November 6, 2024 • 40 mins
In this episode of the Stay Awhile podcast, Emmy-nominated Dominique Burroughs, Executive Producer of Hot Ones, shares her journey from journalism to digital media. She reflects on how her role is like driving a bus, guiding the creative process, and how success is defined by the joy her work brings others. Dominique also talks about the challenges women face in media, the importance of networking, and how travel and food have played healing roles in her life, along with her sister Jade’s influence on her career.
Guest: Domonique Burroughs
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Music By: Stichiz - Big T. Music / Roj & Twinkie
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Stay a Wild, the podcast that's virtual soul
food for your ears. I am your host, Tommy Vincent,
and each week we break bread with gold passionate women
who have faced the impossible and are still standing to
share their testimonies. Make yourself at home and stay a wile.
(00:22):
Hi everyone, it is Tommy Vincent, your host of Stale
Wild podcast, and today I have joining me at the
Stale Wild Table Dominique Burrows. Dominique is the executive supervising
producer for Hot Ones and she also is an Emmy
nominated executive producer. Dominique, Welcome to the table.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Hi, thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
I'm so excited, absolutely so. The very first question I
have for you today is who is Dominique Burrows.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Okay, Dominique Burrows is a girl from New Jersey who
had a dream, who wanted to work in television, who
loved watching TV all day long, would never leave the
house if she didn't have to and chase that dream.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
And now I.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
Am a woman and I am living in that dream
but also enjoying life as I'm doing.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
So, so this for you, what you do today is
a dream fulfilled You know, there are so many people
who who start out life one way and then as
they start to navigate the terrain, they land in this
(01:49):
place and they're like, oh, this is what I want
to do. But you've known since you were a little
girl that you wanted to be in television, yes and no.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
So I always wanted to work in an I love music,
I love TV. But I went to college originally with
the thought of working in news. I wanted to be
a journalist. I wanted to work for CNN, and then
you know, we can get into it. But one of
the things that you had just mentioned before we started
was you were saying that you want women to find
(02:20):
a way to make things a little bit easier, right,
because things have been hard. And I remember the first
journalism class I took, someone said, the news doesn't sleep,
so if you work in news, you'll we work in
twenty four to seven.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
And I said, wait a second, I don't want to
do that.
Speaker 4 (02:37):
I like weekends and I like sleeping, and you know,
I like, you know, I don't want to be my.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
Life dedicated to this, and so I kind of took
a pivot there and somehow ended up in digital media.
But that so my dream was always to be behind
the camera doing something and so yes, kind of I
made my way here around.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
About way do you sit around and think about out
or create shows in your mind?
Speaker 3 (03:03):
Yeah, I mean when I was a little girl, my
life was a show. There was a camera always on
me in my head, and I was living out in
imaginary worlds and I was thinking them through.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
And I'm always jotting down things now.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
Of like oh, that would be a really great idea
for a show, or that'd be a really good idea
for a skit. And you know, I also see the
potential of a show and everything that happens around me
all the time.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
So you really are in it. That's pretty remarkable, just
knowing how you've had this experience that really started germinating
in you from a little girl and now you're in it.
But you're also still let me see the best way
to say this, so the little girl still lives because
(03:56):
that same way you were creating these shows and the
camera was always on you as a little girl, You're
still moving around and seeing the show and how it
is happening before you. And this is outside of the
work that you're actually doing inside of the studio. So
that's pretty remarkable.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Yeah, And you know, I always say that younger me
would think that older me is like the coolest person,
and so that is always just a nice little motivator
for me whenever I'm doing anything, I'm just like little
me would.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Look at her and be like, WHOA, she's cool.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
And so I love that and that's kind of how
I try to approach everything that I say.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Yes, Tom, hm, so can you share what exactly does
the executive supervising producer do? What is their role and responsibility?
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Yeah? I love this question.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
I feel like that when you hear the term producer,
it's so broad and it could really be anything. But
if I could give you a an analogy that I
think would make the most sense, is my job is
I'm kind of the bus driver, right, So when you
get on a bus, you're not really looking for much
(05:11):
from the bus driver except to get you to where
you gotta go, to get you there on time, and
to get you there safely. So my job is I
have a production ahead of me. Someone says we need
to make an episode of this thing, or we need
to make a season of this thing, and my job
is Okay, I have the map, I have the blueprint,
and I have to get us from here from nothing
(05:32):
to the finished product. And my job is to drive
that bus, make sure all the pod hooles and detours
and all the things that come our way don't stop us,
and we still get there to a finished product on
time and everyone is safe.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
So your current role with hot Ones, which is a
hit series, is one step in your journey. But it
took many steps for you to get where you are.
So can you share with us some of the challenging
steps that you had to take to get where you
are today and how you were able to continue to
(06:14):
keep stepping beyond those challenges.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
So, like I said, I originally went to college thinking
that to study journalism. I originally went to school in Virginia.
I went to Old Demania University, and about two years
in the out of state tuition and being homesick and
all of those things kind of came to a head
and I decided to leave that school and I transferred
(06:39):
back to Rowen.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
I went to school in New Jersey. I was closer
to home.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
I was living at home actually, and so that was
kind of my first roadblock in it. Right, you're eighteen
years old and you think I'm going to college, and
then you're twenty years old and you're like, wait a minute.
College didn't look how I thought it would. And so
that was the first time that I had to pivot
and say, okay, you know taibhtwe my legs, Mom and Dad.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
I'm coming home and I'm going to figure this out.
I promise, and we'll do that.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
And so I then finished undergrad and I didn't really
have I knew what I wanted to do, but I
didn't have a way to do it. And I'm living
in New Jersey and I had a professor who said
to me, if you want to make it in this industry,
you either have to go to LA or New York.
And again, I like my family. I didn't want to
be too far. So I said, okay, I'll go to
(07:29):
New York. I'll figure this out. Went to film school
in New York. I went to New York Film Academy,
where I studied producing for television and film. And so
that was my second I just jumped in. I didn't
know what I was doing, but I took a leap
and I said, if I want to do it, this
(07:49):
is what I have to do. And so I went
to film school, and that was kind of a culture
shop for me. I had never been around so many
creative people that just really wanted to be doing, not
learning doing, and so that was a major step for me.
I learned so much there and from there I got
an internship. Part of our curriculum was we need an internship.
(08:12):
I started interning with the company that I was working
did not work for, but I interned with them. And
during my internship there was me and a lot of
other people and I walked on that first day and
I was like, I'm walking out of here with the job.
I don't know about you guys, but I'm walking out
of here with the job because I don't have another.
You know, you might all have things to do, but
(08:34):
this is it for me, Like I took I went
out on a limb. I spent so much money of
my own, took out loans, did all of this. Like
if I don't walk out of here with a job,
I'm back at square one where I started. And so
I took that with me and I worked my butt
off as an intern.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
I never complained. I was like, who needs what? I'll
stay as late as you need.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
And I did that and the last day my internship,
they pulled me in a room and they said, hey,
we want to bring you back after you graduate.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
And I was like cool, like, but.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
In my mind I had already did that, like I
knew it was because I was like, there was no
way these people who were over here surfing the internet
while you know nothing's going on, are getting this job
over me. And so, you know, then I did that
and I actually moved back to South Jersey with my
(09:26):
parents the first year that I worked in New York,
and so I commuted six hours a day, three hours
in the morning, three hours in the evening, back and
forth Monday through Friday for my first year of working
to save money and too because I wanted to, you know,
live the dream.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
But I knew that I had to work at it.
Speaker 3 (09:48):
And again it was one of those things that I'm
looking at my coworkers and I'm like, I don't care
how hard you want it. I don't care how bad
you want it because I wanted to. And so I
was always in competition, whether they knew.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
It or not, if you were determined to win, because.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
There was no to me, there was no alternative.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
Right, It's like this little that little girl who wanted this,
who wanted to do this, she now has her shot.
If you think she's gonna drop the ball, you don't
know me, and that's okay, but you're going to learn.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
You know what, when I was reading your bio information
and doing some research, and I was looking at what
you had accomplished and where you are currently in your career,
and you know, thinking, wow, I wonder what that process
(10:45):
looked like for her, and that question I just asked
you regarding those challenges. But what just came out so
clearly to me is no one should be surprised at
your success because as you were so determined, you had
made your mind up and you put your foot on
the pedal and you said, let's go, and whatever it took,
(11:09):
whatever was required, that's what you did to accomplish what
you've accomplished. So nothing about what you said, talked about
what you look like, you know, who's next to you,
who's not next to you, all of that stuff was
irrelevant to you because you had your mind made up.
Where did that type of drive come from?
Speaker 2 (11:32):
Probably my family I have.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
I'm very lucky to have parents who never tried to
steer us in any direction when it came to a career.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
My dad has always said to me.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
You know, I could go to him with the most
outlandish idea of like I want to do this, I
want to do this, and his famous line to me
is always, what's your plan?
Speaker 2 (11:57):
What's your plan?
Speaker 3 (11:58):
He's a plan, Like put your plan and show me
your plan and then I'll believe you. Like that means
you're serious to me. And so you know, I've had
a lot of those talks in my life with him
of like what are you doing? What's your plan? And
there have been a lot of times when I didn't
have a plan and I'm like, Okay, I gotta go
put a plan together. But yeah, that I think just
(12:19):
that attitude of all right, I put it in front
of me, here's all the steps, Like there's no reason
that I shouldn't believe in myself at least to carry
out this plan because I sat here and wrote it out.
Speaker 1 (12:32):
What for you in the work that you're doing. I
know there are some metrics in the industry that you
could use as mile markers for success, But for yourself personally,
how do you define success?
Speaker 2 (12:46):
For me, success is feeling.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
It's hearing people say that what I do brings them
joy because as it's easy to say, you know, the
show that I work on, it's easy to say I
work on the like my show's on the internet. It's
a silly show. But you know, I get emails, random
emails to my email all the time just saying, hey,
(13:12):
I just want to let you know, like my family
loves this show.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
I love watching this show with my family member.
Speaker 3 (13:17):
Or you know, we were going through a hard time
and we binge watched your show and we love it
and now it's something that we don't miss. And so
it's always nice to hear from the people that consume
what you're making and sk it and like it, and
it makes a difference because you you know, it's it's
(13:37):
easy for me to think that I would never make
a difference, you know, just working in entertainment doing what
I do. But there are people out there who have
expressed to me that they that they feel something when
they watch it. So that's always really nice to hear.
Speaker 5 (13:50):
Mm hm.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
So I'm curious, you know, and this is this is
a chef in me who is in the kitchen making
these wings.
Speaker 4 (14:02):
I just need to know, So, believe it or not,
we like to work with the local businesses, and so
we like to, you know, make sure that if no
matter where we are, we're going to a.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
Local spot and we're getting wings, and like you know,
other people, some people have dietary things, right, you know,
some people don't eat meat, and so we're looking for
vegetarian wings and things like that. But we go all
over and we go to different restaurants. Sometimes we take recommendations,
so you know, if you have any good spots or
if you're ever in New York not.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
I was just so curious. I was curious, like, who
is making all of these wings?
Speaker 2 (14:49):
It's a lot, it's a lot.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
Do you do you eat the wings? Do you ever
eat the wings? And not just not the mild wings,
I'm talking about the hot ones? No, no.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
To this show.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
I mean I honestly, I don't like spicy food, So
me eating that would just not be good for like
the rest of my day, and then I wouldn't be
I'd be useless. So I don't.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
Yeah, myself, personally, I don't. I don't mind spicy food,
but I don't like spicy food that's so hot you
cannot taste the food. All you taste is the heat.
To me, that's not a good experience because I want
to enjoy the food that I'm eating, so exactly, Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
(15:46):
You know, there's some young people who are looking to
have their dreams fulfilled, so maybe in your industry, or
they could be doing something else in life or have
a desire to do something else in life.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
What is.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
Some advice that you could share with them that would
help propel them forward in their dreams. And I want
you to keep this in mind. You what you shared
was hard work and determination. Sometimes that's not what is
(16:25):
being presented currently in the work climate for new people
coming in. So what would you say to this young person?
Speaker 2 (16:35):
Yeah, and I.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Actually would like to make a little anecdote about my
internship because I was actually twenty four when I went
to film school, and so I do by the time
I hit my internship, I was twenty five, and so
I do think that that was a little bit of
Asian wisdom that had me act.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
The way I did.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
But I will say to younger people that are looking
to get there, you know, I think it's really important
to learn as much as possible that you can about
the field that you're interested in, whether that is reading,
watching movies documentaries about people that are doing what you
(17:15):
want to do, and then also just reaching out to
people that are doing what you want to do and
hopefully just hoping that they'll answer you. You know, we
have really great resources these days, like LinkedIn and any
type of social media where you just can ask someone,
you know, hey, I am really interested in what you do,
(17:36):
like how did you get here? Is there anything that
you recommend that I do? And people love to talk
about their careers, people love to talk about their stories,
and so that is a really big piece of advice
that I give to a lot of people, like find
someone that's doing what you want to do or what
you think you want to do, and have conversations with
them right and learn what it is that they did.
(17:56):
And then for me, I mean, I think learning as
much as possible, Like a producer, a good the best
producers to me, can understand all aspects of the production
that they're working on. So if I can have a
conversation with an editor, and I can have a conversation
with a camera person, they if I can talk to
(18:19):
them on a wavelength where they know that I know
what I'm talking about and I know what they're talking about.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
That makes it the.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
Synergy on your productions is going to be so much
better because not only do they say, Okay, I'm seen,
but she knows what she's doing.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
She knows what she's talking about.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
Right. And I'm not saying you have to become a
master at every craft, but if you can talk to
the people that you need to work with on a
daily basis and you guys have a mutual understanding, I
think everyone's expectations of each other are going to be
a lot more cohesive.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
So when you have those discouraging moments and you need
to step away, who would you call to get the
fuel you need to go back in there and do
your thing?
Speaker 3 (19:03):
Who First, I'm going inward, I'm checking myself, and then
if I need another step further, I'll probably call my partner,
my boyfriend, and then just say hey, like this is
what's happening.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
I'm just venting.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
And then if I need to take a step further,
I'm calling my sister because my sister speaks corporate, and
then I can get the right wording to take back.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
You got to call your orment, you.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
Know, yeah, yeah, that and and that's and that's a nuance,
you know, for people coming up, young people or and
not even just young in age, but just like new
to the game in any industry, you got to learn
the language so that when you are speaking, they understand
what you're saying and you're not giving them an excuse
(20:05):
to not understand what you're saying. So having someone that
you can lean on to help really mentor you in
those things is a tremendous asset because things can get
lost in translation, and you don't want it to be
an excuse for while you're not getting the progress that
you should be getting or the results you're looking to
(20:27):
yield exactly. You may have heard the saying work hard,
play hard. What does Dominique do to play hard when
she is not working?
Speaker 3 (20:41):
I travel. I love to travel. I am a Sagittarius,
and I am a true Sagittarius. The adventure bug lives
in me.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
My current Like I like.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
To travel out of the country, I like to travel
within the country. But my current, I'm trying to visit
all fifty states. I'm currently at leat forty six, so
I got a couple left. But it's just really fun
and I like to do it. Like I go on
solo trips. I'm a solo traveler like I love it.
It's another way for me to Once I started traveling solo,
(21:14):
like I think, I unlocked a new relationship with myself
and really learned to trust myself in ways that I
never had to before.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
And I love it. So that's how I play hard.
Speaker 3 (21:28):
I'm on a flight, if I take a day off
of work, you'll see it on my Instagram a couple
of days later that I.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
Was somewhere.
Speaker 1 (21:37):
Where has been your favorite place so far that you've traveled.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
I really well.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
Out of the country. I really really liked London. London
is like New York with accents, which I say. I've
been a couple of times, and I really like it.
It's just a fun, beautiful city and it's really easy
to get to. But in the country, I want to say,
the prettiest place I've been in Utah, and I was
really blown away by just the landscape and how gorgeous
(22:04):
it is, and then me mean, is really pretty.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:11):
I actually did vet ou sassoon in London. This was
a long time ago, and I went to specialty school
for hair color and hair cutting, and I did not
enjoy it. No I was like, where's the sun? I
(22:33):
was like, where is the sun? And why is everybody
smoking in my face? And I was just like, now,
that was a long time ago, so things could be
very different now, you know how people are more conscious
about those types of things. But I just remember wanting
to come home. And I wasn't even there long. It
was like seven eight nights, seven day or whatever, you know,
(22:56):
the either way, I was there for a week, and
I just was it was just an experience that I
I'm glad I had the opportunity and was able to
take the opportunity, but I was ready to come home
for sure.
Speaker 5 (23:11):
Yeahm hm, Well Lefond is really good like shopping and
stuff too, So I feel like, you know, all the
things have to align right, Like I had to have
some money in my pockets.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
I had to be like go places.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
You know.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
But well, once I got there and I was like, oh,
this is fun, I liked it a lot.
Speaker 1 (23:30):
Yeah, so let's let's go back to hot ones and
as the your role driving this bus, getting getting everybody
where they're supposed to be in the process of your drive,
what has been your most memorable episode and why?
Speaker 2 (23:54):
You know, I have a lot that come to mind.
Speaker 3 (23:56):
But I think the first time that I was in
a room and had a moment where I got to
like step outside of myself and say, wow, this.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
Is really cool.
Speaker 3 (24:08):
It was when we filmed with Holly Berry and that
was one of those moments. It was pretty early, not
really early into the show, maybe a few years into
the show, but that was the first time that I
kind of stepped back and I said, wait a second,
Like I just had a conversation with Holly Berry. I
just directed her to do something and she listened to
(24:29):
me and like this is cool, you know what I mean,
Like this is this is cool.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
And so that was a moment for me.
Speaker 3 (24:36):
But I mean, she's obviously as big as she is
for a reason. Right the whole room was captivated, and
that's just I believe her aura. But that was a
really cool moment for me.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
M So, let me ask you this, because you know
the show, it does bring your guests. There's a lot
of star power that come into the room. Have you
you got into the place where you recognize your star power?
Speaker 2 (25:06):
No, I don't think I have any No, No.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
I mean, I mean, let's think about it. They're coming
to a show, as a guest that you're overseeing, and
so the show is happening as a result of the
work that you're doing. So there's a level of stardom
in what you do. And I only asked that question
(25:36):
because you know, you had that awe inspiring moment with
Holly Berry, which you know, I totally get. And you've
been doing this and a part of that show for
quite a while now and it is extremely successful. Everybody
knows the show, and you are a star of that
production team. Well, right, I mean that's just the facts.
(26:03):
That's just the facts.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (26:05):
No, you know, I've never looked at it that way,
and I hope that I never look at it that way.
Speaker 2 (26:12):
Right.
Speaker 3 (26:13):
I just want to say, like I am behind the
scenes person through and through. I can honestly say like
I have never wanted to be a face of anything,
if that makes sense. But I am very like I'm
(26:34):
grateful for when you know, a lot of people may
or not may know this or not know this, but
a lot of people in Hollywood, like share publicists or
have the same you know, management companies or things like that.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
So a lot of the teams are repeating teams.
Speaker 3 (26:52):
You know, like you'll have a publicist that has a
few people and like they say, oh, I can't wait
till you have so and so on the show, and
then they back with that said person. And so I
do have like relationships like that where they come back
and they know me and you know them and it's
just really nice to see. So there's a familiarity in it,
but I don't think that I would look at it
(27:16):
as anything more than just being someone who is a
familiar face in an uncomfortable situation.
Speaker 1 (27:25):
Mm hmm, I hear you, I hear you. This is
what I know to be true as someone who has
been in the background for many years in my marriage,
in the background as a mom of my five amazing children,
(27:47):
and in a lot of other areas that I show up,
but you would never see my face. I recognize, and
this is actually part of the work that I have
done personally for myself, you know, with therapy and all
of those things, just understanding who I am and how
phenomenal I am as a woman, Just knowing that a
(28:10):
lot of what takes place doesn't happen without me. And
so it's not that I need to be acknowledged that
you even have to know my name, because my fingerprints
all over everything that is showing up as success. So
when I say that to you, it wasn't for you
(28:32):
for people to know your name or for you to
be out front. It was just understanding the value that
you bring and how you're showing up and how the
bus can't get down the road without the bus driver.
That's all I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
I get that, I get that, I love the bus driver.
Speaker 1 (28:53):
I mean that was your analogy. That was your analogy. Okay,
so let's move on to our next segment, which is
(29:13):
I'm bringing her to the table with me, and this
segment it gives you an opportunity to give virtual flowers
to another woman whose fingerprint is on your life and
you know you would not be where you are today
without them.
Speaker 2 (29:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (29:28):
So I'm bringing to this table with me. The reason
that I'm actually here my sister Jade.
Speaker 2 (29:36):
So you know, little nun. In fact, I met Tommy
through Jade.
Speaker 3 (29:40):
And the first time that I met you, my sister said,
tell me, I want you to meet my sister.
Speaker 2 (29:45):
She's a boss. And I looked at her, I was like,
try you talk about me like it's just so.
Speaker 1 (29:52):
She was so proud you could tell it was a
proud moment for her.
Speaker 3 (29:56):
And yeah, so my sister, Like I said, she's the
one that I call when I need help professionally but
just personally too.
Speaker 2 (30:03):
She's my big sister. And you know, from when I.
Speaker 3 (30:09):
Was little, I've always looked up to her, and then
watching her go to college and make a way for
herself to move out, to move away, to move to New.
Speaker 2 (30:19):
York, to.
Speaker 3 (30:22):
Creating her own path and making it look so cool
and so effortless, and working in male dominated spaces and
not ever making it a point to say, oh, it's
so hard as a woman, you know what I mean.
She just did it. And so those are things that
just inspired me in ways that I can't even explain.
(30:44):
And when I went to film school, I lived with her.
I lived on her couch and she didn't asked me
for anything. She just was like, you're doing this, We're
doing this. And I lived on her couch for like
nine months. And then when I.
Speaker 2 (30:59):
Graduated school, she was like, all right, you gotta go.
It's and at the time I was like, but.
Speaker 3 (31:07):
I gotta go now, I gotta go live with mommy
and Daddy, and I gotta commute six hours, like you know,
I was angry.
Speaker 2 (31:14):
I was like, what is going on?
Speaker 3 (31:15):
But you get older and you take a step back
and you look at the grand scheme of things, and
she really was like, okay, like I helped you, but
you gotta do the rest. And because of that, like
I was on that train every day being like I
gotta do this, I gotta do this, and so I
worked really hard and I fought for it. And you know,
(31:38):
she's a really big reason for that. And you know,
I see her all the time. We I live like
five minutes away from her now, Like she's not getting
rid of me. But I learned so much from her,
and she's just she's really so great at what she does,
and she's so great at anything she puts her mind to.
(31:59):
And yeah, I wouldn't be here without her. So I
know that now she knows.
Speaker 1 (32:06):
Yeah, Jade is a boss in her own right, uh too,
so uh she You have a wonderful sister, and clearly
you all really come from a wonderful family. You know,
you talked about your dad and what's the plan, and
you know, an environment that really nurtured you girls up
(32:28):
so that you would be able to really become what
it is that you desire to become and not with
no excuses to your point, you just you do what
you gotta do and you are You're making it happen.
So kudos to you and your sister Jade.
Speaker 2 (32:44):
Nice.
Speaker 1 (32:45):
Yeah, no, absolutely, So let's go into our next segment,
which is Food is Love. And in this segment we
get to talk about something that is so near and
dear to my heart. And the first question is what
food best describes your personality and why?
Speaker 3 (33:04):
Okay, so your team sent me this and I've been
thinking about it like for a week, but.
Speaker 2 (33:09):
I finally got a good answer.
Speaker 3 (33:11):
Okay, So my food that best describes my personality is
mash potatoes because with mashed potatoes, like, they're so versatile.
They can be as simple as you want them to be.
They can be plane gain, or they can be as
adventurous as you want them to be. You can, you know,
throw some parmesan, put them under a broiler for all
(33:34):
you know what I mean. They can be as fancy
as you want them to be or as simple. And
I equate that to my love of going out into
the world and traveling or just staying at home and
being a homebody, which I love to do both right,
and then they're also very complimentary. You can put them
with any food and they go well. And I like
(33:54):
to think you can throw me in any situation and
I can. I can make my way.
Speaker 1 (33:59):
Yeah, girl, EVE been thinking about that question.
Speaker 2 (34:03):
I don't even know what how to answer you were
looking for, but I was like.
Speaker 1 (34:10):
So, name a time in your life where food was
healing for you.
Speaker 2 (34:15):
So I'm going to go back to just.
Speaker 3 (34:19):
A childhood thing of you know, my parents and my
mom's home cooking. I think she You know, I've never
met somebody who cooks with so much love. And I'm
sure a lot of mothers can attest to this. But
I look at my life now as a thirty four
year old woman, and I'm like, I don't know how
my mom cooked dinner every single night for us growing up,
(34:41):
Like I'm exhausted cooking for myself, and so a home
cooked meal will always be my favorite thing.
Speaker 2 (34:48):
And so even now going home, I called her house
my home.
Speaker 3 (34:54):
Every time I go home and you hit that corner
and you smell a home cooked meal, it's just a
feeling of I'm home. I can take a deep breath,
I can come as I am and that to me
is so healing, especially in a world where just everything
is going crazy. I hit that corner, I smell my
mom's food, and I just I'm good.
Speaker 1 (35:15):
What's her favorite dish that you make that she makes?
I'm sorry, what's the favorite dish that she makes for you?
Speaker 2 (35:21):
My favorite dish of my mom makes?
Speaker 3 (35:23):
My mom makes really good beans, Like she can cook
a pot of beans, like she'll have it simmering all day.
Speaker 2 (35:31):
The house would be smelling really good.
Speaker 3 (35:32):
It's like a it's like a I equate it to
fall because she'll be cooking in and like a nice
like pot and you just smell them simmering all day.
Speaker 2 (35:42):
And then she makes really good CALLI greens too.
Speaker 1 (35:44):
M hm. Does your family have an heirloom recipe that
has passed down from generation to generation.
Speaker 2 (35:51):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (35:52):
So my grandmom on my dad's side, she made this
dish called succotash and it's wine, beans and corn, and
she I've never, like I've never ever ever had anyone
make it the way that she does. And so one
day my sister and I we told her, were like,
we're buying the ingredients and you're gonna make it with us,
(36:14):
and you're gonna cook it step by step because we
need to know what you do. And so she did that,
and now she passed that on us, and now we
have that recipe and I make it all the time.
It's my boyfriend's favorite thing that I cook like.
Speaker 2 (36:27):
I love it. It's really good.
Speaker 1 (36:29):
I love love suck atash, especially when I have access
to fresh corn that I could cut off the cop
It is so good.
Speaker 3 (36:40):
It's so good, and she makes it creamy, and oh
my gosh, I can't give away all the family seekerts
but hers me. But there's no like milk or anything
in it, and so like on, my mind is just
blown because I've never seen anybody make it like her.
Speaker 1 (36:54):
Mm hmm, that's crazy. I have to make some for me.
Speaker 2 (36:58):
I got you.
Speaker 1 (37:01):
Okay, So now we have this quick game of this
or that and it is related to television, which is
really perfect, especially now that we know you were sitting
at home as a little girl glued to the TV screen.
So you should be ready for this game right here. Okay,
(37:21):
the Fresh Prince of bel Air or Martin me Fresh
Prince Okay Friday or coming to America.
Speaker 3 (37:31):
Friday one, Coming to America. If it's the first Friday,
I'm Pinky Coming to America. But Friday After Next is
one of my favorite movies of all time.
Speaker 1 (37:39):
Okay, Christmas Girlfriends or Living Single Girlfriends, Loving Basketball or
Brown Sugar, Brown Sugar, Insecure or Atlanta Insecure, Soul Food
or The Best Man Soul Food, Black Panther or Do
(38:03):
the Right Thing, Black Panther, A Different World or The
Cosby Show, A Different Role, Set It Off or Paid
in Full, Set it Off? And the last one is
Boys in the Hood or Minister Society.
Speaker 2 (38:20):
Boys in the Hood.
Speaker 1 (38:22):
So are you a movie girl or a TV show girl?
Speaker 2 (38:26):
More TV shows?
Speaker 3 (38:28):
I like movies, but I feel like a lot of
the movies that you mentioned are like classic movies that
I should have seen, but I probably haven't.
Speaker 1 (38:39):
That's because you was busy watching TV show I.
Speaker 2 (38:42):
Was making my own Disney Channel shows. That's what I.
Speaker 1 (38:50):
Well, Dominique, I am so grateful that you took the
opportunity to come in Stale Wild with us at the
stale Will podcast Table. Where can people find you and
learn more about what you're doing.
Speaker 3 (39:03):
So you can watch the show that I work on.
It's called Hot Ones. It's on YouTube. Every Thursday. We
come out with a new episode today. The day of
this taping, we just went live with Sizza, so that's
a really fun one.
Speaker 2 (39:20):
And yeah, I mean other than that, you know, you.
Speaker 3 (39:22):
Can find me on LinkedIn and media on Instagram, just
doing my thing, being a little quiet, but I'm there.
Speaker 1 (39:31):
Listen. If y'all ever need a guest host, make sure
you hit your girl up.
Speaker 2 (39:36):
I got you. We'll make cash, we'll make wings time.
Speaker 1 (39:42):
Absolutely well. Thank you so much again for joining me
today and just know you're welcome at the table anytime.
Speaker 2 (39:49):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (39:51):
I hope you felt the love and connection in today's conversation.
Every woman you heard from has faced the impossible and
emerge stronger. This is your personal invitation to Staal while
longer at Tommy V dot com. That's t O M
M I V dot com for more inspiration for your mind,
body and soul and let's not forget your belly. You're
(40:15):
always welcome at my table. Please be sure to subscribe,
make yourself at home, and Staal Wild Gone Stal
Welcome to Stay a Wild, the podcast that's virtual soul
food for your ears. I am your host, Tommy Vincent,
and each week we break bread with gold passionate women
who have faced the impossible and are still standing to
share their testimonies. Make yourself at home and stay a wile.
(00:22):
Hi everyone, it is Tommy Vincent, your host of Stale
Wild podcast, and today I have joining me at the
Stale Wild Table Dominique Burrows. Dominique is the executive supervising
producer for Hot Ones and she also is an Emmy
nominated executive producer. Dominique, Welcome to the table.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Hi, thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
I'm so excited, absolutely so. The very first question I
have for you today is who is Dominique Burrows.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Okay, Dominique Burrows is a girl from New Jersey who
had a dream, who wanted to work in television, who
loved watching TV all day long, would never leave the
house if she didn't have to and chase that dream.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
And now I.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
Am a woman and I am living in that dream
but also enjoying life as I'm doing.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
So, so this for you, what you do today is
a dream fulfilled You know, there are so many people
who who start out life one way and then as
they start to navigate the terrain, they land in this
(01:49):
place and they're like, oh, this is what I want
to do. But you've known since you were a little
girl that you wanted to be in television, yes and no.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
So I always wanted to work in an I love music,
I love TV. But I went to college originally with
the thought of working in news. I wanted to be
a journalist. I wanted to work for CNN, and then
you know, we can get into it. But one of
the things that you had just mentioned before we started
was you were saying that you want women to find
(02:20):
a way to make things a little bit easier, right,
because things have been hard. And I remember the first
journalism class I took, someone said, the news doesn't sleep,
so if you work in news, you'll we work in
twenty four to seven.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
And I said, wait a second, I don't want to
do that.
Speaker 4 (02:37):
I like weekends and I like sleeping, and you know,
I like, you know, I don't want to be my.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
Life dedicated to this, and so I kind of took
a pivot there and somehow ended up in digital media.
But that so my dream was always to be behind
the camera doing something and so yes, kind of I
made my way here around.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
About way do you sit around and think about out
or create shows in your mind?
Speaker 3 (03:03):
Yeah, I mean when I was a little girl, my
life was a show. There was a camera always on
me in my head, and I was living out in
imaginary worlds and I was thinking them through.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
And I'm always jotting down things now.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
Of like oh, that would be a really great idea
for a show, or that'd be a really good idea
for a skit. And you know, I also see the
potential of a show and everything that happens around me
all the time.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
So you really are in it. That's pretty remarkable, just
knowing how you've had this experience that really started germinating
in you from a little girl and now you're in it.
But you're also still let me see the best way
to say this, so the little girl still lives because
(03:56):
that same way you were creating these shows and the
camera was always on you as a little girl, You're
still moving around and seeing the show and how it
is happening before you. And this is outside of the
work that you're actually doing inside of the studio. So
that's pretty remarkable.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Yeah, And you know, I always say that younger me
would think that older me is like the coolest person,
and so that is always just a nice little motivator
for me whenever I'm doing anything, I'm just like little
me would.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Look at her and be like, WHOA, she's cool.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
And so I love that and that's kind of how
I try to approach everything that I say.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Yes, Tom, hm, so can you share what exactly does
the executive supervising producer do? What is their role and responsibility?
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Yeah? I love this question.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
I feel like that when you hear the term producer,
it's so broad and it could really be anything. But
if I could give you a an analogy that I
think would make the most sense, is my job is
I'm kind of the bus driver, right, So when you
get on a bus, you're not really looking for much
(05:11):
from the bus driver except to get you to where
you gotta go, to get you there on time, and
to get you there safely. So my job is I
have a production ahead of me. Someone says we need
to make an episode of this thing, or we need
to make a season of this thing, and my job
is Okay, I have the map, I have the blueprint,
and I have to get us from here from nothing
(05:32):
to the finished product. And my job is to drive
that bus, make sure all the pod hooles and detours
and all the things that come our way don't stop us,
and we still get there to a finished product on
time and everyone is safe.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
So your current role with hot Ones, which is a
hit series, is one step in your journey. But it
took many steps for you to get where you are.
So can you share with us some of the challenging
steps that you had to take to get where you
are today and how you were able to continue to
(06:14):
keep stepping beyond those challenges.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
So, like I said, I originally went to college thinking
that to study journalism. I originally went to school in Virginia.
I went to Old Demania University, and about two years
in the out of state tuition and being homesick and
all of those things kind of came to a head
and I decided to leave that school and I transferred
(06:39):
back to Rowen.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
I went to school in New Jersey. I was closer
to home.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
I was living at home actually, and so that was
kind of my first roadblock in it. Right, you're eighteen
years old and you think I'm going to college, and
then you're twenty years old and you're like, wait a minute.
College didn't look how I thought it would. And so
that was the first time that I had to pivot
and say, okay, you know taibhtwe my legs, Mom and Dad.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
I'm coming home and I'm going to figure this out.
I promise, and we'll do that.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
And so I then finished undergrad and I didn't really
have I knew what I wanted to do, but I
didn't have a way to do it. And I'm living
in New Jersey and I had a professor who said
to me, if you want to make it in this industry,
you either have to go to LA or New York.
And again, I like my family. I didn't want to
be too far. So I said, okay, I'll go to
(07:29):
New York. I'll figure this out. Went to film school
in New York. I went to New York Film Academy,
where I studied producing for television and film. And so
that was my second I just jumped in. I didn't
know what I was doing, but I took a leap
and I said, if I want to do it, this
(07:49):
is what I have to do. And so I went
to film school, and that was kind of a culture
shop for me. I had never been around so many
creative people that just really wanted to be doing, not
learning doing, and so that was a major step for me.
I learned so much there and from there I got
an internship. Part of our curriculum was we need an internship.
(08:12):
I started interning with the company that I was working
did not work for, but I interned with them. And
during my internship there was me and a lot of
other people and I walked on that first day and
I was like, I'm walking out of here with the job.
I don't know about you guys, but I'm walking out
of here with the job because I don't have another.
You know, you might all have things to do, but
(08:34):
this is it for me, Like I took I went
out on a limb. I spent so much money of
my own, took out loans, did all of this. Like
if I don't walk out of here with a job,
I'm back at square one where I started. And so
I took that with me and I worked my butt
off as an intern.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
I never complained. I was like, who needs what? I'll
stay as late as you need.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
And I did that and the last day my internship,
they pulled me in a room and they said, hey,
we want to bring you back after you graduate.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
And I was like cool, like, but.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
In my mind I had already did that, like I
knew it was because I was like, there was no
way these people who were over here surfing the internet
while you know nothing's going on, are getting this job
over me. And so, you know, then I did that
and I actually moved back to South Jersey with my
(09:26):
parents the first year that I worked in New York,
and so I commuted six hours a day, three hours
in the morning, three hours in the evening, back and
forth Monday through Friday for my first year of working
to save money and too because I wanted to, you know,
live the dream.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
But I knew that I had to work at it.
Speaker 3 (09:48):
And again it was one of those things that I'm
looking at my coworkers and I'm like, I don't care
how hard you want it. I don't care how bad
you want it because I wanted to. And so I
was always in competition, whether they knew.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
It or not, if you were determined to win, because.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
There was no to me, there was no alternative.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
Right, It's like this little that little girl who wanted this,
who wanted to do this, she now has her shot.
If you think she's gonna drop the ball, you don't
know me, and that's okay, but you're going to learn.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
You know what, when I was reading your bio information
and doing some research, and I was looking at what
you had accomplished and where you are currently in your career,
and you know, thinking, wow, I wonder what that process
(10:45):
looked like for her, and that question I just asked
you regarding those challenges. But what just came out so
clearly to me is no one should be surprised at
your success because as you were so determined, you had
made your mind up and you put your foot on
the pedal and you said, let's go, and whatever it took,
(11:09):
whatever was required, that's what you did to accomplish what
you've accomplished. So nothing about what you said, talked about
what you look like, you know, who's next to you,
who's not next to you, all of that stuff was
irrelevant to you because you had your mind made up.
Where did that type of drive come from?
Speaker 2 (11:32):
Probably my family I have.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
I'm very lucky to have parents who never tried to
steer us in any direction when it came to a career.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
My dad has always said to me.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
You know, I could go to him with the most
outlandish idea of like I want to do this, I
want to do this, and his famous line to me
is always, what's your plan?
Speaker 2 (11:57):
What's your plan?
Speaker 3 (11:58):
He's a plan, Like put your plan and show me
your plan and then I'll believe you. Like that means
you're serious to me. And so you know, I've had
a lot of those talks in my life with him
of like what are you doing? What's your plan? And
there have been a lot of times when I didn't
have a plan and I'm like, Okay, I gotta go
put a plan together. But yeah, that I think just
(12:19):
that attitude of all right, I put it in front
of me, here's all the steps, Like there's no reason
that I shouldn't believe in myself at least to carry
out this plan because I sat here and wrote it out.
Speaker 1 (12:32):
What for you in the work that you're doing. I
know there are some metrics in the industry that you
could use as mile markers for success, But for yourself personally,
how do you define success?
Speaker 2 (12:46):
For me, success is feeling.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
It's hearing people say that what I do brings them
joy because as it's easy to say, you know, the
show that I work on, it's easy to say I
work on the like my show's on the internet. It's
a silly show. But you know, I get emails, random
emails to my email all the time just saying, hey,
(13:12):
I just want to let you know, like my family
loves this show.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
I love watching this show with my family member.
Speaker 3 (13:17):
Or you know, we were going through a hard time
and we binge watched your show and we love it
and now it's something that we don't miss. And so
it's always nice to hear from the people that consume
what you're making and sk it and like it, and
it makes a difference because you you know, it's it's
(13:37):
easy for me to think that I would never make
a difference, you know, just working in entertainment doing what
I do. But there are people out there who have
expressed to me that they that they feel something when
they watch it. So that's always really nice to hear.
Speaker 5 (13:50):
Mm hm.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
So I'm curious, you know, and this is this is
a chef in me who is in the kitchen making
these wings.
Speaker 4 (14:02):
I just need to know, So, believe it or not,
we like to work with the local businesses, and so
we like to, you know, make sure that if no
matter where we are, we're going to a.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
Local spot and we're getting wings, and like you know,
other people, some people have dietary things, right, you know,
some people don't eat meat, and so we're looking for
vegetarian wings and things like that. But we go all
over and we go to different restaurants. Sometimes we take recommendations,
so you know, if you have any good spots or
if you're ever in New York not.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
I was just so curious. I was curious, like, who
is making all of these wings?
Speaker 2 (14:49):
It's a lot, it's a lot.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
Do you do you eat the wings? Do you ever
eat the wings? And not just not the mild wings,
I'm talking about the hot ones? No, no.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
To this show.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
I mean I honestly, I don't like spicy food, So
me eating that would just not be good for like
the rest of my day, and then I wouldn't be
I'd be useless. So I don't.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
Yeah, myself, personally, I don't. I don't mind spicy food,
but I don't like spicy food that's so hot you
cannot taste the food. All you taste is the heat.
To me, that's not a good experience because I want
to enjoy the food that I'm eating, so exactly, Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
(15:46):
You know, there's some young people who are looking to
have their dreams fulfilled, so maybe in your industry, or
they could be doing something else in life or have
a desire to do something else in life.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
What is.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
Some advice that you could share with them that would
help propel them forward in their dreams. And I want
you to keep this in mind. You what you shared
was hard work and determination. Sometimes that's not what is
(16:25):
being presented currently in the work climate for new people
coming in. So what would you say to this young person?
Speaker 2 (16:35):
Yeah, and I.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Actually would like to make a little anecdote about my
internship because I was actually twenty four when I went
to film school, and so I do by the time
I hit my internship, I was twenty five, and so
I do think that that was a little bit of
Asian wisdom that had me act.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
The way I did.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
But I will say to younger people that are looking
to get there, you know, I think it's really important
to learn as much as possible that you can about
the field that you're interested in, whether that is reading,
watching movies documentaries about people that are doing what you
(17:15):
want to do, and then also just reaching out to
people that are doing what you want to do and
hopefully just hoping that they'll answer you. You know, we
have really great resources these days, like LinkedIn and any
type of social media where you just can ask someone,
you know, hey, I am really interested in what you do,
(17:36):
like how did you get here? Is there anything that
you recommend that I do? And people love to talk
about their careers, people love to talk about their stories,
and so that is a really big piece of advice
that I give to a lot of people, like find
someone that's doing what you want to do or what
you think you want to do, and have conversations with
them right and learn what it is that they did.
(17:56):
And then for me, I mean, I think learning as
much as possible, Like a producer, a good the best
producers to me, can understand all aspects of the production
that they're working on. So if I can have a
conversation with an editor, and I can have a conversation
with a camera person, they if I can talk to
(18:19):
them on a wavelength where they know that I know
what I'm talking about and I know what they're talking about.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
That makes it the.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
Synergy on your productions is going to be so much
better because not only do they say, Okay, I'm seen,
but she knows what she's doing.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
She knows what she's talking about.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
Right. And I'm not saying you have to become a
master at every craft, but if you can talk to
the people that you need to work with on a
daily basis and you guys have a mutual understanding, I
think everyone's expectations of each other are going to be
a lot more cohesive.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
So when you have those discouraging moments and you need
to step away, who would you call to get the
fuel you need to go back in there and do
your thing?
Speaker 3 (19:03):
Who First, I'm going inward, I'm checking myself, and then
if I need another step further, I'll probably call my partner,
my boyfriend, and then just say hey, like this is
what's happening.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
I'm just venting.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
And then if I need to take a step further,
I'm calling my sister because my sister speaks corporate, and
then I can get the right wording to take back.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
You got to call your orment, you.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
Know, yeah, yeah, that and and that's and that's a nuance,
you know, for people coming up, young people or and
not even just young in age, but just like new
to the game in any industry, you got to learn
the language so that when you are speaking, they understand
what you're saying and you're not giving them an excuse
(20:05):
to not understand what you're saying. So having someone that
you can lean on to help really mentor you in
those things is a tremendous asset because things can get
lost in translation, and you don't want it to be
an excuse for while you're not getting the progress that
you should be getting or the results you're looking to
(20:27):
yield exactly. You may have heard the saying work hard,
play hard. What does Dominique do to play hard when
she is not working?
Speaker 3 (20:41):
I travel. I love to travel. I am a Sagittarius,
and I am a true Sagittarius. The adventure bug lives
in me.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
My current Like I like.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
To travel out of the country, I like to travel
within the country. But my current, I'm trying to visit
all fifty states. I'm currently at leat forty six, so
I got a couple left. But it's just really fun
and I like to do it. Like I go on
solo trips. I'm a solo traveler like I love it.
It's another way for me to Once I started traveling solo,
(21:14):
like I think, I unlocked a new relationship with myself
and really learned to trust myself in ways that I
never had to before.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
And I love it. So that's how I play hard.
Speaker 3 (21:28):
I'm on a flight, if I take a day off
of work, you'll see it on my Instagram a couple
of days later that I.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
Was somewhere.
Speaker 1 (21:37):
Where has been your favorite place so far that you've traveled.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
I really well.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
Out of the country. I really really liked London. London
is like New York with accents, which I say. I've
been a couple of times, and I really like it.
It's just a fun, beautiful city and it's really easy
to get to. But in the country, I want to say,
the prettiest place I've been in Utah, and I was
really blown away by just the landscape and how gorgeous
(22:04):
it is, and then me mean, is really pretty.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:11):
I actually did vet ou sassoon in London. This was
a long time ago, and I went to specialty school
for hair color and hair cutting, and I did not
enjoy it. No I was like, where's the sun? I
(22:33):
was like, where is the sun? And why is everybody
smoking in my face? And I was just like, now,
that was a long time ago, so things could be
very different now, you know how people are more conscious
about those types of things. But I just remember wanting
to come home. And I wasn't even there long. It
was like seven eight nights, seven day or whatever, you know,
(22:56):
the either way, I was there for a week, and
I just was it was just an experience that I
I'm glad I had the opportunity and was able to
take the opportunity, but I was ready to come home
for sure.
Speaker 5 (23:11):
Yeahm hm, Well Lefond is really good like shopping and
stuff too, So I feel like, you know, all the
things have to align right, Like I had to have
some money in my pockets.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
I had to be like go places.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
You know.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
But well, once I got there and I was like, oh,
this is fun, I liked it a lot.
Speaker 1 (23:30):
Yeah, so let's let's go back to hot ones and
as the your role driving this bus, getting getting everybody
where they're supposed to be in the process of your drive,
what has been your most memorable episode and why?
Speaker 2 (23:54):
You know, I have a lot that come to mind.
Speaker 3 (23:56):
But I think the first time that I was in
a room and had a moment where I got to
like step outside of myself and say, wow, this.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
Is really cool.
Speaker 3 (24:08):
It was when we filmed with Holly Berry and that
was one of those moments. It was pretty early, not
really early into the show, maybe a few years into
the show, but that was the first time that I
kind of stepped back and I said, wait a second,
Like I just had a conversation with Holly Berry. I
just directed her to do something and she listened to
(24:29):
me and like this is cool, you know what I mean,
Like this is this is cool.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
And so that was a moment for me.
Speaker 3 (24:36):
But I mean, she's obviously as big as she is
for a reason. Right the whole room was captivated, and
that's just I believe her aura. But that was a
really cool moment for me.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
M So, let me ask you this, because you know
the show, it does bring your guests. There's a lot
of star power that come into the room. Have you
you got into the place where you recognize your star power?
Speaker 2 (25:06):
No, I don't think I have any No, No.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
I mean, I mean, let's think about it. They're coming
to a show, as a guest that you're overseeing, and
so the show is happening as a result of the
work that you're doing. So there's a level of stardom
in what you do. And I only asked that question
(25:36):
because you know, you had that awe inspiring moment with
Holly Berry, which you know, I totally get. And you've
been doing this and a part of that show for
quite a while now and it is extremely successful. Everybody
knows the show, and you are a star of that
production team. Well, right, I mean that's just the facts.
(26:03):
That's just the facts.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (26:05):
No, you know, I've never looked at it that way,
and I hope that I never look at it that way.
Speaker 2 (26:12):
Right.
Speaker 3 (26:13):
I just want to say, like I am behind the
scenes person through and through. I can honestly say like
I have never wanted to be a face of anything,
if that makes sense. But I am very like I'm
(26:34):
grateful for when you know, a lot of people may
or not may know this or not know this, but
a lot of people in Hollywood, like share publicists or
have the same you know, management companies or things like that.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
So a lot of the teams are repeating teams.
Speaker 3 (26:52):
You know, like you'll have a publicist that has a
few people and like they say, oh, I can't wait
till you have so and so on the show, and
then they back with that said person. And so I
do have like relationships like that where they come back
and they know me and you know them and it's
just really nice to see. So there's a familiarity in it,
but I don't think that I would look at it
(27:16):
as anything more than just being someone who is a
familiar face in an uncomfortable situation.
Speaker 1 (27:25):
Mm hmm, I hear you, I hear you. This is
what I know to be true as someone who has
been in the background for many years in my marriage,
in the background as a mom of my five amazing children,
(27:47):
and in a lot of other areas that I show up,
but you would never see my face. I recognize, and
this is actually part of the work that I have
done personally for myself, you know, with therapy and all
of those things, just understanding who I am and how
phenomenal I am as a woman, Just knowing that a
(28:10):
lot of what takes place doesn't happen without me. And
so it's not that I need to be acknowledged that
you even have to know my name, because my fingerprints
all over everything that is showing up as success. So
when I say that to you, it wasn't for you
(28:32):
for people to know your name or for you to
be out front. It was just understanding the value that
you bring and how you're showing up and how the
bus can't get down the road without the bus driver.
That's all I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
I get that, I get that, I love the bus driver.
Speaker 1 (28:53):
I mean that was your analogy. That was your analogy. Okay,
so let's move on to our next segment, which is
(29:13):
I'm bringing her to the table with me, and this
segment it gives you an opportunity to give virtual flowers
to another woman whose fingerprint is on your life and
you know you would not be where you are today
without them.
Speaker 2 (29:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (29:28):
So I'm bringing to this table with me. The reason
that I'm actually here my sister Jade.
Speaker 2 (29:36):
So you know, little nun. In fact, I met Tommy
through Jade.
Speaker 3 (29:40):
And the first time that I met you, my sister said,
tell me, I want you to meet my sister.
Speaker 2 (29:45):
She's a boss. And I looked at her, I was like,
try you talk about me like it's just so.
Speaker 1 (29:52):
She was so proud you could tell it was a
proud moment for her.
Speaker 3 (29:56):
And yeah, so my sister, Like I said, she's the
one that I call when I need help professionally but
just personally too.
Speaker 2 (30:03):
She's my big sister. And you know, from when I.
Speaker 3 (30:09):
Was little, I've always looked up to her, and then
watching her go to college and make a way for
herself to move out, to move away, to move to New.
Speaker 2 (30:19):
York, to.
Speaker 3 (30:22):
Creating her own path and making it look so cool
and so effortless, and working in male dominated spaces and
not ever making it a point to say, oh, it's
so hard as a woman, you know what I mean.
She just did it. And so those are things that
just inspired me in ways that I can't even explain.
(30:44):
And when I went to film school, I lived with her.
I lived on her couch and she didn't asked me
for anything. She just was like, you're doing this, We're
doing this. And I lived on her couch for like
nine months. And then when I.
Speaker 2 (30:59):
Graduated school, she was like, all right, you gotta go.
It's and at the time I was like, but.
Speaker 3 (31:07):
I gotta go now, I gotta go live with mommy
and Daddy, and I gotta commute six hours, like you know,
I was angry.
Speaker 2 (31:14):
I was like, what is going on?
Speaker 3 (31:15):
But you get older and you take a step back
and you look at the grand scheme of things, and
she really was like, okay, like I helped you, but
you gotta do the rest. And because of that, like
I was on that train every day being like I
gotta do this, I gotta do this, and so I
worked really hard and I fought for it. And you know,
(31:38):
she's a really big reason for that. And you know,
I see her all the time. We I live like
five minutes away from her now, Like she's not getting
rid of me. But I learned so much from her,
and she's just she's really so great at what she does,
and she's so great at anything she puts her mind to.
(31:59):
And yeah, I wouldn't be here without her. So I
know that now she knows.
Speaker 1 (32:06):
Yeah, Jade is a boss in her own right, uh too,
so uh she You have a wonderful sister, and clearly
you all really come from a wonderful family. You know,
you talked about your dad and what's the plan, and
you know, an environment that really nurtured you girls up
(32:28):
so that you would be able to really become what
it is that you desire to become and not with
no excuses to your point, you just you do what
you gotta do and you are You're making it happen.
So kudos to you and your sister Jade.
Speaker 2 (32:44):
Nice.
Speaker 1 (32:45):
Yeah, no, absolutely, So let's go into our next segment,
which is Food is Love. And in this segment we
get to talk about something that is so near and
dear to my heart. And the first question is what
food best describes your personality and why?
Speaker 3 (33:04):
Okay, so your team sent me this and I've been
thinking about it like for a week, but.
Speaker 2 (33:09):
I finally got a good answer.
Speaker 3 (33:11):
Okay, So my food that best describes my personality is
mash potatoes because with mashed potatoes, like, they're so versatile.
They can be as simple as you want them to be.
They can be plane gain, or they can be as
adventurous as you want them to be. You can, you know,
throw some parmesan, put them under a broiler for all
(33:34):
you know what I mean. They can be as fancy
as you want them to be or as simple. And
I equate that to my love of going out into
the world and traveling or just staying at home and
being a homebody, which I love to do both right,
and then they're also very complimentary. You can put them
with any food and they go well. And I like
(33:54):
to think you can throw me in any situation and
I can. I can make my way.
Speaker 1 (33:59):
Yeah, girl, EVE been thinking about that question.
Speaker 2 (34:03):
I don't even know what how to answer you were
looking for, but I was like.
Speaker 1 (34:10):
So, name a time in your life where food was
healing for you.
Speaker 2 (34:15):
So I'm going to go back to just.
Speaker 3 (34:19):
A childhood thing of you know, my parents and my
mom's home cooking. I think she You know, I've never
met somebody who cooks with so much love. And I'm
sure a lot of mothers can attest to this. But
I look at my life now as a thirty four
year old woman, and I'm like, I don't know how
my mom cooked dinner every single night for us growing up,
(34:41):
Like I'm exhausted cooking for myself, and so a home
cooked meal will always be my favorite thing.
Speaker 2 (34:48):
And so even now going home, I called her house
my home.
Speaker 3 (34:54):
Every time I go home and you hit that corner
and you smell a home cooked meal, it's just a
feeling of I'm home. I can take a deep breath,
I can come as I am and that to me
is so healing, especially in a world where just everything
is going crazy. I hit that corner, I smell my
mom's food, and I just I'm good.
Speaker 1 (35:15):
What's her favorite dish that you make that she makes?
I'm sorry, what's the favorite dish that she makes for you?
Speaker 2 (35:21):
My favorite dish of my mom makes?
Speaker 3 (35:23):
My mom makes really good beans, Like she can cook
a pot of beans, like she'll have it simmering all day.
Speaker 2 (35:31):
The house would be smelling really good.
Speaker 3 (35:32):
It's like a it's like a I equate it to
fall because she'll be cooking in and like a nice
like pot and you just smell them simmering all day.
Speaker 2 (35:42):
And then she makes really good CALLI greens too.
Speaker 1 (35:44):
M hm. Does your family have an heirloom recipe that
has passed down from generation to generation.
Speaker 2 (35:51):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (35:52):
So my grandmom on my dad's side, she made this
dish called succotash and it's wine, beans and corn, and
she I've never, like I've never ever ever had anyone
make it the way that she does. And so one
day my sister and I we told her, were like,
we're buying the ingredients and you're gonna make it with us,
(36:14):
and you're gonna cook it step by step because we
need to know what you do. And so she did that,
and now she passed that on us, and now we
have that recipe and I make it all the time.
It's my boyfriend's favorite thing that I cook like.
Speaker 2 (36:27):
I love it. It's really good.
Speaker 1 (36:29):
I love love suck atash, especially when I have access
to fresh corn that I could cut off the cop
It is so good.
Speaker 3 (36:40):
It's so good, and she makes it creamy, and oh
my gosh, I can't give away all the family seekerts
but hers me. But there's no like milk or anything
in it, and so like on, my mind is just
blown because I've never seen anybody make it like her.
Speaker 1 (36:54):
Mm hmm, that's crazy. I have to make some for me.
Speaker 2 (36:58):
I got you.
Speaker 1 (37:01):
Okay, So now we have this quick game of this
or that and it is related to television, which is
really perfect, especially now that we know you were sitting
at home as a little girl glued to the TV screen.
So you should be ready for this game right here. Okay,
(37:21):
the Fresh Prince of bel Air or Martin me Fresh
Prince Okay Friday or coming to America.
Speaker 3 (37:31):
Friday one, Coming to America. If it's the first Friday,
I'm Pinky Coming to America. But Friday After Next is
one of my favorite movies of all time.
Speaker 1 (37:39):
Okay, Christmas Girlfriends or Living Single Girlfriends, Loving Basketball or
Brown Sugar, Brown Sugar, Insecure or Atlanta Insecure, Soul Food
or The Best Man Soul Food, Black Panther or Do
(38:03):
the Right Thing, Black Panther, A Different World or The
Cosby Show, A Different Role, Set It Off or Paid
in Full, Set it Off? And the last one is
Boys in the Hood or Minister Society.
Speaker 2 (38:20):
Boys in the Hood.
Speaker 1 (38:22):
So are you a movie girl or a TV show girl?
Speaker 2 (38:26):
More TV shows?
Speaker 3 (38:28):
I like movies, but I feel like a lot of
the movies that you mentioned are like classic movies that
I should have seen, but I probably haven't.
Speaker 1 (38:39):
That's because you was busy watching TV show I.
Speaker 2 (38:42):
Was making my own Disney Channel shows. That's what I.
Speaker 1 (38:50):
Well, Dominique, I am so grateful that you took the
opportunity to come in Stale Wild with us at the
stale Will podcast Table. Where can people find you and
learn more about what you're doing.
Speaker 3 (39:03):
So you can watch the show that I work on.
It's called Hot Ones. It's on YouTube. Every Thursday. We
come out with a new episode today. The day of
this taping, we just went live with Sizza, so that's
a really fun one.
Speaker 2 (39:20):
And yeah, I mean other than that, you know, you.
Speaker 3 (39:22):
Can find me on LinkedIn and media on Instagram, just
doing my thing, being a little quiet, but I'm there.
Speaker 1 (39:31):
Listen. If y'all ever need a guest host, make sure
you hit your girl up.
Speaker 2 (39:36):
I got you. We'll make cash, we'll make wings time.
Speaker 1 (39:42):
Absolutely well. Thank you so much again for joining me
today and just know you're welcome at the table anytime.
Speaker 2 (39:49):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (39:51):
I hope you felt the love and connection in today's conversation.
Every woman you heard from has faced the impossible and
emerge stronger. This is your personal invitation to Staal while
longer at Tommy V dot com. That's t O M
M I V dot com for more inspiration for your mind,
body and soul and let's not forget your belly. You're
(40:15):
always welcome at my table. Please be sure to subscribe,
make yourself at home, and Staal Wild Gone Stal
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