Support Your Village with Regina and Reina King

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Support Your Village with Regina and Reina King"

IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson
Host: Higher Ground
Date: January 21, 2026
Guests: Regina King and Raina King

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Episode Overview

In this heartwarming and candid episode, Craig Robinson and Michelle Obama (with an additional co-host, possibly Jemele Hill) welcome acclaimed sisters Regina King (Academy Award-winning actress, director, and founder of "me and you" wine label) and Raina King (actress, producer, and co-founder of Royal Ties production company). Together, they explore the joys and challenges of siblinghood, growing up Black in Los Angeles, career journeys, maintaining family connections, and the enduring significance of supporting your village. The conversation is rich with personal stories, laughter, wisdom, and memorable reflections on grief, community, and honoring loved ones.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Growing Up in Los Angeles & Family Dynamics

• Neighborhood and Community Roots

  • Regina and Raina share how growing up in Windsor Hills/Baldwin Hills shaped them, emphasizing the unique flavor of Black middle and upper-middle class neighborhoods in LA.
  • "LA is so big... Windsor Hills, Baldwin Hills, that's all adjacent. So all of those people have a similar lifestyle... you heard the stories about Ray Charles lives over here and Ike and Tina Turner socialize with people."
    (Regina King, 05:43)

• Childhood Memories: Outdoor Play, Double Dutch, and Homemade Shows

  • The sisters talk about a time before screens dominated children's lives, reminiscing about playing outside, jumping double dutch, and performing homemade plays for family.
  • "Kids don’t go outside and play… When’s the last time you saw a kid with a cast on their arm?"
    (Regina King, 08:04)
  • "We had this book of plays... we used to put them on in the living room right in front of the furniture that we weren’t supposed to sit on."
    (Raina King, 10:02)

• Early Start in Entertainment

  • Their entry into acting came about thanks to a neighbor’s recommendation, leading to classes with Betty Bridges (Todd Bridges’ mom).
  • They stayed in public school despite the industry’s push for ‘studio school’, crediting their mother’s strong advocacy for education.

Sibling Relationships: Growth, Rivalry, and Bond

• Age Differences and Coming Into Their Own

  • Both sisters agree they were always close, but distance and life transitions (like Regina moving out at 17) allowed Raina to ‘come into her own’.
  • "When I moved out the house, that’s when our relationship started becoming like my other half… We always played together… but I could talk about my sister, but you can’t talk about my sister."
    (Regina King, 16:25)

• Younger Sibling Dynamics

  • Raina shares that hanging with her older sister made her grow up a little faster and feel confident by the time she reached high school.

• Rivalry & Apologies

  • The sisters describe a healthy rivalry, but also how quick they are to apologize and make amends, often with unspoken gestures instead of words.
  • “It’s an unspoken apology… It’s not really those words, it’s the gesture.”
    (Regina King, 29:07)

• Parenting Influence

  • Their mother played an integral role, enforcing togetherness (mandatory attendance at each other’s events) but also respecting their personalities and handling discipline differently for each child.

Iconic King Family Anecdotes

• The Rice Punishment Story (Recurring Theme)
  • The episode both opens and later cycles back to an uproarious memory involving Raina being punished by kneeling on rice, a disciplinary method their mother read about from China.
  • "My mother had read that in China, they discipline their kids by kneeling on rice. So she said, 'You can kneel on rice for 10 minutes or we take a break and you get the rest of these licks.'"
    (Regina King, 00:00 & 35:19)
  • Raina, in hindsight:
    "If only I knew that, I should have just got the rest of the licks."
    (Raina King, 35:33)

Navigating Life Transitions & Building Individual Identity

• Leaving Home & Early Independence

  • Regina describes moving out at 17 ("I was ready") and negotiating her independence with her mom, including getting a tattoo and attending college at USC.

• Support During Grief & Honoring Ian

  • Regina talks vulnerably about honoring her late son, Ian, through her wine label, “me and you,” recounting how the project helped channel her grief into creativity and keep Ian’s spirit close.

Career Highlights & Impactful Projects

• Favorite Projects

  • Regina: Points to "Boondocks," "Watchmen," "227," "Boyz n the Hood," and "Jerry Maguire" as audience favorites, while saying, "My favorite project is the one I’m working on now."
    (Regina King, 36:43)

  • Raina: Credits "Scrooged" and "To Sleep With Anger" as formative, shares her unique love of socks—picked up from director Richard Donner—as both a ritual and comfort.

    "If I could wear a sock 365 [days] a year…”
    (Raina King, 38:11)

  • As a producer, she spotlights “Shirley,” which was a decade-long passion project.

Listener Question: Building a Village Despite Age Gaps

• Challenge:
  How to foster a strong sibling connection with a much younger sister (27-year difference, 10-year-old sister, 37-year-old listener with her own child who is “besties” with the younger sister), while not slipping into parenting.

• Discussion & Wisdom:

  • Regina and Raina acknowledge the reality that the dynamic will inevitably feel less “sisterly” and more “auntie-like” or even parental because of the age and life stage differences.
  • "You can't come in as the parent. That should free Helen up to be like, well, maybe I’ll just be someone in her life that she knows and trusts."
    (Craig Robinson, 53:12)
  • Michelle offers that, in her family, using the older kids as a new voice for guidance can be more effective than a parent’s.
  • Consensus: Drop the labels—just be present, supportive, and part of the village, letting the relationship grow organically through trust and presence.
  • "It’s the village. What does it matter what you’re called? … The ship has sailed on a sisterly relationship between a 37-year-old and a 10-year-old… That’s okay.”
    (Craig Robinson, 51:00)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Discipline and Childhood:

  • “You can kneel on rice for 10 minutes or we take a break and you get the rest of these licks.”
    (Regina King, 00:00/35:19)
  • “Look, my mother was researching Asian punishment… let me find some really good stuff.”
    (Craig Robinson, 00:25/35:47)

• Sibling Love & Support:

  • "It’s just hard to even just imagine doing anything without her. So when we know that we’ve disappointed each other... It’s an unspoken apology."
    (Regina King, 29:07)

• On Honoring Ian with ‘me and you’ Wine:

  • “Trying to find ways to create new memories with Ian… we’re gonna make a wine. And this journey started from him introducing me to orange wine… I came across this Syrah… Raina was like, my nephew would want this.”
    (Regina King, 59:40–62:01)
  • “It’s beautiful to be able to be sharing a bottle of Ian’s wine with you.”
    (Regina King, 57:39)

• Wisdom on Building Connections:

  • “Don’t think of yourself as a sister. Don’t think of yourself as a mother. Think of yourself more as the auntie. That middle ground.”
    (Raina King, 47:39)

• On Community:

  • “We are honored…to toast to Ian… to community…to sisterhood, to brotherhood. This has been a beautiful conversation.”
    (Craig Robinson, 64:26–64:35)

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Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Content or Quote | |--------------|-----------------| | 00:00 | Introduction & Regina’s childhood discipline story ("kneeling on rice") | | 05:43 | Regina on Windsor Hills and LA neighborhood history | | 08:04 | “When’s the last time you saw a kid with a cast on their arm?” - Regina on changing childhoods | | 16:25 | On becoming “my other half” and evolving sibling bonds | | 29:07 | “It’s an unspoken apology.” - On resolving sibling conflicts | | 35:19 | The rice punishment anecdote revisited in detail | | 36:43 | Regina and Raina discuss favorite projects; audience favorites mentioned | | 38:11 | Raina’s “sock thing” inspired by Richard Donner | | 43:51–54:00 | Listener question about age gap in sibling relationships; “ship has sailed” moment, village approach explained | | 57:39–62:36 | Regina shares the story behind “me and you” wine, honoring Ian’s life and community | | 64:26–64:35 | Emotional toast to Ian, community, and family |

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Episode Takeaways

• Siblings shape who we are, but every relationship is unique—there’s power in embracing those differences.
• Honoring loved ones can create new traditions and legacies, even through grief.
• The “village” is broader than bloodlines; support, trust, and presence matter more than titles.
• Culture, history, and creativity are deeply intertwined in the King sisters’ journey, with humor and candor at the heart of their connection.

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This episode is a celebration of sisterhood, resilience, and the importance of building and supporting your village—whether in family, career, or community. The conversation brims with laughter, honesty, and moments that linger long after the episode ends—a model for how we can all show up for each other.

Transcript

[Regina King]

My mother had read that in China, they discipline their kids by kneeling on rice. So she said, you can kneel on rice for 10 minutes or we take a break and you get the rest of these licks.

[Craig Robinson]

Dag, that's just. That's commitment to the life.

[Regina King]

And Raina was like, I'll take the rice. I'll take the rice. And I was like, I just knew.

[Raina King]

I was like, if only I knew that. I should have just got the rest of those.

[Craig Robinson]

Like, you could have been finished.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Yeah.

[Craig Robinson]

How about your mother researching Asian punishment?

[Regina King]

Right?

[Craig Robinson]

You know, mean, it's like a teacher, like, let me. Let me find some really good stuff. Don't work. Great.

[Regina King]

This episode is brought to you by theraflu.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Hey, little girl.

[Craig Robinson]

Craig Robinson, what's happening with you? I like your sinks. I have those.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

You have these? Yeah, I do 11s in black.

[Craig Robinson]

Not the same, but I have that style, that high top, patent leather.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

No, elevens are what? They are not the size.

[Craig Robinson]

Oh, okay. I didn't know that. I don't know what.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Poor thing. Yeah, I see that.

[Craig Robinson]

It's like, no, I don't wear an 11.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Especially not a men's 11.

[Raina King]

Geez.

[Craig Robinson]

Oh, my goodness.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

What's going on?

[Craig Robinson]

You know, Excited that to be here.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Yes.

[Craig Robinson]

Excited with our guests that we will introduce at some point.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

No, we gotta have some LA flavor for our children.

[Craig Robinson]

I know, it's really good. I got a whole lot of LA questions because LA is a mystery to me. You know, it's always like, what does it mean to grow up here? But anyway, we'll get into that. But I'm happy that you're here, that we are together.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

We are.

[Craig Robinson]

And you are enjoying. But we haven't had dinner yet. I don't know. We got a busy schedule, so I don't even know if we'll get a chance to. To even chill for a bit.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Yeah, I might have to whip something up at my Airbnb.

[Craig Robinson]

Right. I don't. What do you. Well, okay. What do you think you're gonna do?

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

I don't know. I don't know. We might. We might. I might have to go shopping and get some groceries, so.

[Craig Robinson]

You can't even say that with a straight face. Like, look at you.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

But if I wanted to.

[Craig Robinson]

You're not gonna leave here right now and go to the grocery store?

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Cause it's late. But I might. I might do that before we leave.

[Craig Robinson]

Okay.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Yeah. Yeah, but.

[Craig Robinson]

So is it a good high end kitchen in the place that you're staying? Is it a chef's Kitchen kind of situation.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

No, no, no, no. It's not a chef's kitchen. It's a regular kitchen. But it's got everything you need. And you know, these trips, it's really hard. Cause we put in a lot of time during the day to. To do a meal at night. But Aaron and I are enjoying the weather here and we staying up later, so maybe, maybe we'll whip something up.

[Craig Robinson]

Well, anyway, we've got.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

I can't. We're so excited for our guest here. We've got other siblings.

[Craig Robinson]

Siblings. Famous siblings who have done everything all over the place.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

I love these children and for a long time.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah. Raina and Regina King, sisters who are, you know, own Hollywood, own the industry. Killing it on so many levels.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Yeah. Well, let me give them a proper introduction. Regina King is an Academy Award winning actress and a director with a 40 year career, widely regarded as one of Hollywood's most versatile and dynamic creators. She is also the founder of Me and you, a wine label established in honor of her son Ian. Raina King is an actress and producer who has worked in entertainment for decades, both in front of and behind the camera. As an actress, her credits include Scrooge and Shirley. Regina and Raina are sisters and co founders of the production company Royal Ties, a company recognized for developing projects across genres with depth, range and cultural relevance. All right, so without further ado, Regina and Raina King come on into the IMO scene.

[Craig Robinson]

How y'. All.

[Regina King]

Hey, hey, hey, hey. He supposed to cue the. Okay, we gotta get one of those.

[Raina King]

Especially with this basketball height.

[Regina King]

Y' all so short.

[Craig Robinson]

I know, I know. That's what people say when they meet us.

[Regina King]

Can you feel tall?

[Craig Robinson]

Put some heels on.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

See, you can't tell how tall we are when we're sitting.

[Craig Robinson]

We have short torsos, lots of legs.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Really?

[Raina King]

Yeah. She actually has a. I have a.

[Regina King]

Short torso and longer long legs, but long, short legs.

[Craig Robinson]

They're long in relation. Yeah.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Right.

[Craig Robinson]

Well, you guys, thank you. Thank you for being here.

[Regina King]

Thank you for having us.

[Craig Robinson]

True.

[Regina King]

Y', all, like in la.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Oh, man, why don't I live here?

[Regina King]

I don't know.

[Raina King]

Yeah, I got that vitamin D in your life.

[Craig Robinson]

I know. Gotta have that vitamin D. I mean, you heard me say like, you know, we spend a lot of time in la, we record poor and imo here, our daughters live here, our higher ground productions are here. But it seems like everybody we meet are transplants. I mean, rarely do I meet people from la and I, you know, I'm trying to get a sense. I'm still trying to get a sense of the city. Talk about what was it like? What is it like to grow up in la? I mean, does it. Is it all Hollywood palm trees and, you know.

[Regina King]

Well, I also feel like, you know, there's LA is so big.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

It is huge.

[Regina King]

So, like, when you talk about LA county, you have people that grew up in Santa Monica and that's their whole life, and that's a whole different lifestyle than from us that grew up in Windsor Hills. You know, Windsor Hills and Baldwin Hills, you know, that's all adjacent. So all of those kids, all of those people have a similar lifestyle. And you grew up and you heard the stories about Ray Charles lives over here and Ike and Tina Turner socialize with people.

[Raina King]

Madeira?

[Regina King]

Yeah, yeah.

[Craig Robinson]

Would you talk about. It sounded like the Windsor.

[Regina King]

What is Windsor Hills?

[Craig Robinson]

Windsor Hills. Multi income, mostly African American. What was the vibe of?

[Regina King]

I don't know what it is now. It's probably not mostly African American now.

[Craig Robinson]

Well, nothing. It's been gentrified.

[Raina King]

Well, the people that lived in the house that we grew up in, when.

[Regina King]

You were doing the location, I went and knocked on the door. They didn't answer. Oh, yeah. What? They are race?

[Raina King]

They are, but I would say middle class and upper middle class.

[Regina King]

Yeah, we grew up predominantly black. You know, there might have been one white woman on our street at the end of the block.

[Craig Robinson]

No.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Oh, no.

[Regina King]

That's really?

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah, really.

[Regina King]

I mean, come on, you didn't see her much.

[Craig Robinson]

What did you know her name?

[Regina King]

Was it.

[Craig Robinson]

Is this such and such.

[Regina King]

You didn't even know her? I don't know remember her name.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Was it.

[Raina King]

In my mind, I keep thinking Ms. Gert, but Ms. Gert was no, Ms.

[Regina King]

Gert was my babysitter.

[Raina King]

Your babysitter?

[Regina King]

Yeah.

[Craig Robinson]

Was she old? Older?

[Regina King]

She was an older woman.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah.

[Regina King]

She didn't, like, talk or interact much unless somebody was on her grass.

[Craig Robinson]

On her lawn. On my lawn.

[Regina King]

We just trying to call your money. We just trying to play our ball.

[Craig Robinson]

Just rolled up here. We had to get it. We had to get it. Was it working class? I mean, did you know your neighbors? Did you grow up, like, playing on the street and.

[Raina King]

We did.

[Regina King]

We had a lot of kids on our street. And you know what happened to that? Like, kids don't go outside and play. Like, there's no. Like, when's the last time you saw a kid with a cast on their arm?

[Craig Robinson]

Right? That's right. That's a good point.

[Regina King]

You know what I mean?

[Craig Robinson]

That's a good point. Everybody's all vacuum sealed, right? Yeah, no, we're scared of the outside. I mean, you know, like, I remember when we were in Chicago, the girls growing up, we did grow up in a neighborhood where there were a lot of kids. But it is true. Nobody was just letting their kids go out to play. So I found that our girls didn't know the basic outdoor play games, like how to jump double dutch.

[Raina King]

Double Dutch, Right.

[Craig Robinson]

So me and my friends, one day we decided, these little black girls, they have to know how to jump double Dutch. But so we organized. This is what mothers do. Because how you learned how to jump double dutch is that you got your rope, you went outside, you found somebody to turn, and a game happened.

[Regina King]

Right.

[Craig Robinson]

But the girls didn't even know where to begin. We did it. The mothers. And then we realized, well, you know.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

That'S why people aren't doing stuff, because the mothers are doing.

[Raina King]

It wasn't the way anything that the mothers.

[Craig Robinson]

The plan was to teach them so that they go outside.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Okay.

[Craig Robinson]

The challenge. Did you all jump double Dutch growing up?

[Regina King]

Yeah, we did.

[Raina King]

We did.

[Craig Robinson]

You know, the key to double dutch is that you have to have two people that can turn.

[Raina King]

Well, that's why we probably didn't do it as often, because I don't think everyone on our block of the girls.

[Regina King]

Or even at school, you know. Cause we played double Dutch. Jump, double Dutch. Play double Dutch. Jump, double Dutch at school. And you know, certain people like, oh, I can't stand when she turns.

[Craig Robinson]

I know we called it, she double handed.

[Regina King]

Double handed.

[Craig Robinson]

I don't know what that meant, but girl, you double handed.

[Regina King]

It means you can't turn because you can't turn.

[Raina King]

Like, not being on beat.

[Regina King]

Or did you guys ever, like, have, like, the super long rope that someone would wrap it around their back?

[Craig Robinson]

Oh, yes.

[Regina King]

Oh, yeah. That's when you knew she could turn.

[Craig Robinson]

She knew how to do.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Yeah, I read where you all put on your own little shows. Nobody's doing that either.

[Regina King]

What's that?

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Excuse me.

[Raina King]

There's a fly in my suit. We have this book of plays.

[Regina King]

Yeah. And we used to put them on.

[Raina King]

In the living room right in front of the furniture that we weren't supposed to sit on that we would sit.

[Regina King]

On when mom wasn't home.

[Craig Robinson]

That's right.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Did it have plastic on it?

[Raina King]

They did not.

[Regina King]

No.

[Raina King]

She had a best friend that had a lot of plastic on a blue couch. And she had blue for Christmas. She had a blue. Used to kind of freak me out. Remember the blue Christmas paper? And. Oh, my God, just a lot of.

[Craig Robinson]

Blue flock tree uh huh.

[Raina King]

It was a bit much.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

It was a bit much.

[Raina King]

I just remember those summertime sliding on.

[Regina King]

That plastic or sticking stickers to the.

[Craig Robinson]

Plastic or the plastic will wear out and there'd be a slit in it and nobody would cut you. It's like, now this couch is dangerous.

[Regina King]

It's clean, but it's. But it's dangerous.

[Craig Robinson]

It's deadly.

[Regina King]

I don't wanna go over there.

[Craig Robinson]

I don't wanna sitting on the couch.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

And how old were you then? Cause I'm trying to figure out how early you all thought y' all were gonna be actors.

[Regina King]

I don't think we really thought that we were gonna be actors. You know, it was like, you can act like you're somebody else, you can be something else. And we had been doing it all the time at home.

[Raina King]

We'd been doing it, I mean, the roller skating. And someone saw us and asked us if we would tell the story.

[Regina King]

Raina? Yeah.

[Craig Robinson]

What do you mean roller skating? And somebody asked you?

[Regina King]

We're at our mom's. Friends with the blue couch.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Shout out.

[Craig Robinson]

To Tommy, we love your couch.

[Raina King]

And we, we were at her house, we were roller skating and this woman stylist that lives up the street and that ended up being Betty Bridges. Todd Bridges, Mom.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Oh.

[Raina King]

And said, you know, they should join, you know, my acting class. And that's kind of how it started.

[Regina King]

I don't even think I. Well, no, Reina first she was like, was talking to us and you know, stranger danger.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah.

[Regina King]

So Reina was like, it's like, where.

[Craig Robinson]

You coming up to us?

[Regina King]

And then she told us to go get our mom. And Reina was like, mom, this lady outside for the talk me to.

[Raina King]

She had to give it all its details at the moment.

[Craig Robinson]

Thank you, Regina.

[Raina King]

To keep it all the way.

[Craig Robinson]

Right?

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

That's right.

[Craig Robinson]

And see, so that's what you think about la, you know, it's like you could be roller skating in your little matching outfits and all of a sudden.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

You know, you're an actor, you're an atmosphere.

[Craig Robinson]

See, that's what the kids on south side of Chicago think happens when you grow up in the hood in la. Well, that's how you become a part of the Brady Bunch. You gotta live in la.

[Raina King]

Yeah.

[Craig Robinson]

So what was going on with school at the time? I mean, were you still in school?

[Regina King]

We were still in public school. So like basically you have a set teacher and our mom was like, both studios wanted our mother to put us in studio school. Well, you go to studio school when you're shooting.

[Craig Robinson]

Okay.

[Regina King]

But they Want you to enroll in, like, a small school that.

[Raina King]

Almost like home school, but.

[Regina King]

Yeah. That is familiar with this type of industry.

[Raina King]

Entertainment, homeschool.

[Regina King]

And mom was like, absolutely not. So if you want these girls, we gonna figure it out. And we both ended up having really great teachers. I really. Kathy Cyrus was just absolutely amazing. She was great. And she. I wanted to take French. She started learning French. She. So just in the correspondence, they went up. She went up to the school to meet all of my teachers because by then I was in high school.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah.

[Regina King]

And. And then when the season was over, be back at school.

[Raina King]

And you were like, the head of the class.

[Regina King]

Oh, yeah. So I was causing havoc.

[Craig Robinson]

Right.

[Regina King]

When I got back to school, it's.

[Craig Robinson]

Like, I know it all.

[Raina King]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Craig Robinson]

How was the. How did it feel coming out of that world, being on TV and then going back into a normal high school life? Were you guys recognized? Were you known as being those girls that you know.

[Regina King]

Yeah, I think people just knew that that's what we had done. Because I don't know how it is in Chicago, but you go to schools that are connected to your area. Yes. So, you know, all of those kids I went to junior high school with, part of them I went to elementary school with. So they had been seeing us doing background work. Yeah.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

It wasn't new, so they weren't tripping.

[Regina King]

No, it was the opposite.

[Raina King]

Literally the opposite. Like, you couldn't wait to get back to kind of the public school, that kind of friend group. It was much harder for me on what's Happening now because I was the only child on the show.

[Craig Robinson]

Oh, yeah.

[Raina King]

You know, there were no siblings. There were no people in the building. So it was just me and the set teacher.

[Regina King]

Yeah.

[Raina King]

So we used to bump hair.

[Craig Robinson]

Okay, what's the story? Who had to get called? Who told off who?

[Raina King]

Yeah, my mom got called a couple of times, but I think I was, because it's just me and this one adult, and there's no other person to kind of bounce anything off of. So I found myself, like, challenging her. I learned a little French too, But so that was tough. So for me, it was a big yearning to get back to school where there are more kids. Like any show where there may have been two or three other kids, it's like.

[Craig Robinson]

Let me go to that one. Right. Oh, wow.

[Raina King]

And on set today with the set teacher. So I was really excited to get back to the regular swing of things. And I was coming back further ahead than. Cause it was fifth grade for me because I was 10 and I was further ahead than where they were 10.

[Craig Robinson]

Wow.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Wow. And you guys are four years apart.

[Regina King]

Four years apart.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Have you always been close? Yeah.

[Regina King]

All right. Were we in?

[Craig Robinson]

It's like now we're like, that was right on time.

[Regina King]

I think we've always been close, but we. It took me when I moved out the house, when our relationship started becoming like my other half. But I think it's. It was. We've always been close. Like, I could talk about my sister, but you can't talk about my sister. You know, like, that's always been. And we always played together. We always remember we used to play Mel's Diner in the backyard. Oh, my God.

[Raina King]

With the mud pies.

[Craig Robinson]

Mel's Diner.

[Raina King]

But there was, because I was younger, that, you know, she didn't want me around. You know, I'm getting on her nerves. I wish you would just go back. And I'm like, I'm not going anywhere.

[Regina King]

You know, and keeping up, keeping up.

[Craig Robinson]

I mean, this is the younger sibling. And I see it with our two daughters, it was like, Malia and Sasha are three years apart. They've always been close. But that three year difference feels like a chasm until you're older. But Sasha, like me, I was always gonna keep up, you know, you were not leaving me behind.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

You were not leaving me behind. I was inclusive with her. It wasn't like, oh, no, you can't come with me. I was like, well, come on then, let's go. And it would be, we're playing baseball. We were playing running bases, hide and seek. Whatever it was, if she wanted to go, she could come.

[Regina King]

But do you think part of that is because you guys are brother and sister opposed to. I do think that dynamic is different.

[Craig Robinson]

You know, there's just. Well, because our spaces could be separate. Like, I could come along, but I didn't always want to come along. Cause it was like, okay, it's a bunch of crusty boys. Maybe I want to play with my dolls over here. But with my daughters, it was like they were pretty much on par in terms of what their interests were. And the friend group of girls, you know, they were just all run as a pack. And so little sister was gonna, you know, it's like, I can do this, make her way. So in that respect, I think Sasha grew up faster just by keeping up, you know, she had to. Even though she wasn't there yet, she was gonna be there.

[Regina King]

Yes.

[Craig Robinson]

And without the emotional tools, you know, Necessarily. Right. But I know.

[Regina King]

I think you're literally explaining our dynamic. Like, Reina grew up faster. Definitely. Y. Yep, definitely. Like she thought she was. She knew she was grown and yeah.

[Raina King]

I was able to spread that. Spread my wings with that more when she wasn't around.

[Craig Robinson]

Yes.

[Raina King]

So by the time I got to high school, I was like.

[Craig Robinson]

It'S like, you can't tell me anything.

[Raina King]

These youngest don't know.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah.

[Raina King]

These other 15 year olds.

[Craig Robinson]

I've been around this block. These children. Oh my God.

[Regina King]

18 year old.

[Craig Robinson]

I've seen some things. Bring me a drink.

[Regina King]

Hilarious.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

I have been traveling a ton between my IMO recordings and my day job at the national association of Basketball Coaches, as well as my kids teams. This travel has afforded me the opportunity to visit some new places and meet some new people. And last year's travel was so good, I've actually been able to enjoy my time on the road. That's because I've been booking stays on Airbnb. You've heard me talk about how much I love that I get to stay in a real neighborhood. This helps me feel at home and settled in addition to being able to explore my surroundings. And during these trips, it clicked for me. My place is just sitting there empty. Meanwhile, someone else could be getting that exact same sense of ease and connection from my home that I just got from theirs, and I'd be making a little extra money without lifting a finger. I'd never really thought about hosting in that way. It's not a big production. It's simply opening your door to someone who wants a meaningful stay while your home quietly works for you. And if you live in a city, people are always trying to visit or have to travel to for work, trust me, there are folks out there looking for a space that feels warm, familiar, and lived in. Your home might be that place. And it might be worth more than you think. Find [e-mail] host this episode of Imo is brought to you by Theraflux. Theraflu, makers of Fast Acting Cold and Flu Relief, believes everyone deserves the right to rest and recover when they're sick, no matter where they live or how much money they make. When I was coaching, if I got sick, I found it hard to choose between taking time for myself to rest and heal and showing up for my family and my team. Luckily, I had the ability to take paid sick time when I really needed it. But not every American has that option. In 2021, Theraflu launched the Rest and Recover Fund, and they've committed more than $1 million to provide micro grants to families and individuals, helping offset the cost of taking a sick day for those that don't have coverage. Everyone should be able to prioritize their health without risking their ability to put food on the table. That's why Theraflu is committed to keep fighting, because rest in recovery is a right, not a privilege. Learn more or help someone apply for the [e-mail] right to recover. This episode of Imo is brought to you by Indeed. You know, I've been thinking a lot about careers lately, especially in a job market like this. One thing I've learned is that you really have to think outside the box when it comes to your path. Nothing about my own journey has been linear. I've made pivots, followed my curiosities, leaned into the strengths and skills I had at the time, and somehow all of that kept opening doors I never would have pictured for myself. And honestly, being willing to evolve made my whole career feel more dynamic and rewarding. The roles I ended up loving weren't always the ones I initially imagined. They were the ones that aligned with who I was becoming. But let's be real. The process of finding those roles, it can feel like a second job. I remember stretches where searching, applying, waiting. It was exhausting. That's why I love what Indeed is doing with Career Scout. It's designed to make the whole process faster, easier, and a lot more intentional. Career Scout actually looks at your skills and interests and sources opportunities you might not have even realized were a fit. It's like having your own career coach working behind the scenes, helping tailor your resume, matching you to roles that align with your strengths, even supporting you with interview prep. It takes something that can feel overwhelming and makes it manageable. And honestly, if I had Career Scout earlier in my career, it would have saved me so much time and helped me tap into my strengths more quickly. It's a game changer when you're ready for that next step. Indeed's mission is to empower people to use their skills to find better work. And Career Scout is their latest innovation to help you do that. The future of job searching is here, and it's called Indeed Career Scout. Try it today in the Indeed app.

[Craig Robinson]

So when did it click? Did it. You know, because there's also the shadow of the older one, right? Because I would also tell Malia, right, you grew up unshadowed, right? You.

[Listener (Michelle)]

You.

[Craig Robinson]

You grew up. And everything you did because you were performing for us was wonderful. And it's like, wow. Say more. Oh, look at what you've done. That's so smart. You can read now. Right. Well, the younger sister has the older sister going. You can't read yet.

[Regina King]

Right.

[Craig Robinson]

It's like, that's not how you say that.

[Regina King]

Well, let me just do it.

[Craig Robinson]

Let me just do it. Let me. You know, and so I would have to explain to her, do not step on my other child. I love you both, but you cannot try to parent her because you don't know what you're doing. You are just.

[Regina King]

You are not grown.

[Craig Robinson]

You're seven, Right. You know, you don't know what's happening. But I saw Sasha come into her own as Malia, you know, moved on. So it was like that tree, you know, moved away and so the light got to the younger one. Did you feel that way training?

[Raina King]

I think so, yeah. I definitely. It was when she moved out. I mean, it really was. That was. I'm running this house now. I've got, you know, it was. I definitely did come into my own. I felt like I had the space and not thinking about it then, but things that I actually had learned from her and now I can exercise that in my own world, amongst my own.

[Craig Robinson]

Group of friends without somebody judging me, without someone going, that's not how you do it.

[Raina King]

Yeah, yeah, that's not how you do it. Exactly. The idea. Once she moved out and having. Then she also her apartment became kind of a haven, safe space that was then on this next level, still learning and maturing and still able to experience it with her. So, yeah, that's. And she had a car.

[Craig Robinson]

Uh huh. Yeah, that's.

[Raina King]

I mean, there were little perks there. Cause she moved out pretty young.

[Regina King]

She moved out 17.

[Craig Robinson]

Okay. Talk about that. What precipitated the move?

[Regina King]

I was ready.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah.

[Raina King]

She wasn't watching nobody no more. Anybody else's dishes?

[Regina King]

Well, yeah, you know, I was. That's. I mean, quite literally, you know, like, I'm out all day doing my own thing and then come back home and I gotta wash day dishes.

[Craig Robinson]

Uh huh. Yeah.

[Regina King]

I said, oh, so.

[Craig Robinson]

And you had an income from.

[Regina King]

Exactly.

[Craig Robinson]

Could afford to.

[Regina King]

Yeah. So I was like, so, Mom, I'm moving out, I'm getting a tattoo.

[Craig Robinson]

You did that? I mean, like, Dag. Dag was like just playing because she'd.

[Regina King]

Been saying, no tattoo. No tattoo. I don't know why you want to mark pretty skin. No tattoo. And. And I'd graduated high school, you know.

[Craig Robinson]

So how did that conversation go over? What did mom say? And were you in the other room, Raina listening?

[Regina King]

I'm sure I was close by. No, yeah, I'm sure Raina's always close by.

[Raina King]

Wow.

[Regina King]

I don't ever remember any pushback because I really did not want to go to college and I applied because my mom's a teacher and that just wasn't gonna happen. That was happening and I got in. So there was nothing. You know, I'm working. I'm going to usc.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah.

[Regina King]

I don't wanna wash dishes.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah.

[Regina King]

Why should I have to wash dishes? And she was like, all right.

[Raina King]

And she couldn't really have that conversation. How are you gonna take care of yourself? How you gonna take your business?

[Regina King]

Right.

[Craig Robinson]

Right. Well, I actually. With the income I felt.

[Raina King]

Yeah.

[Regina King]

So then two G7 was canceled.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Regina. Who apologizes more, you or her? When you all get into it.

[Raina King]

I'm just gonna keep looking at you.

[Regina King]

You think you apologize more?

[Craig Robinson]

You think you apologize more?

[Raina King]

No, I don't.

[Regina King]

You don't?

[Raina King]

I think you apologize more.

[Regina King]

You do?

[Raina King]

Uh huh.

[Regina King]

I was actually gonna say the same.

[Craig Robinson]

Oh, well, okay.

[Regina King]

Cause I feel like we. We're so sensitive to each other because like there. It's just hard to even just imagine doing anything without her. So when we know that we've disappointed each other, it just.

[Raina King]

It's an unspoken apology. I think. That's not.

[Regina King]

It's not really. We both kind of.

[Raina King]

I'm sorry. It's not really those words. It's.

[Craig Robinson]

It's the gesture.

[Regina King]

It's the gesture. And we do. Sometimes you'll call or I'll call and be like, you know, Raina, when I did. And you'll go, oh, Regina. And vice versa.

[Raina King]

That's true.

[Regina King]

Yeah.

[Raina King]

I think we had a moment like that not too long ago.

[Regina King]

That's why I was like, why you look the other way.

[Raina King]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I guess it is a balance.

[Regina King]

Yeah.

[Raina King]

It's a balance with us, with so much and so thankful to have that. Cause a lot of siblings.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah.

[Raina King]

I'm sure you guys have heard. I mean, we talk to sisters and sister and brothers and they don't get along with their siblings in that way. So I feel blessed to have a other half.

[Regina King]

Yeah, she wrote a poem about it in high school.

[Craig Robinson]

Oh, really? Do we have the poem? Is it still top of mind?

[Raina King]

Who has the book? I don't know.

[Regina King]

I have the book and I didn't I bring it to you. Remember? I took a picture.

[Craig Robinson]

So you did a book of poems or the school. Okay. Oh, and it made it into the book.

[Raina King]

A book of poems and the different students in. I'm trying to think what grade I was in. Was it seventh?

[Regina King]

No, I was older than that. I think it was, like, ninth grade, I want to say. Okay, I'm wrong. All right.

[Craig Robinson]

Once again, and I'm sorry. I'm wrong.

[Raina King]

Moving on. I was in Regina Siller's class, and it was eighth or it was seventh or eighth grade, but they had all the students do poems, and they compiled a book. And my poem was called My Other Half. And it's still.

[Regina King]

I still have the book. She still has it. She didn't know I had it, and I didn't know she had a month ago.

[Raina King]

Yeah. I thought that was packed up, disappeared somewhere, like with the yearbooks that you don't want anyone to see. But I would say those words that I spoke in that poem then are very much still fitting.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Oh, that's.

[Raina King]

And still of the time and of the moment of what we are.

[Craig Robinson]

What do you think it was that your mother did to foster it? Because, you know, I think a lot of times sibling rivalry is coming from somewhere. Right. Because I think it's so easy to unintentionally, as a parent, pit one against the other just because of lack of awareness or, you know, one child might be technically easier on that parent than the other. Because personalities, you know, parents are people, too. And if you have more than one kid, you may click in a different way with the other. And if that's the case, maybe some of that, you know, sprinkles out.

[Regina King]

Yeah.

[Craig Robinson]

So I just wonder if there's anything too.

[Raina King]

When you say. I mean, we were going to. You may not want to, but you're going to your sister's recital or this. And you. She was always making sure we were in situations that we had to do things together.

[Regina King]

So in addition to always, I like, I used to feel like Reina got away with everything, but. Says the lady to my right. But I feel like my mom really made sure that she treated us individually different. Like, I didn't feel like I was treated like Reina. And Raina didn't feel like she saw you both really. Like, our punishments were different.

[Raina King]

You didn't have the rice punishment, did you?

[Regina King]

What was the rice punishment? I like to tell the story. Okay.

[Raina King]

Please.

[Craig Robinson]

Regina's. We're calling on you now.

[Regina King]

The right story.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah. Cause Raina is probably not gonna tell at all.

[Regina King]

Yes. That's the reason why I said Isla. Cause I don't want you to. I'm not throwing mom have to revision his history. So we shared a room. And Raina is clean, but Raina's messy.

[Craig Robinson]

Okay.

[Regina King]

Yes. And so we kept getting.

[Craig Robinson]

Were you in here.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Now?

[Regina King]

I'm talking about it's kids, as kids.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

But you're clean.

[Craig Robinson]

You're clean.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

You're not dirty and messy.

[Regina King]

Was that a backhanded compliment? That's a backhanded compliment. And we kept getting in trouble for having a messy room. And it wasn't my stuff. And I'd be like, mom, it is not my stuff. I am cleaning up my side, and I'm kicking. Then I started kicking it to her side of the room. So you see the difference? So finally, my mom was like, all right. Every piece of. If you don't have this room cleaned up by whatever time, it was everything that I pick up, you getting two licks. Cause, you know, that's when whoopings. And it came out to, like, 92.

[Raina King]

Oh, you were not gonna say, she didn't need to give two licks. It was enough clothes.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah. And the lady.

[Raina King]

I'm like.

[Regina King]

It came about happening.

[Craig Robinson]

I'm like, yeah.

[Raina King]

I'm like, what's looking? When you got into the 90s, it.

[Regina King]

Was like, what are women doing? Like, how you say, where was Raina? So I'm in the room, and she's counting. I was like, whoa, wow. Now I'm feeling bad. Like, I dark to her, and now I just got it. And so she started proceeding with the spanking, and I guess my mom got tired. Rada got tired. My mom was like, okay, you can kneel. My mother had read that in China, they discipline their kids by kneeling on rice.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Yes.

[Regina King]

So she said, you can kneel on rice for 10 minutes, or we take a break, and you get the rest of these licks.

[Craig Robinson]

Dag, that's just. That's commitment to the living.

[Regina King]

And Raina was like, I'll take the rice. I'll take the rice. And I was like. I just knew.

[Raina King]

I was like, if only I knew that. I should have just got the rest of the licks.

[Craig Robinson]

Like, you could have been finished.

[Raina King]

I might still have rice imprints in my knees.

[Regina King]

I felt so bad for you. Oh, my God.

[Craig Robinson]

I'm like your mother researching Asian punishment. You know? I mean, it's like a teacher. Let me find some good stuff. Don't work. Right, Right. So did it. Was it effective? Did you clean up your mess?

[Raina King]

Yes, I did. From then on, I did once. I could walk okay.

[Regina King]

Yes, I can.

[Raina King]

You know, I needed a minute to compose myself.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

So now you all have been in this business for so long, I'd like to hear from you. What are some of your favorite projects that you've worked on? Can you say that. Or is it too hard? Oh, no, I want to hear that.

[Raina King]

Please say bodex.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Please say bodex.

[Craig Robinson]

You're not.

[Raina King]

That's just like as an actress or as producers or director. Because it's a. There's different things.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

I'd like to hear the. Yes. I'd like to hear the whole gamut.

[Regina King]

I always say my favorite project is the one I'm working on now because we've been blessed to have done so much that some things I don't even remember, you know, so it is tough to. I can tell you the things that people the most talk to me about that they love is Boondocks. You know, that's like at the top. Watchmen.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Yeah.

[Craig Robinson]

That is Barack Obama's favorite.

[Regina King]

Is it really?

[Craig Robinson]

It is, yes. Oh, wow. He loves that.

[Regina King]

And I guess somewhere between. 227. Boyz n the Hood and then Jerry Maguire.

[Craig Robinson]

What about you, Rhaena?

[Raina King]

It would be Scrooged. Just cause. I mean, Richard Donner, the director, those were like. That was. And Alfre Woodard. That was Carol Kane. I mean, Jones. It was a master class, like I said, for a very young girl. Richard Diner. So I have a thing with socks.

[Regina King]

Okay.

[Raina King]

I love socks and I like socks.

[Craig Robinson]

If I could wear a sock.

[Raina King]

$365 a year.

[Craig Robinson]

Really? How many socks do you own?

[Raina King]

I have a lot. I actually had to buy, order online these little square boxes that have like, you know, 24 compartments and they're stacked. Oh, I've got short ones, long ones, thick ones, anklets. I love taking new ones out of the package. And I got that from Richard Donner.

[Craig Robinson]

Oh, my gosh.

[Raina King]

He always had on a new pair of socks and he would donate, like. Cause he would wear socks. One pair. You know, wear one pair of socks once and donated. And I'm like, I wanna be. I just want a different.

[Craig Robinson]

I'm gonna have a sock collection.

[Raina King]

Exactly, exactly.

[Regina King]

Yes.

[Craig Robinson]

You didn't want. Rada didn't want cars.

[Regina King]

She wanted socks.

[Craig Robinson]

I want socks. Designer socks.

[Raina King]

When I wash socks, I'll look at them. I'm like, yeah, it's just time.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah.

[Raina King]

You know, if I get three wears.

[Craig Robinson]

Out of a sock, it's like, no, no, no. We are done. On to the next.

[Raina King]

I find other uses, usage, you know.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah.

[Regina King]

Do you use them like the dust.

[Raina King]

Duster dusting, window sills, you know, rags?

[Craig Robinson]

Actually, that new sock smell nothing like it.

[Raina King]

It's nothing like coming out of package. That sounded.

[Craig Robinson]

I meant that. Wait a minute.

[Raina King]

But it is so. Right.

[Craig Robinson]

So when they you are so right.

[Regina King]

When it arrives, you're just like, yes, exactly.

[Craig Robinson]

I have made it.

[Raina King]

Exactly. So yeah, I would say as an actress would be and to sleep with anger just cause Danny Glover, that was a bit of a masterclass too. And then as producer that's hard. I would just surely only because it was something that we had been fighting to do for a decade.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

You know, January always feels like that moment to hit reset, to finally stop saying maybe one day and actually start becoming who you're meant to be. And that's why I love Shopify. If you've got a dream, whether it's a side hustle you've been sitting on or something bigger, Shopify makes that first step simple. So let me ask you, what's the one thing you've always wanted to build but kept putting off? And how different could your year look if you just started now, if 2026 is your year, go to shopify.com imo and make your move. This episode of Imo is brought to you in part by Acorns. You know, one of the most valuable pieces of money advice I've ever gotten is that financial wellness isn't about how much you make. It's about making the most of what you have. That's something I've carried with me from my time on Wall street to today. And that's why I love Acorns. Acorns is a financial wellness app that makes it easy to start saving and investing for your future. You don't need to be rich. Acorns lets you get started with the spare money you've got right now. Even if all you've got is spare change, you don't need to be an expert. Acorns recommends a diversified portfolio that can help you weather all the market's ups and downs. You just need to stick with it. And Acorns makes that easy. Acorns automatically invest your money, giving it a chance to grow with time. The best advice I've gotten was from my father and that was to pay yourself first. So sign up now and join over 14 million all time customers who have already saved and invested $25 billion with Acorns. Plus, Acorns will boost your new account with a $20 bonus investment offer only [e-mail] IMO. That's Acorn s invest.com IMO to get your $20 bonus investment today from Acorns, Mighty Oaks Do Grow. Investing doesn't have to be complicated. Acorns makes it easy to invest for your future. Plan for tomorrow and spend smarter today. Paid non client endorsement compensation provides incentive to positively promote Acorns Investing involves risk Acorns Advisor LLC and SCC Registered Investment Advisor View important [e-mail] IMO January always puts me back in the reset mindset. I'm not trying to overhaul my life. I'm trying to feel better by creating good, simple wellness habits. Whole Foods Market is where I start. I'll pick up a multivitamin or protein powder I trust. And for when I'm short on time but still want to cook a simple dinner, I'll grab a wild caught sockeye salmon and one of their 365 salad kits. My favorite. If you're ringing in the new year with dry January, they've got great non alcoholic drinks that don't feel like a compromise, which makes sticking with my healthy habits more enjoyable. It's wellness that actually fits into real life. Shop all things wellness at Whole Foods Market it.

[Craig Robinson]

Here at imo we also like to take a listener question to give our humble opinions on, and the one we have here is particularly ripe for.

[Raina King]

That.

[Craig Robinson]

Sibling dynamic we've been talking about.

[Listener (Michelle)]

Hello Michelle and Craig, I'd love your advice. I want to build a better relationship with my younger sister, but we're 27 years apart in age. She's 10 and I have a six year old who is one of her best friends. I feel lucky that I grew up with my older brother. We had that typical sibling relationship and he's been the one constant presence in my life. I want my sister to have that same sense of connection, but it's harder for her because everyone around her is older and those who are closer in age to her are really her nieces and nephews. We're also very different. When I was her age I was more of a tomboy looking up to my brother while she girly, loves makeup and is already on social media. The tricky part is my dad and stepmom are older so they don't really know how to set limits. For example, they let her join TikTok with no parental controls and it's hard to even explain those things to them. Sometimes my brother and I try to guide them, but I don't want to cross the line into parenting her myself. So my question is how do I build a stronger sister relationship with her while still respecting boundaries and not slipping into that parent role?

[Raina King]

27 years.

[Craig Robinson]

27 years. Well, that's.

[Regina King]

Well, Helen, yes, I think that shit for sale. I mean, if I'm being completely honest. I mean 27 years. I mean, that's. I think that the best you can do is remember that relationship and those things between her and her brother, those sibling things, and try to encourage that with her son and her sister because they're four years apart, so they actually are more like siblings. I just don't think that you should be trying to be the sister. I mean, you are the big sister, but you are in so many. And I mean, Craig and I can attest to this in a lot of ways. Even when you are the eldest, you do have some moments where you are kind of like not the parent, but you're making a decision for both of y', all, you know? And so I just don't know that it's actually possible to try to not feel that bit of parental responsibility with a sibling that's 27 years younger.

[Raina King]

But you can try. You can try.

[Regina King]

You can be sympathetic to it.

[Raina King]

You can be sympathetic. But, you know, what are those things she said? 10 years old. She's like 10.

[Craig Robinson]

I think she's 10. She's 10 on TikTok.

[Raina King]

She's 27 years.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Yeah.

[Raina King]

So, yeah, I was gonna say what those things that a 10 or 11 year old are into or might want to do and experience how you can experience that with them in more of a sisterly fashion, opposed to a motherly fashion.

[Regina King]

I think maybe also a conversation with her parents or their parents. It really is like. Is necessary because she's being 37 is. Sounds like, from what Helen said, is that she's much more aware of the dangers of being exposed online in a.

[Craig Robinson]

Way that older and older understand that.

[Raina King]

No, don't think of yourself as a sister. Don't think of yourself as a mother. Think of yourself more of the auntie. That middle ground, because the auntie is the auntie helps.

[Regina King]

What do y' all think?

[Craig Robinson]

Well, I was gonna have you start because you actually have kids with a pretty broad age range.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Yeah, but it's. I know, but still 16 and.

[Craig Robinson]

30.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Yeah. Well, so it's 13 and 30. 32. My oldest to my youngest.

[Raina King]

Okay.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Yeah.

[Craig Robinson]

So that's why I'm like. But you're in it.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Yeah, I'm in it.

[Craig Robinson]

But you're the old parents.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

The interesting thing with my kids are my younger kids have always viewed their older siblings as siblings. Even though they were 16ish years older, they've always viewed them as siblings. Even now as adults, they are siblings. They treat each other like siblings, and it's a real cool dynamic. So the older ones never had to sort of Be the parents. Cause we were the parents so they could take on that sibling role. So. And believe me, I have used the older kids to get certain messages across to the younger kids, because, as you all know, you get tired of hearing the same voice over and over again. And my wife and I, they're tired of hearing us over and over again. So every now and then, we'll be like, hey, talk to your little brothers.

[Raina King]

Same message. Change the voice.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Just change the voice. And surprisingly, it can be more effective.

[Raina King]

Mm.

[Regina King]

So did your kids spend time in the house together?

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

So our, really, our daughter, who is 29, was in high school, was just going into high school when our two younger ones were born. So they spent some time.

[Regina King]

Some time.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Now, the older one had gone away to prep school and then to college, so he didn't spend much time in the house with him, but our daughter did. And as a result, those two always viewed her as the conquering hero of the family. It's been really interesting. And she was a basketball player, so.

[Regina King]

Well, so was Avery, too.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Avery was, too. But they never got to see him play.

[Raina King]

Right.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

So.

[Regina King]

But they had those common interests, which Helen is saying.

[Craig Robinson]

They don't.

[Regina King]

They don't.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

They don't have. She has no connection other than never lived other than blood.

[Regina King]

Yeah.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

So it just feels hard. It feels forced. That's the word I think I was gonna write down. You don't want it to feel forced because it won't work for either one, especially the 10 year old.

[Craig Robinson]

I think this is where, you know, the typical family construct, the titles, the names, they don't apply. Right. So biologically, yes, you were sisters, but I think Helen would be helped if she thought about the village. Right. And that she is a part of the village. And what does it matter what you're called? You're a part of the village. Right. Because it takes a village. And, you know, in our family, we had aunts and uncles that were 10 years older than us. Right. They were the younger siblings of our. And they are 10, 12 years older than us. They felt like brothers and sisters when we were younger. Right. It didn't really matter what the title was. It's the thinking about everybody circling as a village to support the kids. Right. And that the relationship has to look a certain way. Like, you're right. The ship has sailed on a sisterly relationship between a 37 year old and a 10 year old. You've had different experiences. Different. You know, you're not sitting and coloring. You're not, you know, and that's Okay.

[Regina King]

I do feel like one of the things that's really cool in Helen's situation is that she has a six year old. And you know, I'm guessing we don't hear, we didn't get the breakdown of their entire family dynamic, but it sounds like the 10 year old is the last child of the parents and we.

[Craig Robinson]

Don'T know whether it's a step parent.

[Regina King]

Right, but the 6 year olds have.

[Raina King]

A 10 year old aunt.

[Regina King]

Yeah, but it's kind of cool. Cause that is like his sister, you know what I mean? And I think that there's a blessing in that, you know, in having, and especially, you know, being a girl, you like being the big sister, giving her opportunities to feel like she's the, she's not the baby, she's the, you know, I don't know. Again, I don't know their dynamic figure.

[Craig Robinson]

I think that makes sense. It's like, you know, thinking about things like instead of her, Helen trying to force the relationship. It's like, what ways can you integrate your younger sister into your life? That makes sense. That isn't because you can't come in with a place of, I'm gonna tell you about yourself. Like you, you can't come in as the parent. Right. And so that should free Helen up to be like, well, maybe I'll just be someone in her life that she knows and trusts.

[Regina King]

Right, True.

[Craig Robinson]

If she's thinking along those lines, that takes the burden off of, let me fix this. If she can just get to the place where her little sister enjoys her. Right.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

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[Regina King]

Yeah.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

And be present, but don't parent. Okay.

[Craig Robinson]

Little Mr. Summarization.

[Raina King]

I mean.

[Craig Robinson]

All right.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

No. So one more thing, because we wanted to talk about me and you.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah. So special on so many different levels.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

And so in preparation to talk about me and you, I went online to order myself some orange wine. And the bad news is. Was sold out.

[Craig Robinson]

Sold out.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

But the good news is it was sold out.

[Regina King]

Right? That's great.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Fantastic. But we were able to track something down.

[Craig Robinson]

We're gonna do our own me and you.

[Regina King]

Look what we got.

[Craig Robinson]

We got the Syrah.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

We got the Syrah. We got the Syrah.

[Regina King]

And this is at the end of our day.

[Craig Robinson]

I might just.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Yeah. This is a new strategy. So this is you. We. We have never had wine on imo.

[Raina King]

Wow.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

So I want you to tell us about being you, and then we will toast.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah. Okay.

[Regina King]

Thank you.

[Craig Robinson]

First of all, we got tissue right here, Mama.

[Regina King]

Yes.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

And there's somewhere.

[Regina King]

Next.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah.

[Regina King]

I mean, this I've never gotten a chance to say. I want to say publicly to Maliyah and Sasha for being great friends of Ian's. You know, we didn't even know we did our we debuts. And, you know, Ian's cooking dinner, and he's just telling me he's cooking dinner from Sasha. I think first it was. And so I'm just thinking it's some girl named. Some girl named Sasha, her friend is dating. And so this feels like a. It's beautiful to be able to be sharing a bottle of Ian's wine with you and my sister. This came from just trying to find ways to. You hear people talk about what their kids are doing. And, you know, and I. Our memories kind of stopped for a bit. And so trying to find ways to create new memories with Ian and Ian introduced me to so many things. And one thing. And Malia and Sasha will tell you this. When Ian discovers something, he wants to share it, and he wants to tell you all about it, you know, with just everything. And you may not even like it, but you. You'd be like, you Know what? It's like, this might be something here. And it kind of came to me that, Ian, we're gonna make a wine. And so this journey started from him introducing me to orange wine. I remember the moment at a restaurant called Kismet. How about that? And to shorten the story, we.

[Craig Robinson]

Came.

[Regina King]

Up with this label from. I was going through one of his journals and trying to find what. Just trying to find little messages from him, you know, and saw this little M that he had drawn real small. And I was like, that M. It should be the M for me and you. And so that M is the beginning of that. So I had an artist who is an amazing artist who created the album covers for Fleetwood Mac, the Thriller album cover. So I know that was in like, yeah, yeah, look who's doing my like. And he created a font from Ian's M. And so that's how we landed there, because Ian is an artist and all different modalities. And so it felt like I wanted it to be a canvas. And that's how we came up with the brushstroke and splatters. Cause a lot of his artwork has splatters. He liked to do that on his art. And so I said I was gonna make a long story short, but I.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Take your time. This is wonderful.

[Raina King]

A long story long.

[Regina King]

Make a long story longer.

[Craig Robinson]

It's worthy of.

[Regina King]

It's a long.

[Craig Robinson]

It should be a long story.

[Regina King]

And the orange wine sold out. And I don't know what I was expecting, but I knew that, okay, well, we need to continue on. And how do you continue in this social space knowing that I'm gonna. We're gonna make more wine, but it takes time. Wine takes time. You know?

[Raina King]

Can't rush those grapes.

[Regina King]

You can't rush those grapes. That's the beauty of wine. And so I came across this Syrah. A taste of the Syrah. My winemaker let me taste it, and I tasted it for the first time with Reina, and I was kind of concerned. Like, you know, people know this brand. So far, with the orange wine, we still haven't reached everyone, but the Syrah is really beautiful. And Raina was like, my nephew would want this.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah.

[Regina King]

And so we ended up doing a holiday release. And it kind of serves as a way for us to have Ian as a. A embodiment of some ways, of all of those joyous things about Ian during the holidays. So it felt appropriate for the Sera to come out during the holidays.

[Craig Robinson]

You know, Malia and Sasha met Ian at sort of the beginning of their Lives here in la, you know, and it's a scary time for a mother to send your kids off. I was grateful that they were living together, but, you know, when, you know your children are in a place, in a new place is when they have community, you know, and our girls are good community builders. But you don't know. I mean, they're who they are and it's la. And who are these people? And your son, your nephew, was that first bright light of connection for them here. They spoke to us so glowingly about all the things that, you know, that are special about him. You know, his creative mind, his openness, you know, the way he makes people feel special and seen. I wanna. I think we talked briefly in. At the CAA conference, you know, but we were in the middle of a thing and I just wanted to, you know, tell you that his spirit is here with us. I know you all feel it. You know, we feel it. I didn't get a chance to meet him, but I feel like I'm meeting him all the time. And I just am grateful to you for raising a young man that provided that space for my girls.

[Regina King]

Thank you.

[Craig Robinson]

And we are honored to.

[Raina King]

Love that.

[Craig Robinson]

To toast to Ian.

[Regina King]

To Ian.

[Craig Robinson]

To Ian. To. To community.

[Regina King]

And I'm gonna come over there.

[Craig Robinson]

To sisterhood, to brotherhood. This is. This has been a beautiful conversation, you guys.

[Host (possibly Jemele Hill)]

Thank you.

[Craig Robinson]

You know, you are amazing.

[Raina King]

Thank you.

[Craig Robinson]

And everybody.

[Raina King]

Thank you. Really.

[Craig Robinson]

Me and you. Let's say. We'll let you. Let us. Hold on. We'll let you know. Imo.

[Regina King]

To me and you.

[Listener (Michelle)]

This is.

[Craig Robinson]

I love a red.

[Regina King]

Oh, yeah.

[Craig Robinson]

Thank you. Thank you for being here.

[Regina King]

Talk to you guys.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah, you know, I mean, we're building family here. Yeah. It's like, you know, we going. We just gonna keep crossing paths. Yeah, we were. We were. We are intertwined.

[Regina King]

I mean, our paths were crossing before we even knew that they were.

[Craig Robinson]

That's right.

[Regina King]

You know, with the things, the spirits that are the most near and dear to us. We're connecting us.