Demi Lovato on Healing, Marriage, & Life After Child Stardom

Baby, we’re back! On the season premiere, Keke sits down with Demi Lovato for a raw, open conversation about growing up as child stars and everything that followed. They get real about navigating fame at a young age, Demi's struggles with addiction and body image, and the long road to reclaiming self-worth. Demi shares how she met and fell in love with her husband, what healing looks like now, her new cookbook, and what fans can expect from her upcoming tour, plus a little Camp Rock 3 tease! CONTENT WARNING: This episode discusses topics that may be difficult for some people, including mental health and addiction. Please take care while listening. 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.

• 0:00Keke Palmer?

  Hey baby, welcome back. This season feels different. Not because the conversations are louder, but because they're deeper. This show has never been about gotcha moments. It's not about headlines, it's not about proving a point. It's about perspective. It's about sitting with people, not to agree, not to attack, but to understand. Pop culture moves fast. Opinions move faster. But nuance? Nuance takes time. And that's what we're making space for. This season, we are choosing curiosity over certainty, context over chaos, conversation over combat. I'm not here to speak for my guests, and I'm not here to speak over them either. I'm here to ask the questions that let you see for yourself. Because culture isn't a headline.

• 0:45Keke Palmer?

  It's a reflection. And this show? It's the mirror. So let's get into it.

• 1:21Keke Palmer?

  Hey y'all, welcome to the season premiere of Baby This is Keke Palmer. Our first guest is somebody who knows all too well what it means to grow up in the spotlight. She stepped into the industry as a child and evolved into a global superstar and bestselling author right before our eyes. With nine studio albums, Grammy nominations, and a brand new tour and cookbook coming out, her resume speaks for itself. Oof, we have a lot to get into. And so, please welcome the one and only, Demi Lovato.

• 1:52Keke Palmer?

  Girl, you look so good.

• 1:54Speaker 01

  Thank you, so do you.

• 1:55Keke Palmer?

  I'm really loving this hair.

• 1:57Speaker 01

  Thank you.

• 1:58Keke Palmer?

  When we were at the TikTok Fest together, oh my gosh, girl. The vocals were hydrated and fabulous.

• 2:03Speaker 01

  Thank you.

• 2:04Keke Palmer?

  Your voice is just too damn good.

• 2:06Speaker 01

  Thank you so much.

• 2:07Keke Palmer?

  Yes, that range, it gives me all the life I need. Now, before we get into everything, I have to get into this pre-show pull-up question.

• 2:14Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 2:14Keke Palmer?

  Let me see what you were answering. Zodiac sign, I think I knew that you were a Leo.

• 2:18Speaker 01

  Emily, I got a lion on my hand to prove it.

• 2:20Keke Palmer?

  So this must mean you feel very Leo.

• 2:21Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 2:22Keke Palmer?

  Yeah. Are you August?

• 2:25Speaker 01

  Yep, August 20th.

• 2:26Keke Palmer?

  August 20th, my best friend's August 9th, so I definitely love me a Leo.

• 2:29Speaker 01

  Aww.

• 2:30Keke Palmer?

  Do you know your big three? Yeah, so do you know your big three?

• 2:32Speaker 01

  I don't know my big three, but I think my son is a Leo. I know I'm a double Leo somehow.

• 2:38Keke Palmer?

  Yes, double Leo in one of them, okay, cool, okay, okay. I'm gonna have to get her birth time and where she was born and get into the nitty-gritty.

• 2:44Speaker 01

  6:25.

• 2:45Keke Palmer?

  Oh, so we can do this.

• 2:46Speaker 01

  I know it, we can do it, I just, and I did it before, but I forgot.

• 2:49Keke Palmer?

  You honestly, you have so many diehard fans, I'm sure they know it.

• 2:53Speaker 01

  Yes, I'm sure.

• 2:54Keke Palmer?

  Yes, okay, what are you most grateful for today? My husband. Girl, congratulations, you guys are coming up on a year.

• 3:01Speaker 01

  Yeah, we're coming up on a year.

• 3:03Keke Palmer?

  So insanely amazing to find your person, you know what I mean? It really, really is. A relationship or friendship non-negotiable for you? Has to be able to laugh at themselves. Girl, that's one of my biggest pet peeves, when people talk about what kind of guy you like, what kind of person you want to be with, I don't always know all the details, but I definitely could tell you they can't be like, super cool.

• 3:23Speaker 01

  No, they can't take themselves too seriously, they have to be able to laugh.

• 3:27Keke Palmer?

  Yes, I need that, because I'm also goofy as hell, like I'm...

• 3:30Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 3:30Keke Palmer?

  If you're not able to laugh with me, then I'm just gonna look crazy. Okay, what's a question you wish you were asked more in interviews? The topic of mental health, yeah.

• 3:39Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 3:39Keke Palmer?

  I'm always talking about mental health too.

• 3:41Speaker 01

  Good.

• 3:41Keke Palmer?

  And I feel like we, we really, I feel like we've gotten better, like, think about when we were kids, I don't think we were ever talking about it.

• 3:48Speaker 01

  No, absolutely not.

• 3:49Keke Palmer?

  You know what I mean, in that generation, but I feel like now, the conversation has come up a little bit more, but we need to get past the trigger words.

• 3:56Speaker 01

  Yes, yes.

• 3:57Keke Palmer?

  And into like, what it means to maybe even like, sustain good mental health before we start tipping into the dark point.

• 4:03Speaker 01

  And I think also just checking in with one another, like, how, how are you doing? Like, how's your heart? That question always resonates with me, because it establishes like, a meaningful connection right then and there.

• 4:14Keke Palmer?

  Mm-hmm, and that I'm present with you, not just... Um, who was someone you've met that made you feel starstruck? Beyonce? What did y'all meet? When was this?

• 4:21Speaker 01

  I met her at the, maybe not NSYNC, maybe L Women in something?

• 4:25Keke Palmer?

  Yeah, one of the Women in the

• 4:26Speaker 01

  It was that. And um, I met her backstage and she was like, and first of all, I was so starstruck, but um, she was like, "Oh my God, I'm such a fan of your music." And I was like, "Thank you so much." Like, you know who I am? I had like a moment where I just was, I totally fell apart and um, and it was, it was amazing.

• 4:49Keke Palmer?

  One thing about Beyonce, she like a singer. And she likes somebody that know, that got talent. So I'm not surprised by any of that because you, you know, credible voice. I forget where I was with you when I had first heard you sing live. Because obviously, we all knew that you could sing, but it was one of these, again, one of these events. And you didn't have nobody on stage. It was just, and you, and you had this attitude too where it's like, "That [bleep] don't come out here and sing." You know when somebody has that vibe where they're just like?

• 5:16Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 5:16Keke Palmer?

  La la la, and you, and you held like some crazy long, I remember we all got, started standing up and stuff.

• 5:21Speaker 01

  Thank you.

• 5:22Keke Palmer?

  I forget what event it was, but it was everything. Okay, what's a mantra you live by and why? "Family and friends first, it's never too soon to laugh at yourself."

• 5:31Speaker 01

  Yeah. Yeah.

• 5:32Keke Palmer?

  You seem to have a good sense of humor.

• 5:33Speaker 01

  I like to think so.

• 5:35Keke Palmer?

  Mm-hmm.

• 5:35Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 5:36Keke Palmer?

  Like to have fun and get into it. I'm the same way.

• 5:38Speaker 01

  I love to have fun.

• 5:39Keke Palmer?

  Well, I'm glad you're here. We're definitely gonna have some fun and get into it.

• 5:42Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 5:42Keke Palmer?

  And by the way, I mean, my girl is a brand mogul, because this is your water?

• 5:46Speaker 01

  Yes, Cali Water is, um, I have my own flavor. It's called, it's blood orange.

• 5:51Keke Palmer?

  Ooh, cheers, why do you make me cheers?

• 5:53Speaker 01

  It's cactus water, thank you. But it's super hydrating, rich in antioxidants, tons of electrolytes. And I personally just love this brand. I love the flavor.

• 6:05Keke Palmer?

  This is disgusting.

• 6:09Keke Palmer?

  Could you imagine?

• 6:10Speaker 01

  No.

• 6:10Keke Palmer?

  That would be crazy. It's really good, though, actually.

• 6:14Speaker 01

  Thank you. I also brought you something else, which we'll get into in a second.

• 6:20Keke Palmer?

  I need everybody to do this, by the way. Take note from Demi.

• 6:23Speaker 01

  I baked you some cookies today. They're chocolate chip cookies.

• 6:28Keke Palmer?

  I don't know if you're evil or good. Because why would you do this?

• 6:32Speaker 01

  I have my own cookbook.

• 6:34Keke Palmer?

  Girl.

• 6:34Speaker 01

  Called One Plate at a Time, and it comes out very soon.

• 6:37Keke Palmer?

  Babe, congratulations on the book.

• 6:38Speaker 01

  Thank you so much. So I brought you the book, too.

• 6:41Keke Palmer?

  Oh, my gosh. All these cookies look damn good.

• 6:43Speaker 01

  But the cookies are...

• 6:45Keke Palmer?

  I actually wanted to show you the cookies because they actually look like fake cookies. Like, that's how good they look. They don't just look like they taste... Like, they look like they taste good. Get it too. Oh, my gosh, and they smell good, too. Can I keep the Tupperware?

• 6:56Speaker 01

  Oh, yeah, you can keep it.

• 6:58Keke Palmer?

  Oh, my gosh. Thank you, sister.

• 6:59Speaker 01

  Of course.

• 7:00Keke Palmer?

  This is fabulous.

• 7:00Speaker 01

  I wish I would have brought you, like, a cute, like, basket or something to put them in.

• 7:04Keke Palmer?

  But this is more authentic.

• 7:05Speaker 01

  Yeah. I was like, what do I have in my kitchen?

• 7:08Keke Palmer?

  Oh, yes.

• 7:09Speaker 01

  You can keep it, so...

• 7:09Keke Palmer?

  I'm so happy. Thanks, boo.

• 7:11Speaker 01

  Of course.

• 7:12Keke Palmer?

  Yes.

• 7:13Speaker 01

  And here's the cookbook.

• 7:14Keke Palmer?

  Thank you so much. Well, speaking of, how's your heart? How you feeling? I want to ask you the question you'd like to be asked. How's the vibes feeling with you today?

• 7:23Speaker 01

  The vibes? Okay, so I'm at a level 10 out of happiness. Like, that's the only way to describe it. I'm just... I am so fulfilled. My heart is so full. I'm so grateful for the relationships, the people in my life, my husband, getting to do this for a living. Like, I'm just so grateful. I'm excited. I've got so much coming up, so... But like, my mental health, I feel serene. I feel peaceful. I feel excited and happy.

• 7:54Keke Palmer?

  That is such a good feeling. And honestly, it's like, it's also one of those things where it's always ebbs and flows with life. So when we have these moments where everything is hitting on all cylinders, it's really important to hold on to and lean into. Because we know it's gonna be a tough day. We're gonna have, you know, things gonna happen. But like, that overall, just kind of like, balance vibe is so good. Like, I'm so happy to hear that, because, yeah, I feel similarly.

• 8:15Speaker 01

  Oh, good.

• 8:16Keke Palmer?

  Yep.

• 8:17Speaker 01

  Good.

• 8:18Keke Palmer?

  We gotta go back to the beginning because both of us started out as kids.

• 8:20Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 8:21Keke Palmer?

  But you started out on Barney, girl.

• 8:23Speaker 01

  I did.

• 8:26Speaker 01

  I did too.

• 8:27Keke Palmer?

  Girl, when I was little, my mom used to make me and my sister, like whenever we would argue, we would sing the Barney sister song. It was like, sometimes we're real close friends, we stay up late and talk at night. Like, I was obsessed with Barney.

• 8:39Speaker 01

  I never saw that song and I never performed it.

• 8:43Keke Palmer?

  Oh, oh, oh, cuz you know, it's when we think about it, Barney been around for a long time.

• 8:47Speaker 01

  A long time.

• 8:48Keke Palmer?

  He was like, yeah.

• 8:49Speaker 01

  Iconic.

• 8:49Keke Palmer?

  Iconic. So what was that like for you, working on that show and getting your start in that way?

• 8:54Speaker 01

  It was so much fun and I.

• 8:57Keke Palmer?

  If you remember anything, cuz how old were you?

• 8:58Speaker 01

  I do remember, I was um, eight years old when I filmed it. So um, I, I actually had auditioned when I was five. And they didn't book me because I didn't know how to read yet. And they were like, how are you gonna memorize your lines? My mom would, in the audition, she drew pictures next to each line so I could remember what the line was about. Anyways, it didn't work out when I was five, but I auditioned a few years later and ended up booking it and it changed the course of my life. And I give Barney the credit for like, really starting my, my career in, in acting. It was my first film and television job, so.

• 9:36Keke Palmer?

  And so where you, where was this at? Was this from where you're from? Where you from?

• 9:39Speaker 01

  I'm from Dallas.

• 9:40Keke Palmer?

  You're from Dallas, so did you do this in Dallas?

• 9:41Speaker 01

  I did. They filmed it in Dallas and it was a dream come true. I loved Barney as well and had toys, Barney toys and. You know, everything growing up and so to be on the show was, it was so sick.

• 9:53Keke Palmer?

  I love that. You mentioned being called an old soul at a very young age. How do you feel like that helped you in your era of Disney where obviously like, I don't know how soon after that that was, maybe not like, what? Four or five years on? How old were you when you started working with Disney?

• 10:07Speaker 01

  Disney, I was fourteen.

• 10:11Speaker 01

  Yes, yes. Well, I was auditioning for a while. I wasn't booking a lot of jobs. I would book commercials here and there and like. A guest role on, on this show, but like, it was not consistent work.

• 10:22Keke Palmer?

  Yeah.

• 10:23Speaker 01

  Um, after Barney and to Disney Channel and once I did end up working with Disney Channel, that's when. My career really skyrocketed and just like took off for me and and the rest is history.

• 10:37Keke Palmer?

  And would you say that it was, uh, were you immediately auditioning for Sunny with a Chance? Or did you kind of work, cause you know, working with Disney, sometimes they have you doing other stuff? And then slowly you get your own show. How did it happen for you?

• 10:49Speaker 01

  I booked a show called As the Bell Rings, which was Oh, you know it!

• 10:53Keke Palmer?

  I know As the Bell Rings, yeah.

• 10:54Speaker 01

  Oh, sick! Okay, well, I did As the Bell Rings, which for those who don't know was a like five-minute show that they would air on commercial breaks. And that was my shoo-in with Disney Channel. And then they brought me in to audition for, uh, they actually had me audition for Jonas, the TV show.

• 11:13Keke Palmer?

  Yes, I remember, that was quick.

• 11:15Speaker 01

  Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And I didn't book it. I got down to the wire on it. And I was so devastated and they were like, you know what? We want to pull you in to audition for two other projects. If you're like, come on in and audition. And I was like, you just told me no, like, I don't want to do this, but I'm gonna give it another shot. So I went in and I was so defeated, but I put my all into these two auditions and it ended up being Camp Rock and Sunny with a Chance.

• 11:43Keke Palmer?

  That's crazy.

• 11:44Speaker 01

  And I booked them both.

• 11:45Keke Palmer?

  That's crazy. I mean, I think back on it, was this Gary when Gary Marsh was up over there? Shout out to Gary Marsh. Yeah, and it was also the other guy too with them that I cannot, Adam Barrell.

• 11:54Speaker 01

  Oh, my God!

• 11:55Keke Palmer?

  Adam Barrell, Gary Marsh, that was their whole era with Disney Channel. I feel like we was really at what we considered the Disney Channel height.

• 12:02Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 12:02Keke Palmer?

  Um, so Sunny with a Chance, you had your own show. What was that like? Because having your own show, it's very fun and cool, but it's also a lot of pressure. I'm curious how it was for you.

• 12:12Speaker 01

  I think for me, I had so much fun working on Disney Channel. I was thriving, but at the same time, it was coupled with a lot of struggles. I was, um, struggling with my mental health at the time, so I really was kind of Um, I let the pressure get to me and it was, it was really challenging. It's hard to carry a show by yourself at sixteen years old. And I ended up having a blast. I made incredible friends that, you know, I've stayed friends with and, um, and it was a, it was a good experience, but I, it was a lot of pressure and I, and I did struggle on that show.

• 12:49Keke Palmer?

  What do you think was the hardest part for you? Cause I know for me growing up, like, I don't know what your background was in Dallas, but I came from a very like lower working class family. So getting into Disney, Nickelodeon, having my own show, it beca- I became the breadwinner of my family just by proxy. Yeah, you know what I mean? It's like, it's just what happened. They had to help with my career and it was, we had, we're seeing money that we never had seen.

• 13:10Speaker 01

  Oh, absolutely.

• 13:11Keke Palmer?

  That stress for me, especially not being able to process it, that was like a big triggering point. And then never wanting to like be sad or make anybody feel like bad about it because I don't want them to be stressed. Like, you know, and then not having a lot of time to like have fun and be a kid.

• 13:26Speaker 01

  Yeah, you know, for me, I actually was like, if you're gonna, I had this like mantra that was like, if you're gonna work me like an adult, I'm gonna party like an adult.

• 13:35Keke Palmer?

  Oh.

• 13:36Speaker 01

  And I got into some bad stuff at a young age and that's when I started like self-medicating. And I wish that, you know, I had stayed more focused. Obviously, I think the course of my life would have gone in a different direction, meaning like I wouldn't have maybe struggled as much with substances later down the road. But like, um, everything happens for a reason and, and I'm sitting here in this state of mind today, like grateful and for everything that I've been through. Um, but yeah, it was, it was really challenging. There wasn't a lot of time for play, but, um, when I did, I played pretty hard.

• 14:11Keke Palmer?

  I mean, that's very, I know we didn't want any of the drama. I know we didn't want any of the drama of it, but I, but I, I feel like people don't understand like that that's what we was dealing with. You know, I found myself dating, I'm fifteen, why is my boyfriend twenty?

• 14:24Speaker 01

  Uh, why was my boyfriend thirty?

• 14:26Keke Palmer?

  Girl.

• 14:27Speaker 01

  You know what I'm saying?

• 14:28Keke Palmer?

  Damn. I'm not smiling at that, but that is real. We was trying to find outlets though. I don't think, you know, and just a way to process this and, and, and nobody our age, I mean.

• 14:38Speaker 01

  Could understand, nobody our age could understand. But then you look back in hindsight, when I turned thirty, I was like, that's not okay.

• 14:44Keke Palmer?

  Girl, the moment when you realize and you get the age that a lot of people that were around you and doing stuff, though it's almost a mental break that can happen because you realize.

• 14:54Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 14:55Keke Palmer?

  You were taking advantage of, oh, I was being exploited. Oh, this was, that is, was very difficult for me when I rea- cause at, at fifteen, I'm thinking like, my boyfriend's older because I'm doing an older job. And I'm doing a bunch of things and this is the way that it is and it seemed normal in my mind, but then I got-

• 15:10Speaker 01

  Especially if you're an older soul too. Especially if you're mature for your age.

• 15:14Keke Palmer?

  I love the Hilary Duff song.

• 15:16Speaker 01

  Oh, my god, me too.

• 15:17Keke Palmer?

  Yeah, because it's like, oh, we all had the same damn life.

• 15:20Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 15:21Keke Palmer?

  You know what I mean? Where we keep, people kept telling us, you're so mature for your age.

• 15:25Speaker 01

  I also, I also wrote a song about that. It's called Twenty Nine. And when you listen to it, you'll, I think you'll be able to relate to it.

• 15:31Keke Palmer?

  Oh, my gosh. I was very excited to talk to you because I knew that we were gonna be able to relate to so much of these things. But in speaking of that, like you, people might think, well, you're surrounded by other people, you're, you know, there's Miley Cyrus and there's Selena Gomez and this and that. But there's a lot of competition that the industry put in those times and space when we were kids. I almost felt like a lot of times, me being black, I was kind of left out of the conver- like, you know, people weren't really involving me in it, you know, which, I mean, it was, it's kind of was positive, I feel like, in a lot of ways because I felt like I would be watching on the outside a lot of those different mechanisms happening and I would be kind of like, okay, that's interesting. How was it for you trying to make friendships when you have these corporations, you know, using us all as products?

• 16:15Keke Palmer?

  And then always pitting like, who's the number one girl? Like, that makes it hard to actually become friends with people that might relate to your experience.

• 16:23Speaker 01

  Well, what was beautiful is Selena and I had a friendship prior to Disney Channel because we actually were on Barney together. And so I felt this safety when I came into the Disney Channel, having a built-in friendship there already. And I'm so grateful for that. We'll always be grateful for the friendship, um, that I have and continue to have with her. But, um, I, you know, it was, it was challenging when-

• 16:49Speaker 01

  You know, people are comparing you to one another and you naturally have insecurities at a young age. So you start comparing yourself to other people. But one thing my mom always instilled in me was like, there's room for everyone.

• 16:59Keke Palmer?

  It's true.

• 17:00Speaker 01

  It's not a competition. And even though there are, like, it can be competitive. And if you have that mindset, it definitely is competitive. My mom was just always like, there's room for everyone and you have your own voice, your own lane. And that's what I really stuck by. And that's what kind of got me through that period. So like, I was always rooting for everybody.

• 17:20Keke Palmer?

  Yeah, yeah, I mean, it's true. It is, it is true that everybody has their own lane. And it is difficult though, sometimes in those spaces for that, to be able to be made clear. Um, you know, but I just think back and it's like, I often wonder, what if I did share a little bit more about what I was experiencing? Instead of being so insulated and afraid, what more friendships I could have made with my peers? Cause I'm not friends with a lot of people in our industry. Because I was always, for me as a kid, being on those sets and working and, like I said, being, you know, considered marginalized in a lot of ways. I was kind of like, let me just go to work, do my job, you know, you know, whatever. But I think about it now, especially when so many of us have shared our stories or even the documentary you did, where you were speaking to other people in our, uh, in our career path, where it was like, damn, I wonder if we,

• 18:02Keke Palmer?

  you know, if we was able to really express ourselves more, how many more of us could have at least created a safe space with each other? So it's cool to be able to talk about it now.

• 18:10Speaker 01

  Yeah, definitely, absolutely.

• 18:12Keke Palmer?

  Um, you've been open about feeling like you've had to live up to this role model role, which again,

• 18:16Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 18:16Keke Palmer?

  Working with major corporations, especially ones like Disney or any of the kids stuff, that's kind of the whole vibe. It's very, it pushes that before you even know who you are to be a model of.

• 18:26Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 18:26Keke Palmer?

  How have you handled, over the years, processing that, not feeling guilty about that? And kind of becoming, you know, your own person outside of that?

• 18:35Speaker 01

  Yeah, I don't look at myself as a role model because I have never made mistakes and I have followed the rules and this and that. I, I really haven't followed the rules and I've gotten into a lot of trouble and. And but I've learned from them and I haven't let those mistakes break me or change um who I am like I I think I'm a person that believes that we are here to evolve um and evolution is very important to me and so I continue to work on myself daily and and that's my way of being a role model for others is just being like you know what I'm gonna learn from my mistakes and I'm gonna

• 19:19Speaker 01

  teach you all what I've learned from them so that you don't have to go through it.

• 19:22Keke Palmer?

  Yeah, I feel that. I feel like that's what I remember Tupac Shakur used to say like I'm not a role model, I'm a real model, meaning if I could be anything is real, you know, and be owning my truth and if that can be of inspiration of just for you to walk your own path, then cool, you know, but the whole like try to be like perfect.

• 19:38Speaker 01

  It was never me, never me, like I could never, I couldn't even fake it like

• 19:43Keke Palmer?

  Seriously.

• 19:44Speaker 01

  I'm I'm grateful for the way that my life has turned out and I feel like I'm better for it, having learned from my mistakes.

• 19:52Keke Palmer?

  And I do think that's why everybody is always rocked with you, you know, what you've represented in those spaces, even when we was all kids and everybody was really trying to be even more perfect than the generation and culture we're in now. You was always like, look, I'm Demi, guys, come on, you know what I mean? And people resonated with that. Um, let's talk about Camp Rock, though. I mean, like, obviously, we know Sonny with a Chance, but like Camp Rock, like, it was really just a cultural classic hit.

• 20:16Speaker 01

  Thank you.

• 20:17Keke Palmer?

  When you were doing that show, did y'all know, did you, was there a moment in time where you were like, oh, my life's gonna be changed forever, like, you know what I mean? Or did it wasn't unexpected?

• 20:26Speaker 01

  Um, there was a pivotal moment when I realized my life was gonna change.

• 20:36Keke Palmer?

  You know your girl loves to travel. Some of my favorite trips have been with my fam to far-off places like Rome. But this spring, we're eyeing a more local spot like South Carolina because our non-negotiables are delicious food and a beach where we can have fun, but also get some much-needed R and R. And when I'm planning where we're gonna stay, I'm not only thinking about logistics like Where is everyone going to sleep? But also, how can I really experience the place I'm visiting? That's why I book a stay on Airbnb for family trips. We get to stay in neighborhoods where locals actually live and really connect with the city through authentic experiences. Plus, everyone can spread out with separate bedrooms, like my son's bedtime doesn't have to be my bedtime.

• 21:21Keke Palmer?

  And we've got a real kitchen to cook some meals together if we end up staying in. It's also way more cost effective than booking multiple hotel rooms. We all get our own space, but still come together to create those genuine memories. For that kind of trip, hotels just don't give us what we need. Find a home for your next family adventure on Airbnb.

• 21:46Speaker 01

  First off, it was when I got the phone call that I had booked the gig. It was the hottest job in town and and I got that coveted spot and my life changed from one phone call. But then there was another moment, which was when I heard "This Is Me Back" for the first time with Joe's voice on it. And I was, and the Jonas Brothers were already making a name for themselves, already had a career. And I was like, holy, like this is gonna change my life.

• 22:17Keke Palmer?

  And that was "This is me."

• 22:18Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 22:19Keke Palmer?

  This is exactly where I'm supposed to be.

• 22:22Speaker 01

  And my, and yeah. And so I, I knew when I heard that song that my life was gonna be different. And it was a moment I'll never forget.

• 22:31Keke Palmer?

  Oh my, and then you stepped back on the stage with the Jonas Brothers recently.

• 22:35Speaker 01

  Yes, I did.

• 22:36Keke Palmer?

  What is that like when y'all, because it's almost like surreal. It's like, we still up in this thing.

• 22:41Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 22:41Keke Palmer?

  We've been over 20 years, y'all. What's up? Like, what does that feel like to have those moments? You guys created the moments that have really like symbolized at least the beginning of you building your brands and your career. And you're still here together.

• 22:54Speaker 01

  Yeah. Well, I was 15 the first time that we ever performed together. So to be 15 and then last year when I performed with them, it had been 17, 18 years since the first time we had stepped on stage together. And It was so nostalgic. I like almost cried when I heard the intro to the song like about to go on stage. I was like, this is so magical and um, you know, it was great seeing them and it was really special.

• 23:23Keke Palmer?

  It's very surreal. I remember when me and Nick did Scream Queens together and it was just like, the last time I seen you, we was doing a damn Jingle Jam tour. You remember the Jingle Jam tour back in the day?

• 23:32Speaker 01

  Oh my god, yes.

• 23:33Keke Palmer?

  Like girl, it was such a subculture when we look back, like it's like

• 23:36Speaker 01

  Radio shows.

• 23:37Keke Palmer?

  All of them, radio shows.

• 23:39Speaker 01

  And you did the circuit, you did, yeah, you did them. You would say hi and meet new people, make friends. It was so fun.

• 23:45Keke Palmer?

  It was so fun and it was, it was really little kids with jobs, which is just so funny to me. When you look back on that era, whether it's Sunny with a Chance or Camp Rock, like what stands out to you? You know, or, or what might be surprising to fans about what you look back on that time and think?

• 24:03Speaker 01

  Wow, I mean, there's so many emotions that come to mind when I think about that period of time in my life. I, I have a lot of compassion for my younger self because we were held to such high standards at such a young age that like I really have compassion for myself and, and, and an understanding of what I was going through. I think I was so hard on myself at the time that I wish I'd had more grace for myself. And looking back, like, you know, I can have that grace and compassion for my, my inner child today, um, but I also have so much gratitude. I mean, those years, those, those were the years that started it all for me and I have very fond memories.

• 24:48Speaker 01

  Some not so fond memories of the struggling that I had when filming those shows, um, you know, being, having struggled with an eating disorder while on camera was really challenging. I struggled with my mental health, um, very much so, but ultimately, like, very fond memories. I made friends that I will have for the rest of my life.

• 25:10Keke Palmer?

  Oh my gosh, I love that so much. When did you feel like this kind of zooming out started happening for you? Were you able to kind of separate from, you know, your childhood and, and, and see what you experienced with new set of eyes? When would, when would you say that started happening for you?

• 25:28Speaker 01

  You know? When I first, I had like this breakdown, um, right after this Camp Rock 2 tour that I did, I had an incident where, um, I, I basically had a breakdown and it caused me to do a lot of reflection. And so, a couple of years after going through that and dealing and, and going through the program of Alcoholics Anonymous, there's a step in there, the ninth step is to make amends. So I had to make amends to a lot of people saying like, I'm sorry, I was so challenging to work with at the time. I was so

• 26:05Speaker 01

  miserable in my own skin and dealing with what I was going through that I wasn't the nicest person to work with at the time. And I think that chapter of my life where I was being really reflective of everything and like, I wanted to make sure, I wanted to right my wrongs. And so that was like, a few years after Disney Channel, and then, um, I, I've continued to reflect and over the years, I've just gained more and more compassion, especially after shooting Childstar, you know, just getting to have conversations with people that were in the same position as I was, um, was really impactful and it made me really reflective on that as well. And, um,

• 26:49Speaker 01

  and so, yeah, I've just, I've continued to have grace and compassion for myself.

• 26:53Keke Palmer?

  What I love so much that you said that I think is really important, I want to pull it out because I think it applies to anyone, is that we get into these, we don't even know sometimes, the decisions that we're making are because we're hating ourselves for things we did to survive.

• 27:07Speaker 01

  Yes. Oh, my God.

• 27:08Keke Palmer?

  You know what I mean? That's so important, what you just said, because a lot of times, we don't know why we putting ourselves in these situations, but we're putting ourselves in situations that aren't really helping us, they're actually hurting us, and it's actually because we're mad at ourselves.

• 27:20Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 27:20Keke Palmer?

  And we're mad at ourselves about [BLEEP] that we didn't, we were, we were just trying to do to get move forward. Like whatever you, whatever bad attitude or whatever you were doing that were making you difficult, it's like, that's what you had to do to get through, you know what I'm saying? But-

• 27:31Speaker 01

  And I mean, I was seventeen, like sixteen, seventeen, like, I don't know, I just wasn't always the, the nicest, because what happened was, is when people would come on set and they'd say, "Good morning, Demi, how are you?" In my head, I would literally think, "You don't care about me. You're just-

• 27:47Keke Palmer?

  Right!

• 27:48Speaker 01

  You don't really care how I'm doing." But it was true, though. You weren't wrong.

• 27:52Keke Palmer?

  You know, I mean, not to say that.

• 27:53Speaker 01

  Right.

• 27:54Keke Palmer?

  Not to say that was, but it's, you were dealing with, that's actually valid.

• 27:58Speaker 01

  And I just wanted so badly for someone to see that I was struggling and when I ended up having my breakdown, like, everyone did and, and I was able to explain to people afterwards, like, it wasn't personal, like, when I showed up and was bratty on set, like, that was not my intention. I was just doing like exactly what you said, doing what I had to do to survive.

• 28:20Keke Palmer?

  And I know exactly what you mean when you talk about, so what I did was this weird thing that I'm now trying to get myself out of where because everybody wanted me to be great all the time and, and I knew when they would ask that they really didn't think I was fine, I became like the satirical character that everybody knows me to be today, which is, "Yes!" Like, I became, I would go overboard because I'd be so mad, like, I would be inside actually kind of angry. And so instead, I would just be like, "Yes!"

• 28:47Keke Palmer?

  It was my version of trying to like, fight back against that same feeling that you're talking about where you know that the adults around you just want you to do the [bleep] job.

• 28:55Speaker 01

  They just want you to do the job.

• 28:56Keke Palmer?

  So they're saying everything and doing everything, but it's fake. And so I, that was me being like, fake back.

• 29:02Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 29:02Keke Palmer?

  You know?

• 29:02Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 29:03Keke Palmer?

  So it's like, I really do relate to what you're saying because it, it can kind of drive you crazy and it's like, there is no right or wrong way, even as an adult, to deal with that level of intensity. And so I just think it's, it's great what you're saying because whether people was child entertainers or whatever, like, we all have moments in our lives where we didn't give ourselves grace for what we were trying to do to move forward and to survive. And we can end up making choices in our lives because we forgot to forgive ourselves.

• 29:29Speaker 01

  Oh, God.

• 29:30Keke Palmer?

  And it's like, damn.

• 29:32Speaker 01

  That's so true and so powerful. But that's what you said, so I want to make sure that the folks heard it at home.

• 29:38Keke Palmer?

  Um, you know, you said something before too that I really relate to where you said, "I wish somebody had told me I was beautiful." Because at the time, you didn't believe it. When you, if somebody did tell you that, because I think when we hear beautiful, we just think like on the surface, but it's diff, I, I imagine you mean something so much more uh, deeper than just beautiful, but just like, I'm important beyond this or what I'm servicing?

• 30:01Speaker 01

  Well, the reality was I had so many people telling me I was beautiful. I had millions of people online or in person, fans that I would meet. You're so beautiful or whatever it was. But I guess what I was saying with that sentiment was like, I wanted someone to see me. And I wanted someone to experience me. And I think like, I wanted someone to see my soul, even though my soul was hurting. Like, I wanted, yeah, I wanted to be experienced as a human. And, um, and also the fact of the matter was like, I was really struggling with my body image and my self-worth.

• 30:43Speaker 01

  And like, to be told you're beautiful, like, I wouldn't have even been able to hear it because I was struggling so deeply. Um, but like, yeah, what I wanted to, was to be seen on a spiritual level, like on an emotional, human level.

• 31:02Keke Palmer?

  Yeah, and I think that tracks. Like, that's why so many times we do like try to outsource our ideas of beauty or externalize it in being a size two or being, you know, these perfect eyes or lips or whatever. Basically because we're trying to figure out how to be experienced and how to, how to reach that feeling that we're trying to get. But so much of the world constantly keeps telling us that it's outside of ourselves, that we reach for some of these things that lead us in this weird path of just like, now I gotta buy this new outfit or, you know.

• 31:28Speaker 01

  Well, there's billion, billions of dollars in the beauty industry that constantly is telling us we need something new and something more to compete or to hold a candle to other people. And it's just like, if we fall victim to that, we're just constantly going to compare ourselves to other people for the rest of our lives. And it's, it's so, and, and I fall victim to it too. I, you know, buy the skincare, I buy the products, I get a little botox or whatever it is.

• 31:55Keke Palmer?

  It hurt nobody, really.

• 31:56Speaker 01

  Right, and, and like, but I do have to check myself sometimes and be like, all of this is gonna fade at some point and I'm, what's left is gonna be my soul. How, how I attract people is not going to come from the outside. It's going to come from within. And if I can start doing that now, like, that's. I don't know, that's the type of person I want to be. I want to exude beauty from my heart and not just from my skin.

• 32:25Keke Palmer?

  What is being seen and experienced, because I really love how you put that, because I really relate to it. What does it look like for you, for people to really, when, when people really are seeing you, the people in your life that get a chance to know you? What does it, what does it mean when you feel like they're seeing you and they're experiencing the real you?

• 32:41Speaker 01

  Yeah, I think last night I sent a picture to one of my best friends in the world, her name is Ally. I sent a picture with like my silk hair cap on, my retainer and, and my glasses on right before bed and was like, you know, and it's like she's seeing the real me. My husband sees the real me every time we go to bed and, and, and wake up in the morning. He sees the real me and it's just like, it's flaws and all, and there's still acceptance and what's important is there's love there and that connection is the most important thing to me in my life. My career is so important to me, but it could all go away as long as I have

• 33:23Speaker 01

  my friends and my family and my husband, like that's what's so important to me.

• 33:27Keke Palmer?

  Oh, I feel the same exact way.

• 33:29Speaker 01

  Because no job is going to be waiting with you when you're on your, your deathbed.

• 33:34Keke Palmer?

  No.

• 33:34Speaker 01

  No job is going to be there. It's going to be the human connections that you've made in this lifetime. And that's what I hold on to, that's what I cherish.

• 33:43Keke Palmer?

  Oh, I love that. I also love the idea of whenever I'm, I can be in complete silence with somebody.

• 33:48Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 33:49Keke Palmer?

  Girl, we ain't gotta talk about nothing, but we feel so connected.

• 33:51Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 33:52Keke Palmer?

  That gives me life.

• 33:53Speaker 01

  Oh my God, yes. Come over, we'll watch a little TV, we'll sit in silence, we'll like, I just want to be with you. Um, when did,

• 34:04Keke Palmer?

  and maybe it was like this from the beginning for you, but when did it go from just like, this is what I love to do, I'm a kid and I'm having fun to, this is a business, this is my career and I'm a businesswoman. When would you say that shift happened?

• 34:17Speaker 01

  When I started making money.

• 34:18Keke Palmer?

  Period, so immediately.

• 34:19Speaker 01

  I knew that immediately, exactly, exactly. When I started getting the checks from Barney, which were not very much. I realized that this was a job and I had a responsibility and it was to show up on set, memorize my lines and do the work and so that I could, granted, the money that I was making, it did go back into the family, but it also went into molding the rest of my career, which was it paid for voice lessons, it paid for guitar lessons, it paid for piano lessons, it paid for dance lessons and all of that, I worked really, really very hard to get to where I am today.

• 34:57Speaker 01

  But it did, you know, I, I realized that it was a job, the very first paycheck I got. And when the kids made fun of me at school for being on Barney, I would say, I'm laughing all the way to the bank.

• 35:09Keke Palmer?

  Yes.

• 35:11Speaker 01

  They had nothing to say to that.

• 35:13Keke Palmer?

  Kids hatin' that young is crazy to me, because what kind of mom and daddy you got? Why you hatin' at eight?

• 35:17Speaker 01

  I know.

• 35:18Keke Palmer?

  It's crazy. Um, you speak so publicly, y'all know I ain't lying, like hatin' eight year old, like, come on boo.

• 35:25Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 35:26Keke Palmer?

  Um, you speak so publicly about everything you've gone through. You know, you know, you talk about identity, you're talking about medication, you're talking about everything.

• 35:34Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 35:34Keke Palmer?

  Does it ever feel, do you ever be like, oh, maybe I should have, you know, like, do you ever feel like I'm overexposed, you know what I'm saying? Like, that's how I feel sometimes when I'm talking to somebody.

• 35:42Speaker 01

  I feel like I am like, I'm a champion at oversharing.

• 35:50Keke Palmer?

  Period.

• 35:51Speaker 01

  But I feel like it's also created a space for my fans to share with me what they're going through or provide a sense of connection with them where they, you know, I have fans come up to me and tell me their deepest, darkest secrets because they have no one else in their lives to tell that to. And when I'm able to, when I'm able to take a step back and, and, and think like, wow, this is so important to them and they feel safe enough to tell me these things, like, that means so much to me to, I relate to my, the connection that I have with my fans is, is so special, like, I feel like there's a lot of fanbases out there with their artists that, that don't have the connection that I have with my Levotix.

• 36:36Speaker 01

  Um, because I've, I've shared so much that they just feel.

• 36:42Speaker 01

  They feel safe enough to connect with me and it's really truly special. And that's why when I'm at my shows and they're crying in the front row, like I don't just think, oh, they're excited to see me. It's like, what are we healing tonight at the show? What are we healing together? Because I know my fans, I've shared a lot of trauma, but my fans have shared a lot of trauma with me. And there's a connection that we have that's unbreakable and is so special. And like, I will be forever indebted to them for.

• 37:13Keke Palmer?

  I think that's so key, what you're saying too, because a lot of times people are looking on the outside, looking in, meaning they don't understand the context of the relationship they're witnessing with someone in their fanbase. You know what I'm saying? So they may see something like, what they doing? And it's like, this is an A and B conversation. You gotta see your way out of it. You know what I mean? As it becomes to, like you said, with your Levotix, do you, what do you think about like, because we came up when the digital world started to really began and blow up. How much do you think that has lent itself positively to you? You know, in this relationship and just the evolution of your career?

• 37:43Speaker 01

  Well, it's positive and negative. Like I've, I've said things on the internet that I regret. But like, because I was 15 when I started out on social media and I had this giant platform that I didn't know was, I didn't understand the gravity of it. Um, or the responsibility of it. But there's been so many perks where like, I've been able to, like I said, have that line of connection with my fans and because I've shared so much, um, they just feel connected to me. I feel connected to them and it's a beautiful thing.

• 38:18Keke Palmer?

  I love that. Sorry, Not Sorry, it felt like a big pivotal moment for you.

• 38:23Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 38:23Keke Palmer?

  You know, what shifted for you during that era?

• 38:33Keke Palmer?

  You know what I love? When people show up with genuine intentions, especially when it comes to dating. My girls and I were just talking about how the best connections happen when someone puts in real effort from the jump. And Bumble is definitely on to something because they're making it easy to find people who really want to get to know and date the real you from the beginning. Through features like Bumble Compliments. Someone can show genuine interest in something on your profile, like your love of cooking or that cute hiking photo. I see you boo. All before you even match. That kind of meaningful connection changes the whole vibe. That's why it's the dating app my girlfriends use and trust.

• 39:17Keke Palmer?

  And let's talk about safety because that matters. Bumble has photo verification and ID verification built right in. You can be at ease knowing the person you're chatting with is actually who they say they are. That peace of mind? It's a non-negotiable. Ready to connect with people who bring the same energy as you? Download Bumble now. Dear diary, I have a problem and the problem is my brain will not let me rest. Like last week, I was supposed to be going to sleep and instead I spent two hours trying to figure out why we cringe at our old photos. Like what is it with that? Is it psychological? Is it ego? I need it to know. So I've been using Claude,

• 39:59Keke Palmer?

  which is an AI that actually thinks through stuff with you. It's not giving you some little surface level answer and dipping. It asks questions back. It goes down the rabbit hole with you, which is dangerous for me personally, but I love it. And here's the thing. Anthropic, the company that makes Claude, committed to keeping it ad-free. So when you're in the middle of your 1 a.m. spiral, your conversation stays yours. No random sponsored ads, just you and your thoughts, which for me is a lot. If your brain never shuts up, Claude gets it. Try Claude for free at claude.ai/Keke Palmer and see why problem solvers choose Claude as their thinking partner.

• 40:48Speaker 01

  Sorry Not Sorry. Well, that day that I made that song, I knew it was gonna be a hit. And I was so excited.

• 40:57Keke Palmer?

  I love a girl with an ear. Another one.

• 41:01Speaker 01

  Yeah, I was like, I walked away from that studio session being like, oh, we made something really great. And I was so excited about it. I think in that time of my life, I was also, I was in the process of healing from a lot that I had gone through, but I was still damaged and still struggling to a certain degree. I think for the first time in my life, I can say now, and especially with this last album that I made, it's so celebratory because I'm no longer in a place of needing to trauma dump on people or, you know, sing extremely emotional songs to heal parts of myself that I hadn't healed before.

• 41:46Speaker 01

  And now I feel like I'm not completely healed. We obviously all have work to still do on ourselves, but I'm at a place in my life where I can sit back and enjoy the fruits of my, you know, emotional and therapeutic labor. And I can just have fun. And like, that's why I'm so excited to go on tour is because every night, I'm just gonna be having so much fun. And it's just gonna be like a giant dance party with my fans.

• 42:13Keke Palmer?

  I love what you're saying with that because I do think sometimes as artists, there's this idea that we gotta just, not only do we have to bleed, but we gotta bleed on everybody.

• 42:21Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 42:22Keke Palmer?

  Like, you know, and you feel like it's not real and you're not doing it if you're not doing that. You know what I mean? But it actually is like, it's not sustainable.

• 42:31Speaker 01

  No.

• 42:32Keke Palmer?

  And it's like, your work can speak to your experiences, I think, in a way that doesn't mean that you have to like... Keep reliving it.

• 42:39Speaker 01

  Yes, I used to think, I glamorized the struggling creative. You know, the, the artist that really struggled and was going through so much. I thought that I always had to be going through something in order to evolve. And it's like, sometimes you can just evolve, do the work, and then sit back and relax and enjoy the rest of the show, you know? It's like, I feel like that was a, a growing point for me was in the last few years where I was like, wait, there's nothing that's causing me pain right now and I'm okay? Like, I don't have to make an album out of, from pain. Like, I can make an album out of, you know, celebrating the, the love that came into my life

• 43:22Speaker 01

  when I met my husband and embracing, you know, my sexuality and writing about that. And, you know, it's just, yeah, it was very empowering, very fun for me. And I'm excited to go on tour.

• 43:39Keke Palmer?

  Yes, I'm excited for you to. Now, one of your more recent past albums, Dancing With The Devil, The Art Of Starting Over, it also felt very intentional. And, I mean, what makes starting over an art?

• 43:52Speaker 01

  Um, that's a good question. I think I've had to start over so many times that I feel like I became a pro at it.

• 43:59Keke Palmer?

  Period.

• 44:00Speaker 01

  I've gone through so many things that could have broken me. And at times it did, but I picked up the pieces and was like, I'm a survivor. I'm gonna keep fighting. And I, there, there is an art to picking up the pieces. And so that's what, why I wrote a song about it.

• 44:21Keke Palmer?

  I love it. There is an art to picking up the pieces and we all have to.

• 44:24Speaker 01

  We all have to.

• 44:24Keke Palmer?

  The quicker that we can learn, you know what I'm saying?

• 44:26Speaker 01

  That's what life is about.

• 44:27Keke Palmer?

  You're never gonna stay completely, you know? So I know your fans will love this. I want to do a quick, uh, rapid fire of your music.

• 44:33Speaker 01

  Okay.

• 44:34Keke Palmer?

  So, song that was the hardest to write?

• 44:38Speaker 01

  Maybe Dancing with the Devil.

• 44:42Speaker 01

  Or a song that I had from my catalog called Warrior. They were both about very emotional things that I've been through in my life. Warrior was about essay and you know, also 29 was another song that was really I want, it was really powerful for me to write because it was healing for me and like all of the songs that I just named. They were all healing for me, but because they were so healing, they were so important to me. I wanted to make sure that every lyric was perfect.

• 45:15Keke Palmer?

  Yes.

• 45:15Speaker 01

  And so I put, it was very, very intentional and I think those were the, the most challenging songs to write. Imagine I said kiss.

• 45:26Speaker 01

  I kiss for fun.

• 45:27Keke Palmer?

  I'm howling. Um, well, you know, sometimes simple is difficult. No. A song that feels like therapy.

• 45:35Speaker 01

  A song that feels like therapy? I mean, all of the ones I just named, um, but most recently I would say Let You Go. Let You Go is a song off of my most recent album, It's Not That Deep. And I think that song to me, I wrote, you know, from personal experience and I had to get it out. It felt so cathartic for me to put, you know, pen to paper and get these words out and so many people have related, so I'm so glad I did, but I think that's the one that, that felt the most therapeutic in most recent times.

• 46:10Keke Palmer?

  Which song in your catalog do you think deserved way more love than it got?

• 46:14Speaker 01

  Uh, my last album?

• 46:18Speaker 01

  No, my last album got a lot of love. I'm, I'm really grateful for it. Um, but like, I feel like, you know, maybe Let You Go, like I, I'm really, really proud. I hit a really high note in that song that I'm really proud of and I, I would love for it to, you know, have gotten a little bit more love than it did, but that's okay.

• 46:39Keke Palmer?

  Yeah. Who's an artist you want to collab with but haven't yet?

• 46:44Speaker 01

  I mean, I have to say, Lady Gaga. Lady Gaga would be-

• 46:49Keke Palmer?

  You guys would be great together, actually.

• 46:50Speaker 01

  I would love to sing with her.

• 46:52Keke Palmer?

  That, that never hasn't happened yet. That's gonna be around the corner.

• 46:55Speaker 01

  That's a dream of mine. That's a big dream of mine.

• 46:58Keke Palmer?

  Don't eat her up on the track now. Don't let her eat me up on the track.

• 47:04Speaker 01

  I'm scandalous for that. How do you choose?

• 47:10Keke Palmer?

  No, she could eat me up.

• 47:13Keke Palmer?

  I don't say that about a lot of people, but she could eat me up.

• 47:15Speaker 01

  Period. And I'm howling. What would you say? What would you say?

• 47:21Keke Palmer?

  Let you know that a song is good, that you could pick a good, that, because I feel like you have a great ear.

• 47:26Speaker 01

  Thank you.

• 47:26Keke Palmer?

  How do you, how did you train it? Like, when do you, what makes you know, like, oh, this is a song I gotta do? Or this is the one, or that, you know?

• 47:32Speaker 01

  Well, you know, I've like, really started second guessing my ear over the years. Because it's, it's been a minute since I've had a radio single. And like, I don't, it's, we live in like such a different industry than we did 15 years ago, where you could test things at radio and, and see what was gonna work. And then, and now it's just like, you just put it out there and you just cross your fingers, pray to God, and hope it does well. You know, there's no like rhyme or reason. Some songs go viral, some songs don't. And it's just like, it's, it's a totally different industry than with the world of streaming and, and TikTok and Instagram, like all these things coming into play.

• 48:11Speaker 01

  It's just totally different. So, I feel like, it's, I have got feelings about songs that I do trust. But sometimes I, I second guess myself too, because I, I don't, nobody knows what works today.

• 48:26Keke Palmer?

  No, no, they don't. And, and what means a radio hit and all that kind of stuff is so technical? And it's so, um, I feel like it's so involved.

• 48:34Speaker 01

  You also have to have people that are willing to put things at radio.

• 48:37Keke Palmer?

  You get what I'm saying?

• 48:38Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 48:38Keke Palmer?

  So it's so that. It's so industry and institution, you know, so it's kind of like, it's very difficult with a lot of that. Um, and I really hope that artists today understand that and don't take it to heart. You know what I'm saying? Because...

• 48:50Speaker 01

  And, and it's so, by the way, when you do have a hit, they don't last like they used to. You know, used to, you'd have a hit on the radio for, you know, several years. And it's like, now it's, it's so fast. Everyone's attention span is so cooked that like, we're on to the next song so fast. That like, it's just, don't get discouraged about that because you have so many opportunities now. If you just keep plugging away, you just keep going. You can give yourself so many more opportunities to try and try again. And one will take and, and five might not, but like, you know, you'll, or maybe more. It doesn't... It doesn't matter. You just gotta keep going.

• 49:28Keke Palmer?

  Yeah, and building your brand. What is your identity? Because that's like regardless of whether you're doing music or acting or dancing or all of the above. Like people are gonna know that it's you.

• 49:37Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 49:37Keke Palmer?

  You know what I'm saying? Um, your new album, It's Not That Deep, it's light.

• 49:41Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 49:42Keke Palmer?

  It's fun. I love the performance when we did the TikTok Live Fest.

• 49:45Speaker 01

  Thank you.

• 49:46Keke Palmer?

  How are you feeling about this? I know we're just mentioning you going on tour, but what inspired the title in this chapter of your life?

• 49:52Speaker 01

  The title came from a song called Kiss on the album.

• 49:55Keke Palmer?

  Okay.

• 49:55Speaker 01

  And um, it's a lyric in there, it's not that deep unless you want it to be. And it's uh, it's like a sexy fun lyric and a sexy fun song. Um, what really inspired this album, I would say is my husband.

• 50:09Keke Palmer?

  Yes, husband, he get a lot of love.

• 50:11Speaker 01

  He's getting so much love, but like, I just love him so much. And I would say like, when I first started making this album, I was coming off of a rock album. My last album was before It's Not That Deep was called Holy [BLEEP]. It was a rock album and and it was a vibe. Like I, I still love that album so much. And that's where I actually met my husband. He was, he was brought in as a songwriter on some of my songs. And um, I like immediately had a crush on him. Uh, it was, yeah, so.

• 50:43Keke Palmer?

  Who asked out who first?

• 50:45Speaker 01

  Sorry. It was kind of like a mutual thing. We first started off as friends. And we, we were just friends for a few months. I was going through a lot at the time. And he was, he was there for me. Like, he was in the beginning of our friendship was really truly there for me and was an ear for me to vent to about things that I was going through in my life. And then he, we started hanging out and then eventually something just clicked and, and the rest was history. So like, um, it was a dream and, and basically coming off of that album, I thought I wanted to do another rock album.

• 51:22Keke Palmer?

  Okay.

• 51:23Speaker 01

  And so the difference was is when I made Holy [BLEEP], I had so much healing to do still. I had recently come out of treatment and I had so much healing that I wanted to do and topics that I wanted to talk about. I had a lot of anger, a lot of sadness that I needed to write about. So when I just like, I'm gonna write another rock album. I got into the studio and I was like, wait, I'm newly in love and so happy and there's only so many like happy rock songs you can write. And I was like, I don't know where to find inspiration for this so much. Sonically, my album changed and it turned into what it is today. It's not that deep and it's just a fun celebratory pop album and like

• 52:07Keke Palmer?

  I love that.

• 52:08Speaker 01

  And I have so much fun singing and performing it.

• 52:11Keke Palmer?

  Yeah, I love that. I mean, we gotta have fun. There's enough stress. We rocking it out in the real world.

• 52:16Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 52:17Keke Palmer?

  It's good to turn on an album and take me to another stratosphere.

• 52:19Speaker 01

  Yeah, definitely.

• 52:20Keke Palmer?

  You know what I'm saying? That's what I think is important for right now.

• 52:25Keke Palmer?

  You do jujitsu?

• 52:27Speaker 01

  I do. I haven't done it in a while. I injured my back and it kind of like scarred me. I didn't injure it during jujitsu, but I had, I got a herniated disc and was like, I need to stay away from jujitsu. So I took like a year and a half, two years of a break, but I am a purple belt.

• 52:46Keke Palmer?

  Damn, girl. Well, would you ever do Pilates with me and teach me?

• 52:48Speaker 01

  Oh, my God. Let's do Pilates. I love Pilates.

• 52:50Keke Palmer?

  Yeah.

• 52:51Speaker 01

  Pilates is different than jujitsu, but we can do Pilates. I would definitely go with you.

• 52:55Keke Palmer?

  Girl, yes, that would be everything.

• 52:56Speaker 01

  I'm always looking for a Pilates buddy too.

• 52:58Keke Palmer?

  Girl, it just makes your life good to just know that you're in there and you've killed every series that they layered upon you.

• 53:03Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 53:04Keke Palmer?

  Oh, my gosh. Okay, we have to get into something that the world really wants to get into, which is the world of Jimmy Lovato memes.

• 53:12Speaker 01

  Oh, let's go.

• 53:13Keke Palmer?

  Favorite world to be up in, girl. We gotta talk about Poot Lovato.

• 53:18Speaker 01

  Oh, my God. Well, Poot's still in the basement.

• 53:19Keke Palmer?

  Girl, Poot is everything. And the fact that she made an appearance.

• 53:23Speaker 01

  Halloween costume?

• 53:24Keke Palmer?

  Yes.

• 53:25Speaker 01

  Oh, my gosh.

• 53:26Keke Palmer?

  That was so much fun. Girl, what do you be thinking when the lore of the videos, like when you seen your first, I mean, you're so memeable. What do you think of it? How do you feel about it?

• 53:37Speaker 01

  So at first, I like, when Poot first came about, I was like, oh, no, like someone got a really unflattering angle of me and they put it on the internet and now it's a meme and it's going viral and everyone's laughing at me for my bad angle. And someone was like, no, it was photoshopped. I was like, oh, and so I, I began to laugh at it too. And then even now, I'm like, even if it is just a bad angle, it's not photoshopped, I'll laugh at it because it's never too soon to laugh at yourself. And I just like, In, in this era was just like, I'm gonna take the power back and, and start having fun with some of the memes that, you know, the mug meme.

• 54:18Keke Palmer?

  Girl, and by the way, it was a really good response. I personally like bowls. Like, I don't, people don't understand, we're in these interviews and they're asking all this strange Okay, what is you talking about?

• 54:29Speaker 01

  Let me tell you the story about that meme. I actually, I really was in on the joke. I had been asked so many questions that day. I was doing like a press tour and you know, you get bored doing press tours, you're like, I'm gonna start the interviews. And so I was like, I'm just gonna like, I know the answer to this question. She was like, what's your favorite dish? And I was like, a mug. And like, I just ran with it. And in the long extended video, you see me look at my tour manager and like smirk, like, did you catch that one?

• 54:59Keke Palmer?

  That is true.

• 54:59Speaker 01

  And then that went viral and everyone thought I was serious. And I'm like, you know what? Believe it's serious. I don't care.

• 55:04Keke Palmer?

  I thought that was so freaking hilarious, girl. It was so funny. Cause why did she say that? Just ask me what I like to eat. Talk about my favorite dish, girl. You feel like the internet gets your sense of humor now?

• 55:16Speaker 01

  Now, yes. Yes, definitely. Yeah. But I also think if I were to repeat that question and no one had seen it, like, people would still probably think that I was being serious.

• 55:28Keke Palmer?

  Right.

• 55:29Speaker 01

  So, I don't know.

• 55:30Keke Palmer?

  Hey, whatever works.

• 55:32Speaker 01

  Whatever works.

• 55:33Keke Palmer?

  Well, let's get into this cookbook. I want to take a moment with this, one plate at a time. I mean, recipes for finding freedom with food. This seems like probably a big turning point for you, especially consider everything you were talking to me about earlier with, you know, how you looked at food and body and image. And so when it got to this point of you writing this book or even getting to this point of in relationship with food. Like, I mean, this is, this is awesome.

• 55:56Speaker 01

  Thank you.

• 55:56Keke Palmer?

  Yeah.

• 55:57Speaker 01

  It's been quite the journey. From the first time that I stepped foot into treatment, we had an outing one time and it was, the outing was to go to the grocery store, buy ingredients for a recipe we were gonna make. And I remember stepping foot into the grocery store and just sobbing because I was so overwhelmed by so much food. I didn't know where to start. And to, to cut forward to, you know, however many years later, I now have a cookbook. It was like, I'm so proud of myself and I've come so far and I wanted to share that with other people who may also be struggling with disordered eating in their past

• 56:42Speaker 01

  and are wanting to take the next step in the kitchen. But also, when I started making the book, I was like, wow, this book could be for anybody who's wanting to step foot into the kitchen for the first time. These are simple recipes. I'm not an expert in the kitchen, I'm not claiming to be. But I wanted, I've gotten better since, you know, the first time I've, I cooked. But I, basically, I wanted to help other people find freedom with food, just like I did. And, and the joy of cooking. It's such a healing thing for me to do for myself. And I wanted to provide this tool for other people that might be looking to start their journey in the kitchen.

• 57:24Keke Palmer?

  Well, let me go ahead and try this damn cookie then.

• 57:28Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 57:29Keke Palmer?

  You done pulled my arm and

• 57:33Speaker 01

  They might still be warm, too.

• 57:34Keke Palmer?

  Oh, my gosh, let's get into the

• 57:39Speaker 01

  It's so good.

• 57:40Keke Palmer?

  Girl, the cookie is good.

• 57:43Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 57:44Keke Palmer?

  I'm gonna have to hit my little pen tonight and eat the whole box.

• 57:51Speaker 01

  Your penjman?

• 57:52Keke Palmer?

  My little penjman, okay? Fabulous cookie, okay.

• 57:56Speaker 01

  Thank you.

• 57:57Keke Palmer?

  Do you have a favorite thing you'd like to cook for yourself? So when I'm reading this, which one is your favorite?

• 58:01Speaker 01

  I, I would say, there's so many things that I love to cook for myself in this book. If you're, if you're talking breakfast, I love the chilaquiles. I love the avocado toast. You put a fried egg on it, it's delicious. There's like dinners

• 58:18Keke Palmer?

  This morning.

• 58:18Speaker 01

  Oh, so good. There's spaghetti bolognese in there that we call Spag Bowl. It's like a abbreviated version. There's chicken milanes with arugula. There's honeymoon chicken, which is like a spin on the marry me chicken recipes. There's a chili that I cook for everybody. And it's like, cooking is kind of like my love language. You know, if, if my mom is, is around, like, I'll cook for her. And my husband, I love cooking for him. I love cooking with friends. Dessert-wise, you've got the chocolate chip cookies. You've got

• 58:52Keke Palmer?

  Me and my son are tearing these up tonight.

• 58:54Speaker 01

  Oh, good.

• 58:55Keke Palmer?

  These cookies are so good, babe.

• 58:56Speaker 01

  Thank you.

• 58:57Keke Palmer?

  Seriously, okay, I know that you guys probably, I probably gotta get ready to go. But I have to play a game with you because I play the game with all my guests. We're gonna play Demi decides Disney Edition because you know that's what the kids want. Okay, I'm gonna give you two Disney options and you have to lock in. And this is just first instinct only, you know, don't overthink it, just fill it.

• 59:14Speaker 01

  Explanation or no explanation?

• 59:16Keke Palmer?

  You can give me an explanation if you want, yes, okay. Cheetah Girls or Wendy Wu Homecoming Warrior?

• 59:22Speaker 01

  Cheetah Girls.

• 59:23Keke Palmer?

  Come on.

• 59:24Speaker 01

  Love the Cheetah Girls.

• 59:25Keke Palmer?

  You can put Cheetah Girls against nothing, come on.

• 59:27Speaker 01

  Iconic.

• 59:27Keke Palmer?

  Hold on. Okay, Halloween, this one's mean, Halloween Town or Twitches?

• 59:32Speaker 01

  That's tough. I love Halloween Town.

• 59:35Keke Palmer?

  I mean, it's a, you, anything from the early Disney days, it's gonna be, you know what I mean? It's just, you know? Okay, Camp Rock or Sunny With A Chance?

• 59:44Speaker 01

  Ooh, I have love for both of them. I have so much love for both of them, but I, I do accredit so much of my career to Camp Rock.

• 59:51Keke Palmer?

  Yeah.

• 59:52Speaker 01

  So I'd have to go with, with Camp Rock.

• 59:54Keke Palmer?

  By the way, Camp Rock is coming back, you're executive producing.

• 59:57Speaker 01

  I am.

• 59:57Keke Palmer?

  Is our character coming back as well?

• 1:00:00Speaker 01

  Uh, you'll just have to watch and I think what I'm excited about is to usher in the new generation of actors and.

• 1:00:08Keke Palmer?

  She's gonna be a camp counselor, you heard it here first. I'm just kidding.

• 1:00:13Speaker 01

  I don't know, keep your eyes peeled though.

• 1:00:14Keke Palmer?

  We'll be staying tuned. Um, Xenon Girl of the 21st Century or Smart House?

• 1:00:19Speaker 01

  No, Xenon. I love Xenon.

• 1:00:22Keke Palmer?

  Zoom, zoom, zoom.

• 1:00:23Speaker 01

  Boom, boom.

• 1:00:25Keke Palmer?

  My supernova girl.

• 1:00:27Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 1:00:28Keke Palmer?

  Okay, last two, I'll do, um, Lizzie McGuire movie or Cowbells?

• 1:00:34Speaker 01

  Lizzie McGuire movie.

• 1:00:35Keke Palmer?

  Cause Lizzie, Hillary does every time.

• 1:00:37Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 1:00:38Keke Palmer?

  Last one, Gotta Kick It Up or Jump In?

• 1:00:41Speaker 01

  Jump In.

• 1:00:42Keke Palmer?

  Yeah.

• 1:00:43Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 1:00:43Keke Palmer?

  Thank you so much, boo.

• 1:00:44Speaker 01

  Of course.

• 1:00:45Keke Palmer?

  I've had a blast hanging with you.

• 1:00:46Speaker 01

  I've had so much fun with you.

• 1:00:48Keke Palmer?

  I'm so glad you came.

• 1:00:52Keke Palmer?

  This was a great one. Demi, thank you so much for coming through and being honest, funny, all of it. I love watching a woman grow in real time and still choosing herself every single era. Y'all already know what to do. Go get her cookbook, stream the album, and catch my girl on this tour coming up in spring. And we'll see you next time on Baby, This is Keke Palmer. Where are my cookies?