The Breakfast Club - More Than an Actor: Marcus Callender on Writing, Producing & Being a True Creative | Part 2

Episode Date: November 27, 2025

In part two of this insightful episode with actor, writer, and director Marcus Callender, Loren Lorosa explores the evolution of his creative journey and the inspiration behind his stage production, Spades. Marcus opens up about navigating Hollywood without representation, the importance of betting on yourself, and how real-life experiences shaped the characters and themes in his play. They dive into the cultural significance of theater for Black communities, the need for fresh storytelling, and how stage work allows creators to connect more intimately with audiences. Marcus shares his vision for elevating live theater, building community partnerships, and amplifying authentic voices in entertainment. This episode highlights the challenges and triumphs of independent creativity, emphasizing perseverance, representation, and the power of owning your narrative. Rate, subscribe, comment and share. Follow The Latest With Loren Lorosa on IG @lorenlorosaYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BreakfastClubPower1051FMSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. What up, y'all? It's your boy, Kevin on stage. I want to tell you about my new podcast called Not My Best Moment, where I talk to artists, athletes, entertainers, creators, friends, people I admire who have massive success about their massive failures. What did they mess up on?

What is their heartbreak? And what did they learn from it? I got judged horribly. The judges were like, you're trash. I don't know how you got on the show. Check out, Not My Best. moment with me kept on stage on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcast. Hi, Kyle. Could you draw up a quick document with the basic business plan?

Just one page as a Google Doc and send me the link. Thanks. Hey, just finished drawing up that quick one page business plan for you. Here's the link. But there was no link. There was no business plan. I hadn't programmed Kyle to be able to do that yet. I'm Evan Ratliff here with a story of entrepreneurship in the AI age. Listen as I attempt to build a real startup run by fake people. Check out the second season of my podcast, Shell Game, on the IHeart Radio app or wherever you get your podcasts. On this week's

episode of next chapter, I, TDJ, sit down with Denzel Washington, a two-time Academy award-winning actor and cultural icon for a conversation about change, identity, and

the moment everything shifted. I mean, I don't take any credit for it. It's nothing I did as special, you know, did knock down a few pegs and recognize it, but I just didn't put me first. I just put God first and he's carried me. Whether you're rebuilding, reimagining, or just trying to hold it together, this one will speak to you. Listen to the next chapter podcast on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your. your podcast. New episodes drop weekly. Don't miss one of them.

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Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm a homeguard that knows a little bit about everything in everybody. You know if you're going to lie about that, right? Lauren came in hot. Back on the ground. All right, y'all, we're going to get back in to... Part two. I'm Lauren the Rosa. This is the latest with Lauren the Rosa, which is your daily dig on all things, pop culture, entertainment news, and all of the conversations that shake the room. We've been

having a conversation with creator, storyteller, actor, director, and writer Marcus Callender. He played Oliver Power Grant, or you may remember him if you watched Ghost. Power Book 2, he played Ray Ray Ray. Y'all remember, we lost Raina, baby Raina because of Ray Ray. Now tap in as we get into the final part of our conversation about how he stuck it out good bad ugly they say the power actors don't get more jobs but he stuck it out and now he is bringing spays to play to life on stage here in new york and you guys get an exclusive listen of what the inspiration was so talk to us about why spades like i know you said you walked into a place one time in la and people were playing space i got to get back to it but originally like why write a play about space like why is that

this is like your passion project and also tell us about you know briefly what what is the story what is the log line of the blood what is the story okay before I tell you that here's another thing too

for people to know when I was putting that reading together last year my agent dropped it that also happened so what happened when you say they robbed you like how because I be watching

my money like I mean but I'm also I mean I'm not a regular series on a network show or a streaming platform show so my checks maybe not like yours but I be I'm in all of it like yo what's up so while I'm pretty

while I was getting ready to put this reading together I woke up from a nap and my agent calls me I'm thinking I book something because that's the only time they call you she's like yeah you know unfortunately we're going to have to let you go because due to the writer's track a lot of things were cut yeah agents were also being fired too

ages are being fired they're you know the rosters are getting smaller, and I was with a big agency. So I knew it was going to happen. I was like, if I don't book something, they probably going to drop me. Yeah. Which is really fucked up because I just did three seasons of a show where y'all getting that money. Yeah. Y'all so quick to drive me, you know, because I'm not working off of a writer's strike.

Yeah. That's crazy. But at the same time, I didn't even react crazy. I didn't ask questions. I just said, okay, cool. Because I knew it was all a part of the play. all the part of God's plan because I knew that that had to be cleared

away in order for me to really dive in because now I don't have an agent now I don't have any reps so I'm not auditioning for anything so I have no choice but to focus on this right so it was it was a blessing in disguise you know what I mean it's but it was also

my first time not having reps well you said they robbed you what like what did they drop me? No no no no they dropped you I just said they robbed no no no no what did they take Like we're with them okay No they dropped you Okay I mean

Yes but I also feel like too And this is just like 2025 Lauren speaking I feel like Unless your agent is like Moving mountains for you Yeah

You can kind of low key figure This shit out with a good manager Good lawyer Honestly just good lawyer Manager if they really With you with you But I don't think you need Like that's where I'm at right now too

As like talent That is learning to build a team I'm like, I don't need all these people and all these noises and all these decisions and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, like, splits. No, like, I just need one or two good people that's like, yo, we out, where we got to be, what we got to do?

So it was a blessing in disguise. And I think the world and the industry changed where a agent, you know, for you as a playwriter and creator and also talent would be amazing. We want to speak that into existence, but you could do it without it. Exactly, but because I think what it, not I think, I know, what it allowed me to do, do was like really tap into all of these talents that I have.

Yes. Because I don't consider myself just an actor. One, when people ask me what I do, I tell I'm a storyteller, whether that's acting, directing, writing, you know, so it allowed me to like really dive into that and really own it. You know what I mean? Because for a long time, it was like, yeah, right, but, you know, but now I'm owning it. You know what I'm saying?

No, I'm a playwright. I'm a writer. I'm a director. I'm a producer. And I'm an actor. I do all of these things. and I think I do it pretty well. So it's like a multi, I'm a multi-hyphenate, as they call it.

So it gave me all this time to dive in, and I fucking, I committed to it. You know what I mean? I put all my money into it because I know, you know, for me, I'm like sitting on this story. Because it's bigger than the play. So let's get into that. Yes. So what inspired me to write this play? I was learning how to play space at the time with some friends.

and what I thought was interesting was I was like, yo, I feel like watching the game is more interesting than the game because it's just so much drama it's all this other shit. I said, yo, this would be a dope play. In anybody house, anybody crazy. You know what's crazy? I was, before I left TMZ,

we were piloting a podcast for me and now Nick Cannon has be playing spades. Okay. But I said to them, I'm like, we should do it like, let's just sit down and play spades with people. Yeah. I mean, of course, they didn't really understand it.

And my co-host, shout out to Tijuana. She's still there at TMZ. She don't know how to play Spades. I don't think she got it either because she's never been at the Spades table. But so when I, the name of your play grabbed me, but also when I saw in the Canon doing me playing Spades, sit down in conversation. I'm like, this is like genius for any black person to live off of

or thrive off of because it is entertaining, just watching and hearing the game. Exactly. So I'm like, yo, this will make a dope play. And I knew that, you know, I was, at the time, I was starting to dab in writing and stuff like that. So I was like, yo, let me start writing this. And as I said, it just kind of poured out of me the characters because all of the characters in the play are based off of people that I know. So let's talk about the story.

So give us the... It's very simple. Yes. It's about a group of friends that get together on a Friday night in Harlem to play some spades. But on this particular Friday, things go a little left. as they typically go in a spades game you got the liquor flowing you got the weed going

things kind of go a little left the main character we got Gil whose house they're at Corey and Andre these are the core this is the core friend group but then Gil invites a new friend to come play who can't play

and she kind of stirs the pot a little bit The girl of Corey is the girl okay so the first time I came to see to play in Dumbo house, I thought that she was Gail Bean. It was, Gail. Oh, so it was Gail.

Gail was playing Corrie. Okay, all right. Because then when I came in Harlem, I'm like, wait, that wasn't Gail? Am I tripping? Because they look, they resemble each other. They kind of do, actually. Yeah, okay, so thanks for answering that for me because I thought I was tripping. I'm like, yo, I had just interviewed Gail for a BT talks.

Yeah. And I'm like, I know Gail. I've been watching her. And then I come and I'm like, I was tripping. You probably interviewed her while she was in rehearsal for? I did. Which was so crazy Yeah, which was so crazy

Because I didn't know I came to the play because Taylor Shout out to Taylor made it Who is one of the producers Here on the podcast For the latest with Lauren the Rosa Which is how we met She just was like

Yo, my friend has this play Come with me And then I told her yes Because I love plays And then I didn't make it to that She was like Still just go Like just pull up

And I was like okay cool So I came And when I got there And I saw Gail I was like Oh shoot But then when I came to the second time I'm like, did I not see Gail? No, yeah, Gail is doing a play right now in L.A.

But I had her for that reading, which was great because she came in last minute. She came in last minute. She was reading from the scripts. Yeah, yeah. Okay. So that was another stage reading. Got you. And that's another thing, too, I'm realizing through this process, like, there's a lot of, like, theater things that some people don't know about.

Yes. Especially in our communities, particularly. And, you know, that's kind of a part of why I'm doing what I'm doing because I feel like theater is becoming a lost art form in our community, particularly. I feel like everybody wants to be on TV. Everybody wants, you know, the social media stuff. But it's like, yo, let's take it back to the stage. Let's take it back to the purest form.

You know what I mean? Like, for me, all my favorite actors coming up are a theater actor. And I think people, too, don't understand that. like stage, live, anything, theater, plays. That's where you get instinct from. That's where you get your instant. That's where you learn how to act. Yes.

On stage. But not only is it getting lost in our community, but I think a part of that has to do with the material that's being produced. You know what I mean? I feel like not enough of us are being inspired to say like, hey, I'm going to write a play. Yeah.

Everyone's like, yeah, you know, I wrote this movie. I wrote this screenplay, but very rarely are you here? No, I wrote this play. You know what I'm saying? And to me, you know, I'm going to be real. I feel like a lot of plays right now, I'm going to the theater. Everything fucking sucks. I'm like falling asleep.

You know what I mean? I'm sitting here for two hours and what? You know what I mean? I want to have an experience. You know what I mean? That's the whole point of theater. That was what made it different going to go see a play as opposed to going to see a movie. Right.

Because you knew you were going to get an experience. In-person experience. Remember when people were excited to see the actor spit on stage? It's like, yo, like, I could see the actors spit and like, yo, they really in it. You know what I'm saying? So for me, I was like, yo, I want to bring that essence back. So that's a part of what I'm doing with the play.

I mean, you were there, like the audience is right there. Yeah. You know what I mean? And your actors play to the audience, too. Like when they toast, when they chairs. Which, to be honest with you, if you are at a family get together and Spades is going down and they get a little crazy, everybody joining in.

Everybody, they talk about the renegey and they're talking about the, you know what I'm saying? So it felt like that like family get-together environment, which was great. Hi, Kyle. Could you draw up a quick document with the basic business plan? Just one page as a Google Doc. And send me the link. Thanks.

Hey, just finished drawing up that quick one-page business plan for you. Here's the link. But there was no link. There was no business plan. It's not his fault. I hadn't programmed Kyle to be able to do that yet. My name is Evan Ratliff. I decided to create Kyle, my AI co-founder, after hearing a lot of stuff like this from OpenAI CEO Sam Aldman.

There's this betting pool for the first year that there's a one-person billion dollar company, which would have been like unimaginable without AI and now will happen. I got to thinking, could I be that one person? I'd made AI agents before for my award-winning podcast, Shell Game. This season on Shell Game, I'm trying to build a real company with a real product run by fake people. Oh, hey, Evan. Good to have you join us. I found some really interesting data on adoption rates for AI agents and small to medium businesses. Listen to Shell Game on the IHeart Radio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

A decade ago, I was on the trail of one of the country's most elusive serial killers, but it wasn't until 2023 when he was finally caught. The answers were there, hidden in plain sight. So why did it take so long to catch him? I'm Josh Zeman, and this is Monster, hunting the Long Island serial killer. the investigation into the most notorious killer in New York since the son of Sam, available now. Listen for free on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. Hey there, Dr. Jesse Mills here. I'm the director of the men's clinic at UCLA Health.

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or wherever you get your favorite shows. What do you get when you mix 1950s Hollywood, a Cuban musician with a dream, and one of the most iconic sitcoms of all time? You get Desi Arness, a trailblazer, a businessman, a husband, and maybe, most importantly, the first Latino to break primetime wide open. I'm Wilmer Valderrama, and yes, I grew up watching him,

probably just like you and millions of others. But for me, I saw myself in his story. From plening canary cages to this night here in New York, it's a long ways. On the podcast starring Desi Arnaz and Wilmer Valderrama, I'll take you in a journey to Desi's life. The moments it has overlapped with mine, how he redefined American television, and what that meant for all of us watching from the sidelines,

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Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. What up, y'all? It's your boy, Kevin on stage. I want to tell you about my new podcast called Not My Best Month, where I talk to artists, athletes, entertainers, creators, friends, people I admire who had massive success about their massive failures. What did they mess up on? What is their heartbreak? And what did they learn from it?

I got judged horribly. The judges were like, you're trash. I don't know how you got on the show. Boo, somebody had tomatoes. Now, I'm kidding. But if they had tomatoes, they would have thrown the tomatoes. Let's be honest. We've all had those moments we'd rather forget. We bumped our head. We made a mistake. The deal fell through. We're embarrassed. We failed. We failed. but this podcast is about that and how we made it through. So when they sat me down, they were kind of like,

we got into the small talk and they were just like, so what do you got? What ideas? And I was like, oh, no. What? Check out Not My Best Moment with me, Kevin on stage on the Iheart radio app,

Apple podcast, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcast. Question for you. So you say every character in the play reminds you of someone. No, it's based off. or based off of someone that you know, right? I thought it was interesting because spades is very synonymous, almost,

I mean, I don't know why people, do white people play spades? Sophie. I've met one white person. No, okay. You know what spades is? Okay. I'm not a one of her interviews and she's white. And I've never, I just thought about this right now and forming this question.

I've never even heard a white person even talk about speech. Exactly. Never heard of spades in your life? Okay, she just left Atlanta, okay And that's also like Okay Yeah, so it's, oh girl Dang, we got to bring Sophie to the play

Oh absolutely It would freak her out Okay, so Okay, so Spades is It's us, it's a black thing Right The lead character, Gil that you talked about Is a gay man in the play

Yes I thought that that was As a creator and a person that writes, I was like, I don't know, because I didn't make it to the end of the play. I was like, I don't know if he did this on purpose, but that instantly drew me in because I was wondering, what role or what conversations do you want people to leave the play having because our community sometimes shies away from anybody in any type of community that sexuality-wise, they don't accept.

So a gay male as the lead of the play, he's very openly gay. The first, not to give the story away, but he's dabbling and dabbling into, you know, the DL conversation right off writ. Off the red. And I'm... Okay. I didn't get to that part. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Oh, okay, so, but see, even with... Okay, I did see that part. I didn't think that, because, so in the play, basically, for those who didn't hear the off-camera voice, in the play, there's a point where he's talking about his homegirl's mom. Yeah. But my gay guy friends will compliment you up and down. They don't want you, though. but the gay men are you know they're not there's so much personality and characteristic there

that those compliments and the way he was talking about her mother I just thought it was her home boy just compliment her mom because she's fine I mean the the nuance of that character is that like yes he is gay but like he doesn't consider himself that to him he just likes what he likes you know what I mean it just happens to be men all the time yeah but he just likes what he likes so for him it's like I could pull whoever the fuck I want to pull right you know what I'm saying? So that's what also gives his character that nuance and that kind of special

energy. And it makes his character more specific and not so general. Yes. You know what I mean? Because, yeah, and he's a very strong like person, like you, you, he resonates very well. Like you feel like you know him. You have a

friend like him. As a straight man writing for his part though. Because that was another thing too. I'm sitting there and I'm like, you nailed this i'm like hold on wait i didn't know your sexual preference at the time in talking to you right now i still don't know fully all of your sexual preferences i am a straight man yes okay thanks for clearing that up but yeah i'm now i'm sitting here and i'm thinking i'm like as a writer nailing that character the way that you did as far as like what you wrote for him

was so on point as well too and that character is based off of one of my best friends to this day So, you know, this is somebody I hung out with. So the characters in the play are about 23 years old. Okay. Crush out of college. Yes. You know, trying to figure it out. So during that time in my life, you know, him and I will hang out pretty much every day.

In Harlem, the play, where the play takes place is five blocks from the theater. Got you. So we would hang out all the time and just, you know, all kinds of shit that went down. And he's just an interesting person. He actually lives in London now. So, but, yeah, he's just this interesting person to me. Like, Gay or not, he was just interesting. And I just, and his philosophies were interesting.

So, you know, to write, I was able to write that character because I've just spent so much time with him. And I was able to find. Why was it important for you to make him the main, like he is the glue to the whole spades set up? I consider it like the ringmaster. Like, when you had a circus, yeah, I consider him the ringmaster. Because I just, I think.

I think he's just, I think he's interesting. You know what I'm saying? I think he, and I feel like, you know, he may make some people uncomfortable, which I like. But that's what we want when we go to the theater. We want to feel something. But that's why I thought it was genius. That literally why I'm like, it's a stage. When people see the first thing, the first thing that happens in the play throws people off.

Like, what? Uh-huh. You know what I'm saying? He is very much, okay, living his best life. You know what I'm saying? He is, but that's what I'm saying by because the first, I swear, the first thing I thought of is like, ooh, the auntie's going to have a field day with this one when they come because they love to play space,

but certain conversations, you just not having with your aunties and uncles if you are black male, honestly, not even just a male. I have female cousins who are also gay that have had a hard time to explain things to our family. Exactly. You know what I'm saying? And I think the beautiful thing about his character is that I honestly, feel like it for people to come see it who aren't used to like maybe hanging out with people

in that crowd or whatever I think it it kind of gives them a different perspective that could be or what that could look like because his character's hilarious he's fucking hilarious you know what I mean so to have that and then to have the character Corey who you know is a best friend of his they grew up in D.C. together so they have that rapport and then you got Andre. Andre's you know is God bless him. Andre is one of the characters in the play, y'all. I was sitting there and I'm like, I'm so glad that I met people like Andre when I was 16 and not at 33

because he is just out here just doing whatever comes his way. So Andre is based off of me. Oh, God. Lord, you got yourself together now? Yeah, this is my younger days. Okay. This is me in my younger days. But, yeah, the character is based off of me.

The scenario is based off of me. The character is based off of him. ex of mine a couple of exes of mine kind of in one um the character nefertiti who's the friend that comes in and stirs the pot she's based off of somebody who i used to date is the situation i can't i don't know how to ask this how are the situations based off a real situations too yes i really in the play yeah okay virginity thing we can take that out yeah take that out i don't want to give away to play yeah i can't y'all got to go see the play so knowing that this is all based off of like real life things i mean it felt real but it it adds to it

have any of these people seen the play like the people that you've based it off of have they seen the play and reactions especially the ex-girlfriends no my ex-girlfriend uh has not seen the play is this the ex-girlfriend that's also on tv right now no okay no but i'm sure she'd be triggered by it if she saw it too but no they have not seen the play nor do i think they want to see the play I mean, the ex that is based off of she still, still does not fuck with me to this day. Wow. So, you know, I don't think she's going to see the play. At least not this production.

Maybe another production. The show your ex is on isn't Belair because Belair is only in season four. I've been trying to figure this out. I'm going to keep thinking while you talk about. I just had to look that up. Like, how do these seasons of Belair? I see, you probably watch it. You seem like you might watch it.

So, yeah. Yeah. Andre is based off of myself, Nefertiti is based off of someone I met in L.A. That's another thing, too. And that's a part of, like, the journey in writing it. When I first wrote Nefertiti, I didn't spend that much time in L.A. So I wasn't as familiar with L.A. culture and people like that. So when I was living in L.A., I was able to develop that character more.

You know what I mean? I remember meeting somebody out in L.A. And I was like, as soon as I saw her, I was like, that's a Nefertiti right there. That's the Nefertiti right there. So, you know, that kind of, dating her kind of added some details and stuff like that to the role, yeah. And why is the drink of choice, do you, can I? Yeah.

Wait, Hennessy? It's too. It's Hennessy and it's Taylorport. And it's Taylorport, yeah. Because we didn't have a run with Cosemigos in the community. Yeah. But maybe you can't do it. With Sorok boys, you're not allowed to beat them no more. Like, is there a creative.

answer to that question or did you just pick those because that's what niggas be doing? I feel like Hennessy is such a staple in the black community. Yeah. When you pull that henny out you know what time of it is. You know what time of it is. And then teleport, I feel like there's another staple in our community. It's having a run right now with XO. Really?

Yeah. Oh, all summer they've been doing Teleport. Teleport's bad. Your telephone. Yo. But it's, you know, it's known to be this cheap, delicious wine. It tastes like juice, but that shit'll fuck you. You know what I'm saying? So, and I think it also plays,

I use that because it plays to like her age. She's young. She don't know any refined wines or anything like that. But she's boozy enough to be like, I don't drink any. You know what I'm saying? It's a certain type of girl. Exactly.

So in the play, without giving it away, in the Spade's game, you know, you have your drinks going, your food going, and those were the drinks of choice, which they leaned a lot on as tools in the play. So I was wondering, like, is that a creative thing or just because that's what we'd be doing? So, you know, thanks for that.

In earlier versions, it was Mascado. Because that's, I feel like Moscato's another like cheap. Yeah, the pink bottle. You know, wine. But I was like, let me do the teleport because I've had teleport and I know that thing will, that shit will fuck you up. When people, go ahead. No, go ahead.

When people come and see the play when it's done and it's over and they walk away they're in their cars and they lit because they didn't have a good time there, right? Y'all a good time. What conversation do you want them to have? I mean, one, I want them, you know, I want the experience of being there and seeing the show.

I want that to kind of resonate with them because to me I feel like I'm bringing back what theater used to feel like. They used to feel like going to the theater. You know what I mean? You got an experience. And like, I remember back in the day, like going to like something underground

or like all of the, Broadway was like, that's where the real work and the magic was happening. So for me, it's like, I'm bringing people up to Harlem. You know what I mean? Yo, we're not even on Broadway with it. We're up on 125th, right in the heart of it. And it's not like a tradition. It's not a theater technically.

It's just this really dope space that we use and create and created this story out of it. You know what I'm saying? So, like, people come in and like, the place happening here? Yes, it is. You know what I'm saying? So to me, it's like I want them to leave. If that experience, I hope that, you know, they can relate to somebody in this play. I feel like there's at least one character in this play you can relate to.

You know what I'm saying? And yeah, and I hope it inspires people to want to write their own play. I want people to be inspired. You know what I'm saying? I want people to realize, and I also want people, black people specifically, to understand, like, yo, we don't have to wait on them to make stuff. We can make the shit ourselves. Based off of things we literally just do all day long in real life anyway.

Exactly. You know what I mean? Like, shout out to my team and, like, everybody that's working with me on this. Like, these are all people I love, all people that, you know, like, I couldn't do this without them. You know what I'm saying? And it takes a village, as they say, teamwork makes the dream work. Hi, Kyle. Could you draw up a quick document with the basic business plan?

Just one page as a Google Doc and send me the link. Thanks. Hey, just finished drawing up that quick one-page business plan for you. Here's the link. but there was no link. There was no business plan. It's not his fault. I hadn't programmed Kyle to be able to do that yet. My name is Evan Ratliff. I decided to create Kyle, my AI co-founder, after hearing a lot of stuff like this from OpenAI CEO Sam Aldman. There's this betting pool for the first year that there's a one-person billion dollar company, which would have been like unimaginable without AI and now will happen. I got to thinking, could I be that one person? I'd made AI agents before for my award-winning podcast, Shell Game.

This season on Shell Game, I'm trying to build a real company with a real product run by fake people. Oh, hey, Evan. Good to have you join us. I found some really interesting data on adoption rates for AI agents and small to medium businesses. Listen to Shell Game on the IHeart Radio app or wherever you get your podcasts. A decade ago, I was on the trail of one of the country's most elusive serial killers. But it wasn't until 2023 when he was finally caught. The answers were there.

in plain sight. So why did it take so long to catch him? I'm Josh Zeman, and this is Monster, hunting the Long Island serial killer, the investigation into the most notorious killer in New York, since the son of Sam, available now. Listen for free on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. Hey there, Dr. Jesse Mills here. I'm the director of the men's clinic at UCLA Health, and I want to tell you about my new podcast called The Mailroom. And I'm Jordan, the show's producer. And like a lot of guys, I haven't been to the doctor in many years. I'll be asking the questions we probably should be asking, but aren't. Because guys usually don't go to the doctor unless a piece of their face is hanging off or they've broken a bone.

Depends which bone. Well, that's true. Every week, we're breaking down the unique world of men's health, from testosterone and fitness to diets and fertility and things that happen in the bedroom. You mean sleep? Yeah, something like that, Jordan. We'll talk science without the jargon and get you real answers to the stuff you actually wonder about. It's going to be fun, whether you're 27, 97, or somewhere in between. Men's Health is about more than six packs and supplements.

It's about energy, confidence, and connection. We don't just want you to live longer. We want you to live better. So check out the mailroom on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your favorite shows. What do you get when you mix 1950s Hollywood, a Cuban musician with a musician with a dream and one of the most iconic sitcoms of all time. You get Desi Arnaz, a trailblazer, a businessman, a husband, and maybe most importantly, the first Latino to break prime time wide open. I'm Wilmer Valderrama, and yes, I grew up watching him, probably just like you and millions of others.

But for me, I saw myself in his story. From planning canary cages to this night here in New York, it's a long ways. On the podcast starring Desi Arnaz and Wilmer Valderrama, I'll take you in a journey to Desi's life. it has overlapped with mine, how he redefined American television and what that meant for all of us watching from the sidelines, waiting for a face like hours on screen. This is the story of how one man's spotlight lit the path for so many others and how we carry his legacy today. Listen to starring Desi Arnaz and Wilmer Valderrama. That's part of the MyCultura podcast network available on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. What up y'all? It's your boy, Kevin on stage.

I want to tell you about my new podcast called Not My Best Moment, where I talk to artists, athletes, entertainers, creators, friends, people I admire who had massive success about their massive failures. What did they mess up on? What is their heartbreak? And what did they learn from it? I got judged horribly. The judges were like, you're trash.

I don't know how you got on the show. Boo, somebody had tomatoes. I'm kidding. But if they had tomatoes, they would have thrown the tomatoes. Let's be honest. We've all had those moments we'd rabbit. forget we bumped our head we made a mistake the deal fell through we're embarrassed we failed but this podcast is about that and how we made it through so when they sat me down they were

kind of like we got into the small talk and they were just like so what do you got what ideas and I was like oh no what check out not my best moment with me Kevin on stage on the Iheart radio app Apple podcast YouTube or wherever you get your podcast And then talk about, you know, just, you're talking about taking a village. So we did all of the kind of like the context of your backstory. Right. How has everything that you've been through, the people that you've met, come into this moment of spades right now?

Because like I said, I walked in the first one and I'm like, that's galbyn. Like, you know what I'm saying? And that's a big name to have attached to a play. You're a big name as well. But, you know what I'm feeling? No, it was. I mean. Face recognition, you instantly, like, you know, and that helps to put your project in certain conversations.

Absolutely. Because she has fans. Exactly. I mean, shout out to Gail. Thank you. I mean, the story about how that came. She wasn't who I had originally for that reading. The girl I had originally had to pull out,

and she kind of pulled out last minute. So I was in a pickle. But, you know, I hit up a friend of mine in the industry who has worked with Gail. I said, look, I think Gail would be good for this role. I think she lives in New York from what I see on her Instagram. am I reaching out to her and you know what I'm saying and she reached out I mean the person I called to reach out to her she she makes things happen because people have a lot of respect for her as do I so I knew hitting her up to hit up gale was just going to expedite process oh

Tasha need to come see to play I met Tasha a few months ago she needed to come see to play she would love it Sasha Smith was in which is so random because like we didn't even really know each other like that it was just like, you know, you meet good people and passing. When I was trying to figure out leaving L.A., I randomly called her. She didn't answer, but she texted me and was like, hey, everything okay? And I texted and said, I'm about to quit

my job and move from L.A. I just wanted to get some advice from somebody that's actually working and doing all the things I want to do. And she sent me a voice note. And that voice note had me crying, and the next day I quit my job and moved here. You see, but you took the league. Yeah, but I'm saying she's a person that like,

I mentioned that because I know that, like, Gail did Harlem and, you know, Tasha Smith is working on, what was working with Harlem and all the things. But you talk about getting her to that play. Like, she's the type that will come out to that play, talk about that play, like, and that's one of the things that I love about what you're doing and the reason why I'm like, all right, I can only come for like 30, 40 minutes, but I'm going to come.

It takes me an hour to get there. But I'm going to come because I want to support it is because I understand that if what we're doing right now, that's how people find out about it. That's how your play gets to wherever things. theaters you wanted to go, gets the eyes, gets the financial support. It does take community and you've had your resources, but we've got to be like the Tasha Smiths of the world who will pick up the phone and call, we'll come out, we'll talk

about it, like, that's like so big for me. And I think what you do, y'all need it because theater is, it's not the thing that people like run to yell about. Exactly. I mean, because also, too, it's like, as I said, I think it's another example of like people are more concerned with the glitz and the glamp. You know, folks want to be on Broadway and all this other shit. That's cool.

What's the work that's being produced? I'm sitting in these plays and I'm like, yo, this is whack. On top of that, I'm tired of seeing the same actors all the time. Why can't we get new faces? You know what I'm saying? There's other people who are just as hungry, who are just as talented, if not more. They just needed the opportunity. You know what I'm saying?

That was something I did. That was something I was very conscious about in casting this. I wanted brand new faces. I don't want to see the same. all the time. These are all people I know, because I'm in the industry with them. Right. Y'all, I'm tired of seeing y'all.

I want new faces to help bring this story to life. You know what I'm saying? Because instead of people coming and be like, oh, that's so-and-so, I want people, oh, that's Gil, oh, that's court, you know what I mean? Like, I want, because to me, I feel like that helps the character resonate even more. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? So, you know, for me, it's just kind of like, we just need, like, we need to shake things up a bit right now.

because it's too stale it's too stale everybody just wants the accolade but what's the product what's the story that you're telling them what's the experience that we're getting you know what i mean besides hey i was there and so-and-so from so-and-so was in and i took a picture with them but what's the story what was the play about i don't remember i felt asleep you know what i'm saying like i want to if i'm coming to the theater i tell me a story like move me you know what i mean something so i'm i'm i'm i'm i'm i'm i'm i'm i i'm i i'm i i'm i i'm i i'm i i i'm i i i i'm i i i i want to bring that back and we I want to travel with this like New York is not the one and only stop I want to take this all over the country I know they go to Atlanta Sophie said Atlanta oh I know they're going to eat it up Atlanta look Sophie told us oh oh they're going

to eat it up oh no Sophie we know we so I had some people audition from Atlanta send audition tapes from Atlanta I mean but that's a black mecca so that's like a duh you know what I'm saying? Atlanta, D.C., Chicago would do well. Chicago, we eat it up too. I went to Chicago recently and I was like, this is Atlanta. Like, it's so black. Really? I was in the Soho, I was in Chicago

and it was all black people and like, I was, because you hear the complete, like, not that you don't hear that black people are in Chicago, but you only hear about the bad things happening with black people when it comes to Chicago, at least on a media level for me and what I do. So when I went there and I'm seeing all these black people in the Soho House and, you know, it's just

vibes and people are happy and, you know, there, I was just like, yes. Like, it felt like I was in Atlanta. It felt like I was in Atlanta where you walk outside and, like, black is royalty. I'll tell you what my dream city is New Orleans. Oh, yes. I would love, uh, New Orleans is my favorite city in the world. Yes. I would love to bring this play to New Orleans.

They will eat it up. I think it'll happen. Hey, well. Because, you know, New Orleans doesn't have a theater scene like that, which is... Which is crazy to me because I feel like... Yeah, all of their, like, the band, like, front lines, stuff that they do is... They get the music. And the costuming.

And you know what it is? It's because New Orleans is a theatrical experience in itself. Just being in the city, the food. So, New Orleans is my dream city because, you know, as I said, like, they don't have a theater scene out there. And I think this place specifically, they were... Oh, they would eat it up. On top of that. that what you know what we want to do is like every city we go to we want to like cater to like

that city you know what I mean so like you know how we have the Sunday brunches here yeah you know we'll do that in New Orleans and say like we'll have you know we'll bring in a band you know because they're big on that second line and all of that type of stuff and imagine the food in New Orleans imagine the food in New Orleans you know what I'm saying so what do you need to make that happen like money money exactly simple as though how How can the people, you know, our community here at the latest with Lauren the Rosa is called the low riders. On the audio side, we have 5 million people. That was like a few months ago.

So we probably well over that. The visual side, we're here. This is new our home in our studio. So to all the people listening, anyone watching, how? What do you do? I mean, for one, if you're in New York, if you are in New York City, come see the play. Just first and foremost. Just come see to play.

Come experience it. so that at least you know what you're putting your dollars into and you know and then you can relate to what we're talking about we have you know we have a donation link if people want to donate but i think first and foremost i just want people to come see it got you come see it come experience it you know what i mean because i think that'll help with moving people to want to do it because then also too i get it the economy is real effed up right right now but we need joy too though we we need joy and That's another great thing. And that's why Sunday brunch is on my favorite days because it's just pure family.

You know what I mean? You come in. We have a different DJ every week. His aunt has been our food caterer and she's been killing it with the food. Do they eat in this space that we were in? Oh, yeah. On what? There's no tables.

No, there's. Oh, okay. On the second floor, we got tables set up and everything. Got you. Okay. You can eat. It's a 420 friendly space. So, you know, you get to smoke on, too.

You know what I'm saying? we have drinks you know what I mean everything is everything that you need to have a good time is provided for you shout out to our host Sarah Sarah you know kind of keeps the vibes going she's really dope and it's just a good time and then you get to watch a play after you know what I mean and then after the play

if you want to chill and play Spade some more you can do that too you know what I mean it's just a good time where you could just come and commune and just you know it could be a nice little date night little situation or a nice little yo come find you you know come find a little situation you know They need a website.

They need a website and they need the Instagram. So how can they come to, where do they get the tickets that come see the play? Go to our Instagram at Spades the Play. All common spelling? Huh? All regular spelling. All regular spelling. Spades the Play.

Okay. It is our ticket link is in the bio and they can find it there. And yeah, you know, we're still building. We're still building. We are in the beginning stages, but this is going to grow. You know what I'm saying? I think because also, too, another beautiful thing is that. that this is literally the

only thing of its kind. There's no other play that revolves around the game of Spades. I love this for you. I'm trying to look up your ticket link so you can share it because on the audio side you got people that might not be Instagram savvy. Okay. So I want to make sure they can get to you.

We're selling our tickets through Posh. It's an app for like events and stuff like that. So if you have the app Posh, you can find us their space to play. Same way. Do you Google? got you got you and we'll um in the so for everybody uh you know listening watching whatever we'll have the link visually if you're watching but if you're listening um we'll make sure that we put

the link i'll have it on my like instagram and then we'll also try and make sure that we put it in a description i don't know if it's clickable there from that though but if it is i don't mind doing that for you either so that people can be able to but if you're listening just i'm gonna do this just in case we can't link it if you're listening um spades the play on instagram all common spelling but you guys follow me on instagram as well i'm la rosa everywhere and y'all know i'll be posting this and tagging and all the things so that you guys can find this play definitely go out and see it definitely bring a friend definitely tell a friend i've enjoyed the conversation i know one of my favorite things to do as you know a podcaster because we're

podcasters now y'all it's have conversations that i enjoy and like i've been able to do that through this show i've been blessed to be able to do that and i've thoroughly enjoyed this conversation and hearing your journey. And I'm proud that you kept going. Yeah. Are you happy now? Yeah. I mean, yeah.

I mean, it's, look, there's been a lot of moments where I was like, yo, what am I doing? What am I doing? You know, God, like, what are you doing to me right now? Yeah. But, you know, it's just that, it's that resilience to, like, keep going no matter what. Because, you know, you're going to be faced with obstacles.

That's life. But that's the test. Yes. Can you make it, you know what I mean? Like, are you going to let so-and-so stop you from making it happen? You know what I mean? and every time I persevered, it's come through for me. You know what I'm saying?

So I already know big things are going to happen from this. I don't know what, but I just know this is something that I was put here to do. You know what I mean? And that's another thing, too. In that journey I told you about, it allowed me to discover my purpose. You know what I'm saying? Okay, I'm not just Marcus the actor anymore. Telling people I'm an actor, it's so boring to me.

Because it's like I do way more than that. Yeah, acting is my, you know, my friend. first love and all of that, and I could do that. It ain't going nowhere, but I also do these other things, and I have a lot to offer, but sometimes you have to put yourself out on Front Street in order for people to realize that, as opposed to waiting for someone to tell you that, because these folks ain't going tell you that. They're just worried about, hey, can you audition for this thing?

You know, we want the 10%, you know what I mean? You've got to bet on yourself. You've got to bet on yourself. If you know that you have more to offer to the world, you have to bet on yourself because no one's going to want it more than you. Yes. I agree. Well, look, low riders, I tell you guys, every single episode, y'all could be anywhere with anybody having these conversations. And listen, y'all choose to be here every single episode.

So I am extremely excited that you guys got to experience what I've been able to experience in seeing Spades to play and hearing from the creator, Marcus Callender. Also, too, I'm an ambassador of this company called U.S. You are four roles. It's a rolling paper company. And what makes their product unique as well is that the rolling paper kids come with a built-in grinder. Come on now. I think it's in here. I don't know nothing about much, but he's very excited about it.

So this is the paper right here. You know, you got your papers. You got your filters. Then on the inside. Let me see the granger. There's a little mini grinder right there. So, like, on the go, you can take your weed. Oh, you still got to do it like, okay.

But like, let's say you're like, under your nails, though. But, but look, it's better than nothing. Oh, it's a grader, okay, because I know grinders you normally like twist them. Sometimes you'll be out, you're like, damn, like, I don't know what I'm saying? You know what I'm saying? And it comes with that. And then we have a grinder.

We do have a grinder. Additional one, okay. That's pretty special too. Got you. It's shaped like a UFO. Got you. Okay. This is our grinder.

I love that. Got like a little UFO shape to it. So for all my marijuana connoisseurs out there, looking at the UFO role. You can copy your product and then you can come and watch the play because it's 420 friendly and you can use the product with the show. We got product galore at the show. Yes.

Well, y'all, make sure y'all pull up, check out space to play, created, directed by Markets Calendar. Thank you so much for joining us. This has been an amazing conversation and congratulations. And when you are winning all of the awards and all the things, okay, don't forget us over here. I ain't going to forget. We're going to call y'all back for another interview. Don't forget.

I'm sure. I know I'm a little all over the place, but we knew, but we're here. It's the latest with Lauren the Rosa the podcast. I'll see you guys in our next episode. Thank you all for joining me. This has been a live conversation with actor, storyteller, creative, Marcus Callender. I'm Lauren the Rosa. This is the latest with Lauren the Rosa, signing out.

What up y'all? It's your boy, Kevin on stage. I want to tell you about my new podcast called Not My Best Moment, where I talk to artists, athletes, entertainers, creators, friends, people I admire who have had massive success about their massive failures. What did they mess up on? What is their heartbreak? And what did they learn from it? I got judged horribly. The judges were like, you're trash. I don't know how you got on the show. Check out Not My Best Moment with me kept on stage on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, Kyle. Could you draw up a quick document with the basic business plan? Just one page as a Google Doc and send me the link. Thanks. Hey, just finished drawing up that quick one page business plan for you.

Here's the link. But there was no link. There was no business plan. I hadn't programmed Kyle to be able to do that yet. I'm Evan Ratliff here with a story of entrepreneurship in the AI age. Listen as I attempt to build a little. real startup run by fake people. Check out the second season of my podcast,

Shell Game, on the IHeart Radio app or wherever you get your podcasts. On this week's episode of Next Chapter, I, TDJ, sit down with Denzel Washington, a two-time Academy Award-winning actor and cultural icon. I don't take

any credit for it. I just didn't put me first. I just put God first and he's carrying me. Listen to the next chapter podcast. on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. New episodes drop weekly. Hi, I'm Dr. Priyanka Wally. And I'm Hurricane DeVolu.

On our new podcast Health Stuff, we demystify your burning health questions. You'll hear us being completely honest about our own health. My residency colon was like a cry for help, honestly. And you'll hear candid advice and personal stories from experts who want to make health care more human. I feel that I never felt like I truly belonged in medicine. We want to make health less confusing and maybe even a little fun. Find health stuff on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The Big Take podcast from Bloomberg News keeps you on top of the biggest stories of the day.

My fellow Americans, this is Liberation Day. Stories that move markets. Chair Powell opened the door to this first interest rate cut. Impact politics. change businesses. This is a really stunning development for the AI world and how you think about your bottom line. Listen to the big take from Bloomberg News every weekday afternoon

on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.