September 12, 2025 • 41 mins
Hey lady! This week Dr. Dom and Terri are thrilled to welcome a legend who needs no introduction. Misty Copeland is known around the world as not only as a trailblazer and groundbreaking ballet dancer, most notably as the first African American female Principal Dancer with the prestigious American Ballet Theater, but also philanthropist, author, and mother. She joins Terri and Dr. Dom to discuss her upcoming final bow with the theater after a storied career and her plans for her exciting next chapter.
Copeland’s introducing the latest installment of her Bunheads, Act 2: the Dance of Courage, a picture book series offering a realistic and fun view of dance life. The series’ characters embark on wonderous tales of adventure and this latest addition to the series follows them as they learn about the glorious tale of Don Quixote. By the end of the episode you’ll want to grab a copy for the young dancers in your life.
And, lady, Misty gives us a peek into her life that you can only catch on Patreon. Girl, are you on Patreon yet? It’s our special area where we dive deeper and give behind the scenes of how we create this podcast and other cool things you won’t want to miss. Join us!
Quote of the Day:
"I'll always be committed to opening doors, creating space, and making ballet a place where everyone belongs."
– Misty Copeland
Goal Map Like a Pro Workbook
Cultivating H.E.R. Space Sanctuary
Where to find Misty Copeland:
Website: Misty Copeland
Book: Bunheads, Act 2: The Dance of Courage
Twitter: @mistyonpointe
Instagram: @mistyonpointe
Facebook: Misty Copeland
YouTube: @MistyCopelandLifeInMotion
Resources:
Dr. Dom’s Therapy Practice
Branding with Terri
Melanin and Mental Health
Therapy for Black Girls
Psychology Today
Therapy for QPOC
Where to find us:
Twitter: @HERspacepodcast
Instagram: @herspacepodcast
Facebook: @herspacepodcast
Website: cultivatingherspace.com
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/cultivating-h-e-r-space-uplifting-conversations-for-the-black-woman--5470036/support.
Copeland’s introducing the latest installment of her Bunheads, Act 2: the Dance of Courage, a picture book series offering a realistic and fun view of dance life. The series’ characters embark on wonderous tales of adventure and this latest addition to the series follows them as they learn about the glorious tale of Don Quixote. By the end of the episode you’ll want to grab a copy for the young dancers in your life.
And, lady, Misty gives us a peek into her life that you can only catch on Patreon. Girl, are you on Patreon yet? It’s our special area where we dive deeper and give behind the scenes of how we create this podcast and other cool things you won’t want to miss. Join us!
Quote of the Day:
"I'll always be committed to opening doors, creating space, and making ballet a place where everyone belongs."
– Misty Copeland
Goal Map Like a Pro Workbook
Cultivating H.E.R. Space Sanctuary
Where to find Misty Copeland:
Website: Misty Copeland
Book: Bunheads, Act 2: The Dance of Courage
Twitter: @mistyonpointe
Instagram: @mistyonpointe
Facebook: Misty Copeland
YouTube: @MistyCopelandLifeInMotion
Resources:
Dr. Dom’s Therapy Practice
Branding with Terri
Melanin and Mental Health
Therapy for Black Girls
Psychology Today
Therapy for QPOC
Where to find us:
Twitter: @HERspacepodcast
Instagram: @herspacepodcast
Facebook: @herspacepodcast
Website: cultivatingherspace.com
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/cultivating-h-e-r-space-uplifting-conversations-for-the-black-woman--5470036/support.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
On this week's episode of Cultivating her Space.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
I poured so much into myself and so many people
have poured so much into me that like now it's
like I have to share all of the knowledge and
experience and the access that I have to be able
to give other people access and opportunity.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Hey, lady, have you ever felt like the world just
doesn't get you? Well, we do.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Welcome to Cultivating her Space, the podcast dedicated to uplifting
and empowering women like you.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
We're your hosts, Doctor Dominique Brussard and educator and psychologists.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
And Terry Lomax, a techie and transformational speaker.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Join us every week for authentic conversations about everything from
fibroids to fake friends as we create space for black
women to just be.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Before we dive in, make sure you hit that button
and leave us a quick five star review. Lady, We
are black founded and black owned, and your support will
help us reach even more women like you.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Now, let's get into this week's episode of Cultivating her Space.
It's doctor dom here from the Cultivating her Space podcast.
Are you currently a resident of the state of California
and contemplating starting your therapy journey? Well, if so, please
reach out to me at doctor Dominique Brusard dot com.
(01:32):
That's d R D O M I N I q
U E b r O U ss ar D dot
com to schedule a free fifteen minute consultation. I look
forward to hearing from.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
You lady today. We have a legend on the podcast. Okay, honestly,
she barely needs an introduction, but it will be wild
not to share just a glimpse of her brilliance before
we dive in. Misty Copeland is a principal dancer with
the American Ballet Theater, and in twenty fifteen, she made
(02:10):
history as the first black woman to be promoted to
that position in the company's seventy five year history. She's
also a New York Times bestselling author with powerful titles
like Life and Motion, Ballerina, Body, Black Ballerinas, The Wind
at My Back, and of course, the beloved picture books
Bunheads and Firebird. In twenty twenty two, she launched the
(02:34):
Misty Copeland Foundation and its signature program be Bold, dedicated
to bring you more diversity, equity, and inclusion to dance,
especially ballet. There is so much more that we could
say about Misty but we want you to hear it
in her words. So, Misty Copeland, welcome to cultivating her space.
We're so honored to have you. Thank you.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
I'm so thrilled to be here with both of you.
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
We are definitely looking forward to this conversation, and so
we will start with our quote of the day. And Misty,
this quote will sound very familiar to you because these
are your words. I'll always be committed to opening doors,
creating space, and making ballet a place where everyone belongs.
(03:25):
Now I'm gonna say that and repeat that one more
time for the folks in the back to make sure
that they heard it. I'll always be committed to opening doors,
creating space, and making ballet a place where everyone belongs. So, Misty,
when you hear your words reflected back to you, tell
(03:48):
us what comes up for you when you hear those words.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
I don't know. Prince used to say these things to
me all the time, like you're a vessel. We are
a vessel for delivering messages and music and art or
whatever that may be. And and so I feel like
when I hear you know my own words, it's like
they're not my words. You know, these are like the
efforts and the work and the words of so many
(04:14):
who have come before us, and that we stand on
the shoulders of And you know, so much of what
I'm doing to me is just a reflection of the
support that I've had throughout my career and all all
of the incredible especially black women, who have shown me
what it is, you know, to show up and you know,
(04:36):
to have patience, to believe, to have hope, to have resilience.
And so I think of all of that when I
hear when I hear those words like yes, they they
came out of me. But I again, I feel like
I'm a vessel, uh, you know, for all the all
the people who filled who filled me up, that I
can you know, give to the next generation.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
That is such a beautiful perspective. And mister you've inspired
millions around the globe. But for those that are just
discovering your brilliance or learning about this next phase in
your life, what would you say is like one part
of your story that you hope they never overlook?
Speaker 2 (05:14):
You know, I think I think going back to like
my roots, that people don't just kind of see the
success and see, you know, what I've achieved and where
I'm at today, but the path that I've walked and
where I've come from, you know, you know, not coming
from a family that was rooted in ballet or the
arts at all, you know, having started late in this
(05:36):
field in like an untraditional way, and again like just
going back to like community, the only reason that I'm
here is because of community and someone that saw something
in me and gave me an opportunity. And that's why
I continue to do the work that I'm doing because
I know the benefits of having that, and so that's
(05:58):
what I hope that people will will remember, like my legacy.
Like when I look back on my career, it's like, yes,
I've danced a lot and done a lot of roles,
but I think that like the bigger picture and what
I've gained by being a part of this art form
is the woman that I've become and the person that
I've grown into. And it's because I've had access to
(06:20):
an art form that's given me the tools to be
the person that I am today. And so you know,
having had my experience and coming up how I did
is again why I started my foundation and why I
want to give back because I know the beautiful results,
you know, by exposing a young person to the arts.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Thank you so much for sharing that aspect. And when
you think about your origin story and how you didn't
you weren't rooted and grounded in the arts from the
very beginning. What's something else about your origin story that
you wish more people knew about you?
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Hmm?
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Here about my origin story?
Speaker 2 (07:11):
I mean, I feel like maybe the way that my
mother raised me and my siblings, which was really you know,
black people in America have such a myriad of experiences,
so it's hard to treat us as a monolith and
that you know, we all, you know, have similar experiences.
(07:33):
But you know, I'm biracial. Both of my parents are mixed,
and my mom raised me like you and your siblings
are black. And so when you step out of that
front door, that's how the world is going to perceive
you and therefore how you will be treated, and it
will affect everything that you experience. And so I don't know,
(07:55):
that's just my experience. That's my experience why I respond
the way I do in my industry in the broader world,
because it's not every biracial, we're black person's experience in America,
but I feel like I'm very rooted in in that identity,
and so, you know, I think that often when people
(08:17):
don't maybe know that in the way that I was
raised and me and my siblings were raised, that it's
it can often be like, well, you know, you're not
black and you're biracial, and why do you identify that way?
And but you know, we this My experiences have been
very real and legit, like being the only in a
space in a culture that is so deep rooted in
(08:38):
European white culture, and so I think I think it's
important for people to know that kind of like background
about my upbringing as to why I'm such an advocate
and you know, and stand so proudly and firmly in
that identity.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
My goodness, that is so amazing. We're going to have
to circle back to being the all because, especially in
your industry, I know, I can only imagine some of
the things that you've experienced, and so we'll have to
circle back to that. But one of the things we
want to talk about is that you just announced your
final bow coming this fall. So how does it feel
to pair that moment with the release of Bundheads Act
(09:17):
Too A story so rooted and encourage friendship and legacy.
How does that feel?
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Yeah, it really feels like perfect, perfect timing. Like this
the second book, I feel like picks up right where
like Little Misty left off, like from the from the
first book and learning how to push through you know,
fears and trusting herself and so you know, for me
telling that story while also taking a final bout at
(09:44):
American Ballet Theater just feels like a full circle moment.
You know, I'm celebrating where I came from, but while
also passing the torch to the next generation through this story.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
So speaking of this new book, in this book you
all speak, Misty and her friend have this beautiful friendship
and relationship. When you think about your experience in your
(10:17):
overall ballet career, how important were friendships to you in
your journey?
Speaker 2 (10:26):
I love this question something that you know, the reason
that I'm still a part of the art form, you know,
It's been twenty five years of my professional career, Like
sticking with it is because I have so much hope
and belief that this art form can transform lives and
that it's perfectly created in so many ways. When you
(10:48):
just think of it at the root of like the
technique of ballet. I'm not talking about all that comes
with it and the people and the culture that has
been created. But I grew up in an environ mint
in ballet that was very nurturing and celebrating individuality, which
is not often the case when you think of the bigger,
you know, scheme of of what ballet is. But it
(11:11):
can be that way. And so I say all of
that to say, the relationships that I had in those
very you know, nurturing environments were so critical.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
You know.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
It was everyone coming into this very sacred, very vulnerable environment,
like the ballet studio or whether that be the stage
where you're so vulnerable and you're all in it, you know,
with this the love of this same art form, like
you're sharing in that passion and love. And so those
relationships were real and raw, and that's what really motivated
(11:42):
me to start, you know, writing bun Heads the series,
because those are all real characters, real people that I
grew up with, and showing like the beauty of like
having people from different communities and different backgrounds and different
cultures come together and find this commonality in ballet and
build real lasting relationships around it, and I think that
(12:04):
ballet often it's a bad rap because of the way
it's depicted in media and television and in movies, that
they continue to kind of perpetuate the same stories over
and over again that are really negative. But so many
people have such positive experiences with that. And I think
that the relationships that I built in my youth but
(12:25):
also as a professional were key to like surviving the
hard work and what it takes to like stay in
it day in and day out. You know, you're traveling
the world with these people, you know, I spend more
time with them than my own family, So it's been
critical to be able to build upon those real relationships
in this art form.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
Thank you so much for sharing that. And one of
the things I want to lead into is you said
you talked about having a bad rap, right, and so
speaking of that, we want to share with you that
we recognize and appreciate and celebrate the multi fast the
woman which often gets a bad rep right, the women
who are fully embodied and multifaceted. And so we believe
that it's okay to be bougie, classy and ratchet. You
(13:08):
can still be elegant and dance to strip club music
if you so choose. So, Misty, we want to invite
you to the OHU Blatchet segment. Do you take on
the challenge?
Speaker 3 (13:18):
Ah?
Speaker 1 (13:19):
Yes, Okay, So now that you've agreed, we're going to
tell you what to expect. It'll be fun.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
Note.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
So what we're going to do, Missy, is we're going
to share three unique questions with you. We're going to
share three sentence completions, and then we have three photos
pulled up of you that we're going to share on
the big screen. And what we want you to do
is we want you to cheer, We want you to
choose one photo, and then we want you to share
some context about the photo that we would not know
just by looking at the photo. So we're going to
(13:46):
ease into this segment. We're going to start with the
pretty easy question. And the first question here is what's
the best piece of wisdom or advice you've ever received?
Speaker 2 (13:55):
I would say, not to let other people's words or actions,
you know, define define me or you know who I am?
Speaker 1 (14:05):
Thank you?
Speaker 3 (14:06):
I love that, Love that, And so in that same
vein of recognizing that we're not letting anyone's words or
actions define us, and also recognizing that you have a
life outside of being a ballerina. Part of that means
(14:27):
tapping into other creative forms of expression, maybe different types
of dance. Right, So when the music comes on and
you're hanging out having a good time, h are you
gonna twork or two step? Oh?
Speaker 2 (14:47):
Two step? I am not. I am not torking. I
that's a good one.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
It's okay. Miss We have so many guests on here
that are black women, and a lot of us are
just like, won't do the two step. But there's nothing
wrong with the two step. We appreciate it. We see you,
we see you. And then, Missy, our last question for
this particular segment is what is the sexiest item you own?
And this could be anything.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
Oh my gosh, I'm like, I'm in my dressing room
right now. Oh and so I'm like, I got some
great shoes that are like old linen.
Speaker 1 (15:25):
Yes, we get a show in tell Oh this is amazing.
Oh my goodness. Okay, So Missy, for folks, can you
describe the shoe because people won't have this visual.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
What wait, so these these are old too. I used
to wear these out with prints a lot. He loves
they are so painful because when you walk to their lubatons,
they're like sparkly silver with like spikes on them. They're
so sexy though, but you and like your ankles hit
and like the spikes get you, so you end up.
(16:00):
So maybe that's not something they look sexy.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
They definitely, they definitely look sexy.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
I would say, like shoes in general, like that like
makes an outfit for me.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
So yeah, good, yeah, okay, all right, and so now
we're going to move to the sentence completion. Mister. You
do a lot of interviews, right, and you answer lots
of questions. What is one topic? Wait, let me back up,
(16:32):
because it's supposed to be sentenced completion. Let me get
this together. One question or topic I wish people asked
me about more often is, Oh.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
My goodness, I get asked about a lot of things,
so that's hard. I mean, I think people often stay
away from like my personal life because that's not something
I put out there at all. But I guess, like
now that I've like stepped into motherhood, maybe more about that.
You know more about what it is to be, you know,
a working mom, to be an athlete mom, a performer mom.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
I think there's so much. There's so much there, mister,
you are not going to believe this. So our next
sentence completion is. One thing I share with everyone about
being an athlete mom.
Speaker 4 (17:23):
Is is that I feel like.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
My whole career has like cultivated to this moment. I
think that being an artist and being an athlete has
has given me the tools to be a mom. It's
like prepared me in so many ways. You know, if
you think about like all of the amazing attributes you
know that you gain, you know, the discipline, the grace,
(17:52):
the consistency and the work ethic and the patience and
all of those things. I'm like, you know, once Jackson
came up with it's like, oh okay, there's some like
familiar stuff that's you know, happening here. And I think
that it was again just you know, by being prepared
to be a performer and be an athlete.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
Wow, thank you so much for answering that. And so
our final sentence completion. What I love most about myself
is h.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Oh, my goodness.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
What I love most about myself is my ability to
step back and observe people before coming to like quick
conclusions about the situation or that.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
It's a really good answer, right, a good answer. Thank
you for that, MISTERI. And now we have these photos.
So let me tell you, mister. We have three photos.
I'm looking up at them now on the big screen,
and before we choose a photo, I want you to
choose a number out of one in three and then
once you choose number, I'll share that particular photo on screen.
You can give the additional context. And these photos are
absolutely incredible, So felfree, just choose your number.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
Two.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
Yes, I'm so happy he shows us one. Okay, So
what I'm gonna do is I'm gonna share this on
the big screen in the sty if you can first
describe the photo for folks that won't see this, and
then give us the context behind this photo. Oh my goodness.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
Oh okay, So this photo. I am in a beautiful open,
you know, beautifully lit studio with natural lighting and windows
all around, and I'm kind of doing like a split
on a chair, like half half hanging off the chair
and half on, and my head's thrust back with my
hair down, and I think it's kind of wet, and
(19:47):
I'm wearing I think a white leotard. Yeah. Is that good?
Because that's a great description.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
It's a beautiful it's it's like an artistic photo. I
feel it needs to be hanging in someone's museum or home. Now,
what's the What's like something about this photo that we
wouldn't know just by looking at it?
Speaker 2 (20:02):
My goodness. Okay, so this photo was taken by I
believe this is a photographer, Greg Delman, who is a close friend.
And you know, whenever we go into the studio, there's
no hair and makeup, there's no one, there's just me
and him and he. You know, I would just wet
my hair and you would just go like I usually.
(20:23):
I probably have on James Blake music playing right now
in this photo and I just kind of freestyle and
it's it's very flash dance this photo.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
That is so fun. Thank you so much for sharing,
and thank you so much for playing along with us
and allowing us to connect as humans for the ou
Bletchet segment. It's always so much fun. But we want
to get back in some of these questions and circle
back to something you mentioned earlier. You talked about being
the only and if we could just think about a
listener who is tuning in and they're only in their
industry or in their field. What is something that you
(20:57):
would want to remind people of who are are like
the representatives, whether they want to be or not, they
just happen to be that one person in that space
kind of representing their community.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
I mean, I like that you said whether they want
to or not, because you know, I think that it
really again, like I have a certain experience and the
way I grew up and the way I identify and
the things that are important to me, and not everyone
has that, and so I think that it's important to
know that you belong you. You belong in that space
no matter what anyone says or how you feel, because
(21:32):
there aren't other people that look like you in the space.
But it's also not your responsibility to teach everyone about
what it is to be the only or feel like
you have to represent your you know, your entire race,
and you know, I think just be you, be you
all the time, and really stand in your uniqueness and
(21:54):
your individuality because I guarantee you all those people around
you are.
Speaker 3 (22:00):
Oh, thank you for that. I hope that as our
listeners are hearing your response, that they press pause and
they rewind and they listen to that again, because I
think that that what you shared is so important.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (22:15):
And so earlier you mentioned motherhood and wanting to talk
more about motherhood, and so motherhood has become a part
of your story in the bond Heads series. So how
has being a mom influenced the way you see courage, creativity,
(22:40):
or even finding community.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
I've always, you know, thought of myself as like a
very patient and very open person. I mean, I guess
open when it comes to like my creativity and my
art form. But being a mom has like cracked me
open in like the best way. I think that, you know,
courage looks different now. It's not about it's not about
just me, and it's not about perfection. I think it's
(23:08):
you know, about presence. It's about showing up fully and honestly,
and because kids can see right through home when you're not,
you know, when you're not fully honest and being you
know yourself, but like letting my son see see all
of me and just being really open and honest with him,
and you know, I think I think creativity feels more
(23:31):
playful now, which I think is so cool. I think
that especially being in an art form like ballet, I
think that I've taken my creativity, like really seriously in
the past, and now it's like about you know, seeing
things through the perspective of my three year olds, you know,
and his curiosity and how free he is. And then
(23:56):
when it comes to you know, community, it's like I've
never ever felt more valued, you know. And I think
about just you know, the saying it takes a village,
you know, to raise to raise your family, and and
and I feel that more now than ever, you know,
having just incredible support and advice. And I think about
(24:19):
just my mother in law, like We've always had a
great relationship, but like she like, we couldn't be more close,
and it's just an amazing feeling. And it's all like
because of you know, stepping into motherhood.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
That's so amazing too, how your profession has given you
those transferable skills to show up more powerfully as a mom.
And I believe you said your son's same as Jackson.
Is that right? Yes? Okay, So what's something that you
it's very important to you to teach Jackson based on
what you've learned, whether it's in your industry or just
being a woman in general, Like, what's those very essential
(24:56):
to pass along to him? Even though theys three years old,
because it's there's still so and they're learning.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
Oh huh, I know they they're they're not. I mean,
like I don't treat Jackson like he's three. I mean
a lot of ways I do. You have to you know,
you have to be like remind But when I'm like
speaking to him and communicating with him or telling him things,
it's like I don't talk down to him. I think
him really seeing me and my husband olu like communicate
(25:24):
and being like really clear and really patient with each
other is important for him to see and seeing like
all of who I am as a woman, Like everyone
has different approaches, but like I don't like shield him
from from certain things, like he my husband is so funny,
he calls him. He calls Jackson a little feminist, but
like he knows I have a period, and he understands
(25:45):
like what that means, and he knows his body parts
and he knows like my body parts and it's not
like something to be ashamed of or to like hide from.
And I find that so important with him just having
confidence in himself self and and the other like you know,
the other sex, and in it not kind of creating
(26:07):
this barrier or him having like curiosity and like in
a way that's like not healthy. Those are like important,
like I don't know, like everyday things for me that
like he he really kind of just stands in who
he is and and is comfident.
Speaker 3 (26:28):
I love that. I think that that is so important.
And I think that raising children is such an important
job and within that, children are constantly teaching us things
about ourselves, about humanity, all kinds of We're learning all
kinds of lessons along the way. And so when you
(26:50):
think about your role as a mom, and you mentioned
before about how being a mom has allowed you to
just happen into this level of playfulness. So what is
something fun, silly or unexpected that has come out of
(27:10):
being a mom?
Speaker 2 (27:12):
I think I think I'm like silly in general, Like
I'm like a silly person, like enjoy like even just
within my own craft and career, like I enjoy falling
and like seeing people fall and like like that. And
so I think it's just like come out more having
(27:34):
a son, especially someone who's like so physical and so
just to be able to be like really like open
and silly and active and physical with him, I guess
it is fun and you know, I know, like every
parent says it, but like kind of bringing you back
to your own youth and then you know, and then
also just getting to experience things in a different way,
(27:57):
you know, like Jackson's growing up very different than I do,
and very different than my husband did, and so it's
like we're getting to relive these experiences in a completely
different way, which is really cool.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
That is such a great way to put it, because
I noticed the same thing with my four year old.
It's like you're living your childhood over again, but you
can kind of tweak those things that maybe weren't ideal
in your own experience. So I love that, and I
want to circle back to I want to circle back
to the book. So the Dance of Courage, it picks
up with Misty and her friends learning don Quixote. What
inspired you to censure the story around that specific ballet?
Speaker 2 (28:34):
Well, don Q, I should have just told you it,
don Q, because I so it holds like a really
special place in my heart. It was the very first
ballet that like full length ballet. I guess that I
really did like the lead in. I mean, of course
I was in the Nutcracker whatever, you know, because that's
like everyone's in The Nutcracker, of course. But I think
I've been dancing for like less a little over a year,
(28:58):
which I started dance late, so that you know, I
was picking up things very quickly. But by the time
I was like fourteen years old, I was performing the
lead in Don Quixote at my school. Key Tree was
like such a unique role in the ballet repertoire because often,
you know, like anything about any Disney movie or any
fairy tale, and it's always like this love story where
(29:18):
the man is coming in to save the woman and
you know strength. But Kee Tree is like this strong,
powerful character, and I think I was so like attracted
to that from a young age. And then Don q
was also the first live ballet performance I saw, and
I saw American Ballet Theater do it in California where
I grew up, and so I was just once I
(29:40):
saw that ballet, I was like, Oh, this is what
I need to do for a profession, Like this is
what I got to do for the rest of my life.
And it was like right then and there in that
theater watching that ballet that I was like, this is it,
This is like what I'm going to be doing for
the rest of my life. And so I thought it
was like a really cool story for us to tell,
you know, within the bun Head series, because I think
(30:03):
it's important and empowering, like for young girls but also
for young boys to see female characters in that way.
And then I think also it connected so well with
the character who's a real person, Catalina, who we call
Cat in the book, who's the featured character in this story,
because the Cat like that I grew up with was
so confident, and I think that's why I was so
(30:25):
drawn to her, because I was super shy and like
introverted and insecure and had a lot of like shame around,
like how I grew up like we were houseless for
most of my upbringing, and so I didn't have a
lot of close friends because I didn't want people to
know what was going on. And so to see someone
like Cat, who I think she's like three years younger
than me, but like back you know when you're young,
(30:47):
like that seems like a lot. So I'm looking at
this girl, it's like a little girl, and I'm like,
how does she have so much confidence and like so
self assured, And so I feel like keetre connected so
well with who Catalina was, so it made sense for
us to like kind of put those two together.
Speaker 3 (31:03):
Wow, that's that's so beautiful. Thank you for sharing that.
And so you mentioned that Kat is based on someone
someone that you know.
Speaker 2 (31:16):
How has that been.
Speaker 3 (31:18):
To be able to infuse people that you know into
your books and what has there what has that been
like for you to do that, and what has been
their response to being included in this way.
Speaker 5 (31:32):
It's again, I feel like I've been so impacted by
just my experience of coming into this art form and
then by the people I was surrounded by, you know,
with my farewell performance coming up with American Ballet Theater,
I've been talking to my first ballet teacher a lot.
Speaker 2 (31:50):
Cindy, who is featured in the bunt Heead series as well.
And let's just like the character you see drawn with
the short red like Bob and the Bangs. But we've
been talking a lot, and she's been kind of going
through archival videos and stuff like that, and one of
the things she said to me, she was like, it
makes so much sense like these the Bunhead series and
why you're doing it, and I'm looking back at these
(32:12):
videos and you're right, like the community that was around
you and in each of these characters, you know, these
these friends that you had in your circle. You guys
were all in this together but shared in the love
of this art form. And it's such a beautiful thing
to see, like in these videos like that we really
cared about each other and that ballet gave us this
(32:35):
opportunity to come together even though we weren't alike in
a lot of ways. And so I think the people
that I've you know, created made characters out of, you know,
are happy with it. It's all positive and it's fun
to like revisit and see little their images drawn and
the way that say tour fiage Ebe, who's the incredible illustrator,
(32:56):
just by me. I didn't send him any photos of
any of these people when they're younger, but just by
me giving them these script descriptions how he's created them. Like,
it's just it's really cool and amazing to see them
come alive on the page and that they all bring
something really beautiful to the story.
Speaker 1 (33:14):
That has to be such a cathartic and just a
special experience for all of you to experience that that
is so amazing and misty. One of the things that
we really pride ourselves on this podcast is talking about
self care and pouring into ourselves because we all know
that you can't pour from an empty cup. And so
when you think about rest and joy, what does rest
(33:35):
and joy look like for you in this season where
you're transitioning from dancer to more of like storyteller and
advocate and like sort of putting those roles at the
forefront of your life.
Speaker 2 (33:45):
Yeah, self care, I think at this point is like
stillness where it's been like impossible for me to really
have that throughout my career. I've spent so much of
my life like just life and career, you know, proving
myself and performing and like pushing, and so I feel
(34:05):
like this next season is really about stillness and like grounding.
Like I'm just excited to like feel more a more
more freedom not just in my life and my schedule,
but but in my creativity that like, you know, I
it's I'm fortunate and thankful to have been a part of,
(34:27):
you know, one of the top most elite, incredible ballet
companies in the world for twenty five years. But you're
on their schedule and so there has not been a
lot of freedom, you know, create creatively for me to
do a lot, you know, which is why in the
last five years that I've kind of stepped back from
the stage, I've been allowed to like create my foundation
(34:48):
in a production company and write more books and get
out there and speak more. And so I'm just looking
forward to more of that and like collaborating with people
I love and admire and in a new ways.
Speaker 3 (35:01):
We are so excited to see how how all of
this continues to unfold in your journey. And so when
you think about like being more grounded and having more
time for stillness in all that you do, let us
stillness look like.
Speaker 2 (35:23):
I know, it's like stillness is probably still a lot
to everybody else, you know. I think that again, it's
just being able to kind of like step back and
like breathe and do things in my own time. But
even like stillness in that like mornings are like off limits.
It's like this is my time to like be with
(35:45):
my son, take him to school or take him to
camp or whatever. It is like that that is like
critical and really important to me, And that to me
is like a form of stillness, where like work is
not in my mind, and I'm trying not to like
do anything connected to it and just be like present
and focused on my family.
Speaker 1 (36:05):
Thank you for being open and diving deeper with us
on that question, because I totally get it. It's like stillness.
It may not look the same to everyone else, but
for you and your life, based on what you've experienced before,
like this is stillness, and that sounds beautiful to get
to spend more time with your family as well. So, mister,
you have poured to so many people over the years,
(36:26):
and as you close one chapter and open another chapter,
what are some of the things that you're most excited
to receive or experience next.
Speaker 4 (36:37):
You know, that's a hard one because I feel like
I've received so much throughout my career that I you know,
I used to think, like, you know, performing was like
I mean because it felt like it because you put
so much into it, And then you're giving so much
of yourself on the stage, and.
Speaker 2 (36:57):
I think I used to and it is it is
a form of gift, but it's not it's not giving
in a way that I feel like I want to
in this next phase. And you know, I often question,
like what would be able to like fulfill me in
the way that my performance career has like will will
(37:17):
I ever experience that again? And the work that I'm doing,
like with my foundation, has completely filled that void and
even more. And to me, like that is like the
giving that I want to continue to do. Like I
poured so much into myself and so many people have
poured so much into me that like now it's like
(37:38):
I have to share all of the you know, knowledge
and experience and the access that I have to be
able to give other people access and opportunities. So that
is like super exciting for me, and I can't wait
to get my son more involved in like the like
advocacy work and like philanthropic work that I'm that I'm
(37:58):
doing once you like really underst stands.
Speaker 1 (38:00):
It, So.
Speaker 3 (38:04):
All that sounds super exciting and such an important experience
for Jackson to have as well. And so Misty, we
want to thank you so much for taking time out
of your busy schedule to join us for this interview,
and so tell our listeners you mentioned your foundation is
(38:26):
going to be the thing that's really important to you
as you transition. Tell our listeners how they can support
your foundation, and then where they can find your latest
edition in the bond Head series.
Speaker 2 (38:42):
Yeah, the foundation is definitely important to me. You can
find out more about all the work that I'm doing.
You know, my production company is creating great content that's
furthering the cause and the same way that the foundation
and everything that I'm doing is. But go to the website,
Missy Copelandfoundation dot org. You can go to my website
miss dot com. I'm on Instagram at Misty on Point.
(39:04):
And the book is available wherever you buy books, wherever
you buy your books, where you know it's it's available
in all the bookstores, it's you know, Amazon, all of that.
So yeah, thank you so much for having me, and
I just feel so lucky and fortunate too well to
have these platforms to share all of the important work.
You know, it's really important to me that I'm doing.
Speaker 1 (39:26):
Thank you so much, Mistery. We'll make sure to add
links to your resources in the show notes, and we
just thank you so much for your time and your energy,
and yes, we're wishing the best and we can't wait
to continue to support you.
Speaker 2 (39:37):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (39:39):
If you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure of your next steps,
this is for you. Hey, lady, is Tea here and
I just want to invite you to my free goal
map like a pro coaching workshop, where I'll share the
five proven steps to get unstuck and achieve your goals.
Whether you're feeling overwhelmed by all your ideas, juggling scalt ideas,
(40:01):
or maybe you just need confidence to start, this workshot
will give you the clarity, tools and the motivation to
take back control. Reserve your spot for free by visiting
her spacepodcast dot com and clicking on the goal map
like a pro webinar link. Lady, don't miss this chance
to build a roadmap that fits your life and set
you up for success. I hope to see you there.
Speaker 3 (40:24):
Thanks for tuning into cultivating her Space. Remember that while
this podcast is all about healing, empowerment, and resilience, it's
not a substitute for therapy. If you or someone you
know needs support, check out resources like Therapy for Black
Girls for Psychology Today. If you love today's episode, do
(40:46):
us a favor and share it with a friend who
needs some inspiration, or leave us a quick five star review.
Your support means the world to us and helps keep
this space thriving.
Speaker 1 (40:58):
And before we meet again. Repeat after me. I honor
my journey by balancing effort and rest to achieve my goals.
Keep Thriving, Lady, and tune in next Friday for more
inspiration from cultivating her Space. In the meantime, be sure
to connect with us on Instagram at her Space Podcast
On this week's episode of Cultivating her Space.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
I poured so much into myself and so many people
have poured so much into me that like now it's
like I have to share all of the knowledge and
experience and the access that I have to be able
to give other people access and opportunity.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Hey, lady, have you ever felt like the world just
doesn't get you? Well, we do.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Welcome to Cultivating her Space, the podcast dedicated to uplifting
and empowering women like you.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
We're your hosts, Doctor Dominique Brussard and educator and psychologists.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
And Terry Lomax, a techie and transformational speaker.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Join us every week for authentic conversations about everything from
fibroids to fake friends as we create space for black
women to just be.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Before we dive in, make sure you hit that button
and leave us a quick five star review. Lady, We
are black founded and black owned, and your support will
help us reach even more women like you.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Now, let's get into this week's episode of Cultivating her Space.
It's doctor dom here from the Cultivating her Space podcast.
Are you currently a resident of the state of California
and contemplating starting your therapy journey? Well, if so, please
reach out to me at doctor Dominique Brusard dot com.
(01:32):
That's d R D O M I N I q
U E b r O U ss ar D dot
com to schedule a free fifteen minute consultation. I look
forward to hearing from.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
You lady today. We have a legend on the podcast. Okay, honestly,
she barely needs an introduction, but it will be wild
not to share just a glimpse of her brilliance before
we dive in. Misty Copeland is a principal dancer with
the American Ballet Theater, and in twenty fifteen, she made
(02:10):
history as the first black woman to be promoted to
that position in the company's seventy five year history. She's
also a New York Times bestselling author with powerful titles
like Life and Motion, Ballerina, Body, Black Ballerinas, The Wind
at My Back, and of course, the beloved picture books
Bunheads and Firebird. In twenty twenty two, she launched the
(02:34):
Misty Copeland Foundation and its signature program be Bold, dedicated
to bring you more diversity, equity, and inclusion to dance,
especially ballet. There is so much more that we could
say about Misty but we want you to hear it
in her words. So, Misty Copeland, welcome to cultivating her space.
We're so honored to have you. Thank you.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
I'm so thrilled to be here with both of you.
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
We are definitely looking forward to this conversation, and so
we will start with our quote of the day. And Misty,
this quote will sound very familiar to you because these
are your words. I'll always be committed to opening doors,
creating space, and making ballet a place where everyone belongs.
(03:25):
Now I'm gonna say that and repeat that one more
time for the folks in the back to make sure
that they heard it. I'll always be committed to opening doors,
creating space, and making ballet a place where everyone belongs. So, Misty,
when you hear your words reflected back to you, tell
(03:48):
us what comes up for you when you hear those words.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
I don't know. Prince used to say these things to
me all the time, like you're a vessel. We are
a vessel for delivering messages and music and art or
whatever that may be. And and so I feel like
when I hear you know my own words, it's like
they're not my words. You know, these are like the
efforts and the work and the words of so many
(04:14):
who have come before us, and that we stand on
the shoulders of And you know, so much of what
I'm doing to me is just a reflection of the
support that I've had throughout my career and all all
of the incredible especially black women, who have shown me
what it is, you know, to show up and you know,
(04:36):
to have patience, to believe, to have hope, to have resilience.
And so I think of all of that when I
hear when I hear those words like yes, they they
came out of me. But I again, I feel like
I'm a vessel, uh, you know, for all the all
the people who filled who filled me up, that I
can you know, give to the next generation.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
That is such a beautiful perspective. And mister you've inspired
millions around the globe. But for those that are just
discovering your brilliance or learning about this next phase in
your life, what would you say is like one part
of your story that you hope they never overlook?
Speaker 2 (05:14):
You know, I think I think going back to like
my roots, that people don't just kind of see the
success and see, you know, what I've achieved and where
I'm at today, but the path that I've walked and
where I've come from, you know, you know, not coming
from a family that was rooted in ballet or the
arts at all, you know, having started late in this
(05:36):
field in like an untraditional way, and again like just
going back to like community, the only reason that I'm
here is because of community and someone that saw something
in me and gave me an opportunity. And that's why
I continue to do the work that I'm doing because
I know the benefits of having that, and so that's
(05:58):
what I hope that people will will remember, like my legacy.
Like when I look back on my career, it's like, yes,
I've danced a lot and done a lot of roles,
but I think that like the bigger picture and what
I've gained by being a part of this art form
is the woman that I've become and the person that
I've grown into. And it's because I've had access to
(06:20):
an art form that's given me the tools to be
the person that I am today. And so you know,
having had my experience and coming up how I did
is again why I started my foundation and why I
want to give back because I know the beautiful results,
you know, by exposing a young person to the arts.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Thank you so much for sharing that aspect. And when
you think about your origin story and how you didn't
you weren't rooted and grounded in the arts from the
very beginning. What's something else about your origin story that
you wish more people knew about you?
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Hmm?
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Here about my origin story?
Speaker 2 (07:11):
I mean, I feel like maybe the way that my
mother raised me and my siblings, which was really you know,
black people in America have such a myriad of experiences,
so it's hard to treat us as a monolith and
that you know, we all, you know, have similar experiences.
(07:33):
But you know, I'm biracial. Both of my parents are mixed,
and my mom raised me like you and your siblings
are black. And so when you step out of that
front door, that's how the world is going to perceive
you and therefore how you will be treated, and it
will affect everything that you experience. And so I don't know,
(07:55):
that's just my experience. That's my experience why I respond
the way I do in my industry in the broader world,
because it's not every biracial, we're black person's experience in America,
but I feel like I'm very rooted in in that identity,
and so, you know, I think that often when people
(08:17):
don't maybe know that in the way that I was
raised and me and my siblings were raised, that it's
it can often be like, well, you know, you're not
black and you're biracial, and why do you identify that way?
And but you know, we this My experiences have been
very real and legit, like being the only in a
space in a culture that is so deep rooted in
(08:38):
European white culture, and so I think I think it's
important for people to know that kind of like background
about my upbringing as to why I'm such an advocate
and you know, and stand so proudly and firmly in
that identity.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
My goodness, that is so amazing. We're going to have
to circle back to being the all because, especially in
your industry, I know, I can only imagine some of
the things that you've experienced, and so we'll have to
circle back to that. But one of the things we
want to talk about is that you just announced your
final bow coming this fall. So how does it feel
to pair that moment with the release of Bundheads Act
(09:17):
Too A story so rooted and encourage friendship and legacy.
How does that feel?
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Yeah, it really feels like perfect, perfect timing. Like this
the second book, I feel like picks up right where
like Little Misty left off, like from the from the
first book and learning how to push through you know,
fears and trusting herself and so you know, for me
telling that story while also taking a final bout at
(09:44):
American Ballet Theater just feels like a full circle moment.
You know, I'm celebrating where I came from, but while
also passing the torch to the next generation through this story.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
So speaking of this new book, in this book you
all speak, Misty and her friend have this beautiful friendship
and relationship. When you think about your experience in your
(10:17):
overall ballet career, how important were friendships to you in
your journey?
Speaker 2 (10:26):
I love this question something that you know, the reason
that I'm still a part of the art form, you know,
It's been twenty five years of my professional career, Like
sticking with it is because I have so much hope
and belief that this art form can transform lives and
that it's perfectly created in so many ways. When you
(10:48):
just think of it at the root of like the
technique of ballet. I'm not talking about all that comes
with it and the people and the culture that has
been created. But I grew up in an environ mint
in ballet that was very nurturing and celebrating individuality, which
is not often the case when you think of the bigger,
you know, scheme of of what ballet is. But it
(11:11):
can be that way. And so I say all of
that to say, the relationships that I had in those
very you know, nurturing environments were so critical.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
You know.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
It was everyone coming into this very sacred, very vulnerable environment,
like the ballet studio or whether that be the stage
where you're so vulnerable and you're all in it, you know,
with this the love of this same art form, like
you're sharing in that passion and love. And so those
relationships were real and raw, and that's what really motivated
(11:42):
me to start, you know, writing bun Heads the series,
because those are all real characters, real people that I
grew up with, and showing like the beauty of like
having people from different communities and different backgrounds and different
cultures come together and find this commonality in ballet and
build real lasting relationships around it, and I think that
(12:04):
ballet often it's a bad rap because of the way
it's depicted in media and television and in movies, that
they continue to kind of perpetuate the same stories over
and over again that are really negative. But so many
people have such positive experiences with that. And I think
that the relationships that I built in my youth but
(12:25):
also as a professional were key to like surviving the
hard work and what it takes to like stay in
it day in and day out. You know, you're traveling
the world with these people, you know, I spend more
time with them than my own family, So it's been
critical to be able to build upon those real relationships
in this art form.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
Thank you so much for sharing that. And one of
the things I want to lead into is you said
you talked about having a bad rap, right, and so
speaking of that, we want to share with you that
we recognize and appreciate and celebrate the multi fast the
woman which often gets a bad rep right, the women
who are fully embodied and multifaceted. And so we believe
that it's okay to be bougie, classy and ratchet. You
(13:08):
can still be elegant and dance to strip club music
if you so choose. So, Misty, we want to invite
you to the OHU Blatchet segment. Do you take on
the challenge?
Speaker 3 (13:18):
Ah?
Speaker 1 (13:19):
Yes, Okay, So now that you've agreed, we're going to
tell you what to expect. It'll be fun.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
Note.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
So what we're going to do, Missy, is we're going
to share three unique questions with you. We're going to
share three sentence completions, and then we have three photos
pulled up of you that we're going to share on
the big screen. And what we want you to do
is we want you to cheer, We want you to
choose one photo, and then we want you to share
some context about the photo that we would not know
just by looking at the photo. So we're going to
(13:46):
ease into this segment. We're going to start with the
pretty easy question. And the first question here is what's
the best piece of wisdom or advice you've ever received?
Speaker 2 (13:55):
I would say, not to let other people's words or actions,
you know, define define me or you know who I am?
Speaker 1 (14:05):
Thank you?
Speaker 3 (14:06):
I love that, Love that, And so in that same
vein of recognizing that we're not letting anyone's words or
actions define us, and also recognizing that you have a
life outside of being a ballerina. Part of that means
(14:27):
tapping into other creative forms of expression, maybe different types
of dance. Right, So when the music comes on and
you're hanging out having a good time, h are you
gonna twork or two step? Oh?
Speaker 2 (14:47):
Two step? I am not. I am not torking. I
that's a good one.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
It's okay. Miss We have so many guests on here
that are black women, and a lot of us are
just like, won't do the two step. But there's nothing
wrong with the two step. We appreciate it. We see you,
we see you. And then, Missy, our last question for
this particular segment is what is the sexiest item you own?
And this could be anything.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
Oh my gosh, I'm like, I'm in my dressing room
right now. Oh and so I'm like, I got some
great shoes that are like old linen.
Speaker 1 (15:25):
Yes, we get a show in tell Oh this is amazing.
Oh my goodness. Okay, So Missy, for folks, can you
describe the shoe because people won't have this visual.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
What wait, so these these are old too. I used
to wear these out with prints a lot. He loves
they are so painful because when you walk to their lubatons,
they're like sparkly silver with like spikes on them. They're
so sexy though, but you and like your ankles hit
and like the spikes get you, so you end up.
(16:00):
So maybe that's not something they look sexy.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
They definitely, they definitely look sexy.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
I would say, like shoes in general, like that like
makes an outfit for me.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
So yeah, good, yeah, okay, all right, and so now
we're going to move to the sentence completion. Mister. You
do a lot of interviews, right, and you answer lots
of questions. What is one topic? Wait, let me back up,
(16:32):
because it's supposed to be sentenced completion. Let me get
this together. One question or topic I wish people asked
me about more often is, Oh.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
My goodness, I get asked about a lot of things,
so that's hard. I mean, I think people often stay
away from like my personal life because that's not something
I put out there at all. But I guess, like
now that I've like stepped into motherhood, maybe more about that.
You know more about what it is to be, you know,
a working mom, to be an athlete mom, a performer mom.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
I think there's so much. There's so much there, mister,
you are not going to believe this. So our next
sentence completion is. One thing I share with everyone about
being an athlete mom.
Speaker 4 (17:23):
Is is that I feel like.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
My whole career has like cultivated to this moment. I
think that being an artist and being an athlete has
has given me the tools to be a mom. It's
like prepared me in so many ways. You know, if
you think about like all of the amazing attributes you
know that you gain, you know, the discipline, the grace,
(17:52):
the consistency and the work ethic and the patience and
all of those things. I'm like, you know, once Jackson
came up with it's like, oh okay, there's some like
familiar stuff that's you know, happening here. And I think
that it was again just you know, by being prepared
to be a performer and be an athlete.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
Wow, thank you so much for answering that. And so
our final sentence completion. What I love most about myself
is h.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Oh, my goodness.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
What I love most about myself is my ability to
step back and observe people before coming to like quick
conclusions about the situation or that.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
It's a really good answer, right, a good answer. Thank
you for that, MISTERI. And now we have these photos.
So let me tell you, mister. We have three photos.
I'm looking up at them now on the big screen,
and before we choose a photo, I want you to
choose a number out of one in three and then
once you choose number, I'll share that particular photo on screen.
You can give the additional context. And these photos are
absolutely incredible, So felfree, just choose your number.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
Two.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
Yes, I'm so happy he shows us one. Okay, So
what I'm gonna do is I'm gonna share this on
the big screen in the sty if you can first
describe the photo for folks that won't see this, and
then give us the context behind this photo. Oh my goodness.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
Oh okay, So this photo. I am in a beautiful open,
you know, beautifully lit studio with natural lighting and windows
all around, and I'm kind of doing like a split
on a chair, like half half hanging off the chair
and half on, and my head's thrust back with my
hair down, and I think it's kind of wet, and
(19:47):
I'm wearing I think a white leotard. Yeah. Is that good?
Because that's a great description.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
It's a beautiful it's it's like an artistic photo. I
feel it needs to be hanging in someone's museum or home. Now,
what's the What's like something about this photo that we
wouldn't know just by looking at it?
Speaker 2 (20:02):
My goodness. Okay, so this photo was taken by I
believe this is a photographer, Greg Delman, who is a close friend.
And you know, whenever we go into the studio, there's
no hair and makeup, there's no one, there's just me
and him and he. You know, I would just wet
my hair and you would just go like I usually.
(20:23):
I probably have on James Blake music playing right now
in this photo and I just kind of freestyle and
it's it's very flash dance this photo.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
That is so fun. Thank you so much for sharing,
and thank you so much for playing along with us
and allowing us to connect as humans for the ou
Bletchet segment. It's always so much fun. But we want
to get back in some of these questions and circle
back to something you mentioned earlier. You talked about being
the only and if we could just think about a
listener who is tuning in and they're only in their
industry or in their field. What is something that you
(20:57):
would want to remind people of who are are like
the representatives, whether they want to be or not, they
just happen to be that one person in that space
kind of representing their community.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
I mean, I like that you said whether they want
to or not, because you know, I think that it
really again, like I have a certain experience and the
way I grew up and the way I identify and
the things that are important to me, and not everyone
has that, and so I think that it's important to
know that you belong you. You belong in that space
no matter what anyone says or how you feel, because
(21:32):
there aren't other people that look like you in the space.
But it's also not your responsibility to teach everyone about
what it is to be the only or feel like
you have to represent your you know, your entire race,
and you know, I think just be you, be you
all the time, and really stand in your uniqueness and
(21:54):
your individuality because I guarantee you all those people around
you are.
Speaker 3 (22:00):
Oh, thank you for that. I hope that as our
listeners are hearing your response, that they press pause and
they rewind and they listen to that again, because I
think that that what you shared is so important.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (22:15):
And so earlier you mentioned motherhood and wanting to talk
more about motherhood, and so motherhood has become a part
of your story in the bond Heads series. So how
has being a mom influenced the way you see courage, creativity,
(22:40):
or even finding community.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
I've always, you know, thought of myself as like a
very patient and very open person. I mean, I guess
open when it comes to like my creativity and my
art form. But being a mom has like cracked me
open in like the best way. I think that, you know,
courage looks different now. It's not about it's not about
just me, and it's not about perfection. I think it's
(23:08):
you know, about presence. It's about showing up fully and honestly,
and because kids can see right through home when you're not,
you know, when you're not fully honest and being you
know yourself, but like letting my son see see all
of me and just being really open and honest with him,
and you know, I think I think creativity feels more
(23:31):
playful now, which I think is so cool. I think
that especially being in an art form like ballet, I
think that I've taken my creativity, like really seriously in
the past, and now it's like about you know, seeing
things through the perspective of my three year olds, you know,
and his curiosity and how free he is. And then
(23:56):
when it comes to you know, community, it's like I've
never ever felt more valued, you know. And I think
about just you know, the saying it takes a village,
you know, to raise to raise your family, and and
and I feel that more now than ever, you know,
having just incredible support and advice. And I think about
(24:19):
just my mother in law, like We've always had a
great relationship, but like she like, we couldn't be more close,
and it's just an amazing feeling. And it's all like
because of you know, stepping into motherhood.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
That's so amazing too, how your profession has given you
those transferable skills to show up more powerfully as a mom.
And I believe you said your son's same as Jackson.
Is that right? Yes? Okay, So what's something that you
it's very important to you to teach Jackson based on
what you've learned, whether it's in your industry or just
being a woman in general, Like, what's those very essential
(24:56):
to pass along to him? Even though theys three years old,
because it's there's still so and they're learning.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
Oh huh, I know they they're they're not. I mean,
like I don't treat Jackson like he's three. I mean
a lot of ways I do. You have to you know,
you have to be like remind But when I'm like
speaking to him and communicating with him or telling him things,
it's like I don't talk down to him. I think
him really seeing me and my husband olu like communicate
(25:24):
and being like really clear and really patient with each
other is important for him to see and seeing like
all of who I am as a woman, Like everyone
has different approaches, but like I don't like shield him
from from certain things, like he my husband is so funny,
he calls him. He calls Jackson a little feminist, but
like he knows I have a period, and he understands
(25:45):
like what that means, and he knows his body parts
and he knows like my body parts and it's not
like something to be ashamed of or to like hide from.
And I find that so important with him just having
confidence in himself self and and the other like you know,
the other sex, and in it not kind of creating
(26:07):
this barrier or him having like curiosity and like in
a way that's like not healthy. Those are like important,
like I don't know, like everyday things for me that
like he he really kind of just stands in who
he is and and is comfident.
Speaker 3 (26:28):
I love that. I think that that is so important.
And I think that raising children is such an important
job and within that, children are constantly teaching us things
about ourselves, about humanity, all kinds of We're learning all
kinds of lessons along the way. And so when you
(26:50):
think about your role as a mom, and you mentioned
before about how being a mom has allowed you to
just happen into this level of playfulness. So what is
something fun, silly or unexpected that has come out of
(27:10):
being a mom?
Speaker 2 (27:12):
I think I think I'm like silly in general, Like
I'm like a silly person, like enjoy like even just
within my own craft and career, like I enjoy falling
and like seeing people fall and like like that. And
so I think it's just like come out more having
(27:34):
a son, especially someone who's like so physical and so
just to be able to be like really like open
and silly and active and physical with him, I guess
it is fun and you know, I know, like every
parent says it, but like kind of bringing you back
to your own youth and then you know, and then
also just getting to experience things in a different way,
(27:57):
you know, like Jackson's growing up very different than I do,
and very different than my husband did, and so it's
like we're getting to relive these experiences in a completely
different way, which is really cool.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
That is such a great way to put it, because
I noticed the same thing with my four year old.
It's like you're living your childhood over again, but you
can kind of tweak those things that maybe weren't ideal
in your own experience. So I love that, and I
want to circle back to I want to circle back
to the book. So the Dance of Courage, it picks
up with Misty and her friends learning don Quixote. What
inspired you to censure the story around that specific ballet?
Speaker 2 (28:34):
Well, don Q, I should have just told you it,
don Q, because I so it holds like a really
special place in my heart. It was the very first
ballet that like full length ballet. I guess that I
really did like the lead in. I mean, of course
I was in the Nutcracker whatever, you know, because that's
like everyone's in The Nutcracker, of course. But I think
I've been dancing for like less a little over a year,
(28:58):
which I started dance late, so that you know, I
was picking up things very quickly. But by the time
I was like fourteen years old, I was performing the
lead in Don Quixote at my school. Key Tree was
like such a unique role in the ballet repertoire because often,
you know, like anything about any Disney movie or any
fairy tale, and it's always like this love story where
(29:18):
the man is coming in to save the woman and
you know strength. But Kee Tree is like this strong,
powerful character, and I think I was so like attracted
to that from a young age. And then Don q
was also the first live ballet performance I saw, and
I saw American Ballet Theater do it in California where
I grew up, and so I was just once I
(29:40):
saw that ballet, I was like, Oh, this is what
I need to do for a profession, Like this is
what I got to do for the rest of my life.
And it was like right then and there in that
theater watching that ballet that I was like, this is it,
This is like what I'm going to be doing for
the rest of my life. And so I thought it
was like a really cool story for us to tell,
you know, within the bun Head series, because I think
(30:03):
it's important and empowering, like for young girls but also
for young boys to see female characters in that way.
And then I think also it connected so well with
the character who's a real person, Catalina, who we call
Cat in the book, who's the featured character in this story,
because the Cat like that I grew up with was
so confident, and I think that's why I was so
(30:25):
drawn to her, because I was super shy and like
introverted and insecure and had a lot of like shame around,
like how I grew up like we were houseless for
most of my upbringing, and so I didn't have a
lot of close friends because I didn't want people to
know what was going on. And so to see someone
like Cat, who I think she's like three years younger
than me, but like back you know when you're young,
(30:47):
like that seems like a lot. So I'm looking at
this girl, it's like a little girl, and I'm like,
how does she have so much confidence and like so
self assured, And so I feel like keetre connected so
well with who Catalina was, so it made sense for
us to like kind of put those two together.
Speaker 3 (31:03):
Wow, that's that's so beautiful. Thank you for sharing that.
And so you mentioned that Kat is based on someone
someone that you know.
Speaker 2 (31:16):
How has that been.
Speaker 3 (31:18):
To be able to infuse people that you know into
your books and what has there what has that been
like for you to do that, and what has been
their response to being included in this way.
Speaker 5 (31:32):
It's again, I feel like I've been so impacted by
just my experience of coming into this art form and
then by the people I was surrounded by, you know,
with my farewell performance coming up with American Ballet Theater,
I've been talking to my first ballet teacher a lot.
Speaker 2 (31:50):
Cindy, who is featured in the bunt Heead series as well.
And let's just like the character you see drawn with
the short red like Bob and the Bangs. But we've
been talking a lot, and she's been kind of going
through archival videos and stuff like that, and one of
the things she said to me, she was like, it
makes so much sense like these the Bunhead series and
why you're doing it, and I'm looking back at these
(32:12):
videos and you're right, like the community that was around
you and in each of these characters, you know, these
these friends that you had in your circle. You guys
were all in this together but shared in the love
of this art form. And it's such a beautiful thing
to see, like in these videos like that we really
cared about each other and that ballet gave us this
(32:35):
opportunity to come together even though we weren't alike in
a lot of ways. And so I think the people
that I've you know, created made characters out of, you know,
are happy with it. It's all positive and it's fun
to like revisit and see little their images drawn and
the way that say tour fiage Ebe, who's the incredible illustrator,
(32:56):
just by me. I didn't send him any photos of
any of these people when they're younger, but just by
me giving them these script descriptions how he's created them. Like,
it's just it's really cool and amazing to see them
come alive on the page and that they all bring
something really beautiful to the story.
Speaker 1 (33:14):
That has to be such a cathartic and just a
special experience for all of you to experience that that
is so amazing and misty. One of the things that
we really pride ourselves on this podcast is talking about
self care and pouring into ourselves because we all know
that you can't pour from an empty cup. And so
when you think about rest and joy, what does rest
(33:35):
and joy look like for you in this season where
you're transitioning from dancer to more of like storyteller and
advocate and like sort of putting those roles at the
forefront of your life.
Speaker 2 (33:45):
Yeah, self care, I think at this point is like
stillness where it's been like impossible for me to really
have that throughout my career. I've spent so much of
my life like just life and career, you know, proving
myself and performing and like pushing, and so I feel
(34:05):
like this next season is really about stillness and like grounding.
Like I'm just excited to like feel more a more
more freedom not just in my life and my schedule,
but but in my creativity that like, you know, I
it's I'm fortunate and thankful to have been a part of,
(34:27):
you know, one of the top most elite, incredible ballet
companies in the world for twenty five years. But you're
on their schedule and so there has not been a
lot of freedom, you know, create creatively for me to
do a lot, you know, which is why in the
last five years that I've kind of stepped back from
the stage, I've been allowed to like create my foundation
(34:48):
in a production company and write more books and get
out there and speak more. And so I'm just looking
forward to more of that and like collaborating with people
I love and admire and in a new ways.
Speaker 3 (35:01):
We are so excited to see how how all of
this continues to unfold in your journey. And so when
you think about like being more grounded and having more
time for stillness in all that you do, let us
stillness look like.
Speaker 2 (35:23):
I know, it's like stillness is probably still a lot
to everybody else, you know. I think that again, it's
just being able to kind of like step back and
like breathe and do things in my own time. But
even like stillness in that like mornings are like off limits.
It's like this is my time to like be with
(35:45):
my son, take him to school or take him to
camp or whatever. It is like that that is like
critical and really important to me, And that to me
is like a form of stillness, where like work is
not in my mind, and I'm trying not to like
do anything connected to it and just be like present
and focused on my family.
Speaker 1 (36:05):
Thank you for being open and diving deeper with us
on that question, because I totally get it. It's like stillness.
It may not look the same to everyone else, but
for you and your life, based on what you've experienced before,
like this is stillness, and that sounds beautiful to get
to spend more time with your family as well. So, mister,
you have poured to so many people over the years,
(36:26):
and as you close one chapter and open another chapter,
what are some of the things that you're most excited
to receive or experience next.
Speaker 4 (36:37):
You know, that's a hard one because I feel like
I've received so much throughout my career that I you know,
I used to think, like, you know, performing was like
I mean because it felt like it because you put
so much into it, And then you're giving so much
of yourself on the stage, and.
Speaker 2 (36:57):
I think I used to and it is it is
a form of gift, but it's not it's not giving
in a way that I feel like I want to
in this next phase. And you know, I often question,
like what would be able to like fulfill me in
the way that my performance career has like will will
(37:17):
I ever experience that again? And the work that I'm doing,
like with my foundation, has completely filled that void and
even more. And to me, like that is like the
giving that I want to continue to do. Like I
poured so much into myself and so many people have
poured so much into me that like now it's like
(37:38):
I have to share all of the you know, knowledge
and experience and the access that I have to be
able to give other people access and opportunities. So that
is like super exciting for me, and I can't wait
to get my son more involved in like the like
advocacy work and like philanthropic work that I'm that I'm
(37:58):
doing once you like really underst stands.
Speaker 1 (38:00):
It, So.
Speaker 3 (38:04):
All that sounds super exciting and such an important experience
for Jackson to have as well. And so Misty, we
want to thank you so much for taking time out
of your busy schedule to join us for this interview,
and so tell our listeners you mentioned your foundation is
(38:26):
going to be the thing that's really important to you
as you transition. Tell our listeners how they can support
your foundation, and then where they can find your latest
edition in the bond Head series.
Speaker 2 (38:42):
Yeah, the foundation is definitely important to me. You can
find out more about all the work that I'm doing.
You know, my production company is creating great content that's
furthering the cause and the same way that the foundation
and everything that I'm doing is. But go to the website,
Missy Copelandfoundation dot org. You can go to my website
miss dot com. I'm on Instagram at Misty on Point.
(39:04):
And the book is available wherever you buy books, wherever
you buy your books, where you know it's it's available
in all the bookstores, it's you know, Amazon, all of that.
So yeah, thank you so much for having me, and
I just feel so lucky and fortunate too well to
have these platforms to share all of the important work.
You know, it's really important to me that I'm doing.
Speaker 1 (39:26):
Thank you so much, Mistery. We'll make sure to add
links to your resources in the show notes, and we
just thank you so much for your time and your energy,
and yes, we're wishing the best and we can't wait
to continue to support you.
Speaker 2 (39:37):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (39:39):
If you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure of your next steps,
this is for you. Hey, lady, is Tea here and
I just want to invite you to my free goal
map like a pro coaching workshop, where I'll share the
five proven steps to get unstuck and achieve your goals.
Whether you're feeling overwhelmed by all your ideas, juggling scalt ideas,
(40:01):
or maybe you just need confidence to start, this workshot
will give you the clarity, tools and the motivation to
take back control. Reserve your spot for free by visiting
her spacepodcast dot com and clicking on the goal map
like a pro webinar link. Lady, don't miss this chance
to build a roadmap that fits your life and set
you up for success. I hope to see you there.
Speaker 3 (40:24):
Thanks for tuning into cultivating her Space. Remember that while
this podcast is all about healing, empowerment, and resilience, it's
not a substitute for therapy. If you or someone you
know needs support, check out resources like Therapy for Black
Girls for Psychology Today. If you love today's episode, do
(40:46):
us a favor and share it with a friend who
needs some inspiration, or leave us a quick five star review.
Your support means the world to us and helps keep
this space thriving.
Speaker 1 (40:58):
And before we meet again. Repeat after me. I honor
my journey by balancing effort and rest to achieve my goals.
Keep Thriving, Lady, and tune in next Friday for more
inspiration from cultivating her Space. In the meantime, be sure
to connect with us on Instagram at her Space Podcast
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.
Cardiac Cowboys
The heart was always off-limits to surgeons. Cutting into it spelled instant death for the patient. That is, until a ragtag group of doctors scattered across the Midwest and Texas decided to throw out the rule book. Working in makeshift laboratories and home garages, using medical devices made from scavenged machine parts and beer tubes, these men and women invented the field of open heart surgery. Odds are, someone you know is alive because of them. So why has history left them behind? Presented by Chris Pine, CARDIAC COWBOYS tells the gripping true story behind the birth of heart surgery, and the young, Greatest Generation doctors who made it happen. For years, they competed and feuded, racing to be the first, the best, and the most prolific. Some appeared on the cover of Time Magazine, operated on kings and advised presidents. Others ended up disgraced, penniless, and convicted of felonies. Together, they ignited a revolution in medicine, and changed the world.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.