Keep it Positive, Sweetie - Building A Creative Life With Intention - A Candid Conversation w/ Shanon Wallace

Episode Date: February 1, 2026

Crystal welcomes actor and filmmaker Shannon Wallace on the Keep It Positive, Sweetie Show to discuss Shannon's journey in both photography and acting. Shannon shares his experiences from growing up as a shy child in Long Island to gaining confidence in college. He talks about transitioning from social work to modeling and eventually acting, using each phase of his career to build skills and fulfill his artistic ambitions. They discuss his work in notable shows, the impact of personal loss, and how acting in 'City on a Hill' helped him deal with his brother's tragic death. Shannon highlights his new projects, including a film premiering at Slam Dance, and shares insights into his personal life and relationships.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is Dr. Jesse Mills, host of the Mailroom podcast. Each January, men promise to get stronger, work harder, and fix what's broken. But what if the real work isn't physical at all? I sat down with psychologist Dr. Steve Poulter to unpack shame, anxiety, and the emotional pain men were never taught how to name. Part of the way through the Valley of Despair is realizing this has happened, and you have to make a choice whether you're going to stay in it or move forward. Our two-part conversation is available now.

Listen to the mailroom on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you you get your favorite shows. A new year doesn't ask us to become someone new. It invites us back home to ourselves. I'm Mike Delarocha, a host of Sacred Lessons, a space for men to pause, reflect, and heal. This year, we're talking honestly about mental health, relationships, and the patterns we're ready to release.

If you're looking for clarity, connection, and healthier ways to show up in your life, Sacred Lessons is here for you. Listen to Sacred Lessons with Mike Deloach on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. This show contains information subject to, but not limited to personal takes, rumors,

not so accurate stats, and plenty more. What's up, man? This is your boy, Nav Green, from the Broken Play Podcast. Look, it's the end of the season, the playoffs are here. But guess what? It ain't the end of your season. You can always tune in

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Apple Podcasts or whatever you get your podcast. You know, we always say New Year, New Me, but real change starts on the inside. It starts with giving your mind and your spirit the same attention you give your goals. Hey, everybody, it's Michelle Williams, host of checking in on the Black Effect Podcast Network. And on my podcast, we talk mental health, healing, growth, and everything you need to step into your next season, whole and empowered. New Year, Real You. Listen to checking in with Michelle Williams from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Calling all my sweeties to the forefront, I'm your host Chris Renee Hazel and this is the Keep It Positive Sweetie Show.

Welcome to the Keep It Positive Sweeties Show, the space where we talk growth, healing, and becoming in real time. Today's guest is actor, filmmaker, and creative storyteller Shannon Wallace. Shannon Wallace is someone whose journey has been shaped both in front of and behind the camera. From photography and filmmaking to standout roles on screen, today's conversation is about how he's building his career with intention, choosing alignment over noise, and staying grounded as momentum continues to grow. Kids Stanley, please give a very warm welcome to the Shannon Wallace. Hi.

Shannon. What's up? Hi. How are you? You look good. You look good, too. Don't you start now. Don't you start today.

I had to. I had to. I know. That's how we started the last one. We did VET Media House this summer. And after we finished talking, it was a brief interview. I was like, we got to get you on. So I'm so excited to have you on.

But this episode, I wanted people to get to know you a little better. You're kind of like a little mystery. Yeah. You like that. Well, we've got to get all in your business today. If anybody can get all in your business today. If anybody can get me out of it. you. Okay, I appreciate that. So first of all, from Long Island, New York, I want to know who

young Shannon was. Like, because right now, like, he's very funny. Um, you're very funny. Yeah, very funny, outgoing, but then also quirky and introverted. So like, who was the little boy? Okay. Um, to be honest with you, I think I am the little boy. I think I, I've separated myself from the this thing yeah you know I as a kid I I didn't I was weird like they thought things was wrong with me because I didn't I didn't I don't know I guess I was like I was really attached my my aunts so they tell me that whenever my parents would drop me off with them because my parents were young so they you know they were they had a lot to do so they would drop me off with their older siblings or whatever

and I would just sit by the door in my coat and just not speak. I would not move until my mom came back. Oh, wow. And everybody thought, like, there was something wrong with this kid. He's just weird. They probably didn't have the words with, like, now we probably think maybe he's autistic. Exactly, exactly. And I wasn't really, not that I was nonverbal, but I didn't speak.

I think it was just, I was really shy. So I didn't speak much growing up. I didn't speak much until I really got to college. And then that's kind of when I came out of my shirt. I think in being on my own and meeting people from different places because I was really junior high, middle school, high school, it was just sports. It wasn't even school. It was just play sports.

Go to school so you can play sports. Right. So I didn't have, I didn't have friends growing up. Yeah, I was a really shy, quiet kid. And then once I got out of college and came back, everybody was like, what just, what happened? Who is this guy? What happened? I don't know.

I think I don't know. I don't know that it was ever like a confidence thing. Maybe I just didn't. You know what happened is I think, I hope my mom don't get in trouble for this. We went, we lived in a different district than where we went to school. People do that all the time. So, yeah. So I grew up in a neighborhood called Gordon Heights, which is like one of the first settled black neighborhoods on Long Island.

Wow. And my family's been there for very. long time. So that's where I grew up. The school I went to was like, it was like a PWI, right? They just had a better education. So we, so I would, I was raised here and I went to school here. So I didn't go to school with these kids, so I didn't know them. And I only went to school with these kids. So after school, I didn't, I didn't kick it in nobody house or anything. So I was kind of in between, you know, I would go home and not know these kids because I ain't been in school with them for eight hours and then vice versa. So I didn't really have friends. So I think in

college, I just made like my first real friendships and became social and learned how to do the thing. Yeah. And I just bloomed, I guess, blossomed from there. For sure. Yeah, it's weird. I love that. So sports was something, I feel like in most households, even for me, my parents and still

find something that you want to do in sports, whatever the case may be, but you need to have something. So for me, it was competition, cheerleading, and gymnastics. But like that structure that it built. So a lot of us, we grow up knowing, like, all this. sports and school or to be the best that you can be in whatever sport it is. At what point did you realize, hey, I actually have an interest in art and photography and acting and modeling?

I think I always did. And not in the acting sense, not in the performing arts. I was a cartoonist. I was an illustrator when I first got to college. I was animation, cartooning and animation. I used to draw a lot. So growing up, I just excelled in that kind of art. Once I got to school and realized how much drawing it took, I was like, this is nuts.

And this is before, this is kind of like at the turn a little bit of the digital. So we really have to draw these things out. It's like flip books, you know? Yeah, comic books and stuff. Comics, right. I'm like, this is a little bit too much. So I got out of the program. And in eighth grade, everything always is clearer in hindsight.

But in eighth grade, I left basketball practice one time. I snuck out to the cafeteria to do audition for the play. They were doing Peter Pan. I don't know why I did it. I wasn't prepared. I didn't even, I just went. I waited in line and I got on the stage and they were like, prepare. What's your song that you prepared?

I was like, what? You're like, song. Song. So they were like, sing anything. So I sung happy birthday. Like I was like And my The librarian was the

The director So I was like Happy birthday to Whoever it may concern And everybody starts laughing I mean it's great I don't know And then I just left

And went back to basketball practice And then music class The next day they were like yeah You got it I was like a lost boy You were like wait what And then I yeah And then I never did it

I never went to Shannon I don't know why I audition But Now I kind of, you know, I wanted to, a part of me wanted to. And it was just weird. But it wasn't until modeling came to me because I used to be a social work and I wanted, I got in too early. I was 22.

I'm doing social work. And that's like a really heart-wrenching gig. Yeah. And I didn't know how to balance it. I didn't know how to bring it home or not bring it home. Not right. Right. Like I didn't know how to leave it in the office.

So I was like, I got to get out of this thing. I just didn't like what I saw in there. as far as the system and structure of everything. It wasn't built to change, you know, and that was really disappointing. Yeah, still. Yeah, yeah. So I got out and I was like, I just want more. I'm like, I'm tall.

People call me handsome, maybe, you know. Stop. You said so much just now. But I was like, let me, you know, I got. I mean, that's what the people said. That was what I said. I haven't been hearing it. Yeah.

You know, but I had been scouted and, I was like, let me try this modeling thing. And then that bled into the acting. I think I always wanted to act, but I needed a way in. And I used modeling as that way. Yeah, I love that. So modeling into acting, the first time I saw you was DR from Detroit. And I was like, they had me actually do a, we've talked about this.

I saw it. They had me do a video to promote the show because it was a new show on BET. and I was like, man, this girl Diar, she knows how to pick them. Like, you got Morris Chestnut. I was like, you got this guy who I didn't know. I was like, Shannon, the guy who just went missing. I was like, all the man, I'm fine. Like, this is great.

And it's something about you, like the character in that first season, it was like a quick thing, like a couple of episodes. But your presence alone was so dynamic. It was like, you couldn't forget you. It's like, when is he coming back, you know? So what was it like? Because you've been on other shows. City on the Hill, Beauty in Black,

divorce in the Black. But D.R. from Detroit was the first show that I saw you on. And that was, I think, the show that kind of pushed you out there the most. Talk about that. That was the thing. I don't know. Up until that point, I had always been on shows that nobody saw. Like, great.

Critically acclaimed show. Like City on a Hill was a great experience. It's on Showtime. Yeah. Aldous Hodge. It's Kevin Bacon. Me. Isn't that crazy?

The name you just said. Right. You think. I'm like, yeah, this is the one. You know? And that was my third time. Like, this is the one. It's a lot of.

I just have one of those issues. I'm like, this is going to be the one. You don't know. You don't know. That's so true. You do the job. And then I was telling somebody the other day, you do the job and then you have to let that thing go

because you can't be precious. So you don't know how it's going to be received. For sure. You do the thing and you just, you hope it's good. And you hope it leads to another job. Yeah. Maybe you will be the one. Yeah.

Like, so D.R. from Detroit, it came. And it still had that feeling because I was in it, but I wasn't in it. You know, and that, that was, that became important to me in my work was like, you have to, you have to leave the impact, right? This show is basically about you without you being there. Literally. You have to be remembered. So that became important to me, and that became the task, which made it fun because I didn't get to work with everybody.

Right. You know, I had, Diyara was my only seeing partner in the time of show, but that made it fun. And it did kind of that thing, you saw me on it. You know, people had saw me on it. That kind of led to the other stuff. Other stuff. But putting the work first, that was my goal. I was like, dude, you ain't going to get noticed on this. thing. You ain't even in it. But make sure that the work is significant enough that they remember you when you're gone. And then they bring you back. And I think that's something that people miss. A lot of times are like, no, I want the big role. I want something that's more prominent in the show. And you're like, no, like this can, I think Carrie Washington, they talked about her in Django Unchane. She had a very, Carrie Washington had like such a small role.

But she said it was not many times that the black woman got the opportunity. to be the damsel in distress. So that's why she wanted to play that role. And a lot of times we miss the moment because we're looking for the big part. And that's good because when you take that, you can turn something, even me. Like, you can turn something small

into something really big. You constantly do that. Your story is nuts. You're annoying. It's okay, I'll teach you. Yeah, I'm here. I ain't going nowhere. All right.

modeling, acting, but you're also a photographer. Where did that come in? I feel like you just kind of like, okay, today I'm going to pick up this. I'm going to do this today. Kind of how it goes? I build skills. I pick up skills.

I love that. But photography came, weirdly enough, I think a lot of the slashes that I keep adding, they start an ego for some reason. Like I think personally, I don't have an ego. I think professionally I have one that I have to keep in check. Yeah. You know, don't co-sign it that quick.

No, but you said you have to keep it in check. Okay. I feel like. Yeah. I do not think you have. I don't see it. You said personally. Personally, no, I don't.

Yeah, that's, I'm agreeing with you. Personally, you do not have one. I do. But photography started because I was modeling and I would do these campaigns with like three to six month lead-ins. So I'm doing the job. And then it doesn't come out for another six months. So I'm like, nobody knows that I did the job.

Right. So I would, Taurus Love, he's a photographer that scouted, he was getting a new camera, he gave me his. And what I would do was I would reshoot the campaigns on my own. Wow. I had a tripod, I had a remote. I would shoot me in the clothes similar, in the environment similar. Put those pictures in my book until the campaign came out, then replaced them. Wow, so you kind of was building your own portfolio before, so that you could shop and get other jobs.

Exactly. In between. You're a genius. Like, I got it. Yeah, I had to hustle, but it comes from ego. It's like, man, I did this thing and nobody knows I did this thing. Right, so I need them to know I did this thing. Like, at least see me in it, right?

For now. Yeah. And then my agency found out that I was the one shooting them. And then that's how the photography journey began. Like this is 2011, 2012. I started shooting myself. I didn't, it was just me in a tripod. And then they would start sending me models.

And then from there, I was like, this is cool. I got representation. and start shooting bigger things. Yeah, I love this. You've done so many things, and your life has taken so many turns. As you've navigated this space, would have been some lessons that you learned

are like some down moments where you're like, because a lot of times we see you now and it's like, he's on this show, he's on this show, he's doing this, he's doing that, he's on Keepipos of Sweetie. I mean, I'm joking. I made it. I'm joking.

But they don't see, like, what it took to get there. Yeah. Yeah, what are some of those moments that you can share with us? Oh, man. You know, I think, I think I had, I really thank modeling for keeping my head in this whole thing. I always had that. I made a good living off of that. Yeah.

You know, I had that to rely on. But I had said, I had told myself, I'm like a really big, like, researcher. I don't, I'm not, like, incredibly impulsive. I'm a Gemini so it feels like that a lot of times. I'm like. Yeah, no. It's the eyebrow when up. Are you?

I'm talking. Because the thing has been, it's been there and I'm a really big researcher. Got it. So by the time you do Gemma. At the time I act on it, it looks like it's random, but it's really not. So in transitioning into, from social work to modeling, I had seen Dave Chappelle on the actor's studio. And he was talking about his, his, his, his, one of his parents, maybe his mom, wanted him to be a teacher.

And he went into comedy. And he tells her, he goes, if I can make a teacher's salary doing comedy, then I've won. Right? So coming from social work, that was my only goal. Got it. To make a social worker's salary, but spare my heart in this thing, right? Yeah.

That was it. And I've kept that. Like, that's the thing. So everything else is just a bonus. Like, I don't, a lot of the things, I don't do, I do the art. for me, the commerce part of it is for the family. That's for my siblings, for my parents. Like the art of it is where I find the fulfillment. Everything else, just a social worker salary is really good for me. Wow. I love it. Yeah. I keep life pretty simple. Keep it pretty clean.

So I think with that mindset, like, yeah, there's hardships, of course. Like, I, we got these strikes and we've got the fires in LA and you know all the things that we're kind of just on the opposite side of a phone we're just waiting on the phone a lot of times to ring that drives me crazy yeah no for sure there's a lot of downtime even if you look at my resume I work every two years like it's weird yeah it just I have releases every two years so I have a lot of downtime yes I don't particularly like it like that's it you know creatively I drives me crazy sometimes but a half a I have an art that I can control. For sure.

I can pick up that camera and I can aim it at anything. We have to shoot, by the way. We do have to shoot. Yes, I would love that. Did you get that? We're going to shoot. Okay. No, for sure.

Yeah, I've been wondering why you haven't asked me to do that. I'm like, that's crazy. He shot somebody else again. I feel like I might have asked, but I'll let that rock. Okay. Well, we'll make it happen. I'll be in L.A. I'll be in L.A. soon.

So, yeah, I'll hit you. I believe you. Okay. I do. will. Speaking of roles, is there any roles that you, like, have set boundaries on, like, I'm not doing that? Man, talk about ego. Back to the ego. Back to the ego. Here he comes. I did. I did. There was a role, you know, I lost my brother

in 2017. So after gun violence, right, he was shot and he was killed. So after that, I told myself, I'm never playing that. I'm not doing like the street thing. I don't want to, you know, put that imagery out there. Right. And then two years after he passed, city on the hill comes. But, and I had told people that I wasn't, like, I had done interviews, like, and you know, people jumped on it. He was like, he says no, the gun violence. And I was like, you know. But the city on the hill comes. I'm like, I got to explain this. Right. The reasoning, though, was, like, my brother lived really, he lived really fast.

Like, he's, we're the same person inside, but outwardly, it looks different. He's really emotional. He's really, just wears his heart on his sleeve in every way. I'm the complete opposite of that, right? But inside, we're the same. We do the same dumb things, you know? It's just he, his was outward. So in reading the scripts for City on a Hill, I'm like, this guy's a, you know, he's a street guy,

but he's also a big brother and he's a son. And that was for the first time that I had seen in a series, them actually go home at the end of the night. You do, you sell all these drugs, you shoot all these people, but you go home at the end of the night and you're an older brother and your son. And we saw what that dynamic was and we saw what his motivations were. And to me, it was really important. to tell that side of the story. It was more important. That was, that's the reason. You don't do

these things because you want to. No. You don't grow up like, this is where I want to end up. Right. You do them because of the situations and the environment that you're in and, you know, all of these factors. And for the first time, we had got to explore what those things were. So it was a story that I needed to tell. Yeah. Wow. And reading it, it was more powerful. Telling this story to me was more powerful than me not. You know, and I had to be the one to do it. You know what I mean? So, yeah, so I did say, you know, I ain't never going to do it, and then I ended up doing it. Yeah, yeah.

But it was presented in a way that even I couldn't have imagined, you know. Yeah, for sure. So I stopped saying no to things early on because you don't know. You don't know. You want is where that's what gets you. Exactly. Yeah, yeah. You did open up about losing your brother and so many people have lost siblings and family members to gun violence.

What was that, where were you in? in that moment, like when you got the call? Yeah, it was crazy. Yeah. It was nuts. I'll never forget it. It was 225 a.m. I lived in Queens.

My family's from Long Island. It was 2.25 a.m. and my stepdad calls me. You know you get it. In the middle of the night, you hear that phone, you see who it is. You don't call me. Right. Like, oh, man, here we go.

And it was, you know, it was, gave me the news. gave me the news. And he was very quick with it. It was one sentence. It got off the phone. And then I just froze. And I was like, what? What? It took a second to hit me. It was so weird. It was so weird. And then my phone started ringing. So now I'm like, okay, I got a, I don't know. I know he's been shot. Yeah. My stepdad call said, your brother's been shot. He didn't make it. That's all he said. He gave me. He gave it to me. Like, straight. He gave it to me. He was in shot. come to find out. Oh, okay. So I'm, you know, every scenario is going through my head.

I'm like, what? And then my dad calls me and my dad is talking too fast. I'm like, what? He was at a casino. Like, he wasn't. Right. That's just what I heard. Right.

So I'm confused. I hopped in an Uber and went out, you know, I went out to the island and met everybody. My entire family was there. And we kind of just, you know, we dealt with it. And then I didn't deal with it. You know, it was so weird. I wish I could play it back. I'm the oldest of five.

And I didn't know how to handle something like that. Like it was me, my brother, and then I have three younger sisters. And I just wanted, I wanted to kill somebody, like myself. I really had to remove myself. So I wasn't there for my sisters. I really had to go away. I took a car and I just left and I was gone for a long time. So I wasn't there when they got the news.

I wasn't there for them when they got the news. So that is, that kills me today. You know, it drives me nuts. I didn't know any other way to handle it. Like how do you? I just, I wanted to go on a spree. But you know, I just needed to find, I don't even want to say peace. I didn't find peace.

It took me a very long time to find peace, but I just needed to remove myself from Everybody. And then when I came back, it was, okay, what do we do next? How do we know about this? It's playing this thing. Right. Yeah. It's crazy. Did you ever have to go through any therapy to really, like, deal with the guilt and those thoughts that you had, yeah, I never pulled the trigger on it. I knew that I should, but I never, I never did. I think, I don't know, I thought I could man through it. You know, I thought I could, you know, control this thing because there was a lot of, I'll tell you, at that, at the, at the. same time, I'm like, modeling is really good and then acting took off the next year. And I see it happen to people all the time where this traumatic thing happens and then they just catapults them to these new heights. And it happened to me. So I'm working. And I'm like, I'm good. This is cool. The problem with that, though, is specifically in the way that my brother was killed

is we didn't know who did it. So now I'm out and about and people are recognizing me and that I can't tell what kind of stare that is. Right. So now, and I'm still enraged, right? I still have this thing driving me nuts. I couldn't be in public. Wow.

So then that, I had a show called American Soul that came out and it was decently received and, you know, it was my first big thing. I couldn't enjoy that. because I didn't know I wasn't comfortable around people. Anybody could have been the one that did it. You know?

And now I got people looking at me from across the room. And you're looking like, why are you looking at me? For me, it's a whole different thing. I had to, I left the business. Like I had, I said, I don't want this thing. I can't. I don't know how to deal with that.

Because I'm still, you know, I'm still seeing red. Yes. You know, I had to, I left. I left the entire year of 2019. That's why if you look at my resume, I work every two years. Right.

There's gaps. Yeah. That was the reason for that gap. But it wasn't until City on a Hill that I was able to work through that thing because there was a scene where my character, his younger brother, gets in trouble. He's cornered. They got him. They pull guns.

Big bro pulls up. Just starts shooting, saves his brother, gets there in time. performing that thing and my body feeling what that felt like saved me really did because it did it was it was nuts but being able to perform that thing getting my nervous system putting my nervous system through that thing yeah was my therapy like I was okay after that yeah I shot it that day I shot that scene that day I went home I cried and the next day I'm fine that was your therapy. That was my therapy. Yeah. Yeah. Wow. But I do, I do recommend, I do recommend grief therapy. Right. That was for me, that was a little over two years later. Yeah. I probably could have gotten there a lot

sooner. But I just had, I don't know, there was so many things that, you know, toxic masculinity, I'm sure. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That has something to do with it. Like, you know. Hey there. This is Dr. Jesse Mills, director of the men's clinic at UCLA Health and host of the mailroom podcast. Each January, guys, everywhere make the same resolutions, get stronger, work harder, fix, what's broken? But what if the real work isn't physical at all? To kick off the new year, I sat down with Dr. Steve Polter, a psychologist with over 30 years' experience, helping men unpack shame, anxiety, and emotional pain they were never taught to name. In a powerful two-part conversation, we discuss why men aren't emotionally bulletproof, why shame hides in plain sight, and how real strength comes from listening,

to yourself and to others. guys who are toxic, they're immature, or they've got something they just haven't resolved. Once that gets resolved, then there comes empathy and some compassion. If you want this to be the year, you stop powering through pain and start understanding what's underneath, listen to the mailroom on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your favorite shows. Every January, we're encouraged to start over. But what if this year is about slowing down and learning how to understand ourselves more? more deeply. What if this year is about giving ourselves permission to feel what we've been

holding and knowing that it's okay to ask for help? I'm Mike Delarocha, host of Sacred Lessons. This is a podcast for men navigating stress, emotional health, fatherhood, identity, and the unspoken pressures were taught to carry alone. We talk honestly about mental health, about healing generational wounds, and about learning how to show up. with more presence and care. If you want a healthier relationship with yourself and the people you love, then Sacred Lessons is the podcast for you.

Listen to Sacred Lessons with Mike Dolorotcha on America's number one podcast network, IHeart. Follow Sacred Lessons with Mike DeLauce and start listening on the free IHeart Radio app today. This show contains information subject to, but not limited to personal takes, rumors, not so accurate stats, and plenty more. What's up, man?

boy Navgreen from the Broken Play Podcast. Look, it's the end of the season, the playoffs are here. But guess what? It ain't the end of your season. You can always tune in with Broken Play Podcasts with Nav Green on the Black Effect Podcast Network. Not a team who ain't going to the playoffs. The cheese.

What's a rap? It's time to rebuild. Who's your MVP right now then? Drake May up there, Josh Allen up there still. Oh, my boy, Matthew Stafford. Where did his bowl Nick's at? He ain't too far behind. Did all this talk.

What Matthew Stafford is doing statistically, bro, it's crazy. Bro, you know I ain't no Josh Allen fan. But Matthew Staff forgot. Better weapon. Caleb Williams. Hey, he should be in that conversation. In what conversation? He should be in it.

Listen to Broken Play with Nav Green from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the Iheart Radio app. Apple Podcasts or whatever you get your podcast. Everyone needs to take care of their mental health, even running back Bejan Robinson. When I'm on the field, I'm feeling the pressure, I usually just take a deep breath. When I'm just breathing and seeing what's in front of me, everything just slows down. It just makes you feel great before I run the play.

Just like Bijan, we all need a strong mental game on and off the field. Make a game playing for your mental health at loveyourmind playbook.org. Love your mind. Brought to you by the Huntsman Mental Health Foundation, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, and the ad council. When you said I can push through this, I can man through it. I think that's something that a lot of our black men try to do with a lot of situations in life.

Yeah. Yeah. And then something comes and hits you head on where you're like, I got to deal with this. I got to confront it. I got to confront it. And you know what? Another thing is like I have a lot of women in my life. Like I have all aunts.

Like I don't have any uncles by birth. Like they're all through marriage. Okay. My whole family is women. And they were, even my friendships, just solid. My foundation is really solid. Yeah. And I give a lot of it to them because I wasn't easy,

I wasn't an easy person to deal with during that time. I can imagine. You know, I wasn't. And all of them stuck by me and, you know, were accessible when I needed them. Shout out to the women in your life. Shout out to, yes. Yes. Shout out to black women.

I love that. Yes. You are now a writer, a director telling your own stories. Am I? You are. We're going to talk about it. Thank you. I want to know has your life and how you've seen storytelling told from other people's perspectives,

is that what pushed you to start writing and directing your own? Ego. I love how honest you are. He's like, ego, I can do that. Let's talk about it. That's, okay. Yes. I'll pick that up.

Back to acting. The reason I chose acting is I lived in Vegas after college. and I was living with a boxer is an old friend of mine and one of his best friends is Lorenz Tate so he had a Memorial Day barbecue in the back of the crib I'm shooting hoops it's like a movie ball rolls off the court

I'm following the ball hit somebody's feet I look up or I look down you did not look up we love you look down and it was Lorenz and I'm like oh snap Like, whoa, buddy. Like, because for me, dead prez. Everything.

Like, love Jones. These are my favorite movies to this day. So at the time, this was also the first person I ever met that was on TV. I was like eight. It was like 20, I turned 21 in Vegas. So I'm, you know. And it was meeting him that, oh, and no offense. It's like, this is just the guy.

Like, this is the guy, but you're just the guy. Yeah. That thing in me that I have a really competitive thing, if you can do it, I can do it. Yeah. Like if you can do it, I can do it. That's the thing that sparked me. So I went back to college and I took out all the books on acting and that's what kind of research got me there. So with writing, it's almost the same thing except with the acting up until, well now, today, I'm not really, I still don't feel like anything. anybody's let me act. I never got a chance to act. I do this thing and it's really specific and they keep hiring me to do the thing. But to me it's like, you know, I know. Nobody knows how good of an actor I am still. I know, but nobody knows. I don't get the opportunity. So I wrote what I feel like was an opportunity for myself. So I wrote this film channel.

with I filled it with five characters five archetypes that I was like that'll be cool and then I colored these characters in ways that

I feel they should be colored yes you know like fine fine strokes instead of the broad strokes you know and yeah

yeah that that's what that's what drove me to it and then in writing it I just figured I had to direct it Tyler I'm coming out of like

coming out of TPS. Like, I can do everything. Two projects in a row. I was like, if you can do it, I can do it. And I told him that.

Yes. It's the same thing. For sure. There's a little toxic in there, but I needed. Yeah. You know, if you can do this thing, I can do this thing.

You're just the guy, really. At the end of the day, I can do that. Yeah. He inspires a lot of people to go bigger than what they thought. Get out of the box and do it. I told him, I'm going to catch you. It was like, you can try.

There you go. You can try. Yeah, but he wants you to try. He does. He does. And he pushes you to try. That's what I love about tea. Yeah.

So I called him. As soon as I made a decision about directing, I called him, I said, hey, man, give me advice. Yeah. He was like, own it. I love that you can just, isn't it crazy how you can just call Tyler Perry? It's nuts. You're like, hey, I'm doing this thing. What should I do?

How do I do it? Yeah. You've done all of the things. How do I do this thing? Yeah. This thing. And he didn't give me directing advice because he's like, you don't need that. You don't.

executive advice. Yep. So on it. Took it. I love that. We shot that. Was that two, three days? In two days?

Two days. Yeah. That was awesome. Yeah. Come on. I had to pull up. You didn't have to. Well, in this season of my life, I'm very intentional about creating with my friends.

And I think that we are the future of filmmaking and it's up to us now that we have these seats. What are we doing with it? You know, so when I heard you were doing it, I'm like, Let's go. It's crazy. Yeah. You really came. I did.

We did it. Yes. It was so good. I'm so excited about it. I can't wait for it. I can't either. It's going to be amazing. But you also have a new project, a story about you.

That is going to be premiering at slam dance. Let's talk about that. I'm excited that you have. You're just doing a lot of things. I thought, I didn't know you had something else you were working on too. Yeah. Working. He's working.

Yeah. I've been producing for a while. But that's like the behind-the-scenes thing. Are you in this too? Yeah. Okay. So, yeah, I'm in this one. Yeah.

This was a... So, yeah, this film is about... It's about a man who, in the course of a week, the five women he's dealing with all leave him for different reasons. Oh, wow. So this is, it's like a, he's a serial dater, and he's, you know, he's flawed. And they all point out a different flaw, and he discovers himself through these women. And it's about, uh, he's a, you know, he's flawed.

his journey towards, why are you laughing? Say the words. I have a follow-up question, go ahead. Why I took it, why I relate. What's the draw? No, I saw me. It was nuts. When it came, I had to.

I had to do it. I saw myself on that page. And not because I juggle people. You know, like I've, I've been in many, many, many, many, long-term relationships. Right. But I don't take time in between, you know? And that was the thing. It was I learned something from this relationship and I carry it and I want to put it into practice on the next one immediately. Immediately. And I saw that in this guy. Wow. Right. Like these women are teaching you, each one of them is teaching you something about yourself. So I've learned, I've probably learned more about myself the relationship than any other. Avenue in life, you know. So I needed to tell this guy's story. So yeah, we shot this. It's a Brooklyn love story. It's, yeah, it's. And in New York, yeah, it all felt like,

I'm sure it felt like real, yeah. All of it felt like me on this page when I'm reading this guy. Yeah. It was nuts. He's a writer. You know, he's an, he's an artist, he's a writer. He's a, he's a Brooklyn dude who's just loved life was in shambles, you know, but he wants to. Yeah. He wants to do with the writer. way. He wants to learn these things. I love that. These women, it was also an opportunity for me where I saw it as an opportunity

to spotlight whoever these five actresses were going to be. The majority of the film, the film is told in vignettes. So it's through that there's this really romantic language that the writer, Denise O'Len,

she's incredible, but the way that she had written these dialogue about these women telling us guy about himself. It was wrapped in poetry. It was almost like soliloquies. I love that. So just providing a space for these women to say the words, you know, and just being on the receiving end is something that I just needed personally. But professionally, I was like, let's shine the light on these actresses, you know, like let's, and they all killed it. They all killed it. So yeah, we premiere at slam dance next month, which is, that's nuts.

because we weren't expecting. Really? We weren't. No. I think stuff like that happens when you're not expecting it. Yeah. It really came out of nowhere. Yeah.

Yeah, we had been working on it for like three years almost. And, you know, our first festival run, we just didn't, we weren't happy with the product. So we went back into the edit. There we go. For it to be, like, you know, accepted and redeemed in that way. As a producer, that was incredible. I love that. I love that.

the perfect segue to talk about love. Yeah. Let's talk about it, Shannon. Because I know the ladies want to know. They already speculate that we go together. We don't. We don't. We don't go together.

We do not. We don't go together. Yeah. Say with me. We don't go together. Okay. Anymore. No, your people are crazy.

They're crazy. Man. So I know everyone wants to know like about. Your love life, you know, you are the heartthrobbed. They want to know what does Shannon have going on? Yeah. Are you in a relationship? Are you single?

Are you dating? I am. Yes, I'm taken. Oh. Kipp's exclusive. Yeah. Okay. Yeah.

If anybody going to get the exclusive is you. I appreciate that. No, no. Yeah, no, I am taken. I'm very, um. Happy. I love that. Yeah.

I was so happy for you, friend. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That really? Okay, so you said the movie, a story about you kind of mirrored your old habits. Uh-huh. What did you learn from that and that you're carrying into this new relationship? From the film? Yeah.

Into your real life. We're keeping it personal. Shut up and listen. That's good. No, really, though. Like, I, I choose people who are smarter than me, like, in many ways. And I don't know. I don't know if it's a Gemini thing.

I have, I have gut, and I have three. I have gut, I have heart, and have mind, you know, and they're constantly conflicting. Like, one tries to rationalize the other, tries to rationalize the other, and they're always fighting each other. And to me, with me, it presents, that presents as mood. Like, it presents as shift or change when I'm in each of one of these. Right. You know?

But what I'm learning is that the women that I've been with, the women that I've spent like the most time with, identify that thing before I do. Wow. You know, like they're just smarter than me in that way. So I'm learning to listen earlier to that thing where they diagnose it, they see it, and they're like, you're doing this thing. I know why you're doing this thing.

And now I'm just listening to that instead of just tracking it down and making it make sense for me. Right. You know? Yeah. Like, that's the most valuable thing that I'm doing. finding. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. It's weird because I'm still learning and I'm like kind of almost lost the thing because of that. You know, almost lost the person. Yeah. Because of that

thing. And ego, let's say it. And women go through the same thing. Like, do you? Yeah. There's times I have to talk myself out of like a thought because I'm about to miss. this thing up. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We can get in our heads too, for sure. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I live up there.

Mm-hmm. I live up there. Yep. So, yeah, I'm, I'm learning. But I'm really optimistic. Like, I've never had a bad relationship. I've always had every one of my relationships is a success. Like, my shortest is three years.

Well, yeah, you said like your relationships have been long-term. Yeah, these are long-term things. Three, three, three, six, four. Yeah. Yeah, it's, yeah, I'm learning. But I'm excited. I've learned a lot. I think I got it.

Okay. You know? So you think this might be it? I hope so. All right. I do. I do. Because it's something about me, too, is that I don't date just to date.

Come on, talk about it. Yeah. That's good. I don't. So you date to. To stop dating. Like, take me off the market, please. Like, I'm talking like, like, that is, that is.

That is always my intention going in. It's not to kill time. Give me out these streets. I'm trying to, like, every person that I choose is my person. Wow. You know. Oh my God, we were one and the same, Shannon. Like, literally.

I knew that. You just found that out. Where have you been? He's like, I knew that. Don't do that. Don't do that. No, but like, seriously, I'm the same way. Like, you're my person until you are not.

Right. Yeah. Yeah. I get that. Which is, that's also tricky. Mm-hmm. That's also tricky because not a lot of people think like that. Yeah.

And people kind of grow in a relationship. And I just throw it all at you from the jump because I'm locked in. Yeah. This is a dumb deal for me. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Would you classify yourself as a hopeless romantic? Why are you laughing? Because I am. Oh, you are. Oh, yeah. A hopeless romantic, I crave intimacy. I crave closeness, in a physical sense, but also in that in love sense. And that thing, I'm, yeah, I'm addicted to it.

Wow. I can say that. Like, I'm addicted to that. Hopeless romantic. Nobody's ever called me romantic. So I'm like, can I call myself? Like, it's weird. Yeah.

Do you feel like you're, so you're romantic. So like, do you get flowers? thoughtful things. I've learned that too. Smart man. You're smart. No, let me tell you. I was just having this conversation.

Let me explain this to you. The thing, okay, I was in a relationship, like all relationships. And she wants flowers. And I'm okay, okay, you want flowers, right? Why do you want flowers? It doesn't matter why she wants the flowers. See, you all the same.

Listen, check this out. Why do you? Now, yeah, you with me, Wes, why do you want these flowers? You don't even know why you want them, but you do. And I think the reason you want them is, it's consideration. Right? Yeah. So I can give you that consideration in different ways than just these flowers.

These flowers now become performative if I'm just doing it because you ask me for it. How about? Yes, not. Tell me more. Okay, for me, I love fresh flowers. It's something about walking into my kitchen or my living room and, like, seeing, a fresh bouquet of flowers. Even for me, like, I'll go to the store

and make my own arrangement if I have to. I'd love flowers that much. But the thought of my man, like, just sending me flowers because he thought of me or I'm so proud of you, you just accomplish something, and I want to let you know that I see you. It is the consideration. But also, if there's probably some things

that she may not understand that you want done, and she's not going to be like, I'm just doing it because you asked me to do it. I'm doing it because, this makes you happy and this makes you feel considered. Okay. So get the flowers. Well, at the end of the day, I'm getting the flowers.

It's just I have a hard time with why I'm getting these flowers. Right. No. Because it makes her happy, bottom line. Yes. See, but you actually love flowers. I do. I love flowers.

Yeah. That tracks. But if you don't love flowers and you love the act of receiving flowers, I think I can scratch that itch in a lot more ways. I'm going to do the flowers. Right. But maybe there's. consideration if that's the root.

That's the root of it. Consideration. Let's, let's diversify. So I'm not just doing this thing out of habit. Oh, for sure, no. You know? Yeah. I like that.

Yeah. I love that you got, like, what's your why? Yeah, tell me the why. I understand. No, I just want them. I'm getting the flowers. I just got to let you know. I'm getting the flowers.

I'm at, I'm at the flowers shop. Right. Send her flowers today just because I promise you, it'll be worth it next time you see her. Shannon, thank you so much. This has been an incredible conversation. We are going to support you in everything you have going on. Can you please let our audience know? I mean, they already support you.

They troll you every day. But how can we really support you? Yeah, I got. Yeah, that's cool, man. Thank you. Yeah, thank you. We have channels. Yes, we have channels.

We have channels. That's a short film. That'll be out. We're in any edit. I just saw our locked cut. Really? You're incredible. So excited.

You're going to love it. Thank you. It's great. Yeah, that'll be out middle of the year. The story about you is premiering that slam dance February 21st and 24th. Wow. D-R from Detroit, season two, hopefully coming this spring. It'll be this year, but we don't know when exactly, hopefully spring.

We're excited about that. Very excited about that. And you're in it. Are you in it? I'm in it. Okay. Right. Yeah, like, you know, more than like what we saw.

No, you know, I'll tell you, like, actually, I had said earlier that I hadn't really gotten a chance to act. They really threw, they threw the book at me this season. They really trusted me because they had heard me voicing this thing that I really wasn't given the opportunity. And they let me do something that nobody's ever let me do before. Shout out D.R. Kilpatrick. Shout out D.R. Kilpatrick. Miles, like, yeah, they threw, oh, they threw so much at me. I'm excited.

Yeah. I cannot wait to see you do your thing. It's so good. Yeah. And now that is. I love it. And now this. And then we got, we have a shoot coming up.

You and I? Yes, photoshoot. It's going to be crazy. And we're going to do other things together too. I can't wait. We're going to make movies and. Oh, yeah. We're going to do things.

I need to learn from you. Thank you. Yeah, I'm here. And learn from you as well. Well, Shana, I appreciate you. You're the best. You look good. Thank you.

You too, friend. Yeah. Today's conversation is a reminder that growth doesn't always happen all at once. Sometimes it happens while you're still trying to figure it out in real time. Thank you for tuning into another episode of the Keep It Positive Sweetie show. Be sure to subscribe. Share this episode with someone who needs it. And as always, stay blessed and stay encouraged.

And keep it positive, sweetie. I'll see you all next time. This is Dr. Jessie. Mills, host of the Mailroom podcast. Each January, men promise to get stronger, work harder, and fix what's broken? But what if the real work isn't physical at all? I sat down with psychologist Dr. Steve Poulter to unpack shame, anxiety, and the emotional pain men were never taught how to name. Part of the way through the Valley of Despair is realizing this has happened, and you have to make a choice whether you're going to stay in it or move forward.

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