The School of Greatness - 342 Taye Diggs: Manage Your Ego by Living In Gratitude

Episode Date: June 15, 2016

"I prepare as much as I can and then I leave space for something that is unplanned." - Taye Diggs If you enjoyed this episode, check out show notes, video, and more at http://lewishowes.com/342

This is episode number 342 with Kaye Diggs. Welcome to the School of Greatness. My name is Lewis Howes, former pro athlete turned lifestyle entrepreneur. And each week we bring you an inspiring person or message to help you discover how to unlock your inner greatness. Thanks for spending some time with me today. Now let the class begin. Welcome everyone to a special edition of the School of Greatness podcast.

I am pumped because we've got an incredible human being. His name is Taye Diggs, and that's right, he's in the Greatness Studio today, and boy, did we go there. Now, I'm going to share a story with you in just a moment about how we personally got connected and how I made this interview happen. But for those that don't know who Taye is, he's got his degree in musical theater from Syracuse University, and he made his show business debut in the ensemble cast of the five-time Tony Award-winning play Carousel. And he's best known for his Broadway musical performance on Rent and in the film How Stella Got Her Groove Back. That is right, getting that groove back. As well as his time on TV's hit show Private Practice.

Now, what I didn't really know about Tay is he's also a very passionate dancer and choreographer. So we talk more about that. Some of the main things we cover in today's interview are how to practice self-love without feeding your ego too much. Now, Tay is a huge superstar, well-known all over the world, but we all need to fill our tanks up. We all need to feel positive, feel loved, and take care of ourselves. Otherwise, we can't perform at a high level. And we really dive all need to feel positive, feel loved, and take care of ourselves. Otherwise, we can't perform at a high level. And we really dive in how to do this, but also be humble and grateful and not feed the ego too much, which I think you guys are going to enjoy. We talked about also what holds back young actors and what they should be focusing on early on. Also, how getting

outside your comfort zone is like flexing a muscle, the value of experiencing friction in life, and Tay's tips for fixing a mistake that you make on stage. That's right. So for any actors or speakers who are listening right now, this is going to be some great practical advice for you. We cover this and so much more in this episode. I'm super pumped. Make sure to share this out with your friends or watch the full video interview at lewishouse.com slash 342 because this is going to be a great one and your friends are going to thank you for sharing that with them and introducing it to them. But in this moment, we've got a powerful interview with an incredible human being so without further ado let me introduce to you the one the only tay diggs welcome everyone back to school of greatness podcast very excited about our guest his name

is tay diggs what's up my man how you feeling sir good to see you man see you as well appreciate you coming in i appreciate just came out from the gym. I did. A little sweaty. It's all good, man. We're going to get messy. We were just jamming on how we both play basketball. You haven't played in a couple years. Yes, I haven't. But we're going to go out there and jam sometime soon.

We are. We are. You're going to be my excuse to get back out there. There you go. I'll be your big man. You can be my point guard. All right. Or something like that.

Throw me down. Exactly. Exactly. Now, I'm excited about this. We got connected. Well, first off, my friend Barbara Fiorentino said that she was friends with you a few years ago. And I was like, I'd love to have this guy on someday. Yeah, she's great. And then I ran into you at Tender Greens.

And I was like, you know. I had a hat on. Yeah, you had a hat on. I was like, eh, maybe I'll go say hi to him. But I was like, I'd rather, I like to have an introduction. You know? Sure. When I'm trying to do an interview, it's like. Oh, right.

Maybe I should just ask Barbara, like, hey, will you make an introduction? As opposed to me coming up to you and be like, hey, will you come on my show when you don't know who I am? But you commented on my hat, though. I was just like, hey, man, you got a great hat. You got a great hat. Yes. You got a great hat.

And then that was it. And then the next day, or two days ago, I see you at Soho House. And I was like, all right, this is a sign. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And you were chilling. You weren't with anyone. So I was like, let me go say hey, that I know Barbara. Right.

And what did you call her? I mean, I was waiting for somebody. You were waiting for somebody. But you weren't like. Don't make people think that I'm just by myself. Right. At Soho House. You were waiting.

In the lobby. You were waiting. Exactly, yeah. Okay. Yeah, yeah. I got things. I hear you. But you weren't in a conversation.

So I didn't have to interrupt anything. No, no. I get your stuff. And I was like, all right, let me see. It worked out. Feel it out. And I was like, we should have you come on. And you were like, absolutely, let's do it.

So we made it happen. We're here. We are here in the studio, the Greatness Studio. Yes, hashtag greatness. I really dig what you're doing, man. Thank you. I really do. Thank you.

To be out here in, no offense to LA, but to be out here in la and dedicating you know your time and energy to to other people and and kind of bettering you know where we are is really great to to to witness i appreciate it good stuff man yeah now for those that don't know who you are you um are an actor and you're among many things and a writer as well you've got a couple kids books books you want to talk about. And we'll have everything linked up here on the show notes so people can check these things out. But you started in kind of the Broadway theater scene and then movie and TV and you've done all types of acting.

Yeah. You've done it all. I've been very fortunate. You've done many movies, many TV shows. Yeah. All over the place. Yeah, I've been lucky. It's been amazing. It has many TV shows. Yeah. All over the place. Yeah, I've been lucky. It's been amazing.

It has been. And I have something in common with you in that sense. What? I did, my senior year, I did the high school musical at my school. You did? I was like, you know what? My whole family is very musically gifted. Really?

My brother's the number one jazz violinist in the world. He is? Yes. Who's your brother? His name's Christian Howes. And he played in New York City a lot. He played with Les Paul in Times Square at the Iridium all the time. And yeah, he travels all over the world.

Well, you're just getting more and more intriguing every second. But I didn't have those skills as growing up. My parents were opera singers at Ohio State, and that's where they met. Wow. So they put- I was the youngest of four, and they put all my family into music except for me. So I was a sports guy. They didn't put you in? They tried to, but I was like kicking and screaming like in the piano lessons. Wow. So they put, I was the youngest of four and they put all my family into music except for me. So I was a sports guy. They didn't put you in?

They tried to, but I was like kicking and screaming like in the piano lessons. Okay. Get me out of this. Right. So maybe you had the talent. Maybe I didn't. Now I play guitar because I was like, I feel like I had to learn something. Yeah.

Yeah. So I can play like campfire songs, you know? That'll work. Especially with the female. Exactly. Yeah. But I was like, my senior year, I was like, I have to do something in the musical. I have to get out of my comfort zone.

And so I auditioned for the lead. And I'd never done any acting, any lines. That's crazy. I was terrified. But I was like, I'm going to put myself out there. And it was called Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Sure. You know that one?

Uh-huh. And I got the second, the oldest brother. Not the main brother, but the oldest brother. Yeah. That's not too shabby. Yeah, it was cool. I had a few lines and dance, and it was an incredible experience. Good for you.

And I was like, I wish I would have done this my freshman year. I bet. But you would have turned out to be a completely different person. It's incredible being on the theater in a live performance. It can be, yeah. And you just finished up a show. In New York? Yeah.

Hedwig. Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Yeah. I saw some previews for that. It looks incredible. Yeah. There's nothing like it. That was the hands down, bar none, the most challenging project I've ever had to, you

know, I've ever been blessed enough to kind of take on. Right. So it was a life changer. And did you, and it's a one-man show essentially basically i mean there's a wonderful band right right uh on stage and then there's the the the character that that plays my love interest um but but the majority of the piece is me yeah is that have you ever done a one-man show before that no no and i had i had you, I balked at the idea. But once again, as you said, I wanted to step out of my comfort zone. And I had seen the show many, many times prior.

And I was a fan. And I thought, you know, whoever, this is some real stuff. Let me try and see if I can do it. And I got through it. You did it. Yeah, yeah. You made it out okay. Yeah, and see if I can do it. And I got through it. You did it. You made it out okay. That's usually not my game.

I'm pretty laid back. I kind of know where my comfort zone is and what my strengths are. I've always been that cat that's just been cool, just gliding along. I like to feel comfortable. You've got the roles that you kind of play. Yeah, yeah handsome black dude you know best friend sure um uh but this was but then you know the older you get the more ambitious hopefully you get and i started to i wanted to

really kind of ring life out and get get get uh get the best be the best I mean? What's the biggest lesson you learned in that experience? Oh, my goodness, so many. Well, to keep stepping outside your comfort zone. Yeah. That life is more than comfort. Yeah. Right. Definitely.

Do you feel like you grew the most? What was it, a 12-week run? Is that what it was? About a couple of months. What is that? Yeah. Something like that. Something like that.

Yeah. Oh, ridiculously. Yeah. But I also realized that it's like a muscle you know um you know when i was in the middle of that run i felt so powerful and then i thought all right this is going to change my life forever i'm never going to be scared you know i'm never going to be scared. You know, I'm never going to not want to kind of, you know, press the boundaries. But you have to keep yourself in that state or your body forgets it. You know what I mean? So I got to start looking for something else now because I can feel the fear. Really? And the complacency kind of, you know, especially in L.A.

You know what I mean? Right. and feel the fear really and the complacency kind of you know especially in la you know i mean right if you're lucky to have a little bit of success and a nice little ride a nice pad you know fun friends it's easy to just chill and be fine with that and just kind of take things that come your way uh but i gotta uh i gotta keep keep that machine working and keep looking and keep finding and keep thinking of other people besides myself just to keep striving. You know what I mean? Right. Who's the most inspiring actor in the world right now for you? The man or the woman or the child who's like, wow, they are just fearless. They are just so courageous or they're connected or whatever it is.

Who inspires you? My son. He's not an actor, but my son is all of those things he's my biggest inspiration and then after that would probably be my mother but then uh uh acting wise uh actors that you know i mean denzel he's just he'll just always you know as a mutant what you know, what can you say? He's amazing. What can you say? He's all of it. Do you feel like he actually takes risks, though? He kind of has the same role every time, it seems like, right?

I mean, I'm such a fan that I can see the differences, you know, in each role. And, you know, as an actor, you know, people always say you kind of get cast as yourself. But then the characters are different and the risks that that character takes, they're different as well. So I can see how somebody would feel that a performance is different even though it may look kind of similar. Because he's a leading man, so obviously he's going to get those roles. But it's just amazing, you know, watching him, you know, push the limits, you know, in his work. And, you know, I get the game.

As an actor, you do a couple of movies that are commercial, and then you do a couple that, you uh uh stretch you out a bit yeah and i feel like he's done that he's done it enough for me you know what i mean he's incredible yeah man uh what else who else is out there oh man i'm so old i'm forgetting these uh but uh but uh young man the jackie robinson now i think he's Panther. Yeah, I'm not sure his name. I'd see the face. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Hitman.

What's the singer? One, two, three. James Brown. He played James Brown. Not Bokeem. Awful. I'm old. We'll figure it out.

We'll link it up please give it a big up he's he's doing really well these days you know uh yeah i mean it's it's it's a there's a lot of talent out there sure sure it's very easily very easy to get inspired yeah what was the what was the big dream for you growing up was it always to be an actor or did you have some other dream you know what i got a best friend uh my cousin shane evans he's he's the illustrator of all the books that i that i do he grew up with me and just recently he reminded me because now i'm at the age where you know we're all doing pretty well and we're just wondering what what we were like when we were younger um and if we had the foresight and he told me when

i was in high school that I would walk around telling everybody, I'm going to be famous. I'm going to be famous. And I was a little embarrassed because I thought I had a little bit more, I thought I would have been a little bit more sophisticated in my description. But at that time, I guess that's what it was. You know, I enjoyed at the time singing and acting and dancing, so maybe I didn't know which medium was going to take me there. But apparently I had the drive, and for whatever reason, the gods looked down on me, and I'm doing all right. Yeah, that's cool. God's looked down on me and I'm doing all right.

Yeah, that's cool. If you could only, if the God said, okay, you only have one choice, sing, dance, or act for the rest of your career. Oh, man. Well. You couldn't do any of the other two. You could only do one. Oh, man. Well, I mean, if God's looking down on me, if he would keep my body in shape, it would be dance.

Wow. Yeah. Really? I get the most joy from that. Yeah. But then, you know, acting is the most sensible yeah um and if it's comedy it's just it's it's just fun yeah i mean interesting um what type of what type of dance do you like to do man i mean i started out kind of modern contemporary um you know it's fun to to to move your body parts around with hip-hop and whatnot but uh you know i had a dance company for a while and i was really kind of uh into the the modern dance scene for a bit um and i still choreograph um would love really yeah yeah that's cool love

to choreograph uh more you know move up to broadway and uh and other modern dance troupes. I've always been a very physical person and I've always had a special relationship with music. We would have Saturday dance parties at my house

where the record would skip because everybody was jumping. Back in New York? This was in upstate New York, would skip because everybody was jumping. Back in New York? This was in upstate New York, Rochester, where I grew up. Wow. Yeah. My mother was at the helm. Yeah.

So it's always been in me. It's tough getting older, though. The knees, the back. Yeah, man. I feel it, man. When I'm playing sports, I'm like, you got to warm up a little bit longer. You got to stretch. You can't just get out there and start dancing or playing ball.

You got to warm up. You really do. And warm down. Yeah, stretch. Ten years ago, six years, when I was playing ball steady, I just remember sitting on the couch and just aching, aching every day. But then going back the next day and playing. Yeah, yeah.

So, yeah, this getting older thing is kind of for for the birds i hear you but other than that i hear you well you look young so hey i'm thankful for that i will i'll take what who was uh it sounds like your mom was a pretty big influence for you growing up was she the most influential person growing up for you she was she was she i have four brothers and sisters. You're the oldest, correct? I'm the oldest, yeah. And she was in kind of an abusive relationship and then raised us, then went back to school, and now is teaching theater and acting still,

almost through getting her doctorate. So she's, yeah, she's something else. And at the same time, you know, always told us that we would be successful, was always unbelievable, you know, just so loving and so supportive. You know, while I was in college in acting school, I would hear from other students and hear about their struggles and parents not being supportive or having to pay for college themselves

because the parents wouldn't do so. And none of that was there for me. My parents, my stepfather and my mother, they led us to believe that we could, you know, accomplish anything we wanted. You know, like we didn't come from money, but when it came to college, I just knew that I was going to go. I didn't know how, but there wasn't that question. And so many young people today don't have that available to them,

even the option. They don't even realize that it's something that they can do. Did did you get a scholarship or how did that work out yeah yeah scholarship and then my mother was really really slick with it with you know financial aid and figuring out where grants and everything just like really apply for everything i get that totally for me so she was really you know each and i was a i was a cat where each semester, you know, I'd get those butterflies where I wouldn't know if all the money, you know, was coming in. You know, sitting in the bursar's office and that smell and the wallpaper. All the other poor kids, you know what I mean? Yeah, I hear you.

I hated it. I hear you, man. But, you know, I got through all four years and then, yeah, so that, you know i'm lucky enough to to kind of help her out she's always wanted to live in the city she's in the city in new york yeah that's great yeah so uh there are times you know when i get on my high horse and i'm like my mom's she's still young why do i gotta pay for this and that but but then when i think of everything, you know, it's cliche, but everything she sacrificed. Right. She is why I am who I am today. From why I perform to just the confidence to, you know, I'd like to think I'm a very kind person.

You know, she's so unbelievably kind-hearted. And funny. She's a funny, crazy-ass lady. Now that I'm an adult, she's crazy. Really? And it's really fun to just be around. What's the quality you love about your mom the most? Her kindness and her sense of nonjudgmental when it comes to me. I could tell her that I just smoked crack and killed eight people, and I would have no problem.

She'd still love you yeah yeah i wouldn't worry about shaming her um you know which is tough you know and i would love to i want to raise my son like that um where he could he would he can just feel like he could no matter what tell me whatever without without without me judging him i would love that and her sense of humor you know she's uh if i can make can make her laugh you know i mean when she makes me laugh it's it's for real that's cool that's so yeah she's all right when was the moment um that you were like wow i this was like the big moment was a broadway show was a tv show movie where you're like oh this is like the moment where i've kind of gone from amateur ranks to now like oh this is the big leagues yeah what was that opportunity this doing this podcast you know i mean the thing called the

school of greatness yeah man i was like i made it now uh but little things like this help you know um but when you were like in your 20s and you know that's uh how stella got her groove back my first that was it yeah my first movie it it went down the way i had imagined it really uh yeah and and you know even today i i think you know i don't know who the hell i thought i was um i want to go back and talk to that dude because he was just so confident. I was actually impatient. I was in my mid-20s. Were you doing Broadway at that point?

Yeah, yeah. And I was like, I need to have been in a movie yesterday. Wow. I really had that attitude. I remember I got Carousel, a show in the ensemble. And I was like, okay, this makes sense. I was in the ensemble and I had fun. And this makes sense i was in the ensemble and i had fun and then i went away to japan and made a little bit of money um then i came back and got

rent um and i was that was a role but it was one of the smaller roles it was the lead no nowhere near the lead but original cast right original cast and all that was cool but deep down inside i was like this isn't this isn't not jam yet you're not on the front center you know this isn't how i imagined it yeah um and i was one of the last ones to pop from rent um and there was a little time in there where what do you mean by that like others were getting major roles and yes we were the shit like it was it was the major show of the of its of its time right everyone was going it was like major show of its time. Right. Everyone was going. It was like Hamilton of the time.

100%. It was like, we have to go to the ranks. Yes. I have friends in Hamilton, and they were dealing with what percentage they should get. It's unprecedented how successful the show was. And that was us back in nowhere near what Hamilton is, obviously. But that was us back then. Kind of had that vibe, yeah. 100%.

It was a style of music theater that people weren't really used to. And the success was ridiculous. So yeah, we were that. We were them for our time. And I was the last one to... everybody was getting record deals and studio deals. TV shows, films. And I wasn't getting – I got a couple of screen tests and I got a soap opera. I was on Guiding Light for a little bit.

But then finally, when it was around – I had been in the show about two years. Then I got House Seller Stella got a groove back. Wow. Then I was off to the races. Wow. What opportunities came from you after that? It was just movie after movie. It was, I was awarded, you know, the card of working actor in film and TV.

You know, I had to audition, but there were always offers. There was always a job there that I didn't necessarily have to read for. You weren't the struggling actor anymore. You were the working actor. Yeah, then it was just a matter of, well, what kind of roles do I want to do now? And that's still, you know, that's still the, you know, I'm still chasing that. And at what point, you know, do you compromise money for, you know what I mean? Integrity for life.

Yeah, exactly. The art. Sure. Yeah, when I was younger, I wanted to be Will Smith. Right. And have that kind of success. I mean, he's crushed. Oh, my goodness.

Talk about. He is crushed. He's, yeah, he's a miracle. uh he's a miracle right he's a miracle um yeah i would love to just sit see if i have a podcast i want him to be my guest i'm working on trying to get yeah do it man do it and let me let me let me be come here too yeah you could ask the questions i'll sit in the corner eating a graham cracker. But then, you know, once I got older and had a kid, you know, I don't want to be all around the, I'm fine with just a cool television gig, you know, where I'm happy. And then, you know, other elements of the business, you know, with this reading children's books and, you know, just trying to help people and, you know, put good vibes out there in the world. I'm trying to kind of monetize that as well.

So we'll see. What's the most challenging part of the business for you? Is it switching from – Ego. Ego. Tell me more about that. Well, this is an industry where it's based on you know ego and and who's hotter who's hot who's not you know the last you know

the last project you know you're in here in la it's it's always what you drive and where you live and who's on your arm and where you work out where you work out sure all of that all of that no no seriously um so you know on the path that i'm kind that i've kind of chosen you know it's it's it's been interesting living in in this in this atmosphere that is so uh you're kind of inundated with with that vibe but then trying to see through it and honor yourself and do what's good for you what's healthy for you and your family

a son helps, kids help it keeps you grounded and humble because they don't really care how cute you look what roles you got you can have really fresh Jordans and a nice ride but if they have a fit in the middle of whole foods they don't really give a fuck so exactly so that's cool

um so they help but you know you know i'll be i'll be in the movie theater and i'll i'll be looking at the next anthony man anthony oh he's another one too really really good Anthony Mackie film and I'll have that little twinge of oh should I be on this poster and are people thinking I'm not relevant

because I'm on a TV show but then I have to tell myself I'm happy you know and would I be you know would I be happy being the next

you know black Spiderman or whatever maybe but that's months away from the kid and yeah my bones my knees i don't know if i can be do all those stunts right uh you know it's a young man's game so uh uh and you know it's it's it's it's tough to do all that and then and then try

to to give back do you know what i mean for me yeah so uh so you know that's that's probably the the struggle because there's still that little, there's still that young Taye Diggs, that fighter, you know, the flame, you know, in my eye that still wants to, you know, I still want to get an Oscar. I still, you know, love the publicity and whatnot. So I guess that's probably the biggest challenge is keeping myself grounded, realizing what is real. Do you know what I mean? Because if you let that stuff take you over, it will take you over. And I don't want to. It's unfulfilling probably.

Yeah, man. Yeah. At the end of the day, you know, my son, he fulfills me. Do you know what I mean? It sounds so corny. But, you know, being the lead of a movie is great. But, you know, when you read to children and you're affecting lives like that, you know, that doesn't go away. You know what I mean?

You know, kids, like if I had written, you know, where the wild things are. Do you know what I mean? It's a legacy Things Are, do you know what I mean? That doesn't go away. People will forget if I'm Spider-Man. No matter how much the opening weekend is, people forget real quick. Too quick. Do you know what I mean?

Especially if you haven't done anything in two, three years. Do you know what I mean? And it's really not fair. It's really not fair, especially as an African-American actor. People are making history and it's really not fair. It's really not fair, especially as an African-American actor. People are making history, and it's just getting overlooked. Do you know what I mean? So I'm cool. I'm cool. What's the biggest fear for you moving forward in life and your career?

Oh, it's just my son's health. When you have a child, it's the most vulnerable thing. Yeah. It's crazy. So, you know, I just try to put that out of my head and just stay positive

because if I think about what my life would be without him or if something awful happened to him, I don't even know. Right. So that's an easy question to answer. Yeah. Yeah. Because him i don't even know right so that's that's that's an easy question to answer yeah yeah because you really don't have control for something like i mean i'm i'm choosing to believe i do sure i'm willing it so but at the end of the day you know yeah so

um i just try to stay positive and and them in my prayers. I hear you. I mean, you're around a lot of actors all the time. Do you feel like self-love is something that actors need more of? I think the world needs more of it. Yeah, yeah. 100%. What do you think – how do you practice self-love yourself? And what would you – how would you give back to people listening who are maybe struggling or trying to figure out their worth in the world, whether it be in a relationship, career, anything?

What's some ways you can practice? What's not building your ego too much, but it's like the fulfilling self-love, you know? Sure, sure. I think it manifests itself differently in different people. You know, like for me in a conversation, you know. So I think at the end of the day, it's tough, man. It's one of the hardest. I think it could be one of the hardest things to do, which is just convince yourself that you are worth it.

To do, which is just convince yourself that you are worth it, just you who you are, not comparing yourself or putting yourself in a context. Because it's so easy to say, oh, am I as intelligent as this person? And then looking at what you have to offer in terms of intelligence because it's not about that because that can easily be taken away or you cannot have it. So you have to find who you are as a person regardless of everything else and everyone else around you and just be cool with that

and let that power you so that no matter how great how handsome how talented no matter how whatever it is you are you can you consider yourself more than enough yeah and in this world that's based on all of that other shit it's really tough to do because we we're here and first thing we ask ourselves, what do I have to offer? What makes me different? What makes me special? So that's where I think the difficulty comes in.

Do you have a practice that you do like every morning to help you get ready for the day or a ritual or routine? Yes, I do. It just changes every three days. You know what I mean? Because I'm still on that tip of what works yeah yeah so if i if i like meditate for 20 minutes then i have a great day for the next week i'll meditate yeah and then until i have a sucky day and then i'll try something else sure sure but you know um you know it's tough to not be result oriented you, growing up an actor and dealing with sports.

But for me, it's having a practice and something that kind of forces you to be outside yourself and then realize that there's something more. I think whatever that is, I feel like you're pretty good if you can focus on that. That being one of the things, you know. that is, I feel like you're pretty good if you can focus on that. Yeah. That being one of the things, you know. And then afterwards, then actually focusing on yourself so that you can allow yourself to focus more on other people. You know what I mean?

Sure, sure, sure. It's tough, man. Yeah. It's tough, man. Yeah. It's tough. This cycle of life is the most difficult just because I'm the most aware. And at the same time, you know, with being split and a divorce and a single father, you know, I have the most, yeah, I've got a full plate. So every once in a while, I'll feel sorry for myself just because I just feel like I'm working constantly, trying to be a good person, trying to be a good father, trying to take the high road, trying to be more mindful, trying to be more forgiving. And sometimes I want to say, fuck it.

I mean, sometimes I do. I just came from Vegas. You said it that whole weekend. That was pretty unmindful. Sure, sure. You know what I mean? But I can't wait until I get to the point where, you know, I don't have to binge, you know, where I can just, it can just be life. And that can just be where I chill out as opposed to kind of winding it up winding it up

and then feeling like i have to unwind you know to the point where it's you know alcohol and girls and dancing and clubs and you know i still got a little bit of that in me um so you got the young you know because i never it's it's so much so many things i never got to do that as a young man you know i grew up really religious and then came into success quick and then got married quick. Working all the time, just focused. You know what I mean? Yeah, yeah. And then it was really judgmental with, oh, these people, you're a bad person if you do this.

And slowly I started to open up my eyes and started to experiment with stuff. And clubs are fun. It can be fun. You know what I mean? Girls can be fun. You know what I mean? Girls can be fun. So I'm coming off that train now. But every once in a while, it's still fun. It's just go a little crazy.

Sure. What are the non-negotiables for you? Like every day that you're like, I have to do this every day no matter what. Or maybe it's not meditate, but I'm going to eat a certain way. I'm going to think a certain thing. It's of those things it's either working out well you know what to be honest it's it's i force myself to think of others and kind of walk walk a path of of trying to to um to love you know i? As corny as that sounds, trying empathy.

Do you know what I mean? Empathy is what it is. Every day I'm forcing myself to try to see if somebody rubs me the wrong way, if somebody does something, whether it be to me or to someone else

or if someone comes to me and asks some advice you know i force myself to try you know to to say something that that will kind of uh throw a positive spin on something um and and not go the negative route yeah Yeah. You know, I feel good about that. I feel good about myself, yeah, when it comes to that. That's something that I'm pretty diligent in, I think, doing. There's a lot of young actors and people, writers, people in the entertainment world that I know listen to this. If you could say that there's like the mistakes that a lot of actors make

and the things that they do well, what would be like the top two or three things that you think, if you're a young actor, writer, trying to make it in this world, what should they really be focusing on? And what is holding them back that you see? You know what? I was thinking of writing a book um that you know was kind of um grounded in humor that that has to do with with what is going to be like the you know the actor's

handbook to becoming famous uh because it's a cliche you know it's like there's a young person who's got all this talent you know know, maybe they start out doing plays. Then they do a play. They win an award. Then they get the card to come to Hollywood. You know, then they do the whole Hollywood thing. And it really, you know, chews them up. They date a celebrity lady, get married, the drugs, the strip clubs, this and that.

And then they fall out, go to rehab. And then pick this role and get nominated for an Oscar. So part of me thinks that it's pretty, you know, you just need to stay grounded and to keep focused and to kind of not fall prey. Have someone have your back, you know what I mean? But then, you know, but then you don't get, you know, sometimes I think you need to get roughed up you need you need experiences so that uh so that things mean something you know like all the shit that i've been through i've been through it so now i know yeah um for a minute i was living

a great life i thought i was you know a good person and kind, but I didn't know shit. I didn't know what people meant. I didn't know what it was like to struggle to a certain extent. And until I did, the world didn't open up. You need experiences no matter what. I'm not telling everybody to get addicted to drugs and spend $100,000 at a strip club. But everybody has their own kind of path. So I don't want people to end up killing themselves,

but I think it's good that people experience some friction. What does that mean, that they should just be constantly going out, putting themselves out to bigger roles or bigger opportunities and failing essentially or getting said no to i think people should follow their instincts you know i i truly do um i mean i could sit here and say you know be focused and stay out of trouble and you know i think at a young age if people can realize that there's something outside of themselves that there's a a greater energy yeah you know i don't think you can go wrong there but uh you know people living their lives and having their own experiences um i think it it it's you know it bodes well for them

you know being selfish you know all of that you know, being selfish, you know, all of that. You know, thinking of others. You know what I mean? Do you, do you, but think of others and just go for it. Go hard. Yeah. Tiff wanted me to ask you a question, and she said, what was it like to work with –

I'm not answering Tiffany. You know Tiffany? You don't know me. In private practice, you worked with uh shonda rhymes right yeah and she's a big fan of her she's reading her book right now so are you me too she wanted to know something about yes there's something that what is it the year the year yes so she wanted to know what was it like working with her she's it's a big inspiration for her in the in the entertainment world oh man well that was when, yeah, that was a, I had my kid when I was on his show.

That was a time in my life, you know, time and time again, I feel like I've been blessed. And then, you know, the thing about this, being human, being an actor, being in L.A., really, really amazing things can happen to you. And then you can forget and then have fear and doubt and i swear to god actors have the you know we we have the shortest just memories you know things can be so so bad you know and then we can say all i need is this job and you know once i get this gig and once i get this card i'll be fine then we get the gig in the car and we're just complaining about what it's like to be in that car and in that gig. Really? Oh, man.

I mean, actors are awful. We're awful people. Okay. We're so, you know, we want shit for free. Right. And if the car's not here at the minute and the cable's not, I mean, you know, if I'm not on this magazine color. Oh, dude. And we come from nothing, you know, if I'm not on this magazine color and, oh, dude. And we come from nothing, you know?

Right, right. So it's not, you would think we would be the most appreciative group on the planet. And instead it's the opposite. You're getting the most attention. Oh, totally. You're getting the most recognition. You know what I mean? On the red carpet, just frowning because somebody else, you know, went before you.

Really? When you just got dropped off in your limo or the car doesn't come on time. You're wearing a $10,000 outfit. You know what I mean? Totally. I'm sitting here next to Sandra Bullock. I was supposed to be before her. Come on, man.

But you get caught up in it. Yeah. See, I got caught up in that. What was the question? Oh, Shonda Rhimes. Shonda Rhimes. Yeah, yeah. see i got caught up in that what was the question oh so uh uh i was on a gig where i was like uh all right this next thing i want to i want to shoot a gun so i was on a show where i was shooting

a gun and then you know doing stunts and being the tough guy and so that ended and then i thought to myself oh you know what i would love to be on a show like uh like gray's anatomy you know shonda rhymes i could just you know really act and have those amazing monologues and wear a suit and and the next thing i know she called me in and she's like i'm this new there was this new show i'm you know i'm i'm creating with with kate walsh and it's a spinoff and and i was like that's this is a dream come true. You really can manifest some stuff. And she was just wonderful.

I don't know how, I can only assume that everybody else had the experience that I had. But I don't know if it was because I was black or a young man. But I really felt like she was looking out for me. You know, we'd have, you know, meetings about the character and I could tell that she was very protective of the character I played. And, you know, unfortunately in this time, in this era, when it comes to African-American roles, you have to set a precedent just so you don't have to. But if you want to make a difference, you need to set down some

ground rules so that people don't get it twisted. So with that character, you could look at my character as, you know, a professional black man and, you know, no, okay, not all black people take drugs. Not all black people just, not all black people are irresponsible. Gangs or whatever. She didn't make him, like he was just a good dude through and through so that that character was there and you couldn't do anything about it. And that was proof that black people like this exist. And I'm thankful for that. She's a monster, man. She's just killing it.

And it's just so exciting. It just tickles me. Big lesson you learned from her working with her? What was that? To go for it. You know, somebody,'t know she's she's just did it you know she had the audacity you know to think that she could do shit and she's doing it so producing like five or ten shows why not shows on tv whatever if you would have told me that somebody was going to do that i would have laughed in your face and said,

why don't you just chill with one? Right. Like, be cool. You know what I mean? Yeah. What makes you think that they're going to open the door for you? And she was like,

fuck it. I'm kicking this door down and I'm going to be really good at it. Wow. You know, so... Amazing. Yeah, it really is. That's really cool.

I mean, this is... i didn't think i knew stuff like this was going to go down but i didn't think it would happen this fast with you know a black president and then people like like shonda rhimes just and and people have just gone so far beyond you know my expectations um you know my mother used to say make sure you can do everything better than they can whoever it is and and and all of these people i think you know came from that school where it's like you be so great that they cannot deny you yeah you know if they want to make money they have they have to use you that's will smith he was like you know people were telling him you know black people don't have any weight overseas and then he just started doing number one july

4th he was like you how about this now you can't deny me yeah now you can't deny me amazing i'm so good and i'm gonna be so good at what i do that it doesn't matter what you think about my skin tone or who came before me. These are number one summer hits. Yeah. Selling the most everywhere, worldwide. No excuses, no basketball, sports, or he's a musician, he's a – none of that. None of that. It was just like bonafide movie fucking star.

And it's awesome. That's cool. You know? Have you guys spent time with him before? No. Man, I went to a couple of premieres. And, you know, he's like a god. He looks at you and you feel blessed.

He's that much of a legend. You know what I mean? He is legend. Exactly. I am legend. And now as little kids, you know, I would like whatever they're selling, I'll buy. You know what I mean, he is legend. I am legend. And now as little kids, you know, I would like whatever they're selling, I'll buy. You know what I mean? I'm taking style points off of Jaden.

It's embarrassing. But they, you know, it's really great to see. It's a really cool time. When you prepare for a big moment, whether it be on stage, TV, film, and you're like, okay, this is the scene. This is like the moment or one of the moments of this film that I'm doing or experience. How do you prepare mentally and emotionally for that? Obviously, you've got to do the reps with the memorization, I'm assuming, which you've been doing for 20, 30 years now since high school. But how do you prepare mentally, emotionally to be

like, all right, this could be a make or break moment in this. I got to make sure I show up. Okay. Well, the first thing is, is I don't think that. Okay. I don't think it's going to be a make or break moment. I take all the pressure. Oh, that's good. Uh-huh.

For me. For me. Some people, it fuels them. For me, it taps into my anxiety. So for me, I just got to tell myself, you know, this is what you do. You got this. myself, you know, this is, this is what you do. You got this. Um, and this is one thing that the, uh, the last play I did, uh, on stage, uh, in New York helped me with was, uh, you know, I prepare as much as I can and then I leave space for something that is unplanned. Um, just because,

uh, that's when some really, really great shit can happen magic yeah exactly i used to be the cat that would over prepare you know and plan out the joke and you know with the physical comedy and make sure i say this in this tone because it's been proven if i say it eight times you know seven times people are like i used to plan it all out and see it in my head because I had that talent of just knowing what would work, the comic timing, what plays to what type of audience. And that's a talent unto itself, but it can get stale. And it limits you as an actor. actor you know i feel like they're the real the really great ones you know leave leave just a little space there uh some give you know uh they're a little bit more pliable uh and that's when you can you can let uh you know the spirit of a moment take you and that's when you know it's some

something really exciting can happen so these days i i try to i try to leave leave some room for that and it's tough it's tough because uh you know acting is a technique and you know there's stuff that actually works um especially in tv and film where you're you know you're the the redundancy is that a word i think so yeah i'll make it a word you know you You're just saying the same words over and over again. It can be tough, but it's something to constantly work on. Do you usually prepare the night before and visualize the scenes you're going to create the next day? Do you prepare the day of? It depends because I got a kid.

I'm dropping his ass off at school. So you get it whenever you can. Exactly. A lot of times I'll memorize in the makeup trailer. Really? yeah yeah right before like an hour right before yeah oh not an hour no no no like minutes no way yeah yeah but but that's just because you know for me so long you know yeah yeah yeah it's it's there's uh uh you know it's it's episodic television and we we know the rules um you must know what they're going to say next anyways. Pretty much.

Yeah, yeah. Pretty much. And then, so, you know, as I said, luckily I'll have enough time to get the lines on my belt. And then there'll be just some kind of fun energy on set with me and my co-star or with some of these really great guest stars we have. Yeah, so it's luckily, you know, I don't have to put too much attention into memorization. You've practiced the reps enough. Yeah, it truly is like a muscle, and I feel grateful.

Have you ever had a moment in a movie or a show or on stage where you just literally blanked, or you couldn't get the line down, and you had to do it over and over yeah for like an hour and you're just like what is that what's that like it helps and it helps when you because it hasn't happened in a minute but those were the times when i was overly concerned with getting it right i have to memorize it all looking if i don't i'll look awful and then i'll feel awful all that anxiety is i think, what caused me to

have those moments where I would blank. And then, you know, it's like going down the rabbit hole. There's the fear of, oh, it literally is like this. Because you can think of, you know, a million things while you're on stage. So I'll be, you know, giving a monologue or in the middle of a scene, and then I'll have the the seedling of a thought oh my goodness how crazy would it be if i forgot this next part wait you have this next part memorized right wait do you have it is it the next part what's this next part oh what's it and then you're offline and if if you can't. And now see, when you really know what you're doing and you're kind of in the moment, something really great can happen. And you can improvise and get a great laugh or notice something on stage that prompts you to get back on track.

But if you're inside your own head freaking out, there's no room for anything special to happen except fear. And it's fucked up top it's just awful oh um um so what the couple of times i had repeated myself and got back on track um other times i just walked off stage really i forgot the line and we just on a live play and then then you know you're with other professionals, so they keep going. They make it up. Or just say something that didn't make any sense. But the audience maybe doesn't know all the time. Yeah, yeah.

And then there were times where I was just laughing at myself where I forgot the words of a song, and it was like, skidoo-doo-doo-doo! Yeah-da-da! No way. Yeah, and then we're all just laughing on stage the less you care i think the better the better off oh my goodness you know um because then the

audience can laugh at you instead of feel sorry for you because that's what you don't want yeah that's the worst you don't want everybody going and i and i've been in both places in the audience you've watched it oh yes you just. And you just – it hurts you. Yeah. It's not comfortable. Yeah, no. But if you get somebody that forgets it and they say – goes up, they're like, I just forgot what I was about. Then everybody can laugh with you.

What's the next line? I'm sorry. Something like that. And then it just – what does it do? It makes you realize that we're all human and that it's not about performance. It's just about living and energy and, you know, it's more about that, I think. You know what I mean? What's the quickest way for you to get in the zone, in the ultimate flow?

Being present, you know, thinking outside yourself. You know what I mean? Listening. You know, all these are really, really good tricks for acting. Just getting outside of yourself. I was very much the opposite of, like, control of myself. Literally, my technique was if I can control, if I can be in complete control of who I am, then nothing can with me. You know what I mean?

But it's the opposite. If you kind of allow yourself to lose control and just be informed by what's being thrown at you, that's when the real shit happens for me. That's cool. Yeah. What's something you've done that you're really proud of that maybe not a lot of people know about? Man, I'm really proud of my son. You know, just he's between me and his mom.

And, you know, obviously people know that I have a child, but they don't know what I feel. And, you know, how I grew up and what I had to deal with and you know kind of working against that and using you know the strength that I've gained from from you know kind of the the uphill battle that I've that I've had to deal with seeing him you know seeing all of you know my uh struggles kind of manifest in him uh you know my you know kind of making the right choices with him and allowing him to be who he is that just really it's a mirror it's miraculous just the way you know life life is and how he he's his own person but then i can see you know his mother's influence and my influence i'm his nana you know um it's it's just amazing

that's cool yeah what are the top two lessons that you really want him to learn and know as a young boy growing into a man, if you could only, you know, let's say you can only teach him two main lessons of like everything that you've known and that you wish he could become, what would that be? Believe in himself and believe in others. Those two, you know what I mean? Kind of equally. Yeah. Both.

Yeah. Kind of in that yin and the yang. Sure. Yeah. Kind of in that yin and the yang. Sure. Yeah. What was it like kind of growing up in the ranks, early career for you with another actress, actor, and being in an intimate relationship and then getting married and you guys both have your own careers, both doing successfully in your own ways. How does that work? And how do you make it work? Obviously, you guys were together for a long time,

but how were you able to make it work and grow so there was a lot of love but not competition and too much ego because you're both doing big things? You know what? Now that we're split, I don't know. I thought that we did a good job of it, but now I'm wondering if maybe we weren't as honest with each other as we could have slash slash should have been and that kind of lent itself to

our our splitting up you know um adina did a great job of of never making me feel like she was competing um she never made me feel like she was jealous um because for a good portion of the relationship i was a little bit more a limelight no exactly yes she's always been i think more talented you know the gift that she has she's done more broadway you've been on. She's, well, I mean, not necessarily. She was on Glee for a while, too, right? She was on Glee. She was a great role there. I'm a big Glee fan, so that's why.

Oh, for real? A huge Glee fan. Oh, yeah. Yeah, she's a little too. It was like my show there. Yeah, I hear you. Yeah, yeah, yeah. She was, like, I was always, I could do a bunch of things fairly well.

And she was like nobody, there's nobody on this earth that sings like her. I can't say that about myself. I mean, is there someone who can dance better? Is there someone who can act? Is there a better looking dude? Is there someone who can sing better? But for her, she has something that is just God-given that you can't deny. You know what I mean?

So it took her a minute, you know, it took her a minute or it took the world a minute to kind of figure that out. But I don't think it's a mistake that she really came into her own after we split. You know? I don't think that that. It was after you split when she kind of. Yeah. Yeah. She's tearing shit up right now. Tearing it up. You know, I don't think that that. It was after you split when she kind of. Yeah, yeah. She's tearing shit up right now.

Tearing it up. Do you feel like she maybe held herself back because she wanted you to shine? Possibly. Possibly. I don't know. Because, yeah, she was. I don't remember there ever being a sense of competition. You know, whenever I was on a movie set, she was always there visiting.

I know that I was giving as much as I could to her and always trying to tell her that she was definitely going to make it and to never lose hope. She's very, very talented, so she would go back and forth. She'd do something on stage, and then she'd go and she'd do something like Glee or a movie or some kind of a television program and then go back to stage. But she's wanted it.

She's wanted it, and now she has it. So I'm very, very, very happy for her. That's great. What advice would you give to maybe two young professionals who are both very driven, who both want to be successful and want to be kind of in the limelight of their career, not necessarily acting, but they want to be at the top of their business game or whatever industry they're in. What advice would you give to them, you know, being together to make sure that they're both, what advice would you give to them being

together to make sure that they're both, I don't know, feeling loved and accepted? Oh, you mean people that are in a relationship? Yeah, in a relationship, whether they're married or not or they're just together, what advice would you give to two young, driven, successful individuals who want to grow together? Ask themselves if they really want to be together. And if they do do that has to be first whatever that means you know like there's some people you have to be you have to decide to be together to want to be together first and then from there you set up you know the ground rules

which is only be away for two weeks or are you whatever that is for you yeah but um it only works if you have the other person in mind and if you have the other person in mind because you won't uh it's a choice if you feel like oh i have to do this because i have to i mean there are those times right but that that's not early in the relationship. Early in the relationship, you should want to, I think, be in the relationship. But that's just me. You know what I mean? Like, I didn't want to take a job that was so far away. Or sometimes maybe I did, you know, and maybe those are the moments where, you know, where the little cracks start.

Those are the moments where the little cracks start. But it's got to start with the two people deciding we want to be together. This is going to be tough, and we're going to get through it because that's the thing. No matter what, we're going to get through it. You know what I mean? Yes, that's the thing because shit's going to go down. Shit's going to happen. Jobs are going to come. Other people are going to try to come in between you.

There are egos. But if you decide, okay, let's decide that we're going to come out on the other end, then you're cool. But it's tough because you're young. You're young and you think you know one thing when you're at a certain age and then you think you change. It's a trip. It's difficult. Final few questions for you. I feel like I could wrap all day with you. That's good stuff. I want to respect your time.

What are you most grateful for in your life recently? Of course, my son. My relationship with – this is like what I do. I'm grateful. That's the one thing. You're going back to that question every day. I'm grateful

to be alive and to have a working relationship with my mother, my son's mother because that could be so... It could be messy. And I'm so sensitive.

It could really... And I'm already, even with stuff is great. I feel sorry for myself even when we're getting along and she'll come and get walker i'll miss my son but uh it could be really tough uh uh and i see people around me that are struggling um you know with with how much time they get to spend with their kid and so i'm very thankful for that. I'm thankful she, you know, that a Dean is doing well. Yeah.

That, that type of stuff. That's cool. You know, being grateful. That's cool. This is called the three truths. Okay.

And this is what I asked everyone at the very end. Okay. And, and Tay has not been debriefed on this. So this will be off the cuff. I'll start off with saying people say I'm a little above average. Most. Exactly.

So this is called the three truths. And let's say it's many years from now. Okay. And everything you've ever created has been erased from time. All the books you've written, the movies, videos are all gone. So no one has any record of your information that you've given back to the world or your creations. And you know it's your last day. and everyone there you care about is there. And it's peaceful.

It's a celebration. But it's your last day. Many, many years from now. Yeah. And your great, great whoever, grandson, grandchild, during Goddard, gives you a piece of paper and a pen and says, can you write down your three truths, the three things that you know to be true from everything you've learned in your life that you'd want the rest of us to know three truths about life

what would those three things be oh um oh man okay uh let me send it off the cuff yes well love love that's a truth right there uh forgiveness that is something that is real um uh laughter those those those those three for me um yeah see like right now my head is i'm struggling with myself because i want to be even more specific. But then there's the other side that says just relax. And just those are the three things that came to me. Don't worry about how smart I seem. Or people. Exactly.

Just keep with that. Love, forgiveness. And laughter. Love, forgiveness, and laughter. Yeah. That's a pretty great life right there. That's a great life. I like that.

That's true. I'll take it. I'll take it. We've got one final question okay before i i ask that i want to make sure we uh let people know about your book you've got a couple books yeah yeah right you got two books one's called chocolate me chocolate me right and that one's called mixed mixed me yeah and why did you write these books and who are they for uh they're for everyone uh specifically if i need to be specific you know young people that are kind of struggling with uh their own identity and uh self-worth and self-esteem uh growing up for a portion of my life i was the only little chocolate dude in this neighborhood uh in new york right in in upstate new york so it wasn't

like you were in the queens or something no no this was upstate new york you know uh very white right uh there was one other little dude named reggie um and we were the only two like dark spots in the hood in this in this white neighborhood um and i was made to feel less than and different. So I wrote a book based on my experience of this little boy that gets made fun of. And then he grows to realize that he is special even though he's different. And that chocolate obviously is the symbolism for being black and that it's sweet and delicious and tasty. It's positive instead of negative. Them dealing with having to choose and kind of not knowing which side of the line to stand on and who they identify with. And the ending message of that is you are who you are. Just love yourself and demand that other people love you as well.

Yeah. To not have to choose. Yeah. To just be who you are. Okay. Cool. Yeah, man. The website for that is IamMixed be who you are. Okay, cool. Yeah, man. The website for that is IamMixedMe.com.

Thank you, sir. For that book, and you've got gear. You've got some of the hat right there. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We'll have all this linked up on the show notes, but make sure to go to IamMixedMe.com to learn more about that. Where can people connect with you most? I know you're on Instagram, you're on Twitter, Facebook.

Where do you hang out? I'm trying. I'm trying. I'm so awful at all that stuff. But those – whatever those things are. Yeah. I'm always trying to get new content. I need to be reminded.

But I'm getting better. That's cool. We'll have it all linked up. Thanks, man. Check out those three, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook. Okay, final two questions. Sure. One of them is if you had a word that you had to put on your forehead in reverse so that when you walked in the mirror and only you could read the word, the word or a phrase.

Okay. You had to Mike Tyson yourself, put a tattoo on your face, and it was a word or a phrase that you. That was just, you had to, you had to Mike Tyson yourself, put a tattoo on your face and it was a word or a phrase that you had to look at. Every time you looked in the mirror, you saw this phrase. What would that be? Grateful.

Grateful, yeah. Just to remind myself. Because it kind of works. No matter what's going on, it can, if you really buy into it, it can switch everything up. Hard to be angry and grateful at the same time. You know what I mean? Yeah. Yeah, if you really buy into it, it can switch everything up. Hard to be angry and grateful at the same time.

You know what I mean? Yeah. Yeah. If you really buy, and that's the hard thing, is really buying into it, like really. But if you can take your time to really kind of dig yourself out of that hole and think of all the stuff you do have, it can switch it up. That's great. Yeah.

Well, before I ask the final, final question, I want to acknowledge you for a moment, Tay, for your incredible inspiration. Oh, thanks, man. For you constantly jumping out of your comfort zone with all the different roles you've played that have inspired people all over the world. I mean, you represent a symbol every time you step into a role,

and you allow people to see what's possible for themselves. Thank you. Yeah, and your ability to constantly show up and have like a great heart. I mean, I've only known you for literally an hour and the two times I met you briefly, but your energy, your spirit, your heart, you know, you're so wise and that you're also wise that you know you don't know it all. Yeah. And so your humility and your i just appreciate all of it so i want to acknowledge you sir i appreciate that yeah of course i really do of course thank you i'll take that yeah yeah and the final question is what's

your definition of greatness greatness uh my definition of greatness is is being who you are genuinely, whatever that is. I think that's great, whatever that is, whatever that means. There you go. Taye Diggs, the man. Thanks for coming on, brother. My man. Appreciate it. Absolutely.

Appreciate it. All right. Yeah. There you have it, guys. I hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did, check out the full show notes and get connected with my man, Taye Diggs, at lewishouse.com slash 342. That's right. Subscribe to all of his information, all of his social media. Get following him.

Say hi to him. Let him know what you thought of this interview. Tweet him. And let me know what you thought as well over on Twitter or Facebook or Instagram or on the blog at lewishouse.com slash 342. This guy is a gem of a human being. He's doing incredible work in the world. He's inspiring, motivating, and I hope you guys really support him moving forward. Again, if you found this inspiring in any way,

please share this with your friends over on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and let people know about the School of Greatness podcast. way, please share this with your friends over on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and let people know about the School of Greatness podcast. We're getting over 1.3 million downloads a month, and it's all because of you. You continue to listen, you continue to share, and you continue to spread the message of greatness. And for that, I am forever grateful and so appreciative of your kind support. And it's that time of the show where you know what time it is, it's time to go out there and do something great. Outro Music Bye.