Hey, everybody, this is Smart List. It's a podcast with Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and myself, Sean Hayes. And we the how the show works is there there's a person that comes like a guest that comes out.

Well, one of us actors, the Hoesch. Slow down. Slow down, man. I just I just feel like you got a lot of, like, extra energy today and OK, just all I mean, you're all over them.

Let me just. OK, let me just finish then. OK, so there's somebody, one of us axis like the host and brings on somebody that the other two don't know about, like something like that. Yeah, that's great. And that's a surprise. It's a surprise just to say that.

All right. Just listen to another episode of. Smart. Hey, do you guys you know, I'm doing my own laundry more often and a lot of times I'll forget like it's in there and it's got to be like, can you get the laundry? And I'll forget it's in the dryer. So I have to fluff it up for like 20 minutes, like a half hour so you can so it's not so wrinkly. But then I forgot to get it again.

So then I have to the next day do it again. You guys do that.

You're becoming a fluffer is what you're saying.

I think that's basically that's the headline right there. We got it. It's better than leaving your wash in the washer because then it smells like shit.

Yeah. And then you got to rewash it. And that's the smell by the by the way, hang on. It is perfect for you, will you dirty hockey playing Canadian. There's a smell the hockey gear that is like clothes left in a washing machine that for some reason you guys get used to. How do you get used to that smell?

I had to come in the side door with my hockey bag and it had to go straight down to the basement, to the boiler room where the heater was, because it couldn't be my mom. It can't be in a room with anything else other than the fucking.

Yeah, but it doesn't bother you, though. It doesn't bother hockey players that smell. How do you know you should that?

Because it's a sense maybe it reminds you of the rink. Oh, you're rotten.

It's to the rink. Yeah, it does.

Remember, the beer also reminds me of camaraderie. It reminds me of being part of a team, being some part of something where I'm not just thinking about myself.

It smells like ass.

OK, well, let me also just say this. I love listening to you two guys who don't do laundry on the rig discussing how, oh, when you're out there just pinning stuff up on the line.

Right, right. Yeah, that's fair. Did I mention the magic people?

Yeah. You got a team of them. All right.

So let's let's get on with the show. We've probably got an impatient guest waiting.

So this girl that we have on today is extraordinary. She kind of came on the scene like a thunderbolt.

And she's the first Asian-American who won a Golden Globe award for best actress, one of the funniest people out there today, a brilliant well, we'll see. Really an actor? Yeah, we're going to see. It's Aquafina, everybody.

Oh, Christina. Fihi, what's up?

Well, listen, Aquafina, I wanted to have you on not only because I'm such a huge, huge, huge fan, but you're one of those guys.

So are we will. Yes. We all are so proud.

But, you know you know, the premise of the show that each one of us, each episode acts as the host and we bring on a surprise guest. So I wanted you on, but we just all happen to be fans. But yes.

And you came on to the scene in such a huge way. I mean, your voice, your comedy, your attitude, all the stuff that you do, it's so fresh.

Nobody's really kind of you know, you just it's just a breath of fresh air on the comedy scene.

And I'm like one of the many who are like, who is this girl and where does she come from? She's brilliant. But because from where I said it all happened over overnight. But we all know it took 12 years to become an overnight success.

But is that how it feels for you or were you like, Jesus, God, it's about time? Yeah, that's no, that's exactly how it feels. I felt like it happened overnight. And I think with that came a lot of other things, you know, like it's not like, you know what I mean.

Like like it's not like I think there's a lot of anxiety, a lot of self-doubt, you know, imposter's. It's like there's so much. Yeah.

Because you're kind of you're you're a quintessential example of a YouTube star. Yeah. Who got her her fame and notice from YouTube and then transferred over to this massive Hollywood brilliance that drew.

So so that was your first sort of foray was through self generated like stuff that you did.

Yeah, yeah. I put out a video called My Badge when I was like in back in 2011.

And it was an answer to my dick. Right? I did. Mickey Avalon's my dick, right? Yeah.

Can you give dumdum like me a little refresher on what YouTube is? And there's that two words. Or is it one word? Oh, jeez, that was so sweet. And Jason, Jason, the lights on on your phone. You keep switching the light on on your phone. So old now.

So first of all, tell me about my badge and then also what is it? What is a badge. Is that a car? Is that is it a pet or is it a spell?

It vague. So that's an acronym for this is a nickname.

So I know that you so hot.

So is that was it a song. Was it a.

It was, yeah. It was a song.

I was started as a rapper so I did that one and I got fired from my job because. No way. She said she had asked like what I did on my birthday and I told her I made a music video. And at that point she thought I was like this very meek assistant, which I was.

And what kind of job? Assistant for what it was for a seminar.

A book. It was a book club.

Like a publisher. Yeah. Okay. So, yeah. In New York.

In New York. And she fired not a progressive publisher I'm assuming.

Yeah. I mean they don't exist anymore so like who cares. But it was I was also like I was a shitty assistant, you know, but I think it was the name of of what it was called. And she was like, be careful what you put on the Internet.

You're like, no worries. I'm just putting out a video. Got my badge. Yeah. I'll be busy with with visuals. Yeah. Yeah.

Do you ever want to go back to being an assistant and just nail it.

Yes and no. I still don't have closure from. Sure I like it's like for real.

No, but like you are, you're a very successful rapper, like you sell albums and your YouTube rapping videos like millions of people watch. I mean, it's crazy.

Yeah, I am. And I feel old again.

Sorry, the YouTube. This is a Zida TV. The YouTube.

Yeah. It's kind of like a TV.

I was in the car and I got to I got to get up on the ramp man dammit. You got to download it.

You went from Nora Lum which is your name to Aquafina. Yes. And I know you're sick of talking about it where the name come from. Bottom line, you hate people comparing it to bottled water because that's a dumb joke.

So we'll we'll we'll do that one later. Is work out right now. Wait.

When we designated me for that, I didn't even throw the dumpster. Old man again. You guys are so old I'm way too young to wait.

So Nora Nora from Queens is the name of the show you're on. Grew up in Queens. Grew up in Queens. Yeah. For reals.

OK, so Queens born in Stony Brook, actually on Stony Brook.

OK, hey, hey, hey. Quebec, Canada. Canada. Bond don't bond with her over Stoneybrook, OK? I lived in New York for over 20 years, so I'm all right. OK, so let me ask you this.

So did you go to a performing arts high school in New York?

Yes, you did. Yes. Thought I thought I heard that. I thought I heard that rumor. Oh, and how was that experience? It was good.

I mean, I wasn't a good student. I think, like, I played the trumpet, you know, I think I just didn't have the moxie for that, for the trumpet, you know, like I was you know, I just was at the track that you were on.

Was it it was it a music, the trumpet track?

I don't know what that track looks like. I don't know why. I don't know what I was thinking.

A lot of world leaders come out of that program. I think when you take the trumpet, I think the first year you just learn in the second year, they teach you to be a junkie, don't they? Isn't that great? Yeah. Like Chet Baker, you just made it funky for sure.

And it's tough because I think that that's you know, it's hard to imagine a where a one goes with that, but that's what I what I loved.

How did that were you were you working at the publishing house during that or or doing any other rapping at that time, like in high school or high school?

Well, you know, you start when I started working at ten. I apologize. It's kind of working.

Let me tell you something. Jason was supporting a family of eight by the time he was six. OK, so he's not a good they were like, Jason, go and act up on sets. You have to go into overtime. OK, you've seen Oliver Twist. Yeah.

Wait, so Aquafina and Lum, which is you know, it's fascinating that you created the name Aquafina. For people who don't know, just explain where the name comes from.

I've always been very awkward, so it's kind of a play on that. But there really, you know, there's no story. I just thought it was Aquafina. Ridiculous. Yeah. And then what's fine then being awkward. Right, right. There you go.

And what determines how you'll introduce yourself between Nora and Apophenia like and when you're ninety five or the nursing home call you.

I'm going to make them all call me. I wanna be like one of those situations but I don't know.

I think you know, they're both obviously like a part of me.

I it's a difficult situation. I think I'm not really at the point in my career where I can suddenly go by another name and people kind of put that together. Right.

What is your best friend call you? I make them call me Aquafina.

No, no. They call me. They deal with the kind that everyone calls me Nora. Yeah.

Oh, really? Don't they ever go Akwa for short. Yeah. Cucu some people.

Yeah. Some people just you know, throw around not you but they'll, they'll throw their own pizzazz in there. Right. Yeah. It's good.

When you were growing up you had a restaurant, your, your dad or your mom or your dad's Chinese. Your mom's Korean.

Right. And who was it that owned the restaurant LUMS.

My great grandpa. Ah your great grandpa. Yeah. And how cool was that.

There was a LUMS in my hometown. I can imagine that was the same one where. Glen Ellyn, Illinois.

Yeah, Chicago. Yeah. OK, so we can cut that part out. Did you enjoy. No, no. We'll keep it in.

Yeah. Did you enjoy it John. We never had the money to go. It was like a fancy restaurant. Here we go again.

Buckle up everybody get the violin. You play horn. I'll play violin. So Aquafina sweet Norah.

It's my daughter's middle name. I do love you.

Oh, that's good. Yeah, not a lot of Nori's.

I have a deeper question. Oh, here we go. My mom my dad left when I was about five and your mom left in a different way. She passed away when you were four.

Yeah. So a question I get a lot, which I like is how is that informed you or your relationships or your work?

Do you think that's informed you?

Are affected you and in what way. Yeah, I there's a softball. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

It's easy.

It's probably a short answer to this nice shot and a great transition to Sean. Yeah.

I'll give you guys a clip of coffee. There's things I would, I want to know.

Yeah. Because it affected me now. I mean it's, it's a legit question. I think. I think it's taught me things like humility, embarrassment, the feeling of being embarrassed for like adults, which is is like a kind of a weird feeling to feel as a kid, almost protecting adults for their own sorrow. So like learning that. But then I think that it teaches you something about just kind of like cruel realism about life. This is kind of like the cruelty of of an objective.

US of life, it's not it just teaches you those lessons really young, and I think as a result, you know, you can say that some develop humor out of it. Yeah, yeah.

But for me, I think it's the ability to, you know, in those times see humor also because, I mean, how bad how bad was going to get.

Right. And strength to probably write a thicker skin. Yeah, yeah. That's what I was going to say. Did it give you that sort of that ability of like fuck it? I mean, I've already been through so much I can handle anything.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, sure. I think it makes you tough, but I think for others I think that there could be kind of not really good coping mechanisms. You know, we kind of swallow it down. So it comes up later in life, you know, but I think kids are a lot better at dealing with trauma than adults. I think they have an easier way of just shutting it off.

But, you know, I also I do believe that the best comedians do go through some kind of there's something, you know, I mean, how do you think it's shaped you?

Yushan almost exactly the same way it made me. Well, you know, my dad left when I was about five and my mom raised all of us, but she was never around, so it forced us to parent ourselves.

How many siblings did you have? Five. I have three older brothers and an older sister.

And so.

But it yeah, it made me it's fight or flight kind of feeling, you know, and and when you choose to fight, it's some sometimes your best quality and sometimes your worst quality.

Yeah. And and so both come out even to this day.

You know, Jason can attest to that about the coming out know about it. About the. Because that's what it sounded like you were saying it's OK.

Sure. I'm not ready to make an announcement on the podcast.

So it's not his place. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I get you know, one time when I was a kid, my boy and I haven't heard this.

Oh, shit. Here we go. A little bit of a music change.

Get the audience ready to laugh at one time we were supposed to go to St. Barts for spring break and there was no more room in first class.

You guys had to fly in business, man. Yeah, that's it's tough. How did that affect you?

And and I've always been able to look back on that. And for sure. Yeah. You know, every time something beautiful, every time I'm booking a flight.

No, no, not my career. I'm just saying every time I book flight is think about that book. An extra seat in case. What did you think I was.

This is insane. Sorry. No, I'm with you now, but I will say so if you're I don't know about your experience.

But Shaun, you do you do talk a lot about your family and your origin and all of that and your upbringing. It is such a huge part of obviously of who you have become and all of us do.

Jason, you talk about it to you. We laugh about you being a child. And we all do have our own experiences. And you're younger than we are. Can you feel it? Like you feel like you're in it right now? And can you feel yourself drawing on those experiences like as it's happening?

Because I feel like I reflect now more, I guess, because I'm getting older.

Well, you're also the those two boys, three boys wait for four total. Yeah. Boys running with three boys, you know.

So that's that's a that's a mirror in front of you all the time. And and Shaun and Aquafina. Do you guys having sort of a challenging upbringing or an atypical upbringing? Does it make you more or less want to be a parent?

Hmm. I was going to ask the same thing, especially with the loss of your mom at such a young age. Does it make you want to be a mom?

I mean, it gives me more trepidations about what that experience might be like, I think. Yeah, that's fair. Yeah.

I think, like, the funny thing about success and like doing what you're able to do like that, that seems like a gift because like what we do is we're so lucky to be able to do what we do. Then I think when you enter that you forget a lot about your childhood and the things that you grew up kind of missing or being resentful over. And then I think, you know, you convince yourself it's all good. You know, it's I'm successful.

This is great. But then it will come back and it'll be for me. It's it's like now at a point where it's I don't want it to be crippling, you know what I mean? Like, so it's like things, things, things come back. Yeah.

This is going to sound like a crazy question, but because I don't want to have kids and from the answer you just gave, it kind of sounds like you're more leaning towards that. So then are you an animal person like you, dogs, cats and all that or. No.

Yeah, I have a cat in that house. Yeah. OK, take care. Yeah.

Oh no, I'm kidding. It's just I know I like cats. I'm a huge, huge, huge dog. Oh yeah. But I like cats.

Do you get to travel with them. No they don't. I don't want to come with me.

Yeah but she'll travel with your cat I'm hearing. Yeah.

Once. Yeah. And we had given him like cat Xanax but he's like thirty five pounds so. Any leftover now is long gone. OK, you've got a mountain lion. Thirty five pounds. He's a big boy.

He's he's very, very large. And so we gave him the cat Xanax. And on the flight, his eyes were like wide open.

And then, like, I was like, oh, is he is he sleeping now? Wide open?

And then he had Schack. And it was it was miserable.

It was a miserable time where he he shat in his cage.

He had shat in his career because we didn't give him food. So the Xanax would hit harder. But then we gave it the Xanax to him in a treat. And when we did, all of his treats came out.

So he basically ate all of his treats and then pooped on the plane.

Well, when they come out, they're not treats. I will say that's just not true. Except that like. Yeah, it's just normal.

See, I had an ex girlfriend once we travel with the cat, same thing happened. And and I just I swap seats with somebody else and I just give up its some point.

Yeah. It's terrible. Yeah.

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So there's nothing to lose that simply save dotcom regardless. All right, so then Aquafina, between music and acting and comedy, stand up and all that. So would you ideally like to continue sort of a blend of all those things, or would you like to transition to kind of have, one, dominate your your career?

I never really had a plan. I mean, music is something that I do all the time. And that's like my what's what I like doing is making beats, making music and stuff so that I'll never leave. But I think I don't really have a I don't really know about the other stuff.

You know, it's not I feel like you're about to say music's my passion and you backed off it and said it's what I like to do. Is that true? Yeah, it is true.

Because then I heard myself that I got a tattoo. I have passion. Is a tough word coming out. Yeah.

Oh, believe me, I know that feeling. I'd say it all the time because Jason always describes himself as an artist.

And I was like, Rose, Rose. I just like to tell stories, you know, just a storyteller is a big comedy tragedy.

Masks on his back tattoo. He can't tell the difference between them.

Apparently says, I had a director tell me one time and he'll probably listen to this and know it's him and then but he's never hired me anyway. So what the hell do I care? And he said he said, you know, and I decided somebody said to me, you're a storyteller.

You need to be telling stories. And I'm like, excuse me one second for everything I've ever eaten in my life.

There's always a friend that tells you that when they've given up on advice to give you. And that's like how it's how they'll they'll end it. Right. Story. You just tell stories.

So but but but it's fair to say that music is you are passionate about your music. That's OK. I am.

Because I had to like really learn like music and spend a lot of hours, like getting better at it. And I guess it should be the same for acting. But you know, that it just with comedy stuff, it's like I didn't have to, you know, study that. Right.

It just it just it just kind of is what it is. And so acting is obviously I'm what I'm getting is you kind of just fell into acting.

You didn't really pursue it. Kind of pursued you.

I mean, is that I mean, it was a it was a mutual I think, you know, but I mean, did you actively wake up ambitiously pursuing an acting career? No, no, no. Yeah, I think I woke up ambitiously versus doing anything that would like pay rent right now.

And where are you finding most of your opportunities now? Is is it acting or is it music? I mean, I haven't I haven't made music in a minute. I think I'm still kind of I have to find out, like, who I am now as an artist. I think that's that's been put on hold because I've I've been doing a lot of a lot of it as it is in movies and stuff right now. Yeah.

And are you happy with that? Is that is that is that where you want to keep it pointed? You said that you didn't really have a plan. Do you have a plan now or do you kind of like not having a plan and things seem to be working out great, not having a plan or being overly strategic or anything like. Yeah, there's something to be said for that for sure.

I think I think it's you know, it's a little bit of both. I didn't really enjoy that. I enjoy I enjoy making movies. I know it's what I love doing. And, you know, and it's cool because it all it affords me time to, like, do music and to, you know, have that also so and so.

Do you feel like being what, you know, politicians like to call a minority and a woman and all of those things that you do, you feel like you have to approach everything, like from a place of, you know, I'll show you or or are you like, fuck it, I'm just going to enjoy enjoy it.

And that fight doesn't run that deep for you, you know what I mean?

You know, there's not a lot of people like me that, you know, I grew up with that. And that's not even, you know, to say that to idolize or but literally to see like how what happened with them.

And I think in that way, whatever we're doing right now, you know, we in the beginning there was like, you meet a person like me and you don't understand what kind of person that is, you know, and I think or what to do with that, but also with, you know, what what to do with that person.

And as that person, if you don't have, like a roadmap of what has happened with other people, you don't know right now.

And. Right.

So, like, in a lot of ways, a lot of the this generation of Asian-American and other minorities that are coming out right now, they're pioneering something. Right. And they're going to get all of that to make it easier for the next generation.

And so do you feel like you have to be self generating then you have to create your own projects. They're not coming to you or.

Well, I think that's always every person should have a self generating aspect to their work. Sure. You know, you don't want to be the person that's like sitting around waiting for a call.

You know, you want to be able to do that and you don't want to lose that. But, yeah, I think as a minority, that's it. You just don't know what box you would fit into either. Right?

Right. So then what tell us about your to the extent you're comfortable or. Interested about your experience being a minority in a place like New York City, did you find it? Did you feel fortunate that you were in a city that is as much of a melting pot as as New York is?

I mean, I imagine you didn't have anything to compare it to, but I would imagine it would be easier there than some other sort of, you know, less progressive place in the in the United States. Yeah.

The thing about New York City is you don't feel like the minority there because, you know, like, I had trouble grasping xenophobia and certain kinds of things like that when I was a kid, because how is that possible when the world looks like the way that it does? And and I also think that there's a there is something about New York that forces you to grow up a little quicker, you know. Yeah.

So do you then feel that you were exposed to sort of that prejudice and that racism there, that did you feel that xenophobia was present there or not present?

Was that what you were saying is xenophobia was definitely present through my childhood in terms of like I mean, I think there's this Asian-American writer that's that Asian-Americans are kind of united by the discrimination that they went through growing up like a lot of Asian-Americans. Are the change long and like these things. And I grew up with that.

But I also know that I would also like prove people wrong in the sense that I am not going to be the Asian girl that you think I am when I open my mouth, when I start talking.

And so, like, you know what? I have road rage, for instance. And they think they just, you know, roll down the window and, like, start screaming. And their love is like a look of horror. And I think in that moment they're changed. Right. So, yeah, I love that. It's just always. Yeah, I do.

Do you feel pressure from the Asian-American community then to be like a spokesperson for them? And, you know, is that something you embrace? Are you do you feel more like that is an obligation or none of those things?

I think when artists first start out, they want to be themselves. You know, they want to be the artist, the story, you know. Right. But you owe something in your community regardless because you are representing them.

Like I said this, I'll be on my deathbed. Am I dying? Breath will be. I didn't want to represent Asians and I would still be representing them in that moment, you know?

So it's like it's all right. It's it's a responsibility that I that I take seriously.

And they're like they're like, what's that? Naura and you're like, call me Aquafina. Like is made up bitch.

By the way, going back to the rap thing, because I think people who don't know you from that but know you from your movies.

And by the way, I think I've seen every movie I've ever been in.

Oh, yeah. I just think you're and the farewell. You were just no wonder you won that Golden Globe.

It's your that was unbelievable, incredible performance. Yeah. Just amazing.

But going back to the rapping thing, because a lot of people who see, you know, you from movies like wait, she was a rapper like and what were your influences? What made you want to get into rap?

Like, what was the person or the situation or the thing that you're like, yeah, that's really cool. I'm really drawn to that.

I mean, I grew up in Queens listening to that. And, you know, I had a love affair with it when I was growing up. I worshipped D.J. Hurk, Kool Herc, you know, D.J. Rashad. I loved Producers' Jadallah. I was really into, like, the old mixes, the guys into that. And when I was in high school and I think, you know, I was mentally depressed.

Hip hop was was the music that I that I loved and that that spoke to me. I listen like people under the stairs, Tribe Called Quest. And it was a genre genre that I loved. And I think when it in terms of when it became like my badge and stuff, I, I she said with a straight face.

Yeah, yeah.

I was making beats and you know, I wanted to do a response to, to my dick. I mean, you know, to this day I still make beats. That's what I love. I love that. I love that. Yeah.

What a what a sentence. Yeah. Yeah.

When, when it's read back in court it's going to be incredible. I know is what did she say. Stenographer's like my badge. My dick.

So so the fact that you are an Asian-American raised by your grandmother who you've called your best friend, which I love because I loved my grandmother so much and taking the journey from America to China.

And then you get a script handed to you about that exact same thing called the Farewell. And you were amazing.

Do you ever feel like. Sure feel like, oh, shit, like, well, that that relationship between a girl and a grandmother is just a slice of who I am, but I wonder if Hollywood is, like, done with me now, because that's the thing they see as my life offering, you know, do you do you feel like you now have to create your own things going forward?

And not just not just that, but when you read that, were you prepped? Did you know what you were getting into or did you read it and go?

We were like, holy shit, holy shit, holy shit. As you went.

Yeah. I mean I mean, you just brought up a really interesting point. I didn't I didn't I never thought of it like that. For me, it felt like really auspicious that I couldn't believe that that this even exists, you know, and I definitely felt unprepared for it. Like I knew that like this I've never done this before. I just started acting right. But I felt a connection to it. And like this this kind of preconceived notion that I could do this, even though I don't think I have the skills right now, I could because I feel I feel it right now.

And it was one of those really rare things that, you know, the two connections, it's like.

Right, because the thing that Hollywood loves to do is the second they find, especially if you're minority, gay, Asian, Latin, African American, whatever it is and you find that thing, they go, oh, they did that, great.

Let's find somebody else now because they check that box for life for them.

You know, a lot of people who do they're like, you know, they're film of their life story. OK, well, you can't top that. So then. Yeah, and then the artist is left going like, oh, well, how do I figure this out again in Hollywood?

Like, how do I figure out my new place now to move forward with other roles?

Because a lot of those people will just see me as that one thing.

Yeah. Yeah. Well, do you like that part about acting? The whole sort of concept of pretending to be different people? Is that what excites you about about acting kind of morphing into different kinds of characters? Yeah.

Yeah, I like that about it. All of it. And I think for the stuff that the farewell, the kind of the heavier stuff, it's it's it's a different it really is a trend.

I'm going to sound like one of those assholes, but it is it is a transformative experience, like it's like deeply emotional. It does have to do with like your past. A lot of those things are present in something that normally in my head, what I was doing was just, you know, straight comedy. So there's an aspect of fun, but there's not kind of like that. You know, your insides are involved in it. And so that was an interesting thing.

And there is something that's like, holy shit, is this is this really bad? Like is this horrible, you know, and all of those doubts and those fears, which I think you need, you know for sure it helps it. Yeah.

And, you know, you just have accomplished so much so fast.

It seems like you're just a massively successful, talented actor, rapper, writer, producer.

What why do you want to do what's left that you're like? I still haven't conquered blank yet. Where would you love to be in five years if you could if you could write it out?

I think I think photography, you know. Really, really. No, I don't know.

We. You ready? You guys are so dumb. I did not. For the record, I did not say really well my eyebrows. Well why do you say really that's so horrible.

But I will say this. So like you in Seans, right. I mean you have done it's incredible. It almost kind of makes your head spin how much you've done in such a short amount of time in so many different areas of the arts, nor from Queens.

You made that a couple. Did you make that a couple of years ago?

Five years ago? Five years ago is when we first. Yeah.

When you first did it. And is that over now is or you or you continuing. We're going into season two. Yeah you are. You're going to make more. Yeah we're gonna make more. Yeah. And you like that experience making that show. I do.

It's, it's interesting. It's my life and yes, it was my my one of my first executive producer jobs. So there's you know, there's a lot involved with that obviously. But yeah, it's, it's my own so it feels different.

So you're going into season two and it's your own and it feels very personal. And is that something you would want to keep making it?

You see the five years that you're doing season five of Norm from Queens, I'm not I'm not counting that out.

I think it everything has a natural cause. You know, I'm not going to force people to watch something that no one wants to watch, if that's the case.

But I will I will tell you that it's so great.

You're so great. And we will be right back. Hey, Sean. Yes. You you've been in therapy, right? A bunch. Oh, yeah. So sure. What do you what's the experience been like for you?

Well, you know, I especially I've been through it, you know, in and out all my life. But at the beginning of the. Endemic, I definitely had to go into it because I was like, what's happening just like a lot of people are feeling, and that on top of that, with my depression and anxiety that I've had for many, many years, that, you know, it's it's always helpful.

It's always good to find the right person to talk to and it always helps.

Yeah, I agree. And yes, you're right, that 20/20 was interesting, I'll say. And so it's important to do a mental health check it, you know, how are you really and what do you need right now? Therapy can help with that.

And a lot of people say, what is therapy? It's whatever you want it to be like. Get some tools to help with motivation, depression, anxiety, battling your temper, stress, dealing with insecurity and relationships at work, whatever you need, whatever the problem is.

Yeah, it's time to stop being ashamed of normal human struggles and start feeling better because you deserve to be happy.

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Shawn, I'm right here so. Well I was going to say that you know, how did you we know how to eat. Right.

But it begs another question. Right. But do we really know how to eat right.

I think that's what you're saying. That's what I'm saying. So this is exciting.

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Sign up for noon today at A.M.. Dotcom smart. So, Aquafina, what are you are you are you an introvert like me, where you've got your PJs on at four o'clock in the afternoon or you do you like to like what you do today? Do you do you do you go out a lot or do you stay in and do a bunch of writing and a bunch of thinking and reading and what type of person are you. You in or out.

I mean. Well, today I actually went to the Grove and I have Venice Beach. I do a buffet. Come on. So, no, none of those things are all bad.

No, I know I'm a I'm an extrovert and introvert.

I felt I definitely went crazy a little bit then this thing and I realized I probably am not the person that I'd want to be quarantined with. You know, you don't like being inside all the time.

You like to get out and socialize them.

Yeah, like I think because that's what essentially it is. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

I like to stay at home and you know, so I'll watch, watch movies and stuff. Oh I like that.

I actually just saw one. You ever love stinks. Jason. Oh God.

What are you doing. This is the. Wait, wait, wait, wait. You need things to cut out. This is good. Keep going.

OK. OK. Yeah. No it's right this far. I can go.

Oh man this is good. We're going to keep this.

I know a lot of weird facts about that movie because I owned it growing up and I had the director's cut. So I actually literally listen to Bridget Wilson and the director do the director's cut talking about all the little gaffes, like there was like this bottle of liquor that was always there.

I know weird things about that movie. I seen movie thousands of times.

Are you kidding me? Yeah. French sailor man Chris. But I love that movie. Come on.

A little. It's a little it doesn't age well for sure.

And I had I had this big stupid long sheepherder hair. Look, it was led. You were awesome with a Hawaiian shirt or something. Guys, it's it's a real treat to take a look at it. It's really I want I'll take I'll check that out.

Jason Shine's it's. Yeah.

It should be known that I have Jason Nose's. I have a pristine copy of Teen Wolf two on DVD at my house and for some reason I've showed you and for some reason do I was talking to.

But it's Teen Wolf YOLO, its teen wolf also. Oh, OK.

So it's not a sequel, goddammit. No.

Wow, wow. He's a team of two. And so I have this copy as well. It's on my dresser and for some reason it's on my dresser.

So I look at it every day. Why I see this, I don't know.

Why don't you change your dress or move stuff around. For Christ's sake, Aquafina, you've not seen Tina is not aware if you've seen Teen Wolf one.

She's very young. Yeah, she's a good friend.

We used to play in a card game and Sean used to play in it to the three of us used to this is we're going back a while now, at least fifteen years.

We should play Tuesday nights at this guy called Gas's House and. Oh, she know. Well, you know, Tenacious D.

Yeah. Well, you know. Yeah. You know, Kyle, it's Kyle Gas and Jack Black's right. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

So Sean, actually, Sean, if you remember, Sean came in the first night and did really well, like one like, just like oh man, he just kept going down a whole lot and he won and then he never won again. Like the worst thing you could do or you didn't really come back that often did he. After that took his win. Started losing. Yeah.

I'm just a game Texas Hold'em, this poker.

And so this is like fifteen years ago.

So so then but Kyle gave Jason the name of T Dub as you go and every time the bet was the Jays or anything new to Chicago to you.

And I miss playing cards. So I know that was fun. Was that fun.

Let's talk about the weed. So you like to smoke joints, smoke bongs, chew on gummies or a little combination of each.

Sorry. One second before you answer that, I just know Jason, nobody smoking bongs anymore this season in nineteen seventy nine.

It's the best times I've written by me. Wait a second. I know now in my, in my, in my youth there was a real ceremony buying a new bong about every three weeks. Me and Carlos weed every three weeks.

Oh yeah. Well it was so fun. Those big huge like hundred dollar bongs with my chambers and let's chop up some ice and. Oh yeah.

So are you, are you ripping bungs Aquafina. No.

You have a bong in that house right now I guarantee you you do. There's a bong in the house you see. Will ask stupid will. Now are you using that bong.

I've been using a volcano.

See that's a whole new level. Is that. What is that.

Go ahead. It's it's made by this like German brand and it's called stores and big all this brand and it's in a volcano. And then you take this basically a plastic bag and it vaporizes all of the things. And then you put the. Plastic bag over your head. Think of it exactly, cry and bag over your head.

Yeah, so, so, so, so the bag expands with smoke. Yeah. And then you then you throw your your face inside the bag.

Or if you make a little hole, there's a there is like an actual like a little it looks like the like like the top of a water bottle. Sure. And it's what they call it is it's weight on tap.

Sure. You just. Yeah.

So on. The volcano's not available. Your next best stop is you like to roll your own joints, you could save yourself a good joint. Roller tinctures usually tinctures.

Oh like a drop. That's like an oil guys.

Yeah that's. Yeah. What is it. Tincture.

It's not just like little droplet of it's like an oil, it's like. Yeah. Like a little, a little dropper. It's like put it under your tongue. Right. My sphincter. It's a terrible thing.

Jason is fascinated with how people consume their weed and he always asks first of all bugs. And secondly he wants to know people are very open with the bong.

I want to has the bug and then he wants to know who's rolling their own joints. Well, that's something I used to. I used to love. I used to love roll.

I consider myself a very good joint roller and I do enjoy a bong. I think the bongs are pretty amazing. Now they will get kicked over well by the guy who smoked a little too much.

So you got to put it up on the table. OK, don't put it on the floor.

You're a great parent, but you're a great parent.

You put that on the table exactly that way for the benefit of a bong, because I think I did one once a long time ago. You just need one hit.

And that's you're good. You're good to go for a long time, right? Well, the water cools the smoke, right.

So it's smoother. Yeah, I think you can. You can. Oh, you can inhale.

What's that, doctor? Excuse us everybody. Quiet in the back. The scientist is here. I can feel what I need you to do. I think what needs to happen is you need to go and smoke weed with Sean. You need to teach Sean because Sean is like a one hit wonder mean he takes half a hit of weed and he is his mom immediately.

She's all right there.

Well, great dad. Mom jokes. Well, that's awesome. Did you did you listen to the beginning of the podcast? I stole his joke. I stole his joke around the room. Yeah, that's right.

Listen, there's never been a better topic to end on than weed. Yes.

For so but let's let's do it. I'm down. Let's do it. John, I, I you don't have to ask me twice. Let's do I. I'm so down for that. And by the way, perfect way to kill Chauncey in time.

But I'm so happy and we are so happy to finally meet you. I've been a fan for so, so, so long. Hey same John.

Thank you. Thank you for and you know, thank you for representing underserved and and overlooked minority in this country and doing it in such a beautiful, thoughtful, funny, talented way.

So you're just brilliant. Thanks, Sean. Yeah. Really nice to meet you guys.

I want to get a little too high and watch love sticks with you and get around doing secure. Yeah, we can drop a bomb.

Oh, I love watching young people be nice to him.

Boomer, it's great to meet you, Aquafina, and thank you for saying yes to just sitting and talking with us.

You guys, big fan. I see you later. Bye bye, guys. You guys embarrassed, you guys embarrassed me. What a nice, charming, funny, quick, funny and kind.

Yeah, no, she's great. I mean and by the way, she's good unless I got it wrong. Well, fact check it. But I think to be the first Asian-American lead actress to ever win a Golden Globe ever. Yeah. I mean, that's crazy. It's pretty. It's pretty red.

And and to have like so quickly have her star rise and to watch it, I feel like I'm watching myself.

She's got this big show. She's got all this stuff going on. And I follow her on Instagram and she's constantly, constantly working.

And you think watching a film like Love Stinks would have torpedoed any sort of creative instinct she had going forward? But she's so strong she can watch stuff like that and a performance by me like that and still carry on and deliver Golden Globe quality work. You know, what year was love things? I don't remember a poured cement over the hole.

No, it was I think it was maybe early 90s. I got to check anyway. It was fun. It's fun to look at, you know, like like any old pictures, you know. Yeah. And when I say pictures, I don't mean films, I mean like photos.

Do you refer to you will not refer to films. No. If you ever hear me say I did a wonderful picture with I.

Well that's much in the face. We were working on a picture and I'm going to wave back now.

What about like when you say, oh, we did a wonderful wrote a wonderful piece or we performed it in a great space.

We are the other way. Sometimes when you hear there are certain affected American actors who go well, and of course this for me, the cinema is like, hey man, you lived in Paris for 18 months. You fuck off.

Yeah. Hey, what kind of science classes did you guys take in high school? Did anybody take, like, chemistry or. Oh, hang on a sec.

I got to put my neck in traction with my. Jim Smart. Smart bombs. Smart list is published and distributed with simple Garst.