Janet (3:16)

Time, an avid 2020 watcher. And it was interesting because you were always that kind of person that would ask people questions. And I said, I can just see you sitting there with the cards on your lap and interviewing somebody.

Debra Roberts (3:34)

It is weird because people would come to the house and I would ask all kinds of questions, wouldn't I?

Janet (3:38)

You would.

Bonita (3:39)

And can I say also that I remember you used to be in the mirror.

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I.

Bonita (3:43)

Don't you remember when you.

Janet (3:44)

No.

Bonita (3:44)

Yes. You'd be doing your own report in the mirror.

Debra Roberts (3:47)

In the bathroom. This is Deborah Roberts.

Bonita (3:50)

Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever.

Debra Roberts (3:51)

With my brush or whatever.

Bonita (3:52)

Yeah, with your brush. And Junior, our brother, used to just.

Debra Roberts (3:54)

He used to.

Bonita (3:55)

To rag you about it all the time.

Coach Glo (3:57)

Funny.

Bonita (3:57)

Oh, dad, what are you doing again? You're doing your show again, but. Yes.

Debra Roberts (4:00)

Oh, my gosh.

Bonita (4:01)

Do you remember that she used to be in the car.

Debra Roberts (4:03)

I don't remember that. I did my show in front of the mirror.

Bonita (4:06)

Yes, you did. You were always doing your own show.

Debra Roberts (4:08)

That's so. I guess I was destined. I guess it was destined. So I didn't have any other particular talents. You all sing. I don't sing. And mom used to say, well, you know, you speak very well, so it's okay.

Janet (4:22)

Your talents fly elsewhere.

Debra Roberts (4:23)

Exactly. My talents were elsewhere. Who's next? Can you talk about one time when you were very nervous before one of your interviews? Oh, my gosh, I'm nervous all the time. I'm nervous right now. I would say people think that we are so comfortable doing what we do, and for the most part, I am comfortable because I've learned to do it. But I still get very nervous, especially if it's an important interview. I mean, I've had an opportunity to interview Michelle Obama over the years. I interviewed Jill Biden before they left the White House. I was really nervous about making sure I asked the questions just right. Or celebrities, you know, if I've interviewed, you know, actors and actresses, I get nervous because I want to make sure I come across well. I ask good questions. But even just day to day, particularly if there's a timeline when I go into prisons, because true crime for 2020, I go to interview people, and that's serious business because you are behind bars. Oftentimes, they will talk about the SWAT team that they have set aside just in case something happens. So I'm nervous about that and just wanting to make sure. I mean, in New Jersey, I had to go do an interview once, and I really was very nervous because we were going in this one area, this sort of not holding area, but it was a contained area where all the inmates were housed. And they could see us and they said, don't worry, we've got a SWAT team ready. But you surrender your phone and your ID and all of that when you come into the prison and, you know, in the back of your mind, and I do, as a journalist, something could happen. And so I get a little nervous and I'm happy when it's over and we did it and there's a good job done and so forth. So I get nervous a lot, but I think it brings me good energy. The nerves sort of propel me to think on my feet and to.

Bonita (6:10)

But I was about to say, you don't show it.

Debra Roberts (6:13)

No. You have no idea how many times I'm churning outside.

Bonita (6:16)

Yeah, you come across naturally.

Debra Roberts (6:18)

Yeah, I think that's the trick, trying to mask that so people don't know. When I'm doing live television, you know, occasionally I fill in on Good Morning America and I'm like, totally nervous before. You don't want to say the wrong thing. You don't want to, you know, blow it and so forth. So I'm nervous on a regular basis, but I think I've learned how to deal with that and to use it sometimes to help me do a better job, maybe. Who's next? When we were children, this was always the case. Benita was always like, is it my.

Janet (6:49)

Turn in my mind that it was.

Debra Roberts (6:52)

Female for some reason? So I'm like, what I love is that our roles remain the same. I mean, you know, we still make jokes and laugh about little things and.

Janet (7:01)

Little quirks that we have same roles. Okay.

Debra Roberts (7:03)

So I want to know if you have A particular story that you worked on, you know, over the years.

Janet (7:09)

I know there have been many, but that you were particularly proud of.

Debra Roberts (7:14)

Oh, wow. Well, I have a lot, and I think it changes all the time because I continue to do stories that now and again touch me. But I still think about the story that I did. I was on maternity leave, and I got a call from one of the senior producers and said, there is this story about this African woman who lives in America, Ethiopian American woman, but she wants to go back to Africa to find her roots. She was given up as a child because she was injured and her parents couldn't care for her, and she was raised elsewhere and made her way to the United States. But she wants to go back, and it's this journey. But the thing of it is, she's leaving, like, in three days. Could you possibly do the story? And I was like, I'm on maternity leave. And I. And Al, my husband, said, you know, you should do this. You should do this. What a great way to get back into it. So I, you know, had to stop breastfeeding and had to get all my shots and so forth. And I thought, okay. And this was a story that we were just sort of going out on a lark. We didn't know if she would find her mom, and we didn't know where the story would take us. So it was just such an amazing story of by the seat of your pants, you don't really know what's gonna happen. And then she did. Eventually, the mom was told in this village, and they walked and they made their way and she was reunited with her mom. And that remains one of my most memorable stories because, you know, as a black woman connecting with Ethiopia and all the people who were there, that was really meaningful. But also just this beautiful story of discovery. And then we won an Emmy Award. So I was just. That's a story that I still remember to this day. Obviously, there are plenty of other stories that we've done that are memorable. Just a recent true crime story with 2020 about a young mom who was abducted and killed and the 911 system failed her. And that was a story that was really touching because she was so young and there were so many opportunities to save her and they didn't. So there are many stories that we do now that still stick with me, but that one was just memorable for a lot of reasons. Yeah. Up next, the lessons we share with the next generation. Our nieces and nephews dreaming big despite any circumstance. Stay with us.

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Debra Roberts (10:41)

We are back with a special edition of 2020, the after show. Typically I bring in a 2020 producer or correspondent, but today I have my sisters with me.

Bonita (10:54)

What would you like for your legacy to be in our family? And what would you say to all of the young people in our family and elsewhere friends? What would you say to them about following your dreams? Because they certainly look to you, you know, and look up to you for following your dream.

Debra Roberts (11:10)

That's very sweet. Who don't know. We are from a large family, nine children growing up together. And I have a lot of nieces and nephews, like 25, I think I don't even know. And you know, we joke, Janet, all the time about how they seem to your your kids seem to get very nervous about what I think. And you know, I weigh in on. I didn't quite realize that. But I think more than anything else and I know I can be a little pushy and I can be a little judgmental now. And me? No, only in a good way on a good way. I think because I was so demanding and ambitious myself growing up. You talk about I had these dreams. I just I want my nieces and nephews to have dreams and I want them to think beyond. I mean we grew up in small town Perry, Georgia, like 10,000 people post segregation and we really experienced life in a very small way. But I had dreams beyond the small town and I wanted to do something bigger and I just imagined that I could do it. And I think more than anything I want to convey to all of my nieces and nephews to imagine to Think bigger. Don't just think about this particular career. That would be nice and lovely, maybe take it a step above. But I'm always that type of person, and I do it to my own kids. What about the next thing? So I just. I like. I like to encourage, and I do this when I go to colleges or high schools to dream. And don't deny yourself the opportunity to imagine that you could do more because of your circumstances and your surroundings. But to think that maybe I can make my mark in a bigger way. So, I don't know. I mean, I guess I. Sometimes people see that as being a little, I guess, pushy, but.

Bonita (12:51)

Well, you know, I can say. To add to that.

Debra Roberts (12:53)

I remember.

Bonita (12:54)

So, you know, growing up, as you said, in a southern town, small town, you know, we. We spoke country and. And you. You encouraged me and you influenced me to, you know, stop splitting verbs. And so now, you know, I've become this grammar fanatic.

Debra Roberts (13:09)

Yes, you are real grammarian.

Bonita (13:11)

And with reading, you also encouraged me to use. To buy me books and tell me to read and whatnot. And I used to hate it when.

Debra Roberts (13:18)

I was growing up. Oh, stop it. Stop saying things about how I speak.

Bonita (13:21)

But then I grew to love it.

Debra Roberts (13:23)

And you've had such an impact on your kids, too, in the way you think. But remember what I used to. I would come home with all these ideas of things that were just exciting. And I trapped you and Bonita and said, let's do yoga, and I made you. And you kept giggling and grinning, and I was so upset. I was like, you're not taking this seriously. We're doing downward dog. What is wrong with you two? And you were like, yoga.

Janet (13:44)

Who cares?

Debra Roberts (13:45)

Who even knows what yoga is? And I always came up with these ideas, and now I hope you don't think I was completely crazy, but we would appreciate it. Yes, she would correct you on the spot.

Bonita (13:57)

So if you split that verb, whatever.

Debra Roberts (14:00)

It was, and she would say, no, leave me alone, and make you say it. That is so funny. Coming up, we're hosting our own after show murder mystery dinner party. Who plays the best detective or the best prosecutor? More laughs ahead.

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Debra Roberts (14:54)

This has been so fun. It's been so great having you guys here and getting a chance to share my world in television because you all know it. You've been here various times, you've seen little things, but to be able to see behind the scenes and to join this podcast, it means so much. Okay, so since we are a true crime show in 2020 and Janet, you have always been a true crime fanatic. I think I know you've always liked. But even when we started doing crime, let's talk about who might be a sleuth. Because when we do a lot of stories at 2020, there are a lot of citizen sleuths out there who follow true crime and will offer their thoughts to police. So who in the group would be the true crime sleuth, do you think?

Janet (15:33)

I think it might be me. I know Kristen and I, and she's a police officer now, but I remember we sit and watch the two crime shows and look at the, you know, as the story would unfold, we say, they might want to talk to that guy. They're gonna. Because he's probably gonna end up being the one. And true enough, the. The guy would be the one that would go back to the guy. And we're like, yeah, the one who.

Debra Roberts (15:58)

Was in the background.

Janet (15:58)

The one in the background. He was actually being interviewed by the. Who. The news person or whoever. And talking about the person, it's like, he looks a little suspicious.

Debra Roberts (16:06)

I think they're gonna need to kind.

Janet (16:07)

Of circle back and go to him. And sure enough, they went back and circled back to him and he was actually the one that committed the crime.

Debra Roberts (16:13)

So you find that interesting.

Janet (16:16)

We try and figure out who. As they start unraveling what happened, it's like, oh, I think maybe that person might have done it. And it's interesting, you know, sometimes where you feel like you went wrong and why you. You felt that way. But yeah, I like trying to unravel the.

Debra Roberts (16:34)

You think so everybody think. Janet.

Janet (16:36)

Yeah.

Debra Roberts (16:36)

If we were to have a scripted true crime murder mystery show, who would most likely be like, the lead detective amongst us? You would be. Why so?

Bonita (16:46)

Well, I'm just always into details. You've said since we've been here, you don't miss a thing.

Debra Roberts (16:50)

You don't.

Bonita (16:51)

But my children, Asia particularly, and Ben, because they were probably the most challenging. But, you know, they always said, mom, you should have been a detective.

Debra Roberts (16:59)

You're always looking for stuff you can.

Bonita (17:00)

Find stuff you do notice.

Debra Roberts (17:02)

I notice that you do notice a lot of details. What about medical examiner? Who would have the stomach for that?

Bonita (17:07)

Ooh, not me.

Debra Roberts (17:09)

Not me.

Bonita (17:09)

Anita, do you think you're my height?

Debra Roberts (17:12)

Your nice pillow waves.

Janet (17:14)

Really?

Debra Roberts (17:14)

With like a body and being able to sort of of take a look at gory, gooey, gory things. Yeah. In my career, I mean, I think.

Janet (17:22)

Hear about a lot of.

Debra Roberts (17:24)

Because you're pictures. Yeah, you do hear a lot of things. And you just kind of.

Bonita (17:28)

I forgot about that.

Debra Roberts (17:29)

Yeah. Kind of get used to it. So you've become a little bit more accustomed to hearing the gruesome, heinous kinds of stories. Okay. Prosecutor who's going to be the one to nail the suspected bad person in trial?

Bonita (17:41)

I say me.

Debra Roberts (17:42)

Yeah, I think you too. I think you too. You'd make your case.

Bonita (17:45)

I'm not sure why you say that, but anyway, yeah, you make your case.

Debra Roberts (17:48)

No, because you, you, you have an analytical mind, I think. But you also get an idea about people. I've noticed that you seem to sum people up pretty quickly. And you have an idea like, is she really or did you think so? I could see that. And what about DNA analyzer, the whole forensics and getting deep into that kind of thing?

Janet (18:08)

I don't know, that's kind of. It seemed. Well, I don't want to say tedious, but you have to have the patience too.

Debra Roberts (18:14)

That's true.

Janet (18:15)

Because when we're watching sex something, it gets wound up in an hour. Yeah, but you know that it took them way longer to analyze everything and I don't know.

Debra Roberts (18:28)

You would have the patience. Probably.

Bonita (18:29)

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Janet (18:30)

That's another.

Bonita (18:30)

Meticulous.

Janet (18:31)

In my job, there are a lot.

Debra Roberts (18:33)

Of tedious things and attention to detail is very important. In some things that they're not necessarily hard, but you know, you just have.

Janet (18:40)

To have the patience and the attention.

Debra Roberts (18:42)

To detail to do them.

Janet (18:43)

So I.

Debra Roberts (18:44)

You could probably do that.

Bonita (18:45)

Wow.

Debra Roberts (18:46)

We've got everything covered here.

Bonita (18:47)

Wow.

Debra Roberts (18:49)

Well, ladies, this was fun. What do you think? Not bad, right? Not bad at all. Well, we'll have to bring you back to town sometime soon. Well, as I said, my new book is called Sisters Loved and Treasure Stories of Unbreakable Bonds. And these ladies helped spark the idea because what better thing to have in your life than a sister? And there's actually research that says sisters are good for your mental well being. And I think we have had a mental health boost this last week. So thank you all for doing this. It was great. It was a different kind of a podcast. It's kind of nice to take a little detour from the true, true crime for a change. Thank you all for joining us.

Bonita (19:29)

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

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Debra Roberts (19:55)

These moms are like hyenas. You're stupid. Look at you.

Bonita (19:59)

These girls have to show the world.

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Bonita (20:21)

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