Falling in Love with the Process with Joanna “JoJo” Levesque
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November 22, 2024
TLDR: Singer-songwriter and actress JoJo (Joanna Levesque) discusses her 20-year career journey, from chart-topping debut to releasing memoir 'Over the Influence' about addiction, fame, and faith. Book available now.
In this episode of Barely Famous, host Kail Lowry chats with singer, songwriter, and actress Joanna "JoJo" Levesque, who shares her two-decade-long journey in the spotlight. JoJo discusses her early success with her hit single "Leave (Get Out)" and her new memoir, Over the Influence, where she candidly opens up about addiction, fame, and life lessons learned.
Key Highlights
The Journey of Writing Over the Influence
- Cathartic Experience: JoJo describes writing her memoir as both terrifying and liberating, allowing her to reflect on her past challenges.
- Fan Reactions: The feedback to her book from fans, as well as newcomers learning about her story, has been overwhelmingly positive.
The Importance of Family and Support
- JoJo emphasizes her relationship with her fans, crediting them for their unwavering support throughout her career.
- She discusses how her father's passing influenced her decision to write the book and honor her family legacy.
Reflections on Fame
- JoJo contrasts her experience with that of other young stars from her era, noting how her level of fame allowed her a sense of "relative anonymity" that she appreciates.
- She acknowledges the pressures faced by women in the entertainment industry during the early 2000s, contrasting her experience with that of others like Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan.
Growth and Self-Discovery
- Lessons from the Past: JoJo shares how her early success led her to explore themes of resilience, redemption, and self-discovery, particularly in her romantic relationships.
- Addiction Struggles: JoJo reveals her childhood background of growing up with parents who struggled with alcoholism and how it shaped her life and choices.
The Concept of "Over the Influence"
- The title of JoJo's memoir, Over the Influence, refers not only to her battles with addiction but also her realization of being influenced by external expectations throughout her life.
- Through her writing, she emphasizes the need to establish personal values and make independent choices moving forward.
Guidance for Young Aspirants
- JoJo advises young aspiring entertainers to not chase fame but rather to connect with their artistic passions. She emphasizes:
- The Significance of the Process: Encouraging a love for the creative journey rather than the end goal.
- Authenticity is Key: It’s essential to remain grounded and focused on personal growth over public validation.
The Importance of Mental Health
- JoJo discusses her journey to therapy, crediting it with helping her confront her past behaviors and build a healthier relationship within herself.
- She acknowledges the importance of physical practices and self-care routines that help her stay grounded and balanced.
JoJo's Future Aspirations
- Looking ahead, JoJo expresses excitement about her new home in New York and her experience working on Broadway, stating she feels fulfilled helping others while also pursuing her creative passions.
- She discusses her desire to use her platform to nurture and support young artists in their journeys, aiming for a future where she can give back collaboratively.
Final Thoughts
JoJo Levesque's journey teaches us invaluable lessons about resilience, the impact of supportive relationships, and learning to love the process of creativity without being overwhelmed by the desire for fame. Through her memoir, she provides a candid look into her life, encouraging others to find their voice and value beyond public perception.
Conclusion
This insightful episode with JoJo highlights the significance of personal growth, the power of community, and the importance of living authentically—values that resonate deeply in the pursuit of one’s dreams.
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Welcome to the shit show. Things are going to get weird. Get to your fave villain, kill them. And you're listening to Barely Famous. Thank you so much JoJo for coming on Barely Famous. Oh my god, I'm excited to be here. Yeah. No, you just released your book over the influence.
I can't believe it. I know, whoo, out in the world. How do you feel? I feel great. You should. You're absolutely sure. Believed. I mean, you know how it is to write something and put it out. It's one thing to go through the process of writing it, which is like weird and exciting and terrifying and all the stuff. And then it unlocks another
terrifying thing about sharing it. So, but it's been great. The feedback from my fans and even from people that maybe didn't know who I was or didn't, you know, have any investment in my story. It's been really nice to hear the things that stuck out to people and maybe I think the thing that excites me most is how it makes people think about their own life and maybe think about the way that they view things and the frame that they put on their experience and
resilience and redemption and all that. You have a following that responded as if you never left. You never left the public eye. You never, you know, pivoted from singing to acting to Broadway to anything, right? You people love you just as much as when you first started. My fans are amazing. Yeah. They are.
They've kept me alive, they've kept me going. They're, I mean, Team JoJo to the end. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, so in different seasons, they've really been like the thing that has propelled me forward and given me the courage and the confidence to even just try to keep trying, you know? So yeah, they're everything to me. Why now? Why a book now compared to five years ago?
Well, this 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of when I put out my first single, my first album, and the time that changed my life forever. I was 13. And I was putting out that song, Leave Get Out. And it went number one. I was the youngest artist to have that.
chart positioning and so I wanted to do something to make sense of and commemorate my 20 years as JoJo. And while also kind of separating myself from JoJo and kind of when I started doing movies, I went by Joanna JoJo Levesque because I'm an only child and I'm my father's
only child. I'm a daughter. So if the Levec name isn't going to keep going in my family if it's not for me. So I wanted to do something to honor my dad, too. He passed nine years ago. And
So it just felt like with the combination of 20 years, and also with Jeanette McCurdy being around our age and writing a book, it gave me the audacity to be like, oh, I'm not too young to write about my story. And actually, I have a lot of things to share. I think I counted myself out for a long time. I'm like, oh, I need to be at this place, or I need to be at this age to share my stories, but people like you and Jeanette.
tons of other examples kind of gave me the balls to be like why not me I have a lot to share I have a unique perspective and I don't know what the fuck I'm doing I've never written a book before but damn it I'm gonna give it a shot it was cathartic I'm sure very cathartic
And I have my uncle Scott Blagden, who is a published author. He wrote a book called Dear Life You Suck, and many other books, too. But he's such a good fiction writer. And when I was shopping my concept around to different publishers, he kind of gave me a crash course in
how to structure a book about the hero's journey, about everything that he's learned as a professional writer over the years. So between him and then the publishing house and the editor that I ended up going with, I had some handholding and some good teachers along the way.
good for you because it's scary I mean you're putting your heart and soul into something that you know people might not know half of what you went through so putting it out there can be really scary so I'm glad that you had that yeah it was cool I think that regardless of whether it did well or didn't the fact that it became a New York Times bestseller is icing on the cake I wasn't expecting it you know what I mean you know what I mean because like I was just proud of myself for
doing it. That was going to be accomplishment enough for sure. Um, and then anything else was icing on the cake. The fact that my mom was okay with me sharing some of our story and all that stuff. All of that was everything I needed. And then, um, anything else was just, uh, added blessing. Your mom was okay with everything that you wrote. Um, okay. Yeah. I mean, she, I asked her. I was like, there are some,
I asked if she wanted to see the first draft, the second draft, the fourth draft, the fifth draft, she didn't want to see it. And I'm like, my, like, don't you want to, I interviewed her. I asked her for her memory of some things that went down because my mom was deeply depressed during like the heyday of my career. And that was really hard for me as a only child and somebody who felt the weight of her.
sadness and her struggles. And I felt really alone in that. But I wanted to find a respectful way to talk about how it affected me while also understanding that it was just as much her story as mine. So trying to find that way to do it. And once she finally did read it, once I sent her a more final draft,
she was proud of me for finding a way to talk about it and be honest and I think she felt that I painted her as a whole human being and not just somebody who made mistakes because I'm certainly painting myself as somebody who made mistakes in this book because I am. You're human, yeah. Of course, we all make mistakes and nobody makes more, I can't say nobody. Most people I feel like
Make the same sort of level of mistakes as other people, but yours are maybe magnified because you are under a microscope being in the public eye and being in this industry, right? I mean, not really. I'm to like a really tiny degree, but I think about.
There are people who look up to me, but I think about like the way that women in the, particularly the early 2000s were scrutinized. I think of Brittany. I think of Lindsay Lowen and Paris Hilton and how they were just dragged and how, how could you not?
unravel and like the media pushed they wanted to see that they wanted to see how far they could push a human being and like I'm so grateful that I didn't have that experience like I've got to really my level of fame is so delicious to me because I get to just walk around with relative anonymity but then
you know, have really a few beautiful interactions with people throughout the day. Well, they'll say really nice things to me. And then we'll have a moment about music or impact or connection. And then I just get to like vibe and just like, and it's really, it really works for me. So you don't necessarily have any feelings about maybe not, obviously no one wants to be dragged. Like, you know, the Britney's, the Christina, you know, people like that. But so you feel like you hit the sweet spot as far as that goes. Absolutely.
That is so interesting. I never thought of that as anybody's perspective. You know what I mean? I just thought that maybe you were still, maybe because I grew up with you and you're the same age as me, I looked at you the same way I looked at the Britney, Christina, Jessica Simpson.
Well, they're older than us though. Yeah, this is true. They got 10 years on us. Yeah, but I don't think I ever thought about age. Yeah, I thought about age so much. And I talk about that in the book because I was so much younger than everybody else when I came out. And that made me feel really isolated too. It made me feel so stupid and embarrassed. And I wanted everybody to think I was older than I was because it wasn't cool. Like the people that were
The next range were like Lindsay Lohan and she was maybe 18 or 20 when I was 13 and Sierra who was just coming out at the same time. She was like 18 or 19 and I was just like, you know, a middle schooler.
So I thought about age a lot because people were always like, oh my God, how amazing is it, how young you are? And I'm like, stop talking about how young I am. And now it's so interesting to not, by far, not be the youngest person in the room. And all I want is for young people to just not rush growing up and to enjoy the lack of responsibilities and the lack of pressure, to just have more fun, because I never wanted to be a kid. How did you
becoming, you becoming one of the younger, the youngest, you know, artist at that time. How did that change the dynamic of your family? I mean, the dynamic of my family was, you know, my mom and dad weren't together and they both had their separate challenges as everyone does. And how did that change? I mean, I became
the financial provider for my mom and I. She was managing me. She had been cleaning houses for a living before that. We come from a working class background and my uncle was a painter and we do have some family in real estate and stuff like that. My dad was fully disabled at a certain point. He was like a headhunter and then he
His boss asked him to like jump in a trash can to like get the trash down like a big site and he then he like injured himself and and so Neither I mean my mom worked worked her butt off and to make sure that we never wanted for anything and the way it changed the dynamic was that We were making money. Yeah, but did you understand the pressure of that at all? I think I was used to being in high
cortisol environments where like my nervous system was conditioned to do well under pressure, to assume responsibility, to, I think I felt innately that my mom, I knew my mom was stressed about money all the time. I knew that people were telling me that I had this gift from a very young age and people were like, you're gonna be rich and famous one day. And I think I was like, maybe I will.
And then I was like, maybe I can get us out of this, of sharing a bed, you know, and of us being poor and of the, the paint chips falling into my cereal. Like maybe this is the ticket. I think there was something that was like, you know, and I didn't have stage parents, but my mom was very supportive. Both my parents were very supportive of me being the eccentric little individual that I was. Over the influence, the title means two things. Can you talk about it?
Yeah. So firstly, it is a nod to...
the foundation of addiction that I come from. So my parents met in AA and they were both seeking sobriety and maintain sobriety for various periods of time in their life. And I did get my mom's blessing to talk about this, obviously, because one of the main things about Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous is the anonymity. So I was like, is this okay to talk about?
You know, it's a part of my journey to I have the serenity prayer tattooed around my wrist. And it's the most meaningful prayer to me. It's God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. And that's really how I have tried to live my life. I always go back to that.
So it's about how I felt self-righteously like I would never be like my parents when they fell off the wagon and disappointed me and were human and all these things. And I was like, I'll never be like that. And then I had my own experiences with addiction in various ways, whether it was substances or relationships, love, sex.
validation and I found myself under the influence for most of my 20s. Okay. And just being so confused and lost and really held by this feeling of being out of control. And also what it means is just unsubscribing from old ways of what I thought I needed to be of society or
executives or managers or handlers or an industry, influencing the way that I live my life, influencing who I date, where I live, what I eat, what, anything. I was so
I was so confused about what my values were because so many people had told me what should be important to me from a young age. And I think that this book is kind of a statement of that's in the past, anything from this point forward.
Can't blame anybody else for it. You know, at a certain point, we're the grownups. Yeah. No, but that's sometimes hard because sometimes we get stunted in, you know, maybe emotional development or just anything. And so for you to come to that realization is big. I was definitely stunted, particularly in relationships. And I, that's a big theme of this book, his relationships. There's a lot of talk about romantic relationships in this book. It's one of my favorite things to talk about. If we were
girlfriends and we were at lunch. I would just be like, tell me everything about your relationship. If I want to know, I just am so into all of it. I think it's so fascinating. It's so revealing. And I realized in writing the book that I had patterns that kept showing up and that I didn't couldn't see as clearly until I had some until I had a bird's eye view of it. And I had it in black and white and I'm like, whoa, my bad behavior in relationships was
allowed for a long time. I think by different people that I chose to be with, I think that they enabled my bad behavior because I was either financially providing or I was or it made them look good to be with me. So they would just wanted to keep me around or something like that.
And I think that when you become famous from a young age, you're, you're coddled and people don't really tell you the truth. And then I think I chose, I was attracted to partners that would continue to coddle me and not challenge me. And so I'm also over that shit too. It's just not, it doesn't feel good to not know what people really think or feel or, um, and to not be a safe place for yourself or for someone else. Right. So that's, that's a part of it too.
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Do you think that you were toxic and also had toxic people around you? And so that's sort of why you maybe attracted people? Yes. Okay. I was toxic and I...
In what ways do I just, I think that some people have, myself included have a perception of who you are. And so we don't see that part of it. We don't see that part of you. Well, I talk about it a lot in more recent albums. Oh, OK. Yeah, not just the book. It's OK. Yeah, for example, in like my good to know album or my try not to think about an EP, there's a lot of talk of toxicity and about on again, off again, relationships about sex as a drug. I think about like an intro to my
intro in one of my projects, it's like feed me love, sex and drugs, bring me more, it ain't enough, tell me I'm pretty, I need that. I think I'm too sober where the weed at, pay me attention, give me any and everything to forget all that I'm missing. And I'd rather be anywhere than here with me, but here I am stuck in reality, praying for, praying for, because I'm there won't lie to me no more, and I can't hide from me no more.
I think that's where we ended it. And it's just, I just felt so uncomfortable with myself that I would do whatever I needed to do to feel good, whether it's drink to excess or flirt with somebody else when I'm in a relationship or cheat or make somebody feel fucked up about themselves. I would just
And then I would find a way to make it okay. Justify it. And as of like seven years ago, I was like, but how did you get there? How did you get to the realization that and to the level of self-awareness that you needed to change those behaviors? I would say having a great therapist.
What made you go to therapy? I was going to die. I was drinking and driving. And my mom's family was in a car crash when my mom was three years old. They were delivering Christmas presents to family friends in Massachusetts. And half my mom's family died by a drunk driver. So my mom was in the car. She survived. My granddad survived. And my uncle Brian survived. But her mom, her baby sister, and her other brother died. Half the car died. Half the car lived.
And it was all because of a drunk driver. And I think that when I realized that I was going down that path and going down the path of my parents, too, of I was like, I'm not bad enough to go to rehab, even though I'm engaging in this reckless behavior. But like, I asked my manager at the time, I'm like, should I go to, you know, and they were like, no, I don't think it's that bad. I'm like,
Is so you didn't even feel like you had the autonomy to make that decision yourself. You were sort of seeking it out from the people around you. Yeah, I was hoping somebody would See how sad I was or see how bad I was and and tell me tell me what to do, right? But thankfully I did find an amazing therapist who I also talked about in the book Janice and she's like a grandmother to me now and She was the maternal figure that I needed to actually really guide me and to
help me see things in a way and to pick me up where I needed it and to hold me to account where I needed it. I've always been almost so harsh on myself and so I'll take responsibility even when it's not mine. And I'll take and I'm big on accountability. But
I think I was just in such a place of hurt particularly because I was in a record deal that was with a label that was no longer functioning so I couldn't put out music for a very long time. I felt like my career was dead on the vine and I was angry and people were telling me
You should be the biggest star in the world and you know how did this happen and blah blah blah so I'm feeling embarrassed and I'm feeling ashamed and I'm feeling like I don't want my family back in Boston to worry about me and they're like Joanna you're smart you should just go to school and I'm like I don't want to go to school like you know I just go to college and study sociology like I was going to I'm like no I already deferred and
I just had a lot on my mind and I think I acted out in my relationships as a consequence of how afraid I was. You do talk about your parents struggling with addiction. How do you think that that impacts you on a day-to-day basis today? I think that, I mean, there's a lot of talk about addiction might be in ourselves. It might be something that we inherit. I don't know how you feel about that.
I'm conflicted. Um, some days I'm like, okay, I, I get it. And some days I'm like, that's how I feel too. Okay. So I also struggle with, I have more empathy for other people who struggle with addiction, but I hold a lot of resentment for my mom. So she is an addict. Yeah. So we have an inactive. Yeah. I'm sorry, but you understand. I do. Do you feel like it still impacts you today or not? Really? Yeah. I'm just really sensitive to, to that. I think that
When you grow up feeling that type of instability, it makes you a certain type of person. And do you feel like you're still sort of in fight or flight now? Yeah, flight to a certain extent. I think I freeze up more than fight or flee at this point. I'll kind of freeze and then I'll need to like.
sit with myself, but my defense has definitely still come online when I get overwhelmed or scared. But I have more tools in my belt than I ever have to deal with those things. I need my physical practices. I need intense workouts. I need chill yoga. I need meditation. I need nutrition.
I need journaling. I need all the things. And if I don't do those things, then it's, I can't be surprised why I'm not okay. But I realize that that's what I need at this point in my life. So when you say you need all these things, what does a day day to day look like with Joanna? It depends because if I'm
in a musical, for example, if I'm in a show on Broadway or if I'm on tour or if I'm
chilling like it's different but typically there's some type of movement. I do like to work up a sweat so I like to really get my heart rate up and that could be with like interval training or strength training and or it could be a hot yoga class or it could be I really don't discriminate. I just like to take it to the push to the limit. Have you ever done CrossFit? No, have you? Yeah.
It sounds like something that would be right up your alley, but just be careful because it's- That's my concern, because I like to do functional stuff. I like animal stuff where bear crawls. Oh, I thought you meant goat yoga. Haven't done that yet. I also haven't tried that, but I do have goats. So if you were ever, I do, I have four. So if you ever come to Delaware, we could maybe- I want to do goat yoga. I've never done it. We could do it.
So as long as you, you're not saying that you do all these things every single day. You're saying that depending on where you're at mentally, you may need to pull one of these tools out of your belt. Yeah. Okay. I'm tracking. Yeah. Okay. Not all that you're not journaling, going to the gym, doing all of these things every single day, because then when would you have time to sing and go on a book tour and do all of. Yeah. It's that like, I'm like, I feel into what I need, I think. Okay. I came home from a long trip recently or like a six day trip that was really intense. Yeah. And I was like, I need
to like light candles and journal and listen to instrumental music and that's what I need right now and I need to take a bath and I need to wash my dog and I like I just kind of listen and I think I spent a lot of time particularly in my 20s which is why I think a 30s are gift that's how I feel from making it through our 20s now I can finally be like Joanna
Where are you at? What do you need? What would be supportive? It's a re-parenting vibe. And really feeling into what would be nourishing and nurturing. And the older I get, I'm not a mother, but I'm figuring out how to mother myself. And sometimes we have to do that. We've seen a lot of documentaries, social media, all kinds of clips about child stars, and how they're affected, or things that have happened to them. And we touched a little bit on how you didn't have that same experience, but how do you remain centered?
If you ever cross paths or work with any of the child stars who have had a different experience, is that something that you ever talk about with them? Yeah, I've definitely talked with people who started as young or younger than me. I started working professionally when I was six years old. I think that was my first time getting a paycheck. And I was like doing commercials and doing musical theater. And I did like an independent movie and TV shows. So to talk with other people,
Their experiences run across the spectrum. Some people face like
the worst type of neglect and abuse. And it's heartbreaking. And they didn't want to do it. I mean, they didn't want to be in the industry. Right. They were forced into it. And that's awful. But that wasn't your experience. That was not my experience. You wanted to be in the industry. Yeah. Yeah. You knew from six years old. I mean, what do you know at six years old? My seven year old tells me he's going to be in movies. So I just I want to know like to gauge that. I mean,
Do you believe your child at six or seven years old when they say that they want to do those things or do you not? I have no idea what it would be like to have a child period. And then to have them be like, I'm so clear on what I want. And this is who I am. And it's like, baby, we change, we evolve. And you're going to discover new things. But that might be true. That's so hard.
I don't know, you know, if I would, well, what I know right now is 33 year old me is that I would not, it would not be my desire for my children to get involved in the music industry or in entertainment.
I don't think it's, I don't think it's the best foundation for, I don't think it's the best place for a developing mind. Okay. A nervous system. I think it, maybe it's better now, but I think that especially if fame is introduced, then they're getting their validation from outside sources and they're learning how to be good workers and how to be good, um, maybe not to think
for themselves. They're just learning how to make people happy. But what about what's true for them? I just think it's really, really young. And my mom started to see that when we were already in the industry. And when she felt like it was too late and she's like, she kept, she was always threatening to pull me out. And she'd be like, you have to wait till you're 18 now. And I'm like,
you're not gonna do it and and she didn't and I feel I feel bad she had no support you know she was a single mom and she had no experience and everybody was just in her ear and people were trying to take me away from her and she was so scared and she had her own struggles and she I think she deserves a gold star for what a great job she did and for keeping us both alive and okay and but I I just don't think that
It's a good place for kids. When you said that it's not a good place for developing minds, that really, I mean, just that statement alone has changed a little bit for me. It is so influential. It's going to shape a child's sense of self in their nervous system and what they think is important and to be exposed and to be working that young.
I don't know. I know every child is different, but...
But every child is the same in the sense that their brain is mushy. Yeah. And so that would just be my concern. I think it's hard because even as adults, we look for instant gratification, immediate, you know, the feel good hormones and everything else. And so putting a child there where they're not fully developed, I think that makes a lot of sense what you're saying. I think it can kind of lead to like, it's the dopamine and the cortisol and the
serotonin on my one of the other natural drugs. All those things. And I think that that can lead to an addictive personality. Do you think the addictive personality you're born with that or do you think that you can sort of develop that? I think it can be nature and nurture. I think so. And I think that I got a perfect storm of those things and then it created a bit of somebody who I looked in the mirror and I was like, you need to change your ways, bitch. This is not cool. Yeah.
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When you pivoted from, I don't know if pivots the right word, but from music to acting to Broadway, what was, I guess, the turning point for you that made you sort of do those pivots, make those pivots? Well, I'd been acting and singing from a really young age. Like I started out doing theater and it was always something that just made me feel so alive. And I loved being around other theater kids and
Being in that environment, it was just so felt so nice to me. And then I did a few movies when I was a teenager. And throughout my career, I've done some guest spots and stuff. And I think that when I parted ways with my most recent label and went independent, I was just like,
I'm not ready. I don't even know what I want to write about. I'm feeling really disillusioned and discouraged and confused. I'm going to go through periods of that, I think, throughout my life. And I was like, I would just be going into the studio to and for what? So I wasn't ready. I wasn't sure. And I wanted to get back to my roots, I guess, and just have a different experience. I wanted to get out of LA. I'd been there for almost 14 years.
And I was like, I think LA has made me weird. I think it's made me a weird person. It's California as a whole. Let me not say as a whole. I love California. I do. But I think LA specifically, every time I go there, I do feel like I talk to robots. Like I don't. It's just this. It's a very surface level. And obviously this is not everybody. But how living there for 14 years, was it was it like that for a long time? Or did you not have that experience?
No, I mean, I had that experience, but I don't want to shit on LA because sometimes I feel like I shit on it. And I'm like, I have, LA was my home and it's the place where I know the streets the best. I could pick you up in the airport and I wouldn't need to use the navigation. I could be like, this is my city for a long time. But I just think that I had been so far away from my family on the East Coast. I had all these emotional landmines scattered throughout Los Angeles County of different relationships that I had been in, different
labels and different musical moments that hurt me or that just had some type of effect on me of like disappointment or confusion or whatever. And I just wanted to, if I could, I wanted to step away from it. Yeah. So I had an opportunity to
to be in Moulin Rouge on Broadway. And when I auditioned for it, I prepared for the audition for a really long time because I wanted to feel good about myself whether I got it or not. I wanted to feel like it was so fun to just go in there. I wanted to go in and be like,
Just like, I just had a good time. And I listened to the soundtrack. I learned every single song off of it. I hired my choreographer to just teach me different styles of dance. We did like dances from the musical Chicago. And we did like, I was like, can I learn some Fossey stuff? And that was cool. I just wanted to, and then we did some Burlesque stuff. And I just went in there. And I was like, whether they think I'm right for it or not, I feel good about the preparation. And I enjoyed the process.
So then the fact that I got to do it was just again, icing on the cake because the process was something that I fell in love with. And I knew that it was going to be, for some reason, I innately knew to use your word. I love that word. And I innately knew that that experience was going to be connected to something in my next chapter. And so yeah, I now the bug has bit me. I love being a part of this community and I love living in New York. I'm a new
to call myself a New Yorker is way too soon. But I live here. I'm based here now. I'm a Boston girlie. And it's just really, it feels very comforting to be closer to my family. I get to see them more than I ever have. They're like, are you coming home for the holidays? You know, I normally come home for the holidays, but now it's like. No, it's different. It's different, yeah. It's different. It feels good to be around the seasons. In LA, I do think that there's an air of people will do anything.
and they'll lie backstab, cheat, steal, blah, blah, blah. And I think that it rubbed off on me, in a sense, where I felt like a little bit of that desperation, and I'm not a desperate person. Guilty by association? I think it was just proximity to it. Yeah. So it's not LA. I think it's an industry where it's like there's a new crop of talented people who
will come in at any time. Nobody's fault. LA's its own beast, I think. It serves, I think, its purpose for the people who need it for that time. And I might live there again, maybe afterwards. There's a lot of great neighborhoods there and places that are far enough outside of Hollywood. Yeah.
Did you do book signings in LA? I did. Yeah. How did they go? So great. Yes. It was great. And I always feel a sense of home when I touched down in LA because it's my city for such a long time. So I did it at the Grove at the Barnes and Noble at the Grove. Yep. I know exactly. That was awesome. Yeah. And my friend Alison Stoner moderated that. And they have a book coming out too, which I'm so excited. I believe it's called my semi-well-adjusted life despite
at semi well adjusted despite absolutely everything something like that is the title so it was really cool because we were supporting each other through the writing of our book we were both writing at the same time and we'd be like I was a little bit farther than than they were in the process and it was just really unique to have that experience of we both started on the yeah so young and we were both this age writing are memoirs really weird that is so weird
But like cool, but like so cool because, you know, I don't know if you have experienced this, but playing the comparison game to other people, your peers in the industry. What was your experience with that? Or is your experience? Comparison sucks. Yeah. It sucks. Sometimes you got to get off the Instagram. Oh, I've had to mute people. I love them. Got to mute people. You have to. It's like you're thriving and I'm so happy for you. And it hurts a little bit.
And I shouldn't know all of these things. Like, I'm so happy for you. But it's kind of getting in the way of me honing in. For sure. Because it exists here. And it's like sometimes you really need to quiet the noise, even if it's a wonderful noise. Yeah. And you... And I'm genuinely excited for people. Absolutely. I'm actually celebrating others is something that brings me... It fills me up. It fills my cup. It really does. Yeah. But it can be a bit much. Instagram is weird.
know it is so that's what I initially that's what when when you announce the book I thought that over the influence was gonna be related to that a journey to getting off a social that's what I thought I was like over the influence I was like oh okay like I'm struggling with this you know what I mean yeah hold on yeah no that totally makes sense yeah but I definitely take periods of like
just needing to throw my phone. 100% room. But yeah, over the influence is more like I was under the influence of everybody else. No, right. But my own. If you could say anything to young children, but specifically girls who want to reach the stars, they want to become famous. They want to sing. They want to dance. They want to act. What would you say? I would say don't get into entertainment because you want to be famous. OK. It's not about fame. Fame is fleeting. Fame is what
you cannot base your self-worth on fame because you will be on a never-ending rollercoaster of trying to maintain and then what will you do for it and then are you going to start doing these things and then what does it really mean? I would say if you want to live, this would be, you know, who the fuck am I to give advice? Like everybody's path is so unique and I really, really believe that.
Like if it were someone who felt like me and who's sensitive like me, then I would be like, if you want to live a life of being an entertainer or an artist, do it because that's your worldview and you need to express and you need to connect. And that's how you feel alive, but don't do it for fame or validation in that regard.
And my advice would be to make sure that you have other things in your life that make you feel good and connected and don't make everything about what you do. Make things about who you are too, because we are more than what we produce and we're more than what
People see on the highlight reels on Instagram and TikTok and whatever other social media platforms matter. So that's, that's what I would say. I don't know if that's what you were looking. No, it is. It is because I think
I think more so, and I don't, this is obviously just my perception, but I think that what the process that you were describing with Broadway and falling in love with the process, I'm not saying it's not the same as acting or singing, but it's a little bit different. And so I can see that being, you know, falling in love with the process and doing it because you love it, but is, do you know what I mean? Yes, actually, you just crystallize it for me and maybe it's gonna change how I answer that in the future. So thank you for that because fall in love with the process. I mean, sports,
People talk about the sports people. I know nothing about sports, but I'm into sports psychology because it's related to the performer. I mean, if you're in a performance industry, the psychology is similar. So athletes talk about falling in love with the process. You can't get attached to the result. So you really need to be like, I'm proud of myself. I did these things and I'm like, and that's that needs to be enough because whether you're number one or you're not on the chart at all,
That's been my experience. I've had the highest of highs when I, before I had my period. So, and then I spent a lot of my life chasing that, like, like an addict, basically, and being like, this is how I need to derive my sense of self-worth. And then being like, so what if I never reached that? Am I just going to be unhappy for the rest of my life? That's no way to live. So I do think that
learning how to step back, get back to basics and fall in love with the process also develops a muscle of like work ethic and self trust and being proud of yourself and
and having something to do and actively a part of the process as opposed to just being like, I'm not really in control, blah, blah, blah. Control the things you can. It's hard. It's so hard. I hope I'm not making it sound like it. No, absolutely not. You're not. It's really hard. No, it's so hard. It's a practice. It's a devotion.
It's really interesting that you said something about, you know, you were at the top of the charts and then you spent a lot of time chasing that, right? I also had that experience with, you know, I was on Team Mom, right? Like, that was groundbreaking. I feel like to this day, I still struggle with my level of
comfort when it comes to my relevancy or am I ever going to be as good enough as I was when I was on TV because I'm not on TV anymore. Does that make sense? And so is that sort of what you mean? Like when you were at the top of the charts and sort of, you know, maybe if you left music for a little while you went to acting, you were still sort of chasing that feeling of being number one. It was just that with the two massive songs that I had as a teenager,
you know, and other successful songs throughout my career. But with those, those ones, I think people were telling me like, you should be the biggest pop star. And then there were things that were outside of my control and I started to feel bad for myself. And then I started to feel like a victim and people were like, you, you are a victim. And then I was like, maybe I am and blah, blah, blah. So I think it was like a lot of that. But then me being like, then me finding my personal relationship with God and feeling more
spiritual and then being like, what is life really about? And like, is it about chasing these things and then a lot of fear and then questioning and dark nights at the soul and all of that? But yeah, to answer your question, I think it's, I'm sure it's similar to that, but I just want to celebrate you for the things that you've built and the way that you've pivoted you. No, you, this is about you. Us. Okay, fine. I'll take it. No, I get it. Both of us in our own regards have really defied the odds. You know,
Like the fact that we're sitting here and are at this point in our lives and careers and continuing to build and grow. And I just think that's really amazing. A lot of people would have buried their hand, their head in the sand. I would agree. Yeah. Have you talked about some of the things in your book prior to writing the book? Yes. Some of the things, but most of the things are really being
unveiled for the first time right in this book and it's not like I was like. I've been waiting all this time it was just it just felt like it was going to be liberating for me to hopefully connect with people who felt similar to me which is I felt like a. I felt a lot of shame and embarrassment and guilt for different things in my life and I wanted to find. I wanted to find a way to look at my life
uh, in a way where I was, it was a celebration of overcoming and of, um, doing the best with the cards you're dealt. So that's why I asked because you were saying, you know, that we should be celebrated and you truly have faced so many adversities, but you recognize that. I don't think so many people, I don't think so many people that I know are have interacted with real lies.
you know, how about awareness that you really have overcome so many odds that are stacked against you? Well, I don't know. You know, people tell me that all the time. People tell me they're like, wow, you're so resilient. And so I think I just like, I'm like, Oh, maybe, maybe I am. So I think that because that's been a part of the narrative that was put on me. Okay. I'm like, Oh, maybe I should start thinking about myself like that. Cause I feel like, you know, I've had that periods where I feel like shit and I feel like nothing. And I feel like what's the point? And, but it's, it's my fans and it's people who,
say the nicest things to me on the street or will write me letters or will come
you know, to the stage door after a performance and tell me about how my music has affected them or how my journey has affected them. So it's not that I'm just necessarily here like giving myself props all the time. Well, you should. Well, I don't know. I'm inspired by the stories of other people. Like again, I don't have any kids. I think you're a triumph for being a mother of seven. I think that is the hardest job in the world for one.
for one kid, let alone seven. So I'm really like, turned up by thinking about how human beings are just like, they blow my mind all the time. All the time. Well, I love that. I think that you're incredible. And I think that I'm glad that you opened up because I think that people also resonate with pain, unfortunately. Yeah, it's very universal because it's relatable. No one is exempt from the struggle. And so I think that, you know,
as hard as it was, you really doing a service to people who needed that. You know what I mean? They needed to read this book and they needed to see that you overcame all of these things because they might be going through exactly what you're going through or you went through. The craziest thing is my friend was at a cafe yesterday and he sent me a picture and he's like, look who's here and it was my book. Someone was reading my book at the cafe. He was at and he's like, I know this is really weird but
I just came into town to work with JoJo, actually, and she's one of my good friends, and she'd be so excited, like, can I tell? She's like, oh my God, I'm on page 85, and this was the book that I didn't even know I needed, and please tell her, like, you know, this, that, and the other, and I was like, that is the coolest thing. I cannot believe that I'm in someone's backpack, and that they took out my book and are reading it while they're having their matcha latte. I'm like, this is so crazy.
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Hi, I'm Stasi Schroeder. On my podcast, I share candid updates from my personal life, chat with some of my best friends about what's going on in our lives, give commentary on the latest pop culture headlines, and sometimes deep dive into random topics I'm obsessed with, like human design. It's a bit all over the place, but that's how I like it. And you will too. Listen to my podcast, Stasi, wherever you get your podcasts.
besides your drive that you've had as a child, right? You said that you started when you were six and that it was sort of innately in you, you think? Yeah. What has been your biggest dream in life? My biggest dream? My biggest dream. I've got to live out my biggest dreams. You have. I just wanted to see the world. Where's your favorite place?
This is gonna be such a corny answer, but I can find something I like about almost anywhere I am. And that's one of my, I appreciate that about myself. Absolutely. That I can be in Louisville, Kentucky and be like, isn't this quite like this precious? Let's go to the whiskey distillery. And I can be, you know, I want to find something charming about each place that I'm in. I could be in
Jakarta, Indonesia, and be like, oh, my God, the food here is so amazing. And look at how everybody's covered. And that's fascinating. And it's different. Yeah. Oh, in the call to prayer, like, wow, what a cool sound that is, and how amazing how reverent people are for. And I can be in Tokyo, and I can be like, oh, my God, the public transportation here. Like, we're all packed in so crazy. And I'm bumping elbows with strangers. And I really love the differences and the similarities when you get to travel.
So that was a big dream of mine, and it still is. Like I'm still gonna get to go to places I haven't, there's so many places I haven't been to. I haven't been to Africa at all. That's a whole continent for me to explore. I'm really looking forward to that. There's so much of the world. At the end of last year, I did a tour of Australian New Zealand, and that was wonderful. It was my first time in New Zealand, which the Maori name for that is Aotearoa. And that was just such an amazing, amazing,
blessing to be there and we were met at the airport by Maori people and they gave us a traditional dance and a welcome and I was in shambles. It's on my TikTok if you want to see. No I absolutely will be looking this up. Weeping. I've always been so moved by the Hakka which they perform like before sporting events or sometimes at weddings. I'm so moved by
Oh, so, so beautiful. And then we, they taught us about touching noses. It's such an intimate thing. It's completely, you know, people of all ages will just come together and touch noses and breathe in together. Like, I was like, I was so intimate and human. Yeah. So I just love that. I mean, I'm such a nerd for that stuff.
for humanity. I just think it's so beautiful. All the different expressions of it. Yeah, absolutely. Actually, the woman who I hire for all my branding is from New Zealand, so I want to ask her about it now, and I absolutely love her. And what's also cool is that I don't know if you knew, but they also teach Maori language in the schools there. No, I didn't know. So whether you're of Maori descent or not,
They really seem to make sure that that's at the forefront. And I just think that's so fire and I wish we took a page out of that book. Absolutely. In our country. Absolutely. You mentioned the sound that they use for call to prayer. Do you talk about your faith? Are you willing to talk about your faith? Yeah, I'm willing to talk about my faith. How has your faith shifted your perception or just impacted your day to day life?
because you've mentioned your spirituality a few times. Yeah. I'm a faithful woman at this point in my life. I'm a woman of faith. Have you always been? No. Something I talk about here too is I grew up Catholic, grew up in the choir loft, watching my mom be a soloist at Soprano at our church in St. Mary's in Foxborough. And I love the
ancientness. I don't know if it's quite ancient, but like how old Catholicism is. I love the ritual of it. I think about, I can hear like my childhood priests being like, with him and him and him in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor reserves almighty father, forever and ever.
And I can hear, I can smell the incense and I can hear the bagpipes for a funeral procession and all that is meaningful to me. And then I kind of fell out of Catholicism for a while and then I found non-denominational Christianity. First it was Pentecostal evangelism. I was dating someone in my band who was
playing in a Pentecostal church, then I found that as a completely different style of music, more gospel, more Christian contemporary. And then I was saved in that church, then
then that pastor was disappointing. And then I had church hurt from that. And I saw, you know, he was like, there was a scandal or he cheated on his wife. And then there was like stealing money from church. And I'm like, no. And then I'm like, I don't know about this stuff. So then I stepped away. And then then I found non-denate non-denominational Christianity, who in another relationship that I was in, then when that relationship
Unraveled he stuck he cheated on me with a girl from the church then I was like, oh hell no. Oh, you Christians are full of shit You know and then I needed to and then I was like, oh, it's but it's not about The people and you we should be mad at the sin not the sinner or what is what is the thing? Eat the sin not the sinner or something like that
Because we're all going to sin. I have found more of a spiritual like I'm I love the framework of Christianity. I've explored other frameworks as well. Yoga has been a part of my life for a long time and people think that that might be, you know, like a religion in itself, but I just think of it as a practice and a devotion. And
In LA, I started going to this place called the Center for Self-Realization, which sounds like a cult. I don't think it is, but founded by Paramahansa Yogananda, who wrote Autobiography of a Yogi, and he brought yoga to the West in the 1920s. And so I was really interested in what he espoused was, there's all these connections between the major world religions, and he was interested in talking about the things that unite, as opposed to the things that separate us. So particularly like them, is it monotheistic?
the religions that have one God. But even Hinduism, where there's multiple gods, it's still, there's a lot of similarities somewhat. So that's the thing that I was probably, I'm a curious person. Sure. And I think that what I know for sure is that God is real in my life and that God has saved me many times and I enjoy being someone that
thinks that there's some divine presence in my life that's orchestrating my steps and that I need to work in conjunction with. Um, I can't just be like, Oh, I don't need to do anything because God's gonna God's got me and God does got me. But I'm here too. Right. So I don't know. That's a long winded way of kind of talking about my.
And then, you know, there's been my experiences with meditation and psychedelics, and that'll break you open too, you know, and that'll make you question things. And I realized through dabbling in that a little bit that there's no end to that. So sometimes you've got to just choose what framework do you want to do you want to believe in? Because if you get going on this journey,
the questions never stop. Then you're like, blast it off to the universe. And then you're like, well, it's just too much. You're talking about psychedelics. I've never experienced anything with psychedelics. I've never done it at any, but I recently had a conversation about microdosing. And I mean, I've heard great things. Yeah, you thinking about it? I'm not against it. I'll say that. I've also
I've also heard last week we were on a work trip and a podcasting work trip and we were having a conversation about ketamine, which I think is in the realm of psychedelics where it's like controlled. I don't know much about it. I know people party on it, which that's what I thought. See, that's what I thought. And I'm not into that. I don't think people should do shrooms as a party thing. I don't think people should mix alcohol and
you know, any of these substances. I would agree. I think they're meant to be respected and revered. I think mushrooms have a lot to teach us. And I think microdosing can be really lifesaving for people. And, you know, especially if you do it in a guided way, be responsible with it, have somebody who really knows what they're doing and talking about and probably not just a homie, but like, you know, if you could have somebody put you on a protocol, it can be, it can be really affirming and, and help to
So the concept of neuroplasticity is, I think, the ability for our brains to form new pathways. And if you're in a depressive path, that something like psilocybin, for example, mushrooms,
can act as like fresh snow on the ski slopes of your brain and allow you to go down a different path to see things from a different angle. And it's not for everybody. It's not a one size fits all approach, but it has, I think, helped me in seeing things as half full. And it's not something that you need to do all the time.
Yeah, I sound like a massive mushroom head. No, no, no, I had this conversation. I think episode two of my other podcast is she was talking about it. Yeah. So that's, you're literally saying almost verbatim or experience, which is really interesting. Yeah. I like marijuana doesn't agree with me. Right. So I, I'm not somebody that can like do that for some people. It really relaxes them and that's great to each their own. Yeah. But I, I think, I think microdosing can be positive for, for some people, for sure.
How did we get on that topic? I don't remember. I was like spirituality, religion, psychedelics. Switching gears a little bit. I work with an all female, all woman team. What women in your life have been the biggest inspiration to you? Whether it be before maybe an early days in your career and now.
The first woman that comes to mind is my aunt Connie. She is like, I'm so fortunate to have a tribe of people that have raised me. My mom is an amazing woman and she makes me so proud with
teaching me, showing me through her actions that people can change and you can pivot and you can be your best self at any age and so inspiring. And my Aunt Connie is definitely like another mother figure in my life. And I would say her and my Uncle Dale were parental figures to me in the most stable foundation that I had throughout my life. I would run to them, literally run to them from, you know, where I was living in Foxborough down to their house. So I'd ride my bike and I'd be like, you know,
Can I just be here and, you know, can you adopt me? And she has just, I don't know how she does everything that she does from raising two boys and being an amazing real estate agent and cooking like Martha Stewart and, you know, putting up all the decorations and always just making me feel the most at home. So just being so kind to everybody and
So I think that she's definitely an inspiration to me and I think of different female executives that I've encountered in my life and how they do things. They're probably more effective sometimes than
some of the male executives that I would agree. And they also do it in their own unique way. The way they wield their femininity and use that in such a dope way. And then also, I mean, we all possess the masculine and feminine. And it's been so cool to see that dance.
Does your aunt Connie know how to know that you feel that way about her? She does. Yeah. Yeah. We're really close. And she came to see Moulin Rouge 11 times over the. She's your number one fan. You hurt your mom. You hurt my number one fans. Yeah, between last year and this year, when I did my limited engagements at Moulin Rouge, I was like, you're coming again? You sure you want to see this? It's the same show. I notice something different every time. I'm like, oh my God.
I really love me. This is so, so nice. I love that. That's my boo. If you could do another not Mulan Rouge, anything else in Broadway, what would it be? What role would you audition for? I have some things in the first. Oh, okay. You're not allowed to say? Okay, but so maybe outside of that, is there anything else that you would have loved to? I'm developing some things, right? Okay, so that's exciting. Okay, so that's exciting.
And I would love to originate a role and to also more than anything, more than just like being the star, because I actually, sometimes it feels really nice to be behind the scenes. So I think the older I get, the more I would really like to actually just help support people to use my resources and my experience to see something come to fruition where I don't need to be the face of it. I don't need to be, you know, the one who's slaying in myself around every night.
But yeah, so that's that's what I'm interested in as far as theater. Just the community is the thing that is so exciting to me that bringing people together and being around and supporting and being inspired and sharing resources and all that stuff. And I have my own label Clover Clover Records as well. And I want to eventually I think because I care so much and because I've had such a
multifaceted experience as an artist. I've been so that's why I haven't signed anyone because I'm like, I want to make sure that I have the time and the energy and that I could really support an artist. But I think by the time I'm 40, I'll sign an artist. So I got like a good chunk of time. But I really want to
Yeah, use my experiences for good and to help someone else. Are you familiar with the author Jodie Pico? Yeah. She's, she wrote a book called by any other name and it's about a woman, two women in Broadway and playwrights and things like that. That might be of interest to you, maybe. For that, right? Yeah, it's a fantastic, it's about 600-ish pages, so it's sort of intimidating, but it's one of my all-time favorite reads and it's fantastic, but it sounds like it would be right up your alley.
Yeah, by any other name. Yes. And she's also Jodie Pico herself is getting involved with theater in Broadway. So yeah. Are they turning one of her books into a show? I'm not sure. I think that was the gist of from my understanding. I think that's what it was by any other name is about playwrights in the 1500s, but also like 2023. In the 1500s? Yeah. Oh, wow.
And it's also about like Shakespeare and, you know, things like that. But then it's the other timeline is 2023. And the main character is trying to get her show on Broadway and things like that. So it would just be really cool if you, if that interests you for you to check that out. Yeah, you should definitely check that out. And maybe even talk to Jodie Pico because that's her, her goal is to be more involved with Broadway and theater. Oh my God, well, me too, girls.
Jody, what's up? Let's chat. A few rapid fire before we wrap up this episode. This one's controversial. In sync or Backstreet Boys. In sync. Really? I mean, don't you want me to just say whatever's on my mind? Favorite TV show in the 2000s? Was this circa Aquamarine? Aquamarine was 2000s, right? Yeah. It was like 2000s. That's a movie.
Okay, so TV show. TV? American Idol? Okay, but I was not expecting that. I was thinking Disney realm, I don't know. Okay, favorite snacker candy. Like now? Yeah. Popcorn. Just any kind of popcorn, not white cheddar. My preference would be like the caramel and the cheddar together. You know, like at the Chicago airport, Garrett's.
I have no idea. Bring me home like that. It's a brand. Yeah. OK, I'm going to you eat them together. Yeah. OK, mix it. All right. Well, no, I'll note that for next Chicago and I'll tag you. So good or kettle corn. OK, I get behind popcorn. I feel like it's sweet. It's pretty universal popcorn. One adjective you would use to describe yourself. Happy. I love that. Favorite book? Do you have a favorite book?
besides your own besides your own. That's my own favorite book of all time. Um, the book that I returned to the most is it's a spiritual book. It's called the untethered soul. Okay. And I've listened to it and read it at different points in my life. And it's just something that I always returned to. Um, another book that I really loved that's it's it's Rick James wrote it in conjunction with Dave Riggs. Is that his last name? Who is a
autobiography and it's called glow and it's just it's a really, really good book. Is it also spiritual? No. No. Okay. I'll have to check that one out. I love I'm a newbie bookworm. Okay. Yeah, I've read 76 books this year.
How do you have time, you have seven kids. Do we have the same 24 hours? What the fuck? You're singing, acting on Broadway, have a record label, wrote a book on book. You're doing, no, I don't want to hear it. What? I don't want to hear it. What is your guilty pleasure? Do you have one? I don't feel guilty about my pleasure. No, I don't know. What is my guilty pleasure? I would say, like, oh, what's that called Love Island? Is that a show? Yes.
You watch it? Okay. Yeah. I watched, there's like 40 episodes per season. It's like there's so many, but I watched, I tapped into this season and I was like, why do I care so much about these kids? But I'm like, it's cute. But I mean, that's sort of a guilty pleasure, I guess. Yeah. Yeah. Reality TV, any sort of like love show, I feel like is guilty pleasure. Yes. Sex in the city. Do you watch Grey's Anatomy? Have you watched Grey's Anatomy? No, we never got into it. Okay.
but sex in the city like how many times have I watched these episodes but I it's a comfort thing to 100% I will go back and obvious and and now I'm like you know in my 30s living in New York and I'm like wearing high heels starting down the street you're like I am sex in the city I'm like I am like where can people find your book it's in Barnes and Noble Amazon where else anywhere okay anywhere you find books you can you know listen to the audio book on spot by on Apple on audible and
It is, yeah, check it out. I think the audiobook is if you're on the subway or you're driving or whatever. It's a good option, but it's also really nice.
Really nice to see people having this, and it's just the wildest thing. I'm gonna do, I run an online book club, so I'm gonna do a giveaway with these three. I'm gonna, yeah, no, I'm really excited. I haven't told anyone that you're coming on the podcast, because I never know if someone's gonna cancel us in it, but I'm so excited. And where can people find you on socials? It's just, I am JoJo. Okay, cool. I really appreciate you coming on Barely Famous Podcast. Thank you.
I love reality TV on Pluto TV. Same, and I love that it's free. It gives me the freedom to watch Bravo's Real Housewives vault channel. I'm totally free to watch Bad Girls Club. I'm free for Jersey Shore. Loving hip-hop, I'm free all day. Survivor, I'm free all night. With hundreds of free reality shows, you are totally free to watch what you love on Pluto TV. Pluto TV. Stream now. Pay never.
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