La La Anthony: Life After Professional Athletes (FBF)

La La Anthony joins Call Her Daddy to talk about her career, how to be a great friend (keep secrets) and how she’s stayed grounded and classy af while navigating a shared life with a professional athlete. La La tells the story of getting a fake ID at 15 years old so she could begin working as an intern in radio. She reflects on her journey from radio personality to MTV host to actress and producer. La La is the ultimate best friend to some of the most famous women in the world, and Alex and La La discuss all things friendship. Should you give your friends the truth even if it hurts? How do you know when it’s time to end a friendship? The duo dive into dating (athletes), love, marriage and divorce. La La opens up about her time as an NBA wife, the sleepless nights and a culture of cheating. She discusses the early days of her marriage, her decision to divorce, her current dating life, and whether she’ll ever date another athlete again.

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

• 0:00Alex Cooper?

  Call Her Daddy is brought to you by Southern New Hampshire University. Daddy gang, let's get real, okay? We like to make our own rules. Southern New Hampshire University gets it. They let you learn what you want with over 200 career-focused programs, where you want with 100% online courses, and how you want with no set class times. Basically, you get to call the shots from day one. Visit s n h u dot edu slash call her daddy to learn more. Call Her Daddy is brought to you by Bright by Scotch Bright. Daddy gang, a lot of us obviously take pride in where we live, right? We want the decor to look good and then we want the lighting and the cleaning and all of it. And you want it to look spotless and you want it to look really nice, right?

• 0:43Alex Cooper?

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• 1:12Speaker 01

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• 1:42Alex Cooper?

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• 2:10Alex Cooper?

  What is up, daddy gang? It is your founding father, Alex Cooper, with Call Her Daddy.

• 2:23Alex Cooper?

  Lala, welcome to Call Her Daddy.

• 2:26Speaker 02

  First of all, can we address the glasses? Okay.

• 2:30Alex Cooper?

  Okay, let's talk about it.

• 2:31Speaker 02

  So I came in here with glasses on and I was, oh, you're wearing my stylist hoodie. Local love club. That's my stylist.

• 2:37Alex Cooper?

  Shout out, Maeve.

• 2:39Speaker 02

  Yes, I love her.

• 2:40Alex Cooper?

  I love her so much. I honestly like woke up this morning and was like, it's raining, it's a Monday. I need to feel cozy. And then you just walked in and you were like, let's level that shit up. Can I keep my sunnies on? And I love you.

• 2:53Speaker 02

  No, no, no, no, no. I said when I walked in, I was like, if I wear my sunglasses, are people gonna be like, where the fuck does this bitch think she's going? And then you were like, well, I'll wear some too. And I was like, fine. So we're just gonna both wear sunglasses the whole interview.

• 3:06Alex Cooper?

  And now we're just, we're vibing on a different frequency now. Everything feels a little bit better. The lights are better.

• 3:12Speaker 02

  No, but it was crazy when we walked in. You said it was so bright. It was crazy. Okay, so we're on a different frequency.

• 3:17Alex Cooper?

  So now we're here.

• 3:36Alex Cooper?

  Call Her Daddy is brought to you by Southern New Hampshire University. Daddy gang, let's get real, okay? We like to make our own rules. Southern New Hampshire University gets it. They let you learn what you want with over 200 career-focused programs, where you want with 100% online courses, and how you want with no set class times. Basically, you get to call the shots from day one. Visit s n h u dot edu slash call her daddy to learn more. Call Her Daddy is brought to you by Shopify. Daddy gang, you know I'm a little skeptical of the internet at times, aren't we all? But one thing I absolutely love is how much easier it has made starting a business.

• 4:19Alex Cooper?

  No matter what stage you're at, Shopify is the best place to start and grow a business. With Shopify, you get to own your storefront while still being discovered everywhere, from Google to YouTube to the shop app. They also let you sell across TikTok, Instagram, Pinterest, even directly inside AI chats. So your customers can shop wherever they already are and your products can appear directly alongside content. So as someone is scrolling, they just become part of their feed. Shopify truly makes it so much easier for customers to discover and buy products wherever they're browsing. And this has been such a game changer for Unwell. I love being able to sell merch directly on all the Call Her Daddy channels.

• 5:04Alex Cooper?

  So everything is in one place for the daddy gang. So, ready to add entrepreneur to your list of accomplishments? Head to Shopify dot com slash daddy. That's Shopify dot com slash daddy. Okay, so now I need to introduce you because there's so many things to say about you. I'll try to keep it short, but you can't. You got your start in radio, obviously. Look how much of a natural. You're like, let me just, let me do the show today. Alex, you can leave. I'll just talk. You're an actress, producer, a New York Times bestselling author, a social justice advocate, best friend to some of the most famous women in the world, and a mother. Let's, I kind of want to go back to the beginning a little bit

• 5:46Alex Cooper?

  because I think it's helpful for people to feel extremely connected to your story, right? You start working at 15 years old, your first internship. How the fuck did you get the internship? How did you get your foot in the door? Please tell us the story.

• 5:59Speaker 02

  Okay, so I, I always loved music. That's my thing. I love, love music. Back in the day, day, day, we're not gonna talk about it too much. I thought I was gonna be a rapper, but that was like back in the day. So I was like.

• 6:11Alex Cooper?

  Give us like a little something.

• 6:11Speaker 02

  Oh my God, no, you'll die. You'll be like, get me out of here now. So I thought I was gonna be a rapper and so I just loved music. And I remember going to the opening of this music store and I saw these people like putting up posters. Remember back in the day, it was different when albums came out. Like there would be posters everywhere and stuff everywhere. So I was like, who are these people doing that? And I came up to them, I was like, who do you guys work for? Like, what are you doing? Because I thought it looked like so cool, especially as a teenager, like 15 years old. So they were like, oh, we work at this radio station and we're interns. But they were like, to be in an internship program, you had to be, I don't remember. I think it was 17 years old. So I was like, oh, yeah, I'm 17. And I just got a fake ID because, why not? I lived in the hood and I know how to get a fake ID.

• 6:55Speaker 02

  So I got a fake ID and then I got the job as an intern, lying, saying I was older than I really was. But that's the only time, kids, where a lie can work in your favor. And then I just started working at the radio station. And from there, interning, I got on the radio. And then I moved to LA to be on the radio. And then from there, I got my MTV job and I started hosting TRL, which everyone knows. Started doing that.

• 7:21Alex Cooper?

  I also love how so casually, I think there's so many young women that listen to this show that are like, may currently be an intern. And you just like slid that edge, like, so I went from being an intern, then all of a sudden I'm a radio personality. I'm like, hold on, hold on. You just skipped a huge step. How the fuck did you go from intern, putting posters on the wall, to then being a radio personality?

• 7:40Speaker 02

  So just working really hard. Like I just worked really, really hard at it. And I was like, whatever I do, I don't care if I'm just putting this water here. I'm gonna be the best at putting the water here. Like, I'm just gonna be great. I just made myself available. I worked really hard. And I had a personality. So they were like, we like your personality. Like, there's two guys on the radio. At that time, it was Ludacris. But his name back then was Chris Lovellava. So they were like, two guys, him and Poon Daddy, they were like, they need a girl on their show. Like, nobody wants to hear just two guys going back and forth all day. I was like, I can do it. So at first, and we laugh about it all the time, they didn't really want me there because they were like, this is our shit. Like, who the fuck are you? But I was like, I'm coming to bring some energy in here and some girly vibes.

• 8:24Speaker 02

  No, I wasn't intimidated. I was like, I'm here to do this. And then that's how I got on the radio. So shout out to Luda, who I've known for, since, yeah, since I was like, at that time, what, 16 maybe?

• 8:36Alex Cooper?

  Kate, we all need to have that energy because I'm like, oh my God, it'd be so intimidating. You're like, what the fuck? I deserve to be there. I had the personality for it.

• 8:44Speaker 02

  Even if I was intimidating, nobody else was gonna know that.

• 8:46Alex Cooper?

  You're gonna fake it.

• 8:47Speaker 02

  Yeah, you gotta fake it till you make it. Even if I felt like that, which I'm sure at different times I did, I was like, this is my way out. It was bigger than, it was bigger than a job for me. It was about survival. It was about like having money in my pocket to live. Like, it was deeper than like, oh, I just want this cool job. It was like, I need this job so I can afford my apartment, so I can get food for myself, so I can take care of myself and ultimately take care of my family. Like, it was bigger to me.

• 9:14Alex Cooper?

  Totally.

• 9:15Speaker 02

  Like, when the purpose is bigger, your drive is different.

• 9:18Alex Cooper?

  You like, you just see straight. Like, you can't, you don't even look back. You're like, I gotta go forward.

• 9:23Speaker 02

  Exactly.

• 9:23Alex Cooper?

  So you're still a teenager. You go to, you leave Atlanta, you go to LA. I love how you're like 17 at the time. Had you ever been to LA?

• 9:31Speaker 02

  No, I've never been to LA before. I didn't have money to like travel and do stuff like that. I would hear about LA, but I had never been there. The thing about it is like, when I, when I lived in New York, I was born and raised in Brooklyn. But during this radio time, I was in Atlanta. My mom had moved us to Atlanta. But like, you would hear about LA, but it just felt like this distant land somewhere that like, yeah, I know like famous people live there, but it's not a place that you ever thought, like you would go to or anything like that. So when I got the job in LA, because I had sent my radio tape to different places, when I got the job in LA, when I got off the plane, that was my first, I was moving to LA, getting off the plane, that was my first time being in LA.

• 10:09Alex Cooper?

  Did you know anyone?

• 10:10Speaker 02

  No.

• 10:10Alex Cooper?

  Were you?

• 10:11Speaker 02

  Who the hell would I know in LA? I didn't, I didn't talk to people. I was like, my circle was New York and Atlanta.

• 10:16Alex Cooper?

  Damn. So what, when do you remember personally being like, this is my big break? Like, I just made it.

• 10:24Speaker 02

  I felt like that with LA because Atlanta, as big of a market it is, radio-wise, it was a smaller market than LA. New York is one, LA is two, when it comes to radio. So I was like, I'm about to be in the number two market? Like, this is crazy. And when they called me to give me the job, they were like, well, how much money are you making? And I remember at that time, I was making like, no lie, I was making like $18,000 a year. And I was like, Um, um, I, I, I make like thirty thousand a year. Like, I just said something. And they were like, oh, well, this job is offering like ninety thousand a year. And I was like, I really was making eighteen thousand. I went from making eighteen thousand to ninety thousand. I was like,

• 11:03Alex Cooper?

  You're like, you know what?

• 11:05Speaker 02

  Shit.

• 11:05Alex Cooper?

  I think I'll take it.

• 11:06Speaker 02

  I was like, I'm out. But I had to play it cool. I didn't want to, because remember, I was already li- damn, it's a lot of lying in my story.

• 11:13Alex Cooper?

  We're like, La La. This is literally the whole episode is like, La La lies through and through.

• 11:20Speaker 02

  Lie. I lied about my age. I lied about how much I was making. All good lies.

• 11:25Alex Cooper?

  All good.

• 11:25Speaker 02

  All good lies.

• 11:26Alex Cooper?

  To get you through the door.

• 11:27Speaker 02

  Yes, exactly.

• 11:28Alex Cooper?

  A little white lie with that can't hurt anybody.

• 11:30Speaker 02

  Yeah. So then I got on the radio in L.A. And then I was on the radio doing really good out there. And then one day, now this day, I remember clear, I walked into the radio station and the receptionist says to me, Somebody from MTV called for you. I was like, Call for me for what? They're like, I don't know, they wanted to talk to you. And it was like, the little post-it with like the number. So I called, I was like, hey, um, this is La La. Like, somebody said, you guys looking for me? They were like, yeah, we wanna, um, Meet with you. We just heard a lot about you from the radio. We've heard you on the radio. We thought you were really cool. We wanted to see like, What you looked like and like, you know, just catch a vibe. And they were like, you, you seem like a really Cool person. I was like, thanks, like, what's happening here? So then they were like,

• 12:12Speaker 02

  Could you interview somebody for us so we could see like, how you would interview on camera? But the catch was, I had to find the person to interview. I'm like, they're like, you'll have to bring the person to interview. Cause they also wanted to see maybe like, I don't know, maybe my connection. I don't know. But I was like, Alright, cool. So I actually remember, I called Tyrese. Because at that time, Tyrese Was also doing stuff on MTV too. So I was like, if I call somebody that's like one of their own, maybe that'll help. So I brought him up there. I interviewed him. They seemed to love it. And then they called me and was like, would you be open to moving to New York to be on MTV?

• 12:50Alex Cooper?

  Dude, it's so crazy because I was talking to Kate earlier. Okay.

• 12:55Speaker 02

  I wanna see your face.

• 12:56Alex Cooper?

  We're like, okay, now we're like less nervous. La La's lied to my face ten times already. We're like, let's just do it. Okay, we're done. We're done. The shtick is over. We're moving forward so we can see each other.

• 13:08Speaker 02

  Exactly.

• 13:09Alex Cooper?

  Hello, bright lights. Okay, Kate and I were talking about TRL.

• 13:12Speaker 02

  Yes.

• 13:13Alex Cooper?

  And to the Gen Z'ers listening, just shut the fuck up for a minute because you need to be humbled and listen to what TRL was. Because I remember, I have an older sister, and I would, she'd be like, running home from school, like, come on, Alex, we gotta go, we gotta watch. And it was like the biggest thing to watch when you're looking at breakout artists or like Christina Aguilera coming on. And you're just like, holy fucking shit, this was the thing.

• 13:36Speaker 02

  It was huge for all artists. And then like, it was in New York, it was in Times Square. So Everyone in high school at that time wanted to rush to Times Square to stand out there to see like, who's gonna be In the infamous like, window where you would wave from. And you had everybody, like you said, Beyonce, and then actors, Will Smith would come, Tom Cruise, I mean, At that time, N'Sync, and it was like Justin Timberlake, and, no, it was crazy.

• 14:03Alex Cooper?

  That's so cool. I, I think like, hearing about your career is always incredible to hear, especially from a woman just like, Battling to get to the top. And like, what's a setback that you remember facing early in your career? Obviously, it wasn't all roses and like, get on the flight, move to L.A., get the job happiness. And like, how did you overcome it?

• 14:23Speaker 02

  Well, I think A lot of my struggles came coming out of MTV because MTV was so big that you were always told like, That's it, that's your peak. This is it. Like, it doesn't get any bigger than this. And you would kinda see MTV VJs Come and go. And then it would be like, whatever happened to so and so? Or they would have these specials like, Going back down memory lane. And you'd be like, what happened to? And I was like, Oh, no. Like, after this job, it's not gonna just be over for me. Like, that's just not gonna be the only thing that I'm known for. So that's when I started pivoting into acting and stuff. And when you're coming off of being a host, It's hard for people to see you as an actor because I was so well-known as an MTV host.

• 15:08Speaker 02

  First of all, there's not a lot of MTV hosts. Secondly, there's definitely not a lot of black MTV hosts. So it was like, I was known as, You know, a black girl on MTV. So it was like, The acting side didn't really wanna give me that shot.

• 15:20Alex Cooper?

  I think that's a very relatable concept of like, People wanting to put things in boxes, and you're trying to pivot because you want to pivot and you wanna do something different. And it's like, No, no, no, you have to stay in that lane. I was gonna ask though, like, as a woman of color in the industry, especially when you were just starting out And you didn't have this status, did you face discrimination?

• 15:43Speaker 02

  Well, it was different, but it was, it was interesting for me because I was at MTV, But all of my friends and people in the business were at BET. And I was like, it was like, 106 in Park. And then there was like, TRL. And I used to feel like, I kinda wanna be over there. Like, That's more my music, that's my culture, that's who I am. But then I was like, maybe I have a responsibility here to bring My culture, more of my music, diversity to MTV. And put them on to like, These are the songs we're listening to. These are the artists that we love. Let's give them, you know, a little bit more shine. So then I became like, Empowered to wanna do that.

• 16:24Alex Cooper?

  That's really cool. Cause I feel like a big theme so far already, what you're saying is like, every time you've walked indoors, like, you're like, no, I, I'm gonna, Even if I don't feel it immediately, I'm gonna pretend I deserve to be here.

• 16:35Speaker 02

  Exactly.

• 16:35Alex Cooper?

  And it's like a mentality thing, even if you don't feel it all the time, which I think is important, no matter what you're doing in your life.

• 16:42Speaker 02

  No matter what you're doing.

• 16:43Alex Cooper?

  Just pretend you fucking deserve it.

• 16:44Speaker 02

  Even if like, on bad days, we're all entitled to them, we all have them. But it's like, Certain jobs, and I hate to say it, but certain jobs, they don't care about a bad day. So it's like, Fake it, fake it, fake it, then go home, talk to your friends, your family, your therapist, whatever you need to do. But in that moment, like, Act like you're okay sometimes, even when you're not. And then deal with it in the moments that you give yourself to deal with it.

• 17:07Alex Cooper?

  This is a stressful industry to be in. And you've gotta be on, and you've gotta be ready. Have you ever experienced burnout?

• 17:14Speaker 02

  Always. I'm always burnt out, I'm always tired. And I'm not good at the balance, which is not a great thing. I mean, You have to be able to have balance. I always feel guilty when I'm like, not working or having fun or Even on vacation, like, I just feel like, I got more work to do. What am I doing? Why am I hanging out? Then I'm on Instagram and it seems like everybody's on vacation all the time. I'm like, how the hell do you guys go on this many trips? Like, I don't go anywhere. I'm like, I need to go on more trips.

• 17:42Alex Cooper?

  I feel like either one, I feel like I'm always behind when I'm looking at Instagram. I'm like, wait, like, why do these people know about this thing? Or I'm like, why is everyone relaxing on the beach?

• 17:50Speaker 02

  Always.

• 17:51Alex Cooper?

  Cause when I go, I feel like so stressed. But are they actually relaxing on the beach? Cause then when you're relaxing on the beach, you're not actually relaxed on the beach. You're like, what the fuck is true and what's not?

• 17:59Speaker 02

  It's all a facade. It's all an illusion.

• 18:01Alex Cooper?

  It is a complete illusion. Before I even, obviously, met you, I was trying to just get on a phone call with you, just quickly say hi. And I was like, it's like, it's eight o'clock at night. And I, they were like, hey, everybody, uh, La La's not available because she's at Rikers. And I was like, holy fuck. No, I was like, that seems way more important than me just being like, hey, girl, like, see you tomorrow. Like, it's just like, yeah, I was like, go fuck myself, I'll see you in the studio. I really appreciate what you're doing. Can you explain how you got into it? And like, what are you doing?

• 18:31Speaker 02

  Well, it's only because you can't, for those of you who have never been inside a prison or a jail before, you cannot have your cellphone.

• 18:37Alex Cooper?

  I need to clarify, I was not mad at you. I was calm, I was like,

• 18:40Speaker 02

  Otherwise, I would be like, what's up? You can't have your cellphone. Which, by the way, you don't realize how hard it is to go Eight, nine, ten hours without your phone. Like, it's good for me because we're so attached. And I'm like, I realize that This attachment is, is not healthy. But, um, so yeah, Rikers, um, I work a lot in the R and D C building, which is, uh, generally eighteen or twenty-one, so the younger population. And, um, there was a pastor that was running an initiative called Fatherless No More. His name is Pastor Tim Johnson, who I love. And I sat in on a lot of his sessions with his group of, of young men. And from there, I just continued to work with him. And, you know, starting to mentor and do my own thing as well. I'm just so passionate about it. I have a fifteen-year-old.

• 19:25Speaker 02

  So when I see these young men who are incarcerated, I see my son's face. I see how one bad decision Can change your whole life. And sometimes it's just Peer pressure, following friends, being in the wrong place at the wrong time. A lot of these kids are amazing, beautiful, I call them kids, but young men that shouldn't be in there, but just environment, upbringing, everything that I feel like I can relate to. So I'm all about second chances and also giving them the tools they need. So when they do re-enter into the community, They can be assets instead of, you know, a hindrance to the community. So we work really hard. It's me, Brittany, my assistant, Brian. We work really, really hard with them. And I don't know, I found like,

• 20:09Speaker 02

  I've been passionate about a lot of things. I give back in a lot of ways. But this, I really feel like is, You know, you feel like this is my calling, this is my passion. There's something about it that It keeps moving me to come back more and more and wanna do more.

• 20:38Alex Cooper?

  Call Her Daddy is brought to you by Airbnb. As you guys know, I have basically been working double time throughout this pregnancy to bank episodes for the month that I will be on maternity leave. And a few weeks ago, it all just kind of hit me. I was like, wait, wait, wait, where did summer go? And I was talking about this with Matt and he ended up surprising me with a little staycation. He booked this beautiful home on Airbnb in Malibu so that we could pretend like it was summer while it's still warm here in LA. The weather was perfect. The house was right on the beach, which was so relaxing and amazing. It also had just such a gorgeous kitchen. We stayed in, we cooked dinner together and you know, daddy, getting my cooking skills,

• 21:22Alex Cooper?

  they have, they have gotten better. They've gotten a little bit better through pregnancy, but it was really just so nice to unplug and spend that time together before the baby comes and we move into this completely new chapter of our life. So whether you're planning a cozy weekend away, or you're just looking for an excuse to unplug for a few days, October is the perfect time to get out of town. Booking a home on Airbnb makes the trip feel even more special because everyone has room to actually spend time together. Whether you're coming back after a long day out, or you're also just cooking dinner, Airbnb makes settling in even easier because you can order groceries for your trip and have all the snacks and essentials delivered after you arrive.

• 22:05Alex Cooper?

  My favorite fall trips always have one thing in common, an amazing place to say. That's why I always look at Airbnb first. Call Her Daddy is brought to you by My Mochi. Everyone is talking about Dubai chocolate, chocolate with pistachio flavored cream. Well, now Mochi Ice Cream has its own version of Dubai chocolate. Spoiler alert, guys, it's delicious. My Mochi Dubai Chocolate Ice Cream is premium pistachio flavored ice cream with Kadiah and chocolatey flavored bits wrapped in sweet chewy chocolate flavored dough. It's only 80 calories per piece, nut free and easy to share because it comes in a box

• 22:48Alex Cooper?

  with six individual snacks. I am obsessed with My Mochi. And when you give me that plus a good chocolate, I'm going to have that in my freezer. Every single night, I'm going to pop one in. I am obsessed. I love it so much. Taste the joy with every bite of My Mochi Ice Cream. Look for the green and brown box of My Mochi Dubai Chocolate Ice Cream in the freezer aisle of your local grocery store. It's really incredible what you're doing. It seems like you're such a good mother. You're a great person and you're a great friend. And I talk about it a lot on my podcast of I have a lot of young women that write in, which I'm like, I totally feel you on this.

• 23:32Alex Cooper?

  Like friendship, it, it ebbs and flows. It's the, some of the most beautiful relationships you can have because you aren't sleeping with this person, hopefully, hopefully, you never know. But like, it's a genuine two-way street and at times it's not always going to be 50/50. Maybe you're giving more to your friends or giving more to you at a time, whatever it is. But I always like to talk about friendship because I think it's an underrated conversation that fulfills a lot of what you need in your life. And it doesn't always have to be romantic, and it doesn't have to be family.

• 24:06Speaker 02

  Right.

• 24:07Alex Cooper?

  What qualities do you think about your personality make you a good friend?

• 24:13Speaker 02

  I think if you were going to ask my friends, they would say like, I'm very caring, loving. I'm a cancer. Like we're super loving, we're super emotional, we're, when we love, we love hard. But I'm also honest, like my thing, even going back to the young men at Rikers, like I always say, you know, no judgment, like I'm not here to judge you. I want to give you real advice, but I'm not here to judge you. And if I say something, you might not agree with or don't like, it's not because I'm judging you, I'm just giving you the real. So I think it's the same with my friends. Like when they ask me advice, they know I'm going to give them real advice, coming from love, not like judgment. I don't care what you say you did, what I've heard it all, I've seen it all. Nothing surprises me anymore, but I'm just like, yo, you gotta, nah, you can't do that. You know, whatever.

• 24:55Speaker 02

  And just honest and they know it's going to be out of love. And I think that's it. Also, you know, keep everyone's information, life secrets safe. Like you've never heard of me being involved in anything with like any messiness or whatever. When people trust you with things, you have to honor that and take that seriously. And I definitely do.

• 25:16Alex Cooper?

  I really respect that because I think some people can't take the honesty. And I feel like a lot of times I'm similar in friendships where I'm like, I know this is going to upset you, but do you want me to lie to you? I'd be like, sweetie, it's gonna, you're totally in the right. You're fine. Like, that's not me being a good friend. And I feel like it's good sometimes to have people around like you being like, you can cry and I'll hold you while you cry, but it's going to be from the information I'm about to tell you, but it's just me being honest. And I don't see why, I don't know, I think it's like look inward if you don't want people to tell you the truth because it's like work on yourself. It's not your friend, it's actually you not being able to take the heat.

• 25:53Speaker 02

  And I'm also not like, I'm competitive, like, but not, meaning I don't want what you have, I know what's for me is for me. That's also the issue with a lot of friendships and stuff. It's like competition or jealousy. Like I think there's enough for everyone. Like what I'm doing is not going to be the same as what you're doing. Or if we do the same thing, how you do it, how I do it is going to be different. Like I don't get involved in that. I want all of my friends and anyone I care about to win. I want to see everybody do good. I'm like cheerleading from the sidelines for everybody. And I know, you know, what's for me will come. And what's great about my friendships is everyone kind of empowers each other. I have friends that are like, oh, you're working on this? I actually know someone that did that. Let me call them and tell them you're doing it. Or let me call them and tell them to look out for you, whatever. And that's how it is.

• 26:37Speaker 02

  It's not like, oh, I'm not going to give her the number or the secret. Like I don't want her to know. Like that's not how my friendships are.

• 26:45Alex Cooper?

  Everyone's going to have their successful moments and everyone's going to have the lulls where they're down on themselves. And it's like, why hold any of your friends back? If anything, it's great to surround yourself with people that are thriving and succeeding rather than feeling like jealous.

• 26:59Speaker 02

  Right.

• 26:59Alex Cooper?

  I love that. How do you know when it's time to end a friendship?

• 27:03Speaker 02

  I think that you'll know when it's, you know, I think it's time to end a friendship when it's no longer making you feel good. I think it's the same thing with a relationship. A friendship is a relationship. Like when it's no longer making you feel good and it's causing you stress and agony and sadness, then it's time to let it go. Like the world right now is stressful enough. Day-to-day life in this world is stressful enough. So your friendships, your relationships, anyone in your life should be adding positivity. Not saying again, that they're not going to tell you what you want to hear. Like it shouldn't just be like, you're great, you're great, you're great, you're great. And not being honest with you. But when you feel like, you know, when the phone rings and you're looking, you're just like, ugh, what now? Or this is going to drain me or what's going to happen here? That's when you got to start reevaluating.

• 27:47Alex Cooper?

  I agree. And I think there's moments where every friendship, if it's a good friendship, you will have hardships. Like that's weird if you've never had a tip, like, oh, you're best friends? Well, then is it a real relationship? Because like we're humans, we're going to go through shit. But I appreciate when there's times to work through shit. And then there's time to be like, this is not healthy and to find that balance.

• 28:09Speaker 02

  Especially when you start seeing a pattern. If there's a pattern, then you're like, okay, this is, this is who this person is. I might need to exit stage left.

• 28:17Alex Cooper?

  When your friends come to you for advice, I'm thinking like, I feel like everyone has that person in a friend group. Like what are people like, I'm going to Lala for this? Like what is your go-to? They're looking for guidance, they go to you for?

• 28:29Speaker 02

  Probably relationships and I don't know why I'm not even in a relationship. My marriage is, my marriage did not succeed. I don't know how, I'm the relationship expert. I always tell, I told a friend of mine the other day, I go, I don't know why everybody wants to ask me about relationships. I need to be asking them about, I'm not even in a relationship. Maybe they're like, I don't know, our shit fucked up so bad, we want to make sure that doesn't happen to us.

• 28:53Alex Cooper?

  They're like, so give us the guideline of what not to do Lala. No, but I think you've been through shit.

• 28:58Speaker 02

  No, it's a joke. Just kidding, guys. Just kidding, guys. Love you all.

• 29:04Alex Cooper?

  No, I love you all too. No, I've talked so much like healthy, I think shit on the athletes I've dated.

• 29:10Speaker 02

  No, no, no, we don't want to talk bad about athletes.

• 29:12Alex Cooper?

  And I think it's actually more, which I would like to clarify, in the past, if, I think it's too easy almost as a joke because it is like they're giving it to us at times. Do you know what I mean? And I think that it's one, there's times where it could be maybe a stigma that's not fair. Like I'm sure accountants are cheating. You know what I mean? Like I know our dentists are getting after it.

• 29:35Speaker 02

  Just don't hear about it as much.

• 29:36Alex Cooper?

  Yes, yes. So I did want to ask you, there is a New York Times article about you from 2011 and you were described as the first lady of the NBA. I'm in the presence of a goddess, okay? The king herself. You were the original NBA couple.

• 29:57Speaker 02

  Well, we see how that turned out, guys.

• 29:59Alex Cooper?

  Lala's like, hold on.

• 30:00Speaker 02

  They probably won't, they probably won't even let me in games anymore. So, so there goes your first lady, guys.

• 30:07Alex Cooper?

  Goodbye. You were the original, are we back? Are we back? For the athletes section, we're like, hold on, let us just tighten up. You were the original NBA power couple.

• 30:18Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 30:19Alex Cooper?

  Was it hard to have eyes on you during the beginning of your ex-husband's career? Like all these people interested in your life, et cetera?

• 30:28Speaker 02

  Yeah, that was hard for us. That was hard for us. I feel like when we moved to New York, because we came from Denver at the time, we moved to New York. I was, I'm from New York, so being back in New York is nothing new. But when we lived here, under all of that, that's when things became complicated. I think that was kind of the start. Now that I look back, that was kind of the start of the demise of the marriage.

• 30:50Alex Cooper?

  I dated a New York athlete and I do remember, don't they?

• 30:53Speaker 02

  I need to Google you later.

• 30:55Alex Cooper?

  Don't do that. But I do think that there's something people always say, like if you can make it in New York as an athlete, you can make it anywhere. But I think there's also a different connotation of like, yeah, because it's the hardest to deal with.

• 31:06Speaker 02

  It is the hardest.

• 31:06Alex Cooper?

  And it comes with a lot.

• 31:07Speaker 02

  With the scrutiny and the media and the press and just everything. It is, it is really, really hard. That's not the only reason things didn't work out, but things got tough with New York. And like you were saying, just constantly being under the spotlight, people watching every little thing. And then, you know, being in New York, I don't know, like Denver was so like laid back. New York is like, I got to get on my grind. Then I started really like going to overdrive with my career and wanting things to go that way. So it's like, he's doing his thing, I'm doing mine and it just.

• 31:37Alex Cooper?

  And how old were you? You guys when you met.

• 31:39Speaker 02

  So, it's so funny. There was a DJ named DJ Clue. That, um, yeah, shout out Clue, who was like, I got this guy who really wants to meet you. He's seen you on MTV before. And he's nineteen years old. I was like, okay, nineteen at that time was twenty-two. Yeah, I was just like, that's kinda young. I mean, when you're, when you're, you know, okay, what happens is, here's how it goes. This is what I'm finding. I don't understand this. This is how it goes. Okay, when you're younger, you wanna date older guys. And I'm not saying when you get older, you wanna date younger guys, but when you get older, only younger guys wanna date you.

• 32:23Speaker 02

  It's the wildest thing, literally, guys will DM me or wanna take me out and I'll Google them. I'll be like, you're twenty-two years old, like, wha- how? Like, how does this work? But like, so confident, so like, I wanna take you out. I, I, I think you're amazing. And I'm just like, when's, what's the cutoff? Like, I don't know the cutoff. I'm just saying, what is the cutoff?

• 32:46Alex Cooper?

  No, it's a real thing.

• 32:47Speaker 02

  But, okay, but we gotta go back. We'll get to that next.

• 32:49Alex Cooper?

  Yeah, because we do have.

• 32:50Speaker 02

  But I don't get what this thing is like.

• 32:52Alex Cooper?

  No, it's a real thing.

• 32:52Speaker 02

  The older you get, the younger the guys get, and it's wild. But, okay, so he was nineteen and I was like, cool. And I was like, I don't wanna be with an athlete. Back then, even back then, I was like, I'll never be, I'd never, never, never, never, never. Should've listened to myself back then. Street guys, just guys that I probably shouldn't be with either, but that was more my flow. I love a street guy. Back then, not anymore, guys. So, um, um, I was like, I just don't want to, but we became friends. And that's the thing, we were friends for a while and then the friendship turned into more. And we had some great times. I mean, we have a beautiful son, Cayenne, who's amazing. Like, it wasn't all bad. Like, we had great, great times. It ended bad, but we're still, you know, friends and we co-parent great. So it wasn't all bad. And I think that, you know,

• 33:38Speaker 02

  life is just about lessons and going through different phases. And that was like a phase in my life, a chapter in my life. And now, um, that chapter's over, but it's never really over when you have a kid with somebody.

• 33:48Alex Cooper?

  What was your biggest misconception about dating an athlete? Because I was, I always like to write my questions and then think, well, what would the fuck my answer be?

• 33:57Alex Cooper?

  Okay.

• 33:58Speaker 02

  Um, no misconceptions, cuz everything I thought turned, like, you wanna be like, oh, they're not all like this or all like that.

• 34:04Alex Cooper?

  True, they are.

• 34:05Speaker 02

  And I'm like, check.

• 34:06Alex Cooper?

  Check. Check. Cuz my thought when I was writing that, I was like, okay, my misconception was, in the like, not committed dating phase, I found that I was stressed always. Like, if I don't fly in, like, who's he gonna be with, whatever. And then once I was his girlfriend and it was committed, I thought I was like, ah, I'm gonna sleep better at night. I'm gonna be like. I think there.

• 34:30Speaker 02

  I never slept.

• 34:31Alex Cooper?

  You're like, don't get it twisted, I may look amazing, but I did not sleep. And I didn't, I almost got more stressed.

• 34:38Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 34:38Alex Cooper?

  Once we committed because I felt like, oh my god, now everyone's coming for me. Like, people are, it was just more, it was, I guess it was my misconception. I thought, oh, lock it down and I'm gonna be, I'm sleeping beauty.

• 34:51Speaker 02

  It never ends. It never ends. And then what you'll find is like, I, it's so funny. I used to think like, certain cities, I would be like, oh, those are the problem cities. Like Miami, I'll be like, oh, I'm definitely not sleeping tonight. Or I'm gonna figure out a way to get there. But here's what I found out, dear. Be careful with these other cities that you think don't have as much going on. Because those are the ones, guys, where the shit is going down.

• 35:20Alex Cooper?

  And it gets worse. I'm like, nothing is happening in Kentucky or.

• 35:25Speaker 02

  That's how I would feel. And those are the nights I would sleep a little.

• 35:30Alex Cooper?

  And all of a sudden, you're like, oh no, there's a whole ass girlfriend there. Miami, it's just like, let's club, let's go hang out. There is like a whole ass fucking girlfriend. I'm like.

• 35:40Speaker 02

  Have you been here before? Have you been here before? You get it. So, yeah.

• 35:44Alex Cooper?

  It's, it is a wild, I love the, the sleep concept is a good way to describe it.

• 35:49Speaker 02

  Yes, it is.

• 35:50Alex Cooper?

  Sleepless nights. And ladies, we don't need that for our under eyes.

• 35:53Speaker 02

  Not gonna, I can't generalize everyone. I'm just talking about what I went through and people I know, but I'm sure, you know, there are great relationships. I mean, my best friend is married to an athlete and they have Ciara and Russell, an incredible bond, something I've never seen before. I'm so happy to even witness it because it makes me feel like, oh wow, that type of love does exist. Cuz I, I didn't think it did for a long time. I'm like, no way. So, it's not across the board.

• 36:20Alex Cooper?

  Yeah, yeah, yeah.

• 36:21Speaker 02

  But I can only also speak to my.

• 36:23Alex Cooper?

  Yeah, totally. What was the culture of the wives and the girlfriends? Because I remember my experience, and since I was a girlfriend, people were like, well, you're not shit. And I was like, I know, like, sorry. And I thought like at first, cuz there were a couple, like, head women that were like married, that one was so nice to me. Cuz she was like, I don't give a fuck about you. Like, you're just here and whatever, maybe you won't be the next week. Or another woman that you don't even know is sitting over there and he's al- she's also with him. I'm like, but then there were some that were like aggressive to let me know, like, bitch, you don't have a ring on your finger, you're not shit. Like, what was your experience with?

• 37:01Speaker 02

  Well, I was a girlfriend for a long time. I, I didn't become a wife till way later, so, I didn't really experience that. Like, you just have the people you gravitate to, like you said with you and the people that you're cordial with and that's it. So I just found like, my crew, whatever, whoever that was on respective teams are like, she's really cool, I wanna hang out with her. But I tried to be cool with everybody. But there's levels to being cool. Like, there's the distant like, hey, then there's the call me later, then there's the, I fucking hate him, I'm coming to spend the night at your house. There's different like, levels of cool. So, I just try to be, you know, cordial. And then I just had my kinda groups.

• 37:39Alex Cooper?

  No, I appreciate you saying that cuz I eventually found my group. Day one, I was like, hello? I was like, I'm gonna go see with the fans, like, they'll be nicer. And then I think by the, I would say like, yeah, a couple of months in, I found like my crew of like, oh, this is my drinking buddy. And then I had the woman that was like, found out he's like, be shady, what do I do? And so I'm interested to know, like, do you think there was a culture of like turning a blind eye to cheating within the NBA? Or even just in sports in general?

• 38:10Speaker 02

  Not for me, cuz when I saw it or found out about it, I have to worry about my own relationship, then I dealt with it. Like,

• 38:16Alex Cooper?

  Yeah.

• 38:17Speaker 02

  I can't, my shit was falling apart. I can't worry about what everybody else has going on. Like, I gotta work, I gotta save myself. Like, my relationship, you know, we're two parents to my son, I gotta make sure we're good. So that's where my focus was. But I never turned a blind eye to it. I, I addressed it. And ultimately, that, that was part of the reason why I could no longer be in, in the relationship anymore.

• 38:38Alex Cooper?

  How would you handle, cuz I would get like messages, this is like therapeutic for me, sorry. I'm like, so how would you deal with this? Cuz there's women that would message and it's like, sometimes it's not true.

• 38:49Speaker 02

  Right.

• 38:50Alex Cooper?

  And sometimes it's true.

• 38:51Speaker 02

  Right.

• 38:51Alex Cooper?

  And like, if you would have women reach out, like, how did you handle that?

• 38:56Speaker 02

  I think that, yes, sometimes it's not true, sometimes it's true. But there's always something inside us that knows, like, I would see stuff and be like, he's not an angel, but no way. But then there would be things that you're just like, a little too much information or a little something that you're just like, I don't know. Like, you kinda feel it. And maybe I wasn't always right, but you just kinda can know, yeah, your gut. And you gotta, gotta follow that.

• 39:24Alex Cooper?

  Yeah, I think a lot of times, my advice to anyone when you get those messages, cuz social media just, I guess I was gonna say fucks all of us. I guess it helps us.

• 39:31Speaker 02

  Right, well, it's, it's both. It's both.

• 39:34Alex Cooper?

  Let's not publicly let my life be over, but like, slide in the DMs and let me know. Like, obviously, there's been situations where people don't need to take it public, but I do appreciate the message. Like, I'm never gonna be mad at a woman.

• 39:45Speaker 02

  But everyone doesn't, though. Some people, like, what do they say? Um, ignorance is bliss. Like, some people, like, I'm happy how I am. Like, as long as it's not directly affecting me or I don't feel directly disrespected, then I'm cool. I don't judge anybody. Everybody has their way. But some people don't like, if you're having the most incredible day and your relationship feels great, like, who wants to go on their DM and just see people that are miserable? And wanna see these relationships fail, be like, oh, you know, I saw your guy the other night doing whatever. Like, some people don't, don't wanna, wanna deal with that. And I think we're getting to the point now where it's too much access. Like, everyone has something to say about everything. Everyone feels like they can be anywhere.

• 40:24Speaker 02

  They can see anything. Like, I don't need to know everything. That's my point. Like, I don't need to know everything. I'm not dumb, I'm not naive, but I don't need to know everything. Like, what I'm supposed to know, I'll find out. But I'm just gonna keep living my days, enjoying my life, not like, okay, so on edge or what today? I don't like feeling on edge. Like, I don't like the feeling of like, oh my god, okay, who's type, what are they saying? I, I can't, I can't deal with that. That shit will, I'll be a nervous wreck. Like, I don't wanna live like that.

• 40:50Alex Cooper?

  Do you feel now that you're kind of out of it? And again, like, every relationship has such goods and such bads. But even us joking in the beginning of like, the sleep I lost.

• 41:00Speaker 02

  Right, right.

• 41:01Alex Cooper?

  I do think there's something, and I had an insight of like, wow, like, I didn't need to, I don't need to feel that way. I don't need to constantly like, be calculating, like, this day they're going here, this day they're going. Like, you almost aren't able to completely live your life.

• 41:15Speaker 02

  Right.

• 41:15Alex Cooper?

  If you're constantly trying to track them down. And imagine how little they think of you doing it. They're not stressed. They're, they're, they are sleeping really well. They don't even need melatonin. They're like, good night, I'm in Miami. Like, so I think there's something of like, if you have that feeling ever, it shouldn't be ignored. I know it's hard, but it's just people listening. Like, I think sometimes when you have that like shitty feeling in your stomach, and it's constant, um, it's something I look back and I'm like, I guess I knew.

• 41:44Speaker 02

  Yeah, you, you know, and then like, there is a piece in like, listen, it's pros and cons, everything. Being single, single now, yes, do I sleep better at night? I don't have to worry about somebody cheating on me, do whatever. But then, I'm lonely sometimes. Like, I wanna be laid up with somebody or I wanna worry about if somebody's cheating on me or not. I wanna have somebody to be like, so it's like, it's, it's pros and cons. Like, when you're in a relationship, you're like, oh, if I was single, it would be so. It's, it's pros and cons to both. My mom always says, and I'm sure she's heard it from a lot of people, but like, single people wanna be married and married people wanna be single. Like, you're never fully happy in anything that you're doing. So, you just gotta figure out your happiness, whether you're in a relationship or out, and realize that the happiness shouldn't revolve only around the relationship.

• 42:27Speaker 02

  Because if you're like constantly looking for happiness because of your relationship or because of another person, I feel like that's when you'll always be disappointed.

• 42:51Alex Cooper?

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• 43:33Alex Cooper?

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• 44:16Alex Cooper?

  from marriage and family therapists to social workers and counselors. So Daddy Gang, if you're thinking of starting therapy, give BetterHelp a try. Sign up and get 10% off at betterhelp.com/daddy. That's betterh-e-l-p.com/daddy. In what ways were you intentional about creating and maintaining your own identity separate from him?

• 44:43Speaker 02

  Always, always. I was always like that. I mean, I had a career before I met him. I was on MTV when I met him. So always, I always wanted to have my own career or something. Like even if, for people listening, even if it's not a career, a hobby, something you're passionate about, charity, whatever it is, just something that kind of gives you your purpose, even just whether it's being a parent, whatever it is, that you're like, this is what I'm gonna give my all to, and this is what I'm gonna do. Just because it's always good to have, you know, your own thing kind of going on. I think it empowers you in a way.

• 45:15Alex Cooper?

  I also was just thinking back to something you said about like, not stressing about what, like, you couldn't worry because like you're worried about your relationship. And like, I think something we should all take, I like personally have realized this is like, I talk into a microphone every week. And there's some shit that I've said in my past that I'm like, fuck, like, I wish I didn't say that about that person. Because I feel like recently, it's really come to be obvious that like, people's relationships fail, succeed, and then we watch this influx of people on the internet making these videos of like, this is my opinion on it. And what I think we all know, if you look inside of your relationships, no one fucking knows what's inside and going on.

• 45:58Speaker 02

  And everyone will tell you, excuse me, everyone will say what they'll do until they're in the situation. That's why it's all bullshit. When you're not in a situation, you can hyperanalyze, you can this, you can that. Oh, if I was her, I would do this. Until you're there, then it's a whole different ballgame. So I don't feed into any of that. And I don't ever want to be that person for someone else's relationship. I always say, whatever you decide, I will support you. This is my advice and opinion on it as someone who's been there. But whatever you want to do, I support you. And I just leave it at that.

• 46:27Alex Cooper?

  Someone needs to come to a conclusion on their own. And if anything, they're gonna resent you as a friend if you told them to leave. They're gonna resent anyone but themselves. And it's like, let them do their thing. Because timing for people is so different. And so, I don't know, I just think everyone listening, like, I told myself accountable of like, saying dumb shit about like celebrities in the past. Of like, as if I knew? Like, just shut the fuck up. And because if someone did that about my relationship, I'd be like, you guys have no idea. So I think it's just a good wake-up call. We have too much access to give our opinion on stuff. Write it in your group chat.

• 47:00Speaker 02

  Exactly.

• 47:00Alex Cooper?

  Write it in the goddamn group chat.

• 47:02Speaker 02

  And a lot of times, people give an opinion because it makes them feel better about their situation.

• 47:05Alex Cooper?

  Absolutely.

• 47:06Speaker 02

  Like, oh, they're just like me, or she's not all that, or whatever it is. Like, they get like happiness out of seeing someone else being miserable. And that's just, that's definitely not the kind of person I am.

• 47:16Alex Cooper?

  I would love to hear just your opinion on how you know when you're ready to end something. Because I think ending a relationship is so fucking hard. You ended your marriage. Like, how did you know it was time?

• 47:31Speaker 02

  Time? Same thing kind of what I said about the friendship. When I was no longer feeling great about it, sad every day, crying, like, just feeling somewhat lost, not feeling loved the right way. I'm like, this, I don't want this to be for the rest of my life. And I don't want my son, I have to be an example to my son seeing me, you know, sad or whatever, like, I didn't want that. And I was like, this is just not feeling good anymore. And there was a lot of things that had been done. And I was just like, I gotta move on from this.

• 48:02Alex Cooper?

  Do you think that if you weren't in the public eye, would you have handled the situation at all differently?

• 48:11Speaker 02

  Um, I would have still made the same decision, but it would have been less, maybe pressure or less eyes on me, like, what's she gonna do? People are saying this, and is this true? Or whatever it is. I think it would have been less pressure maybe, but I do think I still would have came to the same conclusion because some boundaries were crossed that I just couldn't.

• 48:31Alex Cooper?

  What's something that you've learned about yourself since the divorce?

• 48:35Speaker 02

  I learned how strong I am. Like you said, when you hear friends going through stuff, it's like, I'm never gonna make it through, I'm never gonna survive. And then all of a sudden, you wake up and you're like, wait, I'm actually surviving. Like, and I'm not saying it's not hard. Like, I say it all the time, there's still very difficult moments. It's not one of those things where it's just ever just like, super easy. Because again, there's a child involved, you know, my son. So, but you just find yourself getting stronger and stronger. And it's like, what do they say? Like, you don't know how strong you are until being strong is your only option? Like, what do they do, die? Like, I had to keep pushing on. And then every day, like, a little bit stronger, a little bit stronger, a little bit stronger, until you're finally like, wow, I can do this.

• 49:14Alex Cooper?

  Well, I really respect that too. Because I think, listen, when you're betrayed or burned, like, it's so fucking hard not to be petty. And it is like, oh, motherfucker, you don't even know who you're messing with. And I think that, I'm sure, like, I really respect that you have that outlook of like, I have a son.

• 49:32Speaker 02

  Right.

• 49:32Alex Cooper?

  And it's like, that holds you almost probably accountable to be like...

• 49:36Speaker 02

  Yeah, and then I don't want to do something and look back, like you said, and be like, why did I do that? Or it wasn't even worth it, it made me feel good in that moment. Like, the people who need to know know. And that's it, that's it for me. Like, I don't have to like, put people on blast or like, make people feel like shit. Like, obviously, what happened was bad enough. I don't need to add anything else.

• 49:58Alex Cooper?

  Has your view of love changed?

• 50:00Speaker 02

  Yes, it has. And I hate to say that, I hate that that's what happened. But it has. And I'll have my friends like, you can't say that. Like, I don't, I'm just like, love, like, I just don't know if it's in the cards for me. And they're like, why would you say that? You can't, I've said it before, like, you can't say that. But it's like, I don't know, that's how you feel. You just feel like, I don't even want to do this shit again. Or like, let's just be friends forever. Like, once you start going to a different place, it gets so complicated. But I do think there's power in words. And you have to manifest what you want. So me being negative about it is not good. So I'm working on saying like, you know, what's meant for me will be. And someone's gonna find me one day and love me the right way.

• 50:43Alex Cooper?

  Can we agree that I actually fucking hate when I go through a breakup and my friends are like, you're now gonna get to find the love of your life?

• 50:50Speaker 02

  Oh, yeah, no, no, I don't like that.

• 50:52Alex Cooper?

  No, no, no, I'm depressed, I'm sad, I'm mourning.

• 50:55Speaker 02

  And you should be, and you should be okay with that. Like, I'm like that too. Because I have friends like, and I was like, that's just not what I want to hear right now. Maybe eventually, but right now, I just want you to be like, fuck everybody, I hate everyone. Like, just be in this moment right now. Tomorrow, we can talk about something different. But right now, let's just have this moment together.

• 51:16Alex Cooper?

  I don't need to hype up, like, put on the sad music, let's sob. I wanted to be depressed. I want to have a pity party for like a month.

• 51:22Speaker 02

  I think everyone should have like, a day or two of that. Like, you deserve that. But then it's like, all right, snap out of it now.

• 51:28Alex Cooper?

  But I do think there's a good thing of like, It would be unrealistic for you to immediately be like, ah.

• 51:34Speaker 02

  I'm great.

• 51:34Alex Cooper?

  I am.

• 51:35Speaker 02

  Because that means you're really, don't really feel that.

• 51:38Alex Cooper?

  Exactly. So it's helpful, I think, to keep it realistic. Like you said, you are honest with your friends. Maybe you're being a little too honest with yourself. You're like, love doesn't exist. Everybody, fuck love. We're all alone in this world. Even if you think they love you, they don't.

• 51:55Speaker 02

  But then I'm like, but I'm so happy for you. You found the one.

• 51:59Alex Cooper?

  But I, I do appreciate, I appreciate your realness with it. Cause it's like, I hate when it's just the upside and the positive.

• 52:05Speaker 02

  But you know what it is? I realize everyone's take on that is gonna be based on experience. So if you had a great experience and you're in a relationship. When I'm in a relationship, you can't tell me anything. I'm like, what? What do you mean? Relationships are the best. Like, what are you talking about? And then when it's done, like, fuck everybody. So it's like, it just depends on where that person you're talking to is at in their life now or not. And I respect everyone in different phases of, of their life. I have friends that are happily married. You know, whether it's Sierra, Kelly, like very happily married. And I look at that and I'm like, wow, I, I, I want that. I would love to have that. Then I have friends that are single like myself and, and live in life, or friends that just got out of relationships. Like everybody's at different phases.

• 52:49Alex Cooper?

  I'm gonna have you on in like two years and you're gonna be like, I've literally never been more in love. Like, life is so good. And you're gonna be like, hearts in the eyes. I'm like, relationships are for everyone. And you guys can definitely find them. It's like, you're right, it changes.

• 53:04Speaker 02

  It changes.

• 53:04Alex Cooper?

  Right now, we're like.

• 53:05Speaker 02

  Right now, I'm just.

• 53:06Alex Cooper?

  No, fuck that. Are you dating?

• 53:10Speaker 02

  Not really, to be honest. Like, people think like, I'm just like, out here, like, I know you can have anyone you want and you're doing this and that. Like, not really, because the guys that are trying to talk to me are 21 and 22 years old.

• 53:20Alex Cooper?

  Let's talk about that, because shout out to my spray tan woman. You're the most amazing woman, Brittany. God bless you. And she was telling me how everyone younger is coming after her. She's like, do I have a sign on my head? Like, but what she thought was interesting, was she was like, I have these guys that are my age that like, aren't really fucking doing it for me and putting in the work. And this 22-year-old is like, let me fly you out, let me buy you dinner. She's like, can you afford to fly me out? Like, what the fuck is going on? But she was like, it's crazy. They're just coming after me. But maybe it's a good feeling for a second.

• 53:56Speaker 02

  No, it's a good feeling. I mean, look, I, it's, I, I honestly, I don't know. I'm gonna be, I'm telling you, I don't know anything about relationships anymore. I am done giving relationship advice, even to myself. I don't know. What I do know is I'm going with the flow. Like, I'm not dating anyone currently. I'm not anything serious currently. But if someone wants to take me out and I'm like, alright, cool. I'm not just gonna say, before I would be like, no, like, what's the angle? What's this? I'm trying to be like, more open about it. And whatever happens, happens.

• 54:25Alex Cooper?

  How do you deal with like a date? Like, would you go to a pub? Like, you can't go to a public joint?

• 54:29Speaker 02

  Well, it depends, like.

• 54:31Alex Cooper?

  If you wanna be seen with them.

• 54:33Speaker 02

  I mean, it, it, yeah, that, that, it just kinda depends, like, I don't know. At first, I wouldn't wanna be like, out too public. Cause you wanna feel it out first and make sure, but friendships are friendships. Like, I'm allowed to be friends with people, like, and girls and guys can go out. And it could be platonic, or you could just begin to know somebody. Like, everything is not so heavy. And like, if you don't go to a public place, then where do you go? Come to my house? Come to the hotel room? That, to me, that's even more heavy, like.

• 54:59Alex Cooper?

  No, no, no, no. That's, that, that is a.

• 55:01Speaker 02

  Right. So it's like, for the first date, like, meet me at the hotel room so no one sees us. It's kinda like.

• 55:07Alex Cooper?

  This is sketch.

• 55:08Speaker 02

  Yeah, like, what tone are you setting? I don't know. I don't know.

• 55:11Alex Cooper?

  I told you, I don't know.

• 55:12Speaker 02

  I'm just going.

• 55:13Alex Cooper?

  But I appreciate it.

• 55:14Speaker 02

  And everybody's different. Like, you could meet somebody and, and be like, alright, I'm cool going out to whatever restaurant with this person. And you might not even know why. It's just a feeling you have. Then you can meet somebody else and be like, oh, no, I don't want nobody to see us out. Like, I don't know. It's just a feeling. It's not like a, what I'm saying is not a one size fits all.

• 55:32Alex Cooper?

  Would you ever date an athlete again?

• 55:37Speaker 02

  Would I date an athlete again? I don't know. Um, I don't, probably not a basketball player. Probably not a basketball player.

• 55:49Alex Cooper?

  Okay, football. Let's go. Here we go. That, that is fun.

• 55:55Speaker 02

  Not basketball. Probably not. I mean, I don't know, but probably not basketball.

• 55:59Alex Cooper?

  And football is, I look at me like, already.

• 56:01Speaker 02

  Wait, I'm like, do you have somebody? Cause you're so, you got so excited. I'm like, what's going on?

• 56:06Alex Cooper?

  The schedule's better, less, less sleepless night.

• 56:09Speaker 02

  Is that a world that you're?

• 56:11Alex Cooper?

  No, no, but I, I, I'm just thinking for you. Like, I want you to find love. I don't have anyone for you. But if I do, I'll fucking text you and be like, I got this, I got this. But I do think there's something about, um, yeah, we're done with the NBA. But you know, other sports could, we could entertain.

• 56:25Speaker 02

  Exactly.

• 56:26Alex Cooper?

  Are you on dating apps?

• 56:27Speaker 02

  No, I'm not on dating apps, although I have a lot of friends on Raya and this and that. And they love it and they're dating. I don't, I haven't got there yet. Again, no judgment. It's working for a lot of people I know. As a matter of fact, my dad married the woman he met on a dating app. So I've seen where it can work. Like, my dad married her from plentyoffish.com, which I was told was an app specifically for something else. Think sex? But they hit it off and they got married. So I know it can work. I just haven't ventured there yet.

• 56:57Alex Cooper?

  Okay, that's fair. Would you let your friend set you up with someone?

• 57:00Speaker 02

  A hundred percent.

• 57:01Alex Cooper?

  Do you trust them?

• 57:02Speaker 02

  Yes, that's the best way. Cause I feel like my friend knows me, knows what I like. That's the best way. I think getting hooked up with somebody like that is the best way. Like, friends being like, hey, I'm bringing someone so, or you gotta meet La, like, you would love her, or whatever. Like, that's the best way.

• 57:14Alex Cooper?

  What friend do you think would know your type the most? And like, you're like, okay, I trust you.

• 57:20Speaker 02

  All of them, but I think, all of them, but Kim would be really good at that. All of them, but she would be good at that. Also, cause she's single now too. So it's like, it's different. Like, you know, we can talk a little bit more about like, what do we like? What do we not like? Like, what are we looking for? What are we not looking for? Like, it's, it's different.

• 57:39Alex Cooper?

  I think it's good to have a friend like, that so knows you, because I also feel like Kim's the type of person that like, she's like, let me do the work for you, then you just show up. But the date, I'm gonna do a whole background check. Just sit down, sweetie, and you can count on me that they will be the right person for you. You're like, thanks, Kim.

• 57:54Alex Cooper?

  What is something after, like, everything you've been through, what is like a non-negotiable that you've learned about yourself? That you're like, I have to have this in a relationship and like, I can't also deal with that in a relationship for your next one?

• 58:07Speaker 02

  I think I definitely have to have like, a family element, meaning someone that's into family, loves like, hanging out with fam. That's like, important to me. Someone that laughs, like, I wanna have fun. I wanna like, laugh. Like, the world is so serious. Like, I just wanna laugh and have a good time. That's important to me. And then, like, something I won't tolerate, um, I won't tolerate lying. Like, liars, I'm just like, no matter what it is, I respect you more if you're just honest and tell me. I could deal with that. But the lying shit, like, I, I can't, I just can't take it.

• 58:38Alex Cooper?

  As we wrap up, I think that like, you've been through so much, relationships, career, your life. What is something that you, like, wish you could tell your younger self? Like, if you had a second to be like, oh my God, wait, I've gone through all these experiences. If I lived life, what would you tell your younger self?

• 58:56Speaker 02

  That no matter what you do, everyone's not gonna like you. Like, I'm such a people pleaser. I'm a cancer. I keep saying that. So like, we love people. We wanna be loved by everybody. And it's like, why don't you not like me? You don't even know me. Like, I stopped, I, I stopped caring about that. Like, no matter what I do, people are gonna have something to say about it. All the good I do, something's gonna be said. Whatever I wear, something's gonna be said. It doesn't matter. It's just like what it is. And you have to realize that no matter what you do, you can't please everybody. And you have to like, find your own happiness and please yourself. And it sounds like so cheesy, but it's just so true. Cause like, especially with Instagram and all the social media, it's like, you look at what people are saying. And you're like, well, why are they saying that? They don't even know me. Or why don't they just ask me instead of just trying to put some shit on blast on the internet?

• 59:39Speaker 02

  But you just realize that it doesn't matter. It's always gonna happen. So you have to find your own happiness.

• 59:46Alex Cooper?

  Amen.

• 59:46Speaker 02

  And scene.

• 59:47Alex Cooper?

  You're amazing. And it was really cool to like, get to feel your personality. So good. So the daddy gang is gonna love you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I can't wait to watch you. Yeah. And find me a man. Goodbye. So the NFL player I was talking about.

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