Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang - "COWBOY CULTURE" (w/ Matt & Bowen)

Episode Date: April 3, 2024

Hello, readers. Let's just say, on this episode? We are going to let it do what it do, YA YA ;) It's a good old fashioned rootin tootin track by track on the frontrunner (already!) for Album of the Year, COWBOY CARTER by Beyoncé. Matt and Bow get into it and discuss all the songs on the album, where Bey has been and where she may be headed next. It's very much a BEYONCÉ ep! All that, and more! Get your tickets *now* to the Las Culturistas Culture Awards at the Kings Theatre on June 15th over at the Kings Theatre website with promo code "CULTCH"! We snappin'.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City are back. I love that. I love that. Oh my gosh. Welcome. And last season's drama was just the tip of the iceberg. You're recording us? I am disgusted.

Never in a million years after everything we've been through did I think that you would reach out to our sworn enemy. We were friends. How could you do this to me? I don't trust her. The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, Wednesdays at 9 on Bravo, or stream it on City TV+. On Thanksgiving Day, 1999, five-year-old Cuban boy Elian Gonzalez was found off the coast of Florida. And the question was, should the boy go back to his father in Cuba?

Mr. Gonzalez wanted to go home, and he wanted to take his son with him. Or back to his father in Cuba? Mr. Gonzalez wanted to go home and he wanted to take his son with him. Or stay with his relatives in Miami? Imagine that your mother died trying to get you to freedom. Listen to Chess Peace, the Elian Gonzalez story on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Julian Edelman. I'm Rob Gronkowski. And we are super excited to tell you about our new show, Dudes on Dudes. We're spilling all the behind-scenes stories, crazy details,

and honestly, just having a blast talking football. Every week, we're discussing our favorite players of all times, from legends to our buddies to current stars. We're finally answering the age-old question, what kind of dudes are these dudes? We're going to find out, Jules. New episodes drop every Thursday during the NFL season. Listen to Dudes on Dudes on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Look, man. Oh, I see. Wow. Bowen, look over there. Wow. Is that culture? Yes. Oh, my goodness.

Wow. Las Culturistas. Ding dong. Las Culturistas calling. Wow. I wake up. I get on the Zoom. I see my sister and I say, you know, I really don't fellowship with these fake ones.

I'm telling you right now. Fellowship with the fake ones. Is this a Matt Rodgers original? It's not. What, have you not listened to Cowboy Carter? See, this is such a lyrically and sonically dense album that I'm still kind of getting off book, even though it's been the only thing I've been playing for the last, what, 96 hours? 100%.

I identify with this. Like, Fellowship with these fake ones, it sounded familiar, obviously. And yet I went, but maybe my girl came up with that. But it's my other girl. It's your other girl, of course, Beyonce Knowles-Carter. Mrs. Carter herself. The Cowboy Carter, who has released her eighth studio album, Cowles Carter, Mrs. Carter herself, the Cowboy Carter,

who has released her eighth studio album, Cowboy Carter, as you all know, readers, katies, publicists, and finalists. But yes, I don't fellowship with these fake ones. It's something that jumped out on the record. Is that American Requiem? That sounds like it's an American record. No.

What is that from? See, and even I can't say necessarily which song it's from because like yeah are you checking yeah oh becca's right it is daughter it's daughter oh my god daughter by the way and we'll get to these songs like but it's like you said it's not like any of the regular pop girly albums where it's like oh i can turn it on i can easily digest these 13 songs, if that, and then come on here and be like, you know, it feels crazy to be like album of the year, but show me the album of the year if it's not this.

No, I mean, it's, I'm ready to say that it's her best album. I am too. Even though you know I have a fucking gorilla grip on four emotionally. There's a full size shape in my heart. I've been clutching onto four for the past, God, what's it been, 2011? So that's 13 years.

I thought you were just going to say, God, what's it been 20 years? And I literally, Bowen, there was a chill that ran up my spine. It's creeping up there. It's not that far away from 20, 2011. Oh my God. That is surreal. I mean, yeah, like this is, I mean, it's all things it's experimental yet. It also feels like very at the heart of who she is. It does land squarely in the country album,

a country genre rather. But as she said, it is a Beyonce album through and through. Fans of hers will recognize so much of this from the beginning. It somehow is like, yes, it's presented as this country album and it is in the country genre, but it's also everything. It's got blues, funk, pop, rap. It has

everything and it's also, it feels like it's from the future and also a throwback simultaneously just what more could you want let's just get into it should we do track by track let's attempt this because as you said i'm with you like it's hard even when it's been on ad nauseam yes yes so ariana grande had her two weeks with me you know what i mean like i had my eternal sunshine moment and now I'm Cowboy Carter. And then, you know, in a couple of weeks, when another one of the pop girlie stomps in, we're going to see, we'll be rotating out.

But these albums will always be here in the lexicon of my musical heart. Well, you know, this is true. It's it's everyone is already kind of marking this as a big pop girly year. I think we haven't seen this kind of pop girly year since the year that we are going to excavate later on. We're getting back to it, everybody. Don't worry. Yes. 2013 was kind of the last big watershed year for this.

I would say 2011, speaking of four, that was the same year Born This Way came out. So let's just let's not discount that either. I don't think it can be discounted. I also will say that I looked at the doc, which you so generously prepared for 2013, and I did see one album. It rhymes with smart pop. And I got really excited.

So we'll get there. Before we get into Cowboy Quarter, I do want to say, as you all know, the LCCA, the Las Catricas Culture Awards have been announced. You may have seen our preview with Parvati, our little trailer for the show. And if you're listening right now, you actually can get tickets today with promo code CULCH. C-U-L-T-C-H.

See our social media for directions on how to buy tickets. But if you are listening today, you do have access to tickets now with promo code KULCH. It's June 15th at the King's Theatre. We're so excited. If you go to kingstheatre.com King's Theatre. Yeah. You can access tickets through Live Nation

and use that promo code KULCH. We're so excited for that award show. There are going to be many surprises in store. Yeah. And can we quickly just give praise and thanks to Parvati Shallow for showing up? Absolutely. For showing up and glowing.

You know me and you saw me that day. I was very flustered. I don't get very starstruck around people. But that was our first. So everyone who's like, Parvati needs to be on the pod. She's been on the pod. She has been on the pod.

And some might say, even she might say that her being on the pod in 2020 was a very big moment for her in terms of her awareness of being a gay icon. She's saying it, not us. She's saying it. And we've been out here caping for Parvati in the gayest way possible,

you know, before a lot of other first to give credit Aaron Jackson is the original gay survivor mega fan yes yeah totally she showed up and I was so not nervous but just like skittishly overjoyed she is so

infectious she is so charming she does just flirt with you. And by flirt with you, I mean she like, she really just like draws you in. And like she like,

I'm so happy that she had such a sense of humor about me doing an impression of her doing a cameo. Because I told her that I watch Parvati's. She's the only person whose cameos I watch for like ASMR comfort.

Yes. They're so comforting. The way she like talks to the camera. She's like, Hey, Janine, it's Parvati from survivor. She's Parvati from survivor.

And I heard that you have a birthday coming up. That's amazing. I had my birthday a few months ago. It was really good. Um, so I hear that you loved skydiving that's really scary it must be very great that's Parv that's the magic and beauty of Parv and wow she gave us lots of fun tea from the set of Traitor Season 2 it's what you're saying It's like she comes in and it's like,

you can't help but like smile and giggle. You know what I mean? I was so giggly. You get it. You get it. I was giggly AF, but that was a very fun day. Props to Disco Nat Productions, to Lauren Mandel for putting it together.

And we can't wait to see you June 15th. More to come. More to come. Much more wizard More to come. More to come. Much more wizardry to come. Speaking of sorcery, let's get into it. Let's get into Cowboy Carter. This episode, Cowboy Carter, more like Cowboy Culture.

Not being able to get through the sentence. Can you tell I rehearsed that? You did. Cowboy Carter, more like Cowboy cowboy culture you had that back pocket wow my girl listen bitch she's a writer she's a writer she's a performer someone's been writing matt rogers has been writing again uh okay did you ever see um that review of the gilded age when it was like julian fellows has been typing again. I think that's what it was.

It's a great, great little bit. So speaking of America, where are the Gilded Ages set? The first track on Cowboy Carter is American Requiem. Wow. What a moment. Perfect opener. And I think American Requiem and Amen as the opener and closer work individually. Obviously work paired together as Amen kind of recalls that sort of opening. So beautiful and haunting.

I mean, there's like a melancholy throughout the album that like is immediately set in the beginning with this track. Yeah, it's just these like these huge gospel harmonies. And, you know, I think that like, especially with the knowledge that everyone had, this is going to be this country album. I think everyone was sort of really anxious to see what that really meant. Was it going to be traditional country? Was it going to be contemporary country?

Like what angle was she going to be traditional country? Was it going to be contemporary country? Like, what angle was she going to take with this? Because honestly, Texas Hold'em and 16 Carriages suggested that it could be either, you know what, or it could be anything because 16 Carriages is this big moment. And I just remember hearing that and thinking, oh, I can't wait to feel this in a stadium, these like big sounds and this big vocal. And then Texas Hold'em is very much like a fun, easy, hooky country song. And so what are we getting? And then American Requiem starts, and it's these huge, big gospel vocals and harmonies. And you get that this is going to be really a nod to the roots of the country genre,

which is really what this is. She is throwing it all the way back to the beginnings of this and the beginnings of her in many ways, because you feel with every note of this song that this is authentic to her and that this is something that almost like she's been waiting to sing. You know, you get that. Well, let's talk about the fact that this was supposed to come out after

Lemonade or after Homecoming, you know, whatever the chronology you want to set. The first of the trilogy was intended to be this. Yes. Yeah. It's pretty incredible that she like had this, whatever the grand vision for this album was at whatever stage.

Like, I think obviously like the two eyes being peppered throughout the track list are like, yes, obviously not to like act two and like, who knows like how preplanned that was. I mean, obviously like after Renaissance comes out,

like they like might've dotted those throughout the track list, but she says that she, she was like trusting God's timing with this. And like that shows an immense patience and restraint and like wanting to get this right. Wanting this to impact properly. Wanting this to tell her story properly. I think like this is the thing about Beyonce. It's like, someone on TikTok was saying

she is like a utopian artist. She has always been a utopian artist that her work has always been hopeful. But there's something beyond hope, beyond singing about hope. It's about giving people a blueprint for like how to live in a better world, especially in a world that is like hostile towards you,

hostile towards so many people, everybody at this point that American Requiem. And then with Amen as the closer, like they are leaving things on a note of like the statues that were built were like beautiful, but made of lies and like built off the backs of people and my people. And there is something like to build out in the future. Like Beyonce, like at this point I was talking to my, to Jake, you know, Jake, the guy who cuts my hair.

He's like the biggest Prince fan ever. Right. And then I got a haircut with him yesterday and I was like, we were talking about this album and I was like, I'm asking you as a Prince fan, like I am wondering if you think Beyonce has like reached, maybe even exceeded that thing that Prince did where it's like

he is a symbol. That he's more of a symbol than an individual person. And obviously these are both amazing artists but like people with like immense visions for the pop landscape, the artistic landscape, the like American landscape. And like,

you know, lemonade was like her purple rain in a lot of ways. Like, God, I love lemonade. The way you said, Oh, I love lemonade was so funny.

I love it. But like, I think Beyonce is like modeled a lot after Prince. Remember Formation World Tour, that show we went to? Where like, it was right after he passed away. And then she like wasn't even on stage doing it. She fucking destroyed Purple Rain. She destroyed Purple Rain, but I don't think she was on stage for that.

I think she was. There was a performance where she did it and she killed it. And then you're right. She just let it play. She just let it play. But then she was like wailing on that guitar. Like, yeah.

Or just on like the, like that, that ending. Anyway, Jake was like, you know, I mean, I might've like led the question,

but Jake was like, no, I think, I think she has, I think she has like blown past any prior model of like a pop star and an, a visual artist in like music we'll get to like the Beatles and Dolly Parton

and like all these people later but like we're still on track one but like American Requiem it's like the clearest statement of her like utopian thing of her like even like on Lemonade like all night, Formation is the closer but all night being I consider like the last song and it is like out of like this devastating betrayal,

like she still has this like design for like how to heal from this. And I'm like, that is Beyonce in a nutshell to me. 100%. And I also think it's so interesting with her because you know that she comes to this project with so much purpose, but really album to album,

you do get the sense that yes, she knows. I think she's so aware of the fact that she's so meaningful and that she is in her ambition equally as talented and she can achieve so much and she can mean so much. But also you get with each body of work that she's just trying to expand herself. You know what I mean? She's just trying to execute whatever the vision is at that moment. And I also think it's important here when we're talking about American Requiem to define what does that really mean? And Requiem by definition means a mass for the repose of the souls of the dead. It's an act of token of remembrance. You know what I mean? And so American Requiem, she is saying, I am exhuming those that have been forgotten

in this type of landscape. And this is going to be a tribute, but it's also going to be a celebration and it's going to be a reminder. It's going to be all three of those things at the same time. And I think when in your comparison with her and Prince, it's like to be able to confidently make that statement at the top. You know what I mean? Like mission statement. We are bringing this back. Like country music is for us.

It is for me. And I'm bringing everyone with me and I'm elevating everyone else because you know what follows is Blackbird where she's got these black women in country music on this record with her. And now you see the result is all these women are charting. All these women are now names. And in fact, that was the original intent of the song Blackbird, which Paul McCartney, you know, he apparently said that his vision for Blackbird was that black women would sing it together.

And that that would be like the way that that song could be actualized in its best form. And here is Beyonce doing it. And coming out of American Requiem, I just think that's very special. And it's a beautiful rendition of the song. It's a gorgeous rendition of the song. I think between the covers, the two covers, this is the one that I prefer wildly.

We'll talk about Jolene. Yeah, we'll get to it. But they talked to one of the Little Rock Nine women and wanted her reaction to Blackbird being covered by Beyonce. And she was like, you know, obviously a huge thing for Paul McCartney and John Lennon to write this song about us at the time. this like emotionally crazy for this woman because it's like i never thought the biggest star in the world would be a black woman who would then full circle like bring this song back out and it has an extra meaning to it yes and she said you know when beyonce sings something people listen and they think like just to go back to american requiem it's like can you hear me can you hear me like whatever

the country establishment however they respond to this album they have no choice but to listen but to hear this statement and like I think that is enough

like that is enough for Beyonce to do so that like it cannot help but be noticed. And I think like Blackbird is a beautiful thing to come out of that first song with, like you said. And also we should say the women on this song are Britney Spencer, Raina Roberts, Tanner Adele, and Tiara Kennedy.

And they all sound amazing. And, you know, I think when it comes to country music's acceptance relationship with dismissal of her in this genre, her with this project, it actually really doesn't matter what, quote unquote, country music thinks of this album because what that says and what that denotes is that they're actually rightful gatekeepers of this genre and they are not right and so that i guess is the thing like when you talk about why this project even exists and she says herself she had an experience in country music where it was clear she was not welcome. She's obviously referencing the CMA Awards. This was years ago. She had

released Daddy Lessons, and she went on the CMA Awards with the Chicks to perform Daddy Lessons because the Chicks had been performing the song in concert. Natalie Maines allegedly was obsessed with Lemonade and wouldn't stop talking about it. They were performing it all the time, the song. And Beyonce had heard of this. And upon invitation, there's a great oral history of this night, by the way. Vulture did it.

And upon invitation, Beyonce said, I'll do it if I can do it with the chicks. And they were like, great, absolutely. So administratively, at least at the beginning, and in terms of like the way they were producing the performance, it seemed fine. There was all this positive energy around it. And they worked so hard to get it right. And they worked so hard on the performance. And then it happens. And I, of course, watched it again. And something that I noticed was it's a very Nashville country room.

You know what I mean? Nashville country meaning people in that town that create that genre in a popular sense. Nowadays, it's a lot of Nashville songwriters and Nashville performers that run that genre and anyone coming in from the outside gets like a cock eye. You know what I mean? Like it gets sort of like the stink eye in a way. And there she is. And I wish you can watch it. She is getting the stink eye. Kenny Chesney is

there with his sourpuss. You know, in that oral history, Alan Jackson is referenced as having walked out in the middle of the performance, like very rudely and saying like, fuck this or whatever. Some people there are giving her love and attention, like Faith Hill is up at her seat clapping and enjoying it. And there's a moment where they cut to Beyonce. There's a couple moments actually, where Beyonce, who energetically is fucking crushing it but there's a little tiny bit I sense a little bit of nervousness and there's a moment like a couple moments where she actually blows kisses to people in the audience in a way that she never really would and the only

the only emotion I can really ascribe to that in that moment is there's a little bit of relief there in that someone is giving her love and attention and admiration and respect for being there and being up there, especially alongside the chicks who had been really cast out of that entire genre and that entire community. And it just felt like, wow, what that must have felt like to work so hard on something and to perform something that is so authentically her. Daddy Lessons is authentically Beyonce and it's authentically who she is and where she comes from. And to leave feeling like in any way, like you might not belong there, had to be incredibly like dysmorphic in a way and then for her to take that and be like let me actually examine this feeling and this response i got

and make sure that i'm right because i know i belong in that room i know this is my genre i know these are my roots and she in doing that has created this and is doing things like you know American Requiem Blackbird the cover of Jolene all these things bringing people in elevating people and showing that like that response was bullshit and the way she was treated was bullshit and it was bullshit

for the CMA awards after all the negative racist shit that came out afterwards for them to pull her performance down off of YouTube, to pull all the promotional aspects of her appearance off of YouTube, just like they eventually did put it up because they were called out for what it was. But just the fact that that was an experience she had to have,

thank God she is the artist that she is and the person that she is, that she was able to create something God she is the artist that she is and the person that she is, that she was able to create something triumphant out of that. And to really say to everyone, like, if you don't think I belong here, fuck you. Who do you think you are? And if you are a country music person and you think you know better than Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton, then I don't know, fucking yeehaw, I guess, as they say, good for you, but you don't. fucking yeehaw I guess as they say good for you but you don't and I knew that she would bring in big guns to like to shut everyone down I had a feeling it would be Garth

Brooks but it ended up being Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton and she just shut everybody up with that it's like stop spinning out like the literal godmother and godfather of this genre are fucking cool with me smoking weed on my album so shut up that's a perfect way to sort of digest and process all of that because and even like she mentions like the um like aot when later on the album like this is beyonce petty is not the right word but this is beyonce like jilted this is beyonce like sort of like like openly being like i'm a human being like i take these losses or this treatment like it's not that she like is totally crushed by these things but it's like she is like

like it lands on her yeah and she will do something with that you know what i mean i like had this fantasy for the longest time of like, I don't think Beyonce really cares about like the album of the year losses at the end of the day. Like she is still like at the end of the day, the most like decorated Grammy winner ever. And like ever all these things, but you're like,

Oh, only in a song like, and I'm getting ahead of myself, but only in like a Jolene. Is it like, do you go, well, it's not believable for Beyonce to feel insecure about

like, to be like threatened by another woman because why would she? You know what I mean? And so therefore you have to like change the POV and have it be like, I'm warning you, don't come for Maymean. But otherwise, like there are little like intentionally presented moments of vulnerability on this album that I think

are pretty incredible. And also very country. Very country in that we haven't seen from her since, definitely since Lemonade. But I think like in a way that is like, that breaks the fourth wall even further where it's like, oh no, she's talking about her work. She's talking about the way she knows herself as an artist. And like, this is the thing that we keep coming back to,

like in our personal lives, Matt and I, but it's like, no one can tell you who you are. You don't negotiate who you are with other people. Like she's not negotiating who she is with other people. And I think through this album, she is refusing to let other people evaluate her art. Yes. I mean, she even said the other night or it was last night at the iHeart Awards. She talked about how criticism can really be a test of your mental health. Even she has had to rise above that type of thing. And the noise does get to her. When she continually loses Album of the Year, despite having released the Album of the the year several times now it feels like they're testing her and pushing her yes yeah and when you are beyonce thank you cutting back to the view

thank you when you are beyonce that is your reality you know what i mean like i'm nominated again for album of the year there's expectation i. I've done this level of work. I lose again and again and again. You know, of course, that's going to be something that like. Psychologically. And I also think that kind of dovetails nicely into the next song, which is 16 Carriages, because she talks about the very relatable universal thing of, maybe this song lyrically is not literal, but this idea that I have had to work really fucking hard since I was young. And it was on me a lot of the time. Of course I had help, but I had to see my family unit disintegrate. I had to lose friends. I had to test myself. I had to deal with racism. I had to, and still like I'm here. You know what I mean? I have arrived. I, this has

been a journey for me. And here is the story of my journey. Here is the way I'm going to show you how I've gotten through my adversity. And it's this great fucking song that I know like everyone that was at Renaissance. I just thought about that same Renaissance crowd being at the Cowboy Carter crowd. And the response is going to be the same.

Yeah, it will be the same. It's universal. It is pretty incredible that these are so far, Act One and Act Two are like, I'm going to say lateral albums. Like there is not something totally, like the Venn diagram is mostly a circle here. Yeah.

It's like there is no reason why someone who likes one album wouldn't like the other. At least to me, if you're a real Beyonce fan, and I'm not gatekeeping real Beyonce fandom here, obviously, but it's like you should absolutely just appreciate both. I don't think she's going to do this fear. I think if she thinks this is her best album ever, she will want to take it around the world. Yeah, that's a great point. You know what I mean?

When there's smoke, there's fire with the sphere. I'm convinced on something. The fear that it's going to be the sphere? Oh, this fear, not the sphere. The sphere. Yes. What I'm saying is where there's smoke, there's fire regarding the sphere.

Yes. I think you meant this fear that it would be at the Sphere. Sorry. Yeah, me afraid to go back to Vegas because I know what I'll become. Fucking crazy whore. If it's for Beyonce at the Sphere, you need to be... No, I want that to be a pure... Watch me, bitch.

Hold my drink. Actually, don't. I'll do shrooms. I won't like get drunk. You know what I mean? Even though it is like, oh, it's the rodeo. It's country. Actually don't. I'll do shrooms. I won't like get drunk. You know what I mean? Even though it is like, Oh, it's the rodeo.

It's country. It's like, it's, it's dirty. It's going to be a party atmosphere. You know what I'm saying? It's like, it's going to be.

And that's another thing is I was like, you know, having been to Vegas so many times and after coming off my big year of concerts, like this music is going to play so well in such a big way. Sure. Like, I feel like the sphere made a little bit more sense to me upon listening.

And then it's funny because like, well, not with the next song I'm talking about actually bodyguard, which is later, but it was around bodyguard where I was like, actually, this album feels very Vegas to me. Like,

it feels very like people from all over the country being able to go to one place like a rodeo but i do think you're right like imagine reimagining the sphere as a rodeo there's something with the sphere i do think you are right she will want to take this around the world, but people from all around the world do go to Vegas. So it's like, I don't know. I don't know what that looks like. It just felt to me at several different parts of this album. Like if there's ever to be a Beyonce Vegas residency,

this feels like it totally. But I think you're right that this feels international in a way. And so such a moment of pride for her. Totally. But I think you're right that this feels international in a way and such a moment of pride for her. Yeah. We'll just leave it to her to decide how she showcases that. The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City are back. I love that. Oh my gosh.

Welcome. And last season's drama was just the tip of the iceberg. You're recording us? I am disgusted! Never in a million years after everything we've been through did I think that you would reach out to our sworn enemy. We were friends! How could you do this to me?

I don't trust her. The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. Wednesdays at 9 on Bravo. Or stream it on City TV+. Hey, I'm Jay Shetty and I'm the host of On Purpose. My latest episode is with Jelly Roll. This episode is one of the most honest and raw interviews I've ever had. We go deep into Jelly Roll's life story from being in and out of prison from the age of 13 to being one of today's biggest artists.

We talk about guilt, shame, body image, and huge life transformations. I was a desperate delusional dreamer and the desperate part got me in a lot of trouble. I encourage delusional dreamers. Be a delusional dreamer. Just don't be a desperate delusional dreamer. I just had such an anger. I was just so mad at life. Everything that wasn't right was everybody's fault but mine. I had such a victim mentality. I took zero accountability for anything in my life. I was the kid that if you asked what happened, I immediately started with everything but me. It took years for me to break that, like years of work.

Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Trust me, you won't want to miss this one. On Thanksgiving Day, 1999, a five-year-old boy floated alone in the ocean. He had lost his mother trying to reach Florida from Cuba. He looked like a little angel. I mean, he looked so fresh. And his name, Elian Gonzalez, will make headlines everywhere. Elian Gonzalez. Elian Gonzalez. Elian. Elian. Elian Gonzalez, will make headlines everywhere.

At the heart of the story is a young boy and the question of who he belongs with. His father in Cuba. Mr. Gonzalez wanted to go home and he wanted to take his son with him. Or his relatives in Miami. Imagine that your mother died trying to get you to freedom. At the heart of it all is still this painful family separation. Something that as a Cuban,

I know all too well. Listen to Chess Peace, the Elian Gonzalez story, as part of the My Cultura podcast network, available on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Sixteen Carriages obviously it's about her sacrifice.

It ends, or it sort of comes back around to her being a mother now and her making, her choosing not to make those sacrifices in honor of tending to her family, which brings us to protect her. I mean, beautiful,

just beautiful. Just to start with Rumi, like it's such a beautiful song. And you know what I love about the whole beginning? Like, I guess I'll call it like the first act of this album before we get to the smoke hour is that it almost tips back to the beginning of the renaissance world tour where she comes out and she gives the ballads and she's like yeah

almost like easing us in like this whole first act of the album is her just easing us in telling us stories beautiful stories and that is such a cornerstone of country music as well is that it is the storytelling musical genre and she is just so beautifully and plainly, oh my God, I just thought of the line and I'm going to cry. Like, and even though I know someday you're going to shine on your own, I will be your projector.

Like what a beautiful, plain sentiment in a lyric. The melody is gorgeous and it is so felt you know what i mean like she continues to be one of the most vivid singers out there and i say that in you hear the love and the emotion and the attention and the care in her voice you know what i'm saying it's like it's just stunning it's just stunning. It's beautiful. Yeah.

The first time I heard this, I see the song title, Protector. And just in like that rhyme, like just the drop of the word projector was to me like breathtaking. It was like, obviously like with the lead in and the lyrics, like beautiful, beautiful lyric. But I go, oh oh my god i did not that was not the word that i thought was gonna that was gonna be sung you know like i there

was something there's something really so powerful and like strong like it is a strong song for being so gossamer and fragile and beautiful and like it, it's a lullaby, you know, it's like Rooney wants the lullaby. And I think this is a pretty fucking incredible song. And it's a nominee for mother of the year. It's a nominee for mother of the year. The song protector. Mother of the year.

Let's keep going to My Rose, into Smoke Hour, into Texas Hold'em. I love it. Yeah, I think this is a very elegant, Going to My Rose, into Smoke Hour, into Texas Hold'em. I love it. Yeah. I think this is a very elegant, like, My Rose is kind of like an invitation into, like, it's, you're right, it's like, it closes out this first act of the album, act within an act. My Rose is like, let me tell you, let me tell you a story about, like, vulnerability and about, like, what it means to be human, basically. I think that is also like beyonce's thing like other than being a utopian artist she's giving you stories about humanity

whatever i'm like being so like college student about this but then smoke hours so cute love this like parallel conceit of like club renaissance you're at the club and now you're like just listening to the radio you're listening to the radio k-n-t-r-y like willie nelson is like pressing play on his tracks like take yourself to that place where your mind is happy i think he said or whatever it is oh my god my fireworks just went oh my god bowen you will be my projector wait that was so good bowen in the zoom like as he was talking like the joy emanated from him and he truly there was fireworks that went off in his zoom that was crazy i didn't even know that was a thing you can do visual if you do double p signs but anyway yeah i have to say like when the smoke

hour hit i got this euphoric feeling i was like when you hear willie nelson's voice and be like no need to know your name you know what i I mean? Like this, like my name, no need to know yours. Yeah. You know my name. No need to know yours. Like there's this humor in it and this like ease and this relaxation and it does make you want to hit the blunt. And you know, I did, I walked over and I said, well, Willie Nelson is telling me that I need to hit this blunt for at least this moment of the album. So you can catch me over here smoking. It's the smoke hour for me as well. Yes. And just the way it goes into Texas Hold'em, Texas Hold'em hits so hard on the album. You keep saying in context, it hits even better, harder.

In context, it hits so hard. And when it starts out of that little fuzzy radio thing and that little AM moment that we get with Willie into Texas Hold'em, that's when you start, you know what I mean? That's when you start moving and shaking. We're doing it. And it's so much fun.

I've always loved Texas Hold'em since it came out, and it's been on constant loop for me, but it has new life for me now in its place here. Yes. You know, coming to me now, it's a real life boogie and a real life hoedown. She has in an interview this week also said that like she wanted to move away from electronic sounds. In response to like this like AI takeover in music, which is not to say that there is no like electronic influence

in production throughout the rest of the album. And she's even saying that in a way that doesn't even cheapen or devalue anything that she's done before. But it's like- Yeah, she's proud of all that. No, of course. But like, if you also think about this album

as like a rejection of like AI, the AI-fication of music, of course. But like, if you also think about this album as like a rejection of like AI, the AI-fication of music, of art, it's like, that is also like so, so, like it's exactly what we need from an artist like her at her level. You know what I mean? Yes. Like, it's a real life boogie, a real life hoedown. It's like, this is about life.

Yeah. This is about like real people, you know? And I can't believe we're having this conversation like that like we would rather have real human beings and real instruments be played in our music like of course we would it's such a dark debate to be having

or it's such a dark like existential thing to like think about but if any artist is gonna like write a p into like actual music, like it's Beyonce. So yeah. Cause she walks the walk every time.

I mean, like these are all real instruments. These are all like, you know, and she's even not been shy and said like, this is a response to the AI thing. You know what I mean? Like,

by the way, you have to watch this episode of black mirror. Oh yeah. Allie Pank, you directed this episode of black mirror with Annie Murphy and Salma Hayek. And it's like, I kind of can't believe that it was like, I guess shot and written like over two years ago because it is so...

Well, first of all, yeah, that it was made, that Netflix was like, I guess, willing to be the butt of this joke, which is like, everyone just watch it. It's really about... I think I'm the only person who hasn't seen it, by the way. Yeah, so it's really about, like, the AI

likenesses and everything. It's like what we sign when we sign, you know what I mean? Like, it's like what we give up when we allow our image to be manipulated and distorted. It's... You gotta read those terms and conditions, girl. That's all I'm saying. But this episode, the episode of Black Mirror was so fun and it's a comment on the AI thing and so that's why i brought it up but um yes like beyonce

is an authority here i mean she is the queen and the queen is saying return to real it's actually real culture number 30 the queen is saying return to real Come back to real life. Wake up, sheeple. Wake up, sheeple. After the Super Bowl, when the song came out, we didn't fully get an awareness of Rhiannon Giddens, the woman who plays the banjo on this, and who also has a writing credit or a production credit on American Requiem, too.

She seems like a cool fucking musician. She seems like a cool fucking person. She seems like a cool fucking person. Writing credit, yes. Writing credit, that's what it was. Anyway, anything else to say on Texas Hold'em before we move on? That it rocks and I love it. Okay. And then Bodyguard is such a vibe and a slay. This is the moment when I was just like, no, yeah,

I can see this in Vegas for sure. I feel slot machine energy on this one. Uh-huh. Yeah. I guess you're right. It's giving Ms. Ronstadt. You know what I mean?

That's what it's giving to me. It's almost giving like Carole King. It's almost giving like... It's feeling 70s to me in a way that... It's feeling like 70s rock country. Uh-huh. But still light in a way that feels to me very, very, very at home in a place like Vegas.

That's what I felt when I listened to it. I love this song. You know, there is not a lot of contemporary country in this album in a very intentional way. She is like firmly rooted in history in a way that is like a fuck you to anyone who's trying to like make this thing out of like black country being this novelty you know what i mean so i think that's that's also like that goes into like the 70s sound of bodyguard i love it it's great i love it it's a perfect perfect lead up into jolene

i mean we're in the smoke hour with Bodyguard. Let's just say that. You know what I mean? We are in the smoke hour with Bodyguard. Let's not even dispute it. We're high at this point. Jolene. Dolly P. She's such a legend. You know what I mean?

I wonder if Beyonce said, do you think there was a script typed up or do you think she was like Dolly I want you to introduce my cover of Jolene I bet that's what happened I bet it was just that I mean Dolly saying like it's just hair a different color but it hurts just the same

like that that's coming from Dolly she had flaming locks of auburn hair bless her heart like this idea that having auburn hair is Bless her heart. Like this idea that having Auburn hair is like bad. Meanwhile, you know who's had Auburn hair many times in her career?

Ms. Yonce. There was a time when she was Auburn haired pretty exclusively. Yes, yes, yes. But, okay. So, Jolene, the cover of Jolene, the first time I was the scansion freaked me out. I'm not going to lie. So Jolene, the cover of Jolene, the first time I was,

the scansion freaked me out. I'm not going to lie. Like having known Jolene the way that we all do, it is one of the iconic songs in the lexicon. To hear it done in a different way, first of all, I didn't know if it would be a direct cover. I would have been down with that.

And then for her to reimagine it, I was like- But you're saying scansion, like the way the syllables are falling in the melody was different, and that rattled you in a way that probably was by design. I was like,

oh no, I don't like it, at the beginning. And then, I listened to it a few more times, and I realized that we were in the smoke hour. And me being in the smoke hour I said now let me just listen to this a different way and now I love this because

I think this live is going to be so funny and so fun and so like aggressive in a fun like don't you dare this song is an answer. It is the sequel to the film

Obsessed. It is the sequel to the film Obsessed. Beyonce will kick your ass if you come near Jay-Z. Sean Carter is off limits, women.

It's actually a little culture number 60. Sean Carter is off limits, women. It's actually a little culture number 60. Sean Carter is off limits, women. And just the way it doesn't really rhyme and it doesn't really work, I think is going to be great. I have said that between this and Blackbird, I think even though Blackbird is a straighter cover on like every level and like it's produced the same,

I do appreciate this like element of like, I think like Josh Sharp was saying that like, there is like a light, like chain gang, like layer to it. And I love that too. For me for now, I am kind of like, let me just get to

like Daughter and like get to the car on UBM. Bo and Yang with the dissent on this one, yes. I'm not like, it's not a full dissent. It's not a full dissent. I think like this is the beautiful part of this journey. Just like I didn't realize what is it? I don't fellowship with Fellowship with these fake ones.

I think this is just another contour of the album that I have yet to appreciate fully. I think that once we all make the collective decision to just have fun with this one, like Beyonce is, we're all going to be a healthier, safer world. Yes. Because we're all just going to be vibing.

I agree. And when we get to the point where everyone in this world is just vibing, we will be a healthier and safer planet. You will see disease start to go planet. You will see disease start to go away. You will see the return of the rainforest. You will see the Corrier Reef. The Corrier Reef.

Come back, the Corrier Reef. You will see the end of war. Once we all start vibing like Beyonce is, we will see return to peace. Oh my god. This is the thing. She's utopian. Okay Oh my God. This is the thing. She's utopian.

Okay, Daughter. This is a Batman villain song I decided. Totally. Arkham Asylum with her. She is a supervillain. It is not only a Batman villain song. It is like Joel Schumacher coded. Oh, it's camp.

It's so campy and haunting. It's so like, not even Tim Burton. I think it's Schumacher coded. Oh, it's camp. It's so campy and haunting. It's so, it's so like, not even Tim Burton. I think it's Schumacher. I'm still laughing on this one. Colder than Titanic water. First of all, coming out of Jolene the first time I was like, I don't know about colder than Titanic water. What do you mean? What do you have against, you love Titanic culture. I know, but like describing the water as Titanic water to me love Titanic culture. I know, but like, describing the water as Titanic water to me was too funny. And then I was like,

wait, it's too funny. I love it. Titanic is on the brain for everybody always. Monoculture. You knew Titanic was monoculture when it was in Cowboy Carter. Now it's confirmed. Now it's confirmed. Kate Winslet Hive Rise. Oh my

God. She survived the song Daughter. She did. She did. How do you feel about Cara Mioven being sung? What every vocal student has had to begrudgingly sing in auditions and showcases for years and years and years.

Yeah, she should reclaim it along with everything else. I feel as though the more this song gets crazier, the better it is. And it gets crazier and crazier. It's crazy. To the point where I'm like, damn, how was this created? I really do want to smoke what she smokes. I do, I do, I do, in the words of Cal Mitchell.

I want to understand how she gets there creatively with this. Let me look at these fucking credits. Okay. Yeah. First of all, first of all, I don't even know how, I don't even know how to wrap my head around how this gets made.

Yeah. I don't know. Daughter specifically. Yeah. It's one of the wackiest songs on the record. It's wacky, but I think it's like, it is like a haunting Beyonce song at the end of the day.

And you always appreciate those. Were you in the thread when we were ranking Beyonce's scariest songs? I think I was at work and I just picked it up and I didn't fully give it a close read. This is in the top five of scariest Beyonce songs. It's this, Six Inch, Don't Hurt Yourself. Becca goes, no, that's a bonus. That's a bonus.

Top 10 scariest Beyonce songs. Yeah, that can't get misinterpreted. But like, yeah, what else? There's a couple other ones that are so scary. Oh, Ring the Alarm's terrifying. Ring the Alarm is scary. Super Power is a little scary. I know you hate Super Power.

It's not that I hate Super Power. It's just that I don't naturally connect with Super Power. Ha little scary. Hmm. I know you hate superpower. It's not that I hate superpower. It's just that I don't naturally connect with superpower. Haunted, of course. Haunted slash ghost is so scary. And then finally, the scariest Beyonce song of all time is Daddy. Daddy Lessons? No, Daddy. Her song to her father, I love you, Daddy.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. For Dangerously in Love, right? Yes, it's the closer of Dangerously in Love where she sings, I want my husband to be like my daddy, my daddy, my daddy, my daddy. It's like still when she's very Matthew Knowles coded, but it is fucking insane to listen to.

Well, yeah, but then it kind of is the perfect setup for all of this, like, post-Matthew, that thread in her story where it's like, oh, like, her father, like, fucked her up. You know what I mean? It's odd. It's really weird. And I'm happy we're out of that era. Well, like, the cycle is broken. Like, she's a perfect mother to these children. Speaking of mothers,

another nominee for Mother of the Year is Tina Lawson. Tina Knowles. I have to say, first of all, if you're not following Tina Knowles on Instagram and you are missing out on her corny jokes. Oh, yeah. Corny jokes. When Tina Knowles says,

it's time for another corny joke, you know it's going to be a really wonderful day. It's going to be a laugh riot. Yeah. And we need to find those when we can because, I don't know. Vibing. Our comedians are failing us, me included, us included. We're not making you laugh.

Don't you say that. Don't you ever say that to me. Listen to me, you fucking bitch. We're not making you laugh. Don't you say that. Don't you ever say that to me. Listen to me, you fucking bitch. We're not failing. You're right. Let's move on to Spaghetti. Yeah, I felt like coming out of the last few songs, I was like, we needed this one.

Not that I've been unhappy, but that I was just like, we're moving again. I love this. We're moving again. It feels like it almost could have been on Renaissance in a way. Totally, but first of all, before we talk about the song in earnest, I think Aaron Jackson should

do a new I Don't Think So Honey that includes the phrase, Wednesdays are for being at home listening to spaghetti. You are so right. You're right and you should say it and you did say it and I did spaghetti I really

think has implications for act three and here's why talk about this it opens with Linda Martell being like genre is a funny thing if this whole album is like an essay on genre

and not necessarily just country, but just like the concept of genre, like does, is act three going to be genre specific at all? I was thinking about this. Like, how does Beyonce create a new genre?

You know what I'm saying? It's like, how, what does that look like? Sound like, feel like, because it almost feels like

that is the natural conclusion, right? Like, she did Renaissance, which was, you know, this celebration and this genre of music, of dance music, that feels intrinsic to her and intrinsic to a certain community

and a celebration of that and then there's cowboy carter which is this reclamation and like this like triumphant like roar of like who she is and like it's just a statement on that genre and now it feels like the obviously the third one has to be quote-unquote genre specific in some way or thematically specific in some way. But I think you are onto something here, which is it feels like the next place to go is somewhere we've never been. Yeah.

I don't think it's necessarily rocked the way that everyone has been saying or that the rumor has been. It's too simple. Yeah. If it is rocked, then like the, the threat I see is like Tina Turner but I don't know oh yeah you just shook my soul with that one

but you know what I mean is it a full Tina Turner Prince thing or is it like what you're saying where it's like a new invented Beyonce kind of like genre of music even though the aesthetic of a Beyonce

song album music video is so established at this point I don't know the one thing we can be sure of is that she will not repeat herself I think that is one thing we can be sure of like there's been some talk that it's going to be a straight R&B

album and I just don't think that that's where we're headed in terms of if this is a trilogy where we are so specifically soaking into these things then i feel like we're going to see new terrain and when you say the words tina turner that makes sense to me like because if the mission statement of this whole trilogy is we are reclaiming these things and we are celebrating these things and we are reminding people of where these things came from it's like the way she like reclaimed vogue with that remix honoring so much about like not only that culture but also the way that that culture was popularized with the madonna sample and everything and then there we have cowboy Carter,

which is so what it is for country music and the country genre, what you're saying about Tina Turner, that feels like someone that she will Prince and Prince. Those are people that she will honor in a big way. And those are like the final bosses for her. A hundred percent, you know, because there is no Beyonce without Tina.

Right. Or Prince. Or Prince. You say the word Prince. I love saying Prince. What can I say? But Prince. Are you sexually attracted?

I think a specific era of Prince. Yeah, of course. He probably was an unbelievable way. Of course. That's how you write shit like that. Damn. By fucking?

As if the dick is powerful. Powerful dick will get me singing. It's actually rollercoaster number six. Powerful dick will get me singing. And writing. And writing. Alligator tears. For for me this is like a new like this section so alligator tears just for fun is like the section where i'm a i'm the most

fuzzy on but i am this morning i gave it one one more listen one more spin through the whole album and like i was like i've been sleeping on alligator tears and I need to give this more love. Well, that's the thing that's going to happen with an album that's this vast and like with this much content is it's just like you're going to get fatigued at a certain point. And this is a moment in the album where, yes, I

like you like had to maybe at this point the smoke hour gets to you. You know what I'm saying? We're about to end the smoke hour one. This is closing out smoke hour one. And smoke hour two is telling you- Hit the blunt again. Light it up again.

Hit the blunt again. And Bowen and Reader, I did. Oh. So thank God too, because by the way, I love alligator tears. Smoke hour two, you hit it again, just for fun, lovely. But I'm ready to talk about Two Most Wanted.

And we're going to make an announcement about Two Most Wanted. Go ahead. Two Most Wanted... I'm emotional. ...is a nominee for Record of the Year. It is nominated. It is nominated for Record of the Year at the 2024 Los Colteristas Culture Awards.

You know what that means. You're tearing up. My sister is tearing up. Do you know what this means? This means it's going to be performed at the Las Culturas Just Culture Awards. Watch this space. Watch this space. So, so far the nominees are

Two Most Wanted, Gardenia by Mandy Moore, and I don't know why I chuckled. And Single Soon. And Single Soon by Selena Gomez. Those are three completely different and yet equally powerful pieces of music. Because the last Culture East has culture awards

is an examination of genre. Much like Cowboy Carter. Much like Cowboy Carter. The LCCAs know no genre. Know no genre. You can put us in the category of award show, but it knows no genre. But, no genre. You can put us in the category of award show, but it knows no genre. But deadass.

Deadass. Like, cut the cameras. There is something to be said about LCCAs being award show, comedy show, concert. We don't know what it is either. No. Don't try to gatekeep Jimmy Kimmel. I know you're going to try to gatekeep.

I know you hear me. Hosting awards. We know you hear us. I know you hear me calling you, Miss Honey. And I have my finger up. I say, get out of here. No, I. To most wanted.

Oh, my God. Miley Cyrus's voice. voice beautiful and has never sounded better I I'm so proud of her I am so can I say especially after watching Quiet on set like which we'll get to

later let's not bring the mood down can I say like someone who has also been fucking through it and had to have been doing this from a young age and just watching her on the grammys winning for flowers and performing i was like that is a fucking superstar right there and a bob mackie and you you don't question it at all superstar yeah and then when I saw that this was a duet with Miley Cyrus, I said, I know

this is going to be good. And I played it and Miley starts the song with that insanely good lyric which is like, No, I'm jumping the gun, but we're both still young. But someday we won't be. Oh, dear. I said, and then Beyonce coming in

their voices in harmony, Beyonce with that beautiful higher harmony and like still giving the power because you know what? She knows that Miley is holding down the bottom. Beyonce has basically said, you are that girl too. Beyonce has said,

I am elevating you with this. Not that anyone needs that, but also not for nothing. Miley has said many times am elevating you with this. Not that anyone needs that, but also not for nothing. Miley has said many times on social media now, she's like basking in this moment of being on the song with Beyonce, her idol in many ways, her inspiration. Like, and to be seen so equally, this song is giving Thelma and Luis.

Well, this is like the ride or die song of our generation. 100%. 100%. I said, if this isn't a global number one, I don't know what is. This song is going to be played on the radio. This song is a forever song. This is one of those. In an era of loneliness, this song is like the medicine.

I am feeling the spirit when you speak today. I have to say. Girl, I feel the spirit every time you speak. I am truly feeling the spirit today because I'm talking to you about this and I'm realizing how good this is. It is so, I mean, I already realized, but like, man, like this is the most,

I would say contemporary country song on the album i would say levi's jeans is sorry keep going this and that yeah this and that but even levi's jeans feels more like pop to me sure sure sure but when that slide guitar came in on the top of two most wanted i said this is gonna hit me right in the heart huh just that slide guitar like that's like it's really giving timeless contemporary modern country in a way that's so gorgeous. And what I love about Miley being on this is I know from interviews with Miley and just the, you know, younger now and the attempts that she's made. She really wants a place in country music, too. And she has a rightful place in country music.

She does. Hers is a country voice. And the fact is, they have kept her out of it too. They've kept it from her because she's not the quote unquote right kind of woman to do country music. You know what I'm saying?

It's like, Miley was too sexual. She was too suggestive. She wasn't this enough. She wasn't that enough. Like, I'm sure that country music, like, has their bullshit reasons. This is Nashville country I'm talking that country music like has their bullshit reasons this is Nashville country I'm talking about like establishment

country which like keeping her out of it because she's made efforts and she's so fucking talented and gifted like it's crazy it's almost like the same thing with the chicks it's like Beyonce has said nope I'm bringing everyone in that has a

rightful place and it's not just her bringing in the Black community and being like, we have a place here. It's her saying, these women that have been mistreated by this genre, you're coming with me. You're on this album with me. And for Beyonce and Miley to do this song together, that

is a statement. That is a statement right there. Of course. And not to mention the Willie Nelson and all either in terms of like the outlaw country aesthetic. I think this is my most listened to song on the album. There's no question. Basically, what we're saying is as soon as we heard the song, we said, we're singing this. We're singing this at King's Theater. That's all you need to know.

And we're spoiling it, but we have to sing this to each other. Don't do this. This song is... Don't you do this. I think of you. That's my song for my sister. This is the song of sisterhood.

This is the Grigio Girls of the new generation. You better know that I listened to Joanne again. Grigio Girls was for our parents. This is for us. First of all, all of Joanne, respect Joanne. Respect Joanne. Joanne was Gaga's Cowboy Carter. And it literally. Yeah. And I just feel like we have to respect Joanne. Joanne was Gaga's Cowboy Carter and literally.

And I just feel like we have to respect Joanne and in a little while we'll respect another Gaga album if we even get to it. But wow. Too Most Wanted. I just, this is a huge hit rightfully. This is a

stunning song. The lyrics are amazing The harmonies are incredible The melody is so instantly memorable Like I'll be your shotgun rider Come on Till the day I die This is Thelma and Louise the song

And there's nothing I couldn't say any Bigger compliment than that Am I the high harmony? I couldn't say any bigger compliment than that. That'll sell. The two. Am I the high harmony? I think you're going to be high harmony, but you know, I think,

I think at one point they, they flip, they flip fuck on this. Good. With promo code coach, you can get tickets now to see Bowen and I flip fuck on stage at the King's theater on June 15th to To the song, Two Most Wanted. The Real Housewives of New York City

are back for another bite of the Big Apple. Look who it is. Joined by elite new friends. Rebecca Minkoff. Have you ever heard of her? But things could change in a New York Minute. She had this wild night and ended up getting pregnant by some other guy what you've told her not today satan not today

the real housewives of new york city all new tuesdays at nine on bravo or stream it on city tv plus on thanksgiving day 1999 a five-year-old boy floated alone in the ocean. He had lost his mother trying to reach Florida from Cuba. He looked like a little angel. I mean, he looked so fresh. And his name, Elian Gonzalez, will make headlines everywhere. Elian Gonzalez. Elian Gonzalez. Elian Gonzalez.

Elian. Elian. Elian Gonzalez. At the heart of the story is a young boy and the question of who he belongs with. His father in Cuba. Mr. Gonzalez wanted to go home and he wanted to take his son with him. Or his relatives in Miami. Imagine that your mother died trying to get you to freedom. At the heart of it all is still this painful family separation.

Something that as a Cuban, I know all too well. Listen to Chess Peace, the Elian Gonzalez story, as part of the My Cultura podcast network, available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, I'm Jay Shetty, and I'm the host of On Purpose. My latest episode is with Jelly Roll. Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. We talk about guilt, shame, body image, and huge life transformations. I was a desperate, delusional dreamer. And the desperate part got me in a lot of trouble.

I encourage delusional dreamers. Be a delusional dreamer. Just don't be a desperate, delusional dreamer. I just had such an anger. I was just so mad at life. Everything that wasn't right was everybody's fault but mine. I had such a victim mentality. I took zero accountability for anything in my life.

I was the kid that if you asked what happened, I immediately started with everything but me. It took years for me to break that, like years of work. Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Trust me, you won't want to miss this one. Levi's jeans. Forget it. Forget it. Forget it. It's so good. I love it. I love it so much. It's so hot. My one moment that I

don't love, and I might be in the minority, is when Post Malone sings You're My Renaissance. I'm like, don't do that. Don't do that here. If Beyonce's okay with it, I'm okay with it. Okay, fine. But I'm just like, you don't get to reference her. Let her reference her.

You know what I mean? He's on the song. He's invited. Someone said so kind of Taylor and Beyonce to share custody of Post Malone this year. Yeah, that's funny. That's funny. Post is an amazing singer. He's an amazing singer. He's an amazing singer. He's an amazing singer, and it took me a while with Post Malone, as it takes me a while with most

men in pop music, honestly. I'm like, I was like, I don't know. But then when I really listened to him, and I was like, wow, this guy is a talented artist. So good. And I just love the vibe of this. I mean, it's hot as shit. Congratulations to Levi's on your dominance now in denim.

Denim on, denim on, denim on, denim. I mean, I'm obsessed. Yeah. No, Post is, speaking of, if everyone's, if the vision for us is that everyone vibes, Post Malone is a huge part of that. We need Post to spread the gospel of vibes to the world. He's the ambassador, truly.

I mean, together they are unstoppable. This song is unbelievable. I love it. And especially coming out of Two Most Wanted, the waterfall that will happen from Two Most Wanted as that song becomes what it's going destined to become into Levi

Jeans. Levi Jeans is another. I think she could have three number one hits off this album, at least. I think Texas Hold'em already is. I think Two Most Wanted, that's its destiny. And I think that Levi Jeans is, this is, that is a fucking hit. That is a radio smash right there. Yes. Across genres.

I mean, I can hear it everywhere. Everywhere. Flamenco, I think, kind of is a nice little dollop on top of this act of Smoke Hour 2, because I think Linda Martell's show into the rest of the album is a fucking moment. Correct. My first listen through, I was like, I did get fatigued by the end. I was like a little checked out. But then I really, something drew me back to this section where this run is fucking crazy.

It's nuts. Linda Martell show into Amen. I'm like, this can be its own album. When the vinyl comes, I know people are really mad that Yaya is not on the current pressings. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yaya and Spaghetti, and Spaghetti, Spaghetti too, Spaghetti, just because those double I's are throwing me off. Yeah.

Anyway, like this, whatever this disc is, side A, side B on this is fucking wild. Well, if this is like the finale of the concert, because I could see her doing a thing, and she won't, because I thought the same thing about Renaissance. Like, is she going to do it like chronologically? She mostly did.

Sort of. I mean, she didn't really, but like, I think with this, she also could because this is so executed in terms of the acts. Wait, you're gaslighting. She basically did with Renaissance. She took out some things and then she did like the wedding interlude in the middle where the theme was wedding, I should say,

where it was like love on top and like she largely did that, but it wasn't totally chronological. And I guess what I'm saying is like this probably won't be, but could be in a complimentary way. Got it. Got it. Yeah. This album is a little bit more I don't know, flexible. Yeah.

Yeah. Renaissance is meant to be like a DJ set and this is meant to just be like a radio sort of thing. Yeah. This album is a little bit more, I don't know, flexible. Yeah. Yeah. Renaissance is meant to be like a DJ set. And this is meant to just be like a radio sort of thing. Yeah. Right. Even just Linda being like, that's what makes it an enjoyable listening experience. I love it. It's iconic.

And then when Yaya starts. This is, I was thinking of you. I always think of you when Yaya plays because it is Beyonce at her most ladies it is Beyonce giving us yet another song in the ladies canon ladies you know what I mean

yep these petty ones can't fuck with me why because I'm a clever girl we snapping this is gonna be so crazy this is gonna be so crazy this is gonna go so off this is gonna go

crazy live this is a moment and a half and it's so many things it's like Linda was right when she said that exploration of so many different genres like the boots are made for walking sample.

I just like, we were everywhere on this. Until the big band. It's so seamless. I don't realize moment to moment where I'm at. I'm kind of lost in it in a beautiful way. I'm like, I don't care

what the genre is. I really don't. No, nor should anyone. I mean, it's just, it's a blast. It is a fucking blast. It's just good. And I also just love saying, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah.

I think we are all babies. And babies famously say, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. I think we are all babies. And babies famously say yeah, yeah. Well, my little cousin Liam, when he was a baby, the first song he ever made up went like this. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah.

And I was just like, what is that? I don't know where he heard it, how he created it, but yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I'll never forget it. He just wouldn't stop. He wrote Heated. He wrote Heated by Beyonce. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Go off, Liam Spellman.

Yeah. That's from Heated. But I was like, this yeah, yeah, there's something about it. Years later, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's what makes it an enjoyable listeningya. There's something about it. Years later. Ya-ya-ya! That's what makes it an enjoyable listening experience. It's called ya-ya. A Louisiana lovely, cute little thing into kind of just like a gorgeous little sample.

By the way, there is something to be said about this being potentially the most expensive album. I think Pitchfork said this. This is potentially the most expensive album on a royalties level because you're paying stuff out to... Oh, God, yes.

Dolly, Chuck Berry, Nancy Sinatra, Beatles, Beach Boys, Patsy Cline. Oh, my God. Like, the Beach Boys thing. I was like, Brian Wilson better be getting a fucking check, even though he is in a conservatorship, unfortunately, now.

Oh, no. He's not. He's struggled for a while. But I was very happy that Good Vibrations, off of the non-existent Beach Boys album Smile, the follow-up to Pet Sounds,

that Good Vibrations was paid tribute by Beyonce. Yes. Patsy Cline as well. But, I mean, just on a royalties level, that's a lot of cash for some iconic songs yeah this is not an album you can just make no no and god bless like it is a beautiful tapestry of music okay so we are going into desert eagle which also great. Into, here we go, Riverdance. This is one of my favorites.

This is in my top three. Yeah. Talk about it. What I love about it is, well, everything. But I guess, like, it's just, it lifts. Like, it's just this beautiful, euphoric feeling. And the lyrics are so, like, beautifully dense and poetic. And, like.

The way she sings, I love it. I love it. I love this chord progression. I love, I just love, I love the sounds that she chose for it. I mean,

it's, Oh man. Again, the, the harmonies, the vocal stacking, like I just, I'm so impressed with the vocal production on this.

I, she's just, and I love the way she says dance. Like just a little, like a little growl on this. She's just, and I love the way she says, dance. Just a little like, a little growl on it. Or on the bounce, obviously there's a growl on that like, bounce on the shit. Bounce on that shit, no hands.

Say less to be quite honest. Like, to be honest and also, I don't know, have you noticed this? This is a fuck album. This is the fuck album this is a fuck album 1000% this is I think a full on fuck album maybe even more than

renaissance renaissance is a dance album this is a little bit of a fuck album because this is the moment where you've hit your second blunt and now you're getting to horny town and I see myself taking it doggy style to Riverdance. Wow.

I do. I see myself doing that. Wow. If I'm lucky. If you're lucky. I wish that for everyone. The transition into Two Hands to Heaven is... Wild.

Best transition on the album, I'd say. Godly. And Two Hands to to heaven I mean there is something on that note of it being a fuck album which I don't I'm not totally sure I agree with it's okay two minds two hearts two opinions

two opinions it's real culture number 80 two minds two hearts two opinions two hands to heaven I mean there is something and it does demand that like there is an emotional connection in sex, which doesn't always happen.

But I think at the end of two hands to heaven of like, I've been waiting my whole life for you. Like that is horny, even though it's a little too intimate and affectionate. And sometimes you don't necessarily want that when you're having sex.

Intimacy? Not always. Let's not totally tie sex with intimacy because they are not often the same. First of all, I completely agree. And I just recently got dragged for, I was on Nick Lehman oh I yes yes and by the way I completely understand what you mean by the way yeah and people were like upset with me for saying like I have

so I said on Nick Lehman and Julian Brzezinski lovely podcast breathe if you agree new podcast they've got Dylan Mulvaney on this week it's gonna be great but we're talking about sex you said you're king and I said my kink I have, my kink, I have an intimacy kink.

Like I said that sometimes I can get off on, like, I love you play. And like, even if you're just having a one night stand with someone, like sometimes like it can be fun to pretend sexually as a thing that you're more in more of a relationship committed than you are. And then at the end, it's like, whatever, you pack it up and go home. It is a boundary thing, like within the context of sex.

Like, correct. You are aroused by that. I totally relate, mother. And people were like, doesn't he know that's just intimacy? Like, it's like, yeah, that's what sex is. It's caring about someone. I'm like, see, now we're getting,

now we're getting to, are you explaining to me what intimacy is? I promise you. I know. I was explaining that I have an intimate, like it was just crazy. And then I think it was like a queer magazine that like quoted me as saying it. And I was like,

you queer people are like, what? Telling me, what are you trying to do shame me but that was wild I thought like I thought gay guys did sex without intimacy better than anybody first of all I didn't even know it was a thing until someone brought it up to me

they were like oh yeah I saw that you got dragged for this and I was like well first of all like I guess I'm happy that like in the beginning of their podcast like they get that some people like you know it got picked up and that's good for them I guess but um yeah I don't have a problem with sex I I have a very good relationship with it and when I'm in an intimate relationship I know what that means and I know what it means to express a kink and I know what it means to communicate and I know what boundaries are. And thank you very much.

We're still doing that. We're still like chastising each other for things that people like sexually, if it's not hurting, if it's like fully within the bounds of consent. First of all, the reason I even have experimented with that is because my straight female friend said that she does it and she has sex with men. And I was like, oh, that's really interesting. I might try that. And I tried it and it was fun. Like it was fun to have a boyfriend for like 30 minutes. You're talking about your sexual preferences on a podcast that like prompts to that. And for anyone to try to poke holes in that is so fucking not of this time. We're past it. I also don't

care. Yeah, it was disappointing because it was like willful ignorance about what I was saying. They were trying to make it seem like I'm just like, whatever, I don't care. Honestly, after I watched Perfect Blue, like you said, I'm in a whole new place where I'm just like... You're the real thing

as she says in the end. Right. Yeah. I know who I am. I know that I'm in a whole new place where I'm just like, you're the real thing. As she says in the end. Right. Yeah. I know who I am. I know that I'm a real person and you know that. And like who you are and like, I'm not going to let like whatever people weighing in on whatever it is. If either of us fucking care what anyone thought,

we wouldn't share our opinions and thoughts on a podcast. We just would not. So whatever. But there does come a time when, and I'm really happy that you suggested that movie to me because you can drive yourself fucking crazy caring what people think. It can kill you. It really can. It can kill you.

And then even to see Beyonce, and I said this with Madonna a few weeks ago, where she was like, I don't give a fuck. Well, sometimes I still give one and a half fuck. And then even Beyonce saying the other night like, you know, criticism can really take a toll on your mental health. It can give a fuck. Well, sometimes I still give one and a half fuck. Yeah. And then even Beyonce saying the other night, like, you know, criticism can really take a toll on your mental health.

It can be a challenge. It is a challenge, but ultimately you know yourself. And this doesn't even have to pertain to anyone that's in the whatever quote unquote public eye. It can be, if you lived your life and people have opinions on it, it doesn't fucking matter.

No. You think Beyonce like would stop doing anything that she was ever doing because of what people said? She would have been in hiding at age 19. And that would have been a loss for the world. Exactly. Okay. Tyrant.

Tyrant. I love that Dolly is featured on Tyrant, even though she just kind of does the cowboy Carter, you know, like, you know, whatever. She just has that little thing up top. But then, I mean, Tyrant, even though she just kind of does the cowboy Carter, you know, like, you know, whatever. She just has that little thing up top. But then I mean, Tyrant is, is that a harmonica here? Uh-huh. And you know, Stevie

Wonder plays the harmonica on Jolene. On Jolene. Yes. I wonder who was harmonica on Tyrant. But so, so good. I mean, this is this, this is a fucking like dirty and by dirty i mean like down home dirty song but like with like that bass with like pretty contemporary instrumentation but without it sounding like a content i mean i guess this is weirdly tyrant is weirdly

the more on the more contemporary side of country on this album. Yeah. Like this you could like imagine someone fucking putting out you know like maybe? 100%. I mean this is the thing too is it's like I think that what should happen now is

it should inspire country music. You know what I mean? Like it should expand. If I'm someone in Nashville country right now, I'm inspired. I'm not threatened. No. But I think that it's the conservative, is it modus operandi,

to just be, like, threatened. To just be like, how dare you? Like, this isn't the way things are. Like, it's just like, that's, I guess, what is at the root of the word conservative is to conserve it is to remain it is to you know protect in a way it's like what are you what are you protecting exactly like what what are we still obsessed with what do we need from the past that we can't move forward like i just think you know i recently went on

the podcast orange country which is hosted by shaneAnally and Gina Kirshenheiter. And Shane McAnally is a gay country songwriter. And he was nominated for the Grammy for Songwriter of the Year last year. And he's worked with Casey, he's worked with Maren, he's worked with all the girls. All the cool country girls. And honestly, some of, in my opinion, the whack country guys. He's seen it all like cool country girls. And honestly, some of like, in my opinion, like the whack country guys, like he's seen it all in Nashville country. And I asked him, I was like, what do you think about Beyonce coming in to country? What do you think about it? And he was like, I fucking love Beyonce. I'm her biggest fan. I'm obsessed with her. I would,

I worship her. The thing about her coming into country music is I looked at people she was working with and there were no Nashville country musicians. And I wish that there were some just because, you know, Nashville is a community that's very tight. And I feel like, especially with women in country music, it's very hard. So for someone to come in from quote unquote, the outside, another genre, like it's just, it is a thing. Okay. I understand that as coming from- I don't know if that I totally agree. I don't know if I totally agree. I don't agree. I understand where he's coming from. Yes, me too.

But I do not agree because again, it ascribes ownership of country music to Nashville. And that is or shouldn't be that's not real. I feel like country should be decentralized exactly exactly like of all genres that is like the way that hip-hop is decentralized only benefits the genre

as a whole um and then becca producer becca says also her having to make amends with the community of folks who rejected her so heavily totally why. Why would she? Yeah, exactly. Why would she bring in someone from the Nashville fold? Well, she doesn't work with them. She doesn't need that. And also, maybe that question in and of itself is answered by the Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson

of it all. It's like, again, if you're someone in country music who knows better than those two, my Stetson is off to you, darling. But it was interesting to hear his perspective because this is someone who's a huge fucking fan. But I think, again, there was still that

confusion about what exactly this album was going to be. Well, yeah, and he said that before the album came out, right? Correct, correct. I adore him, and he's so talented. It was just, I had to ask that question as someone who's so firmly entrenched in country music and this was right after Texas Hold'em came out where maybe it seemed like because of that song,

it was going to be more like pop country, like in the style of what they still do nowadays in country music, but maybe the actual product that was released, the actual art that was released is an answer to that question about why maybe there's not the same old folks that you might see on anyone's album like i'm really interested to hear like what casey thinks of this what marin thinks of

this like yeah what the progressive cool country girls now who honestly have had to wrestle with the genre because it doesn't align with their beliefs. The ideology is completely fucked a lot of the times in terms of Or just that it's just confining. The way that Linda says that it's confining. I would love to hear their opinion too.

I bet Taylor loves this. I'm sure. Speaking of genre innovation, I think Sweet Honey Bucket is Ketamine Country. Elaborate on that one. You're dead ass right. If you listen to this song Country with a K

Country with a K, it is it is like beautiful K-hole vibes. Like Bucket, Bucket like a mechanical bull. And then like the look at that horse, look at that horse. It's like, what is she doing? I the look at that horse, look at that horse. It's like, what is she doing? I love look at that horse.

Look at that horse. Look at that horse. Look at that horse. That is Ketamina. Yeah. I think Beyonce's done, K. Absolutely. I think this whole song is so fucking cool, weird,

country by like a thin, gorgeous aesthetic layer alone and everything else about it is sort of like let's throw in everything. This is kind of like a ya-ya to me where it's like, I don't know what this is, but I love it.

Yeah, this is a highlight for me too. This is in my top five as well. Do you think it's an answer to Pure Honey? Do you think it's like a spiritual sister? Absolutely. I was thinking of Pure Honey like the first time I heard it. I was like, oh, even like in terms of like the placement,

like the tent poles of Renaissance are sort of like there is an analog in Cowboy Carter. The act three, the three act thing she's doing right now is so satisfying for OCD people. Yes. I'm like, oh my God, for it to all snap into place like this. I'm going to come actually.

Like, I love that someone as detail oriented and passionate and hardworking as her is also having as much fun as she's having and making it all make sense in this way. God damn it. I mean, this is absolutely the pure honey that brings us into like, this isn't in a lot of ways, the last track before the actual last track. And for this to be like the spiritual informal closer is so cool to me. So fucking cool

yes and then it launches into Amen which is like when you realize the album was a prayer the album was a prayer it was a prayer a requiem even one of my favorite things that's ever happened in culture

was when Oprah Winfrey had Steven Spielberg on her show for Lincoln. And he sits down and she goes, thank you for this film. It's a prayer. It's a prayer. Prayer is back. Rami Youssef brought prayer back to SNL. Beyonce's bringing prayer back to music.

Like, prayer is back. I'm praying. I'm going to pray now. I don't know who is back I'm praying I'm gonna pray now I don't know who but I'm praying how are you pronouncing it? prayer prayer I'm country you're country girl prayer

come on let's say it prior that Rami used is brought back prayer I had to do a southern accent for an audition last week. And you have a good one. Did not book. I actually can certainly try. I actually can, yeah.

But the thing is, you never know when it's going sketch. It could go sketch comedy real easy. Well, that accent is sketch comedy. In a way. That's the thing. And the thing is, they said in the dialogue, it said,

literally they spelled thang, T-H-A-N-G. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So I said to my agent, I was like, I'm sorry, but am I giving thang? Because they said in the dialogue,

they said thang. And I was just like, is this Goofytown? Or is this like, subtle Southern. And I was just like, is this Goofy Town or is this like subtle Southern? And I just did Matt Rogers. Clown behavior. Honey, people want that. Well, they didn't.

Oh, well, someone else will. Congrats to the other actor that they are pursuing. We did receive good feedback, though. Oh, good. That's good. You don't always get that with an audition. My last three auditions, it has been, we received really good feedback,

but they're pursuing another actor. That's the biz, babe. I said, thanks. Thanks. Now, I'm so glad we talked about this album. I don't think we can get to 2013, sadly. No, I think if that would push it to over two hours, and I don't think that that's our journey today. I don't think we can get to 2013, sadly. No, I think if that would push it to over two hours, then I don't think that that's

our journey today. I don't think anyone wants that. The last thing I'll say is, have you listened to the end of Amen into I'm That Girl? No. Oh my god, what? Because it fucking... The way it like... Ding! Like, it goes

very cleanly. I love the way Amen ends. It throws you through a loop, says producer Becca. It literally does. And it's like, you get that maybe this was act one and that Renaissance was act two because it seamlessly pops into it. And yeah,

it's almost like, all right, we prayed. Now get up off the knees get up off the pews and we're dancing turn the lights down low let's pop pussy push the pews to the walls clear the space

yeah fold up the chairs in the hall this is what I was gonna get at earlier when I was like talking about how this was meant to be the first release and then renaissance and about how she's this utopian artist I mean mean, it is like a pure act of altruism to me. Like, for

Beyonce to be like, no, what the world needs now is a dance album because of COVID. Like, think about it. Like, if she were to release Cowboy Carter in, you know, 2022, like, it would have been a little like, wait, what? Like like it would have been a little like, wait, wait, what? Like it would

have been a big question mark. I think for a lot of people, no one would have been like, this is bad, but it would have been like, like, I do think she, she did it completely right. She was completely correct. I would agree. I also think it almost hits harder further away from that experience she had at the CMAs. You know what I mean? It's like, I feel like it works better like this. And also, you know, she's quoted as saying that she had it ready to go or whatever. And then she decided to put out Renaissance because she realized the world needed to dance. Like, that's just what was moving her. And I do think everything worked out the way that it should. The one question I think that a lot of fans do have is this thing of the CD having come out and there are the old packaging with the title Act II, Beyonce and the missing songs, etc. And I guess my thing with that is it should be either left gloriously unclear or it will become clear. It's the same thing with the Renaissance visuals. You know what I mean? What do you think is unclear about the Beyonce? Because I think she's

talked about that. Has she? Yeah. Beyonce was either Tina's mother's or Tina's maiden name. Oh no, I know what Beyonce is. I'm just saying the album that exists in what people are ordering right now and receiving in terms of

the vinyl and the CDs, it's called Beyonce. That's the cover. It's a different album cover. It's a different title and it's missing songs. So it's almost like, I think what happened was there was a literal realized album called Beyonce and say,

and because she held it back and did Renaissance first, that it was packaged and ready to go. And you can't just lose that product. But it's Beyonce. She can do what she can release her music. However she wants. Right. But it's Beyonce. She can release her music however she wants. Right, but why would she allow vinyls missing songs from her album? Yeah, that I don't know.

I don't know about that. But the cover is like that presentation, the first thing people see on the vinyl cover, that is not a mistake. I don't think anything is a mistake. What I'm saying is that I think there was a completed, realized album ready to be rolled out. This shit may have even been printed.

It clearly was already printed. Right. Am I not understanding you? I just think she has a sash that says, actually, Cowboy Carter on the traditional cover. And then she just has another version of that that doesn't say Cowboy Carter on it, but just says Beyonce.

Right. Because I think that the first version of Cowboy Carter was called Beyonce. Oh, interesting. And had less songs. That's I guess what I'm saying. I see. I see. Totally, totally, totally.

And because whatever, like peek behind the curtain, that shit has to be printed way in advance and is expensive, like the materials. So I think it's a thing of like, there may be another release of vinyl, which is Cowboy Carter and has this cover and has a vinyl and a CD with all of the songs on it. But they had to move that product. I think. Interesting. You know more about

this business. I don't know about how the vinyls get pressed. You are the business guy. It's like so far in advance. And to me, it's like if she were to sit on this for a long time, it feels totally in line with who Beyonce is to be like, no, we're going to add songs. I'm not done with this.

It's going to continue to evolve. Well, I can't wait for the next evolution. Me neither. I can't wait for the next evolution me neither I can't wait for the next evolution of everything of everything oh god I don't know about everything

no no the real housewives of Salt Lake City are back I love that oh my gosh. Welcome. And last season's drama was just the tip of the iceberg.

You're recording us? I am disgusted. Never in a million years after everything we've been through did I think that you would reach out to our sworn enemy. We were friends. How could you do this to me? I don't trust her. The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, Wednesdays at 9 on Bravo or stream it on City TV+.

On Thanksgiving Day, 1999, a five-year-old boy floated alone in the ocean. He had lost his mother trying to reach Florida from Cuba. He looked like a little angel. I mean, he looked so fresh. And his name, Elian Gonzalez, will make headlines everywhere. Elian Gonzalez. Elian, Elian. Elian Gonzalez.

Elian, Elian. Elian Gonzalez. At the heart of the story is a young boy and the question of who he belongs with. His father in Cuba. Mr. Gonzalez wanted to go home and he wanted to take his son with him. Or his relatives in Cuba. Mr. Gonzalez wanted to go home and he wanted to take his son with him. Or his relatives in Miami.

Imagine that your mother died trying to get you to freedom. At the heart of it all is still this painful family separation. Something that as a Cuban, I know all too well. Listen to Chess Peace, the Elian Gonzalez story, as part of the My Cultura podcast network, available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, I'm Jay Shetty and I'm the host of On Purpose. My latest episode is with Jelly Roll. This episode is one of the most honest and raw interviews I've ever had.

We go deep into Jelly Roll's life story from being in and out of prison from the age of 13 to being one of today's biggest artists. We talk about guilt, shame, body image, and huge life transformations. I was a desperate, delusional dreamer, and the desperate part got me in a lot of trouble. I encourage delusional dreamers. Be a delusional dreamer.

Just don't be a desperate, delusional dreamer. I just had such an anger. I was just so mad at life. Everything that wasn't right was everybody's fault, Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Trust me, you won't want to miss this one. Alright, well... Is it time for I Don't Think So Honey? It's time for I Don't Think So Honey. Anything else

in the culture you want to talk about? It's basically been this. I'll briefly say, well, I guess my I Don't Think So Honey is going to be... God I'll briefly say, well, I guess my I Don't Think So Honey is going to be, God, I don't want to be dark with my I Don't Think So Honey. Honey, it's all done. You know what?

I can do an I Don't Think So Honey on this other thing, but I do want to say I finished Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Uh-huh. What a delight. What a delight. I love a case of the week.

I loved it. Loved it. They fucking crushed it. And I was, again, I was skeptical in the beginning. I loved it. Loved it. They fucking crushed it. And I was, again, I was skeptical in the beginning. And then it won me over. I was laughing and smiling at the TV. I was watching it with Greta. We were having the best time.

There's a scene, by the way, the guest stars are unreal. Every episode is giving a guest star of the millennium. Like Sarah Paulson plays a therapist. She's fucking great. Michaela Cole is in it. She's amazing in it. Of course, of course. Parker Posey comes in and eats.

Like just, it's like so good. And there's a scene at the end of the Parker Posey episode where Donald and Maya are in bed together, like laughing, recounting what happened. And I was like, this is chemistry right here. I am watching great TV chemistry. I love, I love is chemistry right here. I am watching great TV chemistry. I love chemistry. Me too.

Oh, when it's good, it's good. Kelly Clarkson album. I love that album. I want to say the only TV media I've consumed outside of still playing Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, I'm sorry, I'm slow, is A Cake Season 3 is out. Mikey Day is one of the best,

one of the best to ever do it. I would love to meet him. He is one of our great Americans, in the words of Tina Fey. Mikey Day, you are a king. He is the homecoming king of SNL, as far as I'm concerned. I love that.

Kenan is the star student, maybe even the principal. He's team captain. He's team captain. Mikey is like star quarterback. Sometimes those are two different people. Team captain and star quarterback. Often.

You can't assume the quarterback is going to be able to necessarily be the captain. That's so much on his plate. And that's as far as I'll take that football team analogy. But Mikey Day, he's so good at hosting a show about

hyper-realistic cakes. And these people, these bakers are so lovely. And they're from all walks of life all across the country. Shout out to Jajar who is amazing. Jajar is an example of someone who grows up in a family where people support your dreams.

He goes, you should always do what your heart desires. He's so sweet. He makes these amazing cakes. He made a sack of flour that looked like a sack of flour, but guess what? Cake. Is It Cake season three is out now on Netflix. I might have to have smoke hour and really get into

Is It Cake. Remember when season one came out? We watched it at your apartment and we were having a ball. We watched it here? We watched it in LA when season one came out. It must have been the Smoke Hour. It was the Smoke Hour, but we were loving it. We were like, Mikey!

Is that when you came to my aid? Yes. Love you, sister. Bowen really got on a plane to help heal my heart. You really did that. And I'll never forget it. Shotgun rider!

Anyways, I feel as though it's now time. Speaking of TV that's been shaking the culture, I can do my I Don't Think So, Honey. Okay, this is I Don't Think So, Honey. This is where we take one minute to go against, to rail against something in culture, I should say. This is Matt Rodgers' I Don't Think So, Honey. As time starts now. I Don't Think So Honey. This is where we take one minute to go against to rail against something in culture, I should say. This is Matt Rogers. I Don't Think So Honey. His time starts now. I Don't Think So Honey. All that is

ruined. The Amanda Show is ruined. Like, it's all just... If you can still watch that, my hat is off. Unfortunately, like, I think you sort of can. Like, maybe on Amazon or something, but like, wow, was I completely... i had heard

things but fuck these people are disgusting inside and out can i also say i don't think so honey if you were an actor that was one of the people that sent in a letter of character for that guy brian peck and you have not made a statement denouncing that or you have not apologized or you have not reached out, what the fuck? What are you waiting for? Why are you? I don't think so many character letters in general. Just fucking stay out of it, boo.

Shut up. That was crazy. And I hate feeling this way about James Marsden. Five seconds. Who I love. But fuck. I don't think so, honey. And that's one minute. and I hate feeling this way about James Morriston, who I love, but fuck! I don't think so, honey.

And that's one minute. One of the actors in the documentary, in Quiet On Set, was retracted and was like, I was not told the right set of facts. It's as easy as that. It's as simple as saying that you were misled, that the situation was misrepresented to you. I mean, the two guys

from Boy Meets World that had written I guess it's Rider Strong and Will Friedle, they were 27 and 24 when they wrote these character letters, and they're saying like, oh yeah, it was a set of facts was presented to me. He told me he was guilty, but

you know, it was about really the treatment and da-da really the treatment and what he had been going through i'm like i'm sorry there's no excuse there's no excuse we should probably stop at pedophile right and these things that are like he was tempted there was temptation i fell for jailbait guys when you're 15 years old you can't do that and I understand discourse about like this type of thing has you know become has developed over time and we now have tools to talk about it now that maybe

we didn't then but like Jesus Christ I know it's pretty bad it's pretty bad I mean I still think it's as easy personally having not been in this situation I can't totally speak on this fully, but I think you can just be like, hey, I didn't know what I was talking about.

Yeah. I didn't realize the extent of this. I don't know. Can you imagine letting that just hang out there and being okay with that? Like if they're being advised to not say anything, that is not correct advisement. If I ever thought that like something,

a popular idea about me out there was that I was just like, that the last word on all this is, yeah, I wrote a character letter for this person. I would be screaming from the, from the rooftops. Like, no, no, no den letter for this person, I would be screaming from the rooftops, like, no, no, no, denounce, denounce, denounce.

This is what happened. I apologize. I'm so sorry. It's just so disgusting to me. Yeah. In the words of someone depicted in the documentary, I would say with my chest. For me, the most heartbreaking thing was Brian

Hearn and his mother. Brian's mother was one of the only parents who spoke up to the producers after, it wasn't a Double Dare episode, but it was an episode where Brian was covered in peanut butter and... Licked by dogs.

And licked by dogs. And it's just so disgusting to watch. And like, he is literally saying in this clip, like, I don't like this. I don't like this. And so of course his mother is like,

this is not acceptable. Like, please, can we not do this to the kids? And then she describes like the meeting where they let him go. It's so emotional because she's like, she starts getting teary and she goes, I saw him become a man.

I saw like his posture change. Like you can't like as a parent watching, seeing that moment in front of you, like you can't go back from that. Heartbreaking. It's so devastating to watch. And like word on the street is like some of these actors signed NDAs on the sets in production saying that they could never talk about these things. And that is so fucking diabolical.

NDA culture has to end. Unless you're Beyonce. It's so fucked. But that isn't even, even that is just like, it's like, you know what you're doing. When you, when you, first of all, this set was like crawling with pedophiles more than one at once. No more massages on sets. I don't care who you are, how old you are, how old people are around you. Anytime someone's like, give me a massage. It is not appropriate.

I'm like, it's never appropriate. I'm like, don't ever, don't. I don't want a massage. It is not appropriate. I'm like, it's never appropriate. I'm like, don't ever. Don't. I don't want a massage. I don't want to watch someone being given a massage on set. No, a professional atmosphere, unless it's actually for bodily relief, should not be a place where like someone is touching someone else's body for like pleasure or relief. No. No way. touching someone else's body for like pleasure or relief. No, no,

if you're hiring, like if you're hiring some therapist to like be with you there because you have like a bad rotator cuff. Sure. Otherwise get off the set. Also, it's so disgusting how long he stayed there. Like did that,

that was the culture and that they knew about it and that they kept the man in charge there for so long, just goes to show how much money fucking talks and it is so frustrating it is such a dark reality of the entertainment industry and of every industry but wow like we really will do this drag of pretending that it's getting better etc it's like there's still so many fucking like disgusting abusers in place because they make people money. And this is yet another thing. It's just yet another thing that just goes to show it is all about the bottom fucking line. And there's a lot of harmful fucking people out there. And I commend everyone that's out there saying their stories. i feel so heartbroken and sad for everyone whose dreams

were shattered who were talented young people and obviously the number one casualty of all this is obviously you know of course drake bell but also whatever really went down with amanda bines that is a fucking tragedy because she was a fucking superstar and she could have had the entire world if only she were in a safe environment that respected her and respected her talent and allowed her to grow in a in a real way both as a human being and as a talent like we could really be enjoying her gifts right now and she she would, she would, you know, probably not have had to go through what she went through. It reeked of Britney Spears to me too.

Just like nasty, nasty, dark stuff. And obviously it's a tough sit and there's actually going to be a fifth episode that they put out. That's right. You know, which I have mixed feelings about,

to be honest. Right. I think it seemed to have been a fully told story, but maybe they, I don't know, whatever new thing they have will be, hopefully will be interesting, worthwhile. We don't know. Kids shouldn't be acting. I mean, I just don't think that kids need to be doing that. I talked actually the day after, I won't say who, but I came into contact with someone who was a child star who was on a Disney Channel show. And I asked her what she thought

about it. And she was like, I just don't think that people that age need to be in those environments. And she made a joke. She's like, I'm anti-AI except for that. You know what I mean? Maybe at this, or it's just like things need to change so much. It's kind of like, you know, like when you have experience with something and you get years and then you can look back. Like one day I asked my dad, like why he never played football with me. And he was like, well, you never showed interest. And I was like, that's not true. Like I showed interest in the things you showed to me.

And then he revealed, he was like, well, to be honest with you, I really don't think kids that age should be playing football. There you go. And I was just like, there it is. I mean, like when you have seen something firsthand, you are the authority on it and you have these people being like, this is fucked up. This is dark. Like, listen to them. Fucked. I agree.

I think like what we saw with the parents though was that like some of them were just like, my child has expressed interest. Like Drake Bell's dad was just like, well, Drake of them were just like, my child has expressed interest. Like, Drake Bell's dad was just like, well, Drake loved to perform, and, like, I wanted, and, like, they had just come out of a divorce, and he was like, I wanted to spend time

with Drake. Like, this was the way to do it. His father broke my heart. Oh, my God. That was just devastating. So hard to watch. But, yeah, I mean, like, it's, not all stage parents are, like, evil, and not all stage I mean, like, it's not all stage parents are like evil and not all stage parents are like totally. No, it's not all Mama Rose.

No, I know, but it's, yeah, but it's like, but there is like some, I don't think we've as a culture figured out like what the responsibility, how, where it totally, where it falls in that relationship or in that within the system it is obviously a systemic thing but like um i don't know like i've i've had like interesting experiences with like parents who come through snl with their child actors and i'm like oh i don't want to know anything else about this you know what i mean i'm like this is yeah i will say yeah i also worked with kids from my special and one of the things I said even before was I was like this needs

to be I was like I'm hesitant about working with kids I've heard it's difficult and then I was really interested I was like what are the parents going to be like and they were all very lovely and present and I've seen this done in very professional ways and I'm proud to say that

I was involved with something that was like really nice. And the kids only worked for a very short amount of time and they were very sweet kids and they were talented. And I'm happy that they get to do that. But it's just, it's hard to not be fucking freaked out and just want to say abort mission on the whole thing. When you hear about even one thing. I know. Darcy Carden, perfect example. Someone who loved acting, wanted to do it as a kid. Her parents were like, totally, only

do it if you don't get paid. Oh, wow. That is like the perfect model. That's the perfect model. We don't want you as a child to get paid to do this. Because that's where it gets dark. Because that's where it gets dark. Oh, okay. That is

really, that's a, yeah. Isn't that so smart? That is so smart. But Darcy's a broken person now. She's broken. She's so sick. Disgusting. Disgusting people. That's what we're saying is that all child actors

who came out of that system broken are to blame. All right. Wait, it's now time for your I Don't Think So, Honey. Yeah, yeah. I might get a little messy with this. Girl, are you absolutely sure? Do you think I should?

I don't know what it is. Oh, okay. You know what it is. I mentioned earlier. This is Bowen Yang's I Don't Think So, Honey. His time starts now. I Don't Think So, Honey, that fucking person on TikTok saying, SNL is hot, guys. I'm kind of misquoting her, but like Jason Sudeikis, blah, blah, blah. Even Bowen Yang.

Don't even Bowen Yang me. Don't you ever put the word even in front of my fucking name. Any of you. Anyone out there. For this person to like make this crazy make this crazy judgment and assessment on like the beauty

standard on the women of SNL, which is so fucking crazy to do. Do not lump me into, do not bring me into that conversation at all. I don't want anyone to think of me as hot or not hot or even hot. Five seconds. I don't want to land anywhere on that for you, especially if you are like doing some sweet,

innocent, well-meaning, I think bedroom bedroom TikTok about how hot people are on this show that you have no fucking perspective on. And that's one minute. It was not well-meaning. It was messy. Of course it wasn't. Someone got on TikTok and

She's being rightfully dragged for it, I think. Yeah, I mean, you reap what you sow, in the words of Beyonce on her self-titled. But somebody was like, yeah, there's been no hot women on SNL. And she goes into this whole fucking thing about like,

literally brings up pictures of cast members and is like, like this person, like she plays all the hot girls. I don't know her name. She's not even hot. Like, and this person, like she's not hot.

Like, and there's no hot women, but think about the men. Like this is Jimmy Fallon back in the day like and then she goes he's ugly now but look how hot he was I'm like what is this like it's so it starts in such a gross way it gets worse

and worse and worse and it's just like so nasty and judgy and disgusting and placing a, placing a value on something that's like so stupid and arbitrary. And it's just, Oh, it was gross.

I'm like, you, I think this is just a peek into like a darkness. I think that's why people are like really responding to it is because they're like, something's off here. Something's like not good, not healthy.

And I don't think this is me like punching down. I think this is just like me actually responding. I'm just emotionally responding to like, I don't want to be fucking like put in that. I don't want to be in any kind of like aesthetic evaluation rubric at all like even like on a gay guy level like I don't really

yeah it's exhausting and toxic I'm kind of just dressing the way I want to dress I care about how I look like for my I truly for myself but it's like I don't think I want to think about myself in that context because I don't know. I'm going through it right now where I'm just like,

Oh, like rejection again. Um, but I'm like, I don't want to like think about that. You know, like don't bring us into that, please.

We're just trying to do sketch comedy. It's not that deep. We're not like mega stars. We're just lovely people who like cut our teeth in bar basements and like put on wigs. And now the wigs are a bit nicer and we get makeup on on Saturdays, but we're just the same people. Like everyone at work right now is just, is just a lovely person. Yeah. I also think like the thing that unfortunately fucking of course happens when someone is idiotic enough to start a conversation like that is then it becomes a conversation and a discourse.

And it's this thing of like, even saying something like what do you mean so and so is so hot like leaves people out also puts an expectation on them it's just like it's so useless and can only make people feel bad well now there are tabs on my TikTok

that are like at Bowen Yang isn't hot what are you talking about I'm like okay you've done nothing productive. You haven't helped anyone with this. Yeah.

Like, fucking like, and this is like what we, but it's not what we signed up for because we did not sign up for this. No, and that's like, it's again, it's like once you wade into the waters, like this is why the detachment from what people are saying is so important. This is perfect

blue because the second I told him not to watch perfect blue, I'm such a college freshman about it. I told not to watch perfect blue, but he might keep going. And I did. And I just feel like the second it becomes the second it drifts away from what your purpose was, you will start to go fucking crazy. Like I have to remind myself all the time, like, I'm doing this because I believe it is my purpose in life to make people feel good and feel happy and make them laugh. My purpose on this planet is to create positive bursts of energy and to leave places better than I left them. That is my purpose. The second it starts becoming about how someone looks on a red carpet or what your skin is doing or like what I can't live without or you know, once it becomes like ugly and like something that's, you know,

too tangible, it is material. It is like truly material. Like, yeah, that's the thing. It's like, of course there's playing ball. Of course, of course there's that, you know what I mean? Like we both play ball in the industry. We both do what we need to do. Everyone does. But the fact is like you and yourself, you have to remind yourself why you do it and you do it because it brings you joy. Everyone on that show, everyone in comedy does it because they are preternaturally talented in terms of the joy and comedy that they can bring to the

world and some idiot coming on and placing what they value onto everyone else and starting this conversation is toxic and disgusting and degrading. For like a completely subjective thing, which is like beauty, which is like aesthetics. And the conversation around aesthetics right now is so warped and so toxic, as it always has been. But it just gets worse and worse and worse

as we're supposed to like pretend that we can all compete with the beauty ideal, which no one can even if it looks like they're on top of it they're not they're not they're not and it has not saved them it is not like

made them better people necessarily yeah and also how about this as a rule of thumb don't be a fucking asshole period period well I am galvanized How about this as a rule of thumb? Don't be a fucking asshole. Period. Period. Well, I am galvanized. St. Texas!

We're both ready to kind of take the day on, huh? Wow. An over two hour episode that did not get to the cultural excavation, despite there being a document prepared, the culture- We were ready to go. Cowboy culture title of- 2013 Cowboy Culture title of 2013. Cowboy Culture title of 2013. It deserves

its own episode in a way. Maybe it will. Maybe it won't get that, but it is. It's a big year, as you all know. Most of you were alive for that. We hope no 11 year olds are listening to this. Oh, dear. If you're an 11 year old listening to this or younger. God help you. You shouldn't be doing this

we don't want a quiet on set about you and us listen speaking of quiet on set it's time to quiet the podcast but not before we sing and we end every episode with a song I'll be your shotgun

we have to rehearse this we can't give it away I'll be your shotgun runner. We have to rehearse this. We can't give it away. Get your tickets to the Culture Awards June 15th in Brooklyn. Passcode CULT. Bye. Bye. I'm Julian Edelman.

I'm Rob Gronkowski. And we are super excited to tell you about our new show dudes on dudes we're spilling all the behind scene stories crazy details and honestly just having a blast talking football every week we're discussing our favorite players of all times from legends to our buddies to current stars we're finally answering the age old question. What kind of dudes are these dudes? We're going to find out Jules. New episodes drop every Thursday during the NFL season. Listen to dudes on dudes on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, I'm Jay Shetty and I'm the host of On Purpose. My latest episode is with Jelly Roll. This episode is one of the most honest and raw interviews I've ever had.

We go deep into Jelly Roll's life story from being in and out of prison from the age of 13 to being one of today's biggest artists. I was a desperate delusional dreamer. Be a delusional dreamer. Just don't be a desperate delusional dreamer. Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcasts. Trust me, you won't want to miss this one. On Thanksgiving Day, 1999, five-year-old Cuban boy Elian Gonzalez was found off the coast of Florida. And the question was, should the boy go back to his father in Cuba? Mr. Gonzalez wanted to go home

and he wanted to take his son with him. Or stay with his relatives in Cuba. Mr. Gonzalez wanted to go home and he wanted to take his son with him. Or stay with his relatives in Miami. Imagine that your mother died trying to get you to freedom. Listen to Chess Peace, the Elian Gonzalez story on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.