Porscha: From Hollywood High to Tyler Perry’s ”Divorce Sisters”: Making Your Passion Your Paycheck

Summary

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BILFPOD Episode Summary

Podcast: BILFPOD (Boss I'd Like To Follow)

Host: Mara Dorne
Guest: Porscha Coleman
Episode: "Porscha: From Hollywood High to Tyler Perry’s ‘Divorce Sisters’: Making Your Passion Your Paycheck"
Date: May 14, 2026

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Episode Overview

This candid, high-energy installment of BILFPOD features the multi-talented Porscha Coleman—actress, singer, dancer, TV host, entrepreneur—as she chronicles her journey from Hollywood High to starring in Tyler Perry’s hit series “Divorce Sisters.” Host Mara Dorne and Porscha engage in an unfiltered and motivating conversation filled with real talk on authenticity, building a multi-faceted career, challenges faced as a Black woman in Hollywood, entrepreneurship, family, and the importance of following your passion and intuition. The conversation is peppered with memorable moments, laughs, and practical advice.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Passion and Authenticity in Your Career

• Porscha’s Motto: “Make your passion your paycheck”
  • “If you love what you do, it'll never burn you out.” (00:04, 04:10)
  • “I'd rather be at a long day on set for 15 hours than clocking in at a 9 to 5 that I hate.” (04:17)
• Mara and Porscha immediately vibe over their shared high-energy personalities and petite statures. (01:12–01:38)
• Authenticity over authority:
  • “People gravitate to authenticity, like you said, and they can smell it. If you're fake, ...you're going to get left behind.” – Porscha (00:10, 56:01)
• Breaking Out of Boxes:
  • Both discuss resisting pressure to “niche down” or choose only one pursuit.
  • “To me, when I hear people say niche down or choose one, it’s someone who’s closed-minded, who doesn’t see the possibility of being more than just one thing.” – Porscha (08:09)

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2. Porscha’s Journey: Early Life, Education, and Hollywood Hustle

• Grew up in LA, attended Hollywood High School Performing Arts where many stars were alumni.
  • “I know nothing else besides entertainment since I was a kid.” (02:55)
• Family roots in music; first in her family to pursue on-camera acting. (03:00)
• Early break: Booked commercials as a child; never had a traditional 9-to-5. (03:28)
• Career highlights: From Disney’s Mickey Mouse Club revival, to The Parkers, to Silicon Valley.
  • “All the agents that were saying, ‘Pick one,’ could kiss my ass.” (07:51)

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3. Women, Diversity, and Representation

• Black Women in Hollywood:
  • “At one point it absolutely did [set me back], ...when I think back about me, Kyla Pratt, Megan Good, Jennifer Freeman ...there was only one of us at a time.” (12:41)
  • “Now… you’re seeing five Black women, or shows like Ugly Betty, Fresh Off the Boat… It’s a different time now.” (12:56)
• Entrepreneurial Revolution:
  • “Women are taking over… there’s nothing on this planet that happens without women. We are the voices that speak up.” (14:05)
  • “I don’t care—guys, we love you—but we don’t do it for you. We do it to make us feel better.” (14:46)

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4. Motherhood, Fertility, and the Industry

• Changing Attitudes:
  • “Do not not choose to be a mom if you … want to, because this career will pass by… the hot show you’re on now will be nowhere… but your babies are with you forever.” —Advice to Porscha from industry veteran Kim Whitley (16:00–17:08)
• Candidly shares her journey with fibroids, surgery, and fertility preservation:
  • “Here I am now … knowing that I’m fibroid free, I’m healthy, I have no scarring.” (18:00)
  • “Years ago, people had to get hysterectomies over a fibroid… now, there are options.” (19:03)
• Industry still brings unique pressures for women balancing career and family. (19:40)

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5. Multi-Hyphenate Empire: Music, DJing, and Business

• Launching an EDM project and exploring DJing:
  • “I’ve always loved EDM… the dance space is beautiful.” (21:41)
  • “Everybody loves a girl DJ. It’s so hot to me.” (22:10)
• Entrepreneurship & AI:
  • “If you don’t know tech, you’re going to get left behind.” (24:17)
  • Operates businesses in LA and Las Vegas, employing other entertainers, leveraging AI, and running stealth online clothing brands. (24:01–25:15)

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6. Mental Health, Burnout, and Mindset

• Energy, Burnout, and Resilience:
  • “The quicker you can get out of [a bad] space, the better your life will be.” (23:34)
  • “I think haters are beautiful. Why? You must have something they like.” (28:29)
  • “If you ain’t got no haters, you ain’t doing your job.” (28:31)
• On preparing and learning to handle high pressure and criticism:
  • “It’s not hard work if you’re prepared and you know your shit.” (27:51)
• Social Media: Humor and strategy in dealing with haters—sometimes trolls right back (32:11)

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7. Navigating the Entertainment Industry and #MeToo Issues

• Porscha gives frank insights on child stardom scandals:
  • Grateful her mother maintained boundaries and protected her: “My mom was not having it… I wasn’t at those parties.” (41:12–44:39)
  • “It starts with your home, for sure… you have a responsibility as a parent—18 years.” (43:13)
  • Open communication is key in families. (46:16)

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8. Generational Wisdom, Parenting, and Influence

• Comparing communication and awareness: Then vs. now.
  • “We were socially aware. We had communication skills. Now… kids are so awkward, they hide behind the screen.” (31:19)
• Discussion on raising children with honesty, boundaries, and open dialogue.
  • “Everything is childhood trauma… you have to take that childhood and really cultivate it.” (50:11–51:03)
• Humor and stories about sibling dynamics and “snitch” younger siblings. (49:03–51:39)

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9. Looking Forward: Manifesting the Next Big Thing

• Future Dreams:
  • “The next big thing is tour—I would love to be on a music tour, ...perform at festivals, open overseas…” (52:06)
  • Inspired by Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston—natural performers. (53:17)
• Advocating for self-produced work in the age of digital media:
  • “If someone doesn’t believe in it, do it yourself.” (55:02)

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Memorable Quotes

• “All the agents that were saying, ‘Pick one,’ could kiss my ass.” —Porscha (07:51)
• “If you love what you do, it'll never burn you out… I'd rather be at a long day on set for 15 hours than clocking in at a 9 to 5 that I hate.” —Porscha (04:10, 04:17)
• “If you don’t know tech, you are going to get left behind.” —Mara (25:16)
• “You can only determine your destiny because you know what you wanna do.” —Porscha (09:49)
• “Women are the voices that speak up. …We are keeping these brands alive.” —Porscha (14:15)
• “Haters are beautiful… you must have something they like.” —Porscha (28:29)
• “I think that is the message of today’s show: you really can be a self-proclaimed whatever you want.” —Mara (55:02)
• “People gravitate to authenticity… If you're fake, ...you're going to get left behind.” —Porscha (56:01)

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Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:04 | Porscha on making your passion your paycheck
• 02:55 | Growing up in LA, entertainment roots, first commercial
• 04:10 | The importance of loving your work
• 06:34 | Pressure to “pick one” talent, breaking the mold
• 12:30–13:18 | Being a Black woman in Hollywood then vs. now
• 14:05 | The economic and societal power of women
• 17:09–19:31 | Fertility struggles, fibroids, and preserving options
• 21:41 | New EDM project, love of DJ culture
• 24:01 | Entertainment businesses and AI/tech ventures
• 27:11–28:45 | Burnout, haters, mental health, handling critique
• 41:07–44:39 | Protecting child stars; parents’ roles in showbiz scandals
• 52:06 | Next goals: music tour, global performance, producing own work
• 55:02 | The message: define your own way, embrace multifaceted passions

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Final Takeaways

Porscha’s story is a living example of how embracing all your talents and authentic self—not just what industry gatekeepers tell you—is the path to fulfillment and success. Whether she’s acting, singing, DJing, running businesses, or advocating for women’s autonomy and representation, her drive and honesty inspire. As Mara summarizes: “You really can be a self-proclaimed whatever you want… and you are the spitting image of it.”

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Connect with Porscha:
Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Snapchat: @PorschaColeman

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(Ad segments, opening/closing credits, and promotional breaks omitted.)

Transcript

[A]

Today's guest really is a jack of all trades and a master of many.

[B]

Make your passion your paycheck, because if you love what you do, it'll never burn you out. You'll never get tired. You'll still love what you're doing. It just may get tiring a little bit because you're like, oh, it's been a long day, but I'd rather be at a long day on set for 15 hours than clocking it at a 9 to 5 that I hate because I just need to check. People gravitate to authenticity, like you said,

[A]

and they can smell it. If you're fake, if you don't know AI, if you don't know tech, you're

[B]

going to get left behind.

[A]

Welcome back to the Bilfpod, where authenticity trumps authority. Now, you know, just being a woman in general is not always that easy. We think as a society, we have been very progressive, which we haven't. But today's guest really is a jack of all trades and a master of many. So I am so excited to have Ms. Portia Coleman. She is a singer, an actress, a TV host, does voiceovers. I mean, I don't think there is anything this girl does not do. A breath of fresh air, a ball of energy. Welcome to the build pod, girl.

[B]

Come on. Thank you. Come on the build.

[A]

Did you like that? And I like. I gave you, like, a whole of it.

[B]

That intro was like. I mean, I love it. You gave me every title that I needed, that I wanted, and then I.

[A]

You need all your accolades because you are such a, like, you're such a vibe. I love your energy. You come in like, you come in. You're this little thing like yours, just tiny. She's probably. What are you, like, five, one, five, two?

[B]

Yes, I'm five two.

[A]

Yeah. And I. Me too. I'm five. I'm five two, six and a half. I'm a seven and a half.

[B]

Oh, my gosh.

[A]

Seven.

[B]

Dang it. I can't take those shoes.

[A]

But I love it. Like, and I come in all the time with the big, you know, the big heels just to like. And that's how you. You're so tiny.

[B]

You come in with this big energy.

[A]

Huge energy.

[B]

That's that cancer Leo vibe. I'm like the fire and the water energy all combines. I love it. I love it.

[A]

So we have so much to talk about and cover and I. And I love that you just. You'll talk about anything. I love that.

[B]

Anything.

[A]

But let's dive in. So. Okay. I know you Were saying that you went to, like, the Hollywood Acting School, right?

[B]

Yes, I went to Hollywood High School. Oh, okay. That's performing arts.

[A]

So you're from la?

[B]

Born and raised in la. I was born in Van Nuys. I was raised in Sherman Oaks, and I went to Hollywood High School, Performing arts. So Brandi went there. John Ritter, Carol Burnett, Laurence Fishburne. It's an iconic school. So it was amazing always to be at a school where your friends are also entertainers. So you always feel like you are at home with your friends when it's like, oh, you're on a set. What are you doing today? Oh, nothing much. I just went to this set and just was talking to this actor. It's like, it's no big deal compared to a lot of times, maybe being around friends where they think you're bragging about. It's not like we're bragging. We just went to a great school. And even my junior high school was like that Milliken Middle School, which is now actually Louis Armstrong Junior High School, they renamed it. So we have so many entertainers that came from that school as well. Like Mikey Menden, my good friend, who's a dancer, choreographer for the Pussycat Dolls, and Columbus Short, who is an actor. So many people. So I grew up around people that did what I did. So I know nothing else besides entertainment since I was a kid.

[A]

So now you do you come from a family of, like, entertainers as well

[B]

on the music side?

[A]

Yes.

[B]

So my mom and my aunts and UNC were all in music. They traveled overseas. So I'm the first, like, one that was doing the acting side. My aunt and my uncle were doing it as well. So I was young and, you know, they were like, you should try to get into some acting classes. And my mom was like, all right, we'll give it a shot. And I went and I auditioned and I did, like, a big red commercial. I remember, like, it was yesterday. Big Red commercial, where I was like, you pop the big red and you taste the juice. Like, it was just a whole commercial that I did in front of, like, all these agents.

[A]

I could picture it, like, I could

[B]

totally be so cute.

[A]

Like, you're this little cute thing.

[B]

Six or seven. I was like, six or seven. I was six or seven. I did this big red commercial. And after, like, all the agents were like, we wanna hire you. And we was like, you know what? This one guy really feels like he could give me a good start. So took me to Coast To Coast Talent Agency, which was the biggest kids agency at the time, and I booked, like, three commercials, like, out the gate.

[A]

That is crazy.

[B]

So you kind of always.

[A]

This was always kind of like, in your hearts.

[B]

It was like, I'm so blessed to always say, like, I never have had a 9 to 5. I've always been singing, acting, dancing, hosting. Anything in entertainment is what I embod. And I love that because for me, I feel like, yes, this was meant to be. It's like, I can't imagine doing anything else because it never feels like work. And I always like to tell people, make your passion your paycheck.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Because if you love what you do, it'll never burn you out. You'll never get tired. You'll still love what you're doing. It just may get tiring a little bit because you're like, oh, it's been a long day. But I'd rather be at a long day on set for 15 hours than clocking in at a 9 to 5 that I hate, because I just need

[A]

to check that is so that I agree. I mean, we were talking about it before, like, to be stagnant. It's always like, we're like, we're tired. I'm tired. But then the minute I have nothing going on, I'm like, oh, the antsiness comes in. I'm like, what am I doing next? What's going on here?

[B]

It's Theorese, it's Source.

[A]

It is a lot. So you already, like, you're on your path and you've done a lot of different things. Right now I know you're working with Tyler Perry so that, I mean, not to name drop. I mean, just saying, girl, just we can name drop.

[B]

I mean, just, you know, one of the biggest billionaire writer, producer, directors in the game. Yes, we are on Paramount. Divorced Sisters has been killing it. Last year when we debuted, we were the number one biggest show ever on bet. And now BET has merged, and now they're on Paramount. Everything on the Tyler Perry world is now on Paramount. So Divorced Sisters is on Paramount. We are midway through our season, and it is going amazing. So many people love the show, and we have billboards everywhere. Like, I was just at the Beverly Center. We have some down in Times Square. So it's exciting. It's a great time. And my character, Naomi, is a crazy mess, which I love to play.

[A]

I love it. And your face just lights up as you're talking about it. So you can tell, like, you genuinely just love what you do.

[B]

I do. I think I love what I do, especially this character, because it's like, it's like me, but it's not. So she's a divorcee. I've never been married. Not divorced. She has a adult son about 20 years old. I don't have any children. She's an alcoholic. I've never drank alcohol. I don't even drink. That's so good. I don't drink. She smokes cigarettes. I've never smoked. So she's like the rebel and like my alter ego of crazy insanity. And it's really dope to play this character where it's kind of like a badass. You know, I think so many characters you play on tv, you're like, okay, the girl next door or the girlfriend, it's safe. But this character is anything but some.

[A]

I love that you get to be like an alter ego over there living your life.

[B]

It's so fun. It's so fun. Yeah.

[A]

So we were talking prior about boxing yourself in. And I know that, you know, you are. You're a multi talented actress, singer, dancer. I mean, that's. Was there ever a time where you felt. And I imagine. Cause I was saying this before, like that you had to figure out which direction you were going. You're gonna be a dancer, you're gonna be a singer. I mean, how did you. How are you continuing just to be multifaceted? Yeah.

[B]

You know, I used to hate that because I remember several agents that I had said, okay, you act, we know you sing, but you need to stop doing the singing thing. Well, we know you dance and you need to stop doing the dance thing. You need to just pick one. And it was so funny because when I was 16, I booked a Disney show. It's like the Mickey Mouse Club. If anybody knows the Mickey Mouse Club.

[A]

I know the Mickey Mouse Club.

[B]

I know the biggest show.

[A]

Yes, I know.

[B]

Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Britney Spears, Ryan Gosling, everybody came from this show where you were singing, acting, and that was like a staple. Years later, they wanted to bring it back. So they had a nationwide search for kids. And out of all the thousands of kids, it came down to 14. And I was one of the 14 where you had to sing, you had to act, you had to dance, you had to do sketch comedy. I booked that show right after. I remember being 17 years old and getting a good show that people love. It's called the Parkers, where Brandi and you have Monique. And it was like a spinoff of the show Moesha. On the show, they literally were looking for singers where the girl's supposed to come in the show, be in the singing group and be a singer, but obviously a good actress. I booked that show. Why? Because I could sing. Then I end up getting, years later, Silicon Valley, they wanted a dancer. I booked it cause I was a dancer and a singer. There's so many jobs that I look back on now and I'm like, I wouldn't have got those had I not been multifaceted or multi talented. So all the agents that were saying, pick one could kiss my ass. I love that.

[A]

No, because there's a lot of pressure. What are you talking about? I mean, even just, you know, now I was telling you about the podcast, like, you know, you need a niche down. But then I'm like, well, that kind of boxes me. And so I can only imagine for you that if you didn't kind of showcase everything that you did, you would have missed a lot of opportunities.

[B]

A ton. To me, when I hear people say niche down or choose one, it's someone who's closed minded, who doesn't see the possibility of being more than just one thing. Especially now in today's time, let's be real. The way this economy is, the way business and life runs, do you really think that you can just pick one thing in life and be like, yep, this is gonna be it for life and I'll be good?

[A]

I don't think so.

[B]

Absolutely not. And it's a whole different time where, you know, we're seeing like our generations that are shifting. Like our parents or our parents prior, they had one job, they went there for 40, 50 years, they collected their pension, and they just chilled the rest of their life. That was their reality. That's not how it is now. For someone as a millennial who was like, wait a minute, I can do all these different things. I want to make money in these different things. I want to brand myself in these different things, and I want to take over on all these different things. Why do I got to pick something just because somebody doesn't get it?

[A]

I agree with you. I think that in this society, this day and age, that you can be, especially as a woman, a million times, stop the victim. I talked about that yesterday. Stop the bullshit about I'm a woman. I can't.

[B]

Come on.

[A]

You absolutely can do whatever you want in this life and you can be multifaceted and have. And you should have a few hustles going on. Because nothing in life is guaranteed.

[B]

Nothing in life is guaranteed. Right now. There's so many people that I know that are personally, that are friends that had doctorates that went to school and college, spent all this money, who are unemployed, they don't have jobs, they have no opportunities because they were boxed in in a certain way, waiting for their niche, and it's not happening. So now they're having to transition at the 35 or 45 years old to do something else. If you're growing up in a certain way where you have these talents and you're really cultivating what they are, you're not gonna get boxed in and have someone just say, this is what you have to do, and just stick to it. To me, people telling you what to do is just bullshit. Sorry, excuse me. I think you can only determine your destiny because you know what you wanna do.

[A]

Absolutely.

[B]

And I had that happen so much where you felt even boxed in, even from, from family, in a certain sense. You know, your family and people that know you, they know you, how they met you, they. You're the little, little girl, you're their little best friend. But they don' necessarily see the vision that you see for yourself. So you can't let someone else determine what you are gonna be, because if Tyler let that happen, he would still be sleeping in his car and not being a billionaire and producing all these shows and movies on Netflix and Amazon because someone said, don't do that. Just stick to the little plays. He didn't do that, which is why he's successful. So I've always surrounded myself with people who thought bigger and who have a vision, because if you don't, they're gonna keep you boxed in.

[A]

Absolutely.

[B]

Even your family.

[A]

Yeah, I agree with you. And, you know, when you were talking about, like, the way that, you know, the way that I was brought up is that you go to school, you know, you go into Cor America. If you made six figures, a 401k plan, then you did really well for yourself. But that's not. I do have a master's degree, but I can tell you firsthand that I did absolutely nothing for it. And being an entrepreneur.

[B]

Crazy, right?

[A]

I did nothing with it. Zero. And being an entrepreneur. But, you know, talking about being. You are so dynamic. And, you know, let's talk about, like, the elephant in the room. Being a black woman in Hollywood.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

I cannot imagine, first of all, as a woman, you know, that it would be.

[B]

That's one thing.

[A]

Yeah, that's. I mean, now you got a double. Women. You're a black woman in there. So do you feel like that ever kind of set you back? And even I don't. I feel like, even if it did. You probably are like, whatever, I don't give a fuck.

[B]

No, no, no. I mean, at one point it absolutely did. I love to speak about this is because when you look at the shows that are out now, you have shows that are being led by black women.

[A]

I love it.

[B]

You know, if you think of Kerry Washington, when Scandal was out, Viola Davis, how to Get Away with Murder, there were so many shows that were led by black women. But then it was still, let's say, a cast of white or other people that were there. But if you think back 20 years ago, that was not happening. I mean, you had the Cosbys, you had Family Matters, you had certain shows. But they were on that network at that time.

[A]

Yeah, the same time. On the same channel, same time. And it was back to back to back, like 227.

[B]

All the time. All the time. I used watching Tutsu, all these different shows where, like, the black household and the black family had to sit down and watch these shows. Cause they were gonna come on one time and you gotta make sure you watch it. Cause you ain't gonna get a whole network full of black shows. Then there was a time where a little network again, if you guys know tv, it was upn. And UPN came. That's where the Parkers came from. That's where Moesha was on Homeboys in Outer Space. One on one. There was one network dedicated just to black shows and black content. But even thinking back, there was only one black girl per show that could get hired. I remember going out for that's so Raven. And Raven was not even the lead of the show at the time. It was supposed to be a white girl lead. And somebody was supposed to be the best friend, which was the black girl.

[A]

Right.

[B]

Raven came in, blew everybody away. And they were like, no, we're gonna make the show that's so Raven. And we'll make somebody else the lead alongside of her. Which meant no other black girls could be on the show.

[A]

So it was just one, because that was the one. Yeah.

[B]

So every show, when I think back about me, Kyla Pratt, Megan Good, Jennifer Freeman. So many of us that were starting, it was only one of us at a time. So it took longer to get your name out there. It took a while for you to get your opportunity because they couldn't have you all together.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Now, fast forward looking at it 20 years later, we're like, we're on shows where you're seeing five black women or you're seeing shows like Ugly Betty where you're looking at all Latino cast. You're seeing other shows fresh off the boat where you're seeing, you know, Pacific Asian Americans that are on shows. It's like, it's a different time now. So it's a blessing that we're here now because it wasn't like that before.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So, yes, it was hard. But now you have shows with like, we need our black girl. We need our people of color, our Indian, because why? That's what America looks like.

[A]

I mean, yeah, it's ridiculous to say, like, it's absolutely true, like, every time. And I am a white woman, but I do not look like a white woman. No.

[B]

So I thought you were a beautiful Latina. It doesn't see.

[A]

And I never. There was no shows that ever look like me.

[B]

No, no.

[A]

You know, growing up, you're like, you're so stereotype. It's like stereotypical stereotype. But yeah, I mean, there has been, I would say, slow progression for women. They're slow ethnic women.

[B]

We're moving, we're moving.

[A]

We're flowing in one direction, but that's

[B]

happening because I think they're realizing our power. If you look at the market right now, who spends billions on beauty? Women on women.

[A]

Women are taking over Women entrepreneur. Say it. I just saw a whole thing on it that women entrepreneurship is up. Like, they're, I think women, like 40% this year. It's women entrepreneurship.

[B]

Absolutely. There's nothing in this planet that happens without women. We are the voices that speak up.

[A]

Amen.

[B]

We are the people that support. We are going to concerts, we're buying products. We are keeping these brands alive. So we are the spender. You look at guys, it's like, so you guys are telling us what to do, but we are the ones that are actually keeping the economy going.

[A]

We are the ones that spend all the money on the beauty products and hair.

[B]

Thank you.

[A]

We will spend whatever money it takes to be young, hot and skinny, period. It doesn't matter.

[B]

It does not matter because we feel as women. Like that makes us feel beautiful.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

I don't care. Guys, we love you, but we don't do it for you guys. We do it to make us feel better. It's 100%. If I know that I'm waking up and I'm going in the mirror and I'm like, okay, I like the way my body looks. I'm looking the way, oh, I want to try this new hair look. If I want to try something makeup wise, I'm doing it for me. Yeah. If you guys like it that is beautiful. But me, I want to do it for myself, to make feel a certain way. So I love that. Now women entrepreneurs are taking over and we are leaders and thought provokers in the best way because we are leading a revolution and a movement. That is so important.

[A]

Well, it's important too. You know, I have a 18 year old daughter and for me, like one of the biggest inspirations is her. And I know that there's so many young women out there that, you know, they're looking, look, social media is one thing, but they're also filtered and that's not reality. So it is extra important for women like us to express the importance of entrepreneurship as well as talk about it and being open. So one thing I wanted, we were talking a little bit about this and I was asking you if you had children. And I know that I interviewed somebody else, a singer that has been in the industry many, many years, and we talked about children and she brought up having children while she started her career. And it was kind of frowned upon.

[B]

It's hard. Yeah, it was hard. I think so many women, which I think now we look back and we say thank you. Because I remember Kim Whitley is a talented actress, so successful, funny comedian. I remember seeing her like a year ago and she was like, you all cute, you look great. You know, I've been knowing you since you was a teenager. And she has known me since I was a teenager. My first acting coach was her roommate. So she always sees me and she's like, but what are we doing about this body and your fertility? Like, you gonna have kids? And I was like, well, eventually I want to. She said, don't let Hollywood tell you not to do something. Cause she said back then we couldn't do that 25, 30 years ago. It was frowned upon. We would get fired for it. She said now do not not choose to be a mom if you don't, if you really want to, because this career will pass right by and the hot show that you're on now will be nowhere to be found in 15, 20 years. But you won't have what you actually wanted. Let's say as, as a parent, if you want that. And she's right. Back then, girls would get fired. You would get looked at, oh, you're having a child. Goodbye now. It's illegal. You can't fire a woman for choosing to say, I want to have a child. Now they have the health care service, they have everything that now supports women because why women give birth, we are the ones that create life. So you Mean, you're gonna fire us and get rid of us for doing what you need to do to literally have humans.

[A]

Yeah. To procreate it.

[B]

To procreate.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

So, yes, it's a beauty and a blessing now that's accepted. And I was talking to you earlier like, I saved my eggs. I love that I made it a point. And it was an interesting time because I had fibroids, didn't even know how bad they were. And I would always have heavy cycles. And I was like, okay, it's just normal for me not realizing. No, my iron was low. I was going through a lot of things, but I was just fighting through it. And I remember going to get an. And they're like, yeah, we see about eight. And I'm like, oh, okay. That's a number. Okay. I still waited a couple months. Cause I didn't want to go through having this big incision. And I'm like, you want to cut me open? And I'm like, I'm in my prime. No, I don't want any of that. I waited. I waited. And I went online, and I found a doctor who did laparoscopic myomectomies where they basically go through the belly button. Then I'm like, oh, my God. This is innovative at this point. A year already went by. I went back. They're like, you have 12 fibroids. I'm like, dang. They keep going.

[A]

Oh, no.

[B]

By the time I got to do my surgery, I remember being on the table. You know, you get all woozy, and you go to sleep. I wake up five hours. The surgery was. It wasn't supposed to be five. It was supposed to be two and a half. And the doctor told me I had 18 fibroids.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

18. And I was mind blown. I was like, 18 fibroids in my little body. What are you talking about? Like, where?

[A]

How?

[B]

And one was in the posterior, where I guess it was like, as big as, like, an orange. But it was, like, in my lower back, so you couldn't see it. Because he said, if you would have been shaped differently and this fibroid would have been in your front, you would have had an emulsion stomach. And I'm like, 18 fibroids. Who would have thought? And I tried to save my eggs prior, and they couldn't even get to all the eggs that I had because of the fibroids. So here I am now, going back to do it again, knowing that I'm fibroid free, I'm healthy, I have no scarring, and I'm so grateful because of technology, because years ago I know people that had to get hysterectomies over a fibroid. Like one of my aunts had to get a hysterectomy because they said, you have a fibroid problem. They took everything out. And it started her early menopause, basically, which is.

[A]

I know quite a few women that did that.

[B]

And that's horrible to think that doctors would rather do that versus obviously taking the time to say, well, what are four fibroids? What's happening? Because again, women, we are the leaders and thought provokers, but we weren't always the ones that they chose to say, let's do more time and research on what women need to be supported. So, again, it's a great time to be alive and to know that in my prime of fertility, there are other ways to go about either having children or saving eggs. So when I want to do it, the eggs are there. And then just gotta find the right guy to fertilize.

[A]

I mean, yeah, that's all you need, girl. That's all you need.

[B]

And I can still go to the sperm bank or ask somebody to do it, or I have the option.

[A]

You have lots of options. I love that.

[B]

But it is.

[A]

I mean, it is something that is important to talk about. And I can only imagine in Hollywood the pressure, though, because you have to look somewhere, you have to look this way. You have to fit a certain criteria. You know, you can't get pregnant if you're on this season or that season or whatever the case may be.

[B]

It's tough.

[A]

So it's a lot of pressure. I can only imagine it's pressure because

[B]

you don't want to, like, not lose a job, because again, you can't lose a job. But then you think, how does that shift your role? Do they got to write you out of a certain. And they have to work around it, which they've done in so many different instances for so many women. But it's like, do you choose the time now or do you wait? And again, if you continue to wait, the window may be gone. Cause we only got a certain amount of eggs a certain amount of time. So that's why I think having the option to save them is the best of both worlds to say, when I'm ready to do it, when I know the timing is right to orchestrate in the show, then I can. Or, you know, let's say if there's a time off. I mean, these shows tape so fast. Like, you guys don't know Tyler Perry tapes so quick.

[A]

I'm sure. What is it like? You designate, like, a few weeks and that's it?

[B]

Girl, I wish it was a few. So how about this? We have 16 episodes per season. Eight days.

[A]

Eight days.

[B]

Eight.

[A]

So you're working. So your hours are insane.

[B]

Hours are insane. But the blessing of it is that you knock it all out and then you're good.

[A]

Then done. Yeah. Then done.

[B]

So we have three weeks. One week is pre production, fittings, wardrobe, rehearsing, doing all that. Second week you're shooting, and by then, we wrapped in the first season, nine days. He even cut it down to eight. And this season, eight days.

[A]

Wow. All right. Okay. Well, that's good. I mean, you get it done. Imagine. Yeah.

[B]

What if I already did a season and it's eight days and I'm not gonna come back till next year? That leaves nine months for a baby.

[A]

There you go.

[B]

And all the time went out to get it done. So it's just strategizing different things and seeing what you want. But I'm just glad that you have actors that have been there, done that, that literally are telling me, don't choose to not do it if that's what you want, because you will look up and regret it later on, thinking that your show is gonna be here forever or that this moment's gonna last. Everything is going to come and go, but your babies are with you forever.

[A]

This is true. Maybe this is a manifestation. I don't know. Maybe next time I see you, you

[B]

might never, ever know. You never know.

[A]

And you have. You have so many things going on. So you were telling me that you have an EDM Jess. So let's talk about that.

[B]

I'm so excited. I have an EDM project that I'm doing right now, which, to me, I've always loved EDM and dance music. And now I'm just like, this is it. I found a great producer. My writing team is amazing. And it's like this dance side is like the Portia. Like, I've always loved festivals. Like, even in Vegas here, EDC is big. Like, I really do love how dance music makes you feel. I've done afrobeats, different stuff, but the dance music and the dance space is beautiful. And, I mean, even venturing into the DJ space.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

You know what I'm saying?

[A]

Who doesn't like a girl dj?

[B]

Everybody loves a girl dj.

[A]

Everybody does.

[B]

It's so hot to me when a girl can put on the headphones.

[A]

Yes. And then just get in there.

[B]

Yeah, get in there and get down to it. It's like, I look at Calvin Harris and, like, Tiesto and all these different people that are in the space where it's like, people love them. I mean, Coachella just wrapped up. And when I'm sitting here watching Calvin Harris and everybody go. And, like, I love how people react to the dj. To me, as someone who doesn't.

[A]

All about the dj.

[B]

Everything is about the dj.

[A]

All about the dj.

[B]

I don't care if I go.

[A]

Especially if you're not drinking. Oh, and the music is awful. Done.

[B]

It's done.

[A]

Yeah. Me, I'm done. Me too.

[B]

The first thing I do when I go somewhere, I'm like, who's the DJ? If I know the DJ's good, I'm there. If not, I'm like, eh, I'll pass. Cause being sober and having bad music and knowing people around you is like a horrible combination.

[A]

The absolute worst combination.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So you are doing all these things. Right. And you also have a business that you. That you run, too. So, like, I do. How do you have. First of all, how do you have enough time in a day to do all this? And, like, where. You know, where are you getting all this? You're a ball of energy. Thank you. You're walking in, you come in, you're like, all. I mean, is this every day for you where you feel like you're excited? You're just excited to be alive?

[B]

I am. I think it's a beautiful thing when you can. Whether you're having a good day or bad day. I just operate in the space that it is. If you're having a bad day, you got to switch it. Switch your mindset, because certain things are gonna happen and you can't adjust.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Quickly sometimes. And I think the quicker you can get out of that space, the better your life will be.

[A]

Absolutely.

[B]

You can't.

[A]

There's not many things we can control, but we can control how you feel.

[B]

I can control how I feel. I can't control what someone else around me is doing, but I can control the reaction to it. I can choose to disengage, or I can choose to take it in and prioritize my peace with it all. So I really think that running your business is, like, you kind of have your control. So even when I'm, like, like, doing my work, it's like my business is hiring me. Of course.

[A]

Let's talk about your business, what you're doing.

[B]

Of course. It's entertainment, so it's a booking business. So I have two. One in LA and Then obviously one here in Vegas. And it's basically all things entertainment. So I can, under my own business, employ DJs, writers, artists, producers. So everything that I do under the Porsche helm, I'm hiring people under my corporation.

[A]

Love it.

[B]

So it's like, if you're doing songs for me, good Porsche Entertainment is employing you. Portia Inc. I got out all of that, and it's like, I'm even doing a lot of AI stuff in the space of technology. So even, you know, stock shares, business. Like, I'm a tech nerd. That's the funny thing about it is, like, I'm so nerdy and techie. I love going to all the cess just to watch where technology is headed. And it's like, that's what I want to be. If I can be rich and successful, I would love that I'd be more rich and successful over famous. Famous just kind of comes with the territory. But I want to be stable, I want to be secure, and I want to know that I can wake up being happy to choose what I want to do.

[A]

Right.

[B]

You know, because when you're still grinding, you have to still take everything and every job as an actor. You know, a lot of people have to settle for certain roles that they don't want to do because you're like, oh, the money's bad. You got to getting in a space where you don't have to do that. And you can be selective where you put your energy and time, opens up businesses or AI things to be creative. Like, I have shops that I run online, where I have clothing stores. People even know it's even me.

[A]

I know there. It's so big, right?

[B]

Like it's.

[A]

You don't know. I. If you don't know tech, you are going to get left behind. So you will be left behind. You have to. And you need to be multifaceted and be able to. Because technology is evolving so quickly that, yes, you're right, being an actress is great. It's amazing. But how far, like, how long you know, and then, you know, you really don't know where your next gig's coming from or whatever. But to be able to be multifaceted and have a tech company and have this and have that, have your hustle going on, you really are unstoppable. Because if you're acting with God tomorrow, oh, please. You can fall back on something else

[B]

and you can have that. Because that's the thing. You can't control acting. I can't control when that next season's coming. I can't control when the next job is gonna get booked. As an actor, you gotta wait to audition. That's all you could do. You wait to audition, you send a self tape in. If they hire you, you're hired. If not, what are you gonna do? Yeah, no, at least I know every day I get checks online for just being Portia. I get paid when I'm posting, I get paid when I'm going. Lives all that's good. But if I can know that I'm getting paid because I'm running an online store with merchandise and clothing that has nothing to do with the Porsche brand. That is the beauty of being a businesswoman, an entrepreneur. Like the Oprahs and let's say even Rihanna, like the biggest music artist you can imagine, but her biggest sell is her lingerie, her clothing, her makeup. That's a brand and that's beautiful that a woman can take her her likeness and do something with it. And that same thing that like what you're doing, it's like you're multifaceted. You didn't just say, okay, I want to do one field here, I got my degree. But look at the passion and how you manifested stuff like this. Because why? This is another love and passion that can not only cut a check, but fulfill a desire that you have. If you didn't have a desire to do this, you wouldn't be doing it.

[A]

Yeah, absolutely. I agree.

[B]

But you have the luxury to do it because you can aff to also do that based on your hard work already prior. So it's a beautiful thing.

[A]

Absolutely. Are there ever days where you're like. Cause I know for me I'm pretty much like high energy all the time too. I walk in, I'm a force. But there are definite days where I'm like f. I do not want to do this. Do you ever have those days, the burnout?

[B]

It happens. It for sure happens. I think once you get done doing shows like you do with Tyler, those weeks are like. You come down off such a high because it's drained. You do long hours, but you do like one take. So you gotta do. Imagine like 200 pages a day. Imagine taking a book and memorizing 200 pages and you are on a go like this. Maybe with a 30 minute lunch break. No, it's a mental, like it's mentally challenging. But to me, I like to be challenged. So if it's not a challenge to me, I get bored.

[A]

Yeah, for sure. But it's a mental mindfuck.

[B]

It's a mental Mindfuck. So when all of a sudden you get done, you're like, I just want to sit and not move. And then after, like, two weeks, I'm like, so when are we coming back?

[A]

What's next?

[B]

What's next? And then I get antsy again because I like what I do. I love what I do. So for me, it's always the next opportunity to shine because I feel like I'm prepared. So to me, it's not hard work if you're prepared and know your shit. It's really not hard when you walk in the door, knowing your job, knowing your role, knowing your lines, and anything in life is about preparation.

[A]

Absolutely, 100%.

[B]

Everything is preparation.

[A]

What about. So you're in the public eye. People have a lot of opinions. I'm sure they say things. They don't really know you. How do you channel that negative bullshit where people are painting a picture of someone you're probably not.

[B]

Oh, see, I love that. I call those the haters.

[A]

I love that.

[B]

Hi, haters. We love that.

[A]

You know you made it. If you have a hater.

[B]

If you ain't got no haters, you ain't doing your job. You ain't doing your job. I think haters are beautiful because. Why? You must have something they like that's so true or.

[A]

See, I love it because I use that energy, that negative energy to propel me forward.

[B]

You have to.

[A]

I love it.

[B]

It's. It's beautiful. To me, it's like, well, what are you saying that you don't like, I don't care if it's an outfit, if it's your hair, if it's your makeup. Whatever the case, it is. If someone has the time to go online to concoct a paragraph or something about you, I'm like, it's so funny how bothered you are about me, but you took the time to. Actually, I was just celebrating.

[A]

Can you just scroll? I mean, you could scroll next. Why would you.

[B]

Why would you spend the time and even.

[A]

Like, would you ever go on someone's page and comment or give unsolicited advice?

[B]

Ever do that? I never think in my mind. Awakening. I'm gonna go hate on somebody today,

[A]

and I'm just gonna give them unsolicited advice. Like, who the fuck has time?

[B]

It's wild.

[A]

Sit there and come up with this bullshit.

[B]

Losers and people who ain't making no money.

[A]

That's exactly what it. People ain't got shit to do. Unsolicited advice. I hate those people. They just fucking give you all kinds of shit.

[B]

You're like, thanks. It's why. And then even as an actor, they take these characters so true to life.

[A]

Like these girls.

[B]

Girl, I'm sure this show has brought so much love and hate in the same time, where there'll be people online who are like, I don't like her. I don't support her. And they're like, so wait, you don't like the character or you don't like her? You don't know me. She's just acting. You don't fucking know me. They're like, if you dislike the character and now you hate her, she's doing a damn good job. So I love that. It's like, you don't know me personally. So that's the thing. Like, I'm a tech nerd. I don't drink. I don't smoke. I love astrology. I love donating blood to Children's Hospital. I'm an animal lover. Like, everything that people may not think that I am is like, what I am. So I don't care what your opinion is. You don't know me.

[A]

Was it hard, though? At first, though at first, when the client comments would come in, you know, it's so weird.

[B]

Well, here's the thing.

[A]

But you grew up in this.

[B]

Yeah, but I grew up pre social media. So being in, like, I love it. Being a millennial, we got the best of both worlds. The playing outside, no computers, no Internet. To all of a sudden being in that sixth, seventh, eighth grade where I'm like, oh, it's a big, bulky computer. What is this? And then you have to take computer class.

[A]

Yeah. Do you remember all Macintosh? That Macintosh, bro.

[B]

That Macintosh was so bulky to press the. The button. What about the floppy disk, though?

[A]

That thing you're like, the floppy. That's floppy. And then finally you went to a hard disk.

[B]

We went to the floppy disk. But then what about the aol? The dialogue

[A]

in those chats?

[B]

We'd be in those chat rooms too, girl. My AOL chat room. I still have an AOL email address. And I look and I'm like, I still use it.

[A]

I still use it.

[B]

I love my aol. I'm never letting go of aol. I believe it is just a blessing because why? We come from a time AOL was so beautiful.

[A]

It was a more decent time.

[B]

Remember when we be on AMES and you hear the little, like a instant messenger. I live for the pop up. Me and my friends talk about all the time.

[A]

Oh, my God, I felt the love. Oh, wow.

[B]

Literally this one Guy that I used to like so much. That was our way of communicating. Was on aim. Every time I heard that, I had a sound that I knew that was for him. I'd be like, that's him. Like, we come from a great time. We do. So we were socially aware. We had communication skills. Now it's like, kids are so awkward.

[A]

They are. And they hide behind the screen.

[B]

They hide behind the screen. So to me, when you get a comment from a hater, I'm like, who are they? Some little random either kid or some weirdo guy who's like 70 behind a computer, acting like he's somebody different. It's like, it's kind of creepy to know what kind of people might be behind there. So I don't really take it to heart. Cause they don't know me personally. I am more offended by someone who tells me something that I know. Cause you know me as a person.

[A]

And then it hurts more.

[B]

But a hater, I'd be like, if, you know, I love going back in and trolling.

[A]

Do you go back and comment back?

[B]

Oh, sometimes. Oh, yeah. Depending on what it is. Because guess what?

[A]

Give me the best one. Someone said to you and you gave back. You have to give me a good one again.

[B]

Something about the show. I think the best people will come in and say something. And Instagram is a good one, right? Facebook is like, whatever. They have forums, pages, all that. But when you go on Instagram, why is it always somebody that has a private page? Four followers.

[A]

I was just gonna say, no, no followers.

[B]

And they follow 2,000 people. But they got four followers and they got a private page, and their little pictures looks crazy. So what I'll do is I'll screenshot the picture, enlarge it. Cause you know, on the camera, you screenshot it, post it back on their page, and be like, you're hating on me.

[A]

Who?

[B]

Unblock yourself and show your real face. Cause if this is really you, you need to have a seat. Yeah.

[A]

Or say it with your chest.

[B]

Like, say it with your chest. And then what they do is they'll comment, but then they'll, like, try to block you from, like, posting a comment. I'll be like, don't hide. Now you got my attention. Let's talk.

[A]

That's so funny.

[B]

I don't care. Like, I could be petty like that too. It's just to me, again, if you don't have hate haters, you ain't doing your job.

[A]

Yeah, this is absolutely.

[B]

Because they're never successful. Like, you're never seeing Somebody that's on your level come to your comment box.

[A]

People don't do that. They don't do it that are winning. Don't have time to sit there and give unsolicited comments to come and be

[B]

like, I can't believe you're doing this podcast. Why would you name it that? Oh, you ain't. Like, who?

[A]

Like, what the are you doing? Go get a job. Get a job, Get a job, Get a job.

[B]

A 9 to 5 job, because we're doing real job. We don't gotta wake up to clock in. But you over here behind your desk at your job, at me. Have a seat, girl. That's why I just say, have a seat. I love it.

[A]

Did you ever. Was there ever a moment where you were like, I don't wanna do this anymore.

[B]

Ooh, you know what? I think the only time that really happened was during COVID because I can

[A]

imagine everything shifted, right? Especially here. See, in Florida, we didn't think it was a real thing.

[B]

Oh, yeah, y' all was out partying in Florida. See, I was in LA during COVID and even LA was like, we were shut down.

[A]

I know here every time I would

[B]

go look at Florida, I was like, they living they best life. Florida and Atlanta, y' all was partying.

[A]

We were doing everything.

[B]

Y' all was spreading the Rona everywhere.

[A]

We definitely were. We were giving it to everybody. It was not a real thing.

[B]

Miami didn't care. And I was like, dang. Like, LA was like, you had to be six feet. We had to walk in with. Here's the dumb shit. How you walk in with a mask, but as soon as you sit down, you just take it off.

[A]

You take off the mask to eat.

[B]

Listen, the COVID perspective is a whole other conversation.

[A]

You think the plane, the mask on the plane, we're all breathing the same air.

[B]

You think that the food comes, take it off. I'm like, you realize you're still sitting right here, right? This makes so much sense. All that propaganda is a whole other conversation for a different day. But that time, I think it was a little shift because it was a year and a half of, like, it

[A]

was a long time, nothing.

[B]

So you're like, if everything is shut down, what do. What do I do outside of entertainment? Because I was early in doing business stuff, AI was happening, but not as big maybe five years ago. So it was like, well, what next?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And when they start saying, we gotta do self tapes, which means put yourself on camera and send it to us. Someone like, so I gotta change my Whole place up to record myself to send to you to hope that you watch it and like it.

[A]

Oh, wow.

[B]

Yeah, the burnout happened. Oh, yeah. Because even now, we don't really go in rooms. Like, I booked Tyler's show off of a self tape. I sent in a role for a self tape. I got the call back two days later, and I was in person with him after. But everything now is putting yourself on camera to where cast members are sitting and just watching your tapes.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

So how do you not get burned out when you're not walking in a room anymore to be like, hi, I'm Portia. Here's my scene. Take a listen to what I have to do. You're not doing that anymore.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So you do get a little, like, depressed hired of self taping, wondering, do they like you? What do they think of your tape? Did they see it? Like, you don't get the feedback you used to get when you walk in the room and they're like, hey, I like you. Can you try this? Can you try that? It's like, now it's. Just send it in and, yeah, we'll see if we hear from you.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So, yeah, you. I from 2020. 2021. It was a little burnout, but I

[A]

think the whole world felt like that. But I can only imagine in your industry, like, what it really was like.

[B]

But y' all was partying and had mimosa. Y' all was good.

[A]

We were.

[B]

Y' all didn't care.

[A]

Y'.

[B]

All.

[A]

We were living our best life. That wasn't a real thing.

[B]

It wasn't a thing. But technically, now is it a thing?

[A]

No, it's not a real thing. I was right all along. That's why I never got the COVID test or the shot. I wouldn't do it. No, I'm lying. I got one. That's.

[B]

You did.

[A]

I got one. I'll tell you why. Because I was going on a cruise and they made it. But then I realized that you can, like, sketch the whole thing. So the second one, I just wrote it in. Listen, sorry, but it was not a real thing.

[B]

I knew I was saying right here on record. That was a mess, and it was a lie.

[A]

It was not a real thing.

[B]

I'm sorry. And here's the crazy part, and I'll say this on record. I fell out with family over that.

[A]

I know.

[B]

Me too.

[A]

My family. I remember my mom not wanting to see me. I'm like, I'm your daughter. She didn't want to see me. And then my uncle told Her. She was playing Russian roulette by coming to see me and the kids.

[B]

Who sound. Who sounds that you sound? Tell me why. My own brother said, you're trying to kill our mom. You're trying to kill our mother by not getting your shots. I was like, first of all, all, I'm not asking my mom to come to my house. She's just five minutes away. So she just comes in and out. But outside of that, why are you telling me what to do? You live in a whole other state. I'm not in your house. You don't pay my rent. I can choose to do what I want to do with my body.

[A]

It's the unsolicited thing.

[B]

Unsolicited because it's your family. Right. And I will tell you, even on record, I remember in 2021, later, having to go do a movie, and it was in Hawaii, and there was girls on set. They took the shot. Their periods skipped. Two girls had miscarriages. A lot of them were having fertility issues. And I was like, that's not coincidental. And I just. I always stuck to my guns. I've never been one to be like, oh, let me go get flu shots. Let me go get all these flu shots.

[A]

I don't have it either.

[B]

I don't get sick. I take my natural herbs. I don't do it. And even when that came up, I was like, so you just gonna pop up something and say, we gotta get shots just to do something right now? I was like, I'm gonna take my time. If I decide to, I'll do it myself. I never did it. And I'm so glad that I didn't, because too many athletes are passing from myocarditis and heart inflammation, and even people now are saying that they regret taking all the shots.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And I did not. So like I said to the family again, they know who they are. It was kind of like this thing where you're gonna hurt us and you. Okay, cool. Well, I don't gotta be around you. No problem. And here we are going right into restaurants. Covid. Where.

[A]

Yeah, it wasn't a real thing.

[B]

Like you. I knew. I knew just to get the money out of people. Because. Because here's the thing, and this one comes down to business. Would you do something for free knowing that you can't sue later on if something bad happens?

[A]

Would I do it for free?

[B]

Because that's what happens when you go to get a shot. You have to sign a waiver saying, this is free. This is elective. You walked in to do this. And there's nothing. You can't sue us. You can't come back and say anything after if something happens.

[A]

No, I wouldn't do it.

[B]

You wouldn't even go into a business deal like that.

[A]

No, no. But people were doing it left and right.

[B]

You did it, and then. Now there's repercussions, but there's nothing you

[A]

could do about it.

[B]

Even just in business, you don't do something that you can't have some sort of recourse after to go back and get something bad happens.

[A]

Yeah, I didn't. That's why I. Well, I. Sir, came. I said to one, and then I was like, I only did it for the cruise. The cruise line.

[B]

I get the cruise lines was going everywhere. And they made you do it. Yes, but I just never felt like someone making you do something. Even certain jobs. I know a lot of friends that were actors as well, like, they got fired over not getting the shot. But here we are now, it's not mandatory, so they're trying to go back and sue for certain things, saying, but dang, did I really have to do it? Businesses made you do it. But I feel that they were also involved in the propaganda of what was going on, to be honest. So I'm happy I did not. And I. And I'm grateful that I didn't, because now look at. It's not a big nothing.

[A]

It's not a real thing.

[B]

It's not a thing. So I know Florida wasn't tripping on it because y' all was outside.

[A]

You were outside all the time.

[B]

Y' all was outside. And I remember even my brother said this, what are you going to do? And they come door to door and force you, like, with a gun to go get a shot.

[A]

And I was like, that's just not happening.

[B]

That's not happening. We keep watching CNN believing that never. So I had.

[A]

So, like, you brought, like, you were talking about actresses growing up as a child actor or actress, singer. You hear, like, a lot of these stories coming out right now. Terrible. So I'm going there. Yes, I'm going there.

[B]

I'm about it.

[A]

What is your perception on that? Were you ever. I don't want to make you, like, put yourself out, but were you ever faced with anything that was, like, inappropriate or, you know, indecent? Because now all of these. It's all over Netflix. All these shows, like, from Disney, too. The guy from. Oh, my God, what's his name?

[B]

From Nickelodeon and the guy, Dan.

[A]

Yes, he was on that show. What was it?

[B]

All that. No, there was a music he does behind all that. All that.

[A]

But he started on. Oh, my God.

[B]

It was Nickelodeon, though. I think he started with.

[A]

He was doing that show with, like, all the high school kids.

[B]

It wasn't High School Musical. No, I know what you're talking about. But he started. Yeah, his name was Dan. And he started where he was getting a lot of these people and actors on the shows. And some of them fell victim to that. I never did. And I'll be, like, so transparent and so honest. It's like, that is a time where I was involved in. I remember auditioning for all that. I was, like, 10, and they wanted, like, 12 years old or 13. So I remember I was a little young at the time for the show and there was a lot going on. I'll just say it like I said. And in a lot of ways, I always think, let's say my mom in an instance. Because I never fell victim to staying out late at the parties. I'd always come. But my mom was like, I was

[A]

gonna say, you're gonna be, but you gotta go. I mean, that's what I. This might sound terrible, but where were the parents?

[B]

Exactly. I think a lot of times, even when you hear the stuff that Dan did, parents kind of drop the kids off. Parents kind of.

[A]

I'm not dropping my kid off.

[B]

I'm not dropping off. If I ain't got no kid, I'm not dropping my kid off nowhere.

[A]

I don't even let my kids sleep out. No.

[B]

And I think.

[A]

And I agree, especially if there's, like, a dad there. I'm always like, let me see the dad. Or is there a creepy uncle?

[B]

About that. I agree to that.

[A]

My kids don't sleep out.

[B]

I think that's fair. And even as a woman, the discernment in a certain way. Not saying that, you know, I hate to say it, we love men, but certain men are creepy.

[A]

Yeah, they are creepy. They're weird.

[B]

And you never know what can happen. And I feel like that is one thing that my mom. I never did. I slept at my uncle's house. My cousins were there, and it was like, one place. That was it.

[A]

My kids don't sleep out.

[B]

I never slept. We never did sleepovers. I just wasn't allowed to do that. So I didn't think anything was weird about it until I started seeing stuff later on where I'm like, dang, that was happening to certain people.

[A]

But your parent was controlling.

[B]

You know what I'm saying? So she was controlling that narrative. And In a way, I'm grateful for that. And I saw. I'd be at the parties and, you know, the kids would be drinking. I could name several Disney stars that were there, and they were 13, 14 years old. Getting. Getting drunk, getting plastered, taking stuff. I saw all of that. I was just never the type of person who was like, oh, I wanna do it. I've never had that personality. If I see you walking off a bridge, have a good time, that's not me. I'm not a follower like that. But I witnessed a lot of things. But the molestation or any sort of touching, I never saw that. And when I saw this come out, I felt so bad for certain people that I know that were dealing with a lot, you know, that were drinking too early, that were having sex early. Like, I remember going to a couple parties was. And I. And I'm like, where's so and so? And they're like, oh, I think she's in the room having sex. And I'm like, I was a girl. I was such a late bloomer. I was a virgin till I was like 25.

[A]

Good for you.

[B]

Like, let's just say I was very late to a lot just because I was just never that type of personality. But I saw so much and I was just like, why are kids doing something like this? Why do they have to feel like they have to feel validated by doing certain things just because certain friends do it? And hearing later that what Dan was doing to get in and to be liked by certain kids is sad.

[A]

It's very sad.

[B]

And it's sad because it could have changed a lot of trajectory for certain people and their careers could have gone one way versus, you know, another way. So I'm glad that they're bringing that to light. But I think it starts with your. With your home, for sure.

[A]

I agree. I agree with.

[B]

You know, there's a lot of parents that you look and see. The parents were having a good time hanging out. That meant that the parent was down. Like, if you liked Dan. Cause you thought your kid is gonna be successful and be rich cause of their hanging out with him. But behind closed doors, you're waking up on the couch and Dan. Dan is filling you up. Yeah. No, as a parent, you have a responsibility as well, because that kid is your responsibility for 18 years.

[A]

Yeah, well, so.

[B]

And you know what I'm saying? So I feel like, thank God I did have a household where my mom wasn't having it and I wasn't out like that. But my personality also was like, I wasn't gonna just follow the crew of what it looked like. Cause even by the time you're 20, 21, I was driving by 16. I was emancipated by 16. I was technically legally adult in entertainment. But I just always knew better. And I was like, I don't wanna do that. And even now, when I look back at certain girls who disappeared because they either got pregnant or they did certain things where they got caught up with the wrong crowd, it's very sad. But I'm also, again, grateful that you have the protection of someone who is like, that's not gonna be my child. Yeah, absolutely not. And this is how we're gonna keep moving. So I think I've adopted that same mindset even now. I love to hang out. Like, I have celebrities, most of my friends are in entertainment and artists. That's just how I grew up. I go to the party.

[A]

Going to college right there was in college. You knew at 2am Come on, man. If this guy was calling, you knew he wasn't calling just to hang out.

[B]

Oh, let's just read a book.

[A]

We're not doing this. You are. It was called the Booty Call for a reason.

[B]

Stop it.

[A]

You knew what it was.

[B]

You knew.

[A]

So why, like, come on.

[B]

No different than the guy that was, I think, the one agent where he'd call you over and hey, I'm in my robe. I want to study lines that you had two or three be like, come on. Like, come on, come on. I'm a grown woman. I'm an actor. But you go to a hotel when he says wear very little, and you open the door and he's standing there with a robe, just dig out. What do you think is going on? You think you're auditioning? The discernment of a woman. Also, you have to follow. Because the moment you don't lead with discernment is when some stuff gonna go down. You gotta use your common sense.

[A]

Yes. You have to. You have to.

[B]

You have to think about it and be like.

[A]

And I'm not saying that I do think Betty victim. Things happen for sure. But I think when you know, when you. Where you're going, read the room and the time. Everybody knows that the free season, nothing.

[B]

Yeah, nothing happened.

[A]

Read the weather. You know, listen, after 12, ain't nothing good happening.

[B]

Like they say, after 12, ain't nothing but open but legs. That's exactly what it. You know, this. You know, certain things after, you know, men. And I grew up with a brother. I had a lot of uncles. So when you're a woman that grows up around guys, you hear them talking, you be like, ooh, you nasty. And you hear certain things so you. You don't get played by certain guys telling you certain things that you think is like, oh, my God, I can't believe he said that to me. I'm like, girl, he lying. You know what I'm saying? Certain things that you hear. But as a young girl growing up, I think it takes your upbringing in the stuff that you're.

[A]

Agreed. I think it starts with the parents.

[B]

It starts with your parents talking about you, about that.

[A]

It's a very open talk. I have very open conversation with my son, my daughter. They tell me everything they know. They can tell me everything.

[B]

I love that.

[A]

And it is an open dialogue. Everything.

[B]

Why not? That's what it should be.

[A]

It has to be like, that.

[B]

I would be that parent. Like, it's like, I don't care what you have to say. Come to talk to me.

[A]

It doesn't matter. They know it's a safe space. They could say whatever they want, as good or bad as it is. It can go on the kitchen table. That's what we spew it all out.

[B]

It should.

[A]

And, yeah, and they know it's a safe space.

[B]

And we have a great episode about this. Even in Divorced Sistas, where you know, the boy is coming home high. Like, the son on the show is like, something is wrong. So the mom and dad are trying to reprimand him. He's not listening. They wake him up out of bed. Dad is, like, peeing his cousin. He's like, I'm not gonna pee in a cup. He said, pissing this cup right now is gonna be a problem. He grabs him, throws him up against the wall. He makes him, you know, pee in his cup. Yeah. Very next morning, they go in the room. The kid has passed out. Kid is unresponsive. Mom goes down the hallway. She gets some Narcan, and it wakes him up, and he's like. And he starts coming too. So the first thing the husband asks is like, where the hell did you get Narcan and why do you have it? She said, because I've been noticing some changes in my son. I knew that if something is gonna happen, I need to be prepared. So for her to have that. It saved his life on the show. So like you said, the parents, discernment, knowing their children and knowing some kids naturally have a personality where they're just a follower. Yes, they do. They do. They absolutely.

[A]

My kids are all different. Like, my daughter you don't have to worry about her. She ain't gonna do everything that everybody else is doing. She does not.

[B]

She's not gonna do it.

[A]

And if she does, she's too guilty. She'll tell me about it and then we're gonna talk about it. My son, he might take a little risk here and there.

[B]

I don't know what he's gonna do,

[A]

but at least he'll be honest about. He'll be honest about it. Might be stupid. He does some dumbass.

[B]

Don't you hate to say it? The boys are just, why y' all

[A]

make these dumb ass dumb?

[B]

And that's the thing. I would love twin boys. I want twins so bad. I'm like, do I want two look, dummies? Hopefully they smart, but at the same time, certain boy, you'll be looking and be like, why did you make that decision?

[A]

I look at my son all the time. I go, I. I'll say to him, I tell him, I go, say it out loud. Say it out loud. Say it out loud. Say what you just said to me and say it out loud. And if it makes sense, we'll go, but say it out loud.

[B]

Say that dumb shit out loud again. Women, naturally, I love us. We just. We be so smart. Like a lot of times, even girls in school, look how much smarter the girls are than the boys all the time. I'd always be like, God, these boys are dumb. They cute, but just dumb. So when you're raising a child, like you said as a. I love it that you're a mom to a son and a daughter, you had to raise them probably differently.

[A]

Yes, I do.

[B]

You have to.

[A]

And they're so different. They are so completely different. But my son.

[B]

But the patient, Both the sons, they Both the patient.

[A]

Patience, patience. Not there. I lost it a long time ago.

[B]

So are they older than your daughter?

[A]

My daughter's the oldest. She's the 18 year old. And then she has two little brothers. She has a 15 year old and then the 8 year old. So the 15 year old.

[B]

Oh, the young ones be the problem, though.

[A]

The young one is worse.

[B]

The young one is he. They're always the last child.

[A]

The mouth, the mouth. This kid rallied all the kids at school, rallied them, literally. He told them we're Jewish, so he told them that Santa wasn't real. The teacher called, calls me, oh, my God. And says, levi told all the kids that Santa's not real. And what could I say? I'm like, we're Jewish, so we don't believe. But he Gathered all the kids though, on the ground. Look at that, they gathered.

[B]

I think you have a future leader on your hands.

[A]

Good job. No, good job. Gathered them on the playground, took court and told them, good news, guys, Santa's not real. He ruined these kids life.

[B]

But at the end of the day, Levi, were you wrong? No, but that was not his job to tell them.

[A]

And then he was. Then arguably he's like, well, you're lying to these kids.

[B]

I'm like, oh, see, I think the young kids are the truth tellers.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

And that's the one thing I like. Like I said, My brother's 18 years older than me. And in a way, I was always like the peacemaker. Didn't always stand up. But now I'm like, I'm a teller like it is. I don't gotta hold back. And I think that's the younger sibling mindset.

[A]

Yes, but you are not supposed to. Did you not grow up where whatever went on in your house, you shut your. You're not allowed to tell the business in your house.

[B]

And you know what?

[A]

And I never said a word. My son always hates me all the time.

[B]

And you're right, though, but that's the thing. But again, if you think of now how that could be detrimental to a kid, because let's say if a kid is going through some issues, don't talk about it, don't bring it to the school, don't tell nobody. But then all of a sudden, years later, that trauma collects later and you're like, see, it started in the household. Every relationship, I guarantee you now that don't work is a reflection of. Of your childhood. If you're triggered by something a man tells you, and the way he says it, it might have been how your father talked to you or your cousin or your brother. Absolutely. It's all childhood trauma. So it's like you have to take that childhood and really cultivate it in a way. Like you said as a parent, you're only doing the best that you can. And what you knew. So your household, he's not wrong, but it's just not his job to go tell all the other kids.

[A]

He rats us up everything. I know something's so good. He rats us out for everything. Telling our parents, telling on us, our own parents, little ones are tattoos. Such a snitch.

[B]

And little ones, because guess what, it gets them more attention. Yeah, I know. I realize, like, little kids tell the most because why the older siblings are the responsible ones. They're doing stuff behind closed, closed doors. They're A little more sneaky. The older ones are sneaky. The middle one is kind of like he's riding the fence on both. But that little one don't give a damn.

[A]

Nope. Cause he gonna tell everybody he got me one time. Lily does drugs. I go, lily does drugs. He said, go in her car, open up the door.

[B]

I'm done.

[A]

It's gonna be drugs in there. So I go in there, and there's a wine bottle in there. He's like, I told you drugs. Told you drugs. Drugs, drugs, Drugs. Yeah.

[B]

And that's her little brother. Yeah.

[A]

Snitch. Levi is such a snitch.

[B]

I love that name, too. Levi is so cute. There's another celebrity. I don't know if it's Gwyneth Paltrow. I know she has apple. I think one of her kids, some celebrity, has a son named Levi. I love it. I think that's so cute.

[A]

So what is next for you? I mean, you really are. Are doing everything.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

What's your, like, next big. I know you have a whole bunch of different projects, but, like, is there something that you really want to achieve that you haven't yet? Is there something like that you're manifesting?

[B]

I think the next big thing is, like, tour. I would love to be on a music tour. Like I said, this dance music, I believe in.

[A]

I do.

[B]

I dance. I choreograph. I've been doing that since I was. I was professionally trained by 11. Like I said, the junior high schools, performing arts, ballet, jazz, tap, modern. I've been dancing since I was young.

[A]

Did you do mtv? The Grand Grind?

[B]

No.

[A]

No.

[B]

You know, so here's the thing. So even 106 and park was a big show, like, on MTV. I'm not MTV. I'm sorry. Bet. And I. I think I broke a record at one point. I was in Every video, all 10 videos in one day on the Countdown. Whether I was a lead girl, whether I was a dancer, the choreographer, I was in every video. So I love dance and performance. So for me, the next step is like, I want to go on tour. I love it. I want to have this dance music. I want to be at the Coachella festivals overseas, opening and dancing and showing my music. Like, that's. To me, music is something that you can't always teach. Again, you could teach people how to sing, but the performance side of things, you can't necessarily teach performance. Even, like, now the Michael movie is out. When you think of Michael Jackson, the greatest performer of all time. Yes. Obviously, his dad beat his ass and Was like, you're gonna perform. But to cultivate that level of artistry and performance, that's God given talent.

[A]

Yeah, I believe that. I don't. I think that you're God given talent. There's no way I could perform. That's just not my talent.

[B]

You can't do that. Mariah Carey, vocalist of all time Whitney Houston, vocalist of all time, Prince. These people were destined to be great and to be performers. So to me, yeah, you can learn how to act, you can do all that and you can get a lot of takes. But music is like that instant gratification of being on stage when someone's like, I love your song, I love how you perform. It's like in the moment is so beautiful. So for me, I want to perform, I want to go on tour and I've already performed. Like, I went to Dubai in Qatar.

[A]

I love Qatar.

[B]

When I tell you I performed at this wedding, it was a $2 million wedding and it was insane. Just watching the wealth, the culture and it's like, I want to perform overseas, I want to do weddings and just artistry because they love, they love you over there. Like Americans, we're good. But go to Germany, go overseas somewhere

[A]

and they love you differently, appreciate you,

[B]

they love you differently. So that's the next step that I would love. And of course, more seasons of our shop in a movie star. I want to be in a big movie as well. You are. Well, not only, I mean several movies, but I'll start with one just to be.

[A]

Listen, you're gonna do it. I could feel it. You're just. Your energy is so, it's so authentic, it's so real. I mean, anyone that wouldn't star you as the star.

[B]

How about this? We do our own project and I'll start my own movies because that's the next thing.

[A]

You can be your own director. Who cares to direct your own, you

[B]

can do it your own projects Now, I think that's the wave of the future is like not settling for networks to actually pick up your show and wait for that moment. There are shows right now that are online, that are on YouTube, that are on platforms that are killing it because someone believed in themselves. Patreon Issa Rae started there on so many different shows. It's like you can believe in yourself and start your own project. And that's what I love about this. Again, the time now is to be a self proclaimed entrepreneur, director, writer, do it yourself. If someone doesn't believe in it, do it yourself.

[A]

I think that is the message of today's show is that you really can't be a self proclaimed whatever you want. And you are the spitting image of it. That if you want to be an actor, you know, you want to be a singer, a dancer, I mean, you are literally doing that. I hope that you take time and really, really embrace that. Do you ever do that? Take time and like, look at your trophy room and say, shit, I did that.

[B]

I know, I love that. I think when I go back and look at like my IMDb and I see some credits or people like, oh my God, I loved you on this show. I'm like, oh crap, I did do that. I've done a lot already for my to small amount of years on this earth, you know what I'm saying? Like, I have so much more to do, so much more to develop. I feel like I'm just getting started. I used to see my MySpace headline just getting started in my mind. I'm like, but I am. There's so much more to do. But I already know, like I envision it, I can see it. So to me it's not far fetched. It's just saying, how can I get it to happen? If I want to perform at these festivals, the music has to come out. I have to promote the music, I have to do the videos, you have to do the work. And if people love it, they're gonna grab, gravitate to it.

[A]

Absolutely they will.

[B]

It's like people gravitate to authenticity, like you said. That's what I feel like I'm very good at is being authentically myself.

[A]

And they can smell it. If you're fake.

[B]

I can play characters all day long. That's my job, is to portray a fake character. But Portia, at the root is the businesswoman, the, the, the, the friendship per person who's calling to check on you. Like, I'm so discerning, somebody will pop in my mind. I'll call and be like, what's wrong? They'll be like, what do you mean? I'm like, what's wrong? Well, this just happened. How did you know? I feel as a cancer. I'm a feeler. Like I feel other people's energy and sometimes it gets draining where I'm like, okay, I don't want to feel this much. I don't want to feel everybody problems. But again, I feel like I can take on a lot of burdens and I can deal with a lot of weight on my shoulders because I think I was born to be that way. So I'm born To give love and to give support and to pour into other people. But I also had to realize I need to do it also for myself.

[A]

Absolutely. You have to fill your own cup

[B]

before you have to fill your own cup. If your cup is empty, you can. You can't feel somebody else.

[A]

You cannot. Absolutely. And if people want to find you, I mean, I'm sure everybody knows where to find you, but where can they find you?

[B]

Of course Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, MySpace. I probably gonna check it. But if you say hi, I might say hello back. It's just Orsha Coleman. P O R S C H A C O L E M A N and there's so much to come. Like I said, I'm excited about what the future holds. And of course, I'll have to just come back and drop more tea.

[A]

We have to.

[B]

On some other stuff we're gonna have to do.

[A]

Yes. Gonna. We're. We're just gonna do a show and, like, just real.

[B]

I love it. And again, thank you so much. Like I said, you have a great platform, and I love how you're bringing people on to talk about their passions, their goals, their dreams, and how being a boss encompasses so much.

[A]

Yeah, it's your job. Just not boxed into, like, you know, an accountant. I mean, everybody's a boss in their own right. It's just, what are you gonna do with it?

[B]

What are you gonna do with your boss behavior? So you gotta be a boss. And I think she's a boss. I'd like to follow. You hear that?

[A]

I love that there.

[B]

I love that.

[A]

Yes, thank you. I mean, this episode today, I love. I think every woman needs to watch. If you do not watch Portia, whether it's on this show or on her own show, whatever, you guys have to follow like her. So if you like today's episode, go ahead, subscribe. Like, unsubscribe. I don't care. Just do something. Something, you know? Come on, you already. Don't leave me any unsolicited advice, though.

[B]

I don't want. We don't want that. Because if we do, we're just gonna delete and block you anyway.

[A]

Yeah. And then I'm just gonna troll you, so don't do it.

[B]

We'll shout you out exclusively.

[A]

Oh, well, thank you for coming by today. I know it's not always easy, but. But thank you for making the time.

[B]

That's good. I got you. And I, I, I'm. I'm happy to be here and to be continued. And I would get her shoes, but they're seven and a half. I can't wear them. They're so cute, though. But thank you for having me on. I appreciate it.

[A]

It was amazing.