The Refreshingly Normal Podcast with Kēfla and Cree

How School Stress, Group Dynamics, And R&B Playlists Keep Us Going

Kefla and Crecia Season 1 Episode 30

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0:00 | 1:15:47

The halls feel heavy, the headlines won’t quit, and March is staring down every teacher and teen like a six-week hill. We talk honestly about that weight—how low energy shows up in classrooms, how it follows kids home into mismatched values and nonstop feeds, and how adults can flip the vibe without pretending the world isn’t loud. The fix isn’t flashy. It’s presence in the hallway, a reset before first period, and clear expectations that keep students, seniors, and parents from being blindsided when testing season hits.

From there we turn to a different kind of fuel: music. On Valentine’s Eve we build a playlist meant to soften edges and steady pulses—Jodeci remixes, Mary J and K-Ci, Intro deep cuts, and the slow-burn R&B that still makes time stretch. That opens a bigger conversation about why groups matter. Destiny’s Child didn’t just harmonize; they modeled how roles, humility, and iron-sharpens-iron energy turn talent into longevity. It’s a blueprint for the classroom and the staff room: name the star, love the band, move the ship.

We get nerdy about discovery too. The UK soul wave is alive and generous—Cleo Sol, Snoh Aalegra, Alex Isley, Sasha Keable—and “Colors” sessions are the best rabbit hole on YouTube for anyone craving real vocals and grown basslines. Then the hot seat: if one catalog had to vanish—Prince or Michael Jackson—what do you choose and why? We weigh impact, ownership, mentorship, and the quiet ways artists shape a generation. Finally, we indulge in joy: dream tours across eras, three cities for three meals, side-eye for last-minute emails and unstirred cortados, and a quick getaway to refill the tank.

If you’re a teacher, parent, or music lover looking for perspective and a better soundtrack for the week, this one’s for you. Hit play, share your go-to reset song, and tell us: what artist would you add to our dream tour? Subscribe, leave a review, and pass it to someone who needs a lift.

Send us your Questions or Comments and we’ll answer them on the show.

Don't forget to Like, Comment, Share, and Subscribe.

Thank you for listening!

SPEAKER_01

The Refreshingly Normal Podcast.

SPEAKER_07

Please excuse us for having technical difficulties with the sound. We hope you enjoyed today's episode. Welcome back, everyone. Thank you for tuning in to the Refreshingly Normal Podcast. I'm your host, Kefla, as well as with my lovely host.

SPEAKER_03

He is late, Kefla, today, and I am Lucretia.

SPEAKER_07

All right. Off to a great start. So let's get on to it. How was your week?

SPEAKER_03

Uh my week was fine at work. Same old same. Busy with um my clients. And then this week at work, had some trainings at a high school. Um, training some high school students, and um I figure whatever else I did did this week. Um at work. But yeah, just the same old thing, nothing exciting. No.

Student Burnout And World Stress

SPEAKER_07

Sounds great. Back to me. So my week was good. Uh I'm not even going to lie, it was uh productive. Um it was now the kids were were somber because everybody, I think everybody was ready for this break. Yeah, well, that's what I'm saying. Like they were they were like just low energy. Yeah, low energy. They were like not that they didn't have spirit at all. Like you asked them a question, they was just like really, they was like, it felt like it felt like like it should have been gloomy outside because it was definitely gloomy inside the classroom. It was crazy. Um and and I spoke to another teacher today and I said, if they're acting like this before this break, imagine how they're gonna be when we have that six-week uh stretch in March, you know, for because that's our next break. You know, after we hear off of this one, we have a whole six weeks uh of not doing anything but going to school every single day. Most people saying, Oh, that's what you're supposed to do. But um, they are really gonna be worn out before we break.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, well, and I guess nothing's gonna change the world. I think it has a lot to do with um, of course, January seemed very long, but I think it also had a lot to do with things going on in our world. And even though we seem not personally like impacted, some some of our meetings are personally impacted, but um just the news and scrolling and seeing all the things, I think Yeah, it's it's even though you don't really know that it's impacting you, it is impacting your mental.

SPEAKER_07

I think people are impacted too when you, you know, when you like you're saying, both sides of the coin. You know, a lot of times we try to say, like I'm you know, how we're saying, you know, sometimes we do feel attacked, you know, um in society whether it's political or whatever. But I think even those that are attacking, those that are being aggressors right now, those kids, because they're hearing this phrase, let's go, let's get them, let's do this, let's do that. So that's that's a lot for them to hear every single day, too.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, it's it's you know, so yeah, it's it's uh it's it's an anger, frustration on both sides.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

Um and it's wearing it's wearing it's wearing all the kids, and and I think especially for for for for people who maybe they're different uh different beliefs within their household, like you know, so when you have different beliefs and different values and different things because some people are are having to deal with that. So the idea of going home.

SPEAKER_10

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, I just I think it's a lot for um everybody right now, people within their own families, not having the same ideas and values, and um, yeah, I think that's just kind of wearing on everybody.

SPEAKER_07

You know, you you ever hear what are your parents, if I don't know if your parents ever told you this because you you said you never got in trouble. But if you ever flick the light switch a lot, or we say it to our boys, we tell them stop switching or flicking the light switch because of what happened.

unknown

I don't know.

SPEAKER_07

What are we talking to about the light? You said stop it before the light does.

SPEAKER_10

Goes out, right?

SPEAKER_07

And that's how we are. We have to be on at work, and we have to be off at home. Like you're saying, so the kids they're they're one way at school because they're friends, they hang around our a conglomerate of everybody. And then when they get home, they have to choose a side.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah.

Flipping The Energy At School

SPEAKER_07

And then they get back, you know, on their team. Yeah, and then they get back to their teams. And then, you know, so they have to play a certain way, and you know, in their mind, saying play, like, you know, act a certain way. And then they keep that's like that switch. On and off, on and off, on and off. And then eventually the energy, that light is going down, and that's what we're seeing. Um, definitely. Um but it it it is uh, I noticed that, you know, this this week a little bit with some, and what's so crazy is that my energy the last three days has been like up. As soon as I step into the building, just because I kind of it's just like I felt something. And it's like I had to be on, you know. You know how how you say sometimes with yourself, how uh, you know, you feel like, oh no, y'all can't be dead up again. Come on, let's get this thing going. You know how you you do, you know. That's just your personality. But you know your personality also senses it, and you feel like, let me get them up and going. And that's what I felt when I walked into the building, and I noticed myself today, like, you know, and then kids was like speaking, hey coach, ain't done in here, and I was like, hey, what's still? I'm all the way down the hallway. And then you see kids looking, and then you see some of the teachers looking like, Well, because everybody was feeding off of that energy, because it was just like the way I was walking down the hallway. How I was talking to people, and then you see somebody else, you know, they you can see them weeding through the traffic and seeing me, and then they'd be like, Hey, Dr. Hair. Kids that acne really spoke to me. You know, it was like they was that magnetic energy they was looking for. Um but it's I I mean, you know, this is gonna be, but then just this just dip, just break because you know, most people say it's gonna refuel them. It's breaking us, but depending on the energy, they come back to make them drain them more.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, it just depends on the energy they come back to. So I guess with with that being said, maybe some of for students, the adults need to check their energy. Of course. Um, and just to figure out that piece, some work going to. No. But um, in order to make it to, I guess it's the the last part of the school year, like March is so important to figure out like how do I, because for me when I was a teacher, it wasn't just about the students. I needed my, I needed me to feel good. Yeah, that's right.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

And so, and then the kids just kind of benefit from it.

SPEAKER_04

Right.

SPEAKER_10

Right.

SPEAKER_03

Um, but I also wanted it for them too, but I also needed it for me too. Um, so that's what they have to figure out, like how what do I need, and then what can I do to make sure that my students have what they need. So March doesn't feel like March, but March. Like, so how what to do with that?

SPEAKER_07

So don't feel like what?

SPEAKER_03

March. But feel like what?

SPEAKER_10

March.

SPEAKER_03

So I don't know about y'all. Well, I mean, March is uh is the month with no breaks. Yeah, but um, yeah.

SPEAKER_07

I think we get like one day that's gonna be like a digital learning day.

SPEAKER_03

That's not that.

SPEAKER_07

It's not no, the kids, yeah. The kids, yeah, but not for the kids.

SPEAKER_03

But not for the adults, and they're gonna be trains and they're about to be.

SPEAKER_07

Cool. That's gonna be they everybody get upset more so because they like we call these since this training. I could be doing something in my room.

SPEAKER_03

Because it's getting it's prepared for testing. Because after that, it's testing time, testing season.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah, they set out they set the hour uh the senior testing schedule today, and everybody's like, oh, it's getting real. And so those seniors, because some of the teachers announced it to the seniors, and they were like, You you just see them, because I was in my office quite a bit of the day, and you see them flowing into the counselor's office. I'm talking about they was going in checking.

unknown

Yeah.

SPEAKER_07

I had a kid yesterday ask me, Oh, am I on track for graduation?

SPEAKER_03

And I was like, Well, you should know that, buddy. How do you not know if you're on track for graduation?

SPEAKER_04

You'd be surprised.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, they need to know that themselves.

SPEAKER_04

It'd be a surprise.

SPEAKER_03

Especially, and there is no excuse at this day and time. With everything uh at your fingertips, you can go and see uh where you land. Whereas when we were seniors, some people really didn't know if they were going to graduate until no week. And they were running graduation, running and begging for the grades.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03

To graduate, so it was quite different. But y'all have no excuse, uh, children, uh, these days. Y'all, we all know where you're at.

SPEAKER_07

We we were in class today, and the uh my co-teacher um she was she missed something about it. You guys need to be on top of your grades. And it was like, I don't know. I said, Well, your parents need to also check your grades. And they said, My parents don't check my grades. She said, Dr. Harry, did you check your kids' grades in high school? I said, High school, we tried to check them in college. She said, In college, I said, Yes, I have access to check because we went through the app. I said, We check them in college. They let all my kids looked at me like, You check your kids in college. I said, We still paying for everything. We are still checking everything. My parents ain't gonna be like that. I said, Well, they may not make might not be. I said, But you guarantee in the hair household, we check it until you own your own.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah. I mean, we did, and we uh I wouldn't if there's a zero, uh, you got by tomorrow and get that turned in. I mean, that's your role as a parent.

SPEAKER_07

It is.

SPEAKER_03

I'm not gonna do the work for you, but you better get it.

March Stretch, Testing, And Senior Anxiety

SPEAKER_07

Yeah, yeah. And you teach them, you teach them the little things how to how to be accountable and the best stuff. But as a parent, you still gotta check up on it. Yeah. Because they're gonna be kids. They're gonna be kids. They're not, you know, because they don't know the seriousness of it.

SPEAKER_03

And why do you want to be surprised that after the first semester your child and fluffed out of school? At least you'll see the grades that first semester go with. They're kind of coming home. Um I think I mean, like you don't have to be surprised, they don't have to lie. Yeah, yeah. It just it is what it is, and it's not about uh hovering or or not trusting or it's about reclaiming your home. But the idea, no, but it's the idea of thinking that these children were just in high school, um, having to ask permission to do everything.

SPEAKER_10

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

Um, to then you're supposed to go permission to ask for everything. Three months later, you're supposed to be on your own pure freedom. Pure freedom, yes.

SPEAKER_07

In an arena you've never ever experienced with the freedom you've never experienced. Yeah, you gotta have some.

SPEAKER_03

I still feel like the idea of them knowing uh what they're gonna be at 18 and 17 is ridiculous. Yeah, um, I mean, there are some that do, and but I think there are some that we you know will go back and say, I think I do something all together. There are adults who say that. I probably would have died, blah, blah, blah. Yeah, but college is expensive. We don't live in countries where colleges you can go back and retract it. Yeah, or the colleges covered. You know, there are countries where college is a part of what it is. Like for instance, even for Highway in Japan, I mean, they work. The cost they hurt way, way less than what we pay here in the United States. So the idea of saying, I don't like this career, I'm gonna start over. Well, that's kind of hard to do when you're already$50,000 in debt, but the one that you did pay for.

SPEAKER_09

For sure.

SPEAKER_03

So um, yeah, I just think that that's just a lot. It almost seems like it's done on purpose. I don't know.

unknown

Hey.

SPEAKER_03

Because you know, here we are about money. So it almost seems like that's you know, all the money from the beginning. Um, you know, I just don't know. I just think that that's that's quite challenging for them to do. I know it's been done historically, but that just because it's been done historically does not mean that it makes it right.

SPEAKER_07

Yep.

SPEAKER_03

So anywho.

SPEAKER_07

I'm with you. I'm with you. So today, you know, we're we're in uh this is Valentine's Eve. Um you know, people getting ready to make some you know playlists and should have already played what you buy. You know, I forgot you last we said, you know, make playlists. You never made a playlist. Um so just gonna guess a few things here. Okay, let's just quickly see if you're ready. Okay, all right. So um let's start off with top five songs. Top five songs. You want just any song or top five slow sounds?

SPEAKER_03

Well, it was valentine. I think it should be something valentine.

SPEAKER_07

Okay, Valentine. Okay. Have you heard anybody say Valentine's? That sounds like foley. A lot of them say Valentine's.

SPEAKER_03

I I have nobody say Valentin's.

SPEAKER_07

You feel like people say Walmart? Foley. What's the other thing they had here? What else y'all say? Is the targets?

SPEAKER_03

Y'all say it?

SPEAKER_07

One of the targets. We really don't say it because we don't have a target. So it's a target. We don't. Gushores do. So I guess I mean, hey, they probably still learn how to say it. What do y'all say? We go into the uh to the barter place. We're gonna barter frying groceries at clouds. That's what y'all say?

SPEAKER_03

We don't.

SPEAKER_07

Exactly.

SPEAKER_03

Don't be trying to think of South Crates, because y'all do.

SPEAKER_07

We going to the sewing machine.

SPEAKER_03

So in Kansas South Crates, because y'all are out there talking about Valentine.

SPEAKER_07

Anyhow, Valentine. All right, let's go. All right, top five songs.

SPEAKER_03

Give me one. Well, let's do one. So give at least a little bit. Let's do it. All right.

SPEAKER_07

All right, let me see. So if I'm making a playlist right now, bam. If I'm making a playlist for a road trip, Valentine.

SPEAKER_03

What's my one song? I gotta look.

SPEAKER_07

Okay, yeah, go ahead and link. And if I'm if you're not ready, let me know. I'm gonna I'm gonna definitely go with uh um I wanna see, I wanna do something. Oh, oh, oh, uh, I got one ready. What's the uh all I do is think of you.

SPEAKER_03

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_07

I'm gonna hit that one.

SPEAKER_03

Okay, let me just then hit that one. Okay, go ahead.

SPEAKER_07

Go ahead, go ahead.

SPEAKER_03

Um key sweat. Uh make it last fair. I said no, I was never gonna that is fine.

SPEAKER_07

Okay, but since you took that key sweat, I'm gonna I'm gonna come up with another key sweat. But it ain't, it's it's kind, but still, I ain't worried about the lyrics. I just like the song.

SPEAKER_03

I think this is a song, but I don't know for sure.

Grades, Accountability, And Parenting In High School And College

SPEAKER_07

I think it is, but I wanna do my king sweat. Uh no, you know what? Oh, wait, I got my next one. Sky. Um, I'm gonna do uh my guy uh intro.

SPEAKER_10

Oh, what's the name of it though?

SPEAKER_03

Um baby, if you let me come inside.

SPEAKER_07

Yes, that'll be sound. That's the yeah. That is a good one. And and then, ooh. Oh go go ahead. Because my other intro, I'm gonna do two intros. Go ahead.

SPEAKER_03

Okay, hold on.

SPEAKER_07

It's that'll be a divine. Ooh, I don't know.

SPEAKER_02

Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02

It is, it is.

SPEAKER_08

Is it I know the for show that you never change.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah, that is yeah.

SPEAKER_02

I do love you.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah, I do love you. Yeah, that's and then so my other intro song is uh I I want to say is you're all I want.

SPEAKER_03

You're all I want, who says that?

SPEAKER_07

Intro.

SPEAKER_03

Oh, I well fair.

SPEAKER_07

I want to say it's you're all I want.

SPEAKER_08

You're all I want. Uh-huh. You're all I need.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah, that one there. Okay. Okay, uh, so that's my three. All right.

SPEAKER_03

I think it's a remix come and talk to me.

SPEAKER_07

Jose. Okay. Either one, but the remix, yes. Yes, okay. You know what that they don't really hit remixes like they used to. They're so busy trying to push something out. But the remix used to be so sweet. Whoa, oh child. Anything with some rain in it, I don't know. It's gonna be good. Okay.

SPEAKER_10

Yeah.

SPEAKER_07

So what's my number four? My number four is going to be uh something in my heart.

SPEAKER_10

Oh right.

SPEAKER_07

Oh, yes.

SPEAKER_00

When it creates something. Something it's got me hooked on you.

SPEAKER_03

What mine is I don't want to do anything with Mary Jane Casey. I don't wanna do anything else.

SPEAKER_08

Well do you baby love to do?

SPEAKER_07

Yeah, that's a good one.

SPEAKER_08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_07

All right, my last one. Where do I wanna pull this one from? Where do I wanna pull this one from? Let me see. Let me see. Let me see. Let me see. Um do I want uh do I want female? Well, actually. It's uh what's the uh uh um what's my song I like by uh Julian?

SPEAKER_09

Um I can't even think of the name of it now. I mean I gotta go to something else.

SPEAKER_07

Let me see. My last one, what would it be? Would it be modern or would it be all whole school because it's so many now? Yeah, it is, it is, it is.

SPEAKER_03

I was gonna do Mayta Mayetta.

SPEAKER_07

Mayonna, yeah, one song.

SPEAKER_09

Um I love that song. I guess uh uh Eric Wadu.

SPEAKER_07

Um what am I supposed to do? I like that song.

SPEAKER_03

I'm gonna wet silk. Let's make love.

SPEAKER_07

Is that the one?

SPEAKER_02

Megan love, make it love.

SPEAKER_07

Oh no, no. Well, I do like that song. I do like that one. I heard that one coming home from when when we were coming from Kansas, yeah, and y'all all see I was like, I forget about this one because I started laughing. You said me so hard.

SPEAKER_03

Oh man, but still uh yeah, still got that intros is good too all the way through.

SPEAKER_08

You told me you love me. Oh that'll be it. I never mean how baby I didn't mean to make you cry. I didn't mean to make you say bye bye. Look inside yourself.

SPEAKER_07

Oh, China, you better stop. All right, you better stop.

SPEAKER_03

Yes, those are mine.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03

I can go on, that's it.

SPEAKER_07

All right, top five artists.

SPEAKER_03

Which says R V.

SPEAKER_02

We need that.

SPEAKER_07

Everything in different groups. That's what What's Night said it's not dead. They're trying to really show people that it's not dead. Thank you, J. Mall.

SPEAKER_03

But Le Croigns people have gotten so um additive and arrogant. And if I don't have a lead and I'm not the top, um, I think it comes with lights, like the lights and everything. And so I think that's preventing people from working cohesively in a group or cooperatively in a group.

SPEAKER_07

It is false reality. Yeah. But if there's there's nobody understanding that you can't, this is the star. I'm a star in my own right, but this is the front runner. And it's okay because it it moves the ship.

SPEAKER_03

But yes, because everybody has like their their role or what they do with them. So we thought of Jonasy. Like we knew the the the best singers were K C and Jojo. But then Devonta um Devante was the beats sound. Yeah, part of it. Everybody had their and the and they were the I can.

SPEAKER_07

Because Devontae was an I can't be. Every time I hear them there, I think of it when they was on top of his bodyguard.

SPEAKER_03

That's the first thing I think.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah, on the top of his bodyguard shoulders.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah. But yeah, that's I mean, like that's a part of a group. Everybody has their strength or their purpose.

SPEAKER_10

That's right.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah. And if y'all everybody like the whole group, the whole group doing well, we'll do that.

SPEAKER_07

We're doing amazing. Yeah. And it's okay if they split off and do it's it's it's kind of like being a member on a team, like a football team.

SPEAKER_03

But it's just like who is running it. So we think of like Destiny's Child. Um, I know they have separation, but once they got their final three ladies, but it was, it took the right temperament of people um and the understanding of what everything was. And those ladies are still together.

Valentine’s Eve And Building The Perfect R&B Playlist

SPEAKER_07

They're humble and they're yeah. You heard the the uh the clip where the lady asked Kelly about um who did she get inspiration from, and and Kelly said, um she said, they said, we heard that you asked somebody for tips on your show. She said, Oh yeah, I did. They said, Who said B? She said, Oh, you called B? She said, That's Beyoncé. And then here Kelly said, like, that's Beyoncé, like, you know, this girl is bad. And she was like, I I asked her. Like, and she was like, Yeah, okay, this is what I saw. And she said, and I implemented, and it and it really worked. She said, but then what she said was she said on a ride iron all the time because iron sharp is iron. She said, I stay around iron. I said, Oh, I like that. But a lot of people don't want to be around iron.

SPEAKER_03

No, because they it's their own insecurity. But the thing about also is that you also have to be honest with yourself. So, like they've always said, Beyonce just is like a workaholic and she pours into her craft, and she's always done that. You can be honest with yourself. Now, you in the group, you see what she's doing. And you know when you ain't doing the same thing. How do you think you're gonna get the same results? Yeah, so you just have to know that you know, I love seeing it, and I I but I'm not willing to do what you go that extra route, yeah. But what she's doing is helping us go this far. So listen, let's do it.

SPEAKER_10

Yeah, right.

SPEAKER_03

So anyway, you gotta just be all right with it.

SPEAKER_07

We need some more groups.

SPEAKER_03

We do.

SPEAKER_07

Hey, if y'all for groups out there in the world, show yourself. Yeah, put your pride to the side, yeah.

SPEAKER_03

Be a group, yeah, man. Like, well, that one show we watched that was uh Which one? The one where I talked about earlier on in our episodes, it was in um was it Netflix?

SPEAKER_07

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, but I wonder how both how they're doing. I don't know.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah, when they were selecting those groups. Well, that's not too much. Jumping back the problem, right? So but um, but no, the thing is yeah, it was different. Yeah, and you know, we was worried about we worried about trying to get the lady. We weren't worried about Simon and all that. We worried about dancing and having a good time. That was it. Yeah, yeah, man. We gotta get some risk back.

SPEAKER_10

Some music.

SPEAKER_07

All right, tough artist.

SPEAKER_03

You can do you can do artists or drink, and you could do one convenience, you know all time, of course, it's Janet Jackson.

SPEAKER_07

I find out I hope. Okay, no, go ahead. Talk about it.

SPEAKER_03

Talk about it now because I don't have I'm not gonna talk about Janet because Janet.

SPEAKER_07

Because you're nasty? I thought I was Janet. You thought you was nasty?

SPEAKER_03

No, no, I'm not gonna say that.

SPEAKER_06

I'm just saying, Janet, Miss Jackson is the name.

SPEAKER_03

I love Janet because she was a dancer, and I am a dancer, so I'm uh and your mama burnt you with her. And uh so no, Janet is just like to me, in our time, she was Beyonce.

SPEAKER_06

She was.

SPEAKER_03

Um like Beyonce in our time. She just I got to go on her concert. Um, I think I went to two or three Janet concerts. Amazing.

SPEAKER_05

Yeah, not only when I went to me, you know.

SPEAKER_03

Amazing. Um, and so yeah, Janet, and I every I don't know how many time shows I've done Janet Jackson in uh so anyways, and I still to this day know the routine.

SPEAKER_07

And I to this day am the parent, and I say, Creepy show, get out there and do the do the day.

SPEAKER_03

My sister a lot time could be doing the last princess when they did uh karaoke. Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_07

I said, No, I ain't gonna we we we we said back we said when we went this time, we said we are purposely letting them be the entertainer.

SPEAKER_03

Yes, we're gonna let the kids kick back kickback. So yeah, I thought we will do it, Janet, okay. Yeah, she got a little bit uh and um um of course I love Beyonce.

SPEAKER_07

Did you have Janet poster like the writer posters?

SPEAKER_03

We went to Janet concert at Kansas City. Uh my um best friend in middle school, her mama took us.

SPEAKER_10

Okay.

SPEAKER_03

And uh so I had my black suit, my T Rick King earring.

SPEAKER_07

Was it Joe Real Key? Or just I don't know.

SPEAKER_03

No, no, you're bad. Oh, okay. Like clearers or somewhere happens.

SPEAKER_07

Okay.

SPEAKER_03

Um, and so then um, we got baby by posters, and so we lied and told everybody we got to meet Jen Jackson. We signed the posters ourselves. Oh my god. We signed the posters ourselves and said Jenny sighed it.

SPEAKER_07

So everybody was trying to look at it singing.

SPEAKER_03

Oh man. So cool. But James Jackson sighed it. Yeah, we signed it.

SPEAKER_07

Um, y'all, not there, which town name. You hear the truth now.

SPEAKER_03

Melette, Jen Jackson. Um so those are my first top two. What are your first two?

SPEAKER_07

Um, my ultimate is uh I would have to say Prince. Prince is my is my he's on my Kilimanjaro. He's at the top with the flag right there. Um I love Prince to death. Um another one of my favorite artists is Bob Marley. Yeah. Bob Marley. Bob Marley came at me in a time when I was trying to find myself. And uh it was very peaceful. A lot of good, you know, prideful music back at home during that time. And radio wasn't, it wasn't played on the radio.

SPEAKER_10

Yeah.

SPEAKER_07

Um got it from the first, I think I heard it from uh Stacy, the uh kid who was the adoptive canist, which when we went to in uh Tulsa. And uh he had a take. And oh man, I just fell in love with I think I've heard Reggae before, but not the Bob Marley stuff like that. And I just I went on a deep dive, and I would I would go to the flea market and find Bob Marty stuff. I mean, like Reggae and stuff, and that's why it kicked in. Probably about, what was that? Seventh grade. Yeah, seventh grade when I because that was coming out of my kind of coming out of my big stage. And I felt kind of, you know, just lost in the sauce. And I love, yeah. I love Bob Marty. Love, love, love Bob Marty. Prince of Bob Marty. That's my top two. Go ahead, your three.

SPEAKER_03

I will say, I'll say Beyonce, but Destiny Shout. I have never ever been to Destiny Show concert, though. Um so I guess I missed that.

SPEAKER_07

Um, I don't think we missed it.

SPEAKER_03

You think we're thinking?

SPEAKER_07

I definitely do.

SPEAKER_03

Okay.

SPEAKER_07

I wouldn't be surprised if that's what act three is. For the three.

SPEAKER_03

But um, oh, maybe so.

SPEAKER_07

That might be act three.

SPEAKER_03

And it is Edit's missing. Um, but I mean, like the group, you know, stuff is missing. But yeah, I've never seen Destiny's Child in concert. Um, but I know. I I just take them together, and it's great. They do well together. Um, yeah, I think I'm gonna go with Destiny's Child. I will. I'm trying to think of. Yeah, I'm gonna go to child for number three.

SPEAKER_07

So I'll go with a group two, and my group will be new edition. That was my first concert. New edition, uh Lisa Lisa and Cojam.

unknown

I had that album.

SPEAKER_07

Um, and For some D's. Yeah, it was. It was that Mobile. Heavy D was supposed to come, but I think it that's when the guy died, I think it was.

SPEAKER_03

Oh, it's off the stage. Yeah.

SPEAKER_07

I want to say that's when it was. Um But uh, yeah, New Edition. They came out like a spaceship at the uh what's it called? Municipal Auditorium Mobile, baby. We was close too. Like we was like, we were probably about like like the the stage of the window. That's how close we were. We were real close. And uh man, we was it was so good. I went with Kurtz and Tony and I think somebody else. I was a little kid. I was surprised one of them let me go, but you know, they knew they knew all the songs and stuff. They go, this is a good concert. But uh it was cool. And then um the the guys uh forcing D sung that song on the um Love is the House. They was on the video, they on the stairs. And then they had the little stairs like that too.

SPEAKER_03

And I had that, I had no one that's smaller, yeah.

SPEAKER_07

The little 45. Oh, yeah, that was that was a great concert.

Why Groups Matter: Destiny’s Child To Jodeci

SPEAKER_03

So I played that song over and over and over.

SPEAKER_00

Oh no.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah, but uh, so no it is. All right, that's my three. What's your number four?

SPEAKER_03

Oh, that's really hard. Trying to think shouting to somebody in recent or the past. I'm trying to think of my concerts I've been to that I really enjoyed. Um I think I'm gonna go with. I think I'm gonna go with RE Linux.

SPEAKER_05

Okay. That was a great concert.

SPEAKER_03

And her album is um it's good. Even her new one is, but her one before that. Yeah, like you could literally just play it front to back.

SPEAKER_07

Because it was a story, how she was talking and stuff. Yeah, it was good.

SPEAKER_03

Front to back. Her one that's out now, play it front to back.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah. Um you can tell JD produced that he he uh he got into his his RB old school band.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, but she can sing.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah, no, she can.

SPEAKER_03

She's an amazing singer.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

Um I think she just sometimes gets in her own way.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

But in regards to talent, oh she can't.

SPEAKER_07

I like when she when she's on the spot and somebody says sing it and she sings right now. She can sing on the spot. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, live. Yeah, Navarrious. I like it.

SPEAKER_07

Um, I would say, hmm. I love me some Erica Badu. But I'm trying to think, do I want it? Now, Show Wive? Oh, amazing. Amazing.

SPEAKER_03

I've never seen her in this.

SPEAKER_07

Um it's a lot of Palo Santo, uh, what's the other scent? Uh bergamot. You know, the dream oil, that's what you smell. It's it's a lot of that in the in the atmosphere, but it's so divided, everything. Um, but do I want to put her as my favorite? I'm gonna go newer.

SPEAKER_03

I'm gonna go newer.

SPEAKER_07

I'm gonna go newer and I'm gonna say, um I got I ain't gonna steal your girl.

SPEAKER_03

How are you gonna steal?

SPEAKER_07

Cleo.

SPEAKER_03

Nope, I won't do it. Oh, okay. Although I do love her, I was gonna say somebody else.

SPEAKER_07

I'm gonna go newer. And uh I can do I can do it. Well, you know what? Um, I ain't gonna do it like that. I was gonna go rap. Okay. Artist. Tribe Car Quest, the group. Tribe Car Quest. One of my all-time favorite uh rappers. That they they took me through college. We used to ride up and down, uh, what's that? Rogue 231 or something like that. Uh going from Troy to Montgomery in my central six football players. That's five things to the club.

SPEAKER_06

Listening to Honey Chicken Out, me got me magic, independent, straight poetry is every day. But Joe, I gotta stop. What are you talking about?

SPEAKER_07

Oh man. Oh, I like around yellow Puerto Rican Acent. Name was five dollars from the Zulu Nason. Told you in the jail that we can get down. Then let's slap the boot like the group ace time. Oh, so I won't get me hip hop and down. All right, go ahead. Uh oh. Is it a group or a single person?

SPEAKER_03

Single person.

SPEAKER_07

I know your brother loved LL. Was it uh was it special there?

SPEAKER_03

Lil' Kim.

SPEAKER_07

Lil' Kim. Oh, see, I told y'all Miss Danny gets nasty. Lil' Kim. She probably had all kinds of little poses with a leg wide open.

unknown

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_07

And doing that little, you know, I look at.

unknown

Boots, boots, boots, boot, do, doot, boots, boot.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_07

Damn, hope. Here we go again. You know, the whole class was right there. Yeah. Lil' Kid with a glance and just up and wear sunglasses on every one. Well. All right then. So that's one of your top artists. That's just one of your hip hop. What am I hip-hop? It's called it's the regular. Yes.

SPEAKER_03

But I was gonna say Janae, Janae Iko.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah, uh, yeah.

SPEAKER_03

Every album she has is just front and back.

SPEAKER_07

Even her lower body album.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, it's just good.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah, she's good.

SPEAKER_03

I've never seen her crosshair either. I would love to see her.

SPEAKER_07

I would love to see her. They think she gives a good concert.

SPEAKER_03

No, it's just right now, like now, I wish I would have went, I would have gone to see everybody like before. Because now it's just ridiculous how they do the tickets. No, price from the prize they give.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah, we could have, yeah. Yeah, I wish I would have just done that before, but because remember when we had the chance to go see Kratz, those those tickets probably all together were about three something. How much would they be now?

SPEAKER_03

Oh, God, thousands. Yeah. Because we had amazing seats.

SPEAKER_07

Amazing seats. In uh the uh staple center in LA.

SPEAKER_03

Thousands of thousands.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. Oh, okay. So you said Jen A I A code? All right, so that's what number?

SPEAKER_03

I'm I'm talking about Lil' Kim because that was an error for me.

SPEAKER_07

So that's four?

SPEAKER_03

That's five.

SPEAKER_07

That's your five?

SPEAKER_03

I said Janet B. Destiny's I said R.

SPEAKER_07

Oh, that's six.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, but Destiny Challenge.

SPEAKER_07

Okay. No, I'm saying you can do an artist separate. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

That's right.

SPEAKER_07

Um, okay, so I got uh Try and Calk Quest. Try and talk with Bob Lord of the Prince. Um, okay. I'm going to go with I'm gonna go with Cleo Sol. Because I can listen to everything she does. Um, she puts me in a great mental space. Um yeah, Cleo Sola is very good.

SPEAKER_03

Um I try to put another fella in there, but I was thinking Usher or uh Chris Brown.

Top Artists We’d Pay To See

SPEAKER_07

I like them, but I mean, and and they're make there's no wrong in their proposal.

SPEAKER_03

But not a full connection.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah, like like I don't I don't want to listen to their fast stuff if I'm just gonna go. Oh, that's true.

SPEAKER_03

That's true.

SPEAKER_07

You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_03

So it's like sometimes I sit by.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Um I'll go with I actually would probably go with uh Jilly from Philly.

unknown

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_07

I'll go with Jilly from Philly, and I would love to see her in concert.

SPEAKER_03

I would love to see her. That would be amazing.

SPEAKER_07

I no, no, it wasn't Jilly, that was Angie Stone in Dallas.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, I've never seen her in concert.

SPEAKER_07

No, I've never seen Jilly from Philly. I would love to see her in concert.

SPEAKER_03

My new person is Olivia Dean. Yeah. Um, and everybody loves her, so Man for Bean. But she's had lots out of the four now, and I think they kind of they're going back. Well, they're going back, which those songs are awesome. I feel like they kind of were trying to be um they mainstreamer. If you look at her album covers and things prior to Man for Man for Me, or The Man I Need, or whatever it is, um the the covers prior to this one, very eclectic, very creative, artistic, and then this one books mainstream.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah, you know, she but even the song. The song is a is a um a cover song, like not a cover song, uh what do they call a placement song?

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, and it's a song, it's it's it's a song everybody.

SPEAKER_07

That's what I said. They say a placement song, but they said you could use it for a commercial, you could use it for you know, on a movie.

SPEAKER_03

But I think if you go back, um yeah, she's like uh to me similar to like a Cleo song.

SPEAKER_05

Yeah, yeah. I saw I saw something on YouTube four years ago. I said, What? Yeah, and I missed it.

SPEAKER_03

Sound like man on me. Yeah, it don't sound like that. It sounds different. It sounds really good. So uh what I put when I did the Pandora Olivia Dean um radio or whatever, yeah. She's got to really, and when you see the covers, you're like, wait, yeah. So uh yeah, they totally made her mainstream. And I maybe she that's where she wanted to go, or maybe she's like, let me try this and get everybody in and then go back to you know that part.

SPEAKER_07

So anything that uh new that you've listened to this week that you like, y'all might want to try, y'all might want to listen to this person. So if you was if you was introducing someone who's saying, you know what, I I like your flow. Uh give me some things you listen to, and I'm gonna listen to them.

SPEAKER_03

Well, this week I've gotten listen to not the Olivia Dean, just this album. The albums, her albums before this album to meet are better better. Okay. Um than the one that she has now. Uh Maeta. Uh, that's a good one. Um, she has some good M-A-E-T-A. Yeah, and uh uh shoot, I can't think of her name. They look all come on that Olivia Dean station, but I see her on the when they colors, what is the live scene?

SPEAKER_07

Colors, yeah. Okay, if y'all want some good music, go to colors on um YouTube. Just type up colors, live music, or whatever, and you'll see you'll you'll hear a lot of great artists. And the thing is, a lot of these great artists are coming from the UK because they're still vibing off of the old RB that many of us grew up on. Uh and I say many of us, you know, I'm in my 50s, 51, and like 50s. I mean, I'm 51, so but it's a lot of that stuff. And and I listen to a lot of UK radio pretty much all the time. And their their music is is is deep, deep into that. The new artists that are coming out now, they like the soulful. They're not worried about the mainstream, they're worried about the actual music. Kind of how it was back then. We was like, we made music for us and the field and the people. And that's what they're doing. And um, so if you go to colors, you would find some great music on there. Uh Sasha Kibel is one. Uh like Klee and I said, uh Snow and Ledwood, uh Cleo. So who else is out there? Shoot.

SPEAKER_03

Oh, uh uh Alex.

SPEAKER_07

Alex Isley.

SPEAKER_03

Oh, yes.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah, but that's that's um one of the Isley brothers. I forgot which one was it? Not Ronald, it was another one. James Isley, I think it is. His daughter. Yeah. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing, amazing, amazing artist. Uh but trust me, if you put in the Cleo Solar Cat or Snorla uh In My Arms or something like that, and put it on Pandora or put it on any of your uh whatever whoever you listen to music from and let it roll, you're going to be uh overwhelmed with new artists that will blow you away. That Sasha Keebo uh new album is great. Is very, very good. Um Cleo Soul, everything is good. Um so let's check it out. All right. All right, Pree, got a question. Yeah. You have to erase one.

SPEAKER_10

Okay.

SPEAKER_07

Prince, Michael Jackson. When you erase the music, you erase everything that contributed to them, people that expanded from them, uh, movies that they probably done.

SPEAKER_03

I'm gonna say Michael Jackson.

SPEAKER_07

You wanna say Michael Jackson?

SPEAKER_03

Um, only reason I say that is because uh I think prints contribute to more than what we think or than what we know.

SPEAKER_10

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

Because uh I used to many, many, many years ago when I worked at the bank, that was like uh 1995. In 95. I used to work with this guy at the bank who when I say obsessed with Prince, obsessed. And he would find Did he ever have a career like Prince?

unknown

Kinda.

SPEAKER_03

Oh my god.

SPEAKER_07

Oh my god. And he talked to the bank like this. And uh is that a deposit?

SPEAKER_03

He was obsessed with Prince, but he I don't know how his connects were, but he knew when Prince was gonna be to certain places due in private. Uh like you know, he'd just pop up at a place to do uh shop.

SPEAKER_07

And that's before internet, social media.

SPEAKER_03

And he would be able to sign those places. So he would see prints at like small bars, that's crazy, things like that.

SPEAKER_07

Um that's how Prince rolled. He would he would pop up at different places just to play.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, and so uh, yeah, he he was like on the trail of of Prince. That's crazy. Um, so um we know that then I recently uh I think it was Alicia Keys that was telling the story about uh wanting to use Oh yeah, I heard that story. Yeah, one of uh one of his songs for something that she was doing. He told her no. Yeah. He said because he would not be paying their children's college tuition. So which means like things that we didn't even know that Prince was fighting for or about, yeah, uh, because he really kept to himself. Yeah, and people respected that he kept to himself. Um, but he was doing some powerful things behind the scenes. Yeah. And the people who needed to know knew. And I just feel like um we don't even know.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah, scratch the surface.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, we don't even know the impact he had.

New Music Recs And The UK Soul Wave

SPEAKER_07

Like people didn't know that he had the impact on Lizzo.

SPEAKER_03

Right.

SPEAKER_07

Like Lizzo actually like went there and was working with him. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

Oh, or like how me, how me and law thought he was trying to talk to her, like back to her, and he just wanted to know what kind of shampoo she used.

SPEAKER_05

Right.

SPEAKER_03

And I believe Prince but people tell story in the prince, he also was a was a comedian. Yeah, he definitely was a shy comedian. But I think he probably did want to, but since she was acting like that, he said, Oh, okay, so I'm gonna put her in her place. I'll put her in place. Oh, I just want to let her shampoo. Yeah, yeah, because we know being long is fine. Yeah, um, I think he just did that because she was acting the way she was acting. So I think he just um impacted more than what we what we knew. Um, so I'll put him there. Like, I don't think he got caught up in the mainstream of things. He wouldn't allow himself to. I I Michael Jackson got caught up in it.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah, I um yeah, I'll get rid of Michael Jackson too. I love Mike, but I get rid of Michael Jackson because um I just think Prince, Prince did he put his foot down a lot. Mike started putting his foot down, and I think that's what messed him up. I think that's what messed Prince up. Prince up.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, and I love it.

SPEAKER_07

The powers that be, I think, when they put they both put their foot down, miraculously something happened.

SPEAKER_10

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_07

You know. All right, uh, Janet or Beyonce.

SPEAKER_03

Oh, who am I kidding, Britain? Oh Janet.

SPEAKER_10

Okay.

SPEAKER_03

I think uh Beyoncé, the stronger artist in regards to uh singing and dancing.

SPEAKER_07

Putting their foot down too, like you just said, about what what what's going on behind the scenes.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, and just because of the that uh now Prince and Michael were together in the same time, in the same era. Jet and B are in two different eras. And I also think that they were made by Joe.

SPEAKER_09

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_03

Joe Joe, I think, will do something strange. A little change. I mean, I just think that it was about the money and the and the thing.

SPEAKER_07

The reason why a lot of the stuff was so weird for the was like, I ain't worried about how weird these jokes are. Y'all want to see him, but boom, get out there.

SPEAKER_03

Get out there, yeah. Yeah, so I just think weirded them out overworking. Yeah, the leadership, the parents. That was just different for each of them. And that's I think that's why you get it, got a different point. I'm with you on that.

SPEAKER_07

I'll get I'll get rid of Danny too. Yeah, I'll get rid of Danny. All right. You got a witch list. You got three artists, any three artists from any era can go on tour together. Who would it be? Oh god. Any three artists from any era can go on tour together. Who would it be? They can go on tour together, and then one artist could be a collective group.

SPEAKER_08

Could be a group.

SPEAKER_07

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_10

Who would it be? To go on a tour together.

SPEAKER_03

That's hard. That I didn't plan for that.

SPEAKER_06

Oh, come on. You had to uh you had family feud, you ain't got time to play. You gotta answer.

SPEAKER_07

You your daddy now. Oh, oh, oh.

SPEAKER_03

I am because I don't know who I would put together.

SPEAKER_07

All right. That's all I'm gonna say. We're up on the board. I'ma say prince.

SPEAKER_03

Oh, they can be dead.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah, that's what I say, any any era. They can be dead or live. I'll say prince, Beyonce, and then probably for Pat House, Big Loofah Bandos.

SPEAKER_10

Oh, that's uh I know it's different.

SPEAKER_07

It's different. I wouldn't do that. I'd say big loofah. Or probably with all that uh rock and roll, you know, to be real crazy. Put Rick James in there. That'd be real crazy.

SPEAKER_03

That'll be a real crazy crowd.

SPEAKER_07

That's what I'm saying.

SPEAKER_02

That'd be different.

SPEAKER_05

But everybody wanna they know fighting everybody.

SPEAKER_02

I just think it'd just be I ain't worried about the crowd.

SPEAKER_07

I'm worried about the concert, the boo I want to see. I would not want to see Rick James.

SPEAKER_03

I probably wouldn't need it, but even when I ignore you said that foolishness.

SPEAKER_07

I like Rick James, though. Prince, Beyonce, um, because I never seen Chris Brown, but I'd probably say Chris Brown. I wouldn't, I wouldn't mind Usher being there. Because Usher's Usher being a great concert. But I think I think Chris Brown would hold his own with that. But then, but like you say, with the crowd, it'd be mixed crowd, but who cares?

SPEAKER_03

It's just but I know Chris Brown Usher is about the same.

SPEAKER_07

No, I'm saying, but there's different the the Chris Brown crowd is not the Prince crowd or the Beyonce crowd. Oh no, no.

Hard Choice: Erase Prince Or Michael?

SPEAKER_03

Well, no, I think Chris Brown, you could get something 50-50 Beyoncé. Okay. But that's your uh, what's the name?

SPEAKER_07

Prince Beyonce. And I don't know. Boy, what you want?

SPEAKER_06

Taking flowers to your girlfriend from Belly Travis.

SPEAKER_03

No, he's the ones they do nothing with. I said, Y'all don't do that with them. I'm gonna cut them, they're gonna be mine.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah, that's not right.

SPEAKER_03

No, you can take up her, they're hers.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

Um, I'm going to do this for concert. Generally. I'm my own concert. You did yours. You put Rick James, Prince, and Beyond the Way. Okay, you know what? I'm gonna do concert.

SPEAKER_07

Rick Jane, Prince, and Bob Marley. No, I mean not Rick Jane, Prince Prince Beyonce Bob Marley.

unknown

Sorry.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah. That's what I'm doing. Prince Beyonce Bob Marley.

SPEAKER_03

Okay.

SPEAKER_07

I'm the best concert ever.

SPEAKER_03

Doing a concert. I'm doing Clioso. Snow Allegra. And Janae I go.

SPEAKER_07

The no shoes concert. That no shoes is gonna be a lot. Crop top shirts and uh uh those um like sun dresses, long uh flanking sun dresses. Yeah, that's what that is. That's what I do, and a lot of uh incense. Yeah, that's the concert, yeah, and stones and crystals. Yeah, it's gonna be a good one. I'll go.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, I know.

SPEAKER_07

Definitely go online too with Prince Beyonce Bobby to be so hype.

unknown

Yeah.

SPEAKER_07

All right. Three cities, three meals. Okay somewhere for breakfast, somewhere for you don't have to have ever been there. Okay, but you're going three cities, three meals. Where are you going?

SPEAKER_03

Breakfast, I'm going to Paris to have croissants and coffee. Okay, cappuccino there. Um lunch. I'm going to Costa Rica for taco. I mean the tacos and what's the name.

SPEAKER_10

Okay.

SPEAKER_03

Uh dinner. For dinner. I need a good steakhouse. And I don't know all the great steakhouses.

SPEAKER_07

So the top steakhouse in the world is in Japan. The second one is number two, I want to say, is New York.

SPEAKER_03

Okay.

SPEAKER_07

But they were both Kobe steaks.

SPEAKER_03

Okay. Bye. I'm going to Japan because I feel like they're going to give me another steak. So I'm going to New York for my steak. Because I feel like I'm going to have plenty. I feel like if I go to Japan, it's going to be like three little slices.

SPEAKER_07

I know about to say the servant size. You get what you want. Oh, you get what you want.

SPEAKER_03

Well, then I'm going to go to Japan because in Japan I also can't visit Holloway. Um, so I'm going for a good coat. And I never had a are you supposed to have a coat? I've been in Kobe. You mean the other thing?

SPEAKER_07

Oh, Wagyu.

SPEAKER_03

Wagu.

SPEAKER_07

You know what? You know, I don't know. I had to double check. But I was looking up looking up the top steak.

SPEAKER_03

By the way, that was the name of the hibachi place that we went to in Wichita, Kobe Steakhouse.

SPEAKER_10

It was?

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, it was. Um, yes. No, so I'm going for some Wagyu or Kobe, whatever the best steakhouse is in the world. In Japan. So yeah, I'm going to Paris for croissants and breakfast there. Maybe a little um um crepe.

SPEAKER_10

Okay.

SPEAKER_03

And lunch in Costa Rica and dinner in Japan.

SPEAKER_10

Okay, that sounds good.

SPEAKER_03

Where are you going?

SPEAKER_07

I'm going to let's see, I'll probably go somewhere like uh I'm trying to think who would have the best uh pancakes on French toast. Because if I did want some grits, I'm going somewhere in Mississippi to get some good old Brits sausage. But I'll probably go like uh to um Oh, we're talking fluffy Japanese pancakes.

SPEAKER_03

They got a place over in Roswell.

SPEAKER_07

You can go down there, go on there. I want to go try it out. I'll say I'm gonna go to um um Switzerland.

SPEAKER_03

Get what?

SPEAKER_07

And get some breakfast. I see them pouring pancakes there.

SPEAKER_03

I've heard they do not have the best food in Switzerland. That's what Emily said. She's actually been there.

SPEAKER_07

Okay, well, I'm gonna go there anyway, just to have breakfast. And then I'm going to for lunch, I'm going to uh I'm going to South Africa for lunch.

SPEAKER_10

Are you?

SPEAKER_07

Yes. I'm going to that uh that beach house. It's like a beach club, and I'm going to have this fish. I forgot the name of it, but it's so good. And their uh their calamar was amazing. Amazing. And they had it all with a whole bunch of different vegetables too, like season. And the vegetables were so good that you, if somebody said, I'm gonna eat all the calamari and the vegetables, yeah, you'll be fine. You'll be fine with that. Um, and then for dinner, I'm going to Australia.

SPEAKER_03

You start going somewhere you got uh 111,000 years ago because it may not be as good. Remember that happened to us in Texas and Dallas? We try to come back to the river thought we're so good. And then we were like, oh, this is nobody is insane.

SPEAKER_06

I'm not saying it's right.

SPEAKER_07

I'm going to Austria because the seafood is amazing.

SPEAKER_02

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah. And it's like the prawns are freaking huge. That's the first time I ever had prawn. I was just a half shrimp.

SPEAKER_10

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_07

And so I call them big shrimp. They say prawn. I said, What's prawn? And he showed me. I said, Oh, that's a shrimp. No, they that thing was big, huge.

SPEAKER_05

And I had that.

SPEAKER_07

Oh, it was so good.

SPEAKER_05

How'd they cook it?

SPEAKER_07

They sliced it in half. And then they grilled it.

SPEAKER_05

Oh, like a lobster?

SPEAKER_07

Uh-huh. And they grilled it, and then just it poured out of that shell so easy. Came out. And I ate so much seafood there. So freaking good. Now the crocodile steak was good too. It was very flaky and meaty. Um, good crocodile steak. Had a little sliced kangaroo jerky. It was good. And it was made there. And then we had some uh um at the Aboriginal reservation fed us chicken, some kind of root potato thing, and slice of emu. I won't say was eboo or ash? Probably emu. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_03

So what was the thing that uh Susie ate of yours or trying to eat the thing they wanted to eat?

SPEAKER_07

Be my pasta, anything. Like, because we that was our money, like the money that we made on the show, you had to feed yourself. So I would buy stuff and like little splits, because they would spend their money on alcohol and cigarettes, stuff like that. And I was I was meticulously buying my stuff. And so it was like, oh, he got cookies and snacks, let's just eat his stuff. And then I go back. And you know, and my food ain't there.

SPEAKER_03

Oh. And they so what you do? I said, Who the hell ate my food?

SPEAKER_07

They said, Well, we just know it's food. I said, Y'all know goodwell ate.

SPEAKER_03

Y'all didn't buy that. Y'all didn't buy that.

SPEAKER_07

Y'all know crab service and they do know what we have. I said, This was my food. And so I started writing my name on stuff. And they got mad at me writing my name on stuff.

SPEAKER_08

Oh, did they?

SPEAKER_07

Yeah. Why do you write your name on stuff?

SPEAKER_08

I said, I thought it.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah, I was mad. I was mad. I was mad.

SPEAKER_03

They thought you was like thinking they didn't buy food for the family.

SPEAKER_07

I don't know what they thought. I don't know. They tripped out on me for writing my stuff. I said, but that's what we do at the you know, we write.

SPEAKER_03

No, it's not, it's not even about that. It's the difference is y'all blew your money on bullcrap. Like, and I budgeted so that I can have snacks and do all things.

SPEAKER_02

Listen, yeah.

Three Cities, Three Meals

SPEAKER_03

Now, y'all all wanna go in together and then you everybody put in$10 or whatever, and we all go buy snacks together that are for the RB.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah. Like that. Like they would go trade. We would go to uh they would want to go to restaurants and eat, and I'll be like, I'm just gonna order X, Y, and say, so they thought I was being different. And I said, I'm not going to this restaurant, it's too expensive. So then I'll go to a, because if they had a little Chinatown here, that Chinatown, you can get a whole bunch of food for like five bucks. So I would eat that. Or we stayed in hostels, and hostels, you know, we all in one room, but they had a kitchen, you know, um, kitchens and stuff that we could use. So I would get pasta, pasta sauce, or something I could cook that I knew was gonna last. So I would have my pasta jar, bring it back, my pasta box, bring it back. And I would cook. And, you know, so I would but all my money, every time they was like, okay, we're going to uh a new city and we start our journey the next day, I would always have money saved up to go shopping with. So I would go to the malls and I would always buy stuff. That's what I did with my money. That was my goal to like save my money and then go. Because whatever you had left, they asked for the money back. Like you couldn't leave with the money. So I'd make unless you spent it, you spent it. So that's what I did. I won't.

SPEAKER_03

Okay, so you y'all just had different things. Yeah. So you had a goal one by being able to shop or buy stuff, so you budgeted that. I budget my money. And then they just food and drink.

SPEAKER_07

They would they would be out of money before it was time to go.

SPEAKER_00

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_07

So I still had money. So even if my food was going, I could still buy food. They would be out of money and struggling. But I was like, nope, just say this money. Because I was still real like when when they took all our money from us, all they got from me was a dollar and eighty-two cents. When we were on that bridge in Hawaii, they said, all right, give us all your money, we're gonna take all your cash and all your car. I had$3 on that debit car. I went to, I went to uh Hawaii with$20.

SPEAKER_10

I remember that.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah, went to Hawaii with$20. Telling me that story. Yeah, so I was like, and so when I went to McDonald's, half of it was gone. Well, over half was gone at McDonald's, and it wasn't for my roommate Mike calling this uh girl that he was at boot camp with to bring me a sub sandwich that I split for two days worth of food. Because I thought they were gonna feed us as soon as we got off the plane. So when I turned in my money, I had$1.82 and a debit card. I said, I ain't no but three dollars on this debit card. And it was like,$3?

SPEAKER_10

I was like, yeah.

SPEAKER_07

So I was because I was in college, everybody else coming from home and board, you know, living with people and stuff like that. So I was like, bro, I'm broke. I am broke, broke. So yeah. All right. So um what's the time? Where are we on time? Okay, but let's go ahead and wrap it up then. So what's your side of the week?

SPEAKER_03

Uh I'm not ready for that.

SPEAKER_07

All right. My side of the week, um, I would say goes to um just some of these uh people in the job during last minute, like they'll send you something and you prep, you prep your plans based off of what they sent you the first time. And then less than 24 hours or two. Yeah, less than 24 hours before your plan goes into effect, they send you another email as if you did something wrong. And it was like, I was like, oh no. Your first email said this. And I had already planned to do this, what you told me to do. So now it's like, so I didn't like the tone. So I uh I didn't, I I I started and I stopped. And I said, I'm not gonna email right now because I'm in a defensive mode. And I said, let me just come back to it. And then I thought about it, I said, I ain't stressing. You know, if these people think they're happy and think they're getting off on me, I don't care. I said, I just sent a little kind email, and I said, I'm on this, I'm doing this. You know, boom. I can't But real short though. But that's my side. I would people try to uh act like they didn't uh tell you to do something and you're on it, and the next thing you know, they covering their own butt, but at the same time covering their butt, they're trying to make you seem like as if you're in the wrong. So that's my side for just a pet peeve of mine.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_07

Incompetency.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, and it's hard for me not to. Like, I gotta let you know. That was very um you went high, high, low.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah, because I ain't you know, look.

SPEAKER_03

But I just I just I just can't let you think. If I'm on my ish, uh I need it to be known. You're not gonna make it seem like I'm not.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah, now face to face. You get you get you you get the immediate quick lashing of the tongue from Keith Lair. When you try to come at me wrong face to face, I'm I'm a I'm a I'm gonna settle you down real easy.

SPEAKER_03

Email But people like them, that's why they do the email. Of course. Because they know of course they know uh they can't do it face to face with one. Yeah, yeah. We know that the embrace were behind the little typing thing.

SPEAKER_07

So But it always, whenever they do that, it always there there always comes a time when they have to come face to face with me for something. And that's just the way God has been working. And I get to give them that little peace.

SPEAKER_08

That little piece.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah, thank you. That little piece. So you don't have to do a side eye if you don't have one. What's gonna be a good one?

SPEAKER_03

Well, the only thing I'm gonna say is not a real side eye, but kind of um why I want to start the and I got uh, you know, they got them thing pistachio right now. And I got the pistachio portado. Um, but they leave all the syrup at the bottom.

SPEAKER_07

They don't stir it up.

SPEAKER_02

They don't stir it up.

SPEAKER_07

I guess and I'll say please stir. Yeah, please stir.

SPEAKER_02

You shouldn't have to say that.

SPEAKER_07

I guess they're trying to say we got a little surprise at the bottom for you.

SPEAKER_02

And then when you get to the bottom, it's just syrup.

SPEAKER_07

Because all the other cream and coffee's gone.

Travel Stories, Budgeting, And Shared Fridge Wars

SPEAKER_03

Yes. So I would say was stir it up.

SPEAKER_02

That's ridiculous. So anyway.

SPEAKER_03

Stir it up. That's my syrup. It's stir the syrup. Stir the syrups up, especially the ones that are a little bit thicker. There are some that aren't as thick. Like this. Those pistachio is I think I know it's there. Because what you get at the bottom, it is really light.

SPEAKER_07

Was it like a matcha or just a regular pistachio?

SPEAKER_03

This is a regular, like the cortado, the smaller. Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_07

Oh, I haven't had that one.

SPEAKER_03

They got the pistachio once. Very good. But you gotta mix up your i like no good cortado.

SPEAKER_07

And um I'm gonna have about five of them in a couple days.

SPEAKER_03

Oh yeah. Okay. And then um yeah, or if you get the white chocolate, white chocolate, they can stir it up. Because that's a little thicker too. Um, anyways, that is my side eyes. Up my cortado Starbucks.

SPEAKER_07

What is your gratefulness?

SPEAKER_03

Oh, well, I'm grateful for the little mini getaway that we're getting ready to take. We were trying to find some time to get with us knowing you already have winter break, a whole week off. And y'all know I'm working too doing two things, and so um, we're gonna take a couple of days um and go to Greenville, South Carolina.

SPEAKER_07

South Kekalaki.

SPEAKER_03

We've never been. Um, it's not that far from us, but it gives us a chance to kind of get away. We are gonna get um we get the opportunity to go and see Hale's Kitchen, the raw way play by Miss.

SPEAKER_07

Alicia Keys. I'm excited about that.

SPEAKER_03

It's gonna be there in Greenville. And so we gotta go.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah, we're gonna watch the final show. So they're gonna do their final show on course. So they're gonna come up with awesome.

SPEAKER_03

So we are um our hotel is like three uh minutes walking. And so um, yeah, we're gonna do a little lows, a couple of days. So I'm excited that we get to go and do that and still get to come home and spend the week relaxed and sealed, but just to get away for a little bit. So I'm grateful that we get to get a couple of days just away from the north.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah. We'll find some things to do too at the house when we come back. So that we just ain't just chilling, you know.

SPEAKER_10

I'm alright with chilly, you know.

SPEAKER_07

I know we are, but you know, it's like I said, we got six weeks of not what we will be in chill at work after work, you know, so I don't want to do that.

SPEAKER_08

Okay.

SPEAKER_07

All right. So great I'm grateful for uh the fact that I got two IEPs left. I know, and and and uh one is super easy. Cause this kid is a scene, so uh with both of them are. So uh but two two IEPs left, uh, and then it's just now making sure, uh, like you said, it's you're gonna have to talk to parents while their kids failing. Like, remember that email I sent a week ago, after I sent the one two weeks, after I sent the one three weeks, and after the one I said four weeks ago. Well, they're all kind of the same. He's just not doing what he's supposed to do.

SPEAKER_03

He refused to Well, they didn't respond.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So you get a lot of that that lasts a month and a half, you know.

SPEAKER_03

Uh my own ferrets.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah, so um, but I'm grateful that I'm almost done with that, and I really get to focus on just um you know, handling business in the classroom, you know. Uh so that's gonna be cool. What are you looking forward to?

SPEAKER_03

Uh well, same thing I'm grateful for.

SPEAKER_10

Okay, all right.

SPEAKER_03

Um, I do overbreak though. I'm gonna say I'm looking forward to trying that puffy pancake place on Roswell Road.

SPEAKER_07

Okay, we're gonna try the puppy pancakes.

SPEAKER_03

I don't know what the name of the restaurant is, but they got puffy pancakes.

SPEAKER_07

I got a few little Asian spots I'm gonna try.

SPEAKER_03

I think those pancakes are in Okay. Uh, but I'm I'm gonna try that. Also looking forward to um there's a coffee shop in Greenville that came up on my TikTok.

SPEAKER_07

The one you said, the last one you did. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

So I'm looking forward to the one that said about the cookie butter.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah. I was getting in the car, so I just saw that.

SPEAKER_02

Uh some cookie butter.

SPEAKER_03

And they got cookie button live changed, if the lane said, changed her life.

SPEAKER_07

Changed her life, though.

SPEAKER_03

So I needed to change mine.

SPEAKER_07

Oh my god.

SPEAKER_03

That's what I'm looking forward to.

SPEAKER_07

I'm looking forward to some great opportunities that uh, you know, kind of transpired recently. Um that's supposed to pop off in the future. Um prayerfully it pops off the way I want it to pop off. Uh prayerfully, it pops off better. I was gonna say what better than I want it to pop off. Um, but uh some great opportunities. Um and then just some things I've saw too that I've said, oh, this might work. So I'm I wonder if this is his thing. Say, okay, hey, try this, try that. So uh kind of.

SPEAKER_03

I don't even, yeah, I think it's beyond your your thoughts.

SPEAKER_07

Okay.

SPEAKER_03

I'm just saying.

SPEAKER_10

That's good.

SPEAKER_07

So those are some of the things I'm looking forward to. And give some new uh running shoes so I can get my running game on.

SPEAKER_02

New running shoes? Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

Don't you got some running shoes?

SPEAKER_07

I I have running shoes.

SPEAKER_03

I had a When the last time you bring it to the new ones.

Side Eye Of The Week: Emails And Espresso

SPEAKER_07

All right, so Guess Who Needs. Ladies and gentlemen, this has been the Refreshingly Normal Podcast. I have been wanting to host Pete Flo and Yao He is the other host, Lucretia.

SPEAKER_03

Who?

SPEAKER_06

So see you when we see you.

SPEAKER_03

Please read it.

SPEAKER_01

The Refreshingly Normal Podcast,