ENCORE: Get into the Christmas Spirit with Keke and Ludacris

Today we’re unwrapping a gift that keeps on giving—an encore of the holiday magic Ludacris brought us a couple of years ago. This episode is packed with all the festive vibes, from a strange story about Keke’s childhood Christmas play to Luda’s heartfelt reflections on the joys of being a proud “girl dad.” These moments are just the ornaments on this tree of an episode, but the real star on top? A round of “Sorry To This Man: Christmas Edition”—it’s pure holiday gold. It’s the most wonderful time of the year! So, why not spend it with Keke and Ludacris? On this week’s episode, we get into all things Christmas including the bizarre thing Keke did as a kid during her church’s Christmas play and our favorite memories from the holiday season. As a veteran father in the game, Ludacris talks about the responsibility that comes with being a girl dad. He also reveals the strange way he and Keke first met and drops a hint at what he’s bringing to the table in 2024…we’re living for this! You won’t want to miss Keke’s impression of Luda’s iconic rap style or their Christmas song sing-along! If this doesn’t get you in the holiday spirit, we don’t know what will! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Speaker names marked ? are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

• 0:05Keke Palmer?

  'Tis the season, listeners. It's me, Keke Palmer, lover of all things Christmas. It truly is my favorite time of the year. So of course, we had to put together a special holiday episode for you with an equally special guest. Today, I'm joined by my friend, actor, and Grammy Award-winning rapper Ludacris. He shares his favorite holiday traditions, serenades us with a few Christmas songs, and he shares the most valuable thing he learned in 2023. Coming to you. You know how he always does that. Now, let's get into the Christmas spirit together because, baby, this is Keke Palmer.

• 1:11Speaker 01

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• 1:43Keke Palmer?

  All right, Sharon, Diane, Palmer.

• 1:47Speaker 02

  Oh, goodness gracious.

• 1:49Keke Palmer?

  What are your plans for the holiday, even though I already know?

• 1:53Speaker 02

  Um, well, I do plan on going on a family trip, so I'm excited about that.

• 1:59Keke Palmer?

  To an undisclosed location.

• 2:01Speaker 02

  Yeah, no, yeah, exactly. And just resting, you know? The older I get, I just look forward to just resting, trying to watch Christmas movies. I love Christmas movies.

• 2:13Keke Palmer?

  Me, too.

• 2:14Speaker 02

  Um, just, just chilling and watching the kids have fun, you know.

• 2:19Keke Palmer?

  What's your favorite Christmas movie?

• 2:21Speaker 02

  Oh, my favorite Christmas movie. I love, um, This Christmas. I love This Christmas.

• 2:28Keke Palmer?

  That's like a up, more modern movie.

• 2:30Speaker 02

  Yeah, yeah, yeah, but I mean, but all time like favorite, well, I don't know if it's the Christmas movie, but I love Die Hard. It has Christmas themes.

• 2:39Keke Palmer?

  Oh, well, you really love Bruce Willis. My mom has loved Bruce Willis all my life. Like, seriously, all my life, my mom. What is it about Bruce Willis, Sharon?

• 2:47Speaker 02

  Uh, the first time I saw Bruce Willis.

• 2:49Keke Palmer?

  Not the first time I laid eyes on Bruce.

• 2:51Speaker 02

  The first time ever I saw your face, uh, was in a TV show called Moonlighting. And I just thought he was so funny in this. In this TV show, it was just hilarious, the stuff he was saying. And then it was just like, uh, every, he was just saying so many things that was funny. It was quick. It was very quick punchlines and I just thought, wow, this is a, a really fresh talent, you know what I mean? Um, so that's where I first liked him. But then when I saw Die Hard, all of the Die Hards, but mainly the first Die Hard. Um, and then obviously everyone knows the storyline. He's going to see his wife. He and his wife are kind of on the rocks.

• 3:31Speaker 02

  And he's flying, I think from Chicago to LA. And it's Christmas theme. The whole first opening scene is, it lets you know it's Christmas. Um, and I just, I think Die Hard is just a great movie.

• 3:43Keke Palmer?

  Oh, my gosh. I have actually, don't no one kill me. I've never seen Die Hard.

• 3:47Speaker 02

  You've never seen Die Hard? Oh, my gosh. Okay, well, you need to see, we should watch it tonight.

• 3:53Keke Palmer?

  Okay, we can watch it.

• 3:54Speaker 02

  We should watch it tonight. It's a really, it's, it's a Christmas theme, but obviously it's a, a action movie.

• 4:00Keke Palmer?

  What's like the famous lines from there? What's like a famous? He, doesn't he say something?

• 4:05Speaker 02

  He says, uh, yippee ki yay.

• 4:13Keke Palmer?

  I mean, yeah, he's an iconic actor. Love Bruce Willis. Prayers up for him. I know he was struggling with some stuff this year.

• 4:19Speaker 02

  Yes, to him and his family.

• 4:20Keke Palmer?

  Bless his family and his family. Um, okay, my favorite is A Diva's Christmas Carol. It's nothing but Scrooge. But with my girl Vanessa's, Vanessa Williams.

• 4:29Speaker 02

  It was good.

• 4:29Keke Palmer?

  It was such a good one. You know, we had, let's hear those sleigh bells ringing and ringing and ringing and doo. She just jazzed everything up. You know, I really just loved that. I like the, like, music, the modern music with it. So definitely a big fan of A Diva's Christmas Carol. Home Alone is always a good one. I just went to go see that, uh, had a, had a friend's date. We went to this really cool place called Forkin' Film.

• 4:52Speaker 02

  Okay.

• 4:52Keke Palmer?

  I literally, if anybody is in New York or California and is trying to look for a good little vibe, Forkin' Film is the place because they literally show movies.

• 4:59Speaker 02

  Really?

• 5:00Keke Palmer?

  And they feed you the food that's in the movie.

• 5:02Speaker 02

  Oh.

• 5:03Keke Palmer?

  Yes, so we went to see Home Alone.

• 5:05Speaker 02

  So they eat pizza in the movie, then they serve you pizza?

• 5:07Keke Palmer?

  We had pizza, we had shrimp, we had the sundae, like, like we had.

• 5:11Speaker 02

  Really?

• 5:11Keke Palmer?

  Literally, all the things. They even had it like, I think the food place was named like Nero's Pizza? Like, they literally made little, individual little box of the Nero's Pizza that he was eating in there.

• 5:22Speaker 02

  Wow.

• 5:22Keke Palmer?

  It was just really cool.

• 5:23Speaker 02

  How many people are there in the room with you?

• 5:26Keke Palmer?

  About like twenty.

• 5:27Speaker 02

  Okay, that's a nice number to control.

• 5:29Keke Palmer?

  Yeah, so we watched the movie and then we had the food and they had like specialized cocktails. We had the M and M cookies in the end. It was really, really cool.

• 5:39Speaker 02

  That is nice.

• 5:39Keke Palmer?

  Girl, we had so much fun. So Home Alone is always a really good classic.

• 5:43Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 5:44Keke Palmer?

  And then I'm gonna be honest with you, nobody is a better Santa Claus than Tim Allen.

• 5:48Speaker 02

  Yeah, that was a good one.

• 5:49Keke Palmer?

  Tim Allen, he is so good. I love him in those movies.

• 5:54Speaker 02

  Yeah, what about your cartoon? What is your favorite?

• 5:57Keke Palmer?

  Cartoon?

• 5:57Speaker 02

  Christmas cartoon. I know as a kid it was Santa Claus is Coming to Town for me.

• 6:01Keke Palmer?

  I, I've never been into cartoons like that. You know that, Mom?

• 6:04Speaker 02

  There's not even a Christmas cartoon or episode of Proud Family or none of that?

• 6:10Keke Palmer?

  I don't know why, I've just never loved cartoons like that. I just always wanted the real people more.

• 6:14Speaker 02

  Yeah, you like people.

• 6:16Keke Palmer?

  But I do love, you know, I always love, uh, uh, um, stay away from my cookies. You know, Jingle All the Way.

• 6:23Speaker 02

  Oh, yes.

• 6:24Keke Palmer?

  With, um, oh my gosh.

• 6:26Speaker 02

  Sinbad? No, which one was that one? What was the one with Sin?

• 6:31Keke Palmer?

  Arnold Schwarzenegger, when he was talking to the actor, it's the comedian, rest his peace, Paul Hardman.

• 6:36Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 6:37Keke Palmer?

  Phil Hartman, my apologies.

• 6:38Speaker 02

  Okay, yeah, but wasn't that the same movie, wasn't Sinbad in that movie?

• 6:41Keke Palmer?

  Yeah, he actually was in that movie, actually, you're right, mom.

• 6:43Speaker 02

  Yeah, and he was, they were fighting over the toy.

• 6:45Keke Palmer?

  Yes.

• 6:45Speaker 02

  That's a good one.

• 6:46Keke Palmer?

  But I just love Phil Hartman in that scene where, cause you know the movie like on a Schwarzenegger, he's like that dad that just is always working all the time. And the wife is like tired of it, so Phil Hartman like is that neighbor that's like lowkey trying to sleep with his wife. And lowkey is sleeping with all the wives in the neighborhood.

• 7:00Speaker 02

  Right, well, they all, they all are enamored with him, cause he's supposed to be this great single father.

• 7:06Keke Palmer?

  Exactly, and so then he goes to the house and he's helping her with the cookies and he's like, oh, these cookies. And he's like, stay away from my wife's cookies, you know, all of a sudden.

• 7:16Speaker 02

  I remember that.

• 7:17Keke Palmer?

  I actually really, my dream is to be the father, not the, actually, not the father, but to be

• 7:25Speaker 02

  I know what you mean.

• 7:25Keke Palmer?

  The father role, but the mom in those kinds of movies.

• 7:29Speaker 02

  Right, let the mom be the lead.

• 7:30Keke Palmer?

  And also show the working mom and like, you know, I just love that, those roles, like when I think about Jingle All the Way, or I think about Tim Allen's Santa Claus, you know, the whole like mom is working all the time and it's like, you know, and that's kinda like me, like, you know what I'm saying, like I, I'm, I've always been like, you know, working and, you know, getting my, you know, so I just think there's so many moms also that can relate to being in that position and trying to be home for the holidays for you, you know, Timmy. I just think it would be so cool to do a movie like that.

• 7:59Speaker 02

  We oughta write that then, let's go, girlfriend.

• 8:01Keke Palmer?

  That's like a dream for me, or like Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, I would love to be the scientist dad.

• 8:05Speaker 02

  Yes.

• 8:05Keke Palmer?

  But I'm the mom and I'm like, oh, Johnny, I shrunk the kids. Like, I just would love to be the like scientist mom.

• 8:14Speaker 02

  That's great.

• 8:15Keke Palmer?

  You know, so that's like a dream for me, like I love those movies. Um, okay, Leo.

• 8:21Speaker 02

  Okay.

• 8:22Keke Palmer?

  It's his first Christmas, mom, what are you thinking about that? Leo, this is his first Christmas, girlfriend.

• 8:27Speaker 02

  Oh, I just think he would love the tree. He love, I think.

• 8:31Keke Palmer?

  We gotta let him put the star up there.

• 8:33Speaker 02

  Yeah, I think he would, he likes um, uh, music, he loves music.

• 8:38Keke Palmer?

  Loves music.

• 8:38Speaker 02

  He loves colors, you know, his little color-y thing that lights up. I just think the, and he likes simple things.

• 8:44Keke Palmer?

  He do.

• 8:44Speaker 02

  Like, he's the type of kid, you put all these toys and a, and a water bottle, he goes after the water bottle.

• 8:49Keke Palmer?

  Absolutely.

• 8:50Speaker 02

  So, um, yeah, I just, just, I wanna just see his face with, we should take him to see like Christmas lights.

• 8:57Keke Palmer?

  Yeah, that's what Nora was saying. She was like, they're doing Christmas lights, I think on Friday or something, and she said.

• 9:03Speaker 02

  He would light up. I can see him now doing his little hands like this. He do this when he get excited.

• 9:07Keke Palmer?

  He would just love it so, so much. He's the best ever.

• 9:09Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 9:10Keke Palmer?

  I'm very excited for him to have his first Christmas. I'm excited to just spend it with him. I mean, I know he might not remember his first Christmas, but I'm gonna take tons of pictures. And then like I told you, that friend of mine created those ornaments.

• 9:21Speaker 02

  They were so cool.

• 9:22Keke Palmer?

  Oh my gosh, it was this custom-made ornaments. We had all his baby pictures in these little frames that we could put on the tree. But the cool thing about it is that it was like a keepsake. You know what I'm saying? Because I can do it every single year.

• 9:33Speaker 02

  Absolutely. He could be eighteen years old, you still have those ornaments of him when he was nine months.

• 9:38Keke Palmer?

  You know what I mean? And he can put it on his tree and do it for his kids.

• 9:42Speaker 02

  Give it to his kids, that's right.

• 9:43Keke Palmer?

  Oh, I just think that's just so cool.

• 9:44Speaker 02

  It's a great, great, excellent gift, whoever.

• 9:46Keke Palmer?

  So, yeah, yeah, that was Raj, our sweet Raj. Um, what's your favorite part of Christmas when you were a kid, mom?

• 9:53Speaker 02

  Oh, it has to be the surprise.

• 9:55Keke Palmer?

  Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

• 9:56Speaker 02

  You, you know, my mother would always say, make your list for Santa and put the, put the things you really want at the top of the list, you know? So, we would do that and my mother was good. I mean, at the time, I was thinking it was Santa, but we would.

• 10:11Keke Palmer?

  Of course it was Santa. You mean, he was in contact with your mother?

• 10:14Speaker 02

  Yeah, okay, oh, yeah, okay.

• 10:16Keke Palmer?

  Yeah, of course it was Santa, Sharon, she knows, she's, you know.

• 10:20Speaker 02

  And, um, my, and my mother was good, like, she would go four gifts deep, you know? Like, if we had a list of ten, we got at least the top four. Yeah, so no, I, my Christmases were great. I don't have any bad Christmases.

• 10:33Keke Palmer?

  What was one of the gifts? You might have to aid yourself a little bit. What was one of the main gifts you wanted that you got?

• 10:38Speaker 02

  I think a, a gift that I got that I just was enamored with was a transistor radio.

• 10:44Keke Palmer?

  Not a tr- girl, what is that?

• 10:50Speaker 02

  You don't know what a transistor radio is?

• 10:52Keke Palmer?

  Mama?

• 10:53Speaker 02

  Okay. Transistor radio was a radio that runs on batteries.

• 10:57Keke Palmer?

  Oh wow.

• 10:57Speaker 02

  So it's like a little, like they had them-

• 10:59Keke Palmer?

  That was a big deal for y'all.

• 11:00Speaker 02

  That was huge, cuz you could take it to the beach and you could-

• 11:03Keke Palmer?

  Oh wow.

• 11:04Speaker 02

  It was like our version of, I guess, you know-

• 11:06Keke Palmer?

  An iPad Nano?

• 11:07Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 11:08Keke Palmer?

  You know, what is it? What do they call it? iPod Nano?

• 11:10Speaker 02

  Yeah, and it just ran on a battery and then, and then you, they had different sizes, like, you know, the boombox, it was a-

• 11:17Keke Palmer?

  Yes.

• 11:18Speaker 02

  And then, but my mother and father brought me a little white one.

• 11:21Keke Palmer?

  Oh.

• 11:22Speaker 02

  With a cute little pink little handle, and like you could take the handle and put it on your wrist.

• 11:27Keke Palmer?

  Oh.

• 11:27Speaker 02

  So you could walk

• 11:30Speaker 02

  and be swinging a little music, it was kinda cute.

• 11:33Keke Palmer?

  My dad's adorable.

• 11:34Speaker 02

  And then I had headphones, girl.

• 11:36Keke Palmer?

  Wow, your parents got a little money, Sharon.

• 11:39Speaker 02

  Well, I mean, I, you know, I was-

• 11:41Keke Palmer?

  You were stuck in the suburbs?

• 11:41Speaker 02

  I'm what they call an old folks child, you know, I was like the last of seven kids and my mother-

• 11:47Keke Palmer?

  You were the baby, so you got a lot of good stuff.

• 11:48Speaker 02

  Yeah, my mother was like thirty-eight, my dad was forty-two, my mother tells a story of, well, we were on our way to get rid of you guys-

• 11:55Keke Palmer?

  What?

• 11:56Speaker 02

  But, this is what she said, "I was on my way to get, cuz I was too old to have kids and, so, your dad and I were on our way to, to the clinic-

• 12:05Keke Palmer?

  Oh.

• 12:06Speaker 02

  And then I looked over and saw something to eat, and, and he said, "Well, let's go get something to eat." And after we ate, we were like, "Well, let's just go back home and have these babies."

• 12:19Keke Palmer?

  I love that food saved your life, what was the place?

• 12:22Speaker 02

  Food saved my life, it was Kentucky Fried Chicken.

• 12:24Keke Palmer?

  Goodness for Kentucky Fried Chicken, I've never loved Pepsi so much.

• 12:27Speaker 02

  Kentucky saved my life. Kentucky Fried Chicken.

• 12:32Keke Palmer?

  Thank goodness they stopped.

• 12:34Speaker 02

  Thank God for the chicken.

• 12:35Keke Palmer?

  I wouldn't be here.

• 12:36Speaker 02

  Exactly, no, and so anyway, the transistor radio was just, I was so enamored, cuz I, I remember, I was about maybe seven or eight, and I remember just staring at it like-

• 12:46Keke Palmer?

  Oh.

• 12:47Speaker 02

  Like, how does this work? I was trying to figure like how the voices were coming-

• 12:51Keke Palmer?

  Out of it.

• 12:52Speaker 02

  From out of it, and are there little people inside?

• 12:56Keke Palmer?

  Remember when I used to tell that to you, I would say, "So when did-" I remember I told my mom one time when I got, I was about five or six years old, I said, "So when did the world get color?" And she was like- Huh? And I said, "Well, it was black and white. When did it decide to have color?" And she was like, "No, that's the TV that's making things black and white."

• 13:14Speaker 02

  Exactly.

• 13:15Keke Palmer?

  I thought that it was they filmed, that they, the world had, it was so cra- it's so crazy how kids do that.

• 13:21Speaker 02

  You were very enamored, you were very curious about the sun.

• 13:24Keke Palmer?

  I really was.

• 13:25Speaker 02

  And I had to answer so many damn questions about the sun, I thought I was gonna have to study the sun. You were like, "It's not really yellow, but they say it's yellow. Why do they say the sun is yellow, ma?" "The sun is hot, but it's not so hot. Why can't we touch the sun, mama?" I'm like, "If this girl asked me some more, what was your fascination about the sun?"

• 13:49Keke Palmer?

  Because I just felt like the answers were never really enough. And until this day, I still don't. I still don't know what's going on.

• 13:56Speaker 02

  You still have this curiosity about the sun.

• 13:58Keke Palmer?

  I still have this curiosity about all what's going on around us, and the cosmos and everything else.

• 14:01Speaker 02

  Okay.

• 14:02Keke Palmer?

  It's all quite a lot.

• 14:03Speaker 02

  Now, I can tell you a Christmas gift that I got that I did not, I hated. I absolutely, dolls. I hated dolls. I would put a head on.

• 14:12Keke Palmer?

  But I did love that doll that y'all had, that, that y'all let me do, the one, you remember they used to have the doll where you, you could fake feed the baby?

• 14:20Speaker 02

  Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

• 14:21Keke Palmer?

  I love when y'all got me that feed baby doll. Oh, my goodness.

• 14:26Speaker 02

  And you, and you guys loved the Easy-Bake Oven, too.

• 14:28Keke Palmer?

  Loved the Easy-Bake Oven. Loved it. Oh, my goodness. I remember I brought, I made the cookie, and ate half of it on the way to see grandma.

• 14:36Speaker 02

  Yes.

• 14:37Keke Palmer?

  I was like, "Ooh, girl, I'm sorry. I ate all this on the way."

• 14:42Speaker 02

  Yeah, I just wasn't into dolls. I don't know.

• 14:44Keke Palmer?

  I never was too into dolls. Lurio loved them. But I remember my first, I can remember, not necessarily my first Christmas, but the first Christmas that I can remember.

• 14:52Speaker 02

  Mm-hmm.

• 14:53Keke Palmer?

  I remember it being, I was probably maybe like four or five years old, and we was in the Robbins' house. And it was just L'Oreal and I, obviously the twins weren't born yet. You know, and we wake up and I just remember we had those, uh, you remember those purple tubs y'all used to have?

• 15:08Speaker 02

  Yes, and it was full of toys?

• 15:10Keke Palmer?

  And they were full of toys. Like, you guys didn't wrap anything.

• 15:14Speaker 02

  Right.

• 15:14Keke Palmer?

  This year in particular.

• 15:15Speaker 02

  We tried.

• 15:16Keke Palmer?

  But I remember coming out there and it was just a big old tub of toys. That is my first, like, when I remember and I think about Cr- Christmas, I think about running out there and seeing that tub of all of those toys.

• 15:29Speaker 02

  Trust me, anytime we didn't wrap stuff, it was a point of contention between Larry and I. Larry would be like, "We have to wrap," and I would be like, "I'm just so tired." Look, just let them come out here.

• 15:39Keke Palmer?

  What do you mean? You mean Santa? No, you mean Santa was... You mean that Santa...

• 15:44Speaker 02

  Santa lazy ass was lazy sometimes, and he was tired, and he would come and drop it off. And Santa would say, "I don't feel like wrapping it," and I would go, "Hey, I'm good with that, Santa."

• 15:56Keke Palmer?

  Once he got to the hood, he was tired.

• 15:58Speaker 02

  He was tired. And Larry was like, "My kids have to have it," he was such a good dad.

• 16:04Keke Palmer?

  He's a great dad.

• 16:05Speaker 02

  I was kinda like a little crazy mom, but he was, he was actually a good dad.

• 16:10Keke Palmer?

  You're a great mom, too. Okay, let's get to the good part. New Year's resolutions.

• 16:15Speaker 02

  All right, man.

• 16:17Keke Palmer?

  Tell me what this year taught you. You know, tell me, actually, let's break it up and make it good and juicy.

• 16:22Speaker 02

  All right.

• 16:24Keke Palmer?

  If you can remember, coming into 2023, what were your thoughts? You know, what were you looking forward to in this year? And then what did the year ultimately teach you?

• 16:33Speaker 02

  Well, we were getting ready for a new baby. So I was excited about Leo. Um, we were getting ready, planning a baby shower.

• 16:42Keke Palmer?

  Yeah.

• 16:43Speaker 02

  And so that was great, you know, we were, uh, you know, a new life coming. Um, did we know it was gonna, we knew it was gonna be a boy.

• 16:50Keke Palmer?

  Yeah, we did.

• 16:50Speaker 02

  Yeah, so I was happy about having my second grandchild and...

• 16:54Keke Palmer?

  Son.

• 16:55Speaker 02

  Yeah, grandson. Yeah, but he's like my child. Yeah, you got it.

• 16:59Keke Palmer?

  No, but you was just, I know, you said grandchild. Yeah, I know what you mean, though.

• 17:02Speaker 02

  So anyway, um, that, so that was probably what I was thinking at the top of the new year. And just welcome in new life and being excited about that.

• 17:11Keke Palmer?

  Mm-hmm.

• 17:12Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 17:13Keke Palmer?

  Okay, and what did the year teach you? What did you learn, you know, if anything?

• 17:17Speaker 02

  That family is everything.

• 17:18Keke Palmer?

  Yeah.

• 17:19Speaker 02

  That family is everything and you know, you're gonna have ups and downs and all kinds of stuff. But if you just have faith and love and family, you can conquer anything.

• 17:33Keke Palmer?

  Yes. So coming into 2023 for me, obviously same kind of vibe. I was really excited and just thinking about, you know, what is my life gonna be like with this new baby? What is this baby going to bring to my life? How is my family going to expand? You know, what, just what, what, what am I gonna turn into? You know what I mean? And then I think what I learned about this year was that, boy, are children really special? And they really can give you a power and a strength that you just didn't know you had.

• 18:04Speaker 02

  Absolutely.

• 18:05Keke Palmer?

  Like, and like, you know, I always grew, like, I grew up in the church and everything like that. But some of those things that I heard growing up or that you read or you think about, you know, God's love for Jesus and Jesus loves for, love for God. And all of that becomes that much more apparent when it's reflected in your love for your child.

• 18:22Speaker 02

  That's right.

• 18:23Keke Palmer?

  You know what I mean? And I remember just thinking I was at home one night and I was just like, you know, my goodness, like, you know, life sometimes can be really, really, really hard. Like, you could just feel like, you know, I, I mean, I've gone through many moments in my life where, ugh, you know, why did I sign this earth contract? You know what I mean? Where it's just like, what made me decide to come down here?

• 18:44Speaker 02

  Right.

• 18:44Keke Palmer?

  Um, but when you have a child.

• 18:47Speaker 02

  Yeah, yeah.

• 18:48Keke Palmer?

  It does something where it's like, you actually like, it's not even I'll die for you. It's I'll live for you.

• 18:56Speaker 02

  Right.

• 18:57Keke Palmer?

  You know?

• 18:57Speaker 02

  Right.

• 18:58Keke Palmer?

  I'll live. I'll, I'll, I'll be a version of myself I never knew I could be for you because it's worth it. If it makes sense in some way.

• 19:06Speaker 02

  No, that makes absolute sense. You know, my mother used to say, when you don't have kids and you're a single person, once you eat a meal, your whole family has eaten.

• 19:16Keke Palmer?

  Right.

• 19:17Speaker 02

  So it's like, oh, I ate this sandwich, my whole family has eaten. When you have a child, now before you eat, you have to think about what they're going to eat.

• 19:26Keke Palmer?

  Mm-hmm.

• 19:27Speaker 02

  You know what I mean?

• 19:28Keke Palmer?

  Yeah.

• 19:29Speaker 02

  And so your whole life is dictated around what it is they can eat.

• 19:33Keke Palmer?

  And the relief of it, that, that, that it's not really about you. I think there's some type of strength that comes from. Giving to somebody else that you know really deserves it.

• 19:43Speaker 02

  Right.

• 19:43Keke Palmer?

  And that really is worth it and that really could stand to, you know, the world is in the same place, but I'm giving everything I can to this little person because I think that they'll, they can be the joy for even one person, because they're the joy for me.

• 19:57Speaker 02

  Exactly. Now, let me ask you this, now that you're, you know, you're getting into, he's about to be one, you know, you're getting to that. And you're, he's sleeping a little, you know, through the night. What, how does that feel? Like, being that mother and having to get up in the middle of the night and breastfeeding and doing all that, and now he's sleeping and what, how did that feel when you, when he first slept for you?

• 20:24Keke Palmer?

  It felt good, it felt good. I felt happy, just that he was relaxed, you know what I mean? But I do, I did, I don't know, it's still a, it's still an unsettling, I think, that it, that happens with just having a kid in the world. I don't think I'll ever really be the same. You know, in terms of, like, I remember how I was before I had a kid and it was like, I could just go out and have fun and like, even if I know that you're watching him. Or if I know he's in good care, I still don't really feel the same. You know what I mean? I don't know if that'll ever change or what that is, but it's, it's like, even if I know he's sleeping, he's good and he's sleeping through the night. There's still a thing of just like, I don't know.

• 21:02Speaker 02

  You're responsible for another life.

• 21:04Keke Palmer?

  Yeah.

• 21:05Speaker 02

  That's a lot, that's a lot. If you take time to really think about it, you know, you're responsible for. It is, you know, and, and like, as a mother now, now I'm, I have four kids, and so, you know, when I look at all you guys, you're doing well or whatever like that, I just, I, that's really when I do feel like I've done stuff as a mother.

• 21:24Keke Palmer?

  Does it feel good for you at least to know that we have each other?

• 21:26Speaker 02

  Yes.

• 21:27Keke Palmer?

  But, yeah, because I think, if I think when I have more kids, maybe that can ease out a little bit.

• 21:31Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 21:32Keke Palmer?

  You know, just to know, like, you know, right now it's just Leo, you know, and I want him to have siblings, I want, you know, I just, I want, I mean, he, I'm so happy that, you know, my, the L'Oreal and us, we live together and the, he has his cousins and stuff like that, but it's just good to know that he's not a lonely, you know, lonesome type of thing.

• 21:49Speaker 02

  I think. As a, eh, for me, as a mother, when I see all of you all get together and you're having a good time and you respect each other, you can joke with each other, you can, you know, have fun with each other, then that just makes me feel like I've accomplished something as a parent.

• 22:06Keke Palmer?

  Yeah.

• 22:06Speaker 02

  Because my family, we couldn't do that. We, we couldn't take jokes.

• 22:11Keke Palmer?

  Yeah, yeah.

• 22:12Speaker 02

  Like if my brother says something to me that I didn't like, I didn't talk to him for two years.

• 22:19Keke Palmer?

  You guys really can hold a grudge.

• 22:21Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 22:21Keke Palmer?

  Gee whiz, gee rollicers.

• 22:23Speaker 02

  It was crazy. It was kinda crazy.

• 22:25Keke Palmer?

  Gee rollicers. Dad was real extra. I'll never forget. One time me and Laura arguing, and next thing you know, we see dad, like, this is the door. And we see dad, "Stop." He's like, side of the door, he's like, "Stop. Y'all are sisters." "Y'all can't be arguing like this. Y'all are sisters." And we're like, "How long have you been standing here? Like, what is this about?" Like, he was serious about us being close. Like, soon as that happened, we were like, hugging each other like, we're like, "We're so sorry that we've caused you such a distraction."

• 22:58Speaker 02

  Exactly, but it is a lot about how you were raised, and that's how he was raised. And he was raised that the brother over the, you know, the brother, they, they were, it was nine of them. And so, the brother that was the oldest, he was responsible. So, Keith was responsible for Lamont and Larry, and Ronald was responsible for Reggie and whatever the order was, and they really believed that.

• 23:21Keke Palmer?

  Stood by it. I love that. I love that. I mean, I just love all the traditions of all of our family, you know? When, when I think about the holidays, I think about us going to see Grandma Palmer, and then us seeing Grandma Davis, and us bringing her stuff by, bringing her food, bringing them food, us having a big dinner at Grandma Palmer's, or us having a little dinner at the church. I'll never forget all the things that we would do at church, and how my god, Mama Nona would give me my little outfit every night after that long service. I hated how long the church service was, but I always liked the treats. Oh, yes, loved the treats afterward and going home and...

• 23:55Speaker 02

  Do you remember?

• 23:56Keke Palmer?

  Milk and cookies.

• 23:57Speaker 02

  You, you probably don't remember, but when you were in the Christmas play?

• 24:01Keke Palmer?

  Oh, you want to tell the story?

• 24:03Speaker 02

  Yeah, so, so she's doing, we were doing the Christmas play and they dressed her up like Mary, the cutest little Mary you ever want to see. And she had the little, little veil on and she's walking down the aisle, her and the little, little boy Joseph. And they get before the, the three kings and the baby Jesus is in the basket. And everybody's, oh, she's so cute. And as they're saying the little lies from the play and she's up there, Mary, no, she didn't bend down and hit the baby. She hit the baby Jesus, not once, but twice. Because she wanted to see, was it a real baby?

• 24:48Keke Palmer?

  This story has haunted me all my life. And I actually said that to y'all, like when you guys asked me, that's what I said?

• 24:55Speaker 02

  You were about four years old, you hit it and then you look back at us? And then you hit it again? And then I said, why'd you hit the baby Jesus? He's like, I wanted to see, was it a real baby?

• 25:10Speaker 02

  And everybody in church was like, oh, she is something. That kid is something. She is something else. Y'all got something on y'all hands.

• 25:19Keke Palmer?

  Why would I hit the baby Jesus, the fake baby Jesus? That's insanity.

• 25:23Speaker 02

  And not only hit it, but look back and smile. Like, like you knew that shit was funny. And then you did it again? It was great timing and everything. I'm like, this girl here is hilarious.

• 25:36Keke Palmer?

  Oh, my goodness. Okay, so now, 2024, it is, you know, approaching us.

• 25:41Speaker 02

  Yes.

• 25:42Keke Palmer?

  What is on the rise for you for 2024? What are your thoughts? What are you thinking about what this new year is going to bring you?

• 25:49Speaker 02

  Well, I'm actually thinking about moving back to California.

• 25:52Keke Palmer?

  Yes, that's huge.

• 25:54Speaker 02

  Yeah, I've been in Chicago. Yeah, but you know, I love, I, I, I, California represents work for me.

• 26:01Keke Palmer?

  I know.

• 26:01Speaker 02

  That's all, that's what it represents. So soon as I get off for LAX, it's a meeting.

• 26:06Keke Palmer?

  Yeah.

• 26:06Speaker 02

  It's a Zoom, it's something.

• 26:08Keke Palmer?

  Yeah.

• 26:08Speaker 02

  And then when I go back to Chicago, that represents rest for me. You know, I'm in a nice little Hamlet town and I'm vibing out. And so I like the worlds that I've, you know, by the grace of God, that's been created for me, you know? So I like going back to Illinois in a quiet suburb.

• 26:25Keke Palmer?

  You like being bi-coastal.

• 26:27Speaker 02

  Yes, because, because L.A.'s work and Illinois is rest. You know what I mean?

• 26:32Keke Palmer?

  I feel the same way you do.

• 26:33Speaker 02

  But everybody's in L.A.

• 26:35Keke Palmer?

  Yeah, well, that's the thing that's happening with us is that we're a family that likes to stick together.

• 26:38Speaker 02

  Yes.

• 26:39Keke Palmer?

  You know, it's very much giving soul food. It's like we want to be around each other. So, you know, if, if we're in Chicago, we want to have a place for us to all be. If we're in California, we want to have a place for us to all be. You know, if we're wherever we're at. So that's the thing that we're faced with. And like you said, it really is a blessing for us to even be able to do that or even have that conversation.

• 26:58Speaker 02

  And I also want that for you. You know, I want, you know, I know you love New York, you know?

• 27:04Keke Palmer?

  Love New York.

• 27:04Speaker 02

  I know you love it. I mean, and the reason why you love it is because you can be more freer there and people are.

• 27:11Keke Palmer?

  Chill.

• 27:11Speaker 02

  The industry is not everything there, you know?

• 27:15Keke Palmer?

  They have so many other.

• 27:15Speaker 02

  Other industries are bigger, real estate and the Wall Street and all modeling, all kinds of stuff. So I know that you want to do it, but I, you know, I always am praying that you can find your own little corner.

• 27:28Keke Palmer?

  Yeah.

• 27:29Speaker 02

  Where you can separate work from regular life, you know? And I'm always reading stuff and I read that Harrison Ford lives in.

• 27:38Keke Palmer?

  Montana or something, yeah.

• 27:39Speaker 02

  Montana or somewhere and, you know, and there are so many entertainers that are moving to New Mexico.

• 27:44Keke Palmer?

  Well, you're talking about twenty twenty four, twenty twenty four. That for me is, you know, it's the same storyline I've been telling myself for years, which is, you know, I've always been really responsible, you know? My career and the blessings that it's been able to do for us and turn into our family business, it's been awesome. But it is a lot of pressure. But I'm, it, it's the skill that I've most sharpened, you know, to be punctual on time, to put, you know, know how to handle my responsibilities with work and show up and, you know, juggle all these different things. And it's very natural to me, but the thing that I'm hoping to do in twenty twenty four is to really learn how to. Not just totally validate myself and what I can do in terms of service for others.

• 28:27Keke Palmer?

  It's to really learn how to do and be of service to myself solely without feeling guilt about it. Um, so 2024, to your point, I, I would love to be able to just like be a little bit more selfish. Um, you know, be a little bit more, you know, capable of managing that workload a little bit better. Now it's the same, you know, I feel like this is like these are the same repeated things, but you know, 2024, I'm hoping to really give myself the things that maybe I've looked for from others.

• 28:59Speaker 02

  But you know what this is? This is self-growth. Anytime you're able to self-reflect and to speak about it like you're speaking about it, it's going to happen. Because you're speaking it into existence and it's growth. It really is growth.

• 29:13Keke Palmer?

  I feel like I've been talking about the same thing, you know, I feel like, you know, I've talked about it over and over and over again, but you know, I'm trying to be patient with myself. Um, you know, and that's why when everybody asks me in an interview, you know, what is the work-life balance for you? I'm always honest. Look, it's, it's an ever you know, growing thing and I'm working hard to try and figure it out. But one thing's for certain and one thing's for sure is that Leo has taught me how to love myself so much greater because in order to be the best I can be for him, I have to be the best me I can be.

• 29:40Speaker 02

  That's right.

• 29:40Keke Palmer?

  So he's been the greatest blessing in my life.

• 29:42Speaker 02

  Amen to that.

• 29:44Keke Palmer?

  All right. Well, mom, this conversation, you know, it really got me even more jazz for Christmas. You already know that I'm counting down the days and I'm excited to spread all the Christmas cheer with my guest, Ludacris.

• 29:54Speaker 02

  Awesome.

• 29:59Speaker 03

  Dr. Seuss's Cat in the Hat and Fish are back for a whole lot of wonderfully whimsical fun. What happens when you switch bodies with your best friend? Discover a caveman frozen in ice? Or make an alien so angry, he threatens to destroy the planet? Find out in season two of the Cat in the Hat podcast. The Cat and Fish are traveling the world in the great catastrophic Cacophony Cruiser, meeting genies, clown professors, cave trolls, and extraordinary characters along the way.

• 30:30Speaker 03

  Over wordplay, imaginative rhymes, original songs and stories celebrating curiosity, empathy and creative problem solving. Every adventure brings something new to discover. It's a world of wonderful words, big imaginations and plenty of heart for the whole family. Listen to the Cat in the Hat podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Audible subscribers can binge all 20 episodes early and ad free right now.

• 30:58Speaker 04

  Hi, I'm Kenny Baris.

• 31:00Speaker 05

  And I'm Malcolm Gladwell. We're back for season two of our Audible original podcast, The Unusual Suspects.

• 31:05Speaker 04

  We're bringing you fresh new conversations from guests like Anderson Paak, David Zedars, Ryan Howard, Richel, Amy Sheldon and many more.

• 31:12Speaker 05

  Sign up for a free trial to Audible to listen to season two in the Audible app or by subscribing on Apple Podcasts.

• 31:24Keke Palmer?

  Uh, I could not be more excited about my guest today. He is an icon of our generation from his rap music dating back to the 90s to his iconic role on the Fast and Furious series. He's had countless top hits, okay? Won a whole bunch of awards and as of this year, has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Well deserved, if you ask me. Plus, he recently starred in Disney's new Christmas movie, Dashing Through the Snow. Please welcome to the show, the one, the only Ludacris.

• 31:54Speaker 03

  Yes, what up?

• 31:55Keke Palmer?

  What's up?

• 31:57Speaker 03

  I'm so glad we finally got a chance to do this. We've been, uh, you know, our schedules both been crazy. So finally, the stars align themselves and we are here.

• 32:06Keke Palmer?

  I'm so happy. And it's so funny because before we get into the holiday spirit, it's so funny. I don't know if you've ever seen the memes all over the internet where it's Mary J Blige sitting next to me in the Runaway Love video and they talk about some, why was that girl going through all that stuff? And Mary was just screaming in her face.

• 32:26Speaker 03

  Yeah, no, listen, I 100% have seen those and it's crazy because a lot of people do not realize that that's where we first met each other and this was, you know. How many years ago it was, you know, I'm like, but the memories and how long our history is, is it goes all the way back to that Runaway Love video and thank you.

• 32:46Keke Palmer?

  They don't know.

• 32:47Speaker 03

  I couldn't thank you enough for that.

• 32:48Keke Palmer?

  Oh, my gosh, I can't thank you enough for that. And the connection that I've had to you, to Shaka since, I mean, you guys have had me under your wing since then. I think I was, what, 12 years old when I did that? And y'all always stayed in touch, you know, hooked me up whenever, however, and just always have my back. So I definitely love you always. You know that.

• 33:07Speaker 03

  No, we love you back and we could not be more proud of you and your evolution in this game and touching all aspects of the entertainment industry. And I can't wait to see where you take it from here.

• 33:19Keke Palmer?

  Oh, my gosh. Well, I have great people like you to look to. And now, I mean, this is, this is all about the holiday spirit. You know, I love Christmas. I know you just had the Christmas movie come out, so I just thought you'd be a perfect guest for this episode. And also, you know, you've been a parent for a while, so you can also get me ready to, to, to experience being a parent for the first time, this Christmas spirit. So what are your holiday plans?

• 33:41Speaker 03

  Man, listen, my, my wife does all of the, she does every holiday great, but in terms of, you know, decorating and make sure the spirit is all throughout the household and cookies are made and food is, you know, on the table and trees and presents and stockings and pies and everything you could think of, Christmas music playing, the mood set with all of the lighting. I could go on and on, but she's really good at holidays and I'm just good at giving her money to make sure that the holidays are taken care of. So there you have it.

• 34:14Keke Palmer?

  I know, that's right. So what kind of traditions do you do? Because obviously you're American, you grew up in America, but Udatzi is African. So what kind of different qualities does she bring to it and what kind of stuff from where, how you grew up, do you bring to it?

• 34:28Speaker 03

  You know what's crazy? I, I kind of just grew up, there were some Christmases where I didn't get anything. So I'm just so appreciative. Yeah, I mean, you know, so growing up.

• 34:37Keke Palmer?

  It's hard, I hear.

• 34:38Speaker 03

  Sometimes, yeah, our parents may not have been able to afford things at times. So for me, I'm happy with whatever she does, but you're right, she does kind of combine some of the westernized things since she's been living here so much. And mostly the food of the culture from Gabon where she's from. And, uh, and try to combine both of those things together for all of these different holiday spirits. So it's, it's African music playing. We've been listening to Afro beats since way before it got. Really popular in the United States, so she's ahead of the game. But I would just say in terms of family traditions, we just plan on being being with each other, loving each other. You know, time is precious.

• 35:18Speaker 03

  Um, I have all girls, so it's extremely important for me to to love on these girls and continue to show them what a man is supposed to be in their lives so that I can be that first example. Um, and I know we that's a whole other podcast. We could talk for days about that.

• 35:34Keke Palmer?

  Okay.

• 35:34Speaker 03

  Hopefully I answered your question. You know, I think I think it's just about loving on each other.

• 35:39Keke Palmer?

  So do you guys do the, I know some people are different with Christmas, like they'll open up the presents, either the like the midnight, the night of, or they'll wait to waking up the next day. Are y'all, which one of y'all, are y'all the midnight or are y'all the next day go to sleep, wake up type family?

• 35:53Speaker 03

  Um, I've always had the tradition where you can open up one present at midnight. And then you get to open the rest on actual Christmas day. So yeah, you can pick which one is usually the smallest gift or the one that's, you know, not the best gift and you hand it to them and say they can all open one present. And that gets them even more excited.

• 36:11Keke Palmer?

  Yeah, exactly. Cause they're like, oh, oh, oh. So wait a minute, are your kids into the Santa Claus vibe? Are they not into the Santa Claus vibe? Like what is the, what's the tea on that? Cause you got a couple of different ages.

• 36:22Speaker 03

  Yeah, they're a hundred percent in the Santa Claus vibe and it's dope. You know, uh, shameless plug that you just mentioned dashing through the snow with me and Lil Rel. Cause you don't see many mystical, magical black Santa Clauses in film. And it's important that we were able to do that um, on Disney Plus and that and now on Hulu as a matter of fact that you can watch this movie. Because it represents a black Santa and they're able to see this movie throughout the lens of, you know, their own skin and it's a beautiful thing. So they're loving Santa even more now is basically what I was trying to get at.

• 36:55Keke Palmer?

  Yeah, and I can't wait to show it to my son. I'm very excited to get into the holiday spirit and show him that movie. That's gonna be dope. Okay, so what can you get me into in terms of being a parent for the first time for for the holidays? Like what did you remember the first Christmas that you had with your daughter? What is, what are some of the most exciting things that you had or that I can look forward to that you experienced?

• 37:15Speaker 03

  You know, I I think that if you were not. A hundred percent in the holiday spirit mood. And you probably were, but in terms of being a parent, whatever you had growing up as memories that you're gonna cherish for a lifetime, you're gonna wanna recreate those for your child. And so it becomes even more meaningful to have the tree or to decorate or to have the house smelling like, you know, good cooked food for the holidays and to just, just get in that spirit because you know that it's a sense of, of fe- of family, it's a sense of home, and it's a sense of memories that they're gonna have attached to their parents for the rest of their lives. So all I would say is that go full throttle for the holidays, cuz your kid is going to remember it and he's gonna cherish it.

• 38:00Speaker 03

  And he's, it's just, it's just a lo- it's a love feeling. The same way we grow up, when it talked about, uh, soul food and how it hits your soul. It's the same way with holidays. I would just say cherish every moment and time goes by very fast, so you gotta cherish every single moment regardless of if it's, if it's the holidays or not.

• 38:19Keke Palmer?

  I love that, I love that. Kids do make everything more special and, and they do put you in the, in the, in the space of feeling like, let me really go ten toes downs for this because I wanna, I want you to see it in a way that, even if I don't see it, I want you to see it through those, through those eyes, cuz it's just so much more special that way.

• 38:34Speaker 03

  Yeah.

• 38:35Keke Palmer?

  So, what is your favorite Christmas memory?

• 38:40Speaker 03

  You know, I, I hate to, I hate to continue to beat a dead horse, but my favorite Christmas is, is a, no, no, I'm saying it's like, it's, it's a reverse type of thing because when I say that I, there was a Christmas that I didn't receive anything, or actually a couple Christmases, um, that is my best memory because it just taught me again, not to take anything for granted, to just be thankful for what you do have, and not all, like the expectations, you know what I'm saying? You can't always expect things, and, and it, it really just made me want to make sure that that never happened in my life again. So in terms of something that you could take as a negative, turn it Into a positive, I would say that was probably the Christmas I cherished the most.

• 39:24Speaker 03

  Because it is the most memorable because I was heartbroken.

• 39:28Keke Palmer?

  I really feel you on that because, I mean, I remember I had a something similar that when my family and I first moved to. You know, from Chicago to California, they were trying to help me do my dreams and stuff like that. You know, we didn't have a lot of stuff, so. I remember this one particular Christmas where we didn't, we didn't have anything like we went to the store, like the ninety nine cent store and bought a bunch. Bunch of gifts and stuff like that, like little toys and stuff that we could afford. But we couldn't like really have a tree or anything. I remember my dad being like, well, if you mix flour and water. Together, y'all can make y'all own tree, y'all can kind of put it together with paper. So we kind of like made our own glue. And you know, but I, but that's like even now when I'm telling you. It was a fond memory, even though it wasn't a lot, it was something to it, right? It's something that it told me or gave me, impacted me and just.

• 40:14Keke Palmer?

  I remember my family being really happy just doing that, even though it was kind of like, you know, we didn't have a lot. So it's interesting.

• 40:21Speaker 03

  And what you're saying is it's, it doesn't always have to be about materialistic things. It makes you and forces you to cherish. The people that are close to you even more and be thankful for, for life. As opposed to always expecting something materialistic. So that's why I say, and I'm glad that you shared that story because it just reinforces the what I'm, what I'm basically trying to tell people.

• 40:43Keke Palmer?

  Yeah. Do you have a favorite Christmas movie or a few? I know sometimes people are like, I ain't got one, I ain't got one.

• 40:49Speaker 03

  Now, I do have a few, but my favorite is probably um National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase.

• 40:56Keke Palmer?

  Oh, my gosh, why that one? You're funny. You like, you like the jokes.

• 41:00Speaker 03

  I'm, I'm silly, I'm funny, I love to laugh. That right there, I could watch over and over again. It's just hilarious to me. Um, so if, if nobody's seen that movie, trust me, you gotta watch that. You will laugh. One hundred percent.

• 41:12Keke Palmer?

  Well, now I wanna make a quick right turn because you just talking about you're silly and everything like that. And it just made me think about all your whimsical music videos that I grew up watching as a kid. I just need to know, like, when you came into the rap game and you brought that new energy and flavor to it, what were you thinking? Like, did you care about, like, being taken seriously? Did you think it was gonna be seen as too much of a joke? Like, how did you waver the balance between showing that eccentric and kinda comedic attitude, but still saying stuff like, "Move, bitch, get out the way"? Like, how did you balance that?

• 41:45Speaker 03

  Because, you know, I'm, like every human being, I'm very multifaceted. And I feel like a lot of rappers only wanna show kinda one side of themselves. For me, I grew up on comedians like, uh, you know, Martin Lawrence and Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor, and now like Dave Chappelle. And when I say grew up on, this is what I just gravitated towards. I just love to laugh. So, oh, to answer your question, I was just being myself. And I was able to accentuate that, and I was able to, you know, put it in my creative videos. And it was an extension of the songs that I already had, and I felt like that was missing in hip-hop. So I wasn't afraid to be myself. And definitely honorable mention to people like Busta Rhymes and to Missy,

• 42:29Speaker 03

  who kinda paved the way for making things happen like that, cuz I was inspired by their videos as well.

• 42:34Keke Palmer?

  I love that, you know, in typical Virgo fashion, we gonna always give props and show love because Busta Rhymes and Missy Elliott definitely were also those multifaceted type of rappers, not just giving us that one-note type of vibe, but giving us some type of eccentric, you know, just whimsical, you know, and kinda kitschy energy, um, very theatrical, which I love and appreciate. And then I've gotta always ask you this, I wanted to always ask you this too, um, because I know you did, you were a DJ or you hosted a show, like a radio show before you were rapping, or you were doing at the same time?

• 43:05Speaker 03

  Yeah, I was an air personality. I never was. When people say DJ, they think of people that's like cutting and scratching and, um... You know, on the turntables or playing the music at a party, that was never me. I just was the the spokesperson or was the person on air. Uh, but I did that, yeah, before I got, it was actually a means to an end. So I worked at this radio station fresh out of high school. Cause I knew all the producers and all the artists were coming up to the station. I wanted to give them my music to try and get put on. As a rapper. So it was really kinda a plan that I had and it ended up working out. But to answer your question, yes, I was. One hundred percent at a radio station in Atlanta before I became famous as Ludacris.

• 43:43Keke Palmer?

  I'm curious as to how that developed your sound because whenever I think about Ludacris, I'm always thinking about.

• 43:51Keke Palmer?

  Like, how did you start doing that? You know what I'm talking about? You know how you'll do that? You'll be like, and he coming in the back and he don't do. Like, I don't know how you do that. It's like you'll be doing it low and then your voice just project. Like, how did you come up with doing that?

• 44:06Speaker 03

  That's, it's really a good question because I would say that that was already a part of who I was and you. I do, you kind of develop your style if you've been doing it for so long. I started rapping when I was like nine. But towards your point, when I worked at this radio station, I think that kind of teaches you. Where you're able to practice enunciation and you're you're able to. To project your voice because whenever you get on that mic at a radio station, you talking to thousands and. Tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands of people, sometimes millions. And so that being said, I think it just kind of. It it it it accentuated my gift even more of being able to pronounce and to do crazy things with my voice.

• 44:48Keke Palmer?

  I just love that. That is the signature you. When I'm thinking about you, like, nobody is, like, that's just. Ludigo coming to track and he in the back and whack. Yeah. Like, I just love it so much. Um, and speaking of you and your crazy entrances, I mean, the Saints Falcons game. This ties into everything we're talking about. Like, you just always are coming left field with something. When you told them you wanted to do that. Were they like, nah, Lud, what the hell? Or were they already down and ready, like?

• 45:16Speaker 03

  So they were ready because I believe their mascot, um, the Falcon. Has done something similar, but no one has ever performed and rappelled from the ceiling at the same time. So you know me, I'm like, I'm the thrill seeker, I'm this adrenaline junkie. I'm like, absolutely, I one hundred percent wanna do that. It'll be the first thing, um, it'll kinda like, it's off my bucket list, I'll be able to write that off the bucket list. And it was absolutely amazing, everything that my name entails. As long as you can throw Ludacris in there, then I'm, I'm perfectly fine with any criticism that may come my way, because I'm perfectly fine with being Ludacris.

• 45:54Keke Palmer?

  Yes, and it was a great way to, I mean, just show love for hip hop's fiftieth anniversary, I mean, I think that was a great way to bring that in.

• 46:02Speaker 03

  Oh, one hundred percent, it was, we, we were definitely celebrating fifty years of hip hop. And in that being the Falcons game, they brought over a hundred Atlanta artists, I'm talking about everybody that paved the way. For myself, people that came before me, people that came after me, it was a great, great day. Everyone, you know, getting reacquainted with each other, giving each other love, and that's something that Atlanta artists have been doing since the beginning of time. I remember certain artists from different places always talking about how people from Atlanta are working together, and that's probably why we're so dominant in the music industry. And, cause their strength in numbers, so seeing that day come together was amazing, I absolutely loved it.

• 46:41Keke Palmer?

  How does it feel to be a part of that, I mean, I know you know, right, but like, just when you're reminded, you know, you're experiencing that, or even just when I was watching you when you were on tour with Janet, I mean, Janet is like, I mean, that's just all the same, when you look and you see everything that you've accomplished, uh, you know, does it, I, have you been able to really ever sit back and process it, or what do you think of it?

• 47:01Speaker 03

  It's crazy, cause there are certain days where I'm kinda forced to stay still and truly think about the things that have happened, like, uh, when I just received the, the Hollywood Star, that was one of those moments for me where it, I had to stop in my tracks, there were people that came to celebrate me that were very instrumental in my career, people I worked with from the past, the present, and the future. And so, there are times, like when I won the Grammy for Best Album, humbly speaking, you know, it just made me realize how hard I had to work in order to accomplish that goal. So I would say every, every couple of years- Years or so, there's something that happens in my life that forces me to reflect on all of the hard work.

• 47:42Speaker 03

  Baby, this is Keke Palmer, yeah.

• 47:49Speaker 04

  Hi, I'm Kenya Paris.

• 47:50Speaker 05

  And I'm Malcolm Gladwell. We're back for season two of our Audible original podcast, The Unusual Suspects.

• 47:56Speaker 04

  We'll sit down with extraordinary guests from the worlds of art, film, literature, comedy, and wellness to hear from their unexpected stories of success.

• 48:03Speaker 05

  And who do we have this season? Well, we'll talk with Grammy-winning artist Anderson Paak, athlete Rich Roll, portrait artist Amy Sherald, Oscar-winning director Ron Howard, legendary writer David Sedaris, and many more. These conversations are more intimate than last season, wouldn't you say?

• 48:20Speaker 04

  I would. Listen to season one of The Unusual Suspects wherever you get your podcasts, and sign up for a free trial Audible to listen to season two in the Audible app, or by subscribing to Apple Podcasts.

• 48:37Speaker 04

  There are books that change how you see the world, and there are books that change how you see yourself. In a new podcast series, A Great Book with Barack Obama, President Obama sits down with a series of surprising and sharp guests to explore six books that have shaped his life and perspective on the world. From Song of Solomon and the Fire Next Time, to All the Pretty Horses and Gilead, the president is joined by guests like Tom Hanks and Ta-Nehisi Coates to reflect on how these timeless stories shaped his thinking on everything from fatherhood to leadership, and discover together what they tell us about the world we live in and the world we want to create.

• 49:20Speaker 04

  Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of A Great Book with Barack Obama ad-free right now, plus access each audiobook discussed in the series. Download the Audible app today.

• 49:38Keke Palmer?

  And I think a lot of people would love to hear, I want to ask you this question because you've also maintained your success through multiple generations. What is something that, I mean, music is so different now, right? The way people are accessing music and how people are trying to establish their brand and what it means to be a brand. I remember Koi LaRae had put a tweet out not too long ago. She was like, what does it mean to be like, like, how do you get iconic status? Is it like, you know, how many records you sold? Is it like, you know, and for me, when I was thinking about that, I was like, I think it's people that stand the test of time. I think it's somebody that, when I think about somebody that's an icon, it's somebody that's been able to maintain and continue to create. So I want to ask you, for anybody that is listening or want to know how to, you know,

• 50:21Keke Palmer?

  tap into establishing themselves in a way that someone like you has, what are some of the like, top three things that they would need to do?

• 50:29Speaker 03

  Man, I don't even, I don't even need to give you top three. Something that's just on my heart, as you ask that question, to come out. For me, and I can't speak for everybody, but I feel like you cannot be afraid to evolve and to change with times. And not only change with times or whatever it is you're currently doing, but you can't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone if you want to explore other areas of entertainment. And even if it doesn't work out at first, doesn't mean that you're a failure in it. So what has worked for me is always being very cautious, but something where I feel like, okay, I'm gonna step out on this.

• 51:10Speaker 03

  And you might be a little fearful because as human beings, we all have our, you know, inhibitions and things that will kind of make us freeze and stop in our tracks. But I always just say to hell with it and just go that extra step and just do it anyway and see, and see what happens. So I feel like I'm a risk taker. Like an extreme risk taker, no matter what the circumstances, because I follow my heart. And I feel like if more people did that, then they would be able to, to, you know, kind of transition into different things. Uh, a lot more, but a lot of people are afraid of change and they're afraid to step outside. The box that people know them for is the best way that I can try and say.

• 51:52Keke Palmer?

  Yeah, and I feel like what you're speaking to also is that you're like a true artist, and you know, from being Ludacris to also being Chris Bridges. And so I'm curious at the, I, cause I remember when it was like, you know, it was Ludacris and it was like Ludacris doing some different stuff. He doing the runaway love and he ain't crashing, now he doing this and like, things are changing where us as the audience and people that are fans of yours. Saw you taking those next steps to really like be a staple in the industry. What was going through your mind? Like, what were you thinking as that was happening? Was it a thought of like? Man, I don't wanna always just rap, or I don't wanna just be a rapper, or I have other visions? Like, what was going through your mind that helped you to kind of like make those strategic steps that maybe weren't even strategic in the moment? I don't know.

• 52:38Speaker 03

  Nah, like, it's a great question, and I can tell you as, as an example, which is Karma's World, which you're actually a person who voices one of the characters.

• 52:47Keke Palmer?

  Yes, Karma's World.

• 52:48Speaker 03

  Yeah, I love doing things that are completely outside of the box of what people expect me to do. And so if I have four daughters and I see my life going in the direction of loving, obviously, I've always loved to be a father. But investing even more into them, then I wanna be the change that I wanna see in the world. So I'mma develop this, this cartoon and this animation, and I'm gonna make it positive, and I'm gonna do it for my daughters. Regardless of whoever, you know, thinks Ludacris is this hard, you know, hardcore rapper, or got criticized for talking about certain things. This is also a part of me, so I'mma step out, no matter what anyone says, this is just what I'm gonna do, because I'mma do it, because I'm also a parent.

• 53:31Speaker 03

  So hopefully, that's a good example to you of why I make certain decisions that I'm doing. I can only do things that are dear to my heart, and I put my all into certain things. And at the time, it may be completely outside of. The realm of whatever someone is championing me for is basically what I'm saying.

• 53:50Keke Palmer?

  I love that. Sounds like you're just folding your life experiences and what's true to your heart into your craft in any way that you can. And I think, yeah, I think that's that's true. Alchemizing, that's what artists do. And I mean, I'll never forget, little Erica is 11 years old. She steady trying to figure why the water so cold. So she popped X to get rid of all the pain. I mean, so you already did that. You get what I'm saying? Like with that song, like when you did that song, man, that really changed how, I mean, you really impacted the culture for real. You know what I'm saying?

• 54:18Speaker 03

  Thank you.

• 54:18Keke Palmer?

  Where those lyrics, that's why I'll never forget. Y'all was like, so you know, she's gonna, you're gonna do this scene and you know, the girl's going through X, Y, and Z. So just, you know, listen to the song and do it, you know, do what you feel. Y'all said action and started playing that song. I was like 12 years, I started bawling because I felt those lyrics so strong. So I just feel like you definitely have done that.

• 54:39Speaker 03

  That's really deep and that that song was a movement. Like we, we had something called the, the Runaway Hotline. And got so many kids that either had already ran away or thinking about running away. Got them help before, you know, anything bad happened. And, and the last thing I wanted to say towards that was I also do these things because I want to be an inspiration for people that want to be a multi hyphenate. And don't want to be put in a box and do one thing. And so, you know, it, it, I just want to show people that it's possible that you can start out as a rapper. You can be a, you know, an actor, you can become a producer, you can do all it philanthropist. You like all of these different things. You can be a creator. And so if I can step outside of my comfort zone and not be afraid for change, then I'm sure that will inspire other people to do the same.

• 55:25Keke Palmer?

  I love that. I love that. And so obviously we're talking about the holiday, Dashing Through the Snow is out. But you know, when I think about the, the Christmas, I think about also the year's ending. So I want you to tell me like, what has this year meant to you? You know what I mean? Like what, if you could put in a few words, what has this year meant? What has it brought to you? And then what are you looking forward to the next year bringing to you? What is your expectations for 2024?

• 55:48Speaker 03

  You know, it's funny, it's funny you said, you just said the word of what I think 2023 sold up. You said the word expectation. Now this is gonna be a little bittersweet, so I hope you're ready for it.

• 55:59Keke Palmer?

  I'm ready.

• 56:00Speaker 03

  It took me this long on earth to finally come to the conclusion. That I have to accept people for who they are.

• 56:09Keke Palmer?

  Oh.

• 56:09Speaker 03

  And I think every celebrity can, uh, every celebrity and every human being can relate to what I'm saying.

• 56:15Keke Palmer?

  Oh, yeah.

• 56:16Speaker 03

  That word expectation is like, we have higher expectations for some people than they have for themselves. And so you'll get hurt each and every single time. And I, I want so much more for certain people than they want for themselves. And I would fight and fight and try to give people opportunity and give them a hand up as opposed to a handout. Uh, that's what I thought. I thought I was giving them a hand up, but they only took it as a handout. So that being said, I have no expectations of people. I want them to surprise me and I accept people for exactly who they are and they show me who they are.

• 56:50Keke Palmer?

  Oh, my gosh. That's so true. I feel the same way. I do think it's a little bit of a Virgo thing because we really, we are so like, you know, I got you, I got you. And sometimes that I got you bites us in the ass and it's like, it's better.

• 57:03Speaker 03

  Bites us on the ass all the time. What do you mean sometime?

• 57:06Keke Palmer?

  Cause people literally don't want us to have them because they actually need to fall so they can learn. And it's very hard to literally accept the fact that, yeah, you know, my expectations for somebody is not the reality of who they are. Like, I know who they could be and if I could just jump in their body real quick, I could figure it out, but that's not, that's not the case. So that is one that I'm still trying to figure out. So I'm glad to hear that, you know, I ain't alone with that one.

• 57:29Speaker 03

  You are not, you are not alone at all. I'm, I'm glad that you realize that you are so not alone. So, yeah, I'm with you.

• 57:36Keke Palmer?

  Okay. And then twenty twenty four, what are you looking for to, for twenty twenty four? What's on the rise?

• 57:42Speaker 03

  Man, I gotta, I, I haven't put out music in like eight years, I wanna say. So, you know, a part of that is because this Fast and Furious franchise got us sold out. They keep coming out with more. We started in two and now we at ten.

• 57:54Keke Palmer?

  And in space and shit like that is so like Fast and Furious is ridiculous dude, but we keep coming back for more.

• 58:01Speaker 03

  Yeah, it is. Um, so, yeah.

• 58:04Keke Palmer?

  I want to put out, I'm definitely putting out some music in 2024. Ooh, I'm ready for that.

• 58:11Keke Palmer?

  I'm so ready for that. I love it, I love it. Okay, so I've obviously had a blast talking to you and I feel the Christmas spirit in the air. But before you go, we're gonna play a game, okay? Today, we're gonna play "Sorry to This Man," okay? I'll, I'll play popular Christmas songs and you have to guess the name of the song. But the catch is, you only get to hear the first second of the song, okay? And if you don't know the name of the song, you have to say "Sorry to This Man," okay? Now, I did this last year and it was really hard, so I'm wishing you luck, so, um... I'm terrible at Christmas songs, but we'll see. Okay, here we go, first one up.

• 58:53Keke Palmer?

  "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree."

• 58:56Keke Palmer?

  That is not the song. "Sorry to This Man." That's what they say in the song. "Rockin' around the Christmas tree is a hallelujah." Oh, "Jingle Bell Rock."

• 59:08Keke Palmer?

  But that is it though, so actually you got that because that is, because they're rocking around the Christmas tree. And it says, "The jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock," so you're right. You just sang the first part, you got it, I'm gonna let you have it. Give me a half a point, give me a half a point. Half a point for that. Okay, the second one is this.

• 59:26Keke Palmer?

  "I don't want a lot for Christmas." Oh, wow! Mariah Carey. He's actually really good, "All I Want for Christmas" by Mariah Carey. Wait a minute now, Luna.

• 59:39Keke Palmer?

  Wait a minute, okay, next one. Another half a point.

• 59:47Keke Palmer?

  I do, I have no idea what the hell that is, I'm trying, my brain is like... I also didn't know that one either, but it's "Last Christmas" by Wham! Okay, nah, I didn't know that. I knew it was old school, I knew it was old school 70s, but I had no idea what song that was. Also, when you got up so close to the camera, all I could see is your one baby daughter. Why do your kids look exact, like, literally? I know Udaqi is mad because they literally have your exact face, it's insane. That's the strong jeans. Strong jeans, man, they look exactly like you. Okay, here's the fourth one.

• 1:00:22Keke Palmer?

  Hey, I know that, I know that. Play it one more time for him, guys.

• 1:00:30Keke Palmer?

  I know this song is killing me. And it was in a movie. I, uh... Damn, I'm gonna have to forfeit. It's "Santa Baby" by Eartha Kitt. Sorry to this man. Okay, no, I wouldn't have, I wouldn't have. Two out of four, two out of four ain't bad. Yes, and this is the last one. I'm ending on this one because you gotta know this one. Okay.

• 1:00:54Keke Palmer?

  (singing) Shake a hand, nigga.

• 1:01:00Keke Palmer?

  Bang on the mistletoe. So, so, I'm gonna get to know you better. Yeah!

• 1:01:10Keke Palmer?

  First of all, the wifi between us is exceptional because there was no delays with that singing. We were right on time. Yeah, there you go. Merry little Christmas, everybody. Merry little Christmas. You the best, man. You the best. And I just want y'all to know, I know Atlanta claimed him, but he is really from Illinois, okay? It's Midwest and it's... Born, I was born in Champagne, Illinois. Love to both, man. Like, all of Illinois, all of Georgia. Man, thank you for this opportunity. I'm glad we finally got a chance to make it happen. Won't be the last. No, it won't. You're the best. Love you down. All right, love you. Tell mom I said what up. I sure will. All right, peace.

• 1:01:50Keke Palmer?

  I really am feeling the Christmas spirit, y'all. I'm off to make some hot chocolate, decorate the tree, and watch "A Diva's Christmas Carol" for the hundredth time. It never gets old. I want to wish all of our listeners a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday. I'm just so grateful for all of you guys. As a wise woman once said, "All I want for Christmas is you." And I mean you, listeners. That's all for now. You know it's your girl.

• 1:02:28Keke Palmer?

  Enjoy Baby This is Keke Palmer on the Wondery app, wherever you get your podcasts, and now, on YouTube where you can watch full episodes. Subscribe to the Wondery channel on YouTube and don't miss any episodes. You can listen to Baby This is Keke Palmer early and ad-free on Wondery Plus. Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.

• 1:02:53Keke Palmer?

  Baby This is Keke Palmer is hosted and executive produced by me, Keke Palmer. Lucas Segal is our post-producer. Music supervisor is Scott Velasquez. Our original theme song was written and performed by me, Keke Palmer. For Team Kiki, my producers are Max Weith and Sharon Palmer. For Wondery, Emily Feld is my senior producer. Executive producers are Dave Easton and Marshall Louie.