>> She was pout with her first
book small doses off of her
popular podcast the same name.
Welcome.
[ Applause ]
>> Thank you.
>> Did you see Alfonso Ribeiro?
>> I did see Alfonso ribeiroing.
I kept it together.
I'm proud of myself.
You don't want to make people
feel weird when you start -- you
know?
>> You didn't do T.
>> I do it at the I understand
of the thing when I have a
profound thought which is a call
back to reading rainbow.
I accidently did that to lavar
burr ton's face.
>> But did he love it?
>> He was like, oh, my god.
You don't have to take my word
for it.
I know Scott cannot stop doing
it now.
In honor of you coming today.
>> He has been so --
>> Thank you.
>> There are so many levels to
it.
Also, so many levels to your
success.
I mean, not only --
>> That was a segue.
>> Every once in a while, every
once in a while.
>> Thank you.
>> Not only the book, but also
insecure, bring the funny,
you're on the reel.
You are really digging in I feel
like in a way that you maybe
always dreamed you would.
Does it feel like that yet?
>> Yes, yeah, because, I mean, I
was just telling my publicist.
When people say things to me
like, she only got such and such
for such and such.
I have done so much free work.
Oh, my gosh.
>> You've been putting in the
work for a long time.
>> Long time.
Um-hmm.
>> So I know.
I know.
>> Just got sag insurance.
>> You've been putting in the
work.
You're killing the game.
I love the podcast.
You've had hard times, right?
We've all had those.
Talk to me a little about the
early years.
You had a first apartment out of
college.
Tell us that story.
>> We see you together.
But what was the struggle?
>> Well, when I was going to
school undergrad at sim I
purchase, I didn't want to go
back to Orlando -- shout out to
the O.
I stayed at a family friend's
house.
I'm so very gracious and
thankful to them for giving me
that space to stay.
However --
[ laughter ]
>> I don't think they knew like
what was really going down in
the basement.
And a lot was going on.
Like, I would get home and have
to just like cross my -- it was
like the kitchen was hot lava
because I didn't know what I was
going to run across.
I'd have to close my eyes.
And then, you know, I would jump
to the bed.
Because I didn't know what was
coming across.
I remember lying in bed and
seeing centipedes across the
ceiling.
Slugs.
>> You're here now.
>> A whole different eco system.
>> I was living in an entirely
different eco system.
I had to keep telling mooi self,
one day you're going to make it.
You know, when things are free,
you figure it out.
>> Don't you?
>> Listen.
>> You figure it out.
I'm one with nature.
>> I can get used to these
slugs.
>> The mouse, most people, you
know, would try and kill the
mouse.
I befriended the mouse.
>> You befriend the mouse.
>> Yes, I took the mouse to the
park and set it free.
>> Did you name the mouse?
>> I mean, the mouse name was
nas because --
>> I love it.
>> At the time.
Yes, I really had to figure it
out.
And I'm really happy and
thankful for moments like that
because then when you start to
pop off, you remember those
moments.
Everyone else forgets them.
But, you know, they like to tell
you they never happened.
But you have to remember them to
know how you got there and how
to stay who you are when you get
there.
>> Love that.
>> When you were writing this
book -- I follow you on insta,
you were talking about how
difficult -- you could have
never foreseen how difficult the
process was, which is why I love
when you celebrate when you
celebrate.
I wrote a book.
Because it's hard.
>> Oh, my --
>> What was the thing that
surprised you the most about it?
>> That it was hard.
I don't know.
I'm a writer.
I'm an academic.
People would be pulling all
nighters.
I know the line.
Whatever.
I legit thought I was going to
write this book like that.
I wrote the table of contents.
We're going to throw this out
here in two moz, then go on with
our lives.
No.
It took a year.
I also found out in that time
that I am incredible at
procrastinating.
[ Laughter ]
>> What's the bird story?
There is a story about you
hearing a bird.
>> So, it didn't take anything
to distract me.
Like literally, it wasn't like
big things.
It wasn't like oh, there's a
sinkhole.
No, it would be like oh, there's
a bird -- what bird -- what is
that bird sound?
Let me record the bird singing
so I can find out the type of
bird.
I would find anything to not be
writing.
I went to my aunt's house in
Arizona.
They had hella humming birds.
I'm tracking the humming bird.
There was a nest.
Don't let me be distracted by
anything and everything
distracted me.
So, listen, it is a testament to
sheer force of will in that I
had already been paid half up
front.
[ Laughter ]
>> They going to cover that
check.
But you finished it really
quickly.
What can people expect?
>> People can expect laughter.
People can expect lessons,
people can expect ennis praks.
This is a book that comes from
my heart and my mind.
I don't think we get enough of
that these days.
People are writing things for
the check and it's a good look.
I wanted to write something
that's good for your soul and
something you keep on your shelf
forever.
>> I love the fro.
>> I designed the cover and the
art in the book.