November 24, 2025 • 42 mins
Welcome to a special edition of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast!
Today, we welcome D’Andre McKenzie to the podcast! A Lee’s Summit, Missouri native, D’Andre McKenzie began his career as a Defensive Back (jersey number 29) for the University of Missouri Tigers football team. After graduating with a double bachelor’s degree in mass communication + Media Studies and English, D’Andre worked as an actor in the Kansas City metropolitan area before relocating to New York City.
In 2023, D’Andre made his Reality TV debut on Netflix’s Squid Game: The Challenge’s first season. He wore the 288 jersey in hopes of beating out 455 other players to win the show’s prize of $4.56 million, the largest prize in TV competition history. While he survived in the inaugural game of “Red Light, Green Light,” he made it into the dormitory. Sadly, his luck ran out when his group failed to reach a unanimous consensus during the Dalgona challenge.
Also in 2023, D’Andre McKenzie started the Way Network and The D’Andre Way. He covered major events such as the NFL Draft, the WNBA Draft, and the NBA Playoffs. His presence enhanced fan experiences at games and events by inserting them into the conversation surrounding the experience. He created channels on social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, and built a combined total of 20,000 followers and over 5 million engagements.
On this special edition of Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, D’Andre McKenzie shared his experience on Squid Game: The Challenge’s first season, going viral on social media, and potentially competing on other Reality TV shows.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jake-s-take-with-jacob-elyachar--4112003/support.
Today, we welcome D’Andre McKenzie to the podcast! A Lee’s Summit, Missouri native, D’Andre McKenzie began his career as a Defensive Back (jersey number 29) for the University of Missouri Tigers football team. After graduating with a double bachelor’s degree in mass communication + Media Studies and English, D’Andre worked as an actor in the Kansas City metropolitan area before relocating to New York City.
In 2023, D’Andre made his Reality TV debut on Netflix’s Squid Game: The Challenge’s first season. He wore the 288 jersey in hopes of beating out 455 other players to win the show’s prize of $4.56 million, the largest prize in TV competition history. While he survived in the inaugural game of “Red Light, Green Light,” he made it into the dormitory. Sadly, his luck ran out when his group failed to reach a unanimous consensus during the Dalgona challenge.
Also in 2023, D’Andre McKenzie started the Way Network and The D’Andre Way. He covered major events such as the NFL Draft, the WNBA Draft, and the NBA Playoffs. His presence enhanced fan experiences at games and events by inserting them into the conversation surrounding the experience. He created channels on social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, and built a combined total of 20,000 followers and over 5 million engagements.
On this special edition of Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, D’Andre McKenzie shared his experience on Squid Game: The Challenge’s first season, going viral on social media, and potentially competing on other Reality TV shows.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jake-s-take-with-jacob-elyachar--4112003/support.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Hello everyone, and welcome to our fall special of the
Jake Stake of Jacob eley Shaw Podcast. I'm your host,
Jacob Eli Showing, a chief content reaser and writer of
jakesk dot com, a pop culturnertainment the news website. If
you're watching us on audio, please give us Please download
this episode and more episodes, and if you're listening to
us on YouTube, please give us a thumbs up and
please subscribe. I am thrilled to welcome our next guest today.
(00:45):
He's the founder of the Way Network. He has covered
various NFL drafts, The Fantastic feat Best Fanatic Best, and
the MLB All Star Weekend. He's also better known as
player to eighty eight on the squid game The Challenge.
He's one, So please let me welcome DeAndre McKenzie to
the podcast.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Oh what's popping? What's popping?
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Good to be here? Good to be here?
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Didn't have it, DeAndre, and we gotta I gotta give
a special shout out to my our dear mutual friend
Mike Lewis, who is who said this in one interview
up and also was very ecstatic to very ecstatic to
hear the news. It might be very exactly. I'm Mike,
shout out Mike man. Alrighty, so both of us have
(01:30):
something common. We are both from McKenzie metropolitan area area.
I grew up in Kansas City, Overland Parkside ball you,
my friend.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
It was at least I'm at Missouri Side, you know. So, uh,
I grew up in the city a little bit, but
then went to high school in Lea Summit.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
So in middle school.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Oh yeah, and also, but however, you also played for
the Missouri Tigers.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
I did. I did play. I went to the University
of Missouri Columbia double major to communication in English, and
I played football for the university from twenty twelve to
twenty sixteen.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
That's awesome. Which oh, by the way, my mom's the Jayhawks. Butman,
I like this chat. But however, the thing is.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Hey, I was at the Miszooku game this week this year,
and you know, we took care of business. Now we
just got to do the same thing in basketball again,
just like we did last year. So it's all good
and over here.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
Alrighty, alrighty, all right, So let's get started on their
converse stage. Are moving forward in our conversation. So when
do you get interested in media and how did that
passion evolve a desire to pursue career in our industry.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
So it's actually because of Squid Game. Ironically enough, I
did the show. I met a bunch of people on
the show that was like, oh, do you do content?
Do you do content? I'm like, no, I don't really
do it. I'm an actor, you know, that's the main
thing I do. As I'm the actor. I've done TV, film, commercial, stage,
off Broadway, the whole nine. So that's kind of like
(02:55):
my bread and butter. And it wasn't until I just
met some other people and they kind of saying, you
need to get started on it.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
You'd get big and you'd blow up.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
And somebody came to my house after the show and
didn't gave me an hour intervention on TikTok, my homie Darius,
And after he did that, he's like, you need to
post three times a day. It doesn't matter what it is,
just get you supposing. I'm like, all right, Like I'll
try it. And this is maybe like two weeks after
the show is over or something like that, or that's
where I get eliminated and I started doing it. It's
(03:25):
you know, I'm getting used to it. And you know,
I go to an event, the NFL Draft at twenty
twenty three, the first that's the first real event I
went to. Outside of that, I was just going to
like on the street and doing stuff at my house
and really successful. I had a video pop off viral
one with this dude named James Draws. He's kind of
like an influencer on TikTok. He reacts to like NFL
(03:47):
teams losing, and Yeah, after that, it kind of just
was like, Okay, this is something that I might be
able to continue doing. I had a good time, I
enjoyed it, and I had success with it. And you know,
fast forward, things go pretty well as a continuous and
keep growing and growing. I'm getting more traction with things.
(04:07):
And then this year alone.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
Like it's been.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
A complete you know, one to eighty from when I started,
just cause like I'm getting I'm consistently getting crachtion and
I'm consistently getting more access to things that I'm growing
as well, and the concert's becoming better. And I mean
I traveled a ton this year, way more than I
didn't think I was going to be doing this ever,
Like if you told me prior to squid game that
(04:32):
I'd be doing what I'm doing now. I kind of
wouldn't like that. Don't really sound like me too much,
Like I like sports and stuff like that. But it
wasn't I wasn't going to many games, Like I didn't
go to it. I didn't go to a sporting event
my first in New York, my first like two years,
three years in the city. You know, not that I
didn't like it, I just wasn't my focus. And so yeah,
it's been fun. It's been a great time. And you know,
(04:52):
now I'm able to go in some places that I've
always wanted to go as a former athlete. Now you know,
as or as current as an athlete, but now you
know as a former athlete. It's cool to be able
to step into them rooms again.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
And that's incredible too. And it's amazing that you popped
up that you've had a viral year. You have had
like an insane viral year. We'll get to in a minute,
but first we got to talk about the Way Network's
origin stories. So how did the Way So was that
the Way Network came out of that TikTok intervention?
Speaker 3 (05:26):
So the Way Network was there before so I started, Actually,
technically I started the Way Network in twenty nineteen. It
was called Big Panther Productions, and it was named that
because my friend I was doing a live show with
He's like, oh, you should name your because I was
doing mostly photography back then, Like that was photography was
the main thing.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
That's where it started from.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
And he's like, oh, you should date a Big Panther
because I like the Carolina Panthers as well. Like I
was born in North Carolina, so I liked the panthers.
That's why it was named that. But cheese fans still
here too. But and I definitely, you know, I went
with that for a little bit, and then COVID happened.
Then I really started getting in the photography. I was
booking sessions, this, that and the third. And it kind
(06:08):
of slowed off a bit once I moved back to
New York when I went met New York after COVID happens,
and you know, I kind of it was put to
the wayside a little bit. But then once once like
I said, I started doing the social media stuff with
my own page and then doing the interviews. I wasn't
(06:28):
posting too much on the Weight Network but that's when
I kind of started implementing that again and I changed
it to the way network I think last year, and
I kind of was like, Okay, I want this to
be like a media brand to back me up, to
make me a little bit more official, to make me
have a little more of a base so people can
know who I am as a creator, but also I
have a network behind me. And the network is basically
(06:49):
to establish people from all different networks and get them
to conglomerate together. So that's kind of the role I do,
and the role behind the company is essentially to great
content and redistribute it out to different outlets, different companies,
different brands, you know.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Different businesses.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
Because I am the person behind it, of course, but
there are some other people behind the scenes helping me
out when it comes to editing, when it comes to
you know, negotiations and contracts. You know, I I'm signed
with an a an agency right now that helps me
out with some deals as well.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
And so with the communication aspect of things, I kind.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
Of handle all the deals verbally in email, but they
handle some other things behind the scenes, and so it's
just a way to you know, connect everyone and help
help each other out in the long run, and you know,
make each other give, make each other profitable in whatever
truck we're trying to do.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
So it's been around for a while, which is incredible.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
And the way in the way along the way, you're
able to help a lot of people out, which is great.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Yeah, that's what it's about, man, That's what it's about.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Alrighty, So, my friend, you've had the opportunity to cover
three NFL drafts to Fanatic Fest and and we'll be
All Star weekends. So could you describe these experience to
my audience.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
Yeah, So NFL Draft is one of my favorite events
of the year. I mean, I'll go through the list
like that's that's that's the first one. So it has
a special place in my heart. That's really what got
me stepped up to the to everything and whatnot. I mean,
I talk to fans from every single team. Get their
The main thing about these events. I talk to the fans.
That's the first and foremost important is get their perspective
(08:29):
on things, because they're the kind of unsung heroes behind
everything when it comes to sports and whatnot. In concert,
I got good music as well anything you know, And
so without that the show, there would be no show
going on, like there would be nothing, And so I
think athletes and coaches can tend to forget that sometimes,
especially me being a part of it, because you know,
(08:51):
as a former college athlete, the fans are there, but
it's like you're worried about the other team and you're
worried about yourself, you know, and the fans are kind
of I don't want to say it, they're a distraction,
but they're just kind of like it feels like they're secondary. Yes,
it feels like their secondary. The coaches don't really mention
like before the game or in practice, like we got
to get to make sure the fans are there, like
(09:12):
all this stuff like subliminably sure, but it just it
kind of seemed like an afterthought. Like when I was
an athlete, tailgating seemed like an afterthought, like, oh, I
can't believe people are here six hours before the game,
like what's going on? And yeah, they make it electric
with the noise and whatnot after you get a touchdown
and you're hyping them up, but it's just there's.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Just a big barrier.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
There's a big barrier, and I wanted to condense that
barrier in the fact of giving them a voice to
kind of say what they want to say and say
what needs to be said, because a lot of these fans.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Are pretty knowledgeable and know just as much, if not more.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
Honestly, than some coaches and players about what's really going down.
There's a whole other perspective inside that they see that
we can't see on the sidelines. And you know, they're
the ones that's the boosters as well. They're the ones
donating the money, they're the ones buying the tickets, find
the merged all this stuff. So with not paying respect
to them and giving them a platform, then there's none
(10:06):
of that stuff as possible. And I really appreciate their insight,
and honestly, they're the only ones able to give unfiltered
insight as well. You can't do that as a player.
You can't do this. As a coach, you can't do that.
If you're working with the team in a capacity, you're
very structured on what you can and can't say. And
so I love that about it, And I love meeting
(10:26):
the people. They're great people. They have all different stories
and I love hearing the stories. So yeah, the NFL
Draft amazing. W NBA Drafts dope. I got to meet
like Caitlin Clark, Paige Bucher's Angel Reese.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
The MLB All Star Weekend was dope. It was my
first time.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
This last year, I got to meet Livy Dunn, Paul Schemes,
Pat McAfee, a whole bunch of great people. Super Bowl
week I got to do that two years ago. I'm
doing it again. This year.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Was amazing.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
To got to meet some broadcast There's James James Brown
that I've watched growing up forever, some some former players,
the Mark Hamlin et cetera, et cetera.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Uh, and then yeah, that's that's a few of the events.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
And then also the games, you know, like this year,
I mean I got to be on the sidelines for
Giants Chiefs game. I was right, I mean I have
to shake Patrick Mahomes's hand I got. Yeah, it was
it was crazy. I got to uh else did I say?
I mean be right next to Like this last weekend,
I was in Philadelphia for the HBCU game Delaware State
(11:32):
versus Norfolk State. Mike Vick's team, DeShawn Jackson's team, Cam
Newton was there, Marshawn Lynch was there, et cetera. In
Fanatics Fest. That's even the biggest thing. That's the craziest
one because that's when they're all like in a con
convoluted setting to where everyone's just relaxing, chilling, hanging out.
And I'm in the back room in this Starbucks lounge
hanging out with Drewski, Cavin Hart, Steve Nash, Lebron James
(11:58):
comes in. I talked to him because he kicks me
on my seat, Like I never thought i'd dap up
Lebron James, Like that's crazy, even though I've seen him before,
Like I've met him once before, but not like that
up close and personal, you know, Carmelo, Anthony, Tom Brady,
Like it was that weekend with my eyes. I've had
a lot of insane weekends before, but that one that's
(12:21):
top three easily this year, just because I've never been
in a room where they're all in here and we're
all just kicking it and chilling and talking. And I
met some other great people too, like my guy JJ Brakes.
He he's a card breaker that.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
Lives in Florida. Who else?
Speaker 3 (12:38):
I mean, there was that weekend was just a blur
because of just the insanity that was walking through this room.
I mean, amigo, I mean migos, Like it was crazy.
It was crazy, But it's a fun time, you know,
all that stuff. He's in the off season and right
now I'm in season and season locked in going to
these games and you know, getting this stuff check cranked out.
I got a game later today that just randomly happens.
(13:00):
It hypothetically is actually my birthday today as well, So
happy birthday.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
Well, thank you, thank you. So it's a fun time,
all right.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
De DeAndre. I can say this. Not a lot of
people can say that Lebron James took their seat while
dabbing in the process.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Thanks. Thanks.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
I was like, I'll let him slide in here, because
you know, I had this whole little section to myself.
And then he just comes in with his posse and
he's say, hey, man, we need this spot. And I
was like, you know what, I'll let you slide it.
But I should have got a picture. That was That
was my mistake.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
But seriously, oh my god, speaking that I got roasted
by Matt Rfe earlier this year, and I should have
asked him for a photo too, so.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
You and me both it's funny.
Speaker 3 (13:42):
I actually went to him, I went to a Matt
Riiche show in twenty twenty one before he was like
before he we is now. It was in the Upper
it was in New York and it was on the
Upper West Side, and there might have been only fifteen
people at this show, like ten to fifty. It was
very low sold show, and I should have got it.
I talked to him after the show, and I if
(14:04):
I ever see him we're talking again, I will mention
this and he will remember it. Because I was like,
I remember I know Matt Rafe obviously from a whild'n Out,
but more so from the Challenge. He was on the
Challenge Stars versus Stars, versus Champs versus Stars, and that's
that's that's kind of like vividly what I remember him
from initially, like, yes, I watched wildin'n Out or whatever,
(14:25):
but nobody ever ever references the show. And I asked
him about the show and he's like, oh, I hated this.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
Wow, I did not know about that.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
Yeah, And so.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
Yeah, I mean, I he'll remember that show. I mean
it was right. It was a little before he was
popping popping like that, and I thought he was popping them,
but I guess you know, I went to the show.
I thought it was when you packed out. It was
empty and a tiny little bar. And it's crazy to
see how big he's doing now.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
So and awesome, he said, point twenty one. So, if
I remember correctly, we were all coming out of the pandemic.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
Mm hmmm, yep.
Speaker 3 (14:59):
Yeah, so it was a very quiet time.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
All right, So we got to talk about One of
the biggest moments you've had this year was a viral
moment at New York's Jet City Jets New York Jets
game where you can where you met a fan. It
was very unhappy with that outcome of the game, and
he was so unhappy that it went viral And as
of this recording has over one point two million Instagram likes,
(15:24):
and not only that, Marshool's Sports and ESPN picked up
that content. So what does it mean to go viral?
Speaker 2 (15:33):
It's crazy.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
I thought I went viral before for the Knicks playoffs
this past year, my videos were doing crazy numbers, millions
of views and whatnot. You know, I thought I went viral,
you know, at the draft a couple of times when
I was interviewing these big name people. But this is
this is actually like what it really is, and it's
it's a weird feeling because you know, it's everyone always say, oh,
(15:56):
I posted the video not thinking that it was going
to blow up. Well, some people are true in that,
some people aren't true this video. I literally just I
post videos like this all the time. So if you
followed my page for this video, you see these kind
of videos all the time. This is nothing new that
I'm doing, and it's just a little more funny and unique. Sure,
(16:18):
but never did I think that this kid because I
tried to avoid talking to kids because consent all that stuff.
This that, and the third. I never thought a kid
would have me go like mega mega, mega viral on ESPN, barstool,
all these talk shows, podcast everything. It was just mind blowing.
(16:40):
And by the first day I was like, oh, these videos,
this video is going kind of crazy because I always
try all my videos before I post them. And it
was doing well in the first you know, two three hours,
I'm like, all right, let me let me make this
an official post. And you know, within a day, I think, no,
within twelve hours, I think it had like a million.
I was like, oh, this is kind of crazy, and
(17:01):
I was like Okay, it's gonna slow down, and it's
kept going, and it kept going, and then these big
accounts in the next morning kept reaching out Sports Center,
dm ME, the richest sias and showed dm ME Barstool,
dm ME House of Highlights. I mean, every single plage
that I followed dm ME, and I'm just like, huh.
(17:24):
And so it just got to a point where it's like,
I'm getting so many messages on this video. It took
over my whole week. That week was supposed to be
a relaxing, chill week for me because I go to
all these events, and I think that weekend, that weekend
in particular, I was at the Jets game. I think
that might have been the only game I was at.
Maybe it was up Philly. I think I was at it.
(17:44):
I can't remember if that was the weekend I was
in Philadelphia. No, that was the weekend after. I can't remember.
But I usually go to multiple events a weekend, and
you know, that's the Jets. It's the Jets versus Panthers too.
You know, it's both those teams are not really going nowhere,
and just to have that happen and then just just
just the whole event surface out of nothing.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
It was.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
It was kind of crazy, and my phone was just
literally just NonStop buzzing, just NonStop, and I'm trying to
work like at the same time, like my other job,
and it was it was a whirlwind. And it's like
now it's finally slowed down and things are kind of
semi back to normal to a degree, outside of other
things going on, like with a Squid Game release. That's
(18:27):
kind of caused my life to get crazy again, just
dealing with all that stuff.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
But yeah, no, it was a time and I enjoyed it.
Speaker 3 (18:34):
I definitely, you know, luckily I've had you know, when
Squid Game the challenge came out, that was kind of
a viral moment for me, particularly just because you know,
everyone's texting you and you're on TV, everyone's you know,
pulling up your phone, and so I kind of had
a feeling. I knew how to deal with it to
an extent, but this was dealing with more brands, more
(18:56):
people wanting to use my stuff rather than you know,
just the excitement of me being on a show, and
so it was it was fun, you know, it's it's
definitely you got to make sure you control your emotions.
With the highs and the lows, because some people, when
you the viralness stops, you kind of like look at
your phone and it's not popping no more, and you
get like in your feelings and you think all your
(19:16):
videos are not as successful.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
That's not the case.
Speaker 3 (19:19):
It's just this is being viral is just like an anomaly,
unless you're like a celebrity, then it's own, you know,
always going viral. But you know, it was a fun time.
I enjoyed it. You know, the time is pretty much
up for that, and uh yeah, I'm glad. I'm glad
it did well. You know, at the end of the day,
it's a good stepping stone. It helped me a lot,
and you know, I'm just gonna use this to keep
(19:40):
making my stuff bigger and better.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
And absolutely absolutely that's all we can be horpeful, that's
always hopeful for Oh all right, So let's talk about
Squake Game and Chunk. So why deside to audition for
the Netflix series Reality?
Speaker 3 (20:01):
I watched the show and at the end of the
last episode on season one, they said do you think
you could do the games?
Speaker 2 (20:08):
And it had a QR code pop up.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
You know, you gotta wait to end of the credits
like the Marvel movies, and I was like, yeah, I
was like, okay, I scan this, and I thought it
was going to be like some Worlds of Fun or
Disneyland or Universal Studios type of thing, or you go
in you know, I've done Fear of Fact at Universe Studios.
I thought it was gonna be something like that. And
you know, it was on Netflix and I was like, okay,
(20:29):
there was some little game show this, that and the
other or whatever.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
DeAndre, sorry about that, everybody. We had some technical difficulties
and we decided to a commercial break, and now we're
back with DeAndre said, DeAndre, let's talk squid Games. So yeah,
you said before we went to break that you went
before we had that technical differently, so that you saw
that QR code and wanted to say, want to go
(21:00):
and do the squad Games, and you thought it was
gonna be like Disneyland or Disney or Universal Studios. In fact,
you've mentioned for your Factor Live. However, you that must
have not been your reaction when you first saw that.
Speaker 3 (21:12):
Yeah, no, I mean that's I mean, that's kind of
I wanted to do the show to win the four
point five six million they said, win the money. You
think it win four point five six. That's the money.
Reason I wanted that money. I needed that money. You know,
there's there's a movie. There's a movie called Set It Off,
and they got a scene where this girl's saying, I
need that munney and that's how I am. You know,
I need the money. And so that was the main motivation.
(21:34):
And it was a great cool experience too, I kind
of I know, I've watched reality TV since growing up,
and I didn't. Once I found out it was a
reality show, I was like, oh, that'd be pretty cool,
you know, like I can win this. And you know,
I've watched enough shows to know how to conduct myself.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
You know.
Speaker 3 (21:51):
I was actually casted on a reality show years back,
but I said no because I just that wasn't my focus.
I was doing my acting stuff and I'm like, oh,
this is gonna mess up. But hey, this was the time.
It was what twenty twenty one when I went through
the casting process, No, twenty twenty two, because then at
twenty twenty three we filmed, that's right, and then twenty
(22:13):
twenty three later the year came out. Yeah, so twenty
twenty two and yeah, and so I said whatever, and
then you know, when it started happening and I started
getting going through audition process, it was real.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
I was like, it's time.
Speaker 3 (22:25):
I had to really I was thinking like maybe back
an hour because I was like, I don't know if
I should do this, but you know, if it was time,
it was time. And I'm like, look, what's this gonna hurt.
It's not gonna hurt you at all, you know.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
So yeah, so what was your reaction when we see
first received the player to eighty eight Jersey?
Speaker 3 (22:43):
I was like, to infinity and beyond, you know, to
infinity and beyond. I thought it was, you know, destiny,
and so you can't stop me, you know. And so
you know at the two eight eight on the side,
you know, put the eight on the side and get infinity,
and so yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
It was cool.
Speaker 3 (22:58):
I didn't I wasn't playing with the number. Yeah, I
always make a number kind of my own any type
of way. And yeah, so I wish would have been
twenty nine.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
But hey, I.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
Gotta say that. Saying that it's sane red like green
Land with four hundred and fifty six people, that would
give me anxiety really quickly.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
Yeah, No, it was crazy walking in there.
Speaker 3 (23:20):
I can remember, like it was yesterday, it was cold,
but then just walking into the set, it just opened
up like a big football field and it looked exactly
like the show. I mean, yeah, I even smelled like
I thought it was gonna smell like on the show,
you know, And it was crazy.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
I mean, we got to walk.
Speaker 3 (23:38):
The thing is that they don't see is when we
walk in there, it's not like we just get in
there and start. You get to walk around the field.
You get to go all the way down and back.
You know, we do a whole warm up. We're in
there for several hours before the game starts, just getting
a lay of the land. We do practice runs, we
hear the song once before we played, so like we
get to get a good feel and you know, you think,
(24:01):
you know what you're getting yourself into. Well this is
gonna take about ten fifteen minutes. But little did we
know that was not the case.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
But it was. It was a dope experience.
Speaker 3 (24:09):
I'm glad I really got to be a part of that,
and you know, just live the real life experience.
Speaker 1 (24:15):
So you really got to go into that monster badroom
and that was insane.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
Yeah, I was in there for actually three or four days.
Speaker 3 (24:24):
I know on the show they just show it real quick,
but no, we were there for like three days before
we did anything. And yeah, it was crazy the dorms.
I mean, by then it was cut. You know, I
had two one hundred ninety eight or two hundred players
left in the game at that point, and you know,
I thought there was only four and fifty six beds.
Initially I thought we were going in there first and
(24:44):
considering we did the game, and then now it's time
and so it's like, oh, this is really the game.
Like I'm not trying to dog on the people who
got out in the red Light green Light, but it's
hard and you want you they'll even say this too,
they weren't really in the show if you weren't in
the dorms. Like the dorms is like the main thing
that's that's basically the house. That's the house you're in.
(25:06):
And if you don't even get to step inside the house,
then you know you were really pretty much not even
on the show.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
Unfortunately, it's like getting eliminated, like.
Speaker 3 (25:13):
Right when you start the competition, oh, first competition, the
first second you get off the Survivor island, and if
you don't make this competition, then you not even get
to go set your tent up, you know, like that's
that's kind of how it is.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
And it was it was amazing.
Speaker 3 (25:26):
I mean talking with all the people every day living
that life of kind of like being real convoluted and
just just just living experience.
Speaker 2 (25:38):
I just watched on my TV with these people.
Speaker 1 (25:41):
Alrighty, so, dal Ghana, I'm sorry we have to get
to this. You I hate to bring up, but however,
you were sadly eliminated from the show when you fail
to come to group concessions of which honeycomb you want
to in the Doll Gonna Challenge show? What went through
your mind when he ink exploded on your shirt and
(26:02):
you're eliminated from a show?
Speaker 2 (26:05):
It was tough man. That took it pretty rough.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
I selt was coming and I thought, you know, this
would not happen like this, and it was a wake
up call to degree that the game was over.
Speaker 2 (26:17):
My life was over in the game. It was tough.
Speaker 3 (26:19):
I punched a wall famously. You know, people always reference this.
If you go back and watch the episode, you'll see
a hole in the wall between the star and the triangle.
And that was just my frustration, and yeah, it was
a tough pill to swallow.
Speaker 2 (26:33):
It was a very tough pill.
Speaker 3 (26:34):
I was, you know, talking to the producers after, like saying,
is there any way I can get back in the
games anyway?
Speaker 2 (26:40):
And then I just, you know.
Speaker 3 (26:41):
Days like nah, and I felt cheated. I mean I
had a not in my stomach for days and just
really upset about the whole process because I know, I
didn't even get to give myself a chance, which is
very unlike me. I'm usually a good decision maker, and
you know, I second guessed myself. I let other people
get in my head and control my out come for me,
rather me control of my own outcome for myself. And
(27:02):
that was the biggest disappointment of the show. And I
learned that last Now, that was the biggest lesson learned.
Make make a decision and stand on it. Don't be
riding the fence. Because a lot of times when people
ask us maybe what do you want to eat or
where do you want to go, like, oh, I don't know,
I'm like no, and I give you an answer exactly
now like I don't there is no I don't know,
I don't care. There is a very firm action on
(27:23):
how I'm taking in my process, how I go through
everything nowadays, and that kind of shifted the way I
think a lot too, just be based on that decision.
And so it had some good things in it for
sure after the fact. But during the time though, I
was not in a good place.
Speaker 2 (27:37):
I was sick.
Speaker 1 (27:38):
I'm sorry. And however, spoiler, a lot of members of
the Squaket Challenge community are riding right now saying, okay, third,
we are giving a third a second chance for season three.
So if you had the opportunity, say I want a
second chance, what would you bring different what would you
bring differently to the show if you were on, if
(28:02):
you got cacid for the third season, or if there's
hypath or if there's a hypothetical all star season.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
If they were to put me all season three is
on and pop and then I'm gonna be.
Speaker 2 (28:16):
I'm gonna be talking my talk, man.
Speaker 3 (28:18):
I'm not even gonna cap like I'm gonna make people
say they want to hide, and they want to, you know,
be behind the scenes.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
That's cool and all. But I'm on the show to
make waves.
Speaker 3 (28:28):
I'm on the show to make my moves, and I'm
on the show to make my presence felt, and I
did that to an extent the first season. They didn't
show it much, but you know, I knew eighty ninety
percent of the people in the dorms, and so I
would just follow that up with being real, real, more
definitive and decisive and making sure that I'm in control
and making sure that I'm the one who's running things
(28:52):
up in here.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
Now.
Speaker 3 (28:54):
Not everybody needs to know that straight up front, because
I'm not trying to get out. But at the same time,
I'm not gonna I'm not going to be just you know,
hiding and skating by, like I'm gonna make my action,
make my presence felt, and do what I need to do.
And that goes against the squid game, like people like, oh,
you gotta be quiet, you got to hide in the back,
you don't want to say nothing, don't talk to nobody.
(29:15):
That's just not what I want to be a player
in the game. You know, I don't want to be
a background character again. You know, I've had that fun being,
you know, a side character whatever. That's cool, but it's
time for me to take center stage where I belong
and do what I need to do. And this second
time around, I don't care if I go on there
(29:35):
with people I know. I don't care if I go
on there with relatives. I am gonna do what I
need to do to take care of this game. Just
like I said in my first time, I was doing
any to do. Now, I unfortunately got close with people,
so I wasn't prepared for that, and so it was
a little hard to kind of like make my own decisions.
But this time now, like I don't care what nobody
says to me. I know what's going down. I'm going
(29:56):
to use my decisions make my own way, and it's
going down how I want to go down. So if
I need to pick umbrella, I will do that. I
don't care about people on my line. If I need
to pick the fates of the rest of my squad
for whatever we're doing, I will do that. Like I'm
not gonna let these these these emotions get in my
head of the logic that I was thinking because I
(30:17):
was gonna pick the umbrella the first time I told
my line, I'm like, would y'all be mad? And y'all
really think umbrella's that hard? Would you be really mad
if I picked it? Because I tol him, I was
gonna pick it last second. They're like no, no, no, no, no,
I should go back umbrella.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
The umbrella might be the most easiest thing to do.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
It's not the easiest, Like most people got out on
the umbrella because it's so intricate, and it's like you're
in there, it's nerve, you're nerve wrecking, it's cold, you know,
it's it's a lot of shit, and so like you
can't it's it's not the easiest, but it's doable. When
people made it seem like it was impossible, Like I
talked to this dudees like I've tried it ten times,
it's impossible. It's impossible. You'll for sure get out. And
(30:54):
I let them get in my head and so I
would never let that happen again. Like nobody's gonna tell
me what I can and can't do. And so with
that being said, and I have that arsenal on my
backpack going on season three, it's over, man, Like you
can't stop the beast that has no boundaries.
Speaker 1 (31:12):
Absolutely, absolutely, And DeAndre, have you thought about this, because
we've seen some people one justin right now from Cheer
has been making waves on the challenge. This season of
Beats Versus New Frets. Have you thought of another reality
show you want to take? Do you see yourself on
Survivor do you see yourself on the classics like Big Brother?
Or do you see yourself with the Challenge already amazing race?
(31:35):
Or do you want to stick see or Netflix or
do you want to stick with Netflix Family.
Speaker 3 (31:40):
I mean, look, I'm always better to branch my trees out, man,
you know, and I'm open to anything. The Challenge I've
watched since season ten, so I know that very well.
I would love to do the challenge Big Brother, Big Brother.
Possibly Big Brothers a little different, just because it's you
(32:00):
get you get just you get put in groups, not
based on like anything. But there's a lot of social
norms in Big Brother.
Speaker 2 (32:09):
It's very kind of hard to shake and.
Speaker 3 (32:13):
It's it's tricky. It's tricky, and you're watch twenty four seven.
It's just tricky. But look, big Brother, call, I wouldn't
hang up the phone. That's all I'm gonna say. Survivor, Yes,
go ahead.
Speaker 1 (32:25):
Is that I'm picturing you right now going toe to
toe with your with Jordan Jurmi and Hirasio.
Speaker 2 (32:33):
I like that.
Speaker 3 (32:33):
I like that you know we're ready outside. You know
we're ready out here, man. So it's it's a challenge.
I'm always ready. I mean, I'm always ready for that.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
Man.
Speaker 3 (32:41):
I'm always training myself. You know, I stay in pretty
good shape. And you know I got the grit, man,
that's what you need on that show. You also need
some smarts at the end of the day, and you
know I start. I watched the show quite a bit.
If you If you guys ever, if you ever need
a good podcast to listen to, Recency Bias Radio RBR Radio,
(33:02):
shout out him Dave Smith. He does a great breakdown
of the challenge. I listen to it. I listen to
his podcast more than I watched the show, so like
it's just just hearing the He has this thing called
the pivoting prowess, and you got to be able to
pivot with the prowess. And I think I got the
right eggs in my basket to make that happen on
(33:22):
that show. But Survivor, I think I could give it
a go. It'd be tough for me living outside and whatnot,
but once I see everyone else miserable, it helps me
a lot too, and then amazing race would be amazing, Like,
I would love to do that. I don't watch the
show really, but I've seen I've seen it enough to
know what it's down for.
Speaker 2 (33:38):
But honestly, you know, I'm not. I wouldn't.
Speaker 3 (33:41):
I wouldn't do any show, but I'd like to give
it another show, to give it another shot on something.
Speaker 1 (33:47):
Absolutely absolutely, So we got to wind up this podcast preciated.
I want to talk to you because I heard a
little Bernie told me that you're a massive, huge R
and B music fan, and I am.
Speaker 3 (34:00):
That's my go to I listen to it every day.
Speaker 1 (34:04):
So who's top three artists that you're listening to now?
And also your all.
Speaker 3 (34:10):
Time top three I'm listening to currently? That's like you
talking about currently popular.
Speaker 1 (34:18):
Currently popular or like anywhere. I say, for me, twenty
ten all the way to now. I think we're in
that the era.
Speaker 3 (34:27):
Okay, top three artists currently popular for twenty ten and now. Well,
if we're sticking with R and B and like that
kind of genre, I mean Usher, Like Usher's released several
albums since then. Great, I went to a show three times.
Speaker 1 (34:43):
Oh my god, I'm so jealous.
Speaker 3 (34:45):
A front row like when he was in Vegas residency
that was like one of the first ones I went
to and it was cheap then and I got to
see him up close at to shake his hand, like amazing,
like childhood dream come true, Like we're good of course Beyonce,
you know say like I've seen be honestly twice as
well like insane, like front Row again, Cousin was a
(35:06):
dancing the show one of the probably the best show
I've ever seen ever, Like Renaissance amazing. And then I
would say, outside of that, there's so many other people.
Those two are like the top and they still continued
to make it.
Speaker 2 (35:24):
But I mean.
Speaker 3 (35:27):
Newer artists. I mean Kendrick Lamar. I guess I could
say he's not R and B, but I did see him.
I see his show. But I mean.
Speaker 1 (35:38):
No, no, no.
Speaker 3 (35:41):
No, no, no, no no no, Like the weekend's cool, but
after that super Bowl performance, Nah.
Speaker 4 (35:47):
Alright, so the weekend's not about and then but yeah,
and then yeah, new're artists are cool with no like
you know, I like, I like a lot of the
new ones, but those those three in particular, just I've
seen them, so it's like if I haven't seen them live,
that kind of changes my whole perspective on it.
Speaker 3 (36:03):
But those three for sure, and me on trees, like
me on trees. I love neon trees too, But I'd
say top all time easily, Michael Jackson easily, not even
a doubt in my Mind's like, there's no beating that beating, no,
no pun intended.
Speaker 1 (36:18):
I'm excited for the movie. I'm excited for the movie.
Speaker 3 (36:21):
Yeah, I'm I'm excited, but I'm nervous because it's hard
to live up to the American dream that movie that's
seven hour, however long that movie is, it's it was
a classic. And if they can capture that essence again
within the what two hour three hour timeframe, I will
be pleased. But I'm nervous. I just don't want them
to make that. I just don't want them to make
it look silly.
Speaker 1 (36:42):
Yeah, but it's Michael Jackson we're talking about. You do
not want to make it stupid?
Speaker 3 (36:46):
Yes, yes, please, Like I'm begging Moonwalker come on now,
like it's time. You know, it's time for the King
to come back. And I'm ready, so me too.
Speaker 2 (36:59):
But yeah, that's that's my of it, right there.
Speaker 1 (37:00):
So alrighty, alrighty, so we got it. So second last question,
are you ready?
Speaker 2 (37:09):
I'm ready.
Speaker 1 (37:10):
The second last question, So the second last question is
why should my audience check out the Way Network?
Speaker 3 (37:18):
Check out the Way Network, please, because you will see
things that you don't normally get to see from the
perspective of the fans, the people, the compadres, you know,
they get to I talk to the people and I
ask them curative questions, not trivia questions. We're not asking guests,
this player, we're not asking all that. We're asking them
the hard hitting questions about the same questions the coaches
(37:40):
are being asked in the press conference, the same questions
that they're being asked on first taken, undisputed, those questions
that these analysts and people on TV, these talking heads
get to do. I talk to those fans about and
get there, get there to say two cents on and nobody,
not too many other people is doing that without making
it look silly, without making it look like a I'm
(38:00):
a comedy show or a parody of whatever. You know,
I'm asking them a real question, and it's not I'm
not trying to I'm not giving out prizes.
Speaker 2 (38:09):
I'm not doing this, not yet at least.
Speaker 3 (38:11):
It's just it's real it's raw and it's unfiltered like
my videos aren't, you know PG thirteen either. So you know,
people want to say something, they gonna say it, and
it's gonna be sad. So I think it's just real
authentic and the way that I kind of put it together,
it's it's real clear, it's concise, and it's entertaining. So
(38:33):
you get all these things up my videos and people
love them. I mean, look at you gotta only look
at the tape. I mean, look at the material. You
know you've seen the material, man. I mean, going back
from last year to this year, it's not just this
viral video that's happened. I've had many videos pop off,
even I guess my Wolve's recent one. I went to
I think the Jets game this Sunday. No, it was
a Jets game this Sunday, and I was talking to
(38:54):
the Browns fans and the Browns fans. I've had Browns
fans DM me recently saying, oh my gosh, please keep
talking about these shador shanders questions and putting that out there.
We need that because we tired of him not playing
like in that video got like over one hundred views.
That's not viral or anything, but that's still a lot
of views. Like I think that's a lot, you know,
I think over ten. Yeah, and so like that video,
(39:18):
like just that was last week, and so you know,
these they keep coming.
Speaker 2 (39:23):
I'm not just the one hit wonder.
Speaker 3 (39:25):
I'm not just gonna put out one thing and just
live off this kid and live off the cloud that
this video game. Me know, there's still gonna be things coming.
There's still there's always stuff coming, and I'm always gonna
be at these things. One because I love going, but
two that's just what I'm doing. You know, I'm gonna
be it. Like I said, I'm gonna be a game
later today, Boston College, Virginia Tech. I wasn't even supposed
to be at this game today, but some certain situations
happened where I gotta be at this game. I'm gonna
(39:46):
be at a game tomorrow, you know. So, like I'm outside,
and the stuff is gonna continue to come. You're not
gonna get lulls of time outside of maybe the month
of July to where there's nothing going on.
Speaker 1 (39:57):
Absolutely absolutely down. There's the last question, are you ready?
Speaker 2 (40:00):
Yeah? I'm ready.
Speaker 1 (40:02):
Where can they find you? On social media? And also,
where can they find the Way Network.
Speaker 3 (40:08):
You can find me on social media me personally DeAndre
Mac d A N D r E m A c
on Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, DeAndre McKenzie YouTube, the DeAndre Way
and the Way Network, Thewaynetwork dot org. If you have
a question, if you want to work with me, if
you want to work, you want to go to Advance,
(40:29):
you want to go to games, holler at me. Everything's
on that website, all the information, The Way Network on
Instagram and DeAndre mac as well on x and if
you really want to find me or really find a
way to come to my heart and soul it's my birthday,
you can find me on venmo at d underscore mac four.
Speaker 1 (40:52):
Alrighty guys, if you missed an episode of the Jake's
Take with Jacob your podcast, visit our channels on Amazon Music, Apple,
po Podcast, iHeart, Spotify and speaker Jake Sake with Jacob
e s j ac b e O y A c
h A R Now. Are you on social media? Because
I'm on social media? To Facebook, Instagram, Threat, Twitter, and YouTube.
Jacob Elli shared j A c O b e O
(41:13):
y A c h A r now. If you want
to viz read my interviews with Mike and some of
your favorite Challenge cast members like Jeremi or Ben or
Jenny or Joss or Paully or John and Beth or Derek,
while visited the blob that started all Jake dot com.
Let's get Jake snash dot com. And I'm very thrilled
to reveal that Jake Stake with Jacob eli Is your
(41:34):
podcast was recognized for a twenty twenty five American Business Award.
I want to thank the Stevie Awards and the American
Business Award judges for warding me a Silver Stevie a
Best Interview Talk Show. Alrighty DeAndre, it was a pleasure
to catch to meet you, and I'm looking forward to
building a friendship with you and I cannot wait to
(41:56):
see what you do next.
Speaker 2 (41:58):
I'm excited next to always thanks coming over here.
Speaker 3 (42:00):
You know we never sitting down, So thank you Jacob again,
this was a blessing and shout out Kansas City family
in the building.
Speaker 1 (42:08):
Absolutely absolutely, and guys, thank you so much for watching.
Thank you so much for listening. Until next time, I
have a great one, everybody, good bye bye,
Hello everyone, and welcome to our fall special of the
Jake Stake of Jacob eley Shaw Podcast. I'm your host,
Jacob Eli Showing, a chief content reaser and writer of
jakesk dot com, a pop culturnertainment the news website. If
you're watching us on audio, please give us Please download
this episode and more episodes, and if you're listening to
us on YouTube, please give us a thumbs up and
please subscribe. I am thrilled to welcome our next guest today.
(00:45):
He's the founder of the Way Network. He has covered
various NFL drafts, The Fantastic feat Best Fanatic Best, and
the MLB All Star Weekend. He's also better known as
player to eighty eight on the squid game The Challenge.
He's one, So please let me welcome DeAndre McKenzie to
the podcast.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Oh what's popping? What's popping?
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Good to be here? Good to be here?
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Didn't have it, DeAndre, and we gotta I gotta give
a special shout out to my our dear mutual friend
Mike Lewis, who is who said this in one interview
up and also was very ecstatic to very ecstatic to
hear the news. It might be very exactly. I'm Mike,
shout out Mike man. Alrighty, so both of us have
(01:30):
something common. We are both from McKenzie metropolitan area area.
I grew up in Kansas City, Overland Parkside ball you,
my friend.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
It was at least I'm at Missouri Side, you know. So, uh,
I grew up in the city a little bit, but
then went to high school in Lea Summit.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
So in middle school.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Oh yeah, and also, but however, you also played for
the Missouri Tigers.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
I did. I did play. I went to the University
of Missouri Columbia double major to communication in English, and
I played football for the university from twenty twelve to
twenty sixteen.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
That's awesome. Which oh, by the way, my mom's the Jayhawks. Butman,
I like this chat. But however, the thing is.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Hey, I was at the Miszooku game this week this year,
and you know, we took care of business. Now we
just got to do the same thing in basketball again,
just like we did last year. So it's all good
and over here.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
Alrighty, alrighty, all right, So let's get started on their
converse stage. Are moving forward in our conversation. So when
do you get interested in media and how did that
passion evolve a desire to pursue career in our industry.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
So it's actually because of Squid Game. Ironically enough, I
did the show. I met a bunch of people on
the show that was like, oh, do you do content?
Do you do content? I'm like, no, I don't really
do it. I'm an actor, you know, that's the main
thing I do. As I'm the actor. I've done TV, film, commercial, stage,
off Broadway, the whole nine. So that's kind of like
(02:55):
my bread and butter. And it wasn't until I just
met some other people and they kind of saying, you
need to get started on it.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
You'd get big and you'd blow up.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
And somebody came to my house after the show and
didn't gave me an hour intervention on TikTok, my homie Darius,
And after he did that, he's like, you need to
post three times a day. It doesn't matter what it is,
just get you supposing. I'm like, all right, Like I'll
try it. And this is maybe like two weeks after
the show is over or something like that, or that's
where I get eliminated and I started doing it. It's
(03:25):
you know, I'm getting used to it. And you know,
I go to an event, the NFL Draft at twenty
twenty three, the first that's the first real event I
went to. Outside of that, I was just going to
like on the street and doing stuff at my house
and really successful. I had a video pop off viral
one with this dude named James Draws. He's kind of
like an influencer on TikTok. He reacts to like NFL
(03:47):
teams losing, and Yeah, after that, it kind of just
was like, Okay, this is something that I might be
able to continue doing. I had a good time, I
enjoyed it, and I had success with it. And you know,
fast forward, things go pretty well as a continuous and
keep growing and growing. I'm getting more traction with things.
(04:07):
And then this year alone.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
Like it's been.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
A complete you know, one to eighty from when I started,
just cause like I'm getting I'm consistently getting crachtion and
I'm consistently getting more access to things that I'm growing
as well, and the concert's becoming better. And I mean
I traveled a ton this year, way more than I
didn't think I was going to be doing this ever,
Like if you told me prior to squid game that
(04:32):
I'd be doing what I'm doing now. I kind of
wouldn't like that. Don't really sound like me too much,
Like I like sports and stuff like that. But it
wasn't I wasn't going to many games, Like I didn't
go to it. I didn't go to a sporting event
my first in New York, my first like two years,
three years in the city. You know, not that I
didn't like it, I just wasn't my focus. And so yeah,
it's been fun. It's been a great time. And you know,
(04:52):
now I'm able to go in some places that I've
always wanted to go as a former athlete. Now you know,
as or as current as an athlete, but now you
know as a former athlete. It's cool to be able
to step into them rooms again.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
And that's incredible too. And it's amazing that you popped
up that you've had a viral year. You have had
like an insane viral year. We'll get to in a minute,
but first we got to talk about the Way Network's
origin stories. So how did the Way So was that
the Way Network came out of that TikTok intervention?
Speaker 3 (05:26):
So the Way Network was there before so I started, Actually,
technically I started the Way Network in twenty nineteen. It
was called Big Panther Productions, and it was named that
because my friend I was doing a live show with
He's like, oh, you should name your because I was
doing mostly photography back then, Like that was photography was
the main thing.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
That's where it started from.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
And he's like, oh, you should date a Big Panther
because I like the Carolina Panthers as well. Like I
was born in North Carolina, so I liked the panthers.
That's why it was named that. But cheese fans still
here too. But and I definitely, you know, I went
with that for a little bit, and then COVID happened.
Then I really started getting in the photography. I was
booking sessions, this, that and the third. And it kind
(06:08):
of slowed off a bit once I moved back to
New York when I went met New York after COVID happens,
and you know, I kind of it was put to
the wayside a little bit. But then once once like
I said, I started doing the social media stuff with
my own page and then doing the interviews. I wasn't
(06:28):
posting too much on the Weight Network but that's when
I kind of started implementing that again and I changed
it to the way network I think last year, and
I kind of was like, Okay, I want this to
be like a media brand to back me up, to
make me a little bit more official, to make me
have a little more of a base so people can
know who I am as a creator, but also I
have a network behind me. And the network is basically
(06:49):
to establish people from all different networks and get them
to conglomerate together. So that's kind of the role I do,
and the role behind the company is essentially to great
content and redistribute it out to different outlets, different companies,
different brands, you know.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Different businesses.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
Because I am the person behind it, of course, but
there are some other people behind the scenes helping me
out when it comes to editing, when it comes to
you know, negotiations and contracts. You know, I I'm signed
with an a an agency right now that helps me
out with some deals as well.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
And so with the communication aspect of things, I kind.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
Of handle all the deals verbally in email, but they
handle some other things behind the scenes, and so it's
just a way to you know, connect everyone and help
help each other out in the long run, and you know,
make each other give, make each other profitable in whatever
truck we're trying to do.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
So it's been around for a while, which is incredible.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
And the way in the way along the way, you're
able to help a lot of people out, which is great.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Yeah, that's what it's about, man, That's what it's about.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Alrighty, So, my friend, you've had the opportunity to cover
three NFL drafts to Fanatic Fest and and we'll be
All Star weekends. So could you describe these experience to
my audience.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
Yeah, So NFL Draft is one of my favorite events
of the year. I mean, I'll go through the list
like that's that's that's the first one. So it has
a special place in my heart. That's really what got
me stepped up to the to everything and whatnot. I mean,
I talk to fans from every single team. Get their
The main thing about these events. I talk to the fans.
That's the first and foremost important is get their perspective
(08:29):
on things, because they're the kind of unsung heroes behind
everything when it comes to sports and whatnot. In concert,
I got good music as well anything you know, And
so without that the show, there would be no show
going on, like there would be nothing, And so I
think athletes and coaches can tend to forget that sometimes,
especially me being a part of it, because you know,
(08:51):
as a former college athlete, the fans are there, but
it's like you're worried about the other team and you're
worried about yourself, you know, and the fans are kind
of I don't want to say it, they're a distraction,
but they're just kind of like it feels like they're secondary. Yes,
it feels like their secondary. The coaches don't really mention
like before the game or in practice, like we got
to get to make sure the fans are there, like
(09:12):
all this stuff like subliminably sure, but it just it
kind of seemed like an afterthought. Like when I was
an athlete, tailgating seemed like an afterthought, like, oh, I
can't believe people are here six hours before the game,
like what's going on? And yeah, they make it electric
with the noise and whatnot after you get a touchdown
and you're hyping them up, but it's just there's.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Just a big barrier.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
There's a big barrier, and I wanted to condense that
barrier in the fact of giving them a voice to
kind of say what they want to say and say
what needs to be said, because a lot of these fans.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Are pretty knowledgeable and know just as much, if not more.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
Honestly, than some coaches and players about what's really going down.
There's a whole other perspective inside that they see that
we can't see on the sidelines. And you know, they're
the ones that's the boosters as well. They're the ones
donating the money, they're the ones buying the tickets, find
the merged all this stuff. So with not paying respect
to them and giving them a platform, then there's none
(10:06):
of that stuff as possible. And I really appreciate their insight,
and honestly, they're the only ones able to give unfiltered
insight as well. You can't do that as a player.
You can't do this. As a coach, you can't do that.
If you're working with the team in a capacity, you're
very structured on what you can and can't say. And
so I love that about it, And I love meeting
(10:26):
the people. They're great people. They have all different stories
and I love hearing the stories. So yeah, the NFL
Draft amazing. W NBA Drafts dope. I got to meet
like Caitlin Clark, Paige Bucher's Angel Reese.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
The MLB All Star Weekend was dope. It was my
first time.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
This last year, I got to meet Livy Dunn, Paul Schemes,
Pat McAfee, a whole bunch of great people. Super Bowl
week I got to do that two years ago. I'm
doing it again. This year.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Was amazing.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
To got to meet some broadcast There's James James Brown
that I've watched growing up forever, some some former players,
the Mark Hamlin et cetera, et cetera.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Uh, and then yeah, that's that's a few of the events.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
And then also the games, you know, like this year,
I mean I got to be on the sidelines for
Giants Chiefs game. I was right, I mean I have
to shake Patrick Mahomes's hand I got. Yeah, it was
it was crazy. I got to uh else did I say?
I mean be right next to Like this last weekend,
I was in Philadelphia for the HBCU game Delaware State
(11:32):
versus Norfolk State. Mike Vick's team, DeShawn Jackson's team, Cam
Newton was there, Marshawn Lynch was there, et cetera. In
Fanatics Fest. That's even the biggest thing. That's the craziest
one because that's when they're all like in a con
convoluted setting to where everyone's just relaxing, chilling, hanging out.
And I'm in the back room in this Starbucks lounge
hanging out with Drewski, Cavin Hart, Steve Nash, Lebron James
(11:58):
comes in. I talked to him because he kicks me
on my seat, Like I never thought i'd dap up
Lebron James, Like that's crazy, even though I've seen him before,
Like I've met him once before, but not like that
up close and personal, you know, Carmelo, Anthony, Tom Brady,
Like it was that weekend with my eyes. I've had
a lot of insane weekends before, but that one that's
(12:21):
top three easily this year, just because I've never been
in a room where they're all in here and we're
all just kicking it and chilling and talking. And I
met some other great people too, like my guy JJ Brakes.
He he's a card breaker that.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
Lives in Florida. Who else?
Speaker 3 (12:38):
I mean, there was that weekend was just a blur
because of just the insanity that was walking through this room.
I mean, amigo, I mean migos, Like it was crazy.
It was crazy, But it's a fun time, you know,
all that stuff. He's in the off season and right
now I'm in season and season locked in going to
these games and you know, getting this stuff check cranked out.
I got a game later today that just randomly happens.
(13:00):
It hypothetically is actually my birthday today as well, So
happy birthday.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
Well, thank you, thank you. So it's a fun time,
all right.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
De DeAndre. I can say this. Not a lot of
people can say that Lebron James took their seat while
dabbing in the process.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Thanks. Thanks.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
I was like, I'll let him slide in here, because
you know, I had this whole little section to myself.
And then he just comes in with his posse and
he's say, hey, man, we need this spot. And I
was like, you know what, I'll let you slide it.
But I should have got a picture. That was That
was my mistake.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
But seriously, oh my god, speaking that I got roasted
by Matt Rfe earlier this year, and I should have
asked him for a photo too, so.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
You and me both it's funny.
Speaker 3 (13:42):
I actually went to him, I went to a Matt
Riiche show in twenty twenty one before he was like
before he we is now. It was in the Upper
it was in New York and it was on the
Upper West Side, and there might have been only fifteen
people at this show, like ten to fifty. It was
very low sold show, and I should have got it.
I talked to him after the show, and I if
(14:04):
I ever see him we're talking again, I will mention
this and he will remember it. Because I was like,
I remember I know Matt Rafe obviously from a whild'n Out,
but more so from the Challenge. He was on the
Challenge Stars versus Stars, versus Champs versus Stars, and that's
that's that's kind of like vividly what I remember him
from initially, like, yes, I watched wildin'n Out or whatever,
(14:25):
but nobody ever ever references the show. And I asked
him about the show and he's like, oh, I hated this.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
Wow, I did not know about that.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
Yeah, And so.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
Yeah, I mean, I he'll remember that show. I mean
it was right. It was a little before he was
popping popping like that, and I thought he was popping them,
but I guess you know, I went to the show.
I thought it was when you packed out. It was
empty and a tiny little bar. And it's crazy to
see how big he's doing now.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
So and awesome, he said, point twenty one. So, if
I remember correctly, we were all coming out of the pandemic.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
Mm hmmm, yep.
Speaker 3 (14:59):
Yeah, so it was a very quiet time.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
All right, So we got to talk about One of
the biggest moments you've had this year was a viral
moment at New York's Jet City Jets New York Jets
game where you can where you met a fan. It
was very unhappy with that outcome of the game, and
he was so unhappy that it went viral And as
of this recording has over one point two million Instagram likes,
(15:24):
and not only that, Marshool's Sports and ESPN picked up
that content. So what does it mean to go viral?
Speaker 2 (15:33):
It's crazy.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
I thought I went viral before for the Knicks playoffs
this past year, my videos were doing crazy numbers, millions
of views and whatnot. You know, I thought I went viral,
you know, at the draft a couple of times when
I was interviewing these big name people. But this is
this is actually like what it really is, and it's
it's a weird feeling because you know, it's everyone always say, oh,
(15:56):
I posted the video not thinking that it was going
to blow up. Well, some people are true in that,
some people aren't true this video. I literally just I
post videos like this all the time. So if you
followed my page for this video, you see these kind
of videos all the time. This is nothing new that
I'm doing, and it's just a little more funny and unique. Sure,
(16:18):
but never did I think that this kid because I
tried to avoid talking to kids because consent all that stuff.
This that, and the third. I never thought a kid
would have me go like mega mega, mega viral on ESPN, barstool,
all these talk shows, podcast everything. It was just mind blowing.
(16:40):
And by the first day I was like, oh, these videos,
this video is going kind of crazy because I always
try all my videos before I post them. And it
was doing well in the first you know, two three hours,
I'm like, all right, let me let me make this
an official post. And you know, within a day, I think, no,
within twelve hours, I think it had like a million.
I was like, oh, this is kind of crazy, and
(17:01):
I was like Okay, it's gonna slow down, and it's
kept going, and it kept going, and then these big
accounts in the next morning kept reaching out Sports Center,
dm ME, the richest sias and showed dm ME Barstool,
dm ME House of Highlights. I mean, every single plage
that I followed dm ME, and I'm just like, huh.
(17:24):
And so it just got to a point where it's like,
I'm getting so many messages on this video. It took
over my whole week. That week was supposed to be
a relaxing, chill week for me because I go to
all these events, and I think that weekend, that weekend
in particular, I was at the Jets game. I think
that might have been the only game I was at.
Maybe it was up Philly. I think I was at it.
(17:44):
I can't remember if that was the weekend I was
in Philadelphia. No, that was the weekend after. I can't remember.
But I usually go to multiple events a weekend, and
you know, that's the Jets. It's the Jets versus Panthers too.
You know, it's both those teams are not really going nowhere,
and just to have that happen and then just just
just the whole event surface out of nothing.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
It was.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
It was kind of crazy, and my phone was just
literally just NonStop buzzing, just NonStop, and I'm trying to
work like at the same time, like my other job,
and it was it was a whirlwind. And it's like
now it's finally slowed down and things are kind of
semi back to normal to a degree, outside of other
things going on, like with a Squid Game release. That's
(18:27):
kind of caused my life to get crazy again, just
dealing with all that stuff.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
But yeah, no, it was a time and I enjoyed it.
Speaker 3 (18:34):
I definitely, you know, luckily I've had you know, when
Squid Game the challenge came out, that was kind of
a viral moment for me, particularly just because you know,
everyone's texting you and you're on TV, everyone's you know,
pulling up your phone, and so I kind of had
a feeling. I knew how to deal with it to
an extent, but this was dealing with more brands, more
(18:56):
people wanting to use my stuff rather than you know,
just the excitement of me being on a show, and
so it was it was fun, you know, it's it's
definitely you got to make sure you control your emotions.
With the highs and the lows, because some people, when
you the viralness stops, you kind of like look at
your phone and it's not popping no more, and you
get like in your feelings and you think all your
(19:16):
videos are not as successful.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
That's not the case.
Speaker 3 (19:19):
It's just this is being viral is just like an anomaly,
unless you're like a celebrity, then it's own, you know,
always going viral. But you know, it was a fun time.
I enjoyed it. You know, the time is pretty much
up for that, and uh yeah, I'm glad. I'm glad
it did well. You know, at the end of the day,
it's a good stepping stone. It helped me a lot,
and you know, I'm just gonna use this to keep
(19:40):
making my stuff bigger and better.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
And absolutely absolutely that's all we can be horpeful, that's
always hopeful for Oh all right, So let's talk about
Squake Game and Chunk. So why deside to audition for
the Netflix series Reality?
Speaker 3 (20:01):
I watched the show and at the end of the
last episode on season one, they said do you think
you could do the games?
Speaker 2 (20:08):
And it had a QR code pop up.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
You know, you gotta wait to end of the credits
like the Marvel movies, and I was like, yeah, I
was like, okay, I scan this, and I thought it
was going to be like some Worlds of Fun or
Disneyland or Universal Studios type of thing, or you go
in you know, I've done Fear of Fact at Universe Studios.
I thought it was gonna be something like that. And
you know, it was on Netflix and I was like, okay,
(20:29):
there was some little game show this, that and the
other or whatever.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
DeAndre, sorry about that, everybody. We had some technical difficulties
and we decided to a commercial break, and now we're
back with DeAndre said, DeAndre, let's talk squid Games. So yeah,
you said before we went to break that you went
before we had that technical differently, so that you saw
that QR code and wanted to say, want to go
(21:00):
and do the squad Games, and you thought it was
gonna be like Disneyland or Disney or Universal Studios. In fact,
you've mentioned for your Factor Live. However, you that must
have not been your reaction when you first saw that.
Speaker 3 (21:12):
Yeah, no, I mean that's I mean, that's kind of
I wanted to do the show to win the four
point five six million they said, win the money. You
think it win four point five six. That's the money.
Reason I wanted that money. I needed that money. You know,
there's there's a movie. There's a movie called Set It Off,
and they got a scene where this girl's saying, I
need that munney and that's how I am. You know,
I need the money. And so that was the main motivation.
(21:34):
And it was a great cool experience too, I kind
of I know, I've watched reality TV since growing up,
and I didn't. Once I found out it was a
reality show, I was like, oh, that'd be pretty cool,
you know, like I can win this. And you know,
I've watched enough shows to know how to conduct myself.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
You know.
Speaker 3 (21:51):
I was actually casted on a reality show years back,
but I said no because I just that wasn't my focus.
I was doing my acting stuff and I'm like, oh,
this is gonna mess up. But hey, this was the time.
It was what twenty twenty one when I went through
the casting process, No, twenty twenty two, because then at
twenty twenty three we filmed, that's right, and then twenty
(22:13):
twenty three later the year came out. Yeah, so twenty
twenty two and yeah, and so I said whatever, and
then you know, when it started happening and I started
getting going through audition process, it was real.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
I was like, it's time.
Speaker 3 (22:25):
I had to really I was thinking like maybe back
an hour because I was like, I don't know if
I should do this, but you know, if it was time,
it was time. And I'm like, look, what's this gonna hurt.
It's not gonna hurt you at all, you know.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
So yeah, so what was your reaction when we see
first received the player to eighty eight Jersey?
Speaker 3 (22:43):
I was like, to infinity and beyond, you know, to
infinity and beyond. I thought it was, you know, destiny,
and so you can't stop me, you know. And so
you know at the two eight eight on the side,
you know, put the eight on the side and get infinity,
and so yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
It was cool.
Speaker 3 (22:58):
I didn't I wasn't playing with the number. Yeah, I
always make a number kind of my own any type
of way. And yeah, so I wish would have been
twenty nine.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
But hey, I.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
Gotta say that. Saying that it's sane red like green
Land with four hundred and fifty six people, that would
give me anxiety really quickly.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
Yeah, No, it was crazy walking in there.
Speaker 3 (23:20):
I can remember, like it was yesterday, it was cold,
but then just walking into the set, it just opened
up like a big football field and it looked exactly
like the show. I mean, yeah, I even smelled like
I thought it was gonna smell like on the show,
you know, And it was crazy.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
I mean, we got to walk.
Speaker 3 (23:38):
The thing is that they don't see is when we
walk in there, it's not like we just get in
there and start. You get to walk around the field.
You get to go all the way down and back.
You know, we do a whole warm up. We're in
there for several hours before the game starts, just getting
a lay of the land. We do practice runs, we
hear the song once before we played, so like we
get to get a good feel and you know, you think,
(24:01):
you know what you're getting yourself into. Well this is
gonna take about ten fifteen minutes. But little did we
know that was not the case.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
But it was. It was a dope experience.
Speaker 3 (24:09):
I'm glad I really got to be a part of that,
and you know, just live the real life experience.
Speaker 1 (24:15):
So you really got to go into that monster badroom
and that was insane.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
Yeah, I was in there for actually three or four days.
Speaker 3 (24:24):
I know on the show they just show it real quick,
but no, we were there for like three days before
we did anything. And yeah, it was crazy the dorms.
I mean, by then it was cut. You know, I
had two one hundred ninety eight or two hundred players
left in the game at that point, and you know,
I thought there was only four and fifty six beds.
Initially I thought we were going in there first and
(24:44):
considering we did the game, and then now it's time
and so it's like, oh, this is really the game.
Like I'm not trying to dog on the people who
got out in the red Light green Light, but it's
hard and you want you they'll even say this too,
they weren't really in the show if you weren't in
the dorms. Like the dorms is like the main thing
that's that's basically the house. That's the house you're in.
(25:06):
And if you don't even get to step inside the house,
then you know you were really pretty much not even
on the show.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
Unfortunately, it's like getting eliminated, like.
Speaker 3 (25:13):
Right when you start the competition, oh, first competition, the
first second you get off the Survivor island, and if
you don't make this competition, then you not even get
to go set your tent up, you know, like that's
that's kind of how it is.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
And it was it was amazing.
Speaker 3 (25:26):
I mean talking with all the people every day living
that life of kind of like being real convoluted and
just just just living experience.
Speaker 2 (25:38):
I just watched on my TV with these people.
Speaker 1 (25:41):
Alrighty, so, dal Ghana, I'm sorry we have to get
to this. You I hate to bring up, but however,
you were sadly eliminated from the show when you fail
to come to group concessions of which honeycomb you want
to in the Doll Gonna Challenge show? What went through
your mind when he ink exploded on your shirt and
(26:02):
you're eliminated from a show?
Speaker 2 (26:05):
It was tough man. That took it pretty rough.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
I selt was coming and I thought, you know, this
would not happen like this, and it was a wake
up call to degree that the game was over.
Speaker 2 (26:17):
My life was over in the game. It was tough.
Speaker 3 (26:19):
I punched a wall famously. You know, people always reference this.
If you go back and watch the episode, you'll see
a hole in the wall between the star and the triangle.
And that was just my frustration, and yeah, it was
a tough pill to swallow.
Speaker 2 (26:33):
It was a very tough pill.
Speaker 3 (26:34):
I was, you know, talking to the producers after, like saying,
is there any way I can get back in the
games anyway?
Speaker 2 (26:40):
And then I just, you know.
Speaker 3 (26:41):
Days like nah, and I felt cheated. I mean I
had a not in my stomach for days and just
really upset about the whole process because I know, I
didn't even get to give myself a chance, which is
very unlike me. I'm usually a good decision maker, and
you know, I second guessed myself. I let other people
get in my head and control my out come for me,
rather me control of my own outcome for myself. And
(27:02):
that was the biggest disappointment of the show. And I
learned that last Now, that was the biggest lesson learned.
Make make a decision and stand on it. Don't be
riding the fence. Because a lot of times when people
ask us maybe what do you want to eat or
where do you want to go, like, oh, I don't know,
I'm like no, and I give you an answer exactly
now like I don't there is no I don't know,
I don't care. There is a very firm action on
(27:23):
how I'm taking in my process, how I go through
everything nowadays, and that kind of shifted the way I
think a lot too, just be based on that decision.
And so it had some good things in it for
sure after the fact. But during the time though, I
was not in a good place.
Speaker 2 (27:37):
I was sick.
Speaker 1 (27:38):
I'm sorry. And however, spoiler, a lot of members of
the Squaket Challenge community are riding right now saying, okay, third,
we are giving a third a second chance for season three.
So if you had the opportunity, say I want a
second chance, what would you bring different what would you
bring differently to the show if you were on, if
(28:02):
you got cacid for the third season, or if there's
hypath or if there's a hypothetical all star season.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
If they were to put me all season three is
on and pop and then I'm gonna be.
Speaker 2 (28:16):
I'm gonna be talking my talk, man.
Speaker 3 (28:18):
I'm not even gonna cap like I'm gonna make people
say they want to hide, and they want to, you know,
be behind the scenes.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
That's cool and all. But I'm on the show to
make waves.
Speaker 3 (28:28):
I'm on the show to make my moves, and I'm
on the show to make my presence felt, and I
did that to an extent the first season. They didn't
show it much, but you know, I knew eighty ninety
percent of the people in the dorms, and so I
would just follow that up with being real, real, more
definitive and decisive and making sure that I'm in control
and making sure that I'm the one who's running things
(28:52):
up in here.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
Now.
Speaker 3 (28:54):
Not everybody needs to know that straight up front, because
I'm not trying to get out. But at the same time,
I'm not gonna I'm not going to be just you know,
hiding and skating by, like I'm gonna make my action,
make my presence felt, and do what I need to do.
And that goes against the squid game, like people like, oh,
you gotta be quiet, you got to hide in the back,
you don't want to say nothing, don't talk to nobody.
(29:15):
That's just not what I want to be a player
in the game. You know, I don't want to be
a background character again. You know, I've had that fun being,
you know, a side character whatever. That's cool, but it's
time for me to take center stage where I belong
and do what I need to do. And this second
time around, I don't care if I go on there
(29:35):
with people I know. I don't care if I go
on there with relatives. I am gonna do what I
need to do to take care of this game. Just
like I said in my first time, I was doing
any to do. Now, I unfortunately got close with people,
so I wasn't prepared for that, and so it was
a little hard to kind of like make my own decisions.
But this time now, like I don't care what nobody
says to me. I know what's going down. I'm going
(29:56):
to use my decisions make my own way, and it's
going down how I want to go down. So if
I need to pick umbrella, I will do that. I
don't care about people on my line. If I need
to pick the fates of the rest of my squad
for whatever we're doing, I will do that. Like I'm
not gonna let these these these emotions get in my
head of the logic that I was thinking because I
(30:17):
was gonna pick the umbrella the first time I told
my line, I'm like, would y'all be mad? And y'all
really think umbrella's that hard? Would you be really mad
if I picked it? Because I tol him, I was
gonna pick it last second. They're like no, no, no, no, no,
I should go back umbrella.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
The umbrella might be the most easiest thing to do.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
It's not the easiest, Like most people got out on
the umbrella because it's so intricate, and it's like you're
in there, it's nerve, you're nerve wrecking, it's cold, you know,
it's it's a lot of shit, and so like you
can't it's it's not the easiest, but it's doable. When
people made it seem like it was impossible, Like I
talked to this dudees like I've tried it ten times,
it's impossible. It's impossible. You'll for sure get out. And
(30:54):
I let them get in my head and so I
would never let that happen again. Like nobody's gonna tell
me what I can and can't do. And so with
that being said, and I have that arsenal on my
backpack going on season three, it's over, man, Like you
can't stop the beast that has no boundaries.
Speaker 1 (31:12):
Absolutely, absolutely, And DeAndre, have you thought about this, because
we've seen some people one justin right now from Cheer
has been making waves on the challenge. This season of
Beats Versus New Frets. Have you thought of another reality
show you want to take? Do you see yourself on
Survivor do you see yourself on the classics like Big Brother?
Or do you see yourself with the Challenge already amazing race?
(31:35):
Or do you want to stick see or Netflix or
do you want to stick with Netflix Family.
Speaker 3 (31:40):
I mean, look, I'm always better to branch my trees out, man,
you know, and I'm open to anything. The Challenge I've
watched since season ten, so I know that very well.
I would love to do the challenge Big Brother, Big Brother.
Possibly Big Brothers a little different, just because it's you
(32:00):
get you get just you get put in groups, not
based on like anything. But there's a lot of social
norms in Big Brother.
Speaker 2 (32:09):
It's very kind of hard to shake and.
Speaker 3 (32:13):
It's it's tricky. It's tricky, and you're watch twenty four seven.
It's just tricky. But look, big Brother, call, I wouldn't
hang up the phone. That's all I'm gonna say. Survivor, Yes,
go ahead.
Speaker 1 (32:25):
Is that I'm picturing you right now going toe to
toe with your with Jordan Jurmi and Hirasio.
Speaker 2 (32:33):
I like that.
Speaker 3 (32:33):
I like that you know we're ready outside. You know
we're ready out here, man. So it's it's a challenge.
I'm always ready. I mean, I'm always ready for that.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
Man.
Speaker 3 (32:41):
I'm always training myself. You know, I stay in pretty
good shape. And you know I got the grit, man,
that's what you need on that show. You also need
some smarts at the end of the day, and you
know I start. I watched the show quite a bit.
If you If you guys ever, if you ever need
a good podcast to listen to, Recency Bias Radio RBR Radio,
(33:02):
shout out him Dave Smith. He does a great breakdown
of the challenge. I listen to it. I listen to
his podcast more than I watched the show, so like
it's just just hearing the He has this thing called
the pivoting prowess, and you got to be able to
pivot with the prowess. And I think I got the
right eggs in my basket to make that happen on
(33:22):
that show. But Survivor, I think I could give it
a go. It'd be tough for me living outside and whatnot,
but once I see everyone else miserable, it helps me
a lot too, and then amazing race would be amazing, Like,
I would love to do that. I don't watch the
show really, but I've seen I've seen it enough to
know what it's down for.
Speaker 2 (33:38):
But honestly, you know, I'm not. I wouldn't.
Speaker 3 (33:41):
I wouldn't do any show, but I'd like to give
it another show, to give it another shot on something.
Speaker 1 (33:47):
Absolutely absolutely, So we got to wind up this podcast preciated.
I want to talk to you because I heard a
little Bernie told me that you're a massive, huge R
and B music fan, and I am.
Speaker 3 (34:00):
That's my go to I listen to it every day.
Speaker 1 (34:04):
So who's top three artists that you're listening to now?
And also your all.
Speaker 3 (34:10):
Time top three I'm listening to currently? That's like you
talking about currently popular.
Speaker 1 (34:18):
Currently popular or like anywhere. I say, for me, twenty
ten all the way to now. I think we're in
that the era.
Speaker 3 (34:27):
Okay, top three artists currently popular for twenty ten and now. Well,
if we're sticking with R and B and like that
kind of genre, I mean Usher, Like Usher's released several
albums since then. Great, I went to a show three times.
Speaker 1 (34:43):
Oh my god, I'm so jealous.
Speaker 3 (34:45):
A front row like when he was in Vegas residency
that was like one of the first ones I went
to and it was cheap then and I got to
see him up close at to shake his hand, like amazing,
like childhood dream come true, Like we're good of course Beyonce,
you know say like I've seen be honestly twice as
well like insane, like front Row again, Cousin was a
(35:06):
dancing the show one of the probably the best show
I've ever seen ever, Like Renaissance amazing. And then I
would say, outside of that, there's so many other people.
Those two are like the top and they still continued
to make it.
Speaker 2 (35:24):
But I mean.
Speaker 3 (35:27):
Newer artists. I mean Kendrick Lamar. I guess I could
say he's not R and B, but I did see him.
I see his show. But I mean.
Speaker 1 (35:38):
No, no, no.
Speaker 3 (35:41):
No, no, no, no no no, Like the weekend's cool, but
after that super Bowl performance, Nah.
Speaker 4 (35:47):
Alright, so the weekend's not about and then but yeah,
and then yeah, new're artists are cool with no like
you know, I like, I like a lot of the
new ones, but those those three in particular, just I've
seen them, so it's like if I haven't seen them live,
that kind of changes my whole perspective on it.
Speaker 3 (36:03):
But those three for sure, and me on trees, like
me on trees. I love neon trees too, But I'd
say top all time easily, Michael Jackson easily, not even
a doubt in my Mind's like, there's no beating that beating, no,
no pun intended.
Speaker 1 (36:18):
I'm excited for the movie. I'm excited for the movie.
Speaker 3 (36:21):
Yeah, I'm I'm excited, but I'm nervous because it's hard
to live up to the American dream that movie that's
seven hour, however long that movie is, it's it was
a classic. And if they can capture that essence again
within the what two hour three hour timeframe, I will
be pleased. But I'm nervous. I just don't want them
to make that. I just don't want them to make
it look silly.
Speaker 1 (36:42):
Yeah, but it's Michael Jackson we're talking about. You do
not want to make it stupid?
Speaker 3 (36:46):
Yes, yes, please, Like I'm begging Moonwalker come on now,
like it's time. You know, it's time for the King
to come back. And I'm ready, so me too.
Speaker 2 (36:59):
But yeah, that's that's my of it, right there.
Speaker 1 (37:00):
So alrighty, alrighty, so we got it. So second last question,
are you ready?
Speaker 2 (37:09):
I'm ready.
Speaker 1 (37:10):
The second last question, So the second last question is
why should my audience check out the Way Network?
Speaker 3 (37:18):
Check out the Way Network, please, because you will see
things that you don't normally get to see from the
perspective of the fans, the people, the compadres, you know,
they get to I talk to the people and I
ask them curative questions, not trivia questions. We're not asking guests,
this player, we're not asking all that. We're asking them
the hard hitting questions about the same questions the coaches
(37:40):
are being asked in the press conference, the same questions
that they're being asked on first taken, undisputed, those questions
that these analysts and people on TV, these talking heads
get to do. I talk to those fans about and
get there, get there to say two cents on and nobody,
not too many other people is doing that without making
it look silly, without making it look like a I'm
(38:00):
a comedy show or a parody of whatever. You know,
I'm asking them a real question, and it's not I'm
not trying to I'm not giving out prizes.
Speaker 2 (38:09):
I'm not doing this, not yet at least.
Speaker 3 (38:11):
It's just it's real it's raw and it's unfiltered like
my videos aren't, you know PG thirteen either. So you know,
people want to say something, they gonna say it, and
it's gonna be sad. So I think it's just real
authentic and the way that I kind of put it together,
it's it's real clear, it's concise, and it's entertaining. So
(38:33):
you get all these things up my videos and people
love them. I mean, look at you gotta only look
at the tape. I mean, look at the material. You
know you've seen the material, man. I mean, going back
from last year to this year, it's not just this
viral video that's happened. I've had many videos pop off,
even I guess my Wolve's recent one. I went to
I think the Jets game this Sunday. No, it was
a Jets game this Sunday, and I was talking to
(38:54):
the Browns fans and the Browns fans. I've had Browns
fans DM me recently saying, oh my gosh, please keep
talking about these shador shanders questions and putting that out there.
We need that because we tired of him not playing
like in that video got like over one hundred views.
That's not viral or anything, but that's still a lot
of views. Like I think that's a lot, you know,
I think over ten. Yeah, and so like that video,
(39:18):
like just that was last week, and so you know,
these they keep coming.
Speaker 2 (39:23):
I'm not just the one hit wonder.
Speaker 3 (39:25):
I'm not just gonna put out one thing and just
live off this kid and live off the cloud that
this video game. Me know, there's still gonna be things coming.
There's still there's always stuff coming, and I'm always gonna
be at these things. One because I love going, but
two that's just what I'm doing. You know, I'm gonna
be it. Like I said, I'm gonna be a game
later today, Boston College, Virginia Tech. I wasn't even supposed
to be at this game today, but some certain situations
happened where I gotta be at this game. I'm gonna
(39:46):
be at a game tomorrow, you know. So, like I'm outside,
and the stuff is gonna continue to come. You're not
gonna get lulls of time outside of maybe the month
of July to where there's nothing going on.
Speaker 1 (39:57):
Absolutely absolutely down. There's the last question, are you ready?
Speaker 2 (40:00):
Yeah? I'm ready.
Speaker 1 (40:02):
Where can they find you? On social media? And also,
where can they find the Way Network.
Speaker 3 (40:08):
You can find me on social media me personally DeAndre
Mac d A N D r E m A c
on Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, DeAndre McKenzie YouTube, the DeAndre Way
and the Way Network, Thewaynetwork dot org. If you have
a question, if you want to work with me, if
you want to work, you want to go to Advance,
(40:29):
you want to go to games, holler at me. Everything's
on that website, all the information, The Way Network on
Instagram and DeAndre mac as well on x and if
you really want to find me or really find a
way to come to my heart and soul it's my birthday,
you can find me on venmo at d underscore mac four.
Speaker 1 (40:52):
Alrighty guys, if you missed an episode of the Jake's
Take with Jacob your podcast, visit our channels on Amazon Music, Apple,
po Podcast, iHeart, Spotify and speaker Jake Sake with Jacob
e s j ac b e O y A c
h A R Now. Are you on social media? Because
I'm on social media? To Facebook, Instagram, Threat, Twitter, and YouTube.
Jacob Elli shared j A c O b e O
(41:13):
y A c h A r now. If you want
to viz read my interviews with Mike and some of
your favorite Challenge cast members like Jeremi or Ben or
Jenny or Joss or Paully or John and Beth or Derek,
while visited the blob that started all Jake dot com.
Let's get Jake snash dot com. And I'm very thrilled
to reveal that Jake Stake with Jacob eli Is your
(41:34):
podcast was recognized for a twenty twenty five American Business Award.
I want to thank the Stevie Awards and the American
Business Award judges for warding me a Silver Stevie a
Best Interview Talk Show. Alrighty DeAndre, it was a pleasure
to catch to meet you, and I'm looking forward to
building a friendship with you and I cannot wait to
(41:56):
see what you do next.
Speaker 2 (41:58):
I'm excited next to always thanks coming over here.
Speaker 3 (42:00):
You know we never sitting down, So thank you Jacob again,
this was a blessing and shout out Kansas City family
in the building.
Speaker 1 (42:08):
Absolutely absolutely, and guys, thank you so much for watching.
Thank you so much for listening. Until next time, I
have a great one, everybody, good bye bye,
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