התמלול המלא של High Level Conversations: Okema T. Moore and Nicole "Sassy" Harrison

and you need to hear it. One of the best that's ever walked that sideline doing. 00:02:44 Speaker 2: What you do. 00:02:46 Speaker 1: And I need you to hear me and listen to what I'm about to tell you. Because to me, what makes you so good, so great at what you do on the sideline is because you're you. 00:02:59 Speaker 2: You're very authentic. Your stories that you tell are really good. You're relatable. 00:03:05 Speaker 1: Your interaction with the players is always very good. Like, I always learn something different about you and about players when you're on the sideline talking about them. So the reason why I'm saying this to you is because I know it ain't gonna be about basketball. 00:03:25 Speaker 2: I just need you to be you. 00:03:26 Speaker 1: I need you to talk about what this moment, all the years, how many years you covered the sun? 00:03:33 Speaker 2: Five years. The five years that you've covered the sun, what was the best part about it? What are you going to miss the. 00:03:40 Speaker 1: Most about it? And I know you can get emotional. You won't, but you can get emotional because it means that much to you. 00:03:47 Speaker 2: Yes, it does. 00:03:49 Speaker 1: People want to, they're going to tune in because they want to hear from you. And all the different things you're going to talk about and say on the sideline. 00:04:01 Speaker 2: That's what makes you so great. 00:04:03 Speaker 3: At what you do. And you always look good. 00:04:07 Speaker 2: Yeah, right. I was like, dang, I got to make sure that I have my last show outfit. So I got it. I got it. You got it. At last show, I'll be tuning in to make sure you got it. So check your phone at one point because I'm going to be like, yes, ma'am. Killed it. Killed it. Thank you. Thank you for that. That means a lot. 00:04:28 Speaker 3: I know it's a bittersweet moment. 00:04:30 Speaker 2: It is because I'm so happy. 00:04:32 Speaker 4: Like, I'm not even going to go there and try to be funny. 00:04:36 Speaker 1: Yeah. But I meant, I really meant what I said about one of the best that's ever covered the game and, and, especially on the sidelines, because you understand, not only do you understand basketball, you understand people. 00:04:50 Speaker 2: Do you know what I mean? I do. 00:04:52 Speaker 3: So yeah, I'd love to see you come to Houston and be the sideline reporter. 00:04:57 Speaker 2: Or play, or color, whatever it is you want to do. 00:05:00 Speaker 1: And just because Connecticut doesn't have a team, it doesn't mean that you shouldn't be doing that. 00:05:07 Speaker 2: That is so fair. 00:05:08 Speaker 3: I honestly thought about how do I keep professional basketball alive in Connecticut because there is no need to even pretend like women's basketball is going anywhere. I'm 45 minutes from stores, honey. It ain't going nowhere as long as UConn is down the street. But I don't want people to lose or forget how much or what women's or what professional women's basketball is. The liberty is not far. I know people could say that, but. 00:05:35 Speaker 2: This is Connecticut. This is New England. Contrary to popular belief. New England ain't warning. To New York. 00:05:45 Speaker 3: Like, not the way people think, right? When it comes to sports, there's real beef here, guys. 00:05:50 Speaker 2: So.... 00:05:52 Speaker 3: But that's kind of where my mind been over the last 24 hours. 00:05:57 Speaker 2: And I really appreciate that. That really does mean a lot to me. 00:06:00 Speaker 3: Because the whole time that I've been thinking of how to approach this game, I've been thinking about the fans. 00:06:06 Speaker 2: Like, how can I highlight the fans? How can I talk about the fans? 00:06:10 Speaker 3: Like, talking about me or my experience hasn't even crossed my mind. Because I'm just like, how do I make sure the fans feel loved and appreciated and understand how much they mean to what we do and. 00:06:21 Speaker 2: all that good stuff. So, I always figure it out. And that's a big part of it, right? 00:06:24 Speaker 5: Right. 00:06:24 Speaker 1: Is you just talk about that part, how loyal the fans have been. 00:06:29 Speaker 2: You know what? 00:06:29 Speaker 3: Through good, bad, and everything in between. 00:06:32 Speaker 1: Like, The Sun was not a very good team this year, but the fans continue to show up and support. 00:06:39 Speaker 3: I think you can talk about that. 00:06:40 Speaker 1: Whole experience of what it's like being in the arena when things are going good, when things aren't going bad. 00:06:48 Speaker 2: They're so amazing. That's why I've been a pro. You got this. I know. 00:06:53 Speaker 3: I just got to get my feelings out of it because I had time to sit with. 00:06:56 Speaker 2: This for months. So I'm like, I'm good. I'm over it. I had my moment and I'm and I got it. 00:07:03 Speaker 3: And that's how I was. Honestly, like, that's honestly how I felt. And then literally 12 a.m. 00:07:08 Speaker 2: Hit. And I was like, oh, like, it makes it right. The reality of this is really it. 00:07:13 Speaker 3: The audacity of it actually being the 24th. 00:07:17 Speaker 2: That's crazy. But other than that. 00:07:19 Speaker 4: Hmm. 00:07:21 Speaker 3: Very excited about the end of the season. The playoffs are shaking up. They're going to be amazing. I know that you and I are probably going to have an episode where we dig deep into postseason basketball. 00:07:32 Speaker 2: Facts. But today. 00:07:35 Speaker 3: But can I dig not so deep real quick? 00:07:37 Speaker 2: Yes, please. 00:07:38 Speaker 1: Because I'm going to need Minnesota. 00:07:41 Speaker 2: To be better. Honey, I don't know what they got going on up there. I don't know. I'm going to need New York to be better. Well, I don't know how much better New York going to be without Steve. 00:07:53 Speaker 3: I don't either, but my goodness. 00:07:54 Speaker 2: Ugh. Yuck. Yeah. Because Atlanta is saying. 00:07:59 Speaker 3: We are ready for the playoffs,

honey. 00:08:02 Speaker 2: Baby, Atlanta. We're ready. Washington. 00:08:04 Speaker 5: Ooh. Oh. 00:08:07 Speaker 2: Come on, Young House. Okay, listen, everything is so funny. So I'm calling a game. I'm calling a game on Tuesday. 00:08:15 Speaker 3: And Tuesday, on Tuesday, and Brendan and I, for those who don't know, Brendan is my partner. 00:08:21 Speaker 2: He's my guy. And Brendan says, well, you know, they call themselves the Young. 00:08:26 Speaker 3: And I was like, well, we can't say that on the broadcast. 00:08:30 Speaker 2: So we spent the entire broadcast. 00:08:32 Speaker 6: Ha, ha, ha, ha. 00:08:32 Speaker 2: Right now, other H words that we could replace hoes with. 00:08:35 Speaker 1: Okay. 00:08:36 Speaker 2: And what did you come up with? 00:08:37 Speaker 3: We came up with young and hungry. We came up with young and happy. We came up with, what else did we come up with? Um, We came up with young and hopeful. But I was like, we can't call them the young hoes, even though we know that's what they are. 00:08:55 Speaker 2: We just came right here. But no, we can't. We cannot. And I'm looking at Brendan like, you definitely cannot. You better not. You better not. So it was the funniest thing. It was a running joke. 00:09:07 Speaker 1: Listen, I am, but whatever, young and whatever you want them to be, they are showing out right now. 00:09:14 Speaker 2: Shakira Austin, sis. Yes. My goodness. Yes. 00:09:21 Speaker 1: Did we talk about Shakira Austin as most improved? 00:09:25 Speaker 3: Well, I don't think we did. I don't think we did. I think we might have mentioned her in the conversation, but she should be. She should be in the conversation. Without a doubt. Without a doubt. All defensive teams, she should be considered. 00:09:41 Speaker 2: All of that. All of that. The whole, yeah. Yeah. 00:09:45 Speaker 3: Filling the mystics right now. 00:09:46 Speaker 2: Yeah. I'm, I'm ready for Sunday playoffs. Yeah, I know. 00:09:52 Speaker 6: Same. 00:09:52 Speaker 2: I'm ready for Sunday to playoffs are going to be good. 00:09:55 Speaker 3: And, and, um, I'm still trying to figure out as, you know, as of this recording, there's still some seating has been determined, but like two and three have not. So Vegas and golden state, either one of those five has not been decided. Two and three has not been decided. Um, I don't even think four technically has been decided. 00:10:20 Speaker 2: Have they? I think Atlanta may have wrapped up. Atlanta. 00:10:23 Speaker 3: But did they just secure a top four seed or did they secure the four seed is what I need to see. I have to remember off the top. I have to remember. I know they secured a top four seed, but I can't remember if it is the actual four seed. 00:10:39 Speaker 2: Because I'm kind. 00:10:40 Speaker 1: Of wanting four or five. 00:10:42 Speaker 2: Oh, they did. They did. They clinched the number four seed. They did. I just double checked. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. So, yeah, still a few more scenarios left in play. 00:10:53 Speaker 3: And I'm sure by the end of this week, well, not week, by the end of the show, they'll probably have come out with what needs to happen. 00:11:00 Speaker 2: But, yeah, I'm excited. Playoffs are going to be good. 00:11:04 Speaker 3: I think that 1-8 Minnesota-New York matchup is going to be interesting. 00:11:09 Speaker 2: I actually think that that's probably. 00:11:11 Speaker 3: the least favorable matchup for Minnesota given the way that they've been playing and given the way that New York is 2-1 on them this season. 00:11:19 Speaker 4: Well, I do want to say, you know, while we're talking about Minnesota, and if people wonder why, I'll speak for myself and I think you too, why we have Olivia Miles in the MVP conversation. 00:11:33 Speaker 1: It's because She's that good. She makes that much of a difference for the Minnesota team when she's not on the floor. 00:11:42 Speaker 3: And so I. 00:11:43 Speaker 1: Pray that her injury, whatever it is, is not that serious. And she's able to play in. 00:11:52 Speaker 3: The playoffs, first of all, for selfish reasons, because I need to see her. 00:11:55 Speaker 2: I need to see her. Yes. 00:11:57 Speaker 3: I need to see her. 00:11:58 Speaker 2: Yes. 00:11:58 Speaker 3: And secondly, Minnesota needs to have her. 00:12:03 Speaker 2: Yes. So she needs to be on the floor without a shadow of a doubt. Yes. Without a shadow of a doubt. 00:12:08 Speaker 3: And so this is also the exact same reason why I said that despite New York not having a good record, still we need to continue to be in the MVP top part of that conversation, too, because New York look crazy without her. 00:12:25 Speaker 2: Look crazy. Look crazy. 00:12:27 Speaker 1: Yeah. 00:12:28 Speaker 2: Without her. 00:12:30 Speaker 3: So I'm going to need y'all to put some respect on Breanna Stewart's name because clearly she knows how that New York team goes and they didn't go far without her. Period. 00:12:42 Speaker 2: So there's that. New York goes and Stewie goes. Absolutely. 00:12:46 Speaker 3: I mean, we still know Asia Wilson going to win, but that's not the point. We're just saying that there needs to be... Who should be in the conversation. Who should be in the conversation. Asia Wilson will have her fist. Asia will have her fist. How crazy is that? 00:12:58 Speaker 6: You know what's scary, though, is she's still young enough, T, that she could win a couple more MVP. 00:13:10 Speaker 2: She could. When it's all said and done. And a few more championships. She could. 00:13:14 Speaker 1: Yeah, but, I mean, she could easily have, like, seven MVP. 00:13:18 Speaker 2: She could. She's just, like, just in her prime. That's unreal. What? 00:13:24 Speaker 3: And the thing is, it's not like it reminds me of and I probably have said this before, but when there were players that you were like, oh, my God, you were so good. It just so happened that you played at the same time as Kobe. 00:13:40 Speaker 2: It's like, it

just. 00:13:41 Speaker 3: So happened that you played at the same time as LeBron. Like, it's really not about you. It was just unfortunate that you had to share. 00:13:51 Speaker 2: Is that good? 00:13:52 Speaker 3: And there are so many other players that are fantastic. And you just had the fortune and unfortunate of playing in the same era as Asia Wilson. 00:14:06 Speaker 2: Yeah. 00:14:07 Speaker 3: Damn it ain't nothing against you it ain't nothing against you it really ain't it really. 00:14:12 Speaker 2: Ain't she's just her she's just her. 00:14:15 Speaker 3: It just she's just her yeah so with that being said guys we will be looking forward to playing in the post uh look playing i ain't playing no god ain't no damn don't put my name in it we will be looking forward to watching postseason basketball but before we go to the next level let's take it to the streets. 00:14:44 Speaker 2: All right. So I'm scrolling on. Yeah. I'm scrolling. Where are you scrolling? I'm scrolling on Instagram. 00:14:54 Speaker 3: Okay. And because my husband is a chef, I have found myself often where my algorithm will show me like food videos. 00:15:03 Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah. 00:15:05 Speaker 3: And I came across this one video maybe about three days ago. I saved it. But I came across this one video three days ago. And first of all, it made me order a crab boil. But secondly, who is attacking? Sure, when I say if I was in this line, I'll be ready to whoop everybody ass off of this. 00:15:25 Speaker 2: Look at this shit here. 00:15:27 Speaker 3: The caption says, the buffet I went to. 00:15:32 Speaker 6: Uh-huh. 00:15:33 Speaker 2: I'm going to push play. 00:15:34 Speaker 1: Okay. 00:15:35 Speaker 3: And I'm going to let you see exactly what's about to happen. And then I'll describe it for those listening. 00:15:39 Speaker 2: First of all, let's see. This is why I don't do buffet. But go ahead. Look at this shit here. Huh? Wow. 00:15:52 Speaker 6: Okay. 00:15:53 Speaker 2: So for those listening. Wow. 00:15:55 Speaker 3: And there's a video of everybody at a buffet line and the person just walks over with a fresh thing of crab. 00:16:03 Speaker 2: And before he could even finish- Crab legs. 00:16:07 Speaker 3: Crab legs. Crab legs. Not real crabs. Crab legs. Like real crab legs, but crab legs. 00:16:12 Speaker 6: Yeah. 00:16:12 Speaker 2: And before he. 00:16:13 Speaker 3: Can even- finish filling the whole, like, the new buffet with the crab legs, they have literally come over there with all their little utensils and snatched up every crab leg in the container in, like, two seconds. The video ain't but, like, six seconds long. Because that's how long, that's how quick. And in my head, I was like, damn, I'll be fighting all y'all if y'all came at my damn crab legs. 00:16:40 Speaker 1: Like, the person was in the front of the line. They didn't just, you see their arms just all over. First of all, it wasn't that many in there. But again, that, along with other reasons, is why I don't do buffets. And I'm surprised they actually grabbed the tongs to get them out. Because I was waiting on somebody to just put the hands in there and. 00:17:02 Speaker 3: I am tripping because I have not had that happen to me before, but I have absolutely had somebody cut me off in a buffet line and I was triggered because I was like, friend, first of all, get your ass in the back. Second of all, second of all, even if I don't want this particular item, could you at least come and ask me, could you get in front of me for this item? Don't just bring your ass in front of me in the damn buffet line. 00:17:27 Speaker 2: You know how hungry I am. Get your ass to the back. First of all, I don't know if I've seen. 00:17:32 Speaker 1: Very many buffets that had actual crab legs. 00:17:35 Speaker 2: I bet you it's a Chinese buffet. 00:17:37 Speaker 3: They have all types of shit on their damn buffet. 00:17:39 Speaker 2: I bet you it's a Chinese buffet. 00:17:41 Speaker 3: You just gave me another reason to stay away from buffets. 00:17:44 Speaker 2: Oh, somebody did. Wait, somebody did grab their hand. Wait, look again, Cheryl. Definitely use their hand. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Let me think. No. And grabbed like the last five of them. So did. He or she. I don't know. 00:18:00 Speaker 1: I don't know. 00:18:01 Speaker 2: He or she said, echo tongs. 00:18:04 Speaker 3: I'm about to go in with my hand. 00:18:06 Speaker 2: Grabbed all of them. And then they walking away laughing. Wow. Crazy. Crazy. Yeah. Crazy. But I did order a crab boil after I seen that. I was like, damn. I bet you did. With like some crab and some butter sauce. Oh, my gosh. 00:18:25 Speaker 3: Okay, well, I don't know if this is going to top that. 00:18:29 Speaker 1: So I think I told you, I'm a big game shower. 00:18:33 Speaker 3: I love all the games. Pressure Luck, Family Feud, Price is Right. 00:18:38 Speaker 2: Yes. 00:18:40 Speaker 1: Any game show, I'm there. I love Pressure Blood. So, I really like Family Feud with Steve Harvey. 00:18:45 Speaker 2: Okay. 00:18:46 Speaker 1: So, I'm scrolling, and I always go and look for, like, the best. 00:18:51 Speaker 2: Of Family Feud. Okay. 00:18:53 Speaker 1: But I didn't look for this one, but I found it. So, I'm going to turn the volume up so y'all can hear it. But you have to listen to this. 00:19:01 Speaker 2: I don't even want to talk. I just want you to listen. Okay. 00:19:05 Speaker 5: Fill in the blank with one word. 00:19:06 Speaker 2: Blank nuts. Bees. 00:19:17 Speaker 3: Sweetheart you could have said brazilian nuts you could have said you could have said chestnuts peanuts coconut coconuts like any kind you could have said and you said. 00:19:32 Speaker 1: These and not and not Not these, T-H-E-S-E. 00:19:38 Speaker 2: These. These. D-E-E-Z. 00:19:42 Speaker 3: And here's what I think makes it even funnier. 00:19:46 Speaker 1: Because y'all can't see the video, but hopefully you will be able to.

00:19:50 Speaker 2: To hear it, see it. It's an older white lady. So is. Say it. And with a straight face. And with a straight face. Harvey said, fill in the blank. 00:20:01 Speaker 1: Blank. D's. 00:20:03 Speaker 2: She said, D's. Blank. Wink. 00:20:13 Speaker 1: Wink. 00:20:14 Speaker 3: Yo, ma'am, I want you to know the type of people that they are surveying for these answers. None of them are going to answer the question with D's. 00:20:23 Speaker 2: Wait, because people might learn how to get any point. Let's see. Fill in the blank with one word. Blank nuts. You said D's. 00:20:32 Speaker 1: D's. 00:20:33 Speaker 2: D's. 00:20:39 Speaker 3: It's even better in print. 00:20:42 Speaker 2: She got five. Three. I think it's three. Three people agreed with her. 00:20:46 Speaker 3: Them are the three 14-year-olds that they surveyed for this particular answer. 00:20:51 Speaker 2: Girl, that was so funny to me. 00:20:52 Speaker 3: I wasn't expecting it. 00:20:54 Speaker 2: I just, I wasn't expecting it. That lady is a teacher. She has heard that in her classroom, and that is why she. 00:21:02 Speaker 1: It was like this other one before we move on. Like, again, I love famous dudes. I don't know if you saw this, but it was like the other one he had where he going, you know, to the family on that side. 00:21:12 Speaker 3: He said, name a word that starts with pork. 00:21:18 Speaker 2: Oh, and somebody said you pie. Q pie. Q pie. Q pie. He looked at it upside his head like, what? He said Q pie. You had pork and beans. You had pork chops. 00:21:31 Speaker 3: Pork chops. You had pork rinds. You had pork belly. You went pork Q pie. You went Q pie. 00:21:37 Speaker 2: Q pie. Yeah. It ain't even spelled B-R-R-K. Is that okay, Annie? Oh, my gosh. You know what? I need a good laugh. 00:21:50 Speaker 3: I can always count on deep heart. I'm telling you, that is funny. Diznuth is crazy. When I was in high school, I studied French. And the word for 19 is diznuth. 00:22:05 Speaker 2: And so it's dix-neuf. That's 19 in French. Dix-neuf. 00:22:10 Speaker 3: Uh-huh. 00:22:10 Speaker 2: And you know what we say because we childish. Uh-huh. Yeah. 00:22:15 Speaker 3: So every time we were counting and we would get to like 18 is dix-hui. 00:22:21 Speaker 2: And then 19, we'd be like, dix-nuts. 00:22:25 Speaker 1: Yeah. 00:22:25 Speaker 2: Because we're childish. I know you did. Because we're childish. I know it. 00:22:29 Speaker 3: And then here goes this old white lady talking about dix-nuts on my family. 00:22:33 Speaker 2: Lord have mercy. Girl, that was funny to me. We ain't got no damn sense. Oh my God. 00:22:39 Speaker 3: Y'all, well, we can always find some bullshit in the streets of social media, that is for sure. But now let's go ahead and take it to the next level. Everybody, we have such a great show lined up for you today. And honestly, I know I say that every week. And I say that, that I say that every week. 00:23:10 Speaker 2: But I don't give a damn. 00:23:11 Speaker 3: I'm going to say that every week because every week is true because I ain't lying to the American people. But we really do have two amazing guests on our show today. And I say guests very, very... very lightly because to me, they are way more than guests. 00:23:27 Speaker 2: They are sisters. They are sorors. They are my girls, like love them down. 00:23:32 Speaker 3: And so I am so happy to bring with us today, Cheryl, the director and producer extraordinaire, literally award-winning director, Akima Timur and award-winning producer, Nicole Sassy Harrison. 00:23:47 Speaker 2: Thank you so much. 00:23:48 Speaker 3: For the purposes of this conversation, she will be sassy. For the purposes of every conversation that I have, she will be sassy. 00:23:56 Speaker 2: Right? 00:24:00 Speaker 5: For the purposes of her having breath in her body, she is sassy. 00:24:03 Speaker 2: I live up to the name. She is sassy. Live up to the name. Okay, Leos is the sassy. 00:24:07 Speaker 3: Anyway, thank you so much for being here, both of you. 00:24:11 Speaker 2: Thank you for having us. 00:24:12 Speaker 5: Thank you for having us. 00:24:14 Speaker 3: So Cheryl and I were talking about how we want to do an even bigger job of elevating and giving people in our space, specifically Black women, platforms and more platforms to really showcase what they're doing and how amazing they are in the first two names that came to my mind. 00:24:33 Speaker 2: Was Akima and Sassy. 00:24:35 Speaker 3: So most recently, you two have literally been on the forefront of every festival that I've seen come across my Instagram because Love Zuri has been amazing. And I have loved seeing the love that you all have received. And I want to get into how you guys got together, how y'all know each other, how we all know each other. You know we're going to get there. But first, I certainly want to start with Love, Zuri. It's been selected for multiple festivals. It's been winning multiple festivals. Just tell us about the film. I'm going to start with you, Akima. But tell us about the film and how Sassy came a part of the project. 00:25:16 Speaker 5: And let's just kick it. 00:25:19 Speaker 2: Sure. 00:25:20 Speaker 5: So 2024, I had produced a film called Chocolate with Sprinkles. with director Haria Mohammed. If you fly American Airlines, it's a part of their in-flight entertainment. Check it out. It's a beautiful film. We won the largest award at the American Black Film Festival that year, which was the HBO Shorts Award, which made us Oscar qualified. It was amazing. 2025, I went back and the film that I directed, Laundry, won the Director's Showcase at ABSF. So that year, I go into the lobby and there's this big chocolate African man. And he's like, I love what you're doing and we should talk. And I was like, who this man? Oh, he got on the ring. 00:26:03 Speaker 2: All right. 00:26:04 Speaker 5: What you want to talk about? 00:26:05 Speaker 2: Because I'm like, what you

mean this chocolate man, girl? 00:26:10 Speaker 5: Well, also, you know that I don't know if you know, but I like the ladies, not the fellas, but you know, whatever you like. But I can still appreciate a beautiful man, even if I don't want him. And so. 00:26:22 Speaker 5: So he was like, no, sis, I really like what you're doing. I see you've won ABFF twice. I was like, not to toot my own horn, but actually I've won three times. I won in 2019 as well. Girl, you better toot your horn. And so he was like, you know, Laundrie was about a father and his grief with his child. And he was like, well, I have an autistic daughter. She was nonverbal. And as an African, you know, I didn't accept any of that. And so I want to tell our story. And I saw what you did for this gentleman, but his story, would you want to do it with me? And I was like, listen, let's talk. And so that was how I met Muhammad. It was literally last summer at ABSF in the lobby of my screening. Fast forward to, I want to say October, November, I met Love Nafi, who is the writer of Love Zuri and one of the producers. And I was like, okay, I live in Brooklyn. They're in the DMV. I need... a producer on the ground. I didn't know Nafi yet. I didn't know Mo really either. And I was like, I need somebody I know I can trust because I don't know these people and God bless them. But also we weren't a team yet. And I said, I know somebody. I said, let me ask her. I met Sassy at Boulay the year before because I'm also a co-producer, the consulting producer for the SGO documentary. I am who took the documentary on the film festival circuit. We won a bunch of awards, tellies, et cetera. There is a surprise coming for 2027. I can't tell yet, but it's coming. So I met Sassy at Boulet when somebody said something to my friend that I didn't like. She wasn't my friend yet, but I saw her in the back crying and I was like, who did it? I fight strangers. 00:28:05 Speaker 2: Guess who's table? 00:28:07 Speaker 3: I was sitting at Tarika's table at that moment. 00:28:11 Speaker 2: When Okeema came up to me, I was sitting at your table. 00:28:14 Speaker 1: Yes. 00:28:14 Speaker 5: It was when you were, it was when you were running. I was running for national office. I went over there too. Cause you know, by then we had known each other cause I hosted just continue. 00:28:24 Speaker 2: Right. 00:28:24 Speaker 5: So I walked over, I was going to like sign my stuff and I was like, what's the matter? 00:28:28 Speaker 2: Who did it? 00:28:29 Speaker 5: I fight strangers, sober or not. And we started talking. That's literally how we met. And we connected from that moment. And I was like, I didn't make you, but I can see your heart and you will be my spesh. And because I came into the 90s, I just take the deference to say I can say that no way. And so we stayed in touch. I was watching how she was moving through these SG Road streets. And like, if you don't know, in Sigma Gamma Road world, Sassy is who pretty much literally cultivates and curates these conferences, these activations. This is her world. I was like, oh, she's a producer. She just doesn't know it yet. And I was like, listen, I need a producer on the ground in the DMV. You want to make a movie? She was like, I never made a movie. I said, that doesn't mean you can't. And so do you want to do this? And I literally didn't know if she could or couldn't, but I was like, I see what she does for the organization and I see her heart and I'm here for any underdog. So- She thought I was just bringing her on to help on a film, which I did. But now, if you look at it, Sassy has a full IMDb. And because of her work as her own Sassy Frizzle brand for graphic design and graphic intelligence, I was like, oh, then you can do VFX. And she was like, what? I was like, I need VFX for this next film. And since you're on it and you're my creative director, don't you want to just build the environments for like the AI thing? Because I don't want to use AI. We have an AI character in our film, but I refused to use AI to make her. So I shot an actual actress acting as an AI person and then had Sass build the environment she sits in because I refuse to use AI for it to show that you can use human capital and AI as a tool for that capital, but you don't have to use AI to use the human part of it. So Sass is now a VFX supervisor too. 00:30:21 Speaker 2: Thank you for that. I mean, girl, girl. Wow. 00:30:28 Speaker 1: Okay, T, before we move on to Sassy letting you toot your own horn too, Akima, I have a question for you. Not just for me, but for the people, because I need to know where can I molest them for you? Because I need to go watch. 00:30:45 Speaker 5: I need to know where. They're all on the festival circuit in the moment, but there are places to find them. So if you go to loveseriefilm.com Then you'll see where we are screening because we do have some virtual screenings coming up where people can watch it online as a part of the film festivals we're in. If you go to lovesongfilm.com, you can see that that is our romantic pilot, our dramatic pilot, written and directed by Love Nafi, starring Mo and myself, which was hilarious. 00:31:21 Speaker 3: I was about to say, the leading lady in that film is who? Yes, the leading lady. Because I've seen the trailer and I saw you in the music store or in the studio. 00:31:31 Speaker 2: And I was like, first of all, where'd she get all that ass from? Not my mama. 00:31:36 Speaker 5: My daddy's side, actually. As my ex would call me, I'm double Caribbean. I'm Guyanese and Bajan. It came with the territory. But I get to sing in that one. And so that was what made Love Song release special. Because I haven't, I used to do a lot of, my first musical was Dreamgirls. So like I, I get to sing in that one, which was cool. Um, and then for the shower, they can just follow us, but I'll send you guys trailers for all of the, I mean the screeners for these, but the shower is also on the

circuit. Um, we have a very big festival announcement. Our biggest for that film, um, coming up. I'm super excited about that. Um, it'll be in New York. That's all I can say for now. Um, and then, um, What Kim Saw, which is a vertical psychological thriller. I was very adamant to make sure that our lead for that was a curvy sister giving her best Jill Scott, but Black Kathy Bates performance because it deals with mental health, human trafficking. 00:32:41 Speaker 1: Yes. 00:32:42 Speaker 5: Missing black girls but it's a vertical so it's still juicy and mo is wow mo is the lead in that as well because i went i go by the spike lee model right yeah you know when spike came out he used the same crew and the same actors yeah over and over so i bring in fresh faces but you're gonna see montana monroe jenkins the baby supermodel you're gonna see isabel pierre amazing amazing curvy black girl actress natural and she's in her natural hair every time i have her on screen giving Jill Scott realness. 00:33:15 Speaker 2: I love that. I love that. 00:33:16 Speaker 5: We don't see it. We don't see chocolate. 00:33:18 Speaker 2: We don't. 00:33:19 Speaker 5: And if you see one chocolate person, the other person has to be light skin for some reason. And then they have these ethnically ambiguous babies. Where do kids come from? 00:33:25 Speaker 2: It's true. Right. Hello. Come on out. No. 00:33:29 Speaker 4: And they're not. 00:33:29 Speaker 5: Usually very curvy. 00:33:31 Speaker 4: No. 00:33:32 Speaker 5: Isabel is gorgeous. And in this film, like in the shower, she plays this nutty lady who, um, can't have, she miscarries and she loses it. And I won't give it away, but in her losing it, she feels like it's God's order for her to decide who is worthy of being a mother and. 00:33:52 Speaker 2: Who is not. 00:33:56 Speaker 5: But in What Kim Saw, she plays an agoraphobic woman. So she never goes outside, but then she meets this handsome cop who's trying to help her solve this case. And you get to literally see her go from like, inside playing Jane to, oh, he's coming over. Maybe it's a lip. Maybe it's top. So baby, she done done. And we don't get to watch our own evolution in media as everyday, not a size two women. And Isabelle is a phenomenal actor, a beautiful woman. Mo is a beautiful chocolate man. He's an upcoming actor. Montana Monroe Jenkins, beautiful, talented little baby. All of these actors and actresses, you know, and then I get to act in quite a few of my own projects, too, because if I don't give myself a leading lady job, I feel like even in my own people's world, I do not give leading lady energy to them. So unless I show them that I can do it, I will never be. 00:34:54 Speaker 2: Yes. Yes. 00:34:55 Speaker 3: Girl, first of all, anybody who knows me can tell you that the one thing that I love is a good ass vertical short. 00:35:02 Speaker 2: But listen, I don't play no games. Addicted. It's stupid. It's stupid. I'm sick of giving these people my

money. Listen, because you got to find out. I'm sick. Because I refuse. 00:35:09 Speaker 1: I know. 00:35:10 Speaker 3: I know. 00:35:10 Speaker 2: Because I need it. Because I'm watching. I'm pregnant by the liking king right now. Because what is we doing? Right. That's what I got. 00:35:16 Speaker 5: But our verticals are for us. Because we have another one coming. 00:35:22 Speaker 3: And that's what I love. And when I first saw the trailer for what Kim saw, I was like, bitch. Now y'all know I'm going to be the first one. And I pay for them. So I'm not the cheap one that's trying to go get them off Dailymotion. I'm the one that's actually paying the money. 00:35:38 Speaker 2: It's me. I'm the one keeping people in business. It's me. I'm addicted. 00:35:42 Speaker 5: But I can't wait to see it. But what can stop is special because Juicy Shorts is a Black woman-owned platform, vertical platform that's launching this fall. The founder, Markel Young, has made hundreds of them for the Asian market. But then people kept telling her no Black people. Or for the Black people, they were going to use AI, not people. So she quit working with them, came back to the States, and made her own cohort And instead, because she didn't have the funds to make, you know, 15 different verticals to start her platform, she decided to trade her knowledge, equity, and how to make a vertical with us filmmakers for the exchange of us going out and making them. 00:36:24 Speaker 2: And putting them on her platform. 00:36:27 Speaker 5: And then we have a 50-50 rev share. 00:36:30 Speaker 2: I love us. I just love us. Black people say never. Say never. I love it. I love it. 00:36:35 Speaker 3: I would be a, I would be a black woman in every lifetime. Every single one. 00:36:42 Speaker 5: If I had to come back and something different, make me the dog of a black woman. Cause y'all don't be playing about these animals. 00:36:50 Speaker 2: As Cheryl over there talking to her pets, right? I talk about mama's at work. Did you hear me? 00:36:54 Speaker 5: He right here too, girl. 00:36:56 Speaker 2: He right here. 00:36:56 Speaker 3: I was like, mama got to work. 00:36:58 Speaker 5: I did not hear you, but I know that black women don't play about. So if I have to come back as anything other than a black woman, just make me the pet of the dog. Make me a teacup animal to a black woman. 00:37:11 Speaker 2: Because she is so serious. 00:37:13 Speaker 5: That was hilarious, but you're right. 00:37:15 Speaker 2: She do not play about the dogs over there, okay? Yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:37:19 Speaker 3: No, that's my baby. 00:37:20 Speaker 2: Hi, stinky boy. 00:37:22 Speaker 3: It looks like that about my bird. So just saying. 00:37:25 Speaker 2: Right. And my fish, because I don't play with my fish. 00:37:30 Speaker 3: Now, Sassy, I'm going to act like I don't know you because I know you and love you down, but I'm going to act like I don't. 00:37:37 Speaker 2: And I'm also going to act. 00:37:39

Speaker 3: Like I did not know when you were like, bitch, I'm finna be making this movie. 00:37:45 Speaker 2: And I was so... thrilled for you. 00:37:47 Speaker 3: But as someone who has various different talents, and I'm going to speak as a Leo here, somebody who has a bunch of different things going on, and we sometimes have the ability to multitask and have 50 different things going on in our head and get sidetracked where it's like, I want to do this, but I also want to do this. And then, ooh, I also need to do this. And then, ooh, I also need to do this. And it could be our ADHD, but usually it's because we have so much energy and so much talent and that we aren't sure where to place it. So my question is for you to have so many tricks up your sleeve, so many things in your bag. What was it about this opportunity that came from Okima that you were like, damn, you know what? I ain't never made a film before, but I'm about to do it and I'm about to be the shit at it. And like, what was it about this opportunity and what compelled you to say, I absolutely need to be a part of this? So, For starters, I didn't even know that I wanted to be a filmmaker. I wanted to eat Okima coffee. That's what I asked to do. I was like, do you need somebody to get some coffee for you? 00:38:51 Speaker 2: I got you. I'm your girl. I just want to be in the room. 00:38:54 Speaker 3: I was fascinated by the whole process. And she was like, I'll do you one better. I'll make you a producer. And I was like, okay, girl, whatever. You know what I'm saying? So what Okima doesn't know is I hit Tariqa light. let me tell you what I'm about to be doing. And it was on 9-11-2025. So one year to the day that we're having this conversation is when I was like, I mean, and then after we had our first table read, I was like, oh my God, I love this. 00:39:25 Speaker 2: Like I got the bug. 00:39:26 Speaker 3: And for me being a multi-hyphen which is what Okina has taught me to call myself, filmmaking is a culmination of all of the things that go on in my head anyway. 00:39:37 Speaker 5: Right. 00:39:37 Speaker 3: So like if I visualize something, we can make that happen on set, on screen. 00:39:41 Speaker 2: Right. 00:39:42 Speaker 3: If I think about a story I want to tell, I can write it down and find a group of people to make it come out on set, on screen. So like all these different things, artistry, graphic design, VFX, which I didn't know I could do until it's like, OK, try this. And so filmmaking is literally like this melting pot of all of these voices in my head. So now all these things are now connected to that. And I mean, that's really how I got here. I never knew that I would be good at this. Although the Leo in me tells me that the only thing that I cannot do is quit. There are still some things that I'm good at or some things that I'm more good at than others. And I love it here. 00:40:19 Speaker 2: I like it here a lot. 00:40:23 Speaker 1: I love that. 00:40:23 Speaker

5: She showed up and showed out. 00:40:25 Speaker 2: I love the story. 00:40:26 Speaker 1: You know, I love the, I love the message behind it, right? Like, We talk about this a lot of times on this show, like Akima, you seeing something in Sassy that maybe she didn't even see in herself. 00:40:40 Speaker 3: And so, so many times, like, you know, Tia and I have. 00:40:43 Speaker 1: That conversation where it's like lots of times it's about that other person, like seeing you, hearing you and, you know, giving you an opportunity to, That even maybe you yourself. 00:40:57 Speaker 3: Didn't know you needed or wanted. 00:41:00 Speaker 5: Black people are always talked to about y'all need a mentor. You need a mentor. And that's great. But what we don't get part of my neurodivergent. I'm very nervous all the time when I do these things. But what we don't often get is told that we also need sponsorship and sponsorship doesn't just mean economical sponsorship. Sponsorship is somebody putting your name in the room when you're not there. Sponsorship is somebody preferring your name even to themselves at times because they know that you need the shot or the opportunity. 00:41:32 Speaker 2: Mentorship versus sponsorship. That is so huge. 00:41:37 Speaker 3: And the thing about it is, is when you are willing, there has to be something about you that makes you willing to put your name on the line. 00:41:46 Speaker 2: It takes years to build a reputation. It takes minutes to destroy it. 00:41:50 Speaker 3: And you have had a lot of years in this business to where you really had to see something and trust something in Sassy that she would be willing to put your name. 00:42:00 Speaker 2: And your reputation on the line for her, which. 00:42:04 Speaker 3: Is something that Sassy and I have separately spoken about in various different occasions. Even, you know, when it comes to the sisterhood, you have these wonderful young women and young ladies who want to join and be a part of Sigma Gamma Rho. And they reach out and say, hey, would you write me a recommendation later? And you'd be like, whoa, sis, I don't know. 00:42:20 Speaker 2: You like that. I don't know. I don't know you well enough. So, you know what I mean? And I mean, we have those same conversations in sports. 00:42:30 Speaker 3: Those are people who want to go for coaching positions, who want to go for what we do as analysts. And perfect example, we were before the season. We were talking and I was having conversations with USA and I. 00:42:44 Speaker 2: Said, y'all need a who? Why y'all ain't talked to Cheryl yet? 00:42:47 Speaker 3: And then of course, later on, Cheryl's ended up doing a game with us for Dallas. But the whole point is you have to be willing to build that trust and have that trust. to be able to put your name and your reputation on the line for someone who you truly believe in. And I just think that that's a special connection. And for you, Sassy, to know that she trusts you and saw something and you fast forward a year later, how has that working relationship been? How have you felt more comfortable and more confident in what it is that you are being requested and required to do Okay, so in full transparency, I'm not there yet. 00:43:27 Speaker 2: Right? 00:43:27 Speaker 3: Like, there are days I wake up and I'm on top of the world and I'm doing this and I'm looking at awards and like all these. And then there are days I wake up and I'm like, I am not supposed to be here because imposter syndrome is a bitch. Right? 00:43:39 Speaker 2: It's like, I. 00:43:40 Speaker 5: But the imposters don't never have no syndrome. 00:43:42 Speaker 3: And see, this is what I mean when she be getting me together because I really can't say that in her presence. I can't even think it in a text message because she'll gather me. Which, Tarika, you've known me Through all of the things that I've had to overcome. And so the mere fact that I'm able to walk into a room full of people who, for me, have either perfected or on their way to perfecting their craft. 00:44:07 Speaker 2: And they're like, come on, girl, you're a part of us. And I'm like, oh, really? Word? Talk about me. You know what I'm saying? 00:44:14 Speaker 3: And so it's like having Okima is like having your own personal Dalai Lama experience. whatever the thing is that you can tap into, because even when you don't want to be encouraged, you have no choice. Even when you don't want to be the best of the best, you cannot be mediocre around. It's just not something you can do. And it's not even because, you know, she hammers anything into you. It's just who she is. And for me, and I've said this to her before, I don't ever want to do, say, be anything that makes people look at Okina T in a different way. If they look at her any differently, it's because they're like, damn, she chose a good one and she represents her well. That's so important to me. I've even said that about Tariqa. Like, Tariqa is my girl. But I can't be online popping off and doing all kinds of craziness knowing that she's elevating herself and she associates herself with me. 00:45:05 Speaker 2: I'm always really careful about that. I mean... No, it's too late. 00:45:09 Speaker 3: Because Tariqa be doing all the popping off her damn self. 00:45:13 Speaker 2: That was in the beginning. 00:45:14 Speaker 1: I need y'all. 00:45:15 Speaker 6: I need y'all. 00:45:15 Speaker 2: In the beginning. 00:45:16 Speaker 3: You, Sassy, Cheryl, y'all be gathering me. Because Cheryl will text me and be like, sis, don't even say it. It's not even, don't even do it. 00:45:24 Speaker 2: I know. I'll be like, don't do it. Because I already know you about. 00:45:28 Speaker 1: To hit post. 00:45:28 Speaker 2: You about to hit. 00:45:29 Speaker 3: Sassy will be like, girl, just text me. 00:45:32 Speaker 2: Don't do it. Don't press in. Because it's not worth it. 00:45:35 Speaker 5: And see, for all that Dolly Lama talk, I'll be under Tarika

Post like, girl, right? 00:45:41 Speaker 2: Right? Right. 00:45:48 Speaker 1: I mean, cause there are some times though, where when she posts something, I got to respond to cause I'm like facts, word, say it. 00:45:56 Speaker 3: Louder again for the people in the back. 00:45:59 Speaker 2: Be careful. 00:46:00 Speaker 1: Cause sometimes I do, but, but you're so, but you're so right that it, you have to have that person in your corner. 00:46:08 Speaker 3: To amp you up, but you also got to be, have that person in your corner to be like, sis, you work way too hard to get where you are. 00:46:15 Speaker 5: But she does it for me too. Like I've dealt with, I've cried to sassy many a day. You know what I mean? Like for all of the, I have a togetherness that people think they see. I tell people all the time, like, it's like that meme says, my ducks are not in a row. One of them might be a pigeon. Like it's, it is what it is, right? Like, But I have, I've worked too hard. Like I left my six figure job on wall street at 36 to chase this dream for $ 10 an hour. 00:46:50 Speaker 3: Wow. 00:46:50 Speaker 5: At that time, that was 12 years ago. So like at this point, not achieving what I want to achieve is not an option. And after the strike, I went from making clearing two and change a year to maybe 50 grand a year after. I've still not recovered. In full transparency, I'm about to do like the white people and file bankruptcy so that when I make new money, I ain't got to spend old money on old debt. 00:47:17 Speaker 2: Money on new debt, right. Well, come on. Come on. 00:47:21 Speaker 5: Teach us. 00:47:22 Speaker 2: Teach us. 00:47:23 Speaker 5: So I tell people, but I'm also very transparent about my journey, the good and the bad and the ugly because people don't tell black women the truth in this business and in this space. Everybody, they like, y'all work in sports. You can't take somebody's highlight reel and compare that to your worst game day. Like it doesn't, it's not fair. It's not fair. 00:47:45 Speaker 2: Girl, we ain't even going to talk about the. 00:47:50 Speaker 3: Inequities that black women deal with. 00:47:54 Speaker 5: With that being the case, I'm compelled and I know that it is part of my ministry in this business to be both transparent and have grace and space for the people that I am a champion for, for them to have days that aren't great or that don't represent them the best in the moment, to be kind in adjusting, to be soft, a soft place for them to land when this shit gets hard. Because outside of us, everybody's answer is no and you're not enough. It can't be me. 00:48:27 Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah. 100%. 00:48:47 Speaker 3: If I can shift gears just a little bit, and Cheryl, I don't want to shift before I give you an opportunity to get in here if you have something, but I want to shift a little bit because I think we may also have some audience members who may not know exactly what What a director does versus what a producer does. 00:49:04 Speaker 2: Right. 00:49:05 Speaker 3: So, Okima, please, you know, start. What is your day to day on set look like for you? And then Sassy, what does that look like for you? 00:49:13 Speaker 5: So it really can vary. As a director, my work starts in prep. But part of that prep is combining. the four, you know, like I'm old school, right? So it's the Voltron of it all. What are the pieces that come together to make this big machine that makes this thing happen? So hiring the Sassy's and the Moe's and the And understanding that though I'm the director, I am no dictator. This is a collaborative sport. Never is it only about me and my voice. Now, there is a hierarchy on set of information flow to just keep everything going. Like, I don't allow my actors to direct each other. That's not your job. I need you to come and know your character, do your job. I got you on notes. But listen, in the Bible, they was listening to burning bushes and talking goats. A good idea could come from anybody. So if the PA sees something that we could be doing better, as long as they use the pipeline properly of how to get that to me, I'll listen to it if it makes sense. So for me as a director, my prep is how it starts. And when I get to set, I am who everyone is looking to. But I am not the person they bring everything to. I only deal with my assistant director and my cinematographer and my lighting folks, my genie, Gripping Electric. As the producer, now there are various types of producers, but we do independent films. So you're going to be the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker. 00:50:36 Speaker 2: Right, right, right. 00:50:37 Speaker 5: So as the producer, any problems, questions, inquiries that don't have to deal with the creative, meaning the actors, their performance, and the visual will go to a sassy on down. So sassy will be there to everything from directing traffic away from me so that I can focus. So sometimes there'll be a lead producer on something and then there'll be co-producers. Sometimes there'll just be a group of producers that all share the credit of producer. It can vary. But for the most part, they are literally the we are the even as the director, we are still the widgets that are in the machine and they ensure that it turns. 00:51:20 Speaker 2: Got you. Got you. So Sassy, what does that look like for you or have it looks like for you? It can get quite chaotic. And you've seen me at conference. 00:51:29 Speaker 3: So think about me at conference tasks like 30 for three or four days straight. 00:51:34 Speaker 2: Like it just never ends. 00:51:36 Speaker 3: Right. 00:51:36 Speaker 2: And that's a chore. So we're only filming. 00:51:38 Speaker 3: For three, four days and for literally 16 hours a day. 00:51:42 Speaker 2: Going, going, going, going, going. We have to be able to pivot immediately, right? 00:51:46 Speaker 3: It may be one ear I hear Okima and I don't play about her just obviously, right? So in one ear I hear Okima

may be in some kind of distress. Maybe she's thirsty. 00:51:54 Speaker 2: I don't know what it is. 00:51:56 Speaker 3: But then I have somebody over here that is missing an earring and their scene isn't next, right? So you have to be able to handle all of these things at once. And it doesn't start on day one of being on set, right? So the same way the director is working months in advance, production is already produced on the exact same. So, but yeah, it's chaotic, but I loved it, right? Because my mind is going 15 different locations at once. 00:52:21 Speaker 2: And I actually had somewhere to put all of that energy. So it works for me. 00:52:26 Speaker 5: Film is the perfect place for neurodivergent people. I say it all the time. Film is whatever neuro-spicy you are. there is a space for you in film. Like for me, I am ADHD. I have friends that are all ADHD, right? And they are wonderful filmmakers. I have friends that are, whatever their proclivities of neurodivergence is, because literally there's always apps running in the back, right? Like on your phone. And what's important is the crew that you choose because you, When I see that she is overwhelmed or overstimulated, I'll see it and be like, why don't you go do whatever offset activity needs to happen and let X, Y, Z pick up. 00:53:14 Speaker 2: And she's really good about that. Really, really good about that. 00:53:18 Speaker 5: Have you had water? Did you? Oh, you have a headache. Did you take something? oh, we have lunch today, but I know you don't eat X, Y, Z. So we ordered you this. That's not my business, but it's my business because fish stinks from the head, right? And so if I'm not, when I'm able to keeping an eye on all the things and just checking on the people that are propping me up, then what are we going to do if we all crash? 00:53:44 Speaker 6: Right, right, right. 00:53:46 Speaker 5: So your team, you got to curate your team like you do your timeline. You know how you take that selfie 10 times for it's the one you post? That's exactly what you're doing with your team. Who are the people that will be there? And sometimes somebody looks like they're a team player in the beginning and then you get in the mix and you realize that they have found, there's no I in team, but they have found the M and the E so fast. 00:54:09 Speaker 2: So yeah. 00:54:11 Speaker 5: And so you have to then mitigate that too. But also as black people in a game that was never designed for us, have grace and space for the people that are trying to find their voice in a in a world that tells them they have none. Some people can do that smoother than others. So it's also discernment. I run a lot of my life through divinity. What is the discerning spirit telling me? Is this person trying to be malicious? Are they just hurt and broken from something that happened to them? And their behavior is a reflection of that rupture, of that not knowing or being aware of things. Am I triggered? So I'm taking something in a way that it wasn't meant. 00:54:53 Speaker 3: Right. 00:54:54 Speaker 5: All of that is necessary because truly when you are telling someone, because a lot of times, you know, it's fiction, but it's based on somebody's story. 00:55:03 Speaker 2: Yeah, man. All fiction comes from some truth. I strongly believe that wholeheartedly. 00:55:07 Speaker 5: And so if you're telling someone's truth on this medium, you have to be very, very cognizant. to be mindful that your fiction is someone's truth. And are you doing it with the right heart, with the right spirit? Because all that reflects, if there's no unity and love and spiritual sanctimony off camera, it's not really going to be much on screen. And so you got to be dedicated to the fact that you're telling a story with an intention. And why are you here? Are you here to be famous? It's indie film. Ain't no money here. So you're not here for the money. 00:55:43 Speaker 2: You ain't here to get paid. 00:55:45 Speaker 5: These short films are my calling card to get the features that pay me more. I ultimately want to direct episodic television. That's where the bread is. But trying to get in there is hard for us. I didn't go to film school. My degrees are investment bank. I was an investment banker. I worked on Wall Street. So I self-taught every workshop, every shadow, every. You know what I mean? Like Sassy. Sassy is now being self-taught and being taught by shadowing and learning from other people. We didn't go to film school. 00:56:18 Speaker 1: That's so interesting, Akima, to go from being an investment banker on Wall Street to filmmaking. 00:56:27 Speaker 5: What what was it? 00:56:29 Speaker 1: About filmmaking? 00:56:31 Speaker 5: I know you said you left your job, your story you. 00:56:33 Speaker 1: Told, but what was it about filmmaking that made you say, all right, enough of me. 00:56:38 Speaker 2: Making these six figures. 00:56:40 Speaker 1: I'm ready to go do something different. 00:56:43 Speaker 5: Well, I started on Sesame Street at six. It was at 84. I was a grouch couture for about a year and change. 00:56:52 Speaker 2: That's interesting. 00:56:54 Speaker 5: And so I went from that to music. So I was in a group for... five years or so, we toured with everyone. We were with the Black Expo. So we opened from everybody from, like, my first vocal coach was Malaira. We toured with SWV, Intro, Joe's first album. Like, we toured with every 90s group from 90 to 95s. We were on tour. Like, we were at Jack the Rapper 93 performing with Pac and Big at the same time. 00:57:24 Speaker 2: Like, that era. 00:57:26 Speaker 5: So I come from so many different facets. But when I went into investment banking, it's not because I wanted to do it. I'm Caribbean. And my mother was like, Okima, what are you interested in is a hobby and real jobs. So it is going to get a real job. 00:57:39 Speaker 2: Yeah. 00:57:40 Speaker 5: So I did it because I was made to do it. This is what I was expected

to do. And I knew I didn't want to go to law school and I thought I wanted to be a doctor. And then I was like, I don't like blood. So that wasn't going to work. 00:57:50 Speaker 2: That ain't gonna work out. 00:57:50 Speaker 5: And so I went into finance. But what I did was I got my licenses, but I never was a practicing banker because I knew that I wouldn't be able to have nights and weekends to chase these dreams. So literally, I remember it was probably about 2007. Erica from Mary Mary had done a, she had written the music for a play, a stage play in LA. She couldn't make New York. I booked her role in New York. but I'm still working at the hedge fund, right? So I'm literally getting in the office at 5.30 a.m. to talk to Turkey and London, do all my stuff. I'm out the office by 5.30. I am in hair and makeup by six and on stage by eight. I did that for four months. Mind you, I was not paid for this thing. There was no pay. I was the lead. There were 12 songs. None of them I did solo or had a solo in. It was bananas. There were nights we played to one night. 00:58:50 Speaker 2: It was a blizzard. 00:58:51 Speaker 5: We played to one person. But we still had to run the full show because there was somebody that paid to be in the audience. 00:58:58 Speaker 2: They paid to be there. 00:59:00 Speaker 3: Wow. 00:59:01 Speaker 5: So when you scrapping like that, by the time 2015 came around, I was because there was also no DEI. I was only black. 00:59:09 Speaker 2: I was the only. 00:59:10 Speaker 6: Woman. 00:59:10 Speaker 5: I wasn't out yet. So but unbeknownst to them and kind of to me, I was the only queer person. So I was crying real tears every morning getting ready for work. I'm having panic attacks in the bathroom. I don't want to be here. I don't want to do this. These people don't respect me. They don't see me as a human. I'm functional at best. I am resource and utility. I am not a person. They don't respect my intellect. They don't respect what I bring. 00:59:39 Speaker 2: Why am I here? 00:59:40 Speaker 5: Yes, the money's good, but all good money ain't good money. And so I was like, I've been here long enough. My 401k is vested. I'm going to take these people money and roll out and I'm going to live off this. And we're going to do tuna and cereal for a while and figure it out. 00:59:54 Speaker 2: I know that's right. I know that's right. 00:59:56 Speaker 5: So there was, you know, there was no, it went from no boo to no boo. Like it was like, yeah. 01:00:03 Speaker 2: Yes. Yes. 01:00:04 Speaker 6: Yes. 01:00:05 Speaker 3: No, I, girl, when I tell you, if nobody else understands that shit, I understand that shit. When I walked out them doors at ESPN for the last time, I was like, Ooh, this is going to be interesting. 01:00:18 Speaker 2: But, but we go, but we going to do it though. And we going to see what happens. We're going to do it and see what happens. 01:00:24 Speaker 3: And for you, Sassy, as being somebody who I know comes from an

entertainment background, who has had that experience in this industry, What is it about? I don't want to say bringing you back because I guess this world as a producer and being in the filmmaking industry is a little different than what you were doing previously and like PR and marketing and that kind of thing. 01:00:49 Speaker 2: But maybe not. Right. 01:00:51 Speaker 3: Because I'm going to tell you when I was I want to say growing up, but like. I used to work, so funny story, I used to work at the movies for like six years, right? 01:00:59 Speaker 2: I was a projectionist, right? So it was my job to set up the. 01:01:03 Speaker 1: I did, I did. 01:01:03 Speaker 2: I started off as an usher and then concession. 01:01:06 Speaker 3: And then I got really good and started to be the person that was literally feeding the film. Because this is when you have to actually feed the films, like through the projection, which is why you became a projectionist. Now everything's digital, so you don't do that shit no more. But we used to have to act. 01:01:21 Speaker 2: Anyway, anyway. 01:01:23 Speaker 3: And questioning like we would do like film screenings and, you know, the producer would be at those screenings. And it was always an assumption that as a producer, your job is to market the film. The director is directing the film. The producer is the one that makes sure everybody's putting butts in the seats and will come and see the film. All of the other things that a producer does was not something that was known to at least not something that was known to like to us or to to someone like me who had an interest. 01:01:54 Speaker 2: But that's what it was. 01:01:56 Speaker 3: And so I say all that to bring it full circle as to say, like, given that you were once in the entertainment industry. has since started your own business, several of them, and now you're back. What was it, do you think, that spiritually, outside of Okima asking you in the relationship that you had with her, because she could ask you all you want. You could have said no, right? 01:02:17 Speaker 2: But you didn't. 01:02:18 Speaker 3: So what was it that led you back to this industry in this capacity? So, not to get deep, right? But for a period of my life, I. 01:02:27 Speaker 2: Was- You can get deep. Okay. 01:02:28 Speaker 5: Okay. 01:02:29 Speaker 3: So for a period of my life, I was trying to fit in this cranny little box. Like I knew that I had to be ABCXYZ to be accepted by society and accepted by society. 01:02:41 Speaker 2: All over again. 01:02:42 Speaker 3: And it got to a point where I felt fake and phony everywhere I showed up. And I was like, I don't like it here. I don't love it here at all. And then COVID happened and it gave me just the biggest runway to go and be exactly who I am and do exactly what it is that I want to do. And I feel like in spirit, I never really left entertainment, right? I just didn't know. I didn't know that I could be exactly who the fuck I am and it'd be okay. 01:03:13 Speaker 2: And so filmmaking was never something that I would go after, right? 01:03:17 Speaker 3: Because I had to be this polished, you know, person in this box. And like I said, with all the things that go on in my mind, being on set or being a part of filmmaking, period, just gives me an outlet that I never really thought that I needed. But I knew that I had a book for it because I worked in the entertainment industry, specifically touring. Right. 01:03:38 Speaker 2: So it was showmaking. 01:03:39 Speaker 3: I just didn't realize I could take that same skill set and find the same level of enjoyment. And shout out to COVID, although it wasn't the best thing to ever happen to most people, it was one of the best things to happen to me. 01:03:54 Speaker 2: I feel that. 01:03:55 Speaker 5: Maybe I made the most money in entertainment I've ever made in my life between 2021 and 2023. Wow. 01:04:01 Speaker 3: Listen, I wouldn't be sitting here right now if it wasn't for that white guilt that came along in 2020. Because, honey, my people was mad. They was mad. And they said, you know what, Tarika, we've been playing in your face. Let me, I feel bad. DEI, yes, let's do it. Now, you know, now they hate us, but it's cool. I took advantage at the right time. 01:04:23 Speaker 5: We still benefit in some ways. And like I tell people all the time, they are not a sponsor of this podcast yet, but shout out to Yeti because I use that to collect the white tears that I sip on and keep them covered. 01:04:36 Speaker 2: I know that's right. I know that's right. I know that's right. You heard her say yet. 01:04:44 Speaker 1: So Akima, I have a question for you that it has nothing to do with, well, I guess maybe in a way it does. have something to do with this conversation because you've mentioned it a couple of times. 01:04:56 Speaker 3: So you talked about. 01:05:00 Speaker 2: Being the. 01:05:03 Speaker 3: Only Black woman, the. 01:05:07 Speaker 1: Only queer woman that you thought. My question is, was there ever a moment in your transition from Wall Street to filmmaking that you were like, I can't come out because of what people might think they might say, especially in this industry. I don't know, because I think there are people out there who are struggling with that as whether that's a teenager, a young adult, even an older adult. That's like, I can't live my true life. I can't live my truth because of repercussions or what people may think. So like, What got you through that where you were like, fuck it, I'm going to be me and live my life? 01:05:56 Speaker 2: I want to say because you are who you are. 01:05:57 Speaker 1: Just having this conversation, but it couldn't have been. 01:06:01 Speaker 2: Easy, right? It wasn't. 01:06:04 Speaker 5: Let me tell you. So first of all, I never came out because I was like, I'm almost 50. Really? 01:06:09 Speaker 3: Yeah. 01:06:11 Speaker 5: So I never really came out. I think I've always been

attracted to women. I was indoctrinated into the white Jesus of it all. So I was like, God won't love me. I'm going to go to hell. I had all these thoughts because of the indoctrination religious wise that I was a part of. I also am, you know, I, I'm not a, I guess in some ways I'm a public figure in of sorts. And so I never really cared about what the world would think. It was the church and my mama, right? And so those were my biggest fears. But I also recognized as I... I guess the last straw was in 2023, I was engaged to a man. I was supposed to get married. Maybe two months before I do, I said I don't because I knew I didn't. 01:07:02 Speaker 2: I like that. I like that. 01:07:04 Speaker 5: I was like, yes. This ain't gonna work. This ain't gonna work. 01:07:08 Speaker 2: I love that. I said I don't because I knew I didn't. 01:07:12 Speaker 5: Forever would have been way too long. And so I was like, no. But when I got with that man, I was very clear about the fact that I was queer, but never did that mean threesomes for everybody. And oh, it was just, it was, if I'm with a human, I was. 01:07:29 Speaker 2: You were clear with him. 01:07:30 Speaker 5: Because his twin sister had a whole life. So I knew he would get it. 01:07:34 Speaker 2: Right. 01:07:35 Speaker 5: And so but what I had to learn was there was a reason why from the time I started having intimate relations with men to that point. it was cool, but it was never like mind blowing. It was never like, it was, it felt more obligation. It felt more like I was more into the connection of me and the human than the intimacy part. And then I just got to a place where I was like, no, you're not weird. She's fine. No, it's not a phase. You want to put that lady through the mattress. And so I was like, okay. 01:08:12 Speaker 2: Yeah. 01:08:14 Speaker 5: Okay, so, like, I'm, okay, I'm biased. 01:08:18 Speaker 1: Yeah. 01:08:18 Speaker 5: Then I got a girlfriend and was like, no, ma'am, you're gay. It's fine. 01:08:21 Speaker 2: You're gay. 01:08:22 Speaker 3: It's okay. 01:08:22 Speaker 2: You're not, you're not bi. 01:08:25 Speaker 5: You're not queer. I mean, I say queer because it's just, I feel like it just more encompasses things, but like, it's like, no, you're gay. It's fine. And the thing is, my girlfriend used to be like, you're so gay. How did you last in this hetero world so long? You're so gay. 01:08:38 Speaker 2: Like, I know. Yeah. 01:08:41 Speaker 5: But it was, it was, but what, to answer your question directly is, In 2024, I applied for my first queer creative program. And I was like, well, I've been I had been breadcrumbing to my friends like, yes, I like women. and you know, I've been flirting with people, but I hadn't had, I didn't get my first like actual girlfriend till last year. 01:09:06 Speaker 2: Wow. Really? 01:09:11 Speaker 5: We broke up. Wish that lady the best. 01:09:13 Speaker 2: I don't, but whatever. 01:09:18 Speaker 5: But no but what I will say is she that

relationship taught me that I can proudly love a woman fully out loud and it's okay yes um but when I pressed send on that application I was like now you know if you get in the press release gonna release yeah And so that was kind of my thing. And I didn't get into that program, but I wound up being, I was one of the producers. I developed the docu-series Down in the Valley with Nico Anand for S.T.A.R.S. And when we were making Down in the Valley, there was so much queerness about our docu-series because there's so much queerness in the show that I really was in the room watching the freedom of these individuals, how free, How they didn't give a damn. And I was like, you know what? People don't hate gay people. 01:10:13 Speaker 2: They hate our freedom. 01:10:15 Speaker 5: They hate the fact that we said society, screw you. I'm going to love who I want to love, adopt whatever identity my spirit tells me it owns. And I don't care if you like it, don't like it, want to fight it, don't want me on your sports team, don't want me on your court, don't want me in your film or whatever. It is the freedom and the un- abridged and unedited fuck you that we possess to live a life that is societally abominable that makes people mad but being in that space i was like i want that i'm tired of editing my wants desires and truth for society's idea of who i'm supposed to be especially because i'm Very feminine. So nobody would, I literally was at a queer auntie's party last week and this girl was like, you are so pretty. Are you straight? I promise I'm always told I look straight, right? And so because I look like straight, Gay girls don't talk to you. Literally, my friend was like, you need a tattoo or a chain or something so people know that you with us because you just present so straight. 01:11:20 Speaker 2: Put your forehead, sis. Put something on your forehead. Just stamp it right there. Stamp a rainbow right there. 01:11:26 Speaker 5: I'm an ambivert. I'm not used to having to be the aggressor, but in gay spaces, I have to be the person to approach a person I'm attracted to because they don't know if I'm straight or not. But that also, that passability also means I have to be a mouthpiece for my sisters and brothers, whether gay, straight, trans, non-binary, that can't pass visibly. So I'm going to say out loud, I'm queer. I'm going to say out loud, if I never have to say it. 01:11:56 Speaker 2: Oh, Lord. 01:11:59 Speaker 5: If I never have to again, it won't be too soon. God bless everybody that enjoys that. 01:12:05 Speaker 1: I'm good. 01:12:06 Speaker 3: Listen, I was about to say, Okima, speak for yourself because I'm about to go jump on one soon. 01:12:10 Speaker 5: And I love that for you. And I love that for you. But how they say in the gangsta songs, get the strap. 01:12:18 Speaker 2: Oh, okay. You're kidding me. 01:12:19 Speaker 3: So mind you, I've never heard this side of her, so I don't even know what to do with myself. 01:12:25 Speaker 5: Entertainment is a space where I really can be my full unadulterated self. And I can laugh and joke like this, but I honestly have never in my life been more comfortable in my skin than I am today. I've never felt more beautiful. I've never felt more desirable. I've never felt more seen. And being a part of GLAAD's Black Queer Creative Cohort last year was when I put it on my screen and on my grid on Instagram, I guess some people thought I was just an ally. It's like, well, do you think GLAAD gonna fly me out and put me up for allyship? I think not. I'm gay, y'all. It's fine. It's okay. And even with my own mother, I never came out. I literally just started inviting her and my girlfriend to the same events. And I never had any friends that my girlfriend was mass presenting. I never had friends that looked like her. So my mama ain't stupid. My mother worked for the FBI. My mama worked for the FBI. My father worked for the Secret Service. Neither of them are dumb. So when they saw this masked woman who would come with me in the evening to pick up the car and be with me in the morning to bring it back, like, duh. Whoa. But I am, and I get, you know, I get hate about it. I have friends who are very, you know, Jesus-like. don't hate, you know, and God bless you. 01:13:51 Speaker 2: Of course. And God bless those. 01:13:52 Speaker 5: People that don't know that homosexual wasn't even in the Bible before 1946, because the intention was actually pedophilia, not same gender love, but pedophilia was so rampant in the church that they made it homosexual so that they could deflect from the pedophilia of her. 01:14:06 Speaker 2: Girl, you better teach him about the Bible though. You better teach him about the Bible. 01:14:10 Speaker 5: If you want to say that I'm going to hell, that's between my God and me because who you screw don't make me happy. 01:14:15 Speaker 2: Right. Yeah. 01:14:16 Speaker 5: So, But it's also the unequivocal way that people immediately associate sexual preference with sex. Why are y'all so concerned with the sex we have? Just because I like women does not mean my entire existence when it comes to women is what I'm doing with them. The sex we have is not even... And please know that I have gay friends who've been married to their wives and husbands for 20 plus years. They too aren't 50 every day. 01:14:43 Speaker 2: Just like heterosexuals. Just like heterosexuals. 01:14:48 Speaker 3: And can I also add, and can I also add, that's a hundred percent. Can I also add that as a heterosexual woman, I am not attracted to every man that I see. I don't want to borrow every man. So please understand that every gay person who comes around you is not. 01:15:05 Speaker 5: Trying to fuck with you. 01:15:07 Speaker 2: I promise. 01:15:08 Speaker 5: And not just because you straight. 01:15:10 Speaker 2: I promise. I promise. 01:15:12 Speaker 5: And I just said you straight. I promise you straight. 01:15:15 Speaker 2: It's your safe. Believe me, you

are safe. 01:15:19 Speaker 5: You're safe. Chocolate master center woman any day who also knows she's a woman. Baby, listen. 01:15:26 Speaker 2: Yes. I... I love y'all down. Do you hear me? I know. Okay. 01:15:36 Speaker 3: So I know Cheryl was going to ask this question. 01:15:40 Speaker 2: I'm definitely going to ask this question. 01:15:42 Speaker 3: I look in the back, Okima, and I see a bunch of awards and that's amazing. I look at Sassy and I know that she's being recognized. as DC's top 100. Come on now, got the tellies. We not playing out here, okay? And I know that you're also being recognized as one of the 100 Black women of excellence in the DC, which is amazing. 01:16:02 Speaker 2: Yes, come on. Come through. 01:16:04 Speaker 3: For those who will look at your films, who will look at your IMBDs, who will look at what you're doing and say, I know that our roads and our paths might be different, but I want to end up in this lane. 01:16:16 Speaker 2: I want to end up in this place. What piece of advice, if. 01:16:20 Speaker 3: You can share briefly, would you give to that young girl or even that young boy? Because I love when black little boys look up to what black women are doing. 01:16:29 Speaker 2: It's amazing to me. It helps to me. It helps. 01:16:32 Speaker 3: Them to understand and love and learn to appreciate what Black women do and contribute to society. So it's not just what little girls, but what just people look up to you both and see. What advice would you give to them? Sassy, we'll start with you. Akima will end. So for the people, the little Black girls, the little Black boys, the big Black girls, the big Black boys, understand that the belief that you can is more than pass the battle, right? 01:17:04 Speaker 2: 99% of it will be. 01:17:05 Speaker 3: Because if you want an opportunity, you have to look like you're able to handle that opportunity. And believe in that you deserve it, which is something that I am working on actively every single day. And believe in that you're capable by the magnets that bring people to you to want to give you opportunities. Shout out to Oki Mateen. When I be here, it's for her. It's not for her. And she has given me the ability and authority to believe in me so that I can walk into those rooms. 01:17:34 Speaker 2: And they'd be like, oh, yeah, let me give her an opportunity to write. So full circle. 01:17:38 Speaker 5: OK, I have two pieces of advice. One is for everyone, right? There are so many no's out there waiting for you. Don't let you be the first one of them. You should never be your first no. Because there's so many waiting for you. Why start the game? 01:17:57 Speaker 2: Why start it? 01:17:58 Speaker 5: The second is for my folks over 40. At 36, I traded in having an assistant to being an assistant, right? Death to your ego is the birth of your destiny, period. But bigger than that, doesn't matter if you are late to the party as long as you come to motherfucking dance. Nobody can

tell you that you don't belong somewhere. Nobody can tell you that you can't do it. Nobody can tell you that you can't learn the thing. I don't care how old you are. If you want to do something, this is the age of information. Too much most times. So there is no way, reason, or purpose for you to not achieve or at least try the thing you think you want to do. The crazier it sounds, the more you're supposed to do it. The more it scares you, the more you need to chase it. The more you cannot, like, it's not about not doing the things you can do. It's about doing the thing you can't stop thinking about doing. There is something on your list that you've been thinking about and percolating on forever. That is the thing that literally is calling to you. And while I do talk about people and they look like Jesus, I believe in God wholeheartedly. I take some African spiritualism on the side of my Jesus, but I do believe it when the Bible says your purpose will make room for you. 01:19:25 Speaker 2: Absolutely. 01:19:26 Speaker 5: That thing you can't stop thinking about. 01:19:27 Speaker 2: Yes, it will. 01:19:28 Speaker 5: That thing you can't stop thinking about. That is your purpose calling you. When you decide to answer the phone, I promise it will make room for you in one. 01:19:38 Speaker 2: Way, shape, or another. I love that. 01:19:41 Speaker 5: Don't be your no, and don't believe it is ever too late. Until you die, no breath means you can't do it. If you have breath in your body, it is achievable in some way, shape, or form, but be flexible. Because oftentimes the way you dreamt it ain't the way it's going to come. 01:20:05 Speaker 2: Ain't the way it's going to happen. I know that's right. 01:20:08 Speaker 3: And can I add this to what Akima said? Because there's one thing that I feel like the whole world needs to hear that she told me. 01:20:16 Speaker 2: It's two o'clock in the morning in Miami. We have sleep. I'm rolled over. 01:20:21 Speaker 3: And she said, anybody that's sleeping on you, it is not your responsibility to wake them up. When I say I sat up in the bed, got out my pen and my pad, and I was like, okay. And I repeat that to myself all of the time. Because people will sleep on you, including cells, right? But I hear Okema in the back of my mind saying, it's not your responsibility to wake them up. Just do you and be you for you. And so I just wanted to add that. 01:20:45 Speaker 5: Yeah, because once you count me out, all that tells me is you can't count. 01:20:48 Speaker 2: Okay. Period. I know that's right. 01:20:50 Speaker 3: Well, listen, first and foremost, thank you both so, so much for making the time to spend with us. Secondly, I'm not going to tell myself no. I am 100% one of those bet on yourself individuals. 01:21:05 Speaker 2: It ain't nothing you can tell the goat up here. 01:21:07 Speaker 5: Listen, Cheryl, can I just quickly give you your flowers? As a girly who grew up not into sports necessarily, but into history,

I have always been fascinated with women who make history, with women who break ceilings and don't give a damn about how much the glass from the ceiling they broke will cut their foot. They will still break that ceiling and walk over glass for the next chick behind them. Please let me give you your flowers for all that you have done for sports. 01:21:36 Speaker 2: Don't do it. 01:21:38 Speaker 5: Don't do it to me. 01:21:38 Speaker 2: For women, for business. 01:21:45 Speaker 5: For what you all lent to create what we now know as the WNBA, when people swore wasn't nobody going to watch. When the boys made fun of the league, now them niggas be in the front row talking about who got the best who. 01:22:01 Speaker 2: Yeah. 01:22:02 Speaker 3: Right? Yeah. 01:22:03 Speaker 5: For the little girls who wanted to play but were afraid of the stigma that came with being a female basketball player. Because now, whether you like Brad or Brenda, everybody want to be y'all. 01:22:15 Speaker 3: Right. 01:22:16 Speaker 5: And it doesn't keep you out of anything. So for you, I just want to say as a woman, when they told me that you were inducted, when I saw that you were a part of our new class, one, I knew it was because of the relationship you have with Terri, but I also understood that we may mistake and mistake a lot in the administration of the SG, but you were no one's mistake. You are an intentional part of what our honorary classes are supposed to be, which is a woman making history and space. You can make history, but you also made space. That is the difference. And Miss Ma'am. Tell her. 01:22:59 Speaker 2: Tell her. 01:23:00 Speaker 5: But you too. When I met you, I didn't know who you were. 01:23:03 Speaker 1: Yes, ma'am. 01:23:04 Speaker 5: I just knew you were the basilisk of that chapter in Connecticut that somehow found me and asked me to come. 01:23:10 Speaker 2: And host Centennial. 01:23:12 Speaker 5: Didn't have a clue how y'all found me. Didn't have a clue on what was what. But my sword was called and I answered. And that night, we got cool. And from there, I watched your career. And literally, the upward trajectory that happened from then to now is insane. 01:23:31 Speaker 2: Crazy. 01:23:31 Speaker 5: And I want you to know that we see you. We are you. We support you. 01:23:37 Speaker 3: Aww. 01:23:38 Speaker 5: What you ladies are doing is amazing. And it helps us do what we do. 01:23:45 Speaker 2: Thank you. We appreciate you. I appreciate you. 01:23:49 Speaker 3: Definitely appreciate you guys being here and the kind words. Cheryl gonna cry. You see she can cry a few times already. But she needs to hear it. 01:24:01 Speaker 1: First of all, I've enjoyed everything about this conversation. And I know we gotta go because we could sit here and talk forever. I just, I love watching women just be great in everything that they do. And the both of you, Sassy, Akima, y'all both are amazing. 01:24:23 Speaker 2: Like incredible. 01:24:24 Speaker 1: I cannot wait to watch the films. I'm going to put them everywhere. Tell everybody about it. 01:24:31 Speaker 2: Akima, your story just, my God, it's so powerful. 01:24:37 Speaker 1: It's And I know there's someone out there that, that, that needed to hear this conversation today. And I just, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you for sharing. I thank you for being open. I thank you for being vulnerable and, and I thank you for giving me my flowers. So it's, it's, truly been an incredible. 01:24:58 Speaker 3: Conversation for sure for sure I echo I echo Cheryl's sentiment thank you both um we first of all please share with our audience your social media information where they can follow you yeah and they can also keep up with um with the films and the upcoming projects that you. 01:25:15 Speaker 5: Both have everything for me is my name at okima t moore On all socials, threads, which is the new black Twitter. I love that. 01:25:23 Speaker 3: Yeah. 01:25:23 Speaker 2: Love threads. Okay. 01:25:25 Speaker 5: Threads, Instagram. I don't really be on that bird. Or the former bird. And Facebook is the same thing. Akima.t.more. If you follow me, then you'll see all of our film information there. so that you can follow the films. But we have a lot coming up as far as festivals. And a lot of the festivals now do visual, I mean, do virtual runs. So if you can't make it to that city, you can still see the project. 01:25:53 Speaker 2: Nice. Okay, Sassy, where you at? 01:25:55 Speaker 3: Producer Sass, I have to plug, at lovesoryfilm and at lovesongfilm underscore. Those two are on Instagram. I am Sassy Frizzle. Everywhere you can find anybody, it is Sassy Frizzle. at Sassy Frizzle because I am a brand. Shout out to person Brandy. But yeah, Instagram, Facebook. 01:26:15 Speaker 2: Come on now. 01:26:17 Speaker 3: Threads, which I happen to love as well. TikTok, all the places. You'll find me at Sassy Frizzle. 01:26:22 Speaker 5: Oh yeah, I don't take or talk. So don't look for me there. I don't have a TikTok. 01:26:25 Speaker 2: Yeah, she doesn't. I don't. I don't have a TikTok. She does. She does Instagram real though. I love that. She makes sure to send us a reel. Yes. Oh my gosh. I love that. I love that. Girl, the line. 01:26:40 Speaker 5: I'm sorry. 01:26:41 Speaker 2: This is going to be my new line. What was it? Two months before us. 01:26:45 Speaker 5: Oh, two months before I was saying I do. I said I don't because I did. 01:26:49 Speaker 1: Yeah. 01:26:49 Speaker 2: And I don't tick or talk. Wow. 01:26:53 Speaker 1: Yeah. 01:26:54 Speaker 2: I'm going to use that. 01:26:56 Speaker 1: Oh my. 01:27:08 Speaker 3: Big, big, big ups to Okima and Sassy for joining us on the show today. 01:27:15 Speaker 2: Those are my girls. 01:27:18 Speaker 3: Listen, when I tell you that I am going to be the first one watching them vertical shorts, because I'm telling you, that's why my phone halfway dead now, because I forgot to charge it last night because I fell

asleep watching them damn vertical shorts on my phone. And they get me every time. They get me every time. They're going to show me the first 10 episodes on Facebook. Now I'm hooked. 01:27:39 Speaker 2: And now the order for me to watch the rest, y'all want me to go and download. 01:27:42 Speaker 3: These apps and give y'all $ 19. 01:27:46 Speaker 2: 99. And you're going to do it. And I've done it like a dummy. 01:27:51 Speaker 3: No you're supporting no you're supporting but I will I will absolutely be supporting my sorors um so yeah big ups to them love that that that these two black women are like just killing it. 01:28:01 Speaker 2: In this space and they're just doing it I really hope they are. 01:28:04 Speaker 1: They're doing it they are I just you know well they're they're my sorors but yes but they're gonna be they my sister period yeah they my sister I love I love the story I love the journey I just just a great Real authentic conversation. 01:28:22 Speaker 2: Yes. 01:28:22 Speaker 1: And I hope there's something that our listeners will take away from what they both had to say because they dropped a lot of gems. 01:28:31 Speaker 2: They did. They did. 01:28:33 Speaker 3: It was it was really really good um so with that let um to keep the momentum going uh we always close out the show with one of our um levels of of levels of affirmation our words of positivity or words of wisdom but we are level we are leveled out by Cheryl every week so what you got for us today um. 01:28:59 Speaker 2: You know, T, you know how. 01:29:00 Speaker 1: We're always talking about stuff that's happened in the past and, you know, if we could change it, what we have done differently. But anyway, I just think this is a great quote for today. 01:29:14 Speaker 2: And it just. 01:29:16 Speaker 3: Says, it's real simple. Your past doesn't need you anymore. 01:29:21 Speaker 2: Your future does. Yeah. 01:29:27 Speaker 1: So instead of living in the past and, you know, thinking about the things that we did or didn't do, let's just focus on the future. Focus on the present and the future. I'm talking to myself right now. But if anybody out there is like, yes, that's me. then your past doesn't need you anymore or your future does. 01:29:49 Speaker 2: That definitely is. That definitely is. 01:29:51 Speaker 3: And I know we're leveling out, so I'm not going to make this long, but it just reminds me of. 01:29:58 Speaker 2: When people are like, oh, I know you or like, I know. 01:30:03 Speaker 3: How this person is or this person does whatever, whatever. And I'm like, girl, the last time we kicked it was like 2004. It's 2026. Right. 01:30:12 Speaker 2: Like, I'm not the same person that I was. 01:30:15 Speaker 3: Really don't like you have a version of me from the past, but I'm not focused there anymore. 01:30:22 Speaker 2: I'm not there anymore. Like that. There are some attributes of me that will always be me. 01:30:27 Speaker 3: But the mistakes that I might have made, the things that I might have said, the things that I might have done. That was 2020. That was 2004, baby. We are 22 years past that. Like, why are we still there? So you make a ton of sense. That's like you can't you can't change. You can't go back. You've got to focus on what's ahead of you. I needed that, if you can't tell. 01:30:48 Speaker 2: That's it. I needed that, if you can't tell. 01:30:51 Speaker 3: But thank you for always coming through with some great encouragement and things that we need to hear. More than anything, Cheryl always brings us what we need to hear. Whether we want to hear it or not is what we need to hear. 01:31:02 Speaker 2: And I do that to myself. 01:31:04 Speaker 3: I'm telling you, because we got to hear it. We also need to hear back from our fans. And so we appreciate you guys tuning in. And the way that we hear back from you is through your interactions with us at our different channels that you can get with us. So make sure you're following us on Instagram at LTT pod. Make sure that you are hitting us up on Gmail at levels to this podcast at gmail.com and make sure you're leaving comments in Apple podcast. So we can see what you think about the episode, what you think about the show, all that good stuff. 01:31:34 Speaker 2: So yeah. 01:31:35 Speaker 3: Um, It's great to be able to bring you another episode. We will be back next week. And until then, keep your mentals ground levels and we will see you then. 01:31:47 Speaker 2: Happy playoffs. 01:31:50 Speaker 1: Listen to Levels to This on America's number one podcast network, iHeart. Open your free iHeart app and search Levels to This with Cheryl Swoops and Tarika Foster-Brasby and start listening.