We Could All Be Renee Good (w. Yuhua Hamasaki)

This is exactly right. People who didn't do what John F. Quad wanted them to do, they usually disappeared. John of God was once Brazil's most famous spiritual healer. But in this limited series podcast, we uncover the darker truth behind his global empire of faith and fear. From exactly right and a Thundermedia, this is Too Faced, John of God. Listen on the iHeart Radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A lot of people reach out to me, I've made a video actually recently about how to get involved. If you're a lawyer, if you're a non-lawyer, I have tried so hard to respond to everyone's messages. I got like two million messages. I made that video on Thursday right after the shooting. If I don't get back to you, I'm still trying to sift through it all, but there is an awesome organization that I have partnered with. I have worked with them before, trusted, verified. I do legal work with this group. It's the Acacia Center for Justice. And I do a lot of work with them with their children and undocumented minors. Okay. But they have an unaccompanied children program. If you're an attorney especially, you can get involved at AcaciaJustice.org slash Defend Kids. It's great. They strengthen and expand immigrant legal defense programs across the country. I was going to ask you that. It's really awesome. It's really awesome. All over the country. I think they're based in LA. Okay. But I'm here supporting. I have clients around the country. It really is a great group. I've had a great experience with them. Welcome to Brief Recess. I'm Michael Foot. Sorry. Who the fuck are you? Who is this? Get her out of here. That's the Mount Branch. Today we're going to be talking about Renee Good. We're going to talk about American citizens on Eddrain now. We're going to talk about the ships in the courtroom, the Uber Eats driver who ran into the woman's home to avoid ice. We also have an interview to lighten things up a little bit with you. You want a sake, incredible drag race, a long, awesome local drag queen here in New York City. We're also going to talk about Mariah Carey because I am a fan. I'm not not a fan. I am a fan. Don't see that. See what happens. That is how you know. That is how you know. That is how you know you have ADHD. Like I lay my keys in the door all the time. I'm like, we don't need it. I, you don't need it. I'm not a fan. I am a fan. Don't see that. See what happens. That is how you know. That is how you know. That is how you know. You know, there's a key in the door. That's how you know you have ADHD. I, you don't need a diagnosis. You can just check the door to see if you're maybe a state. I do that. All the, and I'm, baby, I also can't find shit. And I don't know if I am just like that. But I think I think maybe yes, I always was. I also feel because when I was little, many say you so careless. Like so that was always. But, but I, and I hate to sort of always lean on Perry menopause, but that bitch. Well, you weren't Perry menopausible when you were a kid. No, I wasn't, but I think whatever I had has now got some. Amplified. And, um, and it's coupled with, um, set upness and like violent tendencies. Because I want to. I do. What's the other way? We, we actually, we got to the studio early and we've removed all blunt sharp objects from. That's a good, I think that's, that's the eye art building. That's, that's wise for everyone involved, including myself. Because if I murder death kill you, you can't be my lawyer. What are you in partnership with Andre? Are you the one who's like, honey, where's the fill in the blank? No, you're the one who's getting the one. I'm the one. And so he'll say, like he'll go in the refrigerator and he'll say, where's the butter? And then I'm like, it's where it always is. Where do you think the butter is? Well, actually the butter's not in the refrigerator. But that's a whole other thing. But like, whatever he's looking for and he'll say, where is it? Like, it's where it always is. Well, I can't see it. And then I say, if I have to get up, this is, this is, you turned into like your mother, right? If I have to get up, especially if whatever it is he's looking for, if from where I'm sitting, I could see it from there. And I'm like, if I have to get up, wait, it's like go where is Waldo? And that's like, because if I'm working from home, where I sit, I can see into the kitchen. Okay. And then I can see the thing that you're looking for. And if I have to get up, I'm not going to point it out. But I'm going to be really mad. And then he'll stop and he'll be like, wait, and then I hear like things moving around. And he's doing something new, but like, oh, found it. Found it? Yeah. Yeah, I tell him all the time I wish I had a wife. Are you who's the seeker? Who's the seeker? I know where everything is. I am the person who knows where the thing. I'm the keeper of the Cuisine Grounds at Hogwarts. I know where everything is. And it's always like, where is this? And it's the same thing. It's right where it always is. Where it always is. Or it's right in front of your fucking face. I'm strategically hard of hearing is how I approach it. Where is that thing? My grandmother, sorry. I didn't hear it. My grandmother, my whole life, my grandmother couldn't hear anything, right? And my grandmother actually definitely very hard of hearing. Okay. We grew up Gamel and she would like ignore us or whatever it was. Turns out she could hear she just had it. Yeah, she didn't want it. So my entire life. And then my grandfather got, it's not funny. My grandfather got sick. He was at home in a hospital bed. And my cousins who lived in the Hiddy would take turns spending the night. Okay. And then one of my cousins like reached out to, she was like, Gamel can hear. And then she said, you know what I mean? And she said, I was in the room with them. And I heard him say, her name was Renee. And he said Renee. And she jumped up out of bed. And she went over to him and she was like, what's the matter? And he told the one, she's like, this woman has been selectively ignoring all 30 of her grandkids. Our entire life. She was like, don't ask me that. I'm like, second hearing you. And in hindsight, I'm like, yo, yeah, she was faking it. She was faking it. She was, did not want to hear what we had to say. Brad's like, oh, where, where's that thing? No response. No, I don't, I didn't hear it. And then I, like you, I hear the rustling. I hear the f***. That, I guess somewhere. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I hate when I do that. I do. The click of the click. This is why you have the click. I know I do have the, you do have it. I do. I'm not a doctor and I'm doctor. I know I do. I can't help it. And then it's like. And then he, he finds whatever it is. And it's gone. It's. Does he, is he quiet about finding it. Is he silently accept. Yes. Oh, jelly. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. They do they don't go falsetto. Oh, you're No, they do I think they do you think they crescendo like that I do As opposed to lost it Right Lost it it's different. It's different. It is different. Do you were you a musical kid you took musical classes? No, I can't think I wish I could though. No, I took the tire up what an open mic Like you would tear it up you would just be great just like if I could sing I could totally see you taking over Sure if I could sing But like I did the Mary J block I know that was a Mary J that was in the stance a re that would No, that was Mariah Mariah does that she holds her ear she does like a thing. Yeah, Mary J does something else She's more of like a if there's some If there's a Mariah clip that comes up on my feed I stop every single time. Yeah, every single one of them You know what though? I wonder like Very talented woman you can't take anything away from her that voice is the voice to end all voices Unbelievable However If I were to pay money to go see Mariah or anybody in concert and she's like barely walking no I would I would I would be really upset I would be upset if she were walking I want to see Mariah wheeled around the stage not moving. No, no, no, that's no. I don't want I don't I want you You want to see I want the diva I want the that is that's diva behavior That's fucking both step touching walking through this Heal or two high and she's like baby calf like I can hold her up I know I know I love that now. I'm going at that to me is that is pure camp that is she's I think she's in on the joke of Mariah she's like she's checked out No, I paid a lot of money to see you sing Do you think she leaves her keys in the door? No, because somebody someone you think someone's opening the door What's the matter with you? I'm actually afraid that somehow she's gonna see this and I'm gonna get in trouble No, I don't see why we we said we said that she's amazing Well, I think I think we're afraid of like the whatever her people are yes Like what's her her her her be high? What is it? No, it's so the people her people see no now you're in trouble No, I didn't say that they were the same, but I just equated it to yeah like Gorgerswifties I don't know I don't know People who love Mariah well now we're probably in trouble for not knowing who they are no no What's worse than a bad review no review right? No, no, no, no This is not and this is not a dig about her or her fan base But like the people who are like hardcore Mariah Careyites do you guys have a name CJ? Can you look it up? Who is it? Let's back check this found it Lost it The land lands yes, right she calls them lambs like Like their soft sheep skin. Yeah, like that Like she likes My obsession with lands well And we go back to Melissa all topics lead back to me this obsession with the fur No, I'm not obsessed with fur. I'm not I am obsessed with animal skins quality vintage items That have been well loved and well cared for yeah Not new first not new for let the record reflect let the record reflect I have to call this segment us getting canceled you know what what let's take a break before we even get into the fur right People who didn't do what John of Quad wanted them to do they usually disappeared John of God was once Brazil's most famous spiritual healer But in this limited series podcast we uncover the darker truth behind his global empire of faith and fear From exactly right and a thundermedia. This is Too Faced John of God Listen on the iHeart Radio app Apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts This is sidebar we're gonna talk about everything in the headlines. What's going on right now? What's hitting our feed? What's hitting our sources of news? Everything for me has been completely dominated by what's happening in Minneapolis of course I mean total tone change for Going from where I carry right to this but I oftentimes like wonder if I'm in a bubble right anything immigration related that hits the stratosphere Immediately comes to me through a text or a DM or something So I do sometimes like end up in this echo chamber where I hear and see everything and that's all I'm hearing and seeing But this one really feels like is this nationwide worldwide news everyone's really focused on it Sometimes this is like people's first entree into immigration law or or ice or dhs. So what have you been kind of saying? I've seen everything. I'm seeing probably not exactly the same stuff as you obviously But a lot of that's happened also obviously it depends on um am I engaging with that stuff? And I am obviously right I I've spent a lot of time Looking at the shooting of Renee good from all the angles that are available to me Yeah, and as it relates to like ice Rice seeing other ice members like you know, there's do you see that ice? The ice officer or whatever it is um he was running after somebody and he slipped and fell on the ice Yes, yeah, she's seen a super cut of that you can scratch an umlisks story right now Did I post it on my side? Super cut I think it's to music I saw the following I will say just to back up like there was a shooting of a woman at an ice protest. She was in her car There are many angles of footage. I have reviewed all of them. So as Melissa. Yeah, I mean I'm sure I am all experts in these types of things But she was trying to leave a protest and she was shot multiple times in the face by an ice officer He then after he killed her. Yes, called her a fucking bitch. Yep, and here's the thing right so we know that they don't mind Killing black and brown people. We know that right we've known that for a really long time Um, and they've gotten away with it And I wondered what would happen if they started killing white women And I'm surprised that there's not more Outrage but so but while I was saying to a friend of mine is like I wonder if what needs to happen is that it needs to be a white Christian heterosexual man married to a white Christian heterosexual woman right And they have 2.5 kids A dog Perfect right And is that is that what it needs to be? I would agree with you But then I think about like school shootings. I think about Sandy Hook. Yeah, right like I think yeah You would think that white children would be would you would think that like white children in a small sleepy town in Connecticut would be the thing That happens or then we get gun control loss right it just the The endgame the goalpost keeps moving and it's getting further and further away And it I'm you know, I am having conversations because I come from an immigrant family I am having conversations with some real conversations with my family about What we should be doing yeah way before my dad passed away My one Trump got into office in last January my dad said you know what maybe something to hear my mom He felt like maybe He should walk around with his passport And I remember being so upset at that right so My father's an American citizen my father is a was a Vietnam war veteran And it bothered me to think of my parents who have lived in this country for my lifetime of course over 50 years And that that was something that they were talking about that they were thinking about My mom I can't remember what happened when when Trump started talking about Birthright citizenship. Yes, no longer being the thing this upset my mother tremendously She was like well, what's gonna happen to you because when I was born my mother wasn't a citizen yet Interesting and my dad was but my mother wasn't and I have to tell you the reason why my father was an American citizen Was that when the United States realized that they're losing the Vietnam war but they went into other nations And they poached mostly young men young men of color And they said if you come over to our country and help us out with this and they weren't calling it or Right, but they weren't calling it that I forget what they were calling the Vietnam war but anyway the conflict It'll be nothing will make you an American citizen on the spot Wow, that's why my dad and my father is not the only one and I will tell you My father had Was exposed to Agent Orange. He was a young man and that'll help issues for his entire life which Contributed to his death. Yeah, right? So the idea that someone like that And all the other someone to relate that had this idea in their head that They needed to prove their worthiness to be here. I find insulting us fuck of course And it also really bothered me on behalf of my mother Who now is thinking about me and worried about me and she's like well, you know Andre's a citizen. He was born here like maybe he and I and I just feel like so first I was like mom They're not paying attention to me right now And she's like yeah, but she's always telling me to keep my mouth shut on social media Which I which I will not do But the idea that my mother Is spending any time worrying about this is something that Hits me in the heart. It really really does to live her life Her long incredible life right mostly here in the states. Yeah, raise her children. Yep to the age they are now Yeah, and then to just now have to start worrying about this. Mm-hmm is so deeply disturbing It is and she's not the only person right, you know, this is just an example, right? I think this is happening to a lot of families across this country and I am deeply worried and I mean and I and I have been for a long time, but like the feeling of of anxiety is getting much worse. Yeah, I have a lot of U.S. citizens reaching out to me right now. Mm-hmm Asking what do I do not to help with protests, but hey, I'm a black or brown U.S. citizen. What do I do? Should I be afraid? I have citizenship. I have status. Yeah, you should be afraid It's like this new phenomenon like I've been practicing Emigration 11 years. Right. This is the first time I have people asking me I mean we've never had to think about that before. We've never had to think about it before But the notion that an American citizen we had one it was brought up at a congressional hearing He was deported back to career. He fought in the war And Christina on the record said oh, we've never deported a U.S. citizen and the congressperson was like actually Zooming in from Korea where he was deported back to a country. He hadn't been to since he was nine He's a combat veteran a purple heart recipient He has sacrificed more for this country than most people ever have. Did you see that clip? It was crazy Yeah, it's totally caught in a compoli lie like that. Mm-hmm in front of congress. Well, we know they don't care These are people with no morals no scruples no nothing We've heard other people say it lots and lots and times but like cruelty seems to be the point and what they are Looking for is a white Christian nation. Yeah, and you know if you ever make the argument about native American people Yeah, who are indigenous to this country those people don't count right? It needs to be always starting starting Correct, right? When those people came over seeking safety and shelter So those are the people that counts right but I don't know what we're going to do I literally don't know what will become of us and I hate to sound like that But that is how I am feeling I had this conversation with a friend of mine and I wonder what you think she was saying that she is Questioning whether or not there are going to be midterms interesting. I had thought about it I have not thought about that. I know it seems like a lot of this is in the lead up to the midterms a lot of what's happening right now I I wouldn't say that but I wouldn't Not say that You a citizen should be worried about being deported up until the couple weeks ago, right? That's the thing right it's like all the things that we never had to think about because we didn't think that it was possible Now it feels like well is it really crazy for me to ask this question? It's like the word unprecedented. We keep having to redefine it like it's lost all meaning now Right to say something's on I mean things have been unprecedented since I had to put on a mask in 2019 Right like you said the goalpost keep moving it feels as if we are I want a new word for unprecedented like we have to make it up of what it means to live in America right now because We keep doing this thing where we keep comparing what's happening right now to what's happened in the past Oh, well in the past it was different and today and you know It would never happen because of well what happened in the past was the precedent was this or this is what happened Four years ago or this is what happened during the first Trump administration right we keep looking back to say what's gonna happen in the future But we can't do that anymore. No, I mean all bets are off. All bets are just looking at what's happened in Minneapolis right right we have During I think the first Trump administration I don't think we would have had this same response of it was her fault. She was fighting the officer Even though there's all this footage that proves otherwise they're double triple quadrupling down on this narrative They have to though. I I mean if they are trying to make this point That they was her fault and that if people just comply It sounds like such a cliche that the truth doesn't matter anymore, but it is More feels like more so now and it doesn't it's more so now about like What narrative gets out there and what one can we circulate the fastest? Not the one that has the most evidence and that's the hardest for me as a lawyer watching everything is like Well, this evidence shows this and this evidence shows that But like the evidence and the details almost it doesn't matter to this administration. They just want narrative Send it out there who cares what the video shows. Yeah, they're making it up as they go along Yeah, but what was heartening to me at least was the public response I have not been able to get away from it even when I'm in a social media or media setting that isn't One that is my own obviously. I'm not going to be able to get away from it on my own platforms It's what people know me for but when I am Walking down the street or seeing that sort of like scrolling marquee or looking at that news cycle Whatever it is it is dominating it and it's still there and for me I mean not to say that like that is hope for or I am feeling hopeful But for me, it's like okay People who weren't paying attention are now paying attention. Yeah, for me that's always been like where I see changes occur Not to be that person who then again like looks back and looks at the past and says this is where we're going to go in the future But um for me at least that's always been the inflection point is when I see people who like my yoga teacher Reached out to me of like what can I do and I'm like this is awesome like yeah You and I haven't really ever talked about this before. I've talked to a lot of people about this But not certain people right and I I mean I love that because I'm the eternal opt I'm always optimistic like let's get more people involved like let's do the thing So that was like exciting for me is exciting. I think the and I hate to sort of be this person, but I'm gonna be Is that I think the part of it that is Heart-wrenching for me is that yes while it is great that there are people who are looking at this and paying attention And then they are coming to you and they're asking you questions. What can I do what can I do? I hate that it took us to get to this place. Yes Oh my god. Yeah, some woman, you know Uh-oh woman who's a mother and had to get shot in the face multiple times for other people to be like I should let me reach out to the person that I know something's going on Yeah, what can I do about it? Right. It's like it's like the school shootings It's like right it has to get to this place where we see For for people to really start to pay attention. I know but Michael think about the school shootings So it I wrote you know, I we can all I mean most of us can remember when a School shooting it was so shocking Call of mine right? Shocking absolutely shocking. Yeah, absolutely shocking. It is no longer shocking. No, it's it's a footnote in that It's sad and people are sending thoughts and prayers, right? But we are devolving as a society and I am Again, super concerned. Okay, so people are really excited about what happened to Renee good now But Is it going are we going to get to a place where it's a footnote Again, like you said earlier, there's only so much attention and energy people have towards cause Yes, but but we hear all the time right like people you know people I believe that's not the future right and and people who love kids and and and children are most precious resource and if you cannot Make a decision To do something to protect children But I think that's where like I mean what you're describing is basically this idea of well that could never happen to me not like that Right, and I think that people are seeing and Renee good a lot of What they see in themselves right a like Middle class upper middle class maybe right person attending a protest who is trying American citizen white trying to flex their Democratic muscles exercise their first amendment rights and We what she thought was her privilege exactly and now we're in a place where I think people are seeing themselves in that victim and saying okay, and then now getting involved which Like it's awful. It had to happen that way I am focusing on the latter half of the statement. Yes, which is people are now getting involved like I am just throwing my weight and energy into that I will say I have seen the judiciary shift a bit. I've gone to court twice since the shooting What's the the judges have been so I'm trying to equate it to someone who's like explained to someone's never been to court They have been riding have you ever been ridden at work where someone is on your ass about something The judges are like that to DHS right now the DHS attorneys Well, where's the how come you don't have this client produced we gave you the a number? Did you not have notice how come this wasn't filed in a timely fashion? Why was this appeal dropped at 401 right and what are they without Talking about anything specific, but like what what what is the excuse like it's always it's always you know the basket of excuses I think you know, I think people assume when they're imagining court that we are there being held accountable by the judge Which we often are DHS and defense attorneys we are a guest in someone else's courtroom I don't work for the judge and neither does DHS So I think that people think it's like oh getting your hand slapped at the principal's office No, when the principal's office the paradigmic is different. Mm-hmm. You are like reporting into the principal We are not reporting into judges judges are separate from us often times I have to do or say something that's gonna piss off a judge on behalf of my client and DHS does the same thing So what I'm witnessing are these like adversarial situations where judges and DHS are kind of beefing Right now, but it doesn't necessarily it's it's it's it's nice for you to watch from the defense table. Yeah Did you see this Uber eats video? I did see Uber Eats video man. I'm so sorry. I don't want to do this basically this Uber Eats driver ran into this woman's home because they were being chased by a nice officer And the woman made this video of like I don't know what to do this woman She was like someone just recently got shot in the face for You know, was it also in Minneapolis and I think so was it in Minneapolis also? Okay people have reached out to me But like what do I do like what do I do in this situation? Yeah, I was actually saving it I was gonna I will say okay, so I've been like thinking about this Ride my bike around the city think about these hypotheticals all the time and it's like I can tell you what Legally you can do legally you can have a someone in your home and you can bar ice from entering and ask them for a Signed judicial warrant it has to have a signature. It should have the migrants name on there like you Do not have to give an ice officer access to your home right that is your fourth amendment right my favorite my bestie the fourth amendment But I do remember that you had said You can't open your door And usher the person so if you you can be accused of interfering If you are like hey guys get in here. I see you're being chased by but if somebody is so uberie star Have you opened the door for the uberie star? Yes that person runs in what that woman in that video wasn't like get in here Person runs in now what right? So that's what happens legally But Huge but That assumes ice is following the law Which based off people who've been shot in the face recently they are not following the law They're not following the law so I can tell you what legally your rights are and what can happen But it doesn't mean that the laws and the Constitution and the amendments are being followed right now like that is just not necessarily true so Have trials we have You know juries who decide capital punishment not ice officers. That's the big differentiator here Someone was executed. Yep, and called a fucking bitch So it doesn't matter if she was interfering if she was committing a crime the law states You have a trial you have a jury that determines the punishment Not a nice officer who received 43 days of training Less training than someone who works at the cheesecake factory. Yeah literally. Yes, that is a fact So that is what can happen under the law that's not necessarily what whether the laws are being followed right now For me really remains to be seen based off the videos we're getting But doing something versus not doing something like That's the law it really is up to you for me I live my life by the mirror test which is will I be able to look at myself in the mirror tomorrow? I remember hearing a story about world war two Japanese people were being put in and in termi camps On mpr they interviewed this woman and she was like I was a secretary. I was a clerk at this police station And I think the Pacific Northwest and they brought in a family of Japanese people the mother was Distraught streaming and crying she said I haven't had water in two days She said I just need a glass of water All I need is water. I'm not asking to be let go Just in in tears to start she was like not even for me can someone just give my kids water It's been two days without water And at that point you're starting to kind of hallucinate and the woman was being interviewed Recently And after all of these years She remembers And still cannot live with herself that she did not get This mother a glass of water right because she was afraid that she would get in trouble She was afraid her boss would say something she was afraid she was afraid. Yeah, and she didn't do something That should still fucking haunt her sure does I think about that all the time as I'm watching these videos as I'm in court As someone reaches out to me hand me help with this Hey, I need you to handle this case for my kid. That is my gut check. Yeah, I think about that story And that is when I decide whether or not I do something as will I Be on MPR in 50 years Talking about that time in my life where I didn't do something when you could have and I it still haunts me Yeah, so that is my mirror test Can I look at myself in the mirror tomorrow? And be able to live with the choice I made yesterday Holding myself accountable. Yeah, can I live with it? Mm-hmm, and that's how I decide Welcome back to brief recess. I'm Michael foot I'm Melissa Malbrugh. And we are here with you ha ha masaki the iconic the diva the boots the house down the Grand Dom of New York City Local New York drag artist and also repulse drag race season 10 alum and also a recent season right? Slater Royal Salation Royale drag queen extraordinaire you ha ha masaki. Thank you for joining us. Thank you. Hi Welcome to brief recess. I'm excited to have you. I'm excited to be here journalistic disclosure I am a regular at you was Friday night shows at pieces in New York City It is so much fun. Please come. I'll be there this Friday. So come say hi Drunks Charismatic Supportive throwing dollar funny The greens are fulfilled We love that. Yeah, no, yeah Why don't you tell us a little bit about your Friday night show because it is it really is so fun And I think people here like drag club New York City gay bar. They think it's gonna be like 99.99 percent alcohol white I Yes, the drinks are very strong so please and vibe with care. Yeah, but also I think people think it's gonna be like a muscle depth like cruzzy scene This is not that And that's why I go because those days are long gone. All right because because I'm as Melissa says I'm a little bit too long and in the tooth to be going out on the how dare you Dare that person, but you're right. I remember asking you that question maybe I think two years ago I was like why do you come to pieces bar for the viewing parties? And he mentioned that it's less cruzzy Excuse my language. Um people don't you know grow up you as much Yeah, people are like looking for your body Some growing just not as much once I was grouped once. Okay once is Is Ungrouped all these last 15 years You don't want that yeah, but the crowd is like very diverse is very eclectic Everybody's there just for Queer safe space Celebration joy regardless of your gender raise sexuality how you look like different colors Whatever you are just be there as long as you bring joy That's what we care about. It's a celebration of who you are. How long have you been doing it a piece of spark? Now you're Eight years eight years, but I've been the weather village for about Allured oh lord oh no Yeah, it was by quick doesn't yeah it flies by time flies back when you're like really enjoying what you're doing I get this feeling when I'm in gave are sometimes that it's like the people who have gone there the longest are the most regular are the ones who You know queens talk to you or get attention or whatever You are such a great host of this show because no matter who is there even if they're a tourist from the Midwest I think there was like someone from Iceland once You pulled them up like you really get get in there with everyone. It doesn't matter who you are So that inclusivity I really do attest to you and oh thank you so much Yeah, you're gonna make sure that everyone is welcomed at the space at their act is that I've been to places before Where you just like an outsider a guess and you don't know where to like turn to you don't know where you fit in But I've been in that position before so I don't want anyone to feel like I'm that position anymore because I know what it feels like yeah, so yeah inclusivity. I know it was a minute ago But I have to touch on drag race such a fan. I love Tell us a little bit about the experience you want to give us like a Annic zone at the top moment from that experience. Maybe people who have known nothing about drag race Maybe my mother's watching. What would you want her to her takeaway? Um experience. I think for me for drag race the most memorable moment from season 10 was walking through the entrance Because for many years I've watched Queens walk the entrance. It's like a recognition of like Okay, you've made it you're here Welcome to the sisterhood of a sorority and I felt like I walked through those doors And I felt like I made a mark on what I did but I think like Looking back at it now It's not about like recognition or what others say it's about what you bring to the table What you think of yourself that matters. So I think that at that time it was Walking through the entrance doors, but I think that look it back now It's the whole experience of it all what I've walked away with like those lessons I cannot get in real life like because you get it such a big lessons like you learn This question Yeah, okay, okay, a little pick up here a little lesson here. Okay, you grow like What would you say if you had to think about it like give us like one or two big takeaways? Okay, so I guess I missed the question Um, I went in the other direction the takeaway of drag race um fun Celebration, don't take life too seriously. I know that's a direct quote from repolpacierously. Don't take life too seriously because we are all walking around Everybody in this room don't know what the f is going on No shade. We're all just trying to get by yeah, we're all just trying to wing it We all have a reference of what we had done in the past experience that know that works Yeah, and then we try to pass on that advice for somebody else or we're gonna do it again for today But we're all just trying to wing it. I'm laughing because I love this so much because it impenemizes What is this moment a year ago I'm at your show. Uh-huh. I think you were like 30 minutes late You were safe. I were stuck on a train. Do you remember this your train got stuck and you couldn't get in drag in time So you stopped at the guy who sells hats and t-shirts on the street and you bought a hoodie And sunglasses and a hat So you showed up to the bar for sure So funny So funny. I have photos So you don't remember this it's likely It's happened a couple times just slightly But I think you know like repulsions don't take life too seriously There's resource everywhere as long as you make it work, you know, that was the best I was the best show ever when everyone lost their shit. It was a lot of this and it was great Thank you. Thank you. Yeah, just make it work in life. Oh, do you want to tell us a little bit about slasian royale? Like we did slasian royale over last year. Oh, it was such a quick turnaround I feel like it was such a long project Who was like never and think cuz we we got the um, I guess like The filter of like who's interested in who they kind of want like an early like of the year And then we got the official Cast of who's gonna be on there a few months later And then We started working on the costumes like preparing for the show and then we filmed it and then we came back We started preparing like our videos and our photos and then they aired it and then afterwards we have to start the the performance A whole long ass project That does not sound nice but You know to fill in the words to four PR's you know protection. I'm very grateful But yeah, you know like it's all about work, you know everything was just like so fast. It's a machine Yeah, it's a machine. It's a whole thing. You and I they tell you who's gonna be on the show beforehand. Oh hell no Oh It's a whole surprise I was gonna say because then you can get your reads ready. Oh, yeah, but I think like I mean There's always gonna be like the moment read is such a good like it is so good Yeah, cuz you never know who's gonna be on there like yeah You can read some over there like clothes or the makeup like that's so generic you can pluck any name in yeah For anybody like a specific moment or a specific thing that they're known for that's when it's like bam Funny it pokes you. Does that make sense? Yeah, that's when it really gets you for the read Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah But yeah, it was hot there. Well, you filmed in the Philippines hot. Oh my god Yeah, we had the air conditioning brought down really low today for you because we know drag queens Have to be on ice It's gotta be the face can't really cold. We did a full hvack review before But like Michael Michael is a cold blooded creature. He needs to be kept cool. I'm no, I'm the same way I if I if I'm interviewing someone and it gets even a little bit hot It's over. It is done like if I start sweating I Get in my head Oh my god now I'm sweating. Okay, and now and I'm in a suit and the lights are we've got a lot of lights on And it's we have a wide we have a lot of light so it's really quickly. Why do we have a lot of lights on Michael? Is it a makeup job? No, this one especially though He won't perform unless there's I love good. It's gotta have good lighting It's gotta have that good that soft filter Vaseline over the lens You in post. Do you know who I'm talking to? lawyer or Or make a minute. Let's go on star What's going on? Where's the ring light? Let me ask you. Would you prefer a Hot temperature or cold temperature? I always get half and half from people. They always like I prefer hot. Oh, but I'm like Let it be freezing at least can throw a coat on yes If you're hot what the effort gonna do? It's cover skin your bones like Lately, we do that lately. I prefer to be cold. Okay. Yeah. Okay. Okay. So you shift it I shifted because the heat is coming from inside the house That's my fucking mind. This is generating Generated it's coming. You know from inside What about you? I I love a good like sweater overcoat Elfaba Fiero Moment with the big card again. That's that's where I live That's what I love and like I don't know that's what I love about New York is the the winters in New York can be great Like the snow you're walking around you're all bundled no snow. I'm aunt. I'm very anti-snow And I'm very anti-grown as adult who was just like yeah, it's gonna snow right. I don't have time It's just I don't care come from if you want to let us see Jay. Let us me All right guys. I can't with the snow. You know what as a kid? I say the same thing too now's an adult. Okay the first date Beautiful Second third day Reason But now it's waiting on the bus stop No, it's pretty for it's taking a shit on the snow. It's pretty for a second It's pretty fun. Yeah, like yeah, yeah, you've been involved in some great organizations around Sorry, just like hard to know what great transition y'all Hating the winter so you've been great So anyway speaking of freezing cold and yes y'all want to hear funny stories So I know that's about the Philippines right so when going back in the winter Um in October November ish. I was like trying to find like places to stay at the house like a heater Because I thought you know Because I thought like you know winter I want to say warm, you know, no, no, okay. I'm a person that cold easily right a lot of the places that I was looking at Okay, the only like azy. I'm like a mother ever. Yeah We're gonna find a place that has a heater for me during the winter Place after place after place after place. I was messaging messaging And then someone finally had the bravery and reply and he said Ma'am This is the Philippines. We don't have winter right You know, there's a Filipino restaurant right across from my apartment. Oh, they have the craziest karaoke on Saturday nights Oh, nightlunch. I love it. It's so funny. Do you sing? No, okay. I'm not gonna. I love to say it's so funny It's like in their blood. Yeah, it's so great They love it pageantry karaoke. It's all in them They love that they do you know and here what do we love giraffe honey? Oh, no Yeah, how long have you been doing track? Um since 2009 I would say you know 2008 but then for fun. I would say 2000 and Four or five ish when you were doing it for fun. What were you doing for real? I would say like because people were like playing Sports or Barbie or playing with makeup or figure out like dating and whatnot like I didn't really have any of those Things that apply to me So for me was rack. It was makeup. It was wigs. It was costumes. It was sewing. I mean, they look great back then But it was like a way of Expressing myself like some people turned to like painting collecting stamps or um, you made it yourself Yeah, I was using myself as a canvas in this version. Yeah, yeah, yeah looking back at it now. It was always Almost like a way of healing myself and finding myself and like Solving any trauma that I had as a kid, but it really propelled me into ways to finding confidence Accepting myself as who I am and learning about other people that are different from me too because Yes, I'm different, but so are other people and let's all learn about each other and respect each other for Who they are and we can all share this beautiful earth together Was there anyone sort of like guiding you as you were figuring out drag or like? I know that like drag motherhood is a big part of the drag community Especially in the US, but was it would did you have a community around you as you were sort of figuring that out or was it really on your own? I wish there was a community. I'm gonna be honest. I wish there was a community Um, but back in the day, they were like no YouTube videos no TikTok Nothing Help you with makeup or a reference point for costumes like well, I'm gonna point out the obvious Nobody was really Asian doing drag in New York City at the time So all my reference points were for doing makeup work whoever was like sitting next to me The way I did my makeup did not match my face or like my complexion my eyes and whatnot like it wasn't until years later. I found out They were doing and shaping their faces, but they make them in contra and highlighting the makeup and stuff For their face and their complexion and you can't just copy past it onto side of the spaces Yeah, right and it wasn't some monoluson from season three another Asian drag artist she put up a makeup video I was like oh That's how I was supposed to do it for my cheekbones my lips my eyes that all makes sense from then on and did you feel that Shifting yourself once you sort of learned from her like did you feel like oh? Okay? Because you had obviously been loving it this whole time But just maybe not necessarily feeling like you were doing it right right you know what I mean yeah Um why why every time I say you're because it's Melissa Why did nobody correct me? I told you to why I said it's fine. Why did nobody correct me? We just did we just did it's Melissa no Melissa So instead of correcting me he just breaks out laughing Okay, Melissa I am So it's really okay. I am so sorry. I'm so sorry um Melissa What was the question again? Now I can't remember what was the question Michael I wasn't listening producer I think I was asking you if After you found this other person who was doing it because you had always loved makeup right But maybe you were feeling like it wasn't actually you weren't doing it in a way that you felt highlighted your face until you saw somebody else With similar features who Also did it right that's where the saying representation matters help so much when you see yourself Like I you know So let me for a quick second like I remember growing up feeling very much like I had to have hair as straight as possible and I would spend hours blow drying my hair and getting relaxers Because I didn't see anybody with hair like mine right and then finally one day I was just like fuck this and I did it but like people who are coming up behind me have no idea what it was like when they didn't know how to do their hair right so when When I hear you say you know when you were coming up There were no like YouTube tutorials for you so you were out there sort of like blindly bumping into things trying to figure it out But the people who are coming now they have you to look for as an example right that other ones like you yeah You put the worse in my mouth. No, it's true though. But I'm sure you're leaving the way But you are leading the way and it makes it so that anyone who wants to do what you do Who looks similarly to you Like be like oh mother is here right and like looking at you and knowing that it makes all the different That's when you say representation matters. Ah yeah You know like a lot of people wouldn't know how to take care of their natural hair because like he's mentioned like String their hair. Yeah. Yeah. They would have no all the products right that would have came to take care of their hair That are currently in their natural forms same thing with like makeup or complexion Or finding the actual correct shade for yourself Yeah, so like representation really matters because if you don't see yourself how are you gonna Feel About not being accepted in the world because you're not on you know the billboards on TV and whatnot And or having like a reference point, you know and having that As like an example also allows other people to know that there are different ways to To do the things that you want to do to express yourself There's not one way to do things and the standard of beauty is different for everybody right like I know there's no reason that Those of us who are people of color should ascribe to The standard of beauty that is for white people. It's not the same and that's okay And it's just you just need to sort of find what is your niche right right and if there isn't a niche Blow one out like you make one for yourself right now. I always feel like it's shifting to I mean We're all just a bunch of things thrown together different shapes of eyes Yeah, yeah, and then if you're lucky enough someone will find you attractive We're just a bunch of things thrown together and I feel like there's beauty in However you look at 100% however you look yeah, yeah, someone's gonna find you attractive and there's nothing like having sorry No, I'm so like oh yeah Yeah, but like oh but like finding your there's like confidence in yourself That'll do it every time. Yeah, I was just gonna say Every time I go shopping with Melissa We are stopped multiple times by people telling her how beautiful her hair is because everyone stops her on the street In the store it is I mean it really is Incredible It's getting to be exhausting I love it. Yeah, as the bald friend. I'm a really mad But you have such a nice hair. I know. Such a nice head shape. Thank you so much. I know right Sorry, but it is beautiful. You know like if you wear it with pride with confidence It's the cut it is not only is it beautiful, but it's the way she wears it like she styles it But also like Moves with confidence in the world and I do think that that is a huge part of it and it takes it takes time Right you didn't I mean, I think you don't always sort of come out of the womb that way right and I think there's a lot of people who are just like Is there normal be like who you're supposed to be but you figure that out for yourself Is there a type of person who stops you about your hair um, it's like I think from what I've singing it's usually Women who are thinking about going gray Yeah, that is like what and you know what they always say they always say I could never and I used to once upon a time I used to be like of course you can you but now I feel like oh then don't because Because Because No, not get lost but like because You get there when you get there Yeah, anything that I can say to anybody to make them do right and I feel like I never say no you can't but I will say well You know you will when you're ready. Yeah, you're just when you when you're ready and then and maybe and maybe you're never ready And that's okay and that's okay too, right like I mean, I think um You owe it to yourself to be your most authentic self and if you can do it then go for you and if you can't that's okay too Yeah, you lift the life that you want to at the time you want to and it's your journey And I'll say this sort of selfishly you can't bring everybody with you not everybody not everybody wants to be here with you Yeah, amen She's she's about to tell me to get lost yeah, yeah, yeah Not everybody is in the same place It's true. No, it's true. I've learned that to like you are doing this much amount and they're just there for the ride or just like They're chilling. Yeah, do you want to be in a better place in your life? You got to work for it You do you have to work for it and as you're moving into the new year I've seen a lot of people talking about you know what they're bringing with them into the new year what they're leaving behind And I've seen people talk about I'm not going to call the friends who don't call me no I'm not going to text the friend time ago and it is such great advice because they either figure it out And they start calling or they don't and you're fine Baby you were doing them a service baby you always aren't you yourself and I always say this I am never lonely. I am never lonely because I have myself and The friends or or people that you don't call don't text like or that you don't hear from They're not meant to be in your life. There's maybe something that's like bringing y'all together Maybe it's the partying the I don't know the strong drinks at pieces. I was gonna say substance But you know, I'm saying like Y'all do That bring y'all together, but besides that what's there? Do y'all share a common beliefs? Do y'all want to move forward in life? Do y'all want to make the world a better place? What do y'all want to do in life together besides Doing all those other stuff or like are you trauma bonding like what's going on? Yeah, I'm like why is this person in your life and sometimes I mean this is such a Puckley shape, but like sometimes people are just in your life for a season. Yeah, that's okay. That's okay Your best friend from the sixth grade does not have to be your best friend today Exactly, and that doesn't mean that what you had with them when they were in your life is any less valuable Anything you're like honoring it by moving on and being like I'm not going to Duluth the value of what that once was for that season of my life By dragging it into this new season and making it this shitty experience right? Like a or like a chore like a drudgery who needs that this like There isn't there are enough things that we have to do in this life that The people that you choose to spend time with that should be a joy You know what I mean? It should be a joy like that I got to pay bills. I got to be on the subway the people that I surround myself with by choice It needs to give me something It needs to be so active. Yes Absolutely and time is short time is short maybe like you have to Make sure that people are you allowing your life or actually bringing something that is just not there for like okay You know tick tick tick tick tick tick tick. Weissing your time. No, they're there to enjoy the ride with you Yeah, I used to always tell my stepdaughter when she was growing up I'm like, you know what you deserve to be choosy about who you allow Near right right right who you allow to be your friends who you allow to be sexual partners like you need to you get to pick And the minute somebody makes you feel like shit about yourself or tries to get you to do something that Mm-hmm is again sort of like your inner moral compass Yeah, because this is your life. No, you should always do things that make you happy. Where is the joy? You should always do things that make you happy and things that you only want to do because Imagine like I don't want to be here. I'm like and I have to sit through here and how torturous would that be for me But I want to be here. Yeah, I want to do this and this makes me happy to be with y'all So that's why I'm doing it and if I'm doing it and being torturous and don't want to be here Oh my god can you imagine this whole experience Let me ask you a room. Yeah, it would be off. I'll be like rolling my eyes And it wouldn't flow any wood because that was a bit of a cut like way some time. Yeah, no, absolutely. Yeah Do you imagine that there would ever be a moment for you where drag no longer gives you What it was giving and if that's true Do you think that it'll just be like cut and dry? I'm done or do you think that it'll look a different way? I love these questions because Michael's asking like so I was like having a fun You're like so so let's figure out That's what we put in that sea closer Oh, I'm just I mean in boys from my 30 sessions The question was um, do I think I've utilized drag to his most potential and for you for me like we're talking about leaving friends behind A bringing friends with you is drag that friend you leave and take with you. What is that like for like do you feel like there There might be a day where you're like maybe this is the friend that I leave behind or it becomes or evolves into something different from me I feel like A lot of folks when they did drag in the beginning is for PTSD Is for trauma is for like from yeah, yes, it's it's healing. It's like solving all those Issues that you didn't understand or like a way to vocalize How you're feeling without being too rude to for using the wrong words You're doing it through performance like and the looks and whatnot So I think that's a lot where it comes from and I think that after years and maybe almost like two decades now I feel like I've done that Yeah, a while ago. I'm from me right now. Um, I feel like I don't want to say RuPaul, but like you know how RuPaul like you know, I only want to get a drag like there's like money involved It's like feeling I'm doing that now, but like I'm still loving drag and I feel like it's more special for me now Okay, um It's more special for me now because I don't Do it for PTSD or healing. I do it for me But also makes it extra special does that make sense? Yeah, yeah Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah I'm doing it not because of what I have before as a kid now. I'm doing it as like a two point o version as an adult As an adult two point o version and Whenever this is over I don't know what three point o version Yes, you know, and it's nice you get to like sort of like you get to me drag where it is for you right and like it and and Going through it and it can it can be two things right it can be the thing that helps you get through that traumatic experience like Discovering your gender expression what or do like surviving that you know queer lived experience that wasn't positive But it can also be a business. It can be something that you turn into a career exactly So and I think really anything is possible. Yeah, I mean like we have people like you know just on social media like I don't know like selling like I don't know Super arts on like Soup I just sort of all on a lady who makes broth And I love it so much. Oh, yeah, I love it. I'm like I'm this guy who makes toffee. Yeah, it's weird I was like I'm sad. I am watching every single broth video. Yeah like I've got I've got things soaking ready to make broth later It's gonna happen. No, that's 26 is the real the bra. Yeah, yeah, I using um chicken feet I'm using chicken feet and I'm clipping them nails. Yeah, yeah, you gotta clip the nails Clip and nails and man come at me and my broth girl least come at me in the comments. Okay. Sorry. What interrupt to do? Oh, yeah, but anything's like possible. Yes, you can make anything up a business if there's a demand for it There's a service get your money honey. Yeah, get your money a piece is on friday every friday every friday I say this every week as a joke because I need a job I'm not here because I want to I need a J LBE You all got bills. Yeah, Bill so anything else you want to plug pieces friday and add it to clock. Yeah, okay Sorry, sorry What's your closet like? I'm out of the closet. No, Melissa's big I don't know. This is the most selfish question. She's cleaning her closet. My drag closet. Well like what do you mean? Like there's so many like how many closet there's so many like I guess like References for that term so which is what is the what how do you store your clothing Melissa is means like quite I hear closets not kidding Best like custom like Ikea Ikea like I cannot kidding like you can pick like the sizes you want the shelves that you want to like with the drawers Yeah, yeah, yes, yeah, the billi-closet wow. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. They're cheap look into it because I was like Yeah, home Depot. I was like how much is the customized one they were like it's like $6,000 for that little like yeah, yeah, yeah, I was like you can go and Ikea hack it Less than two thousand dollars get it all done. Oh beautiful. Easy. Shop done Yeah, but that's what I use for my closet. All right. Was that your question? I think I want a plot. Yes, Ikea. Yeah, sponsored by Ikea. Yes. No more. Oh Thank you for joining us. Thank you for coming on the show Anything you want to buy huh? That flew by five five. Yeah, I'm a great time. You know we do that. Yeah Anything you want to plug anything you want to promote follow you on socials at this handle that you's about to read off Yes There's a lot of different ones because Some got taken and have to like But it's just just like you have the you look for the one that's like a drag queen on the promo like handle Why you age you age these fake accounts too. I've got real Michael foot private Underscore dot yeah, and they're messaging people asking people for money as me. They do that. I mean I do to it Oh, you behind it. You behind it. Okay. Oh, that's just my you know, I'm asking you to ask for money. It was me Yeah, yeah, yeah, and I'll ask you back to you. You know, okay, I'll see you. I'll see you out Friday on at pieces in the Westville, New York City Eight o'clock. I'll see you then It's eight o'clock. It's your show Viewing eight o'clock viewing. Okay. There's two times. Okay, eight o'clock for viewing when there's drag race Nine o'clock when there's no viewing Yeah, two times. Oh, that's why you said eight o'clock. It's only been eight years So thank you for coming on the show. I'm so glad you got to meet the audience. They got to meet you And what's my name? Malissa with the M honey This has been for recessed. Oh my right. Go. We'll be right back You thought was so great. I'm so glad she came me too. I was worried she wouldn't be on time It was right on time. She was right on time. Love it. She was 10 minutes late to her own show last week But I mean, I would say that to her face. That's not a reason. Well, you did I did I you did you were like oh We were so happy that you are on time. I'm the typey friend. Not only do I forget what I say I spill my water everywhere during our break. No, you're a mess. I can't take you I'm so I'm so glad she came now She's holding. No, it's good time. I really and I this is maybe your opportunity to say to me Melissa Melissa Would you like to come with me to what have oh pieces on Friday? Do you want to do it? Should you do the Michael foot Melissa malbranch me angry at the you ha ha masaki show a piece is on Friday night at eight Okay, let's do it. Okay. I'm committing. It's gonna be like two people Oh, no, no, no, that's fine. You know what that's great. No, no, no, that's fine But I I am committing to being out After nine p.m. Tiva you're not supposed to go out has nine p.m. You're gonna be a little long in the tooth miss girly Hmm someone walked someone walked up to me a piece is and said Do the police horses mean anything to you? I guess because I make these videos I always say something about police horses like as a joke. Yeah, that was his opener of like hey I recognize you from the internet. I thought that was so clever. I loved it. I loved it You know and people will pick up on like one particular thing. I love it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And sometimes it's something I forget I said Anyway, thank you for watching brief recess. I will see you in court This has been an exactly right production recorded at iHeart Studios posted by me Michael foot and me Melissa malbranch our producer is CJ Feroni this episode was edited by Nicholas Galucci our associate producer is Christina Chamberlain and our guest booker is Patrick Our theme song was composed by Tom bryfogel with artwork from Charlotte Delario and Vanessa Lailack with photography by Brad obono brief recess is executive produced by Karen Kilgarif Georgia Hartstark and Danielle Kramer You can find me on instagram at department of redundancy department or on tiktok at Michael foot and I'm on both instagram and tiktok as Melissa malbranch Got legal questions reach out at brief recess at exactly right media dot com Listen to brief recess on the iHeart radio app apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts And of course we're podcasts with video search for brief recess on youtube