Two for the Culture
Two for the Culture is brought to you be Steven Rey and Justin Devonte. This is the podcast for the ages! Both Steve and Justin has been friends for over a decade plus and will give you a genuine approach on news and culture with humor and love. I promise this will be one of your favorite podcasts that you will not get enough of!
Two for the Culture
If love is a team sport, why are so many playing solo
We swap stories from a Nashville night out and an Atlanta indie premiere, then dig into creative control, film festivals versus YouTube, and why great relationships feel like great teams. Vulnerability, humility, and effort beat spark alone, in art and in love.
• weekend recap at Duko’s and familiar faces
• the hood-comedy vampire film and its premiere
• sponsors, costs, and the reality of indie premieres
• why film festivals limit control and links
• the case for YouTube and compounding feedback
• building a team in filmmaking and life
• relationships as team sports, not solo stats
• humility, Moses jokes, and grounded confidence
• attraction, relatability, and fade-after-spark
• better questions that keep chemistry alive
• conflict style, coaching, and clear apologies
• friendship as the base layer of commitment
• ending with a cliffhanger on bowing out kindly
And we are back with another episode of two for the culture. I'm Justin Devante. Steven Ray. Yes, sir. And we are back. How you doing?
SPEAKER_01:How do I feel? Um I feel like inside I feel good. It's just like my nose is just it's it's messing me up right now. I don't know why. Are you sick a little bit? No. Okay. I could you know, you know, you can tell when you're sick. Like this in here and it's nothing in there. It's just it's just bottom.
SPEAKER_02:I got you. So it's just like maybe allergies or something like that. Probably. Um yeah, probably. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:I got you. It's gonna be gone tomorrow. Understood. How's your weekend? Uh it was really good. It was really good. Yeah, you know, we we went out on Friday. Yeah. That was dope. Uh Duco's. Yeah. Yeah. Nice spot. Yeah, I liked it. I'm definitely going back there.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, oh, for sure. Yeah, it was it was a good time. And saw some familiar faces in there. Yeah, yeah. Uh yeah, yeah, yeah. Right.
SPEAKER_01:Um uh what's his man's name? Starlito was in there. Oh, yeah, yeah. Which is definitely a Nashville thing that happened, I guess.
SPEAKER_03:But you know he went to MTSU, right?
SPEAKER_01:Mm-mm. Yeah. May maybe I did back then. Yeah, yeah. He went to MTSU. No, no. Uh what else? What else? No, I I had a couple uh I I called a couple people, had a couple great conversations, and then uh one night, I I think I don't know if it was Saturday. Yeah, I think it was Saturday, I called my sister, and she didn't answer. So instead of like calling again or texting her, I just like blasted her across my Instagram. I'm just like, I'm just having fun with this stuff now. I thought it was her birthday or something. No, like I bet you're gonna see this. And she still didn't call me. Okay. But she liked every she was asleep, but she uh she she she woke up the next day and texted me. Um, but yeah, I talked to my mom today and she was like she called her. It was like Junior, keep posting me on your Instagram, and like the why did you copy? Mm-hmm. Right. But um either way, she's gonna be she's gonna be in Nashville at the the end of the month. Okay. But I think I might be in Atlanta at the end of the month.
SPEAKER_02:Oh what's what's uh in Atlanta?
SPEAKER_01:Um a premiere uh for Rob. Um one of the movies that we worked on and edited on.
SPEAKER_03:Okay. So when was that? When did you edit on it?
SPEAKER_01:I'm trying to think. If I was at your house. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Because we did another movie, and they did a premiere for that movie. So yours is it's the same cast, so that's what kind of messed me up. But I edited that at your your crib. Okay.
SPEAKER_03:And has he released the trailer? Yeah, he released it. Okay, so what is it about?
SPEAKER_01:Um uh snow bunnies. Okay, that's it. You doing a documentary? Uh no. No. It's about um, it's pretty straightforward a trailer. It's like one of those like hood comedies, you know. Um, so basically these guys, they go out in the town, and then they um find uh some attractive women at um uh, well, no, before they go out in the town, it's at their job or whatever. They find some women, they're like, hey, come out with us. They go out with them, they eventually like go back to the the crib, and then it's like a weird vibe at the crib. And basically it turns out that these um women are the they're clearly like all white, except like one of them. But um, they're vampires. All of them are vampires. Okay, yeah. So it's just mixed up. But they work with them. No, they came up to their job, they worked at it like a pizza place. Okay, was so it was at night? Um uh uh that not not at that time. At that time it was in the day, but they said come out with us tonight.
SPEAKER_03:So they're vampires walking in the daytime?
SPEAKER_01:They're regular, they didn't find out, you know, till like way later. Do you see what I'm saying?
SPEAKER_03:The the vampires were went to the oh went to the daytime.
SPEAKER_01:You did that's a good one. I did not I did not tell Rob that. Um, maybe they got some special blades.
SPEAKER_03:Okay, yeah, I got you. They're half breeds, they're blades. Yeah, maybe they're half breeds. Did he even have sunglasses on? No.
SPEAKER_01:That's too funny. That's hilarious. Yeah, yeah. It's all good.
SPEAKER_03:It was daytime. Wow. Yeah, yeah. Oh well. Hey, you know what? It is what it is. Next movie.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, yeah, I got you.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, but he's having a premiere in Atlanta. He always does it big. It's always super inspiring. Just picture like, like I'm saying, like uh I edited something at your house. And then all of a sudden, like uh um, I don't know what's a big movie theater here, but just a movie theater.
SPEAKER_02:One of the one of the oaks. Oh, okay.
SPEAKER_01:Uh IMAX, you got, you know. I think that's the one I went to. Um, yeah, and it it's just like a huge event. It's got the step and repeat there. It's like a real premiere. So uh it's dope. The whole cast, the crew, and then a bunch of Atlanta comes out to to watch it. So he he always does it be. It's very inspiring and motivating to just even be in that type of space.
SPEAKER_03:And so, and I'm sure he charges for the tickets or no.
SPEAKER_01:Um, damn, I need to get that.
SPEAKER_03:But um, I don't, I don't I think so. I guess my real question is so how his expenses he just kind of pays and just it's sponsored by uh Monster.
SPEAKER_01:Okay, the whole movie. The the the the event, okay, I think. And maybe some of the movie. Okay. Yeah, he he I don't know, does his own thing with the contract wise. Okay. But um the events for sure is usually like sponsored by Monster.
SPEAKER_03:And so what is his hopes? What is his overall goal? Is this like to get practice for the big thing or hopefully this picks up or what?
SPEAKER_01:Um same thing with the the I I don't know, the same thing with um really kind of anything. You you you just want to keep getting better at your craft and it eventually is gonna take off, you know. So this movie, I don't know if he thinks like that, but uh I I doubt it. We lasted in social media this long. It's usually like, all right, now let's make the next movie.
SPEAKER_03:I got at this point, but it just sounds like he loves it in general. Oh, yeah. So he's gonna whether he really makes money, he'll probably still do it. Still do it. Yeah, I gotcha.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, we was making movies with nothing. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, like all the people that we were around. We didn't have a main actor or whatever, and I was I was with Courtney at the time, like, hey bro, you want hey, yeah, cool, let's do this. We can't hire writers, but me and you could sit down for a month, you know, especially editing-wise, too. So now it's at a point where it it's a little bit more cash flow there. So the movies are starting to get um, I don't know if that movie goes to the category, but like there's there are other things that are coming out that are like shot beautifully, and like the the actors start to uh get a little bit more um developed a little bit like yeah, like people that's in the like that's on things versus like my homies. Okay, I gotcha, gotcha. Yeah, so things are starting to develop naturally.
SPEAKER_03:Okay, I under understood. It's it's really cool. It's really cool. No, well I'm happy, I'm excited. Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01:That shit um that was like the other reason why I uh picked Nashville. I mean, you know, like 90% of it is Kyle. But um, yeah, it is it's close to Atlanta, so I could just stuff like this, I could just like go.
SPEAKER_03:Absolutely. Yeah, no, no, that's that sounds super dope. I'm excited. Yeah, yeah. Just the whole experience, you know, and just to see some movement, you know, some traction, because he has been doing it for a long time. Yeah, and it's great to still see he's passionate about it.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, he he's definitely um I think the next one. Oh yeah, no, I think that one excuse me, that one, uh, I think he's finally opening up to uh dropping on YouTube. That was my whole thing from the beginning. Like, I don't really I I get how strategic the film circuit is, but I hate like people I hate having to talk to someone about something I made and it's in their control. Like it takes a lot of the fun out of it. So even when we made uh one of the best movies that we made together is called Knock and It's on Tubi. We made that it had to go through the film circuit. So like I couldn't send anybody a link. Like I I don't like that. I mean, of course, I'm clearly at this point I'm very um conditioned to make something and just drop it. But um I don't know, a part of me just believes in myself like a lot to where I'm still on that mind frame of we still gonna make another one. So I'm not banking everything on this one movie. I just want to get better at making movies to where the movie's gonna hit wherever we put it.
SPEAKER_03:So And are you more excited about seeing the reaction to it? Uh is that why the reason why you want to drop it?
SPEAKER_01:Uh uh well, movies in general, yeah. I just feel like I have more control. It's really a control thing. I have more control to let's say if I go to an event or something and there's a director there that I like, like, hey, here's this link of a movie that I made. Like, I don't have the opportunity to do that if it's in the film circuit. Like you're damn near signing your movie away. And it's but again, it can literally change your life too.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, I'm just wondering, I'm just trying to break it down a little bit further because I know it's not just about the link.
SPEAKER_01:It's it's it's it's like I I don't know the the 100% of the like the technicality and all that uh of that, but I just see what I'm saying though.
SPEAKER_03:Like you're talking about control thing. You like I like to send it to people as like okay.
SPEAKER_01:Well, I guess you can't send the movie to people. I get what you're saying, I guess on that. I mean like the public.
SPEAKER_03:Okay, well, I'm just saying, like when you talk about the control thing, do you like having control over your art a hundred percent? You know what I mean? Is that what you're meaning? Yeah, okay, yeah, but yeah, but I mean also you're as a team.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, no, I mean it it is for us, but at the same time, I guess it's going back more so on what you said about the reaction to. It's just like I'm not making this to win an award. Like, I'm making this because I want to make a good movie and people to see it. So that's more of what it is. So yeah, friends and family sending it to everybody like that. That's that's cool. I don't really like expect y'all to watch the movie unless it's like a good one. And like, because if I come to you like, but you really gotta watch, then then it's a real good one.
SPEAKER_03:Right, and I'll watch it out of support.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, I yeah, yeah. But I I don't I I'm always like trying to do the next thing, but um I would say more of a reaction, reaction to the actual uh uh uh the whole process, you know. I don't like I I don't like the thought of like being an artist and the label is like holding your music. Yeah. I mean you want to drop this shit.
SPEAKER_03:Right. I and so I agree with you in that aspect, like if you're the artist, you created the music, and they're just kind of the financiers, and they pretty much like are controlling the project, then yes, that is yeah, like this is my name on it. This is I'm the artist who created this thing. But you know, there's with the movie, there's all of y'all, you know, you're directing, editing it, but you know, you also have somebody who who's paying for the things, who's also producing, you know what I mean? There's so many hands, it's a team effort, so that's a that's a lot of people's decision making, not just your own.
SPEAKER_01:You know what I mean? Yeah, yeah. It it just feels like gambling a little bit. Like, we do all this to go into a competition that nobody sees. And it's like, it's for us, we know what it is. You know, when you win best director or actor, this that, but it's like that's just a post that I can post on Instagram. Like, hey, I did this film and da-da-da. Again, I think I think it's solely based personally on I just like creating things and letting it go.
SPEAKER_03:So, and I just don't understand what why are you not dropping knock now? Like, what do you mean? Like in the city. It's on Tubi. Okay, so why not YouTube? Oh, I don't know. Like, I'm just saying, like, that's another streaming base.
SPEAKER_01:You know, you you have oh, he is no no, he he is now making because this was something I was trying to convince him of like years back.
SPEAKER_03:Um, but he is making a channel for um all his all his uh the team the the movies, yes, yeah, exactly like an archive on YouTube. Uh no public.
SPEAKER_01:But yeah, yeah, my bad, my bad, my bad. It it's a term like on Instagram when you archive a post like that shit gone. Oh, okay. So I I was thinking I was picking that up.
SPEAKER_03:But just like all his movies he's putting out. That makes a hundred percent sense to me is to do that. It's like, okay, now you have this thing that's not earning you any income, you might as well drop it into different platforms. Yeah, yeah. Now it's done what it was supposed to. Now you did all the festivals that's older, just release it, you know. Yeah, yeah. Um so one of the things that you brought up and that had reminded me and just reminded me of, you know, that my past relationship or whatever, um, even though it's like I say past like it wasn't last week, you know what I mean? But yeah, so um it was I I just had this constant thought of like a team and how being a part of a team when you're younger. Um it just reminded me at this point. It's like I wish every, you know, like it the person I would want to be with, I would ultimately like a preference, not like a ultimate, like, hey, this she's she's a teammate, you know what I mean? Check checkpoint. So um is that they have played on a team before. Like doesn't have to be like, you know, uh you was in your high school volleyball team, but if she was to ultimately like play, you know, a local sport with kickball, you know what I mean? Something that's team oriented to where it's you, another other people, another person sharing a goal. The reason why I start thinking about that lately is because a lot of the things was like a you thing. It's like, hey, if we're trying to meet this ultimate goal, you know, this gotta be an us thing. We gotta raise each other. Like when you're in football, you got offensive linemen who protect the quarterback so they can make the pass or receiver so he can score. Um, so that's a whole team to uh get a touchdown, to try to score points, to try to win the game, try to get a championship. So we're all here together, and it's not not just about me and you, it's about us, about the team. And I think that's very important quality that somebody should uh that people should have in general because it can turn to you ain't doing this for me, you and you know, and vice versa. So that being said, do you kind of agree with that analogy? Do you oh yeah, yeah. Um or a point?
SPEAKER_01:Um again, that um well, I had a two-part answer. Um I no longer believe I could do all this by myself, and all this goes into whatever comes into my head, whatever thought, whatever movie, whatever I don't know, just even me releasing and stuff. Anything that has something to do with a dream of mine, whether it's like make movies with my friends or being Ray So Silly, like I can't do it all by myself, like to the moon. You can do so far, but like it's I don't think it's possible. I don't think there was ever a story of someone doing that, you know. Um so no, I agree with you 100% on that. I was just saying, like, I would prefer, you know, I prefer like let's just drop this out.
SPEAKER_03:No, and I'm and now I'm going on to talk about relationship. Oh, okay. Well Yeah, yeah. Like my point is, hey, you have a um a sports background because you know what team and the ultimate goal looks like. You have been there, whether it's you know, um in the murals to where it's like I'm in my local wall just playing basketball, but it's hey, I may be playing basketball, I may not be able to drivel and get to the hoop, but I can set screens, I can play defense, I can box out, I can rebound. You know, it's all about doing the little things so we can meet this goal. And I felt like when I was in in the relationship, there was a lot of things as like, yeah, you don't know how to box out. You know, you know, like you don't you ain't really trying to rebound for the team. Yeah, yeah. You you're really just focused on scoring. Yeah, it's all about your self-acoles, in a sense, I'm using it as a not not literally. Um, so I was like, it's the little things, it's not you always talking about this is no I and team. It's like, all right, you're just doing the thing that's going to make you look good, or you're doing the thing that's for you, yeah, but not for us. And I was like, dang, I wish she would have played more sports because she could see it. She could see that bigger goal, that bigger picture. Because I I see where the little things so where it's a lot of selfishness that you're that you're probably not even thinking about. Your brain doesn't even go there because you never had was in a team environment.
SPEAKER_01:I I can get that. I can I can get that. I don't think I I get what you're saying. It's hard because I've been with like, you know, a few different women, and like there are some that did play on a team before who was amazing. And I did, I did feel like they was a teammate. There are other people who did play on a team before, and it just wasn't like I I don't know. It just felt like it was the opposite. But I still felt like that.
SPEAKER_03:Of of I mean, yeah, this ain't no this ain't gonna be no cure-all. Yeah, yeah, this is not a cure-all, but I I saw a lot of of you can be of course that there's ball hogs that exist. They're on a team, but they're a ball hog. Yes, it's all about them, they're not setting the screens, yes, they're not throwing the ball passing the ball.
SPEAKER_01:That was yeah, I I wasn't trying to go there with it, but yeah, yeah, that's exactly what I meant.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, yeah, yeah. Um for sure. But you're but there's also an extra added skill by playing in that team. Like when I was getting hired, one of the things that people like is to see that you was in a uh you're a team player. Like I'm in a region, you know, our re our region cut up the Midwest. You know, I'm not there's a goal that we have we would like to hit. We we're the biggest used we have been, not this past month, but have been the biggest used market in the past since I've really been there. Yeah, yeah, and that's been a goal of ours to be the biggest on used in the in the region of selling vehicles. So when everybody gets to that goal, we can meet it and we can be there. It's yeah, so if I'm just worried about getting a check, yeah, yeah, and I'm not trying to buy a little bit deeper to get to the goal, then it's just about me. You know what I mean? Yeah, yeah. I'm just getting a check. I don't care if we get this used thing. But so so managers, HR, they all like team players, and so I'm taking that in my relationship. That don't mean just because you that's not mean because you're on a football team, you're gonna be a good hire, or you're gonna be uh, you know, just because you play volleyball, that don't mean you're gonna be right for me. But it's an extra added skill. Yeah, that I was like, okay, you you at least understand the you know what a team looks like, you're right, or if if not necessarily a team, like um like my my bigger brother, he had to do all these unselfish things to make sure we're taken care of because we came from a single parent household. So he had to look after us and making sure we're safe and make sure we get home. You know what I mean? Though that's not you're not on a team, essentially. I mean you play the sport, but if you had some that's like, hey, I know what it takes to take care of somebody because that's my duty. Yeah, yeah. So that's it's uh that same type of team skill. You know, I I have a I have a goal. I'm supposed to make sure that goal is to keep them safe, so I gotta do this thing. Yeah. So, and I just recognize how big of a skill that is to have when I was in a relationship. It's like, dang, you know, this is I feel like I'm yeah, yeah, I gotta uh rebound, box out, shoot, score, and then you know, they hey, they just happy to raise a trophy like they did it themselves, you know what I mean? Like, so and and and that it constantly be getting frustrating, you know what I mean? Yeah, to where it's like uh wait, yeah, because then now it's like bruh, I don't even care if we look like we ain't going nowhere. We ain't gonna win the ship, so why why why play my ass off? You know, you know what I mean?
SPEAKER_01:That has happened to me before, yeah. Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_03:And it got to that point, it's like, bruh, we ain't going nowhere. Ain't no point me me me uh scoring, you know what I mean? Out of breath. Yeah, yeah. I'm like, I'm dying, you know what I mean? Giving them my all. Yeah, yeah. And I've seen like, bruh, you haven't even made it up to court yet.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, I I get what you're saying about that. Yeah. I've been in, yeah. I've definitely been in something like that. And it is um there's in many, and many, many um uh what's the word I'm looking for? Uh version, situations in life that now I'm I'm even thinking about you even saying that in like many different areas of my life where I feel like I could just be um just a better team player, like just looking at um uh uh what what that means. I had saw a podcast one time, I forgot her name. She was uh CIA agent. I seen it at your crib when I was uh living.
SPEAKER_03:You're talking about the one with uh British dude?
SPEAKER_01:Yes, Stephen. Yes, but um and she was just saying how you know people like wanting to be number one and all that. That kind of changed my thought on a lot of that stuff. Like, I do feel like I don't know. There are days where I'm like, man, I'm the goat, I'm goaded. Um that I do feel like that. I I don't I don't I don't go on Instagram and see people like me on Instagram. It's very one-of-one-ish. So but I know that like even though if I were to say that, like I'm the goat, I'm this, I'm that, she said we're all here, and you you you you really strive when instead of you looking at I'm not one, it's like you realize that we are all here basically for like acts of service. So and that kind of goes into like what you're saying too, like in relationships, it's a it's a it's it's like you said, it's like a team. So just because you want to shoot and ball hog and this, like you you you can do that, but at the end of the game, is the team really strong for real? So, you know, and that's kind of how I think about a lot of different S uh a lot of different places in my life, um, even down to the content, it's just like I I'll say that, like no, I'm the goat. I'm cuz I'm just like let's just say you just hit the game winning shot or something. And you're gonna say, man, I'm the goat or whatever, but it's not really about that. It's about like being a part of somebody somebody told me something one time of when when uh they were meditating that I put in my meditations now, of being one with the earth. It's just like we're all a part of this flow of energy, and it's it's it's better to be, I feel like, to live knowing you are a part of of the makeup of this generation versus like you I don't know, you you you you the number one nigga all the time or something like that. It's cool to strive to that, but like everybody's you you never stay number one, nobody ever does. So, but Denzel, he probably looks at himself like that. Well, I don't know, I don't want to say it because he be saying some super real shit. But like, you know, somebody, somebody in that caliber can feel like that. They're like, you know, I'm the number one, da-da-da-da-da. But I don't know, I feel like you make better movies when you you know you're like a part of the energy of like the work of acting or something. You know what I'm saying? Like the best movies I seen ain't the the the Marvel movie that came out on Friday. You know what I'm saying? So I I just think that uh uh with with with a lot of things, it's just like being one with like everything. It's is it's kind of like humbling. You don't get too far up and you don't get too far down because you know you got like you're you're you're you're providing acts of service versus like I'm that nigga. I feel like in the middle, it's just like you understand what's going on.
SPEAKER_03:If that makes sense. So is it more speaking on being humble?
SPEAKER_01:It's in yeah, in a way, but you can still pop your shit too, but just know that you could be wiped from the earth tomorrow, like and then what? It's like but when you feel like you're a part of something or even down to a relationship, when you feel like you're a part of like this cycle of love, there's always ups and downs and ups and rights and all this type of stuff. But when you're a part of something with your partner and you're like locked in, like I said, like the teammate thing, you're kind of you're one with the whole thing versus like I I I don't know, like versus uh the for instance, even going a little deeper of uh uh um I do both sides, you know, like uh women who want a husband versus like wanting to be a wife, and like men who want a wife versus wanting to be a husband. You get what I'm saying? Uh I said that ties in a deeper level with relationships as well. When I was saying I mentioned one time the difference between a woman who wants to be a wife versus a woman who wants a husband. It's like that's not the same girl. And that's not the same dude if it's a guy who just wants a wife versus like wants to be a husband. Because that's a two-part thing. That's not right, you know. I'm I'm just taking your, I'm just getting all of you, you know what I'm saying? If I'm not walking around like a husband and shit, I'm just like, you know, damn near sound like fuck boy a little bit. Yeah, yeah. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03:When speaking of humble, we was on uh it was Bible study. It was so you know, Moses wrote Exodus. Uh-huh. And then so he wrote, but also, and uh it says, and it was written that Moses was the most humble than anyone else on the face of the earth. But you also wrote it.
SPEAKER_00:You know what I mean?
SPEAKER_03:He wrote that in there, yeah, yeah, yeah. So so I'm just I was just talking about humble, like we were talking about popping your stuff. Yeah, he did.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, so it's like it was just like being humble but also popping it, and it just reminded me of it. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Uh huh.
SPEAKER_01:I write my own book. He was a great guy.
SPEAKER_03:The most humble on the face of the moment. Humble on the face. Yeah. I just find that hilarious. That is too funny.
SPEAKER_01:Um, I hope. That's that's a part that's literally you you literally basically described what I was saying in another word. Like Moses did kind of pop his shit a little bit, but it is a part of the book. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, it was ordained by God.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, so it I just find that hilarious. Okay. So When we went to Dugo's, right? Yeah, yeah. I had a great time. First of all, I wish you would have tried the chicken because it was so good. The food was really great. I must have just ate or something. Um, you had Popeyes at that crib and you was eating on on that a little bit, but it wasn't enough to really think you wasn't going to, you know, try some. Oh, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, yeah, yeah. That morning or something.
SPEAKER_03:So so I don't know if you remember, but you was like, uh you mentioned that you found all black women attractive, at least the ones. Do you remember saying that? Uh like most. Yeah, exactly. Like, it's like as long as they ain't ugly, but I was like, okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So can you break that down a little bit more?
SPEAKER_01:Like I said, I just I I think this is just for me growing up in um in Memphis. My mom's black. Yeah. Like she got what six, seven, eight brothers and sisters. I didn't know she had that many. I got I got cousins, you know, um uh went to public school. I'm just trying to like give you the the gist of what I've seen for what maybe like 20 years of my life before college, and people start looking a little different. But um I don't know, man. I just I I don't know. Like you gotta not, you gotta not be cute. Like, you know, for me to just be like, oh, you know, I I do realize I I give them, I don't even want to say there's gotta be a better way of saying that. I I just have a very I think it's relatability. I think like that relatability factor and me being able to like have a conversation and I I don't know, it's just like I'm from a certain place. So like to talk to people that's kind of from that place too, it just can add to the attraction. So even if you a six, like you know, you're about 7.2 now, you know what I'm saying? Oh okay, I got you, I got you. Yeah, but like if you're I don't even want to say, but you if you're if you're something else and you know that's that that that's it's gonna be a strong six, you know what I'm saying? Okay, so if you're if you're like the same attractive on on both levels, like my relatability to this, I don't even want to say specific race, because like a lot of people can come from that um upbringing, but that relatability, man, that shit is is so So that's an extra added boost, yeah, to you. Okay, definitely, definitely super added boost. And like nine times out of ten, it's it if they black, it's already there. You know, so that's why I said that. I'm like, you gotta be like if I don't want to talk to you, I don't want to have a conversation with you at all, like you know, you gotta I don't know. I I think it's it's gotta be on the deep end.
SPEAKER_03:Okay, okay. Yeah, no, I was you know that because of course that came from you know me sparking a conversation with the lady next to me. You know, it's like yeah, she is very pretty, but yeah, yeah. Uh but if it but I felt like we was looking at her with two different set of eyes, and it's it, yeah. And so that's what kind of reminded me, it was like, okay, yeah, I think she's pretty too, you know, yeah. Yeah, but you're like, she fine, you know, like I'd be calling everybody, yeah. I know that's why I'm like, okay, maybe I'm I become but I just be seeing it in them, yeah, you know, yeah. No, I think she yeah, but I didn't really get it because I was, you know, more so focused on the conversation that I didn't really get the like the look you up and down type of checkout. You know what I mean? I would nah I I don't think that's what she was on.
SPEAKER_01:I think I just say fine quickly. Okay. I do I do do that sometimes. I'm like, oh damn, she fine, all right. Like, yeah, versus like the the look up down thing out. I've I haven't that that that doesn't usually correlate. Okay, you know what I'm saying? I I could just see like damn, she, you know, it's in her own right of who she is, she fine. I I mean maybe fine is like exaggerated from some people that I say that about, but yeah, um, yeah, you know, people can just be that in their own right. Yeah, right, right. Yeah. So I think, yeah, I think like one of my exes got mad at me one time because like I don't think I have a type for real. Like I don't think it's a specific thing. You know, I also feel like people who do have a super type, I feel like that's kind of weird a little bit. Okay, not at first, but when you on your fifth nigga that looked all look alike, is that not weird?
SPEAKER_03:I I never really thought about it.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah. Well, I was a part of a type, so I was like nigga number three or four. Oh, okay. And then somebody else after me, I'm like, bro, all us look alike, man. Right. Like, you know, I'd rather be the different one in this bunch.
SPEAKER_02:Okay.
SPEAKER_01:I got you. Okay. Yeah, we all look like we auditioning for the same role here. I got you.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, no, I mean, I it is, it's kind of people have their preferences for whatever reason. They like what they like. I think they also see what they want the baby to look like too. Yeah. Yeah. So that is my mom said that.
unknown:Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:It kind of hurt my feelings a little bit, but I love who I am.
SPEAKER_03:Okay, I got you.
SPEAKER_01:Like, what'd she say? It's just, you know, my dad's white. Yeah. So like that. That's one of light-skinned kids. Clearly. Okay. She wanted something like that. She said that though. She said, she said something along the lines of it. I I don't I don't remember exactly verbatim what she said, but clearly when she was younger, that had to be a thought in her head, like, I want some cute babies, and da da da da. And then, you know, I guess my dad showed up. She's like, you know, that could make some cute babies. So I got you. It is what it is.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah. No, I mean, and I and I can see that sometimes because I I feel like that kind of raises a bar with uh what a girl sees in me, is that she pictures her child having green eyes. Oh yeah, it ain't gonna go like that, sweetheart. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. The it's you know, my butt I have uh three uh two other siblings, and you know, I'm the one with them. So wow. Yeah, yeah. So it ain't a guarantee. Yeah. Um That is funny. Do you do you think uh just as my homie, do you think I have a type? Uh nah. I don't I think well, I think you like you have a preference of black women. You have a black woman preference, I think. And I think it it stems from relatability, but I think it's yeah, I don't think that you're uh I can't see you marrying a white woman at all. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So so I mean there is I don't I don't want to say a type more so than elimination. Uh uh. Yeah, like you like you taking certain preferences that you wouldn't go for. Yeah, but you know, I could there's other cultures that you're willing to date and pursue. Yeah, yeah. I think they just have to have melanin in them, you know.
SPEAKER_01:I'm gonna well yeah, like not yeah, some melanin. So is that melanin?
SPEAKER_03:I mean, like some, yeah, but I mean there's all different types of shades of uh all races.
SPEAKER_01:It was relatability though. That's why I said that. Like sometimes it could like step out of that that space. Um, but like it definitely was relatable. How she kind of I mean, of course the Puerto Rican thing was a little different.
SPEAKER_03:But I don't think you really even care for it if a white woman came from went to Craigmart. You know what I mean? Like, like, would you still be interested? I'm curious.
SPEAKER_01:You know, you never know. Yeah, I I got you. Okay. I got you. Yeah, yeah, but uh yeah, I I wouldn't know. I haven't I haven't um yeah yeah, I haven't dabbed into that.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, because as most crap as I get about dating um white women. Yeah, that was a whole phase. Um I I I don't think that was a phase. I think that I like who I like because you know I can name specifically, like for every white woman I dated, there's another black woman I I was equally as interested in. Yeah, and I I can name names, but it's a podcast. Yeah. So so there's like girls that I I did like, or who even that before I dated my first girlfriend who was white, there was like uh uh somebody who is uh of darker, darker melon who I also liked a lot. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So it it just literally did not matter to me. Like I'm literally yeah, so I can date an Asian woman, I can date Indian, you know, like if it was just me, now I'm also gonna take culture factors. Like if you're Hindu, it's all it's probably not gonna work. If you're Muslim, it's probably not gonna work. But if if it's you just take us two and just take remove all the factors we lived in the cave, uh, you know, I could definitely fly with that. Yeah, and I wouldn't have a problem. So I know I don't have a type, it just looks that way. Because I also I think that um certain women really go for uh certain men too. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So yeah, so some are gonna be more proactive to pursue their man versus other people, and so you know, and I'm I'm the person, you know, I'm more going to have a convenience sometime. Yeah, yeah. If you're after me, I was like, I'm gonna probably and I and I think this is probably with everybody, right? Like, and I think women more especially. Like, hey, if a if a man's after them, they're more likely gonna give them time than somebody who's not really giving giving that attention.
unknown:Oh no.
SPEAKER_03:You don't think so? Like, I'm just saying, like, of course, it has to work that way because that that man is not giving them attention at all. So you're like, man, let me see what you're talking about.
SPEAKER_01:It depends on what type of woman it is, right?
SPEAKER_03:Um, but they're not gonna go after the man that's not giving them attention. They're not, they're not women aren't gonna, for the most part, not gonna be chasing after a man.
SPEAKER_01:I I can kind of see that. Yeah, for the most part. I do I do understand what you're saying too, about um when a woman like just wants you, you're just kind of like more open to like what is this, you know, or more curious about like what this would be like. Is that true? Just if she's like clearly like hands down, like like I want you, like for real. And there's only a certain type of women that would do that, yeah. Right, yeah. I think that's that's that's how I ended up with the Puerto Weekend girl. Yeah, yeah, I got you, yeah. Yeah, I was like, I've never had this before.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, yeah. And there was a lot of things she was coming correct with as well, too. To where it's like, oh okay, I can, you know, I can be in this for a minute. Yeah, yeah. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah. But I definitely was open to that because you know, it it was just um, it's just it's a total different feeling. Um, and that's why I almost uh what I was trying to say was I just think it's a difference when a woman wants the man versus like the man wants the woman. I don't think that usually um that that usually works out. Like I don't I don't want my wife to say I ain't like him at first. I don't like that. I got you. Yeah. Like I don't think I don't think it's gonna work out.
SPEAKER_03:Right, yeah. Because I'm not I'm not the active pursuer. Yeah. I d I don't I don't live in that world. So so and I think that's probably uh you know that I don't know how to look at it, but I think it's you know uh a benefit on our side that we do look we do look decent. So yeah, yeah. So women are naturally just gonna cut their eyes at us. And if they do, they look the other way. There's many more women that's gonna find us attractive. You know what I mean? Yeah, so so I guess that's where it comes from too. Um, but the there's also something I want to mention uh when we was talking about um like attractiveness and um energy and things like that. So back to the ghost, you know, meeting that lady for the first time. Like you mean you? Yeah, exactly. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, you know, I'm sparking to the person next to me. I can kind of see that she's looking at me. Um, but you know, me coming freshly off a relationship, you know, I'm not I'm really just kind of wanting enjoy my time. I'm definitely not trying to hop in anything new, yeah. But she, you know, we're having a conversation, and so now I don't feel any way about you know, like trying to impress anybody. Yeah, so I'm just you know having that conversation, we're just talking, you know, and then the con conversation keeps on getting a little bit deeper, you know, and then now I'm just like kind of oversharing and and things like that, and then the the connection kind of gets a little bit closer. I was like, okay, actually, you know, and now we're I'm talking about church, you know, like what church do you go to? I was like, I'm church of Christ. Um, and then you know, and she she she has a you know the stigma of church of Christ. You you may not know the stigma of church of Christ, but one of our things is that we don't play music or it we don't play instruments, and you know which are we doing? We sing, we it's like more archaped style. For real? Yeah, mm-hmm. Okay, yeah, yeah. So you have those types of yeah, yeah, yeah. Uh so we have several different stigmas, but that's one of them. Um, and so she was just kind of asking questions, like, you know, would you be like, could you see yourself leaving the church of Christ? And like, honestly, that's not happening. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So you can get that. So it was the the thing, what I ultimately getting at is the the questions are actually dating questions that we're getting to. Oh, yeah. Yeah, like you know, how many kids you want type of question? And then, you know, now food comes out, we're sharing food. Now it feels like a first date.
SPEAKER_01:And I'm like, I did not see that part.
SPEAKER_03:What sharing the sharing the food? Yeah, yeah, and it it was it was cool because I like when people are more relaxing. Not not like necessarily like if she was farting in front of me, like like that, you too, you you too relax. But the fact, you know, like you know, you're like I'm I'm like, hey, you know, I'm a sharer, is what I said. And then so she starts eating, and then she's kind of eating more, you know. Like I find that little stuff like that cool. Like, oh, you're comfortable, and I'm I'm cool with it. Um, that means that you you're comfortable with me being here, it's not like a weird thing. You're right, yeah, yeah, yeah. Like he like now, it's like, all right, he I've somewhat validated his mind that he's not a creep in a sense. Uh-huh. Oh, yeah, for sure. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So um to that point, is um it's it's funny because after that first initial meeting, it's kind of like the chemistry's kind of suede it. Now it's back to like, you know, like disappearing a little bit. Yeah. And it's weird how that I don't know if it if it's weird to you how that happens. It to where like now it's like it's that initial spark and it's heavy, it feels good, you know, and then it just kind of dissipates like the following day, then a couple days later, it's like I you know, I don't, you know, I don't really care like I was when I first had that initial meeting. Um I have dealt with that a lot.
SPEAKER_01:Whole lot. Yeah, yeah. Not just, you know, I don't know.
SPEAKER_03:And like it do you feel that your well, I guess my question is, do you feel that yourself? Like that chemistry lessening? Yeah, I do it. Okay, yeah.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, not not to just um I don't know. It's like it's a certain type of person that I need to be talking to. Like, like I said, even the the the going back to what I was saying about relatability, it's like it needs to be, my personality needs to be our personalities need to be like meshed in a way where it can last past like a couple conversations. And I feel like there is only a certain type of people for each personality to like stay around. Yeah, that happened to me. Um I got used to it. I got used to, I'm used to it right now. I know exactly what it is as soon as as soon as I don't get a message, I'm really being I well, I don't know. I I'm really I do that shit. Like I I I'll wake up the next day and I'm like, man, I don't know, like that was an amazing conversation and this, this, and that, and I don't know what it is, but something kind of just like fades off a little bit, and then I might just go and lock in again with my own life. And there's only a certain type of people that stay around in that. And I think effort is a thing. Effort is a thing. So I can see when somebody's like, oh, you like you actually want to talk to me or like no the the the when the answers go like um how are you today versus what's the best part of your day? Like certain type of conversations keeps you locked in, and I don't think that a lot of um I don't know, I don't I don't like chase the women, so I'll be there for the first conversation, you know, and I'll I'll I'll I'll thought-provoking conversation. I'm I'm a I'm a really good conversationalist. Like I just realized that about myself, but I don't know, if I ask you a deep question and you don't say, and you know, like this, it's like it is it just starts to I feel like I'm doing too much, right? But I know I'm not because I'm clearly like holding this conversation. You probably didn't meet a guy like me before. Okay. So you're interested in this conversation.
SPEAKER_03:You should want to know more, type of thing. Like, why don't you want to know more because I'm not the everyday guy?
SPEAKER_01:Is that kind of what you're not not from that stance, but the stance of like good conversation, yeah. It's not about like me thinking I'm like I'm him, it's just like bro. I just asked you what what were you thinking about when you were three and your mom did this or whatever, you know what I'm saying? And and that you just gave me a deep answer or whatever. And I know you're not having these type of conversations all the time, right? So it's just like when it starts to kind of just be one sided, or like energy is just not in that same realm, then I'll start pulling back. So I'm guilty of it, and then I've I see people do that with me as well. So like maybe we're not we might be attracted to each other, maybe we relate to certain things, but after that, it's like I don't know, I I I need to talk to somebody that I can like always talk to. Like even if I don't know, there are just certain type of people that are out there that I I've seen myself not pull away from, and it's weird, and then usually then I might end up dating that girl. But um it's it's it's not as rare as you think. Like to me, it's kind of like and I've been single for uh I don't know, uh what, basically a year now, and even before then, I was only dating my ex for like four months. So I've been single for a long time. Yeah, in a way, yeah. Some people be like, seventh year.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, right. I mean, sure. I was like that for a very long time. Yeah, yeah. And um it's it's hard to kind of get out that phase for a little bit because you're used to doing things your way, how you want to do it. Um you know, you could go out you want to is checking in, you know, making sure. Like I think the biggest part about dating me in the beginning was like things, hey, don't forget you gotta do this thing. You know what I mean? Like, yeah, it's it's and because I'm used to be going my own way. And so when I it's like, dang, you know, I can we can't have like dang I can have a decent right now, but I can't, so I'm mad at you. I can't I can't do it, you know what I mean? Yeah, yeah. And uh yeah, it wasn't that I wasn't mad at her for that, but uh so but it was one thing like dang, I want to talk to this chick, but I'm in a relationship, and you ain't doing your part. This but this is w where the thing of me being it was somewhat selfish um and ignorant in a way, is that I was it's like I felt like you ain't doing enough, and I I'm getting like women are trying to talk to me and I and I'm frustrated that I can't speak to them. And then I feel like now I'm putting that on you, like do more, like keep pique my interest, but it's fine. And I feel like that was childish, yeah, yeah. In the beginning, yeah, in the beginning, but then as as I got uh in this situation or like more in my relationship, it's like where that was like I'm putting unnecessary pressure from her, you know what I mean? That's like not fair, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, and it's like now like now I'm I feel like it was somewhat toxic that I was like it's a trait that I'm glad I I think it was just me being single for a long time. Yeah, and I was like, if you're you know, and I felt like that was that was the same, but to be fair to myself at that time, I also was aware that was the same thing for on my side that I had to make sure I was on my game because you know somebody else could, you know, pick up what I'm doing, you know, or be more interested in my girl. So but yeah, but I uh that was something that was one of the beginning stages of like I I can't really do anything right, you know what I mean? Because you're asking for more and more. Granted, some of the things I was saying were were true, yeah, but it was where it was coming from. So it's like you know, where it was unfair, if that's making sense.
SPEAKER_01:I can you know I I can get I I feel like that's that's like that's like relationships wrapped in a um in in in a bundle or or whatever, like is is in terms of um being aware of where things are coming from, like small tips, small like breedings of resentment and all that, that can be on both of y'all's sides from like two different things that y'all are doing or experiencing.
SPEAKER_03:So yeah, and and I can make it more clear and more uh image or make it visualize it a little bit better. It's like if I'm telling you, hey, you need to clean the house more. This, for example, I never said this, but yeah, you need to clean the house more because Keisha down the street says she'll clean my house more. Yeah, and now I'm like Keisha is not in this relationship, so why are you even in you know, entertaining that? Yeah, yeah. So, and that's when it was like I had to kind of self-check myself. It's like I'm if that should have been a complaint of mine without Keisha being there. You know what I mean? Yeah, yeah. If I had an issue, it should have been between us. It's not because Keisha now it exists and saying she would do this thing for me. You know what I mean? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Just keeping it like in the yeah, like don't let outside forces be the reason why you want to um why the the excuse of what's what's wrong with your relationship in essence.
SPEAKER_01:I think that's a um uh uh a time to tap into like just uh vulnerability um for both parties in a relationship when things come up. Because that's that's I'm thinking about relationships that I've had and and there are certain things that could have been a total different conversation if it was like um why why'd you take a picture of this girl when she asked you to take a photo of her? But in reality, you could have said, Hey, I was treated a certain way in my past relationships, and like this is bringing up some trauma for me. And like, can you if you would have said that to me, we could have got over that together.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, I I totally agree. You see what I'm saying? Yeah, I I totally agree, but people uh it goes back to that man who I cut off of the road that screamed, yeah, yeah. It's like people are gonna all archate articulate themselves like that in that manner, yeah. Sometimes they just kind of scream. Like, like yeah, like that would that's how I love to kind of like thank you for making me understand instead of just lashing out because now I'm reacting how you how what you're doing at this moment, and now that's a thing too. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So now we're yeah, now we're now we're battling instead of getting somewhere. Yeah, yeah. Because now, yeah, yeah. I may have pinched you, now you punched me. Now it's a battle. Yeah, yeah. And it's like, okay, that makes sense.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, that was that was um one of the biggest things that I realized, like in relation. Now again, like it depends on who you with. So you know, that's that could be tough to even like try to teach somebody. And you they nobody likes to be taught anything, bruh. So like um that that can get difficult, but it it it literally depends on who you're with, what stage of life you're in.
SPEAKER_03:And and and that's how uh that's one of the biggest things in uh my past relationship was that that kind of very thing. That was a like thing that I couldn't cut through. Is I'm telling you how I like to be coached, and then you're saying, hey, don't tell me how to don't don't don't tell me how to talk, pretty much. Yeah, I'm like, all right, like I was like, I'm telling you. I'm just like I'm telling you what what gets to me. Yeah, you just being mad and lashing out and ain't really productive. But I'm saying, hey, if you say it this way, I can understand it more. But but having this like it was one thing, it's like saying I'm sorry is like out of your vocabulary. You're like, you know what I mean? Like that's I think it was literally one of the things, just like apologizing, like saying I'm sorry is like that's not something you do, like like is that foreign?
SPEAKER_01:You know, yeah, I've yeah, I've been with people that do that. That I just again, like I said, I feel like it depends on a multitude of things, and it's the the the place you are in your life, what y'all have gone through, and who y'all are like as a person type thing. And yeah, just being kind of kind of just like how good of a a friend like can you be? You know what I'm saying? Because it's when you're in a relationship, we lose the sense of like we're friends. Like I and that was that was something that um I was thinking about the other day. I was like, damn, you know, like I I I wanted to, but I was at a different place to where I'm I probably lost it after a certain point of not being vulnerable. I probably like gave up after a certain point and like not really telling this person, I actually want to talk to for real. Like you're my best friend, like I need you, like in this what the the the the the the like we were saying about like love and like teamwork and all that type of stuff, just even like emotion and or mental-wise, you know, it would be nice to know I'm talking to like my friend. But then when we lose that, and then now it's like you know, I'm the man, you the woman, and we both trying to like tell our stuff, and then if somebody the the what's it called, small microaggressions when not when that starts to happen, then like you kind of lose the message, and really y'all just bro, y'all want to like understand each other as friends, as people, you know. So I feel like a lot of people lose that as well as make not have that developed. Um the upbringing and all that stuff and how they dealt with issues or trauma and their family and hard conversations with those type of people or friends too, it all affects everything. So I don't know. I I hope my next relationship, you know, that's I mean, I'm pretty I I I trust myself at this point. I kind of know what to like look for in terms of at least initial. Everybody initially uh is wearing their representative, but uh or it's being their representative, but yeah, that's that's that's huge for me. Like if I can I I I think I said this before, before I got into my last relationship, like being pretty ain't enough, bro. Like it's like that can be I'm I'm never looking at our good moments. And a lot of people do. I get that. But I feel like I if I if I mess with somebody or whatever, like I I can I can tell when you when I can have fun with somebody and have great moments with somebody. I don't be looking at that. I be looking at, bruh, like you you didn't address this thing that I I kind of asked of you and all that because that can alter the whole week. That can make me not want to go out with you this weekend. Right. Absolutely. So yeah, that that vulnerability. That's that's like very, very um, I'm not even gonna say rare, but a lot of people should work on that for sure.
SPEAKER_03:Okay. So it reminds something that you said um reminds me of the question I have. I do want to save it because I feel like it's it's a it can be a long conversation, or it may not, but I'll I'll say I'll um I'll ask it and um you can choose on if you want to save it or or keep it for next week. Well uh yeah, one uh yeah, so I so let's let's just try the let's let's just say it and then we'll have it for next week. Well, what is it? Oh okay, oh yeah, right. Um do you think say you're initially attracted to a woman, right? Then you're talking to her for a a couple weeks, and you find out she's not the person for you. Could you architect articulate that person uh to that person that you're not interested anymore? Um do you want to say that for next week?
SPEAKER_01:Or I mean usually when things aren't like I said, when you when when things aren't like messing, it usually just fades off.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, but what if she's super interested in to into you? Uh into me. Because I mean y'all talked to like when I talk about like the girl, like we you know, we're talking about very relationship-oriented thing. What if that would have gotten further? What if we would have had sex? What if, yeah, not all these things get intertwined, but you realize because you said you know who you want. Yeah, well, you may not know that in the first two weeks, but you're going all the way there with it. Now y'all, your energy is on fire, then she has some of these traits that you don't really love. Now it's deeper, it's hard, it's deeper just trying to penetrate that the traits that she has. Like, I don't know if this is something I'm willing to live with. So you gotta be the person to turn her down. She's going all the way with you, you know, she's willing to take it further.
SPEAKER_01:Uh I I've dealt with somebody once where I had to tell her like um that we were just friends. And how how did they so tell me that story? You know, it it it just it it kind of things like kind of spark quickly and I just felt like I I knew. I was like, I don't this how did she take it? I think I said it. I didn't say it like I just said it. I said it in way more P way. But I don't I don't remember. It was just well throughout it, I could kind of I could I could I kind of picked up on certain things and you know before it got like to different points of that friendship, I always made sure I threw in there, like I ain't looking for no relationship right now. Okay, I ain't you know, but not not like straight up cutting her off, yeah, but just like you know, just casual talking, like, yeah, but I I mean you know I'm locked in, I ain't looking for a relationship right now. But um, and that that that would be it. My my shit just stopped. But uh yeah, not now. Okay, yeah, so we we gotta end this.
SPEAKER_03:Hey, we left our cliffhanger, we're gonna keep that going, right? Uh huh. And then uh, but this is too for the culture, we'll be back. We'll be back.