Not Skinny But Not Fat - ZIWE ON WIKIFEET, BRAVO, & BLACK FRIEND

Episode Date: December 5, 2023

The queen of cringey interviews Ziwe talks about her new book, Black Friend, her love for Bravo and Vanderpump Rules, friendship with Emrata, her dream guest and more!Produced by Dear MediaThis episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The following podcast is a dear media production. I used to care so much about portraying a perfect life and acting like everything was okay when really things were far from it. I was secretly struggling with my mental health and wondering if other people were too. That's why I created RealPod. Hi, I'm Victoria Garrick Brown and every Wednesday I host the types of conversations that most of us only have in therapy. RealPod brings you the heart-to-heart moments we all need to be having and will

leave you feeling comforted no matter where you're at in life. So leave the filters at the door because it's time to get real. Tune into RealPod wherever you get your podcasts. This is Amanda Hirsch from the Not Skinny but Not Fat podcast. You might know me from Not Skinny Bonata on Instagram where I spend my time talking about reality TV, celebrities, everything happening, and pop culture. I also talk to some of our favorite celebs and reality TV. stars. We talk about what's going on. Tune in every Tuesday and just feel like you're talking

with your best friends in your living room. Zway is here. I'm so excited. Hi. I'm excited too. Thanks for having me. Thank you for coming on my pot. Of course. I follow you your podcast on TikTok. And so I'm excited. I know. I'm excited. I know. I'm I've talked about the TikTok of it all. Yes. You're a TikToker. I like, I'm on TikTok. I'm on all of the tech oligarchs app.

Are you on Snapchat? I have a Snapchat account. You know, it's coming back. It is. Yeah. I have, and I have my at, I have Zeeway at Snapchat. I know. I was there early.

Who has Zeeway on Instagram? A woman who lives in, I think she lives in Sri Lanka. Did you try to contact? Of course. At Google Translate, I was typing away and she was like ignoring me. It could be a guy, too. You could get it. You know that, right?

Let me know. Go, I would, this is a call to action. You're under the sound of my voice. Give me my handle on Instagram.com. I really think that if we put a little bit of effort, you could get it. Let's get the hammer out. Do you want it? Of course.

Yeah. Sure. Okay. We'll get it for you. Okay, thank you. Thank you. Congratulations on your book. Thank you.

Black friend essays. Yes, thank you. I love the pink. Thank you. Are you a pink girl? I am a pink girl. Yes. I wasn't always a pink lover, and over time I've learned to embrace it and embrace you.

Did you love Barbie? As a child, I had a dentist Barbie. That was my Barbie. And so I liked that she was a working woman, but I really got into it as an adult and just the aesthetic of it, honestly. I thought it was really like hyper pop culture. Wait, so when you were growing up, you were saying you grew into your femininity. When you were growing up, were you not into it? I was a tomboy. Oh, yeah? Yeah. I played like Grand Theft Auto and like Crash Bandicoot. But I also liked Sailor Moon. So there was, that side of me always existed. But over time, I've learned to really embrace the Bradstalls and the Barbie. Yeah, you're really into like the feminine looks lately. It's, I mean, it's just such a crystal clear understanding of like hyper American culture. Are you into fashion? Yeah. I would say

that. Yeah. Yeah. I love that for you. Oh, thank you. Okay. I wanted to know, because like you studied writing too, right? Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. So do. Did you always know you were going to write a book? Like, was that the plan? Yes, for sure. Was that the plan? I didn't know what kind of book I would write, but I always knew I would write a book. Yeah.

Did you think, like, it would be more memoir or something? No, I don't think I'm interesting enough for a memoir. Like, this is my life. Exactly. Like, I don't have a prince experience and I didn't sell crack as a team or date Tupac. So I think a book of essays is perfect for what I'm willing to share. I also love that it was like a shorty. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. Like, relatable, everyone can read it. Readers and non-readers alike. Exactly. It's accessible. How long did it take you? Three years.

Damn. It's three years. Wow. That's a long time, no? I think writing is a process that is important, and a book lasts forever. And so I want to make sure the words I put down in perpetuity are, like, good, their quality. And the concept of the black friend, was that also something that you knew that your book was going to go? in that direction? I found that the essays that I gravitated to the most centered around friendship

and there was also obviously the irony of that question from my interview show, how many black friends do you have? So I found that to be like a really interesting intersection. No, your interview style. Yes. Tell me about it. Tell me how you grew into it and. Oh yeah. Okay. I talk about this in my book. It's called baited like the interview style. Right. And so it's honestly based on the like Barack Obama Fox News era where he used to wear tan suits and they would be so hyperbolic about the country and what Obama's impact was. And so I became really obsessed with like leading questions and the gotcha journalism. Also, Sarah Huckabee Sanders or Sarah. Sarah Palin. Oh my God. I did not know that's where you're going. Yeah, Sarah Palin. No, there was a really iconic interview with Sarah Palin. And I want to say,

was it Diane Sawyer? I think Diane Sawyer or could have been Barbara Walters, but I think Diane Sawyer. And it's like gotcha journalism and it's so iconic. And so I really became, or it was accused of gotcha journalism. But I really became really intrigued with like sound bites. And so that's where my interview style came from was the like really specific 2010s era of modern journalism. And that was in, it was 2017 when you started your, 2016. When you started your own show? Yeah, it was a, yeah, it was a YouTube show. It was a YouTube show. Yeah. And you had this idea. Did you get together? Was it like a get together like a production and like you really believed in this concept? Yeah, I really believed in this concept. I believe in a lot of the art that I do. Even if it's bad actually, I believe in my concepts. Because you have to work through stuff. So yeah, it was just a match. I shot a bunch of interviews with friends and they were different. They were themed. And we kind of vibed until what was eventually the most recent iteration. Yeah. So it started definitely in the same vibe of what.

what we've like seen from your interviews like you knew that was the direction with the baited was the way when you say baited do you mean like like it's that like a gotcha moment yeah you're baiting basically the the premise is that you bait someone into answering an impossible question and then obviously hijinks ensues because how would how are you supposed to answer a question you know and you don't like being interviewed no you know yes i don't love being interviewed what is what do you guys want to talk about i know i want to talk about like You don't want to talk about yourself. No.

Well, baby, that's what we're here to do today. I don't know how you feel about that. You know, honestly, I mean, I guess I'm going to rise the occasion and let you know a little thing about me or something. Yeah, but why don't you like talking about yourself? Do you like talking about yourself? I do. Really?

Yeah. What does that mean? Is that bad? No, not necessarily. I'm a listener. So I like to hear other people's experience. But I do too. I love us.

But that's why I want to learn about you. Okay. Well, you know what I mean? Give you a question. Let's do it. But I'm saying there is kind of like a. dichotomy here because like you are in the public eye we see you out and about yes you don't like the talking about is do you not like fame do you like the idea of fame like wow what a complex

question oh my god fame is like a vehicle do you like a car what kind of car right you know so that it depends on the day like your art you mean like to a vehicle to a vehicle to share anything yeah it could be like charity it could be your clothes yeah it could be your art For me, it definitely is to create art that people consume. Do I like it? Yeah, sure. Cool. It's cool.

I can't complain. I have a beautiful life. But you want to keep things mysterious. I love intrigue. Yeah. And I love mystery. I like smoke and I like mirrors. So do people ever know, like, who you're dating?

No. Never, huh? No, no one's ever even asked me. Do people care? I care. I'm not dating anyone. No? No, not right now.

Okay. What's your type? hot. I like hot guys. I like smart guys. Yeah. Funny. Tall. Funny. Like, you have to make me laugh. Ooh. Yeah. I know. We got to get you with like an S&L dude or something. Yeah, maybe. Would you date Davidson? I think that he is so iconic. He really is. Yeah, exactly. He, I mean, it would be, yeah. Would you date someone not famous? Yeah. Like a complete, like, working man. Yes, of course. I would love to date a guy that doesn't have an Instagram. That's Oh, that's so hot. I don't know.

Davidson has Instagram. I know he doesn't. Yeah. He does, like, come back, though, and then he, like, gets bullied permanently and goes away. Oh, no. Yeah. Oh, no. Yeah.

Oh. I know. Protect him at all cause. You guys want to know what I'm wearing? I'm wearing the skims. Dip, thong, cotton. You guys, skims, you cannot go wrong. Holiday season is here.

It's not upon us. It is here. And if you haven't gotten your holiday shopping done, skims will be the best gift you could ever give. Your family, your friends, like your partner, everyone would be happy with skims. I'm obsessed with it. I told you guys, a lot of you literally message me being like, Amanda, did you really never wear thongs before skims? And yes, I swear to you that I thought the thongs were the most uncomfortable thing. I was being all feminist.

Like, I don't have to do this. Like, you're going to see my underwear lines. I don't care because I'm not going to suffer and have a way. all day. That's what I thought. I thought it was like suffering. I thought it was like heels, you know? But no, with Skims, especially their cotton collection, you don't feel it. It's like sometimes, I swear the other day I was like, oh my God, did I forget to put on underwear? I swear that's the feeling and test me and see it from right or wrong, okay? Believe the hype, you guys. Skims has over 100,000 5-star reviews for a reason. They have a holiday shop. It's now open at skims.com. You can get free

shipping on orders over $75 and after you place your order this is important let them know you came from me okay give me credit where credit is due select podcasts and the survey and be sure to select not skinny but not fat in the drop down menu that follows love you oh how nice was the macy's thanksgiving day parade i mean i've said this from the beginning since macy's has sponsored this show I said, Macy's is like a staple of our lives, a staple of our childhood, and it goes back to not only, you know, going to the huge department store with my mom when I wanted new shoes or my first watch or, you know, Britney Spears's new perfume, but also like the Thanksgiving day prey, just like things that are so enmeshed with, you know, growing up and home. And I really feel like Macy's has that not to get like emotional and cheesy. It is true. And don't forget about Macy's, okay, you guys, because so many times I link things for you guys that just so many amazing brands that I find at Macy's. Like that Vince Camuto sweater that I love, founded at Macy's. It was like so much percent off.

I just love it. So Macy's is there for you guys to refresh your winter wardrobe, get ready for the holiday party season, and shake things up with bold, bright colors. They literally have everything. Like, you guys, I, oh my God, I linked this, like, amazing. coat too like it just has everything you guys so if you need more info uh go to macy's dot com slash own your style and if you need a little help they can pair you with a personal stylist and it's totally free you could go to macy's dot com slash personal stylist and you can book an appointment with a personal stylist today they literally have everything you mentioned that you don't use your

last name anymore oh yes i'm a mononym you're like a madonna i'm like a madonna what's madonna's last name. Oh, gosh. Does anybody know? Is that wild? What is it? Saccone. Yeah. Yeah, because she's from Michigan. Yeah. Cichone. Madonna Cichone. That's so fat. Italian? Yeah. Okay. She's Italian. Right. Okay. I knew that everybody. So you don't use your last name anymore. Where did that decision come from? Honestly, from performing live comedy in New York forever and people would introduce me and they'd be like, what's your last name? Okay, great. Got it. And they'd say it wrong. And so I got into just being called Z-way. It's very clean and easy. Like it's easier for everybody and you don't have to get pissed. I don't have to be like, okay, I'm listening. I'm learning. This is how you pronounce my name correctly. I don't want to do that

drama. And growing up though, did you experience that? Like, you grew up in Boston? I grew up in Massachusetts. Yeah. I mean, every. So not in Boston like outside. Yeah. North of Massachusetts or north Boston. And so every person with like a name that isn't like Scott Tillsbury or whatever. Yeah. It finds that they have to have that moment in the first day of class. And, every single year where they're like, okay, Adam, Eric, and the person, the teacher is like stuttering and you have to be like, it's me, you're talking about me. Yes, I'm the one with the strange name. Yeah. And it becomes like this song and dance. And so as an adult, I've learned that I don't have to participate in a dance. Yeah. I don't want to. You're right. I'm very pro footloose,

you know? Yeah. No, I like that. But it did, like, did it sit in a place where you were hurt by that, like, growing up or was it just like, oh, this is so annoying? It's annoying. It's probably hurtful, but it's also annoying. Yeah. Yeah. So you grew up in Massachusetts. Your parents are from Nigeria and you grew up, kind of it sounded like in a strict household. Yeah, definitely. And so did you let loose when you went to like college and having to spend it? For sure. Absolutely. Probably too much. Where did you go to college? Northwestern. Oh, right. Yeah, yeah. I mean, everyone's like really smart there. So how loose are they letting? Both loose and not loose at all. Yeah. And it's very footloose. It's like there are rules to this town. Yeah. I mean, what was college like?

I had it was at, well, actually, I'm still in college. I identify as 19. I'm very, very, very young and chic. And so I would say my day to day life is, you know, during the day, I'm a interviewer, writer, extraordinaire. And then at night, I go to frat parties. Did you go to frat party? Yeah, I went to frat party. You did? Of course. Do you like it? No. Yeah. It's very sticky. Yeah. Did you go to school do you? I went to Ithaca, so no crap. I specific, you know, Ithaca? Yeah. I mean, I have to be like the one where Cornell is, but not Cornell. That's how I have to tell me. Well, because it's really hard to. I did a, I did a speech there and it's really hard to get. Well, you went for TV and radio at North Atlantic. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So I went in the school of

communications too. Okay, wow. Because it has a good communication. Yeah, no, it's actually famous. Yeah, it's a good one. Yeah. But I also went there because I searched, there were no frats. I was like anti-frabs. You, okay, got, well, I thought. I, well, I think the propaganda against rats is really strong. So it makes sense that you would be anti. Yeah. And I knew. They have a reputation. Yeah. I was like, that's not my vibe. No. You know what my dream was? It was to go to like, this is my actual dream. To go to school in Canada where the drinking ages 18. Right. And I could properly have a cocktail of jazz bar. That was me. That's who I thought I was. Very didn't look like. I looked like I was trying to be Ashley Simpson. We talked about Ashley Simpson. I love Ashley Simpson. But I was also in my mind like solo cups. That's not

for me. And by the way, it isn't for you. It was very dirty and sticky. And they had, like, in college, you have this thing called a fracket, frat jacket, where it's like, you take your not, your least nice coat, your worst coat. Yeah. And you bring it with you to the frat party in case you lose it or it gets sticky. It's like not. Oh my God. Oh, my God. Living. But you, what's cool about you, you know what I like to find out, people that use what they went to school for. What do you mean? Oh, got it. You did it. I did it. You went to school for TV radio and you did minor in poetry. Yeah. Right? You're using all that. I'm using my skill. I know. I know. It's actually a flex. Worth the 55K. Yeah. You're right. I would say higher education is

worth it. All of it. And then so after college, that's when you started your like career or did you intern? I interned everywhere. I interned during college at Comedy Central and New York. Yeah, New York. So you went for like the summer. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. And I did that. And it was this rotation of program. like Daily Show, Colbert, and then like the on-air offer, whatever, programming. Did you like it? I had no concept of what it means to be a professional comedian. Who knows? But did you know you wanted to be one?

I knew I was funny. And I had all this skill in poetry and I had no idea what I could possibly do with poetry. And so I applied to this internship and I learned like the mystery behind this job. Like I thought it was hilarious people like high-fiving and play. playing basketball. But it was really just an office job. And so it demystified the industry. Right. It is true. People think that jobs at places that sound cool are cool. But like you're in an office still. If anything, they just have like really funky wallpaper. And like maybe like a cool fridge with some like neat drink. Yeah. It's like liquid death. They have like a lot of liquid death

in the fridge. But otherwise. They probably didn't have liquid death when you were in turning. Oh, right. You're in 19. I forgot. But, okay, so it wasn't the coolest, but you fell in love with it because you wanted to keep doing that stuff. Yeah, I thought it was actually really cool. And I just found it really accessible. So, yeah, I went after it full throttle my senior year of college and started interning at the onion and then freelancing for the onion and kind of worked my way. The onion still happening. I mean, I know it's on like Instagram, but I used to in New York take the onion. The paper. Right. Where'd you get the paper? They would hand them out or they would be in like the thing. Wow. That's so. That's so. That's. That's. I know. I'm telling my age. But you're so honey in. I was reading iPads and Union Square. And I was like, oh, satire. So when did you start performing at clubs? Two years after college, three years after college. Yeah. Someone asked me to do a show and they had asked me if I had experience and I lied and was like, yeah, I do it all the time. And it was my first show and I killed. Yeah. And that's usually how it goes. And then the next show. For you? No, usually kill your first show. Really? And then afterwards,

it's like you're getting beaten by the audience. You don't have no experience. And so I did it for years after that. But yeah, it took me a long time to become comfortable on stage because I was shy. And you were writing your jokes, like you were fully writing sets and everything. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I started as a writer. So that's like a secret skill that people don't know I have.

Would you do like a stand-up special? Yeah, I would. You would? I'm about to go on tour, actually. Yes, I'm going on tour. Everybody. Saddle up. As of Sunday.

Seattle, L.A., San Francisco. So you're doing like a live show? Yes, live show, Philly, D.C., Atlanta, Minnesota. Just you? Just me. Where else am I going to be in a lot of places? What's going to be in your show? Can you give it?

I'm going to talk about WikiFeed. So my feet, obviously, look. Wait, so I saw the photo. Well, I see the... Oh, the tag is on. Sorry, I don't know what I'm wearing. I don't see myself before. No one tells you.

No, I just put on clothes. Wait, let's talk about this WikiFeed thing. Yes. You have one photo on your Instagram with your feet, then they're buried in the sand. Yeah, they are. But you got a profile on Wikifee. Yeah, in like 2019.

And I wasn't big then, but I still was like slowly coming up. And I got on WikiFeet and I found out that my rating was okay. Who told you that you were on WikiVee? My friend Kelly. Did you ask Kelly what she's doing on WikiFE? No, she just, she honestly was like, this is how you know that someone's a celebrity. But how did she know? She's a creep.

I don't know. I'll call her right now, you sick of. I don't shame people for their sexuality. Maybe she was like Googling. Maybe she was like a good friend, like had a Google alert on you or something. No, we didn't know. We found out together I was on WikiFoot. She was on WikiFeed independently, like horny, like horny for people's feet. But that's her cross to bear. Yeah. And so she found out I had a profile and that my rating was just okay feet. And so I was really hurt by that. Yeah. And so, but since I've been excerpted in The New Yorker, my- You wrote a whole thing about it. I wrote a whole essay about it. Oh my God. Yes. Exploring my.

rating and the fact that I'm not really hiding my feet from the world like I'm hiding the world from my feet and so it's just really hard but my rating has since gone up it did yeah how have there been more picks well I was it was there's an excerpt in the new yorker there are more picks but I think people have to pay for those on special websites otherwise yeah I'm beautiful fee I but I won't stop until I have better feet than Emma Watson who I think it's number one on wiki she's number one on wiki fee Victoria Justice is also really high. Emma Watson, does she have a lot of picture of her feet on the internet? I think it's more that she has been very public for very long.

She was in, I don't know what I want to know is this WikiFeed legit judging feet. Or is it just like who they like? 12 million visits a month. 12 million. So it is a very popular website where people rate and rank women's feet. So let's be honest, you're a little flattered. You're on WikiPede. I don't think it's a flex, but I won't say I hate it.

And you said the score went up. What did it go up to? Five. Okay. Out of what? So I think I have beautiful feet or like 4.2. No, I think it's higher than that. Out of five.

Five of five. Oh. But please go, if you are hearing the sound of my voice, I want you to go vote for my feet, create an account and just like type nice thing. Wait, do you, you do have a good voice. Thank you. Were you told that in your life? It's very soothing. thing. Thank you. Unlike mine.

Your voice is nice. Oh, don't lie to me. I like, you know, like the nanny, Fran Drescher. Oh my God. Are you saying I have a nanny voice? I think her voice is so beautiful. Oh. You have to understand it. It's so special and iconic and like, so particular. Wait, my voice reminded you of the nanny. No, it does not remind you. No, I, you said it. No, I, you said that you have a voice and I'm thinking of special voices. Yeah. Her voice is so iconic. It's iconic to have a distinct thing about you. Yeah. You know what? I, you know what I say about

voices. What do you say about voices? This is what I say. Wait, everybody, listen to what I say. Would you want a boring voice? No. Right. Exactly. Exactly. You want personality. Yeah. We've started to like wash away everything that's special about us, but it's actually cool. I know. I'm saying if you don't have a good voice, make it good. Add some flare. Yeah. Get a little, get a little, what is it, the valley. Oh, the valley girl. Yeah, I do that sometimes. I get called out there. Like, you're trying to sound like a Kardashian. And I'm like, what if I am? vocal fry, vocal fry. Yeah. Yeah. I love it. I love it. You know what that's reminding me of? Your interview with Shed Hanks.

Ted Hanks? He talks like that? No, he did some wild accents, though, with you. Oh, yeah. He does do accents. He has a lot of accent work. I want to talk more about just having the husband. Do you know that word? Yes. Yes. I live in America. Yes, I know the word. Sorry. Do you know the word eggs? Yes. I do, actually. to put people in those uncomfortable situations. Were people ever scared to be interviewed by you

because they thought you would put them? Yeah. Yeah. I would say, I don't, so life is awkward, right? Like, if you've ever watched a single interview, you'll find that the questions that celebrities get asked are absolutely out of their mind. You're right.

Like, you'll watch, like, old school Taylor Swift and then interview. And they'll say, they'll ask her about who she's dating and, like, what size her foot is and, like, what her favorite pizza within the span of a minute and it's like a press junket. And so I found that to be such an interesting starting point that allowed me to walk into these interviews and have those wild questions with me.

But you would do it about much more like sensitive topics than like food and pizza. But I don't know if that's true because people will literally ask women. They'll be like, so did you get custody of your children? Yeah. And that, I would never ask someone that. To me, that's a wild question. Yeah. But my interview questions.

You would just ask name five Asian people that you know. Is that a hard question? You could decline. Did you get declined? People decline answering questions all the time. Yeah, it's a free country. Yeah. I believe it or not, I don't hold a gun to people's heads.

I don't, like, kidnap their family and tell them that they can't leave until they do what I want. It's a consensual relationship. And basically, like, there was a purpose to this show. There was a purpose of the way you were interviewing. You were trying to make, like, a bigger point about the world, not about the people. No, my point is just comedy. Yeah. Yeah. It's really just like making myself laugh. And then if other people laugh, that's great. But I wouldn't say there was an ideology behind it.

And, you know, if the show was on today, would there be a dream guest that you would want to have that you haven't had? A dream guest. I sat next to Chris Jenner at the, at Louave fashion show. Oh, that would be really cool. She's an icon. She would have a sense of humor about it. She is an icon. No, she really is an icon. You're right. So you like the Kardashians? I used to watch when I was growing up. Oh, you don't watch anymore? I watched the new one. Yeah, of course. Oh, okay. You're like I used to watch. Dolce Vita Lifestyle.

What do you think? Who were you team Kim or Courtney? That's a tough one. You're going to have to answer, babe. The premiere, I felt bad. Oh, yeah. This premiere, you mean? When they were on the phone and everyone made the nut, not Courtney group.

Yeah. Yeah, that was fucked up. I felt bad for her. I know. I felt bad too. I think that. And she's pregnant. She's going to have a baby.

Right. So, Team baby. Team baby. Team baby. I think that we can all assume that, yeah, she's not the closest with the family right now, you know? But that's, I don't think they need to be creating groups and naming them, not Courtney. How would you feel if I created a group chat with all my God, producers?

Do you know what I would do? What would you do? Courtney took it pretty okay on the phone? Yeah. What would you do? I'd create a group, a second group chat called not, not Courtney. I would live. And it would be just me.

I text myself. Just you. But that's what's cool about you because you love the Kardashians. You also love 90-day fiancé. I do. Bravo shows. You were just on WWHL. Vanderpump Rules.

Of course. Of course. I've been watching Van derbyt's rules since, since, uh, bail. You know, just veil. You didn't start at one. I started at one. I started at one. Wait, I used to call myself hashtag VPR ambassador.

This is a true story, you guys. Even though I watched it like five years later. Really? The reason I called myself an ambassador was because I was so fucking passionate about it and telling people that like, this is such, no, no, this is such a good show. It's beyond. Like, they have sex with each other's boyfriends. Exclusively. Like, can you get a touch up? Is it okay? Yeah. I'm obsessed with VPR. I wrote about VPR my book. I wrote about Raquel. How you feeling? Well, because I was obviously team Ariana. I mean,

that's a horrible thing to do. Yeah. But then the third reunion part where we're sort of yelling at Raquel with like stakes. Rachel with like pitchforks. I started to feel guilty. Yeah. Like I was complicit in something darker. Yeah. So I wrote about that because I'm endlessly obsessed with Vanderbump rules. And I think we can also see that like Ariana's thriving. She's living a great life. Like I feel like she would probably be like Scandible is the best thing that ever happened to me. It's hard because such great expense is her life having this crescendo, right? Right. That is so tragic to happen to you. It also probably. not what she would want to have catapulted.

And you have to talk about it constantly. So I'm sure that's really hurtful. I know. But I'm really happy that she's doing well. But are you secretly also happy that Tom is going to be on the next season? I think that Raquel should be on the season, too. Do you think she would, do you guys see that she was auctioning off her lightning bolt necklace? Tom Tom, Tom sweatshirt.

And the lightning bolt necklace. Yeah, which costs $796. Did you seize that? Researchers, journalists know how much it costs. I think we should buy it. I think. Oh, my God. Oh, my God.

I feel like people would not buy it. Like, what's the opposite of buying something? Like, buying it and burning it? Like, I don't even know. Well, buying it and burning it is still buying it. And I actually hope anyone wants to buy and burn my book. That'd be great. I would love that press.

You're such a sales woman. So what's your all-time favorite Bravo show? Is it VPR? VPR, but I think actually Beverly Hills. Okay. But old-school Beverly Hills was that dinner for, hell. Yeah. It was great. And do you like where it's at now the show? We'll see it's a new season. Kyle's getting a divorce. What do you think is happening? Is she with that Morgan?

Obviously. Yeah. Obviously. Do you like this midlife pregnancy situation? I think it's really chic. Wait, did you see that someone put a meme that she looks like when she was walking with her down the street and they were both in trucker hat. Somebody did a meme that they looked like Wayne's world. Yes. I think Kyle posted that. Oh, she did. Yeah. She even posted it. They absolutely look like Wayne and who's the other guy. Wayne and Wayne and Wayne. Wayne and Dwayne. I think making that up. Are you? No, but it was like Wayne. Oh, how good was that? Where do you go? Mike Myers. He's also living a fantastic life. You say don't, you're like, don't worry about he's, don't worry about Mike Myers. Thriving. I know when you talk, speaking of Shrek,

yeah. Look at that segue, everybody. Speaking of Shrek, you mentioned donkey. I love Shrek. I do believe Shrek too is the greatest movie. I have a kid, so I've watched Shrek, like, as a mom, like you want to watch this, you want to try to get your kid to watch stuff that you would be interested in watching. Yeah. So I'm like, I'm so. I'm like, I'm so. good with Shrek. You know what my favorite part of Shrek is? You know when they go to

what's that town called with the... Oh, far, far away land? Yeah. Yeah. And they have like, they have that song. Yeah.

And then they say... Oh, we like to chat. Yeah. And they say... Right bar. That's my favorite part of the whole movie. It's a good job. I'm like, I'm an adult and I know what they mean.

And they know that like the kids won't know, but we'll know. That's my favorite part of the movie. So the dirtiest part of the children's movie. It's so dirty. Okay. True story. I went away with a husband Noah and my sister, Ariel, joined us. And actually, we were just in Queens at the Rockaway Hotel, but we forgot to bring wine. And it was such a shame. We forgot to bring wine. And Ariel was like, don't worry. I'll order wine from Drizley. And I was like, what's Drizley? And she's like, it's an app to order alcohol and stuff. And I was like, okay, they're not going to have like the, you know, I'm a wine snob. Okay. I'm not going to drink. anyone. So I was like, okay, they probably don't have like the wine I want though, which by the way is Avaline. And she was like, yeah, they do. So we ordered Avaline to the hotel. It arrived in no time. It was so convenient, so great. And I just love it. I love this idea. It's genius. And I feel like it's so helpful for all y'all. Download the Drisley app or go to Drisley.com. For alcohol delivery, you have to go to the app. You have to be 21 plus. Okay. It's not available in all. locations. They also have

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slash not skinny and that discount will be automatically applied to checkout. That's article.com slash not skinny for $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more. That's article.com slash not skinny for $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more. Let's talk about the interview style that we were talking about. I want to say that I'm seeing more of that style now coming out. I'm seeing some other people do the like awkward silences and things like that. Are you flattered by things that are a little bit of imitation? Are you like, ugh, like, that's my thing?

I don't think anyone can own, like, a style of interviewing. I exist in an obroa that is greater than me. Like, I was inspired by Zach Alfanakis and Nathan Fielder. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, you were inspired by Zach. Yeah, all of them. I mean, they're iconic. Yeah.

And so, so when I see this style of interviewing sort of grow from where I started, I think that's cool. It inspires me to continue working. on my craft. Right. Like to, you mean like maybe reinvent yourself? I am someone who loves the artistic reinvention. Like when Rihanna got short hair, and then when she got red hair, and then when she got short bob, I mean, everything, Rihanna. Exactly. So I think that that's sort of essential to being popping. Yeah. To being popping. Like, who are you? Switch it up. Wear a bow. So you think, so you think if you came out with a new show today, you would come out

a new concept. I don't know. I would have worked through what that means and what they, whenever that starts. You did? Do people call it WWHL? It's hard to say. Watch what happens live. So people just say that full thing. Yeah. Or they say Andy, I think, but I don't know. Okay. So when you went on Andy, when you went and watched what happens live, you were with Mary Crosby. Yes. Were you excited about that pairing? Yes. I requested it. No. You did it. Do you watch Salt Lake? Of course. Oh, my God. You watch it all. Yeah. People were. I'm accessible. She's relatable. People were really...

I'm sick. People were really into your reactions, like your facial expressions and your accent. She's so iconic and such an interesting... Talk about someone you never know what they're about to say. That is a woman who is full of surprise. Did you learn anything from her that night that you didn't know? That fish filet is both luxurious and also she's a vegan, vegetarian, but eats chicken nuggets. Oh.

How's that allowed? You know, that part we didn't get to. Oh, I also learned about the champagne. Champagne. Did you hear about the Don Perignon in 2003? Oh, I heard that about, I didn't really understand it. Well, so there was this year in Europe where there was a really bad drought and it produced one of the best don't paringon years. And she told you about that.

Yes. And, yeah. So she taught me about. That's so random. I think now I know. I wanted to gift it to her, but it's really expensive. You're like NBM. Never mind. One of your closest famous friends is Emily Radikowski. Do you call her Amrata?

No. Call her Emily. I do. Okay. Just was wondering because we all call her Amrata. Yeah. If like anyone in her life calls her that, you know? Yeah. It's like Superman and Parkett. Right. And I noticed that in your book, you don't really, she's not the beginning of any chapter, even though a lot of your interviews are. Oh, she isn't? I don't think so. Oh.

And when you do reference her, you don't say her. name. Yeah. Is that a choice? No. I wrote a bunch of essays to what I ended up cutting down. Like, she was at the beginning of a couple essays, but I don't know if I used them. How did you become friends? She had a book coming out literally a year ago, and I loved it. I thought it was great. And so we ended up doing a couple fashion events together and connected. Oh, that's amazing. Yeah. And you noted this because you were talking about, you know, growing up and having people confuse you with another black girl in your class or something. And one of the most recent stories you said was actually at like the U.S. Open.

Yes. Yeah. Well, I wasn't confused at the U.S. Open. I was sort of identified correctly. Yeah. But yeah, I was confused at the WNBA game. Oh, yeah, yeah. Yeah, that was such a weird experience because they, I was going there to prove Michael Che wrong that people cared about women's basketball and that it was a perfect utopia. And so we had a conversation about the WMBA and he said no one watched it. And so you went. I went. And then they misidentified me on the jumbo-tron as Sam J.

But they put you on the jumbo-tron just not as you. Yeah, yes. And I was wearing a shirt that said Z-way. Oh, my God. Yeah. So what happened after that? Did anybody apologize or reach out? Yeah, definitely.

They were really kind of back. And also, I find it to be sort of laughable. I think it's funny. I can see how someone's feelings would be hurt, but it's pretty iconic to have one woman wearing a shirt that says, I am Z-Way, and another person saying, I'm not Z-Way, I'm not Z-Way, she's right there. That's just perfect. Yeah.

That's funny. Like, it's content, like, sometimes do you feel like because you're a comedian and a writer, you take moments like that and you're like. Life inspires me for sure. Yeah. Yeah, I think it was like Ray Romano used to say that sometimes he would get in arguments with his wife and they would go on longer because he would like look for material. So I respect that.

Oh, Ray Romano, you're bringing it back today. Okay, yeah, I'm a scholar. Is he also doing well? I'm like, where's where he's doing great? Ray was one of the best syndicated sitcoms in American history. He's doing so good. He's a hitmaker. You said before that you would want to be the first black bachelorette.

Oh, yes, I did. So it can't be the first anymore. But would you be a bachelorette? Yeah. I don't think, I couldn't imagine kissing anyone on screen. Really? Yeah, they'd have to blur it. out? Because your parents? Not even because of me. Do you want to make out with someone on

screen? I mean, not with like tongue, but they don't really do tongue anyway. You would kiss someone on screen? I think I was. And just be pecking them? Maybe a peck. Not a tongue. I used to watch that show. I don't know multiple. No, they kiss a lot of guys. I know they kiss a lot of guys. I'm not, I'm not slut shaming. Yeah. I'm saying from my own. Yeah. I would be like, let's kiss. Yeah. Like, I want to kiss you. I know. Yeah. It's where they do that. Did you. Did you Do you watch The Bachelor or did you? Of course. Well, you're watching the Golden one right now.

Of course. What? Yeah. Okay, you guys, Zway watches more TV than me. I watch a lot of TV. Yeah. I'm watching TV and hair and makeup properly. Yeah. The Golden Bachelor, are you into it?

Yeah, I like that the woman was like, we need chairs. We should be able to sit. I know. She's like an activist for all the older Bachelorette. That's funny to me. I know. And he's cute. He's like 70-something.

I know. They should get some young girls on the old golden bachelor. For people that are interested in buying your book, what's your elevator pitch of your book? Like, how do you sell it? I sell it as a vehicle for me to get my feet score up on WikiFeed, honestly. And that usually gets people titillated because they're like, what is Wiki feet? But really, it's like a book of essays about pop culture that I make uniquely about myself. I love that.

And it's interesting that you can make things about yourself in your book, but you don't like making things about yourself. in interviews you say and kind of in life. What's your sign? What do you think it is? Gemini. Yep. You fucking what! Why?

I just can tell. What? I'm a little confrontational. I like it. Spicy. I'm a Pisces. Stop. Wait, what does Pisces mean?

I only know my own. Angelic, sweethearts from heaven, God life. Wait. Rihanna. Elizabeth Taylor. Wait, for real? For real. Wait, what gave Gemini for me in this interview?

I don't know. There's an energy. Really? No, I love it. I think it's really chic. To be a Gemini? Yeah, Gemini's are hot. No, Gemini's are good. Would you date a male Gemini?

The hottest men I know are Gemini. Really? But they're... I feel like men are scarier. But they'll rain down, the hammer on you. Yeah. I don't know if being a man Gemini. I feel like a woman Gemini is better than a man, Gemini.

Emily's a Gemini. Oh, makes sense. Everything makes sense in this world. I loved one you said. I am not a supporting character. I am the protagonist of my perfectly... imperfect story. How do you feel about it, though? Because I feel like you give main character energy. I am a main character. Yeah. For sure. I'm not, but I think I can try, people may try to

sideline me, but how do you sideline the wind? How do you sideline the wind? You can't. You can't. A building. You are so confident, anyway. I am. Yeah. Really? You don't feel it? I don't think, wow, a confident day. But, because I know you don't love talking about like how you grew up and stuff, but... Confident. Okay, but you know what's your way? If you tell me I'm confident, I'll be like I am. You know why?

Why? My mom told me every day that I'm the most beautiful, most talented girl in the world. That's why. And I'm like, I could be ugly and dumb and I wouldn't know because she told me that every day. That's really sweet. Do you know what I mean? No, that's amazing. Yeah.

So that's why when I ask you that, like, I'm wondering of that. Oh, if my mother told me, yeah, my mother told me I was beautiful. I do look like her. So she could have had any intentions behind that one. And your siblings, are you close? close with them? Yeah, definitely. And we do look alike. Yeah, are beautiful as well. I'm confident. Wait, are you what? Where are you in the three? I'm a middle child. I think you are. Yeah, do we give it. Boys are girls. We're all girls. All girl. What about you? All boys, but me.

Oh. Is that why you said you were a tomboy, you think? I think men have a lot of freedom. Yeah. It just seems really nice to be able to eat dirt and fight. So I'm looking over that side of the, you know, you are thinking that's pretty cool. And now you're leaning in. And now you're leaning in, to the femininity like we talked about. Yeah, because dirt would dirty my nail. Look at your nails. Oh, you're going no nails. I'm going no nails. I'm going no nails too. Yeah, I think we're bringing it back. Yeah. Did you do long nails when that was happening? Yeah, of course. Oh, you were doing like the lots of stuff. Yeah. Well, people don't talk about the like the, like the, I had gel acts. Well, people don't talk about with those gel excheon nails is you can't type. So you're really like,

I don't know if you guys have ever seen the life size movie with Tyre Banks, but you're literally typing with those nails like, and I'm a professional. professional writer. Yeah. Imagine me writing my book, like, as I'm shooting my old show, being like, and how many friends? It was not sustainable. So you stopped because of the writing?

I'll bring it back. It's also passe though. Is it? Nails. I don't know. I think I'm about to do nails in a day. Like what kind of nails? Like French chips.

I usually get Frenchos. Oh, no. Friendships is fine. Yeah. Those are cute, right? Yeah. Friendships are cute. Okay.

But the bad ones are the super long. Oh, yeah. No, that's not happening. And like the designs, you know? Oh, I never do the design. Yeah. I like a nude. Yeah, yeah. That's chic. Yeah.

That's she. Talking about your mother, you did say my mother's not good. What kind of way to start a question is that? You're an, like, what is wrong with you? Talking about your mother. Like, you need help. Did you debut time? What? Me?

What? I'm kidding. I went to high school in the city, babe. Which high school did you go to? Beacon. Okay. I don't know anything about city schools. No, you literally don't. No, I don't.

Oh, that's what we were talking about your name before and we said that you just go by Zway. and you said that people used to ask you what it means and you used to just tell them random shit. Yeah, I'll be like Zeeway means flower. Did people believe you? Of course. No, I love it.

Of course. It's like, what's the wildest thing you've said that it means? I think, I mean, usually I say it's flower or I say it's beautiful princess. I say it's Princess Monanoque. Does it actually mean something? Yes. It means when I was born, my dad was away. But by the way, Amanda means something too.

What does it mean? She who must be loved. Oh, in Latin. In Latin. I got a tattooed on me because I'm a loser. No, that's not a loser. That's beautiful. I know.

If you find out your name means that, you're getting a tattooed. And you just Googled it. No. How did you find it out? I don't know. No. I know what actually, people that are Spanish speaking will think that I'm Spanish sometimes. Apparently Amanda is like a name.

Yeah. Yeah. So they're like Amanda, Amanda. And then a person once told me and then I fact checked them on Google. And I was like, Mommy, is that why you named me Amanda? And she was like, no, literally. I wanted to name you Brittany and, you know. I was almost named Kelly.

Really? We could have been Brittany and Kelly. So basic. Like Amanda isn't. Amanda isn't. Kelly is queen. Wait. For real, your parents were debating between Zeeway, which is short for.

Zeeway Recoroo. And the other option was legit, straight up Kelly. Damn. Yeah. Did you know that growing up? Yeah, of course. And were you like, why didn't you do Kelly? Or were you happy?

I hated my name as a child. I hated my name. for sure. Well, it's a great branding. Yeah. Yeah. I'm cool with it. I'm at peace. Yeah. No, it's a good name. Yeah. Thank you. It's a cool name. I mean, but it is still shocking back to our first conversation that you couldn't even get your name on Instagram and Nina could, you know? I know, but hey. You probably thought the one thing that, you know, I could get my name. I was determined and I'm still determined. Like, we're going to get it. Exactly. We're going to get it. Okay. Before we go, some pop culture stuff. Okay, cool. First of all, you mentioned Taylor in a, in a comment earlier.

Are you a fan? Yeah. Are you a Swifty? Am I a Swifty? Did you go to Airs Tour? No, I didn't. But I was invited. I just didn't.

You were invited and you didn't go? Yeah, like Phoebe texted me, but I just, I had work. I'd work. But I, I'm a Swifty. I like Taylor's. Well, yeah, you like her music. What do you think about her? I look to song, Bad Blood.

What do you think about her relationship with Travis Kelsey? What about it? It's the hottest celebrity relationship right now. Yeah. That's what I think of it. Yeah, I don't have to date him. He seems hot. He was wearing these really nice Kalina Estrada pants.

Those were fresh. I'm a huge fan of that designer. So here's the thing. What? I said something pretty, pretty raunchy. What did you say? I went out to the world of Swifty's and the Army. And I said that she has bad style.

And what did they do in your comments? I know they blew them up. They blew them up. But you know what? It was mostly, I'm a Swifty. and I agree. Really? Okay. And some people were like, I agree, but that's the vibe.

That she dresses like your best friend in seventh grade. I think she has a couple, like the outfit she wore to the F. Sinal party. The catch, when they went to catch, I was there. And she, I thought she looked cute. She had this nice Versauchy, corset. She did the corset. Yeah, yeah. The corset was okay.

Yeah, that was cute. I think it's maybe like the commitment to like certain other things. But my point is, I post. For the record, for the record, don't look at what I'm wearing. I don't endorse a word this woman. I don't even know this woman I met her today. And so I stand with you. I went to the Eres tour.

Jay Suifty. I went to the Eres tour. I had work. I work. But here's the thing. My point was about Travis that he has really good style. Like he's putting the work in. I mean, the designer you just say I don't even know.

So he's in it. So maybe whole like influence. Who do you think is crazier? What a sub. How do you just put that on the table? I don't I don't co-sign any of this. I don't co-sign on any of it. Okay.

I don't co-sign on any of them. If you're 12 years old and you have a keyboard, don't get mad at me. You leave nice comments on my TikTok. Follow me. So what fandom do you think is crazier? Bravo. You should want to get us kill? No.

What is it wrong with you? Bravo people or Swifties. What fandom am I most afraid of? No, not afraid of. Like, who do you think is like more hardcore, like fighting for their cause, you know? And I'm supposed to answer this? Yeah. Swifties?

Swifties go hard. Go harder. But so do Bravo people. Bravo people go hard. Yeah. Would you go on a Bravo show? Like real housewives of New York? You're in New York now.

Yeah. You know, I don't know. I will see. I don't know. I don't know how that would work. But it would be funny. Imagine you're a friend of. I think that seems like it's the best case scenario.

Because like Mary Cosby, I'd pop in, insult someone's outfit and the dip. That looks like crap. Goodbye. Deuce's versus being a housewife. But who knows? I mean, now, today, none of the housewives are actually housewives. They're not housewives. Yeah.

And some of them don't live in New York, apparently. Do you like the new Roney? I think it's interesting. Do you like it? I do, actually. I think it's cute. I think like, Brin is funny. I think that Jessel, like, I'm a tank top.

But I'm waiting for it. She has a name for her fandom. Tank tops. I love it. Tent tops. She really changed her narrative. She became a star. Opa is a star.

But, so I like, there are some elements of it that I think are really fun. But it seems like you like OG. I feel like in your tone, you like OG vibes better. I'm never going to hate on a new cast of women. Yeah. I can't wait to see what they do the next season. Yeah, but she likes OG a little bit. Jenna is cool.

Jenna is cool. Yeah. Okay. So Mary Fuck Hill, Vanderpump Rules. Roney, the new Roney will do. Okay. I know who you're killing. And Real House Eyes of Beverly Hills.

I would Mary, fuck kill? Yeah. Fuck. Vanderpump Rules. Yeah, duh. Because they're all horny. They're just like naked and making out. Yeah.

I really want Lala, Kent, and James Kennedy to date. Their chemistry is off the charts. Do you know how much I love? Nobody's feeling me. Like I'm going to you. Like I'm feeling you. That was a bop and should have been one on Spotify. I think that I think.

Wait, you didn't finish. Oh, sorry. Fuck Vanderpum. Fung Vanderpub, Mary B.H. But of course. She's showing. She's showing it, babe. But I like Roney and I talk to those girls.

Yeah. Yeah, they've reached out to me. So we'll see. I don't know. They're interesting. We'll see. I don't know. Okay. Let's end with our mutual favorite, Britney Spears. I love Britney Spears. I know. You said, the way you said it's like, I want to take what you said. You said like that she's the defining celebrity of your childhood. Yeah, definitely. She really is. I wanted all of it. I wanted all of it. I wanted the stomach. The gene, the denim outfit. The fedora. The belly button ring. Yeah. She was batty. Maddie. I love Britney Circe with all my heart. I think she's given so much to pop culture. Oh, but it goes. back to what you said. What did you say about Ashley Simpson? That was before we started.

Yeah, what did I say? Something's true. Oh, with popsters. Yeah. This is my propaganda. Yeah. But I believe that pop stars are in the arrow that they're in and they give what they give and that we shouldn't demand more. Like what they give is so much, these young women. Yeah. And Britney Spears was at the top of the charts for so long. Hit. Oops, I did it again. Toxic. Every album was a prerogative. She was doing covers that were hits. Maybe one more time. So I simply believe that Brittany has given us everything that we could possibly ask for. Yeah. We can't be little gritties. I can't wait for her book to come out either. Are you excited? What do you think about Michelle Williams, not Destiny's Child, narrating it?

Okay. I'm cool with that. Yeah. Are you not cool with that? I want to hear from Brittany. I want to know that like. Okay. Tea though.

I'll give you tea. Okay. Reading your own books is hard. Yeah. I won't say, I will say it. Yeah, you almost said sucks now. I would never say that. I would say it was a beautiful experience.

Yeah. And it's filled with love. So you think she didn't feel. you like it? I don't, I can't speak. I don't know. But it's really hard. I, I read my book when I was writing it a hundred times. And then you have a week, like three days for audio books when you're reading it. Yeah, it's hard. I wonder if it was, I just hope like, first of all, I remember when the book was supposed to come out. I know that now it's coming out. Yeah. I want to see it. Like next week. I want to see it happening. Yeah. I feel like I'll believe it when I see it. I would, I just

want to see her again. I know what you said is true and I want to. And I, I support Brittany. I don't comment on her videos in terms of like, what is she doing here? Why is she with knives? Like, I'm really letting her be, you know? Like, she doesn't need more criticism or judgment. She deserves the best. Are you going to be reading the book? Of course. Yeah. Of course. So Zeeway's going to be, look at my closing, everybody, and learn. Zeeway's going to be reading Britney Spears's book. Tom Broke over here. And everyone should go read Zeeway's book, Black friend essays, highly recommend. It's also short, easy read, fun read, and you're great.

Thank you for coming on. Thank you guys so much for listening to this episode of Not Skinny but Not Fat. Follow me on Instagram at Not Skinny but Not Fat. Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss any episodes. Rate the podcast that you love so much on Apple Podcast and write a little review. If you tell me you did, I'll give you a big virtual smoochero. Thank you guys so much for listening. I'll see you next Tuesday.

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