Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang - "Name Another Legend" (w/ Jess Rona)

Episode Date: September 23, 2020

JESS-ter, you have done it again! After addressing some cultural items up top (Katharine McPhee is QUAKING), Matt and Bowen welcome the dog grooming sensation Jess Rona on Las Cultch! They reminisce on Jess's early days as a groomer before becoming the industry expert on the new reality competition program "Haute Dog"—premiering September 24th on HBO Max. There's plenty of talk about Jess's transition from working out of her wood-paneled garage to soft-opening her new digs in Los Angeles, and how the vibrant grooming community is wonderfully represented on the new show. The new Paris Hilton doc and The Vow are also discussed as things lead into Jess's culture, which is a three-parter that tracks her progression from a ska-head/rude girl to a raver to an improviser. Wild antics from the halcyon days of Del Close Marathon come into the mix, of course, and the three friends close out the episode with more-fiery-than-usual IDTSHs. Listen, love, and absolutely watch "Haute Dog" on HBO Max starting this week! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee 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+.

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Hi, I'm Maite Gomez-Rejon. Our podcast, Hungry for History, is back. And this season, we're taking an even bigger bite out of the most delicious food and its history. Seeing that the most popular cocktail is the margarita, followed by the mojito from Cuba, and the piña colada from Puerto Rico. Listen to Hungry for History on the iHeartRadio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Look, Matt. Oh, I see. Wow. Oh, and look over there wow is that culture yes las culturistas ding dong las culturistas calling big week big week jester you have done it again i'm talking to you hey clown jester you've done it again constantly raising the bar for the circus for the circus wait i have to really talk to you though because jester you've done it again constantly raising the bar for the circus for the circus wait i have

to really talk to you though because jester you have done it again jester what are you talking about jester when you said the way you said several weeks ago that there was always something about katherine mcphee you couldn't put your finger on oh babe the way you said that uh we should be calling miss katherinePhee, hey, clown. Jester, you've done it again. When we saw her damn $500 donation to the Republican Party as of June 2020, I had to stop and really think about that. And I had to think about that. But does it surprise you? Does it surprise you?

The woman's married to David Foster. I heard on the set of Smash, she would often act conservative wow and conservative behavior aligns with conservative values wait hold on i have to say that shook me when i found out and so much has shaken me over the past several weeks but why would it shake you why would it shake you matt that like this like white woman like is is not like not politically aligned with your interests? I don't like hearing it. I don't like hearing it about any BoCo alum. I don't like hearing it about-

This is ultimately about BoCo alum. I don't like hearing that any BoCo alum has been donating to the Republican Party. Wait, I was really shocked by this because i guess what it is is it's like she's an idiot we should just first of all say that she's always been stupid she's a dumb person to now with now to me it's like obviously that was some i want to know did the gay who does her twitter did he quit because he's gotta go well wait what why does that matter because he can't be associated whoever this gay is that runs her twitter and there's a gay who runs her twitter and it has to be because she sometimes

does like come through with some tweets that i'm like all right and whoever she's employing to do that i hope puts in their two weeks notice if that two weeks notice is not accepted i hope they walk right out there was just the joke of, hi, my little log cabin Republicans. I love that. Hi, my gay boys. And now that I think that she said, hi, my gay boys, I'm like, don't ever speak to us again.

Nothing has ever made sense with her. Do you know what I mean? It's like- Something's off. Something's off. I mean, this just means that you gotta be, you gotta be a Megan Hilty person at this point, from this point on.

Oh, if you're not Megan Hilty Hive, then we can't talk. We can't talk. If you are still waffling between Team Karen and Team Ivy, you gotta take a serious long walk. And that's actually rule of culture number 94. If you are still waffling between Team Ivy and Team Karen, you need to take a long walk. It's right there in the name, Team Karen. Now, I really want to sort of switch gears and I am. Oh, my God.

Her name was Karen. Yeah. It all makes sense. Jester, you have done it again. Jester, you've done it again. I want to switch gears real fast. Speaking of gestures, I'm finally on your side on Team Matt with the whole vow discourse

because I can't believe we're still on episode five. We've only crested the hill. There's four more episodes left, and I was talking to my friend Joe Firestone about this over text. Too many shots of people thinking and standing and putting their hands to their mouths. Too many shots of people thinking,

girl, this is not a game show. Okay? No. I don't want to see people think. It's full of jesters. It's jesters that are making the vow. I'm really on my jester grind today. I feel that the nation is full of jesters and I'm not even kidding. Let's just say this. I am 100% in agreement with you about the vow. And I actually haven't even seen the episode this week because it got such negative reviews that I was just like, you know what, girl, and I actually haven't even seen the episode this week because it got such negative reviews that I was just like, you know what, girl? I'm actually gonna take a little bit of a break and maybe binge it later, but that actually sounds like a bad plan because it's

so boring! It just has these long stretches of tension, but the rest of it is just like you're watching people flip through photo albums and talk about how their rich mother's talking about their daughters being part of this. It's like, I cannot sympathize with the wealthy

at this time in the culture. I'm sorry. I totally agree. And right now I feel like we have been, because we've been topical because of the COVID-19 pandemic. We've been sort of following the vow and you've also been following

the Real Housewives of Potomac, which this week was really on fire. Really great episode. It really was on fire, and we saw the beginning. We saw the actual beginning of the physical altercation. That was Candace and Monique, and I think we can reveal at this time that Bowen Yang will be on Watch What Happens Live

with Ms. Monique Samuels. And this is too much for me! Watch What Happens Live is my favorite show. It's my favorite show. I'm very excited. October 4th. Oh, hun. It's going to be with, wait, did you say who I was going to be with?

I said, I said it was with Monique. Monique. Monique Samuels. The villain of the season. Sympathetic though, in a lot of ways. I'm actually still team Monique. It's storylines that sort of go back to season four, I would say, you know? Like, the Monique-Candice conflict has been sort of brewing.

I'm still Team Monique. I'm still Team Monique. You know, but I can sort of see where Candice is coming from, too. So, Candice last night on Watch What Happens Live was paired with Michael Rapoport, which I thought was very funny. But Michael knew the ins and outs of all of Potomac, all of Beverly Hills.'s a huge he's the number one bravo fan in all of the country yes yes um so you know and and i gotta say like candace the reason why potomac is my favorite franchise is because i truly am rooting genuinely for all seven of these women i love all seven of these women so much it's not like new york where i'm just like god i want to push ramona into a sewer i want to i want to take away her her her things i want to i want to watch her suffer yeah but with potomac it's like oh no i love all of these women i know

it's hard to watch them fight and also we haven't even discussed the fact that the of the michael and ashley of it all i mean that that that scene was too much for me take him out i we don't need to see him we don't need to see his blotchy ass face i'm gonna revisit this later i don't think so honey and that's that on that right now but um we will talk more about that when when i don't think so honey rolls the damn around like it always does on an episode of lost culture recess and you know what also always happens on Lost Culture Recess? What's that? Well, it's actually not true. But what I was going to say is we always have a guest.

And this episode is no different. You've done it again. Jester, I have done it again. And speaking of Jester, interesting. This episode we have today, this is an episode that's close to my heart. Because I have very rarely actually become, I feel like, so close with someone so quickly. And I actually haven't seen our guest since we wrapped filming the show that we have coming out this week. Or I should really more say that she has coming out this week because the show was inspired.

Both of you. Well, I'm hosting i'm presenting the program and this show is the jock torres to your nicole byer in many ways in many ways and then robin thede is there being robin thede and killing it by the way let's stop everything right now we have to stop everything right now and say Robin, Fidi, that was one of the best Emmy looks I have ever seen. One of the best red carpet looks. Wayman and Micah dressed that young woman. And I have to say something.

They also styled us for our show called Hot Dog. Now, Hot Dog, as I've alluded to on the podcast, is coming out this week. It's coming out on September 24th, which is truly tomorrow. Or actually, honestly, midnight tonight. I can't wait. I cannot wait to watch this. Can you even believe? I have been, I would say, just as excited as you for this.

Wow, that's huge. I've been pretty excited. I've been pretty excited. I've brought it up sort of casually in our conversations. I'm like, I can't wait to watch this damn show. you'll be able to binge it when six episodes are released at midnight tonight aka september 24th um thursday for people who've decided they are going to sleep tonight and wait and wake up in the morning and watch it before they um you know get on their zooms for work and it also will be available at night if you'd like to do your zoom work first and then start to binge the show so there's so many ways you can go about watching hot dog on september 24th this week um but what it is is it's a dog

grooming competition show and that is apt because our guest today is a legend in the dog grooming industry and i actually was privy to all the contestants on the show sort of gagging over our guest here today who is the head judge she's like the the grooming expert yes and robin thede is the hot expert like she's judging based on like trends and fashion and all that but not only is our yeah and i'm the host and i'm like sort of like gay and squawking and walking around and so this is so fun and i can't wait for you guys to watch six episodes that come up this week. And in addition to all that, our guest is an author.

You can get Jess Rona's Groomed. It will look perfect on your coffee table reader. I know it. And a powerful Instagram influencer, okay? She actually revolutionized something called giving dogs their Beyonce moment. Have you seen this? The wind machine and the music. Darling. Essential. Darling. Essential.

Darling. Essential. And making the dogs look like true dolls. She's an artist. She's a true artist. Phenomenon, icon, and our guest today. And I want you all to welcome into your ears at this time, my friend, the wonderful Jess Rona.

Come on in, woman. Come on in, woman. Come on in, woman. Wow, are you giving yourself your own applause? I've always wanted to do that. Iconic. Honestly, you're actually giving me... I've always wanted to do that. That's a really good idea for us. Maybe we should put in a little sound effect every time we have a guest.

Yes, we should have a sounding board. We should have a thing. We've always wanted that. I've always wanted to do that. Am I inspiring you guest. Yes, we should have a sounding board. We should have a thing. We've always wanted that. I've always wanted to do that. Am I inspiring you guys? Yes, you are. Look at this fount of creativity that you have been already.

Thank you. I was looking at you and I was saying, I was saying she's a fount. She's a fount. She's a fount. Wait, I have to tell you something. What? You guys, not ruined,

but you inspired me to not love the vow either oh what do you mean were you were you like very much into it and then you heard us kind of like be dour and i wasn't ever very much into it but i felt like maybe there was something missing or just it was so slow i was enjoying it and looking forward to each episode but after the third episode i listened to your episode where you guys started talking about it. And I was like, holy shit, they are right. Like, it's like boring and slow. And it's like I like, but I like when Matt was like, I love how it's like the voiceover over that visual, which was really cool.

And it's not like 100% bad. But yeah, I'm just kind of like, I'm disappointed in it because i totally listened to the uncovered next am podcast did you guys listen to that i didn't i don't think matt did either but you so you're getting the full like i already knew the story this is a new spin on the story but yeah i'm with you guys yeah i have to say like it just it doesn't take a lot for me to be like i stand this show about not being in a cult like i watched a lot of scientology in the aftermath because i true but the thing is you but that's because you love leah remini and there's a person pulling you in and i'm telling you it needs a leah it needs a leah type it needs a leah it does because leah is so upset and she just cares about these people

yeah did you guys see the paris hilton doc no oh my god wait did you watch it can you talk about it wait poen did you watch it i i just before this recording watched an interview of paris hilton on the drew barrymore show and it was just like very bizarre show i have to i want to see that it's it's surreal it's it's it it sort of harkens back to like tyra banks's daytime sort of like stint but so wait jess did you watch it yes um i watched report to us what is i can see where you would think it would be like a victim thing but it's sort of something where she's like i've become a character this isn't me and i don't want to be this anymore i think she could have leaned into that a little bit more but it is i just my heart goes out to her because um well damn she has these horrible non-stop

nightmares of being dragged out of her room um and taken to boarding school and i think i think that actually happened. And her parents were just standing there and they didn't do anything. And they dragged her out of her room. She was like, help me. And they didn't do anything. And she went to this boarding school where the people who were in this boarding school are now calling themselves survivors of it. Because it was so, they were abused sexually, physically, emotionally in front of everyone. And they keep using the word traumatized. And it sounds horrible.

And also, you know, she talks about how the sex tape came out when she was 18. She did not consent to it. And she's like, it feels like I was raped like a it was like a cyber rape she's like it seems like i was raped like this and can you imagine and she's like i can't trust my parents i can't trust my family i can't trust anybody anymore and it's like just imagine yes of course she created her reality and all that but you know she's just I just feel my heart really goes out to her. And she seems like such a good person. Like, I recommend watching this. I have heard that she comes off as someone who is who makes a lot more sense after after someone would watch it, because exactly what you're saying is true. I mean, that is a sexual assault. I mean, when someone's nudes leak

and like we're just so desensitized to it, like the whole sex tape of it all. And like, there's so much questioning about how those things get out there and like what the intentions are of the person in them or did they release them, whatever. And I feel like because they quote unquote gain so much from those releases

in the eyes of the public because we think fame is everything. We're not actually thinking about and considering like the trauma that that is. And I think that, you know, it was only when Jennifer Lawrence's nude photos leaked that someone that was in that, that it was happening to use the words sexual assault and that they felt like they were being raped.

And that makes perfect sense to me. And I've heard that Kathy Hilton comes off really bad in the documentary. She really does. She just doesn't ever apologize. And maybe she did in the interview, but they don't put it in the edit.

So I don't know. But she just wasn't like listen to me i love you i'm so sorry this happened to you i'm in so much pain because i know that i caused this she should have you know as an audience member i was wishing that she would say something like that but um you know and like it's, it's just really sad because she was an 18 year old girl. And when the sex tape came out, it was, Oh,

look at what a slut she is. And never talked about this older man who did this to her. And he never really was held accountable. Sorry. Did this just totally take a turn? No, no, no,

this is great. This is great. This is great. This is great because, well, because I, she was saying in this interview on Drew Barrymore that the original sort of intention for this doc was just to show her as this businesswoman, which is this other thing that she has had to sort of like correct for because people have just thought of her as this like frivolous person. But that was like the original

sort of way in but then she and the director got so close that the director was able to sort of have paris open up to her about this really traumatizing experience at school um so yeah i mean i i just like that it sort of organically came out of this um baseline foundational sort of premise that like makes sense and like wouldn't be too compelling necessarily but like but wow i mean yeah i mean she she i mean matt and i matt and i sort of met her she she we didn't sort of meet her we literally met her we met her when at a tribeca film festival for Vulture. Yeah, we were we were working for Vulture. We was the Tribeca Film Festival and she was promoting the other documentary. It was the American Meme.

Yes. And she was like a big part of that. And she really wanted people to see it because I do think it's important to her at this stage that people don't see her as, you know, what she created in the wake of her very sudden in an intense fame and i think that you know we should also say it's a very complicated figure like she she definitely did come out and say that she was like she was definitely a trump apologist and she may very well be a trump voter um we don't know but she definitely said some weird shit about him so that's tough but at the of the day, it's like something that I don't think we as a society really ever grapple with.

And I think now we're all like, hashtag free Britney. Come on, please. We don't ever take accountability for the way we treated those women at that time. And I'm specifically talking about Britney Spears, Paris Hilton. Lindsay Lohan. Lindsay Lohan, who these women are now shells of what they were. And Paris is like still standing and still doing her thing. But you see now that it was not like this rose colored glasses world. Like it was tough.

Like they went through serious stuff. And I think the paparazzi moment that was like that, those years of like 2005, 2010, like that was like a really dark period for young Hollywood. You know, I totally agree. But that, that culture is dying now.

Yeah. I'm surprised that there are paparazzi now anyway. Are they, do they still exist? Well now like the common conception around paparazzi now anyway are they do they still exist well now like the common conception around paparazzi is that like anytime your photos go on us weekly it's that you called them yourself yeah yeah which happens i think i mean that was like a whole plot on selling sunset was christine was like like leveraging against the other women being like well you know heather's heather don't

just show up yeah yeah yeah which i love yeah but i love that i love that that can be a thing but i love that christina's demystifying like paparazzi culture to the audience anyway now i want to now i have to watch this i really want to watch it you do recommend it i'm shocked that i know something that I've watched something that you guys haven't. I was so scared coming on this podcast. No. Because you guys are so, I mean, you're just tapped into the pulse of culture. You think we're literate? Are you saying we're literate?

Are you calling us literate? You are culturally literate. And I am culturally illiterate. That's not true. We have a good media diet. I mean, I'm culturally illiterate. We have a good media diet. I mean, I'm not illiterate. But like, yeah, no, you guys I was like, they're going to talk about so many things I have no clue about. No, no, no, no.

We've been spinning our wheels and talking about The Vow and Potomac for like four weeks at this point. Oh, I started watching Potomac because it matters. You'll love it. It's great. Yeah, I think I did. Didn't I tell you it was The Crown Jewel? Yeah, I started watching it and then I got really into Succession. Have you guys seen Succession?

I'm on season two. What? So I'm going to start at this week. Oh, you're on season two. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I thought you said, like, I'm on. I'm in season two. I was like, what?

I'm Cherry Jones. We have Cherry. Cherry Jones. No, but honestly, like, I was watching the Emmys. Did you watch the Emmys? Did both of you watch the Emmys? No, but I saw who won and who didn't for the most part. I have some thoughts about this too because Succession I actually hadn't seen and I have been really wanting to see it.

And obviously now I really, really want to see it. Not that I needed it to win Emmys to want to. But it's like – here's my thing with the Emmys to want to but um it's like there's my thing with the Emmys it feels like Succession was like what won the drama awards Watchmen is like what won the limited series awards and then obviously Schitt's Creek is the only show that won a comedy award so it's just like interesting to me like whenever the Emmmys come around and i sort of vocalized this on twitter what during the show and people wanted to kill me because the white gays who love schitt's creek are out for blood and i really weren't even being specific you

weren't even specific about i'm not coming for schitt's creek and I actually if people want to know I think Catherine O'Hara and Eugene Levy are legends I think Annie Murphy is a star and I have the utmost respect for Dan Levy for creating that and using his privilege and the nepotism that he very much has because

let's be real like he has it and he actually created something that people really connect to instead of garbage or instead of doing nothing you know what i mean like it's not like he used his massive privilege and and like the nepotism that he got from being able to run a room while never having a single day of experience doing that which is unheard of and he used that to create something that people fucking love and i respect that my perspective on it is one thing shouldn't win everything yes actually in the year 2020 with so

much with the glut of good tv that's out there and this applies to succession and watchman and um and schitt's creek like the one thing shouldn't sweep every single category it's just not possible you know it's you can't tell me you cannot tell me that one thing in every single aspect was the best thing across the board but the media takeaways but the ways that the emmys are like promotional arms for the tv industry like the takeaways for every year are fleabag crushed or schitt's Creek or deep mazel crushed modern family every year like it seems like

exactly yeah you know so I this is just part of like the this is part of the narrative of the Emmys which is that show did

great and it's not like the Oscars where it's like you know every movie that wins an Oscar gets like eight sequels it's like it's

like there's there's there's it's just incentivizing people to watch these shows as they film more episodes. That's kind of built into the Emmys in a way that is unique to them as this awards show. Do you watch Schitt's Creek, Jess? Yes. Do you love it? I love it.

I do think it's not a perfect show. Sometimes I get, I'm uninterested in storylines or uninterested in characters. But like you said, Annie Murphy, I mean, she is so fucking amazing. I cannot. And like the core four are incredible the ancillary characters i don't love as much yeah for me it just started really slow so it was hard for me to get into it and that's why i haven't i i it obviously hit a stride um at some point because people love it so much and i i am interested to get into it my thing is just like it won all four acting awards

and series and writing and directing and that to me is just like wild and you also can't use the excuse to me where it's like well they didn't win anything for the first four or five years or whatever because it's like keenan is there and he hasn't won shit for 16 years okay betty gilpin has not been recognized for glow and darcy carden literally had no nominations until this year so don't use the whole thing of but they've never gotten anything with me because that it doesn't hold any water but matt you haven't watched any of these like sweepy shows this this year you haven't you haven't seen watchmen you haven't seen succession is that correct why are you doing this to me i haven't seen watchmen either you're not alone i'm just saying like does i mean this no

this probably gives you some perspective on this where you're like, as someone who doesn't watch these shows and as someone who consumes a lot of TV, I haven't watched these shows. And so these awards don't speak to me as a viewer, to my viewing habits. Well, you know, I guess it's just like... I'm not, I'm not, I'm not like, I'm not like discrediting you.

Why are you doing this to him? No, honestly. Could you do this to him? I just want to know why you you doing this to me first of all my one question my rhetoric back to you is number one why are you doing this why are you doing second of all is literally this there is so much stuff and this this is the real truth over the past like months of quarantine I have not wanted to watch anything substantial I've only wanted to watch the most trash thing i can put in front of me seriously and so now it's stuff that goes it's not trash it's just stuff that goes down easy yes you're right it's not trash and it's actually important to say reality tv

is not trash and it's rule of culture number three reality tv is not trash what a hot take in 2020 i actually am so hot I'm so hot on this take. But here's the thing. Watchmen, everyone that's obsessed with it is so obsessed. You guys will love it. It's so perfect. It's one of the best things I've ever seen. Wow.

Same thing with Succession and Schitt's Creek. People are fanatical about it, which means it's got to be doing something right. I just feel like it's crazy when one thing dominates everything and I'm on the record with this about the Grammys too because the Grammys is really bad with it where it's like it feels like one artist comes in and they win everything and it's like you know it's just weird and I also understand that you know the nature of the way the television academy votes it's not like you get a ballot and you fail at everything you know actors nature of the way the television academy votes it's not like you get a ballot and you fail at everything you know actors vote for actors writers vote for writers

producers vote for shows that um the the top line shows or whatever so i get that it's not like that it's just always seems to shake out a certain way and i'm like you know this can't possibly be true but i get that people love what they love and I'm not coming for Schitt's Creek the way that people reacted towards me the way the white gays came for this other white gay it is y'all it is us

girl they were eating their own can I say something about succession please you can say whatever you want about succession yes whatever you want this is your episode well I just wanted to let you know matt that it took me three episodes to really get into succession the beginning was kind of slow for me and i i probably watched those three episodes within like a two month period like i just was not looking for it and i was like and my friend sammy was just like you got to watch it it's so so good and then finally i was like, and my friend Sammy was just like, you got to watch it. It's so, so good. And then finally I was like, okay, fine.

I'm just going to sit down and really watch this. And then episode four or five. And then I was like, totally. Yeah. By the end of season one. You're like, yeah. You're in. And Matt, you will be obsessed with Shiv, the character of Shiv.

You will love. I just, first of all, doesn't she look like a pinup character from, or a pinup girl from the 40s? Yeah, sure. Like her face. It's just, that's what I think of when I see her. Andup girl from the 40s? Yeah, sure. Like her face? It's just that's what I think of when I see her. And you know she's Australian? Yeah, I know. And the husband.

Wait. Tom? Tom, Tom. Tom is British. He is? Yeah. Tom's British. Let me just tell you, the acting, it's the best acted show I've ever seen.

Yes, very good acting i mean you're talking to someone whose favorite show of all time is mad men so i don't mind sitting with really i mean madman's amazing my that's my favorite show i just think it was so well done yeah succession is like mad men there's there's tons of mad men but it's also so funny it's like kieran colkin is so good he's so good good. Cousin Greg is such a good character. I mean, there's so much to like about the show. There are really, there are funny moments where you're not expecting it.

Yeah. I'm excited. I'm really excited to start watching it because I do think I will love it. And then we should just also say the biggest shout out to Ms. Zendaya, who won, bitch!

She deserves it. So deserved. That role she played, holy shit. She was so good in that show. It's one of those, it's this Matt Rogers criterion where no other actor could have done that. I always say like the award should go to someone who it feels like no one else could have done that part

you know what i mean and i actually re-watched the scene where she goes to it was episode three of euphoria and it's a scene where she goes to get drugs from her dealer and he says to her for the first time i'm not giving them to you and then she like freaks out at the door yeah and she basically has a panic attack at the door i was like you know this young girl zendaya is beyond she is not only is she a star in the way that she carries herself but she is so gifted at acting she's a great dancer she is a fantastic singer i mean she's captivating she's one she's like a like real crown jewel of her entire generation. And we're going to be talking about her for years to come.

I believe. Yeah, I believe so. She is so good. Yes. We're going to take a quick break and then we'll be back with Jess Rona. This fall on Bravo. It's time to turn up. Think you've seen it all?

I don't think you've been a good friend to me lately. We're friends like that. Who needs enemies? You ain't seen nothing yet. Cheers to being Germanic. With the Real Housewives of Potomac. Oh my gosh, can I take this in? It's gonna be amazing.

New York City. Everyone is a gossip. No one gets a happier life. Salt Lake City. We don't wear costumes, we wear fashion. And below deck sailing. You broke the rules and now you're here getting upset. Watch all new seasons on Bravo or stream it on City TV+.

Let's have a real good time. I felt too seen. Um, dragged. I'm N.K. and this is Basket Case. So I basically had what back in the day they would call a nervous breakdown. I was crying and I was inconsolable. It was just very big, sudden swaps of different meds. What is wrong with me? Oh, look at you giving me therapy, girl. Finally, a show for the mentally ill girlies. On Basket Case, I talk to people about what happens when what we call mental health

is shaped by the conditions of the world we live in. Because if you haven't noticed, we are experiencing some kind of conditions that are pretty hard to live with. But if you struggle to cope, the society that created the conditions in the first place will tell you there's something wrong with you. And it will call you a basket case.

Listen to Basket Case every Tuesday on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, it's Mike and Ian. We're the hosts of How to Do Everything from NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me. Each week, we take your questions and find someone much smarter than us to answer them. Questions like, how do you survive the Bermuda Triangle? How do you find a date inside the Bermuda Triangle? We can't help you, but we will find someone who can. Listen to the How to Do Everything podcast on iHeartRadio. This week, Charlemagne the God sits down with Vice President Kamala Harris for a conversation you don't want to miss. Listen, I feel very strongly I need to earn every

vote, which is why I'm here having this candid conversation with you and your listeners. They tackle the big questions, politics, policy, and what's next for the country. I am running to be president for everybody, but I'm clear-eyed about the history and the disparities that exist for specific communities, and I'm not going to shy away from that. Don't miss this in-depth interview with Charlemagne Tha God and Vice President Kamala Harris, only on The Breakfast Club.

Catch the full interview now on the Black Effect Podcast Network, iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. We're back with Jess Rona. I want to know something. I want both of you to, in tandem, I want both of you to, in tandem, I want both of you to, in tandem,

track the beginnings of the meeting, the rapport you guys built on set. I want to know everything. Because, Jess, Matt was truly singing your praises every single day. No. I love you. Okay.

Oh, my God, I love you. She seems so cool. I love you. I adore you. Talk about the process of the show and how you guys became friends over the course of production. Well, I just want to say, and like this isn't like what happened in the beginning, but I just, well, actually, no, right away, I knew Matt is so easy to talk to. And I'm sure, isn't he?

Like, he just like gets right there. And I think it's partly because he's a Pisces. But like, he'll just like get on your level. And just if you you're on your knees he'll get on his knees and just look at like we're in this together and like let's unpack you know let's talk and what's your sign i'm an aries okay great we pisces aries pisces aries is very good i'm supposed to marry an aries really i'm supposed to okay i was in love with an aries really wasn? I was in love with one. Oh, no. Bowen's a Scorpio. I'm a Scorpio.

Oh, I get along well with Scorpios. Are we both fire signs? No. What's a Scorpio? No, Pisces and Scorpio are water. We're water. Okay, gotcha. I'm water, water, water, water, water.

Yeah. Triple water placement. I'm water, water. Well, I just, yeah. Are you water? I'm water. You're water? Okay, gotcha, your water okay i knew immediately

that we were gonna get along we actually have a mutual friend and literally this is so funny because bowen knows this person too from high school liz oh my god liz liz you went to high school with liz she was my sister's year in high school yeah no way so liz is a writer she writes for she's written for so many things she's so liz is a writer she writes for she's written for so many things she's most recently special and i know her because she's very close with jared um but you this that was what we first started talking about and i always i stand having a mutual friend with someone i love it because then you can just talk about that mutual friend for like 45 seconds to a minute and then you're off to the races. You have the rhythm. Yeah, that's so true. And then you're in.

Oh my God, if you ever, shout out to anyone out there, any reader who's nervous about meeting someone and you want it to go well, find the mutual friend. That's so true. What if there's no mutual friend? What are they to do?

You got to service them sexually. Yes. And then you're off to the races. And then you're off to the races. 45 seconds later, you know the rhythm, you're off to the races and yeah you're off to the races 45 seconds later you know the rhythm you're off to the races you're off to the races wait speaking of shout outs before this episode is over i need to make a shout out to one of your and you call your listeners readers readers yes they read one of your readers is a groomer and he's in florida his name is jonathan david and he loves you guys and he's like oh my god i was listening to las culturistas and i just and they just announced

that matt is the host of hot dog that's my favorite podcast and so he's gonna flip when i i was like oh i'm gonna shout out jonathan he's a very well-known dog groomer and he's really yes He is just so talented. He's a judge. He's like very fancy in the grooming world. Will he come on the show? No, I mean compete on hot dog compete. Oh, I thought you meant like as a guest on this show I was like, oh my god yes why not jonathan no here's the thing like i don't think he wants to compete anymore i think he wants to just be a judge like he doesn't want to go back to competing that's interesting he's he's earned his spot but okay so i i still want to know more about this um this this friendship budding but but just talk a little bit to me as a as a person who's not versed in this, who's not literate, what the network of dog groomers, how that sort of – what that looks like, what the shape of that is.

Because I feel like you came into it – you came into it the way you came into it with these incredible videos. And then did you start to sort of like pick up on this network that was already sort of in place? I actually, so there are trade shows and conventions throughout the year all over the United States. And it's always the same people at the trade shows, all the same scissor booths. And, you know, and Matt loves when I say scissoring spray. Can you say scissoring spray again? Scissoring spray. Thank you.

You know, like you see all the same people and there are grooming competitions at these trade shows and you see all the same competitors. So it's kind of like a grooming community. And so I was competing back in 2012 and I was just really invested and involved in the grooming world, wanting to get better. There's seminars, classes. It's a whole world that people don't realize. It's an amazing community. It really is. And so Jonathan David is sort of like, he judges grooming competitions and he teaches seminars. People ask him for advice on haircuts or business because his business is really successful and so he's sort of like that type of person in the industry um but yeah I started making my videos actually when I was kind of in a dark low place in my life and I was just antsy and so the videos weren't really like

well they they made me well known in like the real world. But like I didn't get well known in the grooming world until like a few years later. And so what was that? Was that just kind of like you built an Instagram presence or were you doing really well on the circuit? Like how did you become because you should see like and you will see like the respect and the reverence that the contestants have for Jess. She truly is like, you know, the, um, I'm trying to find a,

a good one-to-one, but like, and I don't have the way of dog grooming. Oh God, stop. We love Ann. We love Ann. So she said Oprah,

but you know, she really, it's not. What I'm saying is I'm trying to make like a one-to-one on like another reality show. But like, what I mean is like, she is like the Simon,

like, like if you go in addition for American Idol, very, very, very Mary Berry, maybe very, that very like Tom Colicchio that. Yeah.

So, um, and I was just like really observing everyone come in and they see Jess and you know, they look at each other and they're like, Oh my God. Cause they're seeing like a celebrity to them. And, um, a lot of times you would know those groomers as well that were coming on and competing because this is the community.

Right. Like y'all know each other. I knew a lot of them, not all of them, but a lot of them. But like, you know, when you meet someone and they're just so good at what they do and you're just like it's like magic. But I'm like that with groomers too i'm like your work is so good that you get a little starstruck and um it's still uh you know something i'm not used to when people react to me that way but um yeah that's how it is in the grooming world it's just a tiny version of like you know hollywood just how did you get into it like how did you get into dog grooming like what what because it's something that you like you know hollywood just how did you get into it like how did you get into dog

grooming like what what because it's something that you know you know it has to happen but you don't think about when you're like growing up like i'm gonna grow up and be a dog groomer it's just not what you think so how did you get into it it's not what i was thinking some people do some people yes yes well a lot more now after this show comes out well Well, I think so. I hope so. I'd love to change the grooming industry. I stumbled upon it. I just needed a job when I was 18 and I started bathing dogs because it was the least nine to five job I could find. My mom always got cat food at PetSmart and she dragged me to PetSmart, you know, and she's like, oh, there's a help wanted sign. You need a job. So and then on the application, there were all these different jobs that you could do at PetSmart, like work in the aquatic section or work as a cashier or whatever.

And then I see dog bather. And I was just like, OK, well, I don't know anything about dogs. That sounds cute as fuck. It sounds cute as fuck. It doesn't sound like a regular job. And so I started doing it without ever thinking it would turn into a career. I was always wanting to be an actress. I was class clown. I was like just a ham wanting to be an actress. So I was like, okay, I'll do this for now. And then over the years, I started grooming dogs more. I started learning, you know, how to do a Schnauzer cut and what's a Cocker Spaniel cut or whatever. And I just started to learn how to do it over the years. So it just kind of happened organically. And then how long after you're doing it, do you start competing? Oh my God. So I, I was also waiting tables a lot. And my dream was to be a waiter or waitress. And I could wait tables and then go on auditions during the day and wait tables at night.

That was my big goal. You wanted to do the grind. I wanted to do the grind, baby. So I ended up, I was waiting tables at night grooming dogs during the day. I worked at Bucca di Beppo. Oh, my God. Huge. Are you going to go to the Capri Room? At the Grove? at Bucca di Beppo. Oh my god. Huge. Are you going to go to the Capri Room? Which Bucca di Beppo?

I worked at the one on City Walk. Oh my god. Incredible. You are really a legend. Thank you so much. I was the one that gave tours of the kitchen. You know when you'd go in and people would give tours of the kitchen? I would do that. I was a food runner. I was just like, my dream was to be a waitress.

Oh my God. I was an iconic waitress too. I was also a food runner. Yeah. I fight. I, there was a whole summer where I was a food runner and it was, I couldn't touch a plate that was too hot.

Give me a plate. That's hot. I can handle it. Oh, I bet. I can see that. And also we had three flights of stairs, so I would carry it and I could still do it.

If you give me a big ass tray, I bet I can carry three lasagnas on that tray up three flights of stairs. I bet I could do it. It's like muscle memory. And then give a tour. Give a tour. And then give a tour afterwards.

Honestly, name another legend. Name another legend. That's my new thing I say about Bowen and now Jess. Name another legend. Whenever Bowen puts out a photo that's fire, I just say name another legend. That's actually title of app. Name another legend. I love that.

Okay, so Jess, so you're waiting tables and you start to compete. So yeah, so I waited tables and I slowly started actually phasing out grooming and I moved to New York, started doing UCB, was working at the Stan Social. I was just like waiting tables. That also had three flights of stairs, which was very weird.

And so I kind of quit grooming for a little while. And then I realized I don't want to be a waitress anymore after six years. I was just like, I remember this skill I had. And I was just like, I want to really get good at grooming. So I came back to LA after living in New York for a few years. And I just dove into grooming dogs. And that's where I started competing. That's when I would meet my grooming idols and ask them a million questions and that's when i just decided to get really good at it wow but while also keeping this track of acting because because like because because she books and she's doing she's doing things well so i was an intern at

ucb at night and and i was like i lived up the street from ucb franklin and worked across the street at tail Washers. So I never left that little corner. And I was just immersed in dog grooming and improv for so many years. Yeah. Just trying to get good. That's literally where I live.

Not the Scientology Center. No, I live behind Gelson's on Bronson. Oh. So you know that's literally my neighborhood. My neighbor is Kirstie Alley in the celebrity center. Yeah. Literally. Oh,

I know exactly where you live. Cause I have your address. Yeah. That's true. Um, but yeah, but so then you are, you're like competing.

And when does it get to the point where you become like really, really good? Like, like, and when did you realize like, Oh, this is like, I'm not competitive. I'm like, I'm like one and when did you realize like oh this is like I'm not competitive I'm like I'm like one of the one of the ones I think I started realizing that

when I was um so I got fired from my job because I kept having to leave for auditions and honestly I don't think I'm a good employee to have. I'm very entrepreneurial. And like, I think my boss was right for firing me because I just had to leave all the time for these dumb commercial auditions that you'd have to go to Santa Monica, like at the drop of a hat. And so I started working. I converted my garage into a grooming studio. And it was that time when I was able to, I wasn't very busy. People didn't know what, I just wanted to groom my friend's dog so I didn't have a ton of clients so I just really took my time and would

take like I would just do one dog at a time and just really work on my craft and getting really good and I entered myself in grooming competitions and I placed in every competition. I didn't win until last year, but I placed. And I just I think when you make a decision to do something, it's very powerful in anyone's life. So I just decided. In any kind of endeavor, like mentally committing yourself to something is kind of, it sounds simplistic, it sounds reductive, but it's like sometimes that is just very, very, very powerful in the ways that you follow through on that. That's very cool. dogs to you now groom the dogs of katie perry you know like i think ellen pompeo like you are now a celebrity dog i love ellen pompeo i mean we love ellen i met her she's a schmoop she has she is

the biggest heart she loves her dogs she's. I mean, you groom some cool. I mean, I can't believe you have a relationship with the Nugget Perry. I know. Nugget. Nugget. She's my tiny little baby. Nugget. Oh, my God.

Nugget has a sister. Daisy. Oh, yes. A human sister. Nugget now has a human sister. She does. Daisy Bloom. Yes.

Daisy Dove. Daisy Bloom. Daisy Dove Daisy Dove What's the hardest breed of dog to groom? Is it a poodle I would imagine? No I love poodles For me I think it depends on the groomer For me the hardest dog is a soft coated Wheaton Terrier

Give me one second Soft coated This is another really cool thing about the show The hairs are long But they're such be, this is another really cool thing about the show. Oh, yes, the hairs are long, but they're such beautiful dogs. This is another really cool thing about the show too is like, I love dogs, but I didn't know all the breeds. This show has all different kinds of breeds

and every episode it's like, they all get assigned like a different kind of small dog. They all have to do the same thing too in the mini challenge. And then in the main challenge, M-A--n-e they basically get any dog that they want to do a creative transformation with based on the theme so there's themes like old hollywood glamour there's themes like disco inferno there's the pop star yeah western pops pop star pop Pop star is probably one of my favorite episodes. It's amazing.

I cannot wait for people to see it. And so what I want everyone to know is that the show, the aesthetic of the show is very much based on Jess' aesthetic, which is like, how would you describe it? I would say kitschy 70s glam with a little wink and humor. Spacey Casey. Yeah. Casey Musgraves? grouchy 70s glam with a little wink and humor space to casey yeah casey mouse graves i mean i just love her but you know it's just i was getting space to casey i was like this is very wood paneled retro like life and the wood paneling was just it just happened like the garage of the

rented house i live in had wood paneling and I would just I would go to a thrift store or something and see a portrait of a dog and get it and it just never really was intentional but it just sort of organically appeared as my brand and then I just people were like oh my god the wood paneling like they started reacting to it and I was like oh I this is my thing yeah but i've always been really like a hippie and into 70s and like i've just always been like that anyway because you're from la so it's like 70s but in the la context where you have these hollywood elements in it and like that is such a solid you know story just aesthetically i love that well i can't wait for you to see my new shop

i just moved out of the garage a month ago we drove past it we drove past it when i was in see i would love to come i mean i just took the aesthetic and like ramped it up and did it the way i want to do it versus just the way it happened to happen. But yeah, I finally, after six years, I'm out of my garage. Wow. It's a big time. That garage is iconic though. And the move from the garage to the corner of Larchmont and Melrose is a massive one. And I'm so excited for the store to open up or the shop to open up rather. Yeah. I it's open is it open now it's open we did a soft opening yeah we've been open for a few weeks right i never know what's open anymore in the covid now i'm so excited to know that people can oh i'm gonna come um but okay so i want to know

like because i do know this but how does it become a television show oh yeah well um okay so people are fascinated with celebrity i don't know i don't expect you guys to understand that but um i'm just kidding but like so i've been approached to do reality shows for years and years and i always said no it's just not what i want to do and I met Nicole and she has this beautiful red poodle named Doug and so I met Nicole's husband on set when I was Katy Perry's dog's glam squad so Nicole Nicole is the producer of hot dog Nicole Yaron and she was like a producer for the voice and and she created Making It with Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman she's a force she's a visionary um she is so brilliant she's I think she's a

genius um there's very few people that I've ever met like her but um so so I met her husband on a on set at a Katy Perry commercial thing where I was like, Katy's dog's glam squad. And he's like, if I ever get a dog, you have to groom it. Three weeks later, they got a dog. And they're like, they called me. And so I met Nicole through Rob, her husband, and she was like, we're making a show. And I was, she, when we talked about it, it was more of like a competition show. It was less like a reality show of like cameras following me and more like something elevated and cool and intentional. And so and so we just over the years we developed the ideas and she would she sat down with me and she's like, OK, how do you picture the set being?

Draw it out, like draw the like where would the judges table be yeah and so like and she actually sold the show on her own i mean she's so connected in this industry she sold it just off of the sizzle that we made yeah it was an amazing sizzle i mean i mean that's i mean that's what made me want to do it they sent me the sizzle and i was like this looks like the most fun show ever. Wow. That's hard to do with sizzles. Let's just put that out there.

She has a genius editor. And I gave her tons of photos for reference and the vibe and the tone. And I just put together collages of looks and just visuals. And she put together this amazing sizzle and sold it. And she was like, you know, she just kept calling me with good news. We sold it. Now she's going to be on HBO Max. Then I found out we got picked up for 12 episodes.

Like she just kept calling me with good news, good news. And I was crying. I was like, I'm not a big crier, but I'm crying. But that's pretty cool crying because my two worlds are colliding yeah the who knew the dog grooming would lead me to the other stuff yeah it's amazing it's awesome and so jess and i got to watch the first episode today and it's so much fun and you know what really comes across is like me jess and rob Thede. Like we really do have so much fun. We laugh so much.

And it's hard. I mean, I, this is my first time doing this, but I've been told like chemistry like ours is not normal. And it's, it's like the three of us just got along. Also, like we all have mutual friends. Yeah. Yeah. I knew Robin because Robin came and did Game Show

and was so much fun and such a pro. And we shared like, we were working on the same floor when she was writing a Black Lady Sketch Show and I was working on Game Show. And so we knew each other from that. But it's so funny because the producers were like, and of course you and Jess and Robin will have amazing chemistry and that will happen.

And I was just like, y'all are assuming that, but you can tell like people behind the scenes are like, they're trying to establish this thing of like, and of course the chemistry will be amazing, but you can tell that's what they're nervous about. And like, so we didn't, we weren't able to like meet in person beforehand.

Um, and then we just literally arrived on set and luckily like the three of us started talking and didn't stop. It really was just so fun and robin is she's i love her so much i feel so honored that she's in my life now i feel like she has the biggest heart she's such a good person she's just one of those loyal kind of ride or die type of people that would just like have your back and be there for you she's just i just feel really lucky i think we're really lucky we got lucky because none of us are like assholes i just think we got

really lucky because it could have gone the other way oh for sure i mean yeah and also it's it's just like um i mean robin talk about a hustler like she really works her fucking ass off and she's so graceful i'm a mess when i'm when i'm like my cup is full i'm overwhelmed she was doing so much during the shoot yeah and yeah i mean i just really admire her and look up to her she's the best we'll talk about um what it was like to shoot because i feel like you guys were one of the like, first shows to shoot in LA at least, like during COVID. But like you guys sort of reported this in the press release, no COVID cases at all. During the entire course of filming. They were so on top of their testing regimen for you guys. What was what was that like it was trippy it was weird so we we were we basically were like it was like me jess and robin had like the backstage area and we were kind of just like all together the whole time and then you know it's weird like hair makeup was basically in like hazmat suits like putting putting our makeup on everything but i will say this, and this is something that I want to tell everyone that's nervous about getting back to work and stuff like that.

My takeaway from it was it really – I always think whenever I'm on set and there's a good vibe, it does become like a little family. I know our set was like a family. It's kind of a cliche thing to say. But one thing that I took from the experience was not only was everyone just so excited to be back at work and working and working on this show because it really is so positive. And it's so, it's so nice to see like the, this profession get its shine finally because it never has.

But also everyone working on set was really taking care of each other. And it was like really like top of mind for everyone in coming to work every day. Like everyone was really taking the quarantining seriously. Everyone was really checking in with each other in terms of their physical space and everything. So it actually like was an even better experience than a good experience is. Because you came into it with love and care and also came away from it after we had completed it and we had said wow we did that because i'll say this like i don't think i've heard of one other production that has not had one or at least one positive case that's

shooting right now we were really lucky that um that Wait, so there are other productions where someone tests positive? Yeah, and then they have to like pause or shut down or that person can't work. And it's tough because no one knows for sure how you get or don't get this. So people are really trying their hardest. And the tests aren't always accurate, but we were tested every single day um and you know and also like we weren't allowed to eat with everyone we weren't allowed to even in the morning i would really want to just get my coffee but someone's gotta get it someone was like hey can i get you something why don't you go inside and i'll bring it to you and i'm just like i mean it sounds great to be waited on but honestly i just

want to get my coffee you know like it was it's just very weird to like not be independent right right but you know we've we did it and and matt's kind of saying that like the consideration was built into this process being so, you know, precautionary and everyone really had to look out for each other on this collective level where you really are thinking about every single person in that environment. that sort of wasn't the firm case before in the before times where like, you wouldn't, you wouldn't come into these situations necessarily being like, well, that we're a unit. Yeah. We all have,

we all have to like work together to make sure we can work towards this common goal to have like, you know, this, this, these, these protocols in place, which are unfortunate and,

and whatever and bizarre, but like to have them kind of like establish this tone of, well, we're all working towards the same thing is, is pretty cool. Bo, how are you feeling about going back? Oh,

so many ways. We don't have to talk about them. I'm probably, I'm probably not allowed to. Okay. Yeah. Probably, probably got to keep a lid on it,

but keep a lid on, but let's take a quick break and then we have to ask Jess the question yes okay so we'll be right back with Jess Rooney this fall on Bravo it's time to turn up think you've seen it all

I don't think you've been a good friend to me lately we're friends like that who needs enemies you ain't seen nothing yet cheers to being Germanic with the Real Housewives of potomac oh my gosh can i take this in it's gonna be amazing new york city everyone is a gossip no one gets

a happier life salt lake city we don't wear pastels we wear fashion and below deck salia you broke the rules and now you're here getting upset watch all new seasons on bravo or stream I felt too seen. Dragged. I'm N.K. and this is Basket Case. So I basically had what back in the day they would call a nervous breakdown. I was crying and I was inconsolable. It was just very big, sudden swaps of different meds. What is wrong with me? Oh, look at you giving me therapy, girl. Finally, a show for the mentally ill girlies. On Basket Case,

I talk to people about what happens when what we call mental health is shaped by the conditions of the world we live in. Because if you haven't noticed, we are experiencing some kind of conditions that are pretty hard to live with. But if you struggle to noticed, we are experiencing some kind of conditions that are pretty hard to live with. But if you struggle to cope, the society that created the conditions in the first place will tell you there's something wrong with you. And it will call you a basket case. Listen to Basket Case every Tuesday on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, it's Mike and Ian. We're the hosts of How to Do Everything from NPR's Wait, Wait, you get your podcasts. We can't help you, but we will find someone who can. Listen to the How to Do Everything podcast on iHeartRadio. This week, Charlemagne Tha God sits down with Vice President Kamala Harris for a conversation you don't want to miss.

Listen, I feel very strongly I need to earn every vote, which is why I'm here having this candid conversation with you and your listeners. They tackle the big questions, politics, policy, and what's next for the country. I am running to be president for everybody, but I'm clear-eyed about the history and the disparities that exist for specific communities, and I'm not going to shy away from that. Don't miss this in-depth interview with Charlemagne Tha God and Vice President Kamala Harris, only on The Breakfast Club. Catch the full interview now on the Black Effect Podcast Network, iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. And we're back. Matt, you asked the question. See, here's the thing. Jess actually texted me yesterday and she was like,

I'm nervous about this part of it. And I was like, why? And she was like, because there's so many different things I could say and I don't know what to say. And I was like, well, you have to choose a thing that, um, in choosing your moment of culture, that was the moment that made you say culture was for you. It's that thing.

That's that intangible thing. It happened. And all of a sudden your life took on a new course and you didn't know why. And she was like, okay, I'm still confused. I'll still think about it. And I was like,

that's par for the course. So I am now going to turn to Jess and say, what have you decided on? What was your moment of culture that made you say culture was for me, Jess Rona? It can be multiple things too, if you're torn between stuff. Okay.

Okay. So these are the three things that I thought of. Maybe you guys can weigh in. We sure can. So I grew up in LA in the 90s and I was very into ska music. Love that. Gwen Stefani,

when she was singing songs with Sublime, like that OC back in the day, OC ska scene. Wow. Then I became a raver and electronic music was really influencing me. You were a Molly doer?

I was a Molly doer. A young Molly doer? I mean, this was 20 years ago. I was doing Molly and raving like a candy raver when I was a kid. Oh my God. raver when i was oh my god there were kids that there were kids at school like 17 years old who would go to rave 16 and like and like and like fucking roll yeah and i was like those kids are crazy and now it's like my favorite oh yeah 100 i wait what's like what's a candy i love i love mom i'm like dating myself um candy is is it like flipping are you like changing drugs is that what

no candy flipping is a thing um back in the you like changing drugs is that what no candy flipping is a thing um back in the day when you would do when you were candy flipping it is my understanding that you were just doing acid and molly acid and molly but you were like you were like staggering them we just called it e back in the day it wasn't like good shit i remember when it was e yeah yeah well like the good shit is molly and now it's, like, you know, prime and powder, and it's, like, a clean high, and, like, that's the end of it. But back then, it was, like,

cut with speed, and you were up till 6 a.m. like a lunatic. Oh, my God. Not like I'm a drug addict or anything. I don't do it anymore at all. Okay, so Scott into Raver. Yeah.

And then what? Complete the story. Oh, just... And then, like, I touched on it before but like and I told Matt I'm gonna be such a nerd

but improv really changed my whole life I mean I can't I cannot Bowen Yang you sort of are very kindred

with Bowen Yang because Bowen Yang also did improv as a youngster really yes well I was a late bloomer I wish I did it

when I was younger I didn't start till i was in my late 20s but i was really into it like a crazy person like in front of line at ucb and every yeah we were all there we were all there improv boot camp like i was at like it was a lot i still think we have not as um a community of improvisers or ex-improvisers, ex-UCBers, whatever. Let's just keep it to UCB, okay? Because that's where our circles overlap. What was it about UCB and that culture that made it so, like, we were all acolytes.

We were all like, oh, my God, we have to stay up for all of DCM. Like, what was it about that culture that made oh god like there there is something i mean i i don't want to like kind of like cheaply like compare it to a cult but there was something like that just demanded your devotion to it and dedication to it and i'm trying to figure out like what that what like what was the promise i have an opinion on this and what you guys, and I want to know what you guys think. I think that for me, when I was in high school, the cool kids were always like,

that was not really attainable for me because it was just like, you had to be like straight and a certain way to look. And the way that popularity was gauged just never really connected with me. But I always wanted to be recognized for being good at something. The way that popularity was gauged just never really connected with me. But I always wanted to be recognized for being good at something.

And I feel like I always had a good sense of humor. And then when I went to college and saw the sketching, the improv scene, and then the UCB scene was like the macro of that. In New York, it was like everything. If you were pursuing comedy in New York, everyone was like, well, when's your next UCB class that was just what it is I think that UCB at least in the way that I saw things at the time seemed to celebrate people for being smart and funny whereas popularity for me was always based on like looking a certain way or whatever and doing certain things or lifestyle things whereas this was like oh these people who rise to the top are the quote-unquote smartest and funniest now looking back i know that's not true it's like kind of like exclusive to certain people and i can see the exclusivities of ucb now in retrospect but at the time i was

like god to be able to go up there say the funniest thing, and then become like a star in this arena. And I was always someone that wanted to act and perform, but I didn't take acting classes or anything. And I thought this is a fun way to get into it. But I don't know what you guys think. Yeah, I'm the opposite. I mean, not the opposite of that, but I'm the opposite of like I started off taking acting classes in L.A. and like having breakthroughs in my classes and just scene study classes and taking it so seriously and doing all this dramatic acting. And I went to a school called Playhouse West and I went all the way through the advanced program and I was just so into it. But I was never good at homework and I was never good at like preparing and like finally I was like improv I don't have to

break down a scene I could just show up and play and um and when I first found improv I was like holy shit this is where I belong this is what I I want. These are my people. But I think you're totally right. It's like, it's magical when it's done well. It's like, unlike anything you've seen when it's done well. And I started UCB in New York. And when you see a magical thing like that performed in front of you, and you're just like, I want to do that so bad. I want to be that. I want to be that good. I want to be that smart and funny and quick and all of it. And it's like a drug. And it's also, you know, I think improv attracts a certain kind of person, you know, we might be the underdogs in our real life in some way.

And if you can succeed at this thing, then you're finally valid, like validated. You're finally funny. You're finally good. And you won't stop until you're good. And you won't be good until they say you're good. So you keep going, you're competitive. And it's also the culture. You know, everyone's just scrambling to get on a Herald team or a mod team. You keep going. You're competitive. And it's also the culture.

Everyone's just scrambling to get on a Herald team or a mod team. And it's just a frenzy. God, I don't miss it. But I do. I mean, I miss performing improv. But I don't miss feeling like shit so much. I just felt like I wasn't good i wasn't funny you're not talented unless you're on a herald team but that was the common valuation that was the common evaluation like that you would that everyone would sort of buy into which was oh my god that lloyd team

audition was so awful and they were just like they just didn't really laugh and it was just so awkward and uh and oh god my this indie shit this indie team show is just it's like everyone was in this constant as at this constant frequency of like discomfort which is one thing that i'm like that i i still don't think we've like fully like i think i think there's just time with more time has to pass before we like realize why we were really all just like so like uneasy because that is so interesting well because i put i put the weight of the world on it if i got on a team it means i got reps i can book things i could be a series regular on a tv show that's how big it was to me if i got on a herald team it means i will get on on a TV show. And that's all I wanted.

It was like my way out. It was like it's a clear path with like steps in front of you where it's like, here you go. Just get to this door. And once you open the door, all of Hollywood is going to cast you in everything. And you'll have reps and people will believe in you and you'll be the cool thing. But that was only true for like maybe a year and a half oh my god all these people i mean look it's been so so many years since this happened for me and i'm sure for most people it's just like you now that we're out of it you know it's just it was a little toxic and it's sad because really talented people

oh yeah thought that they were bad thought that they were not funny or talented. That's the worst thing. I mean, I will say. You know what, though? I'm sorry. Really quick. Everybody, like so many people have the same story. And now I'm thinking, oh, it wasn't just me that felt like this.

No. Sorry, Matt. What were you going to say? No, I was just going to say I'm realizing now specifically why I fell into the UCB thing. And I do think this is the case for a lot of people. And this is going to sound insane for me to say here. But I remember being so depressed when I was 18 years old that I got back to my room in college. I was closeted. I was like crying. I just was like not, it was not happening for me in college.

And I wanted so desperately as like a, you know, kid who grew up on Long Island. Like I wanted to succeed in the entertainment industry so badly. And I thought my skills aligned with Saturday night live. And so I remember I Googledy poehler in my lowest moment and i saw everything she had done and i was like i'm gonna do exactly everything that she did to get to where she's at and i got on my sketch team at college because she was on her

improv team at at boston college and i saw that she had a thing called UCB, and that's when I signed up for UCB classes, because I thought, legitimately, I thought, this is a pathway to get to Saturday Night Live. And I think that that's a lot of the way a lot of people think. And then once you get into the UCB community, there's different check marks that pop up, because you're already headed toward a check mark.

You know, when you're in your classes everyone wants the same thing and we're all just trying to get on that house team and so like you become competitive with people it's like we started at the same time and now they're on a team and i'm not or like there's just like a lot you know and so i'm it was just yeah it was i think it was that consistent discomfort that is like why are we doing this to each to ourselves well it's also kind of there's something fun about it though oh my god i had a blast and yeah i had a blast it was the best we all we all edit and run into each other and die oh Oh my God. That's so funny. I would love,

I never experienced like an all team edit where everyone swept. Oh, I loved that. Wait, wasn't that like a DCM bit where it's just editing the whole time? Yeah, it sounds like a bit show. But there was a time, I used to see sets that like ended, sometimes they just ended so perfectly

that everyone would jump off the back line and i was like oh that has to feel so good and i remember like it's chasing that high yeah i never i never succeeded at improv i was more sketch that was more my thing but i remember like whenever the improv show would end and they'd all go backstage i would always be like i wonder what they're talking about i was like i wonder what they're all about. I was like, I wonder what they're all going to say. You know? Because it's such a rare, it's a high. When you have a great show and when you fucking crush it,

you know you're crushing it. You just know it. It's everything's working and you just, it's a high and there's just nothing like it. And I think that's another thing that kept people there

is chasing that high of doing well. And you just never knew if the stars would align that night sure yeah but then perhaps one of those things where it just slips it's it's disposable whatever but like those those those moments of glory just sort of slip through your fingers and there's no actual sort of longevity or like or just or just actual like physical substance to them um because because how are we gonna like how are you gonna use this but like where it's like it's like let's say with like writing or with like you know dog grooming

it's like oh like there are ways that you can develop these skills and track them very concretely whereas improv was just a little was so arbitrary and then it just put you in it's it's it's this thing that puts you in your head the most i think out of any other i'll never forget watching i i i had met bowen like my freshman year um but then i went to um an improv show that bone was doing in college and i i didn't really know bowen super well like we had met like we did we had went with mutual friends to one comedy show. And then I remember I went to go see his improv team, danger box. And he came off the back line and he, he initiated a scene with no,

in a future world, the robots are the Queens. And I was just like, I'd be so stupid. And I was just like, I was, I was just like, this is like,

I'd be a terrible, terrible improv, terrible improv. But I was in the audience and I was just like, this is like an insane conversation. Terrible improv move. Terrible improv move. But I was in the audience and I was screaming because he had such star energy. He was so amazing. You are, Bowen. You are.

You are. You are. You are, Denise. Denise, you are. But Bowen, like, he just exploded off the stage and I was like, my god and i do i do think that there is something to that too it's like when you see people that are so amazing it makes you want to be involved in it too yes and that's that was bowen yang a hundred percent that's that's great talk about this we can't talk about this well i i will talk about it um wait i do before we move on i do

want to talk a little bit more about ska and to rave into improv and to improviser okay um no wait summarize these summarize these as the connective tissue as best as you can like how did one go oh my god i've never even thought about it did you use to skank at like yeah i did i did i had the betty page haircut i wore creepers oh my god i would just go to all the underground ska shows and see these like bands there used to be a club called the alligator lounge and it's like where the new york theater is like on santa monica the 405. Like I would drive there. But yeah, I would just, I was just very,

I would go to all the show every weekend, you know, and just see all these little bands, date the guys, just be the groupies of the bands. I still would, like there's a band called Hepcat and they were my favorite ska band. Hepcat, like as in hepatitis cat?

Yes, but no. But if you ever are like in the mood for something fun and different, check out Hepcat. Hepcat. Yeah, they were a great band. And I don't, so I, man, I don't even know what the thread is between Ska and being a raver. It seems like all three of these things are built on community. Yeah. Right?

Yeah. It's like you're finding people who, and like, you're talking about like what you're seeing on stage or whatever, you know, it's like you're talking about some shared experience. That's so true. It's always like with a community. There's a community of ravers and a community of ska people. Ska people? And of improvisers. And of improvisers.

It's not like this thing where you went from ska into like solo archery or whatever. Where it was like a very like solitudinal thing. It was like you went from like group to group. And like, I don't know. Yeah, that's true. Maybe that's the thread. I need a family that's true i need a family okay i need a family well she wants okay i have it's it's very clear to me she wants to be in a community she wants to move and she wants to sweat yeah you know what i mean so so basically all these

things are connected when you're involved in the ska community you're involved involved involved in the ska community you are involved in the ska community and're getting involved involved involved in the scar community you are involved in the scar community and i actually i actually when i was in high school i attended one scar thing at a bowling alley and i skanked with the best of them and i remember being so sweaty in my white t-shirt and black jeans and i was just like really killing it and like i did not belong there at all but i was like this was so fun because it was like dancing but it wasn't like bump and grind like i didn't have to be sexual it was just like kind of like we're all kind of freaking out and doing our weirdo thing and then with rave culture it's like that's sort of there's sort of a progression there yeah you know what kind of

was it was it like real big fish or was it like it was like real big fish it was it was like it was like you know commercial ska right it was sort of like oar commercial yeah yeah i was like very into like the old jamaican ska and oh like like authentic desmond decker and yeah phyllis dillon and the toots and the maytals like that kind of toots and the maytals, like that kind of old. Toots and the Maytals. Yeah, like it's really. The singer just passed away. Oh, yeah. R.I.P. R.I.P. Sorry, sorry to be nice.

No, that's okay. Moment of silence. But that's like, that's where I became a ska music nerd where I would just really get into like the old traditional ska music and then like, do you guys know the the bands The Specials and Madness? No. From the 80s? Okay, so yeah.

And then became Real Big Fish and those big Less Than Jake and Mighty Mighty Boss Tones. Gwen Stefani would perform. She did songs with Sublime back in the day. No Doubt really started off as like one of these smaller bands that came up when i was into ska and then now like you know she's a pop star but right so um what do you feel about quen stephanie now i mean i don't i i like her i don't i don't know i don't listen to a ton of her music but i i love i you know she's an icon i i don't i don't know i don't listen to a ton of her music but i i love i'm you know she's an icon i i don't know she's definitely an icon she's an icon what i mean to say is like there is a conversation

thing well no no not that it's oh okay what it's like the her her and blake shelton like hanging out with like paul ryan at ski lodges and stuff it's like that thing where it's like oh she's like she's horseshoe theoried herself from being very punk aesthetic into being like this conservative woman yeah yeah yeah i mean i don't know you know it seems like she's evolving and it's her journey love and light to gwen she's doing her thing yep she certainly is yes she certainly is talk about very briefly your experience at the dcm party space if that recalls echoes of the rave were you a hoe there i was a hoe yes i always i wanted to be a hoe drunk as fuck stoned as fuck getting disgusting in that basement hallway under christine's just just like hooking up with the grossest,

sweatiest improvisers, dancing in midnight shows on stage, taking off my clothes, just being a loon. The things that I did in that space, I once ate a carrot that had been in John Gemberling's ass. No. Oh my God.

Yeah. I did. my God. Yeah. Matt. I did. What? I ate it off the ground. So basically he had done an improv scene. This is disgusting. Yeah.

He had done an improv scene and he had like put a carrot in his underwear and then like I guess the carrot came out and I was so wasted in the improv scene after that i came out and like i was doing it and i was like dancing and the crowd was like screaming and they were like eat the carrot eat the carrot and i was just like you want me to eat this carrot and they were like yes slut and i was like i'm gonna eat it and i ate the carrot off the ground and i thought they were and they were screaming they were screaming. They were screaming.

And they were like, oh my God. And I thought, oh, they're really freaking out that I ate this carrot off the ground. And I'll never forget. Wait. This stinky asshole floor carrot. James Dwyer looked me in the eyes afterward. And he goes, dude, that carrot was in Gemberling's ass. And I was like uh what and I remember I just like could feel

the carrot in my stomach no I didn't know at all I just moved on I moved on from that I like went on and you know did a new drug probably but and then years later he would be the star of Broad City should we tell the readers what DCM is

Del Close Marathon it's like a huge we've talked about it before in the pod but if you don't know if you don't know now you know it's like del close marathon is like essentially woodstock for improvisers every year or at least it was 24 hours for three days straight 5 a.m shows at shows 15 minutes, and you don't sleep, and you're disgusting, and it's horrible, but amazing. And the biggest comedians that are related to improv in the world come and do it. And I mean, Del Close was essentially the sensei of improv,

and he was like a godlike figure in improv, which is problematic. But he, in his image, Del Close Marathon was created, and it was essentially like a festival for three days and i remember it always fell on pride weekend in new york yeah it was bad which was a nightmare right terrible oh my god trying to cross town during pride in new york forget it forget it you're stuck up and also that but just like for gay improvisers that was like in there was too much. There's too much stuff. Yeah.

Um, but yeah, I mean some, some great horrible memories from, I mean like the, those bit shows were wild. You had diaper baby where everyone would come out and these men would come out in diapers full of shit.

Um, you, I mean, there was just so much. I remember there was one where I think Matt and I, you and I did something where people had to drink milk, like every scene. It was milk and peppers.

Milk and peppers, yeah. You had to eat a hot pepper while you were doing the scene, and the peppers were so hot. And then there was milk there to stop the spice. And you had to do the scene without drinking the milk. That was the whole thing. Milk and peppers, milk and peppers.

And we also did, we, we did us. I don't know if you were in this one, but me, Josh and Aaron and Pat and a bunch of people and Brian Foss. And it was like, it was all gays. And we were all pretending we were from Boston and calling each other

faggot. It was just 15 minutes of Boston gays calling each other faggot. And that was it. And that was, that was a show. It was all gay men being like, yeah, faggot. And then it was just like...

Comedy, people. Comedy. Some readers will not like that. But I don't know what to tell you. It's a part of comedy history. The things that I ended up doing during DCM, I got my dick sucked on the street. But not the first time.

No, the first and only time on 8th Avenue at like 2 in the morning. I off Grindr. I like hooked up with this guy on the street. Oh, my God. I could have gotten arrested. In front of like traffic? Like did you tuck behind a tree? In front of God and Gristini's.

Wow. Yeah. Wow. I'm not kidding. It was dark. Wow. I'm not kidding. It was dark. Wow. But anyway, I don't think so,

honey. It's time for it now. I don't think so, honey. What is it? I don't think so, honey, is our segment where we each take one minute to really get angry about something in culture.

Wouldn't you say? I would say. It's going to take one minute to rail i'll get something in culture we get so mad and we rail it like like you're on eighth avenue at during dcm um baby okay so i have something that i alluded to before okay that's right and i can't wait to hear it um all right so we'll go with we'll go matt me and then we'll do jess yeah perfect this is matt rogers i don't think so any as time starts now i don't think so honey the marriage of michael darby and ashley darby this has to end ashley no and honestly i think i get what you're going for here which is you wanted to get pregnant again so that your your daughter could have a sibling because your sibling is important to you.

I 100% understand that. But, babe, the husband's got to go. Now that you have your family, your daughter has, like, going to have their sibling. You got to go, girl, because he is bad news. 30 seconds. I don't think so, honey. Michael Darby, I don't believe a thing that you say about not sleeping with these women. You grabbed the asses and assaulted a member of the Potomac crew, something that for some reason

does not get discussed anymore. I don't think so, honey, him. And I don't think so, honey, Ashley, now that you know better, because fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Honey, you need to know this phrase because you're about to get fooled a third time and i know that you keep saying you're not afraid to leave michael it seems like you are i don't think so honey you need to buck up and that's one minute no your husband is bad for ashley it's fool me once shame on you fool me twice still shame on you ashley she clearly does not know the oh and jess is playing the applause thank you she doesn't know the phrase because if she did know the phrase she would know that she is getting rode hard and put away wet by

her husband publicly and i can't believe the scene in potomac which was them at dinner discussing their business and then he was like we're done we're done and the producer came over and the fourth wall was broken yet again on a real housewife show and she was just like obviously through with it and i think that she doesn't she doesn't want to be in this marriage at all i think she i think she wanted her kid to have a sibling because it's i think she feels it's important but she needs to get out of that marriage she loves her half sister and i don't i don't i don't necessarily think that she feels that it's a more legitimate siblinghood for these kids to have the same parents. I think that it's so clearly, clearly fucked up. Michael's answering the phone as if she's a nuisance, even though he's only ever been in the wrong.

It's like this guy is one of the most vile human beings. Oh, he's one of the worst people on television and it's it's it's really getting to the point now where not as bad as ramona singer he's unfortunately ramona singer still takes the cake i want her to die alone as i've said well she i i'm gonna go ahead and say i'm if it's team michael versus team ramona i'm team ramona i i don't think michael darby is permissible permissible. Ramona is maybe a white supremacist. She keeps tiki torches in her garage. I hope Andy asks you about all your claims against Ramona.

And I actually, I would love to pop off about Ramona. I'd love to disappointed that you're not on an episode of watch what happens live with Ramona, because I think that would be, I would love to be in the future. I would love to be on an episode with Miss Ramona Singer I would love to give her the business

would you confront her? yes oh my god I would love to see that okay so basically the three is me, Bowen, and Joel and Joel was on Watch What Happens Live with Miss Kenya Moore herself

Bowen is about to be on with monique samuels and i am putting into the universe that one day when i get booked on watch what happens live god willing inshallah you and rena booked i don't care i i just want to be with a housewife i want to be with a housewife it's gonna happen it will i want to be it's my favorite show when bowen said he was gonna be on it i immediately was like i was popping was like, okay, well it might be Robin because she hasn't been on yet. And well, you know, Candace was,

she's coming on. And so I watch it every night. I love watching what happens live. I'm such a Bravo holic. You're a Bravo holic. I was, I was going to be happy with any of the, the Potomac women.

And I said that in my response back, I was like, I would love to do it, especially if it's, if it's with the Potomac housewife. And I'm so proud of you that you got booked on it. Oh my God. Thank you girl. But Matt, but Matt was like, it's with the Potomac housewife. I'm so proud of you that you got booked on it. Oh my God. Thank you, girl.

But Matt was like, it's either going to be, it's going to be, the options are Wendy, Monique, or Robin. Queen. And I was like,

any of them I would be so happy with. I'm kind of disappointed that you're not on with Wendy because I think that you and Wendy would become friends. Me and Wendy, we could talk about like our immigrant parents. I know. I was thinking of you during this episode. I was like, so many similarities i know i love wendy asepho a lot anyway sorry we're we're we're talking a lot of potomac i have i have an i don't think so honey

okay so traditionally after i do my i don't think so honey bowen yang will do his i don't think so honey and that tradition is upheld tonight because it is time for Bo and Yang's I Don't Think So Honey on this, the episode of just Rona on Las Closaristas as I get my camera up. All right, here we go. Bo and Yang, your I Don't Think So Honey time starts now. I Don't Think So Honey cooking. It's messy. It's hard. It's inconvenient. We all sort of accept it as part of our lives even with restaurants even with ordering delivery cooking i i can't believe that it's a necessary part of our there should be readily edible food growing off of trees in the parks in the grass stuff that's not just bananas

and fruits and vegetables meals meals should be kind of coming from the earth. 30 seconds. Capitalism has driven us to a place of disgusting surplus. Why are we not abolishing cooking? We should have ready-made food available to us at all times. On-demand cooking. Today I made a baked ziti. It was so

difficult. And the process of collecting ingredients. Make sure the dishes were washed before you cook then after you cook you got dirty dishes and you gotta clean those dishes all over again it's a Sisyphean task to cook because guess what you're gonna have to do it again because you gotta eat

and that's one minute that was a gorgeous dressing down and also explanation of cooking for all the readers thank you Jess the applause is loud and it is raucous um i've never disagreed with an i don't think so anymore all of a sudden hans's team met it's probably because i called him hot earlier in the chat he looked very good he looked really hot today um but listen i i identify with you girl you know i'm not a fan of this stuff no you don't like to cook my we're two sisters we don a fan of this stuff. No, you don't like to cook.

We're two sisters. We don't like to cook. We're two sisters who don't like to cook. It's really culture number 32. We're two sisters who don't like to cook. I love watching cooking videos. I love food culture. I love watching other people cook.

I don't like doing it. Does that make sense? Padma is not going to like this. Well, no, I love watching Padma cook in her kitchen I love watching her make a dosa I love watching her do anything I don't like cooking for me when we have Padma again I would like the podcast episode

to be us cooking with Padma I want to figure out how we can do that we can do it in the great after when COVID is less of a concern so Han says she's gonna send he's gonna send her that clip well i think we can make it happen padma is down to clown what jess want to thoughts on cooking i really see your argument because you know you have to

clean the dishes and then you got and then you cook and then guess what you got to clean the dishes again so yeah it's brutal and obvious and you know what a baked got to clean the dishes again. So it's hard. And you know what? A baked ziti, that's really, it's an advanced dish. But I'm totally with you. Fuck it. You know what?

Get takeout. Cooking is a vicious cycle. It's actually really good. It's your number 194. It is a vicious cycle. Cooking is a vicious cycle. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. It's a vicious cycle. And and i'm i'm really grateful that you two are receiving this and hearing me and giving me i receive this space and i hear um i can't wait for this i don't think so honey oh this is gonna be a good one because this one i know this one i fucking know this one i know so she said out of the two segments the culture moment that was for me she was uneasy about but i don't think so honey she was oh i got it because it's really the only thing that means anything to me okay well you want a timer yes okay this is jess rona's i don't think so honey and her time starts now okay i don't think so honey walking your dog on hot asphalt. Okay. People don't realize that when you go to a flea market, if you go to a farmer's market, guess what?

It's on the street. It's in a parking lot. And your dog is lowered to the ground, which means your dog is hot. I'm a groomer. So I've seen dogs with burned pads because people don't, not that bad, but people don't realize that just because it's like maybe 79 degrees, it's breezy. It doesn't mean that your dog is not panting its ass off, overheating. I almost can't go to a farmer's market or a flea market because I get so upset when I see people walking their dogs on asphalt.

Stay in the shade. Keep your dog home. If it's more than 75 degrees outside, don't take your dog to the flea market or the farmer's market or anywhere on the hot asphalt. Listen to your dog. Watch your dog. Don't do it. That's one minute. I will say this.

You know what? And she truly, Jess truly will get on. It's amazing. And I can't wait for people to see it in the show, but she will get on the level of the dog and the dogs, the dogs will immediately settle. It's so crazy. I've watched videos of Jess with, with these doodle mixes or with these and these doodles. Like, and she, she is very attuned to how they're feeling. She's like, we're going to give the facial. And they're not going to understand what's happening.

You got to let them sort of like know that it's okay. And I'm just like, oh, my God, this woman knows how dogs think. Can you talk a little bit about how do you communicate with dogs? Yeah, of course. I communicate. Well, you mean like just in general how anyone can do it or just me particularly? Talk about your well, you mean like just in general how anyone can do it or just me particularly? Talk about your process, you. So for me, I look for opportunities from the dog to respond to.

So what I do is I'm just extremely focused on any nuance in their behavior. And it's something that's become second nature to me. So if a dog shies away from something, I know that they're unsure of me or they're not trusting. And like if I want to, usually it's when dogs, when I comb up on their paws, because if they have any tangles in between their toes, that's a painful spot. Some spots are more painful. So for me, I communicate with them by looking for moments, opportunities to respond by being gentle. And so I can show them, I see you. I know you don't like this. Watch how I've got your back. Watch. I'm going to go really slow

and gentle and show you that I see you. And once a dog or human feels like they're seen and heard, they're calm. This is for anybody. So if you can just find any way to show someone that you see them and that they are understood, that's the approach of communication with dogs. And it's taken me 20 years to get to that point. That is amazing. And I will say it's true. Because the dogs come in and it's a big set. There's a lot of people around. And also many dogs are not always comfortable being groomed like every dog has a different relationship to that process you know

not every dog has been groomed since they were a baby or like you know so and it was kind of a mixed bag with the dogs that came into the show and so that was something that you kept saying to the groomers was you know even though it's high stakes and it's a competition like you you always did put the um emphasis on listening to the dog giving the dog what they want you know what i mean which i i was so impressed by and i had never thought like and also what can happen when you raise your voice around or at a dog like that is not the way to always discipline or get its yeah totally for sure wow i'm just like beautiful i was very floored serene very yes i love she is she's like the dog whisperer selfishly as a groomer if my dog is happy my job is easier so i've done everything i can to learn how to calm a dog so that i can have a nicer day and not have to fight or, you

know, look, dogs are avoidant that that's what they do. They just avoid us. They don't want to, you know, their nails trimmed or whatever. So if I can work with a dog that is avoidant, then I can have an easier time, an easier day. Wait till you see these dogs in the happy hoodies, which are these little hoodies that they that the dog they put around the dog's head so that when the blow dryer is loud it's not as loud it's so cute they are really really cute you're gonna love this show i can't wait i'm telling you like and people flip for dogs like even for even for people who, like, aren't dog people, it's like, no, like, dogs, like, are powerful sort of, like, media, like, sort of teasers. Like, they'll, like you have to have to have to include the dog because it drives

up like engagement by like 500 or whatever really people just oh wow people just love dogs and so i think this will be a hit i think it's gonna be i cannot i'm gonna watch every single episode in one sitting i cannot wait and i'm gonna watch i'm gonna re-watch them because i think it'll be that kind of show i'm really excited and like i said today like um I'm going to watch, I'm going to rewatch them because I think it's, it'll be that kind of show. I'm really excited. And like I said today, like, um, we did get to watch the first episode and it was so much fun. And the show is, I would say if I had to break it down into third, it's like a third comedy with the panel. It's a third dog grooming process and learning about that. And it's a third narratives about things, amazing contestants who are really great. And we have such an an amazing diverse group of groomers

and I was actually wanted to say like it was so fun to see there was not one groomer that I felt like was duplicated you know what I mean that we didn't have like every single one was so different and the dog grooming community is so diverse and different and dynamic

and I love this I love this but before we end i just want to know like how involved were you in picking the contestants not i wasn't really in charge of casting i would just send casting my friends or groomers that i think are good but i every um every episode i would be i would i was handed some, and that's the first time I would see who was on the show. So I didn't know who was on the show until we shot. And some people I knew, and I was so excited to see them. And then some people I didn't know.

And I was really surprised at the skill and the different techniques and the innovation that, like the the inventions that they would come up with because they all had to deal with a theme and like how would they embrace that theme and that was really fun these themes are so fun and the accessories that's that was more of robin's uh whole thing where she either loved or hate the accessories and you know we never knew what we were going to get with robin well robin loves the tails and she loves to talk about the tails and she always loves to you know talk about the worthiness of different accessories that are on the animal and the colors and because that's that's another thing is a lot of the dogs like they get colored and so this is something that i don't think a lot of people know is that i certainly didn't know that and i was the host of

it yeah like i didn't i but it's really really really amazing to see what these people do they're really artists and there's some people that have come in and they really represented themselves amazingly on the show and so I'm super excited about it I'm so excited to watch I really I I'm over here just like I I want it to be Thursday I I cannot wait. Wow. Name another legend. Name another legend. Name another legend. Jess Rona. Jess, thank you so much for coming on. Thank you for having me. I knew the second I met you, I was like, I couldn't wait to have you on.

And I could not say enough about how lovely I think you are and how talented I think you are and how much I appreciate you putting your whole spirit and just like your good vibe into this show. Because I do think that it's going to make people really happy. And I think that that's like, you know, it's an opportunity for me, yes. But I think for like everyone to just like take a break and watch this thing. Because I think one thing that everyone in this world has in common is like, you know, that feeling of seeing a happy little dog, like, you know,

do its thing. I just think it's going to make people feel really good right now when people really want to feel really good. And so that's because of you and because of, and you friend, well, the show wouldn't exist without your, without you doing what you do.

So I want to thank you. And, um, I want everyone to watch hot dog, which is premiering with six episodes tonight at midnight aka tomorrow September 24th and there will be six more episodes before the

end of the year TBD but yes this is a 12 episode first season and we are so excited to show them so that's my spiel I'm just kidding well that's actually goodiel we end every episode with a song oh just kidding oh well that's actually good

a little bit of applause applause applause we didn't even talk about Gaga's new video a little bit of applause applause a little bit of applause

applause a little bit of applause wave at your cheer and scream for me the applause applause applause applause

give her the love and to hear the rest of that you can listen to Lady Gaga's Applause, applause, applause. Give her the big applause. And to hear the rest of that, you can listen to Lady Gaga's underrated album, Hard Pop. Bye. Bye. queer sexuality, cruising, and expanding your horizons? Hit play on the sex-positive and deeply entertaining podcast, Sniffy's Cruising Confessions.

Join hosts Gabe Gonzalez and Chris Patterson Rosso as they explore queer sex, cruising, relationships, and culture in the new iHeart podcast, Sniffy's Cruising Confessions. Sniffy's Cruising Confessions will broaden minds and help you pursue your true goals. You can listen to Sniffy's Cruising Confessions, sponsored by Gilead, now on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Thursday. Hey, friends. I'm Jessica Capshaw. And this is Camilla Luddington. And we have a new podcast,

Call It What It Is. You may know us from Graceland Memorial, but did you know that we are actually besties in real life? And as all besties do, we navigate the highs and lows of life together. Big or small, we're there. And now here we are, opening up the friendship circle to you. Listen to Call It What It Is on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm NK, and this is Basket Case. What is wrong with me?

A show about the ways that mental illness is shaped by not just biology. Swaps of different meds. But by culture and society. By looking closely at the conditions that cause mental distress, I find out why so many of us are struggling to feel sane, what we can do about it, and why we should care. Oh, look at you giving me therapy, girl. Listen to Basket Case every Tuesday on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Do you ever wonder where your

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