The Breakfast Club - INTERVIEW: Zuri Hall On Saying Goodbye To Access Hollywood, Career Journey, Dating Life, Healthy Boundaries + More

Episode Date: September 10, 2026

Today on The Breakfast Club, Zuri Hall On Saying Goodbye To Access Hollywood, Career Journey, Dating Life, Healthy Boundaries. Listen For More!  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BreakfastClubPower1051FMSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Morning, everybody. It's DJ Envy just hilarious. Shalameen Nagar. We are the breakfast club. Lawlerosa is here as well. We got a special guest in the building. She's back, ladies and gentlemen, Zuri Hall.

Hi. Thank you. Thank you. How you're pretty lady? I feel good. Thank you so much. Right back. How you gorgeous?

It's been good. I got in. I was at the U.S. Open a few days ago, which is really fun. And doing some press, talking pop culture, Hollywood. Emmys are around the corner and it feels good to be in New York.

I'm spending more time out here lately. Since you mentioned the U.S. O, but I just want to ask you, how do you feel about the creators going crazy in the U.S. Open? And the refs having to say, please sit down, please turn off your cameras. The weed. Please stop the flash, the weed, all the things. The weed? I mean, the weed can be anybody, though.

Technically, it's probably not just the influencers. You feel like the super, super tennis people wouldn't smoke at the U.S. Open? I would assume that anybody, obviously, if they have a little frugal. Yeah, a little smoke break. But I feel like the tennis. The two like tennis, tennis watches, they're like, they're drunk, but they're like in it. Locked in, yeah, it's the honey deuses. It's just the honey deuses and the vibes.

I think there is a conversation that needs to be had. But like the flash photography, et cetera, it's all a part of the fact that the U.S. open at this point. It really is like a sports take on fashion week. Like you've got Anna Wintour in the box, you know, you've got A-list celebrities rubbing shoulders. It's turned into this like pop culture phenomenon. So I think that comes to the territory. You want influencers there because they're moving the needle in a different way. They're getting new eyeballs on the sport, which I think is great.

But you also do have to respect the sport. Like, it's an incredibly impressive one. There is a certain rule or a set of etiquette rules in the world of tennis. And you can't show up into somebody's house and do what you want to do. They don't know. Get into the players. I mean, I don't think they can't. Yeah.

They can't. Yeah. Like they're doing any other sport. But do you feel like it's more about the culture and, you know, like the whole. influencer thing than it is about the sport, though. I think sometimes influencers can make it more about that, right? So when you're looking at it from their perspective, you're getting the Q-Pix. And look, I've posted my cute little picture in the suite, too, so I'm speaking as so

but I was locked it. Oh, my gosh. The match was incredible. You watch the match. You don't move when they're playing, right? Even when it came time to like, get up, go to the suite, get food, get a drink. You can't do that while they're playing. Everyone is frozen locked in their seat.

As soon as they stop down, chaos. Like, clear, everybody, get to drink, get to whatever. OK, we eat, whatever you're going to do, and then go back to your seat. I'm so glad football is back, so y'all can stop back and, like, y'all care about tennis. All right, have mercy, thank God, football is back. This is incredible.

It's great. But I was going to ask, how did the U.S. Open get there? Because out of all the sports, I think that's the only sport. We did Zora and become to tennis experts? I was just asking her, our opinion. I'm asking her when they were a part of pop culture. I'm asking when she thought it became part of pop culture, because you just mentioned that people come there.

It's a fashion show, Anna Winto was there. But you don't see that in any other sport. Like you don't see, you don't look to see what people are wearing at the Knicks game. You know what? You know, not like U.S. Open has a blue rug to walk on. What do you think cost out is for? Not like that U.S. over when you're standing up and they have the blue carpet. It's totally different.

There is a blue carpet. I do think it's fashion in both spaces. Like the core side fits, that is the moment. Like, media games, etc. Even like football now, honestly, I think like with wag culture, with, you know, Sierra and Russ and Taylor and Travis and like all these people who are, coming into this intersection of sports and entertainment, right? I think there's just more to watch than the game.

And so people are looking at this as a moment to kind of like pop out, show off the fits, you know, like have an entire, what would you call it? Not a lifestyle, but have an entire, you know, like cultural moment around the sport. Like whether you watch it or not, you want to be cute, you want to have your drinks, you want to say I was there. So I do think that the U.S. Open is a very specific kind. Like it's kind of giving, ooh, what's the word I want to say? There's a certain level of elitism.

Potentially. Some might argue that. But like elevated sort of high fashion, maybe traditionally exclusivity, yes. But I think that basketball and football have always had that. I think we never expected in tennis year, and now we're starting to see that too. So I low-key feel like tennis is catching up to like the basketball and football of it all.

Do you remember the Zori who was sending like cold emails trying to get somebody to give her an opportunity? Who told you, about this. Yeah, I do. I sometimes go back to those old emails and read them just to look at all of the rejection and remind myself how far I've come, you know, because even now, I get nose all the time, but I remember when it was only nose, and then I remind myself one yes, and then I look back at like that first 2011 email, or it was like, actually, you can come in and meet with us for 20 minutes, and then that move the needle, it took me to the next thing, to me the next thing, so yeah.

How did those nose shape how you are now? Oh, I got you. How did the nose shape how you are now? You know, because you didn't get a bunch of nose, like infinite nose, can deter you away from what you want to do. Totally. You know, or the other way, it can make you go harder. How in that moment?

I think because, like, with my father, like, I think we might have talked about this a little bit, but he always raised me with, I say, a healthy level of delusion where, like, anything is possible, you know? I told it this yesterday. Yeah? Wait, in one way. He told me it.

Exactly that. I mean, but that's good. You got to be. Yeah. But I just didn't know, you know, anything coming from him that could be slightly positive. You just got to. You're just like, what's the cash? Why do you say?

Tell me more. Where is it coming from? I think that you do need that because you posted a video talking about building your life as a ladder. And why people shouldn't do that. And suggest, and what she's talking about, like, you get on one step of that ladder and something don't work out. You still got to be delusional enough to know that, like, I can get to the top of ladder because this rank. And the other person did it.

Exactly. That's exactly it. Like, I think that delusion is, when I hear a no, or especially back in the early days, it was just not yet or not this way, not this door. And so I never took it personally. It was like, oh, you don't know me enough yet to know that I'm going to crush this. Oh, you don't understand how I work or how I move. So that has nothing to do with me.

That has to do with the fact that you don't know. You don't know what you're passing on. You don't know what you're missing out on. So I'll go get it somewhere else. And then eventually you'll see what you missed out on it. What did Zori that was trying to get on have that successful Zori sometimes has to fight to keep? Whoa. Say that one more time?

Right. What did the Zori that was trying to get on have that successful Zori sometimes has to fight? Oh, that's good, Sharr. I think she sometimes, she had to fight to keep. And now I think I'm doing a pretty good job of it. Remembering this isn't it, this isn't the end-all be-all. Like, you know, as much as I love my career, and for a long time, to Lawrence Point, I built it like a ladder. I've talked about that.

This isn't the most important thing in my life. And that's saying a lot because it's one of the most important things in my life. But being from Ohio, growing up in Toledo, thank God my parents are still here and they're so present and active in my life. I've got a niece. I've got a nephew. There's just so much more that matters. And for a long time, Scrappy Zuri, who was just trying to get it, super ambitious. And it was only work.

Like, I missed out on so many. things like I missed one of my at the time she was a good friend now one of my best friends weddings like and I always that still breaks my heart to think about but it was at a time in my life where I was afraid to ask for a vacation day I was afraid to be like hey this important thing in my life is happening I need to be there and quite frankly I don't know if I even understood how important those things were at that time right and that's just not the case anymore so I would say like the zuri who was like this or nothing else like sometimes I have to remember that, I think.

I kind of just went a little bit all over. That makes sense. Get Zori some more liquor. I want to hear Zuri talk. No. I was just waiting. Yeah. You took the first one?

Okay, wait. And when she was here last time. So that's no wait. Oh, you took it already. I'm late. She is. Hold on. She was here last time she was like in and out.

We get to talk to Zuri. All right, let's do it. Let's do it. Are you doing things for Fashion Week? I am not. I'm getting out of here. Thank you so much, love. I fly out later today.

to LA. How much of my business can I tell? I think this is important. Tell us everything. All of it. The reason normally I would be covering the Emmys on Monday, but I'm getting surgery and I actually feel very strongly about talking about this. I'm getting a fibroid removed.

Oh, my God. Yeah, exactly. And the reason that I have to do it then is this is the only time they could squeeze me in in the next couple of months and I want to get it done before award season really kicks off with the globes in January so I have time to recover. So, this is your first time? How long is recover time?

Mine is a minimally invasive version of it with robotic assistance. So hopefully I'm trying to get on a flight to Ohio to finish my recovery three days after. We're going to see if that's overly ambitious. I hope my surgeon's not listening. I think they told me a week

a week before I should get on the plane. But I think it'll be like a week or so of just like rest, et cetera. But I have friends who have done it and they've had multiple fibroids are moved and they were out like it was one of my friends that's going through right now as you said it's been pretty brutal. I haven't traditionally had

them but I did egg freezing and so I did four rounds and a lot of estrogen a lot of hormones and I do kind of wonder if that's where it came from but was it painful? Did they feel it from the pain or no? No I have no pain I just um thank God but yeah when I started the egg freezing journey I just got

really serious about my health periods of reproductive health fertility preservation and so you know you're doing these ultrasounds and during one of the ultrasounds, probably my third or fourth round for the first time they were like, you know you have a fibroid, right? And I was like, what?

No, I've never had one of those. Like, what does that mean? And they were like, they're super common, really normal, especially in black women. They affect us disproportionately. Like 80%, like up to 80% of black women. Exactly, up to 80% by the age of 50 are going to deal with at least one fibroid in their life.

And so it was new for me, but they said nothing to worry about whatever. But I do want to have kids and I'm excited to, you know, hopefully carry as many naturally as I can. And where it's located, they're like, yeah, you need to just get that out of there. Because it's giving 50. How does that impact your reproductive journey?

Does it? I don't know. Fibro removal, it's for some women, unfortunately, it seriously impacts your reproductive journey. To the point some women can't carry, some women have hysterectomies where there's a complete removal because of the fibroids. Scarring is a risk also. and then when you have these fibroids, depending on where they're located in your uterus,

it can harm or I guess you would say deter implantation, right? So for a fetus, and now I've done going from U.S. Open expert to OBGYM. This is not medical advice for the record. I feel like I need to say that. It's your personal experience. Yeah, it's just my personal experience, but it can definitely deter implantation, and that's what you need to take a healthy baby nine months to term.

So how long did it take you before you found your, doctor that like you were comfortable with doing the fibroids surgery because I say another issue for some women it is it's hard um I had a couple of really good recommendations I was on a time clock so there was you know I wanted to get it done a certain amount of time so that closed the window on some options but I'm really excited about the surgeon that I have because he was highly recommended he knows his stuff he's worked with people that I know who are like he was great um and so that helps to have a friend who went through it um but it's really a really hard. Even for me, like what I was researching

is overwhelming. You're going off of a Zoom consultation or a 20 minute in person, sit down, and then it's like I'm offering up the most intimate, literally and figuratively part of me and like trusting that you're going to do a good enough job that you'll be fine after

I'll be fine and the things that I want are the things that I'm going to be able to have. So, I can't want me on the other side, but we're going to not decide on a week. But those robotic surgeries, they have proved to be like, like a lot more efficient. You're scarring.

You won't have like a bunch of scarring. It's really good. I had a robotic surgery. Did you? Yeah, when I had my, I had my gallbladder removed. Okay. Yeah, and that's not even what I went there for.

Wait, who? Would you go there for? I got questions for you. I just, no, I didn't. I go there for my eyes, dummy. No, I didn't. I went there because my eye, I just kept throwing up like real, real crazy.

Honestly, I thought I was pregnant, honestly. But, no, that wasn't even it. They said I had gallstones, and then they thought about removing the gallstones, and then I had two. more doctors come in and say, we're just going to remove the gallbladder. Yeah. And I was like, well, what about my other one?

And it was like, no, you only have one. I was like, wow, I didn't know that. So, yeah. Wait, how many? We only have, oh. We only have one gal bladder. Yeah, I thought it was like two. Oh, okay.

One on each side. It was like, no. Yeah, and I was like, oh, okay, just kidding. But yeah, they removed the gallbladder and they used the, like, the microscopic, like the robotic surgery. Yeah, yeah, you can barely see incisions. My recovery was a lot quicker. I know it's very different from five.

surgery but to your point yeah that's what he's telling me like minimally invasive tiny incision because that's what I'm nervous about and it's quick like so super superficial is it diarrhea afterwards that you experience excuse me everybody knows they see you run out of here Zerick did not know nothing about it I did I did I do now but that's okay because that's you know safe space yeah but I I don't have diarrhea today okay I love that she has removed booty you once you know once I heard you say you said you said you didn't believe in backup You still believe that?

Ooh, do I still believe that? I guess I have to say no, I don't believe it, because even egg freezing is technically, I would categorize it as a backup plan, right? Because the goal up until a certain age, at least for me, was to get pregnant naturally and egg freezing was a backup plan. I think career-wise, professionally, yes, I still believe that. Like, it's all in, it's all or nothing. like this is what I'm doing. And in the downtime, when I'm not doing it, it's just trying to figure out how to get back

to wherever I'm trying to go. But personally, yeah, I believe in backup plans when it comes to disfortility. You know what's so crazy? I was, before he asked that, I was going to ask you, at what point did you stop kind of believing in the backup plan for your personal life

because you said you froze your eggs because it's been something that, like, I think a lot of career, you were so focused on career. Yeah. And you have to think about, okay, at what time does my real life kick in? Right.

And how is that going to work? out from me. But it seems like you've made the switch where you're like, no, I'm prioritized my real life. When did that switch for you? That's exactly it. Like, what happened? I love that question. I think I got to this point in my life where, you know, I talk about this ladder theory and how we should be building like pillars, right? Instead, so you have this house. The foundation for me is my faith. Because sometimes all the pillars come crashing down at once. And it's like, okay, then what? But at least you still have this firm foundation. I got to this point where I had nothing to show for my life outside of my professional accomplishments. So when the career stuff

imploded or I got hit with a plot twist or whatever it was, I had nothing to show. Like I had, you know, and so much of my identity was wrapped up in what I was achieving or accomplishing. And I was like, this is a crappy way to live. And also, even sometimes at my highest moment, I'm talking Oscars, Gramies, Golden Globes, co-hosting fashion police with Joan Rivers, all these different things, I still have moments of misery. Like internally, I felt a void. I felt a lack of fulfillment because I was always chasing the next high. Like, it was incredible when I was on set.

It was incredible when that show premiered. But the in between, there was nothing because I hadn't built up anything else. And I was like, I just don't want to live this way because it's giving too much control to the people in positions of power in this landscape that I'm choosing to participate. in. So I got to figure out how to build up these other pillars. And I also realized, you know, at the end of the day, it's the folks in Ohio, it's my family, it's my friends, it's my loved ones who are going to be here throughout this entire journey. Like half the people that I worked with at any given moment, would they be at my wedding? Would they be at my funeral? You know, not to go

dark. And the answer is probably not. And so why would I give that much energy to these people, God bless them, but give them more than I'm giving the people who are rocking with me, or low, good or bad. I like that. Go ahead. What do you think you need for accomplishment? Like now that you're in this space where you can really remove yourself from your accomplishments, where do you think your need for accomplishing comes from?

Is it you really want to accomplish or is it a fulfillment of something else that you were trying to figure out? I think it's both. Dr. LaRosa. I know, right? I love it. She needs a girl. I know.

I don't know. But I was, you love it. You have siblings? I do have two brothers. I'm the oldest. Okay. Oh, okay. Yes, I identify.

Yeah. Okay, okay. Okay, oldest. Yes. Got it. So you get it. The oldest girls is like a whole thing. I have, yep, I have one brother and a little sister.

Okay. So, yeah, I'm the middle child. Okay. Okay. Yeah, I think I sometimes joke as a trauma response, but loki, it kind of is a bit of a trauma response. I am wildly ambitious. I've been that way since I was young since before I had ideas about what success did or didn't mean. Right.

But, yeah, I think when you're shy like I was growing up and you don't feel seen. in certain spaces, accomplishment was a way to be seen. It was a way for people to pay attention to me. Like, I'm not brave enough or outgoing enough at this time to go up and talk to you and just be precocious, you know, off record.

But when you put a mic in front of me or it's a stage play and it's action or it's go or the curtain opens, it forced me to take up space in a way that I knew I was capable of, but not wired to just do day in and day out. And so that kind of fed me in, I think, a really genuine way. But as I started to excel and achieve, probably somewhere along the way early on, I got wrapped up in this idea of,

oh, this is the only thing that makes me worthy of attention or your presence or your friendship or your romantic interests, you know? Like so much of the story I told myself for a long time was this is why anyone engages with me. No, not even deserve. If I didn't have this, I wouldn't get this. You wouldn't engage. You know what I mean? It wasn't from a place of like entitlement or arrogance.

It was a place of insecurity of like, I got to do all this to get the attention feel superficial. But yeah, to be seen. What do you get the courage not to chase anymore? Because you had to get to a point where you said, I don't need to chase this anymore. Yeah. Because that's the hardest point with anybody in this business, right?

They chase so much and they look back and they look back and they're like, damn, I miss so much as well. When did you get that courage? I think when I realized how much I was missing, right? Like the fact that I'll never have pictures at my best friend's wedding. That's going to stick with me. And I try to make up her in the ways that I can and I'll hop a flight in a heartbeat. Now she has a beautiful daughter and incredible husband. Like, you know, but like that sticks with you.

So you have just enough of those moments of like, I don't want to go through life like that, you know? And I think after you serve your time and you pay your dues enough, it's like, I don't have anything left to prove. Like, I just really don't. You know, like, I have so many more goals for myself. I'm excited to hit as many of them as God allows and provides for. But I've done what I needed to do for the record to state. Zuri was ambitious. She was talented.

She did things, right? And so I just, I have a piece about proving myself. And I think the more, like, the self-worth kind of, like, ramped up is like, I just ain't got an unapproved. anymore. So you made me think about a bunch of stuff, but like Access Hollywood, right? When something you've attached part of your identity to ends, right? How do you separate, this show is over from what does this say about me? I think because I've already detached from like who I am being like what I do, it's the end of an era. Like I have appreciated it. It's been 11-ish years, 12 years at e-news and Access Hollywood.

All good things come to an end. It's bitter sweet. The show's been on air for 30 years. But I'm excited for what's to come. Our last show is this week, actually. It's this Thursday. We'll film it. And it's kind of wild to look at Friday and be like,

well, what I'm going to just do what I want to do? I'll just live my life. But I'm like so excited about that. I'm so excited to just look at the unknown. And don't get me wrong. Like the team's working. The contracts are being negotiated. Things are, stones are in the fire, but I'm excited to look at this blank page for the end of 2026 and keep it blank on purpose.

I just want to be and like God surprise me and like see what existing calls in. Is there any grief attached to Access Hollywood ending that surprised you a little bit? Not really. I shed a few tears this past Friday. Like right before I got on the plane to come to New York, I filmed my last show up at the globe. about that Universal Studios. And sometimes when you're doing something every day, you forget, like, how special it is.

You know, and like Little Z and Toledo, seven years old. Like Universal Studios, these are, they make the biggest films and shows that I, right? And I'm just there every day hosting a show. Like, all right, guys, that's it from Universal Studios Hollywood until next time. The world is seeing your face. Yeah. And then to say it for the last time. And no, like, that's it.

So as soon as we wrapped, I did finally let myself feel. it and yeah it's bittersweet but I do feel like it's time I'm excited for what is to come because also you get comfortable like if you do something long enough and you can kind of do it without thinking too hard about it and you love it like I genuinely loved it like you'll stay there and I think it feels like God is just divinely clearing the table like one full sweep so that's what I heard in your last answer you said you mentioned I think I don't know if you said God or your spirituality something I was like oh it's the God piece of it like you've got to a point where you're just letting God do what he do.

Let him do what he does. That's exactly it because he's never let me down. And like there's so many things that I've wanted that I didn't get and I was mad. And then I saw the why later, right? Like I just trust his process. Because it's going to. You always been like that, though? You think so?

I used to be way more stubborn about like I used to beat a door down. Like I used to stick around longer. Some might argue in other areas of my life. That's still the case. But I used to stick around longer than the circumstances justified. It was like, no, I want to make this work. MTV, you was out. You loved to breathe this up.

Girl, it was right. 20 years ago, too. She was the first thing smoking. I don't know. You were right there. You was working with him? First thing smoking. I know that's right.

You hear me? Okay. First of all, best thing ever happened to you, knock it off. I might choke on the tequila. All right. And I dare your boy hit here to say you the best thing that happened to me. One of. Okay, one of, one of.

But, sure, like you, like, I've told you that before, though. Not to get all emo and woo-woo, but, like, back when I was at MTV and I was in New York, like that, you were a very important person in my life, and it was a very complicated time for me. and I was dealing with, like, insecurity, and you spoke so much life to me. And I remember when you were even like, I see you on the Today Show, did it do, do, do, do, do. Before I was even like speaking those things out loud.

And I was like, yeah, well, I don't know. We'll see, we'll see. I was just on the Today show yesterday, right? Yeah, Janelle, and I go out there often to do press and promote, et cetera. And I was just like, who is this guy just like, speaking life into me and like seeing, not more for myself. I saw a lot for myself, but just like, he was so bold.

and what he would declare over my future. He began downloads from God. He began downloads. He downloads, absolutely, absolutely. What did, when you, when you, before you knew her, what did, what came over your spirit where you were like, she needs that and let me, because that's another thing, too, is like, you'd be needing it, but yeah, did you know I needed it or were you just being you? Oh, God just told me to tell you these things.

Literally, I would just see her and I saw the light and I'm, God would tell me to tell her. You saw it. A minute so much. Like, I can't even say how much. It was a really, I was struggling a lot. with like, who am I? Because again, my identity was so wrapped up in my career at the time,

and it wasn't doing what I wanted it to do. And then here comes this dude who's like crushing it, right? He's like, top of his game, incredible. Everyone knows him, loves him, be so impressive. And he's like looking at little of me. And most people love him. I select few love them. My first talk show, Zuri was my co-host.

Yeah, Uncommon Sense. Yeah, that's right. She did the pilot, the first episode, and then she left us to go to the You know what I did stick around for? I remember when Drake sent you those bottles in Champagne. You gave us all the champagne bottles

and I took the Metro home to Harlem and I was on the train with my champagne bottle and it was just giving high low, high low because they were like, how she got, was the ace's face? But she on the train, whatever it was on. It was about dime, huh? It was dumb.

Whatever, yeah, maybe it was down. Did he gave you the bottles you gave me away? I did. Yeah. She was leaving. I was very, sorry. But she was leaving. Did you keep them?

She was leaving. You're going to go. I don't know where I popped out. You don't got the balance for something. I didn't. I kept that. I got pictures, but I drank that. You read that one.

Sad when she left, you can't bring it up. Well, Zuri is a phenomenal talent. And you know, like, for somebody like me, I need somebody to balance. You know what I mean? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. And even y'all now.

But yeah. But back then, yeah, Zory was going. Did you have a shot? No. No, it's Zuri. I need to come back up here. Like every day. Yeah, that's all.

But once a week, you can bring out the song. On camera. Yes, because Leonard is like, Joe Jax. No, no, no. Yes, just watch on YouTube, limited series. No, don't do it that way.

Let's talk about not about sports and plot twists in this way because, like, with the landscape changing, right, and what you do. Daytime TV, talk shows. You, a while ago was like, I'm going to start being an entrepreneur. I'm going to get online.

I'm going to tell people what I got going on. I'm going on. I'm going to do my own thing. Talk about. about the decision to do that because you've always, I always knew you because you traditionally, you were the girl with the job when it came to the red carpets and networks and that's hard for black women,

especially brown skin girls. But you were like, I don't want to do that anymore even though it's going so well. Why? It was, it wasn't that I just didn't want to do it anymore. I just wanted to do more. I knew, like, I've come here, I'm doing this, I'm still doing that for the record, but I wanted new challenges and I wanted ownership and I wanted IP. And it's like at a certain point, you just, just working for someone else's vision, right, and building someone else's vision.

It's beautiful. It's rewarding to be a part of something bigger than yourself. But at a certain point, you start asking, like, what big thing can I build that I can bring people into that they look forward to participating in? And hopefully that puts them on and that means a needle with them. Like, not about sports has been such a blessing because I was able to hire people who I knew were incredible talents, people that I work with producers behind the scenes. And it's like, no, you deserve to be working and employed.

And it got really hard for a lot of us. And so to be able to give those opportunities and the way that they were given to me, like that to me has been the biggest blessing. And then at the end of the day, I want to be able to say yes to something because I want to say yes, not because I got to pay my mortgage that bud. So the power that comes with building, I think is exciting. I'm still learning, you know, like we're still on that row. But I'm excited to keep building.

and we'll see what happened. Is it hard to date in your role because you're such a boss or you're so strong, you're so powerful? Is it hard to date somebody that understands all of that? You need something a little stronger. Dequila. Like, do guys find you intimidating

because of your, you know. So, yes, and it can be hard to date. I think traditionally I have intimidated men more than they care to admit in the moment. But I will also say, as I focus on what I can control, which is me, I think it takes a lot of masculine energy to navigate worlds like this.

And I say this with love, respect, appreciation, and acceptance of masculine and feminine energies. Like, it's all necessary. And so I think for a long time, because my identity was so caught up in the work stuff, I thought, like, the same qualities, traits, and energy

that got me the job were going to be impressive in relationship. Like, look, how little I need you. Look, how I can do bad out by myself. Like, I thought it was, oh, look, I'm choosing to be with you. Don't need to be with you. And I realized over time that for a lot of men, it was a turnoff.

Sometimes it was from a place of insecurity. I have dated some very successful insecure men, situationships only. But it was more of like, well, if you don't need me, like any, I think, healthfully masculine man, takes pride in being needed to a certain extent. It takes pride in being able to show up for you and provide, and I'm not just talking, finding. You've heard the chaos. Now you can see it.

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It's the Jonas Brothers with the Hey Jonas Podcast. We've been catching up with some great friends, Paul Rudd, Michael Bublay, Seth Myers, Nile Horan, Jake Shane, and making some new friends while getting into what's really like to have sisters, like Alex and Ashton Earl. She likes to control everyone and tell everyone what to do it. Okay, well, control is a harsh word. I would say that's a harsh word.

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I'm especially not talking financially because I didn't need that, but emotionally providing and like I want to be needed by you, right? And so I was. And that's vice versa too. 1,000 percent. It's like an exchange. So I think I was energetically sometimes even pushing away the very thing that I said I wanted without knowing it because it took a different skill set.

So like the last few years I've really worked on like embracing like what does it feel like to be soft and to receive. Like, I'm learning to receive. I hate that, but I understand. Why do you hate it? What do you hate? To me, it feels like almost a dimming of light. You are who you are, regardless, right?

You are who you are. You're powerful, you're strong, and if men are insecure and don't understand that, that would be their loss. Right. Right. I shouldn't have to say, I have to get in my feminine era.

Hey, fuck that. Like, y'all make you get to grow up. But sometimes, okay. All right, girl. Yeah. Yeah, right. You know, like that. Yeah.

Okay. You know that. Damn. Sometimes it takes the right gentleman to bring that soft era. Perfect example. You know, Chris. Hello. Right, exactly.

You know what I'm saying? Use the toughness. Yo, please relax. What? So you said, do you say, do you say, so much more Mexican man? No, she should not. No, my thing is, I was so hard.

My exterior was just so hard. I'm always on guard. And then I met a man that disarms me. Totally, like, and just with his presence. No insecurity. No insecurity. He don't care, like, nothing. Does not give a fuck that you're Jess O'Larious a comedian.

He loves Jess O'Larous who you are as a person. Exactly. And I couldn't get away with half the shit that I would do with other people with him. You know what I mean? So sometimes it takes a certain individual to pull that out of you. So, what did that look like? In like the early stages, were you fighting against it? Were you still very much walls up?

I don't need this. I was fighting against it. because it was foreign to me. It was so unfamiliar. I did not. And I'm like, who the fuck you think you are? Right. And he's like, no, no, no.

It's not who I think. It's who I am. You know what I mean? That's right. You know, and... Yo, you're the person in church and you shut up. You're messing up, y'all. Like, we are here.

That's right, Chris. Jess was almost at communion on Sunday. And here you're done. Yeah. Thank you. But in the beginning of it, though, because it wasn't that easy... Was it? I mean, maybe it was.

It was that easy for you to just be Like, okay, feminine. No, it took months. It took like five months. And he was just consistent still. Consistent still. See, I love that. I love that.

One time, right, we got into an argument and I got a little spicy, you know. And he was like, it was like, yeah, all right, well, look, I'm, yeah, I'm done. Because I don't know. Isn't there something kind of attractive about that? I was just like, drag a line. Yeah. And I was like, no, don't go. Like, a couple times I happened to be.

I was like, wait. I'm sorry and we can figure this out. Exactly. And I was like, and since then I have never argued with him like that again because he was dead serious. I thought it was sexy and everything, but like, he was dead. He meant it. She's about to be out of there.

And I'm like, you know, I'm trying to break. Shut up. Like, for real. That's what's up? I'm happy to hear this. What is? No, I'm just happy to hear this. You know what I'm talking about.

Chris, like, I ain't even got to be here, okay? I'm not even documented I ain't even I'm gonna wow he is legal get me in trouble wow

I'm right I'm right I just processed I'm right so a black Mexican so he is here like he's here

legally that means oh yeah yeah he black like he's not Mexican and ag black

he's mixed right but you know what's interesting about that though you can look at certain men

and see them with a woman and realize that woman feels safe yep and I think

that's the most important thing for a man to recognize. I agree. Where are those men? Genuinely asking. Not in a, not in a resentful way. You never go back home to Toledo to try

to see what they are yet? I go to Toledo often. Where are those? I think you got to meet somebody at a certain, like you meet somebody and you know that they're in a certain point of things, life, thought, conversation. Like, when you met Chris,

and certain conversations happened, you was like, yeah, I'm not about to get off on this one, like the same, like, you know, like you, is that type of name. Yeah, but that's what I'm saying. They will give it. Right. But it ain't even just about Chris,

it's about them together. I can see them together and be like, they're safe for each other. Yeah. You know what I mean? Yeah, definitely. Definitely when I see you with Chris, when we went to the Kendrick Lamar concert,

that's my first time I saw y'all together. And I was like, you, it was like, oh, she's a wife. Like, but seeing you by yourself is like, Jess with the mess. Or Jess Hilaria. Yeah. Wow. But when you're with him, it is a bit different.

It is different. It is different. Because I'm Jessica Rob Moore's Oliver with my husband, but I'm just hilarious. But Zori, I love that. I think for like when you're working through figuring that out, or like, are you dating right now? You have somebody you guys.

I am single again. I'm newly-ish single. Oh, okay. Been a while. Yeah, so we're, uh. Does he know? Like, he just happened 10 years ago. He may not know like, man.

I'm not know like, man. I'm here to make a while. announce man. All parties are aware. I am single and I am mixing and mingling and I'm being really intentional about it because I do, I look forward to being a wife. I look forward to being a mother. I look forward to applying my ambition to those roles.

What does it look like to be a good partner? What does it look like to raise beautiful, well-adjusted children? And so I think that does make it a little harder just because also when you're in L.A. And it's just, girl. You know. I'm in LA. Well, wait, is they white or black men? Where are you at?

All men. Okay, because I know, genuinely all men. Yes. And I have... Black men, they don't be, in L.A., they don't normally be focused on us. Yeah. What are you focused on?

I was out there. Everybody but black women. People with your color, boy. And if they are black, they look like you where it's like ambiguous or we don't know. You could be anything. I mean, maybe it's changed since I left.

But when I was there for like the year and a half I was single, I was like, oh, y'all can have these men. Yeah. It's a very specific type that a lot of men are looking for out there. And also, it's just a candy store. Like, if you're a dude who could settle down or could be outside for a little bit longer and you're in L.A. where everyone is gorgeous and you've got your pick of the litter,

everywhere you turn. Like, it's just so hard to convince a guy, right? I would never convince a guy of anything. But to, like, settle down. Like, they're out there. They're missing to mingling. Like, any guy I've dated has never been, like, an industry. Dude, yeah.

like LAC and they've all they might live in the city but they're from somewhere else like I'm a very Midwestern Southern sensibilities kind of person love that I just like what feels like home but at this point though regardless of where you meet a man at you're going to meet a man that will probably come with a certain sense of like he's done certain things or whatever so there's going to be women all the time but I think the person when you get to that point of what you're talking about they'll make you feel like it's just you like you you don't have to even like that's not a question it'll just be like we're in our own world type of thing do you have a list Because I know some women have a list, right?

I have ideas about what you're... What are your ideas? I'm just curious. He must look like Thor. No, we must not. Don't even... We are not about to do that. Don't take the bait. Don't know, no, no, remember that.

Don't take the bait. I don't know what you had. You're all right. You know, I'm begging you not to take his bait. Because my assistant has a list and I hate her list. I'm like, Ben's got a list. Please. Shut up, Shalaming.

You can't be, have a size 12 men. She doesn't have size 12 men. No, he's saying she wear that and she shouldn't have a list. She don't wear size 12. So what is your list? And the reason I hate lists is because she, she's six foot. Three. Six foot one, six foot.

Easily. Why don't you say three like that? But three. Beautiful. But her list is like she wants somebody taller. And I'm like, maybe you shouldn't be looking for tall because the short person could be somebody that treats you the right way. But she's so, if you're a short.

You're out of this question. But you know what, guys. You don't know what the short struggle like. Show me. Oh. And she wants somebody to pick her up. Yes. That's it.

There's something about being picked up. And also men, y'all get to be so highly specific about what you want visually. Like, I have guys like, oh, hook me up with so on so, hook me up, whatever. And they are particular. Sometimes too particular, more particular than their aesthetic may deserve or justify. Right. And they still, right. Yes.

So what is your list? My list has nothing to do with, like, physicality outside. You got to be taller than me. I will admit. admit that. Like, I like a six foot or above would be ideal on 5-7, but it's not physical. It's, I want someone emotionally available. It's a deal breaker for me if you're not in therapy and has been for years. So I've had men get into therapy because they were interested in dating me. I want a man of God, a man of faith. Like, I take my spiritual practice really seriously

and I want someone who can pursue God with me. And I really believe that when it's just two people trying to figure it out. Sometimes it becomes impossible. But when you've agreed on an outside party for me, like my biblical faith and like what that says about love in the purest of ways, we have something outside of ourselves to point to a North Star to guide how we build our relationship, how we love, how we parent. I want someone who is successful enough to not be intimidated by what I've got going on because I've dated both sides of the spectrum. I haven't cared either way. Because again, I didn't need someone to cover my bills. But then that very openness to someone who wasn't maybe where I was,

at first they were attracted to it. And then eventually they started trying to dim my light because they couldn't stand in that shadow. So can you talk about that middle point of like you don't date, like you're not dating people that are, how do I put it? Okay. You don't want to date people that you know it'll become like if you're doing more, if you're making more money, right? Yeah.

You said it's been hard dating people that aren't doing that. But then you meet people that maybe can match you or are more successful. And there's a lot of ego and security and stuff. Like, what's the middle point exactly that you're looking for? And have you been able to verbalize that as a woman? Because it is tough to find, understand, and work through. Ooh, Lauren, I love your questions. The questions are good.

I don't know that I've reached a middle point. I'm still figuring it out, you know? Like, I've tried one end of the spectrum. and it was like, okay, it was cute for three months and they like, oh, your house is so nice. I remember one time a guy, I was dating him for maybe a month and a half, whatever was the early situation, and he walked into my house for the first time. I don't know if he dropped me off or whatever.

He ended up in my house, and he was going to be leaving pretty quickly, but he was in there. And when he looked around, something in him shifted. It changed. He was impressed, and he was also, I could see him visually, like, shutting down or pulling back. broke into this back here. That was the broken.

He was like, I can't afford this. The craziest part, I mean, he was doing well for himself. He was an actor. He was cool. But it was like, oh, this is how you're living. I had another guy who I was dating for a few months, quote unquote, man of God, all stuff. I was like, okay, this is gonna really work.

And one day, I guess he Googled my net worth. He just out of nowhere was like, I think your net worth is higher than I. I'm like, no, I think it. Wow, y'all. But it was weird. It was weird. And I'm like, I don't know. Like, how do you know?

That man was lying. You're doing well. You're doing well. Those things be lying. I don't go more network. They do lie. They do lying. They do lying.

But he was like, oh, I googled your net worth and I just feel like you're worth more than me. And I was like, cool. How do you know that? Oh, well, I looked at your house and how much that's worth. And it was bizarre that he was. Damn. You got mad about that? He didn't get mad.

I think deep down he got insecure about it, right? And this is somebody who I thought, okay, he's confident. He is very successful in his space, in the industry. Like, he's crushing it. He's winning a war. all the things. And the kind of sad part about that was, I wasn't excited about that because like,

ooh, I got me a man who did this, this, this, this is this. It was, I think I found somebody who won't be intimidated by me. I think I found someone who's doing enough that he won't feel like whatever. And boom. And then that. He wanted you to need him. Yeah.

And he probably was attached to his identity in Hollywood more than being just secure as a human being. Exactly, because she could have needed him in a different way. He's a singer. Oh, he's a singer. He's an industry. Yeah. Industry. Oh, I think I remember that one. Yeah.

But she could have needed him in a different way. Not financially. She could have needed him in a different way, though. So to just his point. Exactly. Because I do need him. Exactly. Emotionally. But I think a lot of times it's hard for men to, unless in a certain space,

when did y'all get to the point and what did it take for y'all to get to the point where you understood that even if your, your wives are doing well, or able to do things better. Lawrence, I'm that my wife is 60. Exactly. Yeah, but it's not. But you're all grew up together. We grew up together.

So what? But you still... Yeah, was making more to me at one. Me too. My wife was making more to be my wife. A hundred percent. So the roles had to change. So at one point, you had to understand that even if she's doing that,

she still needs you as a man, right? But this is the difference, right? She already had us as men. Yeah. Like, there is no mine and hers in my house. Same. It's like, my wife, it's not like, this is my account. I got to give you an allowance.

I'm not talking about physical things. I'm talking about what she's talking about is it's like men have this thing where if you're like a strong woman and it might be independent and have been by yourself, if you don't know how to like mentally and not financially appeal like, oh my God, I need you. Come save my life. Come fix my tire. They don't know how to they don't know how to comprehend that. They don't know how to like that. It's different. You got to think. Gia is was my, is my friend. Right. Did we weren't, it wasn't based off of money. Like we were high school sweethearts. We were. We were. friends. So anything now is just bonus, like everything else. So when it comes to our life, it's like we really plan it out. Like for instance, Gia had the better job than I did, right? She got pregnant. She decided, look, I don't want a nanny raising our child. I don't want to do it. I'll do this and then we'll see what happens. And then my career took off. But it's still the same. There is no mine in hers. It's the household. Like, Gia can go and do what she wants to do. That's why, you know, my wife just went on a 17-day girl trip, right, with her girls.

17 days. I love that. And people are like, oh my gosh, you let your wife? I'm like, let me. Yeah, let's crazy. My wife is like, babe, I want to do this with the girls. I'm like, I got, I'll hold it for it. And I got six years.

I'll hold the fort down. It's because some people, the mentality shift doesn't happen for them. And that's what I'm asking you guys more so about. It's like, you guys have a really great mentality in your households. And a lot of people, I see married people now that I'll be like, yeah, I don't want that type of marriage. Like, it's the you let. No, that's no you let my house. She lets me go out.

But everybody's not like that. I was wondering what got you guys to that. I mean, y'all grew up with your wives, basically. I'm not saying. I think it's different because of that. Like, I don't know anything else. Like, I don't know my life without her. Like, I just don't.

That's so sweet. So nice. This is a beautiful. Anyway. Anyway, I think it's just. Do you still think you're a people pleaser? I heard you say you were recovering people pleaser. No, not as much.

Not at my own detriment. Not if it costs me more than I'm willing to offer up or give. No, I'll say no. and let you sit in that discomfort, let myself sit in the discomfort sometimes too. But yeah, traditionally I was someone who very much wanted to make people feel good and happy and accommodate, et cetera, but...

That's interesting because people pleasing can look like kindness from the outside. When did you realize there was a difference between genuinely being kind and needing people to be pleased with you? When it was causing me pain, harm, discomfort emotionally, and I was still doing it. It was, you know,

And I was on a podcast recently, and we talked about this. Like, people pleasing in a certain way can be like a form of unintentional even manipulation. It's like I'm doing something to get something, right? So it's not malicious, but it's still like you're, it's not giving just to give. And so when I realized that, you know, like I thought, no, I'm just trying to be nice and I'm trying to connect dots and I'm trying to make you happy or whatever. But it's like, oh, no, deep down underneath, like I also want you to like me, accept me. choose me, whatever. And so it is still in exchange, even if it's subconscious.

So now I really try to focus on giving freely. And if I never got a thing back from this, was giving it enough. And as a giver, as someone who enjoys that, like, I accept and appreciate that, like, the giving was the gift for me. And that's it. So I give now and I show up and I connect dots when it will just feel good to do it. Because it was the right thing to do or a nice thing to do. but if there's something underneath that I'm trying to get,

like I try to check myself now. I can see that your boundaries have gotten clearer. Mm-hmm. Very much. Have that made your standards higher? Yeah, but I'm worried they're going to get too high and I'm going to die alone. Damn.

I'm joking. It's dark, dark humor. I don't think that, a lot of people feel like that. Like the girls who have the fingers and are doing it there. I, look, I believe that he's coming. Whoever it is is coming. I joke about, oh, my God, like, I hate it. or whatever. But the truth is, like, I'm good at being single. I love getting to know new people. I mix. I

mingle. My standards are high. I hope someone can meet them. I also feel like I can give what I'm asking. It's not unreasonable. And I want to be married. I want to have kids. I'm excited. But I don't want it so badly that I'm willing to compromise on the important stuff, right? And I think that allows you to date from a place of power and a place of peace because I potentially want you, but I don't need to. You know, you in the way of like I'll settle for whatever. And so if he asked you your list and you told us what, listen listening to your list, that's so realistic

and it's so possible. Except for the tall part. That is what I prayed for. That is not even night. That is not that's the minimum. Those were literally my manifestation. And I am married to my king right now. That has all of those qualities. It is so

that is so not impossible. Did you know before you met him? Like, did you have the list? And you're like, well, I'll did. Like, he's here. Girl, absolutely. I had the list. I just didn't ask for him to be maxed so shut up. The list just. I did have a list.

You said hard work. You said hard work. It's not. You did. She said hard work. I did have a list, Lauren, because after dating this person and this person and this person, I'm realizing like, yo, what the hell? I'm learning something about myself in every relationship.

Okay. I get what you say. And I'm also learning what I don't like and what I don't want to tolerate in the next relationship. So that actually prompted me to make a list. Like, you know what I mean? And it was just. I don't know.

I just, again, I did like that, but I knew I wanted somebody emotionally available, somebody, you know, and then also, this is what I particularly wanted, right? Because dating, growing up in Baltimore, you date what you, what you are taught to see from an early age, you know what I mean, street news, right?

Yeah, yeah. I wanted someone who loved me, who I felt like loved me even when he was mad at me. Like, even through, if you can love me through an argument, like you don't gotta say, tell the fuck up, baby. Right. Or like, you know what I love you.

Or you know what I love you, bitch. You know what I have to say that. But it's like, you know, you still feel, because some arguments can hit so hard where it's like, you can't come back from that. Right. And I argue, I used to argue like that hit below the belt. If he says something crazy, I gotta say something crazier.

I don't care what it is, who it's about if I don't hurt, I could make something up and hurt your feelings. You know what I mean? I don't know where that came from. came from. But if you could argue with me and I still feel like, I love you and you love me, that's great. That's beautiful. You know what I mean? And so when he came along disarming me and shit, I'm like, I was fighting it for a while, but after I'm like, this is what you asked for dumbheads. Get it together. Right. Right. Right. And then when he threatened me to go, I was like,

all right, no, no, no, I want to be soft. I want to be soft. I love you. I'm sorry. No, I really appreciate that. And I think similar, right? I think when you've grown up, especially as like, for me, the oldest, but it's just you feel like you're on your own. You got to do it yourself. You gotta be in self-protection mode. And yeah, like my mouth could be a blessing and a curse. Like the very thing that got me where it's got me and work, like I could either use it for good or I could use it for bad.

And I had to get really intentional about only using it for good. And I think in relationship, it brings out the best and the worst in us, but it's such a beautiful practice. Like love is such a beautiful practice if two people are committed to it. Because I hear you saying that this man, and was like kind of putting you in your place in the way. Yeah, my place, yeah, definitely. You know what it was gonna be and what it wasn't.

But the fact that he chose to stay and work through it with you and you chose to stay and work through with him, I think that is the dream, right? Like the fact that you had a slick mouth, was gonna say what you had to say before, and suddenly you're not, because you've met a man who's willing to work. My, my, my, my, my name, my, my name.

I love that. I think she was, and work with me. Like, not, stop playing with me. That was the first time my pride did not get in the way, Because I usually be like, I don't go to the fucking end. But you changed, though. You changed a lot, though. And I've seen Chris, you know.

Are you stopping again? But you made with Chris made you change a lot. It made you think outside the box. You don't jump an attack right away. It made you more of a loving, muddly, nicer person has. Thank you. Were there moments ever when that popped up with him? And he, instead of being like, look at you, you're talking crazy or you said whatever,

where he was like, I see what this actually is. So I'm going to give you an opportunity to course correct? No. No. No. No, I'm not, I'm not, I told you, I told you about this shit three months ago. Okay. And it's coming back up.

I don't like this. Because this ain't how I communicate. This is not how you're supposed to communicate as an adult. But he could say that, right? The fact that he could articulate that. Right. Like, this is not civil. Because most people build a wall between them and there.

You know what? What? You know what? You know what? You know what? You're talking about. I was just about to be like, that's so beautiful because I, I, I feel it.

Like, I get it. And, you know, he said. build a wall and you know that Chris is to have my wait she's drunk yeah she is you know cut it out and I might be because I'm just process what hit me and I'm like that's so much you wasn't even talking about your man too though yeah she did wait no no not because y'all done um tell us more

Lauren how do you how do you feel how do you relate to that I love hearing about yeah I think it's healthy love because I It doesn't matter. You learn a lot in relationships. I mean married. I learned so much in the relationship I'm in right now that I'm like, I don't, it's certain things even about myself that I'm learning that I'm like, I don't want to carry this into my marriage.

I don't want my kids to grow up watching this as this is what mommy does, this is what daddy does, whatever. A hundred percent. And I think this is the first time where like I've ever like even gave a fuck, to be honest with you. And the other time it's like, I mean, sure. You don't give a fuck to not stop drinking. You'd be like, bye any other time.

Why does she have to? This nigger said, stop praying. She is not an alcoholic no more. She was when she first thought me. But, no, she is. Lauren, I was not an alcoholic. They were both alcoholics. When you're sitting here with.

You're about to cry right now. No, I'm not. When you're sitting here with Charlemagne every single day, you just got to get in. You got to get in. She wouldn't drink that bottle for Charlemagne if she had said, I promise you. We're going to have to end this interview too because I hear it. You don't get dumb and dumb. You don't get dumb and dumb.

You don't get in dumb and dumb. Listen, I just want you to know, only 15% of adult men in the U.S. are six feet or taller. Yo, shut up, man. No, that's the fact. Tell me from a short man. 15% of men are six feet of taller. Only three to four percent are six feet two inches of taller. Oh, wow.

Just over 1% are six foot four taller. Girl, I think about how you're straight in your pool. My body average, I've been good. I've never dated a man under six feet, so clearly they're around. So when you put your heels on, if you want him to look a certain height next to you, that is okay. Yes. Exactly. Don't let a short man.

and give you the stats of tall man. Oh, he out here. Inclusion. No, and like all love to the short keys. What about Husky men? Like morbidly obese man. Just a low white. Morbidly obese.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Damn, we're really playing with him in here. Y'all really be playing with him in here. Like, honestly. I just defended you. What was that, Lord? You did not. I said he's not bad.

I wasn't even talking about that. I'm sorry. Stop y'y. Stop. Dumb and dumber, shut up. Family. We are family, y'all. Let's go back to the piece of love.

Anyway, Zuri, I'm happy for you. It's very funny. You should come by, Mom. I think you're right for a lot. I don't want to get you all Zuri in trouble because both of y'all, I see both of y'all getting saucy. Listen, my last question, Zerri, if everything you've accomplished so far was actually just preparation, not the destination, right?

Yeah. What do you think you've been preparing for? Oh my God. Wow, that is an incredible question. I need to sit with that one. I don't need, I can't even, I don't want to pull an answer. It's not incredible. He always did it to the end of the interview.

Everybody over handshots. I don't know. I think it's preparing me for, I realize I'm at a point in my life. Like, I've been talking to a lot of women younger than I am, right? About a decade or so younger. And I'm realizing the lessons I've been learning, the things that I'm still learning, some of the things that I'm angry about, disappointed about, I'm like, oh, it's not for me yet. Like, I'll apply this lesson in my life eventually or in my future relationship.

But when I'm pouring into them or I'm telling them what I'm learning or what I'm going through and they're saying thank you for sharing that. Oh my God. Like I appreciate your transparency, your vulnerability, only in the last couple of weeks. I'm like, oh, that's what this is for. And so there is a selflessness that I am being taught. Like I think that's how God is working on me right now.

I've always tried to be a giver and I loved in certain ways, but I've never thought that my pain, my experiences, my disappointments could be for someone else. Like maybe I did go through that, not for me. Maybe that was because I need to speak life into another woman, and it's going to move the needle there in a significant way. And that will eventually plant seeds that whatever. And so over time, I'll look and see, oh, that actually moved the needle

and change someone's life or lives for the better. I never thought about it like that. I never thought that my pain could be for someone else's game. And so I think maybe that is it. If there's like a lesson that I'm supposed to be learning, if there's a why that I'm not aware of. It's like I'm going through this stuff, not for me so that at the finish line,

I can be like, I conquered, I won, I got the gold medal. Maybe I'm just going through it to help somebody else get a gold medal. That seems like your purpose, like to help other people, like your connectivity with other people, teaching them, passing on gyms, like you said, going through things, you know, giving the advice or, you know what I mean, like the blueprint for someone else to help them. Absolutely. That seems very purposeful.

And I've always done that professionally. I was always so excited to be like, okay, this is what I'm doing, this is how you can do it. These are the dots I can connect. But because, again, I never put as much thought or intentionality into the personal life. I just never thought about it. And now it's like I'm going through a lot and it's mostly like the personal stuff, whatever it is.

And I'm like, well, what is the why with this? Like, and you want to say there's like the guy in the life and the family at the end. And that's the prize. And like, God willing, that's a part of the journey. It's not the prize, but there is something really special about being like, I'm learning so many lessons. Like, that's why I can't wait. I hope I have a daughter. I want sons.

Like, I'm excited about being a boy mom. But I'm like, I really hope I have a daughter. Because there's so much that I've learned being a woman navigating that I just want to pour into a little young. Babies are. Oh, my gosh. Yeah. Exactly. Teach her early what I learned late.

That's exactly it. That's what I'm saying. That's literally where I'm thinking. Even outside of a relationship, I'm just like, when my daughter's, I'm just like, when my daughter's, and with my, especially my daughters, but with my children, there's a lot of things that my mom taught me very early on. But there were a lot of things that I think she didn't even have the privilege to figure out for herself before she became my heart.

The privilege. And like I want to lean in on my privilege. I want to, as much as I can before I, my babies are on this earth and I'm like pouring things into them that like I might not even know I need to help them heal from. And that's what I'm trying to be at. Yeah. Well, Zori, you need to come back up on more. Yes. Yes.

And please watch my twist is fun. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you for joining us. Tell them how to follow you and stuff, Zuri Hall. What else? I've got a substack,

ZuriHall.com. I've been writing a lot about what I'm navigating right now, personal reflections, essays, et cetera. So, yeah. I can't wait to see what you do next, Zerri, because I know it's going to be amazing.

That's right. Thank you, Jarre. Thank you. Thank you, Lauren. It's the breakfast club. Good morning. Thank you.

Oh, no. Every day I wake up. Wake your ass up. The breakfast club. You're on finish or y'all done? Hi, this is Kylie Breakman. Angel Geratana. Jeremy Colhain.

Patrick McDonald. And we're the hosts of the Artists on Artists on Artists Podcast. The Improvised Character Comedy Podcast where each week a new panel of artists discuss their craft. Join us for a panel of Eurovision participants. And we do a little Halloween sometimes. Does the Pope dress up? He winks on Halloween. He gets right up next to the microphone.

I hear you can almost hear the eyelashes hit each other. You never seen Italy. Quiet as when the Pope gets up to wink on Halloween. Listen to Artists on Artists on Artists every Thursday on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The World Cup is over. But if you caught the soccer bug and aren't sure what to do now, check out our podcast, Big Kick Energy. I'm Cameron Dicker, the kicker from the Los Angeles Chargers. And I'm here with Timmy Tillman, current L-A-FC star player.

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It's the U.S. Open, which means the tennis world is about to lose its mind, and I'm here for every second of it. Join me, Renee Stubbs, on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast as I break it all down. The matches that matter, the drama that doesn't, and the stories. everyone's talking about. No cliches, no sugar coding, just host analysts from someone who's actually been there. Coco looking real good. Her serve looks so much smoother than it has in the past. I was really happy to see Eager back to what she looked like a couple of years ago when she was winning dominantly. Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey there, everybody. Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes here from the Amy and T.J.

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