Nia Long on Love, the 90’s & Michael Jackson

Summary

Podcast Summary: Baby, this is Keke Palmer

Episode: Nia Long on Love, the 90’s & Michael Jackson

Host: Keke Palmer
Guest: Nia Long
Date: April 21, 2026

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Overview

This episode features legendary actress Nia Long in an intimate, laughter-filled, and insightful conversation with Keke Palmer. They explore Nia’s extraordinary journey—from growing up between Brooklyn and Iowa, to iconic film roles in the Black cinema renaissance, to her new chapter as Katherine Jackson in the Michael Jackson biopic. The dialogue dives into personal growth, Black womanhood, evolving standards of beauty, parenting, career reinvention, and the power of living authentically. It blends pop culture nostalgia with real talk about identity, grace, longevity, and evolving in an ever-changing industry.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Astrology, Identity & Finding Your Tribe

• Discussing Nia’s Birth Chart:
  • Double Scorpio (Sun and Moon), Virgo rising; Nia describes herself as a deep thinker who values solitude and loyalty.

    “I prefer to be solo than running a pack. Yeah, if I with you, I with you. If I don't, I don't.” (Nia Long, 02:05)

• Choosing Connections:
  • Importance of maintaining old friendships and being inspired by new people who support one’s growth.
  • Reflection on evolving relationships and how some people stagnate while others grow (03:40).

Gratitude & Slowing Down in a Fast World

• Practicing Gratitude:
  • Nia grounds her daily routine in pausing and genuinely feeling gratitude:

    “I try to pause every morning and just feel that...the manifestation of good things starts by feeling that.” (Nia Long, 06:03)

• Pacing Herself:
  • Nia explains her calm demeanor, the importance of quiet time, and why she rejects the urgency that today’s hyper-connected world creates:

    “That chaos ain’t over here. I can’t do it.” (Nia Long, 07:08)

• Contrast Between Generations:
  • Reflections on growing up without social media; how less exposure created more mystique and less pressure to perform.

Formative Years & Career Beginnings

• Migration and Identity:
  • Growing up in Brooklyn, then moving to Iowa for her mother’s education brought exposure to racism and identity confusion (14:21).
  • Caribbean roots (Trinidad, Barbados, Grenada) infused strength and a sense of self-discipline.
• Coming to LA and Arts:
  • Culture shock in LA; discovering acting at 12, influenced by her mother’s creativity and love for R&B and diverse icons (16:03).
  • Performing at the YMCA, meeting Regina King in high school, finding acting therapeutic for processing emotions and trauma.

Black Womanhood, Code-Switching & Survival

• Navigating Duality:
  • Both discuss the experience of being “the only,” code-switching, bullying, and surviving racism/classism in predominantly white environments (18:56).
• Survival vs. Self-Exploration:
  • Nia and Keke reflect on how upbringing centered around survival left little room for self-exploration, and how adulthood and motherhood spark a return to the self (21:07).

  • “When you are constantly trying to survive, there is no room for self exploration.” (Nia Long, 20:05)

Hollywood Journey & Iconic Roles

• Breakout Roles:
  • Nia details her audition story for Boyz N the Hood, her skepticism about who tells Black stories, and the honesty of John Singleton’s direction (27:48 – 30:29).

    “His commitment to truth. Every character in that film, in some sort of way, had a connection to the real person in a real authentic way.” (Nia Long, 29:30)

• Experience on Set:
  • The importance of feeling safe and seen by directors; the dangers of feeling isolated on set (32:04).
• The Cultural Impact of the 90s:
  • The unique energy, hunger, and authenticity of the 90s Black cultural renaissance—the era’s naivety, no stylists, and DIY glam (35:11).

    “There was a naivete about the 90s that made us very powerful because...we were so hungry for more...We were empowered.” (Nia Long, 35:20, 36:57)

• Longevity vs. Digital Fame:
  • Cautions about today’s “fake imagery”—longevity derives from substance and not just visibility (37:00).
• Streaming & Film Consumption:
  • Mixed feelings about streaming; it’s democratizing but alters the way audiences engage with cinema and, arguably, undercuts Black rom-coms and family films (38:50 – 43:12).
• Love Jones, Soul Food, and The Best Man:
  • The warmth, complexity, and resonance of her most beloved films and characters, including reflections on cast chemistry, iconic scenes, and serial franchise potential (43:12, 46:09, 47:24).
• Behind-the-Scenes Humor:
  • Jokes about Taye Diggs’ myth-making around the slap scene in The Best Man:

    “Taye Diggs is a liar. And I actually called him about this, cause I was like, you need to stop. This is such an old story.” (46:09)

Beauty, Aging, and Industry Standards

• Becoming Estee Lauder’s First Black Ambassador:
  • Commitment to only partnering with true, dependable brands; candid about embracing age and skincare (52:12):

    “It didn’t happen overnight. And that’s what I love the most, it’s a really authentic connection.” (53:34)

• On Maintaining Confidence:
  • The importance of appearance in Hollywood, not falling “off," and balancing industry expectations with personal authenticity (23:10 – 23:35).

Love, Dating & Single Life After 50

• Dating as a Grown Woman:
  • The struggle with modern dating, the desire for intentionality, and the comedic woes of “casual” relationships:

    “I don't really know how to, like, casually date.” (Nia Long, 59:04) “The vibes aren’t giving vibes.” (Keke Palmer, 58:27)

• Legacy & The Power of Play:
  • Both women reflect on loosening up, embracing “playtime,” and enjoying a life not defined solely by partnership.

Stepping Into New Roles: Michael Jackson Biopic

• Portraying Katherine Jackson:
  • The surreal process of landing the role; personal resonance as a mother.
  • Emphasizes fate and authenticity guiding her career path (61:16 – 63:56):

    “What is for you will find you.” (62:26)

Self-Knowledge, Boundaries & Womanhood

• Authenticity as Power:
  • Nia speaks on knowing limits and not needing to do things like others to succeed:

    “I don't have to do what you do to get what I need. It's a lot of confidence, but it's important. It's confidence. It's also knowing my limit. It's also being aware of my own insecurities. It's also just being a grown ass woman, period.” (65:07 – 65:20)

• Modern Womanhood:
  • It’s about defining your own journey, giving yourself grace, and recognizing that one’s “capacity” is always shifting with life’s seasons (66:31).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Past and Present:

  “There’s two thoughts…we are in a world where we are getting constant information. So that constant information on our phones makes us feel like we really need to be in this state of urgency all the time.” (Nia Long, 08:29)

• On Survival vs. Living:

  “When you are constantly trying to survive, there is no room for self exploration.” (Nia Long, 20:05)

• On legacy and representation:

  “If you don't, you can't pretend to be a star, you can't pretend to be talented. You have to have the substance to marry the talent.” (Nia Long, 37:00)

• On taking on real-life roles:

  “I wanna say Catherine, because I had such a huge responsibility to do it right. Catherine is so graceful, and there’s this quiet strength about her…A lot of times I had to go against my instincts as an actor to be true to her.” (Nia Long, 67:59)

• On embracing aging and change:

  “It didn’t happen overnight. And that’s what I love the most, it’s a really authentic connection.” (Nia Long, 53:34)

• On love and dating:

  “I want to date with intention. But I also want to have fun.” (Nia Long, 60:05)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:05] – Nia on identity and astrology
• [06:03] – Practicing gratitude and presence
• [14:21] – Growing up Black in Iowa and LA: racism, code-switching, and identity
• [17:12] – Meeting Regina King and acting as therapy
• [20:05] – Survival vs. self-exploration
• [27:48] – Audition and experience with Boyz N the Hood
• [32:04] – On-set safety and the director’s role
• [35:11] – Mystique of the 90s, authenticity, and timelessness
• [38:50] – The impact of streaming on Black film and culture
• [43:12] – Love Jones and its cultural authenticity
• [46:09] – The infamous slap (and Taye Diggs’ embellishments)
• **[52:12]*– Skincare, aging, and being an Estee Lauder ambassador
• [56:57] – Modern dating woes and healthy boundaries
• [61:16] – Portraying Katherine Jackson
• [65:20] – The power of self-knowledge and confidence
• [66:31] – Womanhood, capacity, and lifelong growth

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Closing Thoughts

Keke Palmer:
“Nia consistently raises the bar and is proof that time does not define you. You define it.”

Nia Long:
“I'm still growing, I'm still learning, I'm still making mistakes, and that means I'm alive. And that's great.” (73:38)

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Summary Table of Nia Long’s “Hall of Fame” Selections

| Category | Nia's Choice | Timestamp | |---|---|---| | Film that aged best | Love Jones | 67:46 | | Most difficult character | Katherine Jackson | 67:59 | | Scene that follows her | The slap with Taye Diggs | 68:59 | | Line that follows her | "I knee along" | 69:24 | | Film that hits different now | Best Man, Jordan’s sexy “air freshener” scene | 69:54 | | Character for her sons to see | Brandi from Boyz n the Hood | 70:49 | | Film to turn into series | Love Jones or “Don't Ever Wonder” | 71:57 | | Story yet to tell | Contemporary mother-son tale | 72:56 |

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Episode Takeaway

This episode is a profound celebration of Black womanhood, growth, cultural legacy, and the radical act of being your authentic self at every life stage. Nia Long and Keke Palmer’s interplay is warm, irreverent, and deeply inspiring—a must-listen for anyone seeking lessons in reinvention, longevity, and the courage to live on your own terms.

Transcript

[Keke Palmer]

My guest today is Beauty Personified, a legendary actress with a film catalog that touches every facet of black love, friendship, family and sisterhood. She stole our hearts as Nina and Love Jones defined an era in the Best Man. And now she's stepping into the matriarchal role of Katherine Jackson in Michael. For decades, she has carried a softness and a strength, a quiet power that always filled the room. She's built a life while raising two sons and remains a symbol of grace and presence in every chapter. Yes, the Nia Long. And today we're getting into the woman behind the glow. Cause baby this is Keke Palmer. No matter what we doin in the car just chillin pop on Amazon music, Sit back and listen. Life, love, sex, science, covering it all, especially the bad? Cause money always evolved? No matter what it is we gonna make it make sense? Nothing else to do but kick it with the homies and kings? So grab you a drink and a snack you enjoy and get in to the vibe that only you know is your girl. This is Kiki, baby. This is Kiki K. Okay, guys. Please welcome the one, the only, Nia Long. My girl.

[Nia Long]

My girl. Kiki, do you love me?

[Keke Palmer]

All day. All day.

[Nia Long]

Oh, hi, babes.

[Keke Palmer]

So good to have you on the podcast.

[Nia Long]

Oh, I'm so happy to be here.

[Keke Palmer]

You look so stunning. I say this every time I see you. I'm like, she's sick of it.

[Nia Long]

She's for everybody.

[Keke Palmer]

So let's get into these little pre show pull up questions. Okay, so your zodiac sign I've always known is a Scorpio, but I'm gagged to see that your sun and moon are both a Scorpio. And then your rising is a Virgo.

[Nia Long]

So good. It's so good. Cause I like to clean. It explains why I'm organized. I'm a hyp achiever, you know.

[Keke Palmer]

Now what parts of you feel very scorpio, if any, do you relate to the signs at all?

[Nia Long]

Ooh, I do. I believe in astrology. I think probably I'm a deep thinker. I prefer to be solo than running a pack. Yeah, if I with you, I with you. If I don't, I don't.

[Keke Palmer]

I mean, I'm so glad you with me. I don't want to be on the other end. Letting me tell you,

[Nia Long]

I could have used nicer words. But I mean, we're just being having an honest conversation.

[Keke Palmer]

Exactly.

[Nia Long]

No, I mean, listen, I am. I believe that everyone deserves a 10 in the beginning.

[Keke Palmer]

Yes.

[Nia Long]

I want to believe that we are good humans. I want to Believe that we do the right thing. I want to believe that we love and respect one another, but it doesn't always work out that way. And I think after being in this industry for so long, you kind of just have to pause and go, okay, I don't need to be friends with every single person. Person. And every single person doesn't have to like me. And then you choose your tribe. Right. That's a real thing. And I think it's healthy.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah. And I think I've learned, too. A lot of times we feel like our industry. We like because it's our industry. We have to connect to everybody. But it's like you're in work that way. Yeah. Your crew might be a bunch of people that are in art into art museums, or it might be into finance or. Absolutely. It doesn't mean just because we all do the same thing, we gonna get along.

[Nia Long]

Yes.

[Keke Palmer]

I had to learn that the hard way.

[Nia Long]

Yes. And I think you keep your old friends from back in the day and they keep things centered and focused and real and then you new friends along the way. The thing is, is to be inspired.

[Keke Palmer]

Yes.

[Nia Long]

Who inspires you to be the best version of yourself? Who's supporting that growth?

[Keke Palmer]

Oh, my gosh. Yes, that growth. Because some people. I've realized too. I was just talking about this to somebody. Some people relate to you on growth, and then some people, you have a form of recognition and stagnation.

[Nia Long]

Yes.

[Keke Palmer]

Where the. They're hitting this hurt point where it's like, this is the only place that we can vibe together is thinking about all the things we've been through and how hard it's been and how uncertain.

[Nia Long]

No one wants to be in that rut. We are growing women, and we are evolving women. And it doesn't mean that you don't love the people from your past. It just means that some people, you know, I. This is a kind of a funny, sad thing. Where. Have you ever looked back at, like, people that maybe you went to high school with or that you've known from the past and. And they were like, the most popular girl at school. Yeah. And you wanted to be them.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah.

[Nia Long]

And then you see them years later and you're like, oh, no, what happened?

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah, no kidding.

[Nia Long]

I'm like, who is that in my class? I got the names, but no, but it's a choice to evolve is my point. And if we stop, we become stagnant. We don't grow. And then you're like, how can I be at my best self if this is where I'M stopping. So I think it's important to, like.

[Keke Palmer]

Yes.

[Nia Long]

Have these conversations and also encourage the people who may need that. Encourage the friends who may need that.

[Keke Palmer]

Yes. I couldn't agree with you more. What are you most.

[Nia Long]

A very long answer, by the way, because it's supposed to be quick. It's a pull up. It's not a spend the night.

[Keke Palmer]

But also I like to spend the night. I like that it becomes a sleepover. Well, we need some sleepovers. I think about me and you at the 15% pledge. We're walking out and we're like, we're planning a sleepover.

[Nia Long]

We said that.

[Keke Palmer]

Yes. So that has to happen. Yes.

[Nia Long]

We need to do it. And I'll bring Kez so then he can look after your boy and they can have their moment.

[Keke Palmer]

I just live for the boy, Mama. I know.

[Nia Long]

It's so good he pulled up, I

[Keke Palmer]

think, that night, picking you up.

[Nia Long]

Mass idea.

[Keke Palmer]

Mass idea. Yes. It's the coolest thing. I said, that's my son. Like, honey, I've been at the party. I'm like, pull up and get. Mama. Yes.

[Nia Long]

Listen, I'm saving money.

[Keke Palmer]

Okay?

[Nia Long]

Listen. No car service. He is the car service.

[Keke Palmer]

What are you most grateful for today? Wake up with joy in my heart and good health. I mean, what else could you say?

[Nia Long]

I. I feel that way ever. I try to. I try to pause every morning.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah.

[Nia Long]

And just feel that. It's easy to say, but you have to feel it. Yeah. Because that's where the manifestation of good things starts, is by feeling that and knowing. I can imagine, even with your schedule, that you probably sometimes feel like, how am I going to do all of this today? And I find when I feel that way and I start with that, it's actually the fuel that I need to do it and feel good and know that, like, I'm just gonna take a breath and pause.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah.

[Nia Long]

And it does. Cause really, what I realized I used to do a lot is the movie that I made in my head about what needed to be done was way more dramatic than what actually needed to be done.

[Keke Palmer]

Yes.

[Nia Long]

So I stopped that. You gotta quiet the noise in your head and just be. Just be grateful. Just live in gratitude.

[Keke Palmer]

Every time that I've been around you, you always have this sense of pacing. How do you keep things slowed down? Cause it's not like you're moving slow, but you kind of have a presence about yourself where it's like, that chaos ain't over here.

[Nia Long]

I can't do it. I look at you and I'm like what? This baby is made of magic. Because every time I see you and what I love about you is you're fear. You will say what you think you, you stand for, what you believe in. You will, will speak on things that maybe are uncomfortable but necessary. And that is brave.

[Keke Palmer]

Thank you.

[Nia Long]

It's brave for us women to do those things. I think for me, I wish I had that thing where I could just go, go, go, go, go. I. I'm in the bed at like 9:30. That's fabulous. I am like 9:30 up. My son is like, are you going upstairs? Yep, gots to go.

[Keke Palmer]

I think that's important quiet time because you still have everything from how I look at you, you know what I mean? And you don't operate from that thing that we do often see that. I think some people use me as an example of where we're always this hyper functioning, which is fine. I think there's seasons of that. It's great. It's cool.

[Nia Long]

When you hit 50, you're gonna be like nia, right? I'm done with it. What should we do now? Because I'm trying to come on your

[Keke Palmer]

side, you know what I mean?

[Nia Long]

Different thing.

[Keke Palmer]

And I feel like you've always had that. You know what I mean? And you've always been very successful. So I think it's important because everybody don't have to move like that with urgency. You don't have to. To still get what you want. That's important.

[Nia Long]

There's two. Yeah, there's two thoughts, right? But I also think let's talk about the world that we're living in right now. We are in a world where we are getting constant information. So that constant information on our phones make us feel like we actually really need to be in this state of urgency all the time.

[Keke Palmer]

Yes.

[Nia Long]

I didn't come from that generation. If there were cell phones with me in the nineties in New York City, do you not understand the stories that would be told? I was naughty.

[Keke Palmer]

Oh my gosh, girl. I would have lived to be back there with you. Girl.

[Nia Long]

We had fun. What? And nobody knew.

[Keke Palmer]

Were you at the clubs? Were you at the just like fashion show? What was your.

[Nia Long]

I was definitely at the clubs. I was definitely at the clubs. I was definitely hanging out with boys. I had no business hanging out with the, you know, I was in the streets.

[Keke Palmer]

I love that girl. Because you are the quintessential it girl. I mean you are. I mean, I know that must be ridiculous when people.

[Nia Long]

It's true. But that's, I mean but, like, I don't know.

[Keke Palmer]

I cannot tell a lie. Call me Abe Lincoln. We're gonna get to that. Okay. We still. Did we. Girl, we really been not pulled up. We've been at the sleepover with this. Let's get to the end of this.

[Nia Long]

Okay.

[Keke Palmer]

Okay.

[Nia Long]

We've been on this, girl. This is the next one.

[Keke Palmer]

We keep keying like, okay. What's a question you wish you were asked more in interviews? This is good. What I would be doing if I wasn't an actor. Okay, so what would you be doing if you weren't an actor?

[Nia Long]

I think I'd be a therapist.

[Keke Palmer]

Girl, I'm already on the couch.

[Nia Long]

I think I'd be a therapist. But I wouldn't have been a therapist 10 years ago or 20 years ago. I'd be a therapist now because I have such a better understanding of self. I have a better understanding of grace. I have a better understanding of how to get to your truth. And so I don't think you could be help to anyone else if you don't know how to do that for yourself.

[Keke Palmer]

How do you get to your truth is really, really hard.

[Nia Long]

It's so hard.

[Keke Palmer]

It's like a series. Because a lot of times in your mind, you have a lot of pseudo emotions. I feel like. Is what I think. I read that when I was reading, like, Eckhart Tolle, one of his books, where you're always in this surface point where it's like you might think you're angry or you're, you know, you. You're. You like this, or you want fame, or you want these things that are surf.

[Nia Long]

Really.

[Keke Palmer]

It's like, actually, I want to be seen, or actually, I want to. I need love, you know, it's like I feel insecure.

[Nia Long]

I don't feel power. So. Right. So getting to the core of that

[Keke Palmer]

emotion, that is tough.

[Nia Long]

That's the work. Yeah, that's the work.

[Keke Palmer]

This next one I'm very jealous about.

[Nia Long]

I don't even know. I don't remember what.

[Keke Palmer]

Who is someone you met that made you feel starstruck? You met Michael Jackson?

[Nia Long]

I met Michael Jackson.

[Keke Palmer]

When did you meet Michael Jackson?

[Nia Long]

I met Michael Jackson at a Stevie Wonder concert with John Singleton. And I couldn't speak. Yeah, I literally couldn't speak. And you know when someone's standing next to you and you're like, that's not Michael Jackson. That's like a lookalike. That's like an impersonator.

[Keke Palmer]

Cause he always had one, too.

[Nia Long]

So he's got like, 20 of them. Yeah, it Was like Elvis Presley. And now they're about to really come out. Girl, we gonna see, like, 9900. I'm so sore for that movie.

[Keke Palmer]

There's this one impersonator of Michael Jackson where he literally would go around and look at other Michael Jacksons and be like, good job. Like, he's the real Michael.

[Nia Long]

Like, he's the real Michael that is so nervous. He's so funny.

[Keke Palmer]

He walks around. He's like. He's good.

[Nia Long]

It's like, you not Michael either. You're setting the bar for the rest of the Michaels. He's gonna see this and be like, they're talking about me.

[Keke Palmer]

Oh, my gosh. He's definitely gonna pose this. He is good with his digital, I'll tell you that.

[Nia Long]

Oh, well, he's all over this. Okay, he's coming over for the sleepover next time.

[Keke Palmer]

Last one. What's a mantra you live by and why? My business. I don't need the noise.

[Nia Long]

Okay, now that's the third F bomb in one interview.

[Keke Palmer]

That's what I'm talking about.

[Nia Long]

Period.

[Keke Palmer]

I don't need the noise. I don't know. I don't need this. The noise is heavy.

[Nia Long]

The noise will break you down, girl. The noise will break you down.

[Keke Palmer]

So growing up, you moved from Brooklyn to Iowa City?

[Nia Long]

Yeah.

[Keke Palmer]

Those feel very different.

[Nia Long]

In my mind, they were very different

[Keke Palmer]

because what's in Iowa?

[Nia Long]

So my mom went to the University of Iowa. She got her master's there. She's a painter. She fabulous. Yeah. So, you know, this was during a time where, you know, scholarships were given and. And young black artists were. She got a full scholarship.

[Keke Palmer]

Two masters in fine arts.

[Nia Long]

Yeah. Incredible. Yeah.

[Keke Palmer]

I mean, how do you feel like going from those places impacted or shaped how you looked at, you know, ethic, work ethic, and adaptability? Just seeing your mom as a single

[Nia Long]

mom, handle all that, it's so crazy sitting here talking to you because you're like my baby in my. Like, my little tiny baby that was like my little baby sister. And now, like, you're like. Does everyone say that to you when they come on the show?

[Keke Palmer]

Like, I didn't have a moment when

[Nia Long]

I was like, oh, my gosh, she's like a full woman now and a mommy. Okay, sorry. So crazy. Blacked out, like, real quick. Okay, So I think. Okay, so, yes, there was a culture shock for sure.

[Keke Palmer]

Right.

[Nia Long]

So I'm in Brooklyn. My family. My grandparents are Caribbean.

[Keke Palmer]

Oh, where from?

[Nia Long]

From Trinidad.

[Keke Palmer]

Period.

[Nia Long]

Barbados. Grenada.

[Keke Palmer]

I knew you had the island because you gonna get somebody in. Check fast, quick. That's that island. Yes.

[Nia Long]

There's some hot pepper sauce at any time. I love. Don't play with me. I love that we don't play them games, you know.

[Keke Palmer]

So we're in Brooklyn.

[Nia Long]

Yeah. So then my mother got a full scarf scholarship to go to the University of Iowa. She took the scholarship. She went to Cooper Union in New York. She went to Howard. And so she was a single mom. We, you know, we got there and it was very white, Right?

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah.

[Nia Long]

And I was the only little black girl in my school. I think there was like maybe six black children in the whole school. And this was A K through 12 school. And I experienced racism and I experienced hate and I experienced definitely a, a sense of, of, of identity that I, I did not. I, I was not very sure of who I was.

[Keke Palmer]

Wow.

[Nia Long]

And I had a lost sense of my own identity and in, at times, like what it meant to be black in America in the 1970s, because that was a very important time for us. And it was until I got to LA and I landed in South Central that I really understood what black people were going through because it was in front of me. I knew what I had gone through in Iowa. But being in a community of black people where I was often teased for speaking proper. Right. Or teased for having a little bit of a different look that didn't really fit with the light skinned girls or the dark skinned girls and being like the colorism. Right. These are the things that we understand as black women.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah.

[Nia Long]

And so. Yeah.

[Keke Palmer]

So when you moved to la, when you moved to South Central, how old were you and was this immediately about you and your career? Were you still kind of just.

[Nia Long]

Oh, I was, I was nine.

[Keke Palmer]

You were nine? Yes. So you were nine? Nine. I was a baby. So you were still quite young.

[Nia Long]

Yeah, I was really young. And I didn't start acting like taking my first acting class. I was about 12. Wow. Yeah, I was about 12.

[Keke Palmer]

How did that enter? Was it because your mom already was an artist that that seemed like an available option for you? Because I feel like a lot of people don't know, hey, you could be a kid actor. I mean, I think it's popular now, especially Disney, Nickelodeon, all that stuff. But like, what made you think I could be a kid actor or actor as a kid?

[Nia Long]

I was always kind of interested in show business, but not because I wanted to be a star. I just thought like, well, if they can do it, I can do it too. And my mother was also really big into R and B music back then. And so I Saw women like Whitney Houston, but also women like. It was Whitney. It was Barbra Streisand. It was Minnie Ribberton. It was Phyllis Hyman. It was Phyllis Hyman. Yes. Patrice Rush. And these were all the women that I. I would see just on album covers in our home in Iowa. So when I got to LA and I started, like, you know, meeting the girls from around the way, we would. Do you know how you had your crew and you do, like, dance routines on the floor?

[Keke Palmer]

That's TikTok.

[Nia Long]

It's TikTok, girl.

[Keke Palmer]

We.

[Nia Long]

I had.

[Keke Palmer]

We've been doing it.

[Nia Long]

We've been doing. Where's the Camera? Y'. All ain't. Y' all don't know nothing about this. But we had the. I had the OG Boombox with the cassette tapes and Solid Gold. Remember Solid Gold?

[Keke Palmer]

Oh, my gosh.

[Nia Long]

That's OG that's what I'm saying.

[Keke Palmer]

See what I'm saying?

[Nia Long]

So I. And I started at the ymca. My babysitter would take me to the ymca, and I would perform there. And one day I was like, I want to take an acting class. And so I took an acting class at LACC Community College. And then I met Regina King at high school in high school.

[Keke Palmer]

And Regina had already been on 227

[Nia Long]

by then, would you say?

[Keke Palmer]

Not yet.

[Nia Long]

Quite yet, but she was definitely there. Wow. And working. And so one day she invited me to a class, and it stuck. It stuck. It stuck.

[Keke Palmer]

That is so cool. And would you say that's when you thought, this is my dream? Like, this is. I'm gonna be an actor.

[Nia Long]

Honestly. Honestly, like, acting class was very therapeutic for me.

[Keke Palmer]

Interesting.

[Nia Long]

Because I was able to explore my emotions through scene work. And that was a little bit of, like, you could work through some things. Single mom. My dad wasn't really around. You know, you're dealing with abandonment issues. You're dealing with growing up in Iowa as a young black girl. You're. You're. You've experienced racism. You understand what segregation is. You're trying to come into your own, but you're also in a black community with people that aren't totally accepting me as I was.

[Keke Palmer]

Wow.

[Nia Long]

So there was a lot to uncover and to understand.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah.

[Nia Long]

Dealing with a lot of conversations. We didn't talk about that stuff. We just felt it.

[Keke Palmer]

Yes. Like, I mean, I think it's so. It's so crazy how words can give clarity and almost relief. Like, when I think about the language we have now with, like, microaggressions or structural, systemic racism, like, we didn't have. It was just like this feel weird

[Nia Long]

and deal with something going on and deal with it.

[Keke Palmer]

They said my hair crunchy, you know, like there was nothing more that you could go. And then the whole like, you know, Oreo, or the concept of code switching, you know, at a young age, I knew very early on, you know, my parents put us in private school because they wanted us to have a better education. My sister and I both were the only black kids in our class. We're four years apart from who it was. Did you go to St. Benedict and Blue Island?

[Nia Long]

I went to St. Mary's okay for a hot second. And then I got into a fight with a senior and got kicked out. Uh, oh, yeah, it was weird.

[Keke Palmer]

That was at Trinity.

[Nia Long]

It was Trinny Cave. Trini said, I don't care if you're a senior girl, period.

[Keke Palmer]

Cause what did you do with messing with me?

[Nia Long]

Well, this is the thing. It's like no one wants to be bullied and no one wants to be talked about or, you know, I became funny.

[Keke Palmer]

You know what I mean? My sister was they white girl, full eyes. And I was like, oh, it won't be me. You know.

[Nia Long]

You performed, right?

[Keke Palmer]

I performed because that was my safety. So I really relate to you on those characters, those that gave me an opportunity to express and play with themes of emotions and things I couldn't have otherwise accessed. So it's like, yeah.

[Nia Long]

And we weren't there. There wasn't a space for us to think enough about ourselves to even explore what we were feeling. It was like survival. I mean, even though I went to private school and even though my parents did what they could do, and my mother worked really hard, and my grandmother and grandparents provided that we were still. And at least I know I was. I. We were still my family. We were in the mindset of survival. And when you are constantly trying to survive, there is no room for self exploration. And so that becomes the thing that as an adult, as you become a mother, as you deal with relationships that are trying and. And poke you. And when those things happen, though, it's such a blessing because those are the things that make you stop to try to seek understanding. Yes. And so you can never look at anything that happens in your life as. As bad or good. It's just part of the journey.

[Keke Palmer]

I love everything you're saying, especially as. Even to people that don't have children. I do. But I will say for me, having my son has done just that. Especially when we think about themes around like, survival and continuity. Over just like embodied experience and presence.

[Nia Long]

Absolutely.

[Keke Palmer]

The concept of, like, rest as something that you shouldn't have to work to have or receive, but it's something that you give yourself. You had to give and have a. Have that safety in that. That's something that I've really been thinking a lot about because. Yeah. Like, you think about lineage, and it's like so many of us were just taught to survive.

[Nia Long]

Yes.

[Keke Palmer]

Just to make it to the next day.

[Nia Long]

And that's it.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah.

[Nia Long]

And. And you weren't even allowed to stop and pause and check in with yourself. So that thing that you're talking about, that slowing down, it's because I require that of myself for myself. And it's a little bit difficult to do, I think, when you have younger children. But you're gonna wake up one day and you're gonna go, oh, I'm back. That part of me that had to give and give and give and give to this little being. Now you're able to look and go, oh, he's there. And then you start pouring back into yourself. Unless you do like me and have another one 15 years later, I was like, what was I thinking? Kids are so far apart.

[Keke Palmer]

At what age would you say, or at least with your first. I know you said you already have the second one. It became the same thing. But, like, what age did he get to where you were kind of feeling like we had, you know, it's vibe. How old?

[Nia Long]

It's like nine.

[Keke Palmer]

Ooh, we got some time.

[Nia Long]

You got time? Girl,

[Keke Palmer]

you gonna be 20 said.

[Nia Long]

And then. No, no. And then it happens again and again and again. So with each stage, you know, you pull back that thing as a. You know, I wouldn't say I'm a helicopter mom, but I'm definitely in all of that business.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah, yeah, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Nia Long]

So you just pull back a little. And then they prove to you that they can handle the independence. And then you give them a little more. And as you're taking away, you're pouring back into yourself. Cause you got to stay fine. You've got to stay fine to stay fine. There will be.

[Keke Palmer]

That is the feelings.

[Nia Long]

There will be. No, well. Cause we're in an industry where, like, we're not really allowed to fall off. You have to.

[Keke Palmer]

And I do actually love that push.

[Nia Long]

I love.

[Keke Palmer]

You know, I love the push. Keep me together. Yes. Cause I don't want to be just like, you know, so sometimes you can't be the girl.

[Nia Long]

What's the girl in high school.

[Keke Palmer]

Oh, my gosh.

[Nia Long]

Yeah.

[Keke Palmer]

We're gonna beep the last name, but you know who you are.

[Nia Long]

You know who you are.

[Keke Palmer]

She know what she did?

[Nia Long]

She knows what she did.

[Keke Palmer]

No, no. She was mad because he liked me.

[Nia Long]

You know what? I have so many of those.

[Keke Palmer]

You mad?

[Nia Long]

Why you mad?

[Keke Palmer]

Okay, now, you ended up telling yourself if you didn't have a consistent acting job by the time that you got your high school diploma, you'd go to university.

[Nia Long]

Yeah.

[Keke Palmer]

But you ended up landing a job.

[Nia Long]

I did, Baby.

[Keke Palmer]

This is Icky Palma. Yeah. Do you hear that, baby? A warm getaway must be calling my name, because spring has officially sprung. We're saying bye bye to endless winter layers and hello to sunny beach season. I finally have a little time off coming up, and with my crazy schedule, that's rare. So I'm thinking of a long weekend escape with my family. The question is, coastal Santa Barbara vibes or desert stay in Palm Springs? All I know is that when I'm planning a trip, booking a stay on Airbnb just makes everything easier. I just love having a whole house to ourselves. We can each have our own space, no cramped hotel rooms to worry about and come together for fun movie marathons or epic game nights in the living room. Everyone can be as loud as they want because things can get competitive, y'.

[Nia Long]

All.

[Keke Palmer]

And let's face it, a meal is better shared around a table than a bed. Especially when it's my dad's cooking. But here's the real magic we get to play. Locals wandering through neighborhood parks and popping into all the best family owned, under the radar restaurants on the recommendations of our lovely super host. Mm. You already know I love a good food tour moment. So if you're planning spring or summer getaways with your favorite people, find a stay on Airbnb. Trust me, that home away from home feeling can't be topped. And that job was the guiding light.

[Nia Long]

That job was the guiding light.

[Keke Palmer]

So how was that for you? Because did you feel like, did you expect to get a job or were you kind of, like, testing yourself? Like, was there true belief that you'd be able to make it a real thing?

[Nia Long]

Listen, again, I was in survival mode. I was like, I've done two. I graduated high school early. I went to Santa Monica College, did two years. I had a plan for myself, and I was very deliberate about my plan very early on. And so I said, if I don't get a job by this point, I'm gonna go back to school and get my degree. But I was so close to so many things that I Felt like maybe I don't need to go to college. Maybe the. And so Guiding Light ultimately became four years of university. Hands on experience.

[Keke Palmer]

Wow. Yes. What are the things that you remember from working on that show that you feel like?

[Nia Long]

I remember cameras everywhere, but they were moving. I remember the lights. I remember having to hit my marks. I remember having, you know, five and six pages of dialogue where you're like, how am I gonna remember all that? But it was really an exercise of being completely present.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, let's talk about Boyz N the Hood. Because, I mean, it wasn't just the movie. It was a cultural shift. It really, really was. I even still think about that now when I'm thinking about John Singleton and just.

[Nia Long]

I miss him so much.

[Keke Palmer]

Oh, gosh, I hate that I didn't get a chance to work with him, especially because so much of his work and the. Especially now that so much time has passed. It was like documentary narrative.

[Nia Long]

Absolutely. And it was on film. It was just on film.

[Keke Palmer]

It's incredible to just think about the way that he was exposing what was happening in the world in this way that is very pop culture, but has so much depth. But I found it interesting that you, at first, before knowing he was directing it, kind of like unsure if this was a movie that you wanted to do. Which I think is really good.

[Nia Long]

Cool.

[Keke Palmer]

Because it's like, hey, who's telling this story?

[Nia Long]

Who's telling the story? I mean, we had Spike Lee in New York.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah.

[Nia Long]

But we didn't really have our LA director yet.

[Keke Palmer]

It was.

[Nia Long]

Everyone was kind of. It was. It was marinating and percolating, but it hadn't come on percolate yet.

[Keke Palmer]

Right.

[Nia Long]

And so when I got the call, I said, john Singleton. Well, that doesn't necessarily sound black to me. And I said to my agent, I said, oh, is this some white guy trying to tell the story about where I live and what we do? So I get the script, Boyz N the Hood. I'm like, okay, what kind of title is this? Because I'm living in South Central at this time. Yep.

[Keke Palmer]

I read the script.

[Nia Long]

I couldn't put it down. And it was the realest, most honest thing that I had ever read about young, urban black culture. And so I remember just saying to my agent, I'm like, is this director white or black? Because where I from, where I stood, I didn't meet very many black directors. And sure enough, on a rainy day, I walked in the casting room and there he was. And I just was like, hi. And he was like, who are you? And I was like, who are you? Cause I didn't know it was him. And he got right up in my face. And I was like, I know this guy is not trying to holler at me at the audition. This cannot be what's happening right now. And he said, I'm John Singleton. Singleton, the director. And I go, oh, hi. That turned real sweet. Code switch. Okay.

[Keke Palmer]

I'm so glad to be here.

[Nia Long]

I'm so happy to meet you, John Singleton. And, you know, we. I did the audition and I walked out of there not knowing what was going to happen. But the thing that I appreciated about him most is his. His commitment to truth. Every character in that film, in some sort of way, had a connection to the real person in a real authentic way.

[Keke Palmer]

Right.

[Nia Long]

And so there wasn't a lot of acting required. There was more. It was more about being vulnerable.

[Keke Palmer]

Wow. So he's kind of one of those directors that lets you interpret the scene well.

[Nia Long]

I think he could see pieces of the actors, pieces of the character and who he cast, so. Cause he wanted to know everyone's story. You didn't just come in and audition. It was like a therapy session. At one point, I think I even cried. Cause he was like, so tell me about your life. So I go on, I tell my life. And then I'm like, yeah. He's like, well, what about your dad? And I remember I just started crying. Cause it was still very raw for me at that time. And I just thought, oh, wow, he hit a nerve.

[Keke Palmer]

That is really before the time. Meaning that type of casting, that meta. Type of narrative storytelling that's coinciding with the storyline. I feel like we see a lot of that now. But that was not happening then.

[Nia Long]

No.

[Keke Palmer]

Which I think is just so remarkable when we think about people like John Singleton. But it's also interesting for you to be a newcomer and already be thinking about just like, how black stories are being told. Excuse me. How were you?

[Nia Long]

My father, he was. He did not play when it came to us. He was a poet, a deep thinker. He, you know, he was very much a part of the. The belief system of the Civil Rights movement. And he was a. He was a voice in the community. And so I think certain things are just inherited. I don't know that I. I mean, I know my history, and I've seen what we've been through, but there's that thing inside of me that cares deeply about us. Absolutely. And to represent who we are and. And the older I get and the more that I'M raising these young men. It's become more and more important.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah.

[Nia Long]

Because I want us all to understand each other. It's not just about separate separatism. I don't believe in that. I believe in understanding and finding truth and finding that connective tissue that actually makes us human.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah, I. I feel the same way.

[Nia Long]

And that doesn't have a color. There's no. There's no race to that. You know, that's humanity.

[Keke Palmer]

Yes. So you credit John Singleton with discovering you.

[Nia Long]

Yes.

[Keke Palmer]

How did you. What are some things you've said a little bit over here, but when you think about those early days on set with him, what is something that you feel like still stays with you or stuck with you from that? Especially as you now also a director.

[Nia Long]

Yeah. He's so specific. He was so specific about what he wanted. And I think you can probably relate to this, too. When a director knows what he wants, it doesn't matter how good you are. When he knows what he wants and he tells you where to go and he. But he also gives you the freedom to change it if it doesn't feel good, you know, you're safe.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah.

[Nia Long]

And the worst thing in the world is to be on a set and you're shooting a film and you feel like you're kind of on an island alone, and there's no connection between you and your director.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Nia Long]

And we've all been there a million times, you know?

[Keke Palmer]

Oh, God, could you imagine? I just start telling. I'm bleeping this. But, guys, outtakes, okay?

[Nia Long]

Outtakes.

[Keke Palmer]

It's tough.

[Nia Long]

It's tough.

[Keke Palmer]

It's tough.

[Nia Long]

It's tough because you're. You're relying on yourself. And then you feel like you gotta look at the monitor. Is my hair done? Is my makeup right? Is my. And I'm like, I was here to act. I'm not here to be the wardrobe person, the hairstylist, the makeup.

[Keke Palmer]

I just heard when you said that I'm not scared of you. These other dudes, they might be scared of you, but I'll whoop your ass. That line just. I heard it when you did that there. I went right back.

[Nia Long]

It's the same girl. Girl. It's the same girl.

[Keke Palmer]

She said, I will whoop your girl.

[Nia Long]

I remember F. Gary Gray cracked up when I said that. I don't even know that that was in the script that way. But here's what happened. We had literally 30 seconds to get that shot. And as you notice, there's no coverage of me on the ground because we ran out of money in time, so I was like. I said, well, are you gonna turn around and get me on the ground? Like, is there a stunt involved? He said, no, you're gonna be slapped right out of the frame.

[Keke Palmer]

Just Gone Girl, that. I just watched it recently again.

[Nia Long]

It's a funny movie.

[Keke Palmer]

It's so. And then I think I feel like also what makes it so good and like, a classic, especially of the Friday franchise, is at the center of it. It was about a lot of what you just said. It was about community. It was about gun violence.

[Nia Long]

Absolutely.

[Keke Palmer]

It was about, you gotta live. Live to fight another day.

[Nia Long]

That's it.

[Keke Palmer]

Especially at that time where gun. I mean, we still having issues with gun violence.

[Nia Long]

Same thing.

[Keke Palmer]

And you think it's like, I be. I'm like, y'. All. At the end of the day, Friday was funny, but it had a message.

[Nia Long]

It was a real Friday in the hood. And it was. Lay with all the things that we dealt with. The good stuff, the funny stuff, the weed, the cereal water, and maybe losing your life, all of these things.

[Keke Palmer]

Like, I just love that it was a great film. Let's get into the 90s because, you know, you mentioned it earlier, y' all didn't have social media. No branding consultants. Like, it was very. It was a different level of mystique. And I'm wondering if you feel like that has allowed more longevity or do you feel like it would have been great if y' all had a little bit more digital access or just to expand your reach.

[Nia Long]

I. I think it was perfect. I think the 90s was absolutely perfect.

[Keke Palmer]

Oh, my gosh.

[Nia Long]

So do we.

[Keke Palmer]

We want to go back.

[Nia Long]

And I just feel like, you know, there was a naivete about the 90s that made us very powerful because we didn't have. I couldn't afford a stylist. There was no. You got dressed with what you had in your closet, and you found a drug dealer to buy you some. A new purse.

[Keke Palmer]

Come on.

[Nia Long]

I definitely had some Gucci sneakers in my day and a good purse.

[Keke Palmer]

Oh, my gosh. That is so funny. And I love that you. I also wonder, like, is that just what we all feel about our youth? Like, even me, I think about the 2010s, and I'm like, they were awesome. Now I still look at the. Think about the 90s, and I'm like, oh, my gosh, they were so cool. I wish I was that the age I am now then. But also in general, I think some of that is. Is that just that era of any of our lives the early 20s.

[Nia Long]

No, because. No, Sorry. Damn.

[Keke Palmer]

I was just different then.

[Nia Long]

It was different because.

[Keke Palmer]

I love that, though.

[Nia Long]

It was different because it was the beginning.

[Keke Palmer]

There's a renaissance.

[Nia Long]

It was a renaissance. There was hip hop music in New York City, in la, then it went sprinkled down to the South. So there was just this surge of energy, of greatness, of talent, of music. And we didn't care who said yes or no. We owned the space. And we were so hungry for more. Because when you think of the civil Rights movement and you think how their push and their voices got us to be where we were.

[Keke Palmer]

Yes.

[Nia Long]

We were empowered.

[Keke Palmer]

Yes. Yes.

[Nia Long]

Now young people are being powered by fake imagery and images on social media that don't have very much substance. The substance is the thing that gets you longevity. Yes. If you don't, you can't pretend to be a star, you can't pretend to be talented. You have to have the substance to marry the talent. And that's what gets me. Do I think. I mean, I don't know if I'm right about everything, but I know that I'm committed to that.

[Keke Palmer]

I mean, to me it aligns. And when I think about, like when we were just talking about Friday, it ain't just a funny movie. It has a message. Even when I think about the most silly satirical works, like don't be a minister, South Central while drinking your juice in the hood.

[Nia Long]

But it was amazing.

[Keke Palmer]

Message, Message.

[Nia Long]

Hi. We knew exactly what that meant. Hollywood shuffle, you know, Robert Townsend was genius.

[Keke Palmer]

They were all. It was always something that was crucial happening at the core of it. I think about the wood. It's about growing up.

[Nia Long]

Yeah.

[Keke Palmer]

It's about we no longer can be childish and do the funny kid things we did anymore, but we gonna always love each other, even though it's time for us to move on. Like everything had weight to it. What do you think it's because we're chasing numbers and just like we're equating visibility and popularity with. With, you know, like, you know. Is that what has happened with digital? Because I wonder why. It's like, what has changed with the material? Why aren't we always looking?

[Nia Long]

Quality is just not. It's crazy what it used to be. Everything doesn't have to be perfect art. I don't think there's such a thing as perfect art anyway. But when I turn on a film, and I say turn on a film because now everything's streaming, there's no more going to the movies, I. It's. Which makes me so Sad baby girl. It breaks my heart.

[Keke Palmer]

That was my thing.

[Nia Long]

I know. And I think as much as we love streaming because it's giving so many other actors opportunities that may not have those opportunities. Right. But I really miss the art of going to the theater. And I think because there's such a quick turnover with streaming, there's a. You have to inform the audience in a different way when you're working on something that's streaming. And I just did a film for Netflix and I love netfl. And they've been so amazing and supportive. Yeah. With my career. But we were having this conversation about streaming and. And the difference. And the difference is we are usually. I know. For me, I'm usually folding clothes, washing clothes, making a bed, cooking, doing five other things while I'm watching a movie.

[Keke Palmer]

Yes.

[Nia Long]

And so the content of that film has to, in some sort of way, have a little bit of repetition so that if your audience member walks away for 20 minutes and comes back, they can. Can plop right back in.

[Keke Palmer]

Yes.

[Nia Long]

When you go see a film in a movie theater, you don't. You can't do that. You can't rewind it. You can't. If you get up to use the restroom, you better pick a time that you think it's going to carry you to the next moment.

[Keke Palmer]

We didn't got commercials.

[Nia Long]

We don't have commercials.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah.

[Nia Long]

And so I think the quality of. Of filmmaking is a lot different. And I think the. The content that's being. I don't love all of it.

[Keke Palmer]

And I'll be honest, too, there's something that's different, too, with when it. I also love streaming. I love getting opportunities to perform and act. The world is changing. Technology all day. I get it. You know, I get it.

[Nia Long]

We have to be accepted.

[Keke Palmer]

But when we think about that early renaissance of the 90s, black rom coms, just family movies. Early 2000s. I mean, Soul food.

[Nia Long]

Yeah.

[Keke Palmer]

Forever body shaped like a Coke bottle. So we should call it Coke. Like Bird. Come on, Bird.

[Nia Long]

My husband. That's my husband.

[Keke Palmer]

I love.

[Nia Long]

Oh, my God. I love. Vivica was so great to me in that scene too, you know, I love me some Vivica Cornbread. I love it. Family.

[Keke Palmer]

Cousin Faith with her fast ass. You know what? The family did the family on me.

[Nia Long]

That's my husband. Vanessa was amazing.

[Keke Palmer]

I remember.

[Nia Long]

Wait, hold up. When we filmed that scene and she said those lines, I was like, yes, Vanessa. I couldn't even act in the scene because she was so good and she was so proper and so regal and I was just so tripping that this was like Vanessa Williams in the same scene with her. Right.

[Keke Palmer]

And Makai FIFA with his fine, fine ass. Wow. I did that. Man was just too fine.

[Nia Long]

He was still fine.

[Keke Palmer]

And they was mad at Bird.

[Nia Long]

Like they was mad at me with my blue nails.

[Keke Palmer]

Okay. Girl up in there doing hair with the crimps. That movie. Speaking of all of that to say, I realized that a lot even with my movie in early 2000s, 2004, 2006, Akeelah and the Bee didn't do well in the theaters. It did amazing with DVDs.

[Nia Long]

Yeah.

[Keke Palmer]

And so it's very interesting. Even with you speaking on Love Jones. You talk flop, but then it's this. So it's interesting because I feel like now we're seeing where we don't have DVDs anymore. But to me, that's what streaming has become. Absolutely. Where these movies that were hits on DVDs that people bought from home that maybe weren't big in the theaters, they've. It's now unfortunately hurt the cinematic opportunity for rom coms and those kinds of films.

[Nia Long]

Yeah.

[Keke Palmer]

Because now they just, they go straight to the dvd.

[Nia Long]

I know.

[Keke Palmer]

They don't. They. They totally go over that, that cinema part. And I, I don't. You know, again, it's like, it's interesting as time changes. I'm not sure how good that is for artists or how not, you know, I don't know how many of us get box office back end. You know, I don't know.

[Nia Long]

I think we're in the middle of. Of where we don't know.

[Keke Palmer]

Right.

[Nia Long]

Because we're kind of. It's like one foot in and one foot out. I'm just hoping that we. The tide changes and we end up, you know, having that experience in the movie theater. I hope that we get back to that because I think it's. It's like you. I. I mean, I just remember we used to go to the movie theater every Christmas Day. That was our family thing. And it's. I mean, there's usually like one good film during Christmas time, but like, it's hard to find options.

[Keke Palmer]

It is. It really, really is. You said in the same interview about Love Jones that you felt Nina is the most like you. Why love that character? And Bill Bellamy was hating so bad in that.

[Nia Long]

Oh my God, he's such a hater.

[Keke Palmer]

He was hating on Darren.

[Nia Long]

Bill Bellamy, you're a hater. Where are you, Bill hating us?

[Keke Palmer]

Bellamy, he cracked me up in that movie. I said, this brother gonna come to the club again.

[Nia Long]

I said. I said it when we were shooting. I said, damn. Well, the interesting thing about Love Jones was, you know, it was one of those things where I picked up that script again.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah, yeah.

[Nia Long]

Read it in one swoop. And I was just like. And, you know, it was a lot like me in the sense that it felt like I was in this world. Like, I was just submerged in art. And, you know, my dad was a poet, and he was from Trenton. And so Chicago and New York have a thing.

[Keke Palmer]

Y' all shot that in Chicago?

[Nia Long]

We did.

[Keke Palmer]

My mom actually tried to write a song for that movie.

[Nia Long]

She did?

[Keke Palmer]

Yes, she did. Oh, my God.

[Nia Long]

I loved it.

[Keke Palmer]

From Chicago. You know, how does Chicago. Chicago has so much talent, but they can't never. It's like so much.

[Nia Long]

I know.

[Keke Palmer]

Anyway.

[Nia Long]

But anyway, we did soul food with Chicago, too.

[Keke Palmer]

Yep.

[Nia Long]

I spent a lot. I've spent a lot of time in Chicago. I really, really love Chicago.

[Keke Palmer]

Soul food was so true to me and my family. They ain't cutting off my leg.

[Nia Long]

And that's that.

[Keke Palmer]

Like that movie we all got, Big Mama.

[Nia Long]

I mean, I don't even remember half of the stuff that she remembers.

[Keke Palmer]

Big Mama told me, we gotta get the family together, so I came for Sunday dinner. Girl, that movie is my life. You know, all the. I'm a mod. I'm like, family gotta be right. You know, let's stop with the diabetes. That movie, yet again, about how soul food, like, how do we come together and not kill ourselves?

[Nia Long]

I know with the food, I mean, prayer and God and being and having a way out and community, all of that. But I will tell you something. So you know, when you shoot a scene with that many actors. Oh, my gosh, girl, I wanted to throw that chicken across the table.

[Keke Palmer]

It was too long. It was so long. Yeah, that coverage. Anytime I see a scene that has three flesh.

[Nia Long]

I'm a vegan, and I also am at the end of the table. And at this point, I've gone to the bathroom.

[Keke Palmer]

You know what I'm saying?

[Nia Long]

How do you get out of the scene? That's all you think of as an actor is how can I get out of the way?

[Keke Palmer]

That's what John Stamos taught me when we were working on the TV show. He said, you just gotta find your way and exit. You just. Oh.

[Nia Long]

And he's good at that, too. That's his. He's actually famous for that.

[Keke Palmer]

He's always doing that. That's how he get that coverage. Genius.

[Nia Long]

Genius.

[Keke Palmer]

We have to talk about another favorite of mine. The best man, iconic. I mean, let's just get into the slap moment, which apparently, like, so wait a minute. Taye Diggs. He said it was improvised.

[Nia Long]

Tay Diggs is a liar. And I actually called him about this, cuz I was like, you need to stop. This is such an old story. And you're also making me look like the villain. And I'm not the villain. I'm howling.

[Keke Palmer]

Because then Michael D. Lee said it wasn't. It was absolutely scripted. Malcolm D. Lee.

[Nia Long]

Well, thank God somebody stepped in and told the truth.

[Keke Palmer]

That is how. Why does Tay do this? I feel like Tay is always messing around.

[Nia Long]

Tay is messy.

[Keke Palmer]

I love that.

[Nia Long]

I love him, but he's messy. And also, you know, we're all like brother and sister on that. So, like, there. There's a bond between us that, like, I guess. I guess he feels like he can just mess with me publicly. Publicly. Like, come on now.

[Keke Palmer]

You guys were so cute. And then even the most recent. That was on hbo or was HBO yet.

[Nia Long]

It was. No, no, it was Showtime. No, Peacock.

[Keke Palmer]

Peacock. Yeah, on Peacock. I watched.

[Nia Long]

See how many stations there.

[Keke Palmer]

It's just cable at this point.

[Nia Long]

God damn.

[Keke Palmer]

You know what I mean? We can't keep my. But Peacock shout out to them. We love them. They did the new best man. I love just seeing you two together. The chemistry is just palpable. I mean, it's just. So how was it working on that film in, you know, the first time, and then seeing how the franchise is so beloved, even all to this time.

[Nia Long]

Yeah. I mean, you just say thank you. God, this is so great that we've done something that's actually touched people so deeply. And, you know, I look at you with your short hair and I envy you. Cause I'm like, should I go back?

[Keke Palmer]

But it's your look. I really. I even put freckles on, you know, because I'm literally. I wanted to talk to you as you.

[Nia Long]

It's funny. You don't. Can you see my freckles today?

[Keke Palmer]

I always see them a little bit. Yeah, I'm trying to.

[Nia Long]

I've been doing less coverage. Less coverage. Thank you.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah. I love freckles.

[Nia Long]

I feel like freckles make you feel and look younger and fresh and so cute. Oh, God. How are you? You're very cute.

[Keke Palmer]

I just live.

[Nia Long]

So cute.

[Keke Palmer]

I mean. Wait. Whoa.

[Nia Long]

Oh. So those. So listen, we were coming off of. We were coming off of COVID Yes.

[Keke Palmer]

It was.

[Nia Long]

It was my first job back.

[Keke Palmer]

Right.

[Nia Long]

I was smack dead in the middle of menopause. I gained 30 pounds. I didn't feel beautiful. I. I was drinking red wine every day. I slipped in the snow and broke my arm. Like, it was just not a good time.

[Keke Palmer]

We were going through a lot.

[Nia Long]

Well, you were going through. I was living in New York because I saw you.

[Keke Palmer]

I don't know if I saw you right at the time, but me and you saw each other right outside of the Jamaican store. Yes, we did.

[Nia Long]

Ms. Anns. Ms. Anne.

[Keke Palmer]

Yes. Yep.

[Nia Long]

We were right on.

[Keke Palmer]

Ms. Lily. Ms. Lily's Lily. But I said, hey, girl.

[Nia Long]

I said, come on in, Kiki.

[Keke Palmer]

Yep, I remember that anyhow.

[Nia Long]

But, yeah, so it was a tough time for everyone because we all needed to work. No one had worked.

[Keke Palmer]

Yes.

[Nia Long]

And so we were getting the gang back together, and people had changed and had different ideas about their characters and. And I think we landed on something that felt honest enough for us as actors and entertaining enough for the audience.

[Keke Palmer]

Yes. But.

[Nia Long]

But honestly, I felt more adult in my skin than the characters allowed us to be.

[Keke Palmer]

Interesting.

[Nia Long]

I was like, I, I. I wanted. I don't know, I wanted Jordan to feel more settled at that point, but I also realized that she wasn't settled in the last one. So we kind of needed her to see. See her feel unsettled before. She made real strong decisions at the end. So I guess it all works out.

[Keke Palmer]

And I feel like she's very representative of a woman that, I think that was introduced to us and that that era early on that really has cemented herself in media and just as an archetype in general, because she was a career, she was nuanced. She had this very unique dynamic with, you know, Tay's character, and she was. I really related to her. So even at this point in her life, I. I really was into it, and I was into the evolution of all of them because I felt that it didn't try to wrap everything up with a bow.

[Nia Long]

Well, that's good that you say that, because, you know, I've. I've never actually sat and watched the whole series.

[Keke Palmer]

Yes.

[Nia Long]

Yeah. Not because I didn't love it, because I did love it, and I don't.

[Keke Palmer]

That's what's weird with your own work. I don't watch a lot of work.

[Nia Long]

Yeah. Sometimes I'm like, okay, that's enough. I don't need to see all of that.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah.

[Nia Long]

You know, it's like you just. You kind of. It's for the people, it's for the fans. Some things are just like. It's something that you do because, you know, people want it and you know, the impact that these characters had. And like, it was fun. And we. We are like, I think we were the first franchise film girl with all black people.

[Keke Palmer]

When I tell you that I wanted. I told Malcolm, I said, man, do the best men the college years and call me up.

[Nia Long]

Right. Like, pre the prequel. But there was actually a time that there was a conversation about that we've gotta do that. But I wouldn't be in it. Cause then I'd have to be like, your auntie or something. And that would be weird.

[Keke Palmer]

You hate that.

[Nia Long]

I mean, you could be me. You could definitely be Jordan.

[Keke Palmer]

I thought I said, they better hurry up. I'm already getting older.

[Nia Long]

Listen. Cause you. In a minute.

[Keke Palmer]

You know what I mean? Like college.

[Nia Long]

But you're not getting older. But, like, you know, okay.

[Keke Palmer]

It's like we're pushing it. But I really want that. I really want that prequel. I also want the prequel to why did I get Married? I want it to be how did I get married? Tasha Smith.

[Nia Long]

Oh, my God. You have a whole catalog. She's got a catalog. She's got her work lined up for the next 10 years.

[Keke Palmer]

Well, let's talk about. Don't ever wonder coming out on Netflix, reuniting you. And my first crush, ever, Lorenz. He's the best.

[Nia Long]

Everyone loves him. He's so fine. I don't even understand it. You don't understand how much moisturizer and I had to put on just to keep up with him. I'm like, thank you, Jesus, for Estee Lauder.

[Keke Palmer]

Oh, my gosh, girl, you have literally just become the first brand ambassador. This is huge news. But also makes total sense because your skin is like, annoyingly perfect. Makeup. No makeup. It's starting to get sickening. What do you do? What did you do?

[Nia Long]

I mean, she said five things in. Listen, I am. First of all, I will not support anything that I don't believe in.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah.

[Nia Long]

And Advanced Night Repair really changed the game for me, especially in la, because it's dry here. The water's dry, the air's dry. And so it's like giving your face a drink of water. And the first time I tried it, I was like, oh. And then it was like, oh. And then it was like, oh. And the hand cream and the skin. There's so many products that are. And I think. Here's what I really think. I think sometimes people don't think of Estee Lauder because it's been around so long.

[Keke Palmer]

Sure.

[Nia Long]

And so there's. We are inundated with so many new Products. And so when you just pause for a minute and you think about the brands that have been dependable, that have had longevity, there it is.

[Keke Palmer]

Absolutely.

[Nia Long]

There's Estee Lauder, and it's in that pretty brown bottle. It looks pretty on your. In your back.

[Keke Palmer]

We love aesthetically pleasing stuff, too.

[Nia Long]

Thank you, darling.

[Keke Palmer]

Well, you look great, and it makes total sense. Who doesn't want skin like Nilong?

[Nia Long]

It's a fun. It's a fun family, and it didn't happen overnight. And that's what I love the most, is that it's a really authentic connection.

[Keke Palmer]

You've had a lot of great partnerships. I remember commenting and going up for your skims campaign. Fabulous. That was awesome.

[Nia Long]

I didn't eat for three weeks, maybe.

[Keke Palmer]

Three weeks. What were you. When they called you up with that? Was there any apprehension? Because, you know, it is all about skin and being. You know, showing the. You know what I mean? What were you. Were you kind of like, let's just go. You know?

[Nia Long]

I was like, finally, there's a reason to lose 15 pounds.

[Keke Palmer]

You are crazy.

[Nia Long]

Because I was not gonna play myself. You look in my skin. I'm really great friends with one of Kim's partners, and she called, and. And I was just like, yes, let's do this. And I was also in a place where my. I was coming out of a really long relationship, and I wanted to, like, reclaim my sexuality and my sensuality, and I wanted to feel good in my skin. And we were passionate. Past covet, and we were past breakup, and my kids were getting older, and it was like, I am woman. Hear me roar in my skin.

[Keke Palmer]

That's everything.

[Nia Long]

And I just said, I'm gonna do it. And it was one of the best shoots of my career. There were so many amazing women on that set. And I actually let Kim know. I said, kim, I just have to tell you that that was one of the best shoots of my. I didn't have to readjust the lighting,

[Keke Palmer]

cuz, girl, we love a great creative team.

[Nia Long]

Can we talk about the lighting?

[Keke Palmer]

It can get spooky. Listen, my girl Kenya is like. She needs a. A bounce underneath. I'm cool. It gets to that point, I'm okay.

[Nia Long]

I don't know who that is that you just acted.

[Keke Palmer]

Hey, Kenya, she does the glam, and she be directing. The people on set, they be tired of her.

[Nia Long]

But no, this is. Listen, I. You have to have that.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah.

[Nia Long]

Because it's just not. They don't always light for us, so you have to be able to say it. And you have to just know what you need. And that's. And if you do it in a non emotional way, it just becomes like, okay, can I have a glass of water? Can I get a light in my eyes? Can I get a bounce? Can you not light my neck?

[Keke Palmer]

Girl, your neck look good. You putting the Estee Lauder on there, too?

[Nia Long]

Yes. Neck cream. I've been using neck cream since I was 20, though.

[Keke Palmer]

Girl, I hope I didn't run out of time. I gotta hurry it up. I feel like I started too late. Bitch, it's so much we have to think about. The hands and that neck sneak up on us.

[Nia Long]

The hands.

[Keke Palmer]

Them hands in that neck. Cause you can't really Botox your neck, you know?

[Nia Long]

I think you can. I have it. Look, I have it.

[Keke Palmer]

Then you like this.

[Nia Long]

And no, no, it's.

[Keke Palmer]

That would be crazy.

[Nia Long]

Like, hey, y', all, you're just. I think the key is to. I'm looking at my shot. I think the key is to kind of.

[Keke Palmer]

I'm trying to be.

[Nia Long]

You know, you kind of gotta be in here and you just.

[Keke Palmer]

Girl, I'm out.

[Nia Long]

And you just move your eyes. You don't. Literally every. Listen, I wear a ponytail for a reason. Snatch it.

[Keke Palmer]

Period. But you gonna eat a silk press down. Every time. Every.

[Nia Long]

You know what I mean?

[Keke Palmer]

Every time. Well, speaking of love, because I love what that you just brought up that whole, like, I mean, stepping back and I'm single, you know, stepping out. Like, how are you feeling about dating? How you had.

[Nia Long]

I don't. I'm interested. Stupid. I hate it. It's so dark.

[Keke Palmer]

I want it to be like the 90s. How y' all made it look in the movies. It ain't fun. Nia.

[Nia Long]

I want flowers sent to my house. I need you to show consistent effort. Like, I need you to show me that I need you.

[Keke Palmer]

Okay. Cause that's the thing that is. Y' all want somebody to play dumb, but then you already dumb. Now we both dumb.

[Nia Long]

Okay, I'm leaving. I gotta go.

[Keke Palmer]

You know, I'm not lying there. You know, I'm not lying. And they want you to play dumb, but it's like, you've already. You already are dumb. So now what do I do?

[Nia Long]

I'm sorry.

[Keke Palmer]

Somebody's gotta teach somebody something.

[Nia Long]

Somebody has to be the student and someone must be the teacher.

[Keke Palmer]

It's getting to the point that I was. I was at some. One of these events, and the guy next to me, I mean, he's talking to me, talking to me about he's going to France and he da, da, da. And we have such a great time. 69, though. And I started to think he was, should I date?

[Nia Long]

69.

[Keke Palmer]

I was like, should I date?

[Nia Long]

I was asking you to do 69. I was like, what? What? On the first convers, he was.

[Keke Palmer]

He gave me an evening to remember.

[Nia Long]

I started to think, no, no. 69, honey, no.

[Keke Palmer]

70, maybe.

[Nia Long]

No, baby, no. But he's like a grandpa to your child. You don't. You're looking for.

[Keke Palmer]

He's done it before. He can help me with Lil girl. Because it's getting to the point where the guys that are.

[Nia Long]

I can't go that long.

[Keke Palmer]

30s boys.

[Nia Long]

Cause I like fresh and clean. And it's Is that just feels like it could just get a little sexy. It could be a little weird.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah, I feel the same way. It's like, I'm open to love. I'm open to the vibes, but the vibes aren't giving vibes. So then I just find myself having so much more fun with myself, with my girlfriend. Yes. This is the thing.

[Nia Long]

Like, listen, I. Every girl wants to feel special.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah.

[Nia Long]

But I also feel like I've experienced good love in my life, and so I know when it's good and when it's just playtime. But what I do think I need to do more of is engage in playtime.

[Keke Palmer]

That's what I'm saying.

[Nia Long]

Cause I've always been in a relationship. I've always been like, oh, you like me? I like you. Okay, now we're a thing.

[Keke Palmer]

Me too.

[Nia Long]

And then five years later, and you're like, oh, whoa. But I don't really know how to, like, casually date.

[Keke Palmer]

I feel like guys don't want to casually date when you're not begging for more. I.

[Nia Long]

That's what. Because I am very aloof.

[Keke Palmer]

Me too, girl.

[Nia Long]

I'm like, do your thing.

[Keke Palmer]

I got to do.

[Nia Long]

We're not chasing.

[Keke Palmer]

They don't want that. To me, it's like, why can't we have a little. Why can't we be consistent Sneak links. Why can't we just say, hey, it's

[Nia Long]

Friday and I talk too much. Where's the NDA? Way too much.

[Keke Palmer]

I do.

[Nia Long]

We need an NDA.

[Keke Palmer]

The NDA I need stat right now. Cause I'm looking for.

[Nia Long]

What do you think?

[Keke Palmer]

Are we on for Friday night again?

[Nia Long]

Are these the right fingers? Oh, wrong.

[Keke Palmer]

Are we on Friday night again? Yeah. Ate that.

[Nia Long]

Ate that. Eat that. Maybe we definitely eat. Yes. Eat it and sign.

[Keke Palmer]

Cause I'm done. I'm done with the.

[Nia Long]

They're not being moved sign is crazy.

[Keke Palmer]

It's so heated and signed. It's eating it. Eating it.

[Nia Long]

Okay, listen.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah, it's tough out here, but, you know, hey, beautiful Bible.

[Nia Long]

I feel like the thing about dating for me is I want to date with intention.

[Keke Palmer]

Yes.

[Nia Long]

But I also want to have fun. I just don't think I'm, like, into it, though. Like, it's. Here's the other thing. I don't have time. Yeah, that's really the truth.

[Keke Palmer]

I don't have time. To your point, I don't have time to do something that doesn't feel worth it to me. And I can compartmentalize. I can do the same thing a guy can do respectfully and ethically. Right. I can have a sneaky link vibe or not even sneak link, but just like a. Like a guy that. We know, we work good friends, and we, you know, we enjoy each other's company every now and then, but it's nothing serious between us. And then the opportunity of possibly being something serious with someone, you know, I'm open, but it's not. I don't feel like there's a lot of people.

[Nia Long]

I think I need to get words. I need to get into that.

[Keke Palmer]

I would too.

[Nia Long]

There's a couple that I do that with that. I know. I think they're scared. You know, they're, like, scary because they're

[Keke Palmer]

gonna fall in love with you.

[Nia Long]

I don't know about that.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah, baby. Because once you pointed them. Hey, they don't know how to control themselves.

[Nia Long]

Back that thing up.

[Keke Palmer]

Okay. I'm just saying. I just say, girl, this sleepover that

[Nia Long]

we about to have a taste of, this is gonna be nuts.

[Keke Palmer]

The sleepover that we're about to have

[Nia Long]

and get into this are having a sleepover. Next time I come, I'm wearing my pajamas.

[Keke Palmer]

Yes, girl. Come on, Pajama farm.

[Nia Long]

It'd be so cute. Let's do it.

[Keke Palmer]

Okay. I gotta get into Michael. You are helming the matriarch of the legendary Michael Jackson family, Katherine Jackson. What was the process of getting that role like?

[Nia Long]

Oh, I just remember my agent called and said, Antoine Fuqua.

[Keke Palmer]

Come on.

[Nia Long]

Antoine is. Is directing the Michael Jackson biopic and Graham King is producing. And I was like, where do I sign? I've wanted to work with Antoine for a very long time, and Graham King is a hit maker. So, like, so is Antoine. Like, that's just, like, a very powerful combination. And they said they need you to do a zoom.

[Keke Palmer]

Oh.

[Nia Long]

Tomorrow morning at, like, it was like, something crazy, like 8:30 and I said to my team, I said, you have to lie because, like, I need a minute to get my together period. And because this was right off of my big breakup, and so I was still, like, kind of a hot mess and, like, figuring out my life.

[Keke Palmer]

And I literally was like, I gotta

[Nia Long]

get my hair done. I gotta go. Like, I needed to pour into myself. So anyway, we do this zoom. I do this zoom with Graham for, like, an hour and a half. And I'm just telling him about, you know, my life and how I met Michael. And when I met Michael, he said, you're nia long. It's so nice to meet you. And I was like, you know, the only thing I ever said to Michael was, you know my name. And, like. And then I was kind of like, I couldn't talk after that, so. And my mother also worked at his label at the time. So I would see. We would, like, steal photos from the. From the record label, like, real ones, and take them home, and they'd be, like, part of our collection. And then, you know, we just talked, and there was just this really wonderful understanding of who Katherine was. And I asked a ton of questions, and I pulled from my own experiences as being a mom, and. And I was offered the role, and I just was, like, couldn't kind of believe it because it was like, one of those things that just literally fell out of the sky. And that's the thing that we cannot forget. What is for you will find you.

[Keke Palmer]

That goes back to what I was saying that's so awesome about you and what you represent is there's this constant sense of grace and ease, and I'm still on top, you know, And I think people have to see that and know that and remember that, because everybody operates in a different way. And so it's like, if you, like, no matter what, the cream rises to the top, no matter what.

[Nia Long]

And how you get there is your personal journey. And the way in which you get there is your personal journey. And what feels good for you is. Is part of the thing that makes you have all of the things that you have and all of the opportunities that you have and the impact that you have on the culture.

[Keke Palmer]

Yes.

[Nia Long]

Like, that's when you can identify. That's your truth. That's your power. That's your superpower. I know for me, if I try to do things that don't feel authentic to who I am, I pause. I'm like, okay, you're being performative right now. Stop. You don't have to do that. You don't have to do what works for someone else. And we all get caught up in it. Especially someone like me who rarely goes out. So I go out and I'm like, where's the magnesium? I'm having a panic attack. Come on.

[Keke Palmer]

Magnesium. Yes.

[Nia Long]

Listen, I'm like, oh my God, there's people in the room, girl.

[Keke Palmer]

And it's like, let me get out your way. And I'm in the car already.

[Nia Long]

That's why you saw me in the parking lot leaving the park.

[Keke Palmer]

You see, I was right behind you.

[Nia Long]

I was like, mask, it's time to go. Come get mommy. And I like that about myself.

[Keke Palmer]

Yes, I like that. I know what I.

[Nia Long]

It's time for me to leave. I like when I. That I know that it's. I don't have to do what you do to. To get what I need.

[Keke Palmer]

It's a lot of confidence, but it's important.

[Nia Long]

It's confidence. It's also knowing my limit.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah.

[Nia Long]

It's also being aware of my own insecurities. It's also just being a grown ass woman, period. Cuz it comes and when it lands, you're like, you're like, come on, start singing Lion King out of the blue. You're like, like, what? Who am I?

[Keke Palmer]

When do you and I probably feel like this? There's been many different phases of it for you. I mean, womanhood. But when do you feel. When do you feel that the. The wave of it that you're riding

[Nia Long]

on now really hit Proving to myself that I can do all of it and still feeling empowered to do more. I can be a great mom. I can write a book. Book. I can do a film. I can produce another film. I can develop something over here. I it. It. Because when. When I was younger and like in the thick of being a mom, I felt like those things weren't attainable that I couldn't. Oh, I'm not ready for that yet. So just knowing that it's my choice to say that I can do all of those things. Things. I love that.

[Keke Palmer]

That was not. That was not something that was attached to an age or a moment. It was literally attached to capacity, you know?

[Nia Long]

Capacity. Yeah. That's really cool.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah.

[Nia Long]

That's the thing. It's knowing when it's your time to do certain things.

[Keke Palmer]

Love that. Well, it's. Unfortunately, I kept you overtime and you know, this has just been the best time ever with you.

[Nia Long]

More money.

[Keke Palmer]

Okay, y' all heard her. She's not lying. It ain't coming out of my check.

[Nia Long]

Amazon got plenty. I just ordered Groceries. And I know what I spent working

[Keke Palmer]

with Amazon drives me crazy because I feel like I give them their money back every time.

[Nia Long]

Do you get like gift cards?

[Keke Palmer]

Cause I just be shopping on here. No, they don't give me no damn gift cards. They don't give gift cards. They just pay me. And then I'm finding myself on Amazon anyway. It's like, what's up?

[Nia Long]

We gotta add that to your contract. Next time, girl. For your guests. I feel like your guests should get. Not the girl.

[Keke Palmer]

You got me already. I'm about to call the lawyers after this. Cause that's good. They should get give me an allowance. But Amazon be a shopping allowance.

[Nia Long]

Shopping allowance. That's.

[Keke Palmer]

See this why she need a loan.

[Nia Long]

I'm always trying to find a check.

[Keke Palmer]

Okay. I always play a game with my guest before they leave.

[Nia Long]

Let's do it.

[Keke Palmer]

And so I'm going to name a category and you're going to induct one film or character of yours into the Ne Long hall of Fame. Don't overthink it. Just go. What feels right.

[Nia Long]

Okay.

[Keke Palmer]

Okay. The film that aged the best, Love Jones. Ooh. The character that was the biggest stretch or most difficult to play. Mm.

[Nia Long]

I wanna say Catherine, because I had such a huge responsibility to do it right. And, you know, Catherine is so graceful, and there's this quiet strength about her. And so a lot of times I had to go against my instincts as an actor to be true to her.

[Keke Palmer]

I love that.

[Nia Long]

Yeah, it was.

[Keke Palmer]

Did you guys get a chance to meet?

[Nia Long]

I know she get a chance to meet her. I hope that.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah, yeah. So she's probably. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Nia Long]

Maybe one day.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah.

[Nia Long]

I just. I think of her all the time, though. When things get tough, I think about her because I'm like, what would Catherine do? She would pray. Probably she'd be strong in her footing and, you know, love on her children deeply.

[Keke Palmer]

It's beautiful when any time and I feel this way about characters that I've played, they leave us with something. Yes. You know what I mean?

[Nia Long]

You learn something, you learn something that

[Keke Palmer]

you can take with you.

[Nia Long]

That's very true with this one.

[Keke Palmer]

The scene you can't escape to this day.

[Nia Long]

The slap with Taye Diggs. Cause he just be lying.

[Keke Palmer]

Tay is so funny.

[Nia Long]

He's a liar. He lies. Don't believe anything he says about that scene.

[Keke Palmer]

I feel like there must be some truth to this. Cause Gabrielle says the same thing about.

[Nia Long]

Oh, good. Where's Gabrielle? Get her in. Get the other Scorpio in here.

[Keke Palmer]

Okay. It's A Scorpio thing. The line that still follows you everywhere.

[Nia Long]

I knee along.

[Keke Palmer]

Okay, yeah.

[Nia Long]

God, that's like the fourth F bomb.

[Keke Palmer]

And what's wrong with it?

[Nia Long]

I love it. You guys can bleep me. I think it's funny.

[Keke Palmer]

The film that hits different now as a grown woman.

[Nia Long]

Oh, the film that hits Nat. That hits for me. That was my. Like, now that I'm looking back on.

[Keke Palmer]

Exactly.

[Nia Long]

That scene where Jordan opens the door for Tay and she's in her purple sexy thing and she's got short hair, and she sprays air freshener on herself and in the room. Anytime I feel like, do I still have that thing? And I watch that scene, it makes me feel happy. Like, oh, she's still in me. I still feel that sexiness. I can still wear that same negligee or lingerie and feel sexy. It's just a different version, you know?

[Keke Palmer]

I love that.

[Nia Long]

Yeah. She's like my. My sex kitten. Oh.

[Keke Palmer]

I mean, Jordan, I just. I just loved.

[Nia Long]

We all gotta have a sex kitten.

[Keke Palmer]

The role. Oh, you know what? The character you'd want your sons to see.

[Nia Long]

Can they. Brandi from Boyz n the Hood we recently watched. I recently watched that with Kez.

[Keke Palmer]

I would never forget that scene that they redid in the Wayans movie where he doing, like, the.

[Nia Long]

Or when Snoop and I reenacted it.

[Keke Palmer]

This is so funny.

[Nia Long]

It's so bad.

[Keke Palmer]

That is so. And it's dramatic, right? So it's like, oh, my gosh, it's so sad. And she's, like, holding you, and it's like. And you so tiny, too.

[Nia Long]

So tiny.

[Keke Palmer]

Thank you. You know, but I just loved that. It's just so funny. Okay. The role that shifted, how Hollywood saw you.

[Nia Long]

Mm. I don't know. Have I played her yet? Ooh. I think there's different phases to one's career, right? Like, Boyz n the Hood was one thing. Then it was Brandy as a woman. Then it was, you know, Nina as a lover. And now there's Katherine Jackson. So we'll see.

[Keke Palmer]

I'm very excited about this.

[Nia Long]

Yeah, we'll see.

[Keke Palmer]

Last two. The film you turn into a series today. Mm. I would, like, love Jones's series.

[Nia Long]

Well, I think the Hang Suite, AKA Don't Ever Wonder. We've had many different titles right now. It's called Don't Ever Wonder, and the joke on set was Don't Ever Wonder. That was like, we would just run around set saying that.

[Keke Palmer]

And this is the new one coming out with Lila Marin, and I think

[Nia Long]

it would actually make A great shout out to Macro.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah, they're on the show.

[Nia Long]

And James Lopez.

[Keke Palmer]

James Lopez.

[Nia Long]

And Charles King.

[Keke Palmer]

Charles King. Shout out to them all the time. Yeah.

[Nia Long]

Yeah.

[Keke Palmer]

So, okay. Don't ever wonder. I'm very excited about this. I will say I do have a pitch for Love Jones, guys. Love Jones. But you do it like every episode is a new couple of lone johns. It's like an anthology of romance.

[Nia Long]

She's hijacking all of my movies. It's true.

[Keke Palmer]

Because she has an archive. Do you know how long it takes to build that? Okay, last one.

[Nia Long]

Yeah.

[Keke Palmer]

And you kind of mentioned it a little bit, but the story that you'd want to tell that you haven't told yet, is there something that speaks to you that you want to tell?

[Nia Long]

Yeah, there's a story about a woman and a son that I want to tell.

[Keke Palmer]

That you know what it is or you just something about that?

[Nia Long]

Well, I think that the intimacy between a mother and a son is something that you can't always describe. And I have two sons, and I have very different relationships with both of them, but they're both so necessary for my soul. Right. And so I think. I think it doesn't have to be tragic.

[Keke Palmer]

Yeah.

[Nia Long]

I think it needs to be real and it needs to be contemporary.

[Keke Palmer]

Yes. I mean, I couldn't agree with you more.

[Nia Long]

I'm just tired of seeing us in these dark, dark, dark, dark places. It's not necessary, because we are everything, and we are all the things and we get. We should be able to play every. We should be able to explore the pieces within us in these women that we're playing. And I think I have a responsibility to myself to be a part of that. So I'm just trying to figure it all out. I'm still growing, I'm still learning. I'm still making mistakes, and that means I'm alive. And that's great.

[Keke Palmer]

Yep. I mean, I'm right there with you. And I'm so happy that you came on the podcast.

[Nia Long]

Oh, my God. This is like, my first podcast.

[Keke Palmer]

Oh, my gosh. Really?

[Nia Long]

I think so. Period.

[Keke Palmer]

Baby, this is Keke Palmer. And baby, this is Nia Long. Yay. There's a reason Nia Long has such an impact on the culture. Okay. The takeaways from her life on screen and behind the scenes are a masterclass in how to not only survive, but thrive in an industry that didn't come with a playbook. And her next chapter, stepping into the role of Katherine Jackson in Michael is a reminder that what's meant for you will always find you. Nia consistently raises the bar and is proof that time does not define you. You define it. Thank you for watching and you know, we'll see you next time on baby this is Kiki Palmer. Baby, this is. This is Kiki. Baby, this is Kiki Palma. Yeah.