Angie Martinez IRL - Jill Scott On First Album In A Decade, Being Feminine Force In Music & Acting

Summary

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Podcast Summary

Joe and Jada - Angie Martinez IRL: Jill Scott On First Album In A Decade, Being Feminine Force In Music & Acting

Date: January 8, 2026
Host: Angie Martinez
Guest: Jill Scott

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Episode Overview

This episode features an intimate, reflective conversation between Angie Martinez and the legendary Jill Scott, whose forthcoming album marks her first original release in nearly a decade. The discussion traverses Jill’s creative process, life wisdom gained over the years, her perspectives on femininity, artistry, acting, relationships, and personal evolution. Jill opens up about motherhood, resilience, boundaries, and finding joy, all while keeping her signature humor, candor, and soulful energy at the forefront.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Slowing Down & Living Life (04:00 – 06:30)

• Jill explains her deliberate decision to step back from music to focus on raising her son during his formative years.
  • “I wanted to do what I wanted to do. That was the goal… I want to take naps during the day if I want to...be there for my person, you know, this kid that God gifted me with.” (05:22)
  • Shares her model of career/life progression: “You work hard in your 20s, you work smart in your 30s, you work how you want to in your 40s, you work when you want to in your 50s, and you work if you want, in your 60s.” (06:18)
• Angie commends Jill’s conscious parenting and her ability to slow down—something not everyone is privileged to do.

2. Creativity & Relationship with Her Voice (08:13 – 11:50)

• Jill admits she kept her singing hidden for many years; music was her private solace.
  • “I didn’t really sing in public for a long time… I didn’t think it was talent. It was just something that made me feel better.” (09:39)
• The importance of writing before singing—for Jill, the “writer comes before the singer,” and the feeling and meaning of words inform her vocal performance.
  • “If I don’t have anything to say, what am I singing for?...The words tell me how to sing the song.” (11:03)

3. Emotional Wisdom & Handling Life’s Challenges (14:50 – 16:15, 17:37 – 19:15)

• Jill embraces all of her emotions and shares a formative story of watching her grandmother grieve fully after her grandfather’s death, learning the power in allowing oneself to process grief thoroughly.
  • “She cried all night…Then the next morning, she got up, fried some fish, made some grits, and we had her biscuits, and she was done. She let it go. She did what she had to do.” (17:47-17:49)

4. Friendship & Boundaries (19:46 – 28:23)

• Jill values loyalty deeply, referencing her lifelong friends and her joy in “weeding” out relationships that are not serving her.
  • “At this age, baby, my sword is hot, it’s sharp, it’s black, so you can’t see it in the dark. And it will cauterize before you know you’re dead.” (21:42)
• Explains financial boundaries: she won’t support friends/family who are irresponsible with money: “Why should I put myself...out when you’re playing with your finance?...I can’t play with you.” (26:21)
• Discusses lending money as adults: “If you ask me for a loan, I’m gonna give you a loan...If you don’t keep up with that...I need you to respect our agreement...so next time, I’m there for you.” (27:40)

5. Mentorship & Longevity (32:01 – 34:59)

• Her mentor, Pamela Macklin, is “full of life, very funny, very open and raw and honest with me…a support system.”
• Jill aspires for a career as enduring and loving as Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan, etc.

6. Music Business & Passion for Live Performance (35:04 – 36:36)

• Anger and disappointment with music streaming/publishing: “To get a percentage of a penny is so disrespectful. I can’t...it hurts my feelings.” (35:54)
• Emphasizes live performance as the key to thriving as an artist—and her clear joy in performing: “I get to take my time. I get to languish in the language with musicians that I respect…” (36:23)

7. Personal Growth, Confidence & Femininity (38:39 – 49:00)

• Reflects on powerful past performances and sharing a sacred “sonic swim” with Erykah Badu. Despite public confidence, Jill reveals she often feels vulnerable and sometimes “dismissed by a couple of people I thought would embrace me.” (42:09)
  • “Maybe that is confidence. The confidence to be all of myself. Whether it’s scared or nervous. Vulnerable. That’s. It is what it is.” (43:15)
• Acknowledges her “dominant submissive” energy: strong-willed, but able to follow if she trusts the path or the person. (43:26)
• Connection to creative “flow state” (46:41) and the spiritual aspect of her performance energy.

8. Resilience Through Life’s Hardships (51:55 – 54:00)

• Talks about surviving divorce and other hardships, and still believing in love: “I would keep it to myself. I’ll tell you that. Yep. So it could be mine...Something has to just be mine for private.” (53:24-53:29)

9. Acting & Iconic Role as Sheila (54:00 – 68:27)

• Dissects the impact and ongoing resonance of her character Sheila in “Why Did I Get Married?”
  • “Somebody mentions her to me pretty much every day of my life.” (54:28)
  • “I just wanted to give her grace. I’ve got a bad reputation at this point where people say that my characters tend to be weaker. And I think that there are times when everybody is a little weaker.” (56:06)
• Reveals the pain of enduring real fat jokes on set for authenticity—her pledge to reject others' labels: “I am not fat, but I have some, and it made me feel better.” (67:00)

10. Relationships, Red Flags & Submission (57:34 – 63:16)

• Jill explains what earned submission means to her in relationships: “I want to be able to close my eyes while you drive...I want to be at peace.”
  • What she needs: “Fair, firm, and consistent” (58:33)
• Red flags: irresponsible spending, lack of family/child involvement, and “when someone only gives you enough loving to pacify but not fully please.” (63:26)
  • “You mean to tell me that you flew all the way...to get with this one time, and then you're going to go to sleep...How dare you?” (63:50)

11. Sensuality, Confidence, and the Power of Knowing Yourself (71:34 – 77:50)

• Advice for women wanting sexual confidence: Know yourself first, then move from authenticity.
  • “She has to know herself in order to get what she wants out of this thing. Is she doing this just because she thinks he’ll like it, or because she’ll like it? That is like the most important part of it all.” (72:46)
• Iconic quote on sexual assertiveness: “If she wants to be aggressive, I would say: attack. Attack like a wild animal. Attack. Bite. No boundaries. Bite, grab, scratch. Whatever you need…” (77:07)

12. Feminine Power, Intuition, and Revolution (78:51 – 83:51)

• Jill urges women to embrace their warrior spirit, intuition, and physical power, referencing the book Women Who Run with the Wolves.
  • “Woman. That’s woman. That’s a power to lock into your DNA…We bleed every month and don’t die. What the…When the time comes, our whole universe moves.” (80:38)

13. Career Regrets & Lessons (88:00 – 89:47)

• Jill regrets not taking the movie role in Chicago, which ultimately went to Queen Latifah. “I was doing so many things… I didn’t read [the offer], so I passed. I regret that.” (89:04)

14. Leaving a Legacy & What’s Next (90:14 – End)

• She hopes to leave “a vibe. A strong feminine force…[that] would make other women proud to be women and other men admire women.” (90:26)
• New album is titled To Whom This May Concern, set for release February 13. The project is intended for those “who it’s really, really, really for,” aiming to “start a personal revolution” for the listener. (93:58–96:54)
• On what she’s most proud of: “Whatever lemons life gave me, I’ve managed to enjoy a lemonade smoothie with a sourdough toasted bread gouda cheese wagyu burger with Pom Fritz in the south of Spain…” (97:47)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I am all of this woman. I am every bit of it. I am a mother. I am a daughter. I am vulnerable. I am aggressive. I am submissive. I am a learner. I am dumb. I am figuring it out as I go.” —Jill Scott (100:49)
• “The trip is worth the juice, is worth the squeeze. Real shit, real shit, real shit.” —Jill Scott (83:07)
• “If you attempt to harm me…oh, you deserve every bit that’s coming your way…It’s not a threat. It’s a fact. I come here to do no harm. I know that for sure.” —Jill Scott (69:22)
• “If she wants to be aggressive, I would say: attack…Bite, grab, scratch. Whatever you need to injure, harm…We should be doing what we like, what we enjoy, rather than what somebody else expects you to be.” —Jill Scott (77:05)
• “Not everybody deserves your A game. Sometimes it’s B or C, and…maybe you might not want to involve yourself at all. Save it for the good stuff. Save it for the great.” —Jill Scott (76:14)

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Timestamps of Important Segments

• Jill on Parenting & Career Tempo: 04:00–06:30
• Writing Before Singing, Importance of Words: 10:53–11:43
• Learning Grief from Her Grandmother: 17:37–18:09
• Friendship, Boundaries, Financial Self-Respect: 19:46–28:23
• Mentorship & Longevity: 32:01–34:59
• Music Business Economics: 35:54–36:36
• Vulnerability & Performance: 42:09–43:19
• Iconic Acting Role, Weight & Image: 54:00–68:27
• Submission, Red Flags in Relationships: 57:34–63:16
• Women’s Power & Intuition: 78:51–83:51
• Career Regrets – Passing on Chicago: 88:00–89:47
• Album Announcement & Its Vision: 93:58–96:54
• What She Leaves Behind: 90:14–91:29
• Most Proud Of: 97:47–98:46

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Podcast’s Language & Tone

The conversation is soulful, real, humorous, and full of the wisdom that comes from living, loving, hurting, and healing. Jill and Angie are unguarded throughout; Jill is particularly forthright—sometimes with poetic verve (“my sword is hot, it’s sharp, it’s black…”) and sometimes with disarming vulnerability. The episode intertwines lessons of self-worth, the nuances of womanhood, and the creative life, creating space for inspiration, laughter, and deep truths.

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Final Word

Jill Scott invites the listener into her present moment: one of unfiltered self-authorship, boundless creative energy, and a rejuvenated feminine confidence. Fans of Jill, seekers of soulful life wisdom, and anyone interested in the journey of an artist’s blooming should not miss this episode—or her forthcoming album. As Jill says, “This is the best life I have ever had… I hope to inspire people to find their own personal revolution—because the trip is worth the juice.” (51:55; 83:07)

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Transcript

[Jill Scott]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Podcast Announcer]

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[Jorge Ramos]

Hola I am Jorge Ramos. This week on the Moment, we take a look at Venezuela's uncertain future in a conversation with two people who have directly advised US Presidents Juan Gonzalez during the Obama and Biden administrations.

[Podcast Announcer]

We're really good at invading countries, we're.

[Jorge Ramos]

Very bad at nation building and Carlos de Rosillo who Trump's two terms I can guarantee you that nobody in the Trump administration likes Delcy Rodriguez. Listen to the Moment with Jorge Ramos and Paolo ramos on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Podcast Announcer]

The Mike Ultura Presents Podcast playlist delivers.

[Angie Martinez]

Laughs and heartfelt moments.

[Podcast Announcer]

Catch global superstar Carol G discussing her.

[Angie Martinez]

Album Tropicoqueta, cultural influences from countries like Mexico, and how she brings a Latina.

[Podcast Announcer]

Party to her tour.

[Angie Martinez]

Everything comes together and it's going to.

[Jill Scott]

Happen, but for sure I'm like writing.

[Angie Martinez]

Down ideas, speaking with the team. We have like so many good stuff happening.

[Podcast Announcer]

Listen to Michael Dura presents on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jill Scott]

Whether it is getting swatted or just hateful messages online, there is a lot of harm and even just reading the.

[Dr. Joy Hardin Bradford]

Comments, that's cybersecurity expert Camille Stewart Gloucester on the Therapy for Black Girls podcast. Every season is a chance to grow and the Therapy for Black Girls podcast is here to walk with you. I'm Dr. Joy Hardin Bradford and each week we dive into real conversations that help you move with more clarity and confidence. This episode we're breaking down what really happens to your information online and how to protect yourself with intention. Listen to Therapy for Black Girls on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jill Scott]

Like it started really early with my with my mom pissing me off about something and she didn't give me 50 cents to go to the store or whatever.

[Angie Martinez]

Just give me the Let me understand the process.

[Jill Scott]

I would be in my room like my mom is so mean. She wouldn't give me 50 cents and I really wanted her watching my calling.

[Angie Martinez]

You didn't Think this was talent?

[Jill Scott]

You didn't think it was talent? I didn't think it was talent. I didn't think about it at all. It was just something that made me. Me feel better. That's what music does for me. And it still does all this time. Later.

[Podcast Host/Producer]

Thanks for watching, guys. Today's episode is brought to you by Boost Mobile.

[Angie Martinez]

She stands as one of the most vital and essential voices of our time. A poet, a singer, a storyteller, a wordsmith.

[Jill Scott]

I just added that I love it.

[Angie Martinez]

Because we were talking about words. Her work continues to shape the sonic and spiritual landscape of R and B, soul and hip hop. And she prepares to release her first album in nearly a decade. The amazing and magical Jill Scott is.

[Podcast Host/Producer]

Our guest today on irl.

[Angie Martinez]

We gonna have good words today. We might have a little sip on something today.

[Jill Scott]

As we should. As we should. As we should.

[Angie Martinez]

Hi, beautiful.

[Jill Scott]

H. Hi, beautiful. It's so good to see you. Where have you been lost?

[Angie Martinez]

Where you been?

[Jill Scott]

Where you been?

[Angie Martinez]

What you been doing?

[Jill Scott]

Where have I been? Where have I been? I'm literally around the world. Yeah, a lot. I've traveled so much in this last 10 years and really focused on, I don't know, raising this boy. You know, it's really important. Time between nine, I would say, and 13, that time right there, that. That was a chunk.

[Angie Martinez]

Why that time specifically?

[Jill Scott]

Because they are growing into this puberty thing. So before all the hormones take over, I. I wanted to make sure that I got in there well into his heart, into his mind, and find out who I'm dealing with. Because, you know, I have this one kid. So I just wanted to do it right. I wanted to do it right. Yeah, I wanted to do it right. I worked a lot during that time, but, you know, I also was home. I also got a chance to. To be present in his everyday thoughts.

[Angie Martinez]

Wow.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah. That was good for us.

[Angie Martinez]

So this is a conscious decision, right.

[Jill Scott]

For you to like.

[Angie Martinez]

I mean, you still worked, but yeah.

[Jill Scott]

Just to.

[Angie Martinez]

Not to slow down. It was definitely a slowdown.

[Jill Scott]

It's important. Yeah.

[Angie Martinez]

And no music.

[Jill Scott]

Well, I needed to live some. You know, I always make music. Always.

[Angie Martinez]

That's so interesting because somebody like you who's so. I just imagine that you have stuff like bursting out of you creative things all the time. Must be challenging to not react to.

[Jill Scott]

It right away or to.

[Angie Martinez]

I don't know. You have an idea?

[Jill Scott]

Don't you want to go get it out?

[Angie Martinez]

Not really.

[Jill Scott]

I wanted to do what I wanted to do. That was the goal. Like the whole goal from the very beginning. I want to live the kind of life I want to live. I want to take naps during the day if I want to. I want to make a garden if I want to. I want to redecorate my house if I want to do a little demolishing and starting over renovations, I want be there for my person, you know, this. This kid that God gifted me with. I want to make sure he's straight and that he's solid, you know, emotionally and mentally as much as I can. I wanted to make sure my mother was straight, you know, and I wanted to really want to be outside. I've really needed to want that. And I'll do. I'm here choice now, right? It is a choice. The. So the plan is. Well, it was and still is, that you work hard in your 20s, you work smart in your 30s, you work how you want to in your 40s, you work when you want to in your 50s, and you work if you want, in your 60s. That came really early, and that's the way that I'm planning my life.

[Angie Martinez]

Wow.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah. So so far, somebody told you, you taught you.

[Angie Martinez]

You came to you and you came.

[Jill Scott]

To me, and I was like, yeah, that's how I want it. Just like that. So this is what it is. I'm working when I want to, and it feels really good to be able to do it.

[Angie Martinez]

That's amazing.

[Jill Scott]

My fan base is incredibly.

[Angie Martinez]

Oh, they waited for you. Everybody's like, it's okay. Like, take as much time as you need, because when you come back, we are here. We are ready. We are.

[Jill Scott]

We are excited. I'm so happy to hear that.

[Angie Martinez]

Yeah. How does he receive the fact that you have taken this role so seriously? Not that all mothers don't, but there is. There's a seriousness to how you took. How you took this. Yeah. Yeah.

[Podcast Host/Producer]

Not everybody is blessed enough to be.

[Angie Martinez]

Able to make that decision.

[Jill Scott]

I'm very grateful for that time. Very grateful. And all the other time that I have with him to help guide him. I love him. I love him and I like him. He's a good dude. He's funny, he's charismatic, he's cool, he's thoughtful. You. He's very talented. And I'm just grateful to watch this. His whole process is he making music and he's doing a lot of things that I won't really.

[Angie Martinez]

You'll let him grow.

[Jill Scott]

It's his. Yeah.

[Angie Martinez]

Yeah.

[Jill Scott]

Whenever you're ready, kid. You know, whenever you want to. I probably won't find out, you know, what he's doing until he's ready to show me. So he did a couple of things at school, and I was like, why? I had no idea. So proud. Just tickled. Tickled.

[Angie Martinez]

That must be hard when you're the mom.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Angie Martinez]

The level of creativity, like if you're a cre. If he's a creative and he's. If it's music or whatever. Arts.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Angie Martinez]

And he's got to bring the arts to you.

[Jill Scott]

Well, he does it in his own time because it's his. Like, for. For me, I kept my voice to myself because it was mine and I needed my voice. Voice. It calmed me when I was stressed out. It. It encouraged me when I felt like I couldn't, you know, do something.

[Angie Martinez]

What do you mean you kept your voice to yourself?

[Jill Scott]

I really didn't. I didn't really sing in public for a long time. For a long time. I did it once and it was great. I got a standing ovation I thought was a showcase. You done a Showcase? I was 14, and it was a freshman day at my high school, and I sang a song.

[Angie Martinez]

And nobody knew that you had these pipes, right?

[Jill Scott]

No.

[Angie Martinez]

No. But you knew. You've been in the shower singing.

[Jill Scott]

I didn't judge it. I just knew it made me feel good that it just calmed me and it, you know.

[Angie Martinez]

Yeah.

[Jill Scott]

Like, it started really early with my. With my mom pissing me off about something and she didn't give me 50 cents to go to the store or whatever.

[Angie Martinez]

Then what would you do? Just give me the. Let me understand the process.

[Jill Scott]

I would. I would be in my room. Like, my mom is so mean. She wouldn't give me 50 cents. And I really wanted to watch him. I call it my.

[Angie Martinez]

You didn't think this was talent?

[Jill Scott]

You didn't think it was talent? I didn't think it was talent. I didn't think about it at all. It was just something that made me feel better. That's what music does for me. And it still does all this time. Later is the same. So.

[Angie Martinez]

Because your instrument is just. I mean, what is your relationship with your instrument? I know internally it soothes you and does all those things, but you must have a very high regard for it, right? Like. No. Do you? I'm not. It is a gift, right? Yes. Yeah. Yeah. So do you protect it? Do you. Does it define you?

[Jill Scott]

It's a part of my life, and that's the way I look at it.

[Angie Martinez]

It's not you.

[Jill Scott]

No. I'm a lot of things. I'm not one thing I've never I don't ever recall being one thing, you know, I think I'm sweet, but I also think I'm spicy. I think that I'm intelligent, but I could do dumb shit. You know what I mean? Like. Yeah.

[Angie Martinez]

You generally from Philly, you know.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Angie Martinez]

Yeah.

[Jill Scott]

And. And my voice is. Is one portion of my existence, and I love it. The best thing I can do for it sometimes is to just be quiet. That helps.

[Angie Martinez]

But it's.

[Jill Scott]

The writer in me comes before the singer in me, because I have to have something to say. If I don't have anything to say, what am I singing for? What's this about? What's this all about? Because the writing tells me the emotion, and I'm like, a big advocate for, like, onomatopoeia. You remember that from elementary school?

[Angie Martinez]

I kind of do, yeah. Until just now, I had forgotten about it forever.

[Jill Scott]

It's like, zap. How that the word should sound like. It should sound like what you're saying.

[Angie Martinez]

Yeah.

[Jill Scott]

So joy has a little extra in it.

[Angie Martinez]

Love.

[Jill Scott]

Love. It's soft. It floats, you know? And that's the way I look at the writing. So the words tell me how to sing the song.

[Angie Martinez]

Wow.

[Jill Scott]

So I have to have the words first.

[Angie Martinez]

Wow.

[Jill Scott]

For me, anyway. Yeah.

[Angie Martinez]

I wonder how is that common amongst peers, or is that a unique thing to you?

[Jill Scott]

I don't know. The words are everything. Like, even. Even with acting, what is this script doing? You know? What does the script say? You know? Luckily, I've been able to maneuver at times with some of the words, and it depends on the director.

[Angie Martinez]

So even with your acting, the sound of the words informs you.

[Jill Scott]

The words.

[Angie Martinez]

The sound, Right.

[Jill Scott]

Yes. And the words inform the emotion.

[Angie Martinez]

Wow.

[Jill Scott]

If I don't have anything to say, then I'm just. Might as well just be humming.

[Angie Martinez]

That's so funny, because when we started this talk today, we were saying the words. Yes. Isn't that what we. How did we get to that? My brain.

[Jill Scott]

We're defining journalism.

[Angie Martinez]

Oh, yes.

[Jill Scott]

Yes. I said. I said I'm so proud of you. Watching you, you know, be this. This journalist. Like, I don't think I'm a journalist. And I'm like. I think you are. You ask important questions or. Or heartfelt questions or. Two people that are in this industry.

[Angie Martinez]

Yeah.

[Jill Scott]

And they talk to you honestly and openly.

[Angie Martinez]

That's interesting. We. We set the tone of this conversation about words. Oh, let's get it.

[Jill Scott]

Yay.

[Angie Martinez]

We're gonna. We're gonna take a quick little break. If I had your voice, I would sing all, like, this is why God didn't give me your gift or a gift similar to yours, because I would be so annoying with it. Like, I would.

[Jill Scott]

I probably have been annoying to a bunch of people at some point. I remember friends telling me to shut the fuck up.

[Angie Martinez]

No, Impossible.

[Jill Scott]

Jealous. Three o'. Clock. And I'm all, I shut the fuck up. And you're like. Because I had a whole bunch on my mind. That's kind of how it works.

[Angie Martinez]

Oh, my God. That's yummy.

[Jill Scott]

You like it?

[Angie Martinez]

I do.

[Jill Scott]

Okay. Okay.

[Angie Martinez]

What are we toasting to?

[Jill Scott]

Longevity.

[Angie Martinez]

Yeah.

[Jill Scott]

Passion. Fun. Nice. That's good, Jill. Me, me, me, me, me, me.

[Angie Martinez]

It's going to be good. All right, this interview is about to take a turn, guys, because we've just added another layer to our conversation.

[Podcast Host/Producer]

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[Angie Martinez]

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[Podcast Host/Producer]

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[Angie Martinez]

So, okay, so let. So now we're here. So you take this time. You're back making music. What season is this for you?

[Jill Scott]

I necessarily note, really, I will say that I've been waiting for this my whole life. I've been waiting for. To be this age and to have this level of. I'm going to call it wisdom. To experience all the things that I have. I've been waiting to. To speak from this position where I've. I've had a life, okay. A whole life filled with. With definitely some disruption, some disappointment, some passion. Thank you. So where'd you go?

[Angie Martinez]

You just went somewhere?

[Jill Scott]

Of course.

[Angie Martinez]

Good for you.

[Jill Scott]

Thank you kindly. Some. Some wealth, some lack of, you know, and I really like to dig into those things, you know, like when I'm. I have to say that when I'm. When I'm sad, I really allow it. I don't fight it. I'm gonna go ahead and just feel the feel. If I want to cry again, I'm gonna do it. And when I'm finished, I'm finished. I feel like that's the only way to. Now I know that that's the only way to move through life. Other than that, you know, just covering it up and pretending that everything is day.

[Angie Martinez]

It's so good. It's like when you fall down, when you try to break your fall, it takes so much longer. It's so much sloppier. You could actually hurt yourself more.

[Jill Scott]

More.

[Angie Martinez]

Whereas if you just kind of just.

[Jill Scott]

You've seen people on ice, like.

[Angie Martinez]

You.

[Jill Scott]

Know, you've seen it. Maybe if you just slide with that thing, you know, you probably have a booze.

[Angie Martinez]

How about just lay down on the ice?

[Jill Scott]

Maybe you should.

[Angie Martinez]

Yeah.

[Jill Scott]

I saw my grandmother do it. And my grandfather had passed away, and I. We came into the house and she was on the floor and she was crying. Oh, God, that sound. That sound. Because he was wonderful. I have had some beautiful men in my life. I'm very, very, very grateful for that. My. My grandmother laid on that floor and she cried. And I don't know, maybe all day. It was terrible. Sounds coming from there in her room. And then the next morning, I guess that's what it took her. She cried all night. Sobbed and moaned and yelled. Sometimes it was scary. My mother and I kind of slept on the floor outside of her room, just in case. And she got up, fried some fish, made some grits, and we had her biscuits. And it was as if. Not that nothing had happened, but she was done. She. She.

[Angie Martinez]

She let it go.

[Jill Scott]

She did what she had to do. We knew he wasn't well. We knew it was a matter of time. Was this recent? No, no. I was a child. Those things have really big impact on your life. Well, it did for me. Just watching her go through that process, I was like, that's how you deal with it. That's a woman.

[Angie Martinez]

Oh, so you were young and were taught how to grieve.

[Jill Scott]

I was taught how to do a lot of things. I wanted to watch my women, my aunts and my mom and my grandmom, you know, be adults. I thought it was fantastic. I couldn't wait to wear big rings. Big rings. Such a big ring. And big bracelets and big glasses. Oh, I couldn't wait. I couldn't wait. And I feel like this is that era for me, you know, now I'm here, and that's interesting. Yeah, this is good. I'm grown. Grown.

[Angie Martinez]

I see that.

[Jill Scott]

Yep.

[Angie Martinez]

I'm grown. Grown too. But I gotta tell you, sometimes I feel like I'm in my grown, grown bag and I'm. And I got this. I know this. I've done this. I've Felt this.

[Podcast Host/Producer]

But even in this big grown age.

[Angie Martinez]

Sometimes shit surprises you. Sometimes just when you think you have it all figured out. Shock and aw, shock and motherfucking awe.

[Jill Scott]

I just had a moment like that.

[Angie Martinez]

People should just know that.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah, we do got a lot of.

[Angie Martinez]

Shit figured out at a big age, right?

[Jill Scott]

Yes.

[Angie Martinez]

But life will keep teaching you.

[Jill Scott]

Absolutely.

[Angie Martinez]

Yeah.

[Jill Scott]

But as you grow and as you age, you learn how to handle the twists and turns. You might. For me, I sometimes have to just get still like. Okay, that was a lot. Let me just, let me just sit down. Okay. I'll make a good cup of coffee. You know, I'll call one of my incredible friends and be expressively honest. And I have. Oh, even the weeding of friends. Oh, it's delightful.

[Angie Martinez]

Talk to me about that.

[Jill Scott]

Oh, that part. I have friends. Okay. My best friend in the world, the only person I have ever called best friend has been my best friend since I was 2 years old. 2. I'm 53. We've been friends for 51. We've never had an argument in our lives.

[Angie Martinez]

I have one since eight. So I see.

[Jill Scott]

Blessed.

[Angie Martinez]

So I know exactly that that is, that that is one of the greatest blessings in life.

[Jill Scott]

It is one of the greatest blessings. And then the rest of my beautiful friends, we're, you know, we're 20 some odd years in, 30 years in of great friendship.

[Angie Martinez]

Yeah.

[Jill Scott]

And some people, they fall off. They just have to go for multiple reasons. Sometimes people are toxic. And I know that's a word that people use, but I mean, bad energy. I mean, or toxic for you. Toxic just for me. Like some things I can't do with you. Like, that just doesn't sit good. I don't. My mother told me a long time ago when it came to like drug dealers and people in the neighborhood, I'm like, but he's so nice, mom. He's such a great guy. You know, he lets me read him Edgar Allan Poe, you know, he wants me to read him, he wants me to read him stories. And she's like, bullets don't have names. So your energy that you're carrying and the way that you move and the things that you do. The bullet doesn't have a name. I might, I might get caught in the crossfire of your foolishness. I'm let you go. I'm let you go. And at this age, baby, my sword is hot, it's sharp, it's black, so you can't see it in the dark. And it will cauterize before you know you're dead. And I have no negative feelings about it. I just feel like a ninja out of my life.

[Angie Martinez]

That is fantastic.

[Jill Scott]

I love it. I love it.

[Angie Martinez]

What is usually the cause of that? I know, toxic energy. But like for you.

[Jill Scott]

One of the reasons that I'll cut somebody out is if they like their too much, you know.

[Jorge Ramos]

Hola, I'm Jorge Ramos. This week on the Moment we take a look at Venezuela's uncertain future in a conversation with two people who have been directly advise US Presidents Juan Gonzalez during the Obama and Biden administrations.

[Podcast Announcer]

We're really good at invading countries. We're very bad at nation building and.

[Jorge Ramos]

Carlos de Rosillo during Trump's two terms. I can guarantee you that nobody in the Trump administration likes Del Rodriguez. Listen to the Moment with Jorge Ramos and Paola ramos on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Podcast Announcer]

Hey everyone, it's Ed Helms and I'm.

[Jill Scott]

Kal Penn and we are the hosts.

[Podcast Announcer]

Of Hearsay, The Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club. This week on the podcast I am talking to film and TV critic, radio and podcast host and Harry Potter super fan Rhianna Dylan to discuss Audible's full cast adaptation of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. What moments in this audiobook capture the feeling of the magical world best for you or just stood out the most?

[Jill Scott]

I always loved reading about the Quidditch matches and and I think the audio really gets it because it just plunges you right into the stands. You have the crowd sounds like all around you is surround sound, especially if you're listening in headphones.

[Podcast Announcer]

Listen to Earsay, the Audible and iHeart Audio Book Club on the iHeartradio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Dr. Joy Hardin Bradford]

Foreign.

[Brad Palumbo]

The social media trend that's landing some gen zers in jail. The progressive media darling whose public meltdown got her fired.

[Jill Scott]

I'm going to take Francesco off the network entirely.

[Brad Palumbo]

The massive TikTok boycott against Target? That makes no actual sense.

[Jill Scott]

I will continue getting stuff from Target and I will continue to not pay for it.

[Brad Palumbo]

And the MAGA influencers who trip to the White House ended in embarrassment.

[Podcast Announcer]

So refreshing to have a press secretary after the last few years who's both intelligent and articulate.

[Brad Palumbo]

You won't hear about these online stories in the mainstream media, but you can keep up with them and all the other entertaining and outrageous things happening online in media and in politics with the Brad vs. Everyone podcast hosted by me, Brad Palumbo. Every day of the week I bring you on a wild ride through the most delulu takes on the Internet, criticizing the extremes of both sides from an independent perspective. Join in on the insanity and listen to the Brad vs. Everyone podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Dr. Joy Hardin Bradford]

The moments that shape us often begin with a simple question. What do I want my life to look like now? I'm Dr. Joy Hardin Bradford, and on Therapy for black Girls, we create space for honest conversations about identity, relationships, mental health, and the choices that help us grow. As cybersecurity expert Camille Stewart Gloucester reminds.

[Jill Scott]

Us, we are in a divisive time where our comments are weaponized against us. And so what we find is a lot of black women are standing up and speaking out because they feel the brunt of the pain.

[Dr. Joy Hardin Bradford]

Each week, we explore the tools and insights that help you move with purpose, whether you're navigating something new or returning to yourself. If you're ready for thoughtful guidance and grounded support, this is the place for you. Listen to therapy for black Girls on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jill Scott]

Some folks, if you cannot afford the thing, don't buy the thing, and then come to me to help you out with major life things. Major life bills.

[Angie Martinez]

Yeah.

[Jill Scott]

You know, you need. You're going on a holiday. A holiday. Okay, a vacation. No, a trip is a week, a vacation is two weeks, and a holiday is a month and over. Yeah, you've gone on a holiday, but you don't have your mortgage. Okay, maybe you needed that. I understand, but the next time. Oh, and the time after that.

[Angie Martinez]

Here comes that sword.

[Jill Scott]

Here we come. Yeah, because that's enough. It's enough. You're not responsible with your life and your finance, so why on earth should I help you be irresponsible? Why should I put myself. $700 is the same. Use it as the me, babe. I could fill my house with groceries. With $700, I could buy myself a nice little pair of sh. I could. I could help a friend who needs it. It could be 700 or 7,000 or 70,000, whatever the case may be. I can't play with you when you're playing with your finance. I don't. I won't do it. So a lot of. A lot of family members got cut off because I won't. I won't do it with you. You do it too often, and old Jill won't come and save the day. No, she's not.

[Angie Martinez]

That blade is brutal.

[Jill Scott]

It's over.

[Angie Martinez]

Yeah.

[Jill Scott]

And sometimes, you know, I just give somebody the money and let them go. Go where they got to go.

[Angie Martinez]

My mother always said. My mother always says, don't never lend anybody money.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Angie Martinez]

If you're willing to give somebody money to help them, then that's cool. And if you get it back, it's like a bonus. Amazing. But if you give somebody money, give it with the intention of you're probably never going to see it again.

[Jill Scott]

Right.

[Angie Martinez]

So that you don't get disappointed. And if also you don't have it to give away, don't lend it.

[Jill Scott]

If you ask me for a loan, I'm gonna give you a loan.

[Angie Martinez]

You are?

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Angie Martinez]

You expect it back?

[Jill Scott]

Because we're adults here. Yeah.

[Angie Martinez]

So it's an agreement.

[Jill Scott]

Yes, an agreement. And I'm not gonna break you, so I'm not. Obviously, you need help, so if you. You gotta pay me back $25 a month should not break you. Okay. But if you don't keep up with that $25 or $50 or $100, however much we agreed on, and I think I'm being okay. So I'mma need you to respect our agreement. So the next time, if you need me, I'm there for you because you have respect for my. My work.

[Angie Martinez]

Yeah.

[Jill Scott]

This is my work.

[Angie Martinez]

Yeah.

[Jill Scott]

And my mother, you know, my mother lives on a cruise ship. My son goes to an amazing school. You know, these things require payments every month, so I need you to act like it. Hey, guys.

[Podcast Host/Producer]

Today's show is brought to you by Hard Rock Bet. Hard Rock Bet is a sportsbook app. And it's a really simple sportsbook app. If you just want to see what everyone's talking about, or if you don't even really care about the game, but.

[Angie Martinez]

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[Podcast Host/Producer]

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[Angie Martinez]

Knows what's in there.

[Podcast Host/Producer]

All kinds of stuff. And it's always a nice surprise. So new rewards drop tomorrow. Don't miss out. Head over to the hard RockBet app and make your deposit payable and bonus bets. Not a cash offer. Offered by the Seminole Tribe of Florida in Florida. Offered by Seminole hard Rock Digital LLC in all other states. Must be 21 or older and physically present in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee or Virginia to play. Terms and conditions apply. Concerned about gambling in Florida, call 1-888-Admitted in Indiana. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-9 with it. Gambling problem, call 1-800- gambler in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia.

[Angie Martinez]

I want to go back to what you were talking about in the down moments, how you handle them.

[Jill Scott]

You said you cry.

[Angie Martinez]

For. Was it a time period? I know your grandmother cried that one day. How do you handle that? How do you handle, like grief.

[Jill Scott]

Or.

[Angie Martinez]

Sadness or those moments?

[Jill Scott]

It's a lot of baths. Baths because you said you give it.

[Angie Martinez]

A time and then there's a cut off.

[Jill Scott]

I give myself as long as it takes. Okay, but. But I have it. I don't half have it. You know, it might be some yelling and some screaming. You know, it's. It's long walks. Literally. They're still good to me. It's long baths. It's conversations with friends at three or four o'clock in the morning. It's maybe a little trip. I might have to do that. I've had to do that before. Let me get away from everybody because I'm no good. Those things. That's how I pretty much deal with it. And I might buy myself something that I really want. Life is still good.

[Angie Martinez]

Look at my new whatever.

[Jill Scott]

Or I'll make a donation into something that matters to me, that makes sense. You know what I'm saying?

[Angie Martinez]

Like, that's nice.

[Jill Scott]

I use money. I use it for my betterment. And I think that's the way for me now. I understand that it's a tool and I should use it and, and enjoy and see the world as much as possible and give back to my community, too. It makes me happy. You can't tell me nothing.

[Angie Martinez]

You're a happy person overall, though?

[Jill Scott]

No, most of the time, yeah, most of the time. I live in joy.

[Angie Martinez]

Good for you.

[Jill Scott]

My mentor talks about it all the time.

[Angie Martinez]

Who's your mentor?

[Jill Scott]

Pamela Macklin. She is incredible. Full of life. Very funny, very open and raw and honest with me. Has been a support system, whether it's with my kid or in my relationships or in my career, in my fashion. You know, she's just. She's a grandam and I'm. I'm watching her and loving her.

[Angie Martinez]

What is the relationship like of a mentor to you? Like, what is that? Is that a daily thing? Is that a weekly thing? Is that just you watching and being inspired? Is that. What is that?

[Jill Scott]

It's when in need or when it comes up, I can just think of her and she'll call me, you know, I could think of her and she'll call my kid, you know, I could think of her and she'll call my partner. Like, she's. She's very present in my existence. So that's pretty much how it works for my, My. I have mentees. Sometimes I don't talk to them, you know, for a year or two, but then I'll know or they'll know or need me for something and call. And then now we're seeing each other like two or three, four times a month, which is crazy because we haven't seen each other, you know, that much. But now we're right back connected friendships like that. Mentorship, like that. You don't need to call somebody every day.

[Angie Martinez]

No, it's natural. It's the universe.

[Jill Scott]

It's real.

[Angie Martinez]

Yeah, yeah, no, I get that.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah, I totally get that you have a mentor.

[Angie Martinez]

I, you know, I don't really have a mentor. That's why Ash is so interesting to me. I never. I have people that influence me or I have resources. My mother's always been my kind of mentor, in a way.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Angie Martinez]

You know, but no, I've always. I've always kind of like. That's why I asked that. It was so interesting to me when some. I think there's so much value to. I do have mentees, people that I kind of coach along the way. But no. Is it too late?

[Jill Scott]

No.

[Angie Martinez]

Go get me one now.

[Jill Scott]

No.

[Angie Martinez]

Give me one now.

[Jill Scott]

I think about it this way, like, oh, my God, I'm 20, almost 26 years into this industry, which is very cool to me because a lot of people don't last that long. But then I'm looking at my beloved Gladys Knight, who is, you know, 50 plus years. And Patti LaBelle, 50 plus years. And the fantastic Chaka Khan, you know, 50 plus years, like Dionne Warwick, like 60 plus years. Smokey Robinson. What is that? How much time is that? Like, God darn. And to. To remain Sane, you know, to remain loving, to, like, enjoy the fruits of their labor. Like, it's beautiful. I just love to see it. And that's what I want for myself.

[Angie Martinez]

Let's talk about now, where you're at, because music's coming, which is very exciting. The world is very different, by the way.

[Jill Scott]

Yes.

[Angie Martinez]

The world and the music business and just, I don't know, the whole space is so much different than the last time you put music out. How does that feel for you? Is that exciting? Is that weird?

[Jill Scott]

I don't know.

[Angie Martinez]

Urge you. You don't think about that? I don't.

[Jill Scott]

I don't think about it. I think about, can I get butts in seats? Because publishing is messed up. You know, getting a percentage of a penny for a song that you worked. Could be a month, could be three months, could be all night, could have been an hour. But nonetheless, you worked on it and you hired musicians and you're in a studio and, you know, all of those things. Like, to get a percentage of a penny is so disrespectful. I can't.

[Angie Martinez]

Yeah.

[Jill Scott]

Like, oh, it hurts my feelings so much. And I think about it in this state, the way the world is and the way the industry is, like, if you. If you can't perform live, then you're not going to make it survive.

[Angie Martinez]

Yeah.

[Jill Scott]

I don't know how anybody survives without live performance. And it also just so happens to be my favorite thing.

[Angie Martinez]

Yeah.

[Jill Scott]

You know, now I get to phenomenal at it. Thank you. I get to convey these words.

[Angie Martinez]

Yeah.

[Jill Scott]

I get to take my time. I get to languish in the language with musicians that I respect and that have multiple vocabulary. Oh, that thing is exciting to me.

[Angie Martinez]

That's exciting for us.

[Jill Scott]

I'm so glad. I'm excited for it because I love it.

[Angie Martinez]

I don't know why you were talking just now. And I'm thinking about, like, the level of artists and talent and how in the past 20 years. And D' Angelo just came up for me, and I wonder for you because you also named Patty and all these, like, legends and these legends that we've lost. I feel like. I don't know, it's just been a lot of loss in the past few years. I just wonder how that affects you as an artist. I know you and D were friends too, right?

[Jill Scott]

We were not really. No.

[Angie Martinez]

Why did I assume that?

[Jill Scott]

Just musically, I think everybody assumed that we would know each other.

[Angie Martinez]

Did you not know each other at all?

[Jill Scott]

I never met him. And it goes back and forth. People are calling me like, you remember when you met d'? Angelo? Like, have you never met d'? Angelo? I never met d'. Angelia. Why did I think you were, like.

[Angie Martinez]

Best friends and went on tour?

[Jill Scott]

Everybody thinks things.

[Angie Martinez]

You guys were at the Dave Chappelle event together. Was he not there? Because in my mind, he was at the Dave Chappelle event.

[Jill Scott]

If he was there, I didn't meet him. You know how many people were at the Dave Chappelle?

[Angie Martinez]

Yes, I remember.

[Jill Scott]

It was so many people. I've been at Essence while he was on stage. I got to see the performance, but I didn't meet him. It's not that I didn't want to meet him. I have a girlfriend who tells me you met him at a studio in New York, and I'm like, if I met the wizard of Oz, I would remember.

[Angie Martinez]

Is that how you think of him, as the wizard of Oz?

[Jill Scott]

Absolutely. Absolutely.

[Angie Martinez]

What is that? Why that.

[Jill Scott]

Because he's a gift. He's magical. That kind of. That level of soul and passion and musicianship and sexy, you know, his timing, I would have remembered. Like, come on. Who doesn't remember meeting the wizard device? And that's how I feel. Like, I would have remembered that. Show me pictures and then put me in the hospital. Give me a little time away, because clearly something's going on that time at the.

[Angie Martinez]

At that Chappelle event. Well, how do you reflect on that era? In that time? It was such a magical, I don't know. Moment. Just seeing all of you guys together and that epic, legendary, you and Erica moment, that was like a rap battle on stage with voices. And I don't know. How do you reflect on that time and that moment?

[Jill Scott]

Oh, man. It definitely wasn't a rap battle.

[Angie Martinez]

It felt like a rap battle. You think for me, watching it. Yes.

[Jill Scott]

Oh, no.

[Angie Martinez]

Cause it was respectful, but it felt like. I know you said. I think I've heard you say that. That it wasn't.

[Jill Scott]

Not for me. I don't think it was that way for Erica, but she is kind of like, you know, she's a thugger. So that wasn't. That wasn't where I was coming from. I didn't even know she was there. And then I heard her voice, and then I heard. Like, when I watch it now, I hear where we clicked and we started this. This. This swim together. And I said, oh, man, what is happening, sonically, here? You know, all of a sudden, we were. We were magical. We were Orisha. We were women. We were women of African descent in this space. And even now When I watch it, I think it's powerful. Like, I left myself, and I loved it. Anytime I can leave myself, I think it's just fantastic. That was a busy day. It was a lot of people. It was a lot of questions. It was a lot of traffic. There was. I tend to get still before I perform anywhere for anything, and it just. There was nowhere to go. I had no, like, peace of mind. So I was working hard on just trying to be still in this moment, because there's Talib Kweli and there's freaking Yassin Bey and there's James Poyser, and there's Lauryn Hill, and there's like. Like, there's Kanye west, there's John Legend. Like, this is amazing. And then, of course, there's this audience that are just waiting, mouths open, eyes open, waiting for whatever we're gonna give them. And it was divine. It was divine. I was a little hurt that Dave didn't invite me to Radio City Music Hall.

[Angie Martinez]

The nerve.

[Jill Scott]

I was. I was like. I was there too, Dave, But I guess I missed that one. I missed that call. I never told him that.

[Angie Martinez]

Oh, come on.

[Jill Scott]

So I didn't tell him. But, you know, that's my dude. He'll. He'll.

[Angie Martinez]

Something will happen.

[Jill Scott]

I forgave him.

[Angie Martinez]

It's so interesting. You talk about being such fans of everybody that you have such a confidence. Even in that moment, I would never think that you were looking around at everybody else like, oh, my God.

[Jill Scott]

There's. There's, there's.

[Angie Martinez]

There's. Because you. You're. You show up with such a. A confidence. So where does that come from? And is that all the time? Like, do you carry confidence all the time, or do you have to summon it? What do you. What do you.

[Jill Scott]

I would say no. I would love to carry confidence all the time. I would say no, because I know it's a gift, not a given. So I'm waiting for the gift to move me, and that's my whole energy that I'm just, okay, here I am. You know, I'm in this space with these amazing people, and I respect them all, and it's so cool. Okay, what are you gonna do with me? What are you gonna do with me? And then I tend to only really speak to the people, that it has to be a little. And then I'm like, you know, hey, I see you. I see you, you see me. Now we can have a conversation, and I make my way over to them, and sometimes it's reciprocated. Sometimes I feel real Stupid. But I'm honoring myself, you know, and I'm okay with that. I've been, you know, dismissed by a couple of people that I thought would embrace me. And I was like, maybe next time. Right. And maybe that is confidence. Yeah, the, you know, the confidence to be all of myself. Whether it's scared or nervous.

[Angie Martinez]

Vulnerable.

[Jill Scott]

Vulnerable. That's. It is what it is.

[Angie Martinez]

Has anything in that moment surprised you? Because to me, that sounds like you submit, almost.

[Jill Scott]

Yep.

[Angie Martinez]

Right. You're just like submitting to.

[Jill Scott]

I'm a dominant submissive in the majority of my life. I'm strong willed. But if I see the need to be quiet and listen, I will shut up. If I feel the need to follow the path, I will follow the path. But if I don't feel moved by something, I will make my own way. I will follow my own path. I have to be moved. And that's with everything.

[Angie Martinez]

Have you ever waited for that to happen and it didn't?

[Jill Scott]

Yep.

[Angie Martinez]

Tell me, tell me.

[Jill Scott]

We broke up.

[Angie Martinez]

What do you mean?

[Jill Scott]

What do you mean we broke up? Oh, you know, if. If I'm not inspired, if I'm not motivated or moved, then I can't stay. I can't.

[Angie Martinez]

How do you deal with breakups?

[Jill Scott]

By the time we.

[Angie Martinez]

Some women, it.

[Jill Scott]

By the time I break up with somebody, you know, it's pretty clear that that's what's going to happen. I start to get more and more quiet and I have less offerings. And that's kind of how it works.

[Angie Martinez]

So you slowly fade out, laugh, fade out. Yeah. I. I know some women stay too long. Some women take heartbreak really bad where it takes them down and they don't get back up.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Angie Martinez]

You know, I think. I don't know, I think maybe we're not always prepared women in life for how I feel. Like your grandmother maybe prepared you in that moment for some sort of.

[Jill Scott]

She prepared me for a lot of things.

[Angie Martinez]

She did?

[Jill Scott]

Yeah. She said, no man is above you and no man is beneath you. And I, you know, I. I took that as people, you know, so if you treat people that way, then you'll be just fine in this life. Yeah. I know as someone who's built sets and hung lights and mop floors and clean toilets that if this person is not here to participate your show, your show's not happening, your ain't running, you need everybody and you need the energy to be good. You need to be graceful towards people, you know, and. And be grateful for their interaction and for their skill set. Because other than that, it's not going to happen. I didn't put this makeup on my friend, did it?

[Angie Martinez]

No. You got a squad here.

[Jill Scott]

I see a beautiful squad of people. Great energy and skill set. It matters, you know, from the person who's making the food for all of us, you know, catering to the lovely person that ran out and got our beverage.

[Angie Martinez]

That's Sarah.

[Jill Scott]

Thank you, Sarah. Thank you, Sarah. Good looking out, because this was nice.

[Angie Martinez]

I was thinking, too, like, about. We just did an episode with ASAP Ferg, and he was telling us that he's been studying and trying to be in flow state. You know, like, that is his. His thing. Right. And that. That's when the ideas and the things come. Like, you have to make space for that. And I don't know, when I watch you perform and you're on stage, you always seem like you are locked. Locked into another level of something.

[Jill Scott]

Thank you.

[Angie Martinez]

Is that what it feels like inside? What is that? How do you get there?

[Jill Scott]

Oh, I'm a ball of nerves. Before I pass the stage, there's a. There's a invisible line on the floor that takes you to this stage. I'm a ball of nerves. I'm terrified. I don't know if they're gonna like me. I don't know if I wore the right thing. I don't know. I do all these things.

[Angie Martinez]

That surprises me so much. But. Okay.

[Jill Scott]

I mean. Yeah, what. What good is it for me to pretend with you?

[Angie Martinez]

Yeah.

[Jill Scott]

Thank you. You know what I'm saying? Like, this is. This is who I am. So I feel all these things, and then I cross that line, and then she shows up and I allow her to take over. And I don't want you to get, you know, anybody to get confused and think something negative or y'.

[Angie Martinez]

All.

[Jill Scott]

I don't know about these people in the devil. I don't. I don't know anything about it. I don't know about selling souls. I don't know anything about it. It doesn't interest me. It's not my thing. I couldn't imagine selling something that doesn't even belong to me in this way, you know? Like, what do you. What do you mean? My soul is in partnership with the creator, period. What are you talking about? I don't know, but maybe people do it. Okay, stay over there. Yeah, well, for me, I align myself with. With a positive force, a good energy, and I allow that to come through. I align myself with fearlessness because I want to say the thing that's going to touch that person in the seventh row and the fifth seat. I want to touch their lives in some way, shape or form. And that person is all the way up there. I want them to hear what I'm saying to them. And it's. It's more than just me saying it. It. You need to hear this for you. And then this state at 53, with this life experience that I've been having and these failures and these successes and love lost and. And losing people and getting rid of people and all the things I just. I just. That's my job. My job is to communicate to your spirit, to be a sound via words. Words and sounds.

[Angie Martinez]

How do you get there? Is there a way? Is there a trick? Or you just. You have a direct line?

[Jill Scott]

I have a direct line. I just allow it.

[Angie Martinez]

I just.

[Jill Scott]

I just allow it.

[Angie Martinez]

Because I think sometimes, even with this show, a lot. You know, in real life, my hope is that. So my version of the person in the fifth row or the 13th is somebody who's sitting home right now, who is disconnected.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Angie Martinez]

And then how do we speak to them in a way that they learn from your story, how to get connected? Because do you think that everybody has a line?

[Jill Scott]

Somebody. Yep.

[Angie Martinez]

You do. Yep.

[Jill Scott]

Born with it. It's up for you. It's up to you to do the math and go searching for it, you know, that's up to you.

[Angie Martinez]

Did you always have it?

[Jill Scott]

Yes, from as soon as I can remember. Because I. I didn't make. I didn't say words like mama or dada. I just grunted.

[Angie Martinez]

What age is this? He was a baby.

[Jill Scott]

As soon as I could make sounds, I must. I'm a. I'm an interesting story from the very beginning. And my first words were a sentence. And it just is what it is. I have allowed myself to be friends with the Creator. That's my best friend. Like, it's my best friend. And then it's my best friend. You know what I mean? Like, when I talk about my. My relationships, my.

[Angie Martinez]

My.

[Jill Scott]

My best friend, the bestest friend I've ever had is Jehovah. God, period. Sees me through, tells me quietly, don't go that direction. Go this one. And sometimes I go the wrong direction. And now I gotta learn. And it is what it is. Thank you for the lesson. It didn't kill me, bit me, didn't break me. Thank you for the lesson. And that's how I exist now. When it comes to other people finding their connection or their direct line, I think it's a lot of ways. Hug a tree, walk barefoot in the grass, talk to an Animal. Be still. Meditate. Listen to music, dance. Make love. Sometimes people find it in. In a. In a facility, you know, in a building. Do that. You know, go to church or something. If that's your thing, do it. Maybe some people find it in travel, you know, but go looking for it. You. That's your math to do, you know? But I. I sincerely hope I inspire other people to find theirs, because it's good. It's really, really good. It's. It's. I say this all the time, that this is the best life I have ever had. Oh, I don't know about the other ones, but this one, pretty good. This one is great.

[Angie Martinez]

And like you said, you'd have been some. Been through some things. Was there. Was there any time? Because it's easy on the other side to be like, yeah, I've been through some things, and I learned, and I was fine. But look, were there times where you were not. But there were times where you're like, oh, I'm in trouble.

[Jill Scott]

There were some things I didn't like. You know, Definitely didn't like. I didn't like getting a divorce.

[Angie Martinez]

They say divorce is like. What is it? Death?

[Jill Scott]

Yeah. Divorce and taxes.

[Angie Martinez]

But divorce is a very traumatic experience.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. The first one was traumatic. The second one wasn't.

[Angie Martinez]

How so?

[Jill Scott]

Because I didn't care. The first one, you know, we were. We're really great friends. We're like the best of friends. So it sat different. He's still a really good human being. The second one, I.

[Angie Martinez]

You're okay cutting? You brought the sword out. You took the sword out.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. I'm fine.

[Angie Martinez]

But you made it to the other side of both.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Angie Martinez]

Yeah. And you still believe in love?

[Jill Scott]

Yep. Wholeheartedly.

[Angie Martinez]

Would you do it again?

[Jill Scott]

Yep. Maybe. Maybe. Yep. Maybe.

[Angie Martinez]

Yes.

[Jill Scott]

What I. What I would tell you, yes.

[Angie Martinez]

What I heard was yes.

[Jill Scott]

I would keep it to myself. I'll tell you that. Yep. So it could be mine.

[Angie Martinez]

Yeah.

[Jill Scott]

You know.

[Angie Martinez]

Yeah.

[Jill Scott]

Something has to just be mine for private.

[Angie Martinez]

I get that.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah. How do you.

[Angie Martinez]

What do you say about being open to transitioning things?

[Podcast Host/Producer]

I think about your career.

[Angie Martinez]

It's not just music. I mean, you had a lovely acting career.

[Jill Scott]

Thank you. So far, so good, right?

[Angie Martinez]

So far, so good. So far, so good. But you kind of just jumped in and did it.

[Jill Scott]

Well, but theater started before that.

[Angie Martinez]

I knew that. I knew that about you. I did. I don't know why I'm thinking of films. I'm thinking of specifically, why did I get married?

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Angie Martinez]

In that role.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Angie Martinez]

Just because I was reading that. It's coming back, right?

[Jill Scott]

It is coming back.

[Angie Martinez]

It is. How do you feel about how that role just set in people's lives and hearts? And there's memes and. I don't know, something about that character, something about Sheila is like, what is that like, did it surprise you? And do you feel what I'm talking. You know what I'm talking.

[Jill Scott]

I know what you're talking about.

[Angie Martinez]

There is a deep connection to this woman.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah. Somebody mentions her to me pretty much every day of my life.

[Angie Martinez]

Every day of your life?

[Jill Scott]

Pretty much. What if I'm outside?

[Podcast Host/Producer]

Why do you.

[Angie Martinez]

I. I think I know why. I think. But why do you think?

[Jill Scott]

No, tell me why you think.

[Angie Martinez]

Why. I think it's because, you know, there's certain people that. That same role, they could have played that same role, and you could have been like. Like, ugh, why doesn't she. Why would she let that. She could almost seem naive, or it could be annoying to watch a woman make a bad decision with a partner or let somebody treat her that way. Right. But something about the way you portrayed her in this character, you kind of. I don't know, you rooted for her. You saw her soul and. And sympathized with her. And then also we saw her kind of raise up and find her way. But I don't know. That was beautiful, the way. I don't know. It's like a fine line of, like, you could tell there's a toughness under there. And she chose to be so soft to this man who didn't deserve her by the way he probably lives his life every day. Hearing what's Mike's.

[Jill Scott]

Richard T. Jones is literally one of the nicest people on the planet.

[Angie Martinez]

That poor man.

[Jill Scott]

And so funny and so cool because he was abusive.

[Podcast Host/Producer]

He was brutal.

[Angie Martinez]

He was terrible, horrible human.

[Jill Scott]

Horrible. So mean.

[Angie Martinez]

I would roll my eyes at him today if I saw him in the street.

[Jill Scott]

Oh, I bite him.

[Angie Martinez]

How dare he do that?

[Jill Scott]

I bite him and hug him.

[Angie Martinez]

You do.

[Jill Scott]

But that's. That's acting. Yeah, that's acting. Yeah, of course it is.

[Angie Martinez]

Of course it is.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah. The people will still, you know, like, oh, Jill, you let that guy treat you like that. No, no, no, no, no.

[Angie Martinez]

That was acting.

[Jill Scott]

That was acting and it was written, you know, And I just wanted to give her grace. I just wanted to give her grace. I've got a bad reputation. I think, at this point, where people say that my characters tend to be weaker. And I think that there are times when Everybody is a little weaker.

[Angie Martinez]

Yes.

[Jill Scott]

I think there are times. And I know there's a lot of hard folk, you know that, oh, I don't give a fuck. You know, I'm straight. I know what I'm doing. I don't care.

[Angie Martinez]

I would never.

[Jill Scott]

I would never, never. You would never, never, never.

[Angie Martinez]

But those be. That get.

[Jill Scott]

God, we had a feeling hurt. Because you don't have any vulnerability in you. And I think that that lives as well. You know, I. I think that sometimes women are soft, maybe a little too soft. I think that women are sometimes strong, sometimes too strong. You know what I mean? Like, we're really out here just being people and living within the circumstances. Sometimes that our life presents, we can break out of those circumstances, but sometimes you're in them and you have to figure out how to move forward. And it's not. Every path is not the same. You know, we're really humans out here. It's like trying to figure it out. And that's the gist of it. If you don't get that, I don't know what to tell you. So I play characters sometimes that are a little.

[Angie Martinez]

Have you ever been a Sheila in a relationship?

[Jill Scott]

Never.

[Angie Martinez]

Really? Never ever. Nobody has ever made you do some out of character or out of pocket or.

[Jill Scott]

It wasn't. It wasn't that. It was probably the sex that made me a little less powerful in the moment.

[Angie Martinez]

Somebody took you down.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah. Oh, thank goodness for that. Like I said, I am a dominant submissive. So I appreciate the time when I actually can submit. Now. I've learned with grace and age that I cannot submit until I can see that I can submit. It can't just be words. It can't be an action.

[Angie Martinez]

Is this a real thing, like, in relationship? Like, this is how you guide your relationship.

[Jill Scott]

It has to be fair, firm and consistent.

[Angie Martinez]

I need. I need. I need some charge. Come on.

[Jill Scott]

It's gotta be fair, firm and consistent.

[Angie Martinez]

That's what you need from your man?

[Jill Scott]

That's what I need.

[Angie Martinez]

If your man is fair, firm, yes. Consistent, yes. You will submit.

[Jill Scott]

Yep.

[Angie Martinez]

And what is. What is submissive, Jill? What does that mean to anything? To whatever.

[Jill Scott]

No, no, no, no, no. I'm still here.

[Angie Martinez]

You're still here.

[Jill Scott]

I'm still here.

[Angie Martinez]

Disappear.

[Jill Scott]

No. And I'm here to help a partnership.

[Angie Martinez]

But you. You trust to.

[Jill Scott]

Yes. I want to be able to close my eyes while you drive, you know, I want to be able to sleep while you, you know, maneuver, you know, I want to be at peace. That's important to me. You Know all this whole life has been about me finding and maintaining a certain level of peace. So I need to know that you are who you say you are, even when nobody's looking. You know, I need that. And that takes time. It's. It's. I call it like molasses ass slow, you know?

[Angie Martinez]

Have you ever had that?

[Jill Scott]

Yes.

[Angie Martinez]

So you believe in it still?

[Jill Scott]

Yes, I do.

[Angie Martinez]

Yeah?

[Jill Scott]

Yes, I do.

[Angie Martinez]

What do you think the signs of that. So as woman's watching now and they're.

[Jill Scott]

Like, yes, I want that too.

[Angie Martinez]

How do you identify that? Hmm? Like, how do you identify. Like when you see.

[Jill Scott]

How do you identify it? Let me think about that. That's a good question. Know. Simple things when they're. Is that it's okay, I'm. I'm getting something to eat or I'm making something to eat, and I made you some too. Whether I asked you if you wanted it or not. I'm just considering you. A cycle of consideration is a very, very good thing to pay attention to. That's nice. That's a friend. Oh, a friend. Okay. The. The deep desire to share your dreams with me, to share your accomplishments and your failures with me. That means, oh, wow, we are friends. Okay, that's good. Your willingness to ride with me, which. Whatever I'm doing, where we're going to the beach.

[Podcast Host/Producer]

Cool.

[Jill Scott]

We're going skiing. Okay. You know what I mean? I don't maybe somebody like the beach or like skiing, but I'm gonna participate with you because you're my friend. Friends are a lot harder. Like genuine friendship is a lot harder to be betray than something where we're just attracted, attracted to each other. Attraction fades. Attraction shifts. You know, this is my thinking about that. I think creating a friendship, a real friendship is, Is better than anything else you could possibly do. Then you can choose if you want to move forward with that.

[Angie Martinez]

Do you have red flags?

[Jill Scott]

A red flag is if you can't afford it, don't spend it. I'm not going to judge you for being smart. You know, I. A red flag is when you, when you're not a participant in your child's life. Like, how do you.

[Angie Martinez]

How you do that?

[Jill Scott]

How you do that? You know, I've seen, I have, like I said, I have really good men in my life, friends that have gone through the fire to spend time with their children. And I respect that. You know, the mom and they don't get along and it's, it's constant beef. But listen, keep persevering for the sake of your child. Because they need you. And anybody tells you different, you know, is not telling you the truth, you know? Yeah, that's a red flag. Get out of here.

[Angie Martinez]

Yeah.

[Jill Scott]

The spending, the participation with your. Your family, your children, particularly your children. Excuse me. A red flag.

[Angie Martinez]

I could do a whole relationship show in jail.

[Jill Scott]

This is good. Listen, give me the red flag. It's not just the stuff that I've experienced. It's also the stuff that I've paid attention to, to, like, I have really good friends that let me in their life, male and female, that let me into their lives, so I get a chance to learn some things without actually having to go through it myself, you know, That's. Thanks, y'.

[Angie Martinez]

All.

[Jill Scott]

Appreciate it. Yeah, those are. Those are. You know, those are the red flags, I would think.

[Angie Martinez]

Yeah.

[Jill Scott]

Oh, I. I think a red flag. This one is annoying.

[Angie Martinez]

Okay, come on.

[Jill Scott]

When someone only gives you enough loving to pacify but not fully. Please.

[Angie Martinez]

How dare they? You. Do you mean physically? Do you mean. Oh, yes.

[Jill Scott]

How dare you?

[Angie Martinez]

You mean. Don't take it all. They don't take it all the way.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah, yeah. Just enough. Just. I'm giving you just enough. You mean to tell me that you flew all the way. Here we go. Get with this one time. One time. And then you're going to go sleep and then stay. Sleep until you leave. Are you crazy? Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. I think I find that as a red flag. Like you're saving it for somebody else. You're sharing that thing with somebody else. I think you are. Cause who wouldn't want to serve my purpose all the time? Serve my purpose? How dare you?

[Angie Martinez]

Maybe the man's tired. Maybe the man done worked all day.

[Jill Scott]

You better say that before you get here. And we've been bouncing around the world, and now we're finally in the same spot. Don't do that. Exhaust yourself.

[Angie Martinez]

Wait. I just feel like we were bouncing all over the place. Did I get an answer on when this movie was coming out?

[Jill Scott]

No. I don't know.

[Angie Martinez]

All right, so it doesn't matter. All right, so then it doesn't matter.

[Jill Scott]

No, I don't know, but it's coming.

[Angie Martinez]

Did you get what I was saying about Sheila, though? Like, I just feel like. I don't know. It's like you gave her a license to be vulnerable, and for some reason, we didn't get annoyed by that normally.

[Jill Scott]

Like, I'm so glad. I'm.

[Angie Martinez]

I'm.

[Jill Scott]

I'm so glad that people didn't.

[Angie Martinez]

And I think it was because it's You.

[Jill Scott]

But it's not.

[Angie Martinez]

So then. I know it's not. But you carry a certain strengthness automatically.

[Jill Scott]

Thank you.

[Angie Martinez]

So even if you play super vulnerable, I don't know, there's like a air of. We know it's in there. Like, we know there's some strength in there.

[Jill Scott]

Come on, Sheila. Come on, Sheila.

[Angie Martinez]

You know what I'm saying?

[Jill Scott]

Like, for Sheila. And that's all right there. Boo.

[Angie Martinez]

Come on.

[Jill Scott]

And that's all right. I didn't like how much people will make fun of her. No, I didn't. I didn't like that. I remember the scene on the plane and. Ah, man, The scene on the plane. Tyler had extras make fun of me when I got on the plane.

[Angie Martinez]

What?

[Jill Scott]

They were just going back and forth, making jokes about Sheila's weight. And obviously, you know, you know, I had on a whole fat suit and it was. It was cumbersome, you know, so the walk was. Was genuine and the sitting down was genuine and all the things. And then I practiced in it quite a bit so that it felt genuine to. To the character. But the folks on the flight really went in on. On fat jokes and it. It like it sucked.

[Angie Martinez]

Did you know that?

[Jill Scott]

No, I did not.

[Angie Martinez]

That's like abuse a little bit.

[Jill Scott]

Like, I felt like it was. Sorry, Tyler. I hated that shit, but I sincerely hated it. They were just going at it.

[Angie Martinez]

Does he know that? Did you. After you said.

[Jill Scott]

I think I told him once or twice. You know that. I remember that, you know, and that's when I decided, too, that I come as a woman who comes from a family of Amazons. My mother is 6:1. You know, I'm the runt of my family. Okay? Everybody is tall. I decided that I am not fat, but I have some, and it made me feel better. And that's how I. That's how I move through my life. Like, you're not going to define me as a thing. I'm multicolored. I'm multi dimensional. I'm. I'm, you know, I'm soft. Like I said, I'm. I'm soft and I'm strong. You know, I'm a whole human being out here, you know, who comes from some pretty dark places like in North Philadelphia and some pretty beautiful places like North Philadelphia. You know, it's a stew, you know, to make the. To make a person. And I feel the same way about acting like it's a stew. There's other parts of Sheila that luckily Sheriff Troy saw, you know, and then they began their life together, like. And even Mike you know, in the second one, he saw her, too, and needed her assistance because they always need you.

[Angie Martinez]

And she was Sheriff or Mike in the.

[Jill Scott]

In the new one.

[Angie Martinez]

Oh. Sorry. I couldn't help it. You just took me to a place. I needed to know right away. I'm gonna say sheriff and no. Mike could have been saved. He could come back. Like, who knows, right?

[Jill Scott]

Last we saw him, he had cancer.

[Angie Martinez]

Yeah, I remember that.

[Jill Scott]

I mean, cancer takes a lot out of a person. Maybe some of the evil, too. Do you believe.

[Angie Martinez]

Do you believe in people that deep? Like, a person like Mike, like, in real life, could you. Can people be redeemed to that level?

[Jill Scott]

Not with me. No, not with me. Not with me. No.

[Angie Martinez]

In life overall.

[Jill Scott]

Perhaps not with you.

[Angie Martinez]

Right. But not with you.

[Jill Scott]

Listen, I can forgive you from afar, but I'm more likely to forget you than forgive you. No, you did that shit. You really, really tried to harm me, and that's terrible. Who wants to hurt me? Word. Oh, you deserve every bit that's coming your way. And it is. It is. It's not a threat. It's a fact. I come here to do no harm. I know that for sure. So if you attempt to harm me. Oh, oh. And I've seen it time after time after time after time after time. And that's all I really can say at this point. Like, if someone is attempting to harm me, I'm just. I just feel pity.

[Angie Martinez]

So where does forgiveness sit in that now? You know, Are you a forgiving person? Can you be a forgiving person?

[Jill Scott]

I probably could. It's not what I'm working on right now. Got it.

[Angie Martinez]

It's not the season you're in right now.

[Jill Scott]

It's not. It's not the season I'm in.

[Angie Martinez]

But let's say somebody who's unconditional, like your child or your mother or a sibling, like, you have to have forgiveness, right? Like, forgiveness has to be part of the program. No.

[Jill Scott]

For someone like a child, like my child.

[Angie Martinez]

You still have to think about it.

[Jill Scott]

I do.

[Angie Martinez]

Yeah.

[Jill Scott]

I do. I don't know where that is, where you got to forgive people. I don't know. Like, if that's how you feel, then that's what you should do. But if that's not how you feel, like, hold on a minute. You probably feel some other feelings. Let them happen. You know, give us the space so you get to forgiveness and it's genuine. I don't want to just say it and then it not be true. I'd rather just wait.

[Angie Martinez]

You think people sometimes, maybe Rush to forgiveness.

[Jill Scott]

Sure.

[Angie Martinez]

Yeah. We have a little segment on our show today.

[Jill Scott]

Okay.

[Angie Martinez]

It's a voice note. Usually a fan of yours, fan of the pod, knew you were coming. So it's a question or a comment. It's presented by Boost Mobile. It is our voice note. This is for Jill Scott.

[Jill Scott]

Hey, Jilly from Philly. You are probably one of the most confident women I know within their sexuality and I really appreciate you for that. So I have a new man and I can get like a little shy in the bedroom sometimes. So do you have any advice, like any one liners or anything I could do to just like spice things up a little bit?

[Angie Martinez]

She wants to go to a new.

[Jill Scott]

Level of her sexuality. I don't. Okay, this is a tough one because I don't know her and I don't know what she wants. Does she want to be aggressive? Because if, if she wants to be aggressive, then it's a mindset. It's. It's not asking for, it's taking and being confident in that. Confidence is the problem, though. If she is internally aggressive, she has to figure out if she is dominant, submissive or submissive Dominant. Or is she a submissive submissive or is she a dominant dominant?

[Angie Martinez]

She has to know herself.

[Jill Scott]

She has to know herself in order to get what she wants out of this thing. Is she doing this just because she thinks he'll like it, you know, or is she doing this because she'll like it? That is like the most important part of it all. Like, some people know this about me. I know DJ Premier knows this about me because we've had extensive conversations about it. But I am a huge fan of Vanessa Del Rio, the porn star. I love how confident she was in her film. Now, I didn't expect to be looking at Vanessa Del Rio, but I found my Uncle Stache.

[Angie Martinez]

Right.

[Jill Scott]

Like most times, I think I interviewed.

[Angie Martinez]

Vanessa Del Rio back in the day on Ladies Night. I used to have a show called Ladies Night and she came once or twice onto the show.

[Jill Scott]

I've been trying to have lunch or dinner with her for like 10, 15 years.

[Angie Martinez]

Does she know you love her?

[Jill Scott]

I send her messages, but I don't get anything back.

[Angie Martinez]

I remember she was. It was years ago, but I met her and she was lovely and super warm and like, I don't know.

[Jill Scott]

I have her book, I have the sign lithograph. Like, I love her. It's real because she's the first person that I saw and in comparison to anything else that I've ever seen that absolutely, absolutely wanted what she was given and absolutely took what she wanted. And I said, that's it right there. That's the level of confidence that I want to have in my sexuality. But she knew what she wanted. If you read her book, she tells you all about what she wants, and she got what she wanted.

[Angie Martinez]

If you find that in the tapes, though. So you find the set I watched, and you picked her out the bunch, and you were like, she's different.

[Jill Scott]

I was, yeah, because she liked it. Liked it. She didn't kind of like, wasn't about getting a paycheck. I could tell in her eyes, she.

[Angie Martinez]

The only one dissecting.

[Jill Scott]

I can tell her memes, what else is it for? Research, right? It's research. Yes. To find the bits and pieces that you like for yourself and then emulate them later in your, you know, in your sex life. I think that's what it's all about. I think a lot of the, like, the porn now is kind of performative.

[Angie Martinez]

Soul in it.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah. Vanessa Del Rio has soul in everything that she did. And that's what I loved about her. I was like, that's. That's it right there. You know, she's not being taken advantage of. She is enjoying herself. That's what it looked like to me. Now, she might tell me differently. I don't know.

[Angie Martinez]

She might not be a great actress.

[Jill Scott]

But I also read her book, and it still didn't read to me that. That she was being taken advantage of. She said she knew what she wanted very early in her life. And I'm like, how you gonna front on that? You know, I, I.

[Angie Martinez]

You are.

[Jill Scott]

You are moved.

[Angie Martinez]

And your operating system connects to.

[Jill Scott]

Yes.

[Angie Martinez]

Knowing yourself, being present.

[Jill Scott]

Yes.

[Angie Martinez]

And ownership of whatever your shit is.

[Jill Scott]

And whatever your shit is. So that's really the answer to the question. If she wants to be more confident, she has to figure out how she wants to be more confident as a submissive. Because, you know, I could give tips here. As a submissive.

[Angie Martinez]

Do you want to give one just for shits and giggles?

[Jill Scott]

Let's assume, first of all, I hope that this is a really, really great boyfriend and that he deserves. And that he deserves it. Not everybody deserves your A game. Sometimes it's B or C, you know, and if it's B or C, you might not want to involve yourself at all. You know, save it for the good stuff. Save it for the great. You know, That's a. That's a life lesson. Okay? If. If, if he's worth her submissiveness, then I would say hands behind back Eyes closed, mouth open and be still. Just wait. See what happens. If she wants to be aggressive, I would say.

[Angie Martinez]

Attack.

[Jill Scott]

Attack like a wild animal. Attack. Bite.

[Angie Martinez]

No boundaries.

[Jill Scott]

No boundaries. Bite, grab, scratch. Whatever you need to injure harm. Listen, if that's what you like, we should be doing what we like.

[Angie Martinez]

Yeah.

[Jill Scott]

What we enjoy, rather than, you know, what somebody else place you to be. You know, I think that. I really do. I think a lot of people will be more happy in their, you know, personal relationship if they would really figure out what they actually like instead of trying to be what the other person likes. Word. Yeah. That's a great bar.

[Angie Martinez]

Great bar, Jill.

[Jill Scott]

That's what I think.

[Podcast Host/Producer]

That's a great bar, Jill.

[Angie Martinez]

That's what I think. The young girls over there, they're giving you all this.

[Jill Scott]

That's what I think with the.

[Angie Martinez]

With the bars from Jill today.

[Jill Scott]

Come on, now.

[Angie Martinez]

But they have to deserve it.

[Jill Scott]

Yes.

[Angie Martinez]

They have to deserve you. Were you always this confident about who you are sexually and all of that, or did that come as this grown version of. I mean, I feel like it's in.

[Jill Scott]

The music, but, like, I always knew what I liked. I always knew what I wanted. I wanted to be like Vanessa Del Rio. I wanted to feel like that lady looked in her eyes. It wasn't a masquerade. It wasn't a. I'm. I'm a damsel, you know? She got what it seemed like she was getting what she wanted. And I'm. And I believe in that. Like, why shouldn't I get what I want? I'm here, too, you know? Yes. And I. I do feel that way, but I also read books. And I also.

[Angie Martinez]

You can watch porn, but you also read books.

[Jill Scott]

I read books.

[Angie Martinez]

Yes.

[Jill Scott]

And I. And I do like the. The risque books. And I also like books like Women who Run with the Wolves. I love that book very much. I love.

[Angie Martinez]

Read that book.

[Jill Scott]

It's so good. It's about all the folklore that involves women and how I hate to.

[Angie Martinez]

It's.

[Jill Scott]

It's. If I. If I say it this way, you might not read it, and I don't want you to do that.

[Angie Martinez]

I want you to tell me. I believe you're a good storyteller.

[Jill Scott]

I try my best. Okay, but it's how the Grimm Brothers who wrote like Hansel and Gretel, or I think they wrote that, but along those lines, those kinds of stories where the woman is subjugated or she is a witch, when in actuality, she is an intuition. Her mother taught her about herbs. Her aunt taught her about giving birth and how to do that. She's someone of substance and power, but the patriarchy is afraid of women such as that, so they painted her different. They made her a monster, they made her evil. When she's just knowledgeable. And that. That has, like, opened my mind so much about who I am, who my mother is, who my grandmother is. You know, my. My grandmother could tell you who was calling before the phone rang. And that's just facts. My Aunt Shirley could make you a meal that would make you feel so much better about everything. My mother's never been wrong about the sex of a child. You know, she. She makes the pregnant woman stand up and walk, and she's. Oh, that's a boy. She's never been wrong in the course of my life.

[Angie Martinez]

What is that, then? That's intuition.

[Jill Scott]

Woman. That's. That's woman. That's a power to lock into your DNA.

[Angie Martinez]

Yeah, it is. Do you think every woman is capable of that?

[Jill Scott]

Yep.

[Angie Martinez]

Where do you think they miss?

[Jill Scott]

I think probably society, you know, will tell you your something is wrong. Maybe your religion will tell you that something is wrong with you for having abilities and gifts. Maybe even your own family. You know, when I think of women, I always see them on, like a whale or a horse, a stallion or a unicorn. Warrior. Just warriors. Warriors. We bleed every month and don't die. What the. When the time comes, our whole universe moves. And to open, to allow someone to come through, like, yo, you cannot front on that. There's power in this thing. I wanna. I would love for more people to see, you know, to tap into that. To tap into it. All of this stuff is accoutrement.

[Angie Martinez]

You're making me feel very like. I don't know, like I need to do more. I need more. I don't know, more womanly, woman, warrior shit.

[Jill Scott]

Go outside and growl. Yes, growl at somebody.

[Angie Martinez]

Brittany, don't be alarmed. Today, later, after the show.

[Jill Scott]

Roar.

[Angie Martinez]

I need to roar.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah, you deserve to roar, right?

[Angie Martinez]

Yeah, I'm gonna do it today.

[Jill Scott]

Why not?

[Angie Martinez]

It would be weird. In Manhattan. In the middle of Manhattan.

[Jill Scott]

So what?

[Angie Martinez]

You got a point.

[Jill Scott]

So what? What, are they gonna judge you now? After you've accomplished all of this in your lifetime? So what?

[Angie Martinez]

Angel Martinez out there roaring in the middle of the street like a crazy lady.

[Jill Scott]

I mean, you know when to do it. Yeah, you know. You know when you do it.

[Angie Martinez]

It probably sounds beautiful, though. That's the thing.

[Jill Scott]

I sound. I sound like a. I growl at my son. You know what he does really well? What he does he gave a speech at his school and he said, how'd I do? I was like. He was like.

[Angie Martinez]

He felt that?

[Jill Scott]

Yeah, he felt that because I did. And so did the audience. Like, we're not in tiny boxes. We are a whole spectrum of things. I believe it 100%, and I hope to inspire people to find their own personal revolution. Because the trip is worth the juice, is worth the squeeze. Real shit, real shit, real shit.

[Angie Martinez]

I feel like you always had yours. When did your revolution come, though? Or did you. Were you born with this? Because I feel like from, I don't know, talking to you today, did you never not have that? You say you always had it.

[Jill Scott]

I can't imagine. I don't know. If it's so long ago, maybe I chose to forget. I don't know. I don't know. I think I've always made decisions and did stuff and then lived with the consequences and changed.

[Angie Martinez]

But is there a moment differently? Is there a moment in your mind if you're telling the Jill Scott story of how she's this growling warrior woman?

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Angie Martinez]

What is the vision of that? Is there a moment in your life, in your career that's. That reflects that, where you are being that or doing that at the highest level? I just wonder how you see her, like, how you say how you see women on whales and unicorns, and I guess I'm asking you about that, about yourself. How do you see that moment?

[Jill Scott]

There has been a moment in my career where I brought a dildo to work. I was working in. With. With musicians or producers, rather a gang of them, and I didn't feel like I was being heard. And I brought a dildo and I banged it on the table. Sorry, sound man. Sorry, friend. I banged it the table. I'm like, can you hear me now? Can you hear me now? Because clearly there's something missing that you're not hearing what I'm saying to you.

[Angie Martinez]

So if I had a penis, right, you would take.

[Jill Scott]

Then maybe you could. Maybe you could hear what I'm saying.

[Angie Martinez]

Maybe that's the problem.

[Jill Scott]

Maybe that's what it is. I don't know. Everybody laughed. We had a good kiki, and then they started listening a little bit better. I think that might have been a moment moment, you know, where I felt like.

[Angie Martinez]

That is for sure a moment for somebody. Yeah.

[Jill Scott]

I mean, it worked.

[Angie Martinez]

It worked. That's amazing. Get in my bowl.

[Podcast Host/Producer]

This is my Edge Martinez IRL bowl.

[Angie Martinez]

Let's see what question the universe gives you. We might take a couple.

[Jill Scott]

Okay. Our bowl of iron what's your guilty pleasure?

[Angie Martinez]

Oh, gosh. I feel like we already know.

[Jill Scott]

I don't want to tell you, but I will. Yay. What's my guilty pleasure? I happen to love. I'm not proud. I happen to love the drama between Blueface and Chrisean Rock. I love it. I know, I know, I know.

[Angie Martinez]

Now, what is it about this said situation?

[Jill Scott]

I know.

[Angie Martinez]

That does it for you. What does it bring up for you?

[Jill Scott]

I think that. That. That's a pimp. And I think. I think that's a. That's a pimp. And I think that she got caught up with a pimp.

[Angie Martinez]

But she has an interesting side, too. Listen, because just when you think she's a little. Please don't take this the wrong way, but she got a little Sheila in her. She'll say some shit that be so real.

[Jill Scott]

And she fight.

[Angie Martinez]

And she fights.

[Jill Scott]

Yep.

[Angie Martinez]

And so that's probably what keeps you in.

[Jill Scott]

It's a guilty pleasure. I just find it fascinating, but I am such. I am that way. Like, I like the study of people. I don't know. I don't know anybody like this, and I don't know anybody like her either. And I'm cool with that. But I find it fascinating that this. This could even be.

[Angie Martinez]

And then there's so much to it.

[Jill Scott]

And there's so much added to it. It's a lot. The tooth. It's a lot.

[Angie Martinez]

It's the.

[Jill Scott]

It's a lot.

[Angie Martinez]

There's so much. Okay. It's not what I expected from your bowl question.

[Jill Scott]

It's not what I expect either. Would you say guilty pleasure? I feel like.

[Angie Martinez]

I feel like. I would like you to hit a couple more bold questions, if you don't mind.

[Jill Scott]

For real.

[Angie Martinez]

Just because you're so good at it.

[Jill Scott]

Oh, my God.

[Angie Martinez]

I feel like maybe we'll do just a round round, like a quick two or three round, if you don't mind.

[Jill Scott]

Because here I am out here being honest.

[Angie Martinez]

We love this. We love an honest Jill. This is in real life. But they're not crazy questions. They're not.

[Jill Scott]

What is one regret you have? I regret some things are personal, but this one, I regret not taking the. The Chicago gig. I got offered Chicago the movie.

[Angie Martinez]

The Broadway.

[Jill Scott]

I got offered Chicago the movie. And I was on tour Queen Latifah's role, and she did so great.

[Angie Martinez]

She did. She got an Oscar, didn't she?

[Jill Scott]

She did.

[Angie Martinez]

And here you are.

[Jill Scott]

And I said. I said no, because I thought it was the play and I didn't have the time. I was Doing so many things. I was on tour. I was in this country, in this place and this city, and I, like, the first two years of my career, and I had pneumonia, like, three times, and I was like, I'm not doing a play, and I didn't read, and I didn't know, so I passed. And I would have. I regret that. I do regret that. Even though, you know, I love Dana hardcore.

[Angie Martinez]

And she killed it.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah, she did it.

[Angie Martinez]

She did the damn thing, you know.

[Jill Scott]

But I would have liked to have tried to do the damn thing, too. That's a regret.

[Angie Martinez]

There's so many. There's so many questions in here I want to ask for you.

[Jill Scott]

Now you're looking.

[Angie Martinez]

I know. I'm sorry.

[Jill Scott]

You're cheating.

[Angie Martinez]

I just was looking for my favorite one.

[Jill Scott]

Angie Martinez is cheating.

[Angie Martinez]

Get my questions. I could cheat. It's my bowl.

[Jill Scott]

Well, it is your bowl.

[Angie Martinez]

It's my bowl.

[Jill Scott]

It is. And your show.

[Angie Martinez]

I love this. I would ask you this even if it wasn't in the bowl. These are my two questions for you.

[Jill Scott]

Okay.

[Angie Martinez]

But I picked. I picked these out of the bowl for you.

[Jill Scott]

Okay.

[Angie Martinez]

When you leave a room, Jill, what do you hope you leave behind?

[Jill Scott]

What do I hope I leave behind?

[Angie Martinez]

Yeah.

[Jill Scott]

A vibe. Yeah, a vibe. A strong feminine force would be nice. I would also have to care. Like, I'm not in the position to care as much, but that's what I would hope if I did care, you know, respectfully, honestly.

[Angie Martinez]

No, I get it.

[Jill Scott]

I'm 53. I got stuff going on. You know, love me or love me or hate me, you know, I've earned this. This position in life. I've earned this to feel this way, you know, to not really give a damn, but so much, you know, so. But if I had to care, I would hope that I leave a strong feminine energy in the room that would make other women proud to be women and other men admire women. That'd be nice.

[Angie Martinez]

As we've had wrapping up this conversation soon. But as I'm thinking about you getting ready to put new music out in the past 10 years and having this conversation with you today.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Angie Martinez]

Like, what is gonna happen? Like, what are we gonna experience now? Because I feel like. Like, you're in, like, an almost explosive kind of confidence. I mean, you've always been very confident, but I don't know, I just feel like you're in a very. It is what it is. Amazing place. Yeah. So what. I don't know, what do we experience as fans, as. As receivers of the art? Like, what is what is going to come from this season?

[Jill Scott]

You shall see. You shall see. I am very excited about whatever is going on in here. I don't, you know, I can't tame it and I don't want to. I just want to have the ability to implement it in full vision. That's what I want. You know, I'm out here and I haven't been. And there's all kinds of new toys. There's all kinds of stuff to play with. Don't play with it.

[Angie Martinez]

Yeah.

[Jill Scott]

And then some old things to play with as well, you know, like, like theater. I want to enjoy myself.

[Angie Martinez]

Oh, I love that for you.

[Jill Scott]

Me too.

[Angie Martinez]

Are you in love right now, Ms. Jill? Okay, next question then. You're giving me love vibes. That's all I'm saying. I don't know if you are or not. I'm just saying you're giving me in love vibes.

[Jill Scott]

I already told you, anything that's happening, I'm gonna keep it to myself.

[Angie Martinez]

Okay.

[Jill Scott]

And enjoy my life, my private existence.

[Angie Martinez]

And if you decide to get married, that would be private too. You would really. You do like a whole private. Safer that way, right?

[Jill Scott]

I, I think it's, I think it's.

[Angie Martinez]

Worth.

[Jill Scott]

Taking the effort to make it private.

[Angie Martinez]

Yeah.

[Jill Scott]

You know, I know a lot of things are going on and speaking as a two time divorce say, I still think that marriage is sacred. It, you know, so I'm learning now that it must be kept in a protective place if you're going to do it at all. It's for me anyway. Other people, that's your business. Do as you will.

[Angie Martinez]

Yeah.

[Jill Scott]

But for me, I think it should be safe for sure, as much as possible.

[Angie Martinez]

So wait, can you. What can you tell us about said project? Even though you're being very mysterious about the content of it.

[Jill Scott]

Said project is called To Whom this May Concern.

[Angie Martinez]

I, I love this already.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah, me too. Me too. I, I recognize that who is for is who it's really, really, really for. And I'm excited for those people that it's really, really, really for.

[Angie Martinez]

What do you mean? What does that mean?

[Jill Scott]

Who is for? Meaning that the intention is to start a personal revolution or to, to allow a personal revolution for whomever is listening. So sexually, physically, mentally, spiritually, relationships, thoughts. Yep. Yep. So this first round of to whom this May Concern is, Is for those people that it will absolutely affect. I cannot, I'm very excited to see who will be affected. I put a lot of time, a lot of time and energy I put in. When I say energy I mean that I hoped and asked for certain musicianship and they showed up in the most wonderful ways. Like I wanted horns. So I'm talking to David Banner and David Banner says, call Trombone Shorty. And I was like, trombone Shorty, like this is an artist. We have his book in our house. I read it to my kid as he was growing up. So I end up calling Trombone Shorty and talking to him. The man did 480 tracks for one song. That level of I'm gonna give you everything I got Woman was beautiful for me. Oh, I appreciate it so much. And that's kind of the way that the album worked. I did my part and then I was like, show me what's next. And people showed up up and they did their part and I was like, that's what it did, you know, like it, it was, it's, it's spirit based project and I think that's what I know, that's what makes me so excited about it. Not to even put a lot on. I'm not trying to do that. It's To Whom. No, I'm not getting that. I'm not getting concerned. If it don't concern you, I'm cool. If it doesn't concern you, if it's not your thing, then, then okay. But for who Is for is absolutely who Is For. It will be released February 13th.

[Angie Martinez]

Yeah.

[Jill Scott]

Geeked.

[Angie Martinez]

Wow, that's soon.

[Jill Scott]

Yes, it is.

[Angie Martinez]

And does this mean like there's gonna be touring and shows that you're a touring artist?

[Jill Scott]

Yeah, yeah, definitely touring. Definitely videos and visualizers and performances and all the things that go into letting people know that the album To Whom this May Concern is available.

[Angie Martinez]

I feel like the world needs a project like that right now.

[Jill Scott]

I certainly believe so. Me too.

[Angie Martinez]

You must be very proud of yourself.

[Jill Scott]

I feel proud.

[Angie Martinez]

You should. I feel proud in real life. What are you most proud of about yourself? So.

[Jill Scott]

Oo. These are good questions. Angie Martinez.

[Angie Martinez]

Well, thank you. Jill Scott.

[Jill Scott]

Journalist ass. I think at the today. I'll just say as of today, I'm most proud that whatever lemons life gave me, I have managed to to enjoy a lemonade smoothie with a sourdough toasted bread gouda cheese wagyu burger with Pom Fritz in the south of Spain that I have managed to make whatever has come my way so beautiful to me that I wouldn't change it. Whatever. I'm very proud of that.

[Angie Martinez]

I thought you were just gonna say lemonade.

[Jill Scott]

Oh, it's a whole, it's a whole meal. It's a whole meal.

[Angie Martinez]

It's a lemon smoothie.

[Jill Scott]

And, you know, I love the food. Foods references, because I do. Food is delicious. I do love the palabras.

[Angie Martinez]

You gonna give what you. One thing about you. You're gonna give us some palabas.

[Jill Scott]

I will do my best to give you some palabras.

[Angie Martinez]

Oh.

[Jill Scott]

The vocabulary in this album is amazing. It's amazing.

[Angie Martinez]

What's your favorite word you use in the album?

[Jill Scott]

In the. Oh, gosh.

[Angie Martinez]

Too hard.

[Jill Scott]

I did so many. Somebody help me. Like, favorite word.

[Angie Martinez]

Is there a song?

[Jill Scott]

What? Shawna, you looked like you were going to say something. I. I feel like it's going to.

[Angie Martinez]

Be, like a sexual reference or a.

[Jill Scott]

No.

[Angie Martinez]

Or a. Or like a. I don't know, some.

[Jill Scott]

It could be a sexual or some kind of roar, like. I'm telling you, I'm more than one. A one trick. I know. You know, I just happen to love my sexuality. I happen to love great sex for people. I. I believe you should.

[Angie Martinez]

You want great sex for everyone. I really do.

[Jill Scott]

Because it fortifies you. It fortifies it. It smooths out. It gives you another level of strength. It helps you sleep. It's good for the people. It's good, and you deserve it. Wrote a song about that, too.

[Angie Martinez]

I bet you did. I did. I bet you did.

[Jill Scott]

Yes, I did. A vocabulary word.

[Angie Martinez]

Ooh, if you don't have it, it's okay.

[Jill Scott]

I mean, there's so many. There's so many. Just give us one.

[Angie Martinez]

It doesn't have to be your favorite. A word that stands out. The first one that comes.

[Jill Scott]

I like that word. Honestly, there's so many. And I've been listening so much, I have to literally go down each song to find out the 1 or the 2 or the 5.

[Angie Martinez]

What is in real life? What is one thing you are no longer apologizing for?

[Jill Scott]

Myself.

[Angie Martinez]

Did you ever.

[Jill Scott]

Oh, I felt like I needed to. I mean, people. Ooh, I felt like I needed to. I refuse. I'm not doing that anymore. What am I. What am I doing that for? You know, even internally, I didn't. I don't think I necessarily did it publicly, but even internally, like, that shit.

[Dr. Joy Hardin Bradford]

Ah.

[Jill Scott]

I am all of this woman. I am every bit of it. I am a mother. I am a daughter. I am vulnerable. I am aggressive. I am submissive. I am a learner. I am dumb. I am figuring it out as I go. I'm enjoying my ride. I say wee often. I sleep when I can. You know, I put my feet in grass. Like, I hang with really amazing people. That love me. For real. For real. I pay my bills. I go on dope vacations. I do a lot of dope shit on a regular because I think that's what's supposed to happen, and I enjoy it. I'm a woman enjoying my life, and I don't know what else to tell you.

[Angie Martinez]

Jill Scott has figured out real life, ladies and gentlemen.

[Jill Scott]

Listen, Jill Scott in real life. Doing the best I can, baby. Doing the best I can.

[Angie Martinez]

She has figured it the fuck out. Here's to figuring it the fuck out.

[Jill Scott]

Here's to figuring the fuck out.

[Angie Martinez]

Well done, ma'.

[Jill Scott]

Am. Thank you. This is Jill Scott in real life.

[Podcast Host/Producer]

Hey, guys, thanks for watching. Make sure you subscribe, like, comment, and check out all of the other episodes we have on Angie Martinez, IRL podcast.

[Jill Scott]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.