YOU DON’T THINK I WANT TO RELAX? Ft. Nava Mau | Episode 172

The legendary Nava Mau joins Drew on the show this week!! Drew talks to Nava about her incredible performance in Baby Reindeer, her new short film All the Worlds But One, visiting the pope at his house, two truths and a lie, getting mobbed in Weho, working at the SeaWorld gift shop, and so much more. Watch Nava’s new short film: http://www.allthewordsfilm.com http://www.allthewordsfilm.com/ Follow Nava on IG: https://www.instagram.com/navamau?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== Follow The Comment Section on IG! https://www.instagram.com/thecommentsection?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== eBay is the place for pre-loved and vintage fashion. This episode is brought to you by Sol de Janeiro and the NEW Body Badalada Lotion. Visit soldejaneiro.com http://soldejaneiro.com/ today to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

• 0:00Speaker 00

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• 0:32Drew Afualo?

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• 1:05Speaker 02

  You don't think I want to relax?

• 1:08Drew Afualo?

  Don't you think I want to skip it?

• 1:09Speaker 02

  You don't think I want to hang out? I'm not trying to give a lecture.

• 1:14Drew Afualo?

  For real.

• 1:15Speaker 02

  But I will.

• 1:16Drew Afualo?

  Unfortunately, I'm going to have to.

• 1:24Drew Afualo?

  Hey, everyone, and welcome back to another episode of the Comment Section Show. Sorry, me, your fave, who cares about me. Onto the guests. Today, we have the iconic, the legendary, the unbelievably talented Navamau.

• 1:38Drew Afualo?

  Welcome to the show, queen.

• 1:40Speaker 02

  Hi, thank you.

• 1:41Drew Afualo?

  Oh, my gosh, I'm so excited to have you.

• 1:43Speaker 02

  I'm so happy to be here.

• 1:44Drew Afualo?

  We were keying right before this.

• 1:46Speaker 02

  Truly.

• 1:47Drew Afualo?

  Yeah, it's a key. It's always a key when you and I see each other.

• 1:49Speaker 02

  Yes, tears always like right behind. Waiting to come out, but.

• 1:53Drew Afualo?

  Yeah, they're threatening to come out.

• 1:55Speaker 02

  The threat.

• 1:55Drew Afualo?

  We're not quite there yet, though.

• 1:57Speaker 02

  No, definitely not.

• 1:58Drew Afualo?

  How have you been? How's life? Miss Busy Bee over here.

• 2:01Speaker 02

  I'm good. I, I, um. You know, I was, I was, I've been very busy.

• 2:06Drew Afualo?

  Yes, you have.

• 2:07Speaker 02

  Blessing and I'm very grateful um for every opportunity and all the people I've met and and I also um didn't take a day off for nine months.

• 2:18Drew Afualo?

  I know.

• 2:19Speaker 02

  Uh except for two days in August and one day in July and um so that was uh getting to be too much.

• 2:27Drew Afualo?

  A little much, yeah.

• 2:29Speaker 02

  So yeah, I took two weeks off and uh now I I actually wanna see the sun again.

• 2:35Drew Afualo?

  Your life is worth living.

• 2:37Speaker 02

  Yes, exactly.

• 2:38Drew Afualo?

  That's good. I'm so glad. We need rest. How was your award season? I'm sure, I know it was cuckoo bananas.

• 2:43Speaker 02

  Um, I mean, it's funny that you say past tense because technically we have, we still have more.

• 2:48Drew Afualo?

  Yeah, you're like going into another phase of it.

• 2:50Speaker 02

  Literally, I actually just don't understand how we're still in awards season like. Um but I think we have our last one. It's the Peabody's.

• 2:59Drew Afualo?

  Um yes.

• 3:00Speaker 02

  So um it has been a wild ride. It has been um you know, maybe once in a lifetime.

• 3:07Drew Afualo?

  Yeah, absolutely. Well, you're a star. That's not shocking at all. Of course, you're being acknowledged as you should be. What's been the funnest awards show you've been to so far?

• 3:17Speaker 02

  Um, I think that I think the Golden Globes after party. Was the first time like I had fun.

• 3:29Drew Afualo?

  The very first one?

• 3:30Speaker 02

  Yeah, um, yeah, my friend Kyle came with me and we actually danced. The food was good.

• 3:38Drew Afualo?

  Nice.

• 3:38Speaker 02

  I don't know, the people, everyone was like in a good mood and it was.

• 3:42Drew Afualo?

  Vibes were high.

• 3:43Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 3:43Drew Afualo?

  That's tea.

• 3:44Speaker 02

  Yeah, it was, it was early January.

• 3:46Drew Afualo?

  Yeah, yeah, it was really, that was before everything really kicked off, you know? That's tea. Uh I went to the Globes. That was my first time ever going to the Globes this year, but I just did carpet and then.

• 3:57Speaker 02

  Yeah, I saw you.

• 3:58Drew Afualo?

  Yes, and then they, and then they made me valet cars after, but you know, that's besides the point, you know, they made me wait tables.

• 4:03Speaker 02

  Well, and you know secretly me too.

• 4:07Drew Afualo?

  Little did you know.

• 4:08Speaker 02

  Yeah, had to earn my keep.

• 4:11Drew Afualo?

  They said, you want a seat at this table? I'll earn it.

• 4:13Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 4:14Drew Afualo?

  For real. I get that. I totally get that. How was your experience going through award season been though? Just like especially where you're at now and with your show and everything?

• 4:24Speaker 02

  I mean, I think that,

• 4:28Speaker 02

  you know, people can be thrust into the machine and people can be thrust into,

• 4:36Speaker 02

  like being like global notoriety.

• 4:39Drew Afualo?

  Yeah.

• 4:39Speaker 02

  For all different reasons. And so I think I've just felt very lucky that for me it happened because of work that I'm so proud of.

• 4:48Drew Afualo?

  Yeah.

• 4:49Speaker 02

  And that was so personal and, and yeah, I think it allowed me to just be able to ride the wave of pride.

• 4:59Drew Afualo?

  Yeah.

• 4:59Speaker 02

  And celebration.

• 5:02Speaker 02

  And I'm ready to actually get back to some acting and some writing and yeah.

• 5:09Drew Afualo?

  That's why I think a lot of actors say too, they're like, this is probably the hardest part is like the marketing you have to do after.

• 5:17Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 5:17Drew Afualo?

  I always compare it to like running for mayor. That's how it feels.

• 5:20Speaker 02

  Yeah, definitely.

• 5:21Drew Afualo?

  You're running for homecoming king.

• 5:22Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 5:22Drew Afualo?

  Or like prom queen or something. That's how it feels.

• 5:25Speaker 02

  Yeah, yeah. I mean, and I think in this weird way, I sort of,

• 5:31Speaker 02

  because I like wasn't winning any of the awards that I was nominated for. Because I was always nominated in the same category with Jess. And so it was kind of nice where I just got to enjoy the ceremonies and the celebration.

• 5:48Drew Afualo?

  Love that.

• 5:49Speaker 02

  And I just got to like, it was almost like, well, we know Jess is gonna win, so I'm excited to root for my friend.

• 5:56Drew Afualo?

  Oh, that's sweet.

• 5:57Speaker 02

  Yeah, it was, it was kind of, I don't know, it felt like oddly low stakes for me. Because I was, I don't know, it's like, it's Richard's project.

• 6:11Speaker 02

  I just got to be a part of it.

• 6:13Drew Afualo?

  Which is amazing.

• 6:14Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 6:14Drew Afualo?

  I think that's wonderful. Also, you're a multi hyphenate and you have a short film coming out. Can you please tell us about it?

• 6:22Speaker 02

  Yes, it's called All the Words But the One. And it kind of.

• 6:28Speaker 02

  Came to be in the same cycle as Baby Reindeer. I I wrote the short first and then I was cast on Baby Reindeer and then kind of came back to the short and then filmed Baby Reindeer and I sort of went back and forth. Um, between the two projects like that they were and then.

• 6:42Drew Afualo?

  Oh, wow. Interesting. That's crazy. Doing both at the same time.

• 6:45Speaker 02

  Yeah, I was like in post on the short in North Carolina and and then like, oh, real quick, sorry, I have to go like do some ADR. Um, for Baby Reindeer. Um, so, um, it feels like it was sort of born from the same emotional time in my life.

• 7:02Drew Afualo?

  Mm hmm.

• 7:02Speaker 02

  Um, and it is a a a pretty serious. Um, you know, dramatic short film that, um, it it, you know, it it kind of explores the questions of violence and accountability, forgiveness. Um, you know, what what happens when maybe somebody who's hurt you in the past has changed?

• 7:27Drew Afualo?

  Mm hmm.

• 7:28Speaker 02

  Are they still a villain in your story?

• 7:31Drew Afualo?

  Yeah.

• 7:31Speaker 02

  Um, or do you have to rewrite that ending? So, um, so, yeah, it follows, uh, two couples that are having a professional dinner and unexpectedly, there's two people there who had a a sort of on off tumultuous thing, uh, situation ship, uh, like five years prior and, um, it ended in violence and they never saw each other again. They never resolved it and so this is their opportunity to to do that and take stock of how far they've come.

• 8:05Drew Afualo?

  Yeah. And you said you wrote you wrote that before you got cast in Re- Baby Reindeer.

• 8:09Speaker 02

  Yeah, yeah.

• 8:09Drew Afualo?

  How do you like the experience of writing? Cause obviously you starred in two and you were in Baby Reindeer. So how do you like the the difference? Is there a huge difference between writing being in front of the camera? Do you prefer one over the other?

• 8:20Speaker 02

  Um, well, I hate writing. Let's let's start there. It's.

• 8:25Drew Afualo?

  Not the best.

• 8:25Speaker 02

  Um, oh, my God, it's just, I just, it's excruciating. It's I just, but I have to do it and it just feels. Yeah, and I wish that I had like more control over it. Um, and and I'm working on it. But, yeah, I feel like for me.

• 8:43Speaker 02

  I I love directing. Directing is where I feel most alive and sort of is my true purpose. Um, and and writing is what allows me to then direct.

• 8:57Drew Afualo?

  Yeah, absolutely.

• 8:59Speaker 02

  And I think I I do sort of, I prefer acting in somebody else's project.

• 9:04Drew Afualo?

  Okay, tea.

• 9:05Speaker 02

  Yeah, I mean, it's just you, somebody else has created a character, there's this whole world to inhabit. And I feel like there's this distance between who I actually am and a character that's created by somebody else.

• 9:19Drew Afualo?

  Right.

• 9:19Speaker 02

  And then there's, so that creates like an electricity in in the distance, trying to to get there.

• 9:25Drew Afualo?

  Yeah.

• 9:25Speaker 02

  Um, and so I just think it it's just, it's just.

• 9:30Drew Afualo?

  It spoils the fun for you.

• 9:32Speaker 02

  I I don't know, yeah, like.

• 9:33Drew Afualo?

  Yeah.

• 9:34Speaker 02

  Well, a- acting while I'm directing, um, it's just ve- it's just very intense.

• 9:40Drew Afualo?

  Yeah.

• 9:40Speaker 02

  I just have to be so focused and like, I remember there was a moment on the last day of filming. Um, I walked into into the the like kind of break area that we had for the cast.

• 9:52Drew Afualo?

  Mm hmm.

• 9:52Speaker 02

  Um, and everyone was like hanging out, um, like they were playing some kind of game or something. And I was like, um, excuse me, like, I wanna have fun too.

• 10:02Drew Afualo?

  Yeah.

• 10:02Speaker 02

  And I realized, I was just like, I didn't, I didn't have any downtime.

• 10:07Drew Afualo?

  Mm hmm.

• 10:07Speaker 02

  And and I think when you only have one role on a project, like.

• 10:11Drew Afualo?

  You have a lot more downtime.

• 10:12Speaker 02

  Yeah, like you can sort of just enjoy it better.

• 10:15Drew Afualo?

  Come along for the ride.

• 10:16Speaker 02

  Yes, exactly, yeah.

• 10:18Drew Afualo?

  Do you, uh, well, you said you love directing and you think that's your purpose. Do you have any like, what kind of film do you dream about directing? Like, what would be like a dream film or a dream project to work on as a director?

• 10:29Speaker 02

  I mean, something like Arrival by Denis Villeneuve.

• 10:33Drew Afualo?

  Oh, cool.

• 10:34Speaker 02

  Oh, that is, yeah, that's one of my favorite movies of all time.

• 10:38Drew Afualo?

  Oh.

• 10:39Speaker 02

  Yeah, truly, just like, it's got linguistics, it's got aliens, it's got a woman going through some things. You know, like.

• 10:48Drew Afualo?

  It's got everything.

• 10:49Speaker 02

  Yeah, truly, yeah.

• 10:50Drew Afualo?

  Well, that's cool. You a sci fi girl if you like sci fi?

• 10:52Speaker 02

  Oh, Ten Toes Down, sci fi, yeah, yeah.

• 10:55Drew Afualo?

  Okay, so you said Arrivals, one of your favorite, what are some other sci fi films you love?

• 10:58Speaker 02

  Well, I, I like books. I like,

• 11:00Drew Afualo?

  Oh, books, okay, T.

• 11:01Speaker 02

  Yeah, Dawn by Octavia Butler.

• 11:03Drew Afualo?

  Okay.

• 11:03Speaker 02

  That is, that's my favorite book of all time.

• 11:05Drew Afualo?

  Love.

• 11:06Speaker 02

  Um, all of, all of that trilogy, actually. Um, and of course, Parable of the Sower now has proven to be too prophetic. Um, like, please take it back, Octavia.

• 11:20Speaker 02

  But, um, I like, um, what, I, I like Westworld, so I, I also like

• 11:27Drew Afualo?

  That's cool.

• 11:28Speaker 02

  Robots and Implants and like Dollhouse.

• 11:31Drew Afualo?

  Okay.

• 11:32Speaker 02

  Yeah, Eliza Dushku, you know, um, yeah, I like sort of nerdy, kind of brainy Severance, obviously.

• 11:40Drew Afualo?

  Yeah.

• 11:41Speaker 02

  Um, yeah, secretly, I had written this, like, pilot that, and, and then Severance came out, like, a year later, and I was like, I can't do it anymore. Like, they did it, they did it better, like, yeah, um, yeah, truly, um.

• 11:57Drew Afualo?

  That's cool, though, that kind of genre.

• 11:59Speaker 02

  Yeah, yeah.

• 12:00Drew Afualo?

  Yeah, it's like, because it goes so much deeper than just like sci fi. It's like, they can be allegories on the world and stuff like that. That's fucking cool.

• 12:06Speaker 02

  Exactly, yeah.

• 12:07Drew Afualo?

  I love that.

• 12:07Speaker 02

  Yeah, I mean, that's what sci fi should be.

• 12:09Drew Afualo?

  You're right.

• 12:09Speaker 02

  Yeah, yeah.

• 12:10Drew Afualo?

  Oh, that's T. Uh, what would you say, like, okay, so you said you, you love Severance. Is there any other shows you would love to be in, like, if you could be a cast in one?

• 12:18Speaker 02

  Um, well, literally, the whole captain crew of Industry already knows this, but I love Industry.

• 12:24Drew Afualo?

  You've told them all?

• 12:25Speaker 02

  I already shot my shot, like, okay, it didn't happen, fine, still love y'all, I guess.

• 12:29Drew Afualo?

  Whatever.

• 12:30Speaker 02

  Um, but no, shout out to them. I actually, I just saw them at the BAFTAs. They're all so sweet and so cool. So, I'll still take your call. Um, Industry, um, what else? Uh, I feel like everything gets canceled.

• 12:46Drew Afualo?

  Everything you love, too, especially, you're like, pop.

• 12:48Speaker 02

  Oh, my god, everything gets canceled, yeah, um, we're struggling right now on TV, to be honest. It just feels like we're in the, um, we're in the, in the wave of, of, of returning to, I, I think, one type of person.

• 13:04Drew Afualo?

  Yeah.

• 13:05Speaker 02

  Um, and, uh,

• 13:07Drew Afualo?

  I was gonna ask you about that, too.

• 13:08Speaker 02

  Yeah, ugh, here we go, gotta, gotta bust out the issues.

• 13:13Drew Afualo?

  Yeah, it's true.

• 13:15Speaker 02

  The Rolodex.

• 13:15Drew Afualo?

  Yeah, it's funny too, because sometimes when I, when I talk about like, uh, serious shit in between telling Weiner jokes on my platform, sometimes I'll have people be like, I'll, I'll literally, they'll say like, I sound like, think you need to talk about politics. Unfortunately, I have no choice because I live politically. Unfortunately, I have no choice.

• 13:35Speaker 02

  You don't think I want to relax?

• 13:37Drew Afualo?

  Don't you think I want to skip it?

• 13:39Speaker 02

  You don't think I want to hang out? I'm not trying to give a lecture.

• 13:43Drew Afualo?

  For real.

• 13:44Speaker 02

  But I will.

• 13:45Drew Afualo?

  Unfortunately, I'm going to have to at some point. And it gets, it does get tiring. And that's why I was gonna, I was gonna ask you about representation in the industry, because obviously you are a trailblazer. And I'm, I'm so curious how that's been for you, because being the first is, is prophetic in many ways, and it's also the worst in many ways. So I, I'm curious how that journey has been for you, since you've been so fucking popular lately, miscasted.

• 14:12Speaker 02

  Thank you. Um, I, you know, I really appreciate that question, because so often, the question is, what does it mean to you to be the first trans woman ex? And I am like, well, why don't you answer that question?

• 14:31Drew Afualo?

  Right. What does that mean to you?

• 14:33Speaker 02

  Yeah, you know, it's not really like, I felt like my life's purpose was

• 14:41Drew Afualo?

  To be the first.

• 14:42Speaker 02

  To be the first, anything.

• 14:44Drew Afualo?

  Exactly, yeah.

• 14:44Speaker 02

  You know, um, I am an actress, I am a director, I am a storyteller, um, and I'm just a person at the end of the day.

• 14:55Drew Afualo?

  Absolutely.

• 14:56Speaker 02

  And I

• 14:58Drew Afualo?

  You're an artist.

• 14:58Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 14:59Drew Afualo?

  That's who you are.

• 15:00Speaker 02

  And all of us have an identity, all of us have a cultural background, all of us have a sexuality, et cetera.

• 15:06Drew Afualo?

  Right.

• 15:06Speaker 02

  And, and mine just so happens to be, you know, marginalized and historically

• 15:15Drew Afualo?

  One that's not highlighted nearly as often as it should be.

• 15:17Speaker 02

  Yeah, um, and it's like, well, that's not my fault, that's low key your fault, like.

• 15:22Drew Afualo?

  You should be asking yourself, why you gotta ask me that question?

• 15:24Speaker 02

  Yeah, exactly, exactly. Um, and I, and I genuinely actually do, I ha- I don't know why I've never done it, but I have always wondered if like, on the red carpet, they're like, well, what do you think the industry, um, should do to, to improve representation of trans people on screen?

• 15:43Speaker 02

  And I'm like, honestly, are you asking all the cis people that?

• 15:47Drew Afualo?

  Tea.

• 15:47Speaker 02

  Are you asking all the straight people that?

• 15:49Drew Afualo?

  Right.

• 15:50Speaker 02

  Because that's actually the people who can really create change.

• 15:53Drew Afualo?

  Shit.

• 15:53Speaker 02

  Because that's how power works.

• 15:54Drew Afualo?

  Mm-hmm, tell them.

• 15:55Speaker 02

  Like.

• 15:56Drew Afualo?

  You, you, it's funny, because you shouldn't ask me.

• 15:58Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 15:58Drew Afualo?

  I honestly don't know.

• 15:59Speaker 02

  And I don't know, like you tell me.

• 16:01Drew Afualo?

  I don't know why they haven't been casting.

• 16:02Speaker 02

  I'm not sure what the problem is.

• 16:04Drew Afualo?

  Right, exactly. You're like, I'm well aware of the problem that you are listing to me. I, how I've been able to surpass it, I can't tell you.

• 16:12Speaker 02

  Yeah, exactly.

• 16:12Drew Afualo?

  Other than being that girl, period.

• 16:14Speaker 02

  Exactly, yeah, so, um, so yeah, I think that that part of it, where people sort of expect me to be the activist.

• 16:26Drew Afualo?

  Right.

• 16:27Speaker 02

  And expect me to have all the answers.

• 16:29Drew Afualo?

  Mm-hmm.

• 16:30Speaker 02

  And I, I think that it's disingenuous in some ways because.

• 16:34Drew Afualo?

  I agree.

• 16:34Speaker 02

  Then it makes it my fault.

• 16:36Drew Afualo?

  Right, and your responsibility.

• 16:38Speaker 02

  And my responsibility when I'm not cast in anything.

• 16:41Drew Afualo?

  Right.

• 16:42Speaker 02

  And when I'm struggling to pay my rent.

• 16:44Drew Afualo?

  Right.

• 16:45Speaker 02

  And when maybe people aren't gonna hear from me after this, because where, where are the roles, where are the projects?

• 16:53Drew Afualo?

  Right.

• 16:54Speaker 02

  No one's, uh, like, thinking of me. And it, it, that's how it feels to me.

• 16:59Drew Afualo?

  Right.

• 16:59Speaker 02

  Um, and, and, you know, we can name on, on all of our, our fingers and toes.

• 17:07Drew Afualo?

  Right.

• 17:07Speaker 02

  All the roles that, that are available right now to, um, to all the amazing, talented, beautiful.

• 17:17Drew Afualo?

  Cis.

• 17:17Speaker 02

  Cis, straight, white actors out there.

• 17:20Drew Afualo?

  Mm-hmm.

• 17:20Speaker 02

  And, and I think that we all deserve to, to be able to work and.

• 17:25Drew Afualo?

  An equal playing field, yeah, I agree.

• 17:26Speaker 02

  And I'm like, uh, we, like, we can work together.

• 17:29Drew Afualo?

  Right, I agree.

• 17:31Speaker 02

  Like, I.

• 17:31Drew Afualo?

  That's why I think that's so tea, what you said, you're like, are you asking them? You should be asking them, you shouldn't be asking me, you should be asking them.

• 17:37Speaker 02

  Yeah, exactly.

• 17:37Drew Afualo?

  And it's not, it's not the same in any way, shape or form as yours, but like, on a much lesser scale for me, when I get asked questions like about the same, it's the same shit, like, what, like, it's almost like a, how'd you do it? They hate people like you. That's how it feels. Like, doesn't it feel that way? It's like, damn, you know, I really tried to hate you and you still got in there. How'd you do that?

• 17:58Speaker 02

  They let you in.

• 18:00Drew Afualo?

  That's how it feels. It feels very like, and how did you get past security?

• 18:04Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 18:04Drew Afualo?

  That's how it feels. So I get what you mean about it feeling disingenuous, because it feels like, it's almost like, uh, it feels like a cheapening of what it took to get in the door.

• 18:13Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 18:13Drew Afualo?

  And they're like, okay, so like, why aren't more of you coming through it?

• 18:17Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 18:18Drew Afualo?

  Well,

• 18:18Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 18:19Drew Afualo?

  that's not a question you should be asking me. Exactly. It's the, it's the exact same thing. And I've, I've even said in an interview before too, that when I first started doing this and I was growing like, crazy numbers every single day, like, no one was reaching out to me. Uh, because of the shit I say and how I say it, what I look like, all of those things, which we know.

• 18:36Speaker 02

  Too real, too pretty. It's just.

• 18:38Drew Afualo?

  I guess it's illegal to be a bad bitch with good tits. My bad.

• 18:43Drew Afualo?

  And like, I, I was like, whatever. I mean, I like doing it, so I'm gonna keep doing it.

• 18:47Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 18:47Drew Afualo?

  And so eventually I did get reached out to, um, to a woman who is still on my team now, because she was like, the only person that believed in me.

• 18:55Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 18:55Drew Afualo?

  But even so, I like, when I talked about this in an interview, I was telling them, the reality isn't that it didn't just shift and they were like, oh, actually, I think she has something. One person actually did believe in me and I'd be, and then I just got too big to ignore. That's really what happened. It, it wasn't like a, you know what, we should be more open and accepting to people of other. That's not what happened. I was like, they didn't, I forced my way in the fucking door. I like, forced people to turn and look at me. That was the difference.

• 19:22Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 19:23Drew Afualo?

  Between me and other people who haven't been able to get in quite yet. That's the only difference. And so I, I said that because I'm like, it feels so cheap when they say it to you, because you're like,

• 19:31Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 19:31Drew Afualo?

  Okay, um, I don't know.

• 19:33Speaker 02

  And then it's also like, well, what else?

• 19:35Drew Afualo?

  Right.

• 19:36Speaker 02

  That's, that's the question.

• 19:37Drew Afualo?

  Right.

• 19:38Speaker 02

  Okay, have a great day.

• 19:41Drew Afualo?

  Damn, not even gonna ask me about my outfit?

• 19:43Speaker 02

  Literally, I'm like, not even the jewelry, like, come on. Yeah. No, I, yeah, I, it's, it is really, I am still baffled to this day when people are surprised by, by my presence or success, um, or even that I exist. I'm like,

• 20:03Speaker 02

  I'm sorry. I, there has never been a mystery for me, so I have no clues for you.

• 20:09Drew Afualo?

  Right.

• 20:09Speaker 02

  I have, I have no suggestions. Like, you're gonna have to solve that mystery on your own. Like, I, I don't know what to tell you.

• 20:16Drew Afualo?

  Yeah, and you're, and it's also like, well, don't stop at me. There's many more. Like, there's many more just like me. There's many more nothing like me at all, though we're in the same boat. It's like, there's many other, maybe if you tried looking harder.

• 20:28Speaker 02

  Yes.

• 20:29Drew Afualo?

  Or cared, then you could cast more of us.

• 20:32Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 20:32Drew Afualo?

  Maybe.

• 20:35Speaker 02

  Some people are gonna be mad.

• 20:38Drew Afualo?

  Well, I've even, like, I've talked about it with my other actor friends too, because I, as I mentioned earlier, I've been like dipping my toe in acting, trying, doing my best. Uh, but sometimes when I read for stuff, um, or if I'm, they're like, oh, maybe what about this read for her? And my team is never pushing anything on me. They're always like, it's up to you. Uh, but sometimes when I get roles, I'm like.

• 21:01Speaker 00

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• 21:34Drew Afualo?

  Is this the only person you guys want me to play? Like, it just like, it feels so already cornered. I'm like, right? That's why I was like, sometimes I have people say, like, can you do it a little bit more urban?

• 21:50Drew Afualo?

  Let me take that line again, but make it more ethnic. Perfect. I can do that for y'all.

• 21:55Speaker 02

  Yeah, yeah.

• 21:55Drew Afualo?

  It feels, it starts to feel silly after a while. And I think the first time that happened to me in like a callback, I was so shook by it because I was thinking. Not necessarily that I was the exception to the rule. I was just kinda like, did you guys even fuck with my tape? Or did you just think that I was gonna be a little bit more urban when you saw me in person? Like, maybe I was a little nervous in my video. And that's kinda how it felt. And I was like, well, damn, like,

• 22:16Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 22:17Drew Afualo?

  I thought I did a good job. Shit.

• 22:18Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 22:19Drew Afualo?

  Guess I'll never know.

• 22:20Speaker 02

  Yeah, I, I, I don't know. I don't know what, um, what it's gonna take for people to imagine more.

• 22:27Drew Afualo?

  Right.

• 22:28Speaker 02

  And, and to dream beyond.

• 22:30Drew Afualo?

  Right.

• 22:32Speaker 02

  What we've seen over and over and over again.

• 22:35Drew Afualo?

  I agree.

• 22:35Speaker 02

  Um, but I, what I will say about representation, and, and I think this includes you, it's that there is such a power in, in, in being deliberate

• 22:48Drew Afualo?

  Mm-hmm.

• 22:49Speaker 02

  in, in our presence.

• 22:50Drew Afualo?

  Right.

• 22:51Speaker 02

  And in speaking our minds, and in, and celebrating our beauty, and, and our communities, and it, that cannot be challenged, that cannot be torn down.

• 23:04Drew Afualo?

  Right.

• 23:05Speaker 02

  You know, they can try to build around it and try to stop us, but, but actually that energy i- is unstoppable.

• 23:11Drew Afualo?

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• 23:56Drew Afualo?

  What do you think's been the most, like, impactful memory you've had with representation? And the kind of representation that you're paving in entertainment so far? I'm sure there's been quite a few. But do you have any that stand out to you?

• 24:09Speaker 02

  Um.

• 24:11Speaker 02

  Let me think.

• 24:12Drew Afualo?

  That make you feel all the butterflies, get you emotional. Don't tell the men that hate me.

• 24:17Speaker 02

  I don't know why this is, this is what I'm thinking of right now.

• 24:21Drew Afualo?

  Okay.

• 24:22Speaker 02

  But I had like a little summer fling last year.

• 24:25Drew Afualo?

  Okay.

• 24:26Speaker 02

  Um, and um, somehow had the time, somehow had the time amidst award ceremonies and fittings and meetings and um, secretly was sneaking off.

• 24:39Drew Afualo?

  Right.

• 24:39Speaker 02

  Um, to see this man that I had no business being with, but.

• 24:43Drew Afualo?

  Time for dick, always.

• 24:44Speaker 02

  It's a problem.

• 24:45Drew Afualo?

  Haha.

• 24:46Speaker 02

  And um, don't tell my team, literally like, um, I was having dinner.

• 24:52Drew Afualo?

  Right, with a friend.

• 24:55Speaker 02

  Uh, so anyway, I, I, I, it was a very brief, you know, thing, like a few weeks and um, I remember he like, this is not even answering your question, but this is.

• 25:08Drew Afualo?

  It's alright, I'm locked in.

• 25:10Speaker 02

  Uh, so this guy, I remember that he, it was like he didn't believe that I um, was like known by people.

• 25:20Drew Afualo?

  Okay.

• 25:21Speaker 02

  For, for my work and.

• 25:23Drew Afualo?

  Right, famous, you can say it. I'll say it for her, it's okay. I'll say it for her. She didn't say it, I did.

• 25:28Speaker 02

  Yeah, he didn't, he didn't believe that I was famous.

• 25:31Drew Afualo?

  Really?

• 25:32Speaker 02

  And um, he would even say things like, and it's alright if it's only on Instagram, like, I believe you. And I was like, I don't.

• 25:39Drew Afualo?

  Baby.

• 25:39Speaker 02

  I just, I don't even know what.

• 25:40Drew Afualo?

  You're in for a rude awakening.

• 25:42Speaker 02

  True, and literally, and so his um, his like friend came into town, his gay friend came into town.

• 25:50Drew Afualo?

  Tea.

• 25:50Speaker 02

  And so he was like.

• 25:55Speaker 02

  And he was like, oh, um, like, do you wanna go out to WeHo with us? Um, and I haven't been in like, pre, since pre pandemic.

• 26:03Drew Afualo?

  Right.

• 26:03Speaker 02

  Secretly, actually, the weekend of COVID, I was, I was in WeHo, but um, and so we're, we're out in WeHo and of course, the friend was very excited to meet me and um, and that was very sweet. And then we're out in WeHo and it was, it was sort of my first time also experiencing like the level.

• 26:24Drew Afualo?

  Right.

• 26:25Speaker 02

  Of attention.

• 26:26Drew Afualo?

  Right.

• 26:26Speaker 02

  Um.

• 26:26Drew Afualo?

  Well, you've also been in a bubble too, cause you've been working so much.

• 26:29Speaker 02

  Exactly.

• 26:29Drew Afualo?

  Yeah, so you're like, you forget.

• 26:32Speaker 02

  Exactly, and so, um, yeah, it was a lot of people coming up to me.

• 26:39Speaker 02

  It was like the icon has arrived.

• 26:42Drew Afualo?

  That's what I'm saying, are you kidding? Oh, I'm the most famous bitch alive in gay rooms.

• 26:48Speaker 02

  It was just, yeah, it was, it was.

• 26:52Speaker 02

  And it was, it was a special moment of celebration and, and but there was this one girl that, um, we were, we were trying to leave at that point, but she like came down on, on the sidewalk and, um, and just really, really wanted to connect. It was a trans Latina woman, um, who, um, you know, said she had never felt represented on screen before. Um, and specifically it was, uh, the scene where Terry's attacked. Um, and you know, that scene, I think, it's, it's, it's really hard to watch and, um,

• 27:32Speaker 02

  it was really hard to perform and in some ways we sort of want to move past depictions of violence against trans women on screen. And, and yet that scene, I think, really, it really affected a lot of people and it really connected with, resonated with a lot of people and, and, um, and so, to hear from her, another trans Latina woman, that that scene felt so necessary and that, and that she, felt like she could point to something, um, that, um, that could speak to her experience. That I, it felt like it, it was a reminder of, of why I do this. That it means something.

• 28:13Drew Afualo?

  And why you're just essential in terms of entertainment and media, far past your talent, which I think more people should focus on is your talent. Right, but far past that, I think that's such a good point too about, you know, you wanna move past violence and that is true, but I think there's a world in which you can have both. And I think that's what people are asking for is not just violence, it's trans joy too, like, that is very much so a part of the trans experience's joy. As much as it is violence and that, and that violence is not inflicted on, on anyone other than the perpetrator themselves, which are fucking transphobes. So like, I think that's so powerful. It's one of those few times they got you tearing up a little bit and you said, I'm in WeHo bitch. Don't do this to me here.

• 28:53Speaker 02

  And then I turned to the, to him and I said, see?

• 28:58Drew Afualo?

  Don't you ever doubt me again.

• 29:01Speaker 02

  And then we broke up a week later.

• 29:03Drew Afualo?

  There you go. And, there you go. I think that's so beautiful.

• 29:08Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 29:08Drew Afualo?

  I think that's amazing. What are, what is something you're really gunning for? Like, do you have a major goal when it comes to like, either it's directing a certain film, or maybe starring in something, or maybe recurring role in something? Do you have an ultimate goal?

• 29:22Speaker 02

  I mean, I do have this dream of creating a series and getting to produce, write and...

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• 29:49Speaker 00

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• 30:21Speaker 02

  Star on it. There's just something about TV where you get to build a structure.

• 30:26Drew Afualo?

  Yeah, that's true.

• 30:27Speaker 02

  That other people get to live in.

• 30:29Drew Afualo?

  Mm-hmm.

• 30:31Speaker 02

  That I really like.

• 30:32Drew Afualo?

  Mm-hmm.

• 30:32Speaker 02

  In terms of culture change and trying to build opportunities, not just for myself, but for other people.

• 30:40Drew Afualo?

  Yeah.

• 30:40Speaker 02

  And I think TV, in some ways, is better, is a better structure for that than film.

• 30:46Drew Afualo?

  Yeah, it gives you more breathing room.

• 30:48Speaker 02

  Yeah, well, it's more sustainable.

• 30:50Drew Afualo?

  Yeah.

• 30:51Speaker 02

  Like, you could potentially have that job for years. You can live in one place.

• 30:57Drew Afualo?

  Yeah.

• 30:58Speaker 02

  And a film is so, it's so transient, you know, and temporary.

• 31:04Drew Afualo?

  Right.

• 31:06Speaker 02

  And people get paid less, usually, on a, you know, on a, like, indie film.

• 31:12Drew Afualo?

  Right.

• 31:13Speaker 02

  Versus a standard TV series.

• 31:15Drew Afualo?

  Yeah, because most movies are not huge box office with enormous budgets.

• 31:19Speaker 02

  Yeah, yeah.

• 31:20Drew Afualo?

  That's true.

• 31:20Speaker 02

  Yeah. Um, so yeah, I I really would like to do that. Um, I I like, I wanna say, I'm like, you know what? Yeah, like, I wanna make Star Wars.

• 31:31Drew Afualo?

  That's cool, though.

• 31:32Speaker 02

  But it's like, then I have to like, come up with an idea.

• 31:34Drew Afualo?

  Now I gotta work on Star Wars.

• 31:37Speaker 02

  So like that, but that is sort of like my real answer is that one day I would like to create sci fi. That is original.

• 31:46Drew Afualo?

  And long lasting.

• 31:47Speaker 02

  Uh, long lasting, yeah, um, and um, and culturally significant.

• 31:53Drew Afualo?

  That is so fucking tea.

• 31:55Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 31:55Drew Afualo?

  I think you would kill at that.

• 31:57Speaker 02

  Trying, I'm trying to.

• 31:58Drew Afualo?

  I believe in that for you. I see it so clearly. I've said that before, cause I've I've joked about this on the show. But like, I am writing another book, but I'm doing fantasy like, kinda book. But my long term plan, cause I'm a Virgo, so I planned twenty years in the future. I was saying like, my goal is to eventually get it made into something and then cast myself. But that's my Lin-Manuel Miranda plan, that's what I call it.

• 32:19Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 32:19Drew Afualo?

  Where I'm like, you can have it, I'm just gonna play a prominent role in it.

• 32:23Speaker 02

  Yeah, yeah, yeah.

• 32:25Drew Afualo?

  It's up to you.

• 32:25Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 32:25Drew Afualo?

  Buy it, and but I am the main character.

• 32:27Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 32:27Drew Afualo?

  And no, I can't sing.

• 32:28Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 32:29Drew Afualo?

  So.

• 32:30Speaker 02

  So. Are you ready?

• 32:31Drew Afualo?

  I pace with it.

• 32:32Speaker 02

  Sign right here.

• 32:35Drew Afualo?

  What would you say is the most randomly but fucking cool moment you've had since, uh, going through this last year?

• 32:43Speaker 02

  Um.

• 32:44Drew Afualo?

  Where you're like, that is crazy and so awesome, I can't wait to tell someone.

• 32:47Speaker 02

  I mean, it, I met the Pope.

• 32:51Drew Afualo?

  Did you really?

• 32:52Speaker 02

  I.

• 32:53Drew Afualo?

  The old one?

• 32:55Speaker 02

  Like, I literally.

• 32:57Drew Afualo?

  The one that just passed over?

• 32:58Speaker 02

  Yes, yes, yes, rest his, God, what is it? May.

• 33:02Drew Afualo?

  May God rest his soul.

• 33:03Speaker 02

  Um.

• 33:04Drew Afualo?

  That's crazy, what a crazy answer. Oh, the Pope, probably. Yeah, probably.

• 33:09Speaker 02

  Yeah, like, I went to his house.

• 33:12Drew Afualo?

  What the fuck are you doing at Pope Francis's house? Is that his name? I don't even know. Are you getting nervous? Like, I'm Catholic, I'm not?

• 33:18Speaker 02

  Yeah, like, I sat with him. For an hour.

• 33:24Drew Afualo?

  Damn, what were you guys kidding about?

• 33:26Speaker 02

  I mean, and we were talking about the the importance of um cultural change for queer and trans people, particularly in families.

• 33:37Drew Afualo?

  Okay, gee.

• 33:38Speaker 02

  And and I we know that the Catholic Church does have an impact in a lot of people's families.

• 33:44Drew Afualo?

  Yeah.

• 33:44Speaker 02

  No matter how you feel about the the Catholic Church, rightfully so, myself included.

• 33:51Drew Afualo?

  Yeah.

• 33:51Speaker 02

  Um, I I did say yes to the invitation to to go speak with him um and to show him what it looks like when a trans woman is loved.

• 34:02Drew Afualo?

  Yeah.

• 34:02Speaker 02

  And uplifted and accepted and celebrated um and accomplished.

• 34:09Drew Afualo?

  You're so fucking cool. What the fuck? She's like, well, yeah, obviously I went to the Pope to go tell him about trans people. What the fuck, bitch? What are you talking about?

• 34:18Speaker 02

  Yeah, it was.

• 34:19Drew Afualo?

  Damn, I'm over here telling men to suck my wiener, and that's what you're doing.

• 34:21Speaker 02

  Yeah, no, but thanks to thanks to Glad. Glad um organized that trip.

• 34:27Drew Afualo?

  That is so fucking crazy.

• 34:29Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 34:29Drew Afualo?

  Yeah, I'd listen to that, too. Two truths and a lie. Your two truths and a lie is gonna go crazy. I've sat with Pope Francis and talked about trans rights. Um, I hate broccoli and I love the color yellow.

• 34:40Speaker 02

  Okay, can we what? Tell me truth, truth, and a lie. I wanna like, I wanna get to know you better. Yeah.

• 34:45Drew Afualo?

  Oh, shoot. Now I'm feeling put on the spot, me loving to talk about myself.

• 34:51Drew Afualo?

  Two truths and a lie, hmm. I've broken a collarbone.

• 34:55Speaker 02

  Okay.

• 34:57Drew Afualo?

  I used to work at the NFL.

• 35:00Drew Afualo?

  I almost pooped my pants after the Oscars.

• 35:03Speaker 02

  Damn it.

• 35:08Drew Afualo?

  That was the day of the Oscars, mind you.

• 35:10Speaker 02

  Okay, that one has to be real.

• 35:13Drew Afualo?

  And it's not. Damn, I gave it away.

• 35:14Speaker 02

  I mean, if not, then like, they really do need to pass you, like.

• 35:20Drew Afualo?

  Unfortunately, that one is true, yes.

• 35:22Speaker 02

  Okay, that one's definitely true. I feel like.

• 35:28Speaker 02

  You have not broken a collarbone?

• 35:30Drew Afualo?

  I actually did break a collarbone.

• 35:31Speaker 02

  Oh, so you did not work at the NFL?

• 35:32Drew Afualo?

  I actually worked at the NFL, I just realized.

• 35:34Speaker 02

  Wait, so you told me three truths?

• 35:36Drew Afualo?

  I'll be so real, I just realized I told you three truths. Like, oh, fuck.

• 35:42Drew Afualo?

  Hey, my bad, don't know how to play the game.

• 35:44Speaker 02

  And they can never say that you don't tell the truth.

• 35:46Drew Afualo?

  Listen, let me tell you, and tell the Pope that.

• 35:48Speaker 02

  Well.

• 35:49Drew Afualo?

  I'll tell him.

• 35:50Speaker 02

  Well, right.

• 35:51Drew Afualo?

  He heard us.

• 35:53Drew Afualo?

  I meant that very literally. I am, I'm, honestly, I feel like I'm cracking up because you said you hung out with the Pope, I think that's why.

• 35:59Speaker 02

  It was.

• 35:59Drew Afualo?

  I think my brain is spinning because of it.

• 36:01Speaker 02

  It was, yeah, no, that was a moment, that was a moment.

• 36:04Drew Afualo?

  Wait, you tell me two truths and a lie.

• 36:06Speaker 02

  Oh, god, okay, um.

• 36:08Drew Afualo?

  Don't bother using the Pope Francis one, I already know.

• 36:11Speaker 02

  I know, that would have been a good one. Okay, I may need, yeah, I just need a second, let's see. Because I'm bad at lying, so.

• 36:23Drew Afualo?

  If you want to think on it, I do have some fun facts about you, so maybe we should do those first.

• 36:27Speaker 02

  Okay, great, yeah.

• 36:27Drew Afualo?

  Let's do, let's do fun facts.

• 36:29Speaker 02

  Oh, right, we'll do the facts and then we'll do the lies.

• 36:31Drew Afualo?

  Yeah, there you go, exactly, and then you can tell me if these are lies.

• 36:35Drew Afualo?

  Okay, the first one says that you have a linguistics and cognitive science degree.

• 36:39Speaker 02

  I do.

• 36:40Drew Afualo?

  Okay, tea, from where?

• 36:41Speaker 02

  I went to Pomona College.

• 36:43Drew Afualo?

  Okay.

• 36:43Speaker 02

  Yeah, in Claremont.

• 36:44Drew Afualo?

  Are you SoCal girl?

• 36:45Speaker 02

  No, I'm actually, I was born in Mexico City.

• 36:48Drew Afualo?

  Okay.

• 36:49Speaker 02

  Soy mexicana, soy chilanga.

• 36:51Drew Afualo?

  Love, period.

• 36:53Speaker 02

  And then when I was eight, moved to San Antonio, Texas. So then I'm also a southern girl.

• 36:59Drew Afualo?

  Okay.

• 37:01Speaker 02

  And, but I moved, yeah, I did go to college in SoCal, so I've now lived in California, because I lived in Oakland for, for a while.

• 37:10Drew Afualo?

  Nice.

• 37:12Speaker 02

  So I've lived in California now most of my life, like the greatest, the greatest portion of my life.

• 37:18Drew Afualo?

  Okay, nice.

• 37:18Speaker 02

  Which is crazy.

• 37:19Drew Afualo?

  That's cool, why linguistics and cognitive science?

• 37:22Speaker 02

  I'm just a nerd, I just, I've always loved people and language, and I went to a school where we were encouraged to not declare a major until junior year.

• 37:34Drew Afualo?

  Okay.

• 37:34Speaker 02

  And um.

• 37:35Drew Afualo?

  That's cool. I appreciate that.

• 37:37Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 37:37Drew Afualo?

  Figure out what you want to do.

• 37:38Speaker 02

  Yeah, um, and then so I took Intro to Ling um with Meredith Landman and uh I just was very obs- I was like obsessed, actually. I I loved linguistics um.

• 37:53Drew Afualo?

  That makes a lot of sense to me that you love linguistics because you're a really effective communicator. And that's it's hard to communicate if you don't understand language and like, are you good at relating to people?

• 38:04Speaker 02

  I think I've gotten good at communicating also um for my counseling days.

• 38:09Drew Afualo?

  Oh, okay.

• 38:10Speaker 02

  I had to, we did like activities that were like active listening.

• 38:14Drew Afualo?

  Like intention versus impact?

• 38:16Speaker 02

  Uh, yes.

• 38:20Drew Afualo?

  I know all about that.

• 38:21Speaker 02

  Yes, the iceberg of oppression. Yes, yes.

• 38:25Drew Afualo?

  It's funny you say that because my sister is a lesbian. She's over there.

• 38:28Speaker 02

  Okay, hello, community.

• 38:31Drew Afualo?

  She said, hey, queen. Uh, and my sister went to the University of Oregon.

• 38:35Speaker 02

  Okay, yes.

• 38:35Drew Afualo?

  And so gay people up in the PNW, yeah, I know all about intention versus impact. My sister came back with lots of lessons for me.

• 38:44Speaker 02

  When there's also the three I's, the institutional impact, the interpersonal impact, and the individual impact.

• 38:51Drew Afualo?

  That's the real gay agenda, is effective communication. That's being pushed on us.

• 38:56Speaker 02

  Right, yes.

• 38:57Drew Afualo?

  Healthy, effective communication.

• 38:58Speaker 02

  If only, if only we could get our way.

• 39:02Drew Afualo?

  That's the real gay agenda. I love that. Okay, it says on here, you used to work at SeaWorld.

• 39:07Speaker 02

  Yes, yes.

• 39:09Drew Afualo?

  Or forgetting.

• 39:11Speaker 02

  Wait, oh my god, yes, that was my first job. No, I literally actually talk about SeaWorld all the time. It's just like, it was such a pivotal chapter in my life.

• 39:20Drew Afualo?

  Was it?

• 39:21Speaker 02

  And then sometimes people who like don't know, I'll just be like, okay, so yeah, well, that was like when I was at SeaWorld and blah, blah, blah. And then they're like, I'm sorry, what do you mean you met at SeaWorld? And I'm like, oh, no, no, when I worked at SeaWorld for three years. Yeah, it was my first job. I worked in the main mast. It was the main gift shop. And you know, I feel like truly badge of honor for anybody who's ever worked retail or food service.

• 39:47Drew Afualo?

  Yeah.

• 39:48Speaker 02

  Like, that's the real bitches.

• 39:49Drew Afualo?

  For real, God's strongest soldiers.

• 39:52Speaker 02

  Exactly. And I don't know, it just, I'm like, well, this is what a job is. I'm like, like, this is how hard you have to work, like, so.

• 40:02Drew Afualo?

  Damn.

• 40:03Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 40:03Drew Afualo?

  I can only imagine too, because that's like a tourist attraction, so I can only imagine how awful people are.

• 40:07Speaker 02

  And, you know, that part.

• 40:13Speaker 02

  That part, maybe, I don't know, maybe it is what like taught me how to be able to like, deal with the noise.

• 40:25Drew Afualo?

  Oh, I'm sure.

• 40:25Speaker 02

  You know, it's like.

• 40:26Drew Afualo?

  Absolutely.

• 40:27Speaker 02

  It's like a mom of five from Missouri who has a sunburn in a very strange configuration on her face because she didn't know how to put her sunscreen on right. But she's mad because they, we don't have the mug that has her daughter's name spelled right. And I'm like, well, I'm sorry, you shouldn't have named your daughter Kaylee and spelled it.

• 40:48Drew Afualo?

  With an I G H.

• 40:49Speaker 02

  Well, I, it would be like E E I G H and then a silent Y at the end. It's just like, I don't, I'm sorry, we don't have it for you, but.

• 40:58Drew Afualo?

  My bad.

• 40:58Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 40:59Drew Afualo?

  Sorry.

• 40:59Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 41:00Drew Afualo?

  It's funny because when I talk about the fucking two seconds I worked in a restaurant, I was like, yeah, the way my mouth is set up, I can't have this job. Like, I'm gonna get, I'm gonna catch a fucking case if I keep working at this restaurant.

• 41:14Speaker 02

  I was really bad at being a waitress. I did not last. I did not last. I literally lasted one day and then I had to, well, what I wanted was to work room service. That was actually my dream.

• 41:26Drew Afualo?

  Why? Why did you want to do that?

• 41:30Speaker 02

  I just thought it was cool.

• 41:33Drew Afualo?

  Taking the food to the room?

• 41:34Speaker 02

  Yeah, I was like, true, yeah, it's like, it's like a field trip every day. And I don't know, you're like going in people's rooms. It's like a little.

• 41:43Drew Afualo?

  You beat cheese moss on there.

• 41:45Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 41:45Drew Afualo?

  Yeah, you like made a cheese moss on there. I get it. I get it.

• 41:49Speaker 02

  So, but I had to start in the restaurant. Like, that was, they like forced me. I, yeah, I think the only tips I got were pity tips. It was so, I was so bad. And then they were like, okay, you're right, you're right, you're right, room service. And I'm like, yes. Self determination. I do know who I am.

• 42:04Drew Afualo?

  I know my skillset. I'm gonna thrive in the room service industry.

• 42:09Drew Afualo?

  It's funny, cause like, when I was a waitress too, I, it didn't last very long, but it, the entire time, I remember thinking, I cannot believe how many people go out to eat with the intention of terrorizing a server.

• 42:21Speaker 02

  Truly.

• 42:22Drew Afualo?

  It feels like it's on purpose. Like, they're like, I'm gonna swing on someone, but I can't, so I'm gonna go to Chili's and I'm gonna ruin that person's day. Like, I can't imagine.

• 42:29Speaker 02

  I'm sure there's Facebook groups for this.

• 42:32Drew Afualo?

  That's what I'm saying. I'm like, I feel like you're terrorizing me on purpose. Like, it was just the strangest thing. And I, I was in college at the time. So I lived in Hoy, and they get, we get a lot of tourists and Australian men, specifically as tourists. Australian men in general, now that I do this for a living, like, they fucking hate me over there, but like, Australian women love me. Uh, but Australian men, they are the worst tables ever because they camp for hours, they drink, and get loud, and they never tip, ever. Ever, fucking ever. Waste my time, two K, fucking eighteen at the time. It's fucking miserable.

• 43:09Speaker 02

  Yeah, we need to fix, we need to fix tipping culture. Next up, on the comment section.

• 43:13Drew Afualo?

  Add it to the list. Tell Pope Francis to add that to the list.

• 43:18Drew Afualo?

  Okay, this next one says, before you started acting, you worked as a legal assistant and a counselor.

• 43:23Speaker 02

  Yes.

• 43:23Drew Afualo?

  Look at you. A girl of many hats. You wear so many hats.

• 43:27Speaker 02

  Yeah, that was when I first started working with survivors of violence.

• 43:30Drew Afualo?

  Oh, look at you. And one thing I will say too, that I've noticed in your journey is that I feel like you have always been such an advocate, not necessarily activist. But I think inherently we become activists when you get a platform, but like, you've always been an advocate and you like, bring that into your job now, and I find that so admirable. I think that's fucking awesome, especially with the stage and the level of exposure you have now. I think a lot of times it can scare people, especially marginalized people, for reasons I can understand, where you're like, maybe I shouldn't be as honest about how I feel about these things, because it might close doors for me, but you're never afraid of that, and I fucking love that about you. It's really hard to do that, especially as a marginalized person in this industry.

• 44:14Drew Afualo?

  I think that's wonderful. And I want to tell you that before we start making more wiener jokes.

• 44:19Drew Afualo?

  Before we get silly again, have to remember to tell you that. Uh, this exit says you performed in a junior version of Cats when you were a kid.

• 44:27Speaker 02

  Yes, wait, oh my god.

• 44:30Drew Afualo?

  Who'd you play in Cats?

• 44:31Speaker 02

  Um, the, I don't remember, it was in Mexico, so it was in Spanish.

• 44:35Drew Afualo?

  Okay.

• 44:36Speaker 02

  Um, but it was like, the rocker cat.

• 44:41Speaker 02

  I don't know which one that is. I had a solo and it was like a rock star cat.

• 44:46Drew Afualo?

  Do you love musical theater? Uh. Musical theater girl?

• 44:50Speaker 02

  I cannot say I do. I just, I'm like, why are we singing?

• 44:59Speaker 02

  We, can we talk it out? I just.

• 45:02Drew Afualo?

  What's next, the singing?

• 45:03Speaker 02

  It's.

• 45:03Drew Afualo?

  How's that?

• 45:05Speaker 02

  Yeah, I would love musical theater if they just didn't have singing.

• 45:10Speaker 02

  I do love a musical film.

• 45:13Drew Afualo?

  Too fun.

• 45:14Speaker 02

  When the, um, it's warranted, like.

• 45:20Drew Afualo?

  When it makes sense to me, that makes sense.

• 45:24Speaker 02

  Like, they have to be like, like Dreamgirls, they're singers and so they're going to sing.

• 45:29Drew Afualo?

  You're in the context, it makes sense.

• 45:31Speaker 02

  Cadillac Records. I mean, maybe I just like Beyonce music girls, but.

• 45:34Drew Afualo?

  Cadillac Records.

• 45:35Speaker 02

  Wait, okay, Cadillac Records.

• 45:37Drew Afualo?

  I love that movie.

• 45:40Drew Afualo?

  That soundtrack, I love that soundtrack. Oh my god. And I love Beyonce.

• 45:44Speaker 02

  Oh my god, I was listening to that soundtrack on the plane, actually, on the plane home.

• 45:48Drew Afualo?

  That's so tea, I listen to it all the time.

• 45:49Speaker 02

  For once in a lifetime, the Beyonce, oof.

• 45:52Drew Afualo?

  I'd rather go blind.

• 45:53Speaker 02

  I'd rather go blind. Oh, Let's Take a Walk?

• 45:55Drew Afualo?

  Yeah, bitch.

• 45:55Speaker 02

  Is it Raphael, Raphael Sadiq?

• 45:57Drew Afualo?

  Yeah, bitch. You're talking my language.

• 46:00Speaker 02

  Like, Let's Take a Walk.

• 46:02Drew Afualo?

  And let's.

• 46:05Drew Afualo?

  See, Beyonce, she's my pope. She's my version of the pope, to be honest.

• 46:09Speaker 02

  You know, I would take a meeting with her. Talk about trans rights and, you know.

• 46:13Drew Afualo?

  Yeah, let's. Okay, it says that you first got asked to audition for the show Generation on HBO Max from a random Instagram DM.

• 46:21Speaker 02

  Yes, yeah, um, well, there goes one of my two truths and a lie.

• 46:28Speaker 02

  Yeah, I um, I got to LA and I was trying to be on my indie filmmaker hustle. You know, like Ava DuVernay, she had a job and then on the weekends she would like plug away at her film. And this was a five-year process. Um, and finally she made a film, um, and that was sort of the vision I had was like, okay, I'm gonna get a job and I did.

• 46:49Drew Afualo?

  Yeah.

• 46:49Speaker 02

  I did.

• 46:50Drew Afualo?

  And guess what?

• 46:51Speaker 02

  I did get a job. Um, yeah, it was like, and then two days into that job, I got cast on Generation.

• 46:57Drew Afualo?

  Good to.

• 46:58Speaker 02

  So, it, acting was sort of the surprise.

• 47:02Drew Afualo?

  Really?

• 47:02Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 47:03Drew Afualo?

  Okay, that's tea. I feel like that happens, though, with most great artists, they fall into acting.

• 47:09Speaker 02

  Okay, well, most great artists.

• 47:11Drew Afualo?

  You are. And that's just, I mean, guessing you, but it's also true.

• 47:16Speaker 02

  Thank you, so sweet.

• 47:17Drew Afualo?

  Two things can be true at the same time. And then, obviously, your last fact, it's, we already talked about it, but it's about your short film.

• 47:23Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 47:23Drew Afualo?

  But just to circle back to your short film, uh, what do you hope people take away from it?

• 47:28Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 47:28Drew Afualo?

  When they see it?

• 47:29Speaker 02

  Yeah, I, so the film is called All the Words But the One. It is out, available for everyone to watch, um, at allthewordsfilm.com. And I hope that people watch it and allow themselves to feel. I, I hope that people are not afraid of the questions that may come up, um, in the film.

• 47:52Drew Afualo?

  Yeah.

• 47:53Speaker 02

  We live in a violent world, we live in a world that makes it very hard to know what to do with, with the pain and trauma that comes from violence. And, um, I think so often the answers that were given, uh, culturally are, and institutionally, are based in punishment. And, and carceral responses.

• 48:18Drew Afualo?

  Yeah.

• 48:18Speaker 02

  And, so what does it look like? When we really ask, what do we need? And and it's really up to each individual survivor to say what they need. And maybe, maybe what that person needs is not to tell everybody. And is not to to have this whole public, um, you know, confrontation. And and maybe that survivor needs to have her own process within. Maybe she wants to tell one person. But we're not entitled to know anyone's process. And so I hope people are willing to engage with with all of these these questions. Also, I should say, it's it's sexy. It's steamy. It's delicious.

• 49:04Speaker 02

  So don't be afraid of it. All the words but the one.

• 49:07Drew Afualo?

  And I and I, uh, having watched it, I will say I do love that. At a certain point, to me, it felt like when she, obviously, when she did talk about it, when she was ready. I loved that it felt like she didn't need the validation. You know what I'm saying, from from the other person? She didn't need them to validate whether it was good, bad, why? Like, how come, like, all of these different questions that may come up, like, she didn't need it. Cause she had her own. And I love that part of it. I think that's beautiful, without trying to give away too much. I thought that was beautiful.

• 49:41Speaker 02

  That means a lot to me.

• 49:42Drew Afualo?

  I'm so glad, and I'm so glad that you are not only starring in these huge, amazing shows, but you're also creating your own art and putting it out in the world at the same time. Multitasking like a motherfucker, look at you.

• 49:55Speaker 02

  It's what we gotta do. It's what we gotta do and and I and I have to say I wouldn't have it any other way. You know, it's it's such a blessing to have been a part of something that had such huge reach.

• 50:11Speaker 02

  And. I can't tell you how special it was to do this short film with this group of people that no one knew about. It was during the strike. And I checked, I was allowed to do it, you know, I wasn't, no one, I wasn't striking against myself. We were striking against the studios, but yeah, it was, it was this, this beautiful, transformative community process and I hope that I get to continue doing things like that.

• 50:43Drew Afualo?

  Yeah, I love that. And I think that's so, I think it's beautiful and necessary for many reasons, but especially because, and I'm sure you know this too, and my other friends have told me who are in the industry too. It's like sometimes people like us have to write our own shit. Like we have to put our own shit in the world. Like we have to make our own art because we're sick and tired of waiting around for someone else to do it. I'm like, y'all keep casting white people and we'll make other stuff. How's that? Let's make that deal together.

• 51:07Speaker 02

  That's what it's looking like.

• 51:09Drew Afualo?

  For now, that's what we'll do.

• 51:12Drew Afualo?

  Well, thank you so much for coming on the show. I fucking love you.

• 51:15Speaker 02

  Oh, thank you so much.

• 51:16Drew Afualo?

  Just like the Pope, I'm in love with you.

• 51:17Speaker 02

  I love you too, girl. I'm like, oh my god. Yeah, no, it actually is really, I have to say it is just, even though I've met you several times now, it still is wild to know that you're the person that popped up on my TikTok screen. Cause trust me, I was, I was deep in the TikTok trenches during the pandemic. And you were just speaking so courageously and, and it felt like you were speaking with the voice of all of us who are fed up with, with being told that we're not enough and that we are not beautiful, that we don't deserve love, whatever it is. And you lead with love and humor.

• 52:01Speaker 02

  And it's, and it's just so amazing and, and I feel so lucky that we've now got to share this.

• 52:07Drew Afualo?

  Stop, we're gonna cry together.

• 52:11Drew Afualo?

  I fucking love you. I think you're amazing. If I can ask you one more question.

• 52:14Speaker 02

  Yeah, of course, of course.

• 52:15Drew Afualo?

  Do you have any advice for any aspiring artists that are looking to get into this industry? As we've talked about before, it's beautiful and suffocating and everything in between. All the wonderful, amazing things and all the terrible things at the same time. And for anyone, especially now, where I feel like art is under attack in so many ways. Whether it's by AI or it's by the administration, whatever the fuck it may be. Um, do you have any words of wisdom or courage for people who are artists and want to get into this industry? So despite everything it's going against.

• 52:46Speaker 02

  Yeah. Uh, you're gonna have to fight for something. And so you might as well fight for something that you really believe in. Something that aligns with your values and something that can bring you closer together with other people.

• 53:03Drew Afualo?

  Yeah.

• 53:03Speaker 02

  Um, and, and that is gonna become more and more important, I think, as this century goes on.

• 53:11Drew Afualo?

  Yeah, for real.

• 53:12Speaker 02

  As the killer bees are gonna start appearing and, you know, the robot dogs. You know, like, we, yeah, we have to believe in something in order to fight for it.

• 53:23Drew Afualo?

  That's so tea. That's so true. Of course, you're fucking wise, whatever.

• 53:28Drew Afualo?

  Thank you so much for coming on the show. I fucking love you. You're amazing.

• 53:31Speaker 02

  I love you too.

• 53:32Drew Afualo?

  And I'm so glad we're in each other's lives and in love now. Period. Love that for us.

• 53:36Speaker 02

  Thank you.

• 53:36Drew Afualo?

  Thank you so much for joining us on this week's episode of the comment section show for the two and a half people that may not know. Where can everybody find you?

• 53:44Speaker 02

  Um, my, uh, should I talk to the camera?

• 53:47Drew Afualo?

  Yeah, yeah.

• 53:48Speaker 02

  To that one? Um, my Instagram is @navamao and my film Instagram is @allthewordsfilm. You can watch the film at allthewordsfilm.com.

• 53:58Drew Afualo?

  Yay, very much. And please go watch Nava in literally anything she's in. It's all fucking brilliant, obviously. All my friends are talented and hot. It's crazy. I'm ten for ten on all of them. It's crazy. Thank you so much for joining us on this episode. Thank you so much to my amazing guest, Nava Mau. Don't forget, new episodes of the comment section drop every Wednesday. You can stream the audio on all streaming platforms, but the video is for free and exclusively on our favorite platform, Spotify. Thank you so much for watching. Thank you so much to Nava Mau and I'll see you next week. Bye.

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