Embrace Your Inner Hottie with Megan Thee Stallion

Can an old guy like me be a hottie? - Okay. - Everybody. (laughs) - The way the question you're bad at. (laughs) - Like just the way I was supposed to be. - Yeah, of course. Like, hotties can be hot boys, hot girls, hot everybody, hot people. - Okay. - Like a hottie is just a hot person and a person that's like making a day. (upbeat music) - This episode of IMO is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. - How are you? - I am good. - I'm doing really good. I'm feeling hot girl's summery, but we'll get to that later. (laughs) - Do the hot ones. - Can you be a guy, hottie? - Well, we'll find out, but I don't know. - We gotta find this out. - But that means you really gotta be hot. - I know, I might not qualify. I might not qualify. - You'd have to have that t-shirt off and three buttons down. (laughs) - I'm definitely not out of it. (laughs) - But what's even up to Craig, you Craig? - You know, we just came back from the opening of the OPC, the Obama presidential set. - Ooh, yes, yes, this may not air until later, but yeah, we just did that there. - That was a wonderful experience. - It was, you know, it was just, it was just really full circle for us to be able to open up that. It's not even just the presidential center. It's a campus. - Yeah. - And seeing it activated for the first time, users in it, the community using it, open on Juneteenth, so there was just a lot of love and good feeling. I mean, it was really, it really, woof, it did a number on my heart. - And in our neighborhood. - In our neighborhood. - From all of it. - Yeah, so that was really nice, but while I was there. - In Chicago? - In Chicago, of course. - In between all the things that we were doing. - All the things we were doing. I stayed at an Airbnb and I did an Airbnb experience that I wanted to share with you. - Oh, so 'cause, so now remind me, the Airbnb experiences are these in addition to, you can sign up do you have to be in an Airbnb? - So what I, what I'm finding out is, if you stay at an Airbnb, you can choose an experience, but you don't have to stay at an Airbnb in order to do an Airbnb experience. - Oh, that's great. - So that's really neat to know because I didn't know that until I started getting involved with it, but this one was really a cool experience. - What'd you do? - We got to design our own sneaker and I got mine right here. - Oh my goodness. - So this started out as a all-white Air Force one. - And then you colored it in like a kindergartener. - It does, I know, it looks like a five-year-old did this. - It's like, you were never the artistic one. - I was not. Everybody in our family is artistic, except me. - Oh. - But what do these colors remind you of? - IMO. - These are the IMO colors. - Wait a minute, wait a minute. Did you figure that out all by yourself? - I did, I did this so my creativity. - So with the orange, did you pick the orange? - I picked this orange to go with the orange in our logo. - But the shoe came with the orange. - I'll get to that part. - Excuse me. - No, the shoe did not come with this leather on the back there, I added that leather. And I was gonna stencil in IMO, but we ran out of time. - Well that's the main part. Can you take it back and get that done? - This is a work in progress. I think I'm gonna add some more color to this, but I found the laces, which are the color of the dot over the I and IMO. And if you notice, I got these little eyelets on the laces. - But it was really fun. - It's a great effort. - Yeah. - It was really fun, really therapeutic. And I look for it to my next-- - Are you gonna wear those? - As soon as I finish them, I'm gonna wear them. I was really pleased with-- - I'm proud of you, so much. - I was really proud of myself, really proud of myself. - Well that sounds fun. Maybe one day when I go back to the center, we can do that. That'd be a fun-- - That would be. - That would be a fun group activity. - That would be a good family activity. - Yeah, yeah. - Yeah. - See who Shoe would be better. Better would be mine. - Yes. Now we can get down to business. - Now that we have fully explored your kindergarten shoe, we can do what we came here to do. I'm so excited for our guests today. I love this woman. She, like, we only met once, but she left a deep impression on me because of her energy, her spirit, her, you know, just there's a maturity and grace about her that I just don't think a lot of people can see from her persona, but it is there. She's smart as a whip and I can't wait to talk to her more. - You know, we just met her briefly. I just met her briefly. You've known her and what I would say is that she reminds me of someone who would be in our family. You know, immediately very warm, very welcoming and just a sweetie. So let me give her a proper introduction. So hailing from Houston, Megan, the stallion is a three-time Grammy-winning recording artist, philanthropist and entrepreneur. Over the course of her career, she has earned three billboard, hot 100 number one hits and has been honored multiple times for her advocacy efforts, which we're gonna get into as well. Megan made history in 2022 as the first black woman to appear on the cover of Forbes prestigious under 30 issue. So it is our pleasure to introduce Megan, the stallion. - Well, two at M-O-O. Hi, where are you? - Thank y'all for having me. - Yeah, good intro. - What a intro. - If I did do that, that's a good intro. - Yeah, that's a good intro. - Yeah, you got used to just being fabulous and known as being fabulous. Does that ever become? - I feel like you just never get used to it. - Yeah. - Like, you know, you wake up in the morning and you're like, "I think I look good today." And then people get to see you and they're like, "Yeah, you look good." And it's like, "Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah." - Yes, I just love eating. - You know, I ate that. - You remind me of Sasha, my youngest. - Yeah. - Yeah, I love that. - Yeah, yeah. You and Sasha have similar SaaS levels, you know? - I feel like I hung out with Sasha after a Saturday night live performance. - I'm probably so. - Yeah. - Oh my God. - And I was like, "Hello, 'cause they just show what they do to the secret service." (laughing) - You're my girl, I was like, "Oh, excuse us." - Yeah, I was like, "I definitely will." - You wrapped her around and made my security be around. I was like, "Hello, yeah, we got the president. "Go in here." - And she just, she just is all up in it. But it's, your energy is just, it's so familiar. It's. - Yay. - I love this. - I feel the same way. It's like family. - You know. - So thanks for being here. But you are fresh girl. You are fresh off of Fiji. - Fiji. - Yes, love Island. - Okay, love Island just, we'll just watch it. Craig, he doesn't. - I don't know. - I don't know what you're talking about. - You don't know what we're talking about. - No, I do. I do only because. - Okay, no, he doesn't. - He doesn't. - Well, let me tell you, when they were telling me that you were on Love Island, I said, "Oh, that's the show where all the bachelor's and bachelor's rats who lost go on the island." And they were like, "No, what is that?" - Traders, he doesn't know. Like I said, he doesn't know. - He doesn't know what he's trying to do. - Which Traders is a good show too. - I love Traders. - I wanna be on Traders. - You would be great on Traders. - I know, but I keep saying, I think if I went on Traders, they would immediately vote me off 'cause they would think I'm the Trader. - Well, see, no, yeah, I think you know how to play it. I think you know how to play it. - I feel like when you have a big personality, people just automatically assume it's you. - They just took Portia out. - Poor Portia. - I mean, she doesn't want to be on the different show now. - We're on a different show. - Okay, this is a different show. - Which Traders, you know, I keep saying, we are doing a podcast. We talk about pop culture. And this dude is at, you know, he's at the gym with his little boys. - He's making shoes. - He just doesn't, he's like-- - He's making shoes. - I did like your shoes. - Dude, dude. - I was blue with my favorite color. Like, when I thought of blue. - It was blue, it was blue and just blue. - Thank you. Did you see it up close? - I saw it from back there. - Okay, I was like, this looks very nice. - It's a very hard thing. - I was very proud of my shoes. - Your shoe is wonderful, but back to the violin. - What was the vibe of the villa? 'Cause this was your second season. - This is my second time doing it. - What is that like? - I feel like every time Love Island brings me on, it is just to bring the positive vibes inside the villa 'cause when I got there was very tense. - It sure was. - Yeah, it's, but when I came, everybody was having a good time. I came in and spoke to all the ladies first. I made TikToks with them. We just talked for a little while. And then I went to go see the boys. And I ain't staying there that long. - No, man, how many people are on Love Island? - I couldn't tell you. It's like a bunch of people. - They come and go, they come and go. So, you know, they start out with, like, maybe a group of 10. 12 and then they couple up and then some of them don't and then they bring in new people. So it's always 10 each or 10 total like maybe 10, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6 guys, you know, it's very interesting. Yeah. Very. I love keeping up with it. Something about watching people's love life unfold on TV. It's a so. The logical study. Yeah. The minute my life, my husband, my brother, they just don't understand reality TV and the love of it. It is like a fix. It's like my fix. Yeah. Yeah. I really are always analyzing. Well, what would I do in that situation? I don't know. Why did you do that? Right. You know, that reminded me of the time that, you know, it's very like live playhouse. Like this is a scenario that I probably would never be in. But I like putting myself in their shoes. I know. I keep saying, oh, my God. Why don't you all do this? I don't get that. Why did you say that? Did you forget your mother? Yes. Yes. Don't you know? But I feel like at the end of the day, when you're famous or you're putting yourself in a position to be seen by so many, whether you're artists, whether you are the first lady, just anything like that. Everybody's watching you. Everybody have their eyes on you all the time and you just have to remember these people are humans. Yeah. And I feel like sometimes we forget that about people that were watching on TV, people we see in magazines. It is amazing. And I feel like we got to remember to have a little compassion because they're still just humans. For sure. And they're young. Yeah. At that, you know, making regular mistakes that we all make. But they're just on camera. That's awesome. To be honest, a lot of ladies and men make these same mistakes. Same mistakes. But these people are just on national TV doing that. Exactly. You know? That just seems so cringey. And. No. That is not the word we use. Oh, cringey. No. It's entertaining. Oh. And it's life. You know. Yeah. I don't think I'd be able to watch it. I mean, yeah. I don't want to see people at their worst. You get to see people learn lessons and find love. I love love. I do too. Yes. So when I see people thriving and doing good, like, it brings a tear to your eye. I'm like, I don't really like it. You don't like it. You don't like the letter exchange. Like, will there? I will say. I was tearing up when they were, they're letters to each other, which is why you get so mad. Like, what's going on? Like, what happened to the letters yesterday? Yeah. This literally happened yesterday. You just wrote this letter and then you were just done, but anyway, how do you do it all? I mean, how do you, how do you, how do you feel? How are you feeling in yourself in life? You know, you just flew in here from Fiji, looking fabulous. You must be exhausted. I am so tired, but like when Michelle Obama, get on their phone, if they get up here, that's what you do. You go. Well, I'm so excited to be here. So I definitely was like, I have to, I have to come sit down and now I'm y'all cousin. I feel so, you are. I feel so grateful to be here. You are. But I'm wanting to know my cousin, how you doing? That flight from Fiji was like 11 hours, and then I came straight here. But like I said, I'm really grateful. And then me is, it's a roller coaster. Like some days I feel like, yes, like hell, yeah, we on top, it's like doing it. Yes. But then some days I feel like, oh my gosh, I need to go get under my bed. Like, I don't want to see anybody. I don't want anybody to see me. I'm so tired. I'm tired of people talking about me. I'm just tired. But then I have to take a step back sometimes and realize I'm very blessed. So even though I have like a lot of good days, I mean, I can't have the good without the bad. But what I've been learning lately is how to like express more gratitude. And just like, instead of praying all the time about, can I have, can I have, like I start praying and saying like, oh my gosh, I'm so thankful, I'm glad I have this, like, I'm just practicing having more gratitude. And when you have a bad day, how do you handle that? What do you do when you have a bad day? How do you get yourself back to being a good day? I used to feel like when I have a bad day, I have to do something to fix it. Like maybe I need to call my therapist and I need to tell her everything that's going on right right now. And you need to tell me something that's going to fix it right now. I need you. What's wrong with me? Help. Make this go away. Make it feel better. And then I used to think like, okay, why I just can't think about it because I have things to do. And which I do. Like, I can't be under the bed all day. I got to go perform. I have to go do an interview. I have to go to things for my foundation. I always have something to do. So I can never just wallow in how I feel but that's how I used to feel. Then I start realizing, okay, I need to take these couple of days to myself. I need to have this week to myself because then I start learning like there's nothing anybody is going to be able to say to me, that's going to fix it in 10 minutes. There's nothing I'm going to be able to do to hurry up and put a bad day over how I feel right now. So I've learned to just feel what I'm feeling and just feel it. If it's pain, if it's sadness, I have to express it, I might get under my bed to cry. I don't know. I have to feel it. That's right. Because I'm never going to be able to come out of it if I don't get it out of my system. Well, you got to practice. You have to practice your way through all kinds of feelings, right? You got to build the muscle just like you learned. I thought that I'm not talking about it or trying to fix it right away was the answer. But you had to go through it enough to realize, yeah, you're going to have to develop some muscles, some tools to deal with these times. And the only way you develop them is to do it, you know, but it takes some time, you know. And the fact that you are at the age you are and you're learning that now, it took a lot to get here though. But you had no lot. You 12 years old, girl, you 12 and a half. I feel like I've experienced like so much, though, I don't know. Like, I've went through a lot of different emotions over the years and still even talking about being happy sometimes, make me emotional because I definitely used to like be like, okay, you got to be strong, got to be tough. I must be going through all these things because I'm supposed to be some kind of example of how to be tough and how to be strong. So I never wanted to cry or like feel anything. I cannot stop thinking about the Obama presidential center opening. It was so fun to be back in Chicago with everyone. What was your favorite moment from the weekend? Oh, I think it was just watching the city enjoy the campus, you know, to use Park Space that hadn't been accessible ever, right? It was just beautiful to see families playing in the playground and dancing to music in the courtyard and just enjoying the sunshine and feeling this sense of hope, there I say. There you say. It was so cool seeing the higher ground family out there. Everyone was all over the south side hitting Hyde Park, walking the lake front. And I even heard some folks went to Geno's easily tried deep, deep pizza. That's the best place to get it. Yes. Since everyone was buzzing about the city, what are your top five must-dos for someone visiting Chicago? Got this first of all coming to the south side and seeing the Obama presidential center. That's number one. Of course. Because even if you don't have tickets, the campus is wide open, the park space is beautiful. You can see most 90% of what you need to see without a ticket. And then hopping over to our shared campus mate, the Museum of Science and Industry, one of the best museums on the planet. We used to take our kids there all the time. There's so many. You could spend the day in just those two campuses. So I think that's day one. Next, I'd say, on a nice clear day during your visit, take an architectural boat tour. Love it. It's like the most beautiful way to see the city from the river into the lake. You see all the landmarks, the historic landmarks, all the beautiful sites. It's a great way to experience the city. And then I think you got to hang out in Millennial Park around Buckingham Fountain, because it's a beautiful park. You're on the lakefront. You see the Chicago skyline in an interesting way. So those are some of my must-do's along with eating anywhere. There's a food in Chicago. You got to get an Italian beef. You got to get your deep dish pizza. Got to get some rib tips. Got to get some ribs. But I could go on. Yeah. It's my favorite city on the planet. It is one of the most beautiful cities, well planned, easy to experience and very welcoming. Mm-hmm. Boy, I'd agree with all of that. Whenever there's a big event from a sporting event to let's say a presidential center opening it attracts a ton of travelers. So if you've got an extra room, a guest house, or you're heading out of town yourself, listing your space on Airbnb can be a great way to earn some extra income. During the opening weekend for the Obama Presidential Center, we were able to meet people who had traveled from all over the country to be there. Plus, there's something fun about helping someone experience your hometown. Mm-hmm. next time a big event is coming to you. your city. Consider listing your space on Airbnb. Your home could be part of someone's favorite memory from that trip. For sure. For a rock, my husband, you know, he tries to demonstrate that sadness. We both do. You know, when we, you know, I mean, I'm just like you, anything can make me break. Right. You know, words I say out of my mouth, I have to get ready for it. Right. And what we've learned is like, man, we've, we've got to be the model of those emotions. Yeah. You know, we've got to be like, you can be the president of the United States, be a strong smart man and feel the sadness. Yeah. And let it show because you just saw something tragic happen, you know. And I think, you know, I want you to, I want you to understand that those, you are modeling. You know, you are giving more young women, young black women, young, you know, all kinds of people, the permission to not have to be strong all the time. You know, I feel like strong like shows up in so many different ways. Like it's not about being like tough or like just so weak. It's not about like what you look like. I think it's about like being like brave enough to keep going. Yeah. Brave enough to be like, I don't want to do this. Yeah. Just brave enough to feel how you feel. Yeah. And have your boundaries. Yes. You could say no. Yes. Saying yes to everything. Don't make you strong. I have to learn that too. Because I used to be like, yeah, what you want me to do? Sure. I'm there. What can I do? How can I make everybody happy? And then you learn that when you say no, life goes on. Yeah. I think if I say no, it'd be like, I just pointed everybody. Yes. And it won't happen. And they just move to the next lip first and on on this. Be like, okay, great. Couldn't go. We'll still, you know. And that's strength too. Yeah. You know, those that boundary setting, girl, that's a whoo. Learning all that's a power. Yeah. That's power. So well, that's that's that's cool. That's good. I'm happy for you. I'm happy that you're getting there. And you're going to always be working to get there, you know, definitely. I am. It's an everyday thing. It's an everyday thing forever and ever. And that's a good thing. Because you started journaling. Like, I thought I just started, but like consistently doing it. I'm like, okay, I feel better to write it down. Even if it sounds ridiculous. Like, I'll go back and look at what I wrote sometimes. And I'd be like, girl, what was going on? Right? What is this? What is this? What is this? But I was like, dang, I can't believe I felt like that two weeks ago. And then this is where I am today. And even looking at what I wrote six months ago, I'm like, girl, hello, we made it remade it. Still here. We made it. Still here. And not just making it, but thriving. Yes. I mean, you are just doing things. You were doing all the things, you know, and showing up in a beautiful way. You know, you are so welcome. That makes me feel very nice. You should, you should. We were talking about Craig and I about just childhood, you know, we go there a lot here. Because it's like, that's the side of us oftentimes that makes us who we are. You know, and I started thinking that the familiarity that I feel with you, I don't know whether it's that Houston, Chicago thing. You know, I think so. That kind of, that kind of, the southerness of our upbringing, you know, it just, so we were both curious about, like, what was, what was Houston? What was baby Megan? Like, you know, what was Houston? Like, what was the neighborhood? Like, what was your bedroom? Like, what was, you know, I just want to, I want to picture all that. Okay, where can I start? Okay, so I'm from the south side of Houston. And for probably like the first seven or eight years of my life, my dad was in jail. And it was me, my mom, my grandma, and my great grandma. So I was raised around like all women. And me and my mom lived with my grandmother at first. And then we moved out. We got to apartment and my dad got out of jail. So then that was just me, my mom and my dad all the time. And my dad is like my bestie, my mom is my bestie with me and my daddy. We're like, how old were you then when he, when he got, when he got up, like seven. So it was, I had to really adjust to what was going on, because I sleep in the bed while my mom all the time. Yeah. And then that was the man in here. I like you, but like, my mama, to me, I can't sleep in the bed, but it was going on. And what, what made you and your dad be besties? I don't even know to be honest, like, I don't know when he clicked in my head that he was not against me, took my sleeping spot. But once, because my mom went to work all day long, so to be me and my dad at home. And once I started spending more time with him and we started figuring out, okay, we got a lot of garbage. I was his little shadows. Like I wanted to do everything like my daddy. I want to be just like him. I look just like my daddy. He was just so cool and he just taught me so much self-worth at such a young age. Like, even if I didn't know what he was talking about, like, now that I'm older, I'm like, okay, I can see where my daddy was coming from with that. But he was just giving me so much advice and so much like just speaking so much life into me from so young. I just carry it with me as an adult. And then my dad passed away when I was 14. So then now she's me and my mom again. And then now it's really me, my mom and my great-grandmother and my grandma. And I'm going back and forth between my grandma's house and my mom's house. And my two grandmas were like another set of parents. And my great-grandmother was just like the best lady in the neighborhood. Did everybody, did you, did your grandparents live in a house? In a house, yeah. My school was like right next to my grandma's house. And like a lot of my classmates would come because I never walked to school before. My mama would always take me to school and my grandma would take me to school. So once my mom had the story dropping me off at my grandmother's house, so she can go to work and I could go to school. I went to the school, my grandmother taught it. Oh, is your grandmother's teacher? So like a bunch of the kids from school would come like pick me up from my great-grandmother's house and walk me to school. It was such a great experience. Like living in like the neighborhood. Everybody in the neighborhood loved my great-grandmother. We call her Big Mama. She used to just be giving money out, giving candy out, like just giving love and advice out. Like you couldn't pass by my grandmother door without her giving you something. So I think I learned like a lot of my kindness and like generosity for my great-grandmother. And she just always taught me like my grandma was not rich. Like we didn't have a lot. But I thought I was a princess. I thought I was the princess of the neighborhood. I didn't know it was poor. Because they just, they took care of me so much and they made me feel so good. I didn't realize what we didn't have. I only knew what I had and I knew I was so thankful for it. Like her biggest thing that she always wanted me to do was go to school. She wanted me to go to college. So I did. And I thought I was going to be a nurse. Everybody was supposed to be a nurse. So I started going to PV AMU and I was like okay I'm going to be a nurse because my grandma said I should be a nurse. I did not even want to be a nurse. I just wanted to go to school because my grandma wanted me to go to school. What was your, were you always this personality, were you always talking? Yes. Running my mouth. When I get in trouble at school is for talking. When did you know you wanted to be a performer? Let my grandma tell her it was probably like five. But me, like my mom was a rapper. So then I was very interested in growing up in the house where everybody's an entrepreneur. My mom definitely had a nine to five. But like when she came home, she was, my mom, my mom was a rapper. Yeah. And I'm watching her write songs. I'm going to the studio with her. So I kind of just assumed I was going to do that too. What you do. It was a possibility. Like I didn't know that. It was a family business. Yeah. I was like okay. Yeah. I do this too. So I would like take her CDs like because back then it would be like all the instrumentals would be on CDs. So I would steal her CDs and I would store it right. She'd be like have you seen my CD and I'd be like, I don't know what you're talking about. Right. So I would be writing every day after school. Did you have your own bedroom and your grandparents house? Oh no, no, no, not in my grandma. What? Why would I even say that? Yes, I did. Because I was like, I bet you're a spoiled girl. And my nanny, I definitely had my own room. And my nanny loved a good project. So we definitely were like, it was like we was decorating that room every day. Like we, it was never ended. I'm pretty sure at the room now she still don't stuff to it. What was your, what was your theme? What was your, what were you trying to, what was your age? Shade of print, labor print, brain bow like fur. It was too much going on in there. But it was, it was like a little girl's dream room. Yeah. But my room at my granny house was definitely better than the room at my house. Uh-huh. Because your mother probably was like, you're not putting all that stuff in my house. My mama just was like, you're going to your granny house anyway. You just go ahead over there with that. But nanny, she definitely loved a project. So she just let me, well, I don't know if y'all have big lots in Chicago. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. We'll be at big lots, walk more in country, all kind of stay. Anything I see that look like it could go in my room. Nanny, give it for me. That was your favorite thing in your room. I had like a pink satin comforter. Oh, yes. Yes. And I would go in my room every day and just like slides. Yes. Like, I'm just, I know I'm home from school. I'm excited. I'm just sliding. Yes. And I just feel like I remember the smell of these like feathery pink pills. like you know, with the plastic on Feltish Melon. Yes, that's what I remember about my room the most. So you took your mom's CDs and you were writing songs at like six or seven or more or some more like 10 or 12? Yeah, maybe when I started around 10 or 12, I would take her CDs and do that. Like I had my own like little Barbie. I don't even know what to call it. There was a thing that Barbie had at the time and it played instrumentals for some reason. I miss that. Yeah, but I think it was a popular toy. It was just like random songs on like this little Barbie speaker. And I started writing songs over the Barbie instrumentals. And then I was like, yeah, I do this. I could do this. I see how I'm going to do it every day. And then when I turn like 10 and in that, in that vein, I definitely started being making. I wasn't a stale yet, but I knew I was going to be something. Really? Yeah. I didn't tell my mom I could wrap until I was like 18. Wow. Because I wanted to curse. And I just didn't feel like she was going to be ready to hear me curse. It's like, but it's a part of who I'm going to be. So you don't need to know about this. You don't need to know her yet. So how did you practice or do that without her knowing? I think that so when I was in the ninth grade, that's when I changed all my social media to the stale. So on Facebook and on Instagram. Ninth grade. I think you like 14. 14? Yeah. So I was the stale, you know, already. So I was like pretty, pretty popular, you know? And nobody knew I could wrap. They just thought I was cool, you know? But when I got to college, that's when I was like, okay, I'm a rapper. I do this. And I started freestyle in that school. And then I was like, okay, I got to tell my mom because I really want to, and she said on the internet because I stepped me on my Instagram. But I don't think my mom was even on Instagram at the time. But I was like, she's going to see it probably. So I needed to just tell her that I'm cursing. And what was that conversation like? I was like, mama. I got some news for you. I want to wrap. And she was like, really? And I was like, yeah. And I was like, well, don't want me. Let's start that. But I'm cursing. And she was like, what you saying? And I was going hard. And I was like, okay, mama for a don't be mad. Yeah. Because I was I was talking crazy. Like my mama had me grow up listening to P.M.C. Bumbie. So you. It's like, come on. Don't get. Don't be confused about what it came from. You like. So when I let her hear what I was rapping, but I was rapping about she was like, who is this? Like, what did you learn? How to talk like that? Mind you. Right. She is the rapper. And she's also cursing. But we definitely were not talking about the same thing. I definitely was proud. I was probably her on 10. Yeah. And once she figured out I could rap, like we both would like get in the car whenever we were going places and we'll be freestyle in the car together. Wow. And I just wanted to be better than her at rapping. So I was like, that was my competition. My mom was my competition. But she was also like my biggest supporter. I just wanted to make her proud. And I wanted her to know I'm serious about this. And I really can do it. And I'm really good at it. And I want to know I'm serious. So I started trying to go to the studio by myself. And that wasn't really working out that well. I was getting places. I was doing things. But when I told my mom and she knew I started going to the studio by myself, she was like, girl, you are a young woman trying to be a studio by yourself. I'm taking you to the studio and I'm going to be your manager. If this is really what you want to do. And then everything's done. It's just been. It was just us too. Now, now was your mom hesitant about you going to the studio on your own because of the environment? Or what was she worried about? Now being who I am and seeing what can go on in the studio. Yeah. I know that she definitely was like, you are not going anywhere. Nineteen. Yeah. Eighteen in the studio with a bunch of guys by yourself. Mm-hmm. I'm coming. Yeah. And at first I would go to the studio and it's me and my mom. I'm like, oh my gosh, she's cramping my style. My mom is in the studio and everybody is trying to see them straight. Like nobody is doing regular studio things. But I was fine with that. I was like, my mom is up here and nobody better mess with me. We came here to do our work. And I'm gone. Yeah. But I try to keep that same etiquette too. Even now, when I go to the studio, I know exactly what I'm about to say. Even if sometimes I go in there and I freestyle and I spend more time in there. But learning from my mom, she would probably have six songs written. Because studio time calls money. Yeah. So she's using her time wisely. She didn't come here to play. She's not messing around. She's not relaxing. She's not hanging out. Right. She was a professional. Yes. So I still do the same thing. So she taught you how to be a professional. Yeah. And even though I can relax in the studio at this point, it's just been in me so long to go to the studio and get my work done. Yeah. And get out. Well, this is what we talk about the process. Like a lot of people want the fame without the hard work that goes into it. Right. I mean, honestly, it's a little bit easier to do that though now. You can go viral on Instagram and have a terrible song. Yeah. But do you really last though? You don't last that way, do you? Sometimes. And sometimes not. Like just the internet has made it really easy to be famous. Good or bad. So I think when people, I think you can tell the difference between people who really love what they do and people who just want to be famous. Yeah. And like, I feel like I fall on the side of I really love what I do. This back to school season, spend less on your kids with Amazon. You know, one thing nobody prepares you for when you have kids is how quickly they go through school supplies. I cannot imagine when I was growing up going through backpacks as quickly as my kids do nowadays. But somehow once a year, it's back to the store we go or to two stores or three. Not to mention how fast it all just manages to disappear. The school year isn't half over and somehow we're out of pencils, erasers, notebooks and thirty other things. 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And let's talk about fees because honestly, nobody likes those, which is why Apple Card doesn't have any, no annual foreign transaction or late fees, no fees, period. Plus, when it comes to security, you can shop with peace of mind knowing Apple Card is built with the advanced security of Apple Pay, including Face ID and Touch ID. So you're the only one who can use it. Apply in the wallet app on your iPhone today. Create to credit approval, variable APRs for Apple Card range from 17.49% to 27.74% based on creditworthiness rates as of July 1st, 2026. Existing customers can view their variable APR in the wallet app or at card.appl.com. Apple Card issued by Goldman Sachs Bank, USA, Salt Lake City Branch, terms and more at Apple Card.com. Did you have to learn how to be in and out of your different personas? I mean, I just think about you were, you were one kid at your granny's house and then you were another kid, you know, when you went home, you know, was, were you doing that throughout life? Like, were you one kid in school, were you another when you were? - A rapper, I mean, were you even bifurcating like that? Did you know that was going on? - I think unintentionally like I'm the kind of person who shows up for everybody in the way that they need. So I think maybe my mom and dad needed me to show up this kind of way at home. And then my grandma needed a baby. So I'm letting her baby me over here at school. I'm this kind of friend, as an artist, I'm this kind of artist. Like I feel like I'm just able to like get in pockets of what I feel like people need for me. And I've been doing it for a long time. - Is that exhausting sometimes? - Yeah, yeah. So what do you need for you? - I don't know. I'm still figuring that out. I don't know. That's a really good question. I'm still working through that. - Yeah. - Like some days I wake up and the one thing I know that I like to do is make music. - Yeah. - It's my favorite thing. I don't want to change that. - Yeah. - Everything else I'm still figuring out. - Can an old guy like me be a hottie? - Okay. Everybody. (laughing) The way the question is bad. (laughing) - Like just the way the question is bad. - I don't know where the question is. - Yeah, of course. Like a hottie is just a hot person and a person that like Megan's Day. That's all you got to do. Just like me. - We have to do to hot him up though. - You don't think he had? - You know, I told him we could take off his t-shirt and button that down. - It's a button show. - It's not button. - Right. - He already had a button. He knew what type of time he was on today. - Hot boy. - Hot boy. - Hot man. - Hot boy. - Oh, Aaron, my youngest would be loving this. - Yes. - Aaron. - He's just going in high school. - Yes. - So this is business, Megan, 'cause you had the brilliance of trademarking? - Yes. - Hot girl. - Hot girl. - Some armor. - That was like, tell us about that idea and how in your young life did you kind of go wait a minute? - This is my thing. So sometimes I feel like in just being awesome and black, you know, we do so many things that are cool and just so impactful on the culture. We started a lot of trends. Just, we're just our trend setters, you know? So I feel like when I first started saying "Hot Girl Summer" and everybody was like, "Yes, like I love that. I want that. How do I be a part of this? How do I get in?" It was just already so big. It just started being everywhere. Like I will see "Hot Girl Grill" or "Hot This Summer" and I'll be like, wait a minute. - Excuse me. - Hold on. - Now, Chipotle. (laughing) - This is definitely my thing. So if you want to be an extension of "Hot" anything, it's making sense. So y'all just don't remember that every time. You gotta come ask me to use it. - Yeah. - You know who to call. - Yeah. - I feel like it's just important to have a handle on your name, your brand, your likeness. And luckily I just have such an amazing management. Like they see things before I see it sometimes. And just being with rock nation, like I feel like they are just, they just have helped me be so business-minded. They have let me know the world is bigger than what I thought it was. I could be a lot of things I'd never even thought of being. So just maybe since 2019, just being a part of the culture and being a part of rock nation, like my business mind has just expanded so much. And just shout out to Desiree Perez 'cause that's the woman who definitely like took me in and started helping me and guided me through being making a salient in these past years. - And you own all your own music and all of that stuff. - Yeah, that's awesome. - That's such a blessing. - And you know, I'm just new to this whole show business stuff, but can you talk a little bit about how you accomplished that feat? - Yeah. So when I first ever entered the music industry and started getting signed to any kind of label or doing label deals or meetings and all the things that was just me and my mom. And all I knew was I wanted to help my mom pay her bills. I didn't want my mom to struggle. So in my mind, I was like, oh my gosh, I have to hurry up and sign something so I could help me and my mom. Like we gotta get out this department. So I think like every, no, I'm not gonna say every, I'm not gonna speak for everybody, but I think for a lot of young artists, I could speak to wanting to have something. 'Cause you coming from just being broke and you wanna help everybody, you can help. I think that's the position I was in. I didn't sign like such a great deal and I was so miserable every since then. Like I definitely had some good times. But like the bigger you get as an artist, like the more your name means, the more your likeness means, the more your music means. And it's hard having somebody basically own you. And sometimes it could be these faces where you don't even feel like making music. Like for me, it felt like I was doing it off and nothing. Somebody talking to me crazy. Somebody tells me what I can and can't put out. Somebody's trying to control my artistry. I just was not having fun. Like I was like, if this is what music is turning into, I don't wanna do it. So luckily I was able to get out of this deal. And every since then, I was like, I don't wanna be in a position where I feel like somebody has their foot on my neck. I don't wanna be in a position where I feel like somebody can openly disrespect me and be like, yeah, go get 'em next stage. After this, or yeah, put out this music. Or actually, no, you can't put out music. I never wanted to be in a position where I feel like somebody owned me. So everything that I've done going forward has been higher productions. My own label in partnership with somebody else. - When I think about that a lot, when I see more female entertainers embracing themselves and their power, and I always wonder knowing the industry, it's like, well, is that the saying or is that actually happening? You know what I mean? Like, are we in charge? - Oh, are we in charge, right? 'Cause I think about videos that are sexually explicit. I was like, well, who's, who's idea was that? Was that, is one thing if it's the artist's idea? - Yeah. - But then I'm like, are there times when it isn't? And I know you've pushed through that, but what do you see in the industry when it comes to female empowerment? It's like, are we in power? Or, is that what you supposed to say? - Is that what we supposed to say? - I feel like it's tricky because for me, I've always been really expressive, okay? Like, I've always known exactly what I wanted. So any situation I walked into, like, I might not have had all of the knowledge that I have now, but I definitely will put my foot down about who I was and what I wanted to look like and who I want to be and what my message is. I feel like I was always pretty clear about that, so I didn't walk into any situation where anybody had to build the person I was. Like, I already came here and make it a stadium. So it's y'all gonna hop on this train or what? - This is what it is. - This is who I am, right. And I feel like maybe in some instances, with a lot of artists, not just girls, not just women, some artists don't know who they are or what message they're trying to convey or how they wanna be seen or perceived. They just know that they can do music or they have this talent or this skill and all they know is they have that. And when you're really young doing it, it take a while for you to find yourself. But luckily, I was able to have my mom at the time and my grandmother's and just being brought up the way I was, I already knew who I was when I came in the industry. I have all the knowledge I have now, but I already knew who I was. So I think it's easy to get in a situation when you're trying to figure out who you are as an artist and you start listening to what everybody at the table has to say, you start listening to what the internet has to say and you let other people build your personality. So you're gonna go through a few phases, you're gonna go through a few things that you maybe look back on and be like, "Why did I do that?" But that's so not me. But I feel like sometimes you have to give like some of some artist grace 'cause they're trying to figure it out, but unfortunately, they're doing it at everybody face. - That's right. - I feel like I didn't go through that as like an artist, I went through that as a person. Like when my mom passed away, I immediately still was having to be making a stallion. And so I'm literally trying to figure out how to grieve, how to perform, how to go through everything I'm going through and still doing it in front of everybody. - Yeah, yeah. - So I think a lot of artists are going through finding themselves in front of a lot of people. And they don't, you know, we don't get to get the grace as a public figure, as somebody in their normal life would be, you know, like you, you're not on camera 24/7. Nobody's checking your social media 24/7 and to see what you're doing. Of course, you bump in your head and nobody knows about it. - That's right. - You can pretend to be perfect 'cause we don't know what's going on. But when you are a person that's in a public eye, whatever you do, it's a magnifying glass over the top of it. So I just feel like sometimes we gotta give people a little grace 'cause they figure it out too. - For sure. of you managed it. I mean, how are you learning to manage it? What are some real clear doosies? And let me just tell you one thing. I learn, I just can't take it in. You know, it's like, I have social media, I've got followers, all that sort of stuff, but I don't, I don't have it on my phone. Same. Okay. I had to get there. Yeah. Um, so I definitely had to realize, okay, what, what is triggering me? What upsets me? What's making me feel sad? And how can I, how can I control my own emotions? I can't control other people's emotions. I can't control what they say. Um, I definitely had to start coming to the realization. If somebody has chosen not to like you, there's nothing you're going to be able to do or say to make them like you. Like every day I would think dang, everybody hates me. Okay. What can I do to make it better? Like, what can I say? Like, how can I be? What can, how can I dress? What, what can I do to make people like me? And then it just started really clicking over time. Like, it don't matter what you do. Like, you could look your best, you could feel your best, you could deliver your best speech. You could do the best song to your best performance. If somebody doesn't like you, there's just not going to like you. And they might not even per say, not like you. But if, if people on the internet, people on the internet are going to talk regardless. People are going to have their opinion. There's nothing you could do about it. But you want to know what I can't control? Not having it on my phone. I don't have to see it. Like, I don't have Twitter. I don't have Instagram on my phone. The two apps I have on my phone is Pinterest and TikTok. And I have a lot of puzzle apps on my phone. I have a lot of puzzle apps on my phone. I love the games. I love the games. I love the games. I think of on my phone. And my whole TikTok algorithm is like aliens and fringies, fringible dogs. And I have videos. I don't even have TikTok. People will send me something. Yeah. And then I can see it for a second. Yes. And that's about enough. Because if I really like it, then I would be, that's what I'd be doing all day. I feel like I get a lot of my food videos from TikTok. I'm glad I don't have that. I got to keep TikTok. And sometimes I'll go down and grab a hug and be like, girl, get off this. But luckily, TikTok is one of the apps where your algorithm is so curated to you. Yeah. That is right. I just see what I want to see. It's the joy. If you go look for something bad, then it's right there. I had to learn that too. I was like, why am I seeing this right there? Get this off my phone. Well, it's a good message for the hotties out there. It's like, you know, because you've learned the lessons. Yeah. And you don't have to be made the stallion or Michelle Obama. It's true. It's the same thing is true for all young people trying to find themselves and relying too much on what their phone says. Yeah. You know, it's like, it's, it's got to be a part of being high girls. Like, let it go. Put it down. Don't take it in. You know, it's not real. It's not true. It's not a clear reflection of anything other than what somebody happened to be going through when they said something horrible. Oh my gosh. You know, and you can't psychoanalyze everybody and everything. So it's like this easier said than them. It is easier said than done, which is why we have to keep saying it. Yeah. You know, because it is true. You found it, even so it's easier said than done. You found that by doing it. Yeah. You've earned back more of your sanity. Yes. I know I, I do. You know, and they still say crazy stuff about me. You know, you wouldn't know it's crazy. So like from the outside looking in, when I see, I, both of us can probably relate to this. I see so much positive Michelle Obama content because that's what I'm looking for. Like, that's what I want to see. My algorithm is curated to say positive things about Michelle Obama. Like, I love that Michelle Obama is a tall queen. I love everything that she does in the in the health space. She'd be dressed. Have y'all seen with Michelle Obama at on today? Like, you know, these are the things that I see like positive things. But then for some reason, when it's you yourself seeing things, it's always something horrible. Yeah. Yeah. Like, I never see bad things. Like, it'd be like a trickle here now. But like, well, this is hate. Just hate it. Like if you hate them, Michelle Obama, like, but when it's not okay, it's the same thing. But people tell me that too. And I would be like, what are you mean? I'm seeing it. I'm at the time. That's right. That's right. That's right. A lot of making it stay out your hate. And then my manager will be like, well, it's not internet. Are you alone? I have quite a few creative entrepreneurial friends and all of them rave about Shopify for online selling. Shopify is the platform that lets you build and grow your business while actually owning your storefront, your customers and your brand. It handles so much of the heavy lifting so you can stay focused on creating something people are excited about. The days of having to have a physical location and a large startup fund are gone. It is easy to start a business today because you can start from anywhere, anytime, any place. And Shopify can help make it so much easier. Take their AI tools sidekick. It can help analyze sales trends, suggest promotions, answer questions about your business and tackle the kinds of behind the scenes tasks that normally take forever. We love doing this show so much and we love to be able to do merch for it someday when that day comes will definitely be using Shopify. If you want to know how good it feels to have a business of your own, go to Shopify.com/IMO and see what Shopify can help you accomplish. Some clothes look good on the hanger and some become what you actually grab each time you leave the house. August always gets me thinking about that. Before fall hits, I want to make sure I've got the right pieces in the rotation. That's why I shop at Quince. They specialize in effortless high quality essentials that are built to last. If you've seen me at all in the last few months, you've probably seen me in their 100% organic cotton mesh stitch sweater polo. I have gotten so much use out of the sweater. It fits great, holds up wash after wash and it's one of those rare items that always seems to work no matter what the day looks like. Quince offers all their inventory at prices that are 50 to 80% less than similar brands, working directly with factories to cut out the middleman. I also love picking up gifts for Kelly on their site. She raves about their jewelry. Upgrade your every day, download the Quince app for app exclusive offers or go to quince.com/IMO, get free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK too. That's q-u-i-n-c-e.com/IMO. Friends, relationships, career goals, big life anxieties, we get into all of it on this show. It's become a kind of therapy for me. But just to be clear, I am a firm believer in actual therapy as well. Therapy isn't only for moments of crisis. It's for anyone who wants more support, clarity or tools for navigating whatever life throws at them. Growth therapy can connect you with thousands of licensed therapists across the U.S. offering both virtual and in-person sessions, including nights and weekends. You can search for what matters to you, like insurance, specialty, identity or availability. And get started in as little as two days. One thing I really like is that there are no subscriptions or long term commitments. You simply pay per session, making it easier to find care that fits your life. If there's something in your life you'd like to change, growth therapy can help you start. The therapist you want takes your insurance on grow. Grow accepts over 125 insurance plans. Sessions average $21 with insurance, and some pay as little as $0 depending on their plan. Visit growthherapy.com/IMO today to get started. That's growthherapy.com/IMO. Growthherapy.com/IMO. Availability and coverage vary by state and insurance plan. I don't know a ton about interior design, but I've picked up a few tricks along the way. For our house, Kelly and I love keeping things simple, with little pops of character and color here and there. And when we do feel like we could freshen things up, we always turn to Wafer first. We nab this really nice juke rug and ivory from their Martha Stewart collection. For about a week, I was making constant big Lebowski references to how it tied the room together. But I stand by it. That's exactly what was happening. With Wafer, I always know I'm going to get amazing bang for my buck. Their furniture, decor, and home essentials really last. And Wafer rewards members give 5% back every day, helping you get even more value from your Wafer purchases. Join Wafer rewards today and get 5% back on every purchase and start saving on your next home upgrade. Head to Wafer.com to shop all things home. That's W-A-Y-F-A-I-R.com. Wafer, every style, every home. Can you be outside of a bubble? Yeah. I mean, is your life bubble-fied? Yes. So what are these? Some of your escapes speaking as a bubble doesn't have a bubble community member. There's another bubble community. How are you? how do you break it out of your bubble? - Oh, you know what? Like recently I've tried to start like going back out like publicly more again. Like even if it's as simple as going to dinner. It was a point in life I didn't want to do anything. I didn't want to go anywhere. I don't want to be filmed, eating. I don't want to be filmed, getting coffee. I don't want to be filmed. Talking to people like just, I'm not going outside. And I would be like a vampire in my room in the dark all the time until I had to go do, till I had to go be social. But like I feel like my glam team, like a lot of them are, my best friend is my hairstylist. So like even as, yeah, killing, even as simple as going to dinner with Kellyn or like Ferris T Ferris is like, like a brother at this point. And we'll maybe take all my dogs out on the walker something. Like just, just simple things. Like so I'm starting to do the simple things again. 'Cause I definitely was in my head for a long time. I was not in the good space. I didn't want to do anything I didn't want to be seen. I didn't want to talk to nobody until I had to just turn into Megan Staley. But now I'm doing more Megan things. How does that feel? I feel better. Like I feel a little less heavy. Yeah. Like everything is not so serious all the time. I was like, I'm not using my 24 hours. Like as fun as I could be. Well, let's go to Iceland or something. Yeah, just wake up and do whatever. Like I can do this. Yes. So why am I being boring? Right. I'm looking at people traveling and talking. I'm like, I can do this. Go out there, go eat. And that's the thing you have to learn. Like becoming famous, you know, who teaches you that? There's no class. There's no class on that. There's no class on even to expect that that's gonna happen to you. Right. You know, everybody's all picturing the convertible, going down Sunset Boulevard. And you got your music on when you're famous. You can't do that. You don't even want to ride in a car. It's like I just started driving. I just for the first time, drove in a car with my daughters by ourselves. What? That was their mother's day gift for me and I could cry. Right. 'Cause they don't live in a bubble as you've seen. And one of the reasons is like they did. Yeah. They will, they don't want it. Like they don't want parts of it. So they are doing what you're doing. You just got to push through. Yeah. You know, you just got to do some, you got to do the things. And then you'll get practice at it. But for my mother's day gift, I was in LA. And we were going to go to Palm Springs. So they surprised me in a range for me to ride in the car with them. Yes. So Sasha drove. Malia was in the back. How did you feel about being a mom in the passenger seat? It was good. Sasha was a good drive. I'd never driven with her because we didn't, we couldn't drive with them when we were in the way I still can't. I mean, we are driven, we are secured in a motorcade, right? So I, they didn't learn how to drive for me. They learned how to drive from their agents, right? Okay. So they were, they were taught well, but I never experienced that. So that like freedom, we drove from LA to Palm Springs. We went to in and out burger the drive through. Yeah. I bet the people that dropped it was like. They didn't know. You wouldn't believe they didn't even know because it was like they weren't expecting it. I had on the hat, Sasha ordered. We went and got McDonald's French fries. Yes. Well, you didn't, you didn't have in and out French fries? No. No, because I hadn't had McDonald's French fries in a while. So they were like, well, let's go to first of all, you got to eat in and out French fries out the fryer. Right. You know? That's how I'm going to get in the car. It's the piece of paper. And then I got to be eating right there. There you go. But that was like, I'm 62 years old. My kids, yes, child. Oh, come on. But that's like starting to put some normal back into it. It's just like a simple car, right? Yeah. That's like joy. That's gratitude. That's happiness. So tell us about Megan at three. I'm still working on my title right now. It's a persona that I feel like everybody has been acting like, oh, I want Tina Snowback. I want, we need Tina Snow. I don't think she ever just actually left. I don't think she was never just not there. But I think giving her a proper rollout, a proper title, a reintroduction to Hotties that may not have been with me since 2017, 2018. I think that this is going to be a new experience for them. I think I'm just reintroducing my alter ego, Tina Snowback. Tina is grown now, babe, like she has been through lots of lots of life since y'all heard from her last. And I have so many collaborations that I feel like the Hotties have been asking me for like from niche collaborations, like just like personal interests amongst me and the Hotties. Collaborations that's overdue. Collaborations that are shocked to people like really gag the lies. I feel like Act 3 is going to be one of my favorite projects I ever put out. Because I definitely took my time with this one. I feel like it was a portion of life where I was so super busy. I still got to be making a stadium, but I can't be making stadium without no music. So I was in a rush to do everything. I was like, then I got to hurry up and record these songs and I'm trying to figure out parts of time where I can squeeze in recording. But for Act 3, I went home and I was like, nobody bothered me. I got to finish my album. I want good music. Yeah, I want me to finish. I can't keep on going out here when I'm music y'all. And I was like, okay, you know what? Leave her alone. Let's not put anything on the schedule. So this has been like the most organized and the most calm I've been making music in a while. But let me just say you were on Broadway. Yeah. I was definitely writing music. You were on Broadway. Yeah. That's a little crazy. Yeah, that's a little crazy. But then I did live Broadway. And then they left me alone again. I was like so much when I'm like, I am committed myself to at least going to two Broadway shows every year. I do it. I do it. At least once a quarter. I'm going to go. I went just, I missed you and I would have, if I could have gotten myself together, I would have gone to see you specifically. But maybe the Moulin Rouge was just such an amazing experience. Meeting all of those people, like I feel like I made so many really, really good friends. Two shows. That's crazy. A day, two times a week. That's crazy. And you get one day off, which is Monday. Yeah. I'm my y'all are superheroes. And I feel like I'm like, oh my gosh, I have to have this kind of work ethic. Like those people are up there busing they but every day, every twice a day. Real, real love talent. We doing this for real. Yeah. I was like, I'll see you in a few hours. What was your opening, I mean, I do a lot of stuff. I speak. Y'all that. But I look at Bar, I was like, how do you, how do you do it? What does that feel like? I mean, I was very nervous because I can be making a stay in. I can be making Pete all day long. I was neither one of those people. And I was like, you who am I? What you want me to say? Yeah. Like, I was like, I don't know if I'm being able to do this, but I'm going to do it, but I'm scared. Yeah. So my first night, I was just like, please just remember the lines. And if you mess up, just please keep talking to these people. Y'all pick me up, help me. If I say something wrong, you knew what I meant. But the show was smooth all the way through. I didn't mess up any of my lines. Thank God, the hotties would be in the crowd and they would be laughing at the most craziest times. And I'll be like, Satine is dying. Like, this is not funny. Satine has 30 minutes. And the hotties would be up there like really clowning. So I feel like they, they definitely made the experience like so much better because they felt like I was performing in front of a bunch of my friends every night. But my friends, my cuz is like, just and a lot of people did come to see me. So like, I don't know, I felt very, I felt comfortably immediately. And then like the people who were a part of production, they need, I want to hire them to come over here. So they just, on my tour, like, I had never felt so carried through everything, like running backstage, before I had to run on stage, sometimes I'd be like, okay, this is my line. Like me and the production man is back there, running the line before I got back on stage. And I'm like, how do you know my lines? Shout out to Jason. Jason, I miss you. They didn't go. Jason. But he will be in the back like, okay, girl, what you want to say? What should I say? But like, and it'll be literally right before I have to go right back on stage. I don't know. Everybody there was just so nice, and they definitely made me realize, okay, I need to step it up. Like, would you do it again? I would do it again. That's because I want that Tony. Yeah, okay. Okay. Okay. That's on my list of things I need. And that's what you were doing when you were taking it easy. Yeah. What's my point? Yeah. That was my taking it easy. But it was, I don't even know why I thought that was going to be easy. Yeah. I encourage everybody to go to New York or wherever your nearest theater is. I don't care what it is. You need to go watch. That's some real talent. Forever is on that stage because there's so many talented people. People we never heard of. Yes. And they're working so hard, and they're so good at what they do. Yes. It's such an experience. So I highly encourage people to go. Well, congratulations. Thank you for taking that risk. Yes. I was so nervous. I had never done anything like that before, but now I'm like, yeah, what else y'all want me to do? That's what I was about to say. You, baby. You put your cape on. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's it. Yeah. Yeah. But y'all think I can sing? And it was like, you can sing. I was like, I love them. I can do a lot of things. If I put my mind to it, I can do it. But let's see how it sounds. And I was able to put my own spin on it. And I think it was very entertaining. And I thought about what my mom was saying, she would be like, you better get up there and get up there. You better get up there. Yes. You better go out there. Don't go out there. Don't go out there. I was thinking like, dang, how could I make this be Megan? Like, it's Zeeland, but how can I make it Megan? And I just have to, like, the Tony opening. Yes. I mean, the opening number, oh, man. So I kind of got, like, y'all got me up here with pink. You, it was a, it was a killer opening. Yes. You held it down, girl. Thank you. You held it down. Is there another bucket list thing? I'm really, like, wanting to take my artistry bigger. Like, I don't only want to do music. I do want to get into acting. I do. That's just something I really want to pursue right now. Like, I'm trying to figure out what space do I fit in? Where do I do next? Like, so you know, Quincy Fizz, my girl. And I'm definitely, like, a student of hers. And luckily, I'm also a friend of hers now. And I always got to give her her flowers because she is just so inspirational. Yes. And I'm like, okay, Quincy Fizz, this is, this is my route. This is my, this is who I'm modeling this after. Well, you know, Megan, we try and offer some advice to our listeners by letting our listeners ask a question. So we have a question for you. For me? Yes. Okay. From Gigi, who's in California. Okay. Gigi. Hi, Mrs. Obama and Craig. My name is Gigi. I'm 35 years old and have been working out on and off for 10 years. Lately, I've noticed changes in my body where it's a bit harder to lose weight than it used to be. I'm very proud of what my body has accomplished over these years, but I can't help feeling frustrated with these changes. Your dedication to fitness has been so inspiring. What are some realistic approaches for maintaining your fitness motivation, especially on days when you don't want to? How do you maintain your health as you get older? Well, Gigi. It's like, well, and Gigi and everybody, it's like, I tried to all my young people. I don't know if you started to see this because you still 12, but 12 and a half maybe. But every decade, at least for a woman, I found that it just got harder, you know? You're just hormonal changes. So it's like each decade, what your health sort of baseline is, changes, you know? And what it takes to maintain it changes. When I was in my 20s, I could eat what I wanted, not workout, do whatever I wanted, and maybe I'd gain two pounds, right? Hit 30, and it's just like, oh, that. Okay. Well, why won't these two pounds just go away like they did, right? And then talk about 40, you know, don't mention having a baby and what that does. So as women, we are just evolving constantly. Constantly. Everything better like wine though. To get in better like wine, but we have to be mindful of it, right? That's that's the sort of the beginning. So it's like, Gigi, you're not crazy. It does change, and it's part of our journey. And so for me, I've had to kind of first understand my baseline sort of, who, what am I when I'm healthy? What does that mean, you know, is that physical strength, is that, you know, is that weight, is that how my clothes fit, you know, understanding what, how do I feel, am I sleeping well, am I feeling tired, do I feel grumpy, all of that? And I think as a woman, I think everybody, but as a woman, we got to get in touch with those baseline feelings. So that means we have to be quiet enough and give ourselves time to kind of figure that out. You know, because it's like, if we don't know what, when we're right, then how do we know when we're off? Yeah. So I guess my point is, Gigi's process started now. And that's what I do. It's just like, it's just a part of my, my world. You've just started getting, or you have, you just started getting full, how would you describe your, your physical journey? But the way that I went on my fitness journey wasn't like, I had a, a real body goal. Like I got into fitness for my mental health. So I think like when I, when I see people, when I see women online and men comparing their bodies to people they see online, just things that are pretty unrealistic, things, having these fitness goals for the wrong reasons. Like I definitely, if anybody asked me about working out, I say, well, okay, you have to figure out what your goal is and why that's your goal. Like if you want to have this shape because you want people to think you're attractive, like that's probably why you're not being consistent in the gym. That's probably why you're not happy with your body because you're not doing it for yourself. You're doing it because you want people to like you or give you an approval when, and this is unrealistic to do that because first of all somebody's always going to have something to say. You could work out as much as you want to. You're not going to look like the person who is your body goals because that's their body. You don't know what they put themselves through to look the way that they look. Everybody don't respond to the same diet. Everybody's bodies don't respond to the same exercises. Everybody's body is different. So if you're working out and you have like these goals, just so other people could think that you're attractive, I guess, like it's just never going to work out because you're going to be upset when you don't see a result right away. Like working out is like discipline over your mood. Like I go to the gym, even when I don't want to, I'm going to the gym when I'm sad. I'm going to the gym when I'm mad. I need a friend. I need to lift something up. I need to punch something. I'm going to the gym. So in my mind, I can feel better. And then eventually when I started seeing the change in my body, I was like, oh my God, wait. What did I see? And I feel good. So now I'm working out with purpose. Like I was going because I was just trying to get lost in something else besides whatever thoughts I was having at that moment, vampire layer. You know, I got my layer and I went to the gym that became my other layer. And then I did start seeing changes and improvements in my body. And I didn't know what my goal was at first. I didn't know what I wanted to look like. I just wanted to give my body moving in my mind moving. I just wanted to be distracted. Kind of like when you're driving, you are, you can kind of zone out a little bit because you are only focused on the road. Yeah. So when you're in the gym, I feel like it's the same thing. Like I'm only focused on what I can control in this moment right now. Like I'm only thinking about these weights. I'm only thinking about finishing this run. I'm only thinking about getting through this pilates class. This hurts. Like this is the only thing I'm thinking about. And then eventually you get in the swing and you get in the mood and then you go home and you're like, how did it all this work? I'm not about to mess this up. That's right. But I could have a little bit more discipline because I'm starting to like what I see. I'm starting to like how I feel. And even if it's like a slow burn, like it's, you're not going to, that's the best burn. Right. The slower the transition, the longer and more resilient it will be. And that's the other thing. It's like quick results don't let. So you want, you know, you want to be, if you're trying to lose weight, you want to lose a pound, you know, or to be kind to yourself and kind to your body. Because when you get frustrated, you give up. You don't see something fast enough, you give up. You fall off one day. You don't want to get back on like, it's just, it's not a race. That's right. It's definitely a long, yes, it's a marathon. I was like, what's the word with the voice? I agree with both of you. And the one thing that I would share with Gigi, because Gigi saying that she's frustrated with the lack of results, and sometimes that frustration can lead to us kind of depression, because you'd like not getting the results, so you'd like, I'm not doing this. And the only, the only thing that I would add to what both of you have said, which so eloquently, is that I have found that having a workout partner, somebody you go with, making a community. And then when you do get frustrated, you've got a team around you that says, all right, you got to keep going. And you know, for me, it's, you know, I've got a family full of people who are like, all right, let's go for a walk. Let's go do this. When you don't feel like doing something, I think it's really important when you've made it a part of your process, when you've made a working out part of your process. In order to keep it going, it can't be a, it can't be a soul endeavor. It can be at times, but in the long run, some people are good at that, some people are good, but it's not natural for humans to not be social, even when they're working out, so I can't add too much more to that because I grew up as an athlete, so I was trained at a young age to, all right, I got to get some exercise, and no matter what happens during the day, I got to get up out of this chair and go for a walk or, you know, take the kids to the gym and rebound for them if I'm just doing that. Pilates has definitely been there for me. Yeah, I've been doing a lot of Pilates now, yeah, do you do the reform? - No, or do you do in a class? - I take a class, yeah. And I didn't think Pilates was a real thing at first. - It's a thing. - I thought it was a myth. I thought all these ladies was just snatched and just in yoga pants. I don't know. - I was like, girl, tell me how you got those abs. Like make it understand that I just saw you. - Could you be just by doing that one little move? - No, I saw you six months ago and you, yeah. But now you got abs and my friend was like Pilates. I was like, no way. Like, no way y'all little ladies isn't here. I was strictly doing Pilates and now y'all ripped up. And I was working on the Pilates. I was like, oh yeah, I heard it. - It does. - It does. - It's a whooping man. - It is. - So now I'm like a regular at Pilates and I do see a difference in my body. But I'm somebody who has to be stimulated. If I'm gonna take a class, like I need to be moving. I need you to be yelling. I need music. Like I need intensity. And I feel like the Pilates class, I'll take, it's very intense. - Yeah. - They ain't messing around in there. - Yeah. - Like a solid core. - No. - Okay. - But actually, I don't know what solid core is. I'm just now getting hip to this new Pilates and I'm like, okay, so I need to go to New York and I need to go to solid core. - It's a performer kind of class, but it's more intense. - Solid core sounds serious. - They do, you know, it's like you're on the mega-former and you like, let's say you hold a plank, but you're gonna hold it for three minutes. - Oh baby. - And then they're gonna have you crunch in from the holding position. - And small little movements. - I'm gonna try it. - You're sweating your butt off. And, you know. - Like my Pilates class is really intense. - They're all intense. That's why it's like, they're different type of core sounds. - But solid core sounds like military. - It's kind of like, I think it also depends on who the instructor is and how they run it. You know, when I was doing, I was first lady and it was when the founder of it started it in DC as she was, it was a military kind of situation. - Well, yeah, I like stuff like that though. - You know, that's why I was like, you might wanna try that. - I already asked my people in New York, can y'all find me a solid core class? But I'll tick talk. I see so many girls talking about solid core and I'm like, okay, I can do that. - Yeah. - And everybody's on the end of that. - And what are you training for? Is this something that we don't know about that going up? - It's like, no, no, like, but you never know. You gotta stay ready so you don't have to give it. And I'm, and I feel like the little ladies got us in solid core, whatever's coming up. - Okay, ready. So I need to join, I need to get important. - Well, they got a ton of them around here in DC. I know you're not gonna be here for a while, but. - Right after this, I'm going. - Okay. - I'm leaving. - Okay. - You can protect me from those aliens. - I'm gonna, I might need to. - Yeah. - Like, don't play. - I know, I know. - 'Cause you know, y'all know about 'em. I heard Mr. Obama say something about the aliens. - Well, I'm not even gonna try to clarify what he was saying. - And on Matt, no. - Right. (laughing) - So y'all don't wanna talk about it. - We have really enjoyed having you now. - Oh, y'all, Matt, I think we, y'all. (laughing) - It's like the minute we get to this. - The minute we get to this. - Are you looking for support in your weight management journey? Zepbound to Zepatide may be able to help. Zepbound is a prescription medicine used with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity to help adults with obesity or some adults overweight who also have weight-related medical problems to lose weight and keep it off. Zepbound is approved as a 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, or 15 milligram injection. Zepbound contains to Zepatide and should not be used with other to Zepatide containing products or any GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines. It is not known if Zepbound is safe and effective for use in children. Don't share needles or pins or reuse needles. Don't take if allergic to or if you or someone in your family had medullary thyroid cancer or if you've had multiple endocrine neoplasia, symptom type 2. Tell your doctor if you get a lump or swelling in your neck. Stop Zepbound and call your doctor if you had severe stomach pain or a serious allergic reaction. Severe side effects may include inflamed pancreas or gall bladder problems. Tell your doctor if you experience vision changes, depression, or suicidal thoughts before schedule procedures with anesthesia. If you're nursing, pregnant, plan to be or taking birth control pills. Taking Zepbound with a sulfonolurea or insulin may cause low blood sugar. Side effects include nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting, which can cause dehydration and worsened kidney problems. Talk to your doctor, call 1-800-545-5979 or visit Zepbound.lily.com.