Club Shay Shay - Roy Wood Jr. Part 1

Summary

Club Shay Shay – Roy Wood Jr. (Part 1)

Podcast: Club Shay Shay
Host: Shannon Sharpe
Guest: Roy Wood Jr.
Release Date: October 29, 2025

---

Episode Overview

In this rich and thoughtful episode, Shannon Sharpe welcomes comedian, journalist, and cultural commentator Roy Wood Jr. They explore Roy’s career, his family history, insights into media and politics, fatherhood, Black community challenges, and the value of perseverance. The episode features raw authenticity, laughter, poignant revelations, and sharp observations about America’s shifting media and sociopolitical landscape.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Media, Journalism, and Trust

Distrust in News Media

• Roy Wood Jr. opens by expressing his disillusionment with contemporary news, citing divisive "rage bait" and a lack of trust:

  "I turned off news altogether. I hate to say it, but I don't trust much of anything." (00:00)

Don Lemon, Censorship, and Corporate Interests

• Discusses refusing a CNN on-air drink, referencing Don Lemon’s firing:

  "It was too close to the Don Lemon firing... Don and Don used to get drunk the right way and could keep it journalist. I don't feel safe now." (03:20)

• Wood views Lemon’s firing as early evidence of increased media censorship and corporate control, reflecting broader trends where media prioritizes profit over truth:

  "A lot of what happened to Don Lemon was really a precursor to some of the media censorship that we see starting to happen now..." (10:42)

The Role of Media and Comedians

• Roy notes comedy’s power as a last stronghold for free speech:

  "They're not gonna touch the comedians. The comedians have too much influence over the ideology of voters." (22:58)

• On media's real motivation:

  "Nah, big dog, we're here to make money. We need eyeballs so we can sell soap." (13:55)

2. Political Evolution and Empathy

Changing Guest Lineups and Tolerance

• Roy discusses the shift in his show (from The Daily Show to his current CNN role), platforming guests with opposing views to highlight division and spark dialogue:

  "We have them on. I don't know if these are the same people I would have been able to talk to if I worked at Daily Show... But that's what we choose to do." (15:13)

Empathy and Voting Dynamics

• Explores how most Americans are single-issue voters, and true political change requires empathy and direct constituent conversation, not just pundit debates:

  "Most people are single issue voters. Most people are voting on things that affect them directly, fiscally speaking." (17:52)

Commitment to Beliefs & Avoidance of Embarrassment

• On the reluctance of many to admit mistakes or change opinions for fear of embarrassment:

  "The embarrassment of saying that you're wrong was too great. So you have to buy the next lie and the one after that." (20:30)

3. Freedom of Speech: Realities and Threats

Suppression Through Messaging

• Roy draws attention to suppression by limiting platforms rather than outright censorship:

  "I think suppression of messaging is something that's a little bit more of a prevalent issue to me." (25:32)
  "You can have your freedom of speech. But eventually freedom of speech is going to be you on a corner like one of them blow up dogs... who going to hear you?" (25:18)

Corporate and Legal Chill

• On lawsuits, settlements, and fear-induced self-censorship:

  "So now if you're gonna say anything bad about me, I'm gonna tax you. But you still got freedom of speech, right?" (28:54)
  "The only thing you're going to be left with is comedians and podcasters, because they the ones who don't give a fuck." (30:02)

Political Slippery Slope

• Concern about the ability to criticize leaders, equating chilling effects to autocratic regimes:

  "If you can't say anything negative about the President, we're headed to Russia, we're headed to China, we're headed to North Korea..." (34:07)

4. Race, Crime, and Systemic Issues

National Guard as Political Theater

• On National Guard deployments in U.S. cities:

  "This is some big ass theater, man. I feel bad for the National Guard soldiers, bro." (38:38)

Mental Health, Gun Violence, and Isolation

• Roy links America’s mass shooting epidemic to mental health neglect and isolation:

  "Because we don't have the mental health care. All these other countries we'd be comparing ourselves to got jobs and got some health care..." (42:10)
  "America has a unique set of circumstances... at some point have a degree of hopelessness." (44:07)

Experiencing the Criminal Justice System

• Frankly recalls his own time on probation and the lack of real support for rehabilitation:

  "You treat people in this country who've made a mistake like they're irredeemable. So they start acting that way, right?" (50:25)

5. Family, Legacy, and Fatherhood

Complex Bonds with His Father

• Roy unpacks the complicated relationship with his father—well-known journalist Roy Wood Sr.—who was a driven activist but emotionally distant at home:

  "My pops wasn't around a lot. Cause he was out working or he was with his other family." (91:38)
  "My pops never did that... When I really sit and think about how he treated that woman, that's who he was out with." (94:27)

Learning How to Love and Be a Father

• On the search for positive male role models and how to break cycles for his own son, looking for lessons in both his father's example and others:

  "The more I looked at love, and the more I looked at how to show my son love. My parents didn't sleep in the same room..." (93:38)

Legacy in the Black Community

• On his father's unyielding focus on Black uplift and the personal cost:

  "He was so entrenched in the problems... Soul Train was right on time... but my pops couldn't see the vision, man... so entrenched in the problems." (69:40)

6. Comedy and Cultural Commentary

Blending Politics and Comedy

• Shannon praises Roy’s unique ability to integrate politics and social observation into comedy, comparing him to Chappelle, Chris Rock, Paul Mooney, and Carlin:

  "You're one of the few... could blend politics and comedy and make it a smooth, seamless transition." (56:33)

Formative Influences

• Roy shares about learning from figures like Dick Gregory and his own journalist father, linking his comedic voice to his upbringing and civil rights roots.

  "I opened for Dick Gregory... I just sat on the dais and just watched him just oscillate between pain and funny..." (57:15)

Reflection and Motivation

• Despite success, Roy can’t pause to appreciate accolades—he feels relentless pressure as a provider:

  "I can't stop to smell [the flowers] because I got to keep going. If I stop, the wheels come off of all of this." (87:27)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Media's Corporate Motive:

  "You're a soap salesman. Your job is to be so good that people don't change the channel when the commercial come on so they can be reminded to buy soap."
  (Roy quoting his acting coach, 13:55)

• On Admitting Error:

  "The embarrassment of saying that you're wrong was too great. So you have to buy the next lie and the one after that."
  (Roy Wood Jr., 20:30)

• On Comedy's Cultural Role:

  "They're not gonna touch the comedians. The comedians have too much influence over the ideology of voters."
  (Roy Wood Jr., 22:58)

• On Family and Fatherhood:

  "Your mistake ain't your destination. That's a stop."
  (Roy Wood Jr., 53:30)

• On Overcoming Cycles:

  "I was really, really blessed... because my pops died when I was 16, and I just started getting guidance from just random guardian... The man of many fathers."
  (Roy Wood Jr., 54:35)

• On Providing and Pressure:

  "How the fuck am I going to keep this all together? And that's the impulse that drives me."
  (Roy Wood Jr., 111:46)

• On Final Connection with His Father:

  "He asked me, I did all right, didn't I? ...I was talking about the baked potato. He was asking me how he did with raising me. I missed the fucking window, bro."
  (Roy Wood Jr., 124:49)

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Topic/Quote | |---------------|-----------------| | 00:00 – 02:30 | Roy’s distrust of news media | | 03:17 – 09:08 | Don Lemon, CNN, media hierarchy, drinking on air | | 10:42 – 15:44 | Don Lemon’s firing, media censorship, guest choices | | 16:13 – 20:19 | Changing tolerance, empathy, single-issue voters | | 22:14 – 30:02 | Freedom of speech, comedians’ influence, corporate messaging | | 34:07 – 41:49 | Policing, National Guard, political theater | | 42:10 – 46:47 | American mass shootings, mental health, societal stressors | | 47:11 – 53:30 | Roy’s personal experience with the justice system, recidivism | | 56:33 – 61:00 | Politics in comedy, early influences, Dick Gregory, family history | | 66:06 – 70:28 | Roy’s father, Soul Train story, legacy focus | | 87:00 – 92:36 | Working through single fatherhood, provider pressure, relationship challenges | | 94:27 – 106:54 | Breaking down the cycle, learning how to love, impact of father’s absence | | 110:07 – 116:43 | Money, family obligations, providing and its emotional toll | | 124:49 – 125:13 | The meaning behind his father's final words | | 129:14 | End of Part 1, transition to Part 2 |

---

Tone and Style

The episode’s tone alternates between comedy, honesty, pain, and hope. Roy Wood Jr.’s candor and intellect bring lightness to heavy themes; Shannon Sharpe’s empathetic, probing style encourages realness and vulnerability. They maintain natural conversational flow, mixing humor with deep, sometimes somber, reflection.

---

Summary

This episode is both a moving personal narrative and a cultural critique. Roy Wood Jr. shares unfiltered insights about America’s declining trust in media, the shifting stakes of free speech, changing political discourse, and his own journey through family complexity, criminal justice, and fatherhood. Peppered with humor and hard truth, it’s an essential listen for anyone interested in the intersections of comedy, media, race, and personal legacy.

Transcript

[Roy Wood Jr.]

I turned off news altogether. I hate to say it, but I don't trust much of anything.

[Advertisement Voice]

It's the rage bait.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

It feels like it's trying to divide people.

[Colin Coward]

We got clear facts.

[Advertisement Voice]

Maybe we could calm down a little.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

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

[Colin Coward]

This podcast is sponsored by PayPal. Okay, let's talk holiday shopping. When you want to make the most of your Money, head to PayPal's app before you check out. They give you the flexibility to pay in four no fees, no interest. And this is big. Bigger than the 12 foot snowman on your lawn right now. You can get 5% cash back when you pay later with PayPal. So whether it's the must have merch or for that signed jersey you've been eyeing, PayPal helps you make the most of your money this holiday. Save this offer in the PayPal app expires 1231.

[PayPal/Odoo/Walmart Ad Voice]

See paypal.com promoterms Subject to approval. Learn more at paypal.com payin4paypal inc.nmls910457 Ever.

[Advertisement Voice]

Go to make nachos on game day and realize the cheese is missing? Or the chips?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Or both?

[Advertisement Voice]

It happens all the time. But check it Walmart Express Delivery gets what's needed in as fast as one hour. One hour, people. And it's not just food. It's phone chargers, pet supplies, toilet paper. Try it now and get free delivery on a first order with promo code Express. Walmart Express delivery in as fast as 1 hour. Promotion valid for first express delivery. Order $50. Men subject to availability restrictions apply.

[Colin Coward]

Hi, it's Colin from the Colin Coward Podcast. I've been around long enough to know quality when I see it. Or in this case, when I taste it. Tito's Handmade Vodka. Good stuff. No flash, no gimmick. Smooth, clean tasting. Made the right way. Tito's Made in Austin, Texas. Real attention to detail. I like to keep it simple. Tito's soda, one lime, lot of ice. Refreshing, easy. Summer, winter, spring. Totally versatile. Always works. Listen. Baseball season's here. The perfect time to kick back with some Tito's. It's what I pour. You should too. Distilled and bottled by 5th Generation Inc. Austin, Texas. 40% alcohol by volume saver responsibly.

[Advertisement Voice]

This podcast is sponsored by Total Wireless, the official wireless partner of ufc. When you're streaming the fight or sharing those takedown highlights, you need a wireless provider that keeps you close to the action. With Total Wireless, you're covered by the Verizon 5G network. So you don't have to worry about your connection being knocked out at the biggest moments. It's not something you can usually say about a wireless provider, but Total Wireless really does have your back. They're in your corner every second of the day, so you never miss a thing. Visit totalwireless.com or visit your local Total Wireless store to learn more about how Total Wireless can be in your corner. 5G access requires a 5G capable device and a 5G service area. Additional terms apply. See website for details.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Why did you turn that shot, that tequila shot down on New Year's?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

It was too close to the Don Lemon firing.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, yeah.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Don and Don used to get drunk the right way and could keep it journalistic. And you know, they always drinking on New Year's Eve, cnn, you know, Andy Cohen, Anderson Cooper. I don't know if I want to drink with you motherfuckers, Chef. I don't feel safe now. If I go into CNN offices and my name is up there, I'm on the mural in the hall.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Are we good?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

I'll pull up.

[Advertisement Voice]

All my life been grinding all my.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Life Sacrifice hustle, paid the price wanna.

[Advertisement Voice]

Slice got to roll a dice that's.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Why all my life I've been grinding all my life Look. All my life been grinding all my life Sacrifice hustle, paid the price wanna slice, got to roll a dice that's.

[Advertisement Voice]

Why all my life I've been grinding.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Hello.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Welcome to another episode of Club Shay Shay. I am your host, Shannon Sharp. I'm also the proprietor of Club Shay Shay. Stopping by for conversation and a drink today, the master of observational comedy, one of America's most respected cultural commentators. Forbes declared him one of comedy's best journalists, a fan favorite, an Emmy award winning correspondent, an Emmy award in writers Guild of America, nominated producer and a writer, an award winning host.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

He.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He's entertained millions as a consistent figure on television and radio for more than two decades. An internationally known comedian who makes you think a dynamic force in entertainer, a famed actor, acclaimed television personality, accomplished entertainer, thought provoking journalist, a beloved philanthropist, an author and a father. Please welcome to the Show Roy Wood Jr.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

I pro shake that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

How'd that intro?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

You read it like you were HarrisD.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I just like to give people. When people come on my show, I really like for them to receive their flowers because sometimes I don't know if they've heard it or they realize what they've done because a lot of times when you're in it, you don't sit. You're not cherishing it. Because you gotta get to a destination and you're on the journey, so you don't get the time to reflect. Like, damn, man, I did all that, man.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

I did a lot of stuff in.

[Shannon Sharpe]

A very short amount of time. So I want someone, I want you to hear what we think of you.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

I think smelling your own flowers feels arrogant. So that's why I never really stopped to do it. Really. Yeah, it's the idea. Yeah, you did that. But you could do better, you could do more. You can show me anything I've done, and I'll show you where the mistake was. I mean, you watch gang tape, you had four touchdowns and the game. Ah, but the one I dropped, that's.

[Shannon Sharpe]

The one you remember.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

And so for me, a lot of it is just being rooted in how can I improve, man? And so you just don't look back at it. Cause you're just trying to.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Trying to get.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Just get better.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Last time somebody offered you a drink, you turned it down. I mean, normally when people come on Club Shay Shay, we toast with, I don't know.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Oh, I drink with you. Okay, now I'll drink with you. You gotta understand, this is an understood drinking show. You got liquor in the decoration, so it's understood. Let me ask you a question.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You know cognac, you understand behind cognac, how it's made.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Which one is it? It's in France.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Cognac.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Cognac has to be made on a special street in France in the cognac region.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It has the first two years, the cognac, it has to originate in that region.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Okay.

[Shannon Sharpe]

In order for it. For it to be a cognac. Now a whiskey or a bourbon or a wine could be in California.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Same with tequila. Got to come from this section of Mexico. It's not otherwise, it's whatever. Okay?

[Shannon Sharpe]

This is a combination of a uni blanc grape and a petite champagne. So the origin of this is a grape from that region. And no artificial colors, no added sugar, so you don't get that burn. So you'll be able to taste, smell, and to taste the notes, the marshmallows. Let me know what you think.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Yes, sir. Oh, that's smooth, sir. That's very. Changed my pose. That's smooth right there. This is way better than the shit I was drinking at famu. We was drinking E and J. Boy.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Well, you was on a budget at FAM.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. We had $20 and we would go down to Jack's Liquor, pay a homeless person, $5 to go in there and get his $15 or whatever you could come back with, sir, we'll take it. Yeah, I'm gonna do you right, young blood. See, he go in the liquor store 10 minutes and be walking around. Come back out with some E and J and some Stoli and $4 change like you're done. Good.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Let me ask you a question. You did say that, you know, when you're working, you don't do you know, you don't drink on the job. Why did you turn that shot, that tequila shot down on New Year's?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Oh, you talking about the cnn. Yeah. So, you know, they always drinking on New Year's Eve. Cnn, you know, Andy Cohen, Anderson Cooper. Everybody was drinking. They had us out there. It was too close to the Don Lemon firing.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, yeah.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Don and Don used to get drunk the right way and could keep it journalist. I felt like at the time, I'm just being real. If we being blunt, I'm new to this network. This is my. I'd only. I think we'd only been on there 10 episodes yet.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Okay.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

We ain't even got the re up for the next 10 episodes. I don't want to drink with y'. All. I don't want to be that comfortable yet in this space when I don't necessarily know my place within the hierarchy. Also, journalism is way more catty than Comedy Central or like any entertainment. Just the world of journalism. Like any TV station, way more catty than a cable show or a sports locker room or whatever job you work at, reality tv, what have you. It's a lot of cattiness. It's a lot of whispering. It's a lot of behind the backing going on.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

And so I don't believe at any place that I work where I didn't create it, that I'm safe. Wow. So I'm the host of a show on a Saturday night. The show we do now have I got news for you. It's a remake of a British show. And if you look at political satire in Britain, the host is the least important part of the machine. Wow. It's the co host that are stars, the guests that it started. The host job is just to keep everything on track. You're kind of a Vanna White, Kiki shepherd, with respect to those two. I've met them both. Your job is a little bit more just stay in the middle. Well, if I'm just stay in the middle, then I'm the most replaceable. Yes. Without changing the machine that you've built so I don't know if I want to drink with you motherfuckers. I don't feel safe now. If I go into CNN offices and my name is up there, I'm on the mural. You know, you on the TV station. They @ the mural with all the niggas that done a good job, it be me, Abby, Phillip, it'd be Jake Tapp. If I'm on the mural in the hall.

[Shannon Sharpe]

We good.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

I'll pull up. But I'm new here. I don't know y'. All. I'm not finna be just on TV drinking like that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

What did you learn from the Don Lemon fire? He had been there for 17 years. He'd been. I mean, he'd been held in very high esteem. He'd been done a great job. I think he does a great job. What did you learn? Because I think he said something about they fired it. Because I think he said, like, Nikki Haley is Pastor prime. And maybe they use.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Well, that's what they said. But was that the reason? But they saying what the reason might be is two different things. I think if you really look at it, knowing what we know now about now that we're post Jimmy Kimmel, I think that a lot. And even Amber Ruffin and her beef with the Right House correspondents association, with them pulling her off to dinner because they wanted her to be both sided with her jokes. I think that what happened to Don Lemon was really a precursor to some of the media censorship that we see starting to happen now, where you have particular organizations that are going to try and make a particular head roll or settle a lawsuit with the administration, all in the sake of making sure that the messaging is a little more centrist and a little bit more on brand for whatever will benefit the company's bottom line. I think a lot of what Don Lemon was starting to say at that network, and keep in mind, this is also after Don had gotten into it with Vivek Ramaswamy on the air, and they were told, hey, keep the questions over here. But Don was like, nah, the meat is over here. I learned a lot, you know, really in a lot of ways, man. You know, because the Don Lemon firing also showed me what the network, what CNN at that time, under that leadership at the time, was trying, the way they were trying to turn the network into. Oh, let's be a little less liberal. Let's try and be a little bit more centrist. Don, if you start getting out of line, we're going to put the heavy hand on you. And I couldn't see all of that from the outside at the time. And you know, when Don got fired, Don got fired the same week as Tucker Carlson, which was also the same week I did the White House Correspondents Dinner. And I probably, I am probably, I went harder at Don than I should have at that time. And we tight work now. And to Don's credit, because he was the one who reached out to me and we talked a little bit about it and he goes, here's what you're not seeing, here's what's not. Here's what you need to be more. He filled in the picture for me.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Okay.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

You know, I wrote a joke with, you know, with one eye, you know, covered up. And so when I look at media now and then, now being on, I guess, kind of the inside of the network, it's hard to say that I'm in the inside of cnn. I work on a Saturday, bro. Don't nobody be there, right? You've been in the building all day. I can steal shit. Don't nobody, you know, you be in a building. Just a motherfucker cubicle. They just got all these. Yeah, yeah, I'm retired from stealing. But, but yeah, but I think, I think Don Don's firing showed us years ago, three, four years ago, where things were starting to head. When it, when we're talking about the idea of how much freedom of speech do journalists really have?

[Shannon Sharpe]

But I think the thing is for me, if I turn into the Weather Channel, I expect to see the weather if I turn into this channel because they're trying to be something Fox makes no bones about what they are, about who they are. When you watch their network, you're gonna get what you expect to get.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Yeah, but also, but you also gotta remember that a lot of these media habits were developed under two terms of Obama. So the idea of this being a liberal leaning thing, well, it's the popular thing right now. So we gonna lean into what's popular. And then when that's not popular no more, then you start figuring out how to rejigger your. Because people's tastes change, people's political influences change. And we have to stop thinking about corporations and media companies as these entities that have some sort of heart or have some sort of degree of sense of responsibility to the public. Nah, big dog, we're here to make money. We need eyeballs so we can sell soap. I had an acting coach, said the realest shit to me. She said, you are a soap salesman. Your job is to be so good that people don't change the channel when the commercial come on so they can be reminded to buy soap. Wow. That's it.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's it.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

So if we hit a sell soap, then they're going to constantly change. Like even the. Like, if you look at what we have on our show, on my show now, on Saturday nights, we had on Republican Rep. Mike Lawler, we had Tim Burchett, like, these are not good people, in my opinion.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Or these are not people who have voted in the interest of the public, in my opinion.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Okay.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

And we have them on. I don't know if these are the same people I would have been able to talk to if I worked at Daily show, if I was still at the Daily show, or if those are the type of people that we would have had on as a guest at the Daily Show. But I know for what we're trying to do on our side, we trying to talk a little bit and joke a little bit with both sides. I know a lot of people got a lot of opinions because they say you shouldn't platform, no assholes, no crazy opinions and stuff like that. But that's what we choose to do.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Have you come to the point, come to the realization to say, you know what? I'm gonna have to change my way of thinking. I'm gonna have to be more open minded. Because in the past, ain't no way I could have sat down and had a conversation with you guys. Cause we are so far from what I believe in and what I think is in the best interest of the people. But because of this time, as you mentioned, things are changing now. The tides are changing. The winds are blowing in a different direction. Do you feel that you know what, you've had to change your thinking?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

I think I've had to change my degree of tolerance.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

But I don't think it changes my opinion. I think one big thing that I would love to see happen in media is that there's less conversations with pundits and political influencers and more conversations with constituents.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, okay.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

And the people who.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So you like the town hall setups?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Yeah, but even more man on the street. Like, I love what Don Lemon's doing now. Don Lemon out there? Yeah. He out there in the mix. No security either. Don. Get you in a tight shirt, protect your brother. But the idea of just, well, Trump's the president, so I guess I gotta explain to me why I should not have slavery in my museums. Please tell me it's the African American History Museum. History means encompassing the entirety or as much as you want to encompass history, not his story. Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Cause they're trying to frame it as.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

His story, as they story. It ain't even his. They, their story now is they story. You know what I'm saying? So I'm not going to sit and listen to you explain to me why this doesn't matter. I don't know how much calm and collected conversation you can have with somebody that's that steadfast. If we're talking policymakers and folks that are like political pundits on either side of the issue. Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Because everybody got their talking points correct and they're not deviating.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

But if you talk to a voter, most people are single issue voters. Most people are voting on things that affect them directly, fiscally speaking.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But we didn't see that in this last election. People voted against their best interests and now they're having revisionist history.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Okay, and so then would you be more inclined to talk to them? Cause I feel like we would rather talk to the folks that influence those voters rather than just going to talk to go talk to the Latino for Trump who just got deported. Some of them they talked to and they said they still wouldn't. Still wouldn't voted for Congress.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Exactly. I'm looking at the farmers. The farmers. Farmers for Trump. Now China just, just signed a deal to get soybeans from someone else. They're not buying our soybeans. And now, you know, we hate, we hate socialism, we hate welfare. Well, they call it welfare when it refers to us, but they call it subsidies when it refers to somebody else. Now they're about to get subsidized, about to get bailed out. Everybody's for it.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Just like the banks. I was like, hold on, I thought.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You didn't, I thought you didn't like when somebody got something for nothing.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

They, that's different. That's different. That was the blacks. I'm a good white American. It's supposed to happen to me. I'm white. I mean, that's the biggest magic trick that rich people pull is getting poor white folks to think that they were one of them. They bought it, you're not. They bought it, you're not. I think that you have a better chance of having conversations with people who vote than members of the media. If we're talking about trying to change the country in any way, you know, I don't know how much we gain anymore from, Let me have a sensible conversation. But you, we bring them on, on cnn, we gonna crack these jokes on your ass. And if embarrassment works, cool. If not cool, but the idea of. I can't remember who it was or why it was, but Obama had like a beer. It was called the Beer summit. Where Obama sat down.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, yeah. When the police officer and Henry Louis Gates.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Yeah. And Gates had been on Obama's neck. Came in to have a smiley. Yeah. So this idea of let's all sit down and kumbaya. Okay, maybe. But I just think both sides. I think we're in a race right now to see which side can activate their voters more. The apathetic voters.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

I don't think you flipping people right now.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, people. People that have decided there's nothing that he can do to turn them off. And I'm not so sure there was anything that she could have done to turn them on.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

You ever met anybody in despair, though, bro? Like legitimate hopelessness to the point where they have no choice or they feel they have no choice but to buy a lie. And then the embarrassment of saying that you're wrong was too great. So you have to buy the next lie and the one after that. So of course a farmer is never gonna come out right. And go, yeah, I didn't know that this was gonna happen. Cause they gonna get slapped in the face what I told you souls to no end. And they too scared of the embarrassment. And I'm not gonna be the one to tell liberals. Yeah. You shouldn't be mean to the people that are suffering who voted for Trump. Well, they suffering too, passing law. Like if the administration is passing laws that make you feel a certain kind of way. Yeah. I'm a hate on you for voting for them. So I get where that comes from. Get that shit out your system. I think there's a lot of behavior policing. I just think we. Six months, not even. Yeah, we got. We almost a year into what's going to be, you know, another three years of this. So you got to figure out a way, once you're past getting all that yelling out your system now that you're broke and now that you need some help on your farm, then you come back in here, hey, how can I help you? But I think that most people would rather buy a lie because it's more calm, it's more peaceful. It's matrix blue pill. You know, it's easier to exist in the calm of being wrong, because being right means that you have to admit that you were wrong.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I can't admit that.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

How many people are willing to do that?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Freedom of speech as we currently, as we once knew it, is that only in the Constitution. Is that something that's gonna be, gonna be able to stand the test of time? Because it looks like we're getting closer and closer to there is no such thing as freedom of speech.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

It's changing. I don't like I would've told. If you'd asked me a question a year ago, I'd have been like, freedom of speech is fine. You can say whatever you want whenever. We'll see. I can tell you this much. They're not gonna touch the comedians.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You don't think so?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

The comedians have too much influence over the ideology of voters. Chappelles and the Schultzes and the Gillises of the world, the 85 southers of the world. You know, comedians, you start trying to lock them up, right? Because they got the streets more than any politician does. And if you look at what happened with Jimmy Kimmel, that was one of the things where a lot of comedians, they didn't necessarily go at the administration, not all of them directly, but a lot of them sat and were like, yo, that's not cool. Yeah, I don't with Kimmel, but that's not cool.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, we're getting on a slippery slope here.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

And then Kimmel's ass was right back on the air in under 72 hours. And all them demands that those TV station networks made, demanded that Kimmel do, they folded on that shit. Right. I don't think that. I think the administration for sure is stress testing. But honestly, you're not gonna need to suppress anybody's freedom of speech if you control the messaging. Why do I need to. Yeah, say whatever you want. I just won't book you on this show. So I hope your YouTube tight. I hope you got numbers over there. If the Nexstar merger goes through and they gain control of almost 80% of local television stations, ABC affiliated TV stations, then they control the messaging.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

And I speak as. And I have a degree in broadcast and I've worked in broadcast and I worked in radio. So I'm not just talking out my ass. These stations are given national stories to carry. You can watch the local news in one market. And two thirds of the stories. Oliver, John Oliver, did a story on this years ago. Two thirds of the stories in that market are airing in every other market. So they can dictate what they feed you so you can have your freedom of speech. But eventually freedom of speech is going to be you on a corner like one of them blow up dog. Like you ain't who going to hear you? Who's going. So you have growing up you remember.

[Shannon Sharpe]

What it was Roy, when he was growing up, you go to the grocery store and there's a man, Jesus, he's coming. And he's standing on the soap bar and he's coming. He had the literature and he's passing out. It was just him by himself.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

And you looked at him like he was crazy.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You did.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

You looked at him like he was crazy. So I don't think freedom of speech is one thing. I think suppression of messaging is something that's a little bit more of a prevalent issue to me. And then when you start with AI you start with disinformation and you're confusing people who are too lazy to sit and go and do a double check or search. Freedom of speech is irrelevant. If I got the messaging on locked and you dumb enough to believe it and run with it. We scroll and we look at everything through headlines, man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right? Clicks whatever the headline read. Okay? That's it.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Okay. So you get a journalist who decides to tell the truth or press the issue on air like Don Lemon. You just yank them off the air and put somebody else in. They won't do it who you want to do your bidding. So it would require for humanity to. For humanity to truly advance. It would require a level of fiscal self sacrifice that I do not believe most Americans absolutely not are prepared to make. You know, I talked about this a couple hour specials ago, but like, it's like fire ants, right? When there's a flood and a fire ant mound gets flooded, this was happening in Texas during some hurricanes. The fire ants all form a ball. They clump and that joint floats until it gets to dry ground. Now while it's floating, it's constantly rotating. So the on the bottom, they get.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Some fresh air too.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

It's fresh air and they rotate back down to the bottom. But periodically, some of them cats gonn.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes, there has to be some sacrifice.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

But the colony survives.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

And so if we're talking about people fighting against an administration or fighting against public ideology, then it will require more people all running up against that same buzzsaw. And in some degree, you know, a lot of people are hesitant. I don't necessarily believe that blind sacrifice is the only way to make progress. I think that there's, I think that there has to be a multi pronged attack. But when you ask the question of is freedom of speech under attack? Yeah, they stress testing this year is stress testing just what we can get away with. You know, Charlie Kirk's. Charlie Kirk's widow is suing. I forget the network or the View.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I think she's doing abc.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Yeah, it's ABC or the View, somebody.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, for like 400 million.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

I don't know. I don't want to get sued either. Just telling you what I heard. Yeah, but the idea of the media being policed down to the comma, that's how we're going to get you. We're not going to say. You can't say anything. We're just going to go, ah, technicality. Want my money? And what's a corporation going to do? A corporation ain't finna take this to trial.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Sorry. We admit no wrongdoing. You admit that we did nothing wrong and we wash our hands. It's 60 Minutes. TRUMP $16 million.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

It's easier to settle. So now if you're gonna say anything bad about me, I'm gonna tax you. But you still got freedom of speech, right? Now, if you're the company that just had to pay out, let's just say Charlie Kirk's widow wins the money, she get the bread. Well, then the next time there's anything sideways or politically charged that needs to be said on the show, y' all gonna get called into that meeting before the show, like, hey, motherfucker, y' all better shut the. Yeah, all we gonna say is this, here's your words, here's your words. And here. Freedom of speech though, right?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

So I think that you create an atmosphere where the media is scared to touch on anything because they know that there's a fiscal consequence and the employees are scared to touch on anything because there's a fiscal. And the only thing you're going to be left with is comedians and podcasters because they the ones who don't give a fuck. They already been broke, they already done slept in they car. So threatening them with unemployment. Comedy, stand up comedy is literally committing to unemployment for three to five years to start.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Hey man, I want you to do this. I'm not gonna.

[Annabe Sofa Ad Voice]

Life's messy. We're talking spills, stains, pets and kids. But with Annabe, you never have to stress about messes again. @washablesofas.com Discover Annabe Sofas, the only fully machine washable sofas inside and out, starting at just $699. Made with liquid and stain resistant fabrics. That means fewer stains and more peace of mind. Designed for real life, our sofas feature changeable fabric covers allowing you to refresh your style anytime need flexibility. Our modular design lets you rearrange your sofa effortlessly. Perfect for cozy apartments or spacious homes. Plus they're earth friendly and built to last. That's why over 200,000 happy customers have made the switch. Upgrade your space today. Visit washablesofas.com now and bring home a sofa made for life. That's washablesofas.com offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.

[Colin Coward]

This podcast is sponsored by PayPal. Okay, let's talk holiday shopping. When you want to make the most of your Money, head to PayPal's app before you check out. They give you the flexibility to pay in four no fees, no interest. And this is big. Bigger than the 12 foot snowmen on your lawn right now. You can get 5% cash back when you pay later with PayPal. So whether it's the must have merch or for that signed jersey you've been eyeing, PayPal helps you make the most of your money this holiday. Save this offer in the PayPal app expires 1231.

[PayPal/Odoo/Walmart Ad Voice]

See paypal.com promoterms Subject to approval. Learn more at paypal.com payin4paypal inc.nmls910457 Today's.

[Degree Cool Rush Ad Voice]

Episode is brought to you by a scent that's made a legendary comeback. Degree Original Cool Rush the OG is back and better than never. Cool Rush isn't just a scent. It's a movement fan favorite. It's the kind of fragrance that guys remember, ask for by name and rave about online. It's bold, fresh and delivers all day sweat protection with that cool, crisp vibe that made it a legend. Whether you're heading to the gym, the office or just trying to stay fresh on a long day, Cool Rush has your back. It's the go to for millions and for good reason. So if you haven't tried it yet, or if you've been waiting for a sign, this is it. Head to your local Walmart or Target and grab degree Cool Rush, the fan favorite scent from the world's number one antiperspirant brand.

[PayPal/Odoo/Walmart Ad Voice]

Running a business is hard enough. So why make it harder with a dozen different apps that don't talk to each other? One for sales, another for inventory, a separate one for accounting. Before you know it, you are drowning in software instead of growing your business. This is where Odoo comes in. Odoo is the only business software you'll ever need. It's an all in one fully integrated platform that handles everything. CRM, accounting, inventory, E commerce, HR and more. No more app overload, no more juggling logins. Just one seamless system that makes work easier. And the best part? Odoo replaces multiple expensive platforms for a fraction of the cost. It's built to grow with your business whether you are just starting out or already scaling up. Plus it's easy to use, customizable and designed to streamline every process so you can focus on what really matters running your business. Thousands of businesses have made the switch, so why not you try Odoo for [e-mail] that's o d o o.com when.

[Advertisement Voice]

You say LEGO Star wars, the first thing you think of is imagination or action. Or both. Definitely both. Like with Jango Fett's Starship. I mean with Stud Blasters, Seismic charges and three minifigures, your kid is gonna be creating stories until the Banthas come home. And for yourself, there's the Jango Fett's Firespray class Starship LEGO set from the Ultimate Collector series. Enjoy some Jedi Master level mindfulness during your building time. Shop now for Star wars lego sets on lego.com or in lego retail stores.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Pay you nothing and I'm gonna give you two chicken wings. And if you get booed, you don't get the chicken wings. So you're not that group of people, right? You're not gonna scare. And I believe that group of people will always have the highest of respect from the voting body. And I think that they will continue to be the most influential characters in politics. That's why politics. That's why podcasts became so prominent in the last election.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah. This episode is brought to you by Prize Picks. The hard hitting football action is even better with Prize Picks. The weather might be changing, but the feeling of being right never gets old. So keep the season rolling with Prize picks by getting $50 instantly in lineups when you play your first $5. We are in the thick of football season and some of y' all might be feeling down. But don't worry, that's why we have Prize picks to keep you going for the rest of the season. Week eight of football was something special. Drake May is going to be special. And Saquon went crazy against his old team. More, more, more. And for all you basketball fans, welcome to the fun on Prize picks. Prize picks is simple to play just picked more or less on at least two player stats. If you get your picks right, you could cash in Prize pick offer injury reboot. If your player leave the game in the first half and doesn't return, Prize Picks won't count it as a loss. Feel sorry for our guy. Scatter Boo out there. Download the Prize Pick app today. Use code Shannon to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. That's code Shannon. To get $50 in lineups after YOU play your first $5 lineup. Prize picks. It's good to be right. This is. But we're headed down a real. And it ain't even slippery. It's just jet ski. It's just downhill. Because when you look at it, if you can't say anything negative about the President, we're headed to Russia, we're headed to China, we're headed to North Korea, we're headed to these because. And I think that's kind of the direction that he was. He's like, you shouldn't be allowed to say anything negative.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Yeah, but that's not just. It's not just about the President. It's negative by anybody that supports his mission as well.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right, Correct.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

So that's where it's gonna. And that's why. That's why I brought the Charlie Kirk widow situation. And it's not just her. There's also all of these other public officials that are going, oh, well, you said something about me. Well, maybe I can get a little bit of money, too. So do you make it illegal to say the thing? I think we are going to eventually be in a situation in this country where patriots are going to have to choose between their leader and the Founding Fathers and the documents they wrote up, and we gonna see which one win. Well, black folks just along for a ride. This don't concern us. I mean, it does, but we ain't got no say. It's just. This is just watching white folks fight.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

That's really what politics is.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Well, it looks like the Supreme Court. And listen to Clarence Thomas, like, anything that's been written can be challenged. It just seems like anything that he's saying, it's not law.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

It's nothing gospel. Nothing is gospel. Oh, my God. So then if Clarence Thomas say nothing is gospel, he can go, well, we can go back and look at any decision. I thought supreme meant last. It. That's it done. Boom. We ain't never talking about this again. Right. So if they can undo Supreme Court rulings, at what point can they go, you know what? Maybe we need to redo some of these amendments. Mm.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes. Yes, that's coming.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

It's all stress testing. Mm. Everything right now is stress testing.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And there's really nothing you can do about it. Cause they got a six, three.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

It's like when you date a girl and then you trying to see how dumb she is and see what you can get away with. Okay, you ain't gonna go with me on that one. You treat all your women good. Okay, that's fine. My bad, my bad. You know what you do? I'mma not call her for two days and see if she get mad. And if she don't trip over you not calling for two days, you know you got a two day window to. I'm talking too much. My bad.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I'm.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Jill. I'm sorry about that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Where are you on National Guards in the city? Where are you on the National Guard with the.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

On the what? Why would anybody be for that? Where are you on wasting niggas time?

[Shannon Sharpe]

But you know, look, D.C. they say, man, D.C. is the safest it's ever been. I ain't getting carjacked.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

I ain't getting. Did you see the footage in Chicago of the brother on a bike just riding past the National Guard? They walking down Miracle, I think it's called. Miracle Mile, Golden Mile, whatever it is down the downtown. The nice, the nicest part.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes, yes.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Yeah. Fuck. Crime is down here. But you won't go to South Shore with that nonsense, will you? No, you're not. And so you're not gonna go MLK and 55th with it, are you? You're not. So stop acting like this isn't something. This is some big ass theater, man. I feel bad for the National Guard soldiers, bro.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Cause like people get mad at the Guard, like they the police. I'm in the National Guard. You signed up one weekend a month, two weeks a year to fix a tank and get some college education. Don't want to be here either. And the problem is that the National Guard dress in the same camo as the SWAT and the police. So we just as mad at them as that because they are being used as.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So you believe this is political theater?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Absolutely. And I do not like the fact that people who have taken an oath to die for this country are being told to walk past a fucking lids on Michigan Avenue to make sure nobody's still in fitted caps. Because that's what's happening in Chicago right now. And I think that using our military for that purpose. It's backwards. Is dumb and stupid. All of the ice stuff is backwards and dumb and stupid, just in general. But the idea of having that presence, it should also tell you just how easy it is to get the public opinion of people. Because yeah, D.C. is the safest it's ever been. But you know what else make people safe? Parks, Sports literacy programs, jobs. Yes. And you know what that stuff Needs money. So the same money you use to pay a whole platoon, you could have done more literacy with the second and third graders, you get kid. There's statistics. My ministry is literacy, youth literacy and sports.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Because in Birmingham, those are the two things that have really helped to turn around some of the crime in the city. You get kids reading on grade level. By the third grade, they less likely to be hungry or homeless. They're less likely to end up in jail. So you want to stop crime, start way down there. So don't tell me that this is fighting crime. Okay, cool. But is this the only way to fight crime? It's silly and it's nonsensical, man. And it's theater and. And it's inviting open government harassment to the point where it potentially becomes normalized. Right. And that's not. That's not good. You know, they talking about the guard in Portland. They talking about the Guard and National Guard going on tour. Like, these are regular folks.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Are they still in la?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

I don't know. Because they never stay with the story long enough. They show you the guard there, they never show you them leaving. Right. That might be an indictment on the media, but I don't. I don't agree with like it. The short answer is I think it's stupid to deploy soldiers, your military, to.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Police your own citizens.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

To police your own citizens.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I'm interested to hear what you have. How we are the, I guess I GDP is through the yin yang. Why do we have the mass shootings that no other country has?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Why? Because we don't have the mental health care. All these other countries we'd be comparing ourselves to got jobs and got some health care and less shit for citizens to stress and worry about. They also don't have nearly the degree of conspiracy theorists and people dealing with all types of mental health issues and isolation, which, in and of itself, even the most sane person can be broken down if they're isolated long enough. And that's what Covid did. That's what a lot of remote work did. Which, by the way, that's like one of the few things that Trump and Elon was talking about. I was like, all right, I give you that one. Get your ass back to work.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Why they don't want to go back to work.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Because, man, for a lot of people, your office is the only place you see people.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

You at home by yourself, and then you work at a computer by yourself. Then you get fired over zoom. And then you come to the grocery store and shoot me. That's Fucked up.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

I ain't do nothing to Doug the one fired. You go to the building and then how you call shoot Doug Roy? How you calling shoot the people that you work with? Stop. There's a lot of mass shootings because they can't get to the people they want to kill. This is some good cognac.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Why, how do you. Let me ask you this. How do you call in sick to work and you work from home.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

The bed right there, man, you got the Roy.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You can't get nobody sick but yourself.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

But still you wake up in your pajama. I mean, I'm not optim. I'm not performing at my optimum, you know. But I really do think that America has a unique set of circumstances where there are a million different ways your life could be shit in this country. And there are a million different solutions that are not functional. And you can at some point have a degree of hopelessness. And taking a gun and killing strangers might be your only way of, as you believe, sensibly trying to, I don't know, alleviate that pain or to be seen. That's the real crazy thing about shootings now is that we don't even righteously be naming the shooters. No more like it used to be a time and it sounds like a joke, but I'm not. There used to be a time where if you shot a bunch of people, they would say your name, they would read your manifesto and like it would be. It would be news for multiple days. It could be a shooting at noon that don't make the 6 o' clock news. It could be a shooting at 6 that don't make the 10pm news because we don't care. So the idea become that desensitized. Absolutely. Even in murdering people, you're still an unknown because it's such a norm. And I think that comparing America to other countries is one of the most backwards. There's no other country like America's 50 fucking countries all connected.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So we do have a lot of.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Different man in Switzerland. Switzerland the size of Delaware. Shut the upper. It don't. It's not the same.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And they're probably like 95% Swiss.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Yeah. And they all ride bikes. So that helps your health and your mental health. You can't get people to ride city buses in most cities that have decent transportation because I want my car. So there are just more stressors and there's less solutions in this country. And I think that's why mental health is so problematic and just. And it's not just mass Shootings. I mean, a lot of. A lot of domestic violence in this country and violence against women. It's all rooted in a lot of the same causations, you know? And so a lot of the crime is rooted in that. And I think that's a big reason why crime here is so different. That's why we have more people in prison than any other place on earth, more people on probation than any other place on earth. With probation set up, I think with 2 million in the prisons, 4, maybe 5 million people on papers. And probation don't mean you free. It's set up.

[Shannon Sharpe]

One thing is that we got you.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

And I say that as somebody that did three years of federal probation. Like, that's not. It is not set up in any shape, form of way to encourage you or to make you better. I'm here because we just ain't figured out how to put you in there, right? But I'm gonna watch your ass. And the moment you give me a chance, I'm gonna get. I'm gonna put you in there.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I tell you what, this is what I'm gonna do, then. I'm gonna make you president in 28. You gonna be the president.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Everybody out of prison but murderers, rapists. Okay, get back to me. But nonviolent in prison, no.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So the weed, you open the doors for them?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Absolutely. I can legalize cocaine. Damn. Who's it killed? I mean, you got the fentanyl in it, but that ain't okay. You caught a bad batch. I'm sorry.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Damn, Roy.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

If we're talking about putting people in jail, bro, there was a story we tried to do on the Daily show that didn't get done. But there are. There were owners of private prisons who were suing the states. They are contracted to imprison people in because they don't have enough prisoners because the state got lax on some of their laws and decided to be more lenient on incarceration. So you have a state government that goes, all right, we ain't gonna put as many people in prison, but the private company running the prison, go, nah, motherfucker. You promised us 80% capacity at all times. We at 50% capacity. Go catch some niggas and bring them and put. Or reimburse me for the people that are not in here. And the state can't afford to do it. So they locked up in court right now.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Bam.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Every. Almost everybody in this country. You're a commodity to someone else. And, you know, if you making me president, the first thing I'm changing is incarceration I got very lucky, bro. I had a probation officer that actually cared about how my life ended up. Couple that being at FAMU and the faculty and the staff. So my pops used to teach at famu, my mama famu, my auntie famu. So it was enough folks in the faculty like, all right, we gonna bring you close and hold you close and make sure you don't slip up again and get expelled. But I think that the idea of recidivism in this country is pretty non existent. It's all setting you up. Got your stuff. So my last year of probation, I was in. So I stole credit cards when I was in college. I know you thinking cocaine trafficking.

[Shannon Sharpe]

No, no, no, no, no. Normally credit, college kids, credit cards or phone calls. You remember they used to do the.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Phone call, MCI1,800, collect down, dial down the center. You know why I didn't do that? Cause I thought phones was traceable. And they were recording the calls and they'd do a voice match and catch me. So I knew people who was running the shit. So I had a work study in the campus post office. I steal credit cards at the post office.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Damn.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Take them to the mall, buy shit, sell it on campus for half price. I get caught. And this is to my point about recidivism, right? So I had. It's too late. I can say it's enough. Statute of limitations. So when you're on federal probation, you're not supposed to leave the state ever. You leave the state for a birth of a child or the death of a. They got like a family tree of. Here are the dead people you can go bury.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Mom, Grandma.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Yeah, exactly. My cousin. Nah. Well, stay your ass in Florida. My last. My first two years of standup, my P.O. was like, if you come back that night, you can go anywhere you want. So I could get away as far as Atlanta and get back, get a little travel permit for that type of stuff. And then my last year I was given. This is year three, Same year I started doing standup after I got arrested because of the depressed. Whatever. And so that third year, I graduate college and I want to move back to Birmingham. And he goes, well, if you move to Birmingham, you got to transfer your supervision to the Birmingham Federal district. You can't stay in the Florida Federal District. Now, mind you, at this point, my PO knows me, we got good rapport, I got a job, I'm wearing a golden corral. Everything's straight. I'm traveling with anywhere within eight hours of Tallahassee. I'm Coming back, you know, every two, three days, he you get a travel permit for up to nine days. At that time I go, cool, Well, I want to move home because I'm done in Tallahassee, right? I called the Birmingham division to get my probation transferred, and I'm explaining to the woman what I am, what I do, blah, blah, blah. Here's how we've been doing things in Tallahassee, sir. I don't give a fuck what's been going on down there. You report here and you transfer here. You ain't going nowhere but Jefferson County. I'm like, fuck, I can't even go to Tuscaloosa. And she was like, no, you can't. It wouldn't give me a reason. I got two years of paperwork that say I'm doing the right thing, I'm doing everything right. Pour into me, pour into these people. You treat people in this country who've made a mistake like they're irredeemable. So they start acting that way, right? But if you pour into them, you might just get a couple of decent folks out of it and recidivism might actually work. I had to stay in Tallahassee another year, bro. I intern, I start Ricky Smiley. That same year, Ricky leaves the radio station in Birmingham. Ricky's like my comedy og. We both from Birmingham and Ricky was the first person from the crib to make it in any capacity. So you saw Ricky and you go, all right, I can do it. I can do that. Cause he wasn't like Bo Jackson or Charles Barkley or, I mean, Arsenio Hall's from around the way. Like, those people were just such God status, right? You ain't gonna be Bo, but. Oh, fuck Ricky, huh? Maybe I can. I get the internship at 957 in Birmingham while I'm still under the supervised probation in Florida. Which means every nine days I have to drive from Birmingham back to Tallahassee to run my piss, to verify residents, to do all my regular check ins. So essentially my first year in Birmingham was just a year long visitation permit from Florida because the Birmingham district would not give me any flex whatsoever. So when I say I'm lucky, man, I really do feel that I remember, like, I feel like there's parts of our court system that they don't show. They show you cop catching criminal. They show you a courtroom TV show. There never been anything on that I'd ever seen about probation officers. That's why I was trying to do that little comedy sitcom about probation officers, because it really is social work to A degree. And it's a lot of POS that for no reason will violate people who don't deserve to be violated. And then at the end of the day, probation is even more dangerous because it's your word against a single person who may just have a grudge against you today. And they can go, ah, he was late to work. He ain't serious about employment, you, Honor. I would recommend that they go back to be locked up, and then you go on for whatever the rest of your sentence was supposed to be, just like that. They don't. They don't. They don't show that part of recidivism in this country. And it's something that I think would help to change the public perception of criminality and the idea of making a mistake and then you redeeming yourself and you do it. That's why I talk about it out in the open anyway, right? Because cast needs to know, like, your mistake ain't your destination. That's a stop. And I wish more people would show that and talk about that, but they don't. You try to make everybody out to be this irredeemable character, and that's how society starts treating you after a while, you know? But I don't know, man, I just. I was really, really blessed, man. I was really blessed because my pops died when I was 16, and I just started getting guidance from just random Guardian, you know, my book, I call it the man of Many Fathers, because it just really was random people that just popped in. Yeah, but I wasn't seeking that out. It just. It happened.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You have your comedy. You're one of the few. And Chappelle Rock, rest his soul, Paul Mooney, Carlin, with these, could blend politics and comedy and make it a smooth, seamless transition. Chappelle is unbelievable at it. Rock is unbelievable at it. Mooney and Carlin is unbelievable. You have that gift.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Did you choose.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Did that aspect of comedy, did it choose you or you chose it?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Oh, I think it chose me because.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Everybody can't blend that. Everybody can't tie that in a nice bow like that. Roy.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

I opened for Dick Gregory.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, Dick. I forgot about him.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

I don't know, man. It was. It was a while ago. It was at one of the bridge crossing jubilees in Selma, Bloody Sunday memorial. And I just sat on the dais and just watched him just oscillate between pain and funny. And he kept them distinctly separated until the end. And, like, just. I know I'll never be able to do that. Partly because of the era in which.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He came up in.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

He came up in. His scars are different from mine. I ain't got no scars compared to Dick Gregory's scars. So the reservoir of pain from which he was able to mine from and pull from, it's deeper, it's more rich. But you know, I came up, you know, shadowing my pops. You know, my pops, he was a civil rights journalist. And so my dad, in the 40s and the 50s, he was pretty much any radio station he got hired at. He was the first black and he gets to Chicago and he co founds with a couple other gentlemen, the National Black Network, which at its time was the first black syndicated national news service. A collective of black reporters all pooling their stories together and then sending them out on the wire to other radio stations, to other black radio stations to air so that there could be some sort of cohesive message and sense of community about stories that were relevant to black people like Soweto, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Vietnam, anything. Pretty much like from South Africa and riots in the 50s to about Rodney King. My pops covered it.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Wow.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

They were, the tape recorder covered it. Did call in shows, community awareness shows. And so when I was, when I was a child, I would ride with my pops to the radio stations in the morning. So my parents didn't get back together until I was in the third grade. So I got sent to Birmingham every summer before that, me and my mom was still living in Memphis. We weren't even in Birmingham yet. And every summer, first grade, second grade, third grade. So I'm with my pops all summer and I'm just shadowing him to speaking engagements and he's interviewing Jesse Jackson and Farrakhan, just sitting and breaking bread with all of these deeply rich political people and white folks too. He sat down with George, the old George Daddy Bush, way back in the day. He interviewed them all. And so I remember when I was 15, I got a learner's permit and I used to drive my pops down to Montgomery. He had a talk show at Alabama State. And so he would do a Saturday morning call in show at Alabama State. And I would just sit in the cut. I'm on the game, boy. And you think you not absorbing this shit, but he's just taking call after call from the community and offering solutions, offering a pulpit for people to voice their grievances, allow black people to feel heard and seen. And I get to college and I'm like, man, I want to be Stuart Scott. I'm going to talk about this heavy shit because that's all I came up in. And then on top of that, you live in Birmingham, everything is black. It's a 70, 75% black city. School was predominant. Every school I went to was predominantly black. I went to the black owned Boys and girls club, I went to the black church, Black boy, everything black. Then go to black ass famu. Everything black.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

So I was like, well, I just want to analyze the world. But once I hit my 30s, man, and then when I had my son switch flip, I don't know what happened. But you start looking at the world like, oh, okay, through a different lens. Yeah. I mean, you also have to remember, man, you know my comedy when I first started, I was 19. I ain't had shit to talk about. I was talking about book buyback and your roommate eating your food and marching band jokes like that. Nobody like that was my wheelhouse. That's what I that was the easiest thing. You write what you know and then.

[Annabe Sofa Ad Voice]

As you get older, Time for a sofa upgrade. Visit washablesofas.com and discover Annabe where designer style meets budget friendly prices with sofas starting at $699, Annabe brings you the ultimate in furniture innovation with a modular design that allows you to rearrange your space effortlessly. Perfect for both small and large spaces, Anabe is the only machine washable sofa inside and out. Say goodbye to stains and messes with liquid and stain resistant fabrics that make cleaning easy. Liquid simply slides right off. Designed for custom comfort, our high resilience foam lets you choose between a sink and feel or a supportive memory foam blend. Plus our pet friendly stain resistant fabrics ensure your sofa stays beautiful for years. Don't compromise quality for price. Visit washablesofas.com to upgrade your living space today with no risk returns and a 30 day money back guarantee. Get up to 60% off plus free shipping and free returns. Shop now at washablesofas.com Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.

[Colin Coward]

This podcast is sponsored by PayPal. Okay, let's talk holiday shopping. When you want to make the most of your Money, head to PayPal's app before you check out. They give you the flexibility to pay in four no fees, no interest. And this is big. Bigger than the 12 foot snowman on your lawn right now. You can get 5% cash back when you pay later with PayPal. So whether it's the must have merch or for that signed jersey you've been eyeing, PayPal helps you make the most of your money this holiday. Save this offer in the PayPal app expires 1231.

[PayPal/Odoo/Walmart Ad Voice]

See paypal.com promoterms Subject to approval. Learn more at paypal.com payin4paypal inc.nmls910457 Today's.

[Degree Cool Rush Ad Voice]

Episode is brought to you by a scent that's made a legendary comeback Degree Original Cool Rush the OG is back and better than never. Cool Rush isn't just a scent, it's a movement fan favorite. It's the kind of fragrance that guys remember, ask for by name and rave about online. It's bold, fresh and delivers all day sweat protection with that cool, crisp vibe that made it a legend. Whether you're heading to the gym, the office or just trying to stay fresh on a long day, Cool Rush has your back. It's the go to for millions and for good reason. So if you haven't tried it yet or if you've been waiting for a sign, this is it. Head to your local Walmart or Target and grab degree Cool Rush, the fan favorite scent from the world's number one.

[PayPal/Odoo/Walmart Ad Voice]

Antiperspirant brand Running a business is hard enough, so why make it harder with a dozen different apps that don't talk to each other. One for sales, another for inventory, a separate one for accounting. Before you know it, you are drowning in software. Instead of growing your business, this is where Odoo comes in. Odoo is the only business software you'll ever need. It's an all in one fully integrated platform that handles everything CRM, accounting, inventory, E commerce, HR and more. No more app overload, no more juggling logins. Just one seamless system makes work easier. And the best part? Odoo replaces multiple expensive platforms for a fraction of the cost. It's built to grow with your business whether you are just starting out or already scaling up. Plus it's easy to use, customizable and designed to streamline every process so you can focus on what really matters running your business. Thousands of businesses have made the switch, so why not you try Odoo for [e-mail] that's o d o o.com does.

[Advertisement Voice]

Anything go better than Lego and Star Wars? I don't think so. Kids will love becoming a part of the galactic action while playing out their favorite adventures. Like with Jango Fett Starship. I mean, this Lego set is fantastic. It features a detailed recreation of Jango Fett's starship with four stud shooters, a seismic charge dropping function and wings that rotate with gravity. Plus it has three minifigures Jango Fett with two blasters and a Jetpack Young Boba Fett and Llama Su. Perfect for endless play. Now for the big fans, there's Jango Fett's Firespray class starship from the Ultimate Collector series. Packed with details and surprises for fans, this large scale set is perfect for anyone hunting for a mindful building escape. Plus, you end up with a fantastic display piece. You can build this while your little one build the kid set. You'll be like Jango and Boba building an adventure shop. Now for Star wars lego sets on lego.com or in lego retail stores, and.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

You start taking a longer look, you have different experiences. And then somehow I essentially became my dad. Like, this is how you tried to.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Avoid it, but you couldn't help it.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Can't. This is how, like, entrenched. And I've told this story before, but I'll tell it to you because I'm sure you don't know it. Like, when I tell you my pops was like, entrenched in bettering black people, that's all he was dedicated to. That's all that mattered to him. One of the reporters he hired at WVON in Chicago was a dude named Don Cornelius. And so Don was a police officer. And he pulls my pops over, and my pops trying to get out the ticket go, you got a nice voice, which I don't know if that's not how I would get out a ticket. That's all I'm gonna say. He gives Don his card. Don hit him back a year later, and Don started working at the radio station as a reporter. And that became Don Cornelius entry into the world of media. Now, at some point in the midst of all of that, he does his homework on Don Cornelius, does his homework on television and Dick Clark. And he comes back to my pops and a couple of folks and goes, yo, give me a couple thousand. Give me some money. I'm going to shoot a pilot for a show that I think could be dope. I'm going to call it. I'm going to call it Soul Train. The Hipster in America. Yeah, it's just going to be Dick Clark got American Bands. Why can't we have black people dancing? So my pops was one of the people that gave Don Cornelius the front money, seed money to shoot Soul Train. Wow. Don Cornelius goes, shoots Soul Train pilot. Can't sell that. Nobody will buy it. Nobody will air it. He can't put no ads on it. So he ain't got his money to pay people back. My pops comes to Don and he goes, hey, man, it's Been a minute when the. Let me get my money back. And Don goes, well, I tell you what, instead of giving you your money back, why don't I make you one of the producing partners and Soul Train. I think this could go a long way, Roy. And I think it's gonna be a good investment. And I think it's gonna be something that really changes the culture. To which my father replied, motherfucker, don't nobody wanna watch a dance for an hour. Give me my fucking cash. Don Cornelius broke the bar.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But if your dad had a Chuck, you wouldn't. But see, then, if he'd have talked to Roy, you wouldn't be Roy.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Now, I understand that, but I tell that story to prove the point of just how focused my father was on black America. He was. He grew up Atlanta, Georgia, in the 1930s. My grandfather, who I never met, got snatched up when my dad was four. Never came home again. So you know what that is? Moved to Chicago with his mama. No head of household, no male head of household ever again in his life. So you grew up in the streets like that with a single mom. And then you see every single atrocity that you can name your friends. Murdered. Assassinated. People that you broke bread with, people that you covered in the 60s, one of the most trying decades for black.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Folks, the heart of the civil rights.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

And then a motherfucker come to you and go, hey, what if black people be dancing? People like, get the out my face. You don't understand what's happening out here. But the truth of the matter is that Soul Train was right on time because black people needed a release. We deserve that. But my pops couldn't see the vision, man. He couldn't see it because he was just so entrenched in the problems.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Your comedy and going back and studying. You said something very interesting. And I never even thought of it until you said it. You said nobody gave a damn about the vice president until a female got. Until a woman got the job. And then all of a sudden, the vice president, who really is a figurehead, all she does is break the tie. If there's a 50. 50 tie in the Senate, she'll break. But that's really.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

That's show up at a middle school waiting for the kids.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's really. That's really their only job. Yeah, but now I've never seen a vice president get as much criticism. President Biden is the president. And it seems like everything that he. He got wrong, it was her fault, and she had to take the brunt of it.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Yeah, I mean, so better question for a black woman. But the ones I've talked to have been like, that's what we've been trying to tell you. I don't think that. I don't think Kamala got a fair deal. And she talks about that a little bit in her book. I haven't finished it. 107 days, she breaks down the whole run of what happened. You know, like, I don't even think we talked about a vice president. Who's the boy that shot the one in the face? Cheney. Dick Cheney shot somebody in the face. We like, all right, we gotta talk about him. Dan Quayle couldn't spell a word back in the 80s. Like, all right, we gotta talk about him. But no, I don't think that Kamala Harris got. I don't think she got a fair deal in her election run. Whether you love her or not, whether you voted for her or not, the idea of. Hey, motherfucker, here's something real quick. Y' all gave her the ball on her own two yard line with no.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Timeouts, pull a John Elway, go down the field and win the game in the drive in 1986.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Yeah, yeah. And then when you don't, we go, you terrible. It's all your fault. Ain't no. No wonder she been laying low. Yeah. All this time.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Damn. Did the black said. Well, you know, when President Trump his first term in office, man, the money was flowing. We got them stimmings, everybody. The unemployment was down.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Hey, man, jig is up.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hey, man, hey, man, we was doing.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Unless you flipping bitcoin with them, you ain't making no money with Trump right now.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But that's what they said. They said the black, they did so much better under President Trump than they did President Biden.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Just the average black vote. Yes. Okay. Yeah, I could go with that. I understand that. That just goes back to what I was talking about earlier, man. Politics is personal. I give about the world for if I'm hurting. But if somebody broke bread with me when I was down, I ain't gonna never forget that. Think about when you was down and who was there for you and who gave you a dollar or who gave you a bite of their burger, split the pizza with you, Right? There's an undying loyalty to people like that that extends well beyond politics, especially with black folks. Cause most people don't help us. So I could get why Trump giving you a stimmy, but it was Congress.

[Shannon Sharpe]

A Democratic Congress, that passed out those.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Okay, I ain't got time for the facts. I Ain't got time for them facts. You talking to me about facts, Trump? Name on the check.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's enough for you, huh?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

But that goes back to the idea of most people don't want to know truth and facts and information. So if you can figure out a way to attach yourself to the lie and they buy it, you won. Yes. We gotta, like politics is getting to a place where I feel like liberals are constantly trying to. Well, no, no, no. That's not what it was. That's not what it was. Really. Actually, it was the. There's no effective way to deliver a. Well, actually, you just got to tell your lie, make your lie bigger than their lie, because that's what's selling right now. But that's not ethical.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Pretty damn ethical.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

And I think. But I think that a lot of people still believe that there is a way to win ethically. And I think that if you can win unethically, then govern ethically, then maybe there's a way to run that back. But the idea. You're not going to get black folks or poor white people to understand. Well, actually, Congress, if you understand the disbursement of checks and how things are actually allocated. All I know is that I was broke and somebody in government gave me that money. And the President is considered the head of government, therefore the president gets credit, Period. I don't care that Trump had his signature added to this Chase. And that's the truth. It is, absolutely. But you're trying to get. You're trying to permeate people with truth who don't have the time or the patience or the desire most of the time.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Correct.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

We're smart people. We're very smart people. I'm not going to call them dumb. I'm just impatient. And you starving and you hurting. And so you figure out ways to sell a lie. This administration has done a brilliant, brilliant. Like they, they. They've shown you the blueprint of how to get people to believe blindly. Folks saying, go Trump. As they getting loaded into the ice van. What kind of. That's a level of dedication.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And four generations of farmers are starting to lose their farm. They're going to go belly up because nobody's buying their soybean, nobody is buying their wheat, nobody is buying their products. And they're about to lose because they can't pay for that farm equipment, they can't pay for that fertilizer, and they don't. They have all those crops they can't sell.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

I think that. I will say this. I think that both sides stand to gain more of a political advantage by activating passive voters. But you're definitely not going to flip anybody without empathy. And I think that what we've seen right now in this country over the last year or two, there is no empathy from liberals to Republicans. It's very much around and find out you got what you deserve. Don't call black women. Okay, cool. But then the plan, if that's the play, then the plan needs to be how do you activate all the other people who don't believe that the party doesn't have a plan? And I think that's the part that. That's the solution that nobody's presented. You can't keep writing letters and reprimanding the president, you know, and vice versa. You're not gonna get sympathy from Republicans to liberals. No, I mean, D.L. hughley said it best when he was talking about how people were. There was no sympathy. The way the George Floyd jokes flew in comparison to the way that people were telling jokes about Charlie Kirk. Well, you're never gonna get those people. Right. You're never gonna get the impulse or Trayvon Martin.

[Shannon Sharpe]

People had the Trayvon Martin costume. They had the Skittles and they had the stuff, and it was funny.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Correct. And so with everything that happened with Charlie Kirk, the expectation of empathy from liberals from that side, it's an unrealistic expectation. You may want the empathy, but there are a lot of people who still forever are going to feel some kind of way. And I think that a lot of those feelings people are going to carry to their graves. And I don't know if there is a policy that any Democratic flip that's going to. That's going to flip a moderate Republican without losing. Without losing some liberals. Yeah, because there's a lot more morals on the Democratic side. And so when you've got morals and you need to let go of some of your morals to reel in some of the Republicans, I think you stand to lose more, you know, Democrats. So I don't know. It's a. It's a rock and a hard place.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Where are you on protesting?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

I'd go to Canada, but I'm a felon. They be tricking. Every time I go to Canada, I gotta fill out a gang of paperwork and promise I ain't gonna steal nothing.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Man, you still on paper?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

No, but Canada don't care. Like, yo, it's a lot of countries, when they find out you did dirt in America, they think that you like the master criminal. They think you that French from Netflix. What are they lupin Lupine. I forget the brothers. I try to use actors, real names because then that's how black people just call you that forever. But, yeah, what do I feel on protest?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes. Cause you see how I think it was Pastor Jamal Bryant, he asked, look here, since Target is getting rid of that dei, don't worry about it. Let's not go to their thing. And it's killed their stock. So there's still power in the protest?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Yeah, absolutely. There's still power in voting with your dollars.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

All of this is a form of protest. It's all fiscal. That's why any corporation, if you look at what Target did during George Floyd, and it's like, oh, well, we will have the programs and the initiatives, and we will hire blacks, and we will study why we are racist. And we will read Dr. Ibram X Kendi. We'll read your book, Tell Me why I'm a Racist cracker. Ibram X Kendi. And it wasn't just Target. All of these companies made all of these promises, and we gonna do the thing. And then an administration came in and said, we gonna up your cash if you don't stop fucking with them niggas. And then it's a business decision. And it always was. Yes, because four or five years ago, it was, if you don't show us that you don't care about black people in DE and I, we gonna up your cash. And now all these companies, man, they getting stuck up from both sides. That's what ABC and Disney dealing with with the Kimmel fiasco.

[Shannon Sharpe]

How do we play the middle?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Yeah, if you. You better let go of Jimmy Kimmel or we gonna mess up your merger. Paramount, cbs. Oh, y'. All. Y' all aired a clip of me. Kind of edited, but unedited. All right, well, watch this. You gonna pull that 60 Minutes report and you gonna give me $16 million, or I'm not gonna let your merger go through and I'm gonna up your cash. Yeah, it's all a heist, bro. And I'm not. I think the failure we have made as black people is thinking that corporations have humanity.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I was about to say morals. Yeah.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

You can manipulate them. Yes. And you can have the upper hand, and you can gain leverage and you can get what you want, and it can help advance society and make the world a better place. But just know that the only reason they probably did it was because you had the gun to the head. It's not a coincidence. When you look at the increase, the death of DE and I, and the increase of black women unemployment in this country. Because it's not just necessarily black women that were hired to run whatever DEI initiative for a company, but a lot of those black women were hired under the guise of this program. Even though you were perfectly qualified, we put your hire under this umbrella with this grant and paid you with this initiative instead of just leaving it. I think that that part of it is. I think protests are effective. I just don't think that we should continue to assume companies to be as quick to kowtow. They're not. Protesting was easier back in the day. Like we talk about sit ins and all of that shit. That's cause it was just Jimmy's diner. Like, yeah, you can shut down Jimmy, but to effectively protest something now.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, they got 1500, 3000 stores.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Yeah. And you connected a million. That's why I knew white folks, they was gonna fold on that Bud Light protest. They were like when Bud Light had the trans actress. Yeah. And they were all, oh, we ain't drinking Bud Light. And they were shooting the cans and shit. You know how many different liquor brands are run by Anheuser Busch and bill? It's like 2020 or so brand. Are you really that dedicated? You're not, you're not going for. Did you get the. Speaking of protests, did you get the. The George Zimmerman paper protest email when that happened?

[Shannon Sharpe]

I don't have email, so no, I wouldn't have.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

What the fuck?

[Shannon Sharpe]

I don't have email.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Okay.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Jordan has email. My sister had email. So they'll send it to me in a textbook.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

That's fair. Like Bill Murray, you know, Bill Murray just got a phone with an answering machine and he checks it every day.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Okay.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

And that's how he gets gigs. No, there was an email. I don't know if this was true, but I got this email. It was. Supposedly a paper company was funding George Zimmerman's defense fund at the time. And we got an email and it said, boycott this paper company. And it was like 30 different brands of paper and picnic and plates and cups and forks. Don't buy none of this shit. Don't buy. It was like 20 different toilet tissues. And I wanted to reply to the email, well, how am I gonna wipe my ass?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Like, what do I need out of my hands?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Well, you gotta give me alternative options. I say that to say the idea of protesting is something where you have to be much more steadfast than what I think our ancestors had to be. Because there's also a serious degree of convenience with a store like Target. I live three Blocks from a Target in New York City and walk past it, and it's like, fuck, I know it's in there.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, I need that shower, J. Yeah.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Yeah. I do think that protesting is. It's still effective, but I do think that there is a degree of. I don't want to say a lack of unity across our race, but there's definitely people who are just gonna be. I'm not with that. I ain't doing that. Right. People forget the Montgomery bus boycott was a year. Like, it was a long time. Like, it wasn't three weeks when the white folks folded. It was carpools, and it was different.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And the sanitation boycott that they had down there.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

People actually think it, like, with like, a. No, it was a long, long period of time.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Well, that's also because a lot of boycotts now are top of the news cycle, and then they fall off. And nobody else is talking about it after that. But, you know, you hope Target does the right thing, but there's a lot of companies that have backpedaled.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Let's get to your career dating scene now. Cause you was once married. We're gonna talk about your.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

We weren't married, but we moved like we were.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, you weren't officially.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

No, no. But we made. We were solid, so we moved like that. Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So what's the dating scene now for Roy Wood Jr. Now?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

I work, bro. I've been single.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So in other words, you try. So that's what you telling me? I work now? Cause they say, well, you want to. If you wanted to find time, you could find time. You find time for your son?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

That's my son.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You know, that's what it is. That what they tell you?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Yeah. Yeah. I have. I have met. I've been blessed. I'm blessed now with the eyesight to know when it is a good woman.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Okay.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

And I've met one or two. But I also have enough sense to know of what it is I'm trying to build right now.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

And I think what I underestimated and being single again was the idea of also quitting my job at the same time. I quit Daily show around the same time.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

And I didn't know what the I was gonna do next. And I still have a family to support. Together or not, we remain a family.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

We remain a unit. You remain the most important person in my ecosystem because you're helping me raise the boy. So there's certain things that have to be provided for. So, yeah, I'm gonna work right now and back to what you were talking about at the top of this, man. About the flowers. I can't stop to smell them because I got to keep going. If I stop, the wheels come off of all of this. Right. And I don't know if that's a pressure that men put on themselves unnecessarily, but it don't change the truth.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It is because you feel you have a sense of responsibility.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Yeah. But it's the truth.

[Shannon Sharpe]

People are counting on you.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Absolutely is.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

So I need to be in a space where I can never again be waiting on someone else to choose me. Which is what happened at the Daily Show.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

So to get in that space requires a level of focus and work as the industry that I love starts to change and crumble. Oh, I'm gonna do Daily show and then I'm gonna get me a late night show. Not no more you ain't. Late night show where this the last licks. Yep. Jimmy Fallon, Kimmel, them the last licks.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's it.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Ain't nobody else coming in and doing. I don't know what's gonna be next. But it ain't gonna be that Lancin. Cool. Write a book. Cool. Sell two TV shows. Write a movie. Cool. You just start putting pots on the stove. Pots on the stove.

[Shannon Sharpe]

How many errands can you have in the fire?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

I don't know. But I can tell you that figuring out taking one off to put in a relationship and not being sure if that's going to work and knowing that if any of these other pots fail, bigger ecosystem that I have a higher responsibility to first suffers son will never suffer. My son, he's my only child. So he's gonna be straight now. I can't do this alone. But you know, it's hard when you're grinding, man, and you're trying to figure out relationships because you almost need someone to just merge in with you in traffic. This idea of stop and courtship. And it's a merger. Huh. I've never dated under this degree of industry pressure before. And I don't know how to handle it because I don't have anything to recreate. Last time like when I met my son's mother, I was sitcom. It just got canceled. I'm on ESPN for free two days a week praying that that gig lead me to get another college gig. Shout out to Sports Nation and Jamel Hill. His and hers Bomani Jones used to put me like just praying one of them 3pm ESPN shows hit and give you something else.

[Shannon Sharpe]

How much of what your father. How Your father was to you, has rubbed up on you to how you are to your son?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Not a lot. Maybe. Maybe how I am to women. Maybe some of that. So for perspective, I'm the ninth of. I'm my mom's only child. I'm the ninth of 11 kids.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So your dad had a lot.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Yeah, a fucking. Um.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So is that what caused the separation between your dad and your mom?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

To a degree, yeah, a little bit. I got two younger halfs. You do the math. But I think how my father carried himself professionally. Okay. Was what rubbed off on me. I care about black people. I use humor to try and tell our stories and to humanize our experiences, to educate people who wouldn't have otherwise paid attention to what we were going through. Period. Full stop.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yep.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

And if you look at the body of work that I've built over the last decade, it would support that thesis when it comes to parenting. My pops wasn't around a lot. Cause he was out working or he was with his other family. You know, one of the toughest things I had to. You know, if you bring it back to the breakup, right. You start thinking about what your responsibility is to your child and how you plan to build him up. What values am I going to give him? And one of those things has to be how he treats women. Well, he's going to learn that from seeing how you. How I treat women or how people treat his mother. Whatever that dynamic is. I'm oblivious to it. So I can only be concerned with.

[Shannon Sharpe]

With your side of it, Correct.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

With my side of the equation. And the more I looked at love, and the more I looked at how to show my son love. My parents didn't sleep in the same room. Truth of the matter is, we in Memphis. I'm wilding out. There's no man in the house. My mom reconciled with my pops to make sure there was somebody in the house to knock my ass out when I started jumping bad. In exchange, free rent, Take the money you save, put yourself through law school so you can get out of this situation. And that's what my mama did. That's what my mom worked on. That's what her focus was. Grad school, degree, degree, degree. But most nights, my pops wasn't home. And so when I started thinking about the life I wanted to construct for my son, and I started thinking about, well, damn if I'm gonna show him love. Where the. Did I see it? What the fuck? What was my example of love?

[Shannon Sharpe]

You had a roof over your head. You had food on the table.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Yeah, But a lot of men think that's enough.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They. That's how in the black community, that's how we grew up.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Clothes on your back, food on your belly, roof over your head. What the fuck?

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's love.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

I paid a cost to be the boss.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You remember Denzel when he told his son that very story?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

I lived that. And so the more when I had my son, the more I reflected on it, the more I realized that the best example of love I had was with my pops and his other woman. It's the best example of love. He loved her for whatever issues he had with my mom. It was in love. But when I really sit and think about how he treated that woman, that's who he was out with.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He brought you around her.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Just be around my younger brothers. Yeah. Yeah. So how.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So he had how many kids with this other woman?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Two. I had two Younger half. Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So you had two.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

He had two with her older half siblings. We were never really there. We're cool now.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Okay.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

But in terms of every day, seeing them. No, the two youngers. I saw them on the rig. On the rig.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Okay.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

He scooped me up. My pops would scoop me up from soccer practice. Go scoop them. We go to Dairy Queen, stuff like that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Wow.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

And so I had to call my two younger brothers and talk to them about what was life. And this is a conversation I've never wanted to have with them, but I gotta have this conversation if I'm gonna be better to my son. Hey, man, walk me through what Pops was like at your crib on the nights he didn't come.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He wasn't with your mom, what was he like? Damn.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

And they described a man I never met, so I don't.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You got an opportunity to see him when he was with your mom. So when they're explaining to you, I mean, he was home, he was at the dinner table, he reading Home.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

What? Going to their games, bro.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, my God.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

My pops never did that. And so, man, Roy, that had to hurt. But you don't unpack it. Imagine being 38 in the delivery room unpacking that shit in real time while you holding your newborn. Because these are things I've never had to consider. I've never had to consider showing him love because I had no kid, but now I have a kid, and I go, well, damn, he needs love. Okay, well, I am here. I didn't learn it from my pops, so who did? I. My aunt J.P. and uncle Rick. They love each other. Real. Like a couple. But I ain't around them on A regular. My pops is buried next to that one. She died three years before my dad. My dad got his and hers plots plots here and we didn't even know he was being buried next to her until we was walking the casket up the hill. That's love. You can be mad about it or you could be sad about it, but you can take the game and figure out how to apply that to your child. A woman he came home to every night. So if nothing else, it gives me the blueprint of what I should be looking for and what I should want out of a woman and what I should want within a relationship. She loved his funky drawls. He loved hers. And that wasn't the case at our crib. And that's just what it was.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Was your mom alive when your father passed? Was your mom still alive?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, my mom's still alive right now. So you have to look at and I really didn't unpack all of this with my mom, but you have to look at it as, as I've looked at it. You're in Memphis, you're in law school or you're in grad school at the time. I'm a latchkey kid, bro. We got there. We almost set the apartment complex on fire in the third grade and almost got evicted. So I'm wild. So you just live with this man and y' all just become roommates and you become whatever shell of yourself to get through this.

[Annabe Sofa Ad Voice]

Let's be real. Life happens. Kids spill, pets shed and accidents are inevitable. Find a sofa that can keep [e-mail] Starting at just $699, our sofas are fully machine washable inside and out. So you can say goodbye to stains and hello to worry. Free Link Living Made with liquid and stain resistant fabrics, they're kid proof, pet friendly and built for everyday life. Plus, changeable fabric covers let you refresh your sofa whenever you want. Neat flexibility. Our modular design lets you rearrange your sofa anytime to fit your space, whether it's a growing family room or a cozy apartment. Plus, they're earth friendly and trusted by over 200,000 happy customers. It's time to upgrade to a stress free, mess proof sofa. Visit washablesofas.com today and save that's washablesofas.com offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.

[Colin Coward]

This podcast is sponsored by PayPal. Okay, let's talk holiday shopping. When you want to make the most of your Money, head to PayPal's app before you check out they give you the flexibility to pay in four no fees, no interest. And this is big. Bigger than the 12 foot snowman on your lawn right now. You can get 5% cash back when you pay later with PayPal. So whether it's the must have merch or for that signed jersey you've been eyeing, PayPal helps you make the most of your money this holiday. Save this offer in the PayPal app expires 1231.

[PayPal/Odoo/Walmart Ad Voice]

See paypal.com promoterms Subject to approval. Learn more at paypal.com payin4paypal inc.nmls910457 Today's.

[Degree Cool Rush Ad Voice]

Episode is brought to you by a scent that's made a legendary comeback Degree Original Cool Rush the OG is back and better than ever. Cool Rush isn't just a scent, it's a movement fan favorite. It's the kind of fragrance that guys remember, ask for by name and rave about online. It's bold, fresh and delivers all day sweat protection with that cool, crisp vibe that made it a legend. Whether you're heading to the gym, the office or just trying to stay fresh on a long day, Cool Rush has your back. It's the go to for millions and for good reason. So if you haven't tried it yet, or if you've been waiting for a sign, this is it. Head to your local Walmart or Target and grab degree Cool Rush, the fan favorite scent from the world's number one antiperspirant brand.

[PayPal/Odoo/Walmart Ad Voice]

Running a business is hard enough, so why make it harder with a dozen different apps that don't talk to each other. One for sales, another for inventory, a separate one for accounting. Before you know it, you are drowning in software Instead of growing your business. This is where Odoo comes in. Odoo is the only business software you'll ever need. It's an all in one fully integrated platform that handles everything CRM, accounting, inventory, E commerce, HR and more. No more app overload, no more juggling logins, just one seamless system that makes work easier. And the best part? Odoo replaces multiple expensive platforms for a fraction of the cost. It's built to grow with your business whether you are just starting out or or already scaling up. Plus, it's easy to use, customizable and designed to streamline every process so you can focus on what really matters running your business. Thousands of businesses have made the switch, so why not you try Odoo for [e-mail] that's o d o o dot com.

[Advertisement Voice]

Does anything go better than Lego and Star Wars I don't think so. Kids will love becoming a part of the galactic action while playing out their favorite adventures. Like with Jango Fett Starship. I mean, this LEGO set is fantastic. It features a detailed recreation of Jango Fett's starship with four stud shooters, a seismic charge dropping function and wings that rotate with gravity. Plus it has three Jango Fett with two blasters and a jetpack. Young Boba Fett and Llama Su. Perfect for endless play. Now for the, for the big fans, there's Jango Fett's Firespray class starship from the Ultimate Collector series. Packed with details and surprises for fans, this large scale set is perfect for anyone hunting for a mindful building escape. Plus you end up with a fantastic display piece. You can build this while your little ones build the kid set. You'll be like Jango and Boba building an adventure shop. Now for Star wars lego sets on lego.com or in lego retail stores.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Knowing that your son at least has the checks and balances and on the behavior side, it was right, it worked. But like one of the hardest things I have to do because I follow my two younger brothers like love them, love them to death. I follow them on social, Father's Day, Pop's funeral day, Pop's birthday. I usually don't go on social on.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Those days because they're talking about a.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Man that you never knew, never knew. They posting pictures with this man. And these are the old school Polaroids that's got the date at the bottom. I can look at the date of the picture and tell you whether or not the heat was on at our house because my parents was arguing and Pops had pulled, you know, so the idea that I can even learn what type of father I could be from watching through his lens. He was damaged, you were damaged. And you sought comfort through women and sex. And you were superb at your job, top of your game. Correspondence dinner When I got done, a bunch of black journalists who were there at the correspondence dinner came up to me and were telling me about how my pops gave. He was their. They were. Their first job was working for my dad. Five, six people, people who used to work at, at National Black Network, which eventually became aurn, American Urban Radio Network. That company exists because of my fucking pops and the other people he co founded with. And they came up to shake my hand and tell me thank you. And like that was a level of respect that I don't know if I'll ever do anything as valuable as that. So you still, you can Be mad at this man. Or you can learn from it. Cause either way, you still gonna be in his shadow. Yeah, I didn't go by Roy Wood Jr. Till he died. Cause I knew it fucked with him. So it was the only thing. It was the only thing that I knew. Just fucked with me.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But did you think for a second, Roy, that was. He gave you his name. He gave you. He didn't give it to the others.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Give me your time. Your name.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Touche.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

But the idea of. I remember I came home, the yearbook, it had Roy Wood. He go, your name is Roy Wood Jr. And I just didn't want to, like. I just hoped that, like, people didn't know or would assume that I wasn't related. And then when he died, he died my senior year of high school. And I was like, all right, I'll carry it now. I carry the torch.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So you did grow up with some level of resentment towards your father.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

A little. But it didn't. It came out after I had my son. Because you start. You have your child, bro, and then you start thinking about everything you're gonna do with your son that your father.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Didn'T do with you.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

And then you realize he never did it with you. And you're like, damn. The one thing he did give me that I did appreciate, he made sure that I knew who he was and what he stood for. And that's through being able to shadow him and be around him. But you're only getting half of a person when they get you at work, when you get your parents at work. But I'm grateful for that. And I try to do that with my son. You know, I don't take him everywhere. He knows I do comedy. He knows I'm on TV in some capacity. His classmate's parents telephone game gets back to him about, oh, his dad is just the thing. But, you know, I try to give him a degree of space away from all of this also, because it's politics and it's funky, and I just don't want him right beyond. You deserve to be young, you know, beyond, man. But I don't think that resentment gets you anywhere. If you have issues with your father, I think you literally have to look at who the man was and just pick the little pieces, get rid of the rest.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You remember when you was a kid, your mama cooked something you really didn't like, and she put stuff in there. You just pick out the pieces. You pick out the stuff that you like out of the dish.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

My mama puts bell peppers in her tuna. And when I tell you, I used to pick them little bell peppers and she minced them up real.

[Shannon Sharpe]

My grandmother did that with hamburgers. She put onions in the hamburger, like in the meat.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

She mixed it in the house. Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Yeah, yeah. But that's why I'm grateful, bro. I'm grateful that I had so many men that just. That God put in my life. That poured knowledge or poor gain, be it once, be it multiple times, like that was. I think that's where I really learned how to love was like just being in reflection of taking my own experiences out of it. When have I seen a man be kind and soft with a woman? Okay, there. All right, take the note. All right, cool. I need to make sure I feel that with her, and then I can better identify whether this is somebody I should be with. And that helped it really. Like, I hate to say it, but having that conversation with my younger brothers, it helped me immensely in being able to love my son.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But let me ask you, when you talk to her and people say, you know, communication, you know, be honesty, be honest, be transparent. When you. I don't know if you did or you didn't, when you talked to your uncle or you saw people that had been married and that had been in love, does that better help you understand or paint a picture of what you should be looking for in a mate that you could potentially be your wife?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

My uncle. My uncle Derek, he lost his wife. This was in the 80s. Drunk driver. He heard the crash from his house and it devastated him. And I remember going to my Aunt Mary's funeral and seeing my uncle cry over the casket. And he had. You know, he had a. He had about a 5, 10 year stretch after that. Cause he's also ex military. You dropping some PTSD in that mix along with grieving as a widower? He had a rough stretch. Yes, I'll just say that he had a really rough stretch that he came out of. And seeing what he became without her helped me understand what she was to him. That's love. And I think through those painful moments, you're able to mine something that's beautiful, man. I'm not. You know, we all wish we could have got a better hand with our parents. I don't care what kind of parent you got, you wish they was more this or more that. But you know what really helped me was going on finding your roots and learning so much new information about my dad and the idea that, oh, I get it. You lost your dad. You ain't had no game. Nobody gave you game.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I was about to.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Then. Then you get a debilitative injury. In high school, my pops got hit by a car chasing behind a girl that just broke up with him. Hip replacements for the rest of his life, walked with a limp the rest of his life. How you think that informed his opinion of women, what you think walking with a limp did to his confidence for the rest of his life and how he viewed women, I don't know. There's a lot of questions that are just. That will forever be unanswered. Because most of the people that can answer him from his side are dead.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Cause I was gonna ask you. I was gonna, like. Cause a lot of times we learn how to love through how we were loved. You know, your dad. And I was gonna ask you, I said, did you ever talk to his. Did you ever ask your dad how was his father to him, your grandfather to him, and so forth and so on. So it would probably give you a better picture of how. But you was like, you know what? I don't know a whole lot about this fatherhood. I just know I want to be a better dad to my son than what my father was.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

That's it.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's it. I don't know how this thing gonna shape out, but I do know that.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

I'll start with that base level thing. I will be present, and I will, you know, and for the life of my relationship with his mother, you know, I was. I was like, when I travel, hey, I'm sorry, I gotta go. But I would explain why I'm going, where I'm going, what I'm doing, and I still do that to this day. Even when we broke up, sat him down, walked them through, hey, here's what's happening with that. But just so you know, me and her ain't got nothing to do with me and you. Everybody's still good. Cool. And.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But that was a lot of. That was a lot. That's heavy. You got a newborn, you quit your job, and you just broke up with the mother of your child. That's a lot going on right now.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Well, he's about 6 or 7 at the time of the breakup. But it's still alive. Yes. And so there is a pressure change in his life. There's a pressure of providing that I don't think men talk about enough. And I don't think women necessarily. I don't wanna say don't care, but they have their own battles as well. They got their own workplace challenges as well. So I understand you got your issues, but I'm over here, fighting this fire over here. Good luck with your fire. I think that, like, I remember some nights watching my son sleep when he was younger. And I would be up at night and just be walking around the house and to that flower moment where it's like, I live in New York City, bro. I live in New York City. I have a solid job. My family is fed, they're sleeping, safe. I remember when I came to New York in 1999, and I was here for three days, and I could only afford one meal because I needed the rest of the money for tolls to get back to Alabama, praying that somebody at the comedy club would offer me a wing or a fry so I could eat that day. And now I'm in this city and I got furniture, I got a job, my picture on phone booths. I got an hour special coming out. And I'm watching my son sleep peacefully with none of the cares that I had. And it lasts for about 20 seconds. And then the next thought is, how the. Am I going to keep this all together? And that's the impulse that drives me. That's the impulse that gives you everything. You read at the top of the show in my intro. And I don't know if that's for better or for worse. Do you sleep good? No.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I suffer the same thing because I can't turn my mind off.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

I wake up immediately, and there's 20 ways this could go wrong. Yep, there's 30 ways this other thing could go wrong. But if I can control it and be in charge of it, I realize what I lack is control. I'm a control freak to a degree. I need opportunities that are.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That afford you that.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

That afford me that. I'm thankful for cnn, but it is a network. All TV shows end one day. It will. Hopefully I'll see it coming or I'll have time. But in case I don't, you have something already.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You've already got a garden planted, and something else is about to sprout.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Let me get this YouTube shit straight for 2026. I already know what I want to do. Get this book right. Sell that book. Get a script on that. And that way I know my son can continue to sleep comfortably. That drives me. And I know some people will consider that unhealthy. But if it's gotten you more successful every year than the year before, since 1998.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Doing something right.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Doing something right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

What have you learned about money?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

That it's just money. It's not gonna make you happy. There's definitely a peace of Mind you need to have with it. I'm probably a little reckless, but I think my recklessness comes from stupid shit like Ubering, when I could have walked. Yeah. Let's just say eight blocks. And I was like, I don't feel like it. Come get me. I'm on the corner, yo. But I don't have a lot of vices in that regard. Like, even with women, it's not like I'm spending a bunch of money on a million dates and going to exotic locations and shit like that. I don't wear jewelry. I get nice sneakers every year.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You got the unions.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Hulu paid for these. Oh, okay. Bodies. You get crazy. No, when I get an hour special, they allocate money for wardrobe.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

I spend it all on a shoe. Ankle up.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You a shoe guy, Ankle up.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

I got it. It's already in the closet. I know.

[Shannon Sharpe]

What.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

I'm aware with the shoe. You gonna pay for that. So I don't. You know, my relationship with money is. I would say it's decent. I'm not rich in the lease.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

But I'm blessed. And, you know, I am the family member that family members call. Which, in a way, is a huge responsibility, though it's a blessing and a curse.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It is. It is. But I've always me. I've always wanted that. I was the baby, and my brother had a serious injury, and so I took on the responsibility. And I remember telling my grandmother on her deathbed that I got it. My sister, we. And my sister. My sister's here right now, and she had a conversation with me. She was telling. I had this conversation with my grandmother in June. My sister had the very conversation with my grandmother in April. I didn't know about it until she told me. She said, shannon, Granny. Like, one of my cousins was in the room, and she asked my grandmother, aunt, what's going. She said, aunt Mary, what's wrong? And my grandmother said, I'm dying, and I don't want to leave y'. All. My sister say, granny, it's okay for you to go. I'mma be okay. Spanky's gonna be okay with my brother. Shannon's gonna be okay. Shannon's gonna make sure Mama's okay. Everything's gonna be taken care of. I didn't know Roy. My sister had this conversation with my grandmother in April. I come back along in June. The guy's doing a story because I'm going into the hall of Fame that August. So he's following me around. We go to the old house. We go to the Old high school. When we get back to the nursing home, the retirement facility, my grandmother is crying uncontrollably. So I stop the guy and I go in and she's crying, and I hold her in my arm that I look at. I said, granny. I said, so I already knew what it was. I said, granny, it's okay. I got it. I said, you and Papa, y' all did what y' all was supposed to do. I got. I got Libby, I got Spanky, and I got Mama. Don't even worry about it. A week later, Roy, she was gone. She needed her baby to tell her that he had it. Once I told her, I let her mind be at ease. My sister called me. She said, shawna, she gone. I said, for real, Libby? She said, yep. She told my sister and my mom. Cause my sister would go up there every day, feed her, bathe her. That's not a responsibility. My sister did that for two years. Every single day would go up there, make sure she ate her food, make sure she had a blood change, her clothes, did everything.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Stay on top of them.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Folks, about five o', clock, my grandmother said, libby, you and Alice, y' all go. That's my mom, Mary Alice, named after Mama.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

She said, y' all go home, man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I can't get no rest with y' all here. She sent them home probably around 5, 5, 30. They called my sister at 6.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

That was it.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Libby, Miss Mary gone.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So to hear you say that, the responsibility of your siblings and the family, you're who they call. I know what that's like. I've lived that life for the last 30 years.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

My only beef is that. And I understand this because my mom used to think I was sleep. But I could listen to her making the money calls at night. Hey, girl, it's Joyce. I wouldn't call you if I need it. Blah, blah, blah. So I understand the courage it takes to admit you need help. But, nigga, don't wait until the tow truck is in front of your house.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He done got it lifted up.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

For two months, nigga. And now the tow truck is outside. And now I'm trying to venmo a named Keith. And it just like, hey, he out here right now. He want to talk to you.

[Shannon Sharpe]

What do you want to talk to me about?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

He got my car. Meanwhile, I'm on the phone with you. And then somebody took him to me. Yeah. Three minutes. We're gonna. The shot is live in three minutes. Come on back over to the. I'm at work, and I'm, like, literally Venmo. There's times on the Daily show where I've just said the Venmo and put. Well, yes, Trevor, Noah, I'll tell you what's going on with the Republicans. Like, that part of it I don't like. But I understand where the hesitancy comes from. I wish, man, I wish I'd have had that, like, luxury of that, like, last conversation. Because prostate cancer is what took my pops. And my pops. When you're 16, you don't even know what you're supposed to be asking, bro. And cancer, like, the last year of cancer is just such a nasty, terrible thing. My pops became very mean. Like, very. Just angry.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Very angry.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Which I just wrote. I ain't take offense to it. I didn't do shit to you today. You just snapping. All right, you in pain? I guess, whatever. I remember the last conversation I had with my dad. I remember he watched Jeopardy. That was always. We'd watch Jeopardy. My pops would watch local news. Cause he was mentoring a lot of the anchors on the local affiliates. So he would watch everybody's anchoring and then call them and give them critiques or whatever. Yeah. Give them feedback at the feedback. We watched Jeopardy. And we watching Jeopardy. And I make him a baked potato. And I give it to him. Takes a nibble. After about an hour, he give it back. He ain't really touched it, you know, appetite gone. And he looks at it, and he looks at me and goes, I did all right, didn't I? And I look at the baked potato. Yeah, you did all right. You know I'm lying, but all right. Next day, I come home, he's in hospice at my older brother's crib. And so, you know, for the most part, I lived my life after that. I didn't go visit him every day because it's hospice. And. And a lot of the time in the hospital when I was there, it would be a lot of the other women. So if my mom's was there and then it's some side chick, that's weird. You know what I'm saying? So I would go solo. And that became weird. About a month later, he dies. And we're at the funeral, and we're walking away from the. We're leaving the bear. We're going back to the limos or whatever. And my older sister Brenda, she comes up to me as we're walking down the hill, and she's like, of all my siblings, all my half siblings, she's like the most spiritual. And Jesus and God and the scripture says, you Know Daddy loved you. And I know you may not have always felt that, but Daddy loved you. And no matter what, just remember he did the best he could. And that shit hit me like a fucking. A Mack truck, bro. Like, he asked me. I did all right. He wasn't asking about the baked Potato. He was asking me how he did with raising me. I missed the fucking window, bro. Not only did I miss the window, I told him he did all right. Cause he probably thought I was talking about how he raised me. I was talking about the Baked potato. And so had you had that window.

[Shannon Sharpe]

The window that he left open, had you knew, what would you have told him?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

I don't know. But I wouldn't have let him off the hook like that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Even in the situation, the condition he.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Was in, there's a soft way to.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Let him know he could have done better.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Well, it's not even to criticize. It's more questions than anything. I never thought about that. I said, damn. I never thought about what I would have asked or what I would have said. I don't think I had the wherewithal or the scope of knowledge. Keep in mind, I'm born. My parents are separated. I'm born in New York. My parents are separated. Within a year, my mom moves to Mississippi. My whole mom, aside from Clarksdale, okay, so she moved to Memphis to go to school and be close. So she got the babysitter network with her siblings, right? So I grew up never knowing my father, other than the dude who come to visit once a month. And I go see him for a month in the summer through third grade. So the idea of a father was just. This nigga's a guest star in me and my mama's sitcom. Me and my mama, the star daddy just a neighbor who come in and wave from time to time. Then when we move in together in Birmingham, y' all don't really sleep. Y' all ain't in the same room. We don't do any family functions other than breakfast. Sunday breakfast was sacred. But outside of that, you're not home. Everybody work different schedules. He's a morning radio man. He gone before I'm up for school. And by the time I come home from school, he back out at night to do his jazz show and then hit the bars and, you know, socialize, hit the lounges and all that and drink some of this. Like, he out there, right? So we never kept the same clock, okay? So I'm not even crossing you in the hallway for you to give me game, just off the nature of our schedules. So you take something like that and then it becomes, oh, I need to be around more. Because I've learned in, like, I tried doing, like, mentorship programs and stuff. It's not. I'm not the right person. Literacy, sports, I'll give money to mentors. Because what I found, at least what I believe, is that male guidance. It's these microscopic moments that happen. It's not a full three, four hour day. Let's go bowling. Let's go where you might ask something or not. You just have to be around. And then the moment your child shows a window of wanting some knowledge, you jump in. And so the weeks I have my son, I schedule my life differently. We get in that meal. I might go back out in these clubs and tell my jokes tonight. But first set's not going to be till 9 because I want you in the bed. 8:30 and we gonna talk. Babysitter, pull up 8:25, I'm out the door. But the idea of just not being around as much as I can, I'm trying to fight that, bro, because I don't want to be a guest star in his fucking sitcom. That's my biggest fear with my son is that I become the dude that's always gone, oh, he provided. And then he the one sitting here with you talking about motherfucker, I won't at the time. So the only way to create that is to work like a psychopath at building something from the ground up for yourself that you control. That is not susceptible to corporate mergers. That's not susceptible to an administration leaning on your supervisors, getting them to fire you. That takes time. So I'm sorry, I can't go on the date you want me to go on with you, or I can't be present in the way you want? Because this is paramount right now. It won't always be that way, but that's what is. Because I know on the other side of this is growth and freedom, man. And I know I can do that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

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.

[Colin Coward]

Hi, it's Colin from the Colin Coward podcast. I've been around long enough to know quality when I see it, or in this case, when I taste it. Tito's handmade vodka. Good stuff. No flash, no gimmick. Smooth, clean tasting. Made the right way. Tito's made in Austin, Texas. Real attention to detail. I like to keep it simple. Tito's Soda one lime, a lot of ice. Refreshing, easy Summer, winter, spring. Totally versatile. Always works. Listen, baseball season's here. The perfect time to kick back with some Tito's. It's what I pour. You should too. Distilled and bottled by 5th Generation Inc. Austin, Texas 40% alcohol by volume. Savor responsibly. This podcast is sponsored by PayPal. Okay, let's talk holiday shopping. When you want to make the most of your Money, head to PayPal's app before you check out. They give you the flexibility to pay in four no fees, no interest. And this is big. Bigger than the 12 foot snowman on your lawn right now. You can get 5% cash back when you pay later with PayPal. So whether it's the must have merch or for that signed jersey you've been eyeing, PayPal helps you make the most of your money this holiday. Save this offer in the PayPal app expires 1231.

[PayPal/Odoo/Walmart Ad Voice]

See paypal.com promoterms Subject to approval. Learn more at paypal.com payin4paypal inc.nmls910457 does.

[Advertisement Voice]

Anything go better than Lego and Star Wars? I don't think so. Kids will love becoming a part of the galactic action while playing out their favorite adventures like with Jango Fett Starship. I mean, this LEGO set is fantastic. Fantastic. It features a detailed recreation of Jango Fett's starship with four stud shooters, a seismic charge dropping function and wings that rotate with gravity. Plus it has three Jango Fett with two blasters and a jetpack. Young Boba Fett and Llama Su perfect for endless play. Now for the big fans, there's Jango Fett's Firespray class Starship from the Ultimate Collector series. Packed with with details and surprises for fans, this large scale set is perfect for anyone hunting for a mindful building escape. Plus you end up with a fantastic display piece. You can build this while your little ones build the kid set. You'll be like Jango and Boba building an adventure shop. Now for Star wars lego sets on lego.com or in lego retail stores.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Get ready to power up your play with Nintendo Switch 2.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Power up the visuals with 4K support and a bigger, more vivid sound screen. Power of the fun with exclusive new.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Games like Mario Kart World.

[Advertisement Voice]

And Donkey Kong bonanza.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Nintendo Switch 2 all together anytime, anywhere.

[Degree Cool Rush Ad Voice]

Games rated E to E10 plus games.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

And systems sold separately. Compatible TV required for 4K display.

[PayPal/Odoo/Walmart Ad Voice]

Running a business is hard enough. Don't make it harder with a dozen apps that don't talk to each other. One for sales, another for inventory, a separate one for accounting. That's software overload. Odoo is the all in one platform that replaces them all. CRM, accounting, inventory, E Commerce, hr. Fully integrated, easy to use, and built to grow with your business. Thousands have already made the switch. Why not you try Odoo for [e-mail] that's odoo.com.