Call Her Daddy - Becky G: Cheating & People Pleasing

Episode Date: April 1, 2026

Join Alex in the studio for an interview with Becky G! For the first time ever, Becky opens up about the state of her relationship, what it was like navigating a public cheating scandal, and the nuanc...e that comes with truly being a strong woman. She also talks about stepping into her father’s role in her family, unlearning people pleasing tendencies, and how there’s always room for more than one woman at the top. Enjoy! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Transcript
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Starting point is 00:00:03 What is up, Daddy Gang? It is your founding father, Alex Cooper, with Call Her Daddy. Becky G., welcome to call her daddy. Do I call you Daddy or Alex? You can call me whatever you want. I'll call you Poppy. Okay. I'm just kidding. I will not get upset about that. I have been so excited to talk to you.
Starting point is 00:00:26 I feel like you have had just such an incredible, massive career. I know you started at nine years old. now your music has streamed over 28 billion times. You've sold out tours. You've received five Latin Grammy nominations. You've been in this industry for almost two decades. But I do still feel like there is so much to discover about you and so much of your story that hasn't fully been told. So I've been really looking forward to sit down with you. Same. Thank you so much for having me. Of course. I heard that on your rider, you always have tequila. and your pre-show ritual is to take a tequila shot before.
Starting point is 00:01:07 So I figured, if you're down, I poured us two tequila shots. Girl! I love this. This is going to be my favorite podcast I've ever done ever. I'm like, it's 1 p.m. I want to do a little cheers. It's 5 o'clock somewhere. What should we toast to?
Starting point is 00:01:23 I think we should toast to being big daddies in our fields. I think we should toast to. the fact that I'm sitting in this couch, because I've seen so many people that I love and admire, sit right here across from you. And I just feel so, yeah, excited for this conversation. So toast to you. Cheers. Cheers. Cheers.
Starting point is 00:01:45 Cheers. We'll do the... Barriba. Barra. Bah-bajo? Baja bazaro. Bada-bado. Berenro.
Starting point is 00:01:51 Oh, shit. This looks big. These are really cute glasses. Okay. You took that down nice, girl. Well, I'm trying. Are you a tequila drinker? I am, but I'm more repisado also.
Starting point is 00:02:05 I was looking in. your eyes and I'm like, why is she not flinching? So I'm trying not to flinch, but I'm like, I think you wore it nicely. Okay, okay. We did that right. We did that right. How did that become a tradition for you with your shows, that you do that before every show? I'm Mexican. It just felt right. Yeah, it just felt right. I know that sounds really funny, but I just feel like that's like our, it's like a celebratory thing. It's also like a warm-up thing. I'm sure you've heard singers talk about like hot toddies and stuff like that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's just like I just wanted tequila straight. Is that your go-to drink?
Starting point is 00:02:35 really is. Just tequila straight. Just tequila on the rocks or it could be, it could be warm, it could be mixed. I knew we were going to get along. I will just have tequila on the rocks and I'm happy, happy. Um, fuck Mary kill tequila vodka gin. Oh, just fuck Mary tequila. Everything else can die. You don't drink anything else? You know, I do. I like wine. I'm just not like an alcoholic. Oh my God. I'm like, you're fine. Let me watch myself. Um, no, I love. I love. wines. You know what's funny? I feel like wines and food are great pairings for me. I'm also like a champagne girlie every now and then. I love a little bubbles. But tequila. But tequila is just my shit. Yeah. I'll have a beer every now and then. A little chill on the side. Yeah. But tequila.
Starting point is 00:03:26 Okay. Okay. We're going to kick it off with the game. Oh, let's go. I'm going to ask you some of your firsts and your worsts. Are you ready? Yes. Okay. What is the first thing you do every morning when you wake up? First thing I do every morning when I wake up. I don't know. Try to get it together, girl. Yeah. It depends on the season. If I'm in like recovery season, it's like meditation and make my morning coffee at home. If it's a busy season, I'm probably panicking at the like multiple text messages that I've missed that have, you know, approvals that I need to get to and deadlines that need to be met. That's the season I'm in right now.
Starting point is 00:04:11 It's funny. It's like I want to be that girl that's not like, I look at my phone, but I'm like, oh, fuck, I am that person that's like, I look at my phone. I check and I'm like, I need to stop. Yeah. And so I do. I catch myself. I would say like I try to, a balance is impossible to sustain all the time.
Starting point is 00:04:26 It's just you have to recalibrate. Okay. Good answer. What's the worst habit you have? You know what it used to be, biting my nails. these are my actual nails y'all oh wow i do not buy my nails no more i am so bad at that and that's why i just do gel because i'm like okay who is the first celebrity that actually left you starstruck oh shit oh damn you know what's so crazy okay obviously you've probably had the same thing where it's like
Starting point is 00:04:57 this is what we do right so you're like play cool play cool and you'll meet some people and there's so much more like human and chill than you thought they would be so you're actually not as like, who like, oh my God. You're actually like, oh, you're cool as fuck. Like, we can have a conversation and I don't feel what I thought I was going to feel in the best way, not in a bad way. But I would say when I did the Oscars for the first time and I was doing the rehearsals on the stage, I wasn't even Starstruck by the person themselves, but the photo cards
Starting point is 00:05:24 that they have of them. You know how they have pictures of them? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Girl, Danzel Washington. I was like, I've seen him in so many movies. Like, why is it that I'm freaking out right now? Like, he's going to be right there when I'm, when I'm, when I'm, you know. singing like, huh?
Starting point is 00:05:37 That actually is such a good answer too, because it's not like Dinsale Washington's like finding places and get paparazzi. And I've met so many like mega super famous people that are obviously like so worthy of like kiss the ground they walk on. You know, they're so incredible. No, that's a good answer. He's a legend. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:05:52 Okay. What's the worst rumor you've ever seen about yourself online? Look. I know AI is a touchy conversation these days. But I've been saying the craziest pictures of myself. and they're fully AI. Like crazy. Crazy.
Starting point is 00:06:10 Has it ever been so bad? Now I know what I'm going to look like when I'm pregnant. She's giving cutesy. Like I'm here for it. Dude, that's getting scary. It's scary. What is the worst date you've ever been on? I remember still till this day it is I love food.
Starting point is 00:06:27 So like if you have me choose between you and food, I'm going to choose food. Because food's always been there for me, you know? I remember It was so awkward And me and this guy were like dating for some time too So it was like, okay, you're getting a little too comfortable And I don't like this But it was something as simple as like the food came
Starting point is 00:06:45 And I was like eating and I do happy dances And like I don't chew with my mouth open But I take big bites, you know I want to get a little bit of everything on the plate And this Homeboy has the choice of words to say You know it's not going anywhere right? Like okay
Starting point is 00:07:06 I would be so livid. No, I remember. And I'm like, what if you brought me to Olive Garden? What did you think was going to happen? Wait, okay, so he brought. Unlimited, unlimited breadsticks. Wait, wait, those breadsticks. And the pasta.
Starting point is 00:07:21 They won't be there forever. I know it's frozen technically, but it's so good. Like, the consistency. It's just, you know. The fetichini al-Fraid. Yeah. Wow. And you dip the breadstick in it.
Starting point is 00:07:33 It's just, um. What was your reaction? No, I just remember I kept eating my food I was like, you're just background noise right now. Like, now I'm going to chew my mouth open. I hope you don't like me. Break up with me right now. You're like, I'm going to finish this and then I'm going to actually leave you.
Starting point is 00:07:47 But again, I'm not leaving until I finish this meal. Yeah. And it's unlimited soup and salivish. Girl. Oh, I would be livid. Okay. What is your worst irrational fear? Worst irrational fear?
Starting point is 00:08:03 You know, I had a feeling. we'd get into like therapy talk eventually but like this is a little soon um i think just letting it's not really irrational i guess but just like letting the people i love down like yeah the people i love down is like letting them down is just it's a lot yeah yeah so let's get into therapy talk yes let's do a girl okay so take me back tell me about growing up in los angeles like what was your community like I mean, I'm a proud Englewood native and I'm a proud Chicana,
Starting point is 00:08:48 Mexican-American. I'm one of 19 grandchildren on my mom's side and one of 15 on my dads. There's grandbabies or great-grandbabies now. So I'm a tia, I have nieces and nephews. And my baby sister just had a baby too. So the family just keeps growing. So I grew up around a lot of community.
Starting point is 00:09:07 As my grandma would say, like my Pueblito, like my little village. Like this is, this was everything for us growing up. So I feel like I grew up feeling supported and feeling like I was never truly alone, even though obviously you go through things in life that sometimes you do feel lonely in.
Starting point is 00:09:26 I always had like my tribe. You had all these people, yeah. Yeah, and I would say Inglewood, you know, it's a predominantly brown and black community. I grew up watching the airplanes take off from L.A.X and land into L.A.X. and I would always wonder, where are those planes going and where are they coming from, you know?
Starting point is 00:09:43 And now, like, it's so crazy to fast forward to where my life is now, and I'm still here. I'm still in L.A. I'm a proud Angelino. But I'm on the planes now, and I get to see my grandparents' houses, depending on which side of the plane I'm sitting on. Because if you know L.A.X.
Starting point is 00:09:59 And you're on the right side, you can see Englewood on the right side. And if you're on the left side, you can see Hawthorne. And that's kind of like the South Bay. Like, that's like where my family, family is from. It is so crazy that like no matter how successful you get and where your life takes you, you still connect that younger version of yourself where like that little girl was like,
Starting point is 00:10:18 I want to be on one of those planes one day and like I want to see the world. And now every time you're on a plane, you're looking down being like, oh my gosh, I'm the girl on the plane now, which is really sweet. I do know that at nine years old, you decided to start working to help support your family, which is like that is really, really young. That's about like third grade. did it feel like a choice at the time? It did. I think older me now, looking back at it, considering the circumstances,
Starting point is 00:10:51 there was definitely pressure, external pressure, just from the system, I think, around me to step up in some kind of way. But one thing I admire about Little Bex is that she was very much the driver of her life. even if she wasn't, she was convinced she was. And I think this is a theme with like, I'm the oldest of four kids.
Starting point is 00:11:16 I have two younger brothers and a little sister. And you just always got to know. Like, even if I don't know, I got to know. I got to figure it out, you know? So I very much knew what I was getting myself into. I very much wanted to pursue this. Considering that no one else in my family had ever worked in the entertainment industry,
Starting point is 00:11:37 it was kind of out of the blue that all of a sudden because I saw random Shirley Temple, you know, multi VHS videos growing up that I was like, oh, she did it. I can do it too, you know, or Dakota Fanning. And so I, yeah, I just did it. And I think what's interesting is like having this passion that you were like, I want to do this. Like no one told me to do this. Like I really wanted to do this. But then inevitably, especially, I think in the entertainment industry because you're around so many adults, like you are forced to grow up quickly in a way that no one can really prepare you for. And like in what ways I guess did being praised for being, I'm assuming getting called mature like a lot of young girls do. Yeah,
Starting point is 00:12:25 the badge of honor. Yes. Like how did getting called mature and strong reinforce those traits as like the eldest daughter to like step up and to take everything on yourself? I think it does feel very rewarding when you're young. You're like, oh, I'm doing something good. I'm doing something right. Me today is like there's no such thing as good or bad or right or wrong. There just is. And I think I very much was just trying to survive the circumstances that I was living.
Starting point is 00:12:56 And when we lost our home, which was kind of like the catalyst as well as, and I talk about this in my documentary actually, but the addiction kind of playing a huge part in. in the four walls that I was growing up with with my dad being an addict. We had nothing. We found ourselves living in my grandparents converted garage. It's six of us. And, you know, there was no insulation. We did have carpet.
Starting point is 00:13:22 It was just rolled out on the ground, though. It was concrete on the other side, so it wasn't soft or plushy, but it was carpet. And it wasn't tough, though. Like you're a kid, there's a bit of naivness that I think was in my favor, if that makes sense. Because I was like, oh, it's a big sleepover every single night. Like, oh, I'm sharing a bed with my baby sister. Like, oh, cuddles, you know? Like, it was never looked at as something that I was, like, ashamed of, at least not yet.
Starting point is 00:13:50 Because in that time, you're so young. You don't really know what's happening. Or you do, you have an idea, but you can't really do something about it, you know? Yeah. So you're just making with what you got. And, like, when you talk about how, you know, addiction in those four walls, like, When you look back, like, how long do you feel like you were in survival mode of like there's nothing I can really do?
Starting point is 00:14:13 I just got to get up every day and go do my thing. I mean, the truth is, is it's generational. Yeah. It's generational. And I think when you and anybody I think who's probably tuning in knows if you've grown up around addiction, it is, there's something there. It's not always just drugs. It's not always just alcohol. You know, sometimes it's work.
Starting point is 00:14:39 There's an avoidance of type that fuels this deeper wound. And that is absolutely generational, you know? So this is before my parents. This is before my grandparents even. And I have a lot of empathy around that for sure. But I would say then the moment I came out, you know, I had young high school sweetheart parents who got married straight out. And we're like, we want to have a family.
Starting point is 00:15:06 and by the time my mom was 23, she had all four kids. And I think what's so interesting when something is generational, it's like it inevitably is so hard to not have it just be this like normalized, understood thing that it actually takes someone going against the grain and making things like a little uncomfortable or calling things out to actually have it not continue to be this transgenerational trauma. But that takes such an effort to break. And so when you are such a young child, how are you going to do anything other than like fall in line and play your role? And then eventually when you have some more autonomy, then you'll be able to look back and be like, huh, what would I have changed about that dynamic? But until you have that, there's nothing you can really do. And I think something that could be really relatable to the audience watching is like it makes me think back to that word mature as a young girl. Like you shouldn't have. to be mature at such a young age. So when you are given that validation that makes you feel
Starting point is 00:16:11 like you're in the inner circle of adults, it's intoxicating. But what it really is when you get older, you look back, you're like, that's really fucking dangerous to tell a young woman, like, you're so mature, you're so strong. It's like, but should I have had to be that mature and strong? Like, did you ever feel like, why am I carrying a lot of this weight? Like, when did that click for you? Because I'm assuming it did. It absolutely did. It manifested physically before it did. with like full conscious awareness. So a lot of my symptoms were full blown panic attacks, multiple a day, chronic people pleasing.
Starting point is 00:16:49 I just, the words know, like the way my body would just like literally like contortioned in a sense if I like really felt to know and I had to say it. And then most times I would fold and I'd be like, okay, well maybe not. Like because I'd see the reaction on the other side growing up in this industry longer than ever not been doing it, it was like the perfect storm. So it starts within the households, right? The four walls that I grew up in, but then the conditioning that happens in the industry, it's very rewarding when you start to gain success for being such a chronic people pleaser. Because you're like, wow, you love me, you choose me when I'm doing what you want me to do.
Starting point is 00:17:32 But what you're also, though, saying, Becky, is like, you grew up. in a place where you were people-pleasing. How many times did I have to say yes? Right. So no wasn't really a part. It wasn't really an option. It didn't feel like it. Can you also talk about you mentioned earlier,
Starting point is 00:17:47 which I think so many people will relate to, is also the added level of complexity of being the eldest daughter. Oh, girl, you want to get into birth order theories? We can do that. We can do all of attachment theories. I am definitely someone who I think, in the beginning was like, oh, I'm just an empath. Like that just is, you know, like, and I am.
Starting point is 00:18:12 I am somebody who chooses to lead with, you know, kindness and awareness around how someone is allowed to feel, how they want to feel, even if it doesn't align with where I'm at. But that's like the progress part that I've gotten to. If we rewind a few years ago, yeah, I was like, oh, I'm just, I have to be a self-sacrificer. I have to give up mine for the greater good. I have to, you know, think logically and not about how I actually feel. And I think a lot of firstborns feel that way. But what's cool about learning about birth order theory, because I'm the oldest of four
Starting point is 00:18:52 and I will stand 10 toes down for my brothers and my sister. I'm so thankful that they exist and they are my best friends. They didn't have it easy either. You know? So it's not that like firstborns have it the hardest, but it's that we have a different version of our parents. All of us do. It's such a good point because I have friends who are the oldest child and that is so in line with what they've said. And then also I think any of my friends who are the oldest and had some instability in their home, a lot of times we talk about how a a parentified child develops such a high EQ because you're so hyper aware of every single person's
Starting point is 00:19:39 emotions in your family. And it almost forces you to be one step ahead of every situation so that you know like, this is how I'll solve it. This is how I'll handle it. Like this is going on with my parents. Like this is how I'm going to save my siblings. This is how I'm going to save myself. This is how I'm going to fix the situation. And you're constantly having to be ahead and thinking of everyone but yourself. And it's hard to realize that everyone's emotions are not your responsibility. Yeah. And I'm curious if you have any advice now, as you've clearly done a lot of work on yourself and lived a lot of life, to anyone who is watching that has still that, like, weight or burden of being the oldest child and taking on so much responsibility. Yeah. Okay. Wait. As you're saying
Starting point is 00:20:22 this is literally making me think about there was a time where, I, oh my God, it's going to be really embarrassing to share. I don't think I've ever shared this story. But I remember I was, we were going through a lot as a family. And I was like, I was offered this opportunity to be a part of like this like Disney holiday experience. And I was going to perform and it was going to be the coolest thing ever. And I, me and my family, we're from Cali.
Starting point is 00:20:48 Like we loved going to Disneyland growing up. And my baby sister had never been a Disney world before. So I was like, oh my God. Like, you know, things are not so good at. home I'm going to take my baby sister to Disney World. This is going to be amazing. I'm going to do some work, but we're going to have a good time. I do drinks around the world and Epcot and have one too many. And I wake up in my hotel room. And I'm like, wait, the sun hasn't even gone down yet. Like what happened? Like I was in full
Starting point is 00:21:25 panic mode, palpitations. Like, I'm sorry. sweating. I'm looking at my sister and the moment I look at her, I just start crying and I'm like, I'm so sorry. And my sister's like crying, but she's like laughing. She's like, this is my baby sister, guys. And we're, because we're going through so much at home, I was like, I wanted like take her to have a break from everything that we've been going through. And then here I am getting all topsy turvy upside down. Yeah, but it sounds like Becky, it's because you needed a break. You needed a break. Girl, I hit a complete breaking point. And I'm over here, crucible. I'm like, I'm the worst sister on the planet.
Starting point is 00:22:01 Like I can't believe I did this. Like I ruined the trip. Like I'm so sorry. I'm like profusely apologizing to her. I'm apologizing to my girls who are on the trip. Morgan, who we were talking about earlier in my stylish. Shout out to Morgan. You know, and so it was like a very small group of us.
Starting point is 00:22:17 And I call them to the room and I like, I'm like putting on this like, you know, confessional like apology of like why I did what I did. And I'm explaining myself. And they're literally looking at me like, are you serious right now? As they're still tipsy, by the way. Right. They're like, girl. They're like, do you know what I have done?
Starting point is 00:22:36 Black out drunk? And also like, girl, like you, all of us are here because of you. You were looking at your sister being like, I am going to give you the reprieve that you need. Meanwhile, it's like what we just talked about, like, hey, actually, seems like someone may need it a little bit more. Me? I needed it a little bit more. And, yeah. me passa de copa and I was just like
Starting point is 00:22:59 and I walked away from it being like wait and so it just led to a much more open conversation around other young women my age who were like wait don't do this to yourself like by the way you know that's like a thing right people go drinking around Epcot and it's like a challenge of like how far can you go and bitch you made it to Frozen
Starting point is 00:23:21 like you were like let it go let it go and we were like yes like let it go And you're in your head thinking you ruin everyone's time. Yeah. And you're like, oh my God, I ruined this whole thing. And it's like, girl. And like, why couldn't I just? Because of those people pleasing tendencies where you're like, it's, you're so hardwired essentially.
Starting point is 00:23:41 Yeah. Ready for the worst case scenario. Ready to make sure that everyone else is comfortable. And everyone's like, Becky, go back to bed. You're like, oh. Yeah, that's. That's just like a good example. No, it is.
Starting point is 00:23:54 You know, some people are just like, girl, I don't even remember. what happened. Isn't that so funny? No, I was like, oh my God, I don't even remember what happened. Like, how did we get back? Like, oh, my God, I put my baby sister in the worst position. As if she's not also like a whole, like, grown ass young woman herself, you know? And so it was just like one of those times where I was like, yo, I need to check in with myself. And I need to like dive into this. Like, why am I hanging myself up for something that should actually lead me to more curiosity? Yes, like what is going on? Yeah. And it's, It's like what's so crazy, because I have siblings too and I'm the youngest, but it's like when
Starting point is 00:24:31 you have dynamics with your siblings, no matter how old you get, you still kind of see each other in those four walls that you grew up in. And so when you are around your siblings, like my siblings and I have had some really beautiful conversations around like regressing almost when we're around each other because like I still feel like the baby and you still feel like my oldest sister. And like there's so much history that you meet a. adults and you're a complete different person to these people that you're interacting with. They don't see you as the oldest daughter. They don't see you as someone who was trying to help provide for them. So there's like so much ingrained in family dynamics that are so beautiful.
Starting point is 00:25:10 But also like they can be really big wounds that you have to like actively recognize and be like, girl, your baby sister is fine. You took her to Disneyland and she's a big enough adult that she could have managed herself. You can't ruin her time. Well, the party continued. Like I sit in the room. I ate some chicken nuggets and I definitely was like, I needed to sober up and take a shower. But the party continued with the vibes and the Disney of it on. Everything was fine. Everything was totally fine.
Starting point is 00:25:34 What a concept. I was like, is there pictures? Is there videos? Like, did somebody catch me up going? And they were like, no. Like, you were so normal. Like, you were so fine. But I was going through so much.
Starting point is 00:25:45 Panicking. That I like completely shut off. And like, you know, I think that that is like a really good example of like just how far on the spectrum you can go of like. codependency, people pleasing, like you don't give yourself any space and grace to just be a young 20-something year old figuring it out. I was going to say it also feels like from your upbringing, like you really had to be in such control at all times because there was no plan B. There was no safety net. It's like you need to figure this out because there's no other option. And I know you had
Starting point is 00:26:21 a complicated relationship with your father. How did that dynamic? influence just like decisions you made growing up as a child? You know, it's really interesting looking back at it now. I think I had a lot of anger. Anger wasn't an easy emotion for me to process. Obviously, they say anger is sadness. What is it? Sadness is a bodyguard.
Starting point is 00:26:49 And so my anger, I would put towards my career. I just thought that the more successful I became, the more I made, the less this would be an issue. And if I became a better husband to my mother and I became a better father to my siblings, then maybe he'll figure it out. You can't do the work for someone else, you know? And I wish, yes, of course, you can't go back in time,
Starting point is 00:27:17 but I wish younger me had someone to lean on and also hear that from. Because it is this like unspoken permission that you give yourself to say, you know what, not my problem. It takes a long time to get there. It takes a lot. And when it feels like the whole entire family system depends on you for that. And by the way,
Starting point is 00:27:43 every person who plays a part in that system feels the same way, right? So it's like, like I said, it's this like unspoken thing. But yeah, it's definitely something that I wore for a really long time. and there was a lot of avoidance with that, with my dad. And I just tried to out dad my dad. That's how I became a big daddy, you know? How do you think like that essentially sounds like, yes, anger and resentment towards your father?
Starting point is 00:28:10 Like, how do you think it impacted your view of like just like authoritative figures at a young age? Like did you respect male figures and adults? Were you scared of them? I think it made me more vulnerable. I didn't necessarily respect my dad and we've had many conversations about this I had no respect for him and the choices that he was making
Starting point is 00:28:31 I still had love for him and so the care to want to continue to move things along for the sake of my siblings and their mental health and their emotional well-being that desperate need was very much present but it made me vulnerable
Starting point is 00:28:44 to looking to other men in the industry to be like the one who is going to look out for me like big brother figures or other father figures and like these people are not your daddy they are not your big brother they are they can be healthy partners actually in business but if you put this like very young filter on it you are you're like wow no one's ever looked out for me or believed in me in that way and you you hold the keys to to the treasure box that i'm trying to unlock of of what's going to get me to where it is that
Starting point is 00:29:16 i know i can get and so you are you absolutely are vulnerable to it but that was something that i needed work through, that wasn't anyone else's fault, you know? That point, too, and I bet so many women will relate to what you're talking about, is like the feeling of never ending, like you just said, like, I wanted to outdad my dad. Yeah. That is like such a heavy thing to feel because you're never going to be the dad of your family, but you tried clearly. And then that's going to like linger yes into these male relationships where you're like, can you play this one role that I needed in this role? Like, what did out dadding your dad look like in your childhood for you? Yeah, I mean, I became the sole provider for my family by 16 years old. Girl. Yeah. And it looked like being at, you know,
Starting point is 00:30:04 peaks on charts and not having any health insurance. Because when you work in the entertainment industry, you know how that goes. Like, it's not, you don't, health insurance isn't built into a record deal, you know, like these are things that, you know, uh, I was able to provide for myself. But, like, Like, when it came to my family, I was like, my dad's losing his job. Like, my siblings got to get through school. Tuitions have to get paid. Like, and they deserve to play sports if they want to, like, because they're good at it. And I have an escape.
Starting point is 00:30:35 They deserve an escape too. So it was like I just needed to produce more than for myself. But for everyone else since, yeah, since my very, very early teen years. It's so much pressure to put on yourself. Yeah. It was. It was a lot. Was anyone there to support you? I think that people were there to support me in the best ways they knew how to.
Starting point is 00:30:59 Yeah, I think my mom, oh my God, my mom is my girl. Like my mom is somebody who, even when she didn't know what was going on, I think she had a good read on things. I remember they're getting it getting to a point where I had, worked so hard to get far in my career. And optically, things were very successful. Behind closed doors, things were not very successful. Financially, you know, I was carrying a lot of weight.
Starting point is 00:31:33 And so if I was just a single girl living on her own, like I'd be just fine, but I'm providing for my whole family. And, you know, it looks a lot different. And so I remember just kind of like, finally like looking up and being like, Wow, I'm still here. Like, I'm still here and not in a good way. Like, I haven't moved forward. Like, I'm still in the same neighborhood I grew up in.
Starting point is 00:31:59 I'm still dealing with the same shit when it comes to, like, my parents and their marriage. I'm still carrying these ways. I'm still, and I thought I, I reached like a milestone at that point that many my age hadn't even really breached. And I was still hung up on the fact that, like, but we're still here. Like, you know, and I think that my mom, when she's witnessing me in that moment, you know, it gets the point where you had a brink you point. You're like, I, this pressure is unbearable that like I don't even want to exist anymore. And I remember my mom grabbing me by the face and telling me, you could choose to never pick up a
Starting point is 00:32:38 microphone ever again. And I promise you it's okay. Like, you're good. We'll figure it out. We've always figured it out. Like, it's not on you. This isn't on you. and she took that off of me.
Starting point is 00:32:50 Were you able to fully hear that, though? Like, could you believe it? Oh, no, I did not receive it. Girl, that's a whole other thing. Was I willing to receive it? No. Because, again, the system isn't, it's subconscious. It's not, I don't think our parents go through life saying I want to cause our kids harm.
Starting point is 00:33:06 I don't think our grandparents do that saying I want to cause my kids harm. You know, these are just things that systemically exist, you know? And so when I say it's generational, like, it's generational. And so I'm like, yeah, but somebody's got to do it. Because if I don't, who else will? And that was the voice that kept me going for a really long time until I ended up in therapy. And I was like, yeah, I can't. This isn't sustainable.
Starting point is 00:33:32 I feel like so much of our dynamic with our parents shapes the partners we choose and how we show up in relationships. Like looking back, how do you think your upbringing influence the relationships that were drawn to. Oh, tremendously. Tremendously. I think the first time we ever experienced love is through our parents' eyes. You know? And it's, yes, of course, in the way they love us, but also in the way they love each other. And I think I grew up in a culture, I mean, it's going to sound funny, but it's like very ride or die. And like me today is like, if I ride, why do I got to die? Like, why are we going? Where are we going? I want to know. Like, If I'm riding, there's some conditions here.
Starting point is 00:34:29 There's some boundaries that I'd like to put in place, you know? But it was very much this, like, my grandma would say this phrase to my mom with my dad in regards to their marriage. Like, put your gloves on. Like, you're going to fight for your marriage. And I remember being young and being like, well, that's very one-sided. Like, shouldn't it be both sides? Like, shouldn't it be? But you can only meet people as deep as they've met themselves.
Starting point is 00:34:53 and I think my mom had a very profound way of loving. And my dad did too, but it just looked very differently. You know, it looked very different. I know you grew up in a household where one of your parents cheated. And then in your documentary, you opened up about being betrayed by your partner. How did you decide to share that with the world? You know, I remember going into that process with a documentary in particular. really and there being conversations about are you going to talk about this you know very public
Starting point is 00:35:28 situation are you not going to talk about it and I was like well we're going to talk about it we have to to me I've always believed like half the truth is still a lie and uh there was conversations about like why I just wouldn't even mention it like some people don't even know what happened like some people don't even even are looking for it and I'm like yeah but how can I had been in a relationship with someone for so many years and do a body of work you know that's supposed to really capture where I am in this time in my life and also my history and control all delete and pretend that this person never existed. You know, and I was in many relationships,
Starting point is 00:36:08 but particularly in a long-term relationship since I was 19 years old. And I know that there's like things online about like the 19 theory. Like, you know, when you go, I think anybody who gets into a serious relationship at a young age isn't conscious of the fact that you are going to shed and you are going to go through seasons. And that doesn't stop necessarily. But in your younger adult years, I think I had a very strong sense of self based off of old programming. And when I went through this very public situation with my partner, it was like this like awakening. It was this like moment of like, oh, there's a massive misalignment in who I thought I was and who I actually am.
Starting point is 00:37:00 And I think that that happens a lot for people who grow up in family systems where it's like you can see it on someone else. It's so easy to judge someone else and say, oh my God, like don't you see it? You know? And then you can find yourself on the other side of that table the next day and be like, wait, hold on. Not everything is what it seems. And also, I am not my mother and he is not my father. And so there's also the possibility that there's an opportunity here for there to be some healing, whether together or not, an opportunity though, nonetheless, to really practice what it is
Starting point is 00:37:40 to be the person that I know I want to be in this world versus who I thought I was. right and and and that's like going so far back into again the conditioning of the chronic people pleasing and like wanting to just say yes and wanting to be like sweep it under the rug and keep it moving you know yeah and even like i appreciate you saying that because i think having had like you just like we're talking about like watching your father cheat on your mother and being like okay i have a documentary moment where i have something playing out in my life that to me at face value could look like I'm reliving what happened to my parents. But now I need to assess it and be like, I can't let my shit from my past influence.
Starting point is 00:38:31 Like what is how I feel right now with this partner and what do I want to do? Like, do you mind talking about just like when you found out like how did it affect you? Because you're obviously in such a more healed place now. But like I've been there. I have been there girl where like, I stayed with someone who cheated and I wanted to stay, but it was so complicated because those decisions are like, people are judging. You don't know how to react. Like, how did you handle all this in the moment? I think also you saying like you wanting to stay, it's interesting
Starting point is 00:39:02 because your want isn't enough. Like you can want it so bad, but that's just not enough. You know, and I think that understanding where that want comes from is also really important. because if you're just doing it to want to prove other people wrong, then you're just doing it for others. And that's not a good place, you know, to come from. And it's interesting because, well, first off, I've never talked about this. So it is, I'm thankful for the safe space to be able to talk about it because some of the stuff that I was challenged with,
Starting point is 00:39:33 there's a private heartbreak that's taking place. And then there's a public heartbreak that's taking place. And both are extremely painful. But what was, I think, the hardest part for me, me to navigate through was giving myself that space and grace to make that decision for myself. And that was one of those moments where it was an opportunity for me to heal and look inward as to, okay, whether it's this person or another person that I get into a relationship with, I'm capable of still making these same decisions.
Starting point is 00:40:04 So this is more than just like a, well, let me be the Barbie that everybody wants me to be and play Cupid with all of these cute guys. in the industry that everybody wants me to be with and because my life is supposed to be entertainment for other people or let me um you know really listen to what other people's perception is on what an empowered woman is um you know this very binary thinking right I wanted to go there I really did oh man the therapy sessions that I had of this like very black and white space that I was existing in it's like you know and it was and it was very clear to me that it was a space where I needed to decide for myself. But that's so hard,
Starting point is 00:40:49 Becky, because I think we all know, like there, especially because you were handling it in the public and private, like you just said, there is such a loud narrative, especially for women, of like, if you stay, you don't respect yourself. If you stay, you're weak. And like, what is your take on that assumption? And how did you manage to, like, block that out? and be like, what do I want? It's interesting you say that. There's a quote that Esther Perel, who I know you've even spoken to who I love.
Starting point is 00:41:24 I have the biggest girl crush on her. She's amazing. I remember hearing something along the lines of like, you know, back in the days, women used to be shamed for leaving. It was just a mistake. How could you leave? How could you throw it all away?
Starting point is 00:41:36 You know, he can change. And then now it's like the opposite. Now it's like, if you stay, you're a dumb bitch. You're a dumb bitch. You so stupid. I cannot believe her. Oh my God. I could never.
Starting point is 00:41:49 I could never. And it's like the girls who would say I could never, like I actually love that for you. I love that that's where you started, that that was your ground zero. That was not my ground zero. My ground zero was people pleasing, self-sacrificing, doing what other people wanted me to do, forgetting that I mattered in that equation. And this was an opportunity in my life to, unlock and go inward and make this about me, which was so uncomfortable.
Starting point is 00:42:19 You know, it's really, really uncomfortable to go inward and say, wait, this is about me and what I want. And if you know me, you know that I do not make decisions passively. And it was so hard to shut out the noise. And the insiders say, she didn't, she didn't even say anything. They just swept it under the rug and kept it moving. Like, no, I called off my engagement. I took off my ring. Like there are things here that took place behind closed doors privately between me and this person who I love and care for deeply who I've been betrayed by.
Starting point is 00:42:53 And we could go into the spectrum of betrayal because it looks different for everybody. But the thing about betrayal is it doesn't just make you not trust the other person. You don't trust yourself anymore. And so that was like, this ain't even about you anymore. This isn't even about them anymore. is about me. And there was something so empowering about that process to say, no, I come first. This is about me. What do I want? And there has to be alignment with the person on the other side. Like I said earlier, like the want isn't enough. The love isn't enough. Like love is, it's a
Starting point is 00:43:33 beautiful thing to experience for someone. But I mean, considering everything I went through with my family, like I walked away from my dad. Like it wasn't something that. I wasn't willing to do. And so I think the misalignment from how from a public perspective, how it was so, and I'm not really like a controversial person, you know, maybe getting, getting by got drunk in Disney World is probably the most controversial thing I've done. So it was so unfamiliar for me to kind of like wear this like, I don't know, this thing that was projected onto me that I am like not an empowered woman, that I'm a
Starting point is 00:44:06 contradiction about what I sing about. And it's like, no, those feelings are real. What I sing about is real. Like, those, there's so much more nuance to emotions. Like, you're putting me in a box. And everything I've ever worked for is now being squeezed into this tiny, like, I'm put to be this small all of a sudden. And it's like everything else I had ever worked on didn't matter anymore. And like, of course, I was, you think I was mad at everybody in the world?
Starting point is 00:44:37 I was mad at him too. I was like, come on. Why do I got to be put in this position? You know? It's so hard. It's like almost like when someone experiences it with their friends and family, not wanting them to go back. Like imagining that heightened to the 100th degree where the world is like,
Starting point is 00:44:55 what are you doing? What are you doing? And then putting the world aside for a second because I think this can be really relatable because, again, I went through it. Like how did you navigate the emotions of feeling so hurt but loving someone so much? I think that emotions aren't forever. They're temporary. They come and they go.
Starting point is 00:45:19 I can't make life decisions based off of other people's emotions in my comment section. You know, I think when you are a person on a platform or of some type of celebrity and fame, you are a bit of like a mirror to other people sometimes. And they think they're seeing you, but really what they're seeing is themselves. And so maybe they've gone through something. And that's why when a girl stands on her, I could never.
Starting point is 00:45:42 I'm like, girl, from this point on, I could never. Trust me when I say, I just had to get there. Like I said, their zero was that. Mine had to be learned, experienced, felt, processed, and really, like, worked on with real professional intervention before I could make that decision. And that was what was really, I guess, important to me when it came to the documentary and, like, talking about it.
Starting point is 00:46:07 I was, you know, some people were like, It's very unresolved. Like, are they together? Are they not? And I was like, well, that's what it was. It was three years ago. And it was unresolved. We didn't know what was, we were going to, we were committed to working on it.
Starting point is 00:46:18 And we were committed to figuring it out because when you spend that much time with someone, it's not that you want to forgive and forget. You almost have to remember. You have to remember what you come from. And the hurt that's been caused to know that you don't want. to be capable of ever doing that to someone else ever again. And I got to experience that. And I did.
Starting point is 00:46:44 There were close people to me with enough, I think, discernment to know that people who don't know me should not have a say in what I do with my life. But there was people in my close circle who were protective of me, of course, who were just as hurt and upset about what happened, but also just as curious and also just as supportive of the figuring it out because if this was going to end it was going to end amicably. It was going to end with clarity and with real resolution and with respect because that's what I deserve, you know? And if it's going to continue in the words of Esther Perel, I love her, it's got to be a new
Starting point is 00:47:27 relationship because what was can no longer be anymore. And I know that there's a lot of things with like betrayal, you know, in relationships. relationships, any type of betrayal trauma in general. It's like, it'll never be the same again. But maybe that's the point. You know? Yeah, it's such a, it is such a great point. Can I ask, are you still together? Girl. Yes. Yes. Okay. So can we talk about like one, how does it feel right now just like talking about this for the first time? I got butterflies. Well, I'm happy for you because I remember in the days, weeks and like month following when this happened to me, when this happens, like, your reality is so shattered because like you said, you don't trust yourself. You don't trust him.
Starting point is 00:48:10 You're like, wait, what just happened? I'm really struggling to understand how we got here. How did you stabilize your reality? And what question did you need to start asking yourself that you're kind of referring to that got you to the place where you knew you wanted to move forward? I think removing myself from the relationship. Yeah. And in a way that was, about not just like self-preservation, obviously, like I was distraught and broken in a lot of ways. But I think it was more like removing myself from the context of anyone I've ever had to be something to. So it was much deeper. Like what came from this revelation wasn't just like my romantic relationship with this particular person. It's like every romantic relationship I've ever been in.
Starting point is 00:49:00 Every family relationship I've ever had, every business. girl, every business relationship I've ever had. How many dynamics have I been in where this version of myself has been in the driver's seat? And really taking the time to evaluate it, feel it, understand it, and then come to a place where then my needs, my wants are a lot more clear. And then getting to, you know, what is it called? Like conscious uncoupling? You know, like conscious uncoupling?
Starting point is 00:49:34 to then be like, this is the new baseline. Is there still alignment and where it is that we see ourselves? You know? And that was really empowering, not just for me, I think, for the both of us, but especially for me, like getting to a place where I was like, oh no, like I'm allowed to change. I'm allowed to evolve and I'm allowed to exist in this so much differently. And if I'm capable of doing it, what actions are you doing that proves that you are committed
Starting point is 00:49:59 to the same thing? And that takes time. Like that doesn't happen in weeks. That doesn't even happen in months. Like this happens with continued effort and experiences and willingness. And it's that commitment to being different on both sides. I'd say that really is what unlocks the healing of it all. How did you start to rebuild trust?
Starting point is 00:50:27 And like how did he meet you there? Because I think it really can't just yes be on the person who was the. person who strayed like you also like you're saying have to take up accountability to also be like i'm not going to hold this over your head i am choosing to move forward like what did rebuilding that trust look like for both of you i think you just know i think it's just it's so it is uh i remember being like okay well i can't trust my gut because my gut has led me into some funny places right if i'm always going this off of survival mode so like really um i don't think over analyzing it but really really being honest with yourself at what part is coming up. Like I did in in individual therapy and family
Starting point is 00:51:09 therapy and couples therapy like I do a lot of parts work and it's so helpful for me because it makes me understand that I'm not just this version of myself right now. I'm every version and this one and will be many more. You know? So like that grace that we were talking about before was something that I felt like I needed to take my time with. And so it was just it was just me. I was really like learning to give myself the space and empowering myself with the experiences, with professional intervention, especially to be able to feel good about this decision. Because like I said, I think that whole like it'll never be the same again. Like something about that was actually exciting. Like, oh, there can be something new. And it's like, oh, I'm not the same version of
Starting point is 00:51:59 myself that I was when I was 19 when you first met me. You're not the same person that you were at 22 when I first met you. Like we are very different versions of ourselves today. You know, and so I don't know. It's just this like earned wisdom, I guess you can say that kind of is the guide in that. And I think what's so powerful what you're talking about and very relatable is how you're talking about. It's not just you as Becky at this age. going through this with your partner, it's still, like we talked about the beginning of this, is like the younger you watching your dad cheat on your mom and watching your mom with like the boxing glove analogy and being like, well, why do I got to die? Like, why do I got to write or die?
Starting point is 00:52:46 Like, what if we can have these honest conversations to go back a little bit to your childhood? How did you really, really have to consciously work to be like, my emotions right now, are about my partner in this or are my emotions right now about what my father did to my mother and how am I going to try to differentiate the two? That awareness was very evident to me from the beginning I think
Starting point is 00:53:11 at least in this season of my life when this took place and so yeah I knew I couldn't trust myself in that moment to make any decision. It was like it was again very binary in my thinking it was like you're either fuck yes or absolutely not
Starting point is 00:53:29 And it was like, I'm going to end up in the same situation, if not here with someone else. And I need to take this time to figure out why. Like why? What is the why? I remember, I think it's in your documentary, you kind of talk about how your dad wasn't like entirely secretive about his infidelity with you. And it put you in some really difficult situations. Like how when you look back at your younger self, do you think those moments impacted you as a little girl? Yeah, of course it impacts you.
Starting point is 00:53:59 I think it definitely leaves an impression of like, oh, so that just happens. And like younger me, teenage me outworking my dad, being a better husband, being a better father, really standing on my, I could never. It's different when you end up in your own situations, you know? And like I said, it wasn't just this particular relationship. It was like every relationship I had ever been in was a dynamic of me hoping that things would be different. and masking this like subconsciousness of passiveness around this. To stay or to leave is anyone's choice to make, you know, for themselves. And I made my choice and I made it from parts of me that I, like I said, really worked on
Starting point is 00:54:47 and earned to feel good about that decision. But I also can see all the other sides now. You know, and it's really a relief to be able to talk about it because I know that there are so many people who don't know me, fans who are very supportive and very loving, you know, who saw me kind of going through this from an outside lens, not knowing the details, not knowing everything that actually happened, not knowing that what you see is not always what it is. And I feel like for them to know, like it wasn't something that was done passively
Starting point is 00:55:23 and it wasn't something that wasn't done taking everything into consideration. It's not that it was important to me for validation, but it was important for me in the sense of standing up for myself. Absolutely. And I also just to like reiterate what you're saying, I think it's so I can even feel it from you. I'm also happy you're talking about it because I can imagine even if you don't give a shit about what the internet says or whatever. Like it is a little bit of an attack on your character when people are calling you weak or whatever. And you're like, there's so much that you don't owe people to tell them the amount of work you were. doing behind the scenes.
Starting point is 00:56:00 But what I would assume is like this is one of the most amazing parts of your life now that you've worked through it. And this is someone you genuinely love. And so to not be able to like feel fully like you can celebrate it because there has been this stigma. Like I hope this now allows you to just like release that and know that like there shouldn't be judgment around this and you shouldn't have had to explain this. But now that you do, I can imagine there are so many women listening being like, okay.
Starting point is 00:56:27 hey, like how many of us have stayed and it did work out. And that's beautiful. And if you didn't, that's beautiful for you. But we can't judge anyone's situation, right? Yeah, without really knowing. It's interesting you say, I appreciate all of that. I will say going back to like the peace that I feel, I don't think it's that I was waiting at all for anybody.
Starting point is 00:56:47 I think it was more just feeling like I wanted to catch people up to speed on my time instead of on other people's time. Like going back to the pressure cooker, like I also wasn't. hiding. Like we go to the grocery store together. We, you know, like we have good times together. We are closest friends and family, you know, know what it is. And that's really all that matters to me. But I think, but it's that peace, you know, the difference between secrecy and privacy was unclear to me at a young age growing up in the industry with everything and anything. And I think anybody who grew up on the internet, like I got discovered at 14 years old,
Starting point is 00:57:23 making covers on YouTube. So I thought, like, what I eat for breakfast, everybody should know. when I take a shit on the toilet. Hey y'all, guess what I'm doing, sitting on the toilet, you know? Like all that era of like real time posting, like I don't know. It's my relationship with it is so different and has definitely in a more evolved way matured. That feels right size to the version of me that I am today, which is I don't have it all figured out. I am absolutely not perfect. But do I feel empowered?
Starting point is 00:57:55 Yes. because empowerment as a woman isn't being perfect. It's living in your truth and standing in your truth. And owning that, there is a spectrum and array of experiences and emotions and opportunities that are going to be taking place in this lifetime. And if I'm not fully present for it, that's where I'm really cutting myself short. And so to be fully present in this moment with you talking about what it's taken to get here, you know, from the beginning up until this point is, yeah, it feels really good
Starting point is 00:58:30 and feels really liberating. It's kind of what's been inspiring everything I've been working on. It's amazing because you can see how also passionate you are about this current era, I guess, essentially you're in. Can you see yourself getting married? Can I see? Absolutely, girl. Okay. Yeah. I would love to. I'm like, re-propos to me. Why not? Proposed to me every year. Why not? I love it. I've seen there was actually this really cute TikTok trend about this woman who is sharing that. And I thought it was adorable. But yeah, I guess to each their own, you know.
Starting point is 00:59:03 I think something that's so incredible about you is like you're so positive. And I think that when people are faced with really difficult situations in their life, not this specifically, but just like everything we're talking about, there's kind of a choice you have to make. it's either going to define you or you're going to take it and you're going to grow from it. How have you managed to reframe challenges in your life and be so positive? Can I just say this? I can say the same about you. No.
Starting point is 00:59:36 No, I actually think like PTG post-traumatic growth is a choice. And I do think that there is a shift in mentality that happened for me where it was like, I don't want to be a victim of anything. I want to be a survivor of things. And also we deserve so much more than to survive life, but to actually thrive in it. And that is also available to us too. And so I can change my mind today and that's okay.
Starting point is 01:00:07 And I can, you know, embrace different versions of myself that thought they knew what was best and not shame them or judge them. And same for future versions of myself. Like I can build her up and I can be her. her greatest champion because I know she's waiting for me like a relay like this is this shit's a marathon girl and we are all running it with ourselves and we just got to keep going but constantly of course with connecting with ourselves understanding like what is it actually going to take of me what is it going to cost me because when I say yes to something I'm also saying no to something else
Starting point is 01:00:43 and if I'm saying no to something that actually means more to me like I should take time to understand that, you know? And so with everything that's been taking place with my growth now being kind of the source of inspiration, the phoenix that I feel that I am rising from the ashes of so much that I had to overcome in my younger years, I just feel like, I know it sounds funny and we talk about being a bad bitch, but like, man, like it feels really good to know, like, I've always, she's always been there. This isn't like a new era. This isn't like, this is just an expansion of who I am, you know, like I'm just evolving. And I think it's so inspiring for people listening because like I can assure everyone that you and I have both sat in moments in our life
Starting point is 01:01:36 where it has felt like the lowest and it has felt so horrible. And the positive you can tell yourself when you are going through the toughest times is knowing all of the, this is going to make you stronger. And then you will sit here one day like Becky G. being like, girl, I feel like a bad bitch. I feel confident. And it's like because the amount of things that try to chip away at your confidence and your self-esteem, if you do not become a victim of those circumstances and you actually
Starting point is 01:02:03 use it as power and strength, you end up just being like, oh, I am unstoppable. As corny as it sounds, like I think for women, it's important to hear because it is such a fucking hard ride that all of us in our own journeys have. have to ride. But when you start to kind of reshift that mentality, it doesn't happen overnight. But at some point, you're like, am I going to just keep getting fucking knocked down and be like, this is so depressing. This person did this to me. I hate that. Or you can actually change your entire life if you just reframe the way you look at things. And it is a lot easier said than done. My advice would be to feel it. Like, shit is still shit. You could put perfume on it. You could put
Starting point is 01:02:43 a bow on it you could put sprinkles on it bedazzle it it's still shit let the shit be shit it's a shitty situation like give yourself permission to feel it because once you can allow yourself emotions are energy emotion so let it go through you let the shit be the shit let the shit be shit and remember you're always deep down inside you are that pitch like you really are and she's just got to like we forget like I think we live in such a hustle culture where it's like we're like proud to be like I'm burnt out like oh my god I haven't slept like don't be proud of that mama like rest recover like prioritize like your your well-being like these are things that like of course I had to learn but like I definitely hold so much grace for the past versions of myself
Starting point is 01:03:36 that had led me to this version because I'm just like damn like we really are out here functioning, thinking that like, it's just going to move on. And it's like, this too shall pass is something that I've lived by, for sure. But I think that, you know, life will keep meeting you with the same lessons until you actually listen and learn it. And you can think, oh, you know, different job or different person or different environment. Like, I move my life across the world. you will continue to attract the same things if you don't level up your frequency and nurture yourself
Starting point is 01:04:16 and put yourself first. Girl. Yeah. We all needed that. Yeah. I want to also talk about how that kind of becomes then applicable to the industry you're in with regard to women. It's no secret that the world is set up to make us feel like there's only space for one woman in the room. and I think in your specific situation, the media constantly tries to pit you and other artists against each other.
Starting point is 01:04:55 How have you navigated this throughout your career? I think we are realizing that I always say, Junta, Somos Mas, together we are so much more. And I've been blessed that in my career, I've been able to lead with that mentality. And there were situations growing up in this industry, whether it was in the English market or in the Spanish market, which now I'm just like, I'm Spanglish speaking. I know English, no Spanish. I just am who I am. But specifically in the earlier years where it was very separate,
Starting point is 01:05:25 that programming was still the same, like deeply rooted in the media and in the industry systems. And it was interesting going into like Spanish music because it was the most empowered I ever felt as a young woman in my artistry. But it was the most macho world that I could be involved in. And there was very few of us at the time. And it was like an iconic, like, few of us, you know, that we're doing it, like, in the mainstream way. And I look back at it and it's like the fact that radio or playlisting had the audacity to be like,
Starting point is 01:06:06 we can only have one female in rotation. And I'm like, so you're going to say that to me, Carol G, Natya, Anita, like, who are all global superstars in their own right today, but was Carol G from Colombia, Anita from Brazil, you know, Becky G. coming from L.A., Natiazza coming from, you know, the Dominican Republic. Like, that's what we're, that's what we were dealing with. We were dealing with being on, you know, radio shows, like festivals and stuff. And, you know, you're toe to toe. Like, it was so cool to be a part. I, to me, my experience in it was really great because there was a lot of synergy with where we wanted to come together. But, you know, we're toe to toe with our boys,
Starting point is 01:06:50 like on the charts. And we're like, ha, ha, you know, we're all gang gang and hanging out. And they're just as supportive of us, but we're looking at their shows like, well, they've got 20 dancers and crazy scaffolding and amazing lighting programming. And I'm here with four dancers and my DJ, who's my cousin, who's been with me since day one. And we are very limited because what we're getting compared to what our male counterparts are getting looks very different. And instead of being like, why don't we get what they get? It was like, all right, we're going to work
Starting point is 01:07:21 together. So we're going to get the same makeup artist. I'm going to get the early shift. You'll get the later shift or swap skis on the next show. And I'll get her flights and you book her hotel. And then you know Angie, right? Angie, Angie was our girl. Angie, she's that girl. The best beat ever. Angie, shout out. She does the best beat. Shout out. Angie Marr.
Starting point is 01:07:42 So Angie would come with us and she'd be Lamont, all the girls. And we'd all be like pitching in. And it'd be like, we all look amazing. We all have the beat that we wanted. We all have like the styling and the everything because we were working together behind the scenes. And I don't think people really know that that type of like teamwork was already being practiced
Starting point is 01:08:01 backstage. And it was this like iron sharpens iron. Like it's not personal. It's not me versus you. It's us versus the system. And damn, it was. so powerful. Like we made history together. All the female collaborations that I've ever put together have done incredible things. Like history making numbers. And that brings me so much pride because
Starting point is 01:08:26 it's so much more than a hit song. Like hit songs happen every single fucking day. I saw something bigger. The amount of times somebody would tell me, if you think it's such a hit, why would you share it with somebody else? Like why do you want to do this with them? And because it's, them and I'm me and us together is we which is massive like I needed to see that as a little girl so I don't know I guess for me it's not really like how do we prove to other people that we're deserving and worthy no we know we're deserving we know we're worthy y'all better catch up or get out the way and how incredible because no I don't think a lot of us knew that story I think it's pretty again rare because the system is set up for women to feel so competitive with each other
Starting point is 01:09:14 the fact that you four women look to each other and you were like, let's all go in on this together to basically support help further all of our careers. That is such a testament to an exact example of how we actually can all further push a bunch of us up the hill instead of one person being a single person. And that's just how I move. And I hope it does inspire more people. You know, I do think that it's unfortunate that we are still having the one seat at the table conversation but like look around other tables are being built and you can build your own and it doesn't have to be what it was it can be something new going back to like that radical change in your mind like you can't change your mind you know you can you have the power to do so amazing can we talk about
Starting point is 01:10:01 your new music yes you have a new single marathon and you look so good in this music video i was mesmerized i'm like we really what did you think i need to know no no it It's so good. Like I was literally, this is me. I'm sitting at my kitchen table when I was watching and I was literally like this.
Starting point is 01:10:19 The outfits, the glam, the styling, the dancers, the whole thing. I'm like, you're amazing. You're incredible.
Starting point is 01:10:26 Thank you. And you're so talented. But like, what can you tell us about it? Like, how did this come together? How did this song come together? What does it mean to you?
Starting point is 01:10:34 It was just like this divine alignment. I don't know how I was to explain it other than that. Like, it was just this like taking my power back. And when I did Marathon, I was like, this just really encompasses exactly where I am, exactly where I am. And exactly where my audience is, because the alignment of what's happening was shower and marathon, like a decade and plus. And I have, you know, the common section saying, this is my middle school song and my favorite, my freshman year, this is my favorite. I was like, technically mine too.
Starting point is 01:11:06 We all grew up together. we all have been out here pushing forward like doing what we do doing the best that we can and the fact that there's this synergy of just like and we're going to keep going it's just i don't know it it feels so special well and it is such it's such a good song where you're like i like want to like get ready to this when i'm going out with my girlfriends i want to listen to this like when i'm alone in the car and i need a little like confidence like it has all of those things that you want in a song but it's It's also so clearly your style. Like it's just so right.
Starting point is 01:11:44 And I'm so happy for you. Like it's such an, it's really incredible. Like I'm obsessed. Thank you so much. That makes me so happy. What went into the writing process? Yeah. So I would say the whole process from like beginning to end, including like music video.
Starting point is 01:11:57 And even like playing it for fans before its actual release was like so interesting. And how like there was just a lot of things that were just like, oh, this. meant to be. Oh, this is meant to be. Can you feel it when you have a song? You can feel. I really do think. I know this. There has been moments where I'm like, you know, I don't think you really know. Like, you don't really know what's going to happen. There have been moments where I'm like, oh, this feels so good. This feels so right. I don't even really care what happens after this. Yeah. It's just so right. Like, this is just, oh, it feels great. And to get to that in my artistry at this phase of my career, having been through so much, it's like so beautiful and such a
Starting point is 01:12:37 blessing to be able to feel that and know that that's possible. But from beginning to finish, it was like, it was just a good time. Like, everything that I've made in this season is like, even if we're crying, we're crying in the club, girl. Like, we are, you know, like, it's a vibe. It's, it's meant to bring joy. And that was important to me because everything that is happening right now, like, around us is not, like, it's not giving joy.
Starting point is 01:13:06 Like, it's not. It's not been giving joy. It's been giving pressure. It's been giving hate. It's been giving so much negativity. And to be in a position of privilege as an artist, earned privilege to get into a space where I feel safe enough to lean into my individuality, my empowerment, my, like, just this liberation. I was like, I need to put this into a song so that I can microdose it to my fans so that if they are going through something, like they listen to this song. they know they could shake their ass and they deserve to shake their ass.
Starting point is 01:13:38 Like they deserve this moment right now for themselves. And Marathon is like, that's like, you got to have the hype girl. You got to be your own biggest hype girl. Before we go, in your documentary, you said Becky G came to save Rebecca. What relationship do you feel like Becky G. and Rebecca have today? Oh, man. I did say that, huh? I would say that, look, I've been blessed to collaborate with so many.
Starting point is 01:14:05 amazing artists in my career, but I feel like this is my greatest collaboration yet. Me with myself. Yeah. It's been beautiful to know that, like Becky G., the boss, the person who says it how it is, who goes on stage and doesn't second guess herself, she's very much real. And Rebecca, who is this more vulnerable, more passionate, more intimate, more sensual side of myself is also a star in what I've been doing lately. So it's just like, yeah, I'd say they're like the best collaborators now. Yeah. I think it is such a beautiful message to anyone
Starting point is 01:14:45 watching of like your circumstances growing up don't need to define you, but you can use them as your greatest strengths. And now the fact that you make music for people and like even you saying like, I do this for my fans. I want them. If you're having a bad day, you can listen to my music. Like, you're still doing what you did at a young age, but now in the capacity like you said, where it is like genuinely something you want to do, you don't have to do it. And that's incredible. Thank you so much. I'm a fan.
Starting point is 01:15:12 I'm truly like so inspired by you. And like I can't thank you enough for your time and for sharing so much about your life today. No, I can say the same. The feeling is absolutely mutual. It's funny. One thing I did think about before coming into this is what I admire most about you is that you really are a facilitator for a safe space. And so when it comes to like, you know, we want to keep things light as a feather today.
Starting point is 01:15:38 Like, let's just talk about the fit, girl. Like, let's just talk about your outfit. That's totally fine. And if we want to go as deep as the ocean, like, I'm right here with you. Let's talk therapy. Let's go there. And I think that that is something that obviously for someone in my position is just such a blessing because ultimately anybody who's listening to this, like we're all just human beings.
Starting point is 01:15:58 We're all looking for quality connection in life. And there is no difference between me. you and whoever the hell is listening to this in their car at home with their home girls or all alone like we're just we deserve yeah we deserve that no this is the girl talk we needed thank you so much for coming and call daddy so much

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