The Breakfast Club - Best Off Full Show: Cast Of Harlem Interview, Trump Signing Executive Orders Topic, Chloe Bailey, Derrick Johnson & Scott Mills Interview + More

Episode Date: February 17, 2025

The Breakfast Club Best Off Full Show Featuring Leon Thomas Interview, Cast Of Harlem Interview, Trump Signing Executive Orders Topic, Chloe Bailey, Derrick Johnson & Scott Mills Interview. Listen For More!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey, man, what are you into? I have the hookup. The hookup? The hookup for what? I'm solving a mystery through sex and haven't made a private dick joke until now? Poppers? Why are there so many poppers? All roads lead to... The hookup. You think it's causing people to turn aggro? I'm gonna rip your arms off and use them to... Yeah, that's a word for it.

Listen to The Hookup on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Hi, I'm Arturo Castro, and I've been lucky enough to do stuff like Broad City and Narcos and Roadhouse. And now I'm starting a podcast because honestly, guys, I don't feel the space is crowded enough. Get ready for Greatest Escapes, a new comedy podcast about the wildest true escape stories in history. Each week, I'll be sitting down with some of the most hilarious actors I'm Dr. Lari Santos, and to welcome the new year, my podcast, The Happiness Lab,

is releasing a series of happiness how-to guides to help you in 2025. I'll distill the wisdom of world-class experts into easy to digest actionable tips. You'll learn how to handle relationships, how to be inspiring, how to find your purpose. The Happiness Lab's How-To Season starts January 1st. Listen on America's number one podcast network, iHeart. Open your free iHeart app, search for the Happiness Lab, and start listening. I'm Mark Seale. And I'm Nathan King. This is Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli.

The five families did not want us to shoot that picture. This podcast is based on my co-host Mark Se Seale's best-selling book of the same title that features new and archival interviews with Francis Ford Coppola, Robert Evans, James Kahn, Talia Shire, and many others. Yes, that was a real horse's head. Listen and subscribe to Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli starting February 19th on the iHeartRadio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, just don't do no lying. And Charlamagne the guy. Don't get it, dude. Everybody come to the Breakfast Club. I call this the hot seat. You're a liar. You're a liar. Breakfast Club, it's like being on America's front porch. Don't feel like my wrist is like this. I never talked to me for like a minute. Every time I go to the Breakfast Club,

I know it's gonna be like a good morning. I'm getting high. It's a new day. Is it your time to get it off your chest? Wake up. Whether you're mad or blessed. I'm getting high. It's a new day. Is it your time to get it off your chest? Wake up. Whether you're mad or blessed. It's time to get up and get something.

Call up now. 800-585-1051. We want to hear from you on the Breakfast Club. Hello, who's this? Oh my gosh, did I get through? Oh my god. Who's this? Oh my gosh, this is Amanda from Virginia.

Virginia 757. What up, Amanda? Get it off your chest. Okay, so like I just quit my teaching job. I'm gonna try not to cry. It was really hard for me to to give up and everything after six years and I'm scared right now because I have no idea what I'm supposed to do or anything like that and I just turned 28 and I feel like I'm failing at life. So I need some advice. You are not failing at life, man.

You know, one of my affirmations this morning was embrace everything that happens to you. And you know, being that you're 28, you'll realize this as you get older, everything is just part of a process. You gotta trust your instincts. Your instincts told you that you didn't wanna teach no more, right?

Right. All right, so next up. My mental health is acting so bad. of a process you got to trust your instincts told you that you didn't want to teach no more right? Right. My mental health is happening so bad like I was having panic attacks and everything it's just teaching is not what it used to be at all and so I love the kids, I used to love the profession but I just felt so undervalued and

unappreciated like it was just it was hard so right now I'm up I'm about to go into the card and hopefully I'll make a little something I feel I figured out and I think that's what you should do my mom is a public school teacher I was a public school teacher so I understand I think that y'all are very underpaid undervalued and underappreciated so thank you for your service as a teacher but now now you just gotta pray and see where God is gonna lead you next.

Because God is definitely telling you that you should be doing something else. You just gotta, you probably already know what it is. You probably just scared to do it right now. You already know what it is, don't you? You said what? Can I put my cash out there so somebody can help me out? That's not what, that is not what God wants you to do.

I'm so awful at this. God told me to put the cash out there. I ain't skating no more. I'm listening to you, Sharla, man. What else God got for you? Tell me what else God is telling you to do before we get to the cash app. To go Instacart in this moment.

Honestly, I'm up two stairs, so that's all I got at the moment. Go ahead, go ahead. One step at a time, go ahead then, go ahead. Go ahead with your cash app. I'd rather cash app than OnlyFans. Go ahead, go ahead. I know, but. One step at a time. Go ahead then, go ahead. Go with your cash app. I'd rather cash app than OnlyFans. Go ahead, mama. There you go.

See, see? All right. It's $9, Amanda, capital A, M-A-N-D-A-N-I-C, nine, six. Hold on, now say it again. A-M-A-N-D-A. Yes. N-I-C, nine, six. N-I-C, nine, six I see nice Oh Amanda Nick nine six Amanda

Chandler that's you yeah you look like a schoolteacher no you gonna put something on her cash app yeah I just sent her a little oh there you go I love schoolteachers man I think schoolteachers yeah like I said I think y'all are undervalued and underappreciated we trust our kids with y'all every day and we live in a messed up society because y'all are undervalued and underappreciated. We trust our kids with y'all every day and we live in a messed up society because y'all should be making six figures a year just because of what y'all gotta deal with to be honest with you.

So. Yeah, it's hard. It's hard out here. Now you know, I wanna go into the mental health field. I'm doing a complete career switch. So I'm just hoping it all works out. I'm gonna pray on it and thank you guys. And I really appreciate you guys taking my call.

I listen to you guys every morning Did you know I appreciate you got what I sent you is anyone through? Get it off your chest 800-585-1051 if you need to vent phone lines are wide open. It's the breakfast club. Good morning the breakfast club This is your time to get it off your chest, whether you're mad or blessed. So keep it up, same thing. We wanna hear from you on the Breakfast Club.

Hello, who's this? Good morning, this is Adrena. Hey, Adrena. Good morning, Adrena. Get it off your chest, mama. I'm a little nervous, but I really want people to reach out to your friends and family, check on them to make sure that they are okay. It's been almost eight months since I lost my soulmate

to suicide. And when he committed suicide, we was on a break, but we were still very much in communication with each other. But I knew something was wrong and my gut told me to go check, but my head said, no, don't do it. And had I listened to my gut, I would have known something was wrong and could have been able to help. Also with women and their children,

when you have a man that wants to be in the lives of their kids, you shouldn't use the child as a pawn to get back because no one ever, ever thought that he would commit suicide because of what was happening with his children. So I just want people to just be aware of those things. Absolutely. Yes ma'am. Well, definitely sending you healing energy, queen. Yes.

Thank you. Absolutely. All right, mama, have a blessed day. You guys do the same. He's very heavy this morning. Crack a joke or something, Jess. Okay, so you know damn carefully, you got some money? Hello, who's this?

Hello, this is Blind Tommy. What's up blind Tommy get off your chair. How y'all doing man? I'm mad cuz I'm a blind broke comedian. So you gotta pick one now which one you mad about being blind being broke or being a comedian? All three. Well you should learn to see the bright side. Damn it. How you know people not just stealing your money? I ain't got no money to steal. I think you might be looking at this wrong. Were you born blind? Look at that.

You don't look at it when you're blind. No, I was blind five years ago. Oh, okay, okay. Oh, you are newly blind. You don't count. Damn. How'd you get blind, sir? Some fuckers got in my system and they attacked my optic nerves.

Damn. Sorry to hear that, bro. Have you learned any new skills? Has anything else scrimped? Uh, a little bit, but not that too much. Got you, got you. Well, how can we help you this morning, brother? What can we do for you? Whatever, we'll see what we can do whatever it is You want a book deal yeah, I'm beyond what you're interested in the story I can't sit in act like I wouldn't want to hear more the story. What if he's talking about Braille books? Well, you want to And he get get my guys information I'm interested in hearing the story. I want to see if this might be a story there You never know. Yeah, hold on Tommy. Okay, all right

Get it off your chest eight hundred five eight five one. Oh five one if you need to vent hit us up now It's the Breakfast Club. Good morning the Breakfast Club Morning everybody is DJ envy Jess hilarious Charlamagne the guy we are the Breakfast Club. Good morning everybody, it's DJ NV, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne the Guy, we are the Breakfast Club. We got some special guests in the building. Yes indeed. We have the cast of Harlem. Raised by his Megan Good, Shaniqua Shanday, did I say her name?

Shanday. Jerry Johnson and Tyler Leppley. Welcome. How y'all feeling this morning? Phenomenal. Amazing. Star-studded cast. We feel so good. and Tyler Leftley, welcome. Thank you. Appreciate it, y'all. How y'all feeling this morning? Time. Phenomenal. Amazing. Star-studded kids.

We are. Say that again. Like a star-studded kid. A star-studded kid. How many of y'all live in L.A.? I wanna make sure everybody houses good, stuff like that. We're good, thank you. We're good.

I appreciate that, bro. Thanks for asking. Okay, let's get right into it. Harlem is back January 23rd on Amazon Prime, but sadly they say this is the last season. Why? So many people watch it. So many people are into it.

How did they just do it like that? Ask Amazon Prime or Universal. We're so sad. We're really, really sad. And I think like everybody's super sad because we had so much story to tell. And so like if we did have more seasons, this would have, the stories would have been so good, but they did such an amazing job truncating it, bringing it down into this final season. I think everybody's gonna be happy.

And hopefully we get a movie. Okay. We're in a movie. Did y'all know it was gonna be the final season when y'all started taping it? Did you know that already or did y'all find it halfway through? I found, no, not halfway through.

I think I found out a little late, but sometimes I'm in my own world, but I found out the day of the reading, as we were reading it, now going into knowing that it was the last season. Are you saying when we were reading it? No, before I knew, but I hadn't read the last two, I thought they were saving the last two episodes, so I didn't know, you know, and then as we were reading it, I was like, oh no, this is it. Yeah. But y'all been doing a lot on the side as well. Y'all been engaged.

I know. Y'all been having babies. Y'all been putting out music. Little change books. Like, y'all had to do this, man. It's true. It's true. So how were y'all doing all of that on the side as well as taping this show?

You know what's interesting is that as we've been taping this show, because we started what year did we start? 2020. Okay, 2020. And then we got like maybe three episodes in, because we started, what year did we start? 2020. Okay, 2020. And then we got like maybe three episodes in, then COVID happened, then we took a break, then we came back, then we had a year off, then we went through the strike and all these different things. But during the duration of all these things, we were experiencing life.

We were having all kinds of life changes and having conversations in between because not only are we, you know, friends on the show, we're like sisters in real life, but also with Tracy and then same with Tyler, like that's our brother, that's our family. But each one of us were experiencing things that, you know, as Tracy spoke to us, she's like, what do you think about this? What do you think about that? And I know you're on this journey and you know, do you mind if I implement this and all of that? So so much of it is actually mirrored in the show of what we were experiencing.

So it kind of made it seamless in that way and you know you have a specific story about that But yeah, just everything it just it feels like it was a part of our actual lives So what's your story with that? No, so we were talking about this, but you know how Quinn goes through her depression journey in season two I did a lot of research on depression because it wasn't something I was personally dealing with at the time But I wanted to reflect it in a very honest way So went through that did that research and then I had the baby and then I was diagnosed with severe postpartum depression So even when I came on the show the last time I was in the depths of that Didn't really realize the impact and how that affected me until I started to kind of climb out of that, right?

Going through that journey with Quinn it gave me a space and Reflect I call it my help journal like a reflective journal to look back on and say oh Like this was this was the way in which it was showing up for Quinn I didn't realize that postpartum depression can show up as fatigue as overwhelmed We know about the sadness we know about all that stuff But these are some of the ways the mood swings didn't know that that was a part of those things. And so being able to play that and reflect that in Quinn gave me almost like a map that I could go, okay Grace like this is how you can navigate this. Did that help or hurt? Did it make it worse?

No it helped because it actually gave me an enlightenment right? Like oh this is what it could look like. This is what and and so even though I was doing it for Quinn, you know, I felt it on a different nuance level when I was actually going through it myself. Got you. How are y'all juggling the schedules though, like now? Because it's still, it's like, y'all personally flourishing, in business y'all flourishing, how can y'all,

because I know that the schedules, I mean, I know y'all said, it's been like two years since y'all did this, but now y'all flourishing how can y'all because I know that the schedules I mean I know y'all said it's been like two years since y'all did this but now y'all all got individually a lot going on too how can y'all still like how y'all juggling schedules we all start with Shanique one at one because she just got a single you know I thrive when I'm busy yeah I really do I like the structure of figuring out my schedule I become more detail oriented when I'm busy. I really do. I like the structure of figuring out my schedule. I become more detail-oriented when I have a lot of things to focus on. And I was very intentional about dropping Feel My Love, my new single, after ending

season two with an engagement or proposal. And so I wanted to balance that and have that come out at the same time as the show, because I knew a lot of Harlem fans would be paying attention. But also just to maybe troll a little bit or make them question whether Angie would actually end up in this relationship, because we don't get a yes or a no at the end of the season too.

Okay, strategy. It could be anything. You know, we trying to have a roll out. Yes. That's the stuff. Megan, you refer to them as your sisters and your brothers. Does that happen naturally? Because a lot of times people want to keep things business. So does that just happen naturally?

This bond? It happened completely organically. Like from the beginning, from day one if I start with Shanique we were on FaceTime a few years prior and I had never met her before and we just spoke and we talked about like, you know what one day we're going to do a show together and we touched and agreed on the camera of the FaceTime and then literally later, here we are both walking in, we're both testing and we're in the bathroom and she's like, do you remember me? I was like, from where? And she told me, I was like, wait, what?

And then we ended up praying and crying in the bathroom and you know, there's that. And then literally with Tyler, it was just immediate, like just family and just easy or organic. Same thing with Jerry. It was like, okay, I've known her forever. Like, you know, and then with Grace, I called her, I was like, girl, I'm getting, she was like, don've known her forever like I'm you know and then with Grace I called her I was like girl I'm good she was like don't tell me you get ready to come in for Camille. We were friends yeah like for years before that so that was exciting yeah yeah.

Is that the norm on sex? It isn't always like that okay and then you also you know when it when it's gonna be for women you just never know what you're gonna get you hope that that is the experience but know, and we had talked about this a few years prior saying how it would be great if we got an opportunity to work on a show together. So when I called her and she was like, I can't believe I'm so excited. It was like you just knew that God was in it. And I have to say for me, this has been the best professional experience that I've had in my entire career.

Wow. You know, in a way, it's the end of a chapter, but it's exciting because the way that we end the chapter, we're really, really proud of. And I think the audience is going to get everything that they want to get. But also I think that we got what we want to get outside of having a movie additionally. But it's better, I think, to move this way where it's, you know, you didn't stay for too long, but you gave everyone exactly what they wanted and needed. And I want to give Megan her props too, because she was a great leader in setting the culture of our set and everybody who has come and guest star, they've had a really great time.

But we learned from Megan, from Grace, like it truly is a fun time. But also we have decided, we decided early on that we were gonna stick together throughout this situation. So nobody could say, well, you know, this person was a difficult one or this person was this one or this one. Because if there was a problem, we all have the problem. If there was a, we all have it.

And we're on the Zoom calls or whatever, and you won't know where the source is because we didn't want it to be like somebody was pinpointed or somebody is- This one's personal. Yeah. And we promised each other that if somebody says something to one of us about the other one, we're not just going to take it at face value. We come into the source and say, hey, did this really happen?

Because people do like to like separate women and pin women against each other. So I think it was really important for us to and this is my second show. I mean I was like six months out of grad school and I booked this show and first time being the lead in something and then to get to do it like this, which is for me my manifestation and to be like, Oh wait, no, actually for me this can be the, the norm of the experience and y'all set the tone for that So I thank you for being a star leaders. All right We have more with the cast of Harlem here Megan Good, Tyler Leppley, Grace Byers Shaniqua Shandai and Jerry Johnson when we come back. It's the Breakfast Club. Good morning the Breakfast Club

Morning everybody is DJ envy just hilarious Charlamagne the guy, we are the Breakfast Club. We're still kicking in with the cast of Harlem, Megan Good, Tyler Lepley, Grace Byers, Shaniqua Shandai and Jerry Johnson. Charlamagne? Does acting allow y'all to just escape when you're dealing with all of these personal things and now you can just go be somebody else for a few hours? It allows you to work through things, you know, past traumas, certain

experiences, whether it's childhood, I mean, whatever it may be, it allows you to have a place to put it to good use and for it to be something that someone else can watch or see and take from it and go, okay, that made me feel not alone, that made me feel seen or understood. So I think in a way it's therapeutic. I don't know if it really allows us to escape, I get to each his own. But for me- I think escape gets a little dangerous. So do y'all allow yourselves to lose yourself in a role or you don't- You can't go there.

You can't. Because that's, I think the, if we think about like some of our greats that have lost themselves and then we lost them, you know? I was going to say that. Yeah. It's like when you go there, if you don't know how to unzip that character and step out in order To go home and not have that energy in your home it gets crazy But also the body doesn't know the difference sometimes

So when you go when you're going deep into a character and you're not doing those things where you are separating When you get home your body don't know the difference where you are separating when you get home, your body don't know the difference. So if my character is going crazy, if I'm playing the Joker and I'm really in there and I'm taking the Joker home with me, my body don't know that I'm not the Joker if I believe it enough. And so sometimes, you know, it's good to be like, all right, I'm gonna give a cap on this. Like if I really got to go there, I'm gonna go there for the six months I gotta go there. But I'm already planning all the things I need to plan.

So that day I'm done, it's already set up for me to release this. Whether I'm going to the ocean, whether I'm wherever I am, whether all of my friends come to my house to remind me of who I am, I have to have something that reality sets me back to who I am or it's not gonna be that reality sets me back to who I am, or it's not going to be, it's going to be on my spirit and it's not going to be good for me. Well then, speaking of then, Jerry, where's Ty's head at after she found out she smashed the mother and a daughter?

She just went back to real life to back to reality. She just got to jump back into being Ty. Yeah, that's crazy. That's crazy. You know, to find out who I am, I have to have something that reality sets me back to who I am, or it's not going to be, it's going to be on my spirit and it's not going to be good for me. Well then, speaking of then, Jerry, where's Ty's head at after she found out she smashed

the mother and a daughter? She just went back to real life to back to reality. She just went back to real life to back to reality. She just went back to real life to back to reality. She just went back to real life to back to reality. I'm gonna give you that one second. Because now she gotta jump back into being Tye. Yeah, Tye. Yeah. Yeah. That's crazy. That's crazy. You know, to find out something like that is like, how do you even deal with that? And I think Tye decides. Because what does Tye really want? She's poly.

She's single. Open. I think even though Jerry is poly, she's green. She's green. But she's loved Jerry is Polly, I wouldn't describe Ty as Polly. I think Ty was really wanting something, but also probably in that moment being greedy because she was wanting something, but having something else. And I think sometimes if my intention is commitment then I have to go towards what that intention is and if it's commitment towards one person and I'm letting my energy fly of course I might end up with a daughter in America. I watched the episode I knew what was going on and I was like oh my god.

Grace how has motherhood changed you? I think what I did not expect was that I was fully prepared to be like I'm sick. Grace, how has motherhood changed you? I think what I did not expect was that I was fully prepared to be like, I'm ready to learn everything I can about motherhood and my child. I did not anticipate that I was going to also go on a journey to learn about myself. And so I had to face things about myself

in order to ensure his wellbeing, right? So I had to go back to my own childhood, go back to the things that, you know, that I didn't realize that I was like holding on to or dealing with or like simple things like, you know, like being a recovering people pleaser. I can't do that with my child. I will be so depleted.

I will not show up as the mother that I need to be. So how do I then organize in my mind, like how do I prioritize myself for real, for real? You know, so like things like that, that I didn't expect that are really changing my life. Wow. Are these moments bittersweet, knowing that this is gonna be the last time

y'all probably do interviews together and things of that nature? Yeah. They said they talking about movie, they manifested movie, so it's gonna be the last time. We need a petition. We need a petition. If it's not this I y'all could do something else yeah so grounded even as just outside the cast just hearing y'all speak like you know like even from the

last thing we had with you like so much growth like not saying that you you know Oh, yes, I was last time right? No Is info is tranquility is is a whole bunch is y'all are very grounded as a cast so Saying anything else not you don't have to be Harlem or just you know y'all can write your own movie. I can directly we can just get it Like we really appreciate And even just like you know to all of us before you know as we saying goodbye I feel like one of the biggest you know reasons It's not a sad goodbye is like for a multitude of things like a we have a you know We have a great beginning middle and now you now we knew where we were landing at. So that's a beautiful thing.

But then on the flip side, off of the script, because of the way we was able to come together as family, I feel like this is a, a lot of times when we say goodbye to people, it's like a sad goodbye. You know what I'm saying? But it's like, I really feel like this is a, you know, this is the opposite. It's almost like a happy goodbye.

You know what I'm saying? When we say goodbye, it's almost like we raising the trophy up. You know what I'm saying? So it's like, when I do, yeah, it's on a good note. You know I'm saying when we say goodbye. It's almost like we raising the trophy up You know I'm saying so it's like when I do yes on a good note So when I think back about these times, it's not really gonna be a sad thing You know we're able to experience together share it with the world and close the book at the right time Well Shaniqua you tell them we not leaving like that. We're leaving with your single Miss grace I felt the God in you this morning. We're gonna say a prayer. We're gonna play a record. But before we play a record, Ms. Grace, I felt a guide in you this morning.

We gonna say a prayer before we get up out of here. Do you want me to say the prayer? No, I'm not saying it. I'm God. God is good. God is great. Thank you for the food we eat. So I'm gonna let you do this prayer.

Even when there ain't no dinner on the table, he do that. All right, let's do it. Join hands. Thank you. Dear Heavenly Father, thank you so much for this time together, Lord. We ask that you bless the Breakfast Club, Lord. We ask that you bless their minds, their hearts, their words. Your Father, thank you.

Have you ever looked into the night sky and wondered who or what was flying around up there? We've seen planes, helicopters, hot air balloons, and birds. But what if there's something else, something much more ominous that appears under the cover of night, silent, unseen, watching? They may be right above your car late one night as you cruise down the road or look like mysterious lights hovering above your home. Drones. Or are they? We used the word drone because it was comfortable

to other people. One minute it was there, and one minute it wasn't. Oh, that is beyond creepy. Do you feel like this drone was targeting you specifically? Yes, absolutely. Listen to Obscurum, Invasion of the Drums, on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hi, I'm Arturo Castro, and I've been lucky enough to do stuff like Broad City and Narcos and Roadhouse and so many commercials about back pain. And now I'm starting a podcast because honestly, guys, I don't feel the space is crowded enough. Get Ready for Greatest Escapes, a new comedy podcast about the wildest true escape stories in history. Each week, I'll be sitting down with some of the most hilarious actors

and writers and comedians to tell them a buck wild tale from across history and time. People like Ed Helms, Diane Guerrero, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zoe Chao. Titanic, Charles Manson, Alcatraz, Asada Shakur, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Zoe Chao. Titanic. Charles Manson. Alcatraz. Asada Shakur. The sketchy guy named Steve. It's giving funny true crime. I love storytelling and I love you, so I can't wait.

Listen and subscribe to Greatest Escapes on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Do you remember what you said the first night I came over here? How goes lower? I met Santi at a luau party in October. I'm Santi. Damien. Oh, it was bizarre. The guy just disappeared one day.

Santi has been missing ever since. The hookup. What is that? I'm solving a mystery through sex and haven't made a private dick joke until now? Like no matter how hard I try, all roads lead to... The hookup? You think it's causing people to turn aggro? I'm gonna rip your arms off and use them to- Yeah, that's a word for it. This is such terrible representation, I'm so sorry.

Poppers? These aren't just any poppers. Mama always used to say, God gave me gumption in place of a gag reflex. No, my psychiatrist didn't laugh at that one either. Listen to the hookup on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Yo, what up?

It's your girl Jess Hilarious, and I think it's time to acknowledge that I'm not just a comedian. It's time to add uncertified therapists to my credentials because each and every Wednesday, I'm fixing your mess on carefully reckless on the Black Effect Podcast Network. Got problems in your relationship?

Come to me. Your best friend acting shady? Come to me. Thinking about curs acting shady? Come to me. Thinking about cursing that one stank auntie out at the next family gathering? Do it. But come to me before you do because I cussed all mine out before. You want to fight your co-workers? Come to me. Baby daddy mad because you got a boyfriend? Come to me. Thought you was the father but you not? Come to me.

I can't promise I won't judge you, but I can guarantee that I will help you. As a daughter, a sister, a mother, and an entrepreneur, I've learned a lot in life. So I'm using my own perspective and experiences to help you fix your mess. Send me your situation and let's fix it as a family. Listen to Carefully Reckless on the Black Effect Podcast Network, iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. For a form like this, or that we're able to galvanize as one that we're able to come together in truth and honesty and love,

and just celebrate amazing black work, Lord. We are so grateful this moment grateful for this time, dear Father, we ask that you go before us that you make the crooked past straight. We ask that you continue to uplift us in your spirit to Lord, let us always stay in your purpose and your will, Lord. We thank you for your love. We thank you for your blessing. In Jesus' name we pray.

Amen. Amen. Amen. Hey, Kavit. The cast of Harlem. The Breakfast Club, good morning. Wake up. Wake up.

You're locked into the Breakfast Club. Good morning, everybody. It's DJ NV Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne the Guy. We are the Breakfast Club. Nafi, just joining us, we're talking about the list of Trump executive orders that affected people from DEI to birthright citizenship to ICE coming and taking people. Yeah, the mass deportations, the dismantling of DEI, you know, the potential federal hiring freeze, I mean tariffs, you know, and so, you know, we're just opening up the phone lines to see how things have impacted people, you know. Jess is already concerned about the price of wigs, potentially.

Excuse me, Mayor. No, I'm not. No, I'm not. Okay. It affects my mother and other people who have been in child care administration. My mom has been taking care of kids and she has a childhood preschool and has had one for 30 years coming up. And a lot of her money comes from federal government.

You know, like the food program, she get checks to feed the kids, you know, and then all of her parents, they are using vouchers or scholarship of some sort, you know what I mean? So. Or potential federal hiring freeze could shut her business down. Absolutely, absolutely. And it will, people are already starting to be affected by it, you know, so.

And you see the dismantling of DEI programs, you see people losing jobs, you know, when you got these mass deportations, like I know people who, you know, jobs have got ran up in, you know what I mean? Or their parents' jobs have gotten ran up in, you know, I know people who you know jobs have got ran up in you know, I mean, you know, their parents jobs have gotten ran up in You know, I know family members I know families who literally have had to leave because you know one person in the household was was

Undocumented and now they gotta go and the kids gotta go. It's like it's real out here. Yeah Yeah, you know growing up in New York, of course, you're surrounded by immigrants, right? You're surrounded by people that are one Yeah, just got crazy You're surrounded by like you're not one in the person surrounding I'm not I actually was born here my parents were too But you're surrounded by immigrants that you know that the kids were born here But their parents not and now many of my friends and the people that I know they're fearful that their parents could be you know Taking back and parents could be you know taken by ice because there's no rules

There's no regulations. They just know that ice is on the street grabbing immigrants. So people are nervous people are scared Are you an anchor, baby? My parents were born here, sir. My grandparents were born here and I was born here, sir Prove it let me say ice come and snatch you up. That's gonna be crazy. I'm scared to take my daughter outside to this day I'm like Jesus For real they might think I'm scared to take my daughter outside to this day. I'm like, Jesus Yes, for real they might think i'm harboring one of them. Um, chris is legal though, right? Yeah, he is but molly She look like she

Nah, see she more questioned than her father people be like, oh where you get that baby from? And if I just got it by myself, I look like a nanny not I don't know. It's crazy. But for the people who don't know, your baby daddy is Mexican. Yes. Yes. Half Mexican. Yes, half Mexican. His mom's straight, straight up Mexican.

It's full of blicks, though. And my daughter, she looks straight Mexican, like, oh my God. I think you should stop saying that. You might get a knock. Popo. Hello. You're stupid. It's high-sector. Let's go through the whole line. You might get a knock. Put a pot. Hello. You're stupid.

Let's go to the whole line. You might get a knock, Jess. Crazy, I'm scared. Hello, who's this? This is Dr. Allen. He's Dr. Allen. Who are you calling from? I'm from 75, but I'm in Indianapolis now.

Okay, how have Trump's executive orders impacted you thus far? Absolutely. So I am a director for diversity and culture inclusion for engineering research centers. executive orders impacted you thus far? more students to Washington DC for, and we had an upcoming conference for them to present their research. I have about $300,000 in funding that I can no longer touch because I work in DEI.

They told me literally, I couldn't use spend no money because my proposal said I was working with marginalized students. And that is discrimination by another name. When you're saying that I can't work with students because they're from marginalized backgrounds, but if it was a white student I could go ahead and continue with my work. This discrimination by another name. And so I have about, I have another about five million dollars

in additional funding that I have that I have sent in there for review that I can't, that they're probably not just going to throw out now. And these are, this is money that's going to our students, our low-income students, our underrepresented students to make sure that we get skills and help our students continue to grow, go to college, get scholarships, and we can no longer touch that money. They are literally trying to prevent us

from growing our community and be able to do the things that we need to do all because they don't want us to be as successful as we could be. And it is very sickening. How do we combat that? How do we combat it? How do we combat it? How can we? Well, a few things that we have to do is we have to put pressure on our elected officials.

The Democrats have to be able to stop to get off their fingers and actually do something. This should not be a process for them to be able to discriminate by another name. There should be some type of lawsuit that are letting them say, hey, you all have not developed any criteria for what is considered DEI. You all are just looking for anything that says black or brown, underrepresented, marginalized, low income, and that is discriminate. There needs to be some folks that are doing something in the legal arena. There needs to be folks that are doing something in the political arena, and we also need to start thinking about how do we make sure that we're not

ham from the next time one of these oligarchs or somebody comes in and wants to take over power like this. We need to be able to make sure that we're self-sufficient, sustainable, and figure out ways in which we can do that. I totally agree, man. You know, the ill part about it is there are, you know, guardrails and tools that Democrats can use But you know we just keep getting all these statements about norms and faith and institutions brought him institutions are done Okay, these people are playing by a different set of rules. They need to figure it out. It's got another caller. Hello. Who's this? Yo, good morning. They deported him just as fast. That's his name. Oh my God.

His name was Julio. They're driving off with him right now. Hello, who's this? Hi, good morning. This is Erica. I'm calling from Fort Lauderdale. Good morning. Erica, how are you?

We're talking about Trump's executive orders. How has it affected you at all? I mean, honestly, you guys must be real. You lie, women lie, numbers don't. America voted for Trump. I don't understand now why. affected you at all? I mean honestly, let's be real. No more women-only numbers. America voted for Trump. I don't understand now why did everybody go up on the floor about what's going on when they were in the war. Multiple times, over and over, the Biden administration let us know about 2020.

Nobody didn't care. I don't know why is everybody up for now. Ma'am, ma'am, ma'am. Ma'am, you're absolutely right but what I got to do with his executive orders impacting people? It was expected. It was forthcoming. Yes. There's nothing you can do about it if you voted him in office. But have they impacted you that's the question The 91 23 All right, Thank you mama. What does she say? She's gonna be deported? Basically saying that y'all did it to yourselves. That's what she said. Y'all voted for him and she didn't answer the question.

She basically just said that y'all did it to yourselves. What was she quoting? Bob's Curses? Yes. She going to highway somewhere too. I didn't even understand. I'm like, oh Lord. And I understand what she's saying,

but that's not the question we're asking. The question we're asking is how has his executive orders impacted people? Because you know, what I would like to start hearing is solutions, you know? what I would like to start hearing is solutions. I would like to start hearing how we can combat some of these things. But how can we, right? Because he's the president.

He put these orders into play. This is his house right now, right? But he's doing it. So how do we stop that? How do we defend it? How do we combat that? Is there any way something can happen locally? Because even with my mom saying, with know, she will with my mom being affected

You know and ending the call who just called up and said like they're gonna cut her childcare benefit She's a full-time working mom. Like is there something we can do like the mayor's the governor's like, you know I know he signed these orders, but it's no way like can we tackle it locally? There's tools and guardrails that these people have at their disposal to try to slow down some of this stuff But you know, they got to have the strength to use them, you know, the Democrats are a party of cowards They're leaderless right now, right now, you know what I mean? But they are they are guardrails in place Well, we got a this is gonna be a never-ending conversation by the way, y'all do know that right? but that just feels weird because when you look at Biden

and him being in office in the last four years and what he's done, and then you look at Trump being so aggressive and doing everything that he wanted to do and not apologizing for it and just doing it, basically saying, I told y'all what I was gonna do if you don't like it, middle finger. And then you look at the last four years

and look at Biden was just so nice and just trying to be the nice guy. It just really makes you upset, you know? Yeah, for sure. All right, well is there a moral to the story at all? The moral to the story is this is gonna be a never-ending conversation, but that's what the Breakfast Club is here for.

The Breakfast Club is here to have those conversations, okay? And we'll bring in people way smarter than us to tell us what these guardrails are and what these tools are that they can use to try to slow some of this stuff down. All right, it's the Breakfast Club, good morning. The Breakfast Club. Morning everybody, it's DJ NV Jess Hilarious,

Charlamagne the guy, we are The Breakfast Club. Lauren LaRosa's here with us this morning. And we got some special guests in the building. We have Derek Johnson, the president of the NAACP, welcome. We're here. We have Scott Mills, CEO of BET. Good morning. Thank you for having me.

And we have a friend to the room, cousin to the room, Chloe Bailey, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome back. Hello. How you feeling? How's everybody? Fantastic. All right, so we're talking about the NAACP Image Awards

live, which goes down February 22nd. And you guys have released some of the nominations and you're about to tell us who's gonna be the host. Actually, we're not yet disclosing. Okay, I tried, I tried. We're having a share of the day. We're assuming to tell us who's gonna be the host. Actually we're not yet disclosing. Okay I tried, I tried. We're assuming it's Chloe since she's here. She's here. Y'all gotta run the press run.

There you go. It's hard to be both a nominee and a host. That is correct. It's a first for everything. There you go. Why are you with them Chloe? Why are you with them people? We're family.

We are definitely family. You know, growing up as well, sis and I, we would go and sing a lot of times at, you know, the events in Florida several times and things like that. And it was just really special to be a part of this today with Praise This, the movie I did with Will Packer winning last year. And you know, it was a surprise to me today as we were announcing some of the nominations, I got another nomination. Congratulations. Oh, you didn't know that? No. So God is good. There you go. It was a surprise to me today as we were announcing some of the nominations. I got another

I think the first time you all joined us in a TV like 11 12 Well, I think it's important for you to be here with them especially put your voice on it because I think there's always a conversation around like the award shows that we have and whether people and what level of celebrities supported or not. So I think you being here and you know, being kind of a face of it helps that. Are you at all like working with the NAACP in these image awards? Are you at all getting out there for other award shows and just kind of being a champion of that? Like in calling your friends and being like, Hey, y'all need to make sure y'all show up. Like what celebrities are you like, hey, make sure you show up, particularly Beyonce and Shea. Like, which celebrities are you like, hey, make sure you show up, particularly Beyonce. She came to the NAACP before her entrance. Yes, and I know we getting there.

Yeah, I think this one is really especially important because it is honoring us and all of our blackness. And sometimes it's hard in this world and society today to not feel valued or feel worthy enough. But definitely in this space at the Image Awards, you know, we are celebrating one another for not only our skin tone, but also the incredible art that we put into the world. Yeah. How do we bring award shows back to where it used to be? Right? I remember as a kid, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money,

money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, expired to watch, we expired to, we wanted to see the NAACP awards, we wanted to see the BET awards, and some of our biggest moments culturally

came from those events, Soul Train as well. How do we get back to that? Now you say money, what does that money mean? I mean, the large marketing houses actually put an emphasis on black culture in a way in which it's not exploitive for their product line, but their support for the culture's sake.

What we have seen over time is a devaluing of shows like Soul Train, we love Soul Train, but escalation of resources for the Grammys or the Oscars or the Emmys while their viewership has been going down, they're still investing in it. But then they say, your viewership is down. Yeah, you don't invest. But if you invest, people want to see black entertainment. People want to appreciate the culture. And it's not just in the US, it's globally. I agree with that.

But there are some black people who think white ice is cold. There absolutely are. I mean, I think one of the things that was interesting, that very brief moment of racial renaissance we had in this country post the murder of George Floyd. The black squares. Right, right. At that moment. brief moment of racial renaissance we had in this country post murder of George Floyd. The Black Squares. Right, right. That moment.

The post that when we were preparing to do the image awards with the NAACP, I would get these calls from journalists and they'd say, is there still a need for the image awards? Haven't, aren't we beyond that? And I said, right, right. And I said, you know, first of all, I think that suggestion means you really don't understand why the image awards exist. It is not it doesn't exist because we were excluded from other places. First and foremost, it is about that our community values being recognized and celebrated by our community. And that has absolute value. But the second thing is what we understand about this country is it's terribly fickle.

Right. So today, oh, yes, we're wonderfully popular and you want to include us in all of your award shows, but you know, this is not going to sustain and what the NAACP and the partnership with BET, we have a consistent commitment to celebrating excellence in our community. And that's really what our partnership for the image awards is all about. Question for you guys, because even in planning the show, right? So BET works with the NAACP to have the awards, the program on the network. People always give you guys a lot of flack for what's on the network and what's not,

saying that you need better shows or whatever, the case may be, but the awards show, the Image Awards, it's always a good show, in my opinion. How much do you get tired of the conversation of, BET doesn't have good stuff to watch, that's why we don't watch it? Well, it's fascinating. I think there are always going to be people who are critical.

That's the reality. The situation is really fun. This morning before coming over, I listened to your best of clip that you guys have online and one of your featured guests was Miss Pat. And it was through Lee Daniels reaching out to BET to say, I have this series that only BET can create. The only platform in the world that can actually put this series out there is BET. It scares everyone else off. It's an important message. So we looked at it. We love Lee Daniels.

We greenlit the series, right? And it actually secured BET's first primetime Emmy nomination because it was a really breakthrough show and now everybody knows who Miss Pat is and she's going on. We're actually in the fifth season of that show and whether it's that or the nominations that we've received for D'Yara from Detroit. I love that show. Right, it's a fantastic show. D'Yara, I killed Patrick is an amazing talent and the show is great fun.

And the amazing work we do with Tyler Perry. The reality is we have the biggest investment in black focused content than any platform in the country. And even with that, you're never going to be able to satisfy every single audience. And so we recognize that there are going to be things that people love, there are going to be things that people wish for, there are going to be things that, you know, people keep on saying, bring back music video shows. Music video shows don't work on linear television. That's just the reality of it.

So what we focus on is what are the things that actually our audiences are really consuming and enjoying. So Tyler Perry's Sisters, we're going into the eighth season. It is the single most watched show among black people on all of television, not all of cable, all of television. That's a fact. Right? So more than anything on broadcast television. So people say, Oh, you know, there will be some people who complain about BET, but the fact that we have the single most watched show in black households. So that is a long way of saying we're always

striving to be more inclusive. So we created our streaming platform, BET+, to be able to create even more content, speak to diverse audiences. We think our tent poles, like the NAACP Image Awards, like the BET Awards, which this year is going to celebrate its 25th anniversary if you can believe that. We think our tent poles are those to their name. They are the things that allow us to bring a huge cross-section of the community together

to come and celebrate what's really important to us as a community. One of the things this year, over 3 million folks tuned in, sorry, as over 3 million folks moved in, sorry, tuned in to the BET Awards in 2024. And if you think about that, it means it's the single largest gathering of black people for a black event in the country, right? There's nothing else that 3 million black folks show up for that is a specifically Black event. And so you still have this opportunity to catalyze, mobilize and engage our community. And you just have to be very thoughtful and have great partners like the NAACP.

All right. We have more with Chloe Bailey, the president of the NAACP, Derrick Johnson and the president and CEO of BET Scott Mills. So don't move. It's the Breakfast Club. Good morning. Morning everybody. It's DJ NV, Jess H't move, it's the Breakfast Club. Good morning. Morning everybody, it's DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne the guy, we are the Breakfast Club. Lauren LaRosa is in on this interview as well. We're kicking in with Chloe Bailey, the president of the NAACP, Derek Johnson,

and the president and CEO of BET, Scott Mills. The NAACP Image Awards will air on February 22nd. Now Charlamagne? What does BET mean to your generation, Chloé? Because you're 26. Yes, I think, you know, for me growing up, you know, I'm a music lover. I grew up loving 106 and Park.

Like, I think I could speak for everyone in my generation. You know, I know certain things go into a lot, but that was like the show for me to be inspired, to get excited. Like that was it. Like I'd run home from school. And that's what I'd put on. So I was used to seeing people who look like me who were succeeding in a field that I wanted to succeed in one day. So BET has always had a special place in my heart,

especially think of all the groundbreaking performances, like, you know, when Beyonce had her incredible performance on there yeah you know I'm so grateful that I got to be on that stage two three times one of my favorite performances that I did on there was on BET was like this surprise treat me mashup so it's like I feel like BET gives a platform for all black artists whether they are at the top of their game or whether they're rising and I think it's really special to have that support. So when you hear that, Scott, what do you think?

So first, so I love it. And one of the things that we focus on is we understand people love 106 and Park. Right. And so the fact that it's it doesn't work as a linear television show doesn't mean 106 and Park is over because we can bring 106 and Park back as a podcast. We can bring 106 and Park back as a digital experience. bring 106 and Park back as a podcast. We can bring 106 and Park back as a digital experience. And we can just we are evolving what 106 and Park will look like in 2025 because it does have that very important role. I've heard I've heard that you guys are trying to figure out a show like that.

Yes, and we've got we've got a number of really exciting executions because it's also we're approaching the 25th anniversary of 106 and Park as well. So we will be a little bit ad free 25 year, you know, we will we a little bit AD and free in that 25 year. You know, we will, we will, you'll still be some things that you guys will be really excited about and we look forward to coming back and talk to you about 106 and Park. We're AD and free? There you go. Noted.

So, but I think the other thing that Chloe shared that is so important is we at BET exist to be in service of our community and our culture. That's what we exist for and we understand that there's a broad ecosystem of different institutions and individuals that make up our community and our culture and we are part of that broader landscape and that broader ecosystem and we play a supporting complementary role to our community and our ecosystem and whether that's celebrating black excellence, whether that's mobilizing our community around important events,

whether that's coming to the aid of our community post, you know, in the face of COVID. But to Chloe's very specific point, one of the things that our team loves is to be a platform that both celebrates our most successful artists who are absolutely at the pinnacle of their careers and simultaneously to identify and support those emerging artists to give them the platform because we were so many artists very first

time to be on television right so many artists very first time to form the number of managers and and Label executives who come up and say, you know We are so appreciative to be back at the BET Awards because this is where our talent XYZ got their very first break that really resonates with our team. Can you tell us some of the performance that you guys have planned for the NAACP Awards? We will be revealing performers as we get closer. We're doing a rollout now and it's very intentional because we're trying to build the audience. The platforms by which people consume information is shifting every month. As you know, we grew up listening to Tom Joyner's morning show. Breakfast Club

took it over. Well, quite frankly, that's going to be a podcast to take over Breakfast Club. And so we're 160 people. Whoa, whoa, whoa. What's happening here? First of all, Breakfast Club did not take over Tom Joyner. Tom Joyner retired on his own accord. No, no, no. Tom Joyner was urban adult contemporary. He catered to the 2554 demo. We came around 18 to 24 and the Breakfast Club is a podcast, not just a podcast, with the number one black podcast in the world and have been for eight, nine years. You do everything perfect with somebody going to

do better later. Is that going to be next month they come up or is it going to be next year? You're doing everything perfect. Why do we do a better later. What do you mean? Is that gonna be next month they come up or is it gonna be next year? You're doing everything perfect. Why do we do that as black people? I don't know, you started that, so we'll hear that. You just asked them to start sh**. Why do we need something to replace something? Why all of these things can't coexist as one? It can coexist, but I'm responding to the tone.

And the tone is we have legacy organizations, we have media companies that have been a flagpole to our community, we have a show we're on now where the podcast has been excellent, we had other shows at sunset. It is a part of the ecosystem of who we are as a community and we should meet people where they are. Well who's replaced the NAACP, Derek? That's a good question. Are they ready?

Oh, man! That's what I mean when I say that. Why do we do that as a people? Like, oh this replace that? Like no, everything can coexist as one. You and I, we absolutely agree. But the tone set was something differently, right? So if she is 26 and she can appreciate 106 in part, there's someone who's an ACP, but if an ACP is not the right vehicle or voice for them, I support them not the right industry that's shrinking overall what Scott is doing is trying to figure out, okay, how do we continue to advance our culture and our voice?

Where in ACP we are in a political dynamic that has shift, it is our job being the largest organization in 47 states to continue to evolve with that. We're not going anywhere. I don't want the breakfast club to go anywhere. BET shouldn't go anywhere. We should all be leaning to our culture, our opportunity, and our voice. Well, I agree. These institutions shouldn't go anywhere, but I do think they do have to evolve.

Like, I doubt I'll always be here as a host. I doubt Envie will always be here as a host, right? People like Lauren, the Jessers will take over and everything. But when it comes to the NAACP or any of these institutions, whose job is it to tell our own stories? Us. It's our job, right? And that's why when we took over, we saw the partnership with BTV on Paramount.

We have a joint venture with Paramount TV. We will have a soap opera aired next month on the 22nd on CBS Daytime. We're about to launch our podcast, since we have to evolve. That our revenue streams have to evolve. How we approach this, organization should not be driven by personality, it should be driven by mission and strategy.

So we all have to evolve. Let me ask you a question, sports doesn't work well on BET, does it? Sports works well on linear television. The challenge is sports rights have gotten insanely expensive. Because I look at all these HBCU, right? I DJ'd the Howard Hampton game on CBS the other day and I'm watching a lot of these college games on TV

And I always talk to myself with all the HBCUs and how it's been a spur HBC use everybody supporting HBC use Which is always weird to me why BET didn't put their arm around and be like I need all those games He shows people actually come there. It's it's a great question and in fact when BET started BET used to air HBCU games I'm told that there's footage of Bob Johnson running along the sidelines doing live commentary of HBCU games. So I'm trying to look for it. But the reality is because of the evolution of college football and because of the proliferation of access to sports across all these platforms, the demand, the viewership interest in HBCU sports right now isn't high enough to kind

of support the investment. Having said that, the entry point that we think is really exciting, that we're really focused on, is you now have a bunch of brothers who went off and played in the NFL have said, we want to remedy this dynamic where top black athletes feel like they have to go to other schools to be competitive. We want to remedy that dynamic, right? So you saw, you know, you saw the recent announcements about the brothers, right? Right.

Right. And Michael, okay, there you go. And so now, right, there you go. So and that's, so now the opportunity is we take our footprint, our platform, our relationships, and then we bring them to these luminaries who are going back to these HBCUs and building those teams and then we focus on the stories and the people and the journey and we get a broader community to be excited about this and we actually use it to build interest in HBCU football and that we think is the way to actually elevate interest in HBCU

football which will then allow us to bring more games to the network. Alright we have more with Chloe Bailey the president of the NAACP, Derrick Johnson and the president and CEO of BET Scott Mills when we come back as the Breakfast Club. Good morning. Good morning everybody it's EJNV Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne the guy, we are the Breakfast Club. Lauren LaRosa is in on this interview as well. Chloe Bailey is here the president of the NAACP and the president and the CEO of BET is joining us this morning Lauren now Chloe I gotta ask you yes bringing a date to the NAACP awards my god mom and my manager You'll have to ask him you're here he's not

You're here. He's not. Uh-oh. No, Bernie's not nominated now. He's not nominated, but you look at these sheets. He not on. Have you ever looked into the night sky and wondered who or what was flying around up there? We've seen planes, helicopters, hot air balloons, and birds. But what if there's something else, something much more ominous, that appears under the cover of night, silent, unseen, watching?

They may be right above your car late one night as you cruise down the road, or look like mysterious lights hovering above your home. Drones, Or are they? We used the word drone because it was comfortable to other people. One minute it was there, one minute it wasn't. Oh, that is beyond creepy.

Do you feel like this drone was targeting you specifically? Yes, absolutely. Listen to Obscurum, Invasion of the Drones on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, I'm Arturo Castro, and I've been lucky enough to do stuff like Broad City and Narcos and Roadhouse and so many commercials about back pain. And now I'm starting a podcast because honestly guys, I don't feel the space is crowded enough.

Get Ready for Greatest Escapes, a new comedy podcast about the wildest true escape stories in history. Each week I'll be sitting down with some of the most hilarious actors and writers and comedians to tell them a buck wild tale from across history and time. People like Ed Helms, Diane Guerrero, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Zoe Chow. Titanic.

Charles Manson. Alcatraz. Asada Shakur. The sketchy guy named Steve. It's giving funny true crime. I love storytelling and I love you, so I can't wait. Listen and subscribe to Greatest Escapes on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Do you remember what you said the first night I came over here?

How? Goes lower? I met Santi at a luau party in October. I'm Santi. Damien. Oh, it was bizarre. The guy just disappeared one day. Santi has been missing ever since.

The hookup. What is that? I'm solving a mystery through sex and haven't made a private dick joke until now? Like no matter how hard I try, all roads lead to... The hookup? You think it's causing people to turn aggro? I'm gonna rip your arms off and use them to f- Yeah, that's a word for it.

This is such terrible representation. I'm so sorry. Poppers? These aren't just any poppers. That's a word for it. This is such terrible representation, I'm so sorry. Poppers? These aren't just any poppers. Mama always used to say, God gave me gumption in place of a gag reflex. No, not my psychiatrist didn't laugh at that one either. ["I Heart Radio"]

Listen to the hookup on the I Heart Radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Yo, what up? It's your girl Jess Hilarious, and I think it's time to acknowledge that I'm not just a comedian. It's time to add uncertified therapists to my credentials. Because each and every Wednesday, I'm fixing your mess on carefully reckless

on the Black Effect Podcast Network. Got problems in your relationship? Come to me. Your best friend acting shady? Come to me. Your best friend acting shady? Come to me. Thinking about cursing that one stank auntie out at the next family gathering? Do it. But come to me before you do because I cussed all mine out before. You want to fight your co-workers? Come to me. Baby daddy mad because you got a boyfriend? Come to me. Thought you was the father but you not? Come to me. I can't promise I won't judge you, but I can guarantee that I will help you.

As a daughter, a sister, a mother, and an entrepreneur, I've learned a lot in life. So I'm using my own perspective and experiences to help you fix your mess. Send me your situation and let's fix it as a family. Listen to Carefully Reckless on the Black Effect Podcast Network, iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcasts. There, Chloe's on there, but I'm speaking of support and you know, we were seeing you out with him in Nigeria So is that a new thing or Nigeria was so beautiful? What about the night life we saw you in the club with Berna yes the night life, uh-huh It was so many lights so many Cameras, I know Everything with you. We're gonna I mean now is burn a boy. We want to know is that your boo? Is this the thing y'all together? Do y'all go together real bad? Y'all just having fun? What is it? Well, I'm a grown woman. So you know, I had a great time in Nigeria. I Really did

So I guess I'm not gonna get an answer on if you cared about the when you left There was the video people like oh my god, the Chloe time is over now. He's out with this random other girl Oh, I didn't see that burn a bit brand burn a boy. Yeah, he was out of random It's because we all were so heavily together we were like,, oh shoot, we don't see her do this much. Yeah. And then, yeah. He's a grown man. It's like I'm a grown woman.

I could imagine dating at 20 something and being put on the air by being super famous. Oh my god. Cameras. Because you imagine the stuff that you did when you were young and somebody videotaped you. People were expecting the minute that they see her on that carpet, they're going to be looking.

Like, because anybody that she's with is always a thing. Anybody she's with. Like she could have been going to Bible study. I mean, you know. You got lessons to learn. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You and the boy are Bible study. That's it.

You know what, girl? If you had told me you was in there studying the Bible, I would have been like, you know what? God is good. Okay? All the time. You can study anytime, even in the club. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

I have the questions that I'd be wanting to know. Yeah, no. I know God's momma done gave you that look. Keep it up. Twice. No, me and God's momma. Keep it up. Twice.

He's God's momma done got on me before, so I love her. She's gonna let you know though. But no, honestly, I hate to say this, but it's my life. I mean, it's what I sign up for. So I can only expect it is just about how I handle it. Yeah, handle myself. So I don't think it should ever be pissiness towards the people who ask me. And I think as a woman watching you navigate it, I'm always interested in how you deal with that because for instance, you're here about the NAACP Image Awards, but it's like we want to know that so we have to ask and being a person who's now learning how to be in the light of everything, I'm like how do you deal with that? Plus her love life is very slow, Chloe.

Like very slow. I don't believe that. life is very slow, Chloe. Like very slow. I don't believe that. I know you got a roster. I don't know. No she don't. I don't even see a roster. Her phone is dry. Dry as heck. One thing I'm going to do about getting on this radio.

They're intimidated. I am a wife. All I do is stay home. I just want to cook This radio has made me be quiet Ready for that. I know it's preparing you for that. No, it's not person. I appreciate it Now back to the end of Lacey fear Now how would these nominees chosen? How do you guys choose the nominees and how do you guys go to who's winning?

And how do y'all expand the categories every year? Because you know things change right? You got social media personality in now, podcast, how do you expand the category? So start with the last question. We recognize that the industry is changing so we try to keep up. We add categories, digital content categories, fashion design. There's a panel of close to 500 people, half industry, half non-industry that's been selected across the country and those are the individuals that review the

materials and they nominate. Oftentimes, I don't even know what's being nominated until I finally get it. Then once nominated, some of the categories are voted on by the public and so is by popular vote in some areas and then in other areas is by those who are critics in the space to ensure fairness in the outcome. So there is a mix that we try to balance those two things out. I always want to ask about comedy as well. You see Netflix is heavy in the comedy. You see a lot of they're giving comedy deals to damn

every comedian. Has BET ever wanted to jump back into that space because BET was one of the huge originators, especially black comedy? That's right with Comic View. Did Dion Cole put you up to this question? Because he's been beating me up about this. No, but he's been up here recently, but now he hasn't. So the reality is we're always looking for the way back into places, right? And we did a quick partnership with Kevin Hart and Heartbeat where we did a test run of bringing back Comic View. And part of the thing is that really understanding how our community wants to consume content, right? And also understanding some people will use certain content

as a loss leader for other things. And I'm not saying who would be using content as a loss leader for other things. And I'm not saying who would be using it as a loss leader, but there are other platforms that are paying, using content as a loss leader for other things. So we're working with Dion right now to do a really fun thing in stand up comedy. He'll be thrilled that you put me on the spot and ask the question. But we think comedy clearly works, right?

We see it working with The Miss Pat Show. The series we have with Dion, Average Joe, is a thriller that has a comedic line through it. We really see that our audience loves comedy Miss Pat in addition to her Miss Pat Show. We do Miss Pat Settles It, which is her doing a crazy court show. And so our audience is loving it. We think in 2025, given the way the world has changed, people need to laugh even more.

And so there'll be an even greater demand for comedy. So we're leaning into it in a big way. Have there been conversations Derek about changing the name of the NAACP since some people think colored people is a slur? No. As we said we got all the colors drawn and saved don't we? Yeah, no we have not. I mean we get caught up in semantics we lose focus and there's no need to go to the semantics.

We are an organization that's been around 116 years. That's significant. we get caught up in semantics. At the end of the day, are we being effective with our mission? Making democracy work for all and to ensure an opportunity for our community. That's our focus. The semantics go out the door. Yeah, I asked that because I think it was last year, it was one of the presidents, I forgot from which chapter, the NAACP, they were upset because somebody used the word colored people somewhere. I have no idea. I don't see if you wonder every time I run across him he asked the question because he's been saying y'all need to change the name.

He's been saying that since like 1982. What does he see about the name that At the end of the day, the Image Awards is the crown jewel of shows for African Americans. It gives us an opportunity for all of us to come together and appreciate the culture we bring to the table. Save him, save him. And we do that intergenerational across all of the platforms. That's right. And you can, the voting is now open to the public at NAACPImageAwards.net. That's right. We appreciate you guys for joining us this morning.

Yes. Stop dragging Chloe around for no reason. She's busy. She got things he can be doing. That's right. Ladies and gentlemen, if you were not as the host, I think it would make so much sense because you're out here outside. We don't know what y'all plan to put pressure on it. They might have another host. You just effing, she says she want a host too?

Wow. Or if I don't host, I could sing a little song. Listen, we've been rolling. Yeah. Then we announced the host. Everybody gonna say, oh, that is a great choice, good decision. The host gonna come on with Sky

and they gonna talk about why that person is the host. Y'all gonna say this is the best thing that could have happened. Absolutely. Collaboration be dope. Chloe and Burnaby hosting the NAACP. That would be a great collaboration. And you all can take credit for it. He brought that back up, I did. However, it was Chloe, Bailey, Debbie Johnson, Scott Mills. We appreciate you for joining us. Check out NAACP the 56 NAACP image awards February 22nd at 8 p.m.. And it's the breakfast club good morning the breakfast club your mornings will never be the same Don't be out here like a donkey

It's time for donkey of the day, I'm a big boy I could take it if you feel I deserve it ain't no big deal I know Charlamagne got glass funny Salice now, I think something you may not agree with doesn't mean I mean who's getting that dog that donkey that dog? Oh, don't don't don't don't don't hear today right here The breakfast club bitches you can call me the donkey of the day, but like I mean no harm Donkey today goes to 22 year old Malaysia Lee. Malaysia is from Charlotte, North Carolina. Salute to the 704. Drop on the Clues bombs for Charlotte, man.

One of the reasons, one of the reasons that I have chosen to be a mental health advocate is because I want us as humans to learn how to control our emotions. Easier said than done, I know, but today's donkey is a prime example of it's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters. That's why, you know, but today's donkey is a prime example of, it's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.

That's why going to do that internal work on yourself matters, okay? Because you can get to that place where you realize you don't have to match energies, baby. And you realize you don't have to take everything personally because as Don Miguel Ruiz says in one of my favorite books, The Four Agreements, whatever happens around you, don't take it personally.

Nothing other people do is because of you, it is of themselves malaysia could have used that advice see she could have used that second agreement because malaysia was an employee at wendy's in the 704 and according to store managers a 31 year old homeless man named alandro ala is it alandro yeah alan alandro romero santos came in the restaurant requesting free food. The news report said he was homeless so clearly he wasn't having the best day. After the manager provided him with a cup of water Santos allegedly used the cup to fill it up with soda instead. Pepsi, Coke, Sprite, Fanta, I don't know what his soda choice was but when Santos went

to the restroom the manager threw the cup away. Why? Okay, I don't know. Let the man have his cup if he wants you know to get free refills who cares. In fact give him some of those hot fries and a cheeseburger and tell him keep it moving. The man was homeless. Now granted you can't make a habit of that because you will have people coming to the store doing that all the time but if you see someone in need at least attempt to help. In this case you didn't help. In fact you clearly hurt because when Santos came out the bathroom, he got mad.

He got upset because the manager threw the cup away. So he went to the parking lot, found another cup and returned to the store to fill it with soda once again. Now, of course the manager didn't like that. He went outside and found a cup in the parking lot to fill it back up with soda. By the way, that's nasty.

Okay, that is disgusting. All right, that's how you know desperate times call for desperate measures. Somebody might have have spit slim in that cup and tossed it before they left the parking lot. Might have been rolling a blunt, you know how it is sometime when you out somewhere and you sit in the car, roll it up, you know, you got a little cup from the from a fast food restaurant, you put the managing. Now when I heard this story I said to myself I think that's assault. I'm not the highest grade of weed in the dispensary knowing my illegal expert but that feels like an assault. It's not a punch, a slap, a push but it is an attack. Okay there is a reason Sprite rhymes with fight. Okay that is a man throwing a drink on a woman. So I did some research and by research I mean I asked chat GPT

is throwing a drink on a woman considered assault and chat GPT said yes throwing a drink on someone including a woman is Generally considered assault our battery under the law depending on the jurisdiction Well, we need to lock up everyone on reality TV. Okay from love and hip-hop the Real Housewives round them all up All right. Yes, Malaysia was assaulted and Malaysia did what a lot of people do in the Carolinas north for south Okay, when they get assaulted she went to her car. Okay, okay, when they get assaulted. She went to her car, okay. She didn't have an honor, she went and got her pistol. Now, I don't know why the dude, Santos, stood there

and waited for her to come back, but I guess he didn't expect this young lady to have a pistol, but she did. And Malaysia came back in the store, chased Alondra outside, and shot at him three times, hit him once in the head while he was driving. Yes, this homeless man had a car, okay. And Malaysia shot the car up and hit him in the head and she

was charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and discharging a firearm into occupied property and she is in custody at the Mecklenburg County Jail under a quarter million dollar bond. Now I tell you folks all the time, you cannot tell someone how to react. Okay, I might push you and your response might be to pull out a gun and pop me. Well guess what? I shouldn't have pushed you. There is cause and effect to everything,

but your Uncle Sharla also tells you that when faced with certain situations, you have to start doing jail math in your head. Okay, you literally have to calculate how much time you could possibly get if you do said crime. You have to calculate in your head if you can afford to do what it is you're about to do. See Malaysia, I'm not mad at you for going to get your pistol.

You was assaulted. I feel like owning a legal firearm in this country and knowing how to use it is a form of self care. But here's my issue and why you getting the biggest he-haw. It's because you didn't do your jail math. Malaysia, you had plenty of time to think about your choice. I understand this man threw soda on you and I'm glad you were able to go to your car to get your gun.

But the gun should have been there to protect you from the situation escalating further or maybe even the whole demand while the cops come I'm not expecting you to be a vigilante hero in this situation, but I just wanted you to move With a little less emotion. Okay, you got to be strategic I understand you were upset because he threw a drink on you and who knows what else you know What's going on in his life or even in your life, but you went and got that pistol He saw you coming. He haul-ass got this car and you let off shots I can even understand that to a certain extent because he might have been going his car to get his weapon but in this case according to

reports he was driving off let him go I know hindsight is 2020 and it's easy for me to say because I wasn't in this situation but let him go hell you could even let one off in the air just to let him know you will bust your gun. But shooting in his car, three shots, gunshot wound to the head while he's driving off, ah, you should have started doing that jail math in your head, man. Luckily he's not deceased,

but now you sitting in the county with a quarter million dollar bail. I'm not counting your pockets, but you're 22 and working Wendy's. I doubt you got a quarter million, or the 25,000 because most bonds are 10%. I doubt you have either but that's why jail math works and you have to calculate these scenarios in your head before you make decisions. Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division. How

long will I be gone if I do this? How much money will it cost me if I do this? Subtract your emotion from things and ask yourself is it worth it if I do this the answer is no you are in jail right now simply because a man wanted a free soda let him have it it is not worth ending up in jail over a free soda and free fast food I mean come on hey like who who who would go to jail for a free soda and free fast food? Wow Okay, guys here Mitch sighs Mac is here How are you how are you miss I'm back hungry

What Mac I know I knew soon as I said something about food you was going to walk in here. This is, I don't understand how I keep telling y'all that the big backs are biting back. Nothing is worth any of this. And not even just because like you said the jail math. Every black person knows we all have the same mantra at work. I don't get paid enough for this. I agree. Yeah.

I'm with you. Them faux-faux-fauxs. I'm with you. Defending that. I don't get paid enough for this. You agree. Yeah. I'm with you. Them faux-faux-fauxs, I'm with you. Defending that, I don't get paid enough for this. You want to steal from Home Depot? I don't get paid enough for this. You just got to tell yourself in the back of your mind constantly because that will prevent you from having to do the jail math. So even if they throw the food on you or the soda on you, you still like... Well, I'm the wrong person to ask that. Somebody throw food at me Please give Malaysia Lee the biggest he ha

Somebody throw it at him. What else you got? Thank you Breakfast club Morning everybody is DJ envy just hilarious Charlamagne the guy we are the Breakfast Club Laura LaRosa filling in for just today We got a special guest in the building. Yes indeed. We have the brother Leon Thomas. Welcome bro. It's good. What's good? Hey, I'm feeling how you feeling bless black and Holly favorite Leon You are by far the greatest new male R&B singer doing it today, man. Thank you so much That's that should even be up for debate. Man, man, I really appreciate that, man.

How do you receive that? I mean, to be honest, I try to just take it one step at a time. I try to stay humble with everything, but I'm glad to be a new voice in R&B. It's a genre that I love. I'm trying to bring back live musicianship, real songs, writing with the team that I have has been an amazing pleasure. Just bringing that organic feeling back to the live stage is a big thing for me. For people that don't know Leon Thomas, you started on Broadway. Tell everybody how you

got your start and your way into being this R&B star. Well listen, I grew up in New York Started on Broadway out here. I did three Broadway plays from Lion King the Carolina changed the color purple you were simple in like Yeah, yeah, I was something like King and then you know I started booking movies and our TV show I was slow to but how how was that? I just took my kids to see oh no it was insane How was that training because it's a lot of shows a lot of people and it's live so you can't mess up No, no, you can't mess up. It's eight shows a week I was 10 years old when I did my first Broadway play Shout out to my mom and my family for you know supporting me through that whole journey

And yeah, man, I went from being a regular kid to starring on Broadway in a matter of months, you know Now how was that because it's not the typical thing New York kids do right? So you're singing you're dancing you're doing that So how do you get into that part of it? No because you don't go in the Broadway. I don't know anybody that went to Broadway so it's very different New York kids ain't going to Broadway I don't I don't know I had a couple homies who ended up in different plays but for the most part

Yeah, yeah, it was definitely like a bit of an anomaly for my neighborhood in Brooklyn It was it was kind of weird explaining it to my homies at school like yeah, I was just doing a show last night They're like what? Where but now it was definitely a real pleasure, you know, but but but from there I ended up doing a lot of TV and film You know, I shot my first movie out here with Robin Williams and Terrence Howard called August Rush Which was an amazing pleasure and that kind of brought me into a lot of a lot of TV after that Yeah with Nickelodeon and he's on Victoria Victoria. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, well Ariana Grande And you know, that was a big journey. That was the number one show on the network at the time

We were beating out American Idol and it was a way for the rest of the world to kind of really tap into who I am as a creative but it took years of really honing in on who I am as an artist to get to this point producing and writing for a bunch of different artists winning a Grammy working with SZA and Babyface Drake a bunch of different people it's been a real, I actually produced for Drake, but you know, shout out to him, man. A lot of people write for Drake, allegedly. Yeah, allegedly, man, but you know, for me.

I don't think there's anything wrong with that. I don't think there's anything wrong with it either, but it was a blessing to, I mean, it's interesting, because I'm an artist and people see me as a singer, they kind of forget that I also produced a lot of big records. You know, my production game is pretty tight, so. You sound like a rapper.

Yeah, well yeah, on purpose. Yeah. Your lyrics are like that of a rap but that's why when I see Freddie Gibbs on your records a bit of a butchery it makes so much sense to me. Do you still keep in touch with anybody from Victorious? Absolutely man you know I'll chop it up with Ari, Avon Jogia is a really good friend of mine you know Matt Bennett a lot of the cast we all hang out and do lunch it's kind of like my last two years of high school were with them, so that's like my graduating class essentially. We were all in school together, so we filmed, but we also went to school, so those are my really good friends. Mero2k-Saccha-Morales-VicToria And her mom, I did a host of the New Year's

Eve special with them. Mero2k-Saccha-Morales-VicToria Oh, for real? Oh, that's dope, that's dope. Mero2k-Saccha-Morales-VicToria You ever wrote for Ariana? Mero2k-Saccha-Morales-VicToria Yeah, actually, I worked with her on her first album. That was my first time going number one with an album. I did about like four songs on her first album, Yours Truly. So that was a real pleasure. Did you know you always wanted to be an R&B singer?

Was that the goal as a kid growing up? Oh for sure. You always wanted to be an actor. And when did you pivot? When you was like, alright, this is what I want to do. Listen, I feel like I did this role with Kathryn Bigelow. She's an Oscar award winning director, but I had to cut my dreads for it. And that was kind of like my last straw in acting.

I did this role for Detroit and I felt like I need to kind of tap back into who I am as an artist. You know, grew my dreads back, really got into my internal self, meditating, really like tapping into who I am as a human being. And a lot of great music came out of that you know I always knew I wanted to be a singer but I knew for a fact I needed to really present myself as who I truly was it's so easy to play a character when you're always acting you know I needed to come

to the world as my true self. When you were on the sets when you like even with like Victorious and stuff like that, was your mom and your parents there often? Oh, yeah. My mom. Because Ariana Grande talked a lot about that, too, like how your parents were close. No, they were there.

They were there. My mom was never a momager, over my shoulder kind of mom, but she was also very protective of my peace and mental health and making sure that I'm just like in a good, a good space while I'm, while I'm trying to create something timeless and you know, shout out to her for just always, you know, creating safe spaces for me throughout that journey, you know, probably from getting slimed. Yeah. He's quiet on set.

Doc. Yeah. And I was definitely nuts. Definitely nuts. You know, seeing, seeing how definitely nuts. It's was definitely nuts. Definitely nuts, you know seeing seeing how It's definitely definitely Don't say that definitely nuts I know I know you know it's crazy. It's crazy cuz you know I just saw the doc not too long ago

So we are opening and a lot of my castmates we hopped on a zoom call We all wanted to talk about it and luckily during during our seasons, it was very wholesome and chill. Shout out to anybody who dealt with anything bad. My heart definitely goes out to them. The thing I love about your music too is, number one, I can tell you've been, you got a sense of freedom. So does that come with money,

or does that come with just how you came up with your mom doing music, so you always felt free as an artist? Yeah, so does that come with money or does that come with just how you came up, you know With your mom doing music so you always felt free as an artist. Yeah. Yeah I mean, you know, I think the the greatest thing about being an artist is that it's a it's a great representation of being a Free black man, you know like, you know being able to wear what I want You know say what I want on on record is really important to me you know, I try to stay as grounded and on record is really important to me. I try to stay as grounded and as real to who I am as I can be. I think it's really easy to want to be an artist and play a character who you think people want you to be.

But I'm doing my best to just say what I want. When you come up with songs, I like feelings on silent. I love Wale. But songs like that, when I listen to to it each time I get something different from it So the first time I listened I was like, oh, this is like guys just being like we keep our feelings to ourselves And then the second time I'm listening I'm like, this is the trauma that they deal with because he mentions PTSD and a bunch of other things like how do you? First of all sitting back you wrote that yeah Sitting back and writing it with him. How do you be like, okay?

Here's all the things that we want people to get when they hear this or do you guys just write and whatever people get, they get? Like were you dealing with something yourself then or? You know, the way I wrote that record was really interesting. I was in, I was in Italy actually. I was working with Ye and Todd Dollasson on the Vultures One project and I just had some lyrics kind of, you know, bubbling up in my head. But I think it was one of those moments that it was just kind of stream of consciousness

I didn't really think too hard on my sections I was like my second take that you're hearing there wasn't like me like kind of really punching in a bunch of different ideas It was just kind of flowing and when while they heard it That was probably the hardest verse to get because we did probably back outside cuz he we did like five sessions to get that one but yo he's so talented and seeing how we crafted his verse I mean he would do like five bars at a time and he really cared about the poetry of it all and and it's why I really respect him as an artist he's just a true lyricist. Alright we got more with Leon Thomas when we come back don move. It's the Breakfast Club.

Good morning. Morning everybody. It's DJ N.V. Ches Hilarious, Charlamagne the guy. We are the Breakfast Club. Lauren LaRosa joined us for this Leon Thomas interview. Of course, Leon Thomas is singer, songwriter, producer, and actor. His album, Mutt, is out right now.

And we gotta congratulate you because you got a Grammy for your record with Scissor. We tell everybody that we helped with that because we played Snooze every morning, four times a morning. We did. At 6 a.m. Yeah, 6 a.m.

But you wrote Snooze. No, I produced on Snooze, man. Yo, first of all, let's clear this up. Shout out to SZA for writing that record. We were producing in a separate room and she heard the instrumental and was like, yo, what is that? And, you know, there is something that I do where I like take my voice and I chop it up Like a sample because clearing samples is really expensive and cuts into the publishing

So rather than is like actually doing a sample. I'll just you know I think a little something right so she really liked that and then took it into the other room and wrote an amazing Song and being a part of the production on that with babyface legendary babyface was a true pleasure, man I mean it was a real journey to see that song go from like a crowd favorite to a Grammy Award winning R&B song man. That was definitely life changing for me. You got a production team right? Yeah, yeah. The Rascals. Me and Chris Tynes man, we've been working together since we were like 18 so it's really cool to see the growth. I mean we started off a know a little shaky when it came to production but it's nice to see us you know really

develop into the producers we are now. We had great mentors man. You have such big moments like even before that and during that. I don't know like when do you feel like things started like to click finally where people were like oh shoot Leon like we get it now. It's really interesting I like to call it the Drake effect. When I was working when I like to call it the Drake effect. When I was working with Drake, all of a sudden label executives who have known me for years.

Have you ever looked into the night sky and wondered who or what was flying around up there? We've seen planes, helicopters, hot air balloons, and birds, but what if there's something else, something much more ominous, that appears under the cover of night, silent, unseen, watching? They may be right above your car late one night

as you cruise down the road, or look like mysterious lights hovering above your home. Drones, or are they? We used to work drone because it was comfortable to other people. One minute it was there, one minute it wasn't. Oh, that is beyond creepy. Do you feel like this drone was targeting you specifically?

Yes, absolutely. Listen to Obscurum, Invasion of the Drones, on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, I'm Arturo Castro, and I've been lucky enough to do stuff like Broad City and Narcos and Roadhouse and so many commercials about back pain. And now I'm starting a podcast because honestly guys, I don't feel the space is crowded enough. Get Ready for Greatest Escapes, a new comedy podcast

about the wildest true escape stories in history. Each week I'll be sitting down with some of the most hilarious actors and writers and comedians to tell them a buck wild tale from across history and time. People like Ed Helms, Diane Guerrero, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Zoe Chow. Titanic. Charles Manson.

Alcatraz. Asada Shakur. The sketchy guy named Steve. It's giving funny true crime. I love storytelling and I love you, so I can't wait. Listen and subscribe to Greatest Escapes on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. you get your podcasts.

Do you remember what you said the first night I came over here? How goes lower? I met Santi at a luau party in October. I'm Santi, Damien. Oh, it was bizarre. The guy just disappeared one day. Santi has been missing ever since. The hookup, what is that?

I'm solving a mystery through sex and haven't made a private dick joke until now? Like, no matter how hard I try, all roads lead to... The Hook Up. You think it's causing people to turn aggro? I'm gonna rip your arms off and use them to f- Yeah, that's a word for it. This is such terrible representation.

I'm so sorry. Poppers? These aren't just any poppers. Yeah, that's a word for it. This is such terrible representation, I'm so sorry. Poppers? These aren't just any poppers. Mama always used to say, God gave me gumption in place of a gag reflex. No, not my psychiatrist didn't laugh at that one either. ["I Heart Radio App," by The Bachelorette plays.]

Listen to the hookup on the I Heart Radio App, Apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Yo, what up? It's your girl Jess Hilarious, and I think it's time to acknowledge that I'm not just a comedian. It's time to add uncertified therapists to my credentials. Because each and every Wednesday, I'm fixing your mess on carefully reckless on the Black

Effect Podcast Network. Got problems in your relationship? Come to me. Your best friend acting shady? Come to me. Your best friend acting shady? Come to me. Thinking about cursing that one stank auntie out at the next family gathering? Do it. But come to me before you do because I cussed all mine out before. You want to fight your coworkers? Come to me. Baby daddy mad because you got a boyfriend? Come to me. Thought you was the father but you not? Come to me. I can't promise I won't judge you,

but I can guarantee that I won't judge you but I can guarantee that I will help you as a daughter a sister a mother and an entrepreneur I've learned a lot in life so I'm using my own perspective and experiences to help you fix your mess send me a situation and let's fix it as a family listen to carefully reckless on the black effect podcast network I heart radio app Apple podcast or whatever you get your podcast. Here's we're like, I think you could be an artist, you know, and I was like, all right. Okay, so I kind of peeped that and I said, okay, well, let's start kind of building this out.

But I knew I wanted that that same formula that Drake had with a little Wayne and, and, you know, working with Todd Dolla Sign was a really smart move, not only because he's just an amazing artist, but because it was just nice to have a mentor who had done it already. So he's just like, kind of like, yo, try this, make sure the look has this. Or, you know, even when it came to the music, like, here's how you really format an album. And I'm definitely doing a lot of studying, you know, shout out to Todd Dallas on for sure. He definitely, you know, saw something in me that a lot of label executives were

Not sure about you know it's cool to see it developing. How did you know Tom? How did you entire LASAMI? I was actually working on his album as a producer on featuring Todd Dallas on I was like one of I think nine producers on a song with Kanye and Thundercat and a bunch of other people Nine producers on one record yeah When it's like point five like I was just there at a this or that vocal and like some bass or something. But he had everybody play like their unreleased records and I played him some of my first album as like demos. And Ty was like, yo, you're really tight, you know, as an artist. He was like, man, and he was originally trying to record one of the songs that I had but I was like nah I want you to feature on it and Over the years we became really good friends I was working with him a lot and just kind of developed into a into a whole situation with Sean Barron Sean Barron Is the guy who officially like put it all together with easy money and Motown is it tough navigating?

Because people are getting to know you now and everybody's falling in love with your music now And you have such a close Association with Drake you have to like pick and choose where you go musically and what you do musically with who you know honestly She's asking can you work with Kendrick Lamar if you wanted to yeah? Yeah? Yeah? I noticed what she's asking I mean the way the way I really look at it is just like on a political level I make R&B you know obviously I make hip-hop too, but I'm really focused on my artist journey So I mean the Kendrick is such a huge artist. I don't really foresee us working together in the near future. And even with Drake, you know, I still want to take my steps to really

build on my own two feet as an artist. So I'm doing what I have to do right now to really like grow my own business. Touring is a big thing for me. I'm really focused on that. I'm hitting the road all this year and Working on more records. So I mean shout out to everybody but but I'm definitely focused on me How old were you when you realized vibes don't lie one of my favorite records? When you first realized vibes don't lie. Oh, I Think that was that was definitely early 20s. I think LA is is filled with facades and people who are pretending to be something they aren't, people who move from their hometown and create a

whole new persona. So I think for me just really studying folks especially a lot of the women you deal with out there it's really important to study their actions and not their words. I love the fact that you are encouraging women to keep their **** healthy. Yes, I am. Did you ever want to be a gynecologist? No, no. Who's talking about triple **** healthy? No, no, no, no, I wasn't on the list. I just listened, man. Yeah, I just listened, I just listened, man.

So they tell you, like, hey, my **** is not feeling the best today. No, I mean, I just think pH balance is a conversation, and you know, I just listened, man. Smell something. Smell something. Smell something. That's what it was. Smell something. That's what it was.

Smell something. That's what it was. You was very, very specific. You said, she only drink water, she keep that **** healthy. They said on Twitter, you be talking crazy like that, but you sing it so people can't be mad about it. Yeah, they can't really like it. So you had that conversation in real life with your, like you're not your homegirl.

No, honestly you know what? How you... I'm just big on shock value. I think songs, especially R&B songs have gotten a bit, not boring, but I think we've kind of already hit the golden era of R&B. So I'm just finding new ways to make people's ears perk up and their minds move. I think social media and podcasts are really interesting to me. These phone mics bring out so many conversations.

And I think as an R&B artist, I want to find ways to let that live on the record. And it doesn't always have to be like verbatim of what I'm going through in real life. I think it's important to create the drama, you know? I kind of see music as, you know, script and a score. So sometimes the records are just like really good dramatizations of like what I'm seeing in the world.

You've been counting some unhealthy vaginas don't like I was gonna say so you never had that conversation But like how does that go for you? Like now? I mean I don't think I don't think it's really Now? Or like women expecting you to be like alright here's the check Like how do you, cause you got the songs like they're there Yeah yeah you know I definitely got the songs but I think it's just important to be honest with your partner You know communicate but I think it's a pretty interesting conversation I with your partner, you know communicate but but I think it's it's a it's a pretty interesting

Conversation I try to stay out of if I don't have The little wax on it a little pinky put the pinky inside of how on what is your she got something? Thing that they do it doesn't I do not try that Make it go drink ginger ale Everything not earwax don't listen My grandma used to be like go get get some ginger ale and lay down. Wow. About everything.

Yeah. Nah, nah, nah. We love ginger ale around here. Did your therapist really tell you that you're too detached? Or that just something you tell women so you don't commit? Nah, I think, I think, you know, that bar for me,

I have a co-writer, Bizzy Kruk, and he lives in Miami, great rapper. That was a bar that came from him. He's very deep into therapy, but I'm glad that we talked about it on record because, I mean, it's something that I definitely did try out over the pandemic, and it's something that I actually really respect you a lot for a champion, you know? Thank you, brother. But yeah, that was a bar from Bzzy, but I thought it was important to add in there, you know?

Don't try to blame Bzzy now. Nah, I mean, yo, that's my co-writer you know shout out to him you know what I'm saying like we write a lot of our songs together and I really respect a lot of the perspectives he brings to a lot of my poignant records you know he has some great bars can we get into a song of that what you want to hear that would be amazing yo let's play yes it is that would be really cool all right well let's get into the record right now is yes it is and we got more with Leon Thomas when we come back. It's the Breakfast Club. Good morning Everybody is DJ and the Jess hilarious. I mean the guy we are the Breakfast Club Long the roses joining us on this interview and we're still kicking it with Leon Thomas Lauren

For dancing with when I listen dancing with the demons. Yeah, do you ever get like Miguel references sometimes? Absolutely Do you ever get like Miguel references sometimes? Absolutely. Yeah, cause I was listening and I'm like, oh my gosh. Like I wonder if like that, like are y'all, do you know him? Yeah, yeah. That's like my big bro. We actually did a movie together. He was in Detroit, the one I had to cut my hair for. He was an amazing, amazing mentor for me for some years.

You know, that bridge between R&B and rock and roll, he's traveled across that bridge many a time. I definitely look up to him when it comes to that and you know for me because I play multiple instruments you know I definitely try to just embody a lot of that energy but but but I think we both have the same influences as well I agree with Lauren on that Miguel to me before you was the last great R&B male R&B singer. To me, I'm just talking about the new guys. I'm not talking about the OG legends.

I'm talking about he was the last one to me. And I felt the same way when I heard Dancing With The Demons. I feel like you're talking to yourself on that record. You said you can't seem to save yourself, never learn to ask for help, going out all night searching for a feeling. So have you learned to ask for help? So I thought, cause I took it as like, it wasn't talking about a feeling. So what have you learned to ask for help?

I thought, because I took it as like it wasn't talking about a woman. Nah. Well I mean it's interesting for me like that record when I wrote it, I wrote it in two different days. The first day I was you know microdosing on shrooms so it's a bit of a haze. The next day I listened to it and I was like man this is really poignant stuff. I mean it's just really talking about being up all night and searching for a feeling and it's trying to fill voids I feel like as you know when you're in your single journey You can you can try to fill a void with a with a stranger and that's not always very healthy And it could be fun. It could be fun for sure

But but but um, and then especially when you're when you're in the limelight the second verse is more so talking about being in the limelight and trying to fill voice nobody really talks about the darkness that comes with the flashing lights and um yeah that that record was very deep and very personal for me you know i'm glad that people resonate with it now you talk about microdosing on shrooms yeah where does that put your mind and do you always do that to produce and write nah nah i mean i think i think for this this album it was an interesting Opportunity to to kind of unplug. I mean, I wasn't doing as many shows around that time, too So it was really helpful to to kind of just get into my own head and try to figure out who I am You know

I I definitely did a lot of manifest and a lot of just like writing down who I wanted to be as a human being Around that time a lot of journaling, you lot of just like writing down who I wanted to be as a human being around that time, a lot of journaling, you know, and looking back at that season in my life, it was a journey for me to evolve into who I am right now. I wouldn't suggest people just go super crazy on shrooms or anything, but I think microdosing, you know, a small amount could be healthy if you're trying to just find yourself, you know, and at that time I was trying to find myself, you know. Yeah, I've microdosed. I've macrodosed too. You said you were trying to just find yourself. And at that time I was trying to find myself. Yeah, I have microdose. I have macrodose too.

You said you were trying to find yourself. Did you find yourself? Yeah, but I mean, I feel like that's a constant journey. That's like the whole part of finding yourself. You realize it never stops because we're always evolving. But it's great that I was able to do it through music. That was like a version of musical therapy for me. And I'm glad that people are resonating with it you know.

I love how you're normalizing dogs on what not not I'm not a dog anymore. There is a young unhealed version of me that would have really appreciated that that record because you make it sound so fun Women are just gonna bring you in like oh break come in you straight dog Nah, I mean I was really just documenting what I saw. But nah, nah, nah. It's definitely part to me. It's definitely part to me. Now you're documenting what you saw.

It's okay, we identify with the music because it's you. Nah, it was definitely part to me post-breakup where I just had to figure it out. But I think that's all a part of living. You get nervous though. That's starting with electric dust. This was a post-breakup album. Yeah, this was a part of living you know. You get nervous though. This was a post breakup album.

Yeah this is a post breakup album so this is me documenting you know finding myself first off like you know you you're kind of broken after that and then you gotta you gotta put the pieces back together. Her fault yes. No it's not her fault it's our fault. Listen Leon it's her fault that you ended up being a dog you went through your whole. It's her fault. I bet. I think it's very commendable too, that on the song, Safe Place, you let the person you're dealing with know this isn't a safe place.

Yeah, yeah. What inspired that? I mean, I think knowing that I wasn't necessarily ready to settle down, I think that conversation definitely came up a lot during, I guess you would call them my face, you know, just understanding like, yo, I'm not trying to settle down. This is a fun place. You know, this is a time period where I'm just figuring me out work is crazy

It's hectic, you know And I think having that conversation was important to like you said just avoid people not understanding what it was at the time Person know cuz you're honest in music, but it's difficult to be face to face with somebody and be like, it's very This is very difficult you know I really try my best to be as honest as I can but yeah those are hard conversations man you know I can't sit here and say I've always done it right or I'm perfect or anything but I try I try to be like real you know I try to explain myself but even when you explain yourself sometimes wires get crossed you know so I'm packing it and

communicating you know it's an important thing later on. Yeah, don't no woman wanna hear that shit after she just let you hit raw? Yeah, it's not, yeah, it's not. Has a woman ever said that to you when you were trying to like, create like a, all right, maybe this is like a thing, and she's like, yo, I like you,

but I don't wanna do that to you? Who know reverse? Yeah, actually, yeah, yeah. In my early 20s, I was talking to this amazing artist, and yeah, she was just like, listen baby this ain't a safe place kind of thing. Anybody mean no now? She was like, nah, nah, nah, I don't think you guys know her now.

You tear it up a little bit. Nah, nah, nah, it was all good for me. You glad it was all good? You say it's all fogging up. I ain't gon' lie. You tear it up a little bit. But yeah, yeah, you know, it was definitely, you know, it was definitely a realization for me. I was like, oh, it can happen on that side too. I was like 20, maybe 21, you know, you cried.

Yeah, yeah. So I was like real young and kind of, you know, green like, oh, okay. All right. So you all looking for a relationship now? If the right person. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm definitely, I'm definitely in that mode right now. Are you dating, would you date other like artists, celebrities, or do you like, how does that work? Are you doing that? It's just hectic. I mean, you kind of inviting the media into your life, like the one safe place you have. Do you date other artists, celebrities, or how does that work? Are you doing that? It's just hectic. I mean, you're kind of inviting the media into your life, like the one safe place you have.

But, I mean, who knows? If I really catch a vibe with somebody who happens to be fan- I mean, I don't really care about that side of things. I've been in the game a long time. I've met some beautiful women who are amazing artists, but it's just about the human being. And it can be tough to really build something if both of your schedules are super hectic. So I don't know. I don't want to ask a question too about another record though, Farfetch'd.

You said, cause we was having a big conversation this week about tricking cause you know Skip Bayless allegedly offered somebody 1.5 million. And you say he paid for my mistakes in Benz's and Diamond's 250 fronted, like you was my artist, 5G's just across the Atlantic, we sat in silence for almost two hours. Yeah. That's a horrible vacation. A quarter million dollars.

Yeah. Benz's and Diamond's? Well, listen, when I wrote that record, it was not for me. Yeah. That was not a joint that I was originally gonna use for me. It was for somebody really famous and really rich, but I just loved the way it sounded.

And I was like, well, you know what? I love to speak in a world where I can actually afford that. Why not? Let's manifest that. In Lucid Dreams, you talk about just significantly other leaving things behind. Yeah, that was a fun record with Masego. After a breakup. Why do you think that topic is taboo?

I don't really consider it taboo necessarily, but I think it's just like, it's just funny because for me, I was living with my ex for like a couple years So she just had like a closet filled with clothes at my crib And it had been like a year and a half since we were broken up So we were in the studio talking about different things the guitarist and producer on that song Freaky Rob his girl left a flat screen at the house that he had to use to watch Netflix He was like man when she gonna take this flat screen? And you know, Masego also had a similar situation like that at his crib with the couch.

So we were all just kinda using all of our different experiences, putting it into a song, and you know, just locking it in. It's different when it's closed. Yeah, did you clear, you cleared out the closet, right? Yeah, definitely cleared out the, yeah, yeah, cleared out the closet. Did you move out of the apartment,

or you just cleared out the closet you said? Nah, I'm still at the crib, you know what I You know me so the crib, you know, there's definitely a certain interior design choices I'm gonna switch up soon, but Recent yeah The album is out right now. Make sure you pick it up and we appreciate you for joining us Thank you so much for having me man. It's a big opportunity. Thank you so much It's Leon Thomas the album what is out now and it's the Breakfast Club. Good morning. Good morning everybody. It's DJ N.V. Jess hilarious. Charlamagne the guy. We are the Breakfast Club. It's Black History Month. What we doing today Charlamagne?

Yes, you know every day during Black History Month my guy B.Dot puts out a podcast called I Didn't Know Maybe You Didn't Either on the Black Effect I Heart Radio podcast network. And today he's going to tell you about Marion Sims. once held as the father of modern gynecology he built his legacy on exploiting enslaved black women without anesthesia turning medical progress into a horrifying practice let's listen J Marion Sims he developed life-saving medical techniques back in the 1800s but the way he did it, wild. He experimented on enslaved black women without anesthesia.

Well, hey, I'm about to cut you open, all right? But don't worry, you'll be fine, because you blacks don't feel pain quite like I do. That's literally what he believed. And people let him get away with it. Three women have been documented, Anarka, Lucy, and Betsy, and these three women went through hell. Anarka alone had over 30 surgeries, 30 with no anesthesia, and Sam's

called it science. And you know what he got for it? A statue in Central Park. Like imagine going for a jog and seeing a dude being honored for torturing black women. That was a reality before 2018 because in 2018 activists showed up in bloody hospital gowns so that you could visualize these atrocities and pretty much said, nah, this statue's got to go. And guess what? They won. The statue got moved to a cemetery and quite honestly, that's where it belongs right beside J Marion Sims is dead ethics. Now here's where it belongs. Right beside J. Marion Sims is dead ethics. Now here's where it gets real. You'd think this was just some old school nonsense, right?

Nah, those same racist ideas are still here. Lurking in hospitals like bad wifi. Studies show doctors today still think black women feel less pain. That's why black women are three times more likely to die from childbirth complications. Three times. think black women feel less pain. That's why black women are three times more likely to die from childbirth complications. Three times! Meanwhile, Karen over there getting extra Tylenol for a paper cut. Make it make sense. So what do we do? First, stop giving shady

people statues. But more importantly, we gotta listen. When people say they're in pain or need help, we need to believe them. Cause if Anarka, Lucy and Betsy could survive all that, the least we can do is make sure that nobody else has to. Now I didn't know. Maybe you didn't either. Thank you for that information B.Dot. Make sure you subscribe to I Didn't Know Maybe You Didn't

Either on the Black Effect iHeart Radio podcast network available everywhere you listen to podcasts. Go back and listen to the past couple of seasons to you guaranteed to learn something All right, when we come back, we got the positive notice the breakfast club. Good morning. Good morning Everybody is DJ envy just hilarious. I mean the guy we are the breakfast club starting to get a body in show I mean you got a positive note unity is shrimp. It is alright when there is teamwork and collaboration Wonderful things can be achieved. That is actually my positive note of the day, okay? BREAKFAST CLUB BITCHES!

You all finished or y'all done? Hey man, what are you into? I have the hookup. The hookup? The hookup for what? I'm solving a mystery through sex and haven't made a private dick joke until now? Poppers? Why are there so many poppers? All roads lead to... The hookup? You think it's causing people to turn aggro?

I'm gonna rip your arms off and use them to... Yeah, that's a word for it. Listen to The Hookup on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Hi, I'm Arturo Castro, and I've been lucky enough to do stuff like Broad City and Narcos and Roadhouse. favorite shows. actors, writers, and comedians, people like Ed Helms, Diane Guerrero, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. I love storytelling and I love you, so I can't wait. Listen and subscribe to Greatest Escapes on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Dr. Lari Santos, and to welcome the new year, my podcast, The Happiness Lab, is releasing

a series of happiness how-to guides to help you in 2025. I'll distill the wisdom of world-class experts into easy-to-digest actionable tips. You'll learn how to handle relationships, how to be inspiring, how to find your purpose. The Happiness Labs How-To Season starts January 1st. Listen on America's number one podcast network, iHeart. Open your free iHeart app, search for the Happiness Labs, and start listening. I'm Mark Seale. And I'm Nathan King.

This is Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli. The five families did not want us to shoot that picture. This podcast is based on my co-host Mark Seale's best-selling book of the same title that features new and archival interviews with Francis Ford Coppola, Robert Evans, James Kahn, Talia Shire, and many others. Yes, that was a real horse's head. Listen and subscribe to Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli starting February 19th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.