Sonya Curry & Lucille O'Neil Curry On 'Raising Fame,' Pushing Their Kids, Letting Them Live + More
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
What's up.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
It's way up with Angela ye Angela yee, of course,
and I have two special guests.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Joining me today.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
We have Sonya Curry in the building and doctor Lucille O'Neill.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
I can call you doctor right, yes, you prefer that? Okay?
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Well, perfect, And you guys have teamed up to put
out a new show, Raising Fame, which is all about
parents raising their children who have gone on to become
famous and some of the things that happen. And nobody
better to host that show than the two of you.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
You know clearly you both have famous children, very talented children.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
But that's not an easy journey.
Speaker 4 (00:39):
No, it's not. No, it's nothing. But with this program,
we're able to share a lot of the stories coming
from other parents because we often talk about how they're
then even ours is not there now and it's been
a journey to get to the place where all of
us are, and those are stories that we want to share.
But it's ironic how we came together. Sonya interviewed me for.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
The podcast and then you'll just hit it off, and
then we hit it off, and then we wanted to
present it as a TV show. We were like, well,
who's gonna host with me instead of Dell? And the
first person that I thought of, and the first person
that our producers, Eric and Tracy thought of was Lucille
and so bam, we were on you know, we were
(01:23):
in tandem with that and on the same page and
called her and graciously she said, yes, so here we are.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Doctor O'Neill.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
How was that for you being on that side of things?
I saw on the trailer you talked about like, you know,
you do get a little nervous when it's time to
be the person sitting in that chair interviewing someone.
Speaker 4 (01:41):
We get nervous, but we try to stay mindful of
who we talk who we're talking to, and we try
to put ourselves in that place because the tables could
turn right, and we're just mindful of the questions that
we ask and how we go about doing the interview.
But everyone that we talked to that we made them
feel comfortable. We were honored that they invited us into
their home and it has been working out really well.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
And being in their homes and going to the hometowns
and seeing where the journey started makes you more at ease.
Because all of our guests were just so welcoming, as
Lucille just said, and it was like we do it
at their kitchen tables or in their living rooms, and
you know, it was just talking. It was like talking
to friends about our children, you know, and so it's
just like, let's just sit down and let's just share,
(02:26):
you know, parental stories about you know, the ups, the downs,
the challenges that we had with parenting, and a lot
of times our faith, because that was a common theme
was our faith along the way. And you know, we
were blessed. I mean, everyone who's watches what is going
to watch this show is going to be blessed. But
every interview that Lucille and I left with, we left
(02:49):
with just like a fullness about just life and humanity
and just the community of parenting in general. And if
there's anything that parents and to love doing is talking
about their kids. My parents are always calling me from
some random place. I'm like, how do they know you're
my parents? Like y'all just walked in somewhere because they
(03:10):
used to love to go places. They're like, oh, I'm
here with the person at the supermarket. They want to
say hi.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
I'm like, now, how did this even come up?
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Were you guys like that as mom's like at first
initially when your kids were kind of starting to blow up,
uh to go places and kind of like bragging on
your kids.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
You know, we're still in that place.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
Yeah, we are. Their journey's still going right.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
Yeah. I have to remind people sometimes my name is
Lucille and because they call me Shaq's mama, and then
I say, well, I got other children too. I'm Latifa's mama,
Ayisha's mom's mom's mom, not only Shaq's mom.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
So we got yes, how was that too?
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Just because you know Afy with Shaquille, with Steph Curry,
they're very super superstars. But then you guys do also
have their children, and you want to make sure that
you know, sometimes people could feel a way it's.
Speaker 4 (04:01):
A family affair. It would be different if they were
not included in the things that Shaquille does. But he
includes the entire family. And I was telling one of
the young ladies that we were speaking to in the
green room that after a while, our young boys, our
young men, became become our daddies. They want to be
the boy. The boys want to become our daddies. But
our family is very protective of each other. And has
(04:22):
been working out very well.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
How much did he weighed when he was born?
Speaker 4 (04:26):
Seven to eleven?
Speaker 3 (04:26):
Okay, that's not even men, I mean poor little stephth
something happened along the way. I don't know what you mean,
checked because I definitely, but you know, to your point,
it was just you know, as a family, you know
you have sibling ravelies in general, right, you had the
craziest on the crazy yes, and so you know you
(04:47):
have to really rear your children to not think about that.
Like in our house, we are not competitors. We are
protectors of each other. And you know, all three of
my children have established some notoriety, all three of them.
And then but the beautiful thing along the way of
raising them was we are all in this together. You know,
(05:09):
we're one big machine. We're one big Curry family, and
so everybody, you know, serves a purpose in creating who
we are. And so everybody, you know, Lucille and I
have talked about this a lot, and with other parents.
You know, we make sure that we let them know
that everybody was created for a purpose. Yes, and you
know they have to be nurtured that way. Independently. We
(05:33):
have this thing in our family where it's like we
treat you, we treat you equally, but not the same, okay,
because equally means I'm gonna give you one hundred percent
of me as a parent, but it's gonna look a
little bit different because y'all are a little bit different.
And so meeting them where they each were individually, I
think gave them the confidence to not be jealous of
(05:54):
each other, but to know they're doing the best and
what they've been called to do, and so they can
cheer each other on doing this show raising fame make you,
guys think about how you were raised and the lessons
that you learned from your parents growing up, and if
you could share a little bit of some of the
reflections that you had while you were interviewing people like
John Legend and Danielle Brooks and Kevin Durant and you know,
(06:18):
Chadwick Boseman's parents, even what were some of the things
that you guys were thinking about about how you were
raised and what brought you to be in this space
that you're in right now. What I loved about being raised,
you know, from my mom, was that she was always
there to cheer me on, like she never put any
parameters around anything that I did, and whatever I did,
(06:38):
she was always present. She was there cheering me on,
sometimes more than I wanted her to. And I found
myself and my kids got older, I'm in the stands
as people are, you know, I'm seeing on TV a lot.
I'm just the loud one, you know, and Delle was
the more subdued one. And so sometimes I catch myself going, oh,
you're acting just like your mom, So chill out a
little bit, because I was. Yeah, because I'd be embarrassed
(07:01):
when my mama's doing that sometimes. So I'm like, I
know they're embarrassed. Yeah, yeah. Being present, just being present with.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
Them, well, I often think about when my mother used
to tell me, when you see the gift and your children,
you need to nurture the gift. And so that's what
I try to do with all of my children because
they all have a special gift. I believe that everyone
has a gift anyway. But my mother told me she
looked at Shaquill one day, she said that one right there,
that one right there, he's special. And I just believe,
(07:31):
because of his presence in this world that he is
a special kind of a man. And I continue to
push and nurture that, and then I tell Jamal, Jamal,
you can't be Shaquille. Shaquille, You're absolutely not Jamal Tief.
You can't be the Issha Aisha never tried to be Latifa.
So all of them have a special gift for just
being warm and kind and generous and compassionate. We try
(07:55):
to really, really just continue to teach them to do that.
And when we sit around and talk with the parents,
we realized that all of us are in a place
where we can relate to each other. The folk that
we interviewed there on the other side of the table,
but the stories that they tell us, some of them
have We've been there, done that might be in the
same place, but it blesses us to be able to
(08:16):
hear what they're telling us so that we can share
in their place that they're in. It's so amazing. I
can't wait for the viewers to watch it. We prayed,
we laughed, we cried, and they're going to be doing
all of that when they see this program.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
How did you guys decide which would be the premiere episode?
Because I know that's a big deal too. When you
think about, Okay, this show is coming out. It's going
to be out July seventh, by the way, at ten pm,
nine Central on TV one. But Danielle Brooks and her
parents are first. Both of her parents are present for
that interview and throughout. So how did you decide on
(08:49):
that one as the premiere?
Speaker 3 (08:51):
We didn't really have a say, you know, the network
TV one, and then our producers Eric and Tacy, Thank you.
Eric and Tracy similar actually have worked on that behind
the scenes. And I'm kind of glad because we would
leave every episode this was going to be first, and
(09:11):
then we get to the next one, We're like, oh, man,
well this one's going to be first, and so all
of them to us had a special place in our hearts.
So I'm glad we didn't have to decide.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
And as a surprise, I have an episode with my
children and Shaquille and we haven't told anybody that, so
I let the cat out of the bag and I
had to do that.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
I had to do that one all by myself.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
But y'all know each other so well now, I'm sure
like that is like having a conversation with a friend.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
And you guys have a lot in common.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
You're both authors as well, so congratulations, thank you on that.
And I want to talk about these but what these
book titles? So walk like you got.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Somewhere to go, Walk like you have like you have
somewhere to go. Sorry, sorry for.
Speaker 4 (09:56):
My no, that's okay, but we're gonna get it right.
In the subti, it is from mental welfare to mental wealth.
And I talk about forty years of my life. How
when Shaquil was born, I had no business being a mother.
But going back, I was only seventeen, about to be eighteen,
and I in my memoir. They called it a memoir,
(10:16):
but I call it a testimony. I tell her about
the years that I traveled. I was not always in
a good place, but God has blessed me. I'm in
a better place now and I'm wealthy, mentally wealthy. And
there was a time when I was And so it
doesn't have anything to do with the dollar bill. But
I got a sound.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
Mind and he went back to school.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
I went back to school, and I was in my forties,
late forties. And when you have a dream, I tell
young people, when you have a dream, don't ever let
go of it. Because I was coming out of high
school when Shaquil was born. But I always had a
dream to go to college. We teach our children you
need a college education, go to college, and I felt
bad because I didn't have any. But God blessed Shakil.
(10:58):
He said, Mommy, if you go to college and you
keep your grades up, I'll pay your tuition. So I
had driving. I wanted to go to college.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
That's a.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
Boy parents, I'm so lady.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
It's not a forever student.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
So I love that because I felt like, no matter what,
like I'm the type of person I'm still taking classes
and courses. I just took my real estate exam this
year and passed and got my license in that. But
I think you can never learn enough. And I think
if you have a dream and being able to pursue something,
what was that like for you to actually get your
It was rewarding.
Speaker 4 (11:34):
And you know why I was rewarding because I took
the classes, I did the work, and they didn't have
to just hand it to me. And that was so
amazing to me because over forty, you know, it's not
kicking in like it used to when you were twenty
and twenty five.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
I'd be forgetting everything.
Speaker 4 (11:47):
Thought I fought for it, and I'm so happy that
I completed the courses. When I think about it, it's
a permanent smile on my face because the journey from
going to Bethune cook me in University Fee Poenix, then
back to Bathune cooked me and working on the board.
It's so rewarding for me because I put in the work,
and I tell young people put in the work, you're
(12:08):
going to be rewarded.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
And didn't you graduate? Come loud to yes, ma'am. Okay,
I just want to make sure we don't forget that part.
Speaker 4 (12:14):
Too, I did.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
You really do have to earn?
Speaker 4 (12:19):
Yes?
Speaker 2 (12:20):
And for you, Sonya, your book is called fairst Love
all right. And I saw Steph Cary actually sat down
and did a nice interview with you for the for
the for the book to come out.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
Yes, that must have been fun to have him sit
there and interview you. It was an audience, you.
Speaker 3 (12:35):
Know, to have your child sit and well, sometimes it
can be a little intimidating because you're like, do they
remember the stories that I put in in the book.
My middle son, Seth had made me laugh because they
interviewed him and he was like, I don't remember none
of that, and I'm like, dude, But it was fun
because they participated in it. Like I asked them to
give me their top three memories of them growing up
(12:58):
and parenting, and so they did. So they participated in
what went in the book. But for me, it was
you know, it was some healing that went into that
because you get to go all the way back to
when I was a child, and you know, to speak
to your question before of how we were raised, how
it affected how I raised my children, to go all
(13:19):
the way back to the beginning of my childhood and
bring it forth to where we are right now, my
children and being adults, and so I got to kind
of revisit my life up until fifty years of age,
and so there were really moments of being proud, but
there were also a lot of moments of vulnerability, of
(13:39):
sharing stories with other people, and very therapeutic and rewarding
because I never thought I'd be an author, right, never thought. So,
you know, you talk about the degree and becoming a
doctor and me becoming you know, an author. I just
shake my head and I smiled to because it's like
(14:01):
what we say, you say, don't say a book say,
you know, it's your testimony, and we all have testimonies
in us. Everybody's life is a book.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
So and I think it's timing too, like when is
the right time to write a book, because you know,
I think about that too, and I never wanted to
do something like that too early. I just and it's
also hard because it is, you like putting a lot
of things and trying to figure out like what's too
much to give, what's the balance of like what I
want to say, because you're also when you tell your
(14:32):
storytelling other people's stories as well, because that plays.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
A role in who you are, you know.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
And Angela the ghostwriter that I had, excuse me, the
ghostwriter that I had, you know, he told me, you know,
once we put that our stories on paper, it really
is no longer our book. It's no longer our story
because people take our stories and they you know, encompass
(14:57):
them into their lives and then they use it whichever
way they want to use or need to use it.
And so at the end of the day, I just
wanted to make sure that my story could help and
encourage somebody else along this journey of parenting, because it's
not easy and there's a.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
Lot of honesty that you had, you know, in yours
and You're right. Once you do, it is not just
your story anymore. You're sharing that and people will interpret
it how they want. They'll critique what they want to critique,
they'll support what they want to support. But everybody's going
to have a different emotion attached to it, and sometimes
like we cannot make ourselves seem perfect.
Speaker 4 (15:34):
But that is the plan to put it out there
because you know that there are so many people that
have that same story. A lot of things remain the same.
The only thing that changes is the name.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
Right.
Speaker 4 (15:44):
I found out to be true.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Yes, And you guys had a great interview with Magic
Johnson and had the opportunity to talk and it was
so honest, like to hear you guys pulling things out
of people that I don't know if anybody could handle
it with a degree of you know, delicateness that you
were able to do that as well, coming from the
space that you guys are coming from. Just to hear
(16:08):
him talk about even like getting diagnosed with HIV and
being so open and vulnerable about that situation and also
how that affects your family, because that is something that
not only did he say that, but it's also now
your mom is dealing with you know, all of that
and having to speak on that too.
Speaker 4 (16:25):
Well, Angela, we put ourselves in Miss Chris's place and
we were able to just see it from both sides
and being able to sit down and just talk with Magic,
Miss Chris and other members of the family. It was
a blessing for us as well, right, And we believe
in having compassion. You know, we talked, we looked over
the questions that we were going to ask. We didn't pull,
(16:46):
we didn't pull. We made them comfortable and we got
comfortable too, just like we're sitting down talking now. We
felt that home and they felt that home with us,
and that's why they were able to open up with us.
And Magic felt really comfortable telling him story and.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
That's why we're also just so I mean, hearing you
recount that just took me to that place of sitting
with him. And that's why this show is so special.
It's just not a show. It's just not it's not
reality TV. It is real TV. And these are people
doing interviews that have never done interviews before. But somehow
(17:22):
God has opened their hearts to us and allowed us
to come into their homes and to hear these stories.
I mean the late Chad with Bozman's parents never done
an interview before and after his passing. They're still grieving
and they were like, they don't even want to say
his name through because of their grief. And so to
allow cameras, Luscill and I to come in and talk
(17:46):
about a trust that that's God, that's God saying he
needed this for the world. So you know, we're this
is serious for us. This is just not about Hollywood
or our fame or anything. It is really about building
community around truth and around vulnerability and around encouragement as parents.
(18:10):
Because nobody sets out to say I'm gonna raise a
famous person. We just need to make sure we don't
get in the way. It is what needs to happen
as parents. And so you know, this is this is
a This is a wonderful, wonderful opportunity for anyone who
will watch it. For us, after we've been a part
(18:31):
of it, the producers, the network, it has just been
a wonderful, blessed experience for us.
Speaker 4 (18:38):
And besides that, it's not our story to tell, right, yes,
and so we appreciate the opportunity has come that a
lot of people can tell their own story we've been
dealing with social media for a while. We've been dealing
with media for a while. We sit down talking to
people and they don't always get the story the way
we've given it. But this time, you're gonna get honesty.
(19:00):
You're gonna get the story, and it's coming from the
person that can only tell it the way that it
should be told.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
Man, I'm looking forward to seeing all of the episodes.
Like I told you guys beforehand, I've seen two of them,
and the other one I saw was Fantasia. And so
we were talking earlier about being a teenage mom, and
Fantasia's mom was a teenage mom. Fantasia was a teenage mom,
and there's a stigma that can be attached to that.
But look at the success that all of you have
(19:27):
had in raising your children, and you know, I just
love that because sometimes people think you can't have it all,
or you know, it's just like, oh man, this is
a throwaway or whatever. But look at that, Like, I
just love the way that she was able to tell
that story, even talking about Fantasia's name, you know, and
how she decided to name her daughter Fantasia, Like that
(19:48):
was such an interesting story to me and something that
I've never heard before.
Speaker 4 (19:52):
You're gonna hear a lot that you've never heard because seriously,
and it's gonna bless you as well.
Speaker 3 (19:59):
And the other part about the show that it's not
even just about the parents telling the story. It is
an opportunity for the celebrity to actually tell a love
letter to their parents. And you know, we had Billy
Porter Jr. In his you know, that interview with his
mom and sister together, and then you know, his mom's
(20:22):
recently passed, so they'll have this show that's beautiful to
keep forever. And you know, they may have they wouldn't
have had it. I won't say they may not have
had it, they would not have had it, but if
it had not been for this show. So those are
the things that people are going to see and we're
(20:43):
really proud of.
Speaker 1 (20:45):
And I know some of.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
These episodes will say parents, but then also and his
mom right now where there situations where like we would
have loved for the father to be involved. There are
some yes and it just didn't happen the way yes, okay,
And some of the episodes you know that we've done,
even like with the podcast was you know, it was
older siblings.
Speaker 3 (21:05):
So you know, as we continue with the show, it's
really just about whoever raised the celebrity or had and
you know, some input and influence into their lives. So yeah,
their dads or moms and grandparents and you know, siblings.
As we talked about who played huge roles in the
celebrities lives raising them.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
When we think about work ethic, right, and you know,
sometimes we can watch some of these documentaries and be like,
their parents were so hard on them, they made them
do X, Y and Z. I want to know what
your guys does, because there is a balance between pushing
your children to be their best. But then sometimes people
feel it, Like I think when we watch things today,
(21:47):
people take things differently. Some people are like, their parents
were so hard on them, They're so strict. Why are
you doing that to a kid? Why can't you let
them be a kid? Versus I see the talent in
you and I want to push you to be the
best that you can be.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
Can you speak that.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
A little bit as far as your own experiences with
your children?
Speaker 4 (22:03):
I want to say, Angela communication has been so important
in our family because Shaquille had a dream and we
realize that in order to help that dream manifest, he
would have to be the one to put in the work.
But the foundation that was laid the family is gonna
support you. It made it a little easier for him
because he knew that he had to put in the work,
(22:23):
and we just continue to encourage him. It wasn't easy
because a lot of times he didn't want to do it.
But the encouragement that a parent gives to the child
is so important because they think they're alone if they're
trying to do it one way, and then they have
the influence from the outside world. But when you have
that family support, that system in itself, it makes for
a better a better person. They learn how to work
(22:46):
because what you want you have to work for. It
is not given to you. So in all of that,
the work ethic is made. Whatever you want, you go
to work. You don't wait for anybody to give it
to you. So it starts way back when. And we
all we as parents have dreams too. Our dreams may
come later because we learn how to put them first,
(23:07):
but yet and still we all put into work.
Speaker 3 (23:10):
And I'm probably one of those parents that then rehab
for being too hard. Talked to earlier about the fact
that I also was ran to school, started my own schools. Yeah,
and so my kids had to go to school with
me till sixth grade. And then, you know, and then
I'm coaching to coach my daughter, and I'm just always
(23:30):
on them. I know, they just felt like if this woman,
don't go away. But you know, and there are moments,
like I say this in my book, there's moments where
I'm like, was I too hard? You know? Was I
too hard? Or let me put it this way, did
I play enough of you know, like the mommy role
where I'm the nurture one or whatever, or was I
(23:50):
just always coaching and teaching? Right? And then we do
an episode with one of the celebrities whose mom managed
and he said, there's sometimes where I just wanted my
mom to hug me, and she's saying, I want to
just help you. I got to help you. This is
my job. I got to look after you. And so
(24:11):
she's in that mindset of that, and he's going, I
appreciate that, but there are moments where I just need
my mom. So you know, we'll hear stories about that
and where it is it's a balance of you want
to help them, you want to be present. You want
to nurture them, but you can't forget that they just
(24:32):
need their parents, and that our roles change along the way.
You know, you're one way, you know when they're babies,
and you're this when as they get older, high school
and then college and then I've just settled in on
right now as the adult because we're still a parents
and they're still progressing in their journeys of celebrity. Is
just be present and pray because it's all I can
(24:54):
do now. And I'm somewhat trying to get back some
of those moments of just us being present and not
having to help solve anything or coach them. Just as
Lucille Selton, just listen. They just need to listen. They
don't need advice anymore.
Speaker 4 (25:12):
And I made mention a few years back when I
had dealings with a lot of the mothers of the
professional basketball players. I reminded them, you're not the girlfriend,
you are still the mother. So we all had to
make sure we stayed in our place. Yeah, we're gonna
always be the mother. Can't be the girlfriend. And we
get a little extra money, we want to wear the
(25:32):
diamonds and drive the beautiful cars, but we're not the girlfriends.
Speaker 3 (25:37):
Or wives or wives.
Speaker 2 (25:38):
Thank yeah, you said you had to learn to be
like well that you raised your signs just like, okay,
now y'all take over for the wives.
Speaker 3 (25:50):
Yes they're yours.
Speaker 1 (25:51):
Yeah, it's all yours, you know.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
And I'm sure it's hard also seeing things like in
the press and all the drama sometimes and now you.
Speaker 1 (25:58):
Gotta be like, what's going on over there?
Speaker 2 (26:00):
Do you mind your business when it comes to that
or do you actually ask questions?
Speaker 3 (26:04):
Mind your business?
Speaker 4 (26:06):
I do both. I'm gonna ask questions and I'm going, well, well,
you talk about bounds, we know when to let up,
and we know the pressing.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
That's hilarious now where Stephen's had very competitive against each
other because you know, it is such a competitive sport
and for both of them to have the success that
they've had, what do you teach.
Speaker 1 (26:29):
Them at home? Are they going at it like I
love it?
Speaker 3 (26:32):
Because we're a very competitive family anyway. So if it's
gonna be.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
Like I'm not talking to you, yeah, but you know,
as long as you're respectful to each other and you learn,
you use those as teachable moments to you, you know,
of making sure the priority is right.
Speaker 3 (26:47):
You know, I'd be pissed too if I lost, so
I couldn't like get on them for getting mad. When
you know my middle so, Stephen cheats. He cheats. Y'all
always called fouls for him, and I was like, no,
we're not wanting up in here. You know, you're just
going to figure this out. So you know, you just
learn how to just bring positive out of that. And
those are the things of life too, so you use
(27:10):
them as life teaching moments, and uh, it's fun because
we're a competitive family. So I try not to squash
competition because that's what they need to be successful, right know.
They have to have that drive to want to beat
the next person, whether it's going into an office or
on a court, or on a stage or wherever you're
going to be, whatever genre of business and professionalism you're in,
(27:34):
you need that. You need that inner drive and competition
to be the.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
Best and dactor, Lasille Oil, I want to ask you
since we've been talking about this mental health journey, and
I think today the newer generation is definitely a lot
more aware of their mental health and the space that
they need. I feel like things were a lot different.
It was more like teughing up. You know, man, do
(28:00):
what you got to do, and we try to make
sure that we don't show any weakness. But now it's
a little different, you know. So how do you think
the game has changed, and how do you think in general,
like that type of competition has changed as we're talking
about mental health on the court and also making sure
that people are good in that way too.
Speaker 4 (28:17):
I think it's changed through the communication because the mindset
that we had a long time ago, it was, you know,
we held a lot of things inside. But now we're
able to open up, We're able to talk to other people,
We're able to learn from our experiences, and that has
helped change your whole mindset. And when I talk about
mental welfare, that was a place where a lot of
(28:37):
people were in where you depended on other people for
your own happiness. But the happiness that you experienced, it
comes from within you. So your mind gets a little stronger.
And we laugh when we think about talking to yourself,
but you have to talk to yourself and encourage yourself.
It helps you. So I think that today we're able
to just change that mindset and forget about how it
(29:01):
was before and think about how it is right now
and communication has become key.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
Well, both of you ladies have accomplished so much, and
now this show is coming out July seventh, by the way,
on TV one.
Speaker 1 (29:13):
So what else is on the bucket list for both
of you?
Speaker 2 (29:16):
As we've been sitting here talking about everything that you've done,
what are some things still that you're like?
Speaker 1 (29:22):
Okay, next on the list?
Speaker 3 (29:24):
Season two? Yes? Oh yeah, just to continue this. I
don't know what God has on the horizon for me
at this point because I'm learning now that I'm a
little older to be in the moment. You know, a
lot of times you talk about mental health, we just
don't stay in the moment, right what is the next thing?
(29:45):
And we let the world tell us that it's not enough?
And so this is great. I just want to continue
to improve the show, get more guests on it, you know,
diversify the guests as well, and just keep this moving
until its season is over. Okay, enjoy the season though,
(30:07):
good enough.
Speaker 4 (30:08):
And for me, although I would like to see a
season two, I'm becoming more involved in community. Just move
to Atlanta and I want to become more involved my
family and I we raise money for nursing scholarships in
honor of our mother, So I want to continue to
do that. We have a fundraising event every year of
Faith and Fellowship lunching, so as long as we can,
(30:29):
we want to be able to build up the Odessa
Chambliss Quality of Life Fund. That's what our organization is called,
and we raise money for different schools, colleges, universities, and
I want to continue to do that and broaden that horizon.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
Okay, I love that, and you have the great platform
to do that, so we appreciate you. I love when
people are in the position to give back and they do.
You know, that's what it's all about. But thank you
guys both for joining me today. I'm really looking forward
to seeing the episodes I haven't seen yet based off
of what I've seen already, So I appreciate you for
the work you're doing it. I could see this turning
into more than a series, but maybe a whole movement.
(31:05):
Maybe this could play into, you know, the nonprofit. I
don't know, but I could see this becoming even more
because moms a lot of times and families need help,
and so you know, it's nice to see that you
guys are here to talk about that whole process.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
Thank you so much for having us and giving us
this opportunity. Thank you, all right, we appreciate you. Yeah,
thank you.
Speaker 2 (31:27):
All right, you guys, we are way up.
What's up.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
It's way up with Angela ye Angela yee, of course,
and I have two special guests.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Joining me today.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
We have Sonya Curry in the building and doctor Lucille O'Neill.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
I can call you doctor right, yes, you prefer that? Okay?
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Well, perfect, And you guys have teamed up to put
out a new show, Raising Fame, which is all about
parents raising their children who have gone on to become
famous and some of the things that happen. And nobody
better to host that show than the two of you.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
You know clearly you both have famous children, very talented children.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
But that's not an easy journey.
Speaker 4 (00:39):
No, it's not. No, it's nothing. But with this program,
we're able to share a lot of the stories coming
from other parents because we often talk about how they're
then even ours is not there now and it's been
a journey to get to the place where all of
us are, and those are stories that we want to share.
But it's ironic how we came together. Sonya interviewed me for.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
The podcast and then you'll just hit it off, and
then we hit it off, and then we wanted to
present it as a TV show. We were like, well,
who's gonna host with me instead of Dell? And the
first person that I thought of, and the first person
that our producers, Eric and Tracy thought of was Lucille
and so bam, we were on you know, we were
(01:23):
in tandem with that and on the same page and
called her and graciously she said, yes, so here we are.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Doctor O'Neill.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
How was that for you being on that side of things?
I saw on the trailer you talked about like, you know,
you do get a little nervous when it's time to
be the person sitting in that chair interviewing someone.
Speaker 4 (01:41):
We get nervous, but we try to stay mindful of
who we talk who we're talking to, and we try
to put ourselves in that place because the tables could
turn right, and we're just mindful of the questions that
we ask and how we go about doing the interview.
But everyone that we talked to that we made them
feel comfortable. We were honored that they invited us into
their home and it has been working out really well.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
And being in their homes and going to the hometowns
and seeing where the journey started makes you more at ease.
Because all of our guests were just so welcoming, as
Lucille just said, and it was like we do it
at their kitchen tables or in their living rooms, and
you know, it was just talking. It was like talking
to friends about our children, you know, and so it's
just like, let's just sit down and let's just share,
(02:26):
you know, parental stories about you know, the ups, the downs,
the challenges that we had with parenting, and a lot
of times our faith, because that was a common theme
was our faith along the way. And you know, we
were blessed. I mean, everyone who's watches what is going
to watch this show is going to be blessed. But
every interview that Lucille and I left with, we left
(02:49):
with just like a fullness about just life and humanity
and just the community of parenting in general. And if
there's anything that parents and to love doing is talking
about their kids. My parents are always calling me from
some random place. I'm like, how do they know you're
my parents? Like y'all just walked in somewhere because they
(03:10):
used to love to go places. They're like, oh, I'm
here with the person at the supermarket. They want to
say hi.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
I'm like, now, how did this even come up?
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Were you guys like that as mom's like at first
initially when your kids were kind of starting to blow up,
uh to go places and kind of like bragging on
your kids.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
You know, we're still in that place.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
Yeah, we are. Their journey's still going right.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
Yeah. I have to remind people sometimes my name is
Lucille and because they call me Shaq's mama, and then
I say, well, I got other children too. I'm Latifa's mama,
Ayisha's mom's mom's mom, not only Shaq's mom.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
So we got yes, how was that too?
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Just because you know Afy with Shaquille, with Steph Curry,
they're very super superstars. But then you guys do also
have their children, and you want to make sure that
you know, sometimes people could feel a way it's.
Speaker 4 (04:01):
A family affair. It would be different if they were
not included in the things that Shaquille does. But he
includes the entire family. And I was telling one of
the young ladies that we were speaking to in the
green room that after a while, our young boys, our
young men, became become our daddies. They want to be
the boy. The boys want to become our daddies. But
our family is very protective of each other. And has
(04:22):
been working out very well.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
How much did he weighed when he was born?
Speaker 4 (04:26):
Seven to eleven?
Speaker 3 (04:26):
Okay, that's not even men, I mean poor little stephth
something happened along the way. I don't know what you mean,
checked because I definitely, but you know, to your point,
it was just you know, as a family, you know
you have sibling ravelies in general, right, you had the
craziest on the crazy yes, and so you know you
(04:47):
have to really rear your children to not think about that.
Like in our house, we are not competitors. We are
protectors of each other. And you know, all three of
my children have established some notoriety, all three of them.
And then but the beautiful thing along the way of
raising them was we are all in this together. You know,
(05:09):
we're one big machine. We're one big Curry family, and
so everybody, you know, serves a purpose in creating who
we are. And so everybody, you know, Lucille and I
have talked about this a lot, and with other parents.
You know, we make sure that we let them know
that everybody was created for a purpose. Yes, and you
know they have to be nurtured that way. Independently. We
(05:33):
have this thing in our family where it's like we
treat you, we treat you equally, but not the same, okay,
because equally means I'm gonna give you one hundred percent
of me as a parent, but it's gonna look a
little bit different because y'all are a little bit different.
And so meeting them where they each were individually, I
think gave them the confidence to not be jealous of
(05:54):
each other, but to know they're doing the best and
what they've been called to do, and so they can
cheer each other on doing this show raising fame make you,
guys think about how you were raised and the lessons
that you learned from your parents growing up, and if
you could share a little bit of some of the
reflections that you had while you were interviewing people like
John Legend and Danielle Brooks and Kevin Durant and you know,
(06:18):
Chadwick Boseman's parents, even what were some of the things
that you guys were thinking about about how you were
raised and what brought you to be in this space
that you're in right now. What I loved about being raised,
you know, from my mom, was that she was always
there to cheer me on, like she never put any
parameters around anything that I did, and whatever I did,
(06:38):
she was always present. She was there cheering me on,
sometimes more than I wanted her to. And I found
myself and my kids got older, I'm in the stands
as people are, you know, I'm seeing on TV a lot.
I'm just the loud one, you know, and Delle was
the more subdued one. And so sometimes I catch myself going, oh,
you're acting just like your mom, So chill out a
little bit, because I was. Yeah, because I'd be embarrassed
(07:01):
when my mama's doing that sometimes. So I'm like, I
know they're embarrassed. Yeah, yeah. Being present, just being present with.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
Them, well, I often think about when my mother used
to tell me, when you see the gift and your children,
you need to nurture the gift. And so that's what
I try to do with all of my children because
they all have a special gift. I believe that everyone
has a gift anyway. But my mother told me she
looked at Shaquill one day, she said that one right there,
that one right there, he's special. And I just believe,
(07:31):
because of his presence in this world that he is
a special kind of a man. And I continue to
push and nurture that, and then I tell Jamal, Jamal,
you can't be Shaquille. Shaquille, You're absolutely not Jamal Tief.
You can't be the Issha Aisha never tried to be Latifa.
So all of them have a special gift for just
being warm and kind and generous and compassionate. We try
(07:55):
to really, really just continue to teach them to do that.
And when we sit around and talk with the parents,
we realized that all of us are in a place
where we can relate to each other. The folk that
we interviewed there on the other side of the table,
but the stories that they tell us, some of them
have We've been there, done that might be in the
same place, but it blesses us to be able to
(08:16):
hear what they're telling us so that we can share
in their place that they're in. It's so amazing. I
can't wait for the viewers to watch it. We prayed,
we laughed, we cried, and they're going to be doing
all of that when they see this program.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
How did you guys decide which would be the premiere episode?
Because I know that's a big deal too. When you
think about, Okay, this show is coming out. It's going
to be out July seventh, by the way, at ten pm,
nine Central on TV one. But Danielle Brooks and her
parents are first. Both of her parents are present for
that interview and throughout. So how did you decide on
(08:49):
that one as the premiere?
Speaker 3 (08:51):
We didn't really have a say, you know, the network
TV one, and then our producers Eric and Tacy, Thank you.
Eric and Tracy similar actually have worked on that behind
the scenes. And I'm kind of glad because we would
leave every episode this was going to be first, and
(09:11):
then we get to the next one, We're like, oh, man,
well this one's going to be first, and so all
of them to us had a special place in our hearts.
So I'm glad we didn't have to decide.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
And as a surprise, I have an episode with my
children and Shaquille and we haven't told anybody that, so
I let the cat out of the bag and I
had to do that.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
I had to do that one all by myself.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
But y'all know each other so well now, I'm sure
like that is like having a conversation with a friend.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
And you guys have a lot in common.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
You're both authors as well, so congratulations, thank you on that.
And I want to talk about these but what these
book titles? So walk like you got.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Somewhere to go, Walk like you have like you have
somewhere to go. Sorry, sorry for.
Speaker 4 (09:56):
My no, that's okay, but we're gonna get it right.
In the subti, it is from mental welfare to mental wealth.
And I talk about forty years of my life. How
when Shaquil was born, I had no business being a mother.
But going back, I was only seventeen, about to be eighteen,
and I in my memoir. They called it a memoir,
(10:16):
but I call it a testimony. I tell her about
the years that I traveled. I was not always in
a good place, but God has blessed me. I'm in
a better place now and I'm wealthy, mentally wealthy. And
there was a time when I was And so it
doesn't have anything to do with the dollar bill. But
I got a sound.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
Mind and he went back to school.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
I went back to school, and I was in my forties,
late forties. And when you have a dream, I tell
young people, when you have a dream, don't ever let
go of it. Because I was coming out of high
school when Shaquil was born. But I always had a
dream to go to college. We teach our children you
need a college education, go to college, and I felt
bad because I didn't have any. But God blessed Shakil.
(10:58):
He said, Mommy, if you go to college and you
keep your grades up, I'll pay your tuition. So I
had driving. I wanted to go to college.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
That's a.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
Boy parents, I'm so lady.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
It's not a forever student.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
So I love that because I felt like, no matter what,
like I'm the type of person I'm still taking classes
and courses. I just took my real estate exam this
year and passed and got my license in that. But
I think you can never learn enough. And I think
if you have a dream and being able to pursue something,
what was that like for you to actually get your
It was rewarding.
Speaker 4 (11:34):
And you know why I was rewarding because I took
the classes, I did the work, and they didn't have
to just hand it to me. And that was so
amazing to me because over forty, you know, it's not
kicking in like it used to when you were twenty
and twenty five.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
I'd be forgetting everything.
Speaker 4 (11:47):
Thought I fought for it, and I'm so happy that
I completed the courses. When I think about it, it's
a permanent smile on my face because the journey from
going to Bethune cook me in University Fee Poenix, then
back to Bathune cooked me and working on the board.
It's so rewarding for me because I put in the work,
and I tell young people put in the work, you're
(12:08):
going to be rewarded.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
And didn't you graduate? Come loud to yes, ma'am. Okay,
I just want to make sure we don't forget that part.
Speaker 4 (12:14):
Too, I did.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
You really do have to earn?
Speaker 4 (12:19):
Yes?
Speaker 2 (12:20):
And for you, Sonya, your book is called fairst Love
all right. And I saw Steph Cary actually sat down
and did a nice interview with you for the for
the for the book to come out.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
Yes, that must have been fun to have him sit
there and interview you. It was an audience, you.
Speaker 3 (12:35):
Know, to have your child sit and well, sometimes it
can be a little intimidating because you're like, do they
remember the stories that I put in in the book.
My middle son, Seth had made me laugh because they
interviewed him and he was like, I don't remember none
of that, and I'm like, dude, But it was fun
because they participated in it. Like I asked them to
give me their top three memories of them growing up
(12:58):
and parenting, and so they did. So they participated in
what went in the book. But for me, it was
you know, it was some healing that went into that
because you get to go all the way back to
when I was a child, and you know, to speak
to your question before of how we were raised, how
it affected how I raised my children, to go all
(13:19):
the way back to the beginning of my childhood and
bring it forth to where we are right now, my
children and being adults, and so I got to kind
of revisit my life up until fifty years of age,
and so there were really moments of being proud, but
there were also a lot of moments of vulnerability, of
(13:39):
sharing stories with other people, and very therapeutic and rewarding
because I never thought I'd be an author, right, never thought. So,
you know, you talk about the degree and becoming a
doctor and me becoming you know, an author. I just
shake my head and I smiled to because it's like
(14:01):
what we say, you say, don't say a book say,
you know, it's your testimony, and we all have testimonies
in us. Everybody's life is a book.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
So and I think it's timing too, like when is
the right time to write a book, because you know,
I think about that too, and I never wanted to
do something like that too early. I just and it's
also hard because it is, you like putting a lot
of things and trying to figure out like what's too
much to give, what's the balance of like what I
want to say, because you're also when you tell your
(14:32):
storytelling other people's stories as well, because that plays.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
A role in who you are, you know.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
And Angela the ghostwriter that I had, excuse me, the
ghostwriter that I had, you know, he told me, you know,
once we put that our stories on paper, it really
is no longer our book. It's no longer our story
because people take our stories and they you know, encompass
(14:57):
them into their lives and then they use it whichever
way they want to use or need to use it.
And so at the end of the day, I just
wanted to make sure that my story could help and
encourage somebody else along this journey of parenting, because it's
not easy and there's a.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
Lot of honesty that you had, you know, in yours
and You're right. Once you do, it is not just
your story anymore. You're sharing that and people will interpret
it how they want. They'll critique what they want to critique,
they'll support what they want to support. But everybody's going
to have a different emotion attached to it, and sometimes
like we cannot make ourselves seem perfect.
Speaker 4 (15:34):
But that is the plan to put it out there
because you know that there are so many people that
have that same story. A lot of things remain the same.
The only thing that changes is the name.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
Right.
Speaker 4 (15:44):
I found out to be true.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Yes, And you guys had a great interview with Magic
Johnson and had the opportunity to talk and it was
so honest, like to hear you guys pulling things out
of people that I don't know if anybody could handle
it with a degree of you know, delicateness that you
were able to do that as well, coming from the
space that you guys are coming from. Just to hear
(16:08):
him talk about even like getting diagnosed with HIV and
being so open and vulnerable about that situation and also
how that affects your family, because that is something that
not only did he say that, but it's also now
your mom is dealing with you know, all of that
and having to speak on that too.
Speaker 4 (16:25):
Well, Angela, we put ourselves in Miss Chris's place and
we were able to just see it from both sides
and being able to sit down and just talk with Magic,
Miss Chris and other members of the family. It was
a blessing for us as well, right, And we believe
in having compassion. You know, we talked, we looked over
the questions that we were going to ask. We didn't pull,
(16:46):
we didn't pull. We made them comfortable and we got
comfortable too, just like we're sitting down talking now. We
felt that home and they felt that home with us,
and that's why they were able to open up with us.
And Magic felt really comfortable telling him story and.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
That's why we're also just so I mean, hearing you
recount that just took me to that place of sitting
with him. And that's why this show is so special.
It's just not a show. It's just not it's not
reality TV. It is real TV. And these are people
doing interviews that have never done interviews before. But somehow
(17:22):
God has opened their hearts to us and allowed us
to come into their homes and to hear these stories.
I mean the late Chad with Bozman's parents never done
an interview before and after his passing. They're still grieving
and they were like, they don't even want to say
his name through because of their grief. And so to
allow cameras, Luscill and I to come in and talk
(17:46):
about a trust that that's God, that's God saying he
needed this for the world. So you know, we're this
is serious for us. This is just not about Hollywood
or our fame or anything. It is really about building
community around truth and around vulnerability and around encouragement as parents.
(18:10):
Because nobody sets out to say I'm gonna raise a
famous person. We just need to make sure we don't
get in the way. It is what needs to happen
as parents. And so you know, this is this is
a This is a wonderful, wonderful opportunity for anyone who
will watch it. For us, after we've been a part
(18:31):
of it, the producers, the network, it has just been
a wonderful, blessed experience for us.
Speaker 4 (18:38):
And besides that, it's not our story to tell, right, yes,
and so we appreciate the opportunity has come that a
lot of people can tell their own story we've been
dealing with social media for a while. We've been dealing
with media for a while. We sit down talking to
people and they don't always get the story the way
we've given it. But this time, you're gonna get honesty.
(19:00):
You're gonna get the story, and it's coming from the
person that can only tell it the way that it
should be told.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
Man, I'm looking forward to seeing all of the episodes.
Like I told you guys beforehand, I've seen two of them,
and the other one I saw was Fantasia. And so
we were talking earlier about being a teenage mom, and
Fantasia's mom was a teenage mom. Fantasia was a teenage mom,
and there's a stigma that can be attached to that.
But look at the success that all of you have
(19:27):
had in raising your children, and you know, I just
love that because sometimes people think you can't have it all,
or you know, it's just like, oh man, this is
a throwaway or whatever. But look at that, Like, I
just love the way that she was able to tell
that story, even talking about Fantasia's name, you know, and
how she decided to name her daughter Fantasia, Like that
(19:48):
was such an interesting story to me and something that
I've never heard before.
Speaker 4 (19:52):
You're gonna hear a lot that you've never heard because seriously,
and it's gonna bless you as well.
Speaker 3 (19:59):
And the other part about the show that it's not
even just about the parents telling the story. It is
an opportunity for the celebrity to actually tell a love
letter to their parents. And you know, we had Billy
Porter Jr. In his you know, that interview with his
mom and sister together, and then you know, his mom's
(20:22):
recently passed, so they'll have this show that's beautiful to
keep forever. And you know, they may have they wouldn't
have had it. I won't say they may not have
had it, they would not have had it, but if
it had not been for this show. So those are
the things that people are going to see and we're
(20:43):
really proud of.
Speaker 1 (20:45):
And I know some of.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
These episodes will say parents, but then also and his
mom right now where there situations where like we would
have loved for the father to be involved. There are
some yes and it just didn't happen the way yes, okay,
And some of the episodes you know that we've done,
even like with the podcast was you know, it was
older siblings.
Speaker 3 (21:05):
So you know, as we continue with the show, it's
really just about whoever raised the celebrity or had and
you know, some input and influence into their lives. So yeah,
their dads or moms and grandparents and you know, siblings.
As we talked about who played huge roles in the
celebrities lives raising them.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
When we think about work ethic, right, and you know,
sometimes we can watch some of these documentaries and be like,
their parents were so hard on them, they made them
do X, Y and Z. I want to know what
your guys does, because there is a balance between pushing
your children to be their best. But then sometimes people
feel it, Like I think when we watch things today,
(21:47):
people take things differently. Some people are like, their parents
were so hard on them, They're so strict. Why are
you doing that to a kid? Why can't you let
them be a kid? Versus I see the talent in
you and I want to push you to be the
best that you can be.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
Can you speak that.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
A little bit as far as your own experiences with
your children?
Speaker 4 (22:03):
I want to say, Angela communication has been so important
in our family because Shaquille had a dream and we
realize that in order to help that dream manifest, he
would have to be the one to put in the work.
But the foundation that was laid the family is gonna
support you. It made it a little easier for him
because he knew that he had to put in the work,
(22:23):
and we just continue to encourage him. It wasn't easy
because a lot of times he didn't want to do it.
But the encouragement that a parent gives to the child
is so important because they think they're alone if they're
trying to do it one way, and then they have
the influence from the outside world. But when you have
that family support, that system in itself, it makes for
a better a better person. They learn how to work
(22:46):
because what you want you have to work for. It
is not given to you. So in all of that,
the work ethic is made. Whatever you want, you go
to work. You don't wait for anybody to give it
to you. So it starts way back when. And we
all we as parents have dreams too. Our dreams may
come later because we learn how to put them first,
(23:07):
but yet and still we all put into work.
Speaker 3 (23:10):
And I'm probably one of those parents that then rehab
for being too hard. Talked to earlier about the fact
that I also was ran to school, started my own schools. Yeah,
and so my kids had to go to school with
me till sixth grade. And then, you know, and then
I'm coaching to coach my daughter, and I'm just always
(23:30):
on them. I know, they just felt like if this woman,
don't go away. But you know, and there are moments,
like I say this in my book, there's moments where
I'm like, was I too hard? You know? Was I
too hard? Or let me put it this way, did
I play enough of you know, like the mommy role
where I'm the nurture one or whatever, or was I
(23:50):
just always coaching and teaching? Right? And then we do
an episode with one of the celebrities whose mom managed
and he said, there's sometimes where I just wanted my
mom to hug me, and she's saying, I want to
just help you. I got to help you. This is
my job. I got to look after you. And so
(24:11):
she's in that mindset of that, and he's going, I
appreciate that, but there are moments where I just need
my mom. So you know, we'll hear stories about that
and where it is it's a balance of you want
to help them, you want to be present. You want
to nurture them, but you can't forget that they just
(24:32):
need their parents, and that our roles change along the way.
You know, you're one way, you know when they're babies,
and you're this when as they get older, high school
and then college and then I've just settled in on
right now as the adult because we're still a parents
and they're still progressing in their journeys of celebrity. Is
just be present and pray because it's all I can
(24:54):
do now. And I'm somewhat trying to get back some
of those moments of just us being present and not
having to help solve anything or coach them. Just as
Lucille Selton, just listen. They just need to listen. They
don't need advice anymore.
Speaker 4 (25:12):
And I made mention a few years back when I
had dealings with a lot of the mothers of the
professional basketball players. I reminded them, you're not the girlfriend,
you are still the mother. So we all had to
make sure we stayed in our place. Yeah, we're gonna
always be the mother. Can't be the girlfriend. And we
get a little extra money, we want to wear the
(25:32):
diamonds and drive the beautiful cars, but we're not the girlfriends.
Speaker 3 (25:37):
Or wives or wives.
Speaker 2 (25:38):
Thank yeah, you said you had to learn to be
like well that you raised your signs just like, okay,
now y'all take over for the wives.
Speaker 3 (25:50):
Yes they're yours.
Speaker 1 (25:51):
Yeah, it's all yours, you know.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
And I'm sure it's hard also seeing things like in
the press and all the drama sometimes and now you.
Speaker 1 (25:58):
Gotta be like, what's going on over there?
Speaker 2 (26:00):
Do you mind your business when it comes to that
or do you actually ask questions?
Speaker 3 (26:04):
Mind your business?
Speaker 4 (26:06):
I do both. I'm gonna ask questions and I'm going, well, well,
you talk about bounds, we know when to let up,
and we know the pressing.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
That's hilarious now where Stephen's had very competitive against each
other because you know, it is such a competitive sport
and for both of them to have the success that
they've had, what do you teach.
Speaker 1 (26:29):
Them at home? Are they going at it like I
love it?
Speaker 3 (26:32):
Because we're a very competitive family anyway. So if it's
gonna be.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
Like I'm not talking to you, yeah, but you know,
as long as you're respectful to each other and you learn,
you use those as teachable moments to you, you know,
of making sure the priority is right.
Speaker 3 (26:47):
You know, I'd be pissed too if I lost, so
I couldn't like get on them for getting mad. When
you know my middle so, Stephen cheats. He cheats. Y'all
always called fouls for him, and I was like, no,
we're not wanting up in here. You know, you're just
going to figure this out. So you know, you just
learn how to just bring positive out of that. And
those are the things of life too, so you use
(27:10):
them as life teaching moments, and uh, it's fun because
we're a competitive family. So I try not to squash
competition because that's what they need to be successful, right know.
They have to have that drive to want to beat
the next person, whether it's going into an office or
on a court, or on a stage or wherever you're
going to be, whatever genre of business and professionalism you're in,
(27:34):
you need that. You need that inner drive and competition
to be the.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
Best and dactor, Lasille Oil, I want to ask you
since we've been talking about this mental health journey, and
I think today the newer generation is definitely a lot
more aware of their mental health and the space that
they need. I feel like things were a lot different.
It was more like teughing up. You know, man, do
(28:00):
what you got to do, and we try to make
sure that we don't show any weakness. But now it's
a little different, you know. So how do you think
the game has changed, and how do you think in general,
like that type of competition has changed as we're talking
about mental health on the court and also making sure
that people are good in that way too.
Speaker 4 (28:17):
I think it's changed through the communication because the mindset
that we had a long time ago, it was, you know,
we held a lot of things inside. But now we're
able to open up, We're able to talk to other people,
We're able to learn from our experiences, and that has
helped change your whole mindset. And when I talk about
mental welfare, that was a place where a lot of
(28:37):
people were in where you depended on other people for
your own happiness. But the happiness that you experienced, it
comes from within you. So your mind gets a little stronger.
And we laugh when we think about talking to yourself,
but you have to talk to yourself and encourage yourself.
It helps you. So I think that today we're able
to just change that mindset and forget about how it
(29:01):
was before and think about how it is right now
and communication has become key.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
Well, both of you ladies have accomplished so much, and
now this show is coming out July seventh, by the way,
on TV one.
Speaker 1 (29:13):
So what else is on the bucket list for both
of you?
Speaker 2 (29:16):
As we've been sitting here talking about everything that you've done,
what are some things still that you're like?
Speaker 1 (29:22):
Okay, next on the list?
Speaker 3 (29:24):
Season two? Yes? Oh yeah, just to continue this. I
don't know what God has on the horizon for me
at this point because I'm learning now that I'm a
little older to be in the moment. You know, a
lot of times you talk about mental health, we just
don't stay in the moment, right what is the next thing?
(29:45):
And we let the world tell us that it's not enough?
And so this is great. I just want to continue
to improve the show, get more guests on it, you know,
diversify the guests as well, and just keep this moving
until its season is over. Okay, enjoy the season though,
(30:07):
good enough.
Speaker 4 (30:08):
And for me, although I would like to see a
season two, I'm becoming more involved in community. Just move
to Atlanta and I want to become more involved my
family and I we raise money for nursing scholarships in
honor of our mother, So I want to continue to
do that. We have a fundraising event every year of
Faith and Fellowship lunching, so as long as we can,
(30:29):
we want to be able to build up the Odessa
Chambliss Quality of Life Fund. That's what our organization is called,
and we raise money for different schools, colleges, universities, and
I want to continue to do that and broaden that horizon.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
Okay, I love that, and you have the great platform
to do that, so we appreciate you. I love when
people are in the position to give back and they do.
You know, that's what it's all about. But thank you
guys both for joining me today. I'm really looking forward
to seeing the episodes I haven't seen yet based off
of what I've seen already, So I appreciate you for
the work you're doing it. I could see this turning
into more than a series, but maybe a whole movement.
(31:05):
Maybe this could play into, you know, the nonprofit. I
don't know, but I could see this becoming even more
because moms a lot of times and families need help,
and so you know, it's nice to see that you
guys are here to talk about that whole process.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
Thank you so much for having us and giving us
this opportunity. Thank you, all right, we appreciate you. Yeah,
thank you.
Speaker 2 (31:27):
All right, you guys, we are way up.
Way Up With Angela Yee News
Host
Angela Yee
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