Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang - "Vocalista" (w/ Amanda Shechtman feat. Henry Koperski)

Episode Date: November 29, 2017

Let’s cut to the chase. This episode of Las Culturistas features 3 in-studio vocal performances from this week’s supremely talented special guest, Amanda Shechtman…and they will blow your goddamn mind. Her voice is insane. Like, truly insane. And to sweeten the pot, former LC guest and piano savant Henry Koperski is also in-studio to accompany her on the keys. And these performances aren’t just thrown into the show haphazardly. Oh no! They are INTEGRATED into Matt & Bowen’s wonderful interview with Amanda. And in said interview, Amanda tells the nail-biting, emotional, uplifting, crazy story of her American Idol Audition and what made her step in a cultural direction (combination of Long Island Jewish American Princess, Diva Culture, mid-2000s indie girl angst, and The Muppets). Plus, Matt & Bowen tackle global warming, Henry has something he wants to say, and the answer to the question: what is the difference between Manhattan spoiled kids vs. Brooklyn spoiled kids?DON'T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO SEE AMANDA LIVE IN NYC! “Amanda Shechtman Hates To Sing" THIS MONDAY, December 4 @7pm at The Duplex. Get your tickets here! https://goo.gl/d2HVVLRecorded at the Brick Box Studio in Brooklyn, NY!CONNECT W/ LAS CULTURISTAS ON FACEBOOK & TWITTER for the best in "I Don't Think So, Honey" action, updates on live shows, conversations with the Las Culturistas community, and behind-the scenes photos/videos:www.facebook.com/lasculturistas/twitter.com/lasculturistas(@LasCulturistas)PLEASE SUBSCRIBE AND RATE US on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.LAS CULTURISTAS IS A FOREVER DOG PODCASThttp://foreverdogproductions.com/fdpn/podcasts/las-culturistas/ Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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So I'm just like a little, you know, endorphined out. I'm crashing a little bit. That's okay. Not everyone is always on. But I'm saying I'm on. I'm definitely, fuck you. I'm on. I'm not saying you're not on.

I'm saying now I understand. You've released a lot of physical energy. Exactly. And I'm in a very understand you've released a lot of physical energy. And I'm in a very good place right now. And I'm just, you know, for me and my body doesn't manifest that. I'm like, let's go, let's go. So I'm not being a glacier. Please refrain from calling me a fucking, a thing that's melting, honestly.

And that's sad. And how dare you elicit that image? How dare you? Do you think that the listeners of Lost Culture Recess feel sad yeah when they when they hear the word glacier yes and then they think about across the world what's happening absolutely yeah that's it's you know it's something that we have to fix in our lifetime what would you do about global warming i would um you know just tax carbon baby now what would you do what would you do me yeah um i would write leonardo dicaprio a letter oh yeah and because he's the one he's the i will i would write him a personal letter because i feel

that he has the influence and the power honey to do something about this and also at the bottom of the letter i would include a postscript and that would say p.s postscript i feel that you could reduce your carbon footprint as well because i i have to say this is not the moment for i don't think so honey that does come at the end of the episode classically but i don't think so honey leonardo dicaprio and him being all inconvenient truth meanwhile you see him on his fucking yachts on yachts on yachts with all these models sure so and you have to imagine that man takes a private jet uh yeah uh-huh he doesn't fly commercial airlines he's not oh god there's this insane woman on the internet who has all of her trash from the past five years in a jar because she just does not want any waste. And God bless her. She's doing God's work.

She has all her shit in one jar? It's so annoying. That sounds beyond annoying. It sounds not realistically feasible. Not realistically feasible. But you know what is realistically feasible? Let's talk about the setup real fast. Yes. Because this is a new little rig, a new little, you know, a new little setup.

I think that's why you're so dropped in. I'm so comfortable right now. That's what it was. I'm so excited. I sensed a different energy and I was like, oh, now I understand. He's not being the glacier. He's merely being dropped in. I'm dropped in.

Because tell us, tell us all where we are sitting. We are back in hot engineer Ronnie's apartment and he has laid out the couch. Yes. And we, Matt and I are just luxuriating on the couch. You could call us splayed out. We're splayed out. And honey, across from us. Yes.

We have two. We have two guests fabulous guests now let's introduce one yes let's first introduce prior guests of the show yes you can catch them every wednesday night at club coming doing the amazing cabernet cabaret with katherine cohen the luminous katherine cohen luminous and this is henry kapurski hello henry hi so happy to be back here, you guys. This is historic. This makes you our second return guest, maybe third, if you count Pat.

Which we don't. We don't. Welcome back, Henry. Thank you. I'm honored. Now, before we move on, Henry actually told me he wanted to really make a point of being here. He says he has something to say. Oh my god, okay. Wait. This is when you said you've been getting a lot of questions.

Oh yeah. So I'm often talked about on this podcast. Yes. Sometimes my name is used, sometimes it isn't. And people make a lot of assumptions about things. And so I think we should just say right now that Matt and I dated for like two years and a couple months and we broke up in May. I'm just hearing about this now.

Oh, wow. And we still live together and it has brought us together even more in a friend way. Yes. And we've done a lot of forgiving and wonderful things and growing together. And I just want you all to know what's going on so you don't have to make assumptions. So basically Henry's saying he is now accepting new strange tale. New strange tale. He wanted to make it short. No, that's what you did.

I don't think so, honey. Don't phrase it that way. That's not what he's saying. He just wants to clarify. And, you know, I wish there was, you know, I wish Shonda Rhimes was in the room with you all for the many months, not the many months, but for the months since the breakup, just so she

could study, really study what post-breakup life is, because she gets it wrong. She gets it really wrong. And honestly, not everything is such drama, Shonda. It's actually rule number 12 of culture. Not everything is such drama, Shonda. Now, we're so happy to have Henry

back, and thank you for clarifying that. But the main event today. Yes. Now, this is such an exciting episode for Bowen and I. Another person oft mentioned on the pod. Absolutely. Now, the credits, they come rolling down. They come rolling down.

She is an alumna of our amazing, amazing, if I do say so myself. You could say. Musical sketch comedy group, Pop Roulette. She's a dear, dear friend. We've known her when she's known us when we love her so much what else man so um the this is like the big event that's going to be happening this i think i i've been hearing the trades do you read the trade i read the trade so the trades are saying that december 4th it's monday december 4th at 7 p.m at the duplex this is the event of the season

the winter event of the season you know how in in 2006 when Dreamgirls came out, that was the event of the season? That was the event of the season. This is the event of this season. Absolutely. So this is called Amanda Schechtman Hates to Sing. It's going to be a cabaret performance. Everyone's going to be very, very lucky to be there. I am so excited. I'm going to be there with bells on. Oh, I'll be there without bells on because I don't want to distract from what's happening on stage.

I'm so sorry. Bells make noise famously. That's actually rule number 20 of culture bells make noise famously now i can't wait for this show it's going to be so fantastic this person has the singing voice the banter the charm to fill a whole stadium and she's going to fill out the duplex and it's going to be really special because the duplex famously much smaller than a stadium yes so she'll definitely be able to fill it out absolutely because if she could fill open a stadium it's just a matter of scale it's just a matter of scale and taking up a tiny five foot two of scale in this room right now is amanda shechtman hello did i get that right five foot two you gave me two inches. Oh. You know?

So then her documentary, your documentary is just going to be Amanda Shatchman, 5'5". Five. Just five. Five. Yeah. Five. What would your main struggle be in your Netflix documentary? Because hers is famously, you know, fibromyalgia.

Yeah. Living. Living. Living. Yes. It would just be like the histrionic way that i just like can't can't yeah you just can't period i just can't well before we got on the air you guys were talking about how you get sick often it newly newly yeah you would say it within the last year and a half

yes what's been the lifestyle change can you track it back to a lifestyle yeah definitely i started working with kids a lot damn they're fucking gross yeah no they're not good i don't i don't want them personally i i'm still jury's still out for me i the kids that you're that's that's that's awful that that they're germ infested little pockets of flesh i'm like they can't help it. You know, and so I don't fault them for it, but do I get mad at them? Of course. Well, of course. Because I'm like, take your hand out of your butt and then don't also put it in your

mouth. In my mouth. Yeah, in my mouth. I mean. But like, okay, I don't think the onus is on you to make a lifestyle change to be like a wipes person. I don't want you to carry wipes. Oh my god, no, I hate that. I don't. I've never been that person. I don't. I don't want to. I don't. I'm not like a, ooh, i don't want you to carry wipes that i don't i've never been that person i don't i don't want to i don't i'm not like a oh like germs that's yucky i'm never i've never been that sure so then what what's the who's gonna budge here i'll tell you what i'll tell you who must budge it's gotta be the parents yes i think so and i love blaming them

so yeah no i will say this the helicopter it's like, why are you helicopter about everything except your kids' hands are all in their butt? It's the new age. It's the new age way of parenting. Yeah. It's like probiotic good bacteria. Let them play in the trash. It's good.

No. No. Absolutely. Those people are a seminar away from being anti-vaxxers. And I've said that same thing about people who believe so much in astrology. It's a tone shift away. It's a tone shift away. Ew.

Oh, my God. Can you imagine if you came to lunch as a youngster and you went into your ass? And you went into your ass. No, if you went into your lunchbox and pulled out your you know thermos of soup something you know whatever I used to do soup soup in a thermos

did you do soup in a thermos no but I can imagine you yeah well because I was telling Henry the other day when I was little I was afraid of

I was kind of like I had like a food fear like I didn't want my lunch to sit in the box all day and then open it later oh totally I had anxiety about that too when the lettuce would turn to like a darker color i was like my mom's a bit but i will say it's like especially cold food when food is cold and sitting around i'm like

no that's bad so there was something about the hot soup in a thermos. Thermoses, by the way, it's rule of culture number 19. Thermoses are unbelievable. Thermoses are unbelievable. The way they can keep something hot. Of course. It's science. Yes. So listen, what was I saying?

Oh, can you imagine? You reach into your lunch and next to you, some kid who's probably named something cool like Brooklyn, like reaches out and pulls out a kombucha and i mean you're if you were you i know we just established that you don't want children but you would feed your child kombucha you're a kombucha bitch well i know actually we used to have this disagreement when we were dating i said our kids will drink soda and i say our kids will not drink soda soda is poison

juice is poison famously Henry famously says juice is poison as well okay Amanda and feel free to feel free to be as cryptic as you want because obviously this is like professional but now these kids what's your approach I have a very famous kid

in one of my classes go on okay I feel like I can't say who I want. We can't talk about specific children, but let's can we at least broadly and not negatively at all I mean, we don't want to let's get into the kid without getting into the kid. The famous one.

No, no, no. Just the kids in general. Oh, yeah. Just all kids across all across all, you know, contexts. How is your approach to kids in general? yeah just all kids across all across all you know contexts how how is your approach to kids in general like are you stern are you warm like what's like what would you say is your approach i i think that the key with kids and a lot of parents don't get this is like is treating them like they're people yes it sounds so dumb and simple, but like there's this thing that I've watched happen where and especially around these parts is like there's this tendency to tell children that they are or make them feel that they are extremely special.

Yes. And I've seen a lot of spoiled kids. There's like a Brooklyn spoiled and a Manhattan spoiled and they're two different branches of spoiled. Describe the difference. So the Manhattan spoiled is you're sort of like,

you know, stereotypical TV, you know, archetype of like the, you know, bully or like the mean. You know, I babysat a child actor for a while.

That was a trip. Oh, brother. And he was a Manhattanite. And he once turned to me and asked me, am I more like Leonardo DiCaprio or Charlie Chaplin? Jesus Christ. Of course, the two types. Yeah, yeah, yeah, you know, which is just so alarming

because it means at some point somebody was like, you know, you remind me of the two types. Yeah, yeah, yeah, you know? Which is just so alarming because it means at some point somebody was like, you know, you remind me of these two people. And he's trying to get to the bottom of like, what's my sensibility? He's already trying to fucking five-year-old. So he was like seven, which is just the worst age amongst boys. A seven-year-old boy passed.

No, I agree. Passed. It's like a little, like, preview of their adulthood. Right, right. It's just like, here's what's coming. Or he would say to me,

you know, like, what jobs have you booked? Oh, my God. Like, the horror of facing my, it was like this little, like, embodiment of my, like, years of rejection. It was so bad.

But also, like, just hearing that from anybody is atrocious oh sure yeah i had to teach him what the word humble meant like physically be like well humble me i was like is this real so so there's the manhattan spoiled which is like the money that we go to upper well and the fucking and the uniform whatever the manhattan or the sorry the brooklyn spoiled yes is more righteous yes and it's it's this kind of like In the uniform, whatever. The Manhattan, or the, sorry, the Brooklyn Spoiled is- More righteous. Yes.

And it's this kind of like, give them freedom, give them space. And so what they do is they take their freedom and they just think like, you know, they feel victimized. Or they just don't. Which, you know, it victimized or they just don't often which you know it's sure am I gonna tell a child that's telling me that oh everybody hates them

and nobody likes me that that's not really happening I would never denounce that or belittle that but it's not necessarily really happening it's their perception

of like it's this kind of is the allergies it's all a part of it yeah it's like this is my issue you know and it's like they part of it. It's like, this is my issue, you know?

It's like they're just self-pathologizing already. Yes, exactly. Ew. I mean, is this something that like, is this a thing that a lot of kids are coming to you with? Is people don't like me, people, everybody hates me? Because that never leaves you. No, no, no, no, no.

You should tell them that. You should tell them that. There's just, no, there was one instance of of that but again it was like i know the child and i i think it was stemming from a place of that not necessarily really happening yeah but but being clear or be it being obvious that that was their perception of because i've seen the way they interact with their parent who is just so like oh my oh my like a sweet baby and it's it's just there's a babying that totally I I wonder

like I would be that parent like I would try to resist that resist that so so much you would you would I would just be like oh you're the best thing I know and and it's so insane to like make any criticism about any parent at like this age and this point in my life because I have no fucking clue.

In these political times. And in these times, honey. Everyone's just so scared of hugging their kids, you know? Oh, I had to teach the day after. No. And we were doing an Annie themed class. It was like a mini musical class. And we were doing Annie and it class it was like a mini musical class and we were doing Annie

and it was a class of only girls and like we sang like the sun will come out tomorrow and it was just like oof me and my co-teacher

we were just like it was just such a tough one that goes in the book you know that's Annie's and they all had opinions about you know they have the

they have these liberal parents so they they just i think it's so fascinating they have this like menacing image of of our president yeah yeah yeah yeah i i went i taught schools sometimes and i was doing that i was something for story pirates and i was like strolling around the halls waiting for uh my my thing to start and i was early and they had artwork up on the wall and i was like strolling around the halls waiting for uh my my thing to start and i was early and they had artwork up on the wall and it was actually a school in um north carolina and on the wall it was just prior to the election and it was like their hopes and dreams for the upcoming school year and it was like i hope that don Donald Trump is not elected president. And that was up like a couple of times, like references to Trump.

And like, it's true, like kids, like in Story Pirates, like you go out into the audience and you get suggestions from the kids and they were obsessed with Trump. And that's like, it was this thing they were thinking about. It's like a buzzword.

Right. And I do wonder what that felt like to be this seven, eight, nine year old kid who's, you know, fixated on this thing, which is Donald Trump, who's not a person to them. He's just this thing in the news, like the way Lewinsky was for us. You know what I mean? Like, it's just something that exists out there in the world and you don't understand it. But to then be told told for so many months,

like if Donald Trump becomes president, that's bad, that's bad. Hear all this doomsday imagery and be a seven, eight, nine-year-old kid and then get told when you wake up in the morning that Donald Trump was elected. That's freakish to think about. Yeah, it's like there's a cloud of fear.

I don't know. I don't like to think about them yeah well because they're so young now no well i will say we're talking about you know the children children they will listen the children will um wow maybe that's like a perfect segue actually i mean so amanda we're gonna ask you the question that we ask everyone that comes on our show now this question is the central question of Las Culturistas. And we ask, you know, our listeners this at home, too. Like, maybe, I don't know, in your five-star review of Las Culturistas on iTunes,

you can drop what your culture that affected you and made you want to take a step in a cultural direction was. Just think about it. But, Amanda, we're going to ask you that question right now. What was the culture that made you say, is for me yeah defining culture can it be like a three part it's like the intersection of three things absolutely because i've been thinking about this because i knew you were coming it was on your google cal yeah alert um okay it's like the intersection of um long island jewish american princess culture and in relation to also like the way those people respond to theater and being close

to the city and all of that right yes like with a droplet of the fact that my mom's a hairdresser. Okay. Great. So that's the same lane. That's the same lane. Okay. Okay. Diva.

Yes. Divas. Divas over time. Diva culture. And all that falls under that umbrella. Absolutely. So like just all of the shit that comes with that. Big talent, big attitude, big dreams.

The pathos and also and the ego as well as the vocalization. Like it's all in there, right? Yeah. And then like Bowen will like this one, I think. Wow. Like mid 2000s indie girl angst. Yes. Yeah.

Absolutely. That is her. That is her. Mid aughts. Okay. And like the Muppets. Yeah. Absolutely. That is her. That is her. Mid-aughts. And like the Muppets. Just the Muppets for good measure. I think that

is a breakdown is such an accurate breakdown of Amanda. I mean, we would go to Amanda's Nothing is not self-aware. We would go to Amanda's house

and they whip out the home videos and let me tell you that was a trip. Oh my goodness. Yes. I've been talking about this lately because it's sort of like been on the back of my mind as i'm as you're

doing the show amanda checkman hates to sing on december 4th yes and the the home videos for me are such a mind f because it's always like like it's it's so fun to have the experience of like you know if like i bring my boyfriend to my my house and like i'm like oh let's like pop in these home videos like this is gonna be so funny wait to see like the dynamic the relationships it's all it's so revealing it's funny and i literally always leave like like i just came from like like you're physically exhausted after watching it yeah i'm just like that was not what i thought it would feel like. Well, just watching a little version of yourself that is inside you still to this day, that's like, no, raw, like owning the room.

Like, yeah, they exist of me too, hun. I know, I know. It's just a weird, weird mirror that's being held up to you. But also like just the fact that those home videos exist and I've seen a couple from you. No, specifically the ones that I've seen exist and i've seen a couple from you no specifically the ones that i've seen of you uh in in in your school musicals is the intersection of uh long island uh jewish american princess yes and how they respond to theater meets hairstyling hair

my mom did the hair for the show yes yeah she did jamie yeah and um so there's a video of where is that is that from Ragtime it was Ragtime okay back to before from Ragtime um

and fucking Amanda is like you have this updo which is insane and literally what are you 16 in that video yeah

but it's a 50 year old woman on stage and I was always like that yeah just an old did you play a lot of the older characters in the plays?

I was always playing mom matronly sort of but not matron like it was you know it's the difference between like like Golda and Yenta like I was the Golda I was the like mother but like in an iconic way I mean I yes but in in an iconic way I mean yes the mother in an

iconic way number five of culture but but I also that's the title of that you know I also was sort of there were I did have my ingenue moments but like not real like it was like brassy ingenue yeah yeah like princess omni like she's not an ingenue. No, no, no, no. She's character. She's character. She's a character. Yes. So yeah, I did sort of fill that space weirdly

when I was very young, and I was always like that. I was just very old. Oh my God. Yeah. Can I say one thing about, there's a good home video of Henry. Oh, please.

Which is Henry is smiling and bopping his head at a picnic table. I love it already. Eating a hot dog. And his dad is taking the video and he goes, Henry, did you pray yet?

And Henry's just like, looks at the camera and Henry's dad goes, I don't think you did. And then it ends. Oh my God. Because you hadn't prayed, had you? I don't think I had. I didn didn't I wasn't a believer when I was a kid

really yeah I don't think I ever truly believed yeah or in the way that my parents did of course religious were they taking you to to temple temple church whatever I had sort of what I think is probably a similar experience

to a lot of people in that area which is like you're super Jewish for the sake of showing faith. And then you have your bat mitzvah and they're like, we never want to talk about this ever. Literally the same. Socially religious, but then completely secular. Absolutely. It was like so the biggest deal that we go to church every week and then I got my confirmation and then literally we never went again. And I think that I have some opinions about this, but I think that religion is, you know, whatever. I won't get too much into that.

But when you're growing up, I do think and I think this especially of Judaism, that it's a nice sort of like basic framework for like being a good person yeah and like you know especially in jewish culture there's a lot about like you know there's a lot of guilt and bullshit but there's also like a good amount of triumph and sort of like um it instills a sense of i don't know celebration a little bit more than i think some of the guilt that's associated with no their religion that's yeah that's what that's what appealed to my sister when she converted. It's not really a religion about shame or punishment or anything. It's not anything punitive. It's always about remembering and being a good person and leaving the world in a better place than when you came.

Totally. And I was like, oh, yeah, like that does make sense. I've talked about this a lot. And themes. Yeah. The folklore in Judaism. And I think there's a lot of, like, music. And, yes, I love some of the traditions in Judaism. I'm really into some of that, for sure.

And also bat mitzvah themes. Oh, sure. What was yours? That was a time in my life. Woof. My theme was, now this is very complex, but it was Broadway. I don't understand.

I'll explain it to you another time. I was going to say, that's the perfect, it's not specific, but it is. Right, right. You know what I mean? It's like, no, the theme is going to be broadway and you're like okay at the time everyone was like yeah she picked broadway but now it's like that's amazing okay so it's so funny there's nothing funnier so zero in on like how this was

like the theme was applied um okay i love talking about this so first i'll tell you just just a sort of aesthetic element is that um each of my tables and like insane to think that just to have tables at 13 years like just just ego around it is so wild was that a candle celebration as well now to light my 11th candle yeah I did all the things I had the candle lighting the montage I sang reflection from Mulan God bless you thank you so much I made my friends sit down and watch me sing reflection which is like a sort of a dark song you know it's just

it's a beautiful song it's not celebratory no it's like who it's an identity crisis also not Broadway no not at all but thank you for bringing Asian culture into your oh my god you know that was my goal that's like

that's like when when um I think it was Bill Clinton got inaugurated Aretha Franklin came up and sang I Dreamed a Dream

from Les Mis which is like just a devastating like essentially like the last rattle cry of like Fontaine

and like people don't understand context no no no but anyway the aesthetic element was that i had on my tables my centerpieces um i went to some like place in long island that did like moments of stuff and i like you know and so they were all playbills through the years i love that um but i was my i was and i had seen this at another girl's bat mitzvah love that you know right and of course like in in classic just like my family my life fashion it was like not it was like a watered down for it was just not quite there it's when you look at at a Pinterest board and then you want to do the thing and then it's not quite there.

And then it just never turns out that way. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Exactly. And, like, my dress was the same way. It was, like, custom made, but it fell apart, like, halfway through. Oh, my God. You know, I try. I'm always trying.

The centerpieces were Playbills. But instead, it was just pictures of me doing the thing that's in that Playbill. Oh! of me doing the thing that's in that play about so instead what i wanted was like my face super imposed onto like the actual thing which would have been crazy like the graphics required for that i mean i don't know but you weren't needed we needed a bow and yang level oh my goodness but then what ended up happening what ended up happening was like hairspray, you know, and I can't. This is all demonstrated. The face. The face.

So it's just me. Like no effects. Just mouth open. Hands on my cheeks. Close up like dead eyes, you know. She's giving us a perfect Marissa Jarrett Winokur face right now. Just cut out on the white background with the blue hair. But no.

No, not even blue hair. No effects. But then would you have the logo of the show over it? i had like hairspray at the top the best the tour de force though was rent because famously there's like nine of them there's nine of them and mimi is like yeah so it's just like the awkward 13 year old body oh you know like a pink petite pato t-shirt, you know. Or 12. Yeah, I wasn't even 13 yet. You're right. And just doing all the rent poses.

But like with minimal effort, you know. And oh my god. Did you at least do Idina's screaming face? Like I've seen it, yes. Yes. So I commit. No, I commit. It was entirely copied. They were all very accurate. Okay, but listen, that's literally pastiche and it's gorgeous. I'm saying that in a good way.

Thank you so much. It's a tribute. It is. It's a tribute. It's gorgeous. I had never seen it and I didn't know the music. Well, I mean, speaking of Broadway, now- I think it would be a wonderful time.

I think it would be a nice time to hear a song. So tell us this first song that you're going to do for us and this is going to be included in the show on December 4th the story of at least you know my journey with this song is I have my best friend Ryan

he contacted me or you know we were just talking and he was like I've had a talent crush on this performer um katie thompson for a very long time um because i saw her in the musical in the michael john lecuse musical giant at the public like five years ago and she just had she was like adele with like more power and but but but acting and like I just I just I have such a crush on her and

I um I I felt like she had this raw quality to her voice and I sometimes feel like I struggle to fit into a category um in terms of type and and vocally and and I I sort of watched her do this thing where she she she's actually a composer she's like written a lot of music and she just has this like amazing quality. So he was like, I found this video of Katie Thompson. She's singing this song. It feels so like something that comes from that would come from your heart and mouth. And I looked it up and I just like I'm not often I've heard I've sung for so long. So it's not often that I'm just like,

oh, I would love to have this music in my mouth. So I did it at one of Henry's shows once. We remember, we hosted it. And I just felt like there was an understanding of this feeling, and that's really what I look for in songs, is like, am I just singing, or am I getting at something that people are understanding on an emotional level? It's by Jonathan Reed Galt,

who is a really talented composer in that sort of camp of contemporary musical theater composers. And I'm not a very good fan because I don't know the context, if it's from a musical of any kind. I think it's sort of just a one-off thing. I think you're right. I think it is. Right.

So my sheet music says from the album, 13 stories down. Yeah. And I think that, and there's some like really amazing singers on that album, just doing his songs. And he, he has a really,

um, some really good stuff on there. So a little plug for him. Okay. And it's called no reason at all. Yes. Now let's hear it. piano plays softly

I lay here in the dark Yearning for something A tiny glance, a kind word To give my life meaning But you'd never know Cause I never show How much you've helped me to see the woman I'm longing to be.

Sometimes I just need to cry for no reason at all. Sometimes I'm too tired to try for no reason at all. Sometimes I just have to learn to let go for no reason at all. I stand in the door, life passes by and feel like I'm stuck in between the life that I want and what I can reach It's like I'm not heard and not seen There must be a way at the end of the day That I can help make you see The woman I long to set free Sometimes I just need to cry

for no reason at all Sometimes I'm too tired to try for no reason at all Sometimes I just have to learn to let go For no reason at all I can see the things that I need to change in me And that's a start, a place I'd rather be. But when the time comes, will I have the strength to pull myself up and see? And see, yeah And sometimes I just need to cry

For no reason at all Sometimes I'm too tired to try For no reason at all Sometimes I just have to learn to let go For no reason, for no reason at all I love you. Friends like that, who needs enemies? You ain't seen nothing yet. Here's 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.

This week, Charlamagne Tha God sits down with Vice President Kamala Harris for a conversation you don't want to miss. The things that we want and are prepared to fight for won't happen if we're not active and if we don't participate. They tackle the big questions, politics, policy, and what's next for the country. Doesn't the Biden administration have to take some blame for the border, though? Charlemagne, first thing we dropped was a bill to fix the broken immigration system, which, by the way, Trump did not fix when he was president.

Don't miss this in-depth interview with Charlemagne the 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. Hey there, I'm Dr. Maya Shunker, and I'm a scientist who studies human behavior. Many of us have experienced a moment in our lives that changes everything. A moment that instantly divides our life into a before and an after. On my podcast, A Slight Change of Plans, I talk to people about navigating these very moments.

The last couple of years has been the hardest season of our marriage for sure. I'm surprised our marriage survived it. I think we both are. I think we both were barely holding on. Nothing compares to how hard this is. Their stories are full of candor, awe, and hard-won wisdom. And you'll hear from scientists who teach us how we can be more resilient in the face of change. True behavior change is really identity change. Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. Listen to A Slight Change of

Plans on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, fam. I'm Simone Boyce. I'm Danielle Robay. And we're the hosts of The Bright Side, the daily podcast from Hello Sunshine that is guaranteed to light up your day. Every weekday, we bring you conversations with the culture makers who inspire us.

Like our recent episode with dancer, actor, host of Dancing with the Stars, and now novelist, Julianne Hough. I feel really whole. I feel like the last few years I've really unraveled a lot, which is part of what this book is about. And I really feel so content, which is a word that used to scare the crap out of me. And I love that word now. Listen to The Bright Side from Hello Sunshine on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Oh my God. I mean. Amanda Schechtman. Thank you for doing that on this show. Oh my gosh, thank you. That was unbelievable.

Thank you. It's hard to feel like I'm not just yelling. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. That was really like, I'm so excited for everyone that just heard that, but you don't know what it was like to be in the room. So what I would suggest is that you buy tickets to the show because you have was like to be in the room. So what I would suggest is that you buy tickets to the show because you have an opportunity to be in the room.

So again, I'll just keep saying it and we're going to hear two more songs, which is fucking nuts. But it's on December 4th at 7 p.m. at the Duplex. It's called Amanda Sheckman Hates to Sing. Get your tickets at purplepath.com. And really, you should be in the room you really should be in new york city it's so easy to stay in especially when it's cold but like you're in

the greatest city in the world and you can hear one of the greatest singers in the world wow thank you guys and uh to see her to feel her presence is what takes it to the next level it's really fabulous henry you also are amazing on that as well. Thank you, Henry. And Henry also is also accompanying at the show. Yes, of course. So you'll see Henry as well. Okay, so I do want to get into this. Now, it's called Amanda Shackman Hates to Sing. Yes.

Now, when I met you at NYU, we did a show together. It was called The Reality Show at NYU. And we collaborated. And you had just experienced something in your life which I think sort of changed your life. Absolutely. And that was, I guess, being on a famous reality television singing show.

So I was wondering if you could talk a little bit about what went down with American Idol. Yes. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Woof. Okay, so... And I know that it is a woof. It is a woof. It went down with American Idol. Yes. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Woof. Okay, so. And I know that it is a woof.

It is a woof. It's such a woof. But I'm so, you know, it's been this thing that's sort of unnecessarily, I've like, you know, grown it into this monster in my brain and I'm really excited to just like take the power away from it

and just let it be like the stupid thing that happens. I think, and this sounds so whatever, and I'm really excited to just like take the power away from it and just let it be like the stupid thing that happens. I think, and this sounds so whatever, I think you have really come so far from that mental space too. So yeah, go ahead and describe it. And like, you know, take the sort of things that we've talked about about myself into account when I'm telling this because it's all a part of it you know and so um because singing for me was very pure right like it was so pure for me

yes yes um and that's okay and just before we even get into details that's the most that's the shittiest part of all this is that someone who like has a gift a gift of all gifts like for that to be sullied but yeah in any way yeah well and the thing is that that goes that dates back that approach to what I can do dates back to before

the idol experience because I think there's a culture of in you know in our society and just the way that we treat talent that there is a tendency to um want to manufacture it and or or take it and make money from it yes to put it frankly yes make money from it and i think that you know my my friends and family did this to me throughout my life as well and And out of not a bad intention at all. But this is just, I think we've been conditioned to treat talent this way.

And I do it all the time. I do it with you guys. We'll just dish about some singer on the internet and it's no big thing. And it's like the journey from singing being like a pure facet of music into something that we judge and and you know manipulate and all of that yeah has been present in my life for for a long time but um so after my um my freshman year of college um which of course is so easy for everyone and everyone knows exactly who they are and where they're going. Yeah, yeah. Oh, my God. Just a breeze. Just a total breeze. I was a mess.

Oh, my gosh. I was a mess. I was sort of having in this really crazy place with my identity. And I had gone on such a wild journey up until that point of knowing that I had talent not really knowing if I want to do that being boxed in blah blah blah and by the time that I got to applying to schools you know I have one point was like looking at like liberal arts colleges in like upstate New York where I could like major a double major in English and art. Like, you know, I was like so ready to just be like, leave me alone. And then I don't know.

I just the the sort of feeling that, oh, what's what's possible? The potential that I've been sort of pumped up with my whole life. Yeah. It's harder when you know you can do it. Right. And when people have affirmed that for the longest time the affirmation absolutely of just like you're special you're amazing you're a talent you have a gift and and believe me i mean i i rejected that for a while i like i got into like drawing and like you know i was like you know the quiet things i but i the

quiet things uh but eventually it was just like well fuck I'm gonna go to Tish like who am I kidding so but when I applied to Tish I was like but I want to go to the Atlantic School for Act you know I like I really wanted to like be taken seriously so yeah my drop my major was acting it was not musical theater I did not major major in musical theater or go to that studio rather. And I went to a wonderful studio within the drama department that was an amazing place. But, you know, left. It was an interdisciplinary studio. So you're directing, you're designing, you're you're being taught how to be a whole theater artist right right right which you know my ego I think was it was so hard to imagine art for art's sake at that point like it was just like no like I it was hard for me to to

let go of this idea that like I could really be somebody yeah and and I wanted to believe that I was somebody that could just be a theater artist and like be a downtown theater artist and do that whole thing but I just had this moment after my freshman year where I was like

what if I just cash in on this idea you know and audition for and audition for American Idol and win yeah right

you know because of course I will but of course mentally you go to that place where like I'll do it because I think I have a shot at winning the whole fucking thing. Yeah. Well, you would think.

And I'll get into the people that, you know, don't think like that and what happens to those poor people. But, yes. So, I had had this thing happen my whole life of like, you have to audition for a marketing doll. You're amazing. Long Island it is. It's so pervasive.

You're so amazing. Of course. Your voice. Oh Island it is. It's so pervasive. You're so amazing. Of course. Your voice. Oh my God. So I saw that. I don't even know how I knew, like how it came up. Malls. Right.

Like who knows? Oh God. The malls in Manhattan. It was the mall. It was like a poster on the American Eagle sign in the South Shore Mall. It was the mall. By the way, American Idol's going to be in the city. Oh wow. Oh, wow.

Oh, my gosh. I hate it so much. But so, okay. So I find out that the nearest audition location was Boston. Oh, shit. Yeah. Like, I traveled. And I went to the stadium, the sports stadium.

Right. Whichever one. Where you go sing. Where you go sing. I think it was Gillette Stadium, but also I could 100% make that up. Oh my gosh. But like I'm sure you know. Maybe.

And that's, you know. My toxic masculinity from the world. So I go there and it's like tons of people and you wait around and it's a whole thing and um and i was gonna sing uh the whole thing in music at that that year i think it was 2009 yep yep yep was like the ross bay singer british girls who josh dan Daniel on our last live show dubbed artisanal singing artisanal singing yes

yes but yeah that was and it still is that's a fucking Grace Vanderwall anyway right like it's it's this thing of like

like I'm not really a good singer but isn't it cool what I'm doing yeah yeah yeah and that's

I mean that you know obviously some of those women are amazing singers and who even knows what that means. The whole concept of that is what I'm worried about.

But anyway, the whole thing was like, Adele, Duffy, Estelle, right? You know, and Amy, of course. Yeah, of course. We just didn't know

the half of it, but those types of singers. So that was sort of what I was bringing to the table. I was like, oh, I could probably do something like that. So I was going to sing Melt My Heart to Stone by Adele.

And I was like, you would not recognize me. You know, I was like freshman 25. And I had like blonde long hair and a blunt bang and I was just like, flannel shirt, ripped stockings, boots. I went to NYU. I live in the city. So 2009. Yeah, I was bringing that all to the table.

But that was really like what I was. I wasn't – that's what the projection of whatever i was going through and that's so great um and i get up to this there there are all these tents and they have that's how many people produce this show is that like there are like 10 of these tents and each of them have two producers in them and you line up cattle call style and um i sing this little part of melt my heart to stone and they're kind of like like squirming around like do we like her and they're like yeah okay okay we're gonna have you come back but I want you to um dress up like look nicer wear like a dress or a skirt or

something like that um and they kind of give me this costume to come in, which is what it would have been to me because that's not how I was naturally dressing at the time. And I'm like, but I'm like, oh my God, like, okay, whatever you say, because like the dream, the dream is on the line. And they take you into this other room where they give you a questionnaire

and they kind of want to know about you. So what's your story? What are some things that make you interesting? What's fun? What's new? What's different? Blah, blah, blah. And I have this flicker of a moment where my grandmother had passed away that year,

and she was a singer. Not professionally, but she had a beautiful voice. And I was like, do I talk about my grandma? Right, yeah, because they encourage something like that, right? And it would have been a totally different result. I don't know if I'd be sitting here. Like, I don't know what would have happened if, like, that was the story I chose to tell.

But I was like, no, I'm not going to exploit her. I'm not going to, like, use my loss of my grandmother as some like, you know, storyline in this charade. Yeah. Well, I didn't know it was a charade at the time. I just kind of looked at it like an interview.

Yeah. So I put down what makes me, me, right? I'm a drama student. I, I like to sing musical theater, but I also sing pop.

I do impressions. I like can do different voices. I can talk with my mouth closed, like all these things that are just kind of what make me unique because not everybody can do that right okay so then tons of time goes by uh I would say like most of the summer I think again this is all very the timeline is very blurry because it's not the way it looks on tv at all sure so they don't so they called you at a later date. Yeah oh no like so the way they make it seem where it's like here's everybody lined up I feel like I'm doing an expose

on Idol. Good that's what we want. So yeah so there's the way they do they portray it on the show is here's these like hundreds of thousands of people and then Simon and Paul and Randy are waiting up in the front or car or whoever

and it's been a long day right that's the funniest part yeah oh my god so it's like months later that I go back for a second audition

that's not not even yet the televised one sure wow so I but this one I had like a little time

to prepare for they gave you a list of songs that you can sing i like go back and forth you know how who do i want to be how do i want to sound what do i want to do and it was a weird headspace for me to be in because i wasn't really living my life as a vocalist i was living my life as an acting student. Yeah. So taking all of the things that I learned as like an experimental theater actor and then being like, what pop song do I want to sing?

It was just the weirdest tension in my brain. And so they gave me this list. Here's what you can sing. And I'm like, well, I should probably stay in the same lane as this like Adele thing that's happening right now. So that song Mercy by Duffy was everywhere all the time. I'm like, that would be a good one to do, I think, because I can show off vocally.

And it feels like it's sort of en vogue right now. And then they say to have a backup song just in case. So I don't even know how I got there. And this speaks to like this is so symbolic of me as a person is that I end up going with this like Billie Holiday song that like no one knows and I think that was like the little like like indie girl and maybe something fucking weird so so I have this like pop song and this like weird jazz standard that I can like riff up a bit and make it kind of cool again like pure pure as can be

just like the purest right and I go with the whole fam my sister my mom my dad we're like we're getting in the car we're driving to Boston and um they take you to this kind of you know I don't even know where we were. It was a space that had rooms. Yes. Like a conference area. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Conventions.

I don't know. Yeah, something like that. And my first big mistake was what I chose to wear. I wore a tube top, which just, why? And a skirt, a high-waisted skirt that was just way too short and like my mom's like wooden protestant like heels it was so bizarre um the look that i strung together and um again this hair this 2009 bangs moment um just like the most uncomfortable you go through like a second adolescence in college it's so uncomfortable it's strange um it's like out there for all the world to see but uh anyway

so they take you to this space with these you know there i'm wrong there were two producers before the televised one there are three auditions before you get on camera. It's insane. So just know that. When you're watching The Voice, it's all the same shit. I know. So they take me into this room. I sing. It's good. They like it.

Whatever. I'm getting moved to the next room. So then the next one is the key one. Because this is the one where they fuck with you. Okay. So I go into this room and it's like these very British producers. Take that, how you will. And so I sing my songs for them and they're like, you know, great for television.

Great, great for television. Bubbly, great personality. And you know, what's great about you is that you've done a lot of Broadway singing, theater, but you have a very pop sound, which is great. Keep, do that in the room. You know, really do that. You have a great pop sound. It's very pop.

He keeps saying that to me. He's like, it's not theater-y at all. It's wonderful. And I'm like, oh, that's wonderful and I'm like oh that's awesome I'm so happy to hear that now I'm moving on okay the people the producers will take you and be like hey can you do your like Celine Dion impression

and can you do this and can you talk with your mouth closed and they'll take you in a room interview you and they'll have you kind of like do all these like fun things that you do with the camera on you and I'm thinking like this is so fun like they love all like fun things that you do. With the camera in there? With the camera on you. And I'm thinking like, this is so fun. Like they love all this stuff that I can do. The moment where they told me

that I didn't have a theater-y sound is key. So just remember that. So then I go into the room. I want to mention that before I went in, they had to shut down production because there was a severely autistic girl who had a breakdown when she was rejected. So just know that that's like the fabric of this.

And so of course it just sort of, that's the fabric of the show and it also like put you, affected you in whatever way yeah i was just like oh what is this is this a scary thing should i be scared of what's about to happen because here i am thinking everyone's loved me so far i got pipes i know i can do this i've been told my whole life like here i fucking go so oh that detail though wow yeah no it's important um and it haunts me i think about that because i

just think wow that was like the peak behind the curtain right um so i i go in and it's them and this was when they had the guests they started doing the guest judge so mine was victoria beckham right right vocalist vocalist victoria beckham right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right

right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right right And I was like, no, that's the opposite of what the producer said.

But I can't say that because no one's supposed to know about one, two, three rounds of producers before this one. And then I just go to like, I'm like, what? Like, I feel so mentally. Adult. And I've been sitting around for hours all day. This is like, you're drained. So, you know, and I haven't eaten and whatever. And the moment I like put my hand through my hair, Simon's like.

God. And he starts mocking me. Yep. When I walked into the room, I forgot this. They asked me like, it says here. I thought they would be like, so you do impressions. And I would do some impressions on camera for them there. But instead, I had said something in my interview or my little sheet of paper about how I – this was – again, I'm in a weird place after my freshman year.

But I said something about how I've, like – I change a lot. Like, I change my hair and, like, I like to, like, you know, I do different voices because, like, I love change. Like, I don't know. It was, like, something I threw out there. Yeah, right. But they zeroed in on it. He made that the focal point. So he's like, says here you like to change a lot.

And I was like, well, I just, you know. Change my hair. Right. And I try to kind of explain this really kind of macro concept. Yeah. Like, and I know. To Simon and Victoria Beckham. To Simon and Victoria.

And as soon as it's coming out of my mouth, I'm just like, it's over right now. Because like, I just saw him being like, he just cut me off and was like, okay, I don't know what you're saying. And I was like, fuck. Anyway, so I sing this song and they're like, that was horrible. That it's so theory. You sound like Judy Garland. There's so much vibrato.

Like, what is this? And he's making fun of me. He's doing this. He's doing this. And I get upset because I'm being bullied and I'm being sort of like told that I'm not a good singer which was like you know it's new information yeah um so then I'm like please like I've been here all day I don't say that but like that's the emotion is that I've got it's been all summer you know right so I'm like let me sing another song so they agree to let me sing another song. So I sing this weird Billie Holiday song. And they're like, again, no, two theater eight.

And then they're like, let's put it to a vote. Yes, yes, yes, yes. They wanted you to get upset. They knew they were going to put you on. And you know, I wasn't happy when they said yes, yes, yes, yes. I was just fucking confused. So then I'm like tired and crying. and i come out with the golden ticket and i'm like questioning my whole life and they have me like redo my reaction and i'm and now i'm very aware of like oh no because i'm like this is

the not this is not feeling good yeah but you know i committed i said i'm going to hollywood so i did i did a academic semester where i took only music classes i took you know piano lessons i was like voice lessons i i was like i'm gonna go back and i'm gonna show i'm gonna do this thing right you literally changed your educational path yes absolutely How much time is between that audition and Hollywood? So much. Oh, God. I would say the entire fall semester. Oh, yeah.

So, yeah. December, you went. Yes. And my audition with them happened over the summer. Right. So now December, you go to Hollywood. Yes. Okay. And also know that in that time, that interim, I signed an insane contract.

Okay. Describe, can you describe the contract? I don't know. All right. So let's not. It's been put out there. It definitely has. So we know, we can say, I'll say for you, we can say the contract basically allows them to portray you in ways that you might not agree with

or or be privy to yes but they're giving you this opportunity and so you sign a contract that says you can't do anything about the way we show you right okay right so you go to hollywood so i go to hollywood and um i do that first round in holly, and it's my one good audition. They never show it. What did they say there? I'm not kidding, and I know that I sound insane when I say this, but Randy Jackson said I sound like Beyonce, and I will always remember that.

That's so great. That's so funny to me. It's the same thing to say to a young white woman. Who literally, no offense to you, you sound wonderful, but not like Beyonce. Not at all. And this know music producer who knows beyonce but this is the thing about this show is that it it all felt like a like the it was more theatrical than anything i was doing at school it was like nobody is saying what they it was so choreographed and who are the judges now it's randy i think i had and then it was uh cara cara diaguardi yes it was those three but then choreographed. And who are the judges now? It's Randy, Simon, Kara.

Kara Diaguardi. Yes, it was those three, but then they also had Ellen. Ellen DeGeneres. So, so then that round goes well. That one goes extremely well. They don't show it. I'm like, oh my god, I'm moving on. Then it's the group

round, which is just as exhausting oh my god I'm moving on then it's the group round okay famous group round which is just as exhausting and horrifying as they make it up here everyone forgets their lyrics because you stay up all night because you're you literally have to be there like the next morning and they give

you the songs like the night before so they set you up for failure and the other thing that they did was they were like um we had choices of songs to sing three of them were normal like easy songs or two of them whatever how many there were um and one of them was the sweet escape by gwen stefan and of course everyone's like not doing that one yeah i don't retrospect of course yes the plot of that episode was no one can get these lyrics like yeah because those aren't words they're not words i

can do it for you perfectly and i will now i can do it i can do it too but um so so okay the first messed up thing is that they're like, choose your groups. And it's like chaos because this is huge. Who you end up with is like all a part of how this goes, right? Yeah. So I look around. I don't know. I haven't talked to many people. I don't know what's going on.

And I see this guy. He's like from Long Island. We met because we're from the same place. And I was like, him, okay. So I go to him and he's with two other guys. So suddenly I'm like, okay, I could work with this. It's like three big dudes and me. Like, that's like a fun thing to kind of like show.

And no. So then they have this moment where they sit us all down, the producers, and they're like, who's doing this song? And everyone's like, me. Who's doing this song? Who's doing like, me. Who's doing this song? Who's doing the sweet escape? Crickets. Nobody, yeah.

And then, and I think everyone's just dumber because people are so vulnerable. Yep, yep, yep. And tired. And tired. And they're just like, whatever you say. So they're like, really? No one's doing the sweet escape. The judges are going to want to hear that one.

They say something along those lines that feels like, hmm. Maybe we should do it. Right. So we're like, oh, let's do the subversive. Let's do the thing that no one's expecting and do the sweet escape. That's so fun. So we do the sweet escape. I'm choreographing with three grown men at 1 a.m.

They make you all dance a little bit. No. I mean, I went without my family because I was like, I'm doing this. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I had no support. I mean, so all the confidence goes out the window. You know, of course, we get up there and we're like, no one remembers. My whole group gets eliminated.

Oh. While I'm in L.A., i put on the tv one night or rather i got some texts that said a bunch of stuff like i you're on you oh my god amanda this is so exciting because sorry go flashback i i when they showed the Boston auditions, they didn't show me. So when I went to Hollywood, I thought I got a scoffery. I was like, oh my God, they're not going to show my audition.

This is amazing. I have a fresh start. But this was a clip show. They did a best of show. And you were on that. And I was on that. And I was blindsided. When you were in LA while it was happening?

Oh my God. Right after you got eliminated? la while it was happening oh my god right after you got eliminated it was i think it was before but i might as well have been eliminated because when i saw the audition oh you knew it wasn't like a winner's audition yeah i would i it that audition so how did they what was the trauma that i'm still dealing with? How did they make you look? Really unwell. Yeah. Yeah.

Well, or just too much, like just a mess. I mean, as someone who's not you, who's seen it, I will say they edited you into a dramatic theater kid. Yes. Like I understand. Like it was, it was just clips of Amanda, like doing the impressions and talking with the mouth closed and like saying that she acts. And then these things that Amanda would not necessarily offer up front to someone she's just getting to know. But the edit was, by the way, I can do impressions.

I can sing with my mouth closed. It was like, what is going on? And then also the really telling thing is they show your audition and they don't show you singing Mercy. So this is the other thing is that they in the editing, they show me starting with Good Morning Heartache. Wow. Which did not happen. Did not happen. It started with Mercy.

So they didn't show Mercy. They just I was had already been told you're not getting through. And I was emoting when they start my audition yeah which was brilliant editing but you know it just it was i had a teacher or she was sort of a head of a department in college who when i went back to school and was just a shell of a human um i had to take a whole semester off which because I did that I took the leave of absence because I thought well what if I make it then I was just living at home while all my friends were like at school

and doing all the things and went through a lot with that you know taught myself to play an instrument like you know cause I needed to like get a sense of grounding after being portrayed I was like oh I'm a nightmare and all the things I feared about myself are true.

Which, of course, now I know that's not true. Smoking mirrors. But I was 19 years old. It was season nine. Yes. And that sounds like a later season. It was the season that Lee DeWise won or whatever? Right, it's sort of a forgotten season.

Right, and who really cares? But at the time, it's like, you look at the ratings, and it's like, oh, 25 million people watched it. So then you're like- It's public shaming. It's public humiliating. Yeah shit yeah right but i had this advisor or this person tell me um i think one of the biggest challenges for you getting through this is accepting that that person is a part of you right and it was so hard to hear but in in a way it's like i think she sort of had this foresight of me in the future reclaiming this and being like able to laugh at it and and

think that it's ridiculous because i remember when we first met i always like when you shared this with me um i was like you know well you just laugh at it. And a lot of people have that reaction. But that is like, it's simplistic. It's not easy to get there. No, no, no, no, no. Because, you know, there's also these things in your mind which are like, I take myself seriously and I look like a joke. The biggest show in the world made me look like a joke.

Which is why comedy was such a saving grace for me because it was like, oh, no, I'm in on it. Yeah, right. It was like I could drive the car instead of being this person who was vulnerable and pure and out there in earnest. And people were like, ha, ha, ha. And so it feels protective and good to be like, I see. And I make fun of myself. And it's all a part of that.

Amanda can quip with the best of them. Yes, and I want to ask because we talk about The Voice. We'll text about The Voice. When you watch the shows now, American Idol's coming back, they definitely changed their identity over time. Because from William Hung to now. So this was the, but that was the other thing I was going to say is that the reason that

those people, William Hung shit have never happened. No, no. And the, like, really? And the reason that those things happen and those people get on the show and you're like, what, you say to yourself, like, okay, but like they're asking for it. They clearly have no talent. They're not well. No,

because you take a person that is down on their luck, looking for a ticket, anything, anything, right? Or you take a person that is not well

or, or, you know, any, what have you. Or is not even, in William, in William Hung's case,

not even assimilated to the culture. Right, right, right. Somebody who's on the outskirts of, of, of mainstream culture or whatever that you take that person

in the producer room and you say, you're terrific. You have an amazing voice with and you mean it. It's cruel. And then you flip it on them and then it's being televised. It's very cruel. It's very cruel. It is a it perpetuates a culture of bullying. And I'm glad that the show was canceled.

I cannot believe it's coming back. I know. I don't think anybody can. I feel like I mean, I hope that they've cleaned up their image and that it's going to be a different thing, because I think just as a culture, we've moved into this place. I cannot. Obviously, there's people that don't feel this way but in pop culture at least i feel like there's a shift towards self-care and being kind and positive positive right the voice i mean you know the voice is still a reality show but they don't humiliate people but they don't humiliate people and even the people who don't move forward they leave with dignity yes they

take those people seriously they're all vocalists which is why the show is better is because you're watching people with talent compete yeah and not people who are looking to be on tv exactly like as a first and foremost priority there are so many people who are on idol who i think just wanted to get in front of a camera and that doesn't happen on the voice the voice has a vetting process they have a casting process they have a casting direct they have somebody that reaches out to already established artists and says do you want to come audition for the voice or not necessarily artists who are getting a lot of attention but are out there you know they'll reach out to those people right right so i feel warmer feelings for the voice because i feel like

that show is trying to help these artists and it it's about mentorship. It's about teaching them. It's about what it says, which is the voice. Idol's mission... First of all, Idol started in England, didn't it? Yeah, pop idol. There's an approach to... Reality television. There's...

That was, I think, co-opted and done here and... Not well. Not well. co-opted and and done here and not the not not well it's not well yeah yeah so i have so would you ever watch no no i i think that i agree yeah would you ever ever audition for the voice oh yeah every time i watch yeah i have that same thing that happens after my freshman year where I was like... I can do it. I could do it.

I know I could. I would sing this song. You place yourself there. Of course. And then they'll have like a... Not a confessional, but a talking head moment or like a moment where the... And I'll see the inner workings of it. Yep.

The reality shown us. And it just turns me off. Yeah, right. And I just have the past traumaings of it. Yep, the reality shown us. And it just turns me off. Yeah, right. And I just have the past trauma of putting myself out. And I know they wouldn't make me look bad or stupid, but the element of I'm performing self

Yeah, no, no, no. really freaks me out. So freaky. And also, I don't take this to be simplistic in that same way of like you gotta laugh at it but um i think just with you being able to sort of see that in the moment i think that's a sign that you've taken the trauma and like you're wearing it as an armor now because it's like oh no i'm not gonna put myself in that dangerous position ever again because i know what that is and like and

people always there's a tendency to like let the wounds be there like be open be vulnerable but like the the shield of being able to like poke at it and laugh at myself has been so much more healing for me then and and like there's there's therapy to be had and like i will i am processing this and it's all there but like i i like taking the power away from it yeah and and a lot of people will see this tape this audition tape and be like whatever like okay it's always going to be a bigger deal to you right and so sometimes i have this self-conscious moment of like oh god am i like swan songing about this thing that's like actually not that big a deal no but i think it's important to share because i think it reveals something about something that we all bought

into totally big time and we still are and we still are yeah you got to imagine they sign a similar contract at the voice oh sure they don't go through with it the way that they did or i'll have moments watching the voice where i'm like how organic are these times where the judges yeah are like that's always like whenever i'm laughing at adam and blake fucking doing whatever they're doing henry always like jokes and he's like always like wow they're so funny and i was just like and i catch i catch myself making fun of let's hear another song sure

let's talk about this next song you're gonna do by famous contemporary singer Adele this song I feel like this song had such a moment

and I I really love her I just think there's something really special about her as an artist for me it was that moment

at the Grammys was that the Grammys? well what happened? when she did the tribute to I'm gonna look so bad now oh whatever it doesn't matter

but it was she's got so many amazing performances he died George Michael George Michael? it was George Michael yes

yes and she said when she stopped it and said I have to do it right for him that was the most compelling thing I've ever seen a singer do because there's or a pop star

do right yeah the facade dropped because that also and she's also like raising a huge middle finger to like the TV producers and I'm just like fuck you I'm gonna do this again. To quote Henry's mantra, none of it's real.

Nothing's real. Quote Henry and Kapersky. And the charade of celebrity and just the whole thing, especially with these singers, these vocalists. I mean, like, I was so moved by that.

And I just watched Elaine Stritch's documentary or the documentary about Elaine Stritch. And I'm really fascinated with this right now. This thing of singer in the spotlight. It's really interesting. So anyway, I... I have to send you this New York Times article about Miles and Whitney.

Please. Yeah. Anyway. All that stuff. Amy Winehouse. Like all that. Mishigas. I'm so interested in that Yiddish word for insanity.

Yeah. So I love Adele. This song was like a huge moment, I think, on her album 25. And I did a little cover of it at one point. And this is just like kind of fun to know. Um, I had an ex shoot and record that. And that,

that it was this, like I had friends calling me who knew that, who were like, how dare you be so meta. Yeah, I know that was crazy. Cause the song is, is all about that relationship.

Um, all right, let's, let's hear it. It's When We Were Young. It's When We Were Young. Everybody loves the things you do From the way you talk to the way you move Everybody here is watching you Cause you feel like home

You're like a dream come true But if by chance you're here alone Can I have a moment Before I go Cause I've been by myself all night long Hoping you're someone I used to know You look like a movie You sound like a song

My God, this reminds me Of when we were young. Let me photograph you in this light in case it is the last time that we might be exactly like we were before we realized. We were sad of getting old It made us restless It was just like a movie It was just like a song I was so scared to face my fears

Nobody told me that you'd be here And I swore you moved overseas That's what you said when you left me You still look like a movie You still sound like a song, you still sound like a song My God, this reminds me of when we were young Let me photograph you in this light, in case it is the last time That we might be exactly like we were before we realized

We were sad of getting old, it made us restless It was just like a movie, it was just like a song When we were young, when we were young, when we were young, when we were young It's hard to win me back, everything just takes me back to when you were there, to when you were there And a part of me keeps holding on Just in case it hasn't gone I guess I still care Do you still care? It was just like a movie

It was just like a song Oh my God, this reminds me of when we were young. In case it is the last time that we might be exactly like we were before we realized. We were sad of getting old it made us restless oh I'm so mad I'm getting old it made me reckless

it was just like a movie it was just like a song when we were young here's what I think we should do. I think we should do. I don't think so, honey. I think we're all going to do it. I don't think so, honey. All four of us. And then I think we'll do one more song to close it out. Yes. That sounds good. That sounds great. That sounds great to me.

This is so good. Okay. So I don't think so, honey. Um, by the way, thank you guys so much for, um,

coming out to all of our shows that we've had. Oh my goodness. They've been so fun. Yeah. Coach war was a big success. And then you guys so much for that. And I don't think so, honey at the bell house.

That was like a dream come true for my best friend Bowen and I. And those episodes are going to be out in a couple weeks. And here we go. So Bowen Yang, do you want to do your

I Don't Think So Honey? Do you have something? I have something. I have the seed of the kernel of something. Yeah. He's got the kernel, bitch. I've got the kernel.

All right. So this is Bowen Yang's I Don't Think So Honey and his time starts now. I Don't Think So Honey, and his time starts now. I Don't Think So Honey, people who don't fucking like talking about the weather, or they think that it's like shitty small talk. You guys, the weather is the thing that binds us all together. It's the great equalizer.

It's something that we all share in common. It's a shared experience, the world over, the community over, at least. I want to talk about how it's rainy outside or how there's a dew in the air this morning. Isn't there in the elevator? Look, don't crucify me for wanting to talk meteorology. I don't think so,

honey. You know what? I just want to make small talk with you because it's an entry point. And then I can get to know more about your fucking small business. Yeah. Fucking ding dong fuck you i don't think so honey people who don't like talking about the weather 15 seconds you know what you gotta keep going bitch it's the great equalizer as i said

and i it bears repeating bitch so listen talk to me about how it's warm in Portland this time of year. And, you know, actually, you know, the Poconos aren't as cold as you would think in December. That's one minute. Yeah. That was beautiful. And you know what? Sometimes I don't think so, honey. It can just be 39 seconds.

But no, it can't. And I mean, immediately. But we're in such a, again, I'll say it, dropped in place. I'm so dropped in. I love the vibe of this episode because this vibe is very laid back and we're all feeling very comfortable and we've just been truly sung beautiful music. Our souls have been salved. And HPJ is sitting here enjoying as well.

And we are very gagged. All right. So now I'll do mine. This is Matt Rogers' I Don't Think So, Honey. And his time starts now. I don't think so, honey, Ed Sheeran. I don't think so, honey, Ed Sheeran. You want to know what? You are

the third most fuckable Ed. Ed Harris is number one. Ed Harris! Mr. Ed, the talking horse is number two, and then there's you, bitch. You want to believe in the Illuminati? Look at Ed Sheeran and understand that that man is famous, okay? Some dark magic is going into that.

Yes, can he plunga-plung-plung on the guitar and do something okay? Yeah, that's fine, but you know what what it certainly doesn't excuse him rapping yes i said rapping on the new tailorship album reputation and no it is not acceptable for taylor herself but you know what she can she can kind of do it ed sheeran cannot do it and i said to taylor well i never said this to her but i would say this to her i'd'd say, bitch, listen, it's one thing if you want to appropriate the house down, but don't drag your friend into it, because now I know what she's doing. I don't think so, honey.

She wants to make sure she is using him as a shield. I don't think so, honey, Ed Sheeran. I'm not going to make a hobbit joke, but I guess I just did. I don't think so, honey, Ed Sheeran. And that's one minute. Oh, my God. I'm so mad about plunga-plung-plung. Plunga-plung-plung. Honestly, the fact minute. Oh my God. I'm so mad about Plunga Plung Plung. Plunga Plung Plung.

Honestly, the fact that he is number one. He's starting to talk about having sex in his songs and I don't want to fucking picture that. Do you know how many streams,

do you know how many streams Shape of You has on Spotify? Like a hundred billion. 1.5 billion. No way. Which is crazy. Damn. Yeah,

there is something happening there it's Illuminati Illuminati magic you're right you're right dark magic he appropriated all of his albums

are like plus minus divide whatever he appropriated math from my fucking people so he appropriated that too

fuck Ed Sheeran we're not into it alright so now it's Henry's time Henry okay Henry has he wanted to do it

I don't think so honey he's gonna get this moment to shine right now has, he wanted to do it. I don't think so, honey. He's going to get this moment to shine right now. He, of course, did one of the great I don't think so, honey's at the first. I don't think so, honey live, which was I don't think so, honey dancing. Thank you. Yes. And now we're going to have I don't think so, honey. Henry Kapurski.

His time starts now. I don't think so, honey. Katrina Rogers, mother of Matt Rogers. Oh, my God. How dare you? You are a loving, sweet, generous woman, and we're probably a great mother, but you did not teach your son how to recycle. He does not know the difference between paper and plastic and metal and tin.

Maybe he doesn't know how to read, and that's fine. That's nothing to be ashamed of, but I think he does know how to read. Okay. And I even labeled three different bins, paper and cardboard, and then plastic, aluminum, and et cetera, and then trash. Our super, when we moved into our apartment, said, it's very important that you separate these things. He looked us both in the eyes and asked that. And I've done a lot to make sure that happens, including labeling everything. Also, Matt, take the trash out every once in a while.

Like, maybe at least once a month, please. Oh, sorry. This is about Katrina. You are so loving and beautiful and wonderful and funny. And you gave so much of that to your son, but teach him how to recycle. Oh, my God. And that's why we're here. I don't want to have to deal with me for much longer.

Also, I'm sorry, but where does styrofoam go? Trash. You can't recycle it. Also, I'm sorry, but where does styrofoam go? Trash. You can't recycle it. Oh, okay. Katrina. You don't take out the trash? I do sometimes. That's my worst pet.

One of my worst pet peeves is when my roommates start to take out the trash, I have to do everything. I do sometimes. I do sometimes. I feel really ambushed by the Matt Henry honesty

of this episode. You don't think it's beautiful? You don't think it's wonderful? You don't think it's wonderful? It's so beautiful. It is beautiful. It's an exemplary sort of dynamic. This is the moment

for Amanda Sheckman's I Don't Think So Honey. Oh my God. Here we go. Now this is the moment. not knowing I had to do one of these until right now. Imagine.

Okay. This is Amanda's I Don't Think So Honey. Her time starts now. I Don't Think So Honey. People that think it's funny are interesting to talk about how short I am. This is what we talked about before. I am my, okay, like, I was born, bitch.

I went to the doctor. I know my goddamn height. When I reached 5'0", that was a big goddamn moment for me, okay? That was huge. I was 4'11 for so long, I thought I'm never going to reach 5'. Now you're going to take my 5'0 and take that away from me and talk about how soon I am when guys do this I want to fucking kill them use my head as an armrest one more time I fucking dare you I fucking dare you there's so many more interesting things to talk about I am a really complex person there's a lot that you can learn

about me but when people feel uncomfortable they go to the the most simplistic thing yeah which is you know actually for the most part you can't really comment on a person's appearance but for some reason height is fair fucking game and I want to talk about the tall people too because the people that talk about

how tall you are that's fucking dumb also don't talk about how tall someone is or how short someone is because you're somewhere in the middle like how it goes for you

don't talk about my height bitch yes one minute see you know what that was great and that was culture and that was culture and you're 100% right

uncovered something new it's fair game height is fair game when you talk about someone's appearance from now on talking about someone's height and objectifying it it is cancelled we cancel it in fact it's rule number 91 of culture

talking about someone's height and objectifying them is canceled. Oh, my God. Delicious. Now, I want to leave on a fun note. We've had two kind of emotional ballads. I know. I'm having this problem with my show. We are going to sing Dangerous Woman by Ariana Grande.

Yeah. And so we're going to go out with this. So my name is Matt Rogers. My name is Bowen Yeh. And we've had on our show and accompanying Amanda is Henry Kopersky. And we've had the amazing Amanda Schechtman. Yes. Here at the Duplex on December 4th.

7 p.m. Amanda Schechtman hates to sing. Get your tickets or you're going to be missing out. So here we go. Dangerous Woman by Amanda Shechtman hates to sing. Get your tickets or you're going to be missing out. So here we go. Dangerous Woman by Amanda Shechtman. Oh yeah. Don't need permission. Made my decision

to test my limits. Cause it's my business. God as my witness. Started what I finish Don't need no hold up Taking control of this kind of moment I'm locked and loaded, completely focused My mind is open

All that you got, skin to skin Oh my God, don't you stop, boy Something about you Makes me feel like a dangerous woman Something about, something about, something about you Makes me wanna do things that I shouldn't Something about, something about Nothing to prove and I'm bulletproof and know what I'm doing

The way we're moving, like introducing us to a new thing I wanna savor, save it for later, the taste of flavor Cause I'm a taker, cause I'm a giver, it's only nature I live for danger Oh, that you got skin to skin Oh my God, don't you stop, boy Oh yeah, something about you Makes me feel like a dangerous woman Something about you

Makes me wanna do things that I should do Something about, something about, something about All girls wanna be like that Bad girls underneath like that You know how I'm feeling inside Something bout Old girls wanna be like that Bad girls underneath like that

You know how I'm feeling inside Something about you Makes me feel like a dangerous woman Something about you Makes me wanna do things That I should do All girls wanna be like that Bad girls underneath like that

You know how I'm feeling Inside All girls wanna be like that feeling insane all girls wanna be like that bad girls underneath like that you know how I'm feeling insane

you'd yes forever dog Eat Yes! Forever Dog This has been a Forever Dog production Executive produced by Brett Boehm Joe Cilio and Alex Ramsey For more original podcasts

Please visit foreverdogpodcasts.com And subscribe to our shows on Apple Podcasts Spotify Or wherever you get your podcasts. Keep up with the latest Forever Dog news by following us on Twitter and Instagram and liking our page on Facebook. Oh hey, it's Teresa, back from the dead, again. Just wanted to pop in and let you know that Haunting is back on October 22nd. Spooky season? I own spooky season.

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