- 2 days ago
They used to be a novelty, but creators have infiltrated every part of our lives. TikTokers are no longer bound to TikTok — they’re in our HBO shows and prime-time sitcoms and Spotify playlists. So what makes a creator influential today? Rolling Stone presents its annual 'Most Influential Creators' list, highlighting those who use their chosen platforms to push conversations forward. And who best to judge how good of a job we did is a member of that list and friend of the brand Tefi Pessoa.
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00:00Hi, everyone. I'm C.T. Jones. We have such a special guest today. I'm so excited, fresh off of the Rolling Stone 25 Top Most Influential Creator List, my Teppi Pessoa.
00:13Oh, my gosh. I feel like I should hear more clapping. We're just in a room with the two of us.
00:18Everybody clap.
00:19I want you to walk me through a little bit. Some people you love, some people you hate.
00:24I know speed shows up for me a lot.
00:26Yeah.
00:27Because he has some drama with a girl. Whenever there's drama with a girl, I'm tuned in.
00:32You said, I love a story.
00:33Start from the top. Drewski, I think, is so funny.
00:37He's hysterical.
00:38That if I'm in a place where I can't have volume up, I save it. And I go home and I go...
00:44Miss Rachel gives me hope in humanity.
00:47She makes me cry. I like just hearing her voice.
00:51Can you say mama?
00:52I'm like, mama.
00:53Kai Sinatra. He was so nervous on this red carpet that I did at the Grammys. He was so,
01:00so nervous. He was so cute. Quinn. That's my girl. I love my Quinn girl. Caleb. What business do you have being that funny?
01:10I think it's actually rude. It's heartbreaking. I don't think anyone should ever be allowed to be that funny.
01:14He makes me want to quit. Like, I'm like, I can't... It's like going... This is Serena Williams.
01:19I went to coffee with him once and people who were next to us started laughing.
01:23How dare you?
01:24I was like, this is my interview. Sorry.
01:26He makes me feel like my platform is me in a cloak and holding a tin cup with sunglasses on.
01:32Please, sir. Literally. Mr. Beast. I don't know. Hassan. I've met him. I met him at the DNC when he was live streaming. He's very focused. He's a very focused individual.
01:44He's so tall.
01:45I was going to say. Yeah.
01:46Do you know where the bathroom is? Like, that was me.
01:48Camila Araujo. Okay. Oh, she's in Miami. She's a Brazilian girl. Brazilian girl. Latinas.
01:57Alex Cooper. Oh, my God. My baby boy, Jake Shane. He's so sweet. I love him so much.
02:03Drew. Die for her. That's Tepe Fasoa. A real bitch.
02:07And Duke Dennis. I know because of. Duke Dennis, what's up with you? Yes.
02:14But if I'm Roserick.
02:15But what does he do? He's the older brother offering a model for how men should act.
02:21I'll see that for myself. Speedy. Oh, he's so funny. He's the one that did the Glowrilla interview.
02:29Alona. I love her so much. Iron Mouse is a cartoon character.
02:32V-Tuber.
02:33She's a YouTuber and she's anonymous.
02:35V?
02:36I've never seen that.
02:37Like a virtual YouTuber?
02:41They're taking my job. I got, this is my last year. They're going to take it.
02:45No, because you're a storyteller.
02:47Because I'm a storyteller. Yeah.
02:49Oh, I listen to her music.
02:50Anashe?
02:51Anayka?
02:52Anayka.
02:52Yeah.
02:52Anayka Shea?
02:53Anayka?
02:54Anayka. I love her music.
02:56Theo Vaughn.
02:57I hate that he makes me laugh. I watch him like this. He makes me laugh very hard. Sabrina. I think Sabrina is a genius. She's a genius. It's actually, I can't wait until we're like four Emmy Awards from now and her untitled project.
03:19Yes. Alex Earl got into UM and I didn't. So that's fine. But she's a Miami girl too, right? Oh, she's a Jersey girl.
03:27Girl turned Miami girl.
03:27Yes.
03:28Love. Meredith Hayden. I do not. Oh, Wishbone Kitchen.
03:32Yes, Queen.
03:32I love her. Dave, I can live without. Brandon Edelman. I love him so much. I met him. We were taking an Uber somewhere. I'm like, oh, just jump in my Uber. And he was like, you know what? Is it bad to say? I just want to be rich and famous. I'm like, if it was, we'd never have it.
03:49Sue me.
03:49Please.
03:50Lock me up.
03:50Dare to dream. Please. Like, life is terrible. You might as well enjoy some of it.
03:56Kay is a scribe. Like, the way, have you ever seen A Knight's Tale?
04:00Yes.
04:01She's like the person I would have, like, write, like, all the introductions for. Like, she would be like, she's like my Mr. Movie Phone. An iconic voice in media.
04:10Is that it?
04:12Oh, yeah.
04:12I think, yeah. Who do you feel like you would want to add?
04:16I think I would want to add Eric Cedeno.
04:19Lesbian. Get in. Get in, lesbian.
04:22Erica Priscilla.
04:23Keep calm and carry on. I like that.
04:27Bowman. Bowmanizer.
04:30This drink is so yummy.
04:32Yeah, it was a good call.
04:34Somebody called you.
04:35I love, I think, being able to have a Kardashian impression like that.
04:41Yeah.
04:43It's always the cups.
04:45Yeah.
04:46The different things as cups that I feel like are so good.
04:48But they are, like, when we get dinner together, it's, they are the best people ever.
04:55And they make me drool laugh.
04:57Like, not cry laugh.
04:58Like, when you know that you have, like, they are so funny.
05:01And they, Eric's wigs, for him to show up to my party in a wig and to tell everyone I'm Teffy is, it's so.
05:08How long did he keep the wig on?
05:10The whole time.
05:11The whole party.
05:12Yeah.
05:13Wow.
05:13And we were both, or he shows up in an I Love Latinas t-shirt.
05:17I'm obsessed with him.
05:19I think those three are people who, like, I think they're both going to be, all three of them are going to be prolific people for a long time.
05:25And I think Erica is, like, going to win an Emmy, a Golden Globe.
05:28Like, she's such a good actress.
05:29Yeah.
05:30So.
05:31I noticed that all of the ones that you've added are comedians.
05:35Or at least people.
05:35They make me giggle.
05:36You love a laugh.
05:38I love a giggle with my girls.
05:40Yeah.
05:40Life is just friendship and laughter.
05:42Yeah.
05:43One of the really things that, like, gets people about your content is that you feel so comfortable everywhere.
05:48And I feel like that has been something that people really love to just, like, watch.
05:52Because you bring this, like, charm and personality.
05:55But it's one thing to watch someone.
05:57And it's another thing to be, like, okay, this is who you are in real life.
06:01So tell me, my sweet Teffy.
06:02Me.
06:03What has it been like kind of sharing your life with the world?
06:07I think it's been interesting.
06:09I started when I was, I started making money off content and, like, building a platform when I was 31.
06:18So when I watch girls who are, like, 23, I think they have less boundaries with the internet.
06:24The energy that you feel is real.
06:25It's not like a character, you know?
06:27There's not enough Vyvanse rattle in the world to come up with that character.
06:33But I do feel like I have made kind of the internet, like, a gated community.
06:40And when the fence closes, I'm, like, with my friends and stuff, I'm talking about my dating life.
06:46A person I have a crush on or a funny story from a red carpet, you know what I mean?
06:51Like, I held in my pee for an hour or whatever.
06:54I'm not going to, like, say that so when I have a branded video or whatever.
06:58But I do feel with the internet and the community I've built, we kind of respect that about each other.
07:05For example, I'm never going to say, if something happened to my sister, I'm not going to say her story for her.
07:11You know, like, that's about me.
07:12Like, I'm not going to talk about that, whatever.
07:13Or, like, even with dating and stuff, like, I feel a lot safer talking about my life because I like to talk about things that I've already learned.
07:23I don't want to learn with someone that doesn't know me.
07:26I don't want someone's insights that's, like, a stranger.
07:29And I think being older online has given me that.
07:31If I was 21 years old, I would post my pap smear results, like, whatever.
07:36I'd be, like, live during my mammogram, like, for sure, you know?
07:40But as you get older, you kind of, like, I don't know.
07:43When I was younger, I really wanted people to like me, so I would tell them everything, everything, everything.
07:46And then you get older and you're like, all those people are walking around the world right now, and they know permanent, they're temporary people knowing permanent things about me.
07:56Yeah.
07:57And I've done that with ex-best friends.
07:59I refuse to do it with user 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, you know?
08:02Absolutely.
08:03How does it feel being someone who's older in a kind of space online that feels dominated by perky 20-year-olds who don't want those boundaries and who can oftentimes build platforms off of being, like, come with me to what's the 20-year-old?
08:20Yeah, it's a pap smear.
08:21I was like, I don't think 20-year-olds are getting mammograms, really.
08:23No, no, no.
08:24And I haven't either.
08:25Can't wait.
08:26I've heard that it's, like, either awful or people really are like, this wasn't bad.
08:31Those people are crazy.
08:32It's got a, it's got, the description of it sounds, like, getting punched.
08:36They Hulk smash your boo.
08:37I.
08:38And it must happen.
08:40One must.
08:41You must do it.
08:42That's, like, when you become a woman.
08:44Every time men get older, life gets better for them.
08:47And then when women get better, it's like, welcome to a new round of horrors.
08:50But how does it feel to kind of be experiencing those horrors at the same time that people are like, come with me to my life in college.
09:00Welcome to my first day of philosophy class.
09:02I find it sweet.
09:03I think it's sweet because I love seeing a girl.
09:07I mean, every time a man's on my 40 page, I'm like, ah.
09:11Why would a man be there?
09:13Why would a man be there?
09:14But every time I see a girl who's, like, excited for her first day on campus, you know, I feel a little almost, like, protective.
09:21I'm like, nobody talk to her.
09:23Nobody be mean to her.
09:25Nobody be mean.
09:26Everybody be cool.
09:27I'll mess you up.
09:27Everybody, like, literally.
09:29Like, I'm like, you know those videos where they're like, my boyfriend's going to show you his garden.
09:32I'm like, that's my girl.
09:34And if anybody, I feel very maternal over them.
09:37And because I was, at some point in my life, a freshman on campus, excited about my outfit, I also feel very, like, you couldn't pay me $20 million to go back.
09:51Like, it's something that one must do.
09:53Like, a mammogram and one must age.
09:54Yeah.
09:55But being 21 and, like, and believing in the best of people, like, not having discernment.
10:01Yeah.
10:01It's not about believing people are good or bad, not having discernment, being 21, it's like putting a puppy in the middle of Penn Station and, like, go live.
10:11Like, you can't.
10:13But I do think there are moments when I walk into a room with creators and I'm like, I'm the oldest person here.
10:19Or, why is everybody blonde?
10:22Like, or I do walk into a room and I do notice how many Latin people are there.
10:27And you can, like, tell off rip, but I do ask, I'm like, are you Latina or something?
10:32They're like, no.
10:32And I'm like, and I've told brands before, too, like, I'm the only Latin person here.
10:37And they'll say, you're Latin?
10:38I'm like, oh, my God.
10:39You weren't going to have any.
10:40Ro, ro.
10:41You weren't going to have any Latina.
10:42Like, there are moments where I'm like, I do feel like it's 25 and younger or me and, like, the therapist, the couple therapist.
10:55It's like me and her.
10:56Like, those are the oldest people in life.
10:58When people started calling me Grandma Teffy, I was like, this is crazy, too.
11:02I started getting social media when I was 15.
11:04It was MySpace.
11:04So as a teenager, I knew what it was like to have, like, a profile with my face and, like, all my interests and, like, curated for me.
11:12And that did, like, probably mess with my chemistry.
11:15To have it at, like, eight or nine, like kids today, must mess with your chemistry.
11:19So I feel like when I'm hungover and I tell my mom, I said the stupidest thing last night, my mom will say, I really don't think people are thinking about you like that.
11:28Like, you know, they were drunk, too, or whatever.
11:30She's keeping you humble.
11:32Sometimes I wish she'd let me fly a little.
11:36But I think the same thing with social media when I see a girl, like, stifled with perfectionism, I'm like, we're not thinking about you like that.
11:45You can relax your shoulders.
11:47You know what I mean?
11:47Like, you can talk, like, you get back knee, too, girl.
11:50You know what I mean?
11:51Yeah.
11:52So I think perfectionism is a disease of the Internet that is ruining everyone's fun.
11:56It's also hard because I feel like the Internet in the last couple of years, the thing that I've noticed the most is a lack of good faith understanding.
12:08Because nuance, when did we bury her?
12:11She's gone.
12:12We salt burned her grave.
12:14We stoned her.
12:15We literally stoned her.
12:16We stoned her.
12:17Sometimes, like, I know people, we know creators, right?
12:20Yeah.
12:21We meet these people in real life and they are wonderful.
12:25So sweet.
12:25And then you go online and you know their side of the story.
12:29You know what I mean?
12:30Any story.
12:30It doesn't matter.
12:31It could be, like, between a brand and them or something.
12:34And somebody can go online.
12:35I'm making this up.
12:36I don't know.
12:36But somebody can go online and be like, and who's a creator?
12:40Joe Biden was terrible to work with.
12:45Meanwhile, you know that your friend who's a creator, their mom is sick or their dog is dead.
12:50Like, you know, and the people in the comments are like, I knew it.
12:54Like, I hated that Joe bitch from the moment I laid eyes on that motherfucker.
13:00You know?
13:00He's like, you know what?
13:01I heard he drinks a lot.
13:02And it starts flying.
13:04You read these comments.
13:05And I'm like, oh, my God.
13:08Joe had a UTI.
13:09He called us and he told us he had a UTI.
13:10You know?
13:11Yes.
13:11And I think with nuance, too, without nuance, we cannot talk about our humanity.
13:18And I tell people, like, the women that we look up to have messed up in gigantic CV Nicks.
13:25My queen.
13:26Girl, I love you.
13:27That was crazy.
13:29That was a crazy time.
13:30Wow.
13:30But Julia Roberts or, like, I'm sure Michelle Obama has said mean things to her mother.
13:35You know what I mean?
13:35Her kids.
13:36I'm sure she's snapped at her kids.
13:37The Secret Service is actually going to bang down the door.
13:39I would do anything to meet Michelle, so bring him in.
13:41Michelle LeVon Robertson, Obama, I love you.
13:44Like, you know, that's the thing about internet, too, that I feel people get really scared about.
13:48They're like, they're going to find out that I, like, I cheated on my boyfriend when I was 19.
13:53I made out with a man at Lyft.
13:55Yeah, I did.
13:56Did he sleep with somebody else before?
13:57Yeah.
13:58And I got him back with what?
13:59A tongue kiss.
14:00But when people are like, can you believe my boyfriend cheated on me?
14:03I'm like, you're a 16-year-old in Miami.
14:05Yes.
14:06One of the things that I feel like is really hard about the good faith arguments and the lack of nuance is that people, when they're having these moments where they're kissing these boys in Paris or, you know, you yell at your mom or you have a rough night with your friend, it's one thing to do it on its own.
14:19It's another thing to be like, I went home and instead of knowing, paying attention, someone had to phone out or I was at brunch and someone filmed.
14:26So I'm wondering, how do you, with this kind of big sister Teffy role that you take on, and especially when you have now the Ask Teffy advice column, how are you using these kind of moments and also knowledge about how the internet is right now to give people advice that will actually help?
14:41I think, like, my biggest thing going online is feelings are not definitive.
14:46Like, they change.
14:47Like, feelings really, really change.
14:50And I do think after COVID and all this crazy, like, political, all this crazy shit, the world has always been weird.
14:58But as you get older, you realize just how weird, especially after the pandemic.
15:04I think we're a society that's obsessed with control and we don't want things to change because that was really scary and traumatizing.
15:12So I think a lot of the advice that I get, especially on Ask Teffy, or even when I'm, like, even when my assistant and I are taking breaks during, like, my podcast, Teffy Talks, when we were taking a break and she's like, I just don't think I'll ever find somebody.
15:25I'm making that up.
15:26But, like, if she were to say something definitive like that, it's so interesting to me because it's almost like the relief in fortune telling, like, finding somebody may be scarier.
15:38You know what I mean?
15:38Or they, even though they're mad, they know how they feel and how these, like, cards will fall.
15:45So they'd rather be in this state right now.
15:47It's almost like people don't want it to get better.
15:51And that's what I think about the good faith thing, too, when they're like, I saw the way your friend looks at you in the video.
15:55She hates you.
15:57Those are my least, my least favorite genre of video is when, like, I surprised my boyfriend.
16:03Those poor, poor, poor.
16:05Chad is 18 years old.
16:08He's never seen a therapist.
16:09He's trying to grow out, that weird haircut he got.
16:11He's so excited to see you.
16:13And right now it's coming across his face as pure terror.
16:16And his boys are there.
16:17So it's just, like, this weird, like, mess and everything.
16:19He's trying not to, like, blush.
16:22Die.
16:22He's trying not to die.
16:23And tomorrow morning he's going to wake up and Rebecca in Alaska is going to be like, I think Chad's cheating.
16:29Do you know what?
16:30It doesn't come off as protection.
16:34It comes off as, I knew it, I was right.
16:36It was like, it's like a gotcha.
16:39It's a punishment almost.
16:40Yeah.
16:41And I'm like, my friend just has resting bitch face.
16:44Like, my friend Angie, she has a face like this.
16:48And I come up to her at a party and I'm like, are you having your time?
16:50She's like, I'm having the time of my life.
16:52Like, that is just.
16:53Deadpan.
16:54Like, literally.
16:56I'm like, is Angie?
16:57Does Angie have a UTI?
16:59No.
17:01Did Angie shit herself at this party?
17:04Text me the next day.
17:05That was probably the best night of my life.
17:06Thank you so much.
17:07Yeah, you can't.
17:08You just don't know.
17:09You can't.
17:10But for me, sometimes I just, the argument of, well, this is her job.
17:16Or she's a public figure.
17:17And I'm like, what?
17:19You guys think I'm pretty?
17:20I remember somebody was like, I'm going to criticize her.
17:23That's what you do with celebrities.
17:25I go.
17:27You think I'm a celebrity?
17:30When I get really upset at a comment and I make a video to it and people are like,
17:34Teffy, ignore the haters.
17:35I'm like, you can barely, you can barely tolerate somebody cutting you off in traffic.
17:40Imagine somebody coming online and being like, she's a bad person.
17:44So with that in mind, right?
17:45So you're describing a world that essentially, it kind of feels like you're always on stage
17:49a little bit sometimes.
17:50And I feel like you've done a really good job of creating the boundaries to make sure
17:53that you have friends and family and a support system.
17:56But going back a little bit, when was the first time that you were like, oh, I think content
18:01might be a way for me to reach a new audience?
18:05I think content might be, this could be a career for me.
18:09I think I always, I always tell people I knew I was going to be on screens.
18:14I just thought it was Real Housewives of Miami.
18:15Like I thought that was my destiny.
18:17I think you would have been so good at that.
18:18I probably will do it.
18:19I probably will in like 20 years.
18:21Okay.
18:2130.
18:21Sheik.
18:24But I think with content, I just can't.
18:30I think people don't understand when they start making content that you have to do like
18:34this perfect video.
18:36You have to say the right things.
18:37You can't pronounce anything.
18:38And the truth is, it's like just this is good enough.
18:42You know what I mean?
18:43Like I could be slouched over and like, I could pick my nose.
18:46I won't.
18:47Kelly would kill me.
18:49But I don't think it takes that much because society, like we are performing.
18:54And sometimes when you're filming a lot in your living room where you're the most yourself,
19:00it just so happens that like you're posting your true self.
19:03You know what I mean?
19:04Like I don't think, I think for me content, I would still be making content today if I
19:10never made a dime.
19:12I think it's so much fun.
19:13I really have such a good time.
19:16Like when I'm laughing in my videos, I'm not like retaking it to get a good, I'm laughing.
19:21Because we do know content creators that you meet them in real life and you're like,
19:24I know I can't say the word, but I think what a, what a, what an eye of Ceron.
19:30What a soul sucking succubus.
19:32What a terrible person.
19:34I don't think I am different in person.
19:37That's just me.
19:38I've always liked talking and I've always wanted people to take my advice and my siblings won't.
19:45So you needed to find someone.
19:47You said real yappers rise up.
19:49Yes, please.
19:50Real yappers.
19:51Like if yapping makes me money, I'm going, I'll never be a billionaire because I don't
19:56believe in it, but I might make money enough to, millennial dreams are so pathetic.
20:01I'm like, I might make enough money to buy a house.
20:05Millennial dreams are so pathetic.
20:07We've already said certified yappers the way to go.
20:10And I love the idea that even if you weren't making money, like you like this so much that
20:14it feels correct.
20:16It feels good for you.
20:17Natural.
20:18What is one of the biggest risks you think you've taken as a content creator?
20:23Or do you feel like you've taken any risks?
20:25Oh my God.
20:25Yeah.
20:27The first time somebody asked me to be on a red carpet, I was like, I am a receptionist.
20:31I mean, the imposter syndrome is so real.
20:34I think the first time I was ever on a red carpet, no, it is the first red carpet I ever
20:40interviewed was Zendaya, Timothee Chalamet, and Jason Momoa for Dune.
20:45And that's when I didn't put my leg through this hole in my dress.
20:47That was my first red carpet ever.
20:49And I was 31 and I was like fresh off a terrible breakup.
20:54So sorry, what happened with your dress?
20:56It was, there was a hole in it.
20:58There was a hole in it and I thought it was so retro and I was supposed to put my leg through
21:02the hole.
21:03So the designer, like they weren't like thrilled, but that was the first time also I woke up
21:08and I was like, a video can get 10 million views.
21:11Like that was so crazy.
21:12But I remember like, that was also a time when I didn't have a stylist.
21:16I had this boutique loan me a dress.
21:19I didn't have like a makeup artist or anything.
21:20Like I had a girl that I saw on Instagram that came over.
21:24There was nobody like, there was no team.
21:26I had like a manager that I'm not with anymore come by, like swing by because she was in Spain
21:32and she like came to London for the day to see me off just to make sure my makeup and
21:37help me take pictures.
21:39And then I got into an Uber and I was like, this is the drop off.
21:42Like it was me.
21:43And like, I didn't know if I had to bring mics.
21:45And my manager was like, I think Warner Brothers will have mics.
21:49Like, okay.
21:50And that was, I think that was like the first time that I was, I, I, after the carpet closed,
21:56it was the first time I was like, I did something I've wanted to do my whole life and I didn't die.
22:00And they like it and they hire, and they said that they want me for something else.
22:05That was like the first time that I was like, I think this could be like a career for me.
22:11You know?
22:12You talked to Timmy and Zendaya.
22:14Yeah, I did.
22:15How was it?
22:15And Zendaya is the sweetest, but she's very serious.
22:20And I was like, oh, I understand.
22:23With her, she's, she's thinking about what she's saying.
22:26She would never do it like this.
22:28She'd be like, thank you for asking.
22:31I think with me, I'm like, we're going to figure it out together.
22:34We're going to land that plane.
22:35I did not expect Timothy to be so serious because he wants to be taken seriously, but he is better
22:41like a, like he can, he's pretending to shoot the shit.
22:44He's not.
22:45But he's, they're so young.
22:48So I think that's what made me feel like, of course they're serious actors, but they
22:53want to be taken so seriously.
22:54And I'm like, you're 22.
22:57Let Tita Teffi help, please.
22:59They are.
23:00It's crazy.
23:00I'm like, there are these like adults trapped in these like children's bodies.
23:05You know what I mean?
23:07But I thought also a lot of this, that was my first interview, like a red carpet.
23:12And since then, I think because that was my first, I thought everybody made eye contact
23:16like them.
23:17No.
23:18They are so respectful.
23:20And they like, they talk to you like you're such an important person.
23:25Like, oh, that's okay.
23:26And they laugh with your jokes and stuff that after that, I was like, I was spoiled with
23:31that being my first one.
23:32Now that's a risk that you feel like panned out.
23:34Are there any that you feel like you took and then didn't land?
23:38I mean, every time I get lash extensions, my Botox, there are times where I'm like, this
23:45could go horribly wrong.
23:46Thank God it doesn't.
23:47I think online too.
23:48I mean, in the beginnings too, when you're making content, you try so many things.
23:54Like there was a part where I was like, I'm going to describe a celebrity and like you
23:58tell me who I'm talking about.
24:01Born in the Bronx, grew up in Long Island, played a twin, Lindsay Lohan, whatever.
24:06I thought you were going to get it.
24:09But I was like, I'm sorry.
24:10And it's Lindsay Lohan.
24:12In my head, I was like, the Sprouse Twins are from New Jersey?
24:16The Sprouse Twins are from New Jersey.
24:20And then it gets like 70 views.
24:22Yeah.
24:22And then you talk about like one time you threw up while you were riding a city bike
24:25or something and it gets 700,000 views.
24:28Like you just, but in the beginning you do try so much and there are things that pop up
24:31for me.
24:32And I'm like, but I look at her too.
24:35And I'm like, you were really trying new things.
24:38The internet became my like safe place.
24:42And that's like saying this great white shark is my, I sleep in the bed.
24:47They're my best friends.
24:47That's my best friend.
24:48Yes.
24:49And I think going through that made me, and then kind of growing and seeing these influx
24:55of like, not the nicest things come in.
24:59That's like how you create a boundary.
25:02And if I was 21, all my hair would have fallen out.
25:04I don't know how these 21 year old girls do it.
25:07I don't know how they do it.
25:08I think that if we gave them weapons, we wouldn't need the military.
25:13A 21 year old West Village blonde girl.
25:16With blue jeans, tight black top.
25:18She would fuck you up.
25:20I'm scared when I see them.
25:22Fresh off of catching her boyfriend, Snapchatting somebody else.
25:24Literally, she goes to Tish.
25:26Wow.
25:28We need big brother on her.
25:30Stop watching me.
25:31I'm too tired to do anything.
25:33But her, Chelsea.
25:34Yeah.
25:34Chelsea's willing to commit war crimes to do whatever it takes to get Hannah back.
25:38Literally, absolutely.
25:41A 21 year old girl that just got into a fight with her roommate.
25:45Nefarious.
25:45Wow.
25:46I can like feel a shift.
25:48It's happening right now.
25:50You're like, something's going on.
25:53I don't.
25:54I remember getting into fights with like a roommate or something and like not wanting to text,
25:58being so aware of the screenshot.
26:00And now when I get into fights with somebody, I'm like, and by the way, I want you to send
26:04that screenshot.
26:04I stand by the screenshot.
26:06I said what the, I said.
26:07Okay, so we know who you're good at kind of embodying as a person who gives advice.
26:13Who are the people who you feel like are getting, you're getting really good advice from?
26:17Who are some creators who you feel like have been support systems?
26:21Either it's just like people to look up to or maybe friends who, you know, like if some
26:25shit goes down online, you know you're going to get a text from them.
26:29Probably Drew.
26:30Yeah.
26:31She is so wise that it pisses me off.
26:33It's actually incredibly upsetting.
26:35She says things and like she is so in tune.
26:40She is so protective of her energy and her space because once you are in it, you see that
26:46she's like a love bug.
26:47Like she is the squishiest, sweetest.
26:51But if she's going to remain that way, she has to keep other like people at bay, obviously.
26:56I listen to her a lot and, but you know, besides like Drew and I'm spacing here, but like those
27:04like random videos that have like five views, I'm like, this bitch is big.
27:10Like one of those like random girls, it's like a, it's like a dude in like big glasses and
27:16he has like the longest hair I've ever seen.
27:19And he's like, you are the universe inside you or whatever.
27:24Like you're a cable.
27:25And I'm like, Brandon, can I call you Brandon?
27:28You're incredible.
27:29You know?
27:30I think there's also this boy, his name is Ian for short, Ian for short.
27:36And he goes to the movies every day and he eats a mega salad every day.
27:40And he goes with his family, his mom to watch a new movie.
27:43He loves movies.
27:44And it's just a carousel of photos.
27:45He's like this in every single one.
27:47And at the end he goes, today was so incredible.
27:49I'm so excited for tomorrow.
27:50Or this was the best day ever.
27:52I got to watch a movie with someone I love.
27:56Tomorrow's going to be so good.
27:58Like I'm already crying.
27:58I'm literally crying.
27:59It's so sweet.
28:00He's the sweetest.
28:01And I literally started following him like four days ago.
28:04He followed me back and I said, mom, you're not going to believe me.
28:08Mom, you're not going to believe me.
28:09He followed me.
28:09She's like, okay, what?
28:11She's like, what?
28:13We've talked about this in the past.
28:14Storytelling is something that's super huge for you.
28:17Yeah.
28:17I know you said earlier, you said you were really in love with a lady at your school
28:22who would, the storytelling lady?
28:24I love her so much.
28:25I don't know her name.
28:26I made it up in my mind as Elizabeth.
28:28Okay.
28:28I don't know her name.
28:28We're going to call her Elizabeth.
28:29Yes.
28:29Can you explain a little bit about what that experience was like for you and why sitting
28:33in that Miami auditorium or gym, you were like, I've got to be her.
28:38It was an auditorium and also a cafeteria.
28:40Let's be clear.
28:41Combo.
28:41And I thought it was like Versailles.
28:44And I went back as an adult and I was like, it's this big.
28:48It's like in the smallest little chairs.
28:50But I remember it was one day and they had grades kindergarten through fifth grade come
28:56see the storyteller.
28:57And she's just an average looking woman.
29:00Which I think is just a Miami thing.
29:02You told me about this and I was like, this is not a universal.
29:05No.
29:06This was not happening.
29:07Storytelling day.
29:07This was not happening in Virginia.
29:10Well, Virginia, hear me.
29:12You need this.
29:13It changed my life.
29:13I was in fourth grade.
29:15So it was 1999.
29:17And I had just gotten fresh Go-Gurt on my Navy polo.
29:21I remember that.
29:22And a lanyard, not only a hair wrap down from Key West, just like rotting.
29:28And I remember she was a woman who had like a t-shirt and she was older.
29:33She had like a gray hair.
29:34She had bangs, gray bangs.
29:36She was wearing a t-shirt with those like flowy patchwork 90s dresses over it.
29:41And the principal comes up.
29:43She's like, so-and-so is going to tell you a story.
29:45Everybody pay attention.
29:46Eyes forward.
29:47If you can hear me clap once, whatever, whatever.
29:49And then I remember the principal walked off with the mic.
29:51And the woman telling the story started talking to us about this knight.
29:58So she was mic-less.
29:59About this knight fighting another knight.
30:02And they're trying to find this princess.
30:04But the knight is his brother who also wants a princess.
30:06And I realized she was getting quieter and quieter.
30:11And there was a moment where I saw the whole auditorium lean in.
30:14To hear her better.
30:16And she started talking about a knife, a sword fight between the two brothers.
30:20And I saw them like a tennis match.
30:22And it's one person.
30:23And she's doing both.
30:24And they're like this.
30:25All the kids.
30:26And I remember thinking, that's real power.
30:30That's what I want to do.
30:31I want people to lean in when I talk.
30:35And I want to hold people's attention.
30:37And I want to tell stories.
30:39There was a part where the woman would like this to do the brother.
30:42And I swear to God, everybody in the auditorium went, oh!
30:45Like there was another person there.
30:46She was so good.
30:48And I don't remember her name.
30:49But I literally walked out of there.
30:50And I was like, I don't want to be Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
30:53Nay.
30:54I want to be a storyteller.
30:57And how do you feel like you've done with this quest of yours?
31:00I think it's pretty good.
31:01I think the trick to storytelling is you just never shut up.
31:05So I don't.
31:05Certified yappers.
31:06Certified.
31:07I think with storytelling, I think when people – the thing about storytellers is the details and the nuance matters.
31:17And that's why when I go online, I'm like, this isn't a story.
31:20This is a campaign.
31:22You know what I mean?
31:24Smear or uplifting, whatever.
31:26Or it's a monologue.
31:27If I were to tell you about – we had a dog.
31:31Her name was Droopy.
31:32She was a basset hound.
31:33Droopy.
31:34Untrainable.
31:34Oh, Droopy Pessoa.
31:35Yeah, Santa Claus brought her.
31:37Santa Claus in 2001.
31:38It was a tough year for America.
31:40It was a tough year for me.
31:42And on Christmas, I woke up and there was a Basset on Puppy.
31:47And Droopy tripped on her ears running to us and pissed everywhere.
31:54And I walked her that day.
31:56And that was the last time I walked Droopy Pessoa.
31:58That was Estela and Lourdes.
31:59You ever thought about writing a book?
32:01I've been writing a book for two years now.
32:04And I have two chapters.
32:07And that third one's just got me.
32:08I'm like the SpongeBob with writing the T for the.
32:12So I am.
32:13But I would really like it to be about when you're 25, you think you know everything.
32:19Somebody gives you directions.
32:20It's almost like I've been here for five years.
32:23When you're 35, you're like, okay, explain it to me again.
32:25So I'm going to, you know, you're more willing to ask for help or admit you don't know everything.
32:31So I'd like to do stories from like both perspectives.
32:35I'm obsessed with that.
32:36I love it.
32:36Hopefully it's good.
32:37Will you let me read chapter three when you?
32:39Absolutely.
32:40Once the the is finished.
32:41I'm in the middle of the E.
32:44Lastly, what do you feel like is the recipe to make someone a yapper if they feel like they want to be and they're just confused on how to start?
32:51How would someone become a Teffy certified yapper?
32:54I would never look at my inner child and tell her to shut the fuck up.
32:57I would never do that.
32:58I would never look at my inner child and say, shut up.
33:01That's not worth hearing ever.
33:03I think I was a very emotional kid and I didn't have the language.
33:08Like if you gave me noodles and cheese and I've never seen macaroni, I would call it noodles and cheese.
33:13But at the time I thought instead of being scared, I was selfish, you know?
33:17So I think to be a yapper, you really have to look inside and be like, I can say I have free will and she has something to say, you know?
33:26And when a man interrupts me and says, you have five.
33:30I'm just kidding.
33:31I'm just kidding.
33:32I'm just kidding.
33:33That is so little.
33:35Look how little that is.
33:38Oh my God.
33:39Name your price.
33:40How much?
33:42What would you use it for?
33:44I would find a way.
33:46Anytime someone actually was talking to me that I didn't want to speak to me, I would use absolutely one of those clappers.
33:51Or like if I stuttered, I'd be like, take two.
33:54Run it back?
33:54Yeah.
33:55That's a good way to do it.
33:56That's a good way to do it.
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