In The Passenger Seat with Alethea Crimmins
From the front seat of her car, Alethea has motivated millions—reaching hearts around the world and even catching the attention of icons like Rihanna, Kesha, Madonna, and Viola Davis. Now, she’s bringing that same energy, wisdom, and unshakable confidence to the podcast realm—inviting special guests to ride along and share their own journeys of resilience, purpose, and self-discovery.
No scripts, no filters—just raw, powerful conversations filled with gems, laughter, and the kind of motivation that makes you sit up a little straighter. You never know who will be in the passenger seat next, but one thing’s for sure: every ride is a step toward something greater.
So buckle up, tune in, and let’s take this journey together. 🎙️🚗✨
In The Passenger Seat with Alethea Crimmins
Journey to Resilience: Gina Thompson on Music, Mental Well-Being, and Self-Education
Join us for an inspiring conversation with the remarkable R&B artist Gina Thompson. From being discovered by Rodney Jerkins in 1994 to releasing her debut album "Nobody Does It Better," Gina's journey through the music world is filled with iconic collaborations and unforgettable anecdotes. We reminisce about her hit single "The Things You Do," featuring contributions from Missy Elliott, 112, and Puff Daddy, and explore the profound influence of Notorious BIG's appearance in her music video. Gina's insights and stories offer a unique look into her impact on the music industry and how she maintains her unwavering positivity.
Explore the often complex and daunting music business with us as we underscore the necessity of understanding the industry from a business perspective. We discuss the importance of having a knowledgeable team to protect against exploitation and the critical need for self-education on contracts and industry practices. Using relatable metaphors, we highlight the value of having a support network that facilitates success without compromising personal well-being. This episode is a guide for aspiring artists on making informed decisions that align with their personal and professional values.
In a heartfelt segment, we delve into themes of resilience, personal growth, and the power of transformation. Gina and I share our personal stories, emphasizing the importance of mental well-being and the transformative process akin to seeds growing in the dark. We encourage embracing life's challenges as opportunities for development, inspired by the wisdom of Maya Angelou. As we wrap up with laughter and rapid-fire questions, listeners are reminded of the greatness inherent in each of us and are invited to anticipate more uplifting conversations in future episodes.
Have a Good Day On Purpose...
YA' Welcome
Yeah, shine like glitter, let the lightning in life get bigger and in the skyline like a winner, big and bright, like a diamond on a shard. Hey, hey, hey, you're welcome. Hey, what's up everybody. I am Alethea Crimmins and you are watching In the Passenger Seats with Alethea Crimmins. Listen, y'all, I am excited about this episode. Y'all, I have this woman, this woman. I have been a fan of this woman since I was a teenager. I was rocking with this woman, I was jamming with this woman and, listen, she has been on the top 100s. She has worked with Missy Raekwon, 50 Cent, like she has been touring all over. She listen, the vibe is everything. This woman is everything. Everything that she does is positive and I am super excited to have her on the show in the passenger seat with me today. So let me introduce this amazing woman of God, woman of encouragement, woman of positivity, baby, the real Gina Thompson.
Speaker 2:That was an amazing introduction. Thank you so very much, so honored to be here with you, sis. Oh, such a blessing. Thank you, thank you a million Infinity, thank you. Oh, you're amazing. Thank you, a million Infinity thank you.
Speaker 1:Oh, you're amazing. You're amazing. You are too so for the people who, if they don't know who you are, then where have you been Okay? Where have you been Okay? But if they do not know who you are, can you please just give them a little intro of your own of who Gina Thompson is?
Speaker 2:Absolutely. So, first off, I will do that intro first and then that way, we'll introduce to those that you know that don't know, and then what I can do is answer that other part of the question. As far as well, where have I been? Would you be OK with that? Yes, awesome, all right, so. So, yes, my name is Gina Thompson and I am an R&B recording artist.
Speaker 2:Um, and I was actually discovered back in 1994 by Rodney Jerkins, um, also known, uh, dark child entertainment, and yeah, it's such amazing. When he and I connected and uh, just you know, once he heard me sing he was like girl, can I sign you? Like yesterday. So, nevertheless, god was amazing. He's also very spiritually in tune with the Lord, and so I sang for him right on the spot. He was like, listen, let me go ahead and sign you. So we went ahead and I signed and I tell you we recorded so quickly right there in his basement, like four or five songs, maybe less than a week. We then went shopping to see if labels were interested and God is amazing, because not only was one label interested, we had several labels that you know. That was just so thankful. So I basically signed my first recording deal. Mercury Polygram records uh 95 and then uh did the whole album in New York and then the single the things you do. The thing you do keep running to you, yes oh, listen, listen, listen.
Speaker 1:you you have no idea. Like that is on every playlist that I have, like that was that, that was always the things you do. I was like, yeah, yeah, maybe. I was like come on, gina.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah. So truly a blessing. And a lot of people don't know if I may may share real quickly the history of that Things you Do. Right, that Things you Do Originally. The original song is not that one. Wait what. That's actually a remix. Yeah, Wait.
Speaker 1:So my album.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, I have an album titled Nobody Does it Better and that's the one Rod Juergens did, and on there is the original, the Things you Do. So what happened was my A&R at the time and God bless his soul Mr C DJ. Mr C, he was assistant A&R of that record. Many people from New York know him, very, very famous DJ. But nevertheless, when we heard the record, we were like you know what? I hear? A remix on that.
Speaker 2:They wanted that, of course, to be the first single. So, with that being said, after it was finished we were like, ok, who would be a great fix for this remix? Of course Puffy was so popping then, you know. And then we let Puffy hear the record. He was like, oh my gosh, yeah, I definitely got it. I he hurt himself all over it pushing forward with that, went in there, did a remix and at that, after that was done, and shout out to 112 for collaborating with me on that they are so in the background and were the ones that so did help me collaborate and, uh, write that piece in puffy studio. So shout out to them um, after the record was done, puffy, rod Rodney, and the label was like yes, we want a rapper on this. That's what Puffy was hearing.
Speaker 1:I was like well, how did Missy come into the mix? It is.
Speaker 2:So with Missy, she was doing things you know in the background, you know as a writer and she also, for those that don't know, and I'm sure there are millions of others that do she was with a group called Sister. It was a female group and yeah, and you know, and I guess they had broken up and but Missy continued to pursue and do her thing and was doing you know things in the background, if you will, and just, I guess, waiting for that moment to spark, and Puffy put her on my track and of course I agreed and was like heck, yeah, this is something different, unique, we definitely have to have her on here. So we moved forward with the record and basically the rest is history.
Speaker 2:In 96, the single came out Shout out to the late Notorious BIG as well for wanting to be in the video. And there you have it. So that album came out again titled nobody does it better the name of the full album but the single the things you do feature missy elliot again is actually a remix of the original. So yeah, so check that album out, it is still out there because I had no idea.
Speaker 1:Like I, I thought that that was the original.
Speaker 2:Oh, yeah, yeah, many did, absolutely, absolutely, yeah, and so, to this day, I do find myself still sharing that information, with people letting them know that, yeah, no, that that's actually the remix. And then there was another remix, because I heard you mention Raekwon earlier. Yes, so Rodney Jerkins actually went back and did another remix featuring one of his artists at that time, mr Mike Nitti, raekwon and Craig Mack, the late Craig Mack, and that was even fire. I mean, it was super amazing. So, yeah, that's the history of the things you do, and that's how I, you know, was put on the map, and you know so much you know had happened in that timeframe again 96 in the summer, when that single came out. So much had happened, and I was so thankful to God for each and every opportunity that he bestowed upon me.
Speaker 2:Unfortunately, though, you know, some things had happened, and I ended up, to make a long story short, moved forward with another label, and that was from the greatness of Missy, you know putting the word out there to kind of get me on, and so she helped me out and got me on another label, and I was with Electra, and Sylvia Roan was the one who was like, oh yeah, we got to bring her on board. So then we did a second album that no one really not, I can't say no one, and I have to stop saying that it's titled If you Only Knew and it was unreleased on Electra. Some things happened there as well, and I said, lord, you know what, whatever your will is, is going to be done. So you know, that's what we just going to keep doing. And so Yadiyah was the single that came off of that album. That too featured Missy Elliott, yes.
Speaker 2:And then things happened. And then, because of that moment, after that madness, and after that madness, I really really went low into a deep depression and stepped away and had to basically just regain me, get me back on point. At that time, you know, being a single mother, you know, with my one son at the time, it was really really tough. So I went, you know, into, like I said, like a deep depression, stepped away, had a hiatus for a long time. And this comes to part of the other part of the question of, well, where have I been? So, after coming out of the music industry, you know what? Let me back up just a little bit, if I may, that unreleased album I really need to give some shout outs to some people that was on that album. I did a duet with John B Titled.
Speaker 1:Up All Night. I love me some. John B Girl Wait, I'm letting that down. He was amazing In my mind, in my mind, john B, if you're listening In my mind we were married girl with kids, and every time you opened your mouth, every song was for me. I know, that's right, it was for me, so I, so I I don't know who else, but he was y'all.
Speaker 2:he was singing to me, okay okay, and I'm not even mad at you, sis, I'm not mad at you and let me tell you something. So I'm gonna have to give you share that, my second album with you, so you can just hear that duet that we did, because he was singing that to you.
Speaker 1:He was he was with you, but he was thinking about me.
Speaker 2:And then there's two other songs that he did on that album. He did them for you as well, and that was mine. Yes, it was, yes, it was. And Montel Jordan's camp shout out to them, they were on at that time. He did the Nobody's Supposed to Be here by Deborah Cox. Well, his camp, uh, shep crawford, they too were on the album. Jazzy jeff's camp was on the album. I did a song with beanie siegel, um, so this album, unreleased, again titled if you only knew it is out on, you know, on the website, online, so you most certainly can google gina definitely yeah, if you only knew, uh, from a lecture, a smash record, smash record, and I say that in all humbleness, it truly, truly was a unique of art in that album, on that album.
Speaker 2:So again, I was very thankful for that. So then the hiatus came, and then um, that's what people don't really talk about, like.
Speaker 1:They don't really talk about like mental health in the music industry and so many artists suffer with that, but they don't speak on it. They just do like you do. Well, let me just take a break. It's like you, just they're like on this high. It's like yeah, yeah, yeah, yes, and then you don't see them and it's like, just they're like on this high and it's like yeah, yeah, yeah, yes, and then you don't see them and it's like, well, what? So talk about how, like the mental health in this music industry and how that really plays a really big effect on you as an artist, always having to be like on and up and on and on, but it's so many ups and downs there's so many aspects to that whole mental health in the music industry and I I want to say like the biggest one is it's almost like when you're in that situation of being famous and broke, okay the pressure the pressure.
Speaker 1:So wait how? How? Because because that is the biggest oxymoron, but that's again stuff that people don't talk. Well, how can you be famous and broke? Okay, how does that go together? Like how you famous, but you broke uh-huh.
Speaker 2:Well, let's just start with, even with that part, like the music industry or the music business, the word is business. So one of the things that I learned was and the hard way, okay, girl, yeah, you have this voice and, oh my gosh, people are coming at you with this and this and that, throwing money, thousands of hundreds of thousands of dollars your way. But, baby girl, there's a price and you better know the business, because when you sign your name on that line, you need to know what you're signing. You need to know what you're signing, you need to know what you're giving up and what begins to happen with many artists. Well, should I say at that time, and it may even still happen to this day. And the reason why I say may is because a lot of artists are doing indie now, they're growing independent and so a lot more they're owning.
Speaker 2:But going back to my era, okay, and artists that have suffered what I suffered, you, if you don't really have the bottom line is to have someone in your corner that is going to care for your wellbeing, that is able to educate you, and you need to have a business team that is on your team for you, not no conflict of interest scenario. You don't want to have those scenarios. You need to have someone that's going to advocate for you, like you advocate for your children. You need to have someone that's going to advocate for you, because if not, honey, what's going to happen is that, has that? What has happened to me and many others is you get caught up in that you're just a commodity and you're almost raped, you almost are taken for everything and people are like, ok, well, you know, if she's going to keep letting us stick it, stick it toward, then this is what we're going to keep doing. So the idea is to learn what you're signing, have a team, get an attorney, learn the business as well, cause, let me tell you, there's some crook attorneys out there as well.
Speaker 2:So the best thing to do and there is a lot of great information right on the one thing about the internet is we know it's full of information get some information on what you need to know about the music industry. There's books out there. Again, there's, there's, there's information out there and learn it. There's even chat groups that people be having, and it supports people in getting to. I'm going to tell you, ig is so amazing. There are so many things out there, that people tell you what you need to do, whether you're an indie artist or wanting to get into the record industry and things along those lines. The idea because I'm saying so much without saying certain things is what you want to do is educate yourself. We all know that knowledge is the key to any success. So educate yourself. Have someone on your team or people that are going to advocate for you and love you for you because, yeah, I love when you said know what you're giving up.
Speaker 1:Yes, so so many people don't think of that. Because, yes, so many people don't think of that. Because we see this, see the bright lights and we see other people's lives and we see how they move in. Oh, yeah, and I want this and I want that, but what am I giving up for that? What do I have to give up for that? Will I have to give up my peace? That? Will I have to give up my peace? Will I have to give up my happiness? Will I have to give up my mental health in order to have this? So what are you willing to give up? Or are you willing to give up anything at all? And sometimes we don't think about the give up part. We don't think about what we have to give up in order to be way up here, because it always comes with some type of sacrifice. Are you ready, yes, to give that up? Yeah, are you ready to give up a part of you that you really didn't think that you would have to give up?
Speaker 1:And another thing that you say that I always tell people is who you surround yourself with. Come on, that's, it is who you surround yourself with. You said so and it's y'all. Y'all know, I. I always come with metaphors and like analogies and things like that. But you said you had an original song, but then you got with other people that remixed it and made it better. And then you got with some more people that was in your corner that remixed it and made it just a little better. Sometimes we have to do that in our own life because you are good by yourself, but sometimes you have to surround yourself with people that can remix it just a little bit, that can get you where you need to be.
Speaker 1:Allow the right kind of people to come into your life, because I may have this perfect cake batter and it's just so. This, this, this yellow cake is so awesome, but then I might add some chocolate chips to it and that might make it just a little bit better. And then I might add some caramel to it and that might make it a little bit better. The cake was good on its own, yeah, yeah, it was good on own, but then I added just a little more ingredients in it to make it just a little bit better. But what I'm not going to add is salt or red, because that don't go, because we have to know what goes with us and what does not. That's right. We have to know what complements the cake to make it better. Yeah, that's right. Surround yourself with people that are going to compliment you and not take away. That's it, that's it, that's it.
Speaker 2:And when they I love it, I love it. I love how you I love. I love how you summed that up and basically gave a great analogy. I love the way you did that and you are so right. Absolutely, it's so right, absolutely it's it's. It's so right.
Speaker 2:And again, I did have to learn the hard way. I don't want to say that everyone I was around, I won't. I won't even start with names, but I will tell you this. If they hearing this, they know who it is and they don't, and that's the bottom line. And those, those ones that wasn't for me, that's OK, because the ones that are for me and were for me, those were the ones that mattered, and it took me a while to understand things. Another thing is Everybody's not your friend. Oh, so be careful with who you call your friend. Really be careful who you call your friend. I had to take a step back and my therapist okay, the two of them had to tell me did you know them before you got in the industry? Oh, and I'm gonna leave that alone. Oh, I'm just gonna leave that alone.
Speaker 1:I had to learn a lot of things the hard way, because, man, we get a lot of friends whenever we make it. Yeah, you got friends all over the place. It's like friends Sis, yes, hey girl, yes, hey girl. But then, when you're at your lowest point, you, yep when my sis is, at when my friends, oh, yeah, but were they with you before, whenever you were just Gina? Yes, amen, were they with you whenever you were Gina the single mom? Yep, gina the one struggling, gina the one that was trying to? Did they know you then? Or did they just know Gina Thompson, the Billboard 100, gina Thompson, the one that was at Showtime at the Apollo? Now, you, my friend, yeah, but that same Gina Thompson. And I would like all of Gina's haters to come close. Come on, come here, come on.
Speaker 1:Y'all thought that this was going to be Gina's downfall. Y'all thought Let me tell you something about Gina. Okay, come on. Gina is getting her doctorate. Come on, stay with me. Her doctorate, okay, in nursing, not bachelor's, not her doctorate. Okay, nursing, not bachelors, not her doctorate okay, in psychiatric health. Stay with me.
Speaker 1:So everybody that counted Gina out know that she kept walking in her greatness, even though y'all wasn't walking with her, because everybody can't walk with you in your greatness, even though y'all wasn't walking with her, because everybody can't walk with you in your greatness. But Gina kept walking and just because she was, just because this position didn't work for her, she found her another one. And guess what? God put her in position and now she is working on her. What? Doctorate in nursing. So do not count yourself out, because there is always a plan for you and you might feel like that push going to push you over, but it's really pushing you up. That's why these hands go like this. It may look like it's doing this, but it's really doing that. Okay, I'm just trying to help some somebody, and that sort of work was for gina's haters. You're welcome. You're welcome love it.
Speaker 2:Thank you. Thank you so much, man. Thank you so much. Before I I couldn't even say things like that, but now I'm just like. You know what Gina like. Enough of basking. It is what it is. Call it what it is A spade, a spade. Call it what you see. It is what it is.
Speaker 2:And, like we said, those individuals know who they are. There's, no, I don't even need to say names, but I also want to give a shout out to those that are for me too, and those individuals know who they are. If this is resonating, you know what time it is. If it's not resonating, you know what time it is. And so I'm so thankful again, sis, for you, for it was such an honor when I, when, when I was asked to be on a girl, like I said, y'all would have done it that that day, what, what? You're so inspiring to me. There's been many days where I that I got out of the bed because of you, and I want to, yes, I want to thank you for what you do Like so encouraging.
Speaker 2:Yes, my specialty is mental health, but listen, I, I have therapists too, so you can, you know, and I encourage people out there. You know you got to pay attention to your mind. You most certainly have to pay attention to your mind. Mental health is health. There's not enough people that is talking about it. I don't care, let the stigma go.
Speaker 2:And there's another thing that people don't even understand there is more than situational. I'm going to go just a little bit deeper here. There is more than situational depression. Oh, I want y'all to know. Oh, yes, ma'am, with pleasure. There is more than situational depression, and what I mean by that. Now, this is the nursing side. We have chemicals in our brain, y'all. There are chemicals in our brain that allow us to think, function and do a number of things, and with that, those chemicals your serotonin, your norepinephrine, all of those chemicals that helps you to think and process emotions.
Speaker 2:If that's imbalanced, you better go get some help. Come on and don't think that you can just handle it on your own. Now I'm not trying to sit here and say, because people, oh, money's in medicine and money's in medicine. All I'm just trying to tell you is you're in that situation. You may have a situation and you're feeling like you just can't get out of it. It may be more than just situational depression. So I encourage those If you're battling with depression and you're just seeming that you can't get over it, seek help. There's tests. There are people out there that can rule out if this is something that is a chemical imbalance in addition to situational imbalances. Or is it situational or is it just chemical imbalance? And if so that is, I will be the first to tell you. When there's the chemical imbalance, that is where the medication does come into place and sometimes we do need that how did you pull yourself up out of that hole?
Speaker 1:or what, what helped you pull yourself out of that hole after this high on music? Because we, we, we all think, okay, I done, I done made it, I done worked with the best, I'm always on this, yeah, so. And then, when you just got down into that low place, how did you say, oh okay, gina, girl, like this, this is enough, like I can't what, what. What was your lowest place and what, what? What was your lowest place and how did you get up out of that place? Because that's this is why I do what I do, because other people's stories help other people. So what was your lowest place and how did you get out of it?
Speaker 2:Yeah, Well, my lowest place again was pretty much after that that that deal. The second deal that I had um, I, I was broke, no one was answering phones, um, and I just felt so betrayed that I'm gonna try to keep myself together here. I just felt so betrayed. I'm going to try to keep myself together here. I just felt so betrayed and I just couldn't understand why. I started feeling like what's wrong with me, what did I do wrong? And I started really really going deep into depression. My oldest son was the only one that I had at the time. My oldest son was the only one that I had at the time. I am First off. Let me let me back up a little bit more. I'm a suicide survivor. Okay, I wanted to say that. Amen.
Speaker 1:Okay, girl, go, go, go, go ahead. Let let let it out. This is out, Listen, we have to let it out in order to let it go. Let it out, to let it go and to help others?
Speaker 2:Yes, and so God knew what he was doing by giving me my son, because if it wasn't for my baby, listen, because I had to hang in there for him. So what God did? He somehow reached within me. He said I'm here for you, but I'm going to need you also to be here for yourself. So what God did was he enabled me to calm myself into a position of I have to let go and let him handle this, because I couldn't do it anymore. I just couldn't. So I said, lord, I surrender my all to you. I don't know what else to do here. God, I don't want to leave my son motherless. I don't want to take all these pills to take my life. I don't want to do it.
Speaker 2:So, somehow, some way, when I decided to really let go and let God do what he needed to do in my life, I began to see those blessings. There was a humbleness that came across me as well, and I'm going to say this I did not have any money, I didn't have any degrees, I didn't have anything aside from my son and my family. I became a correctional officer because I needed benefits, I needed money and I didn't have a degree. I didn't have anything. But God. He humbled me enough to say you want to get through this. At first I was like, what are people going to say about me?
Speaker 1:It's going to be so embarrassing?
Speaker 2:Yes, I can't, but then God put in my head more so. But your son love you more and needs you more, and you need you more. Yes, these were conversations that I promise you God more. This was this week. These were conversations that I I promise you god did this for me. I didn't do it by myself.
Speaker 2:I couldn't come on I couldn't do it, I became and I became a hell of a correctional officer, let me add. Okay, and I'm proud, because that is my path and that made me to who I am today. And in addition to that, going into that environment and seeing how that vulnerable population was going through what they was going through, I started digging more into mental health, and I come from a family that has mental health as well. That's where the chemical imbalance we we, we, we a lot of people in my family suffer from depression and anxiety, same. So, yes. So all I know is the moment that I just let go and let God and you have to really do it. You can't fool yourself, guys, you can't fool God. I had to really let go and let him and then, when I didn't, I started being obedient. He gave me this moment of humbleness. I walked proudly across that stage being at CO because I was able to take care of me, my son, and guess what? That was the money that I was making and that was my money. That was my money. That gave me health benefits, that gave me it was stability.
Speaker 2:So at that moment I put myself through nursing school because I wanted to focus on the mind. Why do these things happen with depression and anxiety? And so that moment, that's when I said this is this too, is my voice. So not only do I sing, lord, I thank you, but Lord, I thank you, but Lord, I thank you. So when I tell you that I love what I do, I sing, but I have patients that I've saved their lives, I have family members that I've saved their lives. So when I tell you, take care of your mental health, and it's real, you better do it. You better do it. There's help out there. You're not alone. You are not alone and it's real. Mental health is health, health.
Speaker 1:So can I tell you what happened? And this was just. Can I tell you what happened, please. A lot of times, when we think that we are in a dark place, we are really being rooted and planted because seeds grow in the dark, okay, okay, okay, yes, because seeds grow in the dark okay, okay, seeds grow in the dirt and people keep throwing dirt on top top of us, but we are really being planted and then we start to grow and we think in our minds not if anybody is a gardener, you know, like we think in our minds that this is where we are going to be.
Speaker 1:But sometimes God said you about to get bigger than this, so I need to transplant you. So what happened is so if you see a gardener take flowers out of one pot, take it all up and put it in another pot, that's because that little pot was not where you were supposed to be and in order for you to grow, you had to be transplanted and moved and put in a bigger pot so that you can be where you were intended to be. Amen, you weren't intended to be. Yes, you being in the music industry, open doors, but that was just a little pot. That was just a little pot. That was just a little pot. You had more growing to do, and growing comes with pains. That's why it's called growing pains. It comes with pains. But God said let me transplant you because because all you were seeing was darkness, but you were being rooted yes, it was. All you saw was darkness, but it was coming. It was coming. I just had to move you and you saw all the darkness, all this dirt that was being thrown on you was fertilizing you, because that's all that you do with seeds is fertilize you in order for you to grow. And then, with that, you were able to go to what Nursing school and in that now you are what you are getting your doctorate.
Speaker 1:But you had to be transplanted, absolutely. You had to be moved from what you thought you were always going to be. Who you were is not who you were meant to be. Okay, that's it. That is for somebody. Who you were is not who you were meant to be. Yeah, oh yeah, it may look dark right now, but that's because you being planted is rooted. They're throwing dirt on your name, but flowers are growing because that is fertilizing you, amen, amen, absolutely, absolutely.
Speaker 2:I so love how you again, this is why I be fertilizing you. Amen, amen, absolutely, absolutely. I so love how you again, this is why I be listening to you. I so love, I so love how you, you know, and, and it's just to have this one-on-one with you. Oh, my gosh, I am, I know my family. When I go in the house they can be like how'd it go? How'd it go, cause they know I love me, they know I love me some. You, you know, um, but you, girl, you just, I wish I could see you in person to just give you a hug. So that that's, that's my prayer. You know so prayerfully that that will happen one day.
Speaker 2:But yes, you, you, you, you really touch so many lives and I just love how you take these life scenarios and situations and, again, the analogies that you use are so, so on point. They're so on point, so very well received and I really appreciate you. I'm so thankful to God for you. I really really am. Oh, my goodness, absolutely, absolutely. And, like I said, to this day I am so happy. I have three beautiful children, two beautiful grandchildren and I'm just so thankful to God. Like you said, that journey, that journey that my daughter he wanted me to just sit still because he had some work to do with me and because, again, that I did say you know what God I surrender? I can't do this without you. He went ahead and and and and did what he did for me. I love it. I love it, yes, and I had to also say rejection sometimes is protection Come on Gina with the word.
Speaker 1:Come on Gina with the word. Rejection is sometimes protection. Listen, baby, I could talk to Gina all damn day. Listen, we're going to have a little bit of fun. Right, quick, this is a minute to win it. I'm going to ask you some questions. The first thing that pops into your head Okay, if you could eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Go?
Speaker 2:Girl, honestly I'd have to say watermelon okay okay, okay, favorite vacay.
Speaker 1:Okay, if you could choose one person to go on vacation with, who would it be one?
Speaker 2:person to go on vacation with one my husband, oh really because, because I wouldn't want to be with her. Well, come on, come on come on.
Speaker 1:If you can listen to one song or one album. Now I ask my artist this one album. Now I ask my artist this If you were on a road trip and can listen to one album from start to finish without skipping, what would that album be?
Speaker 2:Joe the artist, joe, oh my gosh, and I think it's All the Things.
Speaker 1:Okay, all right. Yes, listen, that was my husband too. I'm just, I'm, I'm just letting y'all know that he was he. He was mine too, yeah we understand we understand sis. Yes, we do if you had one superpower, what? What would it be?
Speaker 2:and why?
Speaker 1:Oh my goodness, to cure depression, depression, yeah, to cure depression I, I don't know what I will, because, because, because, because I'll be asking other people this, but I don't know what, what, what my superpower would be because, because, because, because I'm nosy, so so I'll be wanting to know things. So I, I don't know if it would be like in invisibility or or what, because, because I'm nosy and I'm not gina, I, oh, wait, wait, wait, wait. If you could go shopping and get anything that you want, like, no matter what the like budget was, what would be the first thing that that you will go get?
Speaker 2:Woo, a Range Rover. I've been in love with him Really and I had said, yeah, yeah, I have a Mercedes Benz now, but I want a Range Rover now, but I want a Range Rover I do I do?
Speaker 1:I probably would have been like shoes. Okay, shoes, I'm going shopping, I'm going to get some shoes because I love shopping. But not I have to reshop because I got my new weight loss body.
Speaker 2:I was going to comment on that. I said before we hang this thing up, I'm just going to comment on that. Girlfriend, what?
Speaker 1:I mean, you see the collarbone popping out, gina, you see it, you see it popping out, it's all snatched, love it.
Speaker 2:I mean, she's getting there. She's getting there, I Love it.
Speaker 1:Absolutely gorgeous she's getting there, she's getting there.
Speaker 2:I love it. You look gorgeous inside and out.
Speaker 1:Thank you so much, gina. Thank you for coming on, thank you for being vulnerable, thank you for sharing your story, thank you for being transparent, absolutely what is up Like? What is going to be happening with Gina moving forward?
Speaker 2:What are you doing next?
Speaker 2:Absolutely. Thank you so very much for asking that question. So, you know, even with nursing, working on my doctor's degree, um, the music industry has presented opportunities, okay, and I'm so much wiser now and have a strong team around me, okay, um. So right now I do have an. I have new music that's going to be coming out on all platforms. So, uh, if you follow the real Gina Thompson IG, we do work. Yup, thank you, I'm working on my other pages, y'all, I'm working.
Speaker 2:I got a lot going on in my life. It's hard to keep up with all these social medias, but anyway, yeah, ig is the big one, so nobody is the single. Um, and, oh my gosh, phenomenal, uh, producer, a crazy fig. Shout out to him. Songwriter, oh my gosh, uh, sharnell Allen. She wrote this song. This girl is a vocal acrobat, a writer acrobat. She is so phenomenal. I'm so looking forward to working with her in the near future. But, yes, that's the writer and the producer of the track. Very, very great track. When it was presented to me, I fell in love with it right away. Um, and I have to give a shout out to Woods. That's my brother, woods. I am royalty is um, his, his, his, his company. I think I said that, right, a raw melody, I'm sorry. Okay, nevertheless, woods is the one who introduced me to these individuals and he's like my brother from another mother and, um, so when they, like I said, when they presented the song to me, I was like, absolutely so.
Speaker 2:Yes, please look for that to be on platforms nobody platforms nobody, nobody, nobody, yes, and if you want a sample of it, you can go on my ig page and check it out because I was just about to say can you, can you give us a little sample right quick?
Speaker 2:absolutely. And also, what I am going to do is send you an exclusive yes, yes, an exclusive yes, yes, yes, yes, I most certainly will send that to you, but again, you can, did? I say February 14th, I don't know if I said the date Okay, february 14th, valentine's Day, that would be a nice gift for some Valentine's people. Okay, but, yes, please, please, go and check it out. Nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, but you. Yeah, you got to check it out.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes, please do. Do you have any like tours, any shows, anything coming up?
Speaker 2:Yes, absolutely. So. Thank you for asking that as well. So I'm also very thankful to God for there's been more shows that has been coming.
Speaker 2:I just actually came back from Chicago this morning. I was there as a surprised guest singer performer for Sunshine Anderson. She invited me to come on her show. Young Fly Entertainment is doing like a ladies 90s tour, if you will, and it was an amazing sold out show in Chicago. So the show was phenomenal. So again, when Sunshine asked me a while ago now I wasn't on it, but when Sunshine asked me it was a surprise to be a part of her set. So Young Fly of course agreed to it. But when Sunshine asked me, it was a surprise to be a part of her set, so Youngfly of course agreed to it and of course I'm like, oh, absolutely, Shine is my girl. So the show was last night.
Speaker 2:I came out on her set, it was great, and my next show is in London and that is this coming Saturday and I was just there December 27. So I was asked to come back. That show is going to be myself, Jay Holiday Changing Faces, Yvette Michelle Rough Ends, and we are going to be in London rocking it Saturday. I leave Thursday and I'll be back. I'm taking my middle son with me there, so that's that. I don't have my calendar in front of me, but I know March 8th I'll be. Oops, I'm not supposed to be saying that. Well, I done, said it now.
Speaker 2:I done, said it now, oh wow.
Speaker 1:March 8th.
Speaker 2:We are getting the scoop, baby. Yeah, so March 8th I also will be performing in Philly with the ladies. I'm so bad that I'm forgetting the name of the show, but nevertheless, I will be performing March 8th in Philly for the Young Fly Entertainment ladies R&B tour that he has going on, and I'll be doing the same thing with Sunshine Anderson. She asked me to come with her on that day as well. Oh, they're going to kill me for saying it, but I said it if Young Fly Entertainment.
Speaker 1:If y'all ever come anywhere in Louisiana, please let me know because I'll be the first one to get my ticket.
Speaker 2:Awesome yes, yes, absolutely. I feel you on that. Now let me ask, being that you mentioned that, did you go to Humor and Harmony, the one that 50 Cent had last August? No, I did not. His very first. Yeah, I was so honored to be asked to be on that and that was a phenomenal turnout. I heard Old Shreveport phenomenal turnout. So, yeah, and I'm forgetting some shows because I don't have my calendar in front of me. There may be an international tour coming up soon, but I, yeah, I'll keep you guys posted.
Speaker 1:Be great in they face, gina. Be great, keep being great in they face Y'all. Yeah, listen, you have touched me. I'm sure that you have touched a lot of other people with just your words, with just your honesty, with just Gina being Gina. Yeah, thank you. Can you please just tell us where to follow you, where to find you? All things, gina and can you just leave us with one positive?
Speaker 2:word, absolutely, absolutely so. Again, I am on various um social media platforms, but really the best place to follow me or know what's happening with me as of the moment and then, if that should change, you'll find that out on IG as well, but it is TheRealGinaThompson IG. Please, please, come follow me. I welcome DMs. I also am a mentor and actually one of my mentees I've adopted as my nephew, so I do mentor people as well, and people are probably like how do you find all the time to do all this? Well, there's a will, there's a way, and God definitely continues to provide and enabled me to offer that love and support to others, and I'm so sorry. The second part was I'm sorry, sis.
Speaker 1:You said If you have one positive thing to say. Can you leave us with that? Just just a word of positivity.
Speaker 2:Know your worth. And I'm sorry, can I also say this when people show you who they are, please believe them. Maya Angelou, okay, please believe them. Yeah, and I long for those quotes because they definitely resonate with my life and things that I've seen and even still see. It does come back to that when people show you who they are Truly, truly believe it and know your worth. Know your worth, don't let nobody tell you anything less.
Speaker 1:Y'all. I am so excited that we had the real Gina Thompson in the passenger seat with us today. Y'all like subscribe. Stay tuned to the podcast in the passenger seat with Alethea Crimons, because you never know who's gonna be in the passenger seat next. Okay, so as you continue to go out there and be great in they face, know that you are everything and everything is, you, know your worth. Keep being fabulous, honey, like I know you can be, and, as always, you have a good day on purpose. Huh, you're welcome.
Speaker 2:I love it. Bye-bye, bye-bye, bye-bye, bye-bye.