August 14, 2025 • 40 mins
In the second half of this candid conversation, Anjelah Johnson dives even deeper with Wilmer and Freddy, opening up about identity, faith, and finding balance in the spotlight. She shares the challenges of staying true to herself in an ever-changing industry and how her cultural roots and personal values have shaped her voice in comedy. From viral fame to life beyond the stage, Anjelah reflects on growth, purpose, and what truly matters. It’s a powerful and heartfelt continuation that blends laughter with life lessons.
“Dos Amigos” is a comedic and insightful podcast hosted by two friends who’ve journeyed through Hollywood and life together. Wilmer Valderrama and Freddy Rodriguez push through the noise of everyday life and ruminate on a bevy of topics through fun and daring, and occasionally a third amigo joins the mix!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Hey, there's one about dramas. Freddie Rodriguez. Welcome through those
and me goes.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
This is part two of our Beautiful Conversation with Angela
Johnson Ray.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
I am so good at talking. So I'm at this
place in my life where I have nothing going on,
and it's one of those where I'm like, oh, I
think I have to move back home, like I gave
it a good go. I don't have money to pay
my rent and it's already I'm living at my friend's condo.
(00:33):
She was. She was a professional dancer, touring with like
every major artists who can think of, so she was
doing really well. She let me rent a room out
of her condo and I wasn't paying rent because I
couldn't afford it. But she was my best friend, so
she was like, it's fine, just yeah, whenever you can.
I was her Joey. She was my Chandler. You know
how Chandler used to pay everything for Joe Like it
(00:54):
was like that for us. So im as place have
no money, my sister back home in San Jose is
sending me gift certificates to the grocery store so I
could get food too. She's sending me some money so
I could like pay my phone bill things like that,
and she was very much like don't give up, like
(01:15):
stay because they're like, I think I got to come home,
and she's like, no, no, no, not yet, don't give up.
And at the same time I also felt in my
spirit like that same feeling of like I know I
got something. I also felt in my spirit that God
wasn't done yet. Even though my circumstance was showing me no,
He's done. I felt like my spirit, my gut was
(01:37):
like not yet, you know. So I'm like, all right,
hold on a little bit longer. I get a call.
They're like, hey, do you want to do a set
at the ice House? Pays twenty five bucks. I'm like,
hell yeah, twenty five bucks. You know how many top
promins A little bit of gas, that's all you need.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
Five bucks.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
And I lived in Glendell at the time. Glendale to Pasadena. Boom,
I'll be there.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
You can do it in Neutral too.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Ye hate you so much right now? So I do
this set they behave in my twenty five bucks and
it was for at the time, Verizon wireless. This is
during flip phone era. Okay, so Verizon wireless was doing
this thing where you can download a comedy clip onto
(02:27):
your phone for a dollar ninety nine, Like that was
that was the thing. So I go, I sign this
little paper and they give my twenty five bucks. I
do my twelve minute set, and they're like, all right,
we're gonna upload this to Verizon, and Verizon customers can
download your comedy clips and watch you on your phone.
That's a new thing. This is a new technology, right,
(02:47):
And so it's like.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
Okay, great, do you on your phone?
Speaker 3 (02:50):
What?
Speaker 4 (02:50):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Yeah. So then maybe weeks after that, this brand new
thing called YouTube comes out. Yes, who's gonna pay a
dollar ninety nine for a comedy and they can watch
it for free on YouTube. So then this company, the
production company that paid all these comics that day to
come and do their set, they ended up taking those
(03:10):
clips and uploading it to YouTube. So this is now,
Like that was filmed in two thousand and six, this
is now January two thousand and seven. My Space days okay,
my MySpace page starts blowing up with messages from people
people that I don't know, yeh okay, and they're like, hey,
(03:34):
when are you coming to perform? In filling the blank Australia, Philippines, Crazy, Atlanta,
you to all over the United States, Hey when are
you coming to perform here? And I'm like what, yeah,
what are you talking about?
Speaker 2 (03:48):
And it's worth saying that when that platform launched, it
was so new that whoever was uploaded there at the
beginning got all the clicks it was on.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
It was there, a gate was open.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
It wasn't like they created they closed the algorithm now
and you got to pay to get more engagement. If
you got on YouTube, you can find that video, you know,
So imagine the amount of people that eventually got to
see your.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
So you got uploaded right when YouTube started brand new,
and then and then like the first few people who
subscribe to YouTube were hitting you up.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Going like there was from January to February, there was
four million views on this video, which at the time, Wow, was.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
Crazy, incredible, crazy numbers.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
Now, let me tell you if you don't have four million.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
At the time.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
Yeah, oh yeah, So it was going viral before viral
was an actual positive term. Yeah. So I started getting
phone calls from family members. They were like, Hey, there's
this email going around at work and it's a video
of you and my coworker sent it to me. She
(04:56):
doesn't even know that we're related, but she sent it
to me, and I'm like.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
That's how I started.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
What video is this?
Speaker 4 (05:03):
Was there something about the video was it?
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Was it a particular joke.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
It was just a nail slot, nail salon. It was
just that nail salon joke. It was four minute a
four minute video. Yeah, this nail salon joke.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
And it starts going like crazy. So then my MySpace
page is not only blowing up with people, Hey, when
are you coming to fill in the blank city to perform?
Now I'm getting messages that are like, Hey, I'm so
and so the assistant to so and so executive at Fox,
at CBS, at NBC, at all these different networks, at
all these different production companies. Their assistants are going to
(05:36):
MySpace to find me because I don't have an agent,
so none of these executives know how to find me.
So I'm getting all these dms on MySpace. I started
getting all these meetings. I had to buy a calendar.
I didn't even have a calendar. I what do I
need a calendar for?
Speaker 1 (05:53):
I had to go.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
I went to Staples to buy a calendar, because this
is before your phone where you have your I coount.
I went to Staples to buy a calendar because I
started get all these meetings to go meet with production
companies and network executives. And I remember going into and
I'm so green, like I don't know anything. And I
go into this meeting and there it's pilot season and
(06:13):
they're like, we want you to read for this pilot.
Can you just step out and go run the lines
real quick and come back in Yeah? And I don't
know to say anything like can I come back tomorrow?
Can I, you know, go.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Coach in there?
Speaker 4 (06:27):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (06:28):
Can I just go coach with somebody? Can I have
a minute to like process? Who is this character?
Speaker 4 (06:33):
You were seizing the opportunity?
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Yeah? So I'm like, oh, okay, yeah, just right here
in the hole.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Yeah cool, easy, five minutes, let's go.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
We're back bye. Yeah. And then of course no trash
because I don't know what I'm I'm doing. Yeah, But
I start making all these relationships and this is like
January to February, and then I end up getting a
new agent, a new manager. I end up getting auditioned
from Mad TV. So then my audition for Mad TV.
(07:03):
They're like, you need to come in with three original
characters and three celebrity impressions. What do you mean in
three original characters. I didn't go to Second City, I
didn't go to Groundlings. I took a free joke writing
class at a church on Tuesday night. That is my education.
(07:25):
So I was like, Okay, in my joke writing class,
I wrote a joke about my grandpa and like how
he's not good with technology. So I'll just say it's
my grandma and I'll act it out more and I'll
be like, this is you know, grandma's son, so who
doesn't know technology? And I basically just recited my joke
(07:46):
from my stand up but in character, and that was
one of my original characters. And then I did saw
another one, and then the last one was Bonquiki. I said,
this is my sister. She wants to be a rapper,
and then I became Bonquek. The audition and they're like, okay,
we need three celebrity impressions. So I went on this
brand new thing called YouTube, and I was like, all right, well,
(08:07):
who's Latina and famous that I can try to mimic?
Obviously Jennifer Lopez. So I started watching Jennifer Lopez videos
her on the Red Carpet, and I'm like, okay, she
waves like this. She doesn't wave like this, she waves
like this, Okay, and then when she laughs it's kind
of like nasally, and so then I start doing her
laugh in her wave. So I said, Okay, this is
(08:28):
Jennifer Lope, she's on the Red carpet.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
Did you how does that? You still do it? And
you don't know what anymore?
Speaker 3 (08:34):
I mean, I really just it was just like I
don't know, like the best.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Part of my impersonations is like even when they're bad,
it's like really good.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
And so that all the producers were asking me questions, Jennifer,
who are you wearing? My answer to everything was a
laugh and a wave, and they thought it was hilarious,
a hilarious choice that I made that Jennifer Lopez doesn't
know how to answer the questions. All she does is
laugh and wave. That's hilarious. No, that's all I knew
how to do, right, That's all I could master. And
then the other one I was it was like Paula
(09:04):
Abduel on American Idol was always drunk at the time.
So I did drunk fallow on American Idol and they
you know, her little drunk clap and they.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Love, oh my god, you're looking down and clap and
it's perfect.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
And then the last one was Rosslyn Sanchez. I watched
so many episodes of her Without a Trace, and I
did my impression for her one day.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
I was going to ask you that because I know
you guys know. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
So my impression of her was, these are just the
little things that I noticed and I could pick up.
I'm like, oh, let me just exaggerate them. And it
was that when she talked, she always talked like with
her chin up, and she talked down off of her
nose whenever she was talking to fall down. And when
she speaks Spanish, her Spanish is at the tip of
her mouth. It's not from the back like just regular talking.
(09:51):
It's very much to the tip of her mouth where
he and it's very fast the way she speaks, very
fast like this, And so I started to like, I'm like,
let me just exaggerate all of these things. And so
I did this, as you know, ross and Sanchez on
Without a Trace, and I just made up some scene
and exaggerated those things. And I'm like, oh my god,
that's amazing. And then I booked Mad TV and that
was in May of two thousand and seven, and then
(10:15):
I wrote more stand up and I started touring. By
the end of the year, I was now a touring comedian.
So it started with January two thousand and seven, I
had no money to my name, unemployment checks ran out,
no agent on nothing to By the end of the year,
I had my agent, my manager, I was on Mad TV,
and I was a touring stand up comedian.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
Wow, man, God is good.
Speaker 4 (10:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
Yeah, that's how it works.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
It all falls in place in such an unexpected way,
and then you wake up and you're like, oh, I'm
actually doing this right, Like you're in that struggle of
trying to get that and then you're like, oh, I
got a check on how I spread this over the
next six months because you're probably not going to get
something else, And there another six months and then all
of a sudden.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
You're just like, oh, I'm making a living.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Yeah, it's really thank you for sharing all of that.
What a beautiful journey, what a very clever instinct. But
you know, it's a great value and of the hustle
that you have to have in order to break it,
(11:17):
you know, you got to. And also what you did,
you know, almost accidentally, but quite literally on purpose, is
you broke a mold and you build a new one,
and you build the mold that only you could fit.
And in those times, in the nineties and early two
thousands and that in that era, you had to be
(11:38):
so different to stick around. You could be one like
the others because those are inexchangeables. So you have to
break the mold, you have to build a new one.
And they noted for them to get what you provide,
what that product is is they got to keep hiring you.
You know, you having the versatility to be a Matt TV.
It's like genius because also a very funny woman. It's
(12:01):
a very powerful performer, you know. And at the time,
with stereotypes were boxing as all and like he's the
hot guy, he's the door key one, he's the you know,
she's the bomb show or whatever. Humor comedy was a weapon.
Very few people there to give each other those roles.
(12:21):
I mean, that's that's just remarkable. I see myself so
much in that story too. But I got to say,
it's it's amazing. It's amazing to think about that and like,
you know, you go from Matt TV and go on
touring and then you've had tons of specials, like you've
done comedy specials.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
I'm working on my number seven right now. What was
your first special? My first special is called That's How
We Do. It was for Comedy Central in two thousand
and nine.
Speaker 4 (12:48):
And what was what was that like to go like,
like Wolmer just went through your whole path, right, What
was it like to like, yeah, you were touring, you
were doing your thing, but like to like land your first.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
Honestly, it was really unheard of for someone who had
been doing stand up for as little time as I
have to get an hour special on Comedy Central. Yeah,
it was unheard of. And even the way I started
with stand up, I only you know, you hear about
comics the feature for years and years. I featured three
(13:22):
times before I started headlining because of that YouTube video.
Because they saw that I could sell tickets just because
of that YouTube video. So I had to write material
so that I could get to a headliner place, so
I had material to give the audience. So I featured
(13:43):
three times and then I started headlining and working my
butt off and writing material, and I became a comedian.
Even though acting was always my dream and what I
wanted to do, stand up was the thing that was
taking off for me. So in the beginning of my career,
I fought stand up. I kept like I would go
(14:04):
on the road and do my shows, but I kept
looking over my shoulder back at Hollywood, like, are you
guys ready for me? Net No, not yet, Okay, I'll
be out.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
Here on the road.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
Then let me know when you're ready. Yeah, And then
they never got ready.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
What's kind of not true.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
I think you're You're always in that, you know. I
believe you're always in the shortlist of like Okay, we're
gonna go pilot season and all that stuff.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
You know.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
I think it's about you know, to me, the big
question is, you know, now you're such an accomplished comedian, right,
you're obviously a great actress. Do you want to do
that leap and commit to a show or that?
Speaker 1 (14:41):
I would love to?
Speaker 3 (14:42):
Yeah, I would love to. I mean I've pitched so
many shows, you know how it is, development deals and
you know, all that kind of stuff. So over the
twenty years that I've been here, starting from the ground up,
I've had different development deals, show deals, and it's been
some of these shows that we've done have been such
great ideas. Oh oh my god, this would have been amazing,
you know that kind of thing. And I still dream
(15:04):
for it. I still want it, and I think it's
in a different way now to where I've definitely embraced
stand up as my career and my show. Having my
show one day is like the icing on the cake,
so to speak, Like I would I would love to
(15:27):
have my show, but it's not where it would break
me if I didn't get it, sure, Whereas.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
This is the moment where you, by the way, will
get your show. And we're breaking it here because that
sounds so much no, no, and actually I kind of
have kidding but like mostly serious. And the fact that
like when you are able to let go, it's when
it all happens, when you take when you get let
go of the rope is when you learn how to swim,
(15:57):
you know, in many ways, right, but I think metephobia,
what I'm trying to say is that you you you
poison for that you're in that moment. I think we're
young enough and old enough to to really take charge
on some things and and I just see it happening.
You know, I feel like we're kind of we're breaking
news here, would you get We're manufestent to show up
it because because I will say that we really could
use you on prime time television.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
We really, we really need you on that screen, you know.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
And there's very few people in our game that can
do really disruptive and most importantly, you know, uh stereotype
you know, breaking uh you know, vibes and performances and
characters that could really elevate our community and the way
that we needed. And very few you know, can can
(16:42):
do what you do as as you know. But we
just really hope that you crack it in the next year.
We can really, So, you know, what what what would
be ideal for you?
Speaker 4 (16:51):
What was if I may ask, like what was some
of the stuff.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
That I don't know, I don't know how.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
To ask this, but like that you've pitched in the past,
or like what would what was something that you thought
would be would be cool?
Speaker 1 (17:04):
You know, like I would want to know, like.
Speaker 4 (17:06):
What would your idea for an ideal TV show be
for you?
Speaker 3 (17:10):
So I always my dream is always a multiicam sitcom.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
Yeah my friends, Yeah, it's taking it back to the
beginning exactly exactly.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
And I feel like every time I would pitch it,
the multiicam's dying, it's dying, No, don't. I was always
non multicam's just single cam, think single camp. I'd pitch
single cam shows and then I would still go back to, okay,
what about this my family? It's always, you know, based
in my family. And then it's so interesting to think
(17:41):
about how my pitches have gone from fresh out of
college woo woo woo, and then it's like new mom,
and then it's like midlife. Listen, are they going to
stay married? They're not sure, their child's grown up and
in high school now, and it's like all the different
I'm waiting. I'm like, okay, this ship's sailed, that ship saliled.
(18:03):
I'm like, okay, maybe it's this one, right. But it's
always something based in my life and my family. That's
how I write my material. My material is always based
around relatable connective tissue. How am I connected to you
as a human being? When I write my stand up,
it's always like, obviously I want to make you laugh,
(18:25):
but I want to connect with you on a human level.
How are we both human, because that's what's going to
tie us together to where you go, oh, I see
myself in you, And then when I make you laugh,
the laugh is that much harder because you relate to
me and you connect to me, and you're like, oh
that's me, Oh that's my husband. Oh my gosh, my
(18:47):
daughter does that. Oh my god. And now we're all
just a bunch of humans laughing having a good time.
Like That's that's how I approach my material. That's how
I approach my TV show. Idea is how can I
connect to other humans and bring joy and tell some stories?
Speaker 4 (19:04):
Yeah, and and and the person that you are now
as someone who's who just had a baby, right, yes,
two years ago.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
Yeah, I became a dom in my forties daughter daughter, daughter.
Speaker 4 (19:15):
May we ask your daughter's.
Speaker 3 (19:17):
Name, Yes, her name is Rosalie Harlow Reyes. We call
her Rosie. And your husband's name Manuel, Manuel, Manuel. We're
teaching our daughter our full names right now. So she
knows my full name because she's on the road with me.
So she hears my intro video. Will they say, please
welcome Angela Johnson Reyes. So now she'll be in her
(19:38):
crib at six forty five in the morning and going,
please welcome ange Reyes. You know she gives me the announcement,
Oh yeah, the best.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
What is the most significant thing you discovered as soon
as you held your your child will copy in you.
Speaker 3 (19:55):
I didn't have that immedia. Oh my god, I'm so
in love feeling.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
It's a little in first and all the beginning you're
just trying to keep the baby alive.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
I'm trying to keep you alive, and it's like, who
are you right?
Speaker 1 (20:06):
What right?
Speaker 3 (20:07):
Hold on? What came alive in me?
Speaker 4 (20:11):
Is?
Speaker 3 (20:13):
I would say, like everything is for her, like my
my joy, Like I get excited thinking about what I'm
going to feed her for lunch, Like that makes me happy,
Like I wonder if she'll like this, Like it's the
simple little things. Where before it was always my career,
everything my career, which is why I didn't want kids.
(20:33):
I didn't have kids to my forties because I didn't
want kids. I wanted my career. And then COVID happened
and everybody's career went away for a little while. Sure,
and during that time I didn't miss it. I was like, hmm,
if I never go back, I think I'll be okay,
And I never in my life imagined myself saying if
I never book another gig, that's fine. Like I always
(20:57):
wanted more and more and more. And then here I
was going, it's not as fulfilling as I thought. Like,
it's fun. I enjoy it, don't get me wrong, but
it's not fulfilling in this like deep level. And so
I was like, huh, should I have had kids? All
my friends tell me like kids are so fulfilling, and like,
(21:18):
should I have had kids? Oh my gosh, did I
mess up? So now I'm in my late thirties going like,
all right, well, let me go to the doctors and
see if I even have eggs. I don't even know
if I have eggs left. Before I start saying should
I have kids? Girl, you don't even know if you
got options? You owed. So I went to the doctor
and they did all the tests and they're like, you
(21:38):
you still have some eggs. Your levels and everything that
they checked, They're like, you still have some, but not much.
So you got to hurry up. Whatever you want to do,
you got to hurry up exactly. And I still wasn't
convinced I want of kids. So I was like, all right,
let me save my eggs with your partner. Oh yeah,
we're married twelve years ago. Oh okay, twelve years. So
I'm like, all right, let me save my eggs. So
(22:00):
that way, at least we have some options in the future, right,
So that I go through the process of saving my eggs,
and then every time I would go through it, I
would get bad news. And bad news started with twelve
eggs and they're like, no, you only have six. Oh,
just caking, there's only four. And it was like that
whole thing love IVF. And it was like the more
they would give me bad news, they were like, this
may not be for you, you know, because every time
(22:22):
we go through this process, you don't really have any
eggs by the end of it, Like, this might not
be for you. The more they would tell me it
might not be for me, the more I wanted it. Now.
It switched from I'm saving my eggs to no, I
want kids. I'm trying to get pregnant. And so we
went through IVF a couple of times and I ended
up getting like, after those couple times combined, end up
getting like five or six eggs, and then we went
(22:47):
and made embryos. None of the embryos were viable, and
they're like, you got to start over, and that's a journey.
At this point, I'm on tour. I just came out
with my book. I'm on my book tour. I have
a bunch of dates for the whole year and a half,
and I'm like, what am I going to do IVF again?
I don't have time to do this again. So then
I was like, all right, you know I have one
month off in November. I planned one month off for myself.
(23:07):
I said, I'll do IVF one more time in November.
If it doesn't work, it doesn't work, that's it. So
I said, I'm also filming my special in October, so
let me just focus on my special. I started, let
me get my body right, get it tight. I started
not drinking alcohol, not eating club food after the shows,
like you know that kind of thing. I said, I'm
going to work on myself, get myself ready for my
(23:29):
taping because I'm gonna tape my special. So I'm gonna
get right. I'm working out of the gym, I'm eating healthy.
I didn't realize I was also preparing my body to
get pregnant. So I'm scheduled to do IVF again in November.
I end up getting pregnant naturally in October right before
my taping. Oh did you I was pregnant during.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
I don't even know I was so before you're taping, like.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
The week before?
Speaker 1 (23:59):
Yes, so you were? How about how long how long
pregnant were you there? Like, would you like a month?
Two months? Three months? Well?
Speaker 3 (24:06):
No, not even like a couple of weeks, like.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
A couple of weeks.
Speaker 4 (24:08):
And do you feel that because you were getting your
body prepared for it? That That's was one of the
reasons why.
Speaker 3 (24:14):
I also did a bunch of like through the IVF process.
They were like, oh, you have fibroids. You got to
get your fibroids out. Oh okay, So I scheduled surgery
to get my fibroids out. Then then they went in
for fibroids. Did you're like, oh, you also have endometriosis,
we got to get so yeah. I found out a
lot of stuff about my body I didn't know through
the IVF process. So even though I didn't get pregnant
via IVF, I'm grateful for the process because I wouldn't
(24:35):
have known. I would have kept trying to get pregnant
and never got pregnant because I had fibroids and got endometriosis. Yeah,
got me all cleaned up, and then I got my
health right and then next thing, you know, it was
like the perfect recipe for me personally, and I ended
up getting pregnant and now I have a two year old.
Speaker 1 (24:51):
Oh my god. So okay, thank you for that.
Speaker 4 (24:53):
So a week two weeks before you're special, you get pregnant.
Your special happens in October, but then you were scheduled
to have IVF in November. So by the time November
comes around, do you I was pregnant, so you knew I.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
Was gonna ask you.
Speaker 4 (25:08):
Do you start going like, okay, I'm about to start IVF,
but man, I'm sleepy.
Speaker 3 (25:12):
Oh it was all the things. It was my period
was late, which is never late, and I was like, hmm, yeah,
that's weird. Yeah. And then let me tell you too.
After my taping, we celebrate it, and I remember we
(25:33):
went to d C. I went with the Latino Group
to DC and we went to the White House and
it was a whole thing. And then they had a
big party for us and I celebrated there too. Ay,
And then after that weekend.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
I'm not supposed to drink.
Speaker 3 (25:48):
Yeah, but you didn't know. I didn't know. I had
no clue. It was just like I was just living
my life. But then all of a sudden, I was like,
wait a minute, Periy's late, this is happening whatever. And
then so I remember the next weekend, we were on
the road and the venue got us like a bottle
of champagne and you know, sold that show. Here's some champagne.
And then in my head, I was like, maybe I
(26:10):
shouldn't drink this, just in case I'm pregnant. And I'm like,
I have a pregnancy test at home in my drawer,
but I'm on the road and I'm like, I'm not
gonna have a runner, go get me a pregnancy test.
It's a random venue in Cleveland, Ohio, you know what
I mean. So I'm like, I'm just gonna wait till
I get home. So they give me champagne. I just
(26:31):
do like a little sip, and I'm just like, let
me do just in case. And then I get home.
I have not even twenty four hours that i'm home
before I get back on a flight to leave. So
I get home, I take my pregnancy test.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
So you do it with ham or my.
Speaker 3 (26:45):
Husband's gone already, so our next I get home from
Cleveland and then we're going to Hawaii. I have shows
in Hawaii, but it's also gonna be like a little vacation, right,
So my husband he went ahead and I'm gonna meet
him there. So I'm by myself at home with my dog,
and I'm I'm like, that's me and you Bonzo, like
me and you son. Let's let's see if I'm pregnant.
(27:07):
So I did a little pregnanty this, and part of
me I'm like, there's no way.
Speaker 1 (27:10):
Right, and after everything you've gone through.
Speaker 3 (27:13):
There's no way. It's just I'm late, I'm stressed. The
road I say it says pregnant and I and I
videotaped the whole thing, so I was like, let me
just in case, and I videotaped myself. My heart dropped.
My it's beating so fast, and I'm like, oh my god,
I have nobody to like share. It's just me and
my dog, and I'm like, no way, no way, and
(27:36):
it's I can't even call my husband because he's on
a plane to Hawaii on the phone either, like I
want to see him in person, and I'm like, well,
I can't tell any of my friends before I tell
my husband, Like what do I do? I try calling
my IVF doctor and I'm like is this can this
even happen? And then she's not answering her phone. I'm like,
(27:56):
nobody's answering their phone that I need to. And I'm like, Okay, well,
I guess this is just between me and God. That's it.
And Bonzo Me got in Bonzo, that's it. That was
for us. And so I had a full not even
twenty four hours, like a little bit more of this
information just to me and myself. Because then when I
(28:18):
got to why, I had to tell my husband and
like surprising with that information and it was just yeah,
it was a wild experience. So then obviously no more IVF.
Speaker 4 (28:28):
And yeah, is your husband also a comedian?
Speaker 1 (28:33):
No, he's in music to music, yeah Scarlett Santana.
Speaker 3 (28:37):
Yeah, yeah, which also makes it so bizarre pregnant.
Speaker 2 (28:46):
He still has pretty remarkable Did you.
Speaker 3 (28:50):
Not know my husband's in music? He started in Christian music, Okay, Yeah,
then he moved out of that into just you know,
regular mainstream music, and then now he does sink music
for TV shows commercials.
Speaker 1 (29:06):
It's amazing.
Speaker 2 (29:16):
So speaking of how special and special, Yes, it's a
perfect seguay to talk about your special. Yeah you have
a special, you shot it already, you're promoting it.
Speaker 3 (29:25):
Like, well, my most reason hour was called say I
Want What's on YouTube? My first self produced, self financed
special we founded at the Rhyme and Auditorium Tennessee. Let
me tell you put it up on a YouTube. It's
been incredible. And my next special I'm gonna put on
YouTube as well. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (29:45):
Like comparing that to like, you know, your your specials
on like the Commontential or Yeah, what's that been like
sort of the difference.
Speaker 3 (29:54):
In regards to everything. Okay, So I get to see
all the information, know all the information, be a part
of all the information, make the decisions that I want
to make. That that's the best part. Yeah. And when
(30:17):
my special first went up, the amount of views I
was getting on my special was right up with the
top specials that were happening on Netflix, but I was
just happening on YouTube. And YouTube has now become the
place where, like you said that, you get to own
your own stuff and it carries weight in regards to
(30:38):
if you're a touring comedian. A lot of these people
are finding my special on YouTube and Facebook videos. It's
wild the amount of people that have come to my
shows after I've been touring for seventeen eighteen years now,
and I ask my audience, who hears this is your
(30:58):
first time at my show? And it's seventy five percent
of the people there is their first time seeing me
because they're finding my YouTube that's my special.
Speaker 4 (31:07):
Has there been any cons, Like we're just talking about
all the pros and cons. Yeah, of it not being
on a Comedy Central or HBO versus like YouTube.
Speaker 3 (31:17):
The con is optics.
Speaker 1 (31:20):
Mm hmm, which affects.
Speaker 3 (31:22):
It how which affects in industry because YouTube is not
respected in the way Netflix is, right, So it's the optics.
Speaker 1 (31:35):
Of it all.
Speaker 3 (31:36):
So there's so many times fans will be like, oh,
I saw I saw your Netflix special, but they're not
talking about Netflix. They're talking about my when that's on YouTube.
But now Netflix just goes with comedy special, so they said, oh,
what are you doing your nets Netflix special? Because Netflix is.
Speaker 1 (31:52):
So known for standards such a major category.
Speaker 3 (31:56):
Exactly, so people just assume, oh, Netflix is the place,
like that is the peak if you can get a
Netflix special, you got street cred, You've made it.
Speaker 1 (32:09):
It's like that it used to becoming.
Speaker 4 (32:11):
Yeah, so how does the optics affect you though.
Speaker 3 (32:16):
Well, I would guess in storytelling within industry, like it's
still like the yes and nohers at the top that
Netflix still plays a really big role in things, whereas
I can show you my YouTube numbers.
Speaker 4 (32:33):
But oh, you mean if you mean, if you're trying
to ascend to.
Speaker 3 (32:36):
Like sure, getting booked for something, getting my show sold,
like it's a really it'll be eventually it will mean
the same thing that Netflix means. But right now it's
still like, oh, I'm on I'm on CBS or I'm
on Fox or I'm on Netflix. It still says something
(32:59):
different than oh, I'm on YouTube. Well, anyway, it can
be on YouTube right right now? Has that not quite?
Speaker 2 (33:04):
Because YouTube is doing some really disruptive programming. Yeah, programming
around here's programming around networks, and you know, it's most
of the world who can't access or can't pay for
a subscription, and it's finding amazing content, original content actually
there and they're being elevated on like single camera level,
like it's it's actually.
Speaker 3 (33:23):
Really cool people watch YouTube more than Netflix. Like Netflix
is the number one streaming excuse me, YouTube is the
number one streaming platform and it's YouTube and Google is
where people look for information. They look for their shows.
Most people are watching their shows on their phone, so
(33:44):
YouTube is really where people are spending their time. But
it's the same thing as if you got your show
on Fox, on NBC, CBS. It has a prestige, it
has some street cred to it. Even if it's subconscious,
it still has something with all these yes and know
(34:07):
whers at the top something I feel.
Speaker 2 (34:10):
Like you're doing what you did with Verizon and what
you did with you know, YouTube at the beginning, coming
back full circle to fundamentals, you know, you're going to
be available to and also think about an international markets.
If you're not distributed, if any if like you know,
you're not in Netflix UK.
Speaker 1 (34:26):
Then no one's going to see you're specially in Netflix UK,
right like.
Speaker 2 (34:29):
That, you know, very there's a certain amount of programs
that actually are unlocked for a global platform. You know,
some things are regional, you know, so I think YouTube
is one of those where you're like if if you're
somewhere in India, you're like I can find you, you know,
on YouTube, which I think is very very disruptive and
really really cool. And besides your specials and being that
(34:50):
forward thinking, you launch a podcast as well. Yes, with
fungula right, what what prompt you for for a podcast?
Speaker 1 (34:58):
If you weren't doing ready?
Speaker 3 (35:03):
I was like, how can I stay home more? How
can I be with my family, be with my daughter?
Touring is great, but I have to leave. How can
I be home? And I love having great conversations. So
(35:23):
my podcast is about gratitude. And gratitude is one of
the main tools that I use in my mental health
journey with anxiety, with whatever it is that I'm struggling
with or dealing with. Gratitude has always been the easiest
tool to use. It's free, and it's right there, it's
(35:45):
right in your pocket. You just you. You elevate your
vibration with gratitude. You change your perspective with gratitude. So
I practice gratitude in my life life. And I said,
let me have these great conversations with my guests about
what are they grateful for in their life, whether it
(36:07):
be a mentor they had when they were in third grade,
whether it be they found twenty dollars in their pocket
on the way here, like whatever it is is. Sometimes
it's super simple, and sometimes it's super deep and an
opportunity for maybe if you don't practice gratitude regularly, to
(36:31):
reflect and think about those moments in your life that
you are super grateful for. Because I helped you get
to hear and woo, and I've been able to have
some really cool conversations with people all centered in gratitude.
And we also do our matitude. We do our one maratitude,
and that's what's the thing that's making you mad these days,
like getting on your nerves. And even that could be
(36:53):
something so simple as my husband choose too loud.
Speaker 4 (36:58):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (37:00):
He tooos so loud. I can't even handle it. And
then sometimes it's very deep stuff about their family, my
relationship with my dad. It's not great and I wish
it was better. And so it's just a really fun
experience to have deep, meaningful conversations with people, enlightening conversations
(37:23):
and we laugh so much and then we cry, and
it's just such a journey that I get to go
on with people, learn about different people's lives. It's so
fun that I get to do that.
Speaker 2 (37:36):
No, And also you can see so much of what
you're working through in other people and through other people
and their experiences, and sometimes the secret sauce is in
other people's stories.
Speaker 3 (37:46):
Oh yeah, you.
Speaker 1 (37:47):
Can really walk away with those little diamonds that you're like,
Oh man, I really needed that.
Speaker 2 (37:51):
You know.
Speaker 1 (37:51):
We find here all the time.
Speaker 2 (37:53):
I mean, we have some really interesting conversations that kind
of realign perspective, realign priorities, you know, and most importantly,
kind of realize the stillness of we should be present
right now.
Speaker 3 (38:03):
You know.
Speaker 1 (38:04):
It's so hard to not think about what am I
doing tomorrow?
Speaker 2 (38:07):
You know, but but the stillness of the of the
world now, I think is the is It's really really great.
Speaker 1 (38:17):
You know.
Speaker 2 (38:17):
I'm so grateful that you came to share with us today.
I know how busy you stay, and I know how
much you're on the road all the time, and and
to be able to share with your fans and our
listeners and everybody on the show, you know, just kind
of your perspective and your beginning is make you make
you appreciate how iconic it is where you are right now.
Speaker 1 (38:34):
Thank you know, it's just really good to reflect.
Speaker 2 (38:37):
You know, because we we never look back right, like
you know, when you're grinding, you're like, you know, five
years ahead, five years yeah, So it's beautiful to look
back and to see you relieve those memories.
Speaker 1 (38:49):
It's very special.
Speaker 3 (38:50):
Thank you, Thank you for share these with you.
Speaker 4 (38:54):
Thank you for thank you for being our guest.
Speaker 3 (38:56):
Appreciate you, my pleasure.
Speaker 2 (38:59):
This is Freddie Roger and I'm Wilmer Valdama. Thank you
for being here on Those Amigos. If you're watching us,
what's up if you're listening to us, also what's up?
Speaker 1 (39:08):
And this was Angela Johnson Rayes. Thank you so much
for being with us.
Speaker 3 (39:12):
Thank you, Thank you.
Speaker 4 (39:17):
Dose Amigos is a production from WV Sound and iHeartMedia's
Michael through That Podcast Network, hosted by Me, Freddie Rodriguez
and Wilmri Valdorama.
Speaker 2 (39:26):
Those Amigos is produced by Aaron Burlson and Sophie Spencer Zabos.
Speaker 4 (39:30):
Our executive producers are Wilmri Valdorama, Freddie Rodriguez, Aaron Burlson,
and Leo Klem at WV Sound.
Speaker 2 (39:38):
This episode was shot and edited it by Ryan Posts
and mixed by Sean Tracy and features original music by
Madison Devenport and Helo boy Our.
Speaker 4 (39:45):
Cover art photography is by David Avalos and designed by
Deny holtz.
Speaker 2 (39:49):
Claw And thank you for being there third amigo today.
I appreciate you guys always listening to those amigos.
Speaker 4 (39:55):
More podcasts from My Heart, visit the R Heart Radio app,
Apple podcast, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.
Speaker 1 (40:01):
Is youre next week?
Speaker 4 (40:07):
Mm hmm
Hey, there's one about dramas. Freddie Rodriguez. Welcome through those
and me goes.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
This is part two of our Beautiful Conversation with Angela
Johnson Ray.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
I am so good at talking. So I'm at this
place in my life where I have nothing going on,
and it's one of those where I'm like, oh, I
think I have to move back home, like I gave
it a good go. I don't have money to pay
my rent and it's already I'm living at my friend's condo.
(00:33):
She was. She was a professional dancer, touring with like
every major artists who can think of, so she was
doing really well. She let me rent a room out
of her condo and I wasn't paying rent because I
couldn't afford it. But she was my best friend, so
she was like, it's fine, just yeah, whenever you can.
I was her Joey. She was my Chandler. You know
how Chandler used to pay everything for Joe Like it
(00:54):
was like that for us. So im as place have
no money, my sister back home in San Jose is
sending me gift certificates to the grocery store so I
could get food too. She's sending me some money so
I could like pay my phone bill things like that,
and she was very much like don't give up, like
(01:15):
stay because they're like, I think I got to come home,
and she's like, no, no, no, not yet, don't give up.
And at the same time I also felt in my
spirit like that same feeling of like I know I
got something. I also felt in my spirit that God
wasn't done yet. Even though my circumstance was showing me no,
He's done. I felt like my spirit, my gut was
(01:37):
like not yet, you know. So I'm like, all right,
hold on a little bit longer. I get a call.
They're like, hey, do you want to do a set
at the ice House? Pays twenty five bucks. I'm like,
hell yeah, twenty five bucks. You know how many top
promins A little bit of gas, that's all you need.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
Five bucks.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
And I lived in Glendell at the time. Glendale to Pasadena. Boom,
I'll be there.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
You can do it in Neutral too.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Ye hate you so much right now? So I do
this set they behave in my twenty five bucks and
it was for at the time, Verizon wireless. This is
during flip phone era. Okay, so Verizon wireless was doing
this thing where you can download a comedy clip onto
(02:27):
your phone for a dollar ninety nine, Like that was
that was the thing. So I go, I sign this
little paper and they give my twenty five bucks. I
do my twelve minute set, and they're like, all right,
we're gonna upload this to Verizon, and Verizon customers can
download your comedy clips and watch you on your phone.
That's a new thing. This is a new technology, right,
(02:47):
And so it's like.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
Okay, great, do you on your phone?
Speaker 3 (02:50):
What?
Speaker 4 (02:50):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Yeah. So then maybe weeks after that, this brand new
thing called YouTube comes out. Yes, who's gonna pay a
dollar ninety nine for a comedy and they can watch
it for free on YouTube. So then this company, the
production company that paid all these comics that day to
come and do their set, they ended up taking those
(03:10):
clips and uploading it to YouTube. So this is now,
Like that was filmed in two thousand and six, this
is now January two thousand and seven. My Space days okay,
my MySpace page starts blowing up with messages from people
people that I don't know, yeh okay, and they're like, hey,
(03:34):
when are you coming to perform? In filling the blank Australia, Philippines, Crazy, Atlanta,
you to all over the United States, Hey when are
you coming to perform here? And I'm like what, yeah,
what are you talking about?
Speaker 2 (03:48):
And it's worth saying that when that platform launched, it
was so new that whoever was uploaded there at the
beginning got all the clicks it was on.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
It was there, a gate was open.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
It wasn't like they created they closed the algorithm now
and you got to pay to get more engagement. If
you got on YouTube, you can find that video, you know,
So imagine the amount of people that eventually got to
see your.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
So you got uploaded right when YouTube started brand new,
and then and then like the first few people who
subscribe to YouTube were hitting you up.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Going like there was from January to February, there was
four million views on this video, which at the time, Wow, was.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
Crazy, incredible, crazy numbers.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
Now, let me tell you if you don't have four million.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
At the time.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
Yeah, oh yeah, So it was going viral before viral
was an actual positive term. Yeah. So I started getting
phone calls from family members. They were like, Hey, there's
this email going around at work and it's a video
of you and my coworker sent it to me. She
(04:56):
doesn't even know that we're related, but she sent it
to me, and I'm like.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
That's how I started.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
What video is this?
Speaker 4 (05:03):
Was there something about the video was it?
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Was it a particular joke.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
It was just a nail slot, nail salon. It was
just that nail salon joke. It was four minute a
four minute video. Yeah, this nail salon joke.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
And it starts going like crazy. So then my MySpace
page is not only blowing up with people, Hey, when
are you coming to fill in the blank city to perform?
Now I'm getting messages that are like, Hey, I'm so
and so the assistant to so and so executive at Fox,
at CBS, at NBC, at all these different networks, at
all these different production companies. Their assistants are going to
(05:36):
MySpace to find me because I don't have an agent,
so none of these executives know how to find me.
So I'm getting all these dms on MySpace. I started
getting all these meetings. I had to buy a calendar.
I didn't even have a calendar. I what do I
need a calendar for?
Speaker 1 (05:53):
I had to go.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
I went to Staples to buy a calendar, because this
is before your phone where you have your I coount.
I went to Staples to buy a calendar because I
started get all these meetings to go meet with production
companies and network executives. And I remember going into and
I'm so green, like I don't know anything. And I
go into this meeting and there it's pilot season and
(06:13):
they're like, we want you to read for this pilot.
Can you just step out and go run the lines
real quick and come back in Yeah? And I don't
know to say anything like can I come back tomorrow?
Can I, you know, go.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Coach in there?
Speaker 4 (06:27):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (06:28):
Can I just go coach with somebody? Can I have
a minute to like process? Who is this character?
Speaker 4 (06:33):
You were seizing the opportunity?
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Yeah? So I'm like, oh, okay, yeah, just right here
in the hole.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Yeah cool, easy, five minutes, let's go.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
We're back bye. Yeah. And then of course no trash
because I don't know what I'm I'm doing. Yeah, But
I start making all these relationships and this is like
January to February, and then I end up getting a
new agent, a new manager. I end up getting auditioned
from Mad TV. So then my audition for Mad TV.
(07:03):
They're like, you need to come in with three original
characters and three celebrity impressions. What do you mean in
three original characters. I didn't go to Second City, I
didn't go to Groundlings. I took a free joke writing
class at a church on Tuesday night. That is my education.
(07:25):
So I was like, Okay, in my joke writing class,
I wrote a joke about my grandpa and like how
he's not good with technology. So I'll just say it's
my grandma and I'll act it out more and I'll
be like, this is you know, grandma's son, so who
doesn't know technology? And I basically just recited my joke
(07:46):
from my stand up but in character, and that was
one of my original characters. And then I did saw
another one, and then the last one was Bonquiki. I said,
this is my sister. She wants to be a rapper,
and then I became Bonquek. The audition and they're like, okay,
we need three celebrity impressions. So I went on this
brand new thing called YouTube, and I was like, all right, well,
(08:07):
who's Latina and famous that I can try to mimic?
Obviously Jennifer Lopez. So I started watching Jennifer Lopez videos
her on the Red Carpet, and I'm like, okay, she
waves like this. She doesn't wave like this, she waves
like this, Okay, and then when she laughs it's kind
of like nasally, and so then I start doing her
laugh in her wave. So I said, Okay, this is
(08:28):
Jennifer Lope, she's on the Red carpet.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
Did you how does that? You still do it? And
you don't know what anymore?
Speaker 3 (08:34):
I mean, I really just it was just like I
don't know, like the best.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Part of my impersonations is like even when they're bad,
it's like really good.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
And so that all the producers were asking me questions, Jennifer,
who are you wearing? My answer to everything was a
laugh and a wave, and they thought it was hilarious,
a hilarious choice that I made that Jennifer Lopez doesn't
know how to answer the questions. All she does is
laugh and wave. That's hilarious. No, that's all I knew
how to do, right, That's all I could master. And
then the other one I was it was like Paula
(09:04):
Abduel on American Idol was always drunk at the time.
So I did drunk fallow on American Idol and they
you know, her little drunk clap and they.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Love, oh my god, you're looking down and clap and
it's perfect.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
And then the last one was Rosslyn Sanchez. I watched
so many episodes of her Without a Trace, and I
did my impression for her one day.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
I was going to ask you that because I know
you guys know. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
So my impression of her was, these are just the
little things that I noticed and I could pick up.
I'm like, oh, let me just exaggerate them. And it
was that when she talked, she always talked like with
her chin up, and she talked down off of her
nose whenever she was talking to fall down. And when
she speaks Spanish, her Spanish is at the tip of
her mouth. It's not from the back like just regular talking.
(09:51):
It's very much to the tip of her mouth where
he and it's very fast the way she speaks, very
fast like this, And so I started to like, I'm like,
let me just exaggerate all of these things. And so
I did this, as you know, ross and Sanchez on
Without a Trace, and I just made up some scene
and exaggerated those things. And I'm like, oh my god,
that's amazing. And then I booked Mad TV and that
was in May of two thousand and seven, and then
(10:15):
I wrote more stand up and I started touring. By
the end of the year, I was now a touring comedian.
So it started with January two thousand and seven, I
had no money to my name, unemployment checks ran out,
no agent on nothing to By the end of the year,
I had my agent, my manager, I was on Mad TV,
and I was a touring stand up comedian.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
Wow, man, God is good.
Speaker 4 (10:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
Yeah, that's how it works.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
It all falls in place in such an unexpected way,
and then you wake up and you're like, oh, I'm
actually doing this right, Like you're in that struggle of
trying to get that and then you're like, oh, I
got a check on how I spread this over the
next six months because you're probably not going to get
something else, And there another six months and then all
of a sudden.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
You're just like, oh, I'm making a living.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Yeah, it's really thank you for sharing all of that.
What a beautiful journey, what a very clever instinct. But
you know, it's a great value and of the hustle
that you have to have in order to break it,
(11:17):
you know, you got to. And also what you did,
you know, almost accidentally, but quite literally on purpose, is
you broke a mold and you build a new one,
and you build the mold that only you could fit.
And in those times, in the nineties and early two
thousands and that in that era, you had to be
(11:38):
so different to stick around. You could be one like
the others because those are inexchangeables. So you have to
break the mold, you have to build a new one.
And they noted for them to get what you provide,
what that product is is they got to keep hiring you.
You know, you having the versatility to be a Matt TV.
It's like genius because also a very funny woman. It's
(12:01):
a very powerful performer, you know. And at the time,
with stereotypes were boxing as all and like he's the
hot guy, he's the door key one, he's the you know,
she's the bomb show or whatever. Humor comedy was a weapon.
Very few people there to give each other those roles.
(12:21):
I mean, that's that's just remarkable. I see myself so
much in that story too. But I got to say,
it's it's amazing. It's amazing to think about that and like,
you know, you go from Matt TV and go on
touring and then you've had tons of specials, like you've
done comedy specials.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
I'm working on my number seven right now. What was
your first special? My first special is called That's How
We Do. It was for Comedy Central in two thousand
and nine.
Speaker 4 (12:48):
And what was what was that like to go like,
like Wolmer just went through your whole path, right, What
was it like to like, yeah, you were touring, you
were doing your thing, but like to like land your first.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
Honestly, it was really unheard of for someone who had
been doing stand up for as little time as I
have to get an hour special on Comedy Central. Yeah,
it was unheard of. And even the way I started
with stand up, I only you know, you hear about
comics the feature for years and years. I featured three
(13:22):
times before I started headlining because of that YouTube video.
Because they saw that I could sell tickets just because
of that YouTube video. So I had to write material
so that I could get to a headliner place, so
I had material to give the audience. So I featured
(13:43):
three times and then I started headlining and working my
butt off and writing material, and I became a comedian.
Even though acting was always my dream and what I
wanted to do, stand up was the thing that was
taking off for me. So in the beginning of my career,
I fought stand up. I kept like I would go
(14:04):
on the road and do my shows, but I kept
looking over my shoulder back at Hollywood, like, are you
guys ready for me? Net No, not yet, Okay, I'll
be out.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
Here on the road.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
Then let me know when you're ready. Yeah, And then
they never got ready.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
What's kind of not true.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
I think you're You're always in that, you know. I
believe you're always in the shortlist of like Okay, we're
gonna go pilot season and all that stuff.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
You know.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
I think it's about you know, to me, the big
question is, you know, now you're such an accomplished comedian, right,
you're obviously a great actress. Do you want to do
that leap and commit to a show or that?
Speaker 1 (14:41):
I would love to?
Speaker 3 (14:42):
Yeah, I would love to. I mean I've pitched so
many shows, you know how it is, development deals and
you know, all that kind of stuff. So over the
twenty years that I've been here, starting from the ground up,
I've had different development deals, show deals, and it's been
some of these shows that we've done have been such
great ideas. Oh oh my god, this would have been amazing,
you know that kind of thing. And I still dream
(15:04):
for it. I still want it, and I think it's
in a different way now to where I've definitely embraced
stand up as my career and my show. Having my
show one day is like the icing on the cake,
so to speak, Like I would I would love to
(15:27):
have my show, but it's not where it would break
me if I didn't get it, sure, Whereas.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
This is the moment where you, by the way, will
get your show. And we're breaking it here because that
sounds so much no, no, and actually I kind of
have kidding but like mostly serious. And the fact that
like when you are able to let go, it's when
it all happens, when you take when you get let
go of the rope is when you learn how to swim,
(15:57):
you know, in many ways, right, but I think metephobia,
what I'm trying to say is that you you you
poison for that you're in that moment. I think we're
young enough and old enough to to really take charge
on some things and and I just see it happening.
You know, I feel like we're kind of we're breaking
news here, would you get We're manufestent to show up
it because because I will say that we really could
use you on prime time television.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
We really, we really need you on that screen, you know.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
And there's very few people in our game that can
do really disruptive and most importantly, you know, uh stereotype
you know, breaking uh you know, vibes and performances and
characters that could really elevate our community and the way
that we needed. And very few you know, can can
(16:42):
do what you do as as you know. But we
just really hope that you crack it in the next year.
We can really, So, you know, what what what would
be ideal for you?
Speaker 4 (16:51):
What was if I may ask, like what was some
of the stuff.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
That I don't know, I don't know how.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
To ask this, but like that you've pitched in the past,
or like what would what was something that you thought
would be would be cool?
Speaker 1 (17:04):
You know, like I would want to know, like.
Speaker 4 (17:06):
What would your idea for an ideal TV show be
for you?
Speaker 3 (17:10):
So I always my dream is always a multiicam sitcom.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
Yeah my friends, Yeah, it's taking it back to the
beginning exactly exactly.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
And I feel like every time I would pitch it,
the multiicam's dying, it's dying, No, don't. I was always
non multicam's just single cam, think single camp. I'd pitch
single cam shows and then I would still go back to, okay,
what about this my family? It's always, you know, based
in my family. And then it's so interesting to think
(17:41):
about how my pitches have gone from fresh out of
college woo woo woo, and then it's like new mom,
and then it's like midlife. Listen, are they going to
stay married? They're not sure, their child's grown up and
in high school now, and it's like all the different
I'm waiting. I'm like, okay, this ship's sailed, that ship saliled.
(18:03):
I'm like, okay, maybe it's this one, right. But it's
always something based in my life and my family. That's
how I write my material. My material is always based
around relatable connective tissue. How am I connected to you
as a human being? When I write my stand up,
it's always like, obviously I want to make you laugh,
(18:25):
but I want to connect with you on a human level.
How are we both human, because that's what's going to
tie us together to where you go, oh, I see
myself in you, And then when I make you laugh,
the laugh is that much harder because you relate to
me and you connect to me, and you're like, oh
that's me, Oh that's my husband. Oh my gosh, my
(18:47):
daughter does that. Oh my god. And now we're all
just a bunch of humans laughing having a good time.
Like That's that's how I approach my material. That's how
I approach my TV show. Idea is how can I
connect to other humans and bring joy and tell some stories?
Speaker 4 (19:04):
Yeah, and and and the person that you are now
as someone who's who just had a baby, right, yes,
two years ago.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
Yeah, I became a dom in my forties daughter daughter, daughter.
Speaker 4 (19:15):
May we ask your daughter's.
Speaker 3 (19:17):
Name, Yes, her name is Rosalie Harlow Reyes. We call
her Rosie. And your husband's name Manuel, Manuel, Manuel. We're
teaching our daughter our full names right now. So she
knows my full name because she's on the road with me.
So she hears my intro video. Will they say, please
welcome Angela Johnson Reyes. So now she'll be in her
(19:38):
crib at six forty five in the morning and going,
please welcome ange Reyes. You know she gives me the announcement,
Oh yeah, the best.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
What is the most significant thing you discovered as soon
as you held your your child will copy in you.
Speaker 3 (19:55):
I didn't have that immedia. Oh my god, I'm so
in love feeling.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
It's a little in first and all the beginning you're
just trying to keep the baby alive.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
I'm trying to keep you alive, and it's like, who
are you right?
Speaker 1 (20:06):
What right?
Speaker 3 (20:07):
Hold on? What came alive in me?
Speaker 4 (20:11):
Is?
Speaker 3 (20:13):
I would say, like everything is for her, like my
my joy, Like I get excited thinking about what I'm
going to feed her for lunch, Like that makes me happy,
Like I wonder if she'll like this, Like it's the
simple little things. Where before it was always my career,
everything my career, which is why I didn't want kids.
(20:33):
I didn't have kids to my forties because I didn't
want kids. I wanted my career. And then COVID happened
and everybody's career went away for a little while. Sure,
and during that time I didn't miss it. I was like, hmm,
if I never go back, I think I'll be okay,
And I never in my life imagined myself saying if
I never book another gig, that's fine. Like I always
(20:57):
wanted more and more and more. And then here I
was going, it's not as fulfilling as I thought. Like,
it's fun. I enjoy it, don't get me wrong, but
it's not fulfilling in this like deep level. And so
I was like, huh, should I have had kids? All
my friends tell me like kids are so fulfilling, and like,
(21:18):
should I have had kids? Oh my gosh, did I
mess up? So now I'm in my late thirties going like,
all right, well, let me go to the doctors and
see if I even have eggs. I don't even know
if I have eggs left. Before I start saying should
I have kids? Girl, you don't even know if you
got options? You owed. So I went to the doctor
and they did all the tests and they're like, you
(21:38):
you still have some eggs. Your levels and everything that
they checked, They're like, you still have some, but not much.
So you got to hurry up. Whatever you want to do,
you got to hurry up exactly. And I still wasn't
convinced I want of kids. So I was like, all right,
let me save my eggs with your partner. Oh yeah,
we're married twelve years ago. Oh okay, twelve years. So
I'm like, all right, let me save my eggs. So
(22:00):
that way, at least we have some options in the future, right,
So that I go through the process of saving my eggs,
and then every time I would go through it, I
would get bad news. And bad news started with twelve
eggs and they're like, no, you only have six. Oh,
just caking, there's only four. And it was like that
whole thing love IVF. And it was like the more
they would give me bad news, they were like, this
may not be for you, you know, because every time
(22:22):
we go through this process, you don't really have any
eggs by the end of it, Like, this might not
be for you. The more they would tell me it
might not be for me, the more I wanted it. Now.
It switched from I'm saving my eggs to no, I
want kids. I'm trying to get pregnant. And so we
went through IVF a couple of times and I ended
up getting like, after those couple times combined, end up
getting like five or six eggs, and then we went
(22:47):
and made embryos. None of the embryos were viable, and
they're like, you got to start over, and that's a journey.
At this point, I'm on tour. I just came out
with my book. I'm on my book tour. I have
a bunch of dates for the whole year and a half,
and I'm like, what am I going to do IVF again?
I don't have time to do this again. So then
I was like, all right, you know I have one
month off in November. I planned one month off for myself.
(23:07):
I said, I'll do IVF one more time in November.
If it doesn't work, it doesn't work, that's it. So
I said, I'm also filming my special in October, so
let me just focus on my special. I started, let
me get my body right, get it tight. I started
not drinking alcohol, not eating club food after the shows,
like you know that kind of thing. I said, I'm
going to work on myself, get myself ready for my
(23:29):
taping because I'm gonna tape my special. So I'm gonna
get right. I'm working out of the gym, I'm eating healthy.
I didn't realize I was also preparing my body to
get pregnant. So I'm scheduled to do IVF again in November.
I end up getting pregnant naturally in October right before
my taping. Oh did you I was pregnant during.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
I don't even know I was so before you're taping, like.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
The week before?
Speaker 1 (23:59):
Yes, so you were? How about how long how long
pregnant were you there? Like, would you like a month?
Two months? Three months? Well?
Speaker 3 (24:06):
No, not even like a couple of weeks, like.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
A couple of weeks.
Speaker 4 (24:08):
And do you feel that because you were getting your
body prepared for it? That That's was one of the
reasons why.
Speaker 3 (24:14):
I also did a bunch of like through the IVF process.
They were like, oh, you have fibroids. You got to
get your fibroids out. Oh okay, So I scheduled surgery
to get my fibroids out. Then then they went in
for fibroids. Did you're like, oh, you also have endometriosis,
we got to get so yeah. I found out a
lot of stuff about my body I didn't know through
the IVF process. So even though I didn't get pregnant
via IVF, I'm grateful for the process because I wouldn't
(24:35):
have known. I would have kept trying to get pregnant
and never got pregnant because I had fibroids and got endometriosis. Yeah,
got me all cleaned up, and then I got my
health right and then next thing, you know, it was
like the perfect recipe for me personally, and I ended
up getting pregnant and now I have a two year old.
Speaker 1 (24:51):
Oh my god. So okay, thank you for that.
Speaker 4 (24:53):
So a week two weeks before you're special, you get pregnant.
Your special happens in October, but then you were scheduled
to have IVF in November. So by the time November
comes around, do you I was pregnant, so you knew I.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
Was gonna ask you.
Speaker 4 (25:08):
Do you start going like, okay, I'm about to start IVF,
but man, I'm sleepy.
Speaker 3 (25:12):
Oh it was all the things. It was my period
was late, which is never late, and I was like, hmm, yeah,
that's weird. Yeah. And then let me tell you too.
After my taping, we celebrate it, and I remember we
(25:33):
went to d C. I went with the Latino Group
to DC and we went to the White House and
it was a whole thing. And then they had a
big party for us and I celebrated there too. Ay,
And then after that weekend.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
I'm not supposed to drink.
Speaker 3 (25:48):
Yeah, but you didn't know. I didn't know. I had
no clue. It was just like I was just living
my life. But then all of a sudden, I was like,
wait a minute, Periy's late, this is happening whatever. And
then so I remember the next weekend, we were on
the road and the venue got us like a bottle
of champagne and you know, sold that show. Here's some champagne.
And then in my head, I was like, maybe I
(26:10):
shouldn't drink this, just in case I'm pregnant. And I'm like,
I have a pregnancy test at home in my drawer,
but I'm on the road and I'm like, I'm not
gonna have a runner, go get me a pregnancy test.
It's a random venue in Cleveland, Ohio, you know what
I mean. So I'm like, I'm just gonna wait till
I get home. So they give me champagne. I just
(26:31):
do like a little sip, and I'm just like, let
me do just in case. And then I get home.
I have not even twenty four hours that i'm home
before I get back on a flight to leave. So
I get home, I take my pregnancy test.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
So you do it with ham or my.
Speaker 3 (26:45):
Husband's gone already, so our next I get home from
Cleveland and then we're going to Hawaii. I have shows
in Hawaii, but it's also gonna be like a little vacation, right,
So my husband he went ahead and I'm gonna meet
him there. So I'm by myself at home with my dog,
and I'm I'm like, that's me and you Bonzo, like
me and you son. Let's let's see if I'm pregnant.
(27:07):
So I did a little pregnanty this, and part of
me I'm like, there's no way.
Speaker 1 (27:10):
Right, and after everything you've gone through.
Speaker 3 (27:13):
There's no way. It's just I'm late, I'm stressed. The
road I say it says pregnant and I and I
videotaped the whole thing, so I was like, let me
just in case, and I videotaped myself. My heart dropped.
My it's beating so fast, and I'm like, oh my god,
I have nobody to like share. It's just me and
my dog, and I'm like, no way, no way, and
(27:36):
it's I can't even call my husband because he's on
a plane to Hawaii on the phone either, like I
want to see him in person, and I'm like, well,
I can't tell any of my friends before I tell
my husband, Like what do I do? I try calling
my IVF doctor and I'm like is this can this
even happen? And then she's not answering her phone. I'm like,
(27:56):
nobody's answering their phone that I need to. And I'm like, Okay, well,
I guess this is just between me and God. That's it.
And Bonzo Me got in Bonzo, that's it. That was
for us. And so I had a full not even
twenty four hours, like a little bit more of this
information just to me and myself. Because then when I
(28:18):
got to why, I had to tell my husband and
like surprising with that information and it was just yeah,
it was a wild experience. So then obviously no more IVF.
Speaker 4 (28:28):
And yeah, is your husband also a comedian?
Speaker 1 (28:33):
No, he's in music to music, yeah Scarlett Santana.
Speaker 3 (28:37):
Yeah, yeah, which also makes it so bizarre pregnant.
Speaker 2 (28:46):
He still has pretty remarkable Did you.
Speaker 3 (28:50):
Not know my husband's in music? He started in Christian music, Okay, Yeah,
then he moved out of that into just you know,
regular mainstream music, and then now he does sink music
for TV shows commercials.
Speaker 1 (29:06):
It's amazing.
Speaker 2 (29:16):
So speaking of how special and special, Yes, it's a
perfect seguay to talk about your special. Yeah you have
a special, you shot it already, you're promoting it.
Speaker 3 (29:25):
Like, well, my most reason hour was called say I
Want What's on YouTube? My first self produced, self financed
special we founded at the Rhyme and Auditorium Tennessee. Let
me tell you put it up on a YouTube. It's
been incredible. And my next special I'm gonna put on
YouTube as well. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (29:45):
Like comparing that to like, you know, your your specials
on like the Commontential or Yeah, what's that been like
sort of the difference.
Speaker 3 (29:54):
In regards to everything. Okay, So I get to see
all the information, know all the information, be a part
of all the information, make the decisions that I want
to make. That that's the best part. Yeah. And when
(30:17):
my special first went up, the amount of views I
was getting on my special was right up with the
top specials that were happening on Netflix, but I was
just happening on YouTube. And YouTube has now become the
place where, like you said that, you get to own
your own stuff and it carries weight in regards to
(30:38):
if you're a touring comedian. A lot of these people
are finding my special on YouTube and Facebook videos. It's
wild the amount of people that have come to my
shows after I've been touring for seventeen eighteen years now,
and I ask my audience, who hears this is your
(30:58):
first time at my show? And it's seventy five percent
of the people there is their first time seeing me
because they're finding my YouTube that's my special.
Speaker 4 (31:07):
Has there been any cons, Like we're just talking about
all the pros and cons. Yeah, of it not being
on a Comedy Central or HBO versus like YouTube.
Speaker 3 (31:17):
The con is optics.
Speaker 1 (31:20):
Mm hmm, which affects.
Speaker 3 (31:22):
It how which affects in industry because YouTube is not
respected in the way Netflix is, right, So it's the optics.
Speaker 1 (31:35):
Of it all.
Speaker 3 (31:36):
So there's so many times fans will be like, oh,
I saw I saw your Netflix special, but they're not
talking about Netflix. They're talking about my when that's on YouTube.
But now Netflix just goes with comedy special, so they said, oh,
what are you doing your nets Netflix special? Because Netflix is.
Speaker 1 (31:52):
So known for standards such a major category.
Speaker 3 (31:56):
Exactly, so people just assume, oh, Netflix is the place,
like that is the peak if you can get a
Netflix special, you got street cred, You've made it.
Speaker 1 (32:09):
It's like that it used to becoming.
Speaker 4 (32:11):
Yeah, so how does the optics affect you though.
Speaker 3 (32:16):
Well, I would guess in storytelling within industry, like it's
still like the yes and nohers at the top that
Netflix still plays a really big role in things, whereas
I can show you my YouTube numbers.
Speaker 4 (32:33):
But oh, you mean if you mean, if you're trying
to ascend to.
Speaker 3 (32:36):
Like sure, getting booked for something, getting my show sold,
like it's a really it'll be eventually it will mean
the same thing that Netflix means. But right now it's
still like, oh, I'm on I'm on CBS or I'm
on Fox or I'm on Netflix. It still says something
(32:59):
different than oh, I'm on YouTube. Well, anyway, it can
be on YouTube right right now? Has that not quite?
Speaker 2 (33:04):
Because YouTube is doing some really disruptive programming. Yeah, programming
around here's programming around networks, and you know, it's most
of the world who can't access or can't pay for
a subscription, and it's finding amazing content, original content actually
there and they're being elevated on like single camera level,
like it's it's actually.
Speaker 3 (33:23):
Really cool people watch YouTube more than Netflix. Like Netflix
is the number one streaming excuse me, YouTube is the
number one streaming platform and it's YouTube and Google is
where people look for information. They look for their shows.
Most people are watching their shows on their phone, so
(33:44):
YouTube is really where people are spending their time. But
it's the same thing as if you got your show
on Fox, on NBC, CBS. It has a prestige, it
has some street cred to it. Even if it's subconscious,
it still has something with all these yes and know
(34:07):
whers at the top something I feel.
Speaker 2 (34:10):
Like you're doing what you did with Verizon and what
you did with you know, YouTube at the beginning, coming
back full circle to fundamentals, you know, you're going to
be available to and also think about an international markets.
If you're not distributed, if any if like you know,
you're not in Netflix UK.
Speaker 1 (34:26):
Then no one's going to see you're specially in Netflix UK,
right like.
Speaker 2 (34:29):
That, you know, very there's a certain amount of programs
that actually are unlocked for a global platform. You know,
some things are regional, you know, so I think YouTube
is one of those where you're like if if you're
somewhere in India, you're like I can find you, you know,
on YouTube, which I think is very very disruptive and
really really cool. And besides your specials and being that
(34:50):
forward thinking, you launch a podcast as well. Yes, with
fungula right, what what prompt you for for a podcast?
Speaker 1 (34:58):
If you weren't doing ready?
Speaker 3 (35:03):
I was like, how can I stay home more? How
can I be with my family, be with my daughter?
Touring is great, but I have to leave. How can
I be home? And I love having great conversations. So
(35:23):
my podcast is about gratitude. And gratitude is one of
the main tools that I use in my mental health
journey with anxiety, with whatever it is that I'm struggling
with or dealing with. Gratitude has always been the easiest
tool to use. It's free, and it's right there, it's
(35:45):
right in your pocket. You just you. You elevate your
vibration with gratitude. You change your perspective with gratitude. So
I practice gratitude in my life life. And I said,
let me have these great conversations with my guests about
what are they grateful for in their life, whether it
(36:07):
be a mentor they had when they were in third grade,
whether it be they found twenty dollars in their pocket
on the way here, like whatever it is is. Sometimes
it's super simple, and sometimes it's super deep and an
opportunity for maybe if you don't practice gratitude regularly, to
(36:31):
reflect and think about those moments in your life that
you are super grateful for. Because I helped you get
to hear and woo, and I've been able to have
some really cool conversations with people all centered in gratitude.
And we also do our matitude. We do our one maratitude,
and that's what's the thing that's making you mad these days,
like getting on your nerves. And even that could be
(36:53):
something so simple as my husband choose too loud.
Speaker 4 (36:58):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (37:00):
He tooos so loud. I can't even handle it. And
then sometimes it's very deep stuff about their family, my
relationship with my dad. It's not great and I wish
it was better. And so it's just a really fun
experience to have deep, meaningful conversations with people, enlightening conversations
(37:23):
and we laugh so much and then we cry, and
it's just such a journey that I get to go
on with people, learn about different people's lives. It's so
fun that I get to do that.
Speaker 2 (37:36):
No, And also you can see so much of what
you're working through in other people and through other people
and their experiences, and sometimes the secret sauce is in
other people's stories.
Speaker 3 (37:46):
Oh yeah, you.
Speaker 1 (37:47):
Can really walk away with those little diamonds that you're like,
Oh man, I really needed that.
Speaker 2 (37:51):
You know.
Speaker 1 (37:51):
We find here all the time.
Speaker 2 (37:53):
I mean, we have some really interesting conversations that kind
of realign perspective, realign priorities, you know, and most importantly,
kind of realize the stillness of we should be present
right now.
Speaker 3 (38:03):
You know.
Speaker 1 (38:04):
It's so hard to not think about what am I
doing tomorrow?
Speaker 2 (38:07):
You know, but but the stillness of the of the
world now, I think is the is It's really really great.
Speaker 1 (38:17):
You know.
Speaker 2 (38:17):
I'm so grateful that you came to share with us today.
I know how busy you stay, and I know how
much you're on the road all the time, and and
to be able to share with your fans and our
listeners and everybody on the show, you know, just kind
of your perspective and your beginning is make you make
you appreciate how iconic it is where you are right now.
Speaker 1 (38:34):
Thank you know, it's just really good to reflect.
Speaker 2 (38:37):
You know, because we we never look back right, like
you know, when you're grinding, you're like, you know, five
years ahead, five years yeah, So it's beautiful to look
back and to see you relieve those memories.
Speaker 1 (38:49):
It's very special.
Speaker 3 (38:50):
Thank you, Thank you for share these with you.
Speaker 4 (38:54):
Thank you for thank you for being our guest.
Speaker 3 (38:56):
Appreciate you, my pleasure.
Speaker 2 (38:59):
This is Freddie Roger and I'm Wilmer Valdama. Thank you
for being here on Those Amigos. If you're watching us,
what's up if you're listening to us, also what's up?
Speaker 1 (39:08):
And this was Angela Johnson Rayes. Thank you so much
for being with us.
Speaker 3 (39:12):
Thank you, Thank you.
Speaker 4 (39:17):
Dose Amigos is a production from WV Sound and iHeartMedia's
Michael through That Podcast Network, hosted by Me, Freddie Rodriguez
and Wilmri Valdorama.
Speaker 2 (39:26):
Those Amigos is produced by Aaron Burlson and Sophie Spencer Zabos.
Speaker 4 (39:30):
Our executive producers are Wilmri Valdorama, Freddie Rodriguez, Aaron Burlson,
and Leo Klem at WV Sound.
Speaker 2 (39:38):
This episode was shot and edited it by Ryan Posts
and mixed by Sean Tracy and features original music by
Madison Devenport and Helo boy Our.
Speaker 4 (39:45):
Cover art photography is by David Avalos and designed by
Deny holtz.
Speaker 2 (39:49):
Claw And thank you for being there third amigo today.
I appreciate you guys always listening to those amigos.
Speaker 4 (39:55):
More podcasts from My Heart, visit the R Heart Radio app,
Apple podcast, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.
Speaker 1 (40:01):
Is youre next week?
Speaker 4 (40:07):
Mm hmm
Hosts And Creators
Wilmer Valderrama
Freddy Rodriguez
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.