If you want to listen to this episode or any of our episodes, add free. You can do that now. Head on over to Patreon, click on the ad free level. You get all of our bonus shows that you've been hearing so much about plus every single day, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. You can listen to this episode or any of our other episodes at the same time, ad free over on Patreon. This is David, welcome back behind the velvet rope. Let's just get right into it today, because we are joined by the one, the only judge, Greg Mathis. Judge Greg Mathis, welcome behind the velvet rope, or should I just say 14 carat, carat is in the house. That's right, in the house. We're gonna break the curtains down. Listen, you know, this is a lot different than your day job, so to speak. Like, what drew you to this opportunity of the mass singer? It's been a lifelong dream, very simple to sing on stage. More, and I was, as a kid, I stood outside Motown as an adolescent in teenager. We had group folks come together. We stand on the grass and sing and hope that when Smokey Robinson or one of the producers walked in that they would discover us and say, Hey, you can sing, come on in, because they did that type of thing. And so that was on my mind because that was a lifelong dream back starting in those days. And interestingly enough, both Barry Gordy and Smokey Robinson are friends now. So that was a great full circle moment. And I even told them last night on the microphone on the show, I said, y'all should decide to be Barry and Smokey. And like, to me, I mean, I know this has nothing to do with anything, but you know, you and Evan Ross both eliminated on the same night, his mother's dietic. It was like a Motown theme going out throughout last night. Good point. Are people shocked? You know, you were on TV for 24 years as a judge or you have a lot of great art people shocked when they find out that you can sing. Everybody other than my wife, that's how I got my wife, Sarah, and her in college. I was I was a little thug running around just getting off the street and went into college and she wouldn't bother with me because I was trying to tough guy stuff, trying to be manly. And she didn't like that. So I started following her around campus singing. And that's and so she's known and I got my wife singing to her. But everybody else, they were shocked. They were shocked. And listen, I mean, you were guest Lionel Richie, Al Green, a member of them, Temptations, a member of Earthwind Fire, Jermaine Jackson. I mean, these are some heavy hitters like that's got to feel good. It was a great feeling, particularly one of those songs that I would chase my wife around with on campus was stuck on you by Lionel Richie. And once again, that lifelong dream came true. He and I and our wives, our friends, and we go to dinner and everything with Lionel and he was so happy to hear that. That was the first song in the way I got her. And so all of those full circle moments I experienced. I love it. Well, like I said, you were on Judge Mathis for 24 seasons. You know, is there something like is there just one case that stands out from all that time where you're just like, these people are just they're insane? What is this? You know, one of the things I aim to do is change lives or inspire folks to change their lives. And I do that by first listening and then giving a little wisdom to what the situation is. And so in that case, one, two are the most touching. One, a woman whose both of her sons were addicted to heroin and they were both ripping her off. So she was suing them both. And it was just so heart tugging that what this woman was suffering through. And so I was able to pay for them to go to rehab. And then a year later or two years later, the woman came back to the show to thank us. Wow. That sounds like turned around. Wow. One of another one of your clue packages, another one of your clues on the messinger was quote unquote, longest running, which you are one of the longest running judges ever, you know, on daytime television. You know, the other one being Judge Judy. If there was just some world in which you can make everyone happy, would you and Judy, if they wanted to do a special just come back and both like sit up there behind that bench together just for a limited series? Maybe. Yeah. Let me let me first say that I'm the longest running African American judge. And that's perhaps what they were referring to. And with my new judge show is 27 years now. When you combine, I'm serving still as a television judge. But yeah, being there and if it were Judy and I, we'd have a lot of fun. That's all I can tell you. This is a paid message from GoFundMe. My name is Ashley Kane. I'm the daddy of a little girl in heaven and a father to two boys on there. 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And you said hi and she either didn't know who you were. It sounded like she knew and she just didn't say hi back or something to that. I wasn't sure because that was like our third year on television. And so perhaps she didn't know, but she should have looked up if I was an ordinary fan and say something, say, excuse me, I'm eating. So maybe that was why she was eating her salad and I walked up and I did interrupt. And so maybe that's her way of treating people who interrupt. But yeah, that was the case. Listen, everyone knows Judge Mathis, right? Where do you think like the state of, you know, we had people's court, like where do you think the state of like, you know, court television daytime shows is today? Like what is the future for the genre? I think, I think it still has several more years. In fact, I think the more destructive lifestyles that we see, the longer this show is going to run. So quite frankly, until we get a little better, more compass and honesty, it says who will remain on because we're always going to be able to find someone doing wrong. That's for sure. And I think it does depend on the host as well, to be quite frank. You have to be entertaining. Some folks suggest that I'm too entertaining as a judge, but perhaps that's why I've been on. But I think that's the case. One, they have to want to continue to watch the genre. That is based on, quite frankly, is it entertaining? Is it insightful? Is it something you want to see, uh, chastise someone? I don't think there is such a thing as too entertaining on daytime TV, but that's just me. What about a lot of your clues on the mass singer, you know, for your big reveal through the season? We're about, you know, you were open about growing up on the wrong side of the tracks and, you know, then you got your law degree and you kind of set yourself straight. Like, was there an, like, what was your aha moment that kind of, and you are very into mentorship and, you know, helping people kind of get on the right track. That's your whole career. But like, what was the aha moment for you? Well, on the, you're referring to the video footage of prior to performing. Yeah. That's what it was when they showed that rock and it was a woman holding it. And that exemplified my mother. She was a rock for sure. And she's the inspiration for everything I've done. Uh, I was a, as you know, a street kid in jailed. I was jailed and she came to see me and told me she had cancer and asked me to change my life. Six months later, I was in college. Two months later, she died. And so she died my first three months in college after turning my life around. And I felt that everything I've done has been carrying her with me and came from that inspiring, inspiring, uh, time of which she lost her life. But I think, uh, that God took her so that I could save others. And so that's always the case when I see something involving my mom and the showing that she was a rock, Z-rock. She had the rock in her hand last night. That was the aha moment. There you go. You got mama with me again. I love it. Well, listen, this is, you know, not your first time on reality TV. I mean, Mathis family matters. Did you enjoy that experience of like inviting the cameras into your family? Yeah, it was a lot of fun. Um, and, uh, you know, we operate, uh, on love and on humor and oddly enough, I know no one believes it. My children, I have four children. They're all mid 30s. One is 40. I've never seen them argue. Wow. Never. No one's ever called unless they do it. And mama doesn't tell me, but that's been 40 years. But I've never gotten a call about them fighting. No one has come up to me and, uh, uh, told them to other about fighting and upset. So I think that's what was missing. In fact, I know that's what was missing. We were pretty much told that by the network that there's not enough tension and arguing in there. And we don't know how to do that. So it's all fun with us. Fun and love. Oh my God, I am so happy that the warmer weather is finally upon us. I spent the weekend cleaning up my closet. It's making room for all my spring stuff because I love an organized closet and I hate clutter. And that's why I love quints. Quints make such high quality, everyday essentials. And I can get so many different types of wares out of the same pieces. I just stuck up on their European linen pants. They fit so well. They come in so many different colors. My favorite is this cool chambray blue. I got a matching shirt. I got them in basically every color they have. There's black, olive. The fabric is so lightweight. It's breathable. It's comfortable. And I love that I could wear them to like a fancy or dinner. But they're also really cool for like hanging out on a casual Saturday. 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They say I open their eyes. So it's always those life changing moments for me, whether it's the judge show where I try and inspire based on my journey or in this case with my son, who is now has a husband and me being able to support him and show the world how much a former street guy from Detroit, Supermacho, toxic masculinity can still support his gay son. I love it. As a gay man, I can tell you that was done so well. So, bravo to everyone involved. Thank you. As we wrap up last question again, I loved watching you on the mass singer, but you have said it all straight and you look at you now and like, but what advice would you give? You are behind the judge desk most of the days. Like what advice would you have for someone that is? Always starts with confidence. Confidence, preparation and opportunity. You have to believe you can do it. Some folks said I had dreams of grand jury and they weren't necessarily television. I never dreamed of television. When I got to college, I dreamed I would be a man. I wanted to be a fighter for social justice because I had met Jesse Jackson right before college met him in jail. He advised me to go to college. I did. I came back. He was organizing for his committee for president, the first campaign. And I went and he helped my career when I started with his campaigns. And so that full circle as well because now I'm chairman of the board. And so, but it was that confidence that one day I'm going to be like Jesse Jackson. And there was I'm going to hand a major civil rights organization and there were only five. There's only five. And so I thought that I would be one of five in all of these hundreds of millions of people. And those are the type of confidence as I had. I wrote a book about my life because I thought it would be informative and inspiring. That's what led to the television show. And so it's the confidence that I had the preparation I did school, lots of consuming of information. And thirdly, the opportunity that I aggressively saw. I love it. Such a good answer. As we, you know, love seeing you. Thank you so much. And I just want to say as we're leaving, it was just a great to see a bunch of judges judge you for once. It was nice to see you on the other side of it. Thanks for doing the mess, Singer. It's been a pleasure chatting with you. Thank you, my friend. Have a good day. Bye. Bye. Which means a stocked up fridge of big brands, award winning own brands and your fresh value of a day with extra helpings encouraged. Little. More to value. Prices check 7 to the 4th, 26 Morrison's also sell other products, see online for more details.
