Kwame Patterson ("The Wire") on Acting, Purpose & Breaking Barriers

From street corners to soundstages, Kwame Patterson’s journey is a masterclass in grit, determination, and the power of purpose.

Known to fans as Monk from HBO’s groundbreaking series "The Wire," Kwame Patterson’s story is built on raw determination, hustle, and unshakable faith. Born in Atlanta and raised in the unforgiving streets of New Jersey and Baltimore, he defied staggering odds, earning his GED through Job Corps and serving in the U.S. Army as he carved out a better future.

Landing a role on "The Wire" wasn’t just luck; it was a turning point that ignited Kwame’s acting career and reshaped his life. Over two decades later, he’s still breaking barriers with bold, dynamic roles while using his journey to motivate and empower others.

When he’s not lighting up the screen, Kwame is all about family and fighting for change. He dedicates his time to guiding young actors and pulling at-risk youth away from the grips of the juvenile justice system.

This episode also features Shelton Benjamin, AEW's “Standard of Excellence” superstar, who joins the conversation to share how he’s giving back to his community and living by his own code.

Join us as Kwame takes us through his rise from the streets to the screen, sharing raw stories of resilience and his impact off-camera. This is a journey you won’t want to miss!

🎯 What You’ll Hear:

• How Kwame beat the odds—from GED to HBO
• The impact of "The Wire" and what it unlocked in his life
• Lessons from the U.S. Army that shaped his mindset
• Why mentorship and second chances fuel his mission today
• A surprise drop-in from Shelton Benjamin, AEW's superstar, on community and legacy

💬 Tell Us: 

What moment in your life felt like a turning point? Tag @NRJMediaGroup or DM us. 

🌐 Thank you for listening! Stay inspired. Stay bold. Stay Energis’d.  Visit us at www.nrjmediagroup.com to learn more and connect with our growing community.

Transcript

Introduction to Kwame Patterson

Norma 0:03

Energis Podcast is brought to you by NRJ Media Group

Norma 0:16

Rich: sunshine .

Rich 0:17

So Kwame Patterson's story ? He's straight , isn it Straight out of a movie , except it's real life , from high school struggles to starring in some of the biggest shows on TV . That really is a definition of a comeback story .

Norma 0:33

It really is . I mean from Baltimore to Hollywood . Proving that talent hustle and resilience man , those three skills you can rewrite your entire future .

Rich 0:45

Yes , you can , yes , you can . You know what ? And let's talk about The Wire His role . I know , I know his role as monk was legendary . Listen to how he got that role , that's even more legendary . But that , for him , was just the beginning . You know , he's crushing it now in Snowfall , David Makes Man and so much more .

Norma 1:04

He's crushing it now in Snowfall . David Makes Man and so much more . Yeah , and I do have to go back to what you just said PSA announcement . Huge fan of The Wire .

Rich 1:10

I know fangirl here . Fangirl Alert .

Norma 1:13

I know , I know , I admit it , I admit it . But you know what I love the most ? He keeps it real . I know we're speaking to him . No shortcuts , no handouts , just raw determination and straight hustle to break into the entertainment industry .

Rich 1:30

You know , and it takes that hustle , it takes that drive , grit , determination to get where you want to get to . So listen , if you're an aspiring actor , a creative , you know , or someone who just refuses to let obstacles define you , this is your episode . Listen in .

Norma 1:44

And Kwame Patterson , he's bringing in the heat .

Rich 1:48

So buckle up , because this one's gonna be a ride a hell of a ride and you know , as as as a treat , we've got Shelton Benjamin coming in halfway through the WWE . Former superstar is a legend and we are honestly blessed to have him on yeah , having them two was such a such a treat .

Norma 2:10

What a , what a golden moment for us , wasn't it ?

Rich 2:12

you know what ? The way , the way they just worked out having a both just showed you two people that didn't know each other , how they were just able to interact and how similar their story was yeah , it was .

Norma 2:22

it was difficult to end this episode , it really was .

Rich 2:26

I know , I know . So guys , listen in , enjoy it , let's get to it , let's go on a ride .

Norma 2:34

Well , today we have the pleasure of welcoming actor Kwame Patterson .

Rich 2:41

Kwame , thank you for coming in . It's lovely to have you here . Thank you for having me . I appreciate it . Our pleasure .

Norma 2:46

We had such a lovely time speaking to you in preparation for this interview . Yes , ma'am . Really , really looking forward to you sharing some of the little tidbits that you shared with us . Can you start by giving everyone a little bit of a recap on your career and what you've done , and maybe even talk about some of the roles that you were excited playing ?

Kwame Patterson 3:06

Yes , ma'am , I started off on the Wire , a show called the Wire out of Baltimore . Love that show , thank you .

Norma 3:13

thank you , I appreciate it . I was that crazy fan .

Kwame Patterson 3:20

It's interesting how that came about because at that time in my life I wasn't trying to be an actor , but the Wire filmed intimore and so we love the wire , you know , coming on . So we would be outside on the corner hanging out and when such and such time , everybody running the house , you know what , no dvrs and all that stuff back in , I was like and I always like to say that we had watch parties before watch parties with a thing yes , because you know it wasn't no social media .

Norma 3:44

I was a part of those watch parties .

Kwame Patterson 3:45

Yeah , I was a part of it . Right , so you understand , like we run in the house , we watch the Wire , then we go back outside . But so I would see people you know like sometimes you'll see like friends or you see somebody you know and they'd be like the nosy neighbor on there . You , oh , man , that's such and such . I was like , oh , wow , that's pretty cool . Like , oh , they got on the wire . I was working for a telecommunications company at that time and it was subcontracted through Verizon Fast forward . I used to always be like , oh , that would be cool to one day , you know , tell my kids . Be like yeah , you know , I was on the wire . Like I was like . So I was always like , man , if I ever get opportunity just to get on there and say one or two lines , that'd be awesome . And so that was just a thought process . Never knew how to do it or anything .

Kwame Patterson 4:27

So fast forward years later , neighborhood I'm from in Baltimore is called Park Heights , and so that was one of the areas that they did film the show in , and so I remember we used to be outside watching sometimes when they'd be filming , and I remember a PA said she said are you an actor . And I said no . She said , are you an actor , you know ? And I said no , and she was like you should audition for the Wire . And I was like , ok , you know how do I do that , you know . And she's like just send in a headshot and a resume to Pat Moran casting . So I was like , ok , got the information . Now , mind you , I didn't have no headshot , so I took a regular picture , I took . I had no resume , so what I did was I took yeah , I took a piece of favor and I wrote down a bunch of school like plays , and I did . I had about

From Baltimore Streets to "The Wire"

Kwame Patterson 5:14

10 or 15 plays on the back of his resume that I'd never done , like ever done , ever done . And I was like I was like , okay , let me put all these plays . And then I sent it in the casting and , mind you , at that time , you know , I grew up in the streets , so I looked like that Everybody's always be like yo , you look very scary . You know what I'm saying . I did a lot of things in my youth you know what I'm saying that not necessarily proud of , but it shaped me as a man and so and I like to say not that God is out here like , oh , go sell drugs or go do this . But I feel like a lot of the things that I did prepared me for this role and I didn't know it . So basically I sent in this headshot . I get a call from casting . That's when they come in .

Kwame Patterson 6:00

Character was lieutenant number one . He had two lines , I go in . I didn't really study . I was like , ok , he had two lines , I go in . I didn't even really study . I was like , okay , it's two lines , okay , I memorized it . Boom , because again never took an active class anything .

Kwame Patterson 6:10

So I'm green , I don't know what to do , so I just go in and go in . I got my do-rag on everything and and I was like normally , how I normally walk around , like back then I used to wear like diamond earrings in my ear and the chains on the bracelets . That's how I went in , just like that and got the role , was excited and was telling everybody oh man , I got the role in the Wire . Everybody's excited from the neighborhood . So I go , I finally shoot my scene and Jamie Hector , who played Marlo , who's one of my closest friends to this day is we shoot the scene and when we're done , done , he says they gonna bring you back and I was like nah , bro , I'm just here for the day , man . I was like he was like nah , trust me . I was like nah , I didn't know him at that time . I was like he's stupid , he ain't talking crazy . I don't know what he talking about . So I'm like I'm just excited to be here . Regular character on the show .

Norma 7:07

Get out .

Kwame Patterson 7:08

Yeah . And so season four I was in seven episodes as a day player . I had no agent , no manager , none of that stuff , because I didn't know anything about any of that stuff . Another funny story is so , during this process of doing this , david Simon , he would come on set and he would always like speak to Jamie and Elm and like really have conversations with them , and he would just kind of , you know , give me a little .

Kwame Patterson 7:33

Hey , you know , didn't really say when I used to be like I don't think he likes me , you know . And Jamie would be like , no , that's just how he is . I was like he speaks to everybody else but he doesn't really say much to me . I was like , you know , I wasn't sure you know . And so at the end of I'm in the , I'm in the last episode of season four we rap and they say that's a rap on Kwame Patterson , blah , blah , everybody clap . And then it was one of those movie moments where he walked over and he was like how'd you like being on the show ? And I literally looked behind me because I was like is talking to me ? Like I was like , I was like me , and he was like that's another moment you have as well , yeah , he was like yeah , you .

Kwame Patterson 8:08

And I was like I said that was a blessing , I appreciate the opportunity at this point . Now , still , I was not about to become an actor . Okay , I literally was like and I'm jumping a little bit I had just joined Verizon , had this program , a one-year program did you do that they pay for to become an engineer . When you complete that program , you sign a two-year contract with them and they start you off at like $140,000 a year . Mind you , I didn't graduate high school . I got locked up in my 10th grade year , so I didn't graduate high school . I got my GED , went to the military , and so for somebody who didn't graduate high school , didn't go to college , to make $140,000 , I was excited about that . So at the end and I'm explaining how this conversation changed my life so at the end he says how'd you like me on a show ?

Kwame Patterson 8:50

And I said I was a blessing , I truly appreciate the opportunity . Man like , thank you for having me . It's was so excited . The dream come true . He said that's awesome . He said because next year we're gonna make your character bigger .

Rich 9:02

Oh , I'm it .

Kwame Patterson 9:03

Yeah , it was amazing , and that in season five . So then I flew to la , started taking acting classes and flew back yeah , and then season five .

Rich 9:15

They made me a series regular so how long was you on , how many was you on ? To the end , yeah , yeah , yeah , yeah in season five I was in all 10 episodes .

Kwame Patterson 9:22

yeah , yeah , season four was I was in seven out of . I think they had 13 or 12 episodes in season four and then season five was only ten . I was in all ten .

Norma 9:30

Yes , but Kwame . So you said you didn't want to be an actor , but others saw it in you .

Kwame Patterson 9:36

Yeah .

Norma 9:37

And you do have a presence .

Kwame Patterson 9:39

Thank you , thank you Right , we all , you all , scared ? No , you do , and so . But there must have been a curiosity about it . Yeah , they're not really . I mean there was . It was more so again , and I don't have kids now , but at the time , you know , it was just a thing where I just thought I was pretty cool , like because you know , you don't , you don't , you're not thinking like , oh , I'm about to be on TV and just become a star . Some people grow up thinking that I didn't think that . So it was more so . For me was just like I had seen other friends or people with small parts and I was just like that'd just be cool , just to tell my kids when they're like you know , your dad was on this show called the Wild . Let me pull up this episode and show you , you know what I'm saying .

Kwame Patterson 10:21

Yeah exactly .

Norma 10:22

Let's remind it again , because the first time wasn't enough .

Kwame Patterson 10:25

Right , exactly , let me freeze it right here for you See that .

Kwame Patterson 10:39

Right , cool thing , like something cool to do . You know an experience and I didn't . And but I'm very spiritual . So it was when those things happened I was like , oh , god has a bigger plan for me . And so , and that was where I was saying that not that I'm , you know , and any young kids that listen I'm not sitting here saying that you should be out here doing bad things and doing negative things because it's going to bring you a role as a drug dealer . No , like you know , I just , oh , I just I'm a firm believer that things happen in your life for specific reasons .

Kwame Patterson 11:06

You go through certain things in life for reasons . You know what I'm saying . Everybody you meet is a learning experience . Whether that experience is negative or positive , you learn something from it and you grow if you choose to . You know everybody doesn't choose to , but if you choose to , you learn something from it and you grow if you choose to . You know everybody doesn't choose to . If you choose to , you grow from it .

Kwame Patterson 11:23

And so for me , it was that thing like oh , this is why I sold drugs , this is why I did the things , this is why I was a part of gangs when I was growing up , and this because

Learning to Box and Finding Confidence

Kwame Patterson 11:30

, had I not done those things , I wouldn't have not been able to bring the authenticity to that character that they wanted , because they didn't care that I went to acting classes , they just wanted the authenticity of somebody from Baltimore that was from the streets and they could , like you say , that presence , that scariness , because I had been told that my whole life , like , I've always been quiet and so I was always the guy like I started boxing when I was like 12 and so okay , yeah , and so I got into boxing because of the streets .

Kwame Patterson 12:02

You know , I got bullied when I was young and then I got into boxing and then all that changed and but I was always very quiet , like I wasn't somebody walking around , real cocky I hung around cats who did that but I was always the quiet , chill one , and and what I always learned was the quiet ones are the ones you have to worry about . So I always adapted that and then that played dividend , like you say , as I got into my acting career , because when we were having auditions , when I would go to rooms , the first thing people would say they was like your presence when you walk into a room , it's like it makes people want to hear what you're about to say , or they're like waiting for something because it was like your presence and that's the thing I missed about the audition process now is like everything's on tape . You miss that with tapes . You know it's that , that presence .

Norma 12:44

So yeah , but kwame , let me tell you , I felt your presence . If I I might , just call me here because you do have it . You really , really thank you , thank you so can we take you back ?

Rich 12:54

yes , that's your childhood , so you mentioned a couple of times already . But you grew up on the streets . What was it like ? What was growing up at home like ? How did you get to sell drugs , to be in a situation where you got your inner gang and then you were bullied , or , previously you were bullied , you took up boxing . Can you talk us through it a little bit so we understand ?

Kwame Patterson 13:16

My family was heavy into it . A lot of it was before I was born . It was generational . Yeah , you know my uncles , even my mom , you know what I'm saying and so my mom did not want me to be involved in that life . But unfortunately , when you're around it , you know your cousins , your uncles , yeah , like literally we talk about now , like trying to , like you say , break the generational curse . Like literally we talk about now , like trying to , like you say , break the generational curse . Basically , I must say , every male in my family , going all the way back to my uncles , have been in jail at some point in time . You know , from little cousins to you know , myself included , you know have , and half of the women you know , and so that growing up in that is you grow up being taught to be tough .

Kwame Patterson 14:01

You know I grew up , you know , in projects I grew up , originally started off in Jersey , ok , and then we moved to Baltimore . When I was like 16 , 15 , 16 in Jersey , I remember I was about , I want to say about , eight years old , and I remember a kid named Fat man , another kid named Manny and I remember the other kid's name chased me home from school . So I'm running in the house I'm crying and my mom says what are you running in this house crying for ? And I said , fat man , they're trying to beat me up . And my mother said you either go back outside and fight them or I'm a whoop , you . And I didn't want no whooping for my mama , so I went back outside and I fought them and I got beat up , but I fought and that was the beginning of knowing oh okay , it's not that scary . You know you might lose , but if you fight back you know what I'm saying It'll leave some time , you know , kind of get them to stop .

Kwame Patterson 14:58

Now , that didn't necessarily get them to stop , you know , in that situation , but my cousin Gemini , he , he , he was a boxer . So he boxed , he went pro and stuff , um , and then he ended up breaking his wrist , like uh , twice . So he never really got to really fully pursue . But he got me into boxing around age 11 and he was like you need to learn how to fight . And so he got me into boxing and back then boxing was free . You used to go to the YMCA , go to Y . It was free , you didn't have to pay for nothing . Now , everything costs , you know .

Rich 15:30

So I went to the .

Kwame Patterson 15:31

Y . So I would go to the Y every day after school and I learned how to box and I got really , really good . And part of the reason I got good is because there there was nobody else there my age for me to spar with . So everybody I was sparring with was like 14 years old , 16 years old , so I'd be 11 and I'd be sparring with them and they'd be whooping my butt , yeah , and I'd come home , my mom be like she's like I don't want you boxing , no more , you come home your lips bloody . Everything was like no , I want , I want to get better .

Kwame Patterson 16:02

And so that transition to once I got good that when I went back around the neighborhood and each one of them , I beat each one of them up one by one , because now I'm fighting somebody my age . I just got finished fighting somebody who was three years older than me and I was hanging with them , even though they won , but I hung with them . Now I'm about to just whoop you all up and down the street and that's just what happened . And then the whole narrative changed for me . So at that point now it was like , oh , don't mess with Kwame .

Norma 16:33

Well , I would imagine Kwame boxing , you've told me this it gives you strength . Yes , ma'am , and that's probably exactly the confidence and people feel that before they even see it in action . Right .

Rich 16:47

And also I think one thing on a physical side with boxing , it's the fitness level . Very few martial arts that you can do or fighting sports that you can do that get you as fit as boxing . Very few martial arts that you can do or fighting sports you can do that get you as fit as boxing Right Because you're using most parts of your body .

Rich 17:00

You're moving around the whole time . You know you're in a ring , you don't want to be there , you don't want to get hit , right . Therefore , you know you bob and weave , you're on your back leg , you know you're moving around and then you've a million miles ahead of them . Yes , 100% . Yeah , so get that . But also one thing I found I mean mentally it's good for you . Yes , because it keeps your head straight . Yeah , that's one of the things I've really enjoyed .

Norma 17:35

It teaches you how to be quick on your feet too right , Because your reflexes yes , ma'am Right .

Kwame Patterson 17:39

Right , yeah , and , like you said , discipline , Like I had a really bad temper when I was younger , so it helped , like learn how to reel that in . And of course I still have moments , yeah , but I never had those moments in a fight , because you know , you're taught that . You know if you fight with anger , you know what I'm saying you're going to lose . So you know I might have snapped at something else in a different situation , but then when it came to fighting , I would become real calm and all of a sudden , like I stopped talking , Like if you know what I'm saying . So like if , like me , and you have an argument , you know and I know that at my point , based off this argument oh , we about to fight All of a sudden I stop talking , You're still talking . You don't even realize that I'm preparing at this point to knock you out , and you still woo , woo , woo , woo , and I'm just sitting there and you're strategizing .

Rich 18:33

Yeah , but you step back a little bit Exactly Give yourself a distance Exactly .

Kwame Patterson 18:36

Yeah , because you bring that calmness . You're like , okay , let me get into this space , let me get in control , so that actually helped you then growing up right .

Norma 18:44

Yes ma'am , and not only defending yourself , but gain confidence , gain control over things . Right , that was happening Okay .

Rich 18:51

Yes , ma'am , so you live a life on the streets . On the streets , you did what you did , but where did the military come ?

Kwame Patterson 18:57

into this . So I got locked up my 10th grade year in high school for drug charges and I got kicked out of school . And then I ended up going to Job Corps to

Military Experience and Discipline

Kwame Patterson 19:09

try to get my GED and unfortunately , when I was in Job Corps I was still being a knucklehead , so I never got my GED while I was in Job Corps . And so in the process of while I was in Job Corps , my mom moved , which is crazy . So my mom and I'm getting you to the military . My mom moved to Baltimore . I had never even heard of Baltimore . I was like where is that ? She's like Maryland . I didn't know where that was at and so I was like I don't want to go down there , I want to stay here . She's like to get you into too much trouble . Well , she didn't know that Baltimore was like the murder capital at that time and it was even worse than Jersey . Where we was at Than , where you were little boy . And so we moved to Baltimore after I got out of Job Corps and we moved on Reisterstown Road .

Kwame Patterson 19:53

A block over is Park Heights , which at that time was the number two most dangerous neighborhood in Baltimore on the west side , and of course , the first person I meet is this guy from Park Heights named Ali . And so then I become now I'm running with Park Heights and my mother brought me here to get me out of this stuff , and it became worse . And so I was You're her mom , yeah . So then at that point I was just into a whole lot of stuff that was way worse , and I was in and out of jail A public figure , yeah , and lucky I never did need like a long time , but I would be in jail , sometimes for a couple of weeks , or I'd get locked up for a week or 30 days . You know stuff like that , for different things Fighting was , assault charges , or just you know crazy stuff , or just you know crazy stuff .

Kwame Patterson 20:35

And I finally got my GED at some point I don't remember what age , maybe 17 , 18 . And then one of my friends went into the military who was going through a lot of the same stuff I was going through , and he was like he came home , he was like man , it changed his life . And so I was like , well , how do you try ?

Kwame Patterson 20:50

the military and you saw the change ? Yeah , I saw the change . And I originally wanted to go to the Marines . But the Marines at that time they said we don't accept GEDs , and that was just . I just went into the army . Man , I wanted to change my life . You know , that's what I was hoping . Go there for them to pay for school . They kind of tricked me because they used to say back in the day don't listen to your recruiter , recruiters lie to you . And so I didn't want to go to college because college wasn't for me . I wanted to go to , like DeVry , you know , and they told he told me he said , oh yeah , we pay for DeVry , those kinds of programs like a trade school at that time , as they call them , you know . And so I went through the military and when I got out they said , oh , we don't pay for trade schools , it has to be a two-year college .

Norma 21:39

So I never went to college because I was .

Kwame Patterson 21:40

You know I was upset , yeah , because I was like I don't want to have to learn social studies and history that has nothing to do with the trade that I'm going to school for . So straight , yeah , and just deal with the trade . And a lot of times they say you'll get jobs faster coming out of a trade school than you will coming out of college . No-transcript .

Norma 21:59

And you come out with being trained in that specific skill ?

Rich 22:03

How did you feel when you came out in the Army ?

Kwame Patterson 22:06

I felt good , in a sense , like it was a great experience . I got upset when I found out that I got played , but outside of that I felt like I learned a lot .

Norma 22:15

Did you feel changed , like you saw the change in your friend that went to college ? Yes , ma'am , you did .

Kwame Patterson 22:20

Yeah yeah , I saw the change . Like I said , just the discipline . The military has always been , like Sheldon was saying earlier , like the thank yous and you're welcome and please , but the yes ma'ams and yes sirs didn't come until I was in the military . So when I came out , because they drill , that ?

Norma 22:39

Is that a form of respect ?

Kwame Patterson 22:41

Yes , ma'am , yeah , it's a form of respect . You know . Some people be like , oh , don't call me ma'am , I'm , you know , I'm not that old and I'm like it has nothing to do , like , in a sense , you know , saying like , you know , we just out on the basketball court playing or something , and yeah , but I mean like if , like we were talking earlier , if I'm at a hotel and it's a maid or a service person and they're 19 , I'm still , yes , ma'am , yes , sir To them . You know , you know , thank you , sir'm still . Yes , ma'am , yes , sir , to them . You know , you know . Thank you , sir . Thank you , ma'am , appreciate you .

Kwame Patterson 23:21

You know , they'll sometimes be like I'm not that old , I'm like , I know it's the military , I can't help it . But it's just that they drill it . Drill it cuz if you , cuz , if you don't say it right , they call this getting smoked , and getting smoked is being disciplined and that can go . That can be anything from like physical discipline , like you know , like crazy exercising , like I want to say like torturous stuff and this stuff like the . The whole , the whole thing of the military is to make men so they do . It's a . It's a lot softer now than um , because when I was there , they could still actually physically put their hands on you . They can't , they can't do that anymore , sure ? So we would be like in a plank position , push-up plank position , and your drill sergeant or your sergeant would come along and kick you in the ribs and then you better not fall . Oh shoot .

Kwame Patterson 24:03

Yeah , or they'll come stomp on your back . You know stuff like that . Oh , it was really tough for you out there . Yeah , we were in trouble .

Kwame Patterson 24:13

One time I woke everybody up in this thing called the pit . It was a sand pit and you do a lot of exercise in the sand because you already know how hard it is to work out in sand . So it had just rained , so now this sand pit is super muddy . They get everybody out of bed . They tell everybody we're going to the pit . So they have everybody in the pit , bear crawling , rolling around in this mud for hours . Take us back inside . We think we can get in the shower . We said no , everybody lay down in their bunks . Make us go to sleep . Muddy , completely muddy , and you sleep like that until the morning , until it's time to get up to you know . So they would do stuff like that to mentally yeah , yeah , they would do stuff like that . Try to mentally break you .

Kwame Patterson 24:52

And I saw a lot of like you know , I like to say grown men , because we were like 18 , 19 , some 20 , but I saw a lot of guys crying . It was the first time for me because I didn't like now , I showed my emotions , but at that time I didn't , so it was always . It was weird for me when I would see these guys crying and stuff and I just was like , why is he crying ? Like I was like it's not that serious , no , this is nothing yeah , I've been getting yelled at and screamed at my whole life .

Kwame Patterson 25:16

Like this is , you see .

Rich 25:18

I've got a question for you . It's a different thing because your upbringing was different . Right exactly so you were used to . You say you came from the streets . So , you were used to .

Kwame Patterson 25:27

Yeah , police brutality and all that stuff yeah having to fight your way through .

Rich 25:30

So you mentioned , before breaking a generational curse , do you think because this is a conversation I often have I've got a guy I've known for 20 years who I train with , and he comes from Jamaica , a different generation , similar to you as you grew up . But our conversation is always based around well , put people in the army . The kids today that don't have that discipline , let them learn . Let them learn that discipline , let them learn , let them learn a trade , let them learn respect and discipline so that when they can come back into the world as a young adult they come back with something to give back as opposed to take all the time .

Rich 26:10

I know there's gangs . Obviously in the US and the UK we've got similar problems . Obviously , gun crime is not a problem in the uk , right , but knife crime is , yeah , and there are people being stabbed all the time , yeah , and it's often , you know , gang against gang and it's like these kids are like 12 , 13 , 14 just being slaughtered yeah , and it's why yeah you know it's and it's , it's , it .

Rich 26:33

It's something so wrong . I mean it's almost like you're born to die . You know in your early teens that in my mind is just wrong . So I'm just curious what you thought .

Norma 26:43

But from what you're saying it sounds like but you grow up with what you know , that's what you know .

Rich 26:48

You don't know anything else . That's it .

Norma 26:52

That's your way of life . You don't know that there's another opportunity , unless someone shows it to you or you get curious and go out of it . So I think that's where that's where mentoring comes into play and having someone say you know what ? I'm going to teach you something ? And then if you get them early enough with that spark in them , then they can change right . They can change out your life which you changed your life around right .

Rich 27:18

Yes , ma'am , Are you still so ? How long ago were you in the army ? So if you were 19 .

Kwame Patterson 27:24

I'm 47 now , so I was 20 . I went into that , so 27 or 28 years ago . 27 or 28 years ago .

Rich 27:30

Okay , fine , so that's still instilled within you . You know in terms of how you speak . So it shows you . Does you learn ? Yep ?

Kwame Patterson 27:39

Yes , I know , yeah like you say , it's just like again , it goes back to what I said earlier . It's just like what you take from it . You know , of course everybody's not going to come out the military and take , but that's what I took from it . That was the thing . I went in there and I learned , you know , went in there and I learned , you know cause . I went in there wanting to change you know . And so and of course I still , you know , when you first get in , I still did knucklehead stuff when I first got in , you know .

Kwame Patterson 28:04

Um , I remember we had , we had a fight , um , I think the second week we was there . It was like a group fight . It was like we was fighting with another platoon . It was so funny cause our drill sergeants was , cause they was Rangers and so they used to always be like you know , as long as y'all , if y'all handle it between men , we don't care , but if somebody tell us about it , then everybody's in trouble . You know that kind of thing . And so sometimes people would go in , like the bathroom , and they had a little one-on-one things and then that'd be it . So I remember one time we was in the laundry room and we get into this little group scuffle and somebody comes . Yo drill sergeant is coming . Drill sergeant is coming . Everybody stop . People sitting on top of the dryers and the rest of the people's shirts is torn . Somebody might bleed . Drill sergeant , walk in .

Norma 28:42

Oh that's fine , he says Someone's inside the dryer .

Kwame Patterson 28:47

Four people are sitting there on one guy , drill sergeant walks in he says everything okay in here privates . Yes , drill sergeant . He looks around , all right , carry on , was it ? And that was the end of the scuffle , like we didn't go back to scuffling afterwards , it was just in oh really , oh so when the drill sergeant would come , then , wherever it was , whoever had the beef , you just kind of let it go and yeah yeah , it was kind of it because it was just like you know .

Kwame Patterson 29:11

But yeah , it was that thing of like you know . So that's why I say you still had , we still did like in the beginning , you know , because you know we were all coming from different places , so we were still learning and growing . But as we grew , you know , those things started to stop . You know , those , those , you know , like my attitude that I had in the beginning . You know , because I had that attitude of like , you know again , like I was saying I was , I was used to people yelling in my face . You know we , like I said , we get stopped by police officers and they talk crazy to you all day and you just be like man , come on bro , like you , whatever , you just you know , and that's how it was with the drill . I had that same energy with the drill sergeant because they were authority .

Norma 29:54

So when they be , all in your face yelling . I'm looking at you . Almost have a shield already . Yeah , yeah .

Rich 29:58

Exactly .

Norma 29:59

That's all you got where someone else takes it in and like scares the crap out of them .

Kwame Patterson 30:03

Yeah . So it took time for to me to understand like that he's trying to , you know , make me into a man , you know . And so it took time to stop being defensive and to like allow that to happen . And then it was like , yes , drill , sergeant , you know . Then you straighten up , yes , sir , well , you know , boom . But in the beginning it was kind of like man , come on , like all this yelling , I I wouldn't say it but you could see it on my face , you get what I'm saying like in my face , I just be looking at you like yeah , yeah , you know .

Norma 30:35

So , yeah , you know what kwame . Tell me at what point was the ? Can you recall that time when you said you know what I want a different life . Was it in the military ? Was it there that you were starting to get curious about wanting to turn your life around and do something different and not carry on the generational ?

Kwame Patterson 30:55

I think that probably happened more so after the military . Okay , yeah , I'd say probably like around age , maybe I'm going to say 24 . Hmm , 24 , 25 is when ? Because I'd already , like , I made the steps to obviously do this . But you know , you still go home , back to the same environment that you're around . And so I still went back home , yes , and that's yeah , and I still that's almost a danger , right . So I still went home and I still got caught up in a lot of the same when I first went home . But then it was like I literally one day and I don't know what it was and I don't know what happened , but I remember waking up one day and I was like I'm done doing this , I'm not doing this , no more .

Kwame Patterson 31:39

Like cold turkey like you said it , I literally said it , yeah , and nothing had happened to you . No , nothing had happened . And I always say because , to this day , the guys that I grew up with are still my closest friends and brothers , and I always say that when I decided that I was done with a lot of the stuff that we were doing , Not one of them was like oh , come on , man , you need to come on .

Kwame Patterson 32:01

They respected it , they supported it , even though they were still doing their things and doing stuff . There was no peer pressure . They didn't give you a hard time , not at all , not at all . Oh , that's good . Yeah , and that's why I say I was blessed to be around good people that didn't do that to me , because a lot of people get the peer pressure , but that goes back to character .

Rich 32:22

Yes , and talking of character , we had a guest on previously Shelton and we're lucky enough to have him back today . So , if you don't mind , we'd like to reintroduce Shelton , benjamin All right , shelton .

Norma 32:38

I want the express planeton Benjamin . All right , shelton , I want the express plane , all right .

Rich 32:41

Hey Shelton .

Shelton Benjamin Joins the Conversation

Kwame Patterson 32:42

Shelton , lovely to have you back . How are you ?

Rich 32:44

Shelton .

Norma 32:45

How are ?

Rich 32:45

you Welcome back , welcome back it's been a while .

Shelton Benjamin 32:48

It is you know what you haven't changed a bit .

Norma 32:51

I know Exactly .

Rich 32:52

I have a shirt , so we have Shelton .

Norma 32:58

Yes .

Rich 32:58

We have Kwame two amazing individuals .

Norma 33:00

We should introduce who Shelton is , because I haven't heard his introduction yet .

Rich 33:06

We should do that .

Norma 33:07

Shelton , you want to do a quick little intro ?

Shelton Benjamin 33:09

Okay , well , I am Shelton Benjamin . I am a former WWE superstar , I've been a pro wrestler for 24 years and , yeah , I'm looking to get into some acting , so this will be very educational for me as well .

Rich 33:22

So Norma and I are going to go now . Yeah , I know .

Kwame Patterson 33:27

You just turn the lights off when you finish .

Rich 33:31

So we thought it would be lovely to have you both together and just talk about both of your experiences , from the point where you got to talking about how you got . I suppose you came out in the military , started your career and you went and you said telecommunications .

Kwame Patterson 33:45

Yes , sir .

Rich 33:46

Got into that , then move on to Lucky Break in acting Right . Yeah , you same thing , lucky Break . You're good at what you did got picked up straight into the major leagues , which is pretty similar to actually Kwame to you . You went straight from well , from not acting at all to going straight into one of the most popular TV series ever made .

Norma 34:05

And both coming from humble brains as well , where things are more easy , and when you grow up that way , you actually do take that street smarts with you , cause that's how that's in your DNA and it almost becomes like your superpower . Could you guys share a little bit of I don't want to go , but bring it back to you , kwame and then Sheldon .

Norma 34:28

If you can answer the question like what are some of the things that you go back to when you're your younger self to help with overcome some of the adult either decisions or the things that you're working on in your craft like for your Kwame , would be a role that you're preparing for

Norma 34:44

Kwame: definitely , like you say , just tapping into those , um , those memories or or experiences , to pin it on what the character is or you know , is uh , and trying to show them , saw earlier , is like it's just always trying to make sure I'm bringing me to the character , because I had to learn that , you know , I would try to become the character you know , if it was a lawyer or a doctor , I would try to talk like a lawyer or how I thought a lawyer or doctor should talk . You know , instead of understanding that there are lawyers and doctors who talk just like me , sound just like me , and so it's understanding that , being able to , like you say , tap into those memories I call them sense memories and bringing me fully to the character you know .

Rich 35:28

So that's how you know , that's what has worked for me so far , you know .

Kwame Patterson 35:31

So that's kind of what I do .

Norma 35:32

Cool . What about you , shelton ?

Shelton Benjamin 35:35

I and most wrestlers I know have a habit we compare every aspect of life to wrestling . So to hear his story as far as how he approaches acting now , as opposed to trying to be a lawyer or a doctor , for me as a pro wrestler , I had to go through the same kind of learning phase where it's like when I first got in there , I thought it had to be a certain type of act , act , a certain kind of learning phase where it's like when I first got in there , I thought it had to be a certain type of of act . You know , act a certain kind of way , move a certain kind of way , and , and as I got old , as I got older and learned more , it's like , no , I , I can be more of myself . Um , because for me it's easy to spot , uh , a new wrestler or someone who really

Finding Authenticity in Your Craft

Shelton Benjamin 36:18

doesn't know much about wrestling , because they're playing a wrestler .

Norma 36:22

Ah , they're trying to imitate someone else .

Shelton Benjamin 36:25

Yeah , and I see it so much in my industry where they get in and I'll watch them and I go okay , they're playing wrestler . The really good guys , to your point , they just play themselves . Best example Brock Lesnar . He's a good friend of mine , we started together . He doesn't play a wrestler . He goes in there and he's Brock Rey Mysterio very different kind of wrestler , very different style , because he's a smaller guy , but for the most part he doesn't go in there and play a wrestler . He doesn't do moves or move in a certain way , because he thinks that's what he's supposed to do . It's very natural , so it doesn't even feel like he's acting . You know what I'm saying . So it's really interesting to me to hear you used to try to be a doctor or try to talk like a lawyer . Because , like I said , guilty , 100% guilty . I'm probably still guilty of it .

Rich 37:24

I heard you tell in a conversation you were talking about earlier you were talking about Denzel Washington the type of person that he is . If you look at , he's the most amazing actor . He is so natural in the roles that he takes . He is himself we were talking about this yesterday . Even the way he dresses , how he dresses , how he appears on screen it's pretty much the same in every film . You look at man on Fire okay , one of the best films ever made , you see . Okay , absolutely .

Rich 37:51

And in fact , you know there's a true story . In fact , a lot of the films that Denzel has done you know talk about Hurricane . You know great , true , great , true Story , american Gangster , phenomenal films . He plays the same part because it's him and it becomes so believable in the role as an audience member when you're watching a film like that . You get so absorbed into the role when you can believe the characters . There's an authenticity Kwame .

Norma 38:20

You said it too . I think it also stems from you as a person , wherever you come from . Even your upbringing , you were Kwame Right .

Kwame Patterson 38:30

Yes , ma'am .

Norma 38:30

You weren't afraid to be Kwame . And there's Kwame 2.0 right afterwards .

Norma 38:35

But you own it and I think oftentimes we think we're supposed to be someone else . To be the right person or to excel , you have to fit this box and now it's like , forget about the box . We want individuality , we want your persona to shine through and that's something that , when someone's being themselves , their light illuminates and that's very attractive , right , yep , amen , and can you share a little bit too , kwame ? I know that one thing when we were speaking earlier , your belief and your spirituality comes out true and true . You can feel it when you're speaking . It's funny , you mentioned Denzel .

Norma 39:19

I see a little Denzel in Kwame when he speaks but everybody has like a cadence and I could see in you believing what you believe in , how that very much is like your North Star and centers you Can you tell us a little bit about you know some of your ideas and thoughts about you know mentoring and just being positive ?

Kwame Patterson 39:39

Yeah , and just being positive , yeah , I say so definitely . I definitely say a lot of it . You know like it's so . I've always been spiritual and always , you know , like been positive . But since being with my lady , she's taken it to a whole nother level . So , like you know , she's like we're literally , literally every morning . We get up in the morning , we have a certain area like the prayer rug and we have crystals and we do , and so we get up and we meditate , we pray together . We will um talk about , especially like on sundays , we'll talk about like our goals for the week , things we you know we want to accomplish and do you'll talk about , like our goals for the week , things we you know we want to accomplish and do Wow .

Kwame Patterson 40:24

you both talk about goals for the week yeah , and we yeah and then at the end of the week , you know , we talk about what we were , what we accomplished versus what we didn't accomplish , because of course you're not going to accomplish everything . Sometimes you do , but she's very pivotal . You know what I'm trying to say she's key , she's your queen .

Norma 40:39

There you go , the queen that you need in your life .

Kwame Patterson 40:43

Got it ? Yes , definitely . Yes , thank you . She's key to really just like making sure that we're held accountable , you know , and making sure Because , listen , we're human . There's times where you know I might get up in the morning , rushing or whatever , and she's like don't forget to meditate before you leave , and I'm like , oh man , okay , cool , All right , let me go meditate Meditating grounds you yeah , it does , it does man , it's so good , so she's really on top of it , so I definitely give her a lot of credit .

Rich 41:14

Can I ask you where did that come from ? Because obviously again you grew up , and spirituality , and that don't necessarily go hand in hand .

Kwame Patterson 41:21

It does and it doesn't . And the reason I say that is because and you can speak on this definitely us as black people , as a culture , we can sell drugs and we'll be in church on Sunday , Okay , you know we can go . You know what I'm saying ? Multitask , yeah . So we , you know .

Rich 41:36

American gangster .

Kwame Patterson 41:37

Yeah , so I've always my mom . I wasn't big into church . When I was little my mom made me go to church . Obviously , when you're little you have no say-so . When I got older I really wasn't right . I wasn't really into church . Shelton still has a little say-so . Shelton still has a little say-so . When I was older I stopped really going to church but I always still read the Bible , always still prayed , always still believed in God , you know , and stuff like that . So and then as you just get older and older , it just gets more . And then later on I got into more to like crystals and meditation and all that stuff like that . Yeah so , but it started from there and manifesting .

Kwame Patterson 42:14

Yes and manifesting .

Rich 42:14

Hey , jewel baseball cap , I know Believe on it .

Norma 42:16

Oh yeah , it says believe so , believe so it has this really nice hat on it and it says believe .

Kwame Patterson 42:21

Thank you , thank you .

Norma 42:22

Is that one of your mantras ? Yes , ma'am , yes , ma'am , you always got to believe Always , especially believe in yourself . Yes , definitely . You start with number one .

Rich 42:31

But it carries you through . So , whatever you do , wherever you go in your life , as you're progressing your career , Charles , and same thing with you . It's having that belief . It's not an arrogance , it's just that . It's a quiet self-belief that you can do it , you know , because it's only going to be you . You know you're both your own brand .

Shelton Benjamin 42:52

I feel like a lot of my successes were , to your point , pure belief , because , similar to him , I grew up in a rough neighborhood and , you know , had to fight and fighting in the streets and , you know , avoiding trouble and and sometimes you can't avoid it , right , um . But there are certain things that I've always . It's not even that I , I I knew like it's I don't know . I don't know what you're stronger belief or just plain knowing . I knew when I was in the fifth grade . I know I'm going to go to college on a scholarship , an athletic scholarship . I thought it was going to be football , it turned out to be wrestling . I knew if I got a shot with WWE , I was going to have a good career . I didn't really expect a shot , but I got it . But it's one of those things where my own self-belief had the success that I have . However , there are times where it was the belief others put in me that I felt a responsibility to live up to that belief .

Norma 43:56

Some of your mentors .

Shelton Benjamin 43:57

Yeah , but even before that , when I first started wrestling , I was still in the streets as much as my mother would let me . I will let me emphasize I had a strict mother . I come from a very my parents did not . My mother did not mind putting fire to my behind when I stepped out of line . That not mind putting fire to my behind when I step out of line . So when I first started wrestling in high school , I started in the 10th grade . No , I'm sorry , I started playing football in the 8th grade , but I was still in the streets doing knucklehead stuff . But I was doing well in sports .

Shelton Benjamin 44:39

So my name kept getting in the paper . And I remember walking into these apartments they're called Roosevelt Gardens in Ardbury , South Carolina . I was walking through the apartments and a couple cops were walking towards me . Of course , the last thing you want to see in the hood is cops , right ? So as I'm walking past one , one of them just looked I don't know who he was or what his name was and he said , oh hey , shelton . And I just remember going . How does he know me ? And then it struck me my name in my paper was my name and picture was in the paper . And that's when it hit me that , because of my athleticism , people are paying attention now and I was like , okay , well , if people are paying attention . And I was like , okay , well , with people paying attention , I gotta be on my p's and q's .

Norma 45:25

I can't be yeah , that was a big aha moment , yeah , a huge aha moment and and .

Shelton Benjamin 45:31

But then , uh , then when I got into wrestling my coach uh , jackson he was he was very he had more faith in me than I did , because one of our first practices he was kind of telling the kids this is , you know , you got to believe in yourself , you can do these things and all this . And he looked at one of the guys and said , yeah , do a backflip . And the guy was like I don't know , coach , and then he just kind of looked at me and went I had never done a backflip , I could flip , but I've never just done a standing backflip . And just because of his belief that I could do it , I just nailed it . Wow .

Norma 46:11

You did it .

Shelton Benjamin 46:12

I did it Like in all he did , he just went and I just got up and did it like it was nothing , but it was because , again , his belief in me helped propel me . And again , and I talked to my , my high school coach , coach donald , he had more belief in me than anyone and , like , I credit my entire existence to him that's amazing and again it's because he , he believed in me .

Shelton Benjamin 46:37

He told me , he believed , he told everyone he believed me . But he also put in the work . So and I know we haven't touched on this yet to that belief that helped propel me in a lot of ways . Don't get me wrong . I still was very confident , especially in a hand-to-hand situation , but again it made me good to validate his belief in me .

Rich 47:17

But belief is knowing and knowing is belief . It's two sides of the same coin . And you know , when someone has faith in you so even someone coming up to you and saying , are you an actor , you know they saw something in you instantly . They didn't walk up to you because they had nothing else to do . Whatever the look you had on your face , that look of menace or something that just fitted , that swagger that's what they had , or something that just fitted .

Norma 47:38

Yeah , swagger , yeah , that's what he had . You had something ?

Rich 47:42

they wanted Right , and that's what has propelled you through your career . And now you add in the spirituality , the other side of it . It's a very powerful tool because you've got it on the inside and you've got it on the outside .

Kwame Patterson 47:57

Yeah , yes , sir . And then also adding out acting kind of makes you if you want to be a serious actor . It makes you add the vulnerability , because I definitely wasn't a vulnerable person , Like I never wanted to show my emotions . Oh yeah , we got to protect them , yeah .

Rich 48:13

So you understand that .

Shelton Benjamin 48:15

Yeah , yeah , yeah .

Norma 48:16

It's been difficult for you in the beginning , right , yeah , where you had to . Yeah , it's easier to be the tough guy , right . But then you had to not be the tough guy and be the softer guy , or whatever the role .

Kwame Patterson 48:25

I would pass on those roles all the time . You would ? Yeah , I would pass on them all the time .

Norma 48:29

And when was you eventually , did not ?

Kwame Patterson 48:32

Yeah , it came . I was telling them earlier . I went to this program . I went to a Strasberg Academy . I did the one-year program and that program is what really allowed me to tap into my vulnerability and start to get comfortable with you know , like crying and not feeling weak and all that kind of stuff . Yeah , so that was the change for me . And then I told him , I was telling him . I said the moment that happened my booking went through the roof . It was crazy . I was just , yeah , yeah , I became a working actor . I used to like still wait tables and stuff at that point and I was I would book like a guest star , maybe sometime like two guest stars a year type thing or whatever . After I did that and you know , adding that , along with learning how to um bring me to the character because I learned all that at that school bringing me to the character and staying in my voice , not changing my voice like I say , how a doctor would talk or a cop , or bringing fully me staying in my voice Bookings went through the roof .

Norma 49:32

And that must have been also too serious relief and probably some sort of therapy for you , because your survival was based on being tough . Exactly Right and being good at what Kwame is right for you , because you your survival was based on being tough , exactly right and , and you know , being good at what kwame is right whoever kwame was at that point

Spirituality, Belief and Vulnerability

Norma 49:48

in time .

Norma 49:49

And then all of a sudden , you had to leave that . Someone was like that was your cape . Yeah , you had to leave that behind and you had to uncover who knew kwame was going to be and what you want , where you're gravitating to right .

Kwame Patterson 49:59

My friend , Gabrielle Dennis , phenomenal actress . She would take me to Hollywood events all the time when I first moved out here and literally just so I could network and all I would do was sit in the corner and she would come over and be like what are you doing ? And I was like I'm chilling , I was like I'm not talking to these people . She would literally have to bring people over and say this is my friend from the Wire , because I would not , because I just was like I'm not about to like beg these people for a job or be vulnerable . So yeah , Sounds familiar .

Rich 50:31

You know what you go comfortable being uncomfortable , yes , and that's a very valuable lesson in life , let alone anything else . Yeah .

Shelton Benjamin 50:40

So I will start off by saying I'm still learning that To be vulnerable Because , again , when you're a pro wrestler , the word vulnerability- Doesn't sell Seats you crying in the rain .

Rich 50:53

We'll go to Guam . We'll go to Guam for crying .

Norma 50:59

It wouldn't sell no .

Shelton Benjamin 51:01

But I think , just as black men , showing vulnerability is not something that comes easy to us in general . So I applaud you for being able to . That's still a hurdle that I am learning to get over . Obviously I'm going to need to , so again breadcrumbs , so Right , but it's like I said , it's amazing to hear , because I don't hear this kind of thing . So , like I said , anytime I'm with someone who does something better for longer than me , like I'm just like them , I'm more here .

Norma 51:40

Taking notes .

Kwame Patterson 51:46

Learn to be vulnerable , that's gonna be a tough one .

Rich 51:49

I'm just like them .

Kwame Patterson 51:50

I'm more here taking notes definitely will change your life once you get there .

Rich 51:54

Took me a long time so we've spoken about this a lot recently . But one thing I've learned in life is to be a comedian . It's because you adapt and you change to the people that you're with , because not everyone's the same . So I'm not saying that you do that in a way that's not genuine , but how you come across . So there are certain people that I might be more direct with because of the type of people they are , and other people I'm softer with because of the type of people they are . Other people I'm softer with because the type of people they are . The message is still the same . It's how it's delivered . It changes , and that's that , I think , is as a lesson I've learned . And it's funny . You know , we've both had the privilege of sitting in front of some immense people this last year and listening to their experiences , listening to , but you both saying where you came from you know , look , I wouldn't say , nora and I , upbringing is the same as yours , but we come from humble beginnings as well .

Rich 52:46

You know , no one ever handed us anything . Whatever we've had we fought for . Yes , we didn't have the struggle on the street maybe that you did . But look , I'm Jewish , so there was always plenty of struggle . When I was a kid growing up , trust me , you know , I was always in fights . So , plenty of struggle when I was a kid growing up , trust me , you know , I was always in fights , so I understand that .

Rich 53:06

But to to see it , to listen to it is is , it's actually heartwarming because it's real , it's life . It's what 99.999% of the people on the planet live . You know , it's only a very fortunate 0.1% that don't live that and breathe different air , you know . So this is real life , you know , and this is what you live . It's what you portray when you're , when you're acting , when you're in the ring . You know you portray a certain aspect of life . So , as we draw to the end of this episode , there's two things that we would like to do . Okay , but before we even do that , you mentioned mentoring before . Okay , and I'm , I'm hoping , I'm guessing that I same with you . You strike me as the sort of person that has always wanted to give back . Okay , what do you do ? Either of you , to promote mentoring or to do mentoring ?

Shelton Benjamin 53:50

Or how do you give back ? Yeah , pay it forward . Well , for me , I actually went back to my old junior college and we did , we put on a youth camp .

Shelton Benjamin 54:00

I wasn't paid for it , I just showed up , it was who just showed up yeah , well , I should say , just showed up , my coach , my coach , who was the assistant coach at the school when I attended . He invited me and you know they don't have a budget to to pay , and I was like , no , I'm happy to come , you know , because this , this is where I started and we went and it was a great time . You know , we had wrestling mess out on the campsite near you know , eagle lake up in the mountains in california , and it was for me , it was a surreal thing and I've always taught amateur wrestling . But to go back after so many years I hadn't done it in a while it was like kind of you know , spiritual , surreal , like it was brought back so many memories and reminded me of where I started and with that I also .

Shelton Benjamin 54:48

There are a number of you know guys who are in the wrestling business , young guys that I kind of I mentor I don't want to say I train , but I definitely mentor and they look to me for advice and things . A couple of them are I've had friends pass away . So one's name is Zillow Fatu . His father was a popular Samoan wrestler named Umaga , so he calls me and asks me for advice and things like that all the time . And another one of my friends , shad Gaspard , who he passed away a few years ago . He , that's what's wrong . Save his son , right . Yes , so he's , he's he was .

Kwame Patterson 55:30

That was my little brother and so like I'm a friend , that's really was really close friends with him .

Shelton Benjamin 55:37

So his wife and son have moved , but they've moved back to Houston and so I try to be his . You know can't be his father , but I try to be the father figure when they need me and you know a lot of situations like that and also with you know some talent that are and recently just left WWE , like we're trying to find their way because it's their first time being on any scenes . So I have a lot of people within the wrestling community that come and ask my advice and help and things like that , and I'm always happy to and I always tell them I'm never going to ask you for a penny and I'm never going to lie to you and so far , like I said , it's giving back . It's very rewarding for me . I don't get anything out of this except for the joy of seeing them succeed wherever they may go , and that's enough . It's lovely .

Kwame Patterson 56:30

And similar . I mean similar like I have a lot of like young actors that I've either met from Instagram , who've like reached out to me and then , like now to this day , like I talk to them , like now they have my phone numbers and like if they're working on an audition or they , you know you help with something , you know we might get on zoom or a phone call , depending on you know what the situation is . And then I have uh friends who are part of different programs , like uh one of my friends , alan Maranato . He has a kids acting program . So he'll ask me to you know , when they're doing like the summer program , I'll come in and we'll work on scenes with the kids .

Kwame Patterson 57:11

And then another friend named Isaac Keyes , he works with a program where it's more like troubled youth . You know . So a lot of these kids have , you know they've been locked up or they , you know they , and so I've gone with him a few times and same thing , and we sit and we talk about stuff , because sometimes it's good for them to hear from somebody who has gone through a thing .

Rich 57:31

And then we work on acting stuff .

Kwame Patterson 57:33

We'll go through different drills and stuff like that . So I enjoy doing that .

Rich 57:36

There's anything with kids .

Kwame Patterson 57:38

I really don't care . We can just go to the park and run around and play tag . I love kids , so not that I won't help adults , but I'm just saying the majority of my kids , usually with younger adults .

Norma 57:48

you know what I'm saying when you're influential you can change your life , and I do believe that the greatest gift you can give someone is not a check it's your time .

Kwame Patterson 57:56

Yes , ma'am .

Norma 57:57

It's your time and your presence . Should we play a little ?

Rich 58:00

bit of that game . So , talking of vulnerabilities , there's a set of cards next to you . They are quite thought-provoking , deep questions , as Shelton will attest . To Pick any card if you would , If you would read out the question and then answer it , and then we will all take a turn .

Kwame Patterson 58:18

What's the saddest memory from your childhood ? Ooh , oh .

Norma 58:25

I know right

Mentoring and Giving Back

Norma 58:26

.

Kwame Patterson 58:27

Saddest I already know what mine is , sheesh Okay .

Norma 58:32

That wasn't a very inspirational card , it is , deep , though it is deep though , so this just went dark I know exactly , Exactly Pick another card .

Kwame Patterson 58:42

Pick another card . Pick another card .

Norma 58:46

We don't want to end in a downer here we go , here we go .

Kwame Patterson 58:49

All right , we'll edit that , we'll pick another card .

Norma 58:51

What's your card ? Say Kwame .

Kwame Patterson 58:53

Fast forward 20 years . What does your life look like now ? I like that one .

Norma 58:58

I like that one . Ooh , fast forward 20 years .

Kwame Patterson 59:10

So for me , I would say and we were just talking about this is , for me , definitely married . I will be proposing to my lady , you know , so definitely . May I ask you a question ? What's your lady's name ? I will not say she's my lucky lady , though I'll show you guys pictures and stuff . We stopped taping . Yeah , it's so funny that we've been together for two years but we've known each other for about seven years and we've always just I'm sure some people know because of like , just likes and stuff on Instagram .

Kwame Patterson 59:35

But we was always like we just want to keep it private until it's not , you know , at some point in time in time , you're going to see us on a red carpet together and it's not going to , it's just going to . She's an actress as well , very talented . She's on some really great shows .

Norma 59:48

So A podcast guest , exactly . Yes , we could have them back folks . Yes , absolutely , that'd be dope . Thanks .

Kwame Patterson 59:53

So definitely married . I'm starting the process writing , so thank you , thank you , thank you , so you know . So for me in 20 years , you know , I'll be a successful writer producer and actor , okay , you know , and married so , and father , uh , we're probably not going to do the kids , yeah . Yeah , there was a point , I know , I know there was a point in time when we thought about it . But then even she was like you know what , I think I'm cool on it .

Shelton Benjamin 1:00:19

So I was like okay , so yeah okay , well , uh , for me in 20 years , uh , I would say retired sweet retirement you know , uh , hopefully I'd be retired and I would imagine I'm I'm still , I would still be mentoring and probably coaching in some way , hopefully looking back at some of the younger talent that I've helped while they're still on their journey and enjoying their successes . And so I have two daughters , so , while I'm not rushing them , maybe hanging out with the grands Right , that's awesome , yeah .

Norma 1:01:03

That's awesome . Yeah , Rich you . The question was what are you going to do in 20 years ?

Rich 1:01:15

20 years Okay .

Kwame Patterson 1:01:17

What's your life gone ? Look like .

Rich 1:01:19

I would like to think I'd be looking back on the successful path that we've taken . I would like to think that we have made a difference . I would like to think that we've managed to mentor and brought change into people's lives . And I would like to have seen my kids happy . I've got a gran on the way , so I look forward to seeing within 20 years time . Sure he or she will be 20 , so look forward to seeing what their life looks like .

Rich 1:01:49

I'd like to think I could still go training at 76 years old I think that would be good um , just to be content , you know , because at that point you're really into your twilight years and I'd like to think I , I actually think I , I would ever stop . I , I enjoy doing , and I think I think the greatest gift you mentioned before I was giving is giving time . It's also being able to give back . You know , and we've all learned lessons along the way in our life and for different reasons , in different areas . But to give the lesson back and teach someone that they're the right path , or the path that you took and how it helped your life , potentially may help someone else's . That may help someone else's . That may help someone else's .

Norma 1:02:35

I'd love to think that in 20 years time we've been able to do that yeah , yeah , my head went immediately to the company and what we're doing Because even though it's small and mighty , but mighty , it has the mission and our five pillars that we created is so important , so so important , and I think it's our way of wanting to give back to the world , and I do believe businesses can do both , can be profitable and still be philanthropic and and be positive too at the same time . In 20 years , I want to see us having a foundation helping kids , especially like middle middle , because I feel like middle school is such a vulnerable age . So when you're trying to fight for you know who you . When you're trying to fight for who you are , you're trying to figure out who you are , and I would and just from personal experience , I think that's when you identify those situations where you felt you don't belong . Right , and it's you need people in your path , like spreading the light and like your hat says Kwame believe teaching you how to believe in yourself . That's right .

Norma 1:03:44

I see again , just going back to the business , us having a global footprint and taking on more and more projects that really honor our North Star of our pillars , and I want and in 20 years I want to see the world in a better place .

Kwame Patterson 1:04:03

Yeah , Amen , right , I'll raise a glass to that .

Norma 1:04:08

Yeah , I'll definitely raise a glass to that .

Shelton Benjamin 1:04:10

Yes , yes and you'll do it , we will do it , we will do it we will do it , absolutely going to do it .

Norma 1:04:18

And all you guys as well . All of you guys will do it , I'm going to do it , I'm going to do it .

Rich 1:04:21

I'm going to do it . I'm going to do it Honestly . Thank you both for coming on today . It's been amazing . Thank you for having me . She also thanks for coming back . Honestly , the pleasure is all ours . Thank you very much indeed . You're welcome .

Norma 1:04:28

Thank you , thank you , and we need to have you guys back and then you , my friend , back with your projects that you're going to have under your belt , absolutely yes sir , yes , sir , all right .

Kwame Patterson 1:04:47

Well , thank you both very much . Thanks again . Thank you Thank you and cut .

Norma 1:04:53

Thank you for tuning in to Energis Podcast , where ambition meets achievement . If today's stories energized , you share this episode with someone who needs that spark . Stay connected , Subscribe to our newsletter at nrjmediagroupcom and follow us on social media for more powerful insights . Until next time , stay inspired , stay bold and keep striving for greatness .

Rich 1:05:37

Tanaka ,

Looking Forward 20 Years

Rich 1:05:38

our talented music composer , is Steve Devaney . Our devotion to motion graphic designer is Mike Macklin . Our very spirited technical advisor is Tracy Williams . Our amazing marketing manager , Lauren Carter . Our man of many words publicist is Josh Gershman . And introducing our producer's assistant , Blake Miele , Energis Podcast is brought to you by NRJ Media Group .