Joy 101: Jodie Turner-Smith

"I know so many very successful people and I've got to say joy is not in abundance among them…I find that the most joyful people are the ones who are surrounded by the ones that they love." -Jodie Turner-Smith Joy 101 with Hoda Kotb is Presented by CVSShop your local CVS, right around the corner. Experience the full conversation on the "Joy 101 podcast with Hoda Kotb" wherever you listen to podcasts. For more information please visit us at www.joy101.com/podcast https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.joy101.com%2Fpodcast&data=05%7C02%7CBrianBurton%40iheartmedia.com%7Cc255507546c34be642f408ded3c8face%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C639181057302792647%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=HFQ48Yw5QZDx7beCr1FDEKXDZ20DQDH8zGDHmZvQQPU%3D&reserved=0 See omnystudio.com/listener https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

• 0:10Hoda Kotb?

  Hey guys, well, summer is here. And you know what I try to do every summer? Because I feel like during the regular year, we're sprinting. I'm missing things. We're racing through things. We're getting to the next thing. I mean, I even think about it when I'm getting my kids ready for school. It's like, get your shoes, get your shoes, let's go, let's go. I feel like we're always in motion and in fast, crazy fast pace. So, let's talk about what happens when we slow it down. Doesn't have to be summertime to slow down, but just to slow it down. Because what's weird is, I think when we slow our days down,

• 0:51Hoda Kotb?

  and we can do it intentionally, like, it feels like there's more time in the day. It feels like there's more room to flush it out. It feels like everything slows down. And so when summer comes, since we don't have all the deadlines, it's the idea of taking it slow. Like, what I like to do on a summer day is have one mini-plan during the day, whether it's go to the pool, or do something. The rest of the day, I feel like it should breathe. And I've noticed something about myself, and I don't know if you guys have this. When I'm rushing, my kids hardly say anything. Because they're always being rushed. They don't, we don't have any kind of conversations that are any good.

• 1:34Hoda Kotb?

  The best convos I find come either late at night, when you're putting your child down, or at night when you're putting your child down and there's nowhere to go except for to sleep. When I'm driving, because they're not staring at me, and they, for some reason, they just start talking it all out. And when I'm in slow motion, so here's an example of my, one of my daughters. So we were in the bathroom and she was using the bathroom, we were writing a book together. She's seven. And so she, so I was sitting there and I thought, let me just ask her this question. And I said, so honey, my daughter has type one diabetes. She was diagnosed when she was almost five.

• 2:20Hoda Kotb?

  And so I said, can I ask you a question? I said, what's it like to have diabetes? Cause I never really asked her that, you know? And anyone who's got a child or knows someone with diabetes knows there's a lot of insulin and shots and monitoring and, you know, all that stuff. And she said, well, sometimes it feels kind of unfair because all the other kids get cupcakes and I don't sometimes. And kids are always asking me, like, what is that thing on your arm? And sometimes my legs feel wobbly. And she was just going through all the things that come with being a little kid with diabetes. And I was listening and so, and she said, so, but I guess that's life, right, mom?

• 3:05Hoda Kotb?

  Something like that. And I said, yeah, honey. And she said, well, what's it like for you to have me? I said, oh, my God. Like, it's one of the greatest blessings of my life to have you. I said, I'm learning so much from you and I'm watching your resilience and, you know, and I'm talking on and on. And she blurts out in the middle of it like, wipe me, mom, or something like that. But the point is, is like, that conversation would not have come had I not slowed down. If I'd been racing, like I do, to hurry up and brush your teeth and wipe yourself and move on and let's go and in the car, put on your seatbelt, you know, all the things. I would have missed it.

• 3:50Hoda Kotb?

  And so my summer intention is to slow down, is to have real conversations that are rich and full and beautiful. And they're all around us. And I think sometimes we miss them because we're too busy getting to the next thing. I remember Maria Shriver told me this story once that she had a million things to do. And she was talking to her friend on the phone. She was in the car, friend was on speaker. And she's like, I'm late, I have to go here and I have to go there. And she said, Maria, where are you going? Maria goes, I'm going to this place and I'm going to that place and I'm going to this place. And she said, Maria, where are you going? And she realized she didn't know where she was going.

• 4:32Hoda Kotb?

  She was, you know, just going fast to nowhere. So, anyway, this is a long way of saying, slow down summer and let's slow it all down. Which brings me to my next guest. Okay, she's got a three-namer, Jodi Turner Smith. So Jodi is such a fascinating person, okay? She is from Jamaica originally. Her mom's from Jamaica. She was born in England and she lived there for 10 years, then she moved to the States. This is a person who has such crazy tenacity, is such a student and became an actress.

• 5:17Hoda Kotb?

  I mean, you probably know her from The Agency, which is an incredible series, where she is like fantastic in this series. You might know her from some of her earlier work, which is Queen and Slim. She's played Anne Boleyn. And for those of you who are Swifties, she happens to have been in a Taylor Swift video. What's fascinating about her is What, how she defines joy and how she defines success. Everyone's kind of got their own trip when it comes to those kinds of things. Sometimes you need more, more, more, more. And maybe you're still not joyful. Well, I think Jody has sort of cracked that nut. She understands where her sweet spot is.

• 6:01Hoda Kotb?

  She's got a six-year-old daughter. She's acting and she's living this very joyful and wonderful life. And she sprinkles her interview with beautiful life lessons. So I hope you enjoy my conversation with actress Jody Turner Smith.

• 6:18Speaker 01

  This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed Human.

• 6:22Hoda Kotb?

  Joy 101 with Hoda Kotb is presented by CVS. I've realized that joy doesn't always come from those big moments. Sometimes you find it on the most ordinary day. I'll pop into a CVS for toothpaste or paper towels and it never seems to be just a quick errant. Maybe I'll grab a delicious Well Market Trail Mix or wander over to the Joy Word Collection. That's part of the fun. So the next time you're checking something off your to-do list, stop by your local CVS pharmacy. You might go in for one thing and leave with a little more joy. Visit your local CVS pharmacy, sponsored by CVS. Every purchase is a financial decision. So it's worth asking, what am I getting out of this?

• 7:03Hoda Kotb?

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• 7:28Speaker 02

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• 7:58Speaker 03

  Chat GPT for teens is designed to help teens learn, think critically, and grow their skills. Chat GPT for teens supports active learning by breaking concepts down rather than giving teens the answer. Study mode helps teens work through problems and interactive quizzes test their knowledge and provide immediate feedback. Safety protections are on by default, and parental controls offer families additional options like setting study hours and quiet hours. Visit chatgpt.com PARENTS to learn more.

• 8:27Hoda Kotb?

  Oh, wait a minute.

• 8:33Hoda Kotb?

  Glam has hit Zoom.

• 8:37Speaker 04

  Listen, and I did my own glam today.

• 8:39Hoda Kotb?

  No, you did not. That's impossible.

• 8:42Speaker 04

  I did.

• 8:43Hoda Kotb?

  What's the wand? I want to know what wand was used for that, that hair, because that took work.

• 8:50Speaker 04

  Listen, listen, you know what I've been so getting into is doing those little soft rollers at night.

• 8:58Hoda Kotb?

  Come on.

• 9:00Speaker 04

  You know, the ones that like.

• 9:01Hoda Kotb?

  Of course, it's like old school.

• 9:04Speaker 04

  It's everything. It's everything. And last night too, because my hair was like this big.

• 9:08Hoda Kotb?

  Oh, please.

• 9:09Speaker 04

  It, you know, it reverts when with any kind of moisture outside. And it was like so big. And I was like, I remember it was like, it was like 11 o'clock last night and I was outside and I was like, why didn't I put on like a bonnet or something? My hair is going to be so messed up. I have to do it myself tomorrow. And then before I went to bed, I was like, you know what? I was eyeing those rollers and I was like, let me just.

• 9:32Hoda Kotb?

  Okay. Well, this is, I think you need to do something on that because if this is the result of that, man. By the way, I always say like, I have weather sensitive hair. Every time I step out in the rain, it's like, I feel like there's incoming fire. I'm like, my kids know, I have a, I have a seven year old and a nine year old. When it starts raining, they're like, let's go. They understand that we got trouble when it's raining. Okay?

• 9:55Speaker 04

  I know. You know what? I was, I've always been like such a short hair girly. And so it's like, for me, I'm like, oh gosh, you know, this, just having to be cognizant of and sensitive to the weather is like a new thing.

• 10:11Hoda Kotb?

  Yes, but.

• 10:13Speaker 04

  I'm adapting.

• 10:15Hoda Kotb?

  Well, okay, it's all making sense now. In high school, you were most likely to succeed. I understand from this brief interaction that of course, that's what they voted because of course, that's what you were. What were you like in high school, by the way?

• 10:30Speaker 04

  You know, I was your classic overachiever. You know, I have an A-type personality. So, you know, I'm that one who's like, and I'm a Virgo too. And you know, I always see these memes like Virgo is like, if you have Virgo in the group project, Virgo may just be like, you know what, you guys, you leave it, I'm just gonna do this because if you want something done, you gotta do it yourself.

• 10:54Hoda Kotb?

  Okay.

• 10:55Speaker 04

  Definitely wanting to be in control of results. So I'm very much like, I was always the person who was just like, I gotta do it all, I gotta... But then, you know what, I was also a very big procrastinator, even in, even in high school, I was a procrastinator, yeah.

• 11:13Hoda Kotb?

  Okay, just before I got on here, since you said Virgo, I just have to stop you for a second because I decided that I was gonna put your birthday into the, the big Virgo situation. And this is gonna describe you and tell me if I'm right. This is your birthday, your date and your year. Okay. Positive traits. Thoughtful and observant. They always notice details that others miss. They tend to be perceptive and good listeners. Dependable. People born on this day often take commitment seriously. If they say no to something, they usually don't do it. If they say yes, they'll do it. Intelligent and curious, ruled by mercury. They enjoy learning, asking questions and improving themselves. Caring through actions.

• 11:56Hoda Kotb?

  They may not always be gushy, but they show love by helping, fixing, organizing and remembering things. High standards. This is so you. Wait, they strive for excellence, often inspire others to do better, not because they're flashy, but because they are quietly disciplined. Strong intuition. Virgos are known for their logic, but September 7th birthdays often have an emotional intelligence and intuition that helps them read people and they are loyal beyond belief. Am I hitting you right?

• 12:27Speaker 04

  You know what, it's so crazy because it's like, as much as people wanna say like, oh, you know, astrology, I don't believe in that, but I don't know if it's like, the older that I get, the more that I'm just like, yeah, this is spot on, but... Everything that you just said.

• 12:44Hoda Kotb?

  Okay, let's wait. Okay, hold on. Challenges, girl. Sorry, there's this side of the coin. Are we ready?

• 12:50Speaker 04

  Ready.

• 12:51Hoda Kotb?

  Perfectionism. Their gift for noticing details can become a burden sometimes. They may set impossibly high standards for themselves and others. Overthinking. September 7th, Fergus can replay conversations, analyze situations endlessly, and have difficulty turning off their minds. All right, self criticism. I hope this isn't right. They often extend grace to others, but can be remarkably hard on themselves. Difficulty receiving help. They like being capable, the capable one, and they struggle to be vulnerable, and they worry. They anticipate problems so well, they can spend too much time preparing for things that sometimes never happen.

• 13:31Speaker 04

  It's true.

• 13:32Hoda Kotb?

  It's all your things. So, is this you? Okay, so this girl who we just described was voted most likely to succeed, is now this successful actress, has had this incredible life in between. What is the secret? Because I, my parents are from Egypt. So often when I was in a classroom in Morgantown, West Virginia, I was the one with the funny name. I was the one with the crazy hair. I was the one. And so I was constantly trying to fit in everywhere in all these spaces. Were you one who tried to fit in, or were you somebody who kind of wanted to stand out?

• 14:12Speaker 04

  As a kid, it's so, like, all you want to do is fit in. Do you know what I mean? You don't want to be the person who's on the outside. You know, you crave belonging. And as humans, we crave that. It never goes away. So, I mean, I definitely think that I did try to fit in in so many ways. But I also, what I did was I relied on my intelligence to sort of fill in the gaps for the places that I didn't fit in. So it's like... I made myself unquestionable by being the smartest, by being the most on top of it, by being the the best, by being the, you know, like, that way, it's like, if there were bits that people wanted to criticize, they couldn't. I'm like, I was like trying to close all the

• 14:54Speaker 04

  gaps of anybody trying to criticize me by just like, being the best, being the smartest, being in charge. Do you know what I mean? That's why I was always wanting to be like, the captain, the leader, the president, uh, you know what I mean? In some way, in a position of authority.

• 15:09Hoda Kotb?

  Oh, well, okay. God, I'm learning. You're you're so fun to get to know. I like all of this. Okay, so you're born in the UK. Um, what was that ten years? What were those ten years, if you were to nutshell them in a couple of lines? What was that like?

• 15:25Speaker 04

  I mean, you know, I I feel like I definitely, very naive, for sure.

• 15:30Hoda Kotb?

  Mm hmm.

• 15:30Speaker 04

  Um, I don't think I really had an awareness of some of the different and varied experiences of the world, because also, I was from a small town, you know, a little village outside of Peterborough called Coates. Um, I remember always, you know, it was a very simple life. I lived right around the corner from um, my primary school.

• 15:57Hoda Kotb?

  Mm hmm.

• 15:58Speaker 04

  You know, like, I could just walk there in in two minutes. And then, like, you know, I've, you've heard me say before, like, you know, we were the only black family in our village and the only uh, black children at our school. So, you know, for me, there was always like, a longing for black community.

• 16:18Hoda Kotb?

  Mm hmm.

• 16:19Speaker 04

  That was like outside of just like my family, you know?

• 16:22Hoda Kotb?

  How's your little girl, by the way?

• 16:24Speaker 04

  She's so good.

• 16:25Hoda Kotb?

  Oh, she's, what is she, six?

• 16:28Speaker 04

  She's six now.

• 16:29Hoda Kotb?

  Is she bossy?

• 16:32Speaker 04

  Is she bossy? Is water wet? And she says, I'm bossy. Do you know what? It's like, here's the thing. Okay, so because I guess I am bossy. And so is my mother, who was living with us and helping me raise my daughter. So she's got these two bossy fiery women who are looking after her. And she is just like the amalgamation of those energies.

• 16:57Hoda Kotb?

  Wow.

• 16:58Speaker 04

  You know, it's funny, again, I'm always referring to a meme again, but I remember one time seeing this meme and it was like me, me uh trying to cuss my daughter out for having the same attitude that I have.

• 17:11Hoda Kotb?

  That's hilarious.

• 17:13Speaker 04

  Kids are so funny.

• 17:14Hoda Kotb?

  I know.

• 17:15Speaker 04

  You wanna get mad at them, but it's like, she's literally just has my same attitude. It's like.

• 17:21Hoda Kotb?

  I love it. I love it.

• 17:23Speaker 04

  You know, and it's like, but you know, I don't, I really don't get mad at it. Cause I'm just like, I, you know, it's my job to, you know, to nurture and guide that energy, but I, I also, I want to flourish. You know what I mean?

• 17:35Hoda Kotb?

  You know what? You're so right. What's harder? Being an actor and doing all the things that acting uh has you do or being a mom?

• 17:43Speaker 04

  Being a mom.

• 17:44Hoda Kotb?

  Of course.

• 17:46Speaker 04

  Thousand percent. First of all, just even the entrance

• 17:51Speaker 04

  into motherhood is like not for the faint of heart. Do you know what I mean? It's like, you literally become a whole new person.

• 17:59Hoda Kotb?

  Yeah.

• 17:59Speaker 04

  You know what I mean? I, I, I lean on what I've learned in motherhood for my work. And it's made me stronger. It makes me stronger as even being and it makes me stronger as an artist. Do you know what I mean? Like the motherhood informs it all. And then also it's like, you know, there's just no heartache and disappointment like the ones that you experience in motherhood. Like it is so hard to be split between what you wanna do for and with your children. And having to go like, you know what I mean? It's like, how do I even leave the house sometimes? I don't know. It takes such strength. Do you know what I mean? But it's also just like beyond that as a physical process, it's emotional process,

• 18:41Speaker 04

  the spiritual process, it's like there's nothing like it.

• 18:45Hoda Kotb?

  I think we spend so much of our lives waiting for the big moments, the birthdays, the vacations, the milestones, but the truth is some of the happiest moments show up on the most ordinary days. So like this, I'll stop into a CVS because I need one thing. Somehow, the best part of the trip is never the thing I came for. So maybe I'll grab a delicious well-marketed snack, or maybe I'll wander over to the Joyward Collection. It's really full of fun, cool, seasonal decor, thoughtful little gifts, and those little discoveries that make you so glad you stopped in. I have to tell you, if you're an Extra Care member, you're going to save on things you're already buying, and those extra bucks

• 19:27Hoda Kotb?

  really do add up. Just watching that total go down at the checkout never, ever gets old. I know, life's busy. We're all juggling a lot, and that's why I think those little unexpected moments of joy matter so much. So, the next time you're running errands, stop by your local CVS pharmacy. You may go in for something you need, but don't be surprised if you leave with something that simply makes your day a little brighter. Visit your local CVS pharmacy, sponsored by CVS. Halloween has a funny way of making you buy things you'd never normally buy. A 10-foot skeleton? Sure. A full-size fog machine? Why not. Three bags of candy that somehow

• 20:08Hoda Kotb?

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• 20:53Hoda Kotb?

  Cards issued by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N A. Member, FDIC. Subject to credit approval. Offer subject to change. Terms apply.

• 21:01Speaker 03

  ChatGPT for Teens is designed to help teens learn, think critically, and grow their skills. ChatGPT for Teens supports active learning by breaking concepts down. Rather than giving teens the answer, study mode helps teens work through problems, and interactive quizzes test their knowledge and provide immediate feedback. Safety protections are on by default, and parental controls offer families additional options, like setting study hours and quiet hours. Visit chatgpt.com/parents to learn more.

• 21:29Speaker 05

  Hi, I'm Jenna Oshkowitz. You might know me from Glee. This is At the Table, the food allergy podcast, a show about food, connection, and what it really looks like to live with food allergies. Each episode, we hear stories from real people like Daniel.

• 21:44Speaker 06

  People would always think I was lactose intolerant, so I just kind of shortened my explanation to I'm deathly allergic in a big way that defined a lot of my childhood.

• 21:55Speaker 05

  And while there are challenges, there are moments that remind you you're not alone.

• 22:00Speaker 07

  One of the best guys that I dated, he made a point to memorize all my food allergies.

• 22:06Speaker 05

  So join us and hear their stories and more. Because living with food allergies isn't just about what you can't eat. It's about still having your seat at the table. Brought to you by Genentech and Novartis. Listen to At the Table, the food allergy podcast on America's number one podcast network, iHeart. Follow At the Table and start listening on the free iHeart Radio app today.

• 22:26Hoda Kotb?

  All right, I'm going to take you back again. So you're in the UK, you were describing your life there, and then your parents split, your mom's like, we're going to Maryland. Okay, so Maryland is the opposite of the UK. So what was, again, another repotting, pulling you up by the roots, you're dangling in the air, where we going, Mom? And you land in the soil there. What did, how did you land in that? How did that feel?

• 22:51Speaker 04

  Obviously, big culture shock. I mean,

• 22:55Speaker 04

  A level of diversity, at least in the community that I was in, that I hadn't experienced yet. Um, but it was like super mixed. I was in Gaithersburg. It wasn't like, you know, I wasn't like in DC or something where it felt like predominantly black, but it was like way more black people than I had.

• 23:12Hoda Kotb?

  What did that feel like?

• 23:14Speaker 04

  I mean, you know, in some ways it was exciting and then it was like a a freaking lesson in life. I mean, you know, the black experience in America is so unique. And the way that it has shaped the country and the people, you know, I have so much respect for the black American community because to survive and thrive under such circumstances of, and not to say that black people aren't oppressed worldwide and that anti-blackness doesn't exist worldwide, but I just think so interesting in America where they don't have like a cultural touch point, right? Of which they're in the majority that they can sort of have ownership of.

• 23:58Speaker 04

  They're living in a country that they built that is also denying them any ownership to that or any belonging to that. And, you know, all of the systems are are are are in all the systems are created so as to not let them be able to succeed. And it's just like, it's so insane that yet and still so influential, so beautiful, so powerful. And managing to thrive and survive, you know, so it was definitely, you know, it's, it was definitely, it was heartbreaking. It was, it was overwhelming. It was exciting.

• 24:41Speaker 04

  You know, it was a lesson, a lesson in black.

• 24:45Hoda Kotb?

  I mean, you you are so, first of all, you speak your heart. You're a straight shooter. You don't try to mince words. You say exactly what's on your heart, which is such an awesome trait. And with that kind of trait, when you were thinking about what you wanted to do with your life, what was the first kind of career choice that came to you?

• 25:07Speaker 04

  I mean, I always thought I was gonna be a lawyer.

• 25:09Hoda Kotb?

  Ah, that makes sense. Yeah.

• 25:11Speaker 04

  Also because my mom loves to tell the story. Whenever I would, like if my mom told me no for something, I would literally come back with like a dissertation

• 25:22Speaker 04

  of the reasons of why I was gonna put together a convincing argument. And I mean, this extended all the way through my schooling. Like my, my teachers used to call home to be like, can you please speak to your daughter about why it's okay for her to receive X, Y, Z grade? Cause I'm like, if somebody gave me a grade that I didn't think that was the grade that I had earned, you're gonna have to debate me. You're gonna have to debate about why this is the grade that I should get.

• 25:47Hoda Kotb?

  Okay. Did your mom encourage your behavior or did she try to say, honey, you gotta listen to the teachers?

• 25:52Speaker 04

  She encouraged it.

• 25:53Hoda Kotb?

  Oh, yeah. That's why you're you.

• 25:55Speaker 04

  She believed in me and she trusted in the work and she knew, listen, she, she's like, I've known her from the womb. I already know this girl. She's coming with this dissertation. That's why she deserved that grade. She deserved that grade.

• 26:06Hoda Kotb?

  So you're, so law school, you're thinking about being a lawyer. And then you obviously didn't go down that path. What, what took you on another path? Why, why did you end up in this industry?

• 26:18Speaker 04

  Um, well, a multitude of reasons in a way, right? It's like there's so many, I think, sliding doors moments in everyone's life that lead them to something, right? So the first thing was, you know, so when I went, I thought I was gonna be a lawyer and obviously my intention was to be a lawyer that makes a lot of money, but I think all lawyers make a lot of money. Personally, I've paid lawyers a lot of money. Um, but so I was like, I'm gonna be a corporate lawyer. And so I went to university and studied finance with an English Lit minor. And I just, I hated it. Um, and I think it was also, it was just more than just that. Like, you know, it was, I, I had had,

• 27:02Speaker 04

  you know, the school that I wanted to go to, we couldn't afford to send me there. And I was carrying that heartbreak and I just was like, you know, and I didn't really love like where I was and, you know, I was also going through my own just changes, seasonal changes of like.

• 27:19Speaker 04

  Coming to terms with who I was as a person and who I felt about that and who I wanted to be like as a human being um and how I sort of felt that I had been had spent all my years since I came to America sort of performing for people in order to survive um being what was expected of me or what I needed to be in order to not be questioned or teased or or out an outcast and I by the time I got to university I kind of realized all this stuff I've been doing like I don't this person that I've created

• 27:58Speaker 04

  I don't know who this person is or like this person and I want to find out who I am and and live as that person.

• 28:08Hoda Kotb?

  Was making money super important?

• 28:11Speaker 04

  Well, of course.

• 28:12Hoda Kotb?

  Okay, just checking. Some people are motivated. I know, but.

• 28:15Speaker 04

  You know what I mean? It's I feel like it's a key immigrant motivator and this is America, you know, this is um you know, if there's one country where capitalism is truly singing and doing its thing, it's this one because there's literally there's relatively no caste system. I'm putting quotes um because unlike in other places, I mean, people always ask me, do I have family in Jamaica? And I'm always like, I really don't have any immediate family left in Jamaica because my family was poor and if you had any hopes of doing anything or making it in your life and not ending up um with with nothing, you had to get out of Jamaica because there's no it's very difficult to be born poor and become wealthy as opposed to in this country where it's like, you know, that's the whole idea of the American dream.

• 28:56Speaker 04

  Like you could be born a poor person and become a prince, you know, so this idea of success, financial success is very motivating, I think, for any immigrant and any person living in the country, you know, this idea that like I could we you know, I can be successful.

• 29:14Hoda Kotb?

  This is interesting. What you're saying is super interesting because you're right. All those things are right. And I have a question for you, since this podcast is called Joy 101. If you were to swallow a truth pill and think about your relatives in Jamaica, who are living the life that they were living, and I don't know if you would describe it, I don't know what that was, but I'm wondering. Because there's, there are a lot of studies that say, if you make, I don't know, a certain amount of money, you're happy. If you make less, you're definitely unhappy. And if you make more, you're unhappy. If you make enough, enough to provide and take care of and, you know, do all the things you want, you're, you're at your happiest and everything else is going to throw you. Do you think the most joyful people you know are the ones who've made it?

• 30:02Speaker 04

  In terms of my family?

• 30:03Hoda Kotb?

  Yeah, or in general. And you could, you could use your family as an example, or you could just use in general, because you, you know so many people, probably in both worlds, like we all do, but who, who's the most joyful of those groups?

• 30:18Speaker 04

  You know, it's like, yes and no. Do I think that the most joyful people are the ones that have made it? I think that, obviously, I mean, and you know, more money, more problems, as they say. But, you know, like, right now, like in my family, like, I'm sort of the person who has achieved a certain level of success and that has enabled me to look after my family.

• 30:47Hoda Kotb?

  There you go.

• 30:47Speaker 04

  And so, in so many ways, it's like, I feel so much joy, because I can do that and I'm, I can, you know, what, success, the independence that success has afforded me is incredible and brings me so much joy. And the fact that I can look after the people that I love brings me so much joy. When I look at the world and I look at, I mean, I know so many very successful people, and I gotta say, joy is not in abundance among them. But I also think it's because that's the trap, you know what I mean?

• 31:29Speaker 04

  A part of this idea of success is centered around having things and things do not bring joy. You know, so I find that the most joyful people are the ones who are surrounded by the ones that they love. Cause when you're surrounded by your family and not just by things.

• 31:49Hoda Kotb?

  Mm hmm.

• 31:50Speaker 04

  I find that that tends to bring more joy. But I also just find in general that Jamaicans tend to be some of the most joyful people that I know.

• 31:59Hoda Kotb?

  No kidding, no kidding.

• 32:00Speaker 04

  So when it comes to my family, yes, you know, but it's like, you know, the trap is that like, success is going to bring you happiness, but then what happens is you you you, you know, there's so many who have left Jamaica to come, you know, abroad to come afar and as they say,

• 32:18Hoda Kotb?

  Mm hmm.

• 32:18Speaker 04

  And end up on a hamster wheel of just working and working and working until you die.

• 32:23Hoda Kotb?

  Mm hmm, right.

• 32:25Speaker 04

  And there's no real joy in that, you know what I mean? I I know a lot of people who, their aim is to get back to Jamaica because with the success that they've made, that with, whatever small amount of success that they've had abroad in Jamaica, they can live a happy life because they have enough to live off the land and to enjoy the land and to enjoy what is much more, a a lot more mu- more easy to deal with and live with and and live inside of. I mean, just being in that, on that island brings me joy. And it's like, it's a lot more. And there's a reason why I was saying, is it Jamaica nice? It really is nice. And it's much nicer than being on the hamster wheel in America. I mean, I try to get there.

• 33:10Speaker 04

  I'm there one at least once a year, cause I'm like, and when I'm there, everyone's like, oh, do you want to do something? I'm like, I don't know, I want to do nothing. Let's stay here and drink jelly water and go and go into this into and touch the water, the ocean, the sea and just give thanks.

• 33:27Hoda Kotb?

  Hmm. You know, you said a word there that jumped out at me and the word was enough. I think it's sort of like, when's enough? What's enough? Whether it's success, or whether it's money, or whether it's fame, or whether it's... And it's sort of like, for many people, I think it's the itch they can't scratch, because there's always something else. And you can call it ambition, which it is. I think ambition is great. But you also wonder about, you know, like, the motivation part of it. Because if you genuinely are happy when you open your eyes, when nothing's happened. Like, for me, it's like, I don't have an interview that day. I'm not, nothing huge is hap... I'm not going to the Olympics that day. Nothing's happening.

• 34:11Hoda Kotb?

  I'm just waking up. My kids are in room one and right here. They're seven and nine. There they are in their rooms. I've got, I'm gonna go for, I'm gonna have a tea, go for a walk. Like, if you have that piece of it, I feel like you've cracked the nut. Because I have friends who are like, "What about the next? You put a book out. When's your next one? How many times have you had a role? And they said, "Jody, what are you doing next?" You're like, "I just got this. I don't know what I'm doing next." But everyone wants to know. You have a kid. When's your next? That's what everyone wants to know about what's next. How do you stay yourself sort of in the present? Where you're not always thinking about the next role, the next audition, the next whatever?

• 34:55Speaker 04

  Gratitude.

• 34:56Hoda Kotb?

  Yeah.

• 34:57Speaker 04

  Because if I'm giving thanks for what is here and what has shown up for me, then I am staying present. You know, and I think that, for me, it's the most important step in the process. You know, the finish line is always gonna move. Because we expand and we grow and we change. You know, what I wanted yesterday or last year is going to evolve this year and today. Right? Because I'm not the same person I was yesterday and last year. And every time that I expand the tent...

• 35:35Speaker 04

  I need more things to keep the tent running.

• 35:39Hoda Kotb?

  Um.

• 35:40Speaker 04

  But you know, I had somebody tell me a long, long time ago when I first started and I was in that conversation. You know, like they, he asked me how I was doing. I was like, you know, I'm doing well, but I want, you know, I need. And he was like, the finish line is always gonna move. You have to learn how to be in gratitude for this moment.

• 35:57Hoda Kotb?

  Wow.

• 35:58Speaker 04

  And, you know, I, I take that very seriously. Because I also think being in gratitude is, is also, um, when you are thanking God, you're also acknowledging the blessing and, and inviting more.

• 36:13Hoda Kotb?

  Hmm, I love that.

• 36:15Speaker 04

  So I'm always like, yes, thank you.

• 36:18Hoda Kotb?

  Hmm.

• 36:19Speaker 04

  More of this.

• 36:20Hoda Kotb?

  More, please. I know.

• 36:22Speaker 04

  My three-part mantra.

• 36:24Hoda Kotb?

  By the way, I love, say that again?

• 36:26Speaker 04

  Yes, thank you.

• 36:28Hoda Kotb?

  Thank you.

• 36:29Speaker 04

  More of this. That is my, that is my prayer always. I am always saying yes to what is shown up for me because I'm not trying to say no to God.

• 36:39Hoda Kotb?

  It's so funny how doors open for you in weird ways. I mean, the fact that Pharrell Williams saw you out one day and you were telling him about your life plans and he's like, no, no, you should be an actress or a model. Um, I personally think whether or not you ran into Pharrell Williams on that crazy night, you would have still been exactly where you are because you're fantastic. However, it was nice to have someone on the outside looking and say, wow, did you ever see yourself the way Pharrell described you?

• 37:09Speaker 04

  You know,

• 37:11Speaker 04

  not really, you know, and so for me, that moment was because it's like, you know, and, and everybody always references that moment, which is, was a pivotal moment in my life, but it was pivotal not because of what it changed for me in a like hu- exact like way, but what it changed for me like in a spiritual way. Because for me, I just felt like if a complete stranger can have this sort of enthusiasm and certainty about. What they see for me, then why can I not take a chance on myself and believe in myself?

• 37:52Speaker 04

  You know, I I really, I think I've always, even without knowing how to totally identify it, felt like it is important for me to be the strongest believer in myself. And he inspired me to believe in myself.

• 38:06Hoda Kotb?

  Hmm.

• 38:07Speaker 04

  You know, and that shifted everything because at the end of the day, there was a lot of ground between that moment and this one. And in that ground, I had to do a lot of work. And if I didn't do the work, I wouldn't be here, you know, but it motivated me to want to strive and to do it. I was like, I mean, because it was, his enthusiasm was so contagious and inspiring and it's it's it is for that which I am eternally grateful.

• 38:35Hoda Kotb?

  Well, it's funny. People are like, Jodi Turner Smith, man, she's like an overnight sensation. She just popped out of nowhere. You're like, I have been grinding. Hello, what didn't people see?

• 38:47Speaker 04

  You know,

• 38:50Speaker 04

  I feel like everybody who really knows me knows how hard I was, I've worked, you know, I, as I said, from the I've always been a show your work kind of guy, right? Um, but I think people who don't know me and who are just meeting me and who have sort of or started to meet me at these moments that I, you know, what they didn't see was how much I approach everything as somebody who is here to learn.

• 39:26Hoda Kotb?

  Hmm.

• 39:27Speaker 04

  And thus is not afraid to work. Like, I don't walk into anything as like, I'm an expert, like, I got this. I walk into everything like. I am Bambi, the world is my oyster. I'm here to learn, I'm ready to learn, I'm so open to all of the knowledge and I want it all. You know, um, of course, people don't see all the tears and all the hours and all the, you know, you were talking about earlier, the, the negative side of things. I mean, so much self doubt that I have, that, that I've done so much work on, like, that's another thing that I do a lot of work on.

• 40:07Speaker 04

  You know, it's a constant process of just like, really not allowing the inner critic to let me be paralyzed. Right? Because that is something that is, I can be, sometimes I can get paralyzed because I'm just, I wanna come up with the best plan, but I don't know what that is. And it's like, instead of just being in the flow and just not being afraid to, you know, roll up my sleeves and, and just try and be embarrassing.

• 40:40Hoda Kotb?

  Yeah, it's so funny, the nu- the number of people who talk about imposter syndrome, I don't know if that's what you're hitting on, but I interviewed Audra McDonald, who's won, I think, five Tonys, who two counts. Anyway, she goes, you know, I have imposter syndrome. I was, I asked her, I said, how many Tonys do you need? Before you stop having that, like, these are Jodie Foster, like, some of these kind of older actors and actresses, and it goes all the way to now. These are people who are established, who we've applauded, who've received the highest accolades, still somehow feel inside, huh? I wonder if I'm enough here.

• 41:15Speaker 04

  Because there is no amount of outer affirmation, acknowledgement, hardware in terms of awards, that can quiet the inner critic. And that's why the work is in the self-love, is in the you really believing in you, you know, because.

• 41:37Speaker 04

  All that ends up happening is it's just like the pursuit of success and money. You are constantly gonna be, there will never be enough that will fill the hole.

• 41:45Hoda Kotb?

  Mm hmm.

• 41:46Speaker 04

  You know, there'll never be enough. It's you, you gotta love you, you gotta show up for you, you gotta. And so, you know, it's, I mean, it's difficult, but for me, it's like, and you're, you know, and you're always gonna feel like that was dumb, that was stupid, like, it's not good. You know, and and there's always gonna be people, especially now with social media, who are gonna come and say, that was dumb, that was stupid, not good. Um.

• 42:09Hoda Kotb?

  So what do you do with that?

• 42:10Speaker 04

  How you feel about yourself?

• 42:12Hoda Kotb?

  What do you, so give me something practical, because I was imagining listening to this as I'm driving my car, saying, yeah, I feel those things. Because it doesn't matter where you get your critic, where the criticism comes from. You could be famous. Or you could be just someone in your community and seeing that someone has said something, or someone on social media mentioned something about it. How do you process, like, what do you do? What's your, what do you actually do?

• 42:36Speaker 04

  You know, something that I have been trying to do definitely within the last five years, six years, is disconnect from commentary. That's helpful, because the commentary ends up being really poisonous. It's not actually helpful. You know, and just really work on myself. I'm reading the books, I'm doing the, I'm not a big meditator, I'm not, can't quiet the mind long enough. Um, but, uh, self-care is one way to. Me, I'm like, you know, I think sometimes we can't always intellectualize our way through things. Sometimes we just need to let our physical body lead it.

• 43:17Speaker 04

  And even the smallest things, an act of self-love can support you in having mental self-love.

• 43:24Hoda Kotb?

  Mm hmm.

• 43:24Speaker 04

  And so I just, and I'm very careful about my language, how I talk about myself and how I talk about others. You know, that supports it too, you know, and I stay positive towards other people. You know, and it's like, for me, I'm like, if I keep my mental space in the light, it will support me in pushing out the darkness. And, and also just like, really doing what I can, you know, I have therapy, you know, to not take myself so seriously that I get stuck.

• 44:03Speaker 04

  To know that it's okay to be flawed. Now, what am I gonna do about it? Well, how am I learning? How am I growing?

• 44:10Hoda Kotb?

  Such good lessons, not just for you and those around, but I was just thinking about your daughter who's six. To even witness that, when you said I worry about how, I mean, I pay attention to how I talk to myself. Because kids do see, no matter what it is. If you say you hate your hair, your kids are gonna go, oh. Or, oh god, are these tight? Your kids are gonna say, oh. Like, you may not even be intentionally saying anything, however, it is what it looks like to them. So when raising your, your little girl, like, how do you raise a powerful, strong kid, do you think?

• 44:44Speaker 04

  With intention. Do nothing without intention. And, you know, thankfully, I think with my personality and how I am, as I said, I've been preparing for this my whole life. So, I am one hundred percent, you know, I'm paying attention to everything. And I'm being very mindful about how I speak about myself and how I speak to her and how I allow other people to speak to me and to her or about themselves in front of her. You know, I'm like, I, I be on people, you know? My mom, everybody, she's like, leave me alone.

• 45:25Hoda Kotb?

  Don't say that.

• 45:26Speaker 04

  That language. You use a different language. Like, and I'm, and I'm also, I'm always gonna be like, here's a suggestion for language. I'm not just being like, rah rah rah, I'm like...

• 45:35Hoda Kotb?

  Mom, help me out here. What's it like raising your daughter with your mom? What's that like?

• 45:40Speaker 04

  I'm so lucky.

• 45:41Hoda Kotb?

  Yeah.

• 45:43Speaker 04

  It's a blessing. It is a blessing. And I have like, a mom. She mothers everybody in my village. Do you know what I mean? My friends, most of my friends talk more to my mom than they talk to me.

• 45:57Hoda Kotb?

  Why does she give great advice?

• 45:59Speaker 04

  They have their own relationship with her. She just becomes everybody's mother. You know, and so it's like, that's the kind of mom that I have with me, you know, she's really helping me. She's not one of those grandmothers like, I already raised kids. I'm not doing this. You know, she's there like having my back and it's so inspiring. Because it inspires me to step up. You know, because it's so easy, especially with, you know, I'm so busy, I have so much stuff going on. But again, thank God, that's how I have that I have. Because you know, that's always been my way. It's like, yes, I'm trying to achieve all of these things. But when I chose to become a mother, I chose that with all of me. And so I am also mothering. I'm not that mother who's like, you know, I need a break

• 46:43Speaker 04

  from my kid. I don't want to do, you know what I mean? Is it hard? Is it exhausting? Absolutely.

• 46:47Hoda Kotb?

  Of course.

• 46:48Speaker 04

  Am I sometimes like, okay, you know what? Let's both walk away right now and just take a little space from each other. Of course, we're humans. But like, I'm all over it, you know, it's why, it's why I have my mom instead of having a nanny. It's like, it's kind of hard to have a nanny sometimes because nanny culture is so like, they want to raise you. They used to, they raised the kid. You know, I'm like, I'm more of a mummy's helper kind of girl. And I have one in my mom.

• 47:15Hoda Kotb?

  I think we spend so much of our lives waiting for the big moments, the birthdays, the vacations, the milestones. But the truth is, some of the happiest moments show up on the most ordinary days. So like this, I'll stop into a CVS because I need one thing. Somehow, the best part of the trip is never the thing I came for. So maybe I'll grab a delicious well-marked snack, or maybe I'll wander over to the Joyward Collection. It's really full of fun, cool, seasonal decor, thoughtful little gifts, and those little discoveries that make you so glad you stopped in. I have to tell you, if you're an Extra Care member, you're going to save on things you're already buying, and those extra bucks

• 47:57Hoda Kotb?

  really do add up. Just watching that total go down at the checkout never, ever gets old. I know life's busy. We're all juggling a lot. And that's why I think those little unexpected moments of joy matter so much. So the next time you're running errands, stop by your local CVS Pharmacy. You may go in for something you need, but don't be surprised if you leave with something that simply makes your day a little brighter. Visit your local CVS Pharmacy, sponsored by CVS. Halloween has a funny way of making you buy things you'd never normally buy. A 10-foot skeleton? Sure. A full-size fog machine? Why not? Three bags of candy that somehow become six bags of candy? It happens.

• 48:42Hoda Kotb?

  Which brings me to the Chase Freedom Flex Card, the savvy decision that will earn you more cash back on the everyday purchases, plus the extraordinary Halloween tricks and treats. With Freedom Flex, you earn even more treats on your Halloween and everyday needs. You get 5% cash back on popular rotating quarterly categories, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases. More ways to earn, more ways to get rewarded. That's no tricks, all treats. More ways to earn, more ways to get rewarded. So sign up for the Chase Freedom Flex Card. Learn more at chase.com/getflex. This is a paid collaboration with Chase Freedom Flex. Cards issued by JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., member FDIC.

• 49:27Hoda Kotb?

  Subject to credit approval. Offer subject to change. Terms apply.

• 49:31Speaker 03

  ChatGPT for Teens is designed to help teens learn, think critically, and grow their skills. ChatGPT for Teens supports active learning by breaking concepts down. Rather than giving teens the answer, Study Mode helps teens work through problems, and interactive quizzes test their knowledge and provide immediate feedback. Safety protections are on by default, and parental controls offer families additional options, like setting study hours and quiet hours. Visit chatgpt.com/parents to learn more.

• 49:59Speaker 05

  Hi, I'm Jenna Oshkowitz. You might know me from Glee. This is At the Table, the food allergy podcast, a show about food, connection, and what it really looks like to live with food allergies. Each episode, we hear stories from real people like Daniel.

• 50:14Speaker 06

  People would always think I was lactose intolerant, so I just kind of shortened my explanation to I'm deathly allergic in a big way that defined a lot of my childhood.

• 50:24Speaker 05

  And while there are challenges, there are moments that remind you you're not alone.

• 50:30Speaker 07

  One of the best guys that I dated, he made a point to memorize all my food allergies.

• 50:36Speaker 05

  So join us and hear their stories and more. Because living with food allergies isn't just about what you can't eat. It's about still having your seat at the table. Brought to you by Genentech and Novartis. Listen to At The Table, the food allergy podcast on America's number one podcast network, iHeart. Follow At The Table and start listening on the free iHeart Radio app today.

• 50:56Hoda Kotb?

  Something strange happened to me with, not strange, but something that made me uncomfortable happened with my kids the other day. So we were, it was a first grade kind of sleepover with moms and kids. And I'm not with my partner, he's not with us, but he is, he comes and visits and everything's great. But they did say to my daughter, why isn't your dad around? And I remember I froze. I didn't, I actually didn't, I hadn't seen that. And she said, well, my dad, you know, and he's a lovely guy, you know, all these great things, but he, I said, he lives somewhere else, but he comes, he's coming for Father's Day. She was trying to say all these things. And I asked her after if it made her feel uncomfortable or whatever. And she kind of brushed it off and said, no. And I just went on with it. So I'm not going to give her more info than she needs.

• 51:41Hoda Kotb?

  But you can feel free to answer it or not. But is there, have you had, how do you handle that piece of the puzzle? Because it's actually, it's part of my kids' lives. And it's part of your daughter's life, too.

• 51:55Speaker 04

  Yeah, you know, it's definitely been one of those things that is, you know, so I'm a child of divorce myself. And, you know, and so is my ex-husband, you know? And so it's like, it's always been important to think about, okay, what is the language around which we are going to talk about this with our daughter? Because this is her new reality, you know? And we're learning as well and not always getting it totally right. But the idea is always two homes filled with love.

• 52:30Speaker 04

  You know, and I'm like, I'm like, you got two houses, girl. That's why.

• 52:37Hoda Kotb?

  That's a, that's a nice way to put it.

• 52:39Speaker 04

  You know, it's like, it's like, it's just you got two houses. Um, and but you know, it's, it's, it's one of those things. It's like, it's so, you know, cause my daughter was quite young when, when I split with her dad and, and so it's like, it's always, you know, for me, less difficult what I'm, what she's experiencing from other people and more difficult just navigating the conversation with her. That's like, you know, why, why is this happening? And it's like, you gotta walk this line between obviously being age appropriate and child centered in the way that you talk about it. But also keeping it real so that she has an understanding of, of what this means.

• 53:24Speaker 04

  And honestly, my favorite tool in all of this has been my favorite tool for life, books.

• 53:33Hoda Kotb?

  Oh, so just seeing yourself in another.

• 53:36Speaker 04

  So many books.

• 53:38Hoda Kotb?

  Yeah.

• 53:38Speaker 04

  About divorce. About what that means. You know, about what that new world is about what, what is, what is supposed to be happening, what's not supposed to be happening. You know, books have, children's books have been helpful as well, you know?

• 53:57Hoda Kotb?

  Yeah, that is, that it's such a, a great way. And I was gonna say like, every family is unique and families come in so many ways. And I say that to my kids all the time. You know, there are so many different kinds of families. I said, your mom loves you, your dad loves you, we love you, you know? And so whether, I think, I think the world is just different than it was. And I think I just try to normalize it too. It's like, this is how life goes. We're having a beautiful life. Oh my gosh, you're going skiing. You're gonna go meet dad. Yay. You know, everything is, everything. I like that. Two houses full of love. What brings you the most joy in your life right now?

• 54:38Speaker 04

  My daughter.

• 54:41Speaker 04

  It is, you know, so she's six now and.

• 54:46Speaker 04

  You know, it's like, it's so interesting, like all the different changes that kids go through and. At every stage, I feel like someone's like, oh, this is the best stage, this is the best stage. But there's something so interesting about five and six. Where it's like, because my daughter, and you know, everyone also says. You know, the the days are long, but the years are short and like. You know, it's it goes so fast, but I am so enjoying. Watching her grow, because it's like, we just get to hanging out with her is so amazing, like. She really is my little tiny best friend, like. I love some of our conversations that we have now, I'm literally like gonna cry.

• 55:29Speaker 04

  It's just that I'm just like, I'm so amazed by her and. What did she say? It's just, I mean. Just even like. Any like any opinion that she has on something, the questions that she asks, her little sassy attitude. You know, I I, you know, I made um to for her sixth birthday, you know, I I threw a big party, but I also. We did her bedroom. And she's uh she says that when when she grows up, she wants to be a jungle girl, and she's a wild girl. So I decided to design her room. With all of these plants hanging from the ceiling.

• 56:15Speaker 04

  And I was like, thinking to myself, because she's got very high ceilings in her room, I was like. What can, how can I design this so that like, the plants are hanging, but like I can. Get to them and I put them all on these retractable plant hangers. And then we had found together these like disco ball, these mirror ball planters. And we had the two of them and she's and and it was this amazing thing where I was like, oh, my god, because she's. The where her room is in the house, when the sun is coming down, it's shining in the windows. And so I I then I got this idea and I got all these prisons. And mirror balls that I also hung from the ceiling. And she's also got like these hot air balloons. So she's like a total blast. And I I did this like ivy planter like I I planted ivy like on the side of her.

• 57:00Speaker 04

  She's got this.

• 57:01Hoda Kotb?

  You're unbelievable.

• 57:02Speaker 04

  With like a reading nook underneath it. And because I'm so I'm trailing the ivy. And then she's got this big vinca plant that's like right in front of the bed. So like it all the vines hang down in front of her reading nook.

• 57:15Hoda Kotb?

  Um.

• 57:15Speaker 04

  And it's just like when it's magic hour, it is truly magic.

• 57:20Hoda Kotb?

  By the way, can I just say that is such a beautiful wow. Okay, I cannot believe the agency is I cannot believe that this is I bring this up now at this point in the interview. Because you're so fascinating on so many levels that all of your roles are like, oh, yeah, that too. But the agency season two.

• 57:39Speaker 04

  Well, so, you know, at the end of season one.

• 57:42Hoda Kotb?

  Yeah.

• 57:42Speaker 04

  We didn't know what Samia's fate was gonna be. And as you can see from some of these trailers that have come out, Samia is in captivity. Which is such a life changing and. I wanted to say a word that I won't say on this podcast, messed up situation to be in. You know, and so it's like, there is. You know, we're really finding for her like in the season two of the agency is I feel like season one was a little bit more of a slow burn, right? It was like, you know, introducing this kind of world and idea and we're like, and also people were like, what's going on with Samia? Like a she's bi, that kind of thing.

• 58:22Speaker 04

  But season two, I think is like immediately, it's immediately just like balls to the wall, like.

• 58:30Speaker 04

  Action, the everything that the stakes have gone from seventy five to a thousand. Um, and here's Martian.

• 58:44Speaker 04

  Weaving, continue to weave this tangled web so that he undo the damage that he has done to this woman.

• 58:51Hoda Kotb?

  I can't believe how, I mean, not to mention, I mean, a lot of actors when they play a role like Samia, they would play the role, but you're like, you, you are so immersed in her. I mean, from the language, from, I mean, did you insist on speaking Arabic? Was that for learning it or did you could have just memorized and gone on, but you.

• 59:14Speaker 04

  Well, you know, the funny thing is, so in season one, you know, we had some scenes in Arabic. Um, and then, you know, we were like, the actors, we were like, it, it doesn't make sense that this scene would be in English. Like, if we're, if I'm doing a scene and it's Samia and Osman and Dalaga, it's like, there's no reason why if it's just us and we're alone, we would be speaking. So we were actually like always pushing for more scenes in all in Arabic. Because we felt like that would be authentic and, and, and we really wanted to, you know, I think this is for me, this is the first time I've worked on a show where they really are

• 59:56Speaker 04

  investing in us being able to authentically, as authentically as possible, play these characters. You know, I've done so many roles where I was meant to have an accent or speak another language. And it was on me to find a dialect coach or somebody so that this could be done, done well. You know, and I mean, we have, you know, we've got an incredible Arabic scholar, actually, Khalid Abnamah, who not only works with me doing Arabic, Arabic lessons, but then we do our sessions as well, obviously for the scenes and the scene work. And then he's on set with us. Uh, but we are, you know, it's, a- a- as I've said, I've never, I've never been afraid of working hard.

• 1:00:40Hoda Kotb?

  Yeah.

• 1:00:40Speaker 04

  And I love this show. I love this character. You know, this journey that she's on is so intense and heartbreaking. Not just because like how far she's fallen. I mean, she's. intellect and she has fallen so low because she chose to love the wrong man.

• 1:00:59Hoda Kotb?

  Mm hmm. Not always.

• 1:01:01Speaker 04

  What woman can't understand that she's also mad about that. You know what I mean?

• 1:01:05Hoda Kotb?

  Okay, I need to correct something you said in the beginning. You said, quote, I'm a procrastinator. That's what you said. Okay, first of all, I'm going to tell you that's not true because after everything I've heard during this discussion, there's no way on God's green earth that you could have gone from where you were to where you are without doing exactly what you said you do, which is you write it down. You have your list. Where's your notepad? Cue the notepad again. I mean, this is what you do. So I maybe you describe yourself that way, but of all the things to take off the list, I'm going to ask you to scratch that one. Because that is not you at all. I don't care.

• 1:01:43Speaker 04

  A little bit in my way, but but but I definitely I pick my moments. Definitely. And the thing is, I'm just such a hard worker.

• 1:01:49Hoda Kotb?

  Yes.

• 1:01:50Speaker 04

  And I don't sleep.

• 1:01:51Hoda Kotb?

  You can't be both. You can't be a procrastinator and a hard worker. Sorry.

• 1:01:54Speaker 04

  But it is. And then I just don't sleep to get all the work done.

• 1:01:58Hoda Kotb?

  All right. All right, girl. Well, look, let me tell you something. I'm not going to ask you what you're going to do next because I want to be right where we are. So I want to say thank you. You're an awesome interview. Thanks for coming on the podcast, honey.

• 1:02:11Speaker 04

  Thank you. Thank you.

• 1:02:12Hoda Kotb?

  All right. Love to your sweet daughter. You got it. Take care.

• 1:02:18Hoda Kotb?

  Okay, Jody is awesome. And I also like just her depth of thinking she's got. She just has a good handle on things. I think, you know, a lot of times when people have been to Hollywood and done all these great things, their perspective changes. She just seems like sort of girl next door, someone who you'd want a good hang with. Someone who is trying to improve herself all the time. I just, I think she's got all the beats. And I just love her take on life. I hope you guys did too. Okay, you know, I love myself a poem. Here's one. And this kind of reminded me of Jody. It's called The Little Things.

• 1:02:56Hoda Kotb?

  You know, life isn't about all the the Emmys, the Grammys, the whatever. It's about stuff that happens on normal, everyday bits and pieces. So here we go. The little things. The little things carry you. A glance that lingers, a smile like sunlight spilling through the curtains. A text that said, I heard a song that reminded me of you. When the night feels endless and stillness sinks into your bones, even a whisper of light can hold you, even a tiny spark can remind you that you're alive. It's always been the small gestures, the soft ones, the fleeting ones that echo the loudest. The little things are not little, they are everything.

• 1:03:42Hoda Kotb?

  That poem's entitled "The Little Things." Thanks for listening, guys.

• 1:03:55Hoda Kotb?

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