Norah Jones Is Playing Along
Original podcast
The War and Treaty, Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter, join Norah to share fascinating stories and a powerful set of songs.
18,206 words · 16 speakers
This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed Human.
OnDeck is built to back small businesses like yours. Whether you're buying equipment, expanding your team, or bridging cash flow gaps, OnDeck's loans up to $400,000 make it happen fast. Rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau and earning thousands of five-star TrustPilot reviews, OnDeck delivers funding you can count on. Apply in minutes at ondeck.com. Depending on certain loan attributes, your business loan may be issued by OnDeck or Celtic Bank. OnDeck does not lend in North Dakota. All loans and amounts subject to lender approval.
Granger knows if you're a procurement manager at an industrial manufacturing facility, you're balancing inventory and budget while sourcing critical supplies across the operation. Too much inventory? Costs climb. Too little? Production slows. Granger's $2 billion in on-hand inventory helps you get what you need, when you need it, so you can help keep budgets balanced and lines moving. Call 1-800-GRANGER, click Granger.com, or just stop by. Granger, for the ones who get it done.
If you love music and great artist interviews, check out Before the Moment, hosted by Nile Rodgers. This new series follows Nile as he travels across the country, talking with some of today's most fascinating artists about the moments that shaped their lives and careers. From hitmakers like Miguel to rising stars like Alex Warren, Nile explores the stories behind the careers, the songs, and the moments that changed everything. Because every musician remembers the point where everything changed, and this podcast tells the stories that came before it. Listen to Before the Moment, a Lincoln Original Series, on iHeartRadio app, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode is also available as video on YouTube. You can visit Norah Jones' channel and be sure to subscribe while you're there.
Hey, I'm Norah Jones, and today I'm playing along with The War Entreaty.
Hey, I'm Nora and with me as always is Sarah Oda.
Hello, welcome to our show.
Yes.
Our guests today are Grammy nominated singer-songwriters Michael and Tanya Trotter of The War and Treaty. They are a husband and wife duo. They're blending soul, gospel, country music with their incredible voices.
This was such a fun episode. I've known them through different shows over the years and I didn't really know their story. It is fascinating. Very fascinating. They have an incredible story. Yeah, it was really beautiful.
You're gonna hear about how they got their start, how they started making music together, some like very inspiring stories along the way. And as always, really powerful music, especially with the three of you.
It was really fun. Yeah, they're good people.
Enjoy.
Yay.
One, two, three, and.
These loves don't lie.
And those tears will dry. You know you want what you can't have.
We're not selling product you can't grab. So when those hours at the moon and the cockerels at the sun will be hustling till the evening comes.
Keep a candle burning bright.
From the inside, let it shine. You know fat fades away.
Like night turns to day. So when the wolf howls at the moon And the cock crows at the sun We'll be hustling till the evening comes.
Even when summer gets cold
And when the new becomes old You know the fat fades away.
But I went with you, son.
You did.
Yeah.
And as long as we go together.
Yeah. As long as we fall down together, it's a good thing.
That's something that is so nice about singing with someone all the time and having that partnership where you just go wherever each other goes.
Oh, yeah.
Right.
It's like every night, we don't do the same setlist.
So, Michael just pulls out.
Do you write a setlist?
He does, but...
We've been doing the same setlist.
His energy is off of the crowd.
So, you know how that...
It changes.
Yeah, this, it's been, we've been together now...
We just haven't been doing...
Eight years.
The entire setlist.
Because we get caught up, so we have this one song called "Love Like Whiskey", and at the end, it gets like this church, it was like a, like...
It's like real churchy.
Yeah, it's like...
And the crowd is singing, and we go out into the crowd.
That's fun. Wow.
And we, it takes a while to get back, so it kills a lot of the set.
Yeah. Oh, it just takes a long time and you just draw it out.
Oh, yes. I love it because it's like, by the time we get back, I'm like, "Oh, my gosh, we got like 15 minutes left, yes."
And it's great connection, too.
Yeah, and that energy is so good, too. I mean, the crowd... They know it even if they don't know it. They know that you're into it.
Well, we teach them first. I'm like, so this is your part. I have all guys go, walk through the fire.
And then I have all ladies go, walk through the fire. And then we're like, y'all sing.
Oh, that's fun. That's amazing.
It was insane last night in New York. Like, everybody, I mean, just being together and just like hearing all those voices singing like that.
That's special.
It really is, because it's that one moment you can actually connect, you know, with the fans. Instead of them just watching you the whole time, they're now a part of it, you know?
Yeah, I mean, it's always better when that happens.
Even if they're not singing.
Mm-hmm.
You know?
If you can feel their energy.
So, here's another cool nugget for you.
I'm not gonna ask any questions.
I've been waiting on this moment. So, you know who discovered us technically?
No, I don't.
Don was.
Really?
Don, yeah.
Oh, that's so special. How did that come about?
Well, I actually, okay, so Michael, of course, he served in the military.
Okay.
And when we met, I didn't know that, but once we found out, and three years into the marriage, I was like, he is really, really good. He's an incredible songwriter. And at the time, he didn't want to sell his songs because of what he did. I let him share his story in the military for the soldiers. And so, we were like, decided to start working together at this time. And there was a song called Hi-Ho we did. And it was just Michael on the piano, myself and the cello player. And I was like, we're gonna record this record. And we went to a bunch of different places trying to get the right foot stomps. I was, I'm not a musician, but I really ain't all about my foot stomps, right?
It's hard to capture that.
We need to get the right boards, you know, the right hardwood floors. So, we went all the different places trying to record. And so, we finally got a decent recording. And I was like, I know he doesn't want this music to come out, but I'm gonna send it to...
See, you wanted to do it, but you didn't really want to release it into the world.
He didn't want to release it into the world. He was like, I don't do music for that. And I was like, in my mind, I'm like, the heck you don't.
Well, it wasn't, no, it wasn't that.
I'll let him explain.
There's a story there.
There's a deeper story to it. And, but I'm getting to the Don Was story.
And so I sent it to Andalisi, who's a radio announcer at WDET. And she's our friend as well now, in Detroit. And she didn't know us from anywhere, but I tweeted it to her.
And I was like.
Oh, publicly?
Yeah, publicly. I'm like.
What made you tweet her?
I don't know. I mean, it was like Twitter, I don't know anything about social media. I'm like, what, people send them, follow Twitter? So I sent it to her. I was like, please take a listen to The One Treaty. And she did. And so she ended up playing it on the radio.
Oh, wow.
Yeah. She ended up playing it on the radio. And Don Was just happened to be her friend.
And that's how he heard the music.
And she showed it to him.
That's amazing.
He was like, I want them for my concert of colors.
Find them now.
So he brought you into a show?
That's so cool.
And then he was going to produce our first album. He literally, I mean, like, this was the wildest moment. We, we went, ate dinner with him, and he wanted me to bring all my songs.
To dinner?
It was crazy, because he was like, after, we're just going to go into the radio station. He's like, everybody's gone, and we're going to listen to those songs. We want to narrow them down. So I brought like 50 songs.
50?
Yeah. And he listened to every single song with notes. He was right. He was like, I'll play the next one.
That sounds like Don.
It was so, I mean, like, it was so cool, but he got super busy. So he passed us off to this, his buddy in Nashville called Buddy Miller.
Oh, I know of him. Yeah, he's amazing.
Oh, my God. His spirit is.
I know Buddy.
Buddy is beautiful. And Buddy produced it. But Don was like, like, the OG for us.
That's so great. He's such a special human.
Oh, yes.
Yeah. And he's done so much.
But like, just, he'll give you time, even if. You just want to ask him a question, you know, like, he's so great.
He's, he's.
That's really special. I didn't know that.
It's one of the last of his kind, you know?
He's so incredible.
OnDeck is built to back small businesses like yours. Whether you're buying equipment, expanding your team, or bridging cash flow gaps, OnDeck's loans up to $400,000 make it happen fast. Rated A plus by the Better Business Bureau and earning thousands of five-star TrustPilot reviews, OnDeck delivers funding you can count on. Apply in minutes at ondeck.com. Depending on certain loan attributes, your business loan may be issued by OnDeck or Celtic Bank. OnDeck does not lend in North Dakota. All loans and amounts subject to lender approval.
If you're a music fan, I've got a new podcast you have to check out. It's called Before the Moment, a new series hosted by the legendary Nile Rodgers. You know him as the producer, songwriter, guitarist, and co-founder of Chic. But in this series, he's hitting the road to sit down with some of today's most fascinating artists. From hitmakers like Miguel to rising stars like Alex Warren, Nile explores the stories behind the careers, the songs, and the moments that changed everything. Because every artist can point to that turning point, the moment before the breakthrough, before the success, before everything changed. Through candid conversations and personal stories, you'll hear what happened before the moment that made them who they are today.
Listen to Before the Moment, a Lincoln original series, on the iHeartRadio app, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.
This is Joel Larsgaard from How To Money. As someone who travels a lot for work, I really appreciate a premium airport experience. With the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card, it truly feels like you can have it all. For a limited time, new Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card members can earn 200,000 bonus miles, the highest miles offered this year.
Yeah, card members can also enjoy 15 visits to the Delta Sky Club each medallion year when flying Delta, and you can unlock unlimited Delta Sky Club access after spending $75,000 in purchases on your card during a calendar year. Those are Benefits you can get behind. You also get for one time guest passes each medallion year. So you can bring a friend or a colleague along. Fifteen Sky Club visits plus four guest passes. That's up to $950 in annual value. Value estimate based on $50 per visit rate to purchase additional visits or bring a guest to the Delta Sky Club. It's that kind of premium access that helps you feel right at home and at ease no matter where you're heading. Apply today at delta.com/podcast.
Offer ends November 4th. Minimum spending requirements and terms apply.
And for adults with type 2 diabetes and known heart disease, Jardiance can lower the risk of cardiovascular death, too. Prescription Jardiance, emigliflozin 10 or 25-milligram tablets, are used to lower blood sugar along with diet and exercise in adults with type 2 diabetes. Jardiance is not for use to lower blood sugar in people with type 1 diabetes, and not for people with type 2 diabetes who have severe kidney disease. Serious side effects include increased ketones in blood or urine and infection in the area between and around the anus and genitals called the perineum. Both may be fatal. Severe allergic reactions, dehydration, urinary tract or genital yeast infections in men and women, and low blood sugar. Stop taking and tell your doctor right away if you have nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, tiredness, rash, swelling, trouble breathing, or swallowing. Tell your doctor about lightheadedness, weakness,
fever, pain, tenderness, redness, or swelling in the perineum. You may have increased risk for lower limb loss. Call your doctor right away if you have new pain or tenderness, sores, ulcers, or infection in your legs or feet. To learn more about Jardiance 10 or 25-milligram tablets, ask your doctor, visit jardiance.com, or call 1-888-968-6648.
That's incredible.
Well, I didn't, I didn't, um. You know, I've been singing all my life.
I come from a very singing family, like my mom and all her sisters sing. My granny was playing and singing.
And my uncle Zelbert was playing and singing and stuff. And, um, but I wasn't taking it serious. You know, I actually wanted to be a rapper.
Oh, really?
Where, where did you grow up?
In Cleveland, Ohio.
Yeah, so, um, but then, uh, I made some, some mistakes. And I needed a bailout plan. And so I joined the army.
Wow.
Little did I know, I was joining during wartime.
I mean, we're not, you're not paying attention to the news. Like, it's war out here. And, um, so first duty station, I'm, I'm going to Iraq.
What year is this?
It's two thousand and four.
And we're on a, like, the helicopter. This is how real it got. Actually, let me start in Kuwait. Uh, you go to Kuwait first and in process before you go to Iraq. Which is stupid because then you in process in Iraq as well. The army's weird, but, um, it's about a twenty-six hour drive.
Oh, my God.
From Kuwait to Iraq. Pretty much because the, the Humvees can go only about forty-five miles per hour. And it's sand desert, you know? But, um, I'm sitting in Kuwait and the first thing I hear is something like, just like that, you know, this. And I'm just thinking, oh, someone's hitting the floor. And then you hear boom, like someone's just slamming a door.
And then you hear a siren. And I'm like, what, what is going on? They're like, that's the Iraq, Iraqis, they're firing.
Oh, my gosh.
It's trying to get close. I'm like, they're firing what?
This is on your first drive in?
Yeah, that's a bomb. And the sound of a bomb.
I I tell people, I'm like, I can hear it internally first. That's how loud it sounds like. You can feel it and hear it in here. You know, and so when I got into Iraq,
it was just a sad sight. It was, you know. And what made it so sad is because you could see how beautiful it once was. The architecture, I mean, the the homes and everything and the people. And um. But then you get into the war and you start realizing you're definitely at war. You start seeing guys drop one by one. And so um.
This captain recognized my fear. It was like, he's going to be the one to get someone killed or get killed himself. We got to find something to calm him down. And in my file, uh, my profile, it says, I love music. And in the palace we took over in Baghdad, um, Saddam had a piano, upright, flat piano, kind of looks like that over there. And his initials carved in it because Saddam supposedly could play. He had pianos all over.
I didn't know that.
Different palaces in Iraq.
I've never heard that.
So um, they take me down into the basement of this palace. Nora, when I tell you, it it it was like, we had to crawl over mortar and brick and stuff. I mean, this is a bombed out palace, of course. I mean, I could look straight up and see the sky. Just to get to where this piano is. And my captain's like, when you find, when you can't find your way home, come down here and find your way home. I'm like, that's. A great sentiment. I don't play.
What's his name?
His name is Robert, Robert Sheets. And I'm like, I don't play. He's like, well, this is a good time to learn. And that's how I, so I taught myself.
That was like the first song.
That's when you started playing?
Yeah, I taught myself to do that. But it wasn't, you know, I didn't really understand the piano. I could hear harmonies, you know, I knew this was something and, you know, and, but Rob gets killed.
And I am, it's still hard, you know? Like, he was such a beautiful soul. And I write, like, my first real song, and I asked my sergeant major if I could sing it for the funeral we want to have in the war out there. And, you know, if you've ever been to a military funeral, it's very different. It's like, we're all outside, especially in the war, because you're all outside in formation, you're standing there, and what happens is, the first sergeant gives a roll call. And so it was like, you know, Private Tra- Private Tanya Trotter. She's like, "Here." I was like, "Private Norah Jones, here."
And it was like, "Private Michael Trotter, here, first sergeant." And say, "Captain Robert Sheets." "Captain Robert J. Sheets." And then he'll say it one more time, real loud, "Captain Robert Sheets." Then he'll turn to the commander and say, "Captain Sheets is no longer with us." And that silence that you hear is so, like, loud. And so in the military, you don't, you can't show emotion, and you have to, even though you're in, in formation, you got to be on guard, because you're still in the war, and this is outside. The time for me to perform that song is right in that moment.
And the soldiers, you know, soldiers don't cry, and just, and so I've started performing the song, and...
The soldiers just break. Like, some of the toughest guys, like.
And the way I write, I put like little funny things, I'm like, like, he is, he, I was like, he was so clean, but his feet stink. You know, I would put it in the song and so on, and so soldiers would chuckle with like, you know, and uh, when I was done, they played the taps, and then when it was all over, the soldier would just get tired. I'm like, Trotter, I didn't know you could sing and play better. And so my Colonel, Peter Jones, who's now a general, he uh, was like, Trotter, did you write that song? And I was like, yes, sir. He said, how long it take you? I was like, about five or 10 minutes. He was like, great. Turn in your weapon. That's your new job. You're gonna go around with me to as many memorials as we can. You're gonna learn about the fallen.
You're gonna turn around, write the song in the morning, and then turn around in the afternoon and perform it. That was my job from two thousand and five to two thousand and seven.
In the military. I went from being an infantry kid, providing supplies on the supply route, guarding and protecting, fighting for the country, to being a military songwriter. And writing strictly about the dead, the fallen, and trying to write hope. So that the guys, it could raise the morale. That's what he kept saying. He was like, it's boosting the morale. Um, not only was that happening, but when we would come off duty and patrol, we all be sitting outside, you know, behind the, the wall. And they'd be like, Trotter, like, freestyle a song for us. And so Greer Kusel would grab his guitar, and I'd just start singing, so I'll tell my head.
And then one day, we learned, we realized that the Iraqi nationals, like, the people were sitting outside of the wall, eating lunch, just listening to me sing.
But, the reason I didn't wanna get into the music business is because it wasn't my dream in the first place. It was one of my guys' name, Jose Perez. Perez was one of my boys. We write songs together, and he, he, he was killed on like, the last day of our duty in Iraq, and I had a lot of moral injury. I just, I didn't feel worthy. I was like. It was his thing. I don't wanna, and I felt guilty a little bit. And so that's when, when Tanya met me, I just was really struggling with the idea of surviving and then possibly having a shot to make it, you know?
Yeah, that's not why you were doing it.
Yeah, so I had.
It was complicated.
Yeah, I had a lot of trouble with that.
Well, I understand why now.
Yeah, that is, that is quite a story.
Yeah, yep, that's, that's, that's what happened to me.
Wow, well, thanks for your service.
Thanks.
And, and also, I'm sorry for your loss.
Yeah, but some good things come out, like, that's where Hey Pretty Moon comes from.
You know, cause doing duty and, you know, Iraq, it doesn't have much, but the, because there are no trees and everything, you can see the stars and the moon is always huge and beautiful. And so that's how we wrote Hey Pretty Moon, you know?
Did you write it there?
I started it there.
Started it there.
Yeah, I just was like, hey, pretty moon, talking to the moon, you know? I just thought the moon was really interesting, I mean, like, cause storms and stuff during the daytime, the sun hides. But in the nighttime, like, no matter what storm happens, the moon is always out, you know? It's like, no cloud can cover the moon, it shines right through.
That's true. It's like a spotlight.
Well, what a gift music is, right? Totally. It's the ultimate gift, isn't it? It really is. Yes. It keeps on giving. Another example of it. A very shining one. Yeah. Well, it's beautiful. You wanna play? Yeah. Hey Pretty Moon? Let's do it. Yeah.
That's a great song.
Before I start crying here. No. Then we won't be able to sing, start crying.
Hey, pretty moon
So bright and fair
How do you hang
In the air up there?
Looks like your hand Go free
From all care
Silver circle
Gliding round
In the dark Look at the peace you found Looks like your hand
Free From all care Selfless Oh, yeah
Why do you shine?
While the darkest hour
Bends under your loveliness I, yeah
Teach me how To shine the way Shine the way You do, no matter Yeah How green the sky, oh Hey, pretty moon Bright and fair
How do you hang in the air of hell?
Looks like you hang free among hell's. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
You find a way to stay up high. You find a way to stay up high. While the stars fall back. While all the stars fall by your side. Even the sun. Someday I'm gonna show you always keep your glow.
Hey, pretty moon, bright and fair. How do you hang in the air of hell? Looks like you hang free among hell's. Oh, yeah. Looks like you hang free among hell's.
Oh, I want to take you with us, Nora. You have to go with us.
Oh, my God, it's so pretty. You don't need me, but it's fun to play with you.
So good. I got that ending.
Because we do it so differently online, but...
We do.
Gosh, Nora, you sound so amazing on the world.
Oh, thanks.
That's why I'm going to take her with us.
What do you guys play live? Do you have a keyboard live?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, the Yamaha montage.
OK.
Do you change the sounds or you just stay on piano?
I stay on piano because I have another guy who's up on stage. He's playing like organ, word. He's doing all these things.
Oh, that's fun.
His name is Slim. He's pretty... Terrence Holmes.
He's home Slim. And he's... He does all that fun.
Uh huh.
But then there's a moment where it's just me and Tanya together, you know, and that kind of thing, but...
He's amazing.
We've got a great bunch of guys.
How big is the band?
It varies, like, you know, we have
two guitars, two keys, which includes me, so me and Slim.
One bass and fiddle and two horns.
That's huge.
Fiddle and banjo.
That's a huge band.
Yeah, it's a lot of people.
Oh, that's how big it can get.
But we travel with... Now, we're traveling with five. And I get really bad anxiety.
You do?
Yeah, so like every show, it's the biggest...
Every time?
Yes, like I have it now, but I'm... Luckily, I'm sitting down. But every show, it's like, Michael's like, calm down, just relax.
You guys have such an interesting dynamic.
I mean, every show...
I gotta know more here.
It's crazy. Like, every award show, you just don't even understand the hysteria that goes on backstage. It's either I'm leaving stuff at the hotel, that's anxiety. It does something for me to see everybody else go into anxiety. So something will happen and I'd just like to see everybody else fazzle, like me.
And when Michael's sitting there...
You stir the pot.
Stir the pot, right? And so Michael is there, he has PTSD, so... Oh God, what are the lyrics? The screen, the curtain's about to open. Now you're forgetting lyrics to the song you've been practicing for weeks. And Michael's like, please, you're giving me anxiety.
So you give him the anxiety?
No.
Oh my goodness.
And she's strong, like, my hands have yet to recover.
From the performance I had on TV.
Yeah, CMAs, I know. It was so bad. My hands were sweating so bad.
You were holding his hand?
Yes, I was sweating so bad.
On the CMAs?
Oh, was it the ACMs?
ACMs, yeah.
There's so many, I don't know.
It was that one, and we were standing there, and I was like, I was like, hey, ouch. That's all I said to her, she was like, she was just, I was like, let my hand go, please.
And then, if you watch us, like, on one award show, we rehearsed that I'm gonna take the high note. But my anxiety was like, no, you're not.
No, no, we rehearsed it, I would take it.
Then you would take the high note, right. But you wanted me to take the high note, you were like, you can do it. Because this particular moment, you want me to do it. And I was all like, yes, I can, I can do it. Until I got on stage. I know, and I realized that I could. No, because I had on the red dress on that one. The other one I had on the gold dress.
We were sitting in the chairs.
Because we were standing. When you held my hand, and I was like, ouch. And we were standing in the center of the stage, and I had on that black suit with the flames.
That's one.
The other one was...
The point is, this happens a lot.
It happens, oh yeah.
Really? And yet, you're the one who wanted to get into this business.
Yes, and I always have had anxiety.
So I think a lot of it, when I was younger, it would like choke me, where I couldn't sing. Where I was like, I'm horse, it's not your horse.
It's all psychological. You know, so I had to work through... Yeah, like, you literally can psychologically put yourself in...
You can, yeah.
Into a point where you know you can hit these notes, but you're so psychologically like, you know, restrained that you can't do it.
This is interesting, because I think of you guys as just being out there all the time, you're on the road all the time. I see you everywhere. And, oh yeah, this is so easy, everything. Isn't that wild?
Every performance, it's an anxiety thing.
So where did you grow up?
In Washington DC.
And did you grow up singing?
I grew up, I was very shy, though. You know, my music teachers say that I... I wanted, I started singing when I saw my brother like really tear up a Baptist church one Sunday morning. And I was like, how is he doing this? I'm like, I want.
I could do that.
I was like, not realizing that I couldn't. I'm like, whatever he's doing to make these people feel like that, I want to do it. Cause I was more so like a feeler when I was little. So I would see people sad and wanna, you know, make them happy or animals and bring them home all the time. I was that kid. And so I saw him on Sunday morning, just like rip up a church. And I went home and I was like, Mom, this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.
That's amazing. How old were you?
That was a lot. I was like seven and a half, eight years old. And my brother was like, that's not what you want to do for the rest of your life. He was like, if you want to do this for the rest of your life, then you're gonna have to learn how to sing like this. So he bought me a Whitney Houston record and learn how to sing like this. And it was Dreamgirls with Jennifer Holliday.
And so those were the voices that he was like, if you can halfway get there, then maybe you can do this as a career. I'm like, this is like a lot.
That's a lot. But a good starting point.
But a great.
I would say.
Pretty good.
So I started, like, you know, we had the little vinyl, the big vinyl, what do you call it, stereos back in the day, old vintage ones. And I would put the records on vinyl and go downstairs and yell at the top of my lungs.
Oh my gosh.
And then my mom was like, that's not singing. She was a classical singer.
Oh, really? Oh, okay. So that's a whole other thing.
That's a whole, and I went, ended up going to high, going to college on a classical music scholarship.
Singing opera?
Wow. Now I want to hear it.
That's what I ended up doing.
Wow, so that's where the power also must come from.
Yeah. And then Michael taught me how to growl and do all the stuff that the teachers say damage your voice.
Yeah, that they would not be having that.
Oh, no, they were. They, I couldn't sing gospel music for like a year when I went to school. They were like, it's killing your vocal cords.
Yeah. That's so crazy. Did you grow up in, in the church?
Singing?
Church, and then I went on to do R and B music, and then I... You know, stopped doing music for a while.
You did? After, after the whole Arif.
Meeting and the, that, that record.
Released a record.
The nineteen ninety-four?
Mm-hmm. Yeah, I did Sister Act Two before then.
Yeah, so I wanted to ask about that. How old were you in that?
I was, uh, I just turned seventeen.
And you were into acting?
Not really.
I kinda fell into it. I, I didn't realize that I was one of those kids.
You know, I was an actor at home.
Cause I was very shy, so I would take my mother's gowns and wear them to school and get sent home. School, you know, I was that kid.
But I was still shy.
This was like my little world where I hid and no one else, I didn't want anybody else to, to be a part of it. So they had this audition for this movie and it wasn't called, uh, I don't know what it was called at the time. They were gonna call it something else. And I came to New York and auditioned and ended up slipping up, ending up in the top three.
Oh, they, it wasn't called Sister Act? No, it was called something else. Really? Mm-hmm. Yeah, and they didn't even write me in. It wasn't. You never told them. Like Lauryn Hill's part wasn't Lauryn Hill's part. Um, the part that I was in, we ended up writing that as I got the part.
That is crazy.
At Whoopi Goldberg's house. So none of it was planned, you know? This is all like, I'm slipping into this.
Yeah, so it was great, you know?
And that's how I kinda got into acting and, you know, liked it but didn't so much. Cause it takes a little bit longer than.
It's hard.
Music, you know, you're on set.
It's not as.
Months.
It's, you can't be as creative.
Spontaneously, you know? It's not as, uh, satisfying in the moment.
Exactly, and so that's not something I pursued long-term and then, so I completely kinda just walked away from it.
Because again, I was doing R and B and then I had done, you know, gospel in my church. But I just knew I wanted to do other stuff because I was, I went to school for classical music. But at that time, there was no, like, um.
There was no genre for what I wanted to do. Now we have what we call Americana.
Yeah, but you felt that kind of vibe then?
Very early on, because I loved all kinds of music. My mom was from Panama, so I was growing up listening to calypso music in the house.
Oh, that's so cool.
And more angry, you know, dancing and, you know, doing all that kind of stuff, jazz. So I'm like, why is everything so separate?
I know.
I want to be able to listen to somebody that does all this at the same time. And so I stopped for a long time after I released that record. And years later, met Michael.
What did you do when you stopped?
I was a worship leader.
Oh, cool.
I did worship music, I wrote books, I did, you know, a lot of community service kind of stuff. Stage plays.
Oh, that's so great.
Behind the scene kind of stuff, so I was doing more. She writes amazing books. Writing, oh, thank you.
That's so great, yeah.
But, you know, I was an introvert part of me. And I learned through that time that a lot of me is, I'm introvert.
And a mom. And a mom.
Mm-hmm, you know, all those things and that normalized.
It for me, you know, not realizing that. I don't think I had the role models to show me how you can kind of balance it both.
Well, it's impossible.
Yeah, I was like, there's no balance.
And it's possible, but mostly impossible.
It's mostly impossible, and that's what I had to learn, you know, it's like, you can't balance this, you know?
Well, no, you can balance it all. It's just something will always suffer and it's usually you.
Yes, that is exactly the truth. Now, that's, that's a great way. Yeah, I mean, that is so true.
Something will suffer.
Something will suffer, you know, and so, you know, a lot did and a lot of my mental health suffered. So I took that time off to kind of just fix the cracks within myself. And when I met Michael, it was, the cracks were not all fixed. I'm still wacky sometimes, but, you know, but. I ain't saying nothing. I don't know what you're talking about. I'm the perfect wife, thank you, honey. I don't know what you're talking about.
Well, it sure seems like you guys have this great partnership that has become so special. Yeah. You know.
Cash flow crunch? OnDeck's Small Business Line of Credit gives your business immediate access to funds up to $200,000 right when you need it. Cover seasonal dips, manage payroll, restock inventory, or tackle unexpected expenses without missing a beat. With flexible draws, transparent pricing, and control over repayment, get funded quickly and confidently. Apply today at ondeck.com. Funds could be available as soon as tomorrow. Depending on certain loan attributes, your business loan may be issued by OnDeck or Celtic Bank. OnDeck does not lend in North Dakota. All loans and amounts subject to lender approval.
Listen to Before the Moment, a Lincoln Original Series on the iHeartRadio app, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Yeah, card members can also enjoy 15 visits to the Delta Sky Club each medallion year when flying Delta, and you can unlock unlimited Delta Sky Club access after spending $75,000 in purchases on your card during a calendar year. Those are benefits you can get behind. You also get for one-time guest passes each medallion year, so you can bring a friend or a colleague along. Fifteen Sky Club visits plus four guest passes? That's up to $950 in annual value. Value estimate based on $50 per visit rate to purchase additional visits or bring a guest to the Delta Sky Club. It's that kind of premium access that helps you feel right at home and at ease no matter where you're heading. Apply today at delta.com/podcast.
And for adults with type 2 diabetes and known heart disease, Jardiance can lower the risk of cardiovascular death, too. Prescription Jardiance, empecagliflozin 10 or 25-milligram tablets, are used to lower blood sugar along with diet and exercise in adults with type 2 diabetes. Jardiance is not for use to lower blood sugar in people with type 1 diabetes, and not for people with type 2 diabetes who have severe kidney disease. Serious side effects include increased ketones in blood or urine, and infection in the area between and around the anus and genitals called the perineum. Both may be fatal. Severe allergic reactions, dehydration, urinary tract or genital yeast infections in men and women, and low blood sugar. Stop taking and tell your doctor right away if you have nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, tiredness, rash, swelling, trouble breathing, or swallowing.
Tell your doctor about lightheadedness, weakness, fever, pain, tenderness, redness, or swelling in the perineum. You may have increased risk for lower limb loss. Call your doctor right away if you have new pain or tenderness, sores, ulcers, or infection in your legs or feet. To learn more about Jardiance 10 or 25-milligram tablets, ask your doctor, visit jardiance.com, or call 1-888-968-6648.
When did you, how did, how did you meet? At a love fest.
That sounds good. It sounds so weird. It does. We met at a love festival.
Please say more.
Yeah. It was, again, I was doing community stuff.
And so this was a community event where we were giving backpacks and stuff out. And Michael was on the gospel kind of Christian hip hop scene.
In Maryland.
And he was, uh, it was, he was, I mean, amazing. So he came and performed. The lady I was working with had him as one of the artists. And I didn't know at this time that he was gonna be there performing. And he got on that stage and I was like, who is this guy? Like, everything that I loved about music, you know, that thing you had to have to like, wanna go in the studio and do music again? He had that thing. And I was like.
It lit a spark.
Yes. It did. And I was like, this is the feeling I had when I was eight years old and saw my brother, like, on stage performing. I'm like, this guy, he has it. And so I darted across the field to meet him in high heels. I wasn't that shy. Nah, I'm shy in some areas, Nora. I'm not saying a word. Not in the area. I'm gonna let you run with this story. Yeah, and so I, we met and, um, he was, he was with a friend and we exchanged. I'm being nice, sorry, Tyce, he's with his girlfriend. But anyway.
We exchanged phone numbers. She was not my girlfriend. Yesterday you said she was. I, I didn't, I never said she was. In an interview, you said she was your girlfriend. I didn't say she was my girlfriend. No. She was not my girlfriend.
Maybe he met a friend girl.
There you go, Nora. She was a girl who was a friend. Yeah. And they're gonna leave it at that? Yeah, well, leave it alone. But anyway, we exchanged phone numbers, Michael and I. And I was like, you, you wrote all these songs? And he's like, yeah. I'm like, well, my brother and I are working on a project, cause my brother's a singer too. And I was just doing music for him. And Michael started writing songs. Like, in three days, he wrote like 12 songs for this project.
And I was like, this is weird. Cause not just songs, they were like, you know, you write songs, you come back to them. They were like, complete compositions, you know? And I'm like, I just gave this guy 24 hours, how'd he do that? I don't think you have help.
He's inspired by you.
Wait, had you heard her sing yet?
Oh, Nora, listen.
Because, did you sing at the thing?
Mm-mm.
I was a fan from Sister Act 2.
I was nine when that movie came out.
Oh, gotcha.
And I told, when she came on the screen, I told my parents, I said, oh, that's my wife. And my mom and dad laughed and they looked at me and I wasn't laughing, I was like.
You just felt a connection.
Oh, she was so beautiful to me. I was like, whoa, at nine.
So when we finally met, I woke my parents up, like at like 3 a.m. And my dad was like, what do you want? I was like, dad, let me in the house, I gotta tell you something. He's like, boy, it's 3 a.m. My mother's in the back room, who is it? Is it Mikey? Let him in. She's like, I'm mama's boy. And so I'm like, dad, mom, guess what? And my dad's like, boy, this better be good. I gotta go to work in the morning. I was like, I found her. I found Tanya's blood.
And my mother, I mean, neither one of them believed.
But they remembered that moment?
Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Like, they just didn't. It's still a pinch me moment for a lot of my family members, like, you know, and Tanya is just, uh, she's just really an angel, honestly, like.
Aww.
I mean, like, I, I know good guys, good husbands say that about their wives, just to get a point, but I really do believe, you know, she got some weird spiritual stuff going on too. Like, she, she's, she's deep, but I just believe that Tanya is just an angel. I do believe it.
That's so sweet.
She's a healer. She's truly a healer, like, her presence, her energy, her touch. I mean, like, I, I didn't know what I needed at the time, 2010.
But once I met her, I definitely sure as hell knew from that point on what I was gonna want forever and need forever, and that was it.
Yeah, we found each other at a great, at perfect time.
The right time.
You had, you had stuff to do before then.
And we had a son.
Had to know that, you know, and then, you know, yeah, we had a son.
We had a son.
I had an older son, but I couldn't have kids like fourteen years after my oldest. The doctors were like, you can't have kids, and I met him, and boom.
You wanted to.
And, well, my body was like, yes, we're doing this. You couldn't do it before.
And I wasn't gonna argue, yeah.
And I have two daughters from my previous marriage.
So how many kids total?
Four.
My two, my two baby girls, I mean, like, they're not baby girls.
He wants them to be babies so bad.
They always will be my baby girls. I mean, my, my, my baby daughter who's here, she's walking around with her little boyfriend right now. This is driving me nuts, I'm like.
Wait, the what? In there?
And he works for us.
So it was weird, cuz he's like our sound engineer.
That's so great.
And I really love him, but I hate his guts too. Every time he touches my daughter, I'm like, ah!
Oh, like, it doesn't matter how cool he is. It's still your baby girl.
I go in and out.
I have to hold his hand every time he sees him touching. I'm like, she's an adult.
He's like, bye, Mike. I'm like, um, bye, boy.
They were, they were sleeping, and before we got here, they were sleeping on the couch. We were, you know, at a, at a other bed, and they were just sleeping away, just so cute. And he looks over there, he says, it's time for them to get up and go in the other room. I'm like, they're sleeping, why you getting them up?
Not in the dressing room.
There you go.
But why you waking them up? They're asleep, they can go in the other room, like.
That's my baby!
That's too funny.
Oh, he couldn't handle it.
Oh, that's great.
Isn't it cute?
That is sweet. So, so your youngest is thirteen?
Oh, my god. That one, that boy.
Yeah, he's almost Michael's height.
We named him Legend.
Amazing.
Help.
See him out there listening, help.
Yeah, don't name your son, let him do it, whatever you do. He, he, he.
He doesn't think we're real about our music.
Because it's not hip hop or anything like that.
Oh, he's, he's into other things.
He's like, you don't wanna make no real money, mom and dad. You guys playing around.
Little boy, what do you know?
And then if he asks for something, your boys are probably not, they're not teenagers.
They're not there yet, no.
Well, when he wants something, he's gotten to this point now where he understands that he can Google stuff.
So he Googles, you know, nothing is real on Wikipedia, nothing's real on the internet. How much we, he thinks we make.
Oh, and then he tells you.
He snapshots it and he sends to me.
Don't tell my kids to do that.
He's like, mom, what do you mean you can't get me Roblox? He's like, mom, what do you mean you can't afford $200 worth of Roblox?
I'm like, it's not, you don't have a job. You, you don't have to, you don't have to work for this.
But you know something weird about him? He, his favorite, like, it's so interesting, cause we have a, another side of us that's more like, what? Jazz, like classic jazz? And both him and the youngest daughter, they're like, if it ain't that, we don't wanna hear it. I mean, it's so weird, like, he wants the horns, he wants the strings. He, he's like Frank Sinatra or Nat Kinko, you know? He's like, come on.
He can sing too, he just won't.
Well, someday, you can't force them, right?
You know, I guess.
Yeah, I have the kids all been on the road at various times and just kinda.
He was on the road forever, we, cause we homeschooled him.
When he was little, so, so you could go on the road?
Yeah, until he was 12, actually. This is the first year that he's in the school.
This is his first year, he's doing so good, I'm so proud of him.
He sat us down, was like, we don't, I don't wanna do this anymore. I don't wanna be around a bunch of old people.
Well, that's a good age to like, to make a switch.
But, but how cool that he'll, he'll be happy he did it.
Yeah, he's very happy.
I just didn't like his reasoning. I don't think we're that old.
No, I mean later, he'll be happy that you did that.
That you homeschooled him and took him out.
And we were together.
He's thriving, like, he, he doesn't have any social issues. I mean, like, he's, he's just, he's really cool.
That's what he needed.
That's great.
All of our kids are great. They just, they make it easy, you know, because it could be, you know.
No, I don't know at all.
I don't know what you're talking about.
It can be very hard, yes.
What do you mean?
What are you talking about?
You know, you just pray that you get the kid that's like, I understand you're working.
Understand it's okay. And we've just been fortunate enough to, our kids aren't making us pay.
The only one that was not always like that is Legend.
Yeah, well, I mean.
When he was a baby boy, like, I'm talking about like, two or three, and we were taking places, he'd heckled us. In a real way.
At shows.
Like, listen.
He heckled you?
We had a, we weren't like, we were on the circuit of really trying our hardest to be discovered. And our first show in Nashville was at this brewery called Tennessee Brew Works. And it was just Tanya and I, like, no guitar, no, not just keys and Tanya and I.
No babysitter.
And no babysitter, we could not find anyone. So we had to bring this three-year-old boy into this brewery. And, um, they let us do it, because I was like, he's gonna sit right here, where we could see him.
Like, on the side of the stage, kind of?
No, he just sat in fr-
In front of you.
He sat in front of us at a table.
And I, I put his toys, we, we set him up, I was like, now, son. I, I, I, I thought I did the right thing, I was like, you have to be a good boy, okay? We'll get your milkshake after. He was like, yeah, you know, and I thought the yeah meant, okay, I got it.
No. We start singing, uh, it was a three-hour set, one of those.
Nora, we get through the first song by the skin of our teeth.
Because he's like, boo, this sucks. You're terrible. Oh god, my ears are bleeding. No. And then he's like, look at me, I'm Legend TV. And he's standing up, running across the tables. And then he takes the salt and pepper shaker, he's like, confetti.
Oh my god. It's like a scene in a movie.
Oh yeah, he's a good time.
Laughing while me and Ty is like trying to ignore him.
It's like part of the act.
We said, we'll be right back. Me and Ty both took him to the bathroom.
Oh my god.
I said, sit down. You little deviant's bum. And I was like, stop it. What is wrong with you? I said, what is in you? Because I won't do it again, damn it.
Yeah, he was like, oh dad, I'm so sorry.
Oh dad, I'm sorry daddy. I won't do it again. Be a good boy. I was, okay, we should go back out. And we start the next song, he's like, oh boy, when is this over? This is terrible.
Your impression of him is like Elmo, by the way.
That's him.
I love it.
I'm going to show you the video when we're done with this.
And I look over at the guy who had us. I said, um, we're done. He was like, yeah, he did two songs. I said, we're done.
We had, don't worry about it.
I said, we're done. We got in our car and drove all the way back where we came from. And he was quiet the whole time, like.
He knew.
Uh huh, yeah, he knew.
And we were, we were in a, that was like the toughest time of our lives.
That's a hard time to be touring with a kid.
Yeah, and we were homeless too. Like, we were, yeah, we'd, we'd live prior to hitting the road, like 20 different places.
Yeah, and, and we ended up stumbling into Maryland at a service and a guy was like, I see you guys have this. At this time, he was like four, maybe. Legend was four. And, that's just prior. Chattanooga.
Chattanooga, you should see, I know what you're talking about, yeah. That's Chattanooga.
And we just roughed it out, you know, but we used to have to take them everywhere.
You know, have.
Care.com was our friend.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I remember that.
We would get people like come to venues.
Come to the venues.
And watch your kid in the dressing room. It was like.
Every babysitter we would get would quit.
He was a terror.
He was not bad. He was.
He's just difficult.
Very experienced in being difficult.
Yeah, he knew how to get rid of them.
Oh, he did it on purpose. Yeah, yeah.
Oh, my.
Oh, yeah, he's smart.
Well, that's a whole intense thing.
That's a whole.
Right, but what not to do with your kid on the road.
Life of a touring parent.
So you're just on the, on the road constantly, so you didn't have a home.
And you just lived on the road.
We've lived out in the R and V. We lived out of our vans.
We've, we've, we had, because when I met Tanya, I was already a homeless veteran. I had a hard time.
Yeah, after my first divorce, like my divorce with my, my, my children's mom, I, I couldn't get it together. I was stuck and just, I didn't have the help. But also, the military didn't know that I was a homeless vet. You know, and which just happens in this country a lot, like the, the, the army or marine or navy, whatever, they don't necessarily, once you become a veteran, you're no longer their responsibility. It's the VA's responsibility. But the VA, you have to go to it in order for the VA to know what your situation is.
Not everybody knows how to ask for help.
And most of those guys are like me. They come out of war. They don't really trust it. They're afraid and they don't go back. And I was going through a lot of that. And I couldn't get a job. Our country was going through a period where the incentive was to hire an ex-con first. And so I'd be in interviews with an ex-con and I'm like. You're gonna get this job over me because the incentive is to do that.
You know, and um.
That's crazy.
But uh, one day, just, just to turn. I mean, the dawn was, was actually a turn for us, really.
And you know how you meet artists, I mean, you, you have probably come across lots of artists and you look at that person and you're like, this person really deserves somebody to just tarry with them a little longer, you know, hang in there so that they can be discovered. And for me, that was my goal. Like, I'd never met anybody that deserved it more, you know, from his experience, his writing, his heart. And then, you know, on top of me being in love with him, I was just like, he's such a giving person, you know, and how he loved people and how he served people, not just in the army, but his family. Uh, we would go to churches and different things like that, how people responded to him. And so for me, it was like, people were like, well, you could have went out and got a job and did different things.
It was more so of just trying to make sure that his dream happened, you know, and I was, I mean, and once we started staying together, then it became.
Well, yeah, I didn't know what my dream was. I mean, like, when I met Tanya and I was writing songs and, um, in hopes that, well, maybe this can do something, you know, I've been hearing about songwriting. But uh, I was more so focused on trying to figure out where I was gonna take my daughters when I picked them up. It's like.
You were, you were dealing.
Yeah, I'm, I'm in it. And um, but you know, at the same time, Tanya was in her own recovery journey, you know, and so, um, we cleeved to another, but I told her, I'll never forget because I knew who she was, I was like, hey, I sense she's starting to have feelings for me because our conversations are getting longer, you know, all the things.
So it's, it started with just the songs and, and the.
And it snowballed and I told her, I was like, hey, uh. I'm, I'm not a catch.
I was like, don't, don't fall for me. I'm not a catch. I was like, I.
You were being protective.
Definitely of her because I was like, you know what, I'm not going to be another
story for another female, you know, I, I had a lot of, uh,
letdowns, you know, and then with my, my daughter's moms, um, we were uh, children when we got together. So, you know, I didn't really count that, you know. And so, um, and, um, I just knew that I didn't want to be the cause of another, uh, heartbreak or whatever. So I, I said, hey, I'm not a catch. Uh, I'm not established. I don't have any money. I don't have a car. I don't have a job. I don't have a house. I was like, I am what they call, um, that song, Scrub? Yeah, that's me. I was like, um, I said, but I know I'm supposed to be something in life. I just don't know what it is.
But I do know how to love. I was like, that, that's the one thing I know how to do. And, uh, I said, but I, I don't know how to get to whatever it is. And we were sitting at, in her friend's house where Tanya was staying. Tanya was staying with her friend. We were sitting at her friend's house. She had this bar downstairs. And I'm telling her that. And then she goes, well, okay, I'm going to tell you what I see. And she just pats my, my knee like that. And I'm like, oh, what, what, what do you see? She's like, I see a king. You just need the right kind of queen in your life. And I just started like, I was like.
It's not very shy.
I've grown way out of my shy. By then I was way, I was, I was way out. And it, and it took us actually three years to actually sing together. So we got married and didn't sing together for three years. Yeah. Most people would think like, oh, they just, you know, got married for the music.
So he wrote songs for you and your brother, but you did, you guys did, you, the two of you did not sing together.
And her and her brother never matriculated. But what happened within those three years was Tanya pretty much started studying me. You know, I would get jobs and I'd be able to keep them. Um, after a while, the only job I could get was playing for church. And that was like. Horrible. I mean, they paid me like a hundred and twenty-five dollars a Sunday. You can't.
That's just once a week.
Yeah, and then I had, I had kids, you know, and, um, but it was the Fourth of July in Detroit to where, um, Detroit got some things out there that kind of sound like the war. Fourth of July, and I was like, duck, and I'm calling commands and I'm diving under stuff. And that's when she's like, whoa, what's going on here? And so I'm like, well, um, I'm good, I'm good. And then the next Fourth of July, it happens again. So Tanya's like, you, we have to talk. You know, the kids are crying and everyone's scared and doesn't really know what it is. And I'm like, uh, I'm a war veteran.
You didn't know this? No, he never shared it. You never shared this with her?
With no one, because when I came home, so I served under President Bush.
Uh, when I came home, it was two thousand and seven, Baltimore. It was not, um, I quickly understood that my country was against my uniform.
This is so deep.
Yeah, so I was like, oh, in order for me to survive my country now and the war my country is in, it's best I don't tell anyone that I was a soldier.
Because then questions began, then you gotta tell, you know, and so I just stopped. And it wasn't serving me, I couldn't get a job telling them because they would rather hire an ex-con because the ex-con is more afraid to mess up or flip out than a war veteran because he can blame it on the war.
Okay, I'm, I'm getting this. It's really, really incredible.
But Tanya found, within her three years, Tanya, um, after I told her, she was like...
You'd been married about three years? Yeah, I was married for three years by this time, yeah.
After I tell her, she then goes into like the study on the VA and the process. And so she contacts our senator and tells our senator about me and what was going on. And our senator was like, well, we'll look into it. And when they looked into my military file and they contacted the VA and the VA was like, oh, he's, well, he's actually highly decorated. It's not like he was a problem or anything like that. And so, um, this is so crazy. We got a letter from the center like, hey, they're working on your, his claim. But until then, here's a check for $5,000. Just to hold over because they're working some things up.
When they got done, the military owed me back pay for injuries. They medically retired me from the military and gave me pension.
But you hadn't been collecting.
All the time. And so now everything changed. And so what happens is now the military is paying me monthly. Even now, my stipend and everything, it helped us get on our feet and chase that dream. And still have a place to come home to. I mean, like, things just.
This is so wild.
And that's, that's her.
This is incredible. I mean, your story is incredible, both of you, and then together. And then.
Yeah, yeah. Music and love saved.
Cash flow crunch? OnDeck's small business line of credit gives your business immediate access to funds up to $200,000 right when you need it. Cover seasonal dips, manage payroll, restock inventory, or tackle unexpected expenses without missing a beat. With flexible draws, transparent pricing, and control over repayment, get funded quickly and confidently. Apply today at ondeck.com. Funds could be available as soon as tomorrow. Depending on certain loan attributes, your business loan may be issued by OnDeck or Celtic Bank. OnDeck does not lend in North Dakota. All loans and amounts subject to lender approval.
If you're a music fan, I've got a new podcast you have to check out. It's called Before the Moment, a new series hosted by the legendary Nile Rodgers. You know him as the producer, songwriter, guitarist, and co-founder of Chic. But in this series, he's hitting the road to sit down with some of today's most fascinating artists. From hitmakers like Miguel to rising stars like Alex Warren, Niall explores the stories behind the careers, the songs, and the moments that changed everything. Because every artist can point to that turning point, the moment before the breakthrough, before the success, before everything changed. Through candid conversations and personal stories, you'll hear what happened before the moment
that made them who they are today. Listen to Before the Moment, a Lincoln original series on the iHeartRadio app, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.
This is Troy Millings. As someone who travels a lot for work, I really appreciate a premium airport experience. With the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card, it truly feels like you can have it all. For a limited time, new Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card members can earn 200,000 bonus miles, the highest miles offered this year. Card members can also enjoy 15 visits to the Delta Sky Club each medallion year when flying Delta, and you can unlock unlimited Delta Sky Club access after spending $75,000 in purchases on your card during a calendar year. Those are benefits you can get behind. You also get four one-time guest passes each medallion year, so you can bring a friend or colleague along.
15 Sky Club visits plus four guest passes? That's up to $950,000 annual value. Value estimate based on a $50 per visit rate to purchase additional visits or bring a guest to the Delta Sky Club. It's the kind of premium access that helps you feel right at home and at ease no matter where you're headed. Apply today at www.delta.com/podcast. Offer ends November 4, 2026. Minimum spending, requirements, and terms apply.
And for adults with type 2 diabetes and known heart disease, Jardiance can lower the risk of cardiovascular death, too. Prescription Jardiance, empagliflozin, 10 or 25-milligram tablets, are used to lower blood sugar along with diet and exercise in adults with type 2 diabetes. Jardiance is not for use to lower blood sugar in people with type 1 diabetes, and not for people with type 2 diabetes who have severe kidney disease. Serious side effects include increased ketones in blood or urine, and infection in the area between and around the anus and genitals called the perineum. Both may be fatal. Severe allergic reactions, dehydration, urinary tract or genital yeast infections in men and women, and low blood sugar. Stop taking and tell your doctor right away if you have nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, tiredness, rash, swelling, trouble breathing, or swallowing. Tell your doctor about lightheadedness,
weakness, fever, pain, tenderness, redness, or swelling in the perineum. You may have increased risk for lower limb loss. Call your doctor right away if you have new pain or tenderness, sores, ulcers, or infection in your legs or feet. To learn more about Jardiance's 10- or 25-milligram tablets, ask your doctor, visit jardiance.com, or call 1-888-968-6648.
Well, well, my goodness.
Oh, it hurts.
I'm gonna cheat on this one. You gonna cheat? No.
Hey, baby.
Why you have to go and fall for me?
Yeah, you're poor, I'm gonna tell you why.
I was up to no good. Yeah. Baby.
I'm not the one.
I'm just Mr. Fun.
In the night. All alone. All alone. And you want. And you want. Someone to hold. Someone to hold. Out from running. Out from running.
In the night. You're all alone. All alone. And you want. And you want. Someone to hold. Someone to hold. Out from running. Yeah. Oh, baby. Baby. Nice to hear you. Why'd you have to go and play with me?
Do you, do you, do you?
Do you know? I would play a fool for you. Oh, baby. Yeah, yeah. Baby. Baby. Why'd you have to go and play with me? Ooh, yeah.
You're not the one. Oh, no. You're Mr. Fun.
In the night. In the night. All alone. All alone. And you want. And you want. Someone to hold. Someone to hold. I'm a runny, baby. I'm a runny, baby. In the night. In the night. All alone. All alone. And you want. And you want. Someone to hold. Someone to hold. I'm a runny, baby. I'm a runny, baby. And when the night turns into day. Don't expect for me to stay.
I'm taking you all the way. All night. Down, down, up, up. In the night. In the night. All alone. All alone. And you want. Someone to hold. I'm a runny, baby. In the night. In the night. All alone. And you want. And you want. Someone to hold. Someone to hold. I'm a runny, baby. Yeah.
Oh, God.
You guys have power.
Oh, God. You.
Oh, man.
The queen.
In the night.
It's great.
I tried to get in there.
I love it. I love it. It was big and it just came down. It was so cool. Yeah, I love it.
We had to do one, like, for real.
Oh, yes. We gotta do one.
It's been a dream.
We gotta do one together.
Yeah, it would be so fun.
Isn't it?
I had so many thoughts, you know? So I didn't have confidence on the piano.
You sure do now.
Well, I have. Listen.
Hmm.
In the pandemic, I mean, not pandemic, in 2014.
I was, I, I used to set Tanya up.
All the time.
She would go sing at churches.
And I'll let the church musicians play for her.
She was like, Michael, you need to play as Alice Cooper. I was like, mm mm.
I would get up there and it's nothing like playing with the piano player that outplays you.
Or also knows you.
Well, you, I mean, what, what I would get with these piano players and they would outplay the song.
Oh, gotcha. They would be too much.
And I'm like.
That's what you're talking about.
Yeah, and I'm not like a, you know, I don't do all the riffs and trills and stuff.
Well, they're not listening.
They're, yes, they're listening to themselves. And so, listening to like, Michael's playing and a piano, and, and you're playing, you all are sensitive to, to the voice and the song and the intimacy of the song. So, we would go to these churches and I'm like, they are wearing me out on this piano. So I'm like, I can't keep up, you know?
And you can't, you can't sing over it.
No, you can't, you know, kill yourself trying to do it. And Michael just has this, this touch, I mean, same.
Well, I didn't believe it because, you know, growing up in the church, the flashier you were, it's like, the more the spirit moves or something. So it tricks you.
It's not real, because you get out in the real world and you're like, you know, everybody's like, where's the song?
You know, so, um, but.
There's a balance.
Yes, it is. So before I, we, we, we moved to Michigan, we were living in Towson, Maryland. And, you know, we're through a period where, and it's still like that, like guitar is like a thing thing. Like, everyone wanted to play the guitar. No one really was doing keys like that. And so, I was like, I, I can't play the guitar. I'm a keys guy. So. But someone freed me. I watched a concert of Norah Jones.
That's true.
Yes, and it was just you and the piano.
Oh.
And I was like, Tanya, look at Norah.
And I swear to God, because it was like, I would watch this over and over and over again because you, I was like, how does she like, okay, wait a minute. And you would play and sing and your playing complimented your vocal so perfectly, you know? And the only person like, you know. I mean Nina Simone. Does it wonderfully.
You know, Ray Charles. But nobody in our day and age, for me, was doing it. And then I saw that concert and and then it caused me going deep dive and I saw you with another configuration where I want to say it was the Blade brother.
Brian Blade. Yeah.
Brian Blade and it was an upright bassist and I was like, oh my God, like, listen to this sound, you know, and then I saw you in all these different configurations and so it gave me the confidence I needed to be able to just trust me and trust, you know, where I want to jump out at, you know, because you could sing like, you know, you could Amazing grace, how sweet
the sound and save the rich like me. I once was lost, but now I'm found.
Was blind, but now I see.
I created that off of you.
No. Yeah.
She knows it.
Yeah. The pacing. Like you are this generation's one of the best vocal pacers I've ever heard in my life. You guys are so sweet. And you make the music wait for you. I mean, I think a lot of artists are afraid of the silence. Spaces, the place. Spaces and places, you know, and what you do is you allow.
The music, to get into you and then like, here I come.
It's a few, Alison Krauss does it.
Yeah, she does.
She lets it, you know, and she just, let me touch you. And she'll just, I mean, I saw her the first time, maybe, uh, when was that time? Opry 100 was.
That was three, four weeks ago.
March 19th. I will never, ever forget this moment. At the Ground Opry, she's on the stage and it's her and her configuration. And she's got her, you know, her fiddle and she's just singing. And I, I, I knew she was staring at me while she's singing. But then this person thinks she's staring at me. And then the person went over and think, I'm like, how in the world is this happening? And we all were like, and she never went here, she just went right here.
Our entire band was trying to get here to see you. They all think you're singing to them. She's not singing to you guys.
It's not just about the singing though, I'm gonna tell you this, Nat King Cole, this happens to Nat King Cole a lot. Everybody talks about his voice.
But unless you understand this and this, like, his vocabulary on the keys, like, straighten up and fly right.
Package deal.
It's beautiful though, like, when it's done the right way and, you know, so I, I just, I wanted to tell you that, you know, I, I wanted to say, at Ohana, we saw you at Ohana that time.
Was that the first time we met?
I think so, yeah.
No, was it? Oh, we met at, um, John Prine's.
Songwriter induction Hall of Fame. We've seen.
We've known her all of our lives.
Well, now I see you at everything.
Grateful Dead tribute, we're both there.
We're both there, we're not here.
That tribute was so, I mean, like.
That was fun.
Oh, man, and then, um, yeah, John Prine. Oh, I never forget that, you know. You come in the dressing room, so that wasn't our first time.
No, no. Well, that's really sweet of you to say, I appreciate it. I think that being yourself is the most important thing. So you playing for yourself is only gonna be the thing that you are the most.
Does that make sense?
That makes sense, absolutely.
Collaborating is great, but like you guys have a thing. So don't leave her hanging next time, go to church.
Oh, I quit so fast.
Look, I have Nora now, I don't need you, Nora's gonna meet me at the church.
Yeah. Tell him, say, "What are you doing?" She said, "Get up there."
Yeah, no.
Oh, he was so scared, and we used to play, we had so many keyboard nightmares that I'm surprised that he still plays.
Well, piano on the road is hard, keyboards, it can be uninspiring, too.
Well, we had a Casio starting out.
Yeah, I used to plug up, I used to put batteries in the Casio.
Oh, my God, you didn't have a plug?
No, we were too far. We didn't have, we didn't have a plug.
You just had a tiny little Casio.
I would take him around the streets in Richmond and put him on the street like he was busking.
And he would play his little Casio keyboard.
Our first tour, we were playing in this club in Columbus called Georges. And we're doing great, it's just me tying the cello player, and I'm, I'm holding it down, I was worried.
You were so worried.
How am I gonna hold, you know, guitar, a guitar player can hold down an entire show with the rhythm and everything.
Yeah, it's tricky with piano.
Yeah, I'm like.
Look at you, you got good at rhythm.
Oh, my goodness.
You're good at it now.
Nora, I was drenched, the club was so hot.
We had a three-piece suit in a bar.
Wait a minute, I go, we're playing this song, it's like, um,
like, one was boppy, I'm like, oh, people were clapping. Nora, I went to go hit this chord here, and every key on the piano played at once.
Oh, no.
I knew it would be.
I was looking, I'm like, what is happening?
She was like, she thought, she was like, calm down.
And then the chiller first, he's like, he's real classy, Trey, he's like, hey, man. I ain't come out here to mess up, man. I was like, it's nothing, bro. And I was like.
His sweat drained. It was so much water in the keyboard that we had to stop.
Once again, I gotta look at the guy, I was like.
Well, that's why it was stuck, cuz it got too much water in it.
I told the guy, I was like, hey, hey, man, we're done.
Yeah, it was terrible.
He's like, you guys wanna do four songs? I was like, we're done, bro.
Yeah, we're two songs in and the keyboard is soaked.
Back there, he's like, I had to say on music shop, we got no keyboard. I was like, this keyboard is done.
Oh, it's the worst.
So many stories.
I'm sure.
It's so crazy. This journey has been wild.
It's wild. I loved hearing about it. I love it. I could listen to your stories forever.
You had to live through us, the trauma.
Let's just hang out some more.
Hey, let's do that.
I've been pretty lucky. I only had one keyboard snafu and it was on live TV, but.
I don't know if anybody noticed it, but I was, I was playing, um, I was, it was Willie Nelson and Paul Simon. And they were trading songs, so it was maybe the country music awards or something.
I think I saw this.
Yeah, and, and, and Paul Simon did Crazy.
And then Willie did Still Crazy After All These Years. And then he asked me to play World, you know, play the World Ser under him. And, you know, they, everything's backstage and they hook it up. And then I, it's like a, it's like a forty-five second part. And, and I'm doing it and the pedal sticks. And so everything is sustained and runs together and I can't do anything about it.
That is a whole nother, okay, so let me ask you this as a piano player, because I have to know. Because I, I lived and died by the pedal for a long time.
Because I didn't understand how to connect.
Yeah, okay.
So it was going like, it was going.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
But. I have to have in a keyboard, I have to have the sustain pedal plugged in. Because you know, it gives, you know, you know, so I tell my guys all the time, hey man, um, make sure the pedal is in.
Oh, because it's easy for them to forget and it's just kind of this random piece, right?
And there's nothing worse than you go to play a sustain, you let it go and you're like, thing, and I'm looking at it, I'm like, hey man, I told you plug the key.
Yeah, yeah, oh, it's not working, yeah. Well, I think I would have rather that than it just be working and then you're playing. And also that song has, goes through many different key centers, so it's not like just one chord.
Or the polarity switched on you.
Like, have you ever had that happen?
Where you, you hold it down and it doesn't sustain and then you lift it up and it sustains.
Oh, it's reversed. That is a real mind, yeah.
I was like, what is she doing?
Circus of the mind.
And they're like, man, let the note go, bro.
That's so funny, it's not you. Technology is tricky, electronics, but we can make it through.
Yes, y'all do, I'm gonna let you do it.
Well, thanks so much for joining me.
Thank you.
Love you guys.
No, we love you.
So special, thanks for sharing all your stories, they're really, really beautiful.
Thank you for listening to us.
All wacky.
I've been dreaming, like, I'm so happy and I'm so glad we got a chance to tell you how we feel about you.
Oh, I appreciate it, thank you so much.
You know, what was it, Tank said something to us one time, Terrianna. Uh, we went out to eat and we were just talking about, you know, like we were talking about one time about the inspiration and stuff and,
Tanya was like, I don't know what happened to, to us as a people, like, why, and like, what is going on? And Tank said, we don't impress each other anymore. She was like, nobody's impressed by anyone, you know, and.
Why is that?
I don't know.
The internet?
I really, well, I tell you what, I am forever impressed by you. Thank you for the last 20, was it 25 years? I'm impressed by you as well. I really am, and I'm so grateful that, you know, when you did what you did with the music, you stuck to it and you've been consistent with it and given so many people, like you said, just be yourself. Yeah. To tell young people to be themselves, like now, you know. Oh, yeah, well. Is so powerful and for you to be that example, never changing.
And stay true to you.
All the time, like you are.
Every time you come out, it's more pieces of you that it's just like.
Like, did you see that?
Yeah, just watching you unfold and become this beautiful woman. I'm gonna cry. I mean, you're just this, no, seriously, you just became like, you were a woman at, what were you, like 20, 21? I was a woman child. Woman child, but you were like, I was like, this, who is this woman? I thought I was so grown up. You were. But I was not. But you made so many of us want to grow up, like, listen to these songs and this music. It was like, oh, this is how 21 and 22 is supposed to look. You were like, I'm a grown woman. Well, I had old lady music taste.
Well, that's the thing, we talk about this all the time, like.
We will never, like, I wish I could have been in the club, sitting down.
Watching Ella Fitzgerald sing, you know, Mac the Knife or.
Like, can you imagine being in the room when Billie Holiday first sang Strange Fruit?
Like, I'm like, how privileged were they? I mean, YouTube is as close as we can get, because we're not, we aren't creating artists like that anymore, you know? I mean, Samara is doing a wonderful job, but.
You know, like, there's something about being able to be in the presence
of that. And for me, you know, and Tanya, your Ohana set.
You know, I'll never forget that. Like, me and my guys and Tanya, we were just sitting there and, you know, it's outside, and I was like, I wonder what, what set, what Nora's gonna do because it's outside.
What I said she was gonna do, I said she was gonna do Nora.
They're scum drunk. You know, and I'm like, oh, I'm very interested to see this because-
It was light out still.
It was so beautiful.
But it was so, the mood, like, you came out and Brian was on there and you had an upright bass, I forget-
Oh, that was Chris Thomas.
And you played, and we all were just like, well, this is what I mean by the presence.
We get to experience one of our legends do her thing, you know, and-
She's our legend.
Like, I hate that I never got a chance to see Ray Charles, or I never got a chance to see Nina, so did you get a chance to see her?
I never saw Nina, and I kick myself, because when I moved to New York, she played every year.
At Carnegie Hall. And I just, you know, I didn't maybe have the money, or I thought, oh, I'll see her next year, and I never did.
But I saw Ray play in high school.
And it was great, but it was very, like, you know,
short and medley.
I mean, it was great, but, uh-
You wanted more.
I don't know, I think I wanted more, or maybe my mom wanted more, and I'm just remembering it that way, I don't know. But she saw him play when she was in high school, in a high school gymnasium.
In the sixties.
That's the Ray.
I know, I was like, that's what she's expecting, maybe.
That's what she wanted.
What was your first concert ever?
My first concert ever was MC Hammer.
Oh, yeah. You got to see the hat?
Where?
In Alaska, at a stadium.
Oh, he had so many people on that stage.
So good.
It was crazy.
Wait, honey, yours was?
What was yours?
Whitney Houston.
That was your first? I thought Sarah was your first.
No, Sarah Vaughan, I saw, well, you're right. When I was 13, at Blues Alley.
Oh, that's amazing.
Yeah, at Blues Alley, and my friend took us there, and I was all dressed up. They had to dress me up to make me look older, so.
Oh, so you could get in?
And I was like, oh my god.
That is incredible. Was that amazing?
It was, she, Oscar Peterson was on keys.
Stop it.
What?
No way.
You didn't tell me this.
Well, we went because my friend was a piano player, and he was like obsessed. He was like, this guy's playing, you gotta see him.
This guy?
Yeah, like, no, I'm like 13.
And then he was like, do you know who's playing tonight? I'm like, no. Because I was listening to, you know, the jazz stuff at school, my, you know, my teacher was like a band teacher, so he was like, here are the voices you need to listen to and mimic.
She was incredible.
She's fun to mimic, too.
She really is.
She really will stretch you up and down, all around.
And she was down here, and she'd go up here, and then, send in the clothes.
See that?
And she's probably older and lower and lower.
And this richness, she was older, she had on this, like, this long kind of kimono kind of.
Caphone?
Caphone, yeah, yeah, yeah.
She was a caphone.
It was like a brown with like, um, the shiny stuff on it.
And you were 13?
I was 13.
That is incredible.
At Blues Alley.
How old were you when you saw MC Amra?
I was probably 11 or 12.
I was 10 when my first concert.
I saw Whitney at 17. That's, that was my second concert.
17?
I hate telling people who mine was. It was the best and worst experience of my life.
And for the same exact reason.
I mean, it was weird because it was the best because it was so amazing, and it was the worst because it was so amazing. But I was blindfolded, Cleveland, Ohio, at the Cleveland Coliseum back in the day. I was ten years old and my godmother took me into the, the, the Coliseum. And it unfolded me was pitch black and then this music.
And out of the center of the stage pops out Michael Jackson.
Oh, my gosh. And she surprised you.
Yeah, yeah, and I was like, and it was the worst because Michael stood there for fifteen minutes. Literally because they had to cart people out from passing out.
Are you serious?
It was insane and it was this would happen throughout the entire concert. People, ah, just drop, I mean, like, but he was.
It, it, I would, you don't want that to be your first.
Because it's too high a bar?
It's too high bar, like, everything about him, like, standing there for fifteen minutes, you don't even realize it's fifteen until you look over because there's a ticker.
And because everything he does was like precise. And then how he emotionally just took everybody. Like, he's doing all the jam and he's doing everything and he does thriller. But this was the, the moment in his career where he was ending all of his shows with, she's out of my life. And he would like cry in the middle of it, you know, we know that one. But I, I know. That's my favorite part.
Once he got there, I was boo boo crying. It's just the keys.
Perfect. Perfect. I was like, this is ridiculous. I don't ever, no, this shouldn't have been my first. You're ruined. He was, he was, it was, I mean, not many people get, I mean, people have seen it, but not many people get a chance to say, like, that was their first concert.
That was my first concert.
Pretty incredible.
Yeah, Michael Jackson.
Well, and you were young, so not many people your age got to see that.
No, no, I mean, we, I walked away with a hat and a glove.
Yeah, you got a glove.
It was everything. Everybody had a glove, right? Did you have a glove? I got in so much trouble, like, the next day, I cut all my pants. So that my white socks could show.
You cut them all short.
And then all of a sudden, high waters became a thing. It's like, man, you got a high water. I stole my mother's communion gloves.
Oh, we're at the school.
That's funny.
Yes, I can't find my glove for community.
I'm so frustrated.
With the school and the monitor. Can't get it this Sunday.
That went on for a while.
Well, I'm so glad I've been here.
Thank you so much.
This is really cool.
You guys are special. Well, we'll hang out again. I know it.
Cash Flow Crunch. OnDeck's small business line of credit gives your business immediate access to funds, up to $200,000, right when you need it. Cover, seasonal dips, manage payroll, restock inventory, or tackle unexpected expenses without missing a beat. With flexible draws, transparent pricing, and control over repayment, get funded quickly and confidently. Apply today at ondeck.com. Funds could be available as soon as tomorrow. Depending on certain loan attributes, your business loan may be issued by OnDeck or Celtic Bank. OnDeck does not lend in North Dakota. All loans and amounts subject to lender approval.
Listen to Before the Moment, a Lincoln Original Series, on the iHeartRadio app, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Yeah, card members can also enjoy 15 visits to the Delta Sky Club each medallion year. When flying Delta and you can unlock unlimited Delta Sky Club access after spending $75,000 in purchases on your card during a calendar year. Those are benefits you can get behind. You also get for one time guest passes each medallion year, so you can bring a friend or a colleague along. 15 Sky Club visits plus four guest passes. That's up to $950 in annual value. Value estimate based on $50 per visit rate to purchase additional visits or bring a guest to the Delta Sky Club. It's that kind of premium access that helps you feel right at home and at ease no matter where you're heading. Apply today at delta.com/podcast.
And for adults with type 2 diabetes and known heart disease, Jardiance can lower the risk of cardiovascular death, too. Prescription Jardiance, emigliflozin 10 or 25-milligram tablets are used to lower blood sugar along with diet and exercise in adults with type 2 diabetes. Jardiance is not for use to lower blood sugar in people with type 1 diabetes and not for people with type 2 diabetes who have severe kidney disease. Serious side effects include increased ketones in blood or urine and infection in the area between and around the anus and genitals called the perineum. Both may be fatal. Severe allergic reactions, dehydration, urinary tract or genital yeast infections in men and women and low blood sugar. Stop taking and tell your doctor right away if you have nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, tiredness, rash, swelling, trouble breathing or swallowing.
Tell your doctor about lightheadedness, weakness, fever, pain, tenderness, redness or swelling in the perineum. You may have increased risk for lower limb loss. Call your doctor right away if you have new pain or tenderness, sores, ulcers or infection in your legs or feet. To learn more about Jardiance 10 or 25-milligram tablets, ask your doctor, visit jardiance.com or call 1-888-968-6648.
Let's go out on a song. Let's do it. This too leads me home.
Let's do it.
Life's a journey, about getting by Till you get to the by and by And meet your maker Up in big houses in the sky
As you travel to and fro Sometimes you get lost trying to go Back to a familiar place where you're Straight away from
Meet me on the other side of the railroad Where the mountains ease the crystal streams Through the valleys flow In your arms I find straight and narrow On those country roads
You will always be The one who leads me home
I remember the hard times When you found me, I had lost my mind Forgot where I was going, better yet Where I came from
Meet me on the other side of the railroad. Where the mountain beats and crystal streams. Through the valleys blow. In your arms I'll find the straight and narrow. On those country roads.
You will always be the one that leads me home.
He's so pretty. Oh, he's beautiful, guys.
Look at y'all.
Yes! Yay! It happened! Thanks so much. Thank you. Aw, thanks for listening. That was so fun. That was amazing. I can't believe that story. Yeah, that was unbelievable. Playing piano, learning how to play and sing in Saddam's busted-out palace. No big deal. No, oh my God, that's so intense. It was a very, very touching story. I'm really so glad that I got to be with them. This was nice. If you want to know what songs we played in this episode, the first song was Hustlin' from their album Heart's Town, released in 2020. The second song was Hey Pretty Moon, from Heart's Town also. And the third song was Mr. Fun,
from the album Plus One, released in 2025. The fourth song we did was Leads Me Home, also from Plus One, released in 2025. Special thanks to The Warren Treaty for joining us today, Michael and Tanya. And we'll be back next week with Josh Groban. Norah Jones is Playing Along is a production of iHeart Podcasts. Follow Norah Jones is Playing Along and start listening on the free iHeart Radio app today.
Cash Flow Crunch. OnDeck's small business line of credit gives your business immediate access to funds, up to $200,000, right when you need it. Cover seasonal dips, manage payroll, restock inventory, or tackle unexpected expenses without missing a beat. With flexible draws, transparent pricing, and control over repayment, get funded quickly and confidently. Apply today at ondeck.com. Funds could be available as soon as tomorrow. Depending on certain loan attributes, your business loan may be issued by OnDeck or Celtic Bank. OnDeck does not lend in North Dakota. All loans and amounts subject to lender approval.
If you're a music fan, I've got a new podcast you have to check out. It's called Before the Moment, a new series hosted by the legendary Nile Rodgers. You know him as the producer, songwriter, guitarist, and co-founder of Chic. But in this series, he's hitting the road to sit down with some of today's most fascinating artists. From hitmakers like Miguel to rising stars like Alex Warren, Nile explores the stories behind the careers, the songs, and the moments that changed everything. Because every artist can point to that turning point, the moment before the breakthrough, before the success, before everything changed. Through candid conversations and personal stories, you'll hear what happened before the moment
that made them who they are today. Listen to Before the Moment, a Lincoln original series, on the iHeart Radio app, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Yeah, card members can also enjoy 15 visits to the Delta Sky Club each medallion year when flying Delta, and you can unlock unlimited Delta Sky Club access after spending $75,000 in purchases on your card during a calendar year. Those are benefits you can get behind. You also get four one-time guest passes each medallion year, so you can bring a friend or a colleague along. 15 Sky Club visits plus four guest passes? That's up to $950 in annual value. Value estimate based on $50 per visit rate to purchase additional visits or bring a guest to the Delta Sky Club.
It's that kind of premium access that helps you feel right at home and at ease, no matter where you're heading. Apply today at delta.com/podcast. Offer ends November 4th. Minimum spending requirements and terms apply.
And for adults with type 2 diabetes and known heart disease, Jardiance can lower the risk of cardiovascular death, too. Prescription Jardiance Empagliflozin 10 or 25-milligram tablets are used to lower blood sugar along with diet and exercise in adults with type 2 diabetes. Jardiance is not for use to lower blood sugar in people with type 1 diabetes and not for people with type 2 diabetes who have severe kidney disease. Serious side effects include increased ketones in blood or urine and infection in the area between and around the anus and genitals called the perineum. Both may be fatal. Severe allergic reactions, dehydration, urinary tract or genital yeast infections in men and women, and low blood sugar. Stop taking and tell your doctor right away if you have nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, tiredness, rash, swelling, trouble breathing, or swallowing.
I'm your host, Norah Jones. This episode was recorded by Matt Marinelli, mixed by Jamie Landry, audio post-production and mastering by Greg Tobler, artwork by Eliza Fry, photography by Shirvin Lanaz, produced by Norah Jones and Sarah Oda. Hey, that's us. Yay. Executive producers, Erin Wong Kaufman and Jordan Runtog, marketing lead, Queen Anaki. Thanks again. See you next week. Bye bye. Smiley later.
With ChatGPT, you can do more than get answers. You can get things done. Whether you're leading a big project, planning an elaborate trip, or trying to balance work and life, ChatGPT can help. Give it a goal, plus things like files, notes, or project plans, develop a trip itinerary with daily updates, or create a prioritized schedule, so you can spend less energy sorting out the details and more on bringing your biggest ideas to life. Get started at chatgpt.com.
This is Troy Millings. If you travel for work like I do, you know every trip is an opportunity to get more from the miles you're already earning. Whether you're heading to your next client meeting or catching a flight home, those miles can go a long way. For a limited time, new Delta SkyMiles Business Card members can earn 200,000 bonus miles, the highest miles offered this year with the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card. Apply today at www.delta.com/podcast. Offer ends November 4, 2026. Minimum spending requirements and terms apply.
This is Colin Coward from the Colin Coward Podcast. Buy smart, drive for less, and trade for more. That's Toyota Ford ability. All starts with a great deal on an off-road ready Tacoma or a half-ton Tundra to a Toyota's most capable and longest-lasting trucks. Built on a reputation for quality and reliability, Toyota trucks are known for holding their value, which could mean big savings when it's time for your next Toyota. For a great deal today to a great value tomorrow. Shop toyota.com. Toyota, let's go places.
OnDeck is built to back small businesses like yours. Whether you're buying equipment, expanding your team, or bridging cash flow gaps, OnDeck's loans up to $400,000 help make it happen fast. Rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau and earning thousands of five-star TrustPilot reviews, OnDeck delivers funding you can count on. Apply in minutes at ondeck.com. Depending on certain loan attributes, your business loan may be issued by OnDeck or Celtic Bank. OnDeck does not lend in North Dakota. All loans and amounts subject to lender approval.
Hey, I'm Niall Rogers. This fall, I'll be driving across the country, meeting some of today's coolest and most fascinating artists. We'll explore the stories before the moments that changed everything. Because every musician remembers the moment where it all began. Experience Before the Moment. A Lincoln Original Series on the iHeart Radio app, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Page updated October 30, 2026 · transcript and summary are machine-generated