Hello and welcome to Big Gay energy.
I'm Bree. I'm Fiora and I'm Caitlin come
along with us while we dive into the fun and nuances of queer
media representation matters. And we're here to talk about it.
Okay, sorry there was no like welcome back.
Okay, sorry, they are stop laughing, you got this Caitlin.
Hi everyone, welcome drugs, honky introduction.
The or knows that if she doesn't write it out, I won't say it.
Yeah. Okay.
So now that we said hello, we are Beyond thrilled to have
Joshua Gonzalez. Join us today.
Joshua is an artist that where's my many hats, including actor,
content creator and writer. We are super excited to talk to
you today and talk about your new book called.
Keep sweet, thank you for joining us.
Thank you so much for having me on.
This is so exciting. Thank you so much.
I'm excited. Yes, we're very excited because
Joshua was very kind and sent us a copy of his book so we got to
read it and we super love it. Our first question, those were
wondering like why did you decide to write the book?
Sure, that is a great question. I actually it started as a
gratitude exercise during the pandemic.
You know, a lot of time on my hands.
I'm it was an actor and theater maker and so the entertainment
industry, you know was on pause and I started just writing
things that I was grateful for writing things that had happened
in my life that I you know, was really that changed.
Me that moved me, that inspired me made me who I am.
And then it got to the point where one of my friends was
like, hey, this is like a lot of really cool stuff.
Maybe you have a book here and I was like, I don't know, I don't
know. I never considered myself a
writer until now and I was like maybe so I just kept writing and
see where it went and my kind of thought process was always I'm
going to take this as far. Far as I can.
And if at any point along the way it dies, then it dies.
But here we are. And there's a whole real book,
physical book, and digital ebook, and everything, and it's
here and it happened. So I guess I did it organic that
was, and how do we think that friend?
Oh, he is so wonderful. His name is Edward Rice.
You can. You can find him on the socials.
He's really great. And yes, he deserves a lot of
the praising. The thanks for the making this
happen. Thank you.
Thank you, friend out there. Yes, thank you.
It's a really good book. It is.
Thank you for the book is an independently published book.
So my first question is, why did you decide to independently
publish it? Yes.
My journey through the publishing world is very unique
and and very interesting, I would say, I think so I actually
I had almost no idea what the publishing world was like, you
know, I had never written a book.
I never been in that world before but I it's very similar
to the entertainment industry. You know, you can get your
agent, they get you the gigs and or similarly you know, so I
started researching it and found the community on Twitter a
little bit and kind of felt out the steps that I needed to take
and I had initially planned on traditionally publishing because
I had no idea how to do how to publish a book myself and I
ended up carrying during 2020 or 2021 which is a crazy time to be
doing that and in in the world and I I got an agent Eric Myers
from Eric Myers literary is who's been incredible and a huge
champion of the book throughout this entire process and we ended
up going on submission in 2021 in the in the spring of that
year and that was right when we were getting into a lot of
supply chain issues, and the paper shortage is, and the
publishing industry was going through a lot of its own and
cutting staff and Reading Acquisitions left and right.
And so it was a very tumultuous time and it got to the point
where I had a few editors who were very interested in it and I
think them they were so much great feedback from so many
awesome. Editors dream.
Editors at like dream houses that I could only imagine being
published and the reality of the situation was they were like,
you know, I try again in like, six seven months when like
things are a little more settled or Around here.
And then, in my head I was like that is so wonderful and
encouraging. However, I don't know if I
physically can stand waiting seven months and then a whole
nother year, year and a half for the whole long traditional
publication process. And so, with my agents blessing,
he's very supportive. I decided to pull the book from
submission and just take a run at doing it myself because I was
like, you know, I've put on Productions, I put on shows.
Ozai, I kind of know how to project manage.
Is something that's artistic, maybe I could do this too.
And so here we are. So basically you're like I think
I can do it, let's just do it. Yeah, yeah, exactly.
What advice do you have for new Authors?
Who are thinking about independently publishing like,
how do you even do that? Yeah, it's it's I mean, what is
so cool? And what is so great about all
of the resources and tools that we have?
Now on the internet on YouTube on podcast, you can find all of
the like education and the learnings that you need to do it
but also what the advice that I would give would be to really
sit and think about how you want to do it because you can do it
in so many different ways and and think about what success
looks like for you and then kind of go down that path, you know,
for some people success to them looks like having their book in
Barnes & Noble or Target, sometimes success to them is
just having to someone is just having the book out there in the
world and having their Best friend, read it or be able or
just seeing their book on Amazon or something of that nature.
And so depending on what path you want to go down, there's
there is a path for you. You can find it, you can do it
yourself. There are so many great
resources out there and honestly from from what I have found the
community the the Indie author community on Twitter on Reddit
on there's like some slack channels.
I'm a part of everyone is so excited.
Incredibly supportive and is willing to help and you can make
it happen. And there are also kind of, I
will say, like a scale, a sliding scale of the amount of
effort you can put in, depending on what you want.
So, you know, if you don't think you have a lot of time or a lot
of energy to devote to it, there's a point on that scale
for you. If you want to go all out,
there's a point on that scale for you as well.
It it's been a very fulfilling experience.
Sounds like you can get out of it, whatever you want to put
into it, and so there's lots of Freedom with it.
Yeah, that's awesome. All right, so speaking of the
book a little bit, you mentioned in the book that when you were
growing up, you really wanted to see somebody represented in
media. That was more like you instead
of like the run of the bill Street Caucasian Abercrombie
models, I love that description because it's so spot-on.
So, let me simply we created this podcast, because we think
representation in media is very important.
And so, we wanted to hear your take on that.
Like, why is it so important? Oh my gosh, it is, it is, so
it's okay. Where do I go?
Where do I begin? I know.
I know it's a big big question. Like what?
But I think the answer to this question for me, or the way I
would answer. It is a little twofold.
So for one, it is important for those of us who, who haven't
gotten as much representation to see ourselves in all of these
situations, particularly particularly successful
situations. So that we can understand that
that is available to us and we can achieve this. same dreams
and goals that everyone else has or that everyone else who is
usually portrayed, Hasn't can that's half answer.
Sorry. And so there's like that side
like everyone needs to see that they can do what they want and
like achieve, their goals and have their dreams.
But I also think the second, the second point is that it is so
important for everyone else to see other people also be able to
like live that light. It just builds that empathy with
other people who aren't Don't look like them who are queer or
not queer. Who male female, any gingers in
between no genders like, it is just so important for everyone
to be exposed to different people.
And to see, like the possibilities when we are able
to work together when we are able to love together.
When we are able to, just take all the best pieces from
everyone and put it together to build something great as a
theater maker. Especially Lee working with
third rail projects, which if you don't know, is a very weird,
an immersive theater company and we devised a lot of our works.
And a lot of that process is going into a room with a whole
bunch of different artists and kind of working and figuring
things out and like, oh, taking this thing from this person, oh,
taking this thing, from this person, taking this
choreographed movement, from this person and kind of re
mixing it Dividing it back up, putting it all together and
that's how you get the most brilliant works that I have
seen. It's really that collaboration,
and I think there's a little kind of metaphor in there of
what we should be doing in the world and in real life, Yeah, I
was just thinking like the the line you here in like corporate
HR stuff. It's like diversity makes us
stronger and it sounds like a line.
But it's true because different perspectives like when they come
together to make something new and beautiful.
And I love the part you mentioned about empathy because
that's something I think we need to remember.
And relearn perhaps since so yes always always need to be
reminded of that. Totally, I apologize.
I'm not laughing at you. My dogs are fighting.
In the background right now. No animals.
All right, back to you always know.
Yeah, I was just talking to our third host about this.
Like the media. He can teach you so much and
people are always like, I feel like downplaying the
representation in it, but really, especially if you're
growing up and like pretty isolated.
If you're moving around a lot stuff like that, seeing all of
these different situations play out.
It allows you to like get experience without being
directly involved. So, I just wanted to bring that
up, but how has representation in media changed since you were
young? Have you come across any
projects where you feel seen? Oh yes, when we're definitely
not there yet, but we are. We have made so much progress
and I have seen that I continue seeing that you know whether
that be You know, I got to the city in 2012.
Yes. I think about that.
It's been a minute. Okay.
And like, you know, when I first got here, all of the roles that
I was being sent out for were like busboy and teen drug
dealer, criminal or illegal immigrant, you know, like those
were like the only roles that I was being sent out for For and
now I'm, I can see. And I've seen over the years
like oh, that's changed. Like I can go in for anything
now and people are willing to like visualize seeing a Latino
in any role which is like a huge step.
And now we also have you know, not only let more Latino
representation but also queer representation and we have
created Latino representation. I mean like love Victor is Huge
staple piece that I'm so excited to see so, yes, we are
definitely on the right path, for sure.
And I'm so excited to see that. yeah, I agree with all that and
I'm like, we're getting, we're finally getting to the point
where we're starting to see like lead roles to which is very
exciting and very much needed All right, so in the book, you
there's a lot of sage advice for those that haven't read it, go
read it. There's a lot of sage advice in
there, including a phrase that you mentioned that, I heard you
that totally changed my life, which is the fake it till you
make it wine. So with all the advice in the
book, what are you, what are you?
Hoping that readers will take away from you?
Telling your journey of like becoming a successful successful
artists and having like a wonderful happy marriage and
happy life. Yeah, I would say.
The, the two big takeaways that I would, I really hope people
take away. I'm so articulate when I'm not
written word. Is you heard me talking like
that important is? I know, usually I'm reading from
a script so I'm sorry, I start, I would say the two big
takeaways are one. Anything you want is possible,
no matter who you are, no matter like yet.
Sure may be harder or easier but it is possible.
And too Failure is necessary, you will fail.
Prepare to fail. And failure is sometimes the
best thing that can happen to you.
And so just know that that's going to happen and it's going
to be great, and it may not feel great for like, the literal.
Two minutes, you are failing and you're fumbling.
And you're like, oh no, this isn't going well, but I promise
you, you will be much, much, much better.
After it, and for it. Yeah, your book is very, very
good at making you feel better about yourself like as I think I
need to reread like the your book every week because I felt
so much better when I read it and then yeah, I need to read it
again because you're very wise and very positive which I, you
know, very Silver Lining. Yeah.
That is so encouraging to hear. Thank you so much that.
Such a huge goal of this book and, and it's because, you know,
growing up or like, like reading or watching queer media,
especially everything was so dark and traumatic, you know, I
really wanted to just release a big bundle of queer joy into the
world and that's we all want that, really?
That's a really weird. It's like serial killer, the
office like It's good. Great, Tony.
Other really have a breakdown. But yeah, you're so positive
which we've experienced firsthand.
Now with all of our recording issues that just happened.
You, you talk so much about being happy in the book and then
I was reading and I'm like, is it possible to be this happy?
Is it? I think they're cool.
So there's definitely think so. Living example, right here.
Yeah, I go off the rails, a lot. Can you talk?
Mmm. So back to you, you were part of
the Williamstown Theatre Festival.
In 2012, where you participated in many roles, including stage
crew did hands-on experience as a crew member enhance your
acting at all. Oh, that is such a good.
Interesting question. I I don't know necessarily if it
like helped quote-unquote acting but it definitely helped just
being like a better theater collaborator being a better like
like when I would have like a like a part of the production
because you know, when I'm when I'm on stage and or like running
backstage and there's also crew members trying to do their job,
like I understand what they're doing.
Like, I understand what needs to be done, like how they're
feeling? What they're going through at
the time. So like I'm Able to, you know,
help them out or not, leave my kind of costume strewn about all
over something that they need to move our like actually put my
props away to where, you know, they're just like things that
sometimes I do. Think actors aren't so aware
about. So I do, I do feel like it
helped in that manner as well. Yeah, the the crew life is
difficult. So no knowing to help them is
very nice of you. Yeah, of course because, you
know, we're all at the end of the day, we want the production
to be the best it can be. And so anywhere we can all help
out towards that goal. I'm down for It also sounds like
from some of the descriptions, the book that like behind this
behind the curtains when there's like costume changes and things
like that. It sounds very quick and like
pretty chaotic showing I did theater as well.
So that's cooking just that trip.
I had to rip a costume off somebody because it was stuck
and they had to get out. Yeah, it's usually always very
chaotic but, you know, we thrive in the chaos.
Oh yeah. Theater theater life.
All right, so the pivot a little bit.
So there's there's a lot of lines in your book that I truly
love and one of them that really was very striking was, we can't
just sit by and do nothing with all this precious time.
So what until you've accomplished a lot like at this
point, your you made your own book, which is awesome.
Is there anything like you have any like top achievements or
like a bucket list of things you want to do in your career?
I do have things I want to do. I don't know if I have like a
top list of achievements, but I do have things I want to do.
So, you know, life is interesting.
Life is I do? I like to do a lot of things.
A lot of different things. I would like I'm working on a
fiction book right now, A rom-com that I'm excited about,
I'm sorry, can we okay? Answer this and then we'll talk
about that. Okay, sorry.
And and I also some of my goals are very specific.
So this may sound like wild I love Mariah Carey.
She's like my number one, absolutely love her.
I'm a musical person. So, like, I really appreciate
her, her musicality her, compositions her production, I
really loved it. And so I'm also I was born and
raised in Texas. So even though, you know, I live
in New York City, and I don't ever foresee myself, moving back
to Texas. I I love country music still so
like Mariah Carey in country music, right?
So the where this is going is that a bucket list project that
I have is I want to do a Mariah Carey country covers album.
That's interesting. Cool goal like all new
Arrangements. Like I want some banjo in there.
I want some fiddles I want. Yeah so it I have a lot of ideas
for that project. That's one of them, one for
Christmas and to a country song. Oh my God, we need a remake of
that song from her goddamn is like, so.
So I have like things like that and I think I have a few more
but I'll keep them. I'll keep them close to the
chest for now. I don't think anyone's
questioning how Creative, you are.
Yeah. Bursting with ideas is what it
sounds like. Oh my gosh.
So, one of the things in the book that grabbed my attention,
I'm like, oh my God, I need to read a lot more.
You were talking about when your brother became a prisoner of
war. Hmm.
Which I was, I was like, where the hell did this come from?
Like that? That seems so crazy, like, go
through and just like witness. Yeah, that's what we thought at
the time, like I am so glad things ended.
Okay, spoiler alert. I'm sorry.
They do you get your fine in a way they ended in a way.
Okay. So you talked about your parents
doing a lot of interviews and there's like a lot of media
coverage around it. Did your exposure to this media,
so much impact, your desire to be a performer and in front of
the camera at all. That's a that's a good question.
I don't think it necessarily pushed me towards being an actor
or like or like a you know, in front of cameras but I do think
that one that experience so young when it happened.
I was For everyone listening. I was eight and so experiencing
that whole thing. So young, I do know really
taught me how small the world was and it really did make me
feel like oh little me from the middle of nowhere.
Texas is now like on TV screens. Like it was like you can't like
things can happen. Like big things can happen to
you. Like this was a bad thing that
kind of happened. It ended up being okay but big
things can happen. So that was like the first Like,
thing that clicked I the second thing is why they didn't
necessarily I think. Push me towards the acting
realm. I do think it like, watching
that happen, kind of gave me those first things with like oh
like being in front of a camera isn't necessarily scary or
anything. It's just like something my
family did. Like it's it wasn't this big
thing now because we had already done it for like big news
stations and so once you've already done that when you're
eight it's like You know. I'm not gonna be afraid of being
on a stage in high school or something, you know.
So I do think it, kind of there were those things that that got
instilled in my brain Yeah, it's a confidence booster.
It away. Yeah, Silver Lining.
So it seems like, like, in the art realm theater made a huge
impact on you. Like you were mentioning, like,
in high school being supposed to theater.
Can you talk a little bit about why theater is so important
pacifically? I think.
What makes it so great and unique is getting that live
experience between whoever is performing and the audience.
There's something very special, very sacred, and unreplicated
Bowl about that experience, like having that energy between
performer and audience, live in the same room, going through
those emotions, living those emotions watching that story,
Open. And you know, there have been
many, many studies that prove this that you know, the there my
fit one of my favorite studies especially it's a little
different. But one of my favorite studies
is when people are singing together in a choir or like just
in a group singing together, typically, a lot of their
heartbeats will sink and like, it's some pitches.
There's something so magic in human and electric that happens
and that has the Power to change people's minds, get people more
open to different ideas, get people to be a little more
thoughtful and reflective when they're watching the story.
That that is about something very important and as much as I
love TV, as much as I love films, it's just not quite the
same. That is a really cool study
first of all, and second of all. Yeah, you're right.
And there's, there's this kind of like, real time feedback
happening silently between like performer and audience.
That's just unique to the having that like in-person experience.
Like you said, unfortunately the Arts is always battling with
like getting its recognition and by recognition, I mean money to
keep going and it constantly is getting cut.
Do you have any advice of like what people can do?
Do to help like support the Arts.
Oh, man. It's, it's real rough out there
right now, especially, especially Live Theater.
They are still decimated by the pandemic and I don't as of now
as much as positive. And as hopeful as I am in life,
I really still don't see a way where we can get back to post
pandemic without huge interventions.
So the best things you can do. Our, if you can funding, you
know, by ticket go see shows go donate, go become a season
subscriber to a theater, your local theater.
All of those good things are great.
Money is always great. Other things you can do is,
volunteer time to do either help raise money or to just be, you
know, an usher or work in the box office, you know that
volunteer, even though you can't give money, you can give your
time so they don't have to spend money to to pay.
Someone to do that. And that could be a really great
way to help out another. Another thing that I don't know
how to make happen, but we really, really need is, I think
a Grassroots movement, starting locally and then to the state
level and in and then, to the National level to try to lobby
for more funding for the Arts, in all areas, we haven't had
anything like that here in this country and we could really,
really use it about now. Yeah, that would be wonderful,
you know, yesterday. I studied entertainment Arts
Management in college, so I was constantly hearing there's no
money in theater. Like, Broadway shows, never make
money. Well, barely hmm.
So it's just It just shows like how much people love it to like
still be doing it even though, like it's not going to be as
lucrative I guess as film and TV.
So, Why are you passionate about theater?
I'm passionate because again like these live experiences can
change lives. Can, you know, change the course
of community, thinking can open those doors of empathy for
people who are not like you. It is so, so important.
It also, you know, when there's theater programs in schools or
after-school, programs it there are also more studies that show
how well it helps for children's development.
Aunt, not only academically but also socially and building all
of those skills. And there really is no money.
And it's like, it's it's so especially now, when we are
seeing, you know, the cost of living Skyrocket, especially in
the city here everyday, I'm seeing more and more actor,
friends having to leave the business because they can't take
the They can't live on a project that pays $300 a week or in a
huge Off-Broadway show that is successful selling out tickets
all the time. And it's $800 a week, which, you
know, sounds may be okay but not New York City and not after you
pay your agent and you pay your manager and you pay the union
and you pay your taxes in New York taxes.
So you're taking home like five hundred dollars a week, And it's
just it's unsustainable and I don't know what to do.
I wish I had the answer. Yeah.
Because like it's it's insane. Like you really have to be all
in and a lot of times you have to be well off to even like
consider doing it and it's unfortunate because there's so
many people who be so happy doing it.
When the pandemic happened, we turn to the Arts.
Hmm, well, obviously not the live theater in person, but
yeah. And it's just people forget how
important it is. And especially in the
entertainment. Industry is just expecting.
people expecting you to work for free and for very low pay when
you're like parking so I can I get a I don't know what the word
is, but can you tell like, I'm very passionate about that part?
Yeah. Yeah, it's, it's, it's tough
right now. It's very, I mean, it always has
been tough, but now it's a new level and I think, we are maybe
reaching some sort of what I hope is a turning point and not
a breaking point, but we are we are nearing something I think,
Hope for the best positivity. Hmm.
But moving on from theaters slightly, you are in a segment
for what would you do? And the subject matter is
definitely difficult for people in the lgbtq+ community.
You had to play a bully. Who was forcing another teen to
come out of the closet? What did it feel like having to
play this role and be somebody who?
You're definitely not. But Basically, like basic having
to portray like a nightmare. Yeah, first it was scary because
this was, I think only their second segment they had ever had
that was like, LGBT themed in any way, shape, or form.
So it was a little scary, just to know how audiences would
react to anything, you know. No.
And then it was also even more scary because it really is real.
Like these are strangers that we are interacting with and we shot
at a diner in New Jersey. So I wasn't necessarily like You
know, I wasn't afraid of like getting shot or anything.
Like if I was in Texas but you know, they're, you know, you
never know, you know, how strangers going to react and
what what what's going to happen, but I did feel feel very
safe. There was plants all around from
production and they were all literally right there.
So I did feel very sick but you know, you never know like what
kind of Confrontation you are going to get into.
And then I also felt a little uneasy about tricking people and
like kind of forcing them into these.
Rough emotional states when they were unsuspected.
It didn't quite sit that well, with me, but I will say,
production was very, very, very awesome in the fact that one.
They kept the goal on how this segment would help people.
And how, you know, there is representation but also it would
bring this issue to light how, you know, you shouldn't force
people out of the closet and then to production.
Also let us have real conversations.
As with these people, after they came out.
Like, after it was like, hey, by the way, you're on a hidden
camera, show your on, what would you do?
They let us then sit down with them that we trick the people
that we tricked and talk to them about it and thank them for
stepping in and thank them for being a part of part of the
process and apologize that you know we kind of tricked them but
at the same time it would help so many people and so it was a
very interesting Ting and unique and awesome experience at the
end of the day. How did people react to like
finding out? Because you always see people
like find out like you're on a hidden camera show, and it's
just like, you never think that you would stumble into that.
The, the beauty I think of this segment, and of the people who
were there, stepping in, there was always a huge rush of relief
that like, oh, this isn't real like this, this isn't real.
It was, it wasn't real. So that was also very heartening
to see how much, how passionate they were and how much they
cared. And then when they finally
realize, oh, it wasn't real, that like relief that they had
that I could see them have that. Honestly made me more hopeful
than anything. That's really beautiful because
it could have gone the complete opposite way and then just
disheartening real. Yeah, totally.
So Okay, so we saw that, we run to that you were a part of a
springboard NYC so we're hoping you can talk a little bit more
about the program and what the impact that program has four for
actors? Oh my gosh, that is one of the
best programs ever. If you like you want to be an
actor. If you want to be a performer,
you want to be work in the theater World in New York.
I can't recommend it enough. I think they still do it.
Anything that you basically you spend two weeks and you're
taking master classes from like current Broadway professionals,
you are doing mock auditions with casting directors and music
directors, all of that stuff. Then they also teach classes
that are like how to do your taxes as an actor, how to find
an apartment in New York City, like really like actually find a
living Arrangement. Here's how the bills work in New
York City. These this is what your budget
needs to look like in New York City.
These, this is like how you find auditions and how to go to the
audit. Like it's very so practical
things that colleges don't teach.
And then like almost every night you're going to see a show and
so it's like really these long days for two weeks, it's really
great and they also have scholarship opportunities.
I was a recipient of a scholarship opportunity, I would
not have been able to attend the program if I, if I hadn't had
that. So I'm very, very thankful and
that program really did set me up.
Up to be successful once I moved here.
I love that they like talk taxes and stuff like that because yeah
so many people are just getting throated to the world and not
knowing and I know you talked about like in college teaching
your friends about finances and stuff and I just when I was a
freshman, I was teaching my friends about credit scores and
credit cards and how to build your credit.
Yeah. So it's just so important and I
don't understand why people don't focus on that anymore.
Yeah, it's wild because it's you can't do anything without that
kind of knowledge. And, and I wish schools would
would kind of take it on, but I guess, I guess we just have to
keep like telling people about it to find out themselves.
I don't know. I don't know what we could do.
It's just as important as like the acting training because
you're not going to get anywhere if you don't know how to get
somewhere. Yep.
Especially in New York. The taxes are wild there that
will learn that stuff. So wild wild heart attacks only
go so far. I understand, I live in
California. Now, their taxes are wild.
Do. Hmm.
You got it. You got it.
I get it. Of course, the aura.
You had another very interesting job and when you were working at
Escape rooms. Oh yes.
It's and I found that very interesting when you talk about
how watching people play these games, like showed you what was
going on with Humanity, can you talk about that a little bit
more? Like, how you Likes all people
through these games. Yeah, it was It's mind-blowing
because, you know, they're in the room, they're trying to do
an activity. That is a little stressful so
they have that kind of stress put on them and you know I think
you can tell a lot about someone about how they react to stress
and it's like watching Lab Rats because they don't they kind of
forget you're watching them. They don't really know you're
watching them so they really just are themselves and they
would always be wild things happening all the time.
I would see like you know is a lot of families.
So A lot of the time I saw like a patriarchal figure really put
down the matriarch of the family like we're like just not listen
to her they'd be like oh look I found this clue and they'd be
like, no, no, we're working on this and it's like like she has
the clue you need. It was a lot of like that like
microaggressions or like, just overt microaggressions that you
saw all the time. And then sometimes there would
be mixed groups of like, people who didn't know each other.
And so seeing how they would either kind of coalesce and come
together to solve it or like not really be comfortable with each
other. If they were like from different
cultures or something, it was just, you can learn.
So, so much and I did. And if there was like a 24/7
live stream of people in Escape rooms, I think that would be one
of the biggest hits on the internet.
So I'll say, yes, amazing. Tick Tock, but have you ever
seen the videos of people working at Escape rooms and just
like overhearing? I don't know if they're real but
like sure. I haven't seen those but I need
to go look at them now because I think I can relate, I'll send
them the Oh, so many flashes of different body parts.
We've had, there's been various body fluids.
There's been, it's just, there's a lot.
It's wild. All right, somebody's definitely
missing an opportunity for are really great show.
Everyone wants a big rat, head us up.
Hey Josh. You want to start you and work
on that together? Sure.
Yeah. I've got nothing else to do once
his book is out at out. Forgot about that too.
Yeah it's happening. I think I don't know.
I think I'm like half I'm like the outlines done and I'm like
halfway through first draft drafting it.
Wow, we'll see. And then once once I get like a
decent amount will see if there's any there there.
Yeah, I don't know much past that point.
That's what is what it's about. Oh, contemporary, gay, rom-com
set in New York. I think that's all I may say
about that. Okay, so I'm going to need you
to finish this book. Publish it, and then make it
into a movie. Yes, I got.
That is my goal. I mean.
Isn't that everyone's goal? Weenie.
Need more. Wrong comes.
Yes, they're my favorite. Yes, yeah.
Yes, you know ones that don't end in tears.
Yesterday, I would like that. We need to positivity in rom-com
for movie form. Yes.
Yeah. I I would I need that to
Netflix. If you're listening, you know,
whatever. Amazon is my favorite one is
single all the way like if I could write anything half as
good as that I would consider that successful.
Okay well you know it's not a TV shows the or some Maybe they're
good for us and many things that end.
They're good if you're trying to continue.
Oh yeah, no, I'm not getting cancelled after four episodes
that playing that game Netflix. No, no movies are better.
They're like, just like a gay cable like lgbtq cable network.
There used to be there used to be logo.
Yeah, they're did. You feel that was?
And then and then now we have there's a streamer called
reverie, which I think I'm in a movie on there, I don't know
what. yeah, we we've heard of a few like online That's, that's
not it. It's our ev'ry TV.
I accidentally have a That now I put it in there for some reason.
No, I watched Think the full is on here.
So yeah, what are you? What are you in here?
I don't know if it's still in on here or not and it may be a
couple things, but I do know one.
My very first gig ever in the city, was a short film called
bows Academy and I think it it, I know.
It definitely did used to stream on here and I think it may still
be, but I have no idea. So, either way, it's really
cool. Yeah, we will go find it.
Speaking of the city, Okay? So I have some friends who are
headed up there soon to see him play.
Hmm. And since there haven't been new
episodes of sweet husband's in a while, I'm wondering if you have
any pastry / desert recommendations are so you have
to explain what sweet husband's is.
Okay. So if you're not if you like to
explain it, oh so sweet, husband's TV is a desert And
Pastry review YouTube show. Oh, that me.
And my husband, Matt Tolbert, started and did for a long time.
And so you can see go to Sweet husband's TV on YouTube.
And you can see our episodes to get the scoop on all the latest
desserts and Sweet Treats in New York City and and around, we did
more than just New York City, but it's like 90% New York City.
So yeah I think Hmm what's around now that I'm really
loving who bear donut in K-Town is mochi Donuts that I highly
recommend the very, very good. and then, This magnesium refined
and then I still love like so many of our episodes are about
like Schumaker. He's cookies.
So recommend. If they go to Hudson yards with
which they should Queens, Queens yard, I think is what it's
called. It's like a restaurant there.
It's from London and they have a location here.
In Hudson yards, they have a really good desserts and drinks
and they Duty time as well so I highly recommend them as well.
Okay, I will send the segment to them.
Thank you so much. What do you know what?
Play, they're going to go. See, they're going to see prima
facie. Okay, I know while they're here
if they can score a ticket to Titanic, okay?
It's the best show I've ever seen.
All right, what's it about? I'm not familiar with that one.
Okay, so Titanic is a parody musical of Titanic.
Basically the setup is Celine. Dion herself, interrupts a
Museum tour like people were touring the Titanic Museum
Celine Dion interrupts the tour and she's like, hey actually I
was on the Titanic and I can tell you exactly what really
happened and she she then proceeds the entire show to be
the next serve as our narrator in our Master of Ceremonies to
tell the story of what really happened on.
On Titanic, everything about that sounds in for some movie of
this. This is amazing best show I've
ever seen. And their social media Clips are
really good right now, but I gotta tell you the videos on
their website, do not do the show Justice.
So just know that Best show I've ever seen.
I mean yeah, I wanted to go with my friends to see Prima but I
just couldn't take his word ridiculous to get, but yeah, I
really want to see this play. This sounds incredible.
I'm not getting speaking of incredible shows, I can't
believe. We don't have this question on
here, but you talked briefly about immersive theater and I
didn't really know that was a thing until this book.
And it seems so cool. Yes.
Yeah, like teach everybody about immersive theater, please.
Oh my God. This is a whole College course
so you know immersive theater is where typically a show happens
all around you. So there are ones like then she
fell or sleep no more. I worked on, didn't she fo for
five years, where the whole entire show took place in a
three-story old, abandoned Hospital, Ward and audience.
Members are kind of Taken throughout this entire space
while performers are going in and out of Rooms with them
performing all around them. There's a very chaotic tea party
and dance fight. That is like happening where
teapots are being smashed like all right in front of audience
members. And it's so it's this half.
Participatory half watching a show experience, that is very
unique and different and exciting and I really, really,
really love it. I've also done ones.
We throughout the entire show, we were in this like huge giant
event space with different rooms in a basement and we would take
audience members throughout the space for different scenes.
And during the night, they would cook an entire dinner and then
at the very end of the performance we and the audience
all set this giant table for 60 people and we all sat down and
we ate the dinner that we cooked throughout the entire
performance and that was like my favorite thing I've ever done.
Wow, that's So neat, so cool as your talk.
I just realized I actually did go see an immersive thing, but
it was in Greece who he was on in Santorini.
Yeah, it was like this whole like family getting married.
We're like in the house and went.
So I was like, oh, wait, nevermind.
Yeah, you'd Ms. Yeah, remember though, you live in My Big Fat,
Greek authentic, Greek Wedding? We got smashed plates and
everything was great. Yeah.
Okay. So you're an immersive theater
veteran. It's okay.
So now that I know that, that's what that was.
It is so much fun and such a unique experience. so, the are
we need to do this? We need to go see it is of
theater. I just had no idea about like
the immersive and it just sounds, it just sounds so
fascinating because, like, you're a performer, but you
don't know what you're walking into really if you're an
audience member, quote unquote. So that's it's so cool.
And it sounds like as the as the actual performer.
There's so much you're doing, that's like a typical like, you
said, like we're actually making a meal and it's a lot, it's a
lot. Yeah, but very, very
fascinating. Ng.
Something else in your book that I picked up was I loved what you
said in the very beginning about your book.
But I know that I can help at least one person with my
stories. If I can just make one person
smile or make one person's brain, click that will change
their outlook on life. Then I know I did a great job.
My experience I created a documentary and that was like my
goal with it. The first person you help with
projects, like this is yourself, did writing this book, help you
at all. Oh, really, how did you grow
from writing it? You are asking great questions
that I just, I didn't expect but I love.
I think I was like, oh, that is like Oprah level question.
Thank you. You're very welcome.
Yes, the the answer is, yes, 1000% more so than I thought.
and, I don't know if it was necessarily like the writing it
all down, but I think it's more. So the process has taught me so
much and about like what I'm capable of and what I what I
thought I could do actually was more.
So what I knew I could do? Like, I just didn't know it, I
wasn't like quite back confident, but now I know I can
do almost anything I set my mind to I made a documentary and I
was like I'm doing this all by myself.
I'm going to do every single role I'm in it and I'm going to
just prove to myself that I can do every single thing. but, I
don't know where I was going with that.
Did, did you prove your to yourself that you could?
I did. Nice.
It's on Amazon. Oh my God.
Send it to me, please. But stuff like that, it just
really makes you think back. And I think makes you like
process like what you have actually experienced and Was it
like a good reminder for you of things that you've accomplished?
Oh, yes. And and not only like, you know,
like things I accomplished, but What it it helped me also,
remember, what obstacles there were for me and maybe what?
I can focus on whenever I'm looking to, like, do when I feel
like I want to do something to help the world.
Like, I'm like, oh, I know I had all these obstacles.
What can I do to remove these types of obstacles for others
right now. I'm working in an in the
corporate world as a media producer for a tech company.
And I see, you know, we are like, predominantly straight,
white space, and so I was like, what can I do to make this a
better environment for those of us who are from Minority?
And so, I found different ways. I can like, push things forward
and remove some of these obstacles and I'm part of the
mentorship program where a minting and are mentoring.
And, and I think that the writing the book has helped a
lot in the in that regard. Weird.
Yeah, it's very Pay It Forward. I love that always, always
always, always always well that wraps up our questions for
today. Thank you for answering all of
them before we sign off and say goodbye to the listeners at
home. We wanted to see if you had any
final words for our audience. Oh, I would say, you know, I
hope you read the book, but even if you don't know, please just
know, read the book. Look, please just know that.
I'm rooting for you. I think you have a lot more
people rooting for you than you think always.
And even though you have all of these people rooting for you,
you are going to fail still and know that.
Like you're not going to disappoint the people rooting
for you. If you don't like try you know
they will be a little saddened but like you still want
disappoint them. Just go for it, fail at it, and
then try again. Maybe if you want to wise words.
Yes. So if you want more wise words
and positivity, please check out Joshua's book.
Keep sweet and rate it anywhere. You can talk about it on social
media which we will be doing and just please support.
Amazing artists like Joshua. So thank you.
Yes. And thank you so much for being
here. This was super fun.
We really I'd get you to talk to you.
Hopefully, we get to talk to you again.
And that's all we got for today. Everybody until next time.
See you later. Bye, bye.
And with that, we've been big gay energy, if you liked this
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Until next time, stay safe and hydrate for lesbian Jesus.
Yes.