to be on the show. But even still, like, you show up the day of filming and you could still not be on it, you know, so I didn't know. And then I. And also, to add more flavor to the story, I booked a music video the day before.
[00:11:01] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:11:01] Speaker B: And it was a night shoot.
And so I slept for an hour before they picked me up at 6am to go film.
And so I, like, slept. I'm crying. I slept like this in my bed. I napped like this.
[00:11:15] Speaker A: Yes. Yes.
[00:11:15] Speaker B: And I was like, okay, great. I still have makeup on from the shoot. Like, I. I can just.
[00:11:19] Speaker A: I can just rise. Yes, correct. Not even under the sheets.
[00:11:22] Speaker B: I'm assuming because you might.
[00:11:23] Speaker A: You don't want to get too comfortable.
[00:11:24] Speaker B: I cannot.
[00:11:25] Speaker A: The windows are open.
[00:11:26] Speaker B: Yeah. Like I was like, I cannot trick my body into thinking. And also something else that I forgot. I. After the shoot was over, got in my car. Car didn't start.
[00:11:35] Speaker A: No.
[00:11:35] Speaker B: So then I had to wait for aaa. Like it was just like a really insane.
[00:11:39] Speaker A: Okay, obviously not obviously. Cuz I do want to know. I don't know how the game show works. You knew that you had won on the show.
[00:11:45] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah.
[00:11:45] Speaker A: And then you get to your car.
[00:11:47] Speaker B: And it is saying, well, this is leaving the music video the night before.
And the music video also was not something like that was a day of booking situation. Like, hey, there's a night shoot tonight, can you be there? And I was, you know, at the time doing yoga on my roof, like getting so ready for the next day. Yes.
[00:12:06] Speaker A: For your guys.
[00:12:07] Speaker B: I was like, great. I, you know, I'm gonna wash my hair. Like I'd already fully planned it. And then I was like, okay, let's go do it. And then. So yeah, I was very nervous leading up to it, even though I hadn't been prior to that because I was like, I don't know how I'm gonna do with an hour of sleep. And you know, it's such a true.
[00:12:26] Speaker A: You had a plan.
[00:12:27] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:12:27] Speaker A: And then your plan changed.
[00:12:28] Speaker B: Yeah. It's a very.
It's a timed game and you're playing with celebrities. And I was like, I don't know how I'm gonna do. And I was just able to lock in and.
Yeah.
[00:12:40] Speaker A: Do you remember what you were thinking? Because you know, I'm going to ask you some coaching shit. Since we did the coaching program together. Do you remember what it was that you were thinking that helped you lock in?
[00:12:49] Speaker B: I think that there wasn't a particular thought. I just.
It was like a 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, go. You know, I was like, I can't think about it because if I think about it, I'm not going to be able to perform. So the handler that I had at the time was really good about, you know, when she would come over to bring me my drink, she'd be like, name three birds. Go. You know, like I was just like.
[00:13:10] Speaker A: Kept you sharp.
[00:13:11] Speaker B: Yeah. I was like, I'm never out of it so that I'm here. And I think also I didn't have. I didn't put a lot of pressure on myself for it because I also to me it really was like, oh yeah, we're Just having fun. Like, this is not a. I didn't go in thinking, oh, my God, like, I really need this money. I really need. Cause I. I see.
[00:13:30] Speaker A: I.
[00:13:30] Speaker B: You know. Cause also, at the same time, I was still working, so I, you know, I was like, oh, this would just be cool to have some extra money in. My parents and I, we always watch the show. So I was like, oh, yeah, this is just. Like, this is just fun, a cool thing. And I wanted to do. I left with $50,000. And, yeah, that really helped calm my nerves once I did end up losing my job. And, yeah, after that, the work just started coming in slowly and surely. And then.
Yeah, now, three years later, we're still doing it full time. So. Yeah.
[00:14:04] Speaker A: And the work, I'm assuming, is direct booked.
[00:14:07] Speaker B: Yes, mostly. Yeah.
[00:14:09] Speaker A: I just did an episode on this. The question, how do dancers make money?
And it's one of my more popular episodes of late. I can't believe I've actually never addressed this subject so directly, but I actually went through my resume and highlighted the number of gigs that were direct books versus auditions, and it versus the work that I create myself. It's interesting. Please go have a listen. It's quick, like 20 minutes. But I do think that there's, for most people who are professional and capable and get the job done, kind of a tipping point.
You will really have to show up and be introducing yourself in the form of auditions, in the form of taking class and training. But once you're in and doing the work and can show that you're capable and have a body of work to point to, kind of that part of the hard part.
[00:15:01] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:15:02] Speaker A: Tapers off a little bit.
[00:15:03] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:15:03] Speaker A: Things are still challenging, which is probably a great segue. You just got to work on a beastly project.
[00:15:11] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:15:12] Speaker A: Was this your first time working with Beyonce?
[00:15:14] Speaker B: This was my second time, yeah. We did Beyonce bowl in December. Right, right.
[00:15:19] Speaker A: And you just worked on the latest tour. Can you talk a little bit about your title, your responsibilities and the big one?
I want to hear a lesson learned. Like, big lesson, big gig, big lesson learned.
[00:15:31] Speaker B: Yeah. I was the assistant choreographer for the Cowboy Carter tour. I think that in this project in particular, I.
My responsibilities were. I was assisting Tyreek Patterson, who I assist often, and so really helping out with all the pieces that we were in charge of, but it wasn't, you know, pigeonholed to that. And there's also other choreographers who had work, so helping with that in addition to the old material that still, you know, persist.
So helping with that really I think often trying to be an advocate for the dancers. And I always make it a point to check in with the dancers and what do they need? What you know, okay, how's everybody doing? Yeah.
Break. Yes. So it's been.
A lot of it was either communicating to the choreographers what they needed or to other departments, too. It was like, okay, wardrobe. This is what we need. Music. You gotta add some clicks here. Cause they're not hearing this, you know, so doing that and taking notes, creating schedules.
So there is some administrative things as well, which is, I think, kind of particular to me because I've worked as an admin assistant so much, so it's very easy for me to take on those roles. Like, no one organized, naturally communicative.
[00:17:00] Speaker A: Very clear. Your email game is like, top.
[00:17:04] Speaker B: Thank you. So I feel like all of these things that I'm saying were my responsibilities is actually really good, because I haven't actually processed that. Yeah. Like, oh, what? Because it's not like in a local job.
[00:17:16] Speaker A: You wrote that in your contract.
[00:17:18] Speaker B: Here are your roles and responsibilities. But those are, I think, the main things that I was doing in addition to. Yeah. Just whatever was needed. And oftentimes because we had. We also had 29 dancers, so. And with the time that we had, it was a lot of dividing and conquering. And it was like, okay, you can you take these people to teach them this thing? Okay, let's make this up real quick. And you go over here. So a lot of. Yeah. Splitting and carrying the load so that no one was too overwhelmed. I mean, it's hard not to be in that type of space. And it's also the biggest artist in the world, you know, like, even if we. You know. But you can't even think about that because you will get overwhelmed. So it's like, okay, what is immediately in front of me, all of these notes that we need to address. What's a priority in moving.
[00:18:03] Speaker A: Nice. Yes.
[00:18:04] Speaker B: And I feel like a lot of lessons were learned in this process. I think that something that I, as I've been talking about it and processing it since, I think I really have a good scope now of what I do want to do and what I don't want to do, which is really helpful. I think that it's very easy to leave something, you know, maybe feeling.
Not that I didn't leave feeling jaded at all, but I think I was like, okay, this was really interesting for me because this is my first stadium tour, first headlighting tour. And so I. I was like, okay, I think that I want to be this type of leader, and I don't want to be this type of leader. And here's how I think I could be better about communicating. Here's, you know, what I saw that I really didn't like, and it was like, I feel like a huge pressure cooker of information in a short amount of time. But it also, I think, is a very empowering type of job, because, you know, that, okay, if I can do something like that and it not crash and burn, then I can do anything.
[00:19:12] Speaker A: Oh, what a great feeling.
[00:19:14] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:19:15] Speaker A: Was there a moment where you felt particularly underprepared and wound up pulling something off that you didn't expect?
[00:19:22] Speaker B: I think most of the time, when assisting Tyreek, I am always in the room when choreography is being created, and it's like, okay, you know, I might suggest something. But most of the time, you know, like, the choreography is his. He's not. And every choreographer is different in how they want to be assisted. Some people want good demonstrators. Some people want people to just make stuff up and, you know, like, so everybody's different.
I think that in our relationship, I am an I mostly, and, you know, he'll do things, and I'm like, I don't think that's gonna read or, you know, so changing. Changing things. And I feel like there were some moments in this that he was like, okay, can you go make this up? And I was like, oh, yeah. I don't. We typically don't have that type of relationship. So I think that there were definitely moments that I was like, oh, right. There's a choreographer in my title, so I have to choreograph something. And so.
[00:20:21] Speaker A: If choreographer is in there, eight counts are to be expected.
I could talk about this for thousand years, actually. And you're so right in calling out from the top. Everybody's different. But what you just said, I think is the most important thing. When choreographers in your title, you can expect to be making up moves. Yeah.
[00:20:39] Speaker B: So I think that.
Not that I felt unprepared, but I was just like, oh, yeah, okay, let me.
Let me do that. Let me figure that out.
[00:20:47] Speaker A: Put my email fingers down and put the notebook down and, like, get into my body right now.
[00:20:51] Speaker B: And I think also a big thing that became my responsibility was sending off all rehearsal videos to other departments so.
[00:21:00] Speaker A: That they had data management. Yeah. So file management, organization.
Oh, and some of that takes a lot of time.
[00:21:08] Speaker B: It takes a lot of time, and I.
[00:21:10] Speaker A: Because the clip is 12 minutes, you have to watch from beginning to end to make sure. It's the right clip and that it.
[00:21:15] Speaker B: Doesn'T defect anywhere because I am so nice.
I, you know, would also edit them. So it's, you know, I'm like, okay. Cause I.
[00:21:24] Speaker A: Is it because you're nice or is it also because you love a high level, deliverable.
[00:21:28] Speaker B: It's not even that, I think, because I was just like, we have such little time and it would be very helpful if beyond them just knowing the choreography, this is being sent to lighting and content and, you know, all these other departments. So if I can say, okay, we're going to travel from A stage to the thrust to the B stage, which you can't really.
[00:21:50] Speaker A: You notated your eclipse. I got you.
[00:21:52] Speaker B: Yes, yes, yes. I was like, wherever we are in this. Anything that was in regards to staging and lighting, I would include or, okay, we're going to come up the lift here. Just so things that you can't really tell in a rehearsal space but are going to impact how you're programming these lights and these different features I would include. And I think that that's something that I haven't done and been responsible in that way of like, you know, everybody's waiting on you to do this thing.
So I think that. Not that I was unprepared, but I also am someone who really enjoys not doing anything technologically. You know, I'm like, I have a very.
I'm like, I want to use all technology for its basic function. I don't. I'm not interested in becoming an editor. Yeah. No.
[00:22:40] Speaker A: Specialist.
[00:22:41] Speaker B: No, no, no. I loathe it. So I. But I, you know, did it because that's what was needed to be done.
[00:22:48] Speaker A: And it was what was useful. You found that after. Because I'm assuming this is.
How many months did you rehearse?
[00:22:55] Speaker B: I wish we had months to rehearse.
[00:22:57] Speaker A: Was it one?
[00:22:58] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:22:59] Speaker A: 2020 experience came together in less than a month.
[00:23:02] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:23:03] Speaker A: So you found in that short period of time, the feedback was like, this is helpful. This works. I've had both in my like, because I love an edit. Like, I will sit and I will edit. Yes. Always trimming like top and tail. And I do love some texty poos to explain what's going on so that I don't have to. So that the person watching gets the information here in one place, versus the email for the notes and then the video and the back and forth.
[00:23:31] Speaker B: Exactly.
[00:23:32] Speaker A: But I have experienced both where I will spend hours on an edit that will go into a Google Drive that no one will open.
[00:23:44] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:23:44] Speaker A: And they're going to ask me that question when they see me tomorrow. Or they're going to look at the outdated version, which is why being organized is so very important.
[00:23:54] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:23:54] Speaker A: They'll show me the version from two weeks ago and say, no, this is what you said. And I'll say, that's what I said two weeks ago. So having to. When you establish that as the bar, you have to uphold it.
Otherwise it can be as harmful to have the wrong information.
[00:24:12] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:24:12] Speaker A: Then no information.
[00:24:15] Speaker B: Yeah, no, I definitely did experience that. And I feel like the.
It is hard because that's not my only job. So I'm doing this after rehearsal and then after we stay after to create and address whatever notes and whatever meeting we have with the heads of department. So.
And then I go home and I'm doing this.
[00:24:38] Speaker A: So I know this hustle.
[00:24:39] Speaker B: Yeah. It's a lot of work. But it's also. There is no resentment there because it's like the work needs to be done.
[00:24:45] Speaker A: So.
[00:24:46] Speaker B: And I just happen to be equipped to be the person to do it. So it is what it is.
[00:24:52] Speaker A: People do their jobs.
[00:24:54] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:24:54] Speaker A: To a. To a high degree.
[00:24:56] Speaker B: Yeah. I think that. And also as we were talking, I was like, oh my gosh. I'm just remembering other things. We use this program called Arrange. I don't know if you.
[00:25:06] Speaker A: I've heard of this.
[00:25:08] Speaker B: And it's an app that I feel like is most compatible with like an iPad and you do formations on it and it has a bunch of different things. You can put music on top and it'll move in. You know, like you can. I can see the value here and. But it is a very tedious, time consuming.
[00:25:27] Speaker A: And it's kind of those sort of things, in my experience work really well when you're all in.
[00:25:32] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:25:33] Speaker A: When every single number from start to finish is done. But if you are running through a type of day that doesn't go top to bottom, 100% can be when you leave a gap here that can create a problem with so and so's little dot or avatar or whoever being in the wrong place because you didn't get to finish. And it can.
I. I find myself geeking out over technologies that exist to make my job easier.
[00:25:57] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:25:57] Speaker A: Geeking out. Loving this. And then still holding a paper and pen and doing.
[00:26:03] Speaker B: Yes. Like we didn't. There was no intention of us using that because we know what it goes into. But when Beyonce looks at you. Cause she already knows that we've. During Beyonce bowl. I did it. Which was very, very difficult because that was hundreds of people on a field and a 15 minute or 12 minute performance and so many different factors. And so I was traumatized from doing it for that because as soon as I started that process, you know, Tyrique sat me down. He was like, taya, this is gonna be the hardest thing.
[00:26:44] Speaker A: Like, are you ready to commit to this?
[00:26:46] Speaker B: And I.
I'm just gonna thank you in advance because this is gonna be really difficult. And for that as well. I did that.
And it was helpful for. Yeah. Other departments, because when she looks at.
[00:26:58] Speaker A: You and she was like, hey, where are these people? When I'm here?
[00:27:02] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:27:02] Speaker A: And you're like, right here.
[00:27:04] Speaker B: Yeah. And she can see it. Yes. It's really helpful for lighting and, you know, other people to understand how things move.
And.
But I was, you know, obviously not trying to do that for this, but.
[00:27:18] Speaker A: She was like, for a three hour show.
[00:27:20] Speaker B: Yeah. She was like, you did a 12 minute number.
[00:27:23] Speaker A: Do.
[00:27:23] Speaker B: Can you guys do this? And we were like, do we have to?
Like, when do you want it? And she was like, tomorrow?
And this was also already after rehearsal, you know, So I think that was like, you know, one of those moments where you look at each other and you're just like, out. All right, it's gonna be a long night. Let's strap in and we just gotta do it. And we move on. And you plug. Yeah.
[00:27:55] Speaker A: And you had the information.
[00:27:56] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah.
[00:27:58] Speaker A: I'm sure there were questions, but he had enough to plug in and have.
[00:28:03] Speaker B: So I feel like that's like a moment again of not unpreparedness, but just mental and emotional unpreparedness. Not, like physical, but it's just like, okay, let me get my life to rally from. Where do I get to. Yeah, I have to pull this out of my ass energetically to, like, get this through. Because now I know I'm gonna be up getting this done, but I know that this is helpful, so.
[00:28:26] Speaker A: And then can I be sharp still that.
[00:28:28] Speaker B: Yes. The next day? Because I still have to be here.
[00:28:30] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:28:31] Speaker B: In the morning. Yeah.
[00:28:32] Speaker A: Oh, do you find. So you told me a second ago that your sleep routine right now is like seven to ten hours per night. Do you find, like, maybe that's because you're still in recovery mode, I think.
[00:28:44] Speaker B: And I am still. Still recovering.
[00:28:47] Speaker A: That was a different kind of you.
[00:28:50] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:28:50] Speaker A: That had to survive on four hours a night. That was running on adrenaline most of the time. That was a different kind of you and the recovery. I would love to see some sleep scientists.
It's very interesting because show people and how we operate.
[00:29:05] Speaker B: Yeah, the adjustment period is different for everyone. And when.
When I was in it, I wasn't, you know, like, you're not even thinking about it because it's like I either have to get up early to get there before rehearsal to finish this thing or have to stay late to work. You know, it's just like I'm just here to do this job and that's what it is versus, you know, a dancer is like an hourly rate. And you know, it's very different when you're on the creative side of things. Like you just have a job to do. And once this job stopped just for me because I. Once they started traveling, our first shows were in la and so sorry.
When.
Once they started heading out, my duty was over. And so to go from living like that, which, you know, I wasn't even thinking about. Oh my gosh, we're.
I'm aware that we're moving fast and we are doing all of this, but I'm just thinking about what notes can we get done? You know, like, I'm not really zooming out, but once we were done, I was like, oh, this is why people struggle in this industry. It's this moment in particular.
And I don't think that I realized or appreciated why people struggle so much.
[00:30:25] Speaker A: Until the moment where the job is gone and you wave it goodbye.
[00:30:28] Speaker B: Yeah. Because this is the, I think, most intense process that I've been a part of and just, you know. Yeah. Like it was just so much.
And to have a high. High like that. And, you know, I think that since this was like a two month, three month process, I haven't experienced this. Cause I've never done anything that was that type of length. So to be living like that for two to three months to immediately thrust your body into, okay, go do that laundry and you know, just like be a regular person again. It can be very difficult to find your footing. And if you don't have good people around you to ground you, if you.
[00:31:09] Speaker A: Don'T have a way of looking at the world and making sense of.
[00:31:13] Speaker B: Yeah. Because I think if you are someone either that like, is caught up in the, like idolatry or, you know, you really care about things like that, it can be hard, you know, to be like, I just went from looking at Beyonce every day and conversing with Beyonce every day to being a regular person.
[00:31:33] Speaker A: To like, having to go to Trader Joe's.
[00:31:35] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:31:36] Speaker A: More.
What do people get at Trader Joe's? Lemons.
[00:31:40] Speaker B: Get the red juice.
[00:31:41] Speaker A: The red juice. From Trader Joe's.
[00:31:42] Speaker B: Get the red juice.
[00:31:43] Speaker A: I kind of stopped going to Trader. I used to be like hardcore Trader Joe's. And then I got Riz, my dog, and we started doing our grocery walks together. And Trader Joe's a little too far for us, so we do the Ralph's she comes with.
[00:31:56] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:31:57] Speaker A: And so I've kind of. Yeah, I've lost track. But I do love Trader Joe's for flowers. All of my flowers I'm always getting from Trader Joe's.
[00:32:05] Speaker B: Yeah, I love Trader Joe.
[00:32:06] Speaker A: So. So you're back. You have like an empty desk syndrome.
[00:32:11] Speaker B: I've called it that in the past.
[00:32:12] Speaker A: Where you have like this all encompassing, fully involved, heavy duty project and then the project is over, you click ship or you sign, you wave goodbye and you're looking at an empty desk and yourself in the mirror like, who am I without this job?
[00:32:25] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:32:26] Speaker A: And what do I do with this time? And what am I going to do ever again that's going to be as.
[00:32:31] Speaker B: Good as this, right?
[00:32:32] Speaker A: A lot of those questions.
[00:32:33] Speaker B: It's a lot. And I think that's when I first was struggling with the sleep. Because to. Even before this job, I am someone like, I need my sleep. I am still a night owl, so, you know, I'll probably still be up till 2, but I'm not. Don't talk to me before 10. Like, this is just the reality, you know, like, this is what it is.
Um, and so leaving that I. And I haven't had struggle with sleep prior to this. And I was like, oh my gosh. There were some nights that it would take me a while to fall asleep and then other nights where I would be able to fall asleep, but then I would wake up and then, yeah, just to get like my body back on regularity and schedule. Because even with that there wasn't.
It still wasn't regular chaos, you know, it was still a chaotic chaos. You know, it's like everything is different. Everything is different. So I.
It took me a second and I think I'm still finding it. I only have like a few more days of freedom before I jump into something else. So it's, you know, it's been hard, but I think I've been okay because of the people around me and being able to like, okay, we are good here. We are back in. And I'm someone who, I really like to be self regulated, self disciplined and create structure for myself.
So to return to that and create that again has been nice to find that again.
[00:34:03] Speaker A: But it's cool that you Can. Yeah, I, I wind up talking to a lot of people who think they are better at, at being, at not being the boss. Like easier for them to do what they're told. And P.S. i'm raise his hand like one of these people who believes that it's easier to do what they're told than to decide for themself what their day is gonna be. It may be easier, but shit, let me tell you the fulfillment.
I mean, I've done some cool ass gigs, but my favorite days are the days where I made my schedule and I did everything on that schedule. It's like for me, I want to do this for the podcast. I do this now. I teach and I do this and then I'm taking my acting class and I'm doing this scene and then I'm doing this. Like, ooh. I get real jacked off of the days that I can structure for myself and execute for myself versus, no offense because she's phenomenal and the show is phenomenal. By the way. I need to give you flowers, but I should have had fucking actual flowers. I'll just take these traders, you can I. The show was fantastic and she's incredible. And still my favorite days. I mean, I've never worked for her, but there were days when I was on tour with Justin Timberlake where I was doing my daily video, my video of the day, every day for over a calendar year.
And I was more excited about my 15 second thing that came from my brain and went through my fingertips and my body of processing and then my edit and then my fucking struggle to upload, download, reload, find WI fi, all that from creation or from like the inception of the idea to the creation of the thing to clicking ship. Going through you on your time, on your terms is a really powerful feeling.
[00:35:59] Speaker B: It is really cool because we do all of that for other people, you know, like everything.
Even if you're not doing all of those things broken down, step wise, energetically, you are giving all of that same energy to, you know, whatever project you're working on.
[00:36:13] Speaker A: Well, some of us do.
Yes, some of us do. Some of us are better or worse at setting the personal professional boundaries. But I think probably stop me if I'm wrong to exist in that camp.
You are, you're an all in type of person.
[00:36:27] Speaker B: I think even outside of the camp, just the process and also the person I am just someone who cares, you know.
[00:36:36] Speaker A: So if your name is on it, whether Beyonce's name is in front or behind it, you're an all in person.
[00:36:42] Speaker B: Yeah. And I think I don't know how not to be. And it's not. This is just how I am as a, as a person, because I'm just someone who cares deeply about things. So I'm not able to, when we leave, stop thinking about.
Oh, right. Okay. Maybe if we change the staging here, then. Okay, right. Let me make a note. We can address that tomorrow. You know, I'm not like actively trying to clock use what you know, but it's just like on my way home, whatever things come up or I'm still singing the songs in my head, you know, like I'm still in it mentally.
[00:37:15] Speaker A: So it's a unique thing about what we do is that like the clock in, clock out line gets very blurry, as you mentioned, especially on the creative side. I think dancers go home and they stop dancing.
[00:37:28] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:37:29] Speaker A: But they don't get to stop caring. If you stop caring, then you don't have that job anymore.
[00:37:34] Speaker B: Right.
[00:37:34] Speaker A: I think finance people maybe, or bankers, they can clock out and stop caring about. About finance.
[00:37:40] Speaker B: Sure.
[00:37:41] Speaker A: But a dancer has to continue, has to clock out, go home, do their Epsom bath, do a foam roll, do a meal prep for tomorrow to like to keep the body and mind operating in a way that can perform at that. Those insanely high standards and in insane circumstances is really a full time job, no matter what department you're in or where you show up as what part of the wheel you are.
[00:38:05] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:38:06] Speaker A: But I'm all of that to say, like, you are exactly where you are meant to be in that.
In a landscape such as that. People who care a lot and have skills and are flexible also ready to learn. Oh my gosh, my. I think of you as being one of these kind of people.
My sister was just explaining two different kinds of people.
And I know that this is like as I'm saying this, I'm listening to this podcast as an outsider. Like, yeah, nobody's two. There's not just two types of anyone. But listen, hear me out.
I was just talking to my sister about how she sees herself as being a decisive and a flexible person.
I think there are people who are more decisive and. Or flexible. Like I. I know some people that are very much easy peasy, totally flexible, but not really decisive. But it's cool because whatever you decide, I'm cool with. But I also know people who are inflexible and not decisive. And I think to operate in this medium, in this world, in this industry, when you're your best self, you're both.
[00:39:17] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:39:17] Speaker A: Both decisive and Flexible.
[00:39:19] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:39:20] Speaker A: And I feel like what Riley and I have kind of created in our team ship and in our way of always doing multiple things, whether it's choreographing a tour or choreographing this, that and maintaining podcast schedule is being very decisive and organized and being flexible.
[00:39:36] Speaker B: It's required.
[00:39:37] Speaker A: It's required at your best.
[00:39:40] Speaker B: Which is so interesting because there are many people who totally.
[00:39:44] Speaker A: You see, I see high level people who would rather someone else decide.
[00:39:50] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:39:50] Speaker A: And I also see some really, really inflexible people doing very, very well.
[00:39:56] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:39:56] Speaker A: And everybody else just bending and breaking their back to deliver for them. So. But the worlds that I like to.
[00:40:02] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:40:02] Speaker A: Swim in.
[00:40:03] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:40:03] Speaker A: Which, by the way, brings me to my next thing that I want to talk about. The worlds that I like to swim in are where people are the best at the book.
So. Okay, that brings me to my next thing that I wanted to talk to you about and compliment you on and thank you for it. You posted a story recently.
It was just a taya talking to the people.
[00:40:21] Speaker B: Taya talk. I used to do taya talks.
[00:40:24] Speaker A: Bring them back.
I'm subscribing because you said, you know, and you said it slow like this too, which kept me on the edge of my seat.
People really think it's like virtuous and good to dance like water.
Like fluidity. Right. Is the thing. Everybody's really trying to be fluid.
But here's the thing about water, friends.
It's also clear.
And then I sat with that for a second. I was like, where's she going with this? And you left such a dramatic pause. And then you were like, where's the clarity?
You can move like water all day long. You can move like a lazy river. You can move like white water rapids. But where's the clarity?
[00:41:13] Speaker B: Kind of.
[00:41:13] Speaker A: And I do know people who can do both. But I think you had had in that, in that video, you put your finger on the pulse of something that I've been thinking but not able to say for a long time.
Everybody's got the watery boogery. What I just did was not fluid.
[00:41:29] Speaker B: At all, by the way.
[00:41:29] Speaker A: I was like ganking.
Everybody is going for this. Like, Carrie was the word for run on sentence. There it is. It was like carryover sentence.
[00:41:40] Speaker B: That's so interesting that you said that, because after I shared the story and I was, you know, people were responding to it, you know, to the, like, laughing. But also there are people who were like, no, taken. You know, And I, as I was thinking about it more, I Was like, oh, do you know what it's like? It's like you are a run on sentence. And do you know what happens if you were to read a run on sentence aloud? You run out of breath.
So if you are dancing like a run on sentence, you are forcing your viewers to run out of breath and you yourself. Yeah, you too. And yeah, it's so interesting. I'm like, if we dance with punctuation in the same way that we have to write with punctuation and speak with.
[00:42:29] Speaker A: Breath, which requires a pause for inhale.
[00:42:31] Speaker B: Like, the dancing is so much more legible. Like, I would love legible dancing. And it's also fun because the so many people also responded who are not movers, who were taking the fluidity, clarity, parallel and outside of dance and just regular life. Like, right. We all want to just go with the flow. And I don't know what I'm doing, you know, but I'm just fluid. But I also am not. Yeah, it's like, are you clear in your goals, in your path, in your life? And it's okay if you're not, but, you know, I think that we should try to find more of a balance. So. Yeah, very much, yes. The decisiveness and flexibility.
[00:43:16] Speaker A: I also just love your way of being able to talk to the. Talk to the people. It's not weird. Like, I felt like you were talking directly to me. Sometimes I struggle talking to the device. Yeah, I do still. Sometimes I would way rather talk to these devices, but there's also humans. But I felt like I was having a chat with you. So I was wondering if you might have any other golden nuggets that you could share with the dancer, the dance types out there.
Damn.
[00:43:43] Speaker B: You have one of my favorites.
[00:43:45] Speaker A: When one day when we were talking.
[00:43:46] Speaker B: About like class videos and being able to like watch people, but everyone's doing something different in the class video. Oh yes, that is very true.
When watching.
That is so funny. So when I am consuming Instagram and.
[00:44:12] Speaker A: I haven't heard of it.
[00:44:16] Speaker B: And obviously most of my algorithm is dancing and seeing dancers. When people post class videos, I watch it on silent just to see, like, what are we doing?
[00:44:33] Speaker A: I don't know.
[00:44:34] Speaker B: Because sometimes, you know, the music, if I really like the song, that's kind of, you know, sueding me a certain way for sure. And it's not even. It's not like a super deep thing, but I'm like, I just want to like, what are you dancing like? And for me also, if there's multiple people in the video and you know, it's you, but there is a bunch of other people.
If when I'm watching it on silent, you look like you're dancing to two different songs. I scroll. Wow.
And it happens very, very often.
And I don't want people to not post because the person next to them looks crazy. But I really am just. I'm like, oh, who taught that class? Noted. You know, like really? Yeah, I think. Cause it's not on you, that's on the teacher. Because they didn't articulate to you how to. And sometimes it could be on the dancer. And you know, sometimes people just execute things how they want to execute.
[00:45:38] Speaker A: Oh yeah. There is also choose your own adventure timing out there.
[00:45:41] Speaker B: So, you know, like, I have a lot of. There's not judgment there, but I'm always just like, huh, this is an interesting thing. And I mean shit, if you look good, post what you gonna post. I don't care.
[00:45:55] Speaker A: But know that Taya will be scrolling.
[00:45:57] Speaker B: No, you're not getting a like out of me.
Yeah, I always am really interested in what the final. After your hour and a half and then this video.
What did you get from that? And I really. It's really. I am not judging the dancer. I am really judging the teacher. Cause I'm like, oh, we didn't.
Did we just continue to keep.
[00:46:22] Speaker A: Did we get to refine that?
[00:46:23] Speaker B: Yeah, we just like decided to keep going. Even though we could see floundering. Why?
You know, like, why can't. If you're going to get, you know, 30 seconds in, are you important question. Yeah, like, why not just let's refine these 30 seconds rather than pushing to get the full minute.
[00:46:39] Speaker A: What do you think the answers are?
[00:46:41] Speaker B: I think it's self. Like you're not there to really serve.
You're serving yourself, you know, so that.
[00:46:48] Speaker A: What you think you're going to teach?
[00:46:49] Speaker B: Yeah, to like show the people.
Exactly. Because I'm like, there is no way.
This means that in this class you saw floundering and you chose to ignore it. And I have a problem with that because you are there to teach.
And sure, someone could still get something out of pushing to learn a minute long piece or whatever. And that's still a skill and not something to be discounted. But also, I think it's really, really nice to leave as a student. To leave, like, okay, we really got into that, you know, like I was able to leave feeling like even if I didn't get it, we cared, you know, versus okay, we're just barreling through this thing just for the sake of barreling through it just to push me. But I'm already being pushed with 30 seconds, so maybe we need to put a pin in this so we can really get these 30 seconds together.
[00:47:50] Speaker A: Yeah. What's a worthy push?
That's worth it.
[00:47:53] Speaker B: And I feel like every. Every environment is different, but that requires a good teacher to have really be able to read the room, understand the pulse of the room, and see what's happening with your students. Because I'm like, we. We can't just focus on the people who do have it and, you know, go like, who are. Who is in the back not getting it. And that's okay. Everyone's here on different levels. And so it's like, you can't also just, you know, bend and acquiesce to everything happening in the room. Like, you do have to have that push. It's a really interesting balance to find, But I wish that. Yeah.
[00:48:26] Speaker A: The leave no child behind idea.
[00:48:28] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:48:29] Speaker A: I see great value to it.
[00:48:31] Speaker B: Right.
[00:48:31] Speaker A: And as especially a person who teaches on convention often, if I geared my convention classes to the lowest level of the room, I think I would.
One of my answers to that question, why do people do that? I think I would lose more 100 than I helped 100%. But there is also, like, that's another. A further degree of refined teacher dom is like, being able to evaluate majorities.
The majority of the room needs this.
[00:49:00] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:49:01] Speaker A: The small few needs this.
[00:49:03] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:49:04] Speaker A: How can I address the small few and push these guys or push these guys? While addressing these guys?
[00:49:12] Speaker B: There's a lot of. And I.
I also will retract. I'm not judging the teachers, but I'm just, like, curious as to what was going on in there. What was the class like?
[00:49:21] Speaker A: Use your time.
[00:49:22] Speaker B: Yeah. Because there's. Everyone is different. And I'm not saying, okay, one person is struggling. So we should stop here. No. But if, like, the general. I. I've been in many rooms where I'm like, who we gonna keep going? All right. You know, it's like, okay.
[00:49:37] Speaker A: Feeling. I have felt.
[00:49:38] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:49:39] Speaker A: More times than I can. I've felt it in auditions too.
[00:49:41] Speaker B: And that's even my least favorite place. Yeah. Cause then you have to try to sell it, and you don't know what you're doing. It's the worst feeling. But, yeah. I think I. Is that what I was telling you, Riley? Yeah. Okay.
Okay. Yeah. I just am. When there's multiple people, I typically like to watch everyone in the clip rather than just the person, you know, who I'm following. Who is there to see, like, okay, was this class taught well? Is this clear?
We're all, you know, kind of. Even though everyone has their different isms, we're all pretty aligned musicality wise and.
[00:50:15] Speaker A: You know, majority pulse of the room.
[00:50:17] Speaker B: We know what we're doing, we're good. Then I'm like, okay, cool, that might be a good class. Okay.
[00:50:21] Speaker A: This is a gorgeous segue and I think it's important for you, a blossoming and becoming and already excellent leader, to have taste and to have thoughts about how people are doing and not doing things.
You have created your own program. Now I would love to hear you talk a little bit about what you are offering the people of the world.
[00:50:42] Speaker B: So I decided to start a workshop called Standout, which is an artist stand in workshop. And I really did it kind of out of, not necessity, but last year it was a really dry time, work wise. And I was like, okay, what am I going to do during this lull? Like, I need to do something. And my friends were like, oh, what about teaching? And it's funny that we were just talking about teaching because teaching terrifies me.
[00:51:12] Speaker A: Because you've got thoughts about how people teach.
[00:51:14] Speaker B: Yeah. So I think I just, I.
I really would like, want to be a good teacher.
I don't desire seek out teaching, but I'm like, if I'm going to do it.
I think I. The reason that there's so much fear behind teaching for me is because I'm like, what, what is someone going to come to my class for?
And if it's for my resume or it's a get closer to other people.
No, you know, like, what are they going to be leaving?
What can I, what am I offering?
[00:51:47] Speaker A: What's the value?
[00:51:48] Speaker B: What am I offering? And I was like, okay, well, what am I good at? And especially at that time, being an assistant choreographer is a lot of where my work has led me to. Even though I do other things, but that's what's paying the bills. Well, but part of my job, assisting is often standing in.
[00:52:07] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:52:07] Speaker B: And I was like, well, there are.
[00:52:09] Speaker A: Some measurable, quantifiable, good rules of thumb in this space.
[00:52:13] Speaker B: So you put them together. Yeah. I was like, okay. Standing in is something that I end up, you know, just doing when I'm assisting. And most assistants do unless a stand in is hired. And so I was like, okay, well, if I were to break that down into elements, like, what am I thinking about? What do I do? Like, what are the skills that I.
[00:52:35] Speaker A: Need about positively or yeah.
[00:52:38] Speaker B: And I was able to break it down into, yeah, like four pillars. So I was like, okay, maybe I do, like a four part workshop series about this thing. And I do. I wasn't able. I was only able to do the first two sessions before work started happening and I wasn't able to complete it. So I'm hoping probably the end of the year I'll be able to revisit that and finish that thought out. But, yeah, it's a.
Like, our first session was about intuition because I think that that's like the main thing that a stand in and assistant. Yeah. Like, you really have to have a good Have. Yeah. Really figure out intuition. So I taught them all the dancer track and then, you know, we reviewed the artist track and everybody went one by one and I was able to give them feedback and then they were able to do it again. And we were really thinking about how to stand in as the artist versus yourself as an artist. Like, those are different things. Cause you're not being you, you're being someone else. Exactly.
[00:53:47] Speaker A: And also at a scale that isn't so high that you are distracting them from seeing themselves in the place, but also not so low that you're not selling the thing. Yeah.
[00:53:59] Speaker B: 100%.
[00:54:00] Speaker A: So it's a really fine pitch. You have to pitch so straight.
[00:54:04] Speaker B: Yeah. And it's not something that you ever will practice until you are handed a prop mic and have to do it. So I was like, okay. I think that people.
Yeah. Would be able to learn from. So. Yeah.
[00:54:16] Speaker A: But every time you teach something is an opportunity.
[00:54:18] Speaker B: 100%. Yeah.
[00:54:19] Speaker A: This is small smart on so many levels. Yeah. Tay, are you ready for wrist roll with it? She's not here. I'm crying.
[00:54:26] Speaker B: Yeah. That's so sad.
[00:54:27] Speaker A: Rapid fire. Here we go.
[00:54:28] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:54:29] Speaker A: Oh, I'm so curious because I genuinely. I don't know most of these for you.
[00:54:33] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:54:33] Speaker A: Coffee or tea? Tea. Dogs or cats?
[00:54:36] Speaker B: Dogs.
[00:54:36] Speaker A: Morning rehearsal. Night rehearsal.
[00:54:39] Speaker B: How early is that?
[00:54:40] Speaker A: As long as she's had 10 hours of sleep. It doesn't matter.
[00:54:44] Speaker B: I. Morning.
Morning. Because I typically stay after.
[00:54:50] Speaker A: Yes. And do your solo prep work. So.
[00:54:53] Speaker B: But like, Morning, like 10am Rehearsal. I don't want anything other than.
[00:54:56] Speaker A: Got it. I'm guessing you can sing. Am I right?
Am I wrong?
[00:55:01] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:55:01] Speaker A: Well, it doesn't matter.
[00:55:03] Speaker B: Other people have told me that I can sing.
[00:55:05] Speaker A: You've got a gorgeous speaking voice. Thank you. So I'm assuming that you can.
[00:55:08] Speaker B: I think that I have rhythm.
[00:55:10] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:55:10] Speaker B: You know what I'm saying? Like, I can keep going if I was in A choir. I wouldn't stick out, you know, but I don't. If I'm, like, soloing.
[00:55:19] Speaker A: Yeah, you would be able to solo. And we're just, like, belting and what were you singing?
[00:55:25] Speaker B: I was.
[00:55:26] Speaker A: It was some. Beyonce was.
[00:55:27] Speaker B: It was not.
It was. I went to the Kendrick and SZA concert, and every single song I belted at the top of my lungs.
[00:55:36] Speaker A: Yes, you did.
[00:55:37] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:55:37] Speaker A: Great answer. What's your biggest fear?
Yeah, I know we're going hard.
[00:55:42] Speaker B: Who?
My biggest fear is not living in my purpose and potential.
[00:55:51] Speaker A: Damn, that's real.
What is your favorite song? We're lightening it up. Oh, favorite song today.
[00:55:59] Speaker B: Favorite song today.
I was just singing Today is Sweetest Taboo. Sade.
[00:56:05] Speaker A: Yes. You were singing that today.
[00:56:07] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:56:07] Speaker A: Today feels that very much overcast vibey. It was a holiday weekend. Everybody's, like, trying to get back into their life.
Is there a song to you that is, like, untouchable, like, so good. It actually might be that same song. For me, Sade in general is kind of untouchable.
[00:56:25] Speaker B: Yeah.
That I could never choreograph to or.
[00:56:29] Speaker A: Or even want to dance to. It's just that good.
[00:56:31] Speaker B: I think probably I will always love you, Whitney Houston.
[00:56:39] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:56:39] Speaker B: I don't think. Yeah. There are certain songs that I'm like, this should just be sung and not danced to.
[00:56:47] Speaker A: Everyone have a seat.
[00:56:48] Speaker B: Yeah. Agree.
[00:56:49] Speaker A: Cosine. Speaking of, well said. I'm curious about the words that move you.
A thought, a mantra, a guiding principle, a poem.
I'd take a haiku.
[00:57:01] Speaker B: I think right now, a person is a person because of people.
[00:57:07] Speaker A: Care to elaborate?
[00:57:11] Speaker B: I think it's like the word, like, this comes. It's like a Zulu proverb. Ubuntu is where that comes from.
And I think because last week it naturally happened that I had a dinner with a friend or loved one every single day.
I didn't intentionally make that happen, but it just. I was, like, from. Yeah, like, the whole week, and I was like, wow, I feel okay because I just spent so much time with people that love me and I love them.
And so this week, I was intentional about reaching out to other people that I haven't been able to see because of, you know, the tour process. And I'm about to jump into another process. I was like, I'm not going to be able to see people for a while, so I really want to make sure that I'm reaching out. And, yeah, I think I've always knew this, but to know for myself that community is a necessity for survival.
So I think because of that, that's just really present in my life. Like, connection in general is very important to me right now, to God, to the people around me, to being connected, to the art that I'm consuming and the art that I'm making.
Like, I just want to be connected in all areas of my life. So I think that that's why that's present.
[00:58:34] Speaker A: That's beautiful.
[00:58:35] Speaker B: Thank you.
[00:58:36] Speaker A: And thank you for being a person that's shaping the people that are listening, watching. I really.
Yes. I've always thought the world of you, and I'm celebrating you. I hope you can hear me cheering you on from the sidelines and all the awesome things that you're doing. Congratulations. Keep winning, whether it's game shows or gigs.
[00:58:52] Speaker B: Right?
[00:58:52] Speaker A: So thrilled by you.
[00:58:53] Speaker B: Thank you again for being here. Thanks for having me.
[00:58:55] Speaker A: Thank you, listener, viewer, for being here. We're gonna definitely be linking to you and where we can find Standout, and we're definitely gonna ask that you play the song Stand out from the Goofy Movie. Anyways, go listen to Stand Out. Go sign up for Standout. Leave a review and a rating. Click the bell for notifications. And of course, keep it very funky. Bye.
This podcast was produced by me with the help of of many. Big, big love to our executive assistant and editor, Riley Higgins. Our communications manager is Fiona Small, with additional support from Ori Vajadares. Our music is by Max Winnie, Logo and brand design by Bri Reits. And if you're digging the podcast, leave a review and rating and please share. Also, if you want to connect with me and the many marvelous members of the Words that Move Me community, visit words that move me.com if you're simply curious to to know more about me and the work that I do outside of this podcast, visit thedanawilson.com sa.
