Club Shay Shay - Angela Simmons Part 1

Summary

Club Shay Shay – Angela Simmons (Part 1)

Podcast: Club Shay Shay
Host: Shannon Sharpe
Guest: Angela Simmons
Date: June 24, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this episode, NFL Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe sits down with Angela Simmons—reality TV star, entrepreneur, and daughter of Run DMC’s Reverend Run—to explore her journey growing up in a high-profile family, navigating fame, personal loss, and success in business. Angela opens up about her upbringing, the impact of celebrity, relationships, and her work ethic, offering candid reflections with warmth and vulnerability.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

Early Fame and Family Legacy

• "Run's House" & Accidental Fame

  • Angela entered the public eye via MTV’s “Run’s House” at age 17, just as she was finishing high school.
    • “The fame and all of it all really didn’t come until it started coming out, you know, one episode at a time. And I started noticing people are noticing me and I’m like, how they even know me?” – Angela Simmons (05:31)
  • Appreciated that fame happened after her childhood, preserving a ‘normal’ upbringing.

• Balance Between Two Worlds

  • Angela describes life split between her mother (a hardworking schoolteacher in Queens) and her father (Rev Run), giving her a middle-class and a more affluent perspective.
    • “I watched [my mom] work multiple jobs… I lived like middle class and then I had also like everything else. So it was always like a balance. But I feel like that kept me like grounded.” – Angela Simmons (14:49)

• Understanding Her Father’s Fame and Shift to Ministry

  • As a child, she didn’t fully grasp her dad’s celebrity until she witnessed him on stage.
    • “It took…being out and about with my dad…They let it happen. But it took a minute to really understand it.” – Angela Simmons (07:44)
  • Witnessed and adjusted to her father’s transition from rap icon to Reverend—“Just another chapter.” (19:44)

Navigating Family Dynamics

• Parental Divorce and Blended Families

  • Angela’s parents divorced when she was young; both remarried, providing examples of healthy, long-term relationships.
    • “The split…was hard at first…It was definitely a transition and hard. I feel like you can’t prepare a child for that moment.” – Angela Simmons (10:51)
  • Her stepmother was “so embracing and loving,” and Angela considers her a second mom (12:05).

• Education and Assimilation

  • Attended Jewish school, Catholic school, and then Fashion Industries high school in Manhattan.
    • “It was my first public school experience. People curse. And I said maybe that helped me. I was like, I think I was too sheltered before this.” – Angela Simmons (16:47)
  • Sought to experience ‘real life’—was excited to ride public transportation instead of being chauffeured. (17:15)

Business, Brand, and Reality TV Life

• Pastry Footwear and Female Entrepreneurship

  • Angela and her sister launched Pastry Footwear, seeing rapid success.
    • “We learned a lot business wise. Being 17 and stepping into something that big was like, whoa, okay…and even, like, getting the news that…our sneakers were competing with Jordan at the time, like, we were like, what?!” – Angela Simmons (34:58)

• Life Lessons from Reality TV

  • Reality TV brought both visibility and intrusion.
    • “Reality TV…the gift is you have a large platform and you can interact with lots of people…then the curse is like, people follow you and they just make up wild stuff that has not the truth of you.” – Angela Simmons (31:50)
  • Emphasizes planning for life after the cameras (“Live for the praise, die by the praise.”) (33:24)

• Producing "Growing Up Hip Hop"

  • Created and produced the show to spotlight “icon kids” from hip hop families.
    • “I had intentions of it being one way, and then when all the little, like, fighting and stuff happened…I wasn’t into it no more. I’m not into messy reality.” – Angela Simmons (39:19)

On Privilege, Nepotism, and Work Ethic

• The Nepo Baby Label
  • Angela contends with the “nepo baby” perception, emphasizing her own hustle.
    • “Nothing is, like, for me personally, been handed to me…other than the name, the title…People don’t see my hustle and my drive…but they’re not supposed to because the camera’s not following me 24/7.” – Angela Simmons (24:46)
  • Shannon agrees: “The name might get you in there, unless…your talents…are gonna have to keep her there for 10, 15, 20, 30 years.” (25:35)
  • Both highlight the value of passing opportunities and legacy to the next generation.

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Personal Independence:
  “If you’re in my circle, you’re in my circle. If you’re not in my circle, you’re not about to get in my circle.” – Shannon Sharpe (06:28)

• On Social Media & Relationships:
  “I suggest you at least get to know the person some before you go posting them. Otherwise you’ll find out some information…I’m sure in this day and age, if you’re doing something stupid, it’s going to come back some way somehow through social media.” – Angela Simmons (69:59)

• On Waiting for Intimacy:
  “I just took it to heart…and then one day, I remember going to church…they were discussing all these things about waiting in marriage. And I was like, you know what? I’m gonna wait. So…time kept ticking, and I was like, dang, I’m 28. This is crazy.” – Angela Simmons (47:54)

• On Love Languages:
  “That’s the love language. Absolutely…Yeah, I like stuff like that. I am a hopeless romantic person.” – Angela Simmons (77:04)

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Significant Conversations with Timestamps

Childhood, Family, and Fame

• [05:05]–[06:54] — Angela recalls being thrust into the spotlight post-high school graduation and the blessing of a “normal” childhood before fame.
• [07:44]–[10:17] — Understanding her father’s star power and contrasting his stage persona with their private home life.
• [10:27]–[12:57] — Discussing her parents’ divorce and smooth transition into blended families.
• [14:49]–[18:50] — Reflecting on class differences and remaining grounded with two very different upbringings.

Education and Cultural Identity

• [15:58]–[18:27] — Navigating different school environments and the value in experiencing diverse cultures and communities.

Pastry Footwear and Entrepreneurship

• [03:05]–[03:26] & [34:45]–[35:36] — Angela and her sister’s rapid success with Pastry Footwear and competing with Jordan at Foot Locker.

Reality TV’s Impact

• [31:46]–[34:45] — The “gift and curse” of reality TV, the importance of planning for life after cameras stop rolling, and the unique lesson of building beyond the ‘applause.’

Nepotism and Legacy

• [24:40]–[28:17] — Angela and Shannon discuss the “nepo baby” label, societal judgment, and the responsibility of leveraging legacy for future generations.

Personal Loss, Grief, and Parenthood

• [55:30]–[57:49] — Angela opens up about the loss of her child’s father to gun violence, coping with grief, and parenting as a single mom.
• [61:05]–[62:48] — Navigating telling her son about his father’s death and how the internet impacted her ability to frame that narrative.

Dating, Relationships, and Public Scrutiny

• [45:19]–[46:22] — Living and dating in the public eye, balancing good and bad intentions, and the importance of familial guidance.
• [47:11]–[55:12] — Waiting until 28 for intimacy, relationship pressures, and learning about self-worth and willpower.
• [69:12]–[71:41] — Social media etiquette around relationships, introducing partners to her son, and setting boundaries for privacy and family.

Lifestyle & Values

• [67:00]–[68:08] — Discusses adopting a vegetarian/vegan diet, family influence, and making lifestyle changes.
• [74:02]–[74:42] — Playful debate about “acceptable” first date spots: “We can start off simple too. We can go to the Waffle House.” – Angela Simmons

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Notable Angela Simmons Quotes

• “I just don’t… I’ve never could make anyone feel less than… So I don’t know when it comes to friends, if I ever was in that position to feel like, you don’t have this or you don’t have that. So it’s less than. You know what I mean?” (18:27)
• “Smoke and mirrors. I think with some of the [reality] shows…some of it’s contrived and some of it’s not. You guys gotta figure out what show you watching.” (37:39)
• “I remember seeing, like, really good, healthy relationships…They never showed — we didn’t really see [conflict]. If they ever were having an argument, they would not do that in front of us.” (51:23)

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Episode Takeaways

• Angela Simmons embodies grounded ambition. Despite her famous surname, she values work ethic, intentional living, and authenticity.
• The struggles of fame, family, and single parenthood are candidly explored with relatable honesty—from parental divorce to the grief of losing her son’s father.
• Her approach to relationships and self-worth is rooted in strong family values, independence, and a hopeful search for meaningful connection.
• Maintaining privacy and intentionality—especially in relationships and parenting—is a major theme, especially with the omnipresence of social media.

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For Listeners New to Angela Simmons

This episode paints a portrait of someone who has grown up with privilege and challenge, but remains refreshingly real—committed to self-improvement, loyalty, and making an impact. Her reflections on reality TV, relationships, and resilience resonate beyond the celebrity world.

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End of Part 1 – For more, check out Part 2 of Club Shay Shay with Angela Simmons.

Transcript

[Karen and Georgia]

I turned off news altogether.

[Angela Simmons]

I hate to say it, but I don't trust much of anything.

[Shannon Sharp]

It's the rage bait.

[Angela Simmons]

It feels like it's trying to divide people. We got clear facts. Maybe we could calm down a little.

[Shannon Sharp]

NBC News brings you clear reporting. Let's meet at the Facts. Let's move forward from there. NBC News reporting for America.

[Ryan Seacrest]

What's up, y'?

[Angela Simmons]

All?

[Shannon Sharp]

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[Shannon Sharp]

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[Angela Simmons]

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[Shannon Sharp]

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[Angela Simmons]

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[Angela Simmons]

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[Shannon Sharp]

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[Angela Simmons]

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[Shannon Sharp]

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[Angela Simmons]

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[Shannon Sharp]

you dig Daddy's girl, you promoted the sneaker company Pastry Footwear, and it went from 15 million in the first year to 75 million during its production and surpassed Jordan at Foot Locker. Zendaya rocked them.

[Angela Simmons]

You know, there were no sneakers for women, by women that understood the design part and it just, it stood out. I mean, going to these Foot locker stores and 3,000 plus people lining up just to come see us and us to sign autographs and for them to buy sneakers was like, whoa, this is different. We were like, what? We're competing with Jordan, you know? Cause like, we love Jordan. You know what I mean?

[Shannon Sharp]

All my life been grinding all my life Sacrifice, hustle, paid the price, wanna slice got to roll the dice that's why all my life I be grinding all my life all my life been grinding all my life Sacrifice hustle, paid the price, wanna slice, got the rolling dice to swap all my life I've been grinding all my life.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hello.

[Shannon Sharp]

Welcome to another episode of Club Shay Shay. I am your host, Shannon Sharp. I'm also the proprietor of Club Shay Shayk. Stopping by for conversation and a drink today is reality TV royalty. She was on the cult classic MTV's Run House. She's the daughter of a founding member of the iconic rap group Run dmc. With her father being Reverend Run, she's become a mogul in her own right. Though a successful CEO, a beauty entrepreneur, fashion designer, top performing footwear seller, food industry leader, fitness enthusiast, producer, creator, artist, philanthropist, media personality, social media influencer, an entertainer, an actress and a mom. And now about to add music. Ooh, ooh. She good. She got an album coming out. Here she is, the very talented Ms. Angela Simmons.

[Angela Simmons]

Hello.

[Shannon Sharp]

Ah, thank you so much. Unbelievable, all these titles and now music. Yes, we got the very talented and lovely Marissa bringing us a drink because we gotta toast everything. We're here at 11. This is an unbelievable establishment here. So thank you, 11, for hosting us.

[Angela Simmons]

Thank you.

[Shannon Sharp]

Thank you, Marissa.

[Lilly Medicine Company Announcer]

You're welcome.

[Shannon Sharp]

To everything that you've accomplished and will accomplish.

[Angela Simmons]

Thank you. Ooh.

[Shannon Sharp]

So thank you for stopping by. The world got introduced to you on Reverend Run's House. What was that like and how did that change you? Because you were you. I mean, you were very young at the time.

[Angela Simmons]

Yeah, I was 17.

[Shannon Sharp]

So how were you able to handle all that fame.

[Angela Simmons]

I mean, it didn't happen immediately. Like we started filming. I was graduating from high school and so we filmed it. It was like around my graduation time. And then it hit after.

[Shannon Sharp]

Right.

[Angela Simmons]

So I.

[Shannon Sharp]

So you were already done with school then?

[Angela Simmons]

Yeah, it was great. Cause like I was leaving, done with the whole school thing, had my good time and then it was like I was graduating and going to college at that point. So the fame and all of it all really didn't come until it started coming out, you know, one episode at a time. And I started noticing people are noticing me and I'm like, how they even know me? But you know, I mean, you don't really know what it's gonna do. It's mtv and next thing you know, people started noticing who we were when we walked around. People who knew us before, you know, you just knew it was. Cause we were Run's kids, but not like to this degree.

[Shannon Sharp]

Right. So now you're having, you were known as Ron's daughter and now you're starting to have celebrity on your own. Right. But you didn't get to pick up any friends because this happened after you had left high school. Do you think it would have been different had you had to start in high school? Do you get. Cause you strike me as a person. Like if you're in my circle, you're in my circle. If you're not in my circle, you're not about to get in my circle. Now that my circle is already drawn,

[Angela Simmons]

I'm kind of like that. I mean, I just like good people, good individuals. And most of the friends and people I have around me, I've had them my whole life or like for a very, very long time. But I'm not sure what it would have changed. I guess people would have known me more than what they did at the time. But I'm. I'm happy it happened when it did because I got to really live out like my childhood and like not be on tv. I mean I was mature enough to handle it at that point, you know.

[Shannon Sharp]

Were you popular in school?

[Angela Simmons]

I think so.

[Shannon Sharp]

You think so?

[Angela Simmons]

I feel like if people. My high school in different high school. Yeah, people knew me. And then I went to a really small school, elementary wise. So there's 200 kids from K through 8. Damn right. Very small school. I was like, yeah, very sheltered at first, right. And then by high school, my last, I went to public high school cause I wanted to go to fashion high school. So I went to fashion industries in Manhattan and I wanted to study Fashion design. And so my parents let me just change schools in the middle.

[Shannon Sharp]

So how was that? Did you. Did you know your father was famous? Because, like, kids are famous. They just know him as dad and mom, so they don't know anything about the fame, but probably as you got older. So I'm thinking, like, early, like elementary school, you probably didn't have an understanding of who your dad was and how influential he was.

[Angela Simmons]

No, it took a while. It took the parents to unpick. It took the going out and about with my dad to, like, Fun Zone. And they're like, you could skip the line if your dad signs this or if your dad comes over here and you're like, okay. So then you start using it to your advantage. You know what I mean? Like, I'm in all these places. I'm like, daddy, come here real quick so we can get to the front. Or I'm too big to get in the balls at this point at the, you know, the fun places. And because he was who he was, they let it happen. But it took a minute to really understand it.

[Shannon Sharp]

So when you're out and all of a sudden people are coming up to your dad and wanting to take pictures and wanting to get autographs signed, and you're looking at him like, why do these people. You're just Dad. I mean, you're not like anybody. Because your dad's career. Like, back in the 80s, I saw your dad perform at the Civic center with a lot of group Run DMC and Houdini and the Gap Band and all the Fat Boys, all those people back then. But I don't know, at the height. I don't know if you, like. Do you remember anything about your dad when he was at the absolute apex of his.

[Angela Simmons]

I was born in 87, so we did go to shows with him and take the van from. I mean, these are like stories that I probably repeat because I actually remember them. Like him saying he's going to. And I don't know, it had to be Philly or somewhere close because he took a van there. And we would go there and he would have us in the room and then we'd be on the side of the stage, which was an often thing. Like, we'd be at a lot of the shows sitting on the side as, like, little kids. But it was one show in particular that put things in perspective. I just watched him and I was like, oh, wow. Throwing the mic stand, all these, like, people. I'm like, oh, he's like, famous. Like, people know him.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yes.

[Angela Simmons]

But it took that show for me to, like, see it, and then it took, like, being. I mean, I must have been in first or second grade where I realized that, like, people. People's parents were like, can we get, like, your autograph from your dad? And I'm like, autograph? But like, that, to me, was, like, the moment where I was like, oh, okay, he's famous.

[Shannon Sharp]

But to see your dad on stage, I'm assuming. Because as I'm watching, I used to watch Run's House. I'm watching him, and I see his demeanor at home, and he's a totally different person when he was on st. How different? I mean, when you watch him because you had an opportunity to see up close and personal, how different is he? And, like, dad, who are you up there?

[Angela Simmons]

Um, I feel like every artist has, like, their other side when they're on the stage, and so I feel like my dad is that person on the stage, and I've watched it growing up. Like, he get on there, he's there, but then when he's dad, he's dad.

[Shannon Sharp]

Right.

[Angela Simmons]

You know what I mean? Like, what you seen on Run's House is, like, my dad.

[Shannon Sharp]

That's the only.

[Angela Simmons]

You know what I mean? Like, fun, loud, honest, like, always preaching to me, always got answers for me. But then, like, when it comes to being an artist on a stage that I saw growing up, he was that guy.

[Shannon Sharp]

Right.

[Angela Simmons]

You know what I mean? Like, I used to watch, like, whoa, this is nuts, you know? But he definitely holds both. I think everyone has that when it comes to being an artist and then being at home.

[Shannon Sharp]

Your parents got divorced at a young age.

[Angela Simmons]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharp]

And I'm assuming it's hard on you because you're old enough to remember, you know, what's going on. So, you know, like, okay, I got mom and dad, and we're here. Right here, right here. And now all of a sudden, I'm gonna still have mom and dad, but they're not gonna be living together. And there's a great chance she's gonna have someone else in her life, and he's gonna have someone else in his life, which happened.

[Angela Simmons]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharp]

How. What did that do to you?

[Lilly Medicine Company Announcer]

Mm.

[Angela Simmons]

I think for any children. For me, the split, it was hard at first, right. Because you're like, you've seen your parents split, and you don't know what that looks like. Now it's two households, so it's back and forth. Dad on weekend, mom on the week or vice versa. But, um, it was definitely a transition and hard. I feel like you can't prepare a child for that moment. It's more like, as you go, you figure it out. And I was, okay. But I think, you know, anyone with a divorce, like, split home, you're affected, right? Like, you have literally two different homes. I mean, the perks were the two Christmases and the two Thanksgivings and being able to go back and forth. And you're like, I have more family now. You know what I mean? But my dad is with my stepmom, who I call Ma because she's like a mom to me. And then my mom is successfully married, too, and they've both been married forever. So we've had two great relationships to always look up to. And, like, they have the best advice when it comes to relationships, right?

[Shannon Sharp]

Did you ever think, like, what if he finds someone else and I don't really like her? How do I do that? Because I love my dad, and I want my dad to be happy, even though it's not with my biological mom. But if he finds someone. And what if she think she tries to replace my mom or she's like, I don't really like her, or something like that. Did that cross your mind?

[Angela Simmons]

The transition that they did with us was pretty smooth, that we didn't have that problem. Like my dad, I met my stepmom really, like, quick. After we. Everything was, like, done. Like, I met my stepmom, who I call mom, but, like, I met her quickly, and I didn't have that problem. She was so embracing and loving and treat us like her own kids. So we didn't. I didn't feel like that My mom is like. Like, she's a real amazing mom, and she's there. And then my stepmom came along, and she was just adding to the family, so it was like a great thing.

[Shannon Sharp]

Did they sit you down? Did they say, look, mom and dad, we love each other? We love. We gonna love. We gonna always love you. Did they sit you down and explain that mom and dad are gonna no longer be together? How did that go about.

[Angela Simmons]

I feel like I was. I had to be pretty young. I don't know the age, but I was pretty young. So I don't remember that. I don't think that was the conversation. I just think it just.

[Shannon Sharp]

It just.

[Angela Simmons]

It was a split, you know? Like, I woke up one day and mom was going here, and dad was here, and that was just the new life that was going to be.

[Shannon Sharp]

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[Angela Simmons]

Absolutely.

[Shannon Sharp]

And so they put you in a situation. So how hard was it for you to assimilate knowing that your dad is rev run and you have great things as opposed to some of your friends that maybe weren't as fortunate?

[Angela Simmons]

I always say that I feel like I grew up very like balanced. Right. Because my mom has been a schoolteacher her whole life and I watched her work multiple jobs like eyeglasses place. Like she just, she's always been a hustler. So I watched that and then I, you know, and then we had my dad's house. So like when we split it was like Queens and Jersey or Queens and different parts of Queens or whatever. But I lived like middle class and then I had also like everything else. So it was always like a balance. But I feel like that kept me like grounded, you know what I mean? Like, that's what helped make me who I am today is like being able to see both Sides. So when it came to other kids, like, I never had, like, a judgmental heart or thought anything less or seen anyone differently. I just always looked at it as, like, okay, like, you have what you have, I have what I have, and I just never seen it as different.

[Shannon Sharp]

Do you have a lot of friends? When you went to your dad's, did you have a lot of friends?

[Angela Simmons]

Since we were still in New York, my friends were still like, yeah. We weren't in different states that were too far.

[Shannon Sharp]

But you went to an all white school, correct?

[Angela Simmons]

So I went to a Jewish school, elementary school, growing up. And then I went to a Catholic school for two years, high school, and then I went to fashion industries in the city for two more years.

[Shannon Sharp]

So how did. Because you hear a lot of people, like, when they go to these schools like this, and you hear a lot of people say, well, it was traumatic because I didn't have a lot of people that look like me or a lot of people that thought like me. I remember my daughter, when she went, her mom took her out because she said, you know, you go into this school, this is not gonna be the real world. You're not gonna be. These people are not what's gonna only be out there in the world. You're gonna be around a lot of different type of people. And so I need to get you assimilated to what it's gonna be like in the real world. So how hard. Was it easy, or was it a tough transition for you to assimilate? Going until you went to, say you went to a Jewish. A Jewish school early on, and then you went to a Catholic school and you went to fashion. I'm assuming fashion school was a lot different than what it was.

[Angela Simmons]

It was a m. Yeah. It was my first public school experience. People curse. And I said, maybe that helped me. I was like, I think I was too sheltered before this. I was like, what's going on in here? I mean. Cause I did grow up, like, in a. In a car service, going to school every day. I didn't take public transportation. Damn. I used to want to. I used to sneak. Don't. I mean, I guess I'm old enough that I'm not getting in trouble, but I used to sneak and take the bus and stuff and train because my parents, like, my dad had it where we had a car service take us to. To and from school.

[Karen and Georgia]

Wow.

[Angela Simmons]

Yeah. Every day.

[Shannon Sharp]

And you wanted to experience it. What it was really like to take the trip.

[Angela Simmons]

It was on Jamaica Avenue. I'm like, can I go over there. I want to see the other stuff.

[Shannon Sharp]

Right? So did your dad ever find out, like, did you. I mean, he's probably going, if he watches this, he's gonna find out like, you was doing this. I got a car service I'm paying all this money to.

[Angela Simmons]

No, the car service was for school. So on the weekend, if you trying to sneak to use the car service, that's when you really wanted to do it because you had your friends, right? But, like, no, I was, like, still taking the. I was, like, happy to get on a bus. Like, this is so cool to train. This is cool because to a certain degree, you know, we were really, like, still, like, protected and sheltered. To some degree.

[Shannon Sharp]

I would say you have a very unique perspective because, like, you said, your mom kind of queens, and so you know what it's like. You know what it's like to be middle class, and you know what it's like to be upper. Upper. What advice would you give someone coming up in a very similar situation to yours? How do you acclimate? How do you blend in? How do you become a chameleon? And like, your friends that you had on your mom's side, that you don't make them feel. You don't make them feel less than. Because, I mean. Cause they know who your father is. They know what you have, but you're like, I'm still Angela.

[Angela Simmons]

For me, I feel like I still had the same friends from every school. So, like, we just back and forth. Like, our friends could come there or there. But when it came to, like, I never. I just. I don't. I've never could make anyone feel less than. You know what I mean? So I don't know when it comes to friends, if I ever was in that position to feel like, you don't have this or you don't have that. So it's less than. You know what I mean?

[Ryan Seacrest]

Right.

[Shannon Sharp]

What was it like seeing your dad go to, like, rapper iconic, and all of a sudden he's a minister, a pastor?

[Angela Simmons]

I mean, we were. We went with it, and it obviously helped shape me, like, watching my dad become a pastor, a reverend. I was very much so in church three times a week with him. It wasn't like a crazy transition. Like, I feel like my childhood. I know at that point I was like a teenager, so I was just going with it. It's like, if your parents are doing something, you just go on with whatever they're doing.

[Shannon Sharp]

It's like, he's still my father. He's just basically, he's no longer the rapper. Now he's rev. Now he. Now we just. I'm like. Cause. But I think that would be very, very hard to give up. This. I think it's a Persona. But he was great at what he was doing. But he just like, nah, I don't want to. I'm doing this. I got another calling.

[Angela Simmons]

I don't think that it wasn't that he's the rapper. I think it's just like another phase in your life, you know what I mean? So it's like transition or adding a new chapter to your life. And so we just watched whatever that was. And now I know from a perspective of a woman who's growing, you're always stepping into new chapters of yourself and who you become and you're evolving. We were just watching that in real time.

[Shannon Sharp]

Did he have, did he have a conversation with any. Did he have a conversation? Did he. Like, you know what guys? I think about, I'm going to chew, I'm going to do this. It's kind of. Because a lot of times like when, when you make, I don't want to say life altering decision, but when you make career decisions, you normally. I'm sure he had a conversation with his wife, but did he talk to the kids? He's like, you know what? I think dad is going to go walk a different path now.

[Angela Simmons]

No, it would have probably been more like, we're going to go to church now on these days. You know what I mean? Like you're going to come these days. And we were like, okay, what else could you say? We live in the same house, we're doing whatever, you know, the head of the house says, right.

[Shannon Sharp]

But it's not the first time. I mean, we've seen, I mean sometimes singers, you hear a lot of RB singers, they grow up in the church. You hear Whitney Houston and Kirk Franklin and some of these, like some of these great singers, they kind of grew up in the church. I don't know if we've ever had a situation where it's been kind of reversed. You start out as like.

[Angela Simmons]

And then you go.

[Shannon Sharp]

And then you go back the other way. Normally you start in the church and go this way. You don't normally start this way and go that way.

[Angela Simmons]

So the non normal is normal to me. That's what it is.

[Shannon Sharp]

Okay.

[Angela Simmons]

So when I look at it, I'm like, no, it's normal, it's cool. Like, no, I just, I think I'm just used to it at this point.

[Shannon Sharp]

When you saw the Drew Ski Skit have you seen the Drew as someone that's. That's. That's that her father is a minister. And some people like. Some people like it's comedy. And then some people like, bro, he's making a mockery of the church. He's making a mockery of the word. And so what, What. What were your thoughts on it?

[Angela Simmons]

I think he's a comedian, and I look at things as, like, it's just like his art and his creative place. I don't feel like, does he love God less or Christ left? I don't know his religion, but I just seen it as comedy, honestly, because

[Shannon Sharp]

I think the thing is, like, comedians, what do they do? They take things that happen in their life or they take things that they see and they make them funny.

[Angela Simmons]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharp]

He had to get this from somewhere.

[Angela Simmons]

I mean, there were pieces of it that you're like, okay, I've seen things like this. You know what I mean? So you're like, oh, this is crazy. I mean, I looked at it, I laughed. I was like, this is crazy. But, like, it was funny to me. There were parts that I thought were funny.

[Shannon Sharp]

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[Angela Simmons]

I don't know about the W2, but I grew up in a prosperity church where they taught prosperity and they taught you about being wealthy and they taught you how to obtain that and all that stuff. So I grew up around it, but not in a way where people see it as like, you know, if you don't do this, you're not going to be blessed, you know. And, you know, I think a lot of times people are like, if I give into a church, it's not. It's corrupt. It's like, no, God knows your heart. So that's how I look at things when it comes to giving. But I did grow up in a church where the pastor had Rolls Royce, but so did everyone else there also was obtaining their own Mercedes and the things that they want. So it was like sitting under a house that has wealth and you obtaining wealth as well.

[Shannon Sharp]

Oh, okay. Cause I think the thing is, sometimes that people see is like, okay, the pastor, he has private jets and he has these mansions, he has these cars. And then other people are there kind of like struggling with lights and things of that nature. I think that's where the disconnect comes.

[Angela Simmons]

See, I grew up in opposite the pastor. The bishop's wealthy, and so are the people. Congregation Ye wealthy because you're learning how to obtain it and you're hearing the word of God and you're hearing all of these different things, and that's just. I don't know, it was normal to me.

[Shannon Sharp]

When you hear the word Nepo baby, what thoughts come to your mind?

[Angela Simmons]

People that like, feel like, for me, what I. What I take from it is people thinking it's just kind of handed to you based upon where you come from. I don't. I. I personally, like, I understand what a Nepo baby is, but nothing is, like, for me personally, been handed to me. So when people say that, I'm like, eh, you know, other than the name, the title of, like my family and where I come from, like, I don't think people personally see my, like, my hustle and my drive and like, what I'm doing on a regular basis, but they're not supposed to because the camera's not following me 24 7. But I think a lot of the times people think an apple baby is a bad thing. I Mean, it's great that you come from something that's strong and great, but I think sometimes the Nepo babies are just handed something like. And say, go, go, do whatever you're going to do with it. Like, I've been working since I was literally 17, so I think.

[Shannon Sharp]

And plus, isn't that the job of parents trying to put their kids in a better and advantageous situation? And although the name might get you in there, unless your father, your mother, the family is in that business, it probably not going to keep you there. It might get you in the door, but after a while, Angela Simmons Talents is gonna have to keep her there for 10, 15, 20, 30 years. I mean, I dealt with that. And my brother and he's like, well, you got drafted because of your brother. I was like, my brother don't play for the Broncos. It's not like he can catch passes or run routes for me.

[Angela Simmons]

Like, you're doing your part.

[Shannon Sharp]

I'm doing my thing.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharp]

Maybe the last name helped. Like, oh, he got a brother that played in the NFL. He's really good. Maybe he can be good.

[Angela Simmons]

That's the good part. Like, we should be able to use our last name to pass it down. I would hope my son can then use the legacy of where we come from to walk them into a door. But like you said, what's gonna keep you there?

[Shannon Sharp]

Exactly.

[Angela Simmons]

It might put you in the room to shake hands, talk to individuals, but if you're not actually doing the work.

[Shannon Sharp]

You know what I think, Angela? I think it's us. I think we look at it, we judge our own really, really, really harshly in situations like that. Like, oh, he got to okay. Every community, if they can help their kids or someone in their family advance, they're willing to do it. Only it seems like it's us. Until a lot of times we frown upon and look down. Well, I ain't helping. The hell you say.

[Angela Simmons]

Why would you not want to help to me? Like, I want to lay it out for you. I want to give you the right blueprint, and then from there, you're maintaining it. You didn't know how to do it.

[Shannon Sharp]

Yes, yes, I agree.

[Angela Simmons]

There are friends and people I've come across. They're like, yeah, my parents did X, Y, and Z for me, but they still got to get in there and, like, work their bus off to keep it.

[Shannon Sharp]

Yes. Yeah, get me in the door now. How do I stay in the door? That's going to be what you do to stay there. Now, your parents or your name or whatever might have gotten you there, gotten you to that point. But. But they can't help you stay there because eventually your work ethic, your talent, your drive is what keeps you in there 100%. And we see this a lot with Ti and you hear Ti and LeBron. And I think the thing is that the more famous you are. But you know what? It's kind of hard. And let me know what you think. Like, your dad grew up in a very different situation than what you grew up in.

[Angela Simmons]

Oh, it was a different time that his drive.

[Shannon Sharp]

And you looking at you like, man, look at this big old house. I got my own room to myself. You know, I got a car service taking me to and from school. Your dad didn't have it like that whole different thing.

[Angela Simmons]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharp]

But I love when I see kids that families that really, really have it and they still got drive to go get it themselves. Yeah, that's impressive to me because it's so easy to just sit back and like, hey, I'm straight. I'm Gucci over here.

[Angela Simmons]

But I don't even think like my layout. And the way I was brought up, wasn't you Gucci. It's like, you can do what you want to do as far as career go, but you're not just going to sit here and just collect. Like, go, go work.

[Shannon Sharp]

Right.

[Angela Simmons]

They encouraged like whatever talent we had. You know what I mean? I think there are some kids where some parents say, hey, you're good. Sit back, relax. I'm not going to do that to my kid. But I definitely wasn't. You know, that's not how I was raised either. It was like, I don't know, we're like just go getters.

[Shannon Sharp]

Yeah. Growing up and being. And not growing up. But like you said, you were senior in high school, you started taping and so you had that going on.

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[Karen and Georgia]

I turned off news altogether.

[Angela Simmons]

I hate to say it, but I don't trust much of anything.

[Shannon Sharp]

It's the rage bait.

[Angela Simmons]

It feels like it's trying to divide people. If we got clear facts, maybe we could calm down a little bit.

[Shannon Sharp]

NBC News brings you clear reporting. Let's meet at the facts. Let's move forward from there. NBC News reporting for America.

[Angela Simmons]

You're locked into a lot of things you can't change.

[Shannon Sharp]

Weather, traffic.

[Angela Simmons]

Hey, stay in your lane. Your wireless carrier's latest price hike. But you can unlock a better way. Unlock the savings at Boost Mobile and save up to $600 a year. Switch to the $25 a month unlimited wireless plan. No contracts, no price hikes, and you keep your phone. Stop being locked into their games. Unlock the [e-mail] unlock based on average annual single line of payment of AT&T Verizon and T Mobile customers compared to 12 months on the Boost Mobile unlimited wireless plan as of January 2026. For full offer details, visit boostmobile.com hi,

[Karen and Georgia]

it's Karen and Georgia from My Favorite Murder. We cruised around LA in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and dove into the fascinating life of actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr.

[Angela Simmons]

Want the full story?

[Karen and Georgia]

Take a listen. Hedi she starts dating Howard Hughes, the aviation tycoon. Do you know a lot about him?

[Angela Simmons]

I mean, I watch the Aviator, so

[Karen and Georgia]

I know everything le has allowed me

[Angela Simmons]

to know about him.

[Karen and Georgia]

But incredible innovator, right? She says he's a, quote, very strange man. But they do get along really well.

[Angela Simmons]

Give us examples.

[Karen and Georgia]

I know they do get along intellectually and in fact, she helps him design a faster plane. She takes a look at what he's designed. It's got these square wings and she's like, that doesn't make sense. And so she finds the fastest bird and the fastest fish and sketches out a drawing of like, what the two would look like as a plane. And that becomes the plane that we know today. And he calls her a genius. Check out our new episode spotlighting groundbreaking innovators like Hedy Lamarr and Billie Jean King. Presented by the Hyundai Ioniq 5.

[Shannon Sharp]

Goodbye.

[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Shannon Sharp]

What would. How did reality TV change your life?

[Angela Simmons]

Eyeballs. People in my business, you know, reality tv, I think everything has a gift and a curse to it. And so reality tv, the gift is you have a large platform and you can interact with lots of people on the regular. Right. That are organic, people that decide to follow you. And then the curse is like, people follow you and they just make up wild stuff that has not the truth of you. And you're like, that's not me. You think you know me.

[Shannon Sharp]

Mimi Faust said from Love and hip hop. She went viral saying, you have to take advantage of reality TV and plan for life after the cameras stop rolling.

[Angela Simmons]

For sure.

[Shannon Sharp]

I think that's what anything as a professional athlete, at some point in time, the tennis shoes aren't gonna squeak on the court and the basketball is gonna go flat.

[Angela Simmons]

That's fact.

[Shannon Sharp]

And the air in the football is not gonna sell. That's true. And people are not gonna applaud you. So now what do you do? So I don't think that's reality television. I think that's what anybody that's in say like a professional sport. Because you have to plan for after that. You look at the Kardashians and I don't think they thought that when they started keeping up with the Kardashians, this thing was gonna have a 15, 20 year run and they built an empire. A billion dollar empire.

[Angela Simmons]

Absolutely.

[Shannon Sharp]

What is the lesson to be learned in reality television? Cause you said, like, yeah, I get more eyeballs, but I also get more lies. People making up stuff because you are on and it seems more believable. Well, she's out there. They had to know something. Ain't nobody just making up stuff. People ain't making up stuff on random people. Yeah, but people don't know random people. They know Angela Simmons and she's in the spotlight.

[Angela Simmons]

Ye, you know, something I learned and I feel like this is something my dad told me. It's like, live for the praise, die by the praise.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Okay.

[Angela Simmons]

And so to me, that's like you said, in reality it can be in sports, it can be anywhere. It's like if you only care about what you're getting out of what people are saying, that's not gonna get you nowhere.

[Shannon Sharp]

Yeah.

[Angela Simmons]

So it's like really being able to extract yourself from that. Right. Like, it's nice that when people congratulate you. But are you good when they're not there clapping?

[Shannon Sharp]

Yes.

[Angela Simmons]

You know what I mean? Like for me, like, if you're not clapping at school, I'm here, I'm supporting myself. I got my team, I got my people on my side. That's the most important part. But. But always you have to plan for outside of just that. Like, yeah, like you said, the cameras stopped rolling. Okay, what else? What's next?

[Shannon Sharp]

Right.

[Angela Simmons]

You know, I don't have no cameras rolling me right now, but a lot of times that's by choice, too. But it's like, what do you want to do? And going and fully executing it and doing it and following through with it.

[Shannon Sharp]

Did you know what you really wanted to do? Because like you said, okay, this happened my senior year of high school. They started rolling. I'm going to college. And so did reality change anything about what you wanted to do with your life? Did it change how the major or what you did in college? Did it change anything?

[Angela Simmons]

Of course, because it gave my sister and I the time when we did our sneakers. A platform to do it.

[Shannon Sharp]

Yes.

[Angela Simmons]

Right. So we started something there. We traveled the entire world. We're in Europe, we're here, we're there, and we're doing that. But that was all based off of being on a show that people actually got to watch unfold. So did it change anything? Absolutely. It gave me a platform for people to see me.

[Shannon Sharp]

When you did get Daddy's Girl, why was it important to promote? You promoted the sneaker company Pastry Footwear, and it went from 15 million in the first year to 75 million during its production and surpassed Jordan at footlocks. Zendaya rocked him.

[Angela Simmons]

Yeah. Hailey Bieber. It was a fun. We had a really fun run with that. Like I said, we learned a lot business wise. Being 17 and stepping into something that big was like, whoa, okay. And even, like, getting the news that, you know, our sneakers were competing with Jordan at the time, like, we were like, what? We're competing with Jordan, you know? Cause, like, we love Jordan.

[Shannon Sharp]

You know what I mean?

[Angela Simmons]

But at the time, like, you know, there were no sneakers for women by women that understood the design part. And it just. It stood out. I mean, going to these footlocker stores and 3,000 plus people lining up just to come see us and us to sign autographs. And for them to buy sneakers was like, whoa, this is different.

[Shannon Sharp]

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[Angela Simmons]

It's definitely powerful. I do feel like television is changing now, like, where we're at and how it's being done and they're streaming and there's so many different avenues now. But it's powerful because you control your, you know, you have your audience. It's not just people tune in to watch what you're getting, what you're talking about, basically. So I do feel like it's powerful.

[Shannon Sharp]

How real is reality television? Depends on the show, because you know what I'm saying? Because normally, like, you don't normally have cameras. They don't normally say, action, cut. That's not how life works. You get up and you go and you do what you, you know, you do what you do.

[Lilly Medicine Company Announcer]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharp]

And so. And it's like, man, is this. Is this. Do they really behave like this? Because you see some and all they're doing is carrying on, and then you see some, it's like, okay. And it seems like the more entertaining people want to be entertained.

[Angela Simmons]

Smoke and mirrors, I think with some of the shows, like, our show was family driven. So very, like, it was real. It was real dynamic. I mean, maybe that day we were meeting at the dog store for me to pick up a dog, but what was happening in that store at the time is real, and it was a real dynamic. And I'm with my real family. When you see some of these other things that may seem like a little crazy. I mean, some of it's contrived and some of it's not. You guys gotta figure out what show you watching.

[Shannon Sharp]

Growing Up Hip Hop, you pitched and produced the show. Cast member. Growing Up Hip Hop, have you all. Have you always wanted to be like, your father was in the business, but like a producer behind the camera? Is that. I mean, what did you. Let me ask you quickly, what did you go to? Fashion school. Obviously you went to fashion school. So you wanted to be a designer. What did you want to be doing?

[Angela Simmons]

So a design is like, what I decided I knew I loved creatively. But then, like, once I'd done Run's House, you know, just seeing the cameras behind the scenes and how it works, and next thing you know, you do it so many seasons in you. Like, I could run this whole thing. Like, I know how to get behind and produce this. I know where this camera should be. I know that this is continuity. Like, you just know how to do it. And so when it came to creative ideas for Growing Up Hip Hop, I was like, how do we get together, all of these different people who walk these different parts of life, when it comes to, you know, having an icon as your mom, dad, or whoever it may be, and coming together and seeing what that looks like, but creatively, like, it just naturally. These are things, like, everything I do, I feel like naturally just comes to me. It's like something that I've been around and I perfect and I learn, and that's how I get there.

[Shannon Sharp]

How was that experience

[Angela Simmons]

different? It was different, right? Because I feel like, you know, when I first started the season for Grown Up Hip Hop, I. I had intentions of it being one way, and then when all of the little, like, fighting and stuff happened, like, I wasn't into it no more. You probably didn't see me on the show that much after that, but I think mixing a bunch of people, it can get messy if you guys are not super close. And so I'm not into messy reality. I'm not into messy period.

[Shannon Sharp]

Right, so you too, you, like, I'm too grown for that.

[Angela Simmons]

Yeah. I don't do that. I got a son, I got other things going on. I don't want no mess. But it was. It was an interesting ride, I would say. I mean, I think there was the. The highs and the lows. I loved once. My sister and my brother were on it, because again, that's like. Yeah. So being able to have them on the show with me, I feel like, was a really good part. I feel like that show followed a lot of my Life that was happening in real time. And it was a lot.

[Shannon Sharp]

Right. It's interesting. Like, when you did Reverend Run's house, is it a situation where, like, they give your father X amount of dollars and he distributed, or did you negotiate your. Because you're like 17, 18 years old, you like, okay, I ain't got nothing

[Angela Simmons]

to do with that. The deals and negotiations for that. It come through like, you know, like, it would go through like my dad. And like, they would do it like that.

[Shannon Sharp]

Okay, okay. So I was like, you're like, you know what, dad, I think I'm gonna do for a raise. You know what I'm saying?

[Angela Simmons]

Oh, my God. No. I mean, we were well taken care of, and everything was giving to us what we needed. But no, I didn't do it like that.

[Shannon Sharp]

Growing up with your father, obviously, we have nights. So did your friends look at you as like, well, you know, you got this. Did y' all go to skating parties? Did y' all do things together as, like. Cause, like, I mean, Arjunae said Lil Wayne her father would send her money, and she was like, treat the other kids. Were you as generous with your fathers?

[Angela Simmons]

Well, the fun for me was, like, when they would come stay at my house. Cause we had like, the basketball court and the bowling alley.

[Shannon Sharp]

Oh, you had friends over?

[Angela Simmons]

Yeah, they would prefer me not to do sleep. Like you bring them over here. You know what I mean? So, like, my friends that were close to me would come sleep over, and that's when the fun would happen. When I had my graduation, my dad let me do the whole big graduation party in the back. Like, so I would just bring people over. Like, the ones that are close.

[Shannon Sharp]

Right. Did you ever spend the night at friends home?

[Angela Simmons]

Yeah, I had like, a friend. I was best friends with my mom, probably, and my dad. They let me, like, sleep over one girl's house. And that was it. For the most part. The answer is no. They can come here.

[Shannon Sharp]

Really?

[Angela Simmons]

Yeah. They funny with that. I understand that. I have my own. So I get it. It's like, I don't know what's going on in these people's houses, but I want to. No, no, no. They can come here.

[Shannon Sharp]

Do your son. Do your son sleep over? Hey, does he have a friend?

[Angela Simmons]

A best friend, Family? He can stay at family's house.

[Shannon Sharp]

That's it.

[Angela Simmons]

I mean, like, he has a lot of Godbrothers and cousins and stuff. So those houses. But other than that, I would say, yeah, I can come over here.

[Lilly Medicine Company Announcer]

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[Karen and Georgia]

I turned off news altogether.

[Angela Simmons]

I hate to say it, but I don't trust much of anything.

[Shannon Sharp]

It's the rage bait.

[Angela Simmons]

It feels like it's trying to divide people. We got clear facts. Maybe we could calm down a little.

[Shannon Sharp]

NBC News brings you clear reporting. Let's meet at the Facts. Let's move forward from there. NBC News reporting for America. Unlock the savings at Boost Mobile and save up to $600 a year I've been scouting these big carriers for a minute now, and I've seen them pull the same play a thousand times. They promise you the world, then hit you with a price hike right when the game gets tight. But boost mobile, their $25 a month unlimited wireless plan, is the most consistent player on the floor. No contracts, no price hikes. Unlock the Savings [e-mail] Unlock based on average annual single line payment of AT&T Verizon and T Mobile customers compared to 12 months of the Boost Mobile unlimited wireless plan as of January 2026. For full offer details, visit boostmobile.com hi,

[Karen and Georgia]

it's Karen and Georgia from My Favorite Murder. We cruised around LA in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and dove into the fascinating life of actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr.

[Angela Simmons]

Want the full story?

[Karen and Georgia]

Take a listen, Hetty. She starts dating Howard Hughes, the aviation tycoon. Do you know a lot about him? I mean, I watch the Aviator, so I know everything Leonardo DiCaprio has allowed me to know about him. But incredible innovator, right? She says he's a, quote, very strange man. But they do get along really well.

[Angela Simmons]

Give us examples.

[Karen and Georgia]

I know they do get along intellectually. And in fact, she helps him design a faster plane. She takes a look at what he's designed. It's got these square wings. And she's like, that doesn't make sense. And so she finds the fastest bird and the fastest fish and sketches out a drawing of, like, what the two would look like as a plane. And that becomes the plane that we know today. And he calls her a genius. Check out our new episode spotlighting groundbreaking innovators like Hedy and Lamarr and Billie Jean King.

[Angela Simmons]

Presented by the Hyundai Ioniq 5.

[Karen and Georgia]

Goodbye.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. Earn four times the points on your favorite brands now through July 28th on eligible items like Pantene Moisturizing Shampoo, Food Gillette Razors and Refills, Secret Clinical Strength Deodorant, Herbal Essences, Hair Care, Old Spice Deodorant, Pampers, Swaddlers Diapers, and Crest Clean Breath Toothpaste. Enjoy savings on top of savings. When you shop in store or online for easy pickup or delivery, restrictions apply. See the website for full terms.

[Shannon Sharp]

Growing up, obviously, growing up with the Simmons last name, being on television, a lot of opportunity to date come your way. Some good intentions, some bad intentions.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yikes.

[Shannon Sharp]

Were there more good or bad intentions?

[Angela Simmons]

I don't know. It's probably a mix, right? I think you don't find out about the bad intentions till you fall too far, too deep in. Especially when you're young. Like, when you're young, it's like, everything's cool. Like, yeah, sure, yeah, yeah, yeah. No, now you.

[Shannon Sharp]

And everything sounds good at the time. You like?

[Angela Simmons]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Shannon Sharp]

So how did you, like, find your way through that, Angela? It's not easy.

[Angela Simmons]

Wow. My sister's four years older than me, so I had her as a navigating partner, Vanessa. And so, like, I feel like she was really helpful when it came to those things. Cause I would always run stuff by her or she'd run stuff by me. But I was watching what she was doing, like, okay, how's she moving? Cause, like, I would go out with her ahead of time. But I would say that she was helpful when it came to navigating, like, dating. And then, like, yeah, I'll say my sister was really a part of that.

[Shannon Sharp]

Bow wow was growing up hip hop. And you guys have a history. His mom holds you in very high regard.

[Angela Simmons]

She's awesome.

[Shannon Sharp]

She holds you in very high regard. And even he said she's ringworthy.

[Angela Simmons]

Oh, that's really nice. I didn't know that.

[Shannon Sharp]

What is that? I mean, think about, like, you said you didn't know that. So what does that mean to you? That she's ringworthy? Because I think the perception is not everybody says they want to get married. And nobody's really. I mean, there are. But, you know, you date or you do whatever you do. When someone says, man, Angela Simmons, she's ringworthy, how does that make you feel?

[Angela Simmons]

That's nice. I like that. I mean, I know I will one day be an amazing wife. So that makes me happy that, you know, a man can see that. So I would say that that makes me feel good.

[Shannon Sharp]

Is it true? A part of the reason you guys went your separate ways is that that you was, you know, you was a virgin and wanted to maintain a virgin. Wanted to maintain your virginity and your purity until you got married, and you were able to do that until you were 28.

[Angela Simmons]

Yeah, that's real.

[Shannon Sharp]

28.

[Angela Simmons]

Yeah.

[Ryan Seacrest]

20.

[Angela Simmons]

Oh, yeah.

[Shannon Sharp]

Did you just, like. Did you, like, go to a nun? Did you not go out? Did you not kill? I'm like, damn, man. How you 28?

[Angela Simmons]

Yeah, I was 28, but I'm like,

[Shannon Sharp]

I mean, think about 17. And I got a teenage. I got teenage daughters. I had teenage daughters. So I know the boy thing is real and late teenage and early 20s and all your friends, and you see everybody doing this, and I didn't care.

[Angela Simmons]

So the real thing is, like, my dad and I hold my dad in a very, very high regard. He sat me down. I had to be like, I'm gonna go back to 17 or 18. And he was like. He sat me my. Sit down. He was like, I want you guys, you know, to hold out, to wait. And da, da, da, da. And I just took it to heart. And then one day, I remember going to church, and they were discussing all these things about waiting in marriage. And I was like, you know what? I'm awake. So it went from, like, my dad telling me to, like, hearing it in church. And then I was like, I'm just gonna wait until I meet the right person, like, for marriage. And then time kept ticking, and I was like, dang, I'm 28. This is crazy. But, yeah, I waited until then and that. Yeah, you asked me two questions. I'm like, wait. I went from that to this because,

[Shannon Sharp]

like, when someone says that you're ringworthy, and it seems to be. But do you. The perfect person, I want to ask, do all women. Is it the. The ring? Is it the ceremony? Or is it the part of being a wife? Because there's more to being a wife than just getting a ring.

[Angela Simmons]

It's bigger than the ring. It's the life you're gonna have with that person. You know what I mean? It's the unity underneath God. I think there's so many legs to it. I mean, having that is, like. It's a commitment. Like, let's make a commitment in front of God.

[Shannon Sharp]

Do people understand that?

[Angela Simmons]

I don't know. About now I'll be looking at people like, oh no, some girls maybe just want a ring. I want more than a ring. Having a ring to me. Like if your relationship's not together, I don't want the ring. Like, I don't want to walk around proud with my commitment, with my ring on my hand. Cause I know I love my man and I don't think anything's perfect. But at the same time, like this shows that we locked in, right? You know what I mean? Like you with me, I'm with you. And I don't know that publicly shows something. We know we locked in before the ring because obviously to get to that point, you had to know that you were going to be together.

[Shannon Sharp]

It's young care. Let me tell you something. There are moves and then there are power moves. Like when a coach steps in and change the culture overnight. A power move. When a quarterback leaves a team that's a champion and he goes to another team and they become a champion. Yeah, that's a power move. Or when a basketball player pulls up from the logo and before you know it, ah, power move happens. That's what unk love. And you know what else is a power move? Hiring Morgan and Morgan. They're the largest injury law firm in America. Over 100 offices, over 1,000 lawyers, and they've recovered $30 billion for over 500,000 clients. I'm talking real wins too. $6.1 million in Florida when the offer was only 100K. 29.5 million in Georgia, 10.6 million in Nashville. So if you're injured because someone else messed up, don't play around with it. You deserve to get paid. Make a power move. Check out Morgan and Morgan. Their fee is free unless they win. Go to for the people.com Shannon or dial pound law. That's pound 529 with your cell phone. That's f o r thepeople.com Shannon or pound law. This is a paid advertisement. You have look, you have a great role model. You have great role models on what a wonderful marriage should look like and how it should be. Obviously there nobody is 100% happy all the time. No, there's work that's involved but you've had both parents on both sides. You look said been in long term relationships after their original divorce.

[Angela Simmons]

Marriage.

[Shannon Sharp]

Marriage, excuse me, marriages. After their relation, the previous marriages. So you understand what it takes and you understand. Yeah. There have been times that my mom and my stepmom, my dad and my stepmom, or my mom and my stepdad but they work it out.

[Angela Simmons]

But you know what's crazy is, like, even both sides, like, my mom and my stepdad, Alphonse, and my dad and my stepmom, they've never showed. We didn't really see.

[Shannon Sharp]

They don't do that in front of you.

[Angela Simmons]

We've not seen that. Like, I always seen, like, unity. I mean, if they ever were having an argument, they would not do that in front of us. Like, wow. So we seen. Like, for me, I remember seeing, like, really good, healthy relationships when it came to those marriages.

[Shannon Sharp]

Like, wow, marriage. Would you ever spend a block and marry an ex?

[Angela Simmons]

If it makes sense. Why do I ask this if it makes sense? I don't.

[Shannon Sharp]

What you mean it makes sense?

[Angela Simmons]

Because I don't put, like, no hold on myself and say what I would and won't do. Like, think about it. Like, I waited. I want to wait. Y' all married and I have a kid, and, like, just thinking about my life and what I've said as a younger person, like, yeah, I'm gonna do this. And then you look at me. I didn't do that. So, like, I will be lying to myself if I don't say, I don't know. I don't necessarily have intentions to say, look, let me go be with this person. I'm gonna marry them. But you never know. Like, it could be.

[Shannon Sharp]

So you were able to wait until you 28 years of age.

[Angela Simmons]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharp]

If someone's like, angela, how did you do it? Because I'm sure women have come up to you and asked, well, how were you able to do it? How were you able to maintain a relationship? Maintain relationships and still, like, because, you know, guys, look. We look at like, baby, if you really love me, you know, let your boy do that.

[Angela Simmons]

Yeah. I feel like I had a lot of great reasons to change my mind along the way. Right. And I was like, no. Nope. I'm holding out. I'm holding out. And I was in long term relationships. In between.

[Shannon Sharp]

Yeah.

[Angela Simmons]

Yeah. Like, I had guys, I was in long term relationships. And I'm like, thinking, affect. Like, they really waited. That's crazy. But it didn't. They weren't the one. So I don't know.

[Shannon Sharp]

But I mean, you don't know. They might have been great.

[Angela Simmons]

I don't know.

[Ryan Seacrest]

I don't know.

[Shannon Sharp]

I mean, the stomach hurt. Now you like, oh, oh, Lord have mercy.

[Angela Simmons]

I don't know. I mean, I even look at myself, like, wow, I have strong willpower, but I know that about myself. Like, if I want to do something I'm locking in, I'm doing it. That's it. Nobody can take me left or right. So when it came to that, I was like, this is the commitment I'm making, and that's it. And I'm sticking to it.

[Shannon Sharp]

So you was in a relationship once you finally did it, once you finally had, you know, you had sex.

[Angela Simmons]

I got engaged.

[Shannon Sharp]

You got engaged. And so if you get mad at your partner, you say, nah, ain't nothing happening here tonight. Ain't nothing happening here this week. You standing on that, huh?

[Angela Simmons]

What do you mean, what happening?

[Shannon Sharp]

Ain't nothing going on. Let's just say you get mad at your partner and, you know, sometimes, you know, guy, you know, like, makeup, that's the best.

[Angela Simmons]

Okay.

[Shannon Sharp]

And you like, nah, that ain't going down, Paul.

[Angela Simmons]

Well, who said it's not going down?

[Shannon Sharp]

Oh, you. So you could be mad at him. So you mad at him? Not him, no.

[Angela Simmons]

I mean, here's my thing about even arguments in relationship. If we staying together, at some point, we gotta get over it. So I just wanna get over it.

[Shannon Sharp]

Like, so you wanna get down and help you get over it quicker.

[Angela Simmons]

Let's be over it. Like, what's the problem? Can we get to the middle of it? And I'm like, okay, like, what are we gonna go eat? What are we gonna go do? Like, I'm not trying to stay mad.

[Shannon Sharp]

Okay, Okay.

[Angela Simmons]

I don't like that. I don't wanna go to bed mad. I don't wanna be mad. You could have a little space, and then can we please come back and fix the problem? That's my thing.

[Shannon Sharp]

But was it hard in your early 20s because a lot of your friends, and you see a lot of people in their 20s, that's when they try to. They maybe experiment with certain things and they find out a lot about themselves. But it seems to me you already knew about who you were and what you wanted to be and who you wanted to be. So, you know what? Nah, doing that ain't gonna tell me anything more about myself than I already know.

[Angela Simmons]

I felt confident with my decision. You know what I mean? I think that it happened for a reason. I got to, like, openly, like, freely date, knowing that I'm not doing that too. So it was, like, cool. Like, I don't really. I got to. I got to really know people, too. I think it teaches you how to really get to know somebody without that on the table, too, so.

[Shannon Sharp]

But then you ended up having. You get into a relationship, and you end up having. You having a child at 29, right?

[Angela Simmons]

No, 28.

[Shannon Sharp]

28.

[Angela Simmons]

Well, was I 29? No, I turned 28. Don't give me lying. 28 or 29, either way. Like, I got engaged. I had a baby at 28, right?

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharp]

And unfortunately, your child's father ended up succumbing to gun violence. How difficult of a situation. Cause now you like. All my Life, I've waited 28 years to be in this relationship and to have this relationship. And this is what God sent me. He sent me this man. And this is everything that I've always wanted. And to have it so tragically taken away,

[Angela Simmons]

it's so many layers to that. We actually weren't together when it happened. We had broken apart, broken up. But it's one of those things that, to me, to this day, is so surreal because it's like I could have never imagined that this would be my story. You know what I mean? And then, like, the hardest part, you know, is, like, looking at your son and knowing, like, that would have been his best friend. Like, they would have been. He's so much like his dad when it comes to, like, certain things. Like from. My son likes interior decorating. My son likes cooking. My son likes clothing. My son likes just so many things that his dad would like. But, like, I could have never seen this, like, that happening to me. But it's very hard. It's an ongoing thing. It's grief. It's. It's a lot.

[Shannon Sharp]

How difficult was it to receive that phone call even though you guys weren't together at the time?

[Angela Simmons]

Horrible, horrible, horrible. I remember where I was at. I remember the feeling. I remember that was the first time that I realized, like, oh, wow, this is what people mean when you feel numb. Like, I body. My body physically felt numb when I got that news. Like, for days. Like, I was waking up every day, and I'm like, this can't be real. Like, this can't be my story. And then my son's name is his father's name. So I was like, how am I gonna say that name and not think of his dad every time I say it? Like, how am I gonna do it? So going in therapy was, like, the only thing that helped me.

[Shannon Sharp]

Do you still call him by his father's name? Or do you call him Deuce? Or you call him.

[Angela Simmons]

His name is sj. Well, his name is Sutton. His nickname is SJ because his middle name is Joseph. I'm named after my dad, so it's Sutton Joseph. But he prefers that. Like, in school, he's like. He likes people to call him Sutton at home sj. He's very specific about his name, but I call them usually sj and sometimes I say Sutton. But SJ for the most part.

[Lilly Medicine Company Announcer]

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[Karen and Georgia]

I turned off news altogether.

[Angela Simmons]

I hate to say it, but I don't trust much of anything.

[Shannon Sharp]

It's the rage bait.

[Angela Simmons]

It feels like it's trying to divide people. We got clear facts. Maybe we can calm down a little.

[Shannon Sharp]

NBC News brings you clear reporting. Let's meet at the Facts. Let's move forward from there. NBC News reporting for America. Unlock the savings at Boost Mobile and save up to 600 a year I've been scouting these big carriers for a minute now, and I've seen them pull the same play a thousand times. They promise you the world, then hit you with a price hike right when the game gets tight. But boost mobile, their $25 a month unlimited wireless plan, is the most consistent player on the floor. No contracts, no price hikes. Unlock the Savings [e-mail] Unlock based on average annual single line payment of AT&T Verizon and T Mobile customers compared to 12 months on the Boost Mobile unlimited wireless plan as of January 2026. For full offer details, visit Boost Mobile.com

[Karen and Georgia]

hi, it's Karen and Georgia from My favorite Murder. We cruised around LA in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and dove into the fascinating life of actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr.

[Angela Simmons]

Want the full story?

[Karen and Georgia]

Take a listen, Hetty. She starts dating Howard Hughes, the aviation tycoon. Do you know a lot about him?

[Angela Simmons]

I mean, I watch the Aviator so

[Karen and Georgia]

I know everything Leonardo DiCaprio has allowed me to know about him. But incredible innovator, right? She says he's a, quote, very strange man. But they do get along really well.

[Angela Simmons]

Give us examples.

[Karen and Georgia]

I know they do get along intellectually and in fact, she helps him design a faster plane. She takes a look at what he's designed. It's got these square wings and she's like that doesn't make sense. And so she finds the fastest bird and the fastest fish and sketches out a drawing of like, what the two would look like as a plane. And that becomes the plane that we know today. And he calls her a genius. Check out our new episode spotlighting groundbreaking innovators like Hedy and Lamar and Billie Jean King. Presented by the Hyundai Ioniq 5.

[Shannon Sharp]

Goodbye.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. Save up to 50% off your favorite self care brands this summer. Stock up on wellness products like Cortisone 10 Ultra Soothing Cream, Dualcolax Stool Softener Gels, Clara 24 Hour Allergy Tablets, Nature's Truth Magnesium Cortisone 10 Cooling Spray, Dual Collax stimulant tablets, and Nature's Truth Elderberry gummies. Enjoy savings on top of savings. When you shop in store or online for easy pickup or delivery, restrictions apply. See the website for full terms.

[Shannon Sharp]

Unfortunately, the. The Internet beat him to telling the story of his father and how he passed. Because I would assume that you were kind of waiting to the right time that you felt.

[Angela Simmons]

I mean, I thought 9, 10 to tell him, you know, I didn't know he would look that up.

[Shannon Sharp]

How did he know? Do you think someone told him? Or. He's just an inquisitive kid.

[Angela Simmons]

He was inquisitive his whole life. He's been inquisitive since 3. He would tell, you know, and I would say, you know, somebody did something really bad to him. And you know, you don't want to share those details with a kid. But he looked it up himself. He would even tell, like my son's mother, he would tell her, like, like, you guys can tell me, like, what happened to my dad at like 3, 4. He's asking these questions and we're like, you know, how do we as a family tell him what happened without it affecting him? So, no, like, I don't. I didn't realize that there was no perfect way or time to tell him, you know, like, what happened.

[Shannon Sharp]

So when he found out, I'm assuming he came to you call me.

[Angela Simmons]

I was on my way to like an event and he called me crying, bawling. They were like, he's upset. He sees that his dad was shot. Like, he's like, why did they shoot him? Like, it's like 18 or 19 times in the back. Like, he's like, why didn't nobody, you know, like, he's. And mind you, he's nine now, so this had to be at seven.

[Shannon Sharp]

Wow.

[Angela Simmons]

So I'm like, how do you explain that to a kid, right?

[Shannon Sharp]

You know, you go into a vent. You don't want to lose it. You don't want to.

[Angela Simmons]

So I was like, I had to sit there and talk to him for a while, kind of calm him down, but I could have never imagined that that's the conversation I'm having with you at seven years old.

[Shannon Sharp]

Wow.

[Lilly Medicine Company Announcer]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharp]

Do you think the Internet, I mean, what else do you think he's found on the Internet that you were kind of waiting to tell him? Because, you see, it seems like he's very, very inquisitive. So you might as well just go ahead and get it out in the open. You might as well go ahead and get it out of the open.

[Angela Simmons]

He's super smart. He waits, though. He'll hold information and then he'll ask you later. Inquisitive. He'll keep it and he'll like. When he's ready to have a conversation, he'll bring it up. The kid is something else. In fact, he probably will see this. He's like, you be talking about me to people. Like, he's something else. Okay.

[Shannon Sharp]

Does it. Knowing that he is so inquisitive, understanding that the Internet is forever, does that make you more mindful of the things that you post? Does it make it more mindful of the things that you say? Because there's gonna be probably. If it gets. If you say it, you are Angela Simmons. If you say it, if you post it, it's gonna be on the Internet and he'll be able to have an opportunity to find it.

[Angela Simmons]

I feel like I've always kind of been mindful of everything I say and who I am and what I do. And so, like, I don't feel like there's information out there that I would be like, I'm not proud of it. You know what I mean? Or I wouldn't have a conversation with him about it. Like, this was this at this time. So I don't. I have to put an extra layer of filter because I am who I am. You know what I mean?

[Shannon Sharp]

If you think your family got drama, wait till you see little brother on Netflix. You've got John Cena, this big time real estate superstar whose whole perfect little life gets turned upside down when his wild little brother, played by Eric Andre, come crashing back into the picture. And trust me, Eric Andre is complete chaos. This thing has everybody in it. Michelle Moynihan, Chris Maloney, Ego Wodom, Sherry Cola. Straight comedy heavyweights. This movie has outrageous moments already. Physical, crazy situations. But it also has Heart. That's what surprised me. You're going to laugh a lot. But underneath all that madness is really about family, pressure, rivalry, and trying to hold your life together when everything goes off the rail. And if you've ever watched them luxury real estate shows, oh, they're having fun that world too. Make sure you check out little brother. June 26th. That's my birthday. Only on Netflix. I saw a video of your. Your son riding with your dad in the car. How influential and how helpful has your father been in helping you raise a son?

[Angela Simmons]

He's great when it comes to advice. Like, I'll call him about anything. And his advice is always, like, right on time. And my son is so cool because he has his own relationship with each grandparent. And so my dad and his relationship's really cute and fun. And when we go over there, my son loves cars, and my dad knows that. So ever since he was like, literally like, come on, let's get in the car. And so he'll ask questions about the cars and all that stuff. So it's really. They have a really good relationship.

[Shannon Sharp]

You were in a relationship, a public relationship with Yo Gotti, and he tragically lost his brother to gun violence. And it's something that, you know, going through. And unless someone has been through it, it's kind of hard to, like, to know what that person is going through. But you had been through it. The son of. The father of your son had tragically lost his life. So you guys were able to talk about it on a. On a level that maybe not a whole lot of people would have been understanding. So how were you able to, like. Because it's tough. A family member, I mean, like you said when you got that phone call. So you can just imagine him getting a phone call that his brother had lost his life.

[Angela Simmons]

Yeah. I think out of respect for his family and everything. I don't really want to discuss, like, stuff around, like, stuff like that.

[Shannon Sharp]

Okay, that's good. Tell you what you do want to discuss. Memphis, it's been in the lose a lot lately from the NBA players talking about the hotels and the accommodations and. And I'm assuming God is from Memphis, that you didn't stay in a hotel when you were in Memphis, but the cuisine and the nightlife and what it's like, give the people a glance because. And what I was trying to tell you got to understand, These guys make 30, 40, $50 million a year. They're used to standing in the Ritz and the Four Seasons and the montage in these palatial Estates, the Hyatt. That's Western. The days in ain't gonna cut it for them, even if it's only for one Luther Vandross. Only for one night, right? Talk to us about Memphis. You spent some time in Memphis. You know what it's like, the dining, the. The night life. What. What's it like?

[Angela Simmons]

I would just say, you know, I've spent time there. I. Even before him. Like, I would go there for, like, work and for signings and different stuff, but I would say food. Food is good. It's just that I'm vegetarian. Vegan.

[Shannon Sharp]

Ah, man, you can't go to Memphis no damn vegetarian. You need to go to California.

[Angela Simmons]

No, for. But so for. For me, I can say the sides. I found good sides, but they looked at me like I was crazy. Like, oh, you don't eat no meat. We ain't got nothing for you. So I don't know if y' all want to hear my perspective on food in Memphis, but, hey, you know.

[Shannon Sharp]

So how long you been vegetarian?

[Angela Simmons]

Oh, man, since probably 15, 16, 17 years. I stopped doing it.

[Shannon Sharp]

Your dad's vegetarian?

[Angela Simmons]

No, no, no. But it's been a long.

[Shannon Sharp]

So how did you decide to go vegetarian? I mean, what was it about?

[Angela Simmons]

It started with my uncle when I was like, oh, yeah, okay, okay, 10 or 11. He was like, watch this video. So I watched this video of all these animals, and I'm like, I don't want to eat meat no more. But then, like, I was like, living at home, and I'm like, yeah, it's not going to happen. They're cooking meat, and I'm eating what's being served. And then finally, for me, what happened is I moved to California with my sister, and I was like. I met my trainer, started working out, and I'm like, oh, I got to eat better. So I started eating better, and then eventually I ate this piece of meat, and I didn't feel good no more. And I said, you know what? I'm done eating meat. And it was that simple because I remember my uncle saying. I was like, so if I want to be vegetarian, like, what I gotta do? He was like, you like rice and beans? I'm like, yeah. He's like, okay, so you'll be good. I'm like, that's not gonna fix it. But I did wind up just cutting out meat at that point and not eating meat anymore.

[Shannon Sharp]

So you don't eat meat, period? You don't eat fish, you don't eat chicken, no meat, nothing. Wow. What about eggs?

[Angela Simmons]

Not Currently. But I do eat eggs, but not right now.

[Shannon Sharp]

Milk?

[Angela Simmons]

No milk. I try to stay away from dairy, but I do like pizza.

[Lilly Medicine Company Announcer]

Dang.

[Angela Simmons]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharp]

No, I'm good on that. I'm happy.

[Angela Simmons]

What you mean?

[Shannon Sharp]

I gotta have that?

[Angela Simmons]

I can eat all the sides at steak restaurants and.

[Shannon Sharp]

No, I want a steak. You see, you said. You ain't say side restaurant. You said steak restaurant.

[Angela Simmons]

But you eat all of the great. The garlic mash and the greens and the.

[Shannon Sharp]

But you know, they be putting fat back and all kind of stuff. They be cooking with oil in it.

[Lilly Medicine Company Announcer]

All of them.

[Shannon Sharp]

Yeah, they do. And you be tasting good, though.

[Angela Simmons]

You ain't no fat back.

[Shannon Sharp]

You be tasting. Be tasting. You beating collard greens with turkey neck. Dustin balls down in it. No. What about. So you were on the Breakfast Club and they was talking about your Memphis accent. When you go. Like, I don't know how long you were there, but how did you. Did you intentionally pick up that or just like, well, damn, I'm just. This is how everybody talk.

[Angela Simmons]

I didn't realize I had the accent. I just think because I'm with somebody so much, you just pick up their accent unintentionally. I'm so New York that people always like, your accent is so New York. So then when the Memphis of it all, I was like, do I sound like I'm from there right now? Like, I didn't even realize.

[Shannon Sharp]

Posting on social media, how long? Or is there a timeline in which an individual dates someone before they start posting them online? Is there a set time? Is it immediately? Is it six months? Is it a year? Is it never? We keep stuff private. If we date. If we date in private, we can, you know, break up in private. If we date publicly, we're gonna probably date, break up in public. Is there a set time in which a person should post someone on social media?

[Angela Simmons]

Let's see. I would say there's no specific time. I think it depends on the person, the individual and who you're dating and what you want to do. If you want to be private or you want to be public, I suggest you at least get to know the person some before you go posting them. Otherwise you'll find out some information. I'm sure in this day and age, if you doing something stupid, it's going to come back some way somehow through social media.

[Shannon Sharp]

Right. You mentioned, like, look, okay, get to know that person. You don't believe there's a set time, but make sure you know as much as you possibly can before you start posting that person. Because the Last thing you want to do is post that person and then somebody else post. Well, we got pictures with him just yesterday.

[Angela Simmons]

They got five girlfriends. Now you looking stupid. Like, dang, why I put you up that quick? I'm in love and so are y'. All.

[Shannon Sharp]

When you break up with said individual and you got stuff on your feet, do you remove it or do you leave it?

[Angela Simmons]

I mean, it depends.

[Shannon Sharp]

I mean, how far back is it? So if it's 20, let's just say you.

[Angela Simmons]

If you can't go all the way back and forth, why you can't? I'm not gonna go down my whole timeline. Sometimes it takes too long to get back.

[Shannon Sharp]

Delete, delete.

[Angela Simmons]

For the most part. If I see it, I can get rid of it, right? Yeah. I mean, if we wanna go ahead and just get rid of archive and just move on, then yeah, I don't see nothing wrong with that.

[Shannon Sharp]

How about this? How long are you in the relationship before you introduce someone to your son?

[Angela Simmons]

I prefer enough time that I feel like that we're actually gonna be a thing.

[Shannon Sharp]

Cause now my son, you locked in. We here.

[Angela Simmons]

My son's inquisitive, like I said. He looking over my shoulder at my phone. I be like, dang, back up. He like, you know, he be in my business, so. But it gotta be like we about to this is it like we gonna be together.

[Shannon Sharp]

Does he ask, mom, when are you gonna start dating again, Mom?

[Angela Simmons]

Well, I'm going out. He'd be like, you're gonna meet someone. I'm like, will you leave me alone? I'm just going out. Or like he's curious.

[Shannon Sharp]

Nah, I'm just going to get tofu.

[Angela Simmons]

Not tofu. I don't even eat tofu. I know. The list shortens. Don't worry, I'm not. It's real simple what I eat. I like Thai food, though.

[Shannon Sharp]

Oh, you like Thai food?

[Angela Simmons]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharp]

There's good, like noodles.

[Angela Simmons]

Noodles, the broccoli, the veggies. There's tons, I promise. It sounds like it's short list, but it's long.

[Shannon Sharp]

Help me understand this. Why do you think people are so invested in celebrity relationships?

[Angela Simmons]

I don't know. I don't have that answer. Do you? Because I really don't.

[Shannon Sharp]

I don't. I don't.

[Angela Simmons]

I don't really have that.

[Shannon Sharp]

You know what? I think a part of it is. And. And I think the reason why, especially when celebrities do TV shows.

[Angela Simmons]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharp]

I think the. The common though the average person wants to see how similar or how different my life is from theirs. Yeah, I want to see, man, you know what? Angela Simmons wake up just like I do. She go brush her teeth and wash her face just like I do, and she goes. Because they want to see how similar their lives or unsimilar their lives are to what.

[Angela Simmons]

I can see that, like, seeing the similarities of someone else that's similar to you, but yet they're just, like, got a little fame. Yes, that makes sense.

[Shannon Sharp]

I think that's really what it is, because there ain't no reason.

[Angela Simmons]

Sometimes people root for people. I say, with the relationships, maybe they get invested because they want to see it. Cause I run across people, and they like, I hope y' all be together or whatever you like what you got to do with this. But it's the hope, I think, right?

[Shannon Sharp]

Yeah, but there. You know, look, there's been a lot of. Over the last couple of years, they've been. Angela, there's been a lot from how much you spend on the first date and where you can take someone on the first date. And it used to be, you know, growing up, it was like Applebee's and Hula Hands and TGI Friday, and now it seems to be, nah, we got to go to Del Frisco's or we got to go to Mastro's or we gotta go to state 40. I'm like, well, damn. Because if you start way up here, where do we go? Where do we go from there?

[Angela Simmons]

We could keep going.

[Shannon Sharp]

Ain't but so high.

[Angela Simmons]

I mean, okay, we can go to Italy next to get some pasta. There's always somewhere else to go, Chef Baradi. I mean, there's tons you can do.

[Shannon Sharp]

Angela. If you start off with that, where do you go?

[Angela Simmons]

You can start off simple, too. We can go to the Waffle House.

[Karen and Georgia]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharp]

See, that's what I'm talking about. You ain't going to Waffle House. Stop it. See, there you go. You just throwing out stuff.

[Angela Simmons]

I like waffles. I like waffles and grits and the potatoes. And when I eat eggs, I like the eggs.

[Shannon Sharp]

Oh, you know what they put in grits, though? You open grits.

[Angela Simmons]

Not at the Waffle House. It's just. What?

[Shannon Sharp]

They got butter and everything up in them grits.

[Lilly Medicine Company Announcer]

Excuse me.

[Shannon Sharp]

Yeah, they got butter in them grits.

[Angela Simmons]

You said blood butter. Oh, I said no butter.

[Shannon Sharp]

Oh, lots of it. And, you know, they cook everything on that grill.

[Angela Simmons]

Butter ain't gonna kill me. No, that. Well, I don't know. I like the waffles at Waffle House,

[Shannon Sharp]

but, I mean, but.

[Angela Simmons]

So you can start There it's all about.

[Shannon Sharp]

But you see the. They had a list, and it was like the 50 places you don't take somebody on the first date. And it was like Waffle House and Cheesecake Factory. Y' all did.

[Angela Simmons]

I didn't make that list.

[Shannon Sharp]

Yeah, y' all did.

[Angela Simmons]

Got nothing to do with that list.

[Shannon Sharp]

Women.

[Angela Simmons]

No, don't women me.

[Shannon Sharp]

Cause you see that on the Internet. She don't want to get out the car. Cause he going here. That's a chain restaurant. I don't do chain restaurants. I do single.

[Angela Simmons]

I mean, as long as we're building up something, what if we started at the Waffle House and you did something really nice and you did the flowers and you had a conversation.

[Shannon Sharp]

Who think. Who get flowers going to the Waffle House? Damn.

[Angela Simmons]

You should get that regardless. I really think that's the most. That is the most simple thing. I mean, you could go to a store and get flowers. You can order.

[Shannon Sharp]

So you want the man showing up, so he come pick you up. You want him as soon as he. Ba, ba, ba, ba, ba. There you go. Might look beautiful.

[Angela Simmons]

He should have pre sent mine. But I'm just saying that there are flower. Come on.

[Shannon Sharp]

See, that's what I'm talking about.

[Angela Simmons]

I'm just saying he should pre sent mine. Like, I like a lot of them. Or the forever flowers, you know?

[Shannon Sharp]

Oh, you like the forever flowers?

[Angela Simmons]

I like both. Cause, like, I like options. So, like, you know, the ones that are alive and then the ones that you can, like, leave on your table. And I always remember, remember you sent me those, you know, so you want.

[Shannon Sharp]

So anytime you go out, you want your man to already have sent you flowers.

[Angela Simmons]

That would be nice. That's really thoughtful. And see, I'm not even asking for a gift there. I'm saying flowers. It's just thoughtful. There are so many places you can get flowers from.

[Shannon Sharp]

But I'm just saying. Angela, you going out at least once a week, Twice a week.

[Angela Simmons]

I know men that give their wives and their girls flowers every week and send, like, a lot of them. I do.

[Shannon Sharp]

I'll tell you what. How about this. Cause I used to, when I was in California, I would have flowers sent to the house. Cause I like flowers, too. Have a nice arrangement sent. How about if I just send you an arrangement? Send you an arrangement once a week.

[Angela Simmons]

That's nice. That's so thoughtful. If somebody just hit send on auto reset and you just keep. Why not?

[Shannon Sharp]

Okay.

[Angela Simmons]

I don't think that that's bad. You think that's a lot to ask for from. From a guy.

[Shannon Sharp]

No, I don't.

[Angela Simmons]

I just feel like that's like super thoughtful. Just little cute little notes and stuff.

[Shannon Sharp]

But those 3, 2, $300 a week add up quick, though.

[Angela Simmons]

It do. It get there. But then you can always see.

[Shannon Sharp]

You said it do, though.

[Angela Simmons]

I mean, you could always replace it with something else, but it's just the thought that. I don't know. There's always just. Just things.

[Shannon Sharp]

Oh, my God. So you a gift gal, huh? You like gifts, huh?

[Angela Simmons]

That's the love language. Absolutely.

[Shannon Sharp]

That's your love. That's a love language.

[Angela Simmons]

One of them.

[Shannon Sharp]

Okay.

[Angela Simmons]

Yeah, I like stuff like that. I am a hopeless romantic person.

[Shannon Sharp]

I hope you find somebody that's able to provide that lifestyle.

[Angela Simmons]

I've experienced this.

[Shannon Sharp]

Yes. And that's the thing. Once you get to that, I don't

[Angela Simmons]

see, ain't no way you ain't going back down.

[Shannon Sharp]

You're not. You're not. And I think this is what happens when women, when they date athletes, celebs, or entertainers. Once you get in that lifestyle, once you've gone to Santorini or you've gone to the Maldives or you've been on a private jet or you've gone to this all inclusive, you don't want to go back. And the dude, he might be the man of your dreams, but the best he got for you, a trip to Miami.

[Angela Simmons]

That might could work, though. You can make it work.

[Shannon Sharp]

When you go to the Maldives in Bali and you stand on those bungalows, that's overlooking.

[Angela Simmons]

Depends on where we go in Miami, because there are a lot of amazing places in Miami.

[Shannon Sharp]

Which one better than the Maldives? I mean, it's not bad at the Four Seasons. At the Maldives, where you're overlooking. Exactly.

[Angela Simmons]

I was like, okay, I understand where you're going.

[Shannon Sharp]

And you've been on a private jet, Angela.

[Angela Simmons]

Of course.

[Shannon Sharp]

No, I'm just. No, I'm saying once you've been on that and you just pull up, you ain't got no airport, you ain't got no tv.

[Angela Simmons]

Oh, yeah, You've been on Emirates. The. The first class.

[Shannon Sharp]

That's where I want to go.

[Angela Simmons]

I love that flight.

[Shannon Sharp]

Emirates. They say you haven't done anything. No, I haven't. Singapore.

[Angela Simmons]

So amazing.

[Shannon Sharp]

They got another.

[Angela Simmons]

They got like, Singapore looks amazing. The beds.

[Shannon Sharp]

Yes, yes. I got to do that.

[Angela Simmons]

The Dubai one is like, the trip is on the plane to me, like, sitting there. Yeah. Order food as many times you want.

[Shannon Sharp]

Yeah. You got a little bed, you got a little recliners.

[Angela Simmons]

It's more than a recliner. That's a full bed.

[Shannon Sharp]

Yeah, I think I could. I think I might be able to do.

[Angela Simmons]

Cuz I hate.

[Shannon Sharp]

I hate being on the bar.

[Angela Simmons]

And then they got the bar in the back. You get up and walk around. It's fun.

[Shannon Sharp]

You've been on it?

[Angela Simmons]

Yeah, a couple times. A lot of times it's.

[Shannon Sharp]

Damn. God dang.

[Angela Simmons]

Hey, you know, I want to go back on it. I think that's a good idea.

[Shannon Sharp]

I mean, I just. I just. I just do Delta First Class.

[Angela Simmons]

Delta First Class is great.

[Shannon Sharp]

Delta One, that's all I got. I ain't got no emoji.

[Angela Simmons]

Delta 1 is good.

[Shannon Sharp]

This concludes the first half of my conversation. Part two is also posted and you can access it to whichever podcast platform you just listened to part one on. Just simply go back to Club Shay Shay Profile and I'll see you there.

[Lilly Medicine Company Announcer]

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[Karen and Georgia]

Hi, it's Karen and Georgia from My Favorite Murder. We cruised around LA in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and dove into the fascinating life of actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr.

[Angela Simmons]

Want the full story?

[Karen and Georgia]

Take a listen. She starts dating Howard Hughes and in fact, she helps him design a faster plane. So she finds the fastest bird and the fastest fish and sketches out a drawing of what the two would look like as a plane. And that becomes the plane that we know today. And he calls her a genius. Check out our new episode spotlighting groundbreaking innovators like Hedy and Lamarr and Billie Jean King. Presented by the Hyundai Ioniq 5. Goodbye.

[Angela Simmons]

What's up, cousin? I want a new phone. Have you seen any good deals? Everyone has free phones. But when I switched to T Mobile, I got more value and so much more. Live streaming included and travel benefits.

[Shannon Sharp]

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[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Shannon Sharp]

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[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Shannon Sharp]

They've got a new soccer themed game you can play with your group, exclusive food and drink items. They've even installed full size soccer goals so you can try to hit golf balls right into the net and every match all summer long will be on throughout the venue. And if you want to keep the fun going all summer, you can get the topgolf Summer Fun Pass which lets you play every single day and bring up to five guests every visit. Get yours [e-mail] FunPass hey, it's Ryan

[Ryan Seacrest]

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